Letters to Cyclingnews - October 21, 2005

UCI ProTour

I'm a proud American, and I'd like to think not the fair weather type. And of course I noticed that, when the ProTour final standings came out, the Yanks were well represented, with four in the top ten and second only to Italy in the national standings. I should be proud that the hard work of Julich and Leipheimer and of course Big George has been recognised, shouldn't I?

And yet, I'm apathetic and a bit nonplussed by the results, and I can only guess that it's because I don't know what it means to win the ProTour. If you win the Tour de France, then you're the baddest of the major tour riders. And if you won the old World Cup, you're the top dog in the one day category. But by trying to be everything to everyone, the ProTour champion is merely the best all-rounder who stayed healthy the longest.

Now, I know that's not fair. Di Luca had an amazing season. But when I put "Di Luca" and "2005" in the same sentence, I think of his early season wins and his heroic efforts at the Giro, not that he won some points competition that more resembles our college football computer polling than it does a true title. Mention Julich, and his Paris-Nice win, the Benelux Tour, and all of those tough battles in a supporting role come to mind, not an eighth-placed ProTour placing. Big George? Easy - second at Roubaix and a mountain stage win on one of the toughest days of the Tour, not a top ten ProTour placing.

Maybe I'm alone here. I'm hoping I am, because if all of us don't care, then sooner or later the sponsors will realise that we don't care (they're slow but not completely daft), and the money won't be there in the years to come. But there's something in the marketing world called a self-licking ice cream cone, referring to a product with nifty little bells and whistles but not of any use to the consumer, and if that's what the UCI ProTour is, then no amount of glitz and gloss will cover the lack of meaningful underlying product.

Steve "glass half empty" O'Dell

Peachtree City, Georgia
Thursday, October 20, 2005

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Has cycling become a honky tonk sport?

I am absolutely floored by the news of the implosion of the team to be managed by Giancarlo Ferretti, falsely rumoured to be sponsored by Sony-Ericsson.

Cycling is the greatest sport in the world, which has as its Queen event the greatest annual event in the world (Tour de France) and has just farewelled the greatest sportsperson of all time (L Armstrong….love him or hate him). The stars of this sport are gods in Europe and earn salaries that would make a Major Corporate CEO jealous. The industry around the sport is massive (Trek, Shimano, Campagnolo, Nike, Mavic, Look, Giant etc). Sounds professional doesn't it.

Well, I think we now know that sport we love is one step above amateur hour. There are so many things about the Sony Ericsson affair that I cannot reconcile, but I will outline a few as examples:

a) How does a seasoned pro with a manager and a perfectly good job, get conned into quitting that job, getting his best mate to do the same, without checking whether the job he was going to was at an employer that even existed (O'Grady)?

b) How does a seasoned team manager with years of experience, take the 'word' of an 'intermediary' as enough rope to go and lure BIG NAME riders away from their high paying jobs. It sounds as though 'contracts', 'due diligence' and 'reference checks' are details that get in the way (Ferretti).

c) How can a number of other significant riders fall for the same con that O'Grady did (Simoni, Commesso, Moreni)?

If you add the Linda McCartney affair, Team Coast and then some of the unprofessional antics of the governing bodies, I think we can all add up and see that the sport needs to be tightened up (and I don't even mean the drugs).

In business, the buck stops with the Boss. And the Boss in this case is the UCI. Luckily our sport is never dull!

Andrew Cowlishaw

Victoria, Australia
Tuesday, October 18, 2005

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UN effort to fight doping in sport

While it's commendable that UNESCO is taking an official stance in the fight against doping, one must remember that these are the same blue-hats who stood by and watched Rwandans and Bosnians kill each other, among other infamous moments in history where the UN claimed to stand for the people yet took no action.

Meanwhile, in major North American sports like baseball, athletes who get caught using steroids continue to face minor penalties. Worse, if you go to a major sports news website like SI.com and type in a word search of 'steroids' you do not get stories about busted athletes; you get links to online sources to buy steroids! We've got a long way to go before this problem is eradicated, in ours or any sport.

Eric Matthies
Thursday, October 20, 2005

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Doping. What else?

All very true Dan...especially about the 90 pound freshmen becoming incredible hulks by junior year. One point though, just for reflection: at which moment does the "fantastic spectacle" become in reality an insufferable disillusionment, such that when watching the pros one realises that all the glory and earnings are based fundamentally on hypocrisy, which here is synonymous with doping?

Because any system that publicly cries out against injustice, building its heroes in the name of transparency, honesty, and even upon so-called moral values, while in practice and in secrecy breaks those "values" is de facto a hypocrite. And that goes equally for New Born Christians who start "preventative wars" on false and calculated suppositions and for miracle cancer survivor, multiple Tour de France winners on equally reported fairy tales. Because after the spectacle, intended to "shock and awe," when the hypocrisy comes to the fore all the heroics become merely grotesque (both in Iraq and in France). In the end all the hypocrisy forces even the most hardened cynic (and tifoso) to become a loathsome moralist.

Rob Huber

Italy
Friday, October 14, 2005

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We need the same from Hamilton

Miguel from California wrote to suggest that, similar to MTB racer Chris Sheppard, Tyler Hamilton should confess too: "Wouldn't it be nice to receive a similar letter from Hamilton - different, but at least an acknowledgment of mistakes made."

Well, don't hold your breath. The positive tests in Tyler's situation were BS. They not only brutally abused the athlete's right of privacy (the third, out of two, Olympic tests was deemed positive by an outside "doctor" who knew whose test he was judging and had a stake in the outcome, having developed the test!), but furthermore, the "test" was approved for use on athletes with no proper development.

The development consisted of spiking three of 25 blood samples and having a 100% record of accuracy by picking out which three were spiked! Not only that, but the non-homologous blood amounted to less than 1%, not the 5% level required for an appreciable performance gain; instead it was a level that is naturally found in as many as 50% of the general population.

Tyler's situation is the opposite I'm afraid. The people and the UCI should apologise to him. He's getting screwed.

Paul Rinehart

Williamstown Mass, USA
Monday, October 17, 2005

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I can forgive Chris

I would also congratulate Chris Sheppard on his frank admissions. What I, as a racing cyclist, would be more interested in (as well as the stuff that was written) is the process between making the decision to take EPO (in this case) and actually doing it? I say because you actually have to buy it somewhere? Who do you ask? How do you know the dose to take?

I feel that finding out the process would shed a lot of light on the practice and allow us mortals to gauge the 'full' story. I am assuming that as a clean athlete he didn't know anyone using - or did he? Does everybody know who uses? If not, do you approach a pharmacist? There are other questions, like how much difference did it make and did he train harder - how did he feel the first time he used it? Guilty? Embarrassed? Strong? Could he look people in the eye on the start line?

Best of luck to Chris in the future...

Norman Gillan
Monday, October 17, 2005

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A mountain biker's reflection

I live for this!

When I was five years old my father took me fishing one day and that was the beginning of an outdoors passion that has lasted all my life. I learned how to appreciate nature, and how to endure the pain of 12-hour long walks, cold weather and uncomfortable camping nights. When I started venturing on my own, I tried mountain climbing; it was a great experience but it did not last because of the time and preparation that it required. I continued hiking as much as I could during college and started to ride a road bike, but that was not fulfilling enough for me.

Then in the late 80's, I discovered mountain biking. I bought my first mountain bike before front shocks were the standard. It was a blast. I had found the sport with the perfect mix of adrenaline and fitness that could be practiced while enjoying the outdoors. I even tried to introduce my wife to it, but after her third crash in a short ride we decided to find other ways to spend time together. I'd been riding for a while, and have even done my pilgrimage to holy places like Moab. I have ridden everywhere I could and with many different riding partners.

Three weeks ago I turned 40 and I decided to give competition a try and started training for a local race. Yesterday I went for a 10-mile ride in the evening before it gets too dark. I rode fast but careful, trying to be safe and on time for dinner. It's been a while since I gave up the acrobatics, and I try not to take unnecessary risks that could cause me an injury. Being 40 years old with two kids and a wife, a whole life demands mature behaviour from me. It was then that I lost my balance on one of the last switchbacks, and headed face forward onto a tree stump. I could taste the dirt and feel the pain in different parts of my body. It was there, lying with my body being one with my bike, that I was reminded that mountain biking is a tough sport. It doesn't matter how long you have practiced mountain biking or how many times you have done the same trail without incident, reality strikes you in the face from time to time. I assessed my personal damage; a bit of blood here and there, checked my bike and got back on the saddle to finish my ride with pride. The masochist inside was telling me it doesn't matter; next time you'll have to pass that obstacle a little bit to the right. I definitively live for this!

Jose H. Rojas

St Louis, Missouri.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005

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Recent letters pages

Letters 2005

• October 14: Infallible doping tests?, Get on with your life, Doping. What else?, Pound versus Armstrong, Hamilton, etc, L'Equipe forgot - or not, John Lieswyn, Eddy Merckx
• October 7: John Lieswyn, Bravo, Lieswyn, 1999 Tour de France urine samples, Allan Butler, Tyler Hamilton, Doping versus biomechanical enhancements, Doping control, McQuaid's image, Comment on Chris Horner at Zuri Metzgete, Scientific proof, Thank goodness Moreno lost, What has happened to American Cycling?, Pound versus Armstrong, Hamilton, etc, French bias
• September 30: Petacchi and McEwen's reactions, Ale-Jet, Ale-Jet blasts his critics..., Petacchi's class, Petacchi, Bravo, Lieswyn, French bias, Tom Danielson, What has happened to American Cycling?, Quote of the year, At the heart of the matter, Lance's EPO tests, Doping control, On Pound and the like, Pound Ill informed, Verbruggen is wrong, Doping and apparel
• September 23: A quick thanks, Australian worlds team, Go Mick!, Infighting, Pound Ill informed, WADA mess, Heras and the Giro, Verbruggen is wrong, Chris Sheppard busted for EPO, Explaining increases in performance, Quote of the year, Vuelta rest day observations
• September 16: Vuelta rest day observations, Australian worlds team, Explaining the increases in performance, Debate settled, doping lives on, Samuel Sanchez, Scientific proof, The perfect crime, Another topic please, CYCLINGnews.com, Doping, Illegal motivation, Illegal motivation - another possibility, Lance and the Tour de France, Drug use, Alternate Universe, WADA, Chris Sheppard busted for EPO, Just Do It
• September 9: The debate rages, Bad for cycling, Lance and the Tour de France, EPO Testing and Haematocrit, Doping, Illegal motivation, Lance the Man, Armstrong and doping, Question for Dick Pound..., Land of the Free, home of the Brave, Lance, I have a better idea, Where are the results?, Armstrong's Tour comeback, Don't make that mistake, Lance, Response to the test
• September 2: Lance Armstrong, all-American boy, Doping, Claude Droussent lies, L'Equipe credibility, Lance versus Jan, Jan versus Lance, Cold fusion and Lance, The perfect crime, EPO and the Wink Wink Standard, Germany owed four yellow jerseys?, Lance, cycling and cancer, Lance issues, The whole Lance doping issue, Neither defense nor attack, The test, Land of the Free, home of the Brave, Armstong couldn't come clean, Summarising the Lance situation, Lance's tests, Keep an open mind, Lance and doping, Check results before you wreck yourself, Seeing is believing, L'Equipe and ASO, and Lance, Lance and EPO, Aussie perspective on the upcoming worlds, A rave rather than a rant
• August 26: Lance and LeBlanc, Lance versus France, Can of worms story, The Test, Benoit Salmon wins the 1999 Tour, The perfect crime, Armstrong tests positive, L'Equipe and ASO, Lance rubbish, Lance and the French yellow press, Armstrong, EPO and WADA, Lance Downgrading Armstrong victories, Lance doping garbage, Lance versus Jan, Doping, Six stages to win the 99 tour, EPO test under scrutiny, Lance irony, Lance as a spokesman, Cyclists and politicians, Verbruggen's campaign to elect his successor, John Lieswyn, Can of worms, Americans in Paris
• August 19: Ned Overend, Guidi positive, What is going on at Phonak?, Ullrich's riding style, How about credibility from both sides?, Lieswyn's gesture
• August 12: Pro Tour 2006, Credibility from both sides?, Zabel leaves T-Mobile, Chris Horner, Ullrich's riding style, Well done Wayne!, Armstrong and class, Possible correlations
• August 5: Zabel leaves T-Mobile, Thanks from a survivor, Bicycle safety, Message for Chris Horner, Perspective, Discovery in ninth, Tech, Armstrong and class, The King of July!, Heras through rose colored glasses, Possible correlations
• July 29: Perspective, France and Lance's Legacy, Armstrong and class, Best Wishes to Louise, Levi's Diary, Heras through rose colored glasses, The King of July, Here we go again!, Treat Lance like the others, Tech, Lance Armstrong's time trial equation, Life begins at 30
• July 22: McEwen - villain to superhero, Underdogs and overdogs at the Tour, Big George, George Hincape, Hincapie's stage win, Cadel's Tour memory, What the fans would love to see, Is Godefroot really NOT the man?, A true classic, Phonak's poor sportsmanship, Phonak double standards, My new hero, Discovery Channel tactics, Lance Infomercial?, Treat Lance like the others, TdF sprint finishes, Leaky Gas?, Little black box
• July 15: The best seat in the house, Joseba Beloki, Message for Chris Horner, Treat Lance like the others, Lance Infomercial?, McEwen defense, Rail lines in the TdF, Ruse Discovered?, Discovery's unanimous breakdown, IS Jan really the man?, Cycling socks, Patrick Lefevre quit your whining, Armstrong and class, Leaky Gas?, TdF sprint finishes, Who is in charge of the UCI?, Tires and slippery roads, Response to the Vowels of Cycling, Little black box
• July 8: McEwen defends himself, Tires and slippery roads, Random test on Lance Armstrong, French Government dope controls, The Pro Tour and Grand Tours, Tour de France's early finish?, Here we go again!, Thank you, Ed Kriege, Lance Infomercial?, No, the other Merckx!, The Vowels of Cycling, Armstrong's pre-Tour communiqués, Armstrong and class
• July 1: No, the other Merckx!, Armstrong's pre-Tour communiqués, The Vowels of Cycling, Figures of merit - TdF tipping, Lance Infomercial?, Daily Terror, Sydney article, Why Michael Rogers will be awesome with T-Mobile, I love it!, MTB news, Twins
• June 24: Sydney article, Hit and run on cyclists - Australia's new blood sport?, Another fatal hit and run on Australian cyclists, How can Ullrich win the Tour?, Drop Verbruggen, The second American, When the Tour heads up, Droppin' the Kilo!, Kilo or no go, What is Michael Rogers thinking?, Rogers to T-Mobile, For the love of god don't do it Mick!, The first yellow jersey, Horner Impressive, Leave T-Mobile/Fassa Bortolo, renew your career!, Horner's stage win at the Tour de Suisse, Bobby Julich, Daily Terror, Hell on Wheels review
• June 17: Droppin' the Kilo!, Killing the kilo and 500, The kilo, Axing the Kilo?, The track Time Trials, The first yellow jersey, Armstrong and Class, The year of the comeback, Horner's stage win at the Tour de Suisse
• June 10: The year of the comeback, An open letter to Cadel Evans, How Ullrich can win the Tour, USPRO/Liberty, Lance, the Tour and the Giro, Lance and the Tour, Show us your discards Godefroot!, Armstrong and Class, Ivan's training ride, Giro comments
• June 3: Giro comments, Giro excitement vs Tour blah, Ivan Basso, Ivan's training ride, Discovering the future, Jose Rujano, Savoldelli vs Simoni, How Ullrich can win the Tour, Eddy Merckx Interview, Johan Bruyneel, Show us your discards Godefroot!, Improving Pro Tour Team Rankings, Lance and the Tour, Armstrong and class
• May 27: Giro excitement vs Tour blah, Great Giro!, Double or nothing..., Colle delle Finestre and a Cipo farewell, Joseba Beloki, Ivan's training ride, Hell on Wheels, Matt Wittig, How Ullrich can win the Tour, UCI fines, Armstrong and class, Eddy Merckx Interview, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, You have let us down Paolo
• May 20: Colle delle Finestre tactics, Rogues, It just keeps happening, Davis Phinney, Joseba Beloki, Australia - number one, You have let us down Paolo, Bettini/Cooke, What's up with pro cyclists these days?, Cipo, Cipo, Cipo, A question about team names, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!
• May 13: Hit and run, Bettini vs Cooke, Bettini's Illegal sprint, You have let us down Paolo, Giro, Bettini/Cooke, Cookie's crumble, Bjarne's right: There's only one Jens Voigt!, Jens Voigt and the blind, South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, It just keeps happening, Liberty Seguros, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!, Australia - number one, Irresistible in July, UCI weight rule
• May 6: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 29: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 22: Lance Armstrong's retirement, W is for Witchhunt, Tyler's mishandling defense, Not for real, is it?, Bad Science, Blood testing issues, Hamilton - finally a decision, Regarding the Tyler Hamilton decision, Tyler Hamilton, Satisfying Verdict for Hamilton Case, How do dopers live with themselves?, Hamilton's case, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton, Hamilton verdict and a call for outside expertise, Tyler Hamilton saga..., Tour de France preview...2006!, Klöden comments, Tour de France Training, The New Dynamic Duo, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono, Random Musings
• April 15: Glenn Wilkinson, USADA and Hamilton, Bergman; so sad, ProTour leader's jersey, That's a Jersey?, Too many chiefs?, Track World Championships, What do you think?
• April 8: The New Dynamic Duo, Boonen's Hairdo, Viral infections and antibiotics, George Hincapie, What do you think?, Track World Championships, VDB?, A little bit more about blood doping, Blood testing issues
• April 1: Well done Ale-jet, Eyes of tigers..., Viral infections and antibiotics, Let's talk about cycling…, What's worth talking about in cycling?, First Ride of the season, The New Dynamic Duo, Blood testing issues, Sydney Thousand, UCI Pro Tour Grand Theft, not Grand Tour
• March 18: The Forgotten Hero!, Way to go Bobby, Bobby J, Lance has lost the ‘Eye of the tiger’, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, With all Due Respect, All this Lance Talk..., Is Lance getting soft?
• March 11: Blood testing issues and Hamilton, Cycling on TV, In Defence of UCI president Hein Verbruggen, Defending the Pro Tour?, Is Lance getting soft?, Lance has lost the "eye of the tiger"
• March 4: In Defence of the Pro-Tour, Grand Tours back down...for now, Armstrong and Simeoni,Help - what’s on the TV?, Cycling on TV, Lance Defends His Title!, Hamilton movie role downplayed, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, I really don't know when it happened
• February 25: Lance Defends His Title!, Build it and tear it down?, Build, dismantle and donate!, Lance's Hour Record attempt, I really don't know when it happened, Can't get enough!, Dream on
• February 18: Build it and tear it down?, Remember Marco, One Reason I Love Cycling, The ongoing Hour Record Saga, Lance’s Hour Record attempt, Can't get enough!
• February 11: One Reason I Love Cycling, Francisco Cuevas, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Can't get enough!, Greatest of all time
• February 4: F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can't get enough!, Help, Greatest of all time Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 28: "I am the greatest of all time", Armstrong and the Hour Record, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Lance Drug Probe, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can’t get enough!, Help, NBC's 2004 RAAM Coverage, Doping, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 21: Professional Cyclists, Der Kaiser's Goals, Jan Ullrich's problem = Lance, Rider of the Year, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Help, Lance vs. Eddy
• January 14: Der Kaiser's goals, Help, Foreign stage races, Lance vs. Eddy, Tour '05, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Quick Step helmets
• January 7: Death of Dmitri Neliubin, Der Kaiser’s goals, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Who's Greater? Come on now!, Virenque "most charismatic"?, Downhilling, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, No flat tyres, Spring classics trip advice, Bettini's trainer
• January 3: Spring classics trip advice, Big Bear ends downhilling, Armstrong and Simeoni, Holding teams accountable, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, Bettini's trainer, No flat tyres

Letters 2004

• December 24 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Business and cycling, Big Bear ends downhilling, Off-bike weight gain, No flat tires, Armstrong and Simeoni
• December 17 letters - Business and cycling, Tom versus Axel , Big Bear ends downhilling, Shane Perkins, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark Webber interview, Armstrong and Simeoni, Injured and missing it: an update, Clyde Sefton
• December 10 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Big Bear ends downhilling, Floyd's choices?, Merckx, fit and trim, Pound must go, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Punishment: Vandenbroucke vs Hamilton, Prosthetic hip, Armstrong and Simeoni, Dave Fuentes, Homeopathy, Jeremy Yates, TDF coverage for Australia, Weight limits and maintenance, Mark Webber interview
• December 3 letters - Domestiques vs Lieutenants, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Dave Fuentes, Santa vs Hairy Guy, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark French and homeopathy, Shane Perkins, Jeremy Yates, Weight limits and maintenance, UCI regulations, Armstrong and Simeoni, Prosthetic hip
• November 26 letters - Mark French and homeopathy, Two big guns in one team, Tyler Hamilton case, Bartoli's retirement, Dave Fuentes, Shane Perkins, Merckx and Armstrong, Training like Lance, Lance Armstrong, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Phonak gets what it deserves, Armstrong and Simeoni, Bike weight, Spouseless riders, Mary McConneloug, Adam Craig, Mark Webber interview, Santa vs Hairy Guy
• November 19 letters - Tyler Hamilton case, Phonak gets what it deserves, Are you there Mr Coates?, Bike Weight, Merckx and Maertens make up, Heart troubles, Where to find cycling spouses, Mark Webber interview, Lance Armstrong, Where's Greg?, What ever happened to..., Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, l'Etape du Tour registration, Still Laughing
• November 12 letters - Why Armstrong will ride the 2005 Tour, Scott Sunderland, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, Where to find cycling spouses, Lance on Italian selection, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Tour 2005 team time trial, What ever happened to..., Love and a yellow bike
• November 5 letters - Love and a yellow bike, Tour 2005, Where to find cycling spouses, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Lance on Italian selection, Armstrong and Simeoni, Tour of Southland, Construction technique for veloway, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Rahsaan Bahati
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