Manolo Saiz: 'My teams have been the cleanest in cycling'
The Spaniard was blacklisted from cycling following Operación Puerto

Liberty Seguros boss Manuel Saiz has said his cycling teams were the cleanest in the peloton, despite being blacklisted from the sport following Operación Puerto.
Saiz was arrested during the final week of the 2006 Giro d'Italia alongside doctor Eufemiano Fuentes on doping charges, which they were cleared of but were blacklisted from the sport.
His ONCE team, which then became Liberty Seguros and then Astana, were one of the most successful during the 1990s, winning the Vuelta a España five times amongst almost 500 total victories. Saiz says his forced departure from the sport "plunged me into loneliness", telling Spanish newspaper Alerta: "I'm a brave man and it turned me into a coward; and a thousand other things, for example my children could have had other destinies."
When asked for the whole story on the scandal, Saiz says he will "leave it for my grandchildren" to tell. As for whether his riders used blood transfusions or other doping methods: "They'll have to answer that.
>>> French rider suspended for four years following ‘super-EPO’ positive test
"I have always said so and will continue to do so throughout my life. My teams have been the cleanest in cycling. That's what I'll stick with."
Saiz moves on to say he worries about the financial health of the sport during the coronavirus pandemic, before discussing the use of salbutamol in the peloton, wondering why so many athletes have allergies.
"I use [salbutamol], for example, for health reasons. I am clear about what helps me in my normal life. It would be necessary to wonder why so many athletes have allergies in sports, we were doing studies. Scientists have to decide on its use. If a lot of helps me in my daily life, I understand that the same thing happens to athletes."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Dr Hutch: When did bikes start to cost half the UK average wage?
Modern bikes are better, Hutch admits. But are they five times better?
By Michael Hutchinson • Published
-
Inside the first Global Bike Festival: Road, gravel and mountain biking come together in the Austrian Alps
Cycling Weekly was there to find out why hundreds of people travelled to Austria with their bikes for a weekend
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Guillaume Martin: The big question is this grey area of ketones
The Frenchman says he is in favour of banning ketones for reasons of fairness
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe doesn't share Arnaud Démare's concerns over performance products used in the peloton
The Frenchman also says he 'won't be shouting from the rooftops' when he eventually decides to compete for the Tour de France yellow jersey
By Jonny Long • Published
-
US amateur rider handed four-year doping ban after winning cat three race
The 49-year-old was tested after his win in the Arizona State Championships this summer
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
David Lappartient: Riders are sharing rumours of new doping techniques, they feel there is a gap
"Man is limitless in the imagination to cheat," the UCI President said
By Jonny Long • Published
-
UK Anti-Doping's case against Richard Freeman paused after doping doctor appeals tribunal verdict
UKAD will resume proceedings against Richard Freeman after his High Court appeal
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Former Vini Zabù rider banned for three years after testing positive at Giro d’Italia
A former Vini Zabù rider has been banned for three years after testing positive at the Giro d’Italia.
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
USADA bans rider after testing positive for 10 different prohibited substances
The athlete has accepted a four-year suspension
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Former French Anti-Doping boss accuses Lance Armstrong of motor doping
Verdy says he doesn't think Armstrong's performances were possible on just EPO alone
By Jonny Long • Published