No Omega men in Oman is a bad omen

You could argue that Belgium is the world’s top cycling nation. You can state with more certainty that Omega Pharma- Lotto is Belgium’s top team, thanks to the presence of Philippe Gilbert and Jurgen Van Den Broeck, not to mention André Greipel. Yet despite all of this the team didn’t get invited to the Tour … Read more

Doping in Soccer

I get a bit tired when cycling fans try to point out other sports have doping problems. It’s understandable that cycling fans think the sport can victimised. For example the recent arrests in Spain haven’t generated as many headlines as the original Puerto busts. But it’s not an great comparison, Puerto happened on the eve … Read more

Luxembourg Secrecy

Luxembourg can be a secretive place, the OECD’s “grey list” of countries accused the country oof lacking financial transparency and it’s reportedly the country of choice for the North Korean dictatorship to stash its ill-gotten gains. We are still weeks away from reading anything official on the workings the Luxembourg cycling team. Remember this is … Read more

Should spectators be charged to watch a race?

News from Spain where struggling race organisers and local municipalities are struggling to make ends meet. Patxi Mutiloa, the sports boss within the Basque Government has compared cycling to other professional sports “where nobody disputes that you have to pay entry. If we want to see the best cyclists on our roads in certain areas, … Read more

Can a Pro Team Be Profitable?

Laurent Fignon’s autobiography recounts how he set up the Système U team with Cyrille Guimard. They created a private cycling team and sold space on the jerseys and naming rights to Système U, a French retail co-op. Income from the sponsor in excess of the wage bill and expenses meant the pair made a small … Read more

McQuaid strikes again!

If it’s fashionable to dismiss Pat McQuaid outright in some circles, I think the story is more nuanced. With his background in race organisation, especially the Tour of Langkawi, the UCI President brings experience to open up the sport around the world, something that might not have happened if, say, a Frenchman or Belgian was … Read more

Goodbye Aldo Sassi

Sassi busy rebuilding fitness and recovering reputations It’s a stinker of a morning, first the news of Pegasus and now the departure of Aldo Sassi. Sassi was an Italian coach and sports scientist who ran the Mapei Training Centre near Milan in Italy. For too long in Italian cycling the idea of a sports doctor … Read more

Pegasus – who’s to blame?

With news that the Aussie team is set to implode, some are already casting around for the bogeyman here. Because it’ll take a near-miracle to save the team, a fact not helped by the fact that the team simply doesn’t have a roster that will let them win that much. Whilst some might be asking … Read more

Show Me The Money

Without boring you, the process to registering a team with the UCI first involves sending them a copy of proposed contracts with riders and then, months later, setting up bank guarantees and a financial evaluation of the team. Pegasus the winged horse was a creature of myth and fantasy In the light of the worries … Read more

Brunel, the Cipollini of the press room

If you haven’t seen it already, then the recent interview with Mario Cipollini on cyclingnews.com is a superb read. The Italian sprinter may have retired from the bunch but his mouth is still in fine form, outrageous quotes flow with ease. In one interview ‘Super Mario’ supplies more memorable quotes than entire pro teams manage … Read more