Bike World News

With the upcoming holiday weekend, this may be the last news update until next week. Of course, we’ll still be covering the Six Days of Ghent and other breaking news as it comes up. Until then, eat, drink and be merry. Then ride!

The news:

• A few riders of Skil-Shimano are on the velodrome in Apeldoorn (Holland) today testing new equipment and clothing. They are also doing tests to optimize the aerodynamic position on the time trial bike.
• Ivan Basso will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Thursday, but it won’t be a big party as Liquigas’ training camp has already begun. In the same article, he downplays the rivalry between himself and Damiano Cunego and says that he’ll be focusing on the Giro and the Tour in 2010.
• The Contentpolis-AMPO team is still struggling to come up with even the 1.2 million Euros needed for its Professional Contintental license. Furthermore, they have not even submitted their application for a license, which is due by December 1st.
• Nick Nuyens announced today that he is to be a father for a second time and that the child is due during the 2010 Tour de France. Nuyens normally passes on the Tour, so he expects to be home for the birth. He and wife Evy already have a son named Star.
• The World Anti-Doping Agency noted today that they need to do more to combat doping. They recognized that the athletes are often the victims of trainers, doctors, managers and officials, who often escape doping scandals scot-free.
• Iljo Keisse is ready to attack the Six Day scene with vigor, returning at Ghent with partner Roger Kluge.
• Spanish police have uncovered a doping network and arrested a dozen suspects. Among those arrested are doctors and pharmacists who provided banned substances like EPO and growth hormones to athletes. Spanish athlete Francisco Javier Fernandez is involved and is expected to be arrested. The 32-year-old is a double European champion in the 20-kilometer walk and won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

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