Weight Weenies

Bloggers Andy Shen of NYVelocity.com and Lesli Cohen of Cyclismas.com set up the “Paul Kimmage Defense Fund” late last week. . .

Over the weekend, journalists at the UCI Road World Championships in Valkenburg, Netherlands, signed a petition in support of Kimmage. . .

When asked directly about the Kimmage suit, McQuaid went quiet.

“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on that as there is a court case upcoming,” he said. “We have already stated why we are doing this. We have also done the similar case against Landis. It’s not a question of the press. It’s a question of the UCI.”

Kimmage told Cyclingnews.com over the weekend that he was hesitant to see the fund set up, but gratified to see the support he’s received.

“I had no say in it and I was really, really uncomfortable with the notion of people putting their hands in their pockets for me because there are a million better causes out there than this. Having said that, it’s one thing for people to say they support you, but when they put their hands in their pockets and put money up for you, that takes it to a completely new level and I’ve been blown away and absolutely staggered and humbled by it. So I can’t thank those people enough,” said Kimmage.

“Since I wrote "Rough Ride" in 1990, it’s certainly the most gratifying thing that’s ever happened to me in the sport by a long, long way. My thoughts are now, are that whatever happens I wont let any of those people down. I’m not sure what that means or how it’s going to end. I am sure I won’t let those people down.”

David Millar and Jonathan Vaughters have both spoken out against the UCI’s actions. Millar, who attended the UCI’s press conference at the Worlds went to Twitter, stating, “UCI = SHAMEFUL. They continue to sue Kimmage which is disgusting and Verbruggen speaks out proving he must have nothing to do with cycling.”

And the funds donated have changed Kimmage’s outlook on the case. . .

As for Kimmage, he is still weighing up his options but along with his vigour for the case, he is hoping that cycling will use this opportunity to change itself, and not waste the chance like it did in the wake of the Festina scandal of 1998. . .

“To hear Pat McQuaid say yesterday that they had no responsibility in terms of doping and the culture of doping, what an insult that is. Pat McQuaid, the UCI and Hein Verbruggen are accountable to no one and responsible for nothing. What we need in the sport is a president who says, yes I will be accountable for anti-doping and how the sport is run. What we’re getting is the complete opposite at the moment. For me this is a watershed moment for the sport, not for my case but for the sport and the UCI.

On June 15, 2012 in USADA Banned Armstrong new Doping Allegations, motorthings wrote:for those of you who haven't see this yet...and are wondering how Hitler was reacting to all of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia6dV_G5UxE

maquisard wrote:Believe Tyler, Floyd Fairness Fund, Support Kimmage...

No thanks.

maquisard wrote:Believe Tyler, Floyd Fairness Fund, Support Kimmage...

No thanks.

J-Nice wrote:

maquisard wrote:Believe Tyler, Floyd Fairness Fund, Support Kimmage...

No thanks.

Nice try with the obfuscation. I think most people can tell the difference between the three you named, despite the fact you lump them together for the purpose of making a correlation between them that does not exist.

Kimmage certainly doesn't belong there, as he is a journalist of integrity. Maybe you can't tell the difference, but integrity isn't something that can be co-opted for cynical PR purposes.