Vinokourov to Liberty Seguros

Liberty Seguros-Würth has signed Alexandre Vinokourov for next three seasons, the team announced today, ending a great deal of speculation about the Kazakh champion's future. Vinokourov will also be bringing Sergei Yakovlev with him to Liberty from T-Mobile.

Team manager Manolo Saiz was interested in Vino "...for his competitiveness and his leadership capacity, especially in the Tour de France, but not only that. Besides, throughout his career, he has demonstrated a mentality that coincides perfectly with that of my team. Vinokourov, besides a leader, will be a teacher for the youngsters in the next three years.

"Together with Roberto Heras, he will form a good tandem that will allow us to have enough leeway not to pressure the youngest riders, who will have to rest in future. Vinokourov does not come to substitute anybody, but to complement and strengthen Liberty Seguros-Würth both in the grand tours and in the classics, another area where he has demonstrated that he is a master."