Road

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.

Quick results

• 1. Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (ESP), Movistar, in 5:15:39
• 2. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, s.t.
• 3. Roberto Ferrari (ITA), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, s.t.
• 4. Danilo Di Luca (ITA), Team Katusha, s.t.
• 5. Davide Appollonio (ITA), Team Sky, s.t.

GC

• 1. Pieter Weening (Netherlands), Rabobank Cycling Team, in 20:15:12
• 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 0:05
• 5. Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spain), Movistar, at 0:22

FIUGGI, Italy (VN) - Francisco Ventoso launched an impressive sprint at the end of the sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia to score big win for the Movistar team, as Rabobank’s Pieter Weening finished in the main field to keep his hold on the overall lead.

CHONGMING ISLAND, China - Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (HTC Highroad Women) defended her hold on the yellow jersey in style as she won the second stage of China’s Tour of Chongming Island on Friday, unleashing a devastating sprint at the end of a 118.4km race through the Chongming Industrial Zone.

ORVIETO, Italy (VN) – Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, saw a sharp increase in activity last night between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. local time according to Agenzia Giornalistica Italia. The Giro d’Italia is scheduled to climb Etna twice during stage 9 on Sunday.

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CHONGMING ISLAND, China－Despite forecasts to the contrary, the first stage of China’s Tour of Chongming Island was a cold and wet affair, as Garmin-Cervélo’s Elizabeth Armitstead scored her first international stage victory and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (HTC-Highroad) grabbed the overall lead on the strength of sprint bonus times.

The German Pro Continental squad NetApp has signed South African pro Daryl Impey, one of the victims of the collapsed Pegasus squad last year.

In an exclusive feature, Origins, in the June issue of VeloNews magazine, Tom Boonen, Mark Cavendish, Heinrich Haussler, George Hincapie, Michael Rogers, Andy Schleck and Jens Voigt reveal their paths into the sport, from aspiring junior to the podium steps of the sport’s biggest races.

Questions on spectator etiquette, pros with fenders and lightweight bike

ORVIETO, Italy (VN) – Garmin-Cervélo earned a trip to the post-stage podium presentation as the Giro d’Italia’s “super team,” but it was without top sprinter Tyler Farrar and the maglia rosa.

Caley Fretz takes a look at Francisco Ventoso's Pinarello Dogma, with Campy's electric parts

After finishing the Amgen Tour of California in the runner-up spot for the past three years, Garmin-Cervélo aims to break that streak by fielding a roster that, on paper, is the deepest in the race.

ORVIETO, Italy (VN) – Giro d’Italia race director Angelo Zomegnan strongly defended the use of the “strade bianche” white roads in the face of criticism from some riders who suggest the dirt roads don’t belong in stage racing.

Amgen Tour of California officials are preparing for the worst as forecasts call for a late spring snowstorm to descend on the start of the eight-day race in South Lake Tahoe, California.

Nick Legan prepares himself, and a special bike, for a 200-mile gravel road race

ORVIETO, Italy (VN) – Rabobank rider Tom Jelte Slagter will stay overnight in an Italian hospital for observation, but avoided serious injury despite a heavy fall with about 15km to go in Wednesday’s fifth stage at the Giro d’Italia.

Quick Results

• 1. Pieter Weening (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, in 4:54:04
• 2. Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (COL), Geox-TMC, at 8
• 3. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (COL), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 8
• 4. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA), Garmin-Cervelo, at 8
• 5. Oscar Gatto (ITA), Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, at 8

GC

• 1. Pieter Weening (Netherlands), Rabobank Cycling Team, 14:59:33
• 2. Marco Pinotti (Italy), HTC-Highroad, at 2
• 3. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Belarus), HTC-Highroad, at 2
• 4. Christophe Le Mevel (France), Garmin-Cervelo, at 5
• 5. Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spain), Movistar, at 22

Rabobank’s Pieter Weening scored an impressive solo win on the fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia, as the peloton returned to racing, following the tragic death of Wouter Wylandt on Monday.

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BOULDER, Colo. (VN) — Responding to allegations that the Movistar Continental team declined its invitation to attend the Amgen Tour of California because it did not receive financial assistance to travel to the race — something UCI WorldTour teams receive — AEG Sports president Andrew Messick told VeloNews that the event “fulfilled UCI requirements.”

Wouter Weylandt’s death on Monday at the Giro d’Italia reminds us just how close danger lurks, and maybe his passing will stop us all from taking quite so many risks the next time we go out on the road.

LIVORNO, Italy, May 10, 2011 (AFP) - The Leopard Trek team withdrew from the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday, a day after team member Wouter Weylandt died in a crash during the second stage, the team announced in a statement.

Johan Tschopp's BMC Impec

GENOA, Italy (VN) - Carlos Sastre ceded 1:14 during Monday's tragic third stage at the Giro d'Italia after crashing and breaking the pedals on his bike.

Californian Steven Cozza will miss the Amgen Tour of California this year as he recovers from illness that had him racing "on an empty fuel tank."

LIVORNO, Italy (VN) – The peloton paid its due respects to Wouter Weylandt in an emotional tribute to the fallen Belgian rider, but promises to get back to the business of racing bikes in Wednesday’s fifth stage at the Giro d’Italia.

A top cast will take the road in the Sierras on Sunday for the kickoff to the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, headlined by three-time champion Levi Leipheimer and world champion Thor Hushovd.

CARRASCO, Italy (VN) - A nondescript stretch of Italian road claimed the life of Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt on Monday.

2011 Amgen Tour of California preliminary startlist

Veteran Italian manager Gianni Savio leads his low-budget Androni Giocattoli team through a successful day at the Giro d'Italia

Garmin-Cervelo's Tyler Farrar will leave the Giro d'Italia following Tuesday's neutralized stage in honor of Farrar's friend Wouter Weylandt.

GENOA, Italy (AFP) - A moment of silence was held before the start of Tuesday fourth stage of the Tor of Italy, in honor of Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt, who died Monday following an horrific crash on the third stage.

LIVORNO, Italy (VN) — Bjørn Selander of RadioShack spent two days in the white jersey of the best young rider on general classification, and his parents have been able to see it in person for it. Dag and Heidi Selander had been planning to come visit their son in his new home in Italy for some time, and those plans were accelerated when they found out that their son would be riding the Giro.

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The Jelly Belly-Kenda team says it's bringing a roster of climbers and all-rounders to the Amgen Tour of California.

The Jamis-Sutter Home team, known in the past for its sprinters, is bringing a balanced team to the Amgen Tour of California next week. With the recent addition of time trial specialist Tom Zirbel, the squad has a mix of climbers, strongmen and sprinters.

Garmin-Cervelo's Tyler Farrar released a statement Monday afternoon about the death of his friend Wouter Weylandt

RAPALLO, Italy (VN) – Giro d’Italia race director Angelo Zomegnan said “the race will go on,” after the death of Wouter Weylandt.

RAPALLO, Italy (VN) – David Millar won the pink jersey Monday, but he was in no mood to celebrate following the tragic death of Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt during the third stage of the Giro d’Italia.

RAPALLO, Italy (VN) – Manuel Cardoso, a Portuguese rider on the RadioShack team, is one of the few riders who witnessed the tragic accident that claimed the life of Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt in Monday’s third stage at the Giro d’Itali

RAPALLO, Italy — The professional peloton reacted with shock and sympathy Monday at the tragic death of popular Belgian Wouter Weylandt following a crash on the third stage of the Giro d'Italia.

RAPALLO, Italy (VN) – Giro d’Italia doctor Giovanni Tredici said “there was nothing we could do” to revive Wouter Weylandt.

Andrew Hood talks to Garmin sports director Bingen Fernandez, who was one of the first to arrive at the scene of Wouter Weylandt's death.

RAPALLO, Italy (VN) — There was no immediate word from Leopard-Trek on whether the team would continue in the Giro d’Italia following the tragic death of Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt in Monday’s third stage.

Stage 3

• 1. Angel Vicioso Arcos, (ESP) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni , at 3:57:38
• 2. David Millar, (GBR) Garmin-Cervelo , at
• 3. Pablo Lastras Garcia, (ESP) Movistar , at
• 4. Daniel Moreno, (ESP) Team Katusha , at
• 5. Christophe Le Mevel, (FRA) Garmin-Cervelo , at

GC

• 1. David Millar, (GBR) Garmin-Cervelo , at 10:04:29
• 2. Angel Vicioso Arcos, (ESP) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni , at 10:04:36 at 0:07
• 3. Kanstantsin Sivtsov, (BLR) HTC-Highroad , at 10:04:38 at 0:09
• 4. Marco Pinotti, (ITA) HTC-Highroad , at 10:04:38 at 0:09
• 5. Craig Lewis, (USA) HTC-Highroad , at 10:04:38 at 0:09

RAPALLO, Italy (VN) – The tragic death of Wouter Weylandt left the Giro d’Italia in a state of shock Monday.

Belgian professional Wouter Weylandt was a successful racer capable of winning grand-tour stages but happy to give his all for others. Weylandt died after a crash Monday during stage 3 of the 2011 Giro d'Italia.

The Italian news agency RAI is reporting that Leopard-Trek's Wouter Weylandt died after crashing out of the Giro d'Italia Monday.

Angel Vicioso (Androni Giocattoli) won out of a late-forming breakaway Monday after a spectacular twisting finale on the Italian Riveria at the Giro d'Italia.

Women

• 1. Clara HUGHES, (CAN), in 2:23:56
• 2. Evelyn GARCIA, (ESA), at 1:18
• 3. Theresa CLIFF-RYAN, (USA), at 6:53
• 4. Joelle NUMAINVILLE, (CAN), at 6:53
• 5. Lilibeth CHACÓN, (VEN), at 6:53

Men

• 1. Gregory PANIZO, (BRA), in 4:03:55
• 2. Gonzalo GARRIDO, (CHI), at 0
• 3. Luis Felipe LAVERDE JIMENEZ, (COL), at 2
• 4. Carlos Julian QUINTERO, (COL), at 1:15
• 5. Luis Fernando MACIAS HERNANDEZ, (MEX), at 1:16

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Marian University and Mars Hill College took the team omnium national titles at the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships in Madison, Wisconsin.

Tyler Farrar and VeloNews' European scribe Andrew Hood discuss the stage-two sprint in the 2011 Giro.

Caley Fretz got up close and personal with the Specialized Venges of Marco Pinotti and Mark Cavendish on stage 2.

Mark Cavendish blasts race commissaires and officials after losing the stage-two sprint to Alessandro Petacchi, suggesting he is being “singled out” when it comes to jury decisions.

Men

• 1. Freddie Rodriguez, Team Specialized Racing Master
• 2. Steve Reaney, California Giant Berry Farms
• 3. Sterling Magnell, McGuire Cycling Team
• 4. Justin Williams, Major Motion Cycling
• 5. Dean Laberge, Team Specialized Racing Master

Women

• 1. Coryn Rivera, Peanut Butter & Co.-Twenty12
• 2. Olivia Dillon, Peanut Butter & Co.-Twenty12
• 3. Mary Elizabeth Maroon, Webcor-Alto Velo
• 4. Rebecca Werner, Webcor-Alto Velo
• 5. Anna Barensfeld, Missing Link Coaching Systems/

Quick Results

• 1. Alessandro PETACCHI (ITA), Lampre-ISD, 5:45:40
• 2. Mark CAVENDISH (GBR), HTC-Highroad, s.t.
• 3. Manuel BELLETTI (ITA), Colnago-CSF, s.t.
• 4. Roberto FERRARI (ITA), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, s.t.
• 5. Borut BOZIC (SLO), Vacansoleil-DCM, s.t.

General Classification

• 1. Mark CAVENDISH (Great Britain), HTC-Highroad, 6:06:27
• 2. Kanstantsin SIVTSOV (Belarus), HTC-Highroad, at at 12
• 3. Craig LEWIS (United States), HTC-Highroad, at at 12
• 4. Marco PINOTTI (Italy), HTC-Highroad, at at 12
• 5. Lars Ytting BAK (Denmark), HTC-Highroad, at at 12

Alessandro Petacchi outlasts a late charge from Mark Cavendish to win stage two of the 2011 Giro d’Italia.

Wilier Triestina’s brand new TwinFoil time trial frame was put to its first international test at the Giro’s stage 1 team time trial

The UCI is on a tear these days, regulating, banning and measuring every millimeter of a bike and its components. Lennard Zinn is clearly annoyed.