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Sven Vanthourenhout (Quick Step-Davitamon) won the second heat of the Superprestige cyclo-cross series on Sunday in Hamme-Zogge, Belgium, outsprinting Tom Vannoppen (MrBookmaker.com) and Sven Nys (Rabobank) during the sprint to the finish. Nys, the series leader, had a bad start, hitting one of the iron barricades with his shoulder. It seemed to slow him somewhat initially, but soon he was back to his old self, bunny-hopping the barricades. Only Vanthourenhout and a very strong Vannoppen could keep up with Nys. The last three laps they stayed together, and it was Vanthourenhout taking a

Valverde will be wearing Illes Balears colors in 2005

Nys and Vanthourenhout dice it in Superprestige No. 2

Despite an injured shoulder, Nys hopped the barricades

Vannoppen gave it his best, but sprinting against Vanthourenhout is no day at the beach

Pontoni shows the way to the finish line

New Pantani book, movie in worksJust eight months following Marco Pantani’s tragic death in a hotel room in Rimini, Italy, there’s a flurry of new media projects in Italy. A new book details Pantani’s final days of and there’s even a made-for-TV movie in production in Italy. Pantani’s former manager, Manula Ronchi, has written a new book that investigates the painful final days for the Italian hero entitled, “A Man on the Run: The True Story of Marco Pantani.” Written in collaboration with Italian cycling journalist Gianfranco Josti, the book uses Pantani’s extension notes taken in the

Doping charges against a top French cyclist involved in the Cofidis inquiry have been dropped, legal sources said Friday. Cedric Vasseur, once a member of the U.S. Postal team, was one of eight Cofidis riders to be investigated by magistrates in the doping affair which rocked the team in January. The 33-year-old, a former wearer of the Tour de France yellow jersey, has been suspended since April when it was revealed that traces of cocaine had been found in a hair sample. A counter-analysis later proved negative and Vasseur also claimed some of the evidence in his witness statement had

We are just putting the finishing touches on VeloNews magazine coverage of the 2004 Interbike Expo, and I found myself thinking about all the companies and product we didn’t see while out in Las Vegas. Here we are providing plenty of ink to the Treks and Specializeds of the bicycle world, but what about the little guy who couldn’t or wouldn’t cough-up the dough (let alone take a week of vacation from their “real” job) to set-up a booth at the Sands Convention Center? Certainly there are hundreds of creative minds out there producing quality products that just didn’t make it to Las

After a long period of hit-or-miss availability in the United States, Guerciotti bikes returned to Interbike this year with a new importer, Torelli, and a new commitment to widespread distribution and support. Paolo Guerciotti’s bikes gained fame among American riders in the 1980s as part of a wave of high-end Italian imports that raised the expectations for what a great road bike could be. Guerciotti’s cyclo-cross models were especially sought after, thoroughbreds in a field of balky, unwieldy CX beasts. Today, the Guerciotti family — Paolo, his son Alessandro and daughter Micaela — still

The Mail Bag 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.Puma had a round pedal before SampsonEditor:So Eric Sampson is taking credit for inventing the round pedal (See "Tech Report: What we didn't see in 'Vegas")? Hmmm. Facts say otherwise. Puma had a round pedal years before the Sampson Stratics - which wasn't really 'round' anyway. Don't

The Outdoor Life Network (OLN) is planning a weekly series featuring the best in the sport of road cycling. Completing the survey will assist the network in developing the most exciting and compelling show possible. We want to hear from you! Please click on the link below to take part in the survey and enter your name in a drawing for a Victorinox watch to be drawn at the close of the survey. TAKE THE OLN SURVEY ---------Official Rules No Purchase Necessary Eligibility: Drawing is offered only in the United States to legal United States residents at least 21 years old. Employees of

It is quickly becoming the offseason of contraction in the world of mountain-bike racing. First came news that the German-based T-Mobile formation had folded up its tent, and now VeloNews has learned that the RLX Ralph Lauren team will not be back in 2005. The team’s status had been up in the air for some time, but after making two trips back to company headquarters in New York in hopes of securing another year of support, team manager Dave Wiens got word Friday morning that the up-scale clothing maker was opting out. “I think they really wrestled with it,” said Wiens about a sponsorship

Beke in 2003

Tech Report: What we didn't see in 'Vegas

2004 Texas State road, Madison and Pursuit champion, Steen Rose on one of Don Walker’s handcrafted track beauties

Micaela, Paolo and Alessandro Guerciotti, with Bill and Carol McGann of Torelli Imports.

The Guerciotti EM2 is the same bike used by the Guerciotti/Selle Italia team. It's built with Dedacciai EM2 tubing and comes with a Sintema carbon fork.

The Guerciotti Cartesio carbon monocoque.

The Guerciotti Hero, built with Dedacciai Energy aluminum tubing, is one of the company's most affordable framesets, with a suggested retail of about $1100, complete with carbon fork.

Vasseur in 2003

RLX is done and JHK is looking for another team.

Wiens is done racing and probably managing, too.

This week, we're following up on a question from J.R. from New Hampshire,who asked about team contracts:"How is it that racers can negotiate deals for the following seasonwhen they are under contract with a team for the current season. When arider is thinking about jumping to another team it can't make for the bestteam chemistry. In professional leagues there rules against this, aren'tthere?"Lastweek, we looked at general American law. Unfortunately, general lawdoesn't mean much when you face league restrictions, such as this examplefrom the National Hockey League:TamperingAny action by an

According to reports in Italy, Mario Cipollini is close to a deal to join Cofidis. The 2002 world champion is considering the offer to join the French team following two lackluster seasons with Domina Vacanze, according to a report in Tuttosport. There seems to be plenty of problems at Domina Vacanze, which will ride on next season as part of the Pro Tour after joining forces with De Nardi, but team management has accused the team sponsor of not paying wages since mid-summer. Cipollini, meanwhile, might like a change of colors. Since winning the rainbow jersey at the end of the 2002 season,

Cipollini breaking Alfredo Binda's Giro record in 2003

Another major European race is pulling the plug ahead of the 2005 Pro Tour. The French newspaper Dauphiné Libéré reported that the Classique des Alpes won’t be held next season ahead of complaints from teams, according to officials at ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation). The race debuted in 1991 and was held a few days before the start of the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré and held on a mountainous course between Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains in the French Alps. Race officials said the event might continue as an amateur race. Classique des Alpes winners1991: Charly Mottet (Fra)1992: Gilles Delion

The Russian Olympic Committee has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking to strip American Tyler Hamilton of his Olympic time-trial gold medal and give it to Viatcheslav Ekimov because of a doping controversy. A committee statement issued Wednesday said its appeal was filed with the Lausanne, Switzerland-based court last Thursday. "The ROC insists on the disqualification of Hamilton," the statement said. Hamilton edged Ekimov in the Athens Olympics in August. (see"Hamilton takes Olympic TT") An initial doping test led to suspicions Hamilton had used a blood

The Mail Bag 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.Literary foolsVelo,Hey, nice piece of writing, Hunter S. would be proud (see "Friday'sfoaming rant: Trick or treat").  Maybe it’s the water herein Colorado.Just one question, though: How the hell do you punks know about thereal Thomas Wolfe?Thanks,Phil StruveColoradoPhil, we have to

Congress Honors Mountain BikingIn an effort to get kids more active and help fight childhood obesity,the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution officially declaring"National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day." The legislation is in memoryof Jack Doub, a teenage mountain biker from North Carolina.Promoted by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA),National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day encourages adults and cycling clubsto introduce kids to the sport of mountain biking. The day is scheduledfor the first Saturday of October each year.The House adopted House

Will Pereiro be the last pro winner of the Classique des Alpes?

As I sit down to write about Interbike for VeloNews, it seems a shame not to show you some of the things that there probably will not be room for in the print magazine. So here we go…. SDGSDG has forged ahead with its I-Beam saddle, which eschews the normal saddle rails for a longitudinal beam molded into the saddle shell. SDG also is offering new super-light carbon-fiber seat posts that grip the beam. Since a saddle is normally a suspension item, like a hammock suspended between two rails, it seems that a saddle with a single, unyielding center rail might be a little hard on the crotch. But

No wonder Mario Cipollini and his Domina Vacanze teammates have beenunhappy this season. According to information released by the team earlierthis month, the title sponsor hasn't paid its riders since June. According to team officials, the team’s title sponsor – Domina Vacanzeheaded up by real estate magnate Ernest Preatoni – hasn’t met or has refusedto pay its obligations, in part due to co-sponsors who have soured overthe poor form of 2002 world champion Cipollini. Team manager Vincenzo Santoni – which owns the holding company for theItalian team called Blu Sea Services – insists he’s

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Tech Report with Lennard Zinn: More from 'Vegas

Show me the money

Cipollini may be looking for a new ride

Damiano Cunego has plenty of reason to celebrate the 2004 season. The 23-year-old sensation barnstormed to victory in Saturday’s Giro di Lombardia to wrap what’s been a successful campaign highlighted by his overall victory at the Giro d’Italia. Many are already calling the Saeco rider Italy’s next breakout star to replace the fading Gilberto Simoni, Michele Bartoli and Stefano Garzelli. “Let’s avoid such incredible comparisons but here’s no doubt it’s been a great year for me. After winning in the spring I won the Giro in May and that was amazing, winning a World Cup race is incredible,”

Nat Ross (Subaru/Gary Fisher) and Kelli Emmett (Specialized) rode 450 miles and covered 40,800 vertical feet of climbing between them to claim respective wins in the men's and women's solo categories this past weekend at the 10th Annual 24 Hours of Moab. A long-time solo competitor, Ross arrived in the red rock desert south of Moab with a goal to win, but Emmett had only decided to enter the race less than 48 hours before the start. "I've never ridden my bike for longer than eight hours," said an anxious Emmett in a pre-race interview. "For me it was just the mental challenge of getting

The Mail Bag 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. Rody Kickham was a decent fellow… is O’Grady?Dear editor,Well, you asked! To me, reading Patrick O'Grady's rant this week (see"Friday'sfoaming rant: Trick or treat") reminds me of inadvertently sittingnext to a schizophrenic on public transit.You know what I mean. The guy is obviously

The "Weekend 'Cross Wrap" is a service of VeloNews.com.Stories and results are provided by race promoters and are not producedby VeloNews or VeloNews.com. Promoters are welcome to submit race reportsthroughout the cyclo-cross season to Rosters@7Dogs.com.Reports may be edited for length and clarity.PENNSYLVANIA: Fort-GPOA rules Evo CrossFort-GPOA teammates Betsy Schauer and Mike Yozell rode to wins in round two of the 2004 Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclo-Cross Championship Series on Sunday in Buckingham, Pennsylvania. Thunderstorms Saturday night heralded a cold front that brought low temperatures

Ph

Photo files - do not delete

Belgian Sven Nijs scored his 23rd victory in the famed Superprestige cyclo-cross series, taking an event in Ruddervoorde, Belgium, on Sunday. Nijs fought hard after an early strong start by Belgian rival Sven Vanthourenhout. But Vanthourenhout lost momentum when he misjudged his line, crashed and saw Nijs scamper past him. Vanthourenhout teamed up with Ben Berden to give chase and the pair was soon joined by a surprisingly strong Richard Groenendaal. Still, even with that kind of horsepower in the chase, Nijs managed to stay off the front, crashing only on the final lap, a mishap that did

Nijs

Big Daddy Page

Damiano Cunego ended his dream season much like he started it: attacking with panache and winning. The 23-year-old Saeco rider barnstormed through the 2004 Italian racing calendar, racking up 12 wins in one-day races, short stage races and the granddaddy of Italian racing, the overall title at the Giro d’Italia. And Cunego had one more surprise to cap his breakout year. Following disappointment in the road world championships two weeks ago in his hometown, Cunego couldn’t be beat in the Giro di Lombardia on Saturday. Cunego outsprinted Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) and compatriot Ivan Basso

Sven Vanthourenhout (Quick Step) won the Cyclocross Middelkerke in Belgium on Saturday, nearly a lap up on his nearest competition. Davy Commeyne was second with Peter Van Santvliet third. World champion Bart Wellens (Fidea) took a fall and stopped during the race. Wellens wasn’t seriously hurt, and will start Sunday’s Superprestige race in Ruddervoorde. Frank Vanderbroucke (MrBookmaker.com) started his first cyclocross today, finding himself lapped after three go-rounds, along with Nico Mattan (Relax-Bodysol). After his strong showing today, Vanthourenhout clearly is on the right track to

After the summer she had on the racecourse and in the courtroom, you could pardon Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles) for taking some time off from racing. But the 2004 Olympic mountain biker finds cyclo-cross in New England too fun to miss. In her first race on home soil in 11 months, the two-time defending New England series champion led the opener of the 2004 Verge New England Cyclo-cross Series in new Gloucester, Maine from start to finish. Showing the fitness that won the her the lone cross-country starting position for the U.S. at the starting line in Athens, McConneloug rocketed off the

Amber Itle (Yellow Breeches Racing) and Ryan Leech (Fort-GPOA) claimed victory on Saturday as the 2004 Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclo-Cross Championship Series kicked off in New Castle, Delaware. Rain on Friday made the Blue Diamond Park course even more treacherous in its second running, and a multi-rider pile-up in one of the muddy turns caused a split in the elite women’s field that sent Itle, Melanie Swartz (Squadra Coppi), Betsy Schauer (Fort-GPOA), Caroline Hacker (Evolution Racing) and First State Velo Sport teammates Josie Shew and Lisa Vible off the front. Itle took the lead on the

Cunego takes the World Cup finale

Tiralongo, Flecha and Quinziato in an early break

Basso, Evans and Boogerd on the Madonna del Ghisallo

Bettini wasn't letting Rebellin go anywhere without him

Nozal has a dig

There are worse places to wrap up a World Cup than around Lake Como

The champ enjoys a moment on the podium

Vanthourenhout puts the hurt on the field on Saturday

McConneloug in her first real 'cross ride of the season

McCormack has returned running to his training regimen

Finale to decide World Cup battleSaturday’s Giro di Lombardia marks the final stop in the 10-round World Cup series with the fight for the overall title coming down to a showdown between Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner). Bettini is nursing a 13-point lead over Rebellin going into the difficult Italian classic. A new course design has added some muscle to the climbs, making for what should be an exciting showdown in northern Italy. “My strategy is to stay glued to Rebellin’s wheel,” Bettini said. “The course is more difficult than it’s been in the past, but the

The Mail Bag 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.Is a DNA test too ‘CSI’ for cycling?Editor:If the claim is that Tyler doped with someone else's blood, seems like the lab could extract the DNA of the other person from the blood samples and prove it conclusively. Then again, maybe I have seen too many episodes of “CSI” on TV. Larry

All things on earth point home in old October: sailors to sea, travelers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken.–Thomas Wolfe, Of Time and the River It’s finally October, and like you I’m hoping for a few treats come Halloween, because we’ve already gotten more than enough tricks this racing season. Actually, the entire year has had a costume-party air to it, with dope fiends dressed up as pro bicycle racers, George W. Bush masquerading as the president of the United States and Iraq all tricked out like

Our editor at large dressed up as a journalist at Interbike ... a bit early for Halloween, it's true, but he drew cheers anyway

The past two months haven’t been easy for Phil Zajicek. On August 18, threeweeks after the easygoing 25-year-old Tucson, Arizona, resident took thebiggest stage race win in the 12-year history of the Navigators Insurancecycling team when he won the overall at the UCI 2.3 Tour of Qinghai Lake,Zajicek received word that he had failed a drug test after stage 6, onJuly 22, while wearing the leader’s jersey. No, Zajicek didn’t test positive for the red-blood cell boosting Erythropoietin(EPO). It wasn’t Human Growth Hormone (HGH), anabolic steroids or a diureticmasking agent, either. Zajicek