This comes as a huge dissapointment for many of us in the Mid Atlantic. Having lived in and now outside of Reading, PA for the last ten years, I can tell you that even the people in town who do not follow professional cycling or have any interest in watching a bike race used this day ( a day where the city virtually shut-down to hold the race ) as a giant celebration. Race day street parties would go on into the night over the past three years and everyone seemed to make the absolute most out of the city streets being emptied of traffic, whether it be to BBQ, throw a football around or watch the race itself.

Hopefully the city finds another sponsor within the next month, but given the current economy, this seems unlikely. Both the race in Allentown ( moved from Lancaster last year ) and Reading ( which had replaced Trenton, NJ three years ago ) are cancelled. Philly has a much better chance of securing a sponsor if TD Bank steps out, which still has not been confirmed. Keep your fingers crossed !!

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=118121

Being a fan of the Lancemeister, I have to say....COOL !!! Even Contador is excited to race with ( read "for" ) him. I guess it pays to read the non-cycling press too eh ?! Let the love, hate and everything in between spew forth, cause no matter what you personally may think ( or believe ya know ) about L.A. being a doper in his past, if he wins in 2009 on a clean bill o' health there's gonna be crow and humble-pie enough for all who need a bite to gnash on. Sweeeeeeeeeet.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=3578350