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White House seeks ratification of doping treaty
President George W. Bush has asked the U.S. Senate to ratify an international treaty that would add further muscle to anti-doping efforts in sport. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Bush called on the Senate to quickly approve the International Convention Against Doping in Sport, an international treaty adopted by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2005.
HPC Racing announces 2008 women’s national racing team and title sponsor Altarum
Reston, VA (February 1, 2008) - Following three successful years racing at the regional level, Hefler Performance Coaching (HPC) has expanded its team to compete in a full National racing calendar (NRC) for 2008. HPC is proud to introduce Altarum Institute as a new title sponsor for the NRC team. Formerly known as the HPC/LIST Women’s Cycling Team, HPC has been successful at the regional level producing the Mid Atlantic Best All Around Rider for two of the past three seasons. “We are extremely grateful to Altarum for their belief in our team” said Susan Hefler, Team Director.
Toshiba-Santo names roster
Coming off a stellar season that culminated in the prestigious 2007 USA CRITS Individual and Team Championship, the Toshiba-Santo Professional Cycling Team presented by Herbalife returns in 2008 with an enhanced program featuring new riders and a host of dynamic new partnerships. New to this year’s edition of this UCI Continental squad are: • Carlos Eduardo Alzate, Pan Am Pursuit Champion • Claudio Arone, 2007 winner of Uruguay’s 500 Miles of the North • John Durango, former Pan Am Games Madison and Team Pursuit Champion
Track News: Meares may miss Olympic defense; Aussie Nationals
Australia’s Anna Meares, Olympic champion in the 500-meter sprint at the 2004 games in Athens, miss her chance to defend her title after suffering a crash at the Los Angeles round of the 2007-08 UCI World Cup.
The Trek Bicycle Store of Brooklyn to host visit by Gary Fisher
The Trek Bicycle Store of Brooklyn will be hosting a visit by Gary Fisher in New York City on Thursday, April 3, 2008. The visit will take place at 7 to 10 pm at the store’s location, 1755 McDonald Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11230. Gary Fisher is considered by the cycling industry to be a pioneer in mountain biking and he will be premiering the Billy Savage documentary “Klunkerz” at the grand opening of the first Trek Concept Store in New York State.
Friends pay respect to Sheldon Brown
Bike-tech wizard Sheldon Brown died of a heart attack on Sunday. He was 63. The longtime webmaster and tech guru for Harris Cyclery in West Newton, Massachusetts, had suffered for some years with a mystery ailment that was finally diagnosed as primary progressive multiple sclerosis, which eventually took him off his two-wheelers and into the saddle of a recumbent trike. In typical fashion, Brown took the upbeat view of his illness, writing on one of his many websites that MS was “not so much a "tragedy" as a Really Major Inconvenience.”
Alfred banned for life
Track cyclist Stephen Alfred has been handed a life-time ban from sport after refusing to submit to an out-of-competition doping test last November. The violation was Alfred’s third breach of anti-doping rules. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced the penalty on Tuesday, noting that the sanction will be enforced by USA Cycling and became effective on Monday.
Eight Active Spokes on a wheel
Eight Active Spokes on a wheel with the coil springs that pull them back to the center. Notice that one weight is made up of three modular masses while the other seven are all made up of just two of the screw-together modular masses.
Canadian outfit buys Cannondale
Dorel Industries has bought Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, the corporation announced Monday. Dorel, headquartered in Montréal, owns Pacific Cycle, the parent company of Schwinn, GT and Mongoose. The purchase is reported as an all-cash transaction valued between $190 million and $200 million.
Pound-ing CAS and that Italian job
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Pound nominated to CAS presidency
Former World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound and Swiss-based attorney Robert Briner have been nominated as candidates to fill the vacant presidency of the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. Both nominations were put forward by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC is the only body that can nominate candidates for the CAS presidency, and the 20-member board will make the final decision, which is expected in April. No formal date, however, has been set for the final vote.
Giro snubs Astana, High Road
High Road, Astana, two French ProTour teams and the squad of former winner Stefano Garzelli won't be going to the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the organizers of the season's first grand tour announced Friday. In a surprise move that could foreshadow possible selections to July's Tour de France, officials from Giro organizer RCS announced 21 teams that will be at the May 10 start of the 2008 Giro. As VeloNews reported earlier, Slipstream-Chipotle is among the select teams.
Veltec and Descente Join Forces
(Carson City, NV and Valkenswaard, the Netherlands) Veltec, the company that markets some of the world’s finest cycling brands has signed an agreement with Descente, Ltd. to become the licensee of the Descente brand for the cycling, triathlon, running and fitness markets, in North America and Europe beginning February 1.
This Week in Pro Cycling – February 1, 2008
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the latest edition of The Prologue, the weekly summary of news from your friends at VeloNews.com.