Pro-Cycling News: Astana, Alberto Contador Launch 2010 Season in Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria might seem like a strange place for a Kazakh cycling team with a Spanish star leading it to kick off its season. But the Astana team, funded directly by Kazakhstan, has never quite fit into the mainstream mold of traditional European cycling, and last Saturday it held its its 2010 presentation at Hofburg Redoutensaal in downtown Vienna, Astana.

Since its inception in 2006, Astana has met a string of blunders. The team rose from the ashes of the collapse of the Liberty Seguros team that was expelled from the 2006 Tour de France due to its links to the Operation Puerto doping scandal. In 2007, under the ownership of the Kazakhstan government, the Astana team was kicked out of the Tour de France when the team leader, Alexandre Vinokourov, failed doping tests. That same year, Michael Rasmussen was booted out of the yellow jersey allowing Contador, riding for Johan Bruyneel and the Discovery Team, to win his first Tour de France. The next year, Contador joined Bruyneel at Astana where the two sat on the sidelines of the 2008 Tour. Astana then dominated the 2009 Tour, but ongoing payment problems dogged the team throughout the season, while team stars Lance Armstrong and Contador feuded publicly.

"I think it is a question of there only being so many pieces of the pie, and we came in and took a very big piece," said Nikolai Proskurin, the vice-president of the Kazakh Cycling Federation, who downplayed the team's past problems. "I guess you could call them growing pains."

Regardless of past troubles, in Vienna there was only talk of the future. This year's team, an unlikely mix of Spanish and Kazakh riders, hopes to carry its star Contador to a third Tour de France victory in four years.

In 2009, the multitalented team included Contador and Lance Armstrong, plus established Grand Tour riders Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden, and numerous other experienced racers. This year's team is now focused solely on launching Contador.

"Last year we had many teams and leaders. This year we just have one," said Benjamin Noval in the dressing room prior to the presentation ceremony. "I think it is good." Noval stirred controversy by speaking of the team's internal troubles after being left off the 2009 Tour team. This year, barring injury, he will be a key figure.

"This year our team director is Giuseppi Martinelli and that should be good for Alberto," said Yvon Sanquier, the team manager. "He was Marco Pantani's director and he comes from the Italian school where the team is united behind one single leader."

Key support riders in the Tour could include Oscar Pereiro, the winner of the 2006 Tour who has struggled to return after a devastating crash in the 2008 race. Then, Alexander Vinokourov hopes to restore his image by supporting Contador through the three-week Tour. It is unknown, however, whether race organizers will even let him start.

Looking toward the Tour, Contador shied away from making bold predictions. It's clear, however, that he hopes to win a third time come July. "I think there are eight to 10 favorites," he said. "Lance Armstrong has been a great champion and remains a great champion. He will definitely be one of my rivals for the Tour."

Contador chose his words carefully to avoid any digs at Armstrong, saying simply of his 2010 team, "I am more relaxed this year."

Contador begins racing in Portugal's Tour of Algarve on February 17.