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• 1. Tony Martin, HTC -Highroad, with 108 points
• 2. Cameron Meyer, Team Garmin-Cervelo, with 106 points
• 3. Harley Goss Matthew, HTC -Highroad, with 103 points
• 4. Andreas KlÖden, Team Radioshack, with 88 points

MACERATA, Italy (VN) – Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) is taking a good look at three of his top Tour de France rivals this week in Italy. The overall leader at Tirreno-Adriatico said Sunday, however, that his focus was squarely on winning the final GC in his first stage race of the year.

It’s not the fact that Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) won one of France’s most prestigious races at Paris-Nice that has everyone taking notice, but how he did it.

Chris Horner is making a later-than-usual start to the 2011 season, but plans to come out guns-a-blazin’ with a season debut next week at the Volta a Catalunya (March 21-27) in Spain.

CINGOLI, Italy (VN) – Training. That’s what Ivan Basso is doing at Tirreno-Adriatico this week. He also happens to be two seconds out of the lead in the general classification after Sunday’s fifth stage.

Stage 5

• 1. Philippe Gilbert, (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, 6:43:23
• 2. Wouter Poels, (NED), Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team, at 0:00
• 3. Damiano Cunego, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:00
• 4. Danilo Di Luca, (ITA), Katusha Team, at 0:00
• 5. Andrey Amador Bakkazakova, (CRC), Movistar Team, at 0:00

Overall Standings

1. Cadel Evans, (AUS), BMC Racing Team, at

2. Ivan Basso, (ITA), Liquigas-Cannondale, at 0:02

3. Damiano Cunego, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:03

4. Michele Scarponi, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:05

5. Robert Gesink, (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:05

The BMC racing team has announced that it's newest star, Taylor Phinney, will return to racing at the Volta a Catalunya (March 21-27) following his recovery from a training ride crash last month.

CASTELRAIMONDO, Italy (VN) ─ Classics star Philippe Gilbert didn't miss the decisive moment at Tirreno-Adriatico Sunday. Instead, the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider out-kicked a 13-rider group in Castelraimondo to capture stage 5 of the 'race of the two seas.'

Paris-Nice, Stage 8

• 1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 3:15:58
• 2. Diego Ulissi, Lampre-ISD, at 0:23
• 3. Julien El Fares, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:06
• 4. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 01:06
• 5. David Lopez Garcia, Movistar Team, at 01:06

Overall standings

• 1. Tony Martin, HTC-Highroad, 34h 03' 37"
• 2. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 0:36
• 3. Bradley Wiggins, Sky Procycling, at 00:41
• 4. Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:10
• 5. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 01:13

Women's Elite XC: Pro XCT #1 2011

Men's Elite Results: Pro XCT #1 2011

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Brutal Paris-Nice stage takes its toll

Georgia Gould and Jeremiah Bishop kick off national XC racing season with wins

Stage Results

• 1. Rémy Di Gregorio, Pro Team Astana, 5:46:23
• 2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:05
• 3. Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, at 00:05
• 4. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 00:07
• 5. Tony Martin, Htc-Highroad, at 00:07

Overall

• 1. Tony Martin, Htc-Highroad, 30:46:17
• 2. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 00:36
• 3. Bradley Wiggins, Sky Procycling, at 00:41
• 4. Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:10
• 5. Jean-Christophe Peraud, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 01:21

Remy Di Gregorio (Astana) made a tremendous save in the final kilometers after slipping on white, wet traffic stripe to win a wild, crash-filled ride in Saturday’s 215km seventh stage at Paris-Nice.

CHIETI, Italy (VN) ─ Michele Scarponi landed the first blow in the GC battle, his Lampre-ISD teammate Damiano Cunego close behind, in stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) nearly closed a 10-second gap on the 19-percent ramp into Chieti, but came up just short, with Cunego passing him and both taking same time in the final meters.

WASHINGTON, D.C. ─ Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) has criticized the ongoing federal probe into seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and allegations of doping.

The UCI cleared the way for the new Danish Christina Watches-Onfone team, featuring Michael Rasmussen, by approving its bid for a continental license.

What you've been waiting for (or not): a fat-tired recumbent

TERNI, Italy (VN) — It’s not time to hit the Mark Cavendish panic button just yet. So says HTC-Highroad sports director Valerio Piva.

Stage 3

• 1. Juan José Haedo (ARG), Saxo Bank Sungard, 4:39:45
• 2. Tyler Farrar (USA), Team Garmin-Cervelo, s.t.
• 3. Daniel Oss (ITA), Liquigas-Cannondale, s.t.
• 4. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA), Lampre-Isd, s.t.
• 5. Mark Renshaw (AUS), HTC-Highroad, s.t.

Overall, after Stage 3

• 1. Tyler Farrar (USA), Team Garmin-Cervelo, 9:53:51
• 2. Juan José Haedo (ARG), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 0:05
• 3. Lars Boom (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:06
• 4. Oscar Freire Gomez (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:08
• 5. Thomas Leezer (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:08

Or maybe not. The UCI clarifies its rule on time trial shifters, causing some team mechanics to get creative

PERUGIA, Italy (VN) — J.J. Haedo (Saxo Bank-Sunguard) overcame a final-kilometer acceleration from Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo) to steal a win in stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico. Hushovd’s teammate and overall leader Tyler Farrar finished second, followed by Italian Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale).

Stage

• 1. Tony Martin, HTC - Highroad, in 33:24
• 2. Bradley Wiggins, Sky Procycling, in 33:44
• 3. Richie Porte, Saxo Bank Sungard, in 33:53 at 00:29
• 4. Andréas KlÖden, Team RadioShack, in 34:10 at 00:46
• 5. Jean-Christophe Peraud, Ag2r La Mondiale, in 34:19 at 00:55

GC

• 1. Tony Martin, HTC - Highroad, in 24:59:47
• 2. Andréas KlÖden, Team RadioShack, at 00:36
• 3. Bradley Wiggins, Sky Procycling, at 00:39
• 4. Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:10
• 5. Jean-christophe Peraud, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 01:14

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France, March 11, 2011 (AFP) - German Tony Martin of HTC-Highroad hammered home his victory intentions in the Paris-Nice by winning the sixth stage time trial to take command of the race lead on Friday.

PERUGIA, Italy (VN) ─ Two weeks ago, Rabobank’s Sebastian Langeveld was the star of the opening classics weekend. With Milan-San Remo and the Belgian cobbles around the corner, the Dutchman is staying low key on his talent-rich team at Tirreno-Adriatico.

Pua Mata is back on the bike and endurance races with Team Sho-Air

Must Reads: Saíz on the comeback trail, Lange retires

Charlie Wegelius brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to UnitedHealthcare, but it appears that it’s Wegelius who is getting more out of the bargain.

Vuelta a España officials said they will release their wild-card invitations to the 2011 edition in May and suggested it may follow the lead taken by the Giro d’Italia, which recently invited five extra teams to the corsa rosa.

What does the passport do? How does it work? What are its limitations? Can athletes manipulate it?

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Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Frames from five manufacturers are the first to get UCI approval

On Wednesday morning Tirenno-Adriatico kicked off with a street sprint competition. The local kids cycling club "Velo Club Carrara" had the opportunity to race the first few hundred meters, on the same course the pros would ride later in the day. VeloNews photo director Brad Kaminski sent back a few shots from the event.

Check out Brian Holcombe's author page.

Who tests Mavic's MTB hoops? XC-God Julien Absalon, of course

Stage 2

• 1. Tyler Farrar, (USA), Team Garmin-Cervelo, 4:56:06
• 2. Alessandro Petacchi, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, s.t.
• 3. José Haedo Juan, (ARG), Saxo Bank Sungard, s.t.
• 4. Mark Renshaw, (AUS), Htc-Highroad, s.t.
• 5. Marcel Sieberg, (GER), Omega Pharma-Lotto, s.t.

Overall Standings

• 1. Tyler Farrar, (USA), Team Garmin-Cervelo, 5:14:13
• 2. Thomas Leezer, (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:01
• 3. Lars Boom, (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:01
• 4. Sebastian Langeveld, (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:01
• 5. Oscar Freire Gomez, (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:01

Exclusive first look: K-Edge is developing an electric-shift mountain bike group.

Nick talks about flying with bikes and takes a few questions about shoes and cleats.

Stage

• 1. Andréas KlÖden, Team RadioShack, in 4:59:00
• 2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel - Euskadi, at s.t.
• 3. Matteo Carrara, Vacansoleil-Dcm, at s.t.
• 4. Tony Martin, HTC—Highroad, at s.t.
• 5. Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at s.t.

GC

• 1. Andréas KlÖden, Team RadioShack, in 24:26:13
• 2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel - Euskadi, at 00:04
• 3. Matteo Carrara, Vacansoleil-Dcm, at 00:06
• 4. Tony Martin, HTC—Highroad, at 00:10
• 5. Robert Kiserlovski, Pro Team Astana, at 00:10

RadioShack’s Andreas Kloden positioned himself for overall victory at Paris-Nice after taking a stage victory in Thursday’s 193km fifth stage ahead Samuel Sanchez.

Tyler Farrar's major pro wins

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Nick Legan gets a first-look at AceCo's sweet Ki2 electric shift package

Alberto Contador strongly defended himself against claims that his clenbuterol positive was triggered by a possible blood transfusion during the 2010 Tour de France.

Christian Vande Velde isn’t going to tempt fate yet again and is steering clear of the Giro d’Italia this year as he prepares for a peak in form for the 2011 Tour de France.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

The German Pro Continental squad NetApp earned a wild card invite to Paris-Roubaix, the race announced earlier this month. Team director Ralph Denk said the squad, which includes American Steven Cozza, was "euphoric" over the team's first selection for a WorldTour event.

USA Cycling released its selection procedures to be used to select members of the men's road squad for the 2012 Olympics in London. The procedures outline the selection process to qualify for the men’s Olympic road race and time trial in London 2012.

The results of the weekend speak for themselves: three stage wins, 1-2-3 GC and the points jersey. What I most happy about is that three different riders won a stage. We rode like a TEAM, all for one and one for all.

Some more vid from a day in the life of a bike maker

• 1. Rabobank, 16.8km in 18:08
• 2. Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:09
• 3. HTC-Highroad, at 0:10
• 4. Saxo Bank-Sungard, at 0:11
• 5. Liquigas-Cannondale, at 0:22

The heavy sprint corps at Tirreno-Adriatico may be without Andre Greipel after the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider crashed hard during a pre-ride of the course and injured his face.

Stage 4

• 1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, in 5:04:20
• 2. Rémi Pauriol, Fdj, at s.t.
• 3. Thomas De Gendt, Vacansoleil-Dcm, at 00:00
• 4. Rémy Di Gregorio, Pro Team Astana, at s.t.
• 5. Heinrich Haussler, Team Garmin - Cervelo, at 00:13

GC

• 1. Thomas De Gendt, Vacansoleil-Dcm, in 19:26:46
• 2. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 00:10
• 3. Rémi Pauriol, Fdj, at 00:16
• 4. Harley Goss Matthew, HTC - Highroad, at 00:21
• 5. Rémy Di Gregorio, Pro Team Astana, at 00:24

A day after just falling short in a breakaway effort, French national champion Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) got in right with victory in Wednesday’s 191km seven-climb fourth stage at Paris-Nice when a four-man breakaway stayed clear of the fast-chasing peloton.

Must Reads: London Olympic TT courses finalized; Queally eyes Olys return

Rabobank takes team time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico, Lars Boom in lead