Tour de France begins Saturday, faces usual bizarre twists
Last year's Tour de France ended with a bizarre twist when overall leader Michael Rasmussen of Denmark was pulled from the race by his own team with just four stages remaining. Alberto Contador, a Spaniard riding for the U.S.-based Discovery team, took the win.
Rasmussen was booted for lying about his whereabouts before the Tour to avoid out-of-competition drug testing. Wednesday, a Dutch judge ordered the team to pay him $1 million for wrongful dismissal.
This year, in another bizarre twist, Contador has not been allowed to compete because his new Astana team has been barred from the race for doping violations that occurred under previous management.
For the third consecutive year, the biggest and most important cycling race in the world will begin without a defending champion. Lance Armstrong retired in 2005 after his seventh consecutive win and 2006 winner Floyd Landis was suspended for using synthetic testosterone. He lost his Tour title Monday after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a decision that his positive doping test during the Tour was valid.
Cycling fans have become accustomed to the unusual since the Armstrong era ended. Doping scandals and political battles between Tour organizers and the international cycling federation have received more coverage than the race itself.
If only it were so easy to push the reverse button on cycling's many problems.
One thing that can't be erased is the lack of American contenders. There are only four U.S. riders, and none can be considered challengers for the overall title.
Contador is not allowed to defend his title after joining Johan Bruyneel, former Postal/Discovery team director, on the Astana team after Discovery disbanded last October. New owners cleaned house after past doping violations and brought in Bruyneel to install a tough new anti-doping plan.
But ASO, the company that owns and runs the Tour, says Astana must be a example for other teams and will not be allowed in the Tour.
Long-time Versus cycling announcer Phil Liggett called the decision a "terrible mistake."
Bruyneel said ASO's reasoning is a smokescreen, "because the French love the loser more than a winner."
ASO's response: "This kind of declaration does not have a comment from ASO."
One of two U.S.-based teams in the Tour, Team Columbia, was involved in doping scandals when it was known as T-Mobile and employed German star Jan Ullrich. George Hincapie, long a stalwart on Postal/Discovery, is the lone American on the Columbia squad. His role is to try for a stage win.
By both default and design, the star-and-stripes team this year is the Garmin-Chipotle team, known for its argyle uniforms and increasing stature as a team with many strengths. The team has three Americans: Will Frischkorn, Danny Pate and Christian Vande Velde. Vande Velde wore the leader's pink jersey after his team won the team time trial at the Giro d'Italia, only the second time an American had that honor (Andy Hampsten wore and won the jersey in 1988).
Frischkorn, riding in his first three-week Grand Tour, says the troubles of the Tour are secondary to its majesty. "I've been told that the crowds are incredibly huge. It is such a huge honor to be the American team at the Tour de France."
The favorites for the overall title include Spaniard Alejandro Valverde and Australian Cadel Evans, a former mountain bike world champion.
Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Greipel records maiden major stage win in Tour of Italy cycling race
LOCARNO, Switzerland (AFP) - Germany's Tour Down Under winner Andre Greipel recorded his first ever stage win in a major Tour when he landed the 17th leg of the Tour of Italy here on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old High Road cyclist edged out British team-mate Mark Cavendish, who has already won two stages on this year's renewal.
Spain's Tour de France titleholder Alberto Contador retained the overall leader's pink jersey with just four stages remaining before they cross the finishing line.
Both Greipel and Cavendish, who won Commonwealth gold for his birthplace of the Isle of Man on the track in 2006 in Melbourne, raised their arms in triumph as they crossed the line almost in unison.
Cavendish had worked his heart out for his team-mate and on several occasions stopped Italian rider Daniele Bennati from overtaking them - he eventually finished third.
Greipel acknowledged that his victory was not just a solo effort.
"After the finish line, everybody in the team was delighted," said the German.
"Cavendish as well. It is a team victory, one doesn't win a sprint without it being so."
Contador for his part was happy that it hadn't been too testing a day even after it came following a rest day.
"It was a quiet day," said Contador, who will be unable to defend his Tour de France title as his Astana team have not been invited by the race organisers as they have had several high profile drug scandals in recent years.
"I felt well, I didn't have any allergy problems. As for the final few days? Both Riccardo Ricco (second 41sec behind) and Gilberto Simoni (third over a minute in arrears) are dangerous. But Simoni has more experience," added Contador, referring to the 36-year-old Simoni's two previous Giro victories.
Ricco, though, gave Contador a boost as he revealed he was not in the best of health.
"I am a little troubled by bronchitis. Today (Wednesday), and had trouble breathing.
"Last night (Tuesday), I could not sleep. I was still coughing during the stage.
"But even if it the cruel reality, I have no intention of giving up," he added defiantly."
Russia's Mikhail Ignatiev had led a three man breakway - they had an eight minute lead at one point - with him being the last of the trio to be swept up just four kilometres from the line.
Thursday's 18th stage is the 147km ride from the Swiss village of Mendrisio to the Italian town of Varese - the sites of the next two world championships.
Copyright (c) 2008 AFP. All rights reserved
Simoni's ace Bertolini cranks clear
Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) claimed victory on the Giro d'Italia's Stage 11, after breaking away with a small group on the 199 kilometre stretch from Urbania to Cesena. Bertolini was allowed the freedom to take his first home Grand Tour stage win by his team leader and general classification hopeful Gilberto Simoni. The 36 year-old made the day's key move, before cranking clear in the final 650 metres to win on the eve of the Giro's mountain stages.
Bertolini's win started to take shape on the first rest day on Monday in Pesaro, when the Italian was out riding with his fellow Trentino-native Simoni. His leader's morale was running high and went further towards the stars in the following day's time trail - something that gave Bertolini a green light to go for victory in Cesena.
"I saw Simoni's morale going up while he previewed the crono; it also changed my morale," said Bertolini of his 157 kilometre escape. "It gave me a lift and the signals were there to go on to the win.
"It was a dream I had in my mind," he added. "It was a long time coming; that I had been thinking of this stage."
Team manger Gianni Savio brought Simoni onboard over the off-season to win the Giro. Bertolini's role was clear; help Simoni top the Corsa Rosa podium for the third time in his career. However, the seasoned professional was given some leeway before the big mountains make their mark starting on Saturday.
"Already this morning I knew that it was tough, the roads were very slick," he explained. "So I was thinking that something good could happen. The plan was to get into an escape, if maybe Gilberto was solo I could be able to drop back and help him."
The day progressed and he did not have to drop back, but was focused on dropping some of his fellow escapees. "I know that I had a chance when we dropped the two Frenchmen [Finland's Jussi Veikkanen (Francaise des Jeux) and France's Laurent Mangel (AG2R La Mondiale) - Ed.] on the climb, I felt that my legs were going well. We formed our move. [Tiziano] Dall'Antonia was dropped and I knew that with three riders it would be better chance.
"I had freedom in this stage, the team indicated this yesterday," confirmed Bertolini. "Today was the day that I could have my space. I am happy that it worked. The team gave me trust - [team sports director Marco] Bellini, Savio, Simoni. I kept them in my mind, even when I crashed on the descent I kept thinking positive."
Copyright Future Publishing (Overseas) Limited, a Future plc group company, 1995-2007. All rights reserved.
Teams set for Triple Crown in Philly
Organizers of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of cycling, in and around Philadelphia in the first week of June, have announced the bulk of the teams set to compete for the US$100,000 in prizes for three races - $10,000 of which goes solely to the series winner.
Leading the pack are two ProTour teams, High Road and Team CSC, which both having sponsorship interest in North America. High Road's Bernhard Eisel won the overall last year, winning the first two races in Lancaster and Reading, and finishing third in the field sprinter on the final race in Philadelphia. CSC's sprinter JJ Haedo took that field sprint continuing his winning ways on this continent.
Also packing a punch will be the Slipstream-Chipotle team as it prepares for its Tour de France debut. Not to be discounted are top domestic teams, including Health Net-Maxxis which won many races in its history, including two by Kiwi Greg Henderson in 2006, which helped secure his current place on High Road. Toyota-United will be another to watch with sprinter Ivan Dominguez, B world champion Ivan Stevic and Canadian Dominique Rollin. This could be the first opportunity for JJ Haedo's younger brother Sebastian Haedo (Colavita-Sutter Home,) winner of the recent US Air Force Classic, to go head-to-head with big bro.
The Canadian Symmetrics team with last year's UCI America Tour winner Svein Tuft will be on hand again representing one of seven international team, with two more to be determined. Two European domestic teams are making the trip across the pond, including Ireland's new Pezula Racing team and Team Sparkasse from Germany. Tecos-Trek will also be competitive, having recently won the Tour of the Gila overall last week.
The three-race series begins June 3 with a new race, the Lehigh Valley Classic, which replaces the Lancaster venue. The parcours features an 136km, 12-lap circuit race that races through Allentown. Two days later, the third edition of the Reading Classic features three times up Mt. Penn. Finally, the 24th annual Philadelphia International Championship features 250km and ten ascents of the infamous 18 percent grades of the Manayunk Wall. Cyclingnews will have live, up-to-the minute coverage of all three events, as well as the women's Liberty Classic.
Copyrigth Future Publishing (Overseas) Limited, a Future plc group company, 1995-2007. All rights reserved.
Karsten Kroon wins Henninger cycling race ahead of Davide Rebellin
3 days ago
FRANKFURT, Germany - Karsten Kroon surged ahead in the final mass sprint to win the 47th - and maybe final - edition of the Round the Henninger Tower race on Thursday.
The Dutchman won for the second time since 2004, but may not get a chance for a triple. The traditional race, now named for a local brewery landmark, is looking for a name sponsor for next year.
"It's been a really good year for me and I didn't feel I could lose the sprint," Kroon said.
He covered the 179 kilometres in four hours 25 minutes 36 seconds.
Davide Rebellin of Italy was second and Mauricio Ardila of Colombia was third.
Last year's race was won by Patrik Sinkewitz of Germany, who is now serving a suspension after admitting to taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Copyright (c) 2008 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Verbrugghe: I want to win a stage of the Giro
Due to sickness Cofidis Rik Verbrugghe was forced to miss the hillier classics like Amstel Gold and Liege Bastogne Liege. But the Belgian believes that his condition is good enough to make an assault on the Giro, according to Sporza.
Verbrugghe , who wore the leaders pink jersey in the Italian race in 2001 after winning the prologue feels that a number of the stages suit him. "The first week is pretty hard and there are definitely chances for a break to go clear," he explained.
"The mountains are really hard, but in between there are some interesting stages. There are plenty of chances."
"I am hoping for a stage win," he wrote on the Velo Club website, the club where he is a member.
"My condition is down a little due to sickness, but the feeling in my legs is good again."
Verbrugghe also confirmed that he is down to skip the Tour de France in favour of riding the Vuelta. "I will ride the Tour of Spain this year. But I am not sure of what I will use in the build up."
"I will ride the Tour of Switzerland and the Belgian championships in Knokke-Heist. If I am going to the Worlds? I would love to. Hopefully the condition will be there after the Vuelta."
Verbrugghe's contract with Cofidis ends this year but the 34 year old hopes to continue after that. "I would like to continue for two more years. But the most important thing is that I avoid too many years."
Copyright Future Publishing (Overseas) Limited, a Future plc group company, 1995-2007. All rights reserved.
Frankfurt's cycling race withdraws invitation for Italian team Liquigas
The Associated Press
Published: April 28, 2008
FRANKFURT, Germany: The Liquigas team has been dropped from a May 1 race in Frankfurt for failing to sign an anti-doping pledge.
Directors of the Around the Henninger Tower race said the Italian team won't be allowed to compete because the pledge is part of a nine-point, anti-doping program.
Liquigas had told the organizers that it won't sign the pledge.
"We had to draw the consequences and told Liquigas that its riders could not compete in Frankfurt," race chief Bernd Moos-Achenbach said Monday.
Liquigas signed a two-year contract with banned cyclist Ivan Basso last week. The Italian rider's two-year ban ends on Oct. 24 and his contract with Liquigas does not take effect until Jan. 1, 2009.
In June 2007, Basso became the first high-profile rider suspended for acknowledging involvement in the Spanish blood-doping probe known as Operation Puerto.
He won the 2006 Giro d'Italia and twice finished on the Tour de France podium before being banned.
Copyright (c) 2008 the International Herald Tribune All rights reserved
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