Call for Botero, Gutierrez reinstatement

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The International Association of Professional Cyclists - through its president Francesco Moser - has asked for the full reinstatement of Phonak riders Santiago Botero and Jose Enrique Gutierrez. The Colombian and the Spaniard have been named in the ongoing blood smuggling probe in Spain.

"In the absence of definite elements against them, the CPA asks that both be reintegrated in their team," said Moser in a statement.

Phonak said the two had been put on leave in a June 2 statement that insisted that they were not formally suspended or sacked. Instead, team director John Lelangue said they had been withdrawn from racing "in the interest of the team and for the peace of mind of the riders."

GIRO GRUMBLING

The CPA - through Discovery rider Jose Luis Rubiera - also protested recent conditions on the Giro:

"2,700km of transfers to which you can add the 1,500km between Belgium and going from the south to the north of Italy represent an extra workload that's unacceptable," said Rubiera in a statement.

"The late arrivals at the hotels for the different teams after these long transfers often compromised massage sessions for the riders," while he also chastized "excessively difficult stages, proved by the fact that riders had to use gears they don't usually need for racing (34x25 and 36x27)."
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