Lance Armstrong

[Claire.O]

On Monday, at an airport in Geneva, Pat McQuaid, the head of the UCI, will reply to the dossier sent to him by USADA. The UCI has until 31st October to formally comment on it. I personally hope that he will use this occasion to resign.

I have included a link that explains how the head of the UCI is elected. It is a complicated voting system by the world cycling federations, and the compromise figure that all countries could agree upon was Irish (they are lovely people)- a bit like the 'Song for Europe' with wheels in fact....

http://inrng.com/2012/09/how-to-replace-pat-mcquaid/

I have also included a road.cc petition which you can sign if you agree with me:

http://road.cc/content/forum/67048-peti ... ci-cleaned

Finally, a couple of articles which explain the situation, why the UCI is dragging its feet, why the UCI is heavily involved in the doping problems and too close to Lance, and why a change at the top of the UCI is necessary:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12912 ... oping.aspx

'Two weeks after Pat McQuaid suggested that an amnesty or truth and reconcilliation commission might be introduced to cycling, the UCI President said today that the sport would be better served by concentrating on the future rather than revisiting the past. '

'It emerged yesterday that the UCI’s current and former presidents McQuaid and Hein Verbruggen will face Paul Kimmage in a Swiss court on December 12th. He has received a subpoena and must appear at the Tribunal D'Arrondissement de L'Est Vaudois in Vevey in connection to a claim launched against him last January. '

http://road.cc/content/news/69048-armst ... ted-doping

'Current UCI President Pat McQuaid confirmed in 2010 that Bruyneel and Armstrong visited the UCI headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland, in May 2002 where the cyclist signed over a personal cheque for $25,000 to go toward drugs testing in junior races, and he also promised to donate $100,000 to it to help develop the sport.

He finally paid that money in 2005, after the UCI sent him a reminder. The governing body used the money to buy a blood testing machine.

While McQuaid acknowledged in 2010 that “the UCI would be very careful before accepting a donation from a rider in the future,” he insisted that there was no conflict of interest.

And despite McQuaid’s protestations, by 2005, when the UCI reminded Armstrong that he hadn’t followed through on his promise and actually paid the money, accusations had started to mount against the Texan.

Dr Ashenden told the BBC programme last night: "The UCI should never have accepted money from Armstrong under any circumstances.

"But if they took money after they were aware there were grounds to suspect Armstrong had used EPO, it takes on a really sinister complexion.'

[WinsfordDave]

Good on David Millar for his open letter

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/open-le ... ve-cycling

[Claire.O]

1) 'J'ai les moyens de vous faire un coureur positif quand je veux...' ( Hein Verbruggen) "I can make a rider positive whenever I want".

'To Hein Verbruuggen, a question: Does this ring a bell?'

(Paul Kimmage twitter @paulkimmage )

2) The French Cycling Federation (FFC) has defended its decision to hand Christophe Bassons a one-year suspension after he missed a post-race doping control at the French marathon mountain bike championships on September 1.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/french- ... suspension

Forumites on Cycling News and other forums have linked the two, and decided it was punishment for 'spitting in the soup' - one conspiracy theory too many?

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread ... 609&page=6

[Claire.O]

McQuaid: "Armstrong has no place in cycling."

UCI on Lance Armstrong press conference - live! http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/oc ... rence-live

UCI confirm they will strip Armstrong of his seven titles.

Pat McQuaid refuses to resign.

'The UCI itself also has some very awkward questions to answer. The UCI president, Pat McQuaid, has already successfully sued Floyd Landis after Armstrong's former team-mate accused the governing body of a cover-up. Usada repeated those allegations in their report, with both Landis and Tyler Hamilton alleging that the UCI were aware of a positive EPO test for Armstrong at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland, a suggestion that the governing body have vehemently denied in the past and, presumably, will deny again today.'

Therefore, both the UCI and Lance Armstrong have decided not to test their cases in a legal manner - except the UCI suing the little guy, Paul Kimmage, in their home law court in Switzerland.....

'12.40pm: Will legal action continue against journalist Paul Kimmage? "The case against Kimmage is nothing to do with Usada and Armstrong," says McQuaid. "It's about a journalist who accused me and my predecessor of being corrupt. It's a straight defamation case." So, yes then.'

If you want to read about the Paul Kimmage scandal, or contribute to his defense fund, the links are below. Paul Kimmage is a minnow, a victim, and has been harassed for years to keep quiet about doping and corruption in cycling. The UCI chose not to sue 'The Sunday Times' or any other business, but chose an unemployed freelance journalist instead. Hmmm.....

http://inrng.com/2012/09/paul-kimmage-defence-fund/
http://www.cyclismas.com/
http://nyvelocity.com/content/features/ ... fense-fund
http://www.cyclesportmag.com/news-and-c ... l-kimmage/

[AdyJapp]

http://inrng.com/2012/10/uci-press-conf ... more-11432

Is a good blog (same source as Paul Kimmage blog above) giving a press conference run down.

[AdyJapp]

The full Guardian report:
Preamble: Morning all. Whatever the UCI say in Geneva today this is a huge day for cycling. The governing body is to announce its response to the United States Anti-doping Agency's scathing report on Lance Armstrong and the US Postal team that "ran most sophisticated doping scheme in sport".
You wouldn't put it past the UCI to buck the trend and leap to Armstrong's defence but by far the most likely outcome, surely, will be the removal of the American's seven Tour de France titles between 1999 and 2005, even if they opt not to endorse the conclusions of the Usada report wholesale.
Who will get them in his stead? This piece from Blazin Saddles illustrates the problem with that. Jan Ullrich, for example, came second three times behind Armstrong - in 2000, 2001 and 2003 - but has since seen all his results since 2005 wiped off due to doping. Might it not be a better option for the UCI, if they do indeed banish Armstrong's record from the books, to simply leave the winner's spot blank for those seven Tours as the strongest possible anti-doping statement.
The UCI itself also has some very awkward questions to answer. The UCI president, Pat McQuaid, has already successfully sued Floyd Landis after Armstrong's former team-mate accused the governing body of a cover-up. Usada repeated those allegations in their report, with both Landis and Tyler Hamilton alleging that the UCI were aware of a positive EPO test for Armstrong at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland, a suggestion that the governing body have vehemently denied in the past and, presumably, will deny again today.
For a more thorough and in-depth rundown of the issues today, I'd advise a look at the always brilliant INRNG blog.
11.38am: The best piece of writing on Armstrong over the weekend came, in my book at least, from Paul Kimmage. Big reveal of Cancer Jesus is well worth checking out.
11.46am: And it's mentioned in the standfirst above, but worth mentioning again – all our Lance Armstrong-related content can be found by one easy click here. It goes right the way back to Armstrong's early doping denials. Some of the pieces back then can remind you why there's a real sadness behind this story to go along with the catharsis.
11.53am: The French newspaper Le Parisien are claiming that the UCI will accept Usada's sanctions and strip Armstrong of his seven Tour titles, which could be, as they claim, an exclusive, or just a fairly safe stab.
11.59am: Right, here we go then. The press conference is due to begin at midday.
12.01pm: Introductions out of the way, president Pat McQuaid to start …
12.03pm: McQuaid: This is not the first time that cycling have reached a crossroads … it will find a new path foreward.
12.03pm: UCI confirm they will strip Armstrong of his seven titles.
12.04pm: McQuaid: "Armstrong has no place in cycling."
12.05pm: "Something like this must never happen again," says McQuaid.
12.06pm: Question on wider implications of report. McQuaid: "The UCI has concentrated on the Usada report in relation to Lance Armstrong and the other riders. We haven't got into the other elements in the report."
12.07pm: Is McQuaid's position tenable? "Why took over as president I made the fight against doping my priority. It remains my priority … there's still more work to be done. I have no intention of resigning."
12.09pm: So far it's as predicted. Armstrong scrubbed from history. UCI and McQuaid sticking to their guns (or ignoring the things they, for some reason, haven't got round to looking at yet).
12.11pm: McQuaid now saying that the UCI didn't have the right tools at the time. "When EPO came in the whole situation changed."
12.12pm: McQuaid: "I'm sorry that we couldn't catch every damn one of them and throw them out of the sport at the time."
12.13pm: McQuaid also making clear he wasn't UCI president at the time of Armstrong's Tour wins. He took the position in 2006. If that the Nomfup defence?
12.15pm: Will UCI support efforts to get prize money back from Tour de France wins? "This is one of the things that we'll be discussing at a special committee on Friday. We'll need a change of rules."
12.16pm: Which part of the report most surprised McQuaid? "I have to admit I was sickened by what I read in the Usada report. The story of how Zabriskie was coerced, and in some ways forced, into doping is mind-boggling."
12.18pm: How will Armstrong be remembered? "Armstrong deserves to be forgotten in cycling now." To an extent I agree, but surely you keep him in mind as an example and a cautionary lesson for the future.
12.20pm: How can cycling go forward when some of the men involved with the running of teams are former dopers? "It is possible that people who have made mistakes in the past can help the sport in the future."
12.22pm: McQuaid says placings for the seven Lance Tours will be discussed in the Friday meeting. Maybe they should've had that meeting before today? It's quite an important one.
12.25pm: Philippe Verbiest, the UCI lawyer, in answer to a question about Landis's statements in the report and the UCI's decision to sue him previously. "The only problem UCI had with Floyd Landis was him saying the positive test had been covered up. There was no positive test," says Verbiest.
12.27pm: UCI press pack says that Armstrong was tested 218 times, notes @NHoultCricket on Twitter. Armstrong always claimed he was the most tested athlete in the world with over 500 tests.
12.30pm: How can you find a new path forward? "Sport advances and the fight against doping advances," says McQuaid. "The tools we have now are much more advanced than they were in the early 2000s."
12.32pm: First mention of Rabobank withdrawal from the sport. "The sponsors that we have understand the work the UCI is doing and understand that attitudes in teams and their entourage have changed." McQuaid confident that Rabobank will be replaced.
12.34pm: Do you think the sport will ever be free of doping? "There's no doubt this is a crisis, it's the biggest crisis cycling has ever faced [Quotes a bit of pre-prepared JFK] I like to look at this crisis as an opportunity to recognise that our sport is in danger and that everyone needs to work together to go forward. Will it ever be free of doping? To be honest with you I'd say no."
12.38pm: How has technology improved since 2005? Mario Zorzoli, the UCI's chief medical adviser points to biological passports and tests for growth hormone. Labs are working on the detection of blood transfusions.
12.40pm: Suggestions that Armstrong bought off the UCI are "absolutely untrue" says McQuaid.
12.40pm: Will legal action continue against journalist Paul Kimmage? "The case against Kimmage is nothing to do with Usada and Armstrong," says McQuaid. "It's about a journalist who accused me and my predecessor of being corrupt. It's a straight defamation case." So, yes then.
12.44pm: McQuaid on other US Postal riders. "We look at an enormous, sophisticated cheating programme … I feel sorry for the guys they competed against."
12.46pm: McQuaid reels off long, long list of doping cases he's had to deal with since becoming president. "It's been a pretty horrific seven years I've had as president. But I'm confident the landscape in the peloton has changed."
12.48pm: "Rabobank has a minus 17 million Euros confidence in the UCI," reckons Bonnie Bolding. "The UCI can expect, after this press conference, other sponsors to follow suit and withdraw their brands and money. Then the UCI might stop wringing its hands and set up better mechanisms to stamp out this sort of cheating."
12.49pm: McQuaid again insists there was no cover up by UCI of a positive Armstrong test and that there was no positive test.
12.50pm: Says UCI will still accept financial contributions from riders in the future. "The UCI aren't like Fifa with billions in the bank."
12.51pm: That statement, by the way, was on the back of a question about whether the UCI were right to accept donation from Armstrong.
12.52pm: Think it's fair to say that the funding question was the first time McQuaid has looked really uncomfortable.
12.55pm: McQuaid says there's a meeting scheduled with all teams in early December to discuss the issue and the route forward. "The UCI is listening and prepared to listen."
12.56pm: And that's that. To emphasise the headline point once more: Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from cycling for life.
1pm: And a full recap:
• UCI accepts Usada decision in full and won't go the court of arbitration for sport.
• Therefore Lance Armstrong is stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from cycling for life.
• Who, if anyone, is to be awarded those titles is to be decided on Friday.
• UCI president Pat McQuaid says he won't be resigning over the issue.
• McQuaid denies UCI covered up a positive Armstrong test in 2001.
• Suggestions that Armstrong bought off the UCI are "absolutely untrue" says McQuaid.
• UCI will continue to take donations from cyclists, as they did from Armstrong, despite potential for conflict of interest issues.
• McQuaid will continue legal action against journalist Paul Kimmage.
1.04pm: Right, that's it from the press conference. I think it's fair to say that the reaction of the cycling community, on Twitter at least, has been almost entirely negative about McQuaid's performance. Stick around on site for all the news, reaction and comment on the fallout, but from me, cheerio!

[tim b]

good article by robert millar http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert ... re-minimum

[Claire.O]

We are waiting for a meeting of the UCI on Friday. In the meantime, here is another good article about how 'Pat McQuaid defended the indefensible'! (couldn't have put it better myself!)

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 23637.html

[Claire.O]

'Can anyone help me out? I know this sounds kind of lame but I am not well versed in social marketing. I would like to send a message to everyone that really loves cycling. I do not use twitter and do not have an organized way of getting some of my own "rage" out. I want to tell the world of cycling to please join me in telling Pat McQuaid to resign. I have never seen such an abuse of power in cycling's history- resign Pat if you love cycling. Resign even if you hate the sport.
Pat McQuaid, you know dam well what has been going on in cycling, and if you want to deny it, then even more reasons why those who love cycling need to demand that you resign.
I have a file with what I believe is well documented proof that will exonerate Paul.
Pat in my opinion you and Hein are the corrupt part of the sport. I do not want to include everyone at the UCI because I believe that there are many, maybe most that work at the UCI that are dedicated to cycling, they do it out of the love of the sport, but you and your buddy Hein have destroyed the sport.
Pat, I thought you loved cycling? At one time you did and if you did love cycling please dig deep inside and remember that part of your life- allow cycling to grow and flourish- please! It is time to walk away. Walk away if you love cycling.
As a reminder I just want to point out that you recently you accused me of being the cause of USADA's investigation against Lance Armstrong. Why would you be inclined to go straight to me as the "cause"? Why shoot the messenger every time?
Every time you do this I get more and more entrenched. I was in your country over the last two weeks and I asked someone that knows you if you were someone that could be rehabilitated. His answer was very quick and it was not good for you. No was the answer, no, no , no!
The problem for sport is not drugs but corruption. You are the epitome of the word corruption.
You can read all about Webster's definition of corruption. If you want I can re-post my attorney's response to your letter where you threaten to sue me for calling the UCI corrupt. FYI I want to officially reiterate to you and Hien that in my opinion the two of your represent the essence of corruption.
I would encourage anyone that loves cycling to donate and support Paul in his fight against the Pat and Hein and the UCI. Skip lunch and donate the amount that you would have spent towards that Sunday buffet towards changing the sport of cycling.
I donated money for Paul's defense, and I am willing to donate a lot more, but I would like to use it to lobby for dramatic change in cycling. The sport does not need Pat McQuaid or Hein Verbruggen- if this sport is going to change it is now. Not next year, not down the road, now! Now or never!
People that really care about cycling have the power to change cycling- change it now by voicing your thought and donating money towards Paul Kimmage's defense, ( Paul, I want to encourage you to not spend the money that has been donated to your defense fund on defending yourself in Switzerland. In my case, a USA citizen, I could care less if I lost the UCI's bogus lawsuit. Use the money to lobby for real change).
If people really want to clean the sport of cycling up all you have to do is put your money where your mouth is.
Don't buy a USA Cycling license. Give up racing for a year, just long enough to put the UCI and USA cycling out of business. We can then start from scratch and let the real lovers in cycling direct where and how the sport of cycling will go.
Please make a difference.
Greg'

An impassioned plea from Greg Lemond on Facebook today!
https://www.facebook.com/greglemond
http://inrng.com/2012/10/lemond-letter-uci/#comments
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13145 ... cling.aspx

[Jules]

Please make it STOP Ady. This is getting boring!!!!

The mans a cheat however many blogs or reports you read end of