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Colavita-Bolla announced Thursday that it has completed its 2004 roster with the signing of Vic Roads Herald Sun Tour winner Tim Johnson. The former Saturn pro has been building a solid reputation as professional, not only winning this year’s Sun Tour but also the grueling 260km Classique Montréal-Québec, the Mount Washington Hill Climb and multiple national championships and world championships appearances. In 1999, Johnson surprised many with a breakthrough bronze medal performance at the under-23 cyclo-cross world championship in Poprad, Slovakia. “I feel really great to be joining a

A few minutes after the slide show celebrating the season of the 5280 development team, Jonathan Vaughters addressed the small group of attendees at Denver’s Adega restaurant on Sunday evening. “The 5280 team is the main focus of the evening,” Vaughters said, “but I also have a ‘surprise’ announcement to make … one that most of you already know about, since I’m such a blabbermouth. I’m using tonight to also announce my retirement from professional cycling.” And at that, the 30-year-old Prime Alliance man put a formal end to his career as a pro. “I’d really already made the decision this

Bob,I was hit by a beverage truck in late 1999 here in Connecticut. Itwas the driver's fault, as he pulled out of a parking lot just as I passedby in the bike lane. I hit the side of his truck and broke my collarboneand hurt my knee. His insurance company paid for the bike. I had healthinsurance and that covered my ER visit. I was going to let the matter go,but in the last sixweeks, the knee injury has started to hurt so much Icannot ride. Is it too late to do anything about this case?T.S.ConnecticutDear T.S.,The good news is that you are not a “cold one.” The bad news is thatit is almost

In yellow at the '99 Dauphine, Vaughters had some pretty impressive support.

Team Time Trial win at the 2001 Tour de France

Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood: 'The Quest' is on...

Four U.S. track and field athletes have had their back-up B test samples confirmed as positive for the new designer steroid THG, a spokesman for the sport's governing body said on Wednesday. The International Association for Athletics Federations confirmed that the samples taken from the athletes matched initial A samples which were made known last month. The four, who have yet to be named officially, are entitled to an appeals hearing before the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency prior to a possible two-year ban. The samples were taken in June at the U.S. Track and Field Championships at Stanford

Beloki on that fateful day in July

Editor’s Note: We have included a random selection of the more than 75 letters we have received in response to Andrew Juskaitis’s request to “translate” the letter from UCI technical consultant Jean Wauthier regarding the UCI’s decision to ban disc brakes from cyclo-cross events (see "OK, OK Lance, I'll do what ever you say..."). Placing responsibility where it belongsDear Editors;Andrew Juskaitis writes in response to Jean Wauthier's e-mail to CraigWright at Redline, "If anyone can make heads or tails of this response,I (as wellas Wright) would appreciate a letter back."First, let's keep

Gilberto and the gauntletDear Editors;I have a different challenge for Gilberto Simoni (see "Simonichallenges Armstrong to Giro-Tour duel").  How 'bout you skipthe Giro d'Italia, and then try to explain why you still can't beat LanceArmstrong in the Tour de France?Paul A. LandryNew Iberia, LouisianaLet your legs do the talkin'Editors;Simoni is a great rider, but he lets his mouth talk instead of hislegs.  Wasn't he 84th at the Tour this year? Didn't he talk about beating Armstrong?Until Simoni actually beats Armstrong, he needs to shutup and ride.Bill Battle,Richmond, VAHold your tongue

Yep, that’s right, cue up “Auld Lang Syne” and give me a big ol’ sloppysmooch. Happy New Year!Okay, okay, you and I both know that, officially speaking, New Year’sis still a couple of months off, but hear me out on this one. For mostpro cyclists these early days of early November are, indeed, the time forresolutions and a new beginning.A lot of us have now had close to six weeks of down time, doing prettymuch whatever it is that we wanted, while not being chained to our beastsof burden or, in my case, a Colnago. So what do pro riders do with theirfree time in the fall? Well, I can only speak

Barnholt

West and Horgan-Kobelski

Dunlap on a training ride

Not exactly stock, but you get the drift...

No. 6 for Wedge

Kabush gives chase

Simms and Nicholson in the lead group

2004 Giro route unveiled

Bill Bavasi got the job as Seattle Mariners general manager today, which means I’m writing my column for at least another week…. Speaking of hirings, Threshold Sports yesterday announced that former U.S. pro Anton Villatoro has been named commissioner of the Pro Cycling Tour. I hope his first acts as commish are to abolish the designated hitter and reinstate Pete Rose. Or at least reinstate Gord Fraser. * * * The big news items this week were the signings of David Clinger by Health Net and Mark McCormack and Ivan Dominguez by Colavita-Bolla. Look for Colavita to announce the signing of one

The Odin Plus rear shock gets it too

The Ronin fork with Albert Plus damping

Nice loaner

Gaggioli

December 5 is the deadline for applications for the 2003 John Stenner Collegiate Cycling Scholarships offered by the USA Cycling Development Foundation. Awards of $1500 each will go to one male and one female athlete. Applicants must be full-time students for the academic year 2003-2004; U.S. citizens; and members of an National Collegiate Cycling Association club holding current USA Cycling racing licenses. Recipients will be announced December 10. The awards honor John Stenner, a 1992 Olympian and one of the founding fathers of the NCCA. Stenner died in 1994 at age 29 when he was struck

The Colavita-Bolla Professional Cycling Team announced today that Cuban fast man Ivan Dominguez will join the team for 2004. The former Pan American Games champion will join a reinforced line-up at Colavita-Bolla as it aims to rise to the top ranks of American professional cycling. Havana native Dominguez gained notoriety in 1998 when he defected to the United States following the New York-hosted Goodwill Games. For the last three years he has competed with the Saturn Cycling Team, achieving acclaim as a talented sprinter and all-rounder in North American racing. Among Dominguez's

It appears as though I’ve finally recovered from a Halloween weekend spent in Berkeley, California, for the Clif Bar Epiphany Ride and Tyler Hamilton’s “Tyler Tunes Live” town-hall-style get-together, held at the company’s headquarters. While the “official assignment” was to conduct an interview with Hamilton for our upcoming 2003 awards issue (on newsstands and in mailboxes November 24), the chance to share a ride with him was every bit part of the trip. The Epiphany Ride — a 150-mile trek through the Napa Valley commemorating Clif Bar founder Gary Erickson’s life-changing decision to

Albert Plus compression damping for Magura's line of forks

A number of bicycle racers who had undergone blood and urine tests at the beginning of September as part of an inquiry into hormone trafficking were found to be doping, the Belgian daily newspaper De Morgen reported Wednesday in Brussels. According to Morgen, which quotes judicial sources, some of the cyclists allegedly took Aranesp, a sophisticated doping agent comparable with EPO. The prosecutor’s office in Courtrai, which is in charge of an investigation focusing in particular on soigneur Herman Versele, who is close to the Belgian champion Johan Museeuw, declined comment. It is "too

Dear Bob,Last week, I was riding on a local greenway trail, with a daughter in a bike trailer. The trail crossed a street at a crosswalk with a signal light. I pushed the button, waited for the light to change, and started across. A driver talking on a cell phone didn't see the red light until too late, slammed on his brakes, and bumped me over. He must have called 911, because a police car and ambulance showed up a few minutes later. My daughter wasn't hurt and I just skinned my elbow and knee. He got a ticket. But the jerk never apologized, never checked on me or my daughter, or even got

The newly discovered designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), the focus of a doping scandal in world sport, is on the list of prohibited substances, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday. The Olympic and professional sports world was shocked last month when the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency reported that a new undetectable steroid – THG – had been created that allowed athletes to pass doping tests. "Following the recent developments regarding the anabolic steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), the International Olympic Committee and the

Don't wait until Thanksgiving to contact Clear ChannelEditor:A protest ride on Thanksgiving? I don't think so. This week, Clear Channel is meeting with negotiators to possibly fund a "Share the Road" campaign. They need to hear from bicyclists today, not a month from now. John NagieckiEureka, CaliforniaJohn says concerned cyclists should check out the November 2 update at www.trirats.org. – Editor Make DJs ride a few miles in our shoesEditor:This letter was also sent to Clear Channel CEO John Hogan. I am the CEO of a software company in Bellevue, Washington. I ride my bike to work as

Although no official announcement has been made, directors of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team presented by Maxxis have confirmed the addition of Californian David Clinger to an impressive 2004 roster that features former Mercury teammates Chris Wherry, Scott Moninger, Brice Jones, Mike Sayers and Gord Fraser as well as 7UP teammates John Lieswyn, two-time Olympic track racer Greg Henderson, Dan Schmatz, Hayden Godfrey and Jason McCartney. Also signed with the team are Tyler Farrar, Mike Jones, 2000 cross-country junior world champion Walker Ferguson and 2003 revelation Jason Lokkesmoe. “We

Mark McCormack hopes to continue his winning ways in a new wardrobe next season

Dropout and fork leg are no longer one

Fig. 1: Forces at work

Load applied

Fig. 2: The testing rig

Fig. 3: An Alpha Q and its ripped dropout

Clinger

Mark McCormack will be racing in Colavita-Bolla kit in 2004, according to the New Jersey-based squad. After closing out this season with Saturn, the Massachusetts native will headline the UCI Division 3 team during its second year in the professional ranks. McCormack recently completed the most successful season of his eight-year professional career, capturing the national champion's jersey at the Wachovia USPRO Championship and the overall title for the season-long Pro Cycling Tour. The Saturn veteran also took second place in the grueling T-Mobile International race in San Francisco and

Clear Channel’s been good to Phoenix teamEditor:I race for a cycling team sponsored by Clear Channel in Phoenix, and they have been a great partner in junior cycling development, our club's charter commitment. Of course, since they are an $8.4 billion company, there are many divisions, and one hand rarely knows what the other is doing. We, of course, had issues with the news of the jerk jocks back East, and one of our guys did some digging. Below is an October 2 press release from Clear Channel’s G105 Radio in Raleigh, North Carolina, that pretty much explains their position. I'm certain the

The home of cycling legend Eddie Borysewicz near Ramona, California, was one of some 2400 in San Diego County destroyed by wildfires in the past week. Apparently started as a signal fire by a lost hunter near the town of Julian, the so-called Cedar fire drew no immediate response, as most local fire crews were already fighting large fires near San Bernadino. Driven by Santa Ana winds of 50-60 mph, the blaze moved rapidly west, reaching the Ramona area northeast of San Diego early in the morning of October 26. Vic Copeland, a well-known racer and a close friend of Eddie B, has been to the

Eddie B's Southern California property before the fire ...

... and afterward

Healthy head needs a lidEditor:I can't stand it! I've worked in health care for over 30 years and seen all kinds of closed-head injuries – who do these fools thinks pays for all their rehab, medications and all the other care required? We do. So enough of, "It’s my life, and I'm only hurting myself." I pay for your foolishness every day. And why don't you take up smoking too? Shut up and put on your lid! Jeff Kline No helmet, no brainsEditor:I used to give all sorts of arguments on why all cyclists should wear helmets. Everyone knows these arguments and has heard them before. After

Ryan Trebon (left) and Todd Wells were working together until Trebon rolled a tire

But it would be Wells from that point on

Alison Dunlap didn't wait for help - she shot off from the gun

Mionske column simply answered a questionEditor:I am a recreational cyclist and a lawyer and I think Bob Mionske's column on helmets did exactly what it was intended to do: present a cogent legal position if someone is faced with recovering damages for an accident in which a cyclist was not wearing a helmet. What the column was not attempting to do was offer an opinion on whether common sense would dictate wearing a helmet. When your spouse, child, friend or even rival is struck and injured by a car, recovery of damages may be crucial to that person's ability to meet medical bills. "No

Colorado kids race in state MTB championship SaturdayThe fourth annual Colorado High School/Middle School State Championship mountain bike race will be held Saturday at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs. Riders ages 11-18 will converge from across the state to compete individually and as teams on a challenging short-circuit course. Registration opens at 10 a.m., with racing beginning at noon. Colorado is one of several states that have developed a regular high school state championship race. Others include California, Arizona, Tennessee, Kentucky and Maine. The race is open

How about urging all cyclists to wear helmets?Editor:In a recent column, Bob Mionske wrote: "I would urge cycling advocates to try to add no-blame clauses to their state bicycle helmet laws." How about urging cycling advocates to advocate that all cyclists, regardless of whether there are helmet laws or not, wear a helmet when they ride? It does sometimes happen, that a cyclist crashes and suffers serious injury, or even death, which could have been prevented by helmet use (ever heard of Andrei Kivilev, Bob?), without a car driver to blame it on. Even if there is another vehicle involved

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

He’s not romantically linked to a Hollywood actress, nor does he “hang out” with international rock stars and stand-up comics. But American Tyler Hamilton took another step towards celebrity status in his own humble fashion Thursday at a fundraiser hosted at Clif Bar’s headquarters in Berkeley, California. The CSC rider - who in 2003 enjoyed his finest season yet with wins at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour of Romandie and an impressive 142km solo breakaway during the Tour de France’s stage 16 - was in town to raise funds for his newly created Tyler Hamilton Foundation, a non-profit dedicated

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 (

The demon known as Puncturevine

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn

Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn

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

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 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

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.

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

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