Anti-doping samples from 2016 and 2017 to be retested: Daily News Digest
Welcome to your Daily News Digest. Here’s what’s happening today:
The UCI has asked for anti-doping samples from 2016 and 2017 to be retested; Wout van Aert checks out the Paris-Roubaix route; Nairo Quintana will skip Colombia Tour for Tour de la Provence; Tony Martin is going to sit out the Tokyo Olympics; David De la Cruz is hoping for fresh start at UAE-Team Emirates; British up-and-comer Ethan Hayter joins Ineos; Israel Cycling Academy will ride Factor Bikes from 2020; and the Daily News Digest is moving to email.
Story of the day: Anti-doping samples from 2016 and 2017 to be retested
We mightn’t have heard the last of Operation Aderlass. The UCI has asked the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation to retest samples taken from riders during anti-doping checks in 2016 and 2017 “in light of information and documents received from Austrian law enforcement in the Aderlass affair.
Stefan Denifl is one of the riders to be caught out in Operation Aderlass.
The Austrian and German doping investigation has linked athletes from multiple sports to a blood doping ring run by German doctor Mark Schmidt. Several current and former pro cyclists have been implicated in the scandal since news of Operation Aderlass first emerged in February 2019. Stefan Denifl, Georg Preidler, Kristian Koren, Kristijan Durasek, Borut Bozic, and Alessandro Petacchi have all been suspended in connection with the investigation.
During the Aderlass investigation, and thanks to close collaboration between the UCI and Austrian authorities, several procedures have been initiated for anti-doping rule violation. Several individuals, most of them active at the highest level, have now been sanctioned, said the UCI in a statement on Wednesday announcing the necessary reanalyses of samples taken during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
The UCI did not provide any detail on the specifics of the re-testing, saying that it would make no further comment at this stage.
Follow the link to read more at CyclingTips.
Socially speaking
At the time of writing it’s still Thanksgiving in the USA. It’s a time to, well, give thanks to the people in our lives that matter the most. And as satire Instagram account Cat3Memes notes, that might just include that guy on the bunch ride (and let’s be honest, it’s always a guy) who generously decides not to drop you, even though he totally, absolutely, 100% could.
In other social news, American rider Larry Warbasse and EF Education First manager Jonathan Vaughters had an interesting exchange about the benefits of building a team around a national identity. It’s worth checking out the entire thread.
And thats totally cool! I definitely wasnt implying merit shouldnt be involved! I just think that for a lot of the young guys, the transition is tough, and to have a team they could go to with a similar culture to their own would make the ride less bumpy.
— Larry Warbasse (@larrywarbasse) November 28, 2019
Race Radio
Wout van Aert checks out Roubaix route
Wout Van Aert’s recovery from a nasty leg injury at the Tour de France seems to be coming along nicely. In a post to Instagram Stories on Wednesday the Belgian showed a video of himself riding the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix.
Wout van Aert punctured at just about the worst possible time in the 2019 Paris-Roubaix: in the Arenberg forest.
According to his Strava file from the ride, Van Aert rode 83.5km with Jumbo-Visma teammates Maarten Wynants, Mike Teunissen, and Amund Jansen. The riders were testing equipment and in doing so tackled a bunch of pave, not least the five-star sectors of Mons-en-Pvle, and Carrefour de lArbre.
It’s less than two months since Wout van Aert did his first outdoor training ride on the road since the crash. The three-time world cyclocross champion is hoping to compete in a few CX races before the season’s end, but his Wednesday ride makes it clear he’s also got his eye on the Spring Classics.
Quintana to skip Colombia Tour for Tour de la Provence
Nairo Quintana is one of Colombian cycling’s biggest stars but in 2020, the 29-year-old won’t take part in his country’s biggest race: the Tour Colombia.
Many fans will be disappointed not to see Quintana (far right) in action at Tour Colombia in 2020.
Quintana took part in both of the race’s first two editions, finishing second and fifth, but he’ll miss the third edition in favour of the Tour de la Provence.
In what is perhaps a nod to his new French team Arkea-Samsic, Quintana will use the Tour de la Provence and Tour du Haut Var to build towards Paris-Nice, connecting with Warren Barguil along the way.
Paris-Nice will be my first major objective, Quintana said. I will race the Tour de la Provence with Warren, which will be ideal to get everyone working together. Its a big challenge ahead of us.
Tony Martin to skip Tokyo Olympics
Four-time world time trial champion Tony Martin will skip the Olympics in Tokyo next year to focus on the road world championships.
Tony Martin (left) on the podium after finishing second in the Olympic time trial in London. Bradley Wiggins took home gold.
Martin, who won silver in the time trial at the 2012 Olympics in London, told German radio station MDR on Thursday that the course was too hard for him.
“My manager went over there,” Martin said. “He described the course as extremely difficult. I am going to concentrate 100 percent on the world championships.”
The 34-year-old German won the Worlds time trial in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016.
De la Cruz hoping for fresh start at UAE-Team Emirates
David de la Cruz is moving to UAE-Team Emirates in 2020 and is looking for a fresh start.
The Spaniard has spent two years racing with Sky/Ineos but the 2019 season hasn’t been kind to him.
It was a complicated year with injuries and crashes, de la Cruz said. I didnt have the continuity in my calendar that I would have liked. I fractured my hand in California, and I had a bad crash in the end of July as I was preparing for the Vuelta. Everything adds up.
I am excited to start anew with a new team and close this chapter that Im leaving with a bad taste in my mouth, especially during [this season]. Sporting wise, I didnt perform like I wanted to, but to have been part of this team was something I am proud of.
Follow the link to read more at VeloNews.
British up-and-comer Ethan Hayter joins Ineos
Team Ineos has announced the signing of British youngster Ethan Hayter. Regarded as one of British Cycling’s brightest young talents, the 21 year old joins the team on a three-year deal after a successful season on the road and the track.
"Its the best place for me to begin my career as a professional road rider and the best place for me to be with the Olympics coming up next year."
We're excited to announce the signing of @ethan_hayter on a three-year contract.
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— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) November 27, 2019
In 2019 Hayter won two stages of the Baby Giro and a stage of the Tour de l’Avenir — the two most important stage races for young male road riders. While most of Hayter’s wins come from bunch sprints, he believes he is much more of an all-rounder.
At the Baby Giro I was sixth on one of the mountain stages so I was right up there on the climbs and the sprints, so I will have to discover which type of race suits me best,” Hayter said. “It means I can look at most race profiles and still have a go.
Hayter rode with Ineos as a stagiaire in September 2018, helping Gianni Moscon to victory at Coppa Agostoni and the Giro della Toscana.
Israel Cycling Academy will ride Factor Bikes from 2020
As reported on CyclingTips yesterday, Israel Cycling Academy will ride Factor Bikes when the team steps up to the WorldTour ranks in 2020.
The Factor 02 VAM is the company’s lightweight climbing machine.
Factor previously sponsored French outfit AG2R during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and stepped back to Pro Continental-level sponsorship with Roompot-Charles for the 2019 season. The brand will be back at the highest level in 2020 after signing a three-year deal with Israel Cycling Academy.
Factor owner Rob Gitelis told CyclingTips that the brand would be supplying around 250 bikes for the season. Riders will be able to swap between the Factor One, the company’s aero bike, and the 02 VAM, Factor’s lightweight climbing bike, as they see fit. All bikes will be equipped with disc brakes.
The Daily News Digest is moving to email
We close things out today with an update on the Daily News Digest itself. After more than 1,700 editions, news operations at CyclingTips are evolving as the way our audience accesses information evolves as well.
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In case you missed it…
Factor Bikes owner Rob Gitelis on the significance of WorldTour sponsorship
Feature image: Today’s feature image comes from the Grubers and was shot in the Tuscany region of Italy.
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