GP Heuts is one of the last races of the season, but despite “battle fatigue,” the Euro pros (and some Americans) are still making it to the starting line. In the men’s race, Kevin Pauwels would prove dominant. He was followed 13 seconds later by Lars van dar Haar, who typically dominates the U23 races (and took the win at Cross Vegas in September). The two were followed by Thijs van Amerongen, and American racer Jonathan Page sailed in with a fourth place finish, easily his best of the season.

For a race with only 28 men finishing, the field ran deep, with Sven Nys, Tom Meeusen, both Sven and Dieter Vanthourenhout, Klaas Vantornout and World Champion Niels Albert. Noticeably absent was Kevin Pauwels, who elected to race in The Netherlands at Heerlen.

Elia Viviani (Liquigas Cannondale) won his second stage win and the overall at the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria, today in Italy.

Huge result for Endura Racing team.

The first summit finish of the season? It depends if you include Willunga in the Tour Down Under but the Tour of the Mediterranean tackles Mont Faron today- snow permitting – and it is an indisputable mountain top finish.

CyclingNews: Races & Results.
Tour Méditerranéen Cycliste Professionnel (Stages),
Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria Challenge Calabria (Stages & results),
Internationale Cyclo-cross Heerlen GP Heuts (Elite men results),
Internationale Cyclo-cross Heerlen GP Heuts (Elite women results),
Superprestige Middelkerke (Elite men results),
Superprestige Middelkerke (Elite women results),
G.P. Stad Eeklo (Results),
Tour of Oman (Stages),
Tour of Qatar (Stages & results),
Amgen Tour of California (Stages ),
More...

Alberto Contador's absence will make it more difficult for Cadel Evans to win the Tour de France again, the Australian has said. Instead of seeing the Spaniard merely as a rival for the crown, Evans saw him also as a good rider to measure himself against.

"We wanted to debrief a bit on our experiences at the end of cyclocross season. For me, that was Nationals in Madison, and for Lee, that was Masters Worlds in Louisville at the site of Elite Worlds 2013."

Liquigas-Cannondale rider fastest Italian of the year so far after green and blue team pulls back the break.

USA Cycling has announced a strong line-up for the fourth and final round of the UCI Track World Cup, which starts in London on Thursday, February 16. The event will be used as a test event for the Olympic Games which take place in August.

A fantastic year in review! I realize that February is already well into 2012, and most people are finished refecting on the past year, but I say "better late than never." 2011 was an exciting, overwhelming, and all-around fantastic year! I have to admit that I welcomed 2012 with a little sadness as I did not want 2011 to end.

Stefan Schumacher had a hard time adjusting to his doping-related ban from pro cycling and his return to racing, but is now at the point where he can say, “I'm almost happy.”  The German said he is having fun again on the bike now that he is with the Christina Watches team.

Just two weeks ago Kenda/5-Hour Energy’s John Murphy discussed with Cyclingnews how he was looking forward to the 2012 racing season and his desire to post victories for his new team. Now Murphy left with a broken hand.

Cannondale's E-Series has been named E-bike of the Year by the Dutch transport industry association Rai Vereniging. Electric bikes are now so popular in the Netherlands that more e-bikes were presented to the Bike of the Year panel than conventional bicycles, although the overall title went to the non-electric Koga World Traveller29.

The Vulpine brand will launch on March 14th 2012 consisting of five garments designed according to founder Nick Hussey out of "frustration that cycling clothing has been stuck in a Lycra-warp for 30 years."

"After a combination of advice from Andy Pruitt and Steve Hogg, I discovered that I needed a zero setback seatpost as I was way too far back and too high on my saddle."

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Light and cosseting, well ventilated and secure."

Alexandr Vinokourov (Astana) will make his 2012 European race debut at the Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali at the end of March. The Kazakhstani rider begins his season later this month at the Tour of Langkawi in Malaysia, but surprisingly Coppi e Bartali will mark Vinokourov’s first race on Italian soil since the 2010 Giro d’Italia - a race he led for several days.

The Daily Distraction.

Husband/coach faces charges relating to importation of doping substances.

Ryder Hesjedal will lead Garmin-Barracuda’s attack on the 2012 Giro d’Italia. The Canadian, who finished 7th in the 2010 Tour de France says that the Giro course is better suited to his style of riding but that he will still ride the Tour in July.

“Jan Ullrich missed his last chance to win back even a little of his credibility, because he failed to come clean."  -  Dagmar Freitag CyclingNews

Michel Kreder is enjoying the fruits of a rested winter and with two stages at the Tour Méditerranéen in his pocket, will be heading to the Spring Classics with a high level of confidence. Kreder had led the race heading into the final stage but lost out to Jon Tiernan-Locke (Endura Racing). Kreder still managed a second place overall finish, as well as winning the young rider classification.

"Yesterday, you got a taste of the first half of racing in Berlin - today, we take the race to its conclusion. As always, Ed Hood is on the scene working hard, but his camera and pen are never far away."

The season has taken a bad turn for Christina Watches-Onfone, as two riders have been hit by cars in training in the last few days.  Martin Pedersen has already had surgery following his crash in Italy, but Frederick Wilmann's injuries appear to be less serious.

Paris to Allow Cyclists To Run Red Lights: After having this tested in other cities with no reported rise in accidents, Paris is giving it a try. This new law will allow cyclists to turn right or go straight ahead when the traffic light is red.

"We test the bike that Team Sky uses for the Classics, plus words from Mr. Pinarello..."

Refined and likeable alternative to bottle butchery for stowing tools and similar nick nacks but it is pricey and it won't fit all cages.