Tour de France Cyclist Remy Di Gregorio Arrested

A French cyclist competing in the prestigious Tour de France race has been arrested, a national police official said Tuesday.  The cyclist named, is Remy Di Gregorio, a member of the Cofidis professional cycling team, and said two other people were detained in Di Gregorio's hometown of Marseille in connection with the case.  Di Gregorio is being questioned in police custody but has not yet been charged, according to the national police official, who has been briefed in detail on the matter.

Police raided the hotel where some members of the Cofidis team were staying in Bourg-en-Bresse, in eastern France, Tuesday morning, he said. Cofidis said on its website that Di Gregorio, 26, had been suspended, but did not say why.  The investigating judge in the case is Annaick Le Goff, who is a judge for the health division, the official with the National Gendarmerie said.  Tuesday's arrest was made in a joint operation with the division of public health of the Marseille Gendarmerie, he said.

Di Gregorio is currently ranked 35 out of 178 competitors, according to the Tour de France website, trailing British cyclist Bradley Wiggins, who holds the lead by just over 18 minutes ahead of Wednesday's resumption of the competition. Tuesday was the first rest day for the riders taking part in the world's best-known cycling race, which began June 30. In the course of the race, which consists of a short time trial prologue followed by 20 longer stages, the cyclists will cover 3,497 kilometers (2,173 miles), including grueling mountain climbs, before they cross the finish line in Paris July 22.

Di Gregorio joined the Cofidis team this year, having previously competed with the Astana professional cycling team, which is backed by Kazakhstan. He came in 78th in the Tour de France in 2010 and 59th in 2008, and has won three stages in the eight years he's been competing in the race.

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador was part of the Astana team when he won the Tour de France in 2010. He was later stripped of the title and banned from competing for two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after failing a drug test.  The issue of alleged doping in professional cycling was thrust into the spotlight last month, when the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency accused U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong of using performance-enhancing drugs.   Armstrong, who denies the allegations, faces a lifetime ban and could be stripped of his seven Tour de France victories if found guilty by the USADA. He won the Tour each year from 1999 to 2005

Puma Ocean Racing Team Sets Sail For Galway Ireland

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG team set out on the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 on Sunday afternoon, departing Lorient, France, for the 550 nautical mile sprint to Galway, Ireland. PUMA’s Mar Mostro completed the 6.5 nautical mile inshore loop in second position, 30 seconds behind Team Telefónica, before heading out on the bulk of Leg 9.   The final leg  first takes the fleet 25 miles around the island of Belle Ile off the coast of France before sailing up the coast of Brittany, past the Fastnet Rock landmark and on to Galway. The leg will take the fleet approximately a day and a half to complete with arrival expected early Tuesday morning.

“As we got ready this morning, you start thinking, ‘Hey, I may never put these boots on again, I may never put this foul weather gear on again, I may never do this again,’” said skipper Ken Read. “This is an emotional leg for everybody. To complete a race like this is a big deal, and we’re about to accomplish something pretty incredible. This is a great team, a great group of people. Win, lose or draw, I’m really proud of what we’ve done.   “In all likelihood we’re fighting for second, third or fourth at this stage. Groupama would have to make a pretty spectacular mistake, and I don’t expect that, but if they do, we will be there to capitalize,” Read said. “It will be a tight-reaching drag race. In a leg of this length, there won’t be a lot of stretching out, maybe 2-3 miles and in essence it looks to be a rhumb line race. Straight to Fastnet Rock.”

The fleet can be followed live online through the live tracker. Photos and video from onboard and aerial shots will be updated during the leg and can be viewed via the Livestream tab or at. Three live video calls to PUMA’s Mar Mostro are scheduled during the leg and can be viewed on Livestream: one today, July 1 at 20:00 UTC; and tomorrow, July 2 at 09:30 UTC and 18:00 UTC. PUMA is second in the overall race standings, 25 points behind the leading Groupama Sailing Team – 225 points to 220. CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand is four points back in third place (196). After the completion of this final leg, one In-Port Race remains on the schedule: Saturday, July 7 in Galway.  The Volvo Ocean Race started on November 5 in Alicante. When the fleet arrives in the final port of Galway, the crews will have traveled approximately 39,270 nautical miles around the world, stopping at 10 ports along the way.

The PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG team is under the leadership of Read (Newport, Rhode Island, United States). Collectively, the crew has won the Around the World Race six times. The core includes: Tom Addis, Navigator (Sydney, Australia); Ryan Godfrey, Pitman (Adelaide, Australia); Kelvin Harrap, Helmsman & Inshore Tactician (Napier, New Zealand); Brad Jackson, Design Coordinator & Watch Captain (Auckland, New Zealand); Rome Kirby, Trimmer & Driver (Newport, Rhode Island, USA); Michael “Michi” Müller, Bowman (Kiel, Germany); Tony Mutter, Aerodynamics Coordinator & Watch Captain (Auckland, New Zealand); Casey Smith, Bowman (Brisbane, Australia); Jonathan “Jono” Swain, Helmsman & Trimmer (Durban, South Africa); Amory Ross, Media Crew Member (Newport, Rhode Island, USA); Kimo Worthington, General Manager (Portsmouth, Rhode Island, United States); and Tim Hacket, Shore Team Manager (Sydney, Australia).  

Polish National Stadium Eyesore Or A Sense Of Pride

As the excitement brews surrounding Polish soccer team's entry into the 2012 European Championship (EURO2012), the focus now shifts to the the National Stadium which was built for the EURO2012.  The stadium to say the least is an interesting design, taking the shape of a wicker basket over Saska Kepa one of Warsaw's most popular neighborhoods, with an enclave of towering trees.

This colossal stadium has a retractable fiberglass roof and a shimmery red-and-white facade in the colors of the national flag which symbolizes Poland's source of pride.  To others, the 58,000-seat arena is an eyesore and the latest affront to a unique neighborhood already threatened by a rising class of entrepreneurs and developers. Proof, if any more was needed, of how breakneck economic growth can jeopardize a vulnerable architectural heritage.

"It's like a big giant UFO that landed nearby," complains Marcin Eckert, a 40-year-old tax lawyer whose view at breakfast is now dominated by the stadium. Says his wife, Dorota Jurkiewicz-Eckert: "We feel we have been squashed by an elephant."  Any change to historic areas in Warsaw provokes strong emotions because of how little survived World War II. Saska Kepa, an exclusive area before the war that was home to doctors and lawyers and other upper middle-class professionals, has the unique distinction of being the city's only prestigious neighborhood to survive in its entirety.

"This is not the Saska Kepa of my childhood," says Jurkiewicz-Eckert, a 40-year-old art historian. She and her husband are members of a group trying to preserve the neighborhood, Zielona Saska Kepa — mAdidas Euro2012 Glider Ball White/pink Size 3eaning Green Saska Kepa. "We are on the way to losing the old-fashioned atmosphere of the place. And it's because of the greed of the developers."

Saska Kepa — where maple, ash and linden trees give shade to prewar homes and trendy restaurants — has the unusual distinction of surviving the war in its entirety because of its location on the eastern bank of the Vistula River, where Soviet troops sat idly during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising against the occupying German forces. Polish insurgents hoped for the support of the Red Army, which by that time had made it to Warsaw in its westward push that defeated Hitler. But Soviet leader Joseph Stalin preferred to let the Germans destroy the city and its people, knowing they would have also become a democratic opposition to Moscow's postwar domination.

One can only hope that when the match actually starts, this eyesore will become a source of happiness especially if Poland advances.

"Euro 2012 Tee"

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Is Coming

Sailing will be a headliner this summer when, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, organised by Cowes Week Limited will be held  August 11-18, 2012. Competitors from across the globe, will enjoy the fun and festivities of this year’s Cowes Week in what is a very special year for Great Britain.  Early entries include  Antigua and Barbuda,  Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA; all helping to give the regatta its international flavour.

Since 1826, the Cowes Week Regatta has played an integral part of Britain's summer sports calendar and is considered to be one the longest running and most successful sporting event in the UK.   This mammoth sailing event stages up to 40 races daily, with about 1000 boats, making it the largest sailing event of its kind in the world.

The regatta which is over 180 years old and now known as Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week offers a great mix of competitive sailing, social activities and entertainment.  Over the week of competition, over 8500 competitors ranging from olympic and world class caliber to recreational sailors, mingle with an excess of 100,000 spectators who are out to have a great time at this one of kind event.

United States skipper Ted Sawyer will be in Cowes for the first time since breaking his neck during the Dragon Edinburgh Cup, in Cowes six years ago! The event will be the swan song of his wonderful cold-moulded Petticrow Dragon Clairvoyant, which will be sold after the event. As Ted will be 80 years old in 2013, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week will probably be his last major UK regatta in the Dragon class.

Between them, Ted’s two professional crew, Stavros (Martin Payne) and Pedro Andrade have won over 15 International & National Dragon titles and are threatening to give local favorite, Graham Bailey, a run for his money!

Closer to home, Brian Cooper of East Cowes was the fastest out of the blocks with his entry for Little Spirit being the first received by Cowes Week Limited. Home-grown Island talent will feature strongly among those battling for pole position at this year’s regatta, and the Island contingent will be hoping their local knowledge will provide an advantage in August.

The new Aberdeen Asset Management youth scheme has proved very popular with the offer of funding support to the first ten entries, with a full crew complement of under 25 year-olds being snapped up.  Among those contesting for the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25’s Trophy are the Davies brothers at 16, 17 and 18 years-old who will be racing their XOD Westwind.

There are three entries from the British Keelboat Academy; a partnership between the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) designed to support young people aged 18-24 in developing the skills needed to take their keelboat racing to a professional level. From further afield, the Welsh crew racing in the Etchell’s class on Darling S, kindly loaned to them for the season by Ted Fort, will be making the journey to Cowes in August. Additionally, a team comprised entirely of Newcastle University students from the School of Marine Science and Technology will be racing in the ISCRS class in their aptly named boat, Newcastle University.

This year’s regatta promises to be better than ever with celebrations of Olympic proportion’s, as the country celebrates a summer of royal heritage and sporting prowess. So, for those that are deliberating entry for this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week,should not procrastinate too long.

Pneumonia Forces Al Jarreau to Cancel Tour In France

Legendary Grammy-winning jazz singer/musician Al Jarreau has cancelled three concert dates in France after being diagnosed with pneumonia.  The singer's team of doctors are recommending rest for a speedy recovery, this information reported in a statement released by Jarreau's press office on Monday.   The statement said the 72-year-old musician, "deeply regretted" the cancellations, and hope to resume touring later this month.

The Milwaukee-born singer's lengthy career has encompassed many musical styles. He has won Grammy Awards in the genres of jazz, pop and rhythm and blues and released more than 20 albums between 1975 and 2009.

MUSIC MAN BY ORIGINAL BROADWAY CA (CD)