the_hoyle wrote:
What a fantastically cheery start to your story!!

Roubaix-Lille Metropole have announced three new signings today. As part of slight change in set up at the team Daniel Verbrackel wants to increase the team size to 14 and participate in a few more races. It's the start of a hoped slow move towards going Pro Continental in a few seasons. Verbrackel wants RLM to one day match the lure of ACBB.

Gerald Barrat is 18 years old. He lives in Roubaix and is from the region of Nord Pas Calais. He has been a major factor in the French Junior leagues so far this year and has been rewarded with a contract.
Alexander Lemair is 24 years old. He used to race for RLM between 2008 and 2010. After a time away Alex returns to provide some sprint fire power.
Ian Van Achteren is 20 years old. He comes from Namur in Belgium. Ian has won a number of amateur races in Belgium and when he was ignored by the Belgian teams, decided to go slightly abroad.

RLM are looking to add one more rider. Experts are looking at amateur sensation Tom Lasnik from the UK. Tom has won almost every race he enters and a lot of people are excited about the young Brit.

In other news, there is still no name given to the hospitalized rider. 3 days after the accident with a lorry no details have been released. The rider is still in hospital and it is all but confirmed that he is battling for his life. It's been a dark dark week for cycling and everyone is holding out hope he pulls through...

This dark week has taken yet another twist today. Then it took one more. A few days ago a rider was rushed to hospital following a collision with a lorry, today his condition and his identity were released. Also today bad news besets one of the World Tour teams.

That World Tour team is Katusha. An irregularity in it's financial make up has seen it land a hefty fine of 1.5million Euros. Details are not the best well known, but the UCI were not happy with some of the sponsorship details handed to it as part of Katusha's World Tour application documents back at the end of 2011. The fine is the first step as the investigation continues. If things get worse Katusha could fined itself docked rankings points threatening its spot in the top tier, and at worst it could have its World Tour license revoked. This error could cost the team more than just money.

On to the less good news. A statement was today released about the unfortunate rider that was hit by a lorry earlier in the week. That rider was Vincenzo Nibali. He was hit whilst out on a training ride close to his home. Nibali was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. It has been confirmed that he is still in a critical condition with severe injuries. Nibali has been stabilized but he is still in a fragile state, and we send him our best wishes. It has been rumored that Nibali was going to transfer to Astana for 2013, and both them and Liquigas have backed Nibali and sent their condolences.

This week has already seen Wiggins and Sagan banned for doping and Froome out having been hit by another lorry. Now Katusha face a loss of license and Nibali is in critical condition. Cyclings grim week surely cannot get any worse...

Jesleyh wrote:
Erm... Well... Better GC chances for Mollema

Wait a sec...
Don't you dare!