LIEGE, Belgium -- Europcar manager Jean-Rene Bernaudeau denied any wrongdoing by the cycling team, after French prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into allegations of improper use of a controlled corticoid by his riders during last years Tour de France. Bernaudeau said he is stunned by the doping investigations that was reveled just two days before the start of the 2012 Tour. "It was just too big," Bernaudeau told a news conference Thursday in Belgium city of Liege, where the Tour begins Saturday. "I was unsettled by the story, but when I read it in the paper ... I realized there was nothing in it," he said, adding that he has not yet been contacted by the investigators. A judicial official told The Associated Press that investigators started probing several riders on the French team after receiving a notification from Frances anti-doping agency, AFLD. French sports daily LEquipe first reported late Wednesday on details about the investigation that began last August, a month after the 2011 Tour ended. The official, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing, confirmed the probe, but stressed that no evidence has been found. He said investigators are likely probing Pierre Rolland -- who last year won the white jersey awarded to the Tours best young rider -- or Thomas Voeckler, who placed a career-best fourth overall. The official declined to specify which cyclist is the focus of the doping investigation. French teams like Europcar have been considered among the cleanest in the sport -- in part because of strict anti-doping laws that were put in place following a 1998 doping case, involving the French team Festina. Bernaudeaus team is part of the MPCC (Movement for a Credible Cycling), an umbrella group for several teams, who are working to keep cycling doping-free. To achieve that, the MPCC performs internal checks blood tests on cyclists. "My team has always been committed to protect the health of its riders," Bernaudeau said. "This is our mantra. And this year my son (Giovanni) will be on the starting line. You have to understand that, first of all, Im a father." Bernaudeau is a former professional rider, who started his managerial career in the 1990s. Europcar posted its best Tour results ever last year, with Voeckler wearing the yellow jersey for 10 stages. Rolland also claimed a prestigious stage win at the Alpe dHuez. Voeckler, whose preparations for the Tour have been hampered by a knee injury, said he was unnerved by the announcement, but also said, "I had a good night of sleep." Rolland, who aims at improving his overall ranking this year, said: "This story saddens me a bit." The Tours image has been badly damaged by doping scandals over the past decade. Cyclings blue ribbon event had no major doping scandals last year, but the previous year had a big one: Alberto Contador tested positive for the stimulant clenbuterol in 2010 on his way to a third victory. He was stripped of his title in February and given a two-year ban from the sport. Earlier this month, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency accused Lance Armstrong -- the retired former superstar of cycling -- of using performance-enhancing drugs and other banned doping methods to win the Tour a record seven times from 1999 to 2005. ---- Jamey Keaten in Paris contributed to this report. Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . Paul Millsap scored 24 points and Mo Williams added 22 in Utahs third straight victory, 117-110 on Sunday night. cheapnfljerseysforsale . Tomorrow - the AFC South. The AFC North had three playoff teams last year and may have three playoff teams again this year. http://www.cheapnfljerseysforsale... . MacTavish, 53, was head coach of the Oilers for eight seasons from 2000 and 2009, including Edmontons run to the Stanley Cup final in 2006 when they lost in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes. [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseysforsale.us.com/]wholesale jerseys china . Jennings and his backcourt mate Monta Ellis were aware of the height advantage Williams and Johnson had on them, but the Milwaukee Bucks duo showed they belong in the conversation, too. cheap jerseys nfl . Team president David Samson says this exodus is different. "A fire sale I guess comes after a World Series victory," he said Wednesday.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- This Green Bay win was big enough to be felt all the way to Chicago. Mike Daniels returned a fumble 43 yards, and DaJuan Harris and Aaron Rodgers ran for touchdowns in the second half as the Packers moved within one win of the NFC North title with their 27-20 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. Beat the Bears next weekend at Soldier Field, and Green Bay wins the division. "Were first in the division by a game and we put ourselves in good position, not only for the division but potentially for a first-round bye. The division is our first goal," Rodgers said. "We can wrap things up next week. Its a tough opponent, a tough place to play. Theres a lot on the line." Rodgers 27-yard scoring run was the longest of his career and Green Bays longest of the season. He was 14 of 24 for 173 yards, though he failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in 36 games at Lambeau Field. Calvin Johnson had 118 yards receiving to put him over 1,500 for the year, but it wasnt enough to keep the Lions (4-9) from dropping their fifth straight. After touchdowns on their first two drives gave them a 14-0 lead, the Lions could only manage a pair of field goals by Jason Hanson. This was the third straight game theyve blown a lead of 10-plus points, tying an NFL record shared by six other teams. "Weve been in every single game this year. But being in games doesnt mean (anything) in this league," said Matthew Stafford, whose fumble in the second-quarter helped spark Green Bays comeback. "Its about getting wins and we understand that as a locker room and as a team. "Its tough when the ball isnt going your way," he added. But were not helping it go our way. Were doing it to ourselves as well." The Packers have won 22 straight at home against the Lions, the longest streak in the NFL. The streak, which includes a playoff game, dates all the way back to 1992 -- when Green Bay was still playing some of its home games in Milwaukee. Packers coach Mike McCarthy likes to say all division games are big, but this one got even bigger when Chicago lost to Minnesota earlier in the day. Packers-Bears is perhaps the NFLs greatest rivalry, with fans and players alike taking it personal. (Curly Lambeau and George Halas refused to even shake hands after their games.) The games are heated when theyre played in September, and a December matchup with the division title on the line only elevates the drama. "Im focused on going to Chicago and winning the division," McCarthy said. "We put ourselves in position to get to 10 wins. We really dont look around until we get to 10 wins because double-digit wins is when things really start to fall in place for your football team. Ten wins will give us the division championship and thats what were focused on." While beating the Lions may have seemed like the easy leg in Green Bays road to the division crown, the Packers came out sluggish and quickly found themselves trailing 14-0. But they were re-energized by Daniels fumble recovery. The seasons first significant storm dumped almost 3.5 iinches of snow on Green Bay, making Lambeau Field look like a snow globe for most of the night.dddddddddddd. As Stafford drew his arm back to throw midway through the second quarter, the ball slipped out of his hands. "That was a big play. We had all the momentum," Stafford said. "I dont really have much of an explanation for it. I wish I could have gotten on top of it. It squirted away from me again." And Daniels was right there to scoop it up, rumbling nearly half the length of the field for the score that pulled Green Bay within 14-10. Daniels is Green Bays first rookie defensive lineman to return a fumble for a TD since 1941. "Mike Daniels play was the momentum shift for us that we needed," McCarthy said. "That was a big play." He needs some work on his Lambeau Leap, however, getting only about halfway up the wall. "I was too tired," Daniels said. Hey, Rodgers wasnt much better. Still trailing in the third, Rodgers was trying to find someone -- anyone -- to throw to on third-and-4. With Lions defensive end Willie Young closing in, Rodgers scrambled away and found a hole on the right side. He ran untouched down the sideline, holding the ball out as he crossed the goal line. The 27-yard touchdown was the longest scoring run of his career, and the Packers longest this season. "For him to score from that distance speaks volumes about his athletic ability," McCarthy said. "Hes our guy, hes our ace, its built around him and he played well again tonight." So did Green Bays running backs. Inconsistency and injuries have kept the Packers from finding a groove on the ground this season, and they had to bring back veteran Ryan Grant earlier this week just to give them some depth. But they might have found a formula that worked. They rushed for 140 yards, 98 of it coming in the second half, and their entire go-ahead drive was on the ground. Alex Green rushed for 29 yards on the first four plays, then Grant broke off a 13-yard gain. Then it was Harris turn. Elevated from the practice squad just eight days ago, his 5-yard gain put the Packers at the Detroit 14. He strolled in untouched on the next play, giving the Packers a 24-17 lead. "It was poor defence," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "We had a chance to go out and get a stop, and they just ran the ball down our throats." The Lions pulled within a score on Hansons 34-yard field goal with 7 seconds left. But the onside kick went out of bounds, and the countdown to Chicago was on. "Thats something we look forward to," receiver Randall Cobb said. "Just to know that were on the brink of accomplishing it is big, and were just trying to find a way to make sure we accomplish it next week." Notes: The Packers scored twice on the ground for the first time since Dec. 11, 2011. The two TDs almost doubled their total for the season, giving them five touchdowns on the ground. ... Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew did not return for the second half after injuring his ankle. ... Green Bay is 13-1 against Detroit under McCarthy. ' ' '