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Matt Kelly, the surprise winner of the junior cyclo-cross world championship in Poprad, Slovakia, in 1999, is back. Kelly is the newest addition to the Subaru-Gary Fisher pro mountain bike team, and will fill the spot formerly held by Trent Lowe for the 2006 season. The youngster from Wisconsin briefly rose to prominence after his world’s win, but, unlike many of his contemporaries, never parlayed that first big win into a solid career. Kelly’s return to the pro ranks ends a four-year hiatus from the sport, which began in 2001 when the Wisconsin native pulled out of the Tour of the Gila

Kelly's back, and in blue

The sun shone most brightly on Katie Compton (Redline), who ran away with the elite women's race.

I have just been going through my photos from last weekend's Liberty Mutual U.S. national cyclo-cross championships in Providence, Rhode Island, and I found a few I thought I'd share. Granted, I'm not a professional photographer, but here are a few shots that capture some of the feel of the race. Next week: Mr. Rogers' best and worst from 2005.

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Respect and rulesVeloNews,As the Technical Coordinator for this year's U.S. Cyclo-Cross Nationalsand the one responsible for enforcing the staging procedures at the event,I feel compelled to respond to MarcVettori's characterization of Katie Compton's call-up spot a

Winter wonderland: Roger Williams Park was blanketed in snow following Friday's vicious winter storm.

Six-time national champion Jesse Anthony (Clif Bar) put in a valiant effort in the U23 race, chasing back to within 10 seconds of Troy Wells after a first-lap puncture set him back.

Russell Kappius attends to his son Brady's frostbitten hands after the juniors race. Kappius finished sixth behind Selander.

After battling with defending champion Bjørn Selander (Alan Factory) for most of the juniors race, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar rider Danny Summerhill soloed in for the title following a tangle that left Selander off the back.

Ryan Trebon had some supporters of his own in Rhode Island.

Former national champions Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) and Jonathan Page (Liberty Mutual-Cervelo) shook hands before heading into battle.

Kona's Ryan Trebon looking cold at the start of the elite men's race. Trebon finished second, but called it a less-than-stellar day: I’m not really happy with my race.

Three-time national champ Jonathan Page had supporters, but a stomach flu saw him relinquish his title to Todd Wells. Page finished an admirable third before heading back to the local hospital for intravenous fluids.

No one negotiated the slippery off-camber sections better than Todd Wells.

Linda and Pete Wells were proud parents after their sons took back-to-back national titles on December 10.

Canadian national champ Lyne Bessette was the only woman to race the Liberty Cup. Bessette had a good start, but abandoned the race after 40 minutes.

Nice shirt, bro: Elite champ Todd Wells and brother Troy, the U23 champ, were the first riders called to the front of the Liberty Cup.

Coming into the Liberty Cup race, a fair amount of hype surrounded Alex Coelho (Redline), who nearly won the Colorado elite cyclo-cross state championship on December 3. Coelho won the junior 15-16 national title by almost three minutes.

Valverde's attendance depends on how he does in the Tour

Dear Bob,I've Googled, and I’ve searched the Kentucky Legislature site, butthe only Kentucky "laws" I can find dealing with bikes on the road areabout lights, reflectors, etc. I can't find anything about cars havingto pass bikes with 3 feet of clearance (which appears to be the "universalstandard"). I've looked through both the Kentucky Revised Statutes andthe Kentucky Administrative Rules, and there's nothing other than"Wear a helmet" and "use a reflector.”I’ve tried asking cops. A local cop didn't know of any bike-specificlaws. I talked with a state cop. He had no idea

Sastre, shown in the 2005 Vuelta, hopes to defend his podium finish

Mancebo, also seen in the '05 Vuelta, calls the '06 route 'spectacular'

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Here’s something for your listDear Velo,Hot:Katie Compton storming to her second national title from far back in the pack.Not:The decision to disrespect the current national champion, and deny her a call up.I wonder if next year a two-time national champion will get the same shabby

Manuel Piñera, president and majority stock holder of the firm that manages the Liberty Seguros cycling team, has resigned in apparent reaction to the Roberto Heras doping scandal. "I'm leaving because there are things I do not agree with and that I cannot change even though I am president of the team," Piñera told Spain’s sports daily AS on Tuesday. Piñera is currently the largest shareholder in Active Bay, the management company that runs the Liberty squad, but in addition to his resignation, he said he plans to sell his shares to team directors Manolo Saiz and Pablo Anton. Piñera

The Navigators Insurance Cycling team is bigger than ever as it prepares for the 2006 season. New on the 17-man squad are Uzbekistan’s Sergey Lagutin, the 2003 under-23 world road champion and reigning Uzbek national road and time trial champion; former Ukrainian national champion Valeriy Kobzarenko; Australians Glen Chadwick and Ben Brooks; and two Americans, former Navigators rider T. Burke Swindlehurst and Bernard Van Ulden, third in the time trial at the 2005 U.S. national championships. Returning riders include sprinter Vassili Davidenko, 2005 Irish national champ David O’Loughlin,

Ask the Doctor: A brighter shade of.... yellow?

Tech Shorts: Cannondale and Health Net; SRM and FSA; Scott plans new design; Serotta suggests stem check

Five riders have received automatic nominations to USA Cycling’s 2006 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships squad, the governing body announced Tuesday. Daniel Summerhill (TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar) of Englewood, Colorado, earned his automatic bid by winning the junior men’s national championship at the Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships December 9-11 in Providence, Rhode Island. Troy Wells (TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar) of Durango, Colorado, and Jesse Anthony (Clif Bar) of Beverly, Massachusetts, earned automatic selections in the under-23 category. Wells rode to a national title on

Summerhill, shown winning at nationals in Rhode Island, is among the automatic nominations to the 2006 'cross-world's team

Our latest reader-submitted Photo Gallery is now up for your viewing pleasure. Of course, a new gallery also means the naming of the winner of ourmost recent contest. Take the time to wander through that gallery and see if you agree or disagree with our choice of winner. After looking through a remarkable selection of entries, we settled Michael Oryl’s “Crossing Loveland Pass In The Snow,” not because it was the most technically perfect photo submitted that week, but because it just reflected the lengths to which many of us will go to “enjoy” this beautiful sport of ours. Somebody get

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.It's all about the kidsDear Editor,Good for Lance, in the closing remarks of his interviewwith John Wilcockson, promoting bicycle racing for juniors.He knows what stimulated his interest in competitive sports, what weneed more of, and what is good for kids. Everywhere I turn in the

VeloNews Photo Contest: A new Gallery

Capelle in 2004

Bruno Roy drives into third

What is this, a casting call for the next 'Captain America' remake?

Compton shot from 41st to No. 1 in less time than it took to write this caption

Knapp fought valiantly, but wound up with silver

The ferocious weather froze racers to the bone and forced the postponement of two events

Todd Wells wins the elites

Troy Wells takes the under-23 race

Summerhill celebrates his junior title

Illness erased Page's edge

Jesse Anthony saw his unbeaten streak snapped

Brent Bookwalter took the collegiate race and laid down a serious challenge in the under-23 contest

Speaking of 'under-23' . . . .

Um, yes, the weather was inhospitable

Just ask this guy (and his laundry)

The course

'Treefarm' on the march

When Lance Armstrong strolled into the private air terminal at his hometown airport in Austin for this interview he was dressed down for the gig he was attending that night, starring his fiancée, Sheryl Crow. A small duffle bag over his shoulder, Armstrong wore designer jeans deliberately spotted with white paint, a black Nike-brand T-shirt bearing the gray silhouette of an eagle, thick-soled black punk-style ankle boots, and a sharp, black baseball cap advertising the “SIX Lounge, Austin, Texas.” In the couple of hours before he climbed into an executive jet, Armstrong spoke to VeloNews at

. . . must come down

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.I ride because I rideEditor,I just finished riding the rollers for the evening. I had the `95 world’sin Colombia in the VCR, the volume turned down and the Ipod turned up.I had to, because if I hear Phil misidentify Oliverio Rincon as FernandoEscartin one more time I'm going to

The only guy to do that.

Buddies. Bruyneel has played a critical role in Armstrong's success.

Armstrong had issues with Simeoni

Armstrong didn't like this one.

Can Page do it again?

Compton will start at the front this year - and this time, everyone will be watching her

Wells has been going for quality, not quantity

Johnson is renowned for his toughness in bad weather

And then, there are the Kona boys

Welcome to the national slip-and-slide championships

Got your studded snows on?

Dale Knapp has a look of disbelief on his face en route to winning the 40-44 race

But snow is old news to Kansas boy Steve Tilford, victory in the 45-49

What goes up . . .

VeloNews and Inside Triathlon name new sales staffDecember 8, 2005Boulder, CO -- VeloNews and Inside Triathlon magazinesannounce important changes to the advertising sales staff at these leadinginternational cycling and triathlon titles:*Promoted to group advertising director for VeloNews and InsideTriathlon is Nick Ramey, a three-year sales veteran of both titles,and most recently advertising director for Inside Triathlon. A competitivecyclist and multisport athlete (Xterra is his favorite event), Ramey leda renaissance in advertising page sales at Inside Triathlon in 2005,setting new

On the heels of a thrilling 2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross Series, that included record fields racing in sweltering Californian heat and a freezing East Coast blizzard, the schedule for the 2006 mixes up locations and dates, adding some variety to the series in it s third year. "Coming off a highly successful second edition of the Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross, we are pleased to announce an exciting schedule for 2006.," said Paul Salvucci, U.S. Gran Prix Director of Operations. "The combination of continued growth in the sport, highly motivated promoters,

This week in Austin, the 2006 Discovery Channel team is enjoying its first get-together of the winter. Missing from the roster, of course, is the name of Lance Armstrong, who hung up his cleats after winning a record seventh consecutive Tour de France last July. A couple of weeks prior to the training camp, VeloNews met with Armstrong in Austin to record his parting shots on his 13 years as a professional cyclist. The interview appears in the December 5 issue of VeloNews, which contains a special section looking back on Armstrong’s career. Included in the issue is a look at all of the

Armstrong collects his final Tour

Armstrong wins the world's in 1993

The 2003 Tour was a tough one; it included the famous cyclo-cross around the fallen Joseba Beloki

Stage 15 of the 2003 Tour was a tough day at the office; Armstrong won that stage

A different sort of ride, post-retirement: Armstrong mountain biking with President Bush in August

A different sort of spotlight: at the Grammys with Sheryl Crow

Is he hurting or not? Armstrong strove to be a tough read

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Go for it Ivan!Dear EditorI want to voice my support for Ivan Basso in hisquest for the Giro/Tour double. I think it is refreshing to see thatsomeone still has the guts to go for the big prize. Sure, winning the Tourwould be great for Basso, and by going for the win in Italy he is

USA Cycling has selected its team for the UCI Track Cycling World Cup December 9-11 at the Manchester Velodrome in Manchester, England. The riders are Michael Blatchford (Veloworx), Cypress, California; Kevin Belz (CKR Racing), Irving, Texas; Giddeon Massie (Cody) Colorado Springs, Colorado; Christian Stahl (CKR Racing), Bethany, Connecticut; Sarah Hammer Temecula, California; Becky Quinn, Quakertown, Pennsylvania; and Jennie Reed (Gregg's Trek-VW Racing), Kirkland, Washington. Selection procedures for the track talent pool can be found at the USA Cycling website For more about the

With 1700 athletes converging on Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island, for the Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships, promoters needed to find companies capable of giving every athlete critical pre-race support. Clif Bar has been selected to create the warm-up area and cool-down zone available for every athlete, positioned close to the start-finish area. Mavic and its famous Tour de France 'Service Course' will be on hand to provide mechanical support. And Polar Beverages will operate the water station. "These are the national championships. We appreciate