One of several veteran Italian riders left out in the cold after the Sony Ericsson debacle will still race next year. Fabio Baldato will join the Italian Continental Team Tenax – Nobili Rubinetterie – Salmilano. Baldato will bring a wealth of experience to the young Tenax team. His palmares include 2nd place in 1994 Paris Roubaix, 2nd in 1995 and 1996 Tour of Flanders and second in 2000 Milan San Remo. Baldato has been professional since 1991 and has also won two stages in the Tour de France
Team Tenax: ingaggiato Fabio Baldato – Yahoo! Sport IT
It’s Christmas time and even though news isn’t slow, the major news organizations have to trot out the usual “dangerous toys” stories. Although not as funny as the “Little Johnny Bag of Glass” skit on Saturday Night Live of years ago, this story packed all of the over-the-top gravitas that will make Steven Colbert proud.
The story involves Wal-Mart selling dangerous bikes. What is the dangerous feature of these bikes? They have quick-release front wheels that according to one of the plantiff’s lawyers:
“It ends up being, according to my metallurgist expert, a ticking time bomb, where in a matter of just days, weeks, months or years, that wheel has a very strong likelihood of coming loose,” Webb said.
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Cycling and the automotive industry have always had an odd connection. Saturn, Mercury, Chevy (with LA Sherriffs), Ford, FIAT and Skoda are a few of the major brands sponsored all sorts of racing teams. Today I found a link to the Cadillac Bike Store which features various styles of bikes branded with the Cadillac Logo. The bike looks like it is made by Felt (maybe not?) with a Caddy logo on it. For $1,500 which is not that far off of similarly spec’d bikes, you can show your love for Detroit with this bike. Remember, this is the Cadillac of bikes…
Cadillac Road Limited Edition RLE1.8 Road Bike: Cadillac Bike Store
More bad news in the cycling world related to drug use. Inigo Landaluze has tested positive for a higher than normal level of testosterone in his system. Landy recorded a level of 8 nanograms of testosterone in his system which is twice the legal limit.
This positive test result came during the Dauphine Libere which Landaluze won while keeping Santiago Botero at bay. Landaluze will most likely be stripped of the Dauphine title and the vicotry will pass over to Santiago Botero. This positive test is another blow to the Euskatel Euskadi team as Aitor Gonzalez lost his Tour de Suisse title after testing positive for drug use.
Tuttobici Web
The mini-saga of where will Igor Astarloa ride next season has been solved. As predicted in the virtual pages of Velochimp.com (which is a new way for you readers to get to this site), the Spanish classics specialist will stay with the South African/ British/Italian Barloworld team. The former World Champion must have been swayed by the recent signing of Claudio Corti as Director Sportif. As part of Corti joining Barloworld, Astarloa will be riding on Cannondale bikes once again.
Tuttobici Web
More info at BiciRace
Sounding a bit like Tonto talking about the Lone Ranger, Manolo Saiz believes in Roberto Heras. Heras, as you know is now serving a two year ban after tests taken during the Vuelta show that he was on the EPO juice. Saiz does not believe the tests were done accurately and that if there is justice, that we should see Heras riding again in February.
I am very sure that there are irregularities in the testing procedure for EPO. If the judicial process can look at the evidence of these errors, then we will see Roberto Heras riding again in February
Tuttobici Web
The best know Kazakistan other than Borat is ready for the challenge of the 2006 Tour de France. Seems like ages since Vinokourov announced that he signed for Liberty Seguros. By now it seems like forgettable news since Liberty won the Vuelta with Heras only to lose it on the revelation of a positive EPO test.
To get to know the team better, Vino has been hanging out with Joseba Beloki one of the most experienced Liberty Seguros members. Beloki is ready to help his new friend from the east get acclimated to the team.
Vino received many offers during the Tour de France, especially from some French teams. The top offers came from AG2R and Credit Agriciole, but Vino was drawn to Manolo Saiz’s Grand Tour experience. “Manolo’s experience and the numerous top climbers on the Liberty squad is what drew me to the Spanish team” says the Kazak.
My main goal is to win the Tour de France. At T-Mobile everything pointed only to Ullrich, so it was difficult to get the same support from the team for my own ambition.
For 2006 Vino aims to start his season in Murcia, then Milan-San Remo and Settimana Catalana. He does not plan to ridde any other Classics in the Spring. Later on, he will ride either the Tour of Switzerland or the Dauphine Libere to fine tune his form for the Tour. So who does Vino list as the favorites for the Tour?
Basso and Ullrich are the favorites, but you must keep an eye on Paopovych and Cunego. Without Armstrong in the race everything changes. I prefer to stay in the second tier of favorites sort of incongnito
The Spanish team lead by Mr. “Vega Vega” hime self Manolo Saiz has some hope since they have “on paper” one of the top contenders for the Tour de Frace in 2006.
Vinokourov: `Alla Liberty per vincere il Tour` – Yahoo! Sport IT
Now that the ink has dried on the contract, David Millar is officially part of the Saunier Duval Cycling Team. Millar, the Scotsman who has been suspended for two years after he admitted using EPO. Millar is expected to return to competative bike racing in June when his suspension if over with any eye to entering the Tour de France.
Tuttobici Web
Jan Ullrich is working hard training on the the roads of South Africa.
My training is going very well, the weather couldn’t be better and we have had some great rides. I am putting in lots of kilometers in my legs during these two weeks in South Africa, Everything is going according to plan. Actually, I feel I am ahead of schedule on my training when compared to last year.
Ullrich ahead of schedule? Good for him, could Jan arrive at the Giro in top form and decide to challenge Basso, Cunego and all the Italians? That would be fun to watch. It is December and Velochimp is in full speculation mode for the Giro, sorry about that folks 
Tuttobici Web
Here is a good set of tips on how to properly blow snots while riding your bike. The cold weather will make snottage much more prevalent than the summer months (if you are riding in 0 degree weather).
These tips will be filed under Euro-Style. Velochimp will give ocassional tips on riding style, apparel, bike choices, etc. Not just any type of bike stuff mind you.
Here is the tip which comes to Velochimp via local club listserv at: Onondaga Cycling Club
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Blowing your nose while riding is an underrated, yet essential, skill. Within
30 minutes of a good spin, almost all cyclists experience a gooey trickle
because exercise increases blood flow to the nose. Nasal tissues swell and the
cells lining the nose produce extra mucus (which is about 96% water with the
rest made of sugars, protein and bacteria-fighting enzymes). On chilly rides,
everyone drips. “It’s the nose’s way of protecting itself from cold, dry air,”
says James Geraghty, M.D., an otolaryngologist in Peoria, IL.
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