Post-Tour hibernation? Not a bit of it

Le Tour has come and gone, but for enthusiasts the summer still offers a vast number of events and races for the professional (and amateur) cycling fraternity.

Next week's Tour of Germany will feature all of the pro teams who have been hitting the headlines in France - including it seems, Astana, who were shamed last week for conducting a blood transfusion on former favourite Alexandre Vinokourov. (Pictured is last year's winner, Jens Voigt.)

But before then, there's the San Sebastian Classic to savour this Saturday (August 4th). A gruelling race previously won by such names as Laurent Jalabert and Lance Armstrong, and one commonly regarded as one of the great destination races for fans.

isporty will be previewing and reporting on all of the summer's top cycling events, as well as keeping you posted with news, comment and features from across the world.

We'll also be pointing you to the best live events to attend in person or watch on the TV or internet, and we'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions, not to mention any cycling stories or advice you have, on the isporty cycling forum:

• Celebrating the 2007 Tour - lets look at the positives
• Was Contador the best rider?
• Was Vino's sacking inevitable?
• Rasmussen - nasty or just naive?

Hall of Shame : Mayo the latest

Iban Mayo (pictured), who finished 16th in the final classification of this year's Tour, has been sacked for failing a drugs test.

The BBC reports how the powerhouse Spaniard has become the latest to bring more shame on this year's Tour.

Regardless, isporty users have remained positive about many aspects of this year's Tour, so keep the excellent debate going on the isporty cycling forum:

• Celebrating the 2007 Tour - lets look at the positives
• Was Contador the best rider?
• Was Vino's sacking inevitable?
• Rasmussen - nasty or just naive?

And find out how our British riders finished:

• Brit-watch

Vinokourov sacked ...

As predicted, Astana have fired lead rider Alexandre Vinokourov (pictured) following his positive test for blood doping at this year's Tour de France.

Yahoo take up the story of the disgraced rider.

Meanwhile, the Spaniards are beginning preparations to mark the return of Tour winner Alberto Contador. In a purple patch for the country's cycling fraternity, Spain boasted six riders in the top 10 of the final overall classification.

Remember to keep your thoughts and opinions flowing on the isporty cycling forum:

• Was Vino's sacking inevitable?
• Celebrating the 2007 Tour - lets look at the positives
• Was Contador the best rider?
• Rasmussen - nasty or just naive?

And find out how our British riders finished:

• Brit-watch

Cadel's best yet to come

Cadel Evans apologised to fellow Australians for not winning yesterday's time trial, but his former coach says he's shown sings that he could be a futue winner in the making

Aussie coach Damian Grundy, who coached Evans from the age of 14, said his old charge still has one or two years of improvement before we can expect to see the Predictor-Lotto rider win the Tour. To read the full interview with his former coach, click here

Split to help clean up?

Tour officials suggest a split to help clean up Tour's act.

Tour de France officials have suggested the Tour could stop working with UCI, with the Tour's director even suggesting cycling chief Pat McQuaid steps down as the sport looks to clean its image. Christian Prudhomme's interview, which coms hot on the heels of the tour's demouement, can be found in Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily

Bennati picks off stage 20

Italian Daniele Bennati wins his second stage win of the Tour as the Tour comes to a dramatic end.

It finished: 1. Bennati 2. Hushovd 3. Zabel 4. Hunter 5. Boonen 6. Sebastien Chavanel 7. Cancellara 8. Millar 9. Förster 10. Quinziato.

To see how the final action unfolded, click here

Contador wins

Alberto Contador secures Tour de France but could face doping investigation...

24-year-old Contador, from Madrid, retained the leader's yellow jersey after finishing fifth in yesterday's time trial, and did enough to win the tournament overall. The American Discovery Channel team was the youngest champion since Jan Ullrich of Germany in 1997. He was the first Spaniard to stand atop the winner's podium since the last of Miguel Indurain's five wins in 1995. However, the Daily Mail has suggested that he could now face allegations of doping himself. To read the claims, click here

Contador clinches crown as Tour fall-out begins ...

It's a Tour that has been littered with rogue blood samples, stray dogs, and more testosterone than you'd find at the World Wrestling Federation's Annual Dinner.

Despite the rush of negative headlines that have emerged - particularly over the last week - there has been some real quality throughout this year's Tour, with Alberto Contador clinching the 2007 crown yesterday afternoon on the final stage into Les Champs-Elysees.

The Daily Mail reports that Contador may yet face new doping allegations himself, while Tour Director Christian Prudhomme has been speaking about a proposed split with the UCI.

Remember to keep your thoughts and opinions flowing on the isporty cycling forum:

• Does Contador really deserve the big prize?
• Should the 2008 Tour be axed?
• Rasmussen - nasty or just naive?
• Is it time to accept drugs in sport?

And find out how our British riders finished:

• Brit-watch

UPDATED: Isporty's Brit-watch

Following today's time trial, here's how our British riders are sitting in the overall classification, with little change of significant change in tomorrow's roll into Paris.

1st: Alberto Contador, 91 hours, 0 mins, 26 secs

45th: Charlie Wegelius, + 1 hour, 46 mins, 25 secs (pictured) - no change after time trial

69th: David Millar, + 2 hours, 32 mins, 07 secs - up two places after time trial

140th: Geraint Thomas, + 3 hours, 46 mins, 51 secs - no change after time trial

141st (Lanterne Rouge): Wim Vansevenant, + 3 hours, 52 mins, 54 sec.

(Mark Cavendish retired) (Bradley Wiggins withdrawn)

Leipheimer unleashes ..

Just thirty seconds separate the top three following a dramatic time trial that saw Levi Leipheimer come within nine seconds of claiming Cadel Evans' second place.

The BBC reports on the full stage result, and with threatening attacks unlikely on the final day, Alberto Contador (pictured) appears to have clinched the 2007 Tour de France crown.

Join the debate on the isporty cycling forum:

• Does Contador deserve the big prize?
• Should the 2008 Tour be axed?
• Rasmussen - nasty or just naive?
• Is it time to accept drugs in sport?

And find out how our British riders are getting on:

• Time Trial UPDATED: Brit-watch

The final battle ...

Today's Time Trial is the last chance of the Tour ending in a closely-fought ride to Paris. Unfortunately though, another dawn brings yet more drug rumours - this time involving Juan Mauricio Soler.

Join the debate on the isporty cycling forum:

• Should the 2008 Tour be axed?
• Rasmussen - nasty or just naive?
• Is it time to accept drugs in sport?
• Is the doping system working?

Remember to check out our Isporty giveaways as well:

• Ride like the pro's, but cheaper
• Win a copy of Pro Cycling Manager 2007

And find out how our British riders are getting on:

• Brit-watch

French victory at last ...

Yesterday the French finally had a victory to cheer after Sandy Casar came home to win the lengthy 211km Stage 18 from Cahors.

On a day when former Tour winner Greg LeMond claimed that 'no-one should be awarded this year's title', Spaniard Alberto Contador nevertheless retained the leader's yellow jersey.

And while sacked former leader Michael Rasmussen vows to continue his cycling career, do you think he should?

Join the debate on the isporty cycling forum:

• Rasmussen - nasty or just naive?
• Wake-up call for sport in general?
• Is the doping system working?

Remember to check out our Isporty giveaways as well:

• Ride like the pro's, but cheaper
• Win a copy of Pro Cycling Manager 2007

Win a copy of Pro Cycling Manager 2007

Thinking of submitting your application for the top job at Rabobank? You'd better get some practice in ..

Isporty has teamed up with Focus Home Interactive and has three copies of the Pro Cycling Manager 2007 game to give away.

Hugely addictive, frighteningly realistic, and not even a whiff of EPO.

We just want to know who you think will win the Tour, and email us at comp@isporty.com before the start of Saturday's time trial.

Good luck!

Ride like the pro's - but cheaper!

... and hopefully with no artificial stimulants!

Isporty has teamed up with Wiggle so that you can look as good as a tour rider – while costing you up to 20% less than them!

www.wiggle.co.uk, are offering a superb range of race kit from the big 'Tour' brands with some huge savings that are sure to help inspire!

The Decente Team CSC gear is also exclusive to Wiggle so you won't find it anywhere else. They've even got 10% off £50 and 20% off orders over £100 until the end of July!

Win a top of the range heart rate monitor from Polar ..

Win a fantastic Polar CS600 HRM with Power Sensor worth £474.50, and find out exactly how hard your favourite Tour de France riders are trying at any particular point in the race!

Simply answer the following question for a chance to win:

Q. What's the name of the Power Sensor kit that works in line with the CS600?

Answers to: competition@wiggle.co.uk

The competition closes 31st July 2007. For full details and more Polar products see Wiggle's Polar HRM & Computer page.

Wiggins "considered quitting"

British rider Bradley Wiggins has considered quitting professional sport after his forced withdrawal from the Tour de France along with the rest of the Cofidis team.

Sporting Life takes up the story.

Quiet night on the Tour ...

What's that? No evictions, sackings or resignations overnight?

Lets hope that's still the case come the completion of today's flat Stage 18, Cahors to Angouleme.

Meanwhile, as opinion over Michael Rasmussen continues to divide, the Dane has returned home to Italy (note: that's Italy, not Mexico.)

What are your opinions over the Rasmussen debate? Why not continue to put your excellent views across on the isporty cycling forum?

• Rasmussen - nasty or just naive?
• Wake-up call for sport in general?
• Is the doping system working?

Remember to check out our Isporty giveaways as well:

• Ride like the pro's, but cheaper
• Win a copy of Pro Cycling Manager 2007

Anti-doping summit

Earth Times reports on the moves towards staging an anti-doping summit in the light of another Tour de France that has found itself dogged with drug controversy.

Subdued Stage 17 ...

Daniele Bennati clinched a sprint victory in today's Stage 17 to Castelsarrasin as the Tour regained some semblance of normality.

However, debate over this week's drugs slur still rages on the isporty cycling forum.

Have your say:

• Ras and Vino - cheats, or cheated?
• Doping - the Tour's problem, or a wider sports issue?
• Le Tour - is it all a con?
• "Rasmussen: I never liked him anyway"

An Englishman leads the Tour

By a whole day.

This is what cycling is all about. Have our sportsmen really become so detached from the ethos behind this?

Tour de Farce

If the Tour was a film it would be panned for being unrealistic. Sadly, it's real life, and following Michael Rasmussen's sacking last night, we have another day where the daily stage (Pau to Castelsarrasin, for those still interested) is made to feel secondary to events going on elsewhere.

Remember to have your say through the isporty cycling forum. Are Radobank right to sack Rasmussen? Are we all being conned by the cheats? How can the Tour recover from another setback?

Millar's comments on Vino and drugs

There's a frank and emotional David Millar video interview conducted by 'Suitcase of Courage' in the aftermath of the drugs scandal.

Essential viewing.

Rasmussen's grip tightens

Michael Rasmussen rode away from his main yellow jersey Alberto Contadour in Wednesday's mountainous Stage 16, Orthez to Col d'Ausbisque.

He stretches his lead on the latest overall classification and barring a time trial disaster should now claim the 2007 prize.

Meanwhile, there was yet another blot on the Tour's copybook today as 2004 Italian champion Cristian Moreni followed Alexandre Vinokourov in being expelled from the having failed a drugs test.

The BBC reports another day of shame here

Farcical start to Stage 16

From the BBC website:

0951: Farcical scenes as a significant group of riders refuse to start when the hooter sounds, they apparently want to show their disapproval of doping. After 30 seconds or so, some riders at the back have enough and sneak their bikes through the crowd to get started. A stubborn group at the front refuse to budge however and are eventually greeted with boos from the crowd before they eventually start. What a way to get this stage going, it can only get better from here.

T-Mobile's Marcus Burghardt says: "We just wanted to make out feelings known. The authorities have to take stern measures against those riders they think are not clean."

Link: Live Stage updates

Tour wakes up to bad hangover

With the furore surrounding Alexandre Vinokourov's positive drug test and the withdrawal of the Astana team, Stage 16's 218.5km route from Orthez to Col d'Aubisque:

Link: Stage 16

... started in a somewhat farcical manner.

Link: Rider protest

Meanwhile, the fall-out from yesterday's news continues to dominate thoughts. Tour director Christophe Prudhomme insists the structure of the sport needs a complete overhaul.

Link: Prudhomme wants revolution

Continue to have your say on the biggest scandal to hit this year's Tour de France.

Has the Tour now lost all credibility? Was Astana right to withdraw their whole team? And where do we go from here?

Link: Isporty Forum

The Astana team have however confirmed that they will continue racing in other events.

Link: Team remains

Astana out as Vino tests positive

The Tour was again thrown into disarray yesterday with the withdrawal of the entire Astana team following Alexandre Vinokourov's positive drugs test.

The BBC reports how events unfolded:

Link: Tour descends into farce

Tour organisers have responded by insisting they are winning the war against the drug cheats.

Link: Clerc satisfied

Have your say on the biggest scandal to hit this year's Tour de France.

Has the Tour now lost all credibility? Is Vinokourov innocent? Was Astana right to withdraw their whole team? And where do we go from here?

Link: Isporty Forum

No panic for Petacchi

Select group throw our inquiry.

Link: Podium Cafe Breaking News

Rasmussen in the dock

No such thing as a rest-day for Tour leader Michael Rasmussen. He may have shaken off most of his yellow jersey rivals, but the authorities will be less easy to escape.

Link: BBC - Ras in drug-test query

At a press conference last night however, Rasmussen was concentrating solely on the matter in hand - his battle with Alberto Contador on a memorable day's racing. Check out Stage winner Alexandre Vinokourov's comments also.

Link: Le Tour Guide quotes package

Tour awaits search results

The support cars of three Tour teams were searched en route during today's Stage 15.

The results of the searches are yet to be announced, as News Press takes up the story:

Link: Customs officials swoop

Vino victorious

Alexandre Vinokourov clinched a thrilling Stage 15 in the Pyrenees, though it was Michael Rasmussen's endless pursuit of Alberto Contador that now leaves the Dane in pole position for this year's big prize.

Link: BBC Report

Meanwhile, the furore surrounding the Tour leader's lack of communication over a drugs test has overshadowed the whole event, according to Britain's David Millar:

Link: Telegraph article

Stage 15 - Contador ready to attack

Alberto Contador is ready to spring more surprises as today's journey through the Pyrenees continues with a 196km ride from Foux to Loudenvielle-Louron.

Link: Stage 15 preview

With two category one and one 'out of category' climb, we can expect fireworks again today, and Contador, the Spanish challenger to Michael Rasmussen's leader's yellow jersey, insisted last night he was ready:

"I have to attack Rasmussen and I will try to do just that," he said.

"Yesterday, my team decided to take its responsibility. We sent Hincapie and Popovych to the front leading to the final climb to take charge and then I chose the moment to attack when my legs were good.

"At the moment, however, he’s the leader and he continues to demonstrate that he’s really strong."

Meanwhile, following a devastating time trial on the previous day, Alexandre Vinokourov was finally found-out on the slopes yesterday, and as The Times reports, his 2007 Tour challenge is now definitely over.

He'll be certain to lend all of his support though to 5th-placed Andreas Kloden.

Link: No victory for Vino

Brits hanging on in there

News Wales reports the latest situation with our British riders, with the Tour's youngest participant, Welshman Geraint Thomas, still maintaining his small buffer to the dreaded Lanterne Rouge.

Link:Brit Watch

Contador home first

A dramatic and telling stage in this year's Tour de France, as Alberto Contador and Michael Rasmussen dropped a number of rival riders on the climb up to Plateau-de-Beille.

Link: Stage 14 in words

Link: Latest Tour standings

Stage 14 - the Pyrenees beckon

The first of three massive days in the most open Tour de France in recent memory.

The riders head into the Pyrenees with the overall classification thrown wide open following yesterday's gripping time trial.

Link:Today's stage, Mazamet to Plateau-de-Beille

Astana dominant in Albi

Alexandre Vinokourov roared back to form with a stunning with in Stage 13's Albi time trial, but Michael Rasmussen confounded many of the pundits by retaining the overall leader's yellow jersey.

Link: Stage 13 result

Time trial drama, 1989

On a day of what should prove some stirring time trial entertainment, what better time than to reflect on surely the most dramatic of them all?

Link: Fignon vs LeMond, 1989

Ras allegations come out

Mail and Guardian Online report the story of a former friend of tour leader Michael Rasmussen with allegations of carrying illicit doping materials into Italy.

Does make you wonder why he has only thought to report this now though?

Link: Rasmussen in the dock

Rasmussen's big test

Today's time trial stage around Albi is certain to test yellow jersey holder Michael Rasmussen.

With the chasing pack ready to pounce, the Dane will be keen not to mark a repeat of his performances last year, where he lost over twelve minutes to fellow rider Andreas Kloeden.

Kloden sits just 3 minutes 50 seconds minutes behind him in the overall classification.

Link: New yellow jersey tonight?

It remains unclear whether Kloeden will take lead-rider responsibilities, though rest assured that the Astana team will have a huge part to play over the coming days as the race enters the Pyrenees.

Link: Kazakh comeback

Wheels and Boonen

Tom Boonen wins stage 12 by half a bike length from Erik Zabel.

The peloton swept past long-time leaders Txurruka and Fedrigo as Boonen knicks it. Stage-11 winner Robbie Hunter finishes third. Find out how the final closing moments unfolded here

For the top 10 stage winners and overall standings click here

To read Tom's diary of the Tour so far, click here

Stage 12 live!

Follow the hilly 178.5-kilometer ride form Montpellier to Castres live...

Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel) and Pierrick Fedrigo (Bouygues Telecom) lead the pelaton - and you can all the action here.

Sponsors to pull plug?

More controversy in the Tour de France as German sponsors threaten to pull the plug....

The latest news suggests Adidas may stop sponsoring cycling after another doping scandal hit the Tour de France this week.

Link

Broadcasters protest

A German television broadcaster has pulled its coverage of the Tour de France.

In the first move of its kind by any of the broadcasters that cover the race, the German state television channels ARD and ZDF have left the race and will stop covering it following the positive drugs test by the German cyclist Patrick Sinkewitz. [link](http://sport.guardian.co.uk/tourdefrance2007/story/0,,2129787,00.html?

Rasmussen free to ride

Race leader Michael Rasmussen has been cleared to start in today’s 12th stage by Tour de France organizers.

Rasmussen was yesterday expelled from the Danish national team.

link

Germans get their Tour back

German broadcaster Sat.1 has jumped in following the fall-out over the Sinkewitz scandal.

Link: Germans back in the race

Stage 12 Preview

There's a category two climb en route for today's stage between Montpellier and Castre, with two sprint points and four climbs overall.

Link: Stage 12 Preview

Overnight, David Zabriskie, who has been riding for the CSC team, became the latest rider to leave the Tour, having struggled with the rigours and legacy of the Pyrenees.

Link: Too much for Zab

Ras dumped by Denmark

Tour de France leader, though not good enough for the Danish team, Michael Rasmussen was dumped today.

Nice however to see that postal inefficiencies aren't restricted just to the UK.

Link: Danes dump Rasmussen

Battle for green

Check out Podium Cafe's assessment of the race for the green jersey following Robbie Hunter's sprint success on Montpellier.

Link: Boonen still in box seat

Morbid Moreau

Robbie Hunter clinched victory in the flat Stage 11 into Montpellier, though French favourite Christophe Moreau's hopes of Tour success were dashed.

Link: Stage 11 report

Stage 11 - Live blog updates

Follow this afternoon's pancake-flat Stage 11 via the entertaining TDF Blog. As predicted, breakaways are the order of the day:

Link: TDF Blog

Stage 11 - Flat and fast

Today's stage from Marseille to Montpelier is as flat as they come, and true sprint fodder.

A great chance for those finish-line specialists to shake off the rigours of the mountain stages.

Link: Stage 11 Preview

Overnight, the row surrounding T-Mobile rider Patrick Sinkewitz and his positive test for elevated levels of testosterone spilled over to German state broadcasters, who are calling a halt to transmissions until the case is resolved.

Link: State TV in disarray

Meanwhile, the world's press are still all over Marcus Burghardt's collision with a dog two days ago. A Google search of 'Tour de France dog' brings up the small matter of over 2.8million links!

Link: Paws for thought on Le Tour

Allez les Cedric

France finally climbed their first Stage win of this year's Tour after Cedric Vassuer led home a five-man sprint to claim victory in the Tallard to Marseille race.

Link: Ten-minute victory margin for group

While Rasmussen retains yellow, the big winner of the day was surely Aleksandr Kuschynski who, coming in down on the leaders yet some eight minutes ahead of the main field, elevated himself in some style from his previous berth of 169th (out of 171 riders) to 150th. Look out Ras!

Link: Kuschynski on a flyer

Out of the Alps - Stage 10

Dogs, fence-posts and spectators - the Alps have provided a whole range of obstacles for our Tour de France cyclists, and that's not even factoring in the odd mountain.

So it will be with some relief today that they depart the High Alps, with a gentle downward Stage from Tallard to Marseille, 229.5km in total.

Here's the Stage rundown:

Link: Le Tour

Stage 9 aftermath

Cycling Post talks us through it's Stage 9 winners and losers after another gripping day's action.

Link: Vino slipping away

It could always be worse for the Kazakh though, as TDF Lantern Rouge guides through a rather saracastic look at the legacy of the Tour's slowest rider.

Link: Plenty of overtaking opportunities

.. meanwhile, check the reaction of all of today's big riders via Channel News Asia's excellent coverage:

Link: Stage 9 Reflections

Rasmussen retains yellow

It was another day for the relative unknowns as Barloworld rider Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez claimed stage nine in the Alps.

Link: Stage Nine result

Most of the Tour frontrunners finished together, though it was another difficult day for Alexandre Vinokourov who was again dropped by his main rivals.

Vino still looking shadow of former self

The energy of Rasmussen has been mirrored somewhat by the apathy of Vinokourov over the past few days.

The Astana rider has had a rough time of it after his horror smash, leaving many to speculate whether the pre-Tour favourite has anything left in the tank.

Link: Times Online piece