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Age: 28 (Ketchum, Idaho)

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Age: 25 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

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The collective gaze of professional cycling has shifted from the scenic switchbacks on l’Alpe d’Huez to the hazy skies above China’s capital city of Beijing. Over the course of the next three weeks — August 8-24 — the world will watch as the top road, track, mountain and BMX cyclists compete for 18 gold medals.

Age: 31 (Chateau-Richer, Quebec)

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Age: 32 (Boulder, Colorado)

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OAKLAND , CA — The Northern California High School Mountain Bike Racing League (NorCal League) will launch the Southern California Interscholastic Cycling League (SoCal League), in the 2009 academic year, with grant support from the Easton Sports Development Foundation II (ESDF II). The new league is based on the successful model of the NorCal League, now in its eighth year, which currently has reached a membership of over 400 high schoolers, 150 coaches, and 35 schools from within the region.

British cycling chief Dave Brailsford is confident his Olympic squad will blaze a trail to the podium in Beijing by medaling in 11 of the sport's 18 finals. The Manchester-based Performance Director of British track cycling conceded, however, they could leave some medal opportunities for their rivals. A total of 54 medals will be on offer from the 18 finals in cycling's four disciplines of road cycling, track, mountain bike and BMX in Beijing, and 30 of those medals will be won at the Laoshan velodrome.

Switzerland’s Michael Albasini will miss the Olympic Games after a crash during a training ride in Beijing on Tuesday. Albasini, who broke his collarbone, was examined in the Olympic Village clinic ahead of his return to Switzerland. The 27-year-old will not be replaced in the Swiss team for Saturday's race.

Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans arrived in China for the Olympic Games Wednesday, putting a positive spin on a knee injury which temporarily sidelined his hopes of competing in the time trial. The 31-year-old slipped and injured his knee at a Post-Tour de France party last month. Uncertainty over his injury meant Evans, who will lead Australia's medal hopes in the road race this Saturday, gave up his time trial spot to Michael Rogers - a former three-time world champion.

Price: Blocks $2, Drink $1.50 Servings per pack: Two Web site: www.clifshot.com Do you come back from your mid-summer rides with crusty white streaks all over your jersey, shorts, gloves and helmet straps?[nid:81154]

Cycling Enthusiast

Getting Ready To Race - MWCCC Regionals

Faster than your average Joe - (Cantwell and Hartley celebrate their Superweek titles)

Age: 34 (Irvine, California)

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Age: 18 (Boulder, Colorado)

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At the Leadville 100 last year, when Floyd Landis attacked on an early climb, then-four-time defending Leadville champ Dave Wiens matched the acceleration pedal stroke for pedal stroke. "For about 8 seconds," Wiens said with a laugh this week. "I realized I could stay with Floyd, but I'd never finish the race if I did." This Saturday morning when Wiens lines up beside Lance Armstrong in downtown Leadville, Colorado, for the 6:30 a.m. start, he has a similar strategy: let the Tour star ride his own race.

Italian cyclist Emanuele Sella, who won three stages at this year's Tour of Italy, has failed an International Cycling Union (UCI) drugs test, according to reports on Tuesday. Sella, who rides for the CSF team, tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) in an out-of-competition test on July 23. The 27-year-old would not be drawn into commenting on the control, telling the ANSA news agency: "I know nothing of this story. Nothing has been said to me. Nothing is true."

Minnesota’s National Sports Center Velodrome To Host Midwest Sprint Challenge, August 8-9 Men and women speedsters to compete for $2000 purse Blaine, MN (July 22, 2008) – The National Sports Center Velodrome announced today that it will host the 2008 Midwest Sprint Challenge, August 8-9 – showcasing sprint races for fans in Minnesota.

Four of us climbed into the back of the borrowed team Saturn truck, picking good spots for our lawn chairs. Once we were settled, the door was pulled shut and locked. We sat in darkness while our team captain, Steve Bauer climbed into the passenger’s seat beside Fernando, our mechanic and the driver, up in the cab. The southern air was hot and muggy and the back of the truck, filled with bikes and wheels was at first refreshingly cool in contrast to the outside air.

Racing in hot, humid conditions, worsened by pollution levels, is not the only thing worrying Spain's big favorite for the Olympic cycling road race this Saturday. Alejandro Valverde comes into the 248.5km race, said to be one of the toughest ever at an Olympics, fresh from the Tour de France where he finished ninth overall and won the opening stage. As one of the most feared all-rounders in the business, Valverde could be the man to succeed formidable Italian Paolo Bettini, the world champion for the past two years.

Australian cyclist Michael Rogers is looking forward to putting his skills back on the international stage after what has proved to be a trying year for the Columbia Team pro. Rogers crashed out of the Tour de France last year while in the virtual yellow jersey, and took months to get over his injuries. He then battled the effects of glandular fever, setting his career back further and effectively costing him a place on his team's squad for this year's Tour where his teammates won an impressive five stages.

Dear Readers,
I have received so much mail about the " tubulars vs. clinchers rolling resistance debate that I could not resist running some of the better ones. The debate may never end, but your letter sure have raised a lot of issues that I’d never considered.
Lennard

Price: $285 Weight: 535 grams Web site:www.crankbrothers.com No need to stop, to drop and roll: You can bust some serious moves on a 5-inch travel bike these days; both up and down hills. Crankbrothers’ Joplin post, a Maverick American-licensed design, offers three inches of adjustment via a handlebar-mounted remote, which allows you to get down some serious terrain. It’s intended for trail riding and Super D racing. Crankbrothers offers a two-year warranty with the Joplin.

Sam Atherton at Bromont WC 2008

Trek/VW rider Chris Eatough came from behind to win the 24 Hours of 9-Mile solo national championships in Wausau, Wisconsin, Saturday. Pua Sawicki defended her 2007 title with 18 laps, which she completed in 24 hours and 3 minutes. [nid:81316] In the men’s race, Josh Tostada led the race early on, riding 15-mile laps in under an hour. “[Tostada] really put me into difficulty, he and I were very evenly matched,” Eatough said. “But my pit crew has our routine dialed, and the new bike let me race even faster.”

Next month's Tour of Missouri will feature that kind of lineup rarely seen in the U.S., with all the top U.S.-based squads taking on European-based teams including Liquigas and Rabobank. While the teams have yet to release their complete rosters for the Sept. 9-14 event, the race organizers on Monday announced the final list of teams:

Speed. Agility. Grace. Strength. All traits that get Olympic athletes noticed and remembered. At this year’s Olympic Games though, something else will also command attention and require conversation – the athletes’ clothing. Shiny, performance enhancing compression gear takes center stage as Skins™ USA outfits numerous Team USA competitors.

Lance Armstrong is preparing diligently for the Leadville 100 mountain bike race in Colorado, training in nearby Aspen to acclimatize to the altitude. As of Monday, Armstrong had ridden parts of the 100-mile Leadville course two or three times and was doing daily road and offroad rides, said Trek spokesman Ben Coates. "Lance is in Aspen with a couple of guys, one of them is a trainer that he is working with. He looks super fit when I saw him the other day, and he seems to be taking the race very seriously," Coates said.

Adventures for the Cure: The Doc To be Screened After Rolla’s Tour of Missouri Stage 4 Finish Rolla’s Diabetes Education Fund announces that a screening of Adventures for the Cure: The Doc will be held in Castleman Hall after the Tour of Missouri Stage 4 award ceremony. Castleman Hall is located immediately behind the Stage 4 finish line and across the street from the Tour of Missouri Health and Wellness Expo. The documentary will be shown shortly after the Stage 4 awards ceremony, approximately 4:30. Admission is free and there will be door prizes.

The wait is over for CrossVegas fans looking for details about the cyclocross race that has become the highlight of the Interbike show week. CrossVegas.com has been revamped with complete information about the September 24th race in Las Vegas.