All of your cycling news: February 17, 2010

In today’s cycling news, Merckx praises Boasson-Hagen, first UCI race in India rolls this weekend, Kristina Vogel returns and more….

The News:

• None other thank Eddy Merckx has heaped praise on Team Sky’s Edvald Boasson-Hagen, saying that he is “the rider of the future”.
• Boasson-Hagen would likely still be in the lead in Oman had there not been a breach of racing ettiquette. He stopped for a nature break in the second half of the race. Tradition usually dictates that the peloton soft pedal for the leader until they catch up, but they chose to attack instead. He now sits 1’05″ behind new leader Daniele Bennati.
• Belgian cyclist Kenny Dehaes is riding with Omega Pharma-Lotto after an unsuccessful stint at Katusha. Dehaes was riding after at the end of the 2008 season, having won a sprint stage in the Tour of Belgium, one of the Four Days of Dunkirk, 4th at Van Steenbergen and 5th in Ghent-Wevelgem. Katusha was never a good fit and he is happy with the atmosphere at the new team.
• India hosts its first professional UCI-sanctioned road race this weekend, with hopes it will showcase home-grown talent and boost public interest in two-wheel transport. The 100-kilometer criterium in Mumbai on Sunday will have a 120-strong field, including Australian sprinters Stuart O’Grady and Baden Cooke, both former Tour de France points jersey contenders.
• Jan Ullrich’s former coach Wolfram Lindner died “suddenly and unexpectedly” during the night Tuesday at the age of 68 years. Lindner was one of the most successful coaches in the world. He led riders to more than 1,000 victories, including three in the Olympics and six world championships. In the 2003 Tour de France, he was sports director of the Bianchi team that, with Ullrich as captain, finished second behind overall winner Lance Armstrong.
• Olaf Pollack was disqualified from the German Cycling Federation until 13 September 2011 for a positive (for a substance not reported) found last July.
• Nine months ago her life hung in the balance after a serious bicycle accident. In less than four weeks, Germany’s Kristina Vogel wants to race at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Copenhagen.

Tags: australia, Copenhagen, cycling news, daniele bennati, eddy merckx, four days of dunkirk, German Cycling Federation, germany, Jan Ullrich, katusha, Lance Armstrong, Olaf Pollack, omega pharma-lotto, Team Sky, tour of belgium