Latest Alexandre Vinokourov News

PAU, France (AP) _ Tour de France rider Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion after winning last weekend's time trial, prompting his Astana team to pull out of the race. The positive test of the Kazakh rider, a one-time favourite to win cycling's premier event, dealt a heavy blow to a sport already reeling from a spate of doping scandals. ``Vino has tested positive having to do with a blood transfusion and the team is ...

LOUDENVIELLE-LE LOURON, France (AP) _ Alexandre Vinokourov turned in a determined ride to win the 15th stage of the Tour de France on Monday as Michael Rasmussen held off several challenges to defend his overall lead. Rasmussen retained a two-minute, 23-second lead over Alberto Contador despite repeated attacks from the Spaniard in the last of five climbs in the stage. Cadel Evans of Australia, third overall, lost time to Rasmussen and drifted to four minutes off the ...

Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan won the 61st edition of the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday. Alejandro Valverde of Spain finished second and Andrey Kashechkin of Kazakhstan was third. Vinokourov started the 21st and final stage, won by Erik Zabel of Germany, leading Valverde by one minute 12 seconds. At the 100-kilometre mark of the 142-kilometre stage, seven riders broke away from the following pack, with Vinokourov at the front, to lead ...

Alexandre Vinokourov won the time trial in the 20th stage of the Spanish Vuelta to retain the overall lead Saturday on his 33rd birthday. The Kazakh rider completed the 27.5 kilometres from Rivas Futura to Rivas Vaciamadrid in 33 minutes 39 seconds. ``This win has been a great birthday present, something precious,'' Vinokourov said. ``This morning, I was motivated to win. It's a very happy day for me.'' Samuel Sanchez was six seconds back while fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde ...

Spanish Vuelta leader Alexandre Vinokourov won a time trial on his 33rd birthday Saturday, the race's second-last stage. The Kazakh rider completed the 27.5-kilometre 20th stage from Rivas Futura to Rivas Vaciamadrid in 33 minutes 39 seconds. He is 1:02 ahead of his nearest rival, Alejandro Valverde of Spain. David Millar of Britain was the favourite after his time-trial victory in the 14th stage, but Vinokourov finished with a strong ...

Jose Luis Arrieta of Spain won the 19th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Friday and Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan retained the overall lead. Arrieta, a 35-year-old AG2R Prevoyance rider, completed the 205.3 kilometres from Jaen to Ciudad Real in five hours 30 minutes 14 seconds. Dmitriy Fofonov of Kazakhstan was second in the same time, while David Loosli of Switzerland was two seconds behind in third place. The race ...

Andrey Kashechkin of Kazakhstan won the 18th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Thursday while countryman Alexandre Vinokourov kept the overall race lead. The 26-year-old Astana rider completed the 153.1-kilometre stage in three hours 57 minutes and 39 seconds. Vinokourov had the same time, with Jose Angel Gomez Marchante of Spain 30 seconds back in third. Alejandro Valverde of Spain was 32 seconds off the lead in fourth place. The ...

American Thomas Danielson won the 17th stage of the Vuelta on Wednesday and Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan became the overall race leader. Vinokourov finished in the same time as Danielson and took a nine-second advantage over former leader Alejandro Valverde of Spain with four stages left. Danielson, a 28-year-old Discovery Channel rider, finished the 167-kilometre stage from Adra to Granada in four hours nine minutes and 55 seconds. Vinokourov and ...

Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhastan won the eighth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Saturday while Janez Brajkovic of Slovenia kept his overall lead. Vinokourov, who rides for Astana Wurth, covered the 181.6 kilometres in four hours two minutes, 11 seconds and moved into 10th place overall. Ruggero Marzoli of Italy was the runner-up, a second behind, and Uros Murn of Slovakia was third. Brajkovic, a Discovery Channel rider, is five ...