Following Iván Gutiérrez’s letter, printed in many places, I feel like having a word with the Spaniard. So here’s a letter addressed to him. Dear Ivan, I read your letter in defence of Alejandro Valverde and have to say I’m quite surprised. You seem trapped in a bubble, unaware of the world outside cycling. Alejandro … Read more
One of the smaller sponsors of Garmin-Transitions is a small hedge fund, Holowesko Partners. Run by cycling enthusiast Mark Holowesko, the business also backs the youth/feeder team for Garmin-Transitions. Kerr-ching: Vaughters hit the jackpot If Holowesko are stuck for investment ideas, they’d do well to get Jonathan Vaughters on board. For he might well have … Read more
It took time but as expected, the Court for Arbitration has ruled against Alejandro Valverde and the Spanish Federation, the RFEC: On 29 August 2007, the UCI requested the RFEC to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Alejandro Valverde on the basis of the evidence gathered within the Operación Puerto proceedings, including the blood bag blood from … Read more
Here’s a screenshot of the UCI’s rulebook, online at UCI.ch. Note rule 1.3.010 was introduced in 2005. Propulsion from any source other than your legs is banned. Does motorised doping exist? Yes, it is possible the technology is out there. But is it being used in the pro peloton? Well there are only rumours and … Read more
Just a word on Michele Scarponi. He was rumbled for involvement in Operation Puerto and suspended for two years. I have some sympathy for him as unlike many others, he confessed and took a ban. All whilst he was on a team programme: he was busted and banned yet few team mates got the same … Read more
In a series of pieces on life outside cycling, “Out of Competition”, here is another piece. Once someone has started a career and its working out, many think about buying a house. But if this applies to normal folk, many pros can forget about this since their job is not normal, they will be refused … Read more
Before the Giro sections of the Italian media were asking why Cofidis and Bbox were starting the Italian tour. After all, like Cervélo Test Team and BMC, both squads no longer have a ProTour licence but they don’t have a GT contender. “Shouldn’t spare places go to Italian teams?” asked some? Certainly I would not … Read more
I wrote about the rumours of Cancellara’s electric bike and it’s been one of the most popular postings here. Now further rumours of “motorised doping” exist. A TV report on Italian channel RAI, who cover the Giro, describes how their commentator tried the system. See for yourself here, it is part of the report (in … Read more
Weather permitting, the Giro’s going up the Mortirolo pass today. Just the name is bad, morte means death in Italian, the name seems derived from sinister meaning. It’s a very difficult climb, the Passo del Mortirolo has sections at 22%. The Giro only went over the climb for the first time in 1990. In 1994, … Read more
Does the bio passport work? This is actually a question suitable for a doctorate thesis. So instead I’ll keep it concise, have a look at this statement from the UCI: “Once a rider is included in the biological passport program, it will become impossible for him to escape detection if he uses blood or steroid … Read more