First Edition Cycling News, Wednesday, November 3, 2010

• Previous Edition
• Next Edition

Date published:

November 3, 2010, 06:00

• First UCI ProTeams and Professional Continental Teams announced

  

  Article published:

  November 2, 2010, 16:46

  By:

  Cycling News

  Pegasus, FDJ miss out on ProTeam licenses, Vacansoleil in the running

  The UCI announced today the first batch of teams to be awarded licenses at the top tier of the sport, now called ProTeams (previously ProTour).

  Omega Pharma-Lotto, Garmin-Cervélo, Rabobank and Sky ProCycling are the first teams to be given the green light, with the remaining top-ranked teams to be decided on November 20.

  The UCI also revealed the criteria for deciding which teams will be allowed into top tier, stating that for 2011 licenses, "the evaluation of teams has placed particular emphasis on the sporting criterion".

  Teams have been ranked based on the results of the squad's top 15 riders "using results obtained in 2009 and 2010" in all races on the UCI calendar as well as the team classification of stage races on the UCI World Calendar and hors categorie events on the UCI continental circuits in 2010.

  The new Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project leads the rankings over Rabobank, Garmin-Cervélo, HTC-Highroad, Omega Pharma-Lotto and Lampre. Other teams in the top 15 are Katusha, Sky, Liquigas-Cannondale, Saxo Bank SunGard, RadioShack, Vacansoleil, Astana, Movistar and BMC.

  It was decided that only the top 15 teams in this ranking would receive or keep their existing first tier status as long as they also meet the financial, ethical and administrative criteria.

  Teams ranked 16th-20th will fight for the remaining three spots, while any team ranked lower than 20th is not eligible for the ProTeams designation.

  That puts Eustaltel-Euskadi, Geox-TMC, Quick Step, Cofidis and AG2R in, but FDJ and Pegasus Sports out of the running for the ProTeams license.

  The UCI also announced the awarding of 13 Professional Continental licenses. Entering for the first time are two US-registered squads, Team Type 1 and Unitedhealthcare ProCycling.

  Other teams named are Androni Giocattoli, Bretagne - Schuller, Caja Rural, Colnago - CSF Inox, Europcar (formerly Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli (formerly ISD-Neri), FDJ, Landbouwkrediet, Saur - Sojasun, Skil - Shimano, Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator..

  The UCI's 2010 Teams Rankings

  1 Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
  2 Rabobank Cycling Team
  3 Garmin-Cervélo
  4 HTC-Highroad
  5 Omega Pharma-Lotto
  6 Lampre-ISD
  7 Katusha
  8 Sky ProCycling
  9 Liquigas-Cannondale
  10 Saxo Bank SunGard
  11 Team RadioShack
  12 Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
  13 Pro Team Astana
  14 Movistar Team
  15 BMC Racing Team
  16 Euskaltel-Euskadi
  17 Geox-TMC
  18 Quick Step Cycling Team
  19 Cofidis Le Crédit en ligne
  20 AG2R
  21 FDJ
  22 Saur-Sojasun
  23 Pegasus Sports
  24 Skil-Shimano
  25 Acqua e Sapone
  26 Colnago-CSF Inox
  27 Europcar
  28 Androni Giocattoli
  29 Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
  30 Veranda's Willems-Accent
  31 Team Type 1
  32 CCC Polsat Polkowice
  33 Bretagne-Schuller
  34 Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
  35 Landbouwkrediet
  36 UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
  37 Team Netapp
  38 Team SpiderTech powered by C10
  39 Caja Rural
  40 Colombia Es Pasion-Café de Colombia
  41 De Rosa-Ceramica Flamina
  42 Andalucia Caja Granada

   

• AFLD prepared to work with UCI on 2011 Tour de France doping controls

  

  Article published:

  November 2, 2010, 18:57

  By:

  Barry Ryan

  French anti-doping agency welcomes WADA report

  The French anti-doping agency (AFLD) has indicated that it is prepared to work together with the International Cycling Union (UCI) in carrying out testing at the 2011 Tour de France.

  “On the occasion of next season’s major events (Paris-Nice, Dauphine Liberé and the Tour de France), the AFLD is willing to join its efforts with those of the UCI, both before and during competition,” read a statement from the AFLD on Tuesday.

  The UCI had primary responsibility for testing at the 2010 Tour de France and an independent report released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) last Thursday expressed concern at the lack of cooperation between the two bodies. The report noted that, “without apportioning blame to either party, the lack of cooperation and trust evident between the UCI and the AFLD for the Tour was extremely disappointing to observe.”

  The AFLD has declared itself pleased with the contents of the report and hailed the presence of the WADA observers at the 2010 Tour. “The presence of observers at the Tour de France has contributed give to the tests carried out during this competition additional fairness and efficiency. It also served as a deterrent to riders tempted to exploit the possibilities of doping.”

  One of the primary reservations of the independent report was that the UCI placed too much emphasis on performing tests for its biological passport system, to the detriment of more traditional anti-doping controls. The AFLD echoed this point, recommending that data from the biological passport be used to aid in targeted testing.

  “The efficacy of the controls must still be improved,” noted the AFLD statement. “The application of several of the independent observers’ recommendations would complement the anti-doping programme, in particular a better use of the results of biological passport before the races and sincere cooperation between the parties and institutions involved.”

  Pierre Bordry resigned as president of the AFLD in September and has since been replaced at the helm by Bruno Genevois. It is unclear if the change in leadership will have any impact on the often difficult relationship between the UCI and the French body, which required the intervention of WADA to allow it to play a role in drug testing at this year's Tour de France.

• Team Exergy joins professional ranks in 2011

  

  Article published:

  November 2, 2010, 21:25

  By:

  Kirsten Frattini

  Wonderful Pistachio, RealCyclist.com also seek UCI Continental status

  Team Exergy confirmed its upgrade from an Elite team to a UCI Continental team for the 2011 season. It is one of three new US-based outfits, including Wonderful Pistachio and RealCyclist.com, that have expressed an interest in turning professional for the upcoming season.

  "We were a first year amateur team last year and were going to be UCI but the Exergy Development Group didn't come on until later in the year, December, so it was too late to file for UCI," said press officer and racer Remi McManus. "The decision was made to run the best possible Elite team with the commitments that had already been made to the riders and supporting sponsors last year. But, it was always the plan to make the natural progression to UCI status."

  Exergy Development Group is dedicated to sustainable economic development in the United States, according to McManus. Its main focus is the responsible implementation of strategies minimizing impact on resources. It implements this strategy by successfully merging free market principles with environmental, societal, and community values.

  "They find the land and develop contracts with land owners to develop wind parks," McManus said. "One of our themes is to try to be as green as possible. Cycling is a consumable sport so one of our things will be to provide recycling bins at our trailer and try to use recyclable bottles and things like that."

  The Boise-based Continental team is managed by Escalera Racing LLC and will focus on the National Racing Calendar (NRC) in 2011. Its 11-man roster includes returning riders McManus, Andres Diaz, Chris Hong and Kai Applequist.

  New riders include Eric Barlevev (UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis), Matt Cooke (Mountain Khakis f/b Jittery Joes), Sam Johnson (Hagens Berman), Erik Slack (Under 23 US National Team), Carlos Alzate, Ben Chaddock (Rubicon-Orbea) and Quinn Keogh (Rubicon-Orbea).

  The outfit secured a two-year sponsorship with Felt Bicycles and will unite for a sponsor education camp in late January in Boise, Idaho followed by a training camp in February in Ventura, California.

  USA Cycling names preliminary list of nine men's Continental and three women's professional teams

  As of October 20, USA Cycling published a list of teams that have declared an intent to register as a US-based Continental team. Returning teams include Kelly Benefit Strategies, Jelly Belly p/b Kenda, Kenda-Geargrinder, Bissell and the Under 23 Trek Livestrong.

  New outfits and title sponsors listed include Team Exergy, Wonderful Pistachio and RealCyclist.com. Also on the list was the Elite team Ride Clean, which has decided not to file its UCI Continental application with USA Cycling.

  "Due to unforeseen problems with our sponsors, the Ride Clean team has decided not to file with USA Cycling for Continental status in 2011," said Marty Ryerson representing the Ride Clean team.

  Noticeably absent from the list is Jamis-Sutter Home, however the team's Directeur Sportif Sebastian Alexandre has assured that the appropriate UCI documents and contracts will be submitted to USA Cycling‘s auditor's office before the November 5 deadline.

  There are three women's teams that have expressed an interest in maintaining is status with the UCI that includes Team TIBCO, HTC-Columbia and Safi Pasta-Zara, formerly registered in Italy.

• Vacansoleil gave up Mosquera's points toward UCI ProTeam application

  

  Article published:

  November 2, 2010, 22:33

  By:

  Barry Ryan

  Vacansoleil 12th in UCI's sporting hierarchy of teams for 2011

  Vacansoleil-DMC has revealed today that it requested that the UCI not count Ezequiel Mosquera’s world ranking points when calculating the team’s position in its classification for the sporting criteria which will determine which applicants for 2011 ProTeam licences will enter the sport's top tier.

  Mosquera’s transfer from Xacobeo Galicia to Vacansoleil was announced just before it was revealed that he had returned an adverse analytical finding for Hydroxyethyl starch at the Vuelta a España in September. A verdict has yet to be reached in the Spaniard’s case.

  “In the battle for a clean sport we think it is inappropriate to score with the points of Mosquera,” Vacansoleil team manager Daan Luijkx explained. “We believe it is fair towards other teams and the fans to keep the Spanish rider excluded for 2011. The non counting of his points has no influence on the steps to be taken towards the rider.

  “As mentioned before, we are awaiting the results of the pending investigation before making decision on the future of the rider. We are confident the authorities will do a proper job.”

  Vacansoleil-DMC was positioned in 12th place in the UCI’s ranking of the sporting criteria of the teams that have applied for ProTeam and Pro Continental status for 2011, meaning that it is still in contention for a ProTeam berth. Thus far, just four teams have had their place in cycling’s top tier confirmed: Rabobank, Garmin-Cervélo, Team Sky and Omega Pharma-Lotto. The remaining ProTeam licences are expected to be allocated on November 20.

  Vacansoleil enjoyed a successful 2010 in spite of failing to be invited to any of the Grand Tours and subsequently launched an ambitious transfer campaign in order to bolster its roster for next season. As well as Mosquera, the team also Stijn Devolder from Quick Step. Meanwhile the controversial Riccardo Riccò arrived at the end of the summer, although his presence failed to secure an invitation to the Tour of Lombardy.

  “The team got 74 top-3 spots in 2010 with 19 different riders. These results were gained during the entire season which is a distinguishing quality of the team,” Luijkx said. “The core of the team is maintained and with Devolder, De Gendt and Riccò we believe to be ready for the level of first division.

  “I am proud of the team that we are among the best 15 teams of the World based on sporting level and I am hopeful that we will get the license. It would be a great reward for the team if it gets the First Division license.”

• Zirbel breaks Armstrong's record at Tour of Gruene TT

  

  Article published:

  November 2, 2010, 23:05

  By:

  Kirsten Frattini

  Suspended rider competes in non WADA affiliated event

  Tom Zirbel recently broke the record time of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong at the Tour de Gruene Bicycle Classic in Austin, Texas this weekend, an event not subject to control by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Code. Zirbel is currently serving a two-year suspension for a doping infraction that will be complete in November 2011.

  Zirbel told Cyclingnews,. "The race organizer from Gruene assured me that they have no affiliation with USA Cycling, International Cycling Union or any other signatory of the WADA Code." Zirbel rode the 25 km out and back parcours in a time of 32:15, nearly one minute faster than the previous course record set by Armstrong in 2008.

  "I had fun with it, it was cool to play 'bike racer' again," said Zirbel, who celebrated his birthday on race day with friends in Austin. "The course record was set in 2008 at 33:14. It is just an out and back course along the river, so it's pretty straight forward."

  "I haven't been 'training,' but I don't own a car so I ride almost everywhere and I manage to get some intensity in here and there," he added. "I broke the course record, which was encouraging. Some Austin local legend held it before me, but he obviously isn't in the same class as me."

  Last December, Zirbel announced that he tested positive in an anti-doping test conducted by the United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA) following the US Pro time trial championships on August 29, 2009. Both A and B samples returned positive for an endogenous steroid Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). He denied knowingly ingesting the banned substance and is currently seeking a reduced sanction.

  "I'm actually working with a legal team and they're still trying to get me a reduction in sanction, but I'm not holding my breath," Zirbel said. "We were never able to find definitive evidence of what caused the positive so it's an uphill battle."

  WADA Code article 10.10.1 states, ‘No Athlete or other Person who has been declared ineligible may, during the period of ineligibility, participate in any capacity in a Competition or activity (other than authorized anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs) authorized or organized by any Signatory, Signatory's member organization, or a club or other member organization of a Signatory's member organization, or in Competitions authorized or organized by any professional league or any international- or national-level Event organization.'

  Tour de Gruene Executive Director, Will Rotzler reiterated that his event is not a sanctioned race and is not affiliated with the USAC, UCI or WADA Code. "The only thing you get from competing in the Tour de Gruene, besides a great ride and test of abilities, and the beautiful scenery, is entrance into Wurstfest, New Braunfels 10-day salute to sausage festival, celebrating its German heritage."

• Pegasus reacts to ProTeam announcement

  

  Article published:

  November 3, 2010, 01:18

  By:

  Cycling News

  Team maintains faith in long-term vision

  Following the announcement that the UCI would not be considering Pegasus Racing for a ProTeam licence in 2011, the team has stated it will seek Professional Continental status for next season.

  According to criteria used by the sport's governing body in determining which teams would be issued a ProTeam licence, Pegasus was ranked outside the top 20 squads being considered - at 23rd in the standings, a permit to race in the ProTour was out of the question.

  The news scuttled Pegasus Sports CEO Chris White's hopes of becoming the first Australian ProTour outfit - for another year, at least - and with signings such as Robbie McEwen, Robbie Hunter, Svein Tuft and Luke Roberts, the squad will now be forced to rely on invitations to the year's biggest races.

  "We were officially informed by the UCI today that we are not among the top 20 ranked teams, which means that we will be a Pro Continental team for 2011," said White in a press statement.

  "It was certainly our goal to be a ProTeam in 2011, and we are a little disappointed, but we accept the decision of the UCI. It was just a matter of sporting criteria, and other teams being ranked more highly than us.

  "From a competition perspective, this does not change things significantly, and we will still participate at the highest level of cycling and plan to be in the biggest races in the world."

  Hitherto Garmin-Transitions rider Hunter told Cyclingnews last week that racing for Pegasus without a ProTour licence wouldn't hinder the Australian team's progress in its development. "We're waiting for the ProTour license decision but I won't be disappointed if it doesn't happen for 2011. I always want to ride the Tour de France but if I have to skip it next year because we're building a good project for the future, I'm ok with it."

  Like Hunter, White isn't deterred by this latest development during a period in which he is scheduled to announce a headline sponsor for the 2011 season. "We had hoped to start in the top division, but we always knew this would be difficult to achieve as a first time applicant," he said.

  "There are actually some benefits to us starting as a Pro Continental team; getting a year under our belt in Europe, and then hopefully moving up to ProTeam level the following year. Other teams have successfully used this formula, and we see no reason that we can't do the same.

  "We are in contact with several major race organisers and we are confident that we will have a great program next year and that we will achieve great things. We are also convinced of the additional value we offer in terms of our vision for the modernisation of cycling and our contribution to globalising cycling."

• Landis wants New Zealand win, will stand trial in France

  

  Article published:

  November 3, 2010, 04:06

  By:

  Cycling News

  American, former coach set to face trial on hacking charges

  Floyd Landis has declared his desire to win New Zealand’s Tour of Southland, where the former Phonak rider sits in fourth place just over a minute behind race leader Jeremy Yates. Landis announced his aims on the same day French court officials revealed the disgraced Tour de France winner and former coach Arnie Baker will stand trial on hacking charges.

  “I want to win – it’s going to be tough but that’s the goal,” said Landis. “A minute’s quite a bit to make up so some bad weather or bad luck on the other guys’ part is probably what I need.

  Landis is riding with the Orca Velo Merino squad in Southland. He believes riding with a group of young, enthusiastic riders has helped motivate him.

  “It’s fun to be around the young guys – they have dreams and goals and get up in the morning all excited to race …it’s good for me,” Landis said. “I remember feeling that way – not that it’s different now because I enjoy racing my bike but it is harder to get motivated at times.”

  After denying doping to win the 2006 Tour de France for a number of years Landis confessed to using performance enhancing products earlier this year. At the same time Landis levelled doping allegations at several former teammates and directors, bringing him under an even greater spotlight over the last six months, but Landis says he’s now back riding just for the love of it.

  “I haven’t done that for a long time and it’s been good for my head,” Landis said. “At times things got lost in the whole chaos of it all.”

  Landis was accused of hacking into the Châtenay-Malabry laboratory that tested his Tour sample in November 2006, with the lab saying that data on its computers was either removed or changed. The hacked files were subsequently used in Landis' defence in his US Anti-Doping Agency hearings.

  The attack was allegedly traced to a computer with the same IP address as that of Landis' former coach Baker. An arrest warrant was issued in January for both Landis and Baker, with authorities wanting to question the pair over the attack.

  A French court official said Judge Thomas Cassuto ruled on October 15 that the pair were to stand trial, but no court date has been set. The proceedings were intended to remain under wraps.

• Quinziato: BMC the team to beat in 2011 Classics

  

  Article published:

  November 3, 2010, 04:22

  By:

  Daniel Friebe

  Italian hopes move from Liquigas will lead to breakthrough

  Already one of the leading Italian Classics riders of his generation, Manuel Quinziato believes that his move from Liquigas to BMC Racing will help him and his team scale new heights in 2011.

  Quinziato told Cyclingnews that, with his arrival and also the signing of Belgian finisseur Greg Van Avermaet from Omega Pharma Lotto, BMC's line-up will be the most formidable in the peloton at next year's cobbled Classics. "If you add us two to Marcus Burghardt, Karsten Kroon, George Hincapie and Alessandro Ballan, I think that, collectively, we're stronger than anyone," he said.

  After five years at Liquigas, the 31-year-old from Bolzano, close to Italy's border with Austria, said that BMC's ambition was the key factor in his decision to join the Swiss-based team.

  Liquigas CEO Paolo Zani hinted recently that his squad had also been forced to bow to the superior spending power of BMC and Astana when trying and failing to renew the contracts of Quinziato and Roman Kreuziger respectively.

  "I think, at the moment, BMC is the fastest-growing team in professional cycling," said Quinziato. "I could see evidence of that in the little two-day training camp we had at the team headquarters in Switzerland after the Tour of Lombardy.

  "I had offers from around five teams but BMC were the best-equipped for the Classics. Lance [Armstrong] spoke to me about joining RadioShack, which was very flattering, but that's more of a stage-racing team. Quick Step, Katusha and a couple of others were also interested..."

  Thirteenth at Paris-Roubaix in 2008 (a performance which prompted the headline: "Quinziato and Roubaix: Love at First Sight" in the following day's Gazzetta dello Sport) and ninth the following year, Quinziato failed to live up to his own expectations in 2010, struggling to 63rd place. He says that the experience nonetheless taught him some valuable lessons.

  "I was going well in Tirreno-Adriatico but was tired and empty by the time I got to Flanders and Roubaix. Cancellara was too good for everyone, anyway, but it might be different this year. He's in a new team and he won't be able to count on [Rabobank-bound] Matti Breschel any more. That said, if he's as strong as he was this year, he'll be very hard to beat. That's why our power in numbers could be crucial."

  Quinziato is one of the more engaging and educated members of the Italian gruppo. The former Lampre rider juggles cycling with the demands of a part-time law degree, and spends much of the close season revising for exams. On Tuesday, he was browsing legal tomes in a Madrid bookstore when he took our call.

  "I've got three exams still to do, and I hope to do one a year for the next three years," he said. "When I was younger, I got some very good advice - a cycling career lasts 15 years and you have to find ways of filling the rest of your life. For me, though, the degree is more than just a piece of paper or a means to an end. It's also a life experience. It'd be good to use what I've learned later while also staying in cycling."

  A week ago, Quinziato was in Mexico, lining up alongside Andy Schleck, Samuel Sanchez and Alexandre Vinokourov in the end-of-season criterium won by the Kazakh.

  While for most riders such events offer a handsome appearance fee, plus time to unwind and attend to those tan-lines, music fanatic Quinziato left Mexico with an unexpected souvenir.

  "I was in the lift one day with a big American fellow who, out of nowhere, just started talking to me," Quinziato said. "He came out with this story about him being the father of the Followill brothers, who of course most people know as the band Kings of Leon.

  "He was telling me about how he'd been a preacher and battled alcoholism, and how the band was named after 'Leon', his father. I didn't really believe him, but then I read all about him on the internet. I also looked up photos and, sure enough, it was the guy from the lift...

  "It's funny - that's the second time something like that has happened in a few months," Quinziato continued. "A while back, I did an interview with Reuters in which I talked about listening to Rage Against The Machine in my warm up for time-trials.

  "Not long later I got a message on Twitter from the guitarist of the band Pendulum saying I should give them a try instead. This guy used to be in Nathalie Imbruglia's backing band. Anyway, he's a cycling fanatic and we've stayed in touch. Now I'm going to see them live in Innsbruck..."