Is this really happening????

Spanish Championships - CN
Móstoles, Spain, June 23-25, 2006
Day 3 - June 25: Elite men road race, 221.8 km

Spanish championships not ridden after rider protest
By Antonio J. Salmerón

No more than 500 metres were ridden by the Spanish professionals in their
national road championships in Móstoles, near Madrid. The majority of the
riders decided to stop in protest after El Pais published some confidential
information regarding Operacion Puerto, which implicated 58 cyclists in the
biggest doping affair ever to hit Spanish sport. Among those implicated were
several riders from the Astaná-Würth team, as well as its former manager
Manolo Sáiz, and also the ex-director of the Comunidad Valenciana team,
Ignacio Labarta,

"The decision was unanimous, because we are not prepared to undergo this
orchestrated harassment," said one cyclist. The riders held a meeting before
the race, and voted to stop. They were supported by the president of the
Association of Professional Cyclists, José Rodríguez, although the Spanish
Federation, which also took part in the meeting, did not support it.

The Spanish Federation issued a press statement offering its "excuses to the
cities of Móstoles, Arroyomolinos and Moraleja de Enmedio, as well as the
organizers of the championships...RFEC and its championships have been the
victims of the decision taken by the riders to strike, which we did not
share. In any case, the Spanish federation will continue to bend over
backwards, as it always has done, in defense of the rights of the cyclists."

Given that no race was ridden, Juan Manuel Garate (Quick.Step) will keep the
Spanish champion's jersey.

A full report on the latest developments in Operacion Puerto will follow in
news.

Results
No race due to rider protest.

Juan Manuel Garate (Quick.Step) remains Spanish champion

It seems the **** is hitting the fan for some non-spanish too.

Today there is nice story in El Pais about Tyler Hamilton

http://www.elpais.es/articulo/deport...pepidep_6/Tes/

and another with an even most intriguing title: "El hijo de Rudicio"...(
Ruddy's Son) suggesting that Jan might be implicated.

http://www.elpais.es/articulo/deport...pepidep_4/Tes/



"Calogero Carlucci" wrote in message
...
Spanish Championships - CN
Móstoles, Spain, June 23-25, 2006
Day 3 - June 25: Elite men road race, 221.8 km

Spanish championships not ridden after rider protest
By Antonio J. Salmerón

No more than 500 metres were ridden by the Spanish professionals in their
national road championships in Móstoles, near Madrid. The majority of the
riders decided to stop in protest after El Pais published some
confidential information regarding Operacion Puerto, which implicated 58
cyclists in the biggest doping affair ever to hit Spanish sport. Among
those implicated were several riders from the Astaná-Würth team, as well
as its former manager Manolo Sáiz, and also the ex-director of the
Comunidad Valenciana team, Ignacio Labarta,

"The decision was unanimous, because we are not prepared to undergo this
orchestrated harassment," said one cyclist. The riders held a meeting
before the race, and voted to stop. They were supported by the president
of the Association of Professional Cyclists, José Rodríguez, although the
Spanish Federation, which also took part in the meeting, did not support
it.

The Spanish Federation issued a press statement offering its "excuses to
the cities of Móstoles, Arroyomolinos and Moraleja de Enmedio, as well as
the organizers of the championships...RFEC and its championships have been
the victims of the decision taken by the riders to strike, which we did
not share. In any case, the Spanish federation will continue to bend over
backwards, as it always has done, in defense of the rights of the
cyclists."

Given that no race was ridden, Juan Manuel Garate (Quick.Step) will keep
the Spanish champion's jersey.

A full report on the latest developments in Operacion Puerto will follow
in news.

Results
No race due to rider protest.

Juan Manuel Garate (Quick.Step) remains Spanish champion