After the fiasco with Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador makes a comeback by winning in the Volta ao Algarve. He won second place in the stage five time trial by a mere 30 seconds over everyone including his fellow countryman, Luis Leon Sanchez, who set the pace for the race. He bested Team Radioshack’s Tiago Machado who finished third; Andreas Klöden came up eight, and Levi Leipheimer who got fourth place.

Although the fellow rider Daniel Navarro took the 58th place in overall standings, both wins served to uplift the team’s morale for the Tour de France and Paris-Nice. Contador opens the 2010 Tour as the reigning champion.

Algarve proved to be a benchmark for Contador and his teammates. To be victorious against challenges in the race translates their passion to excel. “Every one has ridden out of their skin. They finished very tired but we…

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If you’re a fan of two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, or just Astana in general, then you might like this Bontrager RXL Jersey Team Issue Astana. It features a fitted cut, with dynamically breathable and strategically placed, four-way stretch fabrics, for a higher level of performance. It also has cycling-specific paneling, which wicks away moisture and also helps with quick-drying. A texturized silicone gripper at the waist and cuffs allow for a perfect fit. A full-length center front semi-locking zipper allows for easy on-and-off. Finally, three top-entry rear stash pockets give you storage space for odd-n-ends. You can purchase the Bontrager RXL Jersey Team Issue Astana at the Trek online shop for a discounted price of $99.99….

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Brothers Allan and Scott Davis are making the move to Astana for 2010. Allan previously rode for Quick Step in 2009, but was let go so he could join Astana. Allan was once believed to be part of the infamous Operación Puerto doping scandal, but was eventually acquitted after the Australian Cycling Federation’s investigation. He went on to win this year’s Tour Down Under finished fourth in the Vattenfall Cyclassics and the Milan-San Remo. His brother, Scott, will be joining him in the move, coming from Australia’s Fly V.

Via Velo News….

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French officials have announced that they are investigating some blood doping equipment which was found in a search of Astana‘s medical supplies. French newspaper Le Monde was first to report on the find, and a source has confirmed so today. Even though blood transfusions are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the source said that the possession of the equipment does not automatically mean a doping violation has been committed. “No trace of any doping product has for the time being been uncovered by the analysis of this material,” says the source. Anti-hypertensive products were also found during the search. While they are not banned, they can be used to treat hypertension which comes along with blood doping.

Via Velo News….

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32-year-old Oscar Pereiro will be part of Astana’s line-up in the Tour Down Under, which will begin next month. At the team’s first training camp in Pisa, Italy, the Spaniard said that he would return early in 2010 after a difficult year. “I raced at the Tour Down Under this year and the number of people watching the race really impressed me. It’s incredible, especially the opening criterium,” Pereiro says. He has yet to race after pulling out of the Tour early due to exhaustion. “The last years few years have been hard for me, I worked really hard to return after the crash at the 2008 Tour. I was too tired at this year’s Tour, in both my mind and my body. I didn’t like cycling at that point. But after three months at home I started to think, ‘Cycling is my life’ and…

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