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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

A new technical edict from cycling’s international governing body has sent professional cyclo-cross racers scrambling for new equipment… and maybe grasping for an explanation. According to a technical updated posted to USA Cycling’s website, professional cyclo-cross racers will no longer be able to run disc brakes in UCI sanctioned events. According to the report, the ban will take effect on November 1, 2003, forcing riders and sponsors to quickly re-equip bikes. In some cases, that replacement doesn’t come easily. According to Chris Peck, Cannondale’s director of research and development,

Lance Armstrong completed a weeklong ride across the United States to Washington, D.C., on Saturday to raise awareness about fighting cancer. The 32-year-old American, who overcame testicular cancer to win five consecutive Tours, was part of the Tour of Hope, a 3,200-mile trek from Los Angeles to the nation's capital. The journey by 26 riders was a call to lawmakers to stay committed to supporting research into cancer cures. "The Tour of Hope is about getting the word out that we can beat this disease, but it has to be a team effort," Armstrong said. "My treatments were made possible by

British cyclist Charles Wegelius, who rides for the Italian second division team De Nardi failed a blood test in Bergamo, Italy, Saturday, ruling him out of the Tour of Lombardy, the final leg of the 10-race World Cup. The De Nardi team's manager said however that Wegelius would undergo “every test possible” on Monday to prove he has not been doping. Wegelius was ruled out of Saturday's race, and for competition for the next two weeks, after a pre-race blood test showed his haematocrit level to be above the permitted threshold of 50 percent. The 25-year-old, who was born in Finland, will

Just like last year, Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) won Saturday’s Giro di Lombardia, the final major European race of the 2003 racing season. Just like last year, Bartoli was left off the Italian road world’s team and came into the “Race of the Falling Leaves” with something to prove. Unlike last year, this time he won the hilly Lombardia with a forceful solo attack with less than 20km to go. Cofidis rider Angelo Lopeboselli was the only rider who stood up to the challenge, but the cagey Bartoli held off the young gun to sprint to victory. Saturday’s 97th running of Lombardia started with

When Marc Gullickson decided to fly back east for the opening round of the 2003 Verge New England Cyclo-cross Series in New Gloucester, Maine, the Redline racer really didn’t know what to expect. With the world road championships only a week prior, surely top New England ‘crossers like Tim Johnson and Mark McCormack (Saturn) would rest after their efforts in Hamilton. But Gullickson, the defending New England series champion, ended up with a tougher fight on his hands than he might have imagined, as McCormack and five-time Canadian ‘cross champ Peter Wedge (Kona) both made surprise

Patrik Sinkewitz attacks

Juan Antonio Flecha

Bellotti was one of the early animators

world champion Igor Astarloa

Gully fights off a tough crowd in Maine

McCormack has been dealing with a cold and his wife's morning sickness

Mary McConneloug has nearly two minutes' worth of cushion at the finish

Dear Monique;My question revolves around the hydrationarticle you wrote on October 1st. I typically drink lots of water-all day long. I would say on a typical day a gallon or so is the average.I usually don’t mix in any electrolytes like Gatorade, or anything else.My question arises from this: A good friend went to the doctor recentlythinking he might be diabetic because he would get very lethargic throughoutthe day (and during workouts).The doctor told him he was drinking too much straight water anddiluting his system. Is this possible? We live in Florida, so we consistentlytrain in 90+

Dear Doc;I am a 35-year-old Category 2 road racer who just got over a bout with West Nile fever. I was diagnosed thorough the IgM titer and from the week long symptoms of fever, head ache, body aches and dehydration. I was unlucky to get sick but lucky to get over it without any major events besides missing four days of work and feeling totally wasted for a few days after the fever was gone. I am riding the bike again after a 10 day hiatus. I have lost all my strength and power. But have conserved the aerobic fitness. My heart rates are 10-15 beat higher than before when riding. Resting

After Chris Horner’s ride in Hamilton, I don’t think anyone can question whether a U.S. domestic pro can compete with the big boys at world’s. Could you imagine the shockwaves that would have rippled through the pressroom and the crowd if one of his late attacks had stuck? Would have ranked as one of the great upsets ever. It’s a shame Tom Danielson was sidelined with injury for Hamilton. After seeing what Horner did, there’s no doubt Danielson could have been a player in the race as well. And what a perfect symmetry there would have been had he somehow managed to snag the rainbow jersey:

The 2003 European road racing season wraps up Saturday with the 97thGiro di Lombardia in northern Italy.Also the final leg of the 10-round World Cup series, the “Race of the Falling Leaves” is traditionally the season’s last major race. Series leader Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) has an untouchable advantage and will win his second consecutive overall title.The 250km course follows tradition, starting in Como, hitting such steep climbs as the Madonna del Ghisallo, the Colle del Gallo and the Colle Aperto before the finish in Bergamo.Returning champion Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) will be

Rebellin, Bartoli and Oscar Camenzind at last year's World Cup finale.

There’s a brewing storm over speculation that four elite men competitors from last weekend’s road world championships in Canada might have failed anti-doping tests. According to reports in the European press, urine samples from two Spanish, one Belgian and one Italian rider have been shipped to the UCI’s anti-doping lab in Switzerland for tests to detect the presence of EPO, a banned performance-enhancing product. The French sports daily L’Equipe reported that pre-race random blood screenings Friday and Saturday revealed “abnormal parameters” and urine samples were later taken for

I only get nervous for a few races each season and the world championship road races had my heart racing all weekend - although, I am not sure if I was more nervous for Michael’s race or for mine. The races in Hamilton provided a few surprises this past weekend. After previewing the course on Thursday and chatting with many of the men and women about the difficulty of the hills, the expectation was that the races would be much more selective than they were. We encountered two climbs per 12-kilometer lap. The first was 1.5 kilometers and the second was 2 kilometers in length. This did not

Ever since Canada won its bid for the world championships three years ago at the Plouay world’s, I have had the race in Hamilton in the back of my mind. To race the world’s on Canadian soil is more than a dream come true, and to race it an hour from where I grew up is more than I had ever imagined. The last weeks, since the Vuelta, I had been training with George Hincapie in South Carolina. For the most part I was taking it easy and trying to recover from the Vuelta and sleeping and relaxing as much as possible. I had no idea how I would be after the Vuelta as it was the first time I had

Italian rider Mirko Celestino (Saeco) was fastest in the bunch to claim the 88th Milan-Turin race in Italy on Wednesday. Celestino, the Milan-Turin winner of 2001, edged compatriot Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and Spanish rider Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Domina Vacanze), who came across third. The 199-kilometer race was the first of three races that make up the “Trittico Rosa,” which continues Thursday with the Tour of Piedmont and concludes Saturday with the Giro di Lombardia.88th Milan-Turin (UCI 1.1), Oct. 15, Italy, 199km1. Mirko Celestino, Saeco 4 hours, 56 minutes, 52 seconds

1. Hydrapak Air Scoop RaceSilly as it sounds, many racers don't wear hydration packs simply because they cover up valuable sponsorship territory across their backs. Hydrapak's new Air Scoop Team pack solves the problem with a removable and interchangeable Lycra cover which can be printed with your sponsors logos or simply your favorite stylings. The bladder offers 70 fl. oz. of capacity, while the pack offers 125 cu. In. of capacity. Together the $60 pack weighs a scant 1 pound. 2. Pearl Izumi Viper shoePart of Pearl's new high-end Red Label collection, the revamped Viper off-road shoe

USA Cycling released a statement Wednesday afternoon announcing that Eric Moore, NORBA’s director of field operations, resigned from USA Cycling effective immediately. Moore, who joined NORBA in 1994, spent the majority of his career working on, developing and helping to shape NORBA’s National Championship Series. "I want to thank Eric for his many years of dedication to the sport of cycling, especially in his work on behalf of NORBA and the NCS," said USA Cycling CEO Gerard Bisceglia. "We wish Eric all the best as he moves on to new challenges."

Five components that caught Andrew's attention

Five components that caught Andrew's attention

Five components that caught Andrew's attention

Five components that caught Andrew's attention

Five components that caught Andrew's attention

“So, what’s the coolest thing you’ve seen?” is pretty much the standard greeting at the Interbike trade show. With bike industry types from all over the world wandering the aisles of the Sands Convention Center opinions and answers can vary on that question. For me, I figure I’d start with five bikes I would love to see hanging in my garage some time soon. Kestrel limited-edition Tiki KM40The KM40 is distinctive in its smooth lines and lack of a seat tube, but its monocoque construction makes it cost-prohibitive to make a lot of sizes, so only two were ever offered, namely 52 and 56cm. The

Understanding that Interbike is a big show and there are a lot of cool new products here, culling it down to a handful of items is not only daunting, it is so subjective that you could argue until the cows come home about which items really are the best. Nonetheless, I’ll give it a shot, focusing on a few items that cool items that solve some problems you may have experienced… well and a few flashy items as well. Titec Knock Scoper seatpostAnyone with a full suspension bike that has an interrupted seat tube knows the frustration of not being able to lower their saddle as much as they might

Oscar Sevilla will leave his longtime team Kelme and ride next season alongside Tyler Hamilton on the Swiss team Phonak, according to reports Wednesday in the Spanish press. Sevilla will reportedly sign a one-year, 800,000 Euro contract, with his major goals as top helper for Hamilton and podium contender for the Tour de France and team captain for the Vuelta a España. It’s bad news for Kelme, which insisted the team had a verbal agreement before the start of the 2003 Vuelta with the popular Spanish rider who missed this year’s Tour due to lingering problems with a cyst. “He has to give us an

On the final day of the Interbike trade show, we let a few of our editors loose with their digital cameras to grab a look at some of their favorite eye candy.

There was good news coming from Australia as Navigators reported that Henk Vogels took his first ride since his near-fatal crash June 29. Vogels was seriously injured in a high-speed crash in the third stage of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic. The team was relieved to report that the 30-year-old Australian was able to ride for 30km in a very light gear, with the objective of increasing range of motion and circulation. Vogels told team director Ed Beamon, “it really hurt and it’s good to be back on the bike.” No word yet on if or when Vogels will be able to race again, but the team reported:

Kestrel magic with Tiki scheme

Sure it's a recumbent, but it's a carbon recumbent!

The Bianchi Luna - it's just so beautiful

A few components that caught my fancy

A few components that caught my fancy

A few components that caught my fancy

Elvis lives

Tuesday's EuroFile: Sevilla jumps to Phonak; Mergers, trades and an unhappy Bettini

It's pedal powered ...

... but the interior smells like beer.

Tyler Hamilton made his appearance at the Cervello booth, but down the aisle his new Phonak ride was waiting at the DT booth

Carbon pioneer Calfee is now offering a bar/stem combo

Merlin's effort took more than 12 hours of machine work on one tubeset...

... but the result is worth the trouble

Descente found out who lives in a Pineapple under the sea...

Belgian Erwin Vervecken and five-time national champion Alison Dunlap repeated their feats of a day earlier on Sunday, besting their respective fields consecutively during a two-day swing of UCI-sanctioned cyclo-cross events in the northwest. After a difficult day of racing in Tacoma, Washington, on October 11, the country’s top ‘cross racers drove three hours south to Portland, Oregon, for the Saturn Stumptown Classic, an event organized by the promoters of the area’s Cyclo-cross Crusade, one of the world’s most highly attended ‘cross series. As expected, over 400 participants showed up,

Everyone talks of the dominance of the Italians, but since 1995, it’s been the Spanish that have ruled the men’s road world championships. Spain has won seven world championship medals to Italy’s five since 1995, including four world titles to Italy’s one.

Morati SC 1.3 Ti Pro disc brake road bikeBuilt in the Czech Republic by aerospace manufacturer Mora Aerospace (now owned by Honeywell) Morati produces some of the most innovative titanium bicycles on the market. Most striking on this, the opening day of the 2003 Interbike trade show, was a full equipped Hayes mechanical disc brake road bike. Built using the company's SC 1.3 Ti Pro platform, the frame boasts the addition of a rear disc brake, a 130mm spaced VeloMax wheelset and reinforced Morati disc brake specific titanium road fork. While we're seeing disc brake technology slowly creeping

As photo editor of VeloNews, I spend my days living the lives and race experiences of the pro pelotons around the world vicariously through the eyes and lenses of some of the best photographers in the world. Unfortunately, most of the time this takes place while chained to my desk in VeloNews world headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, and my interaction with both the riders and their machines is limited to two dimensional representations, usually digitized on a computer screen. Interbike provides me with the rare opportunity to see with my own eyes, and more importantly touch with my own

As photo editor of VeloNews, I spend my days living the lives and race experiences of the pro pelotons around the world vicariously through the eyes and lenses of some of the best photographers in the world. Unfortunately, most of the time this takes place while chained to my desk in VeloNews world headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, and my interaction with both the riders and their machines is limited to two dimensional representations, usually digitized on a computer screen. Interbike provides me with the rare opportunity to see with my own eyes, and more importantly touch with my own

Newly crowned world road race champion Igor Astarloa has backtracked on his allegation that Italian ace Paolo Bettini tried to bribe him during Sunday's race. Astarloa claimed in Spanish newspapers on Monday that Bettini had offered him money to help him during the race. "Coming into the final climb Bettini offered me money to collaborate with him," he was quoted as saying. "He suggested we break away together and fight out the gold medal between us. I couldn't accept that." According to Bettini's camp Astarloa has since phoned the Italian to apologize. "Astarloa said that he didn't

Following a troubled season that saw the NORBA National Championship Series run without pro prize money and diminished UCI status, the new management team promoting America’s most prestigious mountain-biking series has accomplished at least one of its goals for 2004. Next year’s NCS will be expanded from five to at least seven events with the possibility of an eighth. There will also be an Americans-only national championship event run independently of the series, slated for September 23-26 at Mammoth Mountain Resort in Mammoth Lakes, California. NCS racing itself will kick off in mid

Interbike: A view from the floor (Monday afternoon)

Vervecken

Knapp leads Dunlap up the course's sloppy run-up

Alone, Dunlap navigates a slick descent

Behind the four leaders were, from left to right, Jackson Stewart, Ryan Trebon, Eric Tonkin and Ben Jacques-Maynes

Gully and Andy Jacques-Maynes lead the chase early

Fours years at Juilliard and this is what I get.

Bob Roll attracted a bg crowd at the VeloNews booth and we weren't even offering free beer

Andy Hampsten makes an appearance at the Parlee booth

Hampsten's new carbon rig is produced by Parlee

Marilyn makes her appearance at the Answer booth... well on the fork leg

What everyone needs... a sidecar

Bring the treadmill concept to the bike world

Multiple-use Bike... or is that multiple-use ski?

Rubbing shoulders with the legends

Rubbing shoulders with the legends

Rubbing shoulders with the legends

Just after completing a training lap around the 12.3km Hamilton roadrace circuit Saturday morning, George Hincapie was asked what he thoughtabout the course. “It’s very hard,” he said. “So I’m very happy to haveFreddy on the team, he’s going well.” Hincapie was referring to his friend Fred Rodriguez, who has replacedChristian Vande Velde in the U.S. team lineup. “The decision was prettymuch made on Sunday after Paris-Tours,” Rodriguez said. “Christian wason the team, and Christian wasn’t feeling up for it. I’d been talking toGeorge, and I didn’t think I’d be up for it, but I said if you

The key moment in Sunday’s magnificent world elite men’s road race championship — watched by an enthusiastic 104,000 fans — came 15 minutes from the finish of the 260.4km race, just after a peloton, still 90-strong, started the last of 21 laps. Igor Astarloa, winner this year of the Flèche Wallonne classic in Belgium, was riding alongside his Spanish team leader Oscar Freire, the two-time world champion. “I spoke with Oscar,” Astarloa said, “and he told me that he wasn’t feeling strong enough to follow [Paolo] Bettini, who was sure to attack on the final lap. So he told me to follow Bettini

men rr

1. Ivan Basso (I)2. Paolo Bettini (I)3. Francesco Casagrande (I)4. Danilo Di Luca (I)5. Dario Frigo (I)6. Giovanni Lombardi (I)7. Cristian Moreni (I)8. Daniele Nardello (I)9. Andrea Noe (I)10. Luca Paolini (I)11. Fabio Sacchi (I)12. Mario Scirea (I)13. Allan Davis (Aus)14. Scott Davis (Aus)15. Ben Day (Aus)16. Mathew Hayman (Aus)17. Michael Rogers (Aus)18. Scott Sunderland (Aus)19. Matthew White (Aus)20. Rolf Aldag (G)21. Bert Grabsch (G)22. Torsten Hiekmann (G)23. Matthias Kessler (G)24. Andreas Klier (G)25. Sebastian Lang (G)26. Ronny Scholz (G)27. Stephan Schreck (G)28. Patrik Sinkewitz

What a place!The new Bootleg Canyon venue near Boulder City for the 2003 Interbike On-Dirt Demo made for great mountain-bike riding, no matter what you’re into – unless it’s trials. Where the Blue Diamond Ranch venue west of Las Vegas of the past few years had limited trail mileage, all of which were cross-country trails, this location southeast of Vegas has a vast number of challenging cross-country loops, many of which are many miles long. In addition, it boasts a half-dozen steep downhill trails (with names like Kevorkian, Poopchute and Elevator Shaft) dropping down from the top of a