Road

The blogosphere is wondering about another vaunted new team, Leopard-Trek, which up until Monday had not registered a single victory since it debuted at the Tour Down Under just over a month ago.

JAEN, Spain (VN) – A day after losing in a photo-finish, Fran Ventoso (Movistar) got it right to claim victory in Tuesday’s stage 3 at the 57th Ruta del Sol.

El Pistolero’s Shiv

Richmond, Virginia, is competing with Oman and Quebec to host the 2015 UCI road world championships, the UCI announced Tuesday. At the Tour of Oman last week, the Sultanate of Oman announced its bid to host the event; Richmond announced its bid in December.

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The French wave continued Monday as Jonathan Hivert delivered Sojasun-Saur its second consecutive win in a bunch sprint when he out-kicked the fastest of the Spanish armada in the second stage at the Ruta del Sol.

Stage 2:

• 1. Jonathan HIVERT, (FRA) Saur-Sojasun, in 4:20:25
• 2. Francisco José VENTOSO ALBERDI, (ESP), at s.t.
• 3. Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, (ESP) Rabobank Cycling Team, at s.t.
• 4. Stijn DEVOLDER, (BEL), at s.t.
• 5. Serguei IVANOV, (RUS) Team Katusha, at s.t.

• 1. Markel IRIZAR ARANBURU, (ESP) Team RadioShack, in 4:29:53
• 2. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1
• 3. Levi LEIPHEIMER, (USA) Team RadioShack, at 2
• 4. Jerome COPPEL, (FRA) Saur-Sojasun, at 3
• 5. Luis PASAMONTES RODRIGUEZ, (ESP), at 8

Caley Fretz takes a look at Hutchinson's Pro Tour tires — just like Lance used —  and examines the benefits of aging tires.

This fall, my neighbor Don Powell and I sat down over a beer, and decided to start a team focused on mentoring young riders and helping them develop into better cyclists and people.

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Andrew Hood sends some snaps from the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve.

“Just being here is a victory,” said Alberto Contador after finishing fourth overall in the Volta ao Algarve.

Sarah Hammer of the United States wins the women’s omnium at the UCI World Cup track cycling meet in Manchester, England.

Jimmy Engoulvent wins the opening time trial by a fraction of a second as the 57th Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol gets under way.

Stage 1

• 1. Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra), Saur-Sojasun, 9:28
• 2. Markel Irizar Aranburu (Esp), Team RadioShack, same time
• 3. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 0:01
• 4. Levi Leipheimer (Usa), Team RadioShack, at 0:02
• 5. Jerome Coppel (Fra), Saur-Sojasun, at 0:03

Stage 2

• 1. Julien Antommarchi (Fra), 5:14:07
• 2. Thomas Voeckler (Fra), same time
• 3. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp), at 0:29
• 4. Julien Simon (Fra), Saur-Sojasun, at 0:29
• 5. David Moncoutie (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0:29

Final overall

• 1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra), 9:14:13
• 2. Julien Antommarchi (Fra), at 0:08
• 3. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0:28
• 4. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp), at 0:29
• 5. Rémi Pauriol (Fra), Française Des Jeux, at 0:37

Thomas Voeckler wins the Tour du Haut Var after finishing second in the final stage.

Stage 5

• 1. Tony Martin (Ger), HTC-Columbia, 20:53
• 2. Lieuwe Westra (Ned), at 0:05
• 3. Tiago Machado (Por), Team RadioShack, at 0:26
• 4. Jesse Sergent (Nzl), Team RadioShack, at 0:27
• 5. Andreas Klöden (Ger), Team RadioShack, at 0:30

Final overall

• 1. Tony Martin (Ger), HTC-Columbia, 18:48:45
• 2. Tejay Van Garderen (USA States), HTC-Columbia, at 0:32
• 3. Lieuwe Westra (Ned), at 0:39
• 4. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp), at 0:41
• 5. Andreas Klöden (Ger), Team RadioShack, at 0:46

Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) clinched the overall victory in the GvA Trofee series on Sunday as Belgian champion Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) won the finale in Oostmalle.

Stage 6:

• 1. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, in 3:39:58
• 2. Denis Galimzyanov, Katusha, same time
• 3. Andrea Guardini, Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, s.t.
• 4. Matteo Pelucchi, Geox-TMC, s.t.
• 5. Francesco Chicchi, Quick Step, s.t.

• 1. Robert Gesink, Rabobank, in 20:24:36
• 2. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky, at 1:13
• 3. Giovanni Visconti, Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, at 1:19
• 4. Michael Albasini, HTC-Highroad, at 1:52
• 5. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Cervelo, at 2:04

HTC-Highroad's Mark Cavendish scored a sprint victory in the final stage of the 2011 Tour of Oman as Robert Gesink wraps up the overall.

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Eddy Merckx has added his support to Oman's bid to host cycling's annual world road race championships in 2015.

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Sir Chris Hoy escapes a spectacular crash to win the World Cup keirin in Manchester. Azizulhasni Awang takes the overall title and collects a seven-inch splinter in one leg to go with it.

Stage 1

• 1. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, 4:00:05
• 2. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0:00
• 3. Thomas Voeckler (Fra), at 0:01
• 4. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp), at 0:01
• 5. Cédric Pineau (Fra), Française des Jeux, at 0:01

Samuel Dumoulin snatches the Haut Var opener from Rinaldo Nocentini.

Stage 4

• 1. André Greipel (Ger), Omega Pharma-Lotto, 3:56:55
• 2. Michael Matthews (Aus), Rabobank, s.t.
• 3. Anthony Ravard (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, s.t.
• 4. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, s.t.
• 5. Allan Davis (Aus), Astana, s.t.

Overall standings

• 1. Stephen Cummings (Gbr), Team Sky, 18:27:42
• 2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp), at 0:06
• 3. Tony Martin (Ger), HTC-Columbia, at 0:10
• 4. Tejay Van Garderen (USA), HTC-Columbia, at 0:12
• 5. Rein Taaramae (Est), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0:18

André Greipel wins stage 4 of Algarve while Stephen Cummings leads the overall.

Daniele Pietropolli proves fastest of a 10-man break at the Trofeo Laigueglia.

Trofeo Laigueglia

• 1. Daniele Pietropolli (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, 4:42:20
• 2. Simone Ponzi (Ita), Liquigas-Doimo, same time
• 3. Angel Vicioso Arcos (Esp), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni, s.t.
• 4. Fabio Taborre (Ita), Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo, s.t.
• 5. Pavel Brutt (Rus), Team Katusha, s.t.

Bart Wellens takes a commanding solo victory at the Cauberg Cyclocross.

Rabobank's Robert Gesink extended his lead of the Tour of Oman on Saturday after claiming victory in the fifth and penultimate stage, an 18-kilometer individual time trial.

Vacansoleil declares that it has no choice but to fire cycling's most obnoxious doper

ALBUFEIRA, Portugal (VN) ─ Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) is picking up where he left off after his break-out rookie season with a strong ride at the five-day Volta ao Algarve in southern Portugal.

Kevin Sireau, the French sprinter, proved Friday at the World Cup meet in Manchester he will be one of the favorites at the London Olympics

Alberto Contador said Friday that he was satisfied with his third place finish in the day's Volta ao Algarve stage.

Stage:

• 1. Stephen CUMMINGS, (GBR) Team Sky, in 4:56:19
• 2. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, (USA) HTC-HighRoad, at 0
• 3. Alberto CONTADOR VELASCO, (ESP), at 0
• 4. Rein TAARAMAE, (EST) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 5. Tony MARTIN, (GER) HTC-HighRoad, at 0

• 1. Stephen CUMMINGS, (Great Britain) Team Sky, in 14:30:47
• 2. Alberto CONTADOR VELASCO, (Spain), at 6
• 3. Tony MARTIN, (Germany) HTC-HighRoad, at 10
• 4. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, (United States) HTC-HighRoad, at 12
• 5. Rein TAARAMAE, (Estonia) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 18

LISBON (AFP) — Team Sky's Stephen Cummings on Friday won the third stage of the Tour of the Algarve ahead of Tejay van Garderen (HTC-HighRoad) and two-time winner Alberto Contador of Astana.

Even with a flashing red butt, Caley Fretz says the Castelli tights will let you ride on days you'd probably rather not.

Now that Retirement 2.0 has come, what did Lance Armstrong’s comeback mean for big time American racing? And can the Amgen Tour of California and Quiznos Pro Challenge survive in his absence? One way to answer the question is to look at the effect his presence, or absence, has made on previous events.

Stage 4

• 1. Robert Gesink, Rabobank, in 4:03':58
• 2. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sky, at 0:47
• 3. Dries Devenyns, Quick Step, at 0:51
• 4. Giovanni Visconti, Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, at 0:53
• 5. Christian Vandevelde, Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:53

Overall Standings

• 1. Robert Gesink, Rabobank, in 16:15:18
• 2. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sky, at 0:44
• 3. Dries Devenyns, Quick Step, at 0:57
• 4. Christian Vandevelde, Garmin-Cervelo, at 01:03
• 5. Giovanni Visconti, Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, at 01:03

Perhaps there’s no one beyond the Pyrénées happier to see Alberto Contador back in a racing jersey than SaxoBank-Sungard boss Bjarne Riis.

After a decade-long absence, the Tour of South Africa returns Saturday for an eight-day, seven-stage route that will lay the groundwork for what organizers are hoping will become a fixture on the international calendar.

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What's a light-weight helmet worth to you? Tech-man Nick Legan has a suggestion

A reader asks if time-sensitive athletes can substitute high-intensity workouts for high volume.

Wahoooga .... Wahoooga ... Anyone that owns an iPhone knows this noise. That terribly annoying alarm is how I started what could have been a normal Thursday. It wasn't though.

Stage

• 1. John DEGENKOLB , (GER) HTC-Columbia , at 4:57:56
• 2. Tyler FARRAR , (USA) Garmin-Transitions , at 0
• 3. Michael MATTHEWS , (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team , at 0
• 4. Baden COOKE , (AUS) , at 0
• 5. Sébastien HINAULT , (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale , at 0

• 1. Philippe GILBERT , (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto , at 9:34:23
• 2. John DEGENKOLB , (GER) HTC-Columbia , at 4
• 3. Tyler FARRAR , (USA) Garmin-Transitions , at 8
• 4. Gerald CIOLEK , (GER) Quick Step , at 9
• 5. Michael MATTHEWS , (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team , at 10

John Degenkolb (HTC-Columbia) nipped Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo) to win the second stage at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal in Thursday’s 186.5km run from Lagao to Lagos.

Stage:

• 1. Théo Bos, Rabobank Cycling Team, in 5:14:41
• 2. Daniele Bennati, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 3. Harley Goss Matthew, Htc - Highroad, at s.t.
• 4. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at s.t.
• 5. Heinrich Haussler, Team Garmin - Cervelo, at s.t.

• 1. Harley Goss Matthew, Htc - Highroad, in 12:11:13"
• 2. Daniele Bennati, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 3. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at 00:10
• 4. Pieter Serry, Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 00:11
• 5. Patrik Sinkewitz, Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli, at 00:11

SUR, Oman (AFP) - Dutch rider Theo Bos of Rabobank won the third stage of the Tour of Oman Thursday as Australia's Matthew Goss held the leader's red jersey.

Finally, more than 25 years after he first put a leg over a bike in a racing environment, Lance Armstrong says his competitive cycling days are over.

A web version of a timeline that first ran in the january 2009 issue of VeloNews magazine

Pros left India after a promising weekend that saw India’s first-ever elite international road stage and opened the door for future expansion of the sport in what’s considered one of cycling’s final frontiers.

Despite the swelling negative public opinion over the Alberto Contador acquittal Tuesday in Spain, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) is taking a wait-and-see approach.

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When Armstrong announced his comeback in 2008, he mentioned a repeat performance — of Tour victory, not as the guy on the receiving end of doping questions.

During that press conference, as my hand was in the air, LeMond whispered in my ear, “Come on, Neal, ask the real questions.” It was without question the single most surreal moment in my professional career ...

Stage 1:

• 1. Philippe GILBERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 4:36:36
• 2. Gerald CIOLEK, (GER) Quick Step, at 5
• 3. André GREIPEL, (GER) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 5
• 4. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 5
• 5. Michael MATTHEWS, (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 5

• 1. Philippe GILBERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 4:36:26
• 2. Gerald CIOLEK, (GER) Quick Step, at 9
• 3. André GREIPEL, (GER) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 11
• 4. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 15
• 5. Michael MATTHEWS, (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 15

Armstrong's second comeback did not spur as many new bike tech ideas as the first, Lennard Zinn says.

Organizers on Wednesday launched a new-look Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah for August 2011. The newly upgraded UCI 2.1-level stage race will feature six days of racing and include new routes for all but two stages.

As a former RadioShack mechanic, I’m constantly asked for the inside scoop on working with Lance Armstrong. With today’s announcement of his (second) retirement from professional racing, the timing is right to answer that question.

There is more news on the doping front in Spain with a former doctor of the now-defunct Xacobeo-Galicia team set to take charges against the team to a Spanish court.

The major tours will wait on the sidelines to see how the Alberto Contador doping case plays out.

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) took his inaugural victory of the 2011 season in the opening stage of the Volta a Algarve on a day that was overshadowed by the return of Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard).

While fans and media celebrated Alberto Contador’s apparent victory in his ongoing doping scandal, reactions were strikingly more negative north of the Pyrénées.

Stage:

• 1. Matthew Harley Goss, HTC - HighRoad, in 3:18:17
• 2. Daniele Bennati, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 3. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at 00:00
• 4. Greg Van Avermaet, Bmc Racing Team, at s.t.
• 5. Danilo Hondo, Lampre - Isd, at s.t.

• 1. Matthew Harley Goss, HTC - HighRoad, ib 6:56:36
• 2. Daniele Bennati, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 3. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at 00:06
• 4. Pieter Serry, Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 00:07
• 5. Tanel Kangert, Pro Team Astana, at 00:09