 Samruk-Kazyna is not OK Associated Press, 15.05.2009  Armstrong, Astana riders protest failed paymentsINNSBRUCK, Austria (AP) — Lance Armstrong and other riders on the Astana team are protesting the Kazakhstan squad's lack of salary payments by fading out the sponsors on their jerseys. Eight of the nine Astana riders committed to the protest for the seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia on Friday, which began in Austria. The only Kazakh rider for Astana at the Giro, Andrey Zeits, rode without altering his jersey. Astana receives financial support from Kazakh company Samruk-Kazyna, but the nation's economy has been badly hit by the ongoing global financial meltdown. The team has not paid its employees lately. Team manager Johan Bruyneel said "we're an important factor in the race, and we don't want to pretend as if everything is OK. It's not OK." The Associated Press |
