Discovery to disband; Brajkovic to T-Mobile; Hincapie too?

You've probably heard the news--Team Discovery will disband at the end of the year. Tailwind Sports the owner/ manager of the team has given up on the search for a new sponsor and decided to pull out of the sport.

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This leaves a market flooded with riders, staff and management. Riders without a team for 2007 include recent Tour de France winner Alberto Contrador, American superstar Levi Leipheimer and American National Champion George Hincapie.

2007 Tour de Georgia winner Janez Brajkovic has already landed himself onto T-Mobile, and it's rumored that Hincapie will be headed that way himself.

Where kit do you want to see Hincapie riding in next year? What about Leipheimer?

Update on T-Mobile Training Ride - Saturday, July 28

Here are all the details for the T-Mobile get together/ training ride from Michael Edwards. Remember all are welcome.

NOTE: START TIME CHANGE
Remember this is not a race, just training. Ride at your own pace.

We’ll meet at the Orinda Bart Station (www.bart.org) around 8:30am for an 8:45 start time.

This route is about half the distance (49miles) and over half the climbing (3500+) of the Best Buddies 100m route. THIS IS NOT A FLAT RIDE.

Be sure to bring the following:
- Spare tube and/or patch kit
- Bike Pump
- Helmet
- Water
- Snacks i.e. Banana, Bar, Gels or whatever.

All are welcome.

Also, on Saturday August 4th, the Marin Cyclist is having their annual Marin Century Ride. If you’ve never done a large organized ride before, here’s a good on to start with http://www.sextonarts.com/marincentury/ . It has different routes for different experience levels.

Comment or Email DylanTaylor@BestBuddies.org for Route guide and more info.

Merckx and T-Mobile Update

In the wake of team leader Michael Rogers loss and the inexperience of the talented youngster Linus Gerdemann, Axel has taken over as captain of the T-Mobile.

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Axel finished stage 10 comfortably and now sits in 73rd place, 55' 39" back of yellow jersey Michael Rasmussen of the Rabobank team.

In other T-Mobile news is was announced this morning that German rider Patrick Sinkewitz falied an out of competition doping test. The test was taken June 8 during a T-Mobile training camp. Sinkewitz's A sample returned a raised testosterone level. He was immediately suspended indefinitely by T-Mobile. Sinkewitz was already out of the Tour having collided with a spectator following Sunday's stage 8.

While this is undoubtedly more bad news for T-Mobile, having lost captain Rogers to a crash while he was virtually leading the Tour, it's even worse for German cycling fans. The country's TV networks have suspended their coverage of the Tour, making good on a threat they'd voiced at the beginning of the race.

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Merckx update

Axel and the rest of the riders are enjoying a well needed rest after two tough stages in the Alps.

In yesterday's stage 8, T-Mobile lost their captain Aussie Micahel Rogers to a dislocated elbow that he suffered in a crash on a descent. At the time Rogers was looking strong in a chase group that included eventual stage winner Michael Rassmusen and was the virtuel maillot jaune.

After the crash Axel kept the yellow jeresey, Linus Gerdemann, in contention and in control of the maillot blanc (white jersey of the best overall rider under 25), pacing him as far up the climb as he good.

Currently Merckx is in 67th place at 33' 31" back and the young, outspoke anti-doping advocate Gerdemann is in 2nd at 43".

Allez Merckx! Allez Gerdemann! Allez T-Mobile!

More Training Rides

Nancy Yu, of Team T-Mobile, invites everyone to a few Friday rides that she's running.

FRI JUL 13 5/TM/46 Temescal Loop
Meet at the Lake Temescal parking lot off Broadway in Oakland for a prompt 10 a.m. departure. We will ride thru Montclair, up BBR and Skyline. Descend Golf Links Rd into the Oakland Zoo. Lunch stop at the Bagel shop on MacArthur. Continue up Lake Chabot Rd into Castro Valley. Climb Redwood back to Skyline via Pinehurst. Descend Tunnel back to the starting point. Bring H2o, snacks and lunch or $ to buy. Questions: Nancy Yu at nancyyu7@hotmail.com or 510-697-7736.

FRI JUL 20 5/TM/38 Wildcat to S Park and Claremont
Meet at the Park & Ride lot on Castro Ranch Rd/SPDR in El Sobrante for a prompt 10 a.m. departure. We'll climb SPDR, Wildcat and S Park Dr to Grizzly Peak. Descend Tunnel Rd for lunch on Domingo St before climbing Claremont and Grizzly Peak back to Wildcat and SPDR. Questions: Nancy Yu at nancyyu7@hotmail.com or 510-697-7736.

FRI JUL 27 1.5/T/41 Point Richmond
Join me on this easy paced ride out to Pt Richmond for lunch at Little Louie's. Meet at the foot of the pedestrian bridge on Addison in Berkeley (near the Aquatic Park) for a prompt 10:00 a.m. departure. We'll ride out along Frontage Rd to the Emeryville Marina, down University and around Ceasar Chavez Park before looping back to hop on the Bay Trail out to Richmond Marina Bay. Bring H2O, snacks, lunch or $ to buy. Questions: Nancy Yu at nancyyu7 at hotmail dot com or (510) 697-7736.

Hope to see some of you guys out there.

Axel Merckx to the 2007 ABBC: HC!

Axel Merckx to ride in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle
T-Mobile teammates Aaron Olson, Mari Holden, Kimberly Baldwin and Kim Anderson to join

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olympic medalist Axel Merckx, the son of legendary Eddy Merckx, will wrap up his season at the fourth Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle on September 8 where he’ll be joined by his T-Mobile teammates.

The 34-year-old Belgian is currently competing in his ninth Tour de France, and is the reigning Olympic Bronze medalist and winner of a stage in the 2000 Giro d’Italia. In 1998 he finished 10th in the Tour and in 2005 took a memorable, solo victory in stage five of the prestigious Dauphiné Libéré. His father, Eddy, is widely considered to be the greatest cyclist of all time, winning both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia five times.

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle (ABBC: HC) is a five-star, charity cycling event chaired by California First Lady Maria Shriver that supports Best Buddies International, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. All of the money raised by participants in the ABBC: HC goes directly to Best Buddies programs.

Beginning at the Chateau Julien Winery in Carmel, Calif., participants head 100, 62 or 15 miles down a stunning stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway to the Hearst Castle where a one-of-a-kind celebration awaits them. At the finish riders enjoy a complimentary hot shower, professional massage, and a gourmet lunch with an open bar at the beach below the Hearst Castle. Then, they head up to the Hearst Ranch for a gourmet BBQ that’s followed by a private concert by rock legends Cheap Trick.

Joining Merckx at the event will be his American teammate Aaron Olson. T Mobile will also send members of its world class women’s team, including Mari Holden, Kimberly Baldwin and Kim Anderson. Holden is a past Olympic silver medalist and long-time Best Buddies supporter. This will be her third year participating in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle. Baldwin is a three-time U.S National Time Trial Champion and the talented Anderson is a three-time member of the U.S. World Championship team

For more information on the ABBC: HC or to join Merckx, Holden, their teammates and hundreds of others in making a difference visit www.BestBuddiesChallenge.org or call 800.718.3536.

About Best Buddies
Best Buddies ® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. The organization has accredited international programs on six continents with additional country programs under active development. Best Buddies six formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e -Buddies® and Jobs – will positively impact more than 350,000 individuals this year.


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