There’s only one thing more aggressive than special forces troops – and that’s American marketing people. With fire fights still echoing around the mountains of Afghanistan, Cannondale have already seized a primetime TV marketing opportunity.

Afghan cyclists Taj Mohammed, 22, and his friend Habibullah, 26, were featured on an ABC news story last week, saying their dreams of competing in the 2004 Olympic road race were hampered by lack of modern bikes and kit. Cannondale’s marketing machine immediately swung into action, and now the two will be receiving new bikes and kit during a senatorial visit this week.

Taliban Afghanistan had been banned from the Olympics for it’s male-only team, and now athletes are desperately trying to make up for lost training time. However, although Lycra is no longer seen as immoral the two riders will still have to watch out for unexploded bombs and craters on their training rides.

Thanks again to US trade site Bicycleretailer.com for this news.