AMIGO DI BIRILLO IS FRANK SCHLECK

Cyclingnews.com is reporting that Frank Schleck is being investigated for a 2006 payment to Eufemeniano Fuentes, the central character in the Operation Puerto. Schleck is also being identified as "Amigo di Birillo" or friend of Birillo whom we already know to be Ivan Basso, Schleck's former teammate at CSC under admitted doper Bjarne Riis. This is devastating news for Schleck and Team Saxo Bank - CSC. It remains to be seen if Schleck will still race this Sunday's World Championships as co-leader of the Luxembourg team with his brother Andy.

Julich retires, brings end to Roaring Fork cycling's "glory days"

Former Tour de France 3rd place finisher and Olympic medalist Bobby Julich, originally from Glenwood Springs, has retired from bicycle racing, and thus, brings an end to the 'glory days' of the Roaring Fork Valley's biking scene. The late 70's, 80's and early 90's saw a tremendous display of talent in cycling in the Roaring Fork, the Coors Classic was raging and the Grewal brothers were dominating, Tom Hayles was racking up national titles in cyclocross. The spirit was strong and inspirational and part of the result was Glenwood's Bobby Julich ascending to the top of the sport as well.

Times have changed however, the Coors is long gone, as are such races as the Munsingwear Classic in Crested Butte and the Tour of the Alpine Banks in Glenwood Springs. Gone also is a development system to help inspire the next generation. Sure, Alex Hagman just finished in 21st place at US Pro road nationals, and Max Taam's 4th and 6th places in the Leadville 100 show some solid talent here in the valley, but it really has been a long time since Alexi won gold and brother Rishi dominated on the road and then the mountain bike, and, it has been a decade since Bobby took third in the Tour. It's not as if there is a void of talent in the valley either, a long list of junior talent has come and gone without grabbing ahold of cycling. Nathan Waldron, Simi Hamilton, Noah Hoffman, Brandon Cooper and many others might have taken up cycling a little more had there only been a junior development system here in the valley that other sports have like Nordic racing and running.

The Aspen Cycling Club is in a perfect position to take up the cause, but alas, "It's all about the points" at the ACC, masters points at that. Come on Aspen Cycling, pick up the ball that has been fumbled over 15 years ago, and lead the way for western slope junior development, it's about time to make it more than just the points.