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Readers and industry types offer some follow-up tips regarding recent columns.

• 1. Rochelle Gilmore, Lotto Honda Team, in 2:19:07
• 2. Giorgia Bronzini, Italy, at s.t.
• 3. Chloe Hosking, HTC HighRoad Women, at s.t.
• 4. Ellen Van Dijk, HTC HighRoad Women, at s.t.
• 5. Lucy Martin, Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.

The five-day “star” of Bessèges dates back to the early 1970s and has since grown into France’s first stage race of the year.

Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ) won the opening stage of the five-day Étoile de Bessèges in Tuesday’s 150km run from Beaucaire to Bellegarde in southern France.

Organizers of the Tour of California said Wednesday that athletes in this year's race will be subject to a rigorous anti-doping program that it says goes far beyond the programs at other races.

Fans hoping to see the professional debut of Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) will have to wait a little while longer. Phinney, the U.S. national time trial champion, announced on his blog Wednesday that he will miss his planned start at the Tour of Qatar due to a knee injury.

VeloNews' European correspondent Andrew Hood has had a chance to touch base with some of the top U.S. road pros in recent weeks, and he's gathered up highlights from their 2010 campaign and what they expect for the coming season.

MADRID (VN) — Movistar’s entry into the choppy waters of Spanish cycling made headlines south of the Pyrénées simply due to the size and symbolic significance of what the telecommunications giant brings to the table.

SYDNEY (AFP) — Up and coming Australian cyclist Jack Bobridge claimed one of track cycling's biggest prizes Wednesday when he beat Chris Boardman's 15-year-old world record for the 4km pursuit.

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David Etxebarria — the former Spanish classics specialist who was marginalized during the Operación Puerto doping investigation of 2006 — criticized Alberto Contador in a series of searing Twitter postings.

Don Catlin, former director of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Lab and, briefly, the overseer of Lance Armstrong's anti-doping program during his 2009 comeback, says a recent Sports Illustrated article on Armstrong contains innuendo and mischaracterizes elements of the story about him.

The Univest grand Prix organizer weighs in on the dispute between the Tour of the Battenkill and USA Cycling.

Mike Anderson, who worked as a mechanic and handyman for Lance Armstrong during the Texan’s years of Tour de France domination, has told VeloNews that he stands by accusations he has made that Armstrong possessed performance-enhancing drugs, and said he is “ashamed” of his former association with the star cyclist.

Former USA Cycling president Jim Ochowicz has downplayed allegations from Floyd Landis that he has been involved in political maneuvering between U.S. riders and the UCI.

Stage:

• 1. Andrea GUARDINI, (ITA), at 2:24:30
• 2. Robert FöRSTER, (GER) Unitedhealthcare Presented by Maxxis, at 0
• 3. Anuar MANAN, (MAS), at 0
• 4. Christoff VAN HEERDEN, (RSA) Mtn Cycling, at 0
• 5. Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL, (NED) Skil-Shimano, at 0

• 1. Jonathan MONSALVE, (VEN) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 30:08:57
• 2. Libardo NINO CORREDOR, (COL) Letua Cycling Team, at 5
• 3. Emanuele SELLA, (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 24
• 4. Dennis VAN NIEKERK, (RSA) Mtn Cycling, at 25
• 5. Rahim EMEMI, (IRI) Azad University Iran, at 25

From Leadville to stage races, endurance racer Rebecca Rusch covers a lot of ground in this interview...

Nick Legan puts a pair of Mercury carbon clinchers to the test.

Óscar Pereiro on Tuesday angrily denied doping allegations leveled against him by Floyd Landis.

Three-time U.S. national road champion “Fast” Freddie Rodriguez will join Team Specialized Racing in 2011 as a board member, mentor and rider.

Lennard Zinn on MTB bike storage and Shimano chains

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Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Details of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California stage routes and participating teams are beginning to take shape. Most notably, VeloNews has learned, the race will feature two summit finishes, including one atop San José’s steep Sierra Road climb on stage 4.

After six days of trying, the breakaway specialists in Le Tour de Langkawi finally had their say Monday, going clear during a shortened stage to Nilai and fighting it out for the win.

Stage:

• 1. Boris SHPILEVSKY, (RUS) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, at 2:40:52
• 2. Perrig QUEMENEUR, (FRA), at 2
• 3. Robert FöRSTER, (GER) Unitedhealthcare Presented by Maxxis, at 5
• 4. Baptiste PLACKAERT, (BEL) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, at 5
• 5. Omar LOMBARDI, (ITA) Colnago-CSF, at 5

• 1. Jonathan MONSALVE, (VEN) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 27:44:27
• 2. Libardo NINO CORREDOR, (COL) Letua Cycling Team, at 5
• 3. Emanuele SELLA, (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 24
• 4. Dennis VAN NIEKERK, (RSA) Mtn Cycling, at 25
• 5. Rahim EMEMI, (IRI) Azad University Iran, at 25

The USA CRITS Championship Series is on the rise in 2011. The series will roll out in Athens, Georgia, in April and will include ten men’s and eight women’s events, up from eight and five a year ago, respectively. Isaac Howe (Mountain Khakis-Jittery Joe’s) and Erica Allar (Vera Bradley Foundation) won the series overall titles in 2010.

The UCI on Sunday announced the international cyclocross race calendar for the 2011-12 season. Included on the schedule are 51 events in the United States, beginning with Nittany Lion Cross in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, September 10 and culminating in the national championships in Madison, Wisconsin, January 6-8.

2011 MTB worlds and 2012 World Cup season results biggest factors

Lennard takes a look back at the cyclocross brakes that worked for him during the season

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Team Movistar’s official presentation is Tuesday in Madrid, but Franco Pellizotti won’t be signing a late-hour contract with the Spanish team because his ongoing doping case remains unresolved.

Cuesta, who will turn 42 in June, landed a deal over the weekend with the Spanish pro continental team Caja Rural that will keep him the peloton through the 2011 season.

Building on the magazine’s award-winning aero wheel test, VeloNews creates a new, intensive method of bicycle evaluation

Who do you think will win Paris-Roubaix this year? Is Andy Schleck guaranteed the top spot at the Tour de France with Alberto Contador sidelined? VeloNews walks you through the full season ahead, listing our podium picks for every major race plus highlighting the riders and the factors that will shape the year ahead. Plus: we test six carbon clinchers on steep mountain roads, reveal the power output needed to ride at the world-class level, and take you inside the complete meltdown of Australia's greatest team that never was. Subscribe today!

It was a cold job, but intrepid tech expert ZW returned with rosy warm palms and a smile

Stage 3

• 1. Manuel Belletti (Ita), Colnago-CSF, at 4:29:42
• 2. Danilo Napolitano (Ita), Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo, s.t.
• 3. Sacha Modolo (Ita), Colnago-CSF, s.t.
• 4. Gianluca Maggiore (Ita), s.t.
• 5. Oscar Gatto (Ita), s.t.

Final overall

• 1. Daniele Pietropolli (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, 13:52:54
• 2. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 0:06
• 3. Daniel Oss (Ita), Liquigas-Doimo, at 0:09
• 4. Damiano Caruso (Ita), Liquigas-Doimo, at 0:10
• 5. Fortunato Baliani (Ita), at 0:10

Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre-ISD) wins the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria as Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF Inox) takes the finale.

• 1. Jérémy Roy (Fra), Française des Jeux , at 3:30:55
• 2. Sylvain Georges (Fra), Auber 93 , at 2:38
• 3. Romain Feillu (Fra), at 2:43
• 4. Jure Kocjan (Slo), Team Type 1 , at 2:43
• 5. Arthur Vichot (Fra), Française des Jeux , at 2:43

Jéremy Roy (FDJ) rode away with the GP La Marseillaise on Sunday in France to win the first one-day race of the 2011 European racing calendar.

Steve Thomas chats with Libardo Nino, the 42-year-old Colombian climbing who is just two seconds out of the lead at the Tour de Langkawi.

Graham Watson captures the action during the elite men's race at the 2011 cyclocross worlds in St. Wendel, Germany.

After taking a frustrated second on Saturday's stage to Tampin, UnitedHealthcare's Robert Forster went one better to blaze home first into Jasin on the eighth leg of the Tour de Langkawi.

Pegasus riders convened for a team-bonding camp in Queensland, Australia, in late November. But once learning the team had been denied Pro Continental status in late December, the exodus to other teams began. Many have found new rides for 2011, however several riders are still without confirmed jobs.

Stage 8:

• 1. Robert FöRSTER, (GER) UnitedHealthcare, in 3:23:32
• 2. André SCHULZE, (GER) CCC Polsat Polkowice, at s.t.
• 3. Dene ROGERS, (NZL), at s.t.
• 4. Andrea GUARDINI, (ITA), at s.t.
• 5. Boris SHPILEVSKY, (RUS) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, at s.t.

• 1. Jonathan MONSALVE, (VEN) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 25:03:12
• 2. Libardo NINO CORREDOR, (COL) Letua Cycling Team, at 2
• 3. Emanuele SELLA, (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 21
• 4. Dennis VAN NIEKERK, (RSA) Mtn Cycling, at 23
• 5. Rahim EMEMI, (IRI) Azad University Iran, at 24

• 1. Zdenek Stybar (CZE), at 1:06:37
• 2. Sven Nys (BEL), at 0:18
• 3. Kevin Pauwels (BEL), at 1:15
• 4. Francis Mourey (FRA), at 1:16
• 5. Philipp Walsleben (GER), at 1:18

Zdenek Stybar overcomes a battalion of Belgians to defend his world cyclocross crown.

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• 1. Marianne Vos (Ned), 40:31
• 2. Katherine Compton (USA), 40:48
• 3. Katerina Nash (Cze), 40:51
• 4. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger), 41:13
• 5. Jasmin Achermann (Sui), 41:41

Their Team Jamis cohort Blake Harlan wins Solo ahead of Andreas Hestler

Pegasus Racing, which just six months ago aimed to become Australia’s first ProTour team, has been denied a Continental license, leaving more than a dozen riders without jobs for 2011.

Stage 7

• 1. Andrea Guardini (ITA), Farnese Vini-Neri Sotttoli, 149.5km in 3:24:57
• 2. Robert Forster (GER), United Healthcare Pro Cycling, s.t.
• 3. Dene Rogers (NZL), Giant Kenda Pro Cycling Team, s.t.
• 4. Boris Shpilevsky (RUS), Tabriz Petrochemical Team, s.t.
• 5. Marcel Kittel (GER), Skil Shimano Cycling Team, s.t.

Overall, after stage 7

• 1. Libardo Nino Corredor (COL), Le Tua Cycling Team, 21:39:42
• 2. Jonnatha Monsalve (VEN), Androni Giocattoli, at 0:02
• 3. Emanuele Sella (ITA), Androni Giocattoli, at 0:19
• 4. Dennis Van Niekerk (RSA), Mtn Qhubeka, at 0:22
• 5. Rahim Emami (IRI), Azad University Cycling Team, s.t.

• 1. Haar Lars Van Der, (NETHERLANDS), at 0:52:01
• 2. Mike Teunissen, (NETHERLANDS), at 00:01
• 3. Karel Hnik, (CZECH REPUBLIC), at 00:01
• 4. Matthieu Boulo, (FRANCE), at 00:03
• 5. Tijmen Eising, (NETHERLANDS), at 00:04

• 1. Clément Venturini, (FRANCE), in 0:44:31
• 2. Fabien Doubey, (FRANCE), at 00:15
• 3. Loic Doubey, (FRANCE), at 00:15
• 4. Jakub Skala, (CZECH REPUBLIC), at 00:36
• 5. Laurens Sweeck, (BELGIUM), at 00:37

Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli) won his fourth bunch sprint in the Tour de Langkawi on Saturday.

The Netherlands' Lars Van der Haar took the worlds Under-23 men's title, charging to the line as teammate Mike Teunissen outsprinted the Czech Republic's Karel Hnik to take second on a muddy and slippery course in St. Wendel, Germany on Saturday.

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France's Clément Venturini led a three-up French sweep of the juniors' men's event at the 2011 world cyclocross championships in St. Wendel, Germany, on Saturday.

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The public soap opera that has developed over the past few week between Trent Lowe, Matt White and Slipstream Sports has had all the intrigue of a John Grisham novel — blackmail, betrayal, firings, lawyers and a Spanish doctor with a controversial past.

The cycling union announced Friday that non-European events must invite their regions’ top teams. For the U.S., the region is the Americas, and this means three Colombian squads may earn invites to the U.S.’s biggest races, likely displacing some U.S. teams.

Fly Mellow Johnny's Aviation, South Africa and Bahamas tours set

After what the World’s Federation for the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) called a “fruitful” meeting with the UCI, the cycling unions released a revised approval process Friday.

MONACO (AFP) - Embattled Tour de France winner Alberto Contador was wiped from the record when his former Astana team staged its 2011 launch on Friday.

Is pro cycling sport or entertainment? Master of ceremonies Patrick O'Grady has the envelope.

PUIGPUNYENT, Spain (VN) – Bjarne Riis said he will stick by Alberto Contador during his ongoing fight against doping charges so long as evidence suggests that clenbuterol came from accidental contamination.

Ask anyone about the way this weekend's racing will unfold at the cyclocross world championships in Saint Wendel, Germany, talk invariably turns to the thermometer. Above freezing? Below freezing?