All of your cycling news: February 16, 2010

In today’s cycling news, Alberto Contador acknowledges that he is not as strong as last year, dopers (alleged and otherwise) speak, Gent-Wevelgem shortened and more..

• Alberto Contador makes his 2010 debut tomorrow at the Volta ao Algarve. He says that he is not feeling as strong this year as he did at this time last year and that he may approach the race as more of a training exercise. He added that he is about a kilogram over his usual race weight.
• Team Garmin-Transitions Christian Vande Velde, David Millar and Ryder Hesjedal will start their 2010 season at Wednesday’s Volta.
• Leif Hoste is back and the bike and says that he is having more fun than he has had for some time. He says that he wants to continue racing as long as he can.
• The Androni-Diquigiovanni squad has decided to pass on the Tour of Langkawi in order to focus their efforts on the Corsa dei Due Mari and defending Michele Scarponi’s win in that race last year.
• Italian cyclist Eddy Ratti sent a note to Tuttobici explaining his recent doping suspension. He notes that he had made himself available for out of competition testing from 7 to 8 in the morning on the day of the test and that testers attempted to contact him later in the day for a control, but he was running errands and did not get the message. He notes that he had no obligation to make himself available for testing outside of the appointed time, but says that he would have, and pledged his cooperation with authorities.
• The Trofeo Costa Etrusca Elite Women’s race has been cancelled due to family issues with the race organizer. The event was scheduled to take place on March 20th and 21st.
• Alexander Vinokourov says that he has not soiled the sport of cycling and says that he can still teach the world of sports “many beautiful things”.
• The Gent-Wevelgem semi-classic has been shortened by 40 kilometers. The race was shortened to better fit in with its new place on the calendar.
• This year’s edition of the Tirreno-Adriatico will be dedicated to Franco Ballerini. Organizers say that, “He was loved by the whole group. He was loved and respected even by those cyclists who do not summon him. Why was authoritative and honest”. Twenty-two teams will start the race and World Champion Cadel Evans, former world champion Allesandro Ballan and Freire, Vinokourov, Cancellara, Boonen, Cavendish and Schleck are expected to attend.
• Floyd Landis denied hacking the computers of the AFLD and says that the accusations are just another example of the fabricated evidence being used against him. He added that yesterday’s notification of the arrest warrant was the first time that he had heard anything about the accusations and that he has not received any formal contact about the matter.
• Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) has announced that he will participate in this year’s Commonwealth Games that will take place in New Delhi October 4th to 10th. The World Championships will take place just days before the Games.
• Two cross country skiers have been temporarily suspended from participating in the Olympics due to abnormal hemoglobin values. Russian Nabeev Niyaz, a specialist in Nordic combined and cross country skier Kaspar Kokk of Estonia will not be allowed to race because their values are too high. The International Ski Association says that this ‘prohibition of departure’ is not “a punishment but a measure designed to protect the health of athletes”.
• The UCI is imposing conditions on the return of Michael Rasmussen. Even though he is riding for an Italian Continental team, he is being required to participate in the Biological Passport program. The UCI says that he is being added to a yet to be named pool of riders from other classifications for a new trial program. [Your ed is thinking that the UCI thinks he's likely to jump to a higher classified team at some point this season and they want to get his profile established while they can. Thoughts?]

Tags: AFLD, alberto contador, alexander vinokourov, Allesandro Ballan, Bradley Wiggins, cadel evans, christian vande velde, David Millar, floyd landis, garmin, Gent-Wevelgem, leif hoste, michael rasmussen, Michele Scarponi, Ryder Hesjedal, team garmin-transitions, Team Sky, tirreno-adriatico, tour of langkawi, World Championships