Ivan Basso hopes that he will have the opportunity to return to Team CSC in the future.

“Bjarne and I parted as friends,” the former Team CSC star states in a recent interview with Danish daily Politiken. “And I hope that I will be able to return. We concluded that it would be best to part for the moment, but there is nothing that rules out that we may pick up our cooperation at a latter date.”

Ivan Basso also expresses understanding for the conduct of Bjarne Riis over the past couple of months. “I do not believe that Bjarne wanted to treat me poorly. He was forced to act as he had done. I know and understand that he has the well-being of the whole team to think off,” Basso comments. Basso admits that right after the suspension from the Tour de France, he felt very unfairly treated. “I feel that at the very least we (the riders accused) should have had the chance to let our lawyers review the case, before a decision of such significance for a rider be taken.”

Ivan Basso confirmed that he is still looking for a team, although he noted that if he were only interested in money, he would already have signed a contract. However, he is delaying the decision while studying the circumstances of the various teams he is considering.

Giovanni Lombardi, Basso’s teammate at Team CSC who is retiring after this season, has confirmed that he intends to start working as an rider agent in the future. Among the riders that he is likely to be representing are, in addition to Ivan Basso, also Franck and Andy Schleck.

Persistent rumors are now sending Ivan Basso to the Discovery Channel team, despite earlier protestations by the team that they would not be interested in Ivan until he is cleared. Thus, several newspapers are reporting that Basso has already signed a contract, while others state that he will be receiving a contract offer in just a few days.

Meanwhile, Ivan Basso was monday feted in Rome, where he received his trophy for the victory in the Giro d’Italia. He used the opportunity to comment the exclusion from the Tour de France.

“It really hurt me,” Ivan Basso commented. “But I will have my vengeance next year when I ride both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.” Basso also commented that he would announce his new team within the next couple of weeks, and confirmed that Discovery was one of the teams in the picture. Barloworld has also confirmed that it has given Basso an offer.

Everything has a beginning and an end; but I hope that for myself and for Team CSC, these events are merely a new beginning. An important period of my life is closed, on a sporting and on a human level. Important years, filled with progress and moments of triumph. Years that have been intense both from both a human and sporting perspective, where I have been able to measure myself, to grow and to improve, in a team that I have felt deeply attached to - my team. But, as often happens, the moment arrives to take a new direction in the game, to change, and to try new roads.

With Riis, I have had a special relationship, and even in parting, I feel that I am saying my farewell to a special person. Even as we parted, a signal could carry the import of many words; the rapport between us has not been lessened despite the trying times. But why then have we parted? We parted because this is the best for both of us. We have achieved greatness together, and perhaps it is the time to show the world that we can also achieve greatness individually, one without the other. I believe there is a benefit to this, of showing that we can achieve things seperately.

At this point, I can not do other than to thank Bjarne for the confidence that he put in me three years ago. Thanks to CSC, the world-leading company that has proved a perfect partner; without interfering in the present business. A special thanks to my team mates, who have dedicated themselves to my cause without a thought of saving anything for themselves with uncommon generosity and professionalism. Thanks also to all of the staff, without exception. I can only say on thing, that you give me the ideas of what I want to go for; I may change team, change environments, and return to the race, but wherever I go I hope to find as much professionalism, as much passion, and as much self-sacrifice in the attainment of your objectives as I have found from my colleagues at Team CSC. I wish all the best to Bjarne and Team CSC. Thanks from the depth of my heart, and win the big one.

Ivan Basso

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Translated to English from IvanBasso.it. All typos and errors are mine, of course.

In a press statement from Team CSC today, it has finally been made official.

Team CSC and Ivan Basso have decided to terminate their contract by mutual agreement.

“After all that has happened, especially this summer, Team CSC and Ivan Basso have agreed to part ways. It has been a very difficult decision, but both parties agree it is time to move on. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ivan for his time with the team and for the great results he and the team have achieved together. At the same time, we wish him all the best for the future,” says Bjarne Riis.

Today’s L’Equipe contains an extensive interview with Ivan Basso.

In it he talks about his hopes and plans for his future, and also discusses the much requested DNA test.

Basso states that he has offers from many teams, but that he would prefer to stay at Team CSC. “It’s my team. I think I contributed largely to its structuring.”

Regarding his relationship with Riis, Basso said he had been very dissappointed right after the start of the Tour de France, but that he had come to accept the decision. Of their relationship now, he said: “We are in the situation of couple that has had a few problems and that’s trying to put the pieces back together.”

On the archiving of the case against him, Basso commented that CONI anti-doping commission president Franco Cosenza did not do this “on the simple declaration of the Madrid judge, who said that the documents of the Guardia Civil could not be used. (He) did not base his decision on the 39 pages transmitted in July to the Tour organisation, but on a much more complete dossier, to which the UCI added its arguments.”

On why Basso has so far chosen not to underfo a DNA test, Basso commented: “My attorney would not have been opposed to the principle of DNA research, but the situation wasn’t clear enough,” he said. “There is too much confusion around the investigation. We don’t know if we can trust the state of conservation of the blood bags seized by the investigators.” He added that it was the recommendation of his attorney not to do the DNA test (which he of course will follow).

Basso remains convinced he will return to the Tour and win it. “I even take bets on it,” Basso commented although he has yet to be invited to the presentation of the Tour de France, scheduled October 27 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.

It is worth noting that the UCI has announced that it may take up to 10 months before it decides whether or not to appeal the Operation Puerto cases to CAS. This is due to the refusal of the Spanish Courts in releasing material from the case to UCI. In a comment on this, Erik Breukink of Rabobank called the delay “unacceptable” and called upon the UCI to make a clear decision on the riders involved in Operation Puerto.

Team CSC boss, Bjarne Riis, has said he does not want to be rushed into taking a decision about Basso.

“The decision process is going on internally in the team. These are very important decisions; perhaps the most important decision in the team’s history,” Riis comments. “This is serious talk, and we need some peace and quiet to do it.

“I know there are lots of opinions about this, and lots of interests, but we need some peace and quiet so that we can think the right thoughts, and make the right decision.”

Team CSC teammate Kurt Asle Arvesen has backed Ivan Basso throughout the process, and expressed his happiness that the case had been shelved. In an interview with Norwegian TV, Arvesen said that the riders on the team were pleased with the news, as this was what they had hoped for. However, he also expresses understanding with the decision, should Team CSC and Basso decide to part ways.

“It is possible that may be the best decision,” Arvesen ended the interview.

“First and foremost, we are happy that there has been taken a decision in the case, which we can now digest, and determine what our decision will be,” Brian Nygaard, press spokesman for Team CSC said today to Danish TV2.

“There has been a meeting between Ivan and Bjarne Riis. The result of that is that they have now started to discuss Ivan’s
future on the team, and they will soon make a decision about that.” Bjarne Riis had earlier said that Basso would have to prove his innocence of any connection to the doping doctor Eugemiano Fuentes, and according to Nyholm, that is still relevant.

“Yes, that requirement is still on the table. It is also the main issue, from our point of view. We hope to get the UCI out of the bushes, so that we can get as good an overview over the case as possible, and then take a decision based on that. So for the moment he remains suspended, and then we will decide whether he figures in the team or not.”

The journalist question whether it will be sufficient for CSC if he is acquitted in court.

“We have no comments to that at the moment. Naturally, the solution to be found must also be one that Ivan accepts, and which is legally defensible. Ultimately, however, it depends on whether we wish him to continue on the team or not.

“Basso will not start at the Giro di Lombardia, and that is because it is not yet decided whether he has a future on the team, and until we have a final decision on that, there is no point in having him ride.”

“My goal now is to get back to winning bike races,” Ivan Basso commented in Gazzetta dello Sport, after the case against him was dropped by CONI. “I want to win the Giro or the Tour, and remove all doubt. The fans will not be satisfied with the case being closed, they want to see me win again like I did in May.

“I have not done anything that I need to feel bad about, and I do not need to defend myself or prove anything. My victory in the Giro d’Italia was not a big surprise, it was the result of four years were I was among the best at the Tour de France.” This statements seems to clash with earlier statements from Team CSC, which were of the opinion that Basso should prove his innocence beyond reasonable doubt.

Asked about the Giro di Lombardia, Basso commented: “No, I will not be participating. I have been acquitted, but Riis has decided that for the time being it would be best for me not to race the Lombardia. I am very dissappointed about this. Bjarne told me that it is not because of the ethical code, but a purely technical decision. I have consistently trained to be ready to race as soon as my suspension ends, but maybe it is a bit too early, with only two days until Lombardy.”

“I will meet Bjarne on monday. As expected, it is not easy to put the pieces of the puzzle together again. It has been hard. Definitely. We have not spoken together for four months. Before this, we spoke together every day,” says Basso.

The day after Ivan Baso’s acquittal by CONI, speculations have once again taken speed regarding Ivan Baso’s future.

The team sponsor, CSC, has expressed satisfaction with the judgement. “It is very positive that CONI has finally come down with a verdict. Now it is important to see what will be the reaction of the UCI. It is important that we have a quick resolution on this matterand get on, and this is a step in the right direction,” according to CSC’s Nordic representative Marcus Kraft. “Then Ivan Basso will be able to know what he has to deal with, Team CSC will know what it has to deal with, and we as a sponsor can know what is cycling and what is doping.”

Kraft is careful to state that although the sponsor is kept informed by Riis, they will not be putting pressure on the Team to either keep or fire Basso. “It is Bjarne’s decision whether he dares to trust Basso enough to keep him on the team. We will not demand or require anything.”

Team CSC itself has still not come out with an official reaction to the acquittal.

According to media reports, Ivan Basso visited Bjarne Riis in the latter’s Swiss home yesterday evening. According to these reports, Riis refused Basso’s request to ride at the Giro di Lombardia this weekend - a refusal that Italian media believe will have made the reportedly chilly relations between Riis and Basso sub-zero. As a result, many media are today reporting that Basso will be leaving CSC after this season.

Opinion: Any reports about the relationship between Basso and Riis should be taken with a large grain of salt right now. Reporters have been writing Basso “off” Team CSC ever since the affair started, and there is no reason for believing these reports any more than earlier ones. Not putting Basso on the Giro di Lombardia team would be a practical move from the point of view of Basso and the team; the media attention Basso would receive at the race would benefit neither Basso nor the team, and waiting until next year with a return to the big stage would hopefully allow Basso to build up to the new season in peace; if he stays at Team CSC. The actual decision probably won’t be known until Team CSC make their official statement on the case (if even then).

In a press statement today, the anti-doping comittee of the Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (CONI), has officially recommended that all charges in the blood doping case against Ivan Basso be dropped.

The communique from CONI read, “…CONI, within the limits granted by the international law cfr. att. 182-185-224 and following UCI Antidoping Regulations, has decided to archive the actions against Mr Basso.” Further stating that, “in case there is more evidence, even from a third party, [the case] could be re-opened for disciplinary procedures.”

The decision, then rests with the Italian Cycling Federation which - in principle - does not have to follow the recommendation. Italian Cycling Federation president Renato di Rocco however said in a statement he was “satisfied” with the decision, indicating that the federation would drop the case.

Waiting in the wings, is the threat that the UCI may take the case to CAS. Initial comments from the Danish UCI member is that he expects the case will be taken to CAS, as this is what the UCI has said it will do all along.

Basso comments the decision as follows: “I am pleased with the news. I am ready for the final race of the season, the Giro di Lombardia this weekend, but first I will have to talk with Bjarne Riis.”

“We are delighted with the result,” Basso’s lawyer Massimo Martelli said Thursday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “It’s the best possible outcome and we hope it stops here.” Martelli said that Basso was to meet “immediately” with Danish team CSC, which suspended him in July, to decide his future. “All my client wants to do is get back to racing as soon as possible,” Martelli said.