News

An aid station at La Ruta

Rich Houseman charged hard in the mountain cross.

It's a different kind of mountain bike race

Big Neddy’s still got it. Overend podiumed in the men’s cross-country.

Bridge crossing on day 3

Clearing out the passages

There's lots -- and lots -- of climbing

Alison and Shonny displayed tan lines before the cross-country.

The race is one of Costa Rica's biggest sporting events.

Maxxis honch Eric Wallace wowed the audience with an oratory on proper mutton-chop grooming.

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn - A hard lesson; A raffle; Is an hour an hour?

“Jungle Jay” Henry gave props to marathon winner Travis Brown.

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn - A hard lesson; A raffle; Is an hour an hour?

Alison Dunlap choked back tears at the short track starting line.

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn - A hard lesson; A raffle; Is an hour an hour?

Dara Marks-Marino masters oral hygiene.

After smoking it in the DH, Cody Warren was mobbed by his clan.

The fastest guns of the annual industry cup race

After returning home from assignment, I always find myself with a camera full of oddball Kodak moments documenting mischief, shenanigans and even a bit of racing. Usually, these images are a tad too fuzzy or just downright bizarre to be included with a race report, and they end up as unused electronic blips polluting the bowels of my hard drive. Such was the case after the 2005 national mountain bike championships, held September 15-18 at Mammoth Mountain, California. It seemed that after seven months of continued racing, the fat tire crowd was more than willing to silly themselves up.

“Brilliant theory Copernicus! Carl Decker lectures on the finer points of shammy butter.

There is no such thing as a sure thing in cycling, but for more than a decade Costa Rica’s La Ruta de los Conquistadores mountain bike race has been pretty close. In each of the event’s 12 renditions the men’s victor in the three-day trek from the Pacific Ocean across the mountainous Central American country to the Atlantic has been won by one of the local boys. But this year, with the race’s 13th running set to commence in the ocean side town of Punta Leona on November 11, that could all change. Among the non-Ticos signed up this year are former world junior cross-country champion Walker

Is that Willow Koerber? Subaru-GF manager John Rourke does a Dee Snyder impression

Riding for Italy, Lombardi will nonetheless be on home turf in Madrid

The splendor of La Ruta

Marla Streb looks tough with that huge newly earned single speed world champion’s tattoo.

Tinker takes on the locals

Here birdy! Trek-Volkswagen’s Jeremiah Bishop almost became a nine-digit man this weekend.

No shortage of obstacles

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.One-man show in evidence at Barclays GPEditor:I can confirm letter writer Noah Byrd's observation that to the majority of the American public and, I say, even to the industry, that cycling is a one-man show. I went to the inaugural San Francisco Grand Prix bicycle race (and to all

Cyclocrossworld.com Joins Team at Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of CyclocrossCyclocrossworld.com, the world’s leading supplier of cyclocross specialtyequipment, has joined the Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross teamfor the 2005 season. Established in 1999 by Stu Thorne, Cyclocrossworld.comhas grown into the go-to source for ‘cross racers looking to outfit themselvesand their bikes for the fall season.“Cyclocross World is glad to be a part of the USGP this season,” saidThorne, from Cyclocrossworld.com world headquarters in Wenham, MA. “Weshifted our sponsorship priorities this year

Interactive brand directorSports publisher seeks an Interactive Brand Director to manage itshigh-profile Web sites and interactive businesses. The successful candidateshould have experience in creating interactive media concepts, managingmultiple interactive projects, e-commerce, budget development and implementationspecifically geared toward controlling costs and optimizing profitabilitywithin the brands. The candidate will be able to successfully explore andimplement new technologies, markets, and other growth opportunities forInternet related businesses. The candidate will direct and

Cycling's governing body, on Monday, denied that its president supplied a French sports newspaper with documents used to accuse Lance Armstrong of doping at the 1999 Tour de France. The Union Cycliste Internationale also said Monday that World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound was blocking its investigation by withholding information. UCI said Pound must be held accountable and “conduct of this type will not be tolerated.” Pound said last week he received a letter from UCI president Hein Verbruggen saying he had provided L’Equipe with forms indicating Armstrong had tested positive for

It's supposed to be all about who will become world champion but another race, for the presidency of the International Cycling Union (UCI), could overshadow all competition in the Spanish capital this week. UCI president Hein Verbruggen is stepping down after 14 years in charge having introduced numerous reforms, including the recent and still unsettled Pro Tour series. However the race to replace the 64-year-old Dutchman - who will continue his role at the International Olympic Committee as chief coordinator for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing - on September 23 has turned messy. To begin

Petacchi wins the finale in Madrid, beating - you guessed it - Erik Zabel

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

The podium, from left: Menchov, Heras and Sastre

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

An ugly finish with a striking backdrop: Madrid's Kio towers

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

That's four wins - three of them in a row

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Heras and Menchov shake after a hard-fought rivalry

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

Roberto Heras JetStreams to TT improvementAlong with his always present climbing skills and Manolo Saiz’ powerfulteam tactics, Roberto Heras has also displayed a new found proficiencyin his time trialing.In addition to more time spent on his TT bike, Roberto has benefitedfrom a new Manolo Saiz designed, BH produced TT frame with an Oval Conceptsdesigned fork and aero bar using Oval’s revolutionary JetStream aerodynamicstechnology. Oval JetStream technology is quite noticeable with its twinaero shaped blades and specially shaped vents. The JetStream aero bar hasbeen co-designed and built at

Milan Style: EICMA show offers plenty to admire

USA Cycling names road team for world championshipsJulich, Armstrong, Farrar Headline RosterColorado Springs, Colo. (September 17, 2005)-USA Cycling announced todaythe riders that will represent the United States at the 2005 UCI Road WorldChampionships in Madrid, Spain September 21-25.A total of 21 riders in three categories - elite and U23 men and elitewomen - will compete for the title of world champion in road race and timetrial events.Headlining the list of elite men is 2004 Olympic time trial bronze medalistBobby Julich (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) who will be gunning for a rainbowjersey in

No. 4? Heras goes into Sunday's final stage with a huge lead

Milanese Style: Nuova Fiera Milano Entrance

The 1.3 km walk down the exhibition hall’s corridor

Colnago’s new Ferrari road bike

Now that's a heck of a hybrid

Fine art on two wheels

Rasmussen is Colnago's latest star

EICMA show opens in Milan

De Rosa 'cross: Almost too nice to get dirty

Fine lines

A big step for Pinarello

Plaza gets a big win

Menchov has a lock on second-place overall

Danielson has had a great Vuelta

Egoi Martínez is a rider that not many beyond Spain’s Basque Country have ever heard of. That’s about to change as the 27-year-old is set to join Discovery Channel in 2006. Many expected Martínez to be Spain’s next big thing after winning the 2003 Tour de l’Avenir, but even by his own admission, he’s not a rider that wins come easy. In fact, that victory is the lone win on his palmares. Martínez enjoyed a fine 2004, with strong performances in the Dauphiné Libéré, the Tour de France and the now-defunct Tour du Languedoc-Roussillon. In fact, it’s his strong ride alongside Lance Armstrong’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.Forget about LA, there’s a race going onEditor:Why are we talking about Lance? Isn't there another grand tour going on right now, with some spectacular racing taking place? What about Heras and his gutsy racing, truly taking risks to take the lead? Not to be outdone, Menchov has

Martinez, with Paolo Bettini at the 2004 Tour (Stage 8 between Lamballe and Quimper, 11 July)

Think Haussler's happy?

Just another day at the office for Heras and Liberty

Gerdemann and Garcia Quesada work the escape

Haussler leads the break

Garcia Quesada tried a solo

But it was Haussler and Elminger fighting it out at the end