Sep 29, 2006
Basso May Ride Again…Soon
Ivan Basso’s Operation Puerto case took another slow step forward. Today Basso met with CONI for the followup meeting that was originally scheduled for September 12th. The meeting lasted for one hour and no descision was made official as of yet.
The documents are now going to the Judge in Cosenza who will need two or three more days to decide on the case that many are predicting will be dropped. The lack of evidence against Basso in the Operation Puerto case gives CONI not much choice.
After the eventual resolution of the case the only hurdle for Basso’s return to racing is his contract situation with CSC. Bjanrne Riis wants definative proof that Ivan Basso was not involved with Fuentes. Word of Basso and Riis’ relationship has varied, some say they are still friends, while others say the relationship has deteriorated to the point where Basso may have to look for another team. Milram and Discovery Channel are two teams that have been rumored to pick up Basso if he is not a CSC man next year. The likelyhood of Basso riding in a blue jersey is prety much up to where you get your news.
From what Tuttobiciweb reports, the outcome of this situation could see Basso return to racing very soon. Basso has been training on his bike despite no racing and was recently spotted riding with the Italian national team just before the World Championships last weekend. Perhaps with a quick return to action we may see Basso line up for the Giro di Lombardia.