Floyd Landis Back, Signs with OUCH presented by Maxxis

Floyd Landis is coming back to professional cycling to race with the domestic OUCH presented by Maxxis team, formerly Health Net. The OUCH sponsorship (a sports medicine center in California) will look to showcase Landis as an example of someone who can lead a full and healthy life with a hip transplant. Whether Landis will be able to garner the same results that he did before his suspension for doping is still unclear.

During his suspension, Landis often remarked that he was done with cycling. Approached by a fan at the Tour of California in 2008, Landis had some quirky remarks of pictures shown to him from his Phonak days. "Oh, this is when I was a bike rider!", Landis remarked at seeing pictures of himself from his Phonak days. These statements, as well as a general loss of fitness, made it seem as though the former stage race threat wasn't coming back.

But after all has been said and done, Landis will in fact return, and he'll be a part of a pwerful domestic OUCH lineup that boasts reigning NRC champion Rory Sutherland and reigning US cyclocross champ Tim Johnson. Although Landis has not announced his schedule for 2009, all signs point to a February start at the Tour of California as his comeback race. He is eligible to begin racing again January 30, 2009.

If Landis does choose California as his comabck race, he will be pitted against arch rival Lance Armstrong, who is also on the comeback track. There is little love lost between Armstrong and Landis, despite the fact that Landis helped Armtrong to two of his seven Tour de France wins. Maybe now that a few years have passed, Landis and Armstrong will be able to bury the hatchet. If not though, their spat could provide ample fodder for the media at the Tour of California as a renewal of a rivalry.

Like many riders who have been suspended, Landis will face the harsh glare of disgruntled fans and media in his comeback attempt. But it should not be forgotton that Landis has every right to compete again, after having served his full two year suspension. Now, the trick for landis will be to get back to his winning ways as soon as possible, especially considering that he is 32 and has only several years left to re-build his tainted image.

Oscar Sevilla Stays with Rock Racing: New Spanish Armada?

Oscar Sevilla ended much speculation today with news that he will ride for Michael Ball's Rock Racing team for the next two years. Sevilla made it clear that he enjoys racing for the Rock team, and is looking forward to a heavier European schedule in 2009. He also hasn't ruled out an appearance at the Vuelta.

With Sevilla's decision to remain in the venom green colors of Rock, he completes the new "Spanish Armada" that has formed on the Rock team. In addition to Sevilla, both Francesco Mancebo and José Enrique Gutierrez are signed for 2009. Mancebo and Gutierrez, like Sevilla, were heavily implicated in Operacion Puerto, but only Gutierrez has served a suspension for his doping practices, in a seperate occurance for blood doping while racing for the Phonak cycling team.

Now that the 32 year old Sevilla is re-signed, the Rock team can begin to think about contending in more big time stage races. First up likely will be the 2009 Tour of California. Besides the three Spaniards, the Rock team will also be able to bring Santiago Botero, and reigning US pro champ Tyler Hamilton to the nine day stage race with an eye on the overall. Indeed, the Rock outfit will be one of the most powerful entered in this year's Tour of California, and will be in with a realistic chance at the overall win, especially considering that the final stage features a summit finish.

With the new Spanish signing there is sure to come much criticism from the cycling world, as Rock team owner Michael Ball has once again chosen to sign riders that are under suspicion (at least unofficially) of doping. His practices as a team owner have and will be called into question by many in the cycling realm, but no one can argue with the results. In just under three years, Ball has taken his team from a road side distraction to a heavy weight domestic contender on the American cycling scene. And if Sevilla has his way, Rock Racing will be just as well known on the international cycling stage this time next year.

The only possible problem for the Rock team is that they may have too many stage racers on the same team. Team chemistry could become an issue, especially if all of the new signings want to ride for themselves in 2009. If however the team can decide on only a few leaders, they should be one of the most formidable teams in the US and abroad next year. US pro criterium champion Rahsaan Bahati will hold the fort for flat finishes and criteriums, and "Fast Freddy" Rodriguez will also be around for bunch gallops.

Now, the next big item to discuss in relation to the Rock franchise must be the team kit design for next season. Will Michael Ball choose to go with the same design from 2008, or will he switch things up and come out with an entirely new line? In looking at the world of fashion, history tells us that new is good, and so we should expect the Rock brand to come with new and innovative designs for next year's racing. In fact, right now, Michael Ball is probably mulling the new feel of the 2009 Rock team, which promises to be even bigger, better, and badder than in 2008.

Four Year Ban for Doping: Cycling Gets Tough

The UCI announced recently that riders who are caught doping will face four year bans instead of the previous standard of two years. The decision marks yet another effort by cycling's governing body to defeat cheaters in the peloton. Now, a rider will face a much longer time away from competition, which will hopefully mean less riders will be tempted to cheat.

A four year ban is necessary to send a clear signal to dopers: get caught, and risk your career. Two years way from the top level of a sport is far different than four years. And as was previously the case, a second offfense will still result in a lifetime ban. Cycling, unlike any other sport, is taking an extremely hard line in the fight against doping, and should be commended for the effort.

With a four year ban, a young rider of 22 years or younger will still be able to hope for an eventual comeback, but the forced time away from competition will mute even the most talented cyclist's skill. For a veteran of several years, 26 and older, the four year ban will effectively end their career. Sure, they may make it back as a domestique, but that many years away will destroy the form of just about any elite rider.

It will be interesting to see the effect of the new rule for 2009. The UCI claims to be getting closer and closer to their exhaustive blood passport program, and so it will be easier for the testers to catch the cheats. Hopefully, the guilty riders will be snared, and face the tougher ban. In the end, surely there will be fewer cheats. As usual though, it is important to remember that ccling, like anything in the world, will never be completely pure. There will always be cheats, but hopefully once caught the public won't have to see then for a long four years, if at all.

Rock Racing Team Kit Review: Luxury Cycling Apparel Fit for a Lion King

With these many skulls adorning my body, I felt as hardcore as I looked!

This past February, at the Tour of California, it came as no surprise to me that Mario Cipollini was making his short-lived comeback to professional cycling with Michael Ball's Rock Racing squad. A true cycling fashionista, Cipollini must have loved what he saw in the mirror when he first pulled on the venom green team kit of Rock Racing. And at 41, he needed all the help he could get. Some say that to perform your best, you must look your best, and the Rock Racing kits must have lent an extra air of confidence to the flambouyant Italian super sprinter as he set off one last time to ride against the best cyclists in the world as a part of team owner Michael Ball's upstart Rock Racing squad.

Another interesting phenomenon happening away from the actual racing however, were the throngs of fans surrounding the Rock Racing team bus and tent in the expo area. Hundreds of intrigued onlookers clamored for their piece of Rock gear, signaling the arrival of "Rock Style" to professional cycling. Michael Ball the fashion designer had sparked interest in his brand. But what about the substance behind the style? Does the Rock brand really hold up? Your Rock Racing official team kit review, just in time for the holidays (I know a few people who would love a kit, come to think of it . . .)

One of Cipollini's biggest reasons for coming back was to make one more fashion statement

So what kind of experience does wearing a Rock team issue kit have on your average, every day bike rider? Well, I set out to find that out after receiving my very own team kit just a few days ago. The Rock Racing kit certainly holds its own aesthetically, but I couldn't wait to find out if it was made with equal quality. Arriving in several boxes over the course of a few days, by the end of last week I had it all: jersey, bib shorts, arm warmers, knee warmers, gloves, and socks. And what a combination together! Made in the USA at the Rock Racing Research Lab, each garment is made with precision, and with the elite cyclist in mind.

Michael Ball knows fashion, and he has invigorated cycling with his audacious style

Now, while I am by no means an elite cyclist, I ride best when I feel like one of the pros, at least in appearance. Plus, if a given technology is good enough for pros, it's usually good enough for me too! Any time I ride, I take pride in the gear I wear, and am always trying to find the best gear both from a visual and performance perspective. With the Rock Racing kit, I was pleasantly surprised that I had both. Not only is the Rock Racing gear the most fashion forward in cycling, it is also among the best from a performance perspective.

How we roll: Rock Racing makes a statement anywhere they show up

I chose a varied 40 mile loop for my performance test. I figured that if the kit felt good climbing, descending, and on flats, I had it all covered. And after only a few hundred meters, I had a good feeling that the Rock kit would be more than up to the task of delivering comfort and function for the duration of my ride, as well as for many seasons to come. The chamois is simply better than any other I have experienced in my 20+ years of riding. Contoured in the shape of a bike saddle, I found that my most sensitive areas were well-protected and comfortable throughout the ride. In fact, unlike with other shorts, I wasn't constantly shifting in the saddle to make myself comfortable. To me, the chamois alone makes the Rock kit a worthwhile purchase.

Rockin' chamois for your fanny: On long rides, it'll make you feel goooooooooood!

The shorts themselves are a bit longer than traditional shorts, due to an additional piece of fabric that covers up the elastic at the end of the shorts. I found no added benefit or drawback in the extra fabric. The one cool part about it though is that there is no other bib or jersey available with this kind of additional design. The additional fabric is one of the factors that makes the Rock kit a true one of a kind, so from a sheer creativity/style standpoint, it makes sense and garners my praise.

Rock bibs and jerseys have a bit of extra fabric to cover up the elastic. A nice fashion forward idea!

The jersey is lightweight and breathable, though not much different from other top of the line jerseys. The one difference is the pattern of the fiber, which takes on an octagonal pattern throughout the jersey. Also interesting is the sewn in liner, which allows for sweat to be wicked away from the body. When my ride was over, my jersey was virtually dry despite the hard effort. But back to the super cool octagonal pattern . . . these octagons, coupled with the high quality material that the uniform is made of, seem to stretch perfectly to one's individual contours, making the jersey truly feel like a second skin. Also, as in the case of my experience with the bib shorts, I didn't shift or move around at all during my ride. Some jerseys will bunch up during descents, but not this one. It stayed in tight and in place the whole time, giving me one less distraction as I hauled myself up each climb and flew down each descent.

It was a hot day as well, and when I climb in hot conditions I like to be able to unzip my jersey all the way, a la Frank Schleck. With some jerseys, this can be a tough task. First you have to find the tiny pull for the zipper, and often you must battle to make the thing unzip with only one hand. But once again, the Rock gear was up to the test. Designers have made the zipper pull a finger nail-sized Rock Racing insignia, made of plastic, that is significantly larger than the average cycling zipper pull but not big enough to be a distraction. Finding this convenient tab made it effortless for me to quickly unzip, which when beginning an ascent is always a good thing. The zipper was smooth as well on the way up, never catching as I quickly prepared for the descent ahead. Another ringing endorsement, this time for the jersey.

The material on the inside of the jersey allows sweat to wick away from the body, keeping you dry!

I didn't get to wear the arm or knee warmers on the actual ride for all that long as it was warm, but I can say that they adhere to the same characteristics as the bibs and jersey. They were snug but not constricting, and as I raised my arms above my head, and then crouched low in the drops, they did not move. The same happened with the knee warmers. No matter how tall I stood out of the pedals, they would not move. This is a huge factor in determining the quality of an arm or knee warmer. Far too often, one finds that these items are notorious for not staying put when you are riding. It can be a huge distraction to keep having to pull your arm or knee warmers up while on a ride. Thankfully, this is not an issue with Rock arm and leg warmers. Plus, they're fleece on the inside . . . warm!

The gloves that I wore were not as plush as I would have liked. They were padded, but the padding, in my opinion, fell a bit short for providing optimal comfort. I do know however that pro cyclists often ride without gloves, so understandably the padding on Rock gloves is less. This observation is only one of preference, as each rider has a different desire when it comes to padding in gloves. One great design detail about the gloves though is there were no velcro straps. They simply stretched over my hand, and form fit without issue. I don't own gloves with velcro because it sometimes catches on the delicate fiber of jerseys or shorts, fraying them. Luckily with Rock gloves, this is not an issue.

No velcro which is good, but a bit more padding would be nice

Rock racing socks broke two rules for me. First, they were a bit longer than I like. Second, they were black. These issues too are due only to my preference. I know many of today's young kids like the longer sock, but not old men like me. And in terms of color, I generally try not to wear black socks ever, especially when excercising. I will say though that these socks, made specifically for the left or right foot (they're labeled L or R), were form fitting and once again, didn't bunch. Performance-wise, they were good enough for me to forget their color or length. I'll wear them again on future rides for sure. And I'm sure the Rock store has plenty of different color socks than black.

Is there a cooler logo in any sport?

When I first received my Rock kit, I was very skeptical as to the quality of the gear in relation to other manufacturers. Rock charges more than any other cycling manufacturer for their gear, and on the surface it may appear that they are trying to take the customer for a ride. But after wearing each piece of equipment myself, I can tell you that you get what you pay for. Does it make more sense to pay less and have a kit that constantly bunches and leaves your body chaffed and sore? Or is it smarter to invest a few more dollars so you can be as comfortable (and badass) as possible while on your ride? For me, the choice is clear and the results are in. Rock Racing gear was good enough for Cipo', and it's good enough for me. Do yourself (or a loved one for the holidays) and your body a favor, and get your own kit while supplies last. In the long run, you'll be glad you did.

Damiano Cunego Takes Second Win at Japan Cup, Ivan Basso a Strong Third

Damiano Cunego, holding good form after his recent win at the Giro di Lombardia, continued his winning ways by taking the win at the Japan Cup, his second win at the end of season one day race. Meanwhile, Ivan Basso's comeback to pro cycling seems on track, as the Italian sparked the decisive break and lost only the sprint to Cunego and Giovanni Visconti. Basso is on form and seems not to have been slowed by two years away from competition.

While Cunego's win was an impresive one, the story of the race certainly belongs to Basso, who made a great result in his first race back from suspension. The new Liquigas rider seemed at home in the peloton, and was able to accelerate with Cunego and Visconti in tow to set up the final battle for the win. Liquigas management can now confidently plan on throwing their full support behind Basso in his attempt to take top honors in his home tour, the Giro d'Italia, in May 2009.

Giovanni Visconti too should receive recognition for a good end of season run between Lombardia and the Japan Cup. The 25 year old managed fourth at Lombardia and second in Japan, and served notice to his Italian tifosi that he may be the type of rider to take on the mantle of best Italian one day rider after Paolo Bettini's recent retirement.

Cunego, with yet another impressive one day win, will once again have to defend himself from the press, who will continue to question the wisdom of Cunego's intention to try to compete in grand tours as well as one day races and classics. More and more, it seems Cunego has the opportunity to become one of the world's best one day riders, and an Italian Campionissimo. The small punchy climber will have several months to consider his 2009 program, and may yet change his mind and go away from riding for a grand tour win.

Now that Ivan Basso is officially back in pro cycling, the season can come to a close as we look forward to the January Tour Down Under. There, we will see another comeback, this time with Lance Armstrong as the leading character in an improbable comeback bid. Hopefully Armstrong will enjoy as successful a comeback as Basso, and not go the way of Raul Alcala.

Pro Cycling Offseason: The Quiet Time

We are now at the point in the professional cycling season that I call "the quiet time." Between now and January, there are far fewer events on the cycling calendar, and most of the world's best riders are on well-deserved vacations, as they each recharge their batteries for 2009. In fact, after Ivan Basso makes his comeback at this weekend's Japan Cup, professional cycling will truly go into hibernation, not to be seen again until January, at the Tour Down Under in Australia.

Basso's comeback should not be dismissed, as it will be an interesting glimpse into his potential for victory at the 2009 Giro d'Italia. Just watch. If Basso is dropped at the Japan Cup and can't keep pace with the leaders, the press will trumpet that he "looked rusty", and has "hit an early roadbump" in his comback attempt. However, if he rides at the front and contends, the headlines will read "Il Terrible Returns" or "Ivan the Destroyer." Either way, it is correct that Basso should receive another chance to ride, as he has served the complete two year sentence for attempted doping. Meanwhile, the real indicator of the Italian's form will be seen in California in February, as Basso lines up against some of the best stage racers in the world, including two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer.

Speaking of Leipheimer and the Tour of California, the two-time defending champion of the top stage race in America will, hopefully, be gunning for a third straight title. Lance Armstrong, realizing that he will need help at the Giro, will surely work for Levi to ensure that the Santa Rosa, CA native takes his home tour for the third year running. Right? Right???!!? Armstrong will be big enough to support Levi for a third ToC win so that Big Tex can command the troops in Italy in May for sure . . . . well, any way, here's hoping.

After the Tour of Clalifornia, we'll be into the classics season, starting with the early season semi-classics like Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Het Volk. Then the season's first classic Milan-San Remo, la primivera. Will Cancellara be able to win again in Italy, or will Bennati finally get it done for the Liquigas squad . . . man, we're getting ahead of ourselves!! So reluctantly, I'll stop looking too far into the future, and wait patiently until the 2009 season actually starts. With multiple comebacks and a robust schedule on tap, 2009 should be one of the best pro cycling years yet!

Ten NFL Players Positive for Drugs, to Receive Only Four Game Suspensions

A message to all the critics of cycling out there: Be glad your sport is not as invested in the battle against doping as cycling is. News came out today that at least ten NFL players have tested positive for diuretics, used to help players lose weight. The drugs in question can also be used to mask other drugs. The penalty for these transgressions? Four games. Four lousy games and the players involved can resume their careers as if nothing happened.

Only two players have been named in the investigation, both from the New Orleans Saints: Running back Deuce McCallister and defensive end Will Smith. The hilarious (or overwhelmingly depressing) part about this whole situation is that McCallister and Smith probably won't have to serve their suspensions for several more weeks, if at all. In fact, they'll both be able to continue as if nothing happened. In cycling things work a little different.

In cycling, you are held accountable immediately for your actions. When found positive, you are suspended, without pay, immediately, by your team. You lose your place on the team and are removed from competition right away. Then, you are brought before your federation, and sanctioned for two years for cheating (unless you are from Kazakstan and your name is Alexander Vinokourov). Then, you wait your two years and maybe, maybe, get a contract to race again.

There are many critics of the sport of cycling that say it is the dirtiest sport with the most drug cheats. Mularky. Any human that weighs 300+ pounds and can run the 40 yard dash faster than five seconds is on drugs. Period. And the same goes for anyone who can hit 60+ home runs in a season. American football has more drug cheats than any other sport. But it doesn't matter. Because Budweiser and Nike and all the sposors of pro football need to get paid. And because they need to get paid, they tolerate, cover up, and even encourage drug use.

Say what you want about cycling, but at least the sport is doing all it can to clean up and clear out the drug cheats. Cheaters, once caught, are swiftly sanctioned and removed from the sport. Maybe that will someday be the case in other sports, but until then, cycling stands alone as the most vigilant in the battle against doping cheats.

Tour de France 2009: Custom Made for Climbers

My initial reaction to the unveiling of the 2009 Tour route was: Contador, Sastre, Schleck, and Valverde must be licking their chops right now. With less time trialing and three mountain top finishes, all signs point to total domination by the pure climbers in next year's edition. In fact, the final mountain top finish on the Ventoux could see the world's best mountain men battling it out for overall victory.

I think the 2009 route is one of the most exciting in recent memory. As stated on other sites, consistency will be the name of the game, as the pressure will be on from the first stage of the Tour, a 15 kilometer test agains the clock that should shake up the GC right from the jump.

A team time trial is also back for the 2009 edition, and real times will be awarded for each team. This will be a significant stage, as stronger time trialing teams like CSC and Astana will be looking to put significant time into the likes of Ivan Basso's Liquigas and Cadel Evans' Lotto squads. Slipstream, as they were at the Giro in 2008, should be tipped as the favorite for that stage.

Certainly the penultimate stage to the Mont Ventoux will dominate most of the headlines for the Tour. A greuling climb, the Ventoux is over 20 kilometers long and averages over seven percent. Lance Armstrong has never enjoyed the Ventoux climb, and likewise has never won there. Perhaps 2009 will provide him one last chance at glory on the "Giant of Provence."

2008 Tour runner up Cadel Evans will be hard pressed to podium again at the 2009 Tour, as not only the competition but the parcours will be working against him. The Aussie is well known in the cycling world for being one of the nicest guys in the field, but he may need to become a bit meaner if he is to scrap it out for the top spot in the 2009 Tour.

Eddy Merckx: Greatest Professional Cyclist Ever

Take a look at the poll directly to the right of this post. If you haven't voted, please do so now by clicking the name Eddy Merckx. If you have already voted and chose ANYONE other than Merckx, please change your vote now to Eddy Merckx. Merckx was, is, and will always be the best cyclist in the history of the sport. And here's why.

Over his illustrious 12 year career, Merckx was more prolific than any other rider before or after him. He was able to win grand tours, one day classics, smaller stage races, and world championships. And not only did he win all different types of events, he usually did so multiple times.

Consider first his grand tour resume. Five wins each in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, and one win at the Vuelta. He raced the Tour seven times and won five of those editions. He raced the Giro eight times and won five times. And for the Vuelta, he won his only attempt at the Spanish grand tour. In fact, he should have won the Tour six times but was injured after a fan punched him in the stomach in the 1975 edition, forcing his eventual second place finish.

Some more staggering facts regarding his grand tour participations. To this day, Merckx is the only rider ever to win all three classifications (points, KOM and GC) in both the Tour and Giro. Today, having one of these jerseys can make a career. Merckx on the other hand took all three during the same event, in the 1968 Giro and 1969 Tour respectively. Unbelievable.

So what about his one day prowess? Also unbelievable. Of the five monuments of cycling, Merckx took Milan-San Remo a staggering seven times, the Tour of Flanders twice, Paris-Roubaix three times, Liege-Bastogne-Liege five times, and twice the Giro di Lombardia. Other classics victories include two Amstel Gold races, three Fleche Wallonnes and three Ghent-Wevelgems. His domination in one day classics was unmatched, even by the "Classics King" himself, Sean Kelly.

Merckx also took the world title three times, and joined only Alfredo Binda and Rik Van Steenbergen as the only riders to have done so up to that point. Since then, only Oscar Freire has managed to join the exclusive club of three time world champions. He won the triple crown of cycling (Giro, Tour, world championship) in 1974, and the only other rider ever to accomplish that feat is Irishman Stephen Roche, in 1987.

Some other significant victories that Merckx lays claim to include one Tour de Swiss, three wins at Paris-Nice, one Tour of Romandy, one Dauphine Libere, and two Tours of Belgium. And he didn't stop there. He took 17 six day events on the track, as well as seven Belgian Madison Championships. He was a jack of all trades, fearless, and unbeatable in almost every race he entered.

Many people like to say that Lance Armstrong is the greatest cyclist ever. But before you make your decision, consider Lance's major wins aside from the Tour: One world title, one Clasics San Sebastian, one Fleche-Wallonne, one Tour de Swiss, two Dauphine Liberes. Not bad, but not Merckx either. Side by side, there is simply no comparison, Merckx beat them all. Even Sean Kelly, the "Classics King," only had nine classics wins compared to Merckx's twenty seven. Again, no comparison. The great Eddy Merckx, cycling perfection from Belgium

Chris Horner Scores Top Ten at Lombardy, Salvages Lackluster 2008 Season

Horner during the glory days at Saturn

It has been a very quiet 2008 season for Chris Horner. After breaking his collar bone in July, Horner was left off the Astana Vuelta team and had nothing else to show for his season. He rode strong in support of Levi Leipheimer at the Tour of California, but the veteran had very little to hang his hat on in terms of individual results until this past Saturday at the Giro di Lombardia.

Horner rode masterfully in support of teammate Janez Brajkovic, and managed to score an impressive 7th place in the final classic of the season. Horner's performance will bolster his morale in the offseason, as he builds for 2009. With the arrival of Lance Armstrong to Astana for the upcoming season, Horner will have to work harder than ever to gain invites to the year's biggest events within the highly competitive Astana team structure.

Horner's first chance to prove himself for 2009 will probably come at the Tour of California. There he will ride as a teammate of Lance Armstrong for the first time in his career. Whether he'll be supporting Armstrong or Leipheimer is unclear, but no matter what he'll have to ride strong throughout the 9 stage event if he is to be considered for the Giro or Tour. Astana will be heavily favored in both events, with Lance Armstrong riding the Giro and Alberto Contador the Tour de France.

Chris Horner is coming up on the end of his professional cycling career. He is contracted with Astana through the 2009 season, but after that the future is unclear. Whether he will have any contract offers from Pro Tour teams for 2010 will largely depend on how well he rides in 2009. Hopefully he'll be a bit more lucky in 2009, and avoid any early season crashes or sicknesses.

Every year that passes bring us closer to Horner's eventual retirement, which will be a sad day for American cycling. Yet every season the Oregon native seems to come back as strong as ever, ready to do battle against the world's best. He should be highly motivated for 2009, and will want to prove ot new teammate Armstrong just how valuable he can be in a three week stage race. Hopefully Bruyneel will re-sign him for 2010. But even if he doesn't get an offer from Astana, with a good 2009 season, Horner should be able to remain for at least one year in the European peloton.

Five of Seven Garmin Riders Abandon at Lombardy . . . What Happened?

Lost among the fanfare of Damiano Cunego's third win at the Giro di Lombardia was the fact that the Garmin team had one of their worst showing of 2008 at the final classic of the season. Of their seven entered riders, five took DNF's including strongman Steve Cozza and time trial ace David Zabriskie. Also not finishing were Huub Duyn, Michael Friedman, and promising young Irishman Daniel Martin. Lucas Euser and Tom Danielson were able to finish the race for the American team, but Euser managed 92nd out of 94 finishers. 94th place was taken by Euser's teammate, the enigmatic Tom Danielson.

Danielson had hoped to do better in the race of the falling leaves, but he came through more than 15 minutes after Cunego. A disappointing season mercifully closes out for Danielson, and the aspiring stage racer will hope for better results in 2009. As for Cozza and Zabriskie, perhaps a long season finally caught up to them, forcing their abandon.

Garmin's Christian Meier has a theory as to why there were so many DNF's, and the youngster was obviously angered that he was not allowed to ride the race. And Garmin wasn't the only team that saw many of its riders abandon. 6 of 8 Milram riders could not complete the day either, suggesting that many of the riders at Lombardy perhaps would have rather been somewhere else. Even Cunego's Lampre team suffered from attrition, as four of their riders did not finish.

The fact that Garmin was unable to manage better than 92nd of 94 riders is a bit concerning. The squad was recently elevated to Pro Tour level, but performances like the one at Lombardy makes the team look as though they don't belong among the world's best teams. In the future, team manager Jonathan Vaughters must take care to field teams that can compete. It is better to start lesser known riders and have them finish a race than it is to send your headliners and see them drop out.

Zabriskie and Cozza have had long seasons. And while Cozza had been going strong since the recent world championships, Zabriskie suffered mightily in Varese and probably could have used the rest in lieu of racing at Lombardy. Perhaps Danny Pate, Will Frischkorn or Pat McCarty would have made better choices for the Lombardy roster. Still, even with the lackluster performance at the last classic of 2008, the Garmin team can still count the 2008 season as a resounding success. Now, each rider will take some much deserved rest and get ready for a 2009 season full of promise.

The Next Bettini? Cunego Confirms Classic Clout at Lombardia with Third Win at Northern Italian Monument

Damiano Cunego takes his third Giro di Lombardia

"I am happy because it is my course and very demanding." With those words, referring to the parcours of the Giro di Lombardia, Damiano Cunego perfectly summed up his characteristics as a professional bicycle rider. Built in the mold of Italian legend Paolo Bettini, Cunego excells in long races that feature short, steep climbs. A technically savvy rider, the 27 year old fancies himself a grand tour contender as well as one day stylist, but after his third victory at Lombardia, hopefully he'll rethink his strategy for 2009.

Since his win at the Giro d'Italia in 2004, Cunego has not fared well in any grand tour. Although he attempted to make the 2008 Tour de France a major target, "il piccolo principe" was unable to keep pace in the high mountains, and was downright embarrassed in the long time trials, losing minutes to the favorites. The 2008 Tour was his best chance at victory due to the lack of time trialing, absence of Alberto Contador, and multiple mountain stages, but still the Lampre leader fell well short of his goal, eventually abandoning.

Cunego's inability to win a grand tour comes with no shame. It takes a special kind of rider to win a three week stage race, and not all riders are up to the task. But it also takes a special kind of rider to be a contender in any big time one day race. Cunego, if he desires, could legitimately take on the role that Paolo Bettini had during his career, that of classics king.

Cunego has never truly worked on his sprinting. If he did, there is no reason he couldn't contend in the year's first classic, Milan-San Remo. Even if his sprint didn't develop, he could still win the race by doing what he did Saturday in Lombardia: attacking fiercely on one of the last climbs and soloing home. The same goes for the cobbled classic Tour of Flanders. With multiple steep bergs, Flanders too is a race that Cunego could have on his palmares by the end of his career, providing that he trains for the tough Belgian hard man's classic in the future.

He already has three Tours of Lombardy and one Amstel Gold, and he is only 27. With a classics-focused approach over the next several years, Cunego could easily add a few of each of the major classics he has yet to win. Paris-Roubaix probably is a bit too difficult for the small Italian to succeed, but all of the other monuments (Milan-San Remo, Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege) are well within his reach.

During interviews, Cunego has bristled at the suggestion that he should switch his focus to one day races. He believes in his heart that he can do both. But since 2004, whether he likes it or not, Cunego has not been able to get it done at a three week race. At 27, he has a chance to pursue cycling immortality as a classics star. If he does, he could be remembered at the end of his career as one of the best one day riders in the history of the sport. On the other hand, if he continues to target both classics and grand tours, he will probably be a winner at one day races far less frequently.

No one knows what the future will hold for Cunego as a grand tour rider. But as a one day threat, all signs point to Cunego being able to dominate. He came within a hair's width of the world title in Varese this past year, and has also been close at other classics. Now is the time for Cunego to change his approach and embrace his destiny as one day classics king. With Bettini retired, Italy is waiting for the next great one day champion to emerge. Cunego, with proper focus, could fill that void starting in 2009.

Giro di Lombardia: Euro Peloton's Picks

As in any bicycle race, there are always many different riders that are able to take top honors. The situation is the same for the final classic of the season, the Giro di Lombardia. Last year's winner, Damiano Cunego, will be one of the top favorites, but there are a slew of others that will be on the hunt for the final monument of 2008. I will focus on several riders that are less known but could come up big on the shores of Lake Como on Saturday in italy.

I think Robert Gesink is very close to becoming one of the world's best bike riders. Although only 22, Gesink has all the goods to become the next big thing for 2009. This past season has been a good one for Gesink, with solid performances at the Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Vuelta a Espana and the world championships in Varese, Italy. Lombardia finishes just up the road in Como, and the course has some steep climbs toward the finish. Gesink is already one of the best young climbers around; perhaps he'll be able to get his tactics right on Saturday and take his biggest win to date.

Enrico Gasparotto has been close many times in 2008. And although the classics stylist hasn't been lucky enough to win in 2008, he still should be considered a top threat for the win in Italy. A strong climber and fast finisher, "Gaspa" will surely try to attack on the Madonna di Ghisallo in hopes of taking his first classics win.

Giovanni Visconti has done virtually nothing in 2008. After taking his national championship in 2007, many pundits felt that he was ready to take the next step as classics leader of the Quick Step team. Instead, he seemed to regress in 2008, leading to his not being signed for another season with Quick Step. With a win on home soil on Saturday, Visconti would thrust himself right back among the world's best one day riders. It will be a tough task for the 25 year old, but not at all impossible.

Gilberto Simoni is coming into the twilight of his career. Once a fearsome grand tour contender, Simoni has transitioned into a possible stage winner in his home tour, and is also nurtering a marathon mountain biking career. At 37, Simoni's days in the pro peloton are numbered, but that doesn't mean he can't deliver one more time on an excellent result. It would take a blistering attack on the Ghisallo for Simoni to escape for the win, but stranger things have happened in cycling.

In all probability, the above riders will not climb the top step of the podium for the season's final classic on Saturday. More likely it will be Cunego, or Ballan, Garzelli, Sanchez, Nibali, or Evans. But it sure would be cool if one of the above riders could make it happen on Sunday. So you heard my picks, who are yours?

Tyler Hamilton's Long Road Back: Rock Racing Veteran Struggles to Return After Doping Conviction

Tyler Hamilton opens up with Velonews about the last four years of his life and career as a pro cyclist. In what is a revealing interview, Hamilton explains that he doesn't feel like the same person, and that all his troubles have led to the eventual ending of his marriage to Haven Hamilton. Feelings from fans are mixed, with some feeling that Hamilton deserves no sympathy because he has yet to admit he doped.

Hamilton's situation is a tough one to take a side on. One one hand he was clearly caught employing a banned method to gain an advantage over his competition. On the other, he was suspended, served his complete time, and was then cleared to ride again. He had a difficult time after signing with the Italian Tinkoff team, before eventually being coaxed by Michael Ball to ride for the upstart Rock Racing team.

The most troubling part of Hamilton's unwillingness to admit that he did anything wrong (despite strong circumstantial evidence against him), is that fact that he has never waivered in his denials. He exhausted many of his personal financial resources in trying to clear his name, and even now that his suspension is behind him, he refuses to admit that he cheated.

Put yourself in Hamilton's situation. You have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to clear your name, but to no avail. You have served your suspension and are now comfortably situated with a supportive team. Wouldn't you admit what you did, especially considering that you can't be sanctioned further? Conversely, if you were innocent, wouldn't you stick to your guns? The above perspective is what makes Hamilton's situation so hard. Emotionally, it is hard not to believe that he was wronged and is innocent, but logically there is so much circumstantial evidence to the contrary that one is left hopelessly confused. Perhaps it is time to just let problems from the past stay in the past.

Aside from Hamilton's inability to admit his wrongdoing, he still deserves to be looked at in the same light as any other reformed doper. He has reached the highest level of sport again, after his impressive win at the US Pro Championships, and the Colorado native seems poised for at least one more solid year on the bike. Now is the time for cycling fans to embrace the aging veteran as a survivor, and as an example of persistance in the face of overwhelming odds. Like it or not, Hamilton is back racing, and he deserves a second chance, just like any one else.

End of Season Fun with Garmin's David Zabriskie at Paris-Tours

Zabriskie in his skin suit at Paris-Tours

I'll admit that for me, David Zabriskie's style of humor sometimes misses its mark with me, but this post by Zabriskie's teammate Christian Meier about his exploits at the recent Paris-Tours is straight up hilarious! I wish I could have been there to see it on TV live as it was happening.

Rarely do cycling fans see examples of the lighter side of cycling. Riders are usually so wrapped up in trying to get results that they usually don't have the time to clown around. However, with his recent third consecutive win at the US Pro time trial championship, Zabriskie can relax a bit and go have some fun. That he did it the way he did at Paris-Tours makes it even more funny.

Who else but Zabriskie would have the guts to kit up in his skinsuit for a road stage? Further, who would have the stones to tweak his bike set up just to make his teammates laugh? Zabriskie can come off as quirky and downright strange, but this exploit should be celebrated as one of the funniest moves by a cyclist in recent history.

Another part about the post by Meier that should be remembered is the description of Zabriskie's style of attack. Meier writes, "How the DZ attack works is you have to ride 1-2 kph faster than the pack until you have gotten a small and what seems an unthreatening gap, then you hit the afterburners. 'They are like animals(the pack), any sort of violent movements and they go crazy', [Zabriskie said -ed.]referring to the most common form of attacked used by cyclists, the hard fast acceleration." Again, absolutely side splitting to learn that Zabriskie regularly uses such an attack.

One thing I will always say about David Zabriskie: he is his own man. He does what he wants to do and makes no apologies for his behavior or antics. While he can be frustrating to have to interview, these types of actions do nothing but make me laugh. The icing on the cake would have been if he had managed to win the race in his get up. Maybe next time!

Lance Armstrong to Race Giro to Win? If So, Bravo and Forza!!!

Lance Armstrong has hinted to the press that he may contest the 2009 Giro to win, rather than to use the race only as preparation for the July Tour de France. The Italian grand tour will be running for the 100th time, giving Armstrong a chance to be the only man ever to win the centennial edition of two grand tours. Although Armstrong's claim that he may not ride in the Tour is probably an elaborate bluff, it is still encouraging to see the 7-time Tour champ consider a different race.

The biggest knock against Lance Armstrong over his career is that he disregarded all other races in favor of the Tour de France. While it is true that he won other races during his career, no one can argue with the fact that Armstrong was 100% for the Tour, and only entered races that would help him reach his goal of overall victory year over year.

Armstrong's sudden declaration that he would like to contend at the Giro presents several interesting scenarios. One of course is that the world would get to see Lance Armstrong compete to win a race other than the Tour. But there are several other subplots that could develop. Lance's main adversary over the last years of his carrer at the Tour, Ivan Basso, is also set to ride the Giro in 2009. The two are friendly, yet each is trying to forge a new path as they make a comeback to the sport they had previously dominated. What will the dynamic be between Armstrong and Basso when the Giro begins?

Also worth consideration is who would support Armstrong at the Giro. Contador will probably be in a training camp during that time, which leaves Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloden as Armstrong's main supporters. But Johan Bruyneel will have to be careful not to tire his gregarios out too much, and so the team that Armstrong has at his disposal could be on the weaker side. Add the possibility of Alexander Vinokourov returning, and you have the possibility of real chaos as the team searches for an identity.

Another problem could arise if Armstrong somehow manages to win the Giro in 2009. Bruyneel has gone on record as saying that Alberto Contador is the world's best stage racer, but would he maintain that stance if Lance won his first Giro and had a chance to do the Giro-Tour double for the first time since 1998, when a doped-to-the-gills Marco Pantani took top honors in both races? If Armstrong manages to win in Italy, surely he'll want a shot to contend in France, which could set Astana up for legitamate turmoil within the team.

Either way, I salute Armstrong for his willingness to contest the Giro. If he follows through on his word and races to win, I'll cheer him like I never have before. I have always believed that the other great champions (Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Indurain) had something Lance never did: variety. Each of the aformentioned five time Tour winners had at least one Giro win to their credit, in addition to a slew of other big time races. Armstrong will never have the complete palmares of the legends listed above, but a Giro title would go a long way in proving that the Texan belongs among the best in the history of the sport.

As the Giro is only seven months away, Lance will need to get cracking now if he is to be on top form come May. He'll have to come into the Tour of California on decent form, and will need to adjust his normal schedule to coincide with the beginning of the Giro. A perfectionist, expect Armstrong to use the Tour of California and Paris-Nice stage races as indicators of his form as he sets out to win his first, and probably only, maglia rosa.

Bernhard Kohl Positive for CERA, Second Gerolsteiner Rider Guilty of Doping

Perhaps coming up under the wing of Jan Ullrich affected Kohl's decision making

Bernhard Kohl has been found positive for CERA at this past year's Tour de France, and is the second Gerolsteiner rider to be caught for cheating at the Tour. The KOM champion and 3rd overall, Kohl's positive proves once and for all that NO ONE is above suspicion. A young, talented, seemingly clean rider, Kohl is now cast into the same lot as Piepoli, Ricco and his teammate Stefan Schumacher.

Denis Menchov of team Rabobank will likely be elevated to third place overall in the Tour, but the change will be cold comfort for a rider who has been affected by dopers before. Menchov was elevated to overall champion of the 2005 Vuelta a Espana after Roberto Heras was found positive for EPO, but the Russian missed out on all of the celebration of winning in the moment. Now, it looks like history has repeated itself for the Russian, this time at the Tour de France.

For Hans Michael Holzer, director of the now defunct Gerolsteiner outfit, the German will surely be incredulous that yet another of his top riders has tested positive. In fact, Holzer too must be viewed with a bit of skepticism, as he should have been able to keep better track of his star riders. Either way though, it will be dependant on Kohl to take full responsibility for his actions, as he will face a two year ban from competition.

Lotto-Silence, the team of Cadel Evans, will be hardest hit by the news of Kohl's positive, as the powerful mountain climber was slated to join the team in 2009 as a support rider for Evans. With his recent positive, his contract will be null and void with Lotto, and the Belgian team willl have to scramble to find another rider to support Evans in the mountains. They have already signed Thomas Dekker, but they will need at least one more good climber on the team if they are to contend with Alberto Contador and Astana.

Moving forward, all cycling fans must be ready for anything in relation to positive dope tests. If Kohl was doping, then it is entirely possible that many other youngsters are also cheating. Unfortunately, the culture of doping has not been stamped out among today's top pros, young and old. And as long as a cyclist can make thousands of Euros for cheating, expect the same behavior to continue into 2009.

Philippe Gilbert Breaks Through at Paris-Tours: 26 Year Old Belgian On the Rise for 2009

So it came to this for Philippe Gilbert: At 26 years old, the Belgian had been close in classics races before (3rd at Milan-San Remo), but he had never managed to break through. He was part of a dysfunctional Belgian team at the world championships in Varese, Italy, and due to negative polemics, found himself out of the running in the chase for the rainbow jersey. It was just as well.

Today, two weeks to the day later, Gilbert found himself taking the start at a classic that he had come close to winning before: Paris-Tours. Using his acute tactical sense, Gulbert was able to join a group of four, consisting of Sébastien Turgot, Nicolas Vogondy, Mickaël Delage (Gilbert's teammate) and Jan Kuyckx. Gilbert was able to win thanks to an excellent lead out from Delage. Having ridden for Francaise des Jeux the last five years, he'll will be happy with his win at Paris-Tours; it will be a farewell gift to his sponsor.

Gilbert will be on the start line at next week's Tour of Romandy, but don't expect the Belgian hard man to win again. He'll be up against some of the world's best climbers, and he'll find it hard to keep pace with such mountain goats when the road grows steep. Instead, expect Lombardy defending champion Damiano Cunego to be in contention again, especially whe taking into account that we'll be only three weeks from Cunego's masterstroke 2nd place in Varese at the world championship in support of his countryman, Alessandro Ballan. The staunch climber will be motivated to take the final classic of 2008 in style, as the defending champion.

For the next day or so though, Gilbert should bask in his own success. Taking a classics win at such a young age makes Gilbert a favorite for the future, a rider capable of great things. He has taken multiple semi-classics victories before, but now that he has won one of the "big ones," expect that Gilbert to entrench himself among the world's best one day riders starting in 2009. And as a matter of fact, Silence-Lotto is counting on it.

Upcoming: Paris-Tours, October 12, 2008

Paris-Tours, known as the "Sprinter's Classic" due to its relatively flat parcours, brings the peloton back to big time racing, and closer to the final big race of the year, the Tour of Romandy. Past winners of Paris-Tours include Alessandro Petacchi, Erik Zabel, and Joop Zoetemelk. Over the years, escape artists have been able to take top honors as well. Some break away stylists who have won over the years include Jacky Durand, Jakob Piil, Andrea Tafi, and Rolf Sørensen.

The start list is an impressive one, and in addition to the favorites, several lower profile riders could impress in the French race. The favorites consist of Daniele Bennati, Tom Boonen, Oscar Freire, Robbie McEwen, Gerald Ciolek, Matti Breschel, Tyler Farrar, and Erik Zabel. These top sprinters will have full support from their respective teams as they try to take the prestigious win. Among the favorites, Boonen, Farrar, and Breschel are on the best form.

For darkhorses, Mark Renshaw, Heinrich Haussler, newly crowned world champion Alessandro Ballan, JJ Haedo, and Bernhard Eisel could surprise the field. Renshaw has a fast finish and will be motivated to help sponsor Credit Agricole go out on top, while Haussler will hope to rediscover the form he had earlier in the season at the Tour of California. JJ Haedo is always dangerous in a sprint, and the Argentinian won't be watched as closely as teammate Breschel, and Bernhard Eisel is on great form, as evidenced by his recent win at Paris-Bourges earlier this week.

Ballan, though very well known, is still an underdog in the race as he is not known as a sprinter. However, if the lanky Italian has any of his world championship form remaining, he could jump away from the field and time trial home for the win. Other possible threats include Nick Nuyens, Sammy Sanchez, Filippo Pozzato, Allan Davis, and Nicolas Vogondy. Each of the above riders have the ability to attack the field with force, and they all have the power to keep away from the field if they can get a small gap.

Paris-Tours will give the sprinters a chance at victory ahead of next weekend's prestigious Tour of Romandy. A much hiller course awaits the field in Romandy, so the sprinters will be highly motivated to take one more win before the close of the season.

Ivan Basso Set to Return to Cycling at the Japan Cup, October 26

Ivan Basso will return from his two year suspension for "attempted" blood doping next weekend at the Japan Cup. He'll do so in the acid green and blue kit of Liquigas. Basso will be looking to gain valuable racing kilometers as soon as possible, as he plans on targeting next year's Giro d'Italia overall classification.

Rumors out of Italy say that the Italian has ridden thousands of kilometers even during his suspension, and has gone as far as to try to simulate stage races by riding similar routes to those used in the Giro. He has even added time trials into his simulated grand tour regimen. At 30 years old (he'll be 31 in November), Basso seems ready to enter the prime of his career with a good chance to pick up where he left off before his suspension, as that of one of the world's most dominant stage racers.

The Liquigas team is a strong one, more than able to support a grand tour contender, and Basso will count on staunch support from Franco Pelizotti, as well as youngsters Roman Kreuzinger and Vincenzo Nibali in the 2009 Giro. But before he can be considered a contender for 2009's first grand tour, Basso will have to prove himself worthy at early season stage races like the Tour of California, Tirreno-Adriatico, and in the hilly Wallonian classics: the Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege races.

When Basso takes to the start line on the 26th, he'll be looking to join an elite list of riders who have won the japan Cup. Some recent winners include Damiano Cunego, Riccardo Ricco, and Gilberto Simoni. Good climbers are able to take the win at the Japan Cup, and if on form, Basso will be in with a chance for victory in his first race back. Not likely of course, but still possible for the man once known as "il terrible."

Giro Won't Re-Test Samples for CERA, New Form of EPO . . . But Why?

This is not good.What possible reason could Giro race director Angelo Zomegnan have for not agreeing to re-test Giro samples for CERA? Asked that very questoin, the best he could come up with was, "The Giro d'Italia has already made the necessary checks. The labs and the UCI have told us these tests were done and nothing was found that could be taken as suspect. It's useless to ask for more." Wow.

This is bad for cycling on several fronts. First, it significantly calls into question the ethics of the Giro d'Italia, the most beautiful of the three grand tours. If Zomegnan refuses to re-test the samples for CERA with the latest protocol, he is without a doubt doing a huge disservice to his race. Hopefully he'll change his mind.

Riccardo Ricco, the second placed overall finisher at the Giro, displayed the same explosive climbing talent in Italy that he did a month later in France. He was positive for CERA at the Tour, what is to say he wasn't doped at the Giro? Already under suspicion, Ricco is viewed by many as a cheat, and guilty by default of doping at the Giro.

Although it is painful, it is absolutely necessary to test pro cyclists to the fullest extent, especially in the prestigious grand tours. The Giro will be known now as a race that is leniant against doping. Zomegnan will be viewed as more concerned with making sure the top Italians succeed and ride in his race than whether they are doing so safely. Lance Armstrong has hinted that he would like to use the Giro as preparation for the Tour next year. With this recent news, the Texan would be well advised to stay far away.

The same goes for Ivan Basso, the UCI's ne "Anti-Doping Ambassador." Basso should take a firm stand against Zomegnan and state that he won't ride at a race that isn't doing everything it can to hold dopers accountable. More and more, Zomegnan is appearing to belong amongst the old school villians like Checcini, Fuentes, and Saiz. But it's not too late. Re-test the samples, hold all cheaters accountable, and retain the good reputation of your race Angelo. Or suffer the wrath of a weary and fed up fan base worldwide.

Alessandro Ballan New World Champ: Will He Go Worldwide?

Alessandro Ballan took top honors in Varese two weeks ago, earning himself the moniker world champion. He is a worthy champion, one who is, as Damiano Cungeo asserted, "active from March through October." A multi-faceted stylist, Ballan has taken wins in hard men's classics (Flanders, De Panne), mountainous stage races (Vuelta 2008, 7th stage), and now, one day championships.

One thing Ballan hasn't done a lot of as a pro is travel. He has remained relatively Euro-centric over his career, as his Lampre team does not have a big enough budget to field competitive teams all over the world. but now that Ballan is the new world champ, should that change?

Paolo Bettini, as two time world champion, made sure to visit America and other countries during his reign. The thrill of seeing a current world champion was not lost on the American fan base, as Bettini was hounded for autographs and pictures throughout his two Tours of California. Ballan, while on a smaller team than Bettini, would do well to lobby for appearances out of Europe.

Whether Lampre's management will accommodate a more diverse schedule for Ballan is in doubt. As a smaller Italian team, Lampre is more concerned with the Giro and other Italian races. Ballan has never raced his home tour before, and will likely toe the line for the first time in this year's upcoming Giro. After that, he'll probably take a much needed rest and skip the Tour de France.

Hopefully Ballan will consider attending the Tour of California this year. It would offer him ideal preparation for the early spring classics, and would give him the opportunity to show off his new kit to non-European fans. Plus, he would delight the American crowd in California, who have grown used to seeing the world champion at the early season stage race.

Alcala Crashes Out of Vuelta a Chihuahua, Comeback Bid Falters

When the news broke earlier this week regarding Raul Alcala's attempted comeback to the world of pro cycling, it seemed almost unbellievable. This was a man 14 years removed from the highest levels of the sport. Sure, he was once one of the best riders in the world, but did Alcala really believe, in his heart of hearts, that he could come back and compete with riders twenty years younger than he?

Apparently, that's exactly what he thought. Alcala was able to get through the first stage of Chihuahua, a pancake flat, arrow straight route, but Wednesday's second stage was an entirely different task. Featuring five catagorized climbs, stage two promised to expose Alcala as legit or lame. As it turned out, he looked more lame. Alcala crashed out on the stage, after failing to corner on a descent. He was limping and had abrasions to his body and face. As quickly as his comeback bid began, seemingly it ended on the roads of Mexico.

Presumably, Alcala' injuries aren't too serious, and perhaps he'll continue the charade of a come back. But the truth is the truth. A 44 year old man 14 years removed from competition has little chance of succeeding in a comeback bid. Although amirable, Alcala must have known himself that he had little chance of riding the 2009 Tour. Hopefully, he'll hang up his cleats for good, so he isn;t injured worse at a different race.

So who could be next to try their hand at a comeback? If Alcala is audacious enough to try, who says others won't follow suit. Maybe Alex Zulle or Peter Van Petegem will have another go at the pros. Or how about Tony Rominger or Richard Verenque? Why not Roberto Gaggioli or Harm Jansen? Even Ivan Gotti, Ande Tchmil and Jacky Durand should be considered possible comebackers. And there is one other who could probably suit up again and finish the Vuelta a Chihuahua: The Great Eddy Merckx. Just a thought.

Stephan Schumacher Positive for CERA at Tour de France, Another Black Mark for Cycling

It looks like it really was too good to be true for Stefan Schumacher at this past year's Tour de France, as the double time trial winner has tested positive for the new form of EPO, called CERA. In what is another black mark against cycling, Schumacher's positive proves that doping is still going on in cycling, even at the highest and most policed levels.

Fabian Cancellara was second in the first TT and Kim Kirchin for the second, so presumably the victories will be awarded to the big Saxo Bank time trial ace and the Columbia classics specialist. Now more than ever, teams must find the budget to finance internal testing systems for their riders. Teams like Saxo, Garmin, and Astana can feel safe that their riders (even Schleck!) are performing clean, but for the other teams, the picture is much more cloudy.

Without these rigourous testing procedures in place, performances of riders could, and should be called into question. As unfortunate as it is, a comprehensive internal anti-doping program is as important as team equipment these days. Without it, a team will constantly be looked at with suspicion.

Next for Schumacher will undoubtedly be a two year suspension, and a firing from his new team Quick Step. Quick Step boss Patrick Lefevre is now without a hilly classics contender, with the recent retirement of Paolo Bettini. Perhpaps Lefevre will rethink his plan and offer "il grillo" the money that the Italian was originally not granted. Hopefully there won't be additional positives in the coming days, but for some reason it seems like there will be.

Frank Schleck, Doping and Puerto: Did He or Didn't He?

Feelings in the cycling community are strong regarding Frank Schleck's 7000 Euro payment to Eufamio Fuentes, the doctor at the center of the Operacion Puerto affair. Schleck allows that he made the payment back in 2006, but says it was not in relation to doping. With no official evidence to bring against Schleck, it looks as though the Luxembourger will escape without sanction unless the dossiers from Puerto are released to each national federation.

Before we condemn Schleck though, should we not also admit that the elder of the two Schleck's has raced clean throughout 2007 and 2008? After all, he is part of CSC's comprehensive anti-doping regimen run by Damsgard. If any of his values were abnormal over the past few years, surely he would have been caught. Yes, he probably was seeking assistance from Fuentes to dope back in 2006, but who wasn't? 2006 was the year that saw Basso, Ullrich, Mancebo and a host of others booted from the Tour, signalling the rampant use of drugs in the sport.

Frank Schleck clearly was seeking to break the rules by seeking services from Fuentes, but at what point will bygones be bygones? Since 2007, Schleck has enjoyed many successes at the top level of his sport, and he has the hard data to prove that he did so while riding clean. Like many of the riders who have escaped justice's rule from the Puerto fiasco, Schleck should be able to ply his trade under the same rules as everyone else. In 2006, the atmosphere in cycling was drastically different than today. Schleck is doing all he can to prove he is riding clean, he deserves the benifit of the doubt.

Of course fans and pundits will continue to call for Schleck's head, claiming that he should be held responsibile for his actions. Although I won't do the same, I too would like to see the truth come out. Why not give all riders amnesty from 2006 back, in hopes of encourouging riders to share the happenings of Puerto without fear of retribution. Once and for all, we would then be able to move beyond Operacion Puerto, and into a new future of professional cycling, one of transparency and honesty.

Like a Fine Wine: On the Heels of Lance Armstrong Comeback, Alexander Vinokourov Plans Return, Seeks Redemption

If it's good enough for Lance (and Basso, and Petacchi, and Sevilla, and Valverde, and Mancebo, and Botero), it's good enough for Alexander Vinokourov! The Kazakh cycling legend has announced his intention to return to pro riding (despite being dogged by doping accusations) at the 2009 Giro, and with none other than the Astana Cycling Team of Lance Armstrong.

I know what you're thinking: no way will Lance allow Vino to sign with Astana. Not so fast. Vinokourov launched Astana with the backing of all the current Astana decision makers. He is a national hero and the reason that the Kazakh government has backed the Astana venture. If Vino asserts his force, which he most certainly will, won't Astana accept him back into the fold? Probably. Plus, he's be a great lieutenant for Armstrong at the Tour.

But there is one final obstacle standing in Vino's way on the comeback trail: the UCI. Pat McQaid has long contended that the punishment handed down (1 year) by the Kazakh cycling federation for Vino's homologous blood doping was not sufficient. If Vino applies officially for a racing license, he'll have to contend with the fact that under UCI regulations he is not eligible to return to pro cycling until July of 2009. Quite a quandary for the aging 36 year old battle axe.

As seems to be the trend recently, the Astana team continues to be front and center in the press, despite the fact that we are heading into the off season. At this point, Astana has enough subplots going on to be considered a legitimate circus. The media will no doubt swarm over the next few weeks, as Johan Bruyneel and his turquoise army play out the triple drama: the Vino comeback, the Armstrong comeback, and escape of Alberto Contodor. As a cycling fan, what more could you ask for the upcoming holiday season?!!?!?!!?? Ho! Ho!! Ho!!!

Last Stand for Chris Horner: Astana Pro Hopes for One More Tour de France Ride

At 36 years old, like it or not, Chris Horner's days as a top-flight Euro pro are numbered. He's coming into the second year of a two year contract, and his final chance to ride the Tour de France may well be approaching for the 2009 season. He is on a stacked Astana team, and finding a spot on a Tour team with the likes of Levi Leipheimer, Haimer Zubeldia, Andreas Kloden, and Lance Armstrong (Contador will be gone) may prove difficult.

Compounding the problem is the fact that Horner has a frosty relationship with Armstrong. The two were never teammates as pros, and Horner was often outspoken against Armstrong's perceived dominance of the peloton. Now, as a teammate to Big Tex, horner will have to foster a positive relationship with the seven time Tour champ if he is to earn a spot on Astana's roster for the 2009 Tour.

Whether Horner can be an asset in the Tour is not in question. The question is whether he'll be able to set himself apart from other talented Astana riders (Benji Noval, Janez Brajkovich, Jesús Hernández, José Luis Rubiera) in the early season. In fact, Horner's most important race of 2009 may end up being the Tour of California, where he'll first have a chance to ride with Armstrong. Assuming that he performs well as a support rider there, perhaps he'll be able to count Armstrong as an ally when the Tour selection process begins.

The future beyond 2009 is cloudy for Horner. There is little doubt as to whether he can still ride competitively. the real question may be for who? Astana probably won't renew his contract for 2010, and there are few other top level European teams that would be willing to throw big money at an aging American rider. Horner may find himself having to come back to the American domestic peloton if he is to continue to earn team leader money.

Five years ago, coming back to the US to race would be considered a step down to many riders. But today, things are different. The tours of California, Georgia, Missouri, and Utah are all difficult and competitive, and the Triple Crown of Cycling event in the Philadelphia region in June features the best riders in the world as well. More and more, America is becoming a place filled with the best riders from Europe and the world. And if Horner is willing, he could own the domestice circuit over the coming years as the leader of a top domestic team.

Contador vs. Armstrong & Bruyneel: How Long Until The Spaniard Defects?

Photo courtesy www.albumciclismo.it

Johan Bruyneel went on record today with the world press saying that there will be no problems with having both Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong on the same team for the upcoming year. This comment comes on the heels of Contador saying that he would be unwilling to take a back seat to the Texan in this year's Tour de France. All of this is setting things up for a nice little controversy leading into the 2009 season.

Anyone, including Bruyneel, who thinks that Armstrong would willingly become a gregario for Contador and Astana are fooling themselves. Armstrong rides his bike to win, simple as that, and he is not making a comeback to the sport to ride tempo for another rider. Contador, like any rational thinking human, realizes this fact, and is beginning to explore his options for leaving Astana.

Bruyneel, ever greedy and power hungry, has somehow convinced himself that he will be able to retain both Contador and Armstrong for 2009. Nothing could be further from the truth. And Armstrong for his part is also trying to convince Contador to stay, realizing that if he had to race against the Spaniard he would probably not fare all that well.

As usual, Lance Armstrong has managedto undermine a talented rider with his own ambitions of greatness (Landis, Heras, Hamilton, Leipheimer). Contador has won all three grand tours and he is only 25 years old. His future as a bike rider is starburst bright, and he'll be damned if his Tour de France dreams are derailed for a second straight year. The saddest part about the entire situation is that Contador shouldn't even be in the position he is in. If Bruyneel had even a shred of class or loyalty, he would either release Contador or rebuke Armstrong's return to Astana. Instead, he blindly hopes to hoodwink Contador into staying with the Astana squad.

Contador is, without a doubt, the best stage race rider in the world right now. No one has been able to match him in a grand tour, regardless of whether he is on form (Vuelta 2008) or not (Giro 2008). He has proven himself almost unbeatable in a three week race, and he deserves the full and unswerving support of Johan Bruyneel and team Astana. Instead, Bruyneel tells the press that Alberto is under contract and can't leave the team.

However, who is to say that a rival team won't buy out Contador's contract and steal him away? For instance, wouldn't Bjarne Riis do whatever it took to secure the Spaniard for his Saxo bank outfit? If it meant fronting a few million euros to make it happen, Riis would not hesitate. And as for Contador, moving over to a team like Saxo would be easy. Like Astana, they have an internal anti-doping program, an immensely talented supporting cast, and top flight coaching. Bruyneel had no qualms about signing former Riis protege Basso at Discovery, assume Riis will feel the same way about pursuing Contador for Saxo.

The next few months promise to be charged with anxiety and suspense for Bruyneel and Astana, as Contador mulls his options. And despite the fact that he is under contract, Contador still must do all he can to sign with another team for 2009. His star is bright, but Armstrong's is brighter, and the Texan will be able to pull rank on Contador for as long as they are teammates, regardless of what Armstrong or Bruyneel say publicly. The time has come for Contador to leave Astana, and make them sorry for not treating him like the champion he is.

Ciao Cozza! 23 Year Old Garmin Pro Makes Good in Varese with a Top 25 Placing

Photo courtesy of www.albumciclismo.blogspot.com

Steven Cozza showed his ability as a top rider for the future after finishing an amazing 23rd in the world championship road race in Varese last Sunday. Cozza was the only American able to stay with the final group, and held on right until the end, eventually conceding only a minute and forty seconds to eventual winner Alessandro Ballan.

Speaking of Ballan, Cozza is built in the same mold as the Italian superstar, and the Petaluma resident may one day find himself at the front of the field taking the rainbow stripes for his country. An excellent time trialiast and all-around tough guy, Cozza has all of the characteristics necessary to win the same way Ballan did on Sunday.

To American cycling fans in the know, Cozza's performance is no surprise. The 23 year old has steadily improved during his short career, and more great things are surely on the way. After a few more races the off season will be in full swing, and we'll next see Cozza at the Tour of California in February. If the past is any indicator, he'll be fired up to animate each stage just like he was last year. Bravo Steve, America salutes you!!!