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Alfred at a World Cup Track competition in January of 2006

On Tuesday, the United States Anti Doping Agency cleared mountain bikers Cale Redpath and Alice Pennington of any wrongdoing, months after the two athletes accepted one-year suspensions for no showing at post-race doping control tests during the 2006 season. According to USA Cycling, the decision was made because both athletes were reserves in their respective tests. The automatic selected and random selected athletes were on hand to be tested at both races, meaning Redpath and Pennington would not have actually been tested. The decision to reinstate their eligibility was made after a

If the rest of the 2007 Tour de Langkawi comes off like Thursday’s team unveiling, it’s a safe bet that the scandal-scarred race has put its past troubles in the rearview mirror. Following a year in which financial uncertainty and in-fighting between controlling factions put the event’s future in doubt, the Malaysian national tour popped the cork on its 12th edition during a pomp-and-circumstance filled ceremony along the boardwalk of the posh seaside Awana Hotel on the island of Langkawi. “It will difficult to make people forget the issues of unpaid debts that the race faced in the past,”

American classics hope Tyler Farrar will be staying with Cofidis through the end of his contract this season and won’t be joining Discovery Channel - at least for now. Farrar’s name was linked to the American team last week when he appeared on a list of Discovery Channel riders for the 2007 season. The 22-year-old admitted he’s spoken with Discovery Channel representatives, but denied he was poised to leave the French team just as the 2007 season kicks into gear. “I was just as surprised as everyone else. I was at the Cofidis team presentation and someone pulled out a copy of Het Laatste

Belgium's Greg Van Avermaet (Predictor-Lotto) won the fifth and penultimate stage of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday. Van Avermaet beat home German Marcel Sieberg and Frenchman Stephane Poulhies in a sprint finish to the 156km stage between Al-Zubarah and Mesaieed. Fellow Belgian Wilfried Cretskens (Quick Step), who was part of the race-deciding 10-man breakaway, took the race leader's jersey from teammate and compatriot Tom Boonen, who finished 20th, more than two minutes down, along with the main chasing pack. Tour rookie Van Avermaet was overjoyed with his stage win. "It's my

Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich, who has been linked to a damaging Spanish doping inquiry, has agreed to submit to a DNA test in an effort to clear his name. "I want this affair to be sorted out quickly so that I can get back on my bike," Ullrich was quoted as saying by his agent Wolfgang Strohband in an article published by Bild. On Tuesday, Bonn prosecutors said they wanted to compare samples in Switzerland with those from blood seized by Spanish authorities during Operacion Puerto from properties owned by the infamous Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. Ullrich has agreed to

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has threatened to stop Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) holding the upcoming Paris-Nice, unless it respects the rule that states all 20 ProTour teams start every race on the ProTour circuit. The race is sanctioned by the UCI and can be held only if the organizer respects all UCI rules and regulations. According to several team managers at Doha, where the Tour of Qatar is taking place, the UCI has sent a letter to all the ProTour teams telling them that ASO's decision not to invite Unibet.com to Paris-Nice could see the French organizer banned from

Large crowds will greet the competitors of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California when the race kicks off with a short, intense time trial through the streets of San Francisco. The first rider will leave the start ramp in front of the Ferry Building at Pier 1 at 1 p.m. for the 1.9-mile prologue stage sponsored by Union Bank of California. After a fast ride down the Embarcadero, riders will make a sharp left onto Bay Street for a steep climb up Telegraph Hill. It will take most riders somewhere between five and six minutes to complete the painful effort. Last year Gerolsteiner’s Levi Leipheimer

Starting on the northern side of the San Francisco Bay, Stage 1 will cover almost 100 miles from Sausalito to Santa Rosa. The stage, sponsored by Herbalife, begins with a climb from Mill Valley up to Mt. Tamalpais State Park before turning toward Muir Beach. The course mirrors Stage 1 of the 2006 race all the way to Valley Ford, but after that it follows a longer, more difficult route into the finishing town of Santa Rosa. This year’s route will head further north to Bodega Bay and then turn onto Coleman Valley Road, a landmark climb in Northern California. That climb will provide

The pleasant roadside views of Sonoma County wineries will mark the start of Stage 2, but the scenery will soon be forgotten when the peloton hits a major climb just 12 miles into the race. The ascent of the steep Trinity Road climb followed by a treacherous descent toward more wineries in Napa Valley will be sure to break up the field. After that, the peloton will continue east toward Sacramento. Riders will pass Lake Berryessa, then head through Davis, known as one of the best cycling towns in the U.S. With a quick turn to the north, the route will then follow the Sacramento River to the

After a neutral start with parade laps through Stockton’s revitalized downtown area, the peloton will head west through California’s farmlands. Riders will travel through Tracy and then encounter Patterson Pass, a new climb in this year’s race. Following Patterson Pass, they’ll pass through the city of Livermore before connecting to a climb up Calaveras Road. This long, constant grade, which was also used in the 2006 Amgen Tour of California, leads to the most difficult climb of the race, the Category 1 (most difficult) Sierra Road climb in San José. After completing this KOM (King of the

The remarkable views of Stage 4 will make it a favorite for riders and spectators alike. Beginning in Seaside with a short neutral lap and traveling along a similar route to last year’s Stage 4, the peloton will head south on scenic Highway 1 where the mountains and redwood forests flank the PacificOcean. At more than 130 miles long, and with three KOMs, this is the longest stage ofthe race and will test the riders on consistently hilly and technical terrain. The six-hour day will take the riders through Big Sur and past Hearst Castle before shifting inland toward the finish at the

The quaint Danish village of Solvang has become a cycling destination and serves as the host city of many ProTour team training camps each winter. At only 14.5-miles long, the Stage 5 time trial in Solvang is an ideal location for spectators to view the race. Conveniently, the start and finish are located just two blocks apart. The route will highlight some of the most beautiful areas and towns of Central California, winding through quaint towns, vineyards, farms and one short but steep climb. Shorter, flatterand faster than last year’s time trial, Stage 5will be a challenging test for the

This could be the pivotal stage of this year’s Amgen Tour of California. Stage 6 is not only long, at 105 miles, but it features four King of the Mountain climbs, two sprints and a demanding finishing circuit in Santa Clarita. With this year’s individual time trial being less selective than last year’s, there could be several contenders separated by just a few seconds at this point in the race. After a start in view of the Santa Barbara shoreline, Stage 6, which is sponsored by Health Net, will be the last chance for a solid favorite to emerge before the circuit race finale in Long Beach.

The Stage 7 circuit race is flat and fast, and sure to be a favorite with spectators. This is where the sprinters will come to the fore, as the pack races 10 laps around a circuit course in downtown Long Beach. Sponsored by Amgen, the stage includes part of the famous Long Beach Grand Prix course used for CART races. These roads are wide and fast. Views of San Pedro Bay and the Pacific Ocean will be visible for the entire course, with a backdrop of the famed Queen Mary in the bay. Course designers expect a hard sprint to the finish. Just like with the grand tours of Europe, a win on the

Where are you spending your off-season?

George may have his work cut out for him this year.

Farrar will keep his Cofidis kit for '07

Van Avermaet takes his first win as a pro

Boonen deals with a balky bike

Cretskens enjoys a moment with another Belgian who knows a little something about winning races

Ho, hum - you race by one desert fortress, you've raced by them all

Amgen Tour of California - Prologue

Amgen Tour of California - Prologue

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 1

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 1

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 3

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 3

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 4

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 4

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 5

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 5

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 6

Amgen Tour of California - Stage 7

At its customary pre-season training camp in Solvang, California, the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team opened the doors of the Royal Scandinavian Inn to the media on Monday and Tuesday for an opportunity to meet the team’s riders. In lieu of an official team presentation, which will be offered via video on the team’s Web site, thepaceline.com, team representatives arranged one-on-one interviews with print, Web and video journalists in Solvang, a small Danish settlement in central California. Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, a part owner of the team, was in attendance at

Led by 2006 Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso, the Discovery Channel CyclingTeam is heading into the 2007 season with high hopes. The team is now holdingits traditional pre-seasontraining camp in Solvang, California. Earlier this week, the team openedits doors to reporters and photographers. VeloNews photographerCasey Gibson was there to capture the scene.

Come the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the entire episode could make ideal fodder for one of NBC’s sappy vignettes about struggle and sacrifice. But right now Mike Friedman is ready to put his ordeal with dangerous blood clots, doping innuendo and an aborted spring racing campaign behind him. The 24-year-old just wants to race his bike and build on a promising debut season in 2006 where he finished top American at the International Championship in Philadelphia, and won a pair of U.S. national track titles. “People hear blood and they immediately think drugs,” lamented Friedman, who last

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Belgian Tom Boonen dominated Australian Graeme Brown in a bunch sprint to win an explosive fourth stage of the Tour of Qatar on Wednedsday. Quick Step’s Boonen thus picked up his third individual stage win in as many days after a mainly flat 139km of racing between the Camelodrome and the Gulf of Doha. Brazilian Murilo Fischer (Liquigas) finished third behind Rabobank’s Brown, who on Monday was accused of causing mayhem in the bunch sprint during which Predictor-Lotto’s Tom Steels crashed and was left with a broken collarbone. Boonen will take a 27-second lead over teammate Steven De Jongh

Sastre focusing on Tour-Vuelta doubleTeam CSC’s Carlos Sastre believes he can aim even higher at the Tour de France and is taking aim at the final podium for the 2007 edition. Fourth overall in last year’s Tour as well as at the Vuelta a España, the Spanish climber said he’ll skip the Giro d’Italia to focus on preparing exclusively for the Tour before rebounding for a run at the Spanish tour. “I will work for victory in both the Tour and the Vuelta,” Sastre told Spanish journalists. “These are the most important races for me and I’d honestly like to shine.” The decision will end Sastre’s

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you havea comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen incycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write toWebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name andhome town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writersare encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month.The letters published here contain the opinions of the submittingauthors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policies or positionsof VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, InsideCommunications,

To say that the decision to sign Basso was not without controversy is an understatement. Will the gamble pay off?

Leipheimer has made adjustments in his 2007 plan.

Beppu with the recently retired Ekimov

Not many places better for early season training

Cruz toys with a new ride

Och' with Sean Yates

Planning the day's ride

Armstrong still has a big investment in the team

Ivan Basso is attracting his fair share of attention in Solvang

Tony Cruz and Ekimov lead an early morning ride.

Even though he is retired, Eki still has a good time on the training ride.

Tom Danielson further hones those climbing skills.

Basso and Rubiera

Hincapie shows off his stars and stripes.

Hincapie and Czech rider Pavel Padrnos

Leipheimer moves up to take a pull

Basso at the front

Basso tries out his new TT helmet.

The team heads back to Solvang past a walnut grove.

Long time Discovery Channel mechanic Vince Gee washes up a bike after the ride.

Head mechanic Julien DeVries checks measurements on a new bike.

Leipheimer is still deciding which pair to wear.

Basso relaxes after an easy ride and time with reporters

Boonen leaves little doubt as to whose sprint is better... at least at this point in the season.

Boonen and Leif Hoste up front

The break

Lastweek I reported on the first day of the CyclingScience Symposium and Expo at the Hotel Boulderado in Boulder, Colorado. The conference featured a second day of lectures, followed by a third expo day at which purveyors of equipment and services for improving cycling performance offered their products for public view. Tied up by other commitments, I was unable to attend the expo, but I did find the second lecture day to be fascinating. Computer-modeling your musclesDan Heil, Ph.D., FACSM, an associate professor of exercise physiology at Montana State University in Bozeman gave a very

Tour de France officials are frustrated over the slow progress of the Floyd Landis disciplinary case and are looking at the very likely prospect that the case won’t be resolved before the start of the 2007 Tour. Speaking to the Spanish daily AS during a break at the Tour of Qatar, Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme deplored the slow pace of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Asked if he expects the case to be resolved before the July 7 start in London, Prudhomme replied, “Unfortunately, I am afraid not. " “It’s the same thing that happened to the Vuelta a España with Denis Menchov,” he

Belgium's Tom Boonen (Quick Step) won the third stage of the Tour of Qatar around Doha on Tuesday, beating Italian sprint king Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) for the second consecutive day. Austria's Bernard Eisel (T-Mobile) took third spot behind Boonen who strengthened his grip on the leader's gold jersey. Boonen said afterwards: "I was in about 50th place with three kilometers to go, which was too far back, but Matteo Tosatto helped me get up to the front. I then let the Milram team do the work before waiting for the right moment to start my sprint." Boonen refused to go

Lawyers for Jan Ullrich have submitted their opposition to Swiss authorities' decision to send a sample of the cyclist's saliva to German prosecutors, the Bonn office said Tuesday. Bonn prosecutors want to compare the Swiss samples with those seized by Spanish authorities during the Spanish drug inquiry Operación Puerto last May to determine whether the German was a client of the raided laboratory run by Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. "The Swiss tribunal must now decide whether or not to accept our request," said prosecutors' spokesman Friedrich Apostel. "If they believe us

Embattled 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis says he doubts he will race professionally this season even if he is cleared of doping charges. In an interview with the U.S. sports television network ESPN, Landis said he and his lawyers have become frustrated with obstacles delaying his chance to make his case to a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) arbitration panel. "I've pretty much written off this season," Landis said. Landis, 31, said no hearing date has been set yet and none is likely before late spring, — perhaps late May or June — and as a result it would be out of the question

USA Cycling and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Tuesday that two riders, previously suspended for missing doping tests, have had their licenses reinstated, after both agencies concluded that harsh penalties were unfair in both cases. Cale Redpath of Durango, Colorado and Alice Pennington of Hood River, Oregon both accepted one-year suspensions for failure to appear after being selected as reserve athletes at USA Cycling and UCI-sanctioned events during the 2006 season. Normally, anti-doping rules require that podium finishers and a select group of randomly chosen riders are required to

Pruitt

Kautz

Neptune