Jan and Basso

[Hipcycler]

To me, one of the more-interesting draws to the next TdF is going to be the fact that I can watch Jan and Basso duel it out finally.

Basso remains on his team, right?
Jan is jobless, and talking to Disco, right?

[ekimeno]

Meanwhile, a judgement in the case of Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso - for implication in the doping affair around Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes - is now expected at the end of October, according to radsport-aktiv.de. An announcement was expected soon after Basso last saw a magistrate on September 29 in a hearing for the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), but that decision has now been delayed for another month, pending further documents from the public prosecutor's office in Madrid.

I think that Riis is waiting for the outcome of this before allowing Basso to race, but Riis did say that Basso is still part of the CSC team.

The Kaiser on Disco...I'd love to see what form he has next year.

[botto]

for all we know they're both unelmployed, unless vince mcmahon wants to hire them to wrestle in for the WWE?

[Dead Roman]

for all we know they're both unelmployed, unless vince mcmahon wants to hire them to wrestle in for the WWE?


They would prolly make a helluva lot more money.

[Ritterview]

I wonder if the ultimate resolution of the cases against Ulrich and Basso has some bearing on the Landis case. Might the USADA be inclined to find discrepancies in the testing of Landis, if the German and Italian authorities find insufficient evidence against Ullrich and Basso?

['nother]

They would prolly make a helluva lot more money.

I would pay to see that. Especially if they held a special match, on sloping, wet, blacktop, wearing cycling shoes and cleats.

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Per Cycling News:
Latest Cycling News for October 10, 2006

Edited by Hedwig Kröner

Ullrich to Discovery?

In the light of the latest news coming out of Spain, according to which the information from the Operación Puerto investigation cannot be used for sports-disciplinary proceedings, Discovery Channel is reported to have made the first move on Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich, who may be free to choose a new team if he is cleared. Spanish AS.com reports that Johan Bruyneel has made the German champ an offer to lead his team during the next season.

The German, affiliated to the Swiss cycling federation, is without a team and without a racing license at the moment, because of his presumed implication in the doping scandal around Eufemiano Fuentes. But the Swiss officials might issue Ullrich a new license for lack of evidence - the documents the Spanish Guardia Civil delivered to the UCI (and therefore to the national federations) might not be legally valid. The Spanish court investigating the case has ordered that the information cannot be used to open proceedings with any sporting bodies or to sanction the implicated riders until the trial has ended, presumably in June next year.

Wolfgang Strohband, Ullrich's manager, denied an official offer had been made to his client, as German Bild reporter Joachim Logisch told Cyclingnews. Bruyneel's interest in Ullrich, meanwhile, is no secret, but no contract negotiations may take place until the rider is officially cleared.

[Bacciagalupe]

To me, one of the more-interesting draws to the next TdF is going to be the fact that I can watch Jan and Basso duel it out finally....
*snicker*

Sorry man, I think they're out. Remember, it's October and the hearings stemming from Operation Puerto haven't even begun....

I think you're going to have to settle for another McEwen - Hushvold - Boonen sprint extravaganza. Maybe Millar can get it in gear and be a contender too. Oh, and brace yourself for another few months of Hincapie Hype. ;)


I wonder if the ultimate resolution of the cases against Ulrich and Basso has some bearing on the Landis case.
Not even in the slightest degree. Landis' case is based directly on failed samples; the evidence for Basso et al is materials seized by the Spanish police in a raid on an alleged doping lab. Totally unconnected.

[Dubbayoo]

Bruyneel has already squashed the Ullrich rumor.