UCI Rules Alberto Contador Can Leave Astana, Seek Contract with Alternate Pro Tour Team . . . Good Luck Vino!

Huge news in the cycling world today as the world's best stage racer, Alberto Contador, was freed from his contract to the Kazahk-based Astana team. Contador can now move forward with signing with another team, with Caisse d'Epargne and Garmin viewed as the favorites to land "el pistolero." The Quick Step team too has been named as a team trying to land Contador. And regardless of where he goes (and he WILL leave Astana), Contador will instantly make one lucky team the odds on favorite to win the biggest bike race in the world.

For Astana, it may be lights out, as losing Contador leaves only Alexander Vinokorouv as a team leader. But Vino is no longer doping, at least not yet, and so he has been reduced to a good, not great rider. He'll never win any grand tour the rest of his career much less the Tour, and so Astana will have to majorly shift their priorities for 2010. They'll have to hope Vino has the goods in some of the hilly one day classics. He won some big one day races during his first career as a doper, but it is highly unlikely he'll be able to pull out another big classic win against some of the current talent in the sport. His time has passed him by, and perhaps Astana's time in the sport is coming to an end as well.

One final note about Astana's current roster is that the UCI rule for Contador may also work in Haimer Zubeldia's favor. The Spaniard was obliged to remain with the team earlier this year, despite his desire to ride with Lance Armstrong and Radioshack next year. Now, he too may get his wish.

Once Contador eventually signs with a team, the cycling landscape will have completely changed. Teams like Radioshack, Liquigas and Saxo Bank must have liked their prospects against Contador if he were riding for an inferior team like Astana. But now that he could go to powerhouses like Caisse d'Epargne, Garmin, or Quick Step, they may not be looking quite as forward to facing Contador come July.

Caisse d'Epargne seems the most likely choice for Contador to land. The team is already packed with talented climbing-oriented Spaniards (Valverde, Leon Sanchez, Rodriguez, Gutierrez), and the big budget to even add a few more names. Garmin too would be a good spot for Contador, but having the language barrier to deal with on the American team could prove too large a determining factor for Contador to jump to Jonathan Vaughter's team.

Over the coming days, the shape of the 2010 cycling season will change drastically. Alberto Contador will mull his options, and then choose his best chance for success in France in 2010. For Astana, rightfully, thing will get worse. Since accepting Alexander Vinokorouv back into their midst a few months ago, they have lost most of their technical staff, all of their team directors, all of their biggest stage and one day racers, and now, the best stage racing rider in the world. For a moment, all seems right in the cycling world.