Armstrong sì, Riccò no for Milan-San Remo

by Andrew Hood

• February 09, 2010

There are a lot of big names expected for the 101st edition of Milan-San Remo next month, but Riccardo Riccò isn’t among them.

Bridges, mountains and history start off California tour

by VeloNews.com

• February 09, 2010

The first stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will mark the 50th anniversary of one of the oldest races in America when it starts in Nevada City on May 16.

Gerdemann wins in Mallorca

by Andrew Hood

• February 09, 2010

Linus Gerdemann (Milram) took an early-season win in Tuesday’s mountainous Trofeo Inca at the Mallorca Challenge.

The former Tour de France yellow jersey-wearer escaped over the day’s final hurdle at the Cat. 1 Puig Major in the 157.2km stage over the highest climbs on Mallorca to claim victory ahead of two fellow escapees.

“That’s the way to open a new season with a bang!” Gerdemann said. “We put in a super team performance in really bad weather. Especially in light of the very difficult conditions, we showed that we are all motivated and have big plans for this year.”

The peloton rode the first 100 kilometers of the day together. In the first successful attack, a five-man group which included Milram’s Gerdemann, Johannes Fröhlinger and Thomas Rohregger formed the group of the day. The five quickly got away from the field and crossed the Col de Soller, a second-category-ranked climb, with a lead of about 1:30 minutes.

At the start of the second climb up the Puig Major, a category-one climb, Rafael Valls (Footon-Servetto-Fuji) attacked out of the group. The Spaniard built up a 30-second lead on the descent by 3° Celsius and streaming rain.

Behind him, Fröhlinger sacrificed himself for his teammates and led Gerdemann and Rohregger to the top.

Using his top time trial skills, Gerdemann chased down the attacking Walls (Footon-Servetto), who attacked up the steep side of Puig Major. Manuel Vázquez (Andalucia-CajaSur) joined the chase and the threesome joined up with less than 3km to go.

Gerdemann outkicked Valls, with Vázquez coming through third in the rainy, cool stage that saw Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Columbia) try in vain to escape with a relatively large group early in the stage that hit the Cat. 2 Soller climb and the Cat. 1 Puig Major climb with less than 30km to go.

Gerdemann powered ahead of his Spanish breakaway rivals to claim his first victory on the 2010 season. The trio finish more than two minutes ahead of the chasing and fractured main group.

Quadruple snap: Carlsen, Ciolek, Cozza and Arvesen break bones

by Ben Delaney

• February 09, 2010

In three days of racing in the winds at the Tour of Qatar, three men have broken their collarbones after crashing.

BMC gets season underway in the desert

by Ben Delaney

• February 09, 2010

The beefed-up BMC squad began its racing season in earnest at the Tour of Qatar this week

Boonen snags stage win in Qatar

by Ben Delaney

• February 09, 2010

Quick Step’s Tom Boonen sprinted to victory in the third stage of the Tour of Qatar on Tuesday, powering in ahead of Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam) and Saxo Bank’s Baden Cooke

Freire holds off retirement to aim for fourth world title

by Andrew Hood

• February 09, 2010

Óscar Freire (Rabobank) was back in the winner’s circle Monday for the first time in nine months with victory in the second day of the Mallorca Challenge.

Van Garderen makes pro debut

by Andrew Hood

• February 09, 2010

Tejay Van Garderen made his professional debut in Sunday’s opening day of the Mallorca Challenge, safely finishing 69th in the main field proudly wearing the HTC-Columbia team colors

National track series tries grass roots approach

by VeloNews.com

• February 08, 2010

A new national track series aims to rally the best of the best – tracks and racers – for a chance to be named ATRA’s National Champion. The American Track Racing Association (ATRA) National Championship Series includes 11 events across the country.

Southeast conference gets going in Gainesville

by VeloNews.com

• February 08, 2010

New collegiate time trial rules were in effect as the Southeast Collegiate Cycling Conference began its season with a race in sunny Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday and Sunday.