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Tour De Farce? Forlorn Friday
While Bjarne has his memories, cycling has a continual bad taste in its mouth.
It's hard to look at pics of the Kaiser now and not think about him and Bjarne training together, 'tackling' together.
Ignorance truly is bliss for the public, but for the honest riders in the peleton, it's a continual kick to the ribs while they stay quiet about who is, who isn't.
Not that Alberto is a cheat... but looks like Cadel is going to have a few less opponents to crack in July.
stolen from cyclingnews.com
Astana banned by ASO - Contador unable to defend Tour de France title
Contador won the Tour in 2007, but will be prevented from riding in 2008.
Photo ©: Sirotti
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Alberto Contador, the winner of the 2007 Tour de France, will not be able to start this year's event after his team, Astana, was not invited to participate in La Grande Boucle. The exclusion was announced on Wednesday in Europe by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), owner of the Tour de France, and it extends to all cycle races organised by the French conglomerate.
Besides the defending Tour champion Contador, this also spells bad news for American Levi Leipheimer, who was hoping to improve on his third-place finish last year, and German Andreas Klöden.
ASO said it made the decision based on the doping scandals of the last two years. In a press release ASO stated that the organisers considered the "damages that this team has done to the Tour de France and to cycling in general. The team Astana has betrayed the organiser's confidence last year."
ASO recognized the changes having taken place in the management. They indicated they will follow Astana's efforts to stay free of affairs in 2008 "and could therefore be considered once again for inclusion in future editions [of ASO races]."
Astana had several doping cases last year with Matthias Kessler and most spectacularly in the Tour de France with Alexander Vinokourov and Andrey Kashechkin.
For Paris-Nice, also run by ASO, three Pro Continental teams have been included, with Agritubel, Slipstream Chipotle - H30 and Skil-Shimano.
More here
With that in mind, and this years Melburn-Roobaix date will be coinciding with the Paris-Roubaix. The traditional lead up event to Le Tour is
A 3 person team event, 21 stages, team and individual time trials, and GC, Sprints and King of Melburn prizes awarded, just in time to make it home and watch the prologue.
Spread the word.
You could probably cheat too - if that's what it takes to win.
Gossip.
When you hear cycling discussed on mainstream radio, something must be up.
Drugs or similar scandal must be lurking.
Sure enough, the hot gossip on Triple (Hmmm)M was the added rivalry between two of Australia's fastest riders, and how one is engaged to the sister of the other.
In a recent match-up, the engaged rider sent his brother-in-law-to-be sprawling over the track.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!
Just in time for this years Austral Wheelrace.
Word is she will be back next week, with some more treats.
As well as being 'straight', she'll have a new coat thanks to Star Enamellers.
If you don't remember,
Can't wait to get back to racing.
Have bike - will travel.
But how?
AK enquires
im going on a trip to america in june for three months and i wanted to take my cos i wanna ride around and do a ride from sf to montaray beach or something like that.
i was just wondering if you might be able to give me some tips about travelling to usa with a bike
if its expensive and how you packed your bike on plane etc....
also did you go on anylong bike rides that you would recommend doing
- Always get travel insurance
- Don't get lippy at immigration, or authority figured in general. 'Yes sir, no sir, three bags full, sir'
- Take a bike bag, pack your luggage around it
- Longest ride was Thanksgiving - riding back to Manhattan from Brooklyn. After riding for half an hour in the wrong direction, and then realising 'the city should be in view by now' at 1am, we turned around after realising our error and turned into the freezing cold, howling wind. That was a long ride. Other great loops in SF - Alpine Dam and Paradise loop.
- Always tip. It's very unAustralian to do so, but when in Rome...
- Take lots of photos.
The tardis is the only way to fly.
Ah, seeing this pic warms the heart.
The old workhorse, McBain.
Wheels built with the lightest Velocity rims and spoke combinations - bad choice.
Always grease and check your stem regularly. Removing seized stems is as painful as having haemorrhoids lanced.... from what we've heard.
At check-in, It's not a bike - it's a personal training studio. Never pay that bike surcharge again.
Have a great weekend!
To The Boss, it's Valentine's Day in Canada.
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