All of your cycling news: October 22, 2009

Abso – freakin’ -lutely byoootiful riding weather at BWN HQ today! Why am I sitting in front of a computer?

In today’s bicycle racing news, big swaps at BBox-Bouyges Telecom and Milram, Cadel Evans may return to the Land Down Under, update on Pro Tour licenses and more. The news:

• BBox Bouyges Telecom will release 5 riders at the end of the season, but they’ve nearly made up the deficit, adding Freddy Bichot (Agritubel), Nicolas Vogondy (Agritubel) and Anthony Charteau (Caisse d’Epargne) to the team. Pierrick Fedrigo, who had expressed interest in leaving the team after they lost their Pro Tour license, has decided to stay put.
• Johnny Hoogerland was shopping around, but decided to stay with the Vacansoleil team. He signed a two year contract.
• Diego Ulissi, winner of the junior world Championships in 2006 and 2007, as well as other key U23 races, will join the Lampre NGC team for 2010.
• Gianpaolo Cheula was one of the few Barloworld orphans still looking for a home. It was announced today that he will ride for Footon Servetto in 2010.
• Andrei Grivko and David de la Fuente are the latest recruits to Astana. The team continues to add riders even as their Pro Tour status is still under question. The UCI announced today that it would make the final determination on the remaining teams that have submiited applications by November 20th.
• The current pro tour teams are:
  • AG2R La Mondiale
  • Française des Jeux
  • Footon-Servetto
  • Garmin-Slipstream
  • Lampre Farnese Vini
  • Liquigas-Dommo
  • Quick-Step Cycling Team
  • Rabobank Cycling Team
  • RadioShack
  • Omega Pharma-Lotto
  • Team Columbia-HTC
  • Team Katusha
  • Team Milram
• Cadel Evans may head home to Australia to display his rainbow jersey at the Tour Down Under. The Australian two-time Tour de France runner-up said he was considering changing his strategy for 2010 and riding in the Adelaide tour was “highly possible”.
• Milram team manager Gerry van Gerwen is upset with the team’s 2009 season. The team had set a goal of 25 wins in 2009 and only achieved 9. Six riders have been released and five new riders have been signed. Australian Luke Roberts (Kuota- Indeland), Roy Sentjens (Silence-Lotto) and Wim de Vocht (Vacansoleil) from Belgium, the German U23 champion Dominik Mink (Milram Continental) and the silver medalist from Beijing, Roger Kluge (LKT Brandenburg) will join the team in 2010.
• The future of the Elk Haus team is uncertain. The team’s sponsor is still deciding whether to renew his commitment to the team. As such, all of the riders have been released to look for new rides.
• The UCI plans to the delete the Madison, points and individual pursuit races from the Olympic track program. Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins responded with outrage.

Tags: Ag2r, Agritubel, astana, Barloworld, bicycle racing news, Bouyges Telecom, Bradley Wiggins, cadel evans, Caisse d'Epargne, columbia-htc, David De La Fuente, Freddy Bichot, Johnny Hoogerland, Junior World Championships, kuota, Liquigas, Milram, Nicolas Vogondy, pierrick fedrigo, Rabobank, Roger Kluge, roy sentjens, servetto, Silence-Lotto, Team Katusha, Team Milram, tour down under, vacansoleil, World Championship, World Championships