Controversial Kazachstan rider Alexandr Vinokourov is back from suspension and has re-signed with the Astana Cycling Team.  Agreement was reached late Monday with Johann Bruyneel  and Rinus Wagtmans, the authorized representative for the Kazakh authorities, on the fee and start date for Vinos return. 

On July 24th 2007 Vinokourov tested positive for doping at the Tour de France, the day after winning stage 17.  An early crash in the race had seen him written off as he needed multiple stitches in both knees.  He went on to win the first individual time trial and a mountain stage before testing positive for a blood transfusion, one of the easiest detectable forms of doping.

Initially the Kazachstan federation only gave him a one year ban but the UCI disagreed and demanded a two-year sanction.  A final decision from the Cout of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) agreed with the UCi with the ban expiring on the 24th July 2009.

Vinokourov had angered team manager Johann Bruyneel by stating that when he returned he would lead the team on the road and that it would be his team.  There has been much speculation concerning the future of the current riders on the squad for next season, especially since the announcement that Lance Armstrong will leave Astana to ride for his own team (Radioshack) in 2010, most likely taking many of the roster with him including Bruyneel.  The other main rider on the team, Alberto Contador, has been continually linked with a move but a statement from Astana last week seemed to pour water on this as he has another year on his contract.

Vinokourov’s first race for the Team will be the Tour of Spain which starts next Saturday in Assen (the Netherlands). a race he won in 2006. He signed a contract with Team Astana till the end of 2010.

2009 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador is not defending his 2008 Vuelta title and team manager Johann Bruyneel will not be at the race either.  Chris Horner or Haimar Zubeldia would be expected to be the main GC contenders on the road.  Where Vinokourov will fit in remains to be seen.

The team line-up for the Tour of Spain is-

Assan Bazayev, Maxim Iglinskiy, Jesús Hernández, Chris Horner, Daniel Navarro, José Luis Rubiera, Michael Schär, Alexandr Vinokourov & Haimar Zubeldia

Directors: Sean Yates & Alexandr Shefer