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ROME (AFP) — British sprint king Mark Cavendish has been accused by two Giro d'Italia rivals of being towed up Mount Etna in Sunday's stage.

2010 Giro d’Italia champion Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) avoided serious injury despite crashing hard during a training ride on Mount Etna on Sicily on Tuesday.

TERMOLI,Italy (VN) ─ Expect the Giro d'Italia peloton to get considerably lighter in the coming days as sprinters will begin to slowly fade out of the picture. With opportunities running out ─ and no final-day sprint stage waiting for them in Milan ─ sprinters will likely start to abandon or become time cut as the Giro turns north into the brutal climbs waiting in the Dolomites.

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4 bikes + cobbles + accelerometers + strain gauges = the new VN Bike Lab test

• 1. SWIFT Ben SKY GBR 2:47:02 00
• 2. *SAGAN Peter LIQ SVK 2:47:06 04
• 3. GOSS Matthew Harley THR AUS 2:47:08 06
• 4. LACOMBE Kevin CSM CAN 2:47:12 10
• 5. HAEDO Juan Jose SBS ARG

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (VN) - On Sunday Jim Ochowicz stood outside the BMC Racing bus in Stateline, Nevada, while a group of team directors and riders negotiated with race organizers over alterations made to the first stage of the Amgen Tour of California. Twenty-four years ago, Ochowicz stood atop the Passo Gavia in northern Italy, waiting to hand eventual race winner Andy Hampsten a new set of clothes as snow piled up during the queen stage of the Giro d’Italia.

Team Sky's Ben Swift won the opening stage of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California on Monday, coming off a long leadout train on a shortened stage from Nevada City to Sacramento.

A look at the on-bike cameras some teams are using.

Friday's invitational women's time trial roster set

NAPOLI, Italy (VN) — Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) on Monday expressed satisfaction about grabbing the pink jersey in Sunday's windy ride up Mount Etna, but suggested that the team might let it slip away if a breakaway of non-threatening riders makes a play for pink.

TERMOLI, Italy (VN) — The harrowing Monte Crostis descent will unfold as scheduled following a face-to-face meeting Sunday evening between the peloton's biggest riders and Giro d'Italia race director Angelo Zomegnan.

After a 23-year hiatus, Aspen, Colorado, will once again host international professional men’s cycling this summer, when the USA Pro Cycling Challenge comes to town. But two-time national champion and Aspen resident Jessica Phillips wasn’t content to simply watch the men. She wanted women to have a chance to race as well.

Steve Thomas checks in with the Classics King on the state of Irish cycling and his team.

Regardless of their backgrounds, the top stars of professional cycling all share one thing in common — a story of fulfilled promise.

Padded straps and a soft back panel make schlepping water and gear with the Reyes an exercise in comfort.

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Got any doubts about whether stage one of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California should have been canceled? Photographer Casey B. Gibson helps clear your thinking.

Just because the race didn't take place doesn't mean that team riders and staff got a big break. It was all systems go until seconds before the start.

Kenda-5 Hour Energy's Phil Gaimon knew he was in for a long day when the rumors began circulating: Portions of stage one would be neutralized, it would be shortened to a prologue, or he'd have to do the full race, and the lead moto would be replaced with a snowplow.

If you were planning on riding the trainer while watching Sunday’s opening stage of the Amgen Tour of California, you were disappointed. If you have other trainer sessions planned this year, you may want to check out the CTS DVD “Amgen Tour of California, The Workout,” which will play on your television regardless of the weather.

It's just DZ being ... well, DZ.

Whether the deciding factor was rider sentiment, weather forecasts or logistical concerns, in the end, the decision to cancel the stage was the right one.

Casey B. Gibson was among those denied a front-row seat at the Amgen Tour kickoff, which was canceled by inclement weather. He broke out the camera gear anyway.

The stage one that wasn't: Brad Kaminski was there.

Casey B. Gibson joined the rest of the Amgen Tour of California in prepping for a very chilly stage one.

Alberto Contador proved he's the man to beat on Sunday's extraordinary moonscape climb up Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe.

Garmin-Cervélo's Brett Lancaster discusses the difficulties of the 2011 Giro d'Italia and the Mt. Etna stage in particular.

Quick Results

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), SaxoBank-Sungard , 4:54:08
• 2. José Rujano Guillen (VEN), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 0:03
• 3. Stefano Garzelli (ITA), Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo, at 0:50
• 4. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), Liquigas-Doimo, at 0:50
• 5. Roman Kreuziger (CZE), Astana, at 0:50

GC

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Sp), SaxoBank-Sungard , 33:03:51
• 2. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr), HTC-Highroad, at 0:59
• 3. Christophe Le Mevel (F), Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:19
• 4. Vincenzo Nibali (I), Liquigas-Doimo, at 1:21
• 5. Michele Scarponi (I), Lampre-ISD, at 1:28

Stage one of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California looked to be getting off to a snowy start — if it gets off at all.

Tejay Van Garderen has been logging the miles in a pair of custom Pearl Izumi shoes.

Snow cancels the first stage of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California.

Alberto Contador entered the 2011 Giro d’Italia as the odds-on favorite to take his second overall victory in the race and on Sunday, he showed why, winning the ninth stage and taking the overall lead in impressive style.

Nick Legan snaps the pre-race prep' for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California.

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ST. LOUIS, Missouri – On a wet and windy day in St. Louis, riders at the Tour De Grove lined up to brave the elements at the second year of the event, an NRC race and the latest round of the USA Crits series.

STATELINE, Nevada (VN) - Tejay Van Garderen will be aggressive in chasing bonus seconds if the opportunity arises in the opening stages of the Amgen Tour of California.

STATELINE, Nevada (VN) – Christian Vande Velde said he went through a range of emotions Friday after learning of the leak to French publication L’Equipe of the UCI’s suspicious riders list from the 2010 Tour de France.

Gregg Bleakney provides his unique perspective on stage eight of the 2011 Giro d'Italia.

HTC-Highroad's Tejay Van Garderen hopes to ride his Specialized Venge to the top step of the podium at the Amgen Tour of California.

Casey B. Gibson was on the road with BMC and RadioShack as the pros acclimated themselves to what could be some very chilly weather indeed for the kickoff to the 2011 Amgen Tour of California.

While $9,800 is an obscene amount of money to pay for a bicycle frame, the Cervélo R5CA is sublime.

STATELINE, Nevada (VN) - On the eve of the Amgen Tour of California, George Hincapie is back with his BMC Racing team and the squad’s youth movement is keeping him going.

TROPEA, Italy (VN) ─ Christophe Le Mevel is not a name that fans are used to seeing at the top of the GC of a stage race, but staffers at Garmin-Cervélo are hoping that he will be making an impression during this year's Giro d'Italia.

STATELINE, Nevada (VN) - Snow and low temperatures remain in the forecast on the eve of the Amgen Tour of California and race organizers are exploring a number of options for the opening stages.

On Saturday, Alberto Contador responded to critics the way he always does ─ with vicious accelerations from his spindly legs, taking second in stage eight and putting everyone on notice a day of ahead of the Giro's first major mountaintop finish up Mount Etna.

MADDALONI, Italy (VN) ─ Hendrik Redant came to the Giro d'Italia to drive around VIPs and make a few extra bucks before trying to land another cycling job following the collapse of the Pegasus cycling project.

Quick Results

• 1. Oscar Gatto (ITA), Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, 4:59:45
• 2. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), SaxoBank-Sungard, s.t.
• 3. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, at 0:05
• 4. Alexander Kristoff (NOR), BMC Racing Team, at 0:05
• 5. Roberto Ferrari (ITA), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 0:05

GC

• 1. Pieter Weening (Netherlands), Rabobank Cycling Team , 28:09:49
• 2. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Belarus), HTC-Highroad, at 0:02
• 3. Marco Pinotti (Italy), HTC-Highroad, at 0:02
• 4. Christophe Le Mevel (France), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:03
• 5. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spain), SaxoBank-Sungard, at 0:13

Oscar Gatto and Alberto Contador go 1-2 in stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia.

STATELINE, Nevada (VN) – After a deal allowing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to conduct in-competition drug testing at the Amgen Tour of California fell apart this week, the UCI resumed control of the in-competition testing for the race.

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STATELINE, Nevada (VN) - Andy Schleck said Friday that he is struggling with the death of friend and teammate Wouter Weylandt and that his team would honor the fallen Belgian on Sunday and the rest of the season.

Bart de Clercq's stage-7-winning Canyon Ultimate CF SLX

AVELLINO, Italy (VN) — Bart de Clercq, winner of Friday’s stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia, only began riding seriously in 2008. The 25 year old Belgian rode his bike for fun as a student at the University of Ghent, making the decision to give racing a try only near the end of his studies. Three years later, he’s in his first season as a pro and is already a grand tour stage winner.

AVELLINO, Italy (VN) — Photographer Gregg Bleakney spent Friday looking for the best seat in the house to watch stage 7. He, along with a few race fans, found it atop the Monteverngine Di Mercogliano, where they could take in the incredible scenery AND the race action

AVELLINO, Italy (VN) – Friday’s short but explosive 110km stage ended in less than three hours, a far cry from the long, 240km monster the Giro faced earlier this week.

A look at Giro leader Pieter Weening's Team Rabobank Giant

Stage

• 1. Bart De Clercq (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto , 2:54:47
• 2. Michele Scarponi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, s.t.
• 3. Roman Kreuziger (CZE), Astana, s.t.
• 4. Stefano Garzelli (ITA), Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo, s.t.
• 5. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), Liquigas-Doimo, s.t.

GC

• 1. Pieter Weening (Nl), Rabobank Cycling Team , at
• 2. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr), HTC-Highroad, at 2
• 3. Marco Pinotti (I), HTC-Highroad, at 2
• 4. Christophe Le Mevel (F), Garmin-Cervelo, at 5
• 5. Michele Scarponi (I), Lampre-ISD, at 14

Regardless of their backgrounds, the top stars of professional cycling all share one thing in common — a story of fulfilled promise.

Bart De Clercq (Omega Pharma-Lotto) took advantage of a well-timed attack on the final climb of the seventh stage of the Giro d’Italia and held on to take the win, but only just barely.

FIUGGI, Italy (VN) — VeloNews' Andrew Hood chats with HTC-Highroad's Craig Lewis at the Giro d'Italia.

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PARIS (AFP) — The International Cycling Union (UCI) on Thursday criticized the French sports daily L'Equipe for planning to publish results from anti-doping tests taken on the eve of the 2010 Tour de France.

BOULDER, Colo. (VN) — The upcoming major stage race in Colorado now has its third title since plans were first made public last year.

BRUSSELS (AFP) — The funeral of Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt, killed in a crash on the Tour of Italy, will take place next Wednesday, May 18, in his home town of Ghent, his Leopard-Trek team announced Thursday.

FIUGGI, Italy (VN) – Fran Ventoso had marked the Fiuggi stage on the road book because he knew it was tailormade for his characteristics. The long drag up to the hilltop town was just want he needed to win.

FIUGGI, Italy (VN) — Photographer Gregg Bleakney took some photos before and after stage 6 at the Giro d'Italia on Thursday.

FIUGGI, Italy (VN) – Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) says he’s being careful in what he eats in Italy as he makes a run for the pink jersey at the Giro d’Italia.