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It’s no surprise that cycling analysts proclaim the 2007 Tour de Franceto be a wide-open contest.No former winner will be on the start line, and only three men in thisyear’s race — Alexander Vinokourov (third in 2003), Andreas Klöden(second in ’04 and third in ’06) and Oscar Pereiro (second in ’06) — haveever reached the podium. While he may still be young enough to win cycling’sgreatest race, 35-year-old Lance Armstrong hasn’t entertained any rumorsof a comeback since retiring after taking his seventh Tour title two yearsago. And 1998 Tour winner Marco Pantani died of a cocaine overdose in

Four national champions were crowned on Friday as the 2007 USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships kicked off at the 7-Eleven Velodrome in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Colleen Hayduk (Team Fuji-Salamander) set a national record in the women’s 17-18 500-meter time trial and earned an automatic nomination to represent the United States at the UCI Junior Track World Championships later this summer in Mexico. Hayduk’s time of 36.656 seconds surpassed the old record of 37.280 previously held by Missy Thompson. Behind Hayduk, Dana Feiss (Young Medalist Cycling) took second in 38.740, while

France — AG2R team leader Christophe Moreau continued to display his race form ahead of the Tour de France by winning his first-ever French road-race crown Sunday in Aurillac. The 36-year-old winner of last month’s Dauphiné Libéré escaped late in the race and finished with a two-minute lead on Pierrick Fedrigo and Patrice Halgand. The Netherlands — Rabobank rider Koos Mourenhout won the Dutch national road race championship Sunday in Maastricht. Mourenhout finished ahead of Sebastien Langeveld and Maarten den Bakker after a solo attack in the final lap of the race. Switzerland —

1903 - Maurice Garin, (F) 1904 - Henri Cornet, (F)* 1905 - Louis Trousselier, (F) 1906 - Rene Pottier, (F) 1907 - Lucien Petit-Breton, (F) 1908 - Lucien Petit-Breton, (F) 1909 - Francois Faber, (Lux) 1910 - Octave Lapize, (F) 1911 - Gustave Garrigou, (F) 1912 - Odile Defraye, (B) 1913 - Philippe Thys, (B) 1914 - Philippe Thys, (B)Suspended due to war 1919 - Firmin Lambot, (B) 1920 - Philippe Thys, (B) 1921 - Leon Scieur, (B) 1922 - Firmin Lambot, (B) 1923 - Henri Pelissier, (F) 1924 - Ottavio Bottechia, (I) 1925 - Ottavio Bottechia, (I) 1926 - Lucien Buysse, (B) 1927 - Nicolas Frantz, (Lux)

One week before the Tour de France begins without Floyd Landis defendinghis title, the U.S. cyclist who tested positive for exogenous testosteronecan only wait to learn his fate.Landis, who could become only the second winner in the 104-year historyof the famed French race to be stripped of his title, made several appearancesin suburban Philadelphia last week, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.A three-member arbitration panel heard Landis' appeal of his dopingban in May. The panel is expected to issue a ruling sometime in the nextweek or so and the result could be appealed to the Court

It is becoming clear that there are two dominant riders in this year's cross country World Cup series - Julien Absalon (Orbea) and Irina Kalentyeva (Ergon-Topeak). Both won their respective men's and women's races at the fifth round in St-Felicien, Québec, on Sunday. It was the fourth win for Absalon and the third for Kalentyeva. With one race remaining, Absalon has mathematically won the men's series, while Kalentyeva increased her lead over Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain-Haywood), virtually assuring herself of the women's title. St-Felicien is a new venue for

Saunier Duval-Prodir riders will carry a bit less weight over the big climbs than other teams, since their innovative Castelli Superleggera jerseys weigh a mere 70 grams (in size L), less than half the weight of a traditional cycling jersey when dry. And a soaked Superleggera jersey (due to perspiration or rain) weighs only 140 grams, compared to 400 grams for a standard team jersey. Castelli claims that a Superleggera jersey would provide a one-minute advantage over the course of a five-hour mountain stage. Keep an eye on those jerseys in coming weeks.

If history is any indication, the 2007 Tour de France will be full of surprises. Whenever there are no former winners on the start line — as will be the case this year — anything can happen. That was certainly the case with last year’s race, which had the largest number of surprises since Lance Armstrong took the first of his seven victories in 1999 — the only other time in the past 30 years when there were no previous winners in the field. While uncertainty is a given, there are still favorites for the overall. The Astana team is led by two former podium finishers, German Andreas Klöden

Trek-Volkswagen teammates Chris Eatough and Jeff Schalk grabbed a hard-fought sprint victory over local favorites Andreas Hestler and Kevin Calhoun (Rocky Mountain-Haywood Securities) on Sunday in stage 1 of the B.C. Bike Race on Vancouver Island. Eatough and Schalk covered the 67 miles from Sooke to Lake Cowichan, primarily gravel road with a pair of swoopy single-track sections, in 4:22:32. Hestler and Calhoun were five seconds back on Canada Day, with Manuel Prado and Jason First (La Ruta-Sho-Air) taking third at 2:14. The race features teams of two riders who must stay within two

Landis won't be wearing No. 1 in London on July 7

Times have changed in 104 years. Maurice Garin celebrates his Tour win with a smoke

No one - especially Landis - knows who will eventually be listed as winner of the 2006 Tour de France.

Moreau collects his first French road crown

TourTech: The advantage of lightweight jerseys?

The mountains may play an even bigger role than usual

Eatough and Schalk

Hestler and Eatough chat before the start

Home sweet home: The tent city in Lake Cowichan

Did we mention it was Canada Day?

Kalentyeva takes her third win

Premont said she was making little mistakes on the descents

Absalon collects win No. 4 and locks up the series

A late mechanical ended Hermida's chances

The cross-country mountain bike World Cup resumes on Sunday in St-Felicien, Quebec, a small town 300 kilometers northeast of last weekend's race at Mont Ste Anne. St-Felicien is a last minute replacement for Angelfire (New Mexico), after the organizers of the planned triple there abruptly pulled the plug last December. The area is a beautiful but sparsely populated region in the wilderness of eastern Quebec (roads, literally, end not far from St-Felicien). The area has never held a race of this magnitude before (they do have held a well-regarded Canada Cup race), however, Mont Ste Anne

German Jörg Jaksche, one of dozens of cyclists implicated in the Operación Puerto doping scandal that erupted last year, admitted Saturday that he used banned substances for years. In an interview published in Saturday's edition of the German weekly Der Spiegel, Jaksche admitted his involvement in the blood-doping network run by Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, where he was known by the pseudonym "Bella." "I'm Bella. It's my blood which was found in three bags (at Dr Fuentes offices). I was a client of Dr. Fuentes from 2005 to 2006 in Madrid," admitted the 30-year-old former

The newest player in mountain-bike stage racing debuts Sunday on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, when the B.C. Bike Race: The Pacific Traverse kicks off with a 67-mile run from Sooke to Lake Cowichan. It’s the first of seven stages that will see the inaugural event’s 200 racers make a 324-mile single-track-laden trip north and then inland toward the stage-7 finish at the famed Whistler ski and mountain bike resort. Total elevation gain for the week is in excess of 36,000 feet. A ferry ride will get the race caravan across the Strait of Georgia. Taking its cues from the likes of Costa

Jaksche won Paris-Nice in 2004.

Chris Eatough prepares for his 'taxi' ride . . .

. . . to Vancouver Island

Victoria

In an apparent vote of confidence, the Milram team has named Alessandro Petacchi to its Tour de France team despite suspending the sprinter for a suspicious doping test at the Giro d'Italia. The 33-year-old Petacchi won five stages at this year's Giro, however last week it was revealed he tested positive for elevated levels of Salbutamol, a substance primarily used to treat asthma.Salbutamol is a banned substance but riders suffering from asthma are allowed restricted use of the drug if they can provide a medical certificate. The World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list notes,

German Jörg Jaksche, one of dozens of cyclists implicated in the Operación Puerto doping scandal which erupted last year, is set to make a series of stunning revelations about current doping practices. Jaksche's lawyer Michael Lehner said on Friday the German, who has protested his innocence but been suspended from all competition due to his alleged links to the affair, will reveal all in German weekly magazine Der Spiegel on Monday. The Tour de France begins in London on July 7, and organizers and the sport's world ruling body have taken serious steps in a bid to finally bring an

Vinokourov has a lot riding on this team

Petacchi may be celebrating in July.

Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca and Milram sprint star Alessandro Petacchi have been asked to appear before the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) next week as part of two separate doping investigations. Petacchi hopes to to clear his name in time for the Tour de France, which begins a week from Saturday in London. The 33-year-old Italian sprinter, who as a precautionary rather than an official measure has been suspended by his team, will be interviewed on the morning of Monday, July 2 by CONI's anti-doping prosecutor, Ettore Torri. CONI is the governing body for all sport in

The lightest buckle road shoe on the market, a 184-gram helmet worn by five ProTour teams and a host of new and refined bicycles were just a few of Specialized’s planned road offerings for 2008, shown to the international media late this week in Navacerrada, Spain. There was plenty to gawk at, including the Transition time-trial rig with hidden rear brake and the new Tarmac SL2 featuring a beefy 1.5-inch lower steerer tube and massive chainstays. The Tarmac SL2 also offered the first semi-public glimpse of the upcoming top-shelf road group from SRAM, dubbed Red. Although none of the demo

Petacchi hopes to get the Salbutamol issue settled by next week.

The Tarmac SL2

Every little bit counts. The Transition tucks its rear brake where it produces the least drag.

S-Works Ruby

Specialized unveils ’08 goods, plus a peek at SRAM Red

The S-Works Road Shoe, just 250 grams

The Transition TT rig

The new SRAM Red rear derailleur...

... and the shifters that make it work.

Alessandro Petacchi faces a race against the clock to prove his innocence over an alleged doping offense so that he can take part in the Tour de France, which starts in London on July 7. The 33-year-old sprinter produced a "non-negative" urine sample when tested by Italian anti-doping officials after the third of his five stage wins at this year's Giro D'Italia at Pinerolo on May 23. The Milram sprint star also won the Giro's points jersey. His sample showed unusually high levels of Salbutamol, a substance primarily used to treat asthma. Salbutamol is a banned substance but

If the past three weeks are any indication, Trek is going to have a very good year in 2008. Earlier this month, Trek unveiled thenew 2008 Madone. It’s an impressive bike that challenges a number of age-old approaches to frame – and component - design. Lennard Zinn saw the technology first hand, reported on it here and has a more detailed impression in the latest issue of VeloNews, issue 13, due out July 9th. Following that tough act, Trek’s mountain-bike suspension designers, engineers and product managers unveiled a completely new version of the Fuel EX, as a side note to the Madone

For the last half-decade, Olympic champion Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjå has been the most dominant force in all of mountain-bike racing. But this year the Norwegian’s famous smile and blonde curls have gone missing from the top step of the podium. After showing uncharacteristic chinks in her armor in losses at the first two World Cup races of 2007, Dahle-Flesjå skipped World Cup rounds in Switzerland and Quebec, retreating to Norway for a round of medical tests discover if the problem was rooted in health issues. The diagnosis? A stomach virus has robbed her of her famously strong legs. Now, the

Discovery Channel unveiled the nine-rider cast that will try to rekindle the Lance Armstrong glory years when it heads to London for the start of the 2007 Tour de France. As expected, Levi Leipheimer got a full vote of confidence from Discovery sport director Johan Bruyneel on Wednesday, and will lead America’s lone ProTour team at the Tour. “He’s capable of being on the podium,” claimed Bruyneel during an hour-long telephone-conference call that included cycling and mainstream media from both sides of the Atlantic. Bruyneel said he wasn’t concerned with Leipheimer’s failure to defend his

Discovery Channel unveiled the nine-rider cast that will try to rekindle the Lance Armstrong glory years when it heads to London for the start of the 2007 Tour de France. As expected, Levi Leipheimer got a full vote of confidence from Discovery sport director Johan Bruyneel on Wednesday, and will lead America’s lone ProTour team at the Tour. “He’s capable of being on the podium,” claimed Bruyneel during an hour-long telephone-conference call that included cycling and mainstream media from both sides of the Atlantic. Bruyneel said he wasn’t concerned with Leipheimer’s failure to defend his

Petacchi won five stages and the points jersey at this year's Giro.

Trek’s new Fuel EX, in the top end 9.5 dress: OCLV carbon front triangle with Shimano XTR and SRAM X.0 components.

The new EVO one-piece rocker link.

The ABP concentric pivot.

The Full-Floater, a floating suspension mount.

The three make up the new R1i tuned rear end.

Dahle-Flesja could miss the rest of the 2007 season

The pint-sized Russian can win in any conditions

: Marga Fullana has returned with refined technical skills

Chengyuan (left) and her Chinese compatriots may lack experience, but they know how to go hard

The 2007 Tour squad is built around one rider: Levi Leipheimer

Hincapie is something of a fixture.

Contador's win at Paris-Nice defined much of his year.

Discovery is returning to a tried-and-true strategy

The 2007 Tour squad is built around one rider: Levi Leipheimer

Hincapie generally knows what he's doing in July.

Contador's win at Paris-Nice defined much of his year.

Discovery is returning to a tried-and-true strategy

Discovery Channel returns to this year’s Tour de France with aspirations of finishing on the top-three podium when the race ends July 29 in Paris. That’s a marked contrast from the days when Lance Armstrong ripped through seven consecutive Tour victories from 1999-2005. The American team thought they had another winner in Ivan Basso, but the Italian has since been banned for two years for his involvement in the Operación Puerto case that threw Discovery’s plans into chaos. The team will reload with veteran Levi Leipheimer, who was brought on as outright team captain months before Discovery

Although news about the inaugural Tour of Missouri has been sparse over the past few months, the race is all systems go, says Medalist Sports managing partner Chris Aronhalt. Medalist Sports, which oversees race management for the Amgen Tour of California, the Tour de Georgia and the USA Cycling National Professional Championships, will also manage the Tour of Missouri, scheduled for September 11-16. The race will begin in Kansas City and finish in St. Louis. In a year that has seen both the Tour of Utah and the Montréal-Boston UCI stage races canceled due to lack of sponsorship, some had

Dear readers,I’ve been wanting to write about rolling resistance for years, and I’ve had ongoing e-mail conversations with a number of you on the subject. Indeed, I’ve built up enough of it to compile a collection of some of the most interesting.Lennard WaterDear Lennard,As I was riding though an unexpected rainstorm, I noticed that, even with the rain, it seemed to take less effort to ride on the wet road than when it is dry (all other things – especially wind and temperature – being constant). I know that there is less friction when it comes time to stop or to turn. Could it be possible

Leipheimer hopes to time his peak for the big one this year.

Our latest reader-submitted Photo Gallery is now ready for your viewing pleasure. Of course, a new gallery also means the naming of the winner of our most recent contest. One image in particular that caught our attention was Rick Bazluke’s “Swiss Alps in August.” How cool is that? Nice work Rick! Please drop us a note at Rosters@InsideInc.comto work out the details and we’ll send you a copy of our new Coors Classic DVD. Meanwhile, go ahead and take a look at our latest gallery,decide what you like and let us know what you think by dropping a noteto Rosters@InsideInc.com. Please note

It really has been a hell of a year for Oscar Pereiro. Ever since he gained nearly 30 minutes on the road to Montélimar in stage 13 of last year’s Tour de France, his life hasn’t been the same. He finished runner-up to Floyd Landis, but his life was thrown into turmoil after the American failed anti-doping controls. Everyone in Spain hailed him as the virtual winner of the 2006 Tour, but as the 2007 Tour is a week away from starting in London, the case remains unresolved. Last winter, the French alleged that Pereiro didn’t provide necessary paperwork to prove he had clearance to use an

Swiss Alps in August - 2006

Pereiro has his eye on July

Danish cycling team CSC defended its title at the Eindhoven team time trial in the Netherlands on Sunday. CSC clocked a time of 53 minutes and 36 seconds to win the 48.6km ProTour race, just one second ahead of surprise podium finishers Team Tinkoff. Milram finished third at 13 seconds. American Bobby Julich was delighted with the team's ride. "We're the best in the world for the second straight year, and I think we deserve it," said Julich, one of the main protagonists of the eight-man group, which included David Zabriskie, Christian Vande Velde, Michael Blaudzun, Matthew Goss,

Spaniard Oscar Sevilla (Relax) won the Route du Sud after Sunday's final stage. French rider Frederic Finot (Roubaix-Lille Metropole) won the 181km finale between Vielha and Saint-Gaudens. Final overall1. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), Relax, 17:06:512. Massimo Giunti (I), at 1:063. Markus Eibegger (A), at 1:564. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), at 2:035. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), at 2:066. Moises Duenas Nevado (Sp), at 2:167. Pasquale Muto (I), at 2:448. Tomasz Marczynski (Pol), at 2:499. Nicolas Hartmann (F), at 2:5010. Amael Moinard (F), at 3:24

Reversing a half-minute deficit to his teammate and maillot jaune Vladimir Efimkin at the start of the day, Caisse d'Epargne's Vladimir Karpets produced a superlative time-trial performance in the streets of Bern to capture overall victory at the 2007 Tour de Suisse. "The time trial was very difficult, so I'm really, really happy to have this yellow jersey," said Karpets. "This is my second important victory this season after winning the Tour of Catalunya. The other favorites performed as I expected, but for me, the big surprise was [Stijn] Devolder." Less surprising was the