Tyler Hamilton exposes what’s left of cycling
After exposing his former Team Director Bjarne Riis of being aware of his relations with Doctor Eufemiano Ferrari, Tyler Hamilton has now blown the whistle on Olev Tinkov, the former owner of the Tinkoff Credit Systems.
He noted that Tinkov suggested his riders to do what is necessary to achieve the desired results and not getting caught was the only condition.
"Already at the first team meeting, where we sat in a conference room, Oleg Tinkov said: 'I do not care what you do, just do not get caught',” said Hamilton.
“You can write this because there were many people in the room who can confirm it, if Tinkov decided to sue me for saying this".
"There were 20-year-old riders around the table. Was it really something they should hear? He did not say anything specific about it, but he said 'do not be caught'. We do not need such a person in cycling".
Tyler Hamilton himself has had a controversial history as a cyclist, being in and out of the game for using performance enhancing drugs.
He marked his professional career in 1995 with Team US Postal Service, the team that has several of its cyclists already confessed systematic doping after the USADA detailed investigation into Lance Armstrong, who led the side.
Hamilton joined Team CSC in 2002 and moved to Team Phonak after spending a period of two-years with the side.
The cyclist was accused of blood doping during the 2004 Olympics and was banned from the sport for two-years.
He was disqualified from the 2004 Summer Olympics time trial medal and a stage 8 victory at the Vuelta a Espana for using unfair means to enhance his performance.
Tyler joined Team Tinkoff Credit Systems in 2007 and switched to Team Rock Racing after a brief stay of one-year with the team.
Team Credit Systems announced its demise by the end of 2008 season and inherited its structure to the Russian outfit Team Katusha.
Tyler was suspended by the team shortly before the Giro d’Italia 2007 because of his involvement in Operacion Puerto and he joined Team Rock Racing in 2008 to continue his professional endeavour.
Tinkov himself separated himself from Team Katusha by the end of 2008 season and has returned to the professional scene recently as a co-partner to Bjarne Riis’ Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank.
The announcement was made just before the start of the Tour de France 2012 and the coalition is expected to withhold minimum till the end of 2013 season.
Hamilton released a autobiography on September 5, 2012, The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs.
He has already raised fingers on current Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff General Manager during a television show on Sunday, while announcing the release of the Danish version of his book and now its Olev Tinkov’s turn.
Although he accused Bjarne of administering drugs under his nose, Hamilton briefed that he personally is a big admirer of the Dane but he never liked Oleg Tinkov and called his return as, a big “setback for cycling".
The sport of cycling is going through a sensitive phase, especially after USADA reveals one of the most organised doping in history of the sports, related to the seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong.
The firm’s 1000 page evidence was detailed enough to bring the disgraced American down for the count, as he has now been stripped-off from all the previous results since August 1998 to 2010 including the seven Tour de France overall victories.
The case has definitely affected the credibility of the sport, as it includes many top names along with Armstrong and has hurt numerous cycling fans across the globe.
Tyler Hamilton’s publication, ‘The Secret Race’ is just adding fuel to the fire that has already burnt many fabulous cycling memories over the years.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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