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Spanish cyclist Joseba Beloki, a three-time podium finisher on the Tour de France, announced his retirement on Friday. The 34-year-old had been without a team since being implicated, along with dozens of other cyclists, in the Operación Puerto doping affair which has dominated the sport's headlines over the past 18 months. Beloki finished runner-up to Lance Armstrong in 2002, having finished third in 2000 and 2001.

VeloNews recently released its 20th Annual Awards Issue, on newsstands now. In the magazine, VeloNews editors spell out the best, the worst and the most notable performances and personalities of the cycling world in 2007. Below is a sample.

Lap one

X-mas Cross "the ghost of boobar past"

BOULDER, Colo. (December 17, 2007) -- More than 250 courageous athletes have pre-registered to compete in the 2008 Race Across America (RAAM). View 2008 roster here. RAAM is a non-stop, coast-to-coast race in June that will pass over two major mountain ranges, through the desert and across the American plains, and into the face of the severest weather patterns on the North American continent.

Trebon in Hofstade.

Now that it’s the holiday season, millions of Americans are travelling home to relax with family and friends. There is one select group of Americans, however, who will be doing just the opposite: leaving home and hearth to fly across the Atlantic and compete against the world’s best cyclocross racers in the damp and chill of northern Europe.

Dear Readers,

Most of the news out of last month’s Third World Conference on Doping in Sport in Madrid centered on who would replace outgoing WADA President, Dick Pound. We now know that former Australian Finance Minister John Fahey will take over as the organization’s president on January 1, 2009. While this changing of the guard is important, it is too early to tell what it means for the future landscape of anti-doping enforcement.

The revamped Astana cycling team, now under the management of former Discovery director Johann Bruyneel, is in Jávea, Spain, for a training camp this week. Long-time VeloNews photographer Graham Watson is there, documenting the first meeting of a restructured team before the 2008 season... and the final glimpses of another team as it closes shop at the end of next week.

It’s been a roller coaster year for Greg Minnaar.

The ‘new’ Astana is largely the ‘old’ Discovery Channel.

Despite being full members of Astana, contractual agreements keep the Disco riders in their 2007 kits until the end of the calendar year.

Speaking of the ‘old’ Discovery, Trek Bicycles followed team director Johan Bruyneel over to Astana, where riders are currently on stock, non-team-issue Madones.

Astana will have a second training camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico in January. Americans Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner will attend.

Tour de France winner Alberto Contador won’t have to make a bike change next year. Note the SRAM SRM Pro power meter.

Astana’s Spain camp in Jávea, on the Mediterranean coast, is about 280 miles from Contador’s home in Madrid.

Note to Contador: Don’t try this in Albuquerque, where drivers are, um, of a different understanding.

Where will these brand new Treks go once Astana has its team bikes?

The SRAM SRM Pro crankset is new for 2008.

In addition to new equipment, riders use the training camp to get to know one other.

“I enjoy long walks on the beach…”

The man with the plan: Johan Bruyneel.

And his 2008 crew.

Minaar encountered some major hurdles this year.

At Cape Epic

Pendrel took gold at the 2007 Pan Am Games

KCCX M30 race

Staying upright at KCCX Nats

Double Header - 2 riders tangle & tumble at the 2007 Reston Town Center Grand Prix

After my first race

Santa left me a bike trail under the tree

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