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Tafi at the start.

Wesemann, Hulsmans and Van Bon in pursuit

Michaelsen drives the break.

Boonen gets another of the greats

Hincapie wants that top step

Harrisonburg, VA, March 29, 2005—Gripped Films is pleased to announce the world premiere of its feature-length documentary, "Off Road to Athens." The film will be shown during the Sea Otter Classic at 7 p.m. April 15 and 16 at the Golden State Theater in downtown Monterey, California. At Friday's showing, all eight athletes featured in the film will arrive via limo and will be taking photos with fans and signing movie posters. "Off Road to Athens" is a powerful documentary covering the tumultuous path taken by eight athletes hoping to make the U.S. mountain-biking team headed to the

O'Bee scores in Hell of the North (Way North)Navigators Insurance's Kirk O'Bee scored the 2nd step of the podium today in the 43rd Ronde Van Drenthe, held in the far northeastern corner of Holland. The race, modeled after a similar event held in France, is known as much for its 12 sections of demanding pave, totaling 28Km, as for the 4 trips up the 23% Vamberg climb. On his way to 2nd place in the race, Kirk also took the KOM jersey for his display of power on the steep pitch of the "Vam." The race, officially titled: 43rd Internationale Albert Achterhes Profronde Ronde Van

Last week, I told the story of how Californian Audrey McElmury in 1969 became the first-ever American to win a world road race championship. Emphasizing the enormity of that rainbow victory is the fact that her feat has since been repeated by only one woman, Beth Heiden in 1980, and two pro men, Greg LeMond in 1983 and 1989, and Lance Armstrong in 1993. McElmury’s breakthrough was a giant step for American cycling, and was confirmation that California — where McElmury often raced with the men — was producing high-quality U.S. riders. We had already seen the limited success in Europe of men

Boonen's the favorite - but Paris-Roubaix has been tough on the big names

Tafi en route to victory in 1999

It had been a long hot day in the Auvergne region of central France. 237km in six hours – the longest stage of the 2004 Tour - and the July sun had baked the roads mercilessly. But the climate and the physical strains of the day were not the only reason why Erik Zabel was steaming. Clearly his temper had passed the boiling point: Having torn off his sweaty jersey, Zabel stood shirtless next to the team bus in a side street of the medieval town of Saint-Flour, screaming furiously at team director Mario Kummer until veins popped out of his neck. Only 10 feet away Andreas Klöden was calmly

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.Let’s hope the motos don’t affect Paris-RoubaixEditor:Looks like another race may have been decided by the motos (see “Mattan takes a messy Ghent-Wevelgem”). First Andreas Klier is taken out by a moto, and then apparently Nico Mattan got an assist from them while chasing down Juan

I’m gonna whittle you into kindlin’Black Crow 16 shells from a thirty-ought-six.–Tom Waits, “16 Shells from a .30-06” It had been a long Friday morning in the service of cycling journalism, or whatever the hell it is that I do here, and so when I saw a gap in the workload I decided to slip out for a ride. One glance at the sky and I grabbed a ’cross bike, thinking I’d do a few quick turns in the park before the clouds cut loose. The weather had that monster-movie look to it, and around here that can mean anything from electrical storms to blizzards to nothing at all. On the way to the park

Favorite Tom Boonen (r) prepares for Sunday's run into the Hell of the North

Stuart O'Grady and the Cofidis crew try out the new stretch of pavé at the Hameau du Buat

Weather conditions are expected to get worse by Sunday

Zabel was particularly aggressive at this year's Flanders

Getting the bird once again

Discovery trains on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix

Dear Bob,I experienced what a lot of us fear and dread: UPS losing your faithfulsteed. I was traveling back from holiday in Utah and a close friend offeredto ship my custom team issued Cannondale Scalpel MTB back home. The bikenever made it. It was in a hard case along with tools, spare tires, pump,and other accessories, about a $6000 total loss. My friend did not knowhow much it was worth and only insured it for $700. My question is: canI recover from UPS Corporation? UPS said they only cover the first $100,than the remainder falls on the shipping location. The manager said thatI would not

PARIS (AP) — The French National Assembly passed a proposedanti-doping law Wednesday that would put France in line with internationalsports rules.The lower house voted 372-0 in favor of Sports Minister Jean-FrancoisLamour's proposal for creation of an independent French anti-doping agency.The legislation goes to the Senate for final approval at an undetermineddate.The World Anti-Doping Agency coordinates drug-testing in Olympic sports,and national governments are required to enact WADA's drug code beforethe Turin Olympics next February.Adoption of the French law would be a major boost

Mountain Bikers Lobby Today at IMBA's 24 Hours of D.C.--IMBA working to reverse Senate cuts to Recreational Trails Program.Mountain bikers converge in the U.S. capital today for the newest 24-hourevent: IMBA's 24 Hours of Washington, D.C.Attendees will spend the entire day on Capitol Hill, meeting with theirU.S. representatives, senators and staff to introduce IMBA and key mountainbiking issues. The goal is simple: raise awareness about trail access andrecreation issues and convince government officials that mountain bikingdeserves their support.The group's highest priority is to

On 24 March 2005, Nico Eeckhout of the Jacques T. Interim Team equipped with a Merckx frame and Campagnolo electronic drivetrain won the 60th edition of the Dwars Door Vlaanderen. The midweek race was held on Wednesday 23 March in the heart of Flanders. The 202 km course was chosen as the test ground to try out the latest evolutions of Campagnolo electronic components. "The Belgian tests always provide important data on the development and reliability of the products," the engineers of the Vicenza company declare. This is because the ubiquitous pavé and the generally rainy climate offer

TOUR OF UTAH ANNOUNCES RACE ROUTE FOR 2005 STAGE RACELEHI, UT - The Tour of Utah has announced the race route forthe 2005 stage race, hosted by Thanksgiving Point.Scheduled for May 26 – 30, 2005, the Tour of Utah is a five-day, six-stageevent, taking professional and amateur cyclists along a course spanningthe Salt Lake and Utah Valleys.  While covering almost 500 kilometers,cyclists will be riding as far west as Tooele, Utah, as far south as Santaquin,Utah, and climbing to an altitude of nearly 9,000 feet.  Althoughthe first two stages are reserved only for professional categories,

Legally Speaking - with Bob Mionske: Bad Shipping News: Part 1

PRESS RELEASE - Campagnolo experimenting with electronic shifting

PRESS RELEASE - Campagnolo experimenting with electronic shifting

Armstrong in New York to support the city's Olympic bid

Navigators' Walters on the Kemmelberg

British hope Roger Hammond crashes out

Hincapie eventually withdrew, saving himself for Sunday

Boonen missed the key move

The results stand

It's spring!

The Good, The Bad, and the UglyGent-Wevelgem (UCI Pro Tour)The 67th edition of the Belgian semi-classic, Gent-Wevelgem, had allof the ingredients of a Hollywood movie script today in western Flanders. For the Navigators Insurance Cycling Team, this was their first specialinvitation into a UCI Pro Tour event for the restructured 2005 season. Navigators Insurance was one of only five non-Pro Tour squads to take thestart today for the 208Km race.  As expected, the large crowds wereon hand to cheer the riders, and obviously the presence of the top-20 teamsin the world was viewed as a good

Mattan flew past a dejected Flecha in the closing meters

Cooke and Backstedt in the day's winning break.

It’s midway through Sunday’s 142km Sunset Road Race –the final stage of the 2005 Redlands Bicycle Classic –and Jelly Belly’s star sprinter Alex Candelario is watching the line of racers stream by from his perch in the feed zone. There are plenty of other racers in the vicinity. Most of them are still clad in their team kits after abandoning the race, which today was set at a breakneck pace early on. Candelario wishes he could have the good fortune to abandon the race on his own terms, but, as the sling around his left arm shows, his premature abandonment came for other reasons. On lap

The Route

Moncoutie proved the stronger.

Today it's Moncoutie's turn to wear the txapela

No matter what, Julich will always have the distinction of having won the first-ever ProTour event.

Klier took Ghent-Wevelgem in 2003

TVM gave Klier a chance to ride with - and for - his heroes

Klier's winter training rides came in handy at last Sunday's Tour of Flanders

One step short: Klier will aim for the top spot at next year's Tour of Flanders

Before the fall: Candelario at Oak Glenn

Sidelined this year, but victory last year

Nike: The 10//2 Lance Armstrong CollectionYou may have heard of 10//2.  What is 10//2?“October 2, 1996.  The day it all changed.  The dayI started never to take anything for granted.  The day I learned totake charge of my life.  It was the day I was diagnosed with cancer.”  -Lance ArmstrongOne day. Everyone has one. The day that changed their life. For Lance Armstrongthat one day was October 2nd - 10/2 – the day he was diagnosed with cancer.That day he became a patient and started becoming a survivor. For Lance,10/2 is carpe diem day, a day to overcome adversity and reaffirm life.Nike’s 10//2

Contrary to reports of its early demise, the UCI’s grand experiment, the new ProTour seems to be catching on. Despite the continuing howls of protest from Tour de France organizer ASO and the other grand tours, it seems everyone else in the cycling world is taking the ProTour format to heart. It’s still too early for a complete appraisal on the UCI’s re-jigging of the racing calendar, but the early verdict suggests the series has promise to live up to its billing. Look no further than Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, two early season races that typically were little more than race-speed

Top Road Teams Sign On To Race At Morgan HillAmateur and Family Events Round Out Day of Sporting EntertainmentMorgan Hill, Calif.-Specialized Bicycles, one of the pioneeringcompanies of the Mountain Bike, is expanding the growth and accessibilityof cycling in the Bay area with the revival of a once-famous bicycle racingevent in the company's hometown. The Specialized Morgan Hill Grand Prixis expected to attract over 1,000 spectators and 400 entrants on Sunday,April 10, 2005, to witness a feast of top national and international cyclistscompeting on an exhilarating 1.2 mile downtown

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. Our April 1 story about “a chance encounter at an airport, a heated exchange of words and hastily issued challenge” that led to WADA’s Dick Pound replacing Hein Verbruggen as chief of the UCI caught a few readers unaware (see the first letter in today’s mailbag). But more than a few

More than a frickin' jersey: At País Vasco you get a cool hat, too.

Boonen was thrilled... Van Petegem loooked a bit shocked

Wherry in yellow.

Health Net worked to protect Wherry's jersey

Fraser throws in a big effort.

Pate gives it a go.

Colavita comes to the front for...

... another Haedo win.

Beutler leads the break

The day's first break formed at 21km

If it comes down to a sprint, who else would take it?

Zabel was aggressive for much of the day

Ballan tried to go off on his own at 50km to go, but was eventually joined by five others, making up the day's winning break.

The winning combination

Big, big crowds on a sunny spring day

Hincapie on the Grammont

Armstrong put in a big effort after the Boonen group got away, but the hills eventually took their toll.

Boonen's gamble with an early attack paid off

All in a bunch

Some days are better than others

Colavita comes to the front with five to go

Health Net was out front most of the day . . .