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.

“We had just done the first intermediate sprint, which I led out,” Carlsen told VeloNews. “I was coming back in the field, and we were cruising in the tailwind. There were reflector dots on the road and someone swerved really fast [to avoid the dots] and took out my front wheel. It took out all the spokes. I thought I was going to be able to keep it up, but the spokes must have got caught in the fork, because it tossed me. I landed directly on my head and my shoulder.”

Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Sky) broke his collarbone just one kilometer into stage 2, the first road stage of Qatar. And Garmin-Transitions’ Steven Cozza followed suit less than two hours later.

On stage 3, German sprinter Gerald Ciolek (Milram) became the latest casualty on the broken clavicle list.

“Gerald will be flown to Germany as quickly as possible,” said team director Ralf Grabsh. “The collarbone fracture was diagnosed here by two doctors. The doctors in Germany will determine how complicated the fracture is and whether surgery is necessary.”

For Arvesen and Cozza, it wasn’t the first collarbone break. Still, for both it was a frustrating start to the season.

Garmin team director Johnny Weltz said Cozza flipped over teammate Martijn Maaskant after Maaskant was taken down in the aggressive jostling in the crosswinds. Both men had just made the decisive front echelon with teammate Tyler Farrar, and things were looking good.

“Everything happened in a split-second,” Weltz said. “We went from everything to nothing, all of a sudden.”

Cozza flew to Belgium today for surgery with the same doctor who has patched up Farrar after similar spills.

“Steven should be back on the bike in a few days,” Weltz said.

Cozza and Carlsen were roommates in Qatar.

“I think this room is cursed,” Carlsen joked. “I gottta get out of here.”

The beefed-up BMC squad began its racing season in earnest at the Tour of Qatar this week, with newcomers like former world champion Alessandro Ballan and U.S. national criterium champion John Murphy lining up alongside team veterans like American Jackson Stewart.

Stewart rides by a scene you don't usually see in American racing.

Their reactions to the aggressive racing and the windy conditions in the desert were mixed.

“It’s crazy here; it’s a really unique race,” Stewart said. “We rode well in the TTT together, and I think we got a respectable time.”

Ballan, who will be joining the likes of George Hincapie and Marcus Burghardt for the team’s spring classics program, said he was enjoying being in Qatar for the first time.

“The racing is too fast for training, though,” Ballan joked after the second stage when the crosswinds and aggression of Cervélo and Quick Step ripped the peloton apart. “No, no. It’s good here. It’s good training for the classics.”

Ballan won the Tour of Flanders in 2007. He joined BMC this year from Lampre.

Murphy came to BMC this year from OUCH-Maxxis. In Qatar, Murphy made the front echelon on the decisive stage 2 — then flatted.

“In the fight for the echelon I got pushed into the dirt,” Murphy said. “And when you’re in the dirt, you’re going to get a flat.”

After getting a wheel change, Murphy was chasing back on through the caravan when the car in front of him slammed on the brakes, causing him to crash into the back of the vehicle.

“It was just one of those things were it was shit luck, but you can’t really help it,” he said.

For Stewart, a BMC racer since the team was an upstart program doing domestic races in North America, the expansion of the team to include the likes of Ballan, Hincapie, world champion Cadel Evans is exciting.

“For me, it’s kind of a dream come true to be on such a big program,” Stewart said. “And to have been able to come up with the program, know their philosophy and how they want to approach things, it’s cool. Every year I celebrate just making the cut, as every year the team grows by such a level. It’s an honor, you know?”

This year Stewart has Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders on his schedule. He did Roubaix with BMC last year but has never ridden Der Ronde.

“I’m excited,” he said. “Just hoping to pull my weight, and hold my position.”

As BMC continues to grow, Stewart’s position in the peloton keeps getting better and better.

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March 2010 Cover

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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 at the end of a 136.5km stage from Dukham to Mesaieed.

Boonen leads the charge.

The stage win – along with a 10-second time bonus – moved the Belgian champion into third place in the overall standings. The two men who initiated a successful break on Monday – Wouter Mol (Vacansoleil) and Geert Steurs (Topsport Vlaanderen) – continue to lead on GC, with a 1:55 advantage over Boonen.

Bonnen’s win was marred by a massive pile-up in the main field as several riders crashed about 200 meters from the line.

“It was really hard to get everybody organized,” Boonen said of his Quick Step lead-out. “And it was a real battle with the roundabouts in the final. But everybody did a good job. Surprisingly, Andreas Stauff was the last man. He dropped me off at 350 (meters) to go. It was pretty long. I waited for a few seconds, but then I had to go to have my speed coming out of the corner. I went at 250 or something. I was waiting for them to come but nobody came, so I think I was the strongest one.”

Trek-Livestrong under-23 rider Taylor Phinney muscled his way up into the top 10 in the sprint, finishing seventh, with compatriot Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) placing ninth.

Haussler called the peloton’s high-speed sketchiness over the final 10km “absolutely unbelievable.”

“It was so crazy, there were crashes everywhere, in the last K even,” Haussler said. “And I think even the last 200 meters, just on the side of me. I just rubbed him. Luckily I didn’t come down too.”

Smukulis and Van Vooren scamper away after the day's first sprint.

THE OPENING IN DUKHAN
The day began under sunny skies and much calmer conditions than have prevailed in Qatar for the past few days. With the success of Mol and Steurs in mind, riders tried to escape the main field until a three-man early break, including Trek-Livestrong rider Alex Dowsett, Ag2r’s Sebastian Hinault and Topsport’s Steven Van Vooren, managed to get a gap.

“I saw a couple of guys go, and thought it looked like a similar thing to yesterday,” said Dowsett. “So I jumped across. We had 10 to 15 seconds for a good 10K, then suddenly it went out to a couple of minutes. We thought that was going to stick, but I think the group was a bit nervous after what happened yesterday.”

Dowsett’s move was neutralized before the day’s first intermediate sprint and a new break formed up, including Steven Van Vooren (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Gatis Smukulis (Ag2R-La Mondiale). That effort was also reeled in as the race approached the day’s second sprint.

Click for a full-size image

With his 10-second bonus for the win, Boonen leapfrogs Milram’s Roger Kluge into third overall. Had it not been for the UCI leveraging a one-minute penalty against Cervélo after the TTT for illegal contact, Haussler would be in third.

But Haussler said he and his teammates are no longer worried about the overall standings. Instead, he said, the team is focusing on a stage win.

Boonen said he hopes to take GC lead over coming days, using the crosswinds to break the field and dispatch the two leaders.

And if there is no wind?

“If there is no wind, then there is a problem,” he said.

But, as the locals say, ‘Qatar is Qatar.’ And in Qatar, there is always wind.

The race continues Wednesday with a 147km stage from The Pearl, a massive luxury construction project, to Al Khor Corniche on Qatar’s eastern coast.

That’s a long drought for the Spanish sprinter who has an uncanny knack of winning important races, but last year, Freire didn’t win a stage in any grand tour or classic and only notched two wins all season long.

Back in good health after a troubled 2009 season, the oft-injured Freire said he has unfinished business, especially with the world championships. Already a winner of three rainbow jerseys, Freire wants to make history as the only winner of four world crowns.

“I could become the only rider in history to win four world titles, that’s my dream,” he told the Spanish daily AS. “I don’t want to retire until I achieve it, but I don’t obsess about it, either.”

Freire is especially optimistic about the Australian worlds’ course, which is perfectly suited to his style of racing.

“From what they’ve said, it appears it adapts very well to my characteristics, without major complications and it’s flat,” he continued. “We’ll see what happens in September (if Freire is the lone Spanish captain) and that’s still far away. I’ve already demonstrated that they can count on me because I’ve won three worlds. Lately, though, we haven’t done so well with so many captains.”

At 32, Freire confirmed he will race at least through 2011 with Rabobank and admitted it’s not as easy to win in the sprints against younger and, according to Freire, more careless rivals.

“What scares me is the risks that some take in the final sprint. A lot of them are going like crazy and they practically throw you out of the way, or leave you without options. But that arrival of younger riders is normal and I was once part of a new generation. It’s never easy to win,” Freire said. “I spoken with the team and my intention is to continue at least one more year (through 2011). I feel good and I’ve put injuries behind me and I like the challenge of continuing to fight.”

Freire will also target Milan-San Remo, which he’s won twice, as well as the Giro d’Italia, which starts in May in Holland. Freire’s never won a stage in the Giro and would like to make his sponsors happy with a victory in the corsa rosa to round out his palmares with wins in all three grand tours.

The 21-year-old is already fitting in well with his HTC-Columbia and says the pro ranks are a sharp contrast to his two-year stint on the U-23 Rabobank development team, where he was somewhat of a novelty on a team loaded with Dutch riders.

“Everyone thought I was really cool on Rabobank because I was the only American. They wanted to know things like, ‘Are the girls really hot in America?’ Or did you have high school parties like in ‘American Pie?’” he told VeloNews. “This is the team that I really idolized or past few years, especially with the way they’ve developed young riders. This is the big leagues. It’s a huge honor to be on this team. It’s the best team in the world.”

Van Garderen made a good impression on HTC recruiters.

Van Garderen has all the tools to become a GC rider, with strong time trialing skills and solid climbing abilities. That’s where he’s hoping to develop in the coming years.

The son of a Dutchman, Van Garderen is anxious to see how far he can go in the pro ranks. He realizes that despite a highly successful amateur racing career, that’s no guarantee of success against the experienced pros.

“Stage racing is where I think my niche where my sport will be,” he said. “You cannot compare your results from amateurs to the pros, when I was in the amateurs, it was mainly the longer stage races that I was good at – I won Montañes and second at Avenir – it was generally the longer stage races that I did well at, when there’s a time trial and some longer climbs. So if I can develop into a grand tour rider, that would be amazing.”

HTC-Columbia team manager Rolf Aldag agrees, but wants to give Van Garderen a chance to find his own way in the rough-and-tumble pro ranks.

The team likes to give young riders a chance to find their way without putting too much pressure on them. Riders such as Edvald Boasson Hagen and Mark Cavendish were not under the gun for results in their rookie years, patience that paid off huge dividends a season or two down the road. Aldag said he will give that same space to Van Garderen.

Van Garderen will see a mix of races throughout his rookie year, getting a taste of the cobblestones and the one-day classics as well as some weeklong stage races and perhaps even a crack a the Vuelta a España in September.

“We want to give him the chance to decide what rider he can become, to see what he likes,” Aldag said. “Let’s start with some one-day races, some stage races, to discover all this different parts of cycling. At the end of the year, I want to have a decision from him. I want to sit with him, OK, Tejay, you’ve done the cobbles, what do you think of them?”

Aldag admits he sees the GC potential in Van Garderen, who already proved he has the mettle by winning such U23 races as the demanding Circuito Montañes and finishing second in the Tour de l’Avenir in 2009.

“From my first impression, he is the future of GC riding. I will never say anyone that they are future Tour de France winner. I would never do this with anyone. It just sets the bar too high and they are doomed to fail,” Aldag said. “I expect him to go that (GC) direction, it’s logical, this is what he did at under-23. He comes from Rabobank continental team, it’s not like from someone coming from amateur races. He does have experience at a high level.”

Van Garderen says he’s more than pleased with the tentative schedule Aldag and the other sport directors have laid out for him.

After Mallorca, he’ll race at the Volta ao Algarve, followed by a mix of one-day races in Belgium and Italy to get a taste of both stage racing and one-day events. Next, it’s the Volta a Catalunya and the Ardennes classics before a trip back to the United States for the Tour of California and then the Dauphiné Libéré.

“It’s good not to jump into the deep end and get your head pounded. It’s a good mix of one-days, stage races and some rest. It’s hard, but not unmanageable,” he said. “It’s a different kind of pressure. It’s interesting to see what they will have me do. In a few races, I want to see what my chances are when they come, whether that’s be in the right break, or do a good time trial or go for the GC. I think I have the potential to do well in some of these races. I want to take my opportunity when it comes.”

He admits he’s particularly excited at the prospect of racing in the United States, where he’s only competed twice in the past two years after spending nearly all of his time racing on European roads with Rabobank and the U.S. U-23 team.

“It will be nice to do Tour of California to get some American exposure, because I think I have more of a fan base in Holland than I do in my own country,” he said. “With my last name, they think I’m Dutch anyway. I got nominated as sportsman of the year in the Dutch town I was living in.”

A big rookie season in Europe will likely on mean more fans for Van Garderen on both sides of the Atlantic.

Mavic's CC80.

American sprinter Tyler Farrar came to the Tour of Qatar with a prototype Mavic CC80 wheelset.

Mavic brought a few variations of the wheel to the team’s recent training camp in Calpe, Spain.

“Mavic had a couple of different versions, with different tensions and such,” said Garmin mechanic Tom Hopper. “These are the ones Tyler liked the best. So Mavic let us bring them along.”

The CC80s sport an 80mm profile

Rim depth on the wheels is approximately 80mm. Mavic has had a tall-profile rim on its five-spoke wheels, which are used almost exclusively on the track. But this is the company’s tallest rim for a traditionally spoked wheel.

“If the wind dies down, which it sounds like it will later this week, they will be good for the sprints,” Hopper said.

Garmin Team mechanic Tom Hopper said the Mavic prototypes will be great for the sprints should the wind die down in Qatar.

Farrar’s competitor Mark Cavendish has often favored very tall-profile rims for flat stages; his are usually branded HighRoad.

In Qatar, Farrar ran the full set of the CC80s for the team time trial, and opted to run only the rear on stage 1, where 20mph winds buffeted the field.

The below table shows each wheelset’s rim depth and width, the weight for each wheel and for the pair, the number of spokes on the front and rear and the spoke lacing pattern, and whether the spoke nipples are internal or external to the rim.

I raced a full season of cyclocross on these wheels as well as trained with them, all at low tire pressure, and the first thing that I can say is that all of them held up great. I weigh 175 pounds, and I rode them hard, crashed occasionally, and hit some obstacles pretty hard. Every week in Boulder’s weekly Wednesday Worlds ’cross ride I hit some square-edge wooden impacts on bridge crossings on descents, making lifting the front wheel hard to do, generally with around 26psi in the tires. I’d expected to see damage and never did on any of them.

Getting ready to ride

Before installing wheels on my cyclocross bikes, I make sure that they are true and properly dished (the rim centered between the hub flanges). On a bike whose wheels you frequently switch around, particularly under the kind of poor conditions often encountered in cyclocross, it’s a drag, literally, to have brakes that rub and you can’t do anything about it without stopping. Untrue and off-center wheels are non-optimal on a road bike, but on a ’cross bike with cantilever brakes that are a lot more of a bear to center than a dual-pivot road brake (which can be twisted while on the fly to center them), it is not something you want.

The Cole T38 Lite

I did some work on all of these wheels, as all of them had at least some side-to-side wobble, and every one of them except the front Cole wheel and both Stella Azzurra wheels were out of dish. I measured the amount they were off initially using a Park TS-3 super-rigid truing stand, which comes equipped with dial gauges accurate to 0.01mm of runout.

How much were they off?

• The Cole front wheel had plus/minus 0.27mm of side-side wobble, with perfect dish (within 0.25mm).

• The Cole rear wheel had plus/minus 0.18mm of side-side wobble, and its dish was off by 1.2mm (i.e., pulled over too far) to the drive side.

• The Easton front wheel had plus/minus 0.18mm of side-side wobble, and its dish was off by 0.6mm to one side.

• The Easton rear wheel had plus/minus 0.18mm of side-side wobble, and its dish was off by 1.1mm (i.e., pulled over too far) to the non-drive side.

• The Stella Azzurra front wheel had plus/minus 0.31mm of side-side wobble, with perfect dish (within 0.25mm).

The Stella Azzurra Calibro

• The Stella Azzurra rear wheel had plus/minus 0.47mm of side-side wobble, with perfect dish (within 0.25mm).

• The Ritchey front wheel had plus/minus 0.12mm of side-side wobble, and its dish was off by 1.1mm to one side.

• The Ritchey rear wheel had plus/minus 0.13mm of side-side wobble, and its dish was off by 0.5mm (i.e., pulled over too far) to the non-drive side. More of a concern, however, was that the left-side spoke adjacent the valve hole on the rear wheel had zero tension on it. I increased the tension in all of the spokes somewhat to bring the wheel into true and dish with that spoke having some tension in it. But over the ’cross season, that spoke still loosened up as I was concerned it would.

I trued all of the wheels to under plus/minus 0.1mm of side-side wobble and to under plus/minus 0.25mm of perfect dish. I could then switch them around all season without problems. However, due to differing rim widths, I could not switch them around with complete impunity unless I wanted to constantly be adjusting my brake cable tension. The Ritchey and Easton rims are 21mm wide and the Cole and Stella Azzurra rims are 19mm wide, and I kept the Ritcheys and Eastons on one bike and the Cole and Stella Azzurras on the other bike. I kept tires with a Grifo tread on one set of each pair of like-width wheelsets and tires with a Fango (mud) tread on the other wheelset of each pair.

Cole T38 Lite

Central to Cole’s design are cylindrical brass spoke heads residing in transverse holes through the triple-wall hub flanges. Each stainless steel Swiss-made double-butted (round) spoke is double-threaded, with one end threaded into the internal nipple at the rim and the other end into the brass spoke head at the hub. Cole calls this Dynamic Spoke Alignment, or DSA, since the cylindrical nipples offer straight alignment of the spokes; the brass head is free to rotate in the hub flange until the spoke lines up straight from end to end. The spokes can be (and are) put under very high tension without running the risk of snapping them off at a J-bend elbow at the hub. To make room for these brass heads, the hub flanges are fairly tall, but where the spokes emanate from is about equivalent to an average low-flange hub.

The rim’s outer surface is unidirectional carbon with woven carbon on the brake track. The gluing surface is of uniform curvature, and it came with lots of stickers on it, some quite large, which took some work to scrape off to expose the carbon gluing surface.

Comes with a padded double-wheel bag.

This is a tough, stiff, great-tracking wheel and a low enough weight to be competitive. Truing is not possible with the tire mounted.

Easton EC90SL

The Easton EC90SL

Easton’s round, black Sapim double-butted straight pull spokes are double-threaded into the spoke flanges and into internal rim nipples and are laced at very high tension without fear of breakage thanks to eliminating the weak point at the elbow. They are laced radially on the front wheel and the rear wheel’s non-drive side, while the drive-side rear spokes cross once inside of the high drive-side flange and once again between the hub and rim. Other than the drive-side flange, the hubs are low-flange units.

The rim’s outer layer is all unidirectional carbon, and the wheels come with yellow SwissStop brake pads for carbon rims, as well as a nice truing wrench for its internal nipples. The EC90SL rim bed has a central deeper groove for clearance for the stitching bulge in some tubular tires, and with the extra 2mm of rim width, there is still ample gluing surface for the base tape of the tire on either side of the stitching bulge. Easton is so confident of this wheel that it specifically stipulates that the wheel has no maximum rider weight.

The R4SL hubs have Grade 3 ceramic bearings inside, and they are super easy to adjust, which I needed to do on the front since there was some bearing play. That completed, they spin extremely smoothly.

This is a very light yet durable wheelset that accelerates quickly and rolls smoothly on ceramic bearings. Truing is not possible with the tire mounted.

Stella Azzurra Calibro 38

The Calibro 38 has high flanges and black DT Swiss Aerolite stainless steel double butted and bladed spokes with J-bend elbows. The silver alloy nipples are external (they stick out of the rim in the traditional way). It’s the only wheelset here with the same number of spokes front and rear (20), as well as the same spoking pattern front and rear (one-cross).

The rim’s top layer is woven carbon, including on the brake track. The gluing surface is a uniformly-curved rim bed.

The hubs are high-flange with large cutouts, with the exception of the drive side of the rear. The drive-side hub flange holes are dogbone-shaped (see the explanation under Ritchey, below) and thus reduce the strain on the elbows of the most highly stressed spokes of the set, while the high flanges front and rear all have keyhole-shaped holes for the bladed spokes.

Even though Stella Azzurra’s Web site says that these wheels are specifically not recommended for cyclocross (or for riders over 85kg), I used them for ’cross anyway (after considerable riding on the road with no problems), and I would love to use them again for that. The external nipples are a bonus for ’cross, since you can true the wheels without removing the tires, much less having to contend with glue in the spoke holes in the rim bed complicating access to internal nipples. Aerodynamics plays a very minor role in ’cross, so there is no down side to the rider that I can see to external nipples.

Comes with a padded double-wheel bag.

This is a fast, light wheelset that can take a beating and can be easily trued if badly abused.

Ritchey WCS Apex

The Ritchey WCS Apex

This 50mm-deep Ritchey wheel has a thin, low-flange front hub and medium-height rear hub flanges. The wider bearing stance increases the spoke angle to the rim for greater lateral stiffness. The stainless steel Sapim CX and CX-Ray spokes have external brass nipples at the rim. The drive-side rear spokes are laced in a “crow’s foot” pattern with each group of three spokes crossing at a point: two crossing-angle spokes and a single radial spoke.

The 50mm-deep, 21mm-wide rims have a unidirectional carbon outer layer, and the rim bed has a central deeper groove for clearance for the stitching bulge in some tubular tires.

Except for those at the four radial spokes on the drive-side rear hub flange, all of the spoke holes in the hub flanges are “dogbone” shaped (like an oval with large lobes on the ends). Lacing wheels with bladed spokes requires slotted holes in the hub flange to allow the bladed sections to pass through. Normally, the slot is cut radially inward from the hole, forming a keyhole shape, but Ritchey instead joins two closely-spaced adjacent holes with a slot connecting them to form the dogbone. This does reduce the strain on the spoke elbow when the spokes are pulled tight.

The skewers have titanium shafts, and the aluminum heads are cold-forged with a blind hole on one side.

While this wheelset did start out with a loose spoke (see above), I love that it has external nipples, as they make it very easy to true the wheel (no need to pull off the tire).

This wheel doesn’t exact much of a weight penalty for its 50mm of depth. It offers great tracking, stiffness and durability as well as ease of truing.

While these wheels have subtle differences in riding characteristics, I liked the ride of every one of them. You simply can’t go wrong with any of these wheels. All of them are tough as well as plenty laterally and vertically rigid, and they all steer and track well. With proper brake pads and a bike without brake shudder, all of these wheels offer acceptable braking under cyclocross conditions (I did not test them under hard descending on the road on a hot day, a totally different test of braking effectiveness). Their gluing surfaces are sufficient to allow properly-glued tires to stay on well. Their deep, V-section rims steer accurately through mud and sand and shed mud rapidly. They all are quite light and have smoothly-spinning bearings, and I would eagerly race and train with any of these wheels again.

Follow Lennard on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lennardzinn

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.

The NCS will run points races for individual overall championships for men’s, women’s and team event, as well as best overall team. Championships will be awarded for each major track discipline, including; sprint, keirin, time trial, individual pursuit, points race scratch race, miss and out, and Madison (men only).

A nationally cohesive effort to create a strong track racing series has been difficult, said Jeff Hopkins, operating manager of the East Point Velodrome Association. “Most velodromes spend the bulk of their time coordinating their own programs.”

Hopkins hopes to start a program that could run for 10 to 15 years without large corporate sponsorship.

“This is a grass-roots effort,” he said. The series “should have long-term legs if we start it this way.”

ATRA has 13 member velodromes — there are about 11 other velodromes in the country that are not members.

Schedule of events

5/22 – 5/24 Superdrome; Frisco, Texas, Matix Cup

6/11 – 6/13 NSC Blaine; Blaine, Minn., Fixed Gear Classic

6/18 Valley Preferred; Trexlertown, Pa., Festival of Speed-US 10mile

7/09 – 7/10 Dick Lane; East Point, Ga., Outback Bikes “The Omnium”

7/16 – 7/18 Alpenrose; Portland, Ore., Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge

7/23 Valley Preferred; Trexlertown, Pa., Keirin Cup

7/31 Encino; Encino, Calif., Far West Championships

8/14 Alpenrose; Portland, Ore., Alpenrose Heartbreaker

8/21 – 8/22 Hellyer ; San Jose, Calif., CA State Championships

9/10 – 9/11 Dick Lane; East Point, Ga., Thomsen, LTD. “The Madison”

9/17 – 9/19 Superdrome; Frisco, Texas, Elite Nationals Qualifiler

Jackie Crowell (Florida) and Jackie Kurth (Marion) sprint for the silver on Sunday.

The Southeast Collegiate Cycling Conference began its season with a race in sunny Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday and Sunday.

The race started with individual and team time trials on an open, straight and flat out-and back course. The individual test was eight miles, the TTT was 14 miles.) On the return leg the riders were hammered with a brutal 15 mph headwind and gusts of up to 35 mph.

Ben Zawacki (Clemson) took first in the men’s A time trial with a time of 19:52, followed by Spencer Beamer (Furman) and Kyle Rohan (Florida). Behind Satterfield in the B’s were Daniel Broshar (Georgia State) and Jack Tomasetti (Florida State). The C’s were led by Chris Riggins (Clemson), Nathan Michael (Florida) and Brooks Bostick (College of Charleston).

Jackie Crowell (Florida) won the women’s A time trial with a time of 23:27, with Jackie Kurth (Marion) close behind at 23:30. Klara Rossouw finished a distant third at 26:17. In the women’s B, Kirstin Donahue (Florida) beat her teammate Alexis Dabroski and Jacquie Spoon (Clemson).

Furman surprisingly beat Florida’s teams in the men’s team time trial event with a time of 27:55 to Florida 1’s 28:09 and Florida 2’s 29:08. Florida’s women’s team, however, won their division over Clemson with a time of 37:06.

Sunday’s Criterium

The criterium course the next day featured two rough brick sections with several potholes that shook up carbon wheels and threw many riders off-balance. Thankfully, though, the only two collegiate crashes happened at the beginning of the C race.

The weather also dropped far below Florida’s typically balmy temperatures to 42 degrees, where it stayed for most of the morning. This caused a small panic for some as they scrambled to improvise their clothing situation. As one rider from Furman put it, they came to Florida to escape the winter temperatures, not race in them.

The men’s A, B, and C races were fairly uneventful without any significant breakaways. All three ended in bunch sprints.

Furman took first place in the A’s with Spencer, followed closely by Zawacki and Cody Johnson (FSU). Satterfield won the B’s, with Jimmy Mitchell (Furman) and Broshar following. The C’s were won by Pete Jones (Florida), Bostick and Matthew Gentry (Georgia Southern).

Click to see Gainesville gallery

The women’s race turned out to be more dramatic. Three riders, Dabroski , Kurth, and Rossouw, broke away from the pack in the second lap, with Crowell joining after a few laps.

Dabroski attacked the group a bit after Crowell joined and went ahead unchallenged. She continued on a solo breakaway for the rest of the race and finished half a lap in front of the pack.

“In the beginning, Jackie Crowell and I were talking strategy,” said Dabroski. “She’s kind of our team leader, and she told me to keep attacking because Jackie Kurth, her main competitor, would be watching her instead of me. After Jackie Kurth pulled I figured it would be a good time to attack and try to bring her with me, so Jackie Crowell could counterattack her. So I took off — and no one ever chased me.”

Dabroski won the race on the same course last year in a similar manner. She jumped off the front on the first lap and was never followed, so she completed — and won — the entire race on her own.

After Dabroski pulled off, the other women rejoined the pack. Near the end, Crowell and Kurth, who were separated by just three seconds the day before, broke away from the pack and dueled it to the line, with Kurth narrowly edging out Crowell for second place.

– Justin Sanak is a sophomore journalism major and captain of the cycling team at the University of Central Florida. He races category 4 and collegiate B road.

Photos by Keith Creeden. Click here to return to race report.

Time Trial Results | Click for: Criterium Results
Mens A
Mens B
Mens C
Womens A
Womens B

Mens A | Click to return to top of page

Mens B | Click to return to top of page

Mens C | Click to return to top of page

Womens A | Click to return to top of page

Womens B | Click to return to top of page

Criterium Results | Click for: Time Trial Results
Mens A
Mens B
Mens C
Womens

Mens A | Click to return to top of page
1. Spencer Beamer, Furman
2. Ben Zawacki, Clemson
3. Cody Johnson, FSU
Mens B | Click to return to top of page
1. Kevin Satterfield Clemson
2. Jimmy Mitchell (Furman)
3. Daniel Broshar Georgia State
Mens C | Click to return to top of page
1. Pete Jones, Florida
2.Brooks Bostick , College Of Charleston
3. Matthew Gentry, Georgia Southern
Womens | Click to return to top of page
1. Alexis Dabroski Florida
2. Jacquelin Kurth Marion
3. Jacquelin Crowell Florida

Edvald Boasson Hagen rode into the race lead at the Tour of Qatar as the first man across the line from Team Sky in the team time trial. Then he punctured out of the overall lead a day later while riding in the main front group. Here is the bike he is riding in the Middle East.

• 1. Robbie McEwen (AUS) Katusha
• 2. Koldo Fernandez (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi
• 3. Oscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank
• 4. Andre Schulze (GER) Psk Whirlpool-Author
• 5. Manuel Cardoso (POR) Footon – Servetto – Fuji
• 6. Jose Fco Pacheco (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia
• 7. Wim Stroetinga (NED) Milram
• 8. Robert Wagner (GER) Skil-Shimano
• 9. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne
• 10. Robert Forster (GER) Milram
• 11. Michele Merlo (ITA) Footon – Servetto – Fuji
• 12. Jon Aberasturi (ESP) Orbea
• 13. Eric Baumann (GER) TEAM NETAPP
• 14. Andre Greipel (GER) HTC – Columbia
• 15. Mathieu Drujon (FRA) Caisse D’Epargne
• 16. Remco Tebrake (NED) Van Vliet Ebh Elshof
• 17. Arnaud Coyot (FRA) Caisse D’Epargne
• 18. Unai Elorriaga (ESP)
• 19. Kevyn Ista (BEL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
• 20. Nikolas Maes (BEL) Quick Step
• 21. Robin Chaigneau (NED) Skil-Shimano
• 22. Jorge Martin Montenegro (ARG) Andalucia Cajasur
• 23. Iñaki Isasi (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi
• 24. Jelle Vanendert (BEL)
• 25. Anders Lund (DEN) Team Saxo Bank
• 26. Jesper Asselman (NED) Van Vliet Ebh Elshof
• 27. Antonio Miguel Parra (ESP)
• 28. Thomas Fothen (GER) Milram
• 29. Yoeri Havik (NED) Van Vliet Ebh Elshof
• 30. Luis Mas (ESP) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon
• 31. Dominik Nerz (GER) Milram
• 32. Jonas Jorgensen (DEN) Team Saxo Bank
• 33. Eduard Vorganov (RUS) Team Katusha
• 34. Rubin Perez (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi
• 35. Alexandre Botcharov (RUS) Team Katusha
• 36. Jose A. Carrasco (ESP)
• 37. Oscar Grau (ESP) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon
• 38. ?ngel Madrazo (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne
• 39. Marc Reynes (ESP) Psk Whirlpool-Author
• 40. Thomas Rohregger (AUT) Milram
• 41. Markus Fothen (GER) Milram
• 42. Adam Blyth (GBR)
• 43. Kurt Hovelynck (BEL) Quick Step
• 44. Maxime Vantomme (BEL) Team Katusha
• 45. Benat Urain (ESP) Orbea
• 46. Davide Malacarne (ITA) Quick Step
• 47. Dries Devenyns (BEL) Quick Step
• 48. Dario Cataldo (ITA) Quick Step
• 49. Jorge Azanza (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi
• 50. Tom Leezer (NED) Rabobank
• 51. Stijn Devolder (BEL) Quick Step
• 52. Manuel Anton (ESP) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon
• 53. Manuel Vazquez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur
• 54. Joan Horrach (ESP) Team Katusha
• 55. Christophe Brandt (BEL)
• 56. Christian Knees (GER) Milram
• 57. Rikke Dijkxhoorn (NED) Van Vliet Ebh Elshof
• 58. Gustavo Dominguez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia
• 59. Kasper Klostergaard (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at m.t.
• 60. Job Vissers (NED) Skil-Shimano at m.t.
• 61. Frantisek Kloucek (CZE) Psk Whirlpool-Author at m.t.
• 62. Jes?s Rosendo (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at m.t.
• 63. Jens Keukeleire (BEL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at m.t.
• 64. Jose Iv?n Guti?rrez (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne at m.t.
• 65. Peter Velits (SVK) HTC – Columbia at m.t.
• 66. Jon Izagirre (ESP) Orbea at m.t.
• 67. Mikel Landa (ESP) Orbea at m.t.
• 68. Raúl Santamarta (ESP) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon at m.t.
• 69. Tejai Van Garderen (USA) HTC – Columbia at m.t.
• 70. Martin Mares (CZE) Psk Whirlpool-Author at m.t.
• 71. Gregory Obando (CRC) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon at m.t.
• 72. Romain Zingle (BEL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at m.t.
• 73. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne at m.t.
• 74. Vladimir Karpets (RUS) Team Katusha at m.t.
• 75. Francesco Reda (ITA) Quick Step at m.t.
• 76. Andrey Amador (CRC) Caisse D’Epargne at m.t.
• 77. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (NED) Skil-Shimano at m.t.
• 78. Petr Kaltofen (CZE) Psk Whirlpool-Author at m.t.
• 79. Jan Barta (CZE) at m.t.
• 80. Javier Ramirez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at m.t.
• 81. Tony Gallopin (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at m.t.
• 82. Pascual Orengo Lopez (ESP) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon at m.t.
• 83. Rodrigo Garc?a (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at m.t.
• 84. Piet Rooijakkers (NED) Skil-Shimano at m.t.
• 85. Carlos Casta?o (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at m.t.
• 86. Vladimir Isaychev (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at m.t.
• 87. David Deroo (FRA) Skil-Shimano at m.t.
• 88. Laurent Didier (LUX) Team Saxo Bank at m.t.
• 89. Meijden Rune Van Der (NED) Van Vliet Ebh Elshof at m.t.
• 90. Vidal Celis (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji at m.t.
• 91. Tristan Valentin (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at m.t.
• 92. Iv?n Velasco (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at m.t.
• 93. Luis Le?n S?nchez (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne at m.t.
• 94. Andre Steensen (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at m.t.
• 95. Jens Voigt (GER) Team Saxo Bank at m.t.
• 96. Andoni Blazquez (ESP) Orbea at m.t.
• 97. Steven Kruijswijk (NED) Rabobank at 7
• 98. Bert De Backer (BEL) Skil-Shimano at 7
• 99. Bas Krauwel (NED) Van Vliet Ebh Elshof at 7
• 100. Diego Gallego (ESP) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon at 7
• 101. Julien Fouchard (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at 7
• 102. Mikel Nieve (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 7
• 103. Rui Alberto Costa (POR) Caisse D’Epargne at 7
• 104. Gustavo Rodr?guez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 7
• 105. Mario Aerts (BEL) at 7
• 106. Lars Boom (NED) Rabobank at 7
• 107. Nick Nuyens (BEL) Rabobank at 7
• 108. Juan Javier Estrada (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 7
• 109. Paul Voss (GER) Milram at 7
• 110. Josae Luis Roldan (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 7
• 111. Petr Bencik (CZE) Psk Whirlpool-Author at 7
• 112. Bob Schoonbroodt (NED) Van Vliet Ebh Elshof at 7
• 113. Rasmus Guldhammer (AUS) HTC – Columbia at 7
• 114. Tomas Danacik (CZE) Psk Whirlpool-Author at 7
• 115. Frederik Wilmann (NOR) Skil-Shimano
• 116. Fco David Delgado (ESP) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon at 11
• 117. Martin Hebik (CZE) Psk Whirlpool-Author at 11
• 118. David Muntaner (ESP) at 11
• 119. Kai Reus (NED) Rabobank at 11
• 120. Angel Vicioso Arcos (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 11
• 121. Maarten Tjallingii (NED) Rabobank at 11
• 122. Manuel Ortega (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 11
• 123. Daniel Schorn (AUT) at 11
• 124. Delio Fern?ndez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 11
• 125. Francis De Greef (BEL) at 11
• 126. Vojtech Dlouhy (CZE) Psk Whirlpool-Author at 11
• 127. Tom Stansnisder (NED) Rabobank at 11
• 128. Xabier Zandio Echaide (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne at 11
• 129. Nico Keinath (GER) at 11
• 130. Eloy Teruel (ESP) at 11
• 131. J?r?me Pineau (FRA) Quick Step at 11
• 132. Glenn D’hollander (BEL) at 11
• 133. Ib?n Leanizbarrutia (ESP) at 11
• 134. Egor Silin (RUS) Team Katusha at 11
• 135. Kim Kirchen (LUX) Team Katusha at 11
• 136. Seraf?n Martinez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 11
• 137. Marco Pinotti (ITA) HTC – Columbia at 11
• 138. Andres Sergio De Lis (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 11
• 139. Alexander Gottfried (GER) at 11
• 140. Nico Sijmens (BEL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at 11
• 141. Kalle Kriit (EST) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at 11
• 142. Gorka Verdugo (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 11
• 143. Tomas Buchacek (CZE) Psk Whirlpool-Author at 11
• 144. Jose Carlos Lara (ESP) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon at 11
• 145. Andri Kunitski (BLR) Quick Step at 11
• 146. Duyn Huub (NED) at 11
• 147. Jean-christophe Peraud (FRA) at 11
• 148. Carlos Torrent Tarres (ESP) at 11
• 149. Mitchell Docker (AUS) Skil-Shimano at 11
• 150. Alan P?rez Lezaun (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 11
• 151. Aritz Etxebarria (ESP) Orbea at 11
• 152. Fabio Felline (ITA) Footon – Servetto – Fuji at 11
• 153. Aleksejs Saramotins (LAT) HTC – Columbia at 11
• 154. Jose Antonio De Segovia (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 11
• 155. Bert Grabsch (GER) HTC – Columbia at 19
• 156. Andres A Antu?a (ESP) Burgos Monumental-Castilla Y Leon at 19
• 157. Branislau Samoilau (BLR) Quick Step at 19
• 158. Albert Torres (ESP) at 19
• 159. Timon Seubert (GER) at 19
• 160. Jose A G. Marchante (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 19
• 161. Richie Porte (AUS) Team Saxo Bank at 19
• 162. Tom Stubbe (BEL) at 19
• 163. Ronan Van Zandbeek (NED) Van Vliet Ebh Elshof at 19
• 164. Markus Eichler (GER) Milram at 19
• 165. Koos Moerenhout (NED) Rabobank at 19
• 166. Xabier Zabalo (ESP) Orbea at 19
• 167. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP) Rabobank at 19
• 168. Gustavo Cesar Veloso (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 19
• 169. Dimitri Clayes (BEL) at 19
• 170. Jaroslaw Marycz (POL) Team Saxo Bank at 19
• 171. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at 19
• 172. Franck Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank
• 173. Alberto Ben?tez Rom?n (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji at 19
• 174. Johnnie Walker (AUS) Footon – Servetto – Fuji at 19
• 175. Jan Bakelandsts (BEL) at 19
• 176. Antonio Tauler (ESP) at 19
• 177. Javier Moreno (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 19
• 178. Bastien Delrot (FRA) at 19
• 179. Dominik Roels (GER) Milram at 19
• 180. Jin Long (CHN) Skil-Shimano at 19
• 181. David Guti?rrez (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji at 19
• 182. Joaqu?n Rodr?guez (ESP) Team Katusha at 19
• 183. Charles Wegelius (GBR) at 19
• 184. Juan Jose Oroz (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 19
• 185. Andoni Lafuente (ESP) at 19
• 186. Markus Eibegger (AUT) Footon – Servetto – Fuji at 19
• 187. David Vitoria (SUI) Footon – Servetto – Fuji at 19
• 188. Rein Taaramae (EST) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at 19
• 189. Jack Vermeulen (NED) Van Vliet Ebh Elshof at 19
• 190. Michael Albasini (SUI) HTC – Columbia at 19
• 191. Aitor P?rez (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji at 19
• 192. Frantisek Rabon (CZE) HTC – Columbia at 01:36
• 193. Vicente Reynes (ESP) HTC – Columbia at 01:44
• 194. Noel Martin (ESP) Orbea at 04:27

Team standings

• 1. Caisse D’Epargne in 7:03:48
• 2. Team Milram at m.t.
• 3. Euskaltel – Euskadi at m.t.
• 4. Team Katusha at m.t.
• 5. Van Vliet Ebh Elshof at m.t.
• 6. Selecci?n Espa?ola at m.t.
• 7. Skil – Shimano at m.t.
• 8. Psk Whirlpool – Author at m.t.
• 9. Footon-Servetto at m.t.
• 10. Quick Step at m.t.
• 11. Saxo Bank at m.t.
• 12. Burgos Monumental – Castilla Y at m.t.
• 13. Omega Pharma – Lotto at m.t.
• 14. Orbea at m.t.
• 15. Andalucia Cajasur at m.t.
• 16. Xacobeo Galicia at m.t.
• 17. Team Htc – Columbia at m.t.
• 18. Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne at m.t.
• 19. Rabobank at 7
• 20. Team Netapp at 11

Taylor Phinney and the Trek-Livestrong squad take on the big boys on February 7 in the Tour of Qatar.

Certain dates in cycling history have earned far greater importance than others. Some that come to mind are July 1, which saw the start of the first Tour de France in 1903; January 2, the gray day when malaria took the life of Italy’s campionissimo Fausto Coppi at age 40 in 1960; and September 4, when Greg LeMond became the first non-European to win the world pro road race title in 1983.

Those dates of significance have now been joined by this past Sunday’s February 7, which already marked the exact 25^th anniversary of the European debut of America’s first pro team, 7-Eleven, and its star sprinter Davis Phinney, in 1985. By coincidence, his son Taylor Phinney made his debut against elite professionals at the Tour of Qatar this February 7, which also saw Britain’s first major pro team, Sky, field dual stars Edvald Boasson Hagen and Brad Wiggins for the first time. Sadly, on this same day, the popular former classics rider Franco Ballerini died in a tragic accident at a car rally in Italy.

The 7-Eleven debut

A quarter-century ago, there was little fanfare for the 7-Eleven riders when they showed up at the four-day Étoile de Bessèges in southern France. The Europeans had accepted the presence in the peloton of Americans LeMond and Jonathan Boyer, and Australians Phil Anderson and Michael Wilson, mainly because these pioneers were racing on French, Dutch and Italian pro teams. But the arrivals in their midst of a bunch of blond, blue-eyed “cowboys” was somewhat different.

But instead of them creating crashes, as the Europeans feared, Phinney and such colleagues as Ron Kiefel, Jeff Bradley, Jeff Pierce, Eric Heiden and Andy Hampsten heralded the start of cycling’s globalization. Their Bessèges race opened with a 2.1km prologue time trial won by then-reigning Tour de France champion Laurent Fignon, so stage 1 on February 8 was the 7-Eleven squad’s first “real” race.

It was a 124km circuit race at Lunel, a small town between Nîmes and Montpellier, and ended in a wild field sprint dominated by the mighty Dutch team of the era, Panasonic. The Americans attempted to get Phinney into the placings, but the boys in green, red and white didn’t have the numbers or the horsepower to match Panasonic — which handed Belgian Eric Vanderaerden the first of his 24 victories that year.

Phinney was seventh across the line, but there was no photo finish at the race, and he wasn’t listed in the top 10. The American wasn’t upset though, saying, “I’m just happy to be sprinting against the European pros. I’ve dreamed about this day for a long time.”

On the final day of the race, February 10, 1985, Phinney took an official fourth place to end up eighth overall, while his fellow Coloradan and 1984 Olympic gold medalist Alexi Grewal, who was starting his pro career on Panasonic, took fifth overall. Grewal got homesick and didn’t last out the season with the Dutch team, while 7-Eleven went on to race that year’s Giro d’Italia, with Kiefel and Hampsten both winning stages and Phinney taking eight top-10s.

Twenty-five years later

The 7-Eleven team’s pioneering efforts were an important factor in pro cycling expanding from its European base. The season now opens in Australia (at the Tour Down Under) and the Persian Gulf (with the Tour of Qatar and upcoming Tour of Oman). At the same time, the Bessèges race (which ended Sunday with victory for French sprinter Samuel Dumoulin) has become a first big rendezvous for France’s eight, mostly minor pro teams, while similar stage races get the season under way in Italy and Spain.

So it was pure coincidence that the 19-year-old Taylor Phinney — leading his Trek-Livestrong under-23 development squad — would make his debut against the world’s top pro teams on February 7 in Qatar. In a flat and windy 8.2km team time trial, Trek-Livestrong placed 15^th of the 16 teams. On his Twitter account, Phinney wrote: “TTT was not so hot today … I felt great and did all that I could.”

It was a harsh baptism for the U.S. development team, finishing 39 seconds behind the winning Team Sky (led by Boasson Hagen and Wiggins). It put Phinney in 98^th place before the first road stage on Monday, where the intensity of today’s pro racing made the going far tougher than it was for his dad 25 years ago.

Even Team Sky had a hard time in the desert winds of Qatar, with neither race leader Boasson Hagen nor any of his teammates making it into the front two echelons, and ending the stage 10 minutes back. The young Phinney’s verdict on his first experience in the pro peloton was: “Broke a spoke in the most crucial part of the race but fought back to a big group … and managed to finish with likes of Cancellara, Boasson Hagen … can’t complain.”

A tragic loss

While the 2010 racing season was getting under way all over the world, former Italian racer and national coach Franco Ballerini, 45, was competing in a motor rally in Tuscany when he was killed after the car he was co-piloting crashed into the wall of a house.

Most pro bike racers love driving fast cars, and Ballerini was no exception. Europeans are especially enamored with rallies, which usually feature timed sections on dirt roads. At the time of the accident, the Italian was navigating for rally driver Alessandro Ciardi, who remains in a coma at the Pistoia hospital where Ballerini died.

Ballerini was an exemplary professional who wasn’t a naturally gifted athlete; he trained and worked hard for every success. His breakthrough as a racer came in his fifth season as a pro, in September 1990, when on the heels of taking the Belgian classic Paris-Brussels, he won the then-Canadian World Cup race, the Grand Prix des Amériques in Montréal, finishing ahead of the big Swiss rider Thomas Wegmüller and the young Belgian Sammie Moreels.

In a 16-year pro career, Ballerini became a classics specialist, twice winning Paris-Roubaix and taking podium spots at races as diverse as the Tour of Flanders and Tour of Lombardy. His great tactical prowess was showcased in his nine years as coach and selector of the Italian pro road squad that won four world championships and an Olympic title.

Ballerini’s funeral takes place on Tuesday afternoon at a church in Casalguidi, not far from his hometown of Larciano. His thousands of fans will remember that he died on February 7.

After contemplating retirement following a lackluster 2009 season that saw just two minor wins, Freire bolted to victory in the second day of the five-day Mallorca Challenge. He fended off 20-race-winner André Greipel (HTC-Columbia) for the confidence-boosting win.

Third in Sunday’s opener behind winner Robbie McEwen (Katusha), Freire took the eighth victory of his career at the Mallorca Challenge, the traditional Spanish calendar season-opener. His last win came in 2007 at the Trofeo Mallorca.

“Almost every year that I’ve raced at Mallorca, I have won a race, and now it’s been two years since I’ve come,” said Freire. “To begin the season with a victory always gives you motivation. They always demand from me results of more quality, but a win like this gives you tranquility. I’ve achieved a win without being in top form, so I am happy.”

An early five-man breakaway opened up a gap of five minutes before Katusha, riding for McEwen, opened up the chase on the mostly flat 172km route along the eastern side of Mallorca.

It was all set up for the sprint in the closing kilometers when the big hitters come through, with Freire nipping Tour Down Under champ Greipel for the win. Coming across third was Portuguese champ Manuel Cardoso, who gave Footon-Servetto an important podium spot.

“Rabobank launched the finish with five riders and I felt I was losing my winning position and tried to overtake them with 300 meters to go, but Freire finished it off well, and beat me by a half-tire length at the line,” Cardoso said. “The podium is another boost for my confidence. I did my best against a big rider like Freire, and I’m happy with myself and the team. We were at the front and taking pulls with the top teams.”

The 19th Mallorca Challenge continues Tuesday with the 157km mountainous route that includes climbs over the Cat. 2 Sóller climb and the island’s highest paved climb at the Cat. 1 Puigmajor.

It’s common to see Australians and Spanish riders take early-season victories, thanks in part of the mild winter (or summer, for the Aussies), which allows them to train almost uninterrupted throughout the off-season.

Some riders come in guns a-blazin’, looking to notch some confidence-building wins and hone form for the spring classics. Others are just looking to put some race miles in the legs for goals further on down the road.

In either case, everyone seems glad to be back at race speed. This week, the Mallorca Challenge in Spain’s Balearic islands and the Tour Mediterranéen along France’s Med coast fit the bill. And then there’s the Tour of Qatar, entering its ninth edition of one of cycling’s most exotic locales for a race.

19^th Mallorca Challenge (Spain, 1.1)

Through February 11

In what’s a series of one-day races over a five-day period on Spain’s pleasant Mallorca island, the Challenge is a popular, early-season race for pros looking to enjoy some mild weather with the first taste of racing. There are some steep hills, but nothing too extreme for February legs.

The official opener of the Spanish calendar, the Mallorca Challenge allows riders to pick and choose which “stages” they want to compete in. There’s also an unofficial overall winner for riders who compete in all five days. Nineteen teams are taking part, including HTC-Columbia, Saxo Bank, Caisse d’Epargne, Rabobank, Katusha and Quick Step.

Robbie McEwen (Katusha) was back in the winner’s circle for the first time since his knee injury last summer after kicking to victory in Sunday’s Trofeo Palma.

Last year’s winner was Toni Colom (Katusha), a local rider who later tested positive for CERA, a charge that he denies.

WEB: http://www.vueltamallorca.com/challenge2010/

Ninth Tour of Qatar (2.2)

Through February 12

Qatar seems an unlikely place to stage a bike race, but combine money from the oil-rich sheiks and the backers of the Tour de France, and Qatar proves you can host a top-end bike race anywhere. Facing almost no hills and lots of wind, sprinters seem to enjoy the mild weather and five-star accommodation that comes with racing in Qatar.

Tom Boonen (Quick Step) has won three of the past four editions, with teammate Wilfried Cretskens taking the honors in 2007. Boonen is back for the six-stage, 703km march across the sands of Qatar.

Team Sky took its first win by nailing Sunday’s opening team time trial. Edvald Boasson Hagen took the yellow jersey, but surrendered it Monday after Geert Steurs (Topsport) and Wouter Mol (Vacansoleil) launched a daylong break in Stage 2 that gave Steurs the stage and Mol the lead.

BCM, HTC-Columbia, Cervélo, Garmin-Transitions and Trek-Livestrong are among the 16 teams taking part.

WEB: http://www.letour.fr/us/homepage_horscourseTQA.html

37^th Le Tour Mediterranéen (Fra, 2.1)

February 9-14

As the name suggests, this five-day race hugs France’s Med’ coast and remains popular among French clubs despite the rise of such events as Qatar. This year’s course will feature the first major climb of 2010 as the final stage finishes atop Mont Faron above Toulon.

Last year’s champion Luís León Sánchez (Caisse d’Epargne) is racing in Mallorca and the Volta ao Algarve next week and will not be back to defend his title. Caisse d’Epargne will send a team, along with Garmin-Transitions, Rabobank and Astana and a whole clutch of French teams.

WEB: http://www.letourmed.com/

Geert Steurs (Topsport) won the second stage of the Tour of Qatar, outsprinting his breakaway companion Wouter Mol (Vacansoleil).

Behind, the field had split into four main groups as Cervélo TestTeam and Quick Step drove the main chase in the whipping crosswinds.

It was an emotional win for Steurs, whose Topsport teammate Frederiek Nolf died at this race last year in his sleep. On the 90-minute transfer to the stage start, the Topsport team had pictures of Nolf taped inside their cars.

“I’m so happy that I can win the stage for him today,” Steurs said.

On a warm and windy day that began at a camel racetrack, the crosswind specialists got right down to work in Stage 2.

Team Sky rider Kurt-Asle Arvesen broke his collarbone in a crash soon after the start. “Shit continues to happen,” he wrote on Twitter after the race. Arvesen broke his collarbone at the Tour de France last year.

Mol and Steurs attacked nearly from the gun, setting out on an all-day break in the howling wind and building an advantage that topped out at nearly 23 minutes.

After about an hour of racing, with the breakaway’s gap ballooning out of control, Garmin-Transitions went to the front. Team Sky, which had Edvald Boasson Hagen in the leader’s jersey, then added a few men to the effort.

As the race proceeded across the desert, changes in direction meant changes in the strong wind. When the race turned into a crosswind, Cervélo TestTeam amassed at the front of the field and punched it.

Still smarting from a one-minute penalty levied against them in Sunday’s team time trial, Cervélo set about putting things to right, driving an echelon at the front until the peloton cracked into four pieces. Three-time race winner Tom Boonen was in the front group with three Quick Step teammates, Cervélo’s Heinrich Haussler was there with four. Garmin-Transitions sprinter Tyler Farrar was alone, but still up there in the 24-man move.

Sky had no one. The gap to Boasson Hagen in the second echelon quickly jumped to 30 seconds.

Haussler said the penalty Cervélo received for Haussler putting his hand on Gabriel Rasch during the TTT had no effect on stage 2.

“We would have ridden exactly the same even if we hadn’t lost a minute yesterday,” Haussler said.

After an hour of the 17-man group chasing the front 24-man group, things went from bad to worse for race leader Boasson Hagen as he punctured and lost contact with the second group. Ahead, Mol and Steurs labored on, but their advantage had dwindled to four minutes with 15km to go.

In the closing kilometers, the leading pair’s advantage was safe as was the first chase group’s gap over the second main echelon. Attacking and counterattacking ensued in the first big group, which had been riding a hard tempo for about two hours, and the result was three smaller groups barring down on the line.

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Coming into the finish, Steurs took the sprint from Mol and pointed to the sky as he came across the line. As he screeched to a stop alongside his team car just past the finish, his director and support staff yelled and laughed as they gathered around to congratulate him. For his efforts on the day, Mol took the leader’s jersey from Boasson Hagen.

Two minutes later, Milram’s Roger Kluge took the sprint for third from the shattered remnant of the front group ahead of Haussler, Philippe Gilbert (Omega Lotto), Roger Hammond (Cervélo) and Boonen.

When the dust cleared, the top five on general classification was Mol, Steurs, Kluge, Boonen and Marcus Burghardt (BMC).

Because of the one-minute penalty from the team time trial, Haussler and his Cervélo teammates Roger Hammond and Jeremy Hunt are sitting 13th through 15th; they would have been third through fifth.

But that is no longer up for debate. The question at the Tour of Qatar now is whether the two men from small teams — the Dutch Vacansoleil and Belgian Topsport Valaanderen — will be able to maintain their two-minute advantage against the ProTour squads over the final four days of the race.

Stage 3 of the Tour of Qatar is a 137km affair from Dukhan on the west coast to Mesaieed, south of Doha on the east coast.

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