Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
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2018 Tour de France | 2018 Giro d'Italia
Computers are like Old Testament gods; lots of rules and no mercy. - Joseph Campbell
Latest completed racing:
- December 2: GP Hasselt Cross
- November 26: Flandriencross
- November 25: Zeven Cyclocross
- November 19: Bogense Cyclocross
- November 12: Gavere Cyclocross
- November 5: European Cyclocross Championships
- Oct 28 - Nov 5: Tour of Hainan
- November 1: Cyclocross Koppenberg
- October 29: Cyclocross Ruddervoorde
UCI and Peter Sagan relieved to end legal dispute
Team Bora-hansgrohe sent me this release:
In advance of the hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne scheduled for December 5, 2017 the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), Peter Sagan and BORA – hansgrohe have agreed to end the legal dispute and controversy about Peter Sagan’s disqualification from this year’s Tour de France.
Peter Sagan was disqualified following a crash in the sprint at the end of the 4th stage in Vittel.
Immediately following the disqualification Peter Sagan and BORA – hansgrohe had appealed the decision of the race jury with the CAS and, in order to enable Peter Sagan to finish the Tour, requested a temporary suspension of the disqualification. As is well known, this request was denied by CAS; subsequently, however, all parties involved had the opportunity to provide evidence and call witnesses. On 5 December 2017, CAS was scheduled to hear the matter in Lausanne.
Having considered the materials submitted in the CAS proceedings, including video footage that was not available at the time when the race jury had disqualified Peter Sagan, the parties agreed that the crash was an unfortunate and unintentional race incident and that the UCI Commissaires made their decision based on their best judgment in the circumstances. On this basis, the parties agreed not to continue with the legal proceedings and to focus on the positive steps that can be taken in the future instead.
The new president of the UCI, David Lappartient, commented on the UCI’s position as follows: “These proceedings have shown how important and arduous the work of the UCI Commissaires is. As of next season the UCI intends to engage a ‘Support Commissaire’ to assist the Commissaires Panel with special video expertise on the main events of the UCI World Tour.”
The 2016 Tour de France stage four crash
The UCI world champion Peter Sagan is pleased with this development: “The past is already forgotten. It’s all about improving our sport in the future. I welcome the fact that what happened to me in Vittel has showed that the UCI Commissaires’ work is a difficult one and that the UCI has recognised the need to facilitate their work in a more effective way. I am happy that my case will lead to positive developments, because it is important for our sport to make fair and comprehensible decisions, even if emotions are sometimes heated up.”
Ralph Denk, team manager of BORA – hansgrohe adds: “It has always been our goal to make clear that Peter had not caused Mark Cavendish’s fall. This was Peter’s position from day one. No one wants riders to fall or get hurt but the incident in Vittel was a race accident as can happen in the course of a sprint. My job as a team manager is to protect my riders and sponsors. I think that this is what we, as a team, have done. I am reinforced in my view that neither Peter nor BORA – hansgrohe have made any mistakes.”
Team Sky 2018 roster complete with signing of Leonardo Basso
Team Sky sent me this release:
5 DECEMBER 2017: Team Sky are excited to announce that Leonardo Basso will join the team next season, completing the rider roster for 2018. The 23-year-old Italian will turn pro with the team and will shortly join up with his new team-mates at Team Sky’s December training camp in Mallorca.
On joining the team Leonardo Basso said: “It’s a dream come true to be joining Team Sky. My main objective is to help the team wherever I can. I want to learn about the job and what it means to be a pro bike rider. I want to learn as much as I can from my team-mates and increase my level day by day.
“From watching the team you can see they have a clear focus, they pay attention to equipment and the details that go into cycling. It’s impressive to see the innovation and to now be a part of that.”
Team Sky Sport Director Dario Cioni said: “We’re happy to see Leonardo turn pro with us next year. He’s got potential and we want to see where we can get to working together. He’s not a true sprinter but he can survive the punchy climbs and he has the speed to sprint from smaller groups. We’ve seen him pick up some results there in the last few years.
“He’s another good addition to the group of young guys who are developing within the team.”
Basso’s signing completes Team Sky’s squad at 30 riders going into next season. Eight riders will be making their debut in Team Sky colours in 2018. Jonathan Castroviejo, David de la Cruz and Dylan van Baarle, all riders with winning experience at World Tour level, will be joining the lineup alongside some of cycling’s brightest emerging talents: Egan Bernal, Kristoffer Halvorsen, Chris Lawless and Pavel Sivakov.
Looking at the roster of young talent being built at Team Sky, Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford has said: “We are establishing a group of exceptional young riders at Team Sky. I have no doubt they are going to make a big impact and be an important part of our future.
“They have chosen to come to Team Sky because they know that our team is a place where they can best fulfil their potential, achieve their goals and be part of a winning culture. I believe the group of home grown and international young talent we are building represents the brightest future we have ever had at Team Sky.”
2018 Team Sky rider roster:
- Leonardo Basso – Italy – age 23
- Egan Bernal – Colombia – age 20
- Jonathan Castroviejo – Spain – age 30
- David de la Cruz – Spain – age 28
- Philip Deignan – Ireland – age 34
- Jon Dibben – Great Britain – age 23
- Owain Doull – Great Britain – age 24
- Kenny Elissonde – France – age 26
- Chris Froome – Great Britain – age 32
- Tao Geoghegan Hart – Great Britain – age 22
- Michal Golas – Poland – age 33
- Kristoffer Halvorsen – Norway – age 21
- Sebastian Henao – Colombia – age 24
- Sergio Henao – Colombia – age 29
- Benat Intxausti – Spain – age 31
- Vasil Kiryienka – Belarus – age 36
- Christian Knees – Germany – age 36
- Michal Kwiatkowski – Poland – age 27
- Chris Lawless – Great Britain – age 22
- David Lopez – Spain – age 36
- Gianni Moscon – Italy – age 23
- Wout Poels – Holland – age 30
- Salvatore Puccio – Italy – age 28
- Diego Rosa – Italy – age 28
- Luke Rowe – Great Britain – age 27
- Pavel Sivakov – Russia – age 20
- Ian Stannard – Great Britain – age 30
- Geraint Thomas – Great Britain – age 31
- Dylan van Baarle – Holland – age 25
- Lukasz Wisniowski – Poland – age 25
Ag2r-La Mondiale unveils 2018 Jersey
Romain Bardet in the 2018 kit.
Bardet (3rd in the 2017 Tour France) in the 2017 kit.
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