Category: Racing

Last season for Discovery Channel to sponsor cycling team

Do you have $15 million a year to spend to support your interest in cycling? Then you can pick up sponsorship of the bicycling team made famous by Lance Armstrong at the end of the year.

The Discovery Channel cable network says a corporate restructuring means it will no longer sponsor the bicycling team owned by Tailwind Sports, which is looking for someone else to foot the bill.

Bill Stapleton, part owner of the team, said they've already talked to several potential sponsors, but the combination of the costs and bad publicity from doping allegations in the sport is making it a tough sell.

Remember the Phonak-iShare deal last year? …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/10/last-season-for-discovery-channel-to-sponsor-cycling-team/

Saul Raisin back in saddle at the Tour of California

The inspiring young Credit Agricole cyclist who crashed and fell into a coma during a race in Europe last year will be riding, but not competing on, the route of the Amgen Tour of California this year.

Doctors initially didn't hold much hope for Saul Raisin, but the 25-year-old from Dalton, Georgia, enthusiastically attacked his rehabilitation regimen and is back on the bike.

In addition riding the Tour of California to improve his conditioning for his re-entry into pro cycling later this year, Raisin will be promoting his Raisin Hope Charity Ride coming up March 31 in his hometown. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/07/saul-raisin-back-in-saddle-at-the-tour-of-california/

Tyler Hamilton in first pro cycling race after suspension

American cyclist Tyler Hamilton competed in his first professional bicycling race on Tuesday since being accused of blood doping in the fall of 2004 during the Vuelta a Espana.

Hamilton rode in the one-day French season opener, the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise, as leader of the Russian Tinkoff Credit Systems cycling team. Teammate Mikhail Ignatiev finished second; Hamilton finished out of the top 15.

Hamilton lost his final appeal of the blood doping case last year …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/06/tyler-hamilton-in-first-pro-cycling-race-after-suspension/

Big names at 2007 Tour of California bike race

It's now less than two weeks until the 2007 Amgen Tour of California begins, and I keep seeing names of major league cyclists who plan to compete in the 8-stage bicycle race.

The latest are Michael Rasmussen of Denmark and Freddie Rodriguez of the US. Add them to a list that already includes Italian Ivan Basso; Americans Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie, Tom Danielson (all Discovery), David Zabriskie, Christian Vande Velde, and Bobby Julich (all CSC); CSC's Juan Jose Haedo (winner of two stages last year); and world champion Paolo Bettini (QuickStep).

Rasmussen of the Rabobank cycling team is the guy wearing the polka-dot King of the Mountain jersey ….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/05/big-names-at-2007-tour-of-california-bike-race/

Leipheimer leads Discovery bicycling team at 2007 California tour

American Levi Leipheimer will lead the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team at the 2007 Amgen Tour of California, Feb. 18-25.

Filling out the Discovery roster at the 2nd annual California tour is Ivan Basso, George Hincapie, Tom Danielson, Tony Cruz, Brian Vandborg, Jason McCartney and Tomas Vaitkus.

Leipheimer (pictured in 2006) is returning to the squad after an absence of several years (he previously rode for the team as US Postal in 2000 and 2001). He most recently rode at leader of Germany's Gerolsteiner squad …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/01/31/leipheimer-leads-discovery-bicycling-team-at-2007-california-tour/

Ivan Basso faces old teammates in Tour of California

Italian cyclist Ivan Basso's first race appearance in a Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team jersey will be at the Tour of California, where he'll ride against former teammates on Team CSC.

Basso, who once again is aiming to win the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same year, hinted that he'll ride the Tour of California (February 18-25) in support of another Discovery team newcomer, American Levi Leipheimer.

You can be sure that all eyes will be on the 29-year-old from the opening prologue in San Francisco to the finish in Long Beach to determine his level of fitness and how well he gets along with his new team ….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/01/29/ivan-basso-faces-old-teammates-in-tour-of-california/

All is forgiven for Pereiro

The French anti-doping authority has dismissed proceedings against Spanish cyclist Oscar Pereiro for failing two doping tests during the 2006 Tour de France.

He showed them a note from his doctor. End of story. Everything is forgiven.

Last week a French newspaper reported the leak that Pereiro tested positive for the banned substance salbutamol (an asthma medication) during the Tour …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/01/26/all-is-forgiven-for-pereiro/

Bicycle teams announced for 2007 Tour of California

One month to go and the Amgen Tour of California has announced the 18 professional bicycling teams for the Feb. 18-25 stage race from San Francisco to Long Beach.

The list of cycling teams includes 10 US-based teams and 9 teams on the UCI Pro Tour.

I'm looking forward to this. Last year's inaugural race included wins by George Hincapie for Discovery and Levi Leipheimer, above, for Gerolsteiner (he's now with Discovery also).&nbsp Notably absent in 2007 will be overall winner Floyd Landis, who is fighting blood doping charges.

The teams listed for the 2007 Tour of California, and links to websites where rosters can be found …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/01/17/bicycle-teams-announced-for-2007-tour-of-california/

Ivan Basso an Armstrong wannabe?

How is Italian bicycle racer Ivan Basso trying to fill Lance Armstrong's shoes on the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team?

By signing a two-year contract with shoemaker Nike.

Basso, who finished second to the Armstrong in the Texan's last Tour de France in 2005, signed on to race with Armstrong's Discovery Channel team in November.

2006 started out as a good year for Basso, but turned sour. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/01/12/ivan-basso-an-armstrong-wannabe/

Landis's Mennonite parents on very short lecture circuit

While their son talks to reporters from newspapers and magazines in Europe and the US, Floyd Landis's parents talked to the local Rotary Club this week.

Landis's strict Mennonite upbringing by his parents became an interesting sidelight to his career in 2006 as he racked up more and more bicycle race wins. But his parents were thrust into the news with the accusations that their son doped to win a stage of the 2006 Tour de France. Paul and Arlene had slightly different takes on their experiences since the doping allegations …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/12/24/landiss-mennonite-parents-on-very-short-lecture-circuit/