Road

Graham Watson captures the action from stage one of the 2011 Critérium International.

E3 Prijs Harelbeke

• 1. Fabian Cancellara (Sui), Leopard-Trek, 4:34:49
• 2. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:00
• 3. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), Team Katusha, at 1:00
• 4. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel), Garmin-Cervélo, at 1:00
• 5. Bram Tankink (Ned), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:00

Stage 6

• 1. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp), Movistar, 4:22:19
• 2. Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por), Team Radioshack, s.t.
• 3. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, s.t.
• 4. Daniel Martin (Irl), Garmin-Cervelo, s.t.
• 5. Diego Milan Jimenez (Esp), Caja Rural, s.t.

Overall standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp), Saxobank-Sungard, 26:50:47
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:23
• 3. Michele Scarponi (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0:23
• 4. Daniel Martin (Irl), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:35
• 5. Christopher Horner (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:35

Casey B. Gibson snaps the action at day three of the UCI track world championships.

José Joaquín Rojas finds that elusive win at the Tour of Catalunya.

Fränk Schleck climbs to victory in a wild opener at the Critérium International.

Thieves steal more than a half-million euros’ worth of bikes, equipment and gear from Team Type 1, forcing the squad to abandon the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali.

Fabian Cancellara solos to victory in the E3 Prijs Harelbeke.

The Jefferson Cup, the second event of the Nature Valley Pro Ride, is being postponed because of the high probability for snow on Sunday in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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

APELDOORN, Netherlands (AFP) ─ France's Gregory Bauge won the world sprint title after beating Britain's Jason Kenny 2-0 in the final of the blue riband event of the world track cycling championships Friday.

In a season in which the Tour of the Gila and the Tour of the Battenkill each were forced to abandon plans to upgrade to UCI registration, there is some good news on the domestic event front as the sixth annual Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove has been upgraded to the UCI calendar.

APELDOORN, Netherlands (AFP) - American Sarah Hammer launched a stunning fighback to defend her 3km pursuit title against New Zealand's Alison Shanks at the world track cycling championships Friday.

Stage

• 1. Adriano MALORI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 16:37
• 2. Luca ASCANI, (ITA), at 8
• 3. Rory SUTHERLAND, (AUS) Unitedhealthcare, at 9
• 4. Stefan SCHUMACHER, (GER) Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 15
• 5. Laszlo BODROGI, (FRA) Team Type 1, at 15

GC

• 1. Emanuele SELLA, (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 10:49:10
• 2. Diego ULISSI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 30
• 3. Stefano PIRAZZI, (ITA) Colnago-CSF, at 32
• 4. Adriano MALORI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 43
• 5. Rory SUTHERLAND, (AUS) Unitedhealthcare, at 46

Tour de Normandie stage 5

• 1. Fabien BACQUET, (FRA) Auber 93, in 3:51:56
• 2. Laurent PICHON, (FRA) Bretagne-Schuller, at 0
• 3. Timo THÖMEL, (GER), at 0
• 4. Arnaud DEMARE, (FRA), at 0
• 5. Timothy DUPONT, (BEL) Jong Vlaanderen-Bauknecht, at 0

GC

• 1. Bideau Jean-marc, (FRA) Bretagne-Schuller, in 16:45:27
• 2. Rowe Luke, (GBR), at 0
• 3. Kvist Thomas Vedel, (DEN) Glud & Marstrand Horsens, at 3
• 4. Bauer Jack, (NZL) Endura Racing, at 6
• 5. Sinkeldam Ramon, (NED), at 10

PARIS (AFP) - Quebec on Friday withdrew its bid to host the 2015 UCI road world championships.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.