UCI Bio Passport interview

They were denied passports There’s a good interview over at NY Velocity with Michael Ashenden. Ashenden’s an Australian physiologist with an expertise in blood doping, and an advisor to the UCI. The interview assesses where the “Bio Passport” scheme is today, essentially it is a source of information and a tool but it is not … Read more

RadioShack rumours, an update

I wrote earlier this month that RadioShack could be up for sale, the retailing business and not its cycling team. But whilst the New York Post has a decent track record in flushing out takeover rumours, there’s been nothing so far. RadioShack announced its first quarter results this week, profits came in ahead of expectations. … Read more

The Joy of Winning

Poor Mark Cavendish, he wins Stage 2 of the Tour de Romandie and rather than smiling and enjoying the moment, he decides to stick two fingers up at the world. I know he’s had troubles over the winter but a win is something to celebrate, no?

Tour de France: for sale?

BackgroundLagardère is a French company with a focus on media interests. It owns 20% of French satellite TV channel Canal+ as well as other print interests, like newspaper Le Monde. It’s the world’s largest magazine publisher, via its subsidiary Hachette-Filipacchi. Run today by Arnaud Lagardère, the company is now coming under pressure from certain shareholders … Read more

Fignon: book review

We We Young and Carefreeby Laurent FignonHere’s a review of Fignon’s autobiography. It contains a few elements from the book so if you worry I’ll spoil the read for you, look away. Fignon’s autobiography caused a storm when it came out. For the wrong reasons. Fignon had just announced he’d been diagnosed with cancer and … Read more

That’s Rubbish

You might have seen the story that three riders could face criminal charges following the Flèche Walloone. Personally I think criminal charges are a bit much, this smacks of a publicity operation for the politicians involved. After all, I’m writing about it now. Note it’s usually the fans who leave a mess behind, some places … Read more

The Doper’s Latest Weapon

The cheat’s latest weapon: dihydrogen monoxide Too much doping news at the moment, I’ll try to stay away from it a bit. But you can never escape it in the world of cycling and this story is worth mentioning. The previous day he had given himself a micro-dosage of EPO for the first time in … Read more

"If the President phones?"

The RTL L’Equipe podcast is a good listen, one of the best podcasts going. Monday’s edition included a telephone interview with Astana’s Yvon Sanquer, the DS imported at the end of 2009 to replace Bruyneel and his entourage. Stuck in the middle with you When asked who was the team leader, Sanquer was firm that … Read more

BMC to join Pro Tour?

Tour of Poland, he we come I can’t find the precise quote but there was a French general from World War I who said something like “my northern front is collapsing, the enemy has breached the eastern lines and my supply lines are being cut off. Excellent, I attack“. Now this sounds foolish in battle … Read more

"You’re just jealous"

Alexander Vinokourov’s win on Sunday has left some scratching their heads, and some were even shaking them. This includes the media following the race. The post-race press conference in Liège was dominated by Vino’s past, journalists kept asking about his suspension, his attitude to doping and other related topics. They see me rollin’, they hatin’ … Read more