Tour de France Doping Test Controversy
The UCI has come out with a 12-page response against the French anti-doping agency's earlier claim that Astana received special treatment in doping tests during this year's Tour de France.
According to the response, as reported by VeloNews: "The UCI is disappointed and angry that a partner in the international fight against doping chooses to submit such a groundless report which undermines rider and public confidence in the anti-doping programme conducted at the 2009 Tour de France."
The UCI also notes that the French agency labeled the samples it took--mostly of French cyclists--with the full names and details of the riders, which violates the international policy of anonymous testing.
--Aileen Torres
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October 14, 2009
2010 Tour Route and Obstacles Revealed
Organizers of the Tour de France unveiled the course for 2010 today, revealing that cyclists will be crossing the Pyrenees Mountains in next year's race, according to the Associated Press. Both Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador were present at the ceremony. The route planned for 2010 will take riders through passes that the cyclists in the 1910 Tour faced: Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet, and Aubisque (nicknamed "The Circle of Death"). Also revealed were plans for seven cobblestone sections to be part of the route.
-- Lisa Lombardi
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August 19, 2009
Contador Still with Astana
Despite rumors that Alberto Contador will not return to Astana next year, the team's management has issued a statement that he will continue to ride for them. Contador is under obligation by a three-year contract to be a member of Astana through 2010.
Check out Eurosport's overview of the 2009 Tour de France above.
--Aileen Torres
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August 07, 2009
Doping Stigma Sticks for Kazakh
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Andrei Kashechkin's appeal against his two-year ban from cycling for having tested positive for doping during the 2007 Tour de France, the AP reports. The ban expired on Friday, which means the former Astana member can race again.
--Aileen Torres
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July 31, 2009
The Spoke Word: TdF Stage Winner Fails Drug Test
Cycling's governing body, the UCI, announced today that it has provisionally suspended Spaniard Mikel Astarloza, who won the mountainous 16th stage of this year's Tour de France. The UCI statement says Astorloza returned a positive sample for EPO from an out-of-competition test on June 26. If the findings hold up, Astorloza would be stripped of his stage win and face a minimum two-year ban.
So far this has been the only failed drug test linked in any way to this year's Tour. Earlier today, 4th-place-overall finisher Bradley Wiggins pointed to a cleaner peleton when he released his blood profiles from the last two years to the public.
—John Bradley
Twitter: johnwbradley
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The Spoke Word: TdF Standout Wiggins Releases Blood Profile
Such is the state of pro cycling that merely doing well in the sport raises doping suspicions. So when British track star Bradley Wiggins finished fourth in this year's Tour, there were obvious questions. The Garmin-Slipstream pro had never before shown himself in the mountains, or in a three-week tour, yet he was able to hang with the likes of Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, and Lance Armstrong in the high passes of France. So to back up Garmin's strict anti-doping message—and his claim that it was all due to hard work—Wiggins has released his blood profiles from the past two seasons, up to and including the Tour. You can see the results here. Would be great if the rest of the racers followed suit.
—John Bradley
Twitter: johnwbradley
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July 28, 2009
Hincapie Confirms Broken Clavicle
George Hincapie confirmed that he does have a fractured clavicle. The injury was left unexamined during this year's Tour de France because he wanted to finish the Tour, and he did--but not without a lot of pain.
"It did hurt," Hincapie told VeloNews. "It was really bad in the mornings when I woke up...and, on the bike, it would hurt whenever I hit any kind of bump in the road."
He plans to allow the injury to heal naturally. Not having surgery will probably cause him to miss a few races, he says, but he's looking to compete in the USA Cycling Professional Road Racing Championships this August.
You can watch a video profile of Hincapie above.
--Aileen Torres
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Doping in the 2009 Tour?
No one has been called out for doping during the 2009 Tour de France--yet. “There’s a likelihood of blood transfusions and two new products that have been used during the Tour, but are not yet on the market,” said Pierre Bordry of the French Anti-Doping Agency.
VeloNews reports that he could be referring to the drug Hematide, which stimulates the production of red blood cells. The other drug could be AICAR, which stimulates muscle growth and the burning of fat.
You can check out this year's Tour riders along the final lap of the Champs Elysees above.
--Aileen Torres
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Contador Vs. Armstrong
Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong are at it again--more openly this time. The rivalry that developed between them during the 2009 Tour de France lives on in bitter feelings and remarks.
"My relationship with Lance Armstrong is zero," Contador said the day after winning the Tour, according to the AP. "He's a great rider and he did a great Tour. Another thing is on a personal level, where I have never admired him and never will."
Armstrong replied on his Twitter page: "Hey pistolero, there is no 'I' in 'team'. What did I say in March? Lots to learn. Restated."
Tension grew between the two as they fought for leadership of the Astana team during this year's Tour. Armstrong will form a new team in 2010, backed by Radio Shack. It remains to be seen with whom Contador will ride next year.
--Aileen Torres
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July 27, 2009
Tour de France Roundup
Alberto Contador has won the 2009 Tour de France. He was also the winner of the race in 2007. Contador clocked in at 85:48:35 overall, followed by Andy Schleck at 4:11 behind and Lance Armstrong at 5:24 behind. Mark Cavendish won the final stage.
Tension between Armstrong and Contador grew as the teammates became rivals through the Tour. "We are totally incompatible," Contador said, according to the AP. "In the end, Armstrong will go his way, and I'll go mine."
Armstrong, who has won the Tour seven times, says he will return in 2010 with a new team backed by Radio Shack. You can watch his announcement in the video above.
Contador may or may not return to Astana next year. Chances are good that Alexandre Vinokourov will be back on the team after a doping ban, and it remains to be seen how Contador will react to such a change.
--Aileen Torres
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