It’s a rather unexpected turn of events, but Gianni Savio is back at the Giro. Giro race director Mauro Vegni’s relationship with Savio and his Androni team is fraught, to say the least, but the Androni team has found its way back to Italy’s top table by virtue of being a quality Italian squad eager to race umm… Gianni Savio apologising and promising not to add 200 new sponsors specifically for the race oh, it’s being pretty much the only domestic PCT team eligible for the spot at the race.
And the reason this opportunity was available at all? The Vini Zabù team that was going to be at the start line has self-suspended for the good image of the sport–and presumably for the sponsors too–following two positive EPO tests.
Yes, EPO. Evidently we’re not the only people pretending it’s still the 1990s.
It’s a case of ‘jump before they’re pushed’ for Vini Zabù, since the UCI will suspend the team eventually anyway. Probably just have to finish up their more important task of banning riders for handing out water bottles to young fans and whatnot, but we’re sure they’ll find the time eventually.
It’s a big win for Gianni Savio fans. Which, in 2021, might only be us. Ah well, it’s still 2004 somewhere.