Basso to Liquigas

kennf

Well, Valverde actually doped, whereas Basso said he only attempted to dope (but didn't inhale). If Basso had said he actually doped, then he wouldn't have been in trouble.

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micron

Liquigas chose to leave the AIGCP rather than being thrown out. They know the PT is dead in the water and are sticking a big fat 2 fingers up at the UCI. The ethics code was always a joke, anyway - Heiny's way of paying lip service to the fight against doping by creating a smokescreen behind which it was business as usual.

TheDarkLord

What happened to cyclingheroes? He could give some valuable inside information on what is going on with the teams and their relation to UCI.

Cobblestones

Jaksche is what ... 31? Probably he's still fire in his legs for a few good rides.

Anyway, nobody is going to sign Sinkewitz either, and he's even younger. I don't agree with your explanation.

Wayne666

Jaksche was riding pretty good right before he decided to come clean too.

whiteboytrash

How farkin funny is this ? 6 months ago McQuaid is crapping on about the new era in cycling.... the young non doping generation are the new face if cycling.... and what now ? Vino & Basso battling out for the Tour of Lombardy with Valverde & Contador on their wheels ! Cycling is just a joke...... didn't take very long........

Crankyfeet

Are we fans despite the crap... or fans because of the crap?

If cycling cleans up it's game, I might have to join a baseball or track and field forum.

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Bro Deal

This sets up a battle that will have to be fought. Whatever their motives and whatever the level of trust you place in their anti-doping efforts, the major powers in the sport have pushed the idea that cycling is moving forward, that doping is the a product of the culture of the older riders, and that the sport is cleaner than it was a couple of years ago and continues to get ever cleaner. This might be one of the reasons why the UCI and the ASO have backed Contador. They don't mind blaming the older riders who get popped, but they are willing to bend over backwards to reduce suspicion of the younger riders.

The return of Basso and possibly Vino, DiLuca getting off, Spanish inaction on Puerto, and Liquigas rejecting the ethics code puts the sport in a bind. It destroys the credibility of the anti-doping efforts. Add the more cynical fans' views of Contador, Valverde, and Sanchez continuing to race, and the sport has descended back into the farce it was a few years ago, but this time it is even more apparent.

The UCI and the ASO have to respond, and the response has to be fairly harsh. RCS will back Basso's return and Unipublic already supports the dopers, so things are going to get very interesting at the sport's management level.

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thunder

I dope Evans calls out Basso when he gets his arse handed to him at Lombardy. Then we might have a suspicion if Evans is clean or not. Heck, a guy who as a GC rider, cannot really win the HC and Queen stage finishing climbs, and earns money on the tts, can afford to make enemies in the peloton. No one can really put harm to his prospects.

Powerful Pete

Eldrack, I have mentioned this in a few other threads, but Basso has managed his public image very shrewdly here in Italy (at least). He continues to tell everyone he is not interested in any 'discounts on his suspension', that he made terrible mistakes, that all is he is interested in is racing. Complement this with regular interviews in major cyclng magazines and the Gazzetta, and then his charity work with Indian homeless children (big deal Italy) and regular magazine spreads on how much he loves training...

Of course, he is says his 'intention to dope' was a terrible mistake, a misjudgement. And that he will now put himself in the hands of trainers who will be able to follow him and test him regularly for anything and everything to help ensure he is riding clean.

Whether he is being honest or not is a different issue, but he is definitely talking the correct talk!

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earth_dweller

and it probably helps that he's gorgeous

Powerful Pete

Let us just say he is not my type. But his sister is my type. I would love to... erm... never mind. She is very, very, very yummy.

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thunder

sounds like Armstrong PR

earth_dweller

doesn't do much for me tho.

But Basso looks at you with those gorgeous brown eyes and of course you believe he's now clean