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Lance Armstrong qualifies for World Championships + more racing news

August 11th, 2009 by Al Fresco No Comment

Lance Armstrong’s 3rd place win at the Tour de France earns him a spot on the U.S. team for the World’s, Vino flying solo at Tour de l’Ain, much much more transfer news, Robbie McEwen returns to defend Cyclassics title and more cycling news….

Based on the qualification criteria set forth by USA Cycling, Lance Armstrong is the only American cyclist to automatically be on the U.S. Cycling Team for the World Championships in Mendrosio. Armstrong won the Worlds in 1993 and was the youngest World Champion ever. While he has not often raced the World’s since his seven year assault on the Tour de France, he has shown more interest in other races since his comeback. It would be nice to see him make a go of it.
Alexander Vinokourov made his expected appearance at the Tour de l’Ain this week, racing for the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation (but not Astana). He had to ask around to get a massage as well as someone to pass him food in the feed zones.
Liquigas’ Vincenzo Nibali had been talking to the Sky TV time, but decided instead to finish out his contract with the Liquigas team. He may look for a new contract for the 2011 season.
David Moncoutie seems poised to stay with the Cofidis team for another year. He wants to focus on shorter races next year as well as make a try for the Vuelta. His teammate Julien El Fares, winner of Tirreno-Adriatico, also renewed. In addition, the team announced two new signings: Kevin Ista (formerly of Agritubel) and Jens Keukeleire (Soenens-Yamadoo).
Colombian Cayetano Sarmiento, winner of the Girobio in June, will ride for the Acqua & Sapone team in 2010.
Grischa Niermann renewed with Rabobank through the end of 2010. He’s been with the team for 11 years and ridden in the last 7 Tours de France.
Sky TV would definitely take Bradley Wiggins if he was willing to join the team. Team DS Scott Sunderland said that their roster is nearly complete, with only 3 out of 30 spots left to fill and negotiations with a number of riders underway.
Edvald Boasson-Hagen is leaving the Columbia-HTC team and looking for new home for 2010. His manager says that they are talking to several teams and that interest in him grew greatly after the Tour of Poland.
Meanwhile, Erik Zabel has signed on as an advisor for the Columbia team for another two years. He’ll continue to work with sprinters Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel.
Katusha team management is not too happy about his recent “solo” appearances and stresses that he is still under contract and that his manager has never asked for his contract to be cancelled.
Jerome Coppel (Française des Jeux), Rony Martias (BBox Bouygues Telecom) and Stephane Pouilhès (AG2R-La Mondiale) will ride for the Saur-Sojasun team next season. The team will be licensed as a Continental pro squad in 2010 and can claim an invitation to the Tour de France.
Skil-Shimano elected to not renew the contract of Jonathan Hivert and Cyril Lemoine. Japan’s Fumiyuki Beppu, however, got an extension through 2010.
With the exit of Barloworld, Colombian climber Mauricio Soler is said to be in talks with representatives of Caisse d’Epargne and Saxo Bank.
Oscar Pereiro of Caisse d’Epargne will not start at the Vuelta. Pereiro dropped out of the Tour de France after the 8th stage and is still fighting fitness problems.
Danilo Di Luca has a meeting with the Italian National Olympic Committee on August 26th to answer to doping charges for samples taken during the Giro d’Italia.
Robbie McEwen will return to competition this weekend for the Cyclassics in Hamburg. He is the defending champion.

Results:

Jose Joaquin Rojas (Caisse d’Epargne) won the second stage in the Tour of the Ain. Greg Van Avermaet was second. Frenchman Ludovic Turpin (Ag2r) took the third stage and Alexander Vinokourov won the time trial portion of the day. Chris Horner just missed wins today, but took over the lead going into tomorrow’s final stage.
Spaniard Antonio Piedra (Andalucia-Cajasur) won Tuesday’s fifth stage of the 71st Tour of Portugal.
Columbia-HTC’s Ina-Yoko Teutenberg saw off the opposition in Route De France’s stage one from Fontenay-le-Comte to Cholet on Monday to claim a convincing bunch sprint win. The Route de France is the Tour de France for women.