Flaming Friday Rant

According to every cycling news outlet, the man, the myth, the legend, (the profile) of Spanish cycling directors, Manolo Saiz, has stepped down from his post as Director Sportif supreme for a temporary basis.

From cyclingnews, "Saiz, who is one of those implicated in the 'Operacion Puerto' affair, made the decision "in order to safeguard the continuity of the team to the maximum, and for the good of cycling in general," according to a team statement."

Not to presume his guilt, but to throw out the latter statement is patronization at its finest (no doubt from the main "Patron" himself).

"For the good of cycling in general..."

The welfare of cycling in not being better served by Saiz's latest action. What cycling needed was for Saiz not to be detained and embroiled in this affair. His association with Fuentes (one of the implicated physicians) and his seemingly genuine disappointment and surprise stemming from the ending of the 2005 Vuelta (one of his riders, Roberto Heras, testing positive for EPO) were actions that he thought were all "good" for cycling?

It's hard for me to believe that a man, who in the past has been so controlling and detail oriented in his preparations for the big races, has suddenly developed a laissez-faire attitude and a policy of "plausible deniability."

Acta non verba, Senor Saiz. Actions, not words.

Profile photo: Procycling