Former world under 23 champion Romain Sicard has issued a formal apology to his family, team and fans for his behaviour this week, saying that he regretted the incident which led to his arrest by French police two days ago.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Sicard was seen by police trying to put a traffic sign into his car. According to Ladepeche.fr, the officers checked his vehicle and found a orange traffic cone inside. The 23 year old refused to give his identity when asked, then was subsequently breathalysed and determined to be over the alcohol limit. This led to him being taken into custody.
“During the night of Wednesday to Thursday this week, after a meal with friends, I behaved in an immature and irresponsible way,” he said in an open letter released today. “I want to apologize to all who trust in me and have shown their support during this time: my family, fans, in addition to the young followers for the bad example that I have given.”
His squad reacted strongly to Thursday’s news, saying that a full investigation would be carried out. “The 'orange' group will meet soon with Sicard, will study the case and will be strict in the implementation of its internal code,” it promised later that day.
The rider acknowledged what he had done in relation to the Basque squad. “I apologize especially to my team, sponsors, the staff and my colleagues for the damage that I’ve done in giving a bad image and one which is so far from the principles advocated by the group Euskadi Euskaltel,” he said.
“I have realized the need to have impeccable behaviour, I look towards the future and I hope that through my sporting feats I will help you forget this episode.”
Sicard’s sporting feats were what first earned the team’s attention, with the squad signing him after a superb 2009 season. He won the world under 23 championship and the Tour de l’Avenir that year, as well as netting the Subida al Naranco plus a stage in the Ronde de l'Isard.
Following a solid first pro season, things started wavering this year. He suffered with tendonitis early on and then a muscle imbalance in his right leg, and never got going.
He pulled out of Paris-Nice, the Volta a Catalunya, the Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne, the GP Ouest France, plus the Grand Prix de Québec and Montréal.
This week’s behaviour may in some ways be a reaction to that, but it is clearly a self-destructive one and something he now knows he can’t do again. It remains to be seen how the team will react, and if today’s apology will be of any help in trying to restore a decent working relationship with it.