Giro d’Italia champion Denis Menchov and two other Rabobank riders met the Austrian Federal Criminal Police office (BKA) as part of an anti-doping investigation in Vienna, the team said on Tuesday.
“Three of our riders, Denis Menchov, Joost Posthuma and Pieter Weening went to Vienna (to meet the BKA) in April 2009,†Rabobank said in a statement.
“There is no reason why they should be summoned again. They are not involved in a doping scandal.â€Â … Details
The Tour de France jinx continued for Giro d’Italia winner Denis Menchov on Tuesday when the Russian crashed in the fourth stage team time-trial.
Menchov was unable to keep his line at a sharp turn early on the 39-km course and crashed into a barrier. He was able to make it back on his bike and ride on, helped by team-mates, but the whole Rabobank team lost valuable time.
World champion Alessandro Ballan of Italy also crashed at the same spot.
Menchov, one of the favourites to win this year, has had an unhappy start to the race…Â Details
A brief look at Tuesday’s fourth stage of the Tour de France:
Stage: A 39-kilometer (24.2-mile) team time-trial in and around Montpellier.
Winner: Lance Armstrong’s Astana team, in 46 minutes and 29 seconds. American team Garmin finished in second place, 18 seconds back. Fabian Cancellara’s Saxo Bank was third, trailing the winning team by 40 seconds.
Yellow Jersey: Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, who maintained his lead by a fraction of a second over Armstrong…Â Details
Lance Armstrong prides himself on being a real-time athlete, blogging, Tweeting and video-logging his way through one of sport’s most anticipated comebacks.
Armstrong’s participation in the Tour de France is a hands-on experience as he constantly keeps his followers updated with the minutiae of his life, from what’s on his dinner plate to his current music of choice.
Yet three days into the event the 37-year-old is providing a veritable soap opera on the course itself, spinning a web of intrigue and speculation from his spoked wheels…Â Details