Bike World News

In today’s cycling news, Floyd Landis gives up on another crack at the Tour de France, Omega Pharma-Lotto will focus on classics, Iljo Keisse rides joy to Grenoble lead and more…

• Floyd Landis is doubtful that he will ever return to the Tour de France, saying that the squabble between the UCI and the AFLD and other organizations will likely keep him away [That, and the fact that he's the only rider that's ever had his TdF victory taken way - Ed.]. It’s been rumored that he’s heading to Rock Racing for 2010, but we’re still waiting official word on that. He’s in New Zealand at the moment, racing in the Tour of the Southland for the Cyclingnzshop.com-Bio Sport team and is in 35th place after the 3rd stage.
• Marianne Vos won the European cyclocross championships in Hoogstraten, Belgium this weekend. Vos finished solo ahead of countrywoman Daphny Van Den Brand and Britain’s Helen Wyman (Kona-FSA). Luna’s Katerina Nash of the Czech Republic was fourth.
• Organizers of the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro have secured licenses and contracts to operate the race through 2013.
• Promising young German rider Sergej Fuchs has announced a transfer from the Rabobank Continental team to the German Nutrixxion – Sparkasse squad.
• Dane Martin Pedersen (Capinordic) and Italy’s Fabio Felline (Bergamasca) have  committed to the Footon-Servetto team for next season. Pedersen is 26 years old and won the Tour of Cologne this year plus three other victories. Felline is only 19 and is considered one of the great hopes of Italian cycling.
• Cadel Evans had flirted with the idea of a transfer to the BMC team even before taking victory at the World Championships. The move took time because he wanted to make sure that he was doing everything by the rules.
• Phillipe Gilbert says that Cadel Evans’ departure from Omega Pharma-Lotto will facilitate the transformation of the team into a force for the Classics. Gilbert will start his season at Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Qatar before making a go at Flanders, the Ardennes Classics and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He’s also planning to use the Vuelta as training for a go at the World Championships in Melbourne.
• Former pro Michael Boogerd will run a development that will start up in 2011. Specialized Bikes is expected to be a presenting sponsor.
• Riding on the vibe of his doping acquittal, Iljo Keisse and partner Gianni Meersman jumped into the lead on Day 5 of the Six Days of Grenoble.
• Lance Armstrong told CNN yesterday that he would like to win the 2010 Tour de France. No big news there.