TNT1

Yikes! And they're doing it twice in one stage. That'll be weird if it's not orange as usual...

http://cdn4.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/12/13/1/rabo2_017_220.jpg Don't expect sponsor before Amstel Gold Race, says Plugge Blanco Pro Cycling Team formally unveiled its new colours to the world with a presentation in Fuerteventura on Thursday evening. After 17 long years in the peloton, the familiar Dutch orange of Rabobank is no more, replaced instead by the navy, white and blue of a team in search of a new title sponsor. Like Highroad in 2008, Blanco has sufficient funding from its departed sponsor to see it through the coming campaign but must find a new backer before the end of 2013 in order to continue in the sport. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gallery-blanco-pro-cycling-team-presented-in-fuerteventura

@gummi, my old man has a pacemaker, so sorry to intrude on your thread, but FFS!

Sorry, it's really none of my business, but a pacemaker has nothing to do with a lifestyle induced heart problems. A pacemaker may be helpful if: Aging or heart disease damages the sinus node's ability to set the correct pace for the heartbeat. Such damage can make the heart beat too slow, or it can cause long pauses between heartbeats. The damage also can cause the heart rhythm to alternate between slow and fast. A person needs to take certain heart medicines (such as beta blockers), but these medicines slow down the heartbeat too much. The electrical signals between the heart's upper and lower chambers are partially or completely blocked or slowed down – a condition called heart block. Aging, damage to the heart from a heart attack, or other heart conditions can prevent electrical signals from reaching all the heart's chambers. A person often faints due to a slow heartbeat. For example, this may happen if the main artery in the neck that supplies the brain with blood is sensitive to pressure. If a person has this condition, just quickly turning his or her neck can cause the heart to beat slower than normal. When that happens, not enough blood may flow to the brain, causing the individual to faint. A person has had a medical procedure to treat an arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation. A pacemaker can help regulate the heartbeat after the procedure. A person has heart muscle problems that cause electrical signals to travel through the heart muscle too slow. (A pacemaker will provide cardiac resynchronization therapy for this problem.)

Ah, duh! LeMond/Hinault...

CAS officially closes arbitration Alberto Contador's doping-related case before the Court of Arbitraiton for Sport has now been closed. The Court said that Contador and the UCI had reached a private settlement on the proposed fine and has therefore “officially terminated the arbitraiton.” Contador was given a two-year back-dated suspension for his positive doping control for Clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France. He returned to racing in August of this year and subsequently won the Vuelta a Espana. When it issued its decision in February finding Contador guilty of a doping violation, the CAS said that it would rule later on the UCI's request to impose a fine, said to be 2.4 million Euros, on the rider. In a statement issued today, the court said that “However, the CAS has been informed of an amicable settlement between the UCI and A.Contador regarding this issue and has officially terminated the arbitration.”

I pray to the Gods of Cycling that Wiggo v Froome can echo back to LeMond v Hinault, with Contador chucked in to play the wildcard.

WTF is a SiL?

It's cheaper at the local farmers' supply.

Yeah, lance the boil that is the UCI and then maybe we'll see progress...

Text of Katusha's December 11, 2012, letter to the UCI: "Dear Sirs, I am acting on behalf of KATUSHA MANAGEMENT SA (KATUSHA). By letter dated 10 December 2012 - surprisingly simultaneously published on the UCI website - the UCI Licence Commission has informed KATUSHA of its decision to refuse its registration as UCI ProTeam for the season 2013-2015. This decision from the UCI Licence Commission is categorically contested and refused by KATUSHA. Please note that in November 2012, the "UCI Team Evaluation Report 2013" stated that only the "Financial Criterion" was assessed as "Does not Comply" but that all other criteria effectively complied with the UCI requirements. During the hearing of 22 November 2012, KATUSHA provided all the requested information and documents to the UCI Licence Commission. During this hearing, Mr Pierangelo Beltrami from Ernst & Young confirmed that the explanation and information were unconditionally accepted and sufficient. I underline that this information has been confirmed by Mr Pierangelo Beltrami to Mr Holczer yesterday by phone. It thus appears that all the criteria comply with UCI requirements and therefore no reasons may justify the refusal of the licence for the season 2013 to 2015. Considering the above-mentioned elements, KATUSHA hereby requests that its licence for the 2013-1015 seasons be granted without delay and conditions by the UCI Licence Commission. Should the registration as UCI ProTeam for the seasons 2013-2015 be denied, KATUSHA will immediately file an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sports and/or any other forum it may deemed appropriate to defend its rights. I would like to underline that the decision rendered on 10 December 2012 by the UCI Licence Commission was not only an unbelievable shock for KATUSHA but also for all our contact persons in charge of this file with the UCI and Ernst & Young. I note that a major part of the members of the cycling world were identically surprised by such dramatic and unforeseen decision. Finally, I kindly draw your attention to the terrible consequences this decision will have in particular for the image and reputation of the team, sponsors, partners, riders, staff and employees. This unacceptable decision will obviously have irreparable consequences for the overall KATUSHA project, particularly in Russia. My client hereby reserved all its rights to request damages should this situation not be corrected immediately."

Everytime I hear Blixa, I remember seeing this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdBrATEMPjM And this:

A pretty mtb is anathema. It's like these okes that buy a bakkie based on what it looks like. Oh, and @OP, lose some weight, and get some skills.

With RP Foundation? Nothing, although I love Claudette and Stormin Norman to bits.

That was what I was going for.

Crisis, these pansy mtber's get more pathetic by the day.

Emergency and 1st lane will be closed. I was an advocate of sending the longer route through the reserve for a full lap, but was sadly outvoted. I'll keep trying for coming years though.

@ OP, so why don't you have a bell?

Thou tape? Holy tape? Wait, holy or otherwise, what tape do you need to get?

Ah, one tube, a bomb or a mini pomp, and a cell phone. More than one flat, and I have twenty peeps that will drop whatever to come fetch me...

Dunno if it's appropriate (in this thread), but I'm in. I'll get motorbikes and cars in to protect the riders, and we'll shut the cradle down for the day.

Think what exactly?

You need inflate your tyres properly and/or look where you are riding properly.

Permission to change fred title: "All these hissy fits, and it is holiday season! WTF?"

Can you or the other guy post a pic of this next to a matchbox or something? Or say what the range is?