Vinokourov: “We want our credibility back as a matter of urgency”
by Shane Stokes
Astana general manager Alexander Vinokourov has said at the team’s presentation in Dubai that regaining people’s trust is a major priority for the setup in 2015.
“We want to get our credibility back as a matter of urgency,” Vinokourov said, according to Sporza. A total of five positive tests were recorded between the Astana Continental and WorldTour team in late 2014.
Vinokourov confirmed that the audit of the team — ordered by the UCI when awarding Astana a provisional WorldTour license for 2015 - was almost complete.
“I went into the last detail in explaining the functioning of the team,” he said. “Each doctor has five to six riders [to deal with], each team leader also. Every three or four days there is contact with the riders and there is also an internal control system.
“I don’t see what more we can do.”
“I can hardly put each rider under guard,” he said. “We still want to win Grand Tours, but we will prove that we are credible.”
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Team Astana budget could be cut by 30%
Meanwhile, the head of the board of trustees at the Astana Presidential Sports Club — the owners of the Astana WorldTour team and seven other sports teams — has said that the team’s budget is likely to be slashed by as much as 30%.
Darkhan Kaletayev reiterated Alexandre Vinokourov’s message about the need for Astana to repair its image.
“The main message we want to convey today to the world is that [in 2015] Astana is a new team, a clean team, the team without scandals and doping, a team that can win and [is] ready to win,” Kaletayev said.
According to Kaletayev the board of trustees considered shutting down the Astana WorldTour team, like it had done with the Astana Continetal team.
“But after much thought [we] considered that Astana is a successful project [and] decided to change the anti-doping policy within the team and seek the assistance of the International Cycling Union,” Kaletayev said.
Kaletayev said that financial trouble in Kazhakstan and indeed around the world has forced cuts to the team’s budget.
“We are working on this issue. A reduction in the budget [there] will be. Now there is a discussion. In fact, probably 30 percent will be reduced,” Kaletayev told Vesti.kz.
Click here to read more at Sports.ru (in Russian).
Rebellin confirms Giro is unlikely, says Classics are main goal for 2015
by Shane Stokes
Following suggestions that the CCC Sprandi Polkowice team’s invite to the Giro d’Italia was contingent on two controversial riders – Davide Rebellin and Stefan Schumacher – being absent from the squad, the former has hinted that he is unlikely to do the event.
Asked about his goals for the season, the 43-year-old Italian said that he was focussing on shorter events.
“I hope to be in the Classics that best suit my characteristics and to be able to show myself,” he told Bicicilismo. “In San Remo, Amstel, Lombardy … Now I will dispute Besseges, Murcia, Almería and Tour Haut Var.”
Asked about being part of the Giro, he accepts he might not be.
“For the team it’s good news, for its image I think that every year is a stronger team. I don’t think I will dispute it as I will be more focused on the Classics. Right now I cannot be sure. I will speak to the team.”
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Roadtripping India - Part One
When you think of the world’s great cycling destinations, India isn’t a country that necessarily springs to mind. And yet, when you venture beyond the bustling city streets, India has a wealth of opportunities on offer for the intrepid cyclist.
Andy Rogers and Caz Whitehead recently ventured to the Indian state of Karnataka with Exodus Travels to begin a two-week-long journey along the country’s south-western coastline.
Click here to check out the first part of their journey. Part Two is coming soon.
How the Race Was Won: men’s cyclocross world championships
In the latest “How The Race Was Won”, Cosmo Catalano takes a look at the elite Men’s Cyclocross World Championships, contested this past weekend in Tabor, Czech Republic.
Life, Death and the Art of Cycling
Life, Death and the Art of Cycling is the first film from Podia exploring what it means to be a road cyclist. Two cyclists are good companions and ride with each other regularly. They don’t race, but that doesn’t stop them harbouring a competitive nature and we see this play out over the course of the film.
The Cycling Art of Michael Valenti
We’re digging the work of artist/cartoonist Michael Valenti. Here’s one of his latest efforts:
Click through to see more of Michael Valenti’s art at his website.
Metromedior!
From the same guys that brought you Helmetor!, which we featured yesterday, comes Metromedior!, another cycling “superhero” who’s all about ensuring motorists give cyclists enough room when overtaking.
If the video doesn’t show up for you, click here.
What You Missed
And finally this morning, here are a few things you might have missed at CyclingTips in the past few days:
- Gianni Meersman wins the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
- Rachel Neylan plays cards to perfection to win Cadel Road Race
- Daily News Digest: Monday February 2