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Team Liquigas’ Ivan Basso will make his return to pro racing on October 26th at the Japan Cup on fi’zi:k’s new Antares road saddle. The new light-weight, low profile saddle introduced at the fall Eurobike and Interbike shows with a scheduled November aftermarket release, has been on his Cannondale Supersix since mid-August.

The Italian professional cyclists association is calling for a lifetime ban for pro riders caught doping. In a letter sent to UCI President Pat McQuaid, the ACCPI said "lifetime bans should be introduced as an extreme solution to give cycling back its credibility." The letter said cyclists who cooperate with authorities should be offered the chance to race again after shorter bans. The letter was signed by ACCPI President Amedeo Colombo and the association's secretary, former world champion Gianni Bugno. The letter:

Dear Mr. McQuaid,

USA Cycling announced today dates and locations for the eight domestic events slated to appear on the 2008-09 UCI BMX North American Continental Calendar, as well as the 2009 USA Cycling BMX National Championships. For the first time, UCI Continental Calendar events in the United States will be contested at American Bicycle Association (ABA) affiliated tracks. The ABA will also host the third-annual USA Cycling BMX National Championships, which will return to Metroplex BMX in Desoto, Texas on March 21.

Following the recent announcement of Team Inferno developing into Kenda Pro Cycling presented by Spinergy for the 2009 season, two more exciting additions have also been added to the team: U25 cycling sensation Jonathan Parrish, and new sponsor Traveler’s Insurance.

Cycling BC is proud to present the first annual Cycling BC Coaches Conference on November 22, 2008. The conference will welcome coaches from across the province and throughout the Pacific Northwest. The aim of the conference is to provide coaches with a forum to discuss topics relevant to performance and development of the sport. The theme of this year’s conference is: Innovative Coaching: New Approaches to Cycling Success Program 10:00-10:15 Introduction and Sign In. 10:15-11:00 Richard Wooles: The Cycling BC athlete development model 11:00-11:15 Break

BC Bike Race - The Ultimate Singletrack Experience has joined forces with IMBA - the International Mountain Bicycling Association. This partnership represents a unified goal of acquiring, maintaining and developing mountain bike trails both globally and locally. BC Bike Race (BCBR) is an epic seven day mountain bike race from Victoria to the future Olympic town of Whistler. IMBA is an advocacy group who creates, enhances and protects great trail experiences for mountain bikers worldwide.

Cycling fans and friends of Garmin-Chipotle pro Tyler Farrar are sending best wishes to the Farrar family after his father, Dr. Ed Farrar, suffered a serious spinal injury from a bike-car collision in Wenatchee, Washington, on Wednesday. Dr. Farrar, an orthopedic surgeon, was in "undetermined" condition at Central Washington Hospital Wednesday night, according to the Wenatchee World newspaper.

I’ve often written in this column with my perspective on the aftermath of bike-on-car collisions. This week, I’ve got a different perspective to share ? the perspective of a cyclist who was actually involved in a bike-on-car collision. On July 26, 2007, racers Diana Panchyk and Matthew Barrowclough were on a training ride when they were struck from behind by the mirror of a truck that passed too close. Fortunately, they survived the collision, although they both suffered serious injuries.

What’s most clear from Wednesday’s announcement of the 2009 Tour de France is that the winner will have to maintain top form from the very first day in Monaco on July 4 to the finish in Paris on July 26.

Lance Armstrong says the 2009 Tour de France route, unveiled Wednesday, is "innovative and very interesting" and he said he looks forward to negotiating with Tour officials about "a mutually beneficial future together." In the statement released Wednesday afternoon, Armstrong appeared to be a bit ambivalent about whether he would ride the Tour next year.

Statement from Lance Armstrong on the 2009 Tour de France route announcement For immediate release “The route of the 2009 Tour de France strikes me as innovative and very interesting. From its start in Monte Carlo with a 15k time trial, to the reinstatement of the team time trial, to stages in my old hometown of Girona all the way to another visit to my old friend the Ventoux, I could not have hoped for a different Tour.”

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Colorado’s Summit County has granted provisional approval for a six-day endurance mountain bike stage race in Breckenridge for 2009. The “Breck Epic,” is tentatively scheduled to run from July 5 to the 10th. Mike McCormack, former director of the Mountain States Cup, is spearheading the Breck Epic’s organization. McCormack said the last hurdle the race needs to clear is approval from the United States Forest Service.

A lot of similar questions come along when you’re out at the races. One question I hear frequently is some variation of the famous “How do you know when you’ve made it big?” I usually give a good P.C. answer and move along, because who really knows the answer to that question!? It’s something I’m too humble to try answering. But two weeks ago, it stunned me, even jolted me. It was right there in front of me. I came up over the horizon to the parking lot on a nice Sunday in Ohio and I had my own big orange parking cone with my last name on it! [nid:84490]

Canadian Wendy Simms currently sits atop the Women's UCI cyclocross rankings with 309 points, ahead of Dutchwoman Daphny Van de Brand, who holds 300 points. Simms (Kona) successfully defended her ’07 title at the Canadian national cyclocross championships on October 11 in Edmonton. The Victoria, Canada, resident then finished eighth at the UCI World Cup opener in Kalmthout, Belgium, on October 18. Simms was the top North American finisher, male or female, at that event.

Temptation was all around during the second stage for Belgian cycling great Eric Vanderaerden as the race passed by more than a few outback watering holes. But the man who has shed 20 kilos to return to competition held steadfast against the lure of a cleansing ale, especially while the cameras were upon him. Photographed passing by the pub in the Atherton Tableland Town of Herberton, the former winner of Paris-Roubaix had his eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead and his ultimate objective of finishing the Crocodile Trophy. [nid:84454]

Czech cyclist Ondrej Fojtik is one step closer to achieving his dream of winning the Crocodile Trophy after snatching the leaders jersey from the shoulders of teammate Tomas Trunschka during the second stage from Irvinebank to Koombooloomba Dam in tropical North Queensland.

Irvine, CA - Throughout all of 2007, the JETCycling program has had some great success in Southern California. With the backing of the USWCDP, Specialized, and Rock-n-Road Cyclery in Orange County, they have become one of the strongest junior cycling clubs in the area. Their focus has been to build the foundation of junior competitive road cycling, working with juniors between the ages 10 to 18. Their program takes hands on approach to coaching, backed with education and a pillar of ethics for our juniors.

Lance Armstrong wasn’t at Wednesday’s presentation of the route of the 2009 Tour de France, but he was on everyone’s tongue. Whether or not the Tour is part of Armstrong’s future is very much up in the air. Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel said the only thing certain about Armstrong’s schedule is that he’ll race at the Tour Down Under, the Tour of California and the Giro d’Italia.

Call the 2009 Tour de France a race of innovation and originality. Unwinding like a corkscrew from Monaco on July 4 to the finale into Paris three weeks later, the 21-stage race will be one hard to control and full of room for riders who dare to defy traditional tactics. Mont Ventoux is back, and so is the team time trial, but what makes the 2009 Tour route so interesting is that organizers were not afraid to throw convention to the wind.

Shimano and five renowned bicycle frame builders are offering five custom bicycles to be auctioned off to raise funds for the Young Survival Coalition (YSC). The Shimano Alfine Pink Ribbon Fundraiser continues through October 30, 2008. All of the proceeds go to the YSC. The bikes are from Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles, Rock Lobster Bicycles, Sycip Designs, Torelli Bicycle Company and Vicious Cycles. For more information on the auction, visit the auction Web site.