News

. . . before displaying the stars and stripes

While Friday's festivities were in downtown Crested Butte, events head up to Mont Crested Butte for the weekend where cross-country, downhill and Super D races will be contested

Lance Armstrong has been quick to point out that while he holds the record for the greatest number of overall victories by any rider at the Tour de France, Johan Bruyneel has the best winning average of any directeur sportif in the history of the race, having started his career as a director in 1999, when Armstrong earned the first of his six consecutive Tour wins. He’s been the man behind the wheel of the team car ever since. Six-for-six. Indeed, the 41-year-old Belgian was the first to believe Armstrong could win the Tour and the pair has been inseparable in their passion, focus and, some

Bikes (and their pilots) come in all shapes and sizes

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.It’s almost time to put up or shut upEditor:The time between the finish of the Tour de Suisse and the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré seems to bring out all the talk. Every race director thinks his guy will be on the podium in Paris. Well, only three gentlemen get that honor, and we

The next Olympic cycling discipline?

For Immediate Release Boulder, CO--Inside Communications (ICI) announces that Express Messenger International (EMI) will be handling all Canadian and international subscription distribution for its publications VeloNews®, Inside Triathlon®, and Ski Racing®, effective immediately. The move should improve Canadian and international delivery times by two to five business days. The faster service is a result of expedited pick-up and transit to the host country's postal system. For example, an EMI truck will pick up VeloNews at its printer in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

That's 30 pounds of rolling resistant weight

Bruyneel and Armstrong at the Dauphiné

Prepping for the downhill? Actually this was the first leg of the team relay race

The junior men hit the road in the Kaman Valley with the Little Alps in the distance

Balance is key in leg two of the relay race. He didn't drop it

The junior women's leaders, with Koch in the middle and Crowell out front

Race ready complete with playing cards in the front wheel

BODROGI Laszlo - HUNAge 28Turned Pro 2000 CAUCCHIOLI Pietro - IAge 29Turned Pro 1999 HALGAND Patrice - FAge 31Turned Pro 1996 HINAULT Sébastien - FAge 31Turned Pro 1997 HUSHOVD Thor - NAge 27Turned Pro 2000 JOLY Sébastien - FAge 26Turned Pro 2000 KASHECHKIN Andrey - KAZAge 25Turned Pro 2002 KIRSIPUU Jaan - ESTAge 35Turned Pro 1993 MOREAU Christophe - FAge 34 FTurned Pro 1995 Sponsor: Banking corporationWeb site: www.credit-agricole.fr2005 budget: $7.8 millionDirecteur sportif: Roger LegeayTeam created: 1999Past Tours: 7th year participating, 4 stage wins EQUIPMENT:Bike:

BOONEN Tom - BAge 24Turned Pro 2002 CRETSKENS Wilfried - BAge 28Turned Pro 1998 ROGERS Michael - AUSAge 25Turned Pro 2001 SINKEWITZ Patrik - GAge 24Turned Pro 2001 HULSMANS Kevin - BAge 27Turned Pro 2000 KNAVEN Servais - NLAge 34Turned Pro 1994 TANKINK Bram - NLAge 26Turned Pro 2001 TRENTI Guido - IAge 32Turned Pro 1996 ZANINI Stefano - IAge 36Turned Pro 1991 Sponsor: Floor products, mattressesWeb site: www.quickstepcycling.com2005 budget: $12 millionDirecteur sportif: Patrick LefévèreTeam created: 2005Past tours: 3rd year participating, 6 stage wins, 2 KOM classification (Richard

Gerolsteiner

ARVESEN Kurt-Asle - N Age 30Turned Pro 1999 BASSO Ivan - IAge 27Turned Pro 1999 JULICH Bobby - USAAge 33Turned Pro 1992 LOMBARDI Giovanni - IAge 36Turned Pro 1992 SASTRE Carlos - ESPAge 30Turned Pro 1998 SÖRENSEN Nicki - DKAge 30Turned Pro 1999 VOIGT Jens - GAge 33Turned Pro 1997 ZABRISKIE David - USAAge 26 USATurned Pro 1999 ROBERTS Luke - AUSAge 28Turned Pro 2002 Sponsor: Computer systemsWeb site: www.riis-cycling.com2005 budget: not availableDirecteur sportif: Bjarne RiisTeam created: 2001Past Tours: 5th year participating, 6 stage wins, 2 KOM classification (Laurent Jalabert,

BOOGERD Michael - NLAge 33Turned Pro 1994 DEKKER Erik - NLAge 34Turned Pro 1992 KROON Karsten - NLAge 29Turned Pro 1999 LÖWIK Gerben - NLAge 28Turned Pro 2000 MENCHOV Denis - RUSAge 27Turned Pro 2000 POSTHUMA Joost - NLAge 24Turned Pro 2004 RASMUSSEN Michael - DKAge 31Turned Pro 2002 WAUTERS Marc - BAge 36Turned Pro 1991 WEENING Pieter - NLAge 24Turned Pro 2004 Sponsor: Banking CorporationWeb site: www.rabobank.nl2005 budget: $19.4 million (approx.)Directeur sportif: Theo De RooyTeam created: 1996Past tours: 10th year participating, 12 stage wins EQUIPMENT:Bike: ColnagoComponents:

Illes Balears

Veloswap.com launches online bike marketplaceBoulder, CO - Veloswap® announces the launch of the veloswap.comwebsite, an online marketplace for bicycle suppliers, retailers, clubs,teams, event directors, and individual cycling enthusiasts. The veloswap.comsite also offers banner advertising and other promotional opportunities. Veloswap.com utilizes a classified format enabling sellers to post productsand services and communicate via email with interested consumers. Productlistings cost as little as two dollars per item per month, with no additionalfees or commissions. The veloswap.com

CAÑADA David - SPAge 29Turned Pro 1996 BERTOGLIATI Rubens - SWIAge 26Turned Pro 2000 FRITSCH Nicolas - FAge 26Turned Pro 1999 GARATE Juan Manuel - SPAge 29Turned Pro 2000 GOMEZ Angel - SPAge 24Turned Pro 2004 ZABALLA Constantino - SPAge 27Turned Pro 2001 HORNER Chris - USAAge 33Turned Pro 1995 QUINZIATO Manuel - IAge 25Turned Pro 2002 PIEPOLI Leonardo - IAge 33Turned Pro 1995 Sponsor: Heating company, pen purveyorWeb site: www.saunierduvalteam.com2005 budget: $4.3 millionDirecteur sportif: Mauro GianettiTeam

Lampre-Caffita

AERTS Mario - BAge 30 Turned Pro 1996 BRANDT Christophe - BAge 28Turned Pro 2000 EVANS Cadel - AUSAge 28 Turned Pro 2001 McEWEN Robbie - AUSAge 33 Turned Pro 1996 MERCKX Axel - BAge 32Turned Pro 1994 RODRIGUEZ Fred - USAAge 31 Turned Pro 1996 VAN BONAND Leon - NCAge 33 Turned Pro 1993 VAN SUMMEREN Johan - BAge 24Turned Pro 2003 VANSEVENANT Wim - BAge 33Turned Pro 1995 Sponsors: Pharmaceutical company, national lotteryWeb site: www.davitamon-lotto.be2005 budget: $7.8 millionDirecteur sportif: Marc SergeantTeam created (under current name): 2005Past tours: 15th year participating

ULLRICH Jan - GAge 31Turned Pro 1995 GUERINI Giuseppe - IAge 35 Turned Pro 1993 KESSLER Matthias - GAge 26Turned Pro 2000 KLÖDEN Andreas - GAge 30Turned Pro 1998 NARDELLO Danielle - IAge 32Turned Pro 1994 SCHRECK Stefan - GAge 26 Turned Pro 2000 SEVILLA Oscar - SpAge 28Turned Pro 1998 STEINHAUSER Tobias - GAge 33Turned Pro 1996 VINOKOUROV Alexandre - KzAge 31Turned Pro 1998 Sponsor: Telecommunications CompanyWeb site: www.t-mobile-team.com2005 budget: $23.3 millionDirecteur sportif: Walter GodefrootTeam created: 1991Past tours: 14th year participating; 2 overall wins (Bjarne

Liberty Seguros-Würth

ARMSTRONG Lance - USA Age 33 Turned Pro 1992 AZEVEDO José - P Age 31 Turned Pro 1994 BELTRAN Manuel - SP Age 34 Turned Pro 1995 HINCAPIE George - USA Age 32 Turned Pro 1994 NOVAL Benjamin - SP Age 26 Turned Pro 2001 PADRNOS Pavel - CZ Age 34 Turned Pro 1996 POPOVYCH Yaroslav - UKR Age 25 Turned Pro 2002 RUBIERA José Luis - SP Age 32 Turned Pro 1995 SAVOLDELLI Paolo - IAge 32 Turned Pro 1996 Sponsor: Television programmerWeb site: team.discovery.com2005 budget: $15 millionDirecteur sportif: Johan BruyneelTeam created: 2005Past tours: 9th year participating, 21 stage wins, 6 overall

Ag2r Prévoyance

Liquigas-Bianchi

BERTOLINI Alessandro - IAge 33Turned Pro 1994 CORTINOVIS Alessandro - IAge 27Turned Pro 2000 FURLAN Angelo - IAge 28Turned Pro 2001 VALOTI Paolo - IAge 34Turned Pro 1996 GRIVKO Andriy - UKRAge 21Turned Pro 2005 HONCHAR Serhiy - UKRAge 35Turned Pro 1996 IGLINSKY Maxim - KAZAge 24Turned Pro 2004 LUDEWIG Jörg - GAge 29Turned Pro 1997 NURITDINOV Rafael - UZBAge 28Turned Pro 2002 Sponsor: Travel agency and developerWeb site: www.dominavacanzeproteam.it2005 budget: not availableDirecteur sportif: Gianluigi StangaTeam created: 2003Past tours: 1st year participating EQUIPMENT:Bike:

Bouygues Télécom

Phonak

ARTETXE Mikel - SPAge 28Turned Pro 1999 CAMANO Iker - SPAge 26Turned Pro 2002 ETEXEBARRIA Unai - VENAge 32Turned Pro 1996 FLORES Iker - SPAge 28Turned Pro 1999 HERRERO David - SPAge 25Turned Pro 2001 LANDALUZE Inigo - SPAge 28Turned Pro 2001 MARTINEZ Egoi - SPAge 27Turned Pro 2002MAYO Iban - SPAge 27Turned Pro 2000 ZUBELDIA Haimar - SPAge 28Turned Pro 1998 Sponsors: Telecom company and Basque regionWeb site: www.fundacioneuskadi.com2005 budget: $7.8 millionDirecteur sportif: Julian GorospeTeam created: 1994Past tours: 5th year participating, 2 stage wins EQUIPMENT:Bike:

Cofidis

Quick Step-Innergetic

CANCELLARA Fabian - SWIAge 24Turned Pro 2001 GUSTOV Volodymir - UKRAge 28Turned Pro 2000 KIRCHEN Kim - LUXAge 27Turned Pro 2000 BERNUCCI Lorenzo - IAge 25Turned Pro 2002 BOSSONI Paolo - IAge 29Turned Pro 1999 CORIONI Claudio - IAge 22Turned Pro 2005 GIUNTI Massimo - IAge 29Turned Pro 1998 FRIGO Dario - IAge 31Turned Pro 1996 FLECHA Juan Antonio - SPAge 27Turned Pro 2000 Sponsor: Building materials companyWeb site: www.fassabortolo.it2005 budget: $11.6 millionDirecteur sportif: Giancarlo FerrettiTeam created: 2000Past tours: 5th year participating, 8 stage wins, 1 young rider

Crédit Agricole

Rabobank

McGEE Bradley - AUSAge 29Turned Pro 1998 COOKE Baden - AUSAge 26Turned Pro 2000 EISEL Bernhard - AAge 24Turned Pro 2001 GILBERT Philippe - BAge 23Turned Pro 2003 LÖVKVIST Thomas - SAge 21Turned Pro 2003 CASAR Sandy - FAge 26Turned Pro 2000 DA CRUZ Carlos - FAge 30Turned Pro 1997 MENGIN Christophe - FAge 36Turned Pro 1995 MOUREY Francis - FAge 24Turned Pro 2004 Sponsor: National LotteryWeb site: cyclisme.fdjeux.com2005 budget: $8.4 millionDirecteur sportif: Marc MadiotTeam created: 1997Past tours: 9th year participating, 4 stage wins, 1 sprint classification(Baden Cooke,

CSC

Saunier Duval-Prodir

LEIPHEIMER Levi - USAAge 31Turned Pro 1997 FÖRSTER Robert - GAge 27Turned Pro 2001 LANG Sebastian - GAge 25Turned Pro 2002 RICH Michael - GAge v35Turned Pro 1997 SCHOLZ Ronny - GAge 27Turned Pro 2001 TOTSCHNIG Georg - AAge 34Turned Pro 1994 WEGMANN Fabian - GAge 25Turned Pro 2002 WROLICH Peter - AAge 31Turned Pro 1999 ZBERG Beat - SWIAge 34Turned Pro 1992 Sponsor: Mineral water producerWeb site: www.gerolsteiner.com/cycling2005 budget: $15.5 million (approx.)Directeur sportif: Hans-Michael HolczerTeam created: 1998Past tours: 3rd year participating EQUIPMENT:Bike:

Landis is relaxed and ready for the Tour, says Lelangue

T-Mobile

MANCEBO Francisco - SPAge 29Turned Pro 1998 KARPETS Vladimir - RUSAge 24Turned Pro 1998 VALVERDE Alejandro - SPAge 25Turned Pro 2002 ARROYO David - SPAge 25Turned Pro 2001 Chente García ZANDIO Xabier - SPAge 28Turned Pro 2001 BECKE Daniel - GAge 27Turned Pro 2001 ARRIETA José Luis - SPAge 34Turned Pro 1993 GALVEZ Isaac - SPAge 30Turned Pro 2000 Sponsor: Balearic Islands governmentWeb site: www.illesbalears-banesto.com2005 budget: $8.4 millionDirecteur sportif: José Miguel EchavarriTeam created: 1990Past tours: 16th year participating, 15 stage wins, 5 overall wins (Miguel Indurain,

Davitamon-Lotto

BORTOLAMI Gianluca - IAge 36Turned Pro 1990 COMMESSO Salvatore - IAge 30Turned Pro 1998 GLOMSER Gerrit - AAge 30Turned Pro 1998 LOOSLI David - SWIAge 25Turned Pro 2003 MAZZOLENI Eddy - IAge 31Turned Pro 1996 PETROV Evgeni - RUSAge 27Turned Pro 2001 RIGHI Daniele - IAge 29Turned Pro 2000 SPEZIALETTI Alessandro - IAge 30Turned Pro 1997 STANGELJ Gorazd - SLVAge 32Turned Pro 1997 Sponsor: Steel production, coffee machinesWeb site: www.lampre-caffita.com2005 budget: not availableDirecteur sportif: Giuseppe SaronniTeam created: 2005 (combination of Lampre and Saeco teams)Past tours: 8th

Discovery Channel

BELOKI Joseba - SPAGE 31Turned Pro 1998 CONTADOR Alberto - SPAGE 22 Turned Pro 2003 DAVIS Allan - AUSAGE 24Turned Pro 2002 GONZALEZ DE GALDEANO Igor - SPAGE 31Turned Pro 1995 HERAS Roberto - SPAGE 31Turned Pro 1996 JAKSCHE Jörg - GAGE 28Turned Pro 1997 SANCHEZ Luis - SPAGE 21 Turned Pro 2004 SERRANO Marcos - SPAGE 32Turned Pro 1994 VICIOSO Angel - SPAGE 28 Turned Pro 1999 RESERVESHRUSKA Jan - CZAGE 30Turned Pro 1996 ANDRLE René - CZAGE 31Turned Pro 1999 Sponsor: Insurance companyWeb site: www.libertysegurosteam.com2005 budget: not availableDirecteur sportif: Manolo SaizTeam

Domina Vacanze

ASTARLOZA Mikel - SPAge 25Turned Pro 2002 CALZATI Sylvain - FAge 25Turned Pro 2003 DUMOULIN Samuel - FAge 24Turned Pro 2002 GERRANS Simon - AUSAge 25Turned Pro 2003 GOUBERT Stéphane - FAge 35Turned Pro 1994 KRIVTSOV Yuriy - UKRAge 26Turned Pro 2002 NAZON Jean-Patrick - FAge 28Turned Pro 1997 PORTAL Nicolas - FAge 26Turned Pro 2002 TURPIN Ludovic - FAge 30Turned Pro 2000 Sponsor: Insurance companyWeb site: www.ag2r-cyclisme.comDirecteur sportif: Vincent LavenuAssistants: Giles Mas, Arturas Kasputis2005 budget: $5.9 millionTeam created (with current name): 20002003 wins: 24Past Tours:

ALBASINI Michael - SWIAge 24Turned Pro 2003 BÄCKSTEDT Magnus - SAge 30Turned Pro 1996 CIONI Dario - IAge 30Turned Pro 2000 CARLSTRÖM Kjell - FINAge 28Turned Pro 2002 GARZELLI Stefano - IAge 31Turned Pro 1997 GEROSA Mauro - IAge 30Turned Pro 2000 LJUNGQVIST Marcus - SAge 30Turned Pro 1998 PELLIZOTTI Franco - IAge 27Turned Pro 2001 PAGLIARINI Luciano - BRAAge 27Turned Pro 2001 Sponsor: Natural gas company, bicyclesWeb site: www.bianchi.com2005 budget: $6.5 millionDirecteur sportif: Roberto AmadioTeam created: 2005Past tours: 1st year participating EQUIPMENT:Bike: BianchiComponents:

Euskaltel-Euskadi

BÉNÉTEAU Walter - FAge 32Turned Pro 2000 BROCHARD Laurent - FAge 37Turned Pro 1992 FÉDRIGO Pierrick - FAge 26Turned Pro 2000 GESLIN Anthony - FAge 25Turned Pro 2002 LEFÈVRE Laurent - FAge 29Turned Pro 1997 PINEAU Jérôme - FAge 25Turned Pro 2002 ROUS Didier - FAge 34Turned Pro 1993 SPRICK Matthieu - FAge 23Turned Pro 2004 VOECKLER Thomas - FAge 26Turned Pro 2001 Sponsor: Mobile phone serviceWeb site: www.equipebouyguestelecom.fr2005 budget: $9.1 millionDirecteur sportif: Jean-René BernaudeauTeam created: 2005Past Tours: third year participatingEQUIPMENTBike: TimeComponents:

Race Across America competitor Bob Breedlove was killed Thursday when he collided with an oncoming pick-up truck some 28 miles west of Trinidad, Colorado. According to a news release issued by race organizers confirmed that Breedlove was involved in the collision around 10:15 local time on Thursday morning. Paramedics who arrived on the scene soon after pronounced him dead. The accident took place on a section of road that sloped very gently downhill for cyclists in the race. According to the driver of the pickup truck, Breedlove appeared to slump on his bicycle and swerved into the path of

Fassa Bortolo

BESSY Frédéric - FAge 33Turned Pro 1996 AUGÉ Stéphane - FAge 30Turned Pro 2000 VASSEUR Cédric - FAge 34Turned Pro 1994 CHAVANEL Sylvain - FAge 26Turned Pro 2000 MONCOUTIÉ David - FAge 30Turned Pro 1997 O’GRADY Stuart - AUSAge 31Turned Pro 1995 WHITE Matthew - AUSAge 31Turned Pro 1996 TOMBAK Janek - ESTAge 28Turned Pro 1999 MARICHAL Thierry - BAge 32Turned Pro 1996 Sponsor: Telephone credit companyWeb site: www.cofidis.fr2005 budget: not availableDirecteur sportif: Francis Van LonderseleTeam created: 1997Past Tours: 9th year participating, 6 stage wins, 1 KOM classification

BOTERO Santiago - COLAge 32Turned Pro 1996 GRABSCH Bert - GAge 30Turned Pro 1997 GUTIERREZ José Enrique - SPAge 31Turned Pro 1998 HUNTER Robert - SAAge 28Turned Pro 1999 JALABERT Nicolas - FAge 32Turned Pro 1995 LANDIS Floyd - USAAge 29Turned Pro 1999 MOOS Alexandre - SWIAge 32Turned Pro 1996 PEREIRO Oscar - SPAge 27Turned Pro 2000 ZAMPIERI Steve - SWIAge 28Turned Pro 2000 Sponsor: Hearing aid systemsWeb site: www.phonak.com2005 budget: $13.6 millionDirecteur sportif: John LelangueTeam created: 2000Past tours: 2nd year participating EQUIPMENT:Bike: BMCComponents: CampagnoloWheels:

Francaise des Jeux

“I want to have some fun.” That’s what Bernard Hinault said before starting his final Tour de France in 1986. And he did. The five-time Tour winner went on the attack whenever he felt like it. He won both the long time trials, finished first at L’Alpe d’Huez and wore the yellow jersey for five days. He didn’t win the Tour though, partly because he’d promised to help his young prodigy, Greg LeMond. The American did win — despite the deliberate head games played by Hinault.When another five-time champion, Miguel Induráin, began his last Tour in 1996, he didn’t make any predictions, but he

T-Mobile announces Tour roster

(L-R): Giuseppe Guerini, Tobias Steinhauser, Matthias Kessler, Andreas Klöden, Alexander Vinokourov, Jan Ullrich, Oscar Sevilla, Daniele Nardello and Stephan Schreck.

Armstrong says he has the best back-up he's ever had

Seventh Heaven - or What?

Anything can happen on the road to Paris

Curi takes the win.

Kroepsch's attack sent off the day's early break

T-Mobile did its best to control the day

Decker has a good week in Utah.

Mr. Baldwin snags a TT title

Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) will enter this year’s Tour de France with a much different profile than his three previous starts. After what he calls a three-year apprenticeship at Rabobank, a newly confident Leipheimer is ready to aim for the podium After his impressive performance at the Dauphiné Libéré, where he finished third overall and missed winning two stages by less than a second, Leipheimer knows he can ride with the best under any conditions. Leipheimer answered journalists’ questions about his past, his present and his future… at least through July. Here’s what he had to

Leipheimer at the Dauphiné

Cunego at this year's Tour of Romandie

Armstrong rides to a U.S. Title

Traffic is not an issue on Antelope Island

Riding into form, Ullrich says he's primed for France

Di Luuca had several jerseys to choose from in May. He wants the white one at the end of the year.

The latest Photo Gallery in our continuing photo contest has now been posted for your viewing pleasure. Last Week's WinnerWe’ve awarded a copy of Graham Watson’s "Landscapes of Cycling." to Kristi Henne for her photo of the Health Net train getting to work in "Crank it up Boys." Thank you and congratulations Kristi. We'll be sending you a copy of Graham Watson's "Landscapesof Cycling. This Week's ContestThe announcement of a winner also signals the start of a New Contest, so go ahead and take a look at the Gallery from this round.From all of the submitted photos, we will