Ben Trovato
January 12th 12, 08:06 PM
I wonder why Cyclingnews pulled it off their front page; too bad they
left it in the digest... Maybe it's Aldag's endorsement of
triathelism...
DO NOT PUBLISH Aldag blasts UCI, McQuaid and pro cycling
Rolf Aldag chats at the start.
Article published:
January 12, 09:41
By:
Cycling News
Former rider and team manager turns his back on the sport
Rolf Aldag no longer wants to be deeply involved in cycling, saying
that he has “no interest in working in a scenario that I don't like
and where nothing changes." He also criticised the UCI and its
president Pat McQuaid, particularly as to their stand on doping.
Aldag rode professionally from 1991 to 2005, spending most of his
career at Team Telekom. He then joined the team's management, ending
his cycling-related career in 2011 as manager of HTC-Highroad.
Most recently he felt himself “trapped” in a “special environment” in
which the UCI makes its decisions considering nothing but its own
interest “without a hint of democracy,” he told the Süddeutsche
Zeitung. According to Aldag, the UCI follows its own economic interest
without seriously tackling doping problems. “In every area, things are
stretched out until it is to their advantage. Regardless of whether it
is ethically responsible,” he said.
Aldag said that UCI president Pat McQuaid should be removed from
office for accepting a $125,000 donation from Lance Armstrong without
correctly presenting the transaction to the public. “In real life you
would say: No one survives an affair like that. One should say:
McQuaid did not tell the truth, and he is in that position (as UCI
President - ed.), therefore he should go!” Aldag said.
He also spoke out against Hans-Michael Holczer, the former
Gerolsteiner team boss who is now at Team Katusha. “If he has such
high moral requirements, then you must say that he failed massively in
their everyday implementation in the past. He always said that he was
clean and wanted his riders to ride clean – and then you go around
blindly and have three huge doping cases with Stefan Schumacher,
Bernhard Kohl and Davide Rebellin on your team? And then to say you
have nothing to do with it - that doesn't work, of course.”
Aldag could have accepted an offer from Omega Pharma-Quick Step for
this season, but he decided to turn his back on pro cycling. Not
entirely though – he will still act as an advisor to world time trial
champion Tony Martin, who he calls a “good, fine guy.”
The 43-year-old is currently working as Managing Director, Germany,
for the World Triathlon Corporation, which licences and organises the
Ironman triathlons.
left it in the digest... Maybe it's Aldag's endorsement of
triathelism...
DO NOT PUBLISH Aldag blasts UCI, McQuaid and pro cycling
Rolf Aldag chats at the start.
Article published:
January 12, 09:41
By:
Cycling News
Former rider and team manager turns his back on the sport
Rolf Aldag no longer wants to be deeply involved in cycling, saying
that he has “no interest in working in a scenario that I don't like
and where nothing changes." He also criticised the UCI and its
president Pat McQuaid, particularly as to their stand on doping.
Aldag rode professionally from 1991 to 2005, spending most of his
career at Team Telekom. He then joined the team's management, ending
his cycling-related career in 2011 as manager of HTC-Highroad.
Most recently he felt himself “trapped” in a “special environment” in
which the UCI makes its decisions considering nothing but its own
interest “without a hint of democracy,” he told the Süddeutsche
Zeitung. According to Aldag, the UCI follows its own economic interest
without seriously tackling doping problems. “In every area, things are
stretched out until it is to their advantage. Regardless of whether it
is ethically responsible,” he said.
Aldag said that UCI president Pat McQuaid should be removed from
office for accepting a $125,000 donation from Lance Armstrong without
correctly presenting the transaction to the public. “In real life you
would say: No one survives an affair like that. One should say:
McQuaid did not tell the truth, and he is in that position (as UCI
President - ed.), therefore he should go!” Aldag said.
He also spoke out against Hans-Michael Holczer, the former
Gerolsteiner team boss who is now at Team Katusha. “If he has such
high moral requirements, then you must say that he failed massively in
their everyday implementation in the past. He always said that he was
clean and wanted his riders to ride clean – and then you go around
blindly and have three huge doping cases with Stefan Schumacher,
Bernhard Kohl and Davide Rebellin on your team? And then to say you
have nothing to do with it - that doesn't work, of course.”
Aldag could have accepted an offer from Omega Pharma-Quick Step for
this season, but he decided to turn his back on pro cycling. Not
entirely though – he will still act as an advisor to world time trial
champion Tony Martin, who he calls a “good, fine guy.”
The 43-year-old is currently working as Managing Director, Germany,
for the World Triathlon Corporation, which licences and organises the
Ironman triathlons.