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Many longtime observers of the Tour of Flanders, the traditional kickoff to northern Europe’s World Cup classics, estimated Sunday’s crowds to be the largest in recent memory for the Belgian race known here as the “Ronde.” From the frigid morning start in Bruge’s historic Grote Markt to the surprise finish in the small town of Meerbeke, thousands pressed against the barriers lining the 257km course. Most were straining to see, among other things, one last glimpse of Johan Museeuw in action: a legendary Belgian in a legendary Belgian event.

Start ListLotto-Domo:1. Peter Van Petegem (B)2. Wim Vansevenant (B)3. Aart Vierhouten (Nl)4. Niko Eeckhout (B)5. Leif Hoste (B)6. Leon Van Bon (Nl)7. Thierry Marichal (B)8. Serge Baguet. (B)Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdorf:11. Jans Koerts (Nl)12. Dave Bruylandts (B)14. Gerben Lowik (Nl)15. Chris Peers (B)16. Geert Verheyen (B)17. Jan Van Velzen (Nl)18. Bart Voskamp (Nl)19. Bert Hiemstra (Nl).Landbouwkrediet-Colnago:21. Jacky Durand (F)22. Ludo Dierckxsens (B)23. Ludovic Capelle (B)24. Geert Van Bondt (B)25. Lorenzo Bernucci (I)26. Marc Streel (B)27. Tony Bracke (B)28. Bert De Waele.

Belgium's former world road racing champion Alberic "Briek" Schotte died Sunday at the age of 84, only minutes after the start of Sunday's Tour of Flanders, a race he'd won twice over the course of a 20-year pro career. Schotte died shortly after 10:00 a.m. Sunday at a clinic in Courtrai after suffering from lung problems, according to his son Johan. Born in September 1919 in Kanegem, in Flemish speaking Belgium, Schotte was a professional rider between 1940 and 1959. He became world champion in the Dutch town of Valkenburg for the first time in 1948, and won the rainbow jersey again two

Zulfia Zabirova took a page from the men’s playbook to win the women’s Tour of Flanders. Like many past Flanders champions, she used the cobbled slopes of the day’s penultimate climb, the infamous Muur de Geraardsbergen, to catapult to a solo victory in the first World Cup edition of the race. After starting in Oudenaarde and scaling the Kruisberg, the 96km Ronde Van Vlaanderen Vrouwen merged with the men’s course just before the Boigneberg, the first of the final eight climbs the two races shared on the day. Despite Farm Frites-Hartol’s concerted efforts to control the race for Leontien Van

The Tour of Flanders, the second leg of the ten-race World Cup, smiled unkindly on a few of the Australian riders competing over a tough 257km of cobblestones and short steep climbs from Bruges to Meerbeke on Sunday. Victorian Baden Cooke, one of a handful of realistic contenders for theFlemish classic known as the Ronde --won by the relatively unknown but experienced German Steffen Wesemann -- crashed out just after the halfway stage. His Fdjeux.com team-mate Matt Wilson, the Australian national champion, failed to finish as steady crosswinds pounded the peloton throughout. With 64km

In a bid to secure its place among the ranks of the top teams taking on the UCI’s ProTour, the Dutch banking consortium Rabobank has extended its sponsorship of the cycling team that bears its name for an additional two years. The bank, which has sponsored the team since 1996, will continue to do so until the end of 2008. Beginning in 2005, teams on the ProTour circuit will be able to have four-year licenses, in accordance with new UCI regulations. Milan-San Remo winner Oscar Freire, American Levi Leipheimer and Dutch riders Michael Boogerd and Erik Dekker are among the team's most

Boston, MA (April 3-4, 2003) - Hundreds of collegiate cyclists from the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC) convened on the Boston area for the third annual Boston Beanpot Classic. The races included the BU team time trial in historic Concord, a criterium on the Tufts campus in Somerville, and the Grafton Hills road race promoted by Harvard. Saturday night featured a catered banquet dinner by Wentworth with keynote speaker Jonathan Vaughters providing tales and tips to the hundreds of attendees. The University of Vermont took top honors in Division 1 for the weekend, and fought

The day's first major move had some real horsepower...

...including Postal's Tony Cruz

Briek Schotte (R) hands a magnum of champagne to Belgian sprinter Tom Steels for winning the first stage of last year's Tour of Belgium

The best sprinter in the break, Wesemann lived up to expectations

The winning move

Despite appearances, these three actually won the race

Hincapie works his way up the Grammont

Springtime in Flanders

Despite troubles en-route, Freire managed to hold on to the World Cup lead.

Not wanting to pull a 'Zabel' Wesemann waited to celebrate

When Johan Museeuw began racing as a professional cyclist, in 1988, Ronald Reagan was president of the United States, Dustin Hoffman’s “Rain Man” was selling out movie theaters, and the Netherlands became the first European country to be linked to the Internet. Museeuw, now 39, competes in his final four races in the first part of April, determined to add at least one more victory to his record haul of 11 World Cup classics. Nothing could make Museeuw happier than winning Sunday’s Tour of Flanders (the Ronde van Vlaanderen), or April 11’s Paris-Roubaix. The legendary Belgian rider has won

MONTEREY, Calif. (April 2, 2004) — Building on its reputation as North American cycling’s most inclusive cycling festival, the Hyundai Sea Otter Classic has partnered with top professional road cyclists and coaches to offer a road cycling skills clinic at the April 15-18 event, held at Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey, California. On Sunday morning, April 18, Team Basis, along with Wenzel Coaching, will run a road cycling clinic as part of the Sea Otter Road Bike Tour. The clinic will start concurrently with the Sea Otter Classic’s new Road Century, and will include a 40-mile ride

The hardest working man in show business is bringing down the curtain on his career

Cycling's most successful active one-day rider – Johan Museeuw, the “Lion of Flanders” — will continue winding down his lengthy career on the second race of the 10-leg World Cup here on Sunday. Museeuw, who is gunning for a record fourth victory in the 88th Tour of Flanders before he retires after the GP de l'Escaut on April 14, admits that as he approaches hanging up his bike for good, what should be his final roar on the “Ronde” could turn out to be more of a whimper. The 38-year-old Belgian conceded this week that his failing legs "on the harder climbs" mean he could end up playing a

The Mail Bag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com, appearing each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 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@7Dogs.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.A VN cover-up? Dear Editors Why doesn't the picture of the "English photographer" enlarge? (see "Harvest of Shame: What Price Beauty?") My guess is the culprit is Graham Watson, and you buy lots of his pictures. An honest piece of journalism would

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissionannounces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below.Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwiseinstructed. Name of product: Mongoose aluminum 20-inch-wheel “D-XR AL” mountainbicyclesUnits: About 14,000Manufacturer/Importer: Pacific Cycle Inc., of Madison, Wis.Hazard: The rear shock absorber allows the aluminum, dual-suspensionframe to flex severely, causing the frame to become unstable and break,posing the risk of injury to riders.Incidents/Injuries: Pacific Cycle Inc. has received two reports

You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man’s actions are, such must be his spirit.DemosthenesThird Olynthiac A colleague recently described one of those cheery encounters that help make American cycling what it is today: an obscure, cliquish activity whose elaborate and inexplicable pecking order would be the envy of any chicken run. My colleague was out for a ride on his ’cross bike, saw another cyclist on a road bike, and had the audacity to give him a friendly greeting — which, naturally, was haughtily ignored. Three times this

What looks like an asterisk? (Hint: It's riding a bike, and won't return your friendly greeting.)

The Lion of Flanders in last year's Ronde

By now, the image is standard on posters in dorm rooms, bike shops and offices all over the western world: The peloton of the Tour de France zooming across the sunlit country roads of France, weaving its way through fields of golden sunflowers; bright, beautiful and precisely the tone of the legendary maillot jaune. The image is a classic, emoting visions of idyllic country life, families peacefully enjoying France’s spectacular summer, interrupted only by the momentary passing of the world’s greatest bicycle race. Sadly, a Thursday news conference in Paris underscored just how much of a

This time of year is almost like Christmas for those of us who love bicycles and the annual improvements to the technology that adds to the pleasureof riding them. That's right, it’s time for the 2005 product roll-outs! I've really been enjoying the fact that next year’s suspension product lines are going to be marked by serious competition and some major developments. Manufacturers have been particularly eager to showcase technology to help them hold or regain a foothold in the lucrative bicycle suspension fork and shock market. Manitou was first this year to debut its 2005 product

After finishing third in the fourth and final stage, U.S Postal’s George Hincapie has won the overall title at the Three Days of De Panne, the warm-up before this weekend’s World Cup race, the Tour of Flanders. Quick Step’s Hungarian time trial specialist, Lazlo Bodrogi, won the final stage a 13.7km time trial at Le Panne in northern Belgium. Hincapie's victory is the ninth of the season by the Postal team. Hincapie entered Thursday's 13.7km time trial in third place overall, 16 seconds back of race leader Baden Cooke of FDJeux.com. Hincapie finished the stage five seconds behind Bodrogi to

Five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and his new companion, nine-time Grammy Award winning Sheryl Crow, have recorded a duet at Armstrong's home in Girona, Spain, and will release the single in conjunction with this year's Tour. The song, titled "Love and Life," features both lead and backing vocals from U.S. Postal Service-Berry Floor rider. "I'll probably catch a little flak about this from the guys on the team," Armstrong said, "but it won't be the first time. Besides, you only live once, right?" As reported in the Spanish newspaper AS, the song was recorded over the March

Introducing Team Haro-adidasComing off its best season of racing ever, with two NORBA National andone UCI World Championship title, the Haro boys are back on the attackaiming for more podium finishes in 2004. Although the team will be sportinga whole new look and a new name, the Team Haro-adidas roster remains relativelyunchanged.Long known for its support of athletes of all disciplines includingcycling, adidas joined Haro as a sponsor in 1997.  “Our relationshipwith adidas goes back a long way and we value their continuing support”said Haro President and CEO Jim Ford.So what’s with the

Dear Bob,I flew from N.Y. to L.A. with my bike in a cardboard box. I paid around $100 dollars for the bike and signed some paperwork. When the bike arrived the top tube was bent and it was clear the box was badly treated along the way. I called the airline and they said I signed a release and that either way I must have packed the bike improperly. What can I do?Diane ShelbyDana Point, CA Dear Diane, That fact that the airline said that you must have packed the bike improperly seems quite presumptuous. Although airlines may compensate up to $2500 per passenger for loss, damaged or delayed

Mountain Bike Camps in Rossland BC Rossland, B.C. – The DevineRIDE Bike Camps are proud to announce their inaugural season of bike camps for youth, women-only and co-ed in Rossland on selected weekends from June to September 2004. The DevineRIDE Mission Statement is simple: Have FUN, Get FIT, Be FAST. Whether you are a beginner or advanced rider DevineRIDE offers you appropriate skill sessions and afternoon rides to take you to a new level of ability and self-confidence. DevineRIDE Mountain Bike Camp is located in Rossland nestled in the Monashee Mountains of the West Kootenays of

Varineau in Paris

Varineau's fields just one year later

The color match is more than mere coincidence

An all-too-common sight in France every July.

'The Englishman' in 1994

April Lawyer rides the lightweight air-sprung Reba

The key to RockShox's new damping system-the Motion Control damper system found inside the right leg of PIke and Reba forks.

The PopLoc and PopLoc Adjust remote shifter allow the rider to activate/deactivate the amount of pedaling platform

Steve Peat hammers the longer-travel Pike fork through Bootleg Canyon

Armstrong and Crow: Making music together

Bodrogi set the mark for the stage...

...but Hincapie's time was all he needed to take the overall.

So what else can be said about Chris Horner’s ride at Redlands? The guy is clearly a super talent, and I often waver between enjoying watching him race in the States and wishing he were over in Europe. In an interview he’s wildly entertaining, and he’s proven over the pastthree years that he’s the strongest man racing in America. Perhaps HealthNet’s John Lieswyn said it best when, after trying to chase Horner downon Oak Glen with a group containing strongmen like Adam Bergman (Jelly Belly-Aramark), Jurgen Van Den Broeck (U.S. Postal-Berry Floor), Glen Mitchell (SierraNevada) and British

FDJeux’s Aussie sprinter Baden Cooke moved into the overall lead after scoring a win in stage 2 of the Three Days of De Panne, a 237km race from Zottegem to Coxyde in Northern Belgium Wednesday. Cooke, who finished second in Tuesday’s opening stage, beat Saeco’s Giosué Bonomi and Rabobank’s Steven De Jongh, who took third. The day was marked by an early escape by Rabobank’s Matt Hayman, Bart Voskamp (Chocolade Jacques) and Stefan Van Dijk, who eventually built a lead of nearly eight minutes on the main field, before the Gerolsteiner team of race leader Daniel Hondo took up the chase. Upon

One January 1, 2004, caffeine was removed from the World Anti-DopingAgency prohibited list, after being a “controlled to restricted drug” inthe world of athletic performance for years, and moved to the “monitoringlist.” Prior to this change caffeine urine levels of greater than 12 microgramsper millimeter were considered illegal. The reason for this change, notesWADA, is really very practical. This old limit has always given caffeinea unique position as a “potentially” performance-enhancing drug, implyingthat higher doses of caffeine are required to improve performance. However,this is

Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 31, 2004)--USA Cyclingannounced today the team that will represent the United States at roundthree of the UCI Track World Cup in Manchester, Great Britain April 9-11.The men’s team will consist of Giddeon Massie (Colorado Springs, Colo.),Marty Nothstein (Orefield, Pa.), Adam Duvendeck (Colorado Springs, Colo.),Christian Stahl (Bethany, Conn.), Colby Pearce (Boulder, Colo.), JamieCarney (Boulder, Colo.), Walker Starr (San Diego, Calif.), Andy Lakatosh(Trexlertown, Pa.), and Mike Tillman (Santa Monica, Calif.).The women’s team will be represented by Tanya

IMBA has released a comprehensive review of scientific studies that examine the impacts of mountain biking on trails, vegetation, and wildlife. The collection of scientific studies indicate that mountain biking is no more damaging than other forms of recreation, including hiking.IMBA's review, titled "Natural Resource Impacts of Mountain Biking," looks at all the available studies that have measured the impacts of bicycling and other trail use. "Like all forms of recreation, bicycling does affect natural resources," said Gary Sprung, IMBA's senior national policy advisor and author of the

There have already been showdowns in Cyprus, Waco, Puerto Rico and Italy,and now comes word that the battle for spots on the U.S. Olympic team willhead to South America for the 2004 Pan American Championships in Baños,Ecuador, April 22-25.On Wednesday USA Cycling announced that all the main players in theOlympic MTB team chase have been named to the U.S. Pan Am team, and withbig UCI points on the line, one can only assume that everyone will show.For the record, America’s female contingent will include Alison Dunlap,Mary McConneloug and Sue Haywood, while Adam Craig, Jeremy

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: The best domestic rider not at Redlands

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: The best domestic rider not at Redlands

Horner, O’Neill and Green after Oak Glen in '03

After the International

Pope John Paul II meets the Amore e Vita team in St. Peter's Square

The feed zone - Nutrition Q&A with Monique Ryan - Another cuppa Joe?

Gerolsteiner’s Danilo Hondo won the first stage of the Three Days of De Panne on Tuesday, taking a sprint win at the end of 196km race from Middelkerke to Zottegem, Belgium. Hondo charged to the line, beating Baden Cooke (fdjeux.com), U.S. Postal’s George Hincapie and Luca Paolini (Quick Step) and 20 others who had formed a strong breakaway group about 9km from the finish. With time bonuses considered, Hondo now enjoys a four-second lead over Cooke on GC, with Hincapie rounding out the top three at six seconds. American David Clinger (Domina Vacanze) also made the break and finished the day

Avoiding the grindDear Lennard,I'm having a problem with my 13-39 X 53/39 Campy Chorus (2003) set-up.When it is on the 39 ring and in the 26 or 29 cog, the space between thecog and the upper roller/jockey of the derailleur is so close that thechain is rubbed/grinded in between. I have tried turning the screw on thederailleur cage but to no avail. It appears that the chain is too longeven if I followed the somewhat confusing instruction of the Campy manual.Can you please share any other tip to determine proper chain length? I'vesearched the VeloNews archives for your feature on this asI

Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 30, 2004)--As part of its mission to make fitness a way of life, 24 Hour Fitness Team Sports is again offering the online group sales program for its National Governing Body (NGB) partner, USA Cycling. From April 1 through April 30, 2004, documented USA Cycling members will be able to purchase 24 Hour Fitness memberships and personal training online at significantly discounted rates. The pricing structure is tiered to allow the greatest flexibility for USA Cycling members. Family add-on opportunities are also available. Enrollment information is available

March 30th - Verona, Italy Third selection at the Biblo’ disco club in Desenzano: Tuesday evening (29 March) the beauty contest “Miss Mondiali” selected other three finalists, everybody from Verona. Actor Fabio Testi was a member of the jury. Some of the candidates came either from Veneto Region or from other regions. The winner is Giada Biasia, 21 years old from Verona. The second place went to Valeria Zanchi (23 years old, from Verona) and the third position to Silvia Bonandi (23 years old, from Rivoltella). Actually, now there are nine finalists for the final evening scheduled for 30th

HAVERHILL, MA-Mavic-adidas Cycling announces today the introductionof the brand new adidas Cycling web site, www.adidascycling.net. This fully interactive site allows individuals to view clothing, shoes,and accessories of the most recognized sports brand in the world. The site offers in-depth technical descriptions, news; features on adidassponsored athletes, such as Tim Johnson and the T-mobile squad, and upcomingevents."We are excited to step into the nineteen-nineties by putting adidasCycling on this so-called ‘information super highway’ chortled marketingdirector Christopher Zigmont

Hondo wins; Hincapie takes third.

March 29 - Beauties on the walk in the name of the sport: the second selection of the beauty contest Miss Mondiali, that took place last Saturday night at the Barcelona Club of Bussolengo, brought to the election of three new candidates to the role of rewarders of the next Cycling World Championships. 22-year-old Veronese Valentina Seruggeri received the highest number of votes (she has already participated in some important telecasts and was a finalist in the beauty contest Miss Italia). The other finalists that will partake in the 30 April’s final at the Hollywood of Bardolino, are

NORRISTOWN, PA (March 29, 2004) – The Pro Cycling Tour (PCT) announced today an agreement with Gita Sporting Goods, Ltd. naming Giordana Clothing as the Official Cycling Clothing Sponsor of the 2004 Pro Cycling Tour and its events in Philadelphia, New York City, Vail, and San Francisco. As the Official Cycling Clothing Supplier of the 2004 PCT, Giordana will produce all Pro Cycling Tour merchandise, and feature PCT and event merchandise in its catalogs. In addition, Giordana will receive prominent visibility and co-branded media opportunities at Pro Cycling Tour events. Speaking for Gita

Dear Joe and Dirk,Mine has to be a pretty common problem. With work, kids, a job, a mortgage… well you know the drill. When it gets down to it, I can really only ride maybe three days a week for two hours max. Some weeks it is only two days with one of the rides being on the trainer. With such minimal training time, should I spend a larger percentage of my time doing hard riding (intervals, etc) since I am less likely to over-train? How should you adjust the time spent in each zone when you have more than adequate recovery time?Thanks,Don Don,You are not uncommon and trying to get the

Usually when the time changes in the spring of each year, it is accompanied by an improvement in the weather, but here in Salamanca, we experienced a serious digression in the conditions over night as Europe moved into to daylight savings time. We awoke to dark skies and snow flurries. It was hard to believe we were in Spain or that it was the end of March. In keeping with the mood, Cathy Marsal wished me a “Merry Christmas” as we were warming up. It seems like the spring weather has been especially harsh this year in Europe. Michael sent me a text message from France, where he was racing

Over the past week, I have been in Northern Europe getting reacquainted with the cold weather. I have had a good schedule in the last months as I have only raced in the south of Spain and Portugal and have not had to suffer and endure the frigid temps in the rest of Europe. In Dwaars door Vlandaaren, a one-day race in Flanders; I was initiated to the cobbles, bergs, wind and cold. All in all, it was a pretty good experience and one I would go back and fight through again. This year we have a great team for the classics, as Max, Devolder, George and Eki’ are all riding well enough to win any

The team leaders of the Rabobank Cycling Team, Erik Breukink, Frans Maassen and Adri van Houwelingen, will call Oscar Freire Gomez, Michael Boogerd and Erik Dekker to arms on April 4th for the Tour of Flanders. As the latest winner of Milano-Sanremo, Oscar Freire Gomez will defend his leading position in the UCI World Cup. Freire, Boogerd and Dekker will be accompanied by Marc Wauters, Maarten den Bakker, Karsten Kroon and Steven de Jongh. A choice will be made between Robert Hunter and Roy Sentjens for the eighth position. Marc Wauters and Maarten den Bakker will be in the Rabobank Cycling

HAVERHILL, MA - Mavic-adidas Cycling announces today the initiation of a multi-year footwear and accessory relationship with Tim Johnson of the Saunier Duval-Prodir professional cycling team. Johnson, originally from Middleton, Massachusetts, will ride with adidas Cycling shoes and related accessories for racing and training and will participate in the development process as well. “We are thrilled to have Tim on board. We have a focus on emerging talent at adidas and no one represents the promise of young American talent more than Tim.” offered Christopher Zigmont, Marketing Director for

Team CSC just keeps rolling. After the Danish-based squad earned wins for Jörg Jaksche at the Mediterranean Tour and Paris-Nice, it was the turn this weekend of Jaksche’s fellow German Jens Voigt to dominate the Critérium International. Voigt, 32, won both of Sunday’s two stages to take the overall victory by 12 seconds over the emerging Spanish star José Ivan Gutierrez of Balears-Banesto. A still-improving Lance Armstrong finished third another two seconds back, with CSC’s rejuvenated Bobby Julich a further two seconds behind in fourth. In the closing 8.3km time trial, Voigt beat

The delicate operation of putting the roof over the Olympic velodrome in Athens has been completed two days ahead of schedule, a spokesman for the structure's Spanish designer, Santiago Calatrava, reported Sunday. The spokesman said the roof's success augured well for the controversial yet-to-be installed cover over the Olympic stadium, also designed by Calatrava. "This represents a good test," he said. The Olympic stadium roof will be installed using the same technique as its cycling cousin, which weighed 4000 tons and measured 106 by 154 meters. It was slid into place along 135 meters of

Chris Horner and Lyne Bessette successfully defended their respective leader's jersey on Sunday's final stage of the 20th-anniversary Redlands Bicycle Classic, with Horner taking his fourth win in five years and Bessette winning the women's race for the second time. On the closing Sunset Loop road race, Bessette was content to defend the race lead and seal the overall win, opening the door for an opportunistic and gutsy win by Victory Brewing's Nicole Demars. However, in the men's race, Horner took the opportunity to deliver one more blow to the reeling Health Net team, setting up his Webcor

... and finished it right, as well.

Voigt started his day right...

Voight repeats at C-I