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LWdisc1- Lightweight makes a wheel for flat TT’s too. The disk weighs 910 grams.

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.Dear Editor,What are the French trying to do? (see "L'Equipealleges Armstrong samples show EPO use in 99 Tour")Isn't it bad enough that Lance and Postal/Discovery romped all overtheir sacred Tour and its records? They should just count their blessingsthat Lance is not coming back

PARIS - The director of the Tour de France said now that there is “compelling scientific evidence” that Lance Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs in winning the 1999 Tour, the seven-time champion owes cycling fans an explanation. In a story Wednesday’s edition of L’Equipe, Jean-Marie Leblanc praised the paper for an investigation that reported that six urine samples provided by Armstrong during the 1999 Tour tested positive for the red blood cell-booster EPO. The French sports daily on Tuesday accused Armstrong of using EPO during his first Tour win in 1999. “For the first time _ and

Seven years, seven wins, some 17,000 miles of road covered since...and we're right back where we started.A French newspaper is charging Lance Armstrong with doping.Again.He's denying it.Again.And the rest of the world is choosing up sides.Again.I have no idea whether Armstrong used the blood-boosting drug EPO towin his first Tour de France in 1999, despite having been on hand for thatone and each of the last three. And you could argue that neither does L'Equipe,the leading French sports daily, despite devoting four pages Tuesday tothat allegation, bolstered by pictures, an

Upon hearing the news of a new round of doping allegations against Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich – finishing up the Tour of Germany – reacted with typical reserve and caution. Should the allegations turn out to be true, Ullrich said, he would be “very disappointed” in Armstrong, hastily adding, however, that this was not the first time French media have attempted to discredit the seven-time Tour de France winner. Ullrich said he remains skeptical of the allegations outlined in Tuesday’s edition of L’Equipe. While Germany’s top cycling star remained somewhat reticent, one of the country’s

Leblanc: We're so tired of doping

Buddies? Not on your life.

Dr. Christiane Ayotte, Doping Control director at Canada's Institut National de la Recherché Scientifique

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president Dick Pound said Tuesday the agency is looking into the latest doping claims against seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. The American cycling legend denied a report in Tuesday's French sports newspaper L'Equipe saying urine samples taken from Armstrong in 1999 tested positive for the banned substance EPO when subjected to testing unavailable six years ago. "It's a pretty serious story, if it is true," Pound told AFP. "We have not decided what we would do because I have not looked at all the details. "We will look at the

French sports daily L'Equipe dropped a four-page bombshell on the cycling world Tuesday, publishing what it claimed was “irrefutable evidence” that Lance Armstrong used EPO in achieving at least his first of seven Tour de France wins. In winning, in 1999, the first of his seven Tours of France, Lance Armstrong had consumed EPO," says the second paragraph of editorial introduction to the paper's exclusive story, which begins on the front page. "After a long, detailed and rigorous work of investigation, L'Equipe has published, today, the proof." L’Equipe printed photos of the

The director of Canada’s top anti-doping laboratory on Tuesday said she was "very surprised" over doping allegations raised in a four-page story in the French sports daily L’Equipe. Doctor Christiane Ayotte, director of the Doping Control Laboratory at Montreal’s Institut National de la Recherché Scientifique, said that the L’Equipe story, outlining charges that seven-time Tour de France winner had used EPO at the 1999 edition of the race, raised several important scientific and ethical questions, beginning with the assertion that France’s anti-doping lab had tested frozen urine samples five

Armstrong denies charges outlined in Tuesday's L'Equipe

Ullrich congratulates Leipheimer

Bennati scores his third stage win

Today's L'Equipe

Today's L'Equipe

Today's L'Equipe

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.Put a muzzle on O'GradyDear Editor,It is currently 0448 in Baghdad, Iraq, and I’m writing to tell youhow disturbing and deeply offensive that I found this article by PatrickO’Grady.This year during this year's Tour de France, I looked to VeloNewsto stay current on the news, and of

It's one of those images that will remain with cycling fans for years,the remarkable shot of a young snow-covered Andy Hampsten cresting theGavia Pass in the epic ride that took him to an overall victory in the1988 Giro d'Italia.Previouslyissued by Cinelli, Sergio Penazzo's memorable photograph has been reworkedin a stunning new version by the graphics team at Hampsten Cycles.The image has been digitally sharpened and enhanced, then printed oncover (heavy) weight paper on a six-color, 40" Heidelberg press using astochastic transferal process. No expense was spared to bring you

PRESS RELEASE: Dr. Michael Ross presents at Lombardi Sports8/22/05Boulder, CO—Michael J. Ross, M.D., team physician for JitteryJoe’s-Kalahari and race doctor for the U.S. Pro Tour, will give a presentationon the science of cycling at Lombardi Sports on Saturday, September 3rdat 1:00 p.m., one day before the start of the San Francisco Grand Prix.Dr. Ross will talk to cyclists about how to tailor workouts to theirown unique physiology and then answer questions after the presentation.Ross will also sign copies of his new book, Maximum Performance for Cyclists,on sale at Lombardi Sports for

Col de Marie Blanque TDF 05

Ullrich did what he could...

... and Leipheimer did what he had to.

PRESS RELEASE - Hampsten signs Gavia posters for Phinney Foundation

The latest Photo Gallery in our continuing photo contest has now been posted for your viewing pleasure. After reviewing a host of very notable submissions, we Robert Mueller’s “Col de Marie Blanque TDF 05” to be the winner of our most recent contest. Congratulations, Robert! You win a copy of Graham Watson's "Landscapes of Cycling." A new winner also signals a new contest, so take a quick look at our latest gallery, decide what you like and let us know what you think by dropping a note to Rosters@InsideInc.com. Just remember we’ll be posting more later on in the week. Earlier Galleries:

Cadel rides into Feldberg on his own

Ullrich said this stage suited his talents... only they suited Evans' even more.

After a tough day in the rain, Leipheimer's hold on the jersey seems more secure

Photo Finish: Farrar edges McCook for the win.

Pic goes early....

... and makes it look easy

Van Gilder and Freeman

This break had promise.

Farrar is heading to the big leagues

Iglinsky wins a frantic finish

Bike Durango and Todd Wells are proud to announce that the TWells CX Camp will be held September 28-October 2 in Durango, Colorado. Todd was on the 2004 Olympic mountain biking team and won the 2001 national cyclo-cross championship. He is perennially one of the top cyclo-cross racers in the U.S.. He believes that cyclo-cross is a sport where technique is more important than pure horsepower and has a specific training regimen to hone skills and fitness. Camp attendees can expect: two-a-day skills sessions; training seminars by Rick Crawford; SRA presentation by Dr. Frank Jerrell; Q&A’s with

A few irate letter-writers have suggested that we keep politics out of cycling here at VeloNews.com, and we can see their points, once they’ve removed their Bush-Cheney 2004 caps. After all, the liars, cheaters and dopers infesting politics might teach cycling’s liars, cheaters and dopers a few new tricks, and God knows it’s already tough enough to tell who’s on the up and up these days, no matter how much blood gets drawn or spilled. Still, if the daily papers are going to cover the Recreationist-in-Chief’s mountain-bike rides as though they were actually news, it’s only right that cycling

VeloNews.com breaks two records in JulyBoulder, CO - It was bound to happen eventually, but no one atVeloNews.com thought it would happen this soon: For the month of July,VeloNews.com not only recorded its first 1 million+ unique visitormonth, but the site's advertising billings topped those of a printedition of VeloNews for the first time.During a month largely driven by Tour de France traffic, VeloNews.comrecorded some 1.1 million unique visitors, up 27% from the 860,000 uniqueslast July, and delivered 26 million page views -- up 24% from the 21 millionpage views delivered in July

Bennati wins his second stage of the German tour

Cyclist of the year?

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.Lance should reconsider riding with prezEditor:I honestly don’t care how Lance Armstrong decides to spend his long and comfortable retirement, but I do have some unsolicited advice regarding his future adventure in politics: Don’t go riding with the president, at least not right

Have you ever gotten to the bottom of a mountain or canyon road descent and had to wait several minutes for the rest of your group to catch up? Have you ever thought that you might be the fastest descender on a road bike? Then this is the race for you. The Red Bull Road Rage, slated November 5 in Malibu, California, is an inaugural all-downhill road race performed on road-racing bicycles. Malibu’s Tuna Canyon is a highly technical, one-lane, European-style descent that drops 2000 feet over two miles. It will definitely be enough time to separate the men from the boys. This is an elite event

Two Australian cyclists who have been in a German hospital for more than a month after a car accident that killed a teammate are well enough to return home this week, cycling officials in Sydney said Thursday. Doctors treating Alexis Rhodes, 20, and Louise Yaxley, 23, in the University Clinic in the German city of Jena had deemed it safe for them to come home, Cycling Australia said. They were badly hurt in July when a teenaged driver ploughed into them and four other women training for the Tour of Thüringen. Amy Gillett, 29, was killed instantly. The other injured women, Kate Nichols, 20,

Hi Bob,I rent a loft in the Bay area and I often ride my rollers or turbo at night after work. One of the other tenants stopped me in the hallway and asked what I was “doing up there." What is the law about noise in a private building?Rob,California Dear Rob,Ah, the joys of riding a bike that goes nowhere, but still manages to make you numb and anger your roommates and neighbors. Now that should be against the law! Still, I was so enthusiastic when I began racing that I used to spend more than four hours a stint on rollers on dark December days back in Madison. I can’t say I miss it. If

GREENVILLE TO CELEBRATE GEORGE HINCAPIE DAY! The City of Greenville cordially invites you to participate ina special celebration September 9, 2005, at 6:00 p.m.  Downtown GreenvilleGreenville’s own George Hincapie, Tour de France Stage Winner and theonly teammate to faithfully accompany Lance Armstrong during a record sevenTour de France victories, will be honored on September 9 in recognitionof his extraordinary victory on Stage 15 of the 2005 Tour de France.You are welcome to take part in a unique evening of fun and entertainmentfor the entire family.  George Hincapie Day

Totschnig (l) and Leipheimer soon after ridding themselves of Ullrich's company

Ullrich fought to stay with the two Gerolsteiners, but faded near the top.

Travis Brown makin' faces again

Cathy Wherry (now Pacocha) dancing with some young stud

Brother Chris approves

The happy couple

Fabrizio Guidi

Leipheimer at this year's Tour.

Bennati takes it.

Tankink remains in yellow for another day, but what's that looming over his shoulder?

"Cycling in the News" is a regular service of VeloNews.com. Readers,reporters and friends are encouraged to send links to current stories aboutcompetitive cyclists and cycling that appear in the mainstream media. Ifyou come across a news item that you believe may be of interest to otherVeloNews readers, we would be grateful if you choose to send it to Rosters@InsideInc.com. Cycling: Robinson at heart of big night of nostalgia - August 17,2005The Huddersfield Daily Examiner -Great BritainEIGHTEEN former Tour de France riders were among a 90-plus gatheringpaying homage to the pioneering British

I will be the first to admit that I have long suffered from a cycling affliction — make that addiction — brought on by fast, furious local group rides. I just can’t get enough of them. Occasionally I will sit at my desk daydreaming about the week’s ride. Will I make the front group? Will I flat? Will my legs fall off? Will my lungs exit my body by way of my mouth? I, my friends, am a group-ride junkie. Now, the group-rides that have always whetted my appetite aren’t just the ol’ cruiser-bike stroll in the park with mom ‘n pop. Nope, I love the speedy ones with plenty of muscle flexing and

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.Giving backDear VeloNews,For the first time in several years, HealthNet's John Lieswyn did nottoe the start line at the Tour of Kansas City this past weekend. But hisabsence, due to a broken pelvis, did not slow his efforts to nurture participationby the sport's youngest

The Phonak team announced Wednesday that Fabrizio Guidi has tested positivefor an as-of-yet-undisclosed substance. Phonak general manager John Lelangue said Guidi's A-sample has comeback positive and the 33-year-old rider has been immediately suspendedpending the outcome of follow-up tests of a B-sample. The suspension isin keeping with current UCI policy. Guidi was competing in the Tour of Germany, although the team has not disclosed when and at which event the original sample was taken from the Italian rider. Phonak has undergone major management changes since last season's

The place to be on Saturday

JHK and Heather Irmiger

PLANO, Texas (AP) -- A 52-year-old bicyclist was killed and another seriously injured when they collided head-on on a street frequently used for training and races. Local cycling enthusiasts were puzzled by the rare head-on accident, which occurred Sunday on a lightly traveled public road. Both men were wearing helmets, but it wasn't clear how fast they were going, Plano police said. Michael Mahoney, 52, of Allen, died Sunday at Medical Center of Plano. Jordan Muller, 37, of Richardson, remained in the intensive care unit at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas on Tuesday. Police spokesman

Pozatto wins a close one

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.No political news, pleaseEditor:Regarding your story, "Armstrong rules out political career... for now”: I first heard this topic discussed during the Tour coverage on OLN. Then I heard it come up during the Charlie Rose interview. Now VeloNews.com has decided to pick up the story. There

The latest Photo Gallery in our continuing photo contest has now been posted for your viewing pleasure. After reviewing a host of very notable submissions, we had to surrender to our funny bones and admit that we most enjoyed Joe David’s “Speed up or pitchfork” and declared Mr. David’s submission to be the winner of our most recent contest. Congratulations, Joe! You win a copy of Graham Watson's "Landscapes of Cycling." We’re not sure if we picked that photo because of the humor or the soft spot we have in our hearts (heads?) for that whacky ol’ German, Didi Senft – a.k.a. “The Devil.”

Now that his cycling career is over, Armstrong just wants to relax

Prokop leads Bootes on his way to victory

Kintner and Katrina Miller in an early round

The drivable trophy

Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on Sunday dismissed reports that might enter politics by running for governor of Texas. Shortly after winning his record seventh Tour last month, the cyclist told Outside magazine that he might consider a run for governor of his home state after 2006. But he downplayed the statement as "more or less a joke" in an interview with ABC television. "The biggest problem with politics or running for the governor ... here in Austin or in Texas is that it would mimic exactly what I've done: a ton of stress and a ton of time away from my kids. "Why would I

Horner, who spent much of his debut Tour on the attack, may shift to Davitamon

Zaballa takes the Clásica

Alfred goes for the gold

The winning team

DiLuca had a crook stomach and scored no ProTour points

The Barry break

Moreau on the front