The Season Of Racing Is Getting Close

With the Tour Down Under and Lances return just days away, how do you contain yourself. Ok Ok Ok - we are mostly in the states, except for Tony, he resides in his own majic land. It is so easy not to get excited about Pro Cycling. NO ONE COVERS IT IN THE USA! NOT EVEN ESPN NEWS. COME ON PEOPLE!

so here on this awsome secret of a blog I will give you swiped info when I see fit.


Predicting that the 2009 Giro d'Italia will be one of "traps and attacks," former winner Damiano Cunego hinted that he's planning a trick of his own. Cunego said he and another former winner, Gilberto Simoni, may put aside their rivalry and work together to "resist" an alliance that they're expecting to be formed by Lance Armstrong and Ivan Basso. According to Italy's Little Prince, "Ivan and Lance will work together to block because of their friendship and their style of racing. We climbers have to try to counteract this." The 100th anniversary Giro is on for May 9-31 and promises to be one of the most intriguing ever.

Fabian Cancellara is yet another star headed to the Giro, according to the race organizers. Known for one-day classics victories and time trialing dominance, the popular Swiss has designs on becoming an all-rounder.

Alberto Contador says he might defend his title in the Vuelta a Espana, depending on how he feels after his primary 2009 goal, the Tour de France. The only grand tour that the world's top roadman definitely will not ride is the Giro d'Italia, which he won in '08.

Lance Armstrong has made more than 500 updates to his "micro blog" at twitter.com. Some are interesting (he says he's using a 38x28-tooth low gear to climb Hawaii's volcanoes) and some not so much ("Eating lunch with my kids"). You can join 20,200 others who follow him on this max-140-characters-per-post social site at http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong. No doubt Lance's enthusiasm for tweeting is the reason his coach, Chris Carmichael, who just arrived in Hawaii to monitor training, is online at http://twitter.com/trainright, as is Team Astana at http://twitter.com/teamastana
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Overheard: "Perfect amount of golf ... Tiger doesn't need to worry." -- Lance Armstrong on twitter after playing 6 holes in Hawaii while training for the Tour Down Under starting Jan. 20 in Australia.
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In his first major interview since the announcement that current girlfriend Anna Hansen is expecting in June, Lance Armstrong talked to thedailybeast.com about his training, Team Astana, the challenges faced by Livestrong and his political ambitions. If you're not too Lanced out by now, click http://tinyurl.com/7p4dbk

Leonardo Piepoli came clean and admitted, "I made a mistake and it is right that I pay. I was advised by the wrong people in difficult moments, but I made the mistake." The Italian climber used EPO-CERA during last summer's Tour de France while winning stage 10, just 3 days before his team left the race in doping disgrace. Now Piepoli, 37, faces a 2-year suspension that will likely be the death sentence for his career.

These 8 ProTour teams will race in the Feb. 14-22 Amgen Tour of California, according to the organizer: Ag2r-La Mondiale, Astana, Liquigas, Quick Step, Rabobank, Saxo Bank and the 2 U.S.-based teams, Garmin-Slipstream and Columbia Highroad. The remainder of the field (Continental or Continental Pro teams) is yet to be announced.

A Belgian court will rule on Feb. 3 whether former world champion Tom Boonen must face drug charges (and possible jail time) for the recreational use of cocaine and ecstasy.
Oleg Tinkov has left cycling and Tinkoff Credit Systems, the pro team he founded and funded for 2 years. The Russian businessman cited what boils down to a personality conflict with the principals of what Team Tinkoff turned into for 2009 -- Team Katusha.
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