Bjarne Riis Looking Toward A Clean Future

From the very beginning, Riis wanted CSC to be something different. He didn't want egotistic athletes filling their pockets with money and shelves with palmares any way possible. His focus was to build a core philosophy of "team", where the riders put each other first. If they could give their all for the team, respect the team, never embarrass the team, and show the rest of the cycling world what character really is, the awards and money would come to them secondary. So it was no surprise to see how disappointed Bjarne was to hear that his protege, Ivan Basso, had been linked to the Puerto investigation. But that is a tough spot, either Riis knew what was going on and did nothing until Basso was caught (which I do not think is the case), or Riis had no idea what was taking place on his team, and to his fault, really should have been more aware.
So on a matter of principal Riis and the rest of Team CSC removed Basso from the roster, only to watch him never get a formal confirmation of his doping, and then get snatched by a rival squad. Bjarne's firm principles led to his mismanagement of the situation and caused him to act too quickly in letting Basso go. But no one will ever mistake Riis as a man of character, and with that, he is moving on.
Riis and Team CSC announced a new anti-doping program which will set the standard for cycling and professional sports teams around the world. This unprecedented plan will have CSC riders complying to close to 800 drug control test starting in December and continuing through the '07 season. Coincidentally, or not, most of these tests will occur Out of Competition, when riders are on break or in training sessions, and away from the watchful eye of their DS. On team-csc.com Riis announced, "Our ambition is to be pioneers in the work against doping" and "I have no qualms about submitting our riders to the most rigorous tests out there, because we want cycling to be a clean sport. I have faith in the fact that our riders have the right attitude and I would like for them to be able to show this to the world."
The power of this initiative comes from the fact that CSC is not a scrappy little amateur or Continental Team. This is CSC! CSC that has had riders dominating in all types of races during the whole season and who has been unmatched in team competitions. For a team like this to make a move like this, I hope it does place pressure on the other squads. Realistically though, this will only happen if they can find a way to continue their great success with out a powerful rider like Basso. Discovery didn't do well when their leader was removed, it remains to be seen how CSC will adjust. For the effort though, I tip my hat to Riis for initiating the move.

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.