Tyler Hamilton Interview, part 1:

Tyler Hamilton Interview, part 2:

60 Minutes Overtime Interview with Scott Pelley:

Every person (with the exception of Fernando Escartin) who has finished on the podium at the Tour de France with Lance Armstrong [...]]]> In case anyone actually missed Tyler Hamilton’s interview on 60 Minutes last night:

Tyler Hamilton Interview, part 1:

Tyler Hamilton Interview, part 2:

60 Minutes Overtime Interview with Scott Pelley:

Every person (with the exception of Fernando Escartin) who has finished on the podium at the Tour de France with Lance Armstrong has tested positive for some sort of banned doping substance, or has been implicated in a conspiracy for systematic doping (like Operacion Puerto) … and several of Armstrong’s former teammates, in addition to Tyler Hamilton and Floyd Landis, have either tested positive for some sort of doping product, or have admitted to having doped during their career.

One-time Armstrong teammates implicated in doping cases:

• Frankie Andreu – Armstrong teammate at Motorola (1993-1996) & US Postal Service (1998-2000). Admitted to using EPO to help Armstrong win 1999 Tour de France.
• Tyler Hamilton – Armstrong teammate at US Postal Service (1998-2001). Tested positive for homologous blood transfusions at 2004 Olympic Games and Vuelta a España. Admitted to doping throughout most of his career. Alleges systematic doping at US Postal Service team.
• Floyd Landis – Armstrong teammate at US Postal Service (2002-2004). Tested positive for testosterone at 2006 Tour de France. Admitted to doping throughout most of his career. Alleges systematic doping at US Postal Service team.
• Stephen Swart – Armstrong teammate at Motorola (1995-1996). Admitted using EPO at Motorola. Implicates Armstrong as strongest proponent of systematic doping program at Motorola.
• Roberto Heras – Armstrong teammate at US Postal Service (2001-2003). Tested positive for EPO at 2005 Vuelta a España.
• Manuel “Triki” Beltrán – Armstrong teammate at US Postal Service (2003-2006). Tested positive for EPO at 2008 Tour de France.
• George Hincapie – Armstrong teammate at Motorola (1994-1996) & US Postal Service/Discovery Channel (1998-2005). Reported to have testified to Federal Grand Jury about doping program at US Postal Service team.

There has been speculation that other former teammates have also testified to the Grand Jury regarding doping practices in professional cycling.

I still don’t understand how anyone can possibly believe that Lance Armstrong did not dope during his career. And for the people who want to whitewash his involvement by saying “But look at what good his foundation has done for cancer” … well, there are a number of other cancer charities out there, charities which have done a lot more to actually try to find a cure than Livestrong’s little yellow rubber bands.

For those who missed the stage, Team Saxo Bank’s Andy Schleck, the then-current leader of the this year’s Tour attacked on the [...]]]> Just got back from watching Stage 15 from Pamiers to Bagnères du Luchon up at the Warehouse, and like many others, I must assert that Alberto Contador is a complete and total douchebag.

For those who missed the stage, Team Saxo Bank’s Andy Schleck, the then-current leader of the this year’s Tour attacked on the final climb up the hors category Port de Balès, and opened a decent gap. Astana’s Alexandre Vinokourov countered and was closing the gap when Andy got out of the saddle to stomp on the pedals and dropped his chain (it was pretty amazing to watch) … as Schleck was looking down to try to figure out what happened, Astana leader Alberto Contador launched a hard attack from well behind Schleck and was followed by Sammy Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskado) and Denis Menchov (Rabobank).

Contador says he had already launched his attack, but if you look at the replays, it was very obvious that Schleck was having some sort of mechanical issue; even if you take him at his word, he knew about the problem immediately after and could have shut it down and given Schleck a few seconds to get his chain back on and rejoin the group before attacking.

It’s a 3-week race, and there are unwritten rules.

You don’t attack in the feed zone. You don’t attack during a “natural break” … and you don’t attack the maillot jaune when he has a mechanical.

I’m not saying stop and wait, but at least stop pushing the pace to give the leader a chance to get back in the group before attacking. You don’t have to wait for him to recover once he’s back, but at least give him a chance to get back.

Maybe Contador wouldn’t have re-taken the yellow jersey today if he had waited. Maybe he would. Who knows? In any case, the following quote by Gerard Vroomen (owner of Cervelo Test Team) says it best: “Contador just gained a great chance to win, but he lost the chance to win greatly.”

Alexander Vinokourov said Wednesday he intends to ride for Astana later this year or there will be serious consequences for those who keep him from riding on the Kazakh-financed team.

In a press conference held in Monaco in advance of Saturday’s [...]]]>

Vino’ says he will be on Astana … or heads will roll – VeloNews

Alexander Vinokourov said Wednesday he intends to ride for Astana later this year or there will be serious consequences for those who keep him from riding on the Kazakh-financed team.

In a press conference held in Monaco in advance of Saturday’s Tour de France start, Vinokourov, whose suspension for homologous blood doping ends on July 24, said there’s no possibility that he would ride for any team other than the one he helped establish in 2006.

Vinokourov assembled a coalition of Kazakh sponsors to take over the ProTour license of his old Liberty-Seguros squad after that team folded on the heels of the then-breaking Operación Puerto scandal.

“I will resume my career as a professional on July 24,” he said. “I cannot imagine being on a team other than Astana. The Kazakhstan cycling federation wants me on team, I am currently negotiating with Johan Bruyneel and I think we will reach agreement in the next week.”

Later in the article:

Vinokourov suggested on Wednesday that Bruyneel has little choice but to respect the wishes of his Kazakh sponsors.

“This team was created for me and thanks to my efforts,” Vinokourov said. “I have served my suspension and I do not see why I could not return. If Bruyneel does not want me, it will be Bruyneel who is leaving the team.”

Part of me is looking forward to seeing Vino come back, because his attacking style of racing is a flat-out joy to watch.

Part of me is thinking, “man, this guy’s got a lot of nerve thinking he’s gonna come back to a ProTour team and possibly have the director fired when he’s been banned for two years from racing … and whatever happened to the additional two-year ban from the ProTour?”

I’m looking forward to the cyclo-politics at the end of the month … there’s gonna be fireworks!

GENEVA (AP)—Giro d’Italia organizers have invited the Astana team to compete in the race, reversing an earlier decision to ban it because of doping scandals.

Astana officials confirmed Saturday they are hurrying to get elite American rider Levi Leipheimer from California to Palermo, Sicily, for [...]]]>

Astana invited into Giro lineup – Cycling – Yahoo! Sports

GENEVA (AP)—Giro d’Italia organizers have invited the Astana team to compete in the race, reversing an earlier decision to ban it because of doping scandals.

Astana officials confirmed Saturday they are hurrying to get elite American rider Levi Leipheimer from California to Palermo, Sicily, for the start of the three-week race next Saturday.

“It is a good moment for us. When we were told in February that we were not invited it was a disaster,” Astana spokesman Philippe Maertens told The Associated Press.

Alberto Contador, winner of the 2007 Tour de France, will also be at the starting line for Astana. The had been shunned by cycling’s biggest events this year, including the Tour, for involvement in doping scandals. It was asked to leave the 2007 Tour after team leader Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for a blood transfusion.

The Kazakhstan-backed team brought in Johan Bruyneel, the Belgian who guided Lance Armstrong to seven Tour victories, as director to overhaul its image and operations. It also signed Contador.

Astana’s rebuilding work was rewarded late Friday, when Giro organizer RCS Sport called Bruyneel to offer his team a place.

“We are hurrying now to arrange everything. We must have a truck and a bus down to Sicily—it is not the perfect preparation,” Maertens said. “Levi was still in California and Alberto was on holiday in Spain because he had a dental operation two weeks ago. Everybody is happy.”