jon.ragsdale@comcast.net

Yeah, but with his tumultuous relationship with some people in the Tour org that could be another strike against Astana.
And if that was truely the case, that makes this possible story more interesting (from Jonathan Maus)
http://bikeportland.org/2008/09/19/lance-armstrong-to-buy-the-tour-de-france/

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Long, Steve"

Have you not thought about the possibility that maybe, just maybe the primary reason he'd do that is to get Astana back into the tour???

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of jon.ragsdale@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 9:13 AM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Armstrong to race for Astana

Like we couldn't see that one coming a mile away. What sucks though is that while his press conference was scheduled at 9 AM today to announce it, some moron from the Kazakh Cycling Federation already leaked it out.
A couple of details that were leaked, Armstrong's first year on the team he will be riding for free. And second, Contador has been reported to have said that if Armstrong joins the team, he will leave as he feels he has earned the right to be the team leader. Anybody know what Levi's contract is with the team? And what if Astana is banned from the Tour again this year? I would assume Armstrong or his people have done some due dillegence in this and got some indication that wasn't going to happen.