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Spain's sporting media has reacted quickly to reports from the French newspaperLe Monde that claimed four top Spanish football clubs were linkedwith Dr Eufemiano Fuentes who is alleged to have masterminded a vast blood-dopingnetwork.The four clubs in the firing line are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Real Betisand Valencia.Fuentes denied the Le Monde report, which was written after oneof the newspaper's reporters procured documents containing allegationswhich have as yet been unfounded. However in a separate interview with the newspaper Fuentes claimedthat Barcelona, the current

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. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month.The letters published here contain the opinions of the submitting authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, Inside

Former Coors Classic competitors, team personnel, race officials and media from all over the country descended on the University Bicycles store in Boulder, Colorado, Thursday night, for the launch of a new DVD that chronicles the complete 1977-88 history of the pioneering stage race. The store was an appropriate location for the launch, being only a half-mile from the North Boulder Park circuit that nearly always hosted the finish of the Classic. Photo contestWe noticed a lot of you brought your cameras to the Coors Classic DVD release bash, which inspired us to declare a special photo

A decision made at a special meeting of the International Professional Cycling Teams (IPCT) group on Friday could threaten the future status of the Discovery Channel team. The group voted to exclude Discovery from its membership over its signing of Italian Ivan Basso, who is implicated in the Operación Puerto inquiry, according to a source that attended the meeting in Brussels. However, the vote does not mean that the American team loses its UCI ProTour license, which enables it to race in all of the ProTour events. The IPCT, a business group chaired by Quick Step’s Belgian team manager

Phinney signs autographs

Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle announces Pro Continental statusand roster for 2007Boulder, CO, December 6, 2006 - In a bold move upward for 2007,Team TIAA-CREF not only becomes Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle, but movesup a big notch into the UCI's Professional Continental category. The team'sunique cross-Atlantic schedule consists of racing the USACycling ProfessionalTour, the European Continental Tour and hopefully a few ProTour wildcardstarts. This schedule will prove challenging but rewarding for both ridersand sponsors.“We are happy to be growing - and growing at a rate that

VeloNews Chosen to Produce Official Amgen Tour of California GuideFor immediate release:December 6, 2006 Boulder, CO – The Amgen Tour of California, North America’spremier professional stage race, has chosen VeloNews to produce its officialevent guide. Hitting the roads from February 18-25, the 2007 event willbe even bigger than the 2006 inaugural race, which saw an estimated 1.3million spectators watch the eight-day stage race. The 2007 Amgen Tourof California will again host 16 professional teams, headed by the world’stop UCI ProTour teams CSC and Discovery Channel, which are making the

Bettini winning stage 2 of the 2006 Vuelta a España

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. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month.Steve Tilford: The man, the myth, the old guySteve,You raised the bar man! (see "Dunkedbut undaunted, Tilford wins KLM 'cross") All of my old stories racing just got smaller. How fast I used to bejust got a

100 years for a million treesA new humanitarian project for Saunier Duval´s 100th anniversary.The team raced the 2006 season in support of the 30 fundamental HumanRights around the world. Next year is the team´s main sponsor 100thanniversary, and the SAUNIER DUVAL-PRODIR team will celebrate it in a remarkableway as a token of their gratitude to Saunier Duval, which is not only supportingthe team but cycling in general as well. Is there any better way to doit than becoming involved in an initiative aimed at saving our planet?The project, to be carried out thanks to the support of

Los Angeles, CA., December 6, 2006 — The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team and United Bicycles, LLC, today announced an exclusive sponsorship and licensing agreement with Fuji Bicycles/Advanced Sports Inc., (ASI) manufacturer and distributor of Fuji Bicycles, a global brand with over 40 international distributors. As part of the multi-year agreement, the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team will be racing on Fuji carbon frames with graphics and design featuring Toyota-United colors. The Fuji-United bicycle will be the official team issue bicycle of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling team during the

It's just that riding fast was the only way he knew how to stay warm.

Wednesday's Mailbag: Tough old guy; Friends in faraway places

Last year's stage 4 takes the peloton along the coast

The 2007 Fuji-United Team Issue bike

The 2007 route

Gilberto Simoni made his mark on the 2003 Giro on the Monte Zoncolan.

The Monte Zoncolan marked the final attack from the once-great Marco Pantani

Locked and loaded

The best pre-race food in the world

Snow plus sun equals mud

Yuck

A clean bike is a happy bike

This load needs the heavy-duty cycle

Chow time

Weary and half-frozen, Tilly collects the win

Thomas sets off on her own

Sue Butler (River City Cycles) shadowed Melissa Thomas (Maxxis) for the first half of the women's UCI race

Schneider and Murphy duke it out

Into the drink . . .

. . . out of the drink . . .

. . . and back in the race

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. Larry Rosa’s shot from a ‘cross race at Golden Gate Park nicely captures that “YEHAW!” element of cyclo-cross. Nice work, Larry! 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." And while you’re at it, tell us a little more about

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. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month.

The Spike professional cycling team has lost its title sponsor, according to director Bill Ramsay. Ramsay’s Cody Racing Inc. and Biotest Laboratories, both of Colorado Springs, Colorado, had a three-year contract to support the pro track-racing team, according to Ramsay. But Biotest chose to exercise its dissolution option on November 30, and Ramsay is scrambling to find a new title sponsor to rescue his program, which has signed secondary sponsors and athletes for the 2007 season. “This decision has left the best sprint athletes in America without the professional team and commitment they

Golden Gate Park

Hagiwara celebrates at the finish

Tilford took a dunking but kept on clunking

The winner gives a thumb's-up as he crosses the line

Boulder, CO – For the 11th consecutive year Sea Otter Classic, LLChas partnered with VeloNews to produce the Sea Otter Classic Official Program.With nearly 10,000 participants and 50,000 spectators, Sea Otter is knownas the largest participant cycling competition and festival in the world.As such, the distribution of the Program will be enormous at 110,000 copies. “The Sea Otter Classic Official Program is a fantastic product foradvertisers to showcase their brand,” said VeloNews Advertising DirectorNick Ramey. “Huge distribution coupled with VeloNews’ unmatched editorialcoverage offers

Ullrich plans a birthday business excursion to the States

Basso poses before a map of the 2007 route

The map

Trebon may get to avoid the mud a few times next year

Jesse Anthony will be the other 'crosser on Kodak

The 2006 Vuelta winner says he remains confident that he'll be racing ProTour events with or without a ProTour license.

Tilford

Card

So I had to go see a chiropractor in New York, and they're different to osteopaths, chiropractors, because of the spelling. And they crack your bones, that's what they do, they crack your bones! And they take X-rays, but it’s pointless, because whatever is wrong with you — "You've got a bad back, I'm gonna crack your bones." "You've got diphtheria, I'm gonna crack your bones." "Your head's come off! I'm gonna crack your bones." "It looks like your mother! I'm going to crack your bones."— Eddie Izzard, Dress to Kill Anybody out there have a bad back? No,

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.USADA chief off base on missed testEditor:[USADA General Counsel Travis] Tygart said. "Arguably, her first violation - missing a post-race test - might not even have been a violation in the U.S." Tell that to Jason Sager and Cale Redpath, who both missed tests at the Deer Valley NORBA,

Our foaming rantist enjoys the benefits of chiropractic

Come to the Red Zinger/Coors Classic DVD Release Party and RiderReunion!Michael Aisner and VeloGear Produce the Definitive Red Zinger/Coors(r)Classic 3  Disc DVD Set Boulder, CO, November 30, 2006 - VeloGear invites you to theRedZinger/Coors Classic DVD release party and rider reunion to be heldat University Bikes on Thursday, December 7 beginning at 6:00 p.m.Finally, the Red Zinger/Coors Classic is available on DVD! VeloGearhas teamed with race producer Michael Aisner to present 8 hours of raretelevision coverage and documentary footage re-mastered in a 3 DVD set.Order the DVD today at

Cycling is on the menu as the 15th Asian Games kick off Friday in Doha, Qatar. The games officially begin with opening ceremonies choreographed by David Atkins, artistic director for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. By the time the Asian showcase ends on December 15, the 16-day games in this Arabian Gulf country will have brought together 10,500 athletes. The 39 sports range from traditional pursuits such as athletics, swimming and baseball to more obscure ones such as the Indian rural pastime of kabaddi and the centuries-old Malay ball game of sepak takraw, which is similar to volleyball

The president of cycling's world governing body told the Spanish government the lack of information in its doping investigation is damaging the sport. In a letter to Spanish sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky, Pat McQuaid said that the UCI felt helpless because the investigating judge refused to allow the use of information from the case for disciplinary action. The UCI also sent copies of the letter, which was published Thursday in Spanish sports daily El Mundo Deportivo, to the Spanish cycling Federation and the International Olympic Committee. "The UCI can do absolutely nothing about

The head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Thursday that the agreement reached with Canadian Geneviève Jeanson reflected “the most likely outcome” of a case involving her positive EPO test in 2005, even if she had appealed her case to the sporting world’s highest court. USADA general counsel Travis Tygart told VeloNews that even though Jeanson might have faced a lifetime ban from competition for what was technically a second violation, there was reason to believe that the International Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne would not have given the cyclist more than a two-year

Dear Bob,I’m a triathlete and regularly enjoy reading your column. Your recent column on lights and reflectors (see "ReflectedGlory") reminded me of a topic of debate between me and some friends. We’re hoping you can settle it. One day, during a particularly heavy fog, I passed a cyclist on the road. The cyclist was dressed in black and wearing a black helmet, and he did not have lights or reflectors. This started us talking; it seems like technically the cyclist may not be breaking any laws, but could the cyclist still be considered negligent if there was an accident? Some say yes. Some say

Press Release - Coors Classic DVD release party

Iranian cyclists train on the velodrome in Qatar

Canadian Geneviève Jeanson – once facing a life-time ban from competition - has reached an accord with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that could see the retired cyclist racing her bike as soon as next summer. Jeanson, who held a U.S. license, announced her retirement in January after USADA officials said they would seek to ban her for life after she tested positive for EPO at Pennsylvania’s Tour de ‘Toona in 2005. Jeanson had been suspended earlier for a failure to appear for post-race doping test at the women’s edition of Fleche-Wallonne in 2004, meaning the Pennsylvania sample qualified as a

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.An open letter to USADADear USADA:It's me again.It has been two years and I want to extend my congratulations in yourongoing fight against drug use in our sport. You win. I am more confusedthen ever.But the dopers? You continue to open the door wider and wider for them.(see "USADAdeal

Discovery Channel, Team CSC and Predictor-Lotto will compete in the 2007 Amgen Tour of California February 18-25, 2007, the race’s promoter and operator has announced. Sixteen teams are expected for the second edition of the race. The route will be announced in December. Floyd Landis, riding for Phonak, won the inaugural edition. "The level of competition returning for the second annual Amgen Tour of California rivals any race in the world and proves that cyclists and fans alike are hungry for this caliber of racing in America," said Shawn Hunter, president of AEG Sports. "We are excited

Jeanson at a news conference in 2004

Vuelta chief Victor Cordero follows the final stage of the 2006 race in Madrid

Cyclocross Movie Premiere To Raise Money For Junior RacersBoulder, CO - November 27, 2006 - Boulder Cycle Sport will hostthe Colorado premiere of TRANSITION 2 'CROSS THE POND at the Boulder Theaterto raise funds for the American Cycling Association's Cyclocross DevelopmentPrograms. All proceeds will be given to the TIAA-CREF/CLIF BAR Junior/U23and Mudskipper Youth Cyclocross Teams. Transition 2 spends the 2005 holiday season following a group of NorthAmericans as they travel through Belgium to compete with the best in theworld in the harsh and unforgiving heartland of cyclocross

The UCI warned the director of the Vuelta a España on Tuesday that the grand tour faces being downsized, according to the Spanish daily El Pais. UCI ProTour executive committee coordinator Alan Rumpf told Vuelta director Victor Cordero in a letter that the three-week format was under threat. And Rumpf said that they were considering running both the Tour of Germany and the Vuelta in September, and shortening the latter. "The three weeks of the Vuelta are under debate," Rumpf said in the letter, extracts from which were published in Tuesday's El Pais. "The commission is considering

USA Cycling announced today several changes and category upgrades it had secured for events on the USA Cycling Professional Tour that were confirmed at the UCI Road Commission Meeting in Montreux, Switzerland earlier this month. The 15-race series of international-caliber events, connected by a season-long points system, will make its debut in 2007 and feature some of the top athletes and teams from around the globe. The most significant changes since the calendar was announced include upgrades for two of the three inaugural events. Originally designated as category 2 races by the UCI, both

Bryan Lopes trying to hit sterminal at last year's Red Bull Road Rage

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. It’s the season for ‘cross and Andrea Tucker’s untitled photo captured that tough, mucky aspect of a sport that many of love. Nice work, Andrea! 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." And while you’re at it, tell us a

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.Cyclists may be dishonest... but they're less dishonest than....Editor,There is so much sadness, So much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Somuch angst. Cyclists are cheats. Cycling is dirty. Cycling is doomed. It'sso embarrassing.Just hold on. Chill. It's not just cyclists who

Untitled

World Madison champion Isaac Galvez (Caisse d'Epargne) died after an overnight fall during the Ghent six-day, the Belga news agency reported Sunday. Galvez, who has been a professional since 2000, died while being transported to a local hospital. An initial diagnosis suggests the cause of death was from an internal hemorrhage, however complete details will not be available until a full autopsy is completed on Sunday. After viewing video pictures organizers of the famous track event said the 31-year-old appeared to have hit a railing with his chin and chest after crashing when he came

Galvez - pictured at the Ghent Six on Tuesday - died after a crash early Sunday

I'm all right! Three members of the TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar team

Former CSC wrench Nick Legan dials in my rig

Seattle's finest: Dale Knapp roosts the masters' field

Only in Portland

This sign should have been on Sunday's course

Tinfoil Chef

Jesus Manzano has lodged a criminal complaint against the attorney representing former Liberty Seguros director Manolo Saiz, charging that he has been pressured to withdraw allegations he has made as part of the Spanish Operación Puerto investigation. The former Kelme pro filed his complaint November 14 with the Unidad Central Operativa de la Guardia Civil (UCO), the unit involved in the inquiry. The pressure Manzano’s complaint cites apparently stems from a meeting among Manzano, his wife, and his attorney, Santiago Lucas, at Lucas’s office. During that meeting, according to Manzano, Lucas