Tag: Vinokourov

Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan broke free and snatched the title of the men’s cycling road race from the British team frantically trying to set up a win for Mark Cavendish, the world champion. It happened in the London Olympic when he overtook Rigoberto Uran of Colombia near the Buckingham Palace and that left a one minute gap for the star British team to deal with in which they failed collectively.

Born Alexander Nikolaevich Vinokourov on 17^th September, 1973 in Kazakhstan, he is the General Manger of Astana, the UCI Pro Team and retired rider now.  He has for his career credits two  world championship bronze medals, four Tour de France stage wins, four stage wins in Vuelta a España and  the 2006 overall title, one Amstel Gold Race, two Liege Bastogne Liege monuments and the now legendary 2012 London Olympics Gold in the men’s road race. He was also a double medal winner at summer Olympics and the past national champion and world known celebrity of Kazakhstan.

Vinokourov turned professional in 1998 after he moved to France to finish his career as an amateur rider a year before. During Tour de France 2007 he was found blood-doping and the entire Astana team had to pay the price of withdrawing from the race.

He returned back in 2009 after serving the two year suspension to take part in competitions and cycled for his cherished team Astana and his country. He met with a crash in the Tour de France 2011 and it was serious enough to put a question on his cycling career.

However Vinokourov made his intention clear with the announcement of his continuance for another season in 2012 keeping in mind the London Olympic Games. He proved a nightmare for the much touted British team and made the gold for men’s road race his own after he dramatically won it.

Alexander Vinokourav might have retired from professional cycling, but there are a few controversies surrounding him that refuse to die down.

During the ending months of last year, the Olympic gold medallist was accused of paying off a rival in order to secure the pole position in the one day classic race which was held in Belgium in the year 2010. The accusation was brought forth by an Italian daily.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera had reported that Vinokourav had made a payment of $120,000 to Russian rider Alexandr Kolobhev and asked him to ease off during the last sprint at the Liege-Bastonge-Liege Classic, 2010. To support its claim, the newspaper had published emails that prove that the race was fixed and Vinokourav and Kolobhev had exchanged bank details between themselves. The newspaper had also claimed that the Swiss authorities had provided the details of the bank transfer.

Vinokourav’s win in the 2010 race was first after serving a two year ban for blood doping during the 2007 edition of the Tour de France. During the race, he had finished six seconds ahead of Kolobhev. The details of this alleged fixing were handed over to the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the authorities in Belgium.

According to the reports, the first email was sent on the 26^th of April, 2010, one day after the race from Kolobhev to Vinokourav. In the mail Kolobhev said that though he had a great chance, he did not do it (win the race) not for the contract but for the position which Vinokourav was in. He said that he was waiting patiently and also gave Vinokourav his transfer details and asked him to delete the mail.

Vinokourav has responded to this mail 12 days later and said to Kolobhev that he had done everything right. Vinokourav also wrote that he will take care of everything.