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Wow. What a weekend. The courses. The crowds. The competition. I’m still hung over. Not from the Boulder Beer Cyclocross Ale I had after Sunday’s race, but from the sheer energy of the whole weekend. It’s been more than six years since the Colorado cycling community has been able to host a big time cyclo-cross race and it seemed as though everyone was pumped up. I’m not sure what the estimated crowd size was, but there had to have been a few thousand on hand. The last time I raced through screaming crowds like that was at the 1999 Cyclo-cross Nationals at the Presidio in San Francisco.

Ivan Basso said he Thursday he feels "reborn" after signing a two-season contract with the Discovery Channel cycling team. The 28-year-old Giro d'Italia winner is expected to take the central spot in the team once occupied by seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. "It's the ideal team for me," Basso told the Gazzetta dello Sport website on Thursday. "I'm incredibly happy. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's a new life for me - I feel reborn,” Basso said. “The squad are committed to supporting me in the double challenge of the Tour of Italy and the

The public prosecutor in Nanterre, France, on Thursday dropped a demand that Scottish cyclist David Millar face jail for his role in the Cofidis doping scandal from 2000 to 2003. Millar had possibly been facing between three months and a year in jail, suspended, if found guilty of possession of doping products. On Tuesday Millar admitted in court to having taken the blood-booster EPO and testosterone to improve his performances. "I took drugs because it was my job to get good results," Millar told the court on Tuesday. Prosecutor Jacques Hossaert has also recommended that the court not

Press Release - Coors Classic DVD release party slated

That's me! Mr. Smooth-and-slow

Flag, mullets and beer. They're not just for Belgians anymore.

Feeling the noise in the Clif Bar run up.

Even the kiddies know a good race when they see one.

The Leaders: Smooth and fast.

A season stalled: Basso, seen here locking up the Giro in the 20th stage into Aprica, had hoped to win the Tour de France as well.

Well, I know it's from Europe...Dear Lennard,Last year, my coach gave me an old track frame he's had sitting inhis garage for umpteen years (I believe it's a 1976 Gitane Super Pista)on the condition I'd restore it and treat it well. I've had it powdercoated and completely rebuilt it, with the exception of the bottom bracket.Thankfully, the Campy bottom bracket was still in the frame. Ithink it's a weird thread pattern...perhaps French, but for some reasonI thought it was Swiss after doing some research.The bottom bracket has a 35x1 imprinted on it. I don't know

If last week’s announcement that USA Cycling has decided to create itsown racing series for 2007 has your head buzzing with questions, well,you’re not alone. As most fat-tire fans know, the world of domestic mountain-bikeracing is already a confusing twine of overlapping national and local series,peppered liberally with successful stand-alone events. And with such catchyacronyms as NORBA, AMBC and NMBS floating around, understanding the currentsystem requires an advanced degree in – acronym-ology.To set the record straight, the newest, shiniest acronym on the blockis MBNC. I know, I know,

British cyclist David Millar said intense pressure to perform led him to try EPO as he testified Tuesday in a doping trial of seven current or former riders with the Cofidis team. On the second day of the trial, Millar said he felt responsible for the team's performance because he was its leader at the time. “When I saw that when I was bad, the team was terrible, I had the responsibility to become a 'real professional,'” said Millar, referring to using performance-enhancing drugs. Millar described a trip to Italy in 2001 to stay with teammate Massimiliano Lelli. Millar said he

He’s done it again! Gonzo filmmaker and cycling wild man Scott Coadyhas just finished Cobbles Baby! which chronicles his non stop, over thetop adventures at Paris-Roubaix, the bicycle race usually called The Hellof the North.  The world premiere of Cobbles Baby! will be November16-21 at six of the most amazing theaters in northern California includingthe Art Deco masterpiece Grand Lake Theatre.  For a complete listof times and theaters visit www.bigringfilms.com/upcomingscreenings.html.  Scott will attend each and every screening,talking and signing his DVDs like crazy

Italian rider Ivan Basso has signed a two-season contract to ride for the Discovery Channel cycling team starting in 2007, team director Johan Bruyneel announced Wednesday in Austin, Texas. "We are excited about Ivan joining the team and we're looking forward to having him at Discovery Channel's training camp in Austin on December 3," Bruyneel said. The announcement came only 12 days after the Italian cycling federation dropped an inquiry into allegations that Basso was involved in the Spanish Operación Puerto investigation. Earlier, the 28-year-old Basso had been cleared by the

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Cycling isn’t tough on dopers? Puh-leezeEditor:Let me get this straight: David Millar takes EPO. Millar gets caught. Millar gets suspended for two years and kicked off his team (no ride, no pay). Millar comes back clean. Millar goes back on trial for taking EPO. Now, Millar could pay

Dickey, White triumph at Cycle-SmartA new generation of New England cyclo-crossers broke through at round four of the 2006 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, the 16th Annual Cycle-Smart International in Northampton, Massachusetts, Mackenzie Dickey (Verge) and Matt White (FiordiFrutta), both under 25, turned in dominant performances on the Look Park course, which featured endless twists and turns. Dickey rode a nearly flawless race, pushing the pace from the first lap and forcing her rivals into mistakes along the way. Amy Wallace (RGM Watches-Richards Sachs-Rex Chiu) looked

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn - Thread patterns; Cog patterns and bits of Velcro

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn - Thread patterns; Cog patterns and bits of Velcro

Millar testified on Tuesday

Press Release - New Coady film debut to benefit Phinney Foundation and high school riders

Basso's relationship with CSC soured after his ejection from the Tour

This past weekend, Colorado's Front Range hosted rounds three and four of the 2006 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross, the first time national-caliber ’cross had visited the state since the 2000 SuperCup kicked off in Boulder. More than 100 men and 50 women contested the elite races, including virtually all of the top U.S. ’crossers. And with all this talent descending into VeloNews territory, most of the staff had a chance to report on some aspect of the events. Today, we'll highlight some of the top riders' equipment. While elite racers showed up with two or even

Former professional Philippe Gaumont claimed he won only one race "cleanly" in his career during testimony given at a French court on Tuesday. Gaumont is cooperating with investigators in trial of 10 Cofidis team riders and staff, who are facing doping charges. The Cofidis doping scandal erupted in 2004 when one of the team's young Polish riders was caught at an airport with vials of erythropoietin (EPO). That arrest led to a serious police investigation in which a number of the team's riders, including Britain's David Millar, became ensnared. Millar, who is now back cycling

Todd Wells brought his GTs in the trunk of his Audi

Notice the left hand brake lever.

Talk about a crazy position, look at the drop from the seat to handle bars.

The Orbea iGorre has plenty of mud clearance; you can also see FSA’s red ceramic BB

Primus Mootry built Katie Compton two new bikes in three days.

The tread of Tufo’s Flexus tire flanked by red carbon specific fibrex cork pads.

Lyne Bessette’s Thorne

Thorne’s rear triangle provides plenty of clearance for the Dugast Rhino tire.

Georgia Gould’s Orbea iGorre

Shimano’s BR-R550 looks very clean, the Maxxis Raze tread is made of siped square and rectangular blocks.

Former Cofidis pro Philippe Gaumont heads to court on Tuesday

Gaumont takes a break during Tuesday's testimony

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Loves that dirty girlTo Mr. O'Grady,What a brilliant way to sum up cyclo-cross (see "Friday'sFoaming Rant: A dirty girl"). Patrick you're my new foundhero! My cycling days seem to mirror that of Mr. O'Grady's, but insteadof going to watch, I'm now in charge of

Schneider, Foland take Georgia raceJed Schneider (Alan Factory) and Kim Foland (Travel Girl) won round four of the Georgia Cross Series in Monroe. The course at at Criswell Park was primarily flat with some fast pavement sections, off-camber turns and plenty of headwinds. Schneider took an early lead only to bobble in one of the off-camber sections and be overhauled by the charging field. But he escaped once again, establishing a gap over an eight-man chase and holding on for the victory ahead of series leader Michael Cummings (KHS-Cycleyouth). The Travel Girl team dominated the women’s

British cyclist David Millar and nine others, including six current or former Cofidis riders, went on trial Monday for their alleged role in a doping scandal. The seven cyclists are charged with "acquiring and possessing banned substances." The other three defendants — a mechanic, a pharmacist and a former Cofidis soigneur — are accused of encouraging the riders to use drugs and supplying them with performance-enhancing drugs. The trial, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, is expected to last a week. The defendants each face up to five years in prison and fines of 75,000 euros if

The world is divided into people who do things and people who get the credit. Try, if you can, to belong to the first class. There’s far less competition.— Dwight Morrow, 1873-1931, in a letter to his son I caught a glimpse of the Vomit Comet on Sunday while driving out of town, bound for the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross stop in Boulder. A few more dents, all the shortcuts in that Earl Scheib paint job looking like a Tijuana facelift, squatting a little lower on her springs. And why not? The old girl had 23 years of service and nearly 300,000 on the odometer when I finally caved and sold

Schneider en route to victory

Burns burning it up

Millar comes to court on Monday

The defendants (l-r) Robert Sassone, David Millar, Mederic Clain and (bottom) Philippe Gaumont, Massimiliano Lelli and Marek Rutkiewicz.

The fabled Vomit Comet (left) with its cousin, the White Tornado

Fun with course design

We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by.— Will Rogers You know you’re not in Colorado Springs any more when you see an Adopt-a-Highway sign reading, "NORML for Boulder." We don’t want to know what’s normal for Boulder. Not after the whole Ted Haggard thing. We have our own problems. The NORML sign was just west of the Weld County border, near the intersection of St. Vrain Greenway and Irony. I made a mental note and kept driving, looking for something called Xilinx and the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross. The Xilinx Cup, day one of a

New York (AFP) - Lance Armstrong is not used to coming second, let alone 856th, but after completing his first New York Marathon Sunday, the cycling legend said the foot race was the toughest physical challenge he'd ever faced. The seven-time Tour de France champion finished just seconds shy of the three hours he had set himself, crossing the finishing line in the city's Central Park in 2:59:36, some 49 minutes behind winner Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil. "That was without a doubt the hardest physical thing I've ever done," an exhausted Armstrong said after pounding the

Hector Leonardo Paez (Full Dynamix) easily held off a concerted effort by local Costa Rican teams in the final day of La Ruta de los Conquistadors to win the overall title. Locals managed to salvage a modicum of pride when second-placed GC rider Andrei Amador (BCR-Pizza Hut) broke away in the final kilometers to win the final stage. Marga Fedyna (bungalowboys.com) took her third consecutive stage win to dominate the women's competition. The 122 kilometer final stage is the longest, but generally slopes downhill to the finish at the Caribbean beach resort of Playa Bonita after an

Katie Compton (Spike-Primus Mootry) had to dig a little deeper in Sunday’s Boulder Cup to shell a gritty Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com), intent on avenging her loss on Saturday at Longmont’s Xilinx Cup. Team Kona repeated its victory of the previous day, too. But it was not the white-clad U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross series leader, Ryan Trebon, crossing the line first at Boulder’s Harlow Platts Park — it was teammate Barry Wicks, collecting his first win in the 2006 USGP. After simply riding away from the field on Saturday, U.S. national champion Compton was clearly the woman to beat

Katie Compton: Cylon agent

Treefarm's speed turned sand into glass. Really. Go look, if you don't believe me

Don't let the 'S' fool you. This is Chris Horner, not Superman

Being part of L.A.'s entourage was tougher than usual this Sunday

The hardest physical thing I've ever done

Recovered. Armstrong gets his finisher's medal

Compton and Bessette slug it out

Wells and Trebon made it a two-man race . . . for a while

Trebon on the prod

And another two-man race develops between Johnson and Wells . . . but who's that coming up behind?

Bessette gave it all she had

The Operación Puerto doping investigation looks to be running into rocky legal waters and could end without anyone facing charges at all. According to legal sources quoted in the Spanish daily El Mundo, judges overseeing the case are considering dropping charges if more evidence isn’t forthcoming. Spanish authorities rocked cycling in May when they uncovered an alleged blood doping ring involving some of the sport’s biggest names, including Giro d’Italia champion Ivan Basso, 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich and more than 50 others. The raids found large quantities of steroids, EPO,

One can forgive the thick crowds at the third round of the Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross if they were hoping for more competitive battles in the elite men’s and women’s races Saturday at the Xilinx Cup in Longmont, Colorado. Instead, spectators bore witness to a pair of dominating performances by two of the strongest Americans perhaps to ever race cyclo-cross. The day’s winners, series leader Ryan Trebon (Kona) and U.S. women’s national champion Katie Compton (Spike-Primus Mootry), took wins in similar fashion, riding away from their respective fields early to finish alone by

Michigan’s favorite fat-tire export Kelli Emmett (Ford Cycling) stormed to a second consecutive win at the Iceman Cometh Challenge, a popular mountain-bike season closer in frigid northern Michigan on Sunday. Making it an all-Michigan affair was pro men’s winner Mike Simonson (Bell’s Brewery-Quiring Cycles), a 26-year-old from Oxford, a suburb of Detroit, who held off two former winners from Wisconsin: Tristan Schouten (Trek-Volkswagen) and Brian Matter (PCW-Hyundai), who finished second and third respectively. Snow flurries fell throughout the morning’s amateur races, but by the time the

Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-VW) made an attempt to put pressure on race leader Hector Leonardo Paez (Full Dynamix) on the second day of La Ruta de los Conquistadors, but went down hard on the final descent, ending his chances of winning the overall title. While Bishop did finish the stage in second place to Paez, he was immediately rushed to hospital with a broken nose and at least two broken teeth. According to Paez, "I was being careful, he was going faster. Descending is not really my best skill, so I am always more careful. When I passed him (Bishop), he was surrounded by people ... I looked

Vinokourov was one of the most noteworthy victims of Puerto: Never charged, not even mentioned, but forced to pull out of the Tour de France.

Tree-Farm scampers away from the rest of the field.

Racers wind their way through Michgan's northwoods during the 2006 Iceman Cometh mountain bike race Saturday November 4, 2006 in Traverse City Michigan.

Ford Cycling racer Kelli Emmett celebrates on the podium after winning the 2006 Iceman Cometh

Bells Beer racer Mike Simonson of Oxford, Michigan, celebrates as he crosses the line

The expert class starts

Fans staked out spots all along the route

Compton started on her own and stayed there

Bessette found herself in a distasteful Luna sandwich

It was a numbers game

And Compton would not be caught

Wells and Johnson chased, to no avail

Trebon rips it through the trees

Wells clears the logs

Johnson works the treeline