Bruyneel Confirms: 'First payments complete'

Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel has confirmed that the first installments have been paid by the sponsors of the Kazakh backed team.

The team has been riding in the Dauphiné Libéré this week with the names of the sponsors faded out beyond recognition in protest, just as they did for the majority of the Giro d'Italia last month.

For the third stage of the Dauphiné the team will again have the sponsor's logos intact on their jersey and shorts.

The question that remains is to what extent the financial situation has soured the relationship between the Astana team management and sponsors, and whether there will be issues when the next financial obligations come due.