Mass Assault

Whatever you think or however you feel about Critical Mass [I have friends that just despise the rides and those that ride in them], there doesn't seem to be much love for them from those that are "sworn to serve and protect."

Here's the latest cycling related video circulating the internet.



According to Gothamist,

Although a judge ruled in 2006 that the monthly Critical Mass bicycle rides could proceed without a permit, the NYPD's stance remains somewhat adversarial. Though the city has not been enforcing the controversial parade permit law when it comes to Critical Mass, police have been ticketing cyclists during the ride for such infractions as not having the required lights.

A representative for TIMES UP! tells us that the cyclist in this video was arrested, held for 26 hours, and charged with attempted assault and resisting arrest. One other cyclist was ticketed Friday night for riding outside the bike lane, which is not actually illegal and often necessary, considering how popular bike lanes are for double parking.

UPDATE: MyFoxNY has it that the police officer in the video – 22-year-old Patrick Pogan – has been stripped of his badge and gun and the NYPD has "placed the officer on desk duty pending the outcome of a department investigation." The cyclist, Christopher Long, has not commented, but his lawyer said, "The video speaks for itself."

UPDATE 7/29: More details here, including how Officer Pogan is apparently a third-generation cop and Long is described as an Army veteran who works as a grocer at the Union Square Green Market.

Rais Romps, Bergman Best Field In Chicago

Professional cycling finally made its way onto the streets of downtown Chicago with the inaugural Chicago Criterium held this past Sunday July 27th.


In the Women's Pro 1/2/3 race, Team TIBCO took charge as Amber Rais, who unveiled a new victory salute, soloed to victory while teammate Brooke Miller took third. The precocious West Allis [WI] product, Samantha Schneider (Mesa Cycles) continued to impress taking the field sprint and second place.


Results
1 Amber Rais (Team TIBCO)
2 Sam Schneider (Mesa Cycles)
3 Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO)
4 Lara Kroepsch (ValueAct Capital)
5 Carrie Cash (Team Revolution)
6 Monique Hanely (Team Type 1)
7 Christian Hanster
8 Megan Elliot (Bend Bike N Sport)
9 Meredith Miller (Aaron's Women's Professional)
10 Rushlee Buchanan (Team TIBCO)

In the Men's Professional race, it was Texas Roadhouse's Adam Bergman who reigned victorious. Bergman claimed the top prize [and a prime] among a very talented field that featured the likes of Chris Horner (Astana) and "Fast" Freddy Rodriguez (Rock Racing).


Results
1 Adam Bergman (Texas Roadhouse)
2 Dominique Rollin (Toyota-United)
3 David Veilleux (Kelly Benefit/Medifast)
4 Chris Horner (Astana)
5 Graham Howard (Bissell Pro Cycling Team)
6 Hilton Clarke (Toyota-United)
7 Alex Candelario (Kelly Benefit/Medifast)
8 Frank Pipp (Health Net presented by Maxxis)
9 Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing)
10 Paul Martin (Texas Roadhouse)

Full Race Report

Photos: Copyright Luke Seemann (Chicago Bike Racing)

Truth And Consequences

The final weekend of the 95th Tour de France offered up few surprises, but it certainly was exciting to watch.

Stefan Schumacher and Bernhard Kohl sent the soon to be defunct Gerolsteiner, who ends their sponsorship at the end of the 2008 season, with a pair of excellent performances.

Schumacher was the king of the "race of truth" once again, besting all comers including the current World Champion in the discipline, Fabian Cancellara (CSC - Saxo Bank). Meanwhile, Kohl confirmed his form during the 53km time trial and proved that he was more than a one trick mountain climbing pony by staying within a fingernail's length of displacing Cadel Evans (Silence - Lotto) down one notch on the final General Classification (GC) podium. Evans managed to hang on and took second place in the GC for a second consecutive year.

The day must have certainly been a disappointment for the overwhelming pre-race favorite Evans, but c'est Le Tour, oui?

Some were probably shocked by another Spanish climber being able to defend a lead in perhaps his weakest discipline, but like Alberto Contador (Astana) the year before, Carlos Sastre (CSC - Saxo Bank) isn't Michael Rasmussen flailingly bad in the time trial. In fact, over the years, Sastre has been fairly steady in the "race of truth" and showed that steadiness on Saturday's definitive stage.

More:
NYT - In a Time Trial, Drama Occurs When the Clock Stops
The Canberra Times - Short again but Cadel's heart second to none
NYT - Sastre All but Locks Up Yellow Jersey in Tour

Steegmans Quick Steps Away
With the GC all but decided on Saturday, the finale on Sunday was a day for the sprinters. The boys from Quick Step finally got it right and helped to deliver Gert Steegmans the prestigious Champs-Ellysees victory. Steegmans, who had the opportunity to have his Wally Pipp moment during the Tour, showed that he is still in need of some seasoning before actually leading his own team as the big Belgian and Quick Step looked completely lost over the three weeks without team leader Tom Boonen.

More:
Super Sport - Steegmans the Champs Elysees sprint king
Yahoo! Eurosport - Tour de France - Sastre takes title as Steegmans wins
Bike Radar - Gert Steegmans to ditch Quick Step for Tinkoff

Conquistadors
On Friday, I wrote that Spain had the opportunity to claim back-to-back Tour titles, which was a complete oversight and totally erroneous on my part. Spaniards have actually won the last three Tours. Lest we forget, Oscar Periero (Caisse d'Epargne) who crashed out on Stage 15, was declared the 2006 Tour de France champion after Floyd Landis lost his appeal on a positive doping charge.

It just goes to show that a true championship is one that is won on the road and not through administrative posturing.


With Periero, Contador, and now Sastre, Spain's renewed vision of conquering the world, the cycling kind at least, looks to have started with their neighbors to the north.

More:
Velonews - A magical year for Spanish sports
San Jose Mercury News - Tour de France: Spanish reign over France
Reuters - Sastre victory to provide consolation for Contador

Final Bill
The 2008 Tour's final "Butcher's Bill" equaled a dozen with Kazakhstan's Dimitri Fofonov testing positive for an illegal banned stimulant. He was immediately sacked by his team, Credit Agricole. He joins Riccardo Ricco and the whole of Saunier Duval - Scott, Moises Duenas (Barloworld) and Triki Beltran (Liquigas) as riders voluntarily or forcibly dismissed from this year's race.

In the past two year's a total of 33 riders have either been shown the door or left willingly.

More:
ESPN.com - The scenic finish can't hide the ugly journey
Bangkok Post - Has the Tour de France turned the corner?
IHT - Race director hails 2008 Tour de France as victory over doping cheats

Napolitano’s Runner-Up Finish Caps Rock Racing's ‘Super Week’

Whitefish Bay, Wis. — Rock Racing got a runner-up finish Sunday and placed two riders on the final podium of the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic to cap one of the most successful stretches of racing in the team’s history.

During 17 days of competition in Wisconsin and Illinois, Rock Racing won six races and recorded 10 podium finishes, including Rudolph “Rudy” Napolitano’s second-place in the “Super Week” series final, the Whitefish Bay Classic.

Sterling Magnell finished second in the overall standings, 11 points behind Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling). Rock Racing teammate Rahsaan Bahati was runner-up in the Bianchi Sprints Competition, 23 points behind Jittery Joe’s Chad Hartley.

Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball pointed out that his squad never quit – battling to the last lap of the final race.

“We’re really proud of how we rode,” Ball said. “The spectators and other riders saw how classy and competitive this team is this. Even the race organizer told us tonight on stage that we were No. 1 in his book.”

Three different Rock Racing riders each won a pair of races. Magnell took the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic presented by Vee Pak/Beverly Bike & Ski (July 11) and the Great Downer Avenue Bike Race (Saturday). Bahati won the St. Francis Hospital Blue Island ProAm July 12 and the first day of the Ray Basso Bensenville Criterium (July 15), while Peter Dawson captured The Shorewood Foundation presents The Tim Hart DDS/Rainbow Jersey Shorewood Criterium (July 17) and the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Grand Prix of Cycling (July 20).

Napolitano won the field sprint Sunday after Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombian National Team) soloed to victory in the 62-mile (100 km) race. Napolitano was one of seven riders who lapped the field.

“The guys wanted to give me a gift because I am normally a worker and I have gladly assumed that role,” he said. “I got on Rahsaan’s wheel with nine laps to go and he did a lot of work to close gaps. Then Justin (Williams) led me out on the last lap. They made it look easy.”

Magnell epitomized the monumental effort Rock Racing put forth in trying to win the series after Kayle Leogrande finished second here a year ago. Magnell crashed badly July 18 at the Ripon Red Hawk Criterium and needed seven stitches and a doctor’s approval to start the next day after suffering a concussion.

“We had crashes, Rahsaan missed three races to attend a wedding and we were undermanned for a couple days at the start,” Magnell said. “It was two weeks of pure stress and pressure but we’re really proud of how we performed. We rode our hearts out and rose to the occasion.”

Rock Racing’s Magnell Wins On Downer Avenue

Milwaukee, Wis. — Rock Racing’s Sterling Magnell got a much-needed victory Saturday to pull within three points of the overall title at the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic.

Magnell delivered Rock Racing’s second straight win at the Great Downer Avenue Bike Race by attacking on the final lap of the 62-mile (100 km) race. Last year, Kayle Leogrande won the race, which typically attracts huge crowds to the neighborhood race outside Milwaukee, Wisc.

“I pulled one out of the bag tonight,” Magnell said. “I was really marked, as I have been in pretty much every race. But I was feeling good and made some moves.”

No move was bigger than the 28-year-old’s attack on the final trip around the eight-tenths-of-a-mile course. It came on the heels of teammate Justin Williams’ sprint that won him a $7,000 crowd prime – believed to be the largest one-lap amount ever offered up in the history of racing in the United States – with two laps to go.

“Justin got a massive lead-out from Peter Dawson,” Magnell said. “My teammate, Rahsaan Bahati, won it last year (and) my goal today was to set up for it and win. And that’s exactly what I did.”

Magnell said he keyed off a concerted lead-out that was organized by nearly the entire squad of Kelly Benefit Strategies presented by Medifast.

“With half a lap to go I was sitting about 10 riders back,” Magnell said. “I put it in my biggest gear and attacked them and never looked back.”

The win was Magnell’s second of the 17-day series and closed the gap to Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team) in the overall standings with only Sunday’s criterium at Whitefish Bay remaining. Should the two be tied on points, Magnell would be declared the overall winner based on his two wins (to none for Cantwell).

Bahati will return to action Sunday after missing the past three races while attending a wedding. He trails Chad Hartley (Jittery Joe’s) by 18 points in the Bianchi Sprints competition.

“Everyone is tired but the race at Whitefish Bay will be easier to control,” Magnell said. “It will take a miracle, but sometimes miracles happen.”

Photo: Leonard Basobas

One For The Road

My first memory of Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) was on Stage 15 of the 2003 Tour de France. The then 24-year old riding for Brioches La Boulangère was off with the gun on that day as he attempted to take the stage from Bagnères-de-Bigorre to Luz-Ardiden solo.

Having crested the Col du Tourmalet first, Chavanel looked to be well on his way to his first ever Tour de France stage victory. But midway up the final climb of the Luz-Ardiden, Chavanel would receive a tap on the shoulder for his valiant efforts from one Lance Armstrong, who had attacked, was felled by a musette bag, and then attacked again. Armstrong would take the stage and his 5th Tour.

Five years later, Chavanel’s attitude toward racing hasn’t changed much, writing in his Cyclingnews diary at the beginning of the Tour:

And then, it's weird that only the Frenchmen attack. It seems as though the foreigners are keeping their forces up their sleeves for the last week. But I don't care about later... I don't care about a top 15 placing. That's not why I'm here. Cycling would be quite a sad affair if everybody was speculating like that. I mean, you shouldn't be afraid to take a blow. It's also much more exciting for the spectators: they want us to attack - and if we blow up on the next day, it doesn't matter! At least, we gave everything on the day we really went for it.

But, his results have certainly improved.

The Frenchman, slated to ride for the Belgian team Quick-Step next year, can now add a Tour stage to his palmares as he bested countryman Jérémy Roy (Française des Jeux) in a two-up sprint. Gerald Ciolek (Team Columbia) was the best of the rest taking the field sprint in front of Erik Zabel (Milram).

Results
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
2 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia

The General Classification published before Stage 19 remained unchanged. The field is set for tomorrow’s 53km ITT, so step up and place your bets.

General Classification After Stage 19
1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.24
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 1.33
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 1.34
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 2.39
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 4.41
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5.35
8 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 5.52
9 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 8.10
10 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 8.24

Next : Stage 20 - Saturday, July 26: Cérilly - Saint Amand Montrond (ITT), 53km. The profile is relatively flat, but the zig-zag course should offer up some surprises especially if it rains as predicted.


More:
Reuters - Chavanel rewarded for his efforts with maiden Tour win
Bike Radar - Tour notes: Chavanel dedicates stage win to lost friend
Yahoo! Eurosport - Tour de France - Chavanel adds to French glory
IHT - Mind games and odd behavior as pressure rises

Photo: Getty Images

On Tap...

Tomorrow a new Tour de France champion will most likely be crowned, as Sunday's ride into Paris has traditionally been more parade than actual race for those contesting the General Classification, no matter how small the time gap.

Carlos Sastre (CSC - Saxo Bank) goes into the ITT with over a minute and a half lead on pre-Tour favorite Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto).

If we were to use the results from the shorter Stage 4 ITT as a guide to see who might be the final maillot jaune wearer, then Spain should get ready to celebrate its first back-to-back [Alberto Contador (Astana) winning last year, in case someone forgot] Tour champions since Miguel Indurain, by the slimmest of margins.

But definitely stay tuned as the forecast calls for a light rain and warm weather. The right choice of equipment [bike and tires] will play a crucial role in determining who takes the grand prize.

Schedule
Stage 20 - Saturday, July 26 - Cérilly - Saint Amand Montrond - ITT (53km)
Stage 21 - Sunday, July 27 - Étampes - Paris/Champs Élysées (143km)

Catch it all on Versus. LIVE Coverage begins on Saturday at 730AM EST.

On the NRC, the International Tour de 'Toona will be contested this year as a one-day criterium rather than in its traditional 7-day stage race format. Once again, the professional men's and women's field will race the same distance, 65km, and be allotted equal prize money, $15,000.

The planning committee, however, has been working diligently to return the race to prominence and has already announced that the 2009 version of the Tour de Toona will return to the traditional 7-day stage race format for both pro men and women, including the popular 3-day omnium points race and weekend amateur events. Next year's professional races will also showcase a first time feature in its 23 year history: a mountain-top finish at the Blue Knob ski resort.

In the Midwest, the long overdue debut of the inaugural Chicago Criterium will take place amidst the beautiful downtown scenery of Grant Park on Sunday, July 27. Racing will begin at 7am and continue through the day. The total prize money is $40,000 with $25,000 of that marked for the Pro Category 1& 2 race, the final race of the day starting at 2.25pm.

If you are in the Charlotte, North Carolina area make sure to head down to Myers Park and support the riders participating in this year's 24 Hours of Booty, the official 24 hour event of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF).

You won't see any death defying speeds around the Booty Loop, as its not a race. But hopefully what you will see are some death defying acts of courage by cancer survivors, those battling cancer, and cancer advocates.


For other races this weekend in or around your area, consult the listings below.

07/26/2008
Porcupine Chalk Creek Road Race
Coalville, UT
2008 Woodburn Pancake Race
Woodburn, IN
Breaking Away Movie Night
Indianapolis, IN
Diamond Valley Road Race
Woodfords, CA
Downtown Lenoir Criterium
Lenoir, NC
Flapjack Flats Time Trial
Florence, AZ

07/27/2008
Sportsfest Irving Park Criterium
Allentown, PA
Peter Teeuwen Memorial Omnium Time Trials #2
Chesapeake, VA
Chicago Criterium
Chicago, IL
San Marcos Circuit Race
San Marcos, CA
International Tour de 'Toona
Altoona, PA
Morganton Cycling Classic
Morganton, NC

For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to Truesport.com .


Up The Road
08/01/2008
Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove
Elk Grove Village, IL
Statesville Criterium
Statesville, NC
Kenosha Velodrome Elite Qualifier & State Championship
Kenosha, WI

08/02/2008
Nor/Cal Nevada District Road Race Championships
Marina, CA
Tour de Park City
Park City, UT
Deodate Road Race (TM)
Deodate, PA
Pur Tour 2008
Mason, OH
NCNCA Masters State Track Championships
San Jose, CA
Town Center Criterium
Harrisburg, NC
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium
Charlotte, NC
Mt Ogden Race
Ogden, UT
The Hammer Creek Road Race
Lititz, Lancaster County, PA
Ada Criterium
Ada, MI

08/03/2008
Atlantic Regional JR Track Championship
Trexlertown, PA
Timpani Criterium
Santa Clara, CA
Hanes Park Classic
Winston Salem, NC
Zoar Road Race
Zoar, OH
VA Age-Graded Road Race
Page County, VA

Match Sprint

This year’s Tour de France has been interesting to say the least. There has rarely been a dull moment through 18 stages. And if not for the unfortunate circumstance of several doping violations, this Tour may well have gone down as one of the more memorable.

Today’s Stage 18 from Bourg d'Oisans to Saint Étienne brought us a one-on-one battle between Marcus Burghardt (Team Columbia) and Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) for what seemed like the entire length of the 196.5km course.

Fast friends on the breakaway turned to no holds barred bare-knuckle pugilists once the pair got closer to the finish line. At times, Burghardt and Barredo looked like a bickering couple.

In the final kilometers the scene resembled a match sprint semi-final on the velodrome with the winner set to take on Theo Bos rather than an open road finale at cycling’s most hallowed stage race.

With Burghardt in the familiar lead out position that he had grown accustomed to over the stage, he would survive one last attack from Barredo; the Spaniard never came close to getting around the 25-year old German.

"I'm really happy to win a stage in my second Tour appearance," ... "He tried to always stay behind me, and attack from behind. But I was always very focused, and he couldn't get away" said an exuberant Burghardt.

His victory marked Team Columbia’s 5th in this year’s Tour [with Mark Cavendish claiming the other 4 victories] and a bit of redemption for a team that couldn’t seem to stay upright the day prior [Adam Hansen, George Hincapie, and Bernhard Eisel all tasted pavement yesterday].

Results
1 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia
2 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step
3 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel

General Classification After Stage 18
1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 79.16.14
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.24
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 1.33
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 1.34
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 2.39
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 4.41
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5.35
8 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 5.52
9 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 8.10
10 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 8.24

Eggs In A Basket
As if we needed any further proof to not risk losing everything by putting all your effort into one course of action [especially when it comes to the Tour de France], you need only look at the example of Damiano Cunego (Lampre). Touted as one of the favorites, Cunego and Lampre placed all of their collective efforts on winning this year’s Tour. They even named their Tour nine well before anyone had even named their riders for the Giro.

Stage 18 had to be especially frustrating for the Italian squad as Cunego crashed hard and needed to be shepherded to line by his teammates. They would arrive some 22 minutes after Marcus Burghardt raised his arms in victory.

The Immortal Third
Raymond Poulidor, one of the most beloved figures in French cycling despite finishing second in the Tour de France on three separate occasions earning him the nickname, the eternal second, has nothing on countryman Romain Feillu (Agritubel). The Agritubel rider finished third on Stage 18, which made it the fourth time he has done so in this year’s Tour.

Next: Stage 19 - Friday, July 25 - Roanne – Montluçon (165.5km)


More:
Guardian.co.uk - Burghardt savours sweet revenge on Tour
Times Online - Marcus Burghardt claims 18th stage of Tour de France
NYT - Working Together, a Young Team Climbs to the Top

Photo: Laurent Rebours/Associated Press

Paying It Forward

Increased Environmental Awareness from Salesforce.com Employees Benefits Trips for Kids and Underserved Youth in San Francisco

SAN RAFAEL, CA - After months of riding their bikes to work as part of an employee-led initiative to help reduce their carbon footprint, salesforce.com employees raised $10,000 and chose Trips for Kids (TFK) as their charity of choice.

On July 11, 2008, a group of dedicated salesforce.com employees joined young people from Kung Fu Grocery - an inner-city, low income martial arts school, TFK volunteers, staff and Board members for a ride through the Tennessee Valley area of the Golden Gate Recreation Area to present the generous check. The group absorbed the fanfare and views, as well as showed their appreciation for TFK being selected as the program's charity beneficiary.

"At a time when fuel costs are soaring, biking to work is an environmentally friendly, cost effective and health promoting activity," said Marilyn Price, founding director of TFK. "Trips for Kids is thrilled to be the chosen recipient. This money will be used to take underserved youth on mountain bikes rides."

Salesforce.com, one of the Bay Area's leading high-tech firms specializing in Software-as-a-Service, found a way to benefit youth, boost employee fitness and make an environmental impact. Forty employees worldwide participated in the community initiative. Utilizing salesforce.com technology to log the miles employees rode, the Salesforce.com Foundation contributed one dollar for each mile. Salesforce.com has been a long-time supporter of Trips for Kids.

"I joined salesforce.com not just because of the company and its products, but also because of the Salesforce.com Foundation's relationship with the community," said Perry David Tennyson, a salesforce.com employee. "Growing up in San Francisco and being a cyclist made this the perfect opportunity for me to participate in. That salesforce.com gave one dollar to a non profit for every mile I rode to work each day made me extremely proud."

Trips for Kids is a 20-year-old national non-profit based in San Rafael, California. Its programs give underserved youth a chance to experience the joy and challenge of mountain biking, while learning valuable life skills and an appreciation for the outdoors. There are currently 64 Trips for Kids chapters across the United Stated and Canada.

For more information on Trips for Kids, please visit www.tripsforkids.org or call founding Director Marilyn Price at (415) 458-2986.

Evanston Sees Cliff-Ryan Express

Evanston, IL - The Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic presented by Time Warner Cable, better known as "Superweek," made a stop in downtown Evanston this past weekend for the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Grand Prix of Cycling.

Despite the high speeds on the 6 corner, 0.9 mile course and a series of aggressive attacks, the 50k Women's Pro 1/2/3 race was one of the few on the day where a rider didn't hit the pavement.

Several teams and riders animated the race, but it was Team Revolution sporting their alternative dark kits who were most notably off the front.


At the line, Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway) easily won the field sprint ahead of Australia's Skye-Lee Armstrong (Bicycle John's Serious Cycling) and West Allis' [WI] Samantha Schneider (Mesa Cycles). The victory capped off Cliff-Ryan's Superweek dominance as she won four of the seven races.


Results
1 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci/Breakaway)
2 Skye-Lee Armstrong (Bicycle John's Serious Cycling)
3 Samantha Schneider (Mesa Cycles)

For her efforts Cliff-Ryan won the overall title, while teammate Kacey Manderfield took home the red leader's jersey in the Bianchi Sprints competition.


Final Women's Pro 1/2/3 Overall Standings
1 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci/Breakaway)
2 Samantha Schneider (Mesa Cycles)
3 Jenette Williams (HPC Powered by Altarum)
4 Sydney Brown (Team Revolution)
5 Brooke O'Connor (Hub Racing)
6 Skye-Lee Armstrong (Bicycle John's Serious Cycling)
7 Kacey Manderfield (Verducci/Breakaway)
8 Karla Kingsley (Easton/ Sugar CRM/ Specialized)
9 Carrie Cash (Team Revolution)
10 Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda Tire)

Photos: © Leonard Basobas

2008 LIVESTRONG Summit at The Ohio State University

While the peloton battles it out in France, Lance Armstrong continues his battle with cancer. Once again, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) is bringing together 1,000 current and potential leaders who care about cancer issues and are willing to champion the cause in their communities at the 2008 LIVESTRONG Summit, July 24-27.

"Held at The Ohio State University campus in Columbus, the Summit will also include the LIVESTRONG Presidential Town Hall on Cancer. We invited both presidential candidates to the Town Hall; Senator Barack Obama declined our invitation to attend. Although both candidates will not be in attendance, the LIVESTRONG Presidential Town Hall on Cancer will make cancer part of the national dialogue and advance progress in the cancer fight.

On Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m., Senator John McCain will share his cancer plan and answer questions from the audience.

Not in Ohio? You can still watch the LIVESTRONG Presidential Town Hall on Cancer, listen to Senator John McCain's plan and watch live webcasts of all general sessions from the LIVESTRONG Summit. Go to livestrongblog.org for a complete schedule. Keynote speakers include Dr. Sanjay Gupta from CNN; Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th U.S. Surgeon General (2002-2006) and president of Canyon Ranch Institute; and Dr. Harold Freeman from the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention.

You can also keep track of what's going on at the Summit by reading the LIVESTRONG blog. LAF staff member Brian Howe will post updates all weekend from the LIVESTRONG Summit. Check back regularly to read the latest news.

Whether you're in Columbus, Ohio, or in the comfort of your home, we hope you will be inspired and empowered by the 2008 LIVESTRONG Summit."

Rock Racing Announces Winner of First Online Photo Contest

Los Angeles – Rock Racing, the most-talked about team in professional cycling, has named Kyle Kuykendall as the grand-prize winner of the team’s first online photo contest.

Launched in early June this year, the contest received more than 400 entries and gave fans the opportunity to share their favorite Rock Racing photos for a chance to win a full team kit and other popular Rock Racing gear.

The winning photo is an image of Rock Racing’s Kayle Leogrande, taken during the Tour de Georgia’s final stage in Atlanta. Kuykendall will receive a full team kit including a jersey, bib shorts, arm warmers, knee warmers, gloves, socks and shoe covers in the team’s signature “venom” design.

“The photo contest was designed to give the fans a chance to show us what Rock Racing means to them,” said Team Owner Michael Ball. “We were overwhelmed with the quality of the images and the positive support we received on the website as a result of this contest and look forward to doing another.”

To enter, fans were required to join the group “Rock Racing Photo Contest 2008” via Flickr.com, upload their photos and include a brief description of where the photo was taken and why it was selected. All entries were reviewed by a final judging panel, a group that included Ball.

For more details and official rules, visit http://www.rockracing.com/photocontest/index.html.

Photo: Kyle Kuykendall

Binky Boy Topples The Queen

Since the first mountain stage in the Pyrenees, CSC – Saxo Bank has made it known to the rest of the peloton that they were the strongest team in this year’s Tour. But for the last week, it’s been difficult to determine which leader the team would ultimately rally around. Carlos Sastre has the Tour experience and wears the number, #11, of a team leader, but Frank Schleck has been his equal [if not superior] in the mountains and wore the maillot jaune into today’s Stage 17.

But after the Queen stage of this year’s Tour; one that included climbs up the Galibier, the Croix de Fer, and L'Alpe d’Huez , all [all right, most] has been revealed.

Carlos Sastre who has been known to rock a pacifier as part of his victory salute, took today’s stage in solo fashion ahead of Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and teammate Andy Schleck. In doing so, the 33-year old also claimed the overall lead from teammate Frank Schleck.

Results
1 Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank
2 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank

With the Brothers Schleck wrangling the pack of leaders after Sastre attacked at the base of L’Alpe d’Huez, the Spaniard and CSC were able to build the largest time gap, 1.24, that any of this year’s 7 maillot jaune wearers have enjoyed. The Tour record for the number of different riders to wear the leader's jersey in a single Tour is 8.

Unless there is a dramatic turn of events in the next two days, Saturday’s “race of truth” will determine the next Tour de France Champion.

General Classification After Stage 17
1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.24
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 1.33
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 1.34
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 2.39
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 4.41
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5.35
8 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 5.52
9 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 8.10
10 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 8.24

Next: Stage 18 - Thursday, July 24 - Bourg d'Oisans - Saint Étienne (196.5km)


More:
Guardian.co.uk - Impressive Sastre shows why he is CSC team leader
CNN International - Sastre wins on Alpe d'Huez to lead Tour
Cyclingnews - Sastre shines on Alpe d'Huez

Photo: AP Photo/Laurent Rebours

Host Cities Announced For Expanded 2009 Amgen Tour of California

World-Class Professional Cyclists Will Return to California in February to Compete Across 800 Miles of the State in Nine-Day Stage Race

Los Angeles, CA – The record-setting Amgen Tour of California professional cycling road race will be expanded in 2009, race presenter AEG announced today through a series of press conferences throughout the state. The 2009 race will include stops in 16 host cities over the course of nine days from February 14-22. Already considered cycling’s most important and successful road race in the United States, the event’s fourth running will be expanded to cover more than 800 miles over the nine days. Traveling almost the entire length of California, the race will begin in the state’s capital, Sacramento, and end in San Diego County (a new addition to the race) with a finish in Escondido on February 22. Also for the first time, the riders will cross the Golden Gate Bridge at the beginning of Stage 3.

The 16 official stage start and finish cities that have been selected for the 2009 race include eight new locales – Davis, Santa Cruz, Merced, Clovis, Visalia, Paso Robles, Rancho Bernardo and Escondido – that will join Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Sausalito, San Jose, Modesto, Solvang, Santa Clarita and Pasadena as host cities along the route.

“Each year, we strive to make the Amgen Tour of California better,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “And after getting input from riders and fans last year, we decided to expand the race to better showcase the great state of California. We are delighted to have such a great overall mix of cities partnering with us for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California and are pleased to include the eight new stops, along with so many of our old friends.”

In its first three years, the Amgen Tour of California has become the most successful race in the United States with regards to attendance, economic benefits to the state, global recognition and the caliber of the cyclists participating. In 2008, the race drew 1.6 million spectators, continuing to set records for a single sporting event in the state of California, as well as any cycling event ever held on U.S. soil. Each year the race has generated $100 million in economic growth for the state.

“This year is a year of exciting firsts for us,” Messick continued. “For the first time, the Amgen Tour of California will take place over nine days, we will make our first visit to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and visit San Diego County for what promises to be another exciting conclusion to the race.”

The Amgen Tour of California kicks off the professional road cycling season each year and continues to draw some of the world's most renowned and respected riders, such as top Tour de France competitors, World Champions and Olympic medalists that include Tom Boonen, Paolo Bettini, Fabian Cancellara, George Hincapie, Oscar Freire and Bobby Julich. Winner of the 2007 and 2008 Amgen Tour of California, Santa Rosa resident Levi Leipheimer of the Astana team has had a strong season since his Amgen Tour of California victory earlier in the year and will next be representing the United States in the Olympic Games.

“Winning the Amgen Tour of California has been a goal of mine from the beginning; no matter which races I compete in,” said Levi Leipheimer. “This has always been a top priority for me.”

Last month AEG, presenter of the race, formed a multi-dimensional marketing partnership with the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), owner of the Tour de France, to grow and develop each other’s events. Beginning with the 2008 Tour de France and 2009 Amgen Tour of California, the multi-year agreement calls for the organizations to develop and initiate comprehensive cross-promotional platforms for the world’s most prestigious cycling event and America’s most successful cycling race, as well as provide assistance with media and sponsorship sales for the races in their respective regions.

Returning for the fourth consecutive year as the title sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California, Amgen, a leading global biotechnology company with headquarters in Thousand Oaks, Calif., will continue to leverage the race to raise awareness and support for people affected by cancer through the Breakaway from CancerTM initiative. Amgen's invaluable support of the Amgen Tour of California has helped to ensure the race’s continued success and impact beyond the sporting arena.

“Sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California has given Amgen the opportunity to educate people about the great advances in medicine made possible by biotechnology, and to strengthen our relationships with local communities, cancer support organizations and cancer survivors through our Breakaway from Cancer initiative,” said George Morrow, Amgen’s executive vice president, Global Commercial Operations. "We look forward to another great race in 2009 and the opportunity to again lead the Breakaway from Cancer initiative to increase awareness of the support and educational resources available to help people living with cancer."

Having been sanctioned by the UCI (Union Cycliste International) and USA Cycling, the Amgen Tour of California has drawn the attention of both cycling enthusiasts and first-time spectators, making it one of the most anticipated events on the international cycling calendar.

Beginning with a road stage (a first for the race), which both starts and ends in Sacramento, through the grand finale in Escondido, the 2009 race will visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes, while other cities along the route also will have the opportunity to witness the excitement of elite professional cycling. Stages for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California include:

• Stage 1: Saturday, Feb. 14 – Sacramento
• Stage 2: Sunday, Feb. 15 – Davis to Santa Rosa
• Stage 3: Monday, Feb. 16 – Sausalito to Santa Cruz
• Stage 4: Tuesday, Feb. 17 – San Jose to Modesto
• Stage 5: Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Merced to Clovis
• Stage 6: Thursday, Feb. 19 – Visalia to Paso Robles
• Stage 7: Friday, Feb. 20 – Solvang (individual time trial)
• Stage 8: Saturday, Feb. 21 – Santa Clarita to Pasadena
• Stage 9: Sunday, Feb. 22 – Rancho Bernardo to Escondido

For further information on the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Master Of His Domain

The name Cyril [pronounced SEER-el] gets its origins from Greece and means “master” or “lord.”

In winning today’s 157km Stage 16 from Cuneo to Jausiers, Frenchman Cyril Dessel (AG2R – La Mondiale) proved that he was more than “master of his domain” as the Tour returned to French soil after a brief respite in Italy yesterday.

The 33-year old bested two Hors Categorie climbs [including the highest peak in this year’s event] and a bevy of breakaway companions in what was arguably the hardest stage in this year’s Tour.

"It makes me incredibly happy," ... "The tactic was to try to join a breakaway" said a jubilant Dessel afterward.

A former yellow and polka-dot jersey wearer [2006], Dessel claimed his first ever Tour de France stage after being sidelined by health problems in 2007.

Results
1 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
2 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
3 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

Where Have You Gone Christian Vande Velde?
Although today’s Versus’ coverage of Stage 16 began at an ungodly 330AM for those of you on the West Coast, you’ll get no tears of sympathy from me.

In fact, I’m a bit envious of you during Tour time.

At about the time that those in the Pacific Time zone are in the throes of the debate of whether to begin getting ready for work or sit and wait out the finish of the day’s stage, I am already at work.

As I am usually parked in front of a computer, I can liberally bounce from work document to live internet coverage of the race. But today [and most certainly tomorrow], was especially difficult on me.

With our nation’s lonely collective eyes turned to American Tour hopeful Christian Vande Velde (Garmin – Chipotle), the Chicagoland native momentarily “disappeared” [from the internet that is] during Stage 16. Well after the finish, his time losses were revealed but no online publication provided any reason for it.

Did he blow up on a climb, did he have a mechanical, did he crash?

Of course I eventually found out that he left his climbing legs somewhere on the ascent of the Cime de la Bonette-Restefond and then likely lost his Tour chances when he crashed on the backside of the mountain, but it took awhile.

That said I can’t wait to NOT watch the ascent of L'Alpe - d’Huez tomorrow.

Frank Schleck (CSC-Saxo Bank) retains the maillot jaune for another day, while two of the better time trialists who sit in the top 6, Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Christian Vande Velde both lost time.

General Classification After Stage 16
1 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
2 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 0.07
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0.08
4 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 0.49
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 1.13
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 3.15
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 3.23
8 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.11
9 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 4.38
10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 5.23

Next: Stage 17 - Wednesday, July 23 - Embrun - L'Alpe d'Huez (210.5km). The definitive mountain stage of this year’s Tour. Can CSC put some time into Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) before the final ITT? Can Menchov and Vande Velde reclaim some of their losses?


More:
NYT - Schleck Maintains Lead Through Tough Alpine Stage
L’Equipe - Cyclisme -TDF - Dessel a «retrouvé la confiance»
Velonews - Vande Velde crashes, loses time

Photo: AP Photo/Christophe Ena

Rock Racing’s Dawson Wins Shortened Race

Evanston, Ill. — Peter Dawson scored his second victory – and Rock Racing’s fifth of the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic – in winning the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Grand Prix of Cycling.

Sunday’s race was originally scheduled for 62 miles (100 km) around a six-turn, 0.8-mile course. But a pair of serious crashes twice forced the race to be re-started, the final time with only six laps remaining. Officials decided to make it a 10-lap race, with prime laps at six and three laps to go.

On the re-start, Dawson followed an attack by Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombian National Team) that got clear with Australian Tommy Nankervis (DLP Pro Cycling Team). The three stayed away to the finish with the Rock Racing rider scoring his second win in four days. Suarez finished second and Nankervis was third.

Rock Racing’s Sterling Magnell finished sixth to retain his overall lead, while teammate Rahsaan Bahati stayed in the red jersey of Bianchi Sprints competition leader.


Magnell raced Saturday and Sunday despite suffering a concussion from a crash that occurred when his tire blew going through a high-speed corner in Friday’s Ripon Red Hawk Criterium in Ripon, Wis. A gash to his forehead required seven stitches to close and doctors only cleared him to race after the 25-year-old underwent a CAT scan.

“I’m doing all right now, though” Magnell said. “I’m on the speedy road to recovery.”

Monday’s Pharma Pacific Tour of Holy Hill is one of only two road races and carries with it double points for the contenders vying for the overall title of the 17-day series.

“It (the overall) is a little close now, with my biggest threat being Jonathan Cantwell of Jittery Joe’s,” Magnell said. “But the team has been riding really well, especially the day I came back from my crash.”


In the women’s competition at the International Cycling Classic, Rock Racing’s Ashley Dymond finished third Saturday in the Carl Zach Cycling Classic presented by Couri Insurance Agency in Waukesha, Wis. Dymond’s podium finish was the 23rd of the season by a member of the Rock Racing women’s squad.

Photos: Leonard Basobas

Aussie In, Aussie Out

At first glance, Simon Gerrans’ (Credit Agricole) boyish looks belie his 28 years of existence. The braces that are revealed when he smiles add further to the perception that Gerrans may not be a day over the age of 17 when Australian cycling great, Phil Andersen, encouraged him to pick up the sport.

Yesterday, the rider from Melbourne lived up to his promise and looked every bit the part of a Tour veteran in achieving a personal milestone, winning his first Tour de France stage.

Gerrans and breakaway companions Egoi Martinez (Euskatel – Euskadi) and Danny Pate (Garmin – Chipotle) went toe-to-toe all afternoon over the 183km of Stage 15 from Embrun to Prato Nevoso, Italy. But it was Gerrans who had saved enough in his tank and sprinted away in the closing kilometers of the uphill finale.

Results
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole
2 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
3 Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30

Immediately behind the lead trio, the battle for the yellow jersey took on epic proportions as Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) finally succumbed to the numerous body blows landed by a multitude of contenders and teams.

CSC – Saxo Bank walked the walk and delivered on their promise to attack, attack, attack as Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, and Carlos Sastre took turns softening up the tough Australian. Frank Schleck ended up providing the biggest blow by finishing 9 seconds ahead of Evans to take the yellow jersey.

General Classification After Stage 15
1 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
2 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 0.07
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0.08
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.38
5 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 0.39
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 0.49
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 2.48
8 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 3.36
9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.11
10 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 4.34

Next: Rest Day 2 - Monday, July 21 - Cuneo
Stage 16 - Tuesday, July 22 - Cuneo – Jausiers (157km)


More:
Melbourne Herald Sun - Simon Gerran Soars To New Heights In Alps
Sydney Morning Herald - Evans Mellow About Losing Yellow
International Herald Tribune - In Alps, the 'real' Tour de France to Begin

Photo: Reuters

Rock Racing’s Hamilton Wins Tour of Qinghai Lake

Xining, China — Tyler Hamilton delivered Rock Racing its most prestigious victory to date Sunday when he captured the overall title at the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China.

Hamilton crossed the finish line with the peloton at the end of a 68-mile (110 km) circuit race through the streets of Xining to secure a 10-second win over Marek Rutkiewicz (Polish National Team). Iranian Hossein Askari (Tabriz Petrochemical Team) finished third, 1:08 behind.


“It’s a special win for me,” Hamilton told a group of reporters after being congratulated by his Rock Racing teammates. “It’s been a long time. I think most people didn’t think I’d ever reach the highest level (again).”

This was Hamilton’s sixth victory in an international stage race, but his first since the Tour de Romandie in 2004. The 37-year-old Marblehead, Mass., native has won more than 30 races since turning professional in 1995.

Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball congratulated Hamilton by phone for earning the team’s 26th win of the year.

“Seeing pictures of Tyler on the podium in the yellow jersey is simply spectacular and fulfills one of my original goals for this team,” Ball said. “I set out to give guys second chances and Tyler is a perfect example of that. He’s been one of our captains on the road this year, giving his all to help his teammates win. Now it’s his turn to celebrate.”


Hamilton won the eighth stage Friday to move into the lead after trailing Rock Racing teammate Oscar Sevilla in the overall standings since the opening time trial July 11. Sevilla finished the race in fifth place, 1:22 behind.

“The goal coming in was to win the race, whether it was myself, Oscar, Michael Creed or whoever,” Hamilton said. “So for me, it’s all the same – victory for a teammate is a victory for me. This is nice way to repay them, the staff and especially Michael Ball.”

Alex Rasmussen (Danish National Team) won Sunday’s race to score his fourth stage win of the 10-day, 841-mile (1,354 km) event.

Photos: Copyright Tour of Qinghai Lake/Mark Gunter (www.pbase.com/gunterphotograph)

Goldstein Wins Israeli TT and Trans Alps Road Stage Race Titles

San Carlos, Calif. - In what Leah described as some of her best performances ever, Leah Goldstein of ValueAct Capital posted impressive results, finishing first, at the Israeli National time trial and road race championships as well as the Trans Alps road stage race (July 19-26, 2008). She rides a Blue Nx7 road bike complete with Ritchey WCS handlebar, stem and seatpost, and a Blue T-16 time trial bike with additional Ritchey WCS components.

Despite brutal heat during the National Championships, Goldstein blew away all competition. In the 25 kilometer time trial, she won by nearly four minutes. In the 135 kilometer road race, she attacked only 45 kilometer in, never to look back, and won with a more than five minute lead.

Shortly thereafter, Goldstein travelled to Germany with her coach, as her teammate, to compete in the road version of the Trans Alps Challenge. This seven-day stage race included more than 10,000 feet of climbing per day and took riders from Germany to the Italian Alps. Goldstein and her coach beat the duo who had won the race for the past six years.

Training and racing on Ritchey product for the past two seasons, ValueAct Capital has ridden to worldwide victories on Ritchey components solidifying the team's confidence in, and decision to, ride high-performance, race-level Ritchey products.

Ritchey's WCS (World Championship Series) level components represent Ritchey's highest level performance components. WCS components use the latest technology and material to accomplish components of the highest strength with minimal weight - the ideal ratio for top-level cycling.

Watch for the ValueAct Capital team in the upcoming Tour de Toona, July 27th in Altoona, Pa.

Photo: Copyright Kurt Jambretz (www.actionimages.cc) - Leah Goldstein at the 2008 Tour of the Gila.

Jokes On Us

Heath Ledger’s Joker in the latest installment of the Batman series, The Dark Knight, is at his sadistic best because he forces us to deal with the “darkness” of our own personal dichotomy.

A couple of weeks ago, “the joke,” was on the cycling community and what many believe to be America’s most cycle friendly city, Portland.

Clash of wheels mars Portland's bike-friendly fame
By Terrence Petty – Jul 11, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland's reputation as a bike-friendly city fell flat this week when a confrontation between a cyclist and motorist turned to blows.

It turns out the motorist who yelled at the man on the bike was a longtime cyclist, trying to lecture on bike ethics.

And the cyclist, police say, turned out to be drunk. Reports from the scene say he blew through a red light and then used his bike to assault the driver.

The clash is underscoring the uneasy relationship between folks on two wheels and those on four in a town that regularly wins national recognition for alternate transportation and bike access.

READ the rest...

This Oscar No Grouch

Despite coming up empty handed in the field sprints thus far, Oscar Friere's (Rabobank) climbing ability and finishing consistency helped him garner the lead in the maillot vert competition.

On Saturday's Stage 14 from Nîmes to Digne les Bains, this green claded Oscar proved to be no grouch [or slouch for that matter] in taking the sprint in front of Leonard Duque (Cofidis) and Erik Zabel (Milram). With the win and the high mountains now firmly in the picture, the 32-year old Spaniard has more than likely sewn up his first overall victory in the green jersey competition.

Results
1 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
2 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram

Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia) finally showed a chink in his armor. Unable to keep up with the peloton on the day's first climb, Manxman didn't figure into the finale. He has most likely seen his final day in this edition of the Tour de France.

General Classification After Stage 14
1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 0.01
3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 0.38
4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 0.46
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.57
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.28
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 1.56
8 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 2.32
9 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 3.51
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 4.18

Next: Stage 15 - Sunday, July 20 - Embrun - Prato Nevoso (183km)


More:
AP - Spain's Freire wins Stage 14 of Tour
NYT - Freire Adds Victory to His Lead as Top Sprinter

Photo: Reuters

Rock Racing’s Hamilton Has Victory In Sight

Huzhu, China — Rock Racing’s Tyler Hamilton is a short circuit race away from earning his first victory in a stage race in four years.

Hamilton survived a rather uneventful day in the yellow leader’s jersey Saturday in the penultimate stage of the Tour of Qinghai Lake, finishing in the lead pack of 19 riders at the end of Saturday’s 104-mile (168 km) race.


The final stage Sunday is a 61-mile (99 km) circuit race in the city of Xining. Time bonuses up for grabs on three of the 18 laps and at the finish are a concern, Hamilton said.

“It’s not over ‘till it’s over,” Hamilton said. “I have a 10-second lead (over Poland’s Marek Rutkiewicz), so really, anything can happen. We’ll just stay on our toes and control the situation, like today.”

Saturday’s race was the final mountain stage of the 10-day, 841-mile (1,354 km) event. But two of Hamilton’s chief competitors – Iranian climbers Ahad Kazemi and teammate Ghader Mizbani (Tabriz Petrochemical Team) – were stricken with mild cases of bronchitis overnight. Feeling less than 100 percent, they sought only to keep Kazemi’s lead in the king of the mountains classification.

Saturday’s race was won by Jure Kocjan (Perutnina Ptuj) who easily outsprinted Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti Diquigiovanni-Androni) and fellow teammate Gregor Gazvoda. A third rider from the Perutnina Ptuj team, Kristjan Fajt, and Ukrainian Volodymyr Zagorodnyy, were on their way to contesting the finish themselves when the lead motorcycle led them off course with 2.5 miles (4 km) to go.


Hamilton won Friday’s Stage 8 in a two-up sprint to move into the overall lead. The Boulder, Colo., resident last won a stage race overall at the Tour de Romandie in 2004.

Photos: Copyright Tour of Qinghai Lake/Mark Gunter (www.pbase.com/gunterphotograph)

Dawson Wins To Protect Rock Racing’s Lead

Shorewood, Wis. — Peter Dawson continued Rock Racing’s dominance at the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic Thursday night in Shorewood, Wis.

Dawson scored Rock Racing’s fourth victory in seven races of the “SuperWeek” series by out-sprinting Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombian National Team) in The Shorewood Foundation presents The Tim Hart D.D.S./Rainbow Jersey Shorewood Criterium.

Rock Racing’s Sterling Magnell remains in the yellow jersey with a three-point lead over teammate Rahsaan Bahati, who wears the red jersey as leader of the Bianchi Sprints competition.

Dawson’s victory was his second of the year (he also won the Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge in May) and Rock Racing’s 26th overall. It was at the International Cycling Classic last year that the 26-year-old Australian track racing specialist drew the attention of the team by winning two races and finishing second in two others.

“I hadn’t won a race for awhile, so it was good for me personally and for the team,” Dawson said. “(Rock Racing Team Owner) Michael Ball has given me a lot of leeway this year and the best thing for me to do was to give him a win.”

Dawson and two other Aussies joined Suarez in a breakaway late in Thursday’s 62-mile (100 km), 48-lap criterium around a 1.3-mile (2.1 km) course. With a little more than a lap to go, the escape was down to three: Dawson, Suarez and Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue Cycling Team). Suarez attacked and only Dawson could respond.

“I knew I had to get to him (Suarez) before he had too much of a gap because a couple nights ago, he lapped the field by himself,” Dawson said.

In the furious sprint to the finish, it was Dawson – a four-time world champion in the team pursuit and Olympic gold medalist for Australia in Athens in 2004 – against the Colombian, who is headed to Beijing to represent his country in the Summer Olympics next month.

“I’ve been doing a lot of leadouts and covering a lot of moves for the GC (general classification) guys, so it was nice to get the win,” Dawson said. “Over the course of the next five or six days, we’re hoping to put the GC out of reach so it’s only going to get tougher.”

On Tap...

Take Back The Tour, Please
The Versus’ slogan for this year’s Tour sounds less like rallying cry for a militant movement these days and more like a complaint from a host of dissatisfied customers.

Really, we no longer want it, Take Back The Tour, Please!

Unfortunately, once the three-week race began the return policy didn’t account for an “in case of doping exception.”

As we head into the final week of the Tour, the race is still completely wide open. Bjarne Riis and CSC-Saxo Bank have already thrown down the proverbial gauntlet and promised to take the race to Cadel Evans and his Silence-Lotto mates in the Alps. But the ultimate beneficiary of such a match up could be Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Chipotle) who is ever so slightly flying under the radar.

Schedule
Stage 14 - Saturday, July 19 - Nîmes - Digne les Bains (194.5km)
Stage 15 - Sunday, July 20 - Embrun - Prato Nevoso (183km)
Rest Day 2 - Monday, July 21 - Cuneo
Stage 16 - Tuesday, July 22 - Cuneo – Jausiers (157km)
Stage 17 - Wednesday, July 23 - Embrun - L'Alpe d'Huez (210.5km)
Stage 18 - Thursday, July 24 - Bourg d'Oisans - Saint Étienne (196.5km)
Stage 19 - Friday, July 25 - Roanne – Montluçon (165.5km)
Stage 20 - Saturday, July 26 - Cérilly - Saint Amand Montrond - ITT (53km)
Stage 21 - Sunday, July 27 - Étampes - Paris/Champs Élysées (143km)

As usual, catch it on the Versus channel.

Next up for the USA Crit Series is the Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium in Boise, ID. The 22nd edition of the race will take place on Saturday, July 19th.


Right Here, Right Now
For races in and around your area, consult the listings below.

07/19/2008
Nicole Reinhart Memorial Tour de FCCC
Maxatawny/Trexlertown, PA
Watsonville Criterium
Watsonville, CA
Troy Classic on the Square
Troy, OH
Indiana State RR Championships
Fishers, IN
Nature's Path/3 Sports Time Trial
Midlothian, VA
Cornhusker State Games Time Trial
Yutan, NE
Northern California/Nevada Junior Track Championship
San Jose, CA
Sundance Hill Climb
Provo, UT
Sisquoc Road Race and SoCal/NV Jr St Championship
Santa Maria, CA

07/20/2008
Ontario GP Race #4 - 10th Annual
Ontario, CA
Bryan Park Circuit Race
Richmond, VA
Berkeley Bicycle Club Criterium
Albany, CA
Koehlinger / Kelley IN State TT Championship
New Haven, IN
Fort Cherry Road Race
McDonald, PA
San Luis Obispo Downtown Criterium
San Luis Obispo, CA
The Comeback Criterium
New Holland, Lancaster County, PA
Tour d'Burg
Miamisburg, OH

For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to Truesport.com .


Up The Road
07/26/2008
Porcupine Chalk Creek Road Race
Coalville, UT
2008 Woodburn Pancake Race
Woodburn, IN
Breaking Away Movie Night
Indianapolis, IN
Diamond Valley Road Race
Woodfords, CA
Downtown Lenoir Criterium
Lenoir, NC
Flapjack Flats Time Trial
Florence, AZ

07/27/2008
Sportsfest Irving Park Criterium
Allentown, PA
Peter Teeuwen Memorial Omnium Time Trials #2
Chesapeake, VA
Chicago Criterium
Chicago, IL
San Marcos Circuit Race
San Marcos, CA
International Tour de 'Toona
Altoona, PA
Morganton Cycling Classic
Morganton, NC