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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, November 4, 2022

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2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia

The charm of history and its enigmatic lesson consist in the fact that, from age to age, nothing changes and yet everything is completely different. - Aldous Huxley

Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2019: A Year of New Faces is available in both Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Upcoming racing

• Nov 5 & 6: European Cyclocross Championships
• Nov 20: Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse Cross
• Dec 4: Scheldecross Antwerp
• Dec 10: Exact Cross Essen
• Dec 26: Gavere Cyclocross
• Dec 27: Heusden-Zolder Cyclocross
• Dec 29: Diegem Cyclocross
• Dec 30: Azencross-Loenhout
• Jan 1: GP Sven Nys Cyclocross
• Jan 14 - 22: Schwalbe Classic & Tour Down Under
• Jan 22 - 29: Vuelta a San Juan
• Jan 25 - 29: Challenge Illes Balears-Volta Ciclista a Mallorca
• Jan 28 & 29: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Latest completed racing:

• Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
• Oct 29: Superprestige Ruddervoorde Cyclocross
• Oct 11 - 18: Tour de Langkawi
• Oct 16: Japan Cup
• Oct 16: Veneto Classic
• Oct 16: Chrono des Nations
• Oct 12: Giro del Veneto

If you need to be brought up to speed on this case, here is the original August 2022 UCI statement. It is the first story on the page.

Here’s the Court’s news release:

MEDIA RELEASECYCLING – TOUR DE FRANCE 2022

THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) DISMISSES THE APPEAL FILED BY NAIRO QUINTANA

Lausanne, 3 November 2022 - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its decision today in the arbitration procedure between the Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana and the Union Cycliste International (UCI). The CAS Panel in charge of the matter has dismissed the appeal and confirmed the decision issued by the UCI Medical Director on 17 August 2022 (the Challenged Decision) in which Nairo Quintana was found to have infringed the UCI Medical Rules (presence of tramadol in- competition) and was sanctioned with the disqualification of the results he obtained at the Tour de France 2022 and a fine of CHF 5,000.

In July 2022, Nairo Quintana participated in the Tour de France finishing 6th in the general ranking. Laboratory analysis of the dried blood spot samples provided by him after the stages of 8 and 13 July 2022 revealed the presence of tramadol and its two main metabolites. On 17 August 2022, the UCI Medical Director issued the Challenged Decision.

On 26 August 2022, Nairo Quintana filed an appeal at the CAS seeking the annulment of the Challenged Decision. The CAS Panel appointed to decide the matter held a hearing on 12 October 2022.

Following the hearing, the Panel deliberated and determined that the UCI’s in-competition ban on tramadol was for medical rather than doping reasons and was therefore within the UCI’s power and jurisdiction. Furthermore, the Panel was comfortably satisfied that the scientific evidence showed that Nairo Quintana’s samples contained both tramadol and its two metabolites. On this basis, the Panel concluded that the Challenged Decision should stand, and dismissed the appeal.

The full award with the grounds for the Panel’s decision will be notified to the parties in due course.

Nairo Quintana racing in stage 11 of the 2022 Tour de France. Sirotti photo

Here’s the team’s press release:

Team BikeExchange-Jayco is pleased to confirm the signing of Italian climber Alessandro De Marchi on a one-year contract, bringing the Australian outfit’s team roster size to 30.

Alessandro De Marchi wins the 2021 Tre Valli Varesine.

The 36-year-old has been a professional WorldTour rider for the past decade and brings with him a wealth of experience from the biggest races on the calendar. GreenEDGE Cycling believe that the three-time Vuelta a España stage winner will be an important support rider, particularly in the mountains, as the squad continues to chase Grand Tour success.

However, with his all-round talent and professionalism, naturally the squad see De Marchi not only as a rider to captain team line-ups and guide the younger generation, but also capable of continuing to win races in his own right.

Brent Copeland – General Manager:
“Having Alessandro join the team is a really great addition for us. He has so much experience and it was important for us to find the right rider that can easily slot into our team environment, but also a rider that we trust to bring great experience and not only be able to act as a role model for the younger riders but be able to perform when given his own opportunity as well.

"Alessandro is a great asset to have on and off the bike, and we believe that we have signed a rider that will really complement the roster that we have carefully put together for 2023. We have a great balanced team now with youthful talent, and older mature riders to guide the way, with the signings of De Marchi and Stybar. They will play valuable roles, bringing so much to the team after years of racing as professionals. They have experienced all the biggest races and witnessed how racing has evolved. We are very excited to get this new season started.”

Alessandro De Marchi:
“First of all, I must admit that I am really proud to receive an offer from such a great team in such a delicate moment of my career. This season hasn’t been the best for me, but to have this new proposal it gives me lots of motivation for 2023.

"I am very excited to begin this new adventure, it will be an important year for me to show that I am still a strong rider and one of my key roles will be to bring and use my experience from the last ten years as a professional.

"Team BikeExchange-Jayco looks like a really professional structure that has a strong work ethos, but also a key aspect of being a friendly environment. That allows everyone to work in the best way, of course with pressure to perform, but with the right attitude and this is something I am really looking forward to being a part of.

"For 2023, the team has many changes, they are bringing a lot of young talent on to the team but mixed with experienced riders like myself, so I will do all I can to support new generations to grow and become the best athletes they can be and support the growth of the team.”

Alessandro De Marchi
Date of Birth: 19th May 1986 (36)
Nationality: Italian
Joins GreenEDGE Cycling: 2023

Top Results:
1st Tre Valli Varesine (2021)
1st Giro dell’Emilia (2018)
1st Criterium du Dauphine Stage (2013)
1st 3x Vuelta a España Stages (2018, 2015, 2014)
2nd 2x Giro d’Italia Stages (2021, 2012)
3rd Giro d’Italia Stage (2012)
3rd 3x Vuelta a España Stages (2018, 2015, 2014)
5th Tour de France Stage (2014)
7th Amstel Gold Race (2019)
8th Tour de France Stage (2013)
9th Il Lombardia (2016)

Here’s the team’s announcement:

Jay Vine has put pen to paper on a deal which will see him in the colours of UAE Team Emirates next season, with the new contract running until the end of 2024.

Jay Vine on the podium after winning stage 8 of the 2022 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo

The 26-year old climbing specialist burst onto the scene this year , claiming two stage victories in only his second Grand Tour at the 2022 Vuelta España and overall podiums at both the Tour of Turkey and the Tour of Norway. Having originally made his name through the world of E-sports, Vine successfully transitioned to the road and hopes to develop further at the Emirati team.

Vine: “I’m really excited to be joining UAE Team Emirates . With their strong combination of riders and their GC experience, this was the next logical step in my career.

I’m really grateful for the opportunities Alpecin has given me, and how they’ve helped me find my place in the peloton. I’m motivated for the new season with UAE, and eager to further refine my GC ambitions whilst helping the boys kick some goals.”

Mauro Gianetti (CEO & Team Principal) : “We are very pleased to welcome Jay into the team. He has proven himself as a top-class climber and we feel that he still has a margin to grow and develop more on the road. He came into cycling relatively late but has progressed very quickly and has shown a good mentality and a real desire to join our team. We hope for many good years working together.”

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