Holczer stands fast

By Susan Westemeyer

Hans-Micheal Holczer, Gerolsteiner team manager, is standing fast on his anti-doping stance, and still has his doubts on Ivan Basso's plans for the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in 2007, even though the rider was the centre of attention in Saturday's presentation of the Grand Tour. "It's just not going to be as simple as it seems," he told German press agency dpa over the week-end.

"I don't really want to comment on Basso's statements and prospects. I continue to assume that no rider will be allowed to start in any ProTour race unless he has made a DNA test, as the team managers agreed in Salzburg," he said about Basso's planned 2007 come-back. "We will meet again before the end of the year and discuss this again."

Meanwhile, Deutschland Tour manager Kai Rapp noted that he was not alone in not wishing to see Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso race in the coming year. "Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme will also be rigorous," he commented. "We are in constant contact with him."