Not only does the Spanish-Kazakhstani team Astana-Würth not know whether or not it will be allowed to start at this year's Tour de France, but the team directors have not yet confirmed a definite line-up for the squad. Twelve riders arrived in Strasbourg on Wednesday, waiting for a decision: Alexandre Vinokourov, Assan Bazayev, Andrey Kashechkin, Carlos Barredo, Joseba Beloki, Alberto Contador, Isidro Nozal, Aitor Osa, Luis Leon Sanchez, Allan Davis, Jörg Jaksche and Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho.
German Jörg Jaksche, initially thought to have a sport on the roster, is rumoured not to get selected after all, with Spaniard Joseba Beloki taking his spot. Asked which nine of those twelve riders present will start in Saturday's prologue, Jaksche said, "Nothing has been decided yet. I'll train again on Thursday and then we'll decide."
