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Mad Max in the red jersey

Ivan Basso (CSC) is the top name starting the six-day Tour of Denmark (August 3-7) set to kick off in Skive with 15 teams and 148 riders. Team CSC, Rabobank and T-Mobile are the only ProTour teams participating in the 839km race, which concludes Sunday with the final road stage. “It’s been truly difficult this year to put together a strong peloton,” said race director Jesper Worre. “It’s no secret we would have liked to have more stars from the Tour de France, but with the ProTour everything has changed.” Basso, Jens Voigt and defending champion Kurt-Asle Arvesen headline the race for Team

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.Sock it to the sourpussEditor:I wonder if you could send Drew Kelly a pair of socks to brighten his apparently sour outlook on life (See Monday's Mailbag: "Lucky 7 ads dumb, amateurish"). I also thought the Trek "Lucky 7" ads during OLN's Tour coverage appeared amateurish, but

Belgium's Rik Verbrugghe (Quick Step) won the prologue of the Tour of Benelux on Wednesday. Spain's Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros) was second with Dutch rider Servais Knaven (Quick Step) in third. Verbrugghe covered the 5.7km course around Malines, Belgium, in 6 minutes and 45.11 seconds with Barredo a second further back and Knaven two off the pace. "It was a good prologue for me," Verbrugghe told Agence France Presse. Thursday’s first stage of the eight-day ProTour race through Belgium and Holland will cover 189km from Geel to Mierlo in the Netherlands. The opening three

Julich is a favorite for the Benelux Tour

Lt. Col. Brian Ruhm (in VeloNews cap) with his office mates

Verbrugghe rides to a one-second win in the prologue

With the September trade-show season just around the corner, the word about 2006 product has begun pouring into the office. And the latest comes from Italy, where Campagnolo is dropping some hints about wheels, compact cranks and a chain. Eurus: a complete redesignTaking heavy cues from Campagnolo’s sister company Fulcrum, the Eurus has been blessed with some major improvements, including a healthy weight-loss program. For 2006, the Eurus wheelset weighs in at a manufacturer-published 1510 grams. The new version also introduces radical improvements to rim, spokes and hubs. The wheelset uses

The Navigators are confirmed among 16 teams that will line up for the Tour of Britain, which runs August. 30-September 4. Other top teams confirmed to start include T-Mobile, Mr. Bookmaker, Comunidad Valenciana, Barloworld, Chocolade Jacques and Landbouwkrediet-Colnago. According to race officials, Navigators team manager Ed Beamon was impressed by the status of last year’s event and signed up for this year’s tour with the intention of stamping their authority on the six-stage race. One rider who will be hoping for success is Irish-born Ciaran Power. The leading Irish rider has won two

To the throngs of cycling fans who spent July glued to the tube during OLN’s coverage of the Tour de France, I offer a warm, “Welcome back.” As usual, the Tour provided us with three weeks of drama, emotion and hoopla. But, my friends, it’s time to start caring about mountain-bike racing again. While we struggled to decipher Phil Liggett’s arcane cycling commentary along the road from Fromentine to Paris, a battle royal was unfolding back home as two national cross-country champions – American Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) and Canadian Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) – fought for the

DENVER, CO — Beginning today with Laurent Fignon’s stage race, Paris-Correze (2.1), Team TIAA-CREF begins preparation for Tour de L’Avenir (Sept. 2-11) with a run at a series of European events. The riders representing the team overseas include Timmy Dugan, Craig Lewis, David Robinson, Stu Gillespie (2nd overall at Tour de la Martinique), current U23 National Champion Ian Macgregor, and climbing phenomenon Michael Lange. According to Team TIAA-CREF director, Jonathan Vaughters, "These races are going to be a stretch for a team that is so young, like ours. But, we have to learn to compete

The New Record C10 Ultra Narrow chain

The Eurus rear ...

Centaur CT crank

... and the Eurus front

Power will lead the Navs in Britain

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, a.k.a “JHK”

Geoff Kabush, aka “K-Bomb”

JHK: Engaged to the lovely Heather Irmiger

Kabush: Engaged to the lovely Keri Pink

JHK: Sideburns

Kabush: THE sideburns

JHK: “Dopers Suck” T-shirt

Kabush: Ditto

JHK: Getting down

Kabush: Masquerades as Canadian white trash

Historical figure resemblance: Johnny Unitas (JHK)

Gen. Ambrose Burnside (Kabush)

Discovery Channel veteran Manuel Beltrán could miss the upcoming Vuelta a España after he was injured when he was hit by a motorcycle in a training accident in southern Spain on Sunday. According to reports on the Spanish wires, Beltrán and three other riders were injured when a motorcycle ran into a group of cyclists training on a national highway early Sunday morning near Beltrán’s hometown of Jaén. Beltrán, 34, wasn’t seriously injured but suffered cuts and scrapes to his elbow, lower leg and thigh. He was transferred to a local hospital, but was later released without suffering any

Sonoma, California — Pedal power will take over Infineon Raceway in August as the Sonoma Valley facility will open its gates to cyclists of all ages. The Summer Cycling Series will take place August 4, 11 and 18 with cyclists using the same 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course that is used by the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series each year. The series is sponsored by both Infineon Raceway and the Infineon Raceway Cycling Team/Napa Valley Velo. The event continues Infineon Raceway’s commitment to cycling. The raceway held a Spring Cycling Series this past April, and a Summer Cycling Series in 2004. In all,

In the weeks before what would be Lance Armstrong’s final ride in the Tour de France, Discovery Communications launched a media blitz across its cable channels for the cycling champion. Discovery Health aired a show featuring cancer survivors telling how they were inspired by Armstrong’s bout with the disease. On TLC’s car makeover show “Overhaulin’,” his rocker girlfriend Sheryl Crow had his Pontiac GTO souped up for him. TLC even aired a profile of his mother, titled “Raising a Champion.” But with Armstrong retired after his seventh straight Tour victory and with two years left on a

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.Injured racer could use some cheering upEditor:Joe Trujillo, a 15-year-old junior rider and one of the Reno Wheelmen's rising stars, was badly injured when he struck a tree during a Cat. 3/4/5 support race at the NorCal/Nevada Masters Championships. Joe’s injuries include a torn

Beltrán after his stage-12 crash in the Tour

Quick Step won Sunday’s HEW Cyclassics race in rainy Germany, but it wasn’t sprinter ace Tom Boonen taking the honors. Instead, it was Italian superstar-in-waiting Filippo Pozzato winning the rainy, hard-fought 250.5km race in and around Hamburg. Luca Paolini grabbed second to give Quick Step the double while Aussie Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros) rounded out the podium. “I’ve done a lot of work over the past few weeks to get myself in top condition, even doing some intense altitude training in the mountains surrounding Livigno,” said Pozzato, who took his first win of the season. “At last it

Veteran German sprinter Erik Zabel announced Sunday that he will be leaving the T-Mobile team after 13 years. The 35-year-old Zabel refused to reveal the identity of his new team but reports in the Italian media suggested the rider would compete for the Italianteam Domina Vacanze on a three-year deal. Zabel said his decision to leave T-Mobile was due to his unhappiness with the German team's latest contract offer, coupled with his frustration at being left out of the Tour de France. "I think I deserved better," he said.

With a handful of time bonuses and some tight GC races to be settled at the International Tour de Toona, Sunday's final criterium stage proved exciting for both the men and women, and resulted in changes to the overall classification. Greg Henderson (Health Net-Maxxis) took the final stage criterium. As expected, teammate Scott Moninger maintained his yellow jersey - his second overall win at the Tour de 'Toona - having won it back in 1994. In the women’s race, the bonuses had a far more significant impact as Geneviève Jeanson (The Bicycle Store/RONA) moved into the overall lead as

Pozzato and Paolini make it 1-2 punch for QuickStep

Ludewig tries his luck

Hoste on his own

Neither Ullrich nor T-Mobile got the win in front of the home crowd...

... which was sizeable.

Di Luca keeps his ProTour leader's jersey

Moninger had enough of a buffer to allow him to play it safe...

... while his teammates patrolled the front of the field.

The race for the jersey came down to these two

Pic gets another stage win.

Big guns lining up for HEWCycling’s top sprinters top the list of favorites Sunday for the 10th HEW Cyclassics in Hamburg, Germany. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo), Tom Boonen (QuickStep), Tour de France green jersey winner Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) and defending champion Stuart O’Grady (Cofidis) are some of the big guns lining up for the 250.5km race to kick-start the final third of the 2005 season. Also back in action this weekend after skipping the Tour will be ProTour leader Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi), Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), Paolo Bettini (QuickStep) and Peter

Dave Zabriskie underwent surgery Saturday morning in Denmark after cutting his wrist in what team officials described as a “fluke accident” after racing in a night-time criterium Friday evening in Denmark. Team CSC officials said Zabriskie suffered deep cuts to his right wrist after he put his hand through a glass door as he was simply attempting to stop the door from closing too quickly. He was later taken to a local hospital, where doctor’s exams revealed nerve damage. According to the Team CSC web page, he underwent surgery Saturday morning in the Holstebro Hospital and will have his

Saturday's 93 mile road race featured two dirt road climbs in the Pennsylvanian hilltops and proved decisive in shaking up the men's general classification at the International Tour de Toona, as Health Net’s Scott Moninger soloed the final 20 miles to take the stage win and yellow jersey from teammate Chris Wherry. The women also saw a surprise winner in France’s Marina Jauantre (MS2R-Honey Stinger), who crossed the line 2:47 ahead of the chase group containing all the GC favorites, a gap small enough to leave Webcor’s Christine Thorburn in the overall lead. It wasn’t until peloton

O'Grady outsprinted a top field to take HEW in '04

Moninger made home alone.

McCormack was an unwelcomed addition

Jauantre spent most of the day on her own

This one will come down to the wire

French decry malaiseRecriminations are flying as French cycling officials grapple for a reason to explain France’s less-than-stellar presentation in the 92nd Tour de France. David Moncoutie was the only French rider to win a stage and Christophe Moreau, 11th at 16:26 back, was the only French rider in the top 20, enough to make any Frenchman cry in his pastis. In an interview published in L’Equipe, French cycling federation officials are decrying a variety of reasons for France’s dismal showing. Excuses range from too many foreign riders, a different attitude about training and winning,

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.Slackers Unite!I have really enjoyed your coverage. It has made it possible for me to follow the Tour while at work. Any plans for similar coverage for the world’s?Jack HalesTampa, FloridaYes, Jack, we plan to offer Live Coverage and race reports from the world’s and, of course, daily

Great Britain’s Court of Appeal has dealt a setback to Lance Armstrong’s ongoing suit against London’s Sunday Times newspaper over the publication of a story suggesting the American has used performance-enhancing drugs. In overturning a lower court decision, a three-judge appeals panel ruled Friday that the paper was entitled to argue that it was obligated to publish a story that triggered Armstrong's suit. In a story publish in June of 2004, the paper outlined allegations against Armstrong that he had used a variety of doping products, both before and after his 1996 cancer

I am glad to see Armstrong go. With him there are no heroes, only victims.A German fan on the Col du Galibier I got a good laugh out of this, even if I didn’t actually hear it in person. My buddy Kirk, who was over at the Tour de France with some pals riding the cols of the Alps and Pyrénées alongside the race, relayed the quote to me. But I think the sentiment was shared by many fans along the roads of the Tour, as well as by a majority of journalists I spoke with during the week I spent in France. As amazing as Lance Armstrong’s feats at the world’s biggest bike race have been, the same

Trek and SRAM team up on relief effortOn December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake off the Northern coast ofSumatra created a Tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean. It hit thesurrounding countries with waves ranging from 8 to 20 meters.In the affected coastal regions, villages were destroyed and lives endedquickly and violently. Current estimates indicate over 200,000 dead, 100,000missing, and over a million homeless. The survivors now face the long struggleof rebuilding their lives, families and communities.Disaster relief of this scale is broken into 3 phases. Phase 1: First two

Interactive brand director Sports publisher seeks an Interactive Brand Director to manage its high-profile Web sites and interactive businesses. The successful candidate should have experience in creating interactive media concepts, managing multiple interactive projects, e-commerce, budget development and implementation specifically geared toward controlling costs and optimizing profitability within the brands. The candidate will be able to successfully explore and implement new technologies, markets, and other growth opportunities for Internet related businesses. The candidate will direct

The Martinsburg circuit race has traditionally been the day for sprinters to steal the spotlight at the International Tour de Toona, giving GC riders to rest up for Saturday's mammoth road stage. Friday's 76-mile race featured four 19-mile circuits of ice-smooth roads through bucolic Mennonite farms and dairy pastures. In the men's race Colavita-Sutter Homes played their hand right and swept the entire podium. Mark McCormack took the win, and more importantly, gained a 15-second time bonus. The effort paid off as McCormack moved from eighth to sixth on general classification,

At least Moncoutie won on Bastille Day.

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Life after Lance

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Life after Lance

Comedy Central points out Armstrong has a domestic side, too.

The Casartelli memorial

Ocana lost the yellow jersey here.

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Life after Lance

McCormack has solid support

Fans

Perfect roads and the break worked well

Freedman goes for it...

..but Pic takes the day.

Tom Danielson reports he’s fully recovered from knee problems that derailed his Giro d’Italia hopes and now the Discovery Channel rider is anticipating a strong ride at the Vuelta a España. Danielson returned to competition in July, finishing a strong fifth at the Tour of Austria (July 4-10) and 16th at the Sachsen Tour in Germany (July 20-24). Both results are encouraging for Danielson after coming off the painful knee injury this spring. “I just finished 12 days of racing for this last month. I did the Tour of Austria and the Sachsen Tour. Both races came directly after my month’s rest to

Thursday's fourth stage of the International Tour de Toona, a circuit race in Hollidaysburg - the only city in America where the Slinky is manufactured - was held on the same course that an up-and-coming Chann McRae beat a young Lance Armstrong for the national amateur championship title back in 1992. Both men and women's fields seemed content to keep Thursday's fourth stage a status quo affair for the GC contenders and let the rest take their best shot. As a result, Webcor’s Christine Thorburn and Health Net’s Chris Wherry held on to their overall leads as Kori Seehafer