Contador staying put at ASTANA?

It seems that after all the bluster, 2-time Tour de France champion will ride for ASTANA next year.

Contador had expressed his sentiment that he would like to ride for another team next year in spite of the fact that he still has a “live” contract with the Kazakh team next year. There were rumors that the Spaniard would be riding for the American team, GARMIN and the Spanish outfit, but French sponsored CAISSIE D’EPARGNE but it never materialized. My guess is that Contador wasn’t willing to buy out his contract which could probably reach to a few million Euros. Ricky Rubio probably got the same advice that Contador got.

It was also rumored that former F1 champion and Contador countryman Fernando Alonso was also planning to build a team around Contador but at this late in the game, when all the good riders have found a home, it would be impossible to form a team that can support Contador in the Grand Tours. The twist to this story is that Alonso was photographed riding with the 2008 TdF champion, Carlos Sastre! What gives? With the economy having an effect on cycling, the equation has become less money for the sport and more riders looking for contracts. Therefore it’s a bad time to look for teams, even if your name is Contador.

With the 2010 ASTANA, there will be no Lance Armstrong but there will be Alexander Vinokourov. Vino may not have the same fierce personality and pedigree as LA but this team is basically Vino’s team, his own national and personal team. Therefore, if he stays, the chance of inter-team rivalry (with Vino) won’t be a surprise to me, talk about jumping from the frying pan head-on into the fire!!!

On the other hand, Lance Armstrong has been busy shopping for riders for his new team, RADIOSHACK. The team’s new signings include former teammates Levi Leipheimmer and Serghio Paulino. Classics rider Gert Steegmans was also signed.   

Finally, there is the case of Johan Bruyneel, ASTANA’s director sportif and close personal friend of Lance. Obviously, Bruyneel wanted out of his contract with ASTANA for next year and go to RADIOSHACK but ASTANA is not letting him off the hook for nothing.

BONGOTON TOUR RESULTS

I finally finished this course after failing three times. The course is the always challenging Danao-Lugo-Danao route, but not a good route for a 200-pounder like me. As they say in cycling, the mountains will always weed out the pretenders. Ome Rodriguez had a good race, and almost won the race but he was nipped on the line by Roger Lastimoso. Ome and team Ormoc spent last week on a training camp in preparation for the executive Tour of Matabungkay next month. If you think riding the Transcentral Highway is evil, think about what team Ormoc did. They had a training ride from Ormoc to Manila!!! Serious is an understatement here!!!

RESULTS:

CAT B

1- ROGER LASTIMOSO, 2- OME RODRIGUEZ, 3- LITO QUEBEC, 4- HAYLIN BARDAJE, 5- RAMON ESPINOZA

CAT C

1- DADONG CARCUEVA, 2- HEIDE ESMALI, 3- ALLAN DUNGOG, 4- DEDING JALUAG, 5- TONY TATA CODINA

MANDAUE REKLA CRIT RESULTS 2009.9.5

1- CAT C: RAFFY BACAYAN, 2- ALLAN DUNOG, 3- JV ARANETA, 4, HEIDE ESMALIN, 5- NANIE QUIJANO, 6- CALIXTO CRUZ, 7- MARIO ERABONO

Goodbye to a friend…

A good friend of mine and a colleague, Dr. Gerald Chiu Bartolata, passed away 3 weeks ago. Gerald was just one of the few people whom I genuinely had a high regard for in the workplace and in person. The guy was so unselfish and never petty. Happy Trails, Gerald!