Astana 08, trying to buy back the credibility they lost with Biver, Kash and Vino

[Bro Deal]

Is it? What kind of commercial return is expected anyway? Certainly a Kazakh cyclist would increase domestic interest in the team and the 'product' (whatever that is), but isn't the main objective to interest the international public and increase awareness of the glorious nation of Kazakhstan (as if Borat didn't do a perfect job already)?

Seriously, can anybody explain what the commercial purpose of team Astana is? Is there any product with the name Astana? Is it a real estate agency which sells time-shares of vacation properties in Astana (good luck with that)? The only commercial purpose I can see is money laundring, tax evasion or something similarly shady anyway.

The only thing I can come up with is for nationalistic reasons, both external and internal. That is why I won't be too surprised if the syndicate backing the team balks--maybe only in part--and stops funding the team. I don't see that they can achieve the same goals for which the team was originally funded.

 

[nns1400]

The only thing I can come up with is for nationalistic reasons, both external and internal. That is why I won't be too surprised if the syndicate backing the team balks--maybe only in part--and stops funding the team. I don't see that they can achieve the same goals for which the team was originally funded.

Unless the goals are in fact money-laundering, etc...

 

[Bro Deal]

Unless the goals are in fact money-laundering, etc...

How do you launder money through a cycling team? It is a money hole. The major expense for a team has got to be payroll. There is no revenue other than pitiful amounts of prize money.

If you want to launder money internationally on a large scale, why not open a casino in some place like Macao?

 

[Cobblestones]

How do you launder money through a cycling team? It is a money hole. The major expense for a team has got to be payroll. There is no revenue other than pitiful amounts of prize money.

If you want to launder money internationally on a large scale, why not open a casino in some place like Macao?

Well, money laundering doesn't have to have a 100% efficiency. You have to factor in some losses. I could imagine that the combination of benefits of possible tax deductions for sport sponsoring, embezzlement and shady deals (e.g. Astana having training camps in a hotel owned by one of the sponsors) might be somewhat profitable. But, hell, for all I know, maybe those guys just like cycling and hanging out with Vino at the TdF.

 

[Bro Deal]

A brief history of team Astana.

http://boulderreport.bicycling.com/2007/11/amateur-night-a.html