Bjarne Riis, saved by silence?

[Clausfarre]

In the aftermath of the Hamilton book and its many allegations against his former boss, the Danish media had a boatload of questions for Riis. He opted to go the 'no comment' route and had his press official deal with the journalists, even during the Vuelta where AC triumphed. Because of his refusal to answer any questions, the tabloid newspaper B.T. did a two month long '12 questions we want answered' campaign but to no avail.

Since Bjarne had lied previously and then had his big 'coming out' press conference regarding his own doping, I wonder if his team and career can stand another big revelation of CSC doping. Perhaps his only future strategy will be dead silence but in this era, is that really a viable strategy...? Anyway, not suing Tyler created a big stink here and was taken as a partial admission. I predict that Riis will survive yet again but the dark cloud will remain indefinitely.

Here are the 12 questions:

1. Have you been aware of riders doping on your team?
2. Have you encouraged riders to use PEDs on your team?
3. Did you know that Tyler Hamilton and since then, Ivan Basso and Fränk Schleck consulted Eufemiano Fuentes?
4. Do you insist that Tyler Hamilton's detailed descriptions that he doped with you knowing about it is pure fantasy?
5. Have you ever spoken to Eufemiano Fuentes?
6. Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie told USADA that they were doping on CSC. Were you aware of that happening?
7. Did you instruct the team doctor's to closely monitor the hermatocrit values of the riders to ensure they didn't get caught in any potential doping tests?
8. Did doping reseacher Rasmus Damgaard's ideas of internal doping testing secure a low risk of getting caught?
9. Does it worry you that the USADA report states that Alberto Contador's former doctor Pepe del Marti assisted in implementing doping on US Postal and was a distributor of illegal PEDs?
10. When Lance Armstrong alledgedly used blood doping during his comeback with Astana in 2009 under the direction of Johan Bruyneel, there are naturally suspicions against Alberto Contador. Did you discuss this aspect of the report with him?
11. You just signed Roman Kreuziger who, according to the USADA report, was a client of Italian doctor Michele Ferrari. Do you feel comfortable having hired him?
12. Do you agree with Danish Cycling Union president Tom Lund (who just got replaced btw) who says that you are obligated to defend yourself against allegations of doping on your team?

 

[airstream]

These question fail not to interest Danish press. Does Riis avoid of them or journos play his game?

 

[Joachim]

It's amazing how barefaced effrontery has worked so well for him.

"If they want the jersey back, I'll put it in a box and send it to them"

 

[Benotti69]

Riis doesn't want to lie too much or he'll end up looking like Armstrong/Bruyneel or worse Brailsford.

I dont believe Riis runs a clean outfit.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Riis doesn't want to lie too much or he'll end up looking like Armstrong/Bruyneel or worse Brailsford.

I dont believe Riis runs a clean outfit.

Of course he doesn't (or definitely didn't)

But, Benotti, who do you believe in...

 

[sniper]

I like how those questions make some logical inferences wrt Aldirto.
I've been banging my head against the wall waiting for Spanish media to make some inferences of that kind.

 

[Joachim]

The Tooth Fairy

 

[fatsprintking]

Riis, like so many in cycling has plenty to stay quiet about and the current system allows he and other to do this and to keep on trucking.

Basically he is taking the ****, like others have done in the past.

Watching Riis in the team car while Hamilton is winning at Bayonne is an interesting case study for both of them, when you look back now knowing hat was going on.

 

[hrotha]

I like how those questions make some logical inferences wrt Aldirto.
I've been banging my head against the wall waiting for Spanish media to make some inferences of that kind.

'Aldirto' is so 2011. Now it's 'Alpuerto'.

It's amazing how soon the media and the Danish federation forgot about Riis.

 

[Alpechraxler]

Don't lynch Riis the second time, he already suffers depression..

 

[Clausfarre]

Well, his silence did cause a minor backlash against him. The team usually had Danish tv follow them to Tenerife each year to get footage for the Tour coverage but they decided to boycot him due to his refusal to talk about Tylergate. Also, they had a sit down with Rolf Sørensen, part of the TV2 commentator team, to discuss his past because he is one the only remaining stars of the 90s to not admit to doping. Rolf stated that he had a clear conscious, case closed.

However, it will more than likely be business as usual come July.

 

[Lanark]

Well, his silence did cause a minor backlash against him. The team usually had Danish tv follow them to Tenerife each year to get footage for the Tour coverage but they decided to boycot him due to his refusal to talk about Tylergate. Also, they had a sit down with Rolf Sørensen, part of the TV2 commentator team, to discuss his past because he is one the only remaining stars of the 90s to not admit to doping. Rolf stated that he had a clear conscious, case closed.

However, it will more than likely be business as usual come July.

According to Danny Nelissen Sorensen was there when the Rabobank team managers suggested they would start using EPO in may 1996 (not that Sorensen was clean before that, but hey), has the Danish press asked him about that specific statement?

 

[Clausfarre]

According to Danny Nelissen Sorensen was there when the Rabobank team managers suggested they would start using EPO in may 1996 (not that Sorensen was clean before that, but hey), has the Danish press asked him about that specific statement?

There was an interview with (a very uncomfortable) Rolf at the Danish start of the Giro where he was asked about Theo de Rooy and wether or not doping was acceptable within the team. He said he had not read any reports or heard anything detailed on the matter but said that that they operated within the rules and laws, got sugar drops and so on. He went on to say that if there had been doping there - sigh - would have been positive tests and there were none as far as he knew.

When asked what he meant in his recent book he did together with Jørgen Leth (film maker and cycling commentator) in which he said he was 'no angel', he told the journalist he had to read that first, as he had not actually read the book.

He is defiant to the last and when interviewed, so vague in his answers that it basically equals 'no comment, eff off'

 

[Caruut]

I don't know what it is, but for some reason I respect Riis's silence more than somebody coming out and lying. He knows what's going on, we know what's going on. I guess there are legal reasons why he can't openly admit what went on, but isn't his current behaviour as good as doing that?

 

[fatsprintking]

Yep you are right, but I think that Riis is using a tactic which will now be used by everyone - simply not commenting but leaving us witht he understanding that the not commenting essentially means yes it happened.

I think Riis is seen as a leader in the sport and his lead will be follwed with the the clear subtext that the gang is moving forward and not interested in examining the past.

Add this to comments by people like Bugno and it is easy to see what the play is. Protect individual legacies with the insinuation of the level playing field because everyone was doing it and praise the biopassport for "cleaning things up".

Then basically keep the same group of people running the sport and the individual teams.

Riis is not an idiot - he is playing the best hand he has to protct his interests. It just so happens that his interests assist a lot of other people entrenched within the sport.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Nothing should save Bjarne Riis, he should not be running a cycling team. He just should not be involved.

But the big problem is, who else is there? Where are the untainted?

Perhaps he needs to stay because there is no one better.

 

[spalco]

It depends on whether the fans and sponsors let him get away with this.

Riis admitted his own doping (and paid no price for doing so), ok, not exactly shocking. But perpetuating doping as a manager, is a far more dangerous game imo, because he's not riding anymore, but he's still managing. How can we trust anybody on his team?

It is shameful that people let him pretend he's still a respectable figure in cycling.

 

[Benotti69]

Of course he doesn't (or definitely didn't)

But, Benotti, who do you believe in...

I'll start to believe when i see proper testing by an independent body, a UCI where they are interested in fairness and are completely anti doping, when I read that teams are not hiring dodgy doctors, cyclists look absolutely wrecked at the end of races, barley able to get off the bike , never mind talk.

As for being told is a new era, I am not buying it. Nothing has changed, UCI, Team DS, doctors, soigneurs, etc etc why believe it is clean. Then seeing Sky do a USPS made a joke of the idea that the peloton is clean followed by an EPO era style Vuelta.

When the sport takes steps to clean itself up, not just talk, but shows a cleaner sport by uping the testing, making it independent, kill the omerta, not accept multi positive riders back in the peloton etc I'll come around to believing what I am watching.....

 

[hrotha]

I don't know what it is, but for some reason I respect Riis's silence more than somebody coming out and lying. He knows what's going on, we know what's going on. I guess there are legal reasons why he can't openly admit what went on, but isn't his current behaviour as good as doing that?

I agree with you, but of course the media and the Danish fed shouldn't let him get away with not addressing the issue.

 

[Caruut]

I agree with you, but of course the media and the Danish fed shouldn't let him get away with not addressing the issue.

Very much so. For silence to be telling there has to be some noise before the silence. "No comment" means nothing unless there is a probing question asked beforehand. For Bjarne's silence to be an implicit confession, the press are needed. I suppose it is something like Ulle's "2+2" comment. Says it all without really saying anything.

 

[del1962]

Mr Riis still seems retcicent to comment however some quotes from Tour of Oman

"I think we all have regrets…"

"I don’t want to say anything about Basso or anything else. I haven’t seen Gazzetta dello Sport. It's not the moment for me to talk about all that because there's a process going on. So I don't feel or need to comment on it."

I think everybody has an interest to be part of the solution if it’s a fair and healthy solution. Everybody has an interest in the right solution," he said.

"First we need to understand what it (a truth and reconciliation process) really is, what it means. That's important, before taking any decisions."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/riis-stays-reticent-on-operacion-puerto

How long can he survive as a team manager?

 

[airstream]

For a long long while. I would interprete these Riis' words like 'Keep silent, don't interfere me, let me make money'.

 

[del1962]

For a long long while. I would interprete these Riis' words like 'Keep silent, don't interfere me, let me make money'.

Perhaps, but the noose is tightening around his neck

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

How long can he survive as a team manager?

Everytime there is a scandal we ask the question - how long can Mr 60% survive and yet he always does.

He'll go when McQuaid, Hein etc go.

 

[AcademyCC]

Really just sounds to me like he's waiting to see who says what then he can judge to what extent he can still lie.

Riis is one of the characters in this mess who can not be reconciled.