Road

Start list for 2011 first UCI women's World Cup road race

Stage 5

• 1. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, 4:49:31
• 2. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (ESP), Movistar, s.t.
• 3. Ruben Perez Moreno (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, s.t.
• 4. Aitor Galdos Alonso (ESP), Caja Rural, s.t.
• 5. Michal Golas (POL), Vacansoleil-DCM, s.t.

Overall Standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), Saxo Bank Sungard, 22:28:28
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Radioshack, at 23
• 3. Michele Scarponi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, at 23
• 4. Daniel Martin (IRL), Garmin-Cervelo, at 35
• 5. Christopher Horner (USA), Radioshack, at 35

VeloNews' European correspondent Andrew Hood checks in with Garmin's Tom Danielson at the Tour of Catalunya

VeloNews' European correspondent Andrew Hood checks in with Garmin-Cervelo's young talent, Peter Stetina.

Stage

• 1. Adam SEMPLE, (AUS) Drapac Porsche Cycling, in 3:06:30
• 2. Dean DOWNING, (GBR), at 0
• 3. Chan Jae JANG, (KOR), at 2
• 4. Alexander CANDELARIO, (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 2
• 5. Takeaki AYABE, (JPN), at 2

GC

• 1. Mehdi SOHRABI, (IRI) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, in 17:33:48
• 2. Markus EIBEGGER, (AUT) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, at 2
• 3. David MCCANN, (IRL), at 21
• 4. Floris GOESINNEN, (NED) Drapac Porsche Cycling, at 47
• 5. Rhys POLLOCK, (AUS) Drapac Porsche Cycling, at 1:09

Check out Brian Holcombe's author page.

The cobbled classics are truly a subcategory of their own, reserved for the strongest, grittiest riders of the pro peloton.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

APELDOORN, Netherlands (AFP) - World record holder Jack Bobridge continued Australia's domination of the world track cycling championships Thursday when he claimed his maiden pursuit gold medal.

BRUSSELS, Belgium (VN) — When it comes to cobbled semi-classics, WorldTour status reigns supreme.

APELDOORN, Netherlands (AFP) - Australia's Jack Bobridge coasted to victory over New Zealander Jesse Sergent in the final of the men's individual pursuit at the world track cycling championships Thursday.

APELDOORN, Netherlands (AFP) - Collated results from the second day of the world track cycling championships on Thursday:

APELDOORN, Netherlands, March 24, 2011 (AFP) — Britain won the women's team pursuit gold medal after dominating the United States in the final at the world track cycling championships on Thursday.

The positive clenbuterol test of Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has consumed the cycling world since its announcement in September. While he's never tested positive before, Contador's career has been affected almost from its start by doping allegations — often against others.

Stage 3

• 1. Emanuele SELLA, (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, in 3:56:47
• 2. Stefano PIRAZZI, (ITA) Colnago-CSF, at 35
• 3. Giovanni VISCONTI, (ITA), at 53
• 4. Diego ULISSI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 59
• 5. Pasquale MUTO, (ITA) Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 59

GC

• 1. Emanuele SELLA, (Italy) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 10:31:32
• 2. Stefano PIRAZZI, (Italy) Colnago-CSF, at 52
• 3. Diego ULISSI, (Italy) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 1:14
• 4. Jackson RODRIGUEZ, (Venezuela) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 1:22
• 5. Angel VICIOSO ARCOS, (Spain) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 1:22

PARIS (AFP) - Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Thursday he wants a swift end to the saga surrounding three-time champion Alberto Contador after cycling's governing body revived a doping case against him, despite the Spaniard's acquittal by his own federation.

L VENDRELL, Spain (VN) – Alberto Contador vows to finish the Volta a Catalunya and will keep racing despite the UCI’s decision to appeal his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

VeloNews European correspondent Andrew Hood checked in with Team RadioShack's Chris Horner at the Tour of Catalunya this week.

Stage 4: La Seu d'Urgell - El Vendrell (195 km)

• 1. Antonio Leal Cardoso Manuel (POR), Team Radioshack, 4:33:02
• 2. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA), Leopard Trek, at 0
• 3. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (ESP), Movistar Team, at 0
• 4. Aitor Galdos Alonso (ESP), Caja Rural, at 0
• 5. Frantisek Rabon (CZE), HTC-Highroad, at 0

Overall Standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), Saxo Bank Sungard, 17:38:57
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team Radioshack, at 23
• 3. Michele Scarponi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, at 23
• 4. Daniel Martin (IRL), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 35
• 5. Christopher Horner (USA), Team Radioshack, at 35

Team RadioShack on Thursday announced its teams for two weekend races, the Criterium International (March 26-27) and Ghent-Wevelgem (March 27).

Stage 4

• 1. Fabien BACQUET, (FRA) Auber 93, in 1:38:03
• 2. Cyrille PATOUX, (FRA), at s.t.
• 3. Barry MARKUS, (NED), at s.t.
• 4. Jonas AHLSTRAND, (SWE), at s.t.
• 5. Yoeri HAVIK, (NED), at s.t.

GC

• 1. Luke ROWE, (GBR), in 8:31:40
• 2. Thomas Vedel KVIST, (DEN) Glud & Marstrand Horsens, at 2
• 3. Alexander WETTERHALL, (SWE) Endura Racing, at 3
• 4. Johan LE BON, (FRA) Bretagne-Schuller, at 4
• 5. Jack BAUER, (NZL) Endura Racing, at 4

Time trial follow cars, just how qualified IS my local bike mechanic, and what the heck is an 'ice sock?'

Stage 5

• 1. Shinichi FUKUSHIMA, (JPN), at 2:53:52
• 2. Sung Baek PARK, (KOR), at 1:26
• 3. Mehdi SOHRABI, (IRI) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, at 1:26
• 4. Po Hung WU, (TPE), at 1:26
• 5. Roger BEUCHAT, (SUI), at 1:26

GC

• 1. Markus EIBEGGER, (AUT) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, in 14:27:18
• 2. Mehdi SOHRABI, (IRI) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, at 2
• 3. David MCCANN, (IRL), at 19
• 4. Floris GOESINNEN, (NED) Drapac Porsche Cycling, at 45
• 5. Rhys POLLOCK, (AUS) Drapac Porsche Cycling, at 1:07

AIGLE, Switzerland (AFP) -The UCI said Thursday that it would appeal Spain's decision to acquit rider Alberto Contador of doping charges stemming from last year's Tour de France.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

The professional cyclists association has called off plans to hold a rider protest at this weekend's Harelbeke race over the UCI's radio ban. The CPA's Gianni Bugno told members Wednesday that UCI president Pat McQuaid had agreed to meet with him to discuss rider concerns over the ban.

Alessandro Petacchi's Wilier

APELDOORN, Netherlands (AFP) - Australia produced a team pursuit master class to beat Russia and defend their crown here at the 2011 world track cycling championships Wednesday.

ROME (AFP) — Italian Claudio Corioni (Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo) claimed the 194km second stage of the Settimana Coppi e Bartali to Rovigo on Wednesday as compatriot Roberto Ferrari (Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) claimed the overall lead with a third place finish.

Continued pain in his left knee forced Taylor Phinney (BMC) to abandon his first WorldTour race Wednesday, midway through the third stage of the Tour of Catalunya.

Stage 2

• 1. Claudio CORIONI, (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo, in 4:18:48
• 2. Andrea GUARDINI, (ITA), at 0
• 3. Roberto FERRARI, (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 0
• 4. Matteo PELUCCHI, (ITA) Geox-TMC, at 0
• 5. Sacha MODOLO, (ITA) Colnago-CSF, at 0

GC

• 1. Roberto FERRARI, (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, in 6:34:51
• 2. Jackson RODRIGUEZ, (VEN) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 4
• 3. Emanuele SELLA, (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 4
• 4. Jose Rodolfo SERPA PEREZ, (COL) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 4
• 5. Angel VICIOSO ARCOS, (ESP) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 4

Stage 3: La Vall d'en Bas - Vallnord (183.9 km)

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco, (ESP), Saxo Bank Sungard, 4:45:31
• 2. Michele Scarponi, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:23
• 3. Levi Leipheimer, (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:23
• 4. Daniel Martin, (IRL), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:35
• 5. Christopher Horner, (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:35

Overall Standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco, (ESP), Saxo Bank Sungard, 13:05:55
• 2. Levi Leipheimer, (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:23
• 3. Michele Scarponi, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:23
• 4. Daniel Martin, (IRL), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:35
• 5. Christopher Horner, (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:35

• 1. Nick NUYENS, (BEL) SaxoBank-Sungard, at 4:39:57
• 2. Geraint THOMAS, (GBR) Team Sky, at 0
• 3. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Cervelo, at 1
• 4. Mathew HAYMAN, (AUS) Team Sky, at 1
• 5. Marco MARCATO, (ITA) Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1

BANYOLES, Spain (VN) – Gatis Smukulis slipped back into the peloton in Wednesday’s big climbing stage at the Volta a Catalunya, but a big stage win and two days in the leader’s jersey put the relatively unknown Latvian firmly in the spotlight.

With his sporting career in the hands of lawyers and bureaucrats, Alberto Contador did the only thing that he could do: attack with his legs.

"After a hard turn on the front Nibali drifted back and took a slow calculated look at me as if to say, “is something the matter?” Yes! This is the sixth day over 100 miles, and you’re killing me!"

h2>Stage 3

• 1. Guillaume BLOT, (FRA) Bretagne-Schuller, at 1:43:17
• 2. Jonas VANGENECHTEN, (BEL), at s.t.
• 3. Luke ROWE, (GBR), at s.t.
• 4. Timothy DUPONT, (BEL) Jong Vlaanderen-Bauknecht, at s.t.
• 5. Maxime LE MONTAGNER, (FRA), at s.t.

GC

• 1. Luke ROWE, (GBR), at 6:53:37
• 2. Thomas Vedel KVIST, (DEN) Glud & Marstrand Horsens, at 2
• 3. Alexander WETTERHALL, (SWE) Endura Racing, at 3
• 4. Johan LE BON, (FRA) Bretagne-Schuller, at 4
• 5. Jack BAUER, (NZL) Endura Racing, at 4

Stage 4

• 1. Floris GOESINNEN, (NED) Drapac Porsche Cycling, in 4:35:30
• 2. Kam-Po WONG, (HKG), at 42
• 3. Takeaki AYABE, (JPN), at 42
• 4. Markus EIBEGGER, (AUT) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, at 42
• 5. Adam SEMPLE, (AUS) Drapac Porsche Cycling, at 42

GC

• 1. Markus EIBEGGER, (AUT) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, in 11:32:00
• 2. Mehdi SOHRABI, (IRI) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, at 9
• 3. David MCCANN, (IRL), at 19
• 4. Floris GOESINNEN, (NED) Drapac Porsche Cycling, at 45
• 5. Rhys POLLOCK, (AUS) Drapac Porsche Cycling, at 1:07

Dario Cioni has a front-row seat to how decisions are made on such topics as the controversial ruling to phase out race radio.

A stacked, new-look Tibco-To The Top squad is set to kick off the team’s season at the San Dimas Stage Race this week.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Running legend Alberto Salazar has cleared up the question of whether or not Lance Armstrong will be returning to the sport of triathlon. In a recent interview on Competitor Radio, Salazar commented that Armstrong is not only aiming to make a comeback in the sport of triathlon, but he’s looking to do it in a big way.

USA Cycling on Tuesday reversed course and announced it would ban race radios at national level events, including National Racing Calendar and national championship events.

The devil is in the details: Nick Legan tries Arundel's bottle cages and seat bag

UCI president Pat McQuaid cried foul over USA Cycling’s recent decision to allow race radios in its sanctioned events this season and said the federation has been “hijacked” by special interests.

ROME (AFP) Italian Emanuele Sella of the Androni team is the leader of the Settimana Coppi e Bartali following the first two stages in Riccione on Tuesday.

GC after stage 1b

• 1. Sella Emanuele, Androni Giocattoli, in 2:16:07
• 2. Rodriguez Jackson, Androni Giocattoli, in s.t.
• 3. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez, Androni Giocattoli, in s.t.
• 4. Angel Vicioso Arcos, Androni Giocattoli, in s.t.
• 5. José Rujano Guillen, Androni Giocattoli, in s.t.

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) said Wednesday's five-climb stage into Andorra at the Volta a Catalunya isn't hard enough to completely break open the race.

BANYOLES, Spain (VN) – Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) kicked to a morale-boosting victory in Tuesday’s 168km second stage at the Volta a Catalunya (Tour of Catalunya) for his first win of the 2011 season.

Stage 2

• 1. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, in 4:11:08
• 2. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, (ESP) Movistar, at 0
• 3. Manuel Antonio Leal CARDOSO, (POR) Team RadioShack, at 0
• 4. Nicolas EDET, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 5. Aitor GALDOS ALONSO, (ESP) Caja Rural, at 0

GC

• 1. Gatis SMUKULIS, (Latvia) HTC-Highroad, in 8:19:56
• 2. Alessandro PETACCHI, (Italy) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 28
• 3. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, (Spain) Movistar, at 28
• 4. Jan BAKELANDTS, (Belgium) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 28
• 5. Thomas PETERSON, (United States) Garmin-Cervelo, at 28

Stage 1a

• 1. Manuel BELLETTI, (ITA) Colnago-CSF, in 1:57:35
• 2. Andrea GRENDENE, (ITA) Team Type 1, at 0
• 3. Volodymyr BILEKA, (UKR) Amore & Vita-Mcdonald's, at 0
• 4. Ariel Maximiliano RICHEZE, (ARG), at 0
• 5. Michele MERLO, (ITA), at 0

PARIS (AFP) - Britain, France and Australia will be among the nations expected to give an early glimpse of their Olympic potential for London 2012 at the track cycling world championships this week.

Stage 2

• 1. Thomas Vedel KVIST, (DEN) Glud & Marstrand Horsens, at 5:04:06
• 2. Tom DUMOULIN, (NED), at 0
• 3. Alexander WETTERHALL, (SWE) Endura Racing, at 0
• 4. Benjamin VERRAES, (BEL) Jong Vlaanderen-Bauknecht, at 11
• 5. Guillaume BLOT, (FRA) Bretagne-Schuller, at 11

BANYOLES, Spain (VN) — It’s coming down to the wire on whether or not the UCI will decide to appeal the Spanish federation’s decision to clear Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) on doping charges in his long-running clenbuterol case.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

The Tour of the Moon will not rise again, at least not in the Quiznos Pro Challenge. The U.S. Parks Service on Monday denied a request to hold a stage in the Colorado National Monument, near Grand Junction.

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team is in Italy this week preparing for the Settimana di Coppi e Bartali, March 22 - 26. The event will be the team's sixth race of the year and first since the Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia. The race features six stages over five days.

It was with grit, great class and perfect timing that Matt Goss won Milan-San Remo on Saturday. He wasn’t meant to win though.

LLORET DE MAR, Spain (VN) – Taylor Phinney (BMC) made it through his European season debut in a tough stage at the Volta a Catalunya (Tour of Catalonia) that saw him dropped on the second of two first-category climbs.

MADRID (AFP) - Latvia's Gatis Smukulis of HTC-Highroad won the first stage of the Tour of Catalonia, a 166.9-kilometre (103.5-mile) ride that started and ended in Lloret de Mar on Monday.

Stage 1

• 1. Gatis SMUKULIS, (LAT) HTC-Highroad, in 4:08:48
• 2. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 28
• 3. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, (ESP) Movistar, at 28
• 4. Rigoberto URAN URAN, (COL) Team Sky, at 28
• 5. Jan BAKELANDTS, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 28

GC

• 1. Gatis SMUKULIS, (LAT) HTC-Highroad, in 4:08:48
• 2. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 28
• 3. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, (ESP) Movistar, at 28
• 4. Rigoberto URAN URAN, (COL) Team Sky, at 28
• 5. Jan BAKELANDTS, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 28

France's FMB makes, by hand, the tires prized by the cobbled classics stars.

Tom Boonen will lead Quick Step at Wednesday's 203km semi-classic Dwars door Vlaanderen, the first Belgian cobblestoned race of the season.

Stage 2:

• 1. Mehdi SOHRABI, (IRI) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, in 2:50:15
• 2. David MCCANN, (IRL) , at 3
• 3. Shinri SUZUKI, (JPN) Shimano Racing Team, at 1:08
• 4. Jumpei MURAKAMI, (JPN) Shimano Racing Team, at 1:08
• 5. Adam Phelan, (AUS) Drapac Porsche Cycling, at 1:08

• 1. Mehdi SOHRABI, (Iran) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, in 4:14:33
• 2. David MCCANN, (Ireland) , at 7
• 3. Adam Phelan, (Australia) Drapac Porsche Cycling, at 1:12
• 4. Shinri SUZUKI, (Japan) Shimano Racing Team, at 1:15
• 5. Junya SANO, (Japan) , at 1:17

A Japanese flag signed by all the riders at the start of Saturday's Milan-San Remo is being auctioned to benefit victims of last week's earthquake in Japan.

Matthew Goss (HTC-Highroad) leads the UCI WorldTour rankings following his win Saturday at Milan-San Remo.

• 1. Harley Goss Matthew, HTC-Highroad , with 203 points
• 2. Michele Scarponi, Lampre - Isd , with 118 points
• 3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team , with 108 points
• 4. Tony Martin, Htc-Highroad , with 108 points
• 5. Cameron Meyer, Team Garmin-Cervelo , with 106 points