Racing News – June 24th, 2008

June 24th, 2008 by Ron Callahan View Comments

Here’s some of the latest news:

I missed this one: I thought that Tom Boonen would keep quiet while riding in the Ster Elektrotoer, but in the fourth stage, when planning to lead out teammate Wouter Weylandt, Boonen got the “go for it” and took the win. Hey, he’s got spirit.
CSC/Saxo Bank announced their roster for the TdF: Fabian Cancellara (Swi), Carlos Sastre (Spa), Andy Schleck (Lux), Fränk Schleck (Lux), Nicki Sørensen (Den), Jens Voigt (Ger), Stuart O’Grady (Aus), Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) and Volodimir Gustov (Ukr). Here’s their new kit:

Gerolsteiner is counting on Markus Fothen, Bernhard Kohl to be their leaders at the Tour. They’ll be supported by Sven Krauss, Sebastian Lange, Ronny Scholz, Stefan Schumacher, Fabian Wegmann and Oliver Zaugg.
Garmin-Slipstream will be making their Tour debut with Magnus Bäckstedt (S), Julian Dean (NZ), Will Frischkorn (USA), Ryder Hesjedal (Can), Trent Lowe (Aus), Martijn Maaskant (Nl), David Millar (GB), Danny Pate (USA) and Christian Vande Velde (USA)
Denis Menchov has been pegged as the team leader for Rabobank. The team will be rounded out by Laurens ten Dam (Nl), Pieter Weening (Nl), Sebastian Langeveld (Nl), Koos Moerenhout (Nl), Bram Tankink (Nl), Joost Posthuma (Nl), Oscar Freire (Sp) and Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp)
The Tour of Missouri has added an additional stage as well as more climbing for its second year. Here’s the rundown:

Stage 1 - September 8: St. Joseph - Kansas City, 90 miles

Stage 2 - September 9: Clinton - Springfield, 126 miles

Stage 3 - September 10: Branson (ITT), 18 miles

Stage 4 - September 11: Lebanon - Rolla, 95 miles

Stage 5 - September 12: St. James - Jefferson City, 108 miles

Stage 6 - September 13: Hermann - St. Charles, 96 miles

Stage 7 - September 14: St. Louis circuit race, 70 miles

Alberto Contador will be focusing his training on the Vuelta instead of the Olympics
Pez Cycling News presents the style guide for the cyclist about town. Some highlights:
- Take off your helmet when you walk into the coffee shop. Wear it the rest of the time.
- No gym socks. And with all apologies to Lance, black socks look pretty dorky as well.
- I know more than a few people that should heed this one (myself included) : Under no circumstances should a replica pro team kit or a national/world champion kit be worn unless you’ve earned it. The only acceptable team kit is your own club kit.
- Never wear headphones on a group ride. I would amend this to “never wear headphones, or the dumptruck might be wearing you.”
- Group rides: 1) Never ride more than two abreast. 2) Never allow more than six inches distance between your front wheel to the rear wheel of the rider in front of you. 3) Maintain a distance, no more than 12 inches from your shoulder to the shoulder of the rider next to you. 4) It only takes one person to call things out.
- Carbon wheels are for racing. Leave them home for the group ride.
- No underwear under the shorts, and for godsakes, replace them when we can see your butt crack.
- I’ll add this one: Sleeveless jerseys are for triathlon races