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B. HINAULT (France) 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985

J. ZOETEMELK (Netherlands) 1980

L. FIGNON (France) 1983, 1984

GREG LEMOND (USA) 1986, 1989, 1990

STEPHEN ROCHE (Ireland) 1987

PEDRO DELGADO (Spain) 1988

M. INDURAIN (Spain) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

BJARNE RIIS (Denmark) 1996

Jan Ullrich (Germany) 1997

Marco Pantani (Italy) 1998

Lance Armstrong (USA) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

After being overlooked for the Tour de France by his Telekom team, American Bobby Julich will now prepare for September’s Vuelta a España and October’s world championships. “Bobby’s plan now is to come back to the U.S. to do some high altitude training during July, then have a great Vuelta and world championships at the end of the season,” read an entry on Julich’s official web page. Telekom will be anchored by sprinting ace Erik Zabel and three riders with eyes on the final podium: Santiago Botero, Alexandre Vinokourov and Paolo Savoldelli. Rounding out the team are Rolf Aldag, Matthias

Bob;What are the most common types of bicycle accidents?Mike APhoenixDear Mike;For many years, there was vehement debate over this question. Virtuallyall statistics relating to bicycle accidents came from police accidentreports, and critics maintained that this database systematically under-reportedbicycle wrecks that did not involve a motor vehicle. Finally, in 1999,a team of researchers at the Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) of theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill performed a large-scale studyof bike wrecks based on emergency room admissions. Their findings largelysupported

More than 800 cyclists of all categories will descend on Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Thursday to compete in the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic stage race. Now in its 44th edition — the race was first held as a single-day event in 1960 — Fitchburg-Longsjo has evolved into one of the major races on the U.S. calendar; past competitors include Greg LeMond, Lance Armstrong, Eric and Beth Heiden, Rebecca Twigg, Connie Carpenter and Davis Phinney. The event began as a tribute to Arthur M. Longsjo, Jr., a Fitchburg native and the first person to compete in both the Summer (cycling) and Winter (speed

Unlike baseball or basketball, there’s no official halfway point in themountain biking season. But with three of five NORBAs in the books andthe World Cup slate well underway, it seems like an appropriate time tohand out some midseason awards. So without further ado, here’s the bestand worst from the opening stanza of the 2003 mountain bike season. Biggest SurpriseSo many candidates here that’s it’s hard to pick just one. Right fromthe beginning, at the NORBA opener in Big Bear Lake, there’s been a steadystream and new faces gracing the top of podium. There was Eric Carter’sstunning double

Anniversaries are big in France. Take the year 1989, which was the bicentennial of the French Revolution. The bicentennial’s big celebration came on the Fourteenth of July, and the Tour de France organizers just happened to schedule that day’s stage finish in Marseille, the city after which the French national anthem, the Marseillaise, is named. The race saw plenty of attacks by French riders that day, and the stage was won in a late solo attack by the blond rider from Normandy, Vincent Barteau. Acelebration followed on a hot, steamy night, as huge crowds watched a mammoth fireworks display

Improving on last year, that’s the goal for American Levi Leipheimeras he heads into his second Tour de France. In an impressive debut in 2002,the Rabobank rider fought his way to eighth place after a spectacular finalweek in the Alps. And despite emergency surgery for blocked intestineslast August, the 29-yearold says he is back in winning shape and wantsto inch closer to the Tour podium. “I want to improve on last year, for the sponsors and everyone else,”Leipheimer said. “The expectations are higher. I want to keep doing mybest and put into effect everything I’ve learned.” EXCITING

It's been a long time coming but the Aussie presence at this year's Tour de France is going to reach record levels. A potential seven Australian professionals, riding for four teams, are being lined up for this year's centenary race and although that's no mean feat, just wait till the race itself gets underway next Saturday, July 5. No-nonsense Queenslander Robbie McEwen, who rides for the Belgian Lotto outfit, pulled off a coup of sorts when he ended Erik Zabel's bid to win a seventh straight green points jersey. However McEwen, who goes into the race a little less primed than at this

Stage 1 of the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic, a seven-mile out-and-back time trial finishing with a 500 meter climb, was held Thursday in scorching New England heat and humidity, with Navigators Chris Baldwin and Kiwi Sarah Ulmer (TDS) taking their respective leaders jerseys. In the women's race, Saturn's Jessica Phillips was the first to set a time that looked to stick on the leader's board with an 18:26:29. Phillips remained the leader until Ulmer (TDS) flew across the line fourteen seconds faster. Ulmer’s time of 18:12:88 remained untouched as Phillips’ Saturn teammate Katie Mactier finished

Clifford visits Cannondale

FIVE THE HARD WAY Merckx (left) struggled against Poulidor in the mountains in 1974, but still managed to win his fifth and final Tour.

THE ONE TO CHASE: Armstrong will attempt to match Indurain's five consecutive wins.

PERSEVERANCE Leipheimer got stronger as the race wore on in last year’s Tour.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS Leipheimer hopes to improve on his eighth place finish last year.

Robbie McEwen wants all of them to count at the Tour.

Rogers has had a kiss-filled spring

Three-straight Tour de France podium appearances gives Joseba Beloki quiet confidence going into the 2003 Tour. Often criticized for simply following rather than attacking, Beloki believes his time has come. The ONCE rider says he’s feeling better than ever and promises to give reigning champion Lance Armstrong a run for his money. “I feel better than other years,” Beloki told the Spanish sports daily AS in an interview. “I will go to win. I believe it’s time. You have to try to force Armstrong’s decline instead of just waiting for it and I believe this is a good year for that to

Subaru-Gary Fisher rider Nat Ross called the other day, and I could almost hear him grinning from across the Atlantic after his big 24-hour solo win at the UK’s June 21-22 Saab-Salomon Mountain Mayhem event. Held near Birmingham, England, the race is now in its sixth and most successful year, with online registration selling out its 80 solo and 380 team spots in, coincidentally, just over 24 hours. Ross — who took second at the NORBA 24-hour national championship earlier this year — didn’t have to worry about registration; his boss, mountain-bike legend Gary Fisher, co-sponsored the event

Dear Doctor;I am a 42-year-old Cat. 2 racer with a history of lifelong fitness and no significant health problems. I recently had a blood cholesterol screening done at a health fair while I was out of town.My levels were:total cholesterol 142 mg/dLHDL = 42mg/dlLDL = 80mg/dlTotal/HDL Ratio = 3.38The doctor on hand told me that I should see a cardiologist when I return home, because my ratio – total to HDL - was 3.38, well below the target value of 4.0. Despite the fact that my overall level was low, he felt I might be developing harmful plaque deposits in my blood vessels. Upon return home I

Alexander Vinokourov just couldn't help himself. Leading the Tour of Switzerland since regaining the overall lead in Tuesday's time trial, the Kazakh jumped with less than a kilometer to go in Wednesday's 152km final stage into Aarau and was caught 300 meters from the line. It's not that he really needed the stage win. Second-place rider Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) didn't start the ninth and final stage due to high fever and a urinary infection and all Vinokourov had to do was finish safely in the main bunch to claim final victory. "I tried to win the stage but I'm not disappointed at

Dear Monique;What is the best way to take in sodium during a competition? In longer triathlons I invariably experience cramping during the run, which I suspect is due to some level of naturemia. Can I simply add salt to my drinking water, or is there a better way? -- HD Dear Monique;I am a road cyclist who is prone to leg cramping during strenuous rides, particularly on hot days or hill climbs. I have tried many remedies, but to no avail. Recently I came across a website advertising a sports drink that claims to keep cramps at bay with 282 mg sodium, 584 mg potassium, and 210 mg of

Mark Gorski will step down July 1 as chief executive officer of Tailwind Sports after eight years in the sports-marketing company’s top job. Vice president Dan Osipow, director of operations for the Tailwind-managed U.S. Postal Cycling Team, will become interim general manager. "It is with a mixture of sadness, satisfaction and new opportunity that I announce my resignation," said Gorski. "After many months of consideration, I decided that it was best for me personally, professionally, and most importantly, for my family, to step down." Gorski will be leaving the sports-marketing business

Cooke captures the stage win

Rogers sews up Route du Sud Quick Step's Michael Rogers held off challengers in Tuesday's 156km climb-riddled finale to clinch the overall title of the 27th Route du Sud. Cofidis' David Moncoutie jumped ahead of Alessio's Pietro Caucchioli to win the final stage, which included climbs up the Col de Peyresourde and finished on a steep climb up the on the Port de Balès summit. "It has been a difficult day, but today my teammates were fantastic," Rogers said, a winner of five races this season. "The last up hill section was really very hard. When Moncoutie and Caucchioli launched themselves

Dear Lennard Zinn;Is it true that the Zipp clincher 404/303s will break up when tire pressure exceeds 140? --JV Dear JV;Below is a long answer to your question, but it is worth reading, as it addresses, in addition to the specific Zipp question, the general question many of us have about how much pressure a clincher rim can handle.--Lennard Answer from ZippDear Lennard and JV;In short, no, a ZIPP 303 or 404 clincher will not break up when tire pressure exceeds 140psi. The source of this concern may stem from one or both of two sources: either from the Maximum psi sticker ZIPP now applies to

Alexandre Vinokourov regained the overall lead of the 67th Tour of Switzerland on Tuesday after erasing a 37-second gap to Italian Francesco Casagrande in the 33km individual time trial. Australian Brad McGee (Fdjeux.com) surprised Germans Uwe Peschel and 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich to claim the stage victory. American Bobby Julich (Telekom) was seventh. Riding in 90-degree heat, McGee was timed in 42 minutes, 20.77 seconds, 23 seconds faster than Peschel (Gerolsteiner) and 50 seconds faster than Ullrich (Bianchi). Vinokourov was poised to recapture the lead from Casagrande

Allen Larsen fell into an embrace with his family moments after winning the 2003 Insight Race Across America at 9:42 a.m. Tuesday morning, exactly eight days, 23 hours, and 36 minutes and 2992 miles after he left San Diego. Larsen maintained a 13.55 mile per hour average over the duration to win RAAM in only his second year competing in the non-stop transcontinental bike race. Larsen took a gamble early on when he opted to forego a rest break until after he reached New Mexico, 700 miles and almost two days into the race. The risky tactic earned him a lead he never relinquished. The move

They say curiosity killed the cat but, as I write this, I still feel pretty good. It's one of those trivial little technical details that's been plaguing me this entire race season: why on earth is the men's world cross-country mountain bike champion wearing mid-level shoes both racing on the road and off? Earlier this year, we saw Roland Green compete in the Tour de Langkawi not sporting Shimano's top-of-the-line SH-R214 carbon road shoe, but instead, the Canadian was seen donning the single strap SH-TR01 triathlon shoe. Later in the year, we see Green roll up to both NORBA and world cup

Zipp 404s

Zipp 303s

Vino's fifth was good enough for first

Tri shoes for The Champ?

Red, white and you...if you hurry.

Zipp's in the bar business too

Aussie Michael Rogers won Monday’s 34km individual time trial and grabbed the overall lead of the Route du Sud race in southern France. Rogers was fastest over the rolling course to score his fourth win of the 2003 season. “The route was tricky. There wasn’t even a meter of flat,” Rogers said. “The roads were narrows and dangerous, making it easy to make mistakes. I was very cautious and thankfully everything turned out well.” Rogers moves 1:51 ahead of Frenchman Nicolas Vogondy (Fdjeux.com) with one stage to go. “Tomorrow there are two up hill sections roughly half way through the

Telekom’s Sergei Yakovlev won the seventh and longest stage of the Tour du Suisse on Monday while Lampre’s Francesco Casagrande finished safely in the main bunch to retain the overall lead. The Kazakh rider was part of a six-man breakaway that led for 160 km of the 231-km stage which began in Switzerland and ended just over the German border. Yakovlev’s American teammate, Bobby Julich, was part of an eight-man chase group that was sent down the road in case the leaders wilted under the long distances. Yakovlev jumped out of the break with 15km to go and hung on to score the win while

A solo win

Casagrande still in charge

Phonak’s Oscar Pereiro held off his pursuers to take a solo victory in the sixth stage of the Tour of Switzerland Sunday, a 135km ride around Silvaplana. Bianchi’s Jan Ullrich came in just over a minute later followed by the promising Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg. Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) retained the overall lead of the race ahead of Tuesday's 33km time trial where second-placed Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) is aiming to regain the lead. Kazakh rider Vinokourov may well keep his promise. His 37-second deficit will seem like almost nothing given his excellent season so far, having won

Paternia’s Jose Antonio Pecharroman held off the best efforts of U.S. Postal's Roberto Heras to claim overall victory in the Tour of Catalunya after Sunday's seventh and final stage in Barcelona. The 25-year-old Pecharroman beat Heras by 43 seconds with two more Spaniards Koldo Gil and Rafael Casero coming third and fourth in the overall standings. Angel Vicioso (ONCE) won the final stage after holding off Postal’s George Hincapie in the sprint. Both Heras and Hincapie will be key elements in the American team in the next fortnight as Lance Armstrong gets his record-equalling bid for a

It may have come a day later than he would have liked, but Seamus McGrath (Haro-Lee Dungarees) finally won his first NORBA race, taking Sunday’s short track at Mount Snow. After finishing second to Roland Green (Trek-Volkswagen) in Saturday’s cross-country, McGrath left nothing to chance today, attacking breakaway compatriot Filip Meirhaghe (Specialized) with three laps to go, just as Green was about to bridge to the leading duo. McGrath kept his margin through to the finish, celebrating a win that was a long time coming only after checking to make sure Meihaghe was well in the rearview

Not even losing the ability to sit down could slow Cedric Gracia at Mount Snow. The 25-year-old Siemens-Cannondale rider closed out the weekend’s racing by winning the men’s downhill, even though he broke off his saddle midway through his winning run. “I tried sitting back down [on the rails],” said the charismatic Frenchman. “But it was no good, I just had to ride standing up, which isn’t so easy.” With the infamous Yard Sale rock garden section of the course shortened due to safety concerns, riders depended on skill more than luck. In order to negotiate what remained of the Yard Sale

John Lieswyn and his 7UP-Maxxis squad successfully defended the yellow jersey in the final stage of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce, Lubor Tesar (Ed's Systeme-ZVVZ) just holding off Charles Dionne (Canadian National) to take the final stage victory. Lieswyn had held the jersey from stage one, and started the final stage47 seconds in front of Chris Baldwin (Navigators). Tomas Konecny (Ed'sSystem-ZVVZ) and Danny Pate (Prime Alliance) were also less than a minute behind, so 7 Up could not afford to rest, despite having spent a week at the front of the peloton. The final stage of Beauce is no

Harreither-VAV Versicherung won the 2003 Insight Race Across America team competition Sunday night when the four men crossed the finish line on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey at 10:13 p.m.(EST). The four Austrian cyclists rode a relay from San Diego over the course of six days, six hours and 13 minutes. After initial head-to-head battles with Team Vail-Go Fast in the deserts of Southern California, Harreither has led the race since Vail withdrew after one of its riders was killed in a tragic accident in New Mexico. (see "RAAM rider killed in New Mexico") The members of the

Casagrande leads

Ullrich took second on Sunday

Gracia

Steb

Jose Antonio Pecharroman (Paternina) virtually secured victory in the Tourof Catalunya on Saturday after winning a time trial to take the overalllead from defending champion Roberto Heras.Pecharroman covered the 8.14-mile sixth leg in 21 minutes and 49 seconds.Heras, the defending champion riding for the U.S. Postal Service team,finished 52 seconds back. The time lag cost Heras the nine-second overalllead he held over Pecharroman for the last two days.With one stage remaining, Pecharroman now holds a comfortable 43-secondoverall lead over Heras in Spain's oldest bike race. Sunday's final

Lampre’s Francesco Casagrande won the 177m fifth stage of the Tour of Switzerland Saturday, reaching the summit finish at La Punt with enough of a margin to take the overall lead in the Swiss national tour. Casagrande, who began the day six seconds behind overall leader, Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom), at the start of the stage, finished 39sec ahead of the Kazakh following the 20km ascent of the Col du Albula at 2315m altitude. When Casagrande attacked only Vinokourov could stay with him though he soon concluded the effort was taking a toll on him and eased off as the Italian continued

France’s Sabrina Jonnier (Fox Racing) took advantage of a bottleneck atthe start of the mountain cross finals and cruised to an easy win on thehigh speed Mt. Snow course near Dover, Vermont. With everyone keen to get the holeshot to the first corner, Jonnier,Katrina Miller (Jamis), Marla Streb (Luna) and Jill Kitner (Staats Bike-Fox)tangled in the first 50 meters of the finals, with only Jonnier exitingthe scrum cleanly. From there, the 22-year-old woman from Nice just hadto stay upright, which she did. “Everyone was leaning all over each other,” said Jonnier, “I pushedback and that’s how I

John Lieswyn continues to hold onto the lead at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce after two stages back-to-back on Saturday. In the morning's 15-kilometer time trial, the 7UP-Maxxis rider finished second to Navigator's Chris Baldwin, the U.S. national time trial champion. Baldwin, the reigning U.S. time trial champion, professes to be surprised at his performances in the race against the clock this year. "I don't know why, but this year I'm really hot,” Baldwin said. “I guess a good bike equals good results." Eric Wohlberg (Canadian National), the perennial Canadian national time trial

As you slept last night, they rode. As you ate breakfast three days ago, they rode. As you commuted to work all last week, they rode. Think of anything you’ve done over the last week, and while you’ve been doing it, riders in the 2003 Race Across American have been riding. They have endured rainstorms, burning deserts, headwinds, crosswinds and even the joy of the occasional tailwind. They have crossed more than a dozen mountains. They have hammered through the night on roads so straight they could not tell how far they’d gone. They have plummeted in and out of rolling hills so steep,

Riding for a local New England bike manufacturer and cheered on by a crowd that could sense an upset, Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles) won Saturday’s Mount Snow NORBA cross-country. McConneloug, who spends half her year training on Martha’s Vineyard, dropped three-time world champion Alison Sydor (Trek-Volkswagen) on the last climb of the last lap and held her advantage on Mt. Snow’s infamous, rooty, rocky, singletrack descent. “I’d always thought I could do this,” said McConneloug of her win, “but actually doing it never seemed to happen.” The win was McConneloug’s first ever podium in

The new leader

San Bernardino Pass

Casagrande wins stage and takes lead in Switzerland

Pecharroman

McConneloug

Green and McGrath