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'Takeover by force'

Tour de France organizers unhappy over Virenque's return

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Posted: Wednesday June 30, 1999 01:20 PM

General director Jean-Marie Leblanc condemned a "takeover by force, three days before the start of the Tour de France." AP

PARIS (AP) -- The Tour de France bowed to pressure from cycling's governing body today by readmitting controversial rider Richard Virenque into this year's race.

Virenque, one of France's most popular riders, was barred because he is under investigation in the wake of last year's scandal-plagued race.

But general director Tour Jean-Marie Leblanc told a news conference that organizers will be forced to let Virenque ride after the International Cycling Union's order on Tuesday.

Leblanc condemned a "takeover by force, three days before the start of the Tour de France."

"We have been prevented from leading our rehabilitation [of the Tour]," he said, adding that race officials would go to the courts to try maintain their position.

"I accept the term snub, but it is not a U-turn," he said.

Virenque was the best known of several riders ordered barred from the event earlier this month because of allegations of doping. The UCI cited a technical error as the reason for ordering the reversal.

The Frenchman, part of last year's Festina team but now with Italian Polti, was "not welcome" because "his presence would be incompatible with the image of the Tour, and the one we want to preserve," Leblanc said when he announced the original decision.

Festina was at the center of the drug controversy that marred last year's race.

While several of his former Festina colleagues admitted to drug usage, Virenque has always denied knowingly taking banned substances.

The UCI also ordered Tour officials to change another decision and allow ONCE sporting director Manolo Saiz to work at the race.

"I had a dream that the Tour de France be transparent, official, restored and here we are," Leblanc was quoted as saying in the sports daily L'Equipe, adding that he viewed the decision as "a defeat."

 

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