Latest Cycling News for October 12, 2006Edited by Jeff Jones and Gregor Brown Decision day - Basso could race Lombardia
Franco Cosenza, the anti-doping lawyer of Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (CONI), has shelved Ivan Basso's blood doping case, leaving the 28 year-old rider from Varese, free to start racing again. Basso was not allowed to start the Tour de France because his name was linked with Operación Puerto, but today it has emerged that he can return to racing. It's now possible that the suspended rider will line up with CSC in Saturday's Giro di Lombardia. A communique from CONI read, "...CONI, within the limits granted by the international law cfr. att. 182-185-224 and following UCI Antidoping Regulations, has decided to archive the actions against Mr Basso." Further stating that, "in case there is more evidence, even from a third party, [the case] could be re-opened for disciplinary procedures." The Spanish courts, still investing the key players in Operación Puerto, have asked that documents containing the riders' identity not be used in other investigations, above all by the national federations in charge of disciplining their riders. This means that at this moment the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) doesn't have the permission to use the papers passed to it by the Spanish investigators to defer the case to its disciplinary commission.
Cyclingnews' recent coverage of 'Operación Puerto' May 18, 2009 - Valverde to start Catalunya Cyclingnews' complete coverage of Operación Puerto Madiot doesn't want Ullrich and Basso back
Marc Madiot, team manager of the Francaise des Jeux squad that won Paris-Tours with Frederic Geusdon last Sunday, is not in favour of the return of Operacion Puerto implicated-riders to the peloton. Speaking to L'Equipe after Paris-Tours, Madiot said about Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, "I pushed for those to be excluded, especially so that they are not replaced...Ullrich and Basso received money in cycling, a maximum. The end of Ullrich is morally (correct); one will quickly forget about him, as one has quickly forgotten Armstrong." Madiot criticised any teams for negotiating with either Ullrich or Basso. "It is dangerous for cycling. Those concerned are not respecting the code of ehtics that we have all signed. How do you sell this to the sponsors?" Dedecker dismissed from VLDBelgian Flemish and Liberal Democrats (VLD) Senator Jean-Marie Dedecker, a politican who attempted to make doping a major political issue in the lead-up to Belgium's municipal elections, has been kicked out of the party by chairman Bart Somers for damaging the party's reputation. Dedecker recently caused a stir in Belgian cycling circles by publicly alleging that he knew of four high profile Belgian cyclists who had used doping this year. He has passed this information onto the Belgian cycling federation and a criminal magistrate for further investigation. In response to the allegations, which did not name any riders, Quick.Step team manager Patrick Lefevere and Tom Boonen announced that they would consider legal action against Dedecker for damaging their reputation. "At the party meeting on Monday we voted unanimously to stop with internal quarrels," Somers was quoted by the Belgian media as saying. "But to my great regret, I must declare that Jean-Marie Dedecker has been shown to be an incorrigible brawler. His personal attacks against Bart Tommelein, VLD party leader in Oostende, have damaged the VLD. Enough is enough. I do not consider Dedecker a party member any longer." Page out for most of the 'cross season
American cyclo-crosser Jonathan Page will have to miss most, if not all, of the 2006-2007 cyclo-cross season. Page tore his rotator cuff at the world cup race in Aigle, Switzerland on October 1 and will have to have surgery next Monday. On his website, thejonathanpage.com. he wrote that after surgery, "I'll be in a brace for 3 weeks and then, if all goes well, I'll start p.t. again. The shoulder specialist said 3 months until I am full gas again. My doctor said he'll shoot for 2. Either way it really sucks." Page is a multiple winner of the US national cyclo-cross championships and a regular top-10 finisher in the world cups and Superprestige races in Europe. Chacón close to signing with Andalucia-Paul VersanBy Antonio J. Salmerón Next week, Spaniard Javier Chacón will meet with Antonio Cabello, general manager of professional team Andalucia-Paul Versan in order to specify the contractual details for the next two seasons, with an option for a third. The Spanish national Under-23 time trial champion also has shown interest in Grupo Nicolás Mateos-Murcia, but he has ended up giving preference to the Andalusian professional squad, "because they have demonstrated more persistence for me and offered me greater guarantees," said Chacón. First, Chacón will pass through the amateur version of Andalucia-Paul Versan, and by the middle of the next season he will have his opportunity in the professional setup. "I am very satisfied with this decision, because there are not many opportunities like this in Spain," Chacón told Cyclingnews. Chacón raced with 3 Molinos Resort Murcia during 2006, but suffered from the team's mid-season withdrawal, which was when he signed for Andalucia-Paul Versan. Revolution returns - season fourRevolution, in it's fourth season, returns on Saturday night at the Manchester Velodrome. Headlining the event will be ex-pros Andrea Tafi, Franco Ballerini, Rolf Sorensen, Max Sciandri and Silvio Martinello who are returning to competitive action for the British fans. These riders, who are more accustomed to racing on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, will be in action once more. They will feature in a special roadman's four point pursuit as well as taking on British stars, such as Rob Hayles and Chris Newton, in a series of endurance events. For those who like a bit more speed double, world champion Theo Bos will be showing off his rainbow colours along with team sprint world champion Mickael Bourgain and kilo world champion Chris Hoy. They will be joined by Jan Van Eijden, Roberto Chiappa, Jamie Staff, Craig MacLean and Jason Queally in what is the strongest sprint line up at any Revolution event. Revolution 13 will also see the start of the new DHL Exel Supply Chain Future Stars with an exciting new format for this season. As well as racing for individual glory, riders will represent one of ten regional teams fighting it out in a national league format to become the inaugural Future Stars Team Champion. Robbie McEwen on working holidayRobbie McEwen returned home to Australia last weekend after his most successful European campaign, including sprint victories in the Giro d'Italia and the Tour De France, Paris-Bruxelles and then an unlucky 5th in the world road championships in Salzburg, Austria. McEwen was a late entry for the Jayco Herald Sun Tour but he is hoping to win Sunday's final stage around the streets of Carlton in Melbourne. After the tour, Robbie will then return his Mermaid Beach home on the Gold Coast to prepare for the Noosa Criterium on October 28, followed the next day by his only velodrome appearance in the Sydney Thousand at Canterbury's Tempe velodrome. The sprinter then has criterium commitments in Geelong, Cronulla and South Australia, winding up with the Tour Down Under in January. Magné to JapanFrench ex-track sprinter Frédéric Magné has left his job at the UCI after five years to work as a national coach in Japan. During his time at the UCI, Magné was track coach, then training and development manager. The 37 year-old wants to continue his work for the development of cycling, this time at a national level, in a country where he developed as a professional keirin rider. Canadian cyclist Linda Jackson inducted into Sports Hall of FameThe Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees announced that Olympian Linda Jackson will be inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday, October 17th, 2006. Jackson is known as one of the Canada's best female cyclists - 1996 Olympian, third in 1996 World Championships, third in 1997 women's Tour de France and captured a silver medal in the 1994 and 1998 Commonwealth Games. Auckland Summer Criterium SeriesThe organizers of the Auckland Summer Criterium Series, run around Auckland's Tank Farm, have confirmed that their sponsors. Grammo and SRAM will co-sponsor the pre-Christmas series, with BMC and Lake adding their support to the New Year series. The Summer Criterium Series attracts a wide range of competitors with the cream of Auckland cycling and triathlon regularly turning out. The races are increasingly popular with spectators, as the two races held each evening showcase cycling with maximum fields of 60 riders. Past series participants include many current and past New Zealand cyclists and triathletes, including Gordon McCauley, Sarah Ulmer, Ric Reid, Tim Pawson, Stu Williams, Hamish Carter, Debbie Tanner, Rohan Lord and many others. This year, on December 14th, between the Christmas and New Year events, will be the Auckland championship race, with separate elite men's and women's races. The events mark the much anticipated return of inner city cycling on a closed course.
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