UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal brings speed, privacy in doping cases.

The UCI formally announced its 2015 Anti-Doping rules today, adding more details to those already noted.

The rules were revamped in order to align with the 2015 edition of the WADA code, but also put into action a promise by UCI president Brian Cookson to establish a global Anti-Doping Tribunal for the sport.

The UCI Management Committee approved the tribunal in September, making it the first stop for all cycling doping cases for international riders. Made up of "judges specialized in anti-doping, independent of the UCI", the tribunal aims to make anti-doping case adjudication more consistent and timely than those of the national anti-doping organizations, which previously held this role.

2015 World Tour Rider Age and Nationality.

There are 474 riders from 42 nations registered with the 17 UCI World Tour teams for 2015.

The average age of a rider is 28 years and 3 months. The oldest rider is the 40 year-old Matteo Tosatto and just seven years younger than his boss Oleg Tinkov. Lampre-Merida’s Colombian neo-pro Eduardo Estrada is the youngest pro, aged 19.

Here’s a look at the 2015 World Tour peloton in numbers. There’s a look at rider age, the “oldest team” and also analysis of how many pros come from each country and more.

Young Gage Hecht confirms ‘cross potential with European success.

Belgian fans are used to seeing a rider in the stars and stripes tear up and down the slopes of the Citadelle de Namur in the front of the peloton in the cyclocross World Cup. And they are used to seeing a rider who hails from Colorado on the podium in muddy, muddy Loenhout. It’s just that this year, it wasn’t the rider they expected to see.

While American champion Katie Compton struggled to overcome asthma and allergies during her winter Belgian cyclocross campaign, a fellow Coloradan stepped up to fill her shoes. This time it was Gage Hecht, 16, who flew the American flag, doing battle with the sport’s biggest young stars.

Lillian Pfluke Gets Her Win at Masters Worlds 2015 in Switzerland: Full Results, All Age Groups.

"Last weekend, the 2015 Masters World Championships took place in Europe, encouraging riders from 30 to over 75 to travel to compete for an elusive rainbow jersey.

Last January, we published an article about the shattered dreams at the Masters World Championships, focusing on French-based American rider Lillian Pfluke, who was forced to compete in a younger age category because of lack of participation in her own age group.

This year, not only did her combined group of four get to keep their own category scored separately, but she was able to take her win.

Pfluke was the only American to win at this year’s championship, a great, long-awaited victory."

2014-15 Races & Results.

Australia Road National Championships - Jan 7-11 (Stages),

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),

More ...

 (cyclingnews.com)

Highlights from the 2015 Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic.

"The 2015 Australian summer of racing is well underway and the first big race on the calendar, the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic (or Bay Crits), came to a close in Williamstown yesterday. Here's a selection of our favorite images from the four days of racing, showing how each stage unfolded."

Offseason Capsule: Orica.

National projects have been all the rage for a few years and Orica are perhaps the clearest case we have of it, they're as Australian as Fosters beer.

It's a tricky concept because not only do you need to be successful, which most teams find hard enough, but you also need the right riders to be successful for your fanbase to really appreciate it.

In Orica's case they hired a few high profile aussies who they were counting on to carry the team. Matt Goss and Simon Gerrans were supposed to be the big stars as a batch of younger guys, Durbridge, Meyer, Hepburn and a few more matured into the stars their talent suggested they might become.

Season preview: Where will the top riders start their campaigns?

The pro road racing season starts imminently, and if you are anything like us, this will have made the end of the festive period much easier. The calendar’s early races often throw up as many highlights as the grand tours as we see who has come out of winter in the best shape.

This year has early season highlights as Chris Froome and Alberto Contador lock horns at the Vuelta a Andalucia and the Tour de San Luis sees Mark Cavendish return in a peloton headed by Quintana and current World Champion, Kwiatkowski.

Carmen Small Journal: It was all a dream.

"I wake up wondering, “Could that have happened? Does it even make sense?”

I find myself outside on a velodrome, but it’s more of a running track with slight banking, and a little longer than it should be. Lauren Tamayo is next to me, telling me my hands can’t cross the line because we will be disqualified. Then we have to run in all our cycling gear — yes in helmets and bike shoes — in team pursuit formation for one lap before we mount our bikes and complete the four kilometers. I’ve got this! I used to run track, and I did cyclocross, so I will nail that bike mount. Wait this is crazy! I shake off the sleep, and I think anxiety is starting to creep in.

I sigh and realize it was a dream. Then, I get up and prepare. Only a few more days of training remain until team pursuit camp."

Analysis: Why Van Aert and van der Poel will race U23 at worlds.

The Curious Case of Wout van Aert.

Inside USA Cycling’s new ‘cross development program: A conversation with Geoff Proctor .

For 11 years, Montana school teacher Geoff Proctor ran the EuroCrossCamp, a roughly 10-day program of cyclocross immersion in Europe for developing riders. During that time, almost everybody who would appear on the list of America’s best present-day cyclocross racers got their first taste of racing in cyclocross’ Belgian heartland against the sport’s toughest competitors. Jeremy Powers, Ryan Trebon, Danny Summerhill, Zach McDonald, and Jamey Driscoll are all products of the camp. not to mention road standouts like Cannondale-Garmin’s Joe Dombrowski and Alex Howes.

Last year marked the return of women to the program after a long hiatus, and Elle Anderson’s successful 2013-2014 camp netted her a contract with the Kalas-NNOF team and a season in Europe this season.

Petacchi signs with Pro Continental team Southeast for 2015.

Italian Alessandro Petacchi will keep racing into his 20th professional season at 41 years old. On Tuesday, the sprinter signed a one-year contract for Italian second-division team Southeast for 2015.

“He’s a big champion,” general manager Angelo Citracca told VeloNews. “He can give our sponsor Southeast big visibility even if he is towards the end of his career.”

Petacchi, who celebrated his birthday on January 3, has won stages in all three grand tours, earned the green jersey at the 2010 Tour de France, and also won the 2005 edition of Milano-Sanremo. He worked in Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s train to lead out sprinter Mark Cavendish the last two seasons.

Serious cycling can keep you young.

Not everyone can emulate Chris Horner or Cadel Evans, but serious cycling may help to keep you young, scientists say.

A study of fit amateur cyclists aged 55 to 79 found that many were physically and biologically much younger than most people of the same age.

The 81 male and 41 female participants underwent extensive tests of their heart, lung, neuromuscular, metabolic, and hormonal functions.

Their reflexes, muscle and bone strength, and oxygen uptake were also measured, as well as mental ability and general health and well-being.

Report: Lefevere, Boonen and Devolder could face tax evasion trial.

Etixx-QuickStep manager Patrick Lefevere, Tom Boonen and Stijn Devolder could face trial for alleged tax evasion, according to a report in Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad on Tuesday.

Prosecutors in Kortrijk have made the recommendation after a long-running investigation that began in 2009. Het Nieuwsblad reports that five others with links to the QuickStep team could also face trial, although they have not been named.

Gilbert unconvinced that disc brakes belong in road racing.

Philippe Gilbert isn’t convinced the peloton is ready to convert to disc brakes.

With disc brakes becoming more popular on road bikes, there’s a discussion of if and when they should be introduced to the elite peloton.

Gilbert said the only way it would work is if the entire peloton switched to disc brakes at the same time. He pointed out the braking distance between disc brakes and caliper brakes is too great, and having two braking systems inside the bunch would present a dangerous scenario for a peloton whipping along narrow roadways at 50kph.

Dekker to bid for world hour record at altitude in Mexico at end of February.

Battling for both a place in history and also for a future in the sport, Thomas Dekker will seek to resurrect his career when he attempts the world hour record at the end of February.

The Dutchman’s intention to chase the hallowed mark was previously made public but on Tuesday further details finally emerged in relation to the bid. Dekker will become the first of the current batch of riders to make use of high altitude conditions during his attempt, having decided to throw down the gauntlet on the Aguascalientes velodrome in Mexico.

Giro Republic LX.

"I fell in love with the Republics on first sight—one of our editors described their look as "instaclassic," with their laces and full-grain ECCO leather uppers. Putting them on, I marveled at the snug but supple fit, at the soft microsuede padding around the heel that made them so comfortable it felt like I'd been wearing them for months.

Walking was easy on the stable (and replaceable) high-traction lugs, and because the cleats are recessed, there was no clacking across hard floors. Strolling into the office one day, I forgot to change my shoes and walked straight into a meeting. Nobody batted an eye."

Fizik Arione VsX saddle.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Added comfort without any performance compromise.

The Arione’s 300mm length and 128mm width maintain its trademark flat, narrow and long shape, and our sample weighed just 222g."

Focus Cayo 7.0.

BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "The Cayo is joy to ride and fantastic value for the money.

The finishing kit is from Focus' in-house Concept brand and while it's not flashy, it fits in well with the aesthetic of the bike."

Analysis: Doping scandals old and new to be part of 2015 season.

Kittel calls for more doping controls, backs prison terms.

PEZ: Daily Distractions.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

Toolbox: Cycling New Year Resolutions.

UCI announces stricter anti-doping rules for 2015.

Corresponding with new World Anti-Doping Agency Code, which came into effect on January 1, 2015, the UCI announced several significant changes to its anti-doping rules.

In a Tuesday press release, the UCI confirmed some changes that had been expected — like the formation of an international tribunal, and four-year bans for first-time offenders — but it also outlined other new rules, like a team-suspension policy for rules violations.

Kreuziger case: UCI contradicts Tinkoff Saxo team assertion that it hasn’t filed documentation.

The UCI has answered claims by Tinkoff Saxo team manager Stefano Feltrin that it and WADA are responsible for the delays in Roman Kreuziger’s biological passport case, saying that suggestions it has not filed documentation are untrue.

Earlier this week Feltrin told Cyclingnews that Kreuziger was still waiting for a hearing date and that the UCI was to blame.

“Basically we don’t know about the date for the hearing and that’s the real truth when it comes to because we’re left with no information,” he said, confirming that the team might enter the rider in the Tour of Oman.

Velon needs a vote in the future of the sport, says Ochowicz.

The Velon group is not just out to make money says BMC Racing team manager Jim Ochowicz. The fledgling organization is looking at different ways of bringing in extra revenue but Ochowicz hopes that, with widespread changes due, they can have a bigger influence in the way that the sport is run as a whole.

“The most important thing that we need is a vote in the groups that are making decisions about the future of the sport. The teams seem somewhat isolated from those decisions at the moment,” Ochowicz told Cyclingnews at the end of last month. “I think what we need is the right people in a fair representation to make decisions about how this sport is going to be changed, if it needs to be changed. That’s still up for debate as well.”

2015 Vuelta a España to have four summit finishes in first week.

The 2015 Vuelta a España route is due to be officially unveiled on Saturday. But seemingly endless leaks to the Spanish media, combined with an official presentation of the first four stages late last year already show that the Vuelta will include its usual high number of summit finishes: four in the first week alone and nine in total.

GC favorites expected to take part include Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana as well as Joaquim Rodriguez. A repeat performance for Alberto Contador is said to be very unlikely given he is already taking part in the Giro and Tour already. There is no indication yet whether Chris Froome or Fabio Aru, both of whom were key GC factors in last year’s Vuelta, will be present at the start in Porto Banus on Saturday August 22nd.

Sven Erik Bystrøm.

"World champion is a good start to any professional career, even if you can’t wear the rainbow jersey. Katusha’s new young signing; Sven Erik Bystrøm want’s to repeat his Under23 win in the Elite class, which isn’t a bad ambition. We caught up with the champ at the Katusha training camp in Spain."

How they used to train: Eddy Merckx’s chain gang.

When Italian coffee machine manufacturer Faema recruited Eddy Merckx in 1968, part of the deal was to provide the cash not only to pay Merckx but to let him build the best team he could. That agreement was preserved when Molteni took over sponsoring Merckx’s team in 1971.

Merckx and his personal manager Jean Van Buggenhout enlisted the best talent possible, but with one proviso — anyone joining the team wasn’t just riding for anybody, but Eddy Merckx. The pay was good, but you could forget personal glory. The deal appealed to some, but not everybody he approached, thankfully.

Alberto Contador identifies Chris Froome as No 1 threat.

Alberto Contador does not hesitate for a second when asked who he believes poses the biggest threat to his chances of securing a third Tour de France title this summer. "[Chris] Froome," the Spaniard replies, firmly.

Not Vincenzo Nibali, the defending Tour champion? Or Nairo Quintana, the pint-sized Colombian climber who finished second on his debut two years ago and won the Giro d’Italia in such impressive fashion last season? He shakes his head. "No. No. Froome."

Hype builds around Ewan before Australia Road Nationals.

Even Ewan's team bosses are torn between tempering expectations and acknowledging the hype around this massive cycling talent.

The 20 year old's outstanding performance in the Mitchelton Bay Classic criterium series makes him one of the riders to watch this week at the Australian road championships.

Ewan will be outnumbered heavily in Wednesday's Ballarat criterium and he will probably have a support role for Orica-GreenEDGE in Sunday's elite men's road race on the hilly Buninyong circuit.

But if the speedster is anywhere near the front of either race at the finish, he has a massive chance.

BikeSnobNYC: This Is Going To Be The Best 2015 Ever!