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Gallery: Astana joins the Calpe camp clan

Vinokourov leads team camp

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Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)

Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Astana training in Spain

Astana training in Spain
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana)

Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Team Astana

Team Astana
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Francesco Gavazzi (Astana)

Francesco Gavazzi (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)

Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Janez Brajkovic (Astana)

Janez Brajkovic (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The Astana team training in Calpe

The Astana team training in Calpe
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Simone Ponzi (Astana)

Simone Ponzi (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)

Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Giuseppe Martinelli and Alexandre Vinokourov look for a nice spot for dinner

Giuseppe Martinelli and Alexandre Vinokourov look for a nice spot for dinner
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) leads the team

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) leads the team
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Roman Kreuziger (Astana)

Roman Kreuziger (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Roman Kreuziger (Astana) will be looking to prove his clas

Roman Kreuziger (Astana) will be looking to prove his clas
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana)

Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) is back and hoping for big things this year

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) is back and hoping for big things this year
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana)

Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The team relaxing on the beach

The team relaxing on the beach
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Robert Kiserlovski (Astana)

Robert Kiserlovski (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) didn't need to pay for this photo to be taken

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) didn't need to pay for this photo to be taken
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) ready for training

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) ready for training
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Janez Brajkovic (Astana)

Janez Brajkovic (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Roman Kreuziger (Astana) shows he can sprint

Roman Kreuziger (Astana) shows he can sprint
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)

Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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A time trial bike is assembled

A time trial bike is assembled
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Robert Kiserlovski talks with Gorazd Stangelj

Robert Kiserlovski talks with Gorazd Stangelj
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana) leads the group

Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana) leads the group
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Roman Kreuziger (Astana)

Roman Kreuziger (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Paolo Tiralongo (Astana)

Paolo Tiralongo (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Calpe has become a hotbed of team activity in recent years

Calpe has become a hotbed of team activity in recent years
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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A team mechanic hard at work

A team mechanic hard at work
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Roman Kreuziger (Astana)

Roman Kreuziger (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The Astana team has a number of objectives in 2012

The Astana team has a number of objectives in 2012
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The Astana team has a number of objectives in 2012

The Astana team has a number of objectives in 2012
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

The period of training camps is coming to a close [Thank heavens! - Ed.], but that hasn't stopped the Astana team cramming in a final few days of training on the Spanish coast.

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Garmin-Barracuda, BMC, GreenEdge, RadioShack and even a  solitary Nick Nuyens, have all ventured to the sleepy tourist resort.

This year's Astana team appears as a far stronger proposition to the 2011 version. Janez Brajkovic joins from Astana and will add much needed steel to the team's prospects in stage races, while Dimitry Muravyev, Borut Bozic and Kevin Seeldraeyers will add strength in depth.

Of course, the star of the Astana show remains Alexander Vinokourov. Whether it's through race performances or controversies, the veteran always attracts attention and with 2012 being his final season in the professional ranks, he'll be looking to go out with a bang before retiring at the London Olympics.