Paris-Nice: Matthews wins stage 3.

Kwiatkowski loses his race lead to Matthews going into mountains.

Michael Matthews made the most of a perfect lead-out from his Orica-GreenEdge team to take victory on stage 3 of Paris-Nice. The Australian was delivered to the front in the final two corners and powered home to beat Davide Cimolai and Giacomo Nizzolok.

Matthews also moves into the race lead, just one second ahead of Michael Kwiatkowski.

Guardini makes it three at Tour de Langkawi.

Andrea Guardini got back to winning ways at the Tour de Langkawi, seeing off Jakub Mareczko and yellow jersey Caleb Ewan to secure his third victory in four stages.

Whereas the two climbs in yesterday’s stage meant the Italian was unable to contest the sprint, today’s flat 165km route down the east coast of Malaysia from Kota Bharu to Kuala Berang was tailor-made for him to secure his 17th victory since 2011.

Yesterday’s stage winner Ewan got boxed in and came from too far back, while fellow 20-year-old Mareczko was in a good position but lacked Guardini’s raw speed.

Alex Dowsett targets Hour Record attempt in April.

Alex Dowsett is hoping to make his attempt at the UCI Hour Record in late April after his initial plans were postponed by a training crash that resulted in a broken collarbone.

The 26 year-old’s support team are looking at the slot to minimize the disruption to the Movistar rider’s road season and ahead of Bradley Wiggins’ attempt scheduled to take place in London on June 7.

Gerrans’ spring classics campaign ‘up in the air’.

It’s touch-and-go if Simon Gerrans will be able to defend his Liège-Bastogne-Liège title next month.

The Australian suffered a fracture on the radial head of his arm in a heavy crash in Saturday’s Strade Bianche, and team officials said his spring classics program might be in danger.

Orica-GreenEdge sport director Matt White said the team is crossing its fingers that Gerrans could return as soon as the Volta a Catalunya at the end of March, but insist it’s still too early to say if that’s possible.

Hunting for UCI Cyclocross Points in the US? CrossResults Analyzes Easiest and Hardest Races.

This weekend, Colin Reuter of crossresults.com poured over his databases with one goal in mind: to figure out the best and worst ways to try and get a UCI point in cyclocross in the United States.

How did he do this? He looked at all the races on the USA CX Pro Calender, and based on his crossresults.com rider points system, he examined both the predicted rider and the actual rider to claim the last UCI point in a given race.

For the full math and his conclusions, be sure to check out his post at Until the Snow Ends, but we wanted to offer some of his salient points, as well as make a few of our own.

2014-15 Races & Results.

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Stages & Results),

Paris Nice - Mar 8-15 (Stages & Results),

Le Tour de Langkawi - Mar 8-15 (Stages & Results),

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),

Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen - Mar 6-8 (Results),

Strade Bianche - Mar 7 (Results),

Strade Bianche Women - Mar 7 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More ...

Cavendish “nervous” in Tirreno as he continues to fight virus.

Mark Cavendish completed the opening time trial of the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race today despite suffering the after-effects of a stomach virus he picked in South Africa last week.

He admitted he feels “nervous” with the illness striking at a crucial time in the season, with less than two weeks to go until Milan-San Remo.

“At least it’s better that it happens now than next week,” Cavendish told Cycling Weekly.

Scott Addict 20 and Team Issue review.

After a short hiatus, the Addict returned to Scott’s road range in 2014.

The frameset was re-designed to offer more compliance than the original Addict while continuing as a lightweight chassis.

In this review, CTech editor Matt Wikstrom rides the 2015 Addict and compares the mid-priced Addict 20 with the high-end Team Issue bike.

Ritte Snob.

"This could have been the most pointless bike review ever written, because Ritte is one of those brands that people either conceptually get and love, or else really, really don't.

But two factors make your consideration of this bike worthwhile, beyond Ritte's reputation.

First - and most important - this thing is a blast to ride, and this noteworthy capability often gets overshadowed by Ritte's spirited marketing.

Second is that, as I showed the bike around, I realized that some people who don't like Ritte misunderstand what the company is about."

2015 Paris-Nice LIVE.

Thursday's Paris-Nice Stage 4 departs Varennes-sur-Allier at 10:15am CET (5:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected to finish at Croix de Chaubouret at around 3:30pm CET (10:30am U.S. Eastern). 

Paris-Nice live streaming video should get underway at around 2:00pm CET (9:00am U.S. Eastern, 6:00pm Pacific).

Paris-Nice: Greipel wins in Saint-Amand-Montrond.

André Greipel finished off the hard work of his Lotto Soudal team with a well played long sprint victory on the second stage of Paris-Nice in Saint Amond Montrond.

Michal Kwiatkowski held onto the yellow jersey, but Degenkolb pulled himself closer to the race lead with the time bonus, and is now third at three seconds behind Rohan Dennis.

Past Olympic and worlds silver medallist Larsson to attack hour record on Saturday.

Chris Froome’s withdrawal from Tirreno-Adriatico shows ‘lack of respect’, says organizer.

Emma Johansson: Bad luck, good legs and fighting to the finish at Strade Bianche.

Tirreno-Adriatico: Malori wins opening individual time trial.

Adriano Malori won the opening stage of Tirreno-Adriatico in a shortened 5.4km individual time trial in Lido di Camaiore, Italy on Wednesday.

The Italian finished the course in 6:04 minutes beating Fabian Cancellara by one second and Greg Van Avermaet by two seconds.

What would YOU do to stop doping in professional cycling?

Doping is once again at the top of cycling news headlines this week after the publication of the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) anti-doping report and the positive EPO test of French rider Lloyd Mondory.

We recently asked readers to come up with measures that they would introduce to help the fight against doping in professional cycling, and here are a selection of answers.

Tour of the Gila rescued by anonymous sponsor.

An anonymous racer from Colorado has stepped in to rescue the Tour of the Gila from possible extinction. The Silver City Daily Press reported that the donor has competed in the Tour of the Gila in the past and wanted to have another chance to come back.

Race organizer Jack Brennan said the individual did not want to be named just yet, but stated categorically that it was not Lance Armstrong, who resides in Aspen.

World-class Women’s Tour 2015 team list announced.

The top six ranked women’s international cycling teams are among the 16 squads that will be taking part in the 2015 Friends Life Women’s Tour over June 17-21.

The second edition of the Women’s Tour has attracted a very strong line-up of teams from around the world, including seven teams making their debut in the race.

Rabo Liv, the team of last year’s winner Marianne Vos, will return, as does the Boels Dolmans squad of 2014 World Cup winner Lizzie Armitstead.

Boels-Dolmans emerges as the team to beat.

Red and orange. It’s the color that’s been dominating the women’s races and podiums since the start of the season as the Boels-Dolmans squad is emerging as the team to beat this year.

The Dutch-registered squad has already secured six wins this spring.

The only race they started in which they didn’t reach the top step of the podium was Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and even there, they put two riders on the podium with van Dijk in second and Armitstead in third.

There’s no sign that they’re slowing down.

A Commentary on Abbott’s “Signorina.”

"I’ve been struggling with my thoughts about the Abbott “Signorina” bicycle displayed at NAHBS that has created both outrage and controversy.

As a student of art (I attended art school at the college level), I can appreciate that one man sees Mona Lisa where another might see a Mapplethorpe and take offense. 

By definition, “art” is objective; but, intent comes into play here and by adding his “survey” to the photos on his web site, Mr. Abbott moves away from art and into the realm of just plain creepy and lewd."

Top 10 most impressive pro cycling debut seasons.

"Cavendish, Merckx, LeMond, Boardman... We take a look at 10 riders that made a big splash in their first year as a professional rider."

Kask Protone aero helmet used by Team Sky hitting shops this month.

The Protone was originally unveiled at the Tour de France last year, and Kask have been working with the team since then to further refine the design, reportedly improving upon aerodynamics, strength and comfort.

So the version that’s coming to market is effectively the Protone Mk II and Kask say the 210g lid boasts one of the lowest aerodynamic coefficients of any vented helmet around, without compromising on ventilation.

Bend in the Road: The end of the road bike.

The road bike is dead.

That is to say, the concept of a road bike without some sort of preceding adjective is dead. Today, you can get an endurance bike, an aero bike, an adventure bike, a race bike, a gravel bike or a climbing bike, to list a few.

As the definitions of road riding continue to splinter and brands battle to carve out territory with specialised bikes, our list of adjectives gets longer.

Will we reach a point where these various streams converge? Not any time soon.

2015 Tirreno-Adriatico LIVE.

Thursday's Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 2 departs Camaiore at 12:35pm CET (7:35am U.S. Eastern) and is expected to finish at Cascina at around 4:14pm CET (11:14am U.S. Eastern). 

Tirreno-Adriatico live streaming video should get underway at around 2:30pm CET (9:30am U.S. Eastern, 6:30am Pacific).

Why Have So Many Stars Gone to Tirreno-Adriatico?

UnitedHealthcare patches up Reijnen for KOM bid in Langkawi.

Tour de Langkawi: Caleb Ewan takes stage and overall lead.

Daily Distractions.

Lee’s Lowdown: Strade Bianche Thoughts!

Night moves: Anti-doping authorities seek expanded testing hours.

In the fight against doping, what is the definition of a proportional response?

The CIRC report, released late Sunday by the UCI, proposes an increase in overnight testing for riders, utilizing a new exception within the UCI’s 2015 Anti-Doping Rules.

The proposal, if acted upon, could see riders roused at any hour of the night to provide samples to anti-doping officials.

Riders dislike the idea. The UCI is keeping all its options open.

Kreuziger hoping CAS hearing to take place in April.

Roman Kreuziger is hoping to make his appearance in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) before the end of next month.

Kreuziger’s legal team have proposed a number of dates to the CAS but he hopes that a date will be set for April, which means that he would still potentially be able to ride the Giro d’Italia in May if he is found innocent of doping.

Romain Bardet apologizes to cycling fans after Mondory EPO positive.

AG2R-La Mondiale rider Romain Bardet apologized to cycling fans after his teammate Lloyd Mondory was suspended for failing a drugs test, saying the incident jeopardises efforts to make the sport more credible.

Mondory was suspended by the UCI pending an investigation after he tested positive for EPO in an out-of-competition test on February 17.

Bardet, 24, had a breakthrough year with the French team in 2014, finishing sixth in the Tour de France, and said it is unfair for the whole squad to be tainted by the actions of individuals.

CIRC report: Kimmage ‘would be astonished’ if Verbruggen lawsuit continues.

Speaking in the wake of a Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) report that was critical of the past presidents of the UCI, Paul Kimmage has said that he would be very surprised if Hein Verbruggen’s lawsuit against him were to continue.

Verbruggen and his successor Pat McQuaid both launched suits against Kimmage in the past, claiming defamation of their character in terms of his criticism of them and how they handled anti-doping in the UCI.

McQuaid dropped out of that suit last year but Verbruggen pushed onwards with his portion of it.

However according to Kimmage, there were recent indications that the Dutchman was awaiting the outcome of the CIRC report before going further.

Copeland feels MPCC rules need to be clearer.

Lampre-Merida general manager Brent Copeland has explained that his team found itself between a rock and a hard place when it decided to leave the Movement for Credible Cycling rather than fire Diego Ulissi.

Ulissi was handed a nine-month ban after testing positive for salbutamol at last year’s Giro d’Italia and MPCC regulations state that member teams cannot hire riders who have received doping suspensions of six months or longer.

Ulissi has a deal with Lampre until the end of this season and can return to racing on March 28.

Spring training II. Stage racers.

"In my previous column, I looked at how last month’s “spring training” races would have a bearing on the one-day classics season - which opened with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Interestingly, the strong men in the famous “sandstorm stage” of mid-February’s Tour of Qatar proved to be the strong men of the Belgian cobbles, with Team Sky’s Ian Stannard defending his Het Nieuwsblad title after he followed (and then defeated!) three Etixx-Quick Step, led by Tom Boonen, in team-time-trial formation, similar to the one they organized in the desert winds of the Gulf state."

Spy Optics Daft – Review.

Sunglasses are something you don’t want to think about. You don’t want to be constantly readjusting them or struggling to clean sweat and grime off them.

Let’s just say that when it comes to sunglasses, the less you see of them, the better – especially if that means the lens itself covers your entire field of vision.

Spy Optics understood those needs completely when they developed the Daft.

Crashtags Make IDs Cool.

ID tags are important, but let’s face it - they’re usually just not that exciting. But an ID tag that can save your life and open your beer? Well, that’s worth talking about.

The Crashtag provides info that a first responder might need in an emergency: Your name, emergency contacts, and allergies are engraved on the aerospace grade titanium tag.

To make the dogtag-style ID even more functional, a bottle opener is located at one end.

A techy spin on the ID is the addition of a QR Code that can be scanned and directed to your Crashtag page, which links to your Facebook, Strava, Twitter, and more.

2015 Tour de Langkawi LIVE.

Thursday's Tour de Langkawi Stage 5 departs Kuala Terengganu at 12:00pm local (5:00am CET, 12:00am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Kuantan at around 4:40pm local (940am CET, 1:40am U.S. Pacific). 

Tour de Langkawi live streaming should begin at around 4pm local (9:00am CET, 4:00am U.S. Eastern).

Cross Nationals Qualification Criteria: Is It Fair, and Do We Need It?

Ag2r’s Lloyd Mondory positive for EPO.