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Women's pro bike race to be resurrected in Idaho

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:42:59 +0000

BOISE Idaho (AP) World-class women cyclists are due to come to Idaho for a five-day stage race later this year that could help determine competitors in the 2012 London Olympics a decade after a previous tour for elite female riders in the state died for lack of money.

The Exergy Tour on Monday announced its May 24-28 Memorial Day weekend schedule.

The five stages include a short prologue in Boise; a stage in Nampa on the undulating plain above the Snake River; an individual time-trial...

Contador back training after doping ban

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:13:13 +0000

MADRID (AP) Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador returned to training for competition Friday four days after receiving a two-year doping ban from sport's highest court.

Contador tweeted a photo of himself on a bike along with the message: ``Going back to work sacrifice and hard training this is our sole secret.''

On Monday Contador received a retroactive ban and was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title because of a positive test for clenbuterol taken during the Tour.

Contador...

Boonen of Belgium earns 4th Tour of Qatar title

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:43:06 +0000

DOHA Qatar (AP) Tom Boonen of Belgium won his fourth Tour of Qatar title on Friday beating American Tyler Farrar.

Boonen led the race since the opening stage last Sunday and topped Farrar by 28 seconds overall.

Boonen and his Omega-Pharms Quick Step were careful to protect his lead on the sixth and last stage 75 miles from Sealine Beach Resort into Doha Corniche.

He also won the event in 2006 2008 and 2009.

The stage was won by Arnaud Demare the under-23 road world...

Jan Ullrich says he had 'contact' with doping doc

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:43:02 +0000

BERLIN (AP) Hours after receiving a two-year ban for blood doping 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich admitted on his website that he had ``contact'' with the Spanish doctor who ran the doping program he was accused of participating in.

Ullrich did not directly acknowledge doping but said he would not contest Thursday's ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Ullrich said on his website that he accepted the ban - ``not because I agree with every point in the reasoning for...

Armstrong says he's happy investigation over

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:43:09 +0000

AUSTIN Texas (AP) As far as Lance Armstrong is concerned it's all over.

The stress the waiting the whispers about whether he doped during his stellar cycling career all of it ended when - after nearly two years - federal prosecutors closed an investigation of him last week without bringing any charges.

``I'm happy. I'm glad it's behind me'' Armstrong told The Associated Press on Thursday in his first interview since prosecutors announced they were dropping the case.

The seven-time...

Ullrich stripped of 3rd-place finish at 2005 Tour

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:43:01 +0000

GENEVA (AP) Another day another doping case another Tour de France result amended.

Cycling revisited its scandal-scarred recent history again Thursday when the Court of Arbitration for Sport found a Tour winner guilty of doping for the second time this week.

Jan Ullrich the 1997 champion was stripped of his third-place finish in the 2005 race for ``intensive involvement'' in blood doping linked to the Operation Puerto case. The 38-year-old German also was banned from the sport...

Cavendish wins 5th stage of Tour of Qatar

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:43:38 +0000

AL KHOR Qatar (AP) British rider Mark Cavendish won the fifth stage of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday while Tom Boonen closed in on the overall victory.

Cavendish secured his second stage win in three days by taking a mass sprint at the end of a 99-mile ride from a camel race track in the east of the country to Al Khor in the north. The Team Sky rider arrived in Doha with the flu but still beat Liquigas-Cannondale duo Daniel Oss and Peter Sagan to the finish line.

Boonen retained a...

CAS bans 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich for 2 years

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:08:23 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) Sport's highest court has banned 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich for two years and stripped him of his third-place finish in the 2005 race for a doping violation.

Ullrich's suspension comes three days after CAS banned Alberto Contador for two years and stripped him of his 2010 Tour title for doping.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the 38-year-old German was linked to the Operation Puerto a 2006 Spanish doping probe.

CAS says...

Horner expected to compete in Tour of California

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:13:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) Defending champion Chris Horner and three-time winner Levi Leipheimer are expected to be in the field for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California which will include a 130-mile fourth stage that will make for the race's longest day.

The seventh annual race scheduled May 13-20 is expected to include about 140 of cycling's top riders.

The roughly 800-mile route which was announced Wednesday will begin in Santa Rosa Calif. and take riders into the rolling hills of Sonoma County.

The...

Officials: Longo's husband arrested over EPO buy

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:13:01 +0000

PARIS (AP) French police raided the home of cycling great Jeannie Longo on Wednesday and arrested her husband on suspicion that he bought doses of the banned performance-enhancer EPO.

The 53-year-old Longo was expected to be questioned following the arrest of her husband and coach Patrice Ciprelli at their home in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux in the French Alps said police officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the case.

Another...

Officials: Longo's husband arrested over EPO buy

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:22:43 +0000

PARIS (AP) French police officials familiar with the operation say the home of cycling great Jeannie Longo has been raided and her husband arrested on suspicion that he bought the banned performance-enhancer EPO.

The 53-year-old Longo was expected to be questioned as a witness following the arrest Wednesday of her husband and coach Patrice Ciprelli at their home in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux in the French Alps said police officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized...

Contador may still appeal doping ban won't retire

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:13:06 +0000

MADRID (AP) Alberto Contador vowed Tuesday to return to the pinnacle of cycling maintaining his innocence in the face of a two-year doping ban that stripped the Spanish star of his 2010 Tour de France title.

He said his lawyers are considering whether to appeal the ban handed down by sport's highest court and insisted that even if the punishment stands he will return to challenge for more Tour titles.

The penalty is retroactive and will expire in August.

``I'm sure of...

CAS to issue Ullrich doping case verdict Thursday

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:13:04 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) Sport's highest court will issue a second verdict this week involving a doping case against a Tour de France winner.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday it will publish a ruling Thursday on an appeal filed by the International Cycling Union to have 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich investigated for links to Operation Puerto a 2006 Spanish doping probe.

Ullrich's verdict will come three days after CAS banned Spanish rider Alberto Contador for two...

WADA president: Alberto Contador is a 'cheat'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:13:03 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) Alberto Contador should be considered a ``cheat'' after being found guilty of doping and stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency said Tuesday.

``Anyone who is found by a tribunal in a matter in which he was found to be a cheat is a cheat'' John Fahey said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday held the Spaniard responsible for his failed doping test during...

Cavendish wins 3rd stage Boonen leads in Qatar

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:13:03 +0000

DOHA Qatar (AP) British rider Mark Cavendish won the third stage of the Tour of Qatar on Tuesday while former champion Tom Boonen of Belgium retained the yellow jersey.

Cavendish earned his first win for Team Sky on the 91-mile stage.

Boonen riding for Omega-Pharma Quick Step increased his overall lead on American rider Tyler Farrar to 6 seconds.

WADA urges Feds to hand over Armstrong info

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:13:03 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) The World Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday urged U.S. federal authorities to quickly hand over evidence collected in their lengthy probe into seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and doping in American cycling.

WADA president John Fahey said federal agencies in the United States gathered ``significant evidence'' in the criminal investigation that was abruptly closed last week with no charges filed and no explanation given.

Fahey said it would be...

WADA president says Alberto Contador is a 'cheat'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:43:02 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) The president of the World Anti-Doping Agency says Alberto Contador should be considered a ``cheat'' now that he has been found guilty of doping and stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title.

WADA President John Fahey says anyone found with a banned substance in their body ``is a cheat. It is as simple as that.''

Fahey spoke Tuesday in an interview with The Associated Press saying that Monday's ruling against Contador by the Court of Arbitration for Sport...

WADA urges Feds to hand over Armstrong info

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:43:03 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) The World Anti-Doping Agency is urging U.S. federal authorities to quickly hand over evidence collected in their lengthy probe into seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and doping in American cycling.

WADA president John Fahey says federal agencies in the United States gathered ``significant evidence'' in the criminal investigation that was abruptly closed last week with no charges filed.

Fahey speaking Tuesday said it would be ``very very helpful...

Sports court strips Contador of 2010 Tour title

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:13:03 +0000

GENEVA (AP) Three days after U.S. prosecutors dropped their investigation of doping claims against Lance Armstrong fellow Tour de France champion Alberto Contador was stripped of his 2010 title when sports' highest court rejected the Spanish cyclist's story that contaminated meat caused him to fail a drug test.

The 29-year-old Contador who also won the Tour in 2007 and '09 tested positive for clenbuterol during a Tour rest day in July 2010. Contador's ban was backdated to Jan. 25 2011...

Contador doping verdict another blow for cycling

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:43:06 +0000

MADRID (AP) Eddy Merckx wonders if someone is trying to ``kill cycling.''

The cycling great deplored the decision Monday to strip Alberto Contador of his 2010 Tour de France title and ban him for two years for doping.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Contador's claim that his positive test for clenbuterol was caused by eating contaminated meat. The Spaniard who also won cycling's premier race in 2007 and 2009 joined Floyd Landis as the only riders to lose a Tour title.

``It's...

Column: Contador is banned but was justice served?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:13:12 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) Stripping Alberto Contador of his 2010 Tour de France victory on the supposition that he may have eaten a dodgy food supplement is like jailing Al Capone for tax evasion: Yes Contador's accusers secured a conviction but the verdict missed the point.

Was this justice? Strictly speaking it was. But it didn't feel that way.

In their defense the three judges at the Court of Arbitration for Sport - whose ruling on Monday struck another body blow at cycling - faced...

Garmin wins 2nd stage of Tour of Qatar

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:13:13 +0000

DOHA Qatar (AP) Garmin won the second stage at the Tour of Qatar on Monday beating Quick Step by 7 seconds in the opening time trial of the season.

In a slick performance from start to finish Garmin finished the seven-mile route in 12 minutes 38 seconds in sunny conditions.

Sky Procycling was third 9 seconds back.

The win lifted American rider Tyler Farrar into second place in the overall standings behind 2005 world road race champion Tom Boonen of Belgium.

``This race...

Garmin wins 2nd stage of Tour of Qatar

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:43:19 +0000

DOHA Qatar (AP) Garmin won the second stage at the Tour of Qatar on Monday beating Quick Step by 7 seconds in the opening time trial of the season.

In a slick performance from start to finish Garmin completed the seven-mile route in 12 minutes 38 seconds in sunny conditions.

Sky Procycling was third 9 seconds back.

The win lifted American rider Tyler Farrar into second place in the overall standings behind 2005 world road race champion Tom Boonen of Belgium.

Farrar says...

Clenbuterol: What is it?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:13:13 +0000

Like amphetamine or ephedrine clenbuterol acts as a stimulant increasing heart rate. In medicine it is used to treat asthma.

Like some steroids the drug also has anabolic effects. Athletes and body builders use it to build muscle and burn fat. The drug is banned in sports as a performance enhancer and is readily detectable in urine samples. First-time offenders risk a two-year competition ban.

On Monday the Court of Arbitration for Sport banned three-time Tour de France champion Alberto...

Alberto Contador Bio Box

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:43:07 +0000

NAME: Alberto Contador Velasco.

AGE: 29 (born Dec. 6 1982).

BIRTHPLACE: Madrid Spain.

WIFE: Macarena Pescador (Nov. 5 2011).

TEAMS: Saxo Bank (2011-present); Astana (2008-10); Discovery Channel (2007); ONCE Eroski-Liberty Seguros (2003-06).

GRAND TOUR titleS: Tour de France (2007 '09 '10); Giro d'Italia (2008 '11); Spanish Vuelta (2008). One of only 5 riders to win all three.

MAJOR RACE VICTORIES: Paris-Nice (2007 '10); Tour of the Basque Country (2008 09);...

End to Armstrong probe gets welcome in Qatar

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:43:21 +0000

DOHA Qatar (AP) Cycling teams at the Tour of Qatar welcomed the end of a U.S. federal investigation into Lance Armstrong saying Sunday they were hopeful the seven-time Tour de France champion could finally move on with his life.

Federal prosecutors dropped their investigation of Armstrong on Friday ending a nearly two-year effort to determine whether the American cyclist and his teammates were involved in doping. Armstrong has long denied doping and said he was ``gratified'' by the decision.

Laurenzo...

Contador is 98th in race on eve of doping verdict

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:13:13 +0000

MALLORCA Spain (AP) Nearing a verdict on his Tour de France doping case after a 17-month wait Alberto Contador finished 98th in the Mallorca Challenge on Sunday.

The Spaniard was set to return to Madrid following the race. The Court of Arbitration for Sport rules Monday on whether Contador will be banned after returning a positive drug test in winning the 2010 Tour.

Contador a three-time Tour champion faces a two-year ban for testing positive for clenbuterol. He blames the result...

Boonen wins opening stage of Tour of Qatar

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:43:25 +0000

DOHA Qatar (AP) Tom Boonen of Belgium won the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar on Sunday finishing four seconds ahead of Adam Blythe of Britain.

The former world road racing champion riding for the Omega Pharma Quick-Step team completed the 88.5-mile first stage in 3 hours 11 minutes 22 seconds.

BMC Racing Team's Blythe was followed by Peter Sagan of Liquigas-Cannondale six seconds back in third. Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Barracuda was fourth.

British rider Mark Cavendish who...

Boonen wins opening stage of Tour of Qatar

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:14:17 +0000

DOHA Qatar (AP) Tom Boonen of Belgium won the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar on Sunday finishing four seconds ahead of Adam Blythe of Britain.

The former world road racing champion racing for Omega Pharma Quick-Step completed the 88.5-mile first stage in 3 hours 11 minutes 22 seconds.

BMC Racing Team's Blythe was followed by Peter Sagan of Liquigas-Cannondale six seconds back in third. Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Barracuda was fourth.

British rider Mark Cavendish who was sick...

Teams welcome end of Armstrong probe

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:23:17 +0000

DOHA Qatar (AP) Officials from cycling teams at the Tour of Qatar welcomed the end of a U.S. federal investigation into Lance Armstrong and were hopeful Sunday that the seven-time Tour de France champion could now move on with his life.

Laurenzo Lapage the Greenedge...

Closure of Armstrong probe could affect feds

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:13:03 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) The federal government pursued a drug case against home run king Barry Bonds for more than seven years. The end result: a guilty verdict on just one count and a sentence of 30 days confinement at Bonds' estate in Beverly Hills.

Prosecutors' first attempt to convict star pitcher Roger Clemens ended in a mistrial so they're preparing for another attempt in two months.

And now the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles has decided that after presenting evidence to a federal grand...

Prosecutors won't charge cyclist Lance Armstrong

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:13:05 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) Lance Armstrong is used to winning but his most recent victory was unlike any he had experienced before.

Federal prosecutors dropped their investigation of the seven-time Tour de France champion Friday ending a nearly two-year effort to determine whether the world's most famous cyclist and his teammates joined in a doping program during his greatest years.

Armstrong steadfastly denied he doped during his unparalleled career but the possibility of criminal charges...

Prosecutors won't charge cyclist Lance Armstrong

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:13:14 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) The case against Lance Armstrong is closed. His legacy as a seven-time Tour de France champion endures.

Federal prosecutors dropped their investigation of Armstrong on Friday ending a nearly two-year effort aimed at determining whether the world's most famous cyclist and his teammates joined in a doping program during his greatest years.

Armstrong steadfastly has denied he doped during his unparalleled career but the possibility of criminal charges threatened to stain...

Column: No matter what Armstrong always wins

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:43:03 +0000

Lance Armstrong licked 'em again. Always has. Always will.

Like cancer and the Tour de France the federal government turned out to be just another challenge to conquer. On his trophy wall next to those bright yellow jerseys he got for winning the world's toughest bike race seven times Armstrong can now hang the scalp of steroid cop Jeff Novitzky.

Zip. Nada.

Those aren't the exact words U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. used to announce that the criminal investigation of Armstrong...

Armstrong 'gratified' by no charges in doping case

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:43:05 +0000

Cyclist Lance Armstrong released the following statement through his attorney after the U.S. attorney's office decided Friday not to bring charges against him after a nearly two-year investigation into whether the seven-time Tour de France champion and his teammates ran a doping program:

``I am gratified to learn that the U.S. Attorney's Office is closing its investigation. It is the right decision and I commend them for reaching it. I look forward to continuing my life as a father a competitor...

US Attorney Birotte issues statement on Armstrong

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:43:04 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) United States Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. released the following statement Friday regarding the Lance Armstrong doping investigation:

``United States Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. today announced that his office is closing an investigation into allegations of federal criminal conduct by members and associates of a professional bicycle racing team owned in part by Lance Armstrong.

The United States Attorney determined that a public announcement concerning the closing of...

Greenville SC chosen to host paracycling worlds

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:43:04 +0000

The United States landed another world-class cycling event Monday when Greenville S.C. was chosen as the host city for the 2014 paracycling world championships.

The five-day competition will bring more than 450 athletes and 200 coaches from more than 45 countries to the Palmetto State. It will be the first time the U.S. has hosted the event since 1998 when it was held in Colorado Springs.

The UCI cycling's world governing body has already announced that the 2015 world road championships...

CAS sets Feb. 6 date for Contador verdict

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:41:52 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it plans to publish its verdict in Alberto Contador's doping case on Feb. 6.

CAS announced the date in a statement on Monday but left open a possibility to still change the day saying ``a confirmation as to the date and time of the publication of the decision will be given by the CAS at the end of this week.''

The Spanish cyclist is facing a two-year ban for testing positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France.

The...

Belarus Colombia to host track cycling worlds

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:13:09 +0000

AIGLE Switzerland (AP) Belarus and Colombia have been awarded hosting rights for track cycling's world championships.

The International Cycling Union says Belarusian capital Minsk will host in 2013 and Cali Colombia in 2014.

But the UCI has canceled the inaugural World Cycling Forum that was planned for this year. No host city had been chosen.

The 2012 UCI Congress will be held in Maastricht Netherlands during the road world championships.

The UCI management committee...

Simon Gerrans wins Tour Down Under

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:13:15 +0000

ADELAIDE Australia (AP) Australia's Simon Gerrans won the Tour Down Under for the second time Sunday giving newly formed Australian GreenEDGE its first victory in a World Tour event.

Gerrans who won the race in 2006 and has won stages of the Tour de France Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana entered the 56-mile final stage around an Adelaide street circuit as the race leader but with the same time as second-place Alejandro Valverde of Spain.

Gerrans managed to cover Valverde to ensure...

Valverde wins 5th stage of Tour Down Under

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:13:14 +0000

ADELAIDE Australia (AP) Spain's Alejandro Valverde won the fifth and longest stage of the Tour Down Under on Saturday to remnain in position to race for the overall victory in his return from a two-year doping ban.

Valverde outsprinted Australia's Simon Gerrans - a stage winner on the Tour de France Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana - to win the 95-mile stage that finished with a climb to the summit of Old Willunga Hill.

Gerrans will wear the tour leader's ochre jersey Sunday in the...

Kolobnev gets court date for Tour doping case

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:39:30 +0000

GENEVA (AP) The International Cycling Union's appeal to have Russian rider Alexandr Kolobnev banned for doping at the 2011 Tour de France will be heard next month.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Friday it has set Feb. 7 for the hearing. A verdict is expected several weeks later.

The UCI challenged the Russian cycling federation's refusal to ban Kolobnev over his positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide after the fifth stage last July. The diuretic hides the presence of other...

Kolobnev gets court date for Tour doping case

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:21:26 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) The International Cycling Union's appeal to have Russian rider Alexandr Kolobnev banned for doping at the 2011 Tour de France will be heard next month.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has set Feb. 7 for the hearing. A verdict is expected weeks later.

The UCI challenged the Russian cycling federation's refusal to ban Kolobnev over his positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide after the fifth stage last July. The diuretic hides the presence of other banned drugs.

A...

Freier wins 4th stage of Tour Down Under

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:43:20 +0000

ADELAIDE Australia (AP) Oscar Freire of Spain won the fourth stage of cycling's Tour Down Under on Friday as the first testing climb of the six-stage race ended Andre Greipel's hopes of a third tour victory.

Greipel entered the stage with an eight second lead on general classification and increased that to 11 seconds when he picked up a 3-second time bonus by winning the first intermediate sprint.

But the steep climb up Mengler's Hill 12.5 miles from the finish of Thursday's 81-mile...

Greipel wins 3rd stage of Tour Down Under

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:43:15 +0000

ADELAIDE Australia (AP) Germany's Andre Greipel won the third stage of cycling's Tour Down Under in a bunch sprint on Thursday to regain the overall lead he lost a day earlier.

Greipel riding for the Belgium-based Lotto-Belisol team started the 84-mile stage from Unley in suburban Adelaide to Victor Harbor two seconds behind Switzerland's Martin Kohler on general classification.

His second stage win of the 2012 tour - he won the first stage on Tuesday and has won 10 stages of the...

Greipel wins 3rd stage of Tour Down Under

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:13:54 +0000

ADELAIDE Australia (AP) Germany's Andre Greipel won the third stage of cycling's Tour Down Under in a bunch sprint on Thursday to regain the overall lead he had conceded a day earlier.

Greipel riding for the Lotto-Belisol team started the 84-mile stage from Unley in suburban Adelaide to Victor Harbor 2 seconds behind Switzerland's Martin Kohler on general classification.

His second stage-win of the 2012 tour - he won the first stage on Tuesday and has now won 10 stages of the Australian...

William Clarke wins 2nd stage of Tour Down Under

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:45:24 +0000

ADELAIDE Australia (AP) Unheralded Australian William Clarke won the second stage of cycling's Tour Down Under on Wednesday defying the peleton in one of the boldest individual breakaways in the history of the World Tour event.

The 26-year-old Clarke was the last rider selected for the six-stage tour when he was added to the UniSA team after finishing fifth and winning the sprint classification at the Australian national road championships.

He made the best of a rare appearance in...

Greipel wins 1st stage of Tour Down Under

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:45:33 +0000

ADELAIDE Australia (AP) Two-time champion Andre Greipel of Germany overcame fierce crosswinds and soaring temperatures to win the 90-mile first stage on the Tour Down Under on Tuesday.

Greipel edged Alessandro Petacchi of Italy in a sprint finish in 102-degree temperatures to claim his ninth stage victory in the six-stage race the opening event of the UCI World Tour.

The sprint ace also won the tour's criterium prelude on Sunday for the Belgium-based Lotto-Belisol team. He won...

Greipel wins 1st stage of Tour Down Under

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:15:34 +0000

ADELAIDE Australia (AP) Two-time champion Andre Greipel of Germany overcame fierce crosswinds and soaring temperatures to win the 90-mile first stage on the Tour Down Under cycle race on Tuesday.

Greipel beat Allesandro Pettachi of Italy narrowly in a sprint finish in 102-degree temperatures to claim his ninth stage victory in the six-stage race the opening event of the UCI World Tour.

The sprint ace also won the tour's criterium prelude on Sunday for the Belgium-based Lotto-Belisol...

Alberto Contador doping ruling in about 2 weeks

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:20:04 +0000

LAUSANNE Switzerland (AP) The top court in international sports says it will rule on Alberto Contador's doping case in about two weeks.

The Spanish cyclist is facing a two-year ban for testing positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France. He says the clenbuterol came from contaminated beef.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport had planned to decide early this month but blamed media reports for the ``regrettable'' delay.

The court says it asked the UCI WADA Contador...