Bike Briefs!

First the good...
This is so exciting. After several years without a Team Time Trial, it was just announced that the 2009 Tour de France will include a Team Time Trial on stage 5. These are some of the most exciting and dangerous stages to watch! I already can't wait! Nine months until TDF 2009! Click here for the whole story and tour route, or just keep reading.

The stages I'm most excited for include July 7th Montpellier Team Time-Trial, Vittel (home of the bottled water), Martigny Switzerland (home of Fondue and a place i'm dying to have Patricia take me to), and Annecy where my dad took me not so long ago. Annecy is a beautiful place that has a river running through the city who's shore is lined with antique wooden boats. Also, a home of the best dessert I ate in france (hands down!)

According to Bicycling Magazine, Lance and Bruyneel are super stoked about this year's tour - even though there's only a 50-50 chance he can race the tour.

The 2009 Tour starts on July 4th (can you say PARTY!?) and includes 10 flat stages, 7 mountain stages, 2 individual time trials, 1 team time trial, 3 mountain finshes and 2 rest stages.
It's 3,500 kilometers long.

Next, the bad news.
Eddy is retiring from the bike making business because he evidinatlly doesn't have a successor to take over the business (thanks for nothing, Axel). According to Bicycling Magzine, Merckx announced he will sell the majority stake of his bike business to Sobradis, a Belgian holding company, because he is ready to retire. Although he'll still "advise" the company it's sad to think he is transitioning on the way out. It's nice to know that the world's most amazing cyclist who ever lived, designed my bike.

On another note, remember Saunier Duval in the 08 tour? Remember two Italian cyclists, Ricco and Piepoli, made a triumphant mountain climb ahead of the entire pack only to pack up and go home the next day (cheaters!)? As an update, the Canadian Press reported that although Ricco admitted he was guilty for doping (and thus banned for two years), his teammate Piepoli failed to show up for his hearing and has not yet confessed whether he's guilty or not. Slimeball. The Canadian Press also reported that Piepoli has 32 victories overall in his career - I wonder how many of those he was clean for. The thought makes me sick. I'm tired of these cheaters ruining it for the honest guys. Don't worry - a two year ban wouldn't ruin his career absolutly - I am sure that Rock Racing will hire him as a lead cyclist when all is said and done.