All of your cycling news – January 7, 2010
January 7th, 2010 by Al Fresco
View Comments
(c) Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
In today’s cycling news, Sweden’s Nicklas Axelsson faces potential lifetime ban and an update on the soap opera that is Milram. The news:
- A total of 38 cyclists in Germany are members of the armed forces. One of the most notable is Robert Bartko, a Master Sargeant in the Army who interrupted his cycling career for four years to serve.
- Cycling officials say Swedish rider Nicklas Axelsson has tested positive for doping for the second time in his career. Swedish Cycling Federation anti-doping chief Ulf Naslund says Axelsson tested positive for the endurance drug EPO in September. Disciplinary measures have not been discussed yet, but since this is his second infraction, he likely faces a lifetime ban.
- The Tour de France will visit the Ariège region on July 18th and 19th this year, but regional officials say that this year may be the last due to financial difficulties. The area has hosted 13 finishes and 11 starts since 1984.
- The current leader the UCI Africa Tour, Abdelatif Saadoune, has been voted best Moroccan sportsman the year for 2009.
- Italy’s national cyclocross championships take place this weekend. Organizers are hoping for over 800 participants in the event, which would likely set a record.
- We heard earlier in the week that Astana had entered into an agreement with Specialized Bikes. Today, the team announced that SRAM would stay on as the component supplier for the team.
- Danny Bonnoront, 51, will succeed Gerard Brocks as the head coach of France’s National Womens team.
- Disgraced Olympic cyclist Davide Rebellin will have a hearing with Italy’s National Olympic Committee (CONI) on January 22nd.
- Team Sky wasted no time getting to their Valencia, Spain training camp, departing the day after Monday’s official presentation.
Milram:
"Did he just say 25 wins?" (Copyright Lennart Preiss/AFP/Getty Images)
- Milram is likely facing its final season. The German dairy company said that it is unlikely to renew its sponsorship of its top cycling team after their mutual contract expires at the end of this year.
- If Milram walks away from the sport, there will be no German teams in cycling’s professional elite.
- Milram’s departure follows on the heels of the collapse of the Germany based T-Mobile and Gerolsteiner teams after doping scandals.
- Team manager Gerry van Gerwen has set a target of 25 wins in 250 races this season in the hopes of attracting new major sponsors.
- Former Tour of Germany winner Linus Gerdemann and sprinters Gerald Ciolek continue with the team, but Roger Kluge, Dominik Mink, Wim De Vocht, Roy Sentjens and Luke Roberts all left for other squads.
Tags: astana, CONI, cyclocross, Davide Rebellin, gerald ciolek, germany, Gerolsteiner, linus gerdemann, Robert Bartko, Roger Kluge, roy sentjens, specialized, Specialized Bikes, sweden, T-Mobile, Team Sky, tour of germany, UCI, women
Related Posts:
For the latest in cycling news be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed .
Comments, questions, suggestions? Use our contact page to let us know.
Tags: astana·CONI·cyclocross·Davide Rebellin·gerald ciolek·germany·Gerolsteiner·linus gerdemann·Robert Bartko·Roger Kluge·roy sentjens·specialized·Specialized Bikes·sweden·T-Mobile·Team Sky·tour of germany·UCI·women
