Spanning the globe

I am coming across more and more interesting news about either cycling or doping lately. I realize I have been posting more about the doping issue, but trust me, I am searching high and low for good cycling stuff. While it's easy to pull from sites like Velonews, Cyclingnews or Pez all day long the more fascinating items are everywhere else, but it takes a bit more investigation.

Quick Step nails Qatar TTT
So my first news is from Velonews (!), but today marks what I would call the beginning of the race season for ProTour teams.

Aaron’s Pro Women’s Cycling Team 2007
Katharine Carroll and her teammates recently gathered in Atlanta for a training camp. Expect to see Katharine finishing at or on the front of many races in 2007! Check out Katharine's personal blog post about the camp and visit Gran Fondo's site for even more details.

CyclingSingles.com
If you're like me then you've received about a million spam emails from this website. Every conceivable email address I have has been hit by Cyclingsingles. I have yet to check it out, but I am willing to bet there are some local cycling singles out there who have been all over it! Tell the truth, have you?

Official wants Texas high school athletes tested
I have never been for drug testing in any fashion for high school athletes. The only situation where I think this is fair is if everyone within the organization or system is regularly tested. Administrators, principals, teachers, counselors, band members, coaches, et al should be lining up and peeing in the cup. Why pick on just the athletes? If they're so concerned with saving lives then why are the lives of athletes more precious than everyone else? Zero tolerance means zero tolerance.

N.J. Pol Rethinks Ban on Cell Phone Use While Cycling
I think his intentions were good, but finally realized it's not a battle worth exploring considering everything else he should worry about. What Assemblyman Bramnick should have done was meet with some cyclists to help craft the legislation. I can certainly think of a few that would deal only with cyclists riding with other cyclists, such as:
#1 - you can only take a call at the back of the peloton,
#2 - text messages can be read on the bike at the back of the peloton, but can only be replied to at a complete stop,
#3 - phone cannot ring aloud but can only function on vibrate during group ride,
#4 - you cannot call your buddy on his cell phone from your cell phone while riding in the same pack of riders

I could keep going, but why add to our bureaucracy!

Interview: Bjarne Riis
Team CSC has been through a lot in the last eight months, but Riis can only look ahead at the future. Take away Basso and his squad is still incredibly strong. Like me, Riis doesn't believe DNA testing would solve all the problems.

McQuaid blames 'mafia' nations
Obviously he's got a perch that none of us do, but I had never considered or heard of the Anglo-Saxon approach when it came to the fight against doping. He doesn't come right out and say which Western European cultures are hurting the fight against doping, but obviously he's pointing the finger at Italy and Spain. He keeps referring to "they", and I wonder how a comment like this would get played in the US under similar circumstances.

McQuaid should be more specific in his comments and not make stereotype assumptions about the whole lot. Is Western European culture as a whole to blame or is it the fault of legal authorities and stakeholders in cycling? At the end of the day "man" is the one who decides right from wrong, not culture as a whole. Blaming culture is passing the buck on individual responsibility, although I will admit it does have great influence on decision making.

Cobb cyclists may face 'cruising' law
It sounds like some cyclists are at fault here too, but what is so hard about vehicles needing to slow down and pass cyclists safely? Drivers in the area aren't putting any forethought into their frustrations.

Anytime I get the opportunity to speak to an irate vehicle driver I have one comeback that leaves them stammering. I'll say, "Who is your insurance provider? Go call your agent and share your stupid comments and let me know what they say. In the meantime you better up your coverage."

I've done this a few times and it literally leaves them confused and madder than ever. They never expect to hear what I ask them, and in the process they realize how stupid their carelessness really is. I don't spout law or rights, but let them know indirectly their decision is going to cost them.

Frankie Andreu Joins Agency for Cycling Ethics
Andreu can speak with authority on anything related to cycling, but nowhere within the article or agency website does it say Frankie admitted to using drugs.

Joseba Beloki quits cycling
Ever since his horrific crash in the 2003 Tour de France it's been a struggle for Beloki. I am unable to watch that crash because it's too much for me to absorb.

Farrar joins Discovery Channel as well
He leaves Cofidis after one year and makes his way back to an American team. Discovery has gone through a reloading process for 2007, and looking long-term I'd say this signing of Tyler Farrar is one of their best.

Game-fixing also rampant in cycling
It sounds like a few riders went ahead and formed teams without telling anyone. Is that wrong? I am having a hard time understanding this article's description of the "fix." What's funnier is cycling news gets trumped in the Philippines by chess scandals.

Cycling season starts with Utah tests
Team USA is getting started and about to tackle the Tour of California.