Paternity.

One of our riding companions was astounded this week to find that he is the father of a 18 year old French girl......

Ludo received an e-mail from one of his ex - pro workmates that contained a link to a set of photos on the industrial and civil unrest in France. On opening the link

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/10/france_on_strike.html

He was staggered to see a very familiar looking face in one of the photographs (see below).

After searching his memory of that last frantic criterium season in 1993 when, post Tour, he and the lads had been driving around the country trying to make as much cash as possible, he finally recalled a very winsome chambermaid in a hotel in Plouay........an energetic lass, at least she was after she tried something from the medicine bag...

It was an unforgettable night, at least that's how it seemed at the time.

In a state of shock after seeing the photo, Ludo searched on Facebook and found that the mother still lives in Plouay.

Needless to say he's proud of his daughter…

Oh Alberto?

Alberto Contador has revealed he has failed an anti-doping test for the banned substance clenbuterol during this year's Tour de France.
Contador won the Tour de France for a third time in July, beating Andy Schleck by 39 seconds.
Apparently the quantities concerned are minute and there are previous cases where athletes have been banned and then susequently proved the drug came from contaminated supplements.
After all the drug drama over the past 20 years this is probably the first time I have thought he may not be guilty.
Bjarne Riis has also said that he is certain of Contador's innocence. Who could want for a better reference than that :-).