Midi Libre, Route du S?d and GP Pino Cerami.

As we were going to press, reports have come through from the Vuelta that Roadcycling.com diarist Tyler Hamilton has returned two positive blood tests that showed he had undergone a homologous blood transfusion.  The positive results have come from the Athens Olympic Games and also the Vuelta and showed evidence of a, "mixed red blood cell population, an indication of a homologous blood transfusion," Phonak's press officer Georges L?chinger was quoted by AP as saying. 
Hamilton has denied having undergone a transfusion, saying instead that the positive test was the result of a surgical intervention he had some time ago.  Phonak team director Alvaro Pino said, "I have spoken to
Tyler and he has claimed he is innocent and apart from whatever the (Phonak) team decides, he will do whatever he has to do to defend himself from these accusations."   This is the first case to return a positive result for blood doping based on a new powerful test developed by Australian researchers and first used at the Tour de France in July. Team Phonak will be holding a press conference later this evening.  Keep up to date on the
Tyler situation at Roadcycling.com.

As always, opinions and suggestions are also welcome at ian@roadcycling.com.

Till next week,

Ian