Cyclingnews News Headlines

Team Sky reveals recruiting, management methods

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:21:21 GMT

Creating a successful top-level professional cycling team takes more than just hiring fast riders and getting sponsorshiph dollars. While the new British squad, Team Sky, has yet to get started in races, manager David Brailsford revealed the innovative management methods that have gone into planning the operation in an interview with The Times this week. Brailsford, whose leadership brought the British national team to multiple world and Olympic championships during his tenure, borrows philosophies ...

Cardoso signs with Footon-Servetto

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:39:05 GMT

Footon-Servetto today announced the signing of Portuguese national Champion Manuel Cardoso, and Spaniards Iban Mayoz Etxeberria and Vidal Celis to their 2010 squad. The team have high expectations of Cardoso, whose national road race title in June came as one of seven victories this season. The 26-year-old was left team-less in August after the withdrawal of Liberty Seguros from cycling, but will now have the opportunity to continue his four year professional career in the ProTour. A winner of stages ...

Sireau will skip keirin to focus on sprint

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:06:30 GMT

Men's sprint world record holder Kevin Sireau says he will not contest any keirin event this season. Sireau, who recorded 9.572 seconds in the 200m sprint in Moscow in May this year, told Cyclingnews at the track world cup event in Melbourne that he will instead focus his energy on the shorter event in the lead up to the 2010 track World Championships. "I have decided to keep all my mental energy for the queen race, which in my mind is the individual sprint," said the 22-year-old Frenchman, ...

Lifelong ban for Pfannberger after second doping violation

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:21:51 GMT

Christian Pfannberger has been given a life-long ban by the Austrian National Anti-Doping Agency, after his second doping violation in March this year. The Austrian, who has consistently denied ever having doped, has indicated he will challenge the ban. Pfannberger, 30, tested positive for EPO at an out-of-competition control in March. He had previously served a two-year ban from 2004 to 2006 after testing positive for testosterone. “This is what we expected, since he has been caught twice,” ...

PSK Whirlpool to be Continental for 2010

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:16:56 GMT

PSK Whirlpool-Author says financial constraints have forced it to return to Continental status for the 2010 season. Czech website Sport.cz reports that the team had intended to maintain their Professional Continental licence, but had been unable secure the sponsorship necessary to retain the higher status. PSK have held a Pro Continental licence for the past two seasons. The team's manager Vladimir Vavra said that with no guarantee of participation in top races, the team had been decided to take ...

Selvaggi bound for Astana

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:32:16 GMT

Astana have recruited Mirko Selvaggi for the 2010 season. Biciclismo reports that the Italian rider will join the ProTour squad next year and is expected to support the team's ambitions for the Spring Classic season. It will be the first time Selvaggi has ridden for a top-tier team in his two-year professional career. Selvaggi's second season as a professional was cut short this year when his now former team, Amica Chips – Knauf, was suspended by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in May. ...

Contador's Specialized deal a factor in Quick Step switch

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:03:33 GMT

Alberto Contador “certainly played a role” in Quick Step's decision to end its co-operation with Specialized bikes, said Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere. The Belgian team announced on Friday that it would ride Eddy Merckx bikes for the coming three years. As recently as ten days ago, Specialized had hoped to help attract Contador to Quick Step for the 2010 season, and has announced a personal deal with the Tour de France winner. However, Contador then announced that he would in all ...

Haussler still hopes to ride for Australia one day

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:47:47 GMT

Heinrich Haussler still hopes to one day ride in the Australian national kit, despite the complications of a switch from his current German racing licence. The International Cycling Union (UCI) says that in order to compete for his nation of birth, he will have to drop his German citizenship, a step which Haussler is not prepared to take at this time. Haussler, 25, was born in Australia to a German father and an Australian mother, giving him dual citizenship. He moved to Germany at the age of 14 ...

Tour of Oman moves forward for February

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:09:23 GMT

The Tour of Oman, a new race scheduled to take place two days after the end of the Tour of Qatar, will be held from February 14 to 19. The Amaury Sport Organisation, which also runs the Tour de France, will announce the route in Paris in January. The AFP reported Friday that Eddy Merckx, also the promoter of the Tour of Qatar, has inked an agreement with the municipality of Musqat the capital of the Sultanate of Oman to host the race. Oman is located on the southeastern corner ...

Work for Cyclingnews, the world's leading cycling website

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:28:36 GMT

Future Publishing US is looking for an Advertising Sales Executive to work across our cycling portfolio including Cyclingnews.com , BikeRadar.com and ProCycling magazine. This individual will be responsible for developing advertising and inovative marketing campaigns for our existing advertising partners as well as identifying new clients who wish to work with us to promote their companies and products. This position may require off-hour/weekend work and regular travel. If you have a passion for ...

Bart Wellens may return to cyclo-cross in Koksijde

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:39:12 GMT

Belgian Bart Wellens could make his return to cyclo-cross racing as early as next week, sport.be reported Friday. The two-time elite World Champion missed the first part of the season due to the cytomegalovirus and was planning to make his comeback in December, but his recuperation is going better than expected. Wellens is now looking at the Koksijde World Cup on November 28 as his first race back, but must first earn a selection to the team from national selector Rude De Bie. The ...

Phinney fights to save Olympic track pursuit

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:06:29 GMT

In a bid to save the individual pursuit from Olympic extinction, current world champion Taylor Phinney has pleaded for the UCI and IOC to consider keeping the discipline on the Olympic programme for 2012. If removed from the London Games in 2012, along with the men's Madison and Points Race, Phinney has threatened to turn his back on the velodrome and concentrate on a career in road racing. "The pursuit has helped me a lot in my career and brought me to where I am today. It would be a big blow ...

Davide Rebellin to face damage payments to CONI

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:02:31 GMT

Italian Davide Rebellin faces possible damage payments to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) for the doping scandal which resulted in his being stripped of the Olympic silver medal. After meeting on Wednesday at its headquarters in Rome to discuss the case, the CONI announced Thursday that, in addition to officially requesting the return of the medal and a 75,000 euro prize awarded by the Italian Cycling Federation, it has asked its lawyer Massimo Ranieri to open a case against Rebellin, "for ...

Elmiger to lead AG2R at Tour Down Under

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:42:11 GMT

Former winner Martin Elmiger will lead AG2R La Mondiale at the Tour Down Under stage race in Australia, January 17 to 24, according to AFP. AG2R is the only team to have competed in all 11 editions of the Tour Down Under. Elmiger won the 2007 edition, the fourth win by the French ProTour team. In the race's second year Gilles Maignan won. In 2003 Mikel Astarloza took overall honours and Simon Gerrans won the race in 2006. This year Elmiger finished thirty seconds behind Australian Allan Davis (Quick ...

Quick Step to ride Merckx bikes in 2010

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:59:55 GMT

Tom Boonen, Stijn Devolder and all of team Quick Step will be riding on Eddy Merckx bikes in 2010 and beyond. The Belgian ProTour team announced today that it has reached a three-year deal with Eddy Merckx Cycles Company. “It's a matter of pride for us to have by our side such a prestigious brand and a cycling icon like Eddy,” said Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere. “We're sure that this relationship will be mutually beneficial, allowing both the team and the company to grow ...

Mayoz joins Footon-Servetto for 2010

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:37:34 GMT

Spaniard Iban Mayoz Exteberria will ride for Spain's Footon-Servetto ProTour team next season, according to the Netherlands' Sportweek . Mayoz, 28, rode the last two seasons with Xacobeo Galicia. He placed eighth overall in the Vuelta a Andalucía stage race and won the sprint classification in the Bicicleta Vasca and País Vasco in 2008. He started his professional career in 2004 with Relax and raced with Euskaltel-Euskadi in 2006 and 2007. Mauro Gianetti's Footon team signed 14 riders ...

Muravyev out of Astana, Stangelj in

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:02:13 GMT

The comings and goings at Astana continue with the news that Kazakh rider Dmitriy Muravyev has decided to leave the team from his home country and take up an offer to follow Johan Bruyneel, Lance Armstrong, and many others to Radio Shack. The 30-year-old becomes the 11th rider to make the move from Astana to The Shack, with Spaniard Haimar Zubeldia still hoping to make it a round dozen by finding a way out of his contract with the Kazakh team. Astana have been filling the gaps left in their roster, ...

De Groot retires after 11 year career

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:56:22 GMT

Bram de Groot has ended his career, after not receiving a new contract for the coming season. The 34-year-old had ridden for Rabobank for his whole career. The Dutch rider confirmed his retirement on Thursday to the Dutch radio station Radio West. After being informed by Rabobank that his contract would not be renewed, he was unable to find a place on another team. De Groot is “a role model as a professional cyclist, one of the few Dutch riders who has helped teammates win a Grand Tour (Vuelta ...

Contador happy with new Astana staff, awaiting licence

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:33:21 GMT

Alberto Contador is pleased with the management changes made at team Astana this off-season and is ready to stay. He welcomed team manger Yvon Sanquer and directeur sportif Giuseppe Martinelli, and waits for the team to receive confirmation of its ProTour licence. "Sanquer seems like a competent person, educated and clever. I trust him," Contador told La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Frenchman took over for Johan Bruyneel, who leaves with Lance Armstrong to form new team RadioShack. With Bruyneel ...

Yates joins team Sky as directeur sportif

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:32:28 GMT

Sean Yates will join Team Sky in 2010 as sports director. The Englishman will work with Scott Sunderland, Steven De Jongh and Marcus Ljungqvist, the other sports directors for Team Sky. Yates has been a sports director at Team Discovery Channel and Team CSC before working in that function at Astana since 2008. The 49-year-old was "extremely excited" to join the British outfit for many reasons. "Obviously for me, to be part of a British team at the highest level is something truly ...

Peraud eyes Tour de France

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:31:55 GMT

French mountain biker Jean-Christophe Peraud will be concentrating on road cycling the next two years, racing as a neo-pro with Belgian team Omega Pharma-Lotto. Until now, the 32-year-old has been competing mainly on the mountain bike circuit, where he has achieved prestigious victories such as the 2005 European Championship and a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Last year, he nevertheless started to excel on the road as well, becoming French amateur champion. In 2009, he went on to win ...

Specialized ends sponsorship agreement with Quick Step

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:04:01 GMT

Specialized bikes and ProTour team Quick Step announced today that the two will split ways for the 2010 season. The USA bike company will supply the bikes of two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador next season and is expected to also supply bikes for his team, Astana. Quick Step rode Specialized bikes to many important victories since the two began their relationship at the start of the 2007 season. Belgian Tom Boonen won the Paris-Roubaix twice and two stages and the green sprinters' jersey ...

Sky to swoop on Swift?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:48:31 GMT

Team Sky has announced the signing of two Italian riders in Dario Cioni and Davide Viganò, taking the number of riders announced for its 2010 squad to 24. Yet the two new announcements were overshadowed by who will be the British squad’s 25th signing as The Guardian speculated that Ben Swift has moved into the sights of David Brailsford’s squad. All eyes will be on Team Sky heading into its first training camp next week with observers expecting the announcement of a British signing ...

Rogers aims for Tour de France overall

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:29:53 GMT

While the comebacks of Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso and Floyd Landis have all been well documented, Michael Rogers has had to endure his own fight back, but with an impressive 2009, the Australian is building for a shot at the Tour de France and Tour of California next year. Rogers spent the majority of 2008 on the sidelines suffering from glandular fever. It was a tough break. The year before he'd suffered the unlucky fate of crashing out of the Tour de France while leading the race on the road. ...

Shanks sparks the Commonwealth Games fuse

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:42:17 GMT

Women’s individual pursuit World Champion Alison Shanks secured a silver in last night’s women’s individual pursuit at the Melbourne Track World Cup, but has indicated that next year’s Commonwealth Games is the focus as the new track season begins. The Melbourne event is a homecoming of sorts, as Shanks began her international career with the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, in 2006. “I only started track cycling about four-and-a-half years ago,” Shanks told ...