Too Much? Are Young Riders Getting Injured from Too Much Early Career Racing?

With the recent news that both Heinrich Haussler and Edvald Boasson Hagen have been scratched from the Tour of Flanders due to leg injuries, it must be wondered weather come of cycling's best young riders are being pushed beyond their physical limits.

Haussler, only 26 years old, had an amazing . . . and exhausting 2009. As he arrived into the 2010 season, rumblings almost immediately started regarding his balky knee. Then just this week, Haussler announced that he has a torn ligament near his knee and will miss both Flanders and Roubaix.

Meanwhile, new Sky signing Edvald Boasson Hagen, all of 22 years old, is out of Flanders suffering with lingering knee tendinitis. After a scintillating start to his season the phenom is looking like a shaky proposition even for Roubaix. If he does in fact start at the "Hell of the North," he probably won't be at full power due to his injury.

One other young rider who has been slowed by a leg injury is Saxo Bank's 24 year old stage racing star Andy Schleck. He is still recovering from his problems, but seems on track to regain his form in time for the meat of the hilly classics season and the grand tours. How long his body will hold up though is another question.

So, with professional riders riding further and further and pushing their bodies more than ever, should limits be set up to preserve their still developing bodies? Like in little league baseball, perhaps riders under 26 should only be able to log a certain number of race days, say 75. That way their bodies don;t become over taxed, leading to severe fatigue or injury.

Because they are adults making millions of Euros, it is unlikely that race day caps will ever be imposed on today's young riders. It will though be interesting to watch other youngsters like Mark Cavendish, Teejay van Garderen and others as they develop. Hopefully injuries won;t continue to affect these bright spots on the International cycling scene as they develop in the most difficult races against the best competition in the world.

Mark Cavendish 2010: A Rocky Early Season Start

It has come down to this for Mark Cavendish thus far in 2010: He just is not looking like the rider he was last year. Early season dental problems have severely disrupted his early season preparation, but things seem to go deeper than that. No longer in possession of the strongest lead out train in cycling, Cavedish has been left without optimal support in several bunch finishes, leaving him out of the running in many contests.

Mark Cavendish is an amazing rider, one who will continue to be a regular favorite for the foreseeable future. But 2010 is teaching us just how hard it is to win a professional bike race. Cavendish's 2009 was one for the ages, the stuff of legend, and expecting him to reach those same sights in 2010 is not only unrealistic, it is unfair.

Already 2010 has seen a host of missed opportunities for Cavendish. He fell well short at Milan-San Remo, and was completely forgotten at Gent-Wevelgem, never even being mentioned by many as a possible favorite. Although on the pre-race start list, Cavendish didn't even line up to contest the event, which was eventually won by his teammate Bernhard Eiesel. Thus far in 2010, he has only one win, in stark contrast to this time a year ago, when his tally stood at eight.

As the days tick by and Cavendish continues to struggle, the question must be posed as to when Andre Greipel should be brought in to lead the team for stage wins. Yes, there is still much of the season left, but Cavendish needs to start improving fast if he is to have the confidence of the rest of his team for a try at winning the green jersey at July's Tour de France. In all likelihood Cavendish will get things going sooner or later, but his lack of early season form has been concerning to say the east among his fans and the media alike.

And it isn't just Cavendish who is having a tough time as compared to 2009 in 2010. Heinrich Haussler burst onto the International cycling scene last year and by the end of the season was recognized as one of the brightest young stars in the sport. 2010 though has been cruel to the youngster, as he is currently recovering from a torn ligament in his knee. He has already missed MSR and has been scratched from both the Tour o Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Like Cavendish, he'll have to hope to recover in time to garner some top results in summer and fall.

The sport of professional cycling is sometimes a cruel one, where luck is as important as skill in determining success throughout a season. For Cavendish, a dental problem of all things has derailed his early season success, and there seems to be no end in sight. However, with his team behind him and more than half a season of racing remaining, he still has the chance to set everything right before the year is over.

Serious Fare: With the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix On the Horizon, the Cobbled Monuments Await the Next Great Champions

The next two weeks in the cycling world mark some of the most dramatic and exciting races of the entire season. This coming Sunday the legendary Tour of Flanders runs again, followed in a week's time by the "Queen of the Classics," Paris-Roubaix. Both races rank among the most prestigious in all of cycling, and both demand a special kind to athlete for individual victory.

Coming into both races, there will be several mainstay stars that will carry the pressure of race favorite. Fabian Cancellara, hoping for a Flanders win looks ready to fly after a strong ride and win at the E3, as does his teammate Matti Breschel. Tom Boonen of Quick Step, the former world champion and one time winner of Flanders. Juan Antonio Flecha, still fresh and riding a wave on confidence after a nice win at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, will represent team Sky. Filippo Pozzato, the brash Italian will hope for a win in one of the two upcoming monuments.

The list goes on and on, but beneath the top five star favorites are a group of riders equally as dangerous as their top-ranked competition. From Philippe Gilbert to two-time defending champion Stijn Devolder to Nick Nuyens to Edvald Boasson Hagen to George Hincapie, there are many heavy weight power riders ready to mount an assault on the cobbles in the next two weeks. Betting favorites aside, below are EP's thoughts for the coming weeks.

Denying that Boonen and Cancellara will be in the hunt to win either Flanders or Roubaix would be tantamount to saying that Alberto Contador won't be a contender at this year's Tour de France. Cancellara has shrugged off a slow start to his season in winning the E3, and his singular focus on Flanders should see him in the final group at the end of the race. He no doubt went deep into his reserves at the E3, but with a week to recover should be as strong as ever. Bare minimum, he'll podium in Flanders unless he has bad luck with a crash or mechanical.

Tom Boonen has been flying throughout the early season, but as of yet has not notched a huge win for his Quick Step squad. Expect all that to change in the coming two weeks. Boonen has the best chance of winning both Flanders and Roubaix, and with a bit of added anger at coming oh so close at the E3, he'll be on a rampage over the next two weeks. If he doesn't win at least one of either Flanders or Roubaix it will be a shock.

Filippo Pozzato has the talent to win a big cobbled classic, but as of yet he has not showed the guts to attack and put his chances into the wind. He follows wheels, and Flanders and Roubaix don't reward those types of riders. He is obviously strong again this season, but until he shows the killer instinct like Flecha did in the Omloop, he'll never stand on the top step of the podium. That said, it is still very likely that he'll at least podium at Roubaix.

Matti Breschel may be able to use Fabian Cancellara's good form to his advantage much like Stijn Devolder did in relation to Boonen at Flanders the past two seasons. The Dane is mature and ready to tackle the big races and he proved that he can sustain a long-range attack in winning the Dwars door Vlaanderen race last week. He may not end up staying away for a solo win, but with a solid sprint he could factor in a small bunch finish as well.

Tyler Farrar can't seem to get off the schnied in 2010. He has been close a few times to winning, but each time something has conspired to sink his hopes at snatching a win. Expect more of the same in the coming weeks. Farrar is a tough rider, but he is no match for the likes of Cancellara or Boonen on the cobbles. Expect the sprinter to be out shined by his teammates Maaskant and Vansummeren.

Alssandro Ballan has showed exactly nothing thus far in 2010, and after a down 2009 he should not be considered a big favorite for Flanders or Roubaix. BMC would be better served riding for George Hincapie, who is clearly rounding into a mean stretch of form. Every year we say that it is George's last chance to win Roubaix. That may not be the case this season, but his time is certainly running out. He is on a great stretch of form and as motivated as ever, so all signs point to a top performance from Hincapie in the coming weeks. All he needs now is a bit of luck to see him through to the finish.

Nick Nuyens hasn't had a good season since leaving Quick Step after the 2006 season. That year Nuyens won Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, and his classics career seemed destined for greatness. As a leader on different teams though the results have been underwhelming. He notched two second placings at the Omloop and Tour of Flanders in 2008, but besides that he has been quiet. He'll have a chance to lead Rabobank once again in 2010, and will hope to break through in the next two weeks. More likely though is he'll become isolated and then dropped by the more powerful riders in each race.

Manuel Quinziato is not on anyone's list of favorites, but he should be. His form is coming along and the Italian must be hungry to distinguish himself as an Italian one day star beside Pozzato. He'll be a protected rider for Liquigas, and after a top ten last year at Roubaix he has the experience to ride with the best. He may not win either race, but he has a solid outside chance at a podium appearance, particularly at Roubaix.

Thor Hushovd has been anonymous thus far in 2010, and a resurgance at Roubaix or Flanders seems a stretch, but don't underestimate the mighty Thor. He'll be amped up to ride well at both races, with a particular focus on Roubaix after a stellar performance in 2009. He still has two weeks to build ahead of the "Hell of the North," so he'll remain an unknown heading into Roubiax. Once race day comes though, don;t be surprised to see him among the favorites throughout the race.

Skil-Shimano's Koen de Kort is a former U-23 Parix-Roubaix winner, and he'll take a stab at the big boy version in 2010. He is a hard-nose rider with strong legs and his recent Twitter updates suggest that he is rounding into form. He's a dark horse for sure, but a strong ride at Roubiax wouldn't be impossible to imagine.

There are more riders capable of winning at wither the Ronde or Roubaix than have been listed here. Still, the above riders are those that EP will have our eyes on. In our hearts we're pulling for a underdog like Hincapie, Ballan or de Kort, but in our minds we know it will come down to a clash of the Kings of the cobbles: Boonen and Cancellara.

Gent-Wevelgem 2010: Bernhard Eisel Flies as Hincapie Fizzles in Six Man Sprint

What a result for the HTC-Columbia team today as Bernhard Eisel executed a masterful sprint out of a six man bunch today at Gent-Wevelgem to take his biggest win to date. HTC-CVolumbia, reeling from a slow season start by Mark Cavendish, nevertheless manage to win Gent-Wevelgem for the second year in a row, this time behind the wily veteran Eisel, a hugely underrated rider capable of leadership at any one day race.

Eisel's win boosts the moral of Bob Stapleton's team heading into the remainder of the early season, and likewise it will take a bit of pressure off of Mark Cavendish in the coming days and weeks. Eisel's win adds a prestigious win to the HTC 2010 palmares, and will allow the team to refocus without stress on the coming races. Although he probably won't get another golden opportunity like the one he did at Gent, Eisel will have no problem slipping back into the domestique role for Cavendish at the Tour of Flanders and other races.

Speaking of a golden opportunity, George Hincapie, one the of the six escapees, looked in prime position to win Gent for the second time, but was a tough luck fourth after starting his sprint from the most unlikely of places: at the back of the six man group with only 300 meters remaining in the race. Hincapie jumped out of the saddle looking to surprise his five break companions, but because the pace was already extremely high the element of surprise was gone. Instead of flying clear of the five, Hincapie provided the ultimate lead out for former teammate Eisel, who was sitting second wheel at the time.

Hincapie, though a huge talent with a lot left in the tank, must take a valuable lesson from his experience at Gent. He is not the sprinter he once was, and conventional wisdom would never have a rider (unless it was Mark Cavendish) beginning his sprint at the back of a group with only 300 meters left in a race. Most successful sprint finishes come from riders who are in the top three heading into the final 300 meters. Hincapie must have known this, yet still chose to take an unconventional approach to making his sprint.

Almost as soon as Hincapie started his sprint though it was clear that it would not work. Philippe Gilbert and Eisel, ever patient, simply latched onto Hincapie's wheel and then flew around him. Eisel particularly rode a masterful race, keeping the dangerous Gilbert in front of him until the final few meters. Unleashing a fearsome acceleration, Eisel won by more than a bike length, easily outpacing Gilbert and Hincapie.

The one bright spot for Hincapie in his loss is the fact that his form is obviously good ahead of his biggest objectives for the season, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. At 36 years old the American will still have one or two more chances at Flanders and Roubaix if he chooses to continue to ride in future seasons, but one gets the feeling that a win at either Flanders or Roubaix this year would mark his descent into retirement. He'll be one of three protected riders for BMC at both races, with Marcus Burghardt and Alessandro Ballan also coming to both races with high hopes. Providing his luck holds, which is no guarantee for the star-crossed classics hope, Hincapie surely has the form to compete at both races and should factor into the finish of one of both monuments.

For Bernhard Eisel meanwhile it is job well done and the HTC stalwart will toast his victory with his team far into the evening tonight. His season is now a success, and in many ways Gent also establishes him in his rightful spot as one of the most underrated riders of his generation. Success begets success, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Eisel's performance having a snowball effect on the rest of the HTC team, particularly Mark Cavendish. For now though the pressure is off for HTC and Eisel, with only a long noght of celebration remaining.

Riccardo Ricco Back Racing in Italy, But Not Winning

Riccardo Ricco, like it was 2006 all over again, sparked a decisive break in stage two of today's Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, showing that he still has some talent in his lags after serving a ban for doping. The brash, unapologetic Italian jumped away from the peloton and brought five other escapees with him, and the group worked together to resist the chasing field behind. In the kick for the line, Ricco was able to muster only third place, while the Columbian Jose Serpa took top honors.

Ricco still needs more racing to regain true race form, but already it seems as though he won't be quite the rider he was before his doping ban. He'll likely remain a solid one day specialist, but his days of contending as a grand tour overall winner are over. He is far too small to have the power to weight ratio requisite for success in time trials, and he also will probably find it hard to find a spot on a Pro Tour team that would support his quest at an overall title at the Giro or Tour de France.

In fact, the organisers of the Giro d'Italia should be commended for not inviting Ricco and his team to this years event, preferring to instead take a wait and see approach for the next few months. If Ricco can keep his nose clean over the next year perhaps he and his team will be invited to next year's Giro, but until then Ricco will have to be satisfied contending in lesser events.

Like many past dopers, Ricco deserves all of the negative publicity that comes his way over the coming months. Despite his ban being over, there should still be a period of time that Ricco must prove himself a clean rider, especially in light of his past deception. It will be very interesting to see if the Italian can become dominant again as a clean athlete. Many past accused dopers, from Alexander Vinokourov to Ivan Basso to David Millar, have never been able to regain the form they lost after stopping their cheating ways. If Ricco goes on a winning tear in the coming weeks and months, it will serve as a conspicuous sign that he may be cheating again. In the meantime, EP will be rooting against Ricco for the remainder o the season, hoping he misses out on wins throughout the year.

DNS: No Greipel or McEwen at Milan-San Remo Meant Fewer Adversaries for Freire

Andre Greipel, one of the best sprinters in the world, was handed a Did Not Start tag for Milan-San Remo, as his HTC-Columbia team instead chose to back a noticeably off form yet still defending champion Mark Cavendish in the year's first monument. Cavendish fell well short of claiming final victory, finishing an anonymous 89th, more than 6 minutes behind Freire and the main bunch and eventual winner Oscar Freire. To be fair, Cavendish suffered some bad luck in the race in the form of mechanical issues, but his performance was not one of the Cavendish all in the cycling world have been used to seeing over the past two seasons.

The Katuysha team, like HTC-Columbia, also could have come to MSR with a dual threat, but they too decided to back only one rider, leaving Robbie McEwen home in favor of 2006 MSR champion Filippo Pozzato. Pozzato, a very strong rider but not one known as a sprinter, bravely attacked in the finale but was unable to withstand the force of the chasing field behind. He finished the race in 29th place, over matched in a bunch sprint behind Freire and the rest of the protagonists.

Why both HTC-Columbia and Katuysha chose not to bring two of their best riders to Milan-San Remo is anyone's guess. History would suggest that having two team leaders can sometimes pay off, and both McEwen and Greipel seemed to have the requisite form to at least contend at MSR. Interestingly, both have a strong finishing sprint as well, and each have the experience of riding "La Primavera" in past years.

Andre Greipel is in a frustrating spot heading into the prime of his career. Although one of the best sprinters in the world, he is teammates with Mark Cavendish, who is coming off his most successful season to date and is considered by many the best sprinter in the world. In 2009 the "Gorilla" and "Cav" were able to find an uneasy truce, as each were afforded multiple opportunities to win separate races throughout the season. By the time the year was over, Greipel had tallied a whopping 20 wins and Cavendish notched 24. HTC-Columbia boss Bob Stapleton looked like a genius, a team manager capable of managing big personalities and talents within a team while managing to win races all over the world.

2010 though could see a different dynamic unfold for the HTC team no matter how positive Stapleton has been. Having lost much of their supporting cast to rival teams, HTC have fewer options for success in 2010. Cavendish and Greipel are expected to deliver similar results to 2009, but with less team support. Add to this the fact that Cavendish has not had an ideal early season preparation due to serious dental problems, and you have a recipe for tension within 2009's most successful Pro Tour squad.

Greipel for his part has held up his end of the bargain thus far in 2010, taking wins on six separate occasions in early season races. His frustration at not being selected for HTC's MSR team is therefore understandable, especially after seeing a lackluster performance from Cavendish. The German is clearly in good form, and his presence at MSR could have only helped his HTC team. Had Cavendish been in the final selection with Greipel at the end of the race, then Greipel could have provided a super-powered lead out for the Briton. If on the other hand Cavendish fell off the pace, which we now know he did, Columbia still would have been in with a chance for a win with Greipel. Why they didn't consider this dynamic heading into the single biggest one day Italian race in the world is any one's guess.

For the Katuysha team meanwhile, the situation is even more confounding. Robbie McEwen has made a career off of being an opportunist, not at all unlike Oscar Freire. The "Pocket Rocket" is one of the cagiest riders in the pro peloton, and like Freire he does not require a lead out train for success. McEwen was left home by his Katuysha team despite having a win already this season and the knowledge necessary to contend at MSR.

Like HTC-Columbia, it seems that Katuysha never took the time to consider what having a dual threat could do for their team. Pozzato, a strong individual rider, had no help any way from any teammates toward the end of San Remo, and his solo attack would not have affected McEwen had the Aussie been in the race. While there is no guarantee that McEwen would have made the final selection, it couldn't have hurt Katuysha to give him a chance. McEwen would have been far more threatening in the race than at home, yet this fact was completely lost on his Katuysha team leadership.

2009's Milan-San Remo result may have provided the clearest recent picture of what having two strong teammates in one race can do for a team's chances at victory. The Cervelo TestTeam came to Milan-San Remo with two protected riders, Thor Hushovd and Heinrich Haussler. Hushovd had blazed an early season trail in taking a stage win at the Amgen Tour of California and in the early season cobbled classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and the Norwegian was tipped as a favorite for victory at MSR. Haussler meanwhile was still a relative unknown, but had shown himself at the Omloop and KBK riding in support of Hushovd.

As the 2009 version of Milan-San Remo unfolded, Hushovd and Haussler worked masterfully together to stay at the front of the race. As the front group descended the Poggio en route to the Via Roma finish, both Cervelo riders were present at the front of the race. Haussler, realizing that Hushovd was there to contest a bunch sprint, jumped away from the field on a daring solo attack. Powering through the finish line, he was barely nipped by a rampaging Mark Cavendish. Had Haussler not been at MSR, the Cervelo TestTeam would not have finished on the podium.

As the rest of the season unfolds, HTC-Columbia, Katuysha and the rest of the pro peloton should learn from this year's Milan-San Remo edition. Two options are usually better than one, and as both HTC and Katuysha were shut out of the battle for final victory it would seem that each team would have been better served had they brought all their best riders to Italy, instead of just come of their best riders. Luckily there are still many races left to run, and HTC and Katuysha will have a chance to learn from their mistakes.

Hard Times: As Cycling's Cobbled Classics Approach, Strongman Need Only Apply

The cobbled classics season goes into full swing this coming Wednesday, beginning with the Dwars door Vlaanderen. In the next few weeks, some of the toughest one day riders in the world will do battle on some of the toughest roads in the world. Only the strongest of body and mind will be rewarded in the coming days and weeks, and 2010 sees a slew of contenders ready to try their luck in legendary races like Gent-Wevelgem, the E3, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and more.

The number one favorite for many of the cobbled classics will be the Belgian Tom Boonen. "Tommeke" just missed out on the top spot at Milan-San Remo, and his form looks electric. He has made no secret of the fact that he will put everything into Flanders and Roubaix, and he'll likely be a top finisher at many of the other races throughout the next few weeks as well.

Fabian Cancellara comes into 2010 looking to regain his spot at the top of the cobbled classic heirarchy. 2009 was not the greatest year for Cancellara in the cobbled races, and the Swiss powerhouse will lead his Saxo Bank team in all the cobbled events. Cancellara has been quiet thus far in 2010, but his form is steadily improving. Already a winner at MSR and Roubaix in past years, expect a top performance from Cancellara at Flanders as he looks to complete the early season monument trifecta.

Filippo Pozzato comes into 2010 with great form, as evidenced by his strong riding at MSR this past weekend. "Pippo," though teased as a "metrosexual" by some of his peers, nevertheless is a great rider in one day hardman's races. He has been razor-close at both Flanders and Roubaix in past seasons, and he'll hope for the right combination of strength and guile in the coming weeks as he tries to thwart the efforts of Boonen, Cancellara and others. Pozzato's teammate Robbie McEwen meanwhile will fly the flag for Katuysha in the sprint finishes, and will be primed for success at Gent-Wevelgen and Dwars in the coming days.

Thor Hushovd has been decidedly quieter than in the early part of 2009, but like Cancellara his form is steadily improving as the most important cobbled classics approach. With his teammate Heinrich Haussler suffering from a nagging knee ailment, most of the pressure to succeed will fall on the shoulders of Hushovd. The Norwegian however should be up to the task, and like last year he'll likely feature in the final selection for both Flanders and Roubaix. In a sprint finish in either race meanwhile, Hushovd seems the most equipped to pip Tom Boonen in a final dash to the line should a given race finish in a bunch sprint.

Edvald Boasson Hagen, until his let down at MSR this past weekend, has been top of mind as a favorite in most of the year's early season races. Sky's new signing has shown a powerful sprint as well as the durability to be among the favorites at the end of tough races, and in the coming weeks he'll be in with a chance at victory at many of the toughest races. Still relatively young and inexperienced, Boasson Hagen is still learning how to be a top classics rider, but with an explosive sprint and a top team supporting him, he can expect to contend for a win in at least Gent-Wevelgem.

Boasson Hagen's teammate Juan Antonio Flecha, like he has been in all the past years, will once again be a top favorite for Flanders and Roubaix. The Spaniard finally bagged his first cobbled victory at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad a few weeks back, and appears to be in the best form of his life. Saddled with the confidence that only a big win can produce, Flecha will be aggressive in the deciding moments when the race is on the line.

Lampre, the Italian team of "Ale-Jet" Alessandro Petacchi, will need the veteran sprinter to step up big time in the flatter cobbled classics, as Damiano Cunego goes away to prepare for the hilly classics. Petacchi showed he is on good form with a nice third place at Milan-San Remo, but the Italian is interested in wins, not podium appearances. He'll be highly motivated to be at the front for Gent-Wevelgem, before bidding farewell to the Belgian races as he prepares for the grand tour season.

While Cadel Evans will lead the BMC team at the Giro and Tour de France, it will be the Italian and American combo of Alessandro Ballan and George Hincapie who will spearhead the BMC effort at the remaining cobbled races. Hincapie will be eying Paris-Roubaix once again this season, while the younger and fresher Ballan will likely spread himself across a few races in hopes of gaining a win for the up and coming professional squad. Ballan is more of an escape artist than a sprinter, so he'll hope for poor weather and high winds. Hincapie on the other hand will patiently build his form, as he prepares for perhaps his final assualt on Paris-Roubaix.

The Garmin treble of Martijn Maaskant, Tyler Farrar and Johan Vansummeren should be a formidable trio throughout the next few big races, with Farrar acting as primarily the sprinter while Maaskant and Vansummeren play the breakaway/solo attacker roles. Farrar has not be electric thus far in 2010, but Gent-Wevelgem could provide the American with the huge early season win that he and his team so richly need. Maaskant and Vansummeren meanwhile, though not top contenders, are nevertheless tough one day specialists capable of mixing it up with the best. Providing they work together in a positive ay, one of the three should be at the finish of each race to represent Garmin in the finishes.

Oscar Freire, fresh off his third victory at Milan-San Remo, may be a bit less motivated for victory, but that doesn't mean he can't blast away from this field down the stretch of Gent-Wevelgem this coming weekend. Freire is obviously having an excellent early season, and his top form should serve him well in the coming weeks. he likely will not figure into flanders or Roubaix, choosing instead to rest ahead of his late spring and early summer targets. When Freire isn't on the start line for Rabobank, expect Nick Nuyens to be the protected leader, after solid rides at the Omloop and KBK races.

Mark Cavendish has been much maligned, even by some of his own teammates, over the past few weeks. And underwhelming performance at MSR showed that Cavendish is well off top form, but in racing MSR he may have laid the foundation for a top result in the coming weeks. He'll be a favorite for Gent-Wevelgem, and is planning on taking on Flanders for the first time. History would suggest that a man riding either Flanders or Roubaix for the first time can't win, but don't tell that to Covendish. He faces the same sentiment last year at MSR, and we all know how that turned out.

Lotto's sole classics leader Philippe Gilbert has the pedigree to succeed in the cobbled races, having already won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on two separate occasions. Gilbert is a rock-solid one dayer with the chops to succeed in long-range breakaways or small group sprints, and after only moderate success thus far in 2010, the Belgian will hope for a big result in the coming weeks. Gilbert will have an entire team behind him which will give him every chance of winning a big race, now the only thing for the Belgian to do is put the plan into action.

The remaining cobbled classic races should provide some of the best bike racing of the year, with a host of top riders queueing up for a shot at victory in the coming weeks. From the juggernauts like Quickstep, Cervelo TestTeam and Sky to the darkhorses like Garmin, Katuysha and Omega Pharma, 2010 sees more top contenders than ever before at this year's top early season classics.

Manuel Quinziato: Ultimate 2010 Cobbled Classics Underdog

Manuel Quinziato, the leader of the Liquigas team for the cobbled classics, is an interesting type of star. Soft spoken, hard working, yet still unproven as a winner, Quinziato flies waaaaay under the radar when discussions about race favorites for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix come up. Despite featuring in the decisive breakaway at Flanders last year and a nice 9th place at Roubaix, the Italian strongman has been mostly forgotten among the top cobbled-classics riders for 2010.

Quinziato seems a similar rider to Juan Antonio Flecha at this point in his career. Like Flecha (until recently at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad), Quinziato has not won a cobbled classic yet, but has featured in both cobbled monuments. Also like the Spaniard, he rides for a team that is not well-known for cobbled classic success. His Liquigas team houses some of the world's best stage racers in Franco Pellizotti, Ivan Basso, Romain Kreuziger and Vincenzo Nibali, and one of the top sprinters as well in the form of Daniele Benatti. Quinziato, though a big talent in one day cobbled races, is largely lost in the Liquigas shuffle.

For 2010, Quinziato will be the sole leader of the Liquigas team for both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. As he did in 2009, he'll arrive at the start lines of both races as a mild favorite, while other big names like Boonen, Cancellara, Pozzato and others enjoy most of the front page coverage.

His underdog status can only help Quinziato as he looks to establish himself among the world's elite cobbled riders. He has gained valuable experience over the past seasons and is a capable veteran that seems to have as good a chance as anyone else to take top honors in one of the upcoming cobbled races. Providing his team holds up and brings him to the front of the race at the most crucial moments, he should be expected, at a minimum, to finish in the top ten for both races. A win meanwhile is not impossible, but would be a massive surprise to all except perhaps Quinziato and his Liquigas team.

In viewing Juan Antonio Flecha's win at the Omloop, Quinziato must feel more than ever that he has a great chance for success in the coming weeks. A strong early season build up free of sickness and crashes has seen Quinziato prepare to battle with the best at Flanders and Roubaix, and despite having the pressure of an entire team on his shoulders, Quinziato seems as well-prepared as ever to deal with such pressures.

Winning a big cobbled-classic is a gradual process, where success is found after years of learning, heartbreak and poor luck. Quinziato has suffered through both over past editions, and now as an established veteran deserves to be considered among the other top favorites for the top step of the podium. An Italian winning a cobbled classic is a rarity indeed, and Quinziato will hope to surprise the world in a few weeks time at the biggest cobbled-classics of 2010.

Cadel Evans Priming for 2010 Giro Run at Tirreno Adriatico

Good on ya, Cadel Evans! The reigning world road champion is racing Tirreno Adriatico this week as he primes for a run at the overall title at the Giro d'Italia. Perhaps realizing the unlikelihood of beating Alberto Contador at July's Tour de France, Evans has decided to focus his efforts first on the GC at the Giro, and then the Tour. Riding for the non-Pro Tour BMC squad, Evans is in for the Giro but his team has not yet been confirmed for the Tour de France, further lending a sense of urgency for the Aussie to succeed at the Italian three week tour.

Evans has raced early and often in 2010, as he looks to peak for May's Giro. Aggressive and attentive at the front of the peloton in most of the races he has taken part in this season, Evans seems a different rider since his world's win in Mendrisio. No longer content being pack fill, Evans takes his chances when he has them. And while he has not managed to take his first win of 2010 yet, he has nevertheless been successful in creating decisive situations out on the roads of the various races that he has entered.

As May's Giro d'Italia approaches, Evans will be on the short list of favorites for the three week event. He'll bring a strong support team to the first grand tour of 2010, and despite being a favorite he should be well-prepared to handle the pressure having learned valuable lessons in past seasons. Providing luck doesn't work against him in Italy, Evans looks to be positioned for his best chance at a GC victory in a grand tour in all his year as a professional.

In looking at Evans' decision to race for the win at this year's Giro, it seems a wise choice for the veteran Aussie. It is not only Contador who is targeting July's Tour overall, but a host of other big time GC riders, including Andy Schleck, Brad Wiggins, Alejandro Valverde, Lance Armstrong, Carlos Sastre, Denis Menchov, Franco Pellizotti, and Christian Vande Velde. Of those above names though, it seems as though only Carlos Sastre is heading to the Giro with GC intentions. The others will race the Giro only for training or head across the ocean to the re-vamped and more powerful Amgen Tour of California. All of these factors put Evans in a great position to win, and finally make good on his promise as a possible grand tour winner.

Should Evans fall short at the Giro, he'll still have the Tour de France to look forward to. His fitness will still be solid heading out of the Giro, and barring disaster he should at least have a podium appearance to his credit by the time the Giro is over, which will boost his and his teams confidence ahead of July's Tour. All in all, Cadel Evans' decision to ride the Giro for the overall win looks like a very wise one, made by a rider who uses his brain as much as his legs for success.

Back in Black: Belgian Champ Boonen Making Hay Early in 2010

Tom Boonen's 2010 thus far has been the opposite of 2009. Last season the Belgian superstar was mired in controversy, dealing with emerging news that he had, on more than one occasion, tested positive for cocaine in separate tests. With the weight of the world seemingly on his shoulders "Tommeke" just wasn't his usual self. Sure, he took Paris-Roubaix in impressive fashion, but otherwise had a lackluster season, notching only six victories throughout the year.

Thus far in 2010 the reigning Belgian champion has already taken four wins, including his first ever victory on Italian soil at Tirreno-Adriatico against a top-flight field. Using his vast veteran experience, Boonen latched on to the Liquigas train down the stretch at TA and was able to overpower Daniele Bennati to win clear of the Italian. It was a landmark, confidence-building scalp for Boonen, and it will give him big confidence heading into the first monument of 2010, Milan-San Remo.

In his years as a professional, Tom Boonen has had an eventful and successful career marked by ups and downs. Despite these various speed bumps in his career though, the big Belgian has always managed to bounce back and make good on his promise as one of the world's best one day specialists. Today, more than ever he looks the part of top favorite, ready to assume the spot he lost in 2009, that of one of the fastest and most dangerous riders in the world. Now with a win in Italy ahead of one of the season's biggest goals, Boonen should be a tough out at MSR, especially considering he'll have a very strong team behind him.

Another scary proposition to think about is the fact that with a bit of luck Boonen could take two or more of the season's first three monuments. MSR has never been a race that perfectly suits Boonen, but he is flying thus far in the early season and looks to be in with as good a shot as in any previous year for MSR. For Flanders and Roubaix meanwhile he'll be as formidable as ever, a force on the cobbles with the know-how and raw power to dust the competition. Too, it should be noted that Boonen has not been defeated the past two full seasons at both Flanders and Roubaix. He did not win Flanders in either season, but his teammate Stijn Devolder did, whch is as good as a victory for Boonen and his Quick Step team.

It seems finally that Boonen has put his personal issues behind him and he seems singularly focused on winning bike races again. His team, as strong as ever an built to support him, is equally focused on delivering Boonen to the finish line victorious in as many races as possible throughout the rest of the season. An on-form Tom Boonen is bad news for the peloton, but an on-form, focused and committed Tom Boonen is a living nightmare for the elite pro ranks. And while Boonen may not win every race he aims for in 2010, initial returns suggest a windfall year for the Belgian in the world's biggest races for the remainder of the year.

Floyd Landis Signs with Bahati Foundation: A New Beginning?

Floyd Landis, luckless after having a falling out with Rock Racing and team owner Michael Ball leading into this season, caught a bit of good fortune this past week after Rahsaan Bahati's Bahati Foundation cycling team signed the controversial rider to a contract for the 2010 season. In a fortunate turn of events for Landis, the deposed Tour de France star will have a chance to ply his trade for another season in the pro ranks thanks to a lifeline from the Bahati Foundation team.

2009 saw Landis make a luke-warm comeback to pro cycling. He returned with much fanfare at last year's Tour of California, but bad luck and tough competition saw him finish out of the top 25 overall. For the remainder of the season meanwhile, Landis toiled mostly as a domestique to his OUCH teammates, never managing to take a win throughout the rest of the year.

Many in the know cycling fans commented that Floyd had lost a gear during his two year layoff suspension, but others believe that he is as good as ever. In time, it is thought by many that Landis will once again make good on his promise as a stage racing force. That the Bahati Foundation team signed him speaks to the fact that many, including Bahati himself, obviously believe that Landis still has a lot left in the tank.

2010 will see Landis given another chance to prove himself as a top-rank rider. He'll likely not get the chance to try his hand in Europe much, but invites to the biggest stage races in America, including the Tours of California, Utah and Missouri seem likely as the Bahati Foundation looks to be a solid team worthy of invites to all such events. Landis will be the de facto stage race leader, and will probably support Bahati and others on the team during sprint finishes and one day races.

Floyd Landis has had a very tough last few years, both professionally and personally. On top of the sporting world one minute, Landis fell from grace the next, and all in the public eye. The scrutiny and pressure he must have felt the past few years must have been overwhelming, and like all people Landis must have been negatively affected by all of those adverse experiences. Now that he has completed his first season back as a pro and is on a new team that supports him, he'll have his best chance to succeed again in the pro ranks.

A long season is ahead of Floyd Landis, one that is sure to contain a healthy share of ups and downs. Luckily for Landis though, he is a part of a team that understands adversity and believes in second chances. Landis will be provided a supportive atmosphere where he can improve day by day, as well as a chance to lead a team at the Tour of California in the hunt for the overall. At this point in his career, that is all Landis could hope for. 2010, at least for now, looks like one of new beginnings and high hopes for Floyd Landis and all of his supporters.

Fabian Cancellara 2010: The Search for Classics Redemption

Fabian Cancellara's 2009 spring classics campaign didn't go quite to plan for the world renowned time trialist. A combination of sickness and crashes at the outset of last year set his classics preparation back, as did a string of bad luck in the biggest cobbled-classics. He broke a chain at Flanders and was out of contention early at Paris-Roubaix, leaving him empty handed after the spring classics season.

2010 will see Cancellara hope for a smoother start to his year, as well as at least one victory in one of the three biggest classics of the spring. The Swiss time trialing machine will be a big player at Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix after a solid early season build up that will continue at this coming week's Tirreno-Adriatico stage race.

With the departure of Kurt Asle-Arvesen, Lars Bak, Karsten Kroon and Alexandr Kolobnev from the Saxo-Bank team, Cancellara finds himself as one of the only remaining one day stars on Bjarne Riis' squad. Stuart O'Grady, though still a strong one day commodity, is not quite as dynamic as in previous years, and so most of the one day pressure will fall squarely on the shoulders of Cancellara.

At 28 years old and with a lexicon of experience and victories in the biggest races throughout the world, Cancellara is as well-prepared as anyone to deal with the expectations that will be placed on him throughout the spring months. He has laid a solid base after riding the Tour of Qatar, and seems poised to have a solid performance at all of the big upcoming races this spring.

Cancellara is already a past winner at MSR and Roubaix, and so it would seem that the Tour of Flanders would be tops on his wish list for this spring. He'll receive staunch support from O'Grady as well as Matti Breschel. His status as leader for the early spring classics is unquestioned, which should play to the favor of the Saxo Bank team. With only one clear leader to support, there will be little confusion on the Saxo Team.

The Saxo Bank team is still a strong outfit, but Cancellara will likely be forced to follow the stronger teams as the tactics are made in each classics race. Stronger teams like Sky, Columbia and Quick Step will be looked to by Cancellara and others to control the spring races, and so riders like Cancellara will have to take a wait and see approach as each race unfolds.

Fabian Cancellara is without a doubt one of the strongest riders in the European peloton, capable of winning a race virtually on his own without any help. He is a cagey veteran with a strong body and mind, able to read a race at a moment's notice an react accordingly. Providing he has a bit of luck, Cancellara should expect to at least podium in one of the three spring monuments. Whether he'll manage to won of them is down to a combination of tactics, luck and circumstance.

Tirreno Adriatico 2010: Sprinter's Test Ahead of Milan-San Remo

The Tirreno-Adriatico stage race begins this coming Wednesday, providing some of the best sprinters in the world a chance to hone their form ahead of the season's first monument, Milan-San Remo. "La Primevera" is known as a race that is usually won by a sprinter, and so all eyes will be on the fast finishers at Tirreno to see who is carrying the best form into the early part of the cycling season.

For this year's edition of Tirreno-Adriatico, there are many top sprinters registered, which should lead to some hard-fought and exciting bunch kicks throughout the week. Mark Cavendish, Thor Hushovd, Tom Boonen, Tyler Farrar, Oscar Freire, Daniele Bennati and Robbie McEwen will all be favorites for stage wins, as each try to pad their early 2010 palmares with a win at the Italian stage race.

There are other riders entered for Tirreno that could factor into the bunch finishes as well. Alessandro Petacchi, though currently a questionable start after a crash this past week, will be hard to beat providing he is all systems go for Tirreno. The Dane Matti Breschel of Saxo Bank is a fast finisher, and with some luck could upend the favorites. Team Sky has Edvald Boasson Hagen entered, and although not a pure sprinter, the lanky Norwegian still possesses a fast turn of speed in the sprints. Also, ISD's Oscar Gatto will mix it up with the bigger Pro Tour teams, hoping for a huge win for his Italian squad. Finally, watch out for Astana's Allan Davis, who will hope to continue Astana's good fortune in Italy after a huge win by Max Iglinsky at the Monte Paschi Eroica.

As the best sprinters in the world queue up for Milan-San Remo, most of them will use Tirreno-Adriatico as a form indicator ahead of the biggest one day race in Italy. A win at TA not only will boost confidence, but will prove to each respective winner that they are equal to o slightly better than their main rivals at this point in the season. Of equal importance, each sprinter will be able to use TA to hone the efficiency of his team ahead of the first huge objective of 2010 fo the world's fastest sprinters.

Lance Armstrong Opens 2010 European Season at Tour of Murcia for Early Season Form Indicator

Lance Armstrong debuts in Europe this week at the Tour of Murcia stage race from March 3 through March 7. The Texan will be looking for a solid performance at the race, including a good ride in the 22 kilometer individual time trial. Other Tour de France favorites will be competing at Murcia, including 2009 Giro d'Italia winner Denis Menchov and Brad Wiggins of Team Sky.

Thus far in 2010 Armstrong’s fitness has been a question mark. He rode in the bunch at the Tour Down Under in January, but besides that he has been relatively reclusive, training in Hawaii, among other locations. Seeing him at Murcia will provide a good early season indicator of where his form stands ahead of his ultimate season objective, the Tour de France.

Should Armstrong have difficulty at Murcia, whispers will begin as to whether he will find himself outmanned at July’s Tour. The ITT in particular will be scrutinized, with Armstrong’s time sure to be compared to specialists like Wiggins and fellow American David Zabriskie. If Armstrong is a minute or more off the winning pace, it will serve as an indicator that he will have trouble being on par with the rest of the Tour favorites in a few months time.

If however Armstrong has a good showing in the stage 4 time trial, it will be a warning signal to his competition that he is on track for a potent performance at the Tour. If he can stay within 20 to 30 seconds of the winning time, he’ll receive a huge confidence boot that his early season form is right where he wants it. The 7-time TdF winner proved last year that he can climb as well as almost all the overall Tour contenders with exception to Andy Schleck and Contador, and so a solid ITT would lead many pundits to favor him for a podium spot for the Tour.

Although an early season tune up race, the Tour of Murcia is shaping up to be one of the best indicators the cycling public will have into who will be some of the main protagonists of July’s Tour. Expect the pressure to be high on all of the big names competing as each tries to keep pace with their rivals throughout the race. Luckily for most of the riders though, most of the attention from the media and fans will be solely on the shoulders of one man: Lance Armstrong.

The only way the attention will shift to others though is if Armstrong ends up winning that ITT. In that case, his younger competition will find themselves answering he same question over and over from both the fans and media alike: Are you afraid of the 2010 Lance? And if he does indeed win that time trial, they should be afraid, very afraid.

Alejandro Valverde’s 2010 Tour de France Plan: Strong Team, Strong Will

Alejandro Valverde has had little luck in trying to win the Tour de France in past years. Year in and year out he would arrive in France as one of the favorites for victory, only to see his overall hopes fade after one or two poor days in the mountains. Rival teams too took their toll on Valverde’s chances, as the Spaniard found himself without proper support against bigger, stronger teams.

For 2010, providing he is not banned worldwide, Valverde may have his best chance yet at winning the biggest bike race in the world. His team is souped-up and he is coming off his first ever grand tour overall win at last year’s Vuelta a Espana, and his confidence is at an all-time high. Further, he has the required experience to win, having withstood the pressure of holding a race leader’s jersey all the way to the finish of a grand tour.

Despite his involvement in Operacion Puerto as an accused and sanctioned (in Italy) doper, Valverde is nevertheless one of the most talented riders in all of cycling. He is comfortable time trialing and climbing, and among climbers is known to have the best sprint. He is truly an overall ride, capable of making time differences on his rivals in a variety of situations.

His Caisse d’Epargne team meanwhile, in the last year of existence due the sponsorship ending, is absolutely stacked for stage races in 2010. They have kept their core of support riders for Valverde and added a few key signings that will see the Spaniard lead one of the strongest stage racing teams for 2010. Returning to Caisse d’Epargne for 2010 are Valverde stalwarts Jose Ivan Gutierrez, Luis Leon Sanchez and Joe Vincente Garcia Acosta.

It is the new signings for Caisse d’Epargne though that will truly pump up their ability to defend the leader’s yellow jersey at Le Tour. Frenchman Christophe Moreau, at the virtual end of his career at age 38, will be a valued support rider to Valverde at the Tour as well as a lobbyist to gain the team entry into the French tour. Moreau is as popular in France as ever, and his sway with Tour organizer ASO should prove valuable in the selection process.

Also joining Valverde for 2010 will be Columbian climbing sensation Juan Mauricio Soler. The lanky mountain goat is a proven commodity at the Tour, and his strength in the high mountains will prove invaluable to Valverde on the longest climbing stages. Plus, with no team time trial, Soler won’t be as big a liability as in previous years. Juan Jose Cobo, another strong climber also boards the Caisse d'Epargne train, lending further firepower to Valverde's domestique stable.

Finally, Marzio Bruseghin will add some much needed firepower on the flat and transitional stages, in addition to in the mountains. The wily Italian is a strong rouler as well as climber, and his time trialing skills are sharp as well. He’ll be able to ride the ITT stages ahead of Valverde and provide valuable feedback regarding the course, as Valverde tries to limit his losses to the other big contenders at the Tour.

At the Tour de France, even the best laid plans sometimes fail to elicit the intended result. Luck, weather and rival teams all factor into the result of the Tour, and even a strong team leader on great form with a solid support structure could falter at the legendary French event. That said, Valverde is, moreso than in previous years, giving himself the best chance at success for this year’s Tour. Valverde has accomplished many milestones in his sometimes controversial career, but none would be bigger than a 2010 Tour de France title. And now, with a strong team behind him, the Spaniard will have no excuses should he fall short in this year’s Tour.

Recapping 2010 Classics Openers Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne

With the first major classics of 2010 in the books, the cycling season is off and running. Typically, both the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne races were affected by adverse weather, and in particular the KBK race featured abysmal conditions. Looking back on the weekend, below are some of EP’s observations.

The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was won once again won a relatively long range solo attack, as long-suffering classics bride’s maid Juan Antonio Flecha rode away from Belgian powerhouse Philippe Gilbert to secure his first cobbled-classics victory. Flecha is a likable rider who was more than due for a big result on Belgian ground, and with the win at Het Nieuwsblad he secures his legacy as the best cobbled classics rider in the history of Spain.

Philippe Gilbert, dropped by Flecha about 20 kilometers from the finish of the race, rode strong and seems in good position to threaten for upcoming classics in the next few weeks. The attacking Belgian is now the unquestioned leader of the Lotto team for one day races though, and he should figure heavily into the rest of the spring classics.

Tom Boonen, though out of the running at the Omloop due to a flat tire at a key moment in the race, nevertheless looks very strong at this early point in the year. He was unable to find his way onto the podium this past weekend, but he should still be satisfied with his weekend of racing. He helped to shatter the field down the stretch at Het Nieuwsblad, and seemed to realize that caution was the best approach at KBK, where weather conditions were the worst in years. “Tommeke” will reload for the remaining classics, and seems on track to defend his Paris-Roubaix title in several weeks time.

Boonen’s teammate Stijn Devolder looked terrible in his season debut at both weekend races. The two-time Tour of Flanders champion had few excuses for his poor performance, and allowed that he just wasn’t that good. Since his time at Discovery Channel he has been known as a huge talent capable of big things, and his victories at Flanders underscore this point. Still, he is a mercurial rider prone to lapses in form and concentration. Expect him to bounce back in the coming weeks, but where he’ll perform best is anyone’s guess.

George Hincapie and the BMC team were quiet in he classics debuts, as the American comes back from a tough flu bug that struck him recently. Hincapie is solely focused on glory at Paris-Roubaix so he still has plenty of time round into form. Plus, he’ll take heart from Flecha’s Omloop victory, as it will reinforce to him that under the right circumstances a veteran can break through. Hincapie’s teammate Marcus Burghardt meanwhile seems to be coming into a great stretch of form, and will likely be a factor at the E3 and Flanders.

Tyler Farrar, though known today primarily as a sprinter, had a great performance at the Omloop, scoring a third place finish behind Flecha and Heinrich Haussler. Farrar is, in addition to a fast finisher, a strong all-around rider capable of great things in one day races. Similar to Oscar Freire but tougher, Farrar has been close to victory but as of yet has not notched his first big win of 2010. Still, a podium at the Omloop is encouraging, and the veteran American should be front and center for Gent-Wevelgem, and perhaps the E3 or the Scheldeprijs-Vlaanderen. All in all, his first weekend in Belgium was a resounding success.

Filippo Pozzato, as he has done in previous years, seems satisfied with following the wheels of attackers in hopes of winning the war of attrition on the way to the finish lines of the early season classics. The Italian is without a doubt one of the strongest classics riders once gain this season, but his unwillingness to attack could prove his undoing over the next few weeks. Fortune favors the bold, and until Pozzato attacks in a race, he will likely find himself missing out on glory. Over the next few weeks of racing, he would be well-served to learn from Juan Antonio Flecha, an attack when his legs feel great.

The Cervelo TestTeam seems, despite not actually winning either the Omloop or KBK, one of the strongest teams for the early season classics. Heinrich Haussler, as usual was brilliant, and netted a solid runner up to Flecha in winning he bunch sprint for second place. One Sunday meanwhile, Thor Hushovd and the Canadian Dominique Rollin rode valiantly for the win at KBK, eventually coming up a bit short in the wet, cold and windy conditions that saw only 26 riders finish the race. In the coming weeks, the Cervelo treble of Haussler, Hushovd and Rollin will form a tough front for the remaining classics. If they don’t manage one win in the cobbled classics in the coming weeks it would be a big surprise.

The Saxo Bank team meanwhile seems a shadow of its former self. Gone is Kurt Asle Arvesen who departed in the offseason for Sky and Karten Kroon who joined BMC, and Fabian Cancellara is still preparing for an assault on Flanders and Roubaix, so the Saxo team was a bit thin for the Omloop and KBK with only Stuey O’Grady nd Matti Breschel to lead them in the weekend’s races. The Aussie, a formidable classics rider and former Paris-Roubaix winner, was game for the Omloop and KBK, but was unable to make a difference in either race. Breschel flatted and was taken out of contention early. In what may be a clear example of how the recession is affecting pro teams, Saxo Bank seems at this early point in the season to be unable to contend in all races, instead having to choose their shots in select contests. No longer stacked with classics clout, Saxo are forced instead to pin their hopes on Cancellara for the bigger races to come.

With plenty of cobbled-style racing to come over the next few weeks, there are sure to be many exciting developments as the racing unfolds. Tough roads and weather await the peloton for the next several weeks, as the rest of the classics season unfolds.