Frankie: Another Six Weeks!

Poor Frankie, after a 2-hour hearing with the Luxembourg anti-doping association (LADA) (OK, I know it's ALAD really, but LADA is funnier), he now has to wait another six weeks before getting a decision.

For heaven's sake, why???

And the Lux paper Le Quotidien has run a piece suggesting that Nissan are withdrawing their support from RadioShack, for unspecified reasons, but of course it's all to do with bloody Armstrong and the doping scandal.

Interesting side note - did anybody else laugh hysterically at the report that Dr Ferrari gave an interview in which he said he'd never seen Armstrong dope,  and explained the "never had a positive test" as being simply because Armstrong always rode clean? Mind you, Dr Ferrari also said that he had never told anyone to dope, but was concerned only with giving advice on nutrition and training schedules, and the use of cunning tricks such as training at altitude.  Somehow I don't quite believe him...

Anyway, the loss of Nissan might be a good thing as far as Trek are concerned.  They were mighty cross this year at not being allowed to be in the team name - you remember, no more than two sponsor names for Pro-Teams - so next year it might well be RadioShack Trek.  

Maybe RadioShack will give up sponsoring as well: after all, they are the main name associated with Armstrong. Then perhaps Leopard will come back in as sponsors, and hey! Leopard Trek!

Well, I'm very sorry for Frankie and all the family, it would have been so much nicer if this could have been resolved before Christmas. Still, let's send them all our very best wishes for Christmas, and we all hope to see a much better New Year for everyone.

Have a lovely Christmas break, Schlecklanders, I don't expect there will be much blogging over the holidays, so I will send you all my wishes for a super Christmas, and a very happy New Year.

Kisses!