http://www.kotv.com/sports/local/story/?id=128168



COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) _ Bjarne Riis became the first Tour de France winner to
admit using performance-enhancing drugs to win the sport's premier race, further
eroding cycling's credibility after a series of doping confessions.

His admission Friday means the top three finishers in the 1996 Tour have all
been linked to doping _ and two have admitted cheating.

The retired Dane said he used the blood-booster EPO from 1993 to 1998, including
during his 1996 Tour victory, confirming years of speculation that he benefited
from banned substances. He also admitted taking cortisone and human growth
hormone, but didn't say when.

``I have taken doping. I have taken EPO,'' Riis said at a televised news
conference. ``I have made errors and I would like to apologize.''

EPO _ or erythropoietin _ is a synthetic hormone that stimulates the production
of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

Riis said he no longer considered himself a worthy winner of the Tour, and
indicated he would be willing to give back the title.

``My jersey is at home in a cardboard box,'' said Riis, now manager of the
Danish team CSC. ``They are welcome to come and get it. I have my memories for
myself.''

Cycling's governing body said even though time limits for sanctioning Riis have
expired, it ``urges the former rider to return his yellow jersey, the symbol of
his victory.''

Tour director Christian Prudhomme used even stronger words:

``Bjarne Riis said himself that he is did not deserve to have won the Tour in
1996 because he cheated. I think the same thing, because he has soiled the
yellow jersey,'' Prudhomme told The Associated Press when reached by telephone.
``Seeing as he did not deserve to win, does he deserve to lead a major cycling
team?''

Riis' confession comes while 2006 Tour winner Floyd Landis tries desperately to
keep his jersey and awaits a ruling in his doping case.

Landis tested positive for synthetic testosterone and could be stripped of his
title and banned for two years if found guilty. An arbitration panel considered
his case in a nine-day hearing that ended this week. Prudhomme already said he
didn't consider Landis to be last year's winner.

The runner-up to Riis in the 1996 race was Germany's Jan Ullrich and Frenchman
Richard Virenque was third.

Ullrich retired in February after being implicated in Operation Puerto, the
Spanish investigation into an alleged blood doping ring. Last month, German
authorities matched Ullrich's DNA sample to blood bags seized in Spain. He has
always denied doping.

Virenque was kicked out of the 1998 Tour de France because of his involvement in
the Festina scandal. His Festina team was ejected from the Tour after customs
officers found a large stash of performance-enhancing drugs in a team car.

After denying doping, Virenque later admitted to it in a tearful court
confession.

Riis' admission was the latest in a string of doping confessions from prominent
cyclists, and caused the Danish government to strongly condemn Riis _ once seen
as a national hero as the only Dane to win the Tour.

Three-time Tour winner Greg LeMond said in a statement released by his attorne:
``I never thought I'd see the day that this would happen. Mr. Riis' decision is
courageous, and I hope other cyclists will follow suit.''

``He has behaved unethically and immorally,'' said Danish Culture Minister Brian
Mikkelsen, whose department oversees sports. ``It is totally despicable.''

Riis' confession came on the same day the Italian Olympic Committee prosecutors
recommended that 2006 Giro d'Italia cycling champion Ivan Basso be banned for 21
months for his involvement in the Spanish doping scandal Operation Puerto.

Basso was suspended by the Italian cycling federation last week, after
acknowledging involvement in the Spanish blood-doping investigation. He
confessed to ``attempted doping'' but said he never actually went through with
it.

On Thursday, Eric Zabel and Rolf Aldag, two Germans who were support riders for
Riis on the Telekom team, admitted using EPO while riding for the team in the
1990s.

Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel weighed in on the sport's future, urging
cyclists who used doping to come clean and break a ``cartel of silence.''

``The confessions and investigations so far are not sufficient to sort things
out,'' Merkel said.

Riis' CSC team recently launched what it described as the most rigorous
anti-doping program in cycling. He said he planned to remain with the team,
adding that he hoped his confession would allow riders to focus on the future.

CSC spokesman Ole Egeblad said the main team sponsor was ``surprised'' by Riis'
admission, and would talk to team officials before deciding whether to continue
its support.

Until now, Riis has repeatedly denied taking performance enhancing drugs during
his 14-year career as a professional cyclist. In 2000, he quit professional
cycling under doctors' orders because of a knee injury.

Former Telekom massage therapist Jef d'Hont said in a book that two doctors gave
EPO to some of the team's top riders, including Riis and Ullrich, who won the
Tour de France in 1997.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I would suggest Landis consider going to college and forgetting about pro riding
after this one... :(

----- Original Message -----

Just when you thought they could sink no lower ....


http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1622888,00.html?cnn=yes


(MALIBU, Calif.) - Floyd Landis' sleepy, scientific arbitration hearing morphed
into a pulp-fiction blockbuster Thursday, replete with revelations of sexual
abuse, allegations of threatening phone calls and even a Donald Trump-style
firing.

It came courtesy of Landis' fellow American Tour de France champion Greg LeMond,
who disclosed he had been sexually abused as a child and received a call
Wednesday from Landis' manager who threatened to reveal the secret if LeMond
showed up to testify.
Shortly after LeMond dropped those bombshells, the manager, Will Geoghegan,
walked up to LeMond, apologized and admitted he made the call, LeMond said.
Which led to "You're fired" - the message Landis attorney Maurice Suh gave to
Geoghegan while they were still standing in the hearing room.

"It was a real threat, it was real creepy, and I think it shows the extent of
who it is," LeMond said before leaving the Pepperdine law school after his
spellbinding day. "I think there's another side of Floyd that the public hasn't
seen."

Landis, ditching his yellow tie for a black one he wore to symbolize his
feelings of animosity toward LeMond, sat stoically as he watched the three-time
champion wreck his day. Landis is not allowed to comment during the hearing.

Making it worse for last year's Tour de France champion was that the
cross-examination of LeMond, designed to expose his motives and impeach his
credibility, was called off because LeMond refused to answer questions about
Lance Armstrong.

"I just have to say, again, this is completely unfair," Landis attorney Howard
Jacobs said.

He wanted to ask LeMond about suggestions he has made in the past that
Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, might have doped.

But LeMond didn't think that was the main point.

"I think they didn't want me coming here today," LeMond said. "I don't know why.
If you didn't do anything wrong, why would you mind me coming here today?"

Before LeMond received the threatening call from Geoghegan, his testimony was
supposed to be about conversations he had with Landis shortly after news of his
positive "A" urine sample had been leaked to the media.

LeMond said he urged Landis to come clean if, in fact, his backup "B" sample
also came back tainted.

He said he encouraged Landis to help his sport and "more importantly, help
himself."

"At this point, he said, 'I don't see anything that ... what good would it do?
If I did, it would destroy a lot of my friends and hurt a lot of people,'"
LeMond testified.

He said he used the story of his being sexually abused when he was 6 as an
example of how it's good to get things out in the open.

"It nearly destroyed me by keeping the secret," LeMond said.

He said he told Landis that very few people knew that about him, then revealed
that someone in the Landis camp tried to use that information to intimidate him.

LeMond described receiving a call Wednesday evening from someone who claimed to
be his uncle. He said he later traced the call to Geoghegan's cell phone.

"He said, 'I'll be there tomorrow and we can talk about how we used to' perform
a sexual act, LeMond said of the phone call. "I thought this was intimidation to
keep me from coming here."

He said he was so distraught by the call, he filed a police report, which was
presented as evidence by attorneys. Malibu sheriff's officials, however,
declined to release the report or details about it, saying the case was under
investigation.

A message left on Geoghegan's cell phone by The Associated Press was not
immediately returned.

Outside the hearing room, LeMond insisted he appeared only to help cycling, a
sport he thinks has been ruined by an unabated culture of doping.

His appearance at Pepperdine, however, made the sport look every bit the
unseemly circus he's been trying to fix all these years. Still, he had no
remorse.

"What I felt was right was to come here and tell the truth," he said as he
walked to his car. "People say it's the message that hurts this sport, but it's
not that. It's cheating that hurts this sport, and that's all I have to say."


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://www.eurosport.com/cycling/pro-tour/2006-2007/sport_sto1173531.shtml

Kristian.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Wow
--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "Kristian Burton"
<kristian@...> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> According to the BBC, Basso has parted company with Discovery.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/6609485.stm
>
> All the best,
>
> Kristian.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hi All,

According to the BBC, Basso has parted company with Discovery.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/6609485.stm

All the best,

Kristian.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I think it was always on the cards that, unless an all conquering hero
emerged to succeed Armstrong within next to no time after he retired,
then they would quietly bow out of the sport.
Lance was the franchise - simple fact. Not much else marketable about
the team, and with Landis/Basso etc then it aint a sport for a sponsor
in the business that Disco are in, to be associated with



--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Green"
<sayandy40@...> wrote:
>
> Yes, Bruyneel is playing it cool 'for the best while intestigations
> take place, Ivan is frustrate but understands it is for the best......'
> But behing the scenes there must be issues given the huge gamble they
> took signing him, and their lack of a main sponsor for next season.
>
> --- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW" <gswidemark@>
> wrote:
> >
> > I think Basso joined Discovery Team and you say he's been suspended???
> >
> > Wow...
> > Sue
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

Yes, Bruyneel is playing it cool 'for the best while intestigations
take place, Ivan is frustrate but understands it is for the best......'
But behing the scenes there must be issues given the huge gamble they
took signing him, and their lack of a main sponsor for next season.

--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW" <gswidemark@...>
wrote:
>
> I think Basso joined Discovery Team and you say he's been suspended???
>
> Wow...
> Sue
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I think Basso joined Discovery Team and you say he's been suspended???

Wow...
Sue

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

From a recent article I read, he is still officially the winner of
the tour. This would of course go if the allegations are proved. I
do not think he is able to ride, and right now does not have a team.

I have justread that Basso has been suspended again, and is likely
to miss the Giro as a result. Don't know anymore than that

--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "SueW"
<gswidemark@...> wrote:
>
> Apparently more drug tests still showed testosterone (synthetic)
so he's looking at 2 years suspension but naturally he's going to
hang it up on court as long as he can. My question is - did they
take the title of winner of the TDF away from him or is he still
considered the winner of last year?  He already has told the media
that he will not compete this year due to the drug tests even if
things are resolved by then. He had a hip replacement so may nor may
not be ready. I'm not sure if he's been competing or not....
>
> Sue
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Apparently more drug tests still showed testosterone (synthetic) so he's looking
at 2 years suspension but naturally he's going to hang it up on court as long as
he can. My question is - did they take the title of winner of the TDF away from
him or is he still considered the winner of last year?  He already has told the
media that he will not compete this year due to the drug tests even if things
are resolved by then. He had a hip replacement so may nor may not be ready. I'm
not sure if he's been competing or not....

Sue

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Late reply, but my opinion is that cos of the dry conditions and lak
of wet and slime on the roads and pave, the riders have had the
confidence to ride that little bit faster.
Obviously what comes with extra speed, is more chance of
miscalculating things.
the Ghent Wevelgem was particularily bad too - lots of crashes on the
descent of the kemmelburg.
What was happening there was, someone was crashing, riders were seeing
a crash ahead of them, jamming on the brakes and losing control, and
crashing themselves.
It became very messy!

Plus - with the rigidity and lightness of the bikes used today, there
is very little for the riders TO control - compare these bikes to say,
Hinault and Kelly's era

anyway - just my opinion


--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "Kristian Burton"
<kristian@...> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> Anyone like to offer an opinion as to why there were so many crashes
during the Tour of Flanders this past weekend ?
> OK, I know there are normally a certain amount during the classics
due to the condition of the road, but that was just ridiculous.
> I hate to think what will happen during Paris Roubaix !
>
> All the best,
>
> Kristian
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I agreee - its great having a Brit in the final of the big classics!
Id rather watch that than some brit win a tour de france prologue!!!

poor coverage by British Eurosport for Amstel - 11pm tomorrow nite! I
have to avoid the result for 2 whole days!!1


--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Green"
<sayandy40@...> wrote:
>
> I feel the need to note Roger Hammonds creditable rides in the Ghent
> Wevelgem and the Roubaix. After his podium place in the Roubaix a few
> years back, the Cycling Press seemed to like to refer to him as
> a  'classics' specialist. However in the last couple of years his
> specialisms seemed to have  been missing the break, hurting himself,
> and talking a good game. So, Roger, I apologies for my bad thoughts and
> well done!
>

I feel the need to note Roger Hammonds creditable rides in the Ghent
Wevelgem and the Roubaix. After his podium place in the Roubaix a few
years back, the Cycling Press seemed to like to refer to him as
a  'classics' specialist. However in the last couple of years his
specialisms seemed to have  been missing the break, hurting himself,
and talking a good game. So, Roger, I apologies for my bad thoughts and
well done!

For those of you outside the UK or with the benefit of a decent cable
or sky service, this rant will leave you at best bemused, most probably
bored. But for the handlful who access (ed) Eurosport via Top UK TV
this might strike a chord.

A year ago I paid a good few quid for a box to watch top up TV, for one
reason, and one reason alone. So I could watch the cycling. Last year
that worked nicely. But then they decide to 'improve' their service.
This means I can no longer access Eurosport before 7.30 am and after
10.00 am. So no cycling. I can of course buy a new box and pay more to
get back what I have before. I know that this new box will have lots of
great features, none of which I want. All I want to do is watch some
cycling on f***** Eurosport. Ballan in Flanders- missed, O'Grady in
Roubaix- Missed, Flecha - Missed.

Those who complain about Harmon, Duffers and Kelly- count yourselves
lucky!!!!!!!!! They will have to prize the remote from my cold dead
hand before I buy anther box from Top Up TV so I am going to have to
bite the bullet and nail some vile dish to the side of my flat (cable?
don't go there)

Hi All,

Anyone like to offer an opinion as to why there were so many crashes during the
Tour of Flanders this past weekend ?
OK, I know there are normally a certain amount during the classics due to the
condition of the road, but that was just ridiculous.
I hate to think what will happen during Paris Roubaix !

All the best,

Kristian

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Went to watch the Track racing at Herne Hill today. Wiggins just
unbeliveable in the pursuit, up against Sean Yates and Alex
Dowsett.That said, amongst the list of previous winners was
one 'S.Yates', the year 1979!

Victoria Pendleton joined Wiggins for a lap of honour, great for the
crowd to see them showing their world champs jerseys.top day

--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Green"
<sayandy40@...> wrote:
>
> It goes to show that when a bit of real investment goes in we get
> results. The coverage in the papers has been pretty thin
considering
> the scale of what has been achieved. We have such strength in
depth,
> wie new riders coming through. Great
>
> --- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, mickymallen
> <no_reply@> wrote:
> >
> > Un-fecking-believeable - SEVEN gold medals for Great Britain!!!
in
> the
> > world track championships! Who would have believed this even 5
> years ago?
> > Fantastic! Ok lets have a sing song (to the tune of 500 miles by
> the
> > proclaimers)
> > "....Australia no more, France no more, holland no morrrree"
> >
> > its Britain and boy am i proud! We might have the fattest kids,
the
> > worst crime and the shittest country in Europe, but dammit, we
are
> the
> > bestest trackies in the bizness!!!
> >
> > cheers
> > micky
> >
>

Would be good to see a world champs jersey wearing, Bettini get fired
up the road - give us something to talk about

remember the ghent-wevelgem where cipo 'attacked' and bridged to a
break and won  - the las true classics grande  perfomrance for me like


--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Green"
<sayandy40@...> wrote:
>
> To be honest it is the cobbled classics that are really worthy of the
> term. Went to watch tour of flanders adn Ghent Wevelgem last year.
> Really worth it. This year is going to be fascinating as so far Boonen
> does not seem quite the dominant force he was last spring. --- In
> roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, mickymallen <no_reply@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Another sprint finish in the La Primavera last
> saturday...yawwwwnnn!!!
> >
> > Bring back the dramatic Sean Kelly 1992 and breakaway finishes please
> > (Fignon, Bugno, Fondriest, Chiapucci, Columbo etc etc)
> >
> > Cant wait for Flanders :-)
> >
>

It goes to show that when a bit of real investment goes in we get
results. The coverage in the papers has been pretty thin considering
the scale of what has been achieved. We have such strength in depth,
wie new riders coming through. Great

--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, mickymallen
<no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Un-fecking-believeable - SEVEN gold medals for Great Britain!!! in
the
> world track championships! Who would have believed this even 5
years ago?
> Fantastic! Ok lets have a sing song (to the tune of 500 miles by
the
> proclaimers)
> "....Australia no more, France no more, holland no morrrree"
>
> its Britain and boy am i proud! We might have the fattest kids, the
> worst crime and the shittest country in Europe, but dammit, we are
the
> bestest trackies in the bizness!!!
>
> cheers
> micky
>

To be honest it is the cobbled classics that are really worthy of the
term. Went to watch tour of flanders adn Ghent Wevelgem last year.
Really worth it. This year is going to be fascinating as so far Boonen
does not seem quite the dominant force he was last spring. --- In
roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, mickymallen <no_reply@...>
wrote:
>
> Another sprint finish in the La Primavera last
saturday...yawwwwnnn!!!
>
> Bring back the dramatic Sean Kelly 1992 and breakaway finishes please
> (Fignon, Bugno, Fondriest, Chiapucci, Columbo etc etc)
>
> Cant wait for Flanders :-)
>

Un-fecking-believeable - SEVEN gold medals for Great Britain!!! in the
world track championships! Who would have believed this even 5 years ago?
Fantastic! Ok lets have a sing song (to the tune of 500 miles by the
proclaimers)
"....Australia no more, France no more, holland no morrrree"

its Britain and boy am i proud! We might have the fattest kids, the
worst crime and the shittest country in Europe, but dammit, we are the
bestest trackies in the bizness!!!

cheers
micky

Another sprint finish in the La Primavera last saturday...yawwwwnnn!!!

Bring back the dramatic Sean Kelly 1992 and breakaway finishes please
(Fignon, Bugno, Fondriest, Chiapucci, Columbo etc etc)

Cant wait for Flanders :-)

So  - whats been happening? I havent been keeping up with it AT ALL!
As soon as Milan-San Remo comes along though, i'll get fired in.

What happened with Paris-Nice, why did it not nearly go ahead??

Good start to the season for Nicole Cooke! She is just too good, that
lass!

So Jan has decided to call it a  day. Whatever the truth is, I always
was hoping things would come good for him. I cannot help be feel sorry
that he was not able to go our on a high.

--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "schuijlenburg"
<cyclingheroes@...> wrote:
>
> Cyclingheroes Jörg Jaksche interview
>
> http://www.cyclingheroes.info/id475.html
>
> Tomorrow special coverage Jan Ullrich press conference
>

Cyclingheroes Jörg Jaksche interview

http://www.cyclingheroes.info/id475.html

Tomorrow special coverage Jan Ullrich press conference

I think someone paid somebody off because anyone who watched the tour KNEW he
was doping.  I hope he does NOT get away with it. That would be more disgusting
than the original doping....

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 12:20 PM
Subject: Report: Lab mishandled Landis' urine samples


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17296295/



Floyd Landis may retain his Tour de France title after all.

The French laboratory that produced incriminating doping results against Landis
may have had several errors along the way, including allowing improper access to
the cyclist's urine samples, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The same lab committed a similar error in 2005, which resulted in the dismissal
of doping charges against against Spanish cyclist Inigo Landaluze.

Two technicians from the French-government owned lab were involved in the
original urine analysis, and a second validating test, lab records turned over
to the Landis defense lawyers and reviewed by the paper show. International law
lab standards don't allow technicians from taking part in both tests - it
prevents them from validating their own findings, the paper reported.

It's unclear in the records if the technicians, Esther Cerpolini and Cynthia
Mongongu of Laboratorie National Depistage du Dopage, played significant roles
in both tests to disqualify the findings.

Landis' attorneys have asked arbitrators to let them question the technicians.

Even if they didn't play a prominent role in Landis' case, it could still bode
well for the U.S. cyclist, the paper reported. In a decision issued Dec. 19,
2006 regarding the Landaluze case, arbitrators said the risks of technicians
violated lab standards. "The applicable rule is clear and devoid of any
flexibility," they wrote.

Other potential errors from the lab include:

   a.. A document that was altered anonymously after Landis questioned its
accuracy. The altered version was certified as "original," the paper reported.
   b.. The lab reportedly operated one crucial piece of equipment under
conditions that violated manufactures' specifications - possibly because they
didn't have the operating manual. The software installed on the machine was 10
years old, based on an operating system no longer in use and was designed for a
different piece of equipment, the paper reported. The lab insists the machine
was in proper working order.
   c.. The lab was in possession of documents clearly linking Landis to his
sample, a possible violation of anti-doping rules requiring that all samples
handled by a testing lab be anonymous, the paper reported. At least one such
document was provided by the French anti-doping agency to Landis' attorneys.
Much is at stake for both sides. The cyclist faces a two-year suspension and
loss of his Tour title if the doping charge is upheld. In his defense, Landis
has launched the most serious and sustained attack on the international sports
anti-doping program and its procedures since it was established in 2000.

A three-member arbitration panel is scheduled to hear Landis' appeal of doping
charges at a public hearing beginning May 14.

Filings in the arbitration case also shed light on the anti-doping agency's
rationale for asking the French lab to also retest nine of Landis' urine samples
taken during and after the 2006 Tour de France. The samples at issue are B
samples corresponding to A samples found to be clean.

The USADA contends that the previous tests did not "definitively establish" that
the samples were clean, and the agency wants to subject them to the more
sophisticated carbon isotope test.

Because the A samples have already been ruled negative, and in most cases no
longer exist, the required match between A and B cannot be present, Landis
argues.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi
Good look with the Marmotte - great event. Beats the hell out of
anything the UK has to offer!!

I applied for Fred Whitton in lake district and was told unsuccessful
and also the Scottish Bealach na bar (applecross) was already full!

will stick to me road racing I think! Organised rides are one thing,
but they aint nothing that you couldnt just go and ride yourself with
a cafe stop thrown in.
The continental events though.... they are a different kettle of fish!!

micky


--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Green"
<sayandy40@...> wrote:
>
> Yep, I do not see Jan's case being much different to Basso and the
> others. If any of them can ride, why not Jan. Landis has been caught
> directly, I do think the sport would be less credible than ever if he
> is allowed to race the tour with the current allegations over his head.
>
> Have to say that I am really looking forward to the season from my the
> point of view of my own riding, lots of things penciled in. By a cruel
> twist of fate I looks like i will be riding Le Marmotte when the tour
> leaves London. To compensate I am planning to ride the Cantebury Stage
> the week before.
>
>  --- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, mickymallen
> <no_reply@> wrote:
> >
> > Personally, Ive got no real problems with Jan riding the Tour
> > again..... Landis, now he is a different matter!
> >
>

Yep, I do not see Jan's case being much different to Basso and the
others. If any of them can ride, why not Jan. Landis has been caught
directly, I do think the sport would be less credible than ever if he
is allowed to race the tour with the current allegations over his head.

Have to say that I am really looking forward to the season from my the
point of view of my own riding, lots of things penciled in. By a cruel
twist of fate I looks like i will be riding Le Marmotte when the tour
leaves London. To compensate I am planning to ride the Cantebury Stage
the week before.

  --- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, mickymallen
<no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Personally, Ive got no real problems with Jan riding the Tour
> again..... Landis, now he is a different matter!
>

Personally, Ive got no real problems with Jan riding the Tour
again..... Landis, now he is a different matter!

Poll: Do you want Jan Ullrich to be allowed to start at the Tour de
France 2007?
http://www.cyclingheroes.info

A couple of weeks back the Gaurdian had a nice double page spread on T-
Mobile, the first time I can think of that a national paper has run a
positive (In the non drugs sense) story in many moons. Back to form
today, as UCI and ASO are fighting abou wether or not Unibet should be
allowed to ride Paris-Nice. with of course the Vuelta and Giro falling
into line and UCI threatening all sorts of horrible sanctions.

The UCI v Grand Tours thing is just such an annoyance. Please,as a fan,
can't people step away from their selfish positions and see the harm
all this does. lets get it sorted.