Road

PARIS (AFP) ─ The Italian city of Florence officially launched its bid to host the start of the 2014 Tour de France, according to race organizers Wednesday, as part of its celebrations to honor Italian cycling great Gino Bartali.

Four recent rock and mudslides hav forced organizers of the Amgen Tour of California to change the route of its fifth stage, removing some of the race's most scenic vistas on California Highway 1.

Omega Pharma-Lotto brings a mixed squad of stage-hunters as star riders André Greipel and Philippe Gilbert are giving the Giro d’Italia a pass.

Gianni Savio, the debonair Italia director of the modest Androni Giocattoli team, is hoping to pull one more surprise at this month’s Giro d’Italia.

Last year’s Giro d’Italia runner-up David Arroyo will lead his Movistar team for the season’s first grand tour starting Saturday in Torino.

Geox-TMC confirmed its Giro nine, with Denis Menchov and Carlos Sastre leading the formation into the season’s first grand tour.

Roman Kreuziger will lead Astana in a push for the final podium when the Giro d’Italia ends in Milano on May 29.

National Racing Calendar standings, updated May 2, 2011

• 1. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, with 356 points
• 2. Fabian Cancellara, Leopard Trek, with 236 points
• 3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, with 232 points
• 4. Harley Goss Matthew, Htc-Highroad, with 203 points
• 5. Andreas KlÖden, Team Radioshack, with 202 points

BMC benches Alessandro Ballan, Mauro Santambrogio as an Italian inquiry gains steam.

Vincenzo Nibali will carry the Liquigas colors after defending champion Ivan Basso decided to skip the Giro in order to prepare exclusively for the Tour de France.

Tiago Machado will lead RadioShack at the 2011 Giro.

• 1. Charles Huff, Jelly Belly
• 2. Rahsaan Bahati,
• 3. Ben Kersten
• 4. Nicholas Brandt-Sorenson
• 5. Kayle Leo Grande, Monster Media Racing Scvelo

Jake Keough and Theresa Cliff-Ryan kick to victory at the Historic Roswell Criterium.

UnitedHealthcare puts two in the top five in Monday’s final stage in the summit finish up the Naranco climb to end the Vuelta a Asturias on a high note.

Dario Cioni, Thomas Lovkvist headline Team Sky’s Giro d’Italia squad.

Cadel Evans climbs to 3rd in UCI rankings; Philippe Gilbert still leads.

Brice Feillu replaces the injured Daniele Bennati on Leopard-Trek’s 2011 Giro d’Italia roster.

The lone French WorldTour team hopes to win a stage and perhaps put John Gadret into the top 10 overall.

With team star Robert Gesink preparing for the Tour de France, Rabobank won’t have a top GC prospect at the Giro d'Italia, so it will be looking to attack and get into breakaways in hopes of winning a stage.

Casey B. Gibson captures the Gila Monster, the final stage of the 2011 SRAM Tour of the Gila.

Race report

Men’s stage 5

• 1. Francisco Mancebo, Realcyclist.com Cycling Team, in 4:23:24
• 2. Lachlan Morton, Chipotle Development Team, in 4:24:36 at 0:01:12 U25
• 3. Joesph Dombrowski, Trek-Livestrong, in 4:24:38 at 0:01:14 U25
• 4. Dale Parker, Trek-Livestrong, in 4:24:38 at 0:01:14 U25
• 5. Alexander Howes, Chipotle Development Team, in 4:24:38 at 0:01:14 U25

Women’s Stage 5

• 1. DONOVAN Kathryn, Missing Link Coaching Syste, in 3:26:22
• 2. ALBRECHT Lex, Team Juvederm-Specialized, in 3:28:59 at 0:02:37 U26
• 3. LOGAN-SPRENGER, Colavita/forno D'asolo, in 3:31:14 at 0:04:52
• 4. PHILLIPS Jessica, Team Ajax Tavern, in 3:31:18 at 0:04:56
• 5. KACHOREK Emily, Primal/mapmyride, in 3:31:21 at 0:04:59

Men’s FINAL GC

• 1. Francisco Mancebo, Realcyclist.com Cycling Team, in 13:42:58
• 2. Dale Parker, Trek-Livestrong, in 13:46:15 at 0:03:17 U25
• 3. Lachlan Morton, Chipotle Development Team, in 13:46:17 at 0:03:19 U25
• 4. Alexander Howes, Chipotle Development Team, in 13:46:41 at 0:03:43 U25
• 5. Matt Cooke, Team Exergy, in 13:46:42 at 0:03:44

Women’s FINAL GC

• 1. Clara Hughes, Pactimo Cycling Team, in 13:19:15
• 2. Mara Abbott, Diadora-Pasta Zara Team, in 13:22:07 at 0:02:52
• 3. Kathryn Donovan, Missing Link Coaching Systems /, in 13:22:30 at 0:03:15
• 4. Andrea Dvorak, Colavita/forno D'asolo, in 13:24:02 at 0:04:47
• 5. Janel Holcomb, Colavita/forno D'asolo, in 13:24:21 at 0:05:06

PINOS ALTOS, New Mexico (VN) — Francisco "Paco" Mancebo and Clara Hughes each put on impressive displays of power while locking up overall victories Sunday at the SRAM Tour of the Gila.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt

• 1. John Degenkolb (Ger), HTC-Highroad , At 4:50:49
• 2. Jérôme Baugnies (Bel), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, s.t.
• 3. Michael Matthews (Aus), Rabobank Cycling Team, s.t.
• 4. Davy Commeyne (Bel), Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, s.t.
• 5. Laurent Pichon (Fra), Bretagne-Schuller, s.t.

Stage 4

• 1. Victor Cabedo (Esp), Orbea, 4:38:23
• 2. Rory Sutherland (Aus), UnitedHealthcare, at 0:11
• 3. José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Esp), Movistar, at 0:38
• 4. Ruben Perez Moreno (Esp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:41
• 5. Rafael Infantino Abreu (Col), at 0:43

GC

• 1. Javier Moreno Bazan (Esp), Caja Rural, 17:02:23
• 2. Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez (Esp), Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 0:13
• 3. Sergio Ferreira Sousa (Por), at 0:36
• 4. Hernani Broco (Por), La-Antarte, at 0:52
• 5. Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Esp), Movistar, at 1:45

Rory Sutherland made the winning breakaway and finished second in stage four at the Vuelta a Asturias in northern Spain.

Johan Bruyneel and Pat McQuaid discuss the radio issue, but only one of them feels chatty afterward.

Germany’s John Degenkolb wins the Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt.

Kenny Van Hummel wins the final stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey as Alexander Efimkin wraps up the overall title.

Stage 8

• 1. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned), Skil-Shimano, 3:22:59
• 2. André Greipel (Ger), Omega Pharma-Lotto, s.t.
• 3. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita), Lampre-ISD, s.t.
• 4. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, s.t.
• 5. Juan Pablo Forero Carreno (Col), Colombia Es Pasion Coldeportes, s.t.

Final GC

• 1. Alexander Efimkin (Rus), Team Type 1, 33:45:48
• 2. Andrey Zeits (Kaz), Astana, at 1:13
• 3. Thibaut Pinot (Fra), Française des Jeux, at 1:33
• 4. Thomas Peterson (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, at 1:50
• 5. Cameron Wurf (Aus), Liquigas-Doimo, at 2:17

Quick Results

• 1. Ben Swift (GBR), Team Sky, in 3:50:51
• 2. Davide Vigano (ITA), Leopard-Trek, s.t.
• 3. Oscar Freire Gomez (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team, s.t.
• 4. Fabio Sabatini (ITA), Liquigas-Doimo, s.t.
• 5. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA), Astana, s.t.

Final GC

• 1. Cadel Evans (Aus), BMC Racing Team, in 16:51:49
• 2. Tony Martin (Ger), HTC-Highroad, at 0:18
• 3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Astana, at 0:19
• 4. Marco Pinotti (Ita), HTC-Highroad, at 0:31
• 5. Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa), Movistar, at 0:41

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) - BMC's Cadel Evans won the Tour de Romandie on Sunday after the fifth and final stage was claimed by Team Sky's British rider Ben Swift.

Women

• 1. Theresa Cliff-Ryan, Colavita-forno D'asolo P-b Cook, at 55:13.5
• 2. Erica Allar, Rideclean Presented By Patentit, s.t.
• 3. Christina Gokey-Smith, Rouse Bicycles, at 0:01
• 4. Laura Van Gilder, Mellow Mushroom, at 0:01
• 5. Samantha Schneider, Team Tibco-to The Top, at 0:01

Men

• 1. Luca Damiani, Kenda-5-Hour Energy Pro Cycling, in 36:57.0
• 2. Boy Vanpoppel, Unitedhealthcare Professional C, s.t.
• 3. Christian Helmig, Elbowz Racing, at 0:01
• 4. Andrew Dahlheim, Uci Ct: Bissell Pro Cycling, at 0:01
• 5. Carlos Alzate Escobar, Team Exergy, at 0:01

Luca Damiani and Theresa Cliff-Ryan win the Terrapin Twilight Criterium in Athens, Georgia.

SILVER CITY, New Mexico (VN) — Trek-Livestrong may have lost some big names to the pros in the off season, but you'd never know it at the SRAM Tour of the Gila this week, where a new crop of developing riders stepped up to duplicate its 2010 wins.

Stage 4 (ITT): Aubonne - Signal-de-Bougy

• 1. David ZABRISKIE (USA), Garmin-Cervelo , 27:57
• 2. Richie PORTE (AUS), SaxoBank-Sungard, at 0:02
• 3. Lieuwe WESTRA (NED), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 0:14
• 4. Bradley WIGGINS (GBR), Team Sky, at 0:18
• 5. Tony MARTIN (GER), HTC-Highroad, at 0:27

GC

• 1. Cadel EVANS (Aus), BMC Racing Team, 13:00:58
• 2. Tony MARTIN (Ger), HTC-Highroad, at 0:18
• 3. Alexandre VINOKOUROV (Kaz), Astana, at 0:19
• 4. Marco PINOTTI (Ita), HTC-Highroad, at 0:31
• 5. Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA (Spa), Movistar, at 0:41

BOULDER, Colo. (VN) — VeloNews.com will stream live video of the SRAM Tour of the Gila stage 4 Downtown Silver City Criterium on Saturday, April 4.

Quick Results

• 1. Andrea Guardini (ITA), , 3:05:37
• 2. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (NED), Skil-Shimano, s.t.
• 3. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Cervelo, s.t.
• 4. André Greipel (GER), Omega Pharma-Lotto, s.t.
• 5. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA), Lampre-Farnese Vini, s.t.

GC

• 1. Alexander Efimkin (Russia), Team Type 1 , 30:22:49
• 2. Andrey Zeits (Kazakhstan), Astana, at 1:13
• 3. Thibaut Pinot (France), Française des Jeux, at 1:33
• 4. Thomas Peterson (United States), Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:50
• 5. Cameron Wurf (Australia), Liquigas-Doimo, at 2:17

SIGNAL-DE-BOUGY, Switzerland (VN) — U.S. national time trial champion Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) didn’t get the result he wanted on Saturday’s stage 4 TT at the Tour de Romandie.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

We have before us two excellent road shoes, with all the usual trimmings: stiff carbon soles, soft, comfortable uppers, solid buckles, and good looks.

To accompany its new time trial/triathlon shifters, brakes and cranks, Campagnolo is introducing a new, deeper, more aerodynamic wheelset: the Bora Ultra 80.

SILVER CITY, New Mexico (VN) — Folks started speculating Thursday when Tom Zirbel borrowed a bike from the Jamis team when he suffered a mechanical at the Tour of the Gila. On Friday the team announced that it had signed the time trial ace for the rest of the season.

TYRONE, New Mexico (VN) — The Trek-Livestrong development team once again surprised even itself with a blistering time trial win at the Tour of the Gila, when 18-year-old Dale Parker surprised the heavy hitters.

Quick Results

• 1. André Greipel (GER), Omega Pharma-Lotto, 4:27:02
• 2. Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel (ESP), Caja Rural, s.t.
• 3. Bartosz Huzarski (POL), Team Netapp, s.t.
• 4. Francis Mourey (FRA), Française des Jeux, s.t.
• 5. Jonas Aaen Jörgensen (DEN), SaxoBank-Sungard, s.t.

GC

• 1. Alexander Efimkin (Russia), Team Type 1, 27:17:12
• 2. Andrey Zeits (Kazakhstan), Astana, at 1:13
• 3. Thibaut Pinot (France), Française des Jeux, at 1:33
• 4. Thomas Peterson (United States), Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:50
• 5. Cameron Wurf (Australia), Liquigas-Doimo, at 2:17

Tom Peterson (Garmin-Cervélo) saw the leader’s jersey slip away in Friday’s sixth stage at the Tour of Turkey when a 25-man breakaway stayed clear to put Alexander Efimkin (Team Type 1) into the lead with just two stages to go.

Quick Results

• 1. Alexander Vinokourov , (Kaz) Astana , in 3:47:55
• 2. Mikael Cherel , (F) Ag2r La Mondiale, s.t.
• 3. Tony Martin , (G) HTC-Highroad, s.t.
• 4. Ben Swift , (GB) Team Sky, s.t.
• 5. Oscar Freire Gomez , (Sp) Rabobank Cycling Team, s.t.

GC

• 1. Pavel Brutt , (Rus) Team Katusha , in 12:31:34
• 2. Alexandre Vinokourov , (Kaz) Astana, at 0:32
• 3. Damiano Cunego , (I) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0:38
• 4. Cadel Evans , (Aus) BMC Racing Team, at 0:42
• 5. Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui , (Sp) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:46

Men's stage 2: Frank Pipp (Bissell) Women's stage 2: Heather Logan-Sprenger (Colavita) Men's GC: Francisco Mancebo (RealCyclist.com) Women's GC: Mara Abbott (Diadora-Pasta Zara)

Pipp and Logan-Sprenger win Gila's second stage

Stefan Schumacher claimed victory in Thursday’s opening stage at the Vuelta a Asturias in what’s his first win since returning from a doping ban last season.

Quick Results

• 1. Damiano Cunego (ITA), Lampre-ISD, in 4:10:53
• 2. Cadel Evans (AUS), BMC Racing Team, at 0:02
• 3. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ), Astana, at 0:02
• 4. Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (POR), Movistar, at 0:02
• 5. David Lopez Garcia (ESP), Movistar, at 0:02

GC

• 1. Pavel Brutt (Rus), Team Katusha, in 8:43:39
• 2. Damiano Cunego (Ita), Lampre-ISD, at 0:38
• 3. Cadel Evans (Aus), BMC Racing Team, at 0:42
• 4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Astana, at 0:42
• 5. Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:46

Readers ask Nick about Contador's plans to switch bikes mid-stage and what it takes for a mechanic to make adjustments on the run.

Quick Results

• 1. Matteo Rabottini (Ita), Farnese Vini, 5:51:25
• 2. Alexander Efimkin (Rus), Team Type 1, at 0:00
• 3. Enrico Magazzini (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0:03
• 4. Thomas Peterson (USA), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:03
• 5. Thibaut Pinot (Fra), Française Des Jeux, at 0:03

GC

• 1. Thomas Peterson (USA), Garmin-Cervelo, 22:49:41
• 2. Cameron Wurf (Aus), Liquigas-Doimo, at 0:27
• 3. Alexander Efimkin (Rus), Team Type 1, at 0:29
• 4. Andrey Zeits (Kz), Astana, at 0:1:42
• 5. Thibaut Pinot (Fra), Française des Jeux, at 0:2:02

Mark Cavendish and Marco Pinotti headline HTC-Highroad’s Giro d’Italia squad that will be looking to win stages in all terrain. While the team doesn’t have a strong GC candidate to win the Giro outright, the team will bring a mix of riders who can win stages in sprints, breakaways and time trials.

While Belgium rides the wave of unprecedented success in the spring classics, two-time Tour of Flanders champion Stijn Devolder is taking a hard look at what went wrong with his spring campaign.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Men

• 1. MANCEBO Francisco, Realcyclist.com Cycling Team, at 03:59:22
• 2. WREN Tyler, Jamis Sutter Home P/b Colavita, at 03:59:36 at 00:14.00
• 3. DOMBROWSKI Joesph, Trek-Livestrong, at 03:59:57 at 00:35.00
• 4. HOWES Alexander, Chipotle Development Team, at 04:00:02 at 00:40.00
• 5. BENNETT George, Trek-Livestrong, at 04:00:02 at 00:40.00

Women

• 1. Mara Abbott, Diadora-Pasta Zara Team, in 4:11:40.
• 2. F Oliveira (parks), Pactimo Cycling Team, at 4:11:59. at 0:00:19
• 3. Clara Hughes, Pactimo Cycling Team, at 4:12:30. at 0:00:50
• 4. Andrea Dvorak, Colavita/forno D'asolo, at 4:13:02. at 0:01:22
• 5. Nicole Evans, Mapmyride, at 4:13:17. at 0:01:37

MOGOLLON, New Mexico (VN) — Francesco Mancebo (Realcyclist.com) and Mara Abbott (Diadora) each won the first stage of the Tour of the Gila on Wednesday with solo victories atop the Mogollon climb.

Quick results

• 1. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA), Lampre , in 5:36:26
• 2. Bartosz Huzarski (POL), Team Netapp, at 0:00
• 3. Alexander Efimkin (RUS), Team Type 1, at 0:01
• 4. Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:01
• 5. Rubens Bertogliati (SUI), Team Type 1, at 0:01

GC

• 1. Bartosz HUZARSKI (Poland), Team Netapp , 16:58:06
• 2. Wesley SULZBERGER (Australia), Française des Jeux, at 0:03
• 3. Riccardo CHIARINI (Italy), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 0:07
• 4. Egoitz GARCIA ECHEGUIBEL (Spain), Caja Rural, at 0:07
• 5. Jesus DEL NERO MONTES (Spain), Team Netapp, at 0:07

Leopard-Trek's Italian sprinter Daniele Bennati has been ruled out of the Giro d'Italia after breaking ribs and a collarbone in a crash at the first stage of the Tour de Romandie Wednesday.