Hushovd will ride Giro and Tour this season.
The harder flat stages of the Giro might suit him quite well actually. Especially if he has again the form of last years Tour de France.
Gotta ask, what do you think of this rule that won't allow Movistar get Valverdes points this and the following seasons points? Don't know if it's been brought up earlier, but I just saw it today on Procycling.
To me it seems idiotic. I don't like the man, but he has done his time and his team shouldn't be punished for it for two additional years. You might aswell ban him for 4 years.
If anything I think it might, in a few cases, lead to other riders not getting their chance. Besides, if you look at this from the teams point of view; why they use Valverde?
By having such a rule as this, they might aswell just let him race and then remove his name from the official rankings. They do the same thing in skiing when someone from a foreign country competes in the National Championship. Andrew Mushgrave from Scotland took a 3rd place in the 15km individual start during the Norwegian Championship. However, he doesn't get a medal, the bronze goes to the one who finished 4th.
Valverde gets a 2nd place, however points goes to whoever came 3rd. The points for 3rd place goes to the one who was in 4th and so on...
Why should they remove his name from the rankings? He's still the official winner at Willunga and the offical 2nd in GC, he just doesn't get the points.
Makes sense to me, stops big teams taking back dopers. They still get the publicity and glory but they have to work slightly harder to get points and not just rely on Valverde.
There's no point slapping a schleck - Sean Kelly on "Who needs a slap"
Yeah it's a good way to keep teams from buying ex-dopers, but who the hell cares about UCI's points when you can win races like Liege - Bastogne - Liege, Fleche Wallone and many others?
doddy13 wrote:
Makes sense to me, stops big teams taking back dopers. They still get the publicity and glory but they have to work slightly harder to get points and not just rely on Valverde.
I would say it makes them come back to big teams, who don't need the points. If you are struggling to stay in the pro tour then you can't afford to have a leader who doesn't win any points, but if you know you are safe, you can afford to have Valverde.
[url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182]Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
I find it hypocritical, either they should be allowed to race again for those teams, either they shouldn't. It doesn't make much sense to allow them in but not let them score points.
Of course I wish they'd be suspended for 4 years or for good (at least from the World Tour).
Made by the girl who managed to get a last place in the Eurovision Song Contest with magnificent 7 points.
