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Basso at the front

Not many places better for early season training

Basso tries out his new TT helmet.

Embattled 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis says he doubts he will race professionally this season even if he is cleared of doping charges. In an interview with the U.S. sports television network ESPN, Landis said he and his lawyers have become frustrated with obstacles delaying his chance to make his case to a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) arbitration panel. "I've pretty much written off this season," Landis said. Landis, 31, said no hearing date has been set yet and none is likely before late spring, — perhaps late May or June — and as a result it would be out of the question

USA Cycling and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Tuesday that two riders, previously suspended for missing doping tests, have had their licenses reinstated, after both agencies concluded that harsh penalties were unfair in both cases. Cale Redpath of Durango, Colorado and Alice Pennington of Hood River, Oregon both accepted one-year suspensions for failure to appear after being selected as reserve athletes at USA Cycling and UCI-sanctioned events during the 2006 season. Normally, anti-doping rules require that podium finishers and a select group of randomly chosen riders are required to

Pruitt

Kautz

Neptune

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme is frustrated by the slow speed of the Landis case.

Boonen bests Petacchi again

Healion held a lead of more than seven minutes - but it wasn't enough

There's a highway sign you don't see often in the other tours

Lawyers for Jan Ullrich have submitted their opposition to Swiss authorities' decision to send a sample of the cyclist's saliva to German prosecutors, the Bonn office said Tuesday. Bonn prosecutors want to compare the Swiss samples with those seized by Spanish authorities during the Spanish drug inquiry Operación Puerto last May to determine whether the German was a client of the raided laboratory run by Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. "The Swiss tribunal must now decide whether or not to accept our request," said prosecutors' spokesman Friedrich Apostel. "If they believe us

He faced scorpions, snakes and hostile U.S. soldiers and his bicycle took a beating, but the 63-year-old Chechen now back home after cycling to and from Mecca says he is counting his blessings. Dzhanar-Aliyev Magomed-Ali returned to this war-torn Chechnya town on January 18. His pilgrimage, or hajj, to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, had little in common with the exploits of most Western adventurers. But his story reflects the dogged determination of many older people in this battle-scarred region of southern Russia, which has spent most of the last 12 years in armed conflict

Our latest reader-submitted PhotoGallery is now ready for your viewing pleasure. Of course, a new gallery also means the naming of the winner of our most recent contest. Take the time to wander through that gallery and see if you agree or disagree with our choice of winners this week. This time around, we found Felipe Borja’s “Cycling in the Andes Imbabura-Ecuador” reminded us of the real joy of solitary cycling in some of the world’s most beautiful territory. Congratulations Felipe. Nice work. Please drop us a note at Rosters@InsideInc.comto work out the details and we’ll send you a

Beat the postage increase: Lock in your current subscription price!On May 6, the United States Postal Service is raising periodicals-classpostage rates by 11 percent. As a result, VeloNews subscriptionprices will have to go up. As a special offer to current subscribers weare offering the opportunity to 'lock-in' your current discounted pricingby extending or renewing your subscription today at our pre-May 6 prices.To take advantage of this limited-time-only offer, please visit oursubscription page. You'll need to enter your current address; our systemwill then present you with the

Cycling in the Andes Imbabura-Ecuador

Vande Velde has a lot to look forward to in 2007.

Page relishes a great ride

American Rhonda Mazza finishes in 11th

The American joined Italy's Enrico Franzoi and then took off on his own.

Kerry Barnholt dashes through the sand

Kerry Barnholt takes 15th

Like many others, Franzoi had trouble in the sandy part. Vervecken moved past the Italian and had only Page ahead.

Compton, too, found it easier to run than fight the sand

Tara Ross - the only Canadian in the race - finishes 29th

World Cup champ Nys was a pre-race favorite, but three crashes meant Sunday was not his day.

Kupfernagel had a great start

Not a bad finish, considering this is Compton's second international race.

Nys and Wellens chased for most of the race. Wellens took fourth, while Nys had to settle for 11th place.

... but had her troubles, too.

Up front, Vervecken joins Page

Van den Brand takes a push

Page rode a nearly flawless race and came close to taking home the rainbow jersey.

American Barry Wicks was lapped by the leading pair.

Vos powers through

Oh happy day: Page makes a podium appearance at world's! Now how cool is that?

As was Tristan Schouten.

Salvetat knew Compton was coming on fast...

No Mistakes: Page powered through the sandy portion of the course that left many top contenders struggling.

Vervecken takes the day, with Page right on his heels.

... and held her off for the win.

Page: The best I ever felt'

Franzoi held on for third

Salvetat knew she had a strong opponent in Compton.

When world's come to the spiritual home of cyclo-cross, you can expect a big turn-out, even at 25 euros a head.

A successful defense of the rainbow jersey

An early favorite, Kupfernagel got off to a good start.

Although it wasn't the usual sweep, Belgian fans had plenty to celebrate.

Page didn't seem to mind second place

Big crowds turned out for Sunday's big race

Holland's Gerben De Knegt jumped to an early lead

The obligatory bite-the-medal pose.

Compton quickly worked her way through the crowd.

When De Knegt encountered trouble, countryman Richard Groenendall took over. Belgian fans were none too thrilled at the sight of that much orange in the front of the race.

Compton: 'It's pretty exciting.'

Kupfernagel's troubles started with a mid-race crash and she soon had company

Vervecken began working his way through the crowd

Compton, Salvetat and Leboucher

Compton shed the Dutch duo of Van den Brand and Vos

Cyclo-cross World's - A Graham Watson Gallery

Vervecken keeps the jersey in Belgian hands, but it was close.

Salvetat was overwhelmed by her win

Page moved up quickly

Franzoi hits the deck and Vervecken sets off in pursuit of Page.

Joeri Adams took the sprint, but Summerhill made a big impression in Belgium, too.

Charles Marzot finished one spot behind Neyens

The stairs proved decisive.

Boom and Albert hit the stairs together

And then it was just Boom, off on his own

Summerhill and Sinkeldam joined the winning break

Villa rode to third on the day

The fans were loving every minute of it

Boom takes the win

Driscoll works the staircase

Summerhill killin' it in the sandbox