Posts from — April 2010

Cycling News: Ex-Xacobeo doctor launches attack on Pino

The Xacobeo Galicia team director Álvaro Pino responds to reporters' questions.

Accuses team of replacing him with a doping doctor

Former Xacobeo-Galicia team doctor Juan Manuel Rodríguez Bastida has made a fierce attack on the team’s manager, Alvaro Pino, accusing Pino of “only being able to understand cycling with doping”. The doctor was released by the team last year and is launching legal action to obtain payment of wages he says he has not received from the Spanish Professional Continental squad.

Rodríguez Bastida said his tenure with the team ended during last year’s Vuelta a España, but he has never been told why. “They replaced me with [Colombian doctor] Alberto Beltrán, but nobody ever gave me an explanation. They didn’t sack me or terminate my contract. It was simply as if I didn’t exist for them any more,” he told AS.

Rodríguez Bastida claims that Pino contacted Beltrán during last year’s Tour of Portugal, where he was working with the Liberty Seguros team. Beltrán was subsequently taken on to work with the Xacobeo riders at the Vuelta, but was released from his post when news came out that three riders Liberty Seguros riders had tested positive for EPO CERA at the Tour of Portugal.

“Those riders said that [Beltrán] had supplied them with the product. I started the Vuelta with the team although I knew then that they did not want me there. I am a victim for not permitting doping practices. They threw me out of the team and replaced me with a doper who had been arrested in Italy for possessing banned products, who was known by everyone for his murky past and had to flee from our country,” said Rodríguez Bastida.

Speaking about Pino, Rodríguez Bastida declared: “He can only understand cycling with doping… He is not concerned with the problems the sport has or take measures to ensure its regeneration.” Asked if he himself had doped any riders, Rodríguez Bastida replied: “No, I’ve never resorted to doping. I never saw anyone doping themselves when I was with the team, and I didn’t hear of anything out of place going on.”

Rodríguez Bastida’s legal action is set to be answered by one from the Galician Cycling Foundation, which is connected to the Xacobeo team. They have announced their intention to sue Rodríguez Bastida for “his unfounded, inflammatory words”.

Meanwhile, Xacobeo’s riders have responded to the story with a press release. In it they point out that “since our racing debut in 2007 there has not been a single positive test in our team. Nobody connected with Xacobeo-Galicia has ever encouraged us to undertake doping, nor have we seen signs that anyone uses banned substances. The guiding principle of the team’s management is zero tolerance to doping and our team has always stuck rigorously to this philosophy.”

The release was signed by Ezequiel Mosquera, David García, Carlos Castaño, Gustavo Domínguez, Gustavo César Veloso, Serafín Martínez, Gonzalo Rabuñal, Alberto Fernández, Marcos García, Vladimir Isaychev, and Delio Fernández.

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ex-xacobeo-doctor-launches-attack-on-pino

Cycling News: Operación Grial continues

Jesus Manzano Photo: © Daniel Schamps

Spanish press says Kelme doctor Virú kept key files

Investigators from Spain’s Guardia Civil working on the Operación Grial doping investigation focused on ex-Kelme team doctor Walter Virú are reported to have uncovered files that bring to light new evidence of widespread doping at Kelme between 2001 and 2004.

According to a story in Wednesday’s edition of Spanish daily El Público, the Guardia Civil’s investigators have discovered half a dozen files containing around 30 documents detailing the names of Kelme riders and listing medicines they had received, the doses supplied, the dates on which they were administered, and the competitions for which they were intended to boost performance.

The documents are reported to have been found during a search of Virú’s country home in November last year. They are said to provide a very detailed account of activities within the Kelme team between 2001 and 2004. El Público reported that the riders’ identities are not hidden behind code names as they were during the Operación Puerto investigation. It was also reported that some of this evidence has been passed on to
Antonio Serrano, the Madrid judge who headed the Puerto investigation.

Spanish sports daily AS reported at the tail-end on last year that “Virú had held on to documents from the Kelme team” and added that “some of them could refer to riders who are still competing”. AS requested a comment from Spain’s Commission for Sport (CSD) on the story, but was told that it could not comment during an ongoing investigation.

The Grial investigation has already resulted in one high-profile Spanish athlete being banned from competition. Walker Paquillo Fernández, an Olympic silver medallist and three times a world championship runner-up, has been banned for two years having admitted to the use and possession of EPO. Fernández’s home was searched and EPO found after the Guardia Civil had spent time following him and tapping his phone conversations.

Source: cyclingnews.com

Former Mapei manager gets support from Basso and Evans

Italian coach Aldo Sassi, who works with world champion Cadel Evans, Ivan Basso, Michael Rogers and Charly Wegelius has revealed that he is fighting a life-threatening brain tumor. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport on the day of his 51st birthday, Sassi revealed he has already undergone brain surgery and chemotherapy.

“I’ve got to roll up my sleeves and fight against an aggressive enemy,” he bravely told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I’ve been operated on for a brain tumor. I’ve had the first cycle of chemotherapy and tomorrow I’m starting radiotherapy. It’s something I’ve got to put up with, with the conviction that I can beat it. There’s no such thing as an incurable disease. I’m a scientist and I’m full of hope. I can do it.”

Sassi was part of the youngest member of the team of sports doctors that worked with Francesco Moser when he broke the hour record in 1983. He was at the time general manager of the Mapei team and created the Mapei coaching and testing centre in Castellanza, near Varese. Sassi has always taken a clear stance against doping and played a key role in fighting the problem. He only agreed to coach Ivan Basso on his return from a doping ban when he allowed Sassi to test his blood haemaglobin volume, one of the best way to detect blood doping.

Sassi revealed that he suffered with a headache for four days before being diagnosed with a high-grade Glioma brain tumor.

“I fought back well and immediately realised I wasn’t alone. I’m lucky to be surrounded by a team of champions, starting with Professor Solero (the doctor treating him). I’ve had the best from life: a great family, the job I’d dreamed about and many, many friends.”

“I’ve been working with statistics for more than 25 years but at the moment I am not interested. Because the life expectancy with a cancer like mine isn’t more than 15 months. I just hope to be the one who escapes from the statistics. I think I can do it.”

“When I wake up in the morning and look at the sun, I see a light I hadn’t seen before. My wife Marina is amazing and three children Valentina, Chiara and Marco are as strong as oaks. Then I’ve got my wider family: Giorgio and Adriana Squinzi and my riders. Their messages fill my world on a daily basis. I’ve also got my faith and it’s really helpful.”

Still working with his riders

Sassi is still working with his riders, especially Cadel Evans and Ivan Basso, as they prepare for the Giro d’Italia.

“The only problem is that I can’t do any sport or drink wine. And strangely I’ve become tone deaf. I used to love playing the guitar…” he said.

“I even made the nurse wait before I went into surgery because I was finishing off Basso’s training programme. Now both he and Evans are getting ready for the Giro d’Italia. Who will win the Giro? Hopefully either Evans or Basso. They’re like two sons for me and I can’t chose between them. Cadel is the strongest athlete I’ve ever coached. Ivan is the one with more determination.”

“Cycling has improved a lot. Things have really cleaned up. If either Ivan or Cadel win the Giro, we’ll have the proof that you can win without doping. I totally trust them and I’m certain they wouldn’t do anything to hurt me….”

Sassi insisted he fight back and refuses to let his health problems stop him making plans for the future.

“When life throws you a surprise, you’ve got to fight back. That’s what I’m doing. I’m going to survive. I’ve plans to develop the Castellanza (Mapei) centre, I want to ride up the Stelvio and I’ve booked a place for the world championships in Melbourne. My tumor is going to have think again.”

Both Ivan Basso and Cadel Evans described their relationship with Sassi, revealing how important he is to both of them in public messages of support in Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Aldo is fighting against something that is far more important than my Giro d’Italia, yet he still dedicates a part of his day to me. I’m very proud of that,” Basso told Gazzetta. “He’s got real character and determination. He’s an example and a friend, more than a friend.”

Evans said: “I first met Aldo in 2002. I knew little or nothing about cycling but I wanted to know more. I was racing mountain bikes and on the road. When I cracked at the Giro d’Italia it convinced me I should prepare better. Since then the Mapei Centre has been my point of reference, my second family.”

Source: cyclingnews.com

Dr. Kay supports positive social change

OUCH Sports Medical Center signed on as the new title sponsor of the Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team, which will now operate under the team name OUCH-Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team, effective Sunday.

“Cycling has once again given me a golden opportunity to work with the best athletes in the world. Moreover, our sponsorship of the professional cycling team will be a great addition to our involvement with the Bahati Foundation’s youth track cycling program that I will direct at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California this summer.” said Dr. Brent Kay of OUCH Sports Medical Center.

OUCH and the Bahati Foundation are partnering to use cycling to promote a positive message worldwide. In supporting the Bahati Foundation, OUCH Sports Medical center looks toward social change in many underserved areas throughout the United States.

“As a Southern California native, I am proud to support the development of the youth of South Central Los Angeles,” said Dr. Brent Kay. “We are all aware of the difficulties our inner city kids face in this great nation, but I am confident in our ability to provide a pathway to leadership for them through their community, academics, and athletics.”

“It’s fantastic to know that OUCH Sports Medical Center and Dr. Kay are clearly supportive of every aspect of what this program stands for. The OUCH-Bahati Foundation program will only grow throughout the years and with more corporate partners coming to support this program, it gives us the momentum to see a very lasting positive impression on the sport.” said Steve Owens, Manager and Technical Advisor to the team.

“Our American Tour de France Champions have inspired us all with their heroic efforts; from Greg LeMond’s dramatic first victory and subsequent comeback from a shotgun wound, to Lance Armstrong’s unbelievable record-breaking seven wins following his battle with cancer, to Floyd Landis’ greatest athletic comeback of all time with a severely arthritic hip,” said Dr. Kay. The OUCH clinic, which specializes in treating conditions like osteoarthritis, performed the hip resurfacing procedure Landis underwent after the 2006 Tour de France.

“This is America; this is who we are; and the story continues. This is the inspiration that fuels my passion for the Foundation. Again I want to thank those that have inspired me to even greater leadership roles. I am very proud of the work AEG Sports and Andrew Messick have done in developing the Tour of California into a premier international sporting event. Showcasing our great state and Nation through competitive cycling is a phenomenal achievement.”

“We look forward to the day when we can represent the State of California with our world-class Southern California-based professional cycling team and prove that we are one of the best teams in the world. Until then we will just keep winning and giving back.”

In 2009, OUCH sponsored a pro team, the Ouch Presented By Maxxis, which included riders like Floyd Landis, Karl Menzies, Rory Sutherland and Bobby Lea.

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ouch-sports-medical-center-signs-on-as-bahati-foundation-pro-cycling-team-co-sponsor

The riders line-up for the start of La Doyenne

The centre of Liège was loaded with team buses on Sunday morning as the peloton gathered for the start of the 2010 Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The 258 kilometre event marks the last race in the month-long series of spring Classics, and as the oldest and toughest event of all, it is revered in the professional peloton and attracts some of the biggest stage race and one-day specialists.

After a week of clear blue skies there were a few drops of rain at the start in Liège as the last of the teams signed-on outside Liège’s town hall. Alberto Contador’s Astana teammates wasted no time with the protocol as their team bus deposited the riders at the foot of the sign-on stage. In contrast, Cadel Evans’ BMC Racing Team missed arrived too late at the sign-on podium and all the riders are likely to receive a minor fine from race organiser, Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO).

Last year, Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) claimed a solo victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, after launching a powerful attack on the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons. Schleck and his brother Fränk have promised another day of attacks on the côtes that distinguish the race, including the legendary Côte de la Redoute and the final Côte Saint-Nicholas.

While both the Schlecks are counted amongst the favourites, Amstel Gold Race winner and local hero Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) has assumed the mantle of outright favourite here in Liege. The Belgian was again greeted with enthusiastic cheers by his many fans, but appeared nervous as he lined up on the start line. Former winner Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) looked relaxed, as he p to add to his 2006 and 2008 titles at the race.

Valverde’s former teammate Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) finished second last year, 1:17 behind a solo Andy Schleck and will be hoping he has the form to go one better this season. The USA’s Chris Horner (RadioShack) and Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) will carry North American hopes. They will be trying to be the first North American to win ‘La Doyenne’ since Tyler Hamilton’s 2003.

Source: Cyclingnews.com

Italian to decide next week after suffering in Trentino

Italian veteran Gilberto Simoni has admitted he may not ride the 2010 Giro d’Italia as the swansong to his long career after all, following a disappointing performance in the Giro del Trentino.

The 38 year-old two-time Giro d’Italia winner signed a contract with the Lampre-Farnese Vini team last week just in time to ride the Giro del Trentino on home roads in the Dolomites. Simoni had kept training and made himself available for out-of-competition doping controls before he inked the deal. His dream was to ride the Giro d’Italia one last time before finally retiring.

However, Simoni suffered in the mountains at the four-day Giro del Trentino, losing 3:08 on the final mountain stage to Alpe di Pampeago. He finished 29th overall, 5:26 behind winner Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana).

Simoni revealed his doubts about the Giro d’Italia to Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I’m not sure if I’m going to ride the Giro. I’ll decide in the middle of next week,” he said.

“The Giro’s not a walk in the woods, it’s 21 days of hard racing. I like to stay up front in the mountains, but here [at the Giro del Trentino] I was scratching around a lot at the back.”

Simoni, whose professional career commenced in 1998, was expected to be part of the Lampre-Farnese Vini team for the Giro d’Italia along with former rivals Damiano Cunego and sprinter Alessandro Petacchi.

Source: Cyclingnews.com

Juraj joins brother Peter at Italian squad

Liquigas Slovakian sensation Peter Sagan will be joined by brother Juraj after recently extending his contract with the Italian team. He new agreement ends at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

French website cyclismag.com reports that the younger Sagan demanded he be joined by his older brother as part of contract negotiations.

Juraj has ridden for Dukla Merida Trencin, a Slovak continental team, during the past three seasons, the squad for which Peter rode before making his ProTour debut at this year’s Santos Tour Down Under.

He impressed in stage five of that event and since then he won stages three and five plus the points classification at Paris-Nice in a performance that put the 20-year-old on the radar of many other ProTour teams.

Meanwhile, for his part, Juraj won last year’s GP Boka in Slovakia and took silver in the 2009 Slovakian U23 road race national championship.

Source: Cyclingnews.com

Maintains form in view of “La Doyenne”

Amstel Gold Race winner Philippe Gilbert was Belgium’s best finisher in Wednesday’s Flèche Wallonne, coming in sixth atop the famous Mur de Huy. The leg breaking, lung bursting steep finish does not really suit Gilbert’s style of racing but Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège does and it is the last big goal of the spring for the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider.

“It’s a good result to be finishing in the top ten,” Gilbert told Belgian journalists at the finish in Huy. “Compared to the real climbers, I come up a little short in the finale. But I’m satisfied mith my performance.”

Despite still feeling last Sunday’s race-winning effort in his legs, the Belgian raced hard and was set-up perfectly by his Omega Pharma-Lotto teammates ready for the final, third ascent of the Mur de Huy. “The first 100 kilometres were tough, but after that I felt better. At the second passage of the Mur de Huy I got dropped. It was difficult for about 10 kilometres, but then I was able to start the finishing ascent in a good position, also thanks to my teammates,” he said.

Gilbert knew which wheel he had to follow on the closing climb, and extended his effort not only in view of a victory but to also secure some precious points in the UCI rankings as he tries to secure the number one ranking after Liège-Bastogne-Liège. “Evans’ wheel was clearly the best one. His acceleration was “smooth”, if you can say that, but I still had to let him go. On the Mur I gave it everything I had, but the last 200 metres really are unbelievably hard. I had some extra motivation left to ride for the points in the UCI ranking.”

However, the Belgian’s hopes of scoring the number one in the ranking were complicated by Joaquin Rodruiguez (Katusha). He finished second and theoretically leads the classification before Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the culmination of the Ardennes Classics.

Gilbert finished fourth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège last year and will again be rated as one of the favourites especially after his Amstel victory last week. The Omega Pharma-Lotto rider says a victory in the “Doyenne”, his home race, would be a dream come true but he knows he faces some tough competition.

“A win this Sunday is more than an objective for me, it’s a real dream,” he said. “On Sunday, I may well be one of the riders that you have to keep an eye on. but I’m not the only one. The Schleck brothers, Evans, Contador and Valverde will be there, too.”

Source: Cyclingnews.com

Include bars, stems and seatposts

Easton showed at Sea Otter a new collection of Haven handlebars, stems and seatposts to go along with the all-mountain alloy and carbon wheelsets it had released previously.

The new Haven bar will be offered in both alloy and carbon versions, both with the same 711mm width, 9-degree backsweep, and 20mm rise. The Haven Carbon bar is cross-country light at just 170g but also fairly reasonable, too, at US$150. Easton’s precision TaperWall butting and shaping technology keeps the aluminum version at a still-impressive 265g and surprisingly attainable US$80 cost, plus there will be two color options as well.

Also coming soon is a matching forged and machined aluminum stem with a large 40mm-diameter extension and wide handlebar clamp to resist torsional flex – a key feature when using wide bars. The handlebar clamp area will also feature Easton’s Top-Lock faceplate design and DST shaping for reduced point stress and better bar durability.

Easton will offer the Haven stem in 55, 70, 85, and 100mm lengths, all with a 0-degree rise. Weights range from 138-160g and suggested retail price is US$100.

Rounding out the Haven mini-group are aluminum and carbon fiber seatposts. The 270g alloy Haven post is identical to Easton’s standard EA70 model but with a different finish while the 240g carbon one boasts a specific lay-up schedule and thicker walls relative to its EC70 cosmetic cousin to better withstand hard-core trail use. Easton will make both available in 27.2, 30.9 and 31.6mm diameters, all with a 400mm length and 0mm offset.

As with the rest of the Haven components, pricing is fairly reasonable at US$90 for the alloy post and US$130 for the carbon one.

Source: Cyclingnews.com

Gould and Byberg tied for women’s lead.

Round two of the USA Pro XCT happened this past weekend at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California. Burry Stander (Specialized) and Georgia Gould (Luna) took the men’s and women’s cross country victories.

With two of the five US Pro XCT events complete, Todd Wells (Specialized) has maintained his lead in the elite men’s standings with 255 points compared to the 250 amassed thus far by his nearest threat, Geoff Kabush (Maxxis – Rocky Mountain). In the elite women’s standings, Gould and Lene Byberg (Specialized) are now tied for the lead, each with 270 points.

The US Pro XCT will continue on Saturday, May 29, with the Mellow Johnny’s Classic in Dripping Springs, Texas.

Source: Cyclingnews.com