This Week in Road Cycling: Oct 6 to Oct 12

Welcome, I want to start by thanking everybody in advance for all of your help at our cyclocross race next Sunday. We couldn't do it without all of your help. Thanks!

If you have yet to sign up for one of the 3 shifts just email me at anthony.molieri@asu.edu, and let me know if you want to help with set-up (5am-8am), registration (8am-11am) or take down (11:30am-1pm).

Speaking of cyclocross...

Local Racing:

Week in Review:
-AZ Cyclocross Race #2: CAT 4; Nikolai Skievaski 2nd, Anthony Molieri 8th, Tim Racette 9th, Wilson Lee 11th
-Tour de Scottsdale: results are here; http://www.dcbadventures.com/recent/results/2008-10-05_overall.HTM

Races in October:
-AZ Cyclocross Race #3 (Presented by ASU!!!): Mesa, AZ- Oct. 12; http://azcross.com/content/races/october_12th2c_2008.aspx
-AZ Cyclocross Race #4: Cave Creek, AZ- Oct. 25; http://azcross.com/content/races/october_25th2c_2008.aspx

Pro Racing:

Circuit Franco Belge: There were no important bike races last week, so I'm just searching for races that were even slightly interesting. Franco Belge was a 4 day stage race in Belgium that was won by Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank). Of interest, American Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Chipotle) spent a day in the leader's jersey before crashing and losing time.

Giro del Lazio: Alessandro Ballan debuted his new world champion's kit and bike. I'm not really sure why it has so much gold on it though.


Finally, Alberto Contador might have to contend with more than just Lance Armstrong on Astana next year. Turns out Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov has decided he wants to give it one more go. For those of you who don't know, Vino' tested positive in last years Tour for a homologous blood transfusion (He apparently used his father's blood). This caused the entire Astana team to be kicked out last year, and is also why the new Astana wasn't invited. Needless to say, the cycling community was pissed. Though, once Vino got back to Kazakhstan, things started to get a little ridiculous and he gave what is the funniest proclamation of innocence ever.

"I heard that I made a transfusion with my father's blood. That's absurd, I can tell you that with his blood, I would have tested positive for vodka."

Ha ha those crazy Kazakhs. Anyway, Vinokourov was only given a one year suspension by his federation (Vinokourov happens to by good buddies with the president of the federation, who is also the country's defense minister). It's even sillier, when you notice that Astana is a Kazakh sponsored team, built in 2006 solely for Vino, and owned by some of his personal friends. It's unlikely that he'll be back this year though because the UCI would probably do their best to keep him banned and make sure he serves the mandatory 2 years.

Personally, I see this as just one of the steps required for the return of Jan Ullrich. Although, he seems to be enjoying retirement.

I miss you Jan...