October 9/08 10:54 am - Cycling Headlines

Posted by Editoress on 10/9/08
 

Cycling body clears Armstrong for comeback race
Cycling's governing body is relaxing its own rules to allow Lance Armstrong to make his road race comeback in Australia in January. The International Cycling Union said the seven-time Tour de France champion can compete in the Jan. 20-25 Tour Down Under, his first race since coming out of retirement after three years.

A strict application of dope testing rules would not have allowed the 37-year-old American to compete until Feb. 1, 2009, six months after he filed paperwork with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

But the UCI said on Wednesday that Armstrong could return early because its drug-testing standards have improved since the rule was drawn up four years ago.
Read more at AP


Lance grateful his comeback dream is alive
Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong has thanked world cycling officials for clearing him to return to the professional peloton in the Tour Down Under in January.

Race officials have also declared the ruling a commonsense decision after concerns were raised that anti-doping regulations might delay the Texan's comeback plans.

"I am pleased and thankful with the UCI decision handed down today," Armstrong said in a statement after the world governing body's move to allow him to compete in January.
Read more at LiveNews

IOC to retest Beijing doping samples
The International Olympic Committee will retest doping samples from the Beijing Games to check for traces of a new blood-boosting drug and other banned substances.

The move, announced Wednesday, is designed to search in particular for a performance-enhancer that was only recently detected during retesting of samples from the Tour de France.

The Beijing samples are being sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory in Lausanne, IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said.

The IOC conducted more than 5,000 drug tests during the Beijing Games, including nearly 1,000 blood screenings.
Read more at CBC


Retesting Olympic samples good way to catch idiots, says Simon Whitfield
A decision by the International Olympic Committee to retest doping samples from the Beijing Games is a great idea because it may catch "idiots who think they are untouchable," triathlon silver medallist Simon Whitfield said Wednesday.

Catharine Pendrel, who finished fourth in the women's mountain bike race, also applauded the decision. "If people were winning medals, or taking a position away from somebody that is clean, then they don't deserve that position," Pendrel, of Kamloops, B.C., said in a telephone interview. "If they were dirty and got away with it, and there is a way to find out, then you have to test that."

Both Whitfield and Pendrel said they doubt if the new tests will catch anyone in their races.
Metro News


Shimano warns of puncture prone Dura-Ace
"We have found that there is a greater likelihood of a puncture in DURA-ACE clincher tyre wheels WH-7850-C24-CL and WH-7850-C50-CL. This is due to the surface texture of the rim in combination with the use of spoke-hole plugs.

The phenomenon can be very easily eliminated by replacing the spoke-hole plugs with genuine 18 mm high pressure Shimano rim tape."

Go to Shimano and download their Tech Talk remedy


Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision Passes House and Senate
After seven long years, the bicycle commuter tax provision has finally passed both the House and Senate as part of the financial bailout package.
Full text of the tax provision can be viewed at League of American Cyclists