This week in the cycling world started off with a blast, after Astana Qazaqstan Team have terminated Miguel Ángel López' contract following further evidence of his involvement in a drug trafficking ring. López has now responded.
"Today the decision of the Astana Qazaqstan team to terminate the contract that linked the cyclist Miguel Ángel López with it, a contract that had been renewed in November 2022, for the 2023 season, has been publicly communicated," said a note shared in the Colombian rider's social media, likely written by his lawyer team. He was set to continue with the Kazakh team, where he has been leading since the start of this season, but saw his contract terminated with immediate effect.
López had been interrogated by Spanish authorities when he returned to Europe in late July ahead of the Vuelta a Espana. Although he was released, the team said it has found new evidence showing his connections with Dr. Marcos Maynar, who has been arrested earlier this year over the control of a doping ring based in Cáceres, Spain.
"The cyclist Mr. Miguel Ángel López considers said decision absolutely unjustified, there being no new fact that justifies it and that was unknown in November 2022 by the Astana team," the statement continued, "rejecting any insinuation that harms his name and honor as a professional cyclist, and remembering that never, ever during his career, he has tested positive for any doping substance or has even been the object of investigation by the competent authorities."
López had previously stated to be taking legal action and denying his involvement in any investigation, and the post ended on that note: "Mr. Miguel Ángel López informs that he will exercise all the legal actions that assist him in defense of his rights, given what he understands to be a clear case of abusive dismissal and without just cause."
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- I hope he rides a bitmij15-11-2026
- Greatest athlete this world has ever produced ! LOL ... you definitely are a comdian ! Cycling is so sprecialized and you think he's the greatest athlete ever ! Still laughing !frieders315-11-2026
- b.s. headline. Jonas wasn't told anything, it is just a pundit telling him what to do. the actual article is not even close to the insinuation of the headline.mij15-11-2026
- I think Roglic could have beaten Sepp. not Jonas. I was referring to Sepp.mij15-11-2026
- I'm deeply sick of this guy and his unwillingness to race seriously for more than a month or two. I'll never respect riders who do that. Seixas will be stronger than him next season, and maybe Del Toro as well. I don't even think he'll finish on the podium at any GT where Pogi, Seixas, and Del Toro are racing.megasmacky15-11-2026
- Not a chance in hell.megasmacky15-11-2026
- If you go watch some races from last season other riders that have never caught Jonas...are now catching him. Some are just riding away from him and he can't hold the wheelmd197514-11-2026
- He just doesn't have the desire anymore. I read an article earlier today that said he almost retired last year. His reasoning was he is away from home to much. Visma was able to keep him riding by allowing him to skip certain camps. So, while currently Visma is doing altitude work...Jonas is at home. Which means 2 things. 1- He maybe fresher than other riders. But, not the condition. 2-Is a somewhat slap in the face to others on the team that are supposed to help him win. Yet feel like he hasn't done what they have so perhaps they don't provide as good of protection or they ride more for theme (which the team may not notice).md197514-11-2026
- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
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En el día de hoy se ha comunicado públicamente la decisión del equipo Astaná Qazaqstan de rescindir el contrato que me vinculaba como ciclista, considero dicha decisión absolutamente injustificada. 📩 Comunicación.
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