November 16, 2006 — As reported on Veloptimum news broke yesterday in the Quebec daily Quotidien that Canada’s newest UCI-sanctioned team, Équipe Vallée de l’aluminium (EVA), has been trying to sign up Calyon Litespeed rider, Jean-Sébastien Perron. Calyon claims that Perron is not available, having signed a three-year contract with that team before the 2006 season. Alexandre Lavallée, the directeur sportif of EVA, replied that he doesn’t think the contract is valid.

“I don’t think the contract is valid.Typical contracts with the UCI last for one year (not three). Jean Sebastien wants to join our team, but we need to know if he is still under contact with his former team. Our lawyer will be looking at this,” remarked Lavallée.

The President of Calyon Litespeed, Bernard Vives, quickly responded, “Jean-Sébastien already signed a one-year renewable contract with Calyon Litespeed in 2006. During a recent conversation, he conveyed his wish to stay with Calyon and thus received a letter renewing his contract. I believe that the role of a team manager is to teach his cyclists not to behave in a mercenary fashion, (but) to keep their word, as is done in business,” Vives told Veloptimum.

Veloptimum contacted Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes (FQSC) director, Louis Barbeau who explained that such roster raiding “is fair play and permitted at this time of year by our regulations.”

Lavallée also indicated that his team now has seven senior men and, if they can’t recruit Perron, they will be looking for one or two more.