Yes, more Spaniards on the move. They’re all the rage these days. Ag2r, after signing Mancebo, has not plunked not one, but two more Iberians onto the roster: José Luis Arrieta and David Navas, both of Illes Balears, which coincedentally, is also Mancebo’s current team. No word yet on how IB plans to fill in…
More American Doping News
Perhaps one of the reasons Americans as a whole are largely unaware of professional cycling is that they are largely unaware of exactly what constitutes doping. From this article at ESPN: In the report, Shortt said that he does not believe that steroids enhance performance. He said he provided steroids to about half of the…
Pro Cycling News – Zaballa takes San Sebstian
Big day for Saunier Duval-Prodir. Constantino Zaballa, a bald little man with a fine set of legs, secured the Classica San Sebastian for the boys in the yellow, the teams second win in as many years, while teammate Joaquin Rodrigues won the small group sprint for second. The reward? Fame, some cash, and above all,…
Pro Cycling News – Valverde's Out; Is Igor Back?
After weeks of “maybes,” “probablys” and “almost definatelys,” Alexandro Valverde is now officially out of the 2005 Vuelta. The cause: tendonitis contracted at the 2005 Tour de France. Our Advice: as much as it pains us to say it, turn lower gears. Fortune’s wheel seems to be spinning more favorably for another Spanish talent, 2003…
Pro Cycling News – Vino, Paolo need a Break
It’s been a busy year for whatever kind of doctor it is that gives you surgery to relieve saddle sores. First World Champ Oscar Freire, and now Giro champ and TdF stage winner Paolo Savodelli. “I will be operated on to remove an annoying cyst. I believe my season at the highest level is over,”…
The Curse of the Rainbow Jersey – Rant
I’m not especially prone to misfortune. In the past, I may have attributed some long losing streaks to curses, and it seems to start raining pretty much every time I get off work, but these instances of bad luck aren’t anything outside the realm of probability. Back before last fall, I didn’t believe the Red…
CN gets Scooped, Verbrugghe gets Scooped Out – News
Who brought you the news that Oscar Friere’s 2005 season was officially over, before world bicycle news leader CyclingNews? Oh yes, it was lowly Cyclocosm. Totally sweet. Meanwhile, in actual news, Bobby Julich absolutely put it to the Benelux Tour field into today’s final TT, opening up a void of 37 seconds over second-place finisher…
Van Dijk Breaks Through, Oscar's Out – News
Stefan Van-Dijk, apparently unencumbered by his extraordinarily large forehead, broke the ProTour’s stranglehold on the Benelux Tour today, taking a group sprint ahead of two previous stage winner, Disco’s Max van Heeswijk and Simone Cadamuro of Liquigas. Lotto-Davitamon once again carted Tom Steels’ creeking backside to the line, but the 9-time TdF stage winner faded…
Max Takes Two, Igor's Back – News
After yesterday’s way cracked stage of the Benelux Tour, the field was quite happy to let things come down to a nice, simple group sprint, taken once again by Max van Heeswijk of Discovery Channel-Berry Floor. Following a lead out by teammate Roger Hammond, van Heeswijk lept onto the wheel of Tom Steels and easily…
Benelux Organizers Step in It – News
Eurosport called it “arguably the most farcical day in cycling history.” With 50k to go, and a break of three riders six minutes up the road, the entire Benelux Tour peleton and caravan drove off-course. The snafu, the result of an absent course marshall, was rectified a few minutes later by local boy and GC…