Road

Amber Neben is back in the driver’s seat Thursday after winning her second consecutive prologue at the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Readers ask about treating tires, both inside and out, and protecting your knees in cold weather.

The 27th Redlands Bicycle Classic opens Thursday in Southern California with a 3.1-mile uphill prologue. Redlands pulls back the curtain on the 2011 National Racing Calendar and runs through Sunday’s stage 3 Sunset Road Race.

Unless they ride May’s Giro d’Italia, Tour de France contenders choose between June’s Critérium du Dauphiné in France and Tour of Switzerland (Tour de Suisse) to hone their form for La Grande Boucle. This year, the choice is going to be a difficult one.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Stage 3b (ITT): De Panne - De Panne

• 1. Sébastien ROSSELER (BEL), Team RadioShack , 18:31
• 2. Lieuwe WESTRA (NED), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 0:14
• 3. Michal KWIATKOWSKI (POL), Team RadioShack, at 0:14
• 4. Sylvain CHAVANEL (FRA), Quick Step, at 0:18
• 5. Bert GRABSCH (GER), HTC-Highroad, at 0:22
• 6. Andriy GRIVKO (UKR), Astana, at 0:24
• 7. Dmitriy MURAVYEV (KAZ), Team RadioShack, at 0:30
• 8. Rick FLENS (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:30
• 9. Tomas VAITKUS (LTU), Astana, at 0:34
• 10. Cyril LEMOINE (FRA), Saur-Sojasun, at 0:50

Final overall standings

• 1. Sébastien ROSSELER (Belgium), Team RadioShack , 12:21:33
• 2. Lieuwe WESTRA (Netherlands), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 0:06
• 3. Michal KWIATKOWSKI (Poland), Team RadioShack, at 0:14
• 4. Sylvain CHAVANEL (France), Quick Step, at 0:18
• 5. Bert GRABSCH (Germany), HTC-Highroad, at 0:22
• 6. Andriy GRIVKO (Ukraine), Astana, at 0:24
• 7. Dmitriy MURAVYEV (Kazakhstan), Team RadioShack, at 0:26
• 8. Rick FLENS (Netherlands), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:30
• 9. Tomas VAITKUS (Lithuania), Astana, at 0:34
• 10. Cyril LEMOINE (France), Saur-Sojasun, at 0:50

Just how big is De Ronde van Vlaanderen in Belgium? Big enough to spawn a popular new weekly Belgian television program, titled “De Ronde,” a fictional drama, written and directed by Belgian writer/director Jan Eelen.

A keen eye may have noticed a slight change in the bib shorts and jerseys of Garmin-Cervèlo’s Tyler Farrar, Johan VanSummeren, Heinrich Haussler, and Matt Wilson at Milan-San Remo this year. That’s because they weren’t wearing bib shorts and jerseys anymore – at least not as we know them.

Stage 3a: De Panne - De Panne

• 1. Jacopo GUARNIERI (ITA), Liquigas-Doimo, 2:32:11
• 2. Denis GALIMZYANOV (RUS), Team Katusha, s.t.
• 3. Jimmy CASPER (FRA), Saur-Sojasun, s.t.
• 4. Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL (NED), Skil-Shimano, s.t.
• 5. Alexander KRISTOFF (NOR), BMC Racing Team, s.t.

Overall Standings

• 1. Bert DE BACKER (Belgium), Skil-Shimano, 12:02:52
• 2. Lieuwe WESTRA (Netherlands), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 0:02
• 3. Arnoud VAN GROEN (Netherlands), at 0:04
• 4. Dmitriy MURAVYEV (Kazakhstan), Team RadioShack, at 0:06
• 5. Romain FEILLU (France), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 0:07

DE PANNE, Belgium (VN) - Young Italian rider Jacopo Guarnieri (Liquigas) won the bunch sprint during the morning stage of Three Days of De Panne, ahead of Wednesday’s stage winner Denis Galimzianov (Katusha).

Team Singletrack.com/Justin's Nut Butter Thomas Dooley & Mike Hogan are sending Cape Epic updates as time and energy permits.

For the June issue of VeloNews, we’re testing four endurance bikes in the lab and out on the paved, dirt and cobblestone roads.

Alberto Contador should know his fate before the start of the Tour de France. That’s according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which promised it would make a ruling on the long-running clenbuterol case before the start of the season’s most important race.

Team Type 1 – sanofi-aventis is back in the saddle for Friday’s Route Adelie de Vitre in France just a week after thieves stole more than 30 bikes, wheels and other invaluable equipment.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

The Women's Prestige Cycling Series kicks off Thursday with the Redlands Bicycle Classic in California.

Defending champion Chris Horner (RadioShack) will line up with the No. 1 start bib for the upcoming Vuelta al País Vasco.

Stage 2: Oudenaarde - Koksijde

• 1. Denis GALIMZYANOV (RUS), Katusha, 5:08:18
• 2. John DEGENKOLB (GER), HTC-Highroad, s.t.
• 3. Peter SAGAN (SVK), Liquigas-Doimo, s.t.
• 4. Tomas VAITKUS (LTU), Astana, s.t.
• 5. Romain FEILLU (FRA), Vacansoleil-DCM, s.t.

Overall Standings

• 1. Lieuwe WESTRA (Netherlands), Vacansoleil-DCM, 9:30:43
• 2. Bert DE BACKER (Belgium), Skil-Shimano, s.t.
• 3. John DEGENKOLB (Germany), HTC-Highroad, at 2
• 4. Arnoud VAN GROEN (Netherlands), at 2
• 5. Peter SAGAN (Slovakia), Liquigas-Doimo, at 4

David Millar wouldn’t be defending his title at Three Days of De Panne this week even if Garmin-Cervélo had sent a team to the Flemish suffer-fest.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Stage 1: Middelkerke - Zottegem

• 1. André GREIPEL (GER), Omega Pharma-Lotto , 4:22:33
• 2. Lieuwe WESTRA (NED), Vacansoleil-DCM, s.t.
• 3. Dmitriy MURAVYEV (KAZ), RadioShack, s.t.
• 4. Vladimir GUSEV (RUS), Katusha, s.t.
• 5. Romain FEILLU (FRA), Vacansoleil-DCM, s.t.

Overall Standings

• 1. André GREIPEL (Germany), Omega Pharma-Lotto 4:22:22
• 2. Bert DE BACKER (Belgium), Skil-Shimano, at 3
• 3. Lieuwe WESTRA (Netherlands), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5
• 4. Pim LIGTHART (Netherlands), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5
• 5. Dmitriy MURAVYEV (Kazakhstan), RadioShack, at 7

Gorilla on the Loose! Greipel wins opening stage at De Panne — from breakaway

Readers ask about getting the correct shoe and putting that cool crank set on a bike not designed to take it.

Check out Brian Holcombe's author page.

VeloNews Editor-at-Large John Wilcockson writes on the importance of teamwork in the first of the cobblestone classics and two major stage races

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Mavic has been testing prototypes of a new 40mm carbon tubular under a few of their high-profile riders this spring.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Check out Brian Holcombe's author page.

Tour of the Battenkill organizers Anthem Sports have announced the launch of a new classics-style race and race series. The Tour of Washtenaw in Saline, Michigan, will be the second event in the new Great American Cycling Series.

Check out Nick Legan's author page.

KORTRIJK, Belgium (VN) – Tuesday marks the start of the KBC-Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde, a three-day stage race held in the Flanders region of Belgium that is used as final preparation race before Sunday’s Ronde Van Vlaanderen.

How does it feel to suffer the Cape Epic? Let Team Jamis' Jason Sager count the ways.

UCI president Pat McQuaid told The Associated Press that an appeal in Alberto Contador’s doping case was prompted by fears of political meddling within the Spanish cycling federation.

BMC team doctor Max Testa says Taylor Phinney’s early departure from the Volta a Catalunya last week doesn’t mean that he will not be able to start Paris-Roubaix next month.

The San Dimas Stage Race is becoming the Ben Day and Highroad show. Last weekend Kenda-5-hour Energy’s Day took his third consecutive overall title – and Amber Neben won the fourth overall title in a row for HTC-Highroad – in the final tune-up for the Redlands Classic.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Final Over Standings Women

• 1. Amber Neben, Htc-Highroad Women
• 2. Heather Logan-Sprenger, Colavita/forno D'aso, at 00:08
• 3. Amanda Miller, Htc-Highroad Women, at 00:09
• 4. Kristin Armstrong, Peanut Butter & Co.t, at 00:12
• 5. Erinne Willock, Tibco/ To The Top, at 00:19

Final Overall Standings - Men

• 1. Ben Day, Kenda P/b Geargrinder, in 3:36:51
• 2. Matt Cooke, Team Exergy, at 00:14
• 3. Tyler Wren, Jamis Sutter Home Pr, at 00:17
• 4. Francisco Mancebo, Realcyclist.com Pro, at 00:17
• 5. Cesar Grajales, Realcyclist.com Pro, at 00:20

Sarah Hammer is the first American woman to earn three medals in a single cycling world championship after finishing second in the women’s omnium at the UCI track world championships.

Casey B. Gibson shoots the final day of the 2011 track world championships.

Emma Pooley (Garmin-Cervélo) rode alone for 69km to win the kickoff to the 2011 UCI women's World Cup on Sunday.

Trofeo Alfredo Binda

• 1. Emma Pooley (Gbr), Garmin-Cervélo, 3:08:17
• 2. Emma Johansson (Swe), Team Hitec Products Uck, at 1:32
• 3. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned), Netherlands, at 1:32
• 4. Martine Bras (Ned), Dolmans Landscaping, at 1:32
• 5. Shelley Olds (USA), Diadora Pasta Zara, at 1:32

It's been a roller-coaster seven years since Tom Boonen last won in Wevelgem.

Tour de Normandie, stage 8

• 1. Timo Thömel (Ger), 2:58:52
• 2. Laurent Pichon (Fra), Bretagne-Schuller, s.t.
• 3. Barry Markus (Ned), s.t.
• 4. Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel), s.t.
• 5. Luke Rowe (Gbr), s.t.

Final GC

• 1. Alexandre Blain (Fra), Endura Racing, 23:39:00
• 2. Mathieu Simon (Fra), at 0:05
• 3. Wesley Kreder (Ned), at 0:05
• 4. Tomasz Olejnick (Pol), at 0:13
• 5. Luke Rowe (Gbr), at 0:13

1. Tom Boonen (Bel), Quick Step, 4:35:00 2. Daniele Bennati (Ita), Leopard-Trek, s.t. 3. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Cervelo, s.t. 4. André Greipel (Ger), Omega Pharma-Lotto, s.t. 5. Lloyd Mondory (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, s.t.

An old injury keeps Levi Leipheimer from starting the final stage at the Volta a Catalunya.

Fränk Schleck clinches the Critérium International in Porto-Vecchio after the final stage, a 7.8km time trial through the streets of the Corsican town.

Critérium International, stage 3

• 1. Andreas Klöden (Ger), Team RadioShack, 8:46
• 2. Bradley Wiggins (Gbr), Team Sky, at 0:04
• 3. Jakob Fuglsang (Den), Leopard-Trek, at 0:10
• 4. David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, at 0:14
• 5. Andrew Talansky (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, at 0:15

Final GC

• 1. Frank Schleck (Lux), Leopard-Trek, 7:13:12
• 2. Vasili Kiryienka (Blr), Movistar, at 0:13
• 3. Rein Taaramae (Est), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0:30
• 4. Alexandre Geniez (Fra), Skil-Shimano, at 1:14
• 5. Tiago Machado (Por), Team RadioShack, at 1:15

Brent Bookwalter breaks a collarbone in Sunday’s finale at the Volta a Catalunya.

Tom Boonen (Quick Step) wins Ghent-Wevelgem.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Stage 7: Parets del Valles-Barcelona (124.5 km)

• 1. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, 2:33:55
• 2. Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL), Sky, s.t.
• 3. Kenny De Haes (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, s.t.
• 4. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (ESP), Movistar, s.t.
• 5. Antonio Leal Cardoso Manuel (POR), Radioshack, s.t.

Final Overall Standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), Saxo Bank-Sungard, 29:24:42
• 2. Michele Scarponi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, at 0:23
• 3. Daniel Martin (IRL), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:35
• 4. Christopher Horner (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:35
• 5. Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL), Sky, at 0:38

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Saxo Bank-Sunguard’s Alberto Contador won the Tour of Catalonia on Sunday after the seventh and final stage. Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) won the stage, a 124.5km ride from Parets del Valles to Barcelona, for his second win of the race.

Graham Watson was snapping away on a busy Sunday at Critérium International.

Stage 2: Porto-Vecchio - Porto-Vecchio

• 1. Simon GESCHKE (GER) Skil-Shimano, in 1:43:10
• 2. Murilo Antonio FISCHER (BRA) Garmin-Cervelo, s.t.
• 3. Laurent MANGEL (FRA) Saur-Sojasun, s.t.
• 4. Florian VACHON (FRA) Bretagne-Schuller, s.t.
• 5. Arnaud MOLMY (FRA) Auber 93, s.t.

Overall standings

• 1. Frank SCHLECK (Luxembourg) Leopard-Trek, in 7:04:02
• 2. Vasili KIRYIENKA (Belarus) Movistar, at 0:20
• 3. Rein TAARAMAE (Estonia) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0:28
• 4. David LOPEZ GARCIA (Spain) Movistar, at 1:08
• 5. Alexandre GENIEZ (France) Skil-Shimano, at 1:10

Tour de Normandie stage 7

• 1. Alexandre Blain (Fra), Endura Racing , at 3:54:27
• 2. Mathieu Simon (Fra), s.t.
• 3. Mathieu Halleguen (Fra), Bretagne-Schuller , s.t.
• 4. Sergey Firsanov (Rus), Itera-Katusha , s.t.
• 5. Michal Olejnik (Pol), s.t.

GC

• 1. Alexandre Blain (Fra), Endura Racing , 20:40:09
• 2. Wesley Kreder (Ned), at 0:05
• 3. Mathieu Simon (Fra), at 0:07
• 4. Tomasz Olejnick (Pol), at 0:12
• 5. Jean-Marc Bideau (Fra), Bretagne-Schuller , at 0:14

Casey B. Gibson turns his lens on day four of the UCI track world championships.

Stage 1

• 1. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, 5:21:02
• 2. Vasil Kiryienka, Movistar Team, at 0:16
• 3. Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 0:22
• 4. David Lopez Garcia, Movistar Team, at 0:58
• 5. Alexandre Geniez, Skil-Shimano, at 1:00

Overall standings

• 1. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 5:20:52
• 2. Vasil Kiryienka, Movistar Team, at 0:20
• 3. Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 0:28
• 4. David Lopez Garcia, Movistar Team, at 1:08
• 5. Alexandre Geniez, Skil-Shimano, at 1:10

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

Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali

• 1. Giovanni Visconti (Ita), Farnese Vini, 4:08:24
• 2. Jackson Rodriguez (Ven), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, s.t.
• 3. Gianni Meersman (Bel), Française des Jeux, s.t.
• 4. Luca Ascani (Ita),, s.t.
• 5. Diego Ulissi (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, s.t.

Overall standings

• 1. Emanuele Sella (Ita), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, 14:57:34
• 2. Diego Ulissi (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0:30
• 3. Stefano Pirazzi (Ita), Colnago-CSF, at 0:32
• 4. Giovanni Visconti (Ita),, at 0:38
• 5. Adriano Malori (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0:43

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.