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American Olympian Mary McConneloug (Seven-Kenda) and Swiss star Ralph Naef (Multivan-Merida) won Friday’s second stage of the Sea Otter Classic pro mountain-bike race, a two-mile time trial. While warm temperatures and sunshine brought a bit of relief to the waterlogged Laguna Seca staging area, they did little to dry out the hilly, two-mile time-trial circuit around the mountain-cross and dual-slalom courses. Standing water concealed many large, muddy holes that sent even seasoned veterans tumbling into the goo. The surprise of the day came in the women’s time trial, where two-time world

Van Looy was at his peak from 1960 to '62

Boonen is following in his footsteps with 12 wins already this year

Raisin remains in a coma, though doctors say the threat to his life has passed

The CNC-machined prototype of the low-normal XTR rear derailleur

Naef stirs the soup in the time trial

The men's podium

Sauser's stylish shoe covers

A refined trigger release

A backside view of Dual Control

Another backside view

A look from the front

Looking up from below

Our tour guide, Shimano's Matt Robinson

Ride with Tom Danielson on Saturday in Littleton, ColoradoDiscovery Channel star Tom Danielson will take time out of his busyschedule ahead of defending his title at the Tour de Georgia to meet andride with lucky members of the public Saturday in Littleton, Colorado.Danielson will join a group ride of about 20-25 miles and then hostan autograph and open forum for the general public followed by a pressconference for the media.The events take place Saturday, April 8, at the Bicycle Village storeat 8100 W. Crestline Ave. near Wadsworth and Bowles.The schedule:12:00 pm - Group ride with Tom

Saul Raisin’s condition was reported as stabilized but still "very serious" on Thursday afternoon following surgery to reduce pressure on his brain from a hemorrhage early Thursday morning. The 23-year-old Crédit Agricole rider had been placed in a drug-induced coma early Thursday morning after his condition worsened overnight following a crash Tuesday in the opening stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe. The crash left him with a broken clavicle and rib, plus serious cuts and scrapes to his face. Doctors said Raisin's condition had improved after successful surgery to alleviate the

Dear Bob;Your well written article Victimof Circumstance explaining the sixelements required to prove negligence brings about an interesting a question;as cyclists we all sign a plethora of Waivers / Releases throughout theyear for just about every event we participate in whether it is a raceor ride, or joining a team. My question is if signing a release or waivercan be upheld in a situation where true negligence on behalf of the promoteror organizers can be proven? Is it really possible to "Sign Your Life Away"?Best regards,R. S.NevadaDear R.S.;To fully address your question, it is necessary

Tyler Farrar (Cofidis) won’t need surgery on his broken left collarbone and hopes to be back racing as early as May. Farrar, 21, crashed hard in a finish-line spill in Tuesday’s first stage at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France, suffering a broken collarbone and other cuts and abrasions. X-rays showed the break won’t require anything more than some quiet recuperation. "It’s not a displaced fracture, so it wasn’t that bad. At first they were thinking I needed surgery," Farrar told VeloNews on Thursday. "Other than that, I have some scrapes and bruises, but considering how it could have been,

European riders dominated the first day of racing at the 2006 Sea Otter Classic as Frenchman Jean-Christoph Peraud (Orbea) and Norway’s Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesja easily won Thursday’s super cross-country event. Held on the Laguna Seca speedway’s tarmac and on soggy double-track on the surrounding hillsides, the super-XC proved to be a sloppy kickoff to the four-stage cross-country competition. Heavy rain helped transform the course’s off-road sections into impassable quagmires midway through the women’s event. Large holes and hub-deep mud stopped racers dead in their tracks, forcing men and

Raisin at the 2005 Tour de Langkawi

Raisin made an impression at the 2005 world's

Loddo takes stage 3

Dahle soars solo to victory

Peraud wins – and keeps on going

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.Fly on the wall?Editor,I'd sure like to get DaveProuty and GerardBisceglia in a room together for a little shop talk. Jerry Laceand Ms. Lisa are not invited.Andy BohlmannColorado Springs, ColoradoWhy whine? Just turn to OLNDear Editor,Not that I am some crazy fishing fan, or disagree

Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) made a late break for the line to win Wednesday's third stage of the Vuelta a Pais Vasco and maintain his overall lead. It was his second win in a row and maintained his slender lead over compatriot Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) by less than a second. The 170km stage, from Segura to Lerin, featured six climbs, with the peloton climbing over a Cat. 2 and a Cat. 1 climb in the opening 40km. Three punchy Cat. 3s marked the final half of the course before the short but steep climbing finish into Lerin. The final 700 meters featured ramps as steep as

It was a day for the sprinters at Wednesday’s Ghent-Wevelgem, and Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) proved that Italian speedster Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) can indeed be beat in a dead-flat drag race. Of course, if you’re Hushovd, it helps if that drag race comes at the end of a gritty, 210km Belgian slugfest. Hushovd, the green jersey points winner at the 2005 Tour de France, edged out the fast-improving German David Kopp (Gerolsteiner), who took second, and Petacchi, who was third, to become the first Norwegian to win Ghent-Wevelgem in the race’s 72-year history.

Tyler Farrar (Cofidis) and Saul Raisin (Crédit Agricole) both saw all their off-season hard work go to waste in a pair of costly crashes during Tuesday’s opening stage at the Circuit de la Sarthe, leaving both of the young pros with broken clavicles that will sideline them for at least a month. Farrar was caught up in an ugly pile-up with 200 meters to go as the peloton was in full sprint, while Raisin crashed with about 2km to go; he also collected a broken rib, bruises and road rash to go along with the snapped clavicle. It means Raisin won’t be starting next month’s Giro d’Italia, while

The Massachusetts House and Senate have formed a conference committee to write a final version of the fiscal 2006 supplemental budget bill. The Major Taylor Association is advocating an item that is in the House version but not the Senate version — $205,000 for the Major Taylor memorial in Worcester, which would be the city’s first public monument honoring an African-American, highlighting Massachusetts' exemplary role in allowing the talent of the 1899 world cycling champion to flourish in spite of racism. Introduced by Rep. John Binienda and Rep. James Leary, the item is part of House

A gang of fat gray clouds loitered above Laguna Seca Raceway on Wednesday as vendors, team managers and riders prepared for Thursday’s opening of the 2006 Sea Otter Classic. Like clockwork, the skies burst at 4 p.m., pelting the saturated Central Coast hill country with yet another driving rain. Nobody was surprised. Why? Because Northern California has endured its second-wettest March since 1850. Nary a day has passed without rain for more than three weeks. The hills around Laguna Seca display a deep greenish hue overlaying a soggy, muddy base. The dirt infield sports a thick layer of mud.

Hushovd takes it at the line

Basso rockets to victory in the time trial

Medicos work on Farrar after he took a tumble at 60 kph in the finale

A perfect day for a bunch finish

Gusev and Eisel have a go

DeJongh and Vansevenant get something organized

The Vansevenant escape

It wasn't going to be Boonen's day

Milram had the firepower . . .

. . . Roesems had the guts . . .

. . . but here's how the podium shaped up

The clouds above Laguna Seca on Wednesday

Well, the good news is, if you stack it, you'll spend more at the laundry than at the ER

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 ourlast contest. Take the time to wander through that gallery and see if you agree or disagree with our choice of winner. To us, Michael W. Miller’s “Cyclocross Nationals Dec.9 2005” just proves how wonderfully goofy our sport is, especially the ‘crossers, who are at their best when the weather is at its worst. We love ‘cross and we really appreciate that photo. Congratulations Michael! Drop us a note at Rosters@InsideInc.com to work out the

Attention Sea Otter Classic Fans: Introducing the VeloNews-Sea Otter Photo Gallery Submit your photos taken at the 2006 Sea Otter Classic before April16th and enter to win prizes and have your photos published on VeloNews.com. Based around the Laguna Seca Recreation Area just inland of Monterey,California, the Sea Otter Classic is a cycling festival like noother. Every year for four days, tens of thousands of bike enthusiastsconverge on the green rolling hills like a massing two-wheeled army. Tattooedmen on burly downhill bikes wait patiently behind little girls on pinkbikes with training

Bobby Julich (CSC) didn’t take Monday’s start at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco in northern Spain after battling the flu. The veteran American won a stage here in 2004 to herald his comeback to the elite ranks of cycling. Julich fell ill after crashing out of Paris-Nice and wasn’t quite up to the task of combating the hilly Basque Country tour or its infamously bad weather. "He wasn’t quite all the way back from the flu and we felt he wasn’t ready for a race this demanding," said Team CSC sports director Kim Andersen. "This race usually also has bad weather, but it’s sunny right now! It’s

German Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner) sprinted to victory in Tuesday's first stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe, a 193km leg between Mouilleron-le-Captif and Saint-Mars-la-Jaille. Forster outkicked Italian Alberto Loddo (Selle Italia) and France's Anthony Ravard (Bouygues Telecom) to take the stage and the lead on general classification. The finale was marred by a dramatic crash on the finishing straight that took down several riders, including Americans Tyler Farrar (Cofidis) and Saul Raisin (Crédit Agricole), along with Ceramica Panaria-Navigare teammates Brett Lancaster of

Euskaltel-Euskadi is more than a professional team for the cycling-crazed Basques. The team’s distinctive orange jerseys are part of the cultural landscape of the hilly region of northern Spain and the Tour of the Basque Country is their home race. Samuel Sanchez gave local fans something to cheer about in the Vuelta al País Vasco, ending the team’s early season winless streak with a daring attack with 7km to go in Tuesday’s 155km second stage to give the team its first win of the 2006 season and snatch the leader’s jersey. "The only thing we haven’t done this year was win," Sanchez said.

Gerard Bisceglia's four-year tenure as chief executive officer of USA Cycling came to an abrupt end on Tuesday. Bisceglia said USA Cycling board president Jim Ochowicz dismissed him, but did not give him a reason. "I have no idea [why]," Bisceglia said. "No cause given." Ochowicz could not be reached by telephone. But later Tuesday, USA Cycling posted an announcement on its website that said Bisceglia had resigned and quoted Ochowicz as saying that he was responsible "for moving USA Cycling in a positive direction over the past four years." The announcement said the USA Cycling board of

Renowned sprinter Robbie McEwen (Aus) of Davitamon-Lotto, Floyd Landis (USA) of Phonak Hearing Systems, and defending champion Tom Danielson (USA) of Discovery Channel headline the field of professional cyclists competing at the 2006 Ford Tour de Georgia. Event organizers Medalist Sports announced today the eight-man rosters for each of the 15 teams, including six ProTour teams, two U.S.-based Professional Continental teams and seven Continental teams from the America Tour . "The Ford Tour de Georgia continues to attract the best professional cyclists in the world. This year race fans will

Our Tech Report on frame stiffness in VeloNews issue 5, "Flexing Their Muscles," contained two errors, one of measurement and one of protocol. We incorrectly reported the weight of the Specialized S-Works Tarmac 56cm frame. The correct weight of this frame is 989 grams, or 2.180 pounds. The suitability of the 1999 Trek OCLV frame we used for comparison purposes was called into question at the conclusion of the test. Our intention in including the Trek was to use it as a well-accepted benchmark for carbon frame performance, prior to the recent push to develop ProTour frames that weigh less

The Sea Otter Classic, the world's largest bicycling festival, welcomes an international field of pro gravity racers to compete in downhill, dual slalom and mountain cross. This multi-sport, four-day "Celebration of Cycling" begins on April 6 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey, California. The festival draws the top Olympic, pro and amateur athletes from over 30 countries for intense competition in front of audiences of 50,000+. Sea Otter's MTB Gravity OmniumPro downhill finals: Sunday, April 9, 10 a.m.The downhill (DH) course at the Sea Otter Classic is emerging from the

VeloNews Photo Gallery: A new winner, a new gallery and a special new contest

PRESS RELEASE: VeloNews extends Sea Otter Photo Contest

PRESS RELEASE: VeloNews extends Sea Otter Photo Contest

PRESS RELEASE: VeloNews extends Sea Otter Photo Contest

Forster triumphs in a crash-scarred finale

Bisceglia says he was sacked; USA Cycling says he resigned

Suspended Vuelta a España champion Roberto Heras has had an initial attempt to file civil proceedings against a two-year doping ban rejected, his lawyer Jose Maria Buxeda told AFP on Monday. The Spaniard won his fourth Vuelta last September but was later stripped of his record-breaking title after testing positive for blood-booster EPO following the penultimate stage time-trial. Buxeda said a court had rejected a bid to start civil proceedings, arguing it was "premature,” since the government-backed Spanish Committee for Sports Discipline had till the end of May to make a decision on his

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.Jens is the manEditor:To preface, I am a huge Jens Voigt fan. His positive attitudeabout his career and his life inspire me. As well as his determinationon the bike, and his humility in "knowing his role" while helping teammateswin races, even when he isn't winning them himself. For

For the 2006 season the Trek Volkswagen Racing Team will have a stable of three bikes to choose from for all their racing endeavors. Below is a breakdown of the bikes has seen at the team’s training camp in Solvang, California. Please note that due to personal preference with some components, each bike will differ slightly between the team riders. The Trek VW team bikes are expertly tuned and set up by team mechanic Zack Vestal and assistant mechanic Dave Meadows. Jeremiah Bishop’s Elite 9.9New for 2006, each rider on the Trek VW team will have an Elite 9.9 at their disposal for short track

Last week, we gave you the word regarding Shimano’s redesign of XTR; today, you get the pictures. And if you’re traveling to the Sea Otter Classic this week, you’ll be able to see the revamped components first-hand adorning the bikes ridden by Adam Craig, Walker Ferguson, Marie-Hélène Prémont, Bart Brentjens and Roel Paulissen. The new Dual Release triggers look extremely adjustable, and the WH-M975 wheelset is sure to be a competitor in the high-end-wheel game. The biggest surprise may be the new Dual Control disc lever, which appears to have a radial master cylinder like the one used by

Alejandro Valverde has been uncharacteristically quiet so far this season, winning just one stage at the Vuelta a Murcia back in March. Instead, the usually prolific Illes Balears rider has been diligently preparing for the Ardennes classics and the Tour de France, his two major goals for the first half of the 2006 season. Monday’s opening stage of the Vuelta al País Vasco presented a nice testing ground for both challenges. With a bumpy 130km four-climb stage to open hostilities in the six-day race across northern Spain’s Basque Country, including the Cat. 1 Alto de Jaizkibel – an old

How many people can find the silver lining in having cancer? Not many people are as impressive as 8-year-old Joshua Alfaro. When asked about his battle with leukemia, which is a blood cancer, Joshua is very matter-of-fact and composed. "There are some good parts and some scary parts, but in the end it all balances out," says Joshua. With jaw-dropping confidence, he even points out his "favorite parts of having cancer." He adds that if he hadn't had cancer he wouldn't have ever met so many nice people (like his favorite nurse), he wouldn't have learned to make bracelets at Camp

Bait the hook well: this fish will bite. — William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing If you didn't see Tom Boonen stomping the pommes frites out of cycling's finest during the Tour of Flanders on TV Sunday, it may be because ESPN2 was busy in Manning, South Carolina, watching Preston Clark crush the Bassmasters four-day catch record during the Santee Cooper Showdown. Clark landed 115 pounds, 15 ounces of fish during the event, eclipsing Dean Rojas's piddling mark of 108 pounds, 12 ounces, set in 2001 on Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga. And ESPN2 was there to bring us all the

Heras

Monday's Mailbag: Photos and a tragic loss

Bishop's rig

Haywood's Top Fuel

Posner's Fuel Ex 9.5

The Dual Control lever

The XTR pedal

The rear derailleur

The newest player in the high-end-wheel game

Valverde nips Freire in a photo finish

The Bassmasters version of a podium wave

Proving once again that he thrives under pressure, Belgian superstar Tom Boonen shouldered the hopes of Belgium’s cycling fans and delivered a win for the home team. With the world champion’s rainbow stripes wrapped around his chest, and a real live rainbow arching in the sky overhead, Boonen beat the odds on Sunday to become the first man to win the Tour of Flanders two times in a row since Eric Leman did it in 1972 and ’73.

Boonen repeats

Melchers-Van Poppel celebrates

Auger and Marichal in the escape