Into the Woods: 5 Burning Cobbled Classics Questions for 2010

It's official. The 2010 professional cycling season has arrived. After early season primers like the Tour Down Under, Tour of Qatar and others, serious racing begins with the opening of the northern classics season. First on tap are the Het Volk/Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne races, and after that the action only gets more intense, with stops at two of the oldest and most prestigious races in the world, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. As we prepare to head into the first huge racing weekend of the 2010 seaosn, below are five questions worth your consideration as you watch the action unfold over the next few weeks . . . .

1. Can anyone derail the Quick Step Train?
Patrick Lefevre's Quick Step team is built to dominate the classics races. From Tom Boonen to Stijn Devolder and Sylvain Chavanel and right on down, their entire roster is chok-full of one day strongmen. Boonen, lighter and fitter and seemingly racing with a clear mind looks ready to roar at the classics, and steady Stijn Devolder and Chavanel are happy to play the wild card roles for the Belgian powerhouse team. If they are to be beat, it will take a team effort. Perhaps Saxo Bank or Cervelo TestTeam are up to the challenge.

2. Who will be this year's Heinrich Haussler?
Cervelo's young charge Haussler burst onto the cycling scene last season, riding well in all of the early season classics. Young, hungry, and relatively unknown, Haussler stood out from others and established himself as a legit contender for this season. Among the young there are several riders that could break through and do their best Haussler impression in 2010. Among them, look for solid results from Martin Reimer, Lars Boom, Chris Sutton and Tejay Van Gerderen. That said, don;t expect another performance like Haussler's 2009, which was a once in a lifetime happening from a truly special rider.

3. Can one of cycling's veterans find one more big result before retirement?
Some of cycling's elder statesmen approach the 2010 season with the prospect that it could be their last as a protected rider. Young, hugely talented riders are popping up everywhere, and so these select veterans will increasingly find themselves being asked to ride as support instead of as a leader in the near future. Among these, it will be interesting to see if Stuey O'Grady, Juan Antonio Flecha, Leif Hoste, Manual Quinziato, Nick Nuyens or George Hincapie can break through with one last huge win. If not, 2011 may see each of them at the front of the group setting the pace for younger teammates.

4. Can Boonen Be Stopped at Roubaix?
"Tommeke" has enjoyed a quiet, drama free off season and it has showed thus far in 2010. He has notched some confidence building wins, is lighter heading into this year and seems singularly focused on taking his fourth Roubaix title. He'll have the perfect team behind him and every chance at success, but in addition to a good team, a clear mind and strong legs, a prospective winner at the "Queen of the Classics" must have lady luck on their side. Riding new Eddy Merckx bikes this year, Quick Step will have to hope their machines hold up to the rigors of the cobbles.

5. Will 2010 see Tyler Farrar threaten for a cobbled classic win in addition to other big one day races?
Few fans remember that Tyler Farrar's original love lies with the cobbles. Since he was a junior the Garmin-Transitions rider has had a love affair with cobbled racing, and with a finishing kick on the level of Boonen's, Farrar has all the tools to succeed at Het Volk, Flanders, Roubaix or any cobbled classic. He has his sights on wins in multiple races this season, but with a bit of luck he could emerge victorious in a race that his is not a favorite to contend. Providing he can stay upright, expect Farrar to be in the mix this coming weekend, and possibly again at Flanders or Roubaix.

For hard core cycling fans, this weekend can't come soon enough, Cycling history will be made once again out on the old roads in Belgium and elsewhere, as the best in the world clip in and kick off the true cycling season. Here's wishing for bad weather, good luck and exciting racing for the next few weeks. Allez!!!

Let It Be Me: With No Early Season Wins, Garmin's Tyler Farrar Needs Big Result Soon

Tyler Farrar's 2009 season was one for the ages. He scored wins throughout the year, against the best sprinters in the world of pro cycling. Heading into 2010, whether fair or not, huge things are expected of the still young American sprinter. A 20 win season seemed a possibility as the new season began, but as Farrar's race miles added up at the Tours of Qatar and Oman, unfortunately the wins didn't.

Still winless heading into the meat of the spring classics season, Farrar is probably less than pleased with the fact that he has not notched his first 2010 win. Now, with the Omloop Het Volk/Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne semi-classics on tap for Feb 27 and 28, big time European racing has arrived, and with it the pressure to succeed.

Luckily for Farrar he has been very close already to winning. His form is solid and he'll be able to draw confidence from an amazing 2009 season. At Het Volk and KBK he'll have two good chances to snatch a win, and coming out victorious in either race would erase all of his early season dissapointments.

Another factor in Farrar's favor is his Garmin-Transitions team. From Robert Hunter to David Millar to Matthew Wilson to Johan Vansummeren, Farrar has a strong lineup more than capable of delivering him to the line with a chance to fight for a sprint win. Better yet, should he falter, Farrar can take comfort in knowing that Garmin has many matches to burn in the race. Vansummeren particularly should be watched as a possible victor for Garmin in Farrar's stead.

Even if Tyler Farrar fails to break through this weekend at the opening of the 2010 classics seaosn, he will still have many chances to win out on the roads for the remainder of 2010. From one day classics like Gent-Wevelgem to stage races like the Tour of California, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, Farrar should strike gold multiple times before the season concludes. Still, a big win at Het Volk or KBK would not only boost his confidence, but would distinctively lessen th epressure Farrar may be feeling due to his early season lack of results.

Alberto Contador's Crew: New Look Astana Delivers Spaniard to First 2010 Stage Race Victory

For the better part of the 2009 cycling off season, Alberto Contador's status as a member of the Astana cycling team was in question. Contador, undoubtedly the world's best stage racer, watched from the sidelines during the off season as Lance Armstrong plucked many of Astana's strongest riders off the team to form the new Radioshack cycling team. Once the most feared stage racing team in the world, by the end of 2009 Astana was looking a shell of its former self.

Contador meanwhile, through his lawyers tried to negotiate a release from his Astana contract, but to no avail. Like it or not, Contador was forced to ride out his contract with Astana for the 2010 season. And with so few sure-fire domestiques on the team, the 2010 season was looking to be one of transition for Contador as he tempered expectations behind a far weaker team.

Then however, a funny thing happened. Astana began signing solid support riders. First it was Oscar Peirero, 2006 Tour de France winner and staunch support rider to Alejandro Valverde at the Caisse d'Epargne team. Then Paolo Tiralongo signed up, another strong add for Contador in the grand tours and stage races. Finally, David De La Fuente, the mountain goat formerly of the Footon-Servetto squad boarded the Astana ship. Add to this the presence of Alexander Vinokourov, and suddenly Contador's support structure looks far more solid than originally thought.

The team strength of Astana was on full display this past week at the Volta Ao Algarve, where Contador was able to win the overall and a stage win en route to a very impressive season debut. Not only did the Spaniard win a tough stage three mountain top finish, but he showed well in the ITT. Further, he was well-supported as he defended the leader's jersey, as both De La Fuente and Daniel Navarro rode very strongly in his support.

Although it is still very early in the 2010 cycling season, Alberto Contador's prospects at winning a third Tour de France title in July look pretty good. He is clearly the best individual climber in pro cycling, and assuming the rest of his teammates can stay upright and healthy throughout the early season, the Spaniard will head into the Tour as the number one favorite. Contador's Astana team meanwhile, once thought to be a disadvantage, seems to be shaping up to be a strong team at this early point in the season.

Defending the yellow jersey at the Tour de France is a much different task that at the Volta Ao Algarve, but nevertheless Contador will be pleased with his team's performance at this early point in the year. Astana will be able to take away a big boost of confidence after Algarve, as they continue to gel as a unit ahead of July. For Contador's opposition, his and his team's performance at Algarve is cause for chagrin. Alone Contador is a very tough rider to beat, but with a competent team behind him, he'll be nearly unbeatable come July.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2010: The Real Start of the Pro Cycling Season

Although there are many races before the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (formerly Het Volk), none of them carry the prestige of the one day Belgian semi-classic. Commonly featuring poor weather, tough roads and a staunch field, Het Nieuwsblad is the first big one day trophy on the world cycling calendar, and year in and year out the event attracts a top flight field. 2010 is no different, with some of the toughest and fastest cyclists in the world primed to compete in this year's edition.

The defending champion of the event, Thor Hushovd, is back again for 2010, but the big Norwegian has been slowed recently from sickness and so may not be on top form for his title defence. If he is not feeling as good as last year, expect Cervelo second in command Heinrich Haussler to take over leader duties. The youngster is more than capable of taking out the win at the Nieuwsblad, and his aggressive tactics at the Tour of Qatar show that his form is solid at this early stage of the season.

The Liquigas team comes to HN with a nice combo in the forms of Daniele Bennati and Manuel Quinziato. Bennati, after a terrible 2009, already has one win this year, and Quinziato is prepping for a run at Flanders and Roubaix. Either man could figure in the finale, with Bennati seeming to be the best option for the Italian team.

As in any classic they enter for 2010, Quick Step will be heavily favored to win HN, with a fearsome treble of Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel and Stijn Devolder. Boonen is flying at this early point in the season, while Chavanel and Devolder are mysteries. All have the tools to win HN, but whether their form is up to snuff this early in the year remains to be seen. To show just how deep Quick Step is though, if the above three riders don't come through, Wouter Weylandt has a mean finishing kick and a strong engine. Quick Step will be very hard to control at HN and every other classic in 2010.

The Rabobank team could surprise at HN with the up and coming Lars Boom and the veteran Nick Nuyens. Nuyens hasn't had a huge win since his Quick Step days, but he could cause a big result if the tactics play to his favor as a solo escapee. Boom meanwhile is young but hungry, and could also try a solo flyer, depending on his time trialing skills to hold the chasing bunch at bay.

Team Sky, as they have all year, will be a force at HN. Kurt Asle-Arvesen, coming off a recent collar bone break probably won't be overly effective, but Edvald Boasson Hagen should be able to pick up the slack with relative ease for the new British super team. "Boss Hog" has been used extensively in the early season, and his form should be cracking for HN. Expect him to podium, if not win, the first real classic of 2010.

The Garmin-Transitions team bring their fast man Tyler Farrar to Belgium looking to lead him to his first win of 2010. Farrar has been close but has not broken through as of yet. Perhaps he has been saving himself for the biggest races though and is planning a huge result at HN. If not he though, look for new Garmin signing Johan Vansummeren to make an impact. Later in the spring meanwhile, Vansummeren should be a force.

HTC-Columbia has been quieter this year than last in the victory column, and on paper their squad for HN underwhelms. Their best option appears to be Bernhard Eisel, the fast veteran who usually rides as a support rider. Matty Goss too is strong though, and perhaps he or Eisel will be able to catch the field off guard and deliver a big result for HTC-Columbia.

The Katuysha team will hope that their two strong leaders Filippo Pozzato and Robbie McEwen can decide out on the road who should lead the Russian squad. Pozzato has one HN in the past and so will be amped to add another win to his palmares, but McEwen could come through if the event finishes in a bunch sprint. Either way for Pozatto though, he needs a good result now if he is to be considered a favorite later in the year for Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

Team Radioshack fields a competitive team for HN, with Gert Steegmans likely to lead the team in the semi-classic. Steegmans is a strongman with a good sprint, and he will shoulder the majority of the cobbled-classics load for Radioshack. If not Steegmans though, the veteran Thomas Vaitkus waits in the wings.

Team Saxo Bank lost some funding for 2010, but that doesn't mean they don't envision themselves as a major power player for all of the spring classics. They'll look to get their season off to a good start behind their one days specialists Matti Breschel, Baden Cooke and Stuart O'Grady. Breshel in particular seems well-suited to HN, and he'll look to gain some much needed confidence ahead of Flanders and Roubaix, where he'll team up with a conspicuously absent from HN, Fabian Cancellara.

The BMC squad comes to Belgium with a very solid lineup, headlined by former Flanders and world champion Alessandro Ballan, reigning US Pro champ George Hincapie and classics strongman Karsten Kroon. On paper, BMC looks to be the second strongest team at the HN besides Quick Step. In fact, they have even brought their fast finisher Marcus Burghardt, who should be considered a strong favorite for the win. Watch for the BMC party crashers to make their presence felt with a podium appearance by one of their stars.

The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will kick the classics season off in grand fashion this February 27th. With such a deep field anything can happen, and if there is poor weather the results could be dramatically affected. With so many top riders looking to get their season started on a positive note, expect aggressive tactics from the opening gun. With so many variables it is tough to predict with certainty who will win the event, but the winner will likely come from the list above. 2010 cycling classics season, game on!

Cloudy Skies: Sky Cycling Team Faces Criticism, Resistance from Fellow Peloton Mates

Team Sky's tactics in the early part of the 2010 season seem to be finally catching up with them, as the Tour of Oman peloton worked to dislodge race leader Edvald Boasson Hagen from the overall lead while the young Norwegian was taking a nature break 55 kilometers from the finish of the 4th stage. Some of the Team Sky directors were upset at the tactics employed by the Cervelo TestTeam and others during the stage, but according to Cervelo's Roger Hammond, Sky brought the situation on themselves.

Is it really any surprise that Sky is receiving a cool reception from the other teams in the peloton? They have one of the biggest budgets in cycling, featuring some of the most promising young riders in the professional ranks today. For crying out loud, their team cars are JAGUARS! Led by the ever-cocky Brad Wiggins, they are an easy target for any fan or cycling team. Add to that the fact that they have employed negative race tactics at select races already this year, and you have all the ingredients for some serious dissonance among their peers and most cycling fans.

Although only a few months old as a team, Team Sky are already turning into the Yankees of pro cycling. Behind stalwarts like Boasson Hagen, Simon Gerrans and Wiggins, they will be a force throughout the year at one day and stage races alike, and the more the wins add up so too will the negative sentiment. Last year it was the Cervelo Test Team that was the new darling of pro cycling. Is it any wonder then that they are the team most vocally against Sky?

As the year progresses, expect the rhetoric surrounding Sky's tactics to increase as they pile up the wins. Should the mighty HTC-Columbia team suffer a loss at the hands of Sky, expect Mark Cavendish to come out swinging, be he British or not. On the other hand, expect Sky also to attract a huge following both the the UK (they already have) and abroad the more wins they garner. Nothing polarizes a fan base like winning, and Sky looks set to notch a bundle of wins in their inaugural season.

Although on the surface it would seem that such discontent within the pro peloton is bad for cycling, it is quite the opposite. Every sport needs a villain. For baseball, the Yankees, for football, the Raiders. Sky, clad in a predominantly black kit, seems destined to be this year's version of the cycling Darth Vader. Which is likely just fine by them, as long as the wins keep coming.

Riccardo Ricco: Real-Life Snake, but Without the Backbone

By now it is old news that Riccardo Ricco has decided to split with his long time girlfriend Vania Rossi after she tested positive for EPO-CERA, the same drug that Ricco tested positive for at the 2008 Tour de France. So, after being supported by Rossi throughout his suspension, Ricco now sees fit to drop Rossi in this her darkest moment.

Please take a moment to reflect on the kind of person it takes to do this.

Riccardo Ricco is an unapologetic doper who clearly is interested in protecting only one person's interests: his own. In true snake-like fashion, Ricco has abandoned his cyclo-cross racing girlfriend in the moment when she needs him most. Add to this that Rossi has fathered a child to Ricco and you have a man truly without a backbone.

When cocaine addiction symptoms finally manifest themselves in a user, that person’s loved ones should do their best to bring him to a cocaine addiction treatment center.

Riccardo Ricco is in many ways already a sadder story than his star-crossed cycling rival, Marco Pantani. "Il Pirata" died alone of a drug overdose on Valentine's Day just a few years ago. Known as an explosive climber and personality, Pantani captivated the cycling world with his brash attacks on the bike and bold claims off it throughout many years of his career. Sadly though, his drug use caught up to him and he eventually devolved into a shell of his former self, dying alone in a Rimini hotel room.

Ricco, although not yet into the "prime" of his career, has already eclipsed his idol for bad deeds on and off the bike. He has been proven a doper and liar, and worse still seemed flippantly unconcerned when confronted about his cheating back in 2008. He has alienated himself with prominent members of the European peloton, and now he has even thrown a loved one under the bus.

The only lucky thing in Ricco's favor is that he is still fairly young. Everyone deserves a second chance, and hopefully Ricco will come back as a strong rider without drugs while realizing that he should be at his girlfriend's side during this tough time. Until he does both though, he'll be known in the cycling world as a gutless coward concerned only with his own image and well-being. A snake, but not "The Cobra."

Robert Gesink Looking to Join One Day and Stage Racing Elite in 2010

Rabobank's tall young climber Robert Gesink enters the 2010 season as the 2nd in command of the Dutch team in both stage races and grand tours, and for some of the hilly classics he'll be the outright leader of the orange, blue and white team. Gesink has steadily improved over his three years as a pro and 2010 should see him win his first stage race, providing that both his team and luck are on his side.

Gesink first made a name for himself at the 2007 Tour of California, taking the best young rider jersey at the Tour of California. At only 20 years old, he looked on the fast track to success. A 9th place at Liege-Bastogne-Liege that same year confirmed his talent as one of the best young climbers in the world, and 2008 looked like a year that Gesink would step up.

2008 was a good year for Gesink as well. He was the only rider that year at the Tour of California capable of dragging overall winner Levi Leipheimer up the Sierra Road climb en route to the finish in downtown San Jose that year, and he used that stage as the foundation for taking the best young rider classification. Yet despite his solid results in 2008, he failed to attain the level of elite competitor. Still an outlier, Gesink rode strong at various races throughout the season, including an impressive 4th at La Fleche Wallonne and 9th overall at the Vuelta a Espana. Still, he had yet to win a huge race, and so he headed into 2009 in search of his first big title.

2009 too was a good year for Gesink, but injury and poor luck derailed his chances at big wins in either one day or stage races. Still, a 3rd pace at the Amstel Gold race, a 4th overall at the Dauphine Libere and a 6th overall at the Vuelta a Espana showed that Gesink was inches away from excellence, needing only a bit of luck to find his way to the top step of the podium.

2010 should be the year that Robert Gesink becomes recognized as one of the most dangerous riders in all of cycling. He now has three full seasons as a professional under his belt, and beside Denis Menchov, Gesink is the unquestioned leader of the Rabobank team for the one day classics and stage races. Menchov has already made it clear that he will be focusing on the overall for the Tour de France this season, so Gesink will have to set his sights on other races and forego glory at the Tour for at least one more season.

Gesink's best chance at success seems a one day hilly classic like Amstel, Fleche or Liege. He is a very strong climber with the courage to attack on his own, and so the parcours of the three Wallonnian classics seem to suit him perfectly. Expect Gesink to be in the mix for all three hilly classics, with the Fleche being his best chance at victory.

As Menchov will be racing the Tour as the Rabobank team leader, Gesink will likely be able to focus all of his stage racing focus once again on the Vuelta, where he has twice finished in the top 10. This year's edition should see Gesink threaten for the podium, and because the upcoming world championships in Australia are less suited to his style, he'll be able to leave it all out on the roads of Spain as he searches for his first grand tour podium result. 

Robert Gesink, like other extremely talented riders, has knocked on the door of big time success but as of yet has been unable to break through with a huge win at a grand tour or classic. Expect all that to change in 2010. Behind a solid, unified team that will support him in many of the one day races and the veteran know how required to win such races, Gesink is better positioned than ever to take his first huge result as a pro. Expect it to happen before May, at either Paris-Nice, or one of the three Wallonian classics.

Out of the Shadows: New Katuysha Signing Kim Kirchen Looking for Huge 2010

Kim Kirchen is one of EuroPeloton's favorite pro cyclists. An affable rider on and off the bike, Kirchen has developed over the past few years into one of the most versatile, and underrated, riders in the pro field today. The all-arounder from Luxembourg had a down 2009 in his last year as a Columbia-HTC rider, and so a change to Katyusha seemed a good move for all parties. Now the grand tour and hilly classics leader at his new Russian outfit, Kirchen should be a major power player in various races throughout the 2010 season.

Since he turned pro in 2001 with the Fassa Bortolo super team of yesteryear, Kirchen has steadily improved to become one of the biggest threats in one day and stage races year in and year out. His glittering palmares includes wins at such prestigious races as Paris-Brussels, the Fleche Wallonne, Tour de Suisse, and his home Tour of Luxembourg. Along with the Schleck brothers he is a legend in his home country, and now at 31 years old he seems primed for a run to the very top of professional cycling.

Kirchen is an interesting rider in that he can contend in hilly one day classics as well as stage races. he is a strong time trialist and good climber, and he has the ability to accelerate away from his adversaries on steep inclines. His attack to win the Fleche two years ago illustrated this fact perfectly, as an on form Kirchen proved that he is tough to beat on the steepest grades.

In the grand tours Kirchen has been solid, but has been unable up until now to sustain a three week effort. He has had flashes of brilliance at the Tour de France and other big stage races, but it seems as though each time he eventually cracks in the high mountains. Now riding as the clear GC leader for Katyusha, perhaps 2010 will see Kirchin put it all together in the Tour as he heads into his 11th season as a pro.

In the hilly classics meanwhile, Kirchen will ally himself with his Russian teammate Sergei Ivanov, as the duo hopes to land at least one of the three hilly Wallonnian classics. Ivanov has won the Amstel in the past and Kirchen the Fleche, so perhaps with Ivanov's help Kirchen can take out the oldest classic of them all, Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Providing he remains healthy throughout the spring, Kirchen should at minimum podium in one of the three races.

In joining his third team of his 11 year career, Kim Kirchen is poised to assume his spot among the truly elite one day and stage race stars of the European peloton. He now possesses the experience to match the fitness, and anything less than a banner 2010 would be a disappointment. The mild-mannered, soft-spoken Kirchen has all the pieces in place to step up, now all that is left is to actually do it.

Filippo Pozzato Not Afraid of Boonen at Roubaix, But Should He Be?

Filippo Pozzato claimed recently according to cyclingnews.com that he is not afraid of Tom Boonen on the cobbles of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and that the Belgain is not unbeatable. In the same interview though, the Italian seems to allow that Boonen is the stronger cobbled classic rider, and all but admits that he will be wheel sucking Boonen if it means he has a chance at victory in one of the Belgian monuments.

Pozzato has had an interesting career since turning pro. He blasted onto the scene back in 2003 winning the overall at the Tirreno Adriatico race, and then added a grand tour stage win at the Tour de France the next year. In 2005 he won the HEW Cyclassics and then cemented his status in 2006 as a top-flight one day rider with a huge victory at Milan-San Remo as Boonen's teammate. After that it was a nice win at the Het Volk Semi-classic in 2007, as he rode as part of the Liquigas team.

2008 was a down year for Pozzato despite a 2nd place at Milan-San Remo and a 6th at the Tour fo Flanders, and his tough luck continued in 2009 with three top five finishes but no wins in Flanders (5th), Roubaix (2nd) and Paris-Tours (4th). Pozzato, always tough on the cobbles, now has the experience to really believe in himself as a top favorite in a few weeks time.

Taking on an on-form Tom Boonen at Paris-Roubaix though is a tall order for any rider, much less Pozzato. Boonen possesses unmatched power and bike handling ability on the tough bergs of Flanders and pave of Roubaix, not to mention an amazing Quick Step team that supports him around every turn of the classics. For better or worse, Pozzato's only tactic is in fact to follow Boonen, and hope that the three-time Roubaix winner suffers a mechanical or crash en route to the finish line.

Filippo Pozzato will come into Het Volk, Flanders and Roubaix as one of the favorites, but like everyone else he'll take a back seat to Boonen proving that "Tommeke" is on form and healthy. The Belgian, already sporting great form at the Tour of Qatar, looks primed for another run at Roubaix glory. If Pozzato, or anyone else for that matter, is to thwart the big Belgian, they'll need to make Boonen beat himself. Not only that though, Pozzato will have to work more on his leg musculature and less on his tan in the coming weeks and months.

Taylor Phinney a Sprinter? Trek-Livestrong Rider Mixing It Up In Qatar

Could Taylor Phinney one day be a top American sprinter? Popular opinion would have one saying no, but over the past few stages of the Tour of Qatar, the Trek-Livestrong rider has scored a couple of top ten finishes against some heavyweight sprinters, and with his increasing top end speed the 19 year old has some new found confidence as a sprint contender.

Phinney's pedigree as the son of a top American sprinter from the 80's plays to his favor, and his high intensity work on the track also would seem to lead him down the road of a sprint capable rider. His father Davis was a force in the sprints back in the 80's, and his mother Connie Carpenter was also a fast finisher in her day. To think of Mini Phinney as a pure sprinter is a bit of a stretch, but with a bit more practice the youngster could find some surprise results over the rest of the season.

There are two very scary aspects of Phinney's cycling game. For one, he is only 19 years old, and still many years from the prime of his career. For two, he has the ability to ride with power, as evidenced by his stunning victory in last year's U-23 Paris-Roubaix (pictured above). As he matures, it would not be at all surprising to see him develop into a Tom Boonen-like rider, one capable of winning tough one day classics and sprint finishes.

The sky is the limit for Taylor Phinney in the sport of pro cycling. Already a world champion on the track, there is no reason to think that he can't become a world champion on the road and in the time trial discipline over the next ten to fifteen years. He is a force to be reckoned with at 19 years old, it is downright scary to think what he'll do in five years time. Now a part of the Radioshack feeder team Trek-Livestrong, expect Phinney to be a team leader on the Pro Tour team within the next three years.

The only thing that could possibly hold Phinney back is himself. Sometimes athletes that experience great success at a young age tend to lose the desire to improve. With Phinney though this is not likely to be an issue. He has a strong support network around him, including supportive parents and a 7-time Tour de France winner, in addition to his teammates and coaches. In five years time, barring some unforeseen strange mishap, Taylor Phinney will be known as one of the best time trial and one day riders in the world.

Early Season Racing Means Crashes, Injuries, Emotional Victories

Look no further than the Tour of Qatar to see that early season racing always provides a mix of agony and ecstasy as eager riders jostle for victories on each and every stage. With everyone working to garner that all important first 2010 win, crashes and calamity are a certainty, leading some to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Thus far in 2010, three big names have already been laid low at Qatar, including Kurt Asle-Arvesen, Steven Cozza and Gerald Ciolek. High winds and an overeager field are surely to blame, making the early season competition as dangerous as the wet and slippery riding in northern Europe for the spring classics.

So why risk an early season injury just for a cheap stage win at Qatar, or the Tour Mallorca? Ask Tom Boonen about that. Or Robbie McEwen. Or Oscar Freire. Each of the three aforementioned riders are coming off lackluster 2009 campaigns, and in obtaining an early season victory, they will all experience a boost in confidence ahead of bigger objectives.

Boonen can now rest easy knowing that he still has the top end speed to compete against the best sprinters in the world as well as the power to ride away from the best cobbled classics riders at Paris Roubaix. McEwen can put last year's terrible knee injury behind him and count himself back for good after besting the field at Mallorca a few days ago. And Oscar Freire, on the verge of retirement only a few months ago, will now be able to attack the 2010 season knowing that his body, as well as his mind, are ready to do battle for the rest of the year.

For those without wins meanwhile perhaps a few doubts are creeping in. Tyler Farrar, thus far unsuccessful at Qatar, will be clamoring over the final few stages of the race to at least get onto the podium. Expect his Garmin-Transitions teammates to go all out to try to launch him to victory over the next few days. Ditto Heinrich Haussler of the Cervelo TestTeam, who wants an early season win ahead of bigger objectives like Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders.

For those riders who have been injured meanwhile it's back to their home country for a bit of recovery before hitting the indoor trainer to maintain their fitness. Cozza is already itching to get back on his bike as is Arvesen, and Ciolek, after surgery, will be in the same state of mind. Unfortunately though for all three, losing the race kilometers will set their fitness back, affecting their bigger goals in the spring and summer.

Full Swing Into 2010: Tours of Mallorca, Qatar Highlight Top Pros

The Tours of Mallorca and Qatar, running at the same time in completely opposite environs, provide cycling fans a glimpse of some of the top professionals in the world of cycling, as riders look to gain early season victories and form ahead of bigger objectives later in the season. Already there has been a good share of drama, and some situations have already unfolded that will shape the spring classics and other early season races in a few weeks time.

In Qatar, Team Sky has shown impressively in the team time trial discipline, snatching the stage one win at Qatar behind power riding from both Bradley Wiggins and Edvald Boasson Hagen. The newly formed British outfit will be a force in the race against the clock throughout the year, and their victory at Qatar serves to underscore this point.

Sky also had to deal with some bad news, as one of their top classic riders, Kurt Asle-Arvesen, crashed at the beginning of stage two and broke his collar bone. The Norwegian will be out for a minimum of two weeks, putting a damper on his preparations for bigger races like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Still, at such and early point in the season, Arvesen should be able to recover in time to have a successful season for his new Sky team.

Others finding their way at Qatar include the Cervelo TestTeam, who suffered a one minute penalty after judges ruled that Heinrich Haussler pushed a fellow teammate during the race. It seems that a penalty was in order per the rules, but a full one minute in a race like Qatar? The penalty leaves Haussler and the rest of his teammates far down the overall classification, and they'll have to focus on stage wins instead of the overall classification for the rest of the race.

As the race is still in the early stages there is still a lot of racing to be done. Expect to see names like Tyler Farrar, Tom Boonen and Gerald Ciolek to be at the front in the coming days, as each searches for their first season win. Boonen, last year's overall winner looks out of the picture after a frenetic and unpredictable stage 2, but the Belgian will still hope to bring back some time in the overall scene between now and the end of the race.

On the island of Mallorca meanwhile other top riders are making the push for their first season victory, and both Robbie McEwen and Oscar Freire have already made good at Mallorca. Both McEwen and Freire are coming off poor 2009 seasons, so an early season win is just what each needed to kickstart their 2010 campaign.

Although the Tours of Qatar and Mallorca are not huge season goals for the best riders in the world, they are still important building blocks for the rest of the season. Not only is individual morale improved with an early season victory, but the team too benefits when they experience early season success. Look for those teams that have not scored a win yet to move to the front with urgency over the coming stages of both races.

Tour of Qatar 2010: First Look at Top Sprinters for Upcoming Cycling Season

The 9th edition of the Tour of Qatar kicks off from Saudi Arabia beginning on Sunday, and it will offer cycling fans a chance to see some of the world's fastest sprinters ahead of the bigger races of the 2010 season. A solid lineup of riders are ready to contest the event, and it should be dramatic racing from start to finish.

Defending champion Tom Boonen will lead the Quick Step team in Qatar, as he looks for his fourth overall title in the early season stage race. Boonen was able to win the overall despite a solid lineup last year, as he depended on a strong team time trial to set the stage for his win. He'll look for at least one stage win in the race, as well as the overall title again this year.

With leader Thor Hushovd under the weather, the Cervelo TestTeam will lean on 2009 Milan-San Remo runner up Heinrich Haussler for stage wins, and the German/Australian should be up to the task. Haussler was consistent throughout the season last year, and he'll hope to start his season off right with a stage win or two in Qatar.

HTC-Columbia won't have either of their ace sprinters Mark Cavendish or Andre Greipel in Qatar, but that doesn't mean they can't contend for stage wins. Bernhard Eisel, a fast finisher in his own right, will likely be the protected rider, and the veteran should be able to at least make the podium on one or more of the stages. His teammate Matty Goss will support his efforts, and don't be too surprised if Goss gets a chance to ride for his own result in a stage or two.

Saxo Bank brings three sprinters to Qatar, with Matti Breschel, Baden Cooke and JJ Haedo all making the trip to the Middle East. Cooke is on good form after a solid performance at the Tour Down Under, and he'll be keen to notch a win for his new team. Meanwhile, Fabian Cancellara and Breschel will debut at Qatar, building their fitness for an assault on the cobbled classics in several weeks time.

Omega Pharma, now without Cadel Evans, will depend on Philippe Gilbert for results throughout the season, starting in Qatar. Gilbert is a fast finisher but not a pure sprinter, so he may have to try for a breakaway win instead of battling in the bunch kicks. Still, he can accelerate with the best and in perfect conditions could win in a sprint finish.

Team Sky has a good lineup at the event, even if they don't have a pure sprinter in their midst. Expect them to vie for the team time trial victory, which could put one of their riders in contention for the overall win. Edvald Boasson Hagen is a time trial machine, and he can finish fast when the conditions are right. Expect someone from Team Sky on the final overall podium behind an excellent performance in the team time trial.

The Garmin-Transitions team will bring super sprinter Tyler Farrar to Qatar, hoping that America's best sprinter will have the early season form for a stage win or two. On paper, Farrar is among the top three sprinters registered for Qatar, and he should have no problem notching multiple podium appearances. If he has any sort of form at this early stage in the year, he is a strong candidate for a stage win and the overall title as he embarks on what should be a huge 2010 season.

Milram team leader Gerald Ciolek had a tough 2009, and he needs a big 2010 to bounce back from the adversity of last season. Ciolek will be the sprint leader for Milram throughout the year, and a podium appearance in Qatar against such a quality field would be a welcome happening for Ciolek as he tries to establish himself as an elite sprinter in the coming year for his German team.

The Liquigas team, stacked with GC talent, also features some solid sprinters, and they'll be bringing the tandem of Daniele Benatti and Francesco Chicchi to Qatar hoping for some early season success. Like Gerald Ciolek, Benatti had a poor 2009, and he needs wins early and often if he is to rejoin the ranks of the world's best sprinters. Chicchi meanwhile is a domestique for Benatti, but with a bit of luck he could stumble to a stage win should Benatti falter.

Like in previous years, the Tour of Qatar will feature some of the world's fastest finishers battling against each other as an early season indicator of who will be major power players later in the year. Barring crashes, the race should be an exciting one that runs right down to the wire.

Classics Machine: With Boonen, Barredo, Chavanel and Devolder, Quick Step is Heavy Favorite for All One Day Races in 2010

The Quick Step team is absolutely stacked with one day talent for 2010, and the Belgian team will have a race day favorite throughout the year in every one day classic they line up for in the coming year. The linchpin of their team is the same as in the past, as Tom Boonen will lead the squad in the cobbled classics and grand tours, but behind Boonen sits a stable of riders who are all capable of scoring big wins at multiple classics throughout the season.

Stijn Devolder will act again as the 2nd in command at the cobbled classics in 2010, where he will once again hope to profit when Boonen is heavily marked in the early spring classics. As the peloton focuses on three-time Paris-Roubaix winner Boonen, Devolder is free to fly, and for the past two years he has used that dynamic to his advantage as he has won the Tour of Flanders twice on solo breakaways. Devolder is also a decent climber, and he should be around to contest the finales of the Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege hilly classics.

Sylvain Chavanel is a third option on Quick Step for the spring classics, but on any other team he would likely be an undisputed team leader. Good things happen to those who wait, and Chavanel may be poised for a huge 2010. With so many high profile teammates surrounding him, Chavanel, like Devolder will be able to try to catch the peloton off guard at select one day races throughout the year. He is a tough, savvy rider on the precipice of great things, and 2010 could well be the year that he scores his first major classic victory to add to his grand tour success.

Carlos Barredo finally broke through in 2009, taking the win at the only Spanish classic, the Clasica San Sebastian in impressive style. The win was a long time coming for the climbing-oriented rider who had been oh so close in the past but had never been able to grab a huge win. All that has changed now though, and Barredo will be keen to stretch his legs in the hilly classics as a co-captain with Devolder and then again in fall at San Sebastian and the Giro di Lombardia.

While there are many other teams that will bring strong lineups to the classics for 2010, none are as well-equipped to win classics throughout the year than Quick Step. Boonen, a hardened battle ax capable of handling the pressure of being a favorite at the year's most important races will be in the mix, but so will his three lieutenants, each in his own right an out sized cycling talent. Add to all of that the fact that they are directed by the veteran manager Patrick Lefevre, and Quick Step positions themselves as a fearsome adversary at every big one day race for 2010.

Shooting Star: Alessandro Petacchi Starts Season Strong with Two Wins at Reggio Tour

Lampre's new star signing Alessandro Petacchi has started his season on a high note, taking two of four stages at the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria-Challenge Calabria, a small stage race in Italy. Lampre signed the 36 year old sprinter hoping that he would deliver wins right away, and the tall Italian has not disappointed at this early point in the year.

Petacchi is an interesting rider in that he has had an up and down career that has featured a variety of problems and successes over the years. He has been injured and banned for doping (he was later cleared), but has also managed to be recognized as one of the best sprinters of his generation. And unlike most legendary athletes, he has not remained with one team throughout his career, but rather has had to find success in a variety of situations on a variety of teams.

Lampre is Petacchi's 5th team in his 14 year career, but like always "Ale Jet" seems ready to deliver big results. He is impervious to changes in his career and has found ways to win on every team that he has been a part of. Last season riding for the LPR Brakes team he notched 10 wins despite being shut out of many races due to LPR's status as a lower level team, so his association with the Pro Tour Lampre squad should see him surpass that win total in 2010.

In looking at the remainder of his season, Petacchi can have high hopes to win at a variety of races throughout the year. Already a one time winner of the Milan-San Remo race, Petacchi will be on the short list of favorites once again in 2010. Behind a stronger team he should have a very realistic chance of taking "La Primivera" once again. In the early summer meanwhile he'll contest the giro, where he'll hope to add to his career win total of 21 wins in his home tour.

As his career has progressed, Alessandro Petacchi has set himself apart as a true survivor of professional cycling. Through injury and bad press he has persevered, and as a reward he'll be remembered as one of the most dominant sprinters of the 1990s and 2000s. At 36 his career is heading toward its end, but he still has the top end speed to contend as a front-line team leader in the sprints for the next couple of years. After passing his skills onto a younger charge he'll likely retire, but before that expect a big 2010 and possibly 2011.

Race Radios Banned in America, but Not at AToC, Mizzou and Philly

A huge turn of events in the US domestic cycling world today as USA Cycling has banned the use of race radios by riders in virtually every US race. Riders racing at the Amgen Tour of California, Tour of Missouri (if it happens in 2010) and Philadelphia International Championship will still be able to use radio communication, but the decision to pull in-race communication for every other race ensures some surprise outcomes at various events throught the year.

For the past several years, many in the cycling world have debated whether if race radios were eliminated, the racing would unfold differently and be more exciting. These "purists" argue that the racing would be wide open, and that breakaways would have a better chance of succeeding with a less aware main peloton. Now, with the USAC ruling, the debate will be settled once and for all.

Initial reaction from the domestic peloton has been one of a "what me worry?" approach, with riders such as Ben Jacques Maynes tweeting, "Radios: it's not like we are brainless brutes needing to be told what to do. All that "thinking for ourselves" already happens." Jacques Maynes, an established veteran rightfully seems a bit indigent about the hullabaloo surrounding the race radio debate, but perhaps he'll change his mind by the time the 2010 season is complete.

Even the savviest cyclist would have to allow that eliminating race radios will have a profound effect on racing on any given day. Yes, the riders will still receive time gap updates via the race officials, but not having race radios and the voice of their coaches in their ear will surely lead to a surprise finish or two along the road in the coming season. A mechanical by a team leader at the wrong time could have a devastating affect on a given rider, as his team could presumably not know he has been dropped from the main field until it is too late.

The decision by the USAC to ban race radios is a good one in that it will, once and for all, prove to both the riders and the fans how much of a difference race radios make. By the end of the season, it is our belief that we will remember 2010 as the year that true bike racing returned to the sport of cycling.

Weather Conditions at Spring Classics Promise Big Influence On Race Outcomes for the Early Season

Each season as the cobbled and hilly classics approach, the cycling world focuses as closely on the weather as the starting rosters for each race. In cobbled classics like Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders particularly, the rainy or windy weather can have a significant influence on who emerges victorious at the end of a tough day of racing.

The rainy, cold and windy weather during the spring in Europe can be downright brutal, and some professional cyclists just aren't as excited about riding in the cold and rain as others. Alessandro Petacchi, Oscar Freire, Filippo Pozzato and Stuart O'Gray all spring to mind as riders that are less than comfortable about riding in tough weather conditions.

For other riders though, a cold and rainy race seems to make them ride better than when the conditions are favorable. Stijn Devolder, two-time defending champion of the Tour of Flanders, seems to perform better the colder, rainier and windier it is. His teammate Tom Boonen too is strong in the wet, and like all true classics hardmen he wears only cycling shorts, never leggings, while riding in the cold conditions.

Some other riders that enjoy riding in horrible weather include the Cervelo Test Team tandem of Dominique Rollin and Thor Hushovd, BMC's duo of George Hincapie and Karsten Kroon, Radioshack's Lance Armstrong, Katuysha's Kim Kirchin and the small Frenchman Thomas Voeckler of the Bbox Bouyges Telecom team all excel in the cold, and each has what it takes to drop the field under the right conditions in the right race. Armstrong for instance would likely sport a wry smile were he to wake up the morning of the Amstel Gold Race to see that there was driving rain, wind and a temperature in the high 30's.

It has been quite some time since the cycling public was treated to an epic Paris-Roubaix in the rain, and while the riders would never hope for poor weather at a monument, cycling fans would not be entirely chagrined were the weather to be poor. Under such conditions, the rider's mind becomes more important than his form as he will himself ever forward in search of glory. Too, any rider who wins a race like Paris-Roubaix in the cold and wet will forever be remembered as a legend, one who was able to not only overcome their competition, but mother nature in the quest for one of cycling's monuments.