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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

Bouygues Telecom for 2006

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Jealous?

MHP had a lot to smile about in '05.

Gettin' dirty with Canada's best

Lookin' for work in '06.

Every picture tells a story

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

The founder of the 7200-mile, 100-day Tour d’Afrique, has added another adventure race to his quiver — the Temple to Temple, a seven-day, 450-mile jaunt across Belize. Michael de Jong’s newest race, slated for January 29 through February 4, is billed as Central Americas longest adventure bike race, crossing jungle, mountains and the ruins of Lubaantun and Caracol. The field will be limited to 100 riders. Registration is $1495 and covers meals, services and pre- and post-race stays at the Placencia Hotel in Placencia. Support vehicles will ferry medical personnel, hospitality staff and

Basso has a full schedule for '06

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.Biting the hand that feeds youEditor:I seldom feel compelled to write letters to the editor any more. I guess over the years I’ve become a little jaded by all of the cynicism and sanctimonious posturing among my brother roadies, but I have finally reached the point where I feel like I

Ask the Doctor: Tattoos and beauty are skin deep

Large, but easily hidden.

This one doesn't really encourage second thoughts

Valverde relished winning stage 10 of the 2005 Tour ahead of Armstrong; now he wants the whole enchilada

One member of the Sven Nys Supporters Club.

All the members of the Erik Tonkin Supporters Club.

Belgain fans are never far from the beer tent.

Elisabeth, cooking up another fabulous meal.

Stella, the Belgain version of Budweiser.

"Cycling in the News" is a regular service of VeloNews.com. Readers,reporters and friends are encouraged to send links to current stories aboutcompetitive cyclists and cycling that appear in the mainstream media. Ifyou come across a news item that you believe may be of interest to otherVeloNews readers, we would be grateful if you choose to send it to Rosters@InsideInc.com.Cyclist killed in storm identifiedSan Jose Mercury NewsJan. 3 — Eric Saltzman heard a loud snap as he and a friend rode their bikes on a familiar narrow road in the Los Altos Hills. He turned around and saw a eucalyptus

A fund-raising dinner to help send Bjorn Selander to the UCI cyclo-cross world championships will be held Saturday, January 7, in Hudson, Wisconsin. The fund-raiser will be 5-9 p.m. at Alwins Northside Service, 413 6th Street North. It will include a 2005-season recap by Selander; dinner catered by Mama Maria’s; and a silent auction for items donated by sponsors and the local community. Tickets are $12. All proceeds will go to pay Selander’s expenses — estimated at more than $4000 — for the trip to world’s January 28 in Zeddam, Netherlands. For more information, call

Will '06 be Ullrich's last good shot at the Tour?

Sven and his son doing a little pre race warm up.

These are just a few of Belgian fans that called in sick to work today.

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 was a tough choice for us last week, be we settled upon Eric Clemensen’s “Afghan Peloton,” a photo that just had us looking through and appreciating an interesting set of details. Congratulations Eric! Drop us a note at Rosters@InsideInc.com to work out the details and we’ll send you a copy of Graham Watson's

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.Dwight’s column is a present you can unwrap again and againEditor:The best Christmas present has been Brandon Dwight's columns. I really enjoy reading them. Thanks. Jim KirsteinFolsom, California But he may have gotten his beers mixed upEditor:Add me to the list of those enjoying

Cannondale is joining forces with the Barloworld squad for 2006 — not as a mere bicycle supplier, but as part owner of the team. "We have no intention of just supplying product," said Cannondale CEO Matt Mannelly. "With Barloworld we’ll be rewriting the rules on traditional sponsorships. Our goal is to create a full-blown ‘experience’ that will touch consumers on many levels." Cannondale will provide Six13 and Slice Aero TT bikes as well as team kit for the squad, which will be managed by Claudio Corti, who was instrumental in bringing Cannondale into the pro peloton with Saeco in

The Afghan Peloton

Belgium: gray and beautiful

Watch out for that tree!

A tribute to Bim

Where's the fire?

Another day, another load of laundry

Mancebo

Andrea Tafi rode his last race at the Tour of Georgia, and made it classic Tafi. Attacking at every opportunity and giving it his all.

Page at last month's national championship race

The peloton rolls through a pecan grove in central Georgia, one of the many beautiful panoramas in the spring time race.

Aside from the streamers, the midnight revelry and the inevitable morning-after hangover, New Year’s does serve a few other purposes. For one thing it lets us stop and look back at all that’s happened since the planet passed through the same spot 12 months ago. In the world of cycling, few others have been to as many places and seen as much as our own Casey Gibson did in 2005. Whether it was sweating his way through the jungles of Malaysia, cruising through the back roads of Georgia or waiting for the peloton in rural France, Gibson was there (racking up more frequent flyer miles than anyone

With teammate Tom Danielson tucked under his arm, Lance Armstrong sets the pace up the mountains in Tour de Georgia's Stage 5.

US Junior champ Danny Summerhill had a top ten finish.

A month later, and its spring in Connecticut. Very green and rainy for the Tour of Connecticut's climbs.