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Paris-Nice started yesterday, under a cloud of drama. So sad this years racing season holds more questions that excitement. The battle between the ASO and UCI has most fans waiting to see which way the bottle spins next.
Yesterday was the official start of the cycling season, and the International cyclist union and the Amaury Sport Organisation (the French media conglomerate that owns many of the historic classics, The Tour de Fracne, Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix and many of the other of the 'Grand Classics' have been feuding). It puts the athletes in a tight spot, if they race ASO races, they risk being excluded from the Olympics, the World Championships, and also risk up to a 6 month suspension, and a 10,000 (Swiss)franc fine.
It leaves us wondering 'who will actually race'? Many who are contenders for rainbow jerseys of specific disciplines are avoiding Paris-Nice.
Then there is Astana which angered the ASO and have been excluded from all ASO events. That means the TdF will be quite lame, since last years winner by a simple twist of fate, will not be invited (nor the 3rd place finisher, Levi). It just so happens that the team they raced for, closed its doors and the team and manager were hired by the embattled Astana (Astana was kicked out of the tour last year because the team contender tested positive for PED's) and this year even thou the team has fired all those who had questionable past and brought in Disco's manager Johan Bruyneel, and most of the Disco squad (which included Contador, Levi and many others from Discovery) will be excluded from the 'greatest' race of the year.
What it boils down to a struggle over money and power, but the way I see it (the underlying aim of the ASO) is that there has not been a French rider on the podium since 1985 or 1986 (cant remember which was the last year Hinnault won) and the fact that Disco has essentially owned the race for nearly the last 10 years (seven in a row for Lance, last year was poor Floyd Landis's {he rode for Phonak} folly and then last year Alberto and Levi both took podium spots) the French have accused every winner of doping, tested many of them more than any French rider has ever been tested. The ones with out good legal representation have suffered. So they can not win their race fairly, they choose to win it with out honor.
My rant (and disappointment) with this years cycling season.
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