Must Reads: NASCAR star honors fallen cyclists, Gilbert eyes the Tour and Boogey can skate

Bobby Labonte Foundation: NASCAR legend plans rides in honor of cycling victims

The Bobby Labonte Foundation, a charitable group set up by the NASCAR driver, is holding a memorial ride in honor of two North Carolina cyclists who died after being struck by motorists.

The April 23 ride is in honor of cyclists David Sherman of Oak Ridge, North Carolina and Adam Little of Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina. Sherman died in October 2009 when hit head-on while riding in Greensboro. The driver was later charged with felony hit and run and other charges. Little, 35, was an amateur racer and well-known in the local cycling community. He was hit by a car while commuting to work last month. The driver was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle.

The Labonte ride will leave from the Bobby Labonte Enterprises headquarters in Archdale, North Carolina., and Labonte will be available for autographs after the ride. There are 27- and 54-mile options. Proceeds from the event will go to Habitat for Humanity of High Point, Archdale & Trinity and the Bikes Belong Foundation.

Sporza: Gilbert to ride Tour de France

The Belgian news site quotes Omega Pharma-Lotto manager Marc Sergeant saying that classic star Philippe Gilbert will go to the Tour with big ambitions. “Philippe wants to win a stage and the yellow jersey. It is difficult, but he has a chance.”

SBS6.nl: Boogey can skate

Dutch cycling legend Michael Boogerd continued his success in a new area: celebrity ice dancing. The two-time Tour de France stage winner recently won an edition of the Dutch show Dancing on the Ice with his partner Darya.

Bloomberg: Nutella heir dies while cycling

Pietro Ferrero, the CEO of the Ferrero group, which makes Nutella spread and Tic Tacs, died of a suspected heart attack in South Africa on Tuesday. The 47 year old was riding during a break from a company meeting in Cape Town when a passerby saw him fall off his bike. He was declared dead at the scene, of a possible heart attack. Ferraro’s father is ranked 31st on Forbe’s list of the world’s billionaires, with a net worth estimated at $18 billion.

Reuters: Refund? Trentino organizers want Cofidis to pay damages

Organizers of the Giro del Trentino are looking to recover damages when Cofidis did not line up at the five-day race Tuesday. “We intend to undertake every action allowed by the UCI regulations to obtain a refund from all the supported costs,” director Nerio Loppi said. But Cofidis manager Eric Boyer said that while his team had received an invitation to the race, he never said he was going. “I am outraged,” Boyer said.

SouthAfrica.info: Darren Lill to start mountain bike stage race

Darren Lill, well known to many fans of domestic road racing in the U.S., is now racing in his native South Africa for Team DCM. Lill, the national road champion, is making a foray off-road by starting the nine-day Fairbairn Capital/Old Mutual joBerg2c stage race later this month. Lill said he’s considering a switch to mountain biking full-time. “I think the joBerg2c will be a tester. Part of me thinks it’s time for a bit of a change, if only for a season.”

Newswire Canada: Lemay inducted into Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame

Longtime international cycling official Marc Lemay is among five people inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame on April 16.  Lemay was president of the Canadian Cycling Association from 1981 to 1992 and president of the UCI mountain bike commission from 1990 to 2001. During his UCI tenure, mountain biking experienced tremendous growth that culminated with a berth in the 199y Atlanta Olympics.