Tour de France legends to ride in Absa Cape Epic

[kosmonooit]

Would be interested to know if this is one of complimentary promo deals, to raise media fuss & profile?

[Jules]

You can't make this sh** up. Just when you think the Epic has rid itself of the unsavoury Evans/George combo they spring this surprise on us.

[Geronimo]

I take it that most of you commenting are professional road cyclists and not mountain bikers... 

[FCH]

How on earth is this thread going to make it all the too Friday!!!

[Slowbee]

mmm, so the ABSA cape epic is now more or less a road race, give or take ... but on dirt. So sort of your average day during the spring classics. Thats just EPIC.

 

 

*dive ............tuck.............. roll*

[Eugene Oppelt]

I take it that most of you commenting are professional road cyclists and not mountain bikers...

Please extra-pole-late ????

[intern]

They also have upward of 4 months to train , so should they choose to , they could be VERY competitive .

They also have access to methods and products that certain amateurs can only dream of.

[intern]

I'll be following with interest...

 

Ha ha I remember that ad, from the early-mid-1990s.

[intern]

Must have been a good ad as I even remember the name of the bike, Nishiki NFS Altron. WHo would have thought a ladyboy triathlete was a good way to advertise a bicycle.

[EmptyB]

I'll be following with interest...

 

Very scary!!

[NelAndre]

You can't make this sh** up. Just when you think the Epic has rid itself of the unsavoury Evans/George combo they spring this surprise on us.

Yip, I agree.

Furthermore the invitation is now...old dopers welcome, new ones not.

 

Crazy....

[tubed]

"Wanda has built a full industry value chain that includes event organizing, athlete representation, event marketing and rebroadcasting, which will greatly enhance Wanda's influence on the global sports stage and accelerate Wanda's strategic advancement in the industry."

 

Epic took a different direction some time ago, but it didn't crack the major league in terms of money potential, it did remain principled. Ironman/ WTC/ Wanda represent a whole different league. That suit that Kevin wore once a year to the route launch is about to be retired for a whole new wardrobe, the Chinese like suits. Got to hand it to him, one of few deals in sport last year that seem to bring in foreign capital.

 

About principles and policies - well I think you just need to look at ASO, nobody wants to see the 'best' riders sitting on the sidelines, sure huff and puff at them because of a failed test here or there, but they have to be on the start line.

 

Welcome to the big league.

 

 

[kosmonooit]

Must have been a good ad as I even remember the name of the bike, Nishiki NFS Altron. WHo would have thought a ladyboy triathlete was a good way to advertise a bicycle.

 

The mullet is the icing on the cake though!

[Gerry Hattrick]

Here's what the Epic rules say:

 

28.3 Any person who is under provisional or final sanction by an Anti-Doping Organisation with jurisdiction under the WADA

Code (a “person under sanction”) is prohibited from participating or being involved in the race, whether as a rider, team manager or official or in any other capacity whatsoever. Where any such sanction has been made final for an offence committed after 31 December 2012, such prohibition shall apply for the life of the person under sanction (irrespective of the duration of the sanction imposed by the relevant Anti-Doping Organisation).

 

And what Kevin Vermaak said in 2012:

 

“As of 1 January 2013, any athlete (professional or amateur) caught using performance enhancing substances, whether at another event or out of competition, will be banned for life from participating in the Absa Cape Epic. Not only will the person not be allowed to participate (as an amateur rider or UCI- licensed elite), but the individual will also be banned from being involved on any level including as a team manager. This is harsher than what is required currently by any federation, but is our considered opinion of what should be enforced even on a wider scale with regards to event participation of convicted dope cheats.”

 

“We’ve chosen not to apply this retrospectively because we believe that would be naive. As has been exposed in recent months, cycling has a dark past. Many riders from this previous era have rediscovered the joy of cycling as mountain bikers and participate in the Absa Cape Epic as their expression of riding clean. Previous offenders, who have served their suspension term, may ride future Absa Cape Epics. We want to be part of the new era of cleaner cycling, and therefore only future offenders will receive the lifetime bans."

[Bonus]

 

Here's what the Epic rules say:

 

28.3 Any person who is under provisional or final sanction by an Anti-Doping Organisation with jurisdiction under the WADA

Code (a “person under sanction”) is prohibited from participating or being involved in the race, whether as a rider, team manager or official or in any other capacity whatsoever. Where any such sanction has been made final for an offence committed after 31 December 2012, such prohibition shall apply for the life of the person under sanction (irrespective of the duration of the sanction imposed by the relevant Anti-Doping Organisation).

 

And what Kevin Vermaak said in 2012:

 

“As of 1 January 2013, any athlete (professional or amateur) caught using performance enhancing substances, whether at another event or out of competition, will be banned for life from participating in the Absa Cape Epic. Not only will the person not be allowed to participate (as an amateur rider or UCI- licensed elite), but the individual will also be banned from being involved on any level including as a team manager. This is harsher than what is required currently by any federation, but is our considered opinion of what should be enforced even on a wider scale with regards to event participation of convicted dope cheats.”

 

“We’ve chosen not to apply this retrospectively because we believe that would be naive. As has been exposed in recent months, cycling has a dark past. Many riders from this previous era have rediscovered the joy of cycling as mountain bikers and participate in the Absa Cape Epic as their expression of riding clean. Previous offenders, who have served their suspension term, may ride future Absa Cape Epics. We want to be part of the new era of cleaner cycling, and therefore only future offenders will receive the lifetime bans."

 

 

This is probably as sensible as is possible under the circumstances.

[tubed]

It seems Kevin has been stung (see Facebook Epic feed) by some of the criticism re the doping past of GH.

 

If my comments were personally offensive, I apologise. I have said numerous times I have great respect for what he has done.

I still do think its a whole different ballgame now, but if not now,then soon.Capital has been invested - a return is required - that will change things.

 

Back to GH participating, I have no problem with Udo, Roel (even if Chiarini his partner was popped in 2014) and others who are able to participate. But I think where the Epic has misread things is that GH is being promoted by the organisation. Sure you dont have to turn down his entry, but neither did you have to celebrate it.

 

So I think the Epic has read this incorrectly - GH is a big name - he should be allowed to compete within the rules, but to use him as part of your publicity is where I think you have got it wrong.