News

Cunego wanted to be certain

Rising star Cunego grabs Giro stage at Pontremoli

DANBURY, CT – (May 9, 2004) The Tour of Connecticut is proud to announce the addition of the US Armed Forces Cycling Team to their roster. “The team is racing now with a focus on preparation to compete at the U.S. Elite Nationals and Olympic Team selection race in June,” said Debra Ponzio, Manager, U.S. Armed Forces Cycling. “Following this, six of the men will be chosen to represent the United States at our International Military World Championships, July 1-5 in Slovakia.” The team represents a cross-section of the United States as well as rank within the Armed Forces. For the TOC, Ponzio

As always, Cicli Pinarello spa of Treviso, Italy has something special for the athletes of the Fassa Bortolo team who will start the 87° Giro d’Italia next Saturday in Genoa riding Pinarello Dogma bicycles in magnesium. Naturally, all eyes will be focused on the performance of team captain, super-sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, who is also featured in Pinarello's new Dogma bicycle. Last year, Petacchi rode his Dogma to 30 wins, including a total of 15 in the three Grand Tours: six at the Giro d Italia, four at the Tour de France and five at the Vuelta di Spagna). Petacchi will count his loyal

03 May 2004 (Pozzoleone, Ital) – While Saeco’s Gilberto Simoni and Vini Caldirola’s Stefano Garzelli are making final preparations for this years Giro d’Italia and with the media pitting the two race favorites, fi’zi:k finds themselves in a téte a téte competition with: The Battle of the Saddles – Aliante vs Arione. Having assisted fi’zi:k with the development of the alleged number one selling road saddle in the world, the saddle that carried Simoni to the top of the 2003 Giro d’Italia podium, his 2004 choice is clear - the Arione. Defending champion, Simoni, will be riding on a red

McGee: Back in the lead

The day's first break had some horsepower

Pollack had a tough day in the leader's jersey

Pollack moves into the lead

McGee: One day in pink

A scenic start along the Gulf of Genoa

Perez makes his move

Pretty in pink?

The Lion King in his latest getup, which helped him finish 11th on the day and drew the traditional fine from the UCI

But McGee was the man of the hour

McGee scores the first maglia rosa of the 2004 Giro

2004 Giro d'Italia Start List

McGee and his daughter celebrate his quick start to the Giro

So let me get this straight. Lance Armstrong is the world's greatest athlete, but cycling barely makes the top 20 in a ranking of the most demanding sports? Yes, according to a recent series on ESPN.com. In a tournament-style fan poll, Armstrong beat out Atlanta Falcons quarterback Mike Vick in the finals this week. Yet on the same site, an expert panel chose boxing as the toughest sport in the world, with cycling coming in a meager 20th, sandwiched between figure skating and volleyball. It's funny, but many people, before they launch into a defense of their own sport, seem to grudgingly (or

Important Recall Notice of SM-SH92 Cleats sold as after marketproduct for Shimano SPD-R Pedals Shimano has recently become aware of a potential problem with SM-SH92cleats (Shimano part# Y43Y98030). Please read below for details.Name of product: SM-SH92 (10° total float) cleats designedfor Shimano SPD-R road pedals. Potential Hazard: Unable to clip out ofthe pedal if the rear protrusion tab breaks on the SM-SH92 cleat from prolongeduse.Description: The affected cleat has an engraved marking with the model SM-SH92 that is visible from the backside of the shoe. The SM-SH92 cleats were sold

The Mail Bag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com, appearing each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 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.What really sucks is not taking a standEditor:Patrick O’Grady’s column made me smile, even if it did bash my organization. Correction, though: Bush wouldn't do a campaign press conference here . . . we're a nonprofit. So, we're left to praise

87th Giro d'Italia: Back in the Pink

Simoni: Ready for No. 3?

Scote one for the young guy

Fausto Coppi

Mmm...mmmm... lunch time!

Harrison

Garzelli and Simoni: The two favorites are still friendly

FDJeux.com rolls up for the presentation

Hi Bob,When I come to a lighted intersection while riding my bicycle my presencedoes not “trigger” the light. What are my options under the law? Do I havethe right to break the law by running the light or do I have to get offthe bike and hit the pedestrian walk button?ScottPennsylvania Dear Scott,You are not alone in the problem of traffic sensors failing to recognizethe presence of your bicycle. This very same problem faces thousands ofcyclists across the country every day. Coincidentally, Pennsylvania, thePennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) issued a press releasejust four

Ah, Georgia, still on my mind.I know in the age of the Internet that the Dodge Tour de Georgia is sooo last month, but besides being the highest profile race I’ve covered in my two years here at VeloNews, I’d have to say it was probably the best bike racing I’ve had a chance to see up close. I think what was most gratifying to see was the chance for domestic racers to show to Lance, Mario and the gang from CSC that North American racing is no joke. Domestic veterans like Eric Wohlberg (Sierra Nevada) and John Lieswyn (Health Net-Maxxis) were putting up a fight day after day against the man,

Turn, turn, turn!!!!

Bruyneel refuses to underestimate the competition

Mr. Rogers' neighborhood:Georgia, still on my mind

The Mail Bag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com, appearing each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 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.Study, study, study... and boycott, tooVeloNews,Regarding Burton Hathaway's letter, "Dumb Jocks versus law studenton a bike," (see "Monday's mail bag") I applaud your efforts, but it won'ttake you far. Concentrate instead on your second-year

Absence makes the legs grow stronger?

No repeat for Moreau

The Tour of Romandie went better than we had hoped or imagined it would. Together, we were able to drum up victories in stages 3 and 5, win the overall individual and team classifications. It was a really nice feeling. We have been working hard all spring and it was great to finally see all of the collective efforts of the team and staff pay off. My teammates rode like men on a mission throughout the race. Many of them were competing in their own backyards and were extra motivated to make the most of their home court advantage. With these guys setting the tone, the rest of us followed suit

Tyler Tunes: One step at a time

Will they be kissing him in July?

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn - Leg length; Mixing and matching

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn - Leg length; Mixing and matching

That fourth stage was a bear!

Colorado Springs, Colo. (May 4, 2004)--USA Cycling announcedtoday the athletes that will represent the United States at the final roundof the UCI Track World Cup in Sydney, Australia May 14-16, 2004. The final selection was made following USA Cycling’s World Cup Qualifierin Frisco, Texas this past weekend.Athletes receiving a start based upon their victories in Frisco includeMike Tillman (Santa Monica, Calif.) in the men’s individual pursuit, JameCarney (Boulder, Colo.) in the men’s scratch race and Andy Lakatosh (Trexlertown,Pa.) in the men’s keirin.Completing the men’s squad based upon

Colorado Springs, CO – SRAM, RockShox and Avid® enter the season with arguably the strongest collection of officially sponsored athletes ever assembled. The 2004 contingent will be comprised of more than 25 Olympic, World, World Cup, National and NORBA Champions. Riders will race an expanded calendar in ’04 in addition to the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. SRAM, RockShox and Avid are proud to sponsor the following athletes and teams as they embark on another season of inspired competition. Be sure to look for this dominating force atop podiums worldwide. Cross-Country – Marathon Barbara

The Mail Bag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com, appearing each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 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. Dumb Jocks versus law student on a bikeDear Velo,In reference to the letter about the dumb-ass radio station in Atlanta, here are the clips: I have personally begun the process of filing a formal complaint with the FCC regarding their lack

Kim Anderson, Amber Neven and Brook Ourada round out the top-three

Health Net worked to protect Moninger's jersey

The day's early break would not survive the “Gila Monster”

Swenson won the Cima Pantani prize at the summit of Anderson Vista

Frattini and Moninger drive the lead group

Swenson tries to leave the lead group in the final miles of the stage

Hamilton's reprise

... but Hamilton got them both.

Scholz set the early standard...

... topped by McGee...

Danielson: Ready for a Giro start?

Moninger had a chance to relax while Sayers went off the strut his stuff

Wherry, Jones and Lokkesmoe in control.

Sayers scores!

The women's cresting the hill on Cooper St.

Rubelt was the only one who could follow Sayers.

Holden drives what became the winning move.

The big Pole -- aka Darius Baranowski (Liberty Seguros) -- is ready to help new team captain Roberto Heras take on Lance Armstrong in July's Tour de France.

Tim Johnson (Saunier Duval) rolls out. The team's half-joking wish that the cold, snowy stage would be canceled went unfulfilled in Saturday's fourth stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon.

Tim Johnson (Saunier Duval) strikes the perfect pose fully kitted out in his team colors for a cold day in the saddle.

The next Ekimov? Vladimir Karpets (Illes Balears) - fresh off his victory at the Tour of the Rioja last weekend - looks not-too-pleased to talk to the Russian media before the start of Saturday's stage.

How cold will Koldo Gil (Liberty Seguros) get? The rising Spanish star hopes not very much.

Spain's Alejandro Valverde (CV-Kelme) is content after winning Friday's third stage. Castilla y Leon is his last major race before taking a break to build up for the Olympics and the Vuelta.

Jeker takes the win; Hamilton takes the overall lead

Jeker sets the pace