Appreciation. When the U.S. dollar appreciates, it gains value against other currencies. Say $1 goes from being the equivalent of 0.8 euros to 0.85 euros. Now 1 euro is worth a little less than $1.18. To buy that French-made 500-euro item, you now need about $588.
Astana is located in central Kazakhstan on the Ishim River in a very flat, semi-desert steppe region which covers most of the country's territory. The elevation of Astana is at 347 metres (1,138 ft) above sea level. Astana is in a spacious steppe landscape, in the transient area between the north of Kazakhstan and the extremely thinly settled national center, because of the river Ishim.
Astana won the 2014 Tour de France with Vincenzo Nibali, and the Italian is contracted with the team for 2015. However, Nibali has a clause in his contract that states if Astana are no longer in the WorldTour or handed a Pro Continental licence then he is free to leave.