Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, September 20, 2018
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2018 Tour de France | 2018 Giro d'Italia
Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit. - Ansel Adams
Current racing:
- September 20: Coppa Sabatini
Upcoming racing:
- September 22: Tour de l'Eurométropole
- September 22: Memorial Marco Pantani
Latest completed racing:
- September 19: Giro della Toscana
- August 25 - September 16: Vuelta a España
- September 16: Coppa Bernocchi
- September 15: Primus Classic Impanis-Van Petegem
- Septmeber 15: Coppa Agostoni
- September 12: GP de Wallonie
- September 2 - 9: Tour of Britain
- September 9: GP de Montréal
- September 9: Tour du Doubs
Giro della Toscana team news
We posted the report from winner Gianni Moscon's Team Sky with the race results.
Second-place Romain Bardet's Ag2r squad sent me this short quote:
I am very happy with my day because throughout the season, there are not so many one day races for climbers. And this one suits me well and takes place in a region of Italy that I like very much. The sensations are good, which validates all the hard work that I have done in recent weeks. And I was able to have fun; I was an animator of the race with a very strong team around me.
I am happy because I feel that my form is improving since I started my preparation for the World Championships. There is still a race tomorrow, and then most of the preparations for the World Championships will be finished. All that will then remain will be to refine things before joining the team for France.” - ROMAIN BARDET
Romain Bardet is second to Gianni Moscon. Sirotti photo
Letter from MPCC (Mouvement Pour un Cyclisme Credible)
This was in my inbox this morning:
Press Release - 17th September 2018
The Board of the MPCC met in Roissy on September 13th to analyze the events that occured prior to Le Tour de France. The main focus was on Chris Froome's abnormal control, a procedure that came to an end only a few days before the start of the race.
The Movement highlight the urgent nature of its previous suggestions to WADA regarding the principle of the rider's automatic non-active status in case of an ongoing procedure concerning a positive or abnormal control to a specified substance or a non-specified substance, until the rider is formally cleared or being formally sanctioned and suspended for the violation of the anti-doping regulations.
It has been 12 years now that the Movement has been commited to these rules on a voluntary basis, with the same purpose as before : promoting transparency, and thus the image and health of the riders, but also the image of the teams and, as a whole, the image of cycling.
The MPCC reminds all the teams involved in such cases and who are not part of the movement that nothing prevents them from making the choice of not to line a rider up on a race, no matter what the antidoping rules currently are.
The MPCC also hopes that the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) will endorse in 2019 its project regarding new regulations for corticoids and tramadol. The Movement renews its request on this topic and wish to see these substance on the prohibited list.
The vigilance of the Movement and its members remains the same regarding the fight against mechanical doping. The success of this fight is essential for the credibility of our sport.
The MPCC commits itself to a process that aims at making cycling the most credible it can be on a global scale, meaning that it goes even further than the sole fight against doping, which was the core of the Movement when it was created in 2007.
The draft reforms of the Professional Cycling Council (PCC), planned for 2020, needs to be focused on the ethics and the credibility of cycling. The Movement has high hopes in the coming month and acknowledge the difficulty of the decision that needs to be taken, and will support any measures promoting credibility.
Finally, the Board is glad to see that, as of today, 261 riders have commited to the MPCC. Soon enough, the staff of all the teams (managers, directors, coaches, medical staff, etc) will be able to be part of the MPCC and embrace its philosophy.
Roger LEGEAY
Président
Here's the MPCC's web site.
Maximilian Schachmann joins Bora-hansgrohe
The team sent me this release:
The move from Schachmann is another remarkable step for Ralph Denk and his team. With Ackermann, Buchmann and Schachmann, three of the biggest German talents are now united under the umbrella of the German WorldTeam BORA – hansgrohe.
“There is not a lot to say about Maximilian’s big potential, he already proved it several times this season. I am super happy that with Ackermann, Buchmann and Schachmann we now have three key riders of German cycling united at BORA – hansgrohe. In our first two WorldTour seasons, people quite often looked at us as the “Sagan-Team”. Of course, Peter is the biggest star of our sport and draws a lot of attention, but in his slipstream our young guys proved this year that BORA – hansgrohe is more than “just” Sagan. This move is also important to me as we want to underline our German roots. We want to be successful in the future, but not only with Peter, also with our German speaking talents. Maximilian has potential on all terrains, yet he will need some time and patience to develop within the team. I am really looking forward to that common path.” – Ralph Denk, Team Manager
Maximilian Schachmann wins stage 18 of the 2018 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
“I am really happy about this step. As a German pro, to ride in a German team is perfect. My colleges told me that the team, its structures and the spirit is great. I am really happy to join them for the next two years. How the team has developed the last years is promising, especially for German cycling, and I am happy to become part of this journey. I also think that this highly professional environment will help me to develop as a rider. Now it’s up to me to become part of the BORA – hansgrohe success story with some results in the future.” – Maximilian Schachmann
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