Iljo Keisse had stood up strongly against the International Cycling Union (UCI) to race the Six Days in Rotterdam, after a Belgian court had cleared him. But now the Quick Step rider has hit a road block, skipping the Six Days in Bremen, Germany. Franco Pellizotti may follow the Keisse case with increased interest, as he was cleared by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), but still may face sanctions under the UCI.
Like in Rotterdam, the UCI told Keisse he couldn't race in Bremen. For a Rotterdam start, Keisse had to go to court and get a last minute injunction. This will not be happening in Bremen. "Besides the financial aspect, the pressure has become too high," Keisse said according to German press agency dpa.
Keisse could have made use of another court injunction, the way he found the start line in Rotterdam. But his court victory did not sit well with the UCI, which said it would refuse to acknowledge the result obtained by the Belgian with his partner Kenny de Ketele. The duo ended up in second place, two points behind Danny Stam and Leon van Bon. Only the Rotterdam winners are listed on the UCI website.
UCI goes to CAS to get Pellizotti case reviewed
Franco Pellizotti was cleared by CONI in October, but now faces the same extra hurdles that Keisse is trying to jump. The UCI has announced that it will go the Sports Court of Arbitration (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, to get the acquittal reversed. The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the UCI took the step one day before the end of the appeal deadline.
Pellizotti was cleared by CONI on October 21, 2010, after initially handing out a two-year ban. Another couple of months could pass, leaving in doubt even the next Giro d'Italia for Pellizotti. The Italian hopes that his Swiss lawyer, Rocco Taminelli, can accelerate the case. In theory, Pellizotti had an agreement with the Spanish Movistar team, but as long as the case is pending, he remains without a squad.