(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Contador Unfazed by Armstrong
Tour de France champion Alberto Contador insists the thought of having seven-time winner Lance Armstrong as his main rival in this year's race is not keeping him awake at night. The Spaniard, Tour champion in 2007 and 2009 and Tour of Italy and Spain winner in 2008, believes he will have more than the American to deal with.
Contador overcame tensions within Astana, the team Armstrong joined last year to make his comeback to the sport, to win the 2009 edition thanks to crushing performances in the mountains and final time trial. Armstrong battled to finish third, and then promptly announced the creation of a new team, RadioShack, that he hopes to lead to victory in 2010.
Although an outright Contador v Armstrong clash is mouth-watering, the Spaniard said he believes it may not be the only one on the horizon. At Astana's team presentation here Saturday, Contador said he believed there could be up to 10 real challengers for the race's prestigious yellow jersey.
"Of course Lance will be one of my rivals this year but I'm more relaxed," said the 27-year-old, who finished last year's race over four minutes ahead of Luxembourg's Andy Schleck. "I'm not the only big favorite. There's a group of around eight to 10 riders who could throw their hat in for a victory at the Tour."
Armstrong, third at 5:24 last July, boosted his chances of an eighth Tour win by taking the bulk of last year's Astana team with him to RadioShack, including American Levi Leipheimer and German Andreas Kloden.
Although an almost unrivalled climber and a strong time trialist, the big question supporters of Contador will want to ask is whether his team, which now includes disgraced Kazakh star Alexandre Vinokourov, are up to the job.
Vinokourov returned to cycling last year following a two-year ban for doping. He and the entire Astana team, when it was under different management, were thrown off the 2007 Tour de France. Vinokourov said there was only one objective on the team's mind: "The aim is to win the Tour de France for Astana and show that, with Alberto Contador, we are the best team in the world," he said. "I think that with his talent and my experience, I can count on him to succeed.
"Former Tour winner Oscar Pereiro, who was on the brink of retirement before he joined Astana with five other Spaniards, said there is no doubt who they will be racing for. “When Alberto is in this team, all riders work for Alberto, this team is Alberto... and others," Pereiro, the 2006 Tour de France winner, joked to journalists.
"He's the best rider of the world and for the other riders, it's a motivation." From a total of 27 riders Astana counts 13 Kazakhs, seven Spaniards, three Italians, two Australians, as well as one Ukrainian and a Slovenian.
Contador has one year left on his contract with the team, which he unsuccessfully tried to leave after his second Tour triumph. For now, he is giving nothing away about possible future destinations. "It's only January. There's a big possibility that I will stay longer with Astana. But there are other possibilities," he said.
 Zirbel faces up to a two-year suspension (Photo: Mitchell Clinton)
Zirbel B Sample Positive
Tom Zirbel now faces up to a two-year suspension after analysis of his B sample came back positive for DHEA. Zirbel tested positive at the U.S. National Championships where he finished second in the time trial behind David Zabriske. Zirbel backed up his second place at nationals with an impressive fourth at the World Championships a couple months later. Zirbel’s results earned him a contract with the Garmin-Transitions team for the 2010 season, but his contract was terminated following the announcement of the results from his A sample.
 Pawel Szczepaniak claims the U-23 title (Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Polish brothers Pawel and Kacper Szczepaniak went one-two in the U-23 cyclocross world championships in Tabor, Czech Republic. Pawel Szczepaniak soloed to a 20-second win ahead of his brother. Pawel Szczepaniak dominated the majority of race, charging off the front early and riding away from a chase group that contained his brother and French rider Arnaud Jouffroy who claimed third.
Paprstka took victory for the host nation
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Paprstka Claims Junior Title
Tomaš Paprstka claimed gold for the host country by winning the Junior world title in Tabor, Czech Republic. Paprstka’s victory shocked many as the Dutch and Belgian riders were favored. The snow covered course played a big role in the outcome of the race as many of the favorites crashed. One of the pre-race favorites Gert-Jan crashed while leading on the third lap giving Paprstka the lead. The young Czech rider took full advantage and charged off the front. Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe chased and the two eventually sprinted for the line with Paprstka taking the win.
SpiderTech Aims Big for 2010
Team Spidertech powered by Planet Energy was officially launched at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto yesterday evening. The event was MC’d by 3-time Olympic medallist Curt Harnett was followed by a cocktail reception and VIP dinner, which drew out many of Canada’s influential corporate cycling backers to support Canada’s only professional road team.
During the event Steve Bauer’s Yellow Jersey from the 1990 Tour de France raised $23,500 dollars for the team, on auction. “It’s about time that something fantastic like this event happens for our sport in Canada” remarked the event organizer Andrew Randell on the team’s outstanding evening celebration.
American newcomer Lucas Euser stated that “This night confirms that this team is destined for greatness. It shows that all of Canada can get behind this project”.
Steve Bauer, director of Team Spidertech announced confidently during the media conference “we believe we can take this Endeavour to the top of our sport, the Tour de France”.
It is certainly a unique Canadian corporate partnership that has given Team Spidertech the opportunity to enter into the bigger leagues of professional road cycling. Planet Energy with Catalyst Capital Group Inc. began the initiative as co-sponsors, two years ago.
Today Bauer and his partner Josee Larocque have added additional thrust to the team’s budget with sponsorship support from well-known companies Saputo, Blackberry, Iberville Developments and for 2010, title sponsor Spidertech take on the lead role. The 2010 rider roster is comprised of 13 Canadians and two international riders.
“We have to provide the opportunity for our own athletes” (Canadian). This is a great time for road cycling and the time is now for cycling in Canada to reach the big leagues,” says Bauer. The UCI Continental Team Spidertech powered by Planet Energy will begin its season soon in the Vuelta Cuba February 9 to 21. The Team big race season objectives are to compete in the Tour of California in May and have its riders ready for the Pro Tour events in Quebec and Montreal, September 10 and 12 respectively.
 McEwen looks to return to his winning ways in 2010 (Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Katusha Announces 2010 Roster
The Russian ProTour team Katusha has announced its official team roster for the 2010 season. The team has added Kim Kirchen in hopes of increasing the teams chances in grand tours, while Robbie McEwen looks to return to form after a year lost to injury.
2010 Katusha Roster:
Marco Bandiera (ITA/25), Laszlo Bodrogi (FRA/33), Alexander Botcharov (RUS/34), Pavel Brutt (RUS/28), Denis Galimzyanov (RUS/22), Joan Horrach (ESP/35), Mikhail Ignatiev (RUS/24), Sergei Ivanov (RUS/34), Timofey Kritskiy (RUS/23), Vladimir Karpets (RUS/29), Robbie McEwen (AUS/37), Luca Mazzanti (ITA/35), Danilo Napolitano (ITA/29), Evgueni Petrov (RUS/31), Alexandr Pliuschin (MDA/23), Filippo Pozzato (ITA/28), Joachin Rodriquez (ESP/30), Egor Silin (RUS/21), Nikolay Trusov (RUS/24), Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL/25), Maxime Vantomme (BEL/23), Kim Kirchen (LUX/31), Eduard Vorganov (RUS/27), Artiom Ovechkin (RUS/23), Nikita Eskov (RUS/27), Sergey Klimov (RUS/29), Alexander Kolobnev (RUS/28).
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