No boycott for Catalunya anticipated

Ruben Peris, director of the Volta a Catalunya, does not expect teams to boycott his race in response to the Operación Puerto situation, saying he believes that "good sense will rule in the end."

Peris said that have been rumours of boycotts of Spanish races on the ProTour calendar. That kind of action would not contribute anything, he told EFE, "and the only ones it hurts are the organizers."

Currently on the starting list for the race are riders whose names have appeared in connection with Operación Puerto, like Francesco Mancebo and Oscar Sevilla. Peris said that "these athletes are not punished by anybody," and would allow them to appear in the race "because the UCI does not say that they cannot ride."

"La Volta will not veto anyone, because if a judge does not punish them, neither will we," he said. He called for an end to the investigations, "the sooner, the better."

Peris noted that "those who make a mistake must pay for it," but that after they fulfil their ban, the riders should be allowed to return to racing.