It could be wonderful find – a 40,000 year old rock art painting of an extinct giant bird that “proves” humans were sharing Australia with this particular species of avian megafauna. Or maybe another species we haven’t discovered before. Or it could just be a poorly drawn emu (not extinct and thus not so exciting). Or if it is indeed the extinct bird (genyornis) then maybe it lived until more recently than we thought (and it’s not 40,000 years old rock art after all). OTOH it’s rock art, not cave art – it’s hard to imagine exposed art lasting 40,000 years.

So maybe it is – or maybe it isn’t.

Australian Archeologists find 40,000-year-old rock art | News.com.au

A ROCK art painting believed to depict a bird that became extinct 40,000 years ago was found in northern Australia, raising hopes it could be the oldest rock art painting found in the country.

The red ochre painting, which shows two tall birds vaguely similar to the emu, was found on a shallow rock shelter two years ago by an Aboriginal group documenting rock art sites in Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory.

It could be wonderful find – a 40,000 year old rock art painting of an extinct giant bird that “proves” humans were sharing Australia with this particular species of avian megafauna. Or maybe another species we haven’t discovered before. Or it could just be a poorly drawn emu (not extinct and thus not so exciting). Or if it is indeed the extinct bird (genyornis) then maybe it lived until more recently than we thought (and it’s not 40,000 years old rock art after all). OTOH it’s rock art, not cave art – it’s hard to imagine exposed art lasting 40,000 years.

So maybe it is – or maybe it isn’t.

Australian Archeologists find 40,000-year-old rock art | News.com.au

A ROCK art painting believed to depict a bird that became extinct 40,000 years ago was found in northern Australia, raising hopes it could be the oldest rock art painting found in the country.

The red ochre painting, which shows two tall birds vaguely similar to the emu, was found on a shallow rock shelter two years ago by an Aboriginal group documenting rock art sites in Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory.

There are many good points made in this long piece in support of transparency on the UCI’s part, something the governing organisation has not shown great desire for – or even talent at – up to now. Accusations are made (see below) about Bruyneel’s influence over the UCI (debatable, I’m sure, but moot) and his manipulation of the media (surely something everyone tries to do?). Another point made is that some riders are pursued to the effect that they are rendered almost unable to get a job, even if they have not been tested positive to a banned substance (eg Rasmussen). Whereas several others do their time and are re-admitted to the fold in good teams. Whilst I can agree with the general sentiment (it seems unfair at times but… sometimes life is unfair) it does overlook matters of detail: Rasmussen, like Basso and Vino has served his time and is available for employment (and currently working as a rider to my knowledge). It’s up to him to market his obvious talent. Rider selection is up to the teams themselves, not the UCI. And in Basso’s case he also did not test positive but admitted to ‘intent’; whereas in contrast Rasmussen has not admitted any more than getting his location wrong, despite a continental-sized location ‘error’ that he ostensibly lied about.

And then there’s Valverde. Yes, he is being pursued where others implicated in Operacion Puerto ride on, case close. But not everyone is convinced of his non-involvement and, unlike other riders his DNA (taken by Italian authorities from a test during a stage of Le Tour that visited Italy) is available and has been (allegedly) positively linked to DNA found in blood collected from Operacion Puerto. Whilst I’d like to see every rider who was implicated in Puerto give up their DNA for matching, it’s only the Italian authorities who have the motivation and the determination to see this through. Should we criticise them for this apparent vendetta or celebrate their perseverance?

Bottom line is that we need transparency and clear evidence of fairness in the process. At the moment it’s a dog’s breakfast. That at least is certainly clear.
       

Daily Peloton – Pro Cycling News

Martin Hardie views the Gusev case is yet another example of the tendency which has bothered riders, managers and cycle reporters for a long time: It reveals that some riders can do anything without being punished and other riders are being punished even if they are acquitted.

For example, the International Cycling Union works actively at expanding the prohibition to the whole world which the Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde has recieved against riding in Italy. Valverde was allegedly involved in the case of blood doping known as Operation Puerto in 2006, but he has never been banned by the Spanish Cycling Union. However his compatriot Contador who has worked for Bruyneel until recently whose his initials allegedly were found on some of the many blood bags in 2006 is still free to ride. UCI is not running any campaign against him nor are they pursuing Fränk Schleck from Bjarne Riis’ CSC Team although he also was in involved in Operacion Puerto because he send money to the doctor who is charged with running the illegal program.

There are many good points made in this long piece in support of transparency on the UCI’s part, something the governing organisation has not shown great desire for – or even talent at – up to now. Accusations are made (see below) about Bruyneel’s influence over the UCI (debatable, I’m sure, but moot) and his manipulation of the media (surely something everyone tries to do?). Another point made is that some riders are pursued to the effect that they are rendered almost unable to get a job, even if they have not been tested positive to a banned substance (eg Rasmussen). Whereas several others do their time and are re-admitted to the fold in good teams. Whilst I can agree with the general sentiment (it seems unfair at times but… sometimes life is unfair) it does overlook matters of detail: Rasmussen, like Basso and Vino has served his time and is available for employment (and currently working as a rider to my knowledge). It’s up to him to market his obvious talent. Rider selection is up to the teams themselves, not the UCI. And in Basso’s case he also did not test positive but admitted to ‘intent’; whereas in contrast Rasmussen has not admitted any more than getting his location wrong, despite a continental-sized location ‘error’ that he ostensibly lied about.

And then there’s Valverde. Yes, he is being pursued where others implicated in Operacion Puerto ride on, case close. But not everyone is convinced of his non-involvement and, unlike other riders his DNA (taken by Italian authorities from a test during a stage of Le Tour that visited Italy) is available and has been (allegedly) positively linked to DNA found in blood collected from Operacion Puerto. Whilst I’d like to see every rider who was implicated in Puerto give up their DNA for matching, it’s only the Italian authorities who have the motivation and the determination to see this through. Should we criticise them for this apparent vendetta or celebrate their perseverance?

Bottom line is that we need transparency and clear evidence of fairness in the process. At the moment it’s a dog’s breakfast. That at least is certainly clear.
       

Daily Peloton – Pro Cycling News

Martin Hardie views the Gusev case is yet another example of the tendency which has bothered riders, managers and cycle reporters for a long time: It reveals that some riders can do anything without being punished and other riders are being punished even if they are acquitted.

For example, the International Cycling Union works actively at expanding the prohibition to the whole world which the Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde has recieved against riding in Italy. Valverde was allegedly involved in the case of blood doping known as Operation Puerto in 2006, but he has never been banned by the Spanish Cycling Union. However his compatriot Contador who has worked for Bruyneel until recently whose his initials allegedly were found on some of the many blood bags in 2006 is still free to ride. UCI is not running any campaign against him nor are they pursuing Fränk Schleck from Bjarne Riis’ CSC Team although he also was in involved in Operacion Puerto because he send money to the doctor who is charged with running the illegal program.

The Manta bicycle seat – umm… wow

First of all, let’s just say it: this is the most bizarre-looking bicycle saddle of all time. Feel free to disagree, but c’mon, just look at the thing – it’s like the bike is sporting a leaf rake, or perhaps even a rib cage. Like most funny-looking bike seats, however, the Manta promises to rectify one of the most common of cyclists’ complaints… the all-too-familiar “numb bum.”

The Manta bicycle seat – umm… wow

First of all, let’s just say it: this is the most bizarre-looking bicycle saddle of all time. Feel free to disagree, but c’mon, just look at the thing – it’s like the bike is sporting a leaf rake, or perhaps even a rib cage. Like most funny-looking bike seats, however, the Manta promises to rectify one of the most common of cyclists’ complaints… the all-too-familiar “numb bum.”

The building itself is at least a bit different from the regular straight-up-and-down tall box but what caught my eye was that they filled in ‘abandoned’ freight rail tunnels underneath in order to support the structure. Now nothing wrong with that if they were truly never to be used again (or had some fatal flaw that rendered them unusable?) but it does seem to close off a future transport option just for the sake of one building…

‘Skyscraper of the Year’ completed in Chicago

James McHugh Construction has officially completed construction on Aqua, the Chicago high-rise that was named 2009 Skyscraper of the Year by international building database Emporis. Aqua beat out over 300 competitors worldwide for the honor, thanks in no small part to its no-two-alike undulating concrete balconies. It turns out, however, that there’s more to the 82-story tower than just good looks.

The building itself is at least a bit different from the regular straight-up-and-down tall box but what caught my eye was that they filled in ‘abandoned’ freight rail tunnels underneath in order to support the structure. Now nothing wrong with that if they were truly never to be used again (or had some fatal flaw that rendered them unusable?) but it does seem to close off a future transport option just for the sake of one building…

‘Skyscraper of the Year’ completed in Chicago

James McHugh Construction has officially completed construction on Aqua, the Chicago high-rise that was named 2009 Skyscraper of the Year by international building database Emporis. Aqua beat out over 300 competitors worldwide for the honor, thanks in no small part to its no-two-alike undulating concrete balconies. It turns out, however, that there’s more to the 82-story tower than just good looks.

Just something that piqued my interest….

Halliday puts 1960 Alfa Romeo Guilietta through its passes | Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports

Liz Halliday enjoyed a hectic few days featuring two very different types of horsepower last week as she made her return to the race circuit and continued her British 3 Day Eventing season.

The week began with the California-born dual sportswoman attending the Silverstone Classic media day where she had a first opportunity to put her father’s 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coda Tronca through its paces.

The car, a rare ‘cropped tailed’ version and one of just 29 ever made, will be raced by Liz at the Monza Coppa Intereuropa and the Silverstone Classic this summer. It has been expertly prepared by race car specialist John Danby Racing and ran perfectly throughout the day as well as attracting plenty of media interest.

Just something that piqued my interest….

Halliday puts 1960 Alfa Romeo Guilietta through its passes | Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports

Liz Halliday enjoyed a hectic few days featuring two very different types of horsepower last week as she made her return to the race circuit and continued her British 3 Day Eventing season.

The week began with the California-born dual sportswoman attending the Silverstone Classic media day where she had a first opportunity to put her father’s 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coda Tronca through its paces.

The car, a rare ‘cropped tailed’ version and one of just 29 ever made, will be raced by Liz at the Monza Coppa Intereuropa and the Silverstone Classic this summer. It has been expertly prepared by race car specialist John Danby Racing and ran perfectly throughout the day as well as attracting plenty of media interest.

PezCycling News – What’s Cool In Pro Cycling

Cadel is loved by the fans here, and regularly gets a huge ovation at sign on. It struck me how much quieter the fans were when Vinokourov signed on. I suppose he’s payed his dues according to the rules of cycling, but perhaps public opinion doesn’t follow those same rules.

PezCycling News – What’s Cool In Pro Cycling

Cadel is loved by the fans here, and regularly gets a huge ovation at sign on. It struck me how much quieter the fans were when Vinokourov signed on. I suppose he’s payed his dues according to the rules of cycling, but perhaps public opinion doesn’t follow those same rules.

Some of the sadder forum-based armchair critics like to dismiss every winner – and even some 2nd placed riders – as “cheats” based on a vague feeling about what is “possible”, or their look or style on the bike. They dismiss them as ‘ugly’ riders with dysfunctional personalities, or as a rider who should simply give up. But unless you are the athletes themselves – or perhaps incredibly close to them – it’s just not possible to know “the truth” about them. But this Giro has certainly underlined for us  that no matter how prepared you are, how fit, skilled and motivated you may be, it’s often the team that makes the difference between winner and non-finisher. Plus a little ‘right place, right time’ luck, of course.   

Richie Porte makes a comment along just those lines, and we can all see how Basso has been protected and aided by his strong team. It doesn’t win you the race but it surely helps keep you in the hunt. 

Porte Secures White Jersey And Likely Top-eight Finish | Cyclingnews.com

When he showed up to Città Sant’Angelo at the start of stage 12, he hadn’t slept at all that night. “I had diarrhea and a bit of everything,” said the man who was up sick all night. “My health was pretty bad, and I didn’t really enjoy being in pink because I was suffering badly during those days, but my team decided to keep it quiet so as not to let our adversaries know about my sickness and weakness.”

Porte had a hard time again as the race went up to Livigno during stage 20 on Saturday. “I was dead,” he said. “I was finished. It was hard to fight up that hill, but my whole team dragged me back, and I was ok later.”

Some of the sadder forum-based armchair critics like to dismiss every winner – and even some 2nd placed riders – as “cheats” based on a vague feeling about what is “possible”, or their look or style on the bike. They dismiss them as ‘ugly’ riders with dysfunctional personalities, or as a rider who should simply give up. But unless you are the athletes themselves – or perhaps incredibly close to them – it’s just not possible to know “the truth” about them. But this Giro has certainly underlined for us  that no matter how prepared you are, how fit, skilled and motivated you may be, it’s often the team that makes the difference between winner and non-finisher. Plus a little ‘right place, right time’ luck, of course.   

Richie Porte makes a comment along just those lines, and we can all see how Basso has been protected and aided by his strong team. It doesn’t win you the race but it surely helps keep you in the hunt. 

Porte Secures White Jersey And Likely Top-eight Finish | Cyclingnews.com

When he showed up to Città Sant’Angelo at the start of stage 12, he hadn’t slept at all that night. “I had diarrhea and a bit of everything,” said the man who was up sick all night. “My health was pretty bad, and I didn’t really enjoy being in pink because I was suffering badly during those days, but my team decided to keep it quiet so as not to let our adversaries know about my sickness and weakness.”

Porte had a hard time again as the race went up to Livigno during stage 20 on Saturday. “I was dead,” he said. “I was finished. It was hard to fight up that hill, but my whole team dragged me back, and I was ok later.”

There are commentators and armchair critics – I’m one of them, but only ’cause it’s hard to type and ride – who will critique the late attack on Passo Tonale by Cadel Evans and suggest he should have gone earlier (probably true, but we’ll never know will we?), or even suggest he shouldn’t have gone at all (given that the GC was pretty well locked up what was the point, apart from ensuring lesser prizes?). Others may suggest he should have made the break with Vino and Sastre (if only he had that luxury of choosing – ‘I’ll take that break, thanks’). But none of it really stacks up. We face similar choices every day in our own lives and base our decisions on our own value systems, feelings, skills, talents and experiences. Only Cadel can know exactly what was possible for him personally – and no-one can know what may have happened if he had chosen differently. A stage is an experiment we can run only once, isn’t it?     

Evans Fights Back With Late Attack | Cyclingnews.com

Evans jumped away five kilometres from the finish and just failed to catch Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom). In the final kilometre, he could see the Swiss rider ahead of him but crossed the line 15 second behind him. “I perhaps left it a little bit late. I was there and almost caught him because I could see him with just 300 metres to go,” Evans said after pulling on the red points jersey over his rainbow jersey yet again. “It was a complicated situation because there were Vinokourov and Sastre in the break, then there were people going for the stage victory, and I also had to think about the points jersey because Vinokourov could have got it, and there was the overall classification too.”

“I had to wait for the end because the longer you wait, the more you’ve got left in your legs for one last effort. Of course if you wait too long, you don’t have enough to time to pull it off. I tried to calculate things perfectly and it almost came off.”

There are commentators and armchair critics – I’m one of them, but only ’cause it’s hard to type and ride – who will critique the late attack on Passo Tonale by Cadel Evans and suggest he should have gone earlier (probably true, but we’ll never know will we?), or even suggest he shouldn’t have gone at all (given that the GC was pretty well locked up what was the point, apart from ensuring lesser prizes?). Others may suggest he should have made the break with Vino and Sastre (if only he had that luxury of choosing – ‘I’ll take that break, thanks’). But none of it really stacks up. We face similar choices every day in our own lives and base our decisions on our own value systems, feelings, skills, talents and experiences. Only Cadel can know exactly what was possible for him personally – and no-one can know what may have happened if he had chosen differently. A stage is an experiment we can run only once, isn’t it?     

Evans Fights Back With Late Attack | Cyclingnews.com

Evans jumped away five kilometres from the finish and just failed to catch Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom). In the final kilometre, he could see the Swiss rider ahead of him but crossed the line 15 second behind him. “I perhaps left it a little bit late. I was there and almost caught him because I could see him with just 300 metres to go,” Evans said after pulling on the red points jersey over his rainbow jersey yet again. “It was a complicated situation because there were Vinokourov and Sastre in the break, then there were people going for the stage victory, and I also had to think about the points jersey because Vinokourov could have got it, and there was the overall classification too.”

“I had to wait for the end because the longer you wait, the more you’ve got left in your legs for one last effort. Of course if you wait too long, you don’t have enough to time to pull it off. I tried to calculate things perfectly and it almost came off.”

A perfectly reasonable thing to do with an RFID chip. Insert it into your wrist and then infect it with a computer virus. I just hope they develop a good human anti-virus program next.

Man Infects Himself with (Computer) Virus – PCWorld

We are one step closer to the future: a British scientist has become the first human being to contract a computer virus. Yep, you heard that right. Dr. Mark Gasson, a cybernetics expert at the University of Reading, deliberately infected himself (by way of an RFID chip implanted in his wrist) with a benign computer virus.

A perfectly reasonable thing to do with an RFID chip. Insert it into your wrist and then infect it with a computer virus. I just hope they develop a good human anti-virus program next.

Man Infects Himself with (Computer) Virus – PCWorld

We are one step closer to the future: a British scientist has become the first human being to contract a computer virus. Yep, you heard that right. Dr. Mark Gasson, a cybernetics expert at the University of Reading, deliberately infected himself (by way of an RFID chip implanted in his wrist) with a benign computer virus.

Irresistible, simply irresistible.

How to Install Android on Your iPhone – PCWorld

Although this port does everything that you expect your smartphone to be able to do, it isn’t usable for day-to-day activities just yet–I haven’t implemented any power-management functions, so a fully charged iPhone running Android will last only an hour or so.

Irresistible, simply irresistible.

How to Install Android on Your iPhone – PCWorld

Although this port does everything that you expect your smartphone to be able to do, it isn’t usable for day-to-day activities just yet–I haven’t implemented any power-management functions, so a fully charged iPhone running Android will last only an hour or so.

It’s a proven Grand Tour formula, come in just slightly underdone and improve as the weeks pass. Even if it doesn’t always work – you can surely be too underdone and just weaken as the race progresses – Basso is clearly operating along these lines and peaking when it matters. It doesn’t hurt his chances that his team is way out in front, either. Liquigas has put together an even team who have all progressed along a similar path to Basso, graduallly getting it all together and meshing in the 3rd week. Ideal, really, apart from the risky first week or so when everything seemed in upheaval. Point is that Sastre, Evans and Vinokourov each have what it takes to win this race but they have all suffered to varying degrees from crashes, loss of teammates and a gradual loss of form after some horrifically arduous stages. With a stronger team protecting him Basso has had an easier run and has saved more gas in the tank for when it matters. Just a couple of percent difference means a lot. If he doesn’t have a horrible day tomorrow he’ll take this race, deservedly.     

Evans Admits Giro Podium May Be Out Of Reach | Cyclingnews.com

“Like they’ve done all week, Liquigas was really strong and can ride a really high rhythm on the climb. There’s five of them and there’s one of me and the rest of us are all left as the best of each of our team. They’ve got the strength in the numbers and also the strength of their leader.”

Evans admitted that Basso has improved in the second half of the Giro, while he has faded.

“Ivan has been consistent and a little bit better than me in the second half of the Giro,” he said.

“I had a few problems, which I’ll speak about in Verona. It seems I’m not at the same level as I was at the start. But there’s still another day tomorrow. We’ll see.”

It’s a proven Grand Tour formula, come in just slightly underdone and improve as the weeks pass. Even if it doesn’t always work – you can surely be too underdone and just weaken as the race progresses – Basso is clearly operating along these lines and peaking when it matters. It doesn’t hurt his chances that his team is way out in front, either. Liquigas has put together an even team who have all progressed along a similar path to Basso, graduallly getting it all together and meshing in the 3rd week. Ideal, really, apart from the risky first week or so when everything seemed in upheaval. Point is that Sastre, Evans and Vinokourov each have what it takes to win this race but they have all suffered to varying degrees from crashes, loss of teammates and a gradual loss of form after some horrifically arduous stages. With a stronger team protecting him Basso has had an easier run and has saved more gas in the tank for when it matters. Just a couple of percent difference means a lot. If he doesn’t have a horrible day tomorrow he’ll take this race, deservedly.     

Evans Admits Giro Podium May Be Out Of Reach | Cyclingnews.com

“Like they’ve done all week, Liquigas was really strong and can ride a really high rhythm on the climb. There’s five of them and there’s one of me and the rest of us are all left as the best of each of our team. They’ve got the strength in the numbers and also the strength of their leader.”

Evans admitted that Basso has improved in the second half of the Giro, while he has faded.

“Ivan has been consistent and a little bit better than me in the second half of the Giro,” he said.

“I had a few problems, which I’ll speak about in Verona. It seems I’m not at the same level as I was at the start. But there’s still another day tomorrow. We’ll see.”

It’s been a great Giro, full of drama – and it’s not over yet. But I can’t help feeling that it could have been better if the teams had been on a more equal footing. To me Liquigas looks strongest and has acted tactically and strategically as though they want to win. Whilst Evans, Vino and Sastre have had to rely on individual brilliance to stay in – or out of – contention. Now I can’t blame Liquigas for bringing the strongest team, working with other Italians or choosing a strong combo like Basso and Nibali, but it does weaken the competition overall. To me the simultaneous running of the Tour of California overly distracted the other teams and caused a split of resources – not just riders but of all resources – that has dented the Giro and made it both wonderfully diverse and pathetically predictable at the same time. Diverse in the individuals who have made it happen, predictable in that the “super team” will win. I hope I’m wrong (much as I’d like to see Basso win) but I just feel it’s become  a race for the minor places. Still better than Le Tour but way less exciting than it could have been. Oh well, who knows – tomorrow’s horror stage may indeed be the bloodbath when the weaker teams get away.

Giro D’Italia: Stage 19, Route Maps & Results | Cyclingnews.com

Ivan Basso blasted open the 19th stage and the Giro d’Italia itself, shedding his rivals on the Motirolo with the help of his Liquigas-Doimo teammate Vincenzo Nibali, and donning the maglia rosa for the first time since 2006. The third man in the group, Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli – Diquigiovanni), took the stage win..

The attack from the Liquigas pair took place on the day’s biggest climb, the Mortirolo, with over 40km and another unclassified hill-top finish still to go. One by one, the morning’s leader David Arroyo (Caisse d’Epargne), Cadel Evans (BMC), Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) and Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) were ridden off the train, while only Scarponi could hold the pace of Basso and Nibali.

It’s been a great Giro, full of drama – and it’s not over yet. But I can’t help feeling that it could have been better if the teams had been on a more equal footing. To me Liquigas looks strongest and has acted tactically and strategically as though they want to win. Whilst Evans, Vino and Sastre have had to rely on individual brilliance to stay in – or out of – contention. Now I can’t blame Liquigas for bringing the strongest team, working with other Italians or choosing a strong combo like Basso and Nibali, but it does weaken the competition overall. To me the simultaneous running of the Tour of California overly distracted the other teams and caused a split of resources – not just riders but of all resources – that has dented the Giro and made it both wonderfully diverse and pathetically predictable at the same time. Diverse in the individuals who have made it happen, predictable in that the “super team” will win. I hope I’m wrong (much as I’d like to see Basso win) but I just feel it’s become  a race for the minor places. Still better than Le Tour but way less exciting than it could have been. Oh well, who knows – tomorrow’s horror stage may indeed be the bloodbath when the weaker teams get away.

Giro D’Italia: Stage 19, Route Maps & Results | Cyclingnews.com

Ivan Basso blasted open the 19th stage and the Giro d’Italia itself, shedding his rivals on the Motirolo with the help of his Liquigas-Doimo teammate Vincenzo Nibali, and donning the maglia rosa for the first time since 2006. The third man in the group, Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli – Diquigiovanni), took the stage win..

The attack from the Liquigas pair took place on the day’s biggest climb, the Mortirolo, with over 40km and another unclassified hill-top finish still to go. One by one, the morning’s leader David Arroyo (Caisse d’Epargne), Cadel Evans (BMC), Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) and Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) were ridden off the train, while only Scarponi could hold the pace of Basso and Nibali.

Colom Suspended For Two Years | Cyclingnews.com

Antonio Colom has been suspended for two years by the Spanish Cycling federation for anti-doping violations, the International Cycling Union has reported. He has also been ordered to pay a fine of 46,958 Euro.

He tested positive for EPO in an out-of-competition control in April 2009, and had been targeted under the biological passport programme, according to the UCI.

Colom Suspended For Two Years | Cyclingnews.com

Antonio Colom has been suspended for two years by the Spanish Cycling federation for anti-doping violations, the International Cycling Union has reported. He has also been ordered to pay a fine of 46,958 Euro.

He tested positive for EPO in an out-of-competition control in April 2009, and had been targeted under the biological passport programme, according to the UCI.

Ballan Back To Racing | Cyclingnews.com

BMC Racing Team president Jim Ochowicz indicated that Ballan “has fully cooperated with the Italian authority and has provided the investigation authority with all requested information and even more. Apart of that, no sporting authority has opened a proceeding against Alessandro Ballan so far. Given all these aspects, the BMC Team has no reason at all to not respect the presumption of innocence and will no longer withhold Alessandro Ballan from competition.”

Ballan Back To Racing | Cyclingnews.com

BMC Racing Team president Jim Ochowicz indicated that Ballan “has fully cooperated with the Italian authority and has provided the investigation authority with all requested information and even more. Apart of that, no sporting authority has opened a proceeding against Alessandro Ballan so far. Given all these aspects, the BMC Team has no reason at all to not respect the presumption of innocence and will no longer withhold Alessandro Ballan from competition.”

Two Years For De Bonis | Cyclingnews.com

Francesco De Bonis has been handed a two-year suspension and fine by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). The Italian was one of the first five cases opened by the UCI last year with the backing of its Biological Passport. The suspension runs from June 18, 2009, to June 17, 2011.

Two Years For De Bonis | Cyclingnews.com

Francesco De Bonis has been handed a two-year suspension and fine by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). The Italian was one of the first five cases opened by the UCI last year with the backing of its Biological Passport. The suspension runs from June 18, 2009, to June 17, 2011.

I don’t think this is particularly new, but it confirms – if true – what has been suspected for a long time. The Landis allegations point to a combination of EPO microdosing with a balancing degree of autologous blood doping.  As I understand it the blood transfusions in effect mask the otherwise imbalanced percentage of newly-formed red blood cells by adding old ones that were kept in a handy refrigerator… Operacion Puerto anyone? 

Biological Passport Expert Taking Landis Seriously | Cyclingnews.com

Landis, in confessing to practices he used during his time with the US Postal Service and Phonak teams, not only detailed the techniques he used but also said the practice was condoned by team management and adopted by his fellow teammates. He revealed that riders combined small doses of the drug with undetectable transfusions of the rider’s own blood to boost performance, giving anti-doping authorities important details on how cheaters continue to evade positive tests.

I don’t think this is particularly new, but it confirms – if true – what has been suspected for a long time. The Landis allegations point to a combination of EPO microdosing with a balancing degree of autologous blood doping.  As I understand it the blood transfusions in effect mask the otherwise imbalanced percentage of newly-formed red blood cells by adding old ones that were kept in a handy refrigerator… Operacion Puerto anyone? 

Biological Passport Expert Taking Landis Seriously | Cyclingnews.com

Landis, in confessing to practices he used during his time with the US Postal Service and Phonak teams, not only detailed the techniques he used but also said the practice was condoned by team management and adopted by his fellow teammates. He revealed that riders combined small doses of the drug with undetectable transfusions of the rider’s own blood to boost performance, giving anti-doping authorities important details on how cheaters continue to evade positive tests.