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Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling that I’m not the only person ticking down the hours until the start of the Amgen Tour of California. Set your watches, ladies and gentlemen, we only have 620 left to wait — at 11 a.m. on February 19, you all better have your attention turned to the streets of San Francisco. Now, starting the race with a prologue up to the base of Coit Tower on the tippy-top of Telegraph Hill sounds pretty epic. The route starts at Pier 1, skirts the Embarcadero just south of Fisherman’s Wharf, and takes riders up to, quite possibly, the best view in town. Sure, the route

Colby Pearce adds his two cents' worth

Barredo's gamble paid off.

Kelly leads the keirin out of the final corner

The day's break formed early again.

Huff rides to sixth in the pursuit for TIAA-CREF

Evans (right) was the biggest GC threat at 12 minutes back.

The ADT Center: Sure beats riding in the snow

Botcharov bridges

AG2R monitored the gap

Jeanson calls it quits while still proclaiming innocence.

Davis grabs his first pro win in Oz.

With no major GC threats present, the group was allowed to stay away.

The AG2R boys just had to keep an eye on the time gap.

Crake takes a dig and Davis joins him

It proved to be the winning move.

Gerrans still has the lead...

...but Sanches is but seven seconds back

Dear Bob, I am an attorney and have been practicing as an Assistant DA for the past 15 years. A few weeks ago I forgot about "toys on top" and drove into the garage with my beautiful Wilier on top. My home owner's policy covers damage caused by a vehicle. They have denied coverage because they are saying the garage caused the damage. I think it is a strained interpretation of the policy as they would cover the bike if I had backed over it. I looked at an old policy with another company and they had the same language. I know of other cyclists who have been covered. Have you dealt

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.OBRA and Oregon do plenty for world’s-bound ’crossersEditor:As a member of the Cross Crusade's board of directors, I can explain what Oregon's largest cyclo-cross series has done to support racers going to the world championships this year and in previous years (See Monday’s

Gerrans takes the stage, but Sanchez may still be the favorite to defend his title.

Higgerson and McLachlan started the action

The Liberty boys made sure their guy got up there, too.

McEwen and Sanchez attack with 45km to go...

...and were soon joined by Walker and Gerrans.

With a sprinter of McEwen's caliber in the mix, Gerrans decides to try his luck with an attack at 5km to go.

McEwen strikes his usual pose

Summertime and the livin' is easy

Hushovd

The Liberty Sguros team of defending TDU champion Luis Leon Sanchez Gil

Tour of California route, teams announced

Our latest reader-submitted Photo Gallery is now up for your viewing pleasure. Of course, a new gallery also means the naming of the winner of ourmost recent contest. Take the time to wander through that gallery and see if you agree or disagree with our choice of winner. We especially liked Kenneth Alan’s “Austin Self Portrait,” a beautifully composed shot that appeals to our obvious preference for working bikes. Congratulations Kenneth! Drop us a note at Rosters@InsideInc.com to work out the details and we’ll send you a copy of Graham Watson's "Landscapes of Cycling."Go ahead 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.Details on Tour of California, pleaseEditor:What’s up with the poor marketing for the Amgen Tour of California? For such a large event I’m surprised there is so little information about this race especially since it’s only a month away. I am more than willing to drive to California,

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has told a South African newspaper that he is in talks on a movie about his life. Armstrong, 34, is due to travel to South Africa on Wednesday, accompanied by fiancée Sheryl Crow, for a first visit that will include a tour of Soweto, the township that was the center of anti-apartheid resistance. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Armstrong said that Matt Damon, an actor he has known for some years, was favored to play him. The American, who survived a bout of testicular cancer, returned to pro cycling and won seven consecutive Tours,

A criminal court in Paris has refused to hear a defamation actions brought by Italian cyclist Filippo Simeoni against Lance Armstrong. Judicial officials said Monday the statute of limitations had expired in the case against the seven-time Tour de France winner. The court said Simeoni's lawyers misinterpreted French law. Armstrong, quoted in an April 2003 report in the online edition of French daily Le Monde, contended that Simeoni had agreed to testify against doctor Michele Ferrari in exchange for a lesser penalty if the Italian rider were accused of doping by the sport's

Boulder, Colorado (January 16, 2006) – Team TIAA-CREF is thrilled toannounce that it will participate in the 2006 Etoile des Bessèges(February 1-5) and GP Marseilles. GP Marseilles (January 31) is the 2006French season opener and will be the first time Team TIAA-CREF hits theroad this year.Among those racing for Team TIAA-CREF are former Espoir Time Trial WorldChampion Danny Pate and current Canadian Professional Road Champion, FrancoisParisien.“Garnering invitations for both of these races is a huge step up forTeam TIAA-CREF and we are looking forward to honoring these events by

Hushovd and McEwen are favorites to take the points competition

VeloNews Photo Contest: A new Gallery

The Katzenjammer kids

Organizers of Europe's three major Tours (background,L toR) Angelo Zomegnan (Giro), Christian Prudhomme (Tour) and Victore Cordero (Vuelta) pose with Giro deputy administrator Giacomo Catano, ASO's Patrick Clerc and Unipublic's Ignacio Ay

Ullrich's new lean and hungry look

World anti-doping chief Richard Pound has rejected a demand for an apology from an association of professional cyclists that says he has tarred all riders with his characterization of pro racing as a culture fraught with cheating and doping. "The CPA [Cyclistes Professionnels Associés] has misunderstood, misconstrued, misinterpreted and mischaracterized the situation," the Montreal lawyer said yesterday, blasting back at a letter from the pro riders that insisted he publicly retract comments published late last year in the Guardian, a British newspaper. The Switzerland-based group gave

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.Sinibaldi was a true champEditor:Twenty-five years ago, when living on the west coast of Florida, I rode with the fledgling Tampa Bay Bicycle Sports club. The Saturday morning rides from Phillipe Park in Safety Harbor were attended by a widely diverse group, including a number of riders I

Amante Coffee's North Boulder location will host a fund-raising party January 19 for TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar’s world’s-bound cyclo-crossers, Alex Howes, Danny Summerhill, Troy Wells and Brady Kappius. The party begins at 7 p.m. at 4580 Broadway, Suite E, at the southeast corner of Yarmouth and Broadway. Cost is $10 per person. Drinks will be discounted, a silent auction will be held, and VeloNews.com diarist Brandon Dwight will display photos from his "Chocolate, Waffles and 'Cross" trip to Europe on the shop's flat-screen TV. All funds raised will go directly to the riders’ travel

Brochard's new look

Bouygues Telecom for 2006

Former world mountain bike champ Alison Dunlap will speak in Aurora, Colorado, on January 28 as part of a fund-raiser for the band at her old high school. Dunlap, who played flute in the Smoky Hill High School Band, will speak at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at the school, 16100 E. Smoky Hill Road. "She is really excited about coming back to her old school to help us out and is willing to stay and sign autographs, take pictures, etc., following her speech," said Lisa Mills, co-chair of the Ways and Means Committee of the Smoky Hill High School Band Parents Association. Dunlap’s talk will cover

Boonen wants to race

The full squad

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.John ‘The Legend’ Sinibaldi passes onEditor:John "The Legend" Sinibaldi, passed away in his sleep January 10 at 10:40 am. He was 92 years old, and had a short battle with lung cancer. Luckily he was not in any pain, and died peacefully with his family by his side. John's legacy as a

Americans Bobby Julich and Christian Vande Velde will be racing on native soil next month as Team CSC contests the inaugural Tour of California February 19-26. Prior to the tour, the full squad of 30 riders will participate in a training camp in Solvang, California — the first time Team CSC has held one of its important early season preparation events outside Europe. "With CSC, our title sponsor, headquartered in California and so many of our other important sponsors like Cervelo based in North America, I’m pleased to see a race like the Tour of California come about," said Bjarne Riis,

Petacchi and Zabel will be a formidable pair

The full squad

Wednesday's EuroFile: Milram aims high; Beltrán looks to Giro

John Sinibaldi

The 2006 CapTech Classic will continue a tradition of twilight racing June 1 in downtown Richmond, Virginia. The Thursday-evening race, part of USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar, will use the same spectator-friendly course as last year, with 125 feet of climbing and eight turns per 1.2-mile lap. "The move to a Thursday night worked quite well for the event last year," said event director Tim Miller. "We attracted far more spectators in 2005 than in previous years, and successfully created an after-work party in the heart of downtown Richmond." CapTech, the Richmond-based technology

Sports publisher seeks dynamic, experienced Interactive Editor for VeloNews. Successful candidate will be responsible for managing news content for VeloNews.com, including working directly with VeloNews editors and freelance contributors, media producers, and designers to coordinate news and story ideas into compelling content. Must have strong writing, editing, copyediting, proofing, management and communications skills. 3-4 years experience as editor/managing editor in magazine or online publishing. Sports writing, competitive road and mountain bike racing knowledge, and experience working

Olympic champion cyclist Tyler Hamilton appeared before the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday in hopes of having his blood-doping suspension lifted. Hamilton and his lawyer, Howard Jacobs, argued their case at the Brown Palace hotel in downtown Denver in their final appearance before the panel, which will decide his fate within the next few weeks. The hearing before the Swiss-based CAS, the highest court for sports cases in the world, was expected to last into the evening. Hamilton declined to comment during a lunch break, other than to once again assert his innocence. Once

Freire enjoying one of the few wins he had last season, this one at last February's Mallorca's Challenge.

M-SR in 2004 was one of Freire's most memorable wins... and one Zabel would rather forget.

Herbalife has signed on as a founding partner and official nutrition company of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California, according to race organizer AEG. The race from San Francisco to Redondo Beach is scheduled February 19-26. Herbalife also will serve as the exclusive presenting sponsor of the race’s final stage in Redondo Beach and of Autograph Alley, where the riders will sign in at the start of each stage. The company also supports cycling events held at the ADT Event Center, an indoor velodrome located at The Home Depot Center. "The Tour of California is another of our initiatives to

Rebellin at last year's Amstel Gold Race, in which he finished third.

Tyler Hamilton, still trying to clear his name after receiving a two-year suspension for blood-doping, has a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing in Denver on Tuesday. After closing submissions are made in Hamilton's appeal of a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) ruling, the panel will begin final deliberations and render a decision, a process that could last a few weeks. Hamilton tested positive for illicit blood transfusions during the Vuelta a España in September of 2004, just weeks after winning Olympic gold. Last April, USADA imposed a two-year suspension. Hamilton wants CAS

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.Millar’s welcome; what about Hamilton?Editor:I'm excited about David Millar's return to cycling. His honesty was impressive and he's earned this opportunity to ride again. I'm curious about Tyler Hamilton. Were he to admit at this point that he did indeed dope, what would

A month ago in Paris, the organizers of the three grand tours made a very public statement by holding a press conference in which they said they were going to extract the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and their eight ancillary races from the UCI ProTour system. In a direct challenge to the Union Cycliste Internationale, the organizers [ASO in France, RCS in Italy and Unipublic in Spain] said they would create their own Grand Tour Trophy competition and offer the 20 ProTour teams a package of prizes and bonuses that would total almost $5million. “I find it hard to imagine

Patrice Clerc

The first American to ride in the Tour de France is seeking early release from probation after pleading guilty to molesting an 11-year-old girl in 2002. Jonathan Boyer, a U.S. Cycling Hall of Famer who competed in the Tour de France in 1981, appeared in court Thursday in Salinas, California, to ask a judge to lift the last two years of his probation. His lawyer said Boyer was a model inmate and has successfully completed therapy. The 51-year-old Boyer now runs a cycling shop. "He's done everything and his probation officer thinks it's probably time to terminate probation," lawyer

Now or never, says Agritubel president Jose Fornes

Boyer, upon his arrest in 2002

I want to begin by wishing everyone a somewhat belated holiday season. I hope you all had as great a season as I did. That’s right, I was lucky enough to spend Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, Saturnalia, New Year's and, of course, Festivus clad in shorts pushing the pedals in unseasonably, pleasantly awesome weather. While the past two weeks saw frigid temperatures on the East Coast and Northern California drowned under feet of water, Colorado was not only spared, but gifted with enough fresh powder in the mountains to keep the local bro-bra snowboarder community feeling

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.Bare-legs ban seems a little strictEditor:In Wednesday's online installment of "Ask the Doctor," Dr. Richardson stated: "I was a junior back when disco was king and all we had to go by was the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) cycling manual. The good book strictly forbade riding in

Rabobank meets the press in Rotterdam

Friday's EuroFile: Rabobank '06 unveiled; Saunier Duval for California, wind tunnel

Jealous?

MHP had a lot to smile about in '05.

Gettin' dirty with Canada's best