Frankie, we support you.

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EisenAndy has moved to Wordpress for a while, to see if it is better than Blogger: and I took the opportunity to get the name Schleckland back, yay!
The address is schleckland.wordpress.com
But I'm keeping Eisen Andy going for now, as it has the best SEO!
Click here for an easy jump to the new blog, see what you think of it.

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Well, you knew that we would, didn't you? Warm virtual hugs to poor Frankie, going through a terrible time just now.

At least dear Mr Bruyneel has managed to scrape up an ounce of compassion and announce in his blog that he supports Frankie.

Not in a major press-release, mind you, not on Twitter, just tucked away on his blog. Perhaps he assumes that everyone reads it.

"The phone call every sports director hates to receive" he starts, referring to the call from the UCI about Frankie's adverse result, then he says he phoned Frankie, and then he says "I believe Frank when he declared his innocence."

Oh good. Welcome to the club. We think he's innocent, too.

Mind you, just to stir these muddy waters, there's another report out today in Cycling News ("the one that all the riders read" said Cav in his book) that makes interesting reading.

Firstly it just comes right out and says that the Luxembourg media say that Frankie and Andy are going to Astana next year. Just like that!

It claims that there were rumours that Frankie was meeting Astana on the rest day, before being notified of his adverse result: although I understood that the announcement was made during dinner, which I presume to be the evening meal? Did anyone else hear these rumours? No, me neither.

Did anyone else know that Astana's operations company is based in Lux? Or that their Tour cars are registered there? Actually, that could be a bit of a red herring, as Lux is famous for having friendly and flexible tax laws, isn't it?

The report then goes on to reveal startlingly detailed information about their financial dealings. Almost embarrassingly detailed, really.

I don't know what to think about that: to some extent I don't really mind where the boys go, as long as they go somewhere where they will be happy, and will be able to race well.

And I really hope that the adverse result can be cleared up quickly.

Stick with it Frankie, we're all behind you! *waves Lux ensign in support* (it's only a hand-made paper one, using felt tips, but it's the thought that counts)