Cyclings web of illegal doping reached all the way to the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic on Friday.
Phil Zajicek, the 2007 IHBC road race champion, is out.
Were going to pull him, Ed Zink of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic committee said Friday afternoon.
Zink said he polled several committee members after news broke about Zajiceks lifetime ban from cycling after admitting illegal doping.
We arent in the middle of this arena, but we feel strongly about fair play, said Zink, who confirmed Zajicek will be removed as the 2007 Iron Horse champion. Its a statement we can make.
Anthony Colby, the runner-up to Zajicek in the 2007 mens road race, will be declared the winner, Zink said.
That gives Colby, a former Fort Lewis College cyclist, two Iron Horse road race titles. Colby also won the 2009 road race after the 2008 edition was snowed out.
Colby could not be reached for comment.
Durangos Ned Overend, the 2011 road race winner at age 55, finished third behind Zajicek and Colby in 2007. With Zajicek out and Colby the new winner, Overend moves up to another second-place finish in the road race the sixth runner-up finish in Overends remarkable Iron Horse career.
Overend has won the race a record five times.
Drew Miller, a 2000 IHBC co-champion, moved up to third in the 07 road race.
Colby finished in 2:21:11, Overend in 2:21:14 and Miller in 2:21:18.
Zajicek, who was born in Oregon and lives in Boulder, came back to finish third in the 2009 road race behind Colby and runner-up Alex Hagman, another FLC cycling alum.
Its certainly a disappointment the sport continues to struggle with this issue, Zink said.
He said the Iron Horse races are not at the USA Cycling level that requires drug testing among the pros. The Iron Horse is not part of a national series, and there are no points at stake in the local races, said Zink, one of the Iron Horse founders.
We are below those USA Cycling levels, he said. Were not up there, and were glad were not.
He said the current Iron Horse licensing allows for more community involvement ... it makes it a softer, easier event for our community.
While the IHBC committee will vacate Zajiceks 2007 title, Zink said, Were not going to go to a lot of trouble about it.
Gaige Sippy, the director of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, said he is in full agreement with the committees decision on the 2007 race.
Its too bad about Phil (Zajicek), Sippy said. But with the number of young cyclists we have in Durango, I feel like we need to toe the line. Im in full support of this.
Zajiceks lifetime suspension was announced Friday by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
Zajicek, after a stellar junior career, turned pro in 2000 as a 20-year-old. He won a variety of races during his professional career, including the overall title at the 2007 Cascade Cycling Classic just two months after his now-vacated win in the Iron Horse road race.
Zajicek also won a mountain stage at the 2009 Tour of the Gila in New Mexico, finishing ahead of Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong.
The Boulder-based cyclist also finished 10th overall at the 2010 Tour of California the top American non-Pro Tour cyclist.
Zajicek originally was scheduled to race this season in Europe, but his team was denied racing status, then he was released from the team altogether.
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