Crédit Lyonnais, one of the major sponsors of the Tour de France, are seriously considering withdrawing their sponsorship of the event. The French bank are very angry about the decision by the UCI to force the Tour organisers to allow Richard Virenque to participate in the race which starts next Saturday.
According to the director of communications at CL, Nicolas Chaîne: "It is a stab in the back to everyone who is fighting against doping. We are seriously considering stopping our involvement in the event. We will keep supporting a Tour which has been wonderful for many years. We will keep supporting a Tour which is attempting to restore its image. But if the Tour cannot restore its image, we will pull out." However, that will not affect this year's Tour due to contractual arrangements.
Leblanc reacted by saying: "I'd rather be remembered as the actor of a renaissance than the director of the 1998 Tour."
Tour boss is very upset
The organisers of the Tour de France have said they will not lie down and take the UCI's edict concerning Richard Virenque gently. This was stated after one of the races major sponsors, CL announced they were having thoughts about withdrawing from the arrangements with the Tour organisers.
Jean-Marie Leblanc said: "It is but a coup by the UCI. We have been prevented from completing our bid to restore the image of the Tour. The 1999 Tour will start with Virenque and Saiz but we will fight back with the appropriate means. It is a failure. But it is not a failure we are going to accept. We are going to try and correct it legally.
The organisation are now considering an appeal against the UCI's dictate.
Did they think about not staging the Tour at all?
Leblanc: "Yes, but that thought did not last long. We believe that it is in action that we will be able to prove that cycling has changed."
Sport's Minister is anti-Virenque
Outspoken Marie-George Buffet, who is the French sport's minister has adopted a high profile in Europe in terms of her anti-doping attitudes and policies. She spoke on Wednesday about the decision by the UCI to force the Tour organisers to accept Richard Virenque in the tour starting list. She said in an address to the French Parliament that: "I consider as particularly damaging the decisions taken by the International Cycling Union which contradict the decisions of the Tour de France directors. I hope that everyone involved has measured his responsibility in the decisions taken. I hope this won't affect the smooth running of the Tour de France.
Jalabert on ONCE's team list
World Number 1 Laurent Jalabert may ride in the 86th Tour de France which starts on Saturday in Puy-du-Fou. His name was on the list of 13 riders sent by ONCE to the Société du Tour de France on June 28. Jalabert has said he is not concerned about the procedures in place to fight against doping.
Sophie Del Rizzo, a press officer for the Société said: "He may only be riding if their are replacements. Each team has to finally select 9 riders."
The final decision will not be known until ONCE give the final list to the organisers when they arrive in Puy-du-Fou. The arrival date of the team was not known to the organisers.
Two times winner of the green points jersey in 1992 and 1995 and stage winner in 1995, Jalabert has not raced in France since last year. After 32 kms into Stage 17 to Aix-les-Bains on July 29, he withdrew from the Tour along with the ONCE team. All the Spanish teams quit in protest of the police raids.
30-year old Jalabert, has refused the so-called longitudinal tests introduced by the French Cycling Federation this year as a measure to get rid of doping. As a consequence, he was not able to defend his French championship which was held last Sunday at Charade.
The Société du Tour de France also confirmed that the name of Marco Pantani was not on the pre-list given to them by Mercatone Uno.
27-year old Julich appears calm and told the press during the Critérium du Dauphiné that: "My objective is the Tour, it is my priority." Having come third last year in a full strength field he knows what preparation is required.
The US Postal team, managed by Johan Bruyneel, is also strong and supportive of Lance Armstrong. The 1993 world champion has comeback into racing with gusto. He was 4th in last year's Vuelta, 4th in the World's ITT and was probably the strongest rider on the 8 mountain passes encountered during the recently completed Critérium du Dauphiné. He was riding for Jonathan Vaughters in that race and so did not achieve the result that his form would suggest.
26-year old Vaughters, from Boulder, has also progressed well and came 2nd in the overall Critérium du Dauphiné behind young Kazak Alexandre Vinokourov.
Team Chicky World has had an excellent season so far with several cat 4 and 5 victories by German Torsten Schmidt, Norwegian Steffen Kjaergaard and Swede Martin Rittsel. The Sanish riders have been less successful since the team lost TT-ace and this years Dunquerque winner, Michael Sandstød to Home Jack and Jones before the season.
The decision comes a few weeks after Acceptcard announced their withdrawal from cycling. A double blow to Danish cycling.
1. Ludovic Turpin (Fra) CC Etupes 3.34.28 2. Freddy Ravaleu (Fra) Jean-Floc'h 3. Mickaël Pichon (Fra) Vendée-U 0.10 4. Walter Bénéteau (Fra) Vendée-U 1.32 5. Mickaël Leveau (Fra) CC Nogent 1.32 6. Eric Drubay (Fra ) CC Etupes 1.32 7. Guillaume Judas (Fra) Jean-Floc'h 1.32 8. Jean-Philippe Yon (Fra) VC Rouen 1.32 9. Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Jean-Floc'h 1.32 10. Cédric Jourdan (Fra) CM Aubervilliers 1.32 Teams overall: 1. CC Etupes 342 2. Jean-Floc'h 273 3. Vendée-U 201 4. VC Rouen 138 5. CM Aubervilliers 125 6. VC Roubaix 99 7. CC Nogent 84 8. 23-La Creuse 77 9. UC Châteauroux 47 10. US Montauban 31Thanks to Nicolas Tavares, France