Axelsson Back....

Garry Jones <[email hidden]> writes:

[SNIP]

Quoted message said:

What is this WADA deal all about? I thought it was more to do with unity
across sports, but here in Sweden it is said that the NHL constantly
refuse to test any ice hockey players. So much for unity and fairness
when everyone else is constantly picking on cycling and cyclists.

If Niclas is now released from his ban are there likely to be any
interested teams out there for him?

http://www.wada-ama.org/en/t3.asp?p=41978

Goto page 26 of the Athlete's guide. I don't think there are any hard and fast
rulez 🙂

On 08/04/2004 05:18 PM, in article [email hidden], "Garry

Jones said:

Next week SCF are to sign the WADA deal where it is agreed that no ban
can exceed two years. There has been speculation in Sweden that the
implications of this will leave Niclas free to race again. Does anyone
know if this is true?

I thought the WADA rules were that the MINIMUM ban was 2 years, which is one
of the reasons why the UCI balked for so long ... because they thought the
rules were too strict.

If the maximum ban is 2 years (as you indicate), that sounds pretty freakin'
lenient to me ...

--
Steven L. Sheffield
stevens at veloworks dot com
veloworks at worldnet dot ay tea tee dot net
bellum pax est libertas servitus est ignoratio vis est
ess ay ell tea ell ay kay ee sea aye tee why you ti ay aitch
aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you
double-yew double-ewe dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash

"Garry Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Anyone remember Niclas Axelsson?

Of course. I was just thinking about him as the only guy I can recall that
imposed his own ban.

Quoted message said:

He came 6th in the giro the year that
Pantani was booted out after the penultimate stage. Axelsson's best
result was a third in Lombardi 2001, caught on the line after leading
for the last 35 km (he punctured with 4 km to go and cycled on with the
flat).

Yup. Casagrande closed the gap and damned if I can remember who won it
(someone who sat on Big House). So much for the theory that only the winner
is remembered.

Quoted message said:

After coming 14th in the world championships a few weeks later he tested
positive for EPO. The Swedish Cycling Federation (SCF) had not
acknowledged the test used by the UCI so they were powerless to react.
However, Niclas then admitted taking EPO and on the strength of that the
SCF slapped a four year ban on him. At the time Niclas decided to retire
from cycling. However, he has had a change of heart and plans a come
back in 2006 when he will turn 35. He has been in full training for the
last two years.

I moved to Niclas's home town of Mora in Sweden in 1988 and have
followed his career since he was 16 when he won the Swedish junior
championships. Niclas was often away but I did get to train with him on
several occasions. I remember one memorable 230 km "recovery" ride in
1998 when I was at max for over 6 hours whilst he was barely breaking
sweat. Well, I never believed that he would go near EPO given the
Swedish view on such ghastly things.

Next week SCF are to sign the WADA deal where it is agreed that no ban
can exceed two years.

That is probably reasonable as long as it includes repayment of all prizes
award as a result of the fraud.

Quoted message said:

There has been speculation in Sweden that the
implications of this will leave Niclas free to race again. Does anyone
know if this is true?

That naturally depends on whether the new rule is retroactive.

Quoted message said:

What is this WADA deal all about? I thought it was more to do with unity
across sports, but here in Sweden it is said that the NHL constantly
refuse to test any ice hockey players. So much for unity and fairness
when everyone else is constantly picking on cycling and cyclists.

The WADA can't compell anyone to join. They only hope that public pressure
will influence the various organizations to join or comply. Can you think of
any global entity that has the authority to require participation? I can't.

Quoted message said:

If Niclas is now released from his ban are there likely to be any
interested teams out there for him?

Sure. If he is modest enough in his salary requirements I bet he would have
multiple offers.

Quoted message said:

Garry J
English Cyclist ResIDING in Sweden

"Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Garry Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Anyone remember Niclas Axelsson?

Quoted message said:

He came 6th in the giro the year that
Pantani was booted out after the penultimate stage. Axelsson's best
result was a third in Lombardi 2001, caught on the line after leading
for the last 35 km (he punctured with 4 km to go and cycled on with the
flat).

Yup. Casagrande closed the gap and damned if I can remember who won it
(someone who sat on Big House). So much for the theory that only the

winner

Quoted message said:

is remembered.

2000 was where Axelsson got third. He attacked halfway up the Berbenno but
was caught with 300m to go...by Casagrande (Vini Caldirola), who had towed
up Fassa Bortolo's Raimondas Rumsas, who promptly won the sprint :-) All of
the place getters had or have since been involved in doping. (ref:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2000/oct00/lombardia/lombresults.shtml)

In 2001 Axelsson attacked with 25 km to go, was caught by Boogerd, then
crashed and finished 9th. Then Virenque, Di Luca and Figueras. Figueras led
out the sprint on the wet cobbles but slipped a few times and Di Luca won
from Figueras, Boogerd and Virenque. (ref:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/oct01/lombardia/results.shtml)

Jeff

Jeff Jones said:

In 2001 Axelsson attacked with 25 km to go, was caught by Boogerd, then
crashed and finished 9th. Then Virenque, Di Luca and Figueras. Figueras led
out the sprint on the wet cobbles but slipped a few times and Di Luca won
from Figueras, Boogerd and Virenque. (ref:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/oct01/lombardia/results.shtml)

And of the 2001 crew, the only one not implicated in doping would be
Boogerd....

Chris said:

The WADA can't compell anyone to join. They only hope that public pressure
will influence the various organizations to join or comply. Can you think of
any global entity that has the authority to require participation? I can't.

Okay, it is confirmed in Sweden today.

Axelsson is free to race again as of 13th August 2004. His ban was
originally through December 2005.

This is the story of the SCF (Swedish Cycling Federation), WADA and
UCI.....

UCI have signed the WADA deal. SCF have not counter-signed the deal with
UCI as required by UCI. Reports here (and I have no reason to doubt
them) are that Sweden are to be refused entry into the Olympics if they
do not sign with the UCI before 14th August (men's road race). The plan
is to sign the deal on 13th August. And the implications of this are
Axelsson is free to race again. However, he is not completely free
because the SCF have slapped a life ban on Niclas representing the
national team.

One must see this from a Swedish perspective to understand why that is
important. Sweden focuses on national pride and sees Olympic Gold as the
major honour in cycling. Until 1996 (when the Olympics went open)
budding cyclists were discouraged from turning pro so as to focus on the
olympics. In 1999 Bernt Johannsson's Olympic gold in 1976 was voted as
the fourth greatest sporting achievement by a Swede in the 20th century.
Gösta's 1971 Giro win was not event nominated. Last year a plan for
olympic gold for Sweden in 2008 was launched. The focus here is on good
one day racers, climbers and stage riders do not receive the same
support here. Magnus Backstedts Paris-Roubaix win received very little
attention here, if he wins gold next week he will become a never-to-be
forgotten national hero.My understanding is that out there in the big
wide world that the Olympics are not as important as the classics or the
tours.

Another anomaly of Swedish cycling is the way cycling results are
reported here. All mention of any team is stripped, hence in the tdf the
results read, Armstrong (USA), Ljunqkvist (Swe), Backstedt (Swe). This
way of reporting results is universally used in Sweden. Even the SCF's
own periodical (Nya Cyklisten) and text-tv use the same presentation.
(teams not mentioned).

Sorry I sidetarcked a bit, but all this has something to do with why
Axelsson received such a long ban, he was representing Sweden when he
used EPO and it is widely understood that he let the country down.

Garry Jones
Englih Cyclist ResIDING in Sweden.

"Stewart Fleming" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeff Jones said:

In 2001 Axelsson attacked with 25 km to go, was caught by Boogerd, then
crashed and finished 9th. Then Virenque, Di Luca and Figueras. Figueras

led

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out the sprint on the wet cobbles but slipped a few times and Di Luca

won

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

from Figueras, Boogerd and Virenque. (ref:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/oct01/lombardia/results.shtml)

And of the 2001 crew, the only one not implicated in doping would be
Boogerd....

True, although Di Luca's still a bit of a question mark. Obviously, the
race's reputation puts Bartoli's successive wins in 2002 and 2003 under a
cloud ;-) Maybe the Italians should open another investigation?

Jeff

Garry Jones <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Chris said:

The WADA can't compell anyone to join. They only hope that public pressure
will influence the various organizations to join or comply. Can you think of
any global entity that has the authority to require participation? I can't.

Okay, it is confirmed in Sweden today.

Axelsson is free to race again as of 13th August 2004. His ban was
originally through December 2005.

This is the story of the SCF (Swedish Cycling Federation), WADA and
UCI.....

UCI have signed the WADA deal. SCF have not counter-signed the deal with
UCI as required by UCI. Reports here (and I have no reason to doubt
them) are that Sweden are to be refused entry into the Olympics if they
do not sign with the UCI before 14th August (men's road race). The plan
is to sign the deal on 13th August. And the implications of this are
Axelsson is free to race again. However, he is not completely free
because the SCF have slapped a life ban on Niclas representing the
national team.

One must see this from a Swedish perspective to understand why that is
important. Sweden focuses on national pride and sees Olympic Gold as the
major honour in cycling. Until 1996 (when the Olympics went open)
budding cyclists were discouraged from turning pro so as to focus on the
olympics. In 1999 Bernt Johannsson's Olympic gold in 1976 was voted as
the fourth greatest sporting achievement by a Swede in the 20th century.
Gösta's 1971 Giro win was not event nominated.

That has nothing to do with the merits of each accomplishment but
rather the emotional attachment associated with each achievement.

Quoted message said:

Last year a plan for
olympic gold for Sweden in 2008 was launched. The focus here is on good
one day racers, climbers and stage riders do not receive the same
support here. Magnus Backstedts Paris-Roubaix win received very little
attention here, if he wins gold next week he will become a never-to-be
forgotten national hero.My understanding is that out there in the big
wide world that the Olympics are not as important as the classics or the
tours.

The olympics are very big everywhere, the classics and the tours are
only are only bigger among cycling fans. When the media isn't into
cycling winning a gold in the olympics seams like the best you can
achieve I don't think that that's something unique for sweden other
than the lack of cycling expertise in the mainstream media.

It's funny right now when the olympics are near that various sports
gets attention as olympic sports. It's as if the athletes don't do
anything for four years other than train for the olympics which is
their "only" goal. Then again in many sports the olympics ARE the
biggest thing you can win but I still feel that the media should get
in touch with the reality of the specific sports and not see it as an
olympic thing.

Quoted message said:

Another anomaly of Swedish cycling is the way cycling results are
reported here. All mention of any team is stripped, hence in the tdf the
results read, Armstrong (USA), Ljunqkvist (Swe), Backstedt (Swe). This
way of reporting results is universally used in Sweden. Even the SCF's
own periodical (Nya Cyklisten) and text-tv use the same presentation.
(teams not mentioned).

Sorry I sidetarcked a bit, but all this has something to do with why
Axelsson received such a long ban, he was representing Sweden when he
used EPO and it is widely understood that he let the country down.

Garry Jones
Englih Cyclist ResIDING in Sweden.

Ingemar Svensson said:

The olympics are very big everywhere, the classics and the tours are
only bigger among cycling fans.

And Worlds! Although by all the quotes we get through CN, it seems as
though the Olympic road race has a lot of big names very interested,
more and more. The placing on the calendar definitely takes some glamour
away from Worlds.

Ewoud Dronkert <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Ingemar Svensson said:

The olympics are very big everywhere, the classics and the tours are
only bigger among cycling fans.

And Worlds! Although by all the quotes we get through CN, it seems as
though the Olympic road race has a lot of big names very interested,
more and more. The placing on the calendar definitely takes some glamour
away from Worlds.

Sure, but Worlds is every year, you only get the chance to wallow in
grief and self pity for missing the winning break in the Olympics RR
every 4 years.

Richard Adams said:

Sure, but Worlds is every year, you only get the chance to wallow in
grief and self pity for missing the winning break in the Olympics RR
every 4 years.

Does anyone know how much attention is paid to Olympic cycling in
countries like France, Italy and Spain?

Had a Swede won the tdf the reports here would be "This must increase
his chances in the Olympics". To us in the know we would laugh at this.
However, to the mainstream Swede (non cyclist), an Olympic gold would be
mean more than an overall in the tdf. Sad, but true.

I understand things have improved in the States. In Samuel Abt's book
"Greg Lemond" the tale is told of how a Frenchman followed Lemond back
to the states after he (Lemond) had won the tour de France in 1989.
Half-expecting millions of people and a welcome home tickertape
reception the Frenchman was surprised when just a handful of Lemond's
nearest relatives had turned up. One of Lemond's bags had been lost in
transport. At the baggage complaints desk he reported this and said
"Lemond". The girl at the desk looked up and asked "And how do you spell
that?".

Garry Jones
English Cylist ResIDING in Sweden

Garry Jones said:

Richard Adams said:

Sure, but Worlds is every year, you only get the chance to wallow in
grief and self pity for missing the winning break in the Olympics RR
every 4 years.

Does anyone know how much attention is paid to Olympic cycling in
countries like France, Italy and Spain?

This time the olympic road race is receiving an attention like never before
because of the discussion around the quite weird selection operated by
Balllerini, who had left out Rebellin, the author of the unprecedented
springtime Ardennes triplet.
But still, the chat is much less not only than about Giro or Tour (that
here are big events attracting 5/6 millions of TV viewers) but also than
the monument classics or the Worlds. I would say that in terms of attention
the Olympic Road Race here is on par with the minor World Cup events like
Hamburg or San Sebastian. At the times when the event was amateur it was
less than that, it received less TV time than any local pro race.

Garry Jones <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I understand things have improved in the States. In Samuel Abt's book
"Greg Lemond" the tale is told of how a Frenchman followed Lemond back
to the states after he (Lemond) had won the tour de France in 1989.
Half-expecting millions of people and a welcome home tickertape
reception the Frenchman was surprised when just a handful of Lemond's
nearest relatives had turned up. One of Lemond's bags had been lost in
transport. At the baggage complaints desk he reported this and said
"Lemond". The girl at the desk looked up and asked "And how do you spell
that?".

I think that is the good part. I don't like the idea of adulation to
the point where stalkers are everywhere.

Hey, it's great that Bernard Hinault won 5 Tours and that Greg won 3
and Lance 6. But should that mean that they no longer have a private
life?

Davide Tosi said:

This time the olympic road race is receiving an attention like never before
because of the discussion around the quite weird selection operated by
Balllerini, who had left out Rebellin, the author of the unprecedented
springtime Ardennes triplet.

Not a direct comment regarding Ballerini or Rebellin, but the
director-general of WADA recently made some interesting comments...

"We know there are other 'designer drugs' out there and we are hunting
them down."

"More cheats will be caught at the Athens Olympics than ever before."

Athens will be the "lion's den" (WADA HQ) for a month. Look at the
pattern of selections and withdrawals before Sydney, compare with now
and connect the dots.

IF you knew you weren't competing clean, why would you go?
If you knew, or even had suspicions about an athlete, why would you
select them?

"Stewart Fleming" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message
de :
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Davide Tosi said:

This time the olympic road race is receiving an attention like never

before

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

because of the discussion around the quite weird selection operated by
Balllerini, who had left out Rebellin, the author of the unprecedented
springtime Ardennes triplet.

Not a direct comment regarding Ballerini or Rebellin, but the
director-general of WADA recently made some interesting comments...

"We know there are other 'designer drugs' out there and we are hunting
them down."

"More cheats will be caught at the Athens Olympics than ever before."

Athens will be the "lion's den" (WADA HQ) for a month. Look at the
pattern of selections and withdrawals before Sydney, compare with now
and connect the dots.

Well, he wants/needs money to operate - and typical bureaucrat, he wants a
bigger kingdom. So he is promising a technicolor bloodbath of cheaters. If
it turns out that way, he gets more money from the success. If it turns out
the opposite, he claims the threat kept cheaters away, but they'll be back.
(Wasn't there a movie line about "he's back"?)
--
Bonne route,

Sandy
Paris FR

Garry Jones <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Richard Adams said:

Sure, but Worlds is every year, you only get the chance to wallow in
grief and self pity for missing the winning break in the Olympics RR
every 4 years.

Does anyone know how much attention is paid to Olympic cycling in
countries like France, Italy and Spain?

Had a Swede won the tdf the reports here would be "This must increase
his chances in the Olympics". To us in the know we would laugh at this.
However, to the mainstream Swede (non cyclist), an Olympic gold would be
mean more than an overall in the tdf. Sad, but true.

I think it's the case more places than you realize. Winning olympic
gold is huge. Bigger than worlds, bigger then stages in GT's, bigger
than winning the CDM. Only in the US, I'm afraid, supposing Levi
somehow nabbed the gold, would 95% of the public give him the
treatment you describe below.

Quoted message said:

I understand things have improved in the States. In Samuel Abt's book
"Greg Lemond" the tale is told of how a Frenchman followed Lemond back
to the states after he (Lemond) had won the tour de France in 1989.
Half-expecting millions of people and a welcome home tickertape
reception the Frenchman was surprised when just a handful of Lemond's
nearest relatives had turned up. One of Lemond's bags had been lost in
transport. At the baggage complaints desk he reported this and said
"Lemond". The girl at the desk looked up and asked "And how do you spell
that?".

Garry Jones
English Cylist ResIDING in Sweden

Richard Adams said:

Winning olympic gold is huge. Bigger than worlds

No way, not yet.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Ewoud Dronkert said:

Richard Adams said:

Winning olympic gold is huge. Bigger than worlds

No way, not yet.

It may be in the US, at least among the mainstream. The reason is that
they know of the existence of the Olympics, but have no clue that there is
such a thing as the Worlds or the World Cup. They may know that there is a
TdF, but for the majority, the question would be, "What's a stage?"

--
tanx,
Howard

So far, so good, so what?

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Stewart Fleming said:

Davide Tosi said:

This time the olympic road race is receiving an attention like never before
because of the discussion around the quite weird selection operated by
Balllerini, who had left out Rebellin, the author of the unprecedented
springtime Ardennes triplet.

Not a direct comment regarding Ballerini or Rebellin, but the
director-general of WADA recently made some interesting comments...

"We know there are other 'designer drugs' out there and we are hunting
them down."

"More cheats will be caught at the Athens Olympics than ever before."

Athens will be the "lion's den" (WADA HQ) for a month. Look at the
pattern of selections and withdrawals before Sydney, compare with now
and connect the dots.

The wada director is just a poor psycho and all you english speaking people
obsessed with the equation using doping = cheating (one of the most false
statements for non-english speaking people) are just plainly delusional
[censored].
Wada will be completely neutralized by the Greece/Russia/China axis that is
controlling the olympic movement right now and for a long time to come.
They will probably let them get just a few yankees in order to satisfy both
the guilt complex that some yankees seem to be feeling right now and the
anti-american anger that is permeating some other parts of the world.