Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

(pic from http://www.team-csc.com/)

Ivan Basso and Bjarne Riis are no longer working together. The fallout from the Operation Puerto scandal has tarnished the relationship between Riis and rising star Basso. The close working relationship took a severe blow when allegations arose over Ivan Basso’s involvement with Dr. Fuentes who is at the picenter of the Operation Puerto situation. Basso was cleared of any involvement in the Operation Puerto case due to lack of evidence. However, the case could still be revisited if new evidence became available.

“After all that has happened, especially this summer, Team CSC and Ivan Basso have agreed to part ways. It has been a very difficult decision, but both parties agree it is time to move on. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ivan for his time with the team and for the great results he and the team have achieved together. At the same time, we wish him all the best for the future,” says Bjarne Riis. — http://www.team-csc.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1116

Basso also needed to prove to Bjarne Riis that he was not involved with Dr. Fuentes. Riis wanted extra hard evidence which involved Basso taking a DNA test which could be tested against the bags of blood found in Dr. Fuentes lab. Ivan Basso refused to take a DNA test under advice from his lawyer. The reasoning was that the blood bags found as evidence may have not been stored properly and could provide dubious results. This refusal was probably the detail that led to the split between Riis and Basso. For Riis this split is completely understandable since Basso is damaged goods. It would be hard to get new sponsors on board with Ivan Basso having questions and allegations surrounding him over the Operation Puerto scandal. What if new evidence were to arise next June? That seems to be the time of year that cycling related drug investigation get publicity. The team would find itself in the same situation as this year.

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Team CSC also relies on trust between riders which is formed in their winter survival camps. Team cohesion is something that Riis tries to build on the team. With the Basso situation most riders who were committed to helping Basso in the Tour found themselves left high and dry. Riders such as Sastre, Schleck and Voight were able to find personal glory in the Tour to make up for the shakeup the team experienced at the begining of the Tour. By the end of July it seemed that the very talented team was ready to move on as they have plenty of riders that can get results throughout the year. Team CSC doesn’t really need Ivan Basso, and they will probably be better off without him and the Operation Puerto scandal.

Basso seems to have plenty of contract offers seem to be on the table. Discovery Channel and Milram seem to be the front runners for now, but don’t rule out Liquigas or any other team at this point. Signing Basso may be a risk since the ASO (organizing body of the Tour de France) may try to find a way to exclude Basso from competing in the Tour. That is why a team such as Discovery Channel would be the best fit for Ivan.

Discovery Channel would like nothing more than to sign Basso who is a very likeable athlete. Discovery Channel is very familiar with managing Tour de France polemeics they would probably relish having a riders such as Basso on staff. Basso’s Tour pedigree would give them a solid contender that the newly revamped team could easily carry to a win. Bruyneel is on par with Riis in terms of bringing out talent and has a wealth of experience in winning stage races. It seems that Basso should lean to Discovery Channel as his best option for returning to racing.

Milram and Liquigas do not have a well established team that could support Basso in the Giro and Tour. Milram is a sprinters team. They have plenty of big engines that could power Basso in the flat stages, but they would have to split their goals between getting stage victories for Alessandro Petacchi and trying to keep Basso high in the GC. These two were teammates back in the Fassa Bortolo days where Basso simply followed wheels in the Tour. To win the Tour you need a team, and Milram doesn’t have the complete package for Basso.