Seeing a good opportunity to make inroads in the fast food business in Europe, Chick-Fil-A has decided to take on AC, seeing how AC has sworn off beef.

AC money quote?

“Since I’ve stopped eating beef, I’ve been expanding my diet with such meat products as ostrich, snake and alligator. And to tell the truth, it all tastes like chicken,” Contador said. “So when Chick-Fil-A came calling, it was a natural fit. My only advice is, don’t eat the chicken in China or Mexico.”

But not chicken raised in Spain? I thought that the beef you ate was raised and slaughtered in Spain, not China or Mexico.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

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So Alberto Contador wants the UCI and WADA to prove that they "believe" in their system.

I think they believe you are guilty, Mr. Contador.

I wonder if the peloton is showing it's appreciation to Don Alberto for his kindness in taking up the fight for doper's rights, with his vast seas of money? He paid for his sins with his money, so the next doping cyclist who is less fortunate than he, doesn't have to do so.

Man, oh man. I just wish that twit would shut his face up and stop trying to convince us that he is anything but another Spanish cyclist who dopes.

According CyclingNews, Floyd Landis wore a hidden mic and camera while meeting with Michael Ball at Ball's apartment. Supposedly, this was the evidence that led to Ball's apartment being searched.

So, what we have is a team owner who supposedly filled his ranks with riders with past doping histories, to give them a second chance. Second chance to what? Dope even more?

Oh my fricking God! I am so glad that Rock Racing is no more and that with Rock and Republic in bankruptcy it is unlikely that Michael Ball will ever get another team together! Good riddance Michael Ball, good riddance!

I still dig their jerseys!

According to CyclingNews, 5-time RAAM winner Jure Robic has been killed in a collision with a car while riding his bike in Slovenia.

Some of his wins? "Race Across America (including the 2010 edition) five times. 24 hour road world record. Le Tour Direct two times. The DOS, the race across Slovenia, three consecutive times. Robic achieved over 100 victories and 150 podium appearances throughout his cycling career."

The man was a machine and even though I knew when he showed up in California ready to rumble, it was unlikely that an American was going to win the RAAM. But when he would just pedal 48 hours straight and build these incredible, in assailable leads against his challengers and I couldn't help but cheer him on and his band of Slovenian Army teammates teaching us how it's done!

I send my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Ride in Peace Jure, ride in peace!

Landis accuses Armstrong, Bruyneel and company of systematic doping. Holczer accuses Leipheimer  of blood manipulation. An unnamed ex-Discovery rider has supposedly confessed to his own and the team doping practices.

It seems to me like this grand jury proceeding is actually going to be serious and some good riders are going to have their reputations seriously tarnished.

So the question is: If everything said is true, at what point does one give up the charade? I guess people can go on forever lying and denying.

But what are the upsides of confessing? Not many. Landis did it for four years and now that he's confessed, he's a virtual pariah. When Basso confessed we all cringed at his "attempted" excuse.

And then, there are the ones caught red-handed. We've vilified them time and time again, but what would we had done if they had just come out and confessed, before being busted.

Also, you have to consider that in the peloton, you are only a doper if you are busted. And if you are busted, there is always the rider who came in behind you waiting to criticize your victory and claim it for his own. Look at Ekimov still waiting for Tyler Hamilton's Olympic medal. And who is to know if Eki wasn't just as juiced up as Tyler? If he was on the Discovery team and what is said is true, then most likely he was.

I wish that the UCI would set up it's own Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Cycling, as a way for people to give FULL confessions without fear of punishment or fear of losing their victories and winnning, as it seems that EPO and Blood Doping were just leveling out playing fields for the top contenders.

Is there anyway for this to happen?

Can the UCI make it so?

We haven't had a haiku posting in a while! So let me be the first to drop a line or two!

"Poor Alejandro.

No longer tranquilo.  Why?

Lizzavetsky’s tears."

And it doesn't have to be about Valverde! It can be about anything! The Giro! Lance! Floyd's confession! Cavendish vs. Greipel! Controversias y Polemicas! Did Cancellara mechanically dope? Will Patrick LeFevere's dream of a Belgian SuperTeam pan out? Will Armstrong distract Contador and let Basso win the TdF?

Let the games begin!

From a communique from our friends at the UCI, concerning the integrity of the winners of the Tour de Suisse:

"Between 2001 and 2003, only the Paris, Lausanne, Cologne, Barcelona and Madrid laboratories, commissioned by the UCI, detected the presence of EPO in the samples that had been entrusted to them for analysis. During this period, the first laboratory carried out three positive analyses for EPO, the second 18 and the three last laboratories one each. None of the samples concerned had been taken at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland."

A list of the winners from 2000-2006:

2000 Oscar Camezind

2001 Lance Armstrong

2002 Alex Zulle

2003 Alexndre Vinokourov

2004 Jan Ullrich

2005 Aitor Gonzalez

2006 Jan Ullrich

So pardon me, if when you assure us that the UCI has all the documents to prove this, I have reason to think twice about your assurances.

Test all the frozen sample now!!!

Announcing "Il Giro della Regione Medi-Atlantica" Saturday October 16th, 2010

"The Alleycat of the Falling Leaves" is actually a mash-up of alleycat and road race. An EPIC race from Baltimore to Washington DC that will include a 40-mile Road Race and a 10-mile Team Time Trial.

Starting in Downtown B.more, teams will send their racers out in pelotons 15-minutes apart for the Road Race along the back roads of Baltimore and Montgomery Co. and then regroup in Kensington, MD for the two-person Team Time Trial to the finish line in Rock Creek Park in Washington DC.

Cash prizes! $200.00 1st Place. $150.00 2nd Place. $100.00 3rd Place.

Sponsors to be announced!!!

More info at DemonCatsRacing.blogspot.com

It seems that with all the excitement of the start of the the season and especially the start of the VDS season, we have forgotten to say Rest in Peace to that colorful band of misfits- Michael Ball and Rock Racing!

Whether you loved them or hated them, they made their presence felt! But it ended up being no more than a Potemkin team that really didn't have a good structure in place. Imagine if Dan Snyder owned Rock Racing instead of the Redskins! Shit, at least Dan Snyder puts his money where his mouth is. Something Michael Ball talked about doing, but never really quite did.

If you visit the Rock Racing website now, it takes you directly to their store! Any takers for one of those RR bikes? Anyone up for one of those TRON jerseys?

Ahhhhh. Thanks for the memories, MB!

You don't notice that the nice person handing out the route maps at registration has handed you the map for the 45-mile ride.

No wonder the second checkpoint person asked if I was averaging 30 miles an hour!

D'oh!

Even then, the route at the Indian Head 100 was a pleasure to ride! Did any PdC'ers make it down there this morning? FYI, the Super 8 Hotel in Indian Head was a steal at $62.00 and less than a mile from the start!

Yo Sui Juris, did you make it down? If not, are you planning on the Sea Gull? Is anyone here doing the Sea Gull?

So Basso wins Trentino with a blistering attack on a well-supported Brajkovic and taking the overall away from the overnight leader.

So with this victory, my faith in naming him the leader of my VDS squad is restored. Can't say that about Benna now, can I?

From the Assassin's lips:

“The hard moments have made me stronger,” Basso said. “Of course, I wished it had never happened. I know this story will stain me forever, but I started the comeback from zero. I worked hard to come back and my team supported me fully. First, my gratitude goes out to my family.”

So the Northern Classics are done and my VDS is hovering around the bottom of the VDS peloton, I am hoping for some choice points from the Giro!

Who else here has Basso on their team?

I was surprised at how many VDS teams are listed for the competition this year. Was 198 the final count?

But only about 20-30 of us regularily post on here. And out of that group, I only really know who a handful are and where they are from.

I know that Sui Juris, MegaBeth plus two more and myself are from DC.

Jens/Sweden? Lynne/Canada? Chris, Gavia/WA State? Frinking/Netherlands? Albertina/Spain, Italy? Flatbagger/OZ?

Who are all these peeps and where are you from? Pray tell!

I'll start!

DemonCats- John- Kensington, MD (inner burbs DC)

and you?

Can anyone tell me what is the criteria for winning this jersey?

Is it a combativity jersey?

Or just a jersey that Lance will get to wear everyday?

Can some elaborate?

And do the little Anarchy symbols plastered over the RR kit represent the state of things in the Michael Ball camp?

When is the East Coast gonna get it's shit together and have a Tour? The roads and hills of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia beckon? Imagine a Baltimore to Cumberland on the backroads? THE PAIN!!!

Svein Tuft take the lead early. Sits in the hotseat until...

15:36:00 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - Highroad

15:37:00 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Rock Racing

15:38:00 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream

15:39:00 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana

15:40:00 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream

15:41:00 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank

15:42:00 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas

15:43:00 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad

15:44:00 Floyd Landis (USA) OUCH Presented By Maxxis

15:45:00 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana

HOLY SHIT!

I'm gonna give it to?

Floyd Landis!

He may be an unrepentant doper, but Stage 17 is still one of the best stages out there. Plus considering that rest of the field (or at least T-Mobile) was on Da Juice, I'm not gonna hold it against him!!!

Heckling allowed! :)

P.S. Let me say a BIG thank you to VS. for showing five hours of PBR before the ToC coverage and then showing an hour at 11 pm. How did our beloved sport end up on such a yahoo channel. And i'm originally from South Texas and my dad rodeoed.

What is this challenge?

I am signing up to do two centuries in less than a months time.

First, will be the Indian Head 100 in southern Maryland, which will be held on Sunday September 13th, 2009. This, for me will be a training ride, for my bigger fish to fry...

the 2009 Sea Gull Century!

I completed last year's year's edition in under six hours total with rest stops, just over five hours of riding time.

This year I am going to go for under five hours.

This I see as the culmination of the PdC group rides that will start on April 5th (Sunday).

The first group ride will take place the day of the Ronde and end at the DemonCats World Headquarters with a BBQ, beer and the Ronde on VS on the big screen.

Drop me a line if this is something any one of you might be interested in.

on WUSA9 in DC!!!

LoL.

Now that was a bunch of fun. My buddy Bega and I got to hangout with Sara Walsh and her camera guy for two hours, doing a story about the Inauguralleycat, that is supposed to air tonight.

We got to simulate riding through DC on 16th Street with the cameraman in the back of the SUV and hanging out of the vehicle for wheel close-ups and so on.

It was a lot of funny- highly enjoyable. Should be on their website too, so all you overseas PdC'rs can laugh too!

Man! 6:00 p.m. is fast approaching!!!

Here's the deal.

As you might know, I am holding The Inauguralleycat on Tuesday. Last Wednesday, i was told the house in Adams Morgan that was supposed to host the finish became unavailable at the last moment! Damn.

The next logical step would be to host the finish in a bar, but on Inaugural Day at the last moment, that turned out impossible.

So I was thinking my place in Kensington, which I have done before, but I don't want to force people to ride all the way up here.

And the the GoldSprint crew calls up and say they want to bring there roller racers down here and race! What is GoldSprints? Check it out!

www.goldsprintsnyc.com

Damn!

I make some calls. Last minutes desperate call looking for a place. Calls to people I normally wouldn't call to ask for favors.

I call Lola, my friend AZ's girlfriend. She says she'll get back to me. She does!

Sgt. Steve, a courier acquaintance, lives near Albemarle and Connecticut Ave and is willing to lend us his garage and backyard with big bonfire for the event!

So now Mike Dee from New York doesn't have to take over an abandoned warehouse, all guerilla style on Inaugural Day! :)

So to anyone who wants free beer and to roller race and test their mettle, come on down!!!

You don't even need a bike to GoldSprint!!!

Spanish judge might re-open the investigation into Operacion Puerto, according to Velonews.

Hmmmmmm.

Is it me or is OP like a case of the clap that is in need of more anti-biotics?

Just when you think you have it licked- drip, drip, drip.

Please will someone in Spain finally put this shit to rest? POR FAVOR!!!

Enough of Sports Minister Lizzavetsky indignantly proclaiming Spanish riders to be maligned, when it seems that they were rotten to the CORE!

It's time for all those Spanish riders to stop hiding behind their lawyers, pony up some blood samples and take their two year suspensions. Fucking putos!

And while they are at it, why not ask the most tested athlete of all time to provide a DNA sample, so he can prove that he is not the mysterious "Cowboy".

But no, most likely, it will be quashed once again and we will go on pretending that the unpunished guilty are clean and keep talking crap about TH, Sevilla, Basso and the other few who were actually punished.

Serenidad YA! Serenidad YA!

Ay Dios!

A funny thing happened today.

I've been prepping for my Inaugural Day race assiduously and I get an e-mail from a reporter with the Montgomery Co. Gazette who has seen my blog about the race and is interested in interviewing me about it and alleycat racing in general.

It was a short little piece that was remarkably balanced and fair and they even sent a photographer to take a picture. My fifteen! Thank you very much.

Tonight, I get an email from the sports anchor at WUSA9 in DC who wants to talk to me about the race, which she read about on the paper's website.

Crazy!

Oh, wait, I think I have Matt Lauer on the phone!

:)

via 2.bp.blogspot.com

In two weeks time, Barack Obama will be sworn in as President of the United States and the DemonCats have a small free alleycat to celebrate!
 
Fee: $0.00
 
Prizes: None- Just bragging rights, free beer and the chance to say you were in D.C. on the day it happened!!!
 
Date/Time: January 20th, 2009 @ 2:00pm
 
Where: Washington DC at the Spanish Steps.
 
What you need to bring: A bike and yourself! Maps will be provided at the start.
 
After-party: Keg and Music. If anyone in DC can host the after-party, let me know!

Racing for Victory and free beer!!!

John
LesDemonCats.blogspot.com

It's been a couple of years since I rode over 4000 miles in a year. And I had high hopes to do so in 2008, but the last two weeks in DC at times wonderful (60's and sunny), but on the most part pretty chilly. And today we end it with a windy BLAST blowing into the city and while I wanted to ride in, I said screw it and Metroed in. Right now, it's in the 20's and the wind is howling. I'm not getting paid to ride- I got that desk job.

So I added up my total for the year which is broken down into:

Tirreno Razza 1000- 501 miles. This was an aluminum-carbon Performance house branded that wasn't a bad bike, until the paint started blistering. At which point, came into my life:

The Pink Beast- 1761 km= 1073 miles. A mid-80 Miyata Pro Race frame that I built up as a single-speed. It was so much fun and I rode it on our vacation to Amsterdam and Belgian. Unfortunately, when I tried to convert it back to a geared-bike, little mid-80's Japanese bike building idiosyncracies made it too much of a pain in the ass to deal with. Which led to:

The Phoenix- 1736 miles. While I never ever really called it that while I had it, that's what I remember this bike as. A 2004 Fuji Roubaix Pro 853-steel frame, the seat post had seized up in it and I ruined the paint finish while putting a torch to the frame to loosen it. It sat in my garage, until I had her painted Mazda red and built it up. It was so beautiful and I got it stolen. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH! Which led me to:

Fuji Team Pro- 567 miles- What can I say, it's a Bitchin Camaro of a ride! However, I really miss The Phoenix. Like a new wife I didn't want, but now have grown fond of. I had never even ridden a full carbon bike and after riding the last 2800 miles on steel, it took some time getting used to. But, again, what can I say. I really enjoy spending time on it and will definitely be piling the on the miles come spring. My 30-mile Brookville loop is gonna be a lot of fun! Which leads me to:

The Resolution!- 3811 miles- D'oh! That was about 39 miles less than I rode in 2007! Man, getting old and lazy is a bitch! But, I did my first century in just over 5 hours riding time and under 40 minutes of party time- it was the Sea Gull after all! And I rode my bike in Holland and Belgium and saw Stijn Devolder blow by me on the Muur and saw the desperate chase behind him that was doomed to failure! WOW!

I'm not gonna complain about my riding year at ALL!!!

But I do resolve to ride at least 4000 miles in 2009! And while I am not going to include losing weight in the mix, I hope that just happens as part of the actual resolution of riding more!

Side resolution: I have three more Hoegaardens in the fridge with an hour and a half til the New Year. I kinda resolve to not drink beer for the month of January. :)

Happy New Years!

Jules in PULP FICTION:

"Normally, both of your sorry asses would be deader than fucking fried chicken by now, but you happened to pull this shit while I'm in a transitional period so I don't wanna kill you, I wanna help you."

The shit started early on upper Connecticut Avenue. Riding into work, as I usually do, except it's raining steady. But I got my rain gear on so it's not too bad, with the exception of the cars buzzing just a bit too close.

So I say screw riding as close to the curb as possible and I pull into the center of the right hand lane. At this point, I am about seven blocks north of the Beltway and Mr. Grey Honda Accord doesn't like to share the road. At least that is what I think he is telling me with his incessant honking.

I signal to him with my hand that he should come around me, which he does- yelling and gesticulating through his closed window, only to be slowed down by the car that was right in front of me, although he doesn't seem to mind it as he is not honking at this car. I roll into the center lane and pass him again on the left and see he is still bitching up a storm.

As I roll through the intersection of Connecticut Av and Beach Dr., he overtakes me again, this time with his window rolled down, yelling "Fucking Asshole!" and he speeds off, only to be stopped once again by the traffic trying to get on the Beltway.

You all know I got the U-lock in the bag.

I leisurely pull up to the driver's side window and stop.

He looks at me and puts down his coffee and rolls down his window.

"You need to chill!", I warn him sternly

"I was just yelling because I was worried that you were rolling down the middle of Connecticut Ave. and..."

"I don't care what you think, the matter of the fact is that I am allowed to ride in the middle of the road, should I desire. I've been doing it for ten years.."

"Ten years'" he interrupts, "I doubt you..."

"...and I can count on one hand how many times I've had this conversation with a driver! So please, just CHILL OUT! Your more likely to cause an accident, than not"

"Have a good day."

And I ride off into traffic.

I'm gonna be like Kane!

Just when we thought that HWMNBN was over the bile that caused him to chase down that minor irritant Simeoni and make him his bitch for the day, word comes that the bile is rising anew and this time it's name is Linus.

It all stems from Gerdemann's statements regarding HWMNBN return to the peloton- "This is not positive for the credibility of cycling," said Gerdemann, "But there's nothing anyone can do about it."

In response, the Team Astana has gone after the German "Great White Hope" with abandon.

HWMNBN's German disciple, Andreas Kloden, was most direct when he said that his 26 year-old countryman has "a small profile neurosis" which makes him force his way into the media, presenting himself as "Mr. Clean and the saviour of German cycling," while not showing enough respect to Armstrong."

He continued, "Linus will do all he can to get press. I don't have to go up to every camera and present myself as the saviour of cycling. Linus should keep calm and show respect" for Armstrong. 

HWMNBN was quoted as saying "He's right, I am older. I raced with Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche, Miguel Indurain and Greg Lemond of all people. I have been around a long time and I don't know who the hell Linus Gerdemann is, but I know that when I rolled up in 1992, I started winning races. And when I roll up in 2009, I am gonna be winning races. He better hope he doesn't get in a breakaway with me because I can still ride hard," said the Texan.

Klöden reminded the young German that he would need "friends in the peloton," and that Armstrong would not be one of them;

"Lance was angry."

Will someone make sure that nice young lad gets sent to the Giro?

I've always wondered what it looked like to have a giant snake swallow a man alive!!!

Blacknell and Megabeth for manning the Chicago Pizzeria Uno checkpoint!

A total of 35 racers showed up and the event went without a hitch or injury!!!

1st Place- Skander- winner of the Seagull Champions Obama Bag!

2nd Place- Zak- winner of the R.E.Load Obama Bag, which was supposed to go to Top Outta-Towner, but nobody came from out of town, (except for Diablo and his wife, but he didn't race this time around! Good to see you Bro!

3rd Place- Bega!- winner of the Crumpler courier backpack! Good to see you still kickin' ass old timer!

The only bit of controversy was that four of the top six racers (Soda, Bruuuce, Nick plus one more) were disqualified because their manifests were not completed correctly. The rules are the rules. But even then they kicked ass!!! They were FLYING!!!

Anyhow, thanks to the 35 people who did come race. It was the PERFECT day!!!

Thanks to Caleb for the party location. Thanks for the open offer for next time!

Many thanks to all the volunteers who manned the 10 checkpoints flawlessly and got people through the race!!!

And last, but not least, to all the sponsors who were so generous with the prizes!!! R.E.Load, Seagull, Crumpler, Evomo, Fabric Horse, Flirtees and Kryptonite- you guys rock and we HEART you!!!!!!

Until 2009 and the Tour de LeMond Pt. Deux!!! Two-man team alleycat and TTT!!!

To see a video of the race, check out:

http://www.gwhatchet.com/

Scroll down a bit and click on the player

Racing for Victory and free beer!!!

John
LesDemonCats.blogspot.com 

On Saturday, November 1st,, the DemonCats are putting on the Obamalleycat.

I invite all to race, but if you doin't want to race, you can also volunteer at a checkpoint.

There will be ten checkpoints, scattered through D.C. As a checkpoint person/s (two at a checkpoint is preferable), you will give messengers arriving at your checkpoint the address to the next checkpoint. Simple as that.

After all the racers have passed through your checkpoint, proceed to the finish line to participate in the festivities and party and raffle and free beer!

Check out www.obamalleycat.blopgspot.com for details.

Hope to see some of you there!

of getting you bike stolen.

Yes. It happened to me. Last night in Shaw-Petworth.

Ordering Chinese food, after an alleycat, on my way to the Metro.

I just took my off of it for 30 seconds. It's all it takes.

Should of known better. I do know better.

Fracking DUMB-ASS!!!

Anyhoo, if you see a crackhead on a Mazda-red steel road bike with Aksium wheels, crack his fracking head open with your bike lock and leave him in the middle of the street to get run over on it!

All Bike Thieves Must Fracking DIE!!!

On my way to bike shop to get a new bike.

via www.getreligion.org

Just got back from Salisbury after doing the Seagull Century!

All I can say is hats off to Salisbury University for putting on such a well-supported event.

6,000 or so riders participated. It was awesome riding in that mass.

The hotel was crappy and the continental breakfast even crappier, but it was close to the start.

My friend Larry, who just turned to cycling after a running injury, and I had planned to ride it at 17mph and rode those ever increasing weekend training rides on the hilliest, rolling courses I could come up with and it paid off.

We got separated for 60 miles after Mile 15. But he presevered. Unfortunately, he passed the Team Demoncats Support Vehicle (Kim, Griffin and Mishima, the Akita) at Mile 50.

I had stopped at Mile 22 at the first Rest Stop and ate a banana and an orange and waited a bit to see if I could find Larry.

Then at Mile 42 Rest Stop, I had to use the Porta-Johns and fill up my bottles. The next eight miles were a misery of headwinds! Oh Lord!

At Mile 50, I stopped for a few minutes at the Support Vehicle and scarfed down two Prosciutto and Cheddar panini and a Red Bull.

At the next Rest Stop (Assateague Island), I simply rode up and carried on, being sufficiently fueled up and planning on meeting up with Kim again at Mile 80.

Around Mile 70 I came upon Larry, who was suffering a bit, but we got to the Support Vehicle. Some club soda and Ding Dongs hit the spot. Larry is encouraged to hear that the Mile 82 Rest Stop (The Pie Stop) was nearing. He had some, while I refrained, and we chilled a bit under the shade.

As we rode off for the final 18 miles, he fell off the pace, and I latched on to the tail end of a pace group and trudge on alone.

The beautiful thing about the Seagull is that is super flat flat flat and somehow manages to include quite a bit of downward inclines, allowing to draft with groups riding along at 20-21mph for some good distances. When rested up a bit, it was easy to accelarate away from the group to hop-scotch from paceline to paceline.

At the end, back at the University, I rode in and the support crew was there! YAY!!!

Off to the beer garden that had awesome three dollar beers! 16oz of Yuengling never tasted so good!!! The burger was a bit burnt, but it went down quick.

Still hungry, we got to stop at Dairy Queen on the trip back! Sooooooo good!

Oh yeah, total time for the century was a tad under six-hours, rest stops included.

My riding time, though, was 5h14m for an average of 19.2mph. Sweet!!!

I swear, next year, I'm losing some weight, cross-train a bit more and nailing it in under 5 hours!!!

Now I need to go get some beer!!!

Per CyclingNews.com news flash:

Fränk Schleck of CSC-Saxo Bank was reportedly "unmasked" Friday as a customer of Eufemiano Fuentes, the doctor whose Madrid clinic was raided by Spanish police in 2006 as part of Operación Puerto. The German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that investigators have evidence of nearly seven thousand Euro being wired to Fuentes' Swiss bank account in March 2006. The Luxembourg Attorney General Robert Belver confirmed the existence of the payment.

"Yes, there is this payment of about 7000 Euro to Mr. Fuentes. I have received copies of the bank documents from Germany," Biever told the SZ. "Several weeks ago I sent these documents concerning Schleck to the Luxembourg Anti-doping Agency."

WILL THIS SHIT EVER END!!!

[Ed: abbreviated, in accordance with bloggery custom. Go to CN for the rest.]

Next year, my VDS team will be Team Ocean Pacific and will mostly be made up of OP suspects.

Valverde, Contador, Basso!!!

Now the main question is:

Is HWMNBN worth only 1 point? Same for Basso?

Chris, pray tell!!!

I read somewhere that they believed that Armstrong would be riding the 2009 Tour under a Team LiveStrong- he has an announcement on the 25th!

Did I see the future?

So how does that work? Lance dials up Prudhomme and says "Yo Chuckie, I got the Motts!" "You got the Motts, Ahh, then welcome back!"

with Garmin Chipotle team, teams Toyota, Colavita, Kelly Benefits, Toshiba, Healthnet Maxis, Jittery Joe’s, Symmeterics, Time, Successful Living, Calyon Pro and Rite Aid.

How cool is that?

It really is about time that D.C. have a good showcase race and Fenty in office, all I can hope for is that this is first of many Capital Crits!!!

I'm hoping that there will be some good schwag to be had!

More cowbell! More cowbell!!!