Klöden to stay with Astana

If there is a Team Astana in 2008, then Andreas Klöden will be a part of it. "He has a valid contract through the end of 2008 and he will fulfil it, if the team continues to exist -- which I assume it will," his manager Tony Rominger told the dpa news agency..

In August, Rominger had said Klöden's signing with Astana was a "mistake" and that the German rider was looking to leave, which Klöden later denied. It is rumoured that Team Milram is interested in signing him to lead them in the Tour de France.

Rominger admitted that he doesn't know what Astana's future will be. "I have heard that it should run under the management of Johan Bruyneel next year, but I have no official word." It is also rumoured that Bruyneel might also take Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, another Rominger client, with him. "I wouldn't have anything against that," Rominger said. He added that he has received inquiries about Klöden's and Contador's availability.