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

SNOW JOB ?

BULLSH*TE dribbled out of phat's mouth on Friday as he announced the next " Snow Job " to be foisted on Cycling Fans since the " Festina Affair "! Are we " gormless " or do the phats of Aigle think we are ? After the " Vrijman report " earlier this decade do the UCI Management Board think that " same old in different guise " will wash once again ?

Look at the timing , same treatment that is handed out to those Athletes being sanctioned , " Delayed justice ", is NOT Justice "! WE , the Cycling Fans are being treated as irrevelant ? UCI has realised that they are in the middle of a crisis , so instead of acting to regain the initiative they serve up platitudes .

First off , this mysterious " Hot line telephone service " , good way to tell anyone that they are costing the UCI money by using this facility , since they do not really want to hear about " Doping / PED usage ", evidenced by the stream of past and present Cycle Racers that report their failed efforts to convince UCI that there was a " Doping Problem " in the past generation . YES , a generation has passed without constructive action , to solve the problem of the current crop of PED products !

Whilst there is little time left before the 2012 season ends , what with most people wishing to enjoy the Festive Season , there is a Major Problem at the UCI that cannot be deferred until 2013 , lack of confidence / respect for those at the helm ! Of course nobody wishes to be out of work over the festive season BUT those currently leading the UCI are being handsomely paid , but doing little to justify those rewards ! When do the membership fees payable to UCI have to be remitted ? Many members are suggesting that "  ALL " should withhold the 2013 Membership Fees as a way of demonstrating their frustration with the " Leadership of the UCI "! Great suggestion that would work elsewhere , but , as the Amateur and Professional Racers think of the UCI as their " Union " , there is thus no alternative , unless they take the year off ?

With the Announcement on Friday of the " Commission " , UCI  fulfilled yet another " promise " of action made in the wake of the USADA Reasoned Report . How John Coates scored the guernsey of suggesting candidates for the Commission to the UCI , has not been adequately explained , but as a NOC Member from Australia with hefty credentials he has done the job .  There were 3 candidates announced on Friday that appear to be above reproach , judging by the information available from WIKI !

Chairman of this Commission will be " Sir Phillip Otton " , googling sent me to the following link as i entered the surname :  http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/o/2412/Philip%20(Howard)+OTTON.aspx

Excellent career credentials that show that he will stick to the job in hand !




Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson , well known Paralympic Athlete , with FORTHRIGHT Views on " Doping " will be an asset to this Panel . Her credentials are such that entering " tanni " brought her name to the top of the google list : here is a short synopsis of her background :


Carys Davina "Tanni" Grey-Thompson, Baroness Grey-Thompson, DBE is a Welsh former wheelchair racer and currently is a parliamentarian and television presenter. Grey-Thompson was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. Wikipedia :

Born: July 26, 1969 (age 43), Cardiff
Spouse: Ian Thompson (m. 1999)

Education: Loughborough University


As well known as she is in the U.K. , she appears to suffer the fate of so many of the " Adaptive Population "!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/9165540/Tanni-Grey-Thompson-I-was-forced-to-crawl-off-train.html#



The third member of this Panel is Malcolm Holmes , an australian with chambers in London and Sydney :

Sydney Chambers Website info :
http://www.elevenwentworth.com.au/areas-of-practice/?sid=10

ALL panel members will do a superb job ,  BUT , will the " Terms of Reference " Allow this ?


" Full terms of reference of the independent commission can be seen below. "


Quote:
A. To DETERMINE:-
1. Whether the allegations against the UCI set out in the Reasoned Decision are well founded.
2. Whether, between 1998 and 2012, the UCI realised that Lance Armstrong and the USPS Team were collaborating to avoid detection in the use, possession, administration and trafficking of performance enhancing drugs and methods, and: (i) if the UCI did realise, whether it failed to respond appropriately; and (ii) if the UCI did not realise, whether it ought to have done so, and what steps (if any) it should have taken to inform itself of the actions of Lance Armstrong and the USPS Team in order to act appropriately.
3. Whether, and if so, to what extent the UCI’s anti-doping policies and procedures between (i) 1998 and 2005 and (ii) 2005 and 2012, were inadequate or were not enforced with sufficient rigour; and if so, whether the UCI was at the time aware, or ought to have been aware, of such inadequacy or lack of enforcement.
4. Whether there was, between 1998 and 2012, any reliable evidence or information in the possession of or known to the UCI regarding allegations or suspicions of doping by Lance Armstrong and the USPS Team; and if so, whether there was any failure by the UCI to act appropriately in regard to such information.
5. Whether, when Lance Armstrong returned to racing in 2009, there was a failure by the UCI to detect signs of doping by him, and whether it was appropriate for him to return to and continue racing.
6. Whether payments were made by Lance Armstrong and the USPS Team to the UCI, between 1998 and 2012, and if so whether it was appropriate for the UCI to have accepted such payments, or to have accepted them on the basis (explicit or implicit) upon which they were made.
7. Whether the UCI inappropriately discouraged those persons with knowledge of doping by Lance Armstrong and the USPS Team from coming forward with such
knowledge, and whether the UCI should have done more to encourage such persons to come forward sooner.
8. Whether the UCI adequately co-operated with, assisted in and reacted to the USADA USPS Team Investigation.
9. Whether any persons previously convicted of doping, or voluntarily admitting to doping, or supporting riders in doping, should be able to work within the world of cycling in the future; and, if not, how such a prohibition could and should be enforced.
10. Whether the UCI had a conflict of interest between its roles in promoting the sport of cycling and in investigating or making adverse findings against Lance Armstrong and the USPS Team.
11. Whether the current doping controls of the UCI are adequate and compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency, and whether those controls can be improved.

B. To EXAMINE all relevant documents in the control or possession of the UCI or its senior management or employees (or previous employees), including without limitation Pat McQuaid, Hein Verbruggen, Christian Varin, Anne Gripper, Francesca Rossi and Mario Zorzoli, in regard to doping, or suspected doping, by Lance Armstrong and the USPS Team, such documents to include, without limitation:-
1. all external letters, emails, faxes, notes of telephone conversations, spreadsheets, presentations, instant messages, or other external documents whether physical
or electronic; and
2. all internal records (including financial records, scientific data and laboratory test results), emails, faxes, diary entries, notes of telephone conversations, records of internal meetings, memoranda, bank and computer records, spreadsheets, presentations, instant messages, or other internal documents whether physical or electronic, and to draw conclusions from such documents.

C. AND to make RECOMMENDATIONS.

As i am a Novice , i am unable to determine the outcome of Item " C "!

 Rest assured that phat is currently polishing his " Halo "!

OUT OF THE BLUE comes a comment from a well known racer , Sandy Casar :


“What shocked me the most was to discover to what extent Armstrong and his teammates were perhaps protected by the powers that be,” he said. “I find that more serious than the cheating in itself. Frankly, you can see that at the UCI, they did the minimum to try to stop him. Cycling has lost all its credibility. Whether you’re honest or not, nobody believes in us anymore.”

Tanni will understand his frustration , wish she and the Panel  had the teeth to rip a bit off the " UCIless Management "!

THE TRUTH IS OUR BUSINESS

" The Outspoken Cyclist " , recently interviewed Paul kimmage via Skype about his Cycling Career and background .This radio show streamed on :  http://www.wjcu.org/files/audio/shows/outspokencyclist/wjcu-the_outspoken_cyclist_2012-11-17.mp3  NOTE : Cost me 20MB at 16byte/sec , so hope your computer is on better B/band facility , could be where i live causes this problem .

Out of this interview , i gained a little insight into Paul´s background , growing up and early days in Cycling . Not yet read his book " Rough Ride " , so will be giving a few people the nudge for the Christmas present ?    He has been overly fair towards " UCI Personalities ", whom without proof , i would be suspicious of creating the backroom noises that led to his redundancy at the " Sunday Times "!

Recently i am reading a LOT of material in the Media , that before July this year , would not have seen the light of day ! Could it be that some Journos have gone from being " Hacks " , to being  " investigative "? Now that journos don´t appear to have to seek the approval of a certain Cycle Racer´s PR Team , they have discovered that revealing what they knew for several years , is actually beneficial to their careers´!

The one thing that " The Outspoken Cyclist " has appeared to overlook in all this is the " Paul Kimmage defence Fund ", you will see the avatar on this page , but not on theirs , nor was a link mentioned during the interview . I recall the initiators suggested a closing date of 1st Dec for contributions but perhaps with the state of the matter , it may well continue . " UCI " has " suspended their action , no doubt due to the Board of Management , insisting on phat & heinous stepping back . But judging by the recent letter to the Road Racers scripted by phat , he seems to think it will be " business as usual " in 2013 ! More funds constantly streaming into that " Fund " , will send a clear message to " UCI " , " THIS IS NOT OVER "!

Note that the terms of the " Outside Investigation " , include a report by mid June 2013 . This happens to be days after Nominations for the " Irish President of Cycling " are closed . Coincidence ? Could be phat is covering his options ? Speculation is rife that the Irish Cycling Members , may not choose to nominate him for his own job ? What a shame ?

Is it safe to ride a bike ?

Brad Wiggins yesterday , Shane Sutton , today ! What they have in common is they are both hospitalised by vehicles ! Not only that they are on the same Team ! Can you believe that only 100 days ago , Brad was sitting on a throne waiting to see if he would be on the top step of the Olympic Podium for the Time Trial Gold Medal ? Shane , as Coach for the Brit Team , would have been there also . Both , brilliant Cyclists and yet within hours of each other , arrive in hospital from accidents in the same area of the UK !

Over the years i have visited  the South West Area of Manchester close to the Airport , so as to stay with friends and ride the lanes in that neighbourhood . Many are the times i have come across members of the British team , doing cross training in that area . Cheshire is fairly popular as an area to live and train and with the Velodrome in close proximity provides ideal opportunities for short and long training rides . Sundays , as mentioned in previous blogs , i have had the occasion to ride with Cycle Clubs out of Altrincham , towards the west of the Manchester Greater Area . Generally i have found that these minor roads are free of those that think the only speed for their vehicle is max revs .

Country UK can be " sleepy hollow ", for the most part , so it is not a big surprise to see vehicle drivers , holding their ears . Oh was that a phone ? No officer , i was scratching my ear ! Totally distracted by the phone chat , the cyclist is just another road obstacle to be ignored ! Too often in the past , the inhabitants of this area were fairly affluent and looked on cyclists as being impoverished yokels . Not any more , since Cycling has risen in stature , for those wishing to get fit , or pose , now rivaling Golf as the Sport , to be seen practicing !

Recently i read an article in the " London Cyclist Blog ( http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/ ) which detailed a few of the reasons that " SMIDSY " can occur on the streets ! As a Cyclist i wear my Helmet and Glasses 100% of the time on the bike . I do not listen to a MP3 or play with the mobile phone and i still get the odd scare as something untoward happens . Looking at people riding with phone to ear or " no hands ( look at me DONT i look stupid ) chump style , annoys me intensely . No matter how nice the weather and slow the traffic is , i am constantly alert for " mistakes "! Yes that is what the driver will claim after hitting you with their tonne plus of metalwork , fact is YOU were responsible for their mistake .

When you are in a roundabout and a vehicle drives in challenging you for the space , are you supposed to get out of their way ? Fact is , it hurts if they hit you , but they get annoyed if you slow down , as they are behind you and unable to go forward . I wonder if those that i bring to a stop , because they tried to force me out of my line , understand the reason i caused them to stop ? Seems that they think a bike is of no account . Would they behave in the same manner if it was another vehicle ? NO CHANCE ! They would know that they risk losing paint and time if they choose to collide with another vehicle's panelwork , but a HUMAN BODY , that is soft and unlikely to harm their vehicle !

Daily i get on my bike , and it now requires more layers , to exercise my right to use the roads and without doing anything untoward i find that there is someone trying to demonstrate that they do not wish to see bikes using the roads they travel . Today on two occasions i was passed by " Learner School Cars " , on both occasions they were followed by traffic . Significant was the fact that they signaled LHS as they passed and RHS as they returned to their position on the roadway . Even more note worthy was the fact that the following two or three vehicles copied their example . Vehicles further behind , adopted the lazy attitude most drivers choose these days .

When " Learner Drivers " are taught to signal , why is it that the " Emergency Service Vehicles " , when on ordinary duty , choose not to set an example to other road users ? Whether Fire , Police or Ambulance Drivers , these people undergo specific training and yet they show CONTEMPT for other traffic as they drive under normal traffic conditions ! Even the road rescue services such as "AA , RAC , OAMTC , etc " think they do not need to set example to other road users ! Every member of the Armed Forces in each " First World Country " undergoes Driver Training Courses  " before they are let loose on the public , and yet they also behave badly .

Each country has it's Driving Codes and i would hazard a guess that ALL require " Signalling Intent " as they pass a slower moving vehicle ? Last time i looked , a bike was regarded as a moving vehicle !

WHEN WILL THE AUTHORITIES DECIDE THAT CYCLISTS DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH CARE ? CAN WE EXPECT POLITICIANS TO TREAT CYCLISTS AS VOTERS AND THUS WORTHY OF THEIR CONSIDERATION AS " HUMAN BEINGS "?