Tour de France - Kim Kirchen And Cadel Evans, 1 And 2 After Stage 9

A Review of Sunday's Tour de France
Sunday's Stage : 139.2 mile trek from Toulouse to Bagneres-de-Bigorre that included the Peyresourde pass and the Aspin pass.

Winner: Riccardo Ricco of Italy. This was Riccardo's second tour stage win.

Yellow Jersey: Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg ahead of Cadel Evans of Australia.



STAGE 9 RESULTS

1. Riccardo Ricco, Italy 5:39:28
2. Vladimir Efimkin, Russia
3. Cyril Dessel, France
4. Dmitry Fofonov, Kazakhstan
5. Christian Knees, Germany


OVERALL STANDINGS

1. Kim Kirchen, Luxembourg 38:07:19
2. Cadel Evans, Australia
3. Christian Vande Velde, U.S.
4. Stefan Schumacher, Germany
5. Denis Menchov, Russia

Kate Hudson Plays Stepmom To Lance Armstrong's Children

Making a good impression on your partner's children is one of the biggest challenges facing anyone in a new relationship.

However if appearances are anything to go by then Hollywood actress Kate Hudson has passed her latest role - that of real-life stepmom - with flying colours.

The 29-year-old blonde beauty was spotted shopping with new beau Lance Armstrong and his twin daughters Isabelle and Grace, 6, in Santa Monica at the weekend.

And if Hudson was worried about making a good impression, she has nothing to fear on that score.

In fact Hudson proved such a hit with Armstong's daughters that one of them clung happily to her hand following their visit to the Bentons Sporting Goods Store in Pacific Palisades, California.

However fortunately for Hudson it wasn't her first encounter with Armstrong's children.

They spent Father’s Day together in Brooklyn with Hudson's son Ryder, 4, and Armstrong's children Luke, 8, and the twins.

On that occasion, it turned out to be a rather unconventional family affair, with Hudson's former husband, rocker Chris Robinson, also joining in the two hour brunch.

Since Hudson and the seven-time Tour de France champion began dating in May, their relationship has accelerated at lightning speed, with speculation mounting that the Almost Famous star will become the next Mrs Armstrong.


Last week it was a case of meet the parents, when Armstrong joined his girlfriend and her mother, Goldie Hawn, for a late lunch.


Again, it was smiles all round with the trio laughing and chatting easily.

Content and Image Courtsey: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/

Cadel Evans Follows As Schumacher Takes Yellow

Australian Tour de France favourite Cadel Evans is ideally placed for the mountains to come by producing a startling performance in the stage four 29.5km time trial at Cholet.

Since the 2008 Tour route was unveiled last October in Paris, it was felt that the shorter distance of the stage - rather than a customary 50km-plus - would disadvantage Evans.

But among the overall contenders for the Tour, Evans was the rider who profited best.

Evans' fourth place at 27 seconds to German stage winner and new race leader Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) has moved him up from ninth overall to fourth at 21 seconds.

Behind were Russian Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Spain's Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) and Carlos Sastre (CSC) and Luxembourg's Andy and Frank Schlech (CSC).

Schumacher was the biggest winner though, even if he is not considered a Tour winner.

Content Courtsey: http://www.theage.com.au/news/tourdefrance

Floyd Landis Loses Appeal Over Tour de France Doping Case

American cyclist Floyd Landis has lost his last resort appeal to retain his 2006 Tour de France title after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled his positive doping test from the race was valid.

The Swiss court's three-member panel announced its verdict Monday, dismissing Landis's appeal of a two-year ban for a positive result for synthetic testosterone. The court panel deliberated the case for three months following a hearing in New York.

Sports' highest court confirmed that Landis is suspended until January 29, 2009. He was also ordered to pay $100,000 toward the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's expenses to fight the case.

Landis said he is "saddened" by the decision and is looking into his legal options and deciding on the best way to proceed.

Landis tested positive for testosterone after winning the 17th stage of the 2006 Tour de France with an incredible breakaway through the Alps. The American rider is the first to be stripped of the Tour de France title for a doping violation.

This news has been published in Voanews.com

"Cool And Casual" Lance Armstrong In Love With "Strapless White" Kate Hudson?

New Love Of Lance Armstrong?

Venue: Las Brisas Restaurant, Laguna Beach, California

Occasion: Romantic Dinner Date

Spotted: “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” babe Kate Hudson
AND
Tour de France Champ Lance Armstrong

Attires:
Lance Armstrong: Cool and casual in a “Have a Nike Day” t-shirt and a pair of khaki cargo pants

Kate Hudson: Strapless White Dress

During a recent interview, when asked about his relationship with Kate, Lance replied, “I know you have to ask that question, and it’s my right not to answer it.” Kate has also kept tight-lipped about their love, saying, “It’s better to let people speculate as much as they want to speculate.”

Hmm... I have to buy more space from blogspot for these two in the future :-)

Content and Image Courtsey: celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/

Australia's Michael Rogers Opts Out Of Tour de France

As he was suffering from virus and because of his late start to his preparation, Australia's Michael Rogers will miss this year's Tour de France.

Rogers did not ride for the first four months of the year and has decided he will not have the necessary training base to contest the month-long Tour.

Rogers was near the lead in last year's race before a crash forced him out in the eighth stage.