Ville Etape puts your town on the map

Ever heard of Tonnere? You will now. The 2009 Tour's 12th stage begins there. It's a distinction that Tonnere's mayor hopes will make the town known the world over. Not just for their amazing 300 meter deep well. While it feeds the town, townspeople are hoping the Tour feeds the town as well.

Want to know who's the fave'? Check the odds

Oddschecker.com does the checking for you.

Here's their Tour de France page.

Lance Armstrong: The perfect person*

*according to his coach.

Chris Carmichael tells us the truth. Lance is "one of the best on-the-road tacticians the sport has ever seen."

Maybe Carmichael forgets Lance's early days, when he'd go out to obliterate the competition and get beaten by fellow juniors. or how he rode too aggressively early on in races like the 1991 worlds or 1992 Olympics. Maybe Lance learned in his early pro days from Motorola Directeur Sportif Hennie Kuiper, widely considered a great tactician. No doubt he learned something from Johan Bruyneel. Or maybe it's just experience; he's got ten years on his teammate Contador and much of the peloton.

Myth-making aside, we'll get to see how Lance does without a radio in his ear on stage 10 and 13. Stage 10 could well be a tough one, occurring on the heels of a rest day and countless little ups and downs that could create chaos. And stage 13 has two category two climbs separated by a category one climb. Doesn't look to be a decisive day, but without radios and a tired peloton splintering, we could learn how good Armstrong's on-the-road captaining really is.

No "Opening Prologue" this year

One small bit of relief for me this Tour. No prologue. As a result, Tour experts couldn't make the mistake of calling the short time trial which typically begins the tour an "opening prologue." To me, it's like people using "who" instead of "whom." I can accept it among laypeople, but not experts. Or should I refer to them as "experts."

scraping for relevance in TdF Stories

The Idaho Statesman might not have a homegrown rider to boast about. But they do have a homegrown journo who just got his ticket punched to the big show.

"Vestal has filed recent stories on Contador's new Trek time trial bike, and the nuances of the new Specialized bib shorts. While Vestal writes about cycling gear from around the world, his Boise roots often help him."

A journalist getting the star treatment. It's a beautiful thing. We're ready for our close-up. We think.

Learn How Allen Lim Makes Rice Cakes and share your recipe

I have to admit Allen Lim's rice cake recipe looks pretty good. I love rice and I should get around to trying his concoction.

Team Garmin/Slipstream wants you to be inspired by his recipe and to submit your favorite ride food concoction. Not sure about sharing my favorites, but Allen's is pretty good. Watch the video.

Doping Controls Are Lax...In Tennis

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the Operacion Puerto scandal or anyone who heard about the heroism of certain tennis players after taking cortisone shots. Still, somehow the subject doesn't come up much when cycling or baseball is the dirty sport.

Slate's feature on doping in tennis entitled, "Steroids Anyone," doesn't have any bombshells because there has been so little testing. They do cite Jim Courier, who, in 1999 thought EPO was a problem at the top level.

Here's the final paragraph, "Why does tennis remain so lax when it comes to drug testing? Perhaps it's taking a lesson from the other major sporting event taking place this weekend: the Tour de France. Cycling, baseball, and track and field are the sports that have been the most stained by drug cheats. They're also the sports that have the most-rigorous testing programs. Based on recent evidence, it's not realistic to expect top-flight athletes to be clean. It is possible, though, to simply sweep the syringes under the rug—or better yet, not look for them in the first place."

Free CTS Tour de France Newsletter

While Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) is a corporate entity, while Chris Carmichael seems like more of a celebrity chef than coach, and it's really hard to believe that the advice spouted by Carmichael or his ghost writer is actually imparted to their start client/partner, occasionally they do have something interesting to share. A recipe, a trademarked training routine, a photo, a podcast you can download and use to lead you through a workout. If nothing else, it can help you live a Lance-centric world. Hagiography as training advice is a different sort of wisdom.

sign up here

Lance's Twitter Love now a marketing tactic

The guy has been tweeting for some time. He used it during the Giro d'Italia to bypass the reporters assembled at that race. Now he's using it to both bypass reporters and help market his sponsors. Brandweek details the effort in Lance Armstrong Peddles 'Tour de France' via Social Media. Oakley, Nissan, and Clear20 are in on it. The last one is the best--it is a portable filtration system.

Magnum Photo Essay on the Tour

Not all cycling, but the images from Magnum Photos are amazing. Love the B&W. Commentary by Jorgen Leth, the director of A Sunday in Hell. Check it out.

The Tour de France Band

"Tour de France" is also the name of a music group. This quartet plays "music of the French provinces." "Many of the tunes played are drawn from 19th and early 20th century sources and were used to accompany then-popular ballroom dances: waltzes, schottishes, polkas, and mazurkas. Also featured are older regional dance forms: distinctive branles, rondeaux, and bourrées."

A Culinary Tour de France...In New York City

Since a Tour de France means any number of things, some New York restauranteurs teamed up to offer a tour of French restaurants in the big, bad city. If we go by their map, the first stage is at Nice Matin and the finish at French Roast. The finish is already looking like a disappointment, but perhaps appropriate.

Allan Davis' Tour is in Doubt

Allan who? Australia's Herald Sun newspaper wants you to know that it is currently undecided whether or not their homeboy will ride the Tour. To them, this is big news.

Davis, despite his relative anonymity, is currently ranked fifth in the international cycling rankings. Pretty good; for most teams, having a sprinter that good should be enough to guarantee a ride in Le Grande Boucle. But he has the luck of being on the same team with Tom Boonen, one of the most famous cyclists in the world, a wearer of the green jersey, winner of several Tour de France stages, and a national hero in his native Belgium.

Relevance? For most of the world, the headline would read Tom Boonen's Tour In Doubt. Boonen again tested positive for cocaine in an out-of-competition test, which makes him a felon to Belgian law, but still clear to race. Sort of. The Tour doesn't want a cokehead in the Tour. But the cycling federation, Boonen and Davis' Quick Step team, and all of Belgium wants him in. Davis only rides if Boonen is banned.

LES CHIENS dans la rue and a Certain Lanterne Rouge

The Irish Times has given the world the binary equivalent of Pierre Salinger and Brent Mussberger adding "french flavor" to the old television broadcasts of the Tour on ABC and CBS with their Monte Carlo's Tour de Force. How I loathed those segments where these allegedly august commentators of sport forced us to take a step back from their networks paltry servings of the Tour and appreciate French Culture. I hope they used their ration of Tour de Force for the year with this article.

The culture was and is fine, but we were watching because of a certain bike race.

The reason for mention of this otherwise forgettable article is a little bit at the end. Don't know whether to believe it or not, but it does intrigue. "As you watch the spectacle you might care to ponder that Samuel Beckett, a keen cyclist in France, was aware of a veteran competitor, surname Godeau, and one of life’s natural lanternes rouges ."

Newsflash! Armstrong to Headline Versus TdF Coverage

Bet you never would have guessed that Versus would recycle. We shouldn't guffaw; it might be why you're bothing with this blog in the first place.

Candid Chris Tells All on Being Overlooked for the Tour Roster

Kudos to Chris Horner by demonstrating yet again how he's the rare pro who isn't afraid to speak his mind. He dishes on his non-selection to Oregon Live. In his mind, it's politics. Contador needed one of his guys and sponsors needed one Kazak.

Extreme Birthday Celebration

Turning 50 is supposed to be a chance for reflection. A half-century down, a half to go. Upon looking forward to his 50th, it seems one cyclist got a bug he couldn't shake. He wanted to ride the entire Tour de France. Almost as a touriste-routier of old. So he's going to France with his wife. She gets to drive the motorhome, he gets to ride his bike. His plan is to ride every stage in full a few days ahead of the race. She's writing it up. It's bound to be a crazy read.

Horner might be out of Le Tour, but he got a great write-up in Oregon Live

We're Chris Horner fans. Candid at all times and smiles when racing. He wasn't afraid to criticize Armstrong when the Discovery team folded, and he's still got the Astana team nod. This story in Oregon Live does a better job than most mainstream press at capturing what it means to be a pro cyclist. Their video feature at the top is pretty funny, a must watch.

gearing up for the Tour

The sites are getting ready. Journos are dusting off their France guidebooks, stateside editors are reacquainting themselves with cycling. Lance, Inc. will make the seven-time winner the most covered cyclist in the history of cycling, if not the most covered athlete in the history of the world.

Watch the Giro d'Italia Live on the Web

What a world.  The guy who produced the "music video" Tour de France broadcasts on CBS sports in the 1980s runs Universal Sports Network online.  Because of his interest in cycling, he just inked a deal to carry it on the web.  Finally!  

Click Here to see the schedule.  Goes great with espresso. 

Chasing De Panne--A Tour of Flanders

Part 1

http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2009/04/chasing-de-panne-part-i.html

Part 2

http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2009/04/chasing-de-panne-part-ii.html

Part 3 coming up

JP

Off to Flanders

I fly to Flanders Sunday night.  Arrive Monday.  Watch a little De Panne, race a kermis in Brugge, ride the paths and pave and bergs, take in the bike racing museum and a little meeting with Freddy Maertens, and ride the Ronde Van Vlaanderen Wielertouriste Saturday April 4.  All 260k, just like the pros, only the day before.  And, with that in my legs, I eat, eat eat, get a good night's sleep and then do the rallye thing and course hop the Ronde itself.  

Look at doping from management perspective

The author of "What to do when you become the boss" argues that "teams" as opposed to "groups" are less likely to dope and operate better together.

Tour de Farce or Team de Force?
Management-Issues - London,England,UK
It's probably fair to say that most followers and even casual observers of
the recent Tour de France expected the race to throw up some drug cheats.

...

http://www.management-issues.com/2008/8/1/opinion/tour-de-farce-or-team-de-force.asp

Columbia Sportswear Company happy with Tour

There are a few amazing htings to know here. One is that Columbia
had already locked in their marketing budget for the year. Another
is that the Euopean division was opposed to it. Must have been an
incredible powerpoint demo.

Columbia says Tour de France sponsorship 'an unqualified success'
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
But in the first public accounting of the team's success in the recently
concluded Tour de France, Chief Executive Tim Boyle was anything but
ambivalent. ...
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1217476509289450.xml&coll=7

Sastre gets hero's welcome at hometown

As the Australian newspaper points out, "the only man to finish ahead of Australian Cadel Evans."

Hero's welcome for Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre
Melbourne Herald Sun - Australia
TOUR de France winner Carlos Sastre received a hero's welcome when he
returned to his home town today after becoming the third Spaniard in a row

to win the ...

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24105494-11088,00.html

Ricco calls himself a "false idol"

Riccardo Ricco never fails to entertain.  He calls himself a false idol, then says he should have tested positive for EPO every time at the Tour, so the anti-doping tests need to be recalibrated or re-analyzed.

Ricco admits to doping at Tour de France
Earthtimes (press release) - London,UK
... Wednesday in a hearing in front of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI)
which was called following his failed dope test at this year's Tour de

France. ...

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/222460,ricco-admits-to-doping-at-tour-de-france.html

Tour Viewership down on Versus

Not exactly a good sign, but not as bad as a complete drop-off either.  Not that I have any data on this, but I think more American cycling fans are appreciating the Tour for the Tour and not for Lance.

Tour de France viewership drown in US on Versus
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
Bas Czerwinski/The Associated PressTeam Columbia's Marcus Burghardt wins
the 18th stage of the Tour de France. Average viewership of the Tour on

Versus ...

http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/2008/07/tour_de_france_viewership_drop.html

Prof studies doping in cycling

UVM Professor Brian Gilley is starting to study why people dope in cycling.  He'll be looking through his anthropologist's lens, also as a former racer and current faculty advisor to the UVM cycling team.

UVM prof studies doping in pro cycling
BurlingtonFreePress.com - Burlington,VT,USA
It seems that during the 95th Tour de France, which concludes today, doping
has taken the leader's yellow jersey. The fact that riders continue to be

caught ...

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080727/NEWS02/807270311

Cervelo isn't going to amp production after Tour Win

More Canadian love for Cervelo.  This time we read they don't want to make a bigger brand thanks to Sastre's win. 

Winning Tour de France event was Canadian cycle-maker's dream ambition
The Canadian Press - TORONTO
TORONTO - Tired and wired after a party that lasted until 4 am, Phil
White had to make sure The Tour de France wasn't just a fantastic dream.

...

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5h7ZK64mPg7meTEtCgIcIQhi1KRGg

Writing to tell the world how little this columnist cares about the Tour

Got to admit, there's something ironic about a columnist who bothers to pen a column about how the Tour is irrelevant.  Maybe it's a plea for attention.   

JAMIE SAMUELSEN'S BLOG Without Lance Armstrong, Tour de France is ...
Detroit Free Press - United States
Has anything ever lost more relevance in sports so quickly than the Tour de
France? It was never relevant to start with. Lance was relevant, the Tour

wasn't ...

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080728/SPORTS18/80728054/1217/SPORTS

After finishing the Tour, it's time to Hike and mountain bike

That's what Adam Hansen is doing.  Not sure if the hunger is real, metaphoric, or both.

Hansen's Tour heroics trigger hunger
Cairns Post - Cairns,QLD,Australia
He admitted a gruelling year of racing which included the big three of the
Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Tour of Spain had taken a toll. ...

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2008/07/29/5844_local-sport-news.html

They danced the Conga in Sastre's Hometown

Isn't that what victory celebrations should be about?

Carlos Sastre´s hometown celebrates his Tour de France triumph
CCTV - Beijing,China
Hundreds erupted with cheers the minute his Tour de France victory became
official as the Spaniard led the final parade. Family, friends and elated

fans of ...

http://www.cctv.com/program/sportsscene/20080728/104065.shtml

The Tour invades a Mariner's Game

An ESPN Senior Writer watches the Tour on his trainer rides.  He also thought that by going to a baseball game, he wouldn't have someone inadvertetntly inform him of hte winner of the Alpe d'Huez stage before he watched it on Tivo.  Wrong.  And like most observers, this writer doesn't feel the race was "doping scarred."

Thoughts on the Tour de France while waiting for next year to come
ESPN - USA
By Jim Caple I love the Tour de France, but 3:30 am starts on the West
Coast are beyond me (hell, who am I fooling, 9:30 am starts are beyond me

-- sleeping ...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080728

60 Euros for inappropriate Urination

It is the Tour, and yet is the Tour getting all American on us?  Austin Murphy of Sports Illustrated gives his thumbs up for this year's race and runs down the highlights, including the above, to one unlucky rider.

INSIDE THE TOUR DE FRANCE
SI.com - USA
A dramatic, transformative Tour de France has been decided by one of the
narrowest margins in the 105-year history of the race. Cycling fans who've

been ...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/austin_murphy/07/28/wrap.up/

A First for Canada at The Tour

A Canadian Bike Wins!  Will Evans join the people of South Park and Blame Canada?

Tour de France champ rides to win on Canadian bike
CTV.ca - Canada
A Canadian didn't win the Tour de France, but a Canadian bike did. Carlos
Sastre won the prestigious event Sunday, becoming the third Spainish rider

to win ...

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080727/bike_canada_080727/20080727?hub=Canada

le Tour de France en Minature

Burned out on finishing up the tour blogging for hte moment.  Crashing after the Flame Rouge, cracking on the final mountain, if you will.  This animated film gave me a chuckle.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65a6i_minitour-un-grand-moment-de-tele-ma_fun

Clean Tour...and curtailment of 100m dash

From Brendan Gallagher of the Telegraph--"One or two media outlets have even curtailed their coverage of hte Tour this year because of the drugs issue.  Presumably, they will be relegating their reports of the men's 100 metres final in Beijin next month to 'sporting briefs'."

Carlos Sastre wins 'cleanest Tour de France for years'
Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom
By Brendan Gallagher in Paris Rafa Nadal and Wimbledon, Euro 2008 and now a
third consecutive winner of the Tour de France. King Juan Carlos should

probably ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/2463469/Carlos-Sastre-wins-'cleanest-Tour-de-France-for-yearsandrsquo.html

TdF Director dislikes predictions that come true, likes exhausted cyclists

This story from the AP will probably be the big talk in the sports pages.  It gives the Tour de France's side of the doping scandals of this year's Tour.  Expect columnists to rebut the Tour side of the story.  Tour director Christian Prudhomme's big quote, "I don't like people who can read tea leaves to predict a stage win." In regards to Riccardo Ricco predicting what stage teammate Leonardo Piepoli would win. 

Race director hails 2008 Tour de France as victory over doping cheats
International Herald Tribune - France
AP PARIS: Race director Christian Prudhomme hopes the 2008 Tour de France
will be remembered as a victory against doping cheats. The Tour, won by
Spaniard ..

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/27/sports/EU-CYC-Tour-de-France-Prudhomme

Should Women Race the Tour Alongside Men?

The author  of the piece below thinks so, though I wish she had much more knowledge with which to make her argument.  As it is, she doesn't prove her case.

The missing filles in the Tour de France
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
I WAS watching the Tour de France when a thought struck me: Where are the
women? I've now learned that women have their own "tour" called the Grande

Boucle. ...

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/the-missing-filles-in-the-tour-de-france-20080727-3lp5.html

Tour "color" courtesy of The Guardian

Lots of looking at the Tour, few gems from this writer.  The one surprise starts as follows: "While it is true that cycling fans are spoiled, it occurs today that few events are as anti-cycling as the Tour de France." 

Prato Nevoso, Sunday
guardian.co.uk - UK
Being part of the official Tour de France entourage is a privilege, but it
comes with certain responsibilities. We learned about one of them today.

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jul/27/tourdefrance.cycling2

"New" tour

This is the first of what will probably be a spate of articles on the Tour overcoming drugs scandals.  the author was a regular contributor to British cycling mags.

Tour de France: Old race finds new lease of life without the need ...
Independent - London,England,UK
By Alasdair Fotheringham This afternoon, just as they have done for the
past 23 years, the survivors of the Tour de France will speed up and down

the ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/tour-de-france-old-race-finds-new-lease-of-life-without-the-need-for-drugs-878336.html

"Bored by the Tour de France: No doping, no drama"

Joel Stein takes a satirical jab at the Tour for daring to clean up its mess.  So dry you might think he's serious, until he takes baseball to task.  Which is serious.

Bored by the Tour de France: No doping, no drama
Houston Chronicle - United States
By JOEL STEIN You might not have noticed that this is the lamest Tour de
France ever, probably because you already find guys racing bicycles to be

the ...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5908170.html

Business Week wonders about honesty in sport

There's really a question?  What is glaring here, and in other stories about the "clean" teams of Columbia and Garmin, is that the CSC-Saxo Bank team put an anti-doping program in place years earlier, and got little fanfare. The French cycling federation instituted longitudinal testing before that got even less love.  For their efforts, the French were portrayed as whiners who couldn't win at their own race.  Maybe it's just me, but French riders were amongst the most aggressive of the Tour, looking more competitive than they have in years. 

Tour de France Raises Fresh Questions About Honesty in Sports
BusinessWeek - USA
The 2008 Tour de France raises the question of whether this century will
witness the criminalization of professional athletes. As the Tour nears the

finish ...

http://businessweek.com/globalbiz/blog/europeinsight/archives/2008/07/tour_de_france.html

Love and Hate for Cavendish from Australia

Love his confidence.  Hate his quitting.  He denied his competitors the chance to beat him by dropping out.  Bad theatre in this columnist's eye.

A self-assured slice of naked sporting glory
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
And he said that by the end of the Giro d'Italia in May, the others -

that is, the world's leading road cyclists - knew he was the best. ...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/tourdefrance/a-selfassured-slice-of-naked-sporting-glory/2008/07/25/1216492737744.html

Saunier-Duval out, American Beef in

Saunier-Duval-Scott is now Scott-American Beef.  It's hard to imagine anything called American Beef sponsoring bike racing in Europe.  Why not American-style football, or basketball, or monster trucks.  But with el Toro everywhere in Spain, they've got a job ahead of them convincing the Euro public that American Beef is safe and good.

Saunier Duval becomes Scott-American Beef
SportsYA! - Spain
The team has also asked Unipublic, the organizers of the Vuelta a Espana,
for a period of 8 days to clarify definitively the events which led them to

leave ...

http://www.sportsya.com/english/news.php/Saunier_Duval_to_withdraw_sponsorship_following_Riccardo_Ricco_positive_doping.html?id_estruc=283&id=183284

Newseek Blogs about the Spectre of doping

It's not so much the inattention to fact, or the odd moral outrage, but the strange moments of hypocrisy that define this piece.  The closing statement is the kicker.  (Spoiler alert)  Here it is, "The Tour won't be itself until Lance Armstrong has a true successor--someone who wins and keeps yellow, and returns to defend it. Until then, the advances in drug screening can keep the show on the road, but the heart of the race will keep bleeding on the asphalt."  Won't be itself to whom?  If that is the case, then the problem lies with the public.

Can the Tour De France Outrun Doping?
Newsweek - USA
A year ago the Tour de France disintegrated before it left the Alps. The
presumptive winner, Michael Rasmussen, fired by his team for evading doping

...

http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/starr/archive/2008/07/24/can-the-tour-de-france-outrun-doping.aspx

A new British Team for the Tour next year

Lots of money talk.  They may get the money for this team, but so far, it's hard to see the riders joining.  The best of the Brits seem happily ensconced on other teams already.  Don't see Cavendish or Millar leaving their squads.

Brailsford reaches for Sky to promote dream of Tour de France team
guardian.co.uk - UK
Dave Brailsford's dream of a British professional team to ride the Tour de
France came a step closer yesterday with confirmation of a

multimillion-pound ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jul/25/tourdefrance.olympicgames2008

tainted love for the Tour

The author is a soccer writer and enraptured by the Tour, but is nagged.

Tainted love for the Tour de France
Asia Times Online - Kowloon,Hong Kong
By Jesse Fink For the past few weeks I have been writing about the Tour de
France for a television network in Australia. I am a complete novice when

it ...

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/JG26Aa01.html

Cadel Evans at Home

Since he hails from a faraway land, getting color on the bland-seeming Evans is next to impossible.  If he wins the Tour, this Australian article will serve as the basis for many profiles.

True grit: quirky kid's a tour de force
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
Photo: AP With Cadel Evans on the brink of becoming the first Australian to
win the road cyclist's holy grail, the Tour de France, even his own father

...

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/true-grit-quirky-kids-a-tour-de-force/2008/07/25/1216492717814.html

IHT gives love to Team Columbia

'bout time someone noticed that Columbia, formerly High Road, is winning on the new formula that isn't so new.  Since the Herald Tribune is owned by the NY Times, and Wyatt reports on the Tour for them, it wouldn't be a surprise if this story appeared there, too.

With new burnish, young team glows in Tour de France
International Herald Tribune - France
By Edward Wyatt SAINT-ÉTIENNE, France: Bob Stapleton brought his cycling
team to the Tour de France with a new team name, new uniforms, a new

sponsor, ...

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/24/sports/BIKE.php

See the Tour from a Chopper; pay through the nose

Looks like viewing stages from a private helicopter is the new high-end way to watch the Tour.  There appear to be no shortage of people lining up for the expensive treat.

One heli of a way to view the Tour de France
Melbourne Herald Sun - Australia
CADEL Evans is hard to pick out in the peloton from above, but watching the
Tour de France wind through the Alps from a helicopter takes your breath

away. ...

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24071576-11088,00.html

Danish Premier rides l'Alpe d'Huez

And his name is Rasmussen.  No relation to the doper Rasmussen.  Don't know why the cycling press didn't get this one.

Danish premier to test ride part of Tour de France stage
Bangkok Post - Thailand
Copenhagen (dpa) - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Ramussen was Thursday
set to test ride part of the tough mountain stage in the ongoing Tour de

France, ...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/sportsplus/sportsplus.php?id=129052

bloomberg news: TdF Health depends on sponsors

A no-brainer for anyone who knows cycling.  Possibly an eye-opener for those who don't.

Tour de France Health Depends on (Your Ad Here
Bloomberg - USA
The folks with the real power, the ones who can ensure that the Tour de
France isn'ta haven for cheats, live in the board rooms of companies like

...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_soshnick&sid=aHYwReH.PK0U

Courrier-Dunkerque Wins 2008 Tour de France

The sailing race.

Courrier Dunkerque winner of the 2008 Tour de France
Adonnante.com (Communiqué de presse) - France
Souben's crew was assured to win the race after the second leg of the
dayŠ so finished only twentieth in the last race of the Tour de France

Sailing Race! ...

http://www.adonnante.com/./article,10334,en,Courrier-Dunkerque-winner-of-the-2008-Tour-de-France

too many doping stories

I would have preferred to post fewer doping stories.  But the stories are getting written because athletes are getting caught.  I have no idea if this means that the testing is better or that these riders aren't too swift.  I'd like to believe the former. 

Doping is with us.  With us because whenever there's competition, people want an edge.  This isn't just sport, but life.  Enron, Halliburton, Keating, the list of cheats goes on and on.

I agree with the contention of a number of cyclists that the reason for the positive tests is that people have decided that, at least when it comes to bike racing in France, something should be done to rid the sport of doping.   

Doping exists in other sports.  I did a cursory search and found two articles about steroid use in football.  One is from 1986 and the NY Times.  The second from 1990 and Sports Illustrated.  Both have Bill Fralic as a quoted expert.  When you read the two stories, you'd think they were written at the same time.  As a story, it had little traction.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DEEDC173CF936A35752C1A960948260&sec=health&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1136686/1/index.htm 

Considering how many stories Sports Illustrated has run glorifying college football teams that bulk up, it's hard not to see them turning a blind eye in many situations.

But all of journalism might have helped advance doping as a means to success.  There are too many "win or else," "failure is not an option" titles and stories.  I guess getting busted for doping is the "or else," or is somehow not failing.

SI learns that CSC has nice guys on the team

The following Sports Illustrated report starts with a story of how the CSC team spoke at an event held in conjunction with the Tour of California.  Actually, the most interesting thing about this story is that even though it is a short, blog-style entry, they have "story highlights" at hte top for those who don't like to read.

INSIDE THE TOUR DE FRANCE
SI.com - USA
Davis Phinney, the ex-Tour de France stage winner with whom I happened to
be watching today's stage, recalled being stiffed on the eve of the Tour of

...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/austin_murphy/07/23/tour.de.france/

NPR's Morning Edition gives their standard treatment to Embrun

This is the classic NPR "small story."  The intimate look at something that goes alongside the big story, but deserves investigation.  It is worthy because it's illustrative of the phenomenon as a whole.  Listen in, it's only three and a half minutes long.

Tour De France Shines Spotlight On Tiny Village
NPR - USA
by Anita Elash Morning Edition, July 23, 2008 · For cycling fans, the Tour
de France is both a magnificent challenge and a chance to get to know some

new ...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92809603

Oneonta Daily Star gives praise to American Teams at Tour

The idea of "American exceptionalism" lives on in "The Newspaper for the Heartland of New York."  Here, it's not foreign policy but team policy.  Pity that team CSC had an anti-doping program first (but it's an American sponsor! yippee!). 

US teams doing their part to clean up Tour de France
Oneonta Daily Star - Oneonta,NY,USA
It is the month of the Tour de France, a three-week cycling event held for
almost a century. The Tour has become more popular over the years because

of ...

http://www.thedailystar.com/localsports/local_story_205040012.html

Doping positives being classified as negatives

The guy behind CSC and Astana's drug testing programs thinks many drug positives are being classed as negatives, letting many cheats compete--and this is across all sport.

Legalities 'lag behind doping work'

BBC News

by Rasmus Damsgaard, MD, PhD

I am aware of a handful of athletes with urine samples that contain artificial EPO (erythropoietin).  Nevertheless, these samples have been declared "negative" - the athletes have not even been accused and maybe never will...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7517332.stm

Tour viewership up thanks to close race

Maybe clean races are more exciting.  An extra 200,000 Frenchmen are tuning into the Tour every day.

Tour de France: Vintage race of delicate power shifts leaves fans ...
Independent - London,England,UK
By Alasdair Fotheringham At 95 years old and counting, you would have
thought a venerable sporting institution like the Tour de France would have

seen it ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/tour-de-france-vintage-race-of-delicate-power-shifts-leaves-fans-enthralled-874804.html

"Clean" teams get ink from Christian Science Monitor

Guess others are starting to notice, too...

'Clean' squads in the hunt at Tour de France
Christian Science Monitor - Boston,MA,USA
New York - Whatever hope the storied Tour de France had of avoiding doping
scandals this year has evaporated, with positive drug tests precipitating

the ...

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0723/p03s07-woeu.html

AP says that acting guilty cost Ricco

According to AFLD, the French anti-doping agency, Riccardo Ricco tried to flee from testing officials after being notified he'd be tested on stage four.  That caused the AFLD to decide to test him every day.  Not that they needed to, as stage four was the test that counted.

Riccò tried to duck anti-doping officials during Tour de France
International Herald Tribune - France
AP JAUSIERS, France: Riccardo Riccò, a two-stage winner of the Tour de
France before being expelled for testing positive for the blood-booster

EPO, ...

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/22/sports/22ricco.php

FindingDulcinea gives reference material on doping

Never seen this site before.  They say their mission "is to bring users the best information on the Web for any topic, employing human insight and methodical review."  findingDulcinea apsires to be the "librarian of the internet age."

Tour de France Again Marred by Doping
findingDulcinea - New York,New York,USA
by Denis Cummings With Riccardo Ricco becoming the third rider to test
positive for a banned drug, the Tour de France has once again become

overshadowed by ...

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/sports/July-08/Tour-de-France-Again-Marred-by-Doping.html

A Free Demo of Pro Cycling Manager

Imagine yourself as the DS of the Euskatel team.  Download the demo and you can live the dream.

Pro Cycling Manager - Tour de France 2008 Demo
Gamers Hell - London,England,UK
Focus Home Interactive has released a playable demo for Pro Cycling Manager
- Tour de France 2008, allowing you to try out the PC version of this game

...

http://www.gamershell.com/news_55904.html

Schleck's team ethos

The British Press seems to love stirring the pot.  The story below has an incendiary title, a title the story doesn't bear out.

Tour de France: Schleck under fire from own manager for lack of ...
Independent - London,England,UK
By Alasdair Fotheringham, with the Tour Six days from Paris, and the
balance of power in the 2008 Tour de France could hardly be more delicate,

...

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/tour-de-france-schleck-under-fire-from-own-manager-for-lack-of-conviction-873788.html

Pakistan Times Mangles Language and Names

"Ferrari" won stage 14?  Not even phonetic.  And this from the paper's wire service.  Hope no other outlet uses their Tour coverage.

Spain's Ferrari wins stage 14 of Tour De France
Pakistan Times - Islamabad,Pakistan
Popularly known Tour De France Cycle Race's 14th stage win went to Oscar
Ferrari, who covered 194.5 kilometers distance in 4 hours 13 minutes and 8

seconds. ...

http://www.pakistantimes.net/2008/07/21/top16.htm

Is the Tour disintegrating?

Der Spiegel thinks so. And BusinessWeek thought enough of hte idea to translate and reprint the article.

The Tour de France Is DisIntegrating
BusinessWeek - USA
The doping ban on Italian rider Riccardo Ricco puts another huge dent in
the hopes of the Tour de France's organizers to have a clean, drug-free

race. ...

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jul2008/gb20080721_060165.htm?chan=globalbiz_europe+index+page_top+stories

What ever happened to Stijn Devolder

from pre-race favorite to forgotten man.  Even before he dropped out.

Syklingens Verden - Norway
One day after his withdrawal from the race on the Col de l'Agnel, Stijn

Devolder summed up his experience in this year's Tour de France. ...

http://www.syklingensverden.com/baglercms.php?articleID=18217&catID=-1

Italian Olympic Committee drug tests Schleck

CONI is getting in on the act.  Seems like a good thing.

Italian Olympic Committee performs surprise drug test on new Tour ...
International Herald Tribune - France
AP CUNEO, Italy: The Italian Olympic Committee performed surprise doping
tests on new Tour de France leader Frank Schleck and his CSC team after
Sunday's ...
 
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/21/sports/EU-CYC-Tour-de-France-Doping-Tests.php

The downs and ups of Christan Vande Velde

Kimmage says CVV beat Armstrong at a training camp, but the team was afraid to tell Armstrong.  And there's more. Much more.  Kimmage seems to lack an appreciation for grey areas.  Either his stories are all positive or all negative.  This is the former.

Christian Vande Velde: Christian soldier

Sunday Times - UK

by Paul Kimmage

"Everybody cheats. I just didn't know"

Dave (Dennis Christopher) in the film Breaking Away...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/cycling/article4364306.ece

online betting guide still picking Evans

What's a measly eight seconds?

Evans Still Tour De France Favourite Despite Sunday Blip
OLBG Betting News - Bristol,Bristol,UK
Silence-Lotto rider Cadel Evans remains the favourite to win the 2008 Tour

de France despite losing the Yellow Jersey yesterday. ...

http://www.online-betting-guide.co.uk/news/18692489/Evans+still+Tour+de+France+favourite+despite+Sunday+blip.html

Bloomberg News says Rider Pay is Down

They estimate some riders are getting as little as 1.38 Euro per mile pedaled at the Tour.  And the doping scandals keep dragging it down.  Insert your own joke here.

Tour de France Drug Scandals Cut Rider Pay as Sponsors Pull Out
Bloomberg - USA
Doping scandals have reduced the salaries of Tour de France riders by as
much as one-third since he retired last year. Some will earn as little as
30000 ...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aDtj96LsR3P0&refer=europe>

South African Paper says Tour Losing Credibility

This columnist says his pharmicist should cover the tour...

Tour de Farce losing credibility rapidly...
Independent Online - Cape Town,South Africa
With the Tour de France running to its usual form and the Olympics on the
way I'm going to need someone who knows his THG from his HGH and his EPO.

...

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art_id=vn20080719090840678C770777

Boston Globe announces TdF Breakfast at Redbones

If you happen to be in Boston on Tuesday....

A Tour de France breakfast at Somerville restaurant
Boston Globe - United States
At its Tour de France breakfast onTuesday, you can watch athletes perform
leg-busting feats while hard-core bike fans provide commentary over eggs.

...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/07/20/a_tour_de_france_breakfast_at_somerville_restaurant

The Oregonian Chronicles the Ricco Fallout

        Portland-based cyclewear company Castelli has been burned by the Riccardo Ricco doping bust and the Saunier-Duval team's subsequent withdrawl.  Maybe if riders read this, they'd start thinking about their sponsors.

Castelli-sponsored team withdraws from Tour de France
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
Cycling apparel maker Castelli celebrated Riccardo Ricco's Tour de France
victories earlier this week by hanging a banner outside its US headquarters

in ...

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1216437911181720.xml&coll=7

then again, maybe not.

SciAm gets doping wrong

They call the column 60-Second Science.  More like 60-Second research.  Sloppy.  I'm sure you'll spot the errors.

Italian cyclist cut from Tour de France for doping
Scientific American - USA
Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco today was pulled from the Tour de France
after he tested positive for the banned substance EPO, a hormone that

boosts oxygen ...

http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=italian-cyclist-cut-from-tour-de-fr-2008-07-18

The Tour de France is coming to...Alpe d'Huez

Surprised?  Of course not.  But The Alpedhueznet site takes it like no one has seen the Tour before.  But since it's an English-language site about skiing, maybe not.

Tour de France is coming! Landis in 2006
AlpedHueznet.com - Alpe d'Huez,Isere,France
The 95th edition of the Tour de France is in full swing and heading towards
Alpe d'Huez. Stage 17 of the legendary race is due to finish in resort

next ...

http://www.alpedhueznet.com/whats_new_article.php?id_whats_new=3638&id_back=1

Sporting News delivers the Tour Light

Maybe this is how the Tour should be delivered.  Maybe it's how all sports should be delivered.  This appears to be the thing that amazes the reporter the most, "I didn't catch his name, but a rider actually split his bike in two hitting a road sign in a traffic island. Naturally, despite somersaulting off the bike and onto asphalt, he got up, grabbed a new bike, and finished the stage without complaint."

Your Stage 12 Tour de France Update
SportingNews.com - USA
First, to get this all out of the way again: the Tour de France still
exists. Thank you, and proceed to the rest of the post. Oh, just your

leisurely stage ...

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/8862/your_stage_12_tour_de_france_update

Robbie Hunter Blasts Teammate for Doping

Guess Duenas won't be sending him a holiday card this year.  Hunter's comments are rare; few people are willing to criticize a teammate, even a soon-to-be ex-teammate who will probably never race pro again.  Use the link in the article to get Robbie's comments on his blog.  They're even more unusual.

Hunter blasts Tour de France cheats
The Times - Johannesburg,Gauteng,South Africa
South African sprinter Robbie Hunter has lashed out at his Spanish teammate
Moises Duenas, who was booted out of the Tour de France after testing

positive ...

http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=804516

Web in France Magazine highlights doping

Didn't know there was an "English-language online magazine about France, for Anglophones who love French travel, culture and French news."  Striking that this was their first TdF article of the year.  The last article they did, last year, was on Rasmussen doping.

Tour de France loses a third leading cyclist to drug charges
Web in France Magazine - Miami,USA
On the Tour de France, gendarmes are becoming almost as numerous as
competitors. An Italian rider who has already won two stages this year,

Riccardo Riccò ...

http://www.webinfrance.com/tour-de-france-loses-third-leading-cyclist-to-drug-charges-718.html

CVV checks in with the Tribune

Christian Vande Velde continues contributing to his hometown paper.  He gives a few nice illustrations of what riding the Tour is like.  My favorite may be "But passing out on the massage table and waking up in a pool of drool is the sign of a good nap."

Tour de France diary: Surviving the grind all mental
Chicago Tribune - United States
By Christian Vande Velde | Special to the Chicago Tribune NARBONNE, France
- Christian Vande Velde is still just 38 seconds off the pace after Stage

12; ...

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/international/cs-080717-christian-vande-velde-tour-de-france,1,5197929.story

Finally! Someone asks Allen Lim about Floyd

Many would say this takes bravery.  The American press hasn't done it.  But when the person is Paul Kimmage, you realize he's almost hard-wired to ask.  We should be glad he did.  In it, we also learn that Lim was a pretty good bike racer himself.

Allen Lim rides the slipstream

Times Online- Paul Kimmage

It is almost two years since the American Floyd Landis soared clear of the pack to win the 17th stage of the Tour de France. And it is almost two years since I first set eyes on Allen Lim. We were both in Morzine that afternoon and watched the final kilometres of Floyd's epic ride from the same vantage point...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/paul_kimmage/article4322625.ece

AFP on Ricco Positive Test

Good to see the story that most other MSM outlets will be using.  One thing that comes up and hasn't been reported in the cycling press, is that Ricco has a high hematocrit reading.  He might be one of those riders who gets special dispensation from the UCI.

Ricco fails drugs test on Tour de France
AFP -
So for the sake of our team and the Tour de France we have made this
decision. We can't act as though nothing has happened, we have to accept

the reality. ...

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gmZR3tBs4K57qFMoEQMAIn5HD7VQ

LA Times: doing the tour/olympics double

This is just a blurb in the LA Times. Wonder why they bothered.
Yes, it's difficult to do the double, but others have done it in the
past. There's also a hint that this might be the end of Hincapie's
career

Tour de France/Olympics double
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
Cyclists are struggling with that decision during these three weeks of the
Tour de France. While the Tour is the biggest race of the year, especially
for ...
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/07/tour-de-franceo.html

Tour de France Should inspire the use of...bicycles

Yes, it's obvious.  But many don't see the connection.  The source is a Korea-based Citizen Journalism site.

After Oil - Bicycles

OhMy News--Korea

Turn on the Tour de France and let the inspiration (and perspiration) begin

by Nicholas Van Der Leek

"Modern bicycles, based on technological innovations from the late 19th century, remain the most efficient means of human transportation ever invented." --William P. Ancker  It is not a gimmick, it is not radical, but it also is not what most people have in mind when they think of "alternative energy." Yet it should be....

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=7&no=383069&rel_no=1

CVV checks in with the Chicago Tribune

And flacks some burrito action.

TOUR DE FRANCE JOURNAL
Chicago Tribune - United States
By Christian Vande Velde | Special to the Chicago Tribune After 10 stages
and more than 46 hours of racing, Lemont cyclist Christian Vande Velde
enjoyed a ...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/olympics/cs-16-vandevelde-tourjul16,0,3503732.story>

Clothing Company jumps on V bandwagon

Castelli cycling clothing's majority owner is in Portland, Oregon.  Since they sponsor Saunier-Duval, they've been hanging banners out the company window.

Castelli's turn to celebrate Tour de France win
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
... anchored by water bottles, first appeared Monday at Castelli's US
headquarters not long after Ricco's team took the lead in the Tour de

France. ...

http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/2008/07/castellis_turn_to_celebrate_to.html

Chris Carmichael on the mafia-racing link

Never thought of Carmichael as a writer, but he, or his ghost, turned in this nugget: "A mountain stage is like a knife fightŠ close-contact, personal, and brutal."

Rest Day: Inside the Tour de France Turf War
Examiner.com - USA
The Discovery Channel team, and the US Postal team that preceded it, was
the dominant family at the Tour de France for seven years from 1999-2005,
...

http://www.examiner.com/x-439-Tour-De-France-Examiner~y2008m7d15-Rest-Day-Inside-the-Tour-de-France-Turf-War

Roberto Heras, doper, linked to Moises Duenas, doper?

This might be a stretch, but they both come from the same Spanish town.  Don't know why the bloomberg reporter mentioned it, but it's a new twist.

Second Tour de France Rider Tests Positive for EPO (Update1)
Bloomberg - USA
By Alex Duff July 16 (Bloomberg) -- Spanish rider Moises Duenas was
withdrawn from the Tour de France by his team after testing positive for

banned drug ...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aCZcTR.tpOhg&refer=europe

The Tour de France is 2/3 Over

THat is the sailing TdF is 2/3 over.

Tour De France Sailing Race
ScubaWeb - Italy
From the Channel to the Atlantic Ocean, the twenty-seven competitors of the
Tour de France Sailing Race have already sailed two thirds of their trip.

...

http://www.nautica.it/service/notizie.htm?2008-07-247

Cadel Evans Blog?

This blog is so short and so lacking insight it's hard to believe they even contacted Cadel for this thing.  It's as if they cut and pasted random sentences from TV interviews. 

Cadel Evans:The target is the Maillot Jaune in Paris

15 July 2008 | 9:53

Ever wondered what it's like to be the Tour de France favourite? Well Silence Lotto's Australian star Cadel Evans offers SBS his daily thoughts on his journey to Paris - now wearing the famous overall race leader's yellow jersey as the great race takes a break after the stage from Pau to Hautacam.

http://tdf.sbs.com.au/tdf2008/blog/index/b/22

and

http://tdf.sbs.com.au/tdf2008/blog/article/a/810/h/The-target-is-the-Maillot-Jaune-in-Paris

Australia's SBS picks Menchov and Sastre

Here's an odd report from Australias SBS.  They broadcast the Tour, but aren't giving any special props to their homeboy leading the race. 

Rest day wrap: Spaniards plot the Maillot Jaune's demise
Special Broadcasting Service - Australia
The riders are no doubt enjoying the first of two regulation rest days of
the Tour de France, a special time that in the past was spent filling up

blood ...

http://www.sbs.com.au/article/108095/rest-day-wrap-spaniards-plot-the-maillot-jaunes-demise

Eurosport publishes fabulist epistles

Eurosport tries spicing up their Tour coverage by imagining the letters top Tour riders are sending home--that is if they're actually putting pen to paper, affixing a stamp and sending it via post.  As with all comedy, this humor isn't for everyone.

Tour de France - Blazin' Saddles: Wish you were here
Yahoo! Eurosport - London,UK
Finally I win a stage on the Tour de France. I thought this year, no,
because Ricco is attacking all the time, but Cobo and me, we tell him to

let us go ...

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/16072008/58/tour-de-france-blazin-saddles-wish.html

Bangkok Post: Rasmussion smarting from TdF Eviction

Seems like the cycing world has already forgotten.

Danish cyclist Rasmussen still hurt over Tour de France eviction
Bangkok Post - Thailand
Copenhagen (dpa) - Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen, who was thrown out of
the 2007 Tour de France, has not seen any of the broadcasts from this

year's race ...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/sportsplus/sportsplus.php?id=128876

Salmon logic: Spectate the Descents

Finally! someone offers some contrary wisdom.  Short version, spectate on the fastest part of the descents.

Tour de France: Tourmalet descent excites
Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom
By Brendan Gallagher I have never quite understood the obsession with
packing the uphill slopes of the great mountain climbs on the Tour de

France. ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2008/07/15/sogall115.xml

Christian Vande Velde dreams of Chicago while Descending the Aspin

Going home is in his dreams, even as he climbs the standings.

TOUR DE FRANCE JOURNAL
Chicago Tribune - United States
By Christian Vande Velde | Special to the Chicago Tribune Riccardo Ricco
calls the mountains "my turf." The Italian showed his strength in the
Pyrenees on ...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-14-tourjul14,0,5509417.story

Le Burrito goes to Le Tour

Nothing like a fast food burrito on a Tour rest day.  Maybe LeMond, a famous lover of Mex, is at the Tour to eat some Chipotle...

Tour de France gets it to go
Denver Post - Denver,CO,USA
Ells will be in France on Tuesday to feed his Tour de France team. (Mark
Lennihan, Associated Press file photo ) Team Garmin-Chipotle riders will

get a ...

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_9871143

Brit Hoban looks forward to seeing his record broken

Barry Hoban, a Briton who won six stages at the Tour over his professional career, is looking forward to seeing Mark Cavendish break his stage win record.  The rare retired athlete who seems excited at the prospect of seeing his record eclipsed.

Mark Cavendish can break my Tour de France record, predicts Barry ...
Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom
By Brendan Gallagher "He is a phenomenal young rider, a pure sprinter who
is now clearly the quickest finisher in the world," says Hoban, who twice

won two ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2008/07/14/sogall114.xml

Carmichael says Team Columbia Success Best answer to Doping Scandals

Carmichael is right. Mostly. But it seems odd. Here's a
guy whose company works with many professional athletes and has been
for years. He's giving others praise for documenting that their
riders are clean. Maybe it's just me, but why didn't Carmichael or
his company think of that?

Stage 8: Team Columbia Provides Tour de France Peloton's Best ...
Examiner.com - USA
With the first rider removed from the 2008 Tour de France yesterday for
failing a test for the red-blood-cell-boosting drug EPO, the integrity of
every ...
http://www.examiner.com/x-439-Tour-De-France-Examiner~y2008m7d12-Stage-8-Team-Columbia-Provides-Tour-de-France-Pelotons-Best-Reply-to-Doping-Scandal

The Denver Post goes for a ride in the Garmin team car

While this is kind of standard-fare from the non-cycling press, every Tour fan should probably read one team car article a year.  It's when the bored journos cover Didi Senft and the moustache guy taht you know they're bored.

tour de france Chasing the peloton at 70 mph
Denver Post - Denver,CO,USA
says Matt White, Team Garmin-Chipotle's lead driver and strategist in the
Tour de France. White slams his foot halfway through the floorboard and

hits 50 ...

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9864246