For the record, on Armstrong and Valverde

There's always more, isn't there? I wondered why Lance Armstrong would want to fund yet another testing service when there are so many others already provided. OTOH it seemed like a good way to display commitment. OTOOH it looks like a bad move when he has to back down on that commitment. OTOOH it never really mattered, it was for show. He could just get a feed of data from the other testers, like Team Astana, surely, and post that on the web?

And now to more disquieting news: Valverde.

The Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) has summoned Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde to face charges of doping or attempting to dope in relation to the infamous 'Operation Puerto' affair.

OK, no big deal, we've been through this a few times now - except that there's an alleged DNA match between last year's Tour stage sample (taken on Italian soil) and soem DNA extracted from one of those infamous Spanish bags of blood. Whilst it's all sounding very forensic, it's also very serious if proven.