Team denies the allegations, says Landis has no credibility
BMC Racing’s president Jim Ochowicz said the team will stand behind their sports director John Lelangue with respect to the investigation the UCI has launched to look into Floyd Landis’ claims that he was aware of doping when directing the Phonak team.
The statement from Ochowicz said: “John Lelangue has taken note of the press statements made by Mr. Pat McQuaid and the UCI regarding the initiation by the UCI of investigations through the national cycling federation against the persons indicated by the UCI, including John Lelangue through FFC.”
BMC Racing also denies the claims and discounts Landis for lack of credibility.
“This outcome as a consequence of the accusations made by Floyd Landis is regrettable for the sport. John Lelangue received a respective note from the UCI in which it is stated that the UCI does not regard the accusations of Mr. Landis as founded, but the UCI invites John Lelangue to cooperate to bring transparency to those allegations.”
Ochowicz and team owner Andy Rihs were also accused of having knowledge of Landis’ doping activities.
Lelangue has said he will cooperate with the investigation. “I will fully cooperate in such investigation by FFC, if any, to help the UCI and the cycling sport to show that the accusations of Mr. Landis against various persons and also me are not founded. This may help the persons accused, including myself, and the UCI to terminate this side battle created by Mr. Landis,” explained Lelangue.
His opinion is that this is his way of channeling anger after not being able to return to the top level of the sport. “As it was stated before and through various media during the last days, Mr. Landis is placing obviously disoriented accusations deriving from his regrettable fall down as sportsman and person in creditability,” he added.
The team is currently racing at the Giro d’Italia, with their World champion Cadel Evans in position to fight for the maglia rosa. Lelange says his priority right now is to focus on the team’s efforts in the last few days of the Italian Grand Tour.
“However, and for the time being as Mr. McQuaid stated into the same direction, we – the cycling sport and myself at the BMC Racing Team – continue to currently fully attend to the spectacular racing in this year’s Giro d’Italia, and as far as my person is involved, I will have time to attend afterwards to the said accusations of Mr. Landis, which are totally unfounded. For the time being the Giro and the absolute concentration on Cadel Evans’s race in our team has priority.”
Ochowicz added that the team fully supports Lelangue, and is absolutely convinced that he will help to challenge and set aside Landis’ allegations.