Kazakh rider and Italian team go their separate ways by mutual agreement
Andrey Kashechkin and Lampre-ISD have agreed to go their separate ways with immediate effect, according to a statement from the team. The Kazakh rider signed for the blue-fuchsia outfit on July 1st last year, having spent almost a year in the wilderness at the end of his two-year suspension for blood-doping.
Kashechkin had a relatively fruitful second half to the 2010 season, including a 17th place in the Vuelta a España. Results this year have been lacklustre though, with the highlights being 37th overall in the Tour de Romandie and 40th overall in the Bayern-Rundfahrt.
Poor form saw the 31-year-old abandon the Critérium du Dauphiné on stage six, which ultimately meant that he was only named on the reserve list for the Tour de France.
Prior to his suspension, Kashechkin was seen as the heir-apparent to fellow Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov, which meant that very few were surprised when he followed ‘Vino’ in his positive for blood-doping. Vinokourov was caught during the 2007 Tour de France, while Kashechkin was caught on August 1st as he was holidaying in Turkey. He returned to racing in 2009, riding both the road race and time trial in the World championships, then signed for what was called Lampre-Farnese in the middle of the next season.
It is currently uncertain what Kashechkin will do for the remainder of the 2011 season, or if he will find a new team for 2012. It was expected that he would rejoin the Astana team on his return from suspension, but the team reportedly came under pressure from International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid, who said it may have caused problems if both Vinokourov and Kashechkin both returned to the same team.
With Vinokourov retiring after breaking his femur in a crash in stage nine of the Tour de France, the way could be clear for ‘Kash’ to rejoin his old team, should his form allow.