Von Hoff kick starts NFTO career with national criterium defense.

After winning back-to-back Australian national criterium titles, ahead of Caleb Ewan, Steele von Hoff was quick to state that he isn't finished with the championships just yet. Von Hoff is hoping that another impressive ride in the men's 183km road race on Sunday will see him selected for the Tour Down Under wildcard team, UniSA.

The former Garmin-Sharp rider signed for the British Continental NFTO team for 2015 with the aim of returning to the WorldTour next season.

Wells wins second Australian national criterium title.

Kimberley Wells' scintillating summer form continued in Ballarat as the doctor won her second career national criterium title ahead of Peta Mullens and Lauren Kitchen after a Carlee Taylor attack was caught on the final lap.

Wells, the 2013 champion, timed her sprint to perfection having sat in the peloton and let attack after attack go. Teammate Jessie Maclean provided the calm that Wells required and ensured that the 29-year-old made a triumphant return to the 1.1km Sturt St course.

What to expect at the Australian Nationals.

The 2015 Australian national championships once again will take place in the inland Victorian city of Ballarat with the road race to be staged in nearby Buninyong.

The defending men's champion Simon Gerrans is out of the race due to a broken collarbone while two-time defending women's champion Gracie Elvin will start the race as a favorite after impressing at the Bay Crits with a solo 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)

POC, Volvo and Ericsson introduce groundbreaking cyclist safety concept.

Volvo has long prioritized the well-being of its vehicles' occupants, and has recently started to look into how to promote the safety of people outside those vehicles. In 2013 it introduced an innovative cyclist detection system that actively scans ahead, warns of an impending impact, and even hits the brakes as needed.

Now, in cooperation with telecom giant Ericsson and cycling helmet maker POC, the Swedish car-maker has expanded that idea with a sort of electronic mutual awareness system that uses real-time, two-way communication to warn cyclists and drivers when they're too close to each other.

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

Petacchi signs with Pro Continental team Southeast for 2015.

2015 World Tour Rider Age and Nationality.

Young Gage Hecht confirms ‘cross potential with European success.

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

Top riders skipping Tour Down Under for Tour de San Luis.

The 2015 Tour de San Luis succeeded again in attracting cycling’s big names for its race next week in Argentina despite being up against Australia’s top-ranked race, the Santos Tour Down Under.

The stars include defending champion and 2014 Giro d’Italia winner Nairo Quintana, world champion Michal Kwiatkowski, and Mark Cavendish. The Argentine organizer struck gold since its 2.1-ranked event offers fewer UCI points at two levels down from the Tour Down Under’s UCI WorldTour status.

Porte confident of Giro leadership role.

Richie Porte, off contract with Team Sky this year, has heard and read all the comments that he should consider switching teams and join the Australian WorldTour Orica-GreenEdge team after this season.

The 29-year-old Tasmanian knows many say his opportunities at the British team will forever be limited at Sky so long as 2013 Tour de France champion Chris Froome remains with the squad.

Dutch & Other National Championships.

When we think CX championships, we immediately think of Belgium, but it's not all there, oh no. The Netherlands has their fair share of 'cross riders, who want to win just as much, and there are a lot of other countries with some muddy fields and riders mad enough to ride their bikes on them.

News Shorts: Dekker to Mexico for Hour Record, Dumoulin extends with Giant-Alpecin.

Team Giant-Alpecin announced during their team presentation in Berlin that Tom Dumoulin has extended his contract with the team for two years, “taking him to at least the end of 2016.” The 24-year-old will open his season at the Tour Down Under later this month.

The Dutch rider, who turned professional with the team in 2012, established himself on the world stage during the 2014 season. He won the Dutch national time trial title as well as various time trials during the season, topping it off with third place in the World Championships. Dumoulin also showed his all-around abilities with top five finishes in major stage and one-day races.

ASO, UCI and Bora-Argon 18 hail news that Tour de France will be screened by German station ARD.

Earlier reported by Der Spiegel, the news has now became official: Germany, the largest economy in the European Union and a country of over 80 million people, will once again have live coverage of the Tour de France on free to air television in 2015 and 2016.

ASO confirmed the news on Wednesday, saying that the company had inked a two year deal. This sees it return to screening the race three years after it withdrew, with doping scandals and the image of the sport being a major contributory factor then.

PEZ: Daily Distractions.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

Lee’s Lowdown: A Glamorous Life?

Mauro Santambrogio doping case could be first for UCI’s new tribunal.

Mauro Santambrogio is fighting a doping positive that he said resulted from fertility and erectile drugs. His lawyer requested an extension to January 20, when he will present the Italian’s defence to cycling’s governing body, the UCI.

The UCI explained on Tuesday night that its new anti-doping tribunal is ready to handle cases and take the burden, and doubts, off of the national federations. Santambrogio’s case could be the first on the tribunal’s bench.

Brian Cookson explains new UCI doping reforms.

Following the UCI’s announcement of stronger anti-doping rules, its president Brian Cookson admits there is still some way to go in the reform of professional cycling, with responsible action needing to be taken against those caught cheating.

The new rules allow the UCI to suspend teams for up to 12 months if three or more cyclists are caught cheating, which comes in the wake of the Astana doping scandal, where a string of riders from the Kazakh team failed drugs test at the end of 2014.

Porte, Thomas and Kennaugh selected for Team Sky's Tour Down Under squad.

Richie Porte will lead Team Sky at the Santos Tour Down Under later this month. The Australian ride has been training at home in Tasmania all winter and will once again target overall success in the first WorldTour race of the 2015 season.

Porte finished fourth last year, winning a memorable stage on Old Willunga Hill before beaten by Simon Gerrans. After a difficult 2014 due to injury and illness Porte returns to action with a team that includes Commonwealth Games champion Geraint Thomas and British national title holder, Peter Kennaugh. The remainder of the squad is made up of Chris Sutton, Salvatore Puccio, Luke Rowe and Ian Stannard.

The SPY Optic Screw.

The Screw series, which includes the Screw, the Screw Over (which features a bigger lens for more coverage) and the Screw Under (smaller lens for smaller faces), includes a few features make it immediately compelling.

Let’s start with the Grilamid frame material. You’ve probably had a pair of Oakley frames crack due to repeated flexing, either on your face or in your helmet. Grilamid will outlast your current car, even if you’re driving a refurbished Delorean.

Another vote for quality is the fact that the hinges are pinned, so there are no tiny plastic nubs to break off and render your investment useless.

Toolbox: Cycling New Year Resolutions.