Headline:  “Cycling has another week riddled with news of doping and not much else”

Well, at least that is what you’d think if all you read is the mainstream press, or even the mainstream cycling press.  We’ve already had racing action this season.  First in Australia with the Tour Down Under, and the Tour of Qatar just started.  Now honestly though – how many folks do you suspect actually know the standings of the early season races?  I’m betting a fair sight less than the number that know that 1) Lance Armstrong is off the hook, and 2) Contador has been stripped of his 2010 wins – including the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.

And this season is promising to be a great showdown.  The combination of some of the riders from both Leopard Trek and Radio Shack into one team.  Renshaw free to clash sabers in the sprints without having to focus on delivering Cavendish to the front.  This is real racing drama – happening now.  Armstrong doesn’t race anymore – remember?  And now Contador won’t be racing this year until the Giro either.  So let’s focus our attention on the people out there trying to beat each other on the roads and single tracks – not in the court rooms, press rooms and headlines.

If only we could get as much coverage of our race winners as we do the doping circus…  Just one man’s opinion.

Boise, Idaho has a new point of bragging – they are the home to one of the newest US professional cycling teams.

Team Exergy received a UCI Continential license for 2011.  This advancement from the Amateur ranks gives them a shot at some of the bigger races.

According to a report in the Idaho Statesman, the team’s Directeur Sportif is looking to establish a good record early in the season in a bid to win spots for both the Tour of California and the Quiznos Pro Challenge.

“We want to ride aggressively,” Hamilton said. “Even if we don’t win overall titles, there’s a lot of glory to be had in every race.”
— Idahoe Statesman

The UCI licensing board has announced the recipients of the latest batch of 4 year ProTour licenses.  A ProTour license allows teams a spot in all ProTour races, setting the stage for a team’s season.

Most of the teams are current ProTour license holders, reapplying when their 4 year license expired.  However, two teams – BMC and Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project – are new to the ProTour ranks.

BMC competed last season with Pro Continental status.  While holding a ProTour license gets you in the races, lack of one doesn’t necessarily keep you out.  Instead, non-ProTour teams can try for one of the wildcard spots.  Now, BMC does not have to worry about trying to get those wildcard spots.

If ever there was a shoe-in to receive a license, however, the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project may just be it.  Consisting of Frank & Andy Schleck, Stuart O’Grady, and Jens Voigt among others, the team is poised to be a powerhouse next season.  There is still a possibility that Fabian Cancellara will also join his former Saxo Bank teammates.

With the two new additions came two teams that were denied their applications – Geox-TMC and Cofidis.

Geox-TMC has been particularly vocal about the decision.  Their roster would seem up to par on paper.  They’ve got Carlos Sastre – 2008 Tour de France winner – and Denis Menchov.  Menchov as among his palmares a 2009 win at the Giro, and a 2010 podim finish in the Tour de France.

From their own website, the UCI’s mission is;

The International Cycling Union (UCI) is cycling’s International Federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The UCI was founded in Paris in 1900.

The UCI administers and promotes the development of the eight disciplines of cycling all around the world (road, track, mountain bike, BMX, para-cycling, cyclo-cross, trials and indoor cycling). Over the last 10 years, the UCI has intensified its development activities on all five continents.

The UCI’s mission is to develop and promote cycling, in close collaboration with National Federations, be it as a competition sport and its associated values (effort, well-being and fair play), as a healthy recreational activity or as a means of transport.