Basso the Disco
The inevitable has come to pass.
The Discovery Channel has announced that they have signed Ivan Basso to a two year contract reportedly earning between $1.5 and $2 million USD a year. DSC has not hidden their interest in Basso since his days at Fassa Bortolo, while Basso, who had entertained offers from non-Pro Tour teams, could not refuse the money or the potential to make his run at the Giro-Tour double.
This gives the blue train a definitive leader as it takes the line for the 2007 season. This should come as a relief to the team whose 2006 season was only slightly less as embarrassing as the LAPD's portfolio of celebrity mug shots. One of the most excited people over the signing of the Italian had to be DS Bruyneel, who watched his genius status drop to clueless as grand tour strategist during the 2006 Tour. It is amazing how having a (potential) winner can change that.
The most interesting thing to come out of this deal is Disco's complete disregard for the October 25th unanimous decision by AIGCP teams to refrain from signing riders implicated in doping investigations, even before the full results are known. With this being a US based squad, maybe they are relying on the fact that the general US population will not get hung up on drug allegations or be aware of these gentlemen's agreements. This move however, stunned CSC, T-mobile, and Gerolsteiner. Web site www.express.de quoted T-Mobile Sports Director Rolf Aldag as saying, "I find it inconceivable that Basso will sign with Discovery Channel," adding, "Basso and Jan Ullrich, too, should prove their innocence, only then will they be interesting again." Bjarne Riis admitted to cyclingnews.com that "the interests of individuals prevail while the initiatives go disregarded." Perhaps DSC's decision to have a DNA sample given to the UCI as the final portion of the contract was intended to be a thoughtful, "get well soon" card after stabbing all these other teams in the back.
In the end, it's all about "Score board." Basso was never confirmed to have doped and now he joins a team with a seasoned legal squad well equipped with the expertise to fight drug allegations. Teams had better watch out next summer, because Disco is back.
The Discovery Channel has announced that they have signed Ivan Basso to a two year contract reportedly earning between $1.5 and $2 million USD a year. DSC has not hidden their interest in Basso since his days at Fassa Bortolo, while Basso, who had entertained offers from non-Pro Tour teams, could not refuse the money or the potential to make his run at the Giro-Tour double.
This gives the blue train a definitive leader as it takes the line for the 2007 season. This should come as a relief to the team whose 2006 season was only slightly less as embarrassing as the LAPD's portfolio of celebrity mug shots. One of the most excited people over the signing of the Italian had to be DS Bruyneel, who watched his genius status drop to clueless as grand tour strategist during the 2006 Tour. It is amazing how having a (potential) winner can change that.
The most interesting thing to come out of this deal is Disco's complete disregard for the October 25th unanimous decision by AIGCP teams to refrain from signing riders implicated in doping investigations, even before the full results are known. With this being a US based squad, maybe they are relying on the fact that the general US population will not get hung up on drug allegations or be aware of these gentlemen's agreements. This move however, stunned CSC, T-mobile, and Gerolsteiner. Web site www.express.de quoted T-Mobile Sports Director Rolf Aldag as saying, "I find it inconceivable that Basso will sign with Discovery Channel," adding, "Basso and Jan Ullrich, too, should prove their innocence, only then will they be interesting again." Bjarne Riis admitted to cyclingnews.com that "the interests of individuals prevail while the initiatives go disregarded." Perhaps DSC's decision to have a DNA sample given to the UCI as the final portion of the contract was intended to be a thoughtful, "get well soon" card after stabbing all these other teams in the back.
In the end, it's all about "Score board." Basso was never confirmed to have doped and now he joins a team with a seasoned legal squad well equipped with the expertise to fight drug allegations. Teams had better watch out next summer, because Disco is back.
Labels: Bjarne Riis, CSC, Discovery Channel, Fassa Bortolo, Gerolsteiner, Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich, Johan Bruyneel, Rolf Aldag, T-Mobile
posted by Roger Haskins at 8:28 AM
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