• Operación Puerto - Coverage starts May 22, 2006. This major investigation in Spain caused huge disruption to the 2006 Tour de France, and put the careers of riders such as Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso on hold. The case is certain to continue. • UCI vs. Grand Tours - Coverage starts February 1, 2005. The Union Cycliste Internationale has galvanised the three powerful owners of the world's Grand Tours - the Giro, the Tour and Vuelta - in opposition to its ProTour plans, with TV rights the stumbling block. • Lance Armstrong's comeback - Lance Armstrong, winner of seven editions of the Tour de France between 1999 and 2005, announced his return to professional racing September 9. His goal is to contest the 2009 Tour de France in July and raise cancer awareness along the way. • Floyd Landis case - On July 27, 2006, it was revealed that Tour de France winner Floyd Landis had returned a positive test for an abnormal ratio of testosterone: epitestosterone in an anti-doping test conducted after his victory in stage 17 of the Tour de France. • L'Equipe
allegations |
Lance Armstrong, winner of seven editions of the Tour de France between 1999 and 2005, announced his return to professional racing September 9 following weeks of speculation. His goal is to contest the 2009 Tour de France in July and raise cancer awareness along the way.
"I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden," Armstrong, 37, said in a press release. He plans to return to racing with Johan Bruyneel's Team Astana, the Belgian Team Manager who was behind his seven Tour victories. He scheduled his first race back at the Tour Down Under in Australia, January 18 to 25.
January 18, 2009 - Armstrong announces start of Catlin's drug testing programme
January 8, 2009 - Armstrong impresses Carmichael prior to Tour Down Under
January 7, 2009 - Armstrong
believes Team Astana can dominate Tour
December 10, 2008 - Merckx: Armstrong's return good for cycling and Giro
December 8, 2008 - Armstrong climbs Teide
December 6, 2008 - Rast on life with Armstrong
December 5, 2008 - Armstrong considers Tour of Ireland
December 5, 2008 - Armstrong: Contador is the best
December 4, 2008 - Horner unites with Armstrong despite past differences
December 3, 2008 - Armstrong and Contador ride separate paths towards Tour
December 2, 2008 - Armstrong surfs with Astana
December 2, 2008 - Armstrong plans to race Tour
December 1, 2008 - Armstrong's anti-doping testing program pending
November 23, 2008 - Media out of love with Armstrong?
November 22, 2008 - Andreu caught up in Armstrong fight again
November 19, 2008 - Armstrong concerned about Tour safety
November 17, 2008 - Armstrong to meet with ASO
November 9, 2008 - Armstrong
racing in Texas again
November 7, 2008 - Exclusive
Armstrong wind tunnel video
November 7, 2008 -
Lance Armstrong speaks at Web 2.0 conference
November 6, 2008 - Carmichael
dials in Armstrong's comeback training
November 5, 2008
- Armstrong looking for balance
November 5, 2008 - Photos
from Armstrong's wind tunnel test
November 3, 2008 - Armstrong
doubles up and heads to wind tunnel
October 29, 2008 - Tour
champion Armstrong races in Gruene
October 23, 2008 - Armstrong
leaves the door open
October 20, 2008 - Cunego
fears Armstrong for Giro d'Italia
October 14, 2008 - Zomegnan:
Armstrong to raise Giro's awareness
October 14, 2008 - Armstrong
wants to go pink, probably not yellow
October 14, 2008 - Moser,
Simeoni comment on Armstrong's Giro plan
October 13, 2008 - Armstrong
rides in Giro d'Italia
October 11, 2008 - Contador
faces uncertainty about Armstrong's return
October 10, 2008 - Scharping
criticises UCI's special handling of Armstrong
October 9, 2008 - UCI allows
Armstrong to start the 2009 Tour Down Under
October 5, 2008 - Armstrong's
return no distraction for Tour de France anti-doping efforts
October 4, 2008 - Ullrich
thinks Armstrong can win Tour again
October 3, 2008 - More
readers weigh in on Armstrong
October 3, 2008 - Bordry
regrets Armstrong decision
October 2, 2008
- Armstrong responds to testing times
October 2, 2008 - AFLD
proposes more testing for Armstrong samples
October 1, 2008 - Leblanc
questions Armstrong's return
September 30, 2008 - Armstrong's
Down Under hopes not over
September 28, 2008 - Armstrong's
"Down Under" start uncertain
September 26, 2008 - Armstrong
addresses industry, LeMond crashes party
September 25, 2008 - Pound
critical over Armstrong return
September 25, 2008- More letters from the readers concerning Armstrong return
September 25, 2008 - Armstrong
plays down Tour chances
September 24, 2008 - Armstrong
joins Astana
September 24, 2008 - Lance
Armstrong set to return to racing in Australia
September 18, 2008-
Readers' letters to Armstrong return
September 15, 2008 - Armstrong
to race Down Under?
September 13, 2008 - Armstrong
return puts science in the crosshairs
September 11, 2008 - Walsh
ponders Armstrong's return
September 10, 2008 - McQuaid
assesses Armstrong return
September 10, 2008 - Armstrong
confirms comeback
September 9, 2008 - Astana
denies Armstrong return
September 9, 2008 - Armstrong's
rumoured return surprises Bruyneel and others