Lance Armstrong’s Astana cycling team has admitted it is struggling to pay its riders, but confirmed it will compete in the Giro d’Italia.
Funding that the team was receiving from companies in Kazakhstan is drying up as the country is hit hard by the economic crisis. Astana receives most of its funding from Khazakh state holding company Samruk-Kazyna, which has pledged to continue its support. However Kazakh state airline Air Astana has pulled its sponsorship of the team.
The Guardian newspaper reports that team spokesman Philippe Maertens confirmed that the team had failed to pay its riders.
“There are some financial problems,” Maertens said.
Astana is at risk of losing its licence to compete in International Cycling Union (UCI) events if it does not secure its finances.
