Bike World News

In today’s cycling news, Keisse may join Quick Step, new jersey for Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini, Brard retires, Valverde will pass on Vuelta defense in favor of Tour de France and more…

• Davide Rebellin has returned his Olympic silver medal to the Italian National Olympic Committee as well as the 75000 euro bonus he received for his win. He stated that returning the prizes was not an admission of guilt, merely a fulfillment of his responsibilities.
• With Alberto Contador seemingly staying at Astana, Quick Step management is reportedly talking to Iljo Keisse about a 2010 contract. Keisse, of course, had been riding as an elite without a contract since being dismissed by Topsport Vlaanderen after a (since dropped) doping charge late in 2008.
• 20 year old Noe Gianetti, son of former Swiss rider Mauro Gianetti, signed his first professional contract with Footon-Servetto. The team is led by dear old Dad.
• 22 year old Keirin world champion Maximilian Levy has signed a one year contract with Cofidis.
• The UCI has sent a letter to all of the national cycling federations informing them that it is moving forward the gradual ban of headphones in Category .2 races and in national championships.
• Bart Wellens (Fidea) made his return to ‘cross racing at the World Cup race in Koksijde this weekend, finishing 13th. He thinks that it will be at least a month before he has all of his form back.
• Thijs Al broke his left index finger in a fall at the Koksijde race. Al is the reigning Durch champion.
• Britain’s Sky Team has reached an agreement with the McLaren F1 team. The cycling team will exploit the technology of the F1 for telemetry, instrumentation, modeling, simulation and other technical consultation.
• Concerning the rumors about Ben Swift moving to another team (that would be Sky), Katusha has declared that the English rider had signed a contract until the end of 2010 season and that it will be respected.
• Mark Cavendish was also recently linked to Sky Team but he told Cycling News that he is in the “best position” at Columbia.
• The expected mid-December hearing of Stefan Schumacher before the Court of Arbitration for Sport will likely not be the closure of the case. Schumacher’s lawyer Michael Lehner says that if they do not see justice before the CAS, they expect to take their case to the Swiss Federal Court or the European Court of Human Rights. Schumacher is battling a two year ban after testing positive for CERA at the 2008 Olympics.
• The Ceramica-Flaminia team will sport a new jersey next year that reflects the celeste colors of new equipment sponsor Bianchi. The jersey will be manufactured by Santini, who is coming on as their new apparel sponsor.
• Last week, Andy Schleck said he feels that he would have an advantage over Alberto Contador in the 2010 Tour de France because Contador may falter in the cobbles. This week, Schleck announced that he has decided to pass on the Tour of Flanders, citing it as “too risky”.
• 2006 French road champion Florent Brard has decided to end his career at age 33. He rode for Festina, Crédit Agricole, Marlux, Chocolade Jacques, Agritubel, Caisse d’Epargne and Cofidis throughout his career. He was in talks with Astana, but ultimately was not hired.
• Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano will be the new head of the Basque-based Euskaltel-Euskadi racing team. The 36-year-old ex-pro succeeds the retired former team boss Miguel Madariaga. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeanos (his older brother) will become the new Sports Director.
• Jurgen Van den Broeck has extended his contract with Omega Pharma-Lotto for another year and is looking forward to a leadership position with the team.
• The new German team NetApp has received commitments from a number of race organizers for 2010. The professional continental team will appear at the Vuelta a Mallorca (starting Feb 11th), the Rund um Köln day race (April 5th), the Eschborn-Frankfurt City Loop (May 1st) and the Tour of Bavaria (starting May 30th).
• Egon van Kessel, former national coach for the Netherlands, is in talks with the Iranian National Cycling Federation to become their coach, the Associated Press reported Monday. Van Kessel came in contact with the Iranian federation through his former rider Danny Nelissen, who worked as a consultant for the Iranians for several years.
• Alejandro Valverde is looking to forego his defense of Tour of Spain title to focus on the Tour de France. Whether he can race there depends on the decision of the CAS as to whether his Italian suspension will be made worldwide.
• A group of track cyclists sent an open letter to IOC President Jacques Rogge and UCI president Pat McQuaid on Monday expressing their dissatisfaction about the changes to the Olympic program in 2012.
• Ciclosportivo NA LLC will organize three gran fondos in Colorado in 2010. The events will emulate the Italian tradition of lengthy, challenging routes and will feature starting locations in Boulder, Vail and Steamboat.

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