Officials from Cycling’s Tour Down Under in Adelaide have shrugged off the Lance Armstrong affair, saying the event will move ahead with the signing of international star Andy Schleck for next year’s race.
Race director Mike Turtur said public response to the tour continued to be positive and all its sponsors had maintained their support.
“We’ve kept them fully briefed and everyone is comfortable with the Santos Tour Down Under and the plans that we have,” Turtur said.
“It’s a fresh start, the new year, a new season.”
With Armstrong stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and declared a drug cheat, the American’s participation in three Tours Down Under had the potential to damage the reputation of the race.
But Turtur said it was riders like Schleck, Australian favourite Stuart O’Grady and upcoming stars like Jack Bobridge who would take the sport forward.
Schleck will lead the RadioShack Nissan team in Adelaide in January as he seeks to get his career back on track after missing much of 2012 with a fractured hip.
He is a Tour de France champion, being awarded the 2010 crown after Alberto Contador lost a battle against a doping charge.
Turtur said the addition of another hard climb up Corkscrew Road into the 2013 Tour Down Under would suit the Luxembourger.
Schleck is also expected to come to the fore in the stage that finishes on top of Willunga Hill.
“Because of his interrupted season with a fractured hip, it’s going to be of interest to everyone to see how he starts off the new year,” Turtur said.
“You know from some of the comments that he’s made that he wants to hit the ground running in January and there’s sections of the course that do suit his style of racing.”
In a statement, Schleck said he was looking forward to competing in Australia for the first time.
“I’ve heard about the race from other riders many times and I’m excited to see what it’s like to race in Australia,” he said.
joeb
Guest
"frank is banned last year for drug taking…but Andy is clean…..after all they are only brothers and they ride for the same team…" And their pop was a cyclist too, lol. Go figure. And Contador was stripped because 'persons unknown' tampered with his steak & chips. Seen this? Quote: "THE fight against doping is suffering because of a lack of funding, according to David Howman, the director-general of the World Anti-Doping Agency. "With $US25-30 million (of funding) a year, WADA's budget is less than some European footballers earn," Mr Howman said at a conference in Paris. "The (Lance) Armstrong affair especially has shown that we're dealing with a more and more highly developed process, a real conspiracy, with unwarranted pressures on teams." From: WADA warns of financial worries for doping battle by: Owen Slot From: The Times November 13, 2012 11:53AM http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/wada-warns-of-financial-worries-for-doping-battle/story-fnb64oi6-1226515793960 Why do they bother? I'm with 'Doctor Sanctions Steroids' Dr Tony Millar, SMH 28 Oct 2012
White line
Guest
Great...frank is banned last year for drug taking...but Andy is clean.....after all they are only brothers and they ride for the same team...
joeb
Guest
"Schleck will lead the RadioShack Nissan team in Adelaide in January as he seeks to get his career back on track after missing much of 2012 with a fractured hip." Great news that he's coming. Just hope his hip will be right, that it's fully healed, and then he can give the TDF a real shake later in the year.