Monthly Archives: July 2009

Weekend Preview – UPDATE

I knew it was too good to be true… The UCI has just announced that Euskaltel’s Mikel Astarloza tested positive on June 26 for recombinant EPO. He is of course being considered innocent until proven guilty, but he certainly won’t be participating in tomorrow’s Clasica San Sebastian. Otherwise, it casts a shadow on what had … Continue reading

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Weekend Preview – Clasica San Sebastian

The rest of the season kicks-off in earnest tomorrow with the annual running of the Clasica San Sebastian. Starting and finishing in San Sebastian, the 237km race usually suits punchy climbers and one day specialists able to hang over the race’s major climb, the Jaizkibel, coming with about 39km to go. Locally called the Donostia-Donostia … Continue reading

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Team Radio Shack – What Should Lance Armstrong Do?

The cycling world has been a-twitter (literally) since last Thursday when Lance Armstrong announced the formation of Team Radio Shack. And while per UCI regulations riders and teams are not allowed discuss contract negotiations and signings before September 1st, it’s never too early to speculate. Rumors are flying! Apparently, the usual Astana suspects are in … Continue reading

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Tour de France Wrap-up – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Ever seen a spaghetti western? To me, this year’s Tour might as well have been directed by Sergio Leone and played over a soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. Stark landscapes, aging heroes, young upstarts, pistols, you get the idea… Where they had Clint Eastwood, we had Lance Armstrong. Where they had a cast of Spanish-American outlaws, … Continue reading

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Tour de France – Stage 21 Wrap-up

To be honest, the final stage of the Tour de France is always a bit of a let-down for me. Not because of the racing, but because it means the end of the race…like going to bed after your birthday party or on the night before school starts again… We’ll have more wrap-up throughout the … Continue reading

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Tour de France – Stage 20 Wrap-up

If I told you before the Tour started that a Rabobank rider would win on Ventoux, would you have thought it would be Juan Manuel Garate? Didn’t think so. But he did, and in doing so salvaged what has to be considered a disappointing Tour for the oranje. Tactics and wind certainly took their toll … Continue reading

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