Pegoretti: "Dreamride" In Disguise

Dario Pegoretti plying his trade. One customer explains that upon thanking Pegoretti for his custom built and painted frame, was told "It's only eight tubes welded together." Modesty from a true master builder

Ever heard of Pegoretti bikes? Thought not. Because no one wanted you to. Dario Pegoretti designed and built frames that were ridden exclusively by European pros like Miguel Indurain, Marco Pantani, Stephen Roche, Alex Zulle, Claudio Chiappucci, Mario Cippolini, Andy Hampsten, and Andrea Tafi among others throughout the 90's. The above riders had their bikes labeled for the team bike sponsor, whether it was Pinerello, Look, Colnago, or even Bianchi. This was done because the rest of the team was riding the team sponsor bike, and the sponsors themselves didn't want a boutique bike maker stealing their thunder---not to mention outfitting the best rider on the team, the one who would receive the most attention from the cameras and the fans.

CSC eat your heart out!

Made in Italy by master framebuilder Dario Pegoretti, the Pegoretti frame is known by cycling afficianados as a "Dreamride." One of a kind and built by hand, Pegoretti's are made only of Aluminum and Steel, though Pegeretti's experimentation with exotic alloys is world-renowned. Dario's rise to frame building prominence started in in 1975 where he began his apprenticeship in with the legendary builder Luigino Milani of Verona. Today, he is counted among the most respected frame builders in the business. Always modest, he often says "it's just a bike, it's not an airplane" and that "building a frame is a work made by sight."

Only Pegoretti could use "Bianchi Green" with such success

Today, Dario continues to build frames, even while dealing with cancer. He recently came out of chemotherapy and is back in the shop creating beautiful framsets. One imagines he'll design frames until he is taken from the earth. So you want to get your hands on one of these, heh? Well, you'll need a bit of cash, about $3000 to be exact. At first glace, this seems an extravagance, but is it really? Hand-built, hand-painted and built specifically to your specifications? I say its a deal. Here's to you Dario, may you continue building one-of-a-kind frames for many years to come!

Flawless lines and intricate paint patterns make Pegoretti one-of-a-kind

****Jessica Monaloy and Paul Whiting contributed to this story---thanks!****

Gregario Profile: Bram De Groot, 33, Rabobank

Bram De Groot is one of my favorite riders in the peloton today. A quiet, unassuming veteran of pro cycling, De Groot rides in support of others. The technical term for this kind of rider is different depending on where you are. In France, it is domestique or rouler, in Spain and Italy, gregario. In America, there really is no word for this type of athlete. The closest term we have here in the states is workhorse.

De Groot couldn't believe I knew who he was at the Tour of California in 2007. To me, it was as cool as meeting Paolo Bettini

To be a gregario in pro cycling is thankless and grueling work. You ride in the wind for long periods of time, fetch water and food for your team leader and generally suffer throughout the race as you try to make the race as comfortable as possible for your captain. Some riders can make a career of this if they are good enough, and De Groot does just that.

Then, every once in a great while, the gregario "has his day in the hot sun," as a hero of mine says. For De Groot, he was lucky enough to have two such days. In 2003, in the biggest bicycle race in the world, the Tour de France, De Groot secured a third place (behind the now retired Jacob Piil and Fabio Sacchi) in stage 10 and second place (behind his future teammate Juan Antonia Flecha) in stage 11 two days later. Although he didn't earn outright victory, making the podium in any stage of the Tour is a huge accomplishment, let alone doing it twice in the same year.

Off the front early with Jens Viogt in stage three of the 2006 Tour de France

Some other riders that have made long careers out of helping other riders achieve greatness are Andreas Kloden, "Chechu" Rubiera, Mattao Tossato, Bobby Julich and Guido Trenti. They all have in common the fact that they sacrifice their own results for the sake of others. To me, there is no better role in all of sports than that of the gregario. To give up one's own chance to support those of another teammate who is stronger is truly sporting.

De Groot will no doubt ride through 2008 with the same gritty determination and pride, all the while with the permanent wry smile he is known so well for glued to his face. If all goes to plan, he'll celebrate at least once in the Spring with either Friere or Dekker, and then again in France with GC threat Menchov. Either way though, he'll give his all and leave it out on the road, like he always does.

De Groot is always glad to accommodate his tifosi. Here he signs away at Le Tour á Valkenbourg. Nice Mullet!

Astana To Miss the Tour de France in 2008? TDF Works To Keep All Dopers Away

With rumors circulating that the Astana team and others may be left off of the Tour de France's invite list for 2008, let's take time to consider the implications of such a decision.

First and foremost, last year's champion, Alberto Contador, would miss his chance at defending his title, which he won dubiously when multiple race leaders/contenders were kicked out of the Tour last year for doping related suspicions. Contador would like nothing more than to defend his title and put to rest any doubts about the worthiness of his 2007 win. With the exclusion of the Astana team, this would not be a possibility.

Contador (left) and Valverde (right) may not get a chance to contest the 2008 Tour de France

Levi Leipheimer, older by the day, also would miss what will probably be his last chance at overall victory in Le Tour. He would be co-leader at the Tour this year, but probably for the last time, perhaps being left to wonder what could have been in 2007.

Lost Dreams: Will Leipheimer (right) have to pay for his teammate's and title sponsor's mistakes in 2008?

Andreas Kloden too would be kept from contending the overall in the Tour. Kloden, like Leipheimer, is getting older (32 yrs old) and has only a few more years to ride in the world's biggest bike race. While he probably would ride in support of Leipheimer and Contador, he would also no doubt have a few chances at a stage victory.

Kloden, shown here pacing Vinokourov in the 2007 Tour before Vino's blood doping positive, may be punished for his former teammate's choices

While the lack of the "Big Three" in France for 2008 would be hard to take, the lack of the entire Astana team would change the race even more dramatically. Astana is one of the few teams strong enough to control the peloton, to set the pace for the day. If removed, the Tour could turn into a chaotic free-for-all each day, as teams jostle for superiority. While it would make for exciting racing, it could also lead to huge time gaps early on in the race, which would take the drama out of the later stages.

It's not only Astana that may not be tendered an invite to the Tour. Rumors are swirling out of France that no one is safe, Pro Tour team or not. With the recent news about CONI, the Italian Olympic Committee, wanting to question both Contador and Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde, trouble could be on the way for the Spanish team as well. And while CONI can't suspend Valverde, they can bar him from competing on Italian soil. If he were sanctioned, his participation at the Tour would be impossible as the race makes a brief foray into Italy in 2008.

Nowadays, one person's poor choices can affect many in cycling, just ask the Caise d'Epargne boys. Valverde is shown fourth from right, front row

Add to the mix the fact that Tour director Christian Prudhomme has a very itchy trigger finger when it comes to protecting the Tour from suspected dopers, 2008 could see some of the world's biggest and best cycling outfits prevented from contesting the Grand Boucle.

Prudhomme will do his all to protect his beloved Tour from cheaters in 2008, even if it means judging riders based only on circumstantial evidence

Last Chance Saloon: 4 Cyclists That Could Be Gone After 2008

Paolo riding for the old Mapei team. Today the same team is known as Quick Step

1. Paolo Bettini, 33, Quick Step: Defending World/Olympic Road Race Champion

Bettini is a dream on the bike. He can break a race open on any given day and lends a charge to any race he enters. He has accomplished almost all that can be accomplished in professional cycling. So it was no wonder that towards the end of last year, Bettini began to drop hints about his possible retirement.

His plan for 2008 is to target both the World Championship and Olympic road race with the hopes of winning both and then riding off into the sunset. Also on his 2008 wish list is the Tour of Flanders, the Belgian classic that would complete his palmares. History tells us though that often athletes change their mind about retirement when the day for them to quit finally arrives. If Bettini becomes the first rider to ever win three world titles in a row, how would he not show off the rainbow bands for a third time? Too, if he comes up short in both the world's and Olympics, wouldn't he want to come back stronger the next season to end his career on a high note?

In one of the only mistakes in his illustrious career, Zabel celebrates prematurely at Milan-San Remo, losing his bid for a record fifth victory in the Italian classic to Oscar Friere, in orange. His future team mate, Pettachi, is to the right in the blue and silver

2. Eric Zabel, 37, Milram

Eric Zabel has firmly established himself, despite his doping confession, as one of the best sprinters in the history of cycling. He has won a record nine Tour de France green points jerseys, as well as four Milan-San Remo's. He has won 13 stages in his home tour of Germany and is an active six day track rider to boot.

Zabel has moved over to team Milram the past couple of years, and he is surely running out the clock. He came oh-so-close to the world title in 2006 in Salzberg, Germany, and then last year was nearly banned from competing due to his doping confession. He can still show himself at the front of any race, but victories will be rare going forward. For Zabel, rejoicing in team wins will be as close as he gets to a podium in 2008. But it was a great run, and I mean a great run.

Julich on the final 1998 Tour de France podium, with Ullrich (left) and Pantani (center). Both the German and the Italian were dopers. Julich probably should have been considered the rightful winner of the 1998 Tour.

3. Bobby Julich, 36, CSC

Bobby Julich finished 3rd overall in the drug-tainted 1998 Tour de France, and his career looked to be headed for stardom. 10 years later all has turned out well, but no one would have predicted the path Bobby Julich took to get where he is today. Originally, many thought Julich would compete with Lance Armstrong as his generation's best rider, but the years were not kind to Bobby, as bad luck and poor career choices almost ended his career after the 2003 season.

Enter Bjarne Riis, the visionary owner of the Danish CSC cycling team. Riis saw emorous potential in Julich, and so signed him in 2004. Since that day, Julich's career has been back on track, with milestone victories in Paris-Nice and the Criterium International in 2005. Today he rides exclusively in suppot of CSC's other excellnt riders, and will probably end his career this year or next. Although not in the same league as Armstrong, Julich will be remembered as a quiet mannered rider who let his riding speak for him.

Simoni climbing to victory in the 2003 Giro. Notice the bike he's on, a Cannondale.

4. Gilberto Simoni, 36, Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli

Simoni will go down in history alongside such greats as Ivan Gotti, Marco Pantani and Stefano Garzelli as a fiesty Italian rider capapable of changing the dynamics of a race in the high mountain passes. A two-time Giro d' Italia winner, Simoni had the ability to ride away from his competitors with blistering attacks in the mountains. And while he can still climb with the best, he is well past his prime.

In 2008, Simoni will ride for the Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni squad, a continental Italian team. He and his team will likely be invited to the Giro, where he will look to make one final run at the general classification. 2008 will probably see Simoni retire from professional road riding, but he has recently picked up mountain bike marathon riding, which he'll likely continue when his road career is over. A run at rhe 2008 Beijing Olympic summer games is not out of the question either.

All four of the above riders have made their mark in professional cycling, and all will be dearly missed by all cycling fans. Luckly, they'll be replaced by a new crop of dominating athletes. Whether the new group of riders will display the same amount of charisma and determination is another story.

Tour Down Under Ends, Tour of Qatar Begins

The "Gorilla" dominated the 2008 Tour Down Under from start to finish

The first Pro Tour event of the 2008 year ended yesterday as Andre Greipel wrapped up the overall victory while securing the final stage of the Tour Down Under in a sprint victory. Greipel can take some huge momentum out of the race as he heads to California for a training camp. Whether he'll participate in the Tour of California is unkown at the time. Your final GC for the 10th Tour Down Under:

1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road

2 Allan Davis (Aus) Unisa - Australia

3 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne
4 Mickael Delage (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux

5 Mickael Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis Le Credit Par Telephone

6 Jose Alberto Benitez Roman (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott

7 Kjell Carlstrom (Fin) Liquigas

8 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne

9 Richie Porte (Aus) Unisa - Australia

10 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team CSC

Meanwhile, the Tour of Qatar began today with a team time trial, won by last year's winner, team Quick Step. Matteo Tosatto, the old pro who has supported both Boonen and Bettini over the years, edged over the line first in the team time trial to take the first leaders jersey, a nice reward for the gregario. Team Slipstream finished second in the team test against the clock, as the American team tries to secure some early season placings to gain favor for invites to the classics and Grand Tours (they have already been invited to the Giro).

Looking ahead to the other stages, Danilo Napolitano (Lampre), Julien Dean (Slipstream), Anthony Geslin (Bouygues Telecom) and Jackson Stewart (BMC) should battle with Boonen for stage wins until stage five, when the climbers will come to the front. Look for Reubens Bertogliati (Saunier Duvall), Marco Velo (Milram), Christophe Laurent (Credit Agricole), and Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) to contend on the few hills that the course presents. On paper though, like last year, the Qatar route looks custom made for Boonen to dominate.

Qatar has long been an early season confidence builder for Boonen

Ballan World's Greatest Classics Rider? Think again!

The Newest issue of Cycle Sport America recently hit news stands with a questionable claim. Allasandro Ballan, winner of last year's De Ronde Vlan Vlaanderen, graces the cover of the most recent issue under the caption "Allasandro Ballan: World's Best Classics Rider On His Love Affair With The Cobbles." World's best classics rider? You have to be kidding. Yes, Ballan is deservedly mentioned along with the best in the world, but no one (including Ballan) would grant him sole status as the best. He has exactly ONE classics victory under his belt. He did that last year in convincing fashion as he dispatched two-time defending champion Tom Boonen on the famous Muur at Geraardsbergen with an attack that no one, including the beloved Belgian, could match.

But he was unable to close down Stuey O'Grady in Roubaix and before that was only 10th at the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen. He didn't even bother to ride Gent-Wevelgem the Wednesday before the Ronde or the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen, another Belgian semi-classic. So where is the alleged love affair with the cobbles that Cycle Sport mentions? Perhaps a love affair with the Ronde, but no more than that.

No, when examining Ballan's season last year, one sees that he put all of his efforts into winning Flanders, which is exactly what one has to do if they are to beat the mighty Belgians. And this year will be no different. Ballan will need a healthy dose of luck and impeccable form to hold off the likes of Boonen, Hoste and Weylandt again at the famous Murr. Ballan will no doubt be in the top ten in any Flanders he targets in the future, but staying ahead of the world's best won't be as easy as Cycle Sport makes it sound.

In actuality, Ballan may not even be the best Italian classics rider. "Pippo" Pozzato, "The Flying Dolphin," already has Milan-San Remo (2006) and Het Volk (2007) under his belt. Even Paolo Bettini allows that as long as former teammate Pozzato can keep his "tifosi and clothing designers" in check, he should "have it all." Strong words, considering they come from the best active one-day rider alive.

The Muur: Narrow, bumpy, steep. A tough combination made tougher with the cold, wet, northern European spring time weather common for the Ronde.

Tour Down Under 2008: Worthy of Pro Tour Status?

Maybe a dingo ate your publicity and recognition.....

The Pro Tour calander is kicking off as we speak in Australia, and the question must be asked: does anyone outside of Australia care? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the season has started, but it seems as though the team directors forgot. Looking at the talent coming to Australia for the 10th edition leaves one underwhelmed. Outside of the Australians at the event, Stuey O'Grady, Matt Lloyd [new Australian National Champ], Robbie McEwin, Simon Gerrans [youngest rider to start the Tour de France in 2007], Mark Renshaw, Graeme Brown, Allan Davis, Luc Roberts and Bernard Eisel [registered as a Austrian rider, but come on, he's Australian. Just talk to him, you'll see.], who else is there?

Because it takes place soooo early in the season, the Tour Down Under is being ducked by cycling's most powerful riders. While it's true that each Pro Tour team is required to field a team, there is nowhere in the rule book where it says you have to field a competitive team. A close look at the rosters reveals that unless a team is Australian-heavy, it doesn't look too impressive . . . at least not on paper.

Considering the above, flash back eight months to May, where UCI boss Pat McQuaid first broached the subject of a Pro Tour race outside of Europe. At the time he told the press that he was considering either the Tour Down Under or the Tour of California to be the first ever host of a Pro Tour race outside of Europe. In the end of course he chose the Tour Down Under. But was McQuaid's choice the one the cyclists would have made if they were consulted? Probably not.

McQuaid doesn't always see eye to eye with today's pro riders

Already "Tornado" Tom Boonen AND Paolo Bettini are confirmed for the 2008 Tour of California. 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will be there, as will Levi Leipheimer, the defending 2007 Tour of California champ. No doubt Riccardo Ricco will represent Saunier Duvall, while CSC, like last year, will send World Time Trial champion Fabien Cancellera, two-time Tour of Germany and Criterium International champ Jens Voigt and US stalwart Bobby Julich. "Big George" will fly the flag for Team High Road and the Tour de France Green Jersey winning Norwegian Thor Hushovd will no doubt return again for Credit Agricole. Juan Antonia Flecha (he of the arrow shooting gesture from his TDF stage win) will probably show for Rabobank ahead of the northern classics, while Oscar Friere will be riding in preperation for "La Primavera" in Italy.

Perhaps after watching the stellar line up of talent that the Tour of California will bring to America for the third straight year, Pat McQuaid will do what he should have done eight months ago: grant the Tour of California Pro Tour status.

Now that's racing! For great weather and breath taking views, the Tour of California is head and shoulders above the Tour Down Under.

PRO Tour Points Leader---What It Means And Who Will Win 2008 Crown

UCI Pro Tour Champion. A highly coveted title by many pro riders, but one that is misunderstood by most of the cycling public. The white jersey that the leader gets to wear is one perk of having the title, as well as being able to lay claim to being the most consistent, best all-around Pro Tour Rider. To most riders this is a title far out of their reach, but a select few are able to target the title each year.

How It Works

The Pro Tour is a collection of races contested by 20 pre-selected teams. Points are awarded to riders based on their placement in each race. At the end of the season, the rider with the most total accumulated points takes the title. This year, the Pro Tour loses much of its lustre as all Amaury Sports Organisation, RCS (Giro) and Unipublic (Vuelta) races are not a part of the calendar. This is due to the long-running fued the three copanies have with Pat McQuaid and the UCI.

While you do not have to be on a Pro Tour team to compete in most of the races on the Pro Tour calendar, you do have to be associated with one of these 20 teams to be eligible to win the overall Pro Tour title. So for instance, Stefano Garzelli, racing for Aqua & Sapone, is not eligible to win the Pro Tour title as he is not a member of a Pro Tour team.

Currently, the 20 Pro Tour Teams are: Ag2r-La Mondiale, Astana Team, Bouygues Télécom, Caisse d'Epargne, Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone, Crédit Agricole, Team CSC, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Française des Jeux, Gerolsteiner, High Road (formerly T-Mobile Team (TMO)), Lampre-Fondital, Liquigas, Team Milram, Quick Step (formerly Quick Step-Innergetic (QSI)), Rabobank, Saunier Duval-Scott (formerly Saunier Duval-Prodir) and Silence-Lotto (formerly Predictor-Lotto (PRL).

The Pro Tour has been held three years now, and the past winners have been Danilo Di Luca (2005), Alejandro Valverde (2006) and Cadel Evans (2007). All of these riders have in common the fact that they are Grand Tour contenders, decent time trialists, and excellent climbers. So one can deduce that Robbie McEwin, while an excellent cyclist, will never contend for the Pro Tour crown.

So who has a good chance of becoming the 2008 Pro Tour champ? It would have to be a rider that places high in all races that he enters. Additionally, it would have to be someone who can contend in all types of races: One day races, Grand Tours and short stage races. With that in mind, here are four names that could be wearing the coveted white Pro Tour leader's jersey by the end of the year.

1. Alejandro Valverde---"The Green Bullet" had a quiet 2007. After dominating the scene in 2006, Valverde was MIA in 2007. Rumors have circulated that he may be involved in Operacion Puerto, so one must wonder if he'll make it through the year without being sanctioned. If he does, he's as dangerous as anyone on any given day. The Pro Tour classification was meant for a rider of his calibre. If he can net the title again, he'll be the first ever two-time champ.

2. Damiano Cunego---"il piccolo principe" has and continues to be a rider capable of dominating any race he enters. Although relatively quiet in recent years, Cunego has all of the tools required to put together a magical season. If he can show well in the early season classics, he should be primed to make a run at the overall Pro Tour title in the fall. If he can find the form that took him to the Giro title and saw him ranked #1 in the world at the end of the year, the rest of the peloton could be in big trouble.

3. Riccardo Ricco---"The Cobra" is a hot choice amongst many cycling pundits to jump to the next level in 2008. He has publicly stated that he plans on attempting to contend for the Giro d'Italia overall in May, so whats to day, with good form and a bit of luck, that he can't build up an early season points lead and sustain it through the end of the year? He was with the leaders last year in the Wallonnian classics and seems poised to join the elite stage race contenders this year. If he contines to progress as he has over the last few years, Ricco could make a big splash in 2008.

4. Cadel Evans---Quiet Cadel never seems to get the respect he deserves. An excellent time trialist and fierce battler in the mountains, Evan makes up for in effort what he lacks in panache. He doesn't possess the finishing kick of any of the other riders on this list, but his consistent time trialing keeps him in any stage race, Grand Tour or not, that he enters. The only factor that could keep Cadel from contending for the overall title deep into fall would be his preparations for the Olympic time trial in Beijing. If he's not the Pro Tour leader coming out of the Vuelta Espana, expect him to dissappear and train in anonymity ahead of the showdown in China.

Some other riders to watch as possible darkhorses in 2008 for the Pro Tour title: George Hincapie (why not, "Big George" doesn't have much time left after all), Levi Leipheimer (also an oldster. He's capable of contending for the overall, but will domineering boss Bruyneel let him play his hand?), Davide Rebellin ("Tin-Tin" won't contend in the Grand Tours, but a good early and late classic season could get him to the title).

Five Arriving Superstars of Pro Cycling for 2008

Each year there are several young riders that break through and become dominant, true contenders in pro cycling. So who is poised to take over in 2008? Here are my thoughts as the new season gets underway. I'll give you one rider to watch in each major cycling discipline: a one-day stylist, short stage racer, classics contender, grand tour hope, and time trialist. The only requirement for all choices is they must be 25 or younger.

One Day Stylist: Giovanni Visconti, 24, Quick Step, Reigning Italian National Champion

Visconti wins last year's Coppa Sabbatini, his second straight victory at the Italian fall semi-classic. Frank Schleck of CSC takes second.

Giovanni Visconti has steadily improved year over year, especially in 2007 as he rode under the close tutelage of Quick Step boss Patrick Lefevre and "il grillo," Paolo Bettini. "The Cricket," as Bettini is nicknamed, has long spoke highly of Visconti, touting him as his likely successor. And as Bettini zeroes in on a possible 3rd straight World Championship (never before accomplished, not even by Merckx) and 2nd straight Olympic road racing gold medal, the early and middle portions of the cycling season will belong to Visconti.

Sure, Tom Boonen is still around, but he'll not contend in the hilly Wallonnian classics like the Fleche Wallonne, Amstel Gold and Liege-Bastogne-Liege races. Assuming that he arrives to those races injury free, Visconti should be right in the thick of the action leading up to the grand tours, where he'll ride in support of both Bettini and Boonen, probably for the last time.

Visconti (far right) Preparing for the 2007 Tour of California prologue with Bettini.

Short Stage Racer: Riccardo Ricco, 24, Saunier Duvall

The "Cobra" attacked with teammate Leonardo Piepoli (in green) to win stage 15 of the 2007 Giro'dItalia to Tre Cime Di Laveredo. A beautiful win, and at such a young age!

Riccardo Ricco could well be placed in the "Grand Tour Hope" or "Classics Specialist" catagories instead of this one, the short stage racer. A small yet explosive climber in the mold of Alberto Contador, Ricco has impressed many with his ability to stay with the world's best on the steepest climbs of cycling. His exploits in the Giro in 2007 earned have him an early favorite moniker for 2008, after the departure of Gilberto Simoni to the Italian continental team Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli.

It seems the only thing that could hold Ricco back in the longer tours is his team, which is not well suited to defend a GC leader on the flats or in the team trial discipline. However, for the shorter stage races like Tirreno-Adriatico or even the Tour of California, Ricco could impress. Similiar to Contador last year in Paris-Nice, Ricco could aim to put an early season stage race under his belt ahead of his showdown with Simoni, Salvodelli, Di Luca and Schleck in this years Giro. No matter what though, Ricco should be very fun to watch in 08 as he is constantly on the attack.

As a youngster riding for Saunier Duvall, 2006.

Classics Contender: Mark Cavendish, 22, Team High Road

Winning ahead of McEwin and Boonen lead out man Steegmans in the 2007 Grote Scheldeprijs.

Mark Cavendish, at only 22, has perhaps the most over all upside in this prestigious line up of future stars. With 11 wins last year, including one in the prestigious Volta a Catalunya, Cavendish announced himself as a new force on the sprinting scene. Riding for the newly formed Team High Road (formerly T-Mobile) in 2008, Cavendish should have plenty of chances at glory. First up will in all liklihood be "La Primivera," Milan-San Remo, where he will face veterans Petacchi, McEwin and Friere.

But it is the Belgian classics where Cavendish should perform best in the early season. Het Volk could be added to his palmares in 2008, as could Ghent-Wevelgem. Team High Road will enter the Tour de France with only Michael Rogers as it's real GC hope, so Mark should get a few shots at a bunch sprint stage victories there as well. 11 wins from 2007 should turn into around 20 in 2008.

Cavendish is more well known for his exploits on the track than on the road. But that could well change in 08.

Grand Tour Hope: Andy Schleck, 22, CSC

Riding in the "Maglia Blanca" as best young rider in the 2007 Giro. He would go on to finish 2nd overall behind Danilo Di Luca.

Andy Schleck comes from a cycling family in the most classic sense of the word. Not only was his father a pro racer, but so was his grandfather! Also, he rides with his brother, Frank, at CSC. Andy announced his arrival during the Giro d'Italia last year when he battled both Eddy Mazzolini (now facing a doping ban) and Danilo Di Luca (currently serving three month doping related suspension) for the Giro's overall title. In the end, he finished an amazing second and was the revelation of the Tour.

This year CSC boss Bjarne Riis will start both Andy and his brother Frank (27 yrs old) as probable co-captains in this year's Grande Boucle, the Tour de France. The two-pronged attack of the Schlecks should give the rest of the peloton fits as the brothers play off each other's talents. While Andy will be contesting his first ever Tour de France, a top placing seems a very realistic objective for him as long as he arrives on top form. Whether this year or next though, the youngest Schleck will soon be considered among the world's truly elite.

Andy time trialing in the Tour of Romandie 2007 stage race, an event won by Tyler Hamilton before his suspension for homologous blood doping. Andy's skill against the clock will serve him well over the years in the Grand Tours.

Time Trialist: Thomas Dekker, 23, Rabobank

Dekker has long been known as an excellent time trialist, as he won his national championship in 2004 and 2005. Bigger time trial successes can't be far off

Thomas Dekker, like many of the rider's in this post, burst onto the scene in 2007. The lanky Dutchman showed off his skills in some huge races, winning the overall at the Tour of Romandy as well as the time trial there, and took the win in stage six of the Tour de Swiss, arguably one of the biggest races in cycling, behind the Grand Tours and the huge one day classic monuments.

This year, Dekker will be the unquestioned second in command on the Rabobank team as Michael Boogerd has retired and Michael Rasmussen is gone from being suspected of doping during last year's Tour de France. While Dekker will no doubt ride in support of teammate Dennis Menchov in this year's Tour, he'll also be given a free hand if Menchov falters. With his amazing time trialing skills, Dekker needs only to hone his technique in the steep mountains to go top ten in a Grand Tour in 2008.

Enjoying the podium overall at the 2007 Tour de Romandy with Italian Paolo Salvodelli (left, three time Giro d'Italia winner) and Andre Kashechkin (right, since susended for blood doping)

So there are your young riders to watch in 2008. Look out over the next few days for a "Last Chance Saloon" update on riders clutching at one last chance for glory before retirement. Until then, Allez!

Briggs Heaney

Uniforms 2008

New kits are currently making their debut down under as riders embark on the new season. So what better time than now to pontificate on who'll look snazziest in 2008? My best and worse uniforms for the coming season.

Bob Stapleton had to scramble this year after his main title sponsor, T-Mobile, pulled their sponsorship. Now Team High Road, Stapleton's team no longer boasts the familiar magenta of T-Mobile. Instead, High Road consists of a boring black outfit that looks very much like it was made at home by High Road team director's Bob Stapleton's wife. Also in the above link is a peek at the new Silence-Lotto outfit, being modeled by a not quite on-form Robbie McEwin at this week's 2008 Tour Down Under. Notice the green and yellow stripes on Robbie's sleeves, signifying that he is a past Australian national champion.

Another notable kit change is at CSC, where they have managed to completely ruin a previously great uniform. Check out the previous kit before checking out the new one. Even Stuey would admit that he liked last year's version better.

Over at Astana, Johan Bruyneel promised a drastically different look to the team, one that would feature less of that aweful turquoise/yellow combo. Wrong. The kit this year is only slightly different from last, as you can see. I for one am not a huge fan of either version.

And what about team Slipstream powered by Chipotle? Last year they featured some of the coolest uniforms in cycling, employing an argyle motif that had never been seen before. This year, they invited fans to design the kit, and they picked the "best" of all entries. So what do you think? I say go back to the old layout here too. Probably won't happen though. Shoot, at least they kept the argyles.

Some teams really didn't change that much. Rabobank, Gerolsteiner, Cofidis, Liquigas, La Francaise des Jeux, Caisse d'Epargne, Credit Agricole, AG2R, Lampre, Milram and Saunier-Duvall all look about like they did last year. Rosters are for a seperate post.

So who is the early front runner or best uniform of 2008? I think I'll go with the classic Caisse d'Epargne kit. Velvet black and blood red, the Spanish outfit will have a classy look for 2008. Hopefully they won't have their star rider Alejandro Valverde banned for being involved in Operation Puerto.

Good times: Can Valverde re-capture his 2006 form (here winning ahead of CSC's Karsten Kroon at the Fleche Wallonne, only days before his more prestigious victory at the oldest classic, Liege-Bastogne-Liege) while dodging doping allegations in 2008? Time will tell.

Briggs Heaney

The Lion King roaring again?!!???

"I'm as confused as you are!"

Say it ain't so, Mario! Various sites are now reporting that Mario Cipollini has finalized a deal with the US continental Rock & Republic pro cycling team. Cipo has gone back and forth with Rock & Republic's mercurial boss, Michael Ball, about both his contract negotiations AND his desire to lead a European outfit of the RandR team. Meanwhile, Mr. Ball has already signed controversial fixer-uppers like Tyler Hamilton, Santiago Botero and Oscar Sevilla, so the signing of the Lion King only makes sense.

Cipo, through a statement from his lawyer, allowed that he is not returning to the peloton with the hope of winning, but merely as a figure head to draw attention to the R&R label. He plans (as of now) only to race in America, while acting as team director in Europe.

The glory years with Saeco . . . he made it look sooooo easy! Notice how few helmets.

The ultimate question is this: If he's not coming back to win, why the hell is he coming back at all? Is Mario planning on suddenly playing the role of Gregario for "NotSoFast" Freddy Rodriguez? Or will he go the route of Roberto Gaggioli and ride the parade laps of each race and then drop out? Either way, it can't end well for Mario. If he's foolish enough to start in California, my prediction is he'll find himself dropped early and often.

So what's the point of all this then? Easy, cheap thrills and has been star power. Like Hamilton, Cipollini is still a big draw among American cycling fans. He'll be interviewed ad nauseum, all the while hocking the Rock&Republic brand. He'll wear his designer R&R jeans to all press conferences, and he'll pull on a pair when he gets picked up in the sag wagon on stage 1 en route to Santa Rosa, Ca. It will surely be sad to see a once proud Lion get dropped by a bunch of young cubs.




Similar to when he wore Stars & Stripes shorts in the Tour de France to promote Cannondale frames, Cipo will use his star power to promote the Rock and Republic jeans brand. Only this time, he won't be winning.

Briggs Heaney

Euro Peloton has launched!

Horner under the bright lights keeping his cool---Cali, 2006

January 20, 2008

Welcome to Euro Peloton! Here, every day, I'll offer fan perspective on the European and American peloton. Race predictions, opinions and even rider interviews will appear here...a different item each day.

For my first ever post, I'd feel obligated to tell you about my favorite active American pro. Chris Horner has been doing it for a long time. Always a bit of a wild card, Chris is a rider's rider. Never afraid to cast his hat into the ring, and with a fearless style on and off the bike, Chris is a rider to notice in any race he rides.

Recently Chris had his appendix removed. The Tour of California is fast approaching, so it is hoped that Chris will round into form in time to compete in the flegdling stage race. He's never been able to snag a stage win in the Tour of California, but now that he rides for the powerful Astana team, he should be able to escape into one or two breakaways as the rest of the peloton focuses on Leipheimer, the defending champ and 2008 favorite.

I'll be rooting for Chris throughout the race, as I watch him debut in his new Astana kit!

Cheers and see you on the road!

EuroPeloton