interest for cycling fans across the globe is that IMAX is following the CSC team throughout this year's race.  A forty-minute film is expected towards the end of this year/early next year.

As many of you will know by now, at the Fitchburg Classic last weekend, Navigators pro Henk Vogels was involved it what many present described as the worst crash they had ever seen.  Whilst descending in the leading group, Vogels turned around to view the chase behind and clipped the wheel of the rider in front.  Henk was catapulted against the guardrail at the side of the road and eventually ground to a halt.  He was flown to
Massachusetts
University
Hospital where it was discovered that he had suffered a triple break to his ankle and also a fracture to one of his vertebrae.  I heard from Ed Beamon last week, Navigators Team Manager, who told me that he his condition is slowly improving and that as soon as he can, he will be flying home to Queensland to be with his wife Cindy and young child.

It was announced this last week that the Beijing Olympics in 2008 will feature BMX racing for the first time at the expense of two track events.  It is expected that these two events will be the Madison and then either the Team Pursuit or Individual Pursuit due to the amount of time taken to run each of the events.

I realise that this next piece of news may come as a shock to some of you but I can now confirm that Lampre rider Rumsas has discovered that his B sample from this year's Giro has also tested positive for EPO.  It is now thought that the rider who finished third in last year's Tour de France will be hit with a two-year ban from the sport.  And if Rumsas isn't then we, the fans, really need to start asking questions of those that govern cycling and how serious they are about cleaning up our beautiful sport.

Finally, British Tester Michael Hutchinson failed in his bid to succeed Chris Boardman's distance of 49.441872km in Wednesday's Hour Record attempt. 
Hutchinson pulled up after 40 minutes, already 2 minutes down on the record.  He later commented that he had peaked too early in the season but that he would look to schedule another attempt for September/October when he hopes to have regained some form.  One spectator who witnessed the attempt described him as "riding like a dog!  He was all over the place and kept riding on the tops!"  I guess you could interpret that as peaking a little early!

Keep your thoughts and comments coming in.

Be sure to follow our Tour de France coverage during the next 3 weeks. Check out our Tour de France section at http://www.roadcycling.com/events/tdf2003 for lots of great info. Keep sending us emails at  info@roadcycling.com and let us know about features and content you would like to see on Roadcycling.com during the World?s biggest stage race.

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