With the September 1 start of the Vuelta a España just three weeks away, the Spanish race is spending 180,000 euros to try to make the 2007 edition the cleanest version ever.

And following the devastating news of the blood doping positive of last year’s third-place podium man Andrey Kashechkin, race organizers are raising new questions on whether they want to see the team of defending champion Alexandre Vinokourov at the start in Vigo.

“The facts will determine the participation of the team. We’ve spoken with the team directors and they’ve told us they will take measures,” Vuelta race director Victor Cordero told EFE. “We’ve decided to analyze the situation and we will make a decision on Monday. We are waiting for information.”

The credibility of the Astana team has come under fire following the doping positives of team captains Vinokourov and Kashechkin.

Directors of the Kazakh-sponsored team - which sidelined its racing activities for a month following Vinokourov’s positive test for homologous blood doping at last month’s Tour de France – said it is making an internal review.

Vuelta officials now seem to be regretting its earlier decision to welcome back the Astana team despite the doping scandal surrounding the defending Vuelta champion.

Cordero said the doping controversies are only helping to spoil cycling among Spanish cycling fans.

“These cases after the credibility of the sport among millions of fans. We have to keep fighting to guarantee the credibility and that’s because we’ve announced the anti-doping plan,” Cordero continued. “It demonstrates that the anti-doping controls work and there remain fewer and fewer options for cheaters. It’s the only guarantee we can offer.”

To try to restore the battered race’s credibility, Vuelta officials are working closely with the UCI in an ambitious anti-doping program.

Race organizers announced that 180,000 euros are being spent before and during the Vuelta to catch would-be cheaters.

Some 80 surprise controls will be conducted in the days leading up to the race, including targeted EPO tests. During the race, more surprise tests will be conducted along with the traditional urine and blood samples taken from the race leaders and randomly selected riders from the peloton.

No Vuelta for Valverde, but other stars lining up
Alejandro Valverde is taking a pass on the 2007 Vuelta a España, but there will be plenty of big names lining up for the season’s third grand tour.

Valverde, second overall last year, has decided to skip the Vuelta and instead will race the Vuelta a Burgos this month and then prepare for the world championships at the end of September in Stuttgart, Germany.

The decision by Valverde combined with the doping absences of both Alexandre Vinokourov and Andrey Kashechkin (first and third, respectively) mean that none of the top-three from last year’s Vuelta will be in Vigo for the Sept. 1 start.

There won’t be a shortage of candidates for overall victory, however.

Lining up with eyes toward the podium include Spanish riders Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d’Epargne), Carlos Sastre (CSC), Samuel Sánchez and Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and José Angel Gómez Marchante (Saunier Duval-Prodir).

Among the more important foreign riders are Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital), 2005 winner Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Tom Danielson and Janez Brajkovic (Discovery Channel).

There should be plenty of sparks in the sprints as Oscar Freire (Rabobank) and reigning world champ Paolo Bettini and Tom Boonen (QuickStep-Innergetic).

CONI seeks two-year ban for Moreni
The Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) has asked former Cofidis rider Cristian Moreni to be banned for two years following his failed doping test during last month's Tour de France.

The 34-year-old tested positive for testosterone during the 11th stage of this year's drug-tainted tour that saw pre-race favourite Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan also sent home in disgrace.

Moreni, who was Italian champion in 2004, will be sentenced by the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI).

After testing positive he immediately acknowledged his guilt, without even requesting that his B sample be tested. His actions resulted in his entire team withdrawing from the Tour. He was later fired by Cofidis.
-by Agence France Presse

Simoni making switch, Ag2r extends veterans
Two-time Giro d’Italia champion Gilberto Simoni looks to be heading to Serramenti Diquigiovanni-Selle Italia for the 2007 season.

Simoni, 36, would give a huge boost to the Italian continental team led by the colorful team manager Gianni Savio. The team was overlooked for this year’s Giro d’Italia, but the presence of Simoni would all but guarantee a return ticket to the Giro for Savio’s always aggressive team.

“I cannot make any comment until September 1, but I can say we will have a big team for the 2008 season,” Savio told VeloNews. “We’ve had a very successful 2007 season with 25 wins. We are building a better team for next season and I expect we will be back in the Giro.”

In other transfer news, veterans José Luis Arrieta and Stéphane Goubert have both penned deals to stay one more season with French lineup Ag2r-Prévoyance. Goubert, 35, decided to delay his retirement by one year for what will be his 15th as a professional while Arrieta, 36, will race for what will be his 16th season.

The team is also taking a close look at signing Slovenian climbing specialist Tadej Valjavec.