News for May 24, 2000

Giro d'Italia news

Podium protests

An empty podium...
Photo: © AFP

Today's stage 10 winner, Ivan Quaranta (Mobilvetta) and the pink jersey wearer Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) were amongst did not show themselves on the podium after the stage finished. They are sticking to their guns regarding the protest of the Italian teams against the race organiser, RCS Sport. All of the Italian teams want more money from TV-rights and merchandising, but RCS Sport only wants to talk after the Giro. As seen today, there might be a few empty podium shots.

Quaranta refused to speak (although he wanted to) and all of the Italian team riders will maintain their silence against journalists from La Gazzetta dello Sport, and RAI TV. Polti's team director, Gianluigi Stanga said that "Bicycle racing changes. 20 years ago, TV rights were not a topic, but today I think that it's normal that the teams - and their sponsors who invest in them - get a say in where the money goes."

The Assogruppi (association of Italian teams) headed by former rider, Moreno Argentin, said before the stage 8 start on Sunday that they want greater economic equality with the foreign teams. RCS in their official statement said that they didn't believe that this inequality existed, and defended their tour:

"RCS Sport remembers that La Gazzetta dello Sport started the Giro d'Italia in 1909, and over the past 91 years it has become the most popular sporting event in Italy and one with the greatest international participation in the country," said their statement.

"Moreover, the objective of RCS Sport has never been to make a profit, but only to support the activity of cycling in Italy. A single contest - the Giro d'Italia - finances all of the others, which run at a loss."

"The situation demands a careful analysis, in which the organisers and rider representatives must debate responsibly. After that we can perhaps change things. RCS Sport does not believe that such a serious problem can be resolved through a unilateral imposition of a solution, without assessing all of the information and comparing accordingly. The organisers have tried every effort to invite the Assogruppi to the discussions, but emotion seems to have prevailed over logic."

Before answering negatively to the ultimatum given to us by the Assogruppi, we want to verify our own position in the dispute and are seeking UCI president, Hein Verbruggen's opinion. We hope, however, that the Giro can continue as normal, and we would like to start the debate at its conclusion, rather than coming to a hasty compromise."

Pantani wants to go all the way

The Pirate made his intentions clear today when he spoke to the press about the Giro. He wants to be with the finishers when the 83rd edition of this race finishes in Milan on June 4. He survived yesterday's stage to Abetone, losing nearly 7 minutes overall, finishing in 26th place (29th on GC). Some would call that more than survival, but for those tifosi used to seeing Pantani rip the legs off his opponents on the climbs, it was a defeat of sorts.

Pantani's 7 minutes may be worrying to Jan Ullrich, who lost 31 minutes in the hilly stage of the Midi Libre and DNF'd a day later. But the latter is probably working to his own game plan, as are all the other Tour contenders. Lance Armstrong? We'll see in the Dauphine Libere, but he has shown some excellent form this year anyway.

Pantani wants to reach Milan for his morale, saying that "it's easy to be strong when you win, but you also must be strong when you lose." Finally, he has come closer to earth and the race conditioning is not quite there - yet. He started the Giro not just for that reason, but also to get back in touch with the scene, from which he had been absent from for 11 months, bar 2 races. "If I hadn't started, I would have risked ending my career," he said. "I thought that people would criticise me for coming back to the peloton. But now I see that the public wants me there. That, I admit, has pushed me on."

Kroon injured

The current leader of the King of the Mountains competition, Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) today fell on his left arm, but managed to finish the stage in pain and the green jersey. He went to hospital afterward for x-rays, and will decide whether to start tomorrow.

Other injuries include Antonio Varriale (Ceramica-Panaria), who suffered a broken right femur (DNF), and Colombian Ivan Parra (Vitalicio) who injured his wrist, but finished.

French EPO test for the Tour?

The French Cycling Federation today announced that they may be trying out an EPO test for the Tour de France, commencing in less than 6 weeks time. This, combined with three other new anti-doping/health procedures is being introduced to make this year's Tour as clean as possible. However, legal aspects may have to be overcome before all of the measures are able to be incorporated.

The EPO test is purportedly based on urine analysis, and has been developed by Jacques de Ceaurriz at a laboratory in France. This comes as a surprise to many, who have been working on a more complex blood based analysis. It remains to be seen whether this is merely a threat to prevent riders from dosing up on EPO 6 weeks before the Tour (the optimum time frame), or whether the French have managed to achieve what so many have been working on for the past 5 years.

Other tests and antidoping procedures that were announced include a corticoid test (already used experimentally last year), a PFC test (a drug more potent and dangerous than EPO), as well as a medical committee. The latter could prevent riders from starting a stage should they be found unfit, according to the committee.

Which tests will be introduced and the nature of them will be announced at a meeting in Geneva on Thursday, May 25. Present at the meeting will be UCI president Hein Verbruggen, Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc, ONCE team director (and the CCP team's representative) Manolo Saiz, FFC president Daniel Baal and Jacques de Ceaurriz, head of the French laboratory where the EPO test was designed.

It is likely that opinion will be divided, although several French teams have already given the measures their unbridled support, threatening protests if they are not introduced. On the other hand, Manolo Saiz may reject them, as he has been quite critical of the French tests in the past.

0.46% in Spain

That's the fraction of Spanish cyclists who doped in 1999, according to the antidoping commission of the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC). Of 2,584 tests carried out, 12 were positive, an increase of .04% over 1998. The most common substances found were testosterone and terbutaline (an asthma drug).

The president of the antidoping commission, Manuel Pueyo, said that "the health of the professional peloton is good. I am still worried about the amateurs though." Only one professional tested positive (Matías Cagigas), with four riders from the Elite, three from U23 and Junior categories, and one woman as well.

The number of tests was increased from 972 in 1997, to 1,562 in 1998 and 2,584 in 1999, with 155 of these outside of competition. However, the Spanish do not carry out blanket blood tests as do the French, and this may be introduced if a working EPO test is found. Pueyo is quite skeptical that the urine based EPO test (that the French want ready for the Tour), will work, however he believes that the current level of testing in Spain needs to be improved, especially to take account of EPO.

More Dutch MTB

Gerben de Knegt was one of those invited to be selection the world MTB championships in Sierra Nevada, in June. However, he was declined as he wishes to start in the Tour of Luxembourg, which clashes with the championships. Roger Smeets will now take his place in the team.