Reforming the UCI

[johnr]

Part of the problem right now is that the UCI already has very few people with any experience of professional cycling in its management, and you want even fewer in this committee?

Yes. An outside commission is not there to run cycling, but to examine a currrent, or historic, situation against robust terms of reference and present a report.

But on, perhaps, the wider point, too many experienced cycling professional cyclists andf their agents and managers are part of the problem, not the solution. That's got to be a question which is addressed somewhere.

 

[thom]

Part of the problem right now is that the UCI already has very few people with any experience of professional cycling in its management, and you want even fewer in this committee?

OK, let's tee off:

I think both sides/skills would be beneficial - I was particularly struck by how old the management is. It's clear many are career sports administrators and probably very good to boot but perhaps incapable of taking their own pulse, let alone that of the peloton and that of public opinion.

Sure you need better representation from professional cyclists but I do think that people with real world experience would be good right now to raise standards of professionalism. It's unreasonable to expect a pro-cyclist to be the sharpest tool in the box and really understand what a strong governance structure is.

Pat McQuaid reported today that LA sent him an SMS at the weekend. McQuaid was about tocomes out with lines like
1) LA has no place in cycling
2) Hamilton and Landis are scumbags (Hamilton wants to visit Aigle and explain what went on but McQuaid has only contempt for him, won't speak to him)
Back to the SMS. So the UCI are in the middle of finalising their report on the guy at the center of the biggest fraud in their sport, if not all sport. Their are allegations of collusion and inappropriate access. So what does McQuaid do ? He calls LA up and speaks to him ! I'm not suggesting he allowed LA to influence proceedings but can you believe it ?

Unfortunately, McQuaid may be one of the better guys in the UCI but I kind of think they need input on a professional level, like @johnr suggests, even if only to establish better internal structures. Remember, the Pro teams like SKY and Garmin have understood that riders left to their own devices stray into dangerous territory, so they have a support network of people to support a different culture and make it hard for things to go wrong.
The UCI need an external governance review to achieve likewise.

Where did the ball land ?

 

[400bhp]

Don't know if this is the correct thread, but why can't cycling go further with testing and have an evidence based led testing program?

By that I mean you could make everyone use a power meter in events - if sustainable power looks fishy then investigate further. Make riders use a training log ( gpx/power meters/heart rate monitors) whilst training that the "regulator" has access to. Set some trigger points to investigate further and/or look closer if the event data logged is sufficiently different than the training.

Clearly a lot of things to sort out but start by collecting the raw data then think about the best way to use it.

 

[Archie]

It seems Pat has been much more equivocal than expected with the UCI written response following his performance before the press on Monday . As expected, Travis doesn't appreciate the criticism.

In the four-page "Decision" document, however, McQuaid refers to the Usada report's "overstated language", "incorrect and incomplete statements", and questions whether Usada had a sufficient "degree of detachment" to make a disciplinary judgment.
"The UCI does not point to any specifics in making this ridiculous claim," responded Tygart, via email from Usada's Colorado headquarters, after reviewing the document. "They simply are trying to divert attention away from their own failures in this whole sad saga, and those that love the sport of cycling and clean sport should not allow that to happen.

Cast not the mote from thine brothers eye, Pat.

 

[400bhp]

It's sickening, it really is

 

[thom]

Armstrong war of words escalates between UCI, USADA

 

[400bhp]

WADA now essentially calling for heads to roll too.

 

[philipbh]

WADA now essentially calling for heads to roll too.

https://www.facebook.com/greglemond/posts/10151127372613494

Greg Lemond's "open letter" to PMcQ

 

[400bhp]

https://www.facebook.com/greglemond/posts/10151127372613494

Greg Lemond's "open letter" to PMcQ

I'm not a member of farcebook, but that might make me join up.

 

[mickle]

Just received this via Faecebook:

Can anyone help me out? I know this sounds kind of lame but I am not well versed in social marketing. I would like to send a message to everyone that really loves cycling. I do not use twitter and do not have an organized way of getting some of my own "rage" out. I want to tell the world of cycling to please join me in telling Pat McQuaid to resign. I have never seen such an abuse of power in cycling's history- resign Pat if you love cycling. Resign even if you hate the sport.
Pat McQuaid, you know dam well what has been going on in cycling, and if you want to deny it, then even more reasons why those who love cycling need to demand that you resign.
I have a file with what I believe is well documented proof that will exonerate Paul.
Pat in my opinion you and Hein are the corrupt part of the sport. I do not want to include everyone at the UCI because I believe that there are many, maybe most that work at the UCI that are dedicated to cycling, they do it out of the love of the sport, but you and your buddy Hein have destroyed the sport.
Pat, I thought you loved cycling? At one time you did and if you did love cycling please dig deep inside and remember that part of your life- allow cycling to grow and flourish- please! It is time to walk away. Walk away if you love cycling.
As a reminder I just want to point out that you recently you accused me of being the cause of USADA's investigation against Lance Armstrong. Why would you be inclined to go straight to me as the "cause"? Why shoot the messenger every time?
Every time you do this I get more and more entrenched. I was in your country over the last two weeks and I asked someone that knows you if you were someone that could be rehabilitated. His answer was very quick and it was not good for you. No was the answer, no, no , no!
The problem for sport is not drugs but corruption. You are the epitome of the word corruption.
You can read all about Webster's definition of corruption. If you want I can re-post my attorney's response to your letter where you threaten to sue me for calling the UCI corrupt. FYI I want to officially reiterate to you and Hien that in my opinion the two of your represent the essence of corruption.
I would encourage anyone that loves cycling to donate and support Paul in his fight against the Pat and Hein and the UCI. Skip lunch and donate the amount that you would have spent towards that Sunday buffet towards changing the sport of cycling.
I donated money for Paul's defense, and I am willing to donate a lot more, but I would like to use it to lobby for dramatic change in cycling. The sport does not need Pat McQuaid or Hein Verbruggen- if this sport is going to change it is now. Not next year, not down the road, now! Now or never!
People that really care about cycling have the power to change cycling- change it now by voicing your thought and donating money towards Paul Kimmage's defense, ( Paul, I want to encourage you to not spend the money that has been donated to your defense fund on defending yourself in Switzerland. In my case, a USA citizen, I could care less if I lost the UCI's bogus lawsuit. Use the money to lobby for real change).
If people really want to clean the sport of cycling up all you have to do is put your money where your mouth is.
Don't buy a USA Cycling license. Give up racing for a year, just long enough to put the UCI and USA cycling out of business. We can then start from scratch and let the real lovers in cycling direct where and how the sport of cycling will go.
Please make a difference.
Greg

 

[oldroadman]

Hmm...plenty of emotion, but not much substance in the Lemond letter. Before removing an organisation or it's leader, you have to have a viable alternative, which everyone can support, and has a clean record.
Note that Greg never ever failed a control, neither did Hinault, and yet they raced in an era when it is alleged that doping was endemic in the peloton. Just like Lance, and they were all TdF winners.
Remember that Greg was shot, almost died, and came back to success pro racing? An interesting parallel with Lance's almost miraculous return.
Glass house and stones, and all that.

National Federations will not "resign" from UCI, look east to find out why they won't, because that is where the next leader is likely to come from, along with a shedload of dollars.
The daft comment about not buying a US cycling licence (in the facebook comments) is just that - daft. It will have no effect on USC, and all the serious riders will not be involved in any such nonsense. Loss of a couple of 4/5 cats will harm no-one except themselves.

I don't care for the way UCI was run under Verbruggen (not many did) but under PM a lot has been done, and I think the bloke is trtying hard almost despite the system. Just remember it's the riders, managers, doctors who were actually doing the doping, and the system of testing simply couldn't keep up. As ever, one set of chemists are ahead of another!
The Americans are particularly good at that, too, plenty to experiment with in the big money US sports, football, baseball, basketball, - then there's track and field, golf, tennis...need to go on?

 

[thom]

The Americans are particularly good at that, too, plenty to experiment with in the big money US sports, football, baseball, basketball, - then there's track and field, golf, tennis...need to go on?

Sounds like USADA have a lot of work to do.

 

[johnr]

any news from Geneva yet?

 

[oldroadman]

Sounds like USADA have a lot of work to do.

I wouldn't hold your breath - if you think Lance was a difficult one with all the money involved, try taking onall the heavyweigt commercial operators in the sports mentioned. Little wonder Lance was targeted, after this is settled it will be interesting to see if Mr Tygart and his people have the stomach for a fight with, say, the tennis authorities, and get testing full on (plus out of competition) going, or whether there will be a cry of "human rights to privacy" which has been the defence by some top players who refuse to join the whereabouts system (you have to note where you will be for one hour a day, five days a week, not hard if you are a pro sports person), and would appear not to want to be tested. I wonder why?

 

[rich p]

Hmm...plenty of emotion, but not much substance in the Lemond letter. Before removing an organisation or it's leader, you have to have a viable alternative, which everyone can support, and has a clean record.
Note that Greg never ever failed a control, neither did Hinault, and yet they raced in an era when it is alleged that doping was endemic in the peloton. Just like Lance, and they were all TdF winners.
Remember that Greg was shot, almost died, and came back to success pro racing? An interesting parallel with Lance's almost miraculous return.
Glass house and stones, and all that.

National Federations will not "resign" from UCI, look east to find out why they won't, because that is where the next leader is likely to come from, along with a shedload of dollars.
The daft comment about not buying a US cycling licence (in the facebook comments) is just that - daft. It will have no effect on USC, and all the serious riders will not be involved in any such nonsense. Loss of a couple of 4/5 cats will harm no-one except themselves.

I don't care for the way UCI was run under Verbruggen (not many did) but under PM a lot has been done, and I think the bloke is trtying hard almost despite the system. Just remember it's the riders, managers, doctors who were actually doing the doping, and the system of testing simply couldn't keep up. As ever, one set of chemists are ahead of another!
The Americans are particularly good at that, too, plenty to experiment with in the big money US sports, football, baseball, basketball, - then there's track and field, golf, tennis...need to go on?

There's so much tosh in there I don't know where to start! Has Lemond ever been accused of doping? He has been an advocate of clean cycling for years and if he had skeletons in the cupboard I think he'd be keeping pretty schtum right now. You seem to suggest that because he had an accident from which he recovered and went on to win the tour that he must have doped like Armstrong, otherwise your 'people in glass houses' comment makes no sense.
McQuaid has been on duty during some of the most corrupt, inept and blinkered years in pro-cycling. irrespective of who replaces him, and whether he would be better or worse, PM has to go almost as quickly as Verbruggen. I suggest you do some more reading into the corruption that has been endemic at the UCI.