Has UCI shot its load?

plectrum

Did Lance ever give 2 cents about the Olympics? I think you'll find riders want to get paid and the best way to get paid is to perform in the Grand Tours rather than either Worlds or Olympics.

It is also debateable that they can ban riders from Olympics as it is national federations choice as to which riders they take.

Bro Deal

They probably can ban them, but from a practical point of view there is no way the UCI can ban 180 riders. Even banning a few would probably be signing the UCI's death warrant.

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"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

TheDarkLord

So, the question is why did McDumbass threaten riders with bans, knowing that he cannot possibly ban that many riders? Is he really such a dumbass to think that everyone would heed his threat and not race?

Bro Deal

Yes. It appears so.

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"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

Cobblestones

I think the UCI can ban riders from the Olympics, but I assume the IOC would not be amused. This would mean pressure on McQuaid from below (the national federations), from above (the IOC), and from 'sideways' (ASO). Probably this would be enough pressure to make him implode.

RdBiker

http://www.velonews.com/article/73063

I found this article concerning what the UCI can do and here's a pick from it:

"Specifically, Gibbs points to a rule (12.1.004 for those keeping score) that applies to "anyone who behaves in an incorrect or dishonest fashion with regard to any other, or who fails to keep a promise or to meet contractual or other obligations in the domain of cycling."
That rule allows the UCI president to impose penalties "such as” exclusion from the world championships, continental championships or the Olympics."

So based on this it seems that the riders could be banned from the Olympics. But then we come to the problem who to ban It's going to be fun to watch the TT and the RR with continental teams and Astana (which by coincidence didn't take part in the P-N). That really would be a farce

Edit: ACTUALLY I would probably be more keen to watch the Olympics if the doped-to-the-gills pros weren't there (including Astana). But then you never know whether the continental riders dope or not.

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snood

Not McQuaids threat. Hein Verbruggens threat.

plectrum

Not quite as the riders have contractual responsabilities both to UCI & protour but obviously to their sponsors and thus to take part in certain key races throughout the year.

I doubt very much that UCI could actually ban a racer from Olympics or World Champs. Also UCI didn't have much effect on banning Bettini or Valverde from the recent Worlds.

poulidor

If my reading is correct the 12.1.004 UCI rule seems to give too much power to the President God especially when a disciplinary commission exist.

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Let Astana and McQuaid whine !

earth_dweller

BoulderReport:
After two years of scuffling that closely resembles a pushing match between eighth-grade boys (a few half-hearted shoves and insults, after which both parties disengage so as not to be late for fourth period), the ASO finally took a real swing. And it may have revealed that McQuaid, for all his bluster and tough talk, has a glass jaw.