Kazakhs pledge $22 million for Astana cycling team

Kazakhstan's state sovereign fund pledged $22 million in financial backing to the Astana cycling team Friday, ensuring the squad stays alive and Tour de France champion Alberto Contador remains in its ranks.

Astana's current racing license is due to expire at the end of next year, but recurring delays in paying salaries to riders have prompted the International Cycling Union to demand guarantees on the team's financial viability by this week.

"Samruk-Kazyna (state holding) has provided UCI with a guarantee of financial backing worth euro15 million ($22 million) for this season," Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy president Nikolai Proskurin said.

About $3.7 million has been transferred this week to the paying agency that handles team salaries, Proskurin added.

In a further symbolic gesture of state support for Astana, Samruk-Kazyna chairman Kairat Kelimbetov has been named as head of the country's cycling federation.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has taken a personal interest in the fate of the team, which is seen as a prestige project for the Central Asian nation.

Astana is also in talks with an Italian telecommunications company over an additional sponsorship deal, Proskurin said.

The Kazakh-backed team says it has submitted all the necessary documentation to ensure it retains its license. A final decision by the UCI on the team's fate is imminent and is expected by early next week.

"If they deny us a license, they would put around 60 people out of work for absolutely no reason at all," Proskurin said.

Proskurin also denied media reports that Astana has offered to double Contador's contract to $12 million per year.

According to Proskurin, rumors about the Spanish rider's future with Astana have been orchestrated by former team manager Johan Bruyneel as an attempt to sow discord. Bruyneel parted ways with Astana in July amid an acrimonious dispute over the planned return of Kazakh rider Alexander Vinokourov.

Vinokourov was given a two-year ban for blood doping during the 2007 Tour de France, forcing Astana out of the competition.

Proskurin said Astana has been approached by a number of high-profile riders with offers to compete for the team beginning in 2011. He declined to provide any names, but expressed an interest in signing Italian rider Ivan Basso, currently with Liquigas, and expressed admiration for British rider Bradley Wiggins, who placed fourth at this year's Tour.

"I would have put all my money on him not coming in among the top 10," Proskurin said. "But he worked hard, and what he managed to achieve was amazing."

Armstrong: A Magnificent Comeback

World champion cyclist Cadel Evans is wary of the threat Lance Armstrong will pose next year.

The two riders have had high-profile team changes - Evans has taken the risk of riding for second-tier squad BMC, while RadioShack will be a new ProTour squad built around Armstrong.

The pair will make the first appearances in their new colours at South Australia's Tour Down Under from January 17-24.

Armstrong, the record seven-time Tour de France winner, finished third in the race this year to confirm a successful comeback at the age of 37.

He rode for Astana and there were tensions between Armstrong and team-mate Alberto Contador, who won the Tour for the second time.

Evans had a disastrous Tour, finishing 30th overall this year after two straight second placings.

He has no doubt Armstrong will be a much tougher opponent next year.

"He's going to be bigger and more dangerous than in 2009 - I think we'll see Armstrong at another level in 2010," Evans said.

Like everyone else in world cycling, Evans is curious to see what happens to Contador, who is yet to commit to a team for next year.

While Evans and Armstrong will be a dream double act at the Tour Down Under, it will be the start of their season and they are unlikely to win overall.

Evans only started preseason training on Tuesday, as he continues with a national tour to promote his autobiography.

Still, the pair will pay more than passing interest in how each other rides in January.

"We race our bikes to win, normally - it's fun racing against someone when they're bad and you're bad, actually," Evans said.

"So we'll probably be able to enjoy it more than at the Tour.

"If an opportunity comes, of course I'm going to take it, but realistically, I have to go for July and other races in the year."

BMC is the first team to receive a wildcard entry to the race and the main reason is so Evans can compete in the world champion's rainbow jersey.

After his poor Tour de France this year, Evans spectacularly turned his season around with third in the Tour of Spain and then the world title.

He is the first Australian to win the elite men's world road race championship.

"I had so much bad luck this year, but to ride with the rainbow jersey next year, you can't ask for much more than that," Evans said.

Evans knows he has taken a risk signing with BMC - they will also need a wildcard entry to ride in the Tour de France.

But the Australian, who left Silence-Lotto after five years, is excited at the potential of the team and determined to go one better in July.

"There aren't too many teams who can commit to a rider at the Tour de France, obviously there are five or six riders going to the Tour thinking (they) can win or at least be on the podium," he said.

"BMC, they're not a big team now, but they're growing - for me, to join a team as they're growing is an interesting project.

"They have everything in place to be a very good team and that's really what I'm looking for, the core values and philosophies.

"Maybe I will miss out on the Tour, but I think we have all the capabilities to prove we deserve a place."

Contador poised to stay at Astana

Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has reached a preliminary deal to stay with the Astana team until the end of next year, it has been announced.

He had spoken to rival teams after a successful but troubled year, marred by cash problems and a tense relationship with former team-mate Lance Armstrong.

On Friday the team should hear if it has a ProTour licence for next year.

Astana are the subject of a preliminary investigation after suspect medical material was seized during the Tour.

Reports in France claimed that syringes and transfusion equipment believed to belong to teams including Astana were found in medical waste containers during the race, but Astana have denied they are one of the teams involved.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on Contador and Astana

And Contador insisted he had nothing to worry about, saying: "Astana was the Tour's most scrutinised team.

"I heard they were looking into our waste but I'm absolutely relaxed."

In the summer, Contador and seven-time Tour winner Armstrong made little effort to hide their dislike for one another, despite being team-mates.

Contador said his relationship with Armstrong was "zero", with the American hitting back saying the 26-year-old "had a lot to learn".

Armstrong added: "If I were him I'd drop this drivel and thank his team. Without them he doesn't win."

Armstrong has now set up his own outfit, Team Radio Shack, with his long-standing manager Johan Bruyneel and two of Astana's top riders, compatriot Levi Leipheimer and German Andreas Kloden, set to follow him.

Cycling-Australian mountain biker loses appeal against jail term

Former Australian mountain bike champion Chris Jongewaard has lost his appeal against a two-year jail sentence over a hit-and-run driving accident, local media reported on Wednesday.

Jongwaard was sentenced in September to two years in prison, with a non-parole period of nine months, over an incident in 2007 when he knocked down a fellow professional cyclist.

The cyclist was seriously injured and unable to ride professionally again.

Jongewaard was found guilty of driving without due care and leaving the scene of an accident.

Jongewaard appealed but the three judges who heard his appeal dismissed his application for the jail term to be suspended.

"It's a significant fact that, for all Mr Jongewaard knew, he had left someone seriously injured and lying on the roadway, exposed to further damage from motor cars," Chief Justice John Doyle said.

Jongewaard was selected in the Australian team for last year's Beijing Olympics but lost his place after being charged by police over the incident.

Gore Bike Wear Phantom III Lady Jacket Review

The Gore Bike Wear Phantom III Lady Jacket is a welcomed addition to any serious biker's armamentarium of clothing options. The Windstopper Soft Shell technology protects your body from the chilling effects of wind, providing a comfortable outer layer for the widest range of weather conditions.

I found in the cold, the high collar effectively insulated my neck from wind chill. The fabric is water resistant and did a great job in light rain, high wind situations. At the same time, it allowed maximum breathability, and prevented overheating and perspiration build-up. The full-length zipper has a semi-lock slider, thus I was able to regulate my body temperature with precision by the zipper rise. As I warmed, I opened and locked the sleeve attachments to provide further venting. As I heated, I easily removed the outer sleeves and, unlike most other jackets, which convert to a vest, the Phantom III jacket converted to a Windstopper jersey. The remaining short sleeves are functional with elastic cuffs that kept them in place.

You can probably pick it up for about $150.00 so it's not entirely overpriced either!

Nice New Kit from FSA

A great big box of bike bling has just arrived in the office courtesy of FSA (Full Speed Ahead). The Mountain Biking UK crew will be putting these products through their paces in due course, but here's a quick first look.

SL-K

SL-K is FSA's lightweight mountain/road/'cross line. We showed you some of the kit at this year's Eurobike show, but one item that immediately caught our eye was this integrated seatmast head.

It's designed to fit any frame with a 31.6mm seat tube, and is also available in an aero version. Made of carbon Kevlar composite, it has 20mm of layback and weighs 198g. RRP TBC.

The SL-K MTB Triple MegaExo crankset is a work of art, with its carbon arms, chromoly axle and CNC-machined chainrings (44/32/22). Available in 170 or 175mm crankarm lengths, claimed weight is 662g (not including the supplied bottom bracket). RRP £499.95.

The SL-K Low Riser bar and anodised stem also look pretty tasty. The oversize (31.8mm) bar is made of carbon-wrapped 6066 alloy and combines an 18mm rise with a reasonable 660mm width, with a nine-degree backsweep and four-degree upsweep. Claimed weight is 214g. RRP £79.95.

The SL-K stem is suitable for road or mountain bike use and is made of 3D-forged 2014 alloy, with a carbon fibre faceplate and chromoly hardware, and a classy 'Storm Grey' anodised finish. It has a six-degree rise and comes in 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130mm lengths. Claimed weight is 155g. RRP £79.95.

Afterburner

Carbon cranksets may be all the rage among the cross-country crew, but FSA's double-ring alloy Afterburner Compact 386 is one of the best looking options out there.

The arms are 6061 T6 hollow forged alloy, with a chromoly axle, 7075 T6 chainrings (40/27 or 42/27) and MegaExo bottom bracket. Claimed weight is 776g (not including supplied bottom bracket). RRP TBC.

Gravity

Gravity is FSA's sub-brand aimed at, you guessed it, gravity riders – downhillers, 4X racers and freeriders. Our box included a stem, bar, post and crankset.

The Gravity Light stem is CNC-machined from cold forged 2014 T6 alloy, with a four-bolt front clamp and chromoly hardware. It has a six-degree rise and is available in 50, 70, 90 and 105mm lengths. Claimed weight is 147g. RRP £79.95.

The Gravity Light bar is 710mm wide with a choice of 25mm or 40mm rises, eight degrees of backsweep and three degrees of upsweep. It's made of carbon Kevlar composite, with reinforced stem and brake lever clamp zones. Claimed weight is 225g. RRP £79.95.

The Gravity seatpost is an inline design that accepts 8mm and 9mm saddle rails. It's 3D forged from butted 2014 alloy, with a hard anodised finish. It's 350mm long and available in four sizes – 27.2, 30, 30.9 and 31.6mm. Claimed weight is 294g. RRP £52.95.

Finally, the Gravity Light MegaExo crankset comes in a two-rings-plus-bashguard configuration and weighs in at 877g (without included bottom bracket). The arms (160, 170 or 175mm) are 6061 T6 alloy with chromoly pedal inserts and chromoly axle. A polycarbonate bashguard protects the 7075 outer chainring and steel inner ring (32/22 or 36/24). RRP £199.95.

We'll be posting full reviews of all these products in print and online once they've undergone rigorous testing.

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