Horrillo has been left wondering if he will be able to return to racing
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Horillo Fears Retirement
Spain's Pedro Horillo said after leaving hospital here on Wednesday he is uncertain whether he will be able to return to professional cycling after recovering from injuries suffered in a dramatic fall in this year's Giro d'Italia.
"It would be tough to give up professional cycling in this way but it was an accident which I will just have to accept," the 34-year-old Rabobank team member said. Horillo suffered multiple fractures when his bike careered over a precipice during the 8th stage of the Giro last month. "I am glad to have survived to tell the tale, especially after I saw the pictures showing the ravine where I fell," he told reporters.
 Contador might have started the Tour in the argyle of Garmin-Slipstream
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Contador Almost In Argyle
It has rumored that Alberto Contador was set to make the jump to the Garmin-Slipstream team if the Astana team had collapsed. While Jonathan Vaughters and Contador have refused to comment, it has been reported that if Astana failed to meet their financial obligations the Astana team was set to split in two with Bruyneel and Armstrong forming a new team and Contador moving to another squad.
Reports are that Garmin-Slipstream was not only going to sign Contador, but also his Astana teammates Benjamin Noval, Sergio Paulinho, and Contador’s mechanic and soigneur. The money for the Contador was reportedly going to come from new co-sponsor Herbalife, which sells weight loss and nutritional supplements. Herbalife was said to be committed to $2 million as a co-sponsor.
The team of Bruyneel and Armstrong was rumored to be named Livestrong-Nike. Both the Herbalife and the Livestrong-Nike deals ended when Astana’s Kazakh sponsors fulfilled their financial obligations to the team.
 Vande Velde will look to improve on his fourth place finish of 2008
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Garmin Names Tour Team
American rider Christian Vande Velde has recovered from injuries suffered in a fall during the Giro d'Italia and will lead the Garmin team in the Tour de France, the team said on Wednesday. The 33-year-old, who ended last year's Tour in fifth place but was promoted to fourth on the disqualification of Bernhard Kohl for failing a doping test, is one of four American riders in the team.
The team also includes the British pair – Olympic pursuit three-times gold medallist Bradley Wiggins and David Millar - for the Tour, which starts on July 4 in Monaco. Another of the US racers is time-trial specialist and 2005 yellow jersey wearer David Zabriskie. Garmin have also included two up-and-coming riders - American sprinter Tyler Farrar and Irish specialist climber Dan Martin. Martin, who placed second behind Alejandro Valverde in the Volta Catalunya this year, will be a favorite for the best young rider classification, Click here to read Road Bike Action’s exclusive interview with Martin.
Garmin Tour de France Roster:
Julian Dean (NZL), Tyler Farrar (USA), Ryder Hesjedal (CAN), Dan Martin (IRL), David Millar (GBR), Danny Pate (USA), Christian Vande Velde (USA), Bradley Wiggins (GBR), David Zabriskie (USA)
Gert Steegmans is not in Katusha's Tour de France team
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Katusha Names Tour Team
Russian Team Katusha has announced their team for the upcoming Tour de France. Notably absent form the team is the Belgian Gert Steegmans, who has been put non-active status by the team because of his refusal to sign the anti-doping annex in his contract. The annex states that any rider that tests positive for a ban substance will repaid the team five times their annual salary.
The team will be led by Russian Vladimir Karpets, and his compatriot Serguei Ivanov, both of whom will be racing for a high place in the general classification. Italians Filippo Pozzato and Danilo Napolitano will focus on winning stages.
Katusha Tour de France Roster:
Filippo Pozzato (Ita), Danilo Napolitano (Ita), Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Serguei Ivanov (Rus), Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus), Nikolai Trusov (Rus), Joan Horrach (Spa), Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL)
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