He With The Biggest Mouth Falls Hardest....

Riccardo Riccò, formerly of Team Saunier Duval, may have his truthfulness tested once again. French newspaper L'Equipe reported on Thursday that the rider's Giro d'Italia anti-doping samples would be re-analysed after Riccò confessed to injecting himself with CERA, a last-generation EPO, prior to the Tour de France.
In front of the Italian Olympic Committee CONI, the 24 year-old said that he had taken the banned substance on Wednesday, July 2, three days before the Tour start. But he maintained that this was the only time he had cheated, and affirmed his second place in the Giro d'Italia was not tainted.
"I rode a clean Giro," he said. "I want to send a message to all of those who believe in me: before the Tour, I always won with my legs only."
Riccò's Giro d'Italia samples will be tested once again by the Rome anti-doping laboratory, which did not have the detection method for CERA at the time of the event, in May. Meanwhile, the rider had pointed out that of his ten anti-doping tests taken at the Tour de France, only two showed a positive result. "In theory all the tests should have been positive. The detection method is not efficient to a 100 percent, as the effect of the drug lasts one month," he said.
CONI is expected to pronounce a sanction on the rider some time next week.

ToCA 2009!

2009

Stage 1: Saturday, Feb. 14 - Sacramento

Stage 2: Sunday, Feb. 15 - Davis to Santa Rosa

Stage 3: Monday, Feb. 16 - Sausalito to Santa Cruz

Stage 4: Tuesday, Feb. 17 - San Jose to Modesto

Stage 5: Wednesday, Feb. 18 - Merced to Clovis

Stage 6: Thursday, Feb. 19 - Visalia to Paso Robles

Stage 7: Friday, Feb. 20 - Solvang (individual time trial)

Stage 8: Saturday, Feb. 21 - Santa Clarita to Pasadena

Stage 9: Sunday, Feb. 22 - Rancho Bernardo to Escondido

But We Had No Idea...... Mmm Hmmm...

From the desk of the RED Headed Step Child...

Ricco is out. We woke up shocked and in a complete state of utter disbelief. Two years ago, when we hooked up with the Scott boys and sponsored the team, we were excited to get our stuff on the pro’s bikes. We were excited to get our stuff “ProTour proven.” We were excited to go to the Tour de France.
We’re extremely disappointed that a team that we sponsor would have athletes that act with such disregard for the rules and regulations. At SRAM, we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to illegal behavior in the sponsorship game. We do not take lightly the actions of those that discredit the sport. We take pride in our products and our brand’s image and want to make sure that everyone knows what we stand for. We’ll all learn more in the next 24 hours, but until then, we will stop supporting this team and its athletes.
At the end of the day, sponsors like ourselves and Scott bikes, have lost a lot in this game. We have invested thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours working on bikes, and countless numbers of spare parts to support the team. We lose the ads that we ran in the magazines, we lose the pictures that appear on our websites, and we lose the imagery that we use in our brochures. I don’t think I’ll be wearing my coveted Saunier Duval jersey anymore at my local group ride.
In the end, SPAM moves on. We’ll weather the storm and continue to support the other teams that we sponsor. To you that support us, just know that we’re committed to fair play. We’re committed to great products that make your riding experience taste better.

HA! How About 49 or More Cars Get a Permit!

CASTRO VALLEY — The county is circulating a new "bicycle event" law proposal that would make excursions on country roads more difficult and expensive for organized cycling clubs.
County Supervisor Nate Miley said the law would balance the concerns of bicyclists and residents.
"We want people to ride bicycles, and not to impose unfair burdens on people who live along (rural) roadways," Miley explained.
The proposal would primarily affect roads in unincorporated Livermore, Pleasanton and Sunol. However, it also would cover portions of Crow Canyon, Cull Canyon, Eden Canyon, Lake Chabot, Palomares and Redwood roads, and East Castro Valley Boulevard.
For years, bands of bicycle riders have irritated residents living along rural roads.
The cyclists often clog narrow roads at unexpected times, dump litter and take restroom breaks at inappropriate places, the residents have claimed during a decade of meetings with elected and appointed Alameda County representatives.
Under the proposed new law, organizations with advertised rides and 50 or more riders would have to apply for permits, which the Alameda County Sheriff's Office could approve or deny. The permit would cost $189. Another $150 fee would be required for informational signs, which the county would post along the requested route.
Groups with 49 or fewer riders would not be subject to permit requirements. The sheriff's office estimates that rides with a few hundred
to a few thousand cyclists occur about 20 times a year.
The proposal was introduced last week to Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council members, who had mixed reactions.
Council member Dave Sadoff called the proposal "not an unreasonable approach," while member Cheryl Miraglia claimed it went "overboard." The law wouldn't take effect until it is approved by county supervisors. As of Friday, no date had been set for a hearing.
The East Bay Bicycle Coalition, which advocates for cyclists in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, is batting 0-for-3. Nearly a year ago, as the ordinance was being drafted, the coalition told the sheriff's office that signs were unnecessary. The Oakland-based organization asked that the 50-cyclists threshold be removed and the term "bicycle event" — which could trigger the need for event liability insurance — be eliminated.

Another One Bites The Dust...

One seat available for the tour de france. Inquire at the Saunier Duval-Scott, located in an alley somewhere in France illuminated only by flashbulbs.

Note: Must pass drug test.

Michael Rasmussen commercial !

Sent in by Ams!

Quick! Is there an Asshole in the house?

Bicyclists who crave a steady uphill climb flock to Mandeville Canyon Road and its 5-mile, straight-shot ascent with no traffic lights.But the route's rising popularity has turned the narrow road into a zone of conflict for Brentwood residents and the hundreds of cyclists who, every weekend, brave its twists, turns and tree-root bumps.

The frustration boiled over on the Fourth of July. In what police describe as a "road-rage incident," two experienced racers on a holiday outing that attracted about 300 cyclists were riding down Mandeville Canyon when a motorist in an Infiniti sedan slammed on his brakes in front of them. Police said the resulting impact propelled one rider through the car's rear window and sent the other to the pavement.Police arrested the driver, Christopher T. Thompson, 58, on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon -- his automobile. Thompson, who lives on Mandeville Canyon Road and is an owner of a medical documentation company in Woodland Hills, was released on $30,000 bail.Capt. Bill Eaton of the Los Angeles Police Department said the case could go to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office as early as today.Peter Swarth, Thompson's attorney, denied that his client had done anything wrong and said the cyclists' account was inaccurate. "This isn't an incident of road rage," Swarth said. "It is a very unfortunate accident. Dr. Thompson hopes for the injured cyclists' recovery."Cyclist Ron Peterson, 40, whose head crashed through the car window, suffered broken teeth and serious cuts on his face, including one that left his broken nose dangling.The other cyclist, Christian Stoehr, 29, said he suffered a shoulder separation that would require surgery.Photos showing a car's shattered window and what appears to be a blood-covered trunk and a cut-up Peterson on a gurney and in a UCLA Medical Center bed were quickly posted on Internet blogs, prompting outraged e-mails among members of Westside riding clubs.Peterson and Stoehr said they were starting their descent toward Sunset Boulevard when a fellow cyclist crashed into another rider's bike and was injured. The two remained behind to help.After paramedics arrived and loaded the cyclist into an ambulance, Peterson and Stoehr said they continued to descend, riding side by side at about 30 mph.Peterson said he pulled in front of Stoehr after a driver behind them honked. The car passed them, missing their handlebars by less than a foot, Peterson said.The driver "yelled out some profanity and 'Ride single file,' " said Peterson, who works as a cycling coach. Peterson, riding a $5,500 Specialized racing bike, screamed an expletive at the driver. At that point, the driver veered directly in front of the riders and "slammed on his brakes as hard as he could," Peterson said.Peterson's head slammed through the window. Stoehr, meanwhile, said he tried to steer around the car but clipped it with his bag or a foot. "I ended up being catapulted over my own bike and landed in front of the car," he said.According to Peterson, the driver emerged from the car and said he was a doctor. But "from that point on, he never offered any help," Peterson said.Thompson's biography on the website of his company, Touch Medix, says he spent 29 years as an emergency department doctor. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma and has for years consulted on issues relating to medical documentation.Wendy-Sue Rosen, president of the Upper Mandeville Canyon Assn., described Thompson as "a great guy who has been active in the community." His wife, Lynne, is on the association's board."People here are very, very angry at bicyclists and their disregard for the laws of the road," Rosen said, adding that residents had reported being spat upon by cyclists.Charles Mostov, a lawyer who lives on Mandeville Canyon Road and is an avid cyclist, said the incident had prompted some much-needed conversation.Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents the area, said he had called for a meeting within the next two weeks of residents, cyclists, traffic engineers and police to discuss the issues and to reinforce the fact that "cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear."Cyclists urged members of their community not to use the incident as an excuse to act aggressively toward motorists."As more people take to the road because of gas prices and the economy," Mostov said, "maybe this is an opportunity for some outreach and for dialogue so that we can get along."

Versus Cycling Prevention Campaign..... YEP! Its working....

I was going to run this shot backwards, but this guy's soooo guilty its best frozen...

OK ok.... I know I've been getting lapped on the blog posting. Stop writing me!

9 days at the tour of PA and then trying to get my legs back in 3 smoky Norcal days due to 20 fires - in time to go to KY for the Nationals.... Well that didn't work! So I raced on the 4th, 5th,and 6th and now I'm prepping to head to OR and do the Cascade Cycling Classic Stage Race this Fri~Sun....

It's tour time - Could be the Bore de France... who knows, however, we will see who emerges as the 2nd tear winner. That brings me to what is the most undermining commercial by the folks who bring you the TV coverage of the Bore in this country - Versus - or as they like to see it in print - Vs: - ya know, the cowboy ch... Bet those shit kickers dope, why the fuck else would you do that? Anyway, I could not embed the clip but if you click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHkdhb6yVrE you will see - not the one they play to death every commercial break - but the extended re-mix (wiki, wiki) - with the surprise ending - the walrus is Paul... David Milar. Have you noticed? The first version had Milar in the ending shots, but the current one running during the Bore has been replaced w/ Vino.... Hmmmm, pressure fro JV?

Garmin?

Not Amgen - we're sure of that!

Do ya think Baseball would run ad's durring the world series with Bonds, McGuire etc... hitting HR's backwards?

I didn't think so.......... Good on ya VERSUS!