ROME BURNING ? Nero ( phat ) tinkering !

Searching for the life lines , phat is now canvassing for assistance to create a NEW Version of " Cycling's bright future " ! As those that visit here regularly , i like to predict future events .  Yesterday morning after seeing several News networks carrying stories relating to " ChangeCyclingNow.org " and Greg LeMond being pressured into making a run for UCI President , i commented to an article i read , that phat would try to reclaim the headlines . Seems he did call a pressie , but , nobody important , seems to have reported this event , yawn , although Cyclingnews Forum started a thread .

During November , Skins the Compression clothing Company , issued actions against UCI , claiming damages of US$2M !  Following up on this Jaime Fuller created an opportunity for Stakeholders to meet in London last weekend . Out of this meeting of notable personalities , including Former Racers , Journalists , Cycling Personalities , etc , came a " Charter of the Willing ", link here :

 http://www.changecyclingnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Charter-of-the-Willing.pdf

Jaime Fuller was successful in gathering a number of " Cycling VIP's " that attracted the media's interest thus at the conclusion Monday Night the Cameras and Sporting Commentators had a worthwhile story to run with on Tuesday . When the likes of the Aljazeera Network get involved , it is either a " Slow News Day " or the story is worthwhile . Before starting this post i looked at the website ( www.changecyclingnow.org ) and saw that 2338 had joined the petition , i had signed in around the 400 mark , so was pleased to see that " CCN " had attracted further interest . Contrast this with my petitions advocating much of the same message , but so far ignored :


http://www.change.org/petitions/wada-create-an-amnesty-in-all-sports …
&
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/office-of-the-governor-general-of-australia-create-the-means-for-a-sports-amnesty-in-australia#invite …

UCI Management is currently creating difficulties for Professional Teams because they insist on waiting until 10th December to announce the final Pro World Teams . Can you imagine the dfifficulties that Sponsors , the Life Blood of the Cycling Industry , are suffering ? Teams cannot get their Uniforms made , let alone book Flights , Accomodation and Events ! Can you think of any other Industry that suffers this scale of disorganisation ?  Unbelievably a Racer has come out with comment on this pathetic affair :

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/roy-calls-for-worldtour-clarity

OMERTA is the " Hot Subject " amongst the Tifosi/fans , and there has been deafening silence from Racers about the outcomes from the " USADA Reasoned Decision " . So for a French Racer to blog about UCI causing his Team and thus himself " difficulties " , takes a great deal of courage .  Further evidence of a Racers frustration comes with the disclosure of the preference for another " Ranking System :  cqranking.com "       The Frenchman noted that within the peloton, riders place greater store on the rankings compiled by cqranking.comthan on the WorldTour standings, where “a leader like Thomas Voeckler doesn’t feature and only a minority of races are counted.”

 Jérémy Roy’s FDJ team has been down this path in previous years . I have always thought that this team was one of the more worthwhile and successful teams , could be that Brad Mc Gee , being an Aussie on this Team from my first meeting him in Rome in 2000 , has biased my thinking . Many's the time Jeremy would call to the Aussies , " your grandfather is here " , as i arrived at the team vehicles or Hotel . One wonders if , in highlighting these difficulties , FDJ Team , will find itself in the Pro Conti level next season ? Would be the petty way , phat reacts to criticism , as seen by the treatment of Boyer . 

During the " CCN Meeting " , it was revealed that Eric Boyer , a previous holder of the job , Jon Vaughters currently holds until march , contacted phat . In his position as President of the Teams Association and received a Strong Rebuke and threats of Adverse Action against him !  Eric Boyer reveals that "UCI "is controlling Cycling in the most cynical way possible ! Following the same tactics over the last 20+ years it has caused ALL the problems that are now coming home to roost ! 

 This quote from a member of the " CCN Meeting " : " When you hear Eric Boyer, say what he said just now, that he rings the UCI on Lance Armstrong’s return, if I heard him correctly , and says I have a problem as head of the teams, with a guy coming back who has not been part of our biological scheme who can come back when we don’t know what his blood values are for the last three months " . And for asking that question he gets bullied by the head of the UCI. That’s frightening. Can you see the UCI reforming? Of course it can. Can it reform with Pat McQuaid as the President? That reform would have no credibility !  When the President of the " UCI " behaves like this , one wonders if this is not a Criminal Act of Conspiracy "?

Earlier in the year it was reported that in 2011 , the " Honourary president for Life of UCI ", one known as heinous , said the following :   

   Verbruggen said :  " 'J'ai les moyens de vous faire un coureur positif quand je veux...' (french ) ! translates as :
'I have the means to make you a rider positive when I want to'

Is this not also a threat of Conspiracy ?

How much evidence do the Swiss Authorities require to act against these " poor examples of Humanity "? The action begun by Paul Kimmage , must be reaching the point where the Swiss decide , what they propose to do with the information passed to them in November ?

Amusing to see that there are facial similarities between Greg & heinous ? World of difference in their mindset , however !  Greg is reluctant to get involved for longer than is necessary to find the " More suitable Candidate " , whilst heinous , is clinging to his " honourary Presidency "!

Occasionally we hear of people asking " WHY the Hurry "?

Fact is that " SPONSORS " deserve better , RABOBANK is a long time Sponsor and has chosen to walk away .

HOW MANY MORE WILL FOLLOW ?

NB posted a comment several times to the Cyclingnews Article :

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/q-and-a-david-walsh-on-changing-cycling-lance-armstrong-and-his-own-fan-days

Love to know why David Benson did not publish this :

 " What is wrong with it , that you do not publish ?
 Why the censorship ?
 My comment :Boyer reveals that "UCI "is controlling Cycling in the most cynical way possible ! Following the same tactics over the last 20+ years it has caused ALL the problems that are now coming home to roost !

Media hacks , with very few exceptions , toed the line knowing that their jobs depended on access . Shame they are only now awakening to the power that they can exert . Will they utilise this power , to cause the phats of aigle to quit the scene , without the whole Cycling Industry being thrown into disarray ?

Amusing to see that there are facial similarities between Greg & heinous ? World of difference in their mindset however !

Get to " www.changecyclingnow.org " , join the 1925+ already signed on and record your disgust of the current mismanagement tactics of the phats of aigle !

take a look at the following petitions , every little helps to toss the trash out of our SPORT !

http://www.change.org/petitions/wada-create-an-amnesty-in-all-sports …
&
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/office-of-the-governor-general-of-australia-create-the-means-for-a-sports-amnesty-in-australia#invite …

ACT NOW !"

Could it be that he is biased against Dublin born Aussies ? Joking of course !

These comments did get published  amongst others :

Andrew Smith 22 hours ago Igor Makarov or Tchmil? Why the hell would they be next in line for President of the UCI? ProfTournesol 13 hours ago Andrew surely you weren't expecting democracy from the UCI? It's more like an old boys club where the Presidency is passed from one crony to the next behind a veneer of democracy

20 million Euros

During the ITT at Grenoble yesterday i came across Paul Raats who took photos of me on the finish line in Rome May 2009 , i received one photo but not the ones needed for the blog. During the chat he mentioned a Dutch Event taking place on Alp d'Huez on thursday . He said over 5000 people would be riding to raise funds for a Cancer Cause . Last year over 12 million Euros were raised and this year the target is 20 million !

Today instead of joining the Dauphine i headed south to Bourg Oisans and joined the people mostly wearing Lycra of a blue ,white and red combination . Some had their head sponsor on their kit , others had 2009 or 2010 kit but it was a river of colour . Started climbing at about 9.30 and the first ascent took about 1hr 10 mins but found that i was passing a lot of people on triple chain wheels even so . At the top i discovered that some were into their third ascent of the day , which would explain why i was even passing young guys . Several did pass me but noting the numbers i was able to repass all but two who looked far too professional .

On a later climb i found "hand bikers" and continued to the top but stopped for a chat , as they rested , when i was descending . Appears there were two teams with a couple of solo entries . Any of you used a hand bike ? Well some years ago i did and i am able to tell you that even with training the physical effort is in the realm of 6 to 8 times more difficult than pedalling ! You would not choose to drive a hand bike up once let alone multiple times but i saw three of them beavering away once again as i was on my final climb . Where they find the energy defies imagination but they were well supported by volunteers and well applauded by the bystanders on the route .

 

On descending for the final time i came across a Tour Group who were having a training camp and had come across to climb Alp d'Huez and ride nearby . One of their number rode through a tunnel on the road to Les2alp and the front wheel dropped into a groove made by the maintainance workers , rather like tram tracks with the same result . Spilled from the bike he took a knock and thus the ambulance trip to Grenoble for 24hrs observation as mandated by French Regulations . Earlier in the day i had thought of riding to Les2alps to lunch with my friends there but time got away .

Before cycling today i was on the internet and posted a new thread about "Tondo" and my suspicion that he was murdered to prevent his testimony . By visiting www.skippyblogging.blogspot.com/heartfeltapology  you will see my comments on this Guy's courageous efforts to help Road Race Cycling clean house . CNF has cancelled the thread as if it never existed ! Seems the mushroom farm does not wish the truth to be known ! Slandering ALL cyclists is the name of the game but seeking TRUTH is not a suitable subject !

Reading of the day's action at the dauphine made me realise how colourless a day it was although HTC has once again claimed the victory of the day . Heard the 1800 news where they announced Brad Mc Gee had retained the Yellow & Blue Leaders's jersey and i was even more amused yesterday when Daniel the announcer extraordinaire announced twice Mc Gee rather than Wiggo ! 

 

Got to laugh since Brad Mc Gee won the ITT in 2002 with Cookie second and me getting the bulk of the article which followed the headlines on the back page of the Dauphine newspaper the next morning . Mc Gee is here as DS for Saxo Bank and no doubt has been told of these fluffs !