Here’s the scoop from Astana …

Press Release: Nine Riders Re-sign with Team Astana

Astana Cycling Team General Manager Johan Bruyneel announced today that nine riders have re-signed for the 2009 season. Assan Bazayev, Chris Horner, Maxim Iglinskiy, Andreas Klöden, Steve Morabito, Dmitriy Muravyev, Daniel Navarro, Gregory Rast and Michael Schär have recommitted their services to Team Astana and will rejoin a formidable team that includes 2008 Giro d’Italia Champion Alberto Contador and two-time Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer.

Under Bruyneel, the 2008 Astana Cycling Team has already recorded twenty-eight wins, including seven overall classifications in stage races and currently is the leader in the ProTour Team Classification. He is extremely pleased that he could keep such a successful squad together. “Over the last couple months, I’ve received many phone calls from riders on other teams who wanted to race next year for Team Astana. Though flattering, it was my desire to first re-sign the key members who have contributed to the success of this new team. I’m confident that the group we have assembled thus far will not only continue to win races, but also represent Astana, Kazakhstan and our entire sponsor family with pride and honor.”

Andreas Klöden, who finished 2nd twice at the Tour de France, believes in the new structure that Bruyneel implemented in 2008. “I’m very happy to have the opportunity to continue my career with Team Astana and Johan. When I see the number of riders who have re-signed for next year, it proves that we remain committed to this program, regardless of which races we are invited to participate in. We still have goals to achieve in 2008, but I’m already looking forward to next year.”

The 2009 roster currently has eighteen riders and Bruyneel expects to add another seven to next year’s team. “I’m excited about what we’ve accomplished so far and believe that Team Astana has an even brighter future ahead. I owe a great deal of gratitude to the Kazakh officials who support this program and have always believed in the Team; it’s been a great partnership,” commented Bruyneel.

List of 2009 Team Astana Riders (as of July 31st): Assan Bazayev, Jani Brajkovic, Alberto Contador, Chris Horner, Maxim Iglinskiy, Roman Kireyev, Andreas Klöden, Berik Kupeshov, Levi Leipheimer, Steve Morabito, Dmitriy Muravyev, Daniel Navarro, Benjamín Noval, Sérgio Paulinho, Gregory Rast, Michael Schär, Tomas Vaitkus and Andrey Zeits.

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