General News Thread

[Mayomaniac]

Isn't that the reason it got moved?

Yes, but they could have gone with the old route that they had when it was a spring race, Superga from the easier side and descending the steep side before a flat run in.

Instead Vegni turned this race into a new Schelde**** as his farwell present...

 

[Nirvana]

Superga as a pass before descending into Torino was something used only in the 90s/early 00s, before there were only some little hills close to the finish like the traditional Paris-Tours route and the older traditional route was totally flat. When Vegni decided to go back "to the origins" was clear that was a flat race or similar, the only thing you could realistically expect was more mileage and a surrogate for the Poggio if he wanted it to work as Sanremo tune in, but it's Vegni, so...

On a side note now we could have some faith regarding a better route for the Piemonte, something like 2020 would be good even if i fear an Oropa unipuerto, and also a better startlist with a "rest day" after Tre Valli.

 

[RedheadDane]

Please delete if this is too political!

So, Gazprom might - for now - still be able to race. However, they might soon find it somewhat complicated:

Gazprom-RusVelo lose wheel and bike sponsors after Russian invasion of Ukraine | Cycling Weekly

 

[King Boonen]

Please delete if this is too political!

So, Gazprom might - for now - still be able to race. However, they might soon find it somewhat complicated:

Gazprom-RusVelo lose wheel and bike sponsors after Russian invasion of Ukraine | Cycling Weekly

They’re now out. I don’t think we can discuss this here, it’s far too political, but I’m posting the link for information:

The UCI takes strong measures in the face of the situation in Ukraine

The Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) met at an extraordinary session today to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the measures that the UCI means to take in this respect.

www.uci.org

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Yeah, let's not discuss the merits of who they are and aren't banning here.

Without trying to politicise the discussion, I'm happy they've limited the consequences for individual riders as much as they could in these circumstances. Hope that the likes of Malucelli, Vacek and other riders who are normally too good to fall off the professional scene can find a new team but it will be difficult given that it's March.

That also means Zakarin is effectively in retirement now, I know we haven't seen much of him lately but it's still a strange thought.

Oh, and I will reiterate what RhD said: definitely do delete any comments that are overly political, including my own (though I don't think this one is).

 

[Netserk]

They’re now out. I don’t think we can discuss this here, it’s far too political, but I’m posting the link for information:

The UCI takes strong measures in the face of the situation in Ukraine

The Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) met at an extraordinary session today to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the measures that the UCI means to take in this respect.

www.uci.org

"2. UCI Team status is withdrawn from all teams under Russian or Belarusian nationality and the UCI shall not consider any further applications for UCI status from teams from these two countries. The withdrawal of UCI Team status concerns the following teams:

• UCI ProTeam Gazprom – RusVelo (RUS)"

To clarify: Does this mean that if the team changed nationality to Italy, then it would be able to apply for UCI status again (given they solve the sponsor situation)? Or can teams only apply for UCI status in a specific time window?

 

[Billie]

never to been seen again?

 

[King Boonen]

"2. UCI Team status is withdrawn from all teams under Russian or Belarusian nationality and the UCI shall not consider any further applications for UCI status from teams from these two countries. The withdrawal of UCI Team status concerns the following teams:

• UCI ProTeam Gazprom – RusVelo (RUS)"

To clarify: Does this mean that if the team changed nationality to Italy, then it would be able to apply for UCI status again (given they solve the sponsor situation)? Or

I’d guess they can only apply once. I seem to remember licences are applied for and dished out once a year, so I’d think they’ll have to wait. I’m also not sure what dictates a teams nationality, if people tried to work around that the UCI may impose further sanctions.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

"2. UCI Team status is withdrawn from all teams under Russian or Belarusian nationality and the UCI shall not consider any further applications for UCI status from teams from these two countries. The withdrawal of UCI Team status concerns the following teams:

• UCI ProTeam Gazprom – RusVelo (RUS)"

To clarify: Does this mean that if the team changed nationality to Italy, then it would be able to apply for UCI status again (given they solve the sponsor situation)? Or can teams only apply for UCI status in a specific time window?

I’d guess they can only apply once. I seem to remember licences are applied for and dished out once a year, so I’d think they’ll have to wait. I’m also not sure what dictates a teams nationality, if people tried to work around that the UCI may impose further sanctions.

From the UCI regulations:

The nationality of a UCI ProTeam is determined, at the team’s discretion, by:

1. 
   
   • The country of the registered office of the paying agent; or
   • A country where a product or service of a principal partner is marketed under the name of the UCI ProTeam or of an element of that name.

The UCI administration must be notified of this choice no later than 15 October before the registration year. By default, the nationality of the UCI ProTeam will be determined by the country of the registered office of the paying agent. The choice of a country where a product or service of a principal partner is marketed under the name of the UCI ProTeam or of an element of that name shall stand throughout the registration period and cannot be changed unless the principal partner in question ceases to hold that status. In this case, the UCI ProTeam can make a new choice as per the first paragraph. The change of nationality will take effect on 1 January after the UCI administration is notified.

So I guess they could change nationality if they get a new sponsor, but if it doesn't come into effect before January of next year it won't help them much.

 

[Netserk]

Katusha was formally a Swiss team the last three years (2017-2019). Just buy a Swiss mailbox. Likewise, Colnago was formally Irish.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

I don't think we'll ever see Oleg Tinkov back in the sport.

No Longer A Billionaire: Russian Banker Loses More Than $5 Billion Amid Putin’s War

Digital bank Tinkoff was one of Russia’s tech success stories but the invasion of Ukraine, and sanctions, triggered a 90% drop in its share price, erasing billions from the fortune of its high-flying founder Oleg Tinkov.

www.forbes.com

Mods..if that link is too political, please delete.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Moreover, the UCI Management Committee has decided to introduce a specific regulation enabling Russian and Belarusian licence-holders with multiple nationalities to request a change to their sporting nationality without any restriction. It will be possible to accelerate the procedure concerning this measure, which already exists in the UCI Regulations.

The French press can cheer for Sivakov in the Tour, though supporting an Ineos rider may go against the grain for them.

Specific measures will be studied with a view to allowing riders and staff members of Russian and Belarusian teams to register with a UCI Team that is neither Russian nor Belarusian outside of the registration periods.

When AquaBlue folded mid season, Dunbar was allowed to sign for Sky although they were already at the maximum squad size. I guess if anyone has a budget that will allow for any of the Gazprom riders the squad size rule should again be set aside.

But does any team who wants one of that team have the cash?

 

[Izzyeviel]

Will the riders be free to race elsewhere?

 

[RedheadDane]

The French press can cheer for Sivakov in the Tour, though supporting an Ineos rider may go against the grain for them.

I've actually been wondering if Sivakov might take the "ultimate consequence", and apply not for French citizenship, I guess; doesn't he have that already, but for riding under French flag.

But does any team who wants one of that team have the cash?

They might come rather cheap. And I don't see why a team would not want a guy like Vacek, who's already proven himself to be a good rider.

 

[Nirvana]

Katusha was formally a Swiss team the last three years (2017-2019). Just buy a Swiss mailbox. Likewise, Colnago was formally Irish.

They are already based in Italy since forever so they don't even need to do that, just swap the flag.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

They are already based in Italy since forever so they don't even need to do that, just swap the flag.

That would be the easy part: getting someone to take on sponsorship would be trickier

 

[Ricco']

Katusha was formally a Swiss team the last three years (2017-2019). Just buy a Swiss mailbox. Likewise, Colnago was formally Irish.

The paying agent is already registered in Switzerland (Provelo AG). But since it is led by a russian, Renat Khamidulin, not sure if they have any disruption due to swiss sanctions.

And now a search for Provelo AG on Google gets the result it's permanently closed in the search engine, something I'm sure it didn't show last friday.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I've actually been wondering if Sivakov might take the "ultimate consequence", and apply not for French citizenship, I guess; doesn't he have that already, but for riding under French flag.

Now he has taken the "ultimate consequence".

https://twitter.com/x/status/1499663642924564484

View: https://twitter.com/INEOSGrenadiers/status/1499663642924564484

 

[tobydawq]

Now he has taken the "ultimate consequence".

https://twitter.com/x/status/1499663642924564484

View: https://twitter.com/INEOSGrenadiers/status/1499663642924564484

Wow, I actually included him once in a post of a possible next home winner of a Grand Tour. I don't really know if he has the potential for a Tour win, though.

Probably Ayuso and Carlos Rodríguez are bigger favourites than him now, but it certainly helps that he has actually become French.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Wow, I actually included him once in a post of a possible next home winner of a Grand Tour. I don't really know if he has the potential for a Tour win, though.

Probably Ayuso and Carlos Rodríguez are bigger favourites than him now, but it certainly helps that he has actually become French.

He would have had a better chance of winning his "home" GT if he had gained Italian citizenship and license, but he obviously hasn't showed any interest in doing that.

 

[Monte Serra]

He would have had a better chance of winning his "home" GT if he had gained Italian citizenship and license, but he obviously hasn't showed any interest in doing that.

He already had French citizenship, and he has lived in France since he was 1 year old. So it's only his 'cycling nationality' that has changed.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

He already had French citizenship, and he has lived in France since he was 1 year old. So it's only his 'cycling nationality' that has changed.

I know, but he doesn't hold an Italian citizenship, which he might be eligible for, so he would have needed to gain that first before he could change his cycling nationality to Italian.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Will he make the French team for the Worlds? I assumed he kept a Russian licence so he could lead the team at the Worlds.

 

[Izzyeviel]

Don't Russia will be at the Worlds for a while.

 

[will-10]

He would have had a better chance of winning his "home" GT if he had gained Italian citizenship and license, but he obviously hasn't showed any interest in doing that.

He lives in Andorra I thought.