Ivan Basso elated his fans with his stunning win yesterday on one of the most rugged mountains in cycling, the Monte Zoncolan. However it did raise some doubts due to a doping suspension he served. He was involved in Operacion Puerto and was never been the same since then.

Basso promised to be clean in all ethical manners and trained with Aldo Sassi. He claimed that his victory was in good faith and all in guts, sweat and skill.

He said, “My hematocrit values, training mileage, the cols that I’ve climbed, everything is easy to check,” while showing his readings on line since he made his comeback and added, “I follow the strict line of the team, and that line is also my own.”

Sassi who is suffering from a brain tumor assured that his riders Cadel Evans and Ivan Basso are riding clean in the race. He declared, “Cycling has improved a lot. Things have really cleaned up. If either Ivan or Cadel win the Giro, we’ll have the proof that you can win without doping.” Sassi added, “I totally trust them and I’m certain they wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”

Basso believes that cycling sport is headed on the right track as indicated by getting in his best form in the race. He won over Evans by one minute 19 seconds and one minute 30 seconds over Michele Scarponi and Androni Giocattoli as well.


He is currently third overall moving three minutes 33 seconds behind David Arroyo’s Maglia Rosa. In the next few days, he is going for his second Giro win.

Basso stated, “I’ve been riding for 27 years. I never won a lot of races, but I’ve always won. I realize also that I am not getting any younger, but talent now makes champions.” He added, “That’s the same for my teammate Vincenzo Nibali, the Italian of the future.”