In 2007 it was the Tour de France, in 2008 it is the Giro.  Young Alberto Contador of Astana continues to build an impressive cycling resume with another major tour victory to his name.  He becomes the first non-Italian to win the three-week race since 1996 when Pavel Tonkov won.  That was a stat I wasn’t aware of until today but it makes his win even more impressive. MORE »

It’s been kinda quiet in the cycling world so far into 2008 but here is one that’s going to have everyone talking.  It appears the Astana cycling team may not be invited to the 2008 Tour de France according to some breaking news I’ve been reading.  This means that reigning champion Alberto Contador could miss the chance to defend his title.  It also spells bad news for top riders like Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloden.

“The damages that this team has done to the Tour de France and to cycling in general. The team Astana has betrayed the organizer’s confidence last year.”
– ASO Press Release, February 13, 2008

It’s nice to see them finally taking this kind of stance.  Some of these top guys shouldn’t have been so nieve when it came to signing on with teams with such tarnished names.  Hopefully this paves the ways for teams like Slipstream to make it into the the big race.