Christian Vande Velde

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.

Although shortened from five to three days, the Vuelta a Murcia in Spain will see a top field for the race set for March 4-6.

The American is training Rocky-style for another go at the Tour next year.

Hot off finishing the Vuelta a España, Christian Vande Velde is looking to end his tumultuous 2010 season on a high note with a strong showing at the world championships in Australia.

Tyler Farrar is the likely leader of the nine-man U.S. men team for the world's road race. A cast of young riders, and perhaps Christian Vande Velde, will provide support.

Christian Vande Velde has a minor crash on the Vuelta's third stage, outside an olive oil factory. The American vet is looking to finish off his 2010 season with a strong Vuelta.

Ryder Hesjedal knows he has to change roles in the absence of team leader Christian Vande Velde.

Broken ribs force Garmin's GC man out, but the team's Farrar and Dean will continue after a hospital check.

On the Fourth, four of the eight Americans were involved in crashes. Leipheimer gets good news from an X-ray.

Prologue time differences may be small, but they are a good indicator of overall success at the Tour..

Garmin-Transitions' top GC rider starting Tour with pain and uncertainty

Two days of Dutch carnage has ripped a hole into the GC at the 2010 Giro d’Italia and struck fear into any rider looking ahead to these same roads across Holland this summer for the Tour de France.

Just a day after nearly everything went right for Garmin-Transitions, capped by Tyler Farrar’s stage victory Sunday, nearly everything went wrong less than 24 hours later.

Christian Vande Velde is holding nothing back this season as he sets his sights on the ultimate prize of the Tour de France.

"Six years ago, the bigger racing names started coming over more often. Some visitors include Lance Armstrong, Svein Tuft with the whole Symmetrics team, Andy Hampsten, Connie Carpenter, Tom Danielson, Jeff Louder, Tyler Wren, Chris Wherry, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski ..."

There’s job security for the top names at Garmin-Transitions for 2010 as the squad officially unveils its official lineup for the upcoming season.