What's up with Lampre?

[Willy_Voet]

The ProTour is actually a good idea--if it were handled right. The idea of a cohesive, season long race series that could be sold to the media and money distributed to the teams and race organizers could work, but the UCI appears to be more interested in using the concept to increase its power.

The UCI was never and probably can never be a marketing and promotional enterprise. They make the rules and enforce them (sporadically at that, I might add).

The ProTour idea of "mondialisation" is great, but who actually made it happen? Race organizers. They put virtually all the effort into the project and get a stamp that says "PT". On the other hand, you had the fight between the ASO and UCI over rights, protocol, ownership. I completely understand the ASO's position: they've developed arguably the most recognizable product in the cycling world. Quick, without looking it up, who is the sponsor of the yellow jersey at the TdF? Who is the main sponsor of the PT?

The UCI should have engaged the ASO and other organizers and asked them what works, instead of forcing homogeneity onto a disparate group.

I find it laughable that the ASO runs Tour du Faso, Tour of Qatar, and Tour of Oman (there's your mondialization) while the UCI debates 3:1 ratios, 5 cm setbacks and if the French can perform drug tests in France.

The ASO may be biased towards French teams, but who can argue with their stance over Richard Virenque. Thank God the UCI forced the ASO to allow a doper back in the TdF after the previous year's episode:

(clipped from Wikipedia b/c I'm lazy)

Race director Jean-Marie Leblanc banned Virenque from the 1999 Tour de France but was obliged to accept him after a ruling by the Union Cycliste Internationale[19]. Lichfield wrote in The Independent:

"The sport of road-race cycling (and it may not be the only one) is like an alcoholic, refusing to accept that it has a problem, as long as it drinks in secrecy. That fact was shamefully proved once again this week when the sport's governing body - the International Cycling Union (UCI) - forced the 1999 Tour to accept Richard Virenque... The baby-faced Virenque faces possible criminal charges of drug-taking and drug-trafficking. Despite his denials, French judicial investigators say they have documentary evidence that he has been doping himself for years. The Tour said last month that he was 'not welcome.' The UCI insisted on Tuesday that he must ride. The Tour gave way. So much for ethical purity."

 

[DAOTEC]

Not all things happen for a reason /o\

Petacchi after training crash; Tirreno-Adriatico uncertain

Monday, March 08, 2010, 1:56 PM EST| The Lampre-Farnese Vini sprinter was on a training ride with teammate Lorenzo Bernucci when he was unable to avoid a pothole in the road. He was taken to Don Bosco Hospital in Viareggio, on the Tuscan coast ...
Doctor Carlo Guardascione, Lampre-Farnese Vini’s chief medical officer, will examine the sprinter from La Spezia tomorrow to assess whether he will be fit to take the start of the Tirreno-Adriatico on Wednesday.
He has already been forced to miss a race through a medical problem when gastroenteritis forced him to sit out the Trofeo Laigueglia.
Having to miss the Race of the Two Seas this week would be a far bigger blow to Petacchi though, as he builds up to his main target of the spring: the Milano-Sanremo.
Bron: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/3379/Stitches-for-Petacchi-after-training-crash-Tirreno-Adriatico-uncertain.aspx

Looks like Ale-Jet might have the time now to get to the trial

 

[Mellow Velo]

Asthma Jet gets to take an unscheduled breather? What's new.

 

[DAOTEC]

Not all things happen for a reason _o_

Grega Bole (Lampre) leaves Paris-Nice after crash !

Grega Bole (Lampre) has left the Paris-Nice after crashing 500 meter to the finish line during the second stage held today from Contres to Limoges. Bole hit the rear part of a rider in front of him and fell flat on the asphalt after being hit in the back by three cyclists that were following him. The Slovenian could not finish the race and had to be taken to a hospital, where X-rays revealed he had no fractures or internal bleeding. He, however, will not be able to start tomorrow because of a small pneumothorax that won't need draining, and the pain for the bruises.

Grega Bole had finished second on Monday during the first stage of the French race.

Source: 09/03/2010 20:55:27 Lampre Press Office

Looks like Giuseppe is burning up the squad before March, 31.

 

[DAOTEC]

Well beppe ...

Petacchi accused of fraud is on the run: with 3 million Euro abroad

Evasion: the cyclist is involved in the investigation of the Guardia di Finanza di Milano, threatens criminal sanctions. After Mario Cipollini and Davide Rebellin as for exapmle Maradona, Tomba and Rossi in other sport Petacchi tried not to pay taxes.

Milan - not good news, after having toiled for 148 kilometers from Livorno to Rosignano first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico started yesterday. Something else to think about, as well as shots, from opponents 'mark', escapes and overlooking the sprint finish. Alessandro Petacchi appears in an investigation of the nucleus of tax police of the Guardia di Finanza of Milan, for a story very Italian. Evasion.

Bills were paid by bank transfer and the money was then "demoted" to the entrepreneurs on numbered accounts in foreign banks. So, we end up under investigation in eighty accused variously of fraudulent misrepresentation, misrepresentation, false invoices and recycling. Petacchi And if we talk about fraud from just under 3 million. Read: http://www.ilgiornale.it/

 

[franciep10]

Petacchi accused of fraud is on the run: with 3 million Euro abroad

Evasion: the cyclist is involved in the investigation of the Guardia di Finanza di Milano, threatens criminal sanctions. After Mario Cipollini and Davide Rebellin as for exapmle Maradona, Tomba and Rossi in other sport Petacchi tried not to pay taxes.

Milan - not good news, after having toiled for 148 kilometers from Livorno to Rosignano first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico started yesterday. Something else to think about, as well as shots, from opponents 'mark', escapes and overlooking the sprint finish. Alessandro Petacchi appears in an investigation of the nucleus of tax police of the Guardia di Finanza of Milan, for a story very Italian. Evasion.

Bills were paid by bank transfer and the money was then "demoted" to the entrepreneurs on numbered accounts in foreign banks. So, we end up under investigation in eighty accused variously of fraudulent misrepresentation, misrepresentation, false invoices and recycling. Petacchi And if we talk about fraud from just under 3 million. Read: http://www.ilgiornale.it/

wow that's some serious business, but 3 million are you kidding me.

 

[DAOTEC]

Di Luca claims he will be back in 2010 and race with Lampre-Farnese Vini


If he has in fact signed a contract with the Lampre-Farnese Vini team it would be unusual since the squad is already in hot water with the UCI. The governing body, as a favor to the team, made a special exception to grant the squad a provisional ProTour license until the end of March, when they failed to meet the financial requirements. If at that time they do not satisfy the UCI's auditors, the license will be revoked.

Another requirement for attaining ProTour status involves the reputation of the team, so while they may get their finances in order, if Di Luca's statements are correct, there remains the potential for them to fail on other requirements.

Lampre-Farnese-Vini has been one of the sport's top teams since 1999, and has been one of the biggest teams in Italy since merging with the Saeco team in 2005. The team has been a long-time home to three-time Giro di Lombardia and 2004 Giro d’Italia winner Damiano Cunego, and now also has sprinter and Alessandro Petacchi among its ranks

And then there is Gilberto Simoni ? Is Beppe losing his mind or strapped for cash to meet the requirements of the UCI and needs Di Luca cash ?

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/3431/Di-Luca-claims-he-will-be-back-in-2010-with-Lampre-Farnese-Vini.aspx

 

[Highlander]

Lampre has finally been given a full license for the year. Am I the only one that found this whole exercise as futile and simply allowed the UCI to assert themselves? At this point in the season, I can't see any possibility that Lampre would have been denied. The vast majority of the riders would have been screwed as it is too late to really catch on with other teams. ASO had already named Lampre as one of their Tour teams, so I'm left confused by the whole thing.

The only possibility was the UCI waited until April Fool's Day - I don't know if this is big outside of the US - so we all know what they truly are.

 

[thehog]

The only possibility was the UCI waited until April Fool's Day - I don't know if this is big outside of the US - so we all know what they truly are.

April Fool's Day is not very big outside the US. The reason being we have Americans to laugh 365 days a year.

 

[Michele]

April fool's day is called Pesce d'Aprile (April's fish) in Italy, so yeah, it sounded like a joke in here as well.

 

[luckyboy]

April fool's day is called Pesce d'Aprile (April's fish) in Italy, so yeah, it sounded like a joke in here as well.

Isn't it something to do with fish in France too? I remember something like that at the start of the French Connection II.

 

[DAOTEC]

frech PT Lampre with Bernucci in doping trouble

Sunday, April 04, 2010
Tour of Flanders: Bernucci's home searched, heads home to Italy

Yesterday Lorenzo Bernucci's team, Lampre-Farnese Vini, said the rider would be a non-starter for today's Ronde Van Vlaanderen due to illness. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there are more pressing matters that forced the Italian to head back to his home in Tuscany. Apparently Bernucci's home was searched by the Italian police yesterday.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/3690/Tour-of-Flanders-Bernuccis-home-searched-heads-home-to-Italy.aspx

 

[DAOTEC]

Gilberto Simoni signed with Lampre today

Lunedì 19 Aprile | 12:20 =>http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=28516&tp=n

 

[DAOTEC]

Wow ....

SAMSUNG New sponsor for Lampre

Samsung con la squadra blu-fucsia per le gare svizzere

Press release: http://www.lampre-farnese.com/news/news.asp?id=2086

Official website: http://www.lampre-farnese.com/home/index.asp

 

[DAOTEC]

prove Cycling is becoming more and more a freak show ...

and what did Gibo the scapegoat finish, last ?

 

[DAOTEC]

Finally it's happened to Beppe

Andrey Kaschechkin to return with Lampre-Farnese

Thursday, June 10, 2010 | DiarioVasco.com reports that Andrey Kaschechkin is in talks with Lampre about a return to cycling. The former 3rd place overall finisher and stage winner at the Vuelta Espana, tested positive for blood doping following the 2007 Tour de France.

Kaschechkin was sanctioned for two years by the UCI and has been eligible to return for some time now.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4493/Andrey-Kaschechkin-to-return-with-Lampre-Farnese.aspx

You ask Giuseppe and he’ll tell you: the sport is going to hell in a hand-basket. The doping tests, the whereabouts checks, the biological passport — how’s a rider supposed to “prep” for races? Danilo di Luca banned, Rebellin gone, where are the heroes?

You kept your Azzurri word ... So the old Italian ways do never die, hey mate

 

[ttrider]

Well thats good news. I can't help but think that with his treatment from Vino and shunning from Astana he deserves a second chance, interesting storyline between him and Vino if he gets a tour start (visions of kash doing a suicidal early attack and vino abandoning domestique duties to cover him!)

 

[craig1985]

If Vino is allowed back, then so should Kash.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If Vino is allowed back, then so should Kash.

now about neither?!

 

[markene2]

Oh my god... If this happens this year is saved!
And then all my riders is back

 

[Ferminal]

If Andrey is in the Tour I promise to watch every stage...

 

[DAOTEC]

It's final Danilo Di Luca will celebrate his return with Lampre in 2011

Together with Petacchi and Scarponi form the core of Lampre 2011 with a new team leader Damiani.

Cicloweb.it quoting: La Gazzetta dello sport

 

[ericthesportsman6]

It's final Danilo Di Luca will celebrate his return with Lampre in 2011

Together with Petacchi and Scarponi form the core of Lampre 2011 with a new team leader Damiani.

Cicloweb.it quoting: La Gazzetta dello sport

Wait Scarponi's going to Lampre? When did this happen?

 

[Michele]

It's just a rumor, he has an offert from Astana too.
Seems that his first choice would be Lampre then Androni (his current team).

On the other side, Cunego might leave Lampre for either Garmin or Sky. But there would be a 3rd team interested.

 

[DAOTEC]

Green jersey the aftermath

RS Interview with Hondo and Petacchi

"We are on the same wave"
Alessandro Petacchi and Danilo Hondo in the sprints are a perfect duo. Cycling News met the two Lampre-professionals in Bad Homburg Kurpark race for a interview. Here Petacchi and Hondo talked about their collaboration and a possible clash in the World Championships. Petacchi also had his contract extension with Lampre known by the end of 2012. ...
http://www.radsport-news.com/sport/sportnews_64809.htm

CONI delays Petacchi-hearing to 24. August