On Tap...

Paris-Nice wraps up on Sunday the 16th. The finale can be seen on Versus' Cyclysm Sunday [check your local listings] or LIVE on Cycling.tv.

To recap:
After Stage 5, Robert Gesink (Rabobank), the 21-year-old who won a stage at the Amgen Tour of California, is in the overall lead. Carlos Barredo (Quick Step - Innergetic) won the stage from Althen-des-Paluds to Sisteron by breaking away from the lead group that numbered 17 at times.

Gesink claimed the leader's jersey on Stage 4; a stage which saw Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) take the victory on Mont Ventoux. For Evans, the victory provided an early indication of his Tour form, while Gesink's performance only served to comfirm the precocious climber's talent.

Stages 3 was won by Kjell Carlstrom (Liquigas) in a breakaway. The benficiary of the events on the stage was Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) who became the first Frenchman in 5 years to wear the leader's jersey of the French stage race [Didier Rous being the last in 2002].

The first 2 stages were nearly mirror images of themselves as the big Belgian Gert Steegmans (Quick Step - Innergetic) pulled off the sprint double.

The Prologue and the first leader's jersey went to Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole).

Slowly But Surely
The racing calendar for the mere mortal racers is starting to burgeon as the weather begins to break in several areas of the country. For races in select areas, please see below. If you would like to see listings for your geographical area, we would be happy to list them.

03/15/2008
Del Mar Criterium Series
Del Mar, CA
Strasburg Road Race
Strasburg, PA
Tumacacori Omnium
Tucson, AZ
Remax Town & Country RR
Albemarle, NC
VBW Smackdown
Portsmouth, VA
Land Park Criterium
Sacramento, CA
Sequoia Cycling Classic Yokohl Ranch Exeter TT
Exeter, CA

03/16/2008
LA Circuit Race
Los Angeles, CA
Dismal Dash Time Trial
Suffolk, VA
Salisbury City Park Criteruim
Salisbury, NC
Sequoia Cycling Classic-Visalia Criterium-Kids Race
Visalia, CA
Sequoia Cycling Classic Visalia Criterium
Exeter, CA
Bariani Road Race (Amateur Only)
Zamora, CA
Maumee Valley Wheelman Club Race Series
Toledo, OH

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


Up the Road
03/22/2008
Copperopolis Road Race
Milton, CA
Vulture Mines TT
Wickenberg, AZ
Lake Ontelaunee Time Trials
Leesport, PA
NCA Criterium Training Race #1
Lincoln, NE

03/23/2008
Steel City Showdown Sunday USCF
Pittsburgh, PA
Easter Sunday GP-11th Annual
Ontario, CA

Photo: Leonard Basobas