Free Republic

The Tour de France was rocked by news that Astana's battered team leader, Alexandre Vinokourov, tested positive for a homologous blood transfusion after Saturday's time trial in Albi. L'Equipe reported on Tuesday afternoon that the Kazakh's blood had shown evidence of a transfusion from another person with a compatible blood type in an analysis done in the Châtenay-Malabry laboratory. The positive test was later confirmed by the Astana team. Upon receiving the news, the Astana team suspended Vinokourov and quit the Tour de France, according to a statement which read, "According to the ethical code of the Astana Cycling Team,...

Rest day today.

Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinokourov may have little hope of winning the Tour de France, but he reinforced his claims to being one of Lance Armstrong's most serious challengers yesterday by pulling back 1min 15sec on the leader on the second day in the Alps between Courchevel and Briancon. Vinokourov produced one of the best performances of the first 11 days when he crossed the highest mountains of this year's event alone and still managed to beat Colombian Santiago Botero in the sprint at the end. Behind him, Armstrong's team again drove the chase, bringing their leader home in sixth place, and...