Union Cycliste Internationale are in fast mode with the announcement that John Coates, President of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) has been invited to head up the Independent Commission. Also, great news for cyclo-cross personnel and Fixx Coffeehouse who are supporting a series of events, that, Punchestown is a new venue for this Sunday. Also interest in leisure cycling continues with the "Gerard Brannigan Memorial Cycle" in Clonee this Sunday. Plus, Cycling Ireland are hosting two major events the following week.
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Update on the Composition and Membership of the Independent Commission
The International Cycling Union (UCI) today announced that it had invited John Coates, President of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS), to recommend the composition and membership of the Independent Commission. Cycling's governing body decided at a Management Committee meeting on 26 October to establish a fully independent external Commission to look into the various issues and allegations contained in the USADA decision relating to the Armstrong affair.
The Commission will comprise three members: the first and its chair will be a respected senior lawyer; the second will be a forensic accountant, who will be recommended by the chair; and, the third will be an experienced sports administrator. All three members will be independent of cycling.
When appointed, the members of the Independent Commission alone will decide the final terms of reference of its wide ranging remit. The UCI has drawn up draft terms of reference which addresses the main issues raised by the USADA report into Lance Armstrong. Mr Coates has recommended a number of senior legal figures to be the potential chair of the Independent Commission, as well as providing names for the sports administrator member. The UCI has already begun contacting the people Mr Coates has nominated to establish their availability. They will be announced as soon as the Commission is formally convened.
The UCI has committed that the Commission's final report and recommendations will be published no later than 1 June 2013. The President of ICAS was approached to recommend the composition and membership of the Independent Commission as the head of the institution supervising the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the world's highest sports court, recognized as independent and impartial by the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
UCI President, Pat McQuaid, said: "We would like thank John Coates for his recommendations, which we will follow to the letter." "The purpose of this independent commission is to look into the findings of the USADA report and ultimately to make conclusions and recommendations that will enable the UCI to restore confidence in the sport of cycling and in the UCI as its governing body."
Mr. McQuaid continued: "Cycling is one of the world's most popular sports, both for participants and spectators and it has a bright future. Those who will define that future can be found among the current generation of riders who have chosen to prove that you can compete and win clean."
Courtesy of the UCI
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PUNCHESTOWN - OXYGEN / HORSES / CYCLO-CROSS
Mention Oxygen and the home of Irish National Hunt racing! What would come to an individual? Music and horse racing. NOW in time to come maybe you might the discipline of Cyclo-Cross. Recently I was made aware by a member of Team Worc that they were looking at various venues for the staging of an event. True to their word they really have hit the jackpot.
Well, the fourth round of the Fixx Coffeehouse kindly sponsored by the Dawson Street outlet will be on the plains of Kildare on Sunday.
Plus the bonus for those who intend participating or want to have a watching brief will find the venue well sign posted.
Going for FOUR in a row, Robin Seymour, looks invincible when it comes to this discipline. If the bookies were on their patches in Punchestown for the fourth in the series of Fixx Coffeehouse. The boards that shows the odds on each of the participants, ranging from odds-on to some of the contenders at over 100 to one. There would be little or no interest in the proceedings as Robin would be odds-on to win. As a sweetener they would go without the favourite which would entice the punter to have a go, knowing that the fav was not been factored into the results.
INFO: 2 races run on the day, a 'B' race for beginners and A3-4 Cat riders and an 'A' race for experienced riders and A142 Cat riders. Riders who win a 'B' race will be upgraded to 'A' for the subsequent races. Race Schedule:- sign-on: 10am. Start Times: 11.30am B Race - 45min approx. incl. women-juniors-U16 - 12.30pm A Race - 60min approx. 2.30pm Prize Giving-Entry Details: - Whole series Pre-entry only: enter by following this link fs25.formsite.com . - Entries close Thursday before each event - Senior Rider E15 - Junior Riders E10 - Prizes on the Day & series Prizes for overall based on best 4 rounds.
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"Gerard Brannigan Memorial Cycle"
Just when many of the leisure cyclists are taking time out of a very busy and healthy activity. Up pops the "Gerard Brannigan Memorial Cycle", this Sunday the 11th of November. My! The year has certainly flown in.
The venue for the sign on is the Grasshopper Inn in Clonee. A location steeped in his history and the current management are involved in the South Dublin CC, known by many as the Michael Lawless club.
Two routes will be available - 45 miles (75km) & 20 miles (35km) Both routes will be marked and supervised at all junctions. Nice to see that mileage still plays a part of our lives.
AND the good news is that tea with a capital Tea, Coffee, Sandwiches will be served up and the journeys end. PLUS there will be spot prizes.
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Ladies only Please!
A unique event gave a boost to ladies cycling last weekend. Western Lakes CC may have started a trend when at the cycling centre Ballinrobe a flurry of activity with lady "only" participants signing up for the Ladies End of Season Cycle. All under their own pedal power they completed either 50 or 80km. Some even surprised themselves! The two routes ventured out among the lakes and mountains of South Mayo and North Galway.
The feedback from the day has been positive with many already looking forward to next year's event! from small acorns grow large Oak trees. The Ladies of Western Lakes would like to thank, marshalls and Mayo Sports Partnership who helped make the event such a success.
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'Pedal Fever 2012'
Ten days to one of the gigs of the year, courtesy of Cycling Ireland and in the capable hands of Rachel Ormrod. The Cycling Conference, with the clock ticking, Rachel is trying to get a sense of the numbers on the day, with Goody Bags to order and Food to provide. She would really appreciate and encourage you to register NOW to guarantee your place and to make sure you don't go hungry on the day!
With an exciting list of confirmed speakers. The hope is that the conference will deliver a diverse programme across a number of different themes, appealing to cycling coaches, riders and managers across the cycle sport field. Check out www.pedalfever.net for full details of this years event.
Conference Details
Venue: Radisson Blu, Golden Lane, Dublin 6
Time: 9am to 6pm (may be subject to slight change)
Content and line Up
Full details of our speakers and themes will be communicated in the coming weeks. I can guarantee that the conference will cover a multitude of themes and there will be something for everyone. Here is just a sample of what we have in store.
- Andrew Gillott (British Cycling) - Build it and they will come: from white elephant to gold medal factory.
- Mark McCabe (Sports Med Ireland) - Strength, Power and Mobility. What do I need?
- Richard Cheetham (Winchester University) - Dynamic and Creative Coaching (title to be confirmed)
- Auriel Forrester (Scientific Coaching & SRM UK) - Is Power for the professional?
- Barry Murray (Optimum Nutrition 4 Sport) - Nutrition for Health and Performance - A New Paradigm
- Laura Healy (Birmingham University) - Motivation for Sports Performance (title to be confirmed)
- Dirk Friel (Training Peaks) - Track, Analyze and Plan Training Programs using Training Peaks
- Kelvin Batey (Professional Rider)
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CI Champions Night
Roll up, Roll up, for the night of the YEAR in the company of the stars of the Irish Cycling Scene. Cycling Ireland Awards Night 2012 - This year they are holding their Awards Night on Saturday 17th November at the Radisson Blu Hotel www.radissonblu.ie in Dublin City Centre from 7pm onwards. Tickets for the event, which includes a 4 course meal, cost E45 and are available to all Cycling Ireland Members.
Tickets for the event can be purchased HERE eventmaster.ie The occasion promises to be an entertaining night as we present all our National Champions, from all cycling disciplines, with their hard earned medals and present awards to those .Cycling continues to enjoy a huge increase in popularity and this year saw many milestones reached in our sport, with record participative numbers in both Leisure & Competitive events Nationwide across all disciplines & categories and some great achievements on the International Stage with our first ever Paralympic and European Championship medals and ongoing competitive representation at the highest professional level. Ticket numbers are limited. Please purchase soon to avoid disappointment. We look forward to meeting you on the night!