Category: Racing

Haedo wins Tour of California stage; Levi Leipheimer keeps the golden jersey

Argentinian sprinter Juan José Haedo of the freshman Toyota-United Pro team won the first stage of the Tour of California in a sprint finish in Santa Rosa on Monday, as hometown boy Levi Leipheimer held onto the leader's golden jersey.

With Davitamon-Lotto, HealthNet, and Phonak controlling the front of the peloton for their sprinters, it's interesting to see a sprinter win it from another team. Actually, the win could certainly help the career of Haedo as directors from major Euro pro cycling teams witnessed this 25-year-old take a sprint from their teams. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/20/haedo-wins-tour-of-california-stage-levi-leipheimer-keeps-the-golden-jersey/

Leapin' Lizards! Levi Leipheimer wins Tour of California prologue

American cyclist Levi Leipheimer won the opening 1.9-mile San Francisco prologue on Sunday with a time of 4:53.43.

If anyone's a homeboy on this prologue, it's Leipheimer. Although he grew up in Montana, the Gerolsteiner cyclist now lives just up the road from San Francisco in the wine country town of Santa Rosa.

While he rides the passes in and out of Santa Rosa and mountain bikes with the locals, he also may have tried his hand on this prologue route that winds its way from the Embarcadero to Coit Tower. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/19/leapin-lizards-levi-leipheimer-wins-tour-of-california-prologue/

Where to watch Tour of California updated

Forty-five minutes into the prologue, I'd say there might be a few glitches in attempts to give “real-time” commentary on the Amgen Tour of California.

What's working best is the VeloNews live coverage. Just follow the link to the live page; you may not need to refresh to get updates.

Also,  the “play-by-play” at the Tour of California website …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/19/where-to-watch-tour-of-california-updated/

Many of world's best cyclists riding in Tour of California

The world's best cyclists are among the 128 riders taking to the streets in the prologue of the Tour of California on Sunday.

Although it's early in the racing season, most of the top Euro teams have sent representatives to the 8-stage race that begins in San Francisco, then sweeps north into wine country before heading down the Pacific Coast to LA.

Big names among the starters include:
2005 Tour de France top 10:
Levi Leipheimer (pictured above), Gerolsteiner …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/19/many-of-worlds-best-cyclists-riding-in-tour-of-california/

Where to follow Tour of California on TV and web

The long-awaited and much-anticipated Amgen Tour of California starts off in San Francisco at 10 a.m. Sunday for its 8-day race along more than 600 miles of California blacktop.

Although it's ranked as a top race on the international cycling circuit, don't expect to find it covered live on any network TV. There are ways to get live results on the web or cell phone, though, then catch it later on TV …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/17/where-to-follow-tour-of-california-on-tv-and-web/

“Do you believe in miracles?” Bicycle racing returns to OLN in 2006!

I suffered a lot of fear and loathing in the past few months over whether I'd see cycling on OLN ever again after Lance Armstrong's retirement.

Fear not. OLN announced its upcoming bicycle racing programming and there's not only the Tour de France, but a series of spring races beginning March 5 with Paris-Nice.

Much like last year's Cyclysm Sundays, the racing …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/15/do-you-believe-in-miracles-bicycle-racing-returns-to-oln-in-2006/

Cyclist Tyler Hamilton loses fight; blood-doping ban stands

American cyclist Tyler Hamilton has lost his appeal of a two-year ban for blood doping.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced on Saturday that it had rejected his appeal. Hamilton pleaded his case before the body several weeks ago in Denver. The 34-year-old had tested positive for having transfused blood in his system after winning a time trial in …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/12/cyclist-tyler-hamilton-loses-fight-blood-doping-ban-stands/

Roberto Heras banned for two years

The Vuelta a Espana's four-time champion — wait, make that three-time champion — Roberto Heras has been banned from professional cycling for two years by Spanish racing officials.

VeloNews reports that the Liberty Seguros cyclist was stripped of his fourth Vuelta victory after doping results came back positive. Russian Denis Menchov (Rabobank) has been given the title in that race….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/10/roberto-heras-banned-for-two-years/

The Tour of California bike race's five leaders jerseys released

The Tour de France has the yellow jersey; the Giro d'Italia has the pink. The overall leading cyclist of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California will wear dark gold.

Voler Team Apparel is the official cycling jersey sponsor for the Tour, which begins Feb. 19 for an 8-day, 600-mile stage race around the golden state. The Grover Beach, California-based company (Voler is pronounced vo-LAY) is providing the jerseys in five competitions.

The five jersey styles …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/08/the-tour-of-california-bike-races-five-leaders-jerseys-released/

Tour of California bike race TV coverage is late, except Pacific time zone

Unless you live on the West Coast, you bike racing fans might want to brush up on your VCR skills to videotape stages of the upcoming Amgen Tour of California from Feb. 19-26.
The Tour has been touting its prime time coverage on ESPN2. But checking the online EPSN2 TV schedule, I see that must be “prime time” on the West Coast. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/02/03/tour-of-california-bike-race-tv-coverage-is-late-except-pacific-time-zone/