2012 Tour de France will Start with Time Trial in Belgium
By AP, with additional commentary by Roadcycling.com Nov 18, 2010 - 8:56:43 AM
The 2012 Tour de France will spend its first three days in eastern Belgium, starting with a time trial along the river Meuse in Liege.
It will be the second time in eight years that the Tour starts in Liege. After the prologue, the first stage will be a hilly trek through the verdant Ardennes region, an early opportunity for breakaways in the three-week event.
The 120-mile first stage will start from Liege and make a big loop in eastern Belgium before finishing in Seraing. The second stage will leave from the Liege suburb of Vise, but organizers are unsure if the race will then head into the Netherlands, Germany or Luxembourg, or head straight into France.
The 2011 Tour de France starts in France, in the western Vendee region.
2012 Tour de France will Start with Time Trial in Belgium
By AP, with additional commentary by Roadcycling.com Nov 18, 2010 - 8:56:43 AM
The 2012 Tour de France will spend its first three days in eastern Belgium, starting with a time trial along the river Meuse in Liege.
It will be the second time in eight years that the Tour starts in Liege. After the prologue, the first stage will be a hilly trek through the verdant Ardennes region, an early opportunity for breakaways in the three-week event.
The 120-mile first stage will start from Liege and make a big loop in eastern Belgium before finishing in Seraing. The second stage will leave from the Liege suburb of Vise, but organizers are unsure if the race will then head into the Netherlands, Germany or Luxembourg, or head straight into France.
The 2011 Tour de France starts in France, in the western Vendee region.
Lance Armstrong Doping Investigators Travel to France
By AP, with additional commentary by Roadcycling.com Nov 16, 2010 - 8:58:32 AM
A USA investigation into allegations of doping in professional cycling has shifted its focus to France, and talks are scheduled with the French agency that has stored some of Lance Armstrong's urine samples.
The agency plans to share everything it knows with the Americans, a French official said. The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the meeting with France's anti-doping agency, which he said is scheduled for this week.
The official said the American delegation is in France and he believes it is comprised of U.S. Food and Drug Administration Agent Jeff Novitzky, as well as U.S.A. federal prosecutor Doug Miller and U.S.A. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart.
Novitzky was booked Tuesday into a hotel in the south-central French city of Lyon, headquarters of the international police agency Interpol. Miller had also been booked in at the same hotel but then canceled the reservation.
Calls to Tygart's cell phone went unanswered Tuesday morning. In a recorded message, Tygart said he was out of the office on business.
The official told the AP that France's anti-doping agency would share everything it knows and has with U.S. investigators and is prepared to answer all questions.
The former head of the French agency, Pierre Bordry, previously promised to hand over Armstrong's samples from the 1999 Tour de France to Novitzky if the agent made an official request. Bordry announced his resignation this September after tussling with French authorities over the budget for the doping agency, known by its French initials AFLD.
The French official said he doesn't know whether U.S. investigators have formally requested the samples.
The French sports daily L'Equipe reported in 2005 that Armstrong's samples from 1999 contained traces of the banned performance-enhancer EPO.
An investigator mandated by cycling's international governing body, the UCI, later cleared Armstrong. The seven-time Tour de France winner has repeatedly denied allegations that he took performance-enhancing drugs.
U.S. federal prosecutors have been taking a look at cheating in cycling for months, aided by Novitzky, who played a key role in the BALCO scandal that implicated athletes such as Barry Bonds and Marion Jones and opened a window into doping methods.
Lance Armstrong became a more important figure in the probe this spring after disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 title after failing a doping test, dropped long-standing denials and acknowledged he used performance-enhancing drugs. In doing so, he accused Armstrong and others of systematic drug use.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has denied proposing that Tour de France riders be tested in the middle of the night.
A report issued by WADA observers last month said cycling's governing body should be more aggressive when it conducts tests and that riders should be tested at night.
That prompted criticism from Pascal Chanteur, the head of the French professional cyclists union (UNCP).
Chanteur said riders would be treated like "guinea pigs" if doping controls were carried out in early morning hours.
But WADA Director General David Howman told L'Equipe newspaper that WADA observers sent to the Tour this year only recommended "to test the riders more often with controls early in the morning or late at night, at less predictable times, and not in the middle of the night as the UNCP claims."
By AP and Roadcycling.com Oct 29, 2010 - 3:06:44 PM
Earlier today Tour de France organizer A.S.O. said the 2012 Tour de France Grand Tour will start from the Belgian city of Liege.
Amaury Sport Organisation made the announcement without giving further details, such as the start date or revealing part of the rest of the route for the 2012 Tour.
Cycling's premier event has been keen to host its 'Grand Depart' in different countries every other year. The 2007 Tour de France started in London and the 2010 event began in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.
Drug testing ran smoothly at this year's Tour de France but the International Cycling Union (UCI) should consider introducing night checks, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said.
WADA sent observers to the Tour in July to assess anti-doping procedures as Alberto Contador recorded his third win in the race.
The Spaniard later failed a test for the banned agent clenbuterol. He denied doping and blamed the result on contaminated meat.
"It is rare to see an international federation conduct such a comprehensive anti-doping programme," WADA said in a report.
"The team at the UCI should be congratulated on both their execution of the programme and their willingness to adapt, modify and try new approaches throughout this Tour."
However, the Independent Observer (IO) Team made a few recommendations to the UCI governing body including a suggestion that riders be tested at night.
The report said the UCI should "seriously consider removing the informal knowledge and comfort all riders have in knowing they will not be tested in the middle of the night".
WADA also said the UCI should be responsible for sanctioning cheats, instead of having to go through the national federations.
"It is the opinion of the IO Team that for such a high profile event in the sport of cycling, the UCI should be the default results management authority rather than delegating any sanctioning process to the national federation of the individual charged, as is the current practice," the report said.
"This would ensure greater consistency in decision making and facilitate the speedy resolution of such results."
Team RadioShack Fined for Tour de France Black Jersey Stunt
By AP and Roadcycling.com Oct 29, 2010 - 2:58:33 PM
Lance Armstrong, his RadioShack teammates and team manager Johan Bruyneel were fined by cycling's governing body Friday because the riders wore unauthorized jerseys on the final stage of this year's Tour de France.
The International Cycling Union fined Armstrong and his teammates $2,540 each for wearing black jerseys with "28" on the back to support the Texan's Livestrong Foundation.
RadioShack did not ask for permission to change its uniform during the July stage and a dispute with race officials delayed the start by 20 minutes while the riders changed into approved jerseys.
Bruyneel was fined $10,167 and suspended for two months next season. The UCI ruled he insulted race officials by writing a message on Twitter that they "don't need brains." Bruyneel soon removed the post and apologized.
Bruyneel is suspended for February and March, meaning he can work with Armstrong during the Tour Down Under from Jan. 16-23, scheduled to be the seven-time Tour winner's farewell professional race.
RadioShack's sporting directors at the Tour were each fined $5,084 Swiss francs. The "28" on the jersey was chosen to honor 28 million people fighting cancer, one of the themes Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation focuses on.
In a separate hearing, the UCI gave Quick Step rider Carlos Barredo a two-month suspension for damaging cycling's image.
Barredo fought with race rival Rui Costa and threatened to hit him with a wheel after the two clashed during the sixth stage.
The 29-year-old Spaniard will serve his ban in January and February after joining the Rabobank team.
By AP and Roadcycling.com Oct 29, 2010 - 3:06:44 PM
Earlier today Tour de France organizer A.S.O. said the 2012 Tour de France Grand Tour will start from the Belgian city of Liege.
Amaury Sport Organisation made the announcement without giving further details, such as the start date or revealing part of the rest of the route for the 2012 Tour.
Cycling's premier event has been keen to host its 'Grand Depart' in different countries every other year. The 2007 Tour de France started in London and the 2010 event began in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.
Team RadioShack fined for Tower of France Black Jersey Stunt
By AP and Roadcycling.com October 29, 2010 - 2: 58: 33 PM
Lance Armstrong, his teammates RadioShack and team manager Johan Bruyneel has been fined by cycling body Friday because the riders wearing jackets not permitted on the final stage of tour de France this year.
The International Cycling Union fined Armstrong and his teammates lifejackets $2,540 each wearing black with "28" on the back support Livestrong Foundation of Texas.
RadioShack has not requested permission to modify its uniform during the phase of July and a conflict with the representatives of the race delayed by 20 minutes early, then runners turned into approved lifejackets.
Bruyneel has been fined $ 10,167 and suspended for two months season next .the ' UCI decided that he insulted the race officials in drafting a message on Twitter that they "unnecessary brains."Bruyneel soon deleted post and apologized.
Bruyneel is suspended for February and March, which means that it can work with Armstrong during the Tour Down Under January 16 - 23, should be farewell race professional the seven times tour winner.
Sports directors of RadioShack tower were each $5,084 fined CHF suisses.Le "28" on the Jersey was chosen in honour of 28 million people fight cancer, one of the themes Armstrong Livestrong Foundation focuses on.
To a separate hearing, UCI has Quick Step rider Carlos Barredo suspended for two months for damaging the image of cycling.
Barredo had been beaten with rival race Rui Costa and threatened to hit with a wheel after the two clashed during of the sixth step.
29-Year-old Spanish will serve its ban in January and February after joining the Rabobank team.
Detection was gently to France tour this year, but the Union cycliste International (UCI) should consider introducing checks of the night, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has said.
The WADA sent observers to the tour in July for evaluating anti-doping procedures such as Alberto Contador has registered his third victory in the race.
Later, the Spanish failed a test for Clenbuterol agent interdites.Il refused to doping and criticized the result on spoiled meat.
"It is rare to see an International Federation to carry out such a complete anti-doping program", the WADA said in a report.
"The UCI team should be congratulated on their implementation of the programme and their willingness to adapt, modify and try new approaches to this tour."
However, the team of independent observers (IOS) made some recommendations to UCI governing bodies, including a suggestion that riders be tested during the night.
The report said the UCI "seriously consider removing the informal knowledge and comfort all riders have knowing that they will not be tested in the middle of the night".
The AMA has also stated that the UCI should be responsible for punishing cheaters, instead of having to go through the national federations.
"It is the opinion of the team that such well-known in the sport of cycling, the UCI event should be results management authority by default rather than delegating any process of enforcement of the National Federation of the individual accused, as is current practice," says the report.
"This to ensure greater consistency in decision-making and facilitate the rapid resolution of such results.
By AP and Roadcycling.com 29 October 2010-3: 06: 44 PM
Earlier today, organiser of the tour de France A.S.O. said that tower of France Grand Tour of 2012 will begin in the Belgian city of Liège.
Amaury Sport Organisation made this announcement without giving further details, such as the date of beginning or revealing part of the rest of the road tour of 2012.
First event bike was willing to accept his "great start" in the various countries every two younger.lfamily 2007 France Tour in London and the 2010 event started in the Dutch town of port of Rotterdam.
