Stories by John Wilcockson

• Posted: Fri, Oct 26th
  2008 Tour de France: A classic course with many unknowns
  “We want to create a race that is not predictable.” So said Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme Thursday inannouncing the course for the 95th Tour, which takes place next year fromJuly 5 to 27. Prudhomme should get his wish because the 21-stage, 3554kmroute ...
• Posted: Thu, Oct 25th
  The 95th Tour: Polemics still simmering as challenging route unveiled
  When, earlier this week, the Tour de France directors Patrice Clerc and Christian Prudhomme embraced an initiative by the Union Cycliste Internationale and World Anti-Doping Agency to create a biological passport in the fight against doping, there was hope that three years of ...
• Posted: Wed, Oct 24th
  The new passport: A conversation with Anne Gripper
  There was almost unanimous support for the proposed biological passport at the well-attended International Meeting Against Doping in Cycling held in Paris Monday and Tuesday. The meeting resulted in an agreement being signed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the Union Cycliste ...
• Posted: Tue, Oct 23rd
  Cycling’s leaders agree on major anti-doping initiative
  A brighter, cleaner future for cycling emerged Tuesday from a two-day summit in Paris formally called “An international meeting against doping in cycling,” The two-day conference ended with UCI president Pat McQuaid, World Anti-Doping Agency president Dick Pound and French ...
• Posted: Sat, Oct 20th
  Cunego takes Lombardy, Evans the ProTour
  While Damiano Cunego of Lampre-Fondital returned to his sensational best on Saturday to win a second Tour of Lombardy, three years after he took his first, Cadel Evans was left ruing what might have been. Predictor-Lotto’s remarkable Aussie crossed the line in sixth place, 10 ...
• Posted: Fri, Oct 19th
  Tour of Lombardy: Bettini and Evans set
  While two-time defending world champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step-Innergetic) is heavily favored to score his third consecutive Tour of Lombardy victory on Saturday, the venerable 242km fall classic is not the only title in play. The 2007 ProTour series is also up for grabs ...
• Posted: Wed, Aug 22nd
  Leipheimer closing in on '08 contract
  Levi Leipheimer says he is “sad” that the Discovery Channel team won’t continue after this year and that he is having to look for a new team, especially as he is enjoying his “best season ever.” But after finishing on the podium at the Tour de France and winning the ...
• Posted: Tue, Jul 24th
  Vino’ positive: Is the Tour in peril?
  On my way to the press room in Pau today I decided to take a quiet country road rather than the highway. I stopped to fill up with diesel. It’s cheaper than unleaded gas but a tank still cost $68. After paying I noticed a small local newspaper in the gas station’s rack. The ...
• Posted: Fri, Jul 20th
  Crunch time: A preview of the Albi time trial
  If having a good night’s sleep is key to doing well in Saturday’s stage 13 time trial of the Tour de France, then the advantage is with the Discovery Channel riders Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer over the other yellow-jersey contenders. The Disco boys are lodged this ...
• Posted: Thu, Jul 19th
  Fast Freddie berates organizers for last-kilometer crash
  For the second time in this Tour de France Fred Rodriguez ended a stage flat on his back, writhing in pain. And both times, in Ghent 10 days ago and in Montpellier Thursday, the Predictor-Lotto sprinter was critical of the race organization. “They do it every time. They ...
• Posted: Tue, Jul 17th
  Moreau: I have to attack to get on the podium
  French champion Christophe Moreau, one of the stars of Sunday’s grueling stage to Tignes, says he is hoping to do well in the Pyrénées in the Tour’s final week and finish on the podium in Paris. His best Tour finish to date was fourth in 2000. After eight stages of this ...
• Posted: Fri, Jul 13th
  Simpson remembered: A black day 40 years ago
  On stage 13 of the Tour de France 40 years ago today, July 13, Tom Simpson collapsed and died on Mont Ventoux. It still seems like yesterday. That was the fifth year I had followed the Tour by bicycle. During those years I had raced in Brittany for a couple of summers. One of ...