2015 UCI Cyclocross World Championships LIVE - Tabor, Czech Republic.

Saturday: Junior Men: 11:00am CET  (5:00am U.S. Eastern).

Saturday: Women: 2:00pm CET  (8:00am U.S. Eastern).

Sunday: U23 Men: 11:00am CET  (5:00am U.S. Eastern).

Sunday: Men Elite: 2:00pm CET  (8:00am U.S. Eastern).

Super Bowl is small fries compared to this: World cycling race is coming to Richmond.

"The world champion is a guy you’ve never heard of, he won with a gutsy gamble in a place you couldn’t find on the globe, and his name is impossible for Americans to pronounce: Kwiatkowski.

As we sit today in the glow of the Super Bowl and on the precipice of March Madness, it’s hard to conjure up another championship in the United States that might attract more eyeballs worldwide.

One will: The world championship of bike racing comes here in September.

This is no small deal. The organizers figure the global TV audience will number 300 million. The Super Bowl, billed as a worldwide attraction, may get 115 million viewers, 98 percent of them in the United States. The final game of March Madness will get 20 million."

Cummings shocks Valverde on second day in Mallorca.

Britain’s Stephen Cummings proved strongest on the final climb in day two of the four-race Mallorca Challenge on Friday, just ahead of Alejandro Valverde.

The MTN-Qhubeka rider, winner of the Tour of the Mediterranean in 2014 and a stage of the Vuelta a España in 2012, surprised the favorites in the final push and held on ahead of Valverde.

“I’m really happy with today’s victory,” Cummings, 33, said. “I knew I had done a lot of good work over the winter so I’d like to thank the team for the amazing work they did and chance they gave me to focus on today’s race.”

Vos hopeful for cyclo-cross world title defense.

Marianne Vos’ coach Johan Lammerts remains hopeful that the Dutchwoman can defend her cyclo-cross world title this weekend. Vos is currently suffering with a hamstring injury but Lammerts says that her condition has improved in recent days.

"She's well trained and had a little trouble, but by treating it and keep it loose, we hope that in the coming days it gets better.

We will still assume that they simply can start and will do its best to defend her title,” Lammerts told De Telegraph from Tábor, where the World Championships begin on Saturday.

Helen Wyman: Preparing for the Worlds.

"OK, so let’s forget them. I’ve been sick, I dislike snow, like dogs hate cats, and to get here you drive, forever, while the outside world gets colder and more covered in white fully stuff…that I still don’t like.

So, unlike last year, where I ticked all of the above boxes, I need to take a different approach. Being sick, OK, I’m not that sick.

It’s not an excuse as I fully intend to give the stripes a major go on Saturday.

So I need to turn the few days off I’ve had into a good thing. I’m fresh, fresher than I was last year."

UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships 2015 preview.

Tabor in the Czech Republic hosts the 2015 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships this weekend: Saturday January 31 to Sunday February 1.

The coveted rainbow jerseys will be up for grabs for the fastest finisher in the elite men’s, elite women’s, junior men and under-23 men categories.

Great Britain will pin its hopes on Helen Wyman, Nikki Harris and Ian Field in the senior categories.

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race preview.

A legend says goodbye when Cadel Evans lines up for his final professional race, his eponymous Great Ocean Road Race that takes place on parts of the course that was used for the 2010 World Championships won by Thor Hushovd.

While all Australians would love a fairytale end to his career, however, the only Australian grand tour winner is unlikely to win a race that is set to be dominated by sprinters and classics riders.

Dubai Tour 2015 preview.

The introduction of the Dubai Tour last year extended what has become something of a season of races in the Middle East during February.

From Sunday February 8 to Friday the Tour of Qatar will be held, a race now firmly established in the calendar, and following that is the Tour of Oman, which in the last few years has seen the first showdown of the season between the biggest GC names.

First up, though, is the least established of the three: the Dubai Tour (February 4-7).

Last year’s debut edition betrayed traits of a race yet to establish an identity for itself, with the four days of racing producing a very predictable three bunch sprint finishes and a time-trial.

2014-15 Races & Results.

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Races),

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Feb 1 (Races),

Ladies Tour of Qatar 2015 - Feb 3-6 (Stages),

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

Tour of Qatar 2015 - Feb 8-13 (Stages),

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

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

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

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

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 ...

Dubai Tour 2015 Live Dashboard.

Stage 1 start time: Tuesday 11:55 GST (11:55:00 PM PST);
Earliest live video: 14:00 GST (2:00:00 AM PST);
Estimated finish: 16:00 GST (4:00:00 AM PST).

Janez Brajkovic: Finding new motivation with UnitedHealthcare.

"Hello. Welcome to my blog. I want to share my experiences with my new UnitedHealthcare team with you this year.

For me, UnitedHealthcare is a different kind of team. I feel happy again in this team. When I fly to the races or when I'm meeting my teammates, I feel happy.

To me they're like a second family, and I've been really missing that in the past. It's nice to have this feeling back.

I just returned home form San Luis after 47 hours of travel, but it was not too bad.

I got lucky, I was upgraded from Buenos Aires to Dallas, and then I flew business class home as well. Being able to stretch out makes a big difference."

Thibaut Pinot: I want to enjoy raising my arms in victory.

FDJ rider Thibaut Pinot wants to get back to winning ways in 2015 after a season of frustration at the finish line.

While Pinot proved his GC credentials with a series of top-10 finishes, including third at the Tour de France, the 24-year-old failed to notch up a single stage win last year.

Four second-place finishes, notably on Hautacam on stage 18 of the Tour, helped Pinot in the overall standings, but did not satisfy his urge to win.

Franzoi facing three-month ban for links to Dr. Ferrari.

Pelucchi wins Mallorca Challenge opener in Campos.

2015 Hour Record LIVE stream - Jack Bobridge Attempt.

The hour record attempt by Jack Bobridge is expected to get underway at around 7:00pm local time on Saturday (9:00am CET or 3:00am U.S. Eastern).

More than one bad apple: A systems view on doping in cycling.

There are again questions over Lance Armstrong’s admissions and apologies following a BBC interview in which the former cyclist and confessed drug cheat admitted he would take performance-enhancing substances again.

Part of the debate has now shifted to whether there should be forgiveness and a reduction of Armstrong’s life ban from competitive sport.

In safety science, systems thinking tells us that behavior is an emergent property of systems; that there is a shared responsibility for all behavior; and that this responsibility is shared across all of the people within the system in which the behavior occurs.

The blame culture is acknowledged to be out of date, morally and ethically wrong, and generally useless for improving safety.

At 38, Nys still hungry for a cyclocross worlds victory.

Sven Nys cannot stop.

At 38 years old, already the oldest man in elite international cyclocross, and mired in the depths of his worst-ever career slump, Nys is already making plans for next year.

His two biggest rivals on Sunday as he sees it — Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert — are barely older than his own son, but nobody would count him out to win third world title, age or not.

Sven Nys is not slowing down. Not this year. Not next.

Denise Mueller: Woman's Land Speed Record - How the idea was formed.

"It would be fitting to answer one big question that comes up a lot … How did you decide to go after a Women’s Bicycle Land Speed Record?

Well, it really wasn’t my idea (of course I kick myself for not thinking of it myself). It was my Coach, John Howard’s idea back in late 2012.

John and I went out to lunch and he proceeded to “bait” me with some obvious statements about myself after he said he had a great idea he wanted to throw my way.

Of course I was interested in his idea, but he prefaced telling me that idea until after he had me nodding my head like a bobble-head doll in agreement to all the lead up comments: “You like to go fast (nod nod smile), you like to draft (heck yes), you like to race cars (of course), you love to ride your bicycle (that’s a no brainer), you are an adrenaline junkie (well of course!) …” finally he had me begging to hear his idea!

At this point I can look back and say that when he told me his idea, it was like I was a puddle of gasoline and he threw a lit match."

Meet Movistar’s latest weapon: Juanjo Lobato.

If Movistar isn’t deep enough already, with Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana packing enough gunpowder to win in just about every race they start, the Spanish squad has added a sprinter to its arsenal of weapons.

Juanjo Lobato, a six-year pro from Spain’s Andalucía region who joined Movistar in 2014, is emerging as the nation’s best sprinter since Óscar Freire.

A victory in stage 2 at the Santos Tour Down Under last week confirmed the 26-year-old’s trajectory with his first UCI WorldTour win.

“It was great to win at the WorldTour for the first time. It’s never easy to win a sprint at this level,” Lobato told VeloNews. “It reveals that I am heading in the right direction. I have to keep working, and hope to post a few more wins this season.”

Jack Bobridge all set for Hour Record attempt on Saturday.

Jack Bobridge will attempt the Hour Record tomorrow in what is part of a grander career plan that coach Tim Decker has established in the run to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Bobridge holds the 4km individual pursuit world record and in Melbourne, Australia this weekend aims to add the Hour to his repertoire with a distance all parties hope will stand for more than the going month.

Decker has worked closely with Bobridge in the run to his attempt that is to precede equally anticipated efforts from compatriot Rohan Dennis and British legend Bradley Wiggins, respectively.

An Hour in the Limelight.

Jack Bobridge is the next to have a go at cycling’s Hour Record. Once the record was very prestigous but today it seems to be a record cherished within cycling rather than beyond it.

However it is the ultimate chance to define and redefine a career.

Etixx-Quick-Step favorite to sign Fernando Gaviria.

The Etixx-Quick-Step team appears to be the favorite to sign talented young Colombian sprinter Fernando Gaviria, who recently beat Mark Cavendish to win two stages at the Tour de San Luis.

The Etixx-Quick-Step team moved quickly to open talks with Gaviria's agent Giuseppe Acquadro and Patrick Lefevere seems keen to sign him.

The “New” Face on the American Elite Men’s Team: Stephen Hyde and His Path to Tabor.

On Sunday at 8:00 am EST, the Elite Men’s Race at Tabor will get underway, with the American Men’s Team ready to show their depth of talent, including a starting line position by Jeremy Powers.

Many already have a World Championship Race under their belt: all of them but one.

Today we give take a look at the newest force of the American men, none other than Stephen Hyde.

Stephen Hyde: The newest face in Elite Men’s Cyclocross in America, the once little known-rider who out-sprinted then National Champion Jonathan Page in Baltimore a year-and-a-half ago, the racer who posted-up for four wins this season (Nittany Lion, Charm City CX, the KMC Cyclo-Cross Festival, and Cycle-Smart International) and another two podiums against more experienced professionals, and the only “new” face on an American Men’s World’s roster full of international veterans.

Descending From the North: Catching up with the Canadian Elite Worlds Team Before Tabor.

In the last few days, we’ve been giving a preview on some of the favorites to compete in the Men’s and Women’s Elite Races in Tabor.

Although we mentioned many of the Canadian riders as international racers who should look out for, we wanted to offer you an in-depth look at some of the names that will be representing the Maple Leaf this year.

Michael van den Ham asked each of the Elite members a few questions about their entry into cyclocross, their preparation for the World Championships, their ambitions for the race, and their bikes.

Rick Zabel aiming high in 2015.

After whetting his appetite for top-level racing during his first season as a professional cyclist, Rick Zabel is targeting bigger and better things in year two.

The young German will start his season riding in support of Philippe Gilbert at the Dubai Tour next week. However, he has his eyes set on riding the monuments and his first Grand Tour and the World Championships in 2015.

“This year, I would like to do the bigger classics like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Another big thing for me would be if I could do my first Grand Tour,” Zabel told Cyclingnews.

Movers and Shakers: Rochelle Gilmore smooths path for Australia’s female cyclists.

The Last Mohicans.

Daily Distractions.

Video: The Week in Bike #53 – The Season Arc.

Why we have to stop listening to Lance Armstrong.

Lance Armstrong was the most engaging pro cyclist of recent times.

Such was his appeal that, like Muhammad Ali, he transcended his sport and became an international superstar.

An intelligent, charismatic man with a lot to say. There are few top sports people who look you straight in the eye and hold your gaze when talking to you.

He’d even do it when answering the most banal question.

Armstrong never shied away from a question either. In fact he seemed to enjoy a battle in a press conference — just look at the YouTube clip of him verbally attacking Paul Kimmage at the 2009 Tour of California.

As in this case he was sometimes too confrontational and aggressive in his replies, but other times his charm, mixed with a little intimidation, meant he could get away with it.

Remembering Cadel: 10 moments that defined Evans's career.

This Sunday marks the final race of Cadel Evans's career, the eponymous Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, drawing curtains on not just the 37 year old's career, but a chapter in Australian cycling.

We’re honestly not sure what to do here at Cycling Central after Evans retires.

The Australian has been such a huge part of the Oz cycling landscape these last 20 years that when he leaves it would be tempting to pack it in, and call time on the whole show.

Interview: Tom Meeusen hopes troubles are behind him.

Two weeks ago, Tom Meeusen would have been a top pick for a place on the podium at the world championships this weekend here in the Czech Republic.

Then he was out — deleted from the Belgian roster for the race, the result of his role as a witness in the Belgian investigation into doping by doctor Chris Mertens.

Days — and a trip to the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport — later he was back, permitted to race after the court clarified that only riders suspected of doping offenses should be prevented from racing under UCI rules.

Five questions with Dig Deep Coaching – meet Ciara MacManus.

The partnership forged between Dig Deep Coaching and CyclingTips in July 2014 will extend to Ella. We’re pleased to introduce you to Ciara MacManus. The Dig Deep coach hails from Ireland and is the reining Irish MTB XC champion.

Her main passion is the dirt, but her experiences span across all disciplines, and she has generously raised her hand to answer any questions you have about training.

While CyclingTips will continue to field questions for our male readers, Ciara is on hand to tackle questions from our women’s community.

Before she answers any of your questions, we threw five questions her way so you could get to know her a bit better.

Paris-Nice 2015 route leaked.

The 2015 Paris-Nice stage race, March 8 to 15, will start with a prologue time trial, include a summit finish on La Croix de Chaubouret and spend the final two days on the Côte d’Azur in Nice.

Organizer ASO will present the entire course on February 3 in Versailles, but much of it has already been leaked.

Franzoi faces racing ban related to Ferrari links.

The recently closed Padua inquiry in northern Italy, centered on Michele Ferrari, is bearing its first fruit.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) recommended Thursday a three-month suspension for Italian Enrico Franzoi, who placed eighth in the 2007 Paris-Roubaix while racing with team Lampre-Fondital.

Franzoi, 32 from Mestre, raced on the road with Lampre and Liquigas through 2009 and worked mostly as a helper for riders like Alessandro Ballan and Filippo Pozzato.

He also won Italy’s national cyclocross title four times at the elite level, and earned Italy’s under-19 and U23 cyclocross crowns a combined five times. In 2003, he won the world U23 cyclocross championship.

In 2010, Franzoi reportedly spoke on the telephone with Ferrari, who has been banned from sport since 2002 in Italy and blocked worldwide based on the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) case against Lance Armstrong.

Two North American cyclocross World Cup races slated for 2015.

The cyclocross World Cup will be heading across the pond for the 2015-2016 season.

The UCI Management Committee met in Tabor, Czech Republic ahead of cyclocross world championships, and made this along with several other significant decisions.

The first two rounds of the 2015-16 cyclocross World Cup will be held in Las Vegas then Montreal.

Tour Cycliste Méditerranéen route announced.

The organizer of the Tour Cycliste Méditerranéen has confirmed the race will go ahead this year, despite financial difficulties and the race not being listed on the 2015 UCI calendar.

Race organizer André Martres has published a brief message on the race website, revealing that the 2015 edition would consist of three stages, instead of the usual five stages, between February 12-14.

“This edition of the race has been more difficult to put in place than the last two editions,” Martres said in a message on the race website.

Week in Tech: Cyclocross worlds and new Shimano power meter.

"Here’s your Week in Tech — all the gear news, tips, and announcements you need and none of the marketing gibberish you don’t."

Cyclo-cross Worlds shorts: Stybar to skip commentating role at Worlds.

Zdeněk Štybar is sidelined from defending his title at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic, on Sunday, because of a shoulder injury he sustain in a crash in October.

He has also declined to commentate on the event because of the amount of time that it would take away from his training for the start of his upcoming road season, and particularly the Spring Classics.

"Last week, a doctor made some new implants, due to my crash in the Eneco Tour. As a result, I have not trained for a week."

News Shorts: MTN-Qhubeka's Stauff breaks collarbone in Mallorca crash.

South Australia claim national team pursuit title, Vichot's 2015 goals.

PEZ: EuroTrash Lance Thursday!