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The UCI has hit back at a potentially damning report by independent observers from the World Anti-Doping Agency on the anti-doping practices at this year's centenary Tour de France. WADA made a number of recommendations that would tighten the anti-doping measures already in place on the world's biggest bike race, most of which appeared in a leak to the press a month ago. On Friday, UCI chief Hein Verbruggen hit back at the report, which has appeared in full on WADA's website, saying it lacked objectivity and understanding. "On key elements the report is just not as objective as we would

A press release hit the in-box on Wednesday announcing the merger of Saturn and Prime Alliance athletes and staff to form a new professional team for 2004. According to the release, “Saturn’s decision not to renew their title sponsorship and Prime Alliance’s interest in scaling back its title sponsorship role created a mutually beneficial opportunity for both sports marketing companies. [Tom] Schuler and [Tom] Irvine continue to pursue additional companies that can utilize this partnership through title, co-title, and associate sponsorship roles. The merger of the two companies’ teams doubles

U.S. Postal’s Dave Zabriskie was in attendance, accompanied by girlfriend Randi Reich

Clif Bar founder Gary Erickson chats with sponsored rider Tyler Hamilton

Joseba Beloki, who dramatically crashed out of this year's Tour de France, is still uncertain as to whether he will join team manager Manolo Saiz at his new team. Saiz announced the name of his new team sponsor on Thursday: Liberty - a company which is part of multinational financial and insurance giant Liberty Mutual. The five-year sponsorship deal means that Saiz - one of the most experienced team managers on the international circuit - can build a team capable of challenging for major honors over the coming years. However former Festina rider Beloki - who has twice reached the podium at

Dear Bob; I know that several states have enacted laws requiring kids to wear helmets when bicycling, but do any states make adult cyclists wear helmets? T.Q.Ariz.Bob;This question came up at our weekly post-ride coffee break. If a car hits me while I'm riding my bike, and I'm not wearing a helmet, can the driver use that to blame me for my own injuries? R.L.New YorkDear T.Q and R.L., According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (

With the recent departure of Jose Antonio Hermida to the Merida squad, the Bianchi mountain bike team had a void to fill. Not anymore, though. On Thursday, the European-based team announced that it had signed Kiwi cross-country rider Kashi Leuchs for the 2004 season. This follows Leuch’s season with Maxxis-Trek, where he won his first ever Swiss Cup and was seventh at the world championships. The ’04 Bianchi team will also include reigning World Cup overall champ Julien Absalon and marathon specialist Thomas Dietsch. “I'm very excited about this opportunity,” Leuchs said in a prepared

Insurance company Liberty Seguros will succeed ONCE, as sponsor of one of Spain's leading cycling teams, director Manolo Saiz said on Wednesday. The sponsor, a division of the American insurance giant Liberty Mutual, has agreed to a five-year deal to finance the Spanish team. "Our aim is to keep the backbone of riders that made up the team to date," Saiz told reporters on Wednesday. He explained that leading riders such as Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, Isidro Nozal and Marcos Serrano had already signed up for the new team. The news of the deal is a major boost to the sport in Spain and

Dear Monique;What is whey protein and when is it used?ThanksRGDear RG;Whey protein is a popular supplement for athletes who participate in strength or resistance training and is sold as a supplement for muscle building. Cow’s milk protein consists of 20 percent whey and 80 percent casein. When cheese is produced, the liquid whey is separated from the curd or casein. Dietary protein supplements of whey are usually whey protein concentrate, which is up to 89 percent protein. Another form is whey protein isolate which contains over 90 percent protein, and which contains very little fat or

Okay, okay, I spoke too soon. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned how clever I believed myself to be by running SpinSkins tire liners in the season kick-off cyclo-cross race here in Boulder. You see, Goathead thorn season is in full swing around these parts, and many of my less fortunate competitors fell victim to their penetrating bite. Me? I was able to finish the race thanks to the lightweight Kevlar tire liners I had installed the night before under my Michelin ‘cross tires. How clever I thought I was. Fast forward to the first annual VeloCross cyclo-cross race held in and around

Dear Lennard,I have two bikes. Each bike has the same saddle and handlebar.I set up both bikes with the same measurement from saddle tip to bottombracket. Each bike has the same measurement from saddle tip to the centerof the stem/handlebar. On one bike the stem blocks the view of the fronthub. On the other the front hub falls in front of the stem. I measuredand their is a 1cm difference from bb to front hub between the bikes.Should I be concerned that I can see the front hub? Should I usea longer stem? Will this effect my handling?--Jeff Dear Jeff,Don’t sweat it. If you are happy with your

The demon known as Puncturevine

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn

Troubled star Marco Pantani could ride for Manolo Saiz’s new Stayer team next season, according to a report in the Spanish daily AS. Manuela Ronchi, Pantani’s manager and contact who helped line up Stayer to take over for departing lead sponsor ONCE, said there’s an “open door” for the Pirate to ride on next season. There’s even talk of Pantani becoming a sport director for the new team, but Ronchi insisted Pantani’s racing days aren’t over yet. “Knowing Marco, before he wants to become a sport director, he’d like to race for a team that’s not counting on the Tour organizers to make it into

Quick, name the year in which the NORBA National Series had its most stops. Well, right now there are six right answers (1989, ’90, ’93, ’95, ’97, ’98 all with seven), but if all goes according to plan next summer, the new right answer will be 2004. Following the initial series unveiling at Interbike in mid-October, VeloNews has learned that the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California will play host to the second stop of next summer’s NORBA National Series, bringing the circuit’s total to eight. That event, which will include cross-country, short track, mountain cross and dual slalom, but no

After spending most of Saturday’s Granogue Estate ‘cross race dangling in second place behind winner Todd Wells (Mongoose-Hyundai), Ryan Trebon (Kona-CCA) exacted his revenge on Sunday at the Prophecy Creek ‘Cross in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Trebon took his first elite ‘cross win in the second race of an East Coast UCI double-header, taking the win ahead of Wells. Trebon and Wells comprised half of a four-man break that went away early on the flat, fast course. Clif Bar duo Jackson Stewart and Andy Jacques-Maynes comprised the other half of the break, and looked set to take advantage of the

American Tim Johnson on Sunday completed a fairytale ending to the VicRoads Herald Sun Tour when he came from behind to overwhelm leader Luke Roberts and claim the $10,000 winner's check. Trailing by 39 seconds before the tour's final stage on the torturous Australian Open course at Buninyong, Johnson, 26, surged from the peloton to join breakaway riders Scott Moninger and Scott Guyton with four of the eight laps remaining of the 10.2km circuit. The trio then defied the bunch to bring them back, although South Australian Roberts made a couple of fruitless attempts to bridge the gap. At

I spent the road season sending reports across the ocean about a few of us Americans fighting our way through the ranks of the Belgian peloton. I am home now and I can't express how nice that feels. Euro’ road racing has the hype, the excitement and the power to humble the most flippant of riders, but U.S. cycling has its own charms that I truly missed, like racing against riders I grew up with. I didn't have that history in Belgium. It’s good to be back. Sure, like family we may not always get along, but it doesn't mean that it is not enjoyable to see each other again. So, instead of

Team CSC manager Bjarne Riis said he believes Ivan Basso has what it takes to win the Tour de France. In an interview in Monday’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, Riis said the 26-year-old is poised for greatness. “Basso will be our man for the Tour. That will be his principal goal,” said the 1996 Tour winner. Basso isn’t expected to start the Giro d’Italia and instead will focus on preparing for the Tour. With Tour stage-winner Tyler Hamilton heading to Phonak next season, Riis was anxious to find a rider with similar qualities to step in as team leader. Riis believes he’s found it in Basso. “He’s

Former national cyclo-cross champion Marc Gullickson took advantage of a sparsely attended field at Soldier Hollow, Utah, taking top honors at yet another UCI event Saturday. While the majority of the country’s top racers were contesting a pair of UCI evens on the East Coast over the weekend, Gullickson found competition in Alan Obye (Balance Bar/Devo), who got out to an early lead before Gullickson took control, eventually finishing 39 seconds ahead. Obye held on to second place ahead of Bart Gillespie (Team Biogen). The women’s field saw only three starters, with Sally Warner (Team

Defending champion Sergio Barbero (Lampre) won a desperately close three-way battle in the final lap to capture his third Japan Cup cycling road race title in Utsunomiya, Japan, on Sunday. The Italian, who also won the 151.3-kilometer (94.6 mile) race here in 1999, took charge with fellow Italian Guido Trentin and Patrik Sinkewitz of Germany in the final lap of the 14.1km course north of Tokyo. Trentin, from the French Cofidis team, spurted to the lead in the last 500 meters, but Barbero went into overdrive to snatch a narrow victory for his second title of the season in four hours, three

In another Belgian podium sweep, Sven Nijs drew first blood in the 2003-2004 World Cup with a two-centimeter sprint victory over world and defending World Cup champion Bart Wellens. Fellow Belgian Ben Berden led in the chase group, finishing this World Cup opener in Torino, Italy, ahead of Dutchman Richard Groenendaal and Belgian Sven Vanthourenhout. “I felt very good today, but I knew from the start that I must be tactically perfect and must have great luck," the new World Cup leader told VeloNews. "If I am not the winner, I could easily be 10th.” Wellens told VeloNews that he was not

CSC-turned-Phonak rider and VeloNews columnist Tyler Hamilton hasdonated an autographed team jersey to the Rotary Club in his hometown ofMarblehead Massachusetts. Hamilton, who rode to an impressive fourth-placefinish in this year's Tour de France despite a broken collarbone, has donatedthe jersey to aid the club's annual fundraiser. In order to reach morebidders, the club is now auctioning off the jersey on eBay.com.To bid, just clickhere and help the Marblehead Rotary.

It was close

Wellens had one major obstacle to overcome

Breaking up was hard to do

Gutted TTT is uselessEditor:What on earth were Leblanc and Co. thinking with these new rules for next year's team time trial? No team can lose more than 2:30 on the winning time next year? Can you think of a better way to encourage half the peloton to sandbag? Having a bad day? No problem, just turn it off and coast in! I can't possibly imagine what the organizers were thinking. Were they trying to make an already stodgy format even less interesting to watch? Is this a secret plan to hand French teams that only show up in search of stage wins an extra rest day? I'm all for this

The U.S. string of UCI-ranked cyclo-cross races swung back to the East Coast on Saturday with the Wooden Wheels Granogue ‘cross near Wilmington, Delaware. Despite a heavy morning frost that left the grassy track slick for the day’s opening races, weather conditions proved kind to elite racers, with the afternoon sun drying the course to a hard, fast surface. Held at Granogue Estate, on one of the several DuPont family estates that dot the rolling hills outside of Wilmington, the race’s tough power climbs, steep, barriered run-up, and numerous off-camber sections ensured that racers with

Lance Armstrong hinted Thursday he’ll skip June’s Dauphine Libéré race in his preparations for a run at a record sixth Tour de France victory. The week-long French race has been the Texan’s final dress rehearsal every June en route to five consecutive Tour titles, except in 2001 when he raced and won the Tour de Suisse. “I’m a little superstitious about the Dauphine,” Armstrong told the AP. “(Miguel) Indurain rode a fantastic Dauphine race there in 1996 and then lost the Tour to Bjarne Riis.” Armstrong said he will start “training for real” in December, in Austin, Texas, then join his U.S.

On Thursday, USA Cycling released its first cyclo-cross rankings of 2004, and there were no surprises at the top, with Marc Gullickson topping the elite men’s standings and Alison Dunlap heading up the elite women’s rankings. The rankings are based on results from U.S. UCI-sanctioned races. So far this year Gullickson has posted three UCI wins in the five he has contested, at the Star-Crossed in Redmond, Washington; at the Bay Area Super Prestige Series opener; and at last weekend’s Downeast Cyclo-Cross in New Gloucester, Maine. In the other two races, Gullickson finished second behind Erwin

Dear Bob, This is a strange question. We were riding in the mountains west of Denver, going uphill, when we saw a pickup coming in the opposite direction, swerving back and forth. It passed by us, then we heard the sound of brakes locking up. When I looked back, the truck was coming at us! We bailed off the bikes and up the rock banking beside the road. The truck ran over all the bikes, sideswiped the rocks, and kept going. Nobody was hurt. We called the cops on a cell phone, and gave them the truck’s tag number. The police found the guy only a few minutes later and busted him for DUI, but

World champion Igor Astarloa's doping test from the day before he won the world road race title is negative, an official source from cycling's world ruling body said Friday in Paris. The 27-year-old Spaniard was among four riders who were asked to provide urine samples the day before the men's road race at the recent world championships in Hamilton, Canada. Astarloa, compatriots Manuel Beltran and Aitor Osa, and Belgian Axel Merckx were all asked to provide the samples after having given blood samples the previous day. The Union Cycliste International (UCI) announced Friday: "All the

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced today in Montréal that it has asked all international sports federations and national anti-doping agencies to analyze stored samples for the presence of tetrahydrogestrinone (THG). "A proactive approach in this matter is crucial," said WADA director general David Howman in a letter sent to the organizations. "It not only sends a message to athletes that cheating will not be tolerated, but also reassures the general public that definite steps are being taken to stamp out the scourge of doping in sport." Some groups, including the International

The UCI Management Committee has ratified the World Cup mountain-bike calendar for 2004, and there is not a single U.S. event on the schedule. The calendar consists of seven cross-country rounds beginning May 22 in Madrid, Spain, and six downhill/four-cross rounds beginning June 5 in Fort William, Great Britain. World Cup 2004XC #1: May 22-23, Madrid, SpainXC #2: May 29-30, Houffalize, BelgiumXC #3, DH/4-X #1: June 5-6, Fort William, Great BritainDH/4-X #2: June 12-13, Sestrière, ItalyXC #4, DH/4-X #3: Schladming, AustriaXC #5, DH/4-X #4: June 26-27, Mont-Sainte-Anne, CanadaXC #6, DH/4-X

Five-time defending champion Lance Armstrong and his U.S. Postal directeur sportif Johan Bruyneel will need some very detailed maps and a big chunk of time to reconnoiter the route of next year’s Tour de France, which was announced in Paris on Thursday. New stages, new climbs, and two long individual time trials in the final five days will make this 97th Tour one of the most complicated and suspenseful in race history(see "2004 Tour: Armstrong says L'Alpe d'Huez TT pivotal"). The uphill time trial at L’Alpe d’Huez four days before the finish has attracted most of the media attention — and

You can take Sam Hill’s name off the list of mountain-bike free agents. The two-time reigning junior downhill world champion has re-upped with the Iron Horse-MadCatz squad, signing a two-year deal with the East Coast-based team. “Sam has a really bright future in the sport,” said Iron Horse’s Todd Seplavy about the 18-year-old. “We’re looking to grow the Iron Horse team and Sam together and give him a solid home. We didn’t want to see him out there looking for a new ride every year.” Hill’s signing put an end to rumors that the young Aussie might be jumping from the Iron Horse ship and

Our crystal ball isn’t broken, just foggyEditor:Is your article about the Tour route a joke? You list two TTs in the final five stages, with one of them on L'Alpe d'Huez? But in your separate predictions of the Tour, you have a totally different route -- with a totally different TT and a stage to Mont Ventoux. What's going on? Dave Bell Washington, D.C. This is why we call these things “predictions,” Dave. – Editor Lance has a 30 percent chance for No. 6Editor:If Lance can get himself back into climbing form, then this Tour should be his. If he is in a form similar to this year, then

Hill stays put.

The route for the 2004 Tour de France was unveiled during a 90-minutepresentation in Paris on Thursday, and judging by the remarks of five-timedefending champion Lance Armstrong, the showcase stage is getting the responsethat race organizers were hoping for. That showcase stage, according tobuzz in Paris, will be a 15km uphill time trial to L’Alpe d’Huez, the 16thstage of the 3395-kilometer race, July 3-25. “It’s a pivotal day, and probably the day that will decide the Tour,”Armstrong said of the Alpe d’Huez TT. “I suspect I’ll spend a lot of timeat Alpe d’Huez this next year.” It will be

The unveiling of next year's Tour de France route in Paris on Thursday had team managers and riders alike quietly bubbling with excitement with the suspense likely to be maintained all the way to Paris. The revamped Tour route means the likes of five-time defending champion Lance Armstrong and his closest challenger, Germany's Jan Ullrich, will be kept on their toes right up until the penultimate stage. The 2004 Tour starts in Liege (Belgium) and rides anti-clockwise around France for 3391km - with a potentially decisive individual time trial coming five days before the finish on the Champs

Neither side was much interested in going into the details of what led to the sudden resignation last week of longtime USA Cycling staffer Eric Moore, but both agreed that Moore’s nine years with the organization were productive and positive. “Eric served this organization well for a lot of years,” USAC president Gerard Bisceglia told VeloNews. “When you lose a long-term guy like him it’s a scramble to find a fill in.” For Moore’s part, he said he held no ill will to his near-decade-long employer. “USA Cycling is being run as well as it ever has right now,” he said. “They’ve got a new and

Coming on the heels of the unveiling of the 2004 NORBA National Series schedule, USA Cycling revealed next year’s American Mountain Bike Challenge slate on Thursday. The 33-stop, 2004 AMBC series kicks off in North Miami, Florida on January 18, with the Oleta Fat Tire Festival, and then runs throughout the year, culminating with the Florida State Championship Series on November 21, also in North Miami. During the ten months in between, the AMBC series will be contested in 18 states, and welcomes 12 new events to the calendar. In addition to the senior, master, and professional races, some

Jean Marie Leblanc announces the 2004 Tour route under the watchful eye of a very interested party.

Nathan Rennie

Cédric Gracia

The official details of the 2004 Tour de France won’t be announced untilThursday morning in Paris, but through a little detective work, some intuitionand a few wild guesses here’s what next year's route could looklike, stage by stage.Saturday, July 3: Liège Prologue Time Trial (6km)The prologue and the following two stages in Belgium were announcedsome time ago. This is a perfectly flat individual time trial startingand finishing on the famed Boulevard de la Sauvinière, where April’sLiège-Bastogne-Liège used to finish until the early 1990s.Should be a perfect

Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich will be among the big names gathering inParis on Thursday for the unveiling of the 2004 Tour de France.Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc will officially reveal the 2004 routein a flashy ceremony in the Palais des Congres in Paris. While it likelywon’t pack the pomp and circumstance of last year’s ceremony when nearlyall the surviving winners came to mark the Tour’s centenary, the annualunveiling ceremony is always a big show.There’s been plenty of speculation about where the course will go, butuntil Thursday’s ceremony it’s all just guess work. What’s known for

Dear Monique,I have a question about nutrient uptakes. I have vitamin/mineral fortifiedcereals in the morning with breakfast. I also take supplements, usuallyafter dinner. Would it be better to take the supplement with my breakfast?I suppose the high concentration of nutrients would allow them to takenup faster. Or maybe spreading them out over multiple meals allow the bodyto extract them more efficiently or selectively.Thanks.RSDear RS;Thanks for your question. Many of us consume fortified foods in ourdiet or choose to take a multivitamin mineral supplement for extra nutrientinsurance that

Ever get back from a vacation and only weeks later remember you still have undeveloped photos? In the digital age, there's less of an excuse but, nonetheless I still had a few left-over shots banging about my hard drive from the Interbike show. The following shots are some of random highs and lows of the 2003 Interbike trade show. Enjoy! Andrew--

This is the final report card for the Hamilton Road World Championships.In my first report card, back in the spring, I assigned an overall gradeof B-Minus, and two weeks before the start of the event, the grade improvedto a B. Now, it is time for the final grade. As previously, grades areassigned for key aspects of the event and organization, followed by theoverall grade.Course: A+ (previously an A+)While the fields of competitors did not break up as much as expected,the course cannot be faulted. Teams rode defensively, with few riders willingto stick their neck out at the front of the race.

Belgian cycling great Johan Museeuw has announced plans to retire from the sport next spring, ending a 16-year career that has seen the “Lion of Flanders” win Paris-Roubaix three times. Museeuw inked an agreement this week to stay with his Quick Step–Davitamon team, but only through the first part of the 2004 season, when the 37-year-old will retire from the sport. According to a press release issued by Quick Step on Wednesday, Museeuw reached his decision at a meeting organised by the team in Brussels this week. Museeuw’s career will end with the GP Escaut – Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen,

A whole lot of news from the mountain biking world this week, but beforeI get into that, just wanted to say a big thanks to the folks who put onthe 24 Hours of Moab last weekend in Utah. After bailing on plans to hitthe event a year ago, I finally got out there and competed in my first24-hour race. It was quite the eye opener for lots of reasons (first nightride excluding late-night beer runs), but the biggest was probably thesimple fact that — to me — this is what mountain biking is really all about. Instead of the typical gathering of five-day-a-week training, AthleteOctane gulping,

These two 'gentlemen' were seen 'patrolling' the Seattle Bike Supply Booth. I wish the shot could show exactly how short their shorts were. Believe me, these are two escorts you would never want to show up to your hotel room...

Defeet was showing this cool 'bib' that provided wind protection over the rider's chest area, but could easily removed mid-ride when it warmed up.

Spanish manufacturer showed off this working prototype of a hydraulic disc brake road bike. Using Formula calipers and a mechanically activated master cylinder, enormous braking power could be generated. Galfer rotors and hydraulic lines also shown.

Here's a closer look at the system. Not the cleanest appearance, but until Shimano develops a hydraulic Dura-Ace caliper and master cylinder, this will have to work. This could very well be the future of road stoppers-that is if the UCI allows it.

Galfer also showed off its massive 255mm downhill/tandem rotor. Next to it is a standard 160mm rotor for comparison. Galfer owns the patent to the wavy rotor design.

Greg Herbold gets 'dolled-up' for a night on the town with the SRAM girls. Another male escort you wouldn't want knocking on your door.

The guys from Independent Fabrication were seen assembling their prototype full suspender only hours before the show door opened.

Even not-so-prototype bikes were seen being built at the very last minute.

The guys at Manitou held an inter-office contest to see who could grow the most embarrassing moustache. This guy won.

Model/racer Niki Gudex was seen shaking hands with Intense's Jeff Steber over an agreement that will have her racing pro cross-country in her native Australia for the 2004 season. Check out her website at www.nikigudex.com

Museeuw in his element - Paris-Roubaix, 2002

Just a few weeks ago, ONCE and Banesto both seemed doomed to the history books and commentators were bemoaning the fate of Spanish cycling. There was talk of hundreds of professional racers, masseurs, sport directors and other personnel hitting the streets without a job. Following Monday’s news that Banesto will carry on with Balearic Islands, things are looking rather bright once again. ONCE seems poised to continue with the Italian tool-maker Stayer (though there’s been no official announcement) and Saunier Duval is stepping up from co-sponsor of the Vini Caldirola team to build its own

Dear Lennard;I have used your book "Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance"quite a bit and love it. I just bought a road frame and am building a bikefrom scratch. Your book has lots of useful information, but I probablyneed more instruction on building up a bike (what order to do things in,etc.). Is there anything you can recommend?--JohnDear John;I can certainly recommend my "Mountain Bike Performance Handbook" ifyou are starting out with tapping and facing the bottom bracket and reamingand facing the head tube. You can buy that book from me directly, sinceVeloPress/VeloGear does not stock

We have just posted the on-line version of this year's edition of CiclismoItaliano, a celebration of the rich history of Italian cycling presented by our friends at the Italian Trade Commission.You will need AdobeAcrobat Reader to enjoy the on-line version of "Ciclismo Italiano."

Upon completing a second consecutive season atop the individual NRC standings, American Chris Horner remains unsure just which team he’ll be riding for next year. With Team Sports manager Tom Schuler still searching for a replacement sponsor for Saturn — rumors persist that Schuler’s close to signing a deal — Horner is playing the wait-and-see game into November. “I don’t have anything finalized yet,” Horner said in a phone interview last week. “I’m sure I’ll have a job next year, it’s just a matter of where.” After an awesome display of strength at September’s T-Mobile International,

Ciclismo Italiano is now on line

Phil Zajicek flirts with the devil

Horner's waiting for someone to show him the money

Gord 'Pops' Fraser and son, Angus Ian Fraser

American Levi Leipheimer has signed a one-year contract to continue with the Dutch Rabobank team for the 2004 season. Leipheimer, who turns 30 on Friday, said he signed the contract extension before the end of the 2003 Vuelta a España, where he finished 58th overall. Leipheimer penned a two-year deal with Rabobank after his breakthrough third-place podium finish in the 2001 Vuelta, becoming the first American to finish on the Vuelta’s final podium. In 2002, he won a stage and the overall title at the Route du Sud and finished an impressive eighth-place in his Tour de France

One of the most successful professional cycling programs of the past two decades avoided disaster Monday when Banesto team officials signed a new three-year sponsorship deal with the government of Spain's Balearic Islands.Spanish radio reported Monday afternoon that team manager Jose Miguel Echavarri has formalized a three-year deal with the Balearic Islands regional government. Banesto, the Spanish bank that supported the team through the Miguel Indurain glory years, will remain on as a co-sponsor for at least the first year.The official name of the team is still not known, but the name