saxo and argos in katousha out...

[jifdave]

so its been announced katousha have had their licence rejected.....

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/535982/saxo-tinkoff-in-katusha-out-of-uci-worldtour.html

who'd have seen this coming? i for one was hoping saxo would miss out, you know bertie would have got wild cards to the grand tours but would have still had a stance against drugs

 

[Nearly there]

Is rodriguez still with them?

 

[Noodley]

how did that happen???

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Odd. I wonder if they will release a reason. Both Astana and Saxo Bank-Tinkoff would seem more immediately dubious than Katusha. I agree with Kittel:

"We need new principles," Kittel said. "I don't get the UCI's ethical position given it allows Astana a WorldTour licence with [Alexander Vinokourov] as team manager. ... I would never sign [for Astana]. Never. Money is not everything. I need to feel good in a team."

 

[jdtate101]

Another reason that the UCI need radical overhaul and soon. I would lay even money on the rejection being based upon a 'technicality', the deeper meaning will remain hidden, but given that Saxo/Tinkoff is Russian backed too, maybe there is some sort of deal by the Russian Bank to the UCI?? (stitch up the only other player in your country)

Who knows really???

 

[rich p]

Blimey.

 

[Sittingduck]

Grrrr

 

[johnr]

So. Another incomprehensible decision from the UCI. Viva CCN. Viva!

 

[ianrauk]

Grrrr

Ebay.... quick!

 

[smutchin]

given that Saxo/Tinkoff is Russian backed too, maybe there is some sort of deal by the Russian Bank to the UCI?? (stitch up the only other player in your country)

That doesn't add up - Saxo-Tinkoff is officially a Danish team and doesn't have any Russian riders on its books. As Katusha have said in their statement, this decision effectively eliminates Russia from the top tier of cycling.

Besides, if it's about power and finance, I think you'll find that Gazprom are somewhat bigger fishes than Tinkoff.

Personally, I can tolerate the loss of Menchov and certain others, but I'll be sad if we don't get to see Joaquin Rodriguez in the big races next year.

d.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Apparently, according to Rodriguez, the team has still been given no reason from the UCI.

 

[smutchin]

Makarov's position at the UCI must be something to do with it. McQuaid is a brave man to make an enemy of him.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Katusha are taking this to CAS. If their claims about their financial audit being sound are correct and there aren't any other legitimate explanations, then I can't see how they can lose. It is hard to tell what the objection was to their bid anyway, since the UCI have still said nothing either to the team or publicly.

 

[johnr]

Makarov's position at the UCI must be something to do with it. McQuaid is a brave man to make an enemy of him.

... or is he maximising his income before inevitable forced retirement following the independent review?

 

[thom]

UCI citing ethical reasons for Katusha's failure
Too many personnel linked to previous doping incidents