Azzura Assault: Italian Squadra Shows the World How to Race for Gold in Varese

photo courtesy of www.albumciclismo.blogspot.com

The simplest word to explain the world championship in Varese this past Sunday was clinic. In an impressive display of power and tactical prowess, the Italian team placed three riders in the top five and dismantled the powerful Belgian and Spanish teams en route to taking the third rainbow jersey for Italy in as many years. Once an for all Italy proved that they are the premiere nation for competitive cycling, as they dominated a quality field on home soil.




The winner of Sunday's race, Alessandro Ballan, was able to escape from a select group thanks to perfect tactical riding from the entire team, including Davide Rebellin and Damiano Cunego. As the final lap was raced, all three of the Italians took turns attacking the field, and Ballan's final surge with only three kilometers remaining was too much for the remaining riders to answer. Denmark's Matti Breschel was the strongest of the non Italians, but was unable to match a solid Cunego in the finishing sprint.



Cunego showed just how good a one day rider he is on Sunday, and proved his worth as a quality team member of the Squadra Azzura. In the post race press conference, Cunego answered questions about his future as a grand tour contender. "Yes I had an off year in the grand tours, but I still think I can contend in three week events. I have always been a good one day rider, but it is also true that I have the talent to contend in the grand tours. My plan will not change. I will continue to target select one day monuments, but will also continue to try to win three week tours." With his second place in Varese though, talk of Cunego as strictly a one day threat will only increase.



Ballan meanwhile is a more than worthy champion to wear the rainbow jersey. He is a rare rider in that he is, as Cunego himself said, "present from January through October. He is a selfless rider who is always willing to work for his team, and he deserves this win." Cunego's statement is a sage one. Ballan has characteristics that few other riders do. He is capable of winning all types of races throughout the year, and he has earned the right to wear the rainbow jersey for the next season.



For defending champion Paolo Bettini, retirement seems to be the path he has chosen. Ballan described that hearing of Bettini's retirement the night before the road race was "like a cold shower, a real shock." Still, Bettini was gracious enough to allow the rest of his team to try for the win after he realized that he was being controlled by the Spanish and Belgian teams. In a show of sportsmanship, Bettini could be seen celebrating Ballan's win as he rode into the stadium. "Il Grillo" is gone for now, but surely the lure of competition will bring him back to competitive cycling in the near future. For now though, the spotlight belongs to Ballan, the new champion of the world, and king of Italy.

World Road Race Championship 2008: Course Preview with Lucas Euser

Lucas Euser, budding climber of the Garmin Chipotle team, was nice enough to allow EuroPeloton to ride along with him on the road course in Varese on Thursday. At only 25 years old, Euser is a bright young talent on the American cycling scene, and he'll use the road race on Sunday to gain some valuable experience racing against the best in the world. With Levi Leipheimer's departure on Friday for America, the US team will be riding without a de facto leader, allowing Euser to look for his opportunity on Sunday.

As we ascended the first climb on the road course, Euser explained that the downhill portions would be just as important as the uphill sections on the course. "The descent off this first climb, at eight kilometers, is twisting and technical. There will be many opportunities to create a gap on the downhill, so if you're not in the first 25 riders, you could miss a decisive move." As we flew down the descent, I saw what he meant. The road is rarely straight on this section, and seems to widen and narrow every few meters. Add a tough round about to the mix and you have a descent made for escape artists.

As we transitioned onto the ronchi (pronounced ron-key, climb in Italian) Euser showed me how an attack could be made. He flew away from me with relative ease, and looked back saying, "You see that this climb isn't overly steep, so you can really punch it to put a rider into difficulty." I wheezed "yeah" as I desperately tried not to look spent as I pursued him. At four kilometers, the climb may not be long enough to unhitch the field right away, but the riders will tackle the climb 15 times. By the 13th or 14th time up, expect some of the less climbing oriented riders to fade away, leaving only the true hilly classic contenders like Valverde and Bettini to battle for the rainbow jersey.

After summiting the climb, there are still four kilometers until the finish line. If a rider with good time trialing skills can escape on the climb, perhaps he'll be able to hold the lead all the way to the finish in Mapei stadium. Adding to the trouble however is that there is a short incline leading into the stadium at the 400 meters to go mark. Both the U-23 and women's race were affected by this slight rise in the road, and the gradual pitch will likely play into the finish of the men's race as well. Top sprinters like Tom Boonen, Oscar Freire and Robbie McEwen will have to hope to survive the final incline if they are to win. It won't be easy though. Punchy climbers like Bettini, Valverde, Schumacher, and Breschel will do all they can to unhitch the fast men on the run in to the finish.

So who does Euser think is the top favorite for the race? A less obvious choice, Davide Rebellin. "Rebellin is better than any other rider I know at conserving his energy. He's always in the right place, always underrated, and he rides with those factors in mind. Plus, he can descend better than most. Just look what he did to Gesink in this past year's Paris Nice race. He showed us all how it's done!" Euser's pick is a good one, especially considering that his teammate Bettini will be watched much closer by the rest of the field. A big thank you to Lucas for his candid perspectives for this article, and best of luck in the future!

World Time Trial Championship: Bert Grabsch Surprises Favorites, Takes Gold for Germany and Team Columbia

As promised, your full race report.

The world time trial championship was predicted to be one fought out between American star Levi Leipheimer, and Columbia's stable of time trialing talent. Tony Martin, Adam Hansen, Mick Rogers, Bert Grabsch, and Edvald Boassen Hagen all figured to be right in the mix in the hunt for the chrono championship. For Italy, all eyes were fixed on Marco Pinotti, the veteran star also riding for Bob Stapleton's team Columbia. Briton was counting on the redeemed David Millar, while Slovenia's Janez Brajkovic, France's Sylvain Chavanel and Belgium's Stijn Devolder all hoped to play spoilers against the Columbia juggernaut.

But it was not to be. Grabsch blistered the 47 kilometer course, emphatically stamping his authority on the race, and claiming his first world time trial title. Canada's Svein Tuft rode a sublime race, and claimed second place and the silver medal. Although he is currently without a team for 2009, the offers should start pouring in for Tuft after his amazing time trial performance. Third place and the bronze medal was taken by David Zabriskie, who battled through lingering back problems to make the podium.

The biggest disappointments on the day were Mick Rogers, who fell to 12th place at 1:33 back, Boassen Hagen in 21st at 2:28, and Adam Hansen in 34th at 3:49. Levi Leipheimer finished out of the medals in fourth, a scant 13 seconds behind fellow countryman Zabriskie. Perhaps the pressure of being the favorite took it's toll on Leipheimer, who just last week won the final time trial of the Vuelta a Espana over a quality field.

Tomorrow's action features the best riders in the world in the under 23 years old catagory. With the time trial events completed, we embark on the second half of world championship weekend, and all the excitement that comes with it. Full road course preview tomorrow, as I ride the course with friends and family in the morning. Ciao!

Grabsch won gold for Germany and his team, Columbia

Chavanel had a decent ide, but couldn't make the podium for France

Despite persistant back problems, Zabriskie managed third place

David Millar looked good early, but faded late

Leipheimer couldn't live up to his favorite status

This is . . . . The World Cycling Championships 2008, Varese

A picture says a thousand words. So without further ado, first impressions from Varese at the women's individual time trial and Mapei Cycling Stadium . . .

The Italian police force will support every race throughout the week

The main grandstand area, including the press section on the right

Bicycle art is everywhere

The start/finish line for the road races

The official world championship logo

Much more later, stay tuned . . . .

Dinner with the UCI: Officials in Varese Provide their Favorites for World Road Cycling Championship

I was lucky enough to dine last night with family and friends at the same restaurant as eleven officials from the UCI at the beautiful Albergo Valganna hotel in Varese. We ate at the delicious Ristorante 3Risotti, featuring rich dishes of meat and pasta. Their specialty is risotto, and the chef on site makes his own cheese---delicious!

I think the group of UCI officials chatted excitidely throughout the evening about the parcours and what remained to do. They spoke mostly in French, so much of what they said was alien to me. However, when the topic changed to the road race on Sunday, each communicated their road race favorite to me in English.

While many of the choices were typical, there were a few suprises. Four of them chose Paolo Bettini, four went with Alejandro Valverde, and two chose Oscar Freire. None of these choices surprised me. However, two of them made less traditional choices.

One of the tallest members of the group, friendly and soft spoken, chose his countryman Nicolas Vogondy as the victor. Vogondy, at age 31, is in the prime of his career and is the current French national champion. He possesses the qualities necessary to win, including good climbing skills and great endurance. Unfortunately, his sprint is not excellent, so he would need to arrive at the line solo to claim the win. Still, it was an interesting and intriguing pick.

The other surprise came from a man wearing a blue UCI sweater in the group, who felt that Greg Van Avermaet would take gold for his Belgian team. Van Avermaet is coming off a successful Vuelta a Espana, and is a young arriving star for Belgium. He was mentioned here as a possible darkhorse candidate for victory, and his talent should not be discounted. What better way for the youngster to mark himself as a future star than to take the rainbow jersey against some of the best riders in the world?

Because I didn't hear some other favorites mentioned, I asked the group what they thought of several other riders. They nodded their heads and agreed that Philippe Gilbert, Davide Rebellin and Matti Breschel all had a chance, and also agreed that if Bettini is to win, everything will need to come together just right.

I would like to thank each member of the group that I was able to speak with regarding the racing, and I wish each one luck in assisting to make this world championships better than any other. Although sometimes the UCI is looked upon negatively, we should never forget how difficult it is to put on a bike race, let alone a world championship. Cheers to the UCI for their efforts in each and every race!

NOTE: USING DIAL UP AGAIN, PICTURES WILL BE DICEY UNTIL I CAN FIND A BETTER SPOT TO POST FROM. WILL BE IN THE MEDIA CENTER TODAY, SO PICS COMING SOON.

No World's for Cancellara, Time Trial Rainbow for Levi?

Fabian Cancellara, citing mental fatigue, has decided not to defend his world time trial title this year in Varese. The big Swiss engine also has chosen not to ride in the road race. The absence of the world's premiere time trialist in the opens the door for other candidates for victory, and American Levi Leipheimer heads the list of favorites for the race of truth.

Leipheimer blistered the final time trial at the Vuelta a Espana, besting his fellow teammate Alberto Contador and Spaniard Alejandro Valverde. The Santa Rosa, California native has made it no secret that intends to try to win the race against the clock, and he'll be considered the top favorite for gold when the racing starts.

Michael Rogers, former three time world time trial champion, will also be on hand to challenge for the rainbow jersey on behalf of Australia. He had a great ride in Beijing in both the time trial and road race, and has been steadily improving over the final portion of the season. If he can manage to net the win in Varese, his otherwise quiet season will have been considered an overwhelming success.

Sitjn Devolder of Belgium also should be considered for the victory, as the big Belgian engine has all the skill necessary to take top honors. He scored a historic win at the Tour of Flanders by time trialing away from the field, and although he had an off Tour de France, if he is on form he'll notch a top time.

Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway, though only 21, could provide a major surprise in the time trial as well. The team Columbia rider absolutely tore it up at the recent Tour of Britain, and possesses great form ahead of the 43 kilometer test. He'll go top ten for sure, and with a bit of luck, even higher.

Other riders to watch include British time trial ace David Millar, French time trial champion Sylvain Chavanel, Germany's Tony Martin (only 23 years old), Italy's current national champion and 10 year veteran Marco Pinotti. Kim Kirchin of Luxembourg can ride against the clock, as can Spain's Ivan Gutierrez and Slovenia's Janez Brajkovic.

Finally, several controversial riders will be lining up for the time trial. Columbia's former world time trial champion Santiago Botero will hope for another gold after years of dealing with doping allegations, as will the Ukrain's Serhiy Honchar, who was dropped from Bob Stapleton's team Columbia for irregular blood values earlier in the year. Also riding for he gold in Varese will be former Astana strongman Vladimir Gusev. The "Goose" was kicked off the Kazakh team for irregular blood values, and will be keen to prove his doubters wrong on the roads in Varese.

One more wild card in the hunt for the rainbow jersey will be American David Zabriskie. Interviewing skills aside, Zabriskie is a master in racing against the clock, and will be right there when the race is decided. If he has any form left over after a solid second half of the season, DZ should be able to take a top ten placing for America. If he's on a particularly good day, perhaps he and teammate Levi could take two of three podium spots for the race.

Varese, Tuscany Preparing for Cycling World's, Riders Too

The Varese area is buzzing as the best in the world of cycling prepare to contest the world championships in the nothern Italian town. The course already has barriers raised around the courses, signalling Italy's ability to put on a first-class event, and their pain staking attention to detail. Even the accreditation center is already up and running, catering to journalists from around the world.

I had heard that obtaining accreditation in Italy can sometimes be difficult. However, that was not the case for me. As I approached the desk a bit nervous, I was greeted by a smart looking woman wearing designer glasses and a UCI issued collared shirt. I hesitantly asked whether she spoke English. To my great delight, she was fluent in my native tongue, hailing from Toronto, Canada.

Checking for my name in the system, my info came up right away and I ws directed to a side room to have my picture taken. With a click of the digital camera, my image was placed neatly into a window on the comptuter screen, and moments later I was handed my shiny new UCI World Road Championships credential.

Two time world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara is the image that the organizers chose for the credential, in full aerodynamic time trial position. And as happy as I was to receive my credential, a host of other items also were handed my way. A 2008 Varese over the shoulder canvas bag was given to me, containing course details, city descriptions and various coupons. Also included was a poster commemorating this year's event, as well as a jar of local honey (Verese is known for it's honey production) branded with the world championship logo.

At the bottom of the bag also was a small coupon that said "Welcome Packet 1." I was directed to a kiosk at the far side of the room, and handed another canvas bag when I handed in the ticket. This was from the city of Varese itself. It contained several booklets describing the commerce and surrounding areas of Varese, as well as another poster for the 2008 championship. A DVD was also enclosed, a short movie about Varese and the upcoming week.

After shaking the hand of the man in charge, I strode back to my rental car and headed for my villa on Lake Lugano. When we arrived, we were treated to a stunning view of the lake, as well as the surrounding mountianside. I walked down to the road below, and just as I did I saw a CSC-Saxo rider streak by. He went by a bit too fast for me to identify, but that didn't matter. It was a clear reminder that the worlds are fast approaching, and I am situated firmly in the eye of the storm. It sould be an unforgettable week.

NOTE: IMAGE UPLOADING VERY TOUGH WHERE I AM LOCATED, WILL TRY TO UPDATE WITH IMAGES FROM AN ALTERNATE LOCATION

Heading for Hallowed Ground: Cycling World Championships, Varese, 2008

The time has come to pack the bags and prepare to embark on the long trip to Tuscany and the 2008 cycling world championships. My anticipation level is astronomical; I can't wait to arrive in Milan. A week of cycling saturation awaits, with the pageantry and fanfare of the world championships spread out over w full week.

Due to the uncertainty of Internet access, my posting may become sporadic over the next several days. I will attempt to update as often as possible, and ideally, daily. I am planning on riding the world's course ahead of the elite women's and men's races, in hopes of describing the experience of riding the parcours. With luck, I'll hope to snag a slew of interviews from riders past and present. I have a tentative ride scheduled with Ivan Basso, Stefano Garzelli, and Andrea Peron. Hopefully it will pan out.

Before I leave for the journey, a few thoughts about the upcoming week.

Fabian Cancellara, if motivated to do so, could be a very cheeky pick for the road title. He is coming out of the Tour of Poland, and if he has found his form could be a legitimate threat for BOTH the road and time trial gold. Fear the Sparticus.

The American team will surprise in both the road and the time trial. Leipheimer is flying coming out of the Vuelta, and he'll have great support from the youngsters on the team surrounding him. He may not get the win, but I expect that the American contingent will ride aggressively and with great pride. Ditto in the time trial, where Zabriskie and Leipheimer both have a shot at the podium.

No one is mentioning Luxembourg as a threat for the road title. The Schlecks have been quiet over the last several weeks, as has Kim Kirchin. All three have the turn of speed, tactical know how and endurance to win on the road, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of the three does.

That's it for now, and thanks for reading.

EP

Why Can't They? Five Underdogs that Could Shock the World in Varese

We all know that Paolo Bettini and Oscar Freire are each attempting to make history in Varese at the world road cycling championships, and both are on great form. And we also know that Philippe Gilbert, Alejandro Valverde, Davide Rebellin, Sylvain Chavanel, and Stephan Schumacher too are the big favorites for the world road championship in Varese. But who can shock the world? Who can catch fire and surprise the field in Varese? A short list follows below.

Matti Breschel is on excellent form currently at the Vuelta. The 24 year old Dane has had a substantial 2008, including the win at the Philadelphia International Championship in June. The CSC one day star may try to make Varese his true breakout race, showing once and for all that he is to be reckoned with from 2009 forward.

Breschel's teammate Fabian Cancellara, if he decides to ride, must also be considered a darkhorse threat. Cancellara has shown his mettle before on climbing oriented races, including his near miss in Beijing on the road course. Who says the three time world time trial champion can't spring away from the field and shock the world? After all, he is Tony Sparticus.

Another Fabian, Fabian Wegmann of the now defunct Gerolsteiner squad is the two time defending German road champion, and more than capable of slipping away for the win. He has a tenacious, clawing style that lends itself nicely to one day riding. Being smaller, Wegmann also is able to climb well, so there's no saying he can't take the win for his native Germany. His new team Milram, would be delighted to have a three time German national champion wear the Milkmen blue and white.

Nick Nuyens is lesser known when mentioning top Belgian cyclists. Tom Boonen dominates Belgian headlines daily, and just behind him are Philippe Gilbert, Greg Van Avermaet and Wouter Weylandt. But Nuyens is a wily veteran who has learned the tactical side of racing over the last few years. He has a ferocious attacking style, and when on form has a way of attacking at just the right time. And speaking of Van Avermaet, he should be a marked rider as well for the Belgian squad.

Michael Rogers placed top ten in Beijing a few weeks ago in both the Olympic road race and time trial events, and has felt better and better after a tough early season. Rogers has never been able to take a high-profile victory, so he has a lot to prove in Varese. If Rogers falters, Matty Goss can get it done in one day events, and has a solid sprint kick.

There are other darkhorses in the field at Varese, some of whom will be explored in coming days on this site. But the above riders all deserve respect from their peers in the battle for the rainbowe jersey.

American World's Team Named: No Hincapie, Vande Velde

The American roster for the upcoming world championships in Varese is a surprising one, with George Hincapie and Christian Vande Velde not appearing on the stars and stripes squad. Newly crowned US Pro champ tyler Hamilton too turned down an automatic invite to ride for America, to the surprise of many. Perhaps USA Cycling's lack of support of Hamilton during his suspension led him to turn down the invite.

With the voluntary withdraw of Hincapie, Vande Velde and Hamilton, USA Cycling chose to go young, including four up-and-coming Americans to support designated leader Levi Leipheimer. Columbia's Craig Lewis will make the trip, along with three Garmin riders: Lucan Euser, Steven Cozza and Tyler Farrar. Cozza will be valuable as a strong rouleur for the flats, while Euser will play spoiler when the climbs come. Farrar will hold the position of sprinter in the event of a bunch finish, while Craig Lewis will act as shephard for Leipheimer, keeping the Astana rider out of the wind until the finale.

Although inexperienced, the team for USA should be surprisingly competitive. Each rider chosen will have much to prove to to themselves and USA Cycling, which should mean that the Americans are active throughout the race. Expect the "Mustached Maurader" Cozza to get himself into an early break, and for Euser to try his luck on the climb that puncuates the finishing laps. Leipheimer meanwhile should be able to provide valuable veteran leadership to the Americans as they try to win the first world championship for America since 1993.

Italy Announces World's Squad: Some Big Names Snubbed

The Italian Cycling Federation has announced the riders who will represent Italy in Varese at the world championships with a few surprises. The team will be composed of Paolo Bettini, Davide Rebellin, Alessandro Ballan, Damiano Cunego, Luca Paolini, Gabriele Bosisio, Maurizio Bruseghin, Andrea Tonti and Matteo Tosatto. Some high profile stars were left off the world's team, which is sure to be a bone of contention should the Squadra Azzura fail to win the rainbow jersey.

The highest profile Italian riders left off the team are Danilo Di Luca and Daniele Bennati. Bennati, a pure sprinter, is not suited to the course in Varese, but Di Luca is a strong one day rider who excells on small steep climbs. He would have been an ideal worker for Bettini and Rebellin on race day. Perhaps his involvement with doping left him off the team.

Another rider who was left off the team that should not have been is Enricco Gasparotto. The Barloworld rider is on great form lately and is perfectly suited to the parcours in Varese. The only knock on "Gaspa" is that he sometimes wants to work for himself more than the team. Still, he should have been given a chance on home soil.

The most questionable selection for the Italians is Damiano Cunego. "Il piccolo principe" is a dangerous one day threat, but he has had a less than stellar second half of the season, starting with the Tour de France. If he is able to get his head back into racing he may be an asset, but lately he has seemed lost mentally on the bike.

Andrea Tonti and Matteo Tosatto are lesser known riders, but each will be very valuable in helping Bettini to win. Tosatto has been a trusted teammate of Bettini's the last few seasons at Quick Step, while Tonti too has spent the last season at the service of Bettini. Both will be counted on heavily to launch "il grillo" when the time is right. As the date approaches fro the world's. the pressure mounts for the Italian team. But that' snothing unusual, as they are always among the top favorites at each world championship. And they usually deliver.

Paolo Bettini 2009: Where Will Il Grillo Land?

Patrick Lefevere, director of the Quick Step squad, formally announced to the press a few days ago that Paolo Bettini will not be coming back to the team in 2009. Lefevere has signed Stephan Schumacher, formerly of Gerolsteiner, as his new hilly classics hope, in an effort to make his team a bit younger. Lefevre also mentioned that Bettini's salary demands were higher than he was able to accommodate.

Bettini may be just over a week away from making cycling history, as he attempts to be the first cyclist to ever win the world road title three consecutive times. He will be the leader of the powerful Italian squad, and his two recent victories at the Vuelta a Espana show that the Tuscan is on fine form.

Although Bettini's result in Varese will be central to his negotian of a new contract with a team, even if he doesn't win the legendary Italian will be in high demand from several teams. But where is his most likely landing place?

Lotto may be a possibility. They have Leif Hoste and Philippe Gilbert for the flatter spring classics, and Cadel Evans for the GC in the Tour. What they don't have is a tough one day climbing specialist. Bettini would fit in well with the Belgian squad, as he could carry the torch at the hilly monuments and hunt for stage wins in the grand tours.

Another possibility for Bettini may be with Liquigas. The acid green team has lost Filippo Pozzato to the Katuysha team, and they need a one day specialist to compliment their sprint star Daniele Bennati and GC hope Ivan Basso. They are an Italian team, and so would make an ideal fit for Bettini, especially if he wins a third world title.

With his good form and motiviation to find a new team, Bettini will be a formidable adversary on the road in Varese. Expect the "cricket" to pour all his efforts into the defense of his world title, in hopes that a third rainbow jersey will end in a pot of gold at a new team.

Lance Armstrong's Comeback: A Negative Affect on Pro Peloton?

Most of the news surrounding Lance Armstrong's planned comeback has been positive. He'll bring the world spotlight back to the world of cycling, and should be able to save the foundering Tour of Georgia stage race. However, what will the other teams think about his return, particularly in the smaller stage races like the Tour of California, Georgia, and Paris-Nice?

No one can question the value of having Armstrong at the 2009 Tour. The advertising and spectator dollars he'll bring to the Tour will be significant. Similarly, his presence at the Tour of California and Georgia should provide economic stimulus as well, particularly in Georgia. But at what cost to the other riders in the race?

Armstrong's presence at these smaller races will see the media impact grow. There will be far more media reps on hand in California this year than last, which will make for a more chaotic, pressured atmosphere. Will the high profile European riders that usually ride California show up again in 2009? Further, will smaller American teams get a chance to contest the biggest race in America?

Many of the European riders from the 2008 version of California explained that they were eager to ride the west coast stage race because it allowed them to get in quality training miles at race pace without the myriad distractions of a European stage race. They spoke of the crowds being more polite and the press being more understanding of their need for space before and after races.

However, with the inclusion of Armstrong, things could change drastically. An increased press corps coupled with a larger, more intense fan base could see some of Europe's best stay away from the two American races. Tom Boonen, Oscar Freire, and Fabian Cancellara get enough attention late in the year in the classics and grand tours. Will they be willing to be subjected to the same intense atmosphere early in the season? Maybe not.

And what of the lesser known Americans on today's scene? What will become of Garmin's Steven Cozza, or Bissell's Burke Swindlehurst and Ted King? Will domestic veterans like Andy Bajadali and Jeff Louder feel left out and written off standing under the enormous shadow of Armstrong? California (and to a lesser extent Georgia) are one of a few opportunities for America's best domestic pros to get themselves some recognition for their hard work on the bike. With Armstrong sucking up most of the media attention, will these lesser knowns feel jaded and frustrated?

Armstrong's comeback, for the most part, should be received with a positive air. However, not all will be rosy when the audacious Texan returns. There will be many casualties along the way as Lance cuts a swath through cycling's landscape, and the biggest one may be the quality of the field assembled come February.

Bettini En Fuego in Spain: El Gato Says "No Mas"

Paolo Bettini again took top honors at the Vuelta today, sounding yet another warning shot in his quest for a third straight world title. He won on an uphill finish ahead of compatriots Davide Rebellin and Damiano Cunego. Bettini will have a stacked team to support him in Varese, and Rebellin will be right there to take over the leadership regns should Bettini falter.

Meanwhile, three time world champ Oscar Freire abandoned the Vuelta, having won a stage. The Spaniard feels he is primed for Varese, and will put the final touches on his form away from the Vuelta. Like Bettini, Freire will have an excellent team to support him, and several of his fellow countrymen will be waiting to pounce if Freire doesn't have the legs to contend in Varese.

The question for Bettini now must be is the one day specialist peaking too soon? He is clearly flying right now, and whether he can hold his form for another two weeks is anyone's guess. Luckily for the Italians, there are several other riders who will be motivated to place high in the event that Bettini can't get it done. Foremost among these is Rebellin, but right behind him are Enrico Gasparotto, Filippo Pozzato, Damiano Cunego, Danilo DiLuca and Vincenzo Nibali.

For the Spanish, Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador, Sammy Sanchez, and Luis Leon Sanchez will be ready to play spoiler if Freire can't contend. Valverde is probably option 1a to Freire, but he has had an up and down Vuelta and his form is questionable for the world title. Still, he has a mean finishing kick on short, steep, uphill finishes, and the course in Varese seems to suit the "Green Bullet" perfectly.

Favorites for World Championship Rounding Into Form

The Vuelta a Espana has provided optimal preparation for the upcoming world championships for several of the favorites. Two riders looking to make history, Oscar Freire and Paolo Bettini, have each taken wins at the Vuelta, signalling their strength ahead of their biggest objective of the season.

The course seems to suit Bettini more than Freire, but "El Gato" is known to be a decent climber, and with good legs may be able to surprise the Squadra Azzura. Either way, Freire and his Spanish teammates will make life tough on the Italians in Varese, as they have one of the most potent lineups of any country.

Other riders preparing under the radar in Spain include Phillipe Gilbert, Matti Breschel, and Greg Van Avermaet. Gilbert, on his way to Lotto, can probably expect some solid support from Van Avermaet, as he tries to take the rainbow jersey home for Belgium. Breschel is an underrated one day specialist, and the Dane is more than capable of delivering a big time result come race day.

But back to the Spaniards and Italians. Also in the Vuelta are Alejandro Valverde and Davide Rebellin. Valverde is better suited to the course in Varese than Freire, and he too is showing great form at the Vuelta. Rebellin should be viewed as co-captain for the Italians, and is ideally suited to the short steep climbs of the world's course. Rebellin has proven himself one of cycling's best one day riders this year, and may be able to sneak away as Bettini is marked. There are a slew of other contenders not riding the Vuelta, but those that are riding in Spain are all showing themselves ready for the race for the world title.

Armstrong Confirms Comeback, Intends to Try to Win 2009 Tour

Lance Armstrong has officially confirmed that he indeed is coming back as a pro rider, with the intention of winning the 2009 Tour de France. Now that the rumor is confirmed, expect a rippling effect to begin reverberating through the cycling world. Below are just a few of the issues to be addressed in the coming days and months.

Which team will Armstrong return to ride for? Astana seems to obvious choice, but are there other teams in the mix? If a rival team throws millions his way, would Armstrong consider riding for someone other than Bruyneel?

What will happen to Astana's current crop of GC riders? Will Levi be OK becoming a gregario for Armstrong? He is getting older every year, and 2009 may be his last chance to try to win the Tour. And what about Contador? He is approaching the prime of his career. Would he be OK being a team worker for the 2009 Tour after losing his chance to defend his title last year?

Chris Horner, who has never gotten along with Armstrong, will probably be jettisoned if Armstrong signs. And then there's Andreas Kloden, who has had an icy relationship with Armstrong over the years. Astana has some serious personnel issues to address should they bring Armstrong on board.

Columbia's George Hincapie will surely ride wherever Lance does. Is Columbia a team that could possibly land Armstrong? They don't have a legit GC threat, and they are stacked with a good, young supporting cast of riders. Plus George would be able to ease any adjustments for Armstrong. Rumors have it that Columbia will be on Trek bikes next year, could this be a coincidence or a hint?

Let the chaos begin as a living cycling legend plots his improbable comeback to the sport of cycling. Who knows, maybe Armstrong will be able to succeed in his quest for an eighth Tour title. Hopefully his comback will be a successful one, and not that of a past-his-prime athlete grasping unsuccessfully for glory one last time, outgunned by athletes far superior to him.

Lance Armstrong Coming Back to Cycling to Ride for Astana in 2009

Velonews is reporting on a rumor that says Lance Armstrong is coming back to ride for Astana in 2009. The magnitude of this rumor is indescribable. Armstrong making a comeback is beyond the realm of reality; it comes completely out of left field. The impact the Texan's return would have on the sport in America and the world can not be underrated.

The question now is why? Why would Armstrong come back after so many years away? Why would he come back after having experienced so much success during his career? And why would he come back when he knows that young riders like Alberto Contador can most likely blow his doors off? Maybe that is the reason. To do what he has done his entire career: prove the doubters wrong.

Unfortunately, regardless of what preparation he has done or is planning on doing, it will be extremely hard for Armstrong to get back to the level he was at when he left the sport three seasons ago. At 37, he is ancient by cycling terms. But we said that a few weeks ago about Tyler Hamilton, and look what he did at the US Pro championship.

Another possibility for Armstrong's return could be his desire to prove that he is a clean athlete. With all the recent revelations about the US Postal/Discovery dynasty's former riders testing positive, perhaps Armstrong wants to show that he can compete (and possibly win) with the world's best while providing clear indicators of his blood values to the public.

And what about the Tour of Georgia? Reports have recently surfaced that the event was in danger of being cancelled for 2009 due to decreased attendance. Armstrong used the Tour of Georgia as a prep race for the Tour, and was largely responsible for the event's success over the years. Could he have a stake in the stage race, and want to help bolster its marketability?

Finally, this may all just be about the human condition. Armstrong is an athlete in his heart of hearts. He loves competition, and while his Livestrong Foundation keeps him busy, it can't provide the rush of excitment that a big time stage race can. At the end of the day, Armstrong may just want to feel the rush of competition again.

As the cycling world gains knowledge of this revelation, expect buzz in the cycling world to increase ten-fold. Armstrong's comeback will not only affect the Astana team and the five races he is planning on participating in, but it will have a far-reaching effect on the other top teams in the cycling world. Columbia, for example, may have to face the possibility of George Hincapie leaving to be at the side of Armstrong for the Tour, as he always has been in the past.

Plus, where will riders like Cadel Evans, Bernhard Kohl and the Scheck brothers choose to race in 2009? Surely not at the Tour de France against the mighty Lance Armstrong. As usual, Lance has managed to garner all of the attention in the cycling world, and he hasn't even made his announcement official yet. Starting in California in February, expect the 2009 cycling season to be an absolute circus as one of the biggest names in cycling plans his comeback to the sport.

Vuelta Weekend Wrap: Astana Takes Control, Sastre and Valverde Close Behind

Levi took back the gold jersey in the Vuelta today after riding well in stage eight. His teammate, Alberto Contador, attacked down the stretch to steal five seconds from his key rivals. The Astana duo lies first and second in the overall picture, with Valvberde 49 seconds off the pace. Carlos Sastre is at 1:27 in fourth, and will wait until the final week of the Vuelta, which features some of the toughest climbs in cycling.

Levi is quietly going about his business as a support rider for Contador, but the fact that he is the overall leader also hints at the possibility of the Californian being able to contend for the overall in his own right. If he can continue to find good form in the high mountains and keep himself within 30 seconds of the lead, he'll be in with a very realistic chance at victory for the final time trial.

Things will be relatively calm over the next few days before stage 13, which ends with the dreaded Alto de l'Angliru climb, which features ramps as steep as 23%. It will be then that Sastre will make his move, daring others to follow. Expect that Contador too will be a protagonist in stage 13, as he tries to claim full team leadership duties for his Astana team.

After a week of racing, Rabobank's Robert Gesink has been impressive in his first try at a grand tour, and he sits nicely in 9th place at just over three minutes back. The 22 year old is fast becoming one of the world's best climbers, and he is improving in the time trial discipline as well.

Unfortunately for the Vuelta, there aren't as many top-flight GC stars riding in the Spanish tour this year. Perhaps due to the Olympics, many GC type riders have opted to skip the Vuelta in 2008, among them Denis Menchov, Bernhard Kohl, both Schleck brothers and Cadel Evans. Still, the parcours will ensure great action over the coming days, as the year's final grand tour rolls toward Madrid.

Tour of Georgia on the Ropes: 2009 Edition Not Likely

This headline should scare every American cycling fan to their core. If the Tour of Georgia goes down, how long will it take for the Tour of Missouri to suffer the same fate? Chris Aronhalt and Medalist Sports are saying that the Tour of Georgia has not been profitable over the years, and that they are strongly considering cancelling the 2009 edition while they try to reconfigure the infrastructure of the race.

Losing Georgia would leave only the Tour of California and Tour of Missouri as the remaining big time international stage races in America. California is in no trouble of disappearing, but that doesn't make Georgia's potential dissappearance OK. American cycling fans have very few opportunities to see Europe's best race in America as it is. Missouri is predominantly an American race, as only Columbia and Garmin are representing the best in the world in this year's Missouri.

Hopefully Medalist will be able to foster a new sponsor relationship with a new company. Perhaps the companies in this post would be good candidates. Aronhalt and his team are resourceful and shrewd event planners, so don't count them out yet in the fight to keep the Tour of Georgia alive. One thing is for sure: all American cycling fans will be pulling for medalist over the coming months to find a solution to the problem.

Manolo Saiz to Make Comeback? Please God No!

Cyclingnews.com is reporting that manolo Saiz wants to get back into the realm of pro cycling, presumably as a manager. If this happens, cycling truly has gone nowhere since the former Liberty-Seguros director was booted from cycling for his involvement with Fuentes and Operacion Puerto.

For me it would suck to see Saiz back in cycling because he is so annoying as a director, as he used to yelll into his ridiculous megaphone during time trials as he trailed behind his riders. Everything about the guy screams dishonesty and sliminess, how would anyone in their right mind even thing about collaborating with him?

Because he is Spanish, he'll probably have an opportunity with a Spanish team at some point, as the Spanish are world famous for not caring about cheats in cycling. If Valverde, Mancebo, Sevilla and Mayo were never held accountable for Puerto, why would Saiz be? I hope he comes back, accidentally steps in front of the race caravan at an early season race, and is knocked unconcious, face down, in a muddy Belgian ditch. But that's just my opinion, what's yours?

One Spot Remaining for US World Championship Team in Varese, Italy

In looking at the USA Cycling website, I found out that five of the six bids for the world championships are already determined, as any rider that competed in the 2008 Olympic road race receives an automatic invite to the world's. That means that Leipheimer, Hincapie, Zabriskie, Vande Velde and McCartney are in so far for the US, while one wild card slot remains.

Also on the USA site, it states that "The winner of the 2008 US National PRO Road Race Champion provided that race is held in its entirety and run under UCI regulations." Unfortunately, this past weekend's national road race was not held under the auspices of the UCI, which is a shame for Tyler Hamilton, who doesn't have a prayer of being selected as a wild card by our nation's governing body.

But who does have a shot to receive the invite amongst today's elite American pros? Certainly not Chris Horner, who has been snubbed for decades by USA Cycling. And probably not Fred Rodriguez, who rides for the controversial Rock Racing team. More likely a lesser known, younger rider will be chosen to go. My gut tells me that Columbia's Craig Lewis will get the nod, so that George Hincapie has a teammate on his side in Varese. Either way though, it will be a shame that our current national champ won't get to show himself on the world stage.

With the above contingent, does the US have a chance of competing in Verese for the win on the road? The answer must be absolutely not! Unfortunately, the team composition doesn't lend itself well to a one day race. Levi is an excellent stage racer, but he's not as well known for his one day riding. Same for Vande Velde. Zabriskie can time trial, but he has never shown himself capable of winning a one day race. And McCartney simply can't hang with the world's best in a race the magnitude of the world championship.

Which leaves Big George. The Columbia veteran can get it done in one day races, but not without support. If each of his teammates works hard for him he may be in with a shot, but it would take perfect circumstances for Hincapie to find himself with a chance to win at the end of the race. As in past years, it is looking as though the US will be relegated to also-ran in a world championship race.

Of today's prominent pros, why can't Danny Pate get a shot at world's? He won the U23 road title, and is riding good form coming out of the national championships in Greenville, SC. Another that deserves to be considered is BMC's Jeff Louder. He finished an impressive 5th at the US Pro's and has good climbing skills. It would be nice to give the domestic veteran a chance for glory overseas. And even though the riders above deserve to get a shot, it would be nice to see another Lance Armstrong or Greg Lemond come along to galvonize the US cause in world championship contests.

Veulta a Espana 2008: Early Reflections

The Vuelta is on the way into the mountains this weekend with Saturday's ascent of the Alto de Naturlandia – La Rabassa, and the action is heating up. Here are my perspectives regarding the early going.

Boonen and Bennati battling it out after passing on the Tour de France is great to see. "Tornado" had an excellent time trial today, finishing top 15, which is rare for the big Belgian sprinter. Looks increasingly like Bettini has lost a step over the past season, and is thinking about coming back next year. Question is where? We'll have to wait and see.

Astana seem to be ready to dominate with Contador and Leipheimer both riding excellently. Contador is 47 seconds behind his American teammate (Leipheimer is the only American racing at the Vuelta) and we may have a captain's controversy on our hands. Levi is behaving thus far, claiming that he is there only to support Contador, but if the California native is climbing well in a few days, who is to say he can't stay wih Contador and hold his lead?

Valverde looks strong. The Spaniard tore up the time trial course, and lost only 10 seconds to Contador and 59 to Leipheimer. He is at least as good a climber as Leipheimer, so he'll be troublesome for the Astana two-some when the road tilts up. Valverde claims that he isn't here to win the overall, but it sure looks like he is right now.

Damiano Cunego looks doooone as a grand tour threat. He lost a whopping 3:54 to Leipheimer today and seems utterly lost when racing three wek events. He also lost time in stage four and lost 2:32. Looks as though Damiano should focus on one day races.

Robert Gesink is learning the ropes in his first grand tour, and he sits only 2:30 off the lead. If he can find his explosive climbing legs, he may be able to target a top five result. Either way though he'll contend in the Vuelta, as he lays the foundation for the rest of his career.

Carlos Sastre is 1:37 behind Leipheimer, which is a drop in the bucket on this weekend's steep climbs. He'll have top-notch support from Jurgen Van Goolen and Matti Breschel as he tries to take his home tour for the first time.

Yaroslav Popovych once again is suffering at a grand tour. He is 2:46 off pace as the Lotto-Silence team eader, and doesn't appear to be a contender in the Vuelta. He'll be luck to win a stage, and Greg Van Avermaet seems more likely to take a stage than his team leader.

Saturday's Alto de Naturlandia – La Rabassa will show us the definitive contenders in this year's Vuelta. Riders will look to conserve their energy on Thursday and Friday, before the onlsaught begins on Saturday. As it did last year, the Vuelta should be serve up some big helpings of drama over the next few days.

Media Relations Skills for American Cyclists: Ignore the Old Guard and David Zabriskie

Cyclists are by nature an introverted bunch. They spend most of their time training alone on the bike, so it is no wonder that some of them are less than savvy in dealing with the media and fans. But others seem to willfully go out of their way to be condescending and rude to media representatives and eager fans.

Lance Armstrong was famous for brushing off his public when they sought autographs or sound bites. He changed a bit following his cancer diagnosis, but still remained cool when dealing with the media. It seems that many veteran American cyclists today subscribe to the same arena as Armstrong: keep the media at arm's length and generally ignore your fans.

Amongst today's high profile American veteran's, there seems to be an arrogant air surrounding some of them. Riders like Levi Leipheimer and Bobby Julich have long been known to keep their distance from the press, offering milque toast answers to questions. This isn't to say they are rude, but neither is extremely accommodating either. The same can be said for George Hincapie, who no doubt learned from Armstrong over the years.

The worst of all the Americans though when it comes to dealing with the media and fans is, without a doubt, David Zabriskie. A strange man to begin with, Zabriskie blatently disrespects journalist's questions, often answering with only one word and a wry cynical smile. A famous story relates that he once gave an entire interview in song . . . much to the dismay of his PR people surrounding him at the time.

The strange thing is that Zabriskie should realize that in almost every instance, the media are looking only to compliment and spotlight the time trial expert. He rarely receives tough questions, yet refuses to act cordially no matter the environment. Perhaps the media should take an alternate approach with the Utah native.

One wonders if Zabriskie would be so terse when asked if he was a part of an systematic doping program at CSC? Or whether he feels he is viewed as a one trick pony incapable of winning anything other than his nation's national time trial? Maybe he would have more to say when pressed on why he isn't with CSC any more? Could it be because Bjarne Riis gave up on him, realizing that he isn't mentally strong enough? What would he have to say about his apparent accident-prone riding style, or how it felt to crash in the biggest bike race in the world while wearing the yellow jersey? Or worse yet, if the media declined to ask him any questions at all.

The above questions would undoubtedly leave Zabriskie cautious when dealing with the press, but the fact is that no one has ever asked these question of the Garmin rider. Instead, he is asked to speak generally about the composition of a particular race course, how it feels to win his nation's time trial championship three times in a row, or who his team will work for in a particular race. He takes these powder puff questions and mocks the journalist interviewing him with one word monotone answers. Not only is he disrespecting the media, but he is disrespecting the fans in attendance, his sponsors, the racer and it's organizers, and the sport of cycling.

Perhaps DZ should pay attention to his teammate Christian Vande Velde. Vande Velde is eternally positive, seems always to be smiling, and always has a moment for fans or the media. Even though he is one of the best American riders, he doesn't behave like it. Perhaps he realizes that the fans, race organizers, sponsors and media are the very people making it possible for him to ride his bicycle for a living, and the least he can do is give them a few moments of his time with well thought out responses to easy questions.

And he isn't the only one who does it the right way. Tyler Hamilton, Fred Rodriguez, Andy Bajadali, Burke Swindlehurst, Neil Shirley, Chris Wherry, Aaron Olsen, alex Candelario, and Chris Horner all are known for their easy going style and willingness to speak openly and honestly with the media and fans. It doesn't take much to please the American fan base and media, and each of the riders mentioned above seem to know this. Not only that, but the shelf life of a cyclist is a short one. Around five years from now, no one will care what DZ has to say, the media and fans will be long gone.

Every rider has a legacy, and an important part of that legacy is their personality. Barry Bonds is hated more for his gruff attitude with his fans and teammates than for his drug taking and lying, while Marco Pinotti is known more for his easy going friendly attitude than for his results. If Zabriskie doesn't change his public persona soon, he'll find himself a negative foot note in the annals of American cycling, remembered as a stand-offish lout instead of a super-talented cyclist.

Sweet Redemption: Tyler Hamilton Comes Full Circle at the 2008 US Pro Cycling Championship

This time one year ago Tyler Hamilton was preparing to ride his last race. He was racing in the national championship road race as an independent, and had resigned himself to fading away from the cycling scene, a martyr in the war against doping. Fast forward to this past Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina. Decked out in the fabulous chic gear of Rock Racing, Hamilton rolled up to the sign in stage ahead of the road race with a quiet confidence that bespoke his good form.

As he spoke to announcer Briggs Heaney, Hamilton, in his typical humble way, explained to the crowd that the day was "all for Freddy." Fred Rodriguez, three time US Pro champ, also made it known that his form was good and he was looking for his first US Pro title on the Greenville parcours. Hamilton, as he has been his entire career, was more than willing to take a back seat to his teammate for the betterment of the team.

Yet as he calmly spoke ahead of the race, one could sense that there was more to the situation than the naked eye could see. Hamilton had a quiet Tour of Utah, as he built his form for the US Pro title. He opted out of the US Pro time trial event on Saturday to the surprise of all in attendance, and unlike last year wasn't present the evening before for the kick-off press conference. Something was brewing in the 37 year old veteran's mind, and he had a master plan that no one else was privy to, except perhaps his teammates.

As the road race got underway Sunday, Rock's Mike Creed was able to represent the Rock contingent in the day's break. He shrewdly joined a group of twelve that stayed away for most of the race, and was he was attentive throughout. Although Creed had a mechanical going into the final approach to Paris mountain, he was able to bridge back up to the leaders and maintian Rock's presence at the front of the race. Creed's work in the early breakaway may have been the most important dynamic of the day as it allowed Hamilton to relax in the main bunch, biding his time.

Tyler stayed cool back in the main field, waiting for his opportunity. As the bunch hit the slopes of Paris mountain for the final time, Garmin's Danny Pate unwittingly played an important role in Hamilton's race. Pate looked down at Tyler's front wheel and noticed that the wheel clamp on Tyler's front wheel was completely open. He warned Tyler, who quickly tightened the clamp, hence saving himself from a possible disaster.

From then on, Hamilton was all business. As Garmin rider after Garmin rider attacked what remained of the field, Hamilton marked each rider, patiently waiting for the right wheel to follow. That moment wouldn't come until there were only seven miles to go in the race. Hamilton was a part of a powerful five man break featuring three Garmin riders (Lucas Euser, Danny Pate, Blake Caldwell), and BMC's Jeff Louder. The Garmin trio attacked the bunch multiple times in the penultimate lap, and it was young Blake Caldwell who was eventually able to escape. Unfortunately for Caldwell though, Hamilton was able to stick to his wheel, setting up the final showdown.

By now, most of us know what happened. Hamilton did the lion's share of work on the final lap, rarely looking for help from the 24 year old Caldwell, as the two time trialed toward the finish line. Coming into the final 500 meters, Caldwell pulled around Hamilton and gave it all he had. Tyler, in a super-human display of fortitude, poured every last ounce of energy into the pedals and threw his bike wildly at the line in search of the victory. By two one thousandths of a second (0.002), it was enough: Tyler had taken 1st place in the 2008 US Pro cycling road race championship.

Pandemoniam broke out in the crowd, and the raucous contigent held their hands to their heads in disbelief. A 37 year old everyman had beaten a sprightly 24 year old to take his biggest win in four years, and more importantly, he did it with his own legs, not by following someone else's wheel. Blake Caldwell would sit behind the award stage for several minutes after the race staring straight ahead, into the distance, realizing what had transpired, the opportunity he had let slip away. But it was hard to feel bad for the Garmin youngster. He'll have many other opportunities for glory, but Hamilton is running out of time as a pro cyclist. This victory no doubt was his sweetest.

The win for Hamilton truly takes the Marblehead, Massachusettes resident full circle. All of his suffering, both physically and emotionally, over the last four years suddenly seems to have been worth it, and all his perserverance, hard work and training out of the limelight have paid off in the most important one day race in America. As he waited to be called up on stage, drenched in sweat, Hamilton quietly spoke to his father via cell phone. We'll never know what was said, but it is a safe bet to assume that the words "how sweet it is" were uttered more than once.

The future for Tyler Hamilton suddenly looks blindingly bright. The newly-crowned champion will be able to look forward to next year's Tour of California, where he'll have a chance to show off his stars-and-stripes jersey on home soil for the first time in the nine day February event. His career can now be considered complete, as he has a Gold medal from the 2004 Olympics and a national road championship on his career resume. It certainly hasn't been easy for Tyler Hamilton over the years, but it sure has been worth it for the tiny diminutive climber . . . and his fans.