Basso extends with Liquigas through 2012

Ivan Basso has extended his contract with Team Liquigas for another two years, after allegedly getting an offer from his former Team Saxo Bank.

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Basso has extended with Liquigas through 2012, with an option for a third year. The Italian team signed him after he returned from his two-year suspension.

Basso had received an offer from Saxo Bank manager Bjarne Riis, the Italian newspaper said, although Riis had said he doubted Basso would ever ride for the team again. However, the team had to withdraw its offer due to a lack of sponsors and the subsequent financial difficulties.

Lance Armstrong slams Contador's entourage

Lance Armstrong continued his campaign of criticism against Albert Contador, saying the two-time Tour de France winner “is surrounded by yes-men” and saying that he acts like “the king of Spain.”

In an interview which appeared in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf and the Belgian Nieuwsblad, Armstrong reiterated that Contador's success had gone to his head. “If you have just won the Tour for the second time and you are the king of Spain, it is normal that all stories are all right. His career has barely begun. Let us talk again in about fifteen years.”

The American said he was surprised at reports in the Spanish media about the atmosphere on Team Astana during the Tour, “So many dirty things, unbelievable. Complete bullshit, pieces of slime, fat lies.”

One example was the time trial wheels, with Contador claiming that he was not provided with the proper ones. “First, this is not true. Secondly, it is easy to prove. You only have to grab the phone and call the bicycle manufacturer Trek. I understand that the Spanish media stands up for their hero, but it was so untrue what was printed. Come on, at the end of the day as a journalist, you f**king do proclaim the truth."

Armstrong cited another example, the third stage of the Tour to La Grande-Motte, when a 28-man group, including Armstrong and Astana teammates but excluding Contador, got away with 32 kilometres to go. Armstrong indicated that he was in the break because he was near the front of the peloton, as a top ride should be, and that the Spaniard was not.

"He felt this as an attack on him, and so did the Spanish media. I was in a bike race and had a radio. Every five minutes we all heard Johan Bruyneel call: ‘Stay in the front. Keep front.’ All I did then, was what I was supposed to do. Someone told me that he himself caused the break in the group. "

Especially damaging to Contador, he found, was the fact that "eight of the nine riders who rode the Tour, have gone away. To another team. Even his roommate."

Had this happened to Armstrong, he said, “I would have long since looked in the mirror. I would never let that happen. Never. If I had to change myself to prevent it, then I would do that. If they needed more money, I would do it. I would do anything for them. "

"But Contador is totally different from me. It is very difficult,” the seven-time Tour winner continued. “He knows no better. He is a Spanish guy who is always in the same pueblo (district) resident. He has his friends, family, the street where he grew up, his country, his people. A great athlete like him must employ individuals who support him and have patience with him. But he is surrounded by yes-men.”

Armstrong also admitted that he did not know Contador that well, but said, “I am impressed by the athlete but it stops there for me.”

Boise 70.3 - 2009 Race Of The Year

The passionate classic confrontation between the sport's best Ironman runner and the its best long course biker came down to the last 20 meters. At the end of a high adrenaline, deeply emotional race, both competitors collapsed in a heap just past the line, piled one against the other in a brotherhood of ultimate exertion.

Boise Ironman 70.3 was held under dramatic dark clouds, wind, rain and even some hail. Defending Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander and three-time Ironman winner Chris Lieto were coming off a duel at the Honu Ironman 70.3 in Hawaii. That day, surpassingly excellent cyclist Chris Lieto carved out a 7 minute 42 second lead on the Queen K bike, and Alexander dug in and passed his rival at the 11th mile of the run. In Boise, Lieto saw tougher hills, rain and cooler temps which gave him a better chance. He carved out a lesser 5:30 lead on the bike, but reserved a lot more in the tank for the run.

This was the second of three sizzling 2009 duels between Craig Alexander and Chris Lieto. In Boise, things were much, much closer.

After a great 2:04 ride on a challenging, hilly course, Lieto had 5:30 on Alexander, but with cool, rainy weather and holding a little back, Lieto had a lot more left for the run.

For the first few miles, Crowie cut the lead to 3:50. Then for the next six miles the margin stayed the same. "Mathematically, at that point, I wasn’t going to catch him," said Alexander. "But at Mile 8 I heard the margin was 3:25 and I thought that was the first crack in the dam." At 10 miles, the margin was down to 2:40. At 11 miles, the margin was 1:45. At Mile 12, trackside observers had the margin at 57 seconds.

"At that point he took off and I launched into a sprint as well," said Crowie.

"With half a mile to go, people said he was 30 seconds back," said Lieto. "With 200 meters to go, he looked like he was 40 meters and 15 seconds back."

"With 100 meters to go, I got within 15 meters and I went again," said Alexander. "With 20 meters to go, we were shoulder to shoulder."

"I tried to put it into an other gear but my legs were so full of lactic acid I just collapsed at the finish," said Lieto.

Lieto summed it up: "If you see the finish line pictures, we both crossed the finish line and just collapsed. I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted and frustrated and I just wanted to lay there for a moment, wondering what I could have done, what I did wrong. What I could have done different, where I could have gained a few seconds flashed thru my mind. Then I realized there was really nothing more that I could have given."

"This was a great race, one of those races you will always remember," said Alexander.

Lieto had one more crack at Alexander coming. Just three months later at Kona, Lieto would push Crowie to the edge again at Kona - to the best race of his career.

1. Craig Alexander 3:51:46
2. Chris Lieto -- 3:51:48

Comeback 2.0 Sells Out Again In Santa Barbara

Once again Lance Armstrong had a book signing in Santa Barbara and fired through 750 books in one hour. Lance is in Santa Barbara for a training camp getting ready for the 2010 Tour Down Under which comes up in late January.

Lance Armstrong Book signing Time-Lapse

Bahati foundation nets Cannondale as sponsor

Rahsaan Bahati's newly formed Bahati Foundation pro cycling team is hitting the ground running ahead of the 2010 season, announcing Cannondale as its official bike sponsor, and the creation of a television series with partner Endure Media Group, to air next fall.

The team will kick off the season at the Redlands Classic in California on March 25 after a two-week training camp in Los Angeles.

Bahati created the foundation with the purpose of showing children in underprivileged communities that they can avoid a life of "crime, gangs and drugs", much in the same way Bahati himself did with his cycling career.

The television six-part series,"Bahati: Out of Compton" is part of the team's media blitz, with the first episode planned to highlight Bahati's childhood in Compton, California, one of the toughest areas in Los Angeles. It will then follow his success in the world of professional cycling through to the creation of his pro team and his community activities.

"This project captures the essence of the human condition," said Endure spokesperson Matthew Hall. "[Rahsaan] Bahati's story is one of hope, compassion and excellence. We use cycling as a backdrop to tell [Rahsaan's] story, and weave the excitement of the sport, the passion of the events and celebrity cache for tremendous impact on the community."

"This will catapult the efforts of the Bahati Foundation to positively impact the lives of inner-city and underprivileged youth by bringing our message into the homes of millions of viewers," said Bahati.

The Foundation is currently in negotiations for broadcast of the series, but hopes to see it air mid- to late-summer. "One of our key partners, Cannondale Bicycles, recognized the opportunity early on and is committed to providing significant resources to this project."

Chris Lieto Headlines TTS Endurance Camp

3-Time Ironman Champion and 2nd Place finisher at the 2009 Ironman World Championships CHRIS LIETO to headline the TTS Endurance Camp!

Come train alongside the top U.S. Ironman athlete!

What: TTS Endurance Camp, Winter 2010
When: February 11-15, 2010
Where: Carpinteria, CA

Come to beautiful Carpentaria, California and take in the splendor and warm temperatures of the West Coast. This peaceful town has been host to numerous professional cycling teams, pro triathletes and world-class competitions. The camp is 3 full days and 2 half days of training and presentations. Our dedicated staff of USAT certified coaches and professional triathletes are passionate about teaching the essentials for training and racing triathlons and multisport events. With all abilities welcome, the training and presentations are targeted towards those athletes looking to make huge gains in their race performances.


Our staff has trained thousands of athletes: from absolute beginners to top age-groupers to professionals. We've helped them perform their best at hundreds of events all around the world; from sprints to Ironman to Ultraman. We are committed to helping you find your strengths and improve your weaknesses.

You'll leave this camp with improved skills, better fitness and you will know precisely where to focus your training time for the rest of the triathlon season.

What's included:

* 4 nights stay accommodations at the Holiday Inn Express, Carpinteria, California
* Thursday night arrival dinner and all breakfasts, lunches and snacks
* Free TTS cycling jersey and swim cap
* Daily training sessions with the TTS Coaching Staff
* Presentations and Clinics from leading coaches and educational professionals in the sport of triathlon
* Individual assessments and analysis: swim video, run gait and bike fit
* Certified professional bike mechanics
* Complete "sag" support on all workouts
* Certified professional massage (Saturday only)

Click on the title link to learn more.

Building Strength In The Preseason

By: Ian Murray

The cold winter months mean a break from triathlon for most of us. We can look at this time of year as the “off-season” or as the “preseason,” just as the proverbial glass can been seen as half empty or half full. This is the best time to invest in a key component of triathlon fitness: strength.


Building strength can be beneficial in three critical ways:

Injury Prevention

Two areas of the human body are at risk in the sport of triathlon:

The shoulders. The freestyle swim stroke puts greater emphasis on the front of the body and ignores the back, creating an imbalance in the shoulder joints. The rear deltoids should be strengthened in the pre-season with exercises such as external shoulder rotation. The end result is stronger, more stable shoulders that can withstand longer and faster swims with less risk of injury.

Hip stabilizers. Much of what we do in running and cycling is in the same plane, with our legs moving us forward instead of side to side as in tennis, soccer and basketball. Doing hip adduction and hip abduction exercises in the pre-season will yield stronger and faster runs next season with less risk of injury.

Core Strength

This isn’t about the “six-pack abs” that launched a thousand infomercials. As a triathlete, your core stabilizes your body as you swim, cycle and run. Think of your core as something that reaches down below your hips and extends up towards the chest.

Your core connects and anchors your upper body to your lower body and controls their coordinated movement. It includes the lower back and the transverse abdominis (the deepest layer connecting hip to rib to diaphragm). Instead of doing the typical forward crunches, do multi-limb movements like dead bug and balancing exercises like the plank, and add bits of rotation to basic exercises like a chest press.

Greater Power

Strengthening triathlon-specific muscles in the preseason will enable you to train and race at a new level next season. Speed and endurance improve with greater power. Swimming faster often depends upon developing a stronger pull. Riding faster is a direct result of exerting greater force on the pedals. Running faster is made possible by more powerful foot strikes. Include exercises like squats, lunges, calf raises, lat pull-downs and tricep extensions.

Power-up your pre-season by committing to two to three strength sessions each week for three months. All these exercises can be done in a gym or in your home with minimal equipment. Do two to three sets of 15-20 repetitions with moderate resistance for the strength our sport demands. You’ll arrive at the next racing season healthier, stronger and faster.

Yahoo! Cycling Team to launch in 2010

An online survey targeted at Silicon Valley Professionals revealed that an astonishing 50 percent are cycling enthusiasts and follow the local scene. The results were presented to the Yahoo! Management, the internet services company which operates the third most-visited website in the world, and prompted it to come onboard as the main partner to launch America's newest team in 2010: Yahoo! Cycling Team.

The man behind the new squad is Kevin Klein, a former pro focused on creating a successful business model that will keep the new team pedaling on the long-term. The team will be operating at grass-roots level and will be primarily based out of California for the 2010 race season.

"The whole idea behind the Yahoo! Cycling Team is the recruitment of high tech professionals in the Silicon Valley and to provide a platform for partners to achieve more involvement at the community level," Klein said. "If you do it right, everyone should win and grow their business."

Klein has assembled an impressive 15-rider roster with a unique blend of experienced professionals, young natural talent, and seasoned leaders for 2010 - including two current professional road riders, members of the Under 23 National Team, and a two-time Olympian. But Klein did not want to reveal any names at this time - not until the launch of the website in January.

Klein himself will be riding with the team and is included on the racing roster. He has had some good 2009 results including a third place at the Davis Criterium race on July 4, won by Rahsaan Bahati. "There are veterans, young guys, and professionals on the team which make for a nice mix and spread out," he added.

Klein's plan for the first year is to ride and manage the team on the local US racing scene before applying for UCI Continental Status in 2011. Should they be successful, he would like to bring in Mariano Friedick, who is currently living in Argentina, as another key person on the management team. Friedick was a multi-national American champ on the track and raced for Toyota United and Saturn.

The Yahoo! Cycling Team, which will ride on Fuji bikes, includes qualified managers that also have a cycling pedigree. Haldane Morris, who was Rock Racing's General Manager for ‘07 and ‘08, is on board to help manage the squad. Morris has won 30 Gold State Champs and a silver medal at the USA Olympic Trials and was a member of the US National Cycling Team from 1989 to 1993. Allen Bean is another person who has worked with Rock Racing Management from 2006-2008. He has also been involved in cycling since 1974, and has over 25 years of project management experience.

The Yahoo! Cycling Team hopes to become a dominating force on the US racing circuit in 2010 and one that will have a large fan following. "We are confident in achieving a lot of wins in 2010 and believe that we have a lot more horse-power to muscle those all-important last few laps in the criteriums. It will be exciting for fans and racers alike," said Klein.

Social media will be used as a key marketing strategy behind the team - this includes the popular Twitter (Yahoocycling) and Facebook as well as their official website, www.yahoocycling.com, which is set to launch early next year. Local promotional contests will be held on-line throughout the year to keep cycling fans returning to the website.

Stay tuned to Cyclingnews for more exclusive coverage of the Yahoo! Cycling Team.

Mellow Johnny's Comeback 2.0 Book Signing

Once again Lance Armstrong was on hand for a book signing. This time at his own shop in Austin Texas at Mellow Johnny's. They sold out of 500 books in less than a hour.

Cassidy Phillips Launches SMRT-CORE: A Revolutionary Core Strengthening Program

Cassidy Phillips, biomechanical specialist and creator of Trigger Point Performance Therapy Products and Education, has launched a revolutionary core-strengthening system and self-massage program called SMRT-CORE that uses a revolutionary foam-roller, The GRID. Having had great success in endurance sports and fitness with his Trigger Point Performance Therapy Products, this program marks Phillips’ second major program and product launch.

SMRT-CORE is self-myofascial release therapy and core stability work efficiently combined in the same workout. Phillips has worked with several world-class athletes and there are two things that he concentrates on: self-massage and functional core work. Cassidy decided it was time to combine these two areas of expertise. The result was an incredible combination of core stability exercises and self-myofascial release therapy, using one product: The SMRT-CORE GRID.

Through the development of a travel-friendly hollowed out foam roller, Phillips provides athletes and fitness enthusiasts with a tool that can significantly increase their core strength and stability while providing them with an incredible soft tissue massage, due to the EVA matrix of distrodensities. “The precision-engineered pattern and density of our exclusive Distrodensity Foam design allows one to control the level and intensity of the massage. While most foam rollers are one-dimensional, I sought to invent a platform that would allow blood and oxygen to travel throughout the tissue as the muscles are compressed to deliver an optimal yet customizable massage,” says Phillips.

The SMRT-CORE program launch firmly positions Phillips’ and Trigger Point Performance Therapy as a premium source for injury prevention, strength training and overall wellness. Chris Lieto, 3-time Ironman Champion comments, “with Cassidy’s products, I always perform better and feel like my legs can do so much more – they have more power and more speed. It is a must in my training and recovery."

Phillips remarks, “I have listened to feedback from my athletes and customers and am ecstatic about how well the SMRT-CORE program and The GRID have been received. I have no doubt that this is the most versatile and comprehensive foam roller and workout tool available. My ultimate goal is to empower athletes to be able to take care of themselves through the education and use of my products.”

The SMRT-CORE GRID and program is in specialty stores around the world. To learn more about Cassidy Phillips and SMRT-CORE, visit www.tptherapy.comand www.SMRT-CORE.com.

About Cassidy Phillips
Cassidy Phillips is a biomechanical specialist concentrating on sports performance, injury prevention and the muscular structure that supports the efforts of the body in motion. His objective is to recognize the biomechanical challenges of movement and actions of everyday life and marry them with the biomechanical inefficiencies recognized within patterns of movement defined by a sport of choice or through sedentary patterns of movement such as sitting, walking and running. Athletes and non-athletes from around the world have used Phillips and TPT products to implement the use of Myofascial Compression Techniques with incredible and sometimes life-altering results.

About Trigger Point Technologies
Trigger Point Technologies is a company based in Austin, Texas that has established itself as a life enhancing brand, concentrating on empowering people with its revolutionary methodologies and patented products that mirror the feeling of a human hand. It has successfully become one of the leaders in personal performance care by marketing its in-home massage products to consumers in the athletic, healthcare and personal wellness markets. For more info, visit www.tptherapy.com

Two 'Breakaway from Cancer' rides to take place in April before 2010 TOC

The Amgen Tour of California has announced two cyclo-sportif rides to be held in conjunction with next year's race, in order to raise funds and awareness for Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer initiative.

The two 'Breakaway Rides presented by Specialized', will see up to 7,000 amateur cyclists tackle the second and eighth stages of the 2010 race, a month before the professional peloton. Designed to cater to a range of abilities, participants will be given the opportunity to cover a range of routes that extend up to the full stage distances.

"We are happy to provide amateur cyclists with an opportunity to ride the same route as the pros and to be able to compare their times to the greatest cyclists in the world," said Andrew Messick, president of race organiser AEG Sports. "We are expecting that these rides will expose cyclists to the beauty and challenges that our professional athletes will face."

Each ride will be limited to a maximum of 3,500 participants, with a proportion each rider's entry fee will be donated to the initiative's four charities: Prevent Cancer Foundation, Patient Advocate Foundation, Cancer Support Community and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

"The Breakaway Ride events will give cycling enthusiasts and community members an opportunity to experience the 2010 Amgen Tour route first hand and at the same time support The Breakaway from Cancer initiative, which raises awareness of a range of free services available to people affected by cancer," said Stuart Arbuckle, Vice-President and General Manager at Amgen Oncology. "Amgen and its non-profit Breakaway from Cancer partners applaud AEG and Specialized for their outstanding support of these events."

Participants in the event will be encouraged to raise as much money as possible in the lead up the rides, with event sponsor, Specialized to provide a S-Works Tarmac or Roubaix bike to the top fundraisers at each event. Those donating to the event will also have the opportunity win prizes that include VIP experiences at the Tour of California, May 16-23.

The two Breakaway from Cancer rides will be:

Sunday April 11, 2010 - Stage 8 route – Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura Hills
Sunday, April 25, 2010 - Stage 2 route – Davis to Santa Rosa
Registration for the two rides will be open to Specialized customers on December 16, with public registration opening on December 21 at www.active.com.

Details of the route for each ride will be announced on February 1, 2010, at the official presentation of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California route.

2009 Ford Ironman World Championship Airs On NBC This Saturday

The annual broadcast highlights top professional and age-group athletes from around the world competing in sport’s most grueling endurance event.

For the 19th consecutive year the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship broadcast will air on NBC, Dec. 19, 2009, from 4:30 – 6 PM ET (check local listings). The telecast will highlight the physical and emotional journey taken by athletes during the renowned 140.6-mile triathlon. Veteran sports commentator and narrator Al Trautwig will provide the voiceover.

Athletes profiled in the Emmy-award-winning program range from professionals including Great Britain’s three-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington to physically challenged athletes, military veterans, retired professionals and weight loss success stories.

In its 31st year, the Ford Ironman World Championship start cannon sounded on Oct. 10, 2009. Nearly 1,700 of the world’s fittest athletes braved the harsh elements of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in an attempt to earn the title of “Ironman.” Temperatures on event day reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit and higher at certain times on the bike and run portions. Athletes ranging in age from 20 to 80 years competed in the 2.4-mile Pacific Ocean swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon in a classic battle of human motivation versus sweltering heat and mental and physical fatigue.

“Each year we look to inspire our viewers with the raw power and competitive nature of the professional athletes along with the impressive stories of courage and determination demonstrated by all participants,” said Peter Henning, vice president of television production for Ironman. “The course might not change year to year, but the drama continues to intensify.”

The broadcast captures the emotion of the day and features head-to-head competition among the top male and female professionals. The program documents Australia’s Craig Alexander as he adds a second consecutive Ironman World Championship title to his resume and Wellington, who secures her third by breaking the course record of Ironman great, Paula Newby-Fraser of Zimbabwe, with an overall time of 8:54:02. The program also highlights the 17-hour challenges of several unique professional and age group athletes who define the meaning of inspiration and bring to life the “Anything is Possible” mentality.

Featured athletes include:

* Decorated professional and 2009 top American finisher Chris Lieto, the former surfer and college water polo player with three top-10 finishes at the Ironman World Championship.

* Matt Hoover, season two winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” who gave it his best to be an official Ironman finisher, but crossed the finish line mere minutes after the midnight cut-off time.

* Rudy Garcia-Tolson, a double-amputee with numerous world records, who completed an impressive swim but narrowly missed the cut-off after biking the 112-mile course.

* Four-time Lymphoma survivor and heart transplant recipient Kyle Garlett, who was not able to complete the challenging swim within the allotted time frame.

* Mike Adamle, a former professional football running back and well-known national and Chicago-area sportscaster, who tested his strength and drive for the second time in Kailua-Kona.

Footage of Laird Hamilton Surfing Jaws

Mark Cavendish and his Columbia crew hit the roads of Lanzarote

Columbia-HTC have launched their pre-season with a training camp on the Spanish Island of Lanzarote. The easternmost of the seven Canary Islands, the team this week made use of the mostly traffic-free roads to set a base for the season ahead.

Columbia stars Mark Cavendish, Michael Rogers, Tony Martin and Marco Pinotti have also had the chance to meet a flood of new teammates, including, among others: Lars Ytting Bak, Hayden Roulston, Patrick Gretsch,Tejay van Garderen, Rasmus Guldhammer, Leigh Howard, Tejay van Garderen, and brothers Peter and Martin Velits.

"It's really great to have all of the guys together for the first time," said Sports Director Rolf Aldag on the team's website. "We have eleven new riders on the roster and it's a good chance for them all to get to know each other and for the new guys to learn how we do things on this team. All of our individual meetings are going well and I have a really good feeling about 2010.

Apart from training, the Columbia riders are also taking the opportunity to get set up and fitted with their new clothing and equipment for next year.

The ten-day training camp will run until next week and gives the riders the chance to escape the winter chill that has started to shift its way across Europe. "The Island is perfect for training at any time of year," said Aldag. We can train in short sleeves and we have the support of Club La Santa and the local government here so we feel very welcome."

Alberto Contador # 1 In The World For 2009

Alberto Contador accepts the award for number one rider in the UCI World Ranking for 2009 (AFP/Getty Images)

Two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador said Monday that 2009 has been his best year ever, as he received the award from the International Cycling Union (UCI) as this season's top rider.

"I think this has been my best year ever, in terms of results rather than other circumstances, given the constant tension and pressure to which I was submitted," said the Spaniard.

He was apparently referring to his tense relationship with his Astana teammate, Lance Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner who came out of retirement to take part in this year's race.

Armstrong left Astana this year for the RadioShack team.

"It has been the most important year of my life on a sporting level," said Contador, after receiving the award from UCI President Pat McQuaid for topping the world rankings this year.

Contador won his second Tour de France crown in July, after first taking the title in 2007.

The 27-year-old, who confirmed recently that he would remain with Astana next season, said he is now "excited and motivated" about next season, when his main goal will be a third Tour de France title.

"The fact that there is no team time-trial should clearly help us," he said. "What concerns me more is the cobbled roads, I hope we can get through that. It will be important to avoid falls that can ruin the race."

The third stage of the Tour, between the Belgian town of Wanze and Arenberg in France on July 6, includes 13 kilometres (eight miles) of cobbled roads.

The rider said he has scheduled "a block of races" earlier in the year, including the Tour of the Algarve, the Paris-Nice, the Tour of Catalonia and the Tour of the Basque Country.

Comeback 2.0 Sells Out In Tucson

Lance Armstrong had a book signing in Tucson yesterday for his new book Comeback 2.0. They sold out of 750 books in just under a hour. Make sure to check out the book. Its super well done and it is a must for any cycling fan.

Contador and Vinokourov present new Astana kit

Astana's Alberto Contador and Alexander Vinokourov have presented a united front as they unveiled their team jersey for the 2010 season in Pisa, Italy.

The team's sky blue theme will continue, though it has abandoned the navy blue of this season for more yellow - a design that reflects the Kazakh national colours. The new jersey also incorporates the logos of new sponsors Samruk Kazyna and bicycle supplier Specialized.

Significantly, both Contador and Vinokourov were on hand to display the new uniform. The Kazakh rider this week pledged his support to the Spaniard's attempt to win a third Tour de France, while Contador himself expressed his confidence that he would be ready to defend the second Tour title he claimed in July.

Astana's training camp, conducted last week in Pisa, Italy, has also given the two rider the opportunity to meet and train with a flood of new riders to the team for 2010. Spaniard Oscar Pereiro joined his new teammates after confirming his contract with the team on Wednesday, while former-Lampre riders Paolo Tiralongo and Enrico Gasparotto also took part in the pre-season training.

The week in Pisa will be followed by a second camp in Spain in January.

Another Look At The New Team Radioshack Kit

As team Radioshack camp continues in Tucson today Lance Armstrong shows off the new team kit for 2010. The kit will change slightly going into the Tour Down Under. Today's ride was for all the new team Radioshack sponsors.

Hincapie Ready For The 2010 Season

George Hincapie is looking forward to the challenges of a new team and a new season. The American champion will be riding alongside World champion Cadel Evans for BMC Racing Team in 2010.

“Coming to this team, I am very excited by the growth potential it has over the next two or three years,” Hincapie said. “I’m excited to grow with the team, and I am confident that we have the experienced staff to guide the group; we’ll certainly be well taken care of.”

Evans and Hincapie will be opening the year at the Tour Down Under. “I’m happy to be starting off my season at the Tour Down Under since I’ve enjoyed that race in the past and it gives us a good chance to race in some warm weather,” Hincapie said. “Having Cadel on the team roster for that race too, especially since he is the World Road Champion, will make it special.”

The team will have its eye on the overall rankings at the race, but doesn't expect Evans or Hincapie to be in the running. “Evans’ goals are pretty clear later in the season, and the parcours doesn’t really suit him,” Hincapie explained. “My goals come a little later in the spring too, but we’ll certainly have some guys heading there to get results.”

The 2010 roster poses challenges for the team's sporting management. “Though we do have experienced riders like Evans and Hincapie joining, half our riders are under twenty-five,” noted European Operations Manager and Assistant Directeur Sportif Noel Dejonckheere.

The Belgian is also new to the team, having previously worked as long-time Under-23 Development Program Director for USA Cycling. Ironically, one of the first young riders he worked with was Hincapie. “And now here I am back with him again and he is one of the veterans,” Dejonckheere added.

Hincapie has still another motivation for the 2010 season, as BMC will race in clothing produced by his own company, Hincapie Sportswear. The new outfits have met with approval from the other riders.

“We have already had a chance to try out the new Hincapie stuff, and it is pretty neat,” teammate Jeff Louder confirmed. “Since George is behind the brand that means everything has been very well-thought out. It also means that the team will be directly linked to the company and will be more involved.”

Alberto Contador Rolls Out At Pisa

Alberto Contador completed his first official outing of the new season this afternoon at Astana’s team training camp in Pisa. He was accompanied in today’s session by Jesús Hernández and new recruit Gorazd Stangeli, formerly of Liquigas. The trio pedaled through Tuscany under propitiously sunny skies with temperatures around 13° C (56° F).

Other early arrivals to Astana’s camp are Spaniard Josep Jufré, who has recently come to Astana from Fugi-Servetto, and the team’s sprinter Assan Bazayev of Kazakhstan, both of whom arrived yesterday.

George Hincapie: Mountain Biking

Team RadioShack squad reflects cycling's globalization going into the 2010 season

Lance Armstrong at his first official RadioShack press conference in Arizona on Tuesday. He said the team will share leadership in 2010.

Lance Armstrong gave his first official press conference for the new RadioShack squad at the team's training camp in Tucson, Arizona on Tuesday and he had one point to clarify: the team is not built around him.

Armstrong fielded questions about his new team and his comeback year, describing how his "experiment" rekindled his passion for the sport and inspired him not only to continue racing in 2010, but also to put his weight behind the formation of the RadioShack team.

Despite the fact that he is by far and away the best known rider in the sport of cycling and achieved a podium finish after a three year absence from the Tour de France, he insisted that the team, even at the Tour, will not be solely focused on him.

"The days of this team being built around me are done," Armstrong said concisely. "I'm 38 now, I'll be 39 this season - it would be irresponsible to build it around me. Going into the Tour we have to look at Levi [Leipheimer], [Andreas] Klöden, the tactics, the ideas that we use..."

That said, Armstrong feels he will be even stronger in 2010 than this year after having raced a full season. "All the training, the Tour and the Giro [d'Italia], that will benefit me going forward in 2010. This December already feels different than last December."

Team Radioshack's Ride Today In Tucson

Team Radioshack Camp In Full Swing

The usual media scrum surrounding Lance Armstrong as he leaves the hotel today in Tucson Arizona for today's ride. The conditions were windy at 30 mph, cold and wet. After the ride all the riders will meet the press....stay tuned for more photos and updates.

Sneak Peak of Team RadioShack's 2010 Kit

A sneak preview of a working prototype of the jersey the guys will be riding in in 2010. While the final Jersey is expected to look very similar, it will be officially unveiled in Australia in January during the Tour Down Under.

Chris Lieto and Matt Dixon Of Purple Patch

This past Wednesday night I attend the Chris Lieto lecture hosted by his coach Matt Dixon. It was a great to hear how his training has changed since working with Matt. Make sure to check out the Purple Patch site by clicking on the title link.

Comeback 2.0: Up Close and Personal

After three years in retirement following his record-setting 7th Tour de France win -- which he accomplished after successfully battling the testicular cancer that almost killed him -- Lance Armstrong announced to the world on September 24, 2008 at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, that he would return to professional cycling to help promote a Global Cancer Campaign. Comeback 2.0: Up Close and Personal is Lance Armstrong's first-person photo-journal of his 2009 comeback season with the goal to take the LIVESTRONG message around the world. Heavily illustrated with color photos and text, Lance will take readers on a thrilling ride through his dramatic comeback year.

Comeback 2.0 includes an introduction by Lance that frames his decision to return to competitive cycling followed by journal-like entries written through the course of his comeback season beginning with the Tour Down Under, followed by the Tour of California, his spectacular crash in the first stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon race in Spain that resulted in a broken collar bone, the Giro d'Italia, culminating in the Tour de France. The journal entries will accompany spectacular four-color photos, that offer breathtaking views of the race stages as well as intimate, behind-the-scenes shots. Renowned sports photographer and photojournalist Elizabeth Kreutz has been granted unparalleled access to Lance's day-to-day world in this, his most triumphant season.

Lance Armstrong made a recent stop in the New York City area to sign copies of his book.