I ripped this from Brian at RaceCX. Thanks homie! Of note while watching: Even the pros hit the deck (watch Heule on the run up and embed the sound of Nelson saying "HA-HA"!).

So it looks like Team Fidea has ponied up and signed an ethics charter to support anti doping. Roughy translated from Cyclocross Info:

The Fidea-team wants to support the fight against doping. The ten racers on who the team counts all signed a “sport-loving charter” (Greg: That is a hilarious translation), an internal regulation that will issue fines and other sanctions in case of a positive.

"We are a leader in this area", said manager Van Kasteren. "We want contribute with the Fidea team an even playing field. We already had an earlier agreement, but now we’ve elaborated and refined it.”

The charter contains also a general ethics code of conduct. It has directives concerning clothing (Greg: Huh??), training periods, handles press... "a first of its kind in Belgium."

I guess I'm down with anything that moves the ball forward on this front. But, these Belgian 'renners' have been, are and will always be heroes more than bike racers to their supporter clubs. It's not about winning but about being heroic. It's about the ability of the rider to merge their guts and effort with the Belgian countryside...the same one they came from and where they're going to be buried some day. 'Cross in particular is even more poetic in this sense. Traversing their desolate countrysides of muddied cow pastures and barns. That's why it's so core to them and why we in America think...well...think differently. We like the winner....the result....the prize. Nothing wrong with that but the question of doping fades into the background for a Belgian when it isn't helping anyone necessarily win (it may), but is assisting, quietly, the suffering heroism going on for their fans and countrymen.

I'm going to get the shit kicked out of me in Belgium. HA!

I don't even know where to begin. Preposterous is the only word I can think of...and how the word defines to our sport. It's a secretly recorded audio Greg Lemond recorded on a call with Stephanie McIlvain where Lemond converses her into hearing Armstrong admitting Lance used performance enhancing drugs.

The MP3 can be accessed from Smithers blog here. You better have a coffee ready to sit through the 20 minutes of this crap. When Stephanie insinuates that she "...wonders what Hincapie's baby will look like (due to drug use)..." I about choked.

If you're pissed at me re-casting this stuff, apologies. I am on the fence about it pissing me off, fascinating me or feeling completely apathetic. You can make up your own opinions.

There is fairly good break down of Cross Vegas found here along with some pretty darn good photography of the evening.

My boy John B got an AWESOME pic of Cipo at the "World Crit Championships" in Vegas. Check out Steve Bauer drilling it in front of him. And yes, that is 'crosser Mark McCormack coming through on the inside! RAD pic John!!

This is a pretty well produced re-cap of the UCI race Pagey-Page won in Michigan in is new Sunweb colors.The video in its entirety can be seen here.

...grabs the 'W' at CrossVegas.

photo by BikeDrool.

I am such a galactic wuss when I hear stories like this. I am in disbelief that a man can go from this:

To 4th place behind Swiss national champ Christian Huele, US national champ Ryan Trebon and genetic freak Barry Wicks on his first race back sine mangling his body earlier this year.

That man is Andy Jacques-Maynes and he did this at the UCI Star Crossed event last night in Seattle. An absolutely sick accomplishment and I will never scribe dribble again (OK maybe a little) after hearing stories like this.

I NEED to get video of this race.

You can read a full on report of the new Sam Smith (Transitions) here on Cyclocrossworld, but locals can come to the historic Boulder Theater and see it first hand on the big screen.

When: October 4th 2007.

Info and ticket purchase can be found Here.