Free Elisa Basso, Maybe

Ivan Basso, last year's Tour of Italy winner and a pre-race favourite for the 2007 Tour de France, quit his Discovery Channel team yesterday claiming that the ongoing Puerto investigations was damaging the team.
The Cycopaths sincerely hope this was a voluntary decision on Ivan's part and that Johan Bruyneel doesn't have Basso's lovely sister, Elisa the weather girl, tied up in closet in West Flanders. Mr. 60 has found himself in similar situations and we can say with a straight face that it's no picnic.

What we find most interesting are Basso's recent comments regarding his situation. He stated yesterday that he is "at peace" with himself ahead of an Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) hearing on doping allegations on Wednesday.

"Whether I'm going to a hearing or not, I'm at peace with my conscience," he added.

Is it just us, or is he beginning to sound more like a man resigned to his fate rather than one fighting to clear his name?

We here at Cycopaths feel terrible for the smiling assassin. Why should he pay such a heavy price for his dog's poor decisions?

It happens to us when we look at her too, Ivan.