“I am surprised by the attitude of Red Bull - BORA": Spanish expert questions why Oier Lazkano has been denied presumption of innocence
Cycling
Veteran Eurosport commentator Javier Ares has reacted to the provisional suspension of Oier Lazkano, calling for calm and due process while expressing surprise at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe’s decision to immediately cut ties with the Spaniard following biological passport irregularities.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ares urged cycling to uphold the principle of presumption of innocence, stressing that the case must be handled with balance rather than summary judgement. “I am somewhat surprised by the attitude of the team Red Bull BORA of excluding him fulminantly from the team.”
Ares emphasised that while the UCI’s decision to provisionally suspend Lazkano is serious, it does not yet constitute a final verdict.
Presumption of innocence and a warning against “rush to judgement”
Ares repeatedly returned to the legal and moral principle that riders deserve fair treatment until a decision is final: “We always start from that indisputable principle that is the presumption of innocence… we deserve, at the very least, the defence that corresponds.”
The respected broadcaster also renewed his long-held belief that doping cases are not uniform and should not automatically be treated as identical scandals: “Not all doping is the same… there are systematic, truly serious cases, and others where a small lapse should not be judged with the same severity.”
He admitted his discomfort with the trend of “summary trials” in cycling discourse, urging patience as Lazkano’s defence is heard.
Red Bull - BORA vs Movistar response under the microscope
Ares contrasted the differing reactions from Lazkano’s teams:
- Movistar: “assured not having detected anything”
- Red Bull - BORA: acted in April after learning of abnormal values and have now terminated the rider
Ares questioned why the German team chose immediate dismissal rather than a conditional suspension pending final ruling, noting the financial implications surrounding Lazkano’s reported €1.5m-per-year deal.
Defence of Pogacar amid renewed suspicion
Ares also took aim at those who weaponise older scandals to cast suspicion on current champions, specifically referencing Tadej Pogacar: “I choose to believe in people… we should not question success based on past precedents.”
He argued cycling is “infinitely cleaner than before” and cases emerging today underline the effectiveness of controls rather than the persistence of systematic cheating.
Ares noted that Lazkano had not raced since April due to injury and was already experiencing “a particularly delicate” personal and emotional period. The UCI’s provisional suspension, he said, came after months of monitoring biological passport values.
He concluded by acknowledging that if wrongdoing is proven, consequences must follow — but stressed the episode should be seen as proof of an anti-doping system functioning as intended. “If someone is guilty, they must pay. But cases like this show that controls work.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
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