So Young, So Stupid: Thomas Dekker Sees the Light, Comes Clean About Drug Use

Sometimes it is very easy to forget that many of the top cyclists in the world are under 30 years old. And for most of us, we would likely look back on our 20's and remember that we made many judgement mistakes along the way as we learned what it meant to truly be an adult. Thomas Dekker, now all of 25 years old and currently on suspension for a positive dope test, has finally admitted to having taken drugs. The former Rabobank pro claims that it was a one time occurance, and vows to apologize and make good in the future.

While Dekker should be commended for finally stepping forward, he should also be asked point blank by the media and his fan why it took him so long to do the decent thing and be honest right away. Instead, he misled until faced with overwhelming evidence, this time in the form of a positive B test. Forced with insurmountable evidence, Dekker finally stepped forward and admitted his wrong doing.

Thomas Dekker was a highly touted pro years ago when he had just turned 20. A Dutchman riding on a Dutch team, the pressure he must have felt to succeed must have seemed crushing at times, and it is little wonder that he turned to chemical assistance to gain an edge. That he took so long to admit it though is not only disappointing, but inexcusable. Thomas Dkker and riders like him are the reason that cycling has little credibility. Instead of being populated with forthwith individuals willing to act like men and be held accountable, the cycling world seems instead to be filled with shifty eyed liars willing to go to any length to gain an advantage . . . or avoid sanction.

Luckily the system in place is a decent one. Now that Dekker has been caught, he has no chances left to make another mistake. His next positive test will come with a lifetime ban, and so the cycling public seems destined to see the 'real' Thomas Dekker when he returns from his suspension. When he does return, expect similar returns as have come from other past cheaters who have integrated back into the peloton. David Millar has had moderate success in his comeback, but is a shadow of the rider he was while doping. Alexander Vinokourov and Ivan Basso, though still powerful, don't look even close to how they did when they were blood doping. Dekker will likely come back a changed athlete as well, one not as capable of riding at the front nearly as much.

If it takes a long and drawn out process to uncover cheats, than so be it. Hopefully Alejandro Valverde will be the next liar exposed, and sent to pasture for two season's worth of riding. After him, who knows? It is obvious that cheats are still within the professional peloton, but more and more they are being drawn out. The fight continues to rid the sport of cheats and liars, with Dekker the latest shining example of the fact that the system, although painfully slow, sometimes works.

At Last: Cadel Evans Takes World Title, Thwarts Italian and Spanish Juggernauts

Evans needed a big win, and he got the biggest possible one day result in Mendrisio

Cadel Evans, fair or not, has been categorized over his career as a follower, a wheel sucker, and an overly conservative rider unwilling to throw caution to the wind in a bid for victory, preferring instead to let others make a given bike race. But on Sunday, September 27, 2009, in Mendrisio, Switzerland, Evans swept away that sentiment with one mighty attack at the road world championship.

Evans sprung away from a select foursome on the final climb of the day to take a spectacular solo victory, netting not only the rainbow jersey of world champion, but also all the respect and prestige that comes with such a win. Evans made the race this time in spectacular fashion, and in the end his attack held, allowing him to coast across the finish line with thoughts of both his loved ones and his critics swimming in his head. Equally important, his win legitimized his dogged approach to the sport, a steady-as-you-go method that finally paid off big time in Switzerland.

Only two weeks ago, Cadel Evans appeared to be on his last stand at the Vuelta a Espana. Struck down by bad luck once again, Evans had conceded time on the difficult mountain stage 13 of the three week stage race, effectively ruining his chances for overall victory. Evans was dejected and defeated at the end of the stage, seemingly overrun by his misfortune. He soldiered on as he always does, finishing the Vuelta in 3rd place overall, only 1:32 off the winning time of Alejandro Valverde. 1:12 of that lost time came during stage 13 for the Aussie. As usual, Evans was left to wonder what could have been had his luck been just a little bit better.

Now though, with his world championship victory, a whole new world opens up for Cadel Evans. Not only will he be able to lean on a new found confidence from his tough world's win against many of the best one day specialists in the world, but he'll also be able to enjoy the attention of being the only rider in the professional peloton who has the privilege of wearing the rainbow kit of world champ. After a long career being viewed as a runner-up, an also-ran, Cadel will be counted among the top favorites once again in 2010.

That Evans was able to resist the power of the stronger Italian and Spanish teams is amazing, but it also speaks to the talent of the team he had around him in Mendrisio. From veterans like Stuey O'Grady and Allan Davis to new comers like Simon Gerrans, Evan led a sneaky strong Australian team in Mendrisio. Behind cagy tactics and iron-strong legs, Evans delivered in the clutch for his teammates, coaches, and country, and with this his biggest win the rest of his career will never be the same.

Cadel Evans may never manage to win a grand tour. He may never claim top honors in a hilly classic. In fact, his win in Mendrisio may be his final victory as a pro. But going forward, never again will the media be able to claim that he is unwilling to attack. Never again will the media be able to say that Cadel Evans can't handle the pressure. For the Aussie, there really was gold at the end of the rainbow, and the future must seem blindingly bright for the 32 year old Aussie as he heads into the final half of his career. For Evans, his fans, and his loved ones, it's about time.

Mendrisio 2009: World's Celebration

More from Mendrisio at the elite women's and junior men's time trials . . .

Cervelo TestTeam's Martin Reimer.
Reigning road champion of Germany at the tender age of 22.

Where the truth begins to hurt . . . .

Vive la France! Go Jeannie Longo!

European pastures are perfect for riding.

Rubens Bertogliati is a lesser-known Swiss rider taking place in both the TT and road races.

Pretty clear who these guys will be rooting for tomorrow at the elite men's TT.

Cycling World Championships 2009: First Look from Mendrisio

As promised, on the scene pics from Mendrisio at this year's world championship . . . .

Cancellara's TT training bike

Mendrisio is bee-you-ta-full

Cancellara looks relaxed and skinnier than ever.
He wants to pull off the double.

Maniacal fans pose in front of the finish line.
Note the huge mountains in the distance.

Who will stop the clock with the winning time?

Surgery-ized! Euro Peloton Laid Low by Frank Schleckish Knee Operation

A quick note of apology for the lack of posts over the past few weeks. I had been preparing for a "procedure" on my knee (successfully completed yesterday afternoon), and so had to devote maximum time to work and personal time. Bills to be paid, paperwork to be submitted, consultations to be had, and employment tasks to be completed, all ahead of the procedure, sapped quite a bit of my time and energy over the past several weeks.

I hope to put up several posts over the coming days, but recovery is a strange thing . . . one moment you feel excellent and the next you're reduced to a ball of agony desperately in search of some sort of relief, some sort of respite. Add in work duties on a daily basis and rehab, and time is scarce. Not an excuse, but hopefully an explanation for the lack of activity over the past few weeks and into the coming days and weeks.

I am both fortunate and lucky to be able to announce that Euro Peloton's esteemed International Liaison and Special Projects Coordinator will both be headed back to Europe for this year's UCI world championships in Mendrisio, and so we hope to be able to publish some of their choicest pictures from the festivities throughout the week, virtually in real time. Expect up close and personal shots of some of the best cyclists in the world as all of the action unfolds in about a week.

This post feels a bit entitled to me, a bit arrogant, and so I would like to clarify the reason that I decided to write anything at all. At a friend's request, I chose to do this as he had contacted me asking why I have produced so few posts over the last several weeks. Upon hearing the reasons stated above, he then suggested "I know you probably won't agree to do this, but you should alert your readers to the situation at hand in case they are curious." It has been, and will always continue to be, a humbling and almost unbelievable realization that people even take the time to read my writing at all. I am, first and foremost, a fan of the sport, and that others in the world care one iota about my thoughts and opinions continually amazes me. So, in short, thank you everyone who has supported me through the first almost two years of EP, and thank you for your patience over the next few weeks as I get my strength back.

EP

ps---my world's podium as of today (I reserve the right to adjust these choices leading up to the actual race ;-) 1. Cunego 2. Sanchez 3. Gerrans

Wide Open 2009 Cycling World Championship Road Race On Tap for Mendrisio, Switzerland

As was the case in 2008, the 2009 world road championship will be contested on a hilly and challenging parcours, which should result in exciting racing an tense moments between most of the best one day specialists in the world. But it won't only be the one day specialists that will come to Mendrisio, Switzerland in search of the rainbow bands of world champion. A look into some of the names to watch in just under two weeks time.

As was the case in 2008, the Italian team will arrive to the world championship start line with a juggernaut or riders capable of taking a few spots in the top ten. Last year on home soil in Varese, the Italians rode a masterful race, going one two with Alessandro Ballan and Damiano Cunego. This year the course seems perfectly suited to Damiano Cunego, and il piccolo principe made it known early on this year that he was aiming for the top step of the podium in Switzerland this year. Cunego is on his way to finishing a masterful Vuelta a Espana for preparation, and should be a heavy favorite on race day. As usual though, he'll be supported by some serious fire power, and should be falter Ballan, Filippo Pozzato, Ivan Basso and others will be there to pick up the slack.

Just behind Italy is the country of Spain, chock full of big time one day and stage race talent both young and old. Alejandro Valverde, despite being banned in Italy, will likely race the world championships, and after a near perfect Vuelta will surely be in the mix on the tough course in Mendrisio. Also in the ring for another shot at glory is Oscar Freire. Freire has three world championships to his name already, and a fourth would put the icing on an already legendary career. Finally, Sammy Sanchez will be a protected rider, and the reigning Olympic champion will hope to do his best Paolo Bettini impression and take gold at both the Olympics and world championship titles in succession.

Belgium will hope for a good ride out of their sole leader (so his team coaches say), Philippe Gilbert. Gilbert is a feared one day specialist, and has also ridden the Vuelta for preparation. He fell well short last year, and with the added pressure of being the only team leader his rode to victory won't be easy in 2009. But a win at Mendrisio would firmly establish Gilbert as one of the best current one day racers, and a legend in his home country of Belgium alongside Tom Boonen.

France has fallen well short of success at the world's in recent years, but 2009 could see the tide turn for the bike-crazy country. Sylvain Chavanel, always strong on one day courses will be one of the leaders, alongside a resurgent little Thomas Voeckler. Voeckler finally took his first career stage win at the Tour de France this past August, and will be brimming with confidence. On paper though, the course looks much better suited to Chavanel, and particularly to Pierrick Fedrigo, the young climber of the Bbox Bouygues Telecom squad. Fedrigo has had an excellent 2009, and is, at 30 years old, finally beginning to establish his name as one to reckon with on hilly race courses.

The USA, like the powerhouse Italian and Spanish teams, gets to bring nine riders to the start line in Italy, but unlike those powerful cycling nations, many of the biggest American stars choose to forgo their chance for the world title. 2009 has been no different, with many of the biggest names in American cycling (Armstrong, Leipheimer, Vande Velde, Horner) choosing to skip this year's race. Still, the American contingent will be a strong one, with a few riders in with a chance for a top placing. Tom Danielson will lead the squad, but it may end up being one of his domestiques that shows their metal when all is said and done. The Garmin duo of Thomas Peterson and Timmy Duggan, both teammates of Danielson's, are suited to the course in Switerland, as is the veteran Saxo Bank rider Jason McCartney. The USA, despite not having many of the biggest names present, should still be in with a fighting chance on race day.

Finally, Australia will be a nation to watch in Mendrisio, as they too will bring a strong team to the line led by Cadel Evans. Not known as a one day rider, Evans still can climb with the best on a good day, and if he catches lightning in a bottle the Aussie could surprise the world. If not him though, there are others that will hope to shine, including Matt Lloyd or the ever dangerous Simon Gerrans. No one was mentioning Gerrans during the beginning of the year as a rider to watch for the worlds, but the Aussie should notch a top ten or better providing luck is on his side for the difficult test.

There other big names that will be in with a good chance at victory in Mendrisio, to be discussed in our next post. The above teams and names though will shape the race, and the winner likely is one of the names listed above. Tomorrow, riders with a good chance that won't have the team support or don;t fit the mold of typical road world champion.

Alejandro Valverde On Track to Win 2009 Vuelta a Espana Despite Being a Known Doper and Liar

Alejandro Valverde, for the first time in his career, seems poised to win a grand tour. Behind solid rides in the high mountains and a good individual time trial, Valverde has held his adversaries in check and is headed to Madrid as the likely winner of the final stage race of 2009. How he even has a chance to race the event though is another question. A known doper who was found guilty of involvement in Operacion Puerto by the Italian Olympic Committee, Valverde is allowed to continue riding as the Spanish legal system protects the guilty athlete.

Alejandro Valverde has been, for the last several years, one of the best all-around riders in the sport of cycling. Able to win hilly classics and even compete in sprint finishes, Valverde is a dynamic talent capable of taking victory on a variety of terrain. But the fact remains that he was involved in Operacion Puerto. Not only involved, but he stored his own blood and likely injected it back into himself during the 2006 Tour de France and other races. Not only is he guilty of being involved, but he is a shameless liar unwilling to admit what he did, choosing instead to hide behind the gavel of the Spanish legal system and doper-friendly environment.

Italy's CONI committee saw fit to suspend Valverde from competing on Italian soil for the next two years, but his case is still with CAS for a possible world-wide ban. If he is somehow, against all odds, cleared by CAS it would be a travesty of justice. And should he be found guilty? Well, then Valverde will be banned for two years worldwide and will be stripped of his grand tour winner status. That he may be in with a chance to ride in the world championships turns the stomach.

Hopefully Valverde will somehow crack over the next few days so a rightful champion can be anointed at the end of the Vuelta in Madrid on Sunday. If not though, time will catch up to Valverde. It has now been almost four years since Operacion Puerto broke. But the time appears finally to be coming for Alejandro Valverde. Hopefully he'll enjoy his final few days on the bike before being tucked away in obscurity with the multitudes of other Spaniards that have been found guilty of doping over the past ten years. And when he comes back, as he surely will, in two years, it will be interesting to see whether he still has the chops to perform with the world's best.

Team Columbia Mass Exodus Puts Pressure on Cavendish to Carry 2010 Torch Alone

Bob Stapleton's 2009 Columbia-HTC team will go down in history as one of the most dominant teams in recent memory. Behind the best sprinter in the world Mark Cavendish and a lead-out train comprised by some of the best domestiques in the business, Columbia cleaned up in 2009. But it wasn't only Cavendish. Names like Boasson Hagen and Lovqvist were in the headlines throughout the year, and a late season surge from George Hincapie kept Columbia in the news far into the summer.

In looking at the team for 2010 though, it is apparent that Columbia's campaign next season may be significantly more difficult after the American-registered team lost some of its biggest names. Thus far, George Hincapie, Greg Henderson, Marcus Burghardt, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Thomas Lövkvist, Kim Kirchen and Kanstantsin Sivtsov are all gone for next year, leaving a huge gap in Mark Cavendish's previously unbeatable lead-out train.

Hincapie and Henderson will be sorely missed by Cavendish, as the British sprint star depended heavily on each of them to guide him to the line throughout a race. Kirchin, Boasson Hagen and Lovkvist meanwhile provided punch for hilly one day classics, and with all three gone Columbia will be hard pressed to find their equal for 2010. Sivtsov, a strong up and coming stage racing talent, will leave Aussie Mick Rogers alone as the only stage race threat for Columbia. Rogers has yet to accomplish anything significant in a grand tour, and without a co-captain the Aussie could find himself breaking under the pressure next year.

All of these departures from Columbia have led to whispers within the cycling world that perhaps all was not as it seemed at Columbia in 2009. While the team was wildly successful throughout the year, it is hard to say just how good the team chemistry was within Stapleton's team. Or perhaps money was the issue. There are only so many dollars (or euros) to go around each year, and maybe Stapleton was forced to make tough decisions about who he would compensate for 2010. That he allowed Boasson Hagen in particular to get away though seems strange to say the least, as the Norwegian is a clear force for the future.

Columbia-HTC still has many talented riders under contract, but the likelihood of them winning as many races next year as they have this year is slim. The departing riders were directly responsibile for more than ten wins among them, and countless others in staunch support of Mark Cavendish. Replacing those wins while continuing to support Cavendish will be a huge challenge for the team next year. If any team is up to it though, Bob Stapleton's squad is that team.

All Done: Despite Big Talk About Contending, Ivan Basso Looks Done as Stage Race Threat

When Ivan Basso was serving his two year suspension for "attempted" blood doping, the Italian claimed that he would show everyone that his results prior to his suspension were legitimate. He talked about how much he was training and that when he came back he would be as dominant as he once was. His 2009 season though has been anything but dominant, as the former Giro d'Italia winner has been dropped by his competition and out shined by many of his own teammates throughout the year.

Back in May of 2006, Ivan Basso destroyed a quality Giro field with the greatest of ease. Flying up mountains and hammering the individual time trials, Basso won that year free and clear, by more than 8 minutes over his closest competitor. Gilberto Simoni, known as an outspoken athlete, claimed that Basso's exploits in the mountains were "extraterrestrial." Basso, indignant, claimed that only hard training was to blame for his overwhelming success.

Looking back on the situation now though, it seems as though Simoni had a legitimate claim. Once unmatched in the high mountains, Basso now appears downright average among cycling's elite climbers. No longer able to distance his rivals in the mountains, Basso has also lost big time in many of the time trials he has ridden in. Whatever his claims about "attempting" to dope back in 2006, the results seem to speak for themselves. Basso looks today like a good climber, but not a great one. He looks like a man capable of riding a high tempo for a teammate, but he no longer seems appropriate to be recognized as a team leader, particularly on his Liquigas team.

With the emergence of both Roman Kreuziger and Vincenzo Nibali in 2009 and the consistent performance of Franco Pellizotti throughout the season, Basso's time as a leader on the Liquigas team seems to be coming to an end. His results just haven't shown him to be worthy of being a team captain, and so "birillo" may have to start thinking about changing his objectives as a professional. Being a super domestiques to a rider that has a legitimate chance of winning a grand tour may be Basso's best option, especially if he continues to ride for Liquigas in 2010 and beyond.

Ivan Basso has been and remains a likable rider who can climb better than most others in the peloton. But to think that he will again be as dominant as he was in 2006 is unrealistic. Riding on a young and ever improving team and finding himself consistently distanced by other top stage racers may mean that Basso should shift his career objectives for the remainder of his time in the saddle. Who knows, perhaps he could ride with Radioshack in 2010, hoping to regain some of the prestige he has lost by riding in support of Lance Armstrong at the 2010 Tour de France. One thing is for sure: Barring an improbable turn around in this year's Vuelta a Espana, Basso's days as a team leader appear to be coming to a close.

Garmin's Tom Danielson Hanging Tough at 2009 Vuelta a Espana

Tom Danielson seemed on the brink of obscurity only a few months ago. Constant injuries, low confidence and budding talent all around him made it look as though the former phenom was headed for an early exit from the highest level of the sport. But as 2009 has unfolded, Danielson is enjoying a renaissance in his career, which has grown to a crescendo at this year's Vuelta a Espana.

Danielson has long been thought of as an out sized talent capable of great things in the sport of cycling. After success as part of the Discovery Channel team at the Tour of Georgia a few years back, it seemed the stage was set for Danielson to assume the leadership of the team for stage races and begin his reign as the next big American stage racing star. Unfortunately for the Boulder native though, it didn't quite happen that way. Instead, Danielson experienced some tough crashes and significant health challenges, and was eventually let go from the Discovery team.

Insert Jonathan Vaughters and the Garmin-Slipstream franchise. Vaughters saw Danielson's enormous potential talent and decided on taking a chance on the all-arounder. After an up and down 2008 that saw Danielson adjusting to life on his new team, 2009 has seen him progress gradually back into one of the better stage racers America has to offer. Now racing at the Vuelta a Espana, Danielson has ridden very well throughout the first half of the race, and is in good position heading into the final stages of the race to try for a spot on the overall podium. That he is even in position to do so is a testament to Jonathan Vaughter's ability as a coach and mentor.

Danielson still has a lot to prove in Spain and there are many difficult stages ahead, but as long as he doesn't blow apart on a given stage he should be a lock for a top ten. In looking at his progression on the Garmin team, Danielson's experience seems to resemble that of his teammate Christian Vande Velde. Once thought of only as a domestique, Vande Velde is now, despite his poor luck recently with crashes, one of the favorites at any stage race he enters. If Danielson can continue to do what he has been doing, steadily building his confidence, perhaps he'll be mentioned in 2010 as a rider to watch for the GC in the world's biggest stage races.

His Last Best Chance: Cadel Evans Needs Big Result at 2009 Veulta a Espana

On the eve of the first tough mountain stage of the 2009 Vuelta a Espana, Silence-Lotto's Cadel Evans stand about a minute down on the GC and seems in perfect position to make a run at the top step of the overall podium. After an abysmal Tour de France that saw the Aussie finish 30th place and more than 45 minutes behind race winner Alberto Contador, he'll have a golden opportunity to redeem what has so far been a lackluster season at the Vuelta beginning tomorrow.

As was the case at the Tour, Evans will not have many quality teammates to rely on. He will instead, as usual, be forced to follow the wheels of his adversaries until the opportunity presents itself for him to attack. Hopefully he'll have the legs to follow the top favorites when the climbing begins, because if he is dropped once again early and often, serious questions will be raised as to whether his time as an top stage race contender is over.

Evans has never been an aggressive, attacking rider, as he has instead ridden a fast, consistent tempo in hopes of wearing down his opponents. This style has served him well in the past, as he has been able to score podium placings at the Tour de France on two past occasions. But this year was much different for Evans as he was shelled during the first mountain stages and seemed to lapse into an apathetic resignation for the final half of the Tour.

Evans has the talent to ride with the best in the world, but more and more his mental fortitude is being called into question. It seems that as the going gets tough, Evans tends to break down a bit mentally, giving into the stress of being named as a top favorite. Whether from dynamics within his own team, pressure from the press, or stress caused by his rivals, Evans has been seen more than once losing his cool. A top performance in the Vuelta will go a long way to restoring some of his lost confidence, getting him back on track as an elite stage racer.

Jacopo Guarnieri Set to Battle Cavendish, Other Sprint Heavyweights at Upcoming Tour of Missouri

Jacopo Guarnieri may not be a name that you are familiar with right now, but over the remainder of 2009 and into 2010 the young sprinter of the Liquigas team will likely garner your and the rest of the cycling world's attention as a future star of the sport. Only 22 years old, Guarnieri already has a professional win, as he took a stage in the recent Tour of Poland. He did so against two top sprinters in the sport, Andre Greipel and Allan Davis.

Guarnieri will head to the Tour of Missouri with hopes of taking a stage win against the likes of Mark Cavendish and some of the other top sprinters heading to the American stage race. Luckily for the Italian, he won't have any pressure to succeed, as many will be expecting his teammate Francesco Chicchi to be the protected sprinter on the team. Guarnieri will likely be asked to support Chicchi, but if he has the legs the Liquigas strategy could change and the youngster could be thrust into the role of leader for the flatter stages.

Jacopo Guarnieri may need another season or two to ascend to the highest level of the sport, but it is only a matter of time until he is listed alongside some of the biggest sprinters in the sport as a favorite for various races. He is a key part of a young and ever-improving Liquigas team, and barring bad luck or injury he should be the sprint leader of the team no later than 2011. For now though he'll hope to upset some of the established names in the sport at Missouri before ending his season with an eye on a successful 2010.

Hincapie to BMC, Levi to The Shack, Horner Crashes Out Again

Big week for American cycling. George Hincapie, after an amazing USPRO championship victory on home soil, announced that he is headed to the Swiss outfit BMC for 2010. The Greenville native was linked to BMC for the past several weeks, and for 2010 he'll be joined by a strong supporting cast, including world champion Alessandro Ballan, classics strongman Karsten Kroon and others. The continental squad will be a contender at the early season and hilly classics, and will hope for a grand tour invite based on their early season success.

Also in the news was the announcement that Levi Leipheimer will join Lance Armstrong and others at the new Radio Shack team. Hardly a surprise, Leipheimer will follow not only Armstrong, but Johan Bruyneel to the new squad. The Shack team is shaping up nicely, but Armstrong still has many holes to fill if he is to put together a Tour de France worthy outfit. Leipheimer meanwhile will hope for a fourth straight Amgen Tour of California victory, but his ability to defend his title will hinge in large part on the quality of his support staff. The new May date too could make defending his title difficult.

Finally, in what has become a grimly familiar headline, Chris Horner once again crashed out of a major stage race, this time with a broken wrist. The veteran has been luckless all season, and once again he was struck down with a broken bone, this time a wrist, after a massive pile up in the Vuelta a Espana. Horner will no doubt be a hot commodity in 2010, but where he'll ride is still unclear. Many in the know believe that he'll ride for Armstrong and the Radio Shack team, but Horner himself has stated this is not necessarily true. Now toward the end of his career, Horner will follow the money and likely sign with the highest bidder providing he is guaranteed a Tour de France ride.

There will certainly be more developments over the coming days and weeks, but the past few days have been a whirlwind of big news for American cycling. In fact, Tom Zirbel signing with Garmin for 2010 is another big piece of news that has come out in the coming days, as the time trial ace joins the Pro Tour in 2010. Garmin, as they have year over year, looks even stronger for next season. More to come in the near future, as the American cycling scene continues to shift.