Road

Aussie Richie Porte will not be among the nine riders backing Alberto Contador as he tackles the 2011 Giro d'Italia, Saxo Bank-Sungard announces.

Spanish team Andalucía-Caja Granada denied reports that it has signed Italian veteran Davide Rebellin, but admits speaking with the veteran Italian, who is looking for a job after serving a doping ban.

Jonathan Castroviejo wins the prologue to the Tour de Romandie ahead of American Taylor Phinney and Leigh Howard.

“I don’t think I have ever seen stages so long, so hard and so spectacular in all my many years as a pro,” said Carlos Sastre after scouting some key sectors of the 2011 Giro d'Italia.

Geox-TMC has been doing some wind-tunnel work and scouted the decisive climbs in the Dolomites ahead of this year's Giro d'Italia.

Manuel Belletti wins the third stage at the Presidential Tour of Turkey and takes the race leader’s jersey.

Stage 3

• 1. Manuel Belletti (Ita), Colnago-CSF, 4:22:24
• 2. Roberto Ferrari (Ita), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni, s.t.
• 3. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus), Française des Jeux, s.t.
• 4. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, s.t.
• 5. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu), Garmin-Cervélo, s.t.

title

• 1. Manuel Belletti (Ita), Colnago-CSF, 11:21:36
• 2. Roberto Ferrari (Ita), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni, at 0:04
• 3. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus), Française des Jeux, at 0:06
• 4. Stefan Van Dijk (Ned), at 0:10
• 5. Diego Milan Jimenez (Esp), Caja Rural, at 0:10

What you tell yourself can make or break a race: Choose wisely, Grasshopper

The start list for the Tour de Romandie, April 26 through May 1.

Switzerland’s Tour de Romandie, which takes place this week, starts appropriately enough at Martigny, a town surrounded by famous alpine climbs: the Grand St. Bernard to the south, Col de la Forclaz to the east and Crans-Montana to the east. But ironically the six-day, 698.3km UCI WorldTour event is probably the least mountainous in the race’s 65-year history.

The dust is settling on Philippe Gilbert’s extraordinary week, but the Belgians are still celebrating the historic Ardennes sweep.

Philippe Gilbert’s magical ride through the Ardennes had another silver lining: the Omega-Lotto rider climbs into the No. 1 spot in the latest UCI rankings.

• 1. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, with 356 points
• 2. Fabian Cancellara, Leopard Trek, with 236 points
• 3. Harley Goss Matthew, Htc-Highroad, with 203 points
• 4. Andreas KlÖden, Team Radioshack, with 202 points
• 5. Michele Scarponi, Lampre - Isd, with 202 points

Valentin Iglinskiy (Astana) surprised the top sprinters to dart to victory in Monday’s stage 2 at the Tour of Turkey.

Stage 2

• 1. Valentin IGLINSKIY, (KAZ) Astana, in 4:23:28
• 2. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at s.t.
• 3. Elia FAVILLI, (ITA), at s.t.
• 4. Juan Pablo FORERO CARRENO, (COL) Colombia Es Pasion Coldeportes, at s.t.
• 5. Stefan VAN DIJK, (NED), at s.t.

GC

• 1. Valentin IGLINSKIY, (Kazakhstan) Astana, in 6:59:12
• 2. Tyler FARRAR, (United States) Garmin-Cervelo, at 4
• 3. Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL, (Netherlands) Skil-Shimano, at 6
• 4. Elia FAVILLI, (Italy), at 6
• 5. Stefan VAN DIJK, (Netherlands), at 10

• 1. Michael MATTHEWS, (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, in 4:50:50
• 2. Marcel KITTEL, (GER) Skil-Shimano, at s.t.
• 3. Giacomo NIZZOLO, (ITA) Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 4. David KOPP, (GER) Team Kuota-Indeland, at s.t.
• 5. Aidis KRUOPIS, (LTU) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, at s.t.

Aussie sprinter Michael Matthews once again proved his pedigree with victory Monday at the one-day Rund um Köln in Germany.

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The Schleck brothers say it was impossible to beat Philippe Gilbert at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Graham Watson is on hand as Philippe Gilbert wins the 2011 Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège

• 1. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 6:13:18
• 2. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 0:00
• 3. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 0:00
• 4. Roman Kreuziger, Astana, at 0:24
• 5. Rigoberto Uran, Sky, at 0:24

Philippe Gilbert caps a sweep of the Ardennes classics, easily out-sprinting Fränk and Andy Schleck to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

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Cadel Evans ─ who was forced to skip defending his title at Fleche Wallonne and missed the start at Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège ─ will mark his return to racing for the BMC Racing Team on Tuesday at the Tour de Romandie.

Tour of Turkey, stage 1

• 1. Andrea Guardini (I), Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, 2hr 35min 54sec
• 2. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Cervelo, same time
• 3. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Nl), Skil-Shimano, s.t.
• 4. Manuel Belletti (I), Colnago-CSF Inox , s.t.
• 5. Roberto Ferrari (I), Androni Giocattoli, s.t.

Italian youngster Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini) opened up a long sprint to hold off Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) to win the opening stage at the Tour of Turkey on Sunday.

Paris-Nice winner Tony Martin will be at the center of HTC-Highroad's battle plan for the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Classic in Belgium on Sunday.

The Presidential Tour of Turkey has been around nearly half a century, but no one really paid much attention to it until about four years ago, when the UCI elevated its status and organizers up the ante to draw top teams.

LIEGE, Belgium (VN) – Dan Martin is starting Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but will be fighting a troubling arm injury suffered in a crash on Wednesday.

FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium – Two weeks ago, Fabian Cancellara was the talk of the cycling media. Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) has assumed that role with three wins in a week, but Cancellara's Leopard-Trek teammates aren't looking past anyone for Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Roman Kreuziger (Astana) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre) took morale-boosting victories Friday to put their rivals on notice going into next month´s Giro d'Italia.

Having recently come away from the World Track Championships with yet another rainbow jersey (Madison with Leigh Howard), a silver medal (points race) and a seventh place (scratch) young Aussie sensation Cameron Meyer is ready for the first race of his Euro road season, Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege. VeloNews caught up with him as he tries to build on his already amazing 2011.

Tension between the UCI and the top pro teams is reaching a breaking point over the use of race radios in elite professional races. Things got so bad that teams walked out of a meeting last week in Belgium that was supposed to be a sit-down between the major players to hammer out an understanding. Instead of reaching a common ground, both sides seem further apart than ever.

The Speed Dream Tonazzo carbon clinchers: light, stiff wheels from an artisan.

Quick look: If you ride white handlebar tape, white shoes and white shorts, then check out the new white Apex.

Dear BCSM, Can you explain the benefits and drawbacks of plyometric training?

Colombian Fabio Duarte (Geox-TMC) grabbed his first European pro win of the season in the third stage at the Giro del Trentino on Thursday in northern Italy.

Stage 3

• 1. Fabio Andres DUARTE AREVALO, (COL) Geox-TMC, in 4:41:05
• 2. Tiago MACHADO, (POR) Team RadioShack, at 0
• 3. Michele SCARPONI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 3
• 4. Steve MORABITO, (SUI) BMC Racing Team, at 3
• 5. Robert KISERLOVSKI, (CRO) Astana, at 3

GC

• 1. Michele SCARPONI, (Italy) Lampre-Farnese Vini, in 9:44:40
• 2. Tiago MACHADO, (Portugal) Team RadioShack, at 7
• 3. Luca ASCANI, (Italy), at 33
• 4. Steve MORABITO, (Switzerland) BMC Racing Team, at 34
• 5. Domenico POZZOVIVO, (Italy) Colnago-CSF, at 35

WALSHOUTEM, Belgium (VN) – Greg Van Avermaet is ready to close a long classics season Sunday and is looking to deliver a result to BMC Racing. Van Avermaet, 25, will start his first Liège-Bastogne-Liège Sunday.

"I am more in love with the sport than ever, and yet I still watch a pack of cyclists negotiating traffic or click-clacking through a coffee shop in their cleats, and I cringe. We are truly our own worst enemies ... "

Special shorts for Roubaix, team vehicle parking spots, painted roads and more questions, answered

ROME (AFP) - Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso will not be defending his title when the Giro begins on May 7 in Turin, he said Thursday.

The Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursday that U.S. investigators are working with their Italian counterparts to review millions of dollars’ worth of financial transactions involving physician Michele Ferrari and several high-profile cyclists.

2011 Giro d'Italia startlist

Geox-TMC has named its "long list" for the upcoming Giro d'Italia, putting 12 riders on a list that will be whittled down to nine for the season's first grand tour.

WALSHOUTEM, Belgium (VN) – Nearly lost in the fever of Philippe Gilbert’s triumph for Omega Pharma-Lotto at La Flèche Wallonne Wednesday was Alexander Vinokourov’s best-ever result in the mid-week classic. Astana’s defending champion of Liége-Bastogne-Liége ground out a fourth-place result atop the Mur de Huy and said afterward that the ride gave him much confidence ahead of Sunday’s Ardennes finale.

HUY, Belgium (VN) ─ Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo) is hoping to cap his spring campaign with a run for the podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.

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Brian Holcombe talks to HTC-Highroad's Evelyn Stevens about her long solo attack at Wednesday's Fleche Wallonne

Brian Holcombe chats with Liquigas-Cannondale's Tim Duggan about the Ardennes and Mur de Huy

HTC-Highroad's Tejay Van Garderen talks with Brian Holcombe about his first Fleche Wallonne and his pressure-free Ardennes program

Quick look: Campagnolo has new shifters, brake levers, brakes and big chainrings for time trial machines

Stage 2

• 1. Thomas VOECKLER, (FRA) Europcar, in 4:47:51
• 2. Michele SCARPONI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0
• 3. Przemyslaw NIEMIEC, (POL) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 25
• 4. Steve MORABITO, (SUI) BMC Racing Team, at 25
• 5. Fortunato BALIANI, (ITA), at 25

GC

• 1. Michele SCARPONI, (Italy) Lampre-Farnese Vini, in 5:03:36
• 2. Tiago MACHADO, (Portugal) Team RadioShack, at 12
• 3. Vincenzo NIBALI, (Italy) Liquigas-Doimo, at 14
• 4. Luca ASCANI, (Italy), at 15
• 5. Thomas VOECKLER, (France) Europcar, at 19

HUY, Belgium (VN) — Philippe Gilbert will wake up Thursday morning as he did Monday, focused on recovering from a tough, winning effort in the hills near his hometown of Verviers, Belgium. So says the winner of all three high profile hilly classics contested this spring.

Full results for the 2011 Flèche Wallonne classic

HUY, Belgium (VN) – The Walloon fans of his home region carried Philippe Gilbert up the über-steep Mur de Huy Wednesday as he ran away with his third win in a row. The Omega Pharma-Lotto rider came onto the steepest section of the Mur at the front of the peloton and burst away from his rivals 400 meters from the line at La Flèche Wallonne.

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) won Wednesday's second stage at the Giro del Trentino in northern Italy in an intense battle to the line.

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La Flèche Wallonne Féminine

• 1. Marianne Vos (Nl), Nederland Bloeit, 109.5km in 2:58:27
• 2. Emma Johansson (S), Hitec Products-Uck, at 0:03
• 3. Judith Arndt (G), HTC Highroad Women, at 0:06
• 4. Elena Berlato (I), Top Girls Fassa Bortolo, at 0:15
• 5. Nicole Cooke (GB), SC Mcipollini Giambenini, at 0:15

HUY, Belgium (VN) - Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloueit) was the strongest on the Mur de Huy and a tough 100-kilometer circuit Wednesday. The Dutch master of most trades was triumphant at La Flèche Wallonne Feminine, finishing a handful of seconds ahead of Emma Johansson.

HUY, Belgium (VN) – Alexander Vinokourov will have a full arsenal at his disposal in his bid for a third Liège-Bastogne-Liège title Sunday. Roman Kreuziger will join his Astana teammates Saturday evening in Liège after the Giro del Trentino wraps up earlier in the day in Italy.

From $40 to $230, we've rounded up a eight models of shades sure to keep you covered.

Andreas Klöden (RadioShack) continues his early season winning form and notched victory in Tuesday’s TT opener at the Giro del Trentino in northern Italy.

FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (VN) – After a tough first year at Team Sky, it looks like Simon Gerrans is back on top. The 30-year-old Australian finished third Sunday in the Amstel Gold Race, his first classic of the spring.

FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (VN) — The steep ramps of the Mur de Huy await the peloton Wednesday at La Flèche Wallonne.

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) says he is still feeling the effects of a spring cold ahead of Wednesday’s Flèche Wallonne in what will be his only spring classic of the season.

Ivan Basso, who was forced to abandon the Tour of the Basque Country earlier this month with a cold, is back in the saddle for the season’s penultimate spring classic at Flèche Wallonne on Sunday.

• 1. Andreas KLÖDEN, (GER) Team RadioShack, in 15:24
• 2. Adriano MALORI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 1
• 3. Tiago MACHADO, (POR) Team RadioShack, at 8
• 4. Vincenzo NIBALI, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 10
• 5. Luca ASCANI, (ITA), at 11

Editor’s note: Every week through the 2011 road season, VeloNews editor-at-large John Wilcockson is writing about key features of the week’s racing. This 10th installment focuses on the career of rider of the week Philippe Gilbert.

FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (VN) – Chris Baldwin is back to earning a paycheck and just in time to build up for a race he’s dreamt about his entire career. A week after missing out on the overall at the Redlands Classic by one second, Bissell Pro Cycling added the two-time national time trial champion to their roster Friday.

Persistence paid back in spades for Xavier Tondo, who earned his first professional stage-race crown on home roads when he secured overall victory at the Vuelta a Castilla y León in Spain on Sunday.

Last year, Cadel Evans roared up the Mur de Huy to win Flèche Wallone while wearing the rainbow jersey, giving BMC one of its most important victories in team history.

Stuart O’Grady was probably watching Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race from the comfort of his couch, but he wasn’t surprised to see teammate Andy Schleck on the attack late in the race.

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Organizers of New York's Tour of the Battenkill road race are planning a series of events to be held this year.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (VN) —Collegiate racers from the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling conference were treated to hilly races this weekend at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (VN) — The Mid West Collegiate Cycling Conference regional championships were hosted this weekend at Lindenwood University, leaving many of the racers with sore legs and even some with bruised egos.

Nick Legan reviews the new Giro Aeon: Lighter than the Ionas, better ventilated than the Prolight. But it could use more sizes.