Lance Armstrong bent on world domination & other road news

June 4th, 2009 by Al Fresco 2,580 views No Comment

This is the “The Da Vinci Code” of cycling: Pierre Ballester and David Walsh, the two authors of “LA Confidentiel”, have published a new book about Lance Armstrong that alleges his comeback is about commercial and political interests. They claim that he is taking profit from money that should go the Livestrong Foundation and that he is planning a run for Governor of Texas in 2014 [and eventual world domination! Bwu hah hah! - Ed.]

Other Road News:

Alberto Contador will lead Alexandr Dyachenko, Jesus Hernandez, Benjamin Noval, Sergio Paulinho, Sergey Renev, Tomas Vaitkus and Haimar Zubeldia and Dirk Demol for the Dauphine Libere.
In other Astana news, the organizers of the Tour de France (the ASO) have approved the inclusion of Andreas Kloeden in the race. This should give some ammo to Tom Boonen, whom the ASO has barred from the race. Kloeden is under investigation for blood doping during the 2006 Tour. The team has said they will not take any action against Kloeden until the UCI makes a declaration on the case.
A decision on a worldwide ban of Spaniard Alejandro Valverde will likely not come before mid-June. The UCI is waiting on documents from Italy before making a decision.
This seems like a good fit. Starbucks will be sponsoring a new cyclocross race in Seattle. Dirt, coffee, bikes – what else do you need?
We noted earlier in the week that Rabobank’s Pedro Horillo had returned home to Spain. His treatment continued yesterday with surgery on his left leg. He broke his kneecap and left thigh (among other things) in the fall.
Nearly 200 French prisoners are preparing to take to their bikes in the first ever penal Tour de France. The 194 inmates, escorted by 124 prison guards and sports instructors, will set off from Lille and cycle about 2,400km (1,500 miles), ending up in Paris. They will have to cycle in a pack, will not be ranked and, for obvious reasons, breakaway sprints will not be allowed.
Laurent Fignon seems to think that Lance Armstrong is too old to win the Tour de France. He is pegging Alberto Contador for the win.
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) have announced their participation in the Ster Elektrotoer in the Netherlands from June 17th to 21. Also expected are Rabobank, Team Columbia, Milram, Saxo Bank, Katusha, Barloworld, LPR, Cervelo, Landbouwkrediet, Contentpolis, Topsport Vlaanderen, Skil-Shimano, Vacansoleil, Van Vliet-EBH, and Jo Piel Krolstone.
BMX trainees from the World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Aigle, Switzerland, achieved some excellent results at the 9th and 10th rounds of the European BMX Championships held in Dessel, Belgium. During the 9th round of the Championships held on Saturday 30th May, Yvan Lapraz (Switzerland) finished third in the Elite Men category, behind Dutch riders, Roy Van Den Berg and Rob Van Den Wildenberg. The WCC’s youngest BMX trainee, Alfredo Campo (Ecuador) won both the 9th and 10th rounds of the European Challenge in the category Boys 15-16 years.
Cervelo’s Serge Pauwels wants to move from Belgium to Spain, citing better training conditions.
The 2008-2009 collegiate cycling season is officially in the books, and when the points were tallied, Lees McRae College and the Massachusetts Institue of Technology came out on top of Divisions I and II as the most well-versed and progressive collegiate cycling teams in the United States.
Due to financial and logistical considerations beyond the organizer’s control, the USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships will be moved from Indianapolis this year. USA Cycling is working diligently to find a new location for the competition.
Quick Step announced Thursday the hiring of two new riders, Belarusians Branislau Samoilau (24 years) and Andrei Kunitski (25 years). Samoilau was champion of his country in 2007 while Kunitski was the time trial champ for the country.

Disabled List:

Christian Müller (Amore e Vita) fell during the GP Kranj and broke his left collarbone.

TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Classic:

Team OUCH will be sending Tim Johnson, Floyd Landis, Patrick McCarty, Karl Menzies, John Murphy, Andrew Pinfold, Rory Sutherland and Brad White to battle it out on the streets of Philly.
Team Colimbia-Highroad looks to be taking the race seriously. Andre Greipel, Bernhard Eisel, Gert Dockx, Greg Henderson, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Marco Pinotti, and Vicente Reynes are all expected to compete.