Vinokourov confirms comeback

Eurosport - Thu, 02 Jul 17:04:00 2009

Alexander Vinokourov will return to cycling when his two-year doping suspension ends this month and hopes to ride with his former Astana team.

CYCLING 2007 Tour de France Alexandre Alexander Vinokourov Winokurow - 0

"I want to announce that I will return to competitive cycling on July 24," Vinokourov said at a news conference in Monaco, where the Tour de France starts on Saturday.

"I do not see myself anywhere else than Astana. This team was created in 2006 with the Kazakh cycling federation; it is our baby."

He said negotiations were underway with the Kazakh cycling federation and team manager Johan Bruyneel.

"There are ongoing discussions. This team has been created for me, I do not see how an agreement could not be reached. "If there is no deal, Johan will have to leave the team," he added.

Vinokourov was banned for two years after testing positive for blood doping in the 2007 Tour de France. The 35-year-old has denied any wrongdoing.

He said he would probably take part in the Tour of Spain from Aug. 29 and in the world championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, in September.

Vinokourov, who could join Spain's Alberto Contador and seven-times Tour champion Lance Armstrong at Astana, is also hoping to ride the Tour de France in the future.

"I am back for one or two years and I would like to do one more Tour de France and wear the yellow jersey, although I am realistic, I know I cannot win it," he said.

"I am doing this for my family, for the people of Kazakhstan and to regain the image I had before my ban."

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Reuters

Comment 3 - 22 of 42

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  1. If Astana was created for him, and is 'his­ baby' why did he try to discredit the team and­ practically destroy it by doping?
    Astana and the Kaza­ cycling federation owe him nothing. He owes them for­ the damage he and his teammates inflicted!

    From Bill K, on Thu 2 Jul 10:24PM

  2. VINO? Obviously been on the Vino!!!!!!
    Wake up you­ muppet, you won nothing previously and ain't gonna­ win anything now.
    You gave no thought to TEAM Astana­ previously, just yourself!!
    Seems like nothing changed.­ So have East Europe develop another drug that can't­ be detected just for you?
    Is this Ronaldo's­ brother? ME ME ME, its all about ME?

    From malt2806, on Thu 2 Jul 10:22PM

  3. most of u people are stupid! astana was around before­ contador and lance. it was vino's team and the­ kazak government hold the team license so they own the­ team and can bring vino in if they want and johan will­ be gone. only question is will the team be any good­ after it all pans out

    From veloboy22, on Thu 2 Jul 10:17PM

  4. Then it's true, this is the Last year of the Ex­ discovery boys, since next year, we will see Armstrong­ & Johan in a new team, and probably Contador in a­ different team...

    From udikazaz, on Thu 2 Jul 10:01PM

  5. Anyone getting the feeling Astana could implode and­ perform well below expectations in this TdF?
    '
    -­ Look at Contador's face in "Astana face­ leadership split"- the guy looks scared.
    - Their­ team selection appears to balance Armstrong v Contador­ domestiques.
    - 2 months ago some cyclists had delayed­ salaries.
    - Vino is likely operating with Kazakh­ cycling federation whilst Bruyneel's trying to­ focus on TdF (great timing).
    '
    The morale and­ alignment of interests in Astana appear to be shot to­ bits, even after accounting for a bit of media­ sensationalism.

    From p, on Thu 2 Jul 9:58PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    he was banned because of political matters- organizers­ of TDF, are not transparent and they are not fear-­ justb they were sceared that young unknown team from­ the Deserts of Central Asia, and being one of fomer­ Soviet countries, - can beat all there wellknown­ European teams! The reason here is only -policy. And as­ well known- policy is very dirty thing. And organizers­ of TDF bulsheted themselves with a double­ standarts.
    Vino- is very honest and professional man.­ he proved in court that he was right, but French people­ did't allow him to continue. He did a lot useful­ for cycling, for youngsters, ets. Be justice, don't­ sue anybody, and you woun't be charged.
    hohesty.

    From Marat, on Thu 2 Jul 9:53PM

  7. how as a rider could you possibly be in the same team­ as a man who thinks everything is revolving around­ him?

    From seancaseyb, on Thu 2 Jul 9:44PM

  8. Vino was a great rider to watch its a shame he turned­ to drugs. I do think its wrong though that he has said­ if hes not aloud in then Johan Bruyneel will have to­ leave

    From hamishhore, on Thu 2 Jul 9:29PM

  9. Yes, I'm sure that Contador and Armstrong will work­ for you. I see he is still on drugs. (oO)

    From zorangrubic85, on Thu 2 Jul 9:22PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    VINOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From ai, on Thu 2 Jul 9:17PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I don't care what you'll say - but I'm 100%­ behind Vino.

    In times when there were no sponsors and­ teams just blew off, the Kazakhstan government decided­ to put great deal of money into cycling. It is public­ secret that the person behind this project was Vino -­ so when he says that "Astana is his baby" he­ is 100% true. So let me ask you a question - when the­ Lotto decided not to include Charlie in team - all the­ Brits were in team directors throat saying he is making­ a great mistake and now when the best Kazakh rider, all­ time, wants to join the club he had lobbied in the­ Kazakhstan's Government, or better said he has­ created, and is sponsored with the money of the Kazakhs­ - he is the ultimate bad guy in cycling.

    Vino stay on­ course, you have every right to fight for your club,­ you even have the right to change the team director­ because Astana is truly yours team. If Lance or Alberto­ or anyone else is unhappy with your decisions they may­ feel free to go - and when they go home let them turn­ to their governments to find a sponsor that will invest­ millions of euros just like the Kazakh Government did.

    From Trifun, on Thu 2 Jul 9:16PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Vino is really good cyclist.Good soldier.He will take­ medals for Kazakh and other FANS.
    A lot of peope love­ him.if you dont believe,look in youtube!
    i also know­ that Contador's condition better than Vino's.i­ am happy becaue they
    riding for ASTANA.good­ luck.........

    From AZAMAT, on Thu 2 Jul 8:54PM

  13. what an arrogant pr@ck,seriously i have nothing againts­ former cheaters getting back to cycling if they stay­ clear,everybody deserves second chance,but those­ comments about forcing johan to leave the team make me­ wanna puke,how as a rider could you possibly be in the­ same team as a man who thinks everything is revolving­ around him? i have no respect at all for vino and i ll­ loose respect for every rider staying in the team with­ him

    From xangtzu, on Thu 2 Jul 8:40PM

  14. I'm no PR specialist but making a comeback from­ drugs is one thing but then saying Johan will have to­ leave 'his' team is another....i can only­ assume he's still on something!! This clown needs­ to get a grip

    From DAVID, on Thu 2 Jul 8:16PM

  15. What a sad sorry little man... Threats and wild­ ideas... You are not fit to be the bag man for­ Astana!

    BTW, Did anyone test him before this­ interview, he sounds a bit doped or is that just me?

    From obriendonal, on Thu 2 Jul 8:16PM

  16. So why are all the other riders who have served out­ bans ok but Vino is not? Some equality please from the­ lynch mob!

    From SteveH, on Thu 2 Jul 8:15PM

  17. Did I Read you correctly...No-Hopers what about­ Ex-Dpoers? This is Outrageous...Johan and Lance should­ have not pursued the Kazakh Government, bought the­ license and started a REAL team. Also, correct me if i­ am wrong but I thought the RULES were if you were­ caught and banned for 2 years that the ban also include­ NO Protour teamn for 4 years. What gives?

    From John, on Thu 2 Jul 8:02PM

  18. God God, what an a%&*ole! 'The team was­ created for me'? Hmm, well a certain Mr. Contador­ - who incidentally is a far better cyclist than Vino­ ever was - might argue with that, as well as another­ certain Texan. But realistically, this is terrible for­ cycling, at least Bernhard Kohl has retired and tried­ to do something slightly useful with his disgrace, and­ he potentially had a lot more years left in him than­ Vino. If Astana let this guy back in their team then­ they will be making a huge PR mistake. I detest this­ guy for what he has done to our Tour.

    From jamesdalby360, on Thu 2 Jul 7:52PM

  19. This has got to be the most outrageous set of comments­ from a returning, convicted CHEAT. Show some humility­ and remorse!! My god, he makes a good case for life­ bans in cycling. Something else must be the case here,­ but if someone has a team created for them, then­ disgraces it in full view of the entire sporting world,­ well...he must be lying big time to a very receptive or­ compliant Kazakhstani audience. If 'Johan will have­ to leave the team', then you can be sure every­ decent rider currently in Astana who isnt a countryman­ will leave with him, leaving a team of no-hopers led by­ Vino, and when things go bad (ie - no results) just­ wait for the cheating to begin. But, as he says 'i­ do not see myself anywhere but at Astana' because­ no one else will hire him....unless liquigas has some­ money spare.

    From demi162, on Thu 2 Jul 7:52PM

  20. That is the problem, unless they are banned for life­ there is a chance they will make a comeback and stir up­ all the s**t once again and drag our fantastic sport­ down with it. Stay away Vino if you love cycling as­ much as the fans.

    From chachy71, on Thu 2 Jul 7:50PM
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