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The UCI has asked the judicial authorities in Florence to supply it with the results of the analyses of the seized products in the San Remo raid. In addition, the Socičtč du Tour de France has indicated that it will "take note" of any information obtained by the UCI prior to the start in Dunkirk on July 7.
In an official statement, the Tour organisers said that they "have expressed with the international sporting authority (UCI), and the national (FFC) the need to put at their disposal reliable, precise and proven information on the facts regarding those people put under investigation from the Giro, before considering a possible decision before the Tour."
"The organisation has taken note of the request made by the UCI with the judge in charge of the investigation to receive as soon as possible this information, insofar as can be communicable. It is up to the UCI to determine which elements they want to communicate to us."
They also reaffirmed their "right to challenge, before the start, or to exclude during the race, teams or persons whose guilt, proved, is in contradiction to the ethical and sporting principles defended by the Tour de France."
After withdrawing from the Giro d'Italia nearly three weeks ago, Marco Pantani has given a TV interview for his team's co-sponsors Stream TV. The program will be screened on Wednesday evening, June 27 at 23:15 CEST, and is likely to raise a few eyebrows.
"In cycling there is not a culture of doping, but of a profession that is improving itself... When we can guarantee that a donkey will not be superior to a horse, then we can see a beautiful race."
"The trouble is that the anti-drug controls are not at the forefront, and this does not allow the athletes to be equal, and have doubts about their colleagues. I would not be surprised myself if one day they also determined that the blood levels of Armstrong had changed. Now, anything is possible."
"The only salvation is the magistracy, but not like San Remo. Someone has to explain to me how the 200 journalists knew everything already, although the blitz was unexpected. I saw things I will never forget: mechanics who after 40 years of honourable trade have been treated like criminals. Our Federation is guilty for not protecting us, and they never have."
"To cure ourselves in our jargon does not mean to dope, but you cannot trust anybody, you are afraid to speak with a colleague, you are afraid of everyone...
"In regard to the story of Frigo, that gives me great sadness. I don't know if I would have spoken, when the situation was so difficult. I have my doubts about the identity of the 'informer', I would not want to be pushed to speak from other interests."
On prosecutor Pierguido Soprani: "Prosecutor Soprani was wrong. He said that my blood values from Sydney were changed. They didn't want me to go to Sydney, but I compelled the Federation to take me. I was always available for controls, I undertook three controls because of all the inferences. I was perfectly within CONI regulations."
On the Giro: "For my own good I would do well to keep quiet. The Giro d'Italia was resumed because, although for a time there was the desire to protest, we were intimidated by a lot heavies from the authorities. They promised things to us after the meeting with CONI, and I know they will not keep them. Everything will continue as before. Cycling is not changed."
On the Tour de France: "In the Tour, they will feel the absence of Pantani. Although I know that the French will never admit it.
Despite being one of the main protagonists during yesterday's fast Mendrisio - Mendrisio stage in the Tour de Suisse, Davide Rebellin (Liquigas) chose not to start stage 7 today from Locarno to Naters. An excellent one day rider, Rebellin tends to suffer in the longer stage races, and he was lying in 43rd overall at 22'20 down before his withdrawal. He will try and increase his tally of 8 wins this season in this weekend's Italian national championships, with his remaining latter season goals being the World Cups and World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.
Swiss pro Alex Zülle (Team Coast) has told Swiss newspaper Blick that he is no longer a rider for the big tours. "My team saved us from a big debacle because it worked well in the Tour de Suisse on Saturday (during the toughest stage)," he said after losing more than 10 minutes. "I am no longer a big stage race specialist."
French professional and outspoken anti-doping critic, Christophe Bassons (Jean Delatour), has given a lengthy interview with L'Humanité newspaper in which he says he "despairs of the world of professional cycling."
The article, due to appear in the Tuesday June 26 edition, relates how Bassons has been shunned by his team members and other riders of the peloton for speaking out against doping.
He has broken a long and frustrating silence, saying that "My experiment is difficult to live and I did not want to wait until I was completely depressed as in 1999, to say clearly what I think. For several days, I have felt "limited" and it was necessary to speak out. In the French Championships, I will find myself with riders who do not appreciate me and I am afraid of cracking [nervously] on the day, or the day before the championship."
"When my book [Positif] came out, it was not well received. I was made to understand that I had exceeded the boundaries. Even in my team, certain riders were not happy...At the end of a training camp, I was attacked by riders who reproached me for not respecting them. I consider that while doping reigns as master in my professional, it is me who is not being respected! I now count six or seven riders who do not speak to me any more, who don't even say hello...Then, when I find myself in their company, you can imagine how difficult it is!"
Bassons has made it increasingly hard for his director Michel Gros to put him in the team for the best races, as there would be inevitable conflicts with the other top riders. Then there were other incidents with other riders in the peloton, including Didier Rous, Pascal Chanteur and Christophe Moreau in particular. He abandoned the Four Days of Dunkirk after three days of ceaseless taunts and alienation, claiming stomach problems.
The interview continues with more tales of similar nature, involving Bassons and his trainer Antoine Vayer. It is clear that Jean Delatour, Festina and Bonjour are not well endowed with Bassons-friendly riders.
Why does he still do it? "When I am at home, it is hard to set out again...For the last four or five years, I have lived a dream. I could earn a living by riding a bike, it was for me unhoped for. But I don't have the dream any more."
"I am still able to maintain my level of a professional sports person, therefore have at least arrived there, but that's all, I have a desire to do more."
He believes the reason for his ostracism is that the other riders know that they are wrong. "They understood my words and it hurts them."
"But I believe there is a mistake. When I speak, the riders always think that I am saying that I am the only one who doesn't dope himself, but it is not that. When I speak about doping, I speak about me and the norm, never of a particular individual."
"People whom I meet on the road often say to me 'remain in the milieu, cycling needs you'. : But I want to say to them 'Do you know that I am always alone in this milieu?' I cannot solely represent the hopes of all those who dream of a different cycling."
How does he propose to achieve this? "Initially, to be truthful to the young riders...institute a sort of federal council of young riders, or a national commission of neo-pro's so that they can set in place some rules and be open. Then to act on the level of the professionals, so that they can better prepare their future."
"I will be content when I leave the milieu," finished Bassons, who added that "My team did not select me for the Tour. So much the better."
The court in Ferrara (northern Italy) has today questioned Professor Francesco Conconi, who has been implicated in a long running investigation into doping. Conconi was the director of a high level sports centre, and he was accused of administering EPO and other performance enhancing substances to athletes in the early 1990's.
During 11 hours of questioning today, Professor Conconi denied that he had ever taken doping substances himself, and answered a number of questions about the files that were found after a search of his centre which allegedly show that he systematically doped athletes.
Seven more doctors will be questioned during the second week of July, and the findings of the preliminary investigation will be released in September.
Conconi is accused of supplying and administering doping substances, in particular EPO, to athletes involved in competition. According to the accusation, he and his colleagues treated 63 athletes with EPO. The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) is also implicated in the affair for directly financing and knowing about Conconi's work.
Spain will become the first country to implement the UCI's EPO test, that was introduced to international competitions in April this year. The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) have decided to take action instead of "pompous posturing".
The analyses of urine samples will be carried out in the laboratories of Chatenay-Malabry (France) and Lausanne (Switzerland), with the possibility that Madrid will be added in future.
Police in Adelaide report they have found the driver of a vehicle who they believe is responsible for the hit and run death of a cyclist at Munno Para last Friday night. Andrew Watkins, 38, of Munno Para West was dragged 6km after being hit by a light truck 500m from his home.
An extensive search was conducted, which led police to a property east of Gawler (north Adelaide), where they arrested a 31 year old man. He will appear in court this morning charged with manslaughter and numerous traffic charges including, culpable driving, failing to stop at an accident, failing to render assistance, failing to report an accident, driving with a disqualified license, driving without registration, and driving without insurance.
The man needed admission to the Lyell McEwin Hospital for treatment to injuries he had received. His identity and the cause of his injuries are not yet known.
The competition to win a pair of Shimano wheels will close at midnight, GMT on June 30, with the winners expected to be announced by Tour time on July 7 (thanks Grant). If you haven't already done so, please enter and fill in the competition form, which takes about as long as it does to ride a fast prologue in Dunkirk.
Major Races and Events
September 7-29, 2002: Vuelta
a Espańa (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 Cittŕ 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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