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Cycling News Digest - August 20, 2007

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I've been away on vacation and haven't been able to post, so some of this may be old news.
  • The Discovery Channel racing team has disbanded, leaving Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (as well as third place finisher Levi Leipheimer) looking for a new home for the 2008 season. Levi Leipheimer is reportedly being pursued by the Predictor-Lotto squad, and George Hincapie is rumored to have already signed with the T-Mobile squad. Yaroslav Popovych may be closing on a contract with Tom Booonen's QuickStep-Innergetic team.
  • Discovery's departure leaves a Pro Tour license available for the 2008 season. The Slipstream Sports-Chipotle team could take that license, but they have repeatedly said that they were pursuing a wildcard entry to the Tour de France for 2008, and would go after a Pro Tour license in 2009.
  • The Astana team has taken a self imposed month off from competition after team members Alexandre Vinokourov and Andrej Kashechkin both failed doping tests in the past six weeks. They plan to return to competion at the Grand Prix de Plouay on September 2nd. At this point, it is unknown where they will be getting their kits and bikes as both clothing sponsor Craft and equipment sponsor BMC have terminated their contracts with the team
  • Floyd Landis finished a close second behind Dave Wiens in the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. Wiens set a new course record of 6:58:47. Landis was 1 minute and 44 seconds back.
  • The National Criterium Championships took place in suburban Chicago over the weekend. Martin Gilbert of Canada won the Pro category, with Americans Kirk O'Bee and Shawn Milne taking second and third places respectively. Tina Pic won the Elite Women's comp and Daniel Holloway won the Elite Men's race.
  • Jens Voigt won his second overall title at the Tour of Germany. He was also the winner last year. He stated that he entered this year's Tour de France as a "training ride."

Now, go ride! I hope to get out this week without any flats (3 flats in my last 25 mile ride).

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