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news
Dave Brailsford faces the press, Paris, October 2012 (copyright Simon MacMichael)UCI president David Lappartient tells Sir Dave Brailsford to keep his mouth shut after “insult”
UCI president David Lappartient has told Sir Dave Brailsford to keep his mouth shut and accused the Team Sky boss of insulting France’s mayors and its population.
Last month, before Chris Froome was cleared in the anti-doping case relating to his adverse analytical finding for an excessive amount of the anti-asthma drug salbutamol, Lappartient had repeated his view that it might be better if the defending champion did not race the Tour de France while it remained unresolved.
Race organisers ASO were set to exclude Froome from this year’s race but last Monday the UCI confirmed that the case was closed after the World Anti-doping Agency advised it that no anti-doping rule violation had happened, leaving him free to race.
Reuters reports that on Sunday, Brailsford, in reference to Lappartient – who defeated Brian Cookson in the UCI presidential election last September – said: “I gave him the benefit of the doubt when he started.
“I thought, 'OK, he is new to the job, he obviously doesn't quite understand the responsibilities of a presidential role.' I think he has still got the local French mayor kind of mentality.”
As it happens, since March 2008, Lappartient has been mayor of Sarzeau, the town in Brittany where yesterday’s Stage 4 of the Tour de France started.
But before becoming UCI president, the 45-year-old also spent nine years in the same position at the French cycling federation, and four with the European cycling federation.
Monday’s Stage 3 team time trial, which started and finished in Cholet, saw Team Sky’s riders booed as they negotiated the 35.5 kilometre course, as Froome had been at last Thursday’s team presentation.
It was perhaps with that in mind that Lappartient said of Brailsford yesterday: “When you have his level of popularity, you'd do better to keep a low profile.
“Who hosts the Tour de France stages? The French mayors. So it’s an insult to all the 35,000 French mayors and to French people in general,” he added.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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22 comments
Yeah - but why? I get the implication of the "local French mayor kind of mentality" statement but on what basis is Brailsford making this comment?
Some have said above that Brailsford is on the right lines so can they inform me, please?
Ahhh Burke, it's nice to have a new anti-Sky moron along...
Brailsford is correct, and timely given the Tour starting from Lappartient's home brown envelope / jiffy bag soil...
Let's remember that the only reason there has ever been any question over whether or not Chris Froome should be riding is because there was a leak at the UCI, for which Lapartient is ultimately responsable. The UCI rules state that a rider with an AAF should be allowed to continue riding until the end of the investigation, so when Lapartient was suggesting that Froome shouldn't ride he was suggesting a course of action contrary to the rules of the UCI, of which he is president, the organisation that caused this whole cock up in the first place by leaking this info. Surely as presidident he should be defending the UCI's rules and processes and not riding rough shod over them. I am certain that he would not have behaved this way if it was a French rider who was concerned. He needs to get his house in order, man up about the leak and find out where it came from.
BTW having lived in France for over 20 years I totally understand Brailsford's comments and think they are probably very accurate, however I don't think they were at all helpful.
This is true and it is right that we are never made aware of how many other AAFs have Froome's name on.
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This is true and it is right that we are never made aware of how many other AAFs have Froome's name on.
[/quote]
Or how many AAFs have names of other prominent riders.
This is true and it is right that we are never made aware of how many other AAFs have Froome's name on.
[/quote]
Or how many AAFs have names of other prominent riders.
[/quote]
Exactly, everyone treated equally, I think that if anything comes out of this as a positive, it's that riders can be sure that they won't be judged until they've had a fail trial, even if details are leaked prematurely.
Nailed it!
Given the UCI leak and suggestion contrary to UCI rules.( Will leaks like this be heavily fined under GDPR now?) It's definitely for the UCI President to "Fermé la bouche!"
Watching these two argue is like watching a wasp trying to land on a particularly spikey cactus.
Someone will get stung and I dont really care who.
#gofroomedog
Time to get rid of Team Sky and the excesses they represent.
And remember: Anybody but Froome!
I really do my best to keep out of all this, chiefly as I loathe the mudslinging within our ranks: yes, disagree and debate, but keep it civil y’all. However... Anybody but Froome?
Oh fuck off...
And FWIW I would love Tom D to win, or Bardet (though I can’t see that).
I really quite like your logic. It sort of reminds me of some of the sillier bits of usenet in the'80s
Tour de fixed gear, wine and sandwiches, cotton jerseys and legendary breakaways. Need to get things back to way they used to be like in the Coppi days when you banged down a load of amphetamines and pasta and that was just on a training ride to get a loaf of bread.
Team Sky actually represent what cycling should be but the UCI is unable to foster. Teams with decent sponsorship that can keep riders in a decent fashion. The UCI needs to sell the image of the sport as something to sponsor but because they can't keep their house in order then leaks like the Froome one damage the sport.
I'd be more inclined to say anyone but Nibali, somehow he manages to avoid the suspicion his miraculous recoveries and visits by his 'magic accupuncturist' should have attracted.
You obviously have proof to support your claims, if not you're risking the wrath of members for unfairly accusing a rider of doing something naughty. They'll be on you like a ton of bricks, I expect, there'll be lots of name calling and abuse as they defend this Nibali chap.
His transformation was quite remarkable, more so than this recent Giro, but he was tested repeatedly because of that and they came out OK - so any unfounded accusations are just that. Go Nibs. If due process is followed I personally don't give a rats arse who is in the firing line - it didn't with Froome which is why we're having this conversation.
The UCI President should remember: "It is better keep silent and be thought a fool..."
Brailsford isn't wrong though, local mayor's only look within their small area, they fail to look at the bigger picture, basically calling him a narrow minded fuckwit in a role that's basically a title/figurehead role for someone who isn't really capable of doing the job/roles required.
You pretty accurately described Brailsford. A narrow-minded fuckwit who doesn't seem to care how Sky wins.
Lappartient's fiefdom has been shown corrupt and his power and control shown lacking.
Has Laparttient found out who leaked the confidential information and have they been dismissed? Or are we not allowed to ask?
Appears Mr. Brailsford has an "Armstrong" kind of mentality.
That sort of talk will get you into trouble in these parts. It's just a good job that Mr Bailsford and Team SKY have never put a foot wrong, otherwisew it'd be hypocritical.
Children, please!