BiciRace.com :: News

News :: July 2006

27 July 2006

Tour de France Positive

The final podium, photo: www.ciclismovitamia.it

Yesterday, the UCI announced some bad news: "... a report of the anti-doping laboratory of Paris stating an adverse analytical finding following an anti-doping test carried out at the Tour de France 2006."

The first of the, yet, unnamed rider's samples tested positive for a banned substance. The announcement continued, "[as per anti-doping rules] ... the team of the rider, its national federation, its national anti-doping organization and the World Anti-Doping Agency have been immediately informed."

Rightly so, the UCI will not release the name of the rider until the results of the "B Sample" are known. The substance is not suspected to be EPO but a substance that is easier to detect. The results of the second sample are expected later this week.

There are mummers that the positive might in fact be Floyd Landis (Phonak). [Insert a five second pause to recover from that feeling punch to your stomach.] Landis was scheduled to ride in the Chaam Criterium last night in Holland but he was out of reach by race organizers.

Di Rocco on Basso

This week was scheduled the meeting of Ivan Basso and CSC Team Manager, Bjarne Riis. The two have post-postponed their meeting until next week, after the names of the Italian riders linked to Operación Puerto have been passed from the UCI to the Italian Cycling Federation.

Basso was in a state of disillusion when his name was linked to the Spanish investigation just prior to the start of the Tour de France. CSC, and the teams of the other riders involved, excluded Basso from participating according to the ethical codes of the ProTour teams.

Last night Il Varesino received some support from the president of the FCI (Federazione Ciclistica Italiana). Renato di Rocco commented, "in the end it will be a grand hoax. Ivan is a rider of merit and the federation will assist him 100 percent. We are waiting for the dossier from the UCI, but the information we have seen so far is very weak. We are standing by Basso. If there is evidence of wrongdoing then we will be the first to penalize but I don't think this will happen."

Read:
Operación Puerto: National Federations Receive Names, 26 July
Würth Pulls the Plug, 3 July
Basso Comments on Spanish Case, 3 July
Vino Plans Takeover of Astaná, 2 July
Valverde Talks about Sevilla and Ullrich Withdrawal, 30 June
Operación Puerto: The Dismissed Tour Riders, 30 June
Bam! Tour Shaken and Basso Gone, 30 June
Ullrich Suspended and Astaná-Würth in Doubt, 30 June
Basso, Ullrich and Others Asked to Leave Tour, 30 June
Green Light for Astaná-Würth, 29 June
Hijo Rudicio (Son of Rudy): Ullrich, 27 June
Controversy: Spanish Championships, 26 June
Leblanc on Astaná-Würth and Comunidad Valenciana, 6 June
Gutierrez and Botero stopped by Phonak, 3 June
Kazakhstan to the Rescue, 2 June
Würth Takes Liberty Seguros, 30 May
Fuentes Spends Night in Jail, Others Free, 27 May
Liberty Saga Continues, 26 May
Liberty Revokes Sponsorship, 25 May
Saiz Free After Doping Interrogation, 24 May

Bettini in Hamburg

Paolo Bettini, photo: www.ciclismovitamia.it

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step), who tonight is racing a criterium in Vienna, will make his official return to racing with the Vattenfall Cyclassics (30 July). After a month break, Il Grillo Livornese will battle on the streets of Hamburg with the likes of Oscar Freire, Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), Gert Steegmans, Peter Van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto), Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux), Erik Zabel, Mirko Celestino (Milram), Alessandro Ballan, Danilo Napolitano and Giuliano Figueras (Lampre-Fondital).

Erik Dekker Returns

Erik Dekker (Rabobank) made a successful return to racing in the Boxmeer criterium. Though the race was won by teammate Michael Boogerd, it was Dekker who received the majority of applause.

Since crashing-out of the Tour de France, the Dutchman has undergone intense physical training to return to the saddle. The crash, on the stage finishing in Valkenburg, caused Dekker serious facial wounds, broken teeth, a torn lip, and a concussion.

93rd Tour de France - presented by , 1 - 23 July
Main, Startlist, Classifications, Tour Favorites, Team CSC versus T-Mobile
Stages and Maps, Key Stages, Overall Map
Photos, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
Simoni and Saunier Duval-Prodir Updates
2005 Results

26 July News ...