Colombian climber Cesar Grajales of the Athens-based Jittery Joe’s team won one for the homeboys on Saturday, and our man Casey Gibson was on the scene as Grajales, race leader Lance Armstrong (U.S. Postal Service-Berry Floor), second-placed Jens Voigt (CSC) and defending champion Chris Horner (Webcor Builders) fought for every steep yard along the climb to the highest point in Georgia. Check out Casey's photo gallery from stage 6:
Kate Sherwin (Team Kenda Tire) and Scott Blanchard (Eclipse Racing) won the first of two stages on Saturday during the 26th annual La Vuelta de Bisbee in Arizona. The morning’s stage also shook up the overall, with Lynn Gaggioli (T-Mobile) and Davide Frattini (Team Monex) taking over the lead on GC. Come the afternoon’s 8.3-mile Warren Time Trial, Gaggioli padded her overall lead by winning the stage, while Frattini surrendered a bit of time to defending LVDB champion Drew Miller (Landis-Trek-VW), who took the men’s win. The Sulphur Springs Road Race course rolled out of the old mining town
Colombian climber Cesar Grajales of the Athens, Georgia-based Jittery Joe’s team took the biggest victory of his career Saturday at the Dodge Tour de Georgia, escaping from a select group to solo away atop the hors categorie Brasstown Bald Mountain ascent.
Sherwin fronts a three-woman break
Blanchard wins by three bike lengths
The stage winner and the overall leader share a moment on the Georgia podium
Grajales had done his homework on this course, and it paid off today
The homeboy (he's Colombian, but the team is based in Athens) had plenty of fans
The race leader had his fans, too
And no wonder: He was taking this race seriously
Now, as for Cipo' . . . well, the Giro is coming up
And does Hincapie look more and more like a climber these days, or what?
Moninger has always gone uphill like a bottle rocket
The peloton cruises alongside a lake, which must have seemed inviting in the Georgia heat
Today's winner, bringing one home to Georgia
Grajales should be smiling - he worked hard for this one. For more Casey Gibson pictures of stage 6, click here.
A couple of weeks ago I ran into Boulder racer and former 7UP pro Chuck Coyle at Redlands. Besides racing his bike, Coyle is also the proprietor these days of theprosstuff.com, and we got to talking about ... socks. Seems that in addition to the pro equipment up for sale on the site – bikes, frames, wheels, components - TheProsStuff also has on hand several pair of team-issue socks. Used. I recently followed up with him, to find out if people are actually buying used cycling socks on the Web. Yes, he told me. "They're not going so fast. It's more of a specialty item," he joked. "I've
Reigning world road champion Igor Astarloa has been released by the embattled Cofidis team because he wanted to compete in two one-day classics next week and the team has abandoned competition while conducting an investigation into allegations of organized doping by several former and current riders. "Igor Astarloa is now free to sign for another team," said Cofidis in a statement on Friday. The 28-year-old Spaniard, who had joined the team in January and was under contract until 2006, will now join the Italian team Lampre. Another of the team's reigning champions, Britain's David Millar,
Cipo's been a great ambassador for cyclingEditors:I can't tell you what a pleasure it's been reading about Cipollini at the Tour de Georgia this week. His attitude has been great, and can only help the U.S. cycling scene. If you speak to him, please pass along my thanks. His "diplomatic tour" is a success. Peter CarltonStamford, CT Let OLN know its coverage has deterioratedEditors:I'm sure you've all noticed the general increase in lameness of the cycling coverage over at OLN these days. Considering that most of us are tossing out 15-20 extra dollars a month on cable just to catch a few
My T-Mobile teammates traveled home to America 10 days ago after a month of racing in Europe. They passed up on racing Flèche Wallonne in favor of a little rest, relaxation and build-up for the next set of races on the schedule. I was eager to race at Flèche, though I’d be without teammates – I had never competed in this classic race before and knew it would be a course that I would like. I got the opportunity to race with a mixed team, Basis–T-Mobile, a truly international squad with riders from Canada, the United States, Israel and France. They live in the Aude region of France between
(Northbrook, Ill., April 23) - In a bittersweet vote, the NorthbrookCycle Committee has chosen to suspend the 2004 season at the Ed RudolphNorthbrook Velodrome. Although this will mean a year without racing atthe historic venue, the decision paves the way for resurfacing to beginin July, rather than next September. "It was a tough decision to make," said Peter Janunas, NCC president."Beginning the resurfacing project in July allows us to complete the projectbefore winter sets in. With the unpredictable Chicago weather, there wasa fear that beginning the project in September may have
The day after Lance Armstrong scored a rare double victory in a single day at the Dodge Tour de Georgia, the U.S. Postal Service announced that it will cease sponsoring the five-time Tour de France winner and his team at the end of the 2004 season. The postal service, which has sponsored the team for eight years in an effort to increase business overseas, has decided to go “in another direction” with its advertising, spokesman Gerry McKiernan told The Associated Press. The agency has been criticized for spending money on the sponsorship, particularly in light of three postal-rate increases
Jason McCartney shot out of a six-man breakaway with more than 32km remaining to win the epic 137.5-mile fifth stage of the Dodge Tour de Georgia on Friday. The Health Net-Maxxis rider made his move on the fourth of five classified climbs as the break's lead over a U.S. Postal-driven chase began to dwindle, from six minutes to four.
For years she was one of America’s best downhillers — male or female — and one of the sport's most outrageous characters. Missy Giove never had much time for convention; she did things on her terms. Like it or not, she was an out-of-the-closet, in-your-face badass through and through. Alas, all good runs must come to an end, and the leader in NORBA downhill wins has finally decided to call it a career. Giove may still do a race here or there, but the days of contesting a full NCS or World Cup series are over. Giove won’t disappear completely, though. She’s signed on as one of the lead
Our man Casey Gibson was on the job in Georgia today for what he called a "great, great stage." And as usual, he caught both stars and watercarriers in the performance of their duties. Here's a look at his stage-5 portfolio.
Burke Swindlehurst (Navigators) and Brooke Ourada (Victory Brewing) were fastest out of the gate on Friday as the 26th La Vuelta de Bisbee got under way in southern Arizona. The four-stage NRC event kicked off with the Mule Pass Individual Time Trial, a 2.8-mile grinder with 837 feet of elevation gain that wound through the center street in this small desert town and up the switchbacks of Tombstone Canyon. A head wind blasted the opening mile and a half, enhancing the difficulty of the climb. Swindlehurst covered the course in 10:01, just three seconds faster than Jacob Erker (Team
The one and only Missy Giove.
McCartney drills it
Workin' for the man
... and then some
Tony Cruz gets out front for his turn in the breeze
... as does Damon Kluck
Even Olympic champ Ekimov has to fetch a little water from time to time
Meanwhile, the boss shows one of the young pups how the big dogs bark
It's not all Postal: The Navs got their digs in
And so did the race leader
Armstrong showing a little leg (well, maybe not so little) on a descent
... along with faithful lieutenant Hincapie
134 miles, five categorized climbs
A weary McCartney finds the line at last
The Postal train chugged along at the front of the chase
Three of America's best: Horner, Julich and Armstrong
A frustrated Horner took his digs, but never got far
Armstrong takes up the challenge
The race leader meets the press: 'I've never seen a stage like that.'
Spanish climber Juan Miguel Mercardo (Quick Step) went on the attack in the third stage of the Giro di Trentino and was rewarded with a stage victory for his efforts. Mercado attacked the lead group at the Passo Uldarico climb and held on to win, 25 seconds ahead of Giuseppe Muraglia (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave). The new father quickly dedicated the victory to his daughter. “It is a great satisfaction to have won today. During the last climb I made another attack and I arrived at the finish line alone,” Mercado said. “I want to dedicate this victory to my daughter, Aiñoa, who was born three
Dear Bob,Many businesses around Salt Lake City plow the snow from their propertyinto the street (often in the designated bike path). Are they potentiallyliable for injuries to cyclist that result from this action?Jeff,Salt Lake City, UtahDear Jeff,The mountains in the west have received some new snow and because thecycling season is well underway, your question is topical. Consideringhow often it snows in Salt Lake I am sure that you run into the problemof being forced off the shoulder and into traffic on many occasions bypiled up snow.Salt Lake City city ordinance 14.20.080, entitled
The first major reform of professional cycling became a reality here Thursday when the sport's ruling body announced dates for the all-new Pro Tour circuit. As of next year 28 of Europe's most popular races - from the one-day Paris-Roubaix classic to the three-week Tour de France - will become part of a circuit that aims to solidify competition by obliging all major teams, licensed by the Union Cycliste Internationale, to take part. "Our aim is to begin a more realistic project," said Alain Rumpf, the president of the Professional Cycling Council who announced the news here ahead of
On the same day that Jan Ullrich announced that he had opted out of Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège World Cup, Dodge Tour de Georgia crowd favorite Lance Armstrong fired a warning shot to his Tour de France rival when he won the stage 3 field sprint into Rome, finishing ahead of Ivan Dominguez (Colavita Olive Oil) and Ben Brooks (Jelly Belly).
Laguna Beach, CA (April 22, 2004) - As the cycling season begins to heat up, Interbike is pleased to announce its advocacy and association support program for 2004, an annual effort that provides necessary funding for a broad collection of advocacy and industry organizations at the local and national level. Based on merit and overall impact, Interbike had chosen to provide financialsupport to the following advocacy organizations and industry associations: € Bikes Belong Coalition€ League of American Bicyclists€ International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)€ Junior Development USA
Drew Miller (Landis-Trek-VW) will be on hand to defend his title at the 26th La Vuelta de Bisbee this weekend, beginning with Friday’s Mule Pass Individual Time Trial. The 36-year-old Flagstaff racer says both he and his team are somewhat weaker than they’d like to be going into the four-stage National Race Calendar event – Miller is recovering from a bout of flu, while teammate Scott Price had a nasty crash at the Redlands Bicycle Classic. “My form and fitness were good earlier this spring,” Miller said. “Redlands started well, but I ended it with the flu. I've taken a couple steps back
With 11 mountain bike races in four days, it’s a sizable challenge to keep up with all the comings and goings at the Sea Otter Classic. It’s also next to impossible to fit every little tidbit you pick up along the way into the magazine, but that’s the great thing about the old Internet — unlimited space. So… go grab your cup of coffee, this is a long one. Let’s start this ode with young Walker Ferguson. Back in 2000 the Colorado-native was the toast of American mountain biking after he won the junior cross-country title at the world championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain. Four years later,
It really hasn’t been all that long since an elite cyclist won two UCI-sanctioned races on the same day: seven weeks, to be precise. The rider was CSC’s Jens Voigt, and the event was the two-day, three stage French Critérium International. Voigt took the overall on March 28 by winning the 98.5km morning climbing stage in a three-up sprint, and followed up with a win in the final 8.3km time trial, besting U.S. Postal-Berry Floor’s Lance Armstrong by four seconds on the stage and 14 seconds overall.
Not his finest moment
Leblanc and Saiz
Armstrong surprised them at the line
OFoto's Stewart on a long break
Sciandri gets a shoe change
Armstrong and Pavel Padrnos
Cruising through the woods of Georgia
A satisfied stage winner
Drew Miller's Landis-Trek-VW team will have its work cut out for it in Bisbee this weekend
Ferguson had a tough go at Sea Otter.
Respect the rainbow.
Lots of fight left.
Maybe a full-face for this race?
Frischy shares a moment with Bob Roll.
Blatter wasn't her usual self.
The next Cadel?
Platt proved he was in for the short haul.
Meet Mark Weir: Fastest PR guy you know.
Voigt is solidly in second
Only three of the one-day European classics have summit finishes: the Amstel Gold Race, the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. After winning the first two of these races in the past four days, Italy’s Davide Rebellin is uncannily confident that he can win the third of these hilly events this coming Sunday.
Just in case anyone thought Tuesday's victory was a fluke, Italian Damiano Cunego (Saeco) won Wednesday's demanding five-climb second stage to secure his hold on the leader's jersey in the Giro di Trentino. Cunego, the 1999 junior world champion, shot off alone to win the 171km second stage to win in 4 hours, 50 minutes, 23 seconds. The 22-year-old finished 34 seconds ahead of Saeco team captain and Trentino defending champion Gilberto Simoni. The four-stage Giro di Trentino continues Thursday with the 165km third stage from Roncone Breguzzo to Fiavè. Giro di Trentino (ITA 2.2), Stage 21.
Veltec Sports and Look Cycles has unveiled a blockbuster pedal trade-inprogram - deemed “Step Into Carbon”. The program has been designedto bring added visibility to its CX-6 pedal line and provide consumersa limited opportunity to purchase these 100% carbon bodied pedals at agreat discount.The trade-in program is currently underway and will run through May31, 2004. It’s a simple program that provides the consumer with aninstant credit of $50 at the register, when trading in their current pedals(regardless of their condition) towards the purchase of a new pair of CX-6’spedals.For a list of
TORRINGTON, CT (April 15, 2004) - Situated in scenic northwesternConnecticut, Lime Rock Park is recognized and revered for its scenic beautyand its place in motor-sports history. As of May 20th, at 12:00 noon,professional cyclists will descend on this hallowed racing ground and itmay never be the same again.Lime Rock Park will host the 2nd leg of the second annual Tour of Connecticutwith a 50K circuit race on the 1.53 Miles (2.45 K) road racing course. An international field of professional cyclists and invited Category 1&2 cyclists will compete in a fast a furious race. Cyclists will takea