Road

John Degenkolb (HTC-Columbia) nipped Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo) to win the second stage at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal in Thursday’s 186.5km run from Lagao to Lagos.

Stage:

• 1. Théo Bos, Rabobank Cycling Team, in 5:14:41
• 2. Daniele Bennati, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 3. Harley Goss Matthew, Htc - Highroad, at s.t.
• 4. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at s.t.
• 5. Heinrich Haussler, Team Garmin - Cervelo, at s.t.

• 1. Harley Goss Matthew, Htc - Highroad, in 12:11:13"
• 2. Daniele Bennati, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 3. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at 00:10
• 4. Pieter Serry, Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 00:11
• 5. Patrik Sinkewitz, Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli, at 00:11

SUR, Oman (AFP) - Dutch rider Theo Bos of Rabobank won the third stage of the Tour of Oman Thursday as Australia's Matthew Goss held the leader's red jersey.

Finally, more than 25 years after he first put a leg over a bike in a racing environment, Lance Armstrong says his competitive cycling days are over.

A web version of a timeline that first ran in the january 2009 issue of VeloNews magazine

Pros left India after a promising weekend that saw India’s first-ever elite international road stage and opened the door for future expansion of the sport in what’s considered one of cycling’s final frontiers.

Despite the swelling negative public opinion over the Alberto Contador acquittal Tuesday in Spain, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

When Armstrong announced his comeback in 2008, he mentioned a repeat performance — of Tour victory, not as the guy on the receiving end of doping questions.

During that press conference, as my hand was in the air, LeMond whispered in my ear, “Come on, Neal, ask the real questions.” It was without question the single most surreal moment in my professional career ...

Stage 1:

• 1. Philippe GILBERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 4:36:36
• 2. Gerald CIOLEK, (GER) Quick Step, at 5
• 3. André GREIPEL, (GER) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 5
• 4. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 5
• 5. Michael MATTHEWS, (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 5

• 1. Philippe GILBERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 4:36:26
• 2. Gerald CIOLEK, (GER) Quick Step, at 9
• 3. André GREIPEL, (GER) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 11
• 4. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 15
• 5. Michael MATTHEWS, (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 15

Armstrong's second comeback did not spur as many new bike tech ideas as the first, Lennard Zinn says.

Organizers on Wednesday launched a new-look Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah for August 2011. The newly upgraded UCI 2.1-level stage race will feature six days of racing and include new routes for all but two stages.

As a former RadioShack mechanic, I’m constantly asked for the inside scoop on working with Lance Armstrong. With today’s announcement of his (second) retirement from professional racing, the timing is right to answer that question.

There is more news on the doping front in Spain with a former doctor of the now-defunct Xacobeo-Galicia team set to take charges against the team to a Spanish court.

The major tours will wait on the sidelines to see how the Alberto Contador doping case plays out.

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) took his inaugural victory of the 2011 season in the opening stage of the Volta a Algarve on a day that was overshadowed by the return of Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard).

While fans and media celebrated Alberto Contador’s apparent victory in his ongoing doping scandal, reactions were strikingly more negative north of the Pyrénées.

Stage:

• 1. Matthew Harley Goss, HTC - HighRoad, in 3:18:17
• 2. Daniele Bennati, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 3. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at 00:00
• 4. Greg Van Avermaet, Bmc Racing Team, at s.t.
• 5. Danilo Hondo, Lampre - Isd, at s.t.

• 1. Matthew Harley Goss, HTC - HighRoad, ib 6:56:36
• 2. Daniele Bennati, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
• 3. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at 00:06
• 4. Pieter Serry, Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 00:07
• 5. Tanel Kangert, Pro Team Astana, at 00:09

AUSTIN, Texas (AFP) - Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on Wednesday announced his retirment from professional cycling at the age of 39.

Australian Matthew Goss (HTC-HighRoad) won the second stage of the Tour of Oman on Wednesday taking the leader's red jersey from Dutchman Theo Boss of Rabobank.

World cycling chief Pat McQuaid said Wednesday that he wants a definitive decision in the doping case of Alberto Contador before the start of the Tour de France in July.

Charly Wegelius is coming off the two most trying seasons of his 11-year career and feels the spark burning for the first time in a while. The new UnitedHealthcare recruit brings his grand tour palmarés to the upgraded American outfit as it embarks on its first solid European campaign Wednesday at the Volta ao Algarve.

The merits of tubular tape, more on the stack-and-reach concept, Mavic freehubs and more

Mounting up the new accessory shifters.

Soon after being cleared of doping charges by the Spanish federation, Alberto Contador is expected to travel to Portugal to arrive in time for Wednesday’s start the Volta ao Algarve.

Amateurs with professional hopes take note. The Nature Valley Grand Prix last week announced its 2011 Pro Ride calendar, which offers elites a chance to qualify for the race’s fully supported composite team.

Alberto Contador says he’s “happy and relieved” about the dramatic reversal from the Spanish cycling federation to clear him from doping charges.

The UCI on Tuesday said it had received notice of the Spanish cycling federation's decision to clear Alberto Contador of doping charges, and said it would examine the reasoning behind the decision before announcing its next step. The UCI has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

It’s official: the Spanish cycling federation has cleared Alberto Contador of doping charges in a dramatic U-turn in his ongoing case of alleged use of clenbuterol.

Stage 1:

• 1. Théo Bos, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 3:38:29
• 2. Mark Cavendish, Htc - Highroad, at s.t.
• 3. Roger Kluge, Skil-Shimano, at s.t.
• 4. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at s.t.
• 5. Denis Galimzyanov, Katusha Team, at s.t.

• 1. Théo Bos, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 3:38:19
• 2. Mark Cavendish, Htc - Highroad, at 3:38:23
• 3. Pieter Serry, Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 3:38:23
• 4. Roger Kluge, Skil-Shimano, at 3:38:25
• 5. Mark Mcnally, An Post-Sean Kelly, at 3:38:26

LONDON (AFP) - British cycling's Team Sky may relax its "zero tolerance" doping policy as they seek to hire staff capable of improving the outfit's performance, it was reported Tuesday.

Riccardo Riccò remains in an Italian hospital more than a week after being hospitalized for an apparent blood transfusion gone wrong.

AL SEEB, Oman (AFP) — Rabobank's Dutch rider Theo Bos saw off HTC-HighRoad's Mark Cavendish and Skil-Shimano's Roger Kluge to win the first stage of the Tour of Oman here on Tuesday.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

When Marco Pantani died of an apparent cocaine overdose, alone in a Rimini hotel room seven years ago this St. Valentine’s Day, Riccardo Riccò was racing on a small amateur team called Grassi Marco Pantani. Riccò, then 20 years old, dreamed of emulating his hero by someday winning the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.

The Spanish sports daily AS is reporting that Spanish authorities on Tuesday will clear Alberto Contador of doping allegations stemming from a positive test at last year’s Tour de France.

Jens Voigt, who missed last year’s Critérium International, will headline the field at the two-day, three-stage French race dubbed the “mini-Tour de France.”

MADRID, Spain (VN) – Spanish politicians are rallying around Alberto Contador on the eve of a long-awaited final verdict on his ongoing doping case that could come as soon as Tuesday.

How to get to far-flung races? Judy Freeman's been there done that

MUSCAT, Oman (AFP) - Reigning world road race champion Thor Hushovd has admitted his days of pushing to the front in a bid to win every bunch sprint that is within his grasp are now practically over.

Several WorldTour riders said they plan to meet with UCI president Pat McQuaid this week at the Tour of Oman to discuss the radio ban.

World champion Thor Hushovd will make his cobbles debut at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad later this month. Organizers on Monday released the preliminary startlist for the 206 km one-day race that opens the semi-classics season in East Flanders, Belgium. Absent from the Garmin-Cervélo roster are 2010 runner-up Heinrich Haussler and last year's third-place, Tyler Farrar.

Spain's cycling federation, the RFEC, may clear three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of using performance-enhancing drugs, Spanish newspapers said on Monday.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

• 1. David MONCOUTIE, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, in 16:48:36
• 2. Jean-Christophe PERAUD, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 11
• 3. Wouter POELS, (NED), at 24
• 4. Andrew TALANSKY, (USA) Garmin-Cervelo, at 28
• 5. Morris POSSONI, (ITA) Team Sky, at 33

American Jonathan Page falls just short of the podium as Kevin Pauwels wins the GP Heuts.

Racing in India is quite unlike anything the top pros have ever seen before.

MUMBAI, India (VN) – Robbie McEwen and Robbie Hunter – aka the “Two Robbies” – delivered a big thank you to RadioShack with top racing over the weekend in a pair of one-day races in India.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Robbie McEwen is “95 percent sure” that this year will be his last among the pro ranks and hinted that the 2012 Tour Down Under could be a perfect way to bow out of the sport.

obbie McEwen and a handful of pros experienced India “unplugged” after they decided to ride the better part of a 200km transfer from Nashik to Mumbai on Saturday.

Stage 5:

• 1. Andrea Guardini, Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, in 2h 44' 06"
• 2. Francesco Chicchi, Quick Step Cycling Team, at
• 3. Théo Bos, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:00
• 4. Dominique Rollin, FdJ, s.t.
• 5. Roger Kluge, Skil-Shimano, s.t.

• 1. Mark Renshaw, HTC-Highroad, in 15:31:04
• 2. Heinrich Haussler,Garmin-Cervélo, at 0:08
• 3. Daniele Bennati,Leopard-Trek, at 0:17
• 4. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni, Sky, at 0:26
• 5. Roger Hammond,Garmin-Cervélo, at 0:38

NASHIK, India (VN) – India made history Friday by hosting its first-ever international road race, with Italian up-and-comer Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) kicking to victory ahead of pre-race favorite Robbie McEwen (RadioShack) in wild ride across the rugged hill country of Maharashtra.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

A "disgusted" Alberto Contador hit out at the Spanish cycling federation, which he accused of “caving in” to pressure from anti-doping authorities after it proposed he serve a one-year ban from cycling.

Brakes, flats and Superman

The most anticipated professional debut for an American in a generation is set to roll next week. Taylor Phinney will make his first start for BMC Racing at the Tour of Oman February 15-20.

Officials in Barcelona are hoping to convince ASO that the Catalan city would be an ideal place to start the 2014 Tour de France.

Restructuring at the Quiznos Pro Challenge continued Wednesday when the organizers behind the new Colorado stage race announced the hiring of former AEG president Shawn Hunter as co-chairman.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Alberto Contador recounted key moments in the hours and days following news that he tested positive for clenbuterol during this year’s Tour de France and vigorously denied allegations that the banned substance might have entered his body via blood transfusions.

Disgraced Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde has been out training with his Movistar teammates in Majorca while he serves a ban for doping.

Graham Watson captures the action on stage 3 of the 2011 Tour of Qatar.

Garmin-Cervélo’s Heinrich Haussler won the third stage of the Tour of Qatar Wednesday to take the race leader's jersey from three-time winner Tom Boonen (Quick Step).

The “two Robbies” – Hunter and McEwen – of RadioShack headline the field for a pair of one-day races in northern India set for Friday and Sunday this weekend.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Robert Förster is bringing the vision he’s gained over a decade in the European trenches to the young riders at UnitedHealthcare and he’s looking for wins — whether it’s him or one of his teammates.

With Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans expected at the start, the 16.8km team time trial will also offer the year’s first good look at the Tour de France contenders’ form.