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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.Great letter Prentice...Dear Velo,I was absolutely delighted to see Dr. Prentice Steffen's retractionon your site (see "Steffenretracts L'Equipe comments").Unfortunately, there are a few bad apples in the pro and semi-pro pelotons.However, it’s not fair to accuse riders of illegal

World Cup skiing champion Bode Miller of the United States and Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx have called for the clampdown on doping to be eased. Miller, double world champion and last year's World Cup series winner, supports the use of the blood-booster erythropoietin or EPO. "I'm surprised it's illegal, because in our sport, it would be pretty minimal health risks, and it would actually make it safer for the athletes, because you'd have less chance of making a mistake at the bottom and killing yourself," the 27-year-old American told VeloNews’s sister publication, Ski

The 92nd edition of the Giro di Piemonte is drawing a top field ahead of Saturday’s Giro di Lombardia to close the 2005 racing season. Big names to take the start in the 20-team field include Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita), Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) and Oscar Sevilla (T-Mobile). Americans in the field include Christian Vande Velde (CSC) and Chris Horner (Saunier Duval). Damiano Cunego is on the provisional start list, but he’s doubtful with nagging health problems. The race winds in and around the steep hills in northern Italy’s wine country, taking in difficult climbs at Mango

Wednesday's Mailbag: The letter; The ProTour and more

Wednesday's Mailbag: The letter; The ProTour and more

Simoni is among the top names racing the Giro di Piemonte

Luca Paolini (Quick Step) won’t start Saturday’s Giro di Lombardia while ProTour leader Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) is in doubt for Saturday’s season closer. Paolini injured his hand in a collision with a T-Mobile team car in Sunday’s Paris-Tours and has pulled the plug on his racing season. Quick Step, meanwhile, will enter Lombardia looking to win the season’s last big race with a determined Paolo Bettini. Di Luca, meanwhile, promises to start despite a knee injury that prompted his early departure from Paris-Tours after 200km of racing. L’Equipe reported that Di Luca was scheduled

Kortrijk, Belgium (AP) - Former world champion Johan Museeuw and six other Belgian cyclists won't find out until early next year whether they will have to stand trial on drug charges. Museeuw, widely recognized as the top one-day specialist of the past decade, and the others are accused of possessing the endurance-boosting drugs EPO and Aranesp. Museeuw and the others have denied the charges. The 39-year-old Museeuw, who won the world road championship in 1996, says he has never failed a doping test. A judicial hearing into the case opened Tuesday at a local court, with defense lawyers

Dear Lennard,Regarding your TechnicalQ&A with Lennard Zinn: Carbon tubes and lubes the consensusis unanimous that no grease be used on carbon seat posts, one thingwas not shared is how you remove grease from a seat tube if you want tochange to a carbon post from an aluminum post. If solvents shouldn’tbe used what can be used to safely remove grease that has already beenapplied? And on new frames should any prep be done to ensure thatthe frame is free of any contaminates before assembly.I want to share what I personally ran into with a new frame and carbonpost. Knowing that no grease was

2005 Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series Ready to RollFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 10, 2005Building up to the crescendo of December’s National Championships inRhode Island, the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Serieswill provide a perfect season-long proving ground for regional and nationalcyclo-cross talent. As always, healthy purses and excellent UCI courseswill greet the legion of racers that flock to New England Series, startingOctober 15 in New Gloucester, Maine with the Downeast Cyclo-Cross. Allsix Verge NECCS races boast prize lists of at least $5,000, with overallElite

DiLuca may not be in Lombardia on Saturday... but he really doesn't have to be

Viatcheslav Ekimov is like a good wine, he just keeps getting better with age. Or so he’s hoping after telling Eurosport he’s eyeing a spot on the Russian national team for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. If he scores a spot on the team, Ekimov would be the ripe age of 42. The Discovery Channel rider said he feels like a “25 year old” after his recent comeback from injury. “I going to keep racing because I feel great after coming back from injury,” the Discovery Channel rider told Eurosport at the Criterium of Astana in Kazakhstan. “I am full of enthusiasm and optimism and was

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.LeMond pieces are greatEditor:I'm really enjoying the John Wilcockson articles about Greg LeMond. This is great stuff. Thanks. John BrownOrange, Connecticut Wilcockson’s recollections deserve bookEditor:So John, when are you going to put this all down in a book? I'd buy it.

Our latest reader-submitted Photo Gallery is now up for your viewing pleasure.Of course, a new gallery also means the naming of the winner of ourmost recent contest. We really appreciated the intensity in “Breathing at St. Eti,” and almost felt like we were ready to ride down the starting ramp at the Tour ourselves. Congratulations to the photographer. Contact us and you win a copy of Graham Watson's "Landscapes of Cycling."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. If you would care to

Request for Participants in Research ProjectA researcher investigating the growth of personal brands such as LanceArmstrong is asking for participants who are willing to spend 3-5 minutescompleting anonline survey.  The survey is completely anonymous and can befound at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=420081328396

German sprint king Erik Zabel sensationally brought the curtain down on his career with the T-Mobile team by claiming a record-equallng third victory in Paris-Tours Sunday. Zabel, riding his last race for the German outfit after 13 stellar seasons, dominated a rare bunch sprint in the one-day classic to beat Italian Daniele Bennati of Lampre by half a wheel. Australia's Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros) finished third with Australian champion Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) fourth. Zabel, the winner here in 1994 and 2003, produced a powerful burst in the final meters of the 253.5km race to

Erik Zabel gave himself a going-away present on Sunday, winning his third Paris-Tours as he wraps up a 13-year stint with T-Mobile. Graham Watson was on the scene; here's a sampler of what he saw through the lens.

Two very different race stories developed at the Rad Racing Gran Prix of Cyclocross, held at Fort Steilacoom Park in Tacoma, Washington, on Sunday, the second round of the Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross The first scenario, in the elite women’s event, held a similar plotline to that of one day earlier, as Canadian Lyne Bessette charged to the front of the race and never looked back, crossing the finish line comfortably ahead of an outclassed field. The second, in the elite men’s event, offered up more plot developments than a bestselling-mystery novel, as a six-man lead group

Zabel takes a narrow victory at the line

Zabel hoists his third Paris-Tours trophy

Gutierrez, Berges and Posthuma enjoyed a long break

Posthuma and Gutierrez

Scenic? Naaaaah. . .

The trees you can't see the forest for

Devolder and Gilbert dropped the lead trio and soldiered on together

The twosome looked a lock - until they were swallowed up 150m from the line

Gerolsteiner was chasing

So was Lotto

Levecot has a go

DiLuca couldn't care less - he sewed up the ProTour title last weekend

Zabel, on the other hand, cared very much

And he got to hoist this trophy for a third time

Bessette put on the gas early on the first run up...

... leaving the rest of the field to race for second.

McCormack, Bessette tops in Tacoma 'cross

McCormack

Bjorn Selander takes the juniors' race

The men's race was a battle among six

Dr. Prentice Steffen, interviewed last week in a sidebar to a dopingstory in the French sports daily, L’Equipe has “retracted andclarified” comments in which he characterized seven-time Tour de Francewinner Lance Armstrong as one of the “bad guys” and guilty of doping.Steffen apologized for his comments and resigned from his post as teamdoctor for the American TIAA-CREF team, a program with the expressed missionof proving that riders can compete and succeed without using performance-enhancingsubstances.Steffen’s letter of apology and resignation was e-mailed to reportersby team director

One winner of the opening round of the Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross was last year’s defending series champion; the other was the only competitor, man or woman, to have won a World Cup cyclo-cross event. So when Ryan Trebon (Kona) and Canadian Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) took convincing solo victories at the Cannondale Stumptown Classic in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, it shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise — except that both brought to the start line extenuating circumstances that led many to question whether either rider could dominate a

The Kona boys show 'em the way

Open the Champagne!

Bessette got off to a good start

Heck of a way to spend a Saturday

The Kona duo towered above the rest of the field

T-Mobile’s Erik Zabel said Friday that he enters the 84th edition of Paris-Tours on Sunday with mixed emotions, realizing that it will be his last event racing under the magenta colors of a team he’s been part of for 13 years. The 35-year-old Zabel said Friday that it was “almost beyond comprehension” that he would be riding for another team – the German/Italian Milram squad – after being part of the Deutsche Telekom/T-Mobile program since its inception. “For a long time, I couldn’t even imagine having to find a new team after 13 years in the same program,” he said. Zabel said it was only

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.Steffen knows nothing, should leave sportEditor:What is with Prentice Steffen? I read the David Walsh article in the Sunday Times years ago, where if my memory serves, Steffen makes his original allegations. I recall that the riders in question asked Steffen how they could improve their

Four-time Vuelta a España winner Roberto Heras has put the goldenbicycle he used for his triumphant ride into Madrid this year up forauction on eBay's Spanish web site with hopes of raising money to helpthe victims of Hurricane Katrina in the U.S.Heras, who won his fourth Vuelta on September 18, rode a special editioncarbon frame from BH with gold-highlighted components into Madrid on thefinal stage of the Spanish tour.Bidding began at 1.00 euro on Friday, with early estimates suggestinga final price of around 18,000 euros, but bids had already reached 11,800euros after just five hours.

Brimming with confidence after becoming America’s first world pro road champion on September 4, 1983, Greg LeMond took aim at the final weeks of the season with great form and big ambitions. He had a good chance of becoming the first American to win not only a European classic but also the Super Prestige Pernod competition (equivalent of today’s UCI ProTour). The remaining three Super Prestige races were the Grand Prix des Nations time trial and the one-day classics Paris-Tours and the Tour of Lombardy. His main rival for the truly prestigious Pernod award was Sean Kelly, the Irishman who

The second Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclo-cross kicks off Saturday with a pair of Northwestern races – Saturday’s Cannondale Stumptown Cyclocross Classic in Portland, Oregon, and Sunday’s Rad Racing Gran Prix of Cyclocross in Tacoma, Washington. The six-race national series rewards overall winners in the elite-men, elite-women, under-23 and junior-men categories with automatic selection to the U.S. team that will contest the world cyclo-cross championships on January 28-29, 2006, in Zeddam, The Netherlands. All six races will be held under UCI regulations, and leaders’ jerseys will

Zabel celebrates his win at the Rund um den Henninger Turm earlier this year

Zabel and his new teammate, Alessandro Petacchi, at this year's world's in Madrid

Heras auctions golden bike for Katrina relief

LeMond and Kelly, two soldiers in the Anglo invasion

Hi Bob,Occasionally while riding on the road, a rock will go sailing fromthe sidewall of my tires to a car driving next to me.  I cringe everytime this happens, and I’m waiting for the day a motorist decides to dosomething about the new dent in their car.  If this did become a legalmatter, would I be responsible for the rock hitting their car?T.D.Santa Barbara, CaliforniaT.D.,You have heard of the “Perfect Storm,” but what about the “PerfectStone?”  One day I was on a training ride, minding my own business,when I hear someone yelling and I turn to my left and see a man drivinga

Aigle, Switzerland (AP) - The Union Cycliste Internationale has appointed a Dutch lawyer to conduct an independent investigation into allegations Lance Armstrong tested positive for EPO during the 1999 Tour de France. The cycling body said Thursday that Emile Vrijman and his law firm would “undertake a comprehensive investigation regarding all issues concerning the testing conducted by the French laboratory of urine samples” from the '99 Tour. Vrijman's firm is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and he is a former director of the Netherlands' national anti-doping agency. In

A former doctor with the U.S. Postal Service cycling team has reiterated earlier allegations that he says support claims that American Lance Armstrong used EPO (Erythropoietin) to win his first Tour de France in 1999. Prentice Steffen, a 44-year-old emergency room physician, claims U.S. Postal fired him in 1996 when he refused to administer doping products to certain riders. And although he says he has received threatening phone calls warning him not to speak out from Armstrong, who in recent weeks has been forced to deny reports that he used EPO in 1999, warning him not to speak out,

The L'Equipe story isn't going away for a while.

Thursday's L'Equipe featured Steffen's allegations from 1996

At the ripe age of 22, Saul Raisin is putting the finishing touches of his first season in the elite ranks inside the European peloton. The Georgian rode to impressive results in his neo-pro season with Crédit Agricole, finishing ninth overall at the Tour of Germany and winning the best climber’s jersey at the Tour de l’Avenir. All that came after overcoming a horrible crash at the Four Days of Dunkirk in May when he was hit by a motorcycle in the race caravan that left him with several broken bones. The strong late-season results only fuel the fire within Raisin, who is looking ahead to

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.An auction for a friendDear VeloNews,As many of you have heard, Allan Butler, of the Healthy Choice-GobleKnee Clinic Cycling Team and Utah Cycling Association's top cyclist for2005, was tragically killed while attending Interbike in Las Vegas.Several pros have stepped up to help

In an industry increasingly dominated by mega-corporations, pumping outhi-tech, relatively affordable, but admittedly soulless bikes, you haveto wonder if there’s still a place for the small frame builder.How does a guy in a worn shop apron, often operating out of a garage,manage to compete against a sub-$1000 Chinese-made carbon frame?Quite nicely, thank you.“I do maybe 100 frames a year,” notes Ashland, Oregon's Mike DeSalvo.“That's not a lot for Specialized, maybe, but I sure stay busy.”DeSalvo Cycleswill never rival any of the biggies, but its owner and founder says that’snot the

During her 10-year career as a professional mountain biker, Jimena Florit twice won the NORBA cross-country overall title, as well as a pair of overall short-track championships, a Pan American Games gold medal and represented her home country of Argentina at two Olympic games. But after the 2004 season, the 33-year old was suffering from a case of burnout and decided to turn her attention elsewhere. Florit spent 2005 living the multi-sport lifestyle, training for and competing in adventure races and Xterra triathlons. While swimming and running don’t exactly come easy for Florit, her

Geneva, Switzerland (AP) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport hopesto reach a decision on Tyler Hamilton's appeal by the end of the year orthe beginning of 2006.A first hearing was held in Denver on September 6-8 but, because notall the evidence could be presented at the time, it was decided arbitrationwould resume at a later date."We still need to co-ordinate the date of the second hearing with allthe parties involved, the witnesses, the members of the tribunal, the experts,etc., which can be difficult," CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb toldThe Associated Press in a telephone

Raisin in Madrid

DeSalvo's 12-pound steel track bike got some attention in Vegas

A mustache-barred commuter won't usually appear in most big company catalogues...

...nor would something like a Jones hardtail

Interbike '05: Taking on Goliath

There may also not be enough demand for an S-and-S coupled titanium track bike to interest Trek or Specialized, but DeSalvo has made quite a few of 'em.

The Brits are already hyping the expected showdown between Bradley Wiggins, the good trooper who won gold, silver and bronze medals for Queen and country on the Olympic track, and David Millar, the dark star and confessed doper. Wiggins, 25, will leave Crédit Agricole next year in a two-year deal to join Cofidis, which just happens to be Millar’s former team. Millar, 28, penned a deal to return to the elite ranks with Saunier Duval when his two-year racing ban expires just days head of the start of the 2006 Tour de France. Millar admitted he took the banned blood booster EPO and later had

FOCUS to Reward Fast Starters in 2005 U.S. Gran PrixA fast start is always a good thing in a cyclocross race and in the2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross a fast start will alsobe a profitable thing. FOCUS Bikes, a German bike builder best known assponsor for 2005 Cyclocross World Champion Hanke Kupfernagel, will sponsorthe FOCUS First Lap Competition for all six stops of this years U.S. GranPrix.Awarded in four race categories - Elite Men, Elite Women, Juniors, andMasters 35+ - the FOCUS First Lap Competition will award cash prizes tothe leading rider through the start/finish

Wiggins at Madrid

Former world champion Johan Museeuw Belgium was charged Monday with possession of banned doping substances, Belgian prosecutors said. The 1996 world road race champion was accused of possessing 2000 units of the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) and two other banned performance enhancers. Museeuw was suspected of being at the head of a ring of drug traffickers including a veterinary surgeon and three-time world cyclo-cross champion Mario De Clerq and eight other riders and go-betweens. They are suspected of supplying human growth hormones, stimulants, steroids and testosterone to

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.Classic stylingDear VeloNews,I knew that newUSA kit looked familiar. It just took me a few days to place it.Jon IrickSan Francisco, CaliforniaAt least he admitted itDear Velo,I have known Canadian rider Chris Sheppard for more than 15 years andwas shocked as anyone when I found out that

We admit that it's been a while since we've had one of these and now thatthe grand tours and trade shows are done for a while, we'll do our bestto get back in the habit of posting our once Weekly Photo Contests. Towardthat end, we are now posting thisweek's gallery and planning to get these up each Monday for the foreseeablefuture.Of course, a new gallery also means the naming of the winner of ourmostrecent contest. There's something about Bob Cullinan's "Chengdu chaos" that has stayed with us ever since we first saw the shot. Congratulations, Bob! You win a copy of

Say it ain't so, Jo'

As VeloNews.com has shown over the past week, Interbike offers a smorgasbordof cutting edge, high-end bikes and related goodies. It’s also filled withbizarre, who-would-possibly-buy-that type gizmos. Wading through the blinkingplastic safety vests to find the 100-gram rear derailleur is just partof the fun.