Free Republic

The cycling world has patiently awaited one of the most historical moments in cycling's history, and the day has finally arrived, with the first-ever women's Paris-Roubaix to be held on October 2 in France. The Hell of the North has been the most celebrated Monument on the men's racing calendar...

Paris-Roubaix is set to be run in a downpour for the first time since 2002. Supporters are thrilled. Riders are terrified. But for the past few weeks, Doulcier has been rooting for chaos, along with nearly every other cycling fan. That’s because Paris-Roubaix is set to be run in the rain this weekend for the first time since 2002. And while it might seem strange for supporters of an outdoor sport to pray for abject weather—unless you live in Green Bay during the playoffs—cycling fans see something epic in the added peril of riding bicycles on cobbles in the mud....

All do respect to Andy Schleck but Fabian Cancellara is a two time winner of Paris Roubaix, the defending champion at the Tour of Flanders and is a four-time World Time Trial Champion. With credentials like that, Cancellara should be just as big a cog in the Leopard Trek machine as Schleck (if not bigger) and I wanted to know how the move was going to affect him?

The controversy surrounding Floyd Landis is actually different then other controversies over illegal steroid use for one major reason: Both his blood and urine has been tested eight times (three blood tests) throughout the French de Tour. These other tests combined are more significant and telling then the single sample test found with an abnormal T/E ratio. As it stands, Landis' single positive test is just a distraction that sheds little light on the truth of any illegal drug activity on his part. To get any benefit out of an anabolic agent it must be used over weeks, not hours...

Tour de France champion Floyd Landis' backup urine sample confirmed high levels of testosterone, cycling's governing body said Saturday, raising the prospect that he could lose his title. Following the results of the "B" sample, Landis was expected to be fired by his Swiss team, Phonak, which had suspended him pending the results. He also faces a two-year ban from USA Cycling, which is responsible for sanctions against the American rider. "The analysis of the sample B of Floyd Landis's urine has confirmed the result of an adverse analytical finding notified by the Anti-doping laboratory of Paris on 26th July,...