Letters to Cyclingnews - January 24, 2006

Australian championships

Marking the right man...

I do agree with your logic. Shouldn't first place be the winner?

In defence of those that race using power, fitness, and the key element of tactics, a question came to mind. If it was an elite rider (or two) out in front in place of William and Wes would the peloton and chasers have worked harder, leading to a potentially different outcome? I'm not sure, as I wasn't there.

Simon King

Sydney
Tuesday, January 24, 2006

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Aussie national champs - a deserved winner

All this talk of William Walker being hard done by is a bit over the top. When Walker entered the Under 23 national road race, he was well aware what the prize was, and should have been equally aware of what he was ineligible to win. If Walker didn't like this situation, then why didn't he enter the open section? Plenty of other riders that are still under the age of 23 did. Simple - because if he did he would have been ineligible to enter other Under 23 races from that point on, including the Under 23 world titles, which he obviously has high hopes for. This is a choice Walker made and one he must live with. You can't have your cake and eat it too, Will!

In addition to this, Van Hout would have been fully aware of who in the leading break was racing for which title, and once Walker went up the road Van Hout (and the other open riders) obviously made the decision not to chase, realising that Walker was ineligible to win the coveted national jersey. In the end, Van Hout beat HIS competitors home and was the first open rider to cross the line and a deserved recipient of the national jersey!

Matthew Dorian

Adelaide, Australia
Tuesday, January 17, 2006

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Aussie nationals

Yes, it sounds to me too that some other game is going on here. But there is a key question to be answered that is not in any of the stories I've read. Did William Walker enter the Elite category, or did he enter the Under 23 category?

Here in the US, many times races are run concurrently; juniors are on the same course at the same time as the Cat 4 seniors, for example. If a junior enters the junior race and is the first one across the line, he is awarded 1st for the juniors, not seniors. He receives the prizes and money for the junior event. If he entered the senior event, then he would receive the prizes and dollars for the senior event.

So as much as I agree that William Walker won the race (overall), his right to wear the National Jersey may depend on the answer to that question.

Bob Gunderson

Wisconsin, USA
Tuesday, January 17, 2006

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World champion kit

Dear Cyclingnews;

Great letter, I totally agree with everything Stephen says. The national or world champions should only be allowed to wear a jersey with the appropriate colours, the rest of their team kit should be regulation as registered with the UCI.

Graham Elliott,

Cumbernauld, Scotland
Sunday, January 22, 2006

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World champion kit #2

Sir -

A reader writes in about fashion disasters in cycling, only to complain about the big Tom Boonen's world champion kit. To wit;

How many rainbows does one REALLY need on a jersey and shorts?

Looking at Boonen's picture, I'd say about five (give or take two). Why the margin of colour? Dye-sub printing, better athlete (product) placement are a few reasons. Let's examine this top to bottom; one stripe around the collar. Fair game, most recent jerseys have it. One UCI logo - ever look at it? Then you would know it that it comes with stripes!

Sleeves: Yep, and he'll continue to have them for the rest of his career.

Chest: A must-have for the world champ’s jersey; losing this is like putting a no-beer rule on the Stanley Cup.

Thighs: A recent addition, one that can only be decent through very opaque lyrca/spandex blends. A scientific step forward, if you will. One on each massive, Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders-winning thigh.

All of this equals rainbows. Boonen could be chided for his excessive colour, but who lost their jersey in a disco due to some serious partying? Not the homely wool-sodden humbug griping about thigh stripes. Leave kits to the pros. They deserve them.

Big Calson

Richmond, VA
Tuesday, January 17, 2006

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Ullrich and the 2006 Tour

Dear Cyclingnews,

Even though Lance tips Der Kaiser for victory in this year's Tour, my money is not on him. No, give me E-vohn Bah-so instead. Being a year older can't hurt his time trialing, whereas Ullrich's has probably topped out. I think Basso will take Ullrich in the mountains through a series of attacks a la Lance. I suppose what it really might come down to is Rudy Pevenage vs. Bjarne Riis. With that in mind, what are your bets, gentle ladies and gentle men?

Scott Phoenix,

Newberg, OR
Monday, January 23, 2006

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With Lance gone

Discovery has lost the Alpha Male by Lance retiring. Interesting though... Cyclingnews.com-readers have not really commented on the team's outlook for the 2006 Tour de France yet. Why? Do you all think that Discovery is no longer a factor? Or is it just too early to tell?

Well here's my 2 cents...I believe that Discovery will win the Tour de France 2006! Why? Because I think that they have at least three riders that can pull off the entire thing:

George H.

Of course everyone got excited about George's win in stage 15 last year and he's an excellent time-trialist. Since he concentrated mainly on the Spring Classics in the past, scaling back his efforts to act as top-support for the Lance-Man in the "grande boucle" were surprising for many after such a strong showing in 2005. My prediction for 2006 is if he has "problems" during spring and pulls out of the Classics campaign for one reason or another (or has sub-par performances), we need to perk up and wait for George to be the leader of the Disco-squad for the Tour. Can he win it? Absolutely! He will enjoy the same support as Lance although there may be less respect from the rest of the peloton.

Paolo Savoldelli

Paolo Savoldelli pulled off the Giro win in 2005. Then in July he also managed a great stage win at the Tour. Yes the Tour is on a different level than the Giro but given Discovery's unique (still, after all these years) support structure, Paolo could be in a great position. Time trialling might be an issue but the team could make up for it in the mountains. Il Falco would have to forego a repeat of the Italian success though in order to be on the edge come July.

Yaroslav Popovych

A lot of people are calling him the "next" Lance Armstrong but he would have to earn this status first. I believe that the team is more likely to have "Popo" as a leader for the Giro and "Falco" for the Tour. Yaroslav finished twice in the top 5 on Italy and the Tour might be too high a goal for 2006 but the Giro seems reachable. However, 2007 or 2008 might be his year to step up as leader for the French campaign.

There are of course other riders that can pull a quick one but IMHO these 3 should be under the fan's looking glass for the Tour 06 ... as far as the Discovery Channel team is concerned at least.

Laurent Schoux

Luxembourg, Europe
Tuesday, January 17, 2006

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Some observations on Oz

Brendan’s letter makes some interesting points but hey, cyclists in Oz stopped waving in 1991. In fact the wave ceased in October 1989 on Beach Rd in Melbourne when triathletes started riding with aero bars after Channel Nine showed the Hawaiian iron man race and Greg Lemond had won the tour using the bars.

They were too busy looking down to notice any waves, so it died out. My theory of the wave is that it begins (or ends) 100kms or more from the CBD of most cities. That is the distance I have observed, give or take 50 kilometres, which people need to get over the self obsessed, unfriendly atmosphere of our cities. The other theory is that cycling has become a "look at me" pastime; expensive bikes, shaved legs, loud outfits, conspicuous consumption on the move and too serious by far. It's even now hailed as the "new golf".

For those of us that remember riding a bike in the dark ages (1960s and 70s) this often meant putting up with the constant insults and often worse things from motorists. You enjoyed camaraderie of the road as there were far fewer cyclists than today, so that a wave was returned and signified a shared experience or even good manners perhaps.

Justin Quinn

Melbourne Vic
Friday, January 20, 2006

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PCA suing Dick Pound

While I very much agree with Mr. Washburn that law suits against WADA and/or UCI do not address the real problem which is drug use, it does address another problem that we must have - confidence in the system itself.

I must say that while there does appear to be evidence that many riders are using drugs to enhance their performance, convicting them on scant evidence perhaps from poorly documented tests or from tainted supplements isn't acceptable to me.

If a man is to have his reputation and career abolished I want all the I’s dotted and T's crossed. That means I want to have all of the false positives and false negatives accounted for. If WADA or UCI don't respect a man enough for that then perhaps civil accountability for their failure to have such respect will cause a change in attitude.

Thomas Kunich
Tuesday, January 17, 2006

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International teams

I read from time to time on your website about the hopes of various Australians to one day have their country represented by a cycling team on the Pro Tour. As a U.S. citizen, I have similar hopes for my own country. Though there is a Pro Tour team registered in the United States for 2006, it does not represent the United States anymore than, say, CSC represents the United States, for Discovery and CSC each have three U.S. citizens on their respective rosters.

For the 2006 season, U.S. citizens make up 11% of the roster on Discovery and 10% of the CSC roster. In fact, the country with the most riders on Discovery is Belgium, with four riders (14% of the roster). Discovery, CSC, and Phonak are known as "international teams" because they have the lowest number of riders representing the country in which the team is registered. However, CSC, a Danish registered team, is 33% Danish while Phonak, a Swiss registered team, is 38% Swiss.

I ask that Discovery Cycling do one of two things: recruit more American riders (at least 33%), or go register in Belgium and let the States have a real U.S. Pro Tour team. Or possibly, in the interest of your Australian nationals, why not add another Australian to Discovery and register it in Australia? But then again, the Australian people would surely demand more than 11% of their Australian registered team to come from Australia-wouldn't they? I have heard the argument that Discovery supports U.S. juniors and espoirs, that is good and well, but that is hardly the same as giving more Yanks - or "seppos" as we are affectionately known in Australia - a "go" in the big pond.

Stephen Quigley

Indiana, USA
Friday, January 20, 2006

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Recent letters pages

Letters 2005

• January 17: EGO Mania, Basso: seeing double, Aussie nationals, Australian championships, Russell Mockridge, PCA suing Dick Pound, USA cycling, World champion kit, The future, Some observations on Oz
• January 6: The Tour hypocrisy, Pat McQuaid, McQuaid, Bart Wellens, Urine testing, Dope so you can
• January 3: That damn Lance, Bart Wellens, Cyclists in South Australia, EGO Mania, King Pound, Urine testing for rEPO, The Tour hypocrisy, Dope so you can, Give McQuaid a chance, Elimination Tour de France
• December 23: McQuaid and the UCI, Cyclists in South Australia, Bart Wellens, That Damn Lance, Patrice Clerc Interview, Don't accuse every top athlete, Dope so you can, Sanctions for doping - episode 99, Allan Butler tribute
• December 16: An embarrassment of riches, The chickens have come home to roost, McQuaid and the UCI, UCI vs Grand Tour organisers, At least they have something in common, Back to the seventies, Basso at Giro 2006, Cycling is best at what it does, Dope so you can, Cycling one dimensional, Don't accuse every top athlete, Heras and drugs, Where are all of Heras' supporters?, Dick Pound, Chasing an inevitable high, SF Grand Prix
• December 9: Basso at Giro 2006, Heras EPO test procedure, The Heras case, Where are all of Heras' supporters?, Heras and drugs, Do you have to ask why?, Dope so you can, Global doping, The burden of proof, Chasing an inevitable high, EPO, Colorado State Patrol, SFGP - Bring it back!
• December 2: Heras EPO test procedure, Heras - three times lucky, The Heras case, Another profile in disappointment, SFGP - Bring it back!, San Francisco Grand Prix, San Francisco GP, Tyler Hamilton, Chasing an inevitable high, Circumstantial evidence, The burden of proof, Global Doping, Graeme Obree, Moron or marketing genius, Exciting again
• November 25: San Francisco GP, San Fran Grand Prix, San Fran GP, San Francisco city supervisor responds, A tale of two cities, Tyler Hamilton - UCI leaks, Wire in the blood part II, Tyler Hamilton, Hamilton wait time, Heras - three times lucky?, What is the UCI doing?, Exciting again, Le Tour will live on without Armstrong, Moron or marketing genius, A modest proposal, Weekend club racing world championships
• November 18: Heras - three times lucky?, What is the UCI doing?, Exciting again, 2006 Tour de France, Positive urine EPO tests, Le Tour will live on without Armstrong, LeBlanc's Tour snub of Armstrong, Tour of Southland, Schlimmer response, Exercise-induced asthma
• November 11: LeBlanc's Tour snub of Armstrong, Exciting again, Le Tour will live on without Armstrong, Armstrong, the TdF, etc, The 2006 Tour de France and Lance, Lance, Le Tour and Ethics, Armstrong snub at Tour presentation, Pro wrestling and cycling, Swimming and Cycling, What TdF?, Fair justice, Another doping letter, Where has common sense gone?, Technology in cycling, Schlimmer
• November 4: LeBlanc's Tour snub of Armstrong, The 2006 Tour de France and Lance, Le Tour de malcontent, Tour de France 2006, What TdF?, Le Tour wounded, Gossip ruins cycling, EPO, Exercise-induced asthma, Dick Pound and soccer, Tour of US, Tour of California, Swimming and Cycling
• October 28: Le Tour de Malcontent, LeBlanc's Tour snub of Armstrong, Caution needed, TdF 2006, Has cycling become a honky tonk sport?, Tristan Hoffman, UN effort to fight doping in sport, UCI ProTour, Cam Jennings, Exercise-induced asthma, Chris Sheppard is a class act, Why?, Crocodile Trophy - worlds' toughest race?
• 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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