Cycling: Disgusting Conduct in the Tour of Turkey

We all know that cycling is sport that has battled many black eyes over the past few years. Top racers have been banned from the sport, and stripped of major wins, due to the use of performance enhancing drugs. But I think that what occurred in yesterday's Presidential Tour of Turkey may be the most disgusting thing I've seen in cycling ever, and possibly all of sports. Check out the YouTube clip below to see what I'm talking about.

The clip is rather long, but sets up the intensity of the race. If you want to see the specific incident to which I'm referring, then jump to the 3:40 point to see a rider for Team Rabobank reach out and grab race leader Daryl Impey of South Africa, and literally hurl him off his bike and into the barricades that line the course.

International sports site SuperSport.com is reporting that Impey suffered "a fracture of the third disk of his lumbar vertebra, a micro-fracture of his neck, a facial trauma, a few broken teeth and a deep cut in his lips." He is reportedly being held for observation. Because the crash occurred so close to the finish line, by rule, Impey was awarded the same time as the stage winner, Sebastian Siedler, so he ended up still winning the race. A bittersweet victory if I've ever seen one.

I haven't heard yet who the rider was that grabbed Impey, but a lifetime ban should be in order, in my opinion. Big thanks to Lisa over at AR.co.za for the video and follow-up report on this story. Crazy!

Ten Great American Bike Trails

Forbes Traveler is back with another top ten list, this time offering up their picks for ten great America bike trails.

The trails that make the list come in a wide variety of lengths and styles. There are short trails, requiring only hours to complete, while others will stretch in length for days. Some of these are designed for road bikes for those looking to cruise, while others are technical and demanding, just the thing for the mountain bike crowd. The trails stretch across the country, and offer a variety of scenery as well.

Some of the routes that make the list include the popular Slickrock Trail in Moab, which is just 12 miles in length, but can require as much as 8 hours to complete depending on your skill level. For intermediate riders, they offer up the Katy Trail, found in Missouri, that stretches 225 miles along the Missouri River, in the path of an abandoned railroad line. And for the truly adventurous there is the Trans-America trail, which runs coast to coast from Yorktown, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon, a distance of more than 4247 miles.

With spring officially here, it's time to dust off the bike and head out on your favorite trail of choice. Perhaps one of the trails on the list runs near your place or better yet, maybe the story will inspire you to ride one of the longer ones yourself. Put some air in the tires, and get out on the road.

Lance Armstrong Breaks Collarbone in Spain

In a bid to continue his comeback in the sport of professional cycling, seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was racing in the Vuelta a Castilla y León in Spain today where he suffered an accident not far from the finish line, breaking his collarbone in the process.

According to VeloNews , Armstrong was in a pack of riders flying over a rough patch of road in very close proximity to one another. One of the riders lost control, sending at least a dozen riders to the ground, including Armstrong, who was seen alongside the road, clutching his arm shortly there after.

Lance was taken to a hospital for an X-ray where it was determined that he suffered a "fracture of the third medio of the right clavicle", ending his ride in the Vuelta a Castilla y León for this year, and casting serious doubt in his ability to be ready for the Giro d'Italia, one of the major European cycling classics held in Italy each May.

The break is reportedly a clean one, and the Outside Blog quotes Astana team director, Johan Bruyneel as saying "Clean collarbone fracture without complications. Should be fast recovery."

For now, Armstrong will return home to the U.S. where he'll rest and recover for a bit. He won't be getting on a bike again real soon, but hopefully he'll still get a chance to ride in the Giro. It's a race that Lance hasn't participated in before, and I was looking forward to watching him compete in the three-week long event that often serves as a warm-up for the le Tour.

Get well soon Lance, and we'll see you back here in Austin in a few days.

Lance Updates Us on His Status

Lance Armstrong released a video earlier this evening giving cycling fans an update on his progress. He underwent surgery yesterday to repair his collarbone, which he broke a few days back racing in the Vuelta in Spain.

In the video below, Lance indicates that the collarbone was more damaged than was first thought, and that he's in a bit of uncharted territory here. He's never really suffered a major injury in his career, so at this point, it's unclear when he'll be back. How soon, and how well, the bone heals will determine how quickly he can get back on the bike, and get ready for his next race. The Giro is now in doubt, and his preparations for Le Tour will also be effected.

Exclusive Post-Op Interview with Lance -- powered by http://www.livestrong.com

Cycling: Tyler Hamilton Tests Positive, Retires!

A surprising story from the world of cycling today, as American Tyler Hamilton has tested positive for a banned substance for the second time, and has announced his retirement from the sport. VeloNews is reporting that the national road champion was using an herbal supplement to treat his clinically diagnosed depression, and the banned substance was found in that over the counter supplement.

The 38-year old Hamilton says that he was first diagnosed with depression back in 2003, and that other members of his family suffer with the same affliction. He had been using clinically prescribed drugs to treat the depression, but switch to herbal remedies, one of which contained DHEA, a banned steroid. The cyclist indicated that he knew he was taking a banned substance, but was desperate for relief.

Rather than deal with another suspension, his second for a banned substance, or face a lifetime ban, Hamilton has decided to retire from the sport so that he can deal with his health issues more directly. Personally, I wish him the best of luck in working on these issues. It's a shame his career has to end with this shadow over his head, but it is more important for him to get healthy at this point. Good luck Tyler!

Thanks to the Outside Blog for the heads up on this one.