Basso vs. Cunego: Let’s Get it On!
by PopUp Rolen on Feb 17, 2009 9:29 AM EST
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PrintIn a battle of new media vs. old media, Damiano Cunego fired the first salvo at Ivan Basso in Gazetta dello Sport, making thinly veiled references to the “Courageous” Liquigas gas rider’s past doping problems and newly avowed transparency.
"I only hope that there is a balanced playing field, otherwise those who have talked so much about transparency would be better to keep quiet."
Mr. Basso did not take to kindly to the alleged insinuation by the Little Prince and responded the best way he knew how: Twitter.
i'm reading gazzetta dello sport if cunego refers to me about trasparency. i find it very funny..
Like, OMG, LOL, RAOFL.
I yearn for the days when riders settled their differences like men: in lycra shorts and wild flailing attacks.
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I saw Basso's "tweet"
and couldn’t help thinking that it could become a dangerous tool.
It’s fantastic to get instant / live reactions from riders before they can get “handled” by their managers.
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
In a perfect world
rival cyclists would spend the buildup to each big race tweeting subtle insults to each other. Someone has to introduce Simoni to the technology as soon as possible.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 17, 2009 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
This has to happen
It’s no coincidence that I have both Cunego and Simoni on my team. I plan to get them twitter accounts this weekend.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
Ya gotta love the Italians
They’re trying to reopen that Puerto Investigation in reference to Valverde but they didn’t make the slightest effort to reevaluate the Giro performances of riders such as Ricco and Sella who were clearly doped. The Italians indifference to doping is killing the sport right now, all to often they seem willing to turn a blind eye to doping whenever one of their own is involved.
I dunno
I’m biased, but the Italians are somewhere in the middle of the omerta pecking order. Not the French, but miles beyond Spain. Look at CONI’s scalp collection: Pantani, Basso, Sella, etc.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 17, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
Are you serious?
That sounds really odd, given the very high profile riders that CONI has thrown out lately. Compared to all but the French, I’d call them pretty serious about anti-doping these days. Their attitude partly has to do with the connections between doping and organized crime. It’s true CONI’s priority seems to be the suppliers – so you have a case like Sella, who received a short ban. But his supplier Priamo got like four years (still could appeal.) There are still a lot of problems with the control system there – star riders who know when the controllers are coming, for example. But they’re doing considerably more than many of the other major cycling countries. Germany – Schumacher, Luxemburg, Schleck, Spain, just about everyone.
Correct me if I'm wrong....
but didn’t the Italians issue Sella a one year doping ban? It’s great to hear that they’re going after the suppliers but what about the guy that actually embarrassed the sport by using the banned substance in the first place? Shouldn’t he be held accountable as well? 1 or 2 years out of the sport isn’t going to break these guys, as evidenced by Basso’s return.
Sure...
I agree that Sella’s ban is short – I’d also like to see him out for longer. But they got his supplier, which I think counts for something. I guess I agree with the argument that there needs to be some incentive to give up the information. Sella sang, so he got a shorter ban. Now, CONI is throwing four years at his supplier.
Also, you seem to have picked the one example where CONI went relatively easy. Riccò got two years – he got a reduction for naming Santuccione, but he’s still out for a while.
{Shrug}
The Italians are far from perfect, but they’re doing more than any number of others.
reduced sentence
for cooperation. Saved them the horrors of a difficult trial. This is the oldest trick in the prosecutorial book, and a pretty good way to do business.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 17, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
Italians "indifference"?
They seem to be the only ones handing out punishment to their own riders.
The Spaniards on the othe hand…
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
Well if the re-testing was aimed at getting Ricco and Sella
that would be a bit like shooting a dead horse. Those two were already caught and on their way to suspensions. Only the criminally naive would have any reason to re-evaluate their Giros based on any tests.
Retesting Giro-results to see if they could find other CERA-users besides Ricco and Sella I would be very much in favour of.
Giro
They are apparently using Giro samples in the DNA matching case.
The story out of Italy was that the UCI owns the samples from the Giro, and would not release them for re-testing. No idea if that’s actually so, but it does make some sense. The UCI does carry out the in-competition testing. Given McQuaid’s public statements, it’s clear the UCI is not in favor of re-testing old races. The precedent could cause some sleepless nights there at the UCI HQ. What’s less clear is if the Italians made any effort to change the UCI’s mind on this issue.
What about all the prize money and recognition these riders attained through cheating?
I agree that it’s not fair to go back and re-test samples of riders that no one suspects of doping but when you talk about Ricco and Sella you have two riders that were caught within months of the Giro and therefore can be reasonably suspected of doping during the Giro itself, particularly in light of their outstanding performances in that race. If they did dope shouldn’t they be required to forfeit any prize money earned to the riders who were apparently clean? Letting them keep that money creates an incentive to dope in my opinion, and conversely it makes the riders who are clean doubt that the UCI has the best interest of cycling in mind.
Prizemoney is so small in cycling
The big prize is usually the biiig payrise in the next contract. Apart from that I agree with you in principle.
unintended consequences
Typical team practice is for prize money to be collected and distributed amongst riders and staff at the end of the year . . .
so . . . making Ricco and Sella (and don’t forget Peeps!!!) forfeit prize money doesn’t hurt them so much as it hurts their team-mates.
Everybody signed the:
I pay one year salary if I got caught before the Tour? Isnt that the case? Are their people how actually paid.. Í rode an article a long time ago that the riders didn’t pay.
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
That's some dust-up
Though I thought the rider on the left had a clear chance to pull the other guy’s jersey over his head, the ultimate brawling checkmate move.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 17, 2009 10:42 AM EST reply actions
The Italians set a dangerous precendent with Basso
Which was their willingness to accept Basso’s admission of “intent to cheat” back in 2006. That’s sends a clear message to young riders in Italy right now that it’s OK to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar just so long as you admit to it and serve your time. Ricco is serving his time and will probably resume his career in a year and half with the same unrepentant attitude that Basso has today, it’s a cycle. Call me a cynic, but I wouldn’t be surpised if some of the young riders in Italy are planning a similar path to glory in a few years time.
I'm not sure
For most cyclists a 2-year ban will equal end of career. Only the really talented guys will have/find the money to bridge that period and make a comeback.
Look at Vandenbroucke
apparently he has now signed up for an Australian team.
Best line of that blog post...
“apparently, Kobe has acquired a taste for Shaq’s ass”
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
you really should -
I saw it when it first came out, funniest thing I saw all last summer. In summary: Shaq “freestyling” (clearly he’s not freestyling) in a club shortly after the NBA finals last year, repeating over and over “Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes.”
by plinytheelder on Feb 18, 2009 4:01 AM EST up reply actions
Basso's twitting is priceless
we find you very funny too ivan ;-)
It’s interesting over the past season or so, Cunego has really become much more out-spoken about anti-doping. Hopefully, it’s not just talk.
+1
Daily essential reading, the Basso tweets. I love his new pink colour scheme as well. So cute….or maybe he’s thinking it will match the colour of the jersey he wants to wear in May?
It's all in the English...which is understandable but just a little bit crooked.
It’s makes me giggle even more to imagine him saying it…never has the phrase “I go to sleep” seemed so endearing! Still, his English is much better than it was in the days of Overcoming; he managed quite a servicable interview in Road to Roubaix.
All the cool guys twitter in pink
Bork, bork, bork!
by TheFigurehead on Feb 17, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
Strange policy, but no loss in this case
That’s my twitter page.
Bork, bork, bork!
by TheFigurehead on Feb 17, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
The British Strategy
à la David Millar … is to make a hero out of a doper.
Go CONI Go
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
Gossip World Headquarters might need to open a satelite office in Italy
It’s becoming pretty obvious that we’ll need a full-time gossip columnist on the scene at this Giro, and I might be too busy taking pictures of Gibo…er, that is, providing otherwise comprehensive coverage, to pick up on all the gossip.
by Susie Hartigan on Feb 17, 2009 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
lol
The Gossip World Headquarters would be delighted to relocate to Italy. Sadly, our budget does not yet extend to such luxuries.
We will endeavor to overcome this burden.
I'll work for free if it would help?
The Bennati Research Group clearly needs someone on the ground in Italy.
Per the internationally agreed upon definitions
fondling other peoples buttocks is not considered “research”.
and... uhhhhhh... very strong industrial glue...
… in the beginning.
that’s damn funny Bruce… wow…
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
Here is Pim de Keysergracht on the right (voiceover on the video)
Team Easy On (sponsored by a polish comdom-brand) was a regular fixture on a danish comedy show. Pim is the sprinter and Bobby Olesen the climber.
I can recommend this episode
Even if most of it is in danish, the parts with Pim are in english and unless you are dutch and easily offended it’s pretty funny.
The basic plot is that doping controllers arrive at the team camper, DS Primdahl switches urine with Pim, relieves himself on the testers car saying “if it’s urine they want thats what they’ll get”. The tests come back negative for doping but they advice Pim to seek help for other problems. Pim enjoys tha fact that Primdahl does in fact have a problem with VD.
Getting curious (I'm on school can't open it right now)..
‘Unless you are Dutch’..
It can’t be worse then Goldmember in Austin Powers isn’t it?
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
"äckligt" = gross?
It’s “ekelig” in German :)
PS: don’t do a google image search for “ekelhaft” (synonym)
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
on a sidenote
Nowadays I always keep 2 Creedence CDs in my car just in case it gets stolen. Plus papers, you know…. just papers, business papers.
Wise move
Hey Jens, you want me to pick you up some nice wooden shoes in Solvang? or maybe a dozen cheese danish? Just let me know…
Where the #@&$ is my Time?
Thanks but no thanks
I have a pair of these already for use around the house
and I live half an hour by train from Copenhagen so if I’m in the mood for real danish (known as wienerbrød) I’ll get fresh ones there.
Stupid hooty tooty “I’m going to Solvang and you’re not”- people mumble mumble……
He sang every morning how lucky I am
living in a windmill in Old Amsterdam.
Silly Jens
“Copenhagen” is a brand of chewing tobacco, not an actual place. Next thing you’ll be trying to convince me that San DIego was not founded by Germans…
The Dude will have a White Russian...
All the German vocabulary they don't teach at school
in just one minute
Speaking of Denmark
A very Danish domino. I’m sure one can do a Belgian version with Stella.
Bork, bork, bork!
by TheFigurehead on Feb 18, 2009 1:00 PM EST up reply actions
I had a look
But couldn’t find anything possibly offensive to Dutch people. The Pim-guy is supposed to be Dutch? Or are the Doping people Dutch?
Basso's english
Is pretty good in his CN-diary.
You think he doesn’t write that himself? Some people just see conspiracies everywhere…
Nah, I just think it's heavily edited.
Why? Because sometimes whoever’s doing it misses a line or two, like when Basso’s talking about Twitter (Dec 18):
In Italy we don’t really use as people Stateside but I want to miss out.
Google is my domestique.
Well he does have a translater travel with him
he is on twitter as well
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
yep thats him
He writes some funny stuff on twitter..
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
How much fun it will be in my hotel in april..
Lampre and Liquigas same hotel!!!! oh and throw in Quickstep as well
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
He may come and train there with them..
Well, you never know…
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
LoL, there is always hope!! hehehe
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
If only i didn't have to work
and had a big bank account, I would!!!
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
Couldn't you just
persuade your boss to invade Italy. For old times’ sake.
Now that could work
Then i’d get free trip and as i’m Logistics, I’d make sur the Giro still went ahead..
Great Idea. now to start the evil plan…
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
Damn am I going to have to ride down Kemmelberg
I better check my Itinerary.. I was worried about going up, shit means I have to get down!!
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
Sweet
I better still check, as i’m suppose to do part of Paris-Roubaix and gent-Wevelgem…
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
Yes but Jimmy Casper did learn
that avoiding wristinjury by stopping a fall with your face is not the preferred method.
Face injury
Hughhhh I haven’t signed up for that…
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
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