Young Aussie cyclists have a few options to make it over to Europe and race in the big leagues.

While I admit that we didn’t spend much time covering them, there were other races this weekend besides the Belgian Opening Weekend.  Here’s a quick run-down of what you might have missed:

Organisers under financial pressure to ensure future of under 23 race.

“I need to get to Eroica and Tirreno to get some racing in my legs and get the rhythm of the high speed and intensity back into my preparation for the classics,” he told VeloNews on Monday. “I feel strong. I definitely feel a lot better than I did at this time last year.”

Jens Voigt (Leopard Trek) admits that his chances of claiming a record sixth victory at Critérium International are slim, but at least he’ll be at the start line this year to have a shot.

Rabobank lead with a good mix of quality and quantity thanks to Sebastian Langeveld, Robert Gesink, Oscar Freire, Theo Bos and others. Whereas Farnese Vini landed plenty of wins in the less prestigious Tour of Langkawi.

2010 Australian time trial champion unlikely to return to cycling.

Today's Quote:

"It's not the first time that a national federation excuses their own athlete. We've had cases of that kind even as far back as the 1980s, and so far there has been no hearing panel that has accepted those arguments in the end. We've had national panels that have excused those athletes, but when it came to the final decision, they have all been ruled guilty. It's not just clenbuterol. People claim they have been doped from what they had eaten." - Prof. Arne Ljungqvist NPR

Big congratulations to Team Type 1 coming 2nd in the Gran Premio Regio Insubrica - 2011. They really seem to be enjoying riding their new Colnago M10 frames!

Cadel Evans is looking to become the oldest man since 1923 to win the Tour de France, and BMC Racing Team sport director John Lelangue is giving him an easy run-up to the race.

No Belgian winner at Het Nieuwsblad or Kuurne for second straight year.

Why should you use a coach? It’s a pretty good question. Our “California Connection” elite coach Matt McNamara of Sterling Sports Group has been pondering this one for awhile and he came up with a few perspectives and a really cool offer!

“This is the most exciting collaboration since James Franco and Anne Hathaway teamed up to host the Oscars!”  No, it’s really much more exciting than that.

According to a new study, a daily dose of the herb echinacea can help your body increase levels of the red blood cell boosting hormone Erythropoietin (EPO), significantly increasing your endurance capacity.

Many city cyclists across the country have wonderful roads to explore within riding distance, but getting to the quiet, challenging riding terrain remains a problem.

New sponsor causes renaming of previous Adageo Energy Pro Cycling squad

US-based UCI Continental team Kenda p/b Geargrinder kicked off its season at a training camp held in the warm and sunny south-east climate of Clermont, Florida.

The four-event series is the top women-only competition in the United States and will include the Redlands Classic, Tour of the Gila, Nature Valley Grand Prix and Cascade Cycling Classic.

After the recent birth of her child, Olympic champion Kristin Armstrong is back on the bike and getting ready to race.

I think we were treated to more of the race we expected to see.

Well, its Monday and I’m still not sure what I think about Saturday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. But here’s what I think I think:

It's the world's slowest sprint; Sebastian Langeveld and Juan Antonio Flecha are both wasted, small wonder, the Dutchman has been out front for the last quarter of the race on this foulest of days.

The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad definitely didn’t disappoint as my season opener.

Text messages between riders and directors might be the way forward.

"Studies comparing the experiences of commuting by bicycle and car report that cyclists find their mode of transport at least as flexible and convenient as those who use cars, with lower stress and greater feelings of freedom, relaxation and excitement.”

A talented Colombian climber, Grajales has been racing in the United States since 2001.

Sacha White and his Vanilla and Speedvagen bicycles are a perennial favorite at NAHBS.

Smoother shifting and more gears are the major changes promised for Shimano's "gateway" groupsets. Both groups will be given an additional sprocket on the rear; Tiagra will join its 10-speed siblings, while the new Acera will set a minimum nine-speed standard across the Shimano mountain bike range.

Best Road – Ellis touring bike, black (above)

TwistedSpoke: When will Lance Armstrong’s son Luke be Tour-ready?

The question has already been hotly debated at the Armstrong Ranch outside Austin, Texas: When will his son Luke, now 10 years old, be ready to win a major ProTour bike race?

Iljo Keisse getting season’s first road start in 2011.

The manner in which Slovak-sensation Peter Sagan scored four victories in Sardinia  this past week points to a career that’s headed to the sport’s very highest levels. Maybe he’ll even go as far as the sport’s biggest ever winner, Eddy Merckx.

YehudaMoon: Steel.

The driver of the car filmed ploughing in to a group of cyclists on a Critical Mass ride in Porto Alegre in south eastern Brazil last Friday acted in the self defence of himself and his 15 year old son his lawyer told the Brazilian media today.

Good Motoring is the quarterly magazine for members of the Guild of Experienced Motorists (GEM) Motoring Assist – think AA and RAC but without the economies of scale – and modestly claims to offer “a superb line-up of news, features and interviews.”

The pre-race threat of a strike by the riders was lifted but nothing is resolved. The issue has simply been put on hold and there will be talks on the eve of Paris-Nice. The French stage race is part of the World Tour where race radios can be used.

The sketch is by Marec, resident cartoonist of Het Nieuwsblad who normally does politics.

Tom Boonen (Quick Step) has lamented that he was a marked man in both the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, but reiterated that he would rather win in April than in February.

After this last weekends’ two Belgian races, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Tom Boonen was irritated by being so closely marked.

Alberto Contador is already a pretty good time trialist, but his new boss at Saxo Bank-Sungard said changes in his TT position could take the Tour de France winner up another notch.

“Did you not hear me, mate? I’m from New Zealand. We don’t feel pain.”

According to French newspaper L'Equipe, the Norwegian will preview the last 150 kilometres of the one-day classic with Garmin-Cervélo team-mate Johan Van Summeren. The team's new classics coach and 2003 winner, Peter Van Petegem will guide the duo.

The show was called the “Messe für Fahrrad, Freizeit & Zubehör,” or the “Show for Bicycles, Leisure and Accessories.”

There's a lot more to a craftsman's handmade bicycle than just steel and sweat.

Just five months after confirming his retirement from the sport at the end-of-season criterium in his home city of Valencia, José Enrique Gutiérrez is back in training and set to return to racing with the Colombian Gobernación de Antioquía team.

Mark Dinucci was ecstatic with his selection for Best in Show. His understated city bike won thanks to its immaculate craftsmanship and attention to detail. The frame was painted by Keith Anderson.

Duarte's second in Lugano and Pelucchi's win makes for a great day for Geox-TMC.

Bad luck and a crucial mistake in the finale of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne cost Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo) a clean run at victory on Sunday.

PEZ: Kuurne - Sutton Surprise In Kuurne Sprint!.....

Team Sky came up short the previous day at Het Nieuwsblad, but Chris Sutton made amends by sprinting to victory today in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.

Italian tops Duarte for first win of 2011.

Pavel Brutt of Katusha won the 34th edition of the Classica Sarda one-day race after being part of a successful escape group.

After its best season ever, team Jelly Belly  p/b Kenda is looking to do it again this season in its twelfth year in the pro ranks, making Jelly Belly the longest running title sponsor in US cycling.

Race starts at 12:00pm CET  (6:00am U.S. Eastern). LIVE video from 2:25pm CET  (8:25am U.S. Eastern).

They were fun and the subjects delightful. Or maybe they are delightful and the subjects were fun.

The Firebird is a Singular road bike designed for long road rides at tempo.

Dutchman's comeback off to a great start following big day of work at the front in Almeria

Kazakh lambasts Ricco for blowing second chance.

Video footage has captured the moments a peaceful critical mass ride in the city of Porto Alegre  in south eastern Brazil on Friday evening turned into something much nastier when a motorist accelerated through a group of 130 riders, hitting 20 of them and putting 9 in hospital.

After the Team Sky debacle at the Tour de France, head honcho David Brailsford promised season two would be different. They’d avoid what he called an  “isolated and robotic” approach.

Sunny weather eliminates epic breaks and leads to bunch sprint.

German lacked a good leadout in hectic finish.

“If you’re a french cycling fan who can’t read english you get really poor information.“

'I've always been in love with Italy. Tuscany is in my heart.'

Today's Quote:

"It's not the first time that a national federation excuses their own athlete. We've had cases of that kind even as far back as the 1980s, and so far there has been no hearing panel that has accepted those arguments in the end. We've had national panels that have excused those athletes, but when it came to the final decision, they have all been ruled guilty. It's not just clenbuterol. People claim they have been doped from what they had eaten." - Prof. Arne Ljungqvist NPR

Do riders prefer the bikes they usually ride, or are there bikes that really are superior, even if they are unfamiliar?

This week we have a wrap up on Ricardo Ricco, FSA's new website, Taichung Bike week date changes, and how many nails it took to put the London Velodrome together.

YehudaMoon: Curtain Call.

Spanish rider finds study to support defense argument.

It's been a quiet week in the Alberto Contador  doping case, but that's not to say nothing has happened. in the past few days the head of the World Anti-Doping Agancy (WADA) has confirmed that the organisation wants its day in court and that it's prepared to play a long game.

American looking forward to Mount Baldy mountain finish.

Italian reflects on excellent win in Lugano, ready for more success this spring.

When it comes to cycling in Washington, the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic might be the most famous ride and Cannonball (a one-day, 275-mile ride from Seattle to Spokane) might be the toughest.

If I could only choose one race to attend every year, it would easily be the GvA Trofee Nationale Sluitingsprijs held in Oostmalle, Belgium, the third week of February – the last big race of the season.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and beauty was everywhere to be found.

Change of tactics for one, flat tires and bad lines for the other put fast men out of contention.

Video coverage starts around 8am EST (that’s 13:00 GMT), Sunday, February 27. Pavé Feed Zone chat will start around the same time. Again joining the Pavé staff will be The Inner Ring.

Sebastian Langeveld (Rabobank) snatched victory from Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky) at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, using every bit of energy left in his body after being on the attack for 50km in the rain.

With Langevelde's win the Rabobank team continues what has been a dream start to their 2011 campaign.

Emma Johansson (Hitec Products-Uck) netted her second consecutive win in the women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad as the Swedish champion outkicked her four breakaway companions in Ghent.

Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) took his third stage win at the Giro di Sardegna in Oristano on Friday, showing he can beat the best sprinters as easily as he can out power the climbers on an uphill finish.

Judith Arndt and her HTC-Highroad teammates stayed calm and collected throughout a challenging final stage of Tour of New Zealand to allow the German rider to claim the overall race victory.

Darren Lill (DCM) ended South Africa's drought of stage wins in its inaugural national Tour when he won the queen stage of the Cell C Tour of South Africa in Stellenbosch. The South African Road Champion put in a formidable attack, which no one could follow, at the start of the final Heelshoogte climb, then soloed to the finish.

Peter Van Petegem will put his role as a race director aside tomorrow and go behind of the wheel as an assistant team director for the first time at Garmin-Cervelo.

Relief all round as the race known as The Paper gets the green light to go ahead after the international riders association decided to stand down from their threat to protest over the race radio ban for the Belgian semi-classic.

Today's Quote:

"It's not the first time that a national federation excuses their own athlete. We've had cases of that kind even as far back as the 1980s, and so far there has been no hearing panel that has accepted those arguments in the end. We've had national panels that have excused those athletes, but when it came to the final decision, they have all been ruled guilty. It's not just clenbuterol. People claim they have been doped from what they had eaten." - Prof. Arne Ljungqvist NPR

Phinney was training near Lucca with Garmin-Cervelo's Andrew Talansky on Friday when the two crossed wheels while turning a corner.

Pro triathlete and MD Alex McDonald was hit by a pickup truck while on a training ride Thursday and suffered two broken legs.

There’s plenty of evidence from outside the cycling world that reviewing, testing and tasting is a complex matter where even the biggest experts can get confused.

Most of the displays are true artwork.

Although he only showed flashes of form in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, World Champion Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo) believes that his best is just around the corner. The 33-year-old Norwegian finished 33rd, 5:05 down on winner Sebastian Langeveld (Rabobank) but in a group containing many of the pre-race favorites.

Even with the reputation of being one of the most precise companies in the biz, apparently even Chris King appreciates the incredible smoothness that is Moots  welding. So, it makes sense that when they were looking to have two completely integrated stem/spacer/headset top cap made for their Cielo show bikes, calling up Moots was an easy decision.

YehudaMoon: Joe's on the Team... In a Way.

I could write a long piece saying how great today’s race was, examining the form of the riders, the relative strength of each team and the impact of racing without radios. But that’s not the point.

Mill Valley’s Above Category ordered this Parlee track bike for a customer with the AC logo on both the stem and the fork.

Hong Kong, 6am. Dawn on the Bride’s Pool Road, out near the border with mainland China.

Last year Tim Johnson crossed a line that, unfortunately, few professional cyclists do – from competitor to bike advocate.

They make helmets, they make gloves, now Giro also make shoes, announced last summer Giro's new shoe range due to hit shops in the UK in the next couple of weeks and we got our first up close look at them here at iceBike.

That pretty much sums up my month of February. Without any races to report on, I can't help but get a little philosophical. Be forewarned.

The excellent web site called  Italian Race Bikes recently featured a selection of photograph of a highly collectible Colnago Master TT - 30th Anniversary model.

Race starts at 11:30am CET  (5:30am U.S. Eastern). LIVE video from 2:05pm CET  (8:05am U.S. Eastern).

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Race Preview (Pre-Race Links).

The opening race of the Belgian classics season is always interesting given the manic racing, the cobbles and yes, the foul weather that is expected.

VeloNews: Peter Sagan wins again in Sardinia.

When a young rider wins a ton of races in dominant fashion, the first thought that creeps into the mind of a fan is whether that athlete is clean.

This Sunday is part two of Hell of the North - a landmark sporting documentary which tells the story of Stuart O'Grady's phenomenal victory at the 2007 Paris-Roubaix.

Portuguese rider given green light after earlier positive test.

Further gossip and news from the China amateur cycling scene. We find out more about Specialzied China, Darren Benson and what's going on with the UCC team in China?

Just because the season is over does not mean that ’crossers stop existing, so stay with us folks, through the remainder of the cold months and into the summer season, as we do our best to stay on top of the rumors and rumblings in pro cyclocross.

"Tech fans should note I think these particular ones are FMB tubs."

The helical  design wasn't the result of millions of dollars and six years worth of research - it came about through an accidental misalignment of the dies used to shape tubes.

Greg Lemond famously said that for every week we take off the bike it takes three weeks to get back the form.

Don Walker started the North American Handmade Bicycle show seven years ago. That first show took place in Houston, Texas and has returned to the Lone Star state this year, this time in Austin. From Friday, February 25th to Sunday the 27th,

A possible rider protest at Saturday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is unlikly after the teams association announced Friday that it had voted against a protest. 

As always, money talks. A last minute compromise between the UCI and the rider’s union over the radio ban has been reached.

Wants UCI to cease threatening race organisers.

John Howard rides ahead of eventual winner Bernt Johansson  of Sweden in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Howard said Johansson spent most of the race on his wheel until Howard went down in the rain. The two had raced together in Sweden the year before.

Today's Quote:

"It's not the first time that a national federation excuses their own athlete. We've had cases of that kind even as far back as the 1980s, and so far there has been no hearing panel that has accepted those arguments in the end. We've had national panels that have excused those athletes, but when it came to the final decision, they have all been ruled guilty. It's not just clenbuterol. People claim they have been doped from what they had eaten." - Prof. Arne Ljungqvist NPR

Rename in progress: the new official name is the Giro di Sardegna. Peter Sagan won for the third time, taking stage three in a dominant sprint over Manuel Belletti (Colnago–CSF Inox) and Roberto Ferrari (Androni Giocattoli).

Tyler Farrar and Thor Hushovd will split team leadership duties at Garmin-Cervelo at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad  and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne this weekend, with the American targeting the latter and the Norwegian world champion focusing on Omloop Nieuwsblad.

Tensions cropping up over UCI rule challenge.

"Smooth and long lasting, with a good pricetag."

Five days ago Jimmy Button and Cory Worf set off together on a 42 day, 2,400 mile bike ride across the USA from Southern California to Florida.

4 solutions to help avoid a big fix.

Dried fruit can give you that nutritional kick without ending up with a jersey pocket full of mush.

RBA takes you on an exclusive tour through the halls where carbon fiber wheels are born.

Court orders Italian legend to be disturbed.

YehudaMoon: Some Peace and Quiet.

The IOC's top anti-doping official said he has seen no convincing evidence that athletes can inadvertently test positive for clenbuterol or other banned drugs by eating contaminated meat.

FDJ manager one of the few speaking out in favour of radio ban.

Neil agrees with cyclist Jens Voigt  about the need for race radios and calls on Voigt to lead a race slowdown to prove the point of how radios increase rider safety.

Cycling teams have urged the UCI to hold talks over a ban on radio earpieces for riders which is being phased in by 2012.

Italian Francesco De Bonis is appearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport to try to overturn a two-year doping ban.

Former Austrian professional rider Georg Totschnig will be charged with lying under oath about his use of doping products. Public prosecutors in Vienna have charged him in connection with the doping case against Walter Mayer, the former national coach for the national cross-country skiing and biathlon teams.

Launch at Enovos headquarters, but company denies it's the main backer.

Big time pro bicycle racing returns to Colorado. The state which gave us the 'Coors Classic' way back in pre-history will host the 'Quiznos Pro Challenge' in 2011; with part of the impetus for the event coming from non other than Lance Armstrong.

The North American Handmade Bicycle Show, commonly known as NAHBS, has always been a showcase for the immense talent and creativity of small artisan builders but this year's show is already feeling different than in years past.

On eve of my first European trip for the season, the professional cycling world seems to be a sinking ship as each day a new round of bad news is delivered. Daily a rider tests positive, or a team is going under, or we are seriously contemplating if we should not longer eat beef, we wonder if a bike has the official UCI sticker on it, or if can we wear a race radio.

Chris Jongewaard survived a flat tyre and a rider protest to win his fifth national cross country championship at the 2011 Specialized Australian Mountain Bike Championships in Adelaide.

Victoria's Katherine O'Shea has won the Australian cross country championship in Adelaide today in what was a clean sweep for Team Torq.

Former world champion back on form? Alessandro Ballan is finally showing signs that he might be a force to be reckoned with again.

Slovak regains overall lead from Cunego.

Irizar took a one-second overnight lead over Belgian Jurgen Van den Broeck into the 162km ride from Cordoba to Antequera, and defended his slim advantage to secure his first major success.

Cheatley remains hot on the German's heels.

House continues as overall leader.

'It costs nothing to hold the banners properly.'

Analyse ahead of Het Nieuwsblad & Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.

VeloNews: Saxo Bank-Sungard signs Luke Robert and Rafal Majka.

The team announced signing of the 34-year-old Roberts and emerging Polish talent Rafal Majka.

Ex-Gerolsteiner best known for sprint crashes. Rene Haselbacher has retired after 15 years a professional cyclist. The Austrian has moved to South Africa and does not plan to be involved in cycling.

Last year, Emma Johansson won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in what she described as a near-perfect race. "You know how you prepare for a race, and you knew exactly when to do it, and where do to it, and the other girls on the team know what to do."

The early season is once again a showcase for new talent. At the Greenville Spring Series a young rider stood out – Philip O’Donnell of Suwanee, Georgia.

"Remarkably capable and convenient workhorse "

Fit Chick's all-time best advice for riding faster, stronger and longer than ever before.

Want your bike to go faster? Ride easier? Shift smoother? Improvements in these areas are often relatively easy to accomplish with just a few simple steps.

Racing is different. It’s like the flip of a switch: my mind and body shift into another mode with a single-minded focus, creating an excitement and emotion that no training ride can ever reproduce.

The US team was built around Lance Armstrong but now he is retired, the sponsor’s interest is bound to be waning. Especially since the US electrical retailer has very little presence outside the USA. So what’s next for the team?

VeloNews tech editor Nick Legan is a former ProTour mechanic who most recently wrenched for Team RadioShack at the 2010 Tour de France and elsewhere.

The latest edition of Vélo magazine has an interesting take on track cycling, reporting on the gears used over the years by the sprinters.

Race radios make bike races less interesting and unpredictable, and the argument from the teams, that they are primarily for safety, is a red herring

While you may know Steve more for his brother’s exploits, his framesets are proof that there’s more behind the family name than just legendary Grand Tour victories.

The look on Damiano Cuengo’s face at the finish in Monte Ortobene said it all. Five hundred pound monkey off his back.

Today's Quote:

"The mark-up can be anywhere from 10 to 100 times. You spend a dollar and you make $100. That’s a pretty good investment. They buy the raw materials and then they put them together in a kitchen laboratory." - David Howman CyclingNews

"When we talk about  bike “handling”, we are basically referring to how much input is required to make the bike turn. When you hear about how”compliant” a bike is, it has nothing to do with handling. A misconception is that a soft riding bike is a slow turning bike. Seat say angles or how compliant the bike is has very little to do with handling."

Unless there’s a huge surprise, it’s a safe bet to say that whoever wins Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday will be catapulted up the list of favourites for the Tour of Flanders.

We’ve been trying to track down Jay Sweet for the past 2 months now and finally got in touch with him today.

For Leda Cox, one of British cycling’s unsung heroines, the beginning of the end was a racing pile-up in Canada. And things got much, much worse before they got better...

In the spirit of blogging excellence (as well as one of full disclosure) I hereby offer you the following true story.

...circumstances that launched Peter Zheutlin on his quest to research and write a book about Annie Kopchovsky (aka Annie Londonderry): "Around the World on Two Wheels, Annie Londonderry's Extraordinary Ride."

YehudaMoon: Crowded House.

Many will take the start with earpieces in defiance of ban.

"There are “podium dudes” out there, for sure, but one would have to concede they are something of a rarity."

"We showed that the testing for clenbuterol [in livestock] is not infallible in Europe," Ramos told The Independent.

Rider ruled to have supplied another with doping products.

This weekend marks what was once the proper start of the year’s racing season, in years past any event before Het Volk was effectively a training race. Now known as Het Nieuwsblad (“the newspaper”), Saturday sees the Belgian season start and it’s followed by Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday.

Only you can decide what balance of carbs, protein and fat you need from your energy snacks and nutrition products, but here's a quick round-up of the latest options to hit our desks, along with a couple of other health-related products.

Chipotle Mexican Grill  will sponsor Slipstream Sport's development team this season. The Continental-ranked team will be known as Team Chipotle, Slipstream has announced.

How does a team top a year in which it won both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana? By winning the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, of course! It’s a lofty proposition, but with Vincenzo Nibali and Ivan Basso on the roster at Liquigas-Cannondale, it’s not an unreasonable goal.

The publication, displaying its singular talent for misinterpreting scientific research, manages to somehow extrapolate the notion that cycle commuting is “one of the biggest causes of heart attacks,” from some a study that makes no such claim whatsoever.

A chat with Mike Yngson of the 7-11 (Executive) Racing Team presented by Spyder and Columbia Sportswear in Manila.

Diego Colosio (Colnago) Peter Nisbet (Windwave)

If you're looking to travel by bicycle vicariously this summer by reading about someone else's adventures, I'd recommend "The Lost Cyclist" by David Herlihy. But I'll warn you that, as the title implies, it ends badly.

The bitter taste is subsiding and Henk Vogels will soon be back in the United States with a new-look V Australia team for 2011.

You don't need a lot of tools—you just need the right tools. If you have these 16 in your home shop, you'll be able to fix anything.

Both riders looking to capitalise on Oman and Qatar form.

The 2011 Spring Classics season kicks off on Saturday March 19 with Milan-San Remo in Italy.

Italian beats Serpa and Sella for first win since 2009.

House remains in overall lead.

HTC Highroad team in control in New Zealand.

Australian climber gets lifeline after Pegasus Sports team stops.

Doug Shapiro wasn’t the first American to ride the Tour; that was Jonathan Boyer; or the second, that was Greg Lemond. But he was the third to do so; and not just in any old role – as a domestique for Tour, Vuelta and Worlds winner, Joop Zoetemelk as part of the mighty Kwantum Hallen team.

So how does this revelation of $250 tires that were only available to Lance reconcile with the UCI rule that’s been on the books since at least 1999 that says all bicycle equipment used by professionals must be available to the general public?

Fans and pundits alike were perplexed to see Garmin-Cervélo’s Heinrich Haussler listed as a non-starter for Saturday’s fifth stage of the Tour of Oman.

Look’s long-heralded aero version of the KéO Blade pedal should finally hit shops in mid-March, according to UK importers Fisher Outdoor Leisure. BikeRadar got a look (sorry) at an actual sample at Fisher’s UK dealer conference yesterday, and we can see the appeal for testers who want to lose every last gram of drag from their bikes.

Cyril Dessel (AG2R-La Mondiale) has returned to full training after missing the early part of the season due to acute prostatitis. The Frenchman was diagnosed with the ailment ahead of his planned season debut at the Tour de San Luis in January.

"Handling is affected by the distance from the steering axis to the rider contact point. It does not matter if there is a long or a short stem in-between."

WADA chief also offers a new slant on the clenbuterol issue.

I’m only just getting used to seeing Cavendish, Greipel and Farrar get the jump on Freire, Petacchi and McEwen. But several neo-pros have got off to a winning start already.

German veteran warns that fatalities are a sacrifice too large.

“I forget my defeats quickly.” That bit of sports psychology was presented by classics monster Tom Boonen of Quick Step.

"I like Carlos Sastre. Not just as a rider, although his endurance and stamina are something, but the man too. He does a fair amount of charity work and tries to make a difference."

After a hard-fought weekend of cyclocross racing, and what was no doubt an excellent party to celebrate the GvA Trofee, the season is over. Here are Pavé’s Power Rankings at the end of the 2010-2011 season:

Canadian Craig Richey (CyclocrossRacing.com p/b Blue) has packed up his bike and made the trip home from his European tour.

The second round of the Sunshine Cup will kick off on Friday with the three-day, HC-categorized, Afxentia stage race, and number-one ranked Jaroslav Kulhavy of the Czech Republic will be the man to beat there.

Last week, we went on a “training ride” into the hills northeast of Seattle. We met at 7:30 and rode to Snohomish. The valley of the Skykomish River was filled with cold fog, so a stop at our favorite bakery provided a welcome warm-up.

Fresh from overall victory at the Tour du Haut Var, Thomas Voeckler’s (Europcar) next objective on home roads is Paris-Nice, but the Frenchman has admitted that the race’s stage six time trial means that his ambitions for the general classification are limited.

Nobody walks in L.A., that’s the word from the locals and complete with its own pop song, but in neighboring Long Beach the locals might not be walking, rather, they’ll be riding a soon to be constructed new network of separated bike paths.

"What’s in the interview is that she has said that she’s willing to testify against Lance [inaudible]--."

"This piece of audio is that talk between Frankie Andreu, Armstrong agent Bill Stapleton, and Armstrong friend Bart Knaggs, secretly recorded by Andreu."

YehudaMoon: A Change of Heart.

Floyd Landis as a biting satirist?

Christina Watches announces new sponsor and is looking for experienced riders.

Vacansoleil-DCM has parted company with the soigneur who came to the team with Riccardo Riccò. The rider was fired last week, and the team noted that Flavio Mongiardo worked only for the controversial Italian.

French anti-doping agency wants to be part of 2011 Tour de France.

Ask any big cycling fan and they'll tell you the same thing: the true beginning of each cycling season comes at the end of February at Belgium's one day semi-classic Omloop Het Niewsblad.

The real season starts here for Belgian classics team.

Dave Brailsford had a full plate in 2010 as he created Great Britain’s first major professional cycling team. After steering the British track team to dominance in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Brailsford turned his attention to the road.

The face behind the camera.

"Mark Cavendish  is one of my favorite riders. He’s not to everyone’s taste but I’m impressed by the number of wins he’s got. Still just 25, he’s on the verge of overtaking some of the biggest sprinters in the sport."

"Folks......hot off the press from Cambiago. Colnago have just launched their brand new EPQ frame-set. The new EPQ will be replacing the EPS within the range."

Skil-Shimano is relying on a wildcard to gain entry to the Vuelta a España in August but is holding onto a slim hope of an invitation to the Tour de France.

“I was mountain biking with my daughter through Aliso and Woods Canyon in Laguna Beach, CA, and came upon this sign.”

Garmin-Cervelo rider off to a terrific start, looking to continue to prepare quietly for main spring goals.

Irizar holds overall lead.

Peter Sagan is off to another winning start, finishing first on day one of the Tour of Sardinia in Porto Cervo today. He won ahead of 2008 World Champion Alessandro Ballan and Liquigas-Cannondale team-mate Daniel Oss.

Alessandro Ballan always has a strange facial expression. It probably got even stranger after his stop-start schedule last year.

Only cities outside Europe are being considered to acknowledge interest from non-European countries.

PodiumCafe: Inside the Omloop Parcours (Yes, I'm Having Fun Now).

For this year's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the good folks at Flanders Classics have decided to turn the screws on the riders a few times, with the help of classics icon Peter Van Petegem.

“No, it’s not really [an objective],” Boonen told dhnet.be. “In the first years of my career I tried to win it, but it comes a bit early. It’s just a question of timing, although it is surprising that I’ve twice won the day after at Kuurne, but never there.”

There’s a new version coming out in black. As far as I can tell it’s merely a change of powder-coating or anodisation. There is no functional difference.

First of all Red went yellow, and now it’s turning black; SRAM are launching a new edition of their top line groupset that’ll be available from next month.

The Big 'S' continues to innovate when it comes to cycling shoes. We've had a set of the 2010 Specialized S-Works Road shoes for a number of months and have finally had a chance to get down to reviewing.

Cameron Meyer is originally from Viveash, Western Australia. If you're a frequent reader of xinqiwen.com you'll know that Cam is a professional racing cyclist riding for UCI ProTeam Garmin-Cervélo.

The early part of Alberto Contador’s contentious return to competition is set to take place exclusively on the Iberian Peninsula, but his spokesman has denied that this is a deliberate attempt on the Saxo Bank Sungard rider’s part to avoid a potentially hostile reception further afield

The mentally fit cyclist challenges internal limits, yet respects them, and takes action quickly after going too far.

The blogosphere is wondering about another vaunted new team, Leopard-Trek, which up until Monday had not registered a single victory since it debuted at the Tour Down Under just over a month ago.

Not many people really think Christian Vande Velde has much chance of winning the Tour de France. And that suits him just fine.

Carnac  have been a top brand for several years and for 2011 they bring a new twist on closure systems with the adjustable, flexible magnetic closure system (MCS).>

The four teams are Professional Continental, as Dutch squad Skil-Shimano is joined by the Belgian teams Landbouwkrediet, Topsport Vlaanderen, and Verandas Willems.The 18 ProTeams have already been invited.

These tips and techniques will help you thrive on any road.

Tough, easy to fit chain… not sure about this particular color though.

"Herbally wholesome bum butter, but very unhealthy for your wallet."

“Cycling has been my passion since I was a child.  Through the Cycletta series I want to inspire women to join me and cycle; as a hobby, a sport, a way to get fit and healthy.

YehudaMoon: Not Even the Good Stuff.

Freshly released from the hospital after his botched transfusion, Riccardo Ricco settles in for some late night TV with his wife Vania Rossi.

Today's Quote:

"Just read the Verbruggen interview - he comes off sounding really douche." - Neil Browne Twitter

Contador decision not reflective of attitude to doping.

New AFLD president confirms handover process is underway.

The F3, F4, F5 and F75 bike models are affected by the recall, which is being conducted with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

UCI president Pat McQuaid  is yet to receive the full documentation from the Spanish cycling federation relating to Alberto Contador’s positive test for clenbuterol.

He has reportedly taken refuge away from home, outside of Modena. Last year, when Rossi was accused of using EPO-CERA, he remained in Italy's south, in Sicily.

TheInnerRing: Reporting isn’t always that good in France either.

If the American media struggles, don’t imagine it’s perfect in France. A large proportion of the media has given up on the sport to some extent.

Suppliers imported 19.77 million bikes into the United States last year, worth more than $1.43 billion, a historical record value for imports.

The news from the UCI that it is pushing ahead with its approval scheme for bikes. It was first announced, then put on hold, the reviewed and now we have the third version. Third time lucky?

Since the acquittal, which is provisional in as much as there are still periods of appeal and counter-appeal to be slogged through, Alberto’s name has been closely associated with, depending on your viewpoint, cheating and/or justice. He has been much maligned, and also much revered.

“It’s the first time [I’ve started my season so late],” Nibali told Gazzetta dello Sport. “But the other years I’d also finished racing earlier. We decided to started later in order to help me recover better and to prepare better.”

The past two winters Pete Webber  has had huge success in Europe and many other riders have continued to show the depth of Master’s racing. Is the success of the American Master’s racers in Europe helping the opinion of US cross in Europe?

 While you may know Steve more for his brother’s exploits, his framesets are proof that there’s more behind the family name than just legendary Grand Tour victories.

A rock star mix of World Champions, World Record Holders, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallists and Asia Pacific’s hottest young talent is set to converge on Singapore for this year’s OCBC Cycle Singapore Professional Criterium from 4-6 March.

I didn’t really intend to take an off-season, it just kind of happened. I was supposed to go to California. I was supposed to keep racing cyclocross until the end of January.

Irizar assumes overall lead.

Belgian feels Rabobank rider could be a big contender this year.

Robert Gesink won the first stage race of his pro career on Sunday, taking the overall title in the Tour of Oman.

Bjarne Riis  made it look pretty easy last year didn't he? With virtually the same group (less powerful on paper in fact) as the present day Leopard-Trek team, Bjarne Riis had his riders charged and ready to head into the meat of the northern classics season with a handful of wins under their belt.

It is one of the most shocking injuries seen on a cycling track in recent years.  But in this video  shot by British Cycling just hours after removing a substantial piece of wood from Malaysian track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang's leg, a surgeon offered a reassuring prognosis.

VeloNation: Steve Bauer Interview - Aiming high with Spidertech-C10.

Former top pro passing on his knowledge to Canada’s young riders.

The UCI racing program kicks off properly with a little en-route stop off for one of the prettiest races of the year, the NZ Community Trust Women’s Tour of New Zealand. That’s six stages over five days, including point-to point, cross-country stages and a couple of criteriums.

A group of companies have developed a new system to consistently name replacement headset standards. This new system of nomenclature is known as the Standard Headset Information System, or SHIS.

A fashionable pair of socks.

With a reputation built on high-end mountain bikes, Whyte's decision to launch a range of commuting machines  last year came as a bit of a surprise. However, this diversification proved a success, and the company have now unveiled another departure from their normal brief – their first drop-bar bikes.

Vincenzo Nibali is kicking off his season with the Giro di Sardegna tomorrow. He hopes to repeat his successes of last year, when he won seven races, including the Vuelta a España.

The course is on the BMW test track in Greer on a pan flat kidney shaped loop.

Second overall bodes well for Belgian races this weekend.

The sports centre at Kaarst-Büttgen was quite an impressive facility.

Each winter Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) hosts a trade show for customers at its facility in Bloomington, MN.  As one of the largest bike product distributors in the US, QBP serves more than 5,000 independent retailers throughout the country and counts nearly every major component manufacturer among its providers.

It’s not easy being Jonathan Vaughters. The manager of Garmin-Cervélo has a lot on his plate given Matt White got ejected from the team.

The lesson Xavier Tondo taught me.

Garmin-Cervelo building gradually for the Ardennes Classics.

Today's Quote:

"Just read the Verbruggen interview - he comes off sounding really douche." - Neil Browne Twitter

It’s only February, but if this past week’s Tour of Oman and Volta ao Algarve are any indicator, 2011 Tour de France is going to be an exciting race with a deep list of contenders. 

Following a meeting organised in Aigle on 13th and 14th January to which the manufacturers concerned were invited, the UCI has decided to modify several points in the approval procedure.

Cadel Evans wants to win a “Grand Tour” to add to his World Championships and he is changing his season plans to accommodate his ambitions.

Saxo Bank SunGard chief says form should come gradually.

Movistar  rider Xavier Tondo is a new hero of the anti-doping movement following his role in the recent police raids in Girona.

Three perfect days in Los Angeles  could go something like this. First, the sunshine would have to be out and dripping its glorious rays all over the town. Then, each event goes off without a hitch. Throw in a few pleasant surprises and more than enough great people to round out the days there and not much can go wrong.

With 2010’s #1-ranked rider, an improved classics squad, and a bevy of Russian talent to keep the sponsors happy, 2011 should be a banner year for Katusha.

Road race world champion Thor Hushovd will begin his spring classics campaign at this weekend's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Ultimately, sports foods are made from everyday ingredients, of the type that you’ll no doubt find lurking in your fridge or cupboard.

It’s white, icy and very tricky to cycle on. Since there is “no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing”, and since getting out there in the ‘dark’ months is where one discovers the soul of our sport, I’ve got to get outside.

In the wake of Ricarrdo Ricco’s botched stale blood transfusion, there’s news or rather wild conjecture suggesting that the UCI might adjust Vacansoleil’s license. This seems highly unlikely to Twisted Spoke and plenty of smarter more informed writers.

"It was almost a guarantee that the sprint for the stage win was going to be hotter than a tire fire at Hell's gates."

Rabobank's Dane worried about his season.

With the experience of nineteen bicycles in his baggage, Mr. Penn personalizes the globalized product.

Tough mountain makes for "epic" stage.

YehudaMoon: Got Legs?

Let’s be honest. What good reason would weekend warriors like us have to shave our legs?

Here in the United States of America (also known as Canada's gratuitous undercoating), today is Presidents Day.

Or, why most Americans still don’t understand bike racing.

Even with the revolution in consumer-available pro team gear that has occurred over the past decade, there are still some things Joe Racer just can’t get his hands on.

It's not the climbs. It's the sound of my own nerve-wracked thoughts leading up to the base of them.

Well, it is all relative, but in the sport of cycling I am old. I have been racing 22 years and have competed on five continents.

It’s a fact that most team bikes in the pro peloton are available to buy at your local bike shop or online.

Thomas Vockler finished second in Draguignan, after breaking clear of the peloton alongside Antonmarchi with 7km of the 207km stage remaining.Voeckler – who finished third in Saturday’s opening stage – has enjoyed a fine start to the season, adding the Haut Var crown to his opening-stage triumph at the Tour Mediterraneen a fortnight ago.

Motivation still strong at 36 years of age.

Track and BMX star Shanaze Reade shrugged off disappointment in Sunday’s team sprint at the Manchester Track World Cup, admitting she was just glad to be back in competition after injury.

Since 2008, Greg Keller has had a voice in the cyclocross community through his site Mud and Cowbells.

The HTC-Highroad victory train keeps on chuggin' away.

Peter Horn is an American racing with the Geox-Fuji Test Team, the amateur development team of Geox-TMC. As Geox-Fuji Test Team’s captain, he’s looking to lead the team to victories in Belgium and around Europe, and help break the team’s riders into the Professional ranks.

Master Light BiTitan.

What do three guys who had worked at Independent Fabrication for almost 30 years combined do upon learning the company is moving to New Hampshire in May?

Strong American team ready to take some wins.

Excellent warm comfortable leg-wear, perfect for winter riding, at a great price.

Dakar winner Coma and Olympic champion Absalon racing.

Sarah Hammer of the United States won the women’s omnium on Sunday at the UCI World Cup track cycling meet in Manchester, England.

German leaps to the top of the podium while Contador drops off.

In an exciting race today at Oostmalle, Sven Nys and Kevin Pauwels – who entered the race only separated by two points – gave us the fireworks we were hoping for as the two GvA leaders traded blows back and forth for the whole of the race.

Gesink seals Tour of Oman overall victory.

Irizar and Van Den Broeck come close.

Approaching the finishing circuit in Sandton, the race suddenly came to a halt. Race organizers explained there were too many motorists that got onto the route with not enough traffic police to clear things.

Great Britain's women won the opening final of the Track World Cup event but there was to be no gold for four-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy in Manchester on Friday evening.

The 2011 Tour du Haut Var (France) is this weekend, February 19-20.  There will once again be live streaming video.

GVA Trophy Cyclocross - Oostmalle will be shown LIVE Sunday, with coverage scheduled to start when the Elite Men race gets underway at 15:00 CET (9am U.S. Eastern).

After a controlled start, a series of attacks through the climbs gave the opportunistic Ronnie Nacario (Team Aboitiz Power) the chance to break away with a small group in tow. Nacario was chased by Leian Cruz (Von Dutch-Bont) and Erick Ballecer (Team BVTC JAC Motors).

The Malaysian ‘pocket-rocket’ sprinter is scheduled to undergo surgery Sunday morning after a splinter, 9 inches in length, went through his lower left leg.

Riccò might have brought a lot of bad headlines but he’s been distanced by the team. Talk of withdrawing the team’s Pro Tour licence seems drastic, if not far-fetched.

As they approached the finish the pair shook hands (pictured), presumably agreeing that Antomarchi could have the stage since Voeckler was going to win the overall.

Wiggins, Thomas, Clancy and Burke hit 3:57 in opening round.

Today's Quote:

“I've been in front of a court in France for the Festina case, and I've asked them to put my fingers in the air (and swear under oath) that under my presidency I have never hidden away one case. I was a witness and didn't need to do it, but I said I to the judge that I wanted to do that. But that didn't impress anybody. Yet it's enough that a guy like Landis say something and 'pop' (everything happens)." - Hein Verbruggen CyclingNews
"Just read the Verbruggen interview - he comes off sounding really douche." - Neil Browne Twitter

Did Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) and Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini-Neri) think they were gonna beat the Manxman, the Boy Racer, the guy with 15 sprint stage wins in the Tour of France? The guy with the autobiography and model girlfriend?

Danish director happy with World Champion's performance over tough time trial course.

"Squirms under hard cornering or peak power, but a genuinely super-light, smooth and enjoyable bike at a bargain price"

It's tempting to get carried away by what we've seen the last couple days:

Why did SCA CEO Bob Hamman press on quixotically despite having an unwinnable case (the settlement would cost him an additional $2.5 million in interest and fees)? Did he simply want to air Armstrong's dirty laundry out of spite?

Italian champion to target victory at Tirreno-Adriatico.

Here’s where the rumors start: We’ve heard from a pretty (read: very) reliable source that the SID platform is going to see some real growth for 2012, which may include some tweaked internals and -wait for it- the jump to the 29er wheel size. Yes. Freak out now.

Clancy, Wiggins, Thomas, Burke combination was, in the absence of a strong Australian team, clearly the strongest in the competition.

YehudaMoon: Schrader Pulls a Fast One.

Race director opens door to foreign wildcards in 2012.

With Tour organizer Christian Prudomme announcing he is open to wildcard teams for anywhere in the world, Kenyan may be a dark horse.

Decision on Giro d'Italia defence comes after Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Rasmussen team may give German his second chance.

Merckx, one of the organizers of the Tour of Oman, believes that by 2015 the Sultanate will have gained enough organizing experience to bring a solid bid to the table.

Spied under an Easy-Up tent at the Hincapie Spring series race was a new group from SRAM. The Black group is allegedly aligned with their Red components at the top of their groupo food chain.

Race course for the London 2012 Olympic games.

It's interesting how such a successful development as standard-size folding bicycles came out of someone's garage, instead of a bicycle manufacturer laboratory.

Controversial Spaniard fades to fourth on final stage.

Pivot Cycles, Team Spatchula race to men's and women's duo victories.

An epic ride in California, replete with spectacular views. From Paso Robles, you’ll meander through San Luis Obispo’s wine country before blasting north along the Pacific Ocean.

Australian takes individual pursuit in Manchester.

The 2011 Tour du Haut Var (France) is this weekend, February 19-20.  There will once again be live streaming video.

GVA Trophy Cyclocross - Oostmalle will be shown LIVE Sunday, with coverage scheduled to start when the Elite Men race gets underway at 15:00 CET (9am U.S. Eastern).

Liquigas rider Ivan Basso rounded out the top 10.

Cummings retains race leader.

Dutch master tightens grip on Oman lead.

The Frenchman bided his time behind Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale) on the final climb to Grimaud before nipping past the Italian at the line. French champion Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) came home a second back in third place.

Walsleben, Albert round out top three.

Team Sky rider was caught up in a "hurricane" says director Servais Knaven.

Kristian House won stage one of the Cell C Tour of South Africa today after a lone break succeeded for the former British champion.

Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) is picking up where he left off after his break-out rookie season with a strong ride at the five-day Volta ao Algarve in southern Portugal.

Bitter sweet. That's what comes to mind as the latest review for BMC's SLR01 gives me an opportunity to tip my cap to Franco Ballerini. Here's to a man that lived to do almost all of the things in my own dreams...

Sir Chris Hoy escaped a spectacular crash in the keirin on Saturday during the UCI track cycling World Cup meeting in Manchester, England, winning an event that saw Malaysian Azizulhasni Awang cross the line with a seven-inch splinter of wood embedded in one leg.

Mountain biker a favorite for cross country championship title.

Former UCI President denies Floyd Landis' accusations of corruption.

Azizulhasni Awang won a bronze medal at cycling’s Track World Cup on Saturday, and boy did he earn it.

Contador is now anxiously waiting to see if WADA or the UCI will appeal the Spanish cycling federation’s dramatic ruling this week to clear him of doping charges leveled against him after he tested positive for traces of clenbuterol during last year’s Tour de France.

Thinks Contador’s samples should be re-analyzed in order to detect plasticizer traces. The presence of plasticizers in a sample would strongly suggest blood bag use.

Italian aims to return after CERA suspension.

The French love their drugs. No, I’m not talking about le dopage. France’s is the country with more pharmacies than anyone else. There are 23,000 in the country, making them second only to France’s bakeries in terms of outlets.

Racing in Oman with Milan-San Remo in mind.

When Hope Technology unveiled their integrated cassette and freehub late last year they set tongues a-wagging – ours included – about the next logical step. They already sold external bearing bottom brackets, hubs and headsets, so where else was there to go? Well, drivetrains.

Organizers of the 2011 Tour of the Battenkill announce their Professional race as part of the 7th annual event on Sunday, April 10 in Cambridge, NY.

Boy Van Poppel (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) delivered his squad its first top-10 result on European soil after he sprinted to eighth place on the final road stage of the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal on Saturday afternoon.

YehudaMoon: Willing Test Subject.

Landis asked us to post his emails so the world, if not Messrs. Verbruggen and McQuaid, can appreciate his remorsefulness.

Today's Quote:

“I've been in front of a court in France for the Festina case, and I've asked them to put my fingers in the air (and swear under oath) that under my presidency I have never hidden away one case. I was a witness and didn't need to do it, but I said I to the judge that I wanted to do that. But that didn't impress anybody. Yet it's enough that a guy like Landis say something and 'pop' (everything happens)." - Hein Verbruggen CyclingNews
"Just read the Verbruggen interview - he comes off sounding really douche." - Neil Browne Twitter

The business of building bikes changed enormously and Armstrong’s wins were coincidental with the changing patterns of global trade.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will give verdicts on four cycling doping cases in the near future, according to the Associated Press. All four cases stemmed from the UCI's biological passport program, which was started with cooperation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Much of the evidence against him is circumstantial, second-hand or unproven. But that will not prevent a US federal investigation from trying to connect the dots.

Why did SCA CEO Bob Hamman press on quixotically despite having an unwinnable case (the settlement would cost him an additional $2.5 million in interest and fees)? Did he simply want to air Armstrong's dirty laundry out of spite?

It appears Xavier Tondo is behind Spain’s Operación Cursa, that a tip-off from the Movistar rider alerted police and resulted in the bust of small supply network.

Footage shows numberous doping products being seized in Spain.The police were reportedly informed by Xavier Tondo, who was approached via email by the doping ring.

Vacansoleil-DCM has decided to keep Ezequiel Mosquera out of racing until his doping investigation stemming from last year's Vuelta a Espana is cleared up. The International Cycling Union (UCI) has admitted there are unspecified “problems” with the case.

Italian climber’s health is improving, career prospects are not.

Mike sees new generation of US pros, reflects on own career.

There are 524 days until the Olympic Games  start. Between now and then, there are a lot of questions to be answered. The Manchester World Cup will give some clues. Here's what we learned on day one.

The one-stop shop to find pure beauty, passion and ingenuity - here's a partial gallery that includes the Most Beautiful Bike contest entries.

Nys, Albert, Wellens, Aernouts, Mourey...  Race start (Elite Men): 3:15pm CET (9:15am U.S. Eastern) Saturday.

The 2011 Tour du Haut Var (France) is this weekend, February 19-20.  There will once again be live streaming video.

American looks good on climb, awaits decisive time trial.

Briton wins stage, takes over GC leadership from Gilbert. The 29-year-old Briton outsprinted Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) and defending champion Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) to cap off an aggressive final 2.7km climb to the finish in the Portuguese race's "queen stage".

Gesinks’ father died last October after a bike accident and the Dutchman has been training hard ever since to honor him.

Rabobank’s Robert Gesink grabbed the overall lead of the Tour of Oman from Australian Matthew Goss (HTC-HighRoad) Friday after winning the hilly fourth stage of the race.

Tomorrow is a hard, hilly 18.5km ITT.  How will the TT change the overall? Below the jump is the current top 20 in the overall and the remaining stage profiles.

Former Olympic champion ready for three year ‘prison sentence.’

Immediate goals, defending Flanders and Roubaix titles.

After a decade-long absence, the Tour of South Africa returns Saturday for an eight-day, seven-stage route that will lay the groundwork for what organizers are hoping will become a fixture on the international calendar.

As part of our series of what goes on behind the scenes of running a women's cycling team, DS Stefan Wyman sits down with a latte and tells the cafe about the challenges of selecting riders for Horizon Fitness RT.

Team Sky and Team Leopard Trek look remarkably similar. They even both chose the Spanish island of Mallorca for their training camps.

25 Solutions To Vexing Problems.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly ahead of this weekend's track World Cup in Manchester, the reigning Olympic sprint champion said: "I haven't really given myself much time to think about what will happen post 2012. What I do know is I probably won't be racing anymore."

The Bicycle Design blog started with a simple sketch and now dedicates its posts to innovative and often offbeat concepts for human-powered two-wheelers. Entries are inspired by provoking design concepts, and most swing wide of the beaten path.

On the outskirts of San Antonio, Texas, Mexico’s current elite time trial champion sat in a hotel room, watching the Super Bowl and recovering from an early season crit held close by.

The ICF's Doping-Clearing Board has investigated and cleared 2010 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador of all doping charges, allowing the three-time Tour champion to return to competition immediately,

The cases may endanger the UCI's blood passport program.

Italian facing Modena police investigation.

Riders see their jobs and health at stake, team owners have assets on the line. Cycling is a passion for the fans, their dreams are confronted with the nightmare of endless scandal, conflicts of interest and a blundering President.

Criticises past lack of involvement in decision process by riders.

Today's Quote:

“I’m broke, so go ahead and sue, good luck.” - Floyd Landis DaveMoulton

Claims strict liability is an easy get out for the anti-doping authorities but that Contador's case was inconsistent.

The Danish team manager bet the bank on signing Contador to a multi-year, multi-million-euro contract only to discover weeks later that the Spanish climber’s future was in doubt after testing positive for traces of clenbuterol.

"One of our listeners was going to explain to me how women and bib shorts worked.  Godot even sent photos.  I am so juvenile."

The International Cycling Union (UCI) licence committee will meet to discuss the Dutch team's licence, according to Reuters.

Top British cross-rider Helen Wyman claimed her sixth win of the season last Sunday at the GP Heuts in Heerlen.

"Ashley and I had visited the heart-shaped peninsula that juts into the Adriatic Sea across the water from Venice at one point: it's called Istria."

“Dave Wages builds a frame from Reynolds 953, True Temper S3 and Dedacciai tubing to be displayed unpainted at the 2011 North American Hand Made Bicycle Show in Austin, Texas, February 25-27.”

Cinelli’s 2011 lineup sees a few model upgrades like the Best Of, above, some spec updates and the entirely new mid-range Saetta lineup.

The two-day festival, held at the iconic INVESCO Field, includes leading brands such as Cinelli and Specialized; custom builders like Black Sheep Bikes and DEAN; component and accessory makers; and non-profits, touring and service companies.

Here was a bike which grabbed your attention. It was even quite magical. It just glowed like the jewel of India from the royal crown.

With one big weekend left in the season, things have noticeably slowed down on the rumors and rumblings side of pro ’cross racing.

Whenever there is a cycling related story on a news media’s website, just read the comments from the general public. Even when it is a report of a cycling death where family, loved ones, and friends of the deceased are reading these comments; the hatred and intolerance comes spewing out.

It makes no difference if you stretch or not before a run, because stretching won't affect your risk of injury, according to a study.

YehudaMoon: Third Lunch.

Spaniard was honored for his second Tour de France win in 1992.

The Spanish cops rolled up a doping ring  that dispensed — among other things — clenbuterol. Maybe they had a deli operation going on the side, supplying lean beef to discriminating athletic palates. Who knows? Not me. It’s a mystery.

Why did SCA CEO Bob Hamman press on quixotically despite having an unwinnable case (the settlement would cost him an additional $2.5 million in interest and fees)? Did he simply want to air Armstrong's dirty laundry out of spite?

Quite astonishingly, this week billions of cycling column inches were filled with two things we all knew were going to happen all along.

American's legacy to cycling "enormous" but "doubtful."

The Lance Effect. It drives merchandise sales, television ratings and roadside interest. It drives brands like Nike and RadioShack. It builds events like the Tour de Georgia and the San Francisco Grand Prix. Potential host cities for the Amgen Tour of California pointed to 3.5 billion media impressions for the race in 2010 when attracting sponsors.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport is studying four cases testing the legal strength of cycling’s biological passport anti-doping scheme.

The 2011 season is a month old today.

Pro rider tipped off police after being offered banned substances.

“There needs to be a change in the anti-doping standards,” Contador said at a press conference at the Volta ao Algarve. “Technology has advanced, but the rules haven’t. The rules should be in accordance and I believe that they have to revise some points in the short term.”

A cyclist in Cambridge amazed onlookers and brought traffic to a halt as he pedalled past with a fridge – and not a small fridge, at that – balanced on his rear rack.

The good news is that becoming a far more confident bike handler is very quick, and surprisingly easy if you dedicate some specific time to it. You can also fit the sessions around your normal training for an ultra time-efficient double whammy.

The newest womens team on the circuit make a big splash.

Definitely an impressive launch, the Diablo is a stiff and aggressive chassis with a all star cast of components.

"The speed to hit the front and the comfort to stay there."

RBA tests new wheelsets from Fulcrum and Ritchey.

The 2011 Milan-Sanremo race will be unchanged from 2010, despite trouble finding a spot for the finish line.

Despite all the hullabaloo  surrounding the Contador verdict and the Armstrong retirement, I really, really, really needed to focus on something cycling-related, rather legalistic, medicinal or scientific.

L.A. cyclists will then be protected by this innovative ordinance — as near as I can find, it’s the first of its kind anywhere that makes the harassment of cyclists a civil, rather criminal, violation.

The 2011 Tour du Haut Var (France) is this weekend, February 19-20.  There will once again be live streaming video.

Gilbert remains in leader's jersey.

“The sprint was pretty crazy. Brownie took a few guys out I think and that kind of messed things up a bit.”

CyclingNews: Tour of Oman Stage 3 - Bos blazes to second Oman stage win.....

Goss remains atop general classification.

Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen is poised for an attack on the overall of the Tour of Oman in the uphill mountain stage four and the time trial after the race's third bunch sprint on Thursday.

George Hincapie: a strong man in the classics, a guy you want on your team at the Tour, and after all his years on the pros he’s still friendly and approachable, and looking thinner and fitter than ever.

Young American shows power in riding for team.

Somewhere in Spain Andre "Gorilla" Greipel is punching a wall. Despite a complete lack of form and results from Mark Cavendish, the HTC monster continues to devour podiums, as the team has notched multiple stage wins in a variety of races across the globe.

British champion speaks about the coming year on the road and the track.

Pros left India after a promising weekend that saw India’s first-ever elite international road stage and opened the door for future expansion of the sport in what’s considered one of cycling’s final frontiers.

Spanish Cycling went through a pretty long summer... fall... winter. The hero of the scene, Contador, apparently had some legal hangups, although I'm having trouble locating any details on the internet.

2010 was the first time in many years that Julien Absalon, 30, didn’t win the World Cup overall or pull on a rainbow jersey. To say 24-year-old Nino Schurter is the new boss is tempting.

"If you’ve been shy of getting into GPS, this new 800 will convert you. Touchscreen and OS maps make it our top choice"

The race venues include Park City, Ogden, Provo, The Miller Motorsports Park, Salt Lake City, and Snow Bird Winter Resort.

Though this weekend marks the end of the cyclocross season, you should have put the Belgian ales away weeks ago and gotten back on your road bike. However, our favorite European stars have one more race in their legs before they can hang up their knobbies.

Interesting enough that if Floyd did a public outcry for help for his legal defense, again, I’d consider giving.

The German Sport University Cologne tested 28 travellers returning from China  over a four month period. 22 of the 28 tested positive for low levels of clenbuterol in their blood streams.

Team's status in question after two of its riders face doping.

A lot has been made about the trend of teams to adopt blue and black colours for this year. It’s almost symbolic of the sport’s bruised and battered status.

PEZ: EuroTrash Thursday!

Asoprovac asks public prosecutor to investigate case.

Guilty, not guilty, guilty — who knows! That is exactly the sort of ride that Alberto Contador and the International Cycling Union (UCI) have taken us on over the past few months and the last three weeks or so in particular.

Rules on doping need to be rethought says Spaniard.

Today's Quote:

“I’m broke, so go ahead and sue, good luck.” - Floyd Landis DaveMoulton

The debate over Alberto Contador is far from finished.

Despite the swelling negative public opinion over the Alberto Contador acquittal Tuesday in Spain, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Vuelo Velo are a tiny bicycle company based in Sydney, Australia who specialize in custom titanium.

Check out this handy illustrated guide that shows you just where to hit your bike with some sweet lube loving.

One of the most consistent cyclists Xinqiwen.com has had the pleasure of chatting with has been Simon Cui. As a pillar in the China mainland cycling community, Simon continues to improve year on year.

For the past few years, most of us in cross have viewed CrossVegas as the official kick off of the cyclocross season. And with Interbike remaining in Vegas for another year, 2011 looks to be no different.

Swanepoel and Niyonshuti may surprise.

Omega Pharma-Lotto with two of the top places on the day.

Many riders acknowledge that, while other elements are critical, climbing is the crux of the sport, particularly at the competitive level.

Specialized’s new 230-gram Prevail helmet (size medium) costs $1 for every gram of its weight ($230). Funny how expensive so little material can be. It is worth it though?

YehudaMoon: The Signal.

Amgen Tour of California organiser expects young pros to make an impact.

His retirement notice probably means he won’t return to triathlon, the swim-bike-run sport where his athletic career began with an Ironkids qualifying race in Dallas when he was 13 years old.

Justice at two speeds.

I’ve covered the subject of Belgium’s government, or rather the lack of one, before.

In 2010 Blue Competition Cycles saw revenue grow by 38 percent, just a year after posting a 32 percent growth in revenue.

It’s funny that a team with wins in the Amstel Gold Race and the Tour of Lombardy, a fifth-place finish in the Tour de France, and two stage wins at the Vuelta felt it was necessary to overhaul its roster this past offseason.  But that’s just what Omega Pharma-Lotto did.

I want a champion. Not a litany of chemically-enhanced avatars. I want to watch races and forget there are rules. I want to un-know the names of UCI officials and blood-modifying serums. I want to read stories that contain no quotes from lawyers or PR reps.

Fit Chick takes you through a series of exercises that will help you become a fitter, faster cyclist.

"Sharper and leaner than its predecessor but designed for race speed, not long-ride comfort"

Joe Eldridge has one of the most unique stories in the peloton. As one of the founders of Team Type 1  as well as a multiple winner at the Race Across America, Eldridge is racing his bike to send a message that type-1 diabetes doesn’t need to slow you down.

RoadBikeAction: Live from Lake Como.

Vinod Malik: What it's like living like a Pro in India.

Garmin-Cervélo rider still expected in Tour du Haut-Var.

Skarnitzl, Langvad return to defend Voroklini titles.

"One of the most amazing Australian races I can think of is the Austral Wheelrace. You’d be challenged to find a more exciting format for a race."

Tour de Fat has officially set a date for this year’s return engagement, coming back to Los Angeles on October 8th.

Can you explain the difference (physiologically) between high-intensity-interval training and endurance miles? I’ve heard that intervals can increase endurance almost as much as doing long rides. I am very busy and don’t have a ton of training time each week, but still want to hit some local races occasionally. Can I get away with one or two long rides a week if I couple them with two days of intervals? What’s a good program for those of us who only have about 10 hours a week to train?

Spaniard aiming to perform well on summit finish to Malhao.

Six host cities announced for 2011 edition.

Scary thought from Volta ao Algarve: Philippe Gilbert is wide awake.

The victory by Gilbert was his first of the 2011 season, as well as the first win for Omega Pharma-Lotto this year.

Matt Goss (HTC-Highroad) sprinted to win stage two of the Tour of Oman, continuing a run of form that saw the Australian win the opening stage of the Tour Down Under in January.

The 2011 Volta ao Algarve runs from February 16-20.  There will be a live ticker, photos and video clips.

UCI admits problems in the ongoing investigation.

The 2011 edition of the Giro d’Italia promises to be one of the hardest editions ever and has the risorgimento as its theme.

British sprinter returns after one-year absence, skips Tour of California.

The sun is shining, the roads are smooth and empty, and we can smell the sea as we pick up speed on the long descent.

Like many of the teams new to the sport’s upper echelon, BMC underwhelmed in 2010.

Team Sky rider says team is in better shape than before gold medal ride in Beijing.

CrossVegas uses the tagline “the international cyclocross season starts American Style in Las Vegas” and it seems more fitting each year.

What the hell is happening in professional cycling? Alberto Contador gets cleared by his own federation after they do an about-face on their sanctioning plan. Ridiculous.

Suggestions that a one year ban may have been dropped at last moment.

Vinokourov, Pinotti and Rodriguez offer their thoughts.

Today's Quote:

“I’m broke, so go ahead and sue, good luck.” - Floyd Landis DaveMoulton

UCI President rules out radio rethink.

Agency has almost two months to decide whether it will pursue a case.

The news that the Spanish federation cleared Contador in the absence of proof is a confirmation that the existing rules were cast aside.

Spain's cycling federation found "with a high degree of probability" that three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador ate drug-contaminated meat and was therefore not negligent, according to extracts of its report leaked on Wednesday.

Given that few top riders choose to attempt the Giro and Tour de France in the same year, that could be a politically expedient way of relieving Tour organisers ASO of debating whether to exclude him from the race in which he tested positive for clenbuterol last year.

While UCI president Pat McQuaid coped admirably with answering the media's questions about something he said he couldn't say much about - i.e. the Contador case - Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme genuinely refused to say too much at all - explaining that he couldn't say much until the UCI did.

"A brilliant debut. Light, fast and good value"

Xinqiwen.com visited the swanky NeilPryde offices in Hong Kong. As we previously reported, NeilPryde is a company that's making waves in the bike industry and they're doing it in style with a bike line designed in collaboration with BMW.

YehudaMoon: Fizz is Forgetting.

VeloNews tech editor Nick Legan is a former ProTour mechanic who most recently wrenched for Team RadioShack at the 2010 Tour de France and elsewhere.

American calls time on controversial career.

In a surprise revelation, seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong told the Associated Press that he has raced his last bicycle race, and he has no intention of ever coming back.

I’ve covered how to turn pro in the past so with the news that Lance Armstrong has again announced his retirement, some thoughts about ending a pro career.

A new year may be upon us but I’ve still got a bunch of questions about events in years past and idle thoughts about the present.

Let me first start by clarifying the procedural roles of the players in these cases.

It certainly can't be considered a bad pro debut when you finish 16th in your first race.

Sad, infuriating case of a San Diego cyclist killed when the driver of a street sweeper fell asleep behind the wheel last Friday.

Athlete Forward aims to set and stay on the cutting edge of managing the athlete experience, and is worth a closer look.

Giant aren't saying much right now but a short video released this week reveals the existence of what many riders have been waiting for: an XtC Composite 29er carbon race hardtail.

There’s a lot of commercial pressure to simply replace bike parts that stop working or are a little worn, rather than attempting to repair them or maintain them by frequent servicing.

In 2010, the ErgVideo crew launched their most ambitious mission yet to the French Pyrénées to ride, film, and ultimately produce their next batch of training films.

Sean over at Vertigo Cycles is getting into the pre-NAHBS excitement and sent over a sneak peek of the new single speed chain tensioner he made in order to build up a new belt-driven SS cyclocross bike

We just received our shipment of Grand Bois Hetre tires with white tread. Thank you for all who waited so patiently. Red ones are on the way, expected in a week or so.

FDJ rider looking forward to 2011 challenge.

This lovely Colnago C59 is has been beautifully painted in white with naked carbon.

"To both the team and the authorities I have explained, that I never cheated or deliberately took a banned substance."

If the UCI accepts the Contador decision but pursues punishment for Li, then the sport is little better off than it was in the freewheeling doping days of yore.

RFEC judges angrily reject suggestions of undue influence.

Meanwhile some people are racing bikes.

American Taylor Phinney, making his racing debut for BMC, was impeded in the finish straight by spectators in the road, later commenting: "Let's just say that the Omani people aren't really used to the whole concept of a bike race." 

Signage, his lead out and a rogue spectator spoil his day.

It has the beautiful and challenging Jabal al Akhdhar, the Green Mountain. We just like saying the words and spelling them out. Gives us that stage race meets 1001 Arabian Nights feeling.

Johnny Cash. Chocolate. My trusty Leatherman. Sue Butler. Which one doesn’t belong?

Get ready to race Manila! The Bike King Cycling Classic signals the start of the season with its series starting on February 19th, at the Subic Bay Freeport. Top amateur male and female cyclists will be on hand to light up the action which will be held in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP). Men will fight for honours over a 70km course with the ladies hammering for 30km.

Last year's king of the mountains on the Tour de France, Anthony Charteau took some time out from training to answer questions posed to him by Team Europcar fans. Here are some of his answers.

There were plenty of brand spanking new mountain bike  components on show at the UK's Core Bike show including cranks from e*thirteen and Race Face, wheels from CrankBrothers, Syncros, FSA and Ritchey, and cockpit kit from the likes of Burgtec, Renthal, Niner and Hope. Here's a quick round-up.

I put this Merino jersey under some heavy testing during the miles I clocked up during the Rapha 500 challenge and it's now a staple in my selection of winter gear.

If the Rider establishes in an individual case that he bears No Fault or Negligence, the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility shall be eliminated.

Riis said: "This decision is indeed proof that the relevant authorities do not find grounds for believing that Alberto Contador has committed any intentional doping offence, which is absolutely vital for us.

Friebe, Moore, Cossins, nyvelocity, Fotheringham, Jones and the Inner Ring give their opinions.

Spanish Tour de France champion free to race after charges are dropped.

Wow, that tainted steak is really starting to reek.

L’Equipe is reporting that Contador’s get out from sanction is due to a technicality, the same story has been put in English over at Velonation. In boils down to a right under the Spanish constitution to be informed of any accusation. A fundamental human right.

The three-time Tour de France champion is well aware the International Cycling Union (UCI) is likely to appeal Tuesday's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

There was still no word by 2:30 p.m. European time from the Spanish cycling federation on a ruling in the Alberto Contador doping case. According to a report in the Spanish daily AS, officials are still working to finalize the wording of the highly anticipated ruling and expect to release it later Tuesday afternoon.

Alberto Contador is set to be cleared by the Spanish cycling federation, the RFEC. His defence has rested on two factors:

VeloNation: Did UCI action inadvertently contribute to Contador’s expected clearing of doping charges?

L’Equipe suggests rider may have fought suspension on a technicality.

Questions whether entire system is to be changed.

The weekend’s two major races – the final Superprestige race in Middelkerke, and the Grote Prijs Heus in Heerlen – saw enough fireworks to keep things interesting.

No Tour de France for Katusha's Spaniard.

Cyclists run the gauntlet of abuse everyday in our car obssessed culture.

The Spanish anti-doping panel’s ruling will almost certainly be a test case of anti-doping law.

All three of these guys are happy now.

Today's news has understandably infuriated Floyd Landis. To get a sense of the hypocrisy and inconsistency of the UCI, check out this letter.

YehudaMoon: Here There Be Monsters.

CyclingNews: Ricco still in a serious condition with heart and lung infections.....

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, he is being treated with antibiotics and steroids to counteract infections in his heart and lungs, said to stem from the kidney failure he suffered earlier this month. It has been reported that he told doctors that the problems stem from an alleged transfusion he gave himself with blood which may have been stored too long.

Today's Quote:

“I'm not saying that the Spaniard has done anything wrong. I just don't know. I do know that others in the same situation have been suspended. Why not him?” - Tom Boonen CyclingNews

Bjarne Riis reaffirms Danish team’s strong anti-doping stance.

Dave Brailsford, performance director of British Cycling insists that the nation’s cyclists will be in peak condition to challenge for medals come 2012, and has also revealed that Team Sky, where he is team principal, may relax its policy of not employing people associated with doping in the past.

Replacing your V-brake with a cantilever brake, even a super-good one like the Avid Shorty Ultimate, shouldn’t improve your braking unless your V-brake is set up poorly.

"Fast-rolling and tough wheels for training and race-day speed, but not the best on the market "

Thomson Bike Tours is firmly established as a leading provider of Performance cycling tours to the mountains of Europe. Peter Thomson, co-founder of Thomson Bike Tours  describes their Trans-Challenge Series of point-to-point mountain traverses and asks the question: are you ready to ride a Thomson Bike Tour Trans-Challenge?

Not to be left out of yesterday’s 29er fun, Nick Crumpton sent over this visage of things to come.

Using tape instead of glue would be ok/safe?

The button can be placed anywhere deemed comfortable or convenient along the drop of the handlebar.

Like Euskaltel, Astana has the potential to put someone on the podium in all three Grand Tours while winning several important one-day races along the way.  With a talented core of captains and a group of underrated, but dedicated domestiques, there’s reason to believe the squad can and will bounce back after the loss of Alberto Contador.

Apparently, there will not be live video for this race, but Eurosport will have 30 minutes of highlights each day.

Never discount (as I did Friday) David Moncoutié on Mont Faron in the Tour Mediterranéan.  Luckily for me, The Inner Ring had my back, correctly adding the Frenchman to the list of favorites to take the final stage and the overall.

Less than a month after the death of Peter Post, Dutch cycling has lost another of its ‘Greats’ with the news that Fedor Den Hertog succumbed on Saturday 12th February, after a long battle with illness. Ed Hood recalls his impressive career.

Now 36 and in his last year of racing, he’s had some moments of glory including two stage wins in the Tour de France, both won solo with panache. He’s also won the best climber’s jersey three times in the Vuelta.

Voigt has won the race five times and will be aiming for a record sixth win as he’s joined by Frank and Andy Schleck of the Leopard Trek team for the 80th edition of the Critérium International, set for March 26-27 on Corsica.

Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) each mentioned the upcoming meeting in conversations with VeloNews at the Tour of Qatar last week.

Russian says new result would be valueless if Contador is disqualified.

The Team Sky rider, taking some downtime from a Great Britain track session at the Manchester Velodrome, initiates a game of word association with the man in possession of the broadest shoulders (not to mention the most ginger hair) in cycling, Ed Clancy.

What makes Katie Compton’s seven-consecutive national cyclocross championships so impressive and her pioneering American success on the European ‘cross circuit even more meaningful is that she’s done it largely as a privateer.

The complete bike will be available in April and, built up with full XTR 2×10, FSA/Easton carbon cockpit, Fizik Tundra carbon-railed saddle, Rockshox Reba RTL, Stan’s NoTubes ZTR Race wheelset and Kenda tires, it comes in at just 9.05kg (19.95lbs) for a 17″ frame size.

"Fast going up, down or on the flat, but pricey"

Nicolas Portal was a rider for Team Sky last year. Outside cycling Portal apparently has an eye for fashion and if Sky’s team-issue clothing isn’t his first choice, he can count on satisfaction with at least one item of his wardrobe: his underwear.

I bought my first real road bike in Hong Kong in 2008. The former British colony may seem an odd place to take up riding, blessed as it is with hot, humid summers, very steep hills and rather erratic local minibus drivers, but for some reason it made sense.

After putting these Firecrests through the wringer this past month I’m absolutely blown away.

Usually a squirt from a bidon is enough to deter an excitable mutt from continuing its pursuit, but that wasn’t really an option for 39-year-old South African cyclist Pieta Ncube when a leopard took an unhealthy interest in him.

Race organiser ASO confirms invitations for the mini Tour de France.

Looks like the Spanish Cycling Federation/The Good Buddies Club strikes again! But what I'm thinking about is Taylor Phinney’s debut in the BMC colors at the Tour of Oman.

Aussie hopes maiden race win is a catalyst for world championship success.

Langkawi. Qatar. Down Under. These are the new code words for the early season. There was a time when conjuring the spring for the PROs used terms like Besseges, Omloop or Nice.

TwistedSpoke: Contador banned, Contador freed, Spain flip-flops.

The rumor-fabrication-faux news machine known as the Spanish cycling press now states categorically that Alberto will not be sanctioned after all. He may even be free to race this week at the Tour of Algarve.

"With the internet swirling with rumours about Contador being cleared, a quick post to state a few points..."

Disciplinary Committee said to be swayed by Contador's defence arguments.

Announcement expected Monday or Tuesday.

The case of Alberto Contador’s positive test from the Tour de France is growing in to political debate with some potential long term consequences.

Cycling’s biggest legend seeks to inspire the next generation ahead of Middle Eastern race.

Garmin-Cervelo sprinter Tyler Farrar had passed over Felt's aero road bike option last season but has made the transition in 2011 with the switch to Cervelo bikes.

Well, it's the time of year when many riders are well into their base training dreaming of their upcoming power and form. There's no better motivation to help get you out the door while it's still cold outside than having clear goals and a plan for your racing season. We chat with Sterling Sports Coach - Matt McNamara to help you plan your cycling goals for 2011.

The Superman position was, to the best of my knowledge, created by the great Graeme Obree (patron saint of garage tinkerers) after his chest-on-hands tuck was outlawed.

With Grand Tour contenders Igor Anton and Samuel Sanchez leading the way, Euskaltel comes into 2011 hoping to find success similar to that of Liquigas last season.

Featuring a fairly unique BB shell design, the Pulse allows for use of any bottom bracket standard, including an eccentric for running it as a single speed. The seatstays are heavily flattened to absorb vibrations and provide a bit of suspension, and there’s a lot more hidden in the frame.

YehudaMoon: A Valentine's Ring.

The Runner and me. Here’s a picture of us somewhere on the Goulds / Jem / Hurricane Rim loop yesterday:

Talansky was age 15 on the day Pantani died in 2004. Talansky was then into cross-country running at a high school in Miami, Florida; he knew nothing about cycling.

Staffing restrictions an issue for British team.

Bike racing  has a massive fitness element to it, but once you’re sufficiently fit there is a lot of skill and experience required in order to play the game. Fitness is not a skill in my opinion. To get fit you simply need to go through the motions and you’ll arrive with some form.

World champion Thor Hushovd will make his 2011 cobbles debut at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad later this month.

"Easy to use, mount-anywhere technology, rugged alloy construction and crystal clear picture quality make the tiny RePlay XD the clear winner for on-the-go video."

Today's Quote:

"There are riders out there that I have my suspicions of but most of what you see today is done on bread and water and that's the truth. I'm not trying to build myself up by saying I'm clean and racing against all these dopers, I'm saying there are just one or two out there that are getting away with it. It's shitty that they are but that's the truth." - Tejay Van Garderen CyclingNews

Footage of the 1973 Giro d'Italia from Jørgen Leth's wonderful documentary Stars and Watercarriers. Monte Carpegna, with a 22% max grade, was Marco Pantani's favourite training climb.

After three successful novels - Sally, Chloë and Polly - Freya North turned to a sport she loved, cycling, and wrote Cat, which tells the story of Catriona McCabe (Cat to her friends), who's getting over an ex and trying to get on with her career as a cycling journaliste.

Dutch climber considering contesting both Tour and Vuelta in 2011.

Do you know what lights you should have on your bike, or even whether you're allowed to do 25mph in a 20mph zone?

Figures provided by Australian Customs, showed 1,313,446 million bikes were imported in 2010 compared with 1,154,122 million the year before. The outlook is positive for continued growth this year.

A report issued by the US Department of Transportation compiles the "what," "when," "where" and "how" of 630 bicyclist fatalities in 2009 involving motor vehicles.

While much of the western world celebrates love and romance on Valentine’s Day, thousands of us also recall the tragic death of Marco Pantani in 2004, who died alone & by his own hand (and the drugs in it) in a motel room in Italy.

The kit will be first worn in the  Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester this weekend, although photos of it have been released in advance with Victoria Pendleton one of the models.

Though snow is still covering trails across most the U.S., the national mountain bike calendar will be kicking off in a few weeks with its first stop at Bonelli Park in Southern California.

A road rage incident between a motorist and a bicyclist dating back to October in Redmond, Wash., has led to a flaming torrent of anti-bicyclist commentary.

Long wait for RFEC verdict almost over.

Belgian outkicks Walsleben, Stybar and Page.

Frenchman takes Tour Méditerranéen finale, overall victory.

Robbie McEwen and Robbie Hunter – aka the “Two Robbies” – delivered a big thank you to RadioShack with top racing over the weekend in a pair of one-day races in India.

South African Robert Hunter won the second and final stage of the Tour de Mumbai today. He sprinted ahead of stage one winner, Italian Elia Viviani and Brit Jon McEvoy of team Motorpoint.

Spaniard unsure on Contador case.

Today's Quote:

"There are riders out there that I have my suspicions of but most of what you see today is done on bread and water and that's the truth. I'm not trying to build myself up by saying I'm clean and racing against all these dopers, I'm saying there are just one or two out there that are getting away with it. It's shitty that they are but that's the truth." - Tejay Van Garderen CyclingNews

Quickstep director happy with Boonen's performance in Qatar, also pleased with Steegmans and Maes.

It has all come down to the final two nights of racing. In one of the most prestigious six day events of the year, the racing is certain to be furious over the final two nights.

Lately, most of the buzz around the helmet cam market has belonged to the battle between GoPro and Contour, but what if you already owned a portable electronic device that was capable of capturing HD video? We’re talking of course, about one of the smartest smart phones, the iPhone 4.

US Team Type 1 dreams of taking the diabetes message to the top of cycling as early as the Giro d'Italia in May.

After putting these Firecrests through the wringer this past month I’m absolutely blown away.

Downfall of carnival racing cited as evolution.

When Mr. Cancellara proposes we send Riccardo Ricco to the moon, well, that proposal deserves serious consideration.

Former Barloworld and RadioShack rider fighting back after Pegasus disappointment.

The Geox team launch was a pretty darn exciting affair. There were plenty of super fit, skinny dudes, Tour and Giro winners Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov and those awesome Geox combination dress shoe- steam irons. Really an amazing product innovation.

The first summit finish of the season? It depends if you include the Tour of Langkawi but the Tour of the Mediterranean always includes the climb of Mont Faron.

Will target the Giro and the Vuelta - if his Geox team is invited.

At his peak, Marco Pantani seemed like a character who could have stepped straight from the pages of a comic book, and it’s an impression Il Pirata himself seemed happy to cultivate – remember the pirate-themed saddle, with a caricature of Pantani complete with bandanna and crossed cutlasses that he sat on while winning the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in 1998?

German sprinter will get his next chance this week at the Volta ao Algarve.

Mark Cavendish has been confirmed by his team as starting the Tour of Oman, his second race in the Middle East this spring following the Tour of Qatar.

A tough, low-maintenance town bike with weatherproof gears and brakes.

The city can tell you how many bicyclists rode down one block of a Brooklyn bike lane from noon to 12:15 p.m. one day last summer. It can't tell you how many people complained about rogue bicyclists on the streets all around it.

YehudaMoon: Plow Chatter.

Former UCI anti-doping boss recalls payment made by Armstrong.

The high sugar content gives a bit of extra energy to the drink and the addition of syrup and flavourings make the drink preferable to water for some.

A decision on whether to indict America’s most famous cyclist in a performance-enhancing drug  case is not imminent and the federal investigation has encountered serious hurdles, according to lawyers familiar with the matter.

One of our favorite riders David Moncoutie (Cofidis) won the first big mountain climb of the year on Mount Faron. In the painful but exhilarating process, he also won the Tour Méditerranéen.

Fans might flick off the TV after watching a stage race but for the riders there are still struggles to overcome. A weak shower on the team bus followed by a long journey and more often than not, a drab hotel with boring food.

Superstar managed to make it ten years before he got a fan club in Switzerland.

Very sturdy jig for the wheel-fettling enthusiast.

Taking a close-up look at the Kelly Benefit Strategies Team Issue Orbea's.

Happy Valentine's Day! Let's review cyclings global news before your candle-lit dinner tonight. We have more great stories for you this week, including an incredible believe it or not, plus your chance to win the best indoor workouts we've ever tried.

The 2010 edition of Masters Worlds is now history. What does that mean for us here in the US? If your plans for next season target Louisville, it simply means now is the time to start preparing.

HTC-Highroad rider talks California, Tour de France, race radios, Contador and Riccò,

CyclingNews: Tour Méditerranéen Cycliste Professionnel Stage 4 - Feillu sprints to third straight victory; Stage 3 - Feillu makes it two stages in a row.

Vacansoleil-DCM racer takes over GC lead.

Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor) soloed to victory today at the final round of the Superprestige series in Middelkerke, Belgium. The win was doubly important for the 28-year-old Belgian as it was his first victory of the season as well as the first big win for his Sunweb-Revor team.

Details and video profiles of final two stages released.

With all the recent articles surrounding the Ricco case, Floyd Landis’ allegations and other negative press it is hard not to be discouraged.

Robbie McEwen and a handful of pros experienced India “unplugged” after they decided to ride the better part of a 200km transfer from Nashik to Mumbai on Saturday.

British continental team Motorpoint is mixing with the first division teams at the Tour de Mumbai this week in India.

It may seem like the season is over, as many of us in the US are starting to log our long base miles or are taking advantage of all the snow in the mountains for a good physical and mental refresher, but fear not – there are still many pro cyclocross rumors and rumblings to be had.

"They're coming up with some interesting answers that no longer have to rely on word of mouth, tradition or intuition for their veracity."

The Jelly Belly p/b Kenda training camp is in full swing in sunny and warm San Marcos, California where the 13-riders get to know each other and get ready for the upcoming road season.

"I recently sat down with new club president Steve Masterson for some Q and A about the club and other matters of importance."

Can he carry his form into the Tour de France?

Sassi, who died shortly before Christmas after battling a brain tumour, was the founder and director of the Mapei Centre training and coaching facility used by cyclists including Cadel Evans and Ivan Basso, and despite illness took Riccò under his wing last November, as the 27-year-old prepared to return to his first full season back in the sport following his return last year from a 20-month ban for doping.

At 38 years old, Robbie McEwen is “95 percent sure” that this year will be his last among the pro ranks and hinted that the 2012 Tour Down Under could be a perfect way to bow out of the sport.

Perfectionist happy with Renshaw taking the win in Qatar.

Check out one of Hong Kong's largest and best bike shops at Bull Bike. The massive 6000 square meter bike shop was only recently relocated to Waterloo Street, very close to the busy Yau Ma Tei MTR Station in the heart of the Kowloon District.

An historic auto road that goes deep into the Mount Rainier National Park will be permanently converted into a trail for bicyclists and hikers under a plan announced by the park service on Friday.

Jesper is a wee bit 'down,' he wrote of a wheel during his winning ride in Berlin; punctured here in the Derny the other night and last night, broke a spoke in his rear Zipp. Equipment to compete safely and effectively at this level isn't cheap; it's a struggle for young riders like Jesper.

Kreuziger is the captain for first Grand Tour of the year.

The racing season excitement was building this week as we watched the familiar racers battling it out at the Tour of Qatar and spoke to Southeast Pro John Murphy via Skype.

French fastman off to a torrid start, but has no illusions about tomorrow on Mont Faron.

YehudaMoon: Get It Where You Can.

Could team lose its ProTeam licence?

Today's Quote:

"There are riders out there that I have my suspicions of but most of what you see today is done on bread and water and that's the truth. I'm not trying to build myself up by saying I'm clean and racing against all these dopers, I'm saying there are just one or two out there that are getting away with it. It's shitty that they are but that's the truth." - Tejay Van Garderen CyclingNews

In the English-speaking world it’s rare to find sports radio dedicated to pro cycling so downloadable podcasts are good alternative.

Despite repeatedly denying taking any banned substances, blaming the result on a steak he claims was contaminated by the drug, it increasingly looks like stage racing's biggest talent will be banned.

Suddenly I had Jean Paul Van Poppel’s radio coms in my head as he tried to encourage Carlos Sastre in the Giro. It gave me an idea.

UCI spokesman says it wouldn't help to “crucify” Contador.

Skil Shimano rider disapproves of race radio ban, cites safety problems.

Outspoken German wants press to rally around clean talent.

"Folks, we have just had the first picture land at Colnago Con Brio of the new Limited Edition Colnago C59 - Firefly."

"A classic design – fast and responsive but the ride is stiff."

The US is getting a new elite women's team for 2011. The NoTubes team has been created to support female racers as well as to continue advocating women's participation in mountain biking.

Stybar, Nys, Albert, Wellens, Pauwels, Meeusen, Aernouts, Page...  Cyclocross live coverage continues with Saturday's Superprestige at Middelkerke, Belgium. Live video: 3:30pm CET (9:30am U.S. Eastern).

The 2011 Tour Méditerranéen wraps-up this weekend with two stages along the sea that gives the race its name.

"I recently sat down with new club president Steve Masterson for some Q and A about the club and other matters of importance."

According to a report today in Corriere dello Sport, the finish of Milano-Sanremo is at risk.

Final two stages to end sixth edition with drama.

Vacansoleil-DCM racer takes over GC lead.

Van Avermaet and Bagdonas unsuccessful in final-day breakaway move.

Andrea Guardini, a man who sprints with his head.

Mark Renshaw (HTC-Highroad) could not have been happier when he claimed the first ever overall victory of his career in the Tour of Qatar on Friday, although he admitted he'd not slept well last night he was so nervous.

Today's Quote:

“I was relatively sure [of winning the Tour]. I mean, I know Pereiro and I know he wasn’t going to have any new tricks that he hadn’t already tried. I had talked to him about it and he told me that he had another blood transfusion to do, but I still wasn’t concerned because I was a better time triallist than him, regardless." - Floyd Landis CyclingNews

India made history Friday by hosting its first-ever international road race, with Italian up-and-comer Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) kicking to victory ahead of pre-race favorite Robbie McEwen (RadioShack) in wild ride across the rugged hill country of Maharashtra.

Saiz is infamous as the manager of the Liberty Seguros team that got blown apart by the original Operation Puerto investigation in 2006.

"The 26-inch-wheeled hardtail mountain bike is, indeed, dead. OK, so I’ve been intentionally stirring the pot with that proclamation. What you’re about to read is no exception."

Kiwi Belinda Harper set a new age-group record in Kona last year and is now racing in the Pro category.

Starting in the fall and staying hot all winter long, the season draws to an end in Copenhagen.

With the winter season seemingly at its peak in China  there are numerous (unconfirmed) whispers of new teams and established rider transfers around the amatuer cycling ranks including hints from Triace, Holy Brother and others.

Can any of you honestly say you feel satisfied that Alberto Contador may be banned for the tiniest trace amount of Clenbuterol in his body as opposed to, say, indisputable proof of a blood transfusion or clear detection of EPO? “Proper doping”? Really?

Could ruling be relevant to Contador case?

Contador's positive -- only minute traces of clenbuterol, not enough to enhance his performance in itself, were found -- the UCI would show no quarter, reminding media that a clenbuterol positive usually leads to a two-year ban.

Stranded at the Start Line. Branded a fool. What will they say, next year in school?

In 2010, Sky wanted to win the Tour—and we all know how that went.  In 2011, they just want to win—as much as possible.  And while it’s easy to forgive the team for over-hyping itself heading into last season, the pressure’s on to show there’s more to the team just money and mouths.

Australian hopes Qatar will be springboard to Worlds place.

The Red Kite Prayer is the cycling equivalent of American football’s Hail Mary pass. Sometimes races are won on fumes and a prayer; sometimes they’re not won at all. The Red Kite Prayer (RKP) blog is dedicated to offering insight, analysis and inspiration behind the finish line prayers and it generally delivers.

With dark days, darker nights and weather that’s verging on the criminal side of foul, it’s little wonder that mountain bikers sometimes have a hard time keeping their spirits up when the winter months draw in.

"We recently caught up with Lelangue; here’s what he had to say about Phinney, the classics and Evans’ bid to win the Tour de France."

New Zealand’s Rosara Joseph also signs contract.

Belgian to lead team through Paris-Roubaix.

"A ride doesn’t just clear my mind, it fills it with fresh ideas. If I go out for more than an hour then often answers appear and new ideas flash into my mind."

When Dan McLaughlin rode his bike into work on Wednesday, he never thought it would be stolen before he could get back home.

The 2011 lineup in a nutshell: Lower prices, more bling.

"The day I perceived the burden and call to revisit bike racing the first thing I did was to call Tom Slocum the owner of High Sierra."

Some great shots today of Thomas Voeckler riding his brand spanking new Colnago M10 in stage 3 of the Mediterranean Tour. Must say, the M10 looks stunning!

"In our never ending quest to get answers and quell your (and our) insatiable appetite for cycling tech, armchair speculation and road/trail side discussions, we reached out to 3T a little more."

A study released this week by the Harvard School of Public Health may reignite the discussion over the safety of cycle tracks for bicycling through urban areas (Cycle tracks are bicycle lanes that are physically separated from traffic by curbs, parked cars, vegetation or other barriers. )

Behind the scenes images from the Garmin-Cervelo camp.

YehudaMoon: Her New Style.

Something about chickens or vultures or more precisely cobras coming home to roost. A story about  faulty decision-making, bad karma and shit mist.

The center of the bullseye of the roadie lifestyle is the group ride.

Enough of squabbling over petty issues. It’s time for cycling to face up to the real challenges facing the sport..

Prudhomme gets impatient about outcome.

Alberto Contador says he is disgusted by his treatment at the hands of his own federation (RFEC), the UCI and WADA over his positive test

The latest installment includes Spain's Prime Minister while Contador puts up his dukes.

Team's relationship with Italian up for discussion.

Had urged team last summer not to sign Italian climber.

Movistar rider in two races less than six weeks after brutal attack.

A Tour de France bonk-buster.

If you are a millionaire rap star (who rides a 56cm bike frame), here is the perfect bike for you. Rapper Pharrell Williams  collaborated with Domeau & Pérès to create a custom Brooklyn Machine Works frame and fork completely upholstered in leather, all hand stitched.

"Simple, stylish but expensive way to hang your bike."

Unsurprisingly, as it is in the south-east of England, it will be pretty flat.

BMC Racing Team rider sufficiently recovered from his knee injury to line out.

HTC-Highroad rider takes stage and overall lead.

No head butts required.

Voeckler maintains GC lead in Rousset.

There was a biggy pile-up in today's final stage of the Mallorca Challenge. Tejay van Garderen of HTC-Highroad took responsibility:

Brazilian champion takes final event of Challenge Mallorca.

There are times in that history when new countries have broken into the fore, with their refreshing and often radical ideas. Canadian Steve Bauer was one such rider with his Paris Roubaix Stealth Bike.

This past weekend in Toronto Ontario, Canada’s first ever professional cycling team to achieve UCI Professional Continental status held their team launch.

AA Drink-Leontien.nl rider wins the chance to represent the Netherlands at the World Championships.

On Saturday, Middelkerke, Belgium plays host to the final installation of the Cyclocross Superprestige.

The video’s from Stage 3 of the Tour of Qatar.

Dr. Matthew Burke), 38, an Army orthopedic surgeon stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, suffered severe head trauma in the crash. He leaves behind a wife and 11-month-old daughter.

Each year, Pavé previews the upcoming road season with a countdown of the top-20 teams in the sport.  Today the Preview continues with #13.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said he hopes a swift verdict will be reached in the case of reigning champion Alberto Contador, who failed a drugs test during the race last year.

Today's Quote:

“I was relatively sure [of winning the Tour]. I mean, I know Pereiro and I know he wasn’t going to have any new tricks that he hadn’t already tried. I had talked to him about it and he told me that he had another blood transfusion to do, but I still wasn’t concerned because I was a better time triallist than him, regardless." - Floyd Landis CyclingNews

Decision could come as soon as today.

Spaniard clashed with Gilbert over doping two months before '06 Tour de France win.

French anti-doping agency in discussions.

Troch’s work is based on improving a rider’s relaxation and concentration, as well as working on visualisation and even pushing back a rider’s pain thresholds.

It appears likely to be a men’s race with the riders completing three laps of the 15.5km circuit based on Box Hill, instead of the nine laps that will figure in the Olympic race, before heading back into London.

Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky were present in force in the decisive front group of stage four of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday, but despite a strong collective ride, the win eventually went to HTC-Highroad fastman Mark Renshaw in a bunch sprint.

The hip flexors are the muscles that bend the thigh towards the abdomen.

With the right strategy, you can reach the top of any hill with ease.

We discovered how much difference front-end geometries can make.

Cofidis toolbox. Ooooh...ahhhhh.

The new products include a tapered carbon seatpost that comes in at just 114g for the 350 x 31.6!

Everyone seems to have the same questions when it comes to the heated grips; do they work?

YehudaMoon: Just Drive.

Fiorenzo Alessi, Riccò's lawyer told La Gazzetta dello Sport today that Riccò may try to retract his admission.

Investigators seeking to determine if others were involved.

Tour of Qatar riders react to Ricco.

Garmin-Cervélo rider accepts Cavendish's apology.

‘Why not to back to fixed gears and mending your own punctures?’

Lampre finished 2010 as one of the sport’s most underrated teams. But with the majority of the team’s wins coming thanks to Alessandro Petacchi—a rider long-suspected of having doped to obtain them—it’s easy to see why.

The most renowned of the Pélissier brothers, Henri was not only one of the most successful interwar European racers, he was also one of the most rebellious members of the peloton the sport has seen.

"Fast-rolling, grippy all-round tyres with clever features."

"The 2011 Roubaix impressed us with a buoyant, involving ride that was comfortable, confident and well rounded, wherever we took it."

Decent wax lube that keeps drivetrains pristine but requires more frequent and careful application than wet lubes.

Group rides build fitness, but solo rides soothe the soul.

Wisconsin-based Trek Bicycles has donated US$1mil to kick-start a new B-cycle bike sharing program in its state’s capital city of Madison.  The initial installment will include 35 B-cycle stations and a total of 350 bicycles, which should be ready for public use this spring.

Specialized’s new Prevail Helmet takes over from the S-Works model as the top of the line for their brain buckets.

Another stage of the Tour of Qatar and another sprint finish are in the books.

He's a three-time US pro road champion, a winner of a stage in the Giro d'Italia and a former teammate of Cadel Evans, Mario Cipollini and Robbie McEwen.

Spaniard notches Movistar's third win of 2011.

2011 Tour of the Mediterranean, Stage 1:  Laurent Mangel (Saur-Sojasun) and Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar) race for the line.

Laurent Mangel didn't count on French champion Thomas Voeckler, the Europcar rider threw his bike for the line just as Mangel sat up.

The 2011 Tour Méditerranéen  runs from February 9-13.  Coverage is limited, it is not live on TV, even in France.  But expect video highlights from each stage.

RadioShack, Liquigas-Cannondale and Team Type 1 are the major teams among 17 squads lining up for the second year of what’s a multi-year project with the long-term goal to create India’s first international stage race.

Boonen dropped from front echelon after puncture.

Belgian wins from three-man break.

Italian squad builds for Giro d'Italia.

As six-time British National Cyclocross Champion, and this year’s queen of the Koppenberg, Helen Wyman (Kona) has proved herself as a force to be reckoned with in the Elite ranks.

My much anticipated plans to hit the training hard at Christmas were kaiboshed by the pains of January – it was a lost month for various reasons, so with an end of February training camp looming on the near horizon, I need to jumpstart my program. Sufferfest’s “Local Hero” did the trick and got me off the couch.

For years, the underground firm International Pharmaceuticals supplied athletes around the world with the latest performance-enhancing drugs, helping it attain cult status in the doping scene and make millions.

Jonathan Vaughters, motivational speaker, Nostradamus of the ProTour.

“Yesterday he came up to me and just spoke to me about what happend last year,” he told VeloNews  just after stage 3. “We spoke, but I’ve really got nothing to say. What happened last year, that happened last year and I’m not thinking about that now.

Amgen Tour of California officials plan to announce Wednesday which streets competitors will speed up and down between the starts and ends of each of the eight stages of the race.

Dutchman calls on UCI to have discussions on issue.

Today's Quote:

"Why should I accept a one-year ban if I did absolutely nothing? It sincerely does not seem like the right step." - Alberto Contador SBS

Swiss rider will chase same objectives this season as he did in 2010.

The mention of Colnago triggers feelings, my practical side retreats. I sense respect, a little awe, the idea of something special.

“The partnership came as the result of all the interest and publicity generated since Devinci introduced their patented Dave Weagle Split Pivot suspension system at Interbike."

Playing with fire, Riccò burns cycling twice - PLUS - an entire family gets banned for doping...

In January the NYPD announced they would more strictly enforce traffic code for bicycles, a directive that resulted in the issuance of more than 1,400 tickets to cyclists in the first two weeks of the month.

YehudaMoon: Ride Today?

“How did I get here? My god, what have I done? And how did I get so fat doing it?”

Beware of people expressing shock at Riccardo Riccó's situation this morning.

Just a few weeks ago, I spoke to him again for Cyclingnews. He vowed that he was a new man. In fact, he said, "The Cobra is dead."

Italian on track for 2011 classics in Qatar.

Bettini, Di Rocco and Cancellara slam Vacansoleil rider.

Spaniard working hard during his suspension.

Another day, another conflict of interest with the UCI. This time it's in the world of BMX where the "UCI Coordinator of 'Gravity' disciplines" Johan Lindström has another job that puts him at odds with his role as an independent UCI official.

A new iPhone app has been released that works like an airplane 'black box' in the event of a crash, storing video footage of the collision and recording important data.

Sticking with the national flags theme, chain makers KMC now offer their X10 10-speed chain in this Patriot version, replete with Italian tricolour.

Obviously, MTB racing has taken a hit from it’s peak. There isn’t and won’t be a time when MTB racing is as popular as it was during the ’90′s.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has launched a new series of gran fondo (cyclosportive) events, with a coveted rainbow jersey up for grabs.

This picture is not me. Presumably, it’s an Italian male model that’s fond of odd poses.

Your one-stop page to access exclusive video from men's and women's Tours of Qatar.

Right now the AIGCP is behind the protests over the race radios but without a website I'm struggling to read their house view on radios yet alone more. For a group seeking greater responsibility for control over the sport little public information is volunteered.

Garmin-Cervelo leader beats Bennati and Galimzyanov.

Andy Schleck believes he can finally win the Tour de France this year after finishing runner-up in the past two years — whether reigning champion Alberto Contador is there or not.

Today's Quote:

"Why should I accept a one-year ban if I did absolutely nothing? It sincerely does not seem like the right step." - Alberto Contador SBS

American will help run cyclo-cross training centre in Madison.

Spaniard names several big objectives, including the worlds and Amstel Gold.

Garmin-Cervelo American takes second straight mass sprint.

From race victory to robbery victims while at the Trans Andes.

It's still very early in the cycling season, but already there are riders who seem ahead of schedule while others seem to be well behind in their season preparations.

Australian finds a new team after the Pegasus racing debacle.

3 simple steps to take after a crash.

The 2011 Campagnolo Super Record Ultra Torque crankset comes with hollow carbon fiber crank arms with an UD finish and titanium axle. Comes in under 620g.

Aldo Sassi, please come back. The famed Italian coach and staunch anti-doping advocate took Riccardo Ricco under his wing. It was his last project and perhaps his most challenging one.

The King of the Classics talks about his new team and his big plans for the new season.

Governing body refuse to bend from AIGCP pressure.

Belgian could guide team in Classics.

 A story of the tragic life and even more tragic death of Marco Pantani.

Amber Halliday has begun rehabilitation following an accident at last month’s Santos Rendition Homes Women’s Cup in Adelaide. The 31-year-old crashed during the final race of the series suffering head and facial injuries at the Victoria Park circuit.

Wegmann, Pires suffer minor injuries in training crash.

First it was Tom Boonen (Quick Step) on Monday, then it was Heinrich Haussler (Garmin-Cervélo) on Tuesday: the Tour of Qatar is fast turning into the Tour of the Comebacks, as for the second time in two days, a rider who had an injury-blighted second half of the 2010 season managed to snatch a morale-boosting victory.