Zabriskie Takes Third Consecutive US Pro Time Trial, Road Favorites Prepare for Paris Mountain

David Zabriskie has had a tough 2008. Crashes, illness and various injuries have plagued the Garmin time trial ace all season long, but the quirky Utah native tasted sweet redemption at the US Pro time trial championship today, winning by a comfortable five seconds over Bissell's Tom Zirbel.

The win sets the stage for the possible double for Garmin-Chipotle, as the American team will have several cards to play tomorrow in the road race. Danny Pate, who was slotted to ride the time trial, instead skipped the event, presumably to prepare fully for the road race. But he wasn't alone.

Greenville's favorite cycling son George Hincapie chose to stay away from the time trial, as did Rock Racing's Tyler Hamilton, among others. Hincapie will hope to take his third stars-and-stripes jersey while Hamilton will be on the hunt for his first. If either rider is to win however, they'll need to withstand the Garmin juggernaut lining up for Sunday, some 14 riders strong.

Others in the hunt for victory will be Rock's Freddy Rodriguez, the Toyota-United combo of the two Chrises, Baldwin and Wherry, and Bissell's ageless climber Burke "the Ninja" Swindlehurst. Andy Bajadali will fly the flag for the kelly Benefit team, while BMC will pin their hopes on Tour of Utah climbing ace Jeff louder and all-around threat Tony Cruz.

Other riders to watch include Neil Shirley of the Jittery Joe's team, Kirk O'Bee of the Health Net outfit, and Aaron Olsen of Bissell, who may try to escape down the stretch and time trial home for the win. Additionally, there are a handful of other underdogs that under the right conditions could ride away from the field to take the win.

In the end though, it is the Garmin team that will have all the pressure, as they try to take home the jersey after failing last year to keep Levi Leipheimer from escaping for victory late in the race. Greenville hometown favorite Hincapie will be highly motivated to take the jersey back to his Columbia team, to add to the many national champions already on the team.

US Pro Press Conference Kickoff Report

I am slammed with other responsibilities this weekend, so in the interest of my own sanity I'll need to keep today's (and perhaps tomorrow's) posts short. I attended the press conference today for the US Pro championships and took aaway some interesting tid bits.

George Hincapie looked relaxed yet realistic as he explained that going up agains the 14 member Garmin team would make it tough to take home the win. Still, he didn't look as though he was ready to back down to them either.

Craig Lewis and Ted King were happy to be a part of the press conference, but neither really seemed too convinced of their own chances. Each knew that in all probability they would be working for teammates.

Fred Rodriguez looked fabulous chic in his Rock & Republic jeans, shirt and hat, and was radiating confidence. Like last year, he'll be right there down the stretch. Whether he'll be able to win is another argument entirely.

Christian Vande Velde isn't planning on saving himself for the road race. He wants to do his best in the time trial, and then take his chances on Sunday. His teammate Danny Pate was supposed to be at the press conference, but was a no show. I have a gut feeling that Pate is coming to win on Sunday.

Tyler Hamilton also was a no show for the press confernece as he was out on a ride. Tyler also strikes me as a rider out to take no prisoners on both Saturday and Sunday. I expect him to go top five in the TT and top ten in the road race.

That's it for today, hope to see you tomorrow.

Bernhard Kohl Plays Mystery Card: Austrian to Reveal New Team in Early September

Bernhard Kohl was one of the revelations of this past year's Tour de France. A tiny climber, Kohl resembles a snake as he sways from side to side on his way up cycling's steepest ascents. And today, cyclingnews.com reports that the former KOM at the Tour of California has reached an agreement with a new team. It is widely held that Kohl will sign with either Quick Step or Lotto, with Columbia and Milram as possible outsiders.

However, no one has mentioned the Garmin-Chipotle team as a possibility. Kohl has already stated that people will be very surprised with his decision. What would be more surprising than Garmin? The fact is that Kohl would fit in nicely with the Garmin outfit as a second option along side Christian Vande Velde in the Tour, and would also be valuable in the early season stage races such as the Tour of California, which features a mountain top finish this year, and Paris Nice, which is often used as a prep race for Tour hopefuls.

At only 26 years old, Kohl is coming into the prime of his career. Behind Vande Velde, he would make an excellent second option, and would be able to grow into the team leader over the next couple of seasons. He has never been close to suspicion of doping, and is fluent in English, the language of the Garmin team. To all appearances, he looks like an ideal fit for Garmin. Whether Garmin guru Jonathan Vaughters will be able to land the lithe climber is yet to be seen. If he can't, Garmin will still be fine for next year, but Kohl would add a defferent dimension to an already powerful team.

Chris Wherry at Crossroads as Former US Pro Champ Rides for 2009 Contract

Chris Wherry is at a career crossroads. The 2005 US Pro road champ has been quiet ever since his historic win, and the lanky rider from the soon to be defunct Toyota-United team needs a big result this coming weekend in Greenville if he is to attract the attention of the other big teams in America. Wherry is a likable rider with a good attitude, but his luck has run dry since that day in 2005 when he rode Chris Horner and Danny Pate off his wheel en route to the national title in Philadelphia.

And Wherry isn't the only one on the hot seat. Besides Toyota-United, the Health Net and Symmetrics teams are also disbanding, which will lead to a flood of talent into the American domestic racing scene. If a rider is to secure a contract for 2009, they'll need to have a solid end to 2008, and where better to begin than this weekend in Greenville?

On paper, Wherry appears ideally suited to the parcours in Greenville. He is a capable climber with an attacking style, and will not be a marked rider, meaning that he may be able to escape with a small group and possibly stay away until the finish, like he did in Philly in 2005. Also working in his favor is the fact that he has been relatively injury free thus far in 2008. He'll have no excuses come race day on Sunday.

Even if he can't manage to win the event, it is imperitive that Wherry show himself at the front of the bike race early and often. If he can project an air of confidence while attacking, he'll show potential suitors his ability to animate a race. A hard-charging rider who can blow a field apart is just as valuable as a fast finisher or top climber, just ask Jens Voigt. By the time the road race finishes on Sunday, Wherry's fans and the cycling community will have a much better idea about his team prospects for 2009. Hopefully, those prospects will be plenty and prosperous.

US Pro Time Trial Championship 2008: Can David Zabriskie Get it Done?

David Zabriskie is, and has been for the past few years, the best time trialist in America. He has dominated the time trialing discipline dating back to his time with the CSC team, and has won the time trial event at the US Pro championships in Greenville, South Carolina, the past two years. Last year, he held off future teammates Danny Pate and Timothy Duggan by the smallest of margins: one second to Pate, and by eight seconds over Duggan.

Since that day last September, Duggan has had to deal with a life threatening crash at the Tour of Georgia and Zabriskie is recovering from a fractured vertabre in this past year's Giro d'Italia. Each will be returning to Greenville this year to try to duplicate their success from last year, or at least regain their confidence ahead of the Tour of Missouri and 2009.

Duggan is probably just happy to be riding again, and should not be considered as a serious threat for the win. Zabriskie on the other hand is dangerous in any time trial he enters, and the Garmin-Chipotle rider will be keen to become a three time consecutive time trial champion on the roads of Clemson University. Whether he'll have good enough form to do so is still up for debate.

Another problem for Zabriskie will be his fellow competitors. His teammate Christian Vande Velde is riding extremely well, and will be a favorite for the time trial, as well as Danny Pate. Pate finished an agonizing 1 second off the winning pace last year, and will want to climb the top step of the podium this year.

Others that could impress include Bissell's Tom Zirbel and Rock Racing's Tyler Hamilton. Zirbel, also known as "Thor," put in a scorching time trial ride at the recent Tour of Utah, and is on great form for the US Pros. Hamilton meanwhile, is a former Olympic Gold medalist in the time trial discipline, and has a full year of racing under his belt. Although his form is a bit questionable, if he has the legs he'll be a tough out. And with a new course profile for 2008, each rider will be contesting the event for the first time on an unfamiliar race course.

Vuelta a Espana Predictions: Overall Contenders

I don't see how anyone will be able to beat Contador. He is an amazing stage racing talent, and will have rock-solid team support from Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloden, and Benji Noval. Not to mention that the Astana team has no pressure on them as it will be the CSC team that is expected to govern the race.

Speaking of CSC, will Carlos Sastre be able to take his second grand tour title of the year? Doubtful. His team is not nearly as strong as the one he rode with at the Tour de France, and let's face it: It is VERY hard to win two grand tours in the same season especially when you are 34 years old.

Alejandro Valverde claims that he is riding the Vuelta only for preparation, but I'll believe it when I see it. He will ride as best he can in the first week to see where his form is. If he feels good, I think the "Green Bullet" could be a dark horse contender.

Rabobank's phenom Robert Gesink is slated to take on his first grand tour, and he should be considered a podium threat. It is Gesink's mind, not his legs though, that is in question as a deciding factor into his success. If he can stay solid tactically, there is no reason why the Dutchman can't end up on the podium.

Damiano Cunego has not contended in a grand tour since his win at the giro in 2004. I mention him here because he is still a punchy climber, but in all reality he should now be considered a one day specialist. Until he finishes in the top ten of a grand tour again, I won't mention him amongst the favorites for a given race.

Lesser known riders that could have a good Vuelta: CSC's Jurgen Van Goolen, a CSC domestique looking to improve in grand tour riding, and Silence-Lotto's Yaroslav Popovych, who is coming off an abyssmal Tour de France. The Ukranian will want to put his best foot forward to Spain as a way of making up for a largely lost season.

Garmin Juggernaut Ready for US Pro Championship Battle

The Garmin-Chipotle team will trot out an impressive 14 man team to contest the US road race championship next weekend in Greenville, South Carolina. Led by Tour de France star Christian Vande Velde, Garmin will be able to control the race from start to finish, as they attempt to take home the stars-and-stripes jersey. The full line up of Garmins for the US Pro road race currently is: Blake Caldwell, Steven Cozza, Thomas Danielson, Jason Donald, Timmy Duggan, Lucas Euser, Tyler Farrar, Mike Friedman, Will Frischkorn, Patrick McCarty, Danny Pate, Tom Peterson, Christian Vande Velde, and David Zabriskie.

This potent line up will make it very hard for the other teams to assert their will over the bike race. Garmin will be able to employ their big engines (Zabriskie, Donald, Cozza, Duggan) to push the pace early in the race, as they look to set up one of the more climbing oriented riders like Vande Velde, Friedman, Pate, or Danielson. Meanwhile, riders like Will Frischkorn, Blake Caldwell and Lucas Euser will be free to go with early breaks, and try their luck with a long attack on the climber's friendly course.

The other teams in the race, Bissel, Rock Racing, Toyota United, Health Net and Kelly Benefits, will have to work together to neutralize the Garmin squad if they are to have any chance at victory. Rock has the second most entrants in the race, but unfortunately, they do not possess the fire power of the Garmin line up. Tyler Hamilton and Fred Rodriguez will have help early on, but down the stretch will have to hope they can follow the Garmin train when the pace is lifted. Even a heavy favorite like George Hincapie will probably have to wait for Garmin to make the race, as the aging American veteran will have only one teammate, Craig Lewis, to support him against the Garmin goliath.

Lie, Cheat and Deceive on Two Wheels: Michael Rasmussen Training Camp Shows Amateurs How to Break All the Rules

Just what we all needed, a Michael Rasmussen cycling training camp. From one of the most notorious riders in recent years comes a $2,495 week long camp for amateur cyclists to "Learn the art of climbing from one of the greatest climbers in cycling today." Today? Don't they mean yesterday? And don't they actually mean "Learn the art of climbing from one of the greatest doped climbers in cycling last year?"

Whether Michael Rasmussen doped may never be known. He never failed any drug test and was never found with doping products. But we do know he lied about where he was. Why would he do this unless he had something to hide? And now he wants us cycling fans to plunk down 2500 clams to hear him tell us how to climb better??!?!?

I can see it now. You approach the posh Ayres Inn at Alpine and see a fiendishly gaunt Rasmussen hunched over a plastic tool box. Inside are various pills and needles. Rasmussen blinks nervously when you approach, and asks you to pull up your shorts. "Zis iz lesson one," he says as his beady eyes bore a hole in your skull. "No pain, no gain!" He pierces the skin of your quadracep and tells you "Zeese are vitamins, zey vill help your body adapt to the altitoode." Later that day, as your pulling away from your riding companions, Rasmussen explains to the group that you were more committed than them, which is why your climbing has improved markedly already. And that's just day one.

Of all cyclists, Michael Rasmussen is the last person that should be hosting a training camp. He should be laying low, trying to stay out of the public eye, until his ban is up. But like many disgraced cheaters, Rasmussen must find a way to earn some money. All he knows is cycling, so he thinks it logical to embark on this venture.

The worst part is he will probably attract a handful of participants. Some people are so blinded by their admiration for a rider that they'll willingly ignore the fact that they are cheaters. Which is fine I guess. As long as Rasmussen isn't racing professionally, I really don't care what he does with his time. Hopefully he'll turn this venture into his long term career so I never have to see him kitted up for a pro team again. Somehow though, I don't think I'll be that lucky.

Boonen Back at Eneco, Cocain Positive Forgotton

Tom Boonen did what he does best at the Eneco Tour stage one, with a solid sprint victory ahead of Italian fast man Danile Bennati. Boonen will feel a strong sense of relief as he hopes to put his cocaine positive behind him. The big Belgian is gearing up for the Vuelta Espana, and for the approaching world championships in Varese, Italy.

Boonen is a likable rider. He's personable, fairly humble, and dedicated to his team. He always wants to win, but is gracious in defeat, and seems to take each race as seriously as if each were a classic. He has wisely stayed out of the limelight in recent weeks, as he waited for the cocaine affair to simmer down.

Now, "Tornado Tom" seems to be about where he was before his positive test. He will always have the unconditional admiration of his Belgian fans, but the rest of cycling should also be willing to let bygones be bygones. Boonen has obviously learned his lesson, and seems the wiser from the ordeal.

Boonen will be up against some serious competition at the world's, and will need a bit of luck to prevail in the race for the rainbow jersey. He'll have excellent support from both Stijn Devolder and Phillipe Gilbert, but may find that either of those riders are in with a better chance than he is. It won't matter if he doesn't win though, as Boonen's mere presence adds a tangible spice to any race he rides in.

Ultimate Cycling Sponsors: The Top Companies That Should Invest in Sponsoring Cycling

There are a ton of companies in existence right now that would benefit from sponsoring cycling. The newest sponsor to put their hat in the ring is American Beef, a less obvious choice. Check out these ideas for potential sponsors.

Dunkin’ Donuts
The Dunkin’ franchise have increased their exposure nation-wide in an attempt to expand their empire into the western portion of the US. Nearly every corner in Boston has a D&D, but there are almost none on the west coast. What better way to raise awareness of the Dunkin’ brand than to sponsor a domestic cycling team in the US? Plus, what would be cooler than a brown, orange and pink team kit?

Verizon Wireless
Verizon would be able to capitalize on the sport of cycling using their “Can You Hear Me Now?” campaign. They would be able to provide the communication earpieces for the team, so whenever the team won, their slogan to the cycling world could be “Can Your Hear Us Now?” Cell phone competition is fierce in the US (US Wireless, T-Mobile, Boost, Metro PCS, AT&T) and Verizon would be able to increase brand exposure at the myriad cycling events in America.

Slim-Fast Diet Drinks
Who better to promote a diet plan than pro cyclists? They are ridiculously skinny and are constantly watching their weight throughout the year. One of their slogans, “A Slim-Fast way of life,” would apply perfectly to cycling, which is a way of life as well as a sport. They could even extend the Slim-Fast diet product offering by initiating a diet program for athletes.

Tiger Balm
As they say on their website, “It has always been our belief that no one should be constrained from leading a full and active life because of aches and pains.” Well, who better to help showcase a product like Tiger Balm than pro cyclists? Their every day is full of aches and pains as they hunch over their handle bars 300+ days a year. The company, like Slim-Fast, would also have an opportunity to grow their product offering with a new chamois cream. They could call it “Tiger Bum.” Plus, they're unis would be super cool utilizing the Tiger motif.

UV Natural Sport Sunscreen
This company produces a sunscreen that features “natural ingredients that
are biodegradable and environmentally friendly.” Cyclists are in the sun more than almost any other athlete. Plus, they can’t have the harmful chemicals from traditional sunscreens on their bodies all the time. UV Natural would be the perfect fit for the environmentally and body conscious pro cyclist. UV Natural already has a sport type sunscreen, and could begin promoting it right away.

The above companies are only a few that could benefit greatly by a cycling sponsorship. Hopefully these companies will see this post and consider the proposition. If not though, at least cycling always has American Beef and various lotteries.

Fall Objectives on the Horizon, Cycling Braces for Final Stretch of 2008 Season

The Tour de France and Olympics are done. Two of the season's three grand tours are complete. The Vuelta and world championships loom, but we are still over a week away from the Vuelta and a further five from the world championships. In the meantime, some of the bigger stars of cycling are preparing for the final portion of the season in races this week and next.

Damiano Cunego is hoping to make the Italian world's team, and his third place Wednesday at the 88th Tre Valli Varesine race bodes well for his chances. Others of note that finished well at the Tre Valli include Giovanni Visconti (10th) and Danilo Di Luca (11th).

Over in Portugal, the national Tour continued today with the fifth of eleven stages. The American Garmin-Chipotle squad has ridden well, as Steven Cozza took an excellent fourth in the prologue time trial while his teammate Tyler Farrar netted fourth in the fourth stage and an impressive second in today's stage 5. Lampre's Danilo Napolitano, virtually invisible early in the year, is rounding back into form and should be on track for a great ride at the Vuelta.

The Eneco Tour begins in Belgium on Wednesday, and the usual Belgian suspects will be revving their engines again ahead of their late season targets. Tom Boonen and Stijn Devolder will both be at the Eneco looking to refine their form ahead of the Vuelta, as will Francaise de Jeux's Phillipe Gilbert, as he eyes a switch to the Lotto team next year. Some other notables at the Eneco Tour are Luis Leon Sanchez of Caisse d'Epargne, Daniele Bennati of Liquigas and Matti Breschel of the CSC-Saxo team.

The last third of the cycling season is now underway. As the leaves begin to turn, we'll learn of rider transfers, new alliances and rule changes, but at the end of the day, there's always room for racing. Onward through 2008, with an eye to 2009 for the riders of professional cycling.

Rahsaan Bahati US Criterium Champion

Rahsaan Bahati succeeded in his quest for the national criterium championship, taking the win ahead of Alex Candelario and Mark Hekman. Bahati has made it known for a few months that he wanted to win the crit championships, and the victory ensures that the 26 year old will wear the stars-and-stripes jersey at every criterium over the next year.

Bahati will surely be kitted out with a one-of-a-kind uniform from his chic Rock Racing sponsor, allowing him to show off his title in the flashiest way possible. It will be very interesting to see what team owner Michael Ball comes up with for the newly crowned champ. Rock kits are among the most popular in the peloton, and the most pricey.

The win for Bahati is a well-deserved one, and his fans will be very happy for the established sprinter. He has had a quiet year so far in 2008, but in adding the crit title to his win at Manhattan Beach, he ensures that his 2008 will be looked back on as an overwhelming success. Further, he'll be a protected rider for Rock at many upcoming criteriums, as he shows off his new jersey. Although he has won the jersey before, he'll undoubtedly cherish this victory with his new Rock Racing team even more than he did when he was with Mercury.

Tour of Utah: High Altitude Suspense for BMC's Jeff Louder

Jeff Louder scored a huge win for his BMC squad on Sunday, taking 3rd place in the final stage of the Tour of Utah, and the overall title by a scant one second. Louder scores his first stage race victory of 2008, after finishing second at the Cascade Classic. The 31 year old will be a dark horse to watch at the US Pro championships in two weeks time for BMC.

Louder has long been a solid all-arounder on the domestic circuit. The Salt Lake City, UT native has over 20 career victories. He'll come into the upcoming national championships under the radar, in good position to try to surprise the field with a solo attack. His teammates Tony Cruz and Jackson Stewart will be active as well, as the BMC "White Sharks" descend on the town of Greenville.

Other big fish swimming with BMC in Greenville will be the Garmin-Chipotle (of course) juggernaut and four of the best teams in America, among others: Health Net, Kelly Benefit, Rock Racing and Toyota United will be the teams with the largest contingent on hand to contest the race. The Kelly team didn't ride the Tour of Utah, preferring to ride in Europe instead. Andy Bajadali is on excellent form, and will hope that he can stay fresh for the next several days. Bajadali is a dart in the mountains, and should find the Paris Mountain climb to his liking.

For the others, Rock will have the veteran combo of Freddy Rodriguez and Tyler Hamilton, with Mike Creed and a host of others playing support/back up. Health Net will come strong with youngsters Anthony Colby and Matt Cooke, and the accomplished veteran Phil Zajicek, winner of two races in 2008 and first overall in the hilly Cascade Classic stage race in 2007.

Toyota United will approach the championships with an air of uncertainty, as the team has not secured a sponsor for 2009. It is looking increasingly like the Toyota team will not be able to secure a sponsor in time to keep its most talented riders. Therefore, riders like Chris Wherry, Chris Baldwin and Ben Day could well be riding for a new contract with another team following their performance in the road race and time trials. Many team managers will have an eye on the results in Greenville, as we enter the beggining of the transfer season.

US Pros Update: No Nationals for Chris Horner, Levi to Defend All Alone

Astana's Chris Horner won't be contesting this year's national championships as the Bend, Oregon resident continues to recover from a broken collar bone suffered at Elk Grove. Horner's absence will mean that defending champion Levi Leipheimer will have no teammates to help him defend his title.

Horner's career has been a bumpy one, and he has never seemed to have the best timing. His first foray to Europe with the Francaise des Jex team was a disaster, and it took the affable American a few years to recove from the bad experience with the French team. He was able to re-enter the European ranks first with Saunier Duvall, then Lotto, and now with Astana, but his season so far has largely been a lost one due to Astana's non-selection for the Tour de France and a series of injuries that Horner has had to deal with this year.

As far as the national championships, Horner has yet to bag a stars-and-stripes jersey. He had been close in the past, finishing as high as third, but has never been able to sew up his nation's title. Of all active American pros, no one is more deserving of the title than Horner. Unfortunately though, time is running out for the aging all-arounder.

Horner will get another crack at the title next year, assuming he is injury free and not riding the Veulta. Currently, he is training in Oregon, re-building his form for a late season run at results. He'll hope to finish 2008 without any more injuries, and re-load for 2009 and a final run at participating in the Tour de France. He will be missed at the US Pros, as any race Horner enters becomes more exciting with his participation.

BMC’s Scott Nydam Breaks Collar Bone, Out of US Pros

BMC’s Scott Nydam broke his collar bone at the Tour of Utah this week, putting a damper on the final half of his season. He’ll not be able to contest the US Pros or the Tour of Missouri in the coming weeks.

Nydam figured to be a factor in the US Pro road race, as the hilly parcours suited the small Californian climber. He would have tried to emulate his mentor and training partner Levi Leipheimer in taking the stars-and-stripes jersey, but will have to wait until 2009 to try again.

With Nydam gone, BMC will have to hope that either Tony Cruz or Jackson Stewart have the legs to contest the national championship. Cruz has been largely ineffective as BMC’s team leader thus far in 2008, and Jackson Stewart shined early in the year at the Tour of California, but has been quiet since. Still, either rider has the power to contend in Greenville, providing that their form is there. Too bad for Nydam and BMC, who have established themselves as one of the most aggressive teams in the domestic peloton.

Thomas Dekker to Garmin-Chipotle?

Rumors swirling that Thomas Dekker will sign with the Garmin-Chipotle team for next year. The talented 23 year old is viewed as an eventual grand tour contender, and as a classics-ready heavy weight right now. Although he has been injured quite a bit during his career, Dekker's talent is apparent whenever he is healthy enough to compete.

This past spring, the young Dutchman finished 5th in both the Amstel Gold and Fleche Wallonne races, and a respectable 6th at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He did so with less than perfect form, as he was battling injury at the time. When fully healthy, he can dominate, as he proved in 2006 when he took overall honors in Tirreno-Adriatico.

Recently, Dekker came under fire (literally) by his Rabobank team when his blood values were shown to be irregular during the Tour de Swiss. While he was not sanctioned or punished, Rabobank decided that they didn't want him on their team any more, and granted him permission to sign with a different team. On his website, Dekker has claimed that a deal with Garmin-Chipotle is immenent.

So why Garmin? Known as one of the cleaner teams in the peloton, Dekker would eliminate many doubts about his cleanliness if he were to sign with the Garmin team. But will team director Jonathan Vaughters really accept Dekker into the Garmin family? Isn't it a huge risk for Garmin to take on a rider who was shown to have abnormal values?

If Vaughters signs Dekker, rest assured that he has done his research beforehand. There is no way that Garmin would sign a rider who is a doping risk, as a positive would certainly put heavy strain on the relationship with the new sponsor. Finally, maybe this is all a rumor created by Dekker himself to try to drum up his own publicity. If teams think Garmin is interested in him, they'll surely believe he is clean and has nothing to hide. It will be interesting to see what unfolds in the coming days.

US Pro Cycling Championships 2008: Who Will Show?

As we are less than a month away from the US Pro cycling championships in Greenville on August 30-31, fans are beginning to wonder who will be on hand to contest the races for the stars-and-stripes jerseys? Being that this year was an Olympic year, will some of the riders from the Olympic race choose not to ride in Greenville? Also conflicting with the championships this year is the Vuelta Espana.

One of the biggest question marks for the championship must be the defending champion Levi Leipheimer. His Astana team are going to the Vuelta to win it all with Alberto Contador, and Levi may be called upon to support the Spanish super star. Meanwhile, Leipheimer's teammate Chris Horner won't ride the Vuelta after breaking his collar bone in Elk Grove. Whether he'll have the form or impetus to contest the races in Greenville is still up for discussion.

Other question marks include both Christian Vande Velde and his teammate David Zabriskie of the Garmin-Chipotle team. Both riders are coming off appearing in the Olympics, and each may want to recharge their batteries after a long trip abroad. George Hincapie is also coming off the Olympics, and after a long early season, the Columbia veteran may want a few days rest ahead of the world championships and Tour of Missouri races in September. Being that the race is in his hometown though, expect Hincapie to take to the line.

Last among the question marks is CSC veteran Bobby Julich. The Reno, Nevada resident has been absent from the scene dating back to the Giro d'Italia. He was not on the Tour de France squad, and was not considered for the Olympic team. Whether he'll show up in Greenville is anyone's guess. Stay tuned to EuroPeloton for additional updates and developments on the natinal championships in the coming days.

Tour of America 2008: Wha Happened?

Back in 2007 at Interbike, Aqu Sports CEO Frank Arokiasamy announced that he would put on a Tour of America bike race in 2008. He claimed the race would have 30+ stages and would run for over a month. Almost two years later, there is still very little tangible evidence that a race will happen at all. Arokiasamy and his team have already shortened the length of the race, perhaps realizing that putting on a three week event will be hard enough.

Whether the race will ever happen is still very much up in the air. Aqu Sports obviously have some money to throw around, but organizing a cross-country event takes more than cash. You need excellent event planners, an entire team of operations employees, and individual city buy in. Just because you want your race to go through Chicago doesn't mean that Chicago wants your race too.

And what about the schedule? Where would you fit an event as long as a grand tour in the International calendar? Most months seem filled up, with very little room for additional events, let alone events that are three weeks long. With the pending tightening of many cycling teams due to budget cuts and scandals, it would make it very hard for any team to have roster strength for FOUR grand tours. As it is, some smaller teams aren't even able to ride three grand tours.

One thing the proposed Tour of America would have in its favor, were it to happen, is prize money. The organizers are setting an outrageous sum of $1,000,000 for the first place finisher overall. There are six other catagories on offer for big money, including a new jersey classification, the blue jersey. The ToA Website describes the blue jersey competition as:

This is a new category added to the Tour of America. While the yellow jersey wearer is the overall leader of the Tour in terms of time, the wearer of the blue jersey is the leader of the Tour in terms of his everyday placing at the end of each stage. Therefore, his accumulated position on each stage will be added and the cyclist who has the lowest point total shall be the wearer of the blue jersey. While traditionally cyclists who finish in a group are awarded the same time of finish, they will have a different point total depending on where they finish.

While organizers still have a LONG way to go, the Tour of America would be an amazing race to have on the International calendar. Right now it looks like 2009 would be a bit ambitious, but perhaps we'll have a ToA by 2010.

Euro Peloton's Favorite Cycling Web Sites

I have searched the net far and wide while researching various cycling items. I have come across some great sites, and wanted to share them with you today. So, in no particular order . . . .

cycling news.com - most cycling fans already know about this site, but still had to mention.

album ciclismo - If you speak Italian, then check this site out. Even if you don't, check it out any ways, it's a cool site.

bill strickland - The Executive Editor for Bicycling magazine and an author of many book, Bill is a writer in the classical sense of the word. A must read.

CyclePig - Great name for a blog, but also because it's about having fun on two wheels.

cycling fans anonymous - one of the best blogs on cycling out there. He doesn't update it every day, and he's highly anti-European, but still his research/reporting is second to none, including cyclingnews. Go there now!

le grimpeur - Cause really, it's all about climbing if you're a cycling fan.

Podium Cafe - Finally, a place for all cycling fans to gather and talk about the great sport every day.

startlist.cyclingfever.com - Start lists for almost every major race. Sometimes not accurate, but mostly solid.

VeloNoise - Nice coverage of pro cycling. Not updated daily, but still worth checking a few times a week.

While these certainly don't represent all of the sites I visit, they are each worth viewing from time to time. Enjoy!

2008 Olympic Cycling Time Trial Wednesday, All Quiet Until Then

So another few days before we have the second major Olympic race for elite male cyclists, the time trial. Fabian Cancellara must be considered the early favorite, with a few second-tier threats. And while these names are not on par with an on-form Cancellara, they are still more than able to hold their own in the time trial discipline.

Cadel Evans had a strong road race in Beijing, and has had the time trial event in the Olympics on his radar since early in the year, when he took top honors in the dry run event in beijing (left). He'll do his best in the race against the clock, looking to find a gold medal after a hard day in the saddle. Also on hand for the Aussies will be former world time trial champion Mick Rogers, coming off an excellent effort in the road race.

Michael Schumaker underhelmed in the road race, but perhaps he was saving himself for the time trial. Ditto his teammate Bert Grabsche. Both German representaives will be in the mix on Wednesday. For the Russians, Vlad Karpets or Denis Menchov could impress under the right conditions. The time trial isn't as prestigious as the road title, but that doesn't mean it won't be contested as fevirishly as Saturday's race. Then, the Vuelta Espana will be the next major race of 2008.

Sammy Sanchez Takes 2008 Gold in Olympic Road Cycling Race in Beijing

So Sanchez takes top honors ahead of Davide Rebellin and Fabian Cancellara in the 2008 Olympic road cycling race. Sanchez was the strongest on the way to the finish of the climb-heavy race course, giving Spain the gold medal they were favored to achieve. Sanchez was one of the supposed "domestiques" for the Spanish squad, but he was able to make his own way in the race, as Alejandro Valverde and Oscar Freire faded.

Also of note was Fabian Cancellara. In typical form, Cancellara showed his amazing time trialing capabilities in closing the final gap to leaders Rebellin and Sanchez. Watching him come powering from seemingly out of nowhere reminded us once again of his amazing strength. Cancellara is a huge talent, capable of closing gaps that are simply impossible for other riders to close.

Rebellin takes silver, and it will be a bitter sweet moment for the aging Italian to come so close yet not attain the top step. His teammate and defending champion Paolo Bettini was not up to the task down the stretch, and will now have to re-focus for the September world championships in Varese, Italy.

Finally, a big "WTF??!?" to the American squad. Each of the five USA riders managed to miss the main break of the day, and then team leader Levi Leipheimer dissappeared in the race to the line. Veteran George Hincapie did virtually nothing, while Christian Vande Velde too was mostly not to be seen. Once again, the USA got shelled in an Olympic cycling race, as they have so many times before. Hopefully Leipheimer and Zabriskie will fare a bit better in the time trial later this week.

Olympic Cycling Men's Road Race Beijing 2008 On Tap: The Toughest Yet

This year's Olympic road race promises to be one of the toughest in years. Riders will battle bad air, narrow roads and steep ramps as each tries to take the elusive gold medal for their country. The 2004 champ, Paolo Bettini, is back to defend, and a slew of contenders will come prepared to do their best to unseat the Italian.

What a race course, for starters. The main climb of the race, that the riders will climb seven times, is about 11 kilometers long and is fairly steep. It will provide a stiff test for the riders, and will probably determine the winner of the race. Most of the sprinters will be dropped well before the finish line, leaving it to the climbers to battle for the win.

My hopes will lie with the Luxembourgian trio of the Schleck brothers and Kim Kirchin, winner of this year's Fleche Wallonne race. If Kirchin has been able to hold his form from the Tour, he'll be a very tough adversary on Saturday. Hopefully the Schlecks will help him to victory, in what would be a huge coup for the tiny Luxembourg nation.

It wouldn't be bad to see Bettini win again either. "Il Grillo" has been quiet so far in 2008, and another gold medal would make his season a success right away. The only rider I don't want to see take the win is Alejandro Valverde. I feel, and have felt for a long time, that Valverde should have been suspended for his involvement in Operacion Puerto years ago. His name was referenced several times, and he has yet to step up and admit his cheating ways. Until he does, I'll hope he finishes last in every race he enters.

Finally, to the American contingent. The exclusion of Chris Horner from the road team still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I can't believe that USA Cycling was so short sighted as to leave Horner off the roster. I think it will cost the US team's chances dearly. Everyone is saying that Levi Leipheimer is primed for a legit run at the gold medal. I'll believe it when I see it.

Besides his win at the US Pro championships last year, Levi has never been able to win a one day race. Yes, the race course suits his abilities, but I just don't see him being able to stay with the world's best down the stretch. I would give a better chance to Hincapie or Vande Velde. In fact, CVV is coming off a trancendent performance in the Tour de France, and has probably earned the right to lead the team. Unfortunately though, he'll probably have to ride in support of Levi. Oh well, there's always 2012 and London.

Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli: Cycling Legend, Cycling Miracle

Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli is poised to compete in her EIGHTH Olympic games this week, as the 49 YEAR OLD French cycling legend will toe the line in Beijing. Longo is a true miracle of sport. She's been riding her bike longer than most of her competitors in Sunday's road race. Since she has turned pro, the sport of cycling has seen changes in equipment and training, popularity and prestige. That she has managed to flourish in so many cycling eras is astounding.

Speaking of flourishing, cyclingnews.com reports that Longo has been unfazed by the environmental conditions in Beijing. While 21 year olds are wearing masks and claiming that their throats hurt, Longo stays busy riding the course, moving ever forward, as she blazes a solo path into history. You won't hear her mention air quality as a determinate of her performance.

Longo turns 50 years old in October, on All Hallows Eve. The Halloween birthdate speaks to the fact that Longo is a cycling monster, an ever-present ghost stalking riders young and old year over year. She may not manage the podium in Beijing, but the fact that she is competing should give every cycling fan pause. Each year, Longo claims that she is retired. Each year, she says she's had enough. Yet each year she returns, strong as ever, to compete. In fact, I'd lay even odds that we'll see her for a ninth Olympic Games in London. But first, watch out Beijing, here comes your miracle.

Lance Armstrong Back Biking, Ready to Take On Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race

Lance Armstrong is scheduled to start the Leadville 100 mountain bike race in Colorado this Saturday, August 9th. The 7-time Tour de France winner will try to unseat 5-time Leadville winner Dave Wiens. Last year, Weins battled another former Tour winner, kind of, in Floyd Landis. After originally being dropped, Weins rode his own pace and passed Landis after he crashed.

What a thrill it must be for Weins to see such a decorated cyclist lining up to do battle in the event. Held at elevation, the Leadville 100 is no cream puff course. Armstrong has been training at elevation in Colorado the past few weeks to acclimate to the conditions. Expect the Texan to come out firing. Like always, he'll probably have his tactical plan outlined well ahead of time. Expect that Armstrong has already ridden the decisive portions of the course, and has in his mind the ideal time to attack.

Weins for his part will probably do what he did last year with Landis: try to hold Armstrong's wheel for as long as he can. Weins has the experience however to lose time early and then make it up toward the end. He'll realize that Armstrong can attack fiercely, and Weins will want to make sure that he rides his own pace to avoid blowing up.

Seeing Armstrong compete on a bike again will be a strange sight. It seems so long that the Tour de France Tour de Force left the sport altogether. That he is choosing to race an event such as the Leadville 100 shows that he misses the competition of racing. Who knows, maybe he'll make a comeback on the American domestic scene and sign with Rock racing. He'd be united with former teammates Victor Hugo Pena and Tyler Hamilton, and he'd have all the free super cool designer jeans he can wear. OK, not likely, but it would be cool to see, wouldn't it?

Emanuele Sella Positive in Out of Competition Test

The inevitable happened today as CSF-Navigare's Emanuele Sella was found to have tested positive for the new EPO CERA. This is no surprise, as Sella's expoits in the Giro this past year were too good to be true. Italy as a country has been hit hard recently by doping positives, with Riccardo Ricco and Paxti Villa testing positive earlier this year.

Next important question is who's next? Will it be Stephan Schumacher, who performed amazingly well in the time trials at the Tour? Will it be (perish the thought) Christian Vande Velde, who never climbed as well as he did in a grand tour as he did in 2008? What about Bernard Kohl, the revelation of the Tour and polka dot jersey winner? Whomever it is, the alert is now out: doping in today's peloton is harder than ever to get away with.

Another point regarding the positives over the years are all the riders that missed out on glory while cheaters basked in the spotlight. Kim Kirchin, who was second to Alexandre Vinokorouv in the Tour a few years back. Gilberto Simoni, second to Basso two years ago and to Sella this year. Many others have suffered as cheats have dominated the sport in the past, but it is finally looking as though the doping battle is turning in the direction of clean cycling.

Olympic Cycling Dark Horses Out to Foil Spanish, Italian Favorites in the Elite Road Race

As the Olympic road race approaches this coming Saturday, it is largely believed that the race will be contested by two teams, the Spanish and French. Alejandro Valverde is a huge favorite, while his teammate Oscar Freire and Italian Paolo Bettini are an par with the "Green Bullet." Each squad brings a strong contingent for support, and early on it seems as though the other entrants in the race are largely being discounted in favor of the two powerhouse teams entered.

But there are many other excellent riders taking the line in Beijing, and due to each team only having five representatives, tactics could see a select group escape early, never to be caught again. This factor gives many riders a chance, and there are several who could surprise once all is decided on Saturday.

Australia's Simon Gerrans is coming out of the Tour with good form, and will be used to the hot weather predicted in Beijing. Columbia's Santi Botero is always dangerous when it is hot, as is Germany's Fabian Weggmann. "Weggy" took top honors in San Francisco in heat-wave conditions a few years back, and may find the hot weather to his liking again.

Bettini's teammate Davide Rebellin is always a dangerous one day rider, as is the Luxembourger Kim Kirchin. George Hincapie, the best one day rider on the American squad may have one last great result under his wing, and Russia's Vlad Gusev will be keen to take a win and release his anger at having been kicked off of the Astana team for irregular blood values.

Increasingly, it is looking as though a lesser-known rider will take the gold medal in Beijing. Air pollution, changing team tactics and course difficulty will all factor into the outcome of the race, and it will be difficult for the Spanish or Italian squads to control attacks throughout the race. Of course if they worked together until the end they would have an easier time of shutting down dangerous attaks, but it is unlikely that Bettini would want to go to the line with Valverde to decide the gold medal.

Beating Dope Tests with Genes: The Physiology of the Doping Scenario

An amazing article in The New York Times explains the fact that some human beings can take testosterone without it being detected. They do this not with science, but with nature. Their bodies lack genes which convert testosterone into a form that dissolves in urine. This test, conducted in Sweden, illustrates the problem in the war against doping: there are so many factors that play into positive tests, that science will never be able to ensure that no athletes are cheating.

Interestingly, Asian men exhibit these traits the most. Host country China, long known as less than enthusiastic about fair play, must know about this happening. Is it fair to think that there will be Asian athletes, both from China and other Asian countries, at the games that are illegally taking testosterone? Absolutely.

All of the revelations from the Swiss test bring us to the inevitable question: should athletes be allowed to gene dope? Put simply, gene doping is the manipulation of genes to enhance athletic performance. So, an athlete like a cyclist would manipulate his or her genes to be better able to process oxygen and build muscle mass as a means of becoming a better cyclist.

The arguments for gene doping are heated. Some feel it is the beginning of a Pandora's Box situation, while others think it levels the playing field. No one disagrees however that gene doping isn't far off, and will be here sooner rather than later. In what is a scary proposition, a young athlete in training could presumably have their genes altered at a young age. By the time they arrive on the elite level of the sport, no one would be the wiser that they have used these illegal methods to become the athletes they are.

Thinking about Riccardo Ricco, didn't he always claim that his high hematocrit levels have been that way ever since he was a little boy? In the future, such a statement wouldn't mean that the athlete didn't cheat. In a world that is becoming increasingly more technical, gene doping significantly changes the fight against doping. Already pundits are arguing that gene doping should be legalised now as a way of evening the playing field. It may be a good arguement. Athletes will always cheat. And they will use gene doping illegally, and unsafely, if it is not legalised. Either way, it's a tough argument to solve for the athletic community.

Olympic Favorite Alejandro Valverde Claims San Sebastian, Italians Lurk

Alejandro Valverde took his second classic of the season today, winning the Clasica San Sebastian ahead of CSC's Alexander Kolobnev and Gerolsteiner's Davide Rebellin. Defending world Olympic champion Paolo Bettini had a good ride, and finished fourth. In what was an impressive display by the Italians, Franco Pelozotti finished fifth and in doing so made for three Italians in the top five.

With the Olympics only a week away, it is looking like it will be a battle between Spain and Italy for the gold medal. Paolo Bettini has based his entire season on the upcoming Olympic road race and September world championships, and is looking on track for a strong ride in China. He'll be the undisputed team leader for Italy. Valverde meanwhile, will depend on strong support from Carlos Sastre. Clouding the picture for Valverde though is Oscar Freire, who has made it no secret that he hopes to take top honors provinding he has the form.

Other strong candidates for the podium include "Tin Tin" Rebellin, the Luxembourgian trio of the Schleck brothers and Kim Kirchin, and perhaps even the American Christian Vande Velde, who is coming off a superb Tour de France. Depending on the weather, certain riders may have a better chance providing certain conditions exist. If the weather is hot and stuffy, look for the Spaniards to shine, while if it is cooler perhaps the Germans or the Luxembourgians will fare better.

The biggest wild card entered must be the Australian team. Cadel Evans still isn't sure of the condition of his injured knee, and Michael Rogers isn't uch of a one day style rider. Simon Gerrans, Stuey O'Grady and Matt Lloyd however, will form a very nice trio to contest the road race. Gerrans in particular seems suited to the course, and is coming off a great Tour de France. Hopefully, if Evans is in fact injured, one of the the above three will be able to break through for the land down under.

No Sponsor for Credit Agricole, Where will Stars Land?

Today, Roger Legeay, the long time patriarch of the French team, has revealed that his search for a replacement sponsor has not worked out according to plan. While Legeay hasn't completely given up yet, things are looking bleak for his team. Assuming that he can't find a replacement sponsor, several high profile stars will be free to sign with other teams.

Thor Hushovd, Simon Gerrans, Remi Pauriol and Mark Renshaw all will be free to sign with other teams. Hushovd is the biggest star of the group, as he is a top-flight sprinter and Tour de France green jersey contender. More importantly, he has never tested positive for doping or been implicated in any way. Would there be a better team for the Norwegian than the American Garmin-Chipotle team? He would be reunited with Julian Dean, his former lead out man at Credit Agricole, and would be considered the undisputed sprint leader on the up and coming team.

Simon Gerrans would fit in well with Silence-Lotto, as a replacement for fellow Aussie Robbie McEwen, who has already told his old team he'll be leaving at the end of the year. Pauriol will probably stay on French teams. Pauriol is a good young climber, and would be a nice addition to the AG2R team, who need a GC leader for the future. Renshaw could opt for Columbia, where he could lead out their various sprinters.

The news that the Credit Agricole team is on the verge of extinction is not good on any level. One of the longest running franchises in cycling, the team will be sorely missed if they do in fact disband. Hopefully Legeay's notification will bring someone out of the wood work as a new sponsor. Along with the Gerolsteiner team, Credit Agricole leaving the cycling world will make it that much harder for riders to find contracts in 2009 and beyond.