PARIS — Tour de France organizers have excluded the Astana team from competing at this year’s race, forcing winner Alberto Contador to ride for another team if he wants to defend his title.
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AP Photo/Christophe Ena
Alberto Contador will have to find another team if he intends to defend his 2007 Tour de France crown.
The decision to ban Astana from the race, which starts July 5, was made because of the “damage caused by this team to the Tour de France and cycling in general, both in 2006 and 2007,” organizers said. “The Astana team last year betrayed the trust of organizers.”
The entire Astana team quit last year’s Tour after Alexandre Vinokourov, a pre-race favorite, tested positive for a blood transfusion after his victory in the 13th stage time trial. Vinokourov’s teammate, Andrey Kashechkin, also tested positive for a banned blood transfusion after the Tour.
Astana came under new management this year.
ASO, which organizes the Tour, said Astana won’t be invited to any of its 2008 events. That includes Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Fleche Wallonne, Paris-Tours and others.
ASO said Astana could be allowed back in the future if it has a 2008 season “without suspicions.”
Astana wasn’t among the 20 teams selected Wednesday by ASO for the March 9-16 Paris-Nice race.
Astana also was barred from the Spanish Vuelta, and has been denied admission to this year’s Giro d’Italia.
Astana has tried to revamp itself this year under new leadership, with Johan Bruyneel becoming general manager of the team. Bruyneel was the architect of Lance Armstrong’s seven Tour victories.
Aside from Contador, other top Astana riders include Levi Leipheimer of the United States, who finished third at last year’s Tour, and Andreas Kloden of Germany, the runner-up in 2004 and ‘06.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
Source: Tour champ has to find new ride as team banned
