Rockin and rollin into the week, the news is as smelly as ever. A tell-all book published in the UK and France draws the full wrath of Lance, and we round up the news of the weekend you need to know...
Armstrong Under Fire
Ouch. Kelme dealt with a tell all multi-part newspaper interview with Jesus Manzano. Starting tomorrow, Lance Armstrong gets to deal with an entire book that premieres a scant three weeks before the Tour de France. The book, entitled: L.A. Confidential: The Secrets of Lance Armstrong (hmmm, that doesn't sound like English tabloid material does it?), was written by Sunday Times reporter David Walsh and Pierre Ballester, formerly of L'Equipe.
The books claims are not limited to just EPO use and whatnot, but go so far as to claim that money passed hands between teams when Armstrong was pursuing his 1993 Triple Crown and 1 million dollar prize in America. No matter what the truth is, it can't be calming to have an entire book calling you a doper, and not just a doper, but a cheat.
That is already being refuted, just as I expect most everything to be refuted by what appears to be an ironclad Lance Armstrong, who still to his credit has never failed a test, and no matter what the hearsay might be, talk is talk, Armstrong has facts and history on his side.
I'm sure the publishers are hoping the book makes a lot of money, to cover the imminent barrage of lawsuits. Of all of the people to have a go at in the world of cycling... Yes, this should be interesting. Let's take on Lance Armstrong with what appears to be a lot of hearsay and a good few she said, he said arguments, yes that seems like a great idea...
No worries, Armstrong has already fired a warning letter (see below) at the authors threatening big, bad, mean repercussions. I want front row seats to wherever this showdown is going to be. This might end up being as interesting as the actual Tour de France.
This release was received minutes ago from Dan Oispow at Tailwind Sports: RE: LANCE ARMSTRONG - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lance Armstrong has reacted with concern and dismay at the false allegations made by David Walsh, Chief Sports Writer of the Sunday Times. The allegations appear in a forthcoming book entitled ‘LA Confidential’, co-written with Pierre Ballester and to be published in France. Extracts from the book have appeared in L’Express and some of the book’s allegations were repeated in yesterday’s Sunday Times.
Lance Armstrong utterly denies ever having taken any performance enhancing drugs.
Accordingly, Lance Armstrong has instructed his lawyers to immediately institute libel proceedings
1) In the High Court in London against the Sunday Times and David Walsh seeking an injunction and substantial damages
2) In Paris, against David Walsh, Pierre Ballester, the publishers of ‘LA Confidential’ and the publishers of L’Express.
Proceedings will be filed in the High Court tomorrow. Mayo Rocks, Plus More On The Dauphine
The Tour de France is coming frighteningly close these days, just a little over three weeks to go. Iban Mayo strutted some major stuff and more or less dominated the Dauphine with two stellar time trial performances. It has already been noted though that Mayo did the same thing last year in the Dauphine and came up short in the last week of the Tour. Peaking a bit too early? Maybe, no one will actually know till the Tour hits the mountains in the middle of July. Either way, one can understand Armstrong's newest sentiments of being "worried," hell, who wouldn't be.
Reports are ranging from a bluffing Armstrong, to a weakened Arsmtrong. Are we seeing a weakened Lance Armstrong? Come on, are you kidding? Highly doubtful friends, highly doubtful. Armstrong might go down this year, but would you expect anything but a wild brawl from a cornered Boss?
Tyler Hamilton is looking sizzling at WORST right now, and is quietly assuming very dangerous status, because unlike Mayo, Hamilton can time trial (yes, Mayo can tt, but 5 km is not 60), especially over the nearly 60 km distance that will be required in Besancon. Lest we forget Hamilton's teammate, Oscar Sevilla, who has shown an impressive return to the top, but hey, who isn't there to laud on the Phonak team right now?
Vinokourov Strikes Out
After crashing into a traffic island at 50 kmh during the second stage of the Tour de Suisse, Vino will be out for at least three weeks, and his chances of starting the Tour de France are looking slimmer than Iban Mayo's waist. Ullrich will surely miss the attacking style of Vinokourov in the mountains, hills, flats, hell anywhere. No matter what anyone says about the T-Mobile team being infinitely deep, the loss of Vinokourov will have a lasting impact on this year's Tour, just as Beloki's did last year.
Ullrich Romps
If Ullrich says that he's not looking to win the Tour de Suisse now, well, he's playing an even bigger bluff than Armstrong. Three stages down and the first hilltop finish complete and Ulle is still on top and sounds even more confident. A sprint victory, a yellow jersey, what's next? Ahhh! People raved when Lance won a sprint this year at the Tour of Georgia. From what I can tell, Ullrich wins sprint finishes about as much as Roberto Laiseka.
Australia Lightin' It Up
This from procycling.com, an interesting occurrence for Australia on Sunday... Cadel Evans wrapped up the Tour of Austria overall, Stuart O'Grady won his second stage of the Dauphine, and Robbie McEwen won the second stage of the Tour de Suisse. Not a bad day for Australians in Europe. Is there anything they missed yesterday?
The Points Classification was looking interesting for the Tour de France this time last week, now it's looking even better. Stuart O'Grady showed massive form in the Dauphine, McEwen is back to his winning ways, and Baden Cooke is gaining form rapidly after some injuries. Not bad at all.
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