Vinokourov WINS 4th stage Tour de Romandie

NESATeL, Switzerland (AP) — Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan won the fourth stage of the Tour de Romandie can move up to second overall behind Russia's Pavel Brutt. Vinokourov sprinted to victory in 3 hours, 47 minutes and 55 seconds, edging left hanging Racing of finalist Mikael Cherel. The Frenchman crossed the line with his right hand raised in protest. Third-placed Tony Martin of Germany finished stage 103 miles from Nesatel to simply Thierrens yards before the main group.Vinokourov moved from fourth in the overall classification and traces Brutt by 32 seconds Saturday, 12.5-mile time trial will run from Aubonne for signal-de-Bougy..

Dr. Ferrari seeks meeting with Italian prosecutor

ROME — Italian physician who was banned once again Adviser education of Lance Armstrong asked for a meeting with a prosecutor investigating fraud in professional cycling. A statement released by his lawyer Tuesday says that Dr. Michele Ferrari would like to respond with Padua Prosecutor Benedetto Roberti "as soon as possibleto clear his position. "Ferrari was cleared on appeal in 2006 criminal charges accusing him of distributing doping products for athletes, but this remains banned for life by the Italian cycling Federation under ruling 2002. statement, Ferrari called 2002 ban "anachronistic and unfair."Armstrong maintains that he severed professional ties with Ferrari in 2004, although a prominent Italian law enforcement official told the Associated Press earlier this month, Armstrong met Ferrari repeatedly in recent years, including has since before last year's Tour de France along with Armstrong recognised quickly by Ferrari officially severing ties nonprofessionally. Italian authorities suspect Ferrari are to work with 20 23–30 top level riders, despite the ban, including Armstrong, and actively pursue this line of research. Roberti has ordered several raids this month throughout Italy involving cyclists are believed to have links with Ferrari. Italian riders who work with the risk doctor bans from three to six months. the legislation imposing employee who is not authorized to speak publicly, because the investigation is still underway, he said that Armstrong met Ferrari frequently during many yearsMoritz, Switzerland, usually in, or in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Ferrari had worked with the seven-time tour winner for several years before the separation of their 2004. Lawyer mark Fabiani said Armstrong earlier this month that Armstrong had not "a business relationship with Dr. Ferrari since 2004but he remains friends with the doctor's family and seeing them every time. Lance last saw Dr. Ferrari around a year ago. "".

 

Castroviejo of Spain WINS prologue Tour de Romandie

MARTIGNY, Switzerland (AP) — Jonathan Castroviejo of Spain won the opening prologue stage of the tour de Romandie on Tuesday, edging Taylor Phinney of the United States earned the Castroviejo. biggest victory of his career covering the course 3 (1.86 miles) in 3-kilometre 42 seconds lepta40.Phinney, faster than only 0.96 seconds. "My colleagues told me to always on bends and I did," said Castroviejo translated comments on the website of the 23-year-old Castroviejo on top a podium in front of young 20-year-old Phinney and 21-year-old Australian Leigh Howard, who was 0.73 back to Time trial specialist third. David Millar of Britain was Fifth, more than two seconds down and leader Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan Astana was better than the pre-race Favorites in ninth.Cadel Evans of Australia was less than eight seconds to 25th country on his return from a foot injury that forced him to miss the classic one day last week. Bradley Wiggins of Britain tabled by almost 13 seconds Castroviejo and Ivan Basso of Italy was 16 seconds behind.Basso has chosen to ride in the Romandie in preparation for the Tour de France in July, and will skip Giro d'Italia defending his title, when the first of the three-week grand tours season starts next week, the six-day race in Romandie through French-speaking region of Switzerland continues Wednesday with a trek (107.3 miles) EUR 172.6-kilometre from Martigny to Leysin..

Ex-Director Lance Armstrong seeks meeting with Italian prosecutor

ROME (AP) — A banned an Italian doctor who was once Director of Lance Armstrong called for education for a meeting with a prosecutor investigating fraud in professional cycling. By Stefano Ferrari

Lance Armstrong says he severed professional ties with Dr. Michele Ferrari, above, in 2004.

By Stefano Ferrari

Lance Armstrong says he severed professional ties with Dr. Michele Ferrari, above, in 2004.

A statement released by his lawyer Tuesday says that Dr. Michele Ferrari would like to respond with Padua Prosecutor Benedetto Roberti "as soon as possible, in order to clear his position."Ferrari was cleared on appeal in 2006 criminal charges accusing him of distributing doping products for athletes, but this remains banned for life by the Italian cycling Federation under ruling 2002. statement, Ferrari called 2002 ban "anachronistic and unfair."Armstrong maintains that he severed professional ties with Ferrari in 2004, although a prominent Italian law enforcement official told the Associated Press earlier this month that Armstrong met Ferrari repeatedly in recent years, including has since before last year's Tour de France Armstrong acknowledged. along with Ferrari getting non-professionally by severing official ties the Italian authorities. suspect Ferrari are to work with 20 23–30 top level riders, despite the ban, including Armstrong, and actively pursue this line of research. Roberti has ordered several raids this month throughout Italy involving cyclists are believed to have links with Ferrari. Italian riders who work with the risk doctor bans from three to six months the law enforcement officer ... who is not authorized to speak publicly, because the investigation is still underway, he said that Armstrong met Ferrari frequently during many yearsMoritz, Switzerland, usually in, or Monte Carlo, Monaco. Ferrari had worked with the seven-time tour winner for several years before the separation of their 2004. Lawyer mark Fabiani said Armstrong earlier this month that Armstrong had not "a business relationship with Dr. Ferrari since 2004but he remains friends with the doctor's family and seeing them every time. Lance last saw Dr. Ferrari around a year ago. ".

Armstrong joins Bush on ride with injured soldiers

TERLINGUA, Texas — Kenneth Butler touched the metal end of the hand of additive instinctively recalled the horrors that he lived in Iraq. By Heather Leiphart, AP

Former President George w. Bush, left, next to a seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on April 27, Big Bend Park, Texas.

By Heather Leiphart, AP

Former President George w. Bush, left, next to a seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on April 27, Big Bend Park, Texas.

Four years after the loss of the edges of the vehicle was hit by a bomb in Baghdad, a retired Army Staff Sergeant took the first opportunity this week to meet former President George w. Bush during the three-day bike ride in West Texas, attended by more than a dozen other wounded veterans and cycling legend Lance Armstrong rode in Bush case for an opportunity to meet with veterans and thank them for their sacrifice. But Butler, he holds no ill will-to the man who sent thousands of Americans war in 2003. "I feel sympathy, "the retired Parachute Infantry squad leader said Wednesday, with a note of melancholy. "It feels like he really cares for us."Bush and 15 injured veterans was joined Wednesday in the final leg of a tour through rugged desert 62.5 miles of trails of Big Bend National Park by Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France champion. Although Bush recognizes struggling to maintain during the TrekHe said he relished the opportunity. "As the Chief Commander, my decision was to be placed in harm's way in the first place, "he said. "I feel a special bond with them and I want to know they will never forget."More than 1,400 US troops have died and more than 11,000 have been injured in Afghanistan if Bush ordered a war against terrorism in 2001. He died more than 3,500 American military personnel and more than 32,000 wounded in Iraq since campaigning began two years later the losses suffered by many veterans and their families asked Armstrong to make a surprise appearance Wednesday to thank the troops for their efforts abroad. sporting feats by Downplaying the fans of sports renowned throughout the country, the native Austin recalled meeting a soldier in Germany, who had just lost his leg and he wanted to set a record for the reconquest of the Walking ability. "Now that is heroic," Armstrong said the cyclist also Different pixels, former President Bush, recalling the sport showed last time rode with them in 2005. "Today started off quickly but then it kind of blew a gasket, Armstrong humour. Bush said 64-year-old retorted: "well, I'm eligible for Medicare the u.s. next year."The former President also was pleased about the inability to keep pace with the veterans whose injuries don't slow down the war. "I so cruel as possible riding and I look over my shoulder and there is a one-legged guy barely breathing. ... I am in awe of our troops, "Bush told the Conference organised by the Wounded Warrior project, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans seriously injured in Afghanistan or Iraq While not cycling., Bush spent time with veterans carriers during the last three days, discussing everything from barbecue to gearbox bicycles.Andy Hatcher, a 27-year-old retired Marine sergeant who lost his right leg in an explosion at Thanksgiving 2004 in Fallujah, said he did not discuss war during a dinner chat with Bush. "This was about riding bicycles, did not accept the tragedy, "said Hatcher. for more information about reprints and permissions, visit our FAQ. Report corrections and clarifications, contact standards editor Brent Jones. For publication in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include your name, telephone number, city and State for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections. usatoday.com. We have updated the guidelines of the conversation. The changes include a brief overview of the surveillance process and an explanation on how to use the button "report abuse". Read more.

CAS selects table 3-lawyer to hear Contador case

GENEVA — the Court of arbitration for sport, selected a three-man Panel Wednesday to hear the case of Alberto Contador of doping, saying expects a verdict before the Tour de France in July. Israeli cvia Efraim lawyer Barak, will chair the Panelincluding Quentin Byrne-Sutton, Switzerland and Ulrich Haas of Germany has not been picked. CAS a date to hear the case, but plans for a preliminary ruling before the Tour de France which starts on July 2. Contador is the champion. "The written procedure in this topic are likely to be concluded at the end of May. The CAS plans to carry out a hearing in June, which would allow the settlement of the dispute before the end of June, "the Court said in a statement the UCI International Cycling Federation, and the Organization for the World Anti-Doping Agency have appealed doping charges Contador acquittal the Spanish cycling Federation. Defence of Contador a Spanish Court accepted that he accidentally consumed the banned substance clenbuterol by eating infected beef. under CAS rules, each party to the dispute may choose one arbitrator to cooperate with the Court-appointed Chairman of the legal group. Contador selected HaasWhile the UCI and WADA chose Byrne-Sutton. Contador can keep competing until the verdict, and is scheduled to Race in the Giro d'Italia the next week.Haas is one of the most asked arbitrators about CAS approved list and has a history in matters relating to Spanish cycling and clenbuterol. Served as ruled last year that Alejandro Valverde would be banned from riding in Italy using evidence collected by the Spanish policeduring the investigation of Puerto operation.Valverde's legal team sought to join Haas gave the starting signal case, arguing that the advisory work with WADA's objectivity is at stake, but the appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court of Switzerland.Haas, teaching Professor at the University of Zurich, helped the rule for two recent cases of clenbuterol, which burns fat and build muscle. American swimmer Jessica Hardy was ordered to serve a one year ban, even if the CAS accepted last year that it was error for a positive test because that investigated thoroughly the contents of a dietary supplement which later proved to be contaminated. 2009, Haas and his table Adam Seroczynski rejected Polish canoeist to the argues that the positive at the summer Olympics in Beijing was the result of clenbuterol "food tampering" by organizers fed the contaminated meat. ILO expert witness in the case rejected the likelihood of accidental contamination.Haas also participated in the event that an error was found with Olympic the WADA-accredited laboratory in Beijing The CAS Panel restored silver and bronze medals Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan, hammer throwers from Belarus who tested positive for high testosterone levels, because the samples were unsuccessful. However, the Panel did not clearly athletes suspicion, insisting the verdict "should not be interpreted as a waiver."Barak under the chairmanship of the first CAS to hear the case of the Champions League matchfixing. The Panel upheld the decision of UEFA to exclude Macedonian club Pobeda from European competitions for eight years and life ban for President of the Club if CAS rules against Contador, is likely to be stripped of his third Tour victory and losing all of its results and prize money earned since the UCI lifted the provisional suspension on Contador won the February. Volta of Catalunya and Vuelta Murcia this year and is a strong opponent of Giro Giro Director Angelo Zomegnan. is concerned about the uncertainty over Contador. "Is the same problem as always, for whoever is in this State, "the AP Zomegnan said last week."By now, Alberto Contador was deleted. "___AP sports writer Andrew Dampf in Rome contributed to this report..

Brutt Russia WINS stage, Tour de Romandie

LEYSIN, Switzerland (AP) — Pavel Brutt of Russia took the overall lead after the Tour de Romandie wins the first stage Saturday crossed the line only Brutt. in 4 hours, 27 minutes, 41 seconds after a Trek 107.3 miles from Martigny to Leysin through rain and winds after midnight rider team Katusha, the 29-year-old broke away from a four-man team near the end to complete 56 seconds before Ukraine's Oleksandr Kuachuk. Branislau Samoilau of Belarus was third.Brutt leads Kuachuk than a minute for the overall standings and Samoilau is another 22 seconds behind the trio was joined by Australian Jack Bobridge in a long breakaway and held in 12 minutes lead to a point at the main group finished. two minutes behind and included Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, which reached a fifth overall, Damiano Cunego, Cadel Evans of Australia and defending champion Simon Spilak of Slovenia's prologue winner Tuesday., Jonathan Castroviejo, wore the yellow jersey for his birthday, but the Spanish 24-year-old retreat in total 31Finally, from 2: 42 Brutt. The six-day Race continues Thursday with a 106.8-mile Trek starting and finishing in Romont.