Here’s some of the latest news from the world of cycling:

• Alberto Contador will travel to Italy to testify about his (lack of?) participation in the Operation Puerto affair. I’m sure that he’d like you to think that he’s doing this out of the goodness of his heart, but since the Tour de France dips into Italy this year, and Contador (and his team) would dearly love to defend his title, he’ll do anything he can to be able to race there.
• Magnus Backstedt and Steve Bovay have both suffered broken collarbones at the Tour or Qatar.
• The State of Missouri was quite happy with the attendance and the tourism revenue generated by last year’s Tour of Missouri. They’ve added an additional day to the race and added some additional host cities. Both last year’s winner George Hincapie and his former team-mate Levi Leipheimer are committed to racing the 2008 edition.
• Rock Racing either did or did not submit their team roster to the organizers of the Tour of California. Kayle Leogrande, under investigation for doping, either is or is not on the team. Mario Cippollini is or is not an official member of the team. Micheal Ball does or does not know what he is doing.
• What we need is for the Tour de France to run through Pennsylvania’s Mennonite communities this year, then maybe Floyd will get to race. At least that’s the philosophy behind the proposal for a shortened suspension for Ivan Basso. The World Championships are being held in his hometown this year and the Italian Olympic Committee wants him to be able to race.

News of the Wheeled:

• A Scottish cyclist has sued a fellow cyclist for injuries suffered in a crash while on a group ride. He alleges that the other cyclist did not properly control his bicycle. He has at least admitted that there is an element of danger to be accepted in group rides.
• Darn it, you scratched my car, you, you dead cyclist you! A speeding driver who hit and killed a teenage cyclist is suing the victim’s family for damage to his car.