Basso to Liquigas

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So it's ok for LG to sign Basso, but there was a big stink when Disco did? Interesting.

So it's ok for LG to sign Basso, but there was a big stink when Disco did? Interesting.Disco signed Basso when he was being linked to doping via OP, ie everyone knew (or at least suspected) he was a doper. That apparently didn't bother Bruyneel, who played innocent and signed him anyway, despite knowing full well that he was probably a doper and would probably continue to be a doper while at Disco.

Liquigas signed him after he (sort of) got caught, fessed up, and served his time.

Big difference.

Nobody has signed Jaksche.

Cyclingnews had some quotes from other riders.

Funny enough, Simoni basically offered a "no comment" equivalent, not wanting to get into trouble. While DiLuca flat out stated that either the UCI remove the rule about banned riders or Liquigas should not be a Pro Tour team. Sour grapes?Sour grapes surely, but he does have a point. What is the point in having rules when they are not enforced consistently? And com'on, it shouldn't be that hard to enforce whatever rules they wrote.

Big difference.
I would argue the difference is Bruyneel tried to play like he was the most naive, stupid person on the planet and pretend Basso wasn't linked to OP. All the other teams knew full well he was going back on their agreement not to sign OP riders. IOW, he was being a not-so-sneaky shit.

Liquigas on the other hand seems to be giving a straight-up "fuck you" to the PT and the agreement amongst the PT teams not to sign riders who were caught doping. They are simply anticipating the demise of the PT which has for all intents and purposes already happened.

Sour grapes surely, but he does have a point. What is the point in having rules when they are not enforced consistently? And com'on, it shouldn't be that hard to enforce whatever rules they wrote.
It is if the "they" is now meaningless.

Nobody has signed Jaksche.
He's over the hill by now, not worth the bad publicity. If he was a few years younger he'd be on a pro continental team at least, probably a pro tour team.

The other teams whining about Liquigas signing Basso is pure crap. I think the two year suspension rule for doping is fair and for teams to suddenly reject that notion is most likely jealousy that they couldn't seal the deal themselves. However Basso could probably do a bit more for his public image by making an effort to show that he is riding clean, and perhaps speaking out against doping a bit more.

However Basso could probably do a bit more for his public image by making an effort to show that he is riding clean, and perhaps speaking out against doping a bit more.
Or he'll just keep on doing what he was doing. It's not like he was ever actually caught despite almost certainly being doped to the gills, as they say.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Basso_to_ride_for_Liquigas_in_2009_article_253999.html

"However, Liquigas have recently announced they intend to rip-up the ethics code and have gone ahead and signed Basso despite knowing it will anger the other teams."

Sounds very Bruyneel-esque to me.

What's the difference between Basso and Valverde... apart from one of them being from a country that takes the punishment of dopers seriously?

What's the difference between Basso and Valverde... apart from one of them being from a country that takes the punishment of dopers seriously?

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.

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.

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

He's over the hill by now, not worth the bad publicity. If he was a few years younger he'd be on a pro continental team at least, probably a pro tour team.


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.

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

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........

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........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.

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........
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.

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.

However Basso could probably do a bit more for his public image by making an effort to show that he is riding clean, and perhaps speaking out against doping a bit more.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!