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12 September 2006

13 September News ...

Frankie Andreu Admits EPO Use

Frankie Andreu (39) and another of Lance Armstrong's former teammates said they used EPO (Erythropoietin) drug before the 1999 Tour de France, the New York Times reported 11 September.

Cycling hard-man Andreu and an unnamed 1999 US Postal teammate, said they both used EPO in preparation for the 1999 Tour, when Armstrong re-launched his career by winning the first of his eventual seven Tour titles.

"There are two levels of guys," Andreu said to the New York Times. "You got the guys that cheat and guys that are just trying to survive."

The other rider who said he used EPO spoke on the condition of anonymity because he said he did not want to jeopardize his job in cycling.

"The environment was certainly one of, to be accepted, you had to use doping products," he said. "There was very high pressure to be one of the cool kids."

Both Andreu, who retired in December 2000, and the unnamed rider never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, and both stated that they never saw Armstrong take any banned substances.

Andreu, served as a super-domestique for 12 years, protecting captains, like Armstrong, from all of the cycling's elements. The rider from Michigan had a very close relationship with il Texano while the two were professionals but since there has been a falling out.

Andreu reported to the New York Times that his introduction to performance-enhancing drugs came about in 1995, when he was a young pro with Armstrong on team Motorola. Those days were the EPO heydays, and according to Andreu, some of the riders felt that they could no longer compete against drug-using Europeans.

Armstrong, 35 years-old next week, has always been accused of using drugs since his 1999 Tour de France victory. There is no doubt that Il Texano is a top flight athlete, responsible for a boom in the popularity of cycling, but unfortunately many red flags are being raised. Reflecting on his Tour de France and other post-cancer accomplishments, BiciRace.com continues to be amazed at his strength and drive in the face of all the critics and rivals.

Vino - Double Live

Alexander Vinokourov (Astaná) is ready for the final week of the 61st Vuelta a España. The Kazakh, fourth overall at 1'38" behind Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears), is guaranteed to cap off the final of the Vuelta with all his guns blazing.

"There does not exist other tactics than to attack, attack and attack again," said Vino yesterday, the Vuelta's second rest day.

Today to Observatorio Astronómico de Calar Alto, Vino and Astaná teammate Andrey Kashechkin will have their opportunity to put race leader Valverde in difficulty. Stage 16 covers 145K, starting in Almería, with two category 1 climbs en route to the hors catégorie humdinger, the 2090 meter Calar Alto.

What about the Vuelta-Worlds double? Vino (33 years-old this week) and Kash (26) will take their road show to Austria after the Vuelta to compete in the battle of the (rainbow) bands. The elder Kazakh, Vino, indicated that the Worlds rank number one on his list, but that he is determined to first try to win the Vuelta. Vino figures the week between the Vuelta and Worlds will be enough for him to re-tune his guitar for the Salzburg gig.

Valverde Expects Abundance of Vino

Vuelta a España race leader, Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears), is concerned about his Astaná Kazakh rivals: Andrey Kashechkin (48" back) and Alexander Vinokourov (1'38"). Even though Kash is closer, the 26 year-old Valverde sees Vino as the larger threat for the final week of Iberian racing.

"You see that Vino is able to attack in any kind of terrain, at any moment," commented the Golden Bullet. "It is clear that he is the most hostile rider in the peloton. Tomorrow [today stage 16] I will expect to see him go for the stage and try to take the maillot oro."

In the general classification, Valverde leads by 48 seconds over Kazakh Andrey Kashechkin, 1'25" over compatriot Carlos Sastre (Team CSC) and 1'38" over Vino.

61st Vuelta a España, 26 August - 17 September
Main, Startlist
Stages and Maps, Key Stages, Overall Map
Photos, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
2005 Results

World Championships: Germany, USA and Belgium

Yesterday, Germany, USA and Belgium announced the national members for their nine-man World Championship squadras. The Worlds take place 21 (time trial) and 24 (road race) September in Salzburg on a demanding, non-sprinter course.

The German squadra will be headed by three big guns: Andreas Klöden, young Stefan Schumacher and Jens Voigt. None of the three Germans are indicated "captain", while Klöden is also down for the crono.

Road Race: Linus Gerdemann, Matthias Kessler, Andreas Klöden, David Kopp, Stefan Schumacher, Patrik Sinkewitz, Fabian Wegmann, Jens Voigt, and Erik Zabel. The reserves riders are Christian Knees, Ronny Scholz, Stephan Schreck and Marcel Sieberg.

TT riders: Andreas Klöden and Sebastian Lang. Reserve: Stefan Schumacher.

Due to the nation's ranking, USA is allowed to bring nine men to the World Championship road race. Normally a hodge-podge of riders, Squadra USA will likely follow the bigger teams, rather than make the race. However, this does not count them out of the victory; take a look at the solid men that USA Cycling has selected.

Road Race: Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) Fred Rodriguez (Davitamon-Lotto), Christian Vande Velde (CSC), Tyler Farrar (Cofidis), Patrick McCarty (Phonak), Guido Trenti (Quick-Step), Jackson Stewart (Kodakgallery.com-Sierra Nevada), Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) and Christopher Baldwin (Toyota-United Pro).

TT: David Zabriskie (CSC) will focus solely on the crono, while Baldwin serves double duty.

New Belgian National DS, Carlo Bomans, announced the national squadra to defend Tom Boonen's rainbow stripes.

Road Race: Team captain Tom Boonen will be accompanied by Quick-Step teammates Nick Nuyens, Kevin Hulsmans and Serge Baguet. Stijn Devolder Leif Hoste, Jurgen Van Goolen (Discovery Channel), Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) and Johan Van Summeren (Davitamon-Lotto) will fill out the nine-man squadra. Reserves will be Geert Verheyen, Kevin Van Impe (Quick-Step), Björn Leukemans (Davitamon-Lotto), Thierry Marichal (Cofidis) and Frederik Willems (Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen).

TT: There is very little chance we will see a Belgian win on 21 September. The cycling tough nation is sending Devolder and Hoste to do double duty; Crono on Thursday and road race on Sunday.

World Championships, Salzburg (Austria), 24 & 24 September
Worlds Preview
Time Trial, Profile, Overall Map, TT Startlist
Road Race, Profile, Overall Map, RR Startlist

Landis Files Dismissal to USADA

Yesterday, Floyd Landis and his lawyer submitted their case to the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency), requesting a dismissal of the doping charges brought on in the 2006 Tour de France. No-Fuss Floyd test positive for an excessively high T/E (Testosterone/Epitestosterone) ratio after his stunning stage 17 win, where he finished solo in Morzine.

Landis' lawyer, Howard Jacobs, claims the tests performed on the 'A' and 'B' urine samples did not meet WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) criteria. The review board, after viewing Jacobs' claims, should make a recommendation on the case this week. Based on the recommendation, the USADA will then decide whether or not to charge Landis.

"I did not take testosterone or any other performance enhancing substance and I'm very happy that the science is confirming my innocence. I was relieved, but not surprised, when I learned that scientific experts found problems with the test," said Landis in a released statement regarding Jacobs' yet to be proven claims. "I look forward to restoring my good name so that I can focus on my hip replacement and begin training for next season when I want to return to France to defend my title."

Howard Jacobs commented: "These [testing] errors include markedly inconsistent testosterone and epitestosterone levels from testing on the 'A' sample as well as multiple mismatched sample code numbers that do not belong to Landis."

Landis' stage 17 win in Morzine lifted him back into the classification battle after suffering from a huge defeat on the day before, losing over 10 minutes before the finish of La Toussuire. After his dramatic stage win on 20 July, No-Fuss Floyd was subject to testing that produced a high indicator for T/E.

The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) allows up to a 4:1 T/E ratio in tested cyclists. Normal males have a T/E of 1:1.

Read:
Landis' Lawyers Cry Foul, 9 September
Landis' Father-in-Law Commits Suicide, 18 August
Landis' B is Illin', 5 August
Tour Positive is Landis, 27 July
Tour de France Positive, 27 July

11 September News ...