Pro is Go: Stars & Stripes Jersey Battle Ahead for 2009 Greenville Hospital System Time Trial and Road Cycling Championships

Top notch cycling returns to the Greenville area this coming weekend with the Greenville Hospital System US Pro time trial and road cycling championships. Last year's time trial champion David Zabriskie is once again on hand to try to take his fourth straight national time trial championship, while he and the rest of his Garmin teammates will hope to take home the Stars & Stripes in the road race as well on Sunday after coming up about a millimeter short in last year's race.

For the time trial, all eyes will be on Zabriskie, as the Utah native looks for an astounding 4th straight time trial championship. The quirky Zabriskie has never been beaten on the Greenvile time trial course, and he'll hope for a top result once again on Saturday. His biggest competition will surely be Tom Zirbel of the Bissell squad. Zirbel was a scant 5 seconds slower than Zabriskie in 2008, and he has had the US Pro time trial championship circled on his calendar since his close second placing last year. Zirbel's teammate Brent Bookwalter could also be a dark horse contender for time trial gold, as could Kelly Benefit Strategy rider Scott Zwizanski.

On the road, the Garmin team will once again be heavy favorites, and will be looked to to dictate the tempo of the race. From Danny Pate to Timmy Duggan to Thomas Peterson, the American juggernaut will have multiple matches to burn out on the roads of Greenville. Rising support will be Steven Cozza, Will Frichkorn and others, giving Jonathan Vaughters' team maximum chance at victory in the tough one day race. Last year it was Tyler Hamilton who spoiled the Garmin party, but with the American veteran retired (and suspended), other challengers will be present to take on the Garmin contingent.

Notable names to watch include the Jacques-Maynes brothers of Bissell, as well as their teammate Burke Swindlehurst. BMC has a strong team present as well, with their contingent of Jeff Louder, Antonio Cruz and Brent Bookwalter, along with several others who will lend support. Kelly Benefit Strategies too have a good amount of riders coming to race, and they'll support Andy Bajadali and Neil Shirley for the top step of the podium. Finally, the OUCH team will have a strong line up, headlined by Chris Baldwin, Tim Johnson, and Bradley White. Expect the Bay Area team to fire all their guns in pursuit of the Stars & Stripes jersey.

Ove the next two days fans in the Greenville area will enjoy top-flight racing American style. Since the even came to Greenville four years ago, the event has been closed to International competition. The lack of International riders creates a distinct tactical dynamic, as the all-American field have only each other to mark in the search for the finish line. In what should be an amazing race, the Garmin team will have the bulls eye on their back as they try to do what they couldn't in 2007 or 2008: take the Stars & Stripes jersey in both disciplines.

5 Lesser-Known Cyclists to Watch at the 2009 Vuelta a Espana

Most cycling fans are aware of the top favorites for the overall title at the upcoming Vuelta a Espana. Names like Valverde, Basso, Sanchez and Evans are top of mind in the hunt for the golden race leader's jersey. But there are other riders heading to Spain that could end up toward thew top of the classification that few are talking about. EuroPeloton's five to watch for the Vuelta a Espana.

Haimer Zubeldia, Astana

Haimer Zubeldia had a solid Tour de France in support of team leader's Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong, and he has finished in the top ten overall in grand tours before. He is part of an Astana team without a clear leader, and if his form has held since July he'll be in with a very legit chance at a top ten placing. A strong time trialist, great climber and veteran stage racer, Zubeldia could end up the unquestioned leader of the Astana squad if returning doper Alexander Vinokorouv has a bad first week, which is likely.

Juan Jose Cobo, Fuji-Servetto

Juan Jose Cobo had a decent Vuelta in 2008, and he'll head into the Vuelta as one of the better all-arounders in the race. He took top honors this year during stage four of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, and he is a former overall winner of the tough Vuelta Pais Vasco stage race. Cobo will be on home turf looking for a late season result, and a top ten, providing he can limit his losses in the time trials, is well within reach for the 28 year old.

Dan Martin, Garmin-Slipstream

Dan Martin is still very young and has much to learn as a stage race rider, but his raw talent still has people mentioning him as a dark horse contender for the Vuelta. He will have a strong team to support him and the motivation to succeed after being left off the Tour de France roster at the last minute this past July. Martin is a huge climbing talent and a serviceable time trialist, and he'll be at the Vuelta with very little pressure. A top ten would confirm his talent as a future star of stage racing.

Kim Kirchen, Columbia-HTC

Kim Kirchen seems to always be among the best stage racers at every grand tour he enters, but he has yet to put it all together and find big time success in a three week stage race. However, the Vuelta may give him a chance to show his potential for the Columbia-HTC squad. Kirchen had a tough early season and came into the Tour de France at less than optimal condition. Now fully recovered from his early season injuries, Kirchen will look to limit his losses on the toughest mountain stages while hoping to take time from his rivals in the time trials. If he finds himself on good terms in the high mountains, he could come away from the Vuelta with his first ever podium finish in the general classification.

Jakob Fuglsang, Saxo-Bank

Jakob Fugulsang, at only 24 years old may be a few years from elite stage racing status, but in his first grand tour attempt he should be considered as a possible top ten finisher. He'll be riding with a power house Saxo team that will probably choose to ride in his support as many of the bigger Saxo stars prep for the upcoming world championships. Fuglsang is a capable climber and great time trialist, and he'll be motivated to show team boss Bjarne Riis that he belongs on future Saxo stage race teams. Expect a good overall ride from the Dane, with a chance at a stage win or more.

While some of the biggest names in the sport of cycling head to the Vuelta with giant bulls eye's on their back, the above riders will be able to fly in under the radar in the chase for the overall title. Each of the above has both the mental and physical skills to contend in this year's Vuelta, now all that is left is to put it all together.

The Fall of Floyd: Landis Comes Back to Pro Cycling with Few Results in 2009

Floyd Landis has been put through the ringer over the past few years. Not only did he have to deal with a very public and drawn out trial for doping at the 2006 Tour de France, which he lost, but he also had to deal with a hip replacement and lengthy rehab process. Making his return to professional racing with the OUCH team at this past year's Tour of California, Landis was listed as one of the favorites of the nine day event.

Landis went on to finish 23rd overall in the American stage race after experiencing various mechanical and physical issues. And as the season has dragged on, Landis has had little to show in the way of individual results throughout the year. In his most recent race at the Tour of Utah this past week, Landis managed only 24th overall, more than 15 minutes behind the winner of the race, Francesco Mancebo.

That Landis is even back as a professional is remarkable, especially considering his hip replacement. But the time has come to stop mentioning him as a favorite for any race until he demonstrates that he is back to the top level of the sport, if only domestically. Now that he has a year under his belt it wouldn't be a surprise to see Landis begin to perform better at select races in the future. In fact, after participating in the grueling Tour of Utah, perhaps Landis will be able to net a top 20 at this week's upcoming US Pro Championships in Greenville, South Carolina.

Because he isn't getting the same results that he did before his suspension, Landis is now having to endure writers asserting that he must have doped back in 2006 when he won the Tour. It is true that his results aren't even close to those he garnered in his first go around as a pro, and it is looking more and more like he was doped at the Tour in 2006, but it is too early to judge him on his current performance. Give him another few months and if at the end of 2010 he is still an also-ran, then will be the time to label him a cheat and a liar once and for all. It should also be noted that Landis won't give up easy. He'll be as determined as ever to show that he can still ride with the best. Until that happens though he'll have to put up with whispers about his checkered past as a liar and a drug cheat.

Culture Shock: Juan Jose Haedo Finding Life at the Cycling's Top Level Tough

Juan Jose Haedo burst onto the cycling scene back in 2006 at the first ever Amgen Tour of California. Riding for the now extinct Toyota-United team, Haedo upstaged some big names at that 2006 Tour, taking two stages in the event. 2007 saw Haedo sign with Bjarne Riis' powerhouse CSC squad, and the Argentinian's path to International glory seemed paved. Another successful Tour of California in 2007, this time with two stage wins and the overall points jersey, had Haedo poised for his first foray into Europe brimming with confidence.

But as Haedo has gradually assimilated to life in the European peloton over the past three seasons, he has not found success nearly as easy to come by as he has in America. As the Tour of California gained status within the sport, the field increased drastically in quality. Haedo came into the 2008 edition of the race as one of the big favorites for stage wins and the points jersey, but he was only able to take one stage. He finished well behind in the battle for the points jersey. In 2009 it was even worse, as he couldn't net even one stage win.

In Europe, Haedo had a few modest results, with victories in the Rund um Koln (his biggest International win to date) and one stage in the Deutschland Tour in 2007, and the Clasica de Almeria and one stage in the Vuelta a Murcia in 2008, but for the most part he has found himself well behind the top sprinters at the biggest races. For 2009 meanwhile, besides a win at the relatively small GP Cholet, the Saxo Bank sprinter has had no other significant results to point to thus far in the season.

Haedo is on one of the world's most successful teams, one who expects its riders to win and win often. As his victory tally has decreased year over year, the time may be coming that Haedo will be let go from his Saxo bank team. Sometimes a change of environment is just what a rider needs to re-invigorate their career, and Haedo may find switching to a different team has the desired effect over the next few seasons. No one has ever questioned Haedo's ability to win at the highest level of the sport, but likewise few expected that it would be this difficult on him. At only 28 years old he still has many productive years left, but for now he is a second tier sprinter racing for a first tier team.

Tour of Missouri 2009 Shaping Up as More Big Names Confirmed

The 2009 Tour of Missouri promises to be an exciting one, and many of cycling's top names have thrown their hats into the ring as participants in the seven day event. In addition to a strong American contingent led by 2008 defending champion Christian Vande Velde and his potent Garmin-Slipstream team, there are also a handful of elite Europeans confirmed as well.

In addition to the regular American suspects (Hincapie, Leipheimer, Zabriskie, King, etc.), several prestigious Euros will also be making the trip to America to contest the event. From the Cervelo TestTeam Thor Hushovd and Heinrich Haussler have confirmed that they'll take to the start line, as well as Columbia's super sprinter Mark Cavendish and the Liquigas duo of sprinter Francesco Chicci and 2009 Tour de France polka dot jersey winner and 3rd place overall in the 2009 Giro d'Italia Franco Pellizotti.

That such big time European stars are coming to the mid western stage race shows the sway the event holds in the world of cycling. Each year the event has gained in prestige, and 2009 sees some of the brightest stars in cycling ready to battle for top honors in the American stage race. Interestingly, this year's edition features some tough climbing, which should make the gC battle more interesting. If Vande Velde is to win the event again, he'll have to do so by not only time trialing well, but also by climbing with some of the best riders in cycling.

All of the praise being heaped into the laps of the Tour of Missouri is largely due to the impeccable work of Medalist Sports, the organizers of the race. Medalist also handles operations for the Amgen Tour of California, and the company has become known as an industry leader in the sport of cycling, known for putting on first class events that always seem to go off without a hitch. Word has gotten around in the cycling world that both the Amgen Tour of California and the Tour of Missouri are smoothly run events, and so many of the world's top pros want to try their hands on American roads.

More big names are sure to be announced in the coming weeks, and as it has over the past two years, the Tour of Missouri should once again exceed attendance numbers from the previous year. American cycling fans nationwide will be grateful for races like Missouri that allow them to get up close and personal with some of the best cyclists in the world.

Who's Fooling Who? Pre-September Cycling Transfer Season Means Wild Rumors and Media Stone Walling

Every year just after the Tour de France, wild speculation begins about which riders will leave their current teams and head elsewhere. Although no official new signings are allowed to be discussed until September, still there are always persistent rumors circulating about select riders. 2009 has been particularly rife with these rumors with the newly formed Sky and Radioshack teams joining the highest level of the sport.

If there is one rule about the pre-September transfer rumors, it is don't believe anything you hear. A rider or coach or even journalist may claim that what they say is the law, but many times the opposite is the case. This year, several riders have made emphatic claims that they are staying put with their current teams, but until September comes it is better to act as if they have said nothing. Andy Schleck for one has publicly stated that he is not leaving Saxo Bank, but a lot can change between now and September. 

Others too have worked to keep their 2010 destinations a secret, Levi Leipheimer (to no avail), George Hincapie, and Taylor Phinney among them. Interestingly, many riders who are rumored to join Lance Armstrong's Radioshack team are the very riders doing all they can to dispel the notion about their intentions for 2010. Yet seeing Hincapie, Leipheimer and Phinney in a Radioshack kit in 2010 should surprise few.

Going back to Andy Schleck, who can say, including him, that he won't leave Saxo bank? What if he is offered a multimillion dollar deal to leave? What if his suitors pay Bjarne Riis an exorbitant sum of money to let his young charge fly the coup? What if brother Frank is afforded and equally large contract to his brother? All of the above could happen, and until September comes it is better to assume anything can happen. Until then, speculation will run rampant, and rumors will fly.

After Tumultuous Pre-Tour de France, Tom Boonen Struggling to Regain Top Form

Tom Boonen had a great early season, taking his third Paris-Roubaix title as well as Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Then, he once again tested positive for cocaine at the end of April, and was subsequently suspended by his Quick Step team. Over the coming weeks the Belgian battled to continue racing, and after a lengthy period he was cleared by the CAS to race his bike in the Tour de France.

The lead up for Boonen to the Tour, while obviously a bit stressful, nevertheless seemed to be going OK. He won the Belgian championship for the first time ever, and headed into the Tour as the undisputed team leader of Quick Step. It was obvious once the race started though that something just wasn;t right with the Belgian super star. The best result he was ableto manage was 16th, before he eventually dropped out of the race ahead of the 15th stage.

Since he dropped out of the Tour, Boonen has been nowhere to be found until today at the Eneco Tour where he placed third in the opening prologue of the event. Boonen was a stage winner in the 2008 version of the event, and hopefully he'll be able to get back to his winning ways in the coming days. Already having been upstaged by Mark Cavendish and others at the Tour, Boonen needs to notch some wins toward the end of this season to boost his confidence heading into 2010.

With all of the controversy surrounding him thus far in 2009, Boonen has done well to continue to try to compete against the best in the world. His personal problems, aired in public, must be on his mind, and the pressure he must be feeling to win is likely overwhelming at times. Like in any sport, the attitude among sponsors and fans is one of "what have you done for me lately?" Boonen must try to stay focused without pressing or overextending himself. After all, he has one monument to his credit in 2009 and a national jersey on his back to boot. Even is he doesn't win again in 2009, his season will still be deemed a success.

Big Time: Garmin's Top Gun Tyler Farrar Ascends to Elite Sprinter Status With Vattenfall Cyclassic Win

Tyler Farrar had a few high-profile wins already in 2009, but his win this past weekend at the prestigious Vattenfall Cyclassic was by far his biggest career victory to date. Behind solid team support and a blistering finishing kick, Farrar won the German Pro Tour race ahead of several elite sprinters, including Allan Davis, Daniele Bennati, Matti Breschel, and Gerald Ciolek.

Now that he has finally broken through at a big time race, expect great things in the future out of America's best sprinter. Farrar has worked long and hard, taking no shortcuts on the road to cycling stardom, and his perseverance is beginning to pay off. He was close to winning stages at this past year's Tour de France, coming second to Mark Cavendish twice, but he never got discouraged. And even though Cavendish will continue to dominate the world of sprinting for the foreseeable future, Farrar is getting stronger with each race he enters, and looking more and more like Cavendish's number one competitor.

Tyler Farrar is excelling in an area of cycling that few Americans have been able to in the past. While America puts out a good handful of elite stage racers and time trialers, there have been few sprinters who have been successful in Europe for the Stars & Stripes the past 20 years. Farrar is changing all that though, and at only 25 he should be a force on the sprinting scene for years to come.

Some sprinters are known for being a bit tentative unless the conditions are ideal, but not Farrar. In fact, in addition to being a strong pure sprinter, he also possesses the skill set to excel in the hardman's classics like Paris-Roubaix, Gent-Wevelgem, and the Tour of Flanders. He still probably needs another season or two before he can seriously hope to win one of the tough spring classics, but one day he will at a minimum notch a podium finish in one of the Belgian cobbled-classics over the next three to five years . For the remainder of 2009, he'll be able to count on the support of the Garmin team, and the newly signed Robbi Hunter will prove an invaluable asset as the Garmin team looks to thwart Columbia-HTC next season. For now though Farrar will celebrate a wildly successful 2009 as he looks forward to an even better 2010.

Alberto Contador to Caisse d’Epargne: The Logical Destination

Alberto Contador is still without a contract for the next few seasons, but not because he doesn’t have options. Multiple teams have been linked in one way or another to Contador, including in no particular order: Quick Step, Garmin-Slipstream, Katuysha, Astana, and more. But no team seems to make better sense for Contador to ride for in 2010 and beyond than the Caisse d'Epargne team.

Currently being led by Alejandro Valverde (but perhaps not for long), Caisse d’Epargne seems the perfect fit for Contador. Although a French-sponsored team, Caisse is composed largely of Spanish riders. And not just pack fill, but some of the better Spanish pros in cycling today. Besides Valverde, the black and red team also boasts Luis Leon Sanchez, Ivan Gutierrez, Oscar Pereiro, and Joaquin Rodriguez. Adding Contador to the mix would transform the grand tour outlier into one of the most fearsome stage racing teams in the cycling game.

Contador has already ruled out re-signing with the Astana team after his tumultuous 2009 season as part of the Lance Armstrong comeback, and Katuysha, with it’s shady doping environment would seem a terrible fit for the Spaniard. Garmin would be a nice fit for him, but residing on a predominantly Spanish team at Caisse d’Epargne would make it easier for him to enjoy his day to day life without the complications of speaking different languages and adapting to different social norms. If Contador truly wants to do what is best for his future, he’ll find a way onto the Caisse d’Epargne team for the foreseeable future.

No Armstrong at Tour of Missouri Means Event, Sport, Fans Lose Out

Tour of Missouri organizers officially announced that Lance Armstrong will not be riding the upcoming Tour of Missouri. After having been rescued from the brink of extinction just a few weeks ago, the ToM would have benefited greatly from Armstrong's presence. Armstrong will instead be in Canada for an appearance for his LIVESTRONG Foundation, leaving him unable to be at the start line come race time in Missouri.

Lance Armstrong has become, in addition to a top-level athlete and world wide cancer fighting advocate, a commodity. The value he brings to any event that he attends is palpable, and the lack of his presence at the Tour of Missouri will likely see the crowds shrink by half. While he should not be criticized for not attending the race, it should still be noted how empty the event will be without him there.

In fairness, Lance Armstrong has had a very long season. He rode several classics, two grand tours and several races in America, so it is understandable that he is choosing to end his season early as he reloads for next year. Still though, he is planning on riding at the Leadville 100 this weekend, and the Tour of Ireland after that. Would it be THAT much to ask that he roll in the peloton for a few more days in Missouri?

Now that he has decided to skip the Tour of Missouri, it is likely that he'll forgo the chance to try for another US Pro title at the end of the month. His ardent and unswervingly supportive American fans will have to wait until 2010 to see Armstrong racing his road bike in what will likely be his final season as a pro. A lot could change between now and Mizzou though, and perhaps Armstrong will experience a change of heart between now and then. After all, how many more chances will the greatest bike rider in America's history have to race on home roads against the best in the world?

Columbia-HTC Loses Top Talent Boasson Hagen, More to Follow?

The Columbia-HTC team has been the most dominant of 2009, and have won races throughout the season with multiple team members. Mark Cavendish has been by far the winningest rider among the Columbia elite, but others on the team have also contributed significant wins throughout the year. 22 year old Edvald Boasson Hagen, the tough all-arounder from Norway impressed at the Gent-Wevelgem classic, while Andre "Gorrilla" Greipel has been prolific in his own right, despite being second fiddle to Cavendish all year.

Other young stars within Columbia-HTC have also impressed, including Monte Paschi Eroica winner and Maglia Rosa wearer Thomas Lovkvist and Tour de Swiss stage winner Tony Martin. Lovkvist and Martin, 25 and 24 years old respectively, aren't event in their prime yet both are among the elite cyclists in the world. Finally, veterans such as George Hincapie and Kim Kirchin are seemingly always near the front of the peloton, even if each have been less than lucky thus far in 2009.

With all of Columbia's success in 2009, a price must be paid. As riders improve and begin to break through with individual results, they hunger for more individual results . . . success begets success. And so the exodus has began at Columbia. First Boasson Hagen has allowed that he will leave Columbia at the end of 2009, and there are rampant rumors that George Hincapie and others are set to follow. 2009 won't be that different from 2008, when several valuable and talented riders left Columbia (Ciolek, Gerdemann), but this time around it seems as if several of the emotional leaders of the Columbia team are poised to jump ship.

Columbia-HTC team boss Bob Stapleton is no dope, and he won't sit by idly and watch his team dissolve. As riders leave they'll surely be replaced, and Stapleton will focus on holding onto those riders who deliver the biggest results year over year. If the California entrepreneur can manage to hold onto Cavendish, Greipel, Kirchin, and the top lead out domestiques (Henderson, Eisel, Barry, Renshaw), then the Columbia dynasty should be able to compete among the best teams for years to come.

USA Earns Right to Bring Nine Riders to World Championships, But Will USA Cycling Select the Right Ones?

Based on strong individual performances by several of America's top cyclists, the USA will be able to start the world championship road race in Mendrisio, Switzerland this fall with the full allowable contingent of nine riders. Unlike in previous years where they are allotted only six athletes, the USA will have as many riders as the other top countries in the race.

Each year, the selection process for the world championships seems dubious at best. While many of the higher profile, top pros are left off the list or choose to decline the invite, other countries consistently send their best one day specialists to the race for the Rainbow Jersey. Now that they have been allotted nine riders, hopefully team USA will come to the start line in Mendrisio with a team possible not only of competing, but winning the most coveted one day title in the world.

One of the major drawbacks about the world championships is that they are at the very end of the cycling season. Many riders are extremely tired at that point in the year, so instead of choosing to ride in the event they stay home, starting their winter vacation early. Hopefully this year though that won't be the case for the USA.

American cycling has come a long way since Lance Armstrong's improbable world's win in 1993, and the team that they could bring to the line in 2009 would rival any other country's talent. So who would be the best possible combo of riders for the world's course this year?

Lance Armstrong would be a good choice to lead the team. He is still a good climber and the Mendrisio course would seem to suit him well. Ditto Christian Vande Velde and Levi Leipheimer. Though not as adept one day riders as Armstrong, Vande Velde still would be in with a shot on the tough Switzerland course, as would Leipheimer, and both riders would make sense as co-leaders of the team along with Armstrong.

For support, surely George Hincapie would be one of the lynch pins, as would Chris Horner. The two veterans possess the tactical savvy to mark dangerous attacks, and each would also be capable of sneaking into the right break if the situation arose. After that it would be all Garmin, as stalwarts Danny Pate, David Zabriskie, Thomas Peterson, and Tom Danielson would be valuable domestiques to add to the world's squad. Pate is a proven climber and a long time veteran who is coming into his own in Europe, while Zabriskie possesses the combo of servicable climbing skills and amazing time trialing. Tom Danielson is an excellent climber with a willingness to work for a teammate, and Peterson proved his worth back in February when he was the only rider capable of following Levi Leipheimer in the driving rain of stage 2.

Whether USA Cycling will get the selection right in 2009 is still to be determined, but the time is now for ALL top American cyclists to begin thinking about Mendrisio. America needs another world champion, and in order to get it done the very best pros must be on the start line. If the names above find their way onto the roster for Mendrisio, America will be in with it's best chance at victory in over ten years.

Saxo Bank's Young Hope Jakob Fuglsang to Make Vuelta Impression?

Jakob Fuglsang, the mountain biker turned road pro of team Saxo Bank, has had a relatively quiet 2009 in his first season with the Danish Pro Tour outfit. He was left off of both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France teams earlier this season, but perhaps the 24 year old will get his first crack at a grand tour at the upcoming Vuelta a Espana. Already Fuglsang is being looked at as a team leader for select races, including the upcoming Tour of Ireland.

After a solid showing at the Tour de France, Saxo Bank will hope to keep the momentum going in the final grand tour of the season. Fuglsang, though young and inexperienced, should still have fresh legs after a light summer workload. Putting him in the Vuelta to learn from some of his teammates could prove invaluable for the youngster, in particular the presence of another young, yet far more experienced rider, Andy Schleck.

Fuglsang has had a good 2009 thus far, and getting a three week stage race in his legs ahead of the 2010 season would seem a prudent option for him at this point in his career. He took top ten honors at the Dauphine Libere race this past year, including an impressive 5th place on the dreaded stage to Mont Ventoux. He appears ready for a tough three week test, and the Vuelta would provide him a chance to try for his first grand tour stage victory.

Although he is among many top riders on the stacked Saxo team, Fuglsang still is afforded opportunities throughout the season to go for his own individual results. His wins at the recent Tours of Slovenia and Denmark, Fuglsang was able to take important wins for his Saxo team, and being among such excellent talent can only help him progress as an individual. Add team director Bjarne Riis to the mix and Fuglsang has all of the necessary support to become one of the best riders of the new generation.

Is Anyone Guilty of Doping? Di Luca, Astarloza, More Deny, Deny, Deny

It is becoming an exhausting exercise to have to read quote after quote from accused cheaters in cycling about how they are innocent and can't imagine how they possibly tested positive. From Danilo Di Luca t0 Mikel Astarloza to Michael Rasmussen to Tyler Hamilton to Alexander Vinokorouv to Floyd Landis to Stefan Schumacher to Alejandro Valverde to many others, it is obvious that there are few cyclists willing to admit their mistake . . . even in the face of compelling evidence.

Danilo Di Luca is guilty of doping. His A sample was positive. His B sample was positive. Case closed. Yes, it was amazing to watch how hard he worked at the Giro to unseat Denis Menchov from the Maglia Rosa. Yes, it was amazing to see him accelerate time and again in the high mountains as he tried in vain to distance himself from the quiet Russian. But his performance was a sham, aided by a foreign substance. He may as well have had a motor on his bike.

Ditto for all of the above named riders. Many were among our favorites here at Euro Peloton. Over the years, they won our hearts and minds with courageous attacks at opportune times, and each had a distinctive flair for the dramatic. But all were cheats, plain and simple. There were no chimeric twins, no tainted samples, no global witch hunts. No, at then end of the day there were only greedy uncaring individuals out for personal glory and financial gain.

Bernhard Kohl seems to be on everyone's shit list inside the cycling world, but the truth is we could use more like him. Once caught, admit your mistake, come clean, and help clean things up. Unfortunately though, things don't usually turn out that way. Instead we the cycling public are forced to tolerate the crap that spews from these athlete's mouths. Only question now is, who will be next to deny, deny, deny?

Quick Stepper: Allan Davis Deserves to Be Co-Team Leader in 2010

Allan Davis, at 29 years old, is in the prime of his career and has demonstrated over the course of the season that he deserves to be considered as a team sprint leader, whether at his current Quick Step team or at another Pro Tour level squad. Tom Boonen is currently cemented as the top sprinter on the Quick Step team, but thus far in 2009 it has been Davis who has been more consistent, and garnered better results. And while Davis will never compare to Boonen in the early season cobbled-classics, he nevertheless deserves consideration as the season heads into the late spring, summer, and fall months.

Ever since he turned pro back in 2001, Davis has been out shined and underrated due to riding on teams loaded with talent. He was a part of the Mapei juggernaut to begin his career, and also spent time at ONCE and the Discovery Channel team before settling at Quick Step. Davis has always been a consummate professional, and has never complained when asked to work on behalf of a teammate.

It was at this past year's Tour de France though that Davis must have reached his breaking point after he was left off the Quick Step Tour roster in favor of Tom Boonen. Boonen, far more popular than Davis and possessing a better palmares, entered the Tour amid controversy and then dropped out after stage 14. He did so without making a single podium or even a top ten during his time in the race. Davis meanwhile trained in silence in his native Australia as he waited for another chance to compete. Currently riding in the Tour of Poland, he notched a respectable 2nd place on stage three, finishing just behind a flying Jacopo Guarnieri of team Liquigas, one of the promising young sprinters of the sport today.

Davis, no matter how successful he is for the remainder of 2009, will not be able to wrestle team leadership away from Tom Boonen for the 2010 season. However, if Quick Step management was smart, they would give him leadership for select races, especially those races where he has a better chance to win than Boonen, like in Milan-San Remo (where he has twice finished in the top 5) and on some of the pancake-flat stages of the Tour. Boonen then should be reserved for the true hard man's races like the northern classics. Already a team that wins multiple times throughout the year, the Quick Step team could become one of Mark Cavendish's biggest adversaries if the learn to better deploy Davis when the race suits him.

Blast from the Past: Will Lance Armstrong Try to Win the US Professional Road Race Championship 16 Years Later?

Lance Armstrong has defied doubters and debunked disbelievers throughout his comeback to the sport of cycling after nearly four years away from competition. Behind an unorthodox training regimen that included mountain bike racing, small domestic American road races and his first ever participation in the Giro d'Italia, Armstrong rode to an amazing third place overall in this year's Tour de France. Only his teammate Alberto Contador and Saxo Bank's Andy Schleck were better over the course of the three week race in France, and even before the Tour was over Armstrong had began a new team for 2010 with the sole aim of coming first in the 2010 Tour.

Before the 2010 season begins though there are still several races that Armstrong will contest over the coming weeks and months. He'll be in Ireland in a couple of weeks time for the Tour of Ireland, and it has also been suggested that he will ride at the Tour of Missouri in September. There is one other important race though that Armstrong has yet to confirm for: The Greenville Hospital Systems US Pro Championships at the end of August. Bookended between the Tours of Ireland and Missouri, US Pro would seem an ideal race for Armstrong to race in, and perhaps win, as he continues to defy critics and skeptics world wide.

Armstrong already has one US Pro title. Way back in 1993 he won his lone national road title on a brash solo escape on the tough Philadelphia International course, and in the process cemented what would be a lasting legacy as arguably the greatest American professional cyclist ever. Now, 16 years since that historical day in Philadelphia, Armstrong has another golden opportunity to make history again by taking his country's national road title for the second time, more than a decade and a half removed from his first national title win.

The US Pro course is well-suited to Armstrong's capabilities, with a long climb up Paris Mountain multiple times, and he should be on decent form after having rode the Tour of Ireland just a week previous. Meanwhile, many of the favorites like George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer. and Chris Horner are either recovering from injury or racing elsewhere, so the stage would seem to be set for a possible Armstrong victory. The only big obstacle that seems to be standing in Armstrong's way is the Garmin juggernaut that will descend on Greenville once again in search of the Stars & Stripes jersey that eluded them in 2008.

Last year, in what was one of the most exciting races in the history of US cycling, the now disgraced Tyler Hamilton was able to resist the will of several Garmin riders to take his first US Pro title. Armstrong will likely be in a similar situation should he choose to contest the US Pro championship, as Garmin will once again come with a huge contingent to Greenville. Garmin team boss Jonathan Vaughters would love to have both the US Pro time trial champion and road race champion heading into next season, and so he'll expect his riders to work together to accomplish both feats over the August 29-30th weekend. David Zabriskie has been unstoppable at the US Pro time trial championship over the past three years, and with solid roadies like Christian Vande Velde, Danny Pate, and Mike Friedman, Garmin will have several cards to play come race time in Greenville.

Armstrong too though will have decent support, providing luck is on his side. Levi Leipheimer is recovering from a broken wrist suffered at the Tour de France, but the Santa Rosa, California resident has stated that he may still be able to ride US Pro. Then too is the fact that Armstrong is starting his own team for 2010 with Radioshack. He has no doubt been in contact with some of the more promising young American pros in reference to his new team, and so US Pros could turn into an audition of sorts for those riders hopeful of joining Armstrong in 2010.

Lance Armstrong has stated that the number one reason of his comeback is to raise awareness world wide for the fight against cancer. He has succeeded in doing so in Italy, France, and soon Ireland, but none of those ventures would carry the impact that winning a US Professional title 16 years after his first would. The significance of such an occurance would not be lost on the cycling public, but more importantly it would capture the attention of the world wide media as well. Now all there is left to do is wait, and hope, that Armstorng takes to the line in Greenville on August 30.

After the Tour: 2009 Cycling Season on Home Stretch with Many Big Races to Come

After the Tour de France is complete, normalcy resumes in the world of cycling. The fair weather fans who only follow the Tour go back to reading about baseball and football, while the true hard core fans do what they always do: ardently follow the sport of cycling. To the casual viewer, the Tour de France marks the beginning, middle and end of the cycling season, but to the true fan the Tour is just one of many highlights throughout the year.

Starting in early spring with the cobbled classics and early season stage races like Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, and then into the early summer with the Giro d'Italia, Tour de Swiss and Dauphine Libere, the crescendo of the cycling season always comes in July. But once the Tour is over, there are still several big time races worth following as the 2009 season approaches its end.

First up the the Classica San Sebastian, a hilly classic in Spain that is always hotly contested by many of the Tour de France stars of only a week ago. This year was no different, as Quick Step's punchy climber Carlos Barredo notched his biggest win to date, out kicking Liquigas youngster Roman Kreuziger to the line, and in the process taking the most prestigious one day race in Spain. Barredo is not as well known as some of his Spanish country men, but the 28 year old has a nice palmares to speak of, and with his win at San Sebastian he should be able to expect several other big victories as he approaches the prime of his career over the next several seasons.

Up next in the month of August for the Pro Tour elite is the Vattenfall Cylassics on August 16, a one day classic that has existed since 1996. Now a prestigious and popular race with the best riders in the world, Vattenfall will see a top-flight field take to the line to contest the one day German classic. Katusha's Filippo Pozzato will no doubt return with hopes of defending his title, or at least passing it to one of his Russian teammates, perhaps Sergei Ivanov. The up and down hilly profile makes the race tough, but sprinters with decent climbing skills like Oscar Freire or even Mark Cavendish could be in with a chance at victory, providing they can keep a solo escapist from getting away down the stretch.

For stage races there are several during the month, including the Eneco Tour of Benelux, The American Tour of Utah, and the re-invigorated Tour of Ireland. Benelux, although only four editions old is gaining in prestige every year, while the Tour of Utah has established itself as one of the most difficult stage races in America. The Tour of Ireland meanwhile will welcome some of the best riders in the world to the 2009 edition, as last year's triple stage winner Mark Cavendish has confirmed his participation, as has Lance Armstrong, who is continuing his comeback to the sport after almost four years away from the highest level of cycling.

Finally, toward the end of the month the season's final grand tour kicks off, as the Vuelta a Espana commences for the 64th edition of the three week Spanish stage race. Increasingly the Vuelta is used as a prep race for the upcoming world championships in September, this year to be held in Mendrisio, Switzerland, but nevertheless there will be big time stage racing stars aiming for the top step of the podium as well, including Alejandro Valverde, Cadel Evans and several others.

Also in September are a big classic, the 64th Züri Metzgete classic in Switzerland, and another big American stage race, the Tour of Missouri. The Zuri Metzgete is a great indicator of who will contend in the world championships, while the Tour of Missouri offers American cycling fans one last chance to see their heroes before the season closes. At the end of the month the world championships are run, and then it is into October for the final few big races of the year.

October, though late in the season, features a handful of dramatic and prestigious races for the cycling fan to take in, including the 92nd Giro d'Emilia in Italy, and the highly coveted Paris-Tours in France. Last year's winner Philippe Gilbert will hope to win the event again, but he'll face stiff competition from many of cycling's elite, including many of the world's top sprinters. Then, to close out the year, the final monument of the year, the Giro di Lombardia will happen for the 103rd time. Italy's Damiano Cunego has won the race three times, and he as well as many other top one day specialists will hope to close their seasons with one more big win in 2009.