Continued doping scandals have some cycling sponsors backpedaling

"BRUSSELS, Belgium: Few big-time bankers get as excited by cycling as Piet van Schijndel. Then again, he has millions of dollars in sponsorship riding on races such as the Tour de France.

Perhaps Van Schijndel's best moment came one hot July afternoon during this past year's Tour when Michael Rasmussen zipped up his yellow jersey and crossed the finish of the 16th stage, arms outstretched, with "Rabobank" emblazoned on his chest.

The Dane had won the Tour's toughest Pyrenees stage for Rabobank — one of the biggest banks in the Netherlands — and appeared to have a lock on the title.

For any sponsor, this was gold dust. But this time, it turned out to be fool's gold.

"I saw him win the stage on the Aubisque mountain at 5 p.m., then at 8 p.m., I got this call," said Van Schijndel, an executive board member of Rabobank."

Landis Blood test to be city DUI gauge by 2010 - guilty

"In a final effort to clear his name and regain the 2006 Tour de France title that was stripped from him last month because of a doping violation, Floyd Landis filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland this week.

The appeal, filed Monday, is Landis' last chance to overturn the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's charge that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the tour.

Last month, an arbitration panel upheld that charge and ruled, 2-1, that Landis had used synthetic testosterone to win a grueling mountain stage of the tour. Landis, who turns 32 on Sunday, was subsequently stripped of the tour title and barred from the sport for two years, retroactive to Jan. 30, 2007.

Now the Court of Arbitration for Sport will take one last look at the evidence in the case. Its decision will be final, with no possibility for an appeal."

The Canadian Press: Case closed, now arbitrators to decide on Tour de France champion Floyd Landis? fate

"Arbitrators in the Floyd Landis doping hearing met for the final time this week and declared the hearing officially closed, meaning a decision on the 2006 Tour de France winner's fate must come in by Sept. 22. Landis testified in May as part of a two-week public arbitration hearing to determine whether his positive doping test from last year's Tour should be upheld. He tested positive for synthetic testosterone after Stage 17 of the race. Over the past three months, arbitrators have been sorting through the evidence and collecting additional information from the parties. They met Wednesday and are writing their final decision."

Organizers hail Tour de France leader's ouster - International Herald Tribune

"Insisting that 'doping is the enemy, not cycling' and that 'things are changing' for the better, the organizers of the Tour de France hailed the ouster of Michael Rasmussen from the race on Thursday.
Rasmussen, a 33-year-old Dane, was expelled by his Rabobank team late Wednesday for lying about his whereabouts to avoid drug tests before the Tour started July 7.
Instead of being in Mexico, as he repeatedly said, he was seen training in Italy. That unraveled his weeklong defense that he had evaded the unscheduled tests by mistake, not by design.
Rasmussen left his team hotel in Pau late Wednesday for Italy, race officials said, adding that the French police had arrived at the hotel just too late to arrest him."

"Rasmussen lied to avoid tests," Clerc said. "Therefore he cannot remain in the race. It proves that he should not have started the Tour de France."

After Positive Test, Team Quits Tour de France - New York Times

"Alexander Vinokourov, the Kazakh cyclist who was once considered a favorite to win the Tour de France, tested positive for the presence of foreign blood cells after the first of two recent stage victories and, along with his entire Astana team, withdrew from the Tour on Tuesday, further plunging the sport into a doping crisis that has eroded the legitimacy of its most prestigious event."

Leipheimer warns against writing off Vinokourov's Tour de France chances - International Herald Tribune

"Levi Leipheimer warns against discounting Alexandre Vinokourov's chances of winning the Tour de France, even though the Kazakh rider is struggling with ailing knees.
'It would be a mistake to write Vino off. He's a tough competitor and he's obviously not going to give up,' Leipheimer said during Monday's rest day."

Stage 8: Riders ready to turn up the heat

"Slow through the flats, and fast in the mountains — that's just what some riders are predicting as the Tour de France enters the Alps.

Belgian Tom Boonen won the sixth stage Friday, ending a crash-prone and unusually slow first week in which sprinters ruled and two potential title contenders were injured.

Burning thighs and heavy breathing await as riders embark on three days in the Alps, starting with the 122.7-mile course today from Bourg-en-Bresse to Le Grand-Bornand.

"You watch, it's going to be ... fast this weekend," said David Millar of Britain. "Whenever you get into the hilly stages, everybody will want to go out on the break. No one has wanted to go this week."

Stage 3: Cancellara Wins

"Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara extended his overall lead in the Tour de France, winning the third stage and longest stage in a sprint finish Tuesday as cycling's showpiece event entered its home country.

The Swiss rider, who also won Saturday's prologue, finished the 147-mile ride from Waregem, Belgium, to Compiegne, northeast of Paris, in 6 hours, 36 minute, 15 seconds.

"I have no words after winning something like that," said Cancellara, who overtook four riders in the final stretch.

Erik Zabel of Germany was second and Danilo Napolitano of Italy was third"

Stage 2: Belgium's Gert Steegmans wins rain-drenched stage - Los Angeles Times

Winner: Belgian rider Gert Steegmans of sprint ace Boonen's Quickstep team. Boonen finished second.

Yellow jersey: Fabian Cancellara, winner of Saturday's prologue, retained it despite hurting his left wrist in a fall. Andreas Kloeden, a German rider for the Astana team, stayed second overall, with British cyclist David Millar third.Quote of the day: "If it's a gift ... it's the biggest gift I could ever receive."

Stage 1: McEwen stages remarkable recovery

"AUSTRALIAN Robbie McEwen produced a stunning finish to win the first road stage of the Tour de France early today (Melbourne time).

McEwen, 35, looked to be out of contention when he had to stop for repairs after a crash as the race approached Canterbury towards the end of the 203-kilometre ride from London.

But the Predictor-Lotto team member produced a blistering sprint to take the spoils from Norway's Thor Hushovd and Tom Boonen of Belgium. Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara of CSC retained the race leader's yellow jersey although Britain's David Millar moved up to third overall."

Pologue: Cancellara wins Tour de France prologue

"Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara won the prologue Saturday as the Tour de France began amid heavy security and with a distinct British accent.

Cancellara, the world time-trial champion who also won the Tour prologue in 2004, completed the 4.9-mile race through downtown London in 8 minutes, 50 seconds. He is strictly a time-trial rider and is not expected to compete for the title in the three-week race."

Lance Armstrong on Floyd Landis: 'I Don't Think He Did It' - Sports Blog - The FanHouse

"Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong doesn't think last year's Tour de France winner, Floyd Landis, is a cheater, but he also doesn't think he'll win his appeal.


'The arbitrators don't ever rule for the athletes,' Armstrong said, according a story in Wednesday's edition of The Aspen Times. 'Quite frankly, the system is set up against the athletes. Unfortunately for him, I don't think he did it. That's always been my position and still is today.'"

Holidays | The authentic flavour of the Tour De France

"The amazing spectacle of the Tour de France makes an exciting start in central London this year. However, the tour is far more than a cycle race: it is part of French culture. Small towns hold fêtes promoting their local produce and partying from early morning until well after the riders have vanished over the horizon.

So after watching the start in London, why not taste its real flavour and experience some of the later stages of the marathon competition as it winds its way through the heart of France. That’s where you can use a coach yourself.

Eurolines, part of National Express Group, has ultra-low cost, hassle-free and comfortable coach services to many of the best locations on this year’s tour, including the challenging mountain section and the grand finale in Paris."

People's Daily Online -- Vinokourov hoping to beat the numbers game

People's Daily Online -- Vinokourov hoping to beat the numbers game: "Tour de France hopeful Alexandre Vinokourov gave warning on Wednesday that he is ready to win the world's premier cycling race this summer when he grabbed the lead in the Dauphine Libere Criterium, after winning the third stage, a 40.7km time-trial.
The 33-year-old Astana rider crossed the line nine seconds ahead of fellow Kazak rider and teammate Andrey Kashechkin with US rider David Zabriskie third at 38sec.
Vinokourov insists that he has never been in such form and believes that the figures are also on his side to win this year's Tour de France.
'In 2002, 2004, 2006, which were even numbers, I couldn't race the Tour,' he explained.
'In 2003 and 2005 it worked well. I hope this time will be the one.'
The Kazak rider refused to comment however on his eviction from last year's Tour, the day before the prologue in Strasbourg, when the Astana team did not have enough riders to compete because of the Operation Puerto doping scandal.
'I had my revenge two months later on the Vuelta,' said the 2006 Tour of Spain winner. "

No guarantees that Tour de France will be clean - washingtonpost.com

No guarantees that Tour de France will be clean - washingtonpost.com:



"Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme conceded on Tuesday he could not guarantee a drug-free race when this year's event starts in London for the first time on July 7.
Prudhomme appeared alongside the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone to talk about how the race would boost tourism, promote cycling and showcase London and Kent where the prologue and first stage will be held."

Miss Tour de France 2005

"Australia's Bradley McGee will miss the Tour de France for a second year in a row because of an ongoing problem with the herniated disc in his back.

McGee, who spectacularly won the prologue of the centenary Tour in 2003 with the slimmest of margins over Britain's David Millar, had been hoping to get back on the world's biggest race after missing out last year.

But despite appearing to be on the road to recovery from his back problem McGee said he has been "forced to face reality".

A statement on the 31-year-old Sydneysider's website explained: "It is time to face facts and realise the band aid treatment of my sciatica problem is not going to support my professional cycling ambitions."

Al Jazeera English - Sport - Le Tour Want Riis Yellow Jersey

"World cycling chiefs have called on Bjarne Riis, Denmark's only winner of the Tour de France, to hand back the yellow jersey he won in 1996 after the cyclist ended years of speculation over his involvement in doping by admitting on Friday that he had used the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) between 1993 and 1998 while racing with Telekom."

FOX Sports on MSN - More Sports - Landis time bomb could explode during Tour

"'The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.'
— Mark Antony in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
The moment the United States Anti-Doping Agency's hearing to determine whether 2006 Tour de France champion Floyd Landis doped with synthetic testosterone concluded, a time bomb with a six-week long fuse was lit.
Six weeks is the minimum amount of time it will take for the three arbiters judging the case to arrive at a decision, meaning that the ruling will likely be handed down smack dab in the middle of the 2007 Tour de France."

Landis’s Testimony Focuses on Phone Call and Fashion - New York Times

"Floyd Landis, who spent the past 10 months preparing to answer charges that he tested positive for synthetic testosterone when he won last year’s Tour de France, took the stand Tuesday against the United States Anti-Doping Agency and found that his character was as much under attack as his drug tests.
Matt Barnett, a USADA lawyer, cross-examined Landis for almost two hours Tuesday at Pepperdine University’s School of Law. Less than 45 minutes of the cross-examination had anything to do with performance-enhancing drugs."

Under Oath, Landis Denies Having Used Testosterone - New York Times

"After five days of dense scientific testimony, revelations of sexual abuse and allegations of blackmail, Floyd Landis finally spoke at his own hearing.

Landis said under oath Saturday what he has been saying in every other forum for the past 10 months: that he never of you guys need closers. I have four frontline closers w saves now used performance-enhancing drugs, even though he tested positive for synthetic testosterone when he won last year’s Tour de France.

“It’s a matter of who I am,” Landis told the three arbitrators who will decide his case against the United States Anti-Doping Agency. “It wouldn’t serve any purpose to cheat to win the Tour because I wouldn’t be proud of it."

Helena Independent Record

"Floyd Landis' sleepy, scientific arbitration hearing morphed into a pulp-fiction blockbuster Thursday, replete with revelations of sexual abuse, allegations of threatening phone calls and even a Donald Trump-style firing.

It came courtesy of Landis' fellow American Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, who disclosed he had been sexually abused as a child and received a call Wednesday from Landis' manager who threatened to reveal the secret if LeMond showed up to testify.

Shortly after LeMond dropped those bombshells, the manager, Will Geoghegan, walked up to LeMond, apologized and admitted he made the call, LeMond said. Which led to 'You're fired' _ the message Landis attorney Maurice Suh gave to Geoghegan while they were still standing in the hearing room."

Busted, you cheater!

Basso quits after new dope allegations - Sport - theage.com.au

Basso quits after new dope allegations - Sport - theage.com.au:






"THE future of cycling star and Tour de France favourite Ivan Basso is hanging by a thread after his team, Discovery Channel, announced it had parted company with the Italian.
Basso, one of dozens implicated in the Operation Puerto doping affair, was suspended last week after the Italian Olympic Committee called on him to this week answer doping charges.
Basso, 29, initially had been cleared by the committee, which said there was not enough evidence to sanction him. Discovery said then it stood by the Giro d'Italia winner, who was to lead the team's bid to win the Tour de France."

Tour de France director Prudhomme praises Discovery team for suspending Basso - International Herald Tribune

"Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has praised the Discovery Channel cycling team for suspending its top rider, Ivan Basso, after the Italian Olympic Committee reopened its investigation into a Spanish doping scandal.
Giro d'Italia champion Basso was barred from riding for Discovery on Tuesday after the Italian committee summoned him to a doping hearing May 2 on charges of having used or attempted to use a banned substance or method.
Discovery decided to sideline 2005 Tour runner-up Basso, who signed a two-year contract in November, upon learning of the renewed investigation.
'It is a responsible decision on behalf of Discovery Channel,' Prudhomme told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday. 'Everything we have learned in these last days goes in the right direction.'"

Landis Defends Self Against Doping Report

"Tour de France champion Floyd Landis went on the defensive Tuesday against the French lab that conducted follow-up tests on his backup urine samples and reportedly found traces of synthetic testosterone.
'If it's going to be objective, the least you could do is send it to a lab that doesn't have motivation to confirm their work in the first place,' Landis said on CBS' Early Show.
He said the report on the Web site of French newspaper L'Equipe on Monday was yet another result of unethical maneuvers engineered by those who want him stripped of the Tour title."

"American cyclist Floyd Landis brought his aggressive campaign against a French lab report saying he tested positive for an abnormal level of synthetic testosterone in the 2006 Tour de France to Scottsdale on Saturday night.

A crowd of 70 paid $35 a person to listen to Dr. Arnie Baker and view a slide show pointing out what Baker called numerous flaws in the French lab, LNND, testing process and interpretation."

tour de france - Google Image Search

Tour de France - Google Image Search

"Former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich insisted Sunday that he is above reproach despite blood bags seized in a Spanish doping scandal having been proven to be his by German prosecutors.
DNA tests on blood seized in the offices of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes last year have proven that the samples are Ullrich's, say Bonn prosecutors, who are investigating the rider for possible fraud."

YouTube - Maria Sharapova -Canon

Maria Sharapova: Canon

Radio New Zealand News : Latest Sport : 200704040628 : Tour of France champion linked to blood doping

Radio New Zealand News: Tour of France champion linked to blood doping: "A DNA sample taken from Germany's former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich has been matched to blood bags seized in last year's Spanish anti-doping investigation.
Ullrich, who announced his retirement last month, has always denied doping, but he was withdrawn from last year's Tour of France when he was linked with the Spanish investigation.
Ullrich agreed on February to give a DNA sample and the state prosecutor's office in Bonn has confirmed the analysis had established the connection with blood seized in last year's raids."

Lance Armstrong, 7 times Tour de France Champion to go on with new challenge - Speed-Skating.net - your news in all speed

Lance Armstrong, 7 times Tour de France Champion to go on with new challenge - Speed-Skating.net - your news in all speed:



"In an interview yesterday, Lance Armstrong stated he has a new challenge in mind: “I have done some speed skating lately with my friend Chad Hedrick, and I really love it. I don’t know how far I can go, but this new challenge is really driving me.”

Chad Hedrick says Armstong can have great success if he starts training: “Lance could win the world allround championships in 2-3 years. He has an enormous potential as an athlete. Of course, he would need hard work, but anything is possible.”

Even if Armstrong is no longer at the age many of these skaters when they started, many think he can do great things in speed skating, but to be honest, the switch from cycling to speed skating is not as easy as the one from inline like his friend Hedrick."

Inside Bay Area - Landis struggles against obstacles

Inside Bay Area: Landis struggles against obstacles



"Physicians for Floyd Landis, the disputed winner of the 2006 Tour de France, don't need to worry that the world-class athlete will push himself too hard just six months after his hip surgery.
"It's a self-solving problem," said Landis, speaking at an athletic training center here on Friday evening. "The time I spend with all this crazy stuff prevents me from riding anywhere near enough to be in shape."

The cyclist was referring to charges by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that he used performance-enhancing drugs during the Tour de France competition in July, following positive results from a test taken during the race. Landis, who is technically still the winner, is challenging those charges. A hearing to determine if he'll retain the title begins on May 14."

Tour De France Countdown (from News Shopper)

"KENT County Council (KCC) yesterday launched the 100-day countdown to the Tour de France coming to the county.
The Go Cycle Kent campaign will showcase the county as a top two-wheeled destination.
It aims to persuade residents of all ages to enjoy the freedom and fun of safe cycling.
The Tour de France comes to Kent on Sunday July 8.
It is hoped the excitement and interest generated by the event will inspire even more people to get out and about safely on their bikes.
The campaign was launched at County Hall, Maidstone, by Councillor Roger Gough, KCC Cabinet member for regeneration."

Tour De France Countdown (from News Shopper)

"KENT County Council (KCC) yesterday launched the 100-day countdown to the Tour de France coming to the county.
The Go Cycle Kent campaign will showcase the county as a top two-wheeled destination.
It aims to persuade residents of all ages to enjoy the freedom and fun of safe cycling.
The Tour de France comes to Kent on Sunday July 8.
It is hoped the excitement and interest generated by the event will inspire even more people to get out and about safely on their bikes.
The campaign was launched at County Hall, Maidstone, by Councillor Roger Gough, KCC Cabinet member for regeneration."