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Taylor Phinney (BMC) says he’s still hopeful he’ll be able to race the upcoming northern classics despite sitting on the sidelines so far through much of the 2011 season due to a nagging knee injury and a mild concussion.

Geert Steegmans (Quick Step) took a much-needed confidence-boosting victory Wednesday at the Nokere-Koerse semi-classic in Belgium.

LUCA, Italy (VN) - Last year's runner-up Tom Boonen will lead Quick Step into Milan-San Remo Saturday. The Belgian said Wednesday that he has recovered from the flu that held him back at Tirreno-Adriatico last week.

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With the 2009 winner and the most successful sprinter of the 2011 season, HTC-Highroad will enter Saturday’s Milan-San Remo, the first of the spring classics, with two viable options.

The Quiznos Pro Challenge stage race announced five more teams for the August event in Colorado. The five new names are in addition to the five teams announced in December.

Vibration relief, wide-range gearing options and nano health

Stage 7:

• 1. Fabian CANCELLARA, (SUI) Leopard-Trek, at 10:33
• 2. Lars BOOM, (NED) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 9
• 3. Adriano MALORI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 19
• 4. Rick FLENS, (NED) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 20
• 5. Bert GRABSCH, (GER) HTC-Highroad, at 22

FINAL GC:

• 1. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing Team, in 27:37:37
• 2. Robert GESINK, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 11
• 3. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 15
• 4. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Doimo, at 24
• 5. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Doimo, at 30

SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO, Italy (VN) - World time trial champion Fabian Cancellara (Leopard-Trek) capped a week in Italy with a stage win on the final day of Tirreno-Adriatico Tuesday. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) defended his maglia azzura with a solid ride to earn his place atop the final podium.

When the French Cycling Federation sanctioned Paris-Nice 2008, in violation of UCI rules, the UCI fined and suspended the French governing body for six months. After its March 11 decision to allow the use of in-race radios in National Racing Calendar events, USA Cycling could be facing a similar fate.

SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO, Italy (VN) – It is four days before the season’s first one-day monument at Milan-San Remo and 2008 winner Fabian Cancellara (Leopard-Trek) is making plans. But those plans are much farther reaching than the 300 kilometers he’ll face Saturday.

Tejay Van Garderen proved himself a valuable asset to Tony Martin and helped pave the way for his German teammate to claim overall victory at Paris-Nice on Sunday.

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Tony Martin and HTC-Highroad have moved into the lead of the UCI's WorldTour individual and team rankings following the German's overall victory and Matt Goss' stage win in Paris-Nice.

Quick Step's 23-year-old Italian Davide Malacarne locked up his victory in the climber's competition during stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico Monday.

Cadel Evans weathered a late storm to consolidate his Tirreno-Adriatico lead with an impressive victory on stage 6 of the Italian race on Monday.

• 1. Tony Martin, HTC -Highroad, with 108 points
• 2. Cameron Meyer, Team Garmin-Cervelo, with 106 points
• 3. Harley Goss Matthew, HTC -Highroad, with 103 points
• 4. Andreas KlÖden, Team Radioshack, with 88 points

MACERATA, Italy (VN) – Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) is taking a good look at three of his top Tour de France rivals this week in Italy. The overall leader at Tirreno-Adriatico said Sunday, however, that his focus was squarely on winning the final GC in his first stage race of the year.

It’s not the fact that Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) won one of France’s most prestigious races at Paris-Nice that has everyone taking notice, but how he did it.

Chris Horner is making a later-than-usual start to the 2011 season, but plans to come out guns-a-blazin’ with a season debut next week at the Volta a Catalunya (March 21-27) in Spain.

Stage 5

• 1. Philippe Gilbert, (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, 6:43:23
• 2. Wouter Poels, (NED), Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team, at 0:00
• 3. Damiano Cunego, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:00
• 4. Danilo Di Luca, (ITA), Katusha Team, at 0:00
• 5. Andrey Amador Bakkazakova, (CRC), Movistar Team, at 0:00

Overall Standings

1. Cadel Evans, (AUS), BMC Racing Team, at

2. Ivan Basso, (ITA), Liquigas-Cannondale, at 0:02

3. Damiano Cunego, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:03

4. Michele Scarponi, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:05

5. Robert Gesink, (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:05

The BMC racing team has announced that it's newest star, Taylor Phinney, will return to racing at the Volta a Catalunya (March 21-27) following his recovery from a training ride crash last month.

CASTELRAIMONDO, Italy (VN) ─ Classics star Philippe Gilbert didn't miss the decisive moment at Tirreno-Adriatico Sunday. Instead, the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider out-kicked a 13-rider group in Castelraimondo to capture stage 5 of the 'race of the two seas.'

Paris-Nice, Stage 8

• 1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 3:15:58
• 2. Diego Ulissi, Lampre-ISD, at 0:23
• 3. Julien El Fares, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:06
• 4. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 01:06
• 5. David Lopez Garcia, Movistar Team, at 01:06

Overall standings

• 1. Tony Martin, HTC-Highroad, 34h 03' 37"
• 2. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 0:36
• 3. Bradley Wiggins, Sky Procycling, at 00:41
• 4. Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:10
• 5. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 01:13

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Brutal Paris-Nice stage takes its toll

Stage Results

• 1. Rémy Di Gregorio, Pro Team Astana, 5:46:23
• 2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:05
• 3. Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, at 00:05
• 4. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 00:07
• 5. Tony Martin, Htc-Highroad, at 00:07

Overall

• 1. Tony Martin, Htc-Highroad, 30:46:17
• 2. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 00:36
• 3. Bradley Wiggins, Sky Procycling, at 00:41
• 4. Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:10
• 5. Jean-Christophe Peraud, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 01:21

Remy Di Gregorio (Astana) made a tremendous save in the final kilometers after slipping on white, wet traffic stripe to win a wild, crash-filled ride in Saturday’s 215km seventh stage at Paris-Nice.

CHIETI, Italy (VN) ─ Michele Scarponi landed the first blow in the GC battle, his Lampre-ISD teammate Damiano Cunego close behind, in stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) nearly closed a 10-second gap on the 19-percent ramp into Chieti, but came up just short, with Cunego passing him and both taking same time in the final meters.

WASHINGTON, D.C. ─ Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) has criticized the ongoing federal probe into seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and allegations of doping.

The UCI cleared the way for the new Danish Christina Watches-Onfone team, featuring Michael Rasmussen, by approving its bid for a continental license.

TERNI, Italy (VN) — It’s not time to hit the Mark Cavendish panic button just yet. So says HTC-Highroad sports director Valerio Piva.

Stage 3

• 1. Juan José Haedo (ARG), Saxo Bank Sungard, 4:39:45
• 2. Tyler Farrar (USA), Team Garmin-Cervelo, s.t.
• 3. Daniel Oss (ITA), Liquigas-Cannondale, s.t.
• 4. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA), Lampre-Isd, s.t.
• 5. Mark Renshaw (AUS), HTC-Highroad, s.t.

Overall, after Stage 3

• 1. Tyler Farrar (USA), Team Garmin-Cervelo, 9:53:51
• 2. Juan José Haedo (ARG), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 0:05
• 3. Lars Boom (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:06
• 4. Oscar Freire Gomez (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:08
• 5. Thomas Leezer (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:08

Or maybe not. The UCI clarifies its rule on time trial shifters, causing some team mechanics to get creative

PERUGIA, Italy (VN) — J.J. Haedo (Saxo Bank-Sunguard) overcame a final-kilometer acceleration from Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo) to steal a win in stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico. Hushovd’s teammate and overall leader Tyler Farrar finished second, followed by Italian Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale).

Stage

• 1. Tony Martin, HTC - Highroad, in 33:24
• 2. Bradley Wiggins, Sky Procycling, in 33:44
• 3. Richie Porte, Saxo Bank Sungard, in 33:53 at 00:29
• 4. Andréas KlÖden, Team RadioShack, in 34:10 at 00:46
• 5. Jean-Christophe Peraud, Ag2r La Mondiale, in 34:19 at 00:55

GC

• 1. Tony Martin, HTC - Highroad, in 24:59:47
• 2. Andréas KlÖden, Team RadioShack, at 00:36
• 3. Bradley Wiggins, Sky Procycling, at 00:39
• 4. Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:10
• 5. Jean-christophe Peraud, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 01:14

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France, March 11, 2011 (AFP) - German Tony Martin of HTC-Highroad hammered home his victory intentions in the Paris-Nice by winning the sixth stage time trial to take command of the race lead on Friday.

PERUGIA, Italy (VN) ─ Two weeks ago, Rabobank’s Sebastian Langeveld was the star of the opening classics weekend. With Milan-San Remo and the Belgian cobbles around the corner, the Dutchman is staying low key on his talent-rich team at Tirreno-Adriatico.

Charlie Wegelius brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to UnitedHealthcare, but it appears that it’s Wegelius who is getting more out of the bargain.

Vuelta a España officials said they will release their wild-card invitations to the 2011 edition in May and suggested it may follow the lead taken by the Giro d’Italia, which recently invited five extra teams to the corsa rosa.

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Frames from five manufacturers are the first to get UCI approval

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Nick talks about flying with bikes and takes a few questions about shoes and cleats.

RadioShack’s Andreas Kloden positioned himself for overall victory at Paris-Nice after taking a stage victory in Thursday’s 193km fifth stage ahead Samuel Sanchez.

Tyler Farrar's major pro wins

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Alberto Contador strongly defended himself against claims that his clenbuterol positive was triggered by a possible blood transfusion during the 2010 Tour de France.

Christian Vande Velde isn’t going to tempt fate yet again and is steering clear of the Giro d’Italia this year as he prepares for a peak in form for the 2011 Tour de France.

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The German Pro Continental squad NetApp earned a wild card invite to Paris-Roubaix, the race announced earlier this month. Team director Ralph Denk said the squad, which includes American Steven Cozza, was "euphoric" over the team's first selection for a WorldTour event.

The results of the weekend speak for themselves: three stage wins, 1-2-3 GC and the points jersey. What I most happy about is that three different riders won a stage. We rode like a TEAM, all for one and one for all.

• 1. Rabobank, 16.8km in 18:08
• 2. Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:09
• 3. HTC-Highroad, at 0:10
• 4. Saxo Bank-Sungard, at 0:11
• 5. Liquigas-Cannondale, at 0:22

The heavy sprint corps at Tirreno-Adriatico may be without Andre Greipel after the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider crashed hard during a pre-ride of the course and injured his face.

A day after just falling short in a breakaway effort, French national champion Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) got in right with victory in Wednesday’s 191km seven-climb fourth stage at Paris-Nice when a four-man breakaway stayed clear of the fast-chasing peloton.

Must Reads: London Olympic TT courses finalized; Queally eyes Olys return

Rabobank takes team time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico, Lars Boom in lead

Taylor Phinney is taking it slow in his rookie pro season and that’s just the way BMC wants it.

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Franco Pellizotti reacted angrily to Tuesday’s decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and said he would not mount a comeback when his two-year ban concludes.