06/05/2012 - The UCI has founded a committee in their never-ending fight against doping. The committee's main goal will be the research into riders classified as illegal activities-suspected. Extra tests and close observation are keywords in their mode of operating. Thirteen riders have made the first list of the UCI-CIA (Committee of Illegal Activities), including one Belgian rider, Willy Wouters.
The Committee is mainly formed to secure a doping-free cycling. Its task is not to investigate ex-dopers or doping-suspects. Those will fall under another category. The Committee remained vaguely in their description: "We will not take on dopers, ex-dopers or doping-suspects. We're here to separate the guilty from the innocent. We will mainly deal with suspects of illegal activities: people that can't account their whereabouts, people with suspicious contacts. Once an athlete fails a drug-test, he will be investigated by the Anti-Doping Committee."
Willy Wouters, a Lotto Belisol rider, is one of the thirteen to fall under that category. Wouters was suspended from cycling two weeks ago because of multiple missing whereabouts. The UCI stated he's not been charged with doping, but he remains suspended nevertheless. Wouters has returned home in the mean time, returning disappointed from Italy, where he was scheduled for the Giro d'Italia.
"The UCI-CIA will take several measures to ensure a righteous system for all riders. The guilty will be punished and the innocent will go free. This is the way it's supposed to be, and it's the way it's going to be." said Georges Petit, first Chairman of the new-found Committee. A press conference will be held tomorrow, official statements and measures are expected.
All thirteen riders, including Wouters, remain suspended until then and their presence on the hearing before the press conference is obligatory. Wouters has made no comments so far, and has been keeping to himself all along. Team mate Dennis Vanendert has risen up to his defense in the media, calling the whereabouts system a "unjust, unfair and messed up system". Lotto Belisol has not made any public statements since it implicitly broke relations with Wouters.
Stijn Van Gent
Hi everyone.
Dark times, these days. We've noticed that our blog is more popular than ever, but it's not the kind of publicity that we were looking for. Willy wanted to tell you all about it, but his lawyer says not to, so I'll keep you in the loop for now. The hearing tomorrow will be very important. I've never seen Willy so down, he's not even training properly at the moment, he's just with his girlfriend and he's locked himself at the house. He told me he wants to concentrate on her now, she's a couple months pregnant.
I've stood up to the team management and resigned for the Giro. So I haven't been racing as well. It's been hard, but some things are more important than a career, I believe. I've been hanging out at Willy's a lot, but I've also kept up my training, harder than ever. I hope tomorrow will bring some clarity and will allow Willy to race again. He's so talented and it's sad to see him being pushed away from the sport like that, he hasn't done anything wrong at all.
Anyway, tomorrow we'll know more. Either way, I can't keep doing this either, I owe the team racing days, it says so in my contract. All I know is that my first race is not immediately, probably somewhere in June, maybe July.
Let's finish this post with some better news. We forget to mention the last time how the Classic Season was ended. Vanendert did a great job and finished fourth in Luik - Bastenake - Luik, he was right behind Rodriguez, Andy Schleck and Gilbert!
Stijn
08/05/2012 - Yesterday's press conference from the newly found UCI Committee of Illegal Activities was, to say at least, surprising. Drastic measures have been taken and many were left behind confused. The 13 riders declared to protest against the measures taken.
"All thirteen riders previously named will be excluded from any Pro Tour races, National Championships, Olympic Games and the World Championships. The riders will be allowed to race in other competitions, albeit under strict rules and under constant supervision. They will be tested regularly and are to be accountable 24 hours a day. The extra administrative costs and the extra doping tests will be paid by the riders themselves. Contracts with teams are to be respected, but they cannot sign new contracts with any Pro Tour team while the investigation is ongoing." declared Georges Petit, Chairman of the Committee.
Following the press conference was a storm of reactions on social media. Willy Wouters, the only Belgian rider concerned, gave a small interview before returning home: "This is crazy. We're treated like drug dealers. I don't know about the UCI, but we, honest working men, don't have thousands of dollars laying around. Paying for the tests and administrative costs will be hard, on the entire family. I can finally start racing again, though. That's probably the silver lining. Thanks." Lotto Belisol has already made an official response that it will pay for 75% of the financial burden that falls upon Wouters.
Stijn Van Gent
Hi there, once again.
So, a small summary, Willy can't ride any Pro Tour races, and he may not prolong his contract here at Lotto. We don't know how long the investigation will be "ongoing" but don't count on a quick solution. UCI is slacking, if you ask me.
Anyway, on a brighter note, Willy can start racing again, and he's gotten a new calendar for the rest of the year, excluded from all WT races. I'll be joining him in his calendar mainly. However, I will still ride the Eneco Tour.
The first of July we'll start our second part of the season, where we'll start in the Tour of Austria, an 8-day stage race. From Austria we go to Italy for two one-day races: GP di Arona and GP di Stresa. Then we'll return home for the Tour of Wallonie. The rest of the calendar remains the same for me. Willy will ride a very American calendar, starting with the Tour of the Elk Grove, then on to Tour of Utah and finishing with the Tour of Colorado. He said to me he's looking forward to spending a month in America, away from all this.
Let's hope the worst is behind us! And we'll see you later, probably when we report about the National Championships! Willy will start blogging around then, probably.
Stijn
Ouch. At least there's clarity now..
I'm very curious who the other 12 are though? Any good riders among them?
Well, maybe you haven't thought about them though...
JuanMotr: Good idea about the aliens Stijn isn't riding because he was solidary with Willy and returned home.
PCM rulezz: Meh, no idea 12 riders from Zimbabwe and Willy?
Jesleyh: Yeah, haven't really thought about it yet. It'd be too hard to exclude strong riders from Pro Tour with the editor, so they're probably all low-profile riders.
Thanks a lot for following. I understand the last few blogs were probably boring for most followers, but I'll return to the racing soon. The big newsflashes are over, for now Thanks for hanging on!
It's us, Willy and Stijn. After some troubled weeks, we're both back in business. In two days, we start the Tour of Austria and we're both really looking forward to it!
But first things first! We have a couple more results for you!
Nationals
Belgium: Boonen (RR) and Monfort (TT)
The Netherlands: Hoogerland (RR) and Boom (TT)
Germany: Greipel (RR) and surprisingly Fothen (TT), 14 seconds on Martin.
USA: Farrar and Phinney
British: Froome
Spain: Lastras and L. L. Sanchez
Italiy: Nibali and Pinotti
Denmark: Vandborg
Sweden: Kessiakof
France: Feillu and Chavanel (Sylvain)
Portugal: Rui Costa!
Swiss: Cancellara
We're back to racing, so see you in two days!
Stijn & Willy
Edited by Ian Butler on 22-01-2013 18:48
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