All in the Family: Garmin's Peter Stetina Following in Father's Footsteps, Huge Talent for the Future

Garmin-Holowesko Partners-Felt's Peter Stetina is for real. At only 21 years old, the promising American is making big waves thus far in 2009, and is currently battling Levi Leipheimer for the overall classification at the Tour of the Gila. Stetina has followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle, and is fast becoming a rider to notice at every race that he enters. Although still relatively unknown by the cycling masses, Stetina will soon be front and center on the American cycling scene. Always humble and capable of taking care of himself, Stetina seems a shining example of everything that is right about the new guard of pro cycling.

Peter Stetina comes from a cycling rich family, as both his father and uncle, Dale and Wayne respectively, were successful domestic professionals back in the 80's. Peter though looks as though he may have the tools to eclipse his familial elders, and within a few years he should find himself racing among the best in the world over in Europe. At only 140 lbs Stetina is made for climbing. His affiliation with the Slipstream team will do him well, as team head Jonathan Vaughters loves to help young American riders become top-flight International athletes.

Although Stetina doesn't have a ton of big results as a professional, he nevertheless is one of the most promising young American riders in the peloton today. In combining the lessons he learns from his family alongside those he absorbs from the Slipstream team, Stetina will someday soon be in line to dominate the domestic road cycling scene. And the scariest part about Stetina is that he is not just a climber. He can time trial too, which bodes well for his hopes as a possible GC stage race threat of the future.

As he continues to race throughout America and the world this season, look for Stetina to increase his palmares and skill set with an eye on garnering some serious individual results in 2010. A call up to the Garmin team is imminent, and if not he'll likely look elsewhere for a contract. Not likely though that Vaughters will let such a huge talent get away. The only problem for Stetina may be finding his place within a team that is absolutely stacked with young talent. At this stage in his now budding career, it is hard to believe that Stetina almost went into 2009 without a contract. That won;t be a problem for him going forward though, as his potential will put him in high demand for the foreseeable future.

Classics Corrections? With Rebellin CERA Positive, Will 2009 Classics Results Be Adjusted?

Just what cycling needed: another asterisk next to two of the biggest races of 2009. With Davide Rebellin's positive A sample for CERA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a slew of questions need to be answered regarding races that Rebellin has raced in, and sometimes won, since his failed test. Beginning with that fateful Olympic road race performance, where Rebellin seemingly rode with courage and panache to a 2nd place finish, the results will now likely need to be amended to reward those riders who competed clean. If such a change is made, Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara would move up to the silver medal spot while Russia's Alexandr Kolobnev would move into the bronze spot. 

In looking at this season, there would be additional adjustments as well to the recently run hilly classics. Rebellin won the recent Fleche Wallonne classic over Andy Schleck, and if he were to be stripped of the title then the young Saxo Bank rider would be designated the winner of two of the three hilly classics. Damiano Cunego and Sammy Sanchez would round out the podium. For Liege-Bastogne-Liege Schleck would of course remain the winner, but the much maligned Lotto team would now have the third place finisher in Philippe Gilbert. It would be a huge, if anti-climactic, result for Belgium's second biggest cycling team.

Regardless of whether the results are changed for the above races is moot. If Rebellin's B sample comes back positive, it will have meant that each of the races will experience a case of "what if" regarding their outcome. How can the absence of a rider like Rebellin from a given race even be calculated. Similarly to past instances regarding retro-active adjustments to events in the sport of cycling (like the 1996 Tour de France win of Bjarne Riis), no good would come of the re-classification except for the individual athletes who were compromised by the results. In terms of knowing how the race would have turned out without Rebellin, we the cycling public will unfortunately never know.

In echoing other voices in cycling that have wondered why it takes so long to go forward with test, EP must ask the same question. Why now, halfway through the 2009 cycling season and nearly NINE MONTHS since the Olympics are we now finally notified of a positive doping test? Is there no way to speed up the process? If there is not, then those cheaters that win races will be looked at with scorn rather than admiration when they win a race. So far, the Tour de france has been the only organization who has been capable of delivering speedy test results. It would seem, with their limitless financial resources and expertise, that the Olympic and UCI governing bodies could do at least as good, if not better than the ASO. Thus far though that has not been the case. Cheaters have been able to continue to reap the rewards of their subversive choices, pulling the wool over the eyes of the collective cycling public. 

Another Champion Disrobed? Rebellin Rumored to Be Positive at Beijing Olympics 2008

The sport of cycling just can't seem to stop the bleeding. One by one, our sport's greatest heroes are falling by the wayside, discovered as cheats and liars. Tyler Hamilton. Jan Ullrich. Marco Pantani. And on and on and on. And now today another death blow: Davide Rebellin. This year's winner of the Fleche Wallonne race and 2008 Olympic silver medalists is rumored to have tested positive for CERA at last year's Olympic games. At an event that celebrates fair play and competition, one of the best riders of the past decade now looks to be on the way to ending his career disgraced as a cheater and liar who willfully tried to circumvent to rules to gain victory, an affront to every clean athlete at the games.

In fairness to Rebellin, no official announcement has been made. However, the rumors are so widespread at this point that it seems hard to believe that they aren't true. In what has become typical in the world of cycling, a rider can one day be celebrated as one of the best around, while the next day he is villified and condemned as a cheat. Such is life in the cycling world, where many riders still believe that they can evade the testing and continue to cheat.

In looking at Rebellin's career, a disturbing fact immediately catches your eye: he was a part of the Gerolsteiner team right up until it's collapse. His teammates Bernhard Kohl and Stefan Schumacher both have been banned from the sport for being positive for CERA, and it is looking more and more like the Gerolsteiner team was rife with doping, despite what former manager Hans Michael Holzer claims. That powder blue Gerolsteiner team is starting to look very similar to the Phonak team of many reputed dopers, among them Tyler Hamilton, Enrique "The Buffalo" Guttieriez, Oscar Camenzind, and Floyd Landis.

So what does it say for other members of the Gerolsteiner team if yet another rider is found to be guilty of doping. How does it make Fabian Wegmann look? Or Sebastian Lang? Or Marcus Fothen? Or even Heinrich Haussler? In what could be a sad series of events, there may have been systematic doping at Gerolsteiner, similar to another German team, T-Mobile. Also now defunct, it has taken years for the truth to come out concerning the doping program at T-Mobile, In fact, the truth is still coming out. Ditto with Phonak. Hopefully the rumors of Rebellin's positive are only rumors. Of not, cycling may have to brace itself for yet another wide-spread doping scandal.

Levi, Lance, or Andreas? Strongest Stage Racing Team in the World Mulls Giro Options

The Astana cycling team, without a doubt, is THE strongest stage racing team in the world. While they suffer a bit in the cobbled and hilly classics, Johan Bruyneel's squad is dominant for stage race formats, and with the Giro d'Italia just around the corner, the time has come for the examination of Astana's chances in the first three week stage race of the season.

Bruyneel and the Astana team are faced with an interesting conundrum: who should lead? With so much talent to choose from, the Kazakhstan-registered team will head into the Giro (and Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana for that matter) with up to three possible team leaders. And while other teams like to have at least two options for the GC at each stage race, none of them can come even close to the firepower that the Astana team will bring to each of the three grand tours.

For the Giro, Bruyneel will have at least three top stage race leaders to choose from in Levi Leipheimer, Lance Armstrong, and Andreas Kloden. Leipheimer, though a less glitzy option than Armstrong, has looked like the best of the three riders thus far in 2009. After taking his third straight title at the tour of California in attacking style this past February, Levi continued with his winning ways at the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, where he upstaged none other than his own teammate, Alberto Contador. Leipheimer was able to beat the Spaniard in the individual time trial, and so was made the designated team leader due his excellent individual performance in the race of truth. With a strong first week and another strong time trial in the 12th stage of the Giro, Leipheimer could find himself on the inside track to winning his first grand tour. As usual though, he'll play by the Astana rules, and if there is a stronger rider within the team he'll bow gracefully in their favor.

Lance Armstrong, unlike Leipheimer, has had a less than smooth comeback to the sport he owned for seven years as the undisputed patron of the peloton. A less than stellar ride at the Tour of California time trial tempered early expectations, and an unusual crash in the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon sidelined the former stage racing giant for about ten days with a badly broken collar bone. Now back training, Armstrong himself has allowed that he may be less than ideally prepared to take on the Giro. All signs point to "Big Tex" riding himself into form at the Giro in a support role, with an eye on assaulting the Tour in July.

Andreas Kloden will be the third rider on the Astana team that could emerge as the leader of the team providing he has good form. The 33 year old German has finished as high up on the GC as second in a grand tour, but is not a proven commodity in the Giro. The Tour de France has been Kloden's normal stomping grounds, but that doesn't mean he can't ride among the best in Italy. Coming off a solid ride at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race this past March, Kloden is rounding into form just in time for the Giro's beginning. Immensely talented, Kloden has never been able to put it all together at the grand tours. Perhaps the guidance of Bruyneel and the rest of the Astana team will prove to be the winning combination for the former lieutenant of Jan Ullrich.

That the Astana team has three top GC hopes for one of the largest and most prestigious races in the world shows just how powerful they really are. The Giro could be the start of a truly special season for the Astana team. For the first time in modern cycling history, there is a team that can legitimately hope to win all three grand tours in the same season. To do so though, they first have to take the Giro. Whether Armstrong, Leipheimer, or Kloden, one thing is for sure: someone from the Astana team will be front and center during the deciding moments of the Giro. There's just too much talent and experience on the Astana team to think otherwise.

Andy Schleck Breaks Through at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Wins Solo to Solidify His Name as Top Pro Rider

Andy Schleck has always been touted as a top talent, but he has never been able to win a race to show himself as a feared contender. Sure, he won the best young rider jersey at the Giro in 2007 and again last year at the Tour de France, but a major win at a top one day race had eluded him until his win on Sunday at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Attacking a select group of elite specialists about 20 kilometers from the finish line, Schleck rode to the line solo after the chasing field was unable to do anything to bring him back over the final several kilometers of the race.

At only 23 years old, Andy Schleck is without a doubt one of the brightest young stars in the sport of cycling. Not only is he capable of contending in the grand tours, but he has now shown that he is also able of winning tough, hilly one day classics. He placed 2nd last Wednesday at La Fleche Wallonne, and with his victory at Liege his name will be at the top of the list of favorites for at least the next ten years at the hilly classics.

Schleck's win in the world's oldest classic was a much needed one for his Saxo Bank team, who were feeling the pressure to take a big early season win after coming up short at the cobbled classics. From the Amstel through Liege though,  Saxo could be seen at the front. Unfortunately though they were unable to take to top step of the podium until Liege. Still, Karsten Kroon's 2nd place at the Amstel Gold and Schleck's 2nd at the Fleche must have encouraged the entire team, showing them that all they needed was a bit of luck to break through for a win. As it turned out though, Schleck needed only his legs to win Liege. Luck was not a factor as he instead left no doubt in overpowering the rest of the field with his solo bid.

Now that the hilly classics are in the book, we start to build up to the late spring and summer stage racing season. The Giro begins on May 9th, and in July the Tour de France will once again mark the high point of the cycling season. Andy Schleck will be heard of again at the Tour, but how successful he is will depend on one final aspect of his game that needs major improvement: his time trialing. Schleck has not shown particularly good form in the race against the clock in a grand tour, and with a bad time trial the overall race can be lost as easily as it is in the mountains. Schleck can go uphill with the best in the world, but he gets left behind once out on the road alone in the race of truth. His coach Bjarne Riis though will help him improve over time, and it should only be a few years before he is among the best time trialists in the sport. His 2005 Luxembourg time trial championship victory speaks to his potential as a great time trialist.

With Andy Schleck's win, the Saxo team can head into the Giro and Tour de France with confidence and satisfaction that they made good on their early season expectations. After a brief period of celebration, the Saxo team will re-group and prepare for the three week tours. Andy, in addition to his brother Frank Schleck, will be looking to be in the top five overall in the Tour, while also playing the teammate support role when needed. As it has always been with Bjarne Riis' team, the best rider will be supported in each race. Perhaps it will be Andy, or maybe it will be Frank, but neither will show the slightest hesitation if they are asked to give up their own GC hopes for the benefit of their teammate.

Liege-Bastogne-Liege Closes Out Spring Classics Season

In what has seemed like a blink of an eye, the cycling world has arrived at the final spring classic of the 2009 season, "La Doyenne," Liege-Bastogne-Liege. The oldest of all five monuments of cycling, LBL will run for the 95th time tomorrow in Belgium. As usual, the race will play into the arms of those riders who can climb as well as sprint, and durability and efficiency will be a prime ingredient for success as well. At 261 kilometers long, LBL features 11 tough climbs spread throughout the course, and nine of those climbs will feature in the second half of the race. 

Defending champion Alejandro Valverde will again be on hand to try his luck for a third title, after a solid placing at the Fleche Wallonne where he finished in 7th place. He has never finished worse than 2nd, so Valverde will for sure be one of the main protagonists for the race. His Caisse d'Epargne team will support him 100% as he tries to become the first Spaniard to win the race three times (he remains the only Spaniard to have won the event in its history).

Right on Valverde's heels will be several strong Italians, headlined by the Fleche winner Davide Rebellin. "Tintin" knows what it takes to win the sport's oldest classic, and his ability to conserve his energy always makes it possible for him to contest the finish. Last year he was forced to ride at the front for much of the approach to the finish, which sapped his energy for the sprint. If he can get some help in keeping things together, he'll be in with a real chance to take his second victory at the race. 

The other Italians that will try to thwart Valverde are formidable as well. Damiano Cunego will try to take his first win at LBL after having fallen short at Amstel and the Fleche this year. Cunego's season has already been successful, but a win at Liege would allow him to go into the Giro "tranquilo" that he has already secured a big result on the season. Cunego has an excellent sprint, and he will be a handful for Valverde if they go to the line together in a sprint. Also racing is Giro favorite Ivan Basso, fresh off the overall at the Giro del Trentino. Basso is not known for his sprint, but he is a feared climber capable of riding away from the favorites under the right circumstances. At top ten is more likely for Basso though. Basso's young teammates Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger will also be protagonists when the race heads to the line.

The Astana team enters a solid line up for LBL, with Haimer Zubeldia leading them. The Spaniard has never taken a big time one day classic, but in knowing that he'll be a domestique for the Giro and Tour he'll be keen to try for an individual result before changing hats to that of super-domestique in the coming months. Saxo-Bank meanwhile, desperate for a top result after having their riders finish 2nd in the Amstel and Fleche, will hope that Andy Schleck can make good on his promise as a young arriving star. He was very close at Fleche, and Liege's length may be better suited to his characteristics. Karsten Kroon, 2nd at Amstel, will be the third option behind the Schlecks.

The Aussies will be led by Cadel Evans, who would like to try to take the LBL win ahead of his main goal for the season, the Tour de France. He had a great ride at the Fleche, and his form is obviously very good. Simon Gerrans of the Cervelo TestTeam will also be among the leader's on Sunday, but he is probably a bit young and inexperienced to win the oldest classic in the world. For his Cervelo team it will be 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre who will hope to show well ahead of the Giro, one of his three biggest targets for 2009.

For underdogs, consider Milram's Linus Gerdemann and Katusha's Antonio Colom. Both riders have been relatively quiet in recent days but each are good enough climbers that they may be able to hope for a late solo bid. Gerdemann is under far more pressure than Colom though, as Milram have not racked up many wins thus far this year. Colom will be abel to ride for himself after years of being a support rider, and he'll hope for a top ten to gain some confidence ahead of the grand tour season.

Liege-Bastogne-Liege, like any monument of cycling, demands the best out of each rider who participates. The difficult parcours will ensure that the strongest will prevail, and great legs and a steady mindset are pre-requisites for victory. Each of the above riders, and several unmentioned athletes, will pour themselves into the final one day test of spring knowing that tomorrow it's now or never, at least not until 2010. 

A Call to Action: Philadelphia International Championships in Jeopardy, Public Asked to Step Up with Financial Support

Philadelphia International Championships in Jeopardy

I assume that most of you have seen the news on TV, listen to the radio, or online that the Philly race in June is in jeopardy of not taking place this year due to the economic downturn in the city. The city of Philadelphia is asking the PCT to pay for police and cleanup costs this year which range from $250,000 to $500,000. Dave Chauner is doing his best to secure more corporate sponsors but in today’s economy that’s a tough sell. What can you do to help save the race? You can purchase tickets, a poster, or stickers to help close the gap. Log onto www.Embracetherace.ticketleap.com to make your purchase and keep this special event alive for 2009.

This is your chance to own a piece of the race. With every dollar you donate, you are DIRECTLY responsible for saving one of the best one day races on US soil. Don't hesitate. For the price of a Starbucks coffee, $5, you can make a significant difference in the fate of this great bike race. To put it into perspective, Philly attracts up to 500,000 each year to view the racing action. If 1/2 of those people buy only 1 sticker, the financial gap would be closed and the race could go on.

Time is short. Race officials will be forced to make a decision within the next few days about whether the race can go forward. This year's edition would be the 25th running of the event, and it would be a tragedy if it did not happen. So take out your wallet or purse, take a few moments to go through the online purchasing process, and lead out one of the best races on the US calendar. And a call to one more person out there: Lance Armstrong. Lance won this race in 1993, and with the win took not only the US pro champion's jersey, but a one million dollar bonus for having completed the triple crown that year. Perhaps the 7-time Tour de France winner will hear about the difficulty the race is experiencing, and will step up with assistance. Maybe buy 100,000 stickers or so? It's as easy as clicking a link: http://www.Embracetherace.ticketleap.com.

Italian Legend: Davide Rebellin Takes "La Doyenne" for 6th Classic Win

The time is now to celebrate Davide Rebellin for who he truly is: a living legend in the sport of cycling. After taking his third Fleche Wallonne title today in Belgium, the soft-spoken Italian showed not only his class as one of the best one day riders of all time, but also that he still has many significant results left in his 37 year old legs. A master tactician on the road with the turn of speed to match, Rebellin is an extremely dangerous rider on any steep uphill finish. Too, he has a decent finishing sprint on the flats as well, and his descending skills are world-renowned. Don't believe it, ask Robert Gesink.

Coming into this year's hilly classics season, "Tintin" stated that he was on less than optimal form having not raced much leading up to the trio of classics. But after a less than stellar 42nd place at the Amstel where he finished more than three minutes behind race winner Serguei Ivanov, Rebellin timed his attack on the Mur de Huy to perfection, beating heavyweights Andy Schleck, Cadel Evans, Damiano Cunego, and Sammy Sanchez to the line. The victory was a great one for Rebellin, and he rated the win as perhaps the most special of his three triumphs to date in the spring classic.

In looking at Rebellin's palmares, his 2004 season stands out as the most shocking. That year he was able to do the impossible, winning ALL THREE spring classics in the same year. Taking even one of the three biggest hilly classics (Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege) is an amazing feat, but winning all three will likely never be done again. Rebellin will retire from the sport as one of the most prolific riders of his generation, but before he does he is sure to take out a few more big wins as well.

Because he is so naturally quiet and unassuming, Rebellin seems to fly under the radar in terms of his level of talent. While riders like Damiano Cunego, Stefano Garzelli, Alessandro Ballan and others take up the spotlight in his home country, Rebellin continues to pile on prestigious wins year after year. And with Liege up next this Sunday, Rebellin will again be at the front of a big time bike race looking for the top step of the podium. His adversaries will be intent on outsmarting him, as they know it will take more than legs to beat the wily veteran. He uses his brain as much as his legs for victory, and is known as a rider who is an expert at conserving his strength for the deciding moment in a bike race.

Even if he nevers wins another race as a professional, Davide Rebellin will still be remembered among the greatest one day stylists in the history of the sport of cycling. From his wins at the hilly classics to his several victories at various stage races to his 2nd place finish in Beijing at the 2008 Olympic road race, Rebellin has done almost everything there is to do in the world of European bike racing. But there is one final target that the Italian will still reach for: a world championship. Last year he rode brilliantly in support of Alessandro Ballan, but the course this year may suit him a bit better. Run over a hilly, classics-style circuit course, Mendrisio may prove to be the location of Rebellin's crowning moment. With a rainbow jersey, the Italian would be able to retire knowing that he accomplished everything he could over his long and storied career.

La Fleche Wallonne: Mid-Week Classic Showcases Punchy Climbers

The Fleche Wallonne classic will roll out tomorrow for the 72nd time, as the Belgian mid-week fixture will once again showcase some of the fastest uphill finishers in the world of cycling. Unlike in the Tour de France or even Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege race, "La Doyenne" has shorter, steeper climbs. Because if this fact, the race caters to a different type of talent than the high mountain contenders of the Tour de France. Those specialists that enjoy these steep, shorter climbs include Damiano Cunego, Thomas Lovkwist, Kim Kirchin, Davide Rebellin, Alejandro Valverde, Sammy Sanchez, Carlos Barredo, Christian Pfannberger, and Karsten Kroon to name a few.

And while the grand tour type riders are not ideally suited to the climbs of the Fleche, that doesn't mean they can't win the one day event. Cadel Evans, while known for being better on the long, grueling climbs of the grand tours, will still be at the front of the race up the final climb, the Mur de Huy. Haimer Zubeldia of Astana, known more for his grand tour exploits, will nevertheless be a dangerous rider to watch at the Fleche. Likewise for Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank, who is a great grand tour hope AND a strong one day rider.

Other names to be aware of include the Liquigas duo of Nibali and Kreuziger, Ag2R's Rinaldo Nocentini, and Garmin's two Tom's, Danielson and Peterson. Old French battle ax Christophe Moreau shouldn't be counted out, nor should Cervelo's promising Aussie Simon Gerrans. Finally, German champion Fabian Wegmann will hope to hold off the field for a win in 2009, after coming close in 2008. These riders and others will be at the front of the race for its decisive moments, waiting for the perfect moment to launch their attack for victory. Luckily, a temperate weather report is predicted in Belgium tomorrow, which will allow the field to focus primarily on racing instead of staying warm under the unrelenting Belgian springtime rain.

The Mur de Huy, as seen here in last year's finish, is an extremely fierce wall just over a kilometer long that can destroy even the freshest legs. Climbing the Mur requires patience as well as skill. If you go too early (see Wegmann in the video referenced above) you risk being swamped by the field. If you begin your attack too late, there are too many riders in front of you and it is difficult to get by. Like in many of the classics, the rider who eventually wins will be not only the strongest, but the smartest. The Fleche Wallonne is worthy of being called a classic because of what is required to win it. And tomorrow, one rider will be able to call himself the greatest rider in the world, if only for one beautiful day.

Recessionary Impact in Cycling: Michael Creed, Chris Baldwin and Cesar Grajales Let Go by Rock Racing

Three established American domestic pros were unceremoniously fired from Rock Racing over the weekend, illuminating just how bad the economic climate is for cycling and other enterprises these days. Although the official notice from Rock management cited lack of performance, let there be no doubt that each of the three riders were let go for monetary concerns above all. For Creed in fact, the writing had been on the wall for most of the season after he was left off the pro squad and relegated to amateur status for 2009.

In a candid interview with New York velocity, Creed seems to have it all in perspective. Realizing the economic climate, he seems to mostly take his situation in stride. One part of the interview is particularly alarming though. Creed hints that his career as a pro cyclist may be over, which would be a terrible shame. At only 28, Creed is in the prime of his career and deserves a chance to show his skills as a pro. It seems hard to believe that a team like Jelly Belly, Time or even Team Type 1 couldn't find a spot for such a great rider and person. Known for being an easy going guy on and off the bike, Creed is also a staunch advocate for clean cycling. He would bring only positive aspects to a new team.

For Chris Baldwin, it must also be a chock to be gone from the Rock outfit. Just two seasons removed from a 2nd placing in the national time trial, Baldwin will now have to struggle to find a new ride. At 33 he is not young, but his combination of talent and leadership should afford him an opportunity as a mentor to a team with younger riders. Perhaps a stint with DLP or the Fly V Australia squad is in order.

For Cesar Grajales, the picture is a bit murkier. At 35 he is an aging veteran, and he has had a down last two seasons with injury and illness. Finding a new ride will be very hard from the lithe climber, unless he can catch on with a team late in the year and produce some big results with an eye toward 2010. For a rider as prolific as Grajales to be without many prospects for a team, it shows just how tough it is to find a job within the realm of professional cycling.

Rock team owner Michale Ball spoke of having wanted to keep all three riders, but due to the tough economic climate he had to make some tough decisions. Cycling is after all a business, and Ball is in the sport as much for the money he is making as for his love of the game. Hopefully Creed, Baldwin, and Grajales will all find a ride soon, as the domestic cycling scene just isn't the same without them.

Mellow Gold: Cunego Cool Ahead of Amstel, Ready to Defend 2008 Title

Damiano Cunego just doesn't care. The 27 year old "Little Prince" sees himself as a double-edged sword: one part classics contender, one part grand tour hope. Although his critics (including EP) argue otherwise, Cunego believes in his heart of hearts that he can have it both ways: win at least one classic per season AND contend in at least one grand tour per year. Whether he can put his plan into practice however remains to be seen. Since his 2004 Giro d'Italia win, the Italian has been an also ran at the grand tours, suffering in the mountians and losing minutes rather than seconds in the time trials.

But this is 2009, a new beginning, a new season. And with it comes all the hope and promise that each new year brings. Cunego has already ridden well in 2009, and has a stage race win at the Coppi y Bartali race to his credit. Now he'll mount an offensive to take one of the three upcoming hilly classics ahead of his summer stage race target, the Giro d'Italia. But winning one of the next three big races won't be easy as they'll be a host of other riders looking to upstage "il piccolo principe."

The list of heavy weights lined up for the first classic, the Amstel Gold race, is impressive. Ag2R's Elmiger and Nocentini, Caisse d'Epargne's Valverde and Periero, Francaise des Jeux's Casar, Euskaltel Euskadi's Olympic gold medalist Sanchez, Fuji-Servetto's De La Fuente and Nardello, Liquigas' Kreuziger and Nibali, Quick Step's Chavanel and Barredo, Rabobank's Nuyens and Gesink, Silence Lotto's Dekker, Columbia's Kirchin and Rogers, Katusha's Pfannberger, Milram's Gerdemann and Wegmann, Saxo Bank's Schleck brothers and Kroon, and Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni's Rebellin and Serpa. Big names for big time racing, all on hand with the sole purpose of dislodging Cunego from the top step of the podium at the Amstel Gold.

Of the above favorites, Cunego should be keeping particularly close tabs on the Saxo trio, "Tin Tin" Rebellin, Sanchez, and Milram's Wegmann. The three Saxo's, Andy and Frank Schleck and Karsten Kroon, will be in desperation mode for a win after a lackluster early classics foray for Bjarne Riis' Danish team, while Rebellin is consistently ready year over year to do battle in the three hilly classics. Although 37, Davide Rebellin still has the goods to deliver a win, and his tactical prowess is unmatched in the sport. Sanchez is a highly dangerous one day rider, and he'll enjoy complete commitment from his Euskaltel team, while Wegmann has been close several times to victory in 2009, and is just a small turn of luck away from taking his first win of the year.

Cunego will no doubt be among the top ten in all three upcoming classics, but winning one of them will be a tough task. He'll be the undisputed leader of the Lampre team with Alessandro Ballan's early season absence, but his sole leadership responsibility will also mean that he will  not be afforded any leeway out on the roads of the hilly classics. If he is to win in the coming days, he'll need a perfect combination of great form and perfect tactics to come out victorious. If he is unable to win, there's always the Giro, but winning a three week race is a much more difficult proposition for the small punchy climber. Now the real drama begins for the Italian and all the other hilly classics specialists in the pro peloton.

The Sad and Painful End for Tyler Hamilton

It has come to this for Tyler Hamilton. From promising up and comer, to full-fledged super star, to banished pariah, to redeemed champion, and now, at the end of the road, a broken man just trying to put his life back together. For the better part of the last decade, Hamilton has been, as Frank Sinatra would say, up and down and over and out. And today, with his admission of knowingly taking a banned substance, Tyler once and for all seals his legacy as a cheat. There will be no appeals this time, no claims of innocence. Instead, Hamilton has announced his retiremenet immediately, claiming that he simply wants to get his life back together.

For fans of the former Olympic gold medalist, today is a gut-wrenching day. After throwing support behind Hamilton over the past five plus years despite overwhelming evidence against him, people will now have to accept the inevitable: Tyler Hamilton cheated himself, the sport of cycling, his friends and family, and his fans, for most of his cycling career.

Hamilton was, throughout his career as a professional, a very likeable individual. Known for his toughness on the bike and quiet, unassuming demeanor off it, Hamilton seemed to be an example of all the good things in sport: tenacity, perserverance, and a humble mindset. But behind Hamilton's outward appearance lurked a decidedly darker personality. Driven by the need for glory and haunted by deep depression, Hamilton's judgement suffered, leading him more than one time down the wrong path.

Now, Hamilton is facing a possible lifetime ban from the sport of cycling. Being that the drug he tested positive for has little performance enhancing qualities he may receive leniency from the sanctioning bodies. But one thing is for sure: the reigning US Pro road champion will never ride a bicycle competitively again. And no matter if you are a fan of Hamilton or not, your heart has to go out to a lost soul who is still searching for answers, even at 37 years old.

I count myself as a fan of Hamilton. Sure, I was extremely angry when he was found guilty the first time around and completely dumbfounded to wake up and read the news today, but nevertheless I couldn't resist holding a soft spot in my heart for him. Watching some of his most memorable wins over his career, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, a stage of the Tour, always brought out a rush of emotions for me that other riders didn't. For some reason, Hamilton's wins seemed more magnified, harder earned, regardless of whether he was cheating or not. He seemed to always have to give ALL of himself to win. It never looked easy. And that is more than I can say for many other stars of the sport. Due to this perceived difficulty, I still find it hard to believe that he cheated. I always will.

I was at the last race that Hamilton won, the US Pro championship in Greenville. I was lucky enough to be one of the announcers for the race. When he got into the decisive breakaway with Blake Caldwell and Danny pate of the Garmin team, it looked highly unlikely that he had any chance of winning. He was outnumberd by younger, seemingly more vital riders than he. As usual, if he was going to win, it was going to be extremely difficult. He managed to pair the group to two, just himself and Caldwell. And as they came to the line, as was the case with all his past wins, it seemed impossible that he would find a way to crosss the finish line first. But he did. Using a bit of his veteran tactical savvy and every last ouce of energy in his body, he edged out the much younger Caldwell by about a tire's length. It was, and still remains, a beautiful victory.

What Hamilton will do with the rest of his life is anyone's guess. If the governing bodies don't show him leniency when sanctioning him for his second doping offense, he could find himself banned from the sport for life. This would prohibit him from working in any capacity within the world of cycling, a world he has lived in for more than 20 years. The affect that such a verdict could have on the Boulder, Colorado resident could be disastrous. In the meantime though, Hamilton must get ahold of himself and work on his personal issues. A job after cycling will no doubt come much later down the road, if at all.

Tyler Hamilton's lasting legacy to the general public most likely will be that as a drug cheat and a liar. But to those of his ardent fans that followed him for the duration of his career, their view of him won't be so black and white. They'll remember him as a tough, persistent rider who accomplished great things over his long career. Hopefully we'll hear from Hamilton again down the road, for the good instead of the bad. With professional help, hopefully Hamilton can make inroads in his personal life so that he can one day repair his severely damaged image in the cycling world. But until then, he'll remain in the shadows, a symbol of everything that was wrong with cycling over the past ten years. Sad, but true.

Six Burning Questions for Upcoming Hilly Cycling Classics

Now that the cobbled-classics are out of the way, conversation and attention will switch to the second half of the spring classics season, with the Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege races set to commence over the coming weeks. Gone will be names like Hoste, Boonen, Cavendish, Pozzato, Hincapie, McEwen, and Chavanel. Replacing them will be the one day specialists that excel in the discipline of climbing, names like Basso and Nibali, Rebellin and Cunego, Valverde and Evans, and the brothers Schleck. And with these new names, there are big questions to be answered over the coming weeks. We'll review six of the biggest right now as we open the conversation on the hilly classics season.

1. Can Saxo Bank Finally Bag a Classic for 2009?
Just a year ago this would have been an unheard of statement to make, as the Saxo team (then CSC) had lit up the early season with a handful of wins at several classics. But thus far in 2009, they have been soundly beaten in the biggest European races. Once of their aces Fabian Cancellara has been sick and injured for much of the first part of the year, while rising stars like Matti Breschel and Andy Schleck have been less than stellar thus far. Over the coming days it is probably the elder Schleck, Frank, that has the best chance at victory, and as an established veteran in the hilly classics he should have little problem handling the pressure that surrounds being a favorite. The question is though, does he have the form? If not, Saxo could be looking at their worst start to a season in a long time.

2. Can Columbia Keep Rolling?
Mark Cavendish, Edvald Boassen Hagen and Thomas Lovkwist flew the flag high for Columbia in the first part of the season. Cavendish took top honors at the year's first monument Milan-San Remo, while Lovkwist and Boassen Hagen added classics victories as well, at the Monte Paschi Eroica and Gent Wevelgem races. Now that the hills tilt upward, will Columbia see thier mountain specialists come to the fore? Riders like Mick Rogers and Kim Kirchin will be depended on to keep things moving for the top team of 2009, at least so far.

3. Can Stars Injured During the Early Season Bounce Back?
Big names such as Frank Schleck, Oscar Freire, Kim Kirchin, Philippe Gilbert, and Gerald Ciolek all had early season set backs in the form of sickness, injury, or both. Can these and others put their seasons back on track, or will they be behind the eight ball and off the back during the next few races?

4. Can Alejandro Valverde Resist Negative Press and Pressure and Win Under Duress?
Alejandro Valverde has been more maligned than any other cyclist in 2009. He is waiting for a verdict regarding a possible suspension courtesy of CONI, and his involvement with the Operacion Puerto scandal continues to haunt him by the day. He has taken a few victories already this year, but he may be on borrowed time with the possible suspension looming. Even if he is allowed to ride, will his mind hold up under such strife?

5. Does Davide Rebellin Have Anything Left in the Tank?
Davide Rebellin has been a top flight contender at the hilly classics for many years now. Just last year he went top ten in each of the hilly classics, so it would seem that he should be ready to contend again. Still, at 37 years old, his time is clearly running out. The 2008 Olympic silver medalist will hope to pull one more result out of the bag in 2009, to show his fans and competition that age is only a number.

6. Will 2009 See a Youngster Break through, Similar to Heinrich Haussler?
Heinrich Haussler was the revelation of the early classics season. he was oh so close to his first monument with a second place at Milan-San Remo, and then came second again at the Tour of Flanders. Will there be a youngster that will put on a similar display for the hilly classics? Some names to watch are Robert Gesink, Vincenzo Nibali, Chris Anker Sorensen, and Matthew Lloyd.

There are surely several other big questions to be answered over the coming days, but the above are those that will be front and center for most of the cyclingn worlkd over the coming weeks. Still, don;t be afraid to move the conversation forward. What are you hoping to learn/see during the next few races?

Rabobank, Thwarted at Northern Classics, Need Big Results at Hilly Classics

Like the Saxo bank team, Rabobank came up empty for the first part of the 2009 cycling season. After sprinter Oscar Freire crashed out of the Tour of California back in February, the Dutch team were forced to pin their hopes on Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha for success in the early spring races. Flecha, as usual, was a player at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, but he was unable to manage a podium in either event. Milan-San Remo meanwhile was a complete wash for the orange, blue and white team without Freire.

Now that the first 1/3 of the cycling season is done, Rabobank will have to hope for better results in the upcoming hilly classics Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallonne, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege races. They'll depend mostly on the Belgian Nick Nuyens and their young grand tour hope Robert Gesink, each of whom has the characteristics to win any of the three big hilly upcoming tests. Gesink, after several productive years as a relatively unknown rider, will now have to make the leap into the big time, as a recognized rider worthy of favorite status at difficult hilly races.

For Nuyens, the pressure is even more urgent. A successful rider a few seasons ago with the Belgisn Quick Step team, Nuyens fell on hard times at Cofidis. He was unable to be a factor for the 2008 season, and he signed with Rabobank for 2009 hoping to rejuvenate a flagging career. If he is unable to make at least a podium on one of the big three upcoming hilly classics, he'll be marginalized as a rider capable of domestique duties, and no more.

Gesink will ride the Tour de France this year, so if he can maintain top ten placings over the next few weeks, his classics campaign will be considered a success. His bigger objective is a top overall placing in the Tour. And while he has a long way to go to becoming a top time trialist, his climbing prowess should allow him to remain toward the top of the general classification in France come July. If on the other hand he falters in the hills over the next few months, Gesink too will begin to feel the pressure that comes with being a recognized rider.

A bright spot for the Rabobank team will come with the return of Oscar Freire. He is recovering from his injuries well and should be ready to do battle at the Tour in a couple of months. The problem with Freire though is that he is remarkable fragile and requires ideal conditions to contend with the best sprinters. If he has one more set back between now and the Tour, his season could be destroyed before it really began. With his improving health though, he'll be a dark horse contender for the green jersey in the Tour. And for his Rabobank sponsor, wins by the bunches are what they need over the coming weeks and months. With Freire, Gesink and Nuyens firing together, those wins (or at least podiums) should inevitably come. 

The Last of the 2009 Cobbles: Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen Closes Early Spring Classic Season

After an exciting series of hard-fought cobbled-classics over the last several weeks, the 97th Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen race will once again close out the early spring classics season. Run over 200 kilometers of pancake flat terrain, the Scheldeprijs provides one final opportunity for the classics stars to flex their power, in particular the sprinters in the bunch.

Unlike last year, Columbia's fast finisher Mark Cavendish won't be on hand to contest the finish, but that doesn't mean there isn't a star-studded group of sprinters on hand ready to do battle. First among them is newly crowned Paris-Roubaix champion Tom Boonen. The big Belgian diesel has taken the Scheldeprijs twice in previous years, and he'll hope to wring one more win out of the first part of his season before regrouping for the Tour de France.

Other riders to watch include Cervelo's powerful youngster Heinrich Haussler, coming off yet another great performance, this time at Roubaix, and Katusha's sprinter Robbie McEwen, who will be keen to try to get a win before he too preps for the Tour. Rababank's Graeme Brown has a mean sprint and will hope to upstage Boonen, as will another Aussie, Colunmbia's Mark Renshaw. Milram's sprinter Gerald Ciolek, currently suffering through a horrible early season will try to redeem himself at at the Scheldeprijs. A top ten would be a huge morale boost for the German. Speaking of morale boosts, the Saxo Bank team, winless in the early season one day classics, will hope that their sprinter Juan Jose Haedo can deliver on the last cobbled-event of the spring.

Now that we are almost past the norther classics, attention will turn to the hilly trio of races over the coming weeks. We'll start to focus on the climbers of the sport, names like Cunego, Valverde, Basso, Schleck and many more. First the Amstel, then the Fleche, and finally Liege, now is the time for the big sprinters to take a back seat to those that go fast when the road tilts up.

Tom Boonen Perfects the Paris-Roubaix Ride, Wins Third Title Solo

Tom Boonen showed the rest of the peloton all how it's done this past Sunday, taking his third Paris-Roubaix title in style, winning solo after a war of attrition with some of the biggest names in the sport. Riding free out of an elite group of six with about 20 kilometers to go, Boonen powered away from a chasing Filippo Pozzato, who was powerless to bring back the Belgian down the stretch.

Boonen was lucky to avoid a decisive crash on the day that involved all of the riders except him and the Norwegian, Thor Hushovd. Juan Antonio Flecha, attacking through a cobbled turn, went down just behind Boonen and Hushovd, bringing Lotto riders Leif Hoste and Johan Van Summeren with him. Only moments later it was Hushovd who fell just behind Boonen around another turn, leaving the Belgian all alone at the front of the race. Pozzato, slowed by Flecha's crash, mounted a valiant chase, but was unable to resist the will of Boonen over the final 15 kilometers.

Boonen's win was a huge one for the Belgian super star, as it at once made all of his critics silent. Now that he has a monument in his pocket on the season, Boonen can relax ahead of the July Tour de France, where he'll hope to compete for the green jersey competition in the three week stage race. In the meantime, he'll enjoy his hard-earned win, and the relief he'll feel after taking the huge win should carry him through the rest of the season on a positive note.

For Boonen's adversaries, it was another year of watching a stronger rider take a much desired win at Paris-Roubaix. Leif Hoste, always close but never good enough to win, was in tears as he crossed the finish line for 4th place. Hushovd meanwhile will look back and wonder what could have been after crashing, while hopefully "Pippo" Pozzato will realize that to win a race you must attack. He followed Boonen's wheel for two weeks straight going back to last week's Tour of Flanders, and all he has to show for it is 2nd place at Roubaix. 

Sentimental favorite George Hincapie meanwhile, although hopeful ahead of Roubaix,  came up short once again, struck down by bad luck at an inopportune time. The American flatted on one of the key stretches of cobbles, and was unable to chase back to the leading group of six. Hincapie has at least one more chance left to win at Roubaix or Flanders in 2010, but it is looking more and more that time has passed him by. Going forward, he may have to be happy helping one of his teammates win a future edition. 

Boonen's win should serve as an example of what it looks like when a truly deserved champion wins a race. Boonen depended on only himself for victory, and made the race from start to finish. He single handedly chased down many of the early attacks, and made the decisive acceleration when the race reached its most heated point. He'll bask in the glory of winning the "Queen of the Classics" for the third time, triumphant after a win that he took, rather than a win that was given to him.

Paris-Roubaix 2009: Weather Report

Paris-Roubaix is known as much for it's tough terrain as it is for its horrible weather. When the clouds gather and the rain falls in sheets, the conditions at Paris-Roubaix can be downright terrible. So what is the weather report for tomorrow's 107th edition of the "Queen of the Classics?" Luckily for the peloton, it seems as though tomorrow's race will be run under favorable conditions. 

Reports are calling for mostly cloudy skies and light winds, which should help many of the less strong riders in the group. Instead of a 10 man final selection, there is more likely to be a 20-30 strong group. Without the tough winds that are so common in northern Europe in the spring time months, there will be fewer echelons that form throughout the race. More riders should be able to maintain contact with the lead group down the stretch, which will increase the chance of a lesser-known rider coming away with victory.

There are a good share of riders that could run away with a surprise win at Roubaix, especially considering that the weather won't be as horrible as it can sometime be.  For the Garmin-Chipotle team, watch out for the American Steven Cozza. A tough rider built in the mold of many of the great classics stars, Cozza has all the qualities of a surprise winner. A strong, powerful rider with excellent time trialing skills, Cozza thrives in adverse conditions, and under the right circumstances could try his hand at a solo escape.

Another prime candidate for a surprise win is Cervelo TestTeam rider Roger Hammond. Although he is 35 years old, Hammond has the goods to deliver at Roubaix, especially if he can escape while his teammates Heinrich Haussler and Thor Hushovd are being watched by the rest of the field. Hammond showed his class at Roubaix back in 2004 with an impressive 3rd place, and his gritty demeanor is well-suited to the cobbles at Roubaix.

Finally, watch out for the Katusha team. In addition to their leader Filippo Pozzato, Mikhail Ignitiev will be on hand to try his luck at a breakaway win. Ignatiev, although very young at only 23, is a strong time trialist who is used to the cold. If Pozzato falters, the young Russian could be looked to to pick up the slack for the Russian super team.

Paris-Roubaix will likely be decided among the usual suspects, but there is always the outside chance that a surprise could emerge as the eventual winner. While names like Boonen, Hushovd, Pozatto, Cancellara, Hoste, and others mark each other out on the roads of Roubaix, there will be a distinct possibility for a surprise winner to emerge. Good conditions combined with a touch of luck could well lead an unknown contender across the line in first place, as could a moment's indecision from the main protagonists in the event.

Columbia Crushing Competition, Sounding the Bell for Clean Cycling

Can anyone resist the force of the Columbia team? Bob Stapleton's squad has shredded all comers of late, beginning with the Italian classic Monte Paschi Eroica this past March. It was there that Thomas Lovkwist was able to escape out of a small group to win the race solo, signaling the beginning of an early season tear that has continued to this day for the California-registered team.

Next up was the first monument of the year, Milan-San Remo. Mark Cavendish, after close tutelage from new coach Eric Zabel, hung with the favorites over the Poggio climb, and was able to edge out Heinrich "Hard Luck" Haussler" at the line for his first monument victory. It was a huge win for the Columbia team, as they have thus far laid claim to the best team in the world designation up to this point.

At the Tour of Flanders the Columbia team had some tough luck, but they were right back at it again this past Wednesday at the Gent-Wevelgem race. 22 year old Edvald Boassen Hagen broke away and won solo ahead of a hard chasing field, and with Paris-Roubaix around the corner, Columbia will hope to cap their classics campaign with one final huge win, this time at the "Queen of the Classics."

That Columbia is winning is not at all surprising, as they have one of the most potent line ups in the entire sport of cycling. Add to that a great "team first" mentality, and you have a recipe for success that few other teams possess. Bob Stapleton has done a masterful job at bringing his young riders up with patience and deliberate shrewdness, and 2009 has seen a groundswell of success due to Stapleton and his team's hard work in 2008.

Finally and most importantly, Columbia is one of the more outspoken teams against doping in the sport, and they fly the flag for clean cycling at every race they enter, and to add top results onto the pile only sweetens the deal. Our sport is changing for the better, and teams like Columbia prove it. Now, only a few hours from the running of Paris-Roubaix, can one of the elder statesmen on the Columbia team bring it all home? Big George Hincapie will tackle his beloved cobbles once again, eternally optimistic that he can claim the most prestigious classic of them all. And with the roll that Columbia has been on thus far in the spring, one gets the feeling that victory is as close as it has ever been to the aging American.

The Road to Paris-Roubaix: Lady Luck as Influential as Skill in "Hell"

Winning Sunday's Paris-Roubaix race is among the most coveted and prestigious targets in the game of cycling. For one day races, there are none tougher on the body and mind, as the peloton will roll over 52.9 kilometers of rough cobbled-roadways during the race. Jagged and unforgiving, the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix are world renowned, and year in and year out they break the will and equipment of even the staunchest pros.

With a race like Paris-Roubaix, there is another very important factor that influences the eventual winner of the year's third monument: lady luck. Without good fortune, a rider has no chance to win at Roubaix, as evidenced numerous times in past editions. In recent history, it was the American George Hincapie who was hit by bad luck, as his steering column snapped in the 2006 edition of Roubaix, sending him over what remained of his handlebars and onto the hard ground below. A broken collar bone resulted due to his crash, torpedoing his chances at a Roubaix title despite having been in the final move of the day with a teammate (Leif Hoste) by his side for support. A win in this year's edition will require better fortune for the veteran if he is to deliver on the hopes of his many fans.

That luck plays such a large role in the outcome of Roubaix makes the race that much more endearing and prestigious to fans and pros alike. The realization that one needs to have excellent luck in order to win a race at once gives the riders a wistful, almost pensive attitude toward the race before it begins. Pro riders are notorious for saying "we'll see" ahead of a given race regarding their chances, but never is this axiom truer than at Roubaix. A cyclist can be on the form of his life at Paris-Roubaix, yet still find himself completely out of the running due to an untimely mechanical failure. It seems as if each participant is almost painfully aware of this fact.

Most teams do all they can to prevent a rider being caught out. Team representatives are posted at the end of each stretch of cobbles with spare front and back wheels, and the riders are able to roll over the cobbles on a flat tire if need be, despite how difficult it can be. Still, despite the precautions taken by the teams and riders, there is no predicting what will happen on the cobbles. Best laid plans are often laid to waste, and dreams broken on the road to Roubaix.

German Gerald Ciolek Taking His Lumps as New Sprint Leader of Milram Milkmen in 2009

Sometimes being a team leader on a pro tour team can be harder than it looks. Just ask Milram's sprinter Gerald Ciolek. While riders like Tom Boonen, Mark Cavendish, Robbie McEwen, Thor Hushovd, and Daniele Bennati seem to be able to get themselves to the front of any bike race they contest, Ciolek has found the going a bit harder in this his first season as a true protected rider and team leader. In fact, with exception to a win at the early season Tour of Mallorca stage race, Ciolek has been M.I.A. in the year's biggest races.

After a solid 2008 season riding in support of Mark Cavendish under the Columbia sponsor, Ciolek jumped at the chance to go for his own chances in 2009. Hotly pursued by the German Milram team, the former national champion crossed over from Columbia to ride for the milkmen, and he spoke confidently about his chances for victory in 2008.

Unfortunately though, things haven't gone completely to plan for the 22 year old. After a largely anonymous early classics season that saw him shut out at races like the Het Niewsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Ciolek came to Milan-San Remo hoping for a decent result, if not a top 20. It was not meant to be. He took a DNF at MSR, and knowing that his former teammate Cavendish won the event must have been a sobering thought for Ciolek after the race.

Then just last weekend at the Tour of Flanders Ciolek was shelled again, this time taking a dismal 111th placing, more than 13 minutes behind the winner Stijn Devolder. And while the Ronde isn't necessarily the type of race Ciolek performs well in, his terrible finish still was a disappointment. Today Ciolek rides the sprinter's classic Gent-Wevelgem, a course much better suited to his characteristics, and the race represents his last best chance at a top result before big time racing switches to the Wallonian classics of the Amstel Gold, Fleche-Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege races. If today ends with Ciolek still without a big result, he'll have to re-focus himself for one of the hardest mental tests in the sport, the "Hell of the North" Paris-Roubaix race this coming Sunday. He'll surely not think about victory in the race, and will instead concentrate just on finishing.

Now that the flatter classics are complete, the hilly classics are up next, and it is unlikely that Ciolek will be able to factor into the situation at any of those events. Instead he will have to wait until the grand tours for his next chances at victory. Whether he'll ride the Giro or Tour de France is still unknown, but regardless of which grand tour he lines up for, he'll be hard pressed to garner a win. Competition for stage wins at the grand tours is tough, and history tells us that a rider who has found the going tough in the early season will find the summer stage races equally difficult.

For Ciolek, 2009 seems to be turning into a year of transition and learning rather than breakthrough performances. The German is still very young and an undeniable talent though, and he'll have many chances in the future for victories. Most important at this stage in his career is building his flagging confidence while learning what it takes to be a true team leader. He'll have help along the way throughout the rest of the season from riders like Fabian Wegmann and Christian Knees, and his Milram sponsor will back him 100%, at least for the next year or two. If the remainder of 2009 or 2010 doesn't see a more dominant Ciolek though, he could find himself back in the role of domestique for 2011.

Sad Saxos: Bjarne Riis' Bunch Searching for Wins, Answers to Slow 2009 Start

For the first part of the 2008 cycling season, Bjarne Riis and his then CSC sponsored team were on top of the world. Fabian Cancellara had taken the overall win at Tirreno-Adriatico, and had also notched wins at the 2nd edition of the Italian semi-classic Monte Paschi Eroica and the first monument of the season, Milan-San Remo. Riding an emotional high into the Tour de France, Riis realized his dream as a director, as Carlos Sastre won the overall title at the Tour de France, cementing Riis as one of the top directors in the sport. 

2009 however hasn't been so kind to the Danish-registered team. After a great start at the Tour of California, where Fabian Cancellara won the opening time trial for the second year in a row and Frank Schleck the final stage, it looked like Riis' team would come out guns a-blazin' once again in the early European classics. Unfortunately though, once the big time races started across the pond in Europe, Riis has seen his squad go south in the results category. Sure, Jens Voigt took the overall title at Criterium International, but against a sub-par field. 

Meanwhile, Cancellara, riding the February Amgen Tour of California prologue with a high fever, dropped out the next day and hasn't been the same since. He experienced a training crash only a few days ahead of the Tirreno-Adriatico start, and was unable to defend his title at the L'Eroica as well. The effects of his illness and injury kept him from Starting San Remo as well, and after some bad luck at this past weekend's Tour of Flanders, there seems to be no one to pick up the slack for the big Swiss machine. Not Frank Schleck, who himself experienced a training crash that knocked back his preparation. Not Matti Breschel, who still remains winless on the 2009 season. Not Andy Schleck, who is clearly lacking experience in some of the bigger races, and not Stuart O'Grady, who crashed bad a few weeks ago and is still recovering.

Even worse for Riis is, thanks to his late season rift between himself and Carlos Sastre, the Spaniard has changed teams, over to the Cervelo TestTeam. Sastre will target the Giro and Tour de France double for his new team, while Riis will have his squad focus on the Tour once again. This time though he'll go with two slightly less proven grand tour commodities in the brothers Schleck, Frank and the younger Andy. Sure, Frank has a win on Alpe d-Huez to his credit and Andy a best young rider jersey and 2nd place overall at the 2007 Giro, but neither has shown that they are capable of contending at the biggest race in the world, the Tour de France.

The achilles heel of the Schleck brothers seems to be their time trialing skills. Neither has shown himself to be particularly fond of the race of truth, yet without the requisite time trialing skills, each of the Schlecks will be reduced to the role of mountain goats able to win stages in grand tours, but not the overall. Riis, himself a master of the time trial discipline during his career, will certainly be able to help his Luxembourgian charges improve in the race against the clock, but does he have enough time before July to get his two hopes Tour ready?

With the lack of early season wins, Riis and the rest of the Saxo Bank team will be feeling enormous pressure to deliver during both the hilly classics and the smaller stage races that lead up to the Tour. If they are unable to break through in the three hilly classics or the Dauphine or Tour de Swiss, they may find themselves in a very tough situation in July. The pressure at the Tour de France is crushing even under the best circumstances, but without any wins to lend confidence to the team, Saxo could implode under the glare of the world media in France.

Luckily for Riis, there is still time left and no reason yet to panic. Providing they stick with their "team first" mantra, they are bound to break through sooner or later. But as the big races come and go without a Saxo win, the expectations raise higher and the pressure goes greater. Following his greatest season as a director, Riis may find himself suffering through one of his worst in 2009. 

Upcoming: Vuelta Pais Vasco, April 6-11

The Vuelta Pais Vasco, a six day stage race alternative to the cobbled-Flandrian classics, begins on Monday with a 142 kilometer test featuring eight categorized climbs. A good tune up race for the upcoming Giro d'Italia, Pais Vasco provides some of the Giro favorites with an opportunity to test their form against some of the other three week stage race protagonists.

Not only will some of the Giro contenders be on hand at Pais Vasco, but so will some aspiring 2009 Tour de France stars. The biggest grand tour stage racing names taking the start line are Alberto Contador, Carlos Sastre, Frank and Andy Schleck, Kim Kirchin, Antonio Colom, Roman Kreuziger, Damiano Cunego, Robert Gesink, Vincenzo Nibali, Cadel Evans, and Linus Gerdemann.

In addition to the grand tour contender though are a slew of other top riders, among them Sammy Sanchez, Chris Horner, Fabian Wegmann, Thomas Dekker, David Moncoutie, Dave Zabrikie, Thomas Lovkvist, Rinaldo Nocentini, Luis Leon Sanchez, and Chris Horner.

With such an excellent line up of riders, Pais Vasco prepares us for the upcoming hilly classics as well. With Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallonne, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege only a couple of weeks away, many of the riders at Pais Vasco will hope to continue to build their form while at the same time racing for wins in the six day race.

While the cobbled-classics take up many of the headlines over the next several days, Pais Vasco should not be forgotten as a great indicator of how good the best climbers in cycling are riding. With so many hills, bad form will be obvious quickly. On the other hand though, if a rider is missing just that little extra bit of speed uphill, the Pais Vasco race could be the perfect fitness prescription for classics glory in a couple of weeks time.

Lost Boys: The Forgotten Favorites of the 2009 Tour of Flanders

As the hype for the second monument of the cycling season the Ronde van Vlaanderen approaches, the cycling world is abuzz as talk turns to the favorites for the race. And while names like Pozzato, Boonen, Haussler, and Devolder are the big favorites for the race, there are also other riders rolling well into the hilly Flemish cobbled-classic, riders that deserve to be counted among the top favorites for the Flanders crown.

Leading the bunch, seemingly always in the underdog roll, is America's Big George Hincapie. At 35, Hincapie is at the top of his game, even more so than in 2005 when he finished 2nd to a clearly stronger Tom Boonen at Roubaix, or a year later in 2006 when he was third at Flanders and then crashed out of Paris-Roubaix after his steering column snapped on the tough cobbled paths of the "Hell of the North." For 2009, he arrives at Flanders not only as High Road's outright leader, but in as good of shape as he has been in any year previous. The time is now for Hincapie, and with such great fitness all he needs is a bit of luck. Lord knows he's due.

Behind Hincapie lurks another force on two wheels, early season surprise Thor Hushovd. The Norwegian took the semi-classic Het Niewsblad (really Het Volk though) a few weeks back, and has stated publicly that both Flanders and Roubaix are top of mind on his list of goals for 2009. While Flanders may be a bit too hilly for Thor, it should not be forgotten that he is a very powerful rider capable of, when on form, riding with the best in the world on tough climbs. He may bow to teammate Haussler, but a solo long distance foray time trial style isn't out of the question either.

Saxo Bank has Fabian Cancellara of course, but Karsten Kroon is an excellent rider in his own right. He is probably better suited to races like the Amstel Gold or Liege-Bastogne-Liege, but that doesn't mean he can't mix it up at Flanders as well. He showed great legs at last week's Brabantse Pijl race, so if he can stay with the protagonists down the stretch he should be in with a shot at the title.

Perhaps the most overlooked team coming to Flanders are the much maligned and downtrodden Silence-lotto team. With exception to Cadel Evans managing a win at the Coppi y Bartali race, the Sillence-Lotto team is winless in 2009. Even worse though, their team leaders Leif Hoste, Philippe Gilbert, and Greg Van Avaermet have looked downright out of sorts at times this spring as they try to find chemistry as a unit. Yet despite their problems thus far, these three talented riders won't be held down forever. Hoste has been 2nd on two different occasions at Flanders, and his mind will count as much as his legs as he doggedly pursues victory at Flanders. Van Avaermet, though younger than Hoste, is still feeling pressure to perform, and he'll be a huge source of support for Hoste. Gilbert meanwhile, clearly not riding the best he has in his career, will try to keep Hoste protected as long as possible. Don't count Belgium's second best team out just yet.

One final rider to watch is another perennial contender, Rabobank's Juan Antonio Fleche. The undisputed best active cobbles-style rider among Spanish cyclists, Flecha has tried repeatedly to take with Flanders or Roubaix over his nine seasons as a pro, but at only 31 years old, he may be arriving at the best period in his career. An impressive 3rd last year at Flanders, Flecha will definitely factor into the decision on Sunday. Whether he can attain the top step of the podium may well depend on how good a ride the rest of his team does in support of him.

There are many other riders riding on Sunday who should be considered for Flanders, but the athletes above truly deserve to be mentioned along side Boonen and the rest of the big favorites. Now, all that's left is the riding . . . and the results.

Can Mark Cavendish Win Paris-Roubaix? Columbia Sprint King Branching Out to Cobbled-Classics

And . . . . . . . . . we're back! Sorry to anyone who took our April fools joke seriously, it was done innocently to poke a bit of fun at another well-known and respected blogger who has quit the game, at least for the time being (please come back CFA!). So any way, back to cycling . . . . . . . . .

A few weeks ago, I would never think to write a headline like the one above. But following Cavendish's amazing victory at Milan-San Remo, it seems that just about anything is possible for the world's fastest man. At MSR, pundits (including this one) doubted Cavendish's ability to keep pace on the climbs, as well as his lack of experience in classics-style racing. But after staying comfortably with the lead group on the Poggio climb, Cavensdish came from nowhere to nip Heinrich Haussler at the line for his first monument victory in Italy just two weeks ago.

Cavendish is planning on contesting the Parix-Roubaix race, and judging by his recent win at the Three Days of De Panne, the Manxman is looking like a legitimate contender for the "Hell of the North." The Roubaix course doesn't have any climbing, only long stretches of bone-jarring cobbles. If Cavendish can follow wheels until the end of the race and end up in a small group heading into the Roubaix Velodrome, he could use both his track skills and his sprinting prowess to upend the favorites, including Tom Boonen. Whether Cavendish will have the strength to resist the raw power of Boonen's Quick Step team though is still up for discussion.

Another potential roadblock to Cavendish being able to vie for top honors this year at Roubaix is his veteran teammate, George Hincapie. At 35, time is running out for the Greenville, South Carolina native to take the win at Roubaix. Still, if Hincapie can win the hillier Tour of Flanders this Sunday, he would perhaps be more comfortable working on behalf of Cavendish a week later at Roubaix.

With his astounding progression year over year, Mark Cavendish looks to have a diverse and dynamic cycling future ahead of him. With one MSR under his belt already, Cavendish, at only 23 years old, is setting himself up to create a lasting legacy for generations to follow. Between his raw talent and the swashbuckling attitude he brings to each race he contests, Cavendish could well end up being mentioned as one of the greatest cyclists of all time by the time his career ends.

Calling It Quits: EP Done Due to Lack of Interest, Editorial Drive

Well, to all the naysayers out there, you were right. Back on January 24th of 2008, EuroPeloton launched with the hope of being able to bring an alternative perspective to the sport of cycling. Not only that, but to become a familiar place for cycling fans to go to hear new and differing perspectives on the sport of cycling. But it was not meant to be.

Unfortunately, more than 400 posts later we at EP have realized that the desire to continue contributing to the site has vanished. From doping scandals in the sport to general lack of readership, EP sees no reason to continue posting articles. Instead, we have decided to follow other sports known for being decidedly cleaner than cycling.

It has been a good ride, but the time has clearly come to hang it up.  Sure, there were some decent interviews, some funny pieces and even some controversial conversations, but at the end of the day EP was unable to spark enough interest in cycling fans to find a reason to continue. With thanks to all of those that did support us over our brief foray into the sport, EP thanks you from the bottom of our heart. Adios, and good night.