Fundraising Tip of the Week: Tour de France

With the biggest race in the cycling world well underway, the 21-stage, 96th Tour de France gives you a few, creative fundraising opportunities.
1. Throw a viewing party for your friends. Have each person donate a small amount ($20 or more) and then watch the pros as they pedal through their three-week journey around France. Be sure to keep an eye out for Hearst Castle alumni riders David Zabriskie and Ryder Hesjedal who will be racing the tour on Team Garmin-Slipstream!

2. Start a friendly pool with friends, family and co-workers, making bets on who will win the whole thing! To make sure this helps you raise funds, let your Ride Coach know your plans, and we can send you some loot for the winners. Everyone chips in $20, which will count as a donation towards your fundraising goal, and the winners will recieve Best Buddies jerseys, riding gloves, etc!

3. Organize a Tour-de-France spin-a-thon. Create a French music playlist to spin to, and take a 20-mile stretch from that day’s course to mimic. Basically, as you are spinning away, the pros are doing the same. Charge an entry fee and sell raffle tickets for people to bet on what the day’s best time will be. Donations go to you, winner wins a Best Buddies jersey.

Ride Coach Jeremiah Angel Recommends: "Overcoming"

Clips from the 2005 documentary, "Overcoming"

Before the 2009 edition of Tour de France starts on Saturday I'd like to recommend searching out a somewhat hard to find, but well worth the effort, 2005 documentary titled "Overcoming." The film is a profound and penetrating insight into the hermetically closed world of professional cycling. With former pro rider, Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis as the protagonist, the documentary follows him and his new Team CSC as they strive for the impossible: to become the world's best and win the 2004 Tour de France. Also notably featured in the documentary is Team CSC rider Bobby Julich, who participated in last year's Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle. The film is epic, beautifully shot and gives viewers a unique and personal account of what it's like to participate in the world's toughest sporting event, the Tour de France.

Your thoughts on the Tour

Did it seem like they were going to bust a different contender each day?

Was it the best Tour de France ever?

Who looked like a star of the future?

Favorite team?

Best stage?

Who was the star of this year's Tour de France?

Are you more likely, less likely, not at all likely, very likely or have no opinion toward obtaining your own homologous blood transfusion?

Let us know!

What a day

Quite the Tuesday--Alexander Vinokourov and Lindsay Lohan were both busted earlier today.

Tour officials revealed this morning that the 31-year-old Kazakh's blood test, taken after his victory in stage 13's time trial, revealed signs of homologous blood transfusion. Vinokourov and his team, Astana, were promptly ejected from the Tour in yet another sad recent chapter in the cycling the world.

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Los Angeles Police Department announced earlier this morning that Lindsay Lohan, and actress from movies such as "Mean Girls" and the upcoming "I Know Who Killed Me" was arrested early this morning and charged DUI and possession of drugs. She was released earlier today on $25,000 bail in yet another obvious chapter in the celebrity world.

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Merckx update, shoddy tactics by Astana

In today's stage 11, Axel finished with the second group 3 minutes and 20 seconds down on stage winner Robbie Hunter as the peleton was split by echelons some 50 miles out from the line. He's now in 75th place, 58 minutes and 59 seconds behind yellow jersey Michael Rasmussen who comfortably finished in the front group.

The big loser today was Frenchman Christophe Moreau of AG2R. Moreau, who in June won the prestigious Dauphine Libere had been displaying some excellent form and was a clear favorite for the overall. It was Moreau who lit up the race in stage 8, repeatedly attacking the leaders on the final climb only to be chased down by Alejandro Valverde of Caisse Espagne and Cadel Evans of Predictor-Lotto.

The big victim of Moreau's relentless attacks on stage 8 was race favorite Alexander Vinikourov who was the victim of a crash earlier in the week that left him bruised and bandaged.

Earlier in today's stage Moreau tangled with one of his own AG2R teammates and was at the back of the field being attended to by the doctor's car when Astana, the Kazakhstan rider Vininkourov's team, lit up the front and split the field. Astana continued to drive the pace and were soon joined by the likes of Discovery. By the end of the stage Moreau, along with CSC co-leader Frank Schleck of Luxembourg, had lost over 3 minutes and he tumbled down the standings to 14th place, 6 minutes and 38 seconds back.

As fellow Kazkah Borat might say "Very nice.....NOT!!"

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What do you think, were Astana's tatics fair? Do they need be fair? Let us know by Commenting here.

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!

Who will win the Tour?

Who do you think will wear the yellow jersey into Paris? Let us know.

Exciting finish today with former World Champion Tom Boonen taking the finish and wresting the green jersey back from Erik Zabel. Axel Merckx , who will he riding in the ABBC: HC on September 8 is currently in 45th place overall, 1'14'' down from Fabian Cancellara of Team CSC.

Look for tomorrow's opening Alpine stage to shake things up. Go Axel!!

VIVE LE TOUR!!

Watch the Tour de France every morning live at the Velo Rouge Cafe. Velo Rouge is showing Verus coverage of every stage, live, starting when they open at 6:30 a.m. Drop by on your way to work or enjoy a leisurely weekend breakfast while watching all the action.

The excellent cafe is located at Arguello and McCallister right across from Golden Gate Park. Plenty of bike parking out front, even more great food inside (they serve Blue Bottle Coffee).

Vive Le Tour!!

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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Discovery suspends Basso

Team Discovery Channel has suspended former Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso from competition as CONI, the Italian Olympic Committee reopened their investigation into his connection with Eufemiano Fuentes, the infamous sports doctor at the center of the Operación Puerto scandal in Spain.

Basso, who was signed in a controversial move earlier this year, was Discovery's pick to replace seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

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Is this a just move by Discovery that is good for the sport? Or, an unfair example of the dangerous game of "guilty until proved innocent" that violates an athletes rights and hurts competition? What do you think?

UPDATE - Basso and Discovery part ways, Operation Puerto reopens and Hamilton named again