Kreuziger refuses to answer questions on Ferrari and ties to doping
Saxo-Tinkoff rider walks away from reporters when asked about Dr. Michele Ferrari
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LIEGE, Belgium (VN) — Roman Kreuziger (Saxo-Tinkoff) refused to answer questions about alleged links to controversial Italian doctor Michele Ferrari on Saturday.
The recently crowned Amstel Gold Race winner refused inquiries in both English and Italian from a handful of journalists before the team presentation ahead of Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
“I don’t want to comment. I only want to talk about the race,” Kreuziger said. “I will speak about this theme after Romandie.”
Kreuziger said he only wanted to talk about racing and directed questions toward Saxo’s press officer. The 26-year-old Czech rider didn’t seem happy about the line of questioning.
Kreuziger then walked away and into a tent area where the media was not allowed to enter.
Team spokesman Anders Daamgaard said Kreuziger told him before Saturday’s team presentation he didn’t want to field questions about the alleged Ferrari links.
Daamgaard said there is no official team statement on Kreuziger, but added that the Czech suggested he would speak about his past following the Tour de Romandie, April 23-28.
Last Sunday’s win at the Dutch classic put Kreuziger in the spotlight and revived questions about alleged links to Ferrari, who has been banned for life by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
As part of USADA’s reasoned decision in the Lance Armstrong scandal, documents revealed, via testimony of former Ferrari client Leonardo Bertagnolli, links between Ferrari and several former Liquigas riders.
In a written affidavit in Italian (translated here in English), Bertagnolli, a former Liquigas rider, admitted he worked with Ferrari with the knowledge and consent of Liquigas management.
Bertagnolli also alleged that Kreuziger was a Ferrari client, among others, including Franco Pellizotti and Enrico Gasparotto, all Liquigas riders at the time.
Last fall, then-Liquigas manager (now Cannondale) Roberto Amadio issued a hasty press release outlining its position with the riders and association with Ferrari. In 2008, the Italian team insisted that riders drop all trainers not associated with the squad.