A Single Tear

First Vino, now Basso. Don’t forget the many others before them. The tears are flowing from Ivana Basso about how he has been alienated and is alone since he was suspended from Operation Door (http://velonews.com/article/72085 ). News flash, Ivana: That is why they call it a suspension. A month ago Basso was spouting off how the suspension was good for him http://velonews.com/article/71311. Now he is pissing and moaning to anybody that will listen.
Out of all the riders who have been suspended only one has essentially said, “Yeah, I did it,” instead of taking the “guilty” party line of “Who me? Never! I have been wronged.” Here’s to David Millar for standing up and accepting responsibility for his actions.

Speaking of being wronged, it looks like Boulder’s favorite son, Tyler Hamilton, was prevented from starting the Tour of CA due to the re-opening of Operación Puerto. Rock Racing lost 3 of 8 riders due to AEG following UCI rules regarding riders under investigation. Like it or not rules are rules (although UCI rules seem to be under some subjective interpretation) and that leaves the aforementioned Hamilton, as well as Santiago Botero and Oscar Sevilla on the outside looking in. More on Rock Racing, Michael Ball, and the Tour of CA later…