Astana and the leaning tower of Pisa. A training camp metaphor.

11. Dec, 2009 3 Comments

The Pisa cycling metaphor

File in ironic cycling photos: The Astana Pisa pose.

Here’s a photo that makes Twisted Spoke laugh with all the underlying irony. The famed crooked tower in Pisa is a metaphor for all things Astana.

Alberto Contador leaning toward leaving Astana, then leaning toward staying.

Crooked Kazah rider Alexander Vinokourov back in the fold.

A team roster that tilted heavily toward Radio Shack with over 10 riders leaving to join Lance Armstrong and former DS Johan Bruyneel.

The uneven record of the Astana team management– the missed paychecks, missed UCI deadlines for licensing, the shaky, uneven financing.

The back and forth, right and left of the Oscar Pereiro contract squabble — he’s retiring, he’s not, he’s not invited to camp, he’s going to camp.

This is a team out of balance, destabilized and trying to find secure footing again.

Good luck with that, guys.

http://blogger5000.wordpress.com/ Tyler

Where's Vino in the picture?! Not sure I've mentioned this before but… me = big fan of Vino.
http://BICYCLEWAREHOUSE.COM mike simmons

YO! YOU GOTTA SUPPORT THESE GUYS, UNLESS YOU ARE TREK RIDING LANCE WANNABE! GET YOUR LIVESTRONG HEAD OUTTA YOUR 1998 USPS KIT WEARING BUTT AND REALIZE, TREK SUCKS!

walshworld

Thanks for checking in, Mike. I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone whose followed Astana over the last year say that this team had their act together. If you've read some of my other posts, you know I make just as much fun of Lance and Radio Shack when I think it's warranted and amusing. Seems like mostly you just don't like Trek — and I can understand that. I notice your Bicyclewarehouse doesn't carry Trek. Maturity does not allow me to comment on the location of my head in relation to my butt but thanks for inquiring.