Valverde is out and not for drugs...
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UCI Pro Tour leader Alejandro Valverde has withdrawn from Saturday's Giro di Lombardia, the final race of the pro season, because of a dispute with race organisers over his place on the podium.
Caisse D'Epargne's Valverde has clinched the white jersey, given to the winner of the UCI Pro Tour, but would not have been awarded the prize at the final event of the year had he raced.
Tour of Lombardy organisers RCS, who also run the Giro D'Italia, said they would not allow Valverde to be awarded the white jersey at the finish in Lake Como because of their ongoing feud with the Pro Tour.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has been in a clash with the three grand tours, the Giro, the Vuelta a Espana, and the Tour de France, all season over licensing issues regarding the selection of Pro teams.
Caisse D'Epargne have subsequently pulled their star Spaniard off of the Lombardy start list.
"Valverde is supposed to fulfil his obligations to the Pro Tour while not picking up the expected benefits," said a team spokesman.
In a show of support the pro teams racing on Saturday have planned to boycott the pre-race and post-race ceremonies, including final podium.
Organiser Angelo Zomegnan said not only was his group under no obligation to present the Pro Tour victor, they would not miss him.
"The Tour of Lombardy is a historic race which has gone on for 100 years. If Valverde pulls out, it will be his loss, not ours," Zomegnan said.
"There is no way we are going to agree to promoting the Pro Tour brand next to the Tour of Lombardy brand," he added.
"I've received a letter from (Caisse d'Epargne manager) Jose Miguel Echavarri in which he mentions the protocol, for television, of awarding the jersey.
"But this is not one of my obligations."
Of the lack of a podium for Saturday's victor, Zomegnan expressed disappointment.
"It's a pity. The real victims of this will be the riders, the guy who wins the trophy and his sponsor."
