PARIS, Dec 7, 2011 (AFP) – Controversial Kazakhstan cyclist Alexandre
Vinokourov on Wednesday hit back at claims he bought his 2010 victory in the
Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day classic.

Swiss magazine L’Illustre has alleged that ‘Vino’ — a Tour de France stage
winner who won the race in 2005 and has served a two-year ban for doping —
made a 100,000-euro ($134,000) payment to Russian Alexandr Kolobnev to secure
his second win.

The report, based on an exchange of emails between the two racers dating
back to the day after the race, alleged Vinokourov, 38, made the payment to
ensure that Kolobnev did not push him to the line in a sprint finish between
the pair.

Questioned by the magazine, Vinokourov, who retired in the summer having
originally said he was retiring at the end of 2007, said he had simply offered
Kolobnev a loan and denied any wrongdoing.

“I never did that in my career – I always fought to win,” he said Tuesday.

A day later Vinokourov insisted he would clear his name: “I cant accept
gossiping about me.

“Obviously there are people who want me tp go down for this business. It’s
strange that it happened a few days after I announced my candidacy in upcoming
elections in my country.”

Team Katusha rider Kolobnev, whose future is currently hanging in the
balance following a positive doping test at the 2011 Tour de France, is
alleged to have passed on his bank account details in the Swiss city of
Locarno, an account into which the payment was allegedly made.

Vinokourov blasted the allegation as “another story to blacken my name. I
often loan money left and right.”