Tuesday, December 10, 2013

SCRAPPED ! Bye Bye Specialized !

Bully Boys never win the WAR ! They can win a Battle or two , but , who will want to support them ?

Cafe ROUBAIX are on the receiving end of a letter or two from Lawyers , last week . This week the Lawyers , are on the pointy end of the Social Media response ! Of course , we don't know WHO the Lawyer are , BUT , Specialized do ?

@iamspecialized inbox would have been overflowing Monday Morning after @CafRoubaix related his tale of woe in Social Media venues this past weekend .

My first thoughts were to Tweet @gpmondini , a guy that has helped me many times over the years . He was part of the Pantani Team that were kind to me so often , as i rode the Grand Tour routes in the late 1990s and early 2000s . GP was there when i met Marco , as a translator . He went out of his way with several Teams to give me assistance . One occasion inviting me into a social gathering , even though he knew i was not "Accredited ".

Another way  i suggested helping Cafe Roubaix Bicycle Studio , was to encourage the creation of a "Change.org Petition " , a simple way to tell the CEO of Specialized that Cycling Fans were NOT AMUSED by the " Bully Boy tactics " . This idea was proposed after @SafeCyclingOz had created a fundraiser  to assist in raising the $US150k needed to P#ssoff the Bullies :

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/save-cafe-roubaix#&ui-state=dialog

Each of these methods are symbolic , mean little to most people , but i felt a more positive action was required .

Not too many people will actually BOYCOTT the company , even though they write about doing so in their comments in Social Media . Easy to say " Going elsewhere for Shoes , Parts , Bikes "!

Well i just STRIPPED this bike !

THERE WE ARE !

DONE !

Here are the Tweets :

This was the Spec Allez with Zabel & Aldeg at TDF Gr8 photo then!

This was the Spec Allez TODAY after U attacked SCRAP

No doubt there will be FEW copying my example ?














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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

WADA ! Oh what big teeth you have !

Last week WADA elected a New President ! This week we find that UNPLEASANT
News will be delivered to hundreds of thletes ! Seems that " PED Testing methods " have been even more enhanced , in recent times ?

Whilst Tennis Stars are screeming in the Media about having the " Bio Passport " imposed on them , thus some already being given 2 year Holidays , some of the Athletes nearing the end of the 8 year Statute of Limitations , will read the following with DISMAY :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/drugsinsport/10458454/IOC-to-act-after-new-testing-methods-reveal-hundreds-of-positive-results.html

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2013/11/19/ioc-using-new-steroid-test-on-turin-doping-samples/3641581/

Just seen Usain Bolt , on the TV talking about his Autobiography , will he be worried about these developments ? His problem is that his Country's Anti Doping Agency , has a questioable history . Throw enough mud and some will stick ? Bearing in mind that about 6 of his Discipline Colleagues , were suspended in the recent times and soon we will have a Media Feeding Frenzy , even if the Guy is as clean as he claims ?

Testing 2006 Winter Olympians at Torino produced only one recorded result , a Russian Biathlete . In 2010 some retesting was done with negative results , but now more are being subjected to the new tests . With these tests revealing several Athletes at the Moscow World Championship Event in August 2013 , 2 of whom have already been named , but others to be revealed , it is an odds on certainty that there are Winter Olympians of 2006 Torino awaiting their post ?

Retesting of Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics has been done in 2012 , with 5 Athletes being detected . Guess this quote will unsettle a few of the Beijing Athletes :

  "  "We can go back to Beijing before 2016," Ljungqvist said. "We may do that. We haven't decided yet. We will do it as the eight-year time approaches."

Problem that continues to exist is that a determined Doper , will reap the Glory of the Podium and the Financial Rewards attendant to that , meanwhile , the CLEAN Athlete will be overlooked and may even leave the Sport , through financial hardship , if not dissolusionment with not being able to reveal their knowledge ?

TIME that there was a MORE EFFECTIVE " whisteblowing system " in place , perhaps with Financial Incentives " to ensure that " Determined Dopers " know that they are no longer immune , and will not have the opportunity to enjoy their UNWARRANTED benefits , for years , as is currently the situation .

WADA has been shown to be receiving a smaller Budget in coming years , BUT , with the fact that , Hundreds of recent tests are reported to be " Negatives " ,  is it not  time that their Budgets , were severely enhanced ?

MORE TESTS , MORE RESULTS ?  

I for one , want to see clean Sport !

There are some that are helping WADA in their fight for CLEAN SPORT !  Skins chairman , Jaimie Fuller , is one such . Using his company resources he has taken the fight to UCI , successfully causing the Aigle Tag Team Duo , to withdraw from their unfounded Legal Action against Paul Kimmage , who Outed Lance Armstrong . 

In recent months together with Ben Johnson , he made a World Trip highlighting Doping before visiting the IOC HQ in Lausanne . Ben Johnson was caught Doping in Seoul , his life was changed by that event . His Celebrity and life since should serve as a warning to ANY OTHER contenplating PED use as a way to enhance their Career ?

Another point reflecting on :

  "  Why does the degree of Doping/ PED use matter? I always hear rape is rape. If nice guy doped and bad guy doped, well dope is dope. Why treat them differently?"

As regards the USADA Reasoned Decision , which saw off , an athlete that seemingly avoided
detection , UCI Management in tzhe period 1999 & 2001 , intervened to " Hein & co`s benefit . This is a common observation on his fully deserved Life Time Ban :

  "  Like bribery, coersion, money laundering, drug dealing/supply, witness intimidation, perjury, libel, fraud and corrupt business practices 

Add all that into the mix and the perp in question deserves slightly different treatment to somebody who takes the odd shot of EPO every now and then don't you think? "

DOPING pays in the Short Term , BUT WADA , will now ensure that the DOPER , takes a serious knock in the FUTURE !


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Tuesday, November 5, 2013

PUSHING WATER UPHILL ? SSDD for UCI controlled Cycling ?

Cookson , new President of UCI , will be wondering how to deal with the latest Cycling News Stories ?

With reports in " L'Equipe " that Bjarne Riis is selling out of Pro World Team " SAXO " , there is speculation as to who will be the New Owners .

Then there is the new book from the 2007 Le Tour Racer , Rasmussen , who was sent home by his Team whilst wearing the " Maillot Jeune ". Ras was revealed at that time , to have advised erroneous information as to his " Whereabouts "! According to info supplied at the time , he was to be in Mexico , with family . During the Le Tour , Davide Cassani , journo & presenter with RAI TV , revealed that he had seen him in the Dolomites , wonder why he kept that to himself for so long ?

In addition to these items there is the relevations of Ryder Haesdahl , last week , HE DOPED ! He decided to stop before the 2004 season , so thats alright then ! Having been on the CLEAN Cycling career path since then , he has escaped Anti Doping Sanctions because of " SOL ( statues of limitations ) "
! Seems that RH had a chat with USADA in 2012, about the same time that others were dishing the dirt in regards to Lance Armstrong. , you know , that guy that was reported to have won " Le Tour " ,  7  times . Wonder what he has to say about this matter ?

Seems that he has a few things to say , as i just discovered in the few hours since posting this item :

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/lance-armstrong-exclusive-interview-part-1

This is the area of the article  , i thought relevant , to this blog post :

DB: When did you realise that the UCI didn’t give a fuck?
LA: I don’t know if they didn’t give a fuck or if they just couldn’t,
DB: But do you not think they didn’t have even the will?
LA: If they had the scientific data to protect them legally, then yeah, but again I don’t know. Ultimately we end up where we are today where we have a test that works for one compound [EPO] and guys have to decide if they want to dance around that. I’d like to think that there’s a lot less risk taking. But at the time they could only test for what they had a test for. I don’t think it’s right or responsible, and again I’m not defending them because I don’t really care for them, but cycling tried with some pressure to implement things that were just band-aids over the course of time. Whether it was just the 50 per cent rule, which was what it was – it wasn’t perfect but it was a step. But the sport got no credit for it. That led to more things like the off-score, which led to the biological passport and all the while, no credit. And every other sport that has the doping problem is sitting back and laughing, laughing their asses off, getting no attention, no criticism, no exposure and not doing a fucking thing.
honestly, and I don’t think highly of Pat [McQuaid] or Hein [Verbruggen] today, but what were they going to do? Imagine you’re Hein, and again I’m not defending him, but take yourself to '94 or maybe even '93 or before. He should have known before because high-octane existed in the late '80s and not just in cycling, in other endurance sports. You’re there, you’re the head of the governing body, you’ve got no test, no test at all – what are you going to do? And again, I know those guys are easy to pick on, but it’s 1995 for example, you’re Hein Verbruggen. What the fuck are you going to do? Hope someone gets caught at a border? There’s nothing you can do. Maybe they didn’t give a fuck, I didn’t ask them, but I do know that they could not do a thing. Just like the head of the IAAF couldn’t do a thing, just like the head of FINA couldn’t do a thing. They just did not have the tools to do anything until maybe 10 years later.


" Razzie " seems to have upset a few Pro World Racers , with his " Relevations "?
Seems that he claims that 100% of the " 2007 TDF Rabobank were " Doping "?  Would appear that he had made the same claim to the Dutch Authorities , earlier this year , when there was an investigation of the Rabobank Team ? Would appear that there were " Truth and Reconciliation Conditions " applied to all those Team Members that came forward and made a " Clean Breast of their Transgressions " during the " Amnesty Period "?

Rumbling along in the background is the Cycling News Forum , where ALL and Sundry , disguised by their Psydonyms and fictious IP Addresses , have added fuel to the bonfire :

The Revenge of Rasmussen         http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=1875&page=35

Some interesting comments :

  "  a very useful information as it shows some differences in the blood doping protocols publicly revealed ! it also shows a degree of sophistication and preparedness for blood profiling (as the passport was not formally/officially introduced till 2008 but was indded used for targeting way before 2008).

in the article linked by neinei above, ras, if i understood it right, was saying they drew about 220-230 ml into one bag. this is the infamous 'half-unit' that rendered the blood passport useless and that allegedly was used by bert before he got caught with clen..."

  "  So, Freire and Flecha. While it's possible that the original "100% doped" was an offhand comment which wasn't meant to be taken literally, it's very unlikely that they were clean. Rasmussen has only said he didn't see them dope, which is very different from saying he hadn't heard anything about their doping. What's puzzling is that he'd be afraid of a lawsuit at this point and only in regards to Freire.



  "  As recently as last December, Nys said he knew Leinders as 'an honest man'. He used to be Nys' trainer, not only his doctor.

I'm not accusing Nys of anything, mind you. Here in the Clinic everything's mostly black-or-white, but Leinders appears to be an interesting character who only provided doping to the happy few."

  "  He's mentioned. Lienders had to flush his bag (was planned to be used prior to the Vosges) in 2005, as his HCT would've gone beyond 50 with it. There are some more stories involving Menchov."



JV talks , sort of                          http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=18079&page=189

  "  So you're saying it's not possible that he could have deceived Vaughters? That Hesjedal has either not doped, or is on a team program driven from the top?"

  "  1) I doubt JV runs a doping program

2) That is not to say riders on his team definitely aren't doping

3) That JV hopes his riders are clean =/= them actually being clean. "



  "  in JV's defense, is there anyone besides Bassons he could hire that is not tarred?

maybe he could turn a professor at his business school into a mean DS."
  "  Yes, if he was found to be doping at Slipstream it would be a massive hit to the team given that it has been their basis of existence, that no one ever has and ever will dope whilst riding at the team. Additionally that was in response to you claiming that there would have been people who he could expose in order to get a six month suspension, presumably that could involve people who have worked at the team (e.g. Vande Velde, White, Lim, Weltz)."


RIIS bails out ?                            http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=1364640#post1364640

  "   the Inner Ring ‏@inrng 1m
Gazzetta headline asks "What will Contador do?" but there's a contract in place so they'll have to get along or things get expensive
Reply Retweet Favorite More Expand
the Inner Ring ‏@inrng 8m
La Gazzetta Dello Sport says Riis sells his Saxo team to Oleg Tinkov, cites Danish anti-doping investigation as a catalyst to speed up sale "

  "  Tinkov can become the modern day JV. A safe haven for dopers from the "clean" generation."

  "  Perhaps former dopers should not be allowed to run a cycling team, whether Ras, Riis, JV, Vino or any other, the problem is though it wont stop non sanctioned or confessed ones like Eki"

  "  I would hate to see Riis get out of the sport with a big pay packet!

Want to see him out of the sport but after being punished for enabling doping on his teams."




As a side issue Brian Cookson , new President of UCI , since September 2013 , has shown commendable "Transparency " in his time in office by revealing the Topics on the agenda at the 29th October Extraordinary Management Meeting . At that meeting , many of the Most Pressing Problems created by his Predessor , were addressed and progress in many of them were reported . A week later though , it remains to be disclosed , WHAT was done in respect of the Womens Cycling Agenda , that was " to be revealed later in the week "! Found in the media , is a letter reported to be from Hein Verbruggen , president of UCI , until 2005 , when he selected his successor and caused the likes of Silvia Schenk , to jump ship , before she was sucked down by the " Reported Corruption " of the ensuing years .

VERBRUGGEN LETTER ! (translated from Dutch ? )

  "  Dear President,

I am writing to report the truth about various aspects of my term as President of the UCI and to respond to a harsh media campaign against me.

I wrote to our President Pat McQuaid on June 1 last year to inform him of my decision to distance themselves from the world of sports, including cycling. After 38 years of dedication to the sport, now I want to enjoy retirement. The President took note and decided to respect my decision.

Firstly, I want to make it clear that I have never acted inappropriately and that my conscience is absolutely clean. With the benefit of hindsight, however, I admit that I could have done some things differently, but I do not accept that my integrity is in doubt, as has happened in recent months. As you all know, even if there is a President, decisions are made ​​collegially, as much by the Steering Committee by the Congress.

I had the honor of being president of the FICP from '84 to '91 with the following results:
- the introduction of new rules for the professional cycling;
- foundations for a system of social assistance for the professional runners
- strengthening the role of the Commissioners
- the creation of the World Cup and reorganization of the calendar to promote cycling in new countries. During my presidency of the UCI, Instead, we got these results: - unification of the three existing cycling federations: FIAC, FICP and UCI; - settling the finances of the UCI went from a deficit of 1.5 million Swiss francs in 1991 to a surplus of 13 million Swiss francs in 2005 - the creation of a staff UCI which went from 5 people located in three different locations in 1991, 75 in 2005; - Construction of a World Cycling Centre, an extraordinary resource for the globalization of our sport; - establishment of an Ethics Commission; - improvement of the position of cycling in the Olympic Movement.

DOPING.

During this period of intense transformation and development, we have never lost sight of the fight against doping, which is a problem for our sport since the early nineteenth century. If I gave credit for all that has been done during my tenure as President, I would end up ignoring the enormous contribution and all the work done by a large number of people. Among them, of course, the men who helped to pave the way in the fight against doping, ie the members of our Commission, with people like former Vice President Werner Goehner, Professor Manfred Doenicke, Dr. Leon and Dr. Schattenberg Alain Calvez. The fact that journalists and self-proclaimed "social media commentators" attack without understanding the UCI that are attacking the integrity of those who paved the way in the fight against doping and enjoys an impeccable reputation, it is frustrating for me and unacceptable.

I have much to say on the subject, but I prefer to let the facts speak for themselves. Many of the charges leveled against the UCI and against me on this topic have already been answered and I will not go back. In March 2002, Festina affair in the light of the Court of Appeal of Douai, after a thorough investigation and in accordance with the opinion of the public prosecutor, concluded that the UCI has done everything in its power to combat doping account. Evidently, this ruling speaks for itself and for me is more important than the supposed scoop of editors of websites or comments and opinions beds on Twitter and other forums.

WADA has always recognized the UCI work in this field: the Olympic Games in London , the Director General David Howman of Wada has confirmed to me personally that the UCI is one of two International Federations that brought forth more vigorously fight against doping. those who seek a more balanced view of past events suggest you read the book Who still believes in cycling? the Belgian journalist Hans Vandeweghe.

I repeat: I have never acted inappropriately and I have a clear conscience. No facts, no evidence contradict this truth. I refuse to engage in a debate silly and stoop to the level of those who criticize me and believe that I have to prove my innocence: in fact they are the ones who can not prove that I have done something wrong. I'm exasperated and tired of this endless chain of journalists who delight to fuel conspiracy theories, disguising themselves as "investigative journalists" to sell their latest book or inflate their egos or their careers.

FINANCE.

A few words on the finances of the UCI. As I said before, I found the UCI in 1999 with a net debt of about 1.5 million Swiss francs. From the day I took office, I organized a transparent financial and accounting system, I hired accountants and called as an expert J.-P. Strebel to supervise their work. During my presidency, we never received criticism about our finances nor by national associations or by the Congress.

In a recent letter, a national federation asked (someone might think it was a joke ...) additional information on payments received by me . Let me be absolutely clear: I worked nearly full-time for the UCI and I never received a salary or a salary as President. I've been partly offset by the considerable increase in the cost of living that I have argued in relocate to Switzerland . Any analysis of my expense reports reveal that these adjustments were reasonable and modest. I have never accepted or received any commission or other payment related to my role as President.

ARMSTRONG.

Much has been said and written about my "friendship" with Lance Armstrong. And forgive those who think that it has never been photographed with other runners who were not Armstrong. The thousands of photographs that portray me with other athletes seem to be, by strange coincidence, all disappeared.

Allow me once again to be very clear. I've never been a "friend" of Lance Armstrong or other riders or team manager. The only rider who has ever come to my house was Greg Lemond, who with his father came to me for help because his employer is not paying him his salary.

I never said that Lance Armstrong has never doped : I just said, so that everyone could understand, that Armstrong has never tested positive. The fact that it is never tested positive for the UCI nor the French control authorities, nor by the USADA, nor WADA, or with any other organization makes ridiculous accusations of "coverage" that have been leveled against me. UCI has never protected Armstrong.

Any decision on Armstrong and any other racer has been taken in accordance with established facts and scientific means available at that time. UCI The position on the trail of corticosteroids in its champions in the Tour de France 1999, the file relating to its champions of the Tour de Suisse 2001 it was already clarified. I will not waste your time to repeat what has been said over the years.

I recently wrote to Lance Armstrong to express the disgust aroused in me the cynical game he plays, refusing to make a public statement to refute the allegations made ​​by his fellow team, Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton, who had said that they had nothing to fear if they were positive results, because he could not ask the UCI to take matters and cover their positivity. From what I understand by reading their testimonies, Armstrong had told them to be positive, even though no evidence of positivity has never been produced. Landis and Hamilton If they are right, I can only assume that the objective of Armstrong was to convince both of them that had tested positive and had managed to remove tests to assure them that he could do it again, even for them.

When these allegations were published for the first time, I wrote an email to Armstrong, I asked him if he had made ​​those statements to his teammates, stressing the seriousness of his words and the damage it would cause to the UCI, my integrity and my reputation and the anti-doping laboratory in Lausanne. Armstrong me immediately replied: "I have never been found positive, so I do not see why I should "invent" stories like this, it would be a really stupid idea. It is 100% false. " The fact that Armstrong has chosen not to respond to my recent letter and not to speak publicly about what he wrote in his e-mail in June 2011, it is really very painful.

I wonder, given the Their testimonies, like his teammates - who have revealed a deep knowledge of anti-doping rules and procedures - it was apparently so naive as to never try to ask him what he meant by "fix" things by anti-doping agencies like WADA USADA, AFLD, etc.. Let us not lose sight, then, the fact that Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton, who are now applauded for their courage, have been exposed and sanctioned by the UCI. And without the UCI their deception would never have emerged.

With the benefit of hindsight, and in light of the confession of Armstrong, I admit that it would have been wiser not to accept donations on his part. The UCI has clearly accepted the donation in good faith to finance its fight against doping. There is no relationship between the test and the two donations to the UCI Armstrong: Armstrong has never tested positive, there has never been any positive test to hide.

COMMISSION.

I have tried in this letter, to restore the truth, not having had the opportunity to do so before the Independent Commission that the UCI was forced to stop and that he had a mandate to carry out an investigation into doping in cycling and the UCI management.

I've never been afraid to defend my name and my reputation in court: I have never lost a case. I invite you to seriously question how I could do it, if I had something to hide.

There comes a time when enough is enough. I reached this point. If, after reading this mine, you will continue to doubt my role in UCI, much worse. I will not do anything to make you change your mind. Starting today, these problems do not concern me more and, despite what has happened over the last year, it is with a sense of pride and satisfaction that I look back at everything I've done paying my service to cycling in a voluntary. cherish in their hearts the many personal friendships that I got this sport and I am deeply grateful for the friendship and support I received during the last year.

Sincerely, Hein Verbruggen
http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php...cod=63178&tp=n
__________________



One of my previous Blog posts , was entitled " Comedy Central of Cycling ", seems that we are back into that revolving door , once again ?











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Thursday, October 10, 2013

Mc quaid GONE ! But so is Tour of NZ !

Through Incompetence the Tour of NZ 2013 was down graded from a UCI 2.2  scheduled Event to whatever !  Take a look at the 2014 Calendar  ! GONE !  No 2014 Event ! Seems that the NZ " Anti Doping Testing Lab " was not at the standard required by UCI management at that time ? The solution was to send ANY  " Anti Doping Tests " to Sydney , however , UCI was expecting the Organisers to pay the ADDITIONAL Costs ? Whatever the truth , we are going into 2014 , with  NO " Tour of NZ " ! Here is the link to the Organisers decision :

http://www.roadcycling.co.nz/RaceTalk/womens-tour-of-new-zealand-cancelled-for-2013.html

Those looking at the following chart will see that about the same time in 2013 , there was an alternative Womens' UCI 2.2 Event in Costa Rica ! WHERE ? Yes in Costa Rica , where do they send the UCI required " Anti Doping TESTS "?


New Zealand is a Sporting Country , that FIGHTS above it's weight in Worldwide Events ! So many Olympic Gold Medals are collected by their Sports Athletes in Cycling , Rowing and other sports , that even Powers such as Great Britain & Australia , look to their success and try to emulate and attract their Talent ! It may have been noticed by readers that it was New Zealand that very NEARLY recovered the " America's Cup " , last month ! With the investment of nearly $NZ100Million , it was a cliff hanger event that saw the US finally awake from their nightmare of ONE Win to the 8 wins of NZ , to seize the day , when they finally drew level !

With the ability to find this level of Investment , it comes as a surprise to see that NZ Authorities allowed their " Anti Doping Laboratory Facilities " to drop below the standard required by WADA ? Third world countries can be excused for this taking place , but i doubt any NZ Athlete looking to compete at Rio in the Olympics OR Paralympics will be happy to see their Career Hopes diminished by this situation continuing ?

Recently UCI published the 2012 Annual Accounts , it showed a Surplus as a result of the Income from the 2012 Olympics . Most of this money was placed in Reserves , looking to the future of Cycling ? Could it not have been possible for the UCI to have made some of these monies available to " Assist  " funding Anti Doping at the 2014 Tour of NZ ? Take a look at 2014 Calendar ! Do you see the " Tour of NZ "?



Like any other Sporting Body , UCI prepares for the NEXT  Years , somewhat in Advance ?  It would be safe to assume that the UCI Womens Calendar was drawn up under the Administration of Mc quaid , then sent to the UCI Congress for their approval ? If that is the case , then TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE , the UCI need to  contact the Organisers of the " Tour of NZ " and advise that IF they reschedule the 2014 Event , that they will receive FUNDING towards the " Anti Doping " testing required !  WITH no Womens Events in UCI Oceania Region in early 2014 , it is doubtful that the Racers will be TOO BUSY to attend ?

Over the years Womens Racing has been allowed to COLLAPSE , a reading of the following article will show the 2013 planned schedule as against the actual situation that was achieved :

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/10/7/4811474/womens-uci-cycling-calendar-2014-2013-comparisons

Whilst under the stewardship of mc quaid , the UCI sought to be a more Global entity , can anyone believe that Costa Rica was more important than New Zealand ? Sponsorship is a funny animal , but i doubt that there are MORE Sponsors available for the Costa Rican Event than there are for NZ ?

Oceania was provided with New Leadership when @gaudryt took the reins in 2013 , reports lead
to the fact , that she has done a GOOD JOB ! That must be a certainty , since she was elected to the Vice Presidency of Cycling by her Peers at the UCI Congress in Firenze during September !  It will come as NO Surprise to see Womens Cycling in Oceania have INCREASED presense in the 2015 Womens UCI Calendar , BUT ; why not rework the 2014 Calendar to include the :

                                                     " TOUR of New Zealand "

Here is a link for what has been  proposed for 2015 :

http://www.tourofnewzealand.co.nz/

The management of this Tour has decided on a new approach for 2015 , AMATEUR Status !  Is Cycling in New Zealand ready to give up on THEIR Professionals , even though that Olympic Gold medalist , Sarah Ullman has retired ?

ADDITION on 12th Oct 2013

Nothing to do with Womens racing but needs more thought !

Copied from elsewhere

philippegilbert.com/

I would also like a to address race organisers and the UCI. I hope the new UCI President is open to feelings that currently live among the riders. That alone would be quite a change, as well as a major step forward for the riders.

The way road cycling seasons are organised right now, the number of races and their levels of difficulty, it is all a bit much, if not wrong. All organisers want to have the race with most heighth difference, the longest climb, the steepest climb, the longest race... In short, their aim is to have something out of the ordinary for their own race so as to distinguish themselves from the others.

In a time where we all want to do away with doping more than ever before, there is a clear discrepancy between what the riders are able to manage and what is presented to us during races.

This year, I participated in races under extreme weather conditions. During Milan-Sanremo we suffered severe snow storms and in the Tour of California we had to endure temperatures of up to 50 degrees. For both these races, fans were urged to stay put at home and not to make unnecessary journeys. We, however, were urged to be offering the spectacle the audience was expecting from us, despite the clear and apparent risks to the health of an entire peloton. This is clearly too much, and it shows that through various associations within cycling, no clear vision, let alone appropriate pro-active intervention, has emerged so far.

And then I did not even mention the lengthy transfer journeys during stage races. These journeys go at the expense of the rest and recovery so desperately needed. Therefore, my question is rather simple: do we really need all those extreme circumstances? Does it not suffice already that riders simply go all out and themselves provide spectacle for all cycling enthusiasts?
http://philippegilbert.com/



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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

YOU COULDN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP ! PHAT'S ANTICS !

It's Tuesday and phat the rat is at it again ! With the internet providing the World with constant Updates , the truth is available 24/7 , yet there are those that " Huff & Puff " , and hope we the poor saps , can't follow the action or read between the lines !

For years the " Clinic " of that famous Forum , Cyclingnews.com , has had that famous  refrain " It will be revealed on Tuesday " ! Well we certainly get to read the revealed " info " on most Tuesdays ! This week we were entertained with the relevation of WHAT WENT on in the June 2013 , UCI Management meeting in Bergen . We had ALL seen the rumours in the Media , also confirmed by UCI Management Member , Brian Cookson's Blog , shortly thereafter  . Respecting the Confidentiality of the Meeting , Brian only revealed the bare info confirming a disturbing report being made available at that Meeting of the UCI Members .

Today we find the Media full of more revealing detail . Following excerpts will give the reader a better understanding of the situation that exists .

The report tabled was quite extensive but a leak of a 3 page summary is now in the Public Domain :

 http://cdn.velonews.competitor.com/files/2013/09/UCI-Dossier-document.pdf

See below for the content of that report !

Released also today , is Brian Cookson's latest instalment of his Blog , containing confirmation of the accuracy of this report , establishing the similarity to that tabled in June :

http://briancookson.org/en/news/

His short statement :

  "   These allegations, which appear to be similar to those made to the UCI Management Committee in June, are clearly very serious.  For the good of the UCI and cycling, they should be immediately and thoroughly investigated by the relevant authorities. I hope that this matter can be fully resolved before the UCI congress on 27 September.
"For my part, I remain totally committed to a democratic election under the Constitution of the UCI and will continue to talk and listen to national federations and voting delegates on how, together, we can grow cycling globally and restore faith and trust in our sport."
It is worth visiting the Blog , since there are links to previous entries , which in the main address the timeline , since his announcement of his Candidacy for the role of UCI President . His Twitter feed will no doubt highlight the reference to the June Meeting in Bergen .

phat has had his say yesterday,  with a Media outlet :
Taken from this report , is one of his comments :
  "  “This is a scurrilous and libellous attack on my character, with a political agenda that is both nakedly transparent and totally contemptible,” he wrote, “and unfortunately one that is completely in character with the tactics of my opponents.”
Had there been NO Truth in the report tabled in Bergen , most people would be entitled to assume that he would have taken up the matter at an earlier time , with the issue of one of his " FAMOUS KIMMAGE STYLE LEGAL ACTIONS "?
Things are suspiciously fishy at Aigle , since we have had the FIRST Le Tour , in recent History , where there were NO SANCTIONS for Doping PUBLISHED ! Could it be that phat has a desk drawer , full of the " Positives " , but dare not reveal them , since he is in the " How to WIN FRiends mode "?
Another site had this to say lately , perhaps after reading my blog elsewhere :
  "  A few weeks back the news came out that there were no positive tests from the Tour de France. There were over 600 tests carried out and I can tell you, we all had our fair share of early morning visits. I think it’s encouraging. Cycling is light-years ahead of all other sports when it comes to testing."
Source of this comment leads back to a new site , with the mystery Racer , yet to be discovered :

This is not the ONLY Site , that is suspicious of the lack of " Sanctions ",  emanating from the first " Le Tour"  in recent times , to not find itself saddled with numerous DOPING CHEATS ! Here are a selection of comments from :


  "  In an interview on Irish radio McQuaid claimed he was not only not breaking the rules, he was “not even bending the rules.”

  " Okay, so when I write it like that, it’s not that funny. Maybe we should cue a laugh track. I’m sure Monty Python could have made a better joke of it, provided we weren’t talking about Pat McQuaid, but something humorous, like the Spanish Inquisition."

  " But then I remembered that McQuaid had managed enough arm twisting to secure the following:
The Swiss federation to nominate him (even if only briefly)
The Malaysian federation to propose a change to the constitution
The Moroccan federation to nominate him
The Thai federation to nominate him

Bear in mind that this Blog post originated on the 3rd Sept , and a lot can happen in a week of Politicing :

  "  That’s when I realized that we can’t leave this outcome to something as easily manipulated as a democratic election. An election is worse than a game of chance."

Since then a few other Feds have nailed their colours to the @Cooksonforuci masthead !


I count on to restore to its rightfull place.
Canada and New Zealand are the latest National Federations to add their support to my UCI Presidency campaign:

I'm delighted that French Cycling's Honorary President Jean Pitallier has joined Greg LeMond in supporting me

Some Tweets floating around about the Election :

As uci president I would establish a cabinet of Schenk, gaudry, gustav larsen and poss to review all activites

THis is the MAN of Conscience that caused phat the rat to live in fear the past few months ! I had been calling for @GaudryT to be elected President for some time ! Seems that others realise HER WORTH !

as uci pres I would have an independent review into all UCI financials since 99

that Tour of Ireland story when we remember that Pinotti wasn't paid his winnings for years, is even more appalling.


So Armstrong rode Tour of Ireland so McQuaid would ignore rules for his comeback & he didn't even have the decency to ride up Patrick's Hill


As uci president I would establish a cabinet of Schenk, gaudry, gustav larsen and poss to review all activites

THis is the MAN of Conscience that caused phat the rat to live in fear the past few months ! I had been calling for @GaudryT to be elected President for some time ! Seems that others realise HER WORTH !

as uci pres I would have an independent review into all UCI financials since 99



. statement on UCI corruption "immediately and thoroughly investigated by the relevant authorities"

Best piece I've read on the Pat McQuaid presidential election. He will stop at nothing to save his job

as uci pres I would get drunk and enjoy my 600K salary. Good night!

as uci pres I would get every start rider and DS into to a room and tell them to get their act together


As uci Pres I will place a levy on all the GT's prizemoney to support ladies racing


Was i the first to liken phat to Mugabe & " the dear leader "?

was right. is taking notes.


In a little over Two Weeks , we the Public , will see the UCI choose one of TWO Candidates to lead the UCI into the next 4 year term ! Jacques Rogge , that great mate of Nein Fordruggen , steps down today , after the Buenos Aires Election of his successor . With his departure and the reports that Nein is disowning his " NEVER , Never , never " statements AND his association with phat , the ship of state that phat was commanding , has now taken on the shape of a submarine , that has left its tubes open to let in the flood ?
The title of this Blog Post , comes from Dame Tanni ( UCIIC Member ,  ) , whose Tweet in recent times regarding the UCI going ons was " YOU COULDN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP ! " !
Meanwhile in the REAL World , we have a Film Premiere taking place , featuring , none other than the 7 times WINNER of that Perrenial Doping/Cheating Contest AKA " Le Tour "!
Tweeted comments on this event include the following :  
Interesting to watch getting stuck into Lance at the Toronto premier of 'The Armstrong Lie.' He says (of the deception): 'That's...

...what makes what he did particularly odious." You mean WE, surely Bill?

"lies, bribery, attempted extortion, attempted vote-buying, attempts at entrapment" A James Ellroy novel? No, the UCI Presidential elections


Was i the first to liken phat to Mugabe & " the dear leader "?

was right. is taking notes.




ANOTHER First being announced by WADA :

http://www.aroundtherings.com/articles/view.aspx?id=44461

WADA to Introduce New "Steroid Passport"

9/9/2013

Seems thst the CHEATS are about to have their FUTURE curtailled !


SOME DRIVERS THINK THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW !

one is about to find that Social Media can be VERY Effective !

http://road.cc/content/news/93039-good-luck-finding-me-foreign-plates%E2%80%9D-says-driver-after-he-knocks-cyclist-he

A few of the tweets :

BREAKING NEWS !

Saddened to hear of another bunch hit while training in Waikato. Our thoughts and best wishes are with all the riders involved.

Too early to add details as i only followed a RT !


As mentioned above , following is the Bergen Summary .

http://cdn.velonews.competitor.com/files/2013/09/UCI-Dossier-document.pdf

This summary of "A Report on Corruption in the Leadership of the Union Cycliste
Internationale" (The Report), which has also been referred to in the media as "The Dossier," is
being provided as clarification to some of the misperceptions surrounding The Report. The
individual providing this infonnation has seen the entire Report consisting of 54 pages and 26
document exhibits, and helshe has knowledge of the individuals described in detail in The
Report. The release of this summary was not directed by anyone who commissioned or owns
The Report. The individual providing this information has been told that the reason the entire
Report as not been made publicly available, is because it has been turned over to law
enforcement authorities for follow·up.
The Report was investigated and written by two senior law enforcement and intelligence
officials who claim to have more than 60 years of investigative experience, They claim to have
been assisted by an internationally known private investigative firm with offices across the
globe, The Report claims the following:
1. There is testimonial and documentary evidence that in the late summer of2012, Pat McQuaid
and Hein Verbruggen solicited what amounted to a bribe of 250,000 euros from a named procyling team owner. The monies were allegedly for the UCI to help further promote the named
team, and cycling in general in the country of the team and team owner. The named team owner
declined to pay the requested monies.
2. There is testimonial and documentary evidence that neither UCI nor its private promotional
ann known as Global Cycling Promotion, S.A. was officially involved in the solicitation of the
funds, and that the funds were supposed to be paid to a specifically named front company located
in the UAE, involving a named secret bank account with ties to a named finance company in
Switzerland.
3. There is testimonial evidence that when employees of another named professional cycling
team tried to involve UCI in a disagreement with team owners over the failure ofteam owners to
pay employees, UCI instead became involved in a corrupt relationship with the team owners and
allowed the illegal non·payment of salaries to continue, The witness who provided this
testimonial evidence claimed to have documentary evidence of this corrupt relationship
including documents from a named international accounting firm that were altered.
4, There is testimonial evidence that after the rider Alberto Contador failed a doping test in
2010, UCI tried to engage in a cover-up of the failed test in exchange for money, The witness who provided this testimony advised the efforts were not successful because the media became
aware of the story before the cover-up could be completed. The witness claims there are other
witnesses who can provide corroborative testimony.
5. There is testimonial evidence that in 2009 when Lance Armstrong was making a comeback to
cycling, he had not been in the UCI doping testing pool for the previously proscribed period of
time. Mr. McQuaid agreed to a bending of these rules, which allowed Mr. Armstrong to ride in
the Tour Down Under for an appearance fee of $1 million and in exchange, Mr. Armstrong
ab'Teed to ride in the Tour of Ireland for free - a race he otherwise would not have participated in.
Further, that Mr. McQuaid benefited from this agreement because his relatives or friends were
involved in directing the Tour of Ireland. The witness claims a personal, first-hand account of
these facts.
6. There is testimonial evidence from more than one witness concerning the well-known 1999
Tour de France urine samples that allegedly eventually contained evidence that Mr. Armstrong
failed doping tests, and that Mr. Verbruggen arranged for a friend of his, Emile Vrijman to
conduct the independent review and report about the incident. Further, that Mr. Armstrong's
personal attorneys wrote and edited portions of the report so they were most favorable to Mr.
Armstrong. It is further alleged that Mr. Armstrong helped pay for the report. One witness
stated that there is email evidence between Mr. Armstrong's attorneys and UCI officials, which
prove these facts. There is testimonial and documentary evidence that the night before Mr.
Armstrong appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Mr. Verbruggen was very concerned these
events were going to be disclosed during the interview of Mr. Armstrong.
7. On 18 May, 2013 at approximately 1500, Mr. McQuaid was interviewed extensively for
several hours by the two investigators about the allegations in The Report. The Report states he
denied all of the allegations, but the investigators claim there is testimonial and documentary
evidence that he lied about his knowledge and role in the allegations. Me. McQuaid has never
disclosed that he was interviewed during the investigation, and that he knows the nature of the
allegations as contained in The Report.
8. On 8 June, 2013 at the UCI Management Committee meeting in Bergan, Norway some of the
contents of The Report were disclosed to and discussed by Management Committee members.
Mr. McQuaid said he was going to bring the allegations to the UCl's Ethics Commission for
investigation. 9. During the week of 10 June, 2013, there is testimonial and documentary evidence that Mr.
McQuaid communicated with at least one of the members of the UCI Management Committee
and demanded a copy of The Report so he could personally refer the allegations concerning
himself to the UCI Ethics Commission.
10. There is testimonial and documentary evidence that On 29 June, 2013 at approximately 1700in Corsica, France, Mr. McQuaid was given an opportunity to read the entire report and ask
questions or make comments concerning the contents of The Report. The investigators claim
that he spent approximately one hour reading the report, making notes. and that he asked no
questions, and made no comments.
11. There is testimonial evidence from more than one witness that after Mr. McQuaid read The
Report in Corsica, France, he communicated with Mr. Verbruggen about the contents of The
Report. Further, that Mr. Verbruggen then contacted several of the witnesses in The Report in an
apparent effort to distance himselffrom Mr. McQuaid.
12. It thus appears the recent statements in the press last week by Mr. McQuaid that he has
never seen The Report are false. It appears the statements to multiple witnesses by Mr. McQuaid
that he intended to bring the allegations he was aware of in The Report to the UCI Ethics
Commission are false. It appears the statements by both Mr. McQuaid and Mr. Verbruggen inthe press last week that they have not recently communicated, and that Mr. Verbruggen no
longer has anything to do with Mr. McQuaid or UCI, are also false.




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