Velonews reporting that ASO has released it's list of Tour invitees:  http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/03/news/aso-releases-list-of-2010-tour-de-france-teams_109931

Given the strong list of potential invitees, it's not surprising that a few of the long(er) shots (Vacansoleil, Skil Shimano, Saur-Sojasun) didn't make it.  Notably, the US has four teams, more than any other country except France.  In related news, only one team was chosen from Kazakhstan.

Invited teams include:  Garmin Transitions, Team RadioShack, BMC Racing Team, Team Sky, Katusha Team, Cervelo Test Team

Velonews is reporting that Team Radio Shack has signed Katusha's Gert Steegmans and Quick Step's Sébastien Rosseler:  http://www.velonews.com/article/97132/rosseler-steegmans-reportedly-sign-with-radioshack.

Steegmans moved to the new Katusha team last year, and was poised to make some waves in the sprinters' circles.  However, he stayed in the headlines this year for refusing to sign an anti-doping clause with the draconian penalty to pay back five times his annual salary.

Rosseler has ridden for Quick Step since 2005 and is one of Boonen's trusted lieutenants.  He's traditionally done well individually at races such as Four Days of Dunkirk and Eneco.  He also seems to ITT well, which surely factored into Radio Shack's interest.

Every new Radio Shack signing is quite interesting, given that the team is brand new.  However, these signings may indicate an increased interest in balance for the new team.  Were these riders just great deals, who face a year together fighting sprinter-oriented teams?  Or, will there be an increased focus on varied goals for 2010?  We'll have to wait and see.  Based on Radio Shack Corporate's announcement that stated Lance would also be a triathlete in the future, there may be more surprises in store.

Cyclingnews has a written that there will be no re-testing of samples taken in the Giro, because:

"The Giro d'Italia has already made the necessary checks," said race director Angelo Zomegnan to the Apcom news agency on Thursday. "The labs and the UCI have told us these tests were done and nothing was found that could be taken as suspect. It's useless to ask for more (tests)."

Story found at:  http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/oct08/oct10news

The Tour retested its samples with a greater degree of scrutiny.  So, when were the Giro CERA tests performed, and did they bear the same scrutiny on their samples?

It's also interesting that we made it all the way until now to learn that they tested for CERA in the Giro.  What is the motivation for the secrecy?  Wouldn't it be more effective to announce that this, too, is not an option?  Or, does fostering the dopers' belief in undetectability keep them from, e.g., using micro-doses or switching to another drug?

BTW, I posed the question about when the other GTs will retest in the Schumi-busted post and only Celestn got it right:

Well I do.. [think the took blood for tests at the Giro and Vuelta] ..Having seen the Bordry TV interview, he clearly stated that this was/is a team effort from both organisation and lab. I 100% believed him, I also had other reliable personal contact stating that.

Food for thought.

Check it out at VN:  Full link!

Lance Armstrong will come out of retirement next year to compete in five road races with the Astana team, according to sources familiar with the developing situation.

Armstrong, who turns 37 this month, will compete in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, the Dauphine-Libere and the Tour de France — and will race for no salary or bonuses, the sources, who asked to remain anonymous, told VeloNews.

Now, how's that for news?

Update, by Gavia, 5.10 pm, Monday. Holy rumorage batman!

According to cyclingnews Astana DS Johann Bruyneel was surprised to hear the reports of Lance's possible return. Said Bruyneel, "I don't know where the rumours come from. Maybe (they arise) because Lance recently finished second in a 160km mountain bike race? He has been training for it and he is in good shape." Levi Leipheimer, asked for comment in Spain where he is currently riding the Vuelta, seemed skeptical. "I don't think so," he said.

Meanwhile, a story by the Associated Press reports that Team Astana has no intention of signing Lance Armstrong to ride for them next season. Said the Phillipe Maertens, spokesman for Team Astana, "he is no part of our team." "We have no plans with him," Maertens emphasized.

Efforts by the AP to reach Armstrong himself for comment proved unsuccessful.

Well, I suppose we needed something to talk about today, but really, you'd think a "real media" outlet like Velonews would at least call the team and the DS for comment before running with this story.

Thanks to Guidemd for the links to Cyclingnews and the AP.