- You know the Tour de France is right around the corner when Pierre Ballester and David Walsh publish another book about Lance Armstrong.  Obviously they didn't take the advice of esteemed International Herald Tribune reporter Sam Abt who suggested a couple of years ago it was perhaps time for them to "move on".  Of course, Walsh and Ballester's favorite subject was in retirement then.  He's back now and so are they.  Fair enough, except that early indications are that the book, "Le Sale Tour" (or The Dirty Tour), published today, is filled with wild speculation about Armstrong's reasons for returning to the sport, including future political ambitions, to make money, etc.  (Chicago Bulls basketball star Michael Jordan made more than $30 million in salary per year each of the last few years of his career, not including endorsements.  Armstrong is not taking a salary for riding for Astana but naturally is able to command high appearance fees.)  Ballester and Walsh also assert "(Tour de France organizer) ASO's new strategy is more turned towards business than the credibility of the sport".  Huh?  That has always been ASO's "strategy" and always will be for as long as they own the race.

Three years ago I asked Ballester, who once covered cycling, including Greg LeMond's comeback 20 years ago, for French sports daily L'Equipe, if he was a cycling fan.  He said no, his sport is rugby.  Funny, a former French rugby player last year stated that dope testing is virtually non-existent in the sport.  No wonder Ballester (and Walsh for that matter) likes rugby.  It is "clean" because no one is out to bust it.  Meanwhile, for over 10 years pro cycling, an easy target, is repeatedly targeted at every opportunity.

Will it ever end?  Not as long as there is money to be made tearing down the sport.

-Pete

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

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- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 21 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over three and one half hours of coverage.  North America.)

- More Giro d'Italia Stage 21 videos to come...

2009 Giro d'Italia video clips

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video via Eurosport.

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video streaming on Rai. 

- Giro LIVE now on Universal Sports.  Link at right.

- Giro d'Italia LIVE now on Rai Sport Piu.  (First Rai link at right.)

- Giro Rome TT start order and times here. (.pdf)

Alberto Contador in the snow on Tour de France reconnaissance
at the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard.  This mountain pass
will be featured in Stage 16.  But Contador will first race in the
Dauphine Libere which starts in one week.
photo courtesy T. Guillot/Le Dauphiné Libéré (more photos)

- 2009 Dauphiné Libéré:  This race starts one week from today.  We'll have pre-race coverage starting tomorrow, Monday.  Dauphine Libere official website here.  Race route.  Stages. 

- Tour of Belgium: Like the Giro, the Tour of Belgium finishes with an individual time trial today.  First rider to depart: Mathieu Criquielion at 13:20 CET (7:20am U.S. Eastern).  Race leader Lars Boom departs at 15:33 CET (9:33am U.S. Eastern).  Full start order and times here.  Live video, tickers and other links below.

- Giro d'Italia Stage 21 Individual Time Trial in Rome starts at 13:45 CET (7:45am U.S. Eastern) when the first rider, Evgeny Sokolov (BBox Bouygues Telecom) departs.  Race leader Denis Menchov will depart last, scheduled at 17:01 CET (11:01am U.S. Eastern).  Riders will depart at 1-minute intervals with the final 15 riders departing at 3-minute intervals.  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:50am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 15:45 CET (9:45am U.S. Eastern).  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

- Tour of Belgium live video streaming is scheduled to begin at 14:10 CET (8:10am U.S. Eastern).  Links below.

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 20 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over three hours of coverage.  North America.)

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Giro d'Italia.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 source on the internet for live race coverage.  Now in our 5th year.

- Sunday's Giro d'Italia Stage 21 Individual Time Trial in Rome starts at 13:45 CET (7:45am U.S. Eastern) when the first rider, Evgeny Sokolov (BBox Bouygues Telecom) departs.  Race leader Denis Menchov will depart last, scheduled at 17:01 CET (11:01am U.S. Eastern).  Riders will depart at 1-minute intervals with the final 15 riders departing at 3-minute intervals.  You'll find the complete Giro Rome TT start order and times here. (.pdf)  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:50am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 15:45 CET (9:45am U.S. Eastern).  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 20 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over three hours of coverage.  North America.)

- Giro live tickers in multiple languages in our Live tickers section at right.

Painting the Giro: Cycling art by Rob Ijbema

NEW! 2009 Giro d'Italia: Blockhaus
acrylic on paper 5x9"
The face of the race: Menchov shadowing Di Luca
Copyright © 2009 Rob Ijbema

- See Painting the Giro: Cycling art by Rob Ijbema

- Giro LIVE now on Universal Sports.  Link at right.

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video streaming now on Rai Sport Piu.  Link at right.

- Giro d'Italia Stage 20 departs Napoli at 12:25 CET (6:25am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Anagni between 17:01 and 17:29 CET (11:01am and 11:29am U.S. Eastern).  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport 2 is scheduled to begin at 16:30 CET (10:30am U.S. Eastern); coverage might appear on the main Eurosport channel depending on weather conditions at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris as well as competitor match-ups.  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

Dauphiné Libéré LIVE coverage at www.cyclingfans.com
photo Copyright © 2009 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

- Tour of Belgium live video streaming is scheduled to begin at 14:10 CET (8:10am U.S. Eastern).  Links below.

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 19 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over three and a half hours of coverage.  North America.)

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Giro d'Italia.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 source on the internet for live race coverage.  Now in our 5th year.

- Saturday's Giro d'Italia Stage 20 departs Napoli at 12:25 CET (6:25am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Anagni between 17:01 and 17:29 CET (11:01am and 11:29am U.S. Eastern).  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport 2 is scheduled to begin at 16:30 CET (10:30am U.S. Eastern); coverage might appear on the main Eurosport channel depending on weather conditions at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris as well as competitor match-ups.  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

Dauphiné Libéré LIVE coverage at www.cyclingfans.com
photo Copyright © 2009 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 19 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over three and a half hours of coverage.  North America.)

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video streaming via Eurosport video and audio.  Also, Universal Sports and Rai Sport Piu.  Choose your language for commentary in our Live audio streaming section, links at right.

- Lots of Giro live tickers in multiple languages in gray section at right.

- Giro LIVE now on Universal Sports.  Link at right.

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video streaming now on Rai Sport Piu web stream.  First Rai link at right.

- Tour of Belgium LIVE now.  See feed below.

- Tour of Belgium live video streaming is scheduled to begin at 14:00 CET (8am U.S. Eastern).  Links below.

Giro d'Italia Stage 19 Profile

- Giro d'Italia Stage 19 departs Avellino at 13:05 CET (7:05am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at Vesuvio (Ercolano) between 17:05 and 17:30 CET (11:05am and 11:30am U.S. Eastern).  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport 2 is scheduled to begin at 16:10 CET (10:10am U.S. Eastern); coverage might appear on the main Eurosport channel depending on weather conditions at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris as well as competitor match-ups.  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 18 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over three hours of coverage.  North America.)

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Giro d'Italia.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 source on the internet for live race coverage.  Now in our 5th year.

- Friday's Giro d'Italia Stage 19 departs Avellino at 13:05 CET (7:05am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at Vesuvio (Ercolano) between 17:05 and 17:30 CET (11:05am and 11:30am U.S. Eastern).  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport 2 is scheduled to begin at 16:10 CET (10:10am U.S. Eastern); coverage might appear on the main Eurosport channel depending on weather conditions at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris as well as competitor match-ups.  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 18 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over three hours of coverage.  North America.)

- Giro LIVE now on Eurosport, switched from tennis.  See Eurosport live audio streams, links at right.

- Regarding Eurosport live audio:  They just announced they are staying with Roland Garros live coverage of the Roger Federer match for now.  They apologized to cycling fans.

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video streaming via Rai.

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video streaming on Universal Sports.  Link at right.

- Giro LIVE on Rai Sport too.  (Opens directly in media player.)

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video streaming now on Rai Sport Piu web stream.  (First Rai link at right.)

- Tour of Belgium LIVE now.

- Tour of Belgium live video streaming is scheduled to begin at 14:00 CET (8am U.S. Eastern).

- Giro d'Italia Stage 18 departs Sulmona at 12:50 CET (6:50am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Benevento between 17:03 and 17:30 CET (11:03am and 11:30am U.S. Eastern).  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:50am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport 2 is scheduled to begin at 16:00 CET (10:00am U.S. Eastern); coverage might appear on the main Eurosport channel depending on weather conditions at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris as well as competitor match-ups.  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

Painting the Giro: Cycling art by Rob Ijbema

2009 Giro d'Italia: Maglia Rosa, Mark Cavendish
acrylic on paper 5x8"
Copyright © 2009 Rob Ijbema

- See Painting the Giro: Cycling art by Rob Ijbema

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 17 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over four hours of coverage.  North America.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Giro d'Italia.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 source on the internet for live race coverage.  Now in our 5th year.

- Tour of Belgium live video streaming is scheduled to begin at 14:00 CET (8am U.S. Eastern).

- Thursday's Giro d'Italia Stage 18 departs Sulmona at 12:50 CET (6:50am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Benevento between 17:03 and 17:30 CET (11:03am and 11:30am U.S. Eastern).  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:50am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport 2 is scheduled to begin at 16:00 CET (10:00am U.S. Eastern); coverage might appear on the main Eurosport channel depending on weather conditions at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris as well as competitor match-ups.  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 17 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over four hours of coverage.  North America.)

- Giro LIVE video streaming now on Eurosport.

- Giro LIVE on Rai Sport Piu.  Link at right.  More to come.

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video streaming on Universal.  Link at right.

- Tour of Belgium LIVE video streaming on Sporza here.  This is Stage 1.  Tour of Belgium live ticker here.  (Google-translated to English)

- Next update:  Around 14:50 CET (8:50am U.S. Eastern)

Painting the Giro: Cycling art by Rob Ijbema

2009 Giro d'Italia: Maglia Rosa, Mark Cavendish
acrylic on paper 5x8"
Copyright © 2009 Rob Ijbema

- See Painting the Giro: Cycling art by Rob Ijbema

- The Rai Sport Piu web streams (first Rai link in Live video streaming section at right) should be live first with Giro d'Italia Stage 17 coverage.  Available Eurosport online coverage will depend on what's happening at the Roland Garros (French Open) tennis tournament.  We'll update links throughout the stage.

2009 Giro d'Italia:  Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team)
on his way to winning Stage 16.
Copyright © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti for cyclingfans.com

- Giro d'Italia Stage 17 departs Chieti at 14:50 CET (8:50am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at Blockhaus between 17:12 and 17:30 CET (11:12am and 11:30am U.S. Eastern).  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:50am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport 2 is scheduled to begin at 15:30 CET (9:30am U.S. Eastern); coverage might appear on the main Eurosport channel depending on weather conditions at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris as well as competitor match-ups.  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

Giro d'Italia Stage 17 Profile

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Giro d'Italia.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 source on the internet for live race coverage.  Now in our 5th year.

- Tuesday is the second and final rest day of the 2009 Giro d'Italia.  Coming later on Tuesday: Stage 16 photos, more videos, Tour de Cycling - Tuesday, and Stage 17 info.

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 16 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over three and a half hours of coverage.  North America.)

- Giro d'Italia:  Can't watch but can listen along?  Select your language from our list of Eurosport live audio streams.  (links in Live audio streaming section at right)  Audio streams can also be played while watching one of the video feeds, very useful if the commentary in your video feed is in a language you don't understand.

- Giro LIVE on Eurosport, earlier than scheduled.

- Giro d'Italia LIVE video streaming now on Universal Sports.  Links at right.

- Giro LIVE now via Rai.

- Giro d'Italia LIVE now on Rai Sport Piu web stream.  First Rai Sport link at right.

- First Giro feeds to go live will likely be the Rai Sport Piu web stream.  (First Rai Sport Piu link at right.)  As usual, we will update our Giro d'Italia live video listings throughout the stage, with the best available feeds.

- Stage 16 Preview:  This stage has all the makings of a great day of strategy and racing, attacks, counter attacks, hesitating on the part of some, going for broke on the part of others.  Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) and Levi Leipheimer (Astana), the top 3 in the overall going into today's stage, are all within 43 seconds of one another.  Franco Pellizotti and Ivan Basso of Liquigas are 4th and 6th at 2 minutes and 3:03, respectively, of Menchov.  Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) is 5th at 2:52.  Menchov fears this stage the most.  It will be hard to control, there likely will be attacks all day long and Menchov's rivals will attempt, and succeed, to isolate the Russian.  It will be up to Menchov, as race leader, to respond.  Will he find allies on the road?  There will be attacks on the climbs and there will be attacks on the descents.  Teammates of contenders will be sent up the road early and thus potentially available late in the stage to help their team leaders.  Other attackers from far out may become overall contenders on the road.  Lance Armstrong could attack a couple of climbs from the finish, a move that could benefit team leader Levi Leipheimer as well as allow Armstrong, going at his own pace, to get in some great training miles.  One thing is sure: all the teams vying for overall victory will have a plan designed to ensure success.  The most successful stage race strategist around, Astana's Johan Bruyneel, lives for days like this.  Astana misses Chris Horner but they can still play a huge role in dynamiting a stage like this.  So this stage is about teammates up the road, attacks on the climbs, attacks on the descents, and then one last climb where...Ka-Boom!...the first 4 km are particularly difficult.  Some will be all smiles on Tuesday's rest day, some will regret missed opportunities, some will simply say "I gave it all I had."  Then on Wednesday, the climb to Blockhaus.  Best sport in the world.  -Pete

Giro d'Italia Stage 16 Profile

- Giro d'Italia Stage 16 departs Pergola at 10:45 CET (4:45am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at Monte Petrano (Cagli) at around 17:19 CET (11:19am U.S. Eastern).  Giro d'Italia live video streaming on Universal Sports is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern.  Giro live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 16:00 CET (10am U.S. Eastern) but could start earlier depending on weather conditions at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris as well as competitor match-ups.  The Rai Sport Piu web streams usually go live before television coverage.

- Watch the Giro d'Italia Stage 15 On Demand on Universal Sports here.  (Over three and a half hours of coverage.  North America.)

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Giro d'Italia.