All of Your Cycling News – December 23, 2009

This is likely it except for some scheduled posts until the New Year. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Saturnalia and all.

In today’s cycling news, UHC announces roster, more TDU rosters, Nys takes win going into Christmas weekend and more…

• Davide Rebellin is planning to fight his doping charges to the bitter end. He maintains that he never took EPO and also charges that there are a number of anomolies with the tests, including the number of samples taken, language problems with the Chinese anti-doping controllers and missing documentation.
• The United Healthcare p/b Maxxis team has announced its roster for 2010. Returning from the OUCH squad are: Chris Baldwin, Tim Johnson, Roman Kilun, Karl Menzies, Andrew Pinfold, Rory Sutherland and Bradley White. New signings include Eric Barlevav (Mountain Khakis), Jonathan Clarke and Matthew Crane (Jelly Belly), Marc de Maar (Rabobank), Adrian Hegyvary (Elite), Max Jenkins (Glud & Marstrand), Jake Keough (Kelly Benefit) and Morgan Schmitt (Bissell). John Murphy left the team for BMC and Floyd Landis left for parts yet unknown.
• David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) says that the sport of cycling is vastly different than the doping-friendly environment that he came up in as a junior. He says that cycling is cleaner now than it has ever been.
• Former world champion downhiller Missy Giove faces up to 40 years in jail after admitting her part in a drugs ring. The 37 year old pleaded guillty to a charge of conspiracy to possess drugs with the intent to distribute. If found guilty, she could face up to 40 years in jail and a fine of up to $2 million.
• Columbia-HTC’s Mark Renshaw has been infected with the Epstein-Barr Virus and could be off the bike for several months. Renshaw is one of the major lead out men for Columbia sprinter Mark Cavendish. He had been planning to start his season early with efforts at the Tour Down Under and the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic in Geelong.
• Dutchman Egon van Kessel will be the new sports director of Cervélo’s womens team. The 53-year-old brings extensive experience as a trainer and Sports Director. He worked for the Dutch Association for almost 14 years and for seven years with professional cycling teams. From 2001 to 2008 he served as coach for both the men and women at the World championships and the Olympic Games.

More TDU rosters:

• The only team to have participated in all editions of the Tour Down Under since its inception in 1999, AG2R will look to Martin Elmiger for victory in next month’s race. The 2007 winner will be accompanied by Cyril Dessel, Blel Kadri, Anthony Ravard, Ludovic Turpin, Yuriy Krivtsov and René Mandri.
• Alejandro Valverde will get an early start to his season at the TDU and will be accompanied by 2005 race winner Luis Leon Sanchez, Mathieu Drujon, Vicente Garcia Acosta, Ivan Gutierrez, Mathieu Perget & José Joaquin Rojas.

Cross News:

• Sven Nys continued his winning ways in Belgium this week, besting Tom Meeusen.  Eariler this week, Nys took his first World Cup win of the season in Kalmthout, Belgium

Tags: Alejandro Valverde, Andrew Pinfold, Bradley White, Chris Baldwin, columbia-htc, cyril dessel, David Millar, Davide Rebellin, doping, floyd landis, Jelly Belly, john murphy, Marc De Maar, Mark Cavendish, Mark Renshaw, Martin Elmiger, Matthew Crane, Rory Sutherland, Tim Johnson, tour down under, World Championship