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After considering an end to its involvement in cycling, German dairy manufacturer Nordmilch announced Friday that it will remain as title sponsor of the Milram team for at least another year. The company, whose contract with the team expires at the end of 2009, had reportedly consulted with attorneys to explore the possibility of ending its support a year early. Milram remains the sole German ProTour team after sparkling water distributor Gerolsteiner pulled its support from the cycling team of the same name in light of doping scandals involving its two top riders.

Weight: 83 grams Sizes: 90, 110, and 120mm Price: $199.00 Web site: www.rotorbike.com With the new Rotor SL MTB stem you can shave off a few more grams to make your mountain bike that much more responsive and make climbing just that much more effortless. With the use of only two screws for the handlebars and two for the steer tube, the Rotor SL MTB stem still achieves the required clamping force using its dual-thread pitch DTT Evo bolts with T25 Torx heads.

Colors: Black, Egglplant, Periwinkle, Orange, and Moss Green Sizes: Fits 22.2-25.4mm and 31.8mm handlebars Price: $25 to $40 Web site: www.trekbikes.com[nid:85626] The Trek Time series includes fun, simple, and functional watches for those looking for an entry-level bike computer. The ability to snap the computer on and off the handlebars allows you to detach it when you make stops during your ride or commute without worrying about theft.

Sizes: XS to XL Price: $65 Web site: www.dakine.com/bike The Dakine Storm Rider includes a Gore Tex insert to help to keep your hands dry from precipitation and the Thinsulate insulation. For durability, the Storm Rider uses Dakine's Weathershield shell. And out of consideration for your sniffling red nose, they stitched terrycloth panels to the thumbs.

The Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross returns this weekend to Portland, Oregon, the scene of 2007’s epic finale, when snow, rain and heavy winds battered spectators and riders alike. This time around, the racing is expected to be equally fierce, but the weather should be a little less so, says KOIN meteorologist Bruce Sussman. “It's going to be a lot drier than last year,” Sussman said. “In fact, Saturday looks dry. Then on Sunday a system from the north will bring some rain at times, but nothing major.”

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A few weeks ago (see Can’t we do better?), I posed the question “What do you think can be done about cyclist safety?” in response to a question from C.S., who asked

We as a club are going to do more .We want Ed (Farrar)'s accident and situation to help change not only cycling in our community but our state and country. Ed has always showed and taught us that bikes matter. He did it by example and always with grace and dignity. Can you help us? What should be our next step in bike advocacy?

In addition to taking surfing lessons, attending team meetings and logging some miles, the Astana team has been busy testing new equipment during this week’s training camp in Tenerife. One of the many items under test was a spanking new set of as-yet-unnamed Bontrager wheels that Lance Armstrong has called “insanely fast.” According to Trek spokesman Ben Coates, the wheels are a prototype, and the only pair around at the moment.[nid:85646]

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He's been there before and, he concedes, he might just thrive on it. Jonathan Page, America's most successful international male cyclocross racer, is having another relatively quiet season, with a few top performances but a spate of frustrating mechanicals, illnesses and other bad luck, plus an unusual mid-season bike sponsor switch. Now, with a week to go before the national championships in Kansas City, the Planet Bike pro is looking to break out with a fourth elite national title, and then carry the momentum into the world championships.

VeloNews.com seeks web programmer/developer for its high-profile Web site. Successful candidate would be responsible for Web site maintenance, site design/architecture/presentation, and application development. Must have three to five years' experience with Internet-based businesses and strong knowledge of the Internet, emerging technologies and computers, including: - Experience maintaining high traffic websites > 1MM page views daily. Experience with a load-balanced web architecture a plus.

A very successful 2008 campaign will conclude on the shores of Goddard Park in Warwick, Rhode Island as the 2008 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series comes to a close this weekend. Over 850 riders are expected to compete in 2 days of racing with different motivations; some celebrating the end to a great fall campaign, some are getting ready for the upcoming national championships, and some are looking to score podium positions in the overall 2008 Verge series.

Lance Armstrong has indicated he could race for a full two years after launching his comeback from retirement with a bid for an eighth Tour de France crown. The seven-time yellow jersey champion, who also reiterated his innocence in the face of drugs allegations over the years, added that he was happy to finish way down the standings of the world's biggest race if it meant helping promote his global fight against cancer.

Superbike racer Ben Bostrom has joined the Sho-Air professional mountain bike race team for 2009. The Yamaha pro, who dominated domestic and international motorcycle racing through much of this decade, will race the 2009 Sea Otter Classic and the 24 Hours of Moab for the Southern California-based Sho-Air team in the pro category. He will jump in other mountain bike races as his motorcycle racing schedule allows.

Lance Armstrong on Thursday played down any rumors of internal strife in his new Astana team. The American was keen to show, at least, that Astana is one big happy family. The 37-year-old suggested he would be happy to race as the team's second or third-in command if circumstances demanded it. [nid:85596] "I've been ... racing professionally since 1992, when Alberto was, what, ten," Armstrong said in a news conference in Tenerife in Spain where he is training with Astana. "I think Alberto has obviously a tremendous amount of natural talent, and can read a race.[nid:85586]

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Web site: www.hutchinsontires.com[nid:85576][nid:85577] Have you been looking to run tubeless tires on your road bike? If not, here's a few reasons why you should: no pinch flats; ability to run lower pressure for better traction and a smoother ride; less weight than traditional tube-dependent clinchers; less expensive than tubulars. Now Hutchinson offers a variety of 127 tpi tubeless road tires. The Atom is a single compound, slick-type road tire that offers low weight, safety, and dry weather race performance.

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has been training with new Astana teammate Alberto Contador in the Canaries, his team announced on Wednesday. On Monday, the 37-year-old Armstrong revealed his intention to ride in the 2009 Tour de France after a four-year absence. An Astana spokesperson told AFP that "Contador rode in Armstrong's group for almost an hour", before the Spaniard took a plane to Madrid to receive a prize from sport paper AS on Wednesday night. The two stars of the Astana team trained in separate groups on Tuesday.

The final two weekends of 'cross racing in the United States are upon us and when I think back to Star Crossed in September, just one week after finishing the Tour of Missouri and a long road season, it’s hard to remember all the racing up to this point. This 'cross season has been packed with travel and races every weekend. So, as we barrel down to the final and most important weeks of the season, it’s really awesome to think back on some of the great battles we’ve all had against one another.

Although he is only three days into the Astana team’s first pre-season training camp on the island of Tenerife, Lance Armstrong has already shown team manager Johan Bruyneel that he will be ready for the new season. “Yeah, he’s in good shape,” said Bruyneel when the team returned to base after their third training spin of the camp, a three and a quarter hour ride, which according to the Belgian included "a few hills, but nothing special."[nid:85556]

Dear Explainer,
Whenever I read about Floyd Landis’ disqualification from the Tour de France it’s always referred to as the first rider to be “stripped of his title of his title for a doping violation.” Why the qualification? Isn’t he just the first guy to lose the Tour after the fact, period?
Jon Byrnes
Bloomington, Indiana

Sara Carrigan, an Olympic road champion in 2004, has announced her retirement from professional cycling, Cycling Australia reported on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Carrigan represented Australia at eight world championships, two Commonwealth Games and two Olympic Games. Four years ago in Athens she won gold in the road race. Carrigan was twice Australian champion in the road time trial and won a clutch of victories in international races around the world.