Sean Yates

[ultimobici]

Brian Smith - credible? No way.

Why not? What skeletons does he have that you are referring to? Or are you just assuming any rider who rode for a second with Armstrong has to be dodgy?

 

[bobbins]

Why not? What skeletons does he have that you are referring to? Or are you just assuming any rider who rode for a second with Armstrong has to be dodgy?

Ask any UK premier calendar rider from the 90s.

Very dodgy

 

[blackcat]

I'm seeing a huge PR stunt

We knew these guys would get fired the moment DB spoke these words. He didn't need these interviews as we all knew who were dirty. Why hire them if you want to have nobody tainted with doping? What a BS policy, just acknowledge the past and look at their current viewpoints and actions. Because for sure, DB might try to change history, I will not forget these were the people behind Wiggo's wonder-year.

As a sidenote, seems the clinic is once again right, the rot in the management of Sky does indeed run deep.

It aint Sky. Its cycling. Professional cycling. The market dictates where the results will come. resources -> salaries + doping = blind eyes, looks askance y UCI, and wins.

nothing to do with Brailsford. It is cyclings formula.

when did Brailsford and co meet MCquaid in Aigle? June? Wonder how that meeting went.

 

[ultimobici]

Ask any UK premier calendar rider from the 90s.

Very dodgy

So, no eyewitness evidence from teammates, just whispers from rivals? Charming!

 

[bobbins]

So, no eyewitness evidence from teammates, just whispers from rivals? Charming!

Nope, more than that. Word from team mates too.

His association with dodgy doc Angus Fraser isn't too good either.

 

[ultimobici]

Nope, more than that. Word from team mates too.

His association with dodgy doc Angus Fraser isn't too good either.

Yet he's confident enough in their silence to talk about not doping in the current revelatory atmosphere?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ot...rian-Smith-told-cyclist-hed-drugs-sacked.html

 

[Ferminal]

Yet he's confident enough in their silence to talk about not doping in the current revelatory atmosphere?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ot...rian-Smith-told-cyclist-hed-drugs-sacked.html

What was Smith saying in the 10 years prior?

 

[ultimobici]

What was Smith saying in the 10 years prior?

Find me anyone from that era who was shouting from the rooftops until recently. Frankie Andreu had to be forced by his wife's insistence to fess up, IIRC.

I found these quotes that aren't exactly evidence of anything.

2004

Defending Motorola

By Jeff Jones and Tim Maloney

In David Walsh and Pierre Ballester's latest book, LA Confidential, Lance Armstrong's former team of Motorola comes under fire with allegations that there was doping going on within the team. New Zealander Steven Swart's testimony that he felt pressured to take illegal drugs such as EPO is one of many that is used to try to paint five-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong in a bad light.

Swart was a member of Armstrong's Motorola team in 1994 and 1995, but was let go from the team at the end of 1995. His entire testimony in LA Confidential is tinged with bitterness. "At the end when they decided they didn't want me on the team, I said goodbye to the guys...Lance was in the bathroom and he just stuck his hand out the door," recalled Swart.

One of Swart's former teammates at SEFB told Cyclingnews that Swart was aware of doping practices well before he came to Motorola. In the book, Swart says that while riding for SEFB in 1988 he did the Tour de Suisse, where he finished 13th on GC. "We went into a hotel room and all the products were there," he said. "It wasn't really the first time we did this, it was the culture. I didn't know what I was taking at the time."

When he joined Motorola under the direction of Jim Ochowicz, Swart said that he began to feel pressured to get results, even though the team management was against and organised doping program. "We wanted to continue to race for the team," said Swart. "We liked the environment. In one way it was good that we weren't obliged to dope. No-one forced us to do it. We knew it was against things, but in the end we had to be in or out. We had to do what other teams were doing or we had to quit the sport."

According to Swart, some riders in Motorola took the decision in 1995 to start a program of doping to take advantage of EPO. "The way I remember, we didn't talk about it a lot in 1994. Sure, 1994 wasn't a good year and we really asked ourselves to do our best for our sponsors. Phil Anderson and Andy Hampsten left the team in 1994, while new riders came in: Fabio Casartelli, Andrea Peron and Kevin Livingston. We figured we had to regroup to fix the situation."

Team manager Jim Ochowicz preferred to think that the solution (to a lack of results) depended on him. "If only the riders would train better, race smarter and have more determination," said Ochowicz, who refused to ask the team to turn to illegal drugs.

Motorola team doctor Massimo Testa was also against a doping program. "I was not in agreement with all the things that people were saying we should take. I wanted to discourage the utilisation of these things [like EPO]," said Testa in LA Confidential.

One of Swart's former Motorola teammates (in 1994) Brian Smith was surprised at Swart's comments, but denied that there was pressure from the team management to take drugs. "If that's true it would have been an unbelievable change in the culture of the team," Smith told Scotland on Sunday. "When I signed for the team we all had physiological tests and blood tests and those were sent away. We had a training camp in Tuscany, then we travelled to Cannes, where we prepared for the Trofeo Laigueglia, which Lance had won the previous year. That was to be my first race for Motorola.

"But the day before the race I was called into a room with Jim Ochowicz and Hennie Kuiper, the team directors, and Massimo Testa, the team doctor, and told that I couldn't race. They said that my blood tests had shown a testosterone level of zero, which meant either that my body had stopped producing it, or that I'd been getting it artificially. I had stubble, so I was obviously getting it from somewhere.

"It was made very clear to me that Motorola was a massive sponsor, and that they condemned any association with drugs. I had no idea what had happened, but a second test cleared me and I was able to start racing. But it showed me the team was clean. I saw nothing untoward in the year I was there, and that included riding the Giro d'Italia.

"As far as I'm concerned, he [Testa] was straight down the line. There was certainly EPO around in cycling, but I am very confident that Testa was absolutely clean. I know that Swart has said they started doping in 1995, but, based on my experience and the fact that Testa was there until 1996, I find it very hard to believe."

Pez

PEZ: You were racing with Motorola at the same time as Lance Armstrong, what did you think of him as a person and as a rider?

BRIAN: I got on fine with Lance. I respected his abilities as a bike rider but treated him as I would treat any friend. That’s why I think we still get along… or was it because he thought my accent was funny. Even when I met him at the Tour a couple of years ago he still says “I never could understand a word you were saying!” All that advice I thought I was giving him was going straight out the window due to communication problems. To think what he could have achieved… Lance away from the media was cool and fun and as a rider he was awesome and focused.


PEZ: Have you read the book L.A. Confidential? What do you think?

BRIAN: I have never had the inclination to read it. Same reason I don’t read comic books except ‘Oor Wullie’ (long running Scottish cartoon character).

A throw away comment at a time that LA was at his peak and saying anything contentious was not a great idea if you were still in cycling.

 

[Ferminal]

Find me anyone from that era who was shouting from the rooftops until recently.

That's kind of my point. Smith is saying it now because it's convenient and smart thing to do. If he made those comments years ago it would be a better sign that he was clean beyond doubt.

I tend to believe him but the opportunism provides grounds for scepticism.

 

[Mellow Velo]

How long before Servais Knaven exits, stage left?

Can't really blame the process at this point, (although some of the Clinic hard core will only ever see it in terms of a PR stunt) but the real test will be whether any current rider opts to fall on his sword.

Will parachute payments suffice to cover the two-year ban that will presumably accompany any post 2004 confession.

All Mick has to do is survive Brailsford's waterboarding for another two years!

Re: Brad McGee, Worth approaching.

 

[Benotti69]

How long before Servais Knaven exits, stage left?

Can't really blame the process at this point, (although some of the Clinic hard core will only ever see it in terms of a PR stunt) but the real test will be whether any current rider opts to fall on his sword.

Will parachute payments suffice to cover the two-year ban that will presumably accompany any post 2004 confession.

All Mick has to do is survive Brailsford's waterboarding for another two years!

Re: Brad McGee, Worth approaching.

I dont believe it to be any different, pure PR. Will they be transparent and tell us how much these guys got paid now for lying to teamSky or are they being paid to keep silent?

Brailsford was called on this when he started hiring these people. He said it was impossible to find people with a connection to the past.

So he lied then? Where is going to find people with no connection to doping now?

Then he lied when he said he was surprised and shocked about Armstrong! Liar.

Brailsford should resign. He has a history of lying. Kimmage called him out on it in the big interview in the Sunday Times, a few years ago. Braislford's excuses didn't wash then and they still dont now. Sadly that interview is behind a paywall.

 

[Captain Sensible]

That's kind of my point. Smith is saying it now because it's convenient and smart thing to do. If he made those comments years ago it would be a better sign that he was clean beyond doubt.

I tend to believe him but the opportunism provides grounds for scepticism.

Even now he is only speaking out about Armstrong as its safe to do so now , how about he talks about other riders on teams he rode on , then I might believe he may have rode clean.
As you say he has provided people with grounds for scepticism which by default righty or wrongly will included riders who ride for his teams.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

How long before Servais Knaven exits, stage left?

Can't really blame the process at this point, (although some of the Clinic hard core will only ever see it in terms of a PR stunt) but the real test will be whether any current rider opts to fall on his sword.

Will parachute payments suffice to cover the two-year ban that will presumably accompany any post 2004 confession.

All Mick has to do is survive Brailsford's waterboarding for another two years!

Re: Brad McGee, Worth approaching.

Why try to defend the indefensible?

You know, if Sky had been serious about riding clean why did they hire these people in the first place?

If it was such a problem then why is it only now, with all the bad publicity, that Sky are acting to get rid of them?

If British cycling and Sky were serious about clean cycling then they would never have gone anywhere near any of these guys.

 

[Freddythefrog]

How long before Servais Knaven exits, stage left?

Can't really blame the process at this point, (although some of the Clinic hard core will only ever see it in terms of a PR stunt) but the real test will be whether any current rider opts to fall on his sword.

Will parachute payments suffice to cover the two-year ban that will presumably accompany any post 2004 confession.

All Mick has to do is survive Brailsford's waterboarding for another two years!

Re: Brad McGee, Worth approaching.

Agree - Mick or another current rider who is critical to the team's success will be a big step, the other big domino would be Sutton. Then we would know Brailsford means business.

Daryl ?

 

[summerhill]

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,17553_8202309,00.html

Yates retires, no admission.

 

[Mellow Velo]

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,17553_8202309,00.html

Yates retires, no admission.

Now that really is an unsatisfactory conclusion that can only lead to further ridicule of the current goings on at Sky.

 

[Franklin]

None of those released in recent times have one, even Yates.

Repeat after me: "David Brailsford is a liar as he hired Geert Leinders".

And letting him go when his Rabo past leaked? WTF? He was part of the management team. He was mentioned specifically in the Court decision where Rasmussen had a big win over Rabo. This was public domain and has hit newspapers. Unless Geert lied that he was Manager at Rabo in 2007 when Dave hired him... *facepalm*.

 

[Ecowarrior18]

A bit of a fudge really.

Now that really is an unsatisfactory conclusion that can only lead to further ridicule of the current goings on at Sky.

Got to agree Mellow Velo, As much as I like the Hard Man of British cycling it kinda creates more questions than satisfying the doubters.

I do think Brian Smith is now a shoe in for a DS job now. The Mail piece clearly (and Publicy) letting Brailsford know that when faced with the choice of which path to take he took one that will be seen in a good light.

Just a thought.

 

[Franklin]

Now that really is an unsatisfactory conclusion that can only lead to further ridicule of the current goings on at Sky.

Still "Can't really blame the process at this point"?

Maybe those who think it's a huge PR stut are right? And yes, I already said that firing Yates would be a prickly pear (imagine the headlines: Brittish Teammaneger who led Wiggins to triumphs outed for doping infractions), so his is the ideal PR solution.

 

[summerhill]

Yates Statement: according to BBC Radio
"I can walk away with my head held high. I have done nothing wrong."

 

[Freddythefrog]

Yates didn't see anything ! Lance did just drink orange jui

“After a long career in professional cycling, he has told us that he wants to move on, for purely personal reasons.”

“Sean has been a great support to the riders on the road and a valuable colleague to us all. We wish him the best for the next step in his life.”

After Team Sky reaffirmed its position on anti-doping, the management team started a series of individual interviews with riders, management and support staff.

Sean has been interviewed and there were no admissions or disclosures that would have required him to leave the team.


What - so this is it! Yates walks away with an official - the boy is good and dun good. So Brailsford just tries it on to see if he can take the press as far as Lancey-boy.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Still "Can't really blame the process at this point"?

Maybe those who think it's a huge PR stut are right? And yes, I already said that firing Yates would be a prickly pear (imagine the headlines: Brittish Teammaneger who led Wiggins to triumphs outed for doping infractions), so his is the ideal PR solution.

Well, that is why it's the worst outcome.
It gives a lot of credence to those who believe it is a PR stunt.
One of two possible scenarios.
Confession swept under the carpet and disappear into the sunset.
The other being that no confession was forthcoming.

“After a long career in professional cycling, he has told us that he wants to move on, for purely personal reasons.”

“Sean has been a great support to the riders on the road and a valuable colleague to us all. We wish him the best for the next step in his life.”

After Team Sky reaffirmed its position on anti-doping, the management team started a series of individual interviews with riders, management and support staff.

Sean has been interviewed and there were no admissions or disclosures that would have required him to leave the team.


What - so this is it! Yates walks away with an official - the boy is good and dun good. So Brailsford just tries it on see if he can take the press as far as Lancey-boy

He must despise the people who love this sport.

Bad.

So why, at this time above all others, suddenly decide to retire?
It doesn't wash and serves to fuel the flames over the whole process.
.

 

[webvan]

After Team Sky reaffirmed its position on anti-doping, the management team started a series of individual interviews with riders, management and support staff.

Sean has been interviewed and there were no admissions or disclosures that would have required him to leave the team

So reading between the lines he refused to sign the new charter, hopefully he doesn't get the severance package of those who "confessed".

Motoman will be happy to see his friend again!

 

[enrecul]

Yates Statement: according to BBC Radio
"I can walk away with my head held high. I have done nothing wrong."

Sure Sean, but why leave now, when your departure comes at the height of the greatest ****storm in cycling history?

Christ, will this man ever grow a pair of balls and just stop lying?

He's had more methamphetamine than I've had hot dinners....

 

[andy1234]

Got to agree Mellow Velo, As much as I like the Hard Man of British cycling it kinda creates more questions than satisfying the doubters.

I do think Brian Smith is now a shoe in for a DS job now. The Mail piece clearly (and Publicy) letting Brailsford know that when faced with the choice of which path to take he took one that will be seen in a good light.

Just a thought.

Brian Smith...hmmm.
Not a great choice if a clean past is top priority.