Cyclingnews News Headlines

Tour de Langkawi 2010 route announced

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:54:32 GMT

The route for the 15th edition of Asia's premier cycling event, the 2010 Le Tour de Langkawi, has been announced today in Malaysia. The International Cycling Union (UCI) Cat. 2.HC event is scheduled to take place from March 1-7, 2010 and will involve seven stages, for a total distance of 1,001.8 kilometres. The route will feature 13 stage towns, including a venue new to the Tour de Langkawi at Parit Sulong in the state of Johor. The seven stages will be: Stage 1 - Kota Bharu - Kuala Berang (174.5km) ...

Elk Haus stops team sponsorship

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:39:02 GMT

Team Elk Haus is losing its title sponsor, and the Austrian Professional Continental team will leave the peloton. Many riders have already signed with other teams, and the team management tentatively is planning to take a year off before perhaps starting a new team. “Yes, that is the end of the team,” Elk Haus spokesman Wolfgang Wesely told Cyclingnews. “For 2010 we found no sponsor in Austria. We will try again to build up an Austrian team for 2011.” ELK Fertighaus AG announced ...

Bernaudeau tips Rolland for Tour top 10

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:55:17 GMT

Bbox Bouygues Telecom team boss Jean-René Bernaudeau has never been backwards about coming forwards when it comes to bigging up the ability of the riders in his squad, and J-R has been at it again, insisting that Pierre Rolland can finish in the top 10 at the Tour de France. Speaking to French paper La République du Centre , Bernaudeau described Rolland as "a rare pearl" and "one of tomorrow’s leaders". Rolland, who only turned 23 last month, finished 22nd ...

LeMond and Trek to consider settlement

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:53:39 GMT

The dispute between Greg LeMond and Trek moved closer to a jury trial yesterday when U.S. District Court Judge Richard Kyle heard oral arguments connected to the case, and deferred ruling on two summary judgment motions. He suggested to both parties that an out-of-court settlement is considered in order to avoid what could be an explosive trial next spring. "We're certainly not averse to settling it," said LeMond’s attorney Jamie DiBoise, according to New York Daily News . Trek attorney ...

Win a Zabriskie-signed US national TT jersey

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:07:14 GMT

You could find yourself sporting the stars, stripes and argyles of a US national time trial jersey, autographed by five-time national champion, David Zabriskie. All you have to do is answer one simple question and you'll be in the running for this unique prize! A member of US-based squad Garmin-Slipstream, Zabriskie is one of the professional peloton's most recognizable characters. The 30-year-old Utah native has taken three of his team's 21 season victories in 2009, including yet another US national ...

Priamo given four-year suspension

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:05:58 GMT

Italian Matteo Priamo has been handed a four-year suspension by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The rider, who rode with CSF-Navigare in 2008, was accused of doping, as well as supplying EPO-CERA to his then-teammate Emanuele Sella. The CAS has therefore upheld the suspension request made by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) in January. The Italian National anti-doping Tribunal (TNA) in Rome exonerated Priamo of the charges, but CONI filed an appeal with CAS in April. "The CAS ...

Dempster joins Rapha-Condor for 2010

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:52:56 GMT

Australia’s Zak Dempster will join British Continental squad Rapha Condor for the 2010 season. Dempster endured a difficult season this year following the collapse of the European squad he’d signed for, so is looking forward to a fresh start with John Herety’s team. “Basically they’re building on what they did this year,” Dempster told Cyclingnews . “There’s a real interest in England, as there is in Australia, for cycling. It’s a bit of a boom ...

Rund um Köln 2010 saved

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:33:09 GMT

German one-day classic Rund un Köln has been confirmed to continue next season. The race, which will celebrate its 94th edition in 2010, has been assured live TV coverage by German public broadcaster WDR, and the event's organiser Artur Tabat is confident he will be able to attract enough sponsors to finance the race, scheduled to take place on Easter Monday, April 5, 2010. Tabat confirmed that he already has two sponsors on board and can now look for more. "Now, I will be able to negotiate ...

Albert threatens to quit cyclo-cross for road

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:22:33 GMT

An emotional Niels Albert threatened to quit cyclo-cross for the road after a race incident at the Jaarmarktcross in Niel, Belgium. The cyclo-cross World Champion's comments came after he had been jeered by supporters of eventual race winner Sven Nys after he appeared to cut-off Nys on a climb, three laps from the finish. "It is not fun anymore. I might be better on the road start," said Albert, according to HLN.be . "I don't understand the reaction of the audience, I just lost my ...

Prudhomme considers boosting Tour wild cards

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:21:23 GMT

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has admitted that he and his organising team have been considering increasing the number of wild card places they will offer to teams for next year's race. Speaking to the magazine of the French national federation, La France Cycliste, Prudhomme confessed that he has even considered selecting as many as 26 teams for the Tour, although 22 looks more likely. "I can't say anything now, but we are certainly considering an expansion to 22 teams," ...

Killeen leaves Trek World Racing Team

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:33:10 GMT

Liam Killeen has resigned from Trek World Racing, effective at the end of 2009, to focus on recovering from recurring back problems. The two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist is taking some time off from elite competition to focus on rehabilitation. Killeen's problems started before the 2009 season. "Back problems tend to go with the territory, but during the end of 2008, I took a couple of hard falls on my left hip. I had physio and continued to train throughout the winter ...

Gracia departs Commencal

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:06:05 GMT

Cédric Gracia is leaving the Commencal team and starting his own squad for 2010. The Frenchman races downhill and four cross. "I think it was time to leave. I had different goals, and I want to give back to the fans and sponsors who've been giving to me for so long," said Gracia to Cyclingnews . "I am going to make a private team next year, CG Racing Brigade." "I wanted to make my own structure this year. I think it's a good time to give all I know to the future riders ...

KHS Factory Racing signs two gravity racers

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:45:34 GMT

KHS Factory Racing is adding two new riders to its roster for 2010. This year's US ProGRT winner Chris Heath and a member of the US Junior World Championship team Blake Carney both signed contracts for 2010. "I feel privileged to be joining such a successful team, which has been a permanent fixture on the US scene for a long time," said the 26-year-old Heath from Durango, Colorado. Heath is on a hiatus from a two-year college stint. He's been racing downhill for five years, but competes ...

Chances of Contador staying at Astana high, says manager

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:52:35 GMT

According to Alberto Contador's manager/brother, Francisco, the two-time Tour de France champion is increasingly likely to stay with Astana for 2010. Speaking to Spanish website Biciclismo , Francisco Contador revealed that the work of recently appointed team boss Yvon Sanquer at Astana had resulted in a "good impression" of the work being done. "Yvon Sanquer wants to do things in the right way and move the project forwards," said Contador. However, he quickly added that there ...

Pisgah Mountain Bike Stage Race videos posted

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:23:53 GMT

Asheville local Sam Koerber and endurance pro Jeremiah Bishop battled at the first Pisgah Mountain Bike Stage race in October. The four-day race brought mountain bike stage racing to the Eastern US and was run through the mountains of western North Carolina. "Sam and I fought to keep pace with each other," said Bishop in one post-stage video. "It felt like half the time you were riding off the side of your saddle as you negotiated sidehill root clusters." Bishop also describes ...

Spanish director De Santos scouts Australia's 'uncomplicated' Worlds

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:11 GMT

The World Championships in Australia next year lack climbs significant enough to prevent a sprint finish, according to the director of the Spanish World Championship team, José Luis De Santos. "It's one of the least complicated ones I can remember," De Santos said to Todociclismo . The 2010 Worlds is the first point-to-point course. It will take the professional men from Melbourne to Geelong over 85 kilometres. Once in Geelong, they will ride 11 15.9-kilometre circuits, each ...

Ivan Dominguez signs with Jamis-Sutter Home

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:36:37 GMT

Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita has added Ivan Dominguez to its 2010 roster, bolstering a tough-to-beat sprint squad. The Cuban native accepted the late-season offer from the USA's top ranked National Racing Calendar (NRC) team after his lengthy wait for a Rock Racing contract failed to come through. "I signed with Jamis," Dominguez said candidly. "Basically, I got a called from their directeur Sebastian [Alexandre] asking if I was available. I said yes because I had not signed ...

Serrano recovers in hospital after nose surgery

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:44:11 GMT

Spaniard Rafael Serrano Fernandez (Contentpolis-Ampo) is recovering from successful surgery in Murcia, Spain, today on his nose. Doctors corrected a nasal septum deviation caused in a crash at Delta Tour Zeeland in June. "With the season over, it was time to solve the problem that made breathing difficult for me," Serrano told Europapress . Serrano crashed with Kenny Van Hummel (Skil-Shimano) in the second stage of the Delta Tour Zeeland June 13. He abandoned the stage race, but returned ...

Vinokourov says Kashechkin a risk for Astana

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:10:04 GMT

Alexandre Vinokourov says he expects former Astana teammate Andrey Kashechkin will be forced to find another team for the 2010 season. In an interview with Kazakh website Prosportkz.kz Vinokourov also stated that if Alberto Contador remains with the team in 2010, he will be fully committed to the Spainard's attempt at a third Tour de France victory. Vinokourov and Kashechkin were both dismissed from Astana in 2007 for blood doping. Both riders served two-year suspensions for their respective offences, ...

Sedun to join Astana as director in 2010

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:56:08 GMT

Dimitri Sedun has been named as a Directeur Sportif for Team Astana in the coming year. The Russian will join Italians Giuseppe Martinelli and Guido Bontempi at the Kazakh ProTour team. Sedun, 38, is married to pro cyclist Nicole Brändli. He is a former pro rider himself, having ridden for teams Roslotto, De Nardi and MAT from 1996 to 2001. He was a sports director of the women's team Acca Due, where he worked with Brändli, Zulfiya Zabirova, Diana Zilute and Edita Pucinskaite. He has also ...

Bianchi to supply bikes to Ceramica Flaminia

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:49:43 GMT

Bianchi announced yesterday that it will supply bicycles to Italian team Ceramica Flaminia for the next two seasons. The Italian company continues its sponsorship at the professional continental level after two years with Barloworld. "It provides Bianchi with a direct connection to our Italian heritage and builds recognition of our brand outside of Italy," said Bob Ippolito, Bianchi's Managing Director. Bianchi has a long history in cycling. Felice Gimondi, Magnus Backstedt, Andrea Tafi, ...

Skil-Shimano complete team for 2010

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:29:34 GMT

Skil-Shimano announced today that it has completed its team for the the 2010 season. The Dutch team has signed home riders Robin Chaigneau and Job Vissers as the final members of a 25-man roster. "Chaigneau has come on leaps and bounds and is now ready to turn pro," the team said in a press release. The 21-year-old sprinter had several second and third place finishes this year with continental squad, Cycling Team Jo Piels. Vissers, 24, was Dutch amateur champion last season and this year ...

Lance Armstrong ignites USA Cycling growth

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:19:48 GMT

Lance Armstrong’s return to professional bike racing has had a direct impact on the number of cyclists registering with USA Cycling in 2009. The number of license holders is expected to reach an all time high of 66,600 members by the end of this year, according to Andrea Smith, USA Cycling's director of communications. USA Cycling statistics show a steady increase in the number of licenses issued between 2002 and 2008 that can be directly related to Armstrong's popularity during and after ...

Cycling Australia announces annual award finalists

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:08:30 GMT

Cycling Australia has announced the complete list of finalists for its annual awards evening, the Jayco 2009 Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards. The winners will be presented at a gala celebration being staged at the Plaza Ballroom Melbourne on Sunday 22 November. "Australian cycling has enjoyed a stellar year both at home and on the international stage," said Mike Victor OAM, President of Cycling Australia. "45 Australians have been crowned World Champions in 2009 across every ...

O'Grady recalls thrilling MotoGP ride, set to leave hospital

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:07:06 GMT

Stuart O’Grady will be released from hospital in Spain later today after undergoing tests following a seizure suffered on Sunday. The Australian was attending the Valencia round of the MotoGP championship when he experienced a frightening seizure. O’Grady explained that the ‘hot lap’ he had just taken aboard the Ducati two-seater MotoGP motorcycle with Randy Mamola may have triggered the episode. "When the ride finished of course I could feel my heart rate soaring, my ...