Saxo License Hearing Monday

[Zerak-Tul]

What are people expecting will happen? A team that has been a staple of pro cycling for the last decade could be removed from the top tier of the sport.
It appears that if the licensing commission follow the letter of the law Saxo will be stripped of its license since they no longer meet the criteria - if that's the case would you feel that was fair or unfair, considering Contador's positive came before he was ever affiliated with the team?

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'm afraid they'll lose it and that will be the end of Alberto as Saxoboy.

 

[jens_attacks]

they will lose it but it doesn't mean anything anyway.alberto will come to saxo and will storm vuelta a espana.

 

[Mambo95]

I don't think they should lose it. (I don't think they will either, but I'm not too sure)
They couldn't really have done anything differently.
Contador wasn't a Saxo rider when he tested positive, they signed him before they knew about it and after he got cleared by the Spanish they couldn't legal suspend or fire him without getting into huge legal problems.

 

[LaFlorecita]

they will lose it but it doesn't mean nothing anyway.alberto will come to saxo and will storm vuelta a espana.

It will matter because they won't have enough points for next year and then they won't get invited to the Tour.

 

[CobbleStoner]

It will matter because they won't have enough points for next year and then they won't get invited to the Tour.

if Contador stays with Saxo, it won't matter how many points they have, they will get the ProConti invite for the TdF, Giro, and Vuelta if they want it.
this is a perfect moment (year) for the race organizers to assert their collective power and show that the UCI's stupid points system is meaningless and sucks

 

[Sophistic]

They dont get "punished", they simply didnt score enough points. Why the hell should they get a license instead of Europcar who have earned the points?

 

[Lexman]

I think they shouldn't be punished, Team Saxo Bank was not implicated with the doping problems of Contador. But it might be of course a way to settle some possible disputes between UCI & Riis if they want to...

 

[Cimber]

It will matter because they won't have enough points for next year and then they won't get invited to the Tour.

They will cos Alberto will earn anough points for them in the Vuelta that they get a WT license in 2013, since it turns out that he will actually be able to earn points directly after his ban after all.

They dont get "punished", they simply didnt score enough points. Why the hell should they get a license instead of Europcar who have earned the points?

Well they can argue that they would have earned enough points had they not had to work for Alberto.

Either way I think they will keep the license. UCI dont want to kill of Team Saxo Bank. They want them to be part of the WT peleton in the long run.

 

[William H]

I think they shouldn't be punished, Team Saxo Bank was not implicated with the doping problems of Contador. But it might be of course a way to settle some possible disputes between UCI & Riis if they want to...

It's not a question of punishing them. Contador's points were the only reason to select them over other, stronger, teams.

 

[Cimber]

It's not a question of punishing them. Contador's points were the only reason to select them over other, stronger, teams.

Its more complicated than that.

1) the other riders could have earned way more points hadnt it been for Contador.
2) Contadors salary takes up a big part of their budget. A budget that they could have used for other riders and more importantly a budget they can in the future be used to sign other riders (aka UCI wants to keep big teams and big sponsors in the sport)
3) if they do this and the team has to close (I dont think that will happen though) there will be alot of unemployed riders and staff.

 

[just some guy]

They will cos Alberto will earn anough points for them in the Vuelta that they get a WT license in 2013, since it turns out that he will actually be able to earn points directly after his ban after all.



Well they can argue that they would have earned enough points had they not had to work for Alberto.

Either way I think they will keep the license. UCI dont want to kill of Team Saxo Bank. They want them to be part of the WT peleton in the long run.

Nope Contador points do not count towards the team total for the next 2 years starting in August of this year - ie the Valaverde rule

I do agree they will keep the licence - UCI wants the licence money and they have said no new teams can step up a level once the decision has been made - ie old skil

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I think they shouldn't be punished, Team Saxo Bank was not implicated with the doping problems of Contador. But it might be of course a way to settle some possible disputes between UCI & Riis if they want to...

Agree. This sounds very much like a punishment. Riis have been very vocal in criticizing quite a few UCI related issues. This will be Pat McQuaids chance to get back at the team big times.

 

[AussieGoddess]

Nope Contador points do not count towards the team total for the next 2 years starting in August of this year - ie the Valaverde rule

I do agree they will keep the licence - UCI wants the licence money and they have said no new teams can step up a level once the decision has been made - ie old skil

I think there is some conjecture over whether his points will count or not, as that rule was bought in after he tested posative.

If his points count, I think he will get enough by doing the Vuelta, GP Quebec/Montreal, Lombardia and if they still need some he will do the two china tours.

I do think they should stay in this year. They got the licence ... cant see it being fair to take it away now.

 

[just some guy]

I think there is some conjecture over whether his points will count or not, as that rule was bought in after he tested posative.

If his points count, I think he will get enough by doing the Vuelta, GP Quebec/Montreal, Lombardia and if they still need some he will do the two china tours.

I do think they should stay in this year. They got the licence ... cant see it being fair to take it away now.

was also brought in after Valverde tested positive as well as far as I can remember

 

[Cimber]

Nope Contador points do not count towards the team total for the next 2 years starting in August of this year - ie the Valaverde rule

According to a Danish newspaper they will http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/regel-riis-faar-point-fra-contador

And imo WADA code 25.2 is pretty clear about that issue (which is confuses me why it did not apply ot Valverde):

25.2 Non-Retroactive Unless Principle of "Lex Mitior" Applies
With respect to any anti-doping rule violation case
which is pending as of the Effective Date and any antidoping
rule violation case brought after the Effective
Date based on an anti-doping rule violation which
occurred prior to the Effective Date, the case shall be
governed by the substantive anti-doping rules in
effect at the time the alleged anti-doping rule
violation occurred unless the panel hearing the case
determines the principle of "lex mitior" appropriately
applies under the circumstances of the case.

http://www.wada-ama.org/Documents/W...DP-The-Code/WADA_Anti-Doping_CODE_2009_EN.pdf

NB: the "lex mitior" bit just implies that if the new rule is milder than the original one the milder one should apply, but not if the new one is more strict/tougher (Der Grundsatz der lex mitior bestimmt, dass ein Täter – wenn sich das Gesetz zwischen Tat und Urteil geändert hat – nach dem milderen Gesetz abzuurteilen ist.)

So why did this not apply for Valverde?

 

[The Hitch]

All i want is aqua sapone in ill giro though i can't see any way that happens.

 

[will10]

All i want is aqua sapone in ill giro though i can't see any way that happens.

Patience, patience, do you not remember this?

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/347133/giro-confirms-astana-invite-ngc-left-out.html

There's still time

 

[Fus087]

So why did this not apply for Valverde?

That's the real question.
Because it's the UCI and they make announcements too early with checking their own rules?

 

[Havetts]

Can't see them staying in the WT, the team is not broad enough in strength without Contador.

 

[LaFlorecita]

if Contador stays with Saxo, it won't matter how many points they have, they will get the ProConti invite for the TdF, Giro, and Vuelta if they want it.
this is a perfect moment (year) for the race organizers to assert their collective power and show that the UCI's stupid points system is meaningless and sucks

The Tour won't invite Saxo if Alberto is on the team. They don't want him in the race. They don't want him as the winner.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Can't see them staying in the WT, the team is not broad enough in strength without Contador.

Even if they were strong enough, they'd still lose the license, IMO.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Can't see them staying in the WT, the team is not broad enough in strength without Contador.

That's not what it is about. You never know what they can do.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is there a way to find out whether Alberto can earn points or not? Maybe one of us can contact the UCI?

 

[jens_attacks]

Patience, patience, do you not remember this?

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/347133/giro-confirms-astana-invite-ngc-left-out.html

There's still time

yeah tell that to a 36 years old di luca
honestly i gave up on any chance to see acqua e sapone,garzelli or di luca in this year's edition of giro.i will focus my support only on rujanito.