Lance Armstrong announces birth of son on social-networking site TwitterAUSTIN, Texas — Why wait for France? Lance Armstrong can pop that bottle of champagne now. UCI clears Astana to start race Wednesday after Armstrong’s cash-hit team gives proof of fundsAIGLE, Switzerland — Cycling’s governing body cleared Astana to race Wednesday after Lance Armstrong’s team guaranteed its immediate finances. Denis Menchov expects to be contender at Tour de France after dramatic win in Giro d’ItaliaROME — Denis Menchov almost lost the Giro d’Italia within sight of the Colosseum that marked the finish after falling on the rain-slicked cobblestones of Rome with a little more than half a mile to go. Lance Armstrong’s Astana team likely to survive for now, but Tour still in questionAVELLINO, Italy — Lance Armstrong’s financially strapped Astana team will likely survive for another few weeks, but it’s unclear if it will make it to the Tour de France. |