Basso OUT!!

Pre-race favorite Ivan Basso is now officially OUT of the Tour de France, set to begin July 1st. He has been suspended by his team CSC after being implicated in an ongoing doping network investigation in Spain.

Francisco Mancebo, a strong climber and general classification contender, is also out. EDIT: Mancebo has subsequently announced his retirement from pro cycling.

The expected Tour showdown between Jan Ullrich and Basso is now only a dream, as both riders will sit out the biggest, most important stage race in cycling. Damn.

More to come...