CSC: Cycling Juggernaut

The most fearsome three letters in cycling today

CSC showed once again over the weekend why they are the best team in the world, winning both the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen and the Criterium International. Kurt Asle-Arvesen dominated the field at the E3 and the 36 year old Jens Voigt did the same in France to secure his fourth CI title. As team boss Bjarne Riss searches for a new sponsor, all of the early season wins can only help his cause. That CSC has been able to win so many quality events thus far in the season is not surprising, it is still noteworthy that they have dominated like they have.

At 36, Voigt rides with the enthusiasm of a rider half his age

As cycling heads into some of the most important early season races (Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix), the question on every fan's mind is whether CSC can win the two next monuments, making a sweep of the season's biggest targets thus far. Cancellara time trialed away from the competition at Milan-San Remo two weeks ago, and has laid low this past week in anticipation of Flanders. In fact, CSC won't even line up a team at the upcoming Three Days of De Panne stage race as they prepare as a team in secret ahead of De Ronde.

Cycling's master chef, Riis blends talent and tactics perfectly for big results throughout the season

Bjarne Riis, cycling's savant when it comes to motivating riders and team tactics, no doubt has his boys primed for a real run at the Flanders/Roubaix double. Last year's Roubaix champ Stuey O'Grady has been quite thus far in 2008, but make no mistake: the Aussie will be ready this Sunday at Flanders, and on April 13th at Roubaix. That CSC has two such talented riders on the same team, in the same race, will make it very tough on the rest of the teams participating. As the cycling calandar rolls into the meat of the season, so does the CSC Juggernaut . . . and they're taking no prisoners.

When the cobbles come calling at Flanders and Roubaix, O'Grady will be ready

CSC's Asle Arveson Conquers E3 Prijs Vlaanderen

Arvesen takes top honors at the E3, derailing Boonen's chances at a fifth straight win in the semi-classic

Tom Boonen came in as one of the major favorites for the Belgian semi-classic E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, but at the end of the day, it was the CSC team and Kurt-Asle Arvesen who took top honors for the one day race. Arvesen had good support from "Tony Sparticus" Fabian Cancellara, who rode with Tom Boonen to try to stay away from the field.


In the end however, it was Arvesen who was abe to get a gap and ride away from Collstrop's David Kopp and Silence-Lotto's Greg Van Avermaet for the win. The CSC team has been a force thus far in the 2008 season, and the Danish juggernaut was able to keep up the good momentum going leading up to the most important race of Flemish Cycling Week, the Tour of Flanders.

Arvesen's win bodes well for team CSC ahead of the Three Day of De Panne stage race and the Tour of Flanders. All of CSC's riders are riding well, and the team should be more than ready to do battle at Flanders and at Paris-Roubaix. Too, team boss Bjarne Riis is working behind the scenes to secure a title sponsor for 2009, and all of the recent wins should help the Danish manager's cause in finding a new source of sponsorship.

The favorites for Flanders seemed to stay in the background, as Hoste finished 13th, Cancellara 16th, Astana's Serguei Ivanov 18th, Italian's Pozzato and Ballan 36th and 38th respectively, and Stuey O'Grady and Juan Antonio Flecha 63rd and 55th. All of the above riders finished together in the trailing group though, showing that all are on decent form ahead of Flanders, the Belgian monument.

After several significant one day races, team CSC looks all but unbeatable as the season progresses. Whether it's Cancellara riding away from a group or another CSC rider on the attack, the red, black, and white squad is a fearsome site in any race they enter. The scariest part of the situation is that last year's Paris-Roubaix winner O'Grady hasn't even chosen to chow himself at the front of the bunch, and both Schleck brothers have kept a low profile this far in the season as well.

Criterium International 2008: The Favorites

The 2008 Criterium International parcours

The 77th Criterium International, the two day, three stage “mini Tour de France” starts today in France. Last year’s winner, Jens Voigt, will try for a fourth overall victory for his CSC team, leaving him one short of the record five wins by Raymond Poulidor in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Voigt will have some real firepower backing him up, as former winner Bobby Julich will be on hand, as well as the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank.

Voigt's fearless tactics are well-suited to the Criterium International

Looking to unseat Voigt will be a host of contenders looking to show their form ahead of the upcoming classics and the year’s first Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia. Still others will use the race merely as preparation for the ultimate prize, the Grand Boucle, the Tour de France. CI is a great chance for riders to test themselves in as the race features one flat stage, one hilly stage, and one time trial stage. If a rider comes good overall at CI, they can feel confident that they’ll show well in their other season objectives.

Fans will get a glimpse of Valverde for one of the first times this year

The contenders for the 2008 edition are many, some who have had some good early season results, and some that have been M.I.A. thus far in 2008. First up is Caisse d’Epargne’s “Green Bullet,” Alejandro Valverde, second overall in last year’s race. The Spaniard, dominant only two years ago, has been unheard of in 2008, and will hope for a good CI ride to announce his form ahead of the hilly Wallonian classics. Lampre’s “Little Prince,” Damiano Cunego, will try his luck again at CI in 2008 after a good 2007 that saw him take victory in the Tour of Romandy, a prestigious fall classic. Cunego will be targeting the overall at the Tour de France, and a good ride in the Criterium International will help his morale heading into the meat of the season.

Cunego will race the "mini Tour de France" before the real TDF in July

Rabobank’s climber Robert Gesink will be present to do battle in stage two, but the young Dutchman probably won’t have the chops to contend for the overall. Francaise des Jeux’s Sandy Casar will be motivated on home soil, and Kim Kirchin of the High Road squad is always dangerous in a stage race with hills and a time trial.

Two-time defending American time trial champ Zabriskie is a contender for 2008

The American Slipstream team will have a strong contingent in France as well, with time trial specialists David Zabriskie and David Millar flying the flag for the “Argyle Gang”. If either can stay with the leaders on stage two, they’ll be in with a real chance for the overall in the final day’s time trial. Zabriskie had a great Tour of California from a climbing perspective, staying with Astana’s Levi Leipheimer and Gesink for almost the entire Sierra Road climb in stage 3 of the Tour of California. If he can find the same climbing legs in France, he may bag his biggest win to date.

Astarloza will give his best effort for the Basque fan base

Finally, for dark horses, consider Mikel Astarloza of the Euskaltel-Euskadi Basque team. Astarloza is a good climber and a decent time trialist, and if the weather cooperates, he could do some damage in the short stage race. Another underdog is Columbian climbing ace Mauricio Soler of the South African Barloworld team. Soler is a fearsome climber, and if he can take a minute or more on stage two, he may be able to limit his losses enough in the final time trial to net the win. More likely though is that Soler will use CI to continue to build his form for the July Tour de France.

Chavanel at Dwars door Vlaanderen; Cunego: "No 2008 Giro"

Traditional Flemish cycling roads, the hallowed ground for aspiring one day specalists

Sylvain Chavanal became the first ever Frenchman to win the Belgian semi-classic Dwars door Vlaanderen this past Wednesday, cementing his name forever into Flemish cycling lore. Long considered an enormous talent by the French public, Chavanel may be best known to Americans as the man who kept Chris Horner from having a chance to win a stage in the 2005 Tour de France. Now, Chavanel will forever be known as the first Frenchman to crack the true Belgian hard man's classic. He did it with help from his team and old-fashioned panache, riding away from a quality field for the semi-classic win.

Chavanel has been off the front many times, but in Dwars he made his break stick

According to race reports, Boonen, Cancellara, Ballan and the other torch-bearers of the cobbled-cycling classics played down their efforts in anticipation of Flanders on April 6. Really? Boonen won the event the last four years, this year he decided he wanted to save himself? Doubtful. And tell that to Chavanel and his teammate Nick Nuyens, who is showing excellent form in his own right. Nuyens had a down 2007 but seems ready to be at the front once again in 2008. He'll have full support at Flanders after having ridden himself into the ground for Chavanel at Dwars. The two riders combined to overwhelm the field at Dwars, and Chavanel can thank Nuyens for chaperoning him to the finish line. Nice to have a Belgian on your side in a Belgian race.

Cunego already has a Giro overall, he'll set his sites on Le Tour in 2008

Meanwhile, in Italy, "Il Piccolo Principe," Damiano Cunego, has destroyed the hearts of his loyal tifosi by announcing that he'll forego the Giro in 2008 in favor of trying for the overall in the Tour de France. Cunego, 2006 white jersey (young rider) winner of the Tour de France, likes that there are fewer time trials in this year's TDF than in the Giro. Plus, he already has an overall title in the Giro, having bested then teammate Gilberto Simoni in 2004. After a down year attributed to Epstein-Barr (heavy doping) virus, Cunego has built his form slowly back up and appears ready to contend again in the Grand Tours.

Cunego's tifosi come in all shapes and sizes

With the absence of defending champion Alberto Contador and third overall Levi Leipheimer in this year's edition, many riders have cast their hat into the ring in what looks like a wide open Tour de France. Cadel Evans, second last year, will be back, but there are some new names that will try for the overall win as well. Dennis Menchov of the Rabobank team has made clear his intentions of targeting the TDF, as has Alejandro Valverde, who has been non-existant so far in 2008. CSC's Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank, will be on hand, as will High Road's Mick Rogers, who was the leader on the road in last year's TDF before he crashed out. Cunego will find that July brings out the best from the world's best, on the biggest cycling stage in the world.

All in the family: The climbing-minded Schleck brothers will ride together at the Tour in 2008

How Cunego will fare in the TDF no one knows, but he should be respected for taking the challenge of attempting to win the overall title. There will be other Giro d'Italias for Cunego, and probably other Tours, but the fact that he is choosing to spread himself around to different events, including those outside his home country, speak well for the young Italian climber. Too often, riders stay at home, refusing to try to win in other countries or at unfamiliar races. Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara, Paolo Bettini, Cadel Evans, Jen Voigt, Erik Zabel---they all have one thing in common---they have won all over the world. Cunego would be well-served to follow in the paths of the above rider's . . . it worked for them.

Upcoming: 51st E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, March 29, 2008

The E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, the second race of Flemish Cycling Week, is an excellent barometer for who will be strong for the April 6th Tour of Flanders. Many of the favorites for De Ronde will line up for the E3, including Tom Boonen, who won the event last year, for the fourth year in a row. The E3 features 12 hellingen, and some of them are the same as those used in the Ronde. Of the 12 climbs, six are cobbled, including the 12.5% average gradient Paterberg climb, 38 kilometers from the finish line.

A fans eye view of the E3 Prijs from several different locations on the race course. Poor Paolo Bettini, who suffers a mechanical while trying to keep pace

As in any hilly, cobbled classic, the strongest rider usually wins. On a flat stage in a race like Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice, a weaker rider can win if he conserves his energy and waits until the finish to make his move. In the E3, if you're not strong, you get dropped by those that are stronger. Tactics are as important as in any race, but a rider needs good form and good tactics to win. Perhaps that is why Paolo Bettini, realizing that his form isn't good enough to stay with the strongest riders, has decided to skip all of the cobbled classics this year. "The Cricket" will return for sure, but not until later in the spring at the hilly Wallonian classics.

The Paterberg climb is as steep as 20% at one point, with an average of 12.5%

Besides Boonen, there are several riders to watch in the quest for the semi-classic win. Leif Hoste, perennial second fiddle in the Ronde, will hope for a win in the E3 Prijs to boost his morale ahead of Flanders. "Tony Sparticus," Fabian Cancellara, finished second last year and is always a threat in a cobbled race, especially considering his early spring thus far. Alessandro Ballan will be active after finishing 2nd in the Monte Paschi Eroica, Phillipo Pozzato will hope to make up for his near miss at last weekend's Milan-San Remo where he finished second, and Nico Eeckhout, third place in yesterday's Dwars door Vlaanderen, will try to make it to the top step of the podium for his continental Topsport Vlaanderen team.

1972 winner Hubert Hutsebaut beats the world champion, the great Eddy Merckx. The E3 was one of the few one day Belgian classics that Merckx never won.

Darkhorses for the win include Marcel Sieberg, who was 2nd at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne in 2007 and is riding in 2008 for the High Road team. Vladimir Gusev, regaining his form after breaking his collar bone in the Tour of California, is a cobbles-style rider when healthy, and Thor Hushovd, though not a climber, has always maintained that he wanted to become a contender in the cobbled classics. Juan Antonio Flecha, the classics pride of Spain, will be in contention like he always is in the Flemish Cycling Week races. Finally, Flecha's teammate Oscar Friere, though a bit fragile, is a decent climber with a vicious finishing kick. He is riding well after the recent Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo races, and if he can hang on during the climbs, he could emerge victorious if the race finishes in a sprint.

Boonen will hope to add a thumb to his salute in 2008, making five straight victories for the famous Belgian in the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen

Weather for the day calls for mostly cloudy skies after a night of rain and wind. Muddy conditions could well be present out on the course, lending another level of difficulty to the already though course. The parcours of the E3 will continue the build up to the most important race of Flemish Cycling Week, the Tour of Flanders. Riders will be keen to try their luck in the E3, to put the peloton and the cycling world on notice regarding who should be considered the real favorites for the Ronde. On with the cobble classics!

Upcoming: 63rd Dwars door Vlaanderen, March 26, 2008

The Dwars door Vlaanderen signals the beginning of Flemish Cycling Week, with the cobbled Dwars, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, Three Days of De Panne and Tour of Flanders, all in the Flandrian region in Belgium. Past winners include Tom Boonen, Nico Eeckhout (2001, 2005), Robbie McEwen, and Tom Steels. The Dwars course features 12 hellingen (short, steep climbs), and will challenge the field ahead of the more prestigious E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, which covers some of the same climbs of the Tour of Flanders.

The 2007 Podium: Eeckhout, Boonen, O'Grady

Last year, Tom Boonen took top honors, but his low profile recently leaves mystery as to whether the big Belgian will be game this year. Nico Eeckhout, twice a winner of the event, will line up again to try for the trifecta, as will several other powerful classics-style riders.

The Dwars brings the cobbles to fans for the first time in 2008

Robbie McEwin, the 2004 winner, will toe the line once again, hoping for a win before the course becomes too difficult for the small Aussie. Stuey O'Grady will be on hand for CSC as he builds for his Parix-Roubaix defense, as will Boonen's teammates Stijn Devolder and Gert Stegmans, both youngsters on the rise capable of winning if Boonen falters.

McEwen will look to salvage his early season at Dwars after another failure at MSR

But there is no one entered in the race that will have as much attention" on them as the two-time defending world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara. "Tony Sparticus" has been white-hot throughout the early season, racking up wins in California, L'Eroica and just last weekend, Milan-San Remo. The big Swiss' season is already a success, but he'll surely hope to try for another win and ride his incredible streak of good form.

Cancellara is the number 1 favorite for the Dwars win

Other riders that will probably make noise include Tomas Vaitkus of the Astana team, Nick Nuyens of the Cofidis squad, who always seems to come around during the Flemish racing season, and Bernhard Eisel of High Road, who will be able to call on his experience to try for the victory. He have to take his chances where he can get them, as he'll likely be riding in support of the younger, faster sprinters of team High Road later in the season.

Eisel will have team leadership duties for one of the only times this season at Dwars, and will look to take advantage like he did in Philly week last June

The next week and a half are some of the best days in the season for cycling fans. Hard roads, bad weather and stiff competition usually combine during Flemish Cycling Week to create the cycling fan's perfect storm. These are the hardest riders on some of the hardest courses, showing all those prissy sprinters and fragile mountain men how it's done. Enjoy!

Upcoming: 8th Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale Coppi Bartali, March 25-29, 2008

The 8th Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale Coppi Bartali runs this week from Tuesday through Sunday, providing a glimpse at the Grand Tour contenders for later in the year. There are some big stage race names entered in the event, and each will test himself on a course that features a little bit of everything: climbs, flats, and an all-important time trial.

Stage one is broken into two half-stages, 1a and 2a. 1a is a 95 kilometer test that features some small, steep climbs and a straight finish. This should be a stage for the sprinters, with Danilo Napolitano, Vincenzo Nibali or Salvatore Commesso the likely victors. Stage 2a is an 11.8 kilometer time trial, where the Grand Tour contenders will look to test themselves against the clock. Look for Janez Brajkovic or Vladamir Gusev of Astana, or Tour de France front runner Cadel Evans to come good against the clock.

Brajkovic will continue building for the Tour de Georgia, where he'll hope to defend his 2007 title

For stage two the field will tackle a good climb before descending into Faenza following a winding downhill approach. This is a good stage for an attack, where Stefano Garzelli may have a go, or possibly Paride Grillo of the CSF Group Navigare team.

Stage three is one for the climbers, featuring several tough climbs, including the category 1 climb to Baragizzo, site of many great moments in the Giro d'Italia and the Giro d'Emilia. This day will be one for Gilberto Simoni, who is preparing for what could be his last Giro, or maybe Daniele Contrini, the 33 year old Tour de Georgia stage winner.

No leaves on trees reveals that it is still cycling's early season

The fourth stage is a pancake-flat jaunt through the Italian countryside which will surely end in a sprint. Unless a large group gets away, expect an exciting bunch gallop to end the stage. The next day the climbs return, and riders will tackle the tough Montegibbio climb three times on the way to the finish. The climb, while only 1.9 kilometers, averages about 17%. Stage five should provide the fresh legs in the field with the opportunity to gain some time and perhaps the win in the town of Sassuolo.

Although it does not feature an all-star field, the Settimana Coppi Bartali is an important step for those riders looking to hone their form ahead of the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. It is also an opportunity for riders to rebuild their form ahead of the hilly Ardennes classics. Finally, the race provides riders that don't excel in the chilly northern classics with a chance to get all-important race kilometers in their legs before the early season is gone.

Evans will hope for all systems go at the Coppi Bartali, as he continues his quest for the Tour de France title in July

Landis' Last Stand: Floyd Tries One Last Time to Clear His Name

Once again, Floyd Landis had his day in court, as he exercised his final right to appeal in regards to his positive doping test in the 2006 Tour de France. Landis has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past two years in an attempt to have his positive doping result overturned, but as of yet the Pennsylvanian hasn't been able to turn the tides in his favor.

Landis rode like a super human in the 2006 Tour, and then tested positive

With his final chance at appeal, Landis will depend on the talent to his lawyer, Maurice Suh, in hopes that the Court of Arbitration for Sport will see things his way and overturn his ban. Landis' lawyers will no doubt pull out all the stops to prove the innocence of the deposed Tour de France champ.

Hamilton won gold in the Olympics and then was banned for doping

The cycling world has watched Landis swim upstream over the last few years, and will no doubt shake their heads sadly when the CAS panel once again finds Floyd guilty. In cycling, once you are accused or found guilty of doping, you find very few friends within the cycling realm. Landis no doubt has learned this over the past few years.

The worst part about all of this is that the cycling public will never really have closure. Sure, Landis will be considered guilty according to the governing bodies of sport, but he'll never admit that he doped. Like Tyler Hamilton, Landis will continue to profess his innocence, even after being convicted numerous times. But what can we expect from Landis, he learned from the best in the world how to cheat and how to deny---Lance Armstrong.

Heras probably started doping with the Kelme teams in the early 90's

Armstrong won seven Tours de France. He was a world champion. He survived cancer. He beat known dopers by large margins, including Marco Pantani, Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich. But he didn't dope? His former teammates Hamilton, Landis, Roberto Heras, Frankie Andreau, all admitted or were found to have doped. But did Armstrong? No, cries his fan base and huge legal team. Lance just worked harder than everyone else. Bullcrap. Total bullcrap. There is no way Armstrong could have defeated the likes of Rasmussen, Basso and Ullrich unless he had some sort of help. As a matter of fact, if he was doping, he was probably using blood transfusions as his method. But like Hamilton and Landis, Armstrong would never admit he doped, even if he did. He made far too many millions of dollars to admit the truth now.

Armstrong en route to his first Tour win in 1999

And it's that same with Landis. He figures that if he continues to deny, public opinion will be on his side in the long run. Unfortunately, that's just not true. Real cycling fans, while not eager to admit it, realize that Landis et all did in fact dope. As a matter of fact, almost ALL riders in the 90's doped. It was a doping culture. But we, the American cycling public, are to believe that these Americans are being held to the fire unjustly? Maybe some fans will accept that line of bull, but not this one. Sad but true, Landis, Hamilton, and even those that have never been convicted, are guilty no matter what they may say over the years.

Unstoppable Cancellara Wins MSR---Flanders, Roubaix Next?

Fabian Cancellara must be considered the number one favorite for the remaining spring classics until another rider shows definitively that the Swiss time trialist can be beat. Cancellara won Milan-San Remo in convincing fashion by simply riding away from everyone on the Corso Cavallotti this Saturday. In an Eddy Merckx-like move, Cancellara jumped away from a small group with about 3 kilometers left in the race on Saturday, and no one could catch him as the CSC ace arrived, hands raised, in San Remo as the winner of Italy's biggest one day race.

Cancellara has grown from a time trialer to an all-arounder over the last few years

Cancellara has the rest of the peloton running scared, as the Swiss has been able to win on raw power and fearless tactics. His new nickname, "Tony Sparticus," is as appropriate as it is comical. There was, however, nothing funny about Cancellara's attack on the Corso Cavallotti Saturday that clinched the win for the 27 year old.

Time trialing as the Swiss champ two years ago

With Cancellara's two bigest targets (Flanders, Roubaix) yet to come for 2008, the time has come to consider whether he can put together a season with multiple classics victories on varied courses. Always a favorite on the cobbles, a win in Milan-San Remo went against all conventional thinking, as breakaway victories in the longest classic are extremely rare. That Cancellara was able to go away and stay away speaks to his enormous power and determination. He'll be a marked rider in Flanders and Roubaix, but it won't matter if he can hold the incredble form he has until the Flemish monuments.

He represents the raibow jersey well

If Cancellara manages to win either Flanders or Roubaix, his early season will go down as one of the best, if not the best, in the history of modern cycling. He has now won both major one day races in Italy (he won the Pachi Monte Eroica two weeks ago) and the first major Italian stage race of 2008 (Tirreno-Adriatico). He was within striking distance of overall victory in California, after having won the prologue and the first leader's jersey of the budding American stage race.

Cancellara rode for the mighty Mapei team in the 90's

Meanwhile, the rest of the peloton will have to go back to the drawing board to figure out how they'll manage to outfox and outride Cancellara, who looks positively unbeatable in every race he enters. Already his season has been an overwhelming success, and we're not even into April yet, which is a scary thought in itself. If he keeps going like this, a 20 win season with a few classic victories is very much within reach for the best time trialist in the world.

No Rock Racing for 2008 Tour of Georgia

AEG and Medalist Sports, organizers of this year's Tour of Georgia and the Tours of California, Missouri and the US Pro championships, announced this week that the Rock Racing team will not be invited to the seven stage race. Team owner Michael Ball was understandably upset at AEG/ Medalist's explanation as to why the team wasn't invited.

Jim Birrel, the race director for Georgia, was interviewed by Velonews regarding the decision to not include the Rock team. "There are a finite number of slots we’re interested in filling, and it’s hard, there are too many qualified teams to extend invites to, and not enough slots." Too many qualified teams? What qualifies a team to race in Georgia? All memberes having a heart beat?! Because when compared to Team Type 1 or GE/Marco Polo Cycling Team presented by Trek, the Rock Racing squad is head and shoulders above both teams in terms of talent, and just as importantly, budget.

Birrell also allowed that Rock's high profile at the Tour of California hurt their chances of being included for Georgia. "I like all the riders he (Michael Ball) has on his team, it’s just that renegade approach and his desire to steal the limelight away from the platform that has been created for everybody else is what troubles me. Right now, for Georgia, Colorado and Missouri, I just don’t know if there is a fit for that team at those stage races. We still haven’t finalized those rosters, but I don’t know if they are under consideration or not." In what sounds purely like rhetoric, Birrell left the door open for Rock to participate in the bigger American stage races later in the season, but seemed less than enthusiastic that they would be invited.

All this is a shame for the sport of cycling, which can use the new, chic attitude that the Rock team is trying to bring to the sport. Yes, they are publicity hounds hellbent on being in the headlines at all times, but is that a bad thing? Publicity is publicity, and Rock brought that to the Tour of California in spades. Clearly Michael Ball needs to tone down his and his team's behaviors, but did the Rock camp really act so bad at California?

The answer is no. Scruffy teenagers on skateboards stopped to look at the neon green and black team bus of the Rock team in California. They bought hats a t-shirts from the Rock vendors. Women young and old whistled at the riders as they posed before races and flew by while in the pack. And news crews flocked before and after each stage to the Rock area to interview the colorful characters on the team. The Botero-Hamilton-Sevilla chimera was irritating, but not disruptive to the point that the team should be excluded from America's biggest races. In the end, cycling loses out as top riders like Fred Rodriguez and Victor Hugo Pena are taken away and replaced by no names like Joe Eldridge and Tim Hargrave. Sure, Team Type 1 has excellent riders, but frankly, they would get shelled by the far more talented Rock team.

In the end, the Tour of Georgia will have fewer fans and less drama, both important ingredients for any live event. Team Type 1, while game competitors, will in all liklihood find themselves completely over-matched throughout the week as the Pro Tour teams drop them like stones on the climbs and ride away from them on the flats. Meanwhile, the Rock team will be on the sidelines, for no other reason than that they called AEG to the carpet before the Tour of California. AEG is looking more and more like another cycling event organizer, ASO, by the day.

Milan-San Remo 2008: Wide Open

The build up to the 99th running of the Milan-San Remo race will be remembered as one where anything was possible, when pundits and fans alike were touting various names as prospective contendors, and hope grew eternal, like the fast approaching spring. Some riders are favored more than others, but there is rarely such a long list of contenders in any other race during the cycling season. That said, here is a quick summary of all those in with a chance for the 2008 Milan-San Remo cycling classic. For my full preview, see my other article on Milan-San Remo.

Oscar Friere, more than anyone else, has been labeled the biggest favorite, but there are a handful of riders to be considered right along side of him. Alessandro Pettachi, Tom Boonen, Robbie McEwen, Thor Hushovd, and Fillipo Pozzato complete the "first tier" of contenders. They'll for sure be at the front if the race finishes in a sprint, and any one of them have the horsepower and team support to take the top prize on Sunday.

Oscar Friere is the favorite to repeat his 2007 success

The "second tier," while less heavily-favored, should still be considered serious threats to take the win in the year's first classic. Davide Rebellin, Philippe Gilbert, Gerald Ciolek, Danilo Napolitano, Alessandro Ballan, Enrico Gasparotto, Stuart O'Grady, Rinaldo Nocentini , Juan Antonio Flecha, Danilo Hondo, Robbie Hunter, Erik Zabel, Fabian Cancellara, Paolo Bettini, Baden Cooke, and Danilo di Luca will all be at the front at some point in the race. And perhaps, with the right combination of skill and luck, one of these "second tier" riders will be the victor.

San Remo scenery: Them's is some purty big palm trees!

The "best of the rest" include Magnus Backstedt, Alberto Loddo, Bernhard Eisel, Mikhail Ignatiev, Igor Astorloa, Kim Kirchin, Heinrich Haussler, Karsten Kroon, Yaroslav Popovych, George Hincapie, and Julian Dean. They'll need a bit more luck to take the win, but all are still more than capable of jumping away at the right time for the win. All questions answered on Sunday, as the first true classic, Milan-San Remo, unfolds in Italy.

Petacchi winning in the Via Roma in 2005. Thor Hushoved is to his left, who finished third, while Boonen is at far right

Weylandt takes Nokere-Koerse; Introducing Euro Peloton

Wauter Weylandt did what many in the cyling world thought he would do yesterday in the Nokere-Koerse Belgian semi-classic, taking a bunch sprint victory for his Quick Step team. Weylandt bested the youngster Jürgen Roelandts of the Silence Lotto team, and Andre "Gorrilla" Greipel of team High Road. It was a great but expected win for the Belgian, who is making a name for himself early in his career as a man to watch in one day races.

Weylandt added to his palmares Tuesday with the Nokere-Koerse win

Roelandts meanwhile showed his class in finishing second to his fellow Belgian Weylandt, giving the cycling public a peek into the future of Belgian cycling. Roelandts is only 22 and should improve greatly in 2008 riding for his first Pro Tour team. He netted the overall victory in last year's U-23 Paris-Tours race, and also won a stage in 2006 at the Tour de Normandy. He'll be a rider to keep an eye on in the future, as he gains experience racing against the world's best bike riders.

Roelandts winning the overall in the U-23 Paris-Tours race

Greipel, although not a winner, flew the flag high for the High Road team, and finished a respectable third. It was a Pro Tour podium sweep as all three spots were occupied by squads belonging to the highest coalition in cycling. It was a good day for cycling and for Belgian fans, as we inch ever closer to the legendary Tour of Flanders.

The "Gorrilla" winning in the Tour Down Under en route to taking the Pro Tour leader's white jersey (better than that horrible High Road black!

Introducing Euro Peloton

For those of you new to the site, welcome to Euro Peloton. Here, every day, you can read up on hot topics in the world of cycling, rider and staff interviews, race previews, recaps and commentaries, and the examination of general happenings in the pro peloton. Written by cycling fans for cycling fans, Euro Peloton strives every day to bring the European cycling world home to American cycling fans. It's like our tag line says: "Unfiltered Perspectives on Professional Cycling."

Mario Cipollini Retired for Good? Rock on the Ropes?

The Rock team has been the glitziest everywhere it has gone

Breaking news yesterday afternoon revealed that Rock Racing's Mario Cipollini is no longer under contract to the Rock Racing team, having severed ties with the flamboyant outfit lead by Rock & Republic CEO Michael Ball. Cipollini also denied rumors that he would be transferring to the Tinkoff Credit Systems team for a ride in Milan-San Remo. It looks as though the mighty Lion King has hung up the cleats for good.

Cipo' seems done for sure this time

Cipolini explained in a statement what happened, saying "unfortunately I've had to end my relationship with the American Rock Racing team that started a few months ago, The idea of riding Milan-San Remo made sense if it was linked to a wider project of building and managing a new team and my return to racing was part of the project to create a dream team. Despite a contract, this hasn't happened for reasons out of my control."

Previously suspended riders Botero, Hamilton (center) and Sevilla have added a circus-like atmosphere to the Rock Racing team

Meanwhile, over in the Rock camp, tensions continue to rise within the fledgling franchise. Word out of SoCal says team riders are irritable and things seem to be melting down. In a prepared statement, Rock Racing and Michale Ball reacted to Cipo's exit: "From a business perspective and from an overall team standpoint, the relationship between Mario Cipollini and Rock Racing was not advantageous, and would not work long-term. We have terminated his contract and wish him luck in future endeavors."

Michael Ball has made quite an impression on the cycling world in 2008. Whether it has been a positive impression is up for debate

Hmmmmm. This sounds very similar to the resignation of former director sportif Frankie Andreau, who was less than satisfied with some of Ball's practices as a team owner. Cipo' too seems to have been burned by the LA clothing czar. What will happen next in the Rock Racing camp is any one's guess. Will they make it to Redlands this week or will they fold and disappear, a fluorescent green cloud mixing with the LA smog? If they do go it would be a shame, as the buzz around the Rock team has only helped cycling's publicity, for good or bad.

Andreau took the high road in parting ways with Rock Racing, and has been better off for his decision

Upcoming: 63rd Nokere-Koerse, March 19, 2008

Belgium in the spring is a cycling fan's dream

On Wednesday, the 63rd Nokere-Koerse, a Belgian semi-classic, runs over 196 kilometers, and features both cobbles and hellingen (small, steep climbs) throughout the route. While not as difficult or prestigious as either the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, Nokere-Koerse is still a highly coveted victory for many Belgian riders. In fact, over the 62 previous editions, a Belgian or Dutchman has won every time save four times. The four non-Belgian/Dutch riders that have won the race? Aurélien Clerc (2002, French), Scott Sunderland (1998, Australian), Didier Foubert (1985, French), and Andre Aucquier (1957, French).

The 2007 Nokere-Koerse race

The lineup for Nokere-Koerse this year is impressive, with many talented Belgians and Dutchman who will contend for the victory. The mighty Quick Step team will come with a two-pronged attack featuring the veteran Wilfried Cretskens and the promising youngster Wouter Weylandt, who at 23 is already showing promise as an emerging star. Weylandt had five wins in 2007 and will be primed for the win on home soil. Also looking for a win will be the veteran Tom Steels of the Landbouwkrediet-Tonissteiner team. Koen Barbe of the Topsport-Vlaanderen team is a good one day rider, as are Dutchmen Matthe Pronk of the Collstrop team, Bram de Groot of Rabobank and Maarten Den Bakker of the Belgian-sponsored Skil-Shimano outfit.

Last year's finish line at Nokere-Koerse

There are a few non-Belgian/Dutch riders that could buck history and get a win. Among them are Credit Agricole's big Hungarian time trialist Lazlo Bodrogi, who has the raw power to ride away from the field, and the Australian Mark Renshaw, who can sprint with the best. Sergey Lagutin of the Collstrop team has good all-around ability, and Scott Davis, the Australian from the High Road team, is an excellent sprinter too. The Pro Tour leader Andre "Gorrilla" Greipel will be on hand for the sprints as well for High Road, and the gristled Brit Roger Hammond is always dangerous if he gets into a breakaway.

Even though he's young, Weylandt has won in big races before, like in the Eneco Tour in 2007

Nokere-Koerse will provide the insatiable Belgian fan base a race to cheer wildly and enjoy ahead of the bigger classics. Too, for the riders contesting the event, Nokere-Koerse offers the thrill of competition in one of the most cycling-frenzied nations in the world. Long live cycling, long live Flanders.

Who is . . . Rinaldo Nocentini?

Nocentini's climbing abilities earned him a spot on last year's Italian national team

Rinaldo Nocentini finished second to Davide Rebellin this past weekend at the Paris-Nice stage race by a scant three seconds. He showed his climbing and decending skills while racing against some of the world's best, and finished second overall on the 2008 Paris-Nice classification. And while he didn't take the overall title, his performance begs the question: who is Rinaldo Nocentini?

Nocentini has won a few races, but is largely a wild card

A 30 year old veteran riding for the French AG2r team, Nocentini has ridden mostly for Italian teams, including the powerhouse Mapei and Fassa Bortolo outfits in the early 2000's, and also with the continental Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé and Acqua & Sapone squads. A promising junior rider, Nocentini finished 3rd in the 1995 U-19 road race and 2nd in the 1998 U-23 road championship. Nocentini has a good burst on short climbs, and good endurance in longer races.

Riding for his first pro team, the mighty Mapei team, which today is known as Quick Step

Nocentini's palmares include a stage win in the Med Tour and victories in both the 2007 GP Miguel Indurain and the 2008 Gran Premio di Lugano. He also placed sixth in last year's Fleche Wallone (also won by Davide Rebellin), showing that he has the power to hang with the world's best in the hilly classics. Nocentini is a rider that is never mentioned as a favorite, but when on form can be as good as anyone else.

Winning for AG2R last year at the GP Miguel Indurain

The rest of the year is sure to be a crap shoot for the Italian veteran. He'll have his chances in various races, but not until his team leaders have been removed from the picture. He'll also probably get a ride on the Italian national team for the 2008 world championships, as his climbing skill will be of great use to Paolo Bettini, who is attempting to become the only rider ever to win three world championships in a row.

Tough Times in France: Slipstream Laid Low at Paris-Nice

After an excellent start to the 2008 season at the tours of Qatar and California, the Slipstream team came to the Paris-Nice stage race with aspirations of the overall with David Millar and a stage win or two from Tyler Farrar or Trent Lowe. For the prologue, Farrar was blazing the soggy course when he fell hard into a corner (below). Two days later he abandoned the race.

Chute Paris Nice 2008 FARRAR Tyler
Uploaded by Maxio

David Millar, going back to 2007, had made it very clear that he planned on trying to win the overall title at Paris-Nice. Steadliy building his form for the French stage race, Millar too dropped out of the race due to sickness after being dropped on Ventoux. His teammate Trent Lowe, a good climber who was toward the top of the general classification before the Mont Ventoux stage, crashed and took himself out of the hunt for the overall as well.

Trent Lowe (pictured in Discovery kit 2007) crashed in Paris Nice and fell off the GC pace. At only 23 though, "T-Dog" will have his day in the "Race to the Sun" soon

Worst of all is the fact that Paris-Nice is an ASO sponsored event, the organizers of the Tour de France. Slipstream will have to hope that ASO overlooks their poor performance when deciding on the teams for the 2008 Tour. All is not lost for Jonathan Vaughter's team though, as they have performed well in most of the races they have entered. No doubt the Argyle Gang will live to fight another day, in another race.

Down the Stretch: Tirreno-Adriatico, Paris-Nice Stage Races Near Their Finish

With the Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice stage races aproaching their finish, let's take a look at how each race will look come the end of the weekend. We'll start in France at the "Race to the Sun" and then examine the "Race to Two Seas" contenders.

Big name sprinters like Tom Boonen opted for Tirreno-Adriatico over Paris-Nice due to the UCI-ASO power struggle

What a week it has been in France. High winds, tons of rain and tough winter conditions have characterized the French stage race, and the list of GC contenders has changed from day to day. The Norwegian, Thor Hushovd, took the first yellow jersey after a strong prologue showing, before the young climbing sensation, Robert Gesink of the Rabobank team, earned the jersey on the slopes of the fearsome Mont Ventoux. Aussie Cadel Evans won the day on the "Giant of Provence," but Gesink got the yellow jersey, and sits 30+ seconds ahead in the race for the overall.

Steegmans loved the rainy conditions last week and took advantage with two stage wins at Paris-Nice

The remaining stages of Paris-Nice are difficult, and there should be plenty of chances for the field to attack Gesink and his Rabobank team. There are only a few riders left in the GC picture, as most of the pre-race favorites are well out of contention. Gerolsteiner's Davide Rebellin, coming off an excellent ride on Ventoux, is still very much in contention, and will probably try to attack a few times over the weekend in hopes of weakening Gesink. Fellow Italian Rinaldo Nocentini of the AG2R team will also be on the prowl, looking for opportunities to steal time from the lanky Dutchman Gesink. Both riders are just over 30 seconds behind Gesink, and each have the characteristics to win on the final two stages, which are both hilly.

Cadel won atop Ventoux, signalling his good early season form, but is out of the GC situation

After the Italian duo comes Yaroslav Popovych of the Silence-Lotto team. He lost valuable time on the Ventoux stage, but is the best climber of the remaining contenders at Paris-Nice. Gesink has been super strong thus far in the season though, so it will be hard to wrestle the leader's jersey away from him. All signs point to a landmark victory for the youngster, as he climbs (no pun intended) higher and higher among cycling's elite.

The paris-Nice overall didn't work out for Millar, who got sick and abandoned

Meanwhile, over in Italy, the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race winds down ahead of the year's first classic, Milan San Remo. The racing has been lively in Tirreno, and current leader Niklas Axelsson holds a slight lead over Enrico Gasparotto of the Barloworld team. Neither Axelson or "Gaspa" will win the overall however, as a crucial time trial on Sunday will no doubt determine the race's overall winner. There are many time trial specialists in good position ahead of the crucial fifth stage, and each will lay it on the line in hopes of securing the prestigious early season stage race title.

Not everyone has been happy in Tirreno, as Ricardo Ricco demonstrated on Friday

"The Killer," Danilo Di Luca, lurks in fifth place overall at only 32 seconds back, and looks to have good form. He is a decent time trialist and when on form can compete with the best. Expect a good ride on Sunday from the embattled defending Giro d'Italia champ. Young