Lance Armstrong’s Astana team appears ready to participate in the Tour de France after reaching an agreement with its Kazakh backers to solve financial problems that have plagued the team this year.
Astana riders have held repeated protests since April over debts owed by the Kazakh Cycling Federation, putting the team’s participation in the Tour in doubt.
Astana issued a statement on Thursday saying team leader Johan Bruyneel, its managing company Olympus Sarl and the cycling federation had settled their differences during a meeting with a Kazakh government representative and that the debts had been paid…Â Details
1. It’s road course time again, with the Sprint Cup tour heading to Sonoma. If you’re the owner of a middling team, do you hire a road course ringer?
David Caraviello: Absolutely. Why not? Fans pay to see the stars of NASCAR, and if you’re running in 30th place, odds are, you’re not a star. So put someone in the seat who can give you and your team a more realistic chance of winning. All for it.
Dave Rodman: That’s a 50-50 question, and it depends on commitment. And of course, this top 35 situation now plays into it as well. If you’re committed and you’re trying to develop an all-around driver, you stick with him. But if the yaw of the top 35 looms, you ring it up, probably.
Duane Cross: No question—you owe it to the sponsor… Details
VonZipper is proud to announce the seven local surfers poised to battle it out against the best the world has to offer at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay.
With three coveted Wild Card slots up for grabs into the prestigious 2009 Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, the VZ Trials will consist of three heats of four surfers each, comprising both international and local hopefuls.
Traditionally run on the first day the event is called “ONâ€, the VZ Trials offer a winner-takes-all approach, which sees the victor of each heat awarded a coveted … Details