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SAECO-TEAM PRESS RELEASE - Rome - July 27, 2002After being absolved today, Gilberto Simoniwill start racing again on Sunday in HamburgThe favourable ending to the case involving Gilberto Simoni, with theannouncement today by the Italian Disciplinary Commission of the ItalianCycling Federation of his complete absolution, has finally ended an extremelydifficult and delicate moment for the whole Saeco-Longoni Sport team eventhough they always tried to face things in a rational and balanced manner.It’s pleasing to see how the decision of the disciplinary organ of theItalian Cycling Federation ,

Armstrong hopes to avoid another second-place time trial finish

Clearly in Charge: Armstrong dominated the closing kilometers.

Rumsas may have missed second overall because of a loose screw.

Armstrong's taste in summer clothing usually includes yellow.

'Hard, damn hard.' Millar is now aiming for the Vuelta.

Leipheimer had a great first Tour.

Hamilton's Tour performance comes on the heels of a podium spot in the Giro.

Bougelais Grapes - what folks in this part of France are usually concerned about..

...but today, it's TT bikes.

Bravo Jaja

... and Vive le Tour

You can never be too aero' for an afternoon walk.

Waiting to present the best young rider award.

Waiting to present the points jersey.

In some ways, the 2002 Tour de France is pretty much ending the way it started. The first road stage of the Tour de France way back on July 7 was muchlike the final true road stage Friday: long, hard and very hilly over narrowroads. Nearly three weeks ago in Luxembourg, the peloton hit the difficultfirst stage of the Tour with Lance Armstrong in the yellow jerseyafter winning the opening prologue. Friday’s 176.5km stage 18 ended thelast real day of hard racing with Armstrong back in yellow. All that remains in the 89th Tour de France is Saturday’s final timetrial and Sunday’s frolic back to

Preliminary Stage Results1. Thor Hushovd (Nor), C.A, at , 176.5 km in 4:28:28 (39.446kph) 2. Christophe Mengin (Fra), FDJ, at ˆ 00:00. 3. Jakob Piil (Dk), CST, at 00:05. 4. Leon Van Bon (Nl), DFF, at 00:33. 5. Jorg Jaksche (G), ONE, at 00:33. 6. Nicki Sorensen (Dk), CST, at 00:33. 7. Gian Matteo Fagnini (Ita), TEL, at 00:40. 8. Erik Dekker (Nl), RAB, at 00:40. 9. Thierry Loder (Fra), A2R, at 00:40. 10. Nicola Loda (Ita), FAS, at 06:59. 11. Robbie McEwen (Aus), LOT, at 11:42. 12. Erik Zabel (G), TEL, at 11:42. 13. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), C.A, at 11:42. 14. Jan Svorada (Cz), LAM, at 11:42. 15.

A Swiss disciplinary committee on Friday handed down a suspension to Italian cyclist Stefano Garzelli after he failed a drugs test during this year’s Giro d’Italia. But the two-year penalty, which takes effect on Saturday, will be suspended after April 23, 2003, allowing the 29 year-old to take part in next year's Giro, the judge heading the committee, Henry Peter, said. Peter told AFP that the board had decided not to apply the full minimum two year ban for a first offence because Garzelli had no history of suspected doping, and the traces of the drug Probenecid found in the tests were

Frank Connell, who competed in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics road race, died July 25 in Columbia, SC at age 92, according to his nephew, Harold Bayerl. Connell, a bachelor, had been in declining health. Connell was born in Hoboken, NJ, and grew up in northern New Jersey when outdoor board vélodromes in Newark and other Eastern Seaboard cities drew international competitors. As a member of the Century Road Club of America, he won the New Jersey state Amateur Bicycle League of America (predecessor to the US Cycling Federation) championship at age 15 in 1925 and scored a bronze medal at the

Results Stage 18 -- Cluses to Bourg-en-BresseOverall, points, KOM and other results below.(Editor's Note: - North American riders listed in bold;Riderson North American teams underlined)1. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, 176.5 km in 4:28:282. Christophe Mengin (F), FDJeux.com, at 00:00.3. Jakob Piil (Den), CSC-Tiscali, at 00:05.4. Leon Van Bon (Ned), Domo-Farm Frites, at 00:33.5. Jorg Jaksche (Ger), ONCE, at 00:33.6. Nicki Sorensen (Den), CSC-Tiscali, at 00:33.7. Gian Matteo Fagnini (I), Telekom, at 00:40.8. Erik Dekker (Ned), Rabobank, at 00:40.9. Thierry Loder (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, at

Journalism is not a profession or a trade. It is a cheap catch-allfor f---offs and misfits — a false doorway to the backside of life, a filthy,piss-ridden little hole nailed off by the building inspector, but justdeep enough for a wino to curl up from the sidewalk and masturbate likea chimp in a zoo-cage.— Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas It must be a dull Tour. Otherwise I wouldn’t be getting a dozen e-mailsa day about the latest outrage perpetrated upon the cycling public by themainstream media, which as usual are either completely indifferent or activelyhostile to

Results from days 1 and 2 of junior track nationals at the Major Taylor Velodrome in Indianapolis, Indiana.

With less than a week before racing is set to commence, organizers of the Durango NORBA say that all is set to go for the event despite this summer's scary fire season. "There was a point where things were a little touch and go," said Patti Zink, who along with husband Ed runs the Durango race. "If it came to the point where if we weren't going to have our best face and not be able to do all the events, then we wouldn't want to put our reputation on the line and not come out with flying colors." Most of the uncertainty was caused by the Missionary Ridge fire, which started

Guest columnist Jonas Carney of Prime Alliance has been reporting on this year's International Cycling Classic in Wisconsin. This is his latest report. Every year the races at Super Week are difficult to win. This year is no exception. There are no teams with enough power to control the field, and so it's almost always a break. No matter what, you have to plan on some serious suffering. First, you've gotta make the break and go pull for pull with Viktor Rapinski or Hilton Clarke or John Lieswyn until you lap the field. After that you have to cover every attack. Then it's time to fight it

The Tour de France is a sporting phenomenon when it comes to logistics.It still impresses the veteran followers how its 5000-strong entouragecan complete a three-week journey over cobblestones, down narrow lanes,up and over mountains and on bikes, cars, motorcycles, buses and truckswithout too many mishaps. The Société du Tour de France receives annual praise forits organizational skills. But it is also open to criticism for fallingshort. And fall short is what it has done this year from the start in Luxembourgon July 6 to what I assume will be to the finish in Paris on

VeloNews photographer Casey Gibson is at the Tour de France and is taking time to shoot not just the race, but also the scenes along the road and the activity just outside of the peloton.

Bike maker Cannondale is offering mountain bike racers the chance to partner with the ultimate ringer — five-time NORBA national champion and two-time Olympian Tinker Juarez — at this fall’s 24 Hours Of Adrenalin in Idyllwild, California. Besides teaming with the Mountain Bike Hall Of Fame member in the race’s two-person class, the winner gets free air fare to California from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada, an overnight stay at Tinker’s house (with an authentic Mexican dinner cooked by his mom), mechanical support, swag, and the use of a full-suspension Cannondale Scalpel for the race. Those

It was another heartbreaker for CSC-Tiscali. It would have been great to see Jacob Piil give it a real go there in the final sprint - but yet again, our team was the victim of unfortunate circumstance. On the brighter side of things however, we're lucky Jacob wasn't hurt. Seeing him clip out of his pedals like he did and then recover, was nothing short of incredible. Great bike handling on his part. I'm sure he rode into the finish with shaky hands though. I can't imagine what was going through his head during those final meters. We've had so many close calls in this race, but that's all

'After a healthy diet of MSNBC and Shake 'n Bake, Peaches the cockatoo likes to put the Tribune-Review to its intended use.

Hushovd's long break paid off this time.

Former Durango resident Missy Giove will be among the favorites at next week's race.

Waiting for the start.

Not all Lance fans are Americans.

What happens to photographers who try to cut the course.

Telekom fans keep track of the race before the peloton arrives.

Apparently not Lance fans.

A humble little home on today's route.

America has cowboys and when you get near Switzerland, you find cowgirls

Sometimes these early breaks do work.

Jaksche broke things apart, but didn't make the final split.

Life in the peloton stayed quiet until the finishline approached.

'Go Lance! Go Lance!!!'

Beloki has pretty much stayed in one spot throughout the Tour.

The podium in Benson

Hey, it may not be pretty, but....

'What did Mr. Carney say to that man?'

Our intrepid reporter goes undercover as Leisure Suit Larry

1932 Olympian Connell dies at 92

There was a relaxed feeling at the start of Thursday’s stage 17 deep inthe French Alps. The hardest mountain stage of the Tour to La Plagne wascomfortably behind everyone. But four hard climbs still stood between theracers and the finish line in Cluses. From there it might be a relativelyeasy ride back to Paris for Sunday’s conclusion on the Champs Elysées. Lance Armstrong again defended his yellow jersey as his U.S.Postal Service team worked hard to cover every move made by his most dangerousrivals. In the end, a three-man break slipped away from the clutches of thepeloton and Dario Frigo

Preliminary stage results1. Dario Frigo (Ita), TAC, 142 km in 4:02:27(35.141 kph)2. Mario Aerts (Bel), LOT, at 00:00.3. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita), TEL, at 00:02.4. David Moncoutié (Fra), COF, at 02:55.5. Thor Hushovd (Nor), C.A, at 02:58.6. Laurent Lefevre (Fra), DEL, at 02:58.7. Unai Osa (Sp), BAN, at 02:58.8. Marcos Serrano (Sp), ONE, at 02:58.9. Jorg Jaksche (All), ONE, at 02:58.10. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CST, at 02:58.11. Santiago Botero (Col), KEL, at 02:58.12. José Enrique Gutierrez (Sp), KEL, at 03:14.13. Laurent Brochard (Fra), DEL, at 04:36.14. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), BAN, at 04:36.15.

Paris is getting closer and the chance for an opportunist's stage winhas come down to Friday’s stage across the limestone hills of the Jura.That’s because the final two stages are reserved for the specialists —Saturday’s time trial will probably go to race leader Lance Armstrong andSunday’s finale on the Champs-Elysées is the likely showdown betweenRobbie McEwen and Erik Zabel for the green jersey.That means that, like stage 17 through the Alps, we will see a stageof incessant attacks on the hilly roads of Friday’s stage. The attackson stage 17 were so numerous that Armstrong’s Postal

Results: Stage 17 - Thursday, July 25: Aime - ClusesOverall, points, KOM and other results below.(Editor's Note: - North American riders listed in bold;Riderson North American teams underlined)1. Dario Frigo (Ita), Tacconi Sport, 142 km in 4:02:27(35.141 kph)2. Mario Aerts (Bel), Lotto-Adecco, at 00:00.3. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita), Telekom, at 00:02.4. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, at 02:55.5. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, at 02:58.6. Laurent Lefevre (F), Jean Delatour, at 02:58.7. Unai Osa (Sp), iBanesto.com, at 02:58.8. Marcos Serrano (Sp), ONCE, at 02:58.9. Jorg Jaksche (G), ONCE, at

VeloNews photographer Casey Gibson is at the Tour de France and is taking time to shoot not just the race, but also the scenes along the road and the activity just outside of the peloton.

Dario Frigo gave Italy its first Tour de France stage win since 2000 today by winning the last hard mountain stage of the race. Unlike the majority of the 2002 Tour de France climbing stages, today’s race finished at the bottom of a fast and technical descent. Descending in the Tour de France is nerve-wracking experience. The rider’s drop like stones down the Alps; at times they are descending at nearly 60mph. Physical fitness plays a role in how well a rider can descend these mountains. The more physically fit a rider is, the faster he can get down a mountain. A fatigued athlete makes

Dario Frigo gave Italy its first Tour de France stage win since 2000 today by winning the last hard mountain stage of the race. Unlike the majority of the 2002 Tour de France climbing stages, today’s race finished at the bottom of a fast and technical descent. Descending in the Tour de France is nerve-wracking experience. The rider’s drop like stones down the Alps; at times they are descending at nearly 60mph. Physical fitness plays a role in how well a rider can descend these mountains. The more physically fit a rider is, the faster he can get down a mountain. A fatigued athlete makes

The great escape

See? This is what happens when you Mess With Texas. It's not a pretty sight, is it?

Who said American fans wouldn't blend in at the Tour?

The boutique at the village departe.

The hair parlor at the village departe.

Postal's Dirk Demol

Lance fans at the start

A Lance fan on course. Didn't Graham shoot this guy, too?

Waiting at the finish

Ready to award the stage win...

... and to award the yellow jersey.

In Charge: Postal has come through the mountains in solid shape.

The steepest and most difficult mountains of the 2002 Tourde France delivered yet another long breakaway that held out to the endfor victory. Rabobank’s Michael Boogerd attacked on a descent towin his first Tour stage victory on a summit in Wednesday’s 16th stage.The big-toothed Dutch rider held off a late-stage charge by overall leaderLance Armstrong to take what he called the best moment of his professionalcareer. Just like Richard Virenque at Mont Ventoux, Boogerd’s escapegave him a nice cushion at the bottom of the beyond-category climb to LaPlagne, deep in the heart of the French

PRELIMINARY RESULTS 1. Michael Boogerd (Nl), RAB, 179.5km in 5:48:29. (30.905 kph) 2. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CST, at 1:25. 3. Lance Armstrong (USA), USP, at 01:25. 4. Joseba Beloki (Sp), ONE, at 02:02. 5. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit), LAM, at 02:02. 6. Levy Leipheimer (USA), RAB, at 02:10. 7. Ivan Basso (Ita), FAS, at 02:14. 8. Jose Azevedo (Por), ONE, at 02:14. 9. Santiago Botero (Col), KEL, at 02:23. 10. Roberto Heras (Sp), USP, at 02:25. 11. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), BAN, at 02:51. 12. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Sp), ONE, at 04:39. 13. David

Results: Stage 16 - Wednesday, July 24: Les Deux-Alpes - LaPlagneOverall, points, KOM and other results below.(Editor's Note: - North American riders listed in bold;Riderson North American teams underlined)1. Michael Boogerd (Ned), Rabobank, at 5:48:29 (30.905 kph, at2. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC-Tiscali, at 01:25.3. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal, at 01:25.4. Joseba Beloki (Sp), ONCE, at 02:02.5. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit), Lampre, at 02:02.6. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Rabobank, at 02:10.7. Ivan Basso (I), Fassa Bortolo, at 02:14.8. Jose Azevedo (Por), ONCE, at 02:14.9. Santiago Botero (Col),

Following his one-year suspension for an elevated testosterone-epitestosterone ratio test result, the Navigators cycling team has released Kirk O’Bee from his contract effective immediately. O’Bee was tested in June of 2001 by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and showed an elevated ratio. The case had been undergoing review until O'Bee agreed to accept a one year suspension on July 18 of this year. While O’Bee has agreed to accept the suspension, his arrangement with USADA will allow him to offer evidence that the single test result was not the result of the use of anabolic steroids or any

On paper, today's stage looked flat out rugged. I knew we were going to be in for a long ride. For me personally, it was especially difficult on account of the fact that my summer cold has set in pretty deep. Add the heat, and you don't have to ask how I'm feeling right now. The team had a good day though. Although my early attempts to join a break were foiled yet again today, Laurent Jalabert was back in the thick of things attacking like he has been for this whole race. His group stayed away for a good portion of the stage and he was able to pick up a few more points in the king of the

If you see the Australian sprinter Baden Cooke wiggling his backside a little, don't fret. He is not trying to shake that booty. Everything had been going swimmingly well for the Tour debutant on the health stakes. Until, that is, he woke up on the rest day to discover he has developed a massive cyst on the left side of his rear end. It has come at a bad time for the former Mercury team rider: just four days before Cooke and his Fdjeux.com teammates launch their bid to win the final stage in Paris. To try and ease the pain while racing, Cooke has been cutting a whole the size of a silver

Michael Boogerd found the strength to flash that big toothy smile of his as he won the most difficult stage of the 2002 Tour de France. Moments later he looked like he was going to fall over. Boogerd has always been a very good all-around rider, able to win Classics and one-day races, small stages races and stages in three-week Tours. Today he claimed his first mountain stage in the Tour de France, and did you notice his teammate rode well too? Boogerd’s American teammate on Robobank, Levi Leipheimer is riding a very consistent Tour de France. He hasn’t ridden aggressively, instead he has

VeloNews photographer Casey Gibson is at the Tour de France and is taking time to shoot not just the race, but also the scenes along the road and the activity just outside of the peloton.

Jonathan Boyer, the first American to compete in the Tour de France, has been charged with 10 felony counts of child molestation in Monterey County, in California. According to a report in the Salinas Californian,Boyer, who first raced in the Tour in 1981, was arrested in May in Seaside, California, after a 16-year-old girl alleged that the 46-year-old Boyer had molested her for at least a year, beginning five years ago. Boyer posted $300,000 bail in the case and was released. Last week Boyer made his first court appearance in the case, where the presiding judge scheduled a preliminary

After attacking early on, Boogerd heldon to take the stage.

Boogerd struggled to hold off his pursuers over the last few kilometers.