Job offers for Basso?

Ivan Basso already has two offers to ride when his suspension is ended in October 2008, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. He is being discussed as the leader of a team to be formed by the former Italian health minister Umberto Veronesi, the paper said.

Veronesi wants to establish the Team FUV (Foundation Umberto Varonesi), which would be active in fighting doping. "This team should be a guarantee for honesty," he said. "We have to establish new values to work for a new beginning for cycling."

The manager of the team would be Davide Cottafava, the former Sport Director of Marco Pantani's Team Mercatone Uno, according to the report. Gazzetta also reports that Team Barloworld has also offered Bassso a contract for when his suspension is over.

According to Tuttobiciweb.it, however, Basso denies the rumors of the Veronesi contact. He said that he has read about it in the media, but knows nothing about it and has not spoken with anyone about it.