NO BJORG LAMBRECHT AT TOUR DOWN UNDER
The UCI has informed Lotto Soudal that neo-pro Bjorg Lambrecht can’t take part in the Tour Down Under. The young Belgian would make his début in the first WorldTour stage race of the season, but the international cycling union prevents that now.
What’s going on exactly?
1. Until last year, neo-pros in WorldTour teams needed to undergo three doping controls for their biological passport ahead of the start of their first WorldTour race. From now on this is no longer the case and the rule is applied that those riders need to have filled in their whereabouts at least six weeks (42 days) before the start of their first WorldTour race.
2. In December the UCI organised three webinars (one in French, English and Spanish) to teach the neo-pros how to use the ADAMS whereabouts system. One day later Bjorg Lambrecht received his login for the ADAMS whereabouts system. However, the English webinar only took place on December 14 (only 33 days before the start of Tour Down Under) and Bjorg received his login on December 15 with the message that he needed to fill in his whereabouts as of December 17 (30 days before the start of Tour Down Under) to be able to start at Tour Down Under. Conflicting with the regulations.
Lotto Soudal informed the UCI not to agree with the decision, explained with an extensive argumentation, but without a written confirmation of the UCI that Bjorg can start, neither the rider nor the team can take any risk. Bjorg Lambrecht won’t be replaced, which means Lotto Soudal will start with six riders on Tuesday instead of seven. On 28 January Bjorg can ride the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, because then the period of six weeks will be passed.
BJORG LAMBRECHT: “This is a huge disappointment. We came to Australia a week ago, I felt good in the group, was looking forward to my first pro season and then it’s a huge disappointment when you hear you can’t start. But of course we can’t take any risk. I will stay here to train for a week and then I will head to Melbourne with the team.”
De UCI weet hun prioriteiten wel te leggen.
