EPO Positives – for the Good of Cycling

Cycling again made headlines in the world of sports today. Following some new test procedures,the anti-doping agencies are now going back to old samples and re-testing them. The riders caught out are two-time stage winner in this year’s Tour de France, Stefan Schumacher, and Italian cyclist Leonardo Piepoli, who also took a stage.

Both cyclists have been caught for using the banned substance CERA (Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator). So far, three riders from this year’s Tour have now tested positive for CERA; Ricco, Piepoli and Schumacher.

Now I’m sure you are asking – “why is this good for cycling?” Well, Cycling Weekly sums this up particularly well. Reporter Nigel Wynn writes:

…these latest Tour test results – Leonardo Piepoli and Stefan Schumacher’s positives for EPO variant CERA – are a sign that the sport is cleaning up, and not just from the obvious fact that two more dopers have been nicked.

How? I’d like to think that Piepoli and Schumacher – along with Riccardo Ricco, who failed the test for new EPO variant CERA during the Tour itself – are the dregs of the druggies. A last, tar-laden splutter from a smoker giving up on the fags and clearing their lungs of muck.

Sure, it’s painful that the name of cycling is again associated with drugs and doping, but it’s part of a long and drawn out process of wiping out the cheats. And it’s working.

What’s great is that this latest batch of positives has come from a test that wasn’t fully implemented during the event itself. The anti-doping agencies are now going back to old samples and re-testing them when new test techniques are developed.

No longer are the dopers one step ahead – the message is clear. You may think you’re getting away with it now, but what will happen in a few months’ time?

It should make riders who think they’ve got the latest undetectable super-drug think twice.

Teams now dismiss riders at the very whiff of a doping scandal. Event organisers and national federations are not scared of making sure positive riders are banned. Clean riders are unafraid to speak out.

What was needed is now happening – a shift in the culture of professional cycling as a whole.

I have to agree with that – a shift in the culture of professional cycling as a whole is now taking place. And I am in full support of it.

If you are in support of this change, then join the campaign being spearheaded by Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport – I Support Drug Free Sport.

Cycling’s week that was!

Wow! That’s all I can say about this past week. Besides the fact that I’ve been snowed under with my day job (yup – something has to pay the bills), the world of cycling has surely continued to make some noise. Working as a PR for one of the world’s biggest technology and services companies, making noise is something I know how to do. But this week, cycling did not disappoint with two big announcements.

First up, seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has formally announced his return to the professional circuit  after a three-year absence.

According to Lance himself:

“I am happy to announce that after talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden. This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. … It’s now time to address cancer on a global level.”

There were many rumours making their rounds in the run up to his announcement. The most prominent was that Lance was going to be buying out ASO. Needless to say, this wasn’t true, but it did sound quite reasonable at the time. Especially that it would give him the world-wide reach he would need to get his message out in the fight against cancer.

One rumour, or theory I should say, that did resonate with me, and one I still believe would make a lot of sense is one that was put forward by the Fat Cyclist. The theory was that instead of joining a team, Lance would be forming a new one – Team LiveStrong. With a team branded ‘not to sell a product or company, but to raise money and awareness to fight cancer’, Lance would have a much bigger impact. On top of that, would Tour organiser ASO turn away a team explicitly created to fight cancer, led by the greatest Tour rider ever? Methinks not.

Come to think of it, maybe this could still be part of the plan – the long term plan? The short term plan could be to get back in to the world of cycling, just as he has announced, and to start raising the awareness for the campaign. A year or two on, then ramp up activities and launch Team LiveStrong. This theory has legs and one I think could definitely make its appearance. So keep an eye out for it, and remember, you heard it here first.

Secondly, on Friday the UCI and Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) decided to call it a truce on their 4-year feud. As I’ve mentioned before in a previous post, the two organisations needed to sort themselves out for the greater good of the sport.

UCI chief, Pat McQuaid: “This agreement marks the start of a new, postive era for the whole cycling family.”

McQuaid also said the UCI would now be proceeding with proposals to re-organise an elite cycling calendar. With 2011 earmarked as the likely date for a real, new beginning for all parties, there will be no Pro Tour ranking next season. Instead there will be a ranking system that takes into account the results of all UCI races.

Let’s just hope that this bitching between the two groups is over and done with. If cycling is ever going to gain the respect it needs at this crucial point in its growth curve, then these two organisations need to show the maturity and leadership qualities that we empower them with!

Last but not least, on Friday I received my press pass for Cycle 2008, the UK’s leading cycling show, which is taking place in early October (9th – 12th to be exact). Am looking forward to walking around the halls at Earls Court and checking out all the new products coming to our shores. So look out for my upcoming posts on this event.

Well, that’s all for now. Let me know your thoughts on the Lance theory. Also, let me know if you are going to be at Cycle 2008.

Lance to buy Tour organisers Amaury Sport Organisation…?

Lance Armstrong

A rumour, started in Australia over the weekend, has it that the real reason behind Lance Armstrong’s return to the world of cycling next year is so that he can buy Tour organisers Amaury Sport Organisation.

SMH give their reasons behind this as (if it was true):

Were Armstrong to own ASO, it would give him a huge European-based sporting arm through which he could promote the Lance Armstrong Foundation and expand exposure for his own personal sponsors.

It is worth noting that ASO, whose revenue in 2006 was €150 million ($263m), does not just own the Tour.

It also owns nine other races – including the Tour Qatar and Tour du Faso in Africa – the Dakar car rally, Paris marathon and half-marathon, the French Golf Open and the R.I.D.E international equestrian event in Normandy. The return of Armstrong to racing after a four-year hiatus – let alone if he won – would also reinforce the Armstrong branding that he virtually had on the Tour during his reign as champion, and would cement it as its future figurehead.

And if such a deal pains the French, should not the blame be pointed at ASO’s owners for giving up a national icon?

If it sounds absurd, there have been a number significant events that hint at such an outcome.

American ownership of ASO would strengthen the bridge between it and the US-based Anschutz Entertainment Group which organises, among other events, the Tour of California.

Furthermore, the event already supports two cancer charities and has been listed by Armstrong as one of the races he will compete in next year. A relationship already exists between ASO and AEG, too.

Last year, they settled on a marketing partnership deal.

The prospect of an Armstrong-UCI coalition involving UCI vice-president Verbruggen also carries weight. The Dutchman appears available. He stood down as an International Olympic Committee member on August 24.

The UCI also announced during the Olympics that it had met with the Amaury Group to settle a long-standing dispute with the tour organisers over the official sanctioning of races.

But did they discuss more?

Nothing was said by the UCI then about a possible ASO takeover. Nor has it been since. But, interestingly, no tour executives were present at those talks, or at the UCI press conference in Beijing.

Recent whispers also hint that several ASO executives may soon be leaving. Such a scenario would leave Australia, South Africa and other countries in the southern hemisphere as the next frontier for the Armstrong-UCI ticket.

The gain for the UCI is its association with Armstrong, while for Armstrong, it would allow him to take his fight against cancer worldwide.

Which is, after all, the reason he says he is getting back on the bike.

Now this all makes huge sense to me. Plus, even if it turns out to be wrong, it’s still not a bad idea for Lance to consider.

However, as expected the UCI have already countered this claim. Contacted by Cycling Weekly, UCI president Pat McQuaid dismissed the whole idea of an Armstrong-UCI-Verbruggen takeover of the Tour as something that: “never was and never will be a possibility. In fact, it’s so far removed from the truth that if it were closer to the date I would consider it an April Fool’s Day joke. It’s just not true”.

Ah well, it still makes for interesting reading and a ‘potential’ future prospect that sounds rather exciting.

Exit Scott, Enter Cervelo

Scott Bicycles

On Wednesday Scott Bicycles announced that it is going to discontinue the sponsorship of the Scott-American Beef cycling team for the 2009 season.

Scott became title sponsor of the Saunier-Duval team, after the Spanish company withdrew from the world of pro cycling following the expulsion of Italian star Riccardo Riccò before Stage 12 of the Tour de France for doping offences.

Whether or not Scott is withdrawing as a direct cause of Riccò’s actions, it is still a sad loss for the sport.

Cervélo

Then yesterday, Canadian bike maker Cervélo announced that it will own and sponsor a new European pro road team next season. Tentatively titled the Cervélo TestTeam, although the company may announce a title sponsor in the next few weeks.

According to some news reports, the company’s future with Team CSC-Saxo Bank, which it has supplied since 2002, is uncertain.

The new team will seek a UCI Pro Continental registration and will be managed by Cycling United Racing, a Swiss group that manages Cervelo-Lifeforce.

The team also is sponsored by Zipp, Speedplay, Vittoria and 3T. Cervelo co-founder Gerard Vroomen said the team will serve as a product research & development arm for the companies.

Rumour – Sastre might be leaving CSC-Saxo Bank

It seems that there are rumours in the news that Carlos Sastre might be leaving CSC-Saxo Bank. Now maybe it’s just me, but having a TdF winner on your team is a real good thing. Letting go of one, is a not a bright move.

Then again, the team could be in a state of turmoil. I mean with future stars such as the Schleck brothers, the team might be making way for them to take over the helm of the CSC-Saxo Bank ship?

Interesting nonetheless.

TdF Photography

Found a great link today at Reuters.com with some wonderful pictures from this year’s Tour de France.

I personally like picture #14 of the pack of riders cycles in the Alps mountains during the fifteenth stage of the Tour de France between Embrun and Prato Nevoso on July 20, 2008.

When you get a spare moment, go take a look. Well worth it.

UCI says dispute with Tour organiser is over

Well about damn time too! According to news reports coming in today, the UCI has struck a deal with Tour organisers, ASO, to settle a year long dispute that has led to a string of court cases.

According to a report on the Associated Press:

Pat McQuaid, president of the International Cycling Union, said Monday there will be a new ranking system for riders, teams and nations starting in 2011. That system will determine which teams must be invited to compete in the Tour, the world’s most prestigious cycle race.

The Tour de France will become a UCI event again. The UCI’s ProTour competition will continue.

The discussions were held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee and were mediated by IOC member Jean-Claude Killy.

The Amaury Group, owner of the Tour de France organizer, was not immediately available to comment.

All in all, good news for the world of cycling.

Iban Mayo banned two years

Iban Mayo

Spanish rider Iban Mayo was banned for two years after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld an appeal by the sport’s world governing body the UCI, the Lausanne-based CAS said on Tuesday.

The statement said: “The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld the appeal filed by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in a case involving the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) and the Spanish cyclist Iban Mayo. Accordingly, the CAS disqualified Iban Mayo from the Tour de France 2007 and imposed a two-year ban as from 31 July 2007.”

In a complex matter, Mayo initially tested positive for blood-booster EPO on July 24 during last year’s Grand Boucle. The A-sample had been analysed by the Anti-doping laboratory of Chatenay-Malabry (LNDD) in France.

The B-sample was then tested in Ghent, Belgium, as the LNDD had its annual closure, which referred it to a laboratory in Sydney which claimed it was “inconclusive.”

In December, the LNDD confirmed the initial positive test but the RFEC had previously concluded the B-sample was not positive and had dropped proceedings. That brought about UCI’s appeal to CAS which was lodged the same month.

If only xmas could come early…

Well, I’m hoping that my wife will read this blog and see what I am adding to my xmas wish list. Look have unveiled their new 2009 range and wow, do these bikes just look incredible!

And to my darling wife, if I could make a single wish for xmas this year, it would be for the Look 595 (in Red).

The new Look 596

The unchanged Look 586

Look 586: The new 'Pro Team' paint job is the same one used by Crédit Agricole.

Look 585

The new Look 576

Look 566

For a more technical outlook on these gorgeous machines, take a read of this review by James Huang, technical editor of Bikeradar.com.

Valverde takes Clásica San Sebastián

Valverde taking the first stage at this year's Tour de France

Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d’Epargne won today’s Clásica San Sebastián. Valverde outsprinted a group of about ten riders including Davide Rebellin, Paolo Bettini, Franco Pellizotti, Denis Menchov and Samuel Sánchez.

The group formed after Bettini’s Quick Step team put the hammer down in the final kilometers, leading into the Cat. 3 Alto de Arkale climb 16km from the finish. Bettini attacked twice on the climb and whittled the peloton down to about a dozen riders.

Silence-Lotto’s Yaroslav Popovych and Rebellin also took flyers in the final kilometers, but were drawn back by Valverde’s teammates.

In the final kilometer no one could match Valverde’s finishing power. he jumped first and held off CSC’s Alexandre Kolobnev for the win.

Clásica de San Sebastián is famous for its spectacular views of the coastline and its winding, undulating terrain which strongly favours aggressive riding. The current race route is approximately 227 kilometres in length and includes the tough Alto de Jaizkibel climb at around the 200 kilometre mark.