 Team Astana Announces 2008 Vuelta a Espana Line-Up By Thomas Valentinsen Aug 25, 2008 - 2:15:38 PM
Contador and Leipheimer look set to go for the overall win. Astana cycling team General Manager Johan Bruyneel and Sports Director Alain Gallopin earlier today announced the names of the nine riders who will participate in the 2008 Vuelta a Espana / Tour of Spain, starting this Saturday, August 30th, in Granada, Spain. The team will be lead by team directors Alain Gallopin and Viatcheslav Ekimov with Johan Bruyneel certainly contributing from the sideline if needed.
Team leader and 2007 Tour de France and 2008 Giro d'Italia winner Alberto Contador finds himself to be completely ready for the 2008 Vuelta and highligts the strength of the Astana Team by nominating teammate Levi Leipheimer to be one of his major competitors for the overall title. “I have been focused on this race for a number of months. I’ve spent time with the rest of the team and I feel that we are prepared and motivated for the next three weeks. I am better prepared than I was for the Tour of Italy. Mentally, but technically as well. Right now we’re not looking too far ahead, but our goal is to win another Grand Tour. Our sponsors have supported us throughout the entire season and I can’t think of a better way to thank them.” “Since early in the season, we identified the Tour of Spain as a major Team goal. We’ve had an excellent season to date and our riders are extremely motivated to end in winning fashion. I think we’ve assembled a well-balanced team that can accomplish our final major goal of 2008. We have riders for the mountains and flat stages, as well as the experience of super champions like Alberto Contador, Andreas Klöden and Levi Leipheimer.” commented Johan Bruyneel. According to the team management it was very hard for the team to pick the nine riders to represent Team Astana in Spain. “It was not an easy choice, which really shows the strength of our team. We have a lot of talented riders on Team Astana, but Johan and I decided that certain intangibles, such as experience, were very important. This group knows what it takes to win the big races and I’m hopeful we can prove this in the next three weeks.” said Alain Gallopin. The 2008 Tour of Spain will mark the end of a great Grand Tour career for veteran rider José Luis "Chechu" Rubiera who was a major help for Lance Arstrong in his many impressive quests for Tour de France success. Chechu told Roadcycling.com that “This will be my 20th and last Grand Tour. I am very grateful to all the riders, staff, sports directors and fans who have supported me throughout my entire career. It is a true honor to have had the opportunity to race for Johan, Lance and now Alberto. It has been a dream and I would love to complete my career with another Grand Tour victory." Chechu will exit pro cycling at the end of this season. Astana team roster for the Tour of Spain (August 30th – September 21st, 2008): Levi Leipheimer (34), USA
Andreas Klöden (33), Germany
Assan Bazayev (27), Kazakhstan Career Highlights: Sprinter, winner of stage in the Tour of Germany 2006. Key Results in 2008: National Road Champion Kazakhstan, Winner Points Classification Presidential Tour of Turkey, 5th Tour of Luxemburg, Twice top 5 in stages of the Tour of Italy Second start in Tour of Spain (98th in 2006). Dmitriy Muravyev (28), Kazakhstan José Luis Rubiera (34), Spain
Tomas Vaitkus (26), Lithuania Career Highlights: U23 World Champion Time Trial (2002), Stage victory Tour of Italy (2006), Four time National Champion (Road - 2004, 2008; Time Trial - 2003, 2004) Key Results in 2008: National Champion Road Race, Stage Victory Tour of Algarve, 1st Campina Ronde van het Groene Hart, 2nd and 3rd in stages of the Tour of Burgos, 8th Volta ao Distrito de Santarem, 12th Three Days of De Panne First start in Tour of Spain. 
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