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Cycling: Big race may force Millar out of Games
DOUG GILLON
SCOTTISH cycling yesterday unveiled a team which they believe can bring home several medals from the Common-wealth Games in Manchester, yet their most high-profile rider, David Millar, would have to be unseated in the Tour de France in order to play out his role to the full.
The 25-year-old Maltese-born rider was one of 19 people named yesterday in the Bank of Scotland team. He is selected for both the road race and time trial.
The latter event once earned him the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, but he would have to be ruled out of this year's Tour even to have a chance of riding the time trial for Scotland at the Games.
“Millar would then need a special dispensation from the UCI, the world governing body,” confirmed Graeme Herd, Scot-land's team coach.
"UCI rules ban any Tour de France starter from contesting any other event while that race is still in progress. The road race is after the Tour concludes, but the time trial is not.
“The UCI might give a special dispensation if he went out of the Tour early, with a stomach upset, for example. Manager Alasdair MacLennan has checked that there is precedent for this. The odds are very much against, but we've entered him for the time trial just in case, to cover all the bases.”
The road specialists in the squad are there only because of Millar. It is acknowledged they can't hope to survive as a fighting force into the last quarter of the race.
“If they make it that far, and protect Millar, they'll more than have done their job,” said Elderslie-based Herd.
