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Phinney remained aggressive all day...

.. and gets the title.

Dear Readers;Recently, S.S., an attorney in Tennessee, drove into his garage whilehis bike was still attached to his roof rack, and his insurance companyrefused to pay his claim (see "Isit my garage or my car that's at fault?"). I received several interestingresponses to that column from readers, which I shared in last week’s column(see“Garagev. Roof Rack, Part II”). That column prompted even more commentsand suggestions from readers, as well as additional insights about theinsurance industry from industry “insiders,” so this week, we’ll revisitthe case of the Garage v. Roof Rack et.

Once again, the sprinters’ teams didn’t make it at Malaysia’s Tour de Langkawi. After being 11 seconds short of catching an eight-man break on Wednesday, they fell short by seven seconds on Thursday’s 188.2km stage 7 from Muar to Kota Tinggi won by Italian journeyman Elio Aggiano of team LPR. South Africa’s David George retained the yellow jersey with three days remaining in the 10-day race.

Turin, Italy -- Olympic gold medal speedskater Chris Witty will carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony of the Turin Games. The 30-year-old Witty won gold while setting a world record in the 1,000 meters at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. She won silver and bronze medals at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. "It's an amazing team to be part of, but to lead them into the opening ceremonies, I'm thrilled and I can't imagine a bigger honor than this," Witty said. Witty, a native of Waukesha, Wis., also was in the Summer Olympics, competing in track cycling at the 2000 Sydney Games --

Roberto Heras says he will appeal the two-year racing ban Spanish racing officials handed down Wednesday, saying he will fight to defend his name and honor against charges he used the banned blood booster EPO. Heras's legal team are considering challenging the ruling both in the Court of Arbitration in Sport as well as Spanish civil court, claiming there were inconsistencies in the testing procedure that could have triggered a false positive. "It's not difficult to imagine my discomfort with this federation resolution and the truly indefensible position that I am in," Heras said in a

Heras will appeal his suspension

MT. HOOD, OR (Immediate Release) -- In just four short years theMt. Hood Cycling Classic has grown from a popular regional event to a stagerace with national implications. Having received NRC status from USA Cyclinglast year and again in 2006, the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, presented byFull Sail Brewing, will modify its format and add a new stage to the alreadygrueling competition. “Last year the event attracted 475 riders, including some of North America’sbest racers – Scott Moninger, Eric Wohlberg, Sven Tuft, and Ryan Trebon,”comments event director Chad Sperry.  “This year we will

No one had an easy day on Wednesday’s stage 6 at Le Tour de Langkawi, which resulted in a tight win for one of eight breakaway riders, Laurent Mangel of AG2R. The 24-year-old Frenchman from Burgundy attacked the break in the final kilometer and just hung on to beat the fast-closing Aussie neo-pro Gene Bates of Team LPR, with a second Frenchman, Yohann Le Boulanger of Bouygues TÈlÈcom, in third.

Wide-open Paris-Nice routeHoping to live up to its name as the "Race to the Sun," Paris-Nice organizers revealed a 2006 route that skirts the snowy Massif Central and avoids summit finishes in an attempt to avoid course closures that have plagued recent editions. Instead - with seven stages and an opening prologue - the 2006 edition will drive down the Rhone Valley in search of good weather. Organizers from the Societe du Tour de France have also removed a long time trial to ensure what they hope will be a fight right to the finish. Following recent tradition, the course will open with a

The Spanish Cycling Federation on Wednesday stripped apparent winner RobertoHeras of his 2005 Vuelta a España title and suspended him for twoyears for testing positive for EPO after the 20th-stage individual timetrial at last year’s Vuelta. The punishment, handed down by the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC),means that Heras' 2005 Vuelta title goes to Russia's Denis Menchov of Rabobank.The 31-year-old Heras failed the test for EPO after the 20th stage,an individual time trial between Guadalajara and Alcala de Henares, onSeptember 17.Heras was fired by his Liberty-Seguros team after

PRESS RELEASE - Mt. Hood Classic bigger than ever

The veil of secrecy surrounding the new domestic United Pro Cycling road team was lifted Tuesday morning with the announcement of the team’s title sponsor, Toyota Motor Sales USA, as well as its team roster, equipment sponsors and unique brand of marketing and revenue initiatives. Coming off a team training camp in Thousand Oaks, California, team owner Sean Tucker was expected to introduce the new squad at a press conference at ESPN Zone in New York City’s Times Square. City sports commissioner Ken Podziba was also expected to be on hand, to welcome the team. An appearance on ESPN2’s “Cold

Those dang stripped threadsDear Lennard,What if anything can be done when the threads of a bottom bracket shellon an aluminum insert are stripped? I have not seen the bike firsthandbut I am trying to help someone out. They say that there is not enoughmaterial to cut new threads in. I assume that a tap has been runthrough already with no success. Is there any hope? I don't knowwhich side is stripped but if it is the non-drive side I can assume itis less critical. Is there a bottom bracket that will work better in thiscase?This is an old Look carbon time trial frame.JasonDear Jason,You

Colombian rookie José Serpa, 26, was racing as an amateur two weeks ago. Now, just five days into his career as a professional with the Selle Italia-Diquigiovanni team, he has won two stages of the Tour de Langkawi — including Tuesday’s prestigious ascent to Genting Highlands. Serpa’s two stage wins have impressed the whole race entourage, including Ed Beamon, Navigators Insurance team manager, who told VeloNews that “Serpa would surely be the race favorite had he not missed the break on the first day.”

The new Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team is led by reigning USPRO champ Chris Wherry

The team recently completed it's training camp near Malibu.

Dominguez knows what his role will be.

The Bike

Co-director Harm Jansen plans another day in the saddle

Training and a little PR work in California

Cruz comes over from Discovery

Friedick comes over from the Jelly Belly squad.

Wherry

Our latest reader-submitted Photo Gallery is now up for your viewing pleasure. Of course, a new gallery also means the naming of the winner of ourmost recent contest. Take the time to wander through that gallery and see if you agree or disagree with our choice of winner. We especially liked Bart van Schendel’s “Training ride in Voss Norway,” which reminds of the pleasures of a good winter training ride, no matter how cold it is. It’s something you have to experience to appreciate… and not something the Texans, Georgians or Floridians among you will commonly agree with us

Traditionally, the infamous ascent to Genting Highlands in Malaysia — the “Alpe d’Huez of Asia” — is the decision-maker at the Tour de Langkawi, now in its 11th year. For the first time this year, the giant climb is coming in the middle of the 10-day race, rather than toward the end.

Isaac Galvez (Illes Balears) won for the second day in a row in the Mallorca Challenge a day after Oscar Freire (Rabobank) returned to action following an eight-month break from racing. Freire lined up in Sunday’s start for what was his first day in the saddle since undergoing surgery last June to remove a painful cyst that forced him out of last year’s Tour de France and the world championships in Madrid A cautious Freire skipped Monday’s second leg of the Spanish race while Galvez’ teammates did excellent work to hold off Olympic champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) in the 159km race. For

VeloNews Photo Contest: A new winner and a new gallery

Galvez repeats in Mallorca

Spring in Mallorca

American Saul Raisin (Crédit Agricole) won the third stage of the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia on Sunday. In a sprint finish South Africa's David George took second and teammate Darren Lill finished third. Raisin won the 150.6-kilometer (93.4-mile) stage in four hours three minutes and 55 seconds. Richeze, Maximiliano (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare) leads the overall standings.Results - Stage 3
1. Raisin, Saul (USA), Credit Agricole 4h03:55
2. George, David (RSA), South Africa
3. Lill, Darren (RSA), South Africa, at 17

Ceramica Panaria-Navigare finished one-two in stage 2 of the Tour de Langkawi as the race leader delivered a teammate to the line for the victory. Argentinian sprinter Ruben Bongiorno won the 164.7km stage from Tanjung Malim to Sitiawan after a leadout from countryman Maximiliano Richeze, the winner of Friday’s first stage, who took second and successfully defended his yellow jersey. Steffen Radochla (Wiesenhof) took third.

Los Angeles, (AFP) - Seven-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong and Grammy-winning rocker Sheryl Crow announced they were separating Friday five months after getting engaged. "After much thought and consideration we have made a very tough decision to split up. We both have a deep love and respect for each other and we ask that everyone respect our privacy during this very difficult time." they said in a joint statement. Together for more than two years, Armstrong, 34, and Crow, 43, announced their engagement last September two months after the Texas cyclist scored his record

A few weeks ago, at a dinner in Boulder hosted by USA Cycling, I got talking with Davis Phinney, the man with more road race wins to his credit than any other American cyclist. Davis was recalling just one of the 300-plus victories he scored in a combined amateur and pro career that extended from 1977 to 1993. The win he was most animated about came in a rather special race at Baltimore in 1983, the second annual USPRO Championship. Phinney was racing for the U.S. national team that day because UCI rules then decreed that amateur racers could only compete against pro teams when an event had

A round of applause, please, for USA Cycling, which announced last week that it had created the permanent position of director of collegiate cycling. Anyone involved in bike racing at the collegiate level in this country knows the value of collegiate clubs and racing conferences. Collegiate cycling provides an entry point into the sport; a social group for making lifelong friends and riding buddies; and a place for athletes to challenge themselves, maybe even launch into the pro ranks. I know I would not be writing this column had I not joined the cycling team at UC Santa Cruz. Another

World champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step) won the Tour of Qatar on Friday after capturing the fifth and final stage, a 151km run between Al Thakira and Doha. The Belgian rider, who also won the first three stages, sprinted to the final victory ahead of Germany's Erik Zabel (Milram), and Italy's Fabrizio Guidi (Phonak). The 25-year-old Boonen was deprived of a clean sweep this week only after Austria's Bernhard Eisel (Française des Jeux) took Thursday's fourth stage. Boonen credited the weather with an assist in what appeared to be an easy victory. "Because of the wind, which

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Equipment donations help young ridersEditor:I am from West Virginia, and am familiar with the Clay County Mountain Mudmashers (see Wednesday’s Mailbag: "West Virginia has ups and downs, but still plugging along"). And although Mr. Wayne wouldn't mention it, I will gladly toss this

A court in the east German town of Greiz on Friday fined a teenage female motorist for a crash that left Australian cyclist Amy Gillett dead and five of her teammates injured. The 19-year-old woman was fined 1440 euros and had her driving license revoked for eight months for causing the crash in July. Gillett was training with the Australian women's cycling team when the car hit her group. The rider from Ballarat, Victoria, who was 29 when she died, had taken up competitive cycling in 2000, having rowed for Australia at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Gillett was married to world champion

Argentinian neopro Maximiliano Richeze (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare) won the first stage of the Tour de Langkawi on Friday. The 23-year-old Argentinian edged Erki Putstep (Ag2r), Takeshi Miyazawa (Japan) and Steffen Radochla (Wiesenhof) in a sprint finish, claiming his first professional victory in his first race as a pro.

February 2, 2006: This week’s issue of VeloNews includes a 40-page guide for the 2006 Sea Otter Classic, to be held April 6 – 9, 2006. The Sea Otter Classic is a four-day ‘Celebration of Cycling’ welcoming enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels, from toddler to senior, recreational rider to world-class pro athlete. The festival hosts a non-stop schedule of events-- road, cross-country and gravity events for amateurs and professionals, road and mountain bike tours for non-competitive riders, and also features the world’s largest outdoor consumer bike exposition. In addition to planning

Inside Cycling with John Wilcockson: The boys from 7-Eleven and the debut of American pro road racing

Who better to approach for sponsorship than the Southland Corp?

Phinney would go on to great things wearing those 7-Eleven colors

This collegiate jersey gets an F

Kam Zardouzian on the job

Once again - Boonen wins

Escape after escape: Meschenmoser has a go

As do Krauss and Boven

Boven on the front

Phonak leads the chase

Doha provides the backdrop

Boonen atop the final podium

Gilbert Simoni was the man of the hour at Saunier Duval's posh team presentation last week in Milan. The veteran Italian already feels comfortable in his new kit, swapping his longtime home at Saeco-Lampre for Saunier Duval-Prodir for 2006. A two-time winner of the Giro d'Italia, Simoni said the change of air has already given a boost of new motivation. "The switch to another team has helped me rediscover my love of racing," Simoni said. "This is a team that will attack the race in Spanish style. It's very important to take control of the race and set the tempo." Simoni will make

Austria's Bernhard Eisel finally ended the winning streak of world champion Tom Boonen when he sprinted to victory in the fourth stage of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday. The Francaise des Jeux rider nicked Germany's Erik Zabel (Milram) and Belgian Boonen (Quick Step) at the line after the 145km run from Al Zubarah to Doha, scoring his first win of the season. Boonen, winner of the first three stages, has been unbeaten since he won his world title in September. He holds the overall race lead going into Friday's 151km final stage between Al Thakira and here with a seven-second

Simoni may start all three grand tours, but he still has his eye on a single prize.

A furious finish

Once again the bunch breaks up

This is no place for a flat

Cruising on a Thursday afternoon

Galdos and Eeckhout on the march

Veneberg and Fischer were active, too

But Zabel and Milram were not interested in any successful breaks

Neither was Phonak, which bunched at the front of the pursuit

The golden jersey even lent a hand in the pursuit

But Cancellara, riding next to Boonen, told Eisel the leader was not bulletproof

As as it turned out, he wasn't

Horner in the bunch, inching up on GC

Jan Ullrich flew to South Africa this week to escape a cold snap that's gripping most of Europe. The 1997 Tour de France champion was scheduled to train in Tuscany, but flew to Cape Town to avoid the frigid temperatures in Italy. "Currently, winter has Italy in its grip. The snowfall and the freezing cold make it impossible to train efficiently. The risk of catching a cold is much too high," Ullrich said on the T-Mobile's web page, adding he can "do a more focused and intense training under the South African sun." Ullrich, who's recently been gaining Tour-favorite endorsements

In keeping with my plan of varying things a little from the straight Q&A, I thought I’d use this week’s column to tell you about my recent visit to the USA Cycling (USAC) Bill Woodul Race Mechanics Clinic last month. Held at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs from January 12-15, the clinic offers a unique opportunity for shop mechanics wishing to be trained as race mechanics by some of the best in the country. It may also serve to open doors for participants to travel to international races and development camps in support of U.S. National Team riders. The setting under

World champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step) maintained his perfect start to the Tour of Qatar with victory in Wednesday's 160km third stage. The 25-year-old Belgian once again beat Germany's Erik Zabel (Milram) and Matti Breschel (CSC) of Denmark to add to his wins in the first two stages. Once again the stage was marked by blustery winds and an early break, as Bart Van Heule (Chocolade Jacques-T Interim), René Weissinger (Skil-Shimano) and Geert Omloop (Unibet) took off at 12km. Twenty-four kilometers later, they were joined by a counterattacking bunch of six: Chris Horner

Press ReleaseFrom: Boulder Offroad Alliance (BOA) Contact: John.daily@Colorado.eduSubject: The Boulder Night of Mountain Biking Champions, A Gala Fundraising Dinner for BOATime and Place: 7:00 PM, Friday, February 3, 2005, Historic Boulderado HotelTickets: $65 Supporter, $100 Sponsor, $150 Big Wheel; Available at Performance and Sports Garage in Boulder, Blue Sky in LongmontMaster of Ceremonies: Dave Towle, America’s Favorite Race Annoucer (Tour of Georgia, Tour of California, Boulder area races) Special Guests: Julie Furtado, former world cross country mountain bike champion; Paul

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Kids, schools and cyclingEditor:I recently read Tom Sunday's letter (see Monday’s Mailbag: "Masters can help grow sport through schools") regarding his view that cycling could expand more in the U.S. if it was introduced into more schools. I quite agree and thought you might be

Ullrich heads to Africa

Ken Whelpdale Daimo Shanks and Chip Howat (l tor) and are ready to turn you into pro' mechanics

Whelpdale keeps a tidy shop - with a bit of memorabilia to keep the place interesting

Those rings are everywhere

Specialized is supplying the team

Park Tool's Calvin Jones shows the proper technique for mounting a tubular

Boonen shows Zabel his heels for the third straight day