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The Odin Plus rear shock gets it too

The Ronin fork with Albert Plus damping

Nice loaner

Gaggioli

Dear Monique:I recently read an article by a physiologist that indicated that consuming food in the hour before a workout was detrimental to performance. The author claimed that the insulin released in the blood as a result of eating would tend to make an athlete sluggish and discouraged. She also indicated it would cause a lower fat burn. Ultimately she recommends eating no earlier than two hours before a workout. Although I cannot speak to the science, it seems counterintuitive to me, especially for an endurance athlete. What do you think?SS Dear SS:Many endurance athletes strive to keep

A number of bicycle racers who had undergone blood and urine tests at the beginning of September as part of an inquiry into hormone trafficking were found to be doping, the Belgian daily newspaper De Morgen reported Wednesday in Brussels. According to Morgen, which quotes judicial sources, some of the cyclists allegedly took Aranesp, a sophisticated doping agent comparable with EPO. The prosecutor’s office in Courtrai, which is in charge of an investigation focusing in particular on soigneur Herman Versele, who is close to the Belgian champion Johan Museeuw, declined comment. It is "too

Dear Bob,Last week, I was riding on a local greenway trail, with a daughter in a bike trailer. The trail crossed a street at a crosswalk with a signal light. I pushed the button, waited for the light to change, and started across. A driver talking on a cell phone didn't see the red light until too late, slammed on his brakes, and bumped me over. He must have called 911, because a police car and ambulance showed up a few minutes later. My daughter wasn't hurt and I just skinned my elbow and knee. He got a ticket. But the jerk never apologized, never checked on me or my daughter, or even got

The newly discovered designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), the focus of a doping scandal in world sport, is on the list of prohibited substances, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday. The Olympic and professional sports world was shocked last month when the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency reported that a new undetectable steroid – THG – had been created that allowed athletes to pass doping tests. "Following the recent developments regarding the anabolic steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), the International Olympic Committee and the

Mark McCormack will be racing in Colavita-Bolla kit in 2004, according to the New Jersey-based squad. After closing out this season with Saturn, the Massachusetts native will headline the UCI Division 3 team during its second year in the professional ranks. McCormack recently completed the most successful season of his eight-year professional career, capturing the national champion's jersey at the Wachovia USPRO Championship and the overall title for the season-long Pro Cycling Tour. The Saturn veteran also took second place in the grueling T-Mobile International race in San Francisco and

Don't wait until Thanksgiving to contact Clear ChannelEditor:A protest ride on Thanksgiving? I don't think so. This week, Clear Channel is meeting with negotiators to possibly fund a "Share the Road" campaign. They need to hear from bicyclists today, not a month from now. John NagieckiEureka, CaliforniaJohn says concerned cyclists should check out the November 2 update at www.trirats.org. – Editor Make DJs ride a few miles in our shoesEditor:This letter was also sent to Clear Channel CEO John Hogan. I am the CEO of a software company in Bellevue, Washington. I ride my bike to work as

Can roof rack separate carbon fork and dropout?Dear Lennard,The fork dropout on my 1-inch Kestrel EMS Pro carbon fork with steel steerer (actually it's a Cannondale Slice fork made by Kestrel that came on my CAAD4) de-bonded on me. I didn't notice it until I was checking the tightness of the bike on the Yakima roof rack with the fork mount (full-length wheel tray and rear wheel stripped down). Do you think using a roof rack with the fork-mount set-up causes undo stress on the fork's dropout bonding? I notice that bikes mounted this way shake while driving down the road. I replaced the fork

Can roof rack separate carbon fork and dropout?Dear Lennard,The fork dropout on my 1-inch Kestrel EMS Pro carbon fork with steel steerer (actually it's a Cannondale Slice fork made by Kestrel that came on my CAAD4) de-bonded on me. I didn't notice it until I was checking the tightness of the bike on the Yakima roof rack with the fork mount (full-length wheel tray and rear wheel stripped down). Do you think using a roof rack with the fork-mount set-up causes undo stress on the fork's dropout bonding? I notice that bikes mounted this way shake while driving down the road. I replaced the fork

Although no official announcement has been made, directors of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team presented by Maxxis have confirmed the addition of Californian David Clinger to an impressive 2004 roster that features former Mercury teammates Chris Wherry, Scott Moninger, Brice Jones, Mike Sayers and Gord Fraser as well as 7UP teammates John Lieswyn, two-time Olympic track racer Greg Henderson, Dan Schmatz, Hayden Godfrey and Jason McCartney. Also signed with the team are Tyler Farrar, Mike Jones, 2000 cross-country junior world champion Walker Ferguson and 2003 revelation Jason Lokkesmoe. “We

Mark McCormack hopes to continue his winning ways in a new wardrobe next season

Dropout and fork leg are no longer one

Fig. 1: Forces at work

Load applied

Fig. 2: The testing rig

Fig. 3: An Alpha Q and its ripped dropout

Clinger

Clear Channel’s been good to Phoenix teamEditor:I race for a cycling team sponsored by Clear Channel in Phoenix, and they have been a great partner in junior cycling development, our club's charter commitment. Of course, since they are an $8.4 billion company, there are many divisions, and one hand rarely knows what the other is doing. We, of course, had issues with the news of the jerk jocks back East, and one of our guys did some digging. Below is an October 2 press release from Clear Channel’s G105 Radio in Raleigh, North Carolina, that pretty much explains their position. I'm certain the

The home of cycling legend Eddie Borysewicz near Ramona, California, was one of some 2400 in San Diego County destroyed by wildfires in the past week. Apparently started as a signal fire by a lost hunter near the town of Julian, the so-called Cedar fire drew no immediate response, as most local fire crews were already fighting large fires near San Bernadino. Driven by Santa Ana winds of 50-60 mph, the blaze moved rapidly west, reaching the Ramona area northeast of San Diego early in the morning of October 26. Vic Copeland, a well-known racer and a close friend of Eddie B, has been to the

Eddie B's Southern California property before the fire ...

... and afterward

Belgian Sven Nijs (Rabobank) won the second round of the Superprestige cyclo-cross series on Sunday at Sint-Michielsgestel, the Netherlands. The champion of Belgium beat countryman and world champ Bart Wellens, the runner-up at 10 seconds back. It was Nijs's 21st Superprestige victory, tying the record of compatriot Roland Liboton. Nijs and Wellens, winner of the series opener October 19 at Ruddervoorde, Belgium, are now tied for the overall series lead going into round three November 23 at Asper-Gavere, Belgium. – Copyright 2003/AFP Results from round two of the Superprestige series:1.

Healthy head needs a lidEditor:I can't stand it! I've worked in health care for over 30 years and seen all kinds of closed-head injuries – who do these fools thinks pays for all their rehab, medications and all the other care required? We do. So enough of, "It’s my life, and I'm only hurting myself." I pay for your foolishness every day. And why don't you take up smoking too? Shut up and put on your lid! Jeff Kline No helmet, no brainsEditor:I used to give all sorts of arguments on why all cyclists should wear helmets. Everyone knows these arguments and has heard them before. After

In the closing lap of Sunday’s Clif Bar/ECV Cyclo-cross race in Gloucester, Mass., round two of the Verge New England ‘Cross series, Ryan Trebon came up a couple corners and a few squirts of tubular glue short of turning in one of the most impressive set of upset wins in American cyclo-cross memory. Having won Saturday’s UCI race in Worcester, Massachusetts, Trebon (Kona East) again made the decisive break in Gloucester, storming off the front with Todd Wells (Mongoose-Hyundai) in what seemed likely to end up as a two-man sprint for the win.

The Pittsburgh-based Fort-GPOA squad pulled off a double triumph Sunday in round five of the Vergegear.com Mid-Atlantic Cyclo-Cross Championship Series, winning both elite categories in the Beacon Cross in Bridgeton, New Jersey. In the women’s race, Betsy Schauer took early command and never looked back, though Megan Render (Snow Valley) never gave up and kept charging all the way to the line. Caitlyn Tuel (Sobe/Cannondale) rode solidly to claim third and Sami Fournier (Velo Bella) took fourth. Bonnie Stoeckl (Evolution Racing) finished fifth. In the men’s contest, Fort-GPOA teammates Ryan

Alison Dunlap (Luna) and Ryan Trebon (Easton-Kona) were the best of the best on Saturday at the Central Massachusetts Cyclo-Cross to End Homelessness in Worcester. The course in the UCI Cat. 2 race was dry and very fast, with riders in the elite men’s and women’s races turning laps of about five minutes. In the women’s race, the first lap saw a group of six riders coalesce, including Dunlap, Anne Knapp (Kona), Carmen D’Aluisio and Gina Hall (Clif Bar), Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles), and Rhonda Mazza (Vanilla Bicycles-Sellwood Cycle). Constant pressure from D’Aluisio and Hall eventually

Ryan Trebon (left) and Todd Wells were working together until Trebon rolled a tire

But it would be Wells from that point on

Alison Dunlap didn't wait for help - she shot off from the gun

Mionske column simply answered a questionEditor:I am a recreational cyclist and a lawyer and I think Bob Mionske's column on helmets did exactly what it was intended to do: present a cogent legal position if someone is faced with recovering damages for an accident in which a cyclist was not wearing a helmet. What the column was not attempting to do was offer an opinion on whether common sense would dictate wearing a helmet. When your spouse, child, friend or even rival is struck and injured by a car, recovery of damages may be crucial to that person's ability to meet medical bills. "No

He’s not romantically linked to a Hollywood actress, nor does he “hang out” with international rock stars and stand-up comics. But American Tyler Hamilton took another step towards celebrity status in his own humble fashion Thursday at a fundraiser hosted at Clif Bar’s headquarters in Berkeley, California. The CSC rider - who in 2003 enjoyed his finest season yet with wins at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour of Romandie and an impressive 142km solo breakaway during the Tour de France’s stage 16 - was in town to raise funds for his newly created Tyler Hamilton Foundation, a non-profit dedicated

Colorado kids race in state MTB championship SaturdayThe fourth annual Colorado High School/Middle School State Championship mountain bike race will be held Saturday at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs. Riders ages 11-18 will converge from across the state to compete individually and as teams on a challenging short-circuit course. Registration opens at 10 a.m., with racing beginning at noon. Colorado is one of several states that have developed a regular high school state championship race. Others include California, Arizona, Tennessee, Kentucky and Maine. The race is open

How about urging all cyclists to wear helmets?Editor:In a recent column, Bob Mionske wrote: "I would urge cycling advocates to try to add no-blame clauses to their state bicycle helmet laws." How about urging cycling advocates to advocate that all cyclists, regardless of whether there are helmet laws or not, wear a helmet when they ride? It does sometimes happen, that a cyclist crashes and suffers serious injury, or even death, which could have been prevented by helmet use (ever heard of Andrei Kivilev, Bob?), without a car driver to blame it on. Even if there is another vehicle involved

The UCI has hit back at a potentially damning report by independent observers from the World Anti-Doping Agency on the anti-doping practices at this year's centenary Tour de France. WADA made a number of recommendations that would tighten the anti-doping measures already in place on the world's biggest bike race, most of which appeared in a leak to the press a month ago. On Friday, UCI chief Hein Verbruggen hit back at the report, which has appeared in full on WADA's website, saying it lacked objectivity and understanding. "On key elements the report is just not as objective as we would

A press release hit the in-box on Wednesday announcing the merger of Saturn and Prime Alliance athletes and staff to form a new professional team for 2004. According to the release, “Saturn’s decision not to renew their title sponsorship and Prime Alliance’s interest in scaling back its title sponsorship role created a mutually beneficial opportunity for both sports marketing companies. [Tom] Schuler and [Tom] Irvine continue to pursue additional companies that can utilize this partnership through title, co-title, and associate sponsorship roles. The merger of the two companies’ teams doubles

U.S. Postal’s Dave Zabriskie was in attendance, accompanied by girlfriend Randi Reich

Clif Bar founder Gary Erickson chats with sponsored rider Tyler Hamilton

Joseba Beloki, who dramatically crashed out of this year's Tour de France, is still uncertain as to whether he will join team manager Manolo Saiz at his new team. Saiz announced the name of his new team sponsor on Thursday: Liberty - a company which is part of multinational financial and insurance giant Liberty Mutual. The five-year sponsorship deal means that Saiz - one of the most experienced team managers on the international circuit - can build a team capable of challenging for major honors over the coming years. However former Festina rider Beloki - who has twice reached the podium at

Dear Bob; I know that several states have enacted laws requiring kids to wear helmets when bicycling, but do any states make adult cyclists wear helmets? T.Q.Ariz.Bob;This question came up at our weekly post-ride coffee break. If a car hits me while I'm riding my bike, and I'm not wearing a helmet, can the driver use that to blame me for my own injuries? R.L.New YorkDear T.Q and R.L., According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (

With the recent departure of Jose Antonio Hermida to the Merida squad, the Bianchi mountain bike team had a void to fill. Not anymore, though. On Thursday, the European-based team announced that it had signed Kiwi cross-country rider Kashi Leuchs for the 2004 season. This follows Leuch’s season with Maxxis-Trek, where he won his first ever Swiss Cup and was seventh at the world championships. The ’04 Bianchi team will also include reigning World Cup overall champ Julien Absalon and marathon specialist Thomas Dietsch. “I'm very excited about this opportunity,” Leuchs said in a prepared

Insurance company Liberty Seguros will succeed ONCE, as sponsor of one of Spain's leading cycling teams, director Manolo Saiz said on Wednesday. The sponsor, a division of the American insurance giant Liberty Mutual, has agreed to a five-year deal to finance the Spanish team. "Our aim is to keep the backbone of riders that made up the team to date," Saiz told reporters on Wednesday. He explained that leading riders such as Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, Isidro Nozal and Marcos Serrano had already signed up for the new team. The news of the deal is a major boost to the sport in Spain and

Dear Monique;What is whey protein and when is it used?ThanksRGDear RG;Whey protein is a popular supplement for athletes who participate in strength or resistance training and is sold as a supplement for muscle building. Cow’s milk protein consists of 20 percent whey and 80 percent casein. When cheese is produced, the liquid whey is separated from the curd or casein. Dietary protein supplements of whey are usually whey protein concentrate, which is up to 89 percent protein. Another form is whey protein isolate which contains over 90 percent protein, and which contains very little fat or

Okay, okay, I spoke too soon. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned how clever I believed myself to be by running SpinSkins tire liners in the season kick-off cyclo-cross race here in Boulder. You see, Goathead thorn season is in full swing around these parts, and many of my less fortunate competitors fell victim to their penetrating bite. Me? I was able to finish the race thanks to the lightweight Kevlar tire liners I had installed the night before under my Michelin ‘cross tires. How clever I thought I was. Fast forward to the first annual VeloCross cyclo-cross race held in and around

Dear Lennard,I have two bikes. Each bike has the same saddle and handlebar.I set up both bikes with the same measurement from saddle tip to bottombracket. Each bike has the same measurement from saddle tip to the centerof the stem/handlebar. On one bike the stem blocks the view of the fronthub. On the other the front hub falls in front of the stem. I measuredand their is a 1cm difference from bb to front hub between the bikes.Should I be concerned that I can see the front hub? Should I usea longer stem? Will this effect my handling?--Jeff Dear Jeff,Don’t sweat it. If you are happy with your

The demon known as Puncturevine

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn

Troubled star Marco Pantani could ride for Manolo Saiz’s new Stayer team next season, according to a report in the Spanish daily AS. Manuela Ronchi, Pantani’s manager and contact who helped line up Stayer to take over for departing lead sponsor ONCE, said there’s an “open door” for the Pirate to ride on next season. There’s even talk of Pantani becoming a sport director for the new team, but Ronchi insisted Pantani’s racing days aren’t over yet. “Knowing Marco, before he wants to become a sport director, he’d like to race for a team that’s not counting on the Tour organizers to make it into

Quick, name the year in which the NORBA National Series had its most stops. Well, right now there are six right answers (1989, ’90, ’93, ’95, ’97, ’98 all with seven), but if all goes according to plan next summer, the new right answer will be 2004. Following the initial series unveiling at Interbike in mid-October, VeloNews has learned that the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California will play host to the second stop of next summer’s NORBA National Series, bringing the circuit’s total to eight. That event, which will include cross-country, short track, mountain cross and dual slalom, but no

After spending most of Saturday’s Granogue Estate ‘cross race dangling in second place behind winner Todd Wells (Mongoose-Hyundai), Ryan Trebon (Kona-CCA) exacted his revenge on Sunday at the Prophecy Creek ‘Cross in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Trebon took his first elite ‘cross win in the second race of an East Coast UCI double-header, taking the win ahead of Wells. Trebon and Wells comprised half of a four-man break that went away early on the flat, fast course. Clif Bar duo Jackson Stewart and Andy Jacques-Maynes comprised the other half of the break, and looked set to take advantage of the

American Tim Johnson on Sunday completed a fairytale ending to the VicRoads Herald Sun Tour when he came from behind to overwhelm leader Luke Roberts and claim the $10,000 winner's check. Trailing by 39 seconds before the tour's final stage on the torturous Australian Open course at Buninyong, Johnson, 26, surged from the peloton to join breakaway riders Scott Moninger and Scott Guyton with four of the eight laps remaining of the 10.2km circuit. The trio then defied the bunch to bring them back, although South Australian Roberts made a couple of fruitless attempts to bridge the gap. At

I spent the road season sending reports across the ocean about a few of us Americans fighting our way through the ranks of the Belgian peloton. I am home now and I can't express how nice that feels. Euro’ road racing has the hype, the excitement and the power to humble the most flippant of riders, but U.S. cycling has its own charms that I truly missed, like racing against riders I grew up with. I didn't have that history in Belgium. It’s good to be back. Sure, like family we may not always get along, but it doesn't mean that it is not enjoyable to see each other again. So, instead of

Team CSC manager Bjarne Riis said he believes Ivan Basso has what it takes to win the Tour de France. In an interview in Monday’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, Riis said the 26-year-old is poised for greatness. “Basso will be our man for the Tour. That will be his principal goal,” said the 1996 Tour winner. Basso isn’t expected to start the Giro d’Italia and instead will focus on preparing for the Tour. With Tour stage-winner Tyler Hamilton heading to Phonak next season, Riis was anxious to find a rider with similar qualities to step in as team leader. Riis believes he’s found it in Basso. “He’s

Former national cyclo-cross champion Marc Gullickson took advantage of a sparsely attended field at Soldier Hollow, Utah, taking top honors at yet another UCI event Saturday. While the majority of the country’s top racers were contesting a pair of UCI evens on the East Coast over the weekend, Gullickson found competition in Alan Obye (Balance Bar/Devo), who got out to an early lead before Gullickson took control, eventually finishing 39 seconds ahead. Obye held on to second place ahead of Bart Gillespie (Team Biogen). The women’s field saw only three starters, with Sally Warner (Team

Defending champion Sergio Barbero (Lampre) won a desperately close three-way battle in the final lap to capture his third Japan Cup cycling road race title in Utsunomiya, Japan, on Sunday. The Italian, who also won the 151.3-kilometer (94.6 mile) race here in 1999, took charge with fellow Italian Guido Trentin and Patrik Sinkewitz of Germany in the final lap of the 14.1km course north of Tokyo. Trentin, from the French Cofidis team, spurted to the lead in the last 500 meters, but Barbero went into overdrive to snatch a narrow victory for his second title of the season in four hours, three

In another Belgian podium sweep, Sven Nijs drew first blood in the 2003-2004 World Cup with a two-centimeter sprint victory over world and defending World Cup champion Bart Wellens. Fellow Belgian Ben Berden led in the chase group, finishing this World Cup opener in Torino, Italy, ahead of Dutchman Richard Groenendaal and Belgian Sven Vanthourenhout. “I felt very good today, but I knew from the start that I must be tactically perfect and must have great luck," the new World Cup leader told VeloNews. "If I am not the winner, I could easily be 10th.” Wellens told VeloNews that he was not

CSC-turned-Phonak rider and VeloNews columnist Tyler Hamilton hasdonated an autographed team jersey to the Rotary Club in his hometown ofMarblehead Massachusetts. Hamilton, who rode to an impressive fourth-placefinish in this year's Tour de France despite a broken collarbone, has donatedthe jersey to aid the club's annual fundraiser. In order to reach morebidders, the club is now auctioning off the jersey on eBay.com.To bid, just clickhere and help the Marblehead Rotary.

It was close

Wellens had one major obstacle to overcome

Breaking up was hard to do

Gutted TTT is uselessEditor:What on earth were Leblanc and Co. thinking with these new rules for next year's team time trial? No team can lose more than 2:30 on the winning time next year? Can you think of a better way to encourage half the peloton to sandbag? Having a bad day? No problem, just turn it off and coast in! I can't possibly imagine what the organizers were thinking. Were they trying to make an already stodgy format even less interesting to watch? Is this a secret plan to hand French teams that only show up in search of stage wins an extra rest day? I'm all for this

The U.S. string of UCI-ranked cyclo-cross races swung back to the East Coast on Saturday with the Wooden Wheels Granogue ‘cross near Wilmington, Delaware. Despite a heavy morning frost that left the grassy track slick for the day’s opening races, weather conditions proved kind to elite racers, with the afternoon sun drying the course to a hard, fast surface. Held at Granogue Estate, on one of the several DuPont family estates that dot the rolling hills outside of Wilmington, the race’s tough power climbs, steep, barriered run-up, and numerous off-camber sections ensured that racers with

Lance Armstrong hinted Thursday he’ll skip June’s Dauphine Libéré race in his preparations for a run at a record sixth Tour de France victory. The week-long French race has been the Texan’s final dress rehearsal every June en route to five consecutive Tour titles, except in 2001 when he raced and won the Tour de Suisse. “I’m a little superstitious about the Dauphine,” Armstrong told the AP. “(Miguel) Indurain rode a fantastic Dauphine race there in 1996 and then lost the Tour to Bjarne Riis.” Armstrong said he will start “training for real” in December, in Austin, Texas, then join his U.S.

On Thursday, USA Cycling released its first cyclo-cross rankings of 2004, and there were no surprises at the top, with Marc Gullickson topping the elite men’s standings and Alison Dunlap heading up the elite women’s rankings. The rankings are based on results from U.S. UCI-sanctioned races. So far this year Gullickson has posted three UCI wins in the five he has contested, at the Star-Crossed in Redmond, Washington; at the Bay Area Super Prestige Series opener; and at last weekend’s Downeast Cyclo-Cross in New Gloucester, Maine. In the other two races, Gullickson finished second behind Erwin

Dear Bob, This is a strange question. We were riding in the mountains west of Denver, going uphill, when we saw a pickup coming in the opposite direction, swerving back and forth. It passed by us, then we heard the sound of brakes locking up. When I looked back, the truck was coming at us! We bailed off the bikes and up the rock banking beside the road. The truck ran over all the bikes, sideswiped the rocks, and kept going. Nobody was hurt. We called the cops on a cell phone, and gave them the truck’s tag number. The police found the guy only a few minutes later and busted him for DUI, but

World champion Igor Astarloa's doping test from the day before he won the world road race title is negative, an official source from cycling's world ruling body said Friday in Paris. The 27-year-old Spaniard was among four riders who were asked to provide urine samples the day before the men's road race at the recent world championships in Hamilton, Canada. Astarloa, compatriots Manuel Beltran and Aitor Osa, and Belgian Axel Merckx were all asked to provide the samples after having given blood samples the previous day. The Union Cycliste International (UCI) announced Friday: "All the

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced today in Montréal that it has asked all international sports federations and national anti-doping agencies to analyze stored samples for the presence of tetrahydrogestrinone (THG). "A proactive approach in this matter is crucial," said WADA director general David Howman in a letter sent to the organizations. "It not only sends a message to athletes that cheating will not be tolerated, but also reassures the general public that definite steps are being taken to stamp out the scourge of doping in sport." Some groups, including the International

The UCI Management Committee has ratified the World Cup mountain-bike calendar for 2004, and there is not a single U.S. event on the schedule. The calendar consists of seven cross-country rounds beginning May 22 in Madrid, Spain, and six downhill/four-cross rounds beginning June 5 in Fort William, Great Britain. World Cup 2004XC #1: May 22-23, Madrid, SpainXC #2: May 29-30, Houffalize, BelgiumXC #3, DH/4-X #1: June 5-6, Fort William, Great BritainDH/4-X #2: June 12-13, Sestrière, ItalyXC #4, DH/4-X #3: Schladming, AustriaXC #5, DH/4-X #4: June 26-27, Mont-Sainte-Anne, CanadaXC #6, DH/4-X

Five-time defending champion Lance Armstrong and his U.S. Postal directeur sportif Johan Bruyneel will need some very detailed maps and a big chunk of time to reconnoiter the route of next year’s Tour de France, which was announced in Paris on Thursday. New stages, new climbs, and two long individual time trials in the final five days will make this 97th Tour one of the most complicated and suspenseful in race history(see "2004 Tour: Armstrong says L'Alpe d'Huez TT pivotal"). The uphill time trial at L’Alpe d’Huez four days before the finish has attracted most of the media attention — and

You can take Sam Hill’s name off the list of mountain-bike free agents. The two-time reigning junior downhill world champion has re-upped with the Iron Horse-MadCatz squad, signing a two-year deal with the East Coast-based team. “Sam has a really bright future in the sport,” said Iron Horse’s Todd Seplavy about the 18-year-old. “We’re looking to grow the Iron Horse team and Sam together and give him a solid home. We didn’t want to see him out there looking for a new ride every year.” Hill’s signing put an end to rumors that the young Aussie might be jumping from the Iron Horse ship and

Our crystal ball isn’t broken, just foggyEditor:Is your article about the Tour route a joke? You list two TTs in the final five stages, with one of them on L'Alpe d'Huez? But in your separate predictions of the Tour, you have a totally different route -- with a totally different TT and a stage to Mont Ventoux. What's going on? Dave Bell Washington, D.C. This is why we call these things “predictions,” Dave. – Editor Lance has a 30 percent chance for No. 6Editor:If Lance can get himself back into climbing form, then this Tour should be his. If he is in a form similar to this year, then

Hill stays put.

The route for the 2004 Tour de France was unveiled during a 90-minutepresentation in Paris on Thursday, and judging by the remarks of five-timedefending champion Lance Armstrong, the showcase stage is getting the responsethat race organizers were hoping for. That showcase stage, according tobuzz in Paris, will be a 15km uphill time trial to L’Alpe d’Huez, the 16thstage of the 3395-kilometer race, July 3-25. “It’s a pivotal day, and probably the day that will decide the Tour,”Armstrong said of the Alpe d’Huez TT. “I suspect I’ll spend a lot of timeat Alpe d’Huez this next year.” It will be

The unveiling of next year's Tour de France route in Paris on Thursday had team managers and riders alike quietly bubbling with excitement with the suspense likely to be maintained all the way to Paris. The revamped Tour route means the likes of five-time defending champion Lance Armstrong and his closest challenger, Germany's Jan Ullrich, will be kept on their toes right up until the penultimate stage. The 2004 Tour starts in Liege (Belgium) and rides anti-clockwise around France for 3391km - with a potentially decisive individual time trial coming five days before the finish on the Champs

Neither side was much interested in going into the details of what led to the sudden resignation last week of longtime USA Cycling staffer Eric Moore, but both agreed that Moore’s nine years with the organization were productive and positive. “Eric served this organization well for a lot of years,” USAC president Gerard Bisceglia told VeloNews. “When you lose a long-term guy like him it’s a scramble to find a fill in.” For Moore’s part, he said he held no ill will to his near-decade-long employer. “USA Cycling is being run as well as it ever has right now,” he said. “They’ve got a new and