News

Dear Readers,
Welcome to the latest edition of The Prologue, VeloNews.com's regular summary of the news from the world of competitive cycling.

Scott Nydam attacked early in the second stage of the Amgen Tour of California last month, spending a long and lonely day off the front of the peloton before being pulled back after 97 miles on his own. For his effort, the 30-year-old Colorado native earned the day's most-aggressive rider jersey and snagged a few climber's points along the way.

Mount Hamilton descent - Tour of CA 2008

The Old and The New - Scott Moninger and Taylor Phinney, 2007 North Boulder Park Crit

A Denver-area institution turns 35 this year. Wheat Ridge Cyclery, founded by Eugene Kiefel in 1973 has grown to be the largest single bike shop in all of Colorado and a perennial recipient of the coveted “Bicycle Retailer: Top 100” award. (An industry honor reserved for the best 100 bike shops in the nation.) History

Abraham Olano, the Basque two-time world champion and winner of the Vuelta a España, will participate in cycling trips organized by Giant Tours. Olano rode with Giant bikes in his years with the professional team ONCE. After his retirement as a pro rider, Olano went on with Giant testing their products and as one of their ambassadors in several events.

Crossing the Gator Pit

Cesar Grajales guts it out on Brasstown Bald last year.

Mai's bike. He says he rides up to 1000km a week on it.

Coming off an impressive 2007 season, Kona CLUMP riders Andreu Lacondeguy, Paul “Bas” Basagoitia and Grant “Chopper” Fielder automatically qualified for the 2008 Nissan Qashqai Challenge (NQC). The five-event series will take place from April through May at five different European venues with the Grand Final slated for London, UK.

The season is still a few weeks away, plenty of time to hit the powder

Decker speeds through another stage of Washington's Doo Wop Rally

Craig (left) and Decker with their rallying machine, the Wheels of Teal

IRVINE, Calif. -- Enjoying the outdoors is as natural as riding a bike and Shimano American Corporation and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) have teamed up to promote how important the activity is. Shimano is a major manufacturer of bicycle components and IMBA is a national advocate for responsible riding and trail construction. Together they are releasing the new document, The Economics and Benefits of Mountain Biking at the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. March 4 – 6, 2008.

Props to Wilcockson
Dear Velo,
What an excellent article by John Wilcockson! It would seem clear that ASO, as owners of the most prestigious event in cycling (the Tour de France and others such as Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Nice), are seeking to widen their control in cycling, which would ultimately undo all the work to make professional cycling an organized world-wide sport.

Offroad in Burma

Riders race through downtown Brian Head when the resort hosted a stop on the National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) in 2006

WOODSTOCK, Georgia— Starting in March, leading sports nutrition and supplement manufacturer Dedicated Athlete will break new ground in the fight against illegal doping, unveiling a first-of-its-kind program that allows customers to make direct donations to the non-profit Cycling Ethics Foundation. The progressive program will be run through Dedicated Athlete’s revamped online store, www.DedicatedAthlete.com, where customers will be able to contribute to the anti-doping fight simply by clicking on the appropriate button on the checkout page.

Graeme Brown at the 2008 Tour Down Under

PHILADELPHIA —Planning is well underway for the 2008 Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling events, and now you have the opportunity to become a part of this world-class professional cycling series. The public is invited to experience the excitement of professional cycling first-hand by volunteering with Pro Cycling Tour, the organizers of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling. The dates and locations for the races are as follows: * Commerce Bank Lehigh Valley Classic – Tuesday, June 3, 2008 * Commerce Bank Reading Classic – Thursday, June 5, 2008

Stage One Stretch Run

Wet Photogs

Graham Watson Hangs out in CA

Cancellara trying to get to Solvang TT start house

Triple Bypass 2007 - Loveland Pass 11,990 feet

Belgian Roel Paulissen won the GC at the Afxentia Stage Race.

Czech Tereza Hurikova took the overall at the Afxentia Stage Race.