News

Saturn's Eric Wohlberg wins the fast heat at the Tour of Connecticut opener.

From a gastrointestinal perspective, it’s been a bad week for former Mercury teammates Tom Danielson and Chris Wherry. Danielson and Saturn teammate Nathan O’Neill were forced to abandon the eastern European Peace Race after a bout with the stomach flu, while, for better or for worse, Wherry, now with Navigators, has finally nailed down what’s been ailing him this season — a parasite. A common microscopic parasitic organism found throughout the world, Blastocystis hominis has invaded Wherry’s system, leaving him weak and unable to fully recover from hard efforts on the bike. It’s a

One of the greatest all-around athletes in cycling history, Hendrik (“Rik”) Van Steenbergen, died in an Antwerp, Belgium, clinic on May 15 after a long illness. He was 78. At 6-foot-3 and 183 pounds, Van Steenbergen was big for a professional cyclist, but his renowned resilience made him a formidable rider on both road and track throughout his exceptionally long career. In 24 seasons as a professional (1943-1966), Van Steenbergen won 270 times on the road, including three world road championships, eight classics, and 25 stages of the grand tours; and 715 times on the track, including 40

Team Coast’s loss is the Postal team’s gain. Nope Lance Armstrong hasn’t recruited Jan Ullrich for this year’s Tour de France, but the team did announce on Thursday that it had signed former Coastie Manuel Beltran for the remainder of the 2003 season. Following Team Coast’s second suspension of the year for financial problems, UCI rules allow riders to negate their existing contracts with the team and become a cycling equivalent of a free agent. Ullrich announced his plans to leave Coast on Wednesday and Beltran finalized a deal with Postal on Thursday. "This is a great addition to our

How many more bottles in store for Petacchi?

Deja Vu: Cipo' has been close twice.

Garzelli's back.

Pantani has showed good form this first week

The Navigator

Van Steenbergen celebrates his win at Milan-San Remo in 1954

Beltran leads Heras in the 1999 Tour of Catalunya

Dear Bob;Here’s an odd one for ya: Can someone get their driver’s license revoked for cycling while drunk? Is it illegal and, if so, what can they do to you if you are caught riding while intoxicated?OtisNorth Carolina Dear Otis;I have to admit that at first, I didn’t think this question was really all that applicable to readers of this column. But, the more I thought about it, the more relevant it seemed. For instance, I’m sure many cyclists have attended a summer barbecue by bike only to partake in all that is offered before riding home. Then there is former 7-Eleven rider Alex Steida’s

We are preparing for the first stage race of the year: the Fleche de Sud, in Luxembourg. The longer that I spend in Europe, the greater appreciation I have for the incredible support needed to race. Going to a stage race in the U.S. is a lot easier, really. Yes, it is comforting to have someone in the feedzone to hand up a bottle, but not necessary. I know plenty of riders, good riders, that have done races like Gila, or Fitchburg unassisted. Well, that’s just not possible in Europe. At a minimum, you need someone in the feedzones, and someone driving the team car in the caravan (that

Denver-area residents with an open Thursday afternoon might want to head to Aurora on May 15 to check out the formal grand opening of what is being touted as the world’s largest bike shop. Beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, the new Bicycle Village, at 2802 S. Havana in Aurora, Colorado, will be hosting a party and benefit with a portion of proceeds going our friends at IMBA and Bicycle Colorado. The shop, run by Ken and Tom Gart and Kat Jobanputra, covers more than 30,000 square feet, stocks at least 1500 bikes on the display floor at any given time and features a huge outdoor test

It was that last little push...

Giro: Petacchi nips Cipo' at the line again

The escapees

Taxi!! - Ullrich hopes he got out of Coast while the gettin' was still good.

The wind has finally stopped.

Italy Fassa Bortolo rider Alessandro Petacchi (L) puts his head down during the final sprint with Australian Lotto domo's Robbie McEwen (R)

Australian Lotto domo rider Robbie McEwen sprays champagne on the podium after the Stage win

'I'm so lonely...'

The all-Scandium Salsa Las Cruces 'Crosser

The all-Salsa cockpit

Topeak's ToolBar–keychain friendly

Hutchinson's Limited Edition Team Series–in Postal colors

The early escape

McEwen has a chance to celebrate

Austrilian Lotto domo rider Robbie McEwen concentrates before the start of the 170km fourth stage

The pack of riders during the 170km fourth stage from Acquapesa Marina to Vibo Valentia

Italy Fassa bortolo alessandro Petacchi (L) and the pack of riders at Pizzo Calabro

Petacchi stays in maglia rosa

McEwen goes for it...

... the peloton was close behind

Pierre Hutsebaut at the L.A. Olympics

Riders in the Giro d'Italia race around a curve during the 145km third stage from Policoro to Terme Luigiane.

The pack rides in front of a castle in Marina Roseto during the third stage of the Giro d'Italia

Riders of the Giro d'Italia cycle past during the 145km third stage from Policoro to Terme Luigiane

Italy Vini Caldirola rider Stefano Garzelli raises his arms as he crosses the finish line followed by pink jersey leader Alessandro Petacchi (L).

Italian Fassa Bortolo rider Alessandro Petacchi sprays champagne on the podium

OOO-kay, here’s the thing, I need 50Gs by June 1st. Well, I don’t really need it personally, though that would be nice. No, I need it to broadcast the world championships’ Radio Tour on a private FM band so everybody in Hamilton – from spectators around the course to all the vehicles in the race caravan – can hear without it having to use expensive mobile radios. The idea isn’t really mine. It came to my boss, Pierre Hutsebaut, during an early meeting we had about two months ago with the CRTC (Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission), part of the “Federal Family” assisting us to

Robbie Mc Ewen (C) celebrates before being relegated

Petacchi and Cipollini were relaxed for most of the day

McEwen was quick to celebrate and Baldato was quick t protest

Petacchi remains in pink

Cipo' had his share of troubles on Sunday

Baldato celebrated when it mattered.

Pantani at the Giro. He can't claim that the helmet messes up his hair, can he?

The climb up McEwen.

Maher takes the win.

DII victor Beall of Idaho.

Ollerenshaw heads to victory.

No one could catch Hedges.

The rolling hills near Livermore.

Belorussian Alexander Usov (Phonak) won the opening stage of the Clasica de Alcobendas in Spain, taking the 148km stage ahead of Saeco’s Igor Astarloa and Telekom’s Gian Matteo Fagnini, who came across third. The two-day, three-stage race outside of Madrid has increased in importance the past few years, especially since many of the Spanish teams not racing at the Giro d’Italia are starting because the Giro isn’t broadcast in Spain. Kelme’s Oscar Sevilla did not start Saturday’s stage. Sevilla underwent surgery in March to remove a cyst in his groin area and said he continues to have health

2003 Giro d'Italia - FINAL start list

Fassa Bortolo's Alessandro Petacchi shot round world champ Mario Cipollini's right side.

Team fakta’s Frank Hoj and Teke’s Cristian Frattini get a little TV time.

Cipollini's teammates massed at the front - to no avail.

Midwestern State heads to the win.

The women of Dartmouth.

The hometown winners.

Cal on the way to victory.

Don't tell us who won, we're waiting for the TV coverage.

The Treasure Island criterium with the Bay Bridge in the background.

DII women's winner Kellogg.

DII men's winner King.

Jacques-Maynes won the DI men's race.

With Team Coast slapped with its second racing ban in two months, 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich could soon be heading to a new team. The UCI banned Coast from racing Thursday until the team can provide money up front for team expenses through the end of the season. The team was en route to the Peace Race when the news broke Thursday evening and didn’t start Friday’s first stage. For Ullrich, who has returned from knee surgery and a doping ban, the news could mean he’ll be looking for a few team in time to start the Tour in July. “If the situation remains what it is, we will have

Hannos was No. 1 among the DI women.

“Mutation. It is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet. This process is slow, normally taking thousands and thousands of years. But every few hundred millennia, evolution leaps forward.” - Professor Charles Xavier’s opening monologue, from “X-Men” Mutants are among us. One week after going out with a few of the boys from our editorial department to catch “X2: X-Men United” on opening night, that’s the conclusion I’ve reached. In case you’re out of the loop on superhero lore, the X-Men were, like

One of several pile-ups.

Former USA Cycling chief executive officer Lisa Voight has been hired as the first CEO of the International World Games Association, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The IWGA, an International Olympic Committee-recognized organization formed in 1981, oversees a quadrennial competition for more than 30 non-Olympic sports, such as billiards, orienteering, bowling, handball and rugby. “I’m honored to have been named as the first CEO of the IWGA and I am very much looking forward to this opportunity," Voight said. Voight, who left USA Cycling’s top job last year, is a member of the U.S.

Editor:Yes, mountain bike racing has changed. The early 1990's were cool, no doubt, with big fields and the big show at nationals. But the big events now are the epics – 100-milers and 24-hour races. Heck, anyone who has gone to a 24-hour race in the last year could not say that the sport is dying - tons of people just off the couch, giving it a try because it sounds fun. Think about that – fun. These events cater to general participants. Tinker gets the same treatment as Joe Tennis Shoes with his skater helmet. Grass roots is alive and well. Riders in southern California will have

So, I watched Liège-Bastogne-Liège on OLN last night. I’ve got to admit, I really thought Lance was going to take it. He was just looking so strong when he was out there with Sanchez and Shefer. But when CSC caught the break, and then Tyler attacked - wow!, what a shocker. And who would have thought he’d be able to hang on for a solo win? That’s the great thing about live TV - the action, the drama, the suspense. I know, I’m living in a dream world here. Let’s face it. A week-and-a-half delay sucks. By the time the coverage aired, we had known all the details of the action for 10 days. And