Second Edition Cycling News, Monday, May 31, 2010

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Date published:

May 31, 2010, 23:00

• Sastre reveals his Giro was ruined by a back injury

  

  Article published:

  May 31, 2010, 13:29

  By:

  Stephen Farrand

  Spanish climber still to decide if he will ride the Tour de France

  Carlos Sastre (Cervelo TestTeam) finished a disappointing eighth overall in the Giro d'Italia, 9:39 behind Ivan Basso, despite gaining time on most of his rivals by being in the breakaway to L'Aquila on stage 11.

  The Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper gave the Spanish climber just four out of ten on its report card for the Giro because he started the race as one of the big favourites. He was criticised for only racing for eight days before the Giro and Gazzetta went as far as suggesting he was a rider close to retirement.

  However Sastre has revealed that he rode most of the Giro with a back injury sustained in crashes in the opening stages in Holland and then worsened by a crash on the stage to Montalcino on the dirt roads.

  Despite his poorer than expected Giro results, Sastre perhaps deserves praise for making to the finish in Verona and finishing in the top ten, rather than criticism.

  "I don’t like to make excuses. I crashed and I crashed pretty bad but that's part of the game, it's one of the risks of cycling," Sastre told Cyclingnews.

  "It wasn’t something I talked about because I didn’t want it to become an excuse. Everyone in the team knew about it but we didn’t talk about it to the press or the public because they can't help me when I'm on the bike. I just needed the help of my teammates, my soigneur and my osteopath."

  "It was a tough experience but I did my best and I'm happy with what I achieved. I'm just happy that I was able to finish the Giro d'Italia. If I'd crashed harder, I might not have even made it to the end."

  Tour de France or Vuelta Espana

  Sastre has already hinted that he may not ride the Tour de France and opt for the Vuelta Espana instead.

  Cervelo TestTeam will target the green points jersey with Thor Hushovd and so many of the riders selected for the Tour team will be there to help the Norwegian sprinter rather than help Sastre go for the yellow jersey.

  Sastre said he will only ride the Tour if he can recover in time and be competitive in the overall classification.

  "First I've got to recover. But if I feel okay, can be strong and think I can finish in the top seven in the Tour de France, I'll ride," he said.

  "People say that I should automatically ride the Tour de France because I'm a former winner. But they also say that I should ride the Vuelta Espana. But there's only one Carlos Sastre. I can't ride everything."
   

• Zomegnan proud of spectacular Giro d'Italia

  

  Article published:

  May 31, 2010, 13:43

  By:

  Stephen Farrand

  Race director hints that the 2011 race could start in Turin

  Giro d'Italia director Angelo Zomegnan was all smiles after the spectacular end to this year's race in the Roman arena in Verona.

  It is widely accepted that this year's race was one of the most spectacular in recent history, with some thrilling racing, on beautiful roads and a battle for overall success that was unsure and exciting almost to the very end.

  "I think the finish in Verona was a spectacular ending to a spectacular Giro d'Italia. I think it perfectly sums up the race because day after day the race was exciting and dramatic," Zomegnan told Cyclingnews, refuting claims that he has made too many changes, perhaps some times to the detriment of the riders because of long transfers and difficult racing conditions.

  "The Giro has its roots in the history of the Giro, in it’s traditions, in the pain and suffering of the riders. I think the Giro is changing for the better. It's far less 'artificial', with riders who suffer and who have good and bad days. I think it's all more natural."

  "Some people think we're pushing things too far, making too many changes, making the racing too hard. But I don’t think change is a  problem. I think it's a good thing. Perhaps, we're changing things a little too fast but better too much than too little."

  Zomegnan enjoyed showing Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme the spectacular finish in Verona on Sunday He accepts the Tour de France will always be the biggest race in cycling but enjoys being more innovative and creative than the French organisers will ever dare.

  "The Tour de France is the Tour de France. It's the biggest race in the world. And it's stupid for anyone to think they can lower the level of the Tour to help other races, perhaps races without any history and tradition can grow. I think people understand who I'm talking about," Zomegnan said, clearly taking a sideswipe at the UCI.

  I've got a lot to learn from the Tour de France but I think the Tour de France can learn from the Giro.

  I showed Christian Prudhomme and some of his staff the finish in the Verona arena. They left realizing just how the Giro has grown this
  year. But they understand that if the Giro grows, it's good for the Tour de France too."

  "I think it's fair to say that 'il Tour e' piu grande, ma che il Giro e' piu bello." That the Tour is bigger but that now the Giro d'Italia
  is more beautiful. I like that comparison."

  Zomegnan had to rewrite the results of the 2009 Giro d'Italia after Danilo di Luca tested positive for CERA during last year's race. He is
  more hopeful this year after Basso's victory and liked that Australian riders won the other jersey competitions.

  "I think Ivan Basso's victory represents a resurrection, and an important comeback. I think his success is good for Italian cycling and for the Giro d'Italia," Zomegnan said.

  However I also think it's a good thing that riders from other nations, especially English-speaking nations did well. We want to make the Giro more global because cycling is much international than people realise. We've got the tradition of the past but we're open to new worlds and new markets. That's especially true in the English-speaking world."

  Turin start in 2011, Washington DC in 2012?

  This year the Giro clashed with the Tour of California but Zomegnan brushed off any idea of rivalry between the two races with a hint of superiority. He is working on bringing the Giro d'Italia to the USA and the capital Washington DC in 2012, after celebrating the unification of Italy in 2011.

  "I didn't have time to follow the Tour of California, I was busy," he said.

  "I heard it was a success. I'm pleased because we can all grow together. I know they had a little problem producing the television images of the second stage but as long the Tour of California has the same dimension (and does no become a ProTour race), I don't think there's a problem."

  The 2011 Giro is likely to start in Turin, where the first ever Italian parliament was created, and finish in Rome, the first capital of Italy as a united country. Alberto Contador is rumoured to have agreed to ride the 2011 Giro.

  "They're three possibilities but unfortunately perhaps one of them doesn’t seem possible," Zomegnan said cryptically.

  "But what ever happens, where ever the Giro starts and ends and with what ever riders on the start line, the Giro is special every year. I'm sure the 2011 will be special and I'm sure the 2012 Giro will be extra special."

  "We've only just started on a long road of change and innovation that will be good for cycling and especially good for the Giro."

• Gilbert's bad-luck weekend

  

  Article published:

  May 31, 2010, 15:55

  By:

  Cycling News

  Bad weather and puncture cost him Tour of Belgium title

  Philippe Gilbert of Omega Pharma-Lotto finished fourth overall in the Tour of Belgium and won the points jersey, but he had hoped to finish atop the podium. Bad luck with the weather in the time trial and lack of assistance with a puncture on Sunday cost him the overall title.

  On Sunday's queen stage, he was in the day's escape group along with eventual stage winner Ben Hermans (RadioShack) and overall winner Stijn Devolder (Quick Step), when he punctured. The neutral assistance car was ahead of the group, so it could not help him.

  "I think the race commissioners were more panicked than I was," Gilbert told Het Nieuwsblad. "I quickly hear from the team car that I would have to wait a long time for repairs." He was able to stay with the first chase group and finished third on the stage, 48 seconds down.

  "This was a particularly serious problem by the organisation, " he said. "And a typical Belgian situation. "

  Gilbert had already lost the race lead on Saturday. As the leader, he was the last to ride in the time trial, and rode it in heavy winds and rain. He finished 33rd on the stage, 56 seconds down. "The weather cost me about 40 seconds."

  He took it all philosophically, though. "Sometimes it is written in the stars that you will win a race, but sometimes it is written that you will lose. That is sport. You learn to live with it. The strongest doesn't always win."

  Gilbert will ride a local Belgian race on Tuesday, to be followed by the Tour de Suisse. "I have seen that there are four stages there which suit me. I am going for stage wins."

• Broken arm and wrist for Peter Velits

  

  Article published:

  May 31, 2010, 16:30

  By:

  Cycling News

  HTC-Columbia rider expected back for Dauphiné Libéré

  Peter Velits of HTC-Columbia fractured his left forearm and wrist in the second stage of the Bayern Rundfahrt last week. The 25-year-old Slovakian was involved in a mass crash near the finish, and not only finished the stage but started the third stage before dropping out due to the pain.

  “Peter was very motivated and wanted to keep on riding, but it didn't make any sense,” directeur sportif Jan Schaffrath told the German website Radsport-news.com.

  “An operation is not necessary,” team doctor Helge Riepenhof told Radsport-News.com. “Right now Peter is wearing a custom plastic cast and in five days will get a wrist cuff which will allow him to race. A start in the Tour de France would be possible.”

  Velits will only have to sit out training for a few days. “We are planning with him for our training camp and also for the Dauphiné Libéré,” team directors Rolf Aldag said.

• Evans climbs to World Rankings lead

  

  Article published:

  May 31, 2010, 16:34

  By:

  Cycling News

  Updated: Valverde stripped of rankings

  Australian Cadel Evans climbed into the lead in UCI's World Rankings after the disqualification of leader Alejandro Valverde. The Spaniard was suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday for his involvement in the Operacion Puerto doping affair, and stripped of his results since January 1, 2010.

  "[Valverde] has been disqualified from all competitions in which he has competed since the beginning of the year and all points allocated to him have been removed. Mr Valverde must also return all prizes received. The UCI World Ranking has been modified accordingly," a UCI statement read.

  Evans moved up from fourth place in the rankings after taking fifth overall at the Giro d'Italia.

  Giro winner Ivan Basso debuted on the rankings in seventh, accumulating 206 points over the course of the race. His fellow Italian Michele Scarponi moved from 24th to 8th thanks to his fourth place performances in his home Grand Tour, while third place finisher Vincenzo Nibali climbed from 63rd to 13th.

  David Arroyo's second place finish was good enough to place him in 15th overall and helped to boost Spain's dominance of the country rankings as well as help secure Caisse d'Epargne's lead on the team rankings.

  Italy and Liquigas also rocketed up the standings thanks to the double podium placings of Basso and Nibali in the Giro d'Italia. Italy moved up from fourth to second place in nations, and Liquigas shot to second from 10th.

  The UCI World Rankings tally points from ProTour and Historic races.

  World Rankings as of May 31, 2010

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
  1	Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne	392	pts
  2	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	374
  3	Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma - Lotto	294
  4	Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha	268
  5	Luis Leòn Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne	222
  6	Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step	216
  7	Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo	206
  8	Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	203
  9	Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank	200
  10	Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana	185
  11	Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana	161
  12	Christopher Horner (USA) Team RadioShack	144
  13	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo	144
  14	André Greipel (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia	137
  15	David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne	132
  16	Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone	127
  17	Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team	120
  18	Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia	120
  19	Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana	117
  20	Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank	112
  21	Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - Doimo	110
  22	Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions	103
  23	Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia	103
  24	Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne	100
  25	Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team	100
  26	Gregory Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling Team	97
  27	Xavier Tondo (Spa) Cervélo Test Team	96
  28	Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions	95
  29	Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Farnese Vini	94
  30	Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervelo Test Team	90
  31	Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini	88
  32	Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	85
  33	Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team HTC - Columbia	83
  34	Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Katusha	82
  35	George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team	80
  36	Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini	79
  37	Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	78
  38	Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank	72
  39	Beñat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	72
  40	Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Sky Professional Cycling Team	71
  41	Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Team Katusha	70
  42	Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha	70
  43	Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank	66
  44	Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank	63
  45	Sacha Modolo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox	62
  46	Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator	60
  47	Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Omega Pharma - Lotto	60
  48	Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo	58
  49	Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale	57
  50	Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana	56
  51	Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team	56
  52	Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha	55
  53	Luke Roberts (Aus) Team Milram	54
  54	Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank	52
  55	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team RadioShack	50
  56	Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank	46
  57	Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto	44
  58	Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet	40
  59	Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Liquigas-Doimo	38
  60	Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas - Doimo	36
  61	Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - Transitions	34
  62	Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux	32
  63	Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack	31
  64	Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo	30
  65	Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team Katusha	30
  66	Francesco Ginanni (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	30
  67	Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox	30
  68	Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini	29
  69	John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale	28
  70	Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank	26
  71	Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank	24
  72	Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia	24
  73	Leif Hoste (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto	20
  74	Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step	20
  75	Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Team Katusha	18
  76	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team	18
  77	Manuel Belletti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox	18
  78	Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini	16
  79	Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram	16
  80	Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank	16
  81	Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bbox Bouygues Telecom	16
  82	Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto	16
  83	Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank	16
  84	Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne	16
  85	Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step	16
  86	Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank	14
  87	Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin - Transitions	13
  88	Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom	13
  89	Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank	13
  90	Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo Bank	12
  91	Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo	12
  92	Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia	12
  93	Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Transitions	12
  94	Robert Förster (Ger) Team Milram	11
  95	Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank	11
  96	Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team	10
  97	Marcel Wyss (Swi) Cervelo Test Team	10
  98	Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale	10
  99	Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini	10
  100	William Bonnet (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom	10
  101	Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank	10
  102	Paul Voss (Ger) Team Milram	10
  103	Dario David Cioni (Ita) Sky Professional Cycling Team	8
  104	Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Androni Giocattoli	8
  105	Simone Stortoni (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox	8
  106	Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team	8
  107	Julien Fouchard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne	8
  108	Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quick Step	8
  109	Luca Paolini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone	7
  110	Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Footon-Servetto	7
  111	Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne	7
  112	Karsten Kroon (Ned) BMC Racing Team	6
  113	Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha	6
  114	Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling Team	6
  115	Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne	6
  116	Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack	6
  117	Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank	6
  118	Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step	6
  119	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack	6
  120	Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team	6
  121	Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale	5
  122	Benoït Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des Jeux	5
  123	Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre - Farnese Vini	5
  124	Gert Steegmans (Bel) Team RadioShack	5
  125	Markus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram	4
  126	Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française Des Jeux	4
  127	Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick Step	4
  128	Hayden Roulston (NZl) Team HTC - Columbia	4
  129	Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun	4
  130	Iban Mayoz Echeverria (Spa) Footon-Servetto	4
  131	Tiziano Dall'antonia (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo	4
  132	Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bbox Bouygues Telecom	4
  133	Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne	4
  134	Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank	4
  135	Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre - Farnese Vini	4
  136	Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale	3
  137	Aitor Galdos Alonso (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	3
  138	Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Omega Pharma - Lotto	2
  139	Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank	2
  140	Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux	2
  141	Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux	2
  142	Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	2
  143	Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia	2
  144	David Loosli (Swi) Lampre - Farnese Vini	2
  145	Peter Velits (Svk) Team HTC - Columbia	2
  146	Jeremie Galland (Fra) Saur - Sojasun	2
  147	Rigoberto Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne	1
  148	Jan Bakelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto	1
  149	Stephen Cummings (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team	1
  150	Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto	1
  151	Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team	1
  152	Michael Albasini (Swi) Team HTC - Columbia	1
  153	Rick Flens (Ned) Rabobank	1
  154	Fabio Felline (Ita) Footon-Servetto	1
  155	Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Team Katusha	1
  156	Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia	1
  157	Dominik Nerz (Ger) Team Milram	1
  158	Mauro Finetto (Ita) Liquigas - Doimo	1
  159	Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux	1
  160	Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Francaise Des Jeux	1
  161	Davide Vigano (Ita) Sky Professional Cycling Team	1
  162	Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne	1
  163	Adam Blyth (GBr) Omega Pharma-Lotto	1
  164	Federico Canuti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox	1

  Nations

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
  1	Spain	1175	pts
  2	Italy	800
  3	Belgium	714
  4	Australia	667
  5	United States	333
  6	Kazakhstan	302
  7	Russia	272
  8	Germany	245
  9	Switzerland	236
  10	France	156
  11	Slovenia	142
  12	Netherlands	139
  13	Norway	126
  14	Great Britain	122
  15	New Zealand	113
  16	Czech Republic	110
  17	Canada	103
  18	Estonia	100
  19	Austria	83
  20	Luxembourg	70
  21	Ireland	57
  22	Croatia	38
  23	Slovakia	38
  24	Portugal	38
  25	Denmark	28
  26	Sweden	16
  27	Colombia	15
  28	South Africa	13
  29	Argentina	13
  30	Japan	4
  31	Belarus	1

  Teams

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
  1	Caisse d'Epargne	751	pts
  2	Liquigas-Doimo	556
  3	Team Katusha	545
  4	Astana	519
  5	BMC Racing Team	469
  6	Team HTC - Columbia	467
  7	Omega Pharma-Lotto	434
  8	Team Saxo Bank	388
  9	Cervelo Test Team	372
  10	Lampre-Farnese Vini	306
  11	Rabobank	287
  12	Quick Step	266
  13	Garmin - Transitions	257
  14	Androni Giocattoli	243
  15	Euskaltel - Euskadi	238
  16	Team Radioshack	237
  17	Sky Professional Cycling Team	200
  18	Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne	137
  19	Acqua & Sapone	134
  20	Colnago - CSF Inox	119
  21	Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team	110
  22	AG2R La Mondiale	103
  23	Team Milram	95
  24	Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator	60
  25	Française Des Jeux	45
  26	Bbox Bouygues Telecom	43
  27	Landbouwkrediet	40
  28	Footon-Servetto	12
  29	Saur - Sojasun	6

   

• Valverde suspended for two years world-wide, keeps results

  

  Article published:

  May 31, 2010, 16:38

  By:

  Cycling News

  CAS bans Spaniard until January 1, 2012

  The Court of Arbitration for Sport has handed Alejandro Valverde a two-year suspension, effective starting January 1, 2010, for his involvement in the Operación Puerto doping scheme.

  The court upheld the request of the UCI and World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) against the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC), but also refused to nullify Valverde's results prior to the start of the suspension.

  "The CAS considered that there was no evidence that any of the results obtained by Mr. Valverde prior to 1 January 2010 was through doping infraction and decided that the appellants’ request to annul those results should be denied," a press release from the CAS stated.

  The decision allows Valverde to keep his victories in the 2009 Vuelta a España, Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré and Clasica San Sebastian among others even though the races took place after the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) matched samples of his blood taken during the 2008 Tour de France to the evidence from the Operación Puerto case.

  The CONI imposed a ban on Valverde from racing in Italy from May 11, 2009-2011. The CAS upheld that verdict in March, but had a separate hearing to decide whether the ban could be made world-wide based upon the UCI and WADA arguments.

  Operación Puerto dates back to 2004, when the Spanish authorities first began investigating doping operations in Madrid. The case came to a head when in May, 2006, the Civil Guard raided the clinic of Eufemiano Fuentes and seized over a hundred bags of blood, doping products and other evidence of performance enhancing procedures.

  The UCI requested in August, 2007 that the RFEC open disciplinary hearings against Valverde when the rider was linked to a bag of blood labeled '18' which also contained the banned blood booster EPO.

  The presence of EPO and the DNA evidence gathered by the CONI linking Valverde to the bag was deemed sufficient by the CAS to ban Valverde world-wide based upon the "use or attempted use by a rider of a prohibited substance or prohibited method".

  Since Valverde has raced throughout the entire period of the lengthy CAS appeal until his victory in the Tour de Romandie on May 2, 2010, his ban is effectively only 19 months, although the decision will likely lead the UCI to strip Valverde of his overall victory in the Tour de Romandie and his second place in Paris-Nice as well as see him stripped of his position as UCI World Rankings leader.

• Valverde to fight suspension

  

  Article published:

  May 31, 2010, 21:11

  By:

  Cycling News

  Caisse d'Epargne team calls Spaniard's behaviour "irreproachable"

  The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) may have ruled to give Alejandro Valverde a two-year ban based on evidence from the Operación Puerto case, but the Spaniard has refused to go down without a fight.

  Valverde's press agent issued a statement vowing to take the matter to the Swiss Supreme Court. The rider appealed the CAS approval of a previous ban in Italy to the Swiss court, but it was turned back on a technicality.

  The CAS released its decision Monday on a case brought by the UCI and World Anti-Doping Agency against the Spanish Cycling Federation for failing to pursue disciplinary action against Valverde. It issued a two-year suspension to begin January 1, 2010.

  The court stated that it has agreed that the DNA tests linking Valverde to blood evidence from the case was enough to justify a ban for "use or attempted use by a rider of a prohibited substance or prohibited method". However, it refused the UCI's request to nullify all of Valverde's race results prior to the ban.

  Valverde and his Caisse d'Epargne team each pointed out the confusing nature of the ruling. The court stated "that there was no evidence that any of the results obtained by Mr. Valverde prior to 1 January 2010 was through doping infraction" even though it agreed that he had committed a doping violation.

  Abarca Sports, owner of Valverde's team, called the court's ruling "a confirmation of the position sustained permanently by Abarca Sports about the irreproachable behaviour of Valverde during his five and half years career with Abarca Sports."

  Valverde's statement said the court agreed that "none of the victories were obtained through use of prohibited practices, which is confirmed because Alejandro Valverde, possibly the most controlled the athlete in the world, has never failed a doping test."

• UCI welcomes Valverde decision, says justice has been done

  

  Article published:

  May 31, 2010, 22:10

  By:

  Shane Stokes

  McQuaid wants to look forward, not back

  Four years after vowing that the riders involved in Operación Puerto would be brought to justice, UCI president Pat McQuaid has finally seen Alejandro Valverde incur a worldwide ban for doping.

  On Monday, the Spaniard was deemed guilty of a doping offence by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and was handed a two year suspension.

  McQuaid has long stated that he believes Valverde was indeed linked to the controversial doctor Eufemiano Fuentes and now, after many efforts to push the case forward, he has got the result that he felt is right.

  "We are pleased it is over and done with," McQuaid told Cyclingnews this evening. "We have always felt that he was involved in Puerto and CAS has now shown that to be correct. We are pleased this is behind us. The guy has used and abused the system for the past four years and were glad now that CAS has defended both the UCI and WADA's position on this."

  However, while celebrating this victory, McQuaid indicated that he wanted to move on from the subject which has plagued the UCI since 2007.

  "Let's move forward. As president of the UCI, I prefer to look forward to the cycling of today and the cycling of tomorrow, rather than the cycling of yesterday and years gone by. And that includes Floyd Landis and what have you."

  The CAS ruling determined that while Valverde was involved in doping prior to the Operación Puerto raids in May 2006, that there was no evidence that he has doped in the years since. As a result of that, it rejected the push by WADA and the UCI to have all his results since Puerto crossed off.

  Valverde will lose some prize money and points, but these will only pertain to races held this year.

  Cyclingnews asked McQuaid if he could understand the reasoning behind that aspect of the CAS decision.

  "I can see the logic of it," he conceded. "He rode those races, he was tested many times. He was in the bio passport and there are no indications that he had been doping over the past couple of years.

  "He was certainly involved in Puerto and that has come back to haunt him. That is a message for any cyclist today - if he decides to get involved in a doping programme, that it may eventually come back to haunt him. There is no statute of limitations in relation to that, so it is a good lesson from that point of view.

  "This is something that Valverde got involved with before 2006 and has now eventually caught up with him. From the point of view of natural justice, that is a good thing."