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Tuesday's EuroFile: Disco leaves AIGCP; Basso vows return; Honchar booted
Discovery Channel removed itself from the cycling’s top teams’ association Tuesday, citing dissatisfaction with the group’s lack of unity.
The split comes as the Association International des Groupes Cyclistes Professionels (AIGCP) has struggled to find unified positions on such divisive issues as doping scandals and the future of the ProTour calendar.
“I no longer feel confident that this group can lead our sport and represent our team in a positive manner,” said sport director Johan Bruyneel in a team release. “It became clear at our most recent meeting that the goals and objectives among the teams are very different, and I do not want to continue to be a part of such contentious and unprofessional meetings.”
The decision came in the wake of a meeting of 19 of the group’s ProTour teams last week in France during the Dauphiné Libéré. The group agreed that any team not applying the Code of Ethics to its riders would be removed from competition.
At that meeting, at least three teams walked out on a contentious debate on how to deal with riders who might be implicated in the Operación Puerto doping investigation. The scandal continues to plague the sport and is sure to be a discussion point at UCI meetings scheduled for Geneva on Tuesday.
“We need to become a unified group for our sport to reach a higher level, but not every team is willing to do that, and AIGCP president Patrick Lefevere is not to blame,” Bruyneel continued. “He has shown great leadership and insight while presiding over this group — however, the same cannot be said of all members.”
Discovery has had issues with AIGCP positions before. The team was roundly criticized by the organization for signing Ivan Basso last year. It was, however, another teams' group - the International Professional Cycling Teams (IPCT) - that at one point considered excluding Discovery from its membership. The dispute was later resolved and Discovery continues as a member. Like the IPCT, membership in the AIGCP is not mandatory for competing at the sport’s highest level, the UCI ProTour, or in races like the Tour de France.
“The sport of cycling needs a leadership voice right now and we do not feel that participation in the AIGCP can provide us with that direction,” general manager Bill Stapleton said. “Our team will continue to support the UCI ProTour system and be an active partner in the IPCT group, but we will no longer associate ourselves with a group that cannot unify in an effort to lead the sport in a positive direction.”
Basso vows comeback
Ivan Basso promises to return “stronger than ever” to competition following his two-year racing ban for his connection to the Operación Puerto doping scandal.
“I’ve promised my family that I will return to win the Giro d’Italia,” Basso told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “A lot of people have contacted me to show their support. I already have three teams who want me.”
Basso will be able to return to competition on October 24, 2008, in a decision handed down last week by Italian authorities. Basso admitted that he worked with alleged Puerto ringleader Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes, although he denied actually engaging in doping practices.
“I made two errors. First, I should have never gone to see Fuentes, and second, I should have never lied about it. It’s fair that I pay a high price, but I will return stronger than ever,” Basso continued. “I felt trapped by the lies I was telling.”
Basso was among nine riders from four teams who were kicked out ahead of last year’s Tour for alleged links to the doping ring. Basso split from Team CSC last fall and was cleared by Italian authorities to resume racing.
He signed a high-profile – and controversial – contract to join Discovery Channel, but later admitted he worked with Fuentes with the “intention of doping” after Italian authorities re-opened the case.
“I’ve told them everything I know,” Basso said. “I made five trips to Madrid and that corresponds to the five bags of blood they found.”
Under current rules, he won’t be able to return to one of the 20 ProTour teams for an additional two years, but he says there’s already interest from teams to have him back.
“I am sure I can still compete for another five or six years. And a long break can actually do me some good,” Basso said. “To come back and win, I will have to work even harder. That is my challenge.” Boonen to race Vuelta
Belgian sprinter Tom Boonen has confirmed he’ll race the 2007 Vuelta a España as part of his preparation for the world championships.
“I want to train 100 percent for the world championships,” the Quick Step-Innergetic captain said. “I’ve seen photographs and profiles of the course and I have the complete information.”
Boonen – the 2005 world champion – didn’t complete Sunday’s final stage at the Dauphiné Libéré, which he used as preparation for next month’s Tour.
Boonen is undergoing tests this week and then will return to his home in Monaco to prepare for the Tour. He has targeted the green sprinter's jersey as his top goal for the Tour.
Honchar axed
Ukrainian Sergei Honchar, expected to be a big Tour de France hope for T-Mobile this year after winning two time trials in the 2006 race, has been fired by his team for violating its code of conduct.
Honchar, suspended from the team in May after abnormal results in blood tests, was let go with immediate effect after new information had been gathered from tests, his team added.
T-Mobile did not elaborate on the nature of the tests or give further information. Honchar has not tested positive in a doping control.
"The T-Mobile team announced the immediate release of Sergei Honchar and termination of his contract for violations of the team code of conduct previously disclosed,” a team statement issued on Tuesday explained. "This decision by team management was based upon follow-up tests completed in early June and additional information gathered during his suspension. Mr. Honchar is released immediately and is free to seek employment with another team or company."
The 36-year-old Honchar was suspended by his team for 30 days on May 11 after abnormal blood tests during the Tour of Romandie.
Agence France Presse
Hinault back on bike
Five-time Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault will race for the first time in 21 years this weekend in France.
The 52-year-old, who hasn’t raced since he retired in 1986, will participate in a cyclo-tourist event in Saint-Brieuc named after him and his wife. Hinault will reportedly compete in the shorter, 110km version instead of the longer 170km and 230km routes.
Will the Badger be able to help himself and not go on the attack?
