Astana: Bruyneel not out yet

Johan Bruyneel ties up a few loose ends before the start of stage one.

Johan Bruyneel ties up a few loose ends before the start of stage one. (Image credit: Stephen McMahon)

While 2009 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador is still tied to the Kazakh Astana team for next season, his current director, Johan Bruyneel, has planned to leave the team, joining Lance Armstrong's RadioShack in 2010. But the mastermind behind the American's seven Tour victories is still in negotiations with Kazakh officials about his leave, as well as the signing four of the team's riders, also bound by contract to remain with Contador: Andreas Klöden, Yaroslav Popovych, Gregory Rast and Haimar Zubeldia.