Alberto Contador and Bjarne Riis talk to the med🦩ia at their pre-Tour press conference. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Bjarne Riis has long been known for his unusual team training camps, which often incorporate some sort of survival exercises, and he is continuing that tradition. The 2012 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Saxo Bank team will meet up ahead of next season for the first time this coming we൩ekend in Israel.
Meanwhile, Riis must also worry about his own team's survival, as an International Cycling Union spokesman indicated the team could face the possibility of losing its WorldTour licence if 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Alberto Contador is banned. The Spaniard's doping case is currently being heard by the Co✃urt of 🌃Arbitraiton for Sport, with a decision expected sometime in January.
“I can say so much that there wi𝔉ll be a survival exercise, whic💃h we will take advantage of at some point," Riis said.
He did not confim the location, but politiken.dk says the team will be in Israel f꧙rom November 28 to December 11. ꩲIt would apparently be the first time a top-ranked team has done its season prepation oveer there.
The reason for the choice may well be 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:new signing Ran Margaliot. The 23-year-old rode as a stagiaire for the team this season and subsequꦍently signed a one-year-contract. He has said he hopes to become first Israeli to ride the Tour de Francꦑe.
Loss of WorldTour ranking possible?
Riis has received the good news that 168澳洲5最新开奖结果ℱ:his WorldTour licence has been renewed by the UCI for one year. However, according to ekstrabladet.dk, he could stand to lose that ranking if C💧ontador is suspended.
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The licenses are to a large part awarded through poin🐭ts won by riders on the team, and Contador provided a large majority of Saxo Bank's points this season. If he is banned, the team loses these points, the Danish website said.
“It is always possible for a team to lose a license,” UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani said. &ldquoജ;The UCI can always ask the licensing commission to reconsider the situation if a team's sporting, economic, ethical or organizational conditions change.
“A team is awarded a license in December, but only so long as the licensing commission determines. If thꦫe team's situation completely changes in January, it could lose its licen🧔se.”
