SBS: The victory hopes of sprint rivals Mark Cavendish and Matt Goss could be put on hold for the opening stage of the Tour de France which ends on a small uphill finish more suited to the "punchers."

VeloNews: Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) is hoping to break into the winner’s column during the Tour de France after a season marked by near-misses for the American sprinter.

CyclingFans: Saturday's Tour de France Prologue (6.4km) at Liege gets underway at 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern) with the departure of the first rider and is expected to finish at around 5:25pm CET (11:25am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live streaming video should get underway at around 2:15pm CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern).

Coverage News...

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

CyclingNews: Races & Results.
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages & Results),
Giro d'Italia Femminile June 29 - July 7 (Stages & Results),
Tour of Qinghai Lake June 29 - July 12 (Stages & Results),
Tour of Americas Dairyland June 21 - July 1 (Stages & Results),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

Boulder Report: Evans has accomplished the neat trick of being the first defending champion since 2008 to enter the race as underdog. The honor of the preemptive race favorite doesn’t go to Evans but, rather, Wiggins, who has won three major stage races this year in commanding fashion.

InnerRing: For one of the biggest sporting events in the world the prize list is surprisingly modest. A total of €2,022,900 in prizes will be paid out and teams also share a pot of over one million Euros in expenses.

StickyBottle: Dan Martin is to record his Tour de France debut with a daily diary in The Irish Times. Martin has agreed a deal with the paper, which begins with a preview tomorrow, Saturday, and will be followed by a diary every day for the duration of the three-week race.

BikeRadar: Tony Martin shocked tubular tire aficionados when he won last year's UCI time trial world championships on Continental clinchers, and then repeated the feat to capture the German national title.

VeloNews: BMC Racing’s defense of the maillot jaune opened with the team taking the best young rider’s jersey, thanks to the strong legs of Tejay van Garderen.

VeloNation: World number one increases overall lead over short, flat test.

VeloNews: To commemorate George Hincapie's record-setting 17th Tour de France, BMC custom-painted this SL01 with gold highlights, "lucky seventeen" and "gentleman's round" motifs. Hincapie has a saddle height of 82.5cm, a reach of 62.3cm (tip of saddle to center of bars), uses a 140mm stem and 175mm crankarms. He trains and races with an SRM power meter, and uses a Fizik Aliante saddle.

CyclingIQ: Team Specialized Concept Store’s Fabian Schnaidt bagged his third win of 2012 in yesterday’s opening stage, a 96.8km criterium in the Qinghai capital city of Xining. In doing so, the 2011 German U23 road cycling champion also claimed his first victory on Asian soil.

Bicycling: A conversation with the English voice of the Tour de France.

road.cc: The bikes Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and team are racing in Le Tour.

VeloNews: With the introduction of its brand-new 675 endurance frame, Look has pulled off a neat trick: a relaxed bike that doesn’t look like a begging dog — high in handlebar, low in top tube, and utterly unaggressive.

InnerRing: With the official start list available, the 22 teams of the the Tour de France are now confirmed. Here’s the list of each squad with info on the sponsors, bikes and some thoughts on what they might do in the race.

CyclingNews: Plus Dennis to Sky?, Grabsch targets final TT and Wiggins talks up Van Den Broeck.

CyclingNews: UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani has confirmed to members of the media that three riders of RadioShack-Nissan have not been paid their salaries since the month of May, L'Equipe has reported. These three riders have turned to the world governing body of cycling to signal the failure of payment, which in turn is currently seeking answers of the team manager Johan Bruyneel.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Super-lightweight, responsive, balanced and accurate, these are ecellent wheels but at a high price"

VeloNews: Ex-pro Erik Zabel is expecting Mark Cavendish to come out on top despite not having a full train at his disposal during this year’s Tour de France.

CyclingNews: Tour of Borneo winner Michael Torckler (BikeNZ – PureBlack) was the victim of a hit and run while training in Santa Rosa, USA. According to Torckler's team local police are talking with a passenger from the car and the driver who fled the scene of the accident.

road.cc: No-bling carbon-soled road shoes, offering light weight and good performance in a good value package.

RedKitePrayer: Specialized, in conjunction with McLaren has introduced a new ultra-aero time trial helmet. So new, so special is this helmet that only two of them exist—so far. As you read this, those helmets are in the possession of Tony Martin and Levi Leipheimer.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Query over comfort on deep cracks but the stiff, super-light frame is a natural climber."

VeloNews: Saturday's short prologue didn't suit five-time Swedish time trial champ Gustav Larsson, but he'll be looking towards the next two time trials to make a mark. He rides a Large Bianchi Pico Crono, kitted out by sponsors FSA, FFWD, Shimano and KMC.

CyclingNews: A review board has recommended that the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) file anti-doping rule violations against Lance Armstrong, it was announced today. The agency claims to have evidence that the seven-time Tour de France champion conspired to boost his and his US Postal team's performance through the use of performance enhancing drugs.

CyclingNews: When he rolls down the prologue start ramp in Liège just after half past four on Saturday afternoon, George Hincapie (BMC) will set a new record for appearances in the Tour de France. Just a day after turning 39, the New Yorker will be embarking on his 17th Tour, which will also be his final appearance in a race that he admits has been the making of him.

CyclingFans: Saturday's Tour de France Prologue (6.4km) at Liege gets underway at 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern) with the departure of the first rider and is expected to finish at around 5:25pm CET (11:25am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live streaming video should get underway at around 2:15pm CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern).

Boulder Report: Evans has accomplished the neat trick of being the first defending champion since 2008 to enter the race as underdog. The honor of the preemptive race favorite doesn’t go to Evans but, rather, Wiggins, who has won three major stage races this year in commanding fashion.

VeloNation: Defending champion takes first Maglia Rosa of 2012.

InnerRing: For one of the biggest sporting events in the world the prize list is surprisingly modest. A total of €2,022,900 in prizes will be paid out and teams also share a pot of over one million Euros in expenses.

CyclingNews: Races & Results.
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
Giro d'Italia Femminile June 29 - July 7 (Stages),
Tour of Qinghai Lake June 29 - July 12 (Stages),
Tour of Americas Dairyland June 21 - July 1 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

StickyBottle: Dan Martin is to record his Tour de France debut with a daily diary in The Irish Times. Martin has agreed a deal with the paper, which begins with a preview tomorrow, Saturday, and will be followed by a diary every day for the duration of the three-week race.

Coverage News...

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

TwistedSpoke: "It’s the day before the start of the 2012 Tour de France and I feel a mixture of euphoria and despair. The happiness is that tomorrow the greatest, most beautiful and physically demanding bike race in the world begins. The terrible disappointment is, I won’t be there in person."

BikeRadar: Tony Martin shocked tubular tire aficionados when he won last year's UCI time trial world championships on Continental clinchers, and then repeated the feat to capture the German national title.

InnerRing: With the official start list available, the 22 teams of the the Tour de France are now confirmed. Here’s the list of each squad with info on the sponsors, bikes and some thoughts on what they might do in the race.

CyclingNews: Plus Dennis to Sky?, Grabsch targets final TT and Wiggins talks up Van Den Broeck.

CyclingNews: UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani has confirmed to members of the media that three riders of RadioShack-Nissan have not been paid their salaries since the month of May, L'Equipe has reported. These three riders have turned to the world governing body of cycling to signal the failure of payment, which in turn is currently seeking answers of the team manager Johan Bruyneel.

BikeRadar: Always at the cutting edge with gear, the Garmin-Sharp riders at this year’s Tour de France have their choice from a slew of bikes from team sponsor Cervélo, including the P5 and P4 time trial bikes, the S5 aero road bike, and the ultralight R5 and R5ca.

VeloNews: So, it turns out you didn’t make the 198 starters for this year’s Tour de France. You can still get a three-week tour in your legs, however, with the FasCat Tour de France training calendar.

CyclingNews: If you look at the start list for the Tour de France and top 10 of the Pro Cycling Index, the most striking fact is that the top two riders in the Index are not at the start line.

road.cc: Orica Greenedge's Matt White introduces team personnel, Garmin-Sharp mechanic and cooks talk through their day.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Super-lightweight, responsive, balanced and accurate, these are ecellent wheels but at a high price"

road.cc: Innovation aplenty on David Zabriskie's Tour de France time trial bike.

CyclingNews: Europcar team manager Jean-René Bernaudeau says he has no knowledge of any inquiry into his team's alleged use of corticosteroids and intravenous solutions of vitamins.

VeloNation: All eyes on the Olympic Games in the one women’s Grand Tour of the season.

PodiumCafe: Liquigas is withdrawing as sponsor at the end of the year and unless he team finds a new one then the riders are all free to go.

CyclingNews: A review board has recommended that the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) file anti-doping rule violations against Lance Armstrong, it was announced today. The agency claims to have evidence that the seven-time Tour de France champion conspired to boost his and his US Postal team's performance through the use of performance enhancing drugs.

CyclingNews: When he rolls down the prologue start ramp in Liège just after half past four on Saturday afternoon, George Hincapie (BMC) will set a new record for appearances in the Tour de France. Just a day after turning 39, the New Yorker will be embarking on his 17th Tour, which will also be his final appearance in a race that he admits has been the making of him.

VeloNews: The 99th Tour de France starts Saturday in Liège, Belgium. It’s kind of like our Super Bowl — both because it’s cycling’s biggest prize and because it attracts the interest and viewership of a larger audience than the rest of the season combined. I know some of you will find this hard to believe, but not everyone circles the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on the calendar.

PEZ: The Tour de France is one day off, but before we turn our heads entirely in the direction of Liege, let's take a moment to look at a rider who must be dreaming about his chances in the Grand Boucle someday... The 2012 Baby Giro winner, Joe Dombrowski (Bontrager Livestrong & USA), first came to our attention in 2011 when he won a stage and was second on GC in the Valle d’Aosta U23 stage race in Italy.

RedKitePrayer: Have you heard about the Rêve Tour? Six women are riding the entire route of the 2012 Tour de France, one day in advance of the actual race, to raise money for Bikes Belong. The ride is sponsored and supported, but my understanding is that they’ll be cleaning and maintaining their own bikes. Given that there are six of them, and not 198, they’ll have to really stick together and take care of each other to make it. I think it is fair to say that for the women involved it will be easily as massive an undertaking as it will be for the men who will race it, for money, in their wake.

Cyclismas: The Tour entered the Alps with a 275-kilometre trundle from Nice to Briançon, taking in the Col d’Allos (2,250m), the Col de Vars (2,110m), and the Col d’Izoard (2,361m). With a comfortable lead Ottavio Bottecchia (Automoto) could afford to take things easy.

road.cc: Cracking deal gives you 2 years of cover on your new hoops for nothing, even on budget and MTB hoops.

BikeRadar: With the start of the 2012 Tour de France just around the corner, we've decided to take a look back at the race's winning road bikes from the past 20 years. As expected, carbon fiber dominates the material landscape in more recent years, but you don't have to look too far back to find steel, aluminum and even metal matrices atop the podium.

VeloNation: National anti doping tribunal will determine rider’s fate.

CyclingNews: Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) is in no doubt that Bradley Wiggins and Cadel Evans line up as pre-race Tour de France favourites but the veteran is aware that pressure can be a major factor in any Grand Tour.

InnerRing: "While Wiggins is the great favorite for the race I think the next three weeks can bring plenty of surprises. But let’s run with the idea that Wiggins is the rider to beat, here are the suggestions from the team managers plus some extra ideas."

CyclingNews: In her attempt to defend her title in the Giro Donne, the women's Giro d'Italia, Marianne Vos of Rabobank Women Team faces a new hurdle. Her bike has been stolen.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

CyclingNews: After his win in the Giro d'Italia, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) took an extended break from racing as he began his preparations for the Tour de France, but on Saturday in Liege he will begin his campaign for a second Grand Tour in just three months. 

PodiumInsight: A sold-out field and a collection of some of the biggest names in professional road, mountain bike and cyclo-cross for the Beaver County Travel Council “Crusher in the Tushar” presented by DNA Cycling have race promoter Burke Swindlehurst calling the second edition “a showdown of the disciplines.”

RedKitePrayer: In Hincapie, as in most American clothing brands, I wear medium bibs and a small jersey. Of late, Hincapie bib inseams and jerseys have been cut shorter than they used to. This is a good thing. It’s one thing to have George Hincapie personally test all the clothing. It’s quite another to use him as the fit model.

Coverage News...

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

VeloNews: It isn’t that Valverde was simply too strong for anyone to come around him. Instead, the others were happy to have someone else doing the majority of the work. Remember that what’s important is who crosses the finish line first, not who is leading at any one time.

BikeRadar: Paul Lew, Reynolds’ director of technology and innovation, brings a system approach to the Reynolds carbon wheel line — we profiled the 2013 road line last week — not only in the traditional sense of hubs, spokes, and rims, but also within the construction of the rims themselves.

TwistedSpoke: Finally, somebody steps up. Things have been rough of late for the Electronic Gizmo-Car-Bike squad. Andy Schleck is out of the Tour de France with a cracked pelvis and brother Franks is just too worn out from the Giro, Tour of Luxembourg and Suisse.

PodiumCafe: Only 4 days now until the opening prologue on this year's Le Grande Boucle and the last rosters are being finalized and the final preparations for the race are being made. After the 3 years of domination by Andy Schleck, last year brought a breath of fresh aid in the competition with Pierre Rolland (Europcar) squeaking it out over Rein Taaramae (Cofidis).

CyclingNews: Europcar team manager Jean-René Bernaudeau says he has no knowledge of any inquiry into his team's alleged use of corticosteroids and intravenous solutions of vitamins.

VeloNation: All eyes on the Olympic Games in the one women’s Grand Tour of the season.

VeloNews: A rail-thin Fränk Schleck said he was unsure of his Tour de France chances on Thursday, and downplayed the tension that’s strained his RadioShack-Nissan team in 2012.

PodiumCafe: Liquigas is withdrawing as sponsor at the end of the year and unless he team finds a new one then the riders are all free to go.

BrowneEye: Aerodynamic design has hit the forefront this season with the marketing folks. Sure, some bike companies have been ahead of the curve, aerodynamically speaking, such as Cervelo, Blue, and Kestral to name a few. Recently the Big Dogs in the bike industry, Specialized and Trek, have weighed in with aero-road bikes.

VeloNews: Most bikes skew towards either stiff efficiency or comfort. For most cyclists, the ideal bike is one that does both. This is exactly what the four bikes we tested here purport to do.

VeloNation: Stage wins and mountain jersey of interest to Garmin-Sharp rider.

VeloNews: TrainingPeaks, the online training software that began as an interactive version of Joe Friel’s “TrainingBible” book series, is yet again singing in the updates shower.

MountainBike: "We select the best bikes in seven categories—from the fastest race 29er to lightweight women’s full-suspension models."

BikeRumor: "Bottle cages have a pretty simple remit: to hold waterbottles.  Sure, it’s nice if they’re good looking, high tech, or reasonably priced- but all of this is forgotten the moment a bottle goes missing.  Lezyne know this and have built what may be the most tenacious bottle cage I’ve come across.  Is it the cage for you?"

BikeRadar: Bont produces some of the best – but priciest – road shoes out there. So it will be interesting to see how their new budget shoe, the a-three, works out.

VeloNation: Anomalies date from year’s prior to rider joining blue-fuchsia team.

VeloNation: Sport’s governing body confirms that three riders have reported irregularities.

InnerRing: Tour de France iCal.

VeloNation: “She’s faced accusations that she faked, but this isn’t true.”

BikeRumor: There was a rider who had set a KoM time on a public street in Berkeley, CA. Some time thereafter, he saw that another rider had bested his time, and he went out to try to improve upon it. In the process of doing so, he was riding over 40mph in a posted 30mph zone, collided with a car, and suffered mortal injuries. His family has now sued Strava, claiming that they are liable for his death.

Tom Danielson: With his second consecutive podium in the Amgen Tour of California and seventh overall at the Tour de Suisse, Tom Danielson is on the rise after an early season derailed by a hard crash at the Tour de Langkawi.

SBS: Cycling reporter Roger Vaughan is in Paris for the Tour de France, and provides his summation of the key riders to watch come June 30.

Off The Beaten Path: Last weekend, I rode in the Cascade 1200 km brevet. I like to make one ride every year my “main goal” – a ride for which I train, around which I plan my calendar, a ride that is special.

CycleSport: David Millar won the opening time trial in Futuroscope. He became the fourth British rider to wear the yellow jersey, after Tom Simpson, Chris Boardman and Sean Yates. It was an historic moment in Britain’s Tour history.

RedKitePrayer: 'My history with Zipp products goes back 14 years. In that time I’ve ridden wheelsets that scared me, cranks I thought should have been more popular than the Beatles and bars that changed my expectations for all carbon handlebars. The overriding impression I’ve had is that of a company less satisfied with its own products than intimidated by the competition."

BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "Fantastically light, yet impressively durable and responsive."

road.cc: A good performing drivetrain degreasing cleaner with nice extra features.

VeloNews: The search for free seconds never ceases as riders prepare to tackle the 100km of contre le montre in this year’s Tour de France. With an eye towards the fine details, Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda crank sponsor Rotor released a brand-new aero crankset Thursday morning.

BikeRumor: Getting stomped under Team ORICA-GreenEDGE at the Tour de France this summer is Scott Sports’ new Premium Road Shoe.

RedKitePrayer: In Hincapie, as in most American clothing brands, I wear medium bibs and a small jersey. Of late, Hincapie bib inseams and jerseys have been cut shorter than they used to. This is a good thing. It’s one thing to have George Hincapie personally test all the clothing. It’s quite another to use him as the fit model.

TwistedSpoke: Finally, somebody steps up. Things have been rough of late for the Electronic Gizmo-Car-Bike squad. Andy Schleck is out of the Tour de France with a cracked pelvis and brother Franks is just too worn out from the Giro, Tour of Luxembourg and Suisse. Frank has refused the captain’s role for Le grand Shindig and nobody else seemed to want the role.

PodiumCafe: Only 4 days now until the opening prologue on this year's Le Grande Boucle and the last rosters are being finalized and the final preparations for the race are being made. After the 3 years of domination by Andy Schleck, last year brought a breath of fresh aid in the competition with Pierre Rolland (Europcar) squeaking it out over Rein Taaramae (Cofidis).

CyclingNews: Eight out of the ten national road race championships in the IG Pro Cycling Index took place over a busy weekend of cycling. With all the results from Europe now in, there have been some interesting movements in the Index.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

Chloe Hosking: "For the last few years June has been a lonely month for me. The tours replace one day races and, for the most part, the racing migrates from the north of Europe a little further south."

Peloton: 4,388 feet of climbing in 38.6 miles. It may not be the Alps but the Walloon region of Belgium is not lacking in the climb department, you just get your elevation in small chunks with endless 1 and 2k climbs. There are no flat roads.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "For stiffness, strength and speed, the aero Gavias are a great option."

road.cc: Wiggo, Cav et al's new tool for the tour gets even better Carbon.

BikeRadar: The most important qualities to look for in a pair of new cycling sunglasses are the clarity of vision the lenses provide and the protection they afford. Hazards such as grit, insects and overhanging branches can seriously damage your eyes when you’re hurtling along at 25mph or more, and even rain can really sting your eyeballs.

road.cc: Bontrager has released details of several new products including aerodynamic road bars, a new helmet, and an extended wheel range.

Tour de France Coverage News...

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

CyclingNews: France has a fine young generation of sprinters coming up, as became clear last Sunday at the national championship road race in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. FDJ-Big Mat dominated the race, first by working hard to take it to a bunch sprint finish and then by delivering its two best sprinters, Arnaud Démare and 21 year old Nacer Bouhanni, to a one-two placing.

Pedal: The first edition of the race will take place from 17th to 21st October 2012. This new event will close this year’s UCI WorldTour calendar.

VeloNews: Most bikes skew towards either stiff efficiency or comfort. For most cyclists, the ideal bike is one that does both. This is exactly what the four bikes we tested here purport to do.

VeloNation: Anomalies date from year’s prior to rider joining blue-fuchsia team.

Bicycling: American team is on a roll—and its ambitions for the Tour show how much it’s changed.

BicycleRetailer: Big Cat Human Powered Vehicles is working with the Consumer Products Safety Commission to recall about 170 Catbike recumbent bikes.

CyclingNews: Johnny Hoogerland is going to court against Euro Media, who auto driver forced him off the road and into a barbed wire fence during stage 9 of last year's Tour de France. The media company has apparently shown little interest in negotiating a settlement with the Vacansoleil-DCM rider, and today is the deadline for filing a suit.

CyclingNews: While all eyes are on the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the women's peloton is getting ready to tackle the most prestigious stage race on its calendar: the women's Giro d'Italia, or Giro Donne.

CyclingNews: Fränk Schleck has warned not to expect too much of him in the Tour de France, saying he is no longer at his peak and will not be amongst the top riders.  The absence of his brother Andy is a loss not only to him but to their team RadioShack-Nissan as well, he said.

CyclingIQ: Hong Kong’s presence in elite cycling has been most keenly felt through the exploits of its favorite sporting son, Wong Kam Po. Following two decades of regional dominance, Wong’s career is winding down and mainland China is receiving all the attention in global pro cycling circles. Fortunately, Hong Kong has the economic capacity and agility to respond.

Bicycling: What to look for from this year's Stateside contingent.

BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "Competitors should be worried by this versatile, rapid trail package."

road.cc: Comfort, style and even a fair bit of speed. An excellent all-round women's sportive bike.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Structured, stiff and secure, the Prismas are great race shoes."

VeloNews: Italian cyclist Riccardo Riccò is to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to have his 12-year doping ban overturned, CAS announced on Tuesday.

VeloNews: Two-time winner of the Tour de France, Alberto Contador, currently suspended, is conspicuously absent from the 99th edition of the Tour, which starts Saturday Liege, Belgium. “The absent are always wrong,” said Tour director Christian Prudhomme. “Once the Tour has begun, you stop thinking about it.”

Tom Danielson: With his second consecutive podium in the Amgen Tour of California and seventh overall at the Tour de Suisse, Tom Danielson is on the rise after an early season derailed by a hard crash at the Tour de Langkawi.

VeloNation: “It is a medical thing - the rest is for her to tell.”

InnerRing: It looks like the perfect picture for a cycling team. A smiling rider stands tall on the podium, dressed in yellow with the team logos in evidence as the girls hold their pose for the cameras. Even his sunglasses are perched just right on the team-issue baseball cap. But there’s something wrong with the picture.

CyclingNews: RadioShack-Nissan has decided to stop Jakob Fuglsang from racing in any further WorldTour races this year. This will prevent him from winning any UCI points, which could help his team in 2013 – a team which will not be RadioShack-Nissan.

CyclingIQ: Unfortunately for the UCI, its President Pat McQuaid’s personality and strong opinions have previously resulted in soundbites that may not best represent the global view within the UCI. One has to wonder what McQuaid’s colleagues will think of his latest interview with Bloomberg, which runs the gamut from breakaway leagues to conflicts of interest.

CycleSport: "Lionel Birnie has been described as a cross between Charlie Brooker and Eeyore – the sort of person who thinks the glass is half empty, but only because he’s just spilled some of it on his trousers."

Cyclismas: As the Tour completed its first week of racing, the peloton completed the 412 kilometre stage four haul from Brest to Les Sables d’Olonne, sixteen and a half hours of saddle time. The peloton again finished together, Ottavio Bottecchia (Automoto) finished two places behind Théophile Beeckman (Griffon) but still retained the yellow jersey,

CyclingNews: British track star Victoria Pendleton has given the strongest indication yet that she will quit professional cycling after the London 2012 Olympic Games later this summer.

CycleSport: The Tour de France is about much more than the cycling. The event shows off the best the country has to offer – the countryside, the châteaux and, of course, its food and wine.

Bicycling: The new bike has adjustable travel from 70mm to 120mm and will come in 26-inch and 29er versions.

BikeRadar: Radioshack-Nissan-Trek will race this year's Tour de France on the latest generation of Trek's flagship Madone road platform. The new Madone 7-Series borrows aero shaping from the Speed Concept to save a claimed 25 watts at 40km/h, it's supposedly more comfortable than before, and the lightest variant now weighs a startlingly feathery 750g for a 56cm frame.

CyclingNews: France has a fine young generation of sprinters coming up, as became clear last Sunday at the national championship road race in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. FDJ-Big Mat dominated the race, first by working hard to take it to a bunch sprint finish and then by delivering its two best sprinters, Arnaud Démare and 21 year old Nacer Bouhanni, to a one-two placing.

Pedal: The first edition of the race will take place from 17th to 21st October 2012. This new event will close this year’s UCI WorldTour calendar.

CyclingIQ: Billed as the “highest race in Asia”, the cloud-scraping Tour of Qinghai Lake is also the longest on the 2012 UCI AsiaTour calendar. At 1,347 kilometers over 13 stages, China’s first Hors Categorie stage race will punish the lungs and legs of all riders, including those from the seven ProContinental teams making the journey to central China.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

VeloNews: At a tender 21 years of age, Australian neo-pro Luke Durbridge is one of the youngest riders in the WorldTour peloton. In his debutant pro season, Durbridge (Orica-GreenEdge) is rapidly marking himself out as one of the hottest prospects around, especially when it comes to racing against the clock. He’s also showing noticeable signs of developing into an extremely promising all-around stage racer.

BikeRadar: GT’s complete 2013 lineup is, of course, much more extensive than this, but we asked GT global marketing manager Chris Hopwood to share the highlights for the road and cyclocross bikes here, MTB will be posted separately.

Lennard Zinn: "To note: this result can vary depending on the side of the bike exposed and the YAW vector. So the data shown is an average of the DS (drive side) and NDS (non-drive side) of the bike because wind doesn’t always come from the DS."

RedKitePrayer: The Helium is a simple, clean design unencumbered by superfluous contours that cause so many frames to look like an early ’60s Corvette and weigh nearly as much.

Tour de France Coverage News...

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

Mark Renshaw: "With less than a week until the 2012 Tour de France begins in Liege, it's all about staying focussed. I'm still spending time at altitude and I will head to Belgium on Wednesday night. The two days before the Grand Depart should just be some recon of the prologue and the first stage."

Cyclelicious: "Any suggested captions for this frankenbike?"

VeloNews: Italian cyclist Riccardo Riccò is to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to have his 12-year doping ban overturned, CAS announced on Tuesday.

VeloNews: Two-time winner of the Tour de France, Alberto Contador, currently suspended, is conspicuously absent from the 99th edition of the Tour, which starts Saturday Liege, Belgium. “The absent are always wrong,” said Tour director Christian Prudhomme. “Once the Tour has begun, you stop thinking about it.”

RedKitePrayer: "I just had breakfast with Scott Moninger at a Boulder diner. The 45-year-old Colorado resident is probably the greatest American bike racer who never rode the Tour de France—but he is going to his first Tour this week. Not as a racer, but as a television commentator to work with Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen and Bob Roll in the NBC Sports “studio” at every stage finish for the next three weeks."

CyclingTips: National Champions | Tinkoff returns to pro cycling | Armstrong bangs his fist on the table | Bruyneel opts out of Tour | LeMond expects Armstrong to lose Tour wins | National Champions, including Pellizotti | Schlecks starting a new team? | Scarponi & Pozzato didn't get the memo | Giro to start in Naples | Jack Bobridge handed 8 month suspension for drink-driving incident.

VeloNews: Martin Velits will replace Stijn Vandenbergh in Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s Tour de France squad, the team announced Tuesday. Vandenbergh is suffering from a saddle sore.

Cyclismas: With rest days alternating with racing days, it was Thursday before the riders undertook the third stage of the Tour, 405 kilometres down the coast from Cherbourg to Brest. It should have been another innocuous stage, nothing save punctures or mishaps stopping the main contenders from all finishing together. It proved to be a lot more eventful than that.

BikeRadar: After decades as a road-only brand, Pinarello have jumped into the mountain bike market with the Dogma XC hardtail.

road.cc: Lightweight and well-constructed offering from Abus but there are better options at this price point.

BikeRumor: "Aboard NeilPryde’s new Bayamo TT bike were the new Mavic Cosmic CXR 80 Aero Wheels, but we had a note from Mavic saying that they were unrideable samples. Apparently, these were one of only a few sets in the states and Mavic wanted to keep them pristine, so we didn’t actually ride them. But here are some closeup photos of the wheels and the Blade aero faring."

BikeRadar: Cannondale’s launch of the Trigger Over Mountain bike also served to introduce the manufacturer’s latest Lefty suspension fork. Cannondale will offer three Lefty models for 2013 – PBR, XLR and Carbon XLR. There’ll be three travel options for 26in wheels – 130mm, 120mm and 100mm – and two for 29ers – 100mm and 90mm.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Mid-level spec but sublime composure and easy speed at the heart of a modern classic."

BikeRadar: Radioshack-Nissan-Trek will race this year's Tour de France on the latest generation of Trek's flagship Madone road platform. The new Madone 7-Series borrows aero shaping from the Speed Concept to save a claimed 25 watts at 40km/h, it's supposedly more comfortable than before, and the lightest variant now weighs a startlingly feathery 750g for a 56cm frame.

PodiumInsight: Though Amber Neben has won some of the biggest time trial races in her career, including the World Championships in 2008 she had never claimed the national time trial title. That is until this year. Neben clocked the fastest time of 39:27, beating her lululemon-Specialized teammate Evelyn Stevens by less than one second.

Bicycling: After three decades of reporting from the Tour de France, Samuel Abt offers a historical perspective of the world's greatest bicycle race—from his living room.

CyclingNews: Eric Boyer, team manager of French squad Cofidis, has been sacked on Monday following weeks of rumors. François Migraine, head of the team's sponsor, blamed Boyer for the outfit's lack of results this season and decided to replace him. According to L'Equipe, former Festina, Astana and FDJ-BigMat directeur sportif Yvon Sanquer will replace him, with the start of the 2012 Tour de France only a few days away.

road.cc: Superlight multitool with a good selection of functions although the price tag is a whopper.

SingleTrack: Kirk Pacenti did not invent the 650b size or the name for it, and it was natural that he would use the name that already existed for that rim size, especially as 650b mountain bikes have existed for decades. The 650b size has been around for a long time — at least 50 years. It was a popular trekking and tandem size in Europe in the 1960s and 1970s, for instance.

BikeRadar: Hayes Components have a lot going on among their brands, but Sun Ringle posted the biggest product news during the Deer Valley PressCamp last week. The high-performance, economically priced brand launched an SL line, which includes new Black Flag and Charger models in 26in, 29in and 650b. These are lighter and wider than the basic Pro models, which will stay in the line.

road.cc: Phil Gale samples a unique 24 hour road race in and around the Italian hill town of Feltre.

PEZ: La vallée de l'herault is a region in the south of France, 30km North West of Montpellier and just 50km to the north of the Mediterranean and its famous beaches.

BikeRumor: Specializing in walkie-talkie gadgets for motorcycles and snowmobiles, Cardo Systems recently unveiled a rig specifically for cycling – the BK-1. It’s a radio headset that’ll link three cyclists to walkie-talkie each other at a distance up to 500 meters.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Combine with quality pedals for total security – they’re quite bulky shoes, though."

Cyclelicious: They combine cycling with shooting sports in the Russian warm weather version of a biathlon.

VeloNews: After driving the peloton for days at the Amgen Tour of California — and bringing Peter Sagan to a head-shaking five stage victories — Timmy Duggan’s summer of success only got better.

PodiumCafe: Emma Pooley, Sharon Laws & Lizzie Armitstead on the GB Nationals Podium.

CyclingWeekly: Top Italian cyclists are facing the firing squad over their links to Lance Armstrong's infamous trainer, Michele Ferrari. First Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini), who met with anti-doping prosecutor on Tuesday, and now last year's Giro d'Italia winner, Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD).

CyclingNews: It is not often that a team wins four races in one day, or eight races within a few days. But that is what Omega Pharma-QuickStep did, winning eight national titles, with eight different riders. The team topped things off with Tom Boonen winning the Belgian national road championships on Sunday, the most important title for the Belgian team.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

PodiumInsight: The fifth and final day of the 2012 USA Cycling Elite, U23, Juniors & Paralympic Road National Championships on Sunday started with the juniors men 17-18 before concluding with the elite men’s and women’s races on the Major Matthew P. Burke, M.D. Championship Course at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga.

BikeRadar: Italian brand Gaerne have introduced the Boa dial closure system to several new shoes for 2013, including the Carbon G.Chrono.

BikeRumor: Built in the UK just in time for Olympic coverage, Splinter Bike just released Quantum, their third bicycle. It’s constructed from entirely wood and glue – even the tires. They’re using the Quantum to set speed records in the “International All Wooden Bicycle Speed Record Association”,  IAWBSRA for short.

PodiumCafe: Last year's Aspen Snowmass Women's Pro Challenge is back - with a new name and a new mission.

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

CyclingFans: The Tour de France Teams Presentation will be Thursday, June 28 at the Place Saint-Lambert in Liege.  It is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm CET (12:30pm U.S. Eastern).  We should once again have live feeds for this event.

VeloNation: Garmin-Sharp team manager speaks in final countdown to Tour de France.

VeloNation: Dane to miss Tour this year, twelve months after riding for Contador in the race.

road.cc: Aussie star and team mate Michael Hepburn also fined by Cycling Australia following incident last week.

CyclingTips: This year's leadup to the Tour de France has been light on contenders. With Contador serving his suspension and Andy Schleck injured amongst less-than-ideal circumstances, the GC riders who will be going head to head are the obvious - Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins. Vincenzo Nibali, Fränk Schleck, Robert Gesink and Chris Froome are the other guys we'll see at the business end of the race, but barring some disaster this year's Tour comes down to Australia versus the UK. Could you think of a better rivalry?

Cyclelicious: This seems to be the third annual Велодевичник (Velodevichnik) Ladies Ride in Russia’s sixth largest city. These women (and a few men) dressed up and rode their bikes to a beach on the Volga River.

CXMagazine: "Thinking about what to do about your chainring this season? Mechanical Monday delves into the pros and cons of single and double chainrings."

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "One of the most attractive ‘flexy’ seatposts available, with a 10-year warranty too."

CyclingIQ: During the UCI’s overhaul of its professional road cycling framework in 2005, the global race calendar was split into five cycling confederations, known as ‘Continental Circuits’. Seven years on, the calendars of each confederation have progressed and matured – with one great exception.

BikeRadar verdict: 3 out of 5 stars. "Friendly geometry for descending and unique suspension control but needs crucial upgrades."

BikeRumor: The Bura SL is a new pro-level road racing bike developed with feedback from the United Healthcare team. Where the new Bayamo and their previous models, the Diablo and Alize (reviewed here), were designed in conjunction with BMW, the Bura SL was designed in house. The goal was a sub-750g frame that was stiff enough for competition yet comfortable enough for sportive riders.

SingleTrack: The new hardtail has a new Reynolds 853 air-hardened tubeset that features “DZB,” or dual zone butting that keeps the tubeset light and strong. The tubeset also features the first bent down tube in the history of 853. This gives fork crown clearance and wider attachment points for the top and down tubes to the head tube.

Ben King: Not that my time in America made me soft, it’s just that I didn’t feel extra tough anymore for riding in the rain when a lady with four grocery bags and three kids pulled up beside me at the stop light.

PodiumCafe: When the Tour de France course was announced last fall, the climbers cried. With nearly 100 kilometers of racing against the watch, this year’s Tour de France is weighted heavily in favor of the time trial riders. To add to the pain of the climbers, the course includes only two mountaintop finishes. It’s a cruel world.

PodiumCafe: "Most middle-aged adults have resigned themselves to failure."

VeloNation: “Garmin-Sharp” registered in time for the Tour de France.

VeloNation: Danish bank also re-commits for another year to “Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank.”

VeloNation: Doping rumbles from 2007 could have prompted a withdrawal.

BikeRumor: Paul Budnitz Bicycles last year released some rad high-end titanium commuter frames laced to disc brakes, belt drives and internal hubs. Now, in addition to a couple new bikes in the arsenal, they have this bottle opener – the Budnitz Titanium Beer Wrench.

BikeRadar: Bending a disc brake rotor is easily done. Whether you crash, clip a tree stump or simply load your car badly, it can be knocked out of shape. But how can it be fixed?

PEZ: "I was born in Hollywood, CA but my family moved to Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico when I was two weeks old, where I grew up and went to school. I had to learn English ten years later when we came back to Los Angeles, where I live now, so I speak perfect English and Spanish. My grandfather is Italian and only speaks Italian, so I speak a little Italian as well."

Cyclismas: With the 2012 Tour de France gearing up for its start in Liège we return to our story of the 1924 cycling season. In the first five parts we’ve looked at the the 1924 peloton in general (part 1), the 1924 Giro d’Italia (part 2 + part 3), what happened to Alfonsina Strada (part 4) and the role played by the Giro in the revenue-sharing debate (part 5). We now turn to the other Grand Tour, some more heroes of our sport, and one of cycling’s perennial problems: doping.

VeloNews: Nacer Bouhanni celebrates as he wins France's road-race title.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

PodiumInsight: The 2012 USA Cycling Elite, U23, Juniors & Paralympic Road National Championships shifted back to Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga., on Saturday as riders tangled with the 23.7-kilometer Major Matthew P. Burke, M.D. Championship Course.

RBAction: The latest Euro imports: bikes, shoes, clothing, wheels and components.

CyclingFans: The Tour de France Teams Presentation will be Thursday, June 28 at the Place Saint-Lambert in Liege.  It is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm CET (12:30pm U.S. Eastern).  We should once again have live feeds for this event.

VeloNation: Démare takes second as FDJ-BigMat puts youthful sprinting on display.

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

TwistedSpoke: Jonathan Vaughters has a clever plan for the Tour de France to put his Garmin-Barracuda into a top five spot in Paris. So far the plan has gone perfectly and the argyle genius has fooled everybody — the media and maybe even their top GC rivals. For lack of a better plan name, let’s just call it Underdog Version 4 or the Fake Captain Ploy.

Emilia Fahlin: "So, here I’m sitting awake at 6am, which is not really standard for me, with a cup of coffee and no idea what to do. So i thought, why not tell a few stories from my last week in America?"

road.cc: Armitstead and Pooley complete clean sweep for AA Drink-leontien.nl; Nicole Cooke sixth.

PEZ: The 2012 Colnago C59 Italia presents one of Italy’s most storied brands in a package of custom made carbon fibre tubes and lugs constructed by hand in la belle Italia.

BikeRumor: Knog’s new Blinder Lights use Cree LED bulbs for better brightness and will come in a wide variety of patterns and colors, with one- and four-bulb options for front and rear.

CyclingNews: Jack Bobridge and Michael Hepburn, two members of Australia's Olympic team pursuit squad, were cited in a incident of driving while intoxicated in Spain, but after the pair admitted to the charges to their federation, they will be allowed to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

VeloNews: “There will be eight and a half,” the half being Nicolas Roche, whose father is Irish and mother is French.

BikeRumor: For 2013, Stan’s NoTubes is rolling out disc brake ready road and cyclocross wheels, new ZTR Alpha 400 road wheels, wider Crest Flow EX rims and a new OEM offering aimed at putting their rims on more price point bikes. Want more good news? Virtually all of this will be available next month!

BikeRadar: It's no secret that Northwave no longer manufacture consumer shoes at their headquarters in Treviso, Italy. But that doesn't mean no shoes are still made there. We paid a visit to the heralded Italian footwear company on our way to this year's Giro d'Italia.

VeloNation: Outsprints Goddaert and Vandousselaere; D’Hoore takes women’s victory.

PEZ: "I was born in Hollywood, CA but my family moved to Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico when I was two weeks old, where I grew up and went to school. I had to learn English ten years later when we came back to Los Angeles, where I live now, so I speak perfect English and Spanish.

CyclingFans: The Tour de France Teams Presentation will be Thursday, June 28 at the Place Saint-Lambert in Liege.  It is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm CET (12:30pm U.S. Eastern).  We should once again have live feeds for this event.

PodiumInsight: The six-corner criterium course in Downtown Augusta showcased the nation’s top sprinters featuring a varying amount of laps (depending on age group) around a 1.25-kilometer course with a maximum elevation gain of only three feet.

VeloNation: Grivko, Kangert and Gruzdev ride to victory.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

CyclingNews: Team Saxo Bank is expected to announce a new name co-sponsor at a press conference called for Monday. According to Borsen.dk, the new co-sponsor will be a “foreign” bank.

CXMagazine: The carbon cantilever-equipped SuperX frame remains unchanged for this season, but the top-shelf SRAM Red model now comes with Avid BB7 Ultimate mechanical disc brakes, as ridden by Tim Johnson of Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld last season.

BikeRumor: According to Lefty product manager Drew Hannah, this is the biggest innovation in Lefty since its inception 13 years ago. Cannondale has always claimed it to be lighter, stiffer and stronger than any other fork on the market thanks to its dual crown inverted design, which puts more material where it’s needed (40mm stanchion at the top, 32mm at the bottom) with two clamps at the top.

road.cc: Offers excellent protection from abraision and impact damage but rather pricey.

BikeRumor: For 2013, the Lazer Oasiz helmet comes out in the bright Flash Yellow and has a new integrated GoPro mount. The mount bolts on in place of a flat piece and is centered, balancing the weight so the helmet shouldn’t flop back and forth under the camera’s weight.

VeloNews: The AIGCP and CPA, organizations representing pro cycling’s team owners and riders, have struck an agreement to increase minimum rider salaries in 2013. It’s an accord that may represent organizational progress beyond simply putting more money in the riders’ bank accounts.

road.cc: Meanwhile Switzerland's Reto Schoch continues Alpine countries' remarkable dominance of solo category.

PodiumCafe: First the team, then the befuddlement.

CyclingFans: Elite men national championship road races for a number of countries including Belgium, France, and the Netherlands are on Sunday.  We expect to have live feeds for the Netherlands from 2:15pm CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern), for Belgium from 2:30pm CET (8:30am U.S. Eastern) and for France from 3:20pm CET (9:20am U.S. Eastern).

InnerRing: It’s the weekend of the national championships across Europe. While America, Asia and Australia have different weekends, pretty much everywhere in Europe sees simultaneous national championships. In some European countries these races can take on a strange feel with several teams of 25 riders starting, making the tactics completely different from your usual race.

The Explainer: Whose risk is it anyway?

RedKitePrayer: Strava is a terrific service. Indeed, if you score top bragging rights on a particular ride, it will let everyone know how much of a stud you are. If then someone else beats your time, your iPhone will essentially call you a wimp and push you to better that. Strava can do a lot to fan the flames of your competitive fires. And therein lies the rub.

CyclingNews: The newest twist in rumors surrounding problem-plagued RadioShack-Nissan now have the Schleck brothers leaving the team after this season and founding a new team with a German sponsor.

IrishPeloton: In 1956, on Stage Seven of the Tour de France, a group of 31 riders broke clear of the rest of the peloton on the road to Angers and finished more than 18 minutes clear. The best placed rider in the group was Roger Walkowiak, who consequently relieved his compatriot André Darrigade of the yellow jersey.

SBS: Franco Pellizotti took his first professional win since returning from a drug-related suspension with a solo victory at the Italian National Road Race, in Trentino, Italy.

BikeRadar: Innsbruck, in the heart of the Austrian Alps, is best known as a snowy sports mecca. It's one of the few cities in history to have hosted the Winter Olympics twice, and is also a beautiful place to see when the weather warms up and the snow melts.

BikeRumor: With most (all?) serious new aerodynamic road bike wheels heading toward a rounded, bulging profile, Reynolds’ new Aero line bucks the trend by using a deep “V” profile with an almost exaggerated point.

BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "Down tube cable routing worry, but otherwise one of the best enduro frames on the market."

CyclingNews: Review board will now decide whether to file anti-doping rule violation.

CyclingNews: RadioShack-Nissan will be without its general manager in this year's Tour de France, as Johan Bruyneel has decided to stay away from the race after being embroiled in a possible doping case with the US Anti Doping Agency (USADA).

CyclingNews: Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich hasn't raced professionally since his removal from the Tour 2006 and seems to have finally moved on from the difficult years which followed his dramatic exit from the sport. The German is currently ‘serving’ a two year suspension for his involvement in Operacion Puerto while he has no intension of returning to the sport.

MSNBC: Lance Armstrong filed a scathing response Friday to the latest doping allegations against him, accusing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency of violating its own rules and possibly breaking federal law during its investigation.

CyclingNews: According to the Telenet-Fidea team, Wellens's case was dropped after investigators found no evidence that his sudden illness in January had anything to do with the use of performance enhancing drugs.

PEZ: "I was born in Hollywood, CA but my family moved to Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico when I was two weeks old, where I grew up and went to school. I had to learn English ten years later when we came back to Los Angeles, where I live now, so I speak perfect English and Spanish. My grandfather is Italian and only speaks Italian, so I speak a little Italian as well."

Miriam Welte set a new word record in the flying 200 at the US Sprint Grand Prix in Colorado Springs on Friday. She covered the distance in only 10.64 seconds in qualifications, with German teammate Kristina Vogel second at 10:78.

BikeRumor: “What you see here are independent seat and chain stays that are ovalized and hourglassed for heel and chainring clearance. The dropouts are custom made for each frame and in addition to relaying structural forces between the stays (non drive side) the drive side (and frame) has provisions for Di2/EPS wiring.”

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

BikeRumor: When Cannondale introduced the modern Jekyll two years ago, it came with a new “Over Mountain” category to describe the bike’s ability to climb as well as it could descend. Then came the longer travel Claymore, aimed at light gravity and park riders that might still want to climb a bit before bombing down the hills.

Boulder Report: American phenom is all business in lead-up to Olympics.

BikeSnobNYC: " Fresh off his latest book tour, our columnist offers up some best-bike-city rankings of his own."

VeloNews: The 2012 Tour de France opens with the June 30 prologue in Liège, Belgium. Among the 198 riders signing into the 99th edition of the Tour will be defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), and American Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick Step).

VeloNews: The AIGCP and CPA, organizations representing pro cycling’s team owners and riders, have struck an agreement to increase minimum rider salaries in 2013. It’s an accord that may represent organizational progress beyond simply putting more money in the riders’ bank accounts.

road.cc: Meanwhile Switzerland's Reto Schoch continues Alpine countries' remarkable dominance of solo category.

PodiumCafe: First the team, then the befuddlement.

VeloNation: Second and eight championships respectively; Lars Teutenberg a surprise bronze medallist.

Ramirez retains race lead.

CyclingIQ: Two interesting files have been uploaded by the Union Cycliste Internationale in the last week. Issue 2 of the UCI Sport and Technical department’s four-monthly ‘UPDATE Sport and Technical’ bulletin has been silently uploaded, but a video profile of the World Cycling Centre in Aigle has received a wider airing.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

TwistedSpoke: In the last few editions of the Tour de France, Thomas Voeckler and Sylvain Chavanel have been taking turns being the top French guy.

VeloNews: If you’ve never tried on a Lazer helmet, do yourself a favor and do so. For many riders, the Belgian helmet brand offers great comfort, performance and value. While the company doesn’t have any revolutionary redesigns for the new model year, there are several creative updates in the helmet line and Lazer’s new line of eyewear is also worth mention.

CyclingNews: A man alleged to have stolen 13 bikes from Team Tibco to the Top on the eve of the 2012 Exergy Tour in Boise, Idaho has been arrested.

BikeRadar: There's a good chance that the old saying 'cheats never prosper' derives from the catalogue of foul play at the Tour de France.

Mary McConneloug & Mike Broderick: "Our primary objective for this past trip was to take part in the UCI World Cup series as well as to try for a spot on the US Olympic team. The selection process for the Olympics is based on a mixture of international (UCI) ranking points for each countries ranking purposes and UCI World Cup series points (for the USA's individual riders selection) - so we were competing in the right neighborhood for sure, along with every other international cross country racer with Olympic aspirations."

road.cc: Highly recommended for workshop use.

BikeRumor: The 2013 Ridley Helium SL is their new flagship road bike. Ridley’s had the Helium in the line for years, but the name hadn’t quite matched up with the 950-ish gram frame weight. After feedback from their pro racers, they decided to lighten it up.

Bicycling: A conversation with the English voice of the Tour de France.

CyclingNews: Review board will now decide whether to file anti-doping rule violation.

CyclingNews: RadioShack-Nissan will be without its general manager in this year's Tour de France, as Johan Bruyneel has decided to stay away from the race after being embroiled in a possible doping case with the US Anti Doping Agency (USADA).

VeloNews: Throughout his decade-long career on the road, Cadel Evans had a reputation as a quirky rider, prone to buckling under pressure. But that was before the fall of 2009. Now he enters the 2012 Tour de France as the defending champion and one of two top favorites for victory in Paris.

CyclingNews: Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) president Renato Di Rocco has defended Filippo Pozzato’s presence at a national team training camp in Trentino this week but confirmed that he will not ride at the London 2012 Olympics if he is charged with having been a client of Dr. Michele Ferrari.

InnerRing: The organizer of the Giro d’Italia Michele Acquarone has a blog on cyclingnews.com and his latest piece opens the floor to thoughts on the 2012 edition, the route and the racing. It’s good PR, opening up to the fans and seeking ideas. We’ll see what the response is and in time whether any thoughts are taken aboard by the “Pink Admiral”*

VeloNews: With very few exceptions, all the riders get the same feed bag, or musette, as the French like to call it. Typically they will include a couple water bottles, two gels, two bars and a piece of cake or a savory snack (rice cake or mini cheese sandwich). Sometimes a small Coke will be thrown in the mix. They change often, though, to keep the riders from burning out on a particular flavor of bar or gel.

VeloNation: New Zealander says no egos on the team, sprint train fully committed to Greipel.

PEZ: The 'Rodney Danegrfield' of Italian climbs, the Gran Sasso the next. 'I get no respect, I tell ya.!

CyclingTips: "One of the hidden gems of Melbourne's cycling culture is Busyman Bicycles who is renowned for designing elegant saddle covers and bar tape. Owner Mick Peel took some time to chat with CyclingTips so we could learn more about his craft."

SingleTrack: "As I find a pair of baggies that function as well as my preferred bib shorts, I’ll convert."

road.cc: A good bag let down by crude attachment and fixing.

CyclingWeekly: Helmet manufacturer Giro has launched a new aero helmet for road and track racing, doing away with the traditional tail seen on time trial helmets.

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

Boulder Report: American phenom is all business in lead-up to Olympics.

BikeSnobNYC:" Fresh off his latest book tour, our columnist offers up some best-bike-city rankings of his own."

VeloNews: The 2012 Tour de France opens with the June 30 prologue in Liège, Belgium. Among the 198 riders signing into the 99th edition of the Tour will be defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), and American Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick Step).

Peloton: The Tour takes place in mid-summer when schools are out and Europeans are on vacation, which means that far greater numbers of spectators are available to come and watch the Tour than the other two grand tours, which take place in late spring and early fall. Also, there’s no clash with other major sporting events.

PodiumInsight: The first Stars-and-Stripes jerseys of the 2012 USA Cycling Elite, U23, Juniors & Paralympic Road National Championships were awarded Thursday night in Augusta, Ga. Riders were recognized with medals and jerseys for their performances in Thursday’s time trial at J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Wednesday’s road races at Fort Gordon.

Cyclismas: "Over the twenty-five years since Stephen Roche added the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championships to his palmarès I don’t know how many times I’ve seen, read, or heard the man being interviewed and have had to pull up an anecdote or two from those three races."

road.cc: Legislation would make drivers look out for cyclists, says world champ.

BikeHugger: At Press Camp yesterday, we were shown the new Cannondale Evo Womens. 6 women will ride this bike on the Reve tour. The new bike ships with an SISL2 crank.

Bicycling: What looks like a healthy choice on the outside isn’t always all it’s wrapped up to be on the inside.

BikeRadar: Most of us know that cycling with headphones in is a big no-no, but we might make an exception with innovation from AfterShokz.

BikeRumor: Not too long ago, when Shimano introduced the new SLX group, the big story was the inclusion of an SLX level Shadow Plus rear derailleur. Oddly, also included in the press release as a simple byline in a sea of text was the fact that there would also be a Shadow Plus derailleur at XT lever, though any photos were conspicuously absent. To our knowledge, the XT version of the Shawdow Plus was a bit of a ghost until now.

BikeRumor: OK, so technically, they’re not all in, Ridley will still have some cantilever brake equipped models next year, but for the big sellers, the top bikes are all disc. That’s saying a lot for the future of cyclocross when one of the most respected names in the sport endorses it heavily.

VeloNews: U.S. champ in 2008, Tyler Hamilton poses in arguably the worst national champion's kit of all time.

TwistedSpoke: The best quote of the cycling season so far comes from the entertaining Brian Holm, the head DS for Omega-Pharma QuickStep. When Levi Leipheimer crashed out of Paris-Nice, Holm was thrilled that the American wasn’t more seriously injured because, “Levi, he is made of chocolate.”

Bicycling: A conversation with the English voice of the Tour de France.

TwistedSpoke: The best quote of the cycling season so far comes from the entertaining Brian Holm, the head DS for Omega-Pharma QuickStep. When Levi Leipheimer crashed out of Paris-Nice, Holm was thrilled that the American wasn’t more seriously injured because, “Levi, he is made of chocolate.”

BikingBis: After more than 7 days and 2,776 miles, the top two solo cyclists in the Race Across America are about an hour apart with less than 200 miles to go to the finish in Annapolis.

CyclingNews: Alejandro Valverde has come out of the Tour de Suisse with confidence for the Tour de France. “We will go for the overall title” in France, the Movistar rider said. He said that while he was impressed with Fränk Schleck in Switzerland, Bradley Wiggins remains the favorite to win, and he does not discount defending champion Cadel Evans.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
Tour de Suisse - June 9-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Serbie - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Nature Valley Grand Prix - June13-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Beauce - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Giro Ciclistico d'Italia - June 8-17 (Stages & results),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

VeloNews: We all watched as Christian Vande Velde fired his final bullets for Garmin-Barracuda teammate Ryder Hesjedal on the high mountains of the Giro d’Italia, a bit awestruck. Hesjedal wore pink in the end, but that victory belonged in part to Vande Velde.

VeloNation: Says Contador is clear favorite for the Vuelta, but Schleck’s participation is boost for race.

PodiumInsight: Five USA national champions were crowned after winning road races on the first day of the 2012 USA Cycling Juniors, Under-23, Elite & Paralympic Road National Championships on Wednesday at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga.

Michele Acquarone: "The more days pass, the more I am convinced that the success of the 2012 Giro d’Italia was born of the decision to build an open, transparent and continuous rapport with our stakeholders."

BikeRadar: For 2013, Ridley has created the Fenix racer, the Liz women’s road bike and the Helium SL, a super-light version of the current Helium road model. The company has also gone big on disc brakes for cyclo-cross, with three bikes in the line sporting mechanical versions.

BikeRumor: Saris’ new CycleOps Virtual Trainer software is compatible with their Power Beam Pro or trainer cycle and lets you upload video and GPS data captured on the ride and recreate it on screen.

CyclingNews: Patrik Sinkewitz has been cleared of charges that he illegally used human growth hormone (HGH). The World Anti-Doping Agency's guidelines for the values were not shown to be scientifically reliable, according to the German Sports Court in Cologne.

InnerRing: Several riders are being sucked into a sporting and judicial vortex after police investigations claim links them the infamous Doctor Ferrari.

road.cc: 2011 Giro winner to face prosecutors next Wednesday as Padua doping enquiry reaches key stage.

CycleSport: "Some readers’ first Tour memories go as far back as the 1960s and 1970s. Others started watching in the last couple of years. There’s no hierarchy here – the Tour needs to be accessible to each new generation of fans, and the new fans of today may well be getting excited about the 2032 race while realising its 20 years since their first Tour."

CyclingNewsAsia: A very strange thing happened recently, though you may be forgiven for missing it. Mark Cavendish, world road race champion, Tour de France green jersey holder and the fastest sprinter currently riding, won a stage race. Granted, the Ster ZLM Toer is not quite in the same league as the Vuelta or the Giro.

BikeRumor: "OK.  So we all know that getting the right foods down after a hard ride is pretty important to recovery.  But sometimes it’s hard.  Not because mixing a bottle of the stuff is difficult, but because you don’t want to drink a thick, snynthetic-tasting brew.  Gu’s recovery brews have worked well for me in the past- but were never something I really looked forward to.  Until now."

BikeRadar: Hutchinson still make 60 percent of their tires in their French factory, which has been churning out bicycle tires since the late 1890s. For 2013 they have two new road tubeless tires (one of which is claimed to roll more efficiently than a tubular), a three-tire range of 650b tires, two new downhill tires, and something special for Julien Absalon’s Olympic bid in London.

road.cc: Incredible levels of comfort, in a funky and unusual package. Great for hot weather.

BikeRumor: Clif’s introducing Chocolate Cherry Shot Bloks flavor. It has 50mg caffeine per serving, two servings per pack. Clif’s PR man Chris Randall’s says Black Cherry is their top selling Bloks flavor, so they wanted to expand on that.

Joe Dombrowski: "It was really satisfying. In the past couple years, I have finished on the podium in a number of stage races, but this was my first GC win. Winning a GC this year was a goal I set in this past off-season and it felt really good to execute. I have to say, I also found it gratifying to deliver results when my teammates and director put so much faith in me and sacrificed so much."

InnerRing: Each stage is analyzed, each jersey is explained and once more information is available there will be full list of riders and other content that’ll be updated every day so you can dip in and out during the next few weeks.

VeloNews: Veteran French cyclist Jeannie Longo’s dream of competing in the London Olympics faded on Thursday as she lost her national women’s time-trial title to Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.

Heidi Swift: "A few weeks ago Kym Fant and I were exchanging frustrated texts about training hours and training problems and time constraints and stress. And then she sent this and restored perspective to us both: 'France will be rad. Ride, eat, sleep and laugh is all I want to do!'"

VeloNews: Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal of Canada will spearhead the nine-man Garmin-Barracuda team during the Tour de France, which gets under way June 30 in Liège, Belgium.

road.cc: Emphasis on GC not green jersey in squad including the men who helped Wiggins retain his Dauphiné title.

PEZ: "Craig Lewis (Champion System) is no stranger to bad crashes; in 2004, whilst riding for TIAA-CREF in the Tour of Georgia, he was hit by a motor vehicle – breaking 47 bones. Last season, on stage 19 of the Giro, he and HTC team mate Marco Pinotti were involved in a bad crash and were rushed to hospital. Ed Hood recently caught up with the Boulder, Colorado resident after a stage win at the Tour de Beauce."

Cyclismas: "The Dubliner is back home to plug his new autobiography, Born to Ride (Yellow Jersey Press), and I’ve been squeezed in for a twenty-minute interview in between TV and radio appearances."

BicycleRetailer: Clif Bar & Company is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and while the company now sells products through a wide variety of retailers, several of its limited edition celebratory products will be sold exclusively through natural grocers and specialty retailers.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Weight reflects bargain price but this is a secure, comfy and well thought-out bar."

Bicycling: Road tubeless wheels and tires let you ride lower pressure—for better traction and more comfort—without worrying as much about flats. These seven sets can transform your ride.

VeloNation: Omega Pharma Quick Step manager confirms 2012 Tour lineup, evaluates riders.

CycleSport: There’s no other bike race like the Tour de France. Nothing compares to it. The Tour is the biggest, fastest, most important and best race in the world: it’s an event that both defines and transcends cycling.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
Tour de Suisse - June 9-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Serbie - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Nature Valley Grand Prix - June13-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Beauce - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Giro Ciclistico d'Italia - June 8-17 (Stages & results),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

Robert Millar: We've been used to hearing about the marginal gains from Team Sky but that doesn't explain the big step forward in Bradley Wiggins’ performances this season. Five stage race starts three wins and a second is more than impressive because they have all been important rendezvous and the apparent ease with which Sky have controlled everything has added to their confidence.

VeloNation: Two-time World champion aiming for Olympic gold after a strange day in the Italian championships.

BikeRumor: For 2013, Cannondale’s SuperSix EVO line expands with a new standard modulus carbon frame. The higher end HiMod frames use a full BallisTec base frame with high and super high modulus carbon wrapped at the joints to tune the ride feel. This lets them use fewer fibers for a lower weight because the BallisTec fibers are so strong.

BikeRadar verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars. "Ready to race uphill or down, the SuperSix is still a class act."

Ally Stacher: "For the 2012 year our team Specialized  Lululemon has taken on the task to raise money for Right to Play (RTP). Its a charitable organization that was created by professional athletes to help proverty stricken youths by the introduction of sport. RTP uses sport to promote a healthier and safer world."

BikeRadar: Who are the figures that have written themselves into the record books of this most emblematic of events? Who’s the fastest winner? The oldest winner? The youngest winner? Which country has basked in yellow more than any other? Who’s the climber that stands head and shoulders above all the other?

CyclingNews: Ramirez steps into race lead.

VeloNation: The Dane breaks down the different responsibilities of the riders.

SBS: Schleck had appeared a strong candidate to stand up for RadioShack-Nissan in the Tour de France after finishing second overall at the Tour de Suisse. In May, he was third overall at the Tour de Luxembourg and has been one of the most consistent riders for the team this year.

Joe Dombrowski: "It was really satisfying. In the past couple years, I have finished on the podium in a number of stage races, but this was my first GC win. Winning a GC this year was a goal I set in this past off-season and it felt really good to execute. I have to say, I also found it gratifying to deliver results when my teammates and director put so much faith in me and sacrificed so much."

Seventh TT championship win for RadioShack Nissan rider.

VeloNews: Grown out of necessity, the 80 percent rule, a suggestion to keep oneself under control when at any sort of press event, and has been popularized amongst English-language tech writers to the point where a ride on a new product rarely heads out without at least one mention, someone piping up in warning.

VeloNation: Standings updated prior to start of Tour de France.

Helen Wyman: "Here I am, once again, sitting in my ‘office’ for the weekend thinking how busy I have been of late. You’d think being a cyclo-cross rider that I should disappear for the summer with training only to return for the first week of September. As much as I love this idea my coach has others. So, I’ve been back racing with narrower tires, better brakes and many more riders to contend with."

Peloton: The battle for aero, once the domain of the time trial, has been raging in the peloton for the last few years. Wheels, frames, positions and even apparel have all been re-examined and re-imagined to shave precious grams of drag. Road helmets have not been immune.

Bicycling: "In 2010, we awarded Guru’s Photon our Editors’ Choice award for best dream road bike. Originally offered only in custom geometry and paint, the Photon, along with four other Guru models, is now available in the company’s “Fast Forward” program."

SBS: The issues of a troubling week for professional cycling.

RedKitePrayer: A large format photographic history of some landmark competition bicycles. Beautiful images of thirty-four racing bicycles ranging from 1880 to 1994.

VeloNation: Three more Italians accused of working with Michele Ferrari as heat increases for doctor.

CyclingNews: Filippo Pozzato has admitted working with Dr. Michele Ferrari from 2005 to 2009 but claimed that he consulted with the notorious doctor only to obtain training programs and advice on nutrition, according to a report in Gazzetta dello Sport.

InnerRing: Altitude training has long been a fixture for endurance athletes. It has been common for riders to head for the mountains for some time. As well as familiarising themselves with the local passes and working on the pedal stroke riders are also subject to hypoxia or oxygen deprivation, triggering a set of responses in the body.

CyclingNews: Bart De Clercq rode out the Tour de Suisse with a collapsed lung, and is now in hospital for several days. Despite the pain, the Lotto-Belisol rider managed to finish 12th on the final stage and 14th overall.

RedKitePrayer: "I’m in Park City, Utah, attending Press Camp, an event organized by Lifeboat Events. One of the partners in Lifeboat Events is Lance Camisasca, the former director of the Interbike trade show. Press Camp is a trade event for bike companies to get serious face time with the media. Sessions are broken into 45-minute blocks, of which I routinely ran over."

BikeRumor: “We wanted to build a ti bike that could go toe to toe with any crit bike out there,” said Josh Novis, Guru’s sales rep. “The Praemio R frame features make it stiff enough to crank on but with the compliant ride that ti is known for.”

CyclingWeekly: "With who they have and who they like to take I don't see a spot for myself. Goss already pre-qualified with the worlds and I think (Simon) Gerrans has shown he is probably the strongest."

BikeRumor: Their new SiSL2 cranksets are 100% CNC machined in a clamshell design that’s bonded together. The spindle has been machined down more, too, which also made it stiffer. This model has additional machining to save weight, and the remaining material was move around inside the arms to improve the strength. So, these are both lighter and stiffer.

VeloNation: Danish rider seeking further compensation for 2007 Tour de France dismissal.

CyclingFans: The 2012 Halle-Ingooigem (Belgium) will be shown LIVE Wednesday.  The race is scheduled to start at 12:30pm CET and finish at around 5:00pm CET.  There will once again be live video streaming for this event, starting at around 3:00pm CET (9am U.S. Eastern).

BikeRadar: Who are the figures that have written themselves into the record books of this most emblematic of events? Who’s the fastest winner? The oldest winner? The youngest winner? Which country has basked in yellow more than any other? Who’s the climber that stands head and shoulders above all the other?

CyclingNews: Ramirez steps into race lead.

VeloNation: The Dane breaks down the different responsibilities of the riders.

SBS: Schleck had appeared a strong candidate to stand up for RadioShack-Nissan in the Tour de France after finishing second overall at the Tour de Suisse. In May, he was third overall at the Tour de Luxembourg and has been one of the most consistent riders for the team this year.

VeloNews: German sprinter Marcel Kittel said Tuesday he was relishing the prospect of his upcoming battle with Briton Mark Cavendish (Sky) in the Tour de France.

TwistedSpoke: UCI dope testers beware: Mr. Puerto is headed to France. Based on his stellar performance in the final mountain stages of the Tour de Suisse, we now have to worry about Alejandro Valverde winning a stage in le Grand Shindig.

Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
Tour de Suisse - June 9-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Serbie - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Nature Valley Grand Prix - June13-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Beauce - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Giro Ciclistico d'Italia - June 8-17 (Stages & results),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

CyclingNews: Alexandre Geniez has announced that he will leave Argos-Shimano at the end of the season after failing to make the nine-man selection for the Tour de France. With the team increasingly focused on the sprinting talent of Marcel Kittel, the French climber feels that he will have to sample pastures new in order to fulfil his considerable potential.

CyclingIQ: Is it fair to call Tour de Jakarta ‘the invisible race’? Relative to other 2012 UCI AsiaTour calendar events with a 2.2 ranking, last weekend’s 165 kilometer circuit race produced mostly weak media ripples that petered out somewhere in the Java Sea. Fortunately, a few details still lapped onto our shores.

The key to sublime shifting, says Mountain Bike pro Andreas Hestler, is finding the sweet spot.

VeloNews: The 2012 Tour de France opens with the June 30 prologue in Liège, Belgium. Among the 198 riders signing into the 99th edition of the Tour will be defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), and American Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick Step).

CyclingNews: Pozzato was called before CONI after Saturday’s edition of La Repubblica published extracts from a telephone conversation intercepted by investigators from Padova in the summer of 2009, in which he allegedly speaks of working with Ferrari.

VeloNation: Hincapie, Gilbert and Cummings part of squad.

Jens Voigt: "I’ll miss Andy, the man who went ballistic on the stage up the Galibier in last year’s Tour. We talked about that attack before the stage, and he agreed to it, knowing full well that if he failed the fans and the media would butcher him for making such a “stupid” move."

Bicycling: Sometimes the hardest part about being an athlete isn’t the training. It’s the not training.

CyclingWeekly: Bradley Wiggins today shrugged off the burden of being the Tour de France favourite, saying that he cannot wait to get going in the world's biggest race.

InnerRing: William “Kim” Flint was a 41-year-old electrical engineer who died in a cycling accident in the summer of 2010. It appears he was descending a road in the Oakland Hills in California, braked hard and lost control and the crash proved fatal. It’s a sad story by itself but the difference here is that Flint’s family are now suing Strava for negligence.

RedKitePrayer: For most of the past century, the Olympic Games weren’t a big deal in the cycling world. Only amateur bike racers could compete and they regarded the Games as a small stepping-stone toward the professional ranks.

Lennard Zinn: "I’m convinced that people that suggest 50-50 weight distribution over the wheels, indeed even 60-40, especially with tall riders, never actually measured the weight distribution of a properly set up rider."

CyclingNews: The standings of USA Cycling's National Racing Calendar shifted after the Nature Valley Grand Prix, with Optum Pro Cycling's Carmen Small forming a commanding lead in the women's individual rankings after her overall victory there.

VeloNews: These robust wheels are designed for the rigors of larger riders, cyclocross, rough roads, even trekking. To handle those conditions, American Classic uses 32 double-butted spokes both front and rear.

VeloNation: American rider successful in push for selection.

Outside: The case against the case against the case against Lance Armstrong.

BikeRumor: Their new SiSL2 cranksets are 100% CNC machined in a clamshell design that’s bonded together. The spindle has been machined down more, too, which also made it stiffer. This model has additional machining to save weight, and the remaining material was move around inside the arms to improve the strength. So, these are both lighter and stiffer.

VeloNation: Danish rider seeking further compensation for 2007 Tour de France dismissal.

VeloNation: Fuglsang unhappy with non-selection for RadioShack’s Tour de France squad.

PodiumCafe: "Yesterday Rabobank announced their Tour de France startlist, and it made my eyeballs pop out of my head."

VeloNation: Former runner-up joins forces with Oscar Freire on solid Katusha selection.

PEZ: With the Tour de France less than two weeks away, what better way to get primed for the Grand Boucle than a look back at the best edition? Richard Moore says that the 1986 Tour de France was the greatest in history, an epic battle between Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault - and they were both on the same team!

road.cc: Expensive, but a sound investment in versatile eye comfort for years to come.

BicycleRetailer: Lifeboat Events' PressCamp got underway Monday night here. About 30 journalists are meeting with about the same number of brands, checking out new products and testing them on local trails and roads.

BikeRadar: ENVE Composites are swimming upstream – and quickly, as BikeRadar found out when we got a behind-the-scenes look at their Ogden factory.

BikeEurope: BMW is about the last in the line of car makers presenting an electric bike. The reason why it took the Bavarian car maker so long could be in the fact that, contrary to others, BMW is integrating its folding e-bike concept neatly in its e-car concept.

VeloNews: The 2012 Tour de France opens with the June 30 prologue in Liège, Belgium. Among the 198 riders signing into the 99th edition of the Tour will be defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), and American Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick Step). But former green jersey winner Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma) and double 2011 stage winner Thor Hushovd (BMC) won’t take part.

Tour de Suisse - June 9-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Serbie - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Nature Valley Grand Prix - June13-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Beauce - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Giro Ciclistico d'Italia - June 8-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

CyclingNews: Having been named on the initial eight-man selection list for the men's road race at the London 2012 Olympic Games, British cyclist David Millar has admitted that he feels as if the "final handcuff" has been removed from him.

CyclingNews: Fränk Schleck has answered his critics by finishing second in the Tour de Suisse, after dropping out of the Giro d'Italia. But the RadioShack-Nissan rider doesn't necessarily expect his good form to hold out for the Tour de France, which starts in less than two weeks – and neither does his sport director.

VeloNation: Swift, Dowsett and Hunt part of five man squad.

Pedal: Rory Sutherland (Aus) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling Team claimed the overall victory on Sunday at his debut at the Tour de Beauce, but the loudest cheers were for Hugo Houle (SpiderTech p/b C10), who finished second overall and took home the Best Young Rider jersey, and Bruno Langlois (Garneau-Quebecor-Norton Rose) who won the final 125km Stage 6, Circuit urbain / Ville de St-Georges.

Sonya Looney: "I wasn’t planning to go to Germany until I got a request from CyclePassion to be in their calendar. They had asked me the year before, but I told them no because I did not approve of the theme of the 2011 calendar. I told them if the 2012 edition was different, I’d consider it."

VeloNews: André Greipel will get the support he wants going into this year’s Tour de France in an aggressive bid to dominate the sprints.

BikeRumor: The Rudy Project Windmax helmet is the latest in their line of well ventilated, comfortable “brain box” protectors. It comes equipped with 21 rather large vents improving air flow over your dome to improve evaporation and cooling.

VeloNation: American rider successful in push for selection.

Outside: The case against the case against the case against Lance Armstrong.

VeloNation: Classics king climbed off early to catch his flight home.

Amber Neben: "Wow. A two-time USA Olympian. I am humbled, honored, and excited… all at the same time. At 4pm on Friday, I received the news that I was named to the USA Olympic team in both the time trial and the road race."

CyclingNews: Johnny Hoogerland didn't rack up a single mountain point at the Tour de Suisse, but he is planning to take the polka-dot jersey at the upcoming Tour de France. The Vacansoleil-DCM rider wore that jersey for five stages at last year's Tour.

CyclingWeekly: British-based Team Sky has maintained its position as top squad in the lastest edition of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) WorldTour race rankings.

BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "The Ergoride could be the definition of a sportive bike."

IrishPeloton: The biggest stage races in the sport of cycling are the Grand Tours. Consisting of three weeks of racing, the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana are each more than twice as long as the next longest stage race at the top level of the sport. To win one of these races is the pinnacle of any cyclist’s career.

CyclingWeekly: Mark Cavendish took a landmark result on Sunday, winning the four-day Ster ZLM Toer overall - his first ever general classification victory.

Outside: After a tough week of deliberations, World Triathlon CEO Andrew Messick explains his decision to keep the seven-time Tour de France winner from competing.

InnerRing: Italy’s second newspaper La Repubblica published an article alleging that Pozzato is associated with Michele Ferrari, the infamous sports “doctor”.

CycleSport: The Tour of Switzerland is the final big test before the Tour de France, the last piece of the ‘Who’s in form?’ jigsaw. Here’s how the pieces fell.

VeloNation: Ster ZLM Toer and Giro may reflect modified approach.

CXMagazine: Katie Compton and SRAM announced today that for the 2012-2013 season, Compton will be making a return to riding on SRAM componentry. The announcement comes just in time, since the eight-time Nationals winner recently announced that in July, she’ll be taking on an early cyclocross season in New Zealand.

BikeRadar verdict: "Suggests pro-level downhill specifics for gravity fans."

road.cc: Study suggests cardiovascular stress for endurance cyclists.

BikeRadar verdict: 3 out of 5 stars. "Practical, sturdy, shaped sports bra but very expensive for underwear."

Bicycling: After years in development, French manufacturer debuts wind-cheating designs.

InnerRing: The Tour of Switzerland is arguably the fourth biggest stage race on the calendar. Prestigious, historic, challenging and at the height of the season this is an important event on the calendar. The 2012 race was won by Rui Costa (Movistar).

CyclingNews: Sunday was a good day for Team Movistar, which won both the Tour de Suisse and the Route du Sud overall classifications. The team now boasts 20 total victories for 2012, just one less than in 2011.

VeloNation: All-out attack by Schleck brought back before final climb.

VeloNation: Climbing specialist poised to become first American ever to win Baby Giro.

road.cc: Strategic Lions aim to smash record for 8-man relay.

CyclingNews: With one stage remaining at the Tour de Suisse, RadioShack – Nissan's Fränk Schleck says that he has to confidence to make up the 14 seconds required on race leader Rui Costa (Movistar) and claim overall victory.

Tour de Suisse - June 9-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Serbie - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Nature Valley Grand Prix - June13-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Beauce - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Giro Ciclistico d'Italia - June 8-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

PodiumCafe: There has been a huge amount of women's racing this week, so I thought I'd update you on the results, and some other news, and then if we find more videos, we can add them to the comments - which is where any blogs, tweets and things will go too.

BikeRumor: Hammer Nutrition has just released their first recovery bar.

For Taylor Phinney, it doesn’t get any bigger than this. USA Cycling selected the 21-year-old to ride the time trial and the road race at this summer’s London Olympics, at once confirming Phinney’s place in American cycling and representing the largest opportunity to date in his blooming career.

VeloNation: Race leader loses time but narrowly holds on to race lead.

VeloNation: American to battle to take the Maglia Rosa back.

CyclingWeekly: Mark Cavendish took a landmark result on Sunday, winning the four-day Ster ZLM Toer overall - his first ever general classification victory.

road.cc: Italian paper reports large secret payments.

VeloNation: Knee problem rears up again, Europcar rider won’t start French championships.

Tom Zirbel (Team Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies) regained the overall lead in the Nature Valley Grand Prix on Saturday as fellow breakaway Alejandro Borrajo (Jamis-Sutter Home) won the penultimate stage, the Menomonie Road Race in Wisconsin.

CyclingWeekly: Jens Voigt tweeted in awe of Mark Cavendish as the British sprinter put in a stunning performance on stage three to retain his ZLM Toer leader's jersey.

road.cc: It's going to take some perseverance, but for a solid, well made leather saddle £40 is an absolute bargain.

PodiumInsight: M any expressed surprise in the USA Cycling men’s team selection for the road events for the Olympic Games, with a few names missing. Today, they issued a statement.

CyclingNews: Luis Garcia del Moral, one of the doctors named in the USADA doping investigation, has denied all the charges, saying he has never been involved with performance-enhancing drugs.

TwistedSpoke: When Garmin-Barracuda’s Ryder Hesjedal won the Giro d’Italia, one of the first reactions here at Twisted Spoke was “Those bozos at Big Mat sure blew it.”

InnerRing: The Tour of Switzerland is arguably the fourth biggest stage race on the calendar. Prestigious, historic, challenging and at the height of the season this is an important event on the calendar. The 2012 race was won by Rui Costa (Movistar).

CyclingNews: Sunday was a good day for Team Movistar, which won both the Tour de Suisse and the Route du Sud overall classifications. The team now boasts 20 total victories for 2012, just one less than in 2011.

Peloton: There will be a collection of notes for you today from the Magic Marker and crayon stick figure artists in your life.  They will all have a similar tone and they will all be perfect.

CyclingNews: Filippo Pozzato’s lawyer has denied that the Farnese Vini-Selle Italia rider is under investigation as part of the Padova-based inquiry into the activities of Dr. Michele Ferrari, following a report published in Italy this weekend.

Shane Archbold. The young track racer, currently racing and winning on the Belgian kermis circuit, has an eye on the newly included omnium event and looks to be a solid contender for the multi-discipline event.

road.cc: Smell-free shirt, solar power in a bag for all your gizmos, new Cyclo touring frame, carpet protectors for your hallway...

CyclingNews: Gazzetta dello Sport reports that investigators in Italy have uncovered a payment of $465,000 made by Lance Armstrong to Dr. Michele Ferrari in 2006. The news comes after the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) formally charged Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel, Michele Ferrari and three other trainers with links to the US Postal Team with doping on Wednesday.

road.cc: Johan Bruyneel's position under threat as team owner issues statement.

VeloNation: Italian breaks away with Brajkovic and nips him on the line.

CyclingFans: Sunday's Tour de Suisse Stage 9 departs Näfels-Lintharena at 11:19am CET (5:19am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Sörenberg at around 5:15pm CET (11:15am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de Suisse live streaming video should get underway at around 2:50pm CET (8:50am U.S. Eastern).

For Taylor Phinney, it doesn’t get any bigger than this. USA Cycling selected the 21-year-old to ride the time trial and the road race at this summer’s London Olympics, at once confirming Phinney’s place in American cycling and representing the largest opportunity to date in his blooming career.

VeloNation: Race leader loses time but narrowly holds on to race lead.

VeloNation: American to battle to take the Maglia Rosa back.

Tour de Suisse - June 9-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Serbie - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Nature Valley Grand Prix - June13-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Beauce - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Giro Ciclistico d'Italia - June 8-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

CyclingNews: Jelly Belly's Brad Huff got redemption for coming just short of the stage 2 win in St. Paul by out-sprinting the field at the stage 4 Uptown Minneapolis criterium of the Nature Valley Grand Prix Friday. Theresa Cliff-Ryan (ExergyTWENTY12) notched her second stage win of the tour with another sprint victory, while Both Carmen Small (Optum Pro Cycling-Kelly Benefit Strategies) and John Murphy (Kenda/5-Hour Energy) held onto their leaders' jerseys for Saturday's Menomonie Road Race.

VeloNation: Bruyneel’s future with the team appears to be under question.

VeloNews: Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana) won the stage 7 individual time trial at the Tour de Suisse on Friday. Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) was second, at two seconds, while his teammate Maxime Monfort was third, 20 seconds adrift.

VeloNation: USADA had said anonymity was used due to previous coercion and intimidation.

PodiumInsight: Many expressed surprise in the USA Cycling men’s team selection for the road events for the Olympic Games, with a few names missing. Today, they issued a statement.

CyclingNews: Luis Garcia del Moral, one of the doctors named in the USADA doping investigation, has denied all the charges, saying he has never been involved with performance-enhancing drugs.

TwistedSpoke: When Garmin-Barracuda’s Ryder Hesjedal won the Giro d’Italia, one of the first reactions here at Twisted Spoke was “Those bozos at Big Mat sure blew it.”

CyclingNews: "Dear @usantidoping - we have now sent you THREE letters requesting all the relevant info in order for me to respond to your 'review board'," the seven-time Tour de France winner wrote on his twitter feed.

VeloNation: British Sky rider retains overall lead.

BikeRadar: Tuscany gets a lot of press and attention as a cycling paradise, and rightly so. It has a special something that makes people go back year after year. But it's hardly off the beaten track. There's another cycling haven that you should know about – one that the masses haven't found yet. It's the Croatian province of Istria.

SBS: The Tour de France roll of honour risks being turned on its head should seven-time winner Lance Armstrong be proved guilty of cheating.

Bicycling: On Friday about noon Horner told Bicycling in an email that, after talking to his team boss, Johan Bruyneel, there was a chance that he still might ride the Tour. That comes after team leader Andy Schleck announced on Tuesday that he would not be able to race because of broken bones suffered in last week’s Critérium du Dauphiné.

CyclingNews: Gazzetta dello Sport reports that investigators in Italy have uncovered a payment of $465,000 made by Lance Armstrong to Dr. Michele Ferrari in 2006. The news comes after the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) formally charged Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel, Michele Ferrari and three other trainers with links to the US Postal Team with doping on Wednesday.

road.cc: Johan Bruyneel's position under threat as team owner issues statement.

VeloNation: Italian breaks away with Brajkovic and nips him on the line.

VeloNews: Taylor Phinney walks in with coffees. Nearby, his father, Davis, puts air in Evelyn Stevens’ tires. Christian Vande Velde is changing (“Don’t mind me,” he says) and Dave Zabriskie mills about.

VeloNation: South African back to winning with Australian WorldTour team.

PodiumCafe: There were no riders who met the automatic qualifying standard. The committee selected sprinter Tyler Farrar, Chris Horner, U.S. national road race champion Timothy Duggan, Tejay van Garderen, and Taylor Phinney. Phinney will ride the time trial for the United States.

CyclingFans: Saturday's Tour de Suisse Stage 8 departs Bischofszell at 1:12pm CET (7:12am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Arosa at around 5:15pm CET (11:15am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de Suisse live streaming video should get underway at around 3:45pm CET (9:45am U.S. Eastern).

VeloNation: Bruyneel’s future with the team appears to be under question.

VeloNews: Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana) won the stage 7 individual time trial at the Tour de Suisse on Friday. Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) was second, at two seconds, while his teammate Maxime Monfort was third, 20 seconds adrift.

VeloNation: USADA had said anonymity was used due to previous coercion and intimidation.

Tour de Suisse - June 9-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Serbie - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Nature Valley Grand Prix - June13-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de Beauce - June 12-17 (Stages & results),
Vuelta a Colombia - June 12-24 (Stages & results),
Giro Ciclistico d'Italia - June 8-17 (Stages & results),
Tour de France - June 30 - July 22 (Stages),
2012 Olympic Games - July 28 - August 12 (Races),
Vuelta a España - August 18 - September 9 (Stages),
More...

VeloNews: The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s allegations against Lance Armstrong could influence the composition of the U.S. squad selected to race during the London Olympics, sources tell VeloNews. USA Cycling is to announce its Olympic team on Friday.

EuroSport: World road race champion Mark Cavendish took the leader’s jersey despite being pipped by German sprinter Andre Greipel in the second stage of the Ster ZLM Toer on Friday.

VeloNation: South African takes second win of the season ahead of Ponzi, Ulissi.

CyclingNews: For the second time in three years promoters and officials had to cancel the Cannon Falls Road Race stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix because of extreme weather conditions.

SBS: The Tour de France roll of honour risks being turned on its head should seven-time winner Lance Armstrong be proved guilty of cheating.

Bicycling: On Friday about noon Horner told Bicycling in an email that, after talking to his team boss, Johan Bruyneel, there was a chance that he still might ride the Tour. That comes after team leader Andy Schleck announced on Tuesday that he would not be able to race because of broken bones suffered in last week’s Critérium du Dauphiné.

SBS: Lance Armstrong's lawyers have already started to challenge the new doping charges against him even as sponsors vow to stand behind the seven-time Tour de France cycling champion.

VeloNation: Riders’ agent said to be making enquiries elsewhere.

CyclingTips: "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? The same analogy can be used with bike racing."

VeloNews: By its own admission, Mavic is fashionably late to the aero wheel party. They showed up a decade ago before the chips and dip had even been set out, fled in embarrassment, and have now returned to join a party that’s in full swing.

VeloNation: Proposed new anti-doping system to be further discussed in September.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Decently priced and effective but won't make much difference on shorter rides."

BikeRadar verdict: 5 out of 5 stars. "Corrected vision for bespectacled cyclists, at last."

PodiumCafe: There were no riders who met the automatic qualifying standard. The committee selected sprinter Tyler Farrar, Chris Horner, U.S. national road race champion Timothy Duggan, Tejay van Garderen, and Taylor Phinney. Phinney will ride the time trial for the United States.

Peloton: It’s much too soon to predict the outcome of USADA’s actions, but they have already had a wide impact. The European press, led by French newspaper L’Équipe, has concluded that Armstrong, Bruyneel and their colleagues will be found guilty of running a doping conspiracy, using headlines such as “Caught by his Shadow” and “The Fall of the House of Bruyneel.”

InnerRing: There are still unexploded bombs from World War Two. Every now and then one is discovered buried deep in the ground, often during construction work. Residents are evacuated, a security cordon is put in place, a military bomb squad arrives to defuse the defunct device and within a day or two construction work resumes.

VeloNews: Andy Schleck will skip the Tour de France this year due to a pelvis fracture, but just over a week ago, at the start of the Critérium du Dauphiné he was considered a favorite.

"After restoring a classic Colnago Mexico, several readers asked us for help in starting their own old bike projects. Due to the popularity of vintage racing events like the Eroica and other new ones popping up, prices for old bikes are on the rise. Fear not. PEZ's Mr. CheapOh comes to the rescue with lots-o-tips for finding a reasonable ride."

BikeRumor: "We went ahead and crammed ENVE’s new 650B All Mountain wheelset into the frame with some of Pacenti’s smallest treads. The result? A very promising mod that’s got two of our riders completely stoked on the middle child wheel size!"

Shimano says their new Saint group is “pure gravity” and that it’s evolved from its focus on freeride strength to be more useful to racers as well. That means it’s lighter and more refined, but without original freeride-style options such as a double crankset.

BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "Improves on a bike that was one of the best anyway. Fast and furious fun."

BrowneEye: "The Washington Post article, just three paragraphs in, states that USADA has collected blood samples, “fully consistent with blood manipulation including EPO use and/or blood transfusions” from 2009 and 2010. That’s very recent. I wonder if the people who want to “let it go” are in a state of denial, didn’t really read the article or read it and ignored a fact that ruined their version of their Armstrong reality?"

CyclingFans: Friday's Tour de Suisse Stage 7, a 34.3km Individual Time Trial at Gossau gets underway with the departure of the first rider at 1:44pm CET (7:44am U.S. Eastern).  Start Order and Times here.  Tour de Suisse live streaming video should get underway at around 3:45pm CET (9:45am U.S. Eastern).

CyclingNews: Former teammate stands by former Tour winner in USADA case.

VeloNation: Italian wins crash-strewn stage as the peloton splits on the final climb.

VeloNation: German wunderkind beats Renshaw and Cavendish in Dutch stage race opener.

PodiumInsight: Peter Sagan, of the Liquigas-Cannondale team, has been winning a lot and by a lot, I mean five stages at the Amgen Tour of California and four, so far, at the Tour de Suisse. The young Slovakian rider is fast, very fast, and also shows off different victory salutes.

CyclingNews: Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) continued his dominance in the Tour de Suisse, coming from behind to win the sprint of the sixth stage in Bischofszell. In the last few meters he caught and passed Ben Swift (Sky) who finished second, with Allan Davis of Orica-GreenEdge finishing third.