News

1st May 2007

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Teams announce their selections for the Tour de Vendée

Today will see a number of the world's top professional teams compete in France at the Tour de Vendée, a one day race covering a total distance of 206 kilometers starting and finishing in La Roche-Sur-Yon.

Cofidis and Crédit Agricole are just two of the ProTour teams that will be lining up as will top French Pro-Continental team Agritubel.

The Cofidis team will be guided by sporting director Lionel Marie and they will field: Stéphane Auge (Fra), Mickaël Buffaz (Fra), Tristan Valentin (Fra), Yann Huguet (Fra), Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra), Damien Monier (Fra), Chris Sutton (Aus) and Bradley Wiggins (GBr).

The Crédit Agricole team will be guided by Michel Laurent and will be represented by: Pierre Rolland (Fra), Nicolas Roche (Irl), Mark Renshaw (Aus), Jean-Marc Marino (Fra), Christophe Laurent (Fra), Jonathan Hivert (Fra), Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) and William Bonnet (Fra).

Pro-Continental team Agritubel will field: Freddy Bichot (Fra), Romain Feillu (Fra), Mikel Gaztanaga (Spa), Cédric Hervé (Fra), Nicolas Jalabert (Fra), Samuel Plouhinec (Fra), Anthony Ravard (Fra), Benoit Sinner (Fra) and Nicolas Vogondy (Fra). Sporting director for the event will be Frédéric Mainguenaud.

Has Tyler Hamilton been suspended by Tinkoff Credit Systems?

If some recent media reports are to be believed American rider Tyler Hamilton has been suspended by his team, Tinkoff Credit Systems. But are these reports true?

Omar Piscina, manager of the Tinkoff Credit Systems team, has indeed denied these reports and has stated that Hamilton is on the list of 12 riders listed for selection for the Giro d'Italia, a race he expects the American to compete in.

Hamilton has returned to competition this season following a two year suspension. If the American does compete at the Giro d'Italia it will be his first Grand Tour since riding the 2004 Vuelta a España, an event he failed to finish.

So, to answer the question, no Tyler Hamilton is not suspended...according to his own team!

CSC announce it's lineup for the GP Herning

On the 5th of May the Danish CSC ProTour team will line up at the GP Herning, a category 1.1 one day race in their home country of Denmark.

Representing CSC will be a six rider lineup that will include 2006 Paris Roubaix champion Fabian Cancellara from Switzerland.

World time trial champion Cancellara will be joined by Lars Bak (Den), Matti Breschel (Den), Allan Johansen (Den), Anders Lund (Den) and Luke Roberts (Aus).

Ivan Basso... Is this the end for the Italian star?

As reported yesterday here on ProCycleNews.com 2006 Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso has been released from American team Discovery Channel on his request at a meeting on Sunday. But does this mean the end for the Italian rider?

Basso, along with Jan Ullrich, was one of the riders to beat at last years Tour de France. That was before the race kicked off but events meant that Basso was prevented from riding after being allegedly linked to the Spanish doping investigation 'Operacion Puerto'. Indeed Basso was not alone as many other riders were also prevented from competing.

At the end of 2006 the Spanish investigation was shelved because of lack of evidence against the riders, riders who had been prevented from competing from July through to the end of the season.

As a result Basso was again free to race and sign a contract which he did with the Discovery Channel squad. Only last week the announcement came that the investigation was to be reopened.

Now Basso has been released from the American registered team and it is unclear whether he will ever race again and indeed have the chance to challenge for the Tour de France, a race he has dreamt of winning. And if he does, what squad will he sign for? We'll have to wait and see what develops over the coming months to find out the answer. Lets wait and see.

Di Luca looks towards the Giro d'Italia following his 3rd win of the season, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège

The 2007 season has been successful to date for Italy's Danilo Di Luca, the rider who claimed the Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday. Now the Liquigas rider has turned his attentions toward the upcoming Giro d'Italia, a race that is now wide open with a number of serious challengers capable of winning.

The 'Killer' as he has became known as will now rest, choosing not to race to the Giro kicks off on the 12th of May in Maddalena with the team time trial.

In the meantime the 2005 ProTour series winner will spend some time checking out the climbs of the Zoncolan and Tre Cime di Lavaredo, two climbs that will prove vital in deciding the 2007 Giro d'Italia.

Di Luca will take some time recuperating ensuring that he arrives at the start of the Italian Grand Tour in top condition and ready to compete for the races major spoils.

Last year Di Luca built much of his season around the Giro but illness meant he faded loosing time and ending the race disappointed. So can Di Luca now challenge for the pink jersey and end the race in Milan on the 3rd of June on a high place on the podium? Stay tuned to ProCycleNews.com to find out as the race unfold's.

Predictor-Lotto announce for today's Henninger-Turm

Belgium's Predictor-Lotto team will compete in today's Henninger-Turm race in Germany, a 190 kilometer 1.HC race in Frankfurt.

The teams sporting director Hendrik Redant will bring a strong eight rider lineup that will include experienced Italian rider Stefano Zanini.

Zanini will be joined by: Dominique Cornu (Bel), Nic Ingels (Bel), Olivier Kaisen (Bel), Matthew Lloyd (Aus), Pieter Mertens (Bel), Geert Steurs (Bel) and Preben Van Hecke (Bel).

T-Mobile take a firm stance following doping accusations by ex-soigneur

Former soigneur with Team Telekom from 1992 to 1996, Jeff d’Hont, has made accusations of systematic doping practices with the cycling team.

The Belgian has made the accusations in a yet-to-be released book describing how doctors from the University of Freiburg allegedly supplied EPO and other doping substances to certain riders, accusations which T-Mobile are taking a strong stance against.

The teams general manager Bob Stapleton has already ruled out any future working relationship with the doctors involved if there is any truth in the accusations.

As usual ProCycleNews.com will bring you any developments as this story develops over the coming weeks and months.

Giro del Trentino in photo's

Check out the images from last week's Giro del Trentino in Italy, a race that was won overall by Lampre-Fondital's Damiano Cunego. The 'Little Prince' won a total of two stages on route to his victory showing the form he hopes will help him to his second Giro d'Italia title.

More images tomorrow...