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A month later, and its spring in Connecticut. Very green and rainy for the Tour of Connecticut's climbs.

Bobby Julich joins Mark McCormack on one of his patented late attacks during the Wachovia Invitational in Trenton, NJ

Thousands of fans and flags welcome the peloton to Ben Franklin Parkway in the last USPRO Championship in Philadelphia.

Chris Wherry puts the hammer down and takes the last corner on his way to winning the USPRO National Championship.

With the grasses of the Great Salt Lakes' Antelope Island providing a background, Chris Baldwin wins the time trial national championship.

Stage three of the Tour de France takes the peloton through some beautiful rural scenes.

George Hincapie stalks Oscar Pereiro up the final climb of Stage 15 for the biggest win of his career.

While Johann Bruyneel takes a question during the final press conference of the 2005 Tour de France, Lance Armstrong lets his guard down for one brief second as he contemplates the end of his career.

Riders take a corner at twilight during the Charlotte Criterium.

Tina Pic and Laura Van Gilder take a corner together and go on to dominate and win the Women's criterium championship.

In one of his final races, John Lieswyn shows the determination that defined his career during the USPRO criterium championship.

One view that never gets old, but might be gone in 2006: The peloton climbing towards the summit of Taylor street and the biggest, loudest crowds in US cycling.

Saul Raisin leads the break that stayed away for more than 100 miles at the World Championships in Madrid.

Page at last month's national championship race

By now you’ve probably seen the VeloNews 2005 awards issue. If you are a subscriber, you received an issue with Tom Boonen on the cover; newsstand copies featured Lance Armstrong.If you have seen the issue, regardless of which cover it wore, then you know who and what the VN editorial staff has deemed best and worst from the past year in cycling. If you haven’t seen it yet, well, shame on you. Get on out there and pick up a copy — or better yet, do yourself a favor and start up a subscription for 2006. For everyone else, the proverbial cats are long since out of the bag: Boonen was voted our

Today was my last rest day and to be honest it was a little boring. I woke up, checked some e-mail, ate breakfast, went on a ride, showered, ate lunch, wrote my diary for VeloNews.com, got a massage, ate dinner and soon I will be off to bed. Even if only for one day, it was the life of a professional cyclist. I did help Michel clean our bikes this afternoon and it was interesting to note that he brushed diesel fuel on all the bikes as a degreaser before scrubbing them down with soap and water. Although it’s probably not the best thing for the environment or safe to use while roasting

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: The best, worst and weirdest of 2005

A must-see for cycling fans

Frazz, decked out in 2006 Health Net-Maxxis team gear before the team's riders even have it

Doctor, is there anything we can to do save this crappy episode?

So, uh, what'd you do with your winter break?

Liam Barry to the world: Yeah, I'm cuter than you.

The time-trial gods must be crazy

Two, two, two gloves in one

How much is that German in the window?

The next Paris-Roubaix winner? Naaaah ... but he did enjoy his ride

She's a fine cyclist ... a fine cyclist

Friends in Morbegno: Giuseppe and Norma Morelli

Step 1: Breakfast and coffee.

Step 2: Write my diary for VeloNews.com.

Step 3: Go for a ride.

Step 4: Clean the bikes.

Step 5: Rehydrate!

Every year about this time, we discover a curious e-mail buried deep within the quarantine folder here at VeloNews.com. Crawling with viruses, worms and other virtual cooties known to infest the less than fastidious in our dreadful digital age, it invariably is a communication from beyond the pale — to wit, a note from foaming rantist Patrick O’Grady, announcing his season-ending salute to the sport. Though relief should be but a stroke of the delete key away, O’Grady has squirreled away in various safe-deposit boxes some grainy yet regrettably saleable photographic portraits of senior Inside

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.Keep Brandon's stories comingDear VeloNews,Hey I'm really enjoying Brandon Dwight's diary entries. Keep ‘em coming.As far as the Lion of Flanders flags; it was explained to me by a Belgianfriend of mine that the flag with the red claws and tongue is the provincialflag of

It’s getting cold and white here! We woke up this morning to gray skies, a light dusting of snow and very chilly temperatures. Not to worry though because we planned to take the next couple days off in an effort to recover for the World Cup in Hooglede on New Year’s Eve. These rest days are a welcomed treat because I am definitely feeling some aches and pains as I try to keep pace with the Euro-crossers. After another lovely breakfast of muesli, yogurt, fresh fruit and hearty bread, Michel, Lyne and I got suited up in our cold weather gear for a little recovery ride through a local park.

A new stage race, La Tropicale Amissa Bongo Ondimba, will make its debut next month in Gabon, organizers announced Friday in the African nation’s capital of Libreville. The race, scheduled January 12-15, will include 15 teams comprising some 90 cyclists, according to technical director Philippe Crepel. Among those set to take the start include Française des Jeux, Jartazi, Luxembourg, Capec Kazakhstan, VC Roubaix and VC La Pomme Marseille. Eight African teams also will participate, representing Angola, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Bénin, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Sénégal and the host nation,

How come you never call me any more?

I'm da boss, I'm da boss ...

Friday's mailbag: Diaries, Flags and Belgian brew

Friday's mailbag: Diaries, Flags and Belgian brew

Cold and snowy, but beautiful, too.

The food that made Belgium famous.

Mussels, frites and beer. All we're missing is the chocolate!

Besides racing cross, this is another way to keep warm in Belgium.

This little guy goes number one 365 days a year.

I just returned from the Azencross in Loenhout and it was absolutely incredible. Plus, I actually finished without getting lapped! The course was a roller coaster of a ride that weaved in so many different directions that sometimes I forgot where I was going. There were bridges, whoop-dee-doos and so many spectators pressed against the course barriers that at times I felt like I was racing in a tunnel. If I wasn’t navigating a tricky corner, I was dodging plumes of cigarette smoke being blown in my face or empty beer cups strewn across the course. Once again, the Belgian fans did not

Jonathan Page (Liberty Seguros-Cervélo), who saw his national-championship string snapped by a stomach bug earlier in December, has found a little something to ease the pain — a podium finish on Thursday at the Noordzeecross in Middelkerke, Belgium. Page finished third, just 30 seconds behind Sven Vanthourenhout. Gerben De Knegt took the runner-up spot at 17 seconds back. It was a solid performance, considering the stomach ailment that has plagued Page since before the U.S. Cyclo-Cross National Championships December 10 in Providence, Rhode Island. "I have some kind of infection growing in

Weeeeee!

Several bridges on the Azencross course in Loehout course made it fun for riders and spectators.

U.S. U23 champion Troy Wells, throwing elbows.

There's Frishy on the front. Still fast and strong!

What the heck are those yellow flags for?

This ain't your typical recovery shake.

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.To subscribe or not to subscribeEditor;There have been several times I've wanted to write, but Mr. Kessler's comment inMonday's Mailbag irritated me enough to finally put fingers to keys.To not subscribe to a magazine because of one individual is ludicrous. It's like not

On the drive home last night from the Hoofstade World Cup a small storm front moved through that blanketed the ground with snow. I went to bed knowing that the next race was going to be a chilly one. Sure enough, today was my coldest day here, but it was nothing like the chill I felt when I nearly lost my fingers at this year’s U.S. Cyclo-cross Nationals. We didn’t have to leave Michel’s house too early this morning for today’s race in Veldegem because there was no women’s category so Lyne didn’t have a race. I forgot to mention yesterday that she had a great World Cup result that would have

Lance Armstrong takes fewer bike rides these days. He even describes himself as out of shape since retiring after his seventh consecutive Tour de France victory in July. But he remains unbeatable. Armstrong was honored Wednesday as The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth straight year. He is the only athlete to be selected by sports writers four times since the honor first was awarded in 1931. Armstrong received 30 of the 83 votes cast. Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush of Southern California was second with 23 votes, and Indianapolis Colts quarterback

Lance Armstrong takes fewer bike rides these days. He even describes himself as out of shape since retiring after his seventh consecutive Tour de France victory in July. But he remains unbeatable. Armstrong was honored Wednesday as The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth straight year. He is the only athlete to be selected by sports writers four times since the honor first was awarded in 1931. Armstrong received 30 of the 83 votes cast. Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush of Southern California was second with 23 votes, and Indianapolis Colts quarterback

My first taste of Belgium mud and, no, it doesn't taste like chicken.

Lyne Bessette makes friends with Orion.

It was below freezing and even the spectators rode to the race.

Kashi and I enjoy a warm cup of coffee at registration.

A few members of the Allez allez Zimbabwe Cyclo-cross Team, front and center.

Doing something no one else has done.

Savings options? Dear Lennard, My question is regarding CO2 inflation cartridges. Is it okay to use CO2 cartridges that are labeled for use in BB guns and paint ball guns? I have been told that they contain a small amount of oil in them and because certain oils or lubricants can sometimes breakdown rubber that I should not use them. Is this true? These CO2 cartridges are sold at your local Wal-Mart or sporting goods store and are considerably cheaper. A box of 15 or 20 usually runs around 10 dollars as opposed to three or four dollars a cartridge at you local bike shop.

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. After reviewing the beautiful collection of last week’s entries, we settled upon Marvin Dong’s “Bread Winner in Cairo,” which reminds us that what we usually regard as the key to our favorite pastime can mean much more to many around the world. Congratulations Marvin! Drop us a note at Rosters@InsideInc.com to work out

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.Boonen a worthy cyclist of the yearEditor:Kudos on your selection of Tom Boonen as cyclist of the year. With his show of force from the beginning of the season to its conclusion, Boonen showed he was the strongest. It pleased me to see Boonen's young mug prominently displayed in the

Today was the World Cup cross race in Hoofstade and it was a tough one. I was the last rider to get called to the line and one of first few to get lapped.

Bread Winner in Cairo

Do you think Sven Nys pins on his own race numbers?

The frites stand was busy all day long.

Starting at the back. Wait for me!

Fans lined every section of the course.

Look at that crowd!

Leffe Blonde. Yummy.

Please see Part 1 of this interview.“This is my favorite room in the building,” says Pat McQuaid as he takes a large key from his trouser pocket and unlocks an unmarked door in the basement level of the World Cycling Center. Unlike the rest of this sleek modern structure’s steel, glass, aluminum and concrete, the “secret” chamber is lined with rough-hewn timber and natural rock. “It’s called a carnotzet,” explains McQuaid, the recently elected ninth president of the Union Cycliste Internationale. “It’s a bylaw in this part of Switzerland that every public building must have one.” It’s a

It is Christmas evening here in Belgium and we are just about to sit down to dinner, but I thought I’d give you a quick report. On Christmas Eve, my girlfriend Heather arrived by train from London, after spending some time there with her family. It is great to have her here. Anyone who would want to travel through Belgium with her boyfriend while he is racing in the winter must be quite special, or nuts, but I think the former. We had a delicious five-course meal that had my stomach bulging at the seams, although I still managed to find some room for a few Belgian chocolates at the very end.

UCI president McQuaid: Globalizing the sport – Part 2

Pat's father Jim McQuaid (left) placing second to future Tour de France yellow jersey Shay Elliott (right) in the 1953 Irish national road championship.