[环法后续报道]关于康塔多下赛季的去向。

番薯 · 发表于 2009-8-1 05:36:08

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本帖最后由番薯于 2009-8-1 05:41 编辑

原文。Cyclingnews assesses Contador's options for 2010
The second half of the Tour de France is a key marketplace for riders and teams looking ahead to next season, and none more so than two-time champion Alberto Contador. The Spaniard and his brother/manager Francisco are engaged in a complicated series of negotiations intended to guarantee that the yellow jersey can be retained in 2010. The question everyone wants answered - Contador more than anyone - is which team is most capable of providing him with the back-up required to enable him to deal with what is likely to be a much stiffer challenge next year.

The one team that could ensure Contador will be in the right place to defend his title is also the one team we know he definitely won't be joining. Even before last week's announcement of the impending launch of the RadioShack team, relations were frosty between Contador and old pals Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel. Since the Tour, they've turned glacial.

On Monday, Contador, normally the most uncontroversial of interviewees, declared he had no respect for Armstrong, who countered on his Twitter page that the Spaniard still had a lot to learn. This all makes for a gripping rivalry, but only if the Spaniard can pull together a group of riders able to compete with RadioShack's already impressive-looking roster, which is likely to include Yaroslav Popovych, Haimar Zubeldia, Andreas Klöden, Levi Leipheimer, Gregory Rast and Chris Horner. So what are Contador's options...

Astana: The Kazakh-backed team looked like they were going to struggle to reach the Tour, let alone make it into next season, but their money problems appear to be behind them. From that point of view, they've been boosted by the impending return from a doping ban of Alexander Vinokourov, whose sway within Kazakhstan's had enabled him to offer Contador a very lucrative extension to his contract, which runs out at the end of next season.

But staying with Astana is problematic in several ways. Firstly, Vinokourov's presence might result in them not being invited to the Tour given it was there he tested positive. Secondly, if invited, Vinokourov may want to push his own overall prospects at the Tour. Thirdly, RadioShack have taken most of its best Tour level riders, leaving behind Contador's small band of Spaniards and a lot of inexperienced Kazakhs. Francisco Contador admits: "Astana, without Armstrong and Bruyneel, is not our preferred option, but Alberto still has a year left on his contract with them."

Garmin-Slipstream: When Astana was near to collapse in May, the American team was close to signing Contador, reportedly backed by a sponsorship deal with supplements supplier Herbalife. Negotiations were also said to include Sergio Paulinho and Benjamin Noval. According to Spanish sports daily AS, Garmin-Slipstream, who showed at the Tour that they weren't keen on playing second fiddle to another American-backed team, is still vying to complete a deal for Contador in order to establish themselves as the direct competition to RadioShack next year. Less convincingly, however, AS also claims that this move will be guaranteed by Bradley Wiggins' transfer to Team Sky in 2010, despite the Briton's insistence just yesterday [Tuesday] that he will see out his contract at Garmin-Slipstream that runs to the end of next season.

Nevertheless, it is noticeable that Garmin-Slipstream is the team most heavily linked with Contador in the Spanish press. Moreover, team manager Jonathan Vaughters has expressed his admiration for the Spaniard, declaring: "Alberto Contador is an incredible rider and would be a fantastic rider to have on any team." Vaughters has also indicated that any signings would be made with the overall benefit of the team in mind. Could this mean Christian Vande Velde and Wiggins joining Paulinho and Noval as a set super-domestiques who would rival those backing Armstrong at RadioShack?

Caisse d'Epargne: The French-backed Spanish team looks the most obvious destination for Contador. He knows the riders and management well, the line-up features plenty of strong domestiques and team leader Alejandro Valverde has admitted he would welcome Contador onto the team and even ride in support of him. The hitch here is that Caisse d'Epargne's commitment only extends to the end of 2010 and Contador is adamant he wants at least a two-year deal. Unless team manager Eusebio Unzue already has new finance lined up, this option looks a non-starter.

Fernando Alonso: The two-time F1 champion announced during the Tour he was launching a team with the aim of one day winning the race and has been heavily linked with Contador. In some ways, this would be the ideal move for Contador; he'd been on a Spanish team as the unquestioned leader. In Alonso's favour is the reported backing of the Banco de Santander, one of the few financial institutions to emerge from the credit crunch with its position strengthened. Note also that the bank's vice-president, Alfredo Saez, was the president of Banesto when they backed Miguel Indurain during his glory years.

However, the dilemma here would be recruiting riders at a level high enough to guarantee Contador would be in contention at the Tour. Speaking earlier this week, Contador's Astana teammate Benjamin Noval admitted: "Alberto loves the idea but he's not interested in it at the moment because the project is too new to put together a team strong enough to win the Tour. He would prefer to go to a team that's already established, that knows what it's doing and can guarantee that he will be well supported." Alonso, it seems, has come to the negotiating table too late and is reported to be delaying the launch of his team.

Katusha: The Russian team not only has the budget to sign Contador and the riders close to him, but can also back that up with plenty of strong and experienced talent of its own, notably Vladimir Karpets, Mikhail Ignatiev, Serguei Ivanov and Alexandre Botcharov. Ivanov's stage win apart, Katusha did not have a great Tour. Well blessed with sprinters and time trial talent, they also lack a stand-out leader for the major tours. It is rumoured that they are planning a big money bid for Contador to fill that gap. Their interest is significant given they have the money, riders and space on the roster to accommodate Contador and his cohort of support riders that also includes Daniel Navarro and Jesus Hernandez.

Other teams: Contador's 1.5-2m euro salary demands puts him well out of reach of the French and Italian teams, but are not beyond the range of Rabobank and Quick Step. However, Contador insists he wants a team "100 percent behind me" and that won't sit well with the likes of Denis Menchov and Oscar Freire at Rabobank, and Tom Boonen at Quick Step. And Team Sky? Signing Contador and co. would very quickly make them major players in the sport, but they already appear to have their roster for 2010 close to completed

Where next for Alberto Contador?
环法之后，摆在车手和车队面前的重要问题就是为接下来的新赛季做打算，而对于两届环法冠军Alberto Contador来说，这个问题尤其重要。他的哥哥兼经纪人Francisco目前正为弟弟在2010年的车队归属问题忙碌奔波。现在，人们最想知道的就是哪支车队有能力帮助他迎接明年更加严峻的挑战。
我们都知道，Contador是不可能加入那支有足够实力保证他卫冕的RadioShack车队。自从今年的环法，Contador和Lance Armstrong以及领队 Johan Bruyneel的关系已经降到了最低点。
本周一的新闻发布会上，Contador公开宣布自己对Armstrong已经没有了尊敬，而Armstrong也回应他的西班牙队友依然有很多东西需要学习。这是一场引人注目的争夺，但前提是Contador需要寻找一支可以对抗包括Yaroslav Popovych, Haimar Zubeldia, Andreas Klöden, Levi Leipheimer, Gregory Rast and Chris Horner在内的车队。所以，寻找什么样的车队才是Contador目前要做的……
1．Astana：
这支哈萨克斯坦车队看起来已经在为明年的环法做打算了，但困扰他们的经济问题依然存在。不过Alexander Vinokourov的回归也同时带来了哈萨克政府的援助。目前，Vino正打算说服Contador延长与车队之间的合同。
但留在Astana车队可能会面临很多的不确定性。首先，环法组织者可能会以Vino曾经的禁药丑闻为由，拒绝车队参加环法。其次，在环法过程中，Vino内心可能不仅仅会满足一个帮手的角色。第三，RadioShack车队几乎带走了Astana全部的精英，留给Contador留下了一些西班牙车队和一些几乎没有大赛经验的哈萨克车手。Francisco Contador承认：“没有Armstrong 和 Bruyneel的Astana车队并不是我们的首选，但Alberto和车队依然有一年的合同。”
2．Garmin-Slipstream：
但今年五月，Astana车队由于经济危机濒临解散的时候，这支美国车队就有意与Contador签约，这其中还包括Sergio Paulinho和 Benjamin Noval的合同。根据西班牙阿斯报的说法，Garmin-Slipstream车队不想在环法中输给同样为美国赞助商的车队，所以仍然希望签约Contador以便明年同RadioShack相抗衡。阿斯报同时报道了一个可信度并不高的说法，就是这次转会将使得Bradley Wiggins在下赛季转投Team Sky，尽管英国人在昨天强调他不会在下赛季末合同到期前离开。
然而，显而易见的，Garmin-Slipstream车队在西班牙媒体看来是Contador最有可能加盟的车队。此外，该车队经理Jonathan Vaughters已经表达了对Contador的喜爱之情：“Alberto Contador是一名难以置信的车手，对于任何一支车队能拥有这样出色的车手都是再好不过的事。”Vaughters同样表示，任何签约事宜都要从车队的利益出发。这是否意味着Vande Velde 和 Wiggins将联合Paulinho 和Noval一起来阻击Armstrong的那些明星支援车手呢？
3．Caisse d'Epargne
这支法国赞助的西班牙车队看起来很明显会成为Contador的目标。他非常了解这支车队的车手们和管理方式，整个车队未来的阵容将非常强大，而队长Alejandro Valverde已经表示他非常欢迎Contador的加盟并且愿意给他提供帮助。唯一的问题是，车队的赞助商只延长到2010年底而Contador坚持要求至少两年的合同。除非领队Eusebio Unzue可以找到新的赞助商，这个选择看起来是不可能成功的。
4．Fernando Alonso
两届F1世界冠军在环法期间宣布打算组建一支自行车队并且已经和Contador密切接触商讨此事。以某种方式来看，这应该是Contador理想的选择，他将毫无疑问以队长的身份加盟一支西班牙车队。而按照Alonso的计划，桑坦德银行将成为车队的赞助商。并且这家银行的副经理Alfredo Saez正是Miguel Indurain辉煌时期所在车队Banesto车队的经理。
然而，面临的最大困难就是要找到足以保证Contador去竞争环法桂冠的高水平的队友。本周初，Contador在Astana车队的队友Benjamin Noval表示；“Alberto喜欢这个计划但目前他并不感兴趣。因为很难在短时间内组建一支强大到足以赢得环法的队伍。相比之下，他更愿意去一个组建完整并且可以给予他很好支援的车队。”看起来Alonso必须延迟他的组队计划了。
5．Katusha
这支俄罗斯车队不仅计划与Contador及其亲密队友签约，并且同样可以提供给其一支强大并且经验丰富的团队做保障。特别是Vladimir Karpets, Mikhail Ignatiev, Serguei Ivanov 和 Alexandre Botcharov。除了Ivanov的赛段冠军，Katusha在环法的成绩并不出色。除了一些冲刺和计时高手，他们还缺少一位出色的领军人物。有传闻，他们正在出巨资吸引Contador加盟。他们的优势在于资金雄厚，不仅可以接纳Contador，并且可以一起签下包括Daniel Navarro 和 Jesus Hernandez在内的他的所有亲密队友。
6．Other teams
Contador的150——200万的年薪要求使他不可能加盟法国和意大利的车队，但并没有超出Rabobank 和Quick Step的范围。但是，Contador需要一个百分之百支持他的团队，因此不可能和像Denis Menchov 、Oscar Freire、Tom Boonen这样的车手在同一车队。那么Team Sky怎么样呢？但他们好象已经确定了2010年的人员名单。
原文：http://www.cyclingnews.com/featu ... -alberto-contador-2
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