Cycling in The Irish Times

Archives: September - December 2000

Verdicts given in Festina doping affair: (Dec 22) Major figures in French cycling were handed sentences of varying degrees today as the trial into the Festina doping affair during the scandal-ravaged 1998 Tour de France was concluded. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Seymour adds to his tally: (Dec 4) Having dominated the domestic scene for a decade and amassing 17 national titles in cyclo-cross and mountain bike events, Robin Seymour increased his tally yet further on Saturday. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Doping tests welcomed by Armstrong: (Dec 3) The decision of the French justice system to block the destruction of urine samples from this year's Tour de France is good news for winner Lance Armstrong, his agent told the New York Times today Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Athletes get the cold shoulder: (Dec 1) The OCI invited 183 athletes to attend the meeting, but only 12 turned up to the Edmund Burke Theatre. Those 12 athletes represented a total of 11 sports. Read the full story here in the Irish Times >>

US Postal team denies doping accusations: (Nov 26) The manager of double Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong's US Postal cycling team has vehemently denied that his team used banned substances.  Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Storm clouds brewing: (Nov 24) They may at times be tedious affairs, but tomorrow's A.G.M. of the Irish Cycling Federation will be anything but boring. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

NO CONFIDENCE VOTE points towards heated AGM: (Oct 27) As the temperature drops and racing bikes are stored away until next year, the emphasis shifts to the forthcoming AGM of the Irish Cycling Federation on November 25th.  Read the full story Here >> 

Cycling chiefs in war over samples: (Nov 14) The Tour de France organisers today asked the sport's governing body the International Cycling Union (UCI) not to destroy 91 frozen urine samples taken during the race in July as they want to test them for EPO. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

ICF Board meeting fails to resolve stalemate: (Nov 10) Fifteen days to go, and all indications point towards a particularly eventful a.g.m. for Irish cycling. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Trial could end Virenque's career: (Nov 7) The Festina drugs trial, which closed today after over two weeks of evidence, could mark the end of the career of French star Richard Virenque, one of his lawyers said. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

US Postal team face drugs inquiry: (Nov 7) A preliminary inquiry has been opened by the public prosecutor here into alleged doping within the US Postal team of two-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, judicial sources said today. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

UCI rejects blame for doping scandal: (Nov 6) The International Cycling Union (UCI) today repeated its insistence that it could not be held responsible for doping in the sport and criticised attempts during the Festina drugs trial to blame it for the scandal. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Prosecutor asks for Virenque not to be sentenced: (Nov 6) The prosecutor in the Festina doping scandal today asked for French cyclist Richard Virenque not to be sentenced. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

UCI can't be held responsible over drugs: (Oct 31) World cycling chief Hein Verbruggen said today the International Cycling Union (UCI) could not be held responsible if a rider took banned drugs. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

ISC to drive sports review: (Oct 27) The Minister for Sport, Dr McDaid, has formalised the post-Sydney, pre-Athens review in which he has asked the main sporting bodies to contribute to a discussion on the way forward to 2004. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Official row to be aired at AGM: (Oct 27) The a.g.m. of the Irish Cycling Federation (ICF) on November 25th looks set to be particularly confrontational after a recent vote of no confidence against president Mick Lawless, and the ongoing tension between national team director Richie Beatty and some members of the board.
Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Tour de France keeps it short: (Oct 26) Tour de France organisers today unveiled the route for the 2001 race, one of the shortest in the event's history. The announcement coincided with the ongoing Festina doping trial, which has produced daily revelations of widespread drug taking among top riders. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Unclean sweep for Festina men: OCT 26th: French rider Pascal Herve admitted taking drugs yesterday - the ninth and last member of the Festina team to confess. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Anti-climax to a promising season: OCT 20 The squad, team management and many within the sport may have held high hopes for Ireland's chances in Plouay last week, but instead the world championship races brought modest results and long faces from those aspiring for good rides. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Olympic fallout: OCI the problem, say NCTC: (Oct 20) The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) has been described by the director of the National Coaching & Training Centre (NCTC) as an inherently undemocratic structure which would have to be examined if Irish Olympic sport was to move forward. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Vainsteins grabs the rainbow: (Oct 16) Andrei Tchmil, Michele Bartoli and French hope Laurent Jalabert may have been touted as pre-race favourites, but at the end of a hard, 269 km yesterday's world Elite road race championships fell to a lesser-known fastman from cycling's top ranks.  Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

Jimenez quits Tour of Spain: SEPT 2nd: Spain's Jose Maria Jimenez pulled up after 50 km of today’s eighth stage of the Tour of Spain. The Banesto rider, king of the mountains in the last three Tours, was hit by a car while training shortly before this year's race. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>