TOUR DE FRANCE NEWS ROUND-UP

• Tuesday, 1 July 2008
• By Stephen Farrand
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CADEL EVANS GETS TOUR DE FRANCE NUMBER ONE
Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) will start the Tour de France on Saturday wearing race number one after organisers ASO decided to give him THE number usually reserved for the previous year’s winner.

Evans finished second to Alberto Contador last year and in the absence of the Spaniard and his Astana team, ASO have promoted Evans to the top of the start list.

The Aussie must be hoping ASO’s decision will not be the kiss of death to his chances of finally winning the Tour de France after several years of placings in the top ten.

MCQUAID HOPES FOR A SUCCESSFUL TOUR
Despite the power struggle between the UCI and Tour organisers, UCI President Pat McQuaid has told French newspaper L’Equipe he hopes this year’s race is a success “without trouble, without problems and without scandal.”

The Tour will be held under French Cycling Federation rules and governance because of the fights between the UCI and ASO but McQuaid seems to be offering an olive branch just a few days before the start of the Tour in Brest.

CUNEGO GOES DOPING FREE
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) has agreed to be part of a new anti-doping initiative in Italy and will ride the Tour de France with a temporary tattoo on his arm saying “I’m Doping Free”.

Cunego agreed to sign up to the campaign after reading a letter published in the Gazetta dello Sport newspaper by club cyclist Marco Guadagnini. The former Giro d’Italia winner and overall contender in the Tour de France will officially present the campaign before the start of the Tour on Saturday.

“We’ve got to launch a message and we’ve got to show that we want to change things,” Cunego told Gazzetta.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed. It’s important that people know that life and sport is about hard work and making sacrifices, not taking short cuts.”

“I think people will be surprised by how many athletes sign up to the 'I’m doping free' project.”

For more information go to: www.dopingfree.org.