NEWSFLASH from the WBT newsdesk: Vino to leave T-Mobile but to where ?

whiteboytrash

Vinokourov to leave T-Mobile

Alexander Vinokourov is leaving the T-Mobile Team as of the end of the season. The 31 year old Kazakhi informed the management of the team of his decision a few days before the end of the Tour.

"Alexandre wants the chance to win the Tour as captain of a team," said Team manager Olaf Ludwig. "We are sorry for his decision, but understand his reasoning."

Vinokourov has been courted by several big teams, and there is speculation that he may end up at Cofidis or Ag2r next year. Discovery Channel director Johan Bruyneel denied that his team was interested in signing the attacking T-Mobile rider. "We want someone who can win the Tour. Vinokourov isn't one of them," he said.

whiteboytrash

and some more.....

Vinokourov confirms T-Mobile exit

Kazakh rider Alexander Vinokourov told his T-Mobile team on Wednesday that he would leave at the end of the season. "Alexander wants the chance to try and win the Tour de France as a team captain," said team manager Olaf Ludwig on the T-Mobile website.



"We regret this decision, but we can fully comprehend his motives," added Ludwig.

Vinokourov will reveal his plans for the future in the next few day, and is expected to sign for a French team - probably Credit Agricole - once the Tour finishes on Sunday.

The Kazakh national champion's contract with German team T-Mobile was going to run out at the end of the season, and it became almost certain over the early summer that no prolongation would be signed.

Vinokourov was disillusioned about playing second fiddle to team leader Jan Ullrich, and wishes to become a leader himself in his bid to win the Tour de France before retiring.

In a recent interview, the 31-year-old shrugged off this role of lieutenant to Jan Ullrich: "All that is quite normal because Jan is German, the team is German, and the sponsors have their priorities," Vinokourov said. "If we rode for a Kazakh team, it would be the opposite."

The comments nevertheless suggested a certain bitterness at the present situation, and l'Equipe reported on Wednesday that representatives of the rider and his German team were spotted negotiating in a hotel on Tuesday night, following stage 16.

The meeting involved Tony Rominger, Vinokourov's agent, Ullrich's agent Wolfgang Strohband and Olaf Ludwig, the future manager of T-Mobile.

Discovery Channel link

Following his springtime win of classic race Liège-Bastogne-Liège, there was a lot of hot air linking Vinokourov with a move to the American Discovery Channel team. It was thought that "Vino" was interested with the prospect of an American adventure within the team of Lance Armstrong, who, in a few days, will leave a gaping team-leader vacancy.

At the time, Vino mentioned that it would only take such a preposition for him to make his mind up.

"I don't see myself changing teams if it's going to give me less chance of winning the Tour de France," he explained recently. "I want to do my best to be in the position of realising this goal over the next two to three years."

But Discovery team manager Johan Bruyneel has recently broken the silence about the speculation linking his outfit with a swoop for the Kazakh.

"He is definitely one of the most talented and intelligent riders of the peloton," the Belgian technician admitted. "But I don't think he'll ever be capable of winning the Tour de France."

With a prolongation at T-Mobile ruled out, and moves to Discovery and Cofidis - with whom the rider has also been linked - pretty unlikely, Vinokourov has, nevertheless, no lack of potential suitors.

Return to France most likely

Most notably, a return to France has been touted by media reports. Vinokourov arrived in France in 1997 and rode for Vincent Lavenu's Casino team in the 1998 season.

Given his strong friendship with Kazahk compatriot Andrey Kashechkin - who was sensationally hit in the face by the accidentally trailing arm of a spectator during stage 16 - Credit Agricole seems the most likely piste.

The two riders have combined well this Tour - synchronising attacks in both the Pyrenees and the Vosges Alpine foothills - while Kashechkin has showed his pedigree as lieutenant, supporting Credit Agricole leader Christophe Moreau admirably.

It has emerged that another possible destination for Vinokourov could well be French outfit Ag2R-Prévoyance, who have openly admitted their interest in the rider.

Managed by Vino's ex-boss Vincent Lavenu, the only non ProTour to feature in the Tour are on the rise, and are expected to be included in the 2006 top flight.

musette

Cyclingnews has another Bruyneel plum quote:

"Discovery Channel director Johan Bruyneel denied that his team was interested in signing the attacking T-Mobile rider. "We want someone who can win the Tour. Vinokourov isn't one of them," he said."

whiteboytrash

Ouch ! .................

rejobako

Bruyneel's opinion is debatable, I think. If Vino was in a team-captain position with full support, and thus able to time his attacks (and counter them) more judiciously, I think he could definitely be a threat for the GC title. We've all seen what an explosive climber he is, and his time-trialing has improved markedly.

limerickman

In part, Vino's riding in the TDF can now appear to be "explainable".
I was wondering why Vino kept going off on these solitary breaks and it would appear that he may have been showcasing himself.
Vino's win on the Galibier certainly helped to showcase him.

Mobile seem to be understanding of his position and his ambition to be a team leader.

whiteboytrash

....and Vino is understanding that in a German team they want a German leader......

limerickman

Mobile is a German multinational company, after all.
So it's natural that if they have a German rider who is one of the best riders in the world, then that rider would take precedence over a Kazahk rider - albeit one of the best riders in the world too.

limerickman

One more thought : why did Vino/Mobile announce his departure while the TDF
is in progress ?

Whether Vino or Mobile are the culprit, it smacks of disorganisation and not
working as a cohesive unit.

roadhog

On a related note, I have been surprised at how much negotion/dealing about what rider will be on what team is going on during the tour. Basso, Vino, etc, etc. Is this normal? I figured this is the kind of thing they do towards the end of the season, and certainly I thought they'd all be busy enough to wait until after this race at least. It seems like it would all be distracting to the riders to have this going on whilst they should be completely focused on the race. Is it always like this?

Ted B

Absolutely and without doubt. This was Vino's way of seizing the opportunity to advertise himself to the largest audience in the cycling world, and his timing couldn't be better. Of course, I think it would be more effective if he was in the top 5 GC, but I don't feel like I'm the only one that sees Vino being a top contender with proper support.

__________________
Originally Posted by Flyer:
It is a matter of reading comprehension that you challenged by.

limerickman

Showing my age again.
But traditionally, riders started to re-negotiate, when the TDF has been completed.
In the old days (up to the early 1990's), the TDF was the last grand tour of the season.
So riders waited until the end of the grand tour season, to negotiate (basing their negotiations on how well they preformed, or not, during the grand tours).

With the Vuelta moving from April to September, the grand tour season extended and the time frame for riders and teams to negotiate their "best price" extended to the end of September.
As of now most re-negotiating takes place after the Vuelta and world road race championships.

To announce Vino's departure from Mobile during the TDF, I think, is strange to say the least.

whiteboytrash

No ! You are not allowed by UCI regulations to negotiate with another team until October of the given season unless your team and the UCI approve that you can speak with another team (ie Valverde).... If you renegotiate with your current team then this is fine under the ruling.

Expect to see Sinkerwitz (spelling?) from QuickStep to be fined for agreeing terms with T-Mobile outside the trade zone.

Rogers nor T-Mobile have confirmed that he will ride for them next year BUT we all know that the agents have spoken and probably agreed terms.

Vino has just stated he will not renew his contract and not that he has signed with a new team.

rejobako

I concur, but I can't imagine it would be a rules violation to simply announce that you're leaving your current team. As others have suggested, Vino is apparently ensuring that everyone knows he's going to be on the market, and that way other interested teams can add him to their prospective wish lists and try to factor him in to their budgets/plans.

All that being said, I agree it seems bad form for Vino to make this announcement while he rides for T-Mobile in the TdF. It's a slap in the face to his employer and his teammates, although it makes me wonder whether if some of the commentators might have been correct in suggesting that Vino may have resented going on an attack, only to look behind him and see Ullrich and Kloden leading the chase . . .