All Content
Rock Racing’s David Vitoria wins his second stage in Mexico, while Jackson Rodriguez displaces teammate Simoni atop the GC.
Rock Racing’s David Vitoria rode to his second straight stage win and donned the King of the Mountains jersey Thursday following the fifth stage of the Vuelta Mexico Telmex. Meanwhile Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) took over the overall leadership of the race, displacing his teammate Gilberto Simoni.
Schumacher ban made global
German cyclist Stefan Schumacher was on Friday banned from racing anywhere in the world by the sport's governing body, the UCI. Schumacher was suspended by French anti-doping agency AFLD from racing in France last month after failing an anti-doping test at the 2008 Tour de France. That penalty, however, has now been extended beyond France's borders. The 27-year-old, sacked from the now defunct Gerolsteiner team, tested positive for banned blood booster CERA, a modern variant of EPO once thought to be undetectable.
Contador favorite in hilly Paris-Nice
Most observers expect Alberto Contador to ride away with the victory at the 67th Paris-Nice, which begins Sunday with a time trial in Amilly. The Spanish climber, who won Paris-Nice as part of his breakout 2007 season, is the five-star favorite following his victory at the Volta ao Algarve to start his season last month. But expectations aside, the eight-day “Race to the Sun” is known to deliver a surprise or two in what’s the season’s first major stage race. There will be plenty of challengers nipping at Astana’s heels among the 20-team field.
Monte Paschi Eroica: Hesjedal likes the ‘strade bianche’
Ryder Hesjedal almost rode away with last year’s Monte Paschi Eroica, the new but already wildly popular semi-classic over the dirt roads of Tuscany. The 28-year-old Canadian attacked out of a leading breakaway and was only caught with less than 10km from the line by eventual winner Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) and runner-up Alessandro Ballan (Lampre). Hesjedal will be back with a strong Garmin-Slipstream team to tackle the 190km course littered with dusty sectors of the famous “strade bianche” – or white roads.
CAS: No Paris-Nice for Fuji-Servetto
Fuji-Servetto will be heading to Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo, but not Paris-Nice. That’s what the Court of Arbitration in Sport ruled Friday in an interim decision that the Spain-based team will be allowed to start the two upcoming Italian races, but stopped short of allowing the team to race at Paris-Nice, slated to start Sunday. Fuji-Servetto is the new name for the troubled Saunier Duval team that last year saw two of its star riders – Riccardo Riccò and Leonardo Piepoli – to test positive for the banned blood booster CERA.
Henderson takes weather-shortened stage at Murcia
Heavy winds wreaked havoc in Thursday’s second stage at the Vuelta a Murcia in Spain, prompting officials to cut the distance and then halt the race due to blustery weather. Dangerous winds topping 80kph before the race started prompted race organizers to trim the distance by nearly 75km and eliminate the day’s main obstacle at the Cat. 1 Alto de San Juan.
Stage 2: Las Torres de Cotillas to Caravaca
Headwinds
Check out CyclingTips's author page.
More from the NAHBS
Several show-goers were surprised to see a De Rosa booth at NAHBS, placed within sight of trendy urban single-speeds and wild one-off full suspension mountain bikes. The De Rosa bikes on display cut a uniquely classic image compared to some of the exotic and experimental show bikes. Here’s a look at both ends of the spectrum: the handcrafted De Rosas, backed by years of history and family tradition; and some one-off show bikes not found anywhere else.
The Tour of Missouri releases a preliminary team list for 2009: Cervelo, Garmin, Liquigas and Columbia.
The Tour of Missouri on Thursday released a short list of teams confirmed for the 2009 event, which will be held September 7-13. Garmin-Slipstream, Columbia-High Road, Liquigas and Cervelo TestTeam are confirmed for the race. Team rosters will be announced in August. While Garmin, Liquigas and Columbia have competed at the race prior years, this would be the first appearance by Cervelo.
World road champ Alessandro Ballan says he’s looking forward to Milan-San Remo and the Giro.
World champion Alessandro Ballan said he would be focusing on the Milan-San Remo and northern classics in the early part of this season. The Italian also said he was looking forward to competing in May's Giro d'Italia wearing the rainbow jersey. The 29-year-old Lampre rider has never won the prestigious Milan-San Remo race but came eighth in 2006. "I feel good, it's been a tough winter but I've worked hard with my team," he said.
Joe Friel updates the bestselling training book for serious cyclists
The Cyclist's Training Bible Includes the Latest Advances in Training
Ivan Dominguez is taking his new U.S. passport to Europe this season.
Though he still might carry the nickname "The Cuban Missile," Ivan Dominguez is now a U.S. citizen. As of February 26th, Dominguez no longer needs to worry about a green card or complicated travel with his old Cuban passport. It's been a happening year for the 32-year old from Cuba. With his former team, Toyota-United, permanently closing its curtains, and an uncertain relationship with Rock Racing, Dominguez finally found his way onto the new Fuji-Servetto ProTour team.
The Biggest Loser – Week 8
Check out CyclingTips's author page.
Rock Racing’s David Vitoria wins Mexico’s stage 4 as Simoni retains the overall lead
Rock Racing's David Vitoria won the Vuelta Mexico Telmex's fourth stage in a solo breakaway, while Italian Gilberto Simoni retains the overall lead in the race. Vitoria, a fourth-year Swiss pro, escaped from three others — Arquimedes Lam (Tecos), Francesco Rivera (Amica Chips-Knauf) and Andrew Pinfold (OUCH-Maxxis) — on a steep climb in the closing miles to beat Lam by 20 seconds. Pinfold was third, 1:53 behind.
Basso returns after knee injury
Ivan Basso returned to racing in Wednesday’s Giro del Friuli following a knee injury that sent him packing early from the Tour of California. The Italian rider, who is back after serving a suspension for his links to the Operación Puerto doping scandal, said he was encouraged that he’s riding again without pain. “It was a hard race but it gave me some encouragement because I didn’t feel any pain in the knee,” Basso told Italian reporters after the race. “The cold didn’t help resolve my problem but things are improving and I continue to make progress.”
Ted King: ‘Champing at the bit to get back out there’
Ted King’s debut with his Cervélo TestTeam didn’t quite go according to plan, but he’s already recovering from a crash that short-circuited his season debut at the Amgen Tour of California. His teammate Thor Hushovd won stage 3, but King was forced out of the race earlier in the stage after a freak spill left him with a busted up arm. Luckily, surgery wasn’t necessary and the 6-foot-3 King is anticipating a fairly quick return to the peloton.
Boycott The Hell Ride?
Check out CyclingTips's author page.
2009 Women’s Prestige Cycling Series schedule released
Two new events mark the Series’ 6th season (Minneapolis, March 4, 2009) Organizers of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series have announced the 2009 schedule, the 6th season for this women-only calendar. New to the Series in 2009 are the Joe Martin Stage Race and the Cascade Cycling Classic. March 26-29 - Redlands Bicycle Classic May 7-10 – Joe Martin Stage Race June 10-14 - Nature Valley Grand Prix July 22-26 – Cascade Cycling Classic
Carb BOOM! Energy Chews
Price: $1.70 each Weight: 30 grams per packet Flavors: Wild Berries Web site: www.carbboom.com Carb Boom now offers all natural wild berry Energy Chews. These nutrient-rich snacks are perfect for times when an energy gel is not enough and an energy bar is too hard to chew.
Police name suspect in Zabriskie burglary
Salt Lake City Police officials have released the name and a description of a suspect in the burglary of David Zabriskie’s home. Thieves struck the home of the Garmin-Slipstream rider approximately two weeks ago, while he was competing at the Amgen Tour of California. The home was cleared of nearly everything as thieves took bicycles, personal mementos and even automobiles.
Weylandt overpowers break to win GP Samyn
Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) won the GP Samyn ahead of compatriot Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil) out of a successful breakaway in the 191km race in western Belgium. Weylandt was part of a six-man move that stayed clear late in the race. Joining him and Leukemans were Belgians Geert Omloop, Roy Sentjens and Jan Bakelants, with French rider Rèmi Cusin (Agritubel) coming across the line third. It was the first win of the season for the 24-year-old Weylandt and the eighth for Quick Step.
Brown pips Henderson in Vuelta a Murcia opener
Graeme Brown (Rabobank) took vengeance on Greg Henderson (Columbia-Highroad) on Wednesday by winning the opening stage of the Vuelta a Murcia in Spain.
Stage 1: San Pedro del Pinatar to Lorca Miercoles
Lorenzetto’s winning streak continues with victory at Giro del Friuli
Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre) continues on good form, out-kicking Grega Bole (Amica Chips) to win the Giro del Friuli Wednesday in Pordenone, Italy. It was the third win of the season for Lorenzetto, who took two stages last week at the Giro di Sardegna. Taking third in the 188km race in northeastern Italy was Manuel Belletti (Diquigiovanni) with Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) fourth out of a lead pack of about 30 riders.
The Explainer: Will the Puerto case ever end?
Dear Explainer,
I am as much of an anti-doping advocate as the next guy, but isn’t it kind of ridiculous that we’ve been suffering through the on-again-off-again cycles of Operación Puerto for more than three years now? Doesn’t cycling have a freakin’ statute of limitations?
We’ve seen Jan Ullrich driven out of the sport, Ivan Basso suspended and other riders implicated but never charged. Now we have Alejandro Valverde being charged by the Italians over something that supposedly happened in Spain.
Former Giro winner Gilberto Simoni leads the Vuelta Mexico after a stage 3 attack.
Italian Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC Disquigiovanni) attacked on the last climb to win stage 3 of the Vuelta Mexico on Tuesday and take over the yellow jersey.
Cancellara’s classics campaign in doubt
Fabian Cancellara’s classics campaign is in doubt following a shoulder injury that forced him out of today’s start of the five-day Vuelta a Murcia. The Olympic time trial champion recently crashed at his home in Switzerland during a training ride, injuring his right shoulder blade and throwing a wrench into his racing and training schedule ahead of the spring classics.
Tips On Motorpacing
Check out CyclingTips's author page.
Team Type 1 Announces Internal Anti-Doping Testing Program
Press release Team Type 1 Announces Internal Anti-Doping Testing Program Atlanta — Team Type 1 announced today that it has launched its first anti-doping testing program. The world's only professional cycling team that includes riders who have Type 1 diabetes administered blood and urine tests to its riders at training camp in Buellton, Calif., in late January. The samples were tested and analyzed by Scott Analytics Inc., an independent anti-doping test agency in Pasadena, Calif.
Fitchburg Longsjo Classic readies for 50th
Fitchburg Longsjo Classic readies for 50th An American Classic – part of the USAC National Racing Calendar Commemorating the gold anniversary for a race that should have never been is bittersweet. The 50th Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, which has become a staple for amateur and professional cyclists from around the world, is preparing for record attendance for the July 2 – 5 stage race.
2009 Nature Valley Pro Ride Schedule Grows from Three to Six Events
MINNEAPOLIS – February 23, 2009 – The Nature Valley Pro Ride has announced its 2009 schedule, growing from three to six events in its second year. This unique program offers elite amateurs a chance to win a trip to the Nature Valley Grand Prix, the top ranked Pro/Am race in the country, where they’ll race on the Nature Valley Cycling Team. The Nature Valley Grand Prix, which begins June 10 in St. Paul, Minn., is the only race among the USA Grand Tours to admit amateurs and serves as an amateur’s chance to have a full professional racing experience.
New tandem racing Web site launched
NWTandemRacing.com Reminds You That Tandem Racing is BIG in Oregon nwtandemracing.com The Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA.org) has more races that cater to tandems than almost any part of the US. But with all of the new tandem races that have been popping up it's been a real challenge to get the word out in advance. In January 2009, NWTandemRacing.com was launched to help give a meeting place for all of these tandem opportunities.
Mars Hill College Cycling Team presentsbike film fundraiser Thursday night
Mars Hill College Cycling Team "A Cinematic Celebration of the Bicycle" Thursday, March 5 at 9:30pm. Fundraiser Films include: Klunkerz: A Billy Savage film chronicling the birth of mountain biking. Set in Northern California's Marin County, the film follows the free-wheeling pioneers of the sport and their make-shift bikes known as "klunkerz" as they lay the foundation for today's mountain biking scene. 95min. www.klunkerz.com www.vasentertainment.com Chris Hoy: Just a Minute: A BBC film that follows the Olympic and world