21.   The Tour de France will start one week earlier next year to allow the best professional cyclists to ride in the Atlanta Olympics, the International Cycling Union announced.

22.   Three-time Tour of France winner Lance Armstrong has defended the Italian doctor who is on trial for allegedly giving several professional cyclists banned performance-enhancing drugs.

23.   Hincapie, born in New York of Colombian parents, gained his inspiration for becoming a professional cyclist from his father, who works for an American airline.

24.   Three Colombian professional cyclists were killed on Tuesday after colliding with a lorry.

25.   Three French professional cyclists have received six month suspensions for failing drugs tests from the French cycling authorities, it was announced here on Tuesday.

26.   Nicholas Aubier says he was forced out after four years as a professional cyclist because he did now want to take drugs.

27.   Roux, a former professional cyclist who had been coaching the Canadian team, replaces Francis Van Londersele who has joined a new French team, Cofidis.