By Gregor Brown in Siena
"In the end, I had a lot of emotions in my head, and this drove me on to give my maximum," said Cancellara, whose palmarès includes two World time trial titles and the 2006 Paris-Roubaix. He noted the beauty of the Italian race before switching his attentions the problems preceding the running of this year's Paris-Nice – the battle between the International Cycling Union (UCI) and race organiser Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). (See UCI vs. Grand Tours.)
"I think that they are working against cycling – UCI and ASO. They are only thinking about themselves and not looking for our interests, the cyclists and the sport. With doping problems, this just adds further problems. It is a big piece of shit – sorry to say."
He was not particularly pleased with UCI's president, Irishman Pat McQuaid. "ASO is the greatest organiser, and the UCI does not want to give rights to them. ... If one is the head of business, how can he say that we will be suspended if we race an important race. We want to race, not talk." The UCI had threatened riders who start "The Race to the Sun" with a six month suspension and possible sanctions against their teams.
"The UCI is making a mistake. Strike? The teams have pressure to race." He was asked if McQuaid should step down as president of the UCI, "I don't think it would change much. However, if one can not manage a company, then he should not spend much time there."