Tour teams facing investigation

A preliminary investigation into several teams who took part in the 2009 Tour de France has been launched after suspicious medical material was seized.

Syringes and transfusion equipment believed to belong to teams were found in medical waste containers during the race and are currently being analysed.

"It (the material) is now being analysed by experts," said a spokeswoman for Paris prosecutors.

Astana have denied French media claims that it is one of the teams involved.

Tour winner Alberto Contador and third-placed Lance Armstrong rode with Astana in this year's race.

Spain's Contador is still under contract with the Kazakh-funded outfit, while Armstrong left to launch his own squad, Team RadioShack.

"Astana Cycling Team has nothing to hide, (its) riders use no forbidden substances, the team is confident in the result of analyses performed or to be performed by a Parisian laboratory and is prepared to cooperate."In a statement issued on Tuesday, Astana said it was "surprised to read in the French press that the team is involved in an investigation by French prosecutors into doping.

The prosecutors' office has not specified which teams are linked to the investigation.

She added: "The material is being analysed to determine whether we can find illegal substances and DNA that could possibly link it to riders."

Under French law, a preliminary investigation is launched to determine whether there is sufficient ground to open a formal investigation.

While there were no positive tests at this year's Tour, authorities did seize drugs that the French anti-doping agency's scientific adviser said raised questions.

The drugs - which include treatments for diabetes, high blood pressure and convulsions suffered by manic-depressives - are not banned but are "incongruous" in top-level athletes, professor Michel Rieu told French news agency AP last week.

Wiggins boosts Tour podium hopes

Contador powered his way to victory in picturesque Annecy

Bradley Wiggins gave himself a good chance of a podium finish at the Tour de France after making ground on his rivals in Thursday's time trial.

The British Garmin rider moved from sixth to fourth spot overall, just 11 seconds behind Lance Armstrong, who moved up one place to third.

Champion-in-waiting Alberto Contador was fastest over the 40.5km course, finishing in 48 minutes 30.72 seconds.

Saxobank rider Andy Schleck lies second overall, just over four minutes adrift.

Friday's largely flat stage is likely to have little impact on the final placings but the 20th stage on Saturday, 167km (103.8 miles) from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux, is likely to decide who takes the other two podium spots on Sunday behind Contador.

The Spaniard produced a remarkable performance on Thursday and he is now set to win his second Tour, having previously triumphed in 2007.

Having proved he is the master of the mountains he showed he is also one of the best time triallists, but insisted his only intention had been to cement his position in the general classification (GC).

"For me to win a time trial at the Tour, it's just huge," said the Astana ace.

"I went out hard but thinking only to protect my place in the GC. But when I got to the first time check and saw my time it gave me a bit more belief.

"After that I just went as hard as I could to the finish. It was a crucial day for me, and I came through it far better than I expected."

Contador finished three seconds ahead of Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara and one minute 45 seconds ahead of nearest rival Andy Schleck.

Schleck's brother and fellow Saxobank rider Frank dropped from third overall down to sixth while Astana's Andreas Kloeden remains in fifth, two seconds behind Wiggins.

Wiggins, a three-time Olympic track cycling champion, will find it difficult to close the gap on Armstrong, who will have the might of his Astana team-mates to help him during Saturday's slog up Mount Ventoux.

Nevertheless, the 29-year-old has impressed in the mountains and will look to his Garmin team-mate Christian Vande Velde to help him stay in touch with his rivals.

Time-trial dangerman Wiggins was looking to eat into the advantage his rivals had over him and midway through the Annecy route it appeared that the Londoner was set to post a fast time, but in the final few kilometres the Briton faded to finish 43 seconds behind Contador.

Compatriot and time-trial specialist David Millar came home fifth on a course he believed favoured the climbers because of the category three climb over the Bluffy pass, which wound upwards for 3.7km (2.3 miles) three-quarters of the way through the stage.

"I felt like I had stopped dead in my tracks, on the climb," he said.

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Stage 18 result:

1. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana ) 48mins 30secs
2. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland / Saxo Bank ) +3"
3. Mikhail Ignatiev (Russia / Katusha ) +15"
4. Gustav Larsson (Sweden / Saxo Bank ) +33"
5. David Millar (GB / Garmin ) +41"
6. Bradley Wiggins (GB / Garmin ) +43"
7. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne ) +44"
8. Christophe Moreau (France / Agritubel ) +45"
9. Andreas Kloeden (Germany / Astana ) +54"
10. David Zabriskie (US / Garmin ) +1:02"

Selected others:

120. Charlie Wegelius (GB / Silence-Lotto) 5:18"
127. Mark Cavendish (GB / Team Columbia) 5:29"

Overall standings:

1. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana ) 73hrs 15mins 39s
2. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank ) +4:11"
3. Lance Armstrong (US / Astana ) +5:25"
4. Bradley Wiggins (GB / Garmin ) +5:36"
5. Andreas Kloeden (Germany / Astana ) +5:38"
6. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank ) +5:59"

Selected others:

14. Carlos Sastre (Spain/Cervelo) +15.26"
61. Charlie Wegelius (GB/Silence-Lotto) + 1:19.43"
71. David Millar (GB/Garmin) + 1:30.38"
141. Mark Cavendish (GB/Columbia) + 2:56.54"

Armstrong reveals new team plans

Armstrong plans include riding in the 2010 Tour de France

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will quit Astana and form a US-based team for 2010.

The new outfit will be known as Team RadioShack and sponsored by the American electronics retail giant.

Armstrong said: "To to compete for an American team with the world's top cyclists, supported by the best coaches and staff - I couldn't be happier."

The Texan returned to competition with Astana after a four-year retirement and is third overall in this year's Tour.

In a statement, the RadioShack Corporation said: "Lance Armstrong will compete for Team RadioShack as a cyclist, runner and triathlete in events around the world, including the 2010 Tour de France."

Earlier this year, doubts over the financial situation of Astana - which is bankrolled by an arm of the Kazakh government - led to fears the team would be barred from the Tour.

Armstrong's Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel, who guided him to his seven Tour wins, has made it clear he will be leaving the Astana after this season.

Armstrong, who successfully battled cancer in 1998 to return to cycling and win the first of seven consecutive yellow jerseys in 1999, said the fight against the disease through his Livestrong Foundation would remain a priority.

"This has been a great season so far - the response in the countries we've been to has been amazing and it's clear now that this was the right choice," he said.

"Utilising the massive media attention that the sport receives has been the perfect vehicle to help spread the Livestrong message around the world.

Lee Applbaum, RadioShack's chief marketing officer, said: "As one of the greatest athletes of our generation, a father, a cancer survivor, and a tireless advocate in the fight against cancer, Lance understands the power of keeping people connected, and that's why we feel he's the perfect partner for our brand."

Cavendish surges to third victory

Cavendish was again too strong for Hushovd in a sprint finish

Mark Cavendish produced another superb sprint finish to hold off Norway's Thor Hushovd and clinch his third stage win of this year's Tour de France.

The Manxman attacked in the last 200m and was accelerating away from Hushovd, his main rival for the green jersey, when he crossed the line in Issoudun.

Italy's Rinaldo Nocentini keeps the yellow jersey, with a six-second lead.

But Britain's Bradley Wiggins was caught up in a crash near the finish and drops out of the top five overall.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong and 2007 winner Alberto Contador both finished with Nocentini, safely near the front of the peloton.

But their Astana team-mate Levi Leipheimer was affected by the split in the main group that delayed Wiggins, and he also lost 15 seconds on the other contenders in the general classification.

That, and Cavendish's superb victory, added some late drama to what had been a dull day.

Most of the 194.5km, 10th stage had been overshadowed by an apparent 'go-slow' protest against a ruling that prevented radio contact between team managers and riders.

Fourteen of the 20 teams participating in the 2009 Tour had lodged official protests about the ruling, which is also in place for Friday's stage between Vittel and Colmars, but they also seemed to take matters into their own hands.

The first 150km of the race saw little action, apart from an early break by four riders - Benoit Vaugrenard, Mikhail Ignatiev, Thierry Hupond and Samuel Dumoulin - soon after the race left Limoges.

That quartet - including three Frenchmen chasing a stage win on Bastille Day - maintained a steady 90-second lead for much of the day and were only caught inside the last 2km.

The mass sprint finish was ideal for Cavendish, and his Team Columbia team-mates again set their man up perfectly for what was the seventh Tour stage win of his career.

Hushovd keeps the green jersey, although the 24-year-old Cavendish has closed the gap to just six points at the top of the standings in the points category.

"It was a really hard finish, slightly uphill with a lot of corners," said Cavendish. "I was scared that I attacked too early but my team-mate Mark Renshaw helped me a lot.

"We had all nine guys there at the finish, working 100% and delivering perfectly.

"I hope to win more [stages] in the next two days. I have been trying to conserve as much energy as possible and that was for one reason - to get more stage wins in the second week."

Cavendish is now just one Tour stage win short of Barry Hoban's British record of eight and will look to equal that haul in Wednesday's 192km trek from Vatan to St Fargeau.

---

Stage 10 result:

1. Mark Cavendish (GB/Team Columbia) 4 hours 46 minutes 43 seconds
2. Thor Hushovd (Nor/Cervelo Test Team) "
3. Tyler Farrar (US/Garmin) "
4. Leonardo Duque (Col/Cofidis) "
5. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) "
7. Lloyd Mondory (Fra/AG2R) "
8. Kenny Robert van Hummel (Ned/Skil Shimano) "
8. William Bonnet (Fra/BBox Bouygues Telecom) "
9. Daniele Bennati (Ita/Liquigas) "
10. Said Haddou (Fra/BBox Bouygues Telecom) "

Selected others:

34. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita/AG2R)
40. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana) "
46. Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana) "
64. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) + 15 seconds
151. Charlie Wegelius (GB/Silence) "
154. David Millar (GB/Garmin) "

Overall standings:

1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita/AG2R) 39 hours 11 minutes 04 seconds
2. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana) + 06 secs
3. Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana) + 08
4. Andreas Kloden (Ger/Astana + 54
5. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) + 54

Selected others:

5. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) + 1min 1sec
15. Carlos Sastre (Spa/Cervelo) + 2minutes 52 secs
62. David Millar (GB/Garmin) + 27mins 33 secs
80. Charlie Wegelius (GB/Silence) + 35mins 55 secs
135. Mark Cavendish (GB/Team Columbia) + 1 hour 13mins 54 secs

Voeckler celebrates his first Grand Tour stage victory in style

TOUR DE FRANCE
Date: 4 July - 26 July
Coverage: BBC Sport website: text commentary of each stage and streamed BBC commentary of the last 90 minutes of each stage available; commentary on selected stages on BBC 5 Live sports extra

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Voeckler celebrates his first Grand Tour stage victory in style

Frenchman Thomas Voeckler celebrated his maiden Grand Tour victory on stage five of the Tour de France.

Voeckler was part of a six-man break early in the 196.5km stage from Le Cap D'Adge to Perpignan.

He made a dash for home with five kilometres remaining and held off the peloton to win by seven seconds.

Britain's Mark Cavendish came in third to retain the sprinters' green jersey and Fabien Cancellara kept the leaders' yellow jersey from Lance Armstrong.

Voeckler, who broke his collarbone during the Paris to Nice race in March, made his break from the peloton with Anthony Geslin, Marcin Sapa and Fumiyuki Beppu in the opening kilometres, but Japan's Beppu dropped back quickly.

The trio were soon joined by Yauhani Hutarovich, Mikhael Ignatiev and Albert Timmer and the sextet's lead reached more than nine minutes before the peloton began to reel them back in.

Team Columbia, Cavendish's team, expended most of the energy in chasing down the leaders on a relatively flat stage in the south of France, where a strong crosswind played its part, and they soon whittled it down to under four minutes.

It seemed only a matter of time before the peloton would close in, but Voeckler urged his fellow escapees on, no doubt remembering his efforts five years ago to the day when he was one of five riders to break clear - he finished fourth that day, but took the yellow jersey which he then held for 10 days.

Lance Armstrong's Astana team helped pull the peloton to within 45 seconds of the leaders with just under 40km remaining, but that was as close as they got.

The lead hovered around the 90 second mark for several kilometres, but the expected surge from the main bunch failed to materialise and with a little over five kilometres left, Ignatiev made his burst for home.

Voeckler immediately latched on to his wheel and then made his own break for glory when the place slackened.

And there was to be no denying the Frenchman as he cruised up the finishing straight with the peloton thundering behind him.

Ignatiev found enough energy to hold off the peloton for second, with Cavendish leading home the sprinters in third.

"I waited for so long for this to happen I had almost ceased to believe in my chances of winning a Tour stage," said Voeckler.

"I went in the finale because I was not the best sprinter in the break and 300 metres from the line I realised that was it. I was helped by the wind, I would never have succeeded otherwise."

Race leader Cancellara finished in the main pack with Armstrong and so retained his yellow jersey, while Cavendish ensured he would stay in green for another day with his late burst.

Thursday's stage six sees the riders venture into Spain for the southernmost stage in Tour history with a 181.5km ride from Gerona to Barcelona.

---

Stage Five result:

1. Thomas Voeckler (France/BBO) 4 hours 29 minutes 35 seconds
2. Mikhail Ignatiev (Russia/Katusha) + 7 secs
3. Mark Cavendish (GB/ Team Columbia) same time
Tyler Farrar (USA/Garmin) "
5. Gerald Ciolek (Ger/Team Milram) "
6. Danilo Napolitano (It/Katusha) "
7. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa/Caisse D'Epargne) "
8. Lloyd Mondory (Fra/AG2R) "
9. Oscar Freire (Spa/Rabobank) "
Thor Hushovd (Nor/Cervelo) "

Selected others:

24. Fabien Cancellara (Swi/Saxobank) "
39. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana) "
41. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) "
48. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) "
69. David Millar (GB/Garmin) "

Overall standings:

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi/Saxobank) 15 hours 07 minutes 49 seconds
2. Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana) same time
3. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana) +19 secs
4. Andreas Kloden (Ger/Astana) +23
5. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) +31

Selected others:

6. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +38 secs
10. David Millar (GB/Garmin) +1 minute 07 secs
29. Carlos Sastre (Spa/Cervelo) +2 minutes 44 secs
60. Mark Cavendish (GB/Team Columbia) +3 minutes 33 secs
154. Charlie Wegelius (GB/Silence) +8 minutes 09 secs

Kristian House beats Dan Lloyd and Peter Kennaugh to win in Abergavenny

Kristian House beats Dan Lloyd and Peter Kennaugh to win in Abergavenny

Kristian House beat a host of Olympic superstars to claim the first major win of his cycling career at the British National Road Race Championships.

The relatively unknown Canterbury rider won the national jersey in a time of four hours and 4.41 seconds from runner-up Dan Lloyd and Peter Kennaugh.

Bradley Wiggins, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist, finished in the peloton while Mark Cavendish was down the field.

Olympic team pursuit champion Geraint Thomas failed to finish the race.

The home hope, third at the 2006 national championships, is still returning to full fitness after undergoing hand surgery in May.

Thomas rode one-and-a-half laps of the Monmouthshire course that passed through the towns of Abergavenny, Monmouth, Blaenavon and Brynmawr before dropping out as the riders climbed the Tumble mountain.

But the 23-year-old's double-World and Olympic champion's team pursuit team-mate Wiggins did finish the 104-mile race in the field behind House and the leaders.

It's phenomenal - a dream come true British National road race champion Kristian House

The 29-year-old, who has ridden for Great Britain at the UCI World Cup on the track, had claimed road race victories in Europe and Australia, most notably at the Rás Tailteann in Ireland in 2006.

But having the distinction of wearing his national jersey is House's greatest achievement as the Canterbury-born cyclist beat off Lloyd, who was also second to David Millar in 2007.

And he said: "It's phenomenal - a dream come true. I raced well and it was all down to me at the end. I'm speechless.

"We knew that the race was going to come down to the five of us and, when Ian Stannard got dropped, it was down to us with two laps to go.

"We organised together and got back at Chris. At the end of it, I bided my time and went for it. Froome was on fire but he went a bit early at the end I think."

But beating four-times Tour de France stage winner Cavendish is a huge scalp for House as Cavendish prepares for cycling's premier road race showpiece, which starts in Monaco next weekend.

Chris Froome had led for most of the day and enjoyed a three minute advantage of the main group of riders that included three-time Olympic gold medalist Wiggins.

But, with Cavendish leading the fightback, that gap was closed down to nothing by the third of the final ten finishing laps around Abergavenny.

While Wiggins as wilted to drop out before the final lap, Froome looked certain for victory when he went for glory and took a 33 second lead into the last four-and-a-half mile circuits.

But Froome was caught with just yards to the finishing line.

Cooke won her 10th title in her home country of Wales

Cooke won her 10th title in her home country of Wales

Nicole Cooke added the British National road race title to her Olympic and World crown in Abergavenny.

Cooke, 26, won her 10th British jersey, ninth successively to close in on Beryl Burton's national title record of 12.

After initially being controversially stripped of her silver medal as she had already won at under-23 level, Lizzie Armitstead was reinstated as runner-up.

Race chiefs had said Armitstead could not be considered for both titles but that decision was overturned.

British cycling bosses quickly convened a meeting following the farcical circumstances during the presentation ceremony to rethink the decision.

Armitstead had finished a length behind Cooke in second place and narrowly ahead of Emma Pooley in a dramatic sprint finish.

Due to her age the 20-year-old English rider was presented with the national under-23 title which, along with the elite crown, was also being decided around the 80-mile circuit.

606: DEBATE Give your views on Nicole Cooke's latest triumph

But race commissaries Colin Crews quickly revealed the racing administrative anomaly - a rule he insisted was part of cycling's "international regulations" - to ruin Armitstead's day and to the annoyance of the booing crowd.

So Londoner Pooley -- was named the official runner-up ahead of Catherine Williamson.

Pooley, the 2008 Olympic time-trial silver medallist who recently won the women's equivalent of the Tour de France, looked embarrassed receiving the national silver.

But British cycling reinstated Armitstead as runner-up after the meeting as Pooley - who threatened to give her silver to Armitstead anyway - was awarded the bronze medal for finishing third.

The farcical circumstances, however, could not overshadow Cooke's incredible achievement as the Welsh rider closes in Burton's 12 national title wins between 1959 and 1974.

The two-time World Cup winner quickly joined a breakaway pack that included Armitstead, Pooley and Catherine Williamson early on in the 80-mile race around the lanes of Monmouthshire and streets of Abergavenny.

Williamson, though, dropped off and Cooke held of Armitstead and Pooley to clinch her 10th title in 11 years in a dramatic sprint finish after almost three-and-half hours of cycling in South Wales.

"The home crowd spurred me on definitely," said Vale of Glamorgan star Cooke.

"It is a great to have people cheering and coming down the finishing straight was incredible as was the applause after I won.

"I couldn't have dreamed of winning my 10th title in a better place than back home in Wales."

Valverde to miss Tour de France

Alejandro Valverde will miss the Tour de France as he waits for an appeal to be heard against a two-year doping ban.

Valverde lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against the ban, which was imposed by the Italian Olympic Committe (Coni).

"We are obliged to announce Alejandro Valverde will not be at the start," said his Caisse d'Epargne team.

This year's Tour heads into Italy, the country in which the Spaniard is currently banned from riding.

Coni said a blood sample Valverde gave in last year's Tour de France matched code-named bags of blood discovered in Spain's Operation Puerto investigation.

Cas had said that it would try to schedule the case as soon as possible.

606: DEBATE Your views on Valverde's suspension

Normally an arbitration court panel takes about four months to issue a ruling, but Cas can accelerate the process in special circumstances.

But Valverde's team said the Cas ruling could not be made before the Tour, which heads through the Val d'Aosta region of Italy on 21 July, started in Monaco on 4 July.

The statement added: "We trust Alejandro Valverde will overcome this difficult situation and continue to show his qualities in the next races."

Speaking after winning the recent Dauphine Libere race in France, Valverde, who was the world's top ranked cyclist in 2008, said he hoped the Italian ban would be overturned.

"I hope to go to the Tour and everything gets decided beforehand by Cas," he said. "It's very difficult and frustrating but I try not to get angry.

"Almost everything that has happened to me in this case is unjust, but I get a lot of support from my team - I'm sure it'll work out well at the end."

Eight-year ban for rider Hamilton

Olympic cycling gold medallist Tyler Hamilton has been given an eight-year ban after testing positive for a banned anti-depressant in February.

The 38-year-old, who is suffering from depression, had already announced his retirement following the positive test.

United States Anti-Doping Agency head Travis Tygart said: "In cycling, eight years ineligibility for a 38-year-old athlete is effectively a lifetime ban."

Hamilton's Athens time-trial triumph in 2004 was clouded by doping allegations.

He failed a test but was allowed to keep the gold medal because his B sample could not be positively tested.

However, a month later he tested positive during the Tour of Spain and was given a two-year suspension.

Then last February, the former US Postal team rider tested positive for the steroid DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) during an out-of-competition test in preparation for the Tour of California.

Hamilton, who has been fighting depression brought on by a divorce and his mother's struggle with breast cancer, admitted to taking an over-the-counter homeopathic anti-depressant containing the banned steroid and then retired in April.

USADA chief Tygart added that the ban was "an assurance that Hamilton is penalised for what would have been the remainder of his competitive cycling career".

Cooke win secures Emakumeen lead

Britain's Nicole Cooke leads the Emakumeen Bira event in Spain after winning Friday's second stage.

Olympic road race champion Cooke, 26, triumphed on an 84km loop, which started and finished in Amurrio, with an uphill surge to the line.

The Welsh rider's Vision 1 Racing team also lead the team competition.

"I am really pleased with how we are riding as a team. The girls are working really hard for me," said Cooke, who came second in the opening stage.

Stage three runs on Saturday in two parts, a 2.2km uphill time trial from Iurreta to Goiuria and a 79km loop out of Elgoibar.

Contador asserts status at Astana

Astana's Alberto Contador says he considers seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong to be "just another member of the team".

Armstrong came out of retirement last year, and his status in the sport raised questions about the pecking order within the Astana team.

"We've not seen each other a huge amount since the start of the season," the 2007 Tour winner told AFP.

"We are not the same nationality and we don't speak the same language."

Contador, the 2007 Tour winner, said the pair have a limited relationship and had previously claimed Armstrong's arrival may force him to move to a rival outfit.

606: DEBATE How will Armstrong fare in Le Tour?

And Contador, who won the Tour of Spain and the Giro d'Italia in 2008, revealed contact between the two has been minimal.

"Two or three days in California, two or three days in Tenerife and one day at the Tour of Castilla and Leon - it's not much," he said.

"Our relationship is correct and normal."

Contador has not competed since the Tour of the Basque Country in mid-April, taking time out instead to build up his preparations for the Tour de France which starts on 4 July.