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FEATURES: RACY LANGUAGE: THE 2012 UCI SEASON PREVIEW
Tim Maloney
January 11, 2012
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The big what if? Photo: Yuzuru Sunada
Contador Case: As 2102 opens, the first thing that will condition the outcome of the season's racing will be the decision on the appeal of the Contador Case at the Court for Arbitration in Sport. Although it looked like Alberto Contador would get a one-year suspension, he was surprisingly was cleared by the disciplinary committee of the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) for a positive test for clenbuterol on 21 July 2010 during the Tour de France. Contador claimed he ingested meat contaminated with clenbuterol, a bronchodilator for asthma patients that can be used as a performance-enhancing drug; it builds lean muscle mass and reducing body fat by stimulating the metabolism. "Clen" is said to be used during training sessions before major stage races.
The UCI and World Anti-Doping Agency then appealed the controversial RFEC decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in March 2011, thus allowing Contador to ride (and win) the 2011 Giro d'Italia. He also defended his title at the Tour de France, finishing 5th. The CAS appeal hearing was first scheduled for June 2011, then postponed to August 2011 and then postponed again to November 2011, with a decision finally scheduled in mid-January 2012. Contador has reportedly spent almost $2 million on his legal defense.
If Contador's suspension is upheld, he is likely facing a two-year suspension but the dating of when such a sanction will start from is not clear. Contador will likely lose his 2010 Tour de France title, while his 2011 Giro d'Italia should remain intact as he was cleared to race. And Contador's Saxo Bank team could lose their WorldTeam status without his points.
Should Contador be forced to sit out 2012 season, this will have a huge impact on the outcome of the Tour De France. If three-time Tour winner Contador is forced by suspension to watch the Tour from his couch in Pinto, Spain this could open up a wide-open battle between defending Tour champion Cadel Evans, Andy Schelck and other contenders like Bradley Wiggins, Denis Menchov and others.
Can Matt Goss repeat at the Italian Classic with his new team?
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada
Milano-Sanremo: Milano-Sanremo, the classic of the season is always a thrill and with it's nail-biter finale with the dramatic ascent of the Poggio and wide open sprint finish is a great way to start 2012. Once again, Milano-Sanremo will be an epic struggle between attacking riders and sprinters for the win after almost 180 miles and seven hours of racing. Attackers like Philippe Gilbert, sporting his new BMC colors and 2008 Sanremo winner Fabian Cancellara leading the Radio Shack-Nissan Trek squad. Sprinters like 2010 Sanremo winner Mark Cavendish in his new rainbow jersey of World Champion and new Sky team support will look to upset the attackers as well 2011 Sanremo winner Matt Goss, leading the new Aussie pro tour squad Green Edge
The Classics: Gilbert Vs. Valverde, Hushovd Vs. The Rest in Roubaix: In 2011, Belgian Phillipe Gilbert had an epic season a la Eddy Merckx, clearly dominating the classics. The Belgian may not have it so easy in 2012, as Alejandro Valverde is making a comeback after two years of doping suspension. Before his sit-down, Valverde was the top one-day rider in the world and was beating Gilbert head-to-head. Will it happen again in 2012? Maybe not, as Valverde will need some time to get use to racing
The Giro is a potential win for who?
Photo: Tim Maloney
Wide Open Giro: Even if his suspension does not happen, 2011 Giro d'Italia champ Alberto Contador will not defend his Giro title in 2012. That leaves the Giro d'Italia wide-open for riders like Lampre's Michele Scarponi, Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) and Purito Rodríguez (Katusha) to make their mark, along with French climber John Gadret (AG2R La Mondiale - above) who just missed the 2011 podium. The 2012 Giro starts in Denmark and heads back to Italia after three stages. The Giro's final week features plenty of tough climbing, including a mountaintop finish on the Passo dell Stelvio on the penultimate day before a final 31.5km TT in Milano. Along the way, World Champion Mark Cavendish will battle the other sprinters, with emerging Italian fast men Andrea Guardini and Elia Viviani set to challenge Cannonball Cav.
Will an Aussie stand on top in Paris for two years in a row?
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada
Tour de Who: See Contador Case above. If three-time Tour winner Contador is not at the start of the 99th edition of the Tour de France in Liege, Belgium on June 30, all bets are off on who will win the race. Johan Bruyneel took over the management of Leopard and turned it into RadioShack NIissan Trek, with talents like Andy Schleck and Fabian Cancellara now in his hands.
Defending champion Cadel Evans (above) understands the situation “You have to respect that Bruyneel knows how to win grand tours.” But his Grand Tour wins have come with Armstrong and Contador, while so far, Andy Schleck has only proven he can finish second (first loser) in Le Tour. Andy Schleck clearly has the physical potential to win the Tour de France but his mental game seems lacking. Andy famously said he’d rather end up in second place in the Tour with his brother Fränk in third than win.
The man, the myth, the legend.
Photo: Tim Maloney
Bruyneel's philosophy is like that of Raiders Al Davis: Just Win, Baby. He is a great strategist, solid tactician and knows how to prepare his teams to win the Tour. His assessment of Andy Schleck is "he is one of the most talented riders in cycling and it is my goal to help him achieve the goal of winning the Tour de France…with adjustments and the team we will put together, Andy will have his best chance yet of standing on the top step in Paris.” Can Johan do the required Vulcan Mind Meld with Andy Schleck to keep him 100% focused on winning Le Tour? If anyone can harness the huge talent of Andy Schleck to win the Tour de France, it is Johan Bruyneel. If Contador is out of the Tour and Cadel Evans shows up with his weak BMC team, Andy Schleck may finally wear the Maillot Jaune all the way to Paris in 2012. |
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