UCI: Italian Giro top favourite will be Bio-pass exposed in hours

[badboygolf16v]

Hmmm, Gibo is doubtful about riding...?

 

[Bala Verde]

I doubt it is an as big name as some of you guys are speculating it is. Pozzovivo is my guess.

You could be right. McQuaid seems to employ performance enhancing means to demonstrate the effectiveness of the BP.

I think it's based on this release dated "Published: February 26, 15:00"

So who could have had displayed discrepancies before the start of Tirreno and P-N? People in Le Tour Méditerranéen?

 

[Cobblestones]

I don't know. The press release doesn't specify that there will be an adverse finding. It could just as well be that all the variations are sufficiently 'explained' by circumstances (altitude training, hypobaric tent, medical conditions etc.) and you'll see a smiling Pat telling everybody that the passport works because it picks up such things. If otherwise, it would be huge. The first adverse finding in pro cycling based on the passport alone. Well, we'll see in a couple of days.

 

[luckyboy]

Francesco Masciarelli won a stage at Méditerranéen. Nocentini came 2nd overall. Nocentini isn't at the Giro though.

T-A: Garzelli, Scarponi, Pozzovivo. Gasparotto won a stage.

Cunego was invisible at P-N, aside from 6th on the queen stage.

 

[Beech Mtn]

If the UCI is going to actually open proceedings against somebody based solely on the bio-passport and not a positive doping test for a specific substance, it makes sense that they would choose a rider from a country whose national federation is actively prosecuting doping cases. They will need the support from the national federation as this all goes through legal channels. It would make more sense for the guinea pig test case rider to come from Italy instead of say, Spain.

 

[Cobblestones]

If the UCI is going to actually open proceedings against somebody based solely on the bio-passport and not a positive doping test for a specific substance, it makes sense that they would choose a rider from a country whose national federation is actively prosecuting doping cases. They will need the support from the national federation as this all goes through legal channels. It would make more sense for the guinea pig test case rider to come from Italy instead of say, Spain.

Good point.

One more thing: what they might be looking at is the off score, so a scenario where someone squirreled away a few blood bags for later and then tried the fast lane to replacement. That wouldn't be conductive to a great racing performance. So, looking at someone who did really well in, say, March might be the wrong angle.

 

[luckyboy]

So, looking at someone who did really well in, say, March might be the wrong angle.

That's all we have to speculate about

 

[Bala Verde]

Good point.

One more thing: what they might be looking at is the off score, so a scenario where someone squirreled away a few blood bags for later and then tried the fast lane to replacement. That wouldn't be conductive to a great racing performance. So, looking at someone who did really well in, say, March might be the wrong angle.

So perhaps someone who trained (really hard) in Jan/Feb and then drew some blood for later use?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But Italy's national federation isn't doing much against doping. Italy's national federation is the same fed that gave Danilo di Luca a three-month ban - over the winter - for his role in Oil For Drugs. CONI is the Italian Olympic authority.

 

[blaxland]

For my guess i think the rider may be Pellizotti or Scarponi or basso.....all these three seem like candidates to me.

 

[Runitout]

Ooh what fun. I like this game. Mindless speculation always appeals.

I doubt they'll catch a big fish. If they do, my money is on Garzelli.

 

[adambarnes]

scarponi or garzelli

 

[python]

in late february it was a 'handful'.

there is no reason to believe that in early may it will not be a handful or that's a single italian.

sounds like 3-4 cases including some italian(s). my guess would be pozzo if anyone from italy.

 

[Mellow Velo]

If the UCI is going to actually open proceedings against somebody based solely on the bio-passport and not a positive doping test for a specific substance, it makes sense that they would choose a rider from a country whose national federation is actively prosecuting doping cases. They will need the support from the national federation as this all goes through legal channels. It would make more sense for the guinea pig test case rider to come from Italy instead of say, Spain.

Uummmm and yet they are still sitting on the fence over whether or not to ban Valverde.
Best for everybody to become nationalised Spaniards and "untouchable".
For if the scenario you suggest is true, it's the Spanish dopers who benefit.

A daft approach, but then again, this is Pat at work...........

 

[595RED]

Im putting my money on Pelizotti (too good too quick) or Garzelli, gearing up for a finale. Cant see it being Cuenago at all.

 

[petesam]

BMC: Santambrogio cleared...presumably Ballan is the UCI's big announcement?

So, BMC have said Santambrogio is ok to go back to racing.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-return-santambrogio-to-active-status

Presumably that means Ballan is not...and therefore due to get busted in the UCI's big Bio-Passport announcement?

 

[Franklin]

I put my money on:

No revealtion at all.

It's what usually happens, isn't it? *Thinks back to the hooplah about the 08 Giro samples*

 

[petesam]

just started a new thread on this before noticing this one - but my money's on Ballan to be at least one of the names, if not the giro contender. A month ago he got pulled from active status, and we haven't heard anything since...

 

[Inner Peace]

I reckon it's Simoni

He has been so indecisive lately about riding the Giro like something is weighing on his mind

I doubt it's Basso (Sassi is his coach remember )

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Ballan ?

I too bet it's Ballan.

He's high profile and his former Lampre team-mate Santambrogio just
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-return-santambrogio-to-active-status
got absolved by BMC - but not so Ballan ...

 

[Runitout]

So, BMC have said Santambrogio is ok to go back to racing.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-return-santambrogio-to-active-status

Presumably that means Ballan is not...and therefore due to get busted in the UCI's big Bio-Passport announcement?

Holy Leap of Logic, Batman.

You might be right, but I think if Ballan is caught, it is more likely to do with the ongoing doping investigation into Lampre, and not the Biopassport. Just because he may be doping, doesn't mean it's the Biopassport that caught him.

Of course, they may catch him under the one investigation and then herald it as a Biopassport case.

 

[issoisso]

While we're at it, CONI reveals Marinangeli (of LPR last year) tested positive for Thiazide in December

Anyway, as for the high profile guy, my money's on a non-GC contender. Ballan, Petacchi, Bennati. Notice they don't say a favourite to win the Giro. They say a high profile italian who could star in the Giro.

EDIT: Also, notice how around the time of the original announcement, Ballan's performance dropped MASSIVELY

 

[Oscarcycle]

Ale-Jet

Ale-Jet Petacchi

 

[craig1985]

I have to say I had never heard of Marinangeli until Isso posted that.

 

[petesam]

Ha. Yup, i thought it was some good monday-morning logic: i.e. slow, but making an effort!

if Ballan is caught, it is more likely to do with the ongoing doping investigation into Lampre, and not the Biopassport

Yeah, I guess that's true. As someone else said in one of the other threads - the UCI may just be trying to talk up the BP as much as possible, and it might be one of the smaller-time guys that gets busted. Or it might be someone big, who ultimately gets cleared because it was "actually" because of "therapeutic lip balm, which was spiked by the pharmacist with EPO" or something (monday-morning cynicism!).

I guess we'll see in "a matter of hours" (apparently!)