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UCI president Hein Verbruggen has spoken out about the situation in Italy, that saw the Italian Cycling Federation adopt the measures suggested by CONI to suspend all national races in the country until the doping problem is addressed.
Verbruggen called it a "political machination" and it was only a "symbolic move which has many consequences for the world of cycling. To use a euphemism, I am not content. Because in the newspapers it will read: cycling suspended because it can't solve the doping problem."
"I have written yesterday to Gaincarlo Ceruti (FCI president): 'Pay attention, Italy will suffer from this decision, so will cycling in other countries. I have already had reactions because people don't understand this theatre.'"
Verbruggen elaborated on his 'political machination statement': "CONI is in financial trouble. It needs money, it must flex its muscles. And cycling, once again, pays the price."
"If 40 or 50 riders are implied, they have the right to explain themselves. At the moment, no results of the analyses are known. There remains 5, 10 or 15 riders. Obviously that too is regrettable, but by suspending cycling in Italy, everyone is stigmatised."
"The police who have been criticised for their methods, may not find it beneficial to reveal what was found. On the first day, 290 products were spoken about. The second day, there were 70 people implicated. The third day, there were only two teams completely cleared. The fourth day, is another thing. Each time, it is repeated by the international press."
Verbruggen also pointed out what happened in August 2000 after the Tour de France. "There was no question of criticising the work of the CPLD (Council for Prevention and Fighting Against Doping) for their investigations. Only the official statement, announcing 40 positive cases, did a lot of damage. Fortunately, it did not remain a big thing for long."
In relation to the "new" doping products found in this case, Verbruggen added that "The RSR-13 is a product that we have followed for a while."
Verbruggen was quoted in today's issue of Le Figaro as saying: "Today, the majority of the riders do not want to close their eyes as to what is going on around them. Today, they look at the doping of the others."
"It is essential that the truth comes out at the end of the day. In my view, it is not ambiguous in the least to try and find the fraudulent ones. But I will always denounce the spectacular character, brutal, sensationalised intervention. The way in which the riders were treated was unjust."
He did not wish to draw comparison with the Festina affair. "The 1998 Tour highlighted a structured doping, organised, planned. It is not the case in Italy. It is necessary to talk about individuals or a few individuals."
"It proves that the methods developed to counter doping, research into EPO, corticoids, anabolics and other substances, has significantly tightened the net. And, I am sure, the majority of riders are aware of the risks of this. There is a definite change in mentality."
Hein Verbruggen pointed out the fact that the second EPO control in the Giro, which was carried out on the entire peloton, returned no positive tests. He also said (in contradiction to the new UCI rules) that "the maximum suspension for serious infringements remains at two years."
He also discussed the idea of an "independent commission chaired by someone outside cycling, composed of rider representatives and directeurs sportifs". The commission could exchange information about health records of professional athletes, and not just cyclists.
In the newspaper Libération, Verbruggen mentioned that he had been contacted by Italian cyclists seeking to clean up their own backyard. "They tell me, 'President, I know some people who throw our rules into the air.' I tell them that the outcomes will be examined and that we will draw our conclusions from them."
"The detection of EPO changed the practices. Unfortunately, an age group of riders persists in using EPO, perfectly aware of the risks."
After the decision to suspend all national racing in Italy until a code of conduct can be worked out for cycling, the Italian press has reacted critically. The FCI will review their decision next Monday, June 23 after another meeting.
La Corriere della Sera said that: "Cycling is suspended for five days but only when there are no races on. It is a symbolic measure."
La Gazzetta dello Sport: "This is a symbolic gesture transformed into a farce. The decision to suspend national racing from June 18-23, when there are no important races on in Italy, was a joke. Pushed by CONI into a symbolic gesture, Ceruti and his men have chosen to insult our intelligence."
None of the UCI races in Italy will be affected, as the UCI retains control of these. However, the FCI also called for a suspension of Italian riders racing abroad, which could have more serious consequences. This measure was not adopted last night.
The competitors and teams in the Dauphiné Libéré have responded to the Italian situation, saying that it is not in their backyard.
Ag2r-Prevoyance's director, Vincent Lavenu said that "The problems are in Italy, not in France. There is no analogy. We made the first investments. When you see the strong reaction of those in charge of teams and the riders, you realise that there is a common desire to combat doping."
"The people who make their trade from this will enjoy this situation," said French champion Christophe Capelle (BigMat). "They have ruined the overall image of cycling."
"Today I laugh. When I hear that there are enough young guys crazy enough to try new tricks in Italy, I find it a distraction. It is well known that they did not invent these by themselves. There are doctors who prescribe and laboratories who manufacture. I don't want to be compared to this type of individual. My hope is that they will be stopped from starting in the Tour. It would be slower. There would perhaps be a better chance to win a stage."
Bonjour's director Jean-René Bernaudeau, who has at least had his Giro team completely cleared by Italian authorities, said that he was not dissatisfied with the "Italian adventure". However he criticised the extent of it. "The fear of the police will make you run. But those morons made us suffer. We can't go back to them asking them for money, or give back the results they stole from us. They avoid that quite easily!"
Bernaudeau advocated "Three year suspensions, that would mean the end of a career. There should also be the possibility of grilling those culpable, if they help unravel the network, they could be given a year on clemency."
By Gabriella Ekstrom, Cyclingnews correspondent
Cadel Evans combines mountainbike racing on the top level together with his Volvo-Cannondale team, along with road racing with the Italian Saeco squad. He has won the MTB World Cup twice, and has numerous high placings in big MTB races all over the world, but today he won his first victory in a road race when he won the fourth stage of Tour of Austria.
"It is a big relief, and I'm pretty happy," said Evans. "I have lots of top five and top 10 placings in road races, and now I win my first real road stage. It gives me satisfaction."
There are three more stages to go before this year's edition of Tour of Austria has a winner, but right now, Cadel is wearing the leader's jersey.
"Todays stage was the hilliest one, we climbed Austria's biggest mountain. Tomorrow's stage will be the longest, and the whole tour is pretty hilly, so it will not be a piece of cake to keep the jersey all the way," he said.
In regard to the question everyone is asking, and the question he has heard many times: What does the future hold for you - the road or MTB?
"Right now I have a contract with Volvo-Cannondale, and after the Tour of Austria I'll be concentrating on the two upcoming MTB World Cup races. We'll see about the future, and if I get any offers."
After his non-appearance at the Tour de Luxembourg, Frank Vandenbroucke's Lampre team were getting worried about what happened, especially when he didn't talk to them last night.
In today's issue of De Standaard, VDB explained what happened. "I trained that afternoon and in a small street my left-hand hit the mirror of a car which came from the other side. I fell. I went to a doctor in Brussels, who is a friend of my father and I. He said I had broken my fifth metacarpus (a bone in the hand). It's now in plaster for 5 days. Then he will take some more X-rays."
When asked about why he didn't contact his team, he said "My wife Sarah called at 5 pm. She left a message in the hotel where Lampre was staying. My boss wasn't happy that he couldn't get me on the phone, but I went to bed after my visit to the doctor. I didn't want to see anybody. I stayed in trouble."
"I will restart next week on the home trainer and will talk to Lieven Maesschalck, (team trainer) and the Lampre staff. At the moment I don't know anything."
Are you scared of losing your job? "I hope not. I'll talk to Algeri. Everybody is allowed to fall, but not VDB. I will send the complete medical dossier, including the X-rays - to the team doctor Ronchi. I understand I am standing against the wall. I didn't gain any results in the last 12 months. To serve the contract I have to shown myself in autumn."
'I'm in very deep at this moment, but I believe I can do it. It will not be easy. Who believes me when I don't produce results?"
Abraham Olano will not attempt the world hour record that was tentatively scheduled for Saturday in Anoeta, San Sebastian. After finishing second in the Giro, medical tests showed that there was a high level of lactic acid in his body, and he was not prepared to go ahead with the attempt.
The Scott Sunderland v. Cees Priem/TVM court case will not be heard again until September 20, after today's hearing had to be put off. Priem's lawyer Mr Spriet did not forward his written resolutions to Sunderland's lawyer, Mr Verhaeghe in time for the latter to examine them in detail - they arrived late on Wednesday night, and the hearing was scheduled for 9:00am Thursday morning.
It has been several weeks since Priem/TVM appealed against the verdict made by the Police Judge in Tongeren. However, Mr Spriet claimed that he hadn't the time yet to draw up the resolutions.
The date set for the hearing in the Correctional Court in Tongeren is now September 20, after the Judicial holiday period in July-August.
Despite his promising return to racing in the Tour of Germany, Mapei's Oscar Freire has had to pull out of the team for the Tour de France due to a viral infection. He was hospitalised in Santander on June 9 with simple gastrointestinal problems, but it turns out the infection is more serious than first thought.
The doctors told him to rest, and the extended recovery time means that he won't be fit in time for the Tour. Freire has been dogged by physical problems throughout his career, preventing him from realising his full potential as a top cyclist.
Italian cyclist, Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) had an urgent operation to remove his appendix on Wednesday in a hospital in Chieti, near Pescara. He will will not be able to race again for three weeks, but he should leave hospital tomorrow (Friday).
The Farm Frites-Hartol team will send a strong squad to the Emakumeen Bira in Spain. Both Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel and Hanka Kupfernagel start on Friday. The rest of the team is: Madeleine Lindberg (7th last year 7th), Sissy van Alebeek, Margaret Hemsley and Anouska van der Zee.
Major Races and Events
September 7-29, 2002: Vuelta
a España (GT) - Preview, stage list
May 11-June 2, 2002: Giro
d'Italia (GT) - Preview, stage list, photos
July 6-28, 2002: Tour
de France (GT) - Full preview & official route details
December 8: Superprestige
Rd 5 (Cat. 1) - Erwin Vervecken
November 29-December 4: Six
Days of Noumea (6D) - Sassone/Neuville victorious
November 26-December 1: Six
Days of Zurich (6D) - Day
6 - McGrory/Gilmore/Schnider win
December 1: Melbourne
Cup on Wheels (IM) - Scott Moller, Keirin,
Sprint, Support
races
December 2: Cyclo-cross
World Cup #2 (CDM) - Sven Nijs again
November 24-December 3: Juegos
Deportivos Centroamericanos (JR) - Final results
December 8-9: Frankfurter
Rad-Cross (Cat. 2) - Alex Mudroch, UK
National Trophy Series #4 (Cat. 3) - Roger Hammond, Grote
Prijs Industrie Bosduin - Kalmthout (Cat. 1) - Bart Wellens, Int.
Radquer Obergösgen (Cat. 2) - Björn Rondelez, Trofeo
Mamma e Papa Guerciotti (Cat. 3) - Enrico Franzoi, Premio
Egondo (Cat 3) - David Seco, Irish
cyclo-cross championships - Robin Seymour
Results: local racing
Australia - CycleWest
Promotions Omnium Series #2, Eastern
Suburbs Summer Criterium Series, Carnegie
Caulfield Tuesday criterium, Southern
Cross Junior Track Open & Madison Cup, Manly
Warringah CC, George
Town Track Carnival, Carnegie
Caulfield CC, Randwick
Botany CC, Gold
Coast CATS CC, Caesar's
Illawarra CC, Caesar's
Illawarra (track)
Denmark - Danish
cyclo-cross Post Cup #3
Italy - Gran
Premio Città di Bassano
Luxembourg - GP
De Kopstal
New Zealand - Cyco
Criterium series
Spain - Elorrio
cyclo-cross
USA - Georgia
Cross Series Championship, Chimborazo
Grand Prix cyclo-cross, Boulder
Cross Rd 6, New
Mexico State Cyclo-x Champs, Sorrento
Cyclo-x & California State Champ's, Boulder
Cross Rd 5, Verge
New England series, Northampton
CC Cyclo-cross Championships, Chris
Cross International CycloCross
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