Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

Sad news from Rochester as Champion Cyclist Jon Dechau (center) was killed yesterday while on a training ride.
From the Genesee Valley Cycling Club Website:

Dechau killed by Motorist: Jonathon Dechau (center above - after winning the Niagara Classic in 2003) was killed last night September 13, 2006 while out training on his bike. [...]

Frankie Andreu has come clean and admitted to using EPO during the 1999 Tour de France. Andreu along wih another unidentified US Postie admitted to using EPO in an article in the NY Times.

“I tried my best never to use performance-enhancing drugs,” he said. “I did make a couple of bad choices, but [...]

38 year old Fabio Baldato is not going to ride his last few years on a continental squad. Baldato is moving back to the ProTour signing a one year deal with Lampre. The old man is riding for Tenax Salmilano where he won a stage in the Tour of Austria. Tenax Salmilano teammate Paolo [...]

David Millar completed his comeback from a two year drug suspension by winning the stage 14 time-trial stage. Millar beat TT specialist Fabian Cancellara by a split second to claim the win. Millar made a point to say that you can win clean in this sport.
Those that use the Millar line to determine who [...]

The Kodak Gallery team are one of the few if only teams to be using the new SRAM Force gruppo on their bikes. Back in June during the Rochester Twilight Criterium, I was able to get a closer look at the gruppo. Walking by the Kodak mechanics I started fiddling with one of the spare [...]

(pic stolen from cyclingnews.com)
The Giro Ionos was released as the latest Giro helmet during the Tour de France. The new helmet was sported by all the major Giro sponsored teams including Discovery Channel, Phonak and Rabobank. Mysteriously after the Tour, the Giro Ionos is not on any rider’s head. Look at pictures from any [...]

Today Ivan Basso’s follow up court date was delayed until September 29th. Basso was originally scheduled to appear in court on Sept 12th to follow up on the proceedings from August 29th. No reason was given for the delay except the usual Italian justice slowdowns.
Tuttobiciweb.com writes that Basso feels exhausted at the latest delay [...]

The days are growing shorter, weather getting colder, school is starting up again. All of this means one thing … Cyclocross time is upon us! This year Syracuse will be hosting two Cyclocross races and Matt Howey of spokepost.com is setting up a Clinic and Training session that will help folks get into ‘cross.
Here is [...]

The US Pro Championship Road Race was like a red carpet walk for George Hincapie. Riding in his new hometown of Greenville South Carolina the race was more of a George Hincapie party than a true US Pro Championships. Hincapie was basically escorted by future teammate Levi Leipheimer over a course that Big George rides [...]

A German journalist decides to ask many pro cyclist “Have you doped today?” He gets the expected responses from cyclist who are pretty much sick and tired of the doping issue. Jens Voight goes off in German which is interesting to watch even if you do not speak German.

From Youtube:

Jens Voight says:
What kind [...]