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Franzoi kept his word

History was made this past Monday when the Monster Garage team suffered its first-ever defeat, failing to turn a Meteor Cadillac hearse into a car-crushing "Grim Ripper." Even more shocking though was our tech editor Andrew’s admission that he was screaming at the TV screen during the show’s closing minutes. Screaming. Now that’s a TV moment. Readers may be disappointed to learn that while I watched the State of the Union address on Tuesday, I didn’t stay up to see the season premiere of American Idol that followed. So, since I may be in danger of losing the TV beat, on to the road

This weekend, a sandy, wind-blown stretch of beach right at the top of the heel of Italy’s “boot” will play host to cycling’s oddest annual pilgrimage: The world cyclo-cross championships. As always, the two-day bash will be heralded by bass bands, beer, frites and mayonnaise and the usual assortment of funny hats. Hotels and campgrounds around Monopoli, Italy have been filling up all week and caravans of those and giant European tour buses are filling parking lots throughout the area. The attraction is a grand total of three-and-a-half hours of racing, spread out over two days. And, as has

Italian Alberto Loddo (Lampre) won Friday's mass field sprint to take the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar, a 90km circuit in Doha. Under sunny skies, Loddo beat out Frenchman Damien Nazon (Brioches La Boulangere) and Italian Massimo Strazzer (Phonak) and claimed the race leader's gold jersey. Loddo counted heavily on his Lampre teammates to bring back the main breakaway duo of the day, consisting of Christophe Kern (Brioches La Boulangere) and Michael Blaudzun (CSC), whose lead reached a maximum of 1:25. In the overall standings, Loddo leads Strazzer by three seconds, and Nazon by

Captain America: Page is ready for Sunday

Twists and turns - a lot depends on conditions

They're all here. The first full U.S. squad to hit 'cross world's

Barriers by the sea - Grande checks the course on Friday

Following a year on the mainland, the Tour de Langkawi has returned to its traditional starting place, the island of Langkawi. The 10-day stage race commences Friday with a 9.5km time trial. Langkawi is one of 104 islands that sit 30km off Malaysia’s northwestern coast near the country’s border with Thailand. The area, strategically situated where the Indian Ocean narrows into the Straits of Melaka, was once a haven for pirates. Today Langkawi, which measures 478-square kilometers, is the only island in the chain with any real settlement. The interior is laden with high jungle-clad hills,

Dear Bob,I was hit last summer while on my bike training (I compete in both triathlons and bicycle races). I was taken to the ER and ended up having a problem with my ankle that will require continuous treatment. The driver's insurance company has been paying for my medical treatment. Now the insurance company has offered to settle my claim for an acceptable sum (the driver was ticketed for failing to yield). If I accept this offer, will the insurance company continue to cover my medical treatment costs? D.S.Colorado Springs, CO Dear D.S., Your medical costs are being covered under

After weeks of working the numbers, the Navigators team has signed Chris Wherry for the 2003 season, team director Ed Beamon told VeloNews late Wednesday. Wherry, who had one of his best years ever in 2002, including wins at the Saturn Classic, Cascade and Tour of the Gila, was left without a team after Mercury ended its cycling team sponsorship after last season. "It’s definitely not been the most stress-free off-season," Wherry said earlier this month. Beamon said that the team and Wherry worked out a deal "toward the end of last week." The announcement comes just a week before the team

In his first race as a member of the American Saturn squad, Australian Nathan O’Neill showed his new employer what a good hire they’d made. O’Neill was the only rider to post a sub-12-minute time, winning the opening stage of the 2003 Tour de Langkawi on Langkawi Island in Malaysia Friday. O’Neill clocked an 11:53 around the rolling 9.5km time trial course, 23 seconds faster than second-place finisher Roland Green (Canadian National). Third place went to fellow Saturn rider Tom Danielson, with Canadian teammate Eric Wohlberg one place back in fourth. All told four Canadians placed in the top

One of the many beaches on Langkawi Island.

The TT profile for Stage 1.

The route for the 2003 race.

The TT route for Stage 1.

The profile for Stage 2.

The route for Stage 2.

Munoz during the Genting stage in 2002.

The topical heat will play a big role in the race.

Saturn frames ready to be built up.

Lokman

O'Neill accepts the winner's trophy.

Lanfranchi warms up for his turn in the time trial.

Danielson fared better than expected.

Stage 2 profile

Stage 2 route

Dear Monique;I am a competitive masters road cyclist and I am 40. I was wondering what you would consider an acceptable winter weight gain over my racing weight of 165 lb. Also, do you feel that the Tanita body composition scale is an acceptable means of monitoring changes in body composition?Thanks, BR Question 2

World road champion Mario Cipollini was told Wednesday that he has to wait until May to find out if he can ride in this year's centenary Tour de France. Cippolini's Domina Vacanze team was not among the first 18 teams named Wednesday by the organizers of the world's biggest bike race, but Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc said he had another chance when wild cards were named on May 19. "We'd like to see him in the Tour but it depends on how his team performs," said Leblanc. Gilberto Simoni, whom four-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong rates as his biggest challenger, will ride

With its key Tour de France line-up intact, the United States Postal Team — backed in 2003 by new “presenting sponsor” Berry Floor — introduced its roster Tuesday to the press at a team camp in Solvang, California. Sticking with the formula that produced a fourth consecutive Tour victory for Armstrong — and a close second-place at the Vuelta for Spanish climber Roberto Heras — the U.S. Postal Team will basically follow the exact playbook for 2003. “In the past, we’ve had a hard time keeping the core group,” Armstrong told the media at a press conference following the team’s introduction.

There were no real surprises among the four wild-card teams added Wednesday by the organizers to the 14 already qualified to compete in the 90th Tour de France in July. Belgium’s new super squad, Quick Step-Davitamon, and Italy’s Saeco team were named according to their current UCI points tally (respectively third and ninth), but that logic didn’t apply to the two French teams (Fdjeux.com and Crédit Agricole) chosen by race director Jean-Marie Leblanc and his all-French selection group. If the rankings logic had been applied, two other Italian teams (Lampre and Domina Vacanze) would have

The 2003 U.S. Postal Team, working out the early season kinks in Solvang, California

Another year, another press conference: Armstrong and Brunyeel answer questions

Even with a broken hip, Floyd Landis brought his trademark personality to the team's introduction

Team bikes that may well win the Tour de France

Former Tour de France winner and Jan Ullrich said Tuesday thathis right knee is holding up nicely as he prepares to return to competitionthis spring. Ullrich underwent two separate operations on the knee lastyear. The 29-year-old Ullrich, who finally ended doubts over his future bysigning a three-year deal with Germany's Team Coast earlier this month,is due to leave for Italy next Monday for three weeks of training in Tuscany."I have already noticed during training that my knee is giving me noproblems at all," said the reigning Olympic road race champion. "But I'mstill going to take

Editor:Today is really a day of bad news (See “Women’sChallenge canceled”). The biggest women's race in America is gone.I wish I was Bill Gates.Johnny RingoReally? We think you were a lot cooler as a 19th-century desperado,Ringo. Much better haircut, too. -- EditorAnd now, live from Saturn …Editor:Bryan, I usually read your column (see “Surrealnotes from the road,” by Bryan Jew) and actually like it sometimes.I'm writing you from Saturn Camp for our sixth year in Solvang. Whereare you? Neal Rogers is here and having a blast with us. It seems thateveryone is jumping on the Solvang

Dear Lennard Zinn;We've been looking around for a good road bike for my girlfriend andone thing we've noticed is that the Shimano STI shifters do not fit herparticularly well. She has relatively small hands and the levers are justtoo far away from the bar for her to comfortably brake. I believe thatShimano addressed this issue in the mountain bike brake set up, but dothey or anyone else address it in the road arena? --MikeDear Mike;There is no alternative, short brake lever from Campagnolo or Shimanowith an integrated shift lever like ErgoPower or STI in it. You can addressit with the

Just months away from its 20th anniversary edition, organizers of Idaho's Women's Challenge confirmed Monday that the race, which has grown into the largest stage race in the United States and one of the biggest stops on the international women's calendar, has been canceled. "I'm just heartbroken," Women's Challenge director of operations Robyn Browne told VeloNews. "At first I was stunned, then I got I mad and now I'm beginning to understand what we're losing here and that's just really sad." Browne, who has been with Women's Challenge Inc. for seven

The management of Cannondale has announced on Monday that they intend to file a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on Tuesday, January 28th. Cannondale and its lenders have agreed to present the bankruptcy court with a tentative agreement, which would provide the company with interim financing to fund operating expenses and to meet supplier and employee commitments. “The interim financing will be used to continue the operation of our bicycle business,” said Cannondale founder and president Joe Montgomery. Cannondale has also reached an

The loss will be felt by both.

Ag2R's Mikel Astarloza relied on the sprinting prowess of his teammate Jaan Kirsipuu to hold off a final stage challenge from Stuart O'Grady, and a host of other Australians, hoping to keep the Spaniard from claiming the overall title at the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under. Meanwhile, Ceramiche-Panaria powerhouse Graeme Brown should have had little reason to complain after surviving a week of frustration to finally win a stage in this year’s race.

Astarloza holds on

Now he wants to this against Mario

Australia day in Adelaide

With a little help from his friends.... O'Grady tried to control the day

Astarloza and his team remained vigilant throughout

Gianpaolo Caruso catapulted himself into a thrilling four-way battle for overall victory in the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under by winning Saturday’s 147km fifth stage. Caruso, 22 and the 2001 Under 23 World Championship silver medalist, won the tough Wilunga circuit race in scorching 44C degree heat outsprinting a 10-man lead breakaway. In his second season with the Spanish ONCE team, Caruso beat Germany’s Stefan Weseman (Telekom) and Italian Paolo Lanfranchi (Panaria) for his first victory as a professional. He is now tied for third overall at 4 seconds behind new race leader, Spain’s

Caruso takes the sprint into Willunga

Astarloza takes over the lead

A day at the beach

Cadel Evans

Charging up Willunga Hill

Fabio Sacchi says he is enjoying the scorching heat of South Australia that baked the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under peloton with temperatures reaching 110 degrees Friday. But when asked about the heat Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen is putting upon his overall lead in the six-stage race that ends on Sunday, the Saeco leader becomes a bit wary. After the 144km fourth stage from Unley to Goolwa on Friday, Sacchi’s overall lead on McEwen dropped from 10 seconds to eight. Racing into a head wind, Australia’s Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) won the leg in a sprint from Graeme Brown (Panaria), Stuart

I’m not making this stuff up. I really couldn’t. According to an item in last week’s Denver Post, ABC TV was in town recently auditioning for its new reality show, “Are You Hot?” A quote from the Bill Husted column: “You don’t have to be talented to be on this show,” says ABC reality chief Andrea Wong. “You don’t have to sing, you don’t have to dance, you don’t have to do anything – except think you’re hot.” Sounds like the gig I’ve been seeking for years (aside from the hot part) — $100,000 for doing nothing (I know there are those of you who would argue that’s what I’m doing anyway, but I

“TV – a clever contraction derived from the words Terrible Vaudeville … we call it a medium because nothing’s well done.” newsman-turned-comedy writer Goodman Acein a letter to Groucho Marx A TV producer dropped me a note a while back, asking whether I’d be interested in working with him on a show he was pitching to the Outdoor Life Network. This proves what I suspected when I first heard about the original “Survivor” – that TV has finally scraped right through the bottom of the programming barrel and the rotting floor upon which it squats, and has begun burrowing through the rat-infested

Friends and family of bicycle industry veteran, John Pavlat, inviteyou to join in a celebration of his life in San Francisco, California,on Saturday, February 8, 2003 from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. at The Manhattan Loungelocated at 699 Market Street.San Francisco's Manhattan Lounge represents but one facet of John's life, a place where he often reveled in the music that moved and will alwaystouch his soul. In addition to John’s love for music, the celebration ofhis life will also be represented by his other passion – cycling. A group ride is being planned for Sunday morning. The exact details

Sacchi likes the weather, but is feeling the heat from McEwen

This time it's Cooke

The rideabout

Laidler spent much of the day on his own and did Sacchi a favor in the process

Friday's foaming rant: Recycled tubes

Friends and family to gather in honor of John Pavlat

With Robbie McEwen and Graeme Brown battling the final sprint in the third stage of the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under on Thursday, surprisingly much of the day’s attention was turned to a war of words between race leader Fabio Sacchi (Saeco) and Aussie Stuart O’Grady. Sacchi blasted the Credit Agricole star for questioning the abilities of the visiting Italian team. Sacchi, who continued to hold the race leader’s jersey after the third stage from Glenelg to Hahndorf, was upset over comments made by O’Grady in his daily newspaper column. Published in the local Adelaide newspaper The

Hi Bob;I am the coordinator of a youth mountain biking program called IMBA Sprockids. I am trying to find information that proves cycling is safe for kids. If you have any valuable statistics or information that might help me out, it would be greatly appreciated. Many parents and school boards are leery of mountain biking programs for kids because they feel they are dangerous. You and I both know that with proper guidance, cycling is very safe. Thanks,Brandon DwightIMBA Sprockids coordinator Dear Brandon;Your question raises several issues, and I will cover most of these in a cursory

She’ll never be confused with megastars like Kobe Bryant or David Beckham, but after winning the women’s cross-country world championship last September in Austria, even Gunn-Rita Dahle has found the need to duck out of the limelight from time to time. That’s what brought her here to the VeloNews HQ town of Boulder, Colorado, and we caught up with Dahle last week for an exclusive interview. Here are some of the highlights. VeloNews: What brought you to Boulder?Gunn-Rita Dahle: Mostly I just needed some uninterrupted training time and some time away from the stress. After the season ended I

British cyclist David Millar was told Thursday that if he doesn't like the set-up at his French team Cofidis he can go look elsewhere. Millar, who won a stage in last year's Tour de France after winning the prologue in 2000 - but who has been criticised widely for his failure to fulfill what many regard as his star potential - hit out at the team's tactics in sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday. Cofidis manager Alain Bondue hit back at the 26-year-old Scot's comments. "At the end of the day, we don't force anyone to ride for our team and if our system doesn't

This one was close

Sacchi: Handling the heat?

ONCE tries its hand

Podium boy

Gunn-Rita Dahle

New jersey, same talent

That sinking feeling - the Red Bull Ride

Bondue: Millar has to look at himself in the mirror.

Millar: The system at Cofidis doesn't appeal to me anymore

Saeco’s Fabio Sacchi has learned one thing about racing in Australia: forget trusting anyone, even your mates. Sacchi took the race lead by winning yesterday's second stage through the Barossa Valley to Kapunda. The result continues the Milan rider's success in the event, which includes two spells in the yellow leader's jersey and a stage win from the 2001 and 2002 races. Asked what his past appearances in the race had taught him, he said he came away with just one clear lesson. “I learned not to trust anyone, including your friends,” Sacchi noted. By Sunday, when the 735km race ends in

Dear Monique;Thanks for taking the time to write your column. I have a couple ofquestions for which I can not seem to find an answer.For rides less than 1 hour, I sometimes have a gel before the ride anddrink a bottle of Endurox during the ride, is this excessive?For rides longer than 1 hour (typically 1.5 to 2 hours) I have a gelbefore the ride, a gel an hour into the ride, and a bottle of Endurox anda bottle of water- is this excessive?I have been thinking that I am putting too much into my system- butI always feel pretty good. After the long rides, I will eat a normal breakfastor lunch. Am

The upcoming Tour of Qatar cycling race will not be threatened by a potential conflict in the Middle East, race organizer Jean-Marie Leblanc said Wednesday. Leblanc said that the race, held in the little Middle East country that juts out into the Persian Gulf east of Saudi Arabia, holds no hidden dangers for any of the sports top names. Leblanc, who visited Qatar recently to examine the situation, said that he feels comfortable holding the race, despite the growing threat of conflict in the region. "The message from Qatar is clear: 'above all tell everyone in Europe that there's no