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Haussler v. Cav'; Contador's mystery meat; Bauer dreams big

For the second consecutive day, Tyler Farrar kicks to victory at the Mallorca Challenge in Spain.

Graham Watson shoots stage 1 of the 2011 Tour of Qatar.

Stage 1

• 1. Tom Boonen, Quick Step Cycling Team, in 2:59:29
• 2. Heinrich Haussler, Team Garmin - Cervelo, at s.t.
• 3. Mark Renshaw, Htc - Highroad, at s.t.
• 4. Daniele Bennati, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 5. Graeme Brown, Rabobank Cycling Team, at s.t.

GC after stage 1

• 1. Tom Boonen, Quick Step Cycling Team, in 3:02:32
• 2. Mark Renshaw, HTC - Highroad, at 3:02:36
• 3. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 3:02:40
• 4. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni, Sky Procycling, at 3:02:41
• 5. Heinrich Haussler, Team Garmin - Cervelo, at 3:02:43

Al KHOR CORNICHE, Qatar (VN) — Tom Boonen stretched out his long-unused sprinter legs to win the first stage of the Tour of Qatar on Monday and take the lead.

More spring fling fun added to Sea Otter this April in California

Test pilot Zach White shreds snow in Pearl Izumi tights and shoe covers, Dakine gloves and Shimano shoes

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Riders and teams went toe to toe with the UCI on Sunday at the Mallorca Challenge.

• 1. Lars Boom, Rabobank Cycling Team, in 03:07
• 2. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 03:11
• 3. Tom Veelers, Skil-Shimano, at 03:12
• 4. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni, Sky Procycling, at 03:12
• 5. Alex Dowsett, Sky Procycling, at 03:13

Stage 5

• 1. Saïd Haddou (Fra), 3:06:46
• 2. Sven Jodts (Bel), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, s.t.
• 3. Anthony Ravard (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, s.t.
• 4. Marco Marcato (Ita), s.t.
• 5. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, s.t.

Final overall

• 1. Anthony Ravard (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, 17:46:10
• 2. Marco Marcato (Ita), at 0:07
• 3. Johnny Hoogerland (Ned), at 0:07
• 4. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra), Française des Jeux, at 0:15
• 5. Jerome Coppel (Fra), Saur-Sojasun, at 0:19

Anthony Ravard (AG2R-La Mondiale) claimed overall victory in the Etoile de Bessèges on Sunday.

Danilo Di Luca may resume competition after paying a fine relating to a recent doping ban, according to the UCI.

HTC-Highroad hit a milestone with victory at the 2011 Ladies Tour of Qatar, which marked the team’s 400th victory since 2008.

Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo) won Sunday’s Trofeo Palma, the first round in the five-day 2011 Mallorca Challenge, but it appears that the UCI may refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the event after riders refused to compete without radio earpieces as per the governing body’s edict.

On a day when seemingly everyone hit the deck once — and some more than once — the Landbouwkrediet rider kept the rubber side down, riding as though he were on rails.

Riders delayed the start of the Mallorca Challenge on Sunday in a protest over the UCI’s ban on ear-pieces this season.

Boom tells VeloNews that the Qatar peloton will follow the lead of riders at the Mallorca Challenge and demand the use of race radios before starting stage 1 on Monday.

Lars Boom (Rabobank) claims victory in the prologue of the Tour of Qatar.

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2011 Tour of Qatar starting roster

The tenth edition of the Tour of Qatar was set to get under way Sunday afternoon with a 2.5km prologue at Doha's Cultural Village, a new civic area. The technical course features some (relatively smooth) cobbles and about a dozen turns.

Wil Matthews captures the action at the 2011 Garmin-Cervélo camp.

h2> GP Costa degli Etruschi

• 1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo, 4:35:35
• 2. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni, s.t.
• 3. Elia Favilli (Ita), s.t.
• 4. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo, s.t.
• 5. Filippo Baggio (Ita), s.t.

Italian Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) kicks to victory in Saturday’s GP Costa degli Etruschi.

Stage 4

• 1. Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Saur-Sojasun, 3:36:41
• 2. Marco Marcato (Ita), s.t.
• 3. Justin Jules (Fra), s.t.
• 4. Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux, s.t.
• 5. Benjamin Giraud (Fra), s.t.

Overall standings

• 1. Anthony Ravard (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, 14:39:31
• 2. Johnny Hoogerland (Ned), s.t.
• 3. Marco Marcato (Ita), at 0:02
• 4. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Française des Jeux, at 0:08
• 5. Cyril Gautier (Fra), at 0:13

Speed wobble, shoe covers and single-ringing it

GVA Trofee-Lille

• 1. Kevin Pauwels (Bel), 58:47
• 2. Zdenek Stybar (Cze),
• 3. Sven Nys (Bel),
• 4. Niels Albert (Bel), 58:49
• 5. Bart Wellens (Bel), 58:49

Anthony Ravard (Ag2r-La Mondiale) retakes the lead in the l'Etoile de Bessèges as

Kevin Pauwels (Telenet-Fidea) won a thrilling photo-finish sprint with teammate and world champion Zdenek Stybar to take the GVA Trofee stop at Lille.

Quick Step's Tom Boonen and HTC-HighRoad's Mark Cavendish head the field at the 10th Tour of Qatar, which begins in Doha on Sunday and promises some lively duels between the sport's top sprinters.

Stage 3

• 1. Monia Baccaille, Sc Mcipollini Giordana, 2:25:22
• 2. Giorgia Bronzini, Italy, s.t.
• 3. Rochelle Gilmore, Lotto Honda Team, s.t.
• 4. Ellen Van Dijk, HTC-Highroad Women, s.t.
• 5. Aurore Verhoeven, Gauss, s.t.

Final overall

• 1. Ellen Van Dijk, HTC-Highroad Women, at 7:51:04
• 2. Charlotte Becker, HTC-Highroad Women, at 0:15
• 3. Iris Slappendel, Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:20
• 4. Adriana Visser, HTC-Highroad Women, at 0:24
• 5. Alexis Rhodes, Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:26

Ellen Van Dijk won the Ladies Tour of Qatar on Friday as HTC-Highroad put four riders into the top 10 overall, two of them on the podium.

Stage 3

• 1. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, 3:27:20
• 2. Johnny Hoogerland (Ned), at 0:00
• 3. Marco Marcato (Ita), at 0:00
• 4. Cyril Gautier (Fra), at 0:00
• 5. Steven Tronet (Fra), Roubaix Lille Metropole, at 0:00

Overall standings

• 1. Johnny Hoogerland (Ned), 11:02:50
• 2. Anthony Ravard (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0:01
• 3. Marco Marcato (Ita), at 0:08
• 4. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra), Française des Jeux, at 0:10
• 5. Cyril Gautier (Fra), at 0:13

Andrew Talansky talks about landing a ride with Garmin-Cervélo, a step forward that he calls "exciting and one I'm ready for."

Swiss MTB stalwart Christoph Sauser compares 26ers and 29ers

Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) sprinted to victory in Friday’s third stage at the Étoile de Bessèges in southern France.

Controversial Italian Danilo Di Luca returns to competition this weekend at the Mallorca Challenge in Spain with his new Katusha team.

Boogerd blisters Landis; Dowsett eager for Qatar; Peraud eyes Olympics, Tour

Alberto Contador has reiterated his intention to take his fight to the courts and rejected arguments that he should accept the shortened, one-year ban offered by the Spanish cycling federation.

Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin continues to insist that he didn’t dope at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where he won a silver medal.

Spanish sprinter Fran Ventoso, the first rider to win a race on the new Campagnolo electronic shifters, calls them "a marvel."

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Ellen Van Dijk takes the sprint from a small breakaway group and moves into the overall lead in Qatar.

Stage:

• 1. Lloyd MONDORY, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, in 4:03:38
• 2. Anthony RAVARD, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
• 3. Aldo Ino ILESIC, (SLO) Team Type 1, at 0
• 4. Stéphane POULHIES, (FRA) Saur-Sojasun, at 0
• 5. Marco MARCATO, (ITA), at 0

• 1. Anthony RAVARD, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, in 7:35:49
• 2. Lloyd MONDORY, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2
• 3. Yauheni HUTAROVICH, (BLR) Française des Jeux, at 2
• 4. Björn LEUKEMANS, (BEL), at 8
• 5. Aldo Ino ILESIC, (SLO) Team Type 1, at 8

French rider Lloyd Mondory delivered the first win of the season for Ag2r-La Mondiale after taking the flowers in Thursday’s second stage at the Étoile de Bessèges in southern France.

Retül's three-dimensional fit system has steadily gained popularity in the pro peloton over the last few years. The Retül crew just got back from team camps with Team Sky and Team Geox, where they did fits for many riders, including grand tour winners Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov.

The full punch of the Ardennes Mountains will be felt during Liège-Bastogne-Liège April 24 when the Côte de la Haute-Levée returns to the sport’s oldest monument.

The Xar worked when it was needed most as Zach White found out the hard way

Stage 2

• 1. Ellen Van Dijk, HTC-HighRoad, at 3:06:51
• 2. Alexis Rhodes, Garmin-Cervélo, at 0:00
• 3. Adriana Visser, HTC-HighRoad, at 0:00
• 4. Charlotte Becker, HTC-HighRoad, at 0:00
• 5. Loes Gunnewijk, Nederland Bloeit, at 0:00

Overall standings

• 1. Ellen Van Dijk, HTC-HighRoad, at 5:25:42
• 2. Charlotte Becker, HTC-HighRoad, at 0:15
• 3. Iris Slappendel, Garmin-Cervélo, at 0:21
• 4. Adriana Visser, HTC-HighRoad, at 0:24
• 5. Alexis Rhodes, Garmin-Cervélo, at 0:26

Omega Pharma-Lotto enters the 2011 season with high expectations.

Perhaps it’s hard to believe for an Italian rider, but former world champion Alessandro Ballan has never raced the Giro d’Italia.

Sorge, Wittmann and Lenosky on Giant bikes in variety of events around the world

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Obree comes to terms with homosexuality, Boardman hails Bobridge, and more

Tour of California organizers on Wednesday said Lance Armstrong is not a confirmed starter for this year's race.

Trek back for more WORS in '11, Subaru Cup Pro XCT now UCI Cat 1 event

Cycling Australia says Matt White can remain the men's road coordinator for the country's national team.

• 1. Yauheni HUTAROVICH, (BLR) Française des Jeux, at 3:32:23
• 2. Anthony RAVARD, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
• 3. Björn LEUKEMANS, (BEL), at s.t.
• 4. Cédric PINEAU, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 0
• 5. Saïd HADDOU, (FRA), at s.t.

A look at the Selle Italia SLR Monolink saddle. Smart design, at a price

Readers and industry types offer some follow-up tips regarding recent columns.

• 1. Rochelle Gilmore, Lotto Honda Team, in 2:19:07
• 2. Giorgia Bronzini, Italy, at s.t.
• 3. Chloe Hosking, HTC HighRoad Women, at s.t.
• 4. Ellen Van Dijk, HTC HighRoad Women, at s.t.
• 5. Lucy Martin, Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.

The five-day “star” of Bessèges dates back to the early 1970s and has since grown into France’s first stage race of the year.

Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ) won the opening stage of the five-day Étoile de Bessèges in Tuesday’s 150km run from Beaucaire to Bellegarde in southern France.

Organizers of the Tour of California said Wednesday that athletes in this year's race will be subject to a rigorous anti-doping program that it says goes far beyond the programs at other races.

Fans hoping to see the professional debut of Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) will have to wait a little while longer. Phinney, the U.S. national time trial champion, announced on his blog Wednesday that he will miss his planned start at the Tour of Qatar due to a knee injury.

VeloNews' European correspondent Andrew Hood has had a chance to touch base with some of the top U.S. road pros in recent weeks, and he's gathered up highlights from their 2010 campaign and what they expect for the coming season.

MADRID (VN) — Movistar’s entry into the choppy waters of Spanish cycling made headlines south of the Pyrénées simply due to the size and symbolic significance of what the telecommunications giant brings to the table.

SYDNEY (AFP) — Up and coming Australian cyclist Jack Bobridge claimed one of track cycling's biggest prizes Wednesday when he beat Chris Boardman's 15-year-old world record for the 4km pursuit.

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David Etxebarria — the former Spanish classics specialist who was marginalized during the Operación Puerto doping investigation of 2006 — criticized Alberto Contador in a series of searing Twitter postings.

Don Catlin, former director of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Lab and, briefly, the overseer of Lance Armstrong's anti-doping program during his 2009 comeback, says a recent Sports Illustrated article on Armstrong contains innuendo and mischaracterizes elements of the story about him.

The Univest grand Prix organizer weighs in on the dispute between the Tour of the Battenkill and USA Cycling.

Mike Anderson, who worked as a mechanic and handyman for Lance Armstrong during the Texan’s years of Tour de France domination, has told VeloNews that he stands by accusations he has made that Armstrong possessed performance-enhancing drugs, and said he is “ashamed” of his former association with the star cyclist.

Former USA Cycling president Jim Ochowicz has downplayed allegations from Floyd Landis that he has been involved in political maneuvering between U.S. riders and the UCI.