UCI wants teams to boycott Paris-Nice

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

Am I missing something? What planet is everyone on? Do you think that ASO can govern cycling? ASO don't give a tinker's cuss about the sport of cyclng or anti-doping. ASO care about the promotion of their events. They will never be recognized by national cycling organizations as the administrator of the sport and/or the administrator of national cycling organizations. IMO, the problem is not getting rid of the UCI because they are crap... the problem is fixing the UCI and fixing the system so everyone is on the same page working together and not in conflict. That means getting UCI out of any ownership of events, keeping the Protour - which ASO need to be a part of, and standardising and uniting a full frontal assault on doping. The UCI should get a share (or tax if you like) of the GROSS of a Protour sanctioned event, and there should be independent monitoring of all lab testing, perhaps by WADA. The UCI have to be held accountable for testing procedure and compliance.


Yes the UCI have governed the sport badly in the past, but the growth of doping was a gradual phenomena where just about every vested interest in the show of pro cycling events wanted to sweep it under the carpet, except perhaps the public. Festina and OP have put an end to this in-house charade of cover-ups.

It costs a lot of money to run a year round anti-doping program. For it to be effective, a lot more money than is being spent now. Unless it becomes impossible to dope without huge risks of detection, doping will continue.

We need to change the system, change the UCI, and get rid of doping. ASO are not going to do that if they have sole power over pro-cycling. If you want to see what happens to a sport when promoters get sole power over governance, watch WrestleMania XXIV on March 30th.

Okay...I'm not the most experienced viewer around here, and I am aware I might be missing an important factor, because I can't comprehend the viewpoint of ASO as righteous advocators, and the UCI (or any independent sporting administrative body) as being worthy of annihilation. So fire away.

Originally Posted by leestevens

Yes, very good point. I am pretty sure someone around here has mentioned it before, the UCI should govern racing and the organisers organise the races. Two seperate parts rather than each trying to out do the other at the detriment of those in the middle, the teams.

Originally Posted by padawan

Nail on head.

However, the problem is that the UCI does have a financial interest. One they are not willing to give up. They will not be satisfied with just being a governing body anymore - too much to lose. That is why they have to go! I really don't think the UCI can be fixed... unless it's done without consent as you would "fix" a cat or dog - wait a minute, that's exactly what ASO is trying to do to the UCI - take away their potency!

Seriously though, if the UCI disappears (and I think ultimately it will) it won't take long before another governing body or framework takes its place. I don't worry at all about the demise of the UCI. The thing I worry about is that the UCI is just as likely to be replaced by another money/fame/power hungry entity as it is a good working system.

Originally Posted by Cobblestones

Right. What needs to happen is someone from the IOC come forward, fire all of the incompetent and corrupt UCI bigwigs and rebuild a better, cleaner organization from the ground up.

Until then I'm fine with ASO (and others) organizing races and doping controls being run by WADA.

Originally Posted by italiano

You think IOC ?

big mony = big

More mony more corroptin

Originally Posted by micron

Surely time for McQuaid to step down and for a UCI head who can actually do the job to take his place.

Originally Posted by italiano

You think IOC ?

big mony = big

More mony more corroptin

Originally Posted by poulidor

ASO has no reason to want to do UCI job, they have better to do, they just probably know that it is time to change UCI, as already some national federation have complained.

It's time for McQuaid to resign and to push out the old Verbbruggen guard.

Originally Posted by Bro Deal

Here is a question: What happens if a rider tests positive during Paris-Nice? Does the UCI recognize the doping infraction?

Originally Posted by Bro Deal

Here is a question: What happens if a rider tests positive during Paris-Nice? Does the UCI recognize the doping infraction?

Originally Posted by hawkeye87

So, if Velonews has it correct in their latest update, the Pro Tour teams have a choice:

1. Choose to ride Paris-Nice but realize it is unsanctioned and your riders could face either a 6-month ban or be banned from the Olympics and the Worlds
2. Choose to not ride Paris-Nice and the ASO decides that you are now opting out of all of their races, including the crown jewel of races.

What rotten choices.