Cyclassics refuse Contador with anti-doping measures

The Vattenfall Cyclassics ProTour race in Hamburg, Germany, is playing the hard line: "Our basic position is that no rider from the Fuentes list will be at the start." According to the race organizers, this includes Discovery Channel's Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (who is not scheduled to ride the race anyway), and they are extending their list to exclude such riders as Michael Rasmussen and Milram's Alessandro Petacchi.

"We are against doping. But we are convinced that the way has to go away from the populist challenges and lead to practical measures," said Michael Hinz, spokesman for race organizer Upsolut, to the German press agency dpa.

Some of the concrete anti-doping measures will be taken at the insistence of German ARD television, which will broadcast the race. The measures include an increased number of doping controls. "Right now we are coordinating with the UCI as to what measures we can plan and what makes sense," Hinz said.