I woke up today and my legs were heavy from yesterdays ride. I didn't expect that at all especially having stayed in the small ring. I guess 50 or so miles will take its toll no matter.

Warming up before Bubba #3 my right thigh remained really tight and there was just not any "snap" in my sprint. I went to the line knowing my start would not be very good and that I would have to rely on fitness to move up any. By the end of the paved start I was about 10th. As expected I picked off a few riders as the race wore on but Jose, who was an early companion, rode away eventually as I tried to hold off three others. The gained slightly each lap and i though I could hold them off. But, Craig Farrell came flying by me on the pavement just before the final bell. I don't know where he got the speed from since he really struggled to make up ground all race. All the credit to him. He deserved the fifth place finish this week. Next week, I hope to be not so tired and get a little revenge.

News Item of the Day: Team director Johan Bruyneel told Cyclingnews at the Tour De France presentation that "we've added a 26th rider to our roster, a talented Japanese U23 rider, Fumiyuki Beppu. Discovery is very interested in the Japanese market and we did some research and found that Beppu was the best rider available."

Beppu has spent the last two seasons at VC La Pomme Marseille, a U23 team where Mark Scanlon and the Japanese rider's '04 teammate Nicolas Roche all passed pro before. 2003 Japanese U23 road champ in Hiroshima by over 4' and former Asian Jr. Road Champion, Beppu shined this year in the Euro U23 ranks; at the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, he took Stage One at Courmayeur in a photofinish and was 4th on Stage 5 and ended 3rd Overall on Points. Speedster Beppu was third at the Italian amateur classic GP Citta' di Felino in August and third on GC in the fast, flat Tour de Loir et Cher in April.

Viewpoint: Interesting to finally have a Japanese rider make it to the Pro Peloton.

We had a real nice ride this morning. The air was cool at 8:30 when I left for Meramec CC, not a cloud in the sky. I felt okay but the legs were not fresh. Still feeling the effects of the trainer work just over 12 hrs earlier. Not helping the matter was a strong wind out of the west. A wind that would be into out face most of the way out to High Ridge.

Steve Martin was a surprise attendee, Mark and Patrick showed as well. Jose apparently could not find the keys he had lost the day before in the park and did not make the ride.

True to my word, I did not leave my small chainring all day. It would have been easy to slip into the big ring though when we began our return on the constantly winding Rock Creek. A very fun road especially with a tailwind pushing you along. An eager dog added to the fun with a short chase.

When we got to Old 141 it looked as though the road construction that had been going on was complete. But once we reached the top, the road was closed causing us to take a detour down Corisande Hills.

I was gone for almost 4 hrs but actual ride time was more like 3 1/2 including the ride to and from home.

Tomorrow is round 3 of the Bubba Memorial. This round is in Creve Coeur Park. From the description, it sounds like the same area where we had a crit about 10 years ago. It was a big circle. Half of it down, the second half uphill. Based on that I expect some climbing tomorrow. I also think the possibility exists of a lot of leaves on the course. The last couple weeks have not had many trees on the course. I remember this part of the park having many trees though. And the trees having been dropping leaves rapidly this week. It could make for some slippy conditions in the turns.

News Item of the Day: According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Phonak's Santiago Perez has tested postive for blood transfusion in a doping control, said to have been carried out just before or during the Vuelta a España, where the 27 year old rider finished second overall. Marca claimed that a counter-analysis has already been performed, and also showed evidence of blood transfusion.

Marca also published that the alleged doping offence was the reason for Perez' non-participation at the 2004 World Championships in Verona, which he skipped because of gastroenteritis according to his management. The newspaper attributed the rider's difficulties renewing his contract with the Swiss Phonak team to the positive doping control. The reason why the UCI or the Spanish cycling federation haven't issued an official statement yet is said to be due to a technical mistake, as neither the rider nor a representative of the team were present at the analysis of the B sample.

If these allegations prove to be true, Santiago Perez will be the second rider in history to have tested positive for a blood transfusion, after his teammate Tyler Hamilton.

Viewpoint: Another day, another positive doping test. Worse yet that its another positive for Phonak. They did seem to come from relative obscurity this year and turn into one of the top teams in the World Starting with Hamilton winning the Tour of Romandie for the second time, then in June(?) they really made their presence known with a second place at the Tour de Suisse and very strong rides at the Dauphine only to be beaten by Mayo. Their Tour even started very well with a great TTT although it collapsed when Tyler pulled out with his crash injuries.

I was willing to excuse their quick rise to the front of the peloton because they did go out and hire some big names like Hamilton, Sevilla and I think Perez was new as well. Not it looks like their may be more than just hired talent for their improvement. Sadly, I think Perez's positive casts even more doubt on Hamilton assertions that he is innocent. I want him to be innocent but now I think there is a problem of team doping.

An unseasonably warm day today in the mid-80's. While it was tempting to get outside for a short while after work I decided again for a trainer workout. Here is a quick snapshot of my me during my warmup.

Total ride time was about 50 minutes but I stamped out a pretty hard 40+ minutes while watching Lance do the Stage 20 TT of this years Tour. I stayed in the small ring again but worked in the 14 rear for all but the warmup and cool down. The legs were not taxed greatly by the ride but the lungs were feeling the strain a little. A good ride in preparation for Sunday's race.

A nice amount of sweat was left below me indicating a nice effort had been put forth.

Tomorrow a group of us will be doing an morning ride into northern Jeffco. The forecast looks nice with temps in the 50's or lower 60's. That will feel good after today. Mid 80's at this time of year feels unbearably warm to me.

News Item of the Day: MILAN, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Italy's former world champion Mario Cipollini ended speculation that he is to retire on Friday by announcing that he would ride next season for the Liquigas Sport team. The 37-year-old sprinter, who holds the record for the most number of Giro d'Italia stage wins with 42, has been plagued by injury over the past two years.

He pulled out of the Giro this year after crashing and then quit the Tour de France because of a thigh injury. However, the 2002 world road race champion, nicknamed 'Super Mario' and 'The Lion King', said he would line up for the first World Cup race next year from Milan to San Remo. "I've signed for one season because then I'll be 38 and that's not young," Cipollini said.

Cipollini said he had considered retiring since a fall in the 2003 Giro "stopped my sporting body clock". "I've never fallen so much in my entire life. In those difficult moments, the first thing you think is to call it a day, that you've raced well but now it's time to go," he said. "But then reality strikes. I've been on a bike for 31 years. It's my way of life, from what I eat to everything else. "I left the cycling world for a while to think about things and then I understood how much I wanted to keep going, to keep elbowing my way past other cyclists, to compete.

"I was very undecided about which team to race with because I'm not a kid, I need a team to support the ambitions I still have. I believe I can still win." Cipollini said the Liquigas deal had been signed quickly and that he was already looking forward to lining up for the Milan to San Remo race. "I'm happy to bring my experience to the table but will be totally humble. The team has been together for a while so I'm not going to come in and tell them to change things," he said.

Viewpoint: I almost went with this story as yesterday's News Item of the Day. I am glad I held off since the story at that time was that Cipo was going to retire. Nowhere did I see anyone talk of a signing. It will be good to see Mario battling for sprints for another year.

I'm unsure about his new team though. He has always seemed to have a team dedicated to setting up a big lead-out train for his sprint. Maybe I just don't recognize the names of those who will work for his wins because they do their job in relative obscurity but when I look at their current roster it looks to be a lot of climbers. For instance Dario Cioni who finished 4th in this years Giro, Stefano Garzelli - finished 6th and is a former winner, Pavel Tonkov - an old guy but former Giro winner, Danilo DiLuca - not quite one for the high mountains but intermediate mountains and hilly classics, Andrea Noe - usually a top 20 in the Giro, Franco Pelizotti - 11th in the last Giro and a mountain climber. I do recognize the name of big Magnus Backstedt as a man that could help lead out. Milesi, Sironi, Zanotti are names I think might fit that role too. We shall see how they do.

Due to a clothing miscalculation (no clean shorts) I'm taking an unscheduled day off the bike. Maybe I'll do some sit-ups or crunches or whatever the going phrase of the day happens to be. Lets just say I will work on my 0-pack stomach.

News Item of the Day: Tour organisers unveiled the route on Thursday for the 3,600km race, which starts on 2 July. The time-trial takes place on 23 July, just 24 hours before the final Paris stage, ensuring a nervous finish.

American Lance Armstrong is expected to seek to win his seventh straight title on the Champs-Elysees. The 33-year-old, however, has still not commited himself to next year's Tour. His US Postal team chief Johan Bruyneel said: "He'll race if he is motivated but he has been motivating himself for the last six years. "When I saw him he was very laid back about it." A decision is expected next February or March. "When he starts racing next year he'll discover how motivated he is," added another of his team officials, Dirk DeMol.

The route should give Armstrong's rivals hope, as the Texan's stranglehold on the event has been based on his time-trialling ability and increasingly dominant performances in the mountains.

With a single individual time-trial and fewer finishes at high altitude, the 2005 Tour could be a little less demanding than in recent years and give the likes of Jan Ullrich and Joseba Beloki more recovery time. The organisers, however, are not holding their breath over a fight to the finish. "Don't count on me to make any predictions about the winner. We have been far too disappointed by Lance Armstrong's rivals in 2004," said Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc.

The 21 stages will take 200 riders from Noirmoutier, just off Nantes, to Paris on a clockwise route with a short visit to Germany. This means Armstrong and the rest of the bunch will tackle the Alps before the Pyrenees.

Despite a tough stage to Courchevel, in which the peloton will tackle the Cornet de Roselend climb that ended Miguel Indurain's reign in 1996, the Alps stages look less gruelling with two valley finishes, in Briancon and Digne. The Briancon stage will, however, include the famous Galibier and Madeleines passes.

The Pyrenees look set to be more decisive with two finishes at high altitude in Ax Trois Domaines and a gruesome 17th stage to Le Pla d'Adet.

Climbers will also be able to shine before the Alps , as the route passes through the Vosges mountains, with a stage up the Ballon d'Alsace.

And from the Pyrenees to Paris, riders will have to tackle the hilly roads of the Massif Central with an exacting finish in Mende.

As a result, the 2005 is a more balanced route than usual and will suit neither climbers or sprinters, who have only five flat stages in which to display their pace.

Time-trial specialists will start the Tour with a longer prologue than usual over 19km, but will have to wait until the penultimate day for a second chance over 55km in St Etienne. "That last time trial in St Etienne will decide the final positions in the race. And I can tell you it'll be a tough one," said Leblanc.

The organisers have yet to decide whether 21 or 22 teams will contest the race.

Viewpoint: How surprising that neither Alpe d'Huez or Mt. Ventoux are on the Tour route. You have to wonder if the exclusion of Mt Ventoux is a subtle way of trying to get Lance to not participate. He has the record six wins and he has publicly stated that the one stage he still wants to win is Mt Ventoux. With it's exclusion yet again, Lance perhaps has less ambition to participate.

I never did ride last night. The minutes kept slipping by as I was on the computer. I probably could have squeezed a ride in but I wanted to sit and watch the game rather than miss some of it showering or pounding away on the pedals. The Cardinals rewarded my sacrifice with another loss. Thank you so very much.

Tonight I did 50 minutes on the trainer while watching a tape of the 2004 TdF Stage 20 TT. A small saddle sore made it uncomfortable for the first five minutes but my bum found a comfy riding spot as I worked into a brisk tempo. My 'cross bike is on the trainer so I was in the relatively small 36x16 combo the whole time. Not a terribly hard gear but I am more concerned with getting the heart rate up rather than grinding away in a big gear.

News Item of the Day: While he doesn't have any official offers on the table, the rumor mill is churning in Spain that star rider Iban Mayo could leave his longtime home at Euskaltel-Euskadi.

Earlier this week, Liberty Seguros team boss Manolo Saiz said he was "very interested" in signing Mayo, just days after Illes Balears won the bidding war to snag hot property Alejandro Valverde in a three-year contract.

Euskatel-Euskadi team manager Miguel Madariaga shot down rumors that Mayo is on the offering block: "Iban has a contract until 2006 and he has a buy out clause. We had just spoken about the upcoming season and he knows he's going to be the only team leader for the Tour, then we hear these rumors."

Mayo is reportedly unhappy that the orange-clad Basques let David Etxebarria be signed away by another team and couldn't sign Pedro Horrillo, yet instead signed 2002 Vuelta a España champion Aitor González.

"Right now, nothing's changed," Mayo told Europa Press. "We don't have any news that another team is interested and we're staying calm and preparing for the upcoming year. If there were offers, we'd listen to them. If there are other teams ready to negotiate, we would wait to see what happens. Nothing happens if you just listen."

Mayo's buy-out clause, worth a reported 900,000 euros, might scare away most suitors.

Viewpoint: The silly season continues.

I'm about to hop on the trainer for an hour or so before the World Series starts. Its an ugly, rainy day today. Not good for riding but the rain is lessening and I think they will get the baseball game in.

News Item of the Day: It was big news last fall when American Tim Johnson was presented with the opportunity to ride for the Division I Saunier Duval team in Spain. But a year later, with a tough season behind him, Johnson is heading home for good.

Having passed on the second year of his contract, Johnson will instead join up with the small U.S.-based Jittery Joe's-Kalahari team and race a largely domestic schedule for 2005.

Johnson is quick to note that his is "not a step down," adding that he decided that he wanted to enjoy himself again and "that just wasn't happening where I was this year." In addition to a return to domestic road racing, the 27-year-old also plans to jump back into the mud, taking up his first love, cyclo-cross, the discipline in which he scored a bronze medal in the U-23 race at the 1999 world championships in Poprad, Slovakia.

"Racing as a pro on the road in Europe was something I always wanted," Johnson said. "It's like going to a dance, seeing someone you really want to get the nerve to introduce yourself to and then... well, finding out that it isn't going to work out, after all."

For the Jittery Joe's-Kalahari team, the signing is a big score. Having lost Cesar Grajales to Navigators, the team was "without a strong GC leader," said team manager Micah Rice.

"Cesar had a great year for us this season," Rice said. "Second overall at Redlands, and getting a stage at the Tour of Georgia is super, but Tim adds a whole new dimension to our roster. Cesar is a pure climber and excelled at that. Tim is much more rounded rider and will also bring a real sense of leadership to the team."

Viewpoint: Yesterday I mentioned Tim Johnson beating Vanthourenhout at the CX Worlds years back and what do you know, ol' Tim puts himelf in the headlines today. Good job my boy. I was surprised when he abandoned CX a couple years ago to concentrate on the road. Finances probably played a role but when you are arguably the best at something (in this country) why leave. I'm glad he seems determined to get back to what he is best at... cyclocross. Even better is what was not mentioned in the article above. He definitely wants to CX in Europe in the next few years. It will be good to have another American over there competing besides Jonathan Page, who has done pretty well himself.

Rest day although I should probably ride because its looking kind of rainy most of the week. It will probably be a week of trainer workouts.

News Item of the Day: Sven Vanthourenhout (Quick Step-Davitamon) won the second heat of the Superprestige cyclo-cross series on Sunday in Hamme-Zogge, Belgium, outsprinting Tom Vannoppen (MrBookmaker.com) and Sven Nys (Rabobank) during the sprint to the finish.

Nys, the series leader, had a bad start, hitting one of the iron barricades with his shoulder. It seemed to slow him somewhat initially, but soon he was back to his old self, bunny-hopping the barricades.

Only Vanthourenhout and a very strong Vannoppen could keep up with Nys. The last three laps they stayed together, and it was Vanthourenhout taking a narrow sprint win over Vannoppen and Nys.

This was the second victory in a Superprestige 'cross for Vanthourenhout.

Vannoppen gave it his best, but sprinting against Vanthourenhout is no day at the beach
"I'm glad that I'm good in the sprint, because during the last round and a half most of my energy was gone," he said. "Tom Vannoppen was really top today. But Nys was also tremendous. Without the rideable parts in the 'cross, there is no question about it that Nys would have been out of sight, as usual. I was at the end of my powers but gave all I've got.

"Before this season I said that I hoped to win two big crosses. After today, I'm already halfway."

As for Vannoppen, he said that while he had a good race, "if you go to the finish with Sven Vanthourenhout, a second place is the most feasible score."

Despite an injured shoulder, Nys hopped the barricades "It was only a minor difference, but whether you lose with only one centimeter or with three minutes of difference, it doesn't matter," he added.

Nys, his skinsuit torn and his shoulder lacerated from his crash into the barricade, agreed that Vanthourenhout was unbeatable in any mass rush to the line.

"It is not a shame to lose to Sven Vanthourenhout in a sprint," he said. "I tried to escape during the last lap, but failed. I have to be satisfied with my position, because I fell during the first lap. I hit the iron barricades with my shoulder. This was a painful experience from which I had to recuperate. My season could have been over already. But I will only suffer for some days, I hope."

Superprestige #2
Hamme-Zogge, Belgium. October 24
1. Sven Vanthourenhout (B), Quick Step-Davitamon
2. Tom Vannoppen (B), MrBookmaker.com
3. Sven Nys (B), Rabobank
4. Ben Berden (B), Saey-Deschacht
5. Bart Wellens (B), Fidea

Viewpoint: I always remember Vanthourenhout most because of his runner-up finish to Tim Johnson as an Espoir in a completely snow-packed Poprad Yugoslavia. He was the big favorite but Johnson made the gutsy move with a few hundred meters to go and Vanthourenhout just couldn't come around him in the finishing straight.

Today's race at Sioux Passage went much better. Choosing the B race was the right move. We started on a grassy uphill. It was only a short distance but those that started out running that part got the quick start and I was only a couple spots from the back. We went along pavement for a couple hundred feet and did a 180 and up the other side of the road. I accelerated here and made up several positions to around 8th. Then it was another 180 onto the grass followed by 3 barriers where I got another spot or two.followed by a series of 4 turns that snake down a hill. Jose crashed on the last of the turns I picked up another spot. Straight for a couple hundred feet and then a 180 onto a gravel road, then right onto the grass again diving to the lowest part of the course where I made another move. Two-thirds through the first lap and I found myself in fifth. We worked our way back up to the finish line I felt good and was shifting wisely.

On the second lap another rider crashed where Jose had and I was in fourth. From then on the race had settled down I found myself in a battle with a Mack rider and a mountain biker. We third place several times. As the race neared the last few laps I faded some and found myself in fifth, but Craig in sixth place was not making any ground.

Fifth place is a good result and gave me some confidence for future weeks. Maybe I'll give the A's a shot again in a couple weeks.

News Item of the Day: MADRID, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Highly rated Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde, who finished fourth in this year's Tour of Spain, has agreed to join the Illes Balears outfit next season, the team's sponsors said on Sunday.

The 24-year-old, who won a silver medal in the world championships and came third in the Tour of Spain in 2003, has ridden for the Kelme team for the last three seasons.

Illes Balears are one of the four Spanish teams that have been admitted to next season's Pro Tour in which an elite group will compete in a 30-race calendar with the aim of gaining increased media exposure for the sport.

Viewpoint: Valverde and Cunego are currently the two biggest young talents on the circuit today. Cunego is probably a little better climber, Valverde slightly faster in a finish but both are great talents. It's good to see him get out of a bad situation in Kelme.

This morning was the Judy Ride. A 30-mile charity ride to raise funds for breast cancer. Our team was recruited as pseudo-guides to escort the others along the route and help out where needed. It is the epitome of a small chainring ride. About 3 hrs to finish the 30 miles but that includes about 15 minutes at the turn around point and stopping to fix two others tires. It's a nice easy ride. Too bad it started out with spitting rain and wet roads from the overnight rain. The roads had dried well by the halfway point, though, and it turned into a nice day.

News Item of the Day: According to reports in Italy, Mario Cipollini is close to a deal to join Cofidis. The 2002 world champion is considering the offer to join the French team following two lackluster seasons with Domina Vacanze, according to a report in Tuttosport.

There seems to be plenty of problems at Domina Vacanze, which will ride on next season as part of the Pro Tour after joining forces with De Nardi, but team management has accused the team sponsor of not paying wages since mid-summer.

Cipollini, meanwhile, might like a change of colors. Since winning the rainbow jersey at the end of the 2002 season, the Lion King has struggled to maintain his winning form. The 37-year-old Tuscan pulled out of both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France this year with injury.

Viewpoint: I'm very surprised Cipo didn't retire at the end of the season. He doesn't seem to have the winning sprint anymore but I guess he feels he can still pull off a few victories. He is a publicity machine, so I can understand a teams willingness to take a chance on signing him

One of the neat things I did this year was getting a chance to see Cipollini at the Tour of Georgia. I stood not more 5 ft from the guy as he had his bike checked for the time trial. He seems like a genuinely nice guy, laughing and joking with others. The Tour of GA being a smaller race probably makes it easier to more lighthearted but he at least didn't seem to have the kind of attitude that someone of his fame could.

Rest day today. The knee continues to make progress although there is still a slight amount of pain with certain movements.

Since it is a slow day I thought I would show a couple pictures of last Sundays CX race. First is the "A" race tackling the first barrier and then an example of what looks like synchronized CX.

News Item of the Day: Banned Cofidis cyclist David Millar has denied accusations made by his former teammate Philippe Gaumont that he used illegal performance enhancing drugs to win the final time trial in the 2003 Tour de France. Although Millar did admit in July that he had used EPO in 2001 and 2003, he has always maintained that he did it independently of any of the other riders in the team apart from Massimiliano Lelli, whom he claimed introduced him to EPO. But in August, Lelli said that Gaumont's testimony was truthful, and that Gaumont was one of the main riders in Cofidis responsible for procuring doping products.

Both Millar and Gaumont were questioned again by judge Richard Pallain in Nanterre, who is trying to ascertain whether there was drug trafficking going on within the Cofidis team. After charges against Cédric Vasseur were dropped on Friday, nine people remain under investigation in the Cofidis affair: Massimiliano Lelli, David Millar, Philippe Gaumont, Robert Sassone, Médéric Clain, Marek Rutkiewicz and Daniel Majewski, trainer Boguslaw Madejak, and former Oktos director Oleg Kozlitine.

Viewpoint: What a mess.

The left knee seemed to heal a good bit overnight and was at least 50% better today. Encouraged by the improvement, I rode the trainer for just over an hour while watching stage 19 of the 2004 Tour. It wasn't particularly exciting tape but I still have notwatched all the stages that were taped while I was over there. Anyway, I rode a little above tempo in my 48x18. Nice workout to keep the legs fresh and maintain fitness. The legs feel a little heavy as I type this so it must have been a decent ride.

News Item of the Day: Italian Ivan Basso (CSC) is reportedly interested in riding a couple of cyclo-cross races over winter. His manager Gerrie van Gerwen is looking for interested organisers, and Basso could race in the Azencross in Belgium on December 29.

Viewpoint: Lance did some 'cross a couple winters ago in TX and finished either first or second. I don't recall exactly. It will be interesting to see how Basso fares. He will have tougher competition probably.

With my knee hurting I decided to take the day off to try and heal. There were no side effects of last nights ride. Pain was similar today. Regular walking causes no discomfort. Only when there is a inward twisting motion with the left foot does the pain seem to occur. After paying closer attention to what is happening the what I am feeling I do not think it is a muscle problem. Right now, it feels like a ligament strain. This really sucks. One option would be to dismount on the right but that is inviting a hurdle catastrophe. The best thing now would be to heal quickly.

News Item of the Day: The 10 day, 1070 mile (1724 km) professional stage race to be run through Lance Armstrong's home state of Texas will take place between September 8-17, 2005, the organisers confirmed. The $175,000 event, which in true Texas fashion will be the longest race in the U.S., will start with a stage from Colleyville to Graham, and travel across much of north and west Texas, including the cities of Abilene, Amarillo, Borger, Brownfield, Burkburnett, Canyon, Childress, Colleyville, Dalhart, Dumas, Lamesa, Levelland, Littlefield, Lubbock, McKinney, Muleshoe, Pampa, Perryton, Plainview, Post, Quanah, Slaton, Snyder, Vernon, and Wichita Falls. The final stage will be a circuit race in Dallas.

The United Texas Tour is sponsored by United Supermarkets and its main goal is to raise funds for cancer awareness. Proceeds will go toward the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The race will feature 15-20 teams, and the organisers have received official UCI sanctioning.

Viewpoint: I'm going to have to look at a map of this area of Texas. I believe West Texas is supposed to be hill country but I never think of Texas having big hills. At least the kind to support a big tour. I have driven through northern Texas (through Amarillo, etc) on the way to New Mexico. That was some god forsaken land. All I remember are large cattle farms with very else little in sight. It is not fair to judge a state from the interstate though.

The outside of my left knee has been bothering me all day. It feels a lot like a strained either a muscle or a ligament but its hard to say when it may have happened. I guess it was when I crashed warming up Sunday and it took a few days for the pain to appear. I did not do anything Monday that would have aggravated my knee.

I rode the trainer this evening for 45 minutes. A moderate pace seemed reasonable considering my knee problem. I spent the whole ride in my 36x15 at a nice tempo. There was no pain when in the saddle but out of the saddle their was a minor discomfort. Sioux Passage is a little hillier than Faust Park was Sunday so I will probably need to get out of the saddle. The knee needs to get better by then. The other problem with my left knee is that it is has the quick twisting action of getting out of the cleat for a dismount. Maybe I will have to clip out early to reduce the knee stress.

News Item of the Day: From Sunday-- Even a crash in the final kilometre did not prevent Sven Nys (Rabobank) from taking the first round of the Superprestige series in Ruddervoorde today. After dominating the race from the first lap, Nys crossed the line for his 23rd SP win with a comfortable margin over Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) and Ben Berden (Saey-Deschacht). Sven Vanthourenhout (Quick.Step-Davitamon) finished fourth after he crashed on the final corner while trying to hold off Groenendaal.

Viewpoint: Nys and Wellens are the top two 'crossers in the world. Nys, however, always starts the season as the top man it seems but has never been able to finish with the World Championship in January. At least as an Elite rider he has not been able. He was a two time Espoir world champ. Sven is probably my favorite CX rider and I hope he can finally pull off a championship. American Jonathon Page finished 11th in Ruddervoorde. Nice job. He steadily keeps improving.

Today I am just resting up from yesterday's race. I need to do some situps to try and help take the strain off my back. The hip is feeling a good deal better this today. I think I tweaked gluteus maximus.

On a completely separate note, the announcement of next years Tour route is fast approaching on Oct 28th. If tradition holds, the race should be doing the Alps first this year. However the Tour website already shows the first 3 stages as being along the western coast. Getting to the Alps from there before going to the Pyrenees seems awkward at best. Speculation also is on a TT in Germany. I would think Mt Ventoux will make an appearance again in 2005. It's been absent from the last couple Tours. If it is included I think that might just persuade Lance to end the speculation as to what grand tour he will do and ride the Tour since he has publicly stated that Ventoux is the one stage he still wants to win.

News Item of the Day: Damiano Cunego jumped to the top spot in the cycling world rankings on Monday following his victory in the Tour of Lombardy, the 10th and final round of the World Cup, this weekend.

Cunego, in third place a week ago, jumped ahead of the two riders in front of him, Italy's Paolo Bettini and Germany's Erik Zabel.

1. Damiano Cunego (I), 2245 points
2. Paolo Bettini (I), 2239
3. Erik Zabel (G), 2121
4. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), 1892
5. Oscar Freire (Sp), 1818
6. Davide Rebellin (I), 1813
7. Lance Armstrong (USA), 1726
8. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), 1701
9. Alessandro Petacchi (I), 1464
10. Tom Boonen (B), 1449
11. Ivan Basso (I), 1424
12. Danilo Hondo (G), 1374
13. Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Sp), 1351
14. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), 1322
15. Jan Ullrich (G), 1318
16. Robbie McEwen (AUS), 1305
17. Roberto Heras (Sp), 1303
18. Jens Voigt (G), 1276
19. Erik Dekker (Nl), 1163
20. Michael Boogerd (Nl), 1156
21. Thor Hushovd (NOR), 1084
22. Tyler Hamilton (USA), 1070
23. Gilberto Simoni (I), 1034
24. Iban Mayo (Sp), 1033
25. Andreas Klöden (G), 990

Viewpoint: Might as well keep the Cunego thread going. What an impressive year. He finished 2003 ranked #227 and finishes the 2004 at #1. How the heck does that happen? The cynical fan would say drugs. I'll hold out hope that he's clean.

Today was the first round of the Bubba Memorial CX race series.

The race was at a new venue in Faust Park and it was a good challenging course. Lap times seemed to be about 4 minutes so course could have have been slightly longer but its not worthy of a complaint. The grassy section rather rolling with three major off-camber turns and less slightly off-camber.

The day didn't start well. While taking a 2nd warmup lap I crashed on the second off-camber. Typical of CX, the damage was minimal because of the slower speed and landing in grass. The a little later I approached the first set of hurdles slowly and with little concentration. My footwork was all out of whack. Somehow I stepped wrong and jammed my left hip. It remains a little sore tonight.

I did the A race today and was up against a field of mostly Cat 1's, 2's and Expert MTB'ers. I expected to get my butt handed to me and I did not disappoint. For the first few laps I was last but right on the wheel of Jay, who was right behind Aaron so I was staying competitive. They slightly opened a gap. Then Anthony Dust dropped a chain and the three of us passed him so I had hopes of not finishing last and I could see Jay's pace gradually slowing as I reeled him in.

Eventually I caught Jay and was surprised that a gap opened up between us while Anthony remained in the back but gained. Eventually Anthony passed Jay but Jay managed to hang onto his wheel. Meanwhile my lower back began to fatigue and my power was failing. Anthony pulled Jay back up to me and they both went right by me. From then on it was just a matter of finishing. The leaders, R. Pirtle and Butthead both lapped me 3 (maybe 4) times. I lost count. It was not pretty.

Next week I do the B race at Sioux Passage

News Item of the Day: Did a lopsided cleat cost Rabobank the teams victory in the World Cup? One of Rabobank's key riders, Michael Rasmussen, experienced this problem during yesterday's Giro di Lombardia and that could well have made the difference in the end. Rasmussen made it into a useful break after the descent of the Ghisallo, but couldn't hang on when Basso, Cunego, Boogerd and Evans caught up on the penultimate climb of the Civiglio with 16 km to go to form the decisive break. Rasmussen eventually crossed the line 45 seconds behind the winner in 23rd place.

"I am not content, not at all," Rasmussen wrote in his diary on feltet.dk. "If I have to make an explanation or an excuse if you like, my cleat had twisted before the start. I thought that I had put it back before starting, and that it was tightened. But after the race I could see that it didn't fit the marks I made under my shoes. The difference was a couple of millimetres, and that is sufficient to give you a cramp when you have to ride 250 km. I am of course extremely annoyed, and there is nobody but myself to blame. It is really stupid on such an important day."

Rasmussen will take his end of season break soon, but will also discuss his 2005 program with Rabobank, and he is hoping for a start in the Giro d'Italia. "My suggestion would be that I start relatively late next year, and that I ride the Giro as a preparation for the Tour de France. But The Tour would be my main objective. Then I can take a break after the Tour and then hopefully be ready for Zürich, the World's and Giro di Lombardia."

Viewpoint: Even the pros make mistakes.

Started my ride at 8:45am. It was chilly. Probably around 50 degrees and the wind was strong. I would guess about 20mph. The route went through Fenton, up Hillsboro-Valley Park Rd and out to High Ridge, then back on Rock Creek, Dutch Bottom and Meramec Bottom. Completed the ride in 2 hrs. I wasn't sure how long it would take but knew that the old Tour of Spain route, which is somewhat similar, used to take about 2 hrs. Thank goodness I decided on doing the ride in the direction I did. Once I made it to Rock Creek, there was a nice predominant tailwind. Rock Creek is a fun run road to begin with but when you can add in a tailwind it is even more pleasurable with its constant turns and small rollers. Fun, fun.

There must have been a Mini Cooper Car Rally today. Just after cresting the main hill on Hillsboro-Valley Park I had a Mini pass me, then another and another. I started counting at that point. There were new Mini's, old Mini's, convertible Mini's. Ultimately, thirty-six Mini's passed me one after another. The little parade was a fun diversion.

News Item of the Day: COMO, Italy (AP) -- Giro d'Italia champion Damiano Cunego of Italy won a five-way sprint Saturday to capture the Tour of Lombardy while countryman and Olympic champion Paolo Bettini clinched his third consecutive World Cup title to close the international cycling season.

Bettini finished 29th, one spot behind main rival Davide Rebellin, to secure the overall title. He ended the competition with 340 points, 13 ahead of Rebellin.

The yearly 10-race competition, which started in 1989, will be replaced by a 30-race pro tour beginning in 2005.

Bettini, who rides with the Quick Step team, is the only cyclist to win the World Cup three times. He took the trophy this year without a single victory, capitalizing on top-three placings.

Cunego recorded his 13th victory of the year, sprinting ahead of Dutchman Michael Boogerd in the final straightaway. Italy's Ivan Basso was third, followed by Australia's Cadel Evans and Italy's Daniele Nardello.

"It was the perfect end for a sensational season, and it came in a very important race,'' said Cunego, who defeated his Saeco captain, Gilberto Simoni, in this year's Giro.

The winner completed the 152.5-mile hilly course along Lake Como in 6 hours, 17 minutes, 55 seconds, averaging 24.2 mph.

Bettini and Rebellin had been feuding recently on who deserved to captain the national team at the world road championships in Verona. They embraced after crossing the finish line.

"There was nothing personal with Rebellin, we are friends and fought as pros. ... I'm proud of going into the record books with three wins in this great competition,'' Bettini said.

Rebellin had two wins in 2004 World Cup races.

"Bettini was the best man this season,'' Rebellin said.

Viewpoint: Damiano provided a nice follow-up to yesterdays news story. The kid is a teriffic talent.

I believe I said Tuesday that the soreness in my legs would last for a couple more days. Well, three days later and the pain is gone.

Beautiful bright sunny day today. The air was crisp and burned the lungs when a hard effort was done. After spending all week off the bike I needed to a little riding. Today was a relatively short 45 min ride down to, and along Meramec Bottom until Hwy 21 before doubling back before taking a detour into Suson and through the subdivisions. I spent the whole ride in my 53x17 and 16. Pushed a larger gear to try and simulate the larger effort of riding through the grass of a CX race. Thats the idea anyway.

I went pretty hard especially going out to the turnaround. I'd call it zone 4 work with several accelerations. My body could feel the effort. Coming back I took it a little easier but the return trip is tougher since you climb out of the valley over a series of hills.

News Item of the Day: Although Damiano Cunego's team manager Claudio Corti wants to keep the young talent away from the Tour de France until 2006, Damiano himself is said to be interested in starting next year's Tour. 23 year old Cunego won the Giro d'Italia this year as well as finishing the Vuelta a España and placing well in the World Road Championships. Next year, Cunego wants to combine the Giro and the Tour along with Gilberto Simoni in the new Saeco-Lampre team.

Viewpoint: I'm surprised Simoni has stayed with the Saeco team after Cunego emerged this year. The proposed Pro Tour might well be the reason now that teams must compete in all three grand tours, thus giving Simoni sole leadership for a tour or two during the season. You would think Cunego would learn something by watching Simoni the past few years try to do the Giro-Tour double. Your effectiveness in the Tour is greatly reduced. Maybe he just wants to do the Tour for the experience so that he will know better what to expect in the future.

A really crappy day of cold rain. I really should hop on the trainer and do some work. My heart is not in it though. Tomorrow, though, I must do some work on the bike.

Three days until the first CX race of the year.

News Item of the Day: Ludo Dierckxsens (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) is celebrating his 40th birthday today. The Belgian pro cyclist is nearly the oldest rider in the peloton, topped only by Mario Cipollini's roommate and lead out man Mario Scirea, who turned 40 on August 7, 2004. Dierckxsens wants to continue racing in 2005, mainly for his two children, 7-week old twins Mauro and Xander.

"I want to win at least one other race for them," said the proud father, feeling up to the challenge. Asked if his legs would still be fast enough, he replied, "What do you hear of the riders that quit cycling? Nine out of ten are physically capable of continuing, but can't provide the mental strength to get out and train every day, and then ride the same races all over again next season. After 15, 16 years of professional cycling they're tired mentally. But I'm not," said the Belgian, whose only problem is a missing contract for next year. "But that'll be fine," he says. "Of course it's easier to find a team when you're 29 instead of 40, but my manager is working hard on it, and I will know more at the end of next week. It's not very pleasant to wait, but I'm not the only one."

Viewpoint: I like Ludo. He is a tough, old, grizzled guy that never shirks work. He's never been a big winner but he has a big heart and a love for the sport. Happy Birthday Ludo.

I'm taking the day off again.

News Item of the Day: Max Van Heeswijk's victory in yesterday's Nationale Sluitingprijs in Belgium came as a pleasant surprise for the US Postal team, neatly book-ending a season that began with a Van Heeswijk win in the second stage of the Vuelta Andalucía/Ruta del Sol back in February.

"It was a surprise result for all of us today, as Max wasn't feeling that great having suffered during Paris-Tours just a few days ago," said USPS assistant directeur sportif Laurenzo Lapage in a team statement. "I asked him halfway through the race how he felt, and he said he was getting better and better. It was important for him and for all of us to win our last race for the Postal Service. Also for Max, now he can go into the winter relaxed."

Van Heeswijk has been a key player in what US Postal is calling its most successful season to date, with 13 of the team's 33 victories - two more than Lance Armstrong. Van Heeswijk won two stages of the Vuelta Andalucía and went on to take stages of the Tour of Catalunya, Tour of Holland, Four Days of Dunkerque, Tour of Belgium and Tour of Murcia.

"Finishing the season with a win in the last race of the year is a very nice way to finish," said USPS directeur sportif Johan Bruyneel. "Especially as this was one of our most successful seasons in terms of wins and with Lance winning his sixth Tour de France."

Van Heeswijk's victories and the team's other successes throughout the year provided ammunition for Bruyneel to fire at critics who say Postal is to focused on the Tour de France. "This year we won many races with many different riders the whole year - from February to October," he said. " e have definitely proved we have a very deep team, contrary to what others may say, that we are focused on the Tour only. I don't agree with that as we have been performing and winning the whole year."

On van Heeswijk, Bruyneel added, "For Max, this was his best season by far. If he even had some luck in the spring, he would have won a big race as well, but for the team, he has shown his value to us all year long. It's good to have a rider like that on the team, knowing when you go to a race you have a good possibility to win."

My ankles are still stiff from Sunday's workout. I think the pain will linger for probably another two days if I were to take a guess.

Today was a rainy, foggy day. There will be no run tonight. Not that I would have run anyway as sore as I am. Maybe I will do some sit-ups or push-ups or something simple inside.

News Item of the Day: From Sunday... The Czech rider Zdenek Mlynar has won the first World Cup cyclo-cross race in Wortegem-Petegem, Belgium. Mlynar was the first on the line in a bunch sprint of a race that some bemoaned wasn't much of a cyclo-cross race at all. Sven Nys, who finished fifth, related, "I was in the first five and that was my aim. I have done a good job. In rain and mud, the show would be really be on, but it wasn't to be. But this was not a cyclo-cross. I thought that this scenario would happen and it did."

Referring to third place getter Mario de Clercq, Nys added, "The one who drew up this course hoped that everyone would stay together. But he was also beaten."

After two sessions of hurdling yesterday I am really stiff in the legs. Hips. Thighs. Hamstrings a little bit. All have the dull ache of hard days effort. As I mentioned before my last run, my knees are still a little achy. Not with normal walking but a light jog or quick movement that hurt. I'm sure it is the running that is the cause. The question is, is this just a temporary pain that is a result of not having run before and body parts just getting used to the strain of running or is the pain indicative of an activity that I should not be doing. It's a condition I'm going to have to monitor closely.

News Item of the Day Young Belgian cyclo-crosser Bart Aernouts is trying to change nationalities to become Dutch, as he is finding it hard to gain selection in the Belgian team for the World Cups. Over the last six months, Aernouts and his lawyer Marc Delissen have been setting the wheels in motion for the change, and it's now a matter of waiting for the approval from the necessary authorities.

Viewpoint: I'm not fond of athletes always changing nationalities to get a spot in some competition. I can understand their plight to a degree but it seems all to commonplace. Guido Trenti riding for the US. Rebellin recently becoming Argentine in an attempt to ride the RR Worlds only to not have the switch approved in time. Simoni has been talking with the Swiss about switching. Why even have nations competing against each other in World Championships or the Olympics?

Two sessions of CX today. Did about an hour fifteen of riding at Kirkwood Park with Jay, Dan and David. While we did a few small laps it was predominantly hurdle work. Then in the afternoon I did another 40-45 minutes of purely hurdle work with Bobber since he is new to cyclocross. He says he still is hesitant but he looks pretty smooth for only a few practices.

News Item of the Day TOURS, France (AP) -- Erik Dekker of the Netherlands won the 157-mile Paris to Tours cycling classic Sunday for his first victory in the World Cup race.

He broke away with about 500 yards left and held off a large group of sprinters, finishing in 5 hours, 33 minutes, 3 seconds. Germany's Danilo Hondo was second and Spain's Oscar Freire was third, both in the same time as Dekker.

"Only five of us broke way and I wanted to make sure I stayed out in front,'' said Dekker, who has won four Tour de France stages in a career beset by injuries.

Paris-Tours was the ninth of 10 events in this season's World Cup. Paolo Bettini of Italy leads the overall standings with 340 points, with countryman Davide Rebellin second at 327. The champion will be crowned Saturday after the Tour of Lombardy in Italy.

Looking out the window today it appeared like an unpleasant autumn day. Overcast, damp and altogether Belgium-like. The weathermen said today would be dry however so I decided to get a ride in and when I stepped outside to decide what to wear the temperature was surprisingly warm. Maybe in the mid-60's with high humidity. Right on the edge of short sleeve weather. I was on the bike by 9:30 and headed toward Lone Elk Park. The leaves are nearing their peak color and make for a scenic ride.

I rode at a hard tempo. Seventeen minutes gone and I was in Old Town Fenton and about to ride along the Meramec. Part of my reason for taking this route was to see the leaves on the Meramec at I-44. For my money this is probably the finest patch of fall color every year. Reds, Oranges, Yellows and Greens are always in full abundance at this spot.



Onward to Lone Elk along the outer road. As the name implies, I was lucky enough to see a couple Elk along the road. It's mating season so I did not get too close but its still a sight to see their large horns.


Total elapsed time was two hours but about 20 minutes was spent taking pictures and watching the elk. It was a good ride with some good effort for this time of year. I still have a good deal of doubt about how next week's cyclocross race will go. That full out explosive effort from the gun will be a shock to the system. I should probably do some intervals this week in preparation. It will be good to be racing in a new venue. I checked out Faust Park a couple years as a possible race site and it has potential as a very good race.

News of the Day

Three-time World Cyclo-cross Champion Mario de Clercq (MrBookmaker.com) could also be facing disciplinary action by the Belgian cycling federation, after Het Nieuwsblad reported that the growth hormone Somatropin was found in a search of his house last year. De Clercq's house was one of 21 cyclists' houses searched by police on September 4, 2003, in what marked the start of the Jose Landuyt/Herman Versele doping affair. However, De Clercq's name has been largely kept out of the investigation which has mainly focused on Johan Museeuw, Chris Peers and Jo Planckaert. Yesterday, those three riders were given two year suspensions by the Belgian cycling federation.

According to HNB, analysis of certain vials that were seized from De Clercq's house revealed that they contained the growth hormone Somatropin, a banned substance. The police also found a leaflet with information about Aranesp, an improved form of EPO. De Clercq's team manager Charles Palmans explained that he merely took it for information. "Mario was given the leaflet by someone," said Palmans. "He read it out of interest, to see exactly what the product does. As racers, you have to be interested in a lot of things, but Mario has never used the product."

Also seized were De Clercq's training diaries from 2001 and 2002, which contained training plans, results and prize money, along with details of haematocrit levels in connection with the taking of unspecified products. De Clercq told the investigators that he planned to write a novel, and the markings in his diary were fictitious.

De Clercq will now be questioned again by the investigating magistrate in Kortrijk as a witness in the Landuyt/Versele case, but - like the other riders - he is not one of the accused. It will be up to the Belgian cycling federation to determine whether a sporting sanction is warranted. The prosecutor's office in Kortrijk has only confirmed that the case around De Clercq has not yet concluded, but declined to give details. Similarly, De Clercq's lawyer said that he hadn't seen the results of the analyses of the vials, but does know that De Clercq has been summonsed again.

The news broke on the day before the first Cyclo-cross World Cup of the season, which will be held in Mario De Clercq's home town of Wortegem-Petegem, where he will certainly race.

Viewpoint: De Clercq, nonetheless, has been one of the best CX'ers in the last 7-9 years and again it hurts to see that the success he had may have been the result of drugs. I never did much care for Mario De Clercq. He stole a World Championship from his teammate Erwin Vervecken a few years back when Vervecken had a big lead. De Clercq chased him down and won in that last 1/4 mile or so. Then a year later he was mad at Sven Nys, when Nys did not chase his Rabobank teammate Richard Groenendal very hard. Nys was in the wrong but no more than De Clercq the year before. After the World Championship that Nys did not work, De Clercq was on the podium in tears. Tough luck, crybaby.

Rest day. Tomorrow I will do something on the road if the weather is good.
News of the Day BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Two Belgian cyclists -- a former world champion and a 2000 Olympic silver medalist -- were suspended by their federation in separate doping scandals.

Filip Meirhaeghe, a former world champion mountain biker, was suspended for 15 months after he tested positive this year for an endurance-enhancing substance.

Johan Museeuw, a retired cyclist who finished second at the Sydney Games, and two others were suspended for two years. All three deny any involvement.

Meirhaeghe, has admitted using blood-boosting EPO before a June 27 cross-country World Cup race in Canada that he won. He also has to pay nearly $4,000. The ban was limited to 15 months because he cooperated with investigators. Meirhaeghe skipped the Athens Olympics because of the positive test.

Museeuw, Belgium's greatest one-day racer the past decade, retired this year. He is said to be part of a scandal centering on a veterinarian accused of providing drugs to riders. Details of the case were not released because of the ongoing criminal investigation of the veterinarian. Museeuw will not be able to be licensed as a team leader as a result of his suspension.

The other two suspended cyclists are Chris Peers and Jo Plankaert. None of the three tested positive and all can still appeal the ban.

Viewpoint: I always respected Museeuw. He seemed like a modest hard working guy who obviously was great in the Spring Classics. While he was never caught, his name is been tarnished. Just another named to add to the list.

This afternoon I started breaking down the Raleigh in anticipation of making it a fixed gear. Got the derailleurs, shifters and cables off along with the big chainring. I'll need some new bolts for only one chainring and a new wheel with a fixed hub. Probably should get new brakes and brake cables as well.

News Item of the Day The latest rumour around Alejandro Valverde (Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme) has it that the fourth placed rider at this year's Vuelta is in contract negotiations with Illes Balears, supposedly his last chance to stay with a Spanish team if he doesn't want to leave his home country. Within the team of Eusebio Unzue, Valverde could fill the gap left by Denis Menchov's move to Rabobank, but the €2 million buy-out clause in his CV-Kelme contract is still the main obstacle for then rider's team change.

Valverde would take Cayetano Juliá and José Luis Martínez, also at CV-Kelme, with him to the new squad, as well as a physiotherapist of his choice.

It had been a full week since I last ran. During that effort there was a great deal of discomfort during the first part of the run and in the days following my thighs felt a combination of tightness and muscle tear whenever I would go much a walking pace. This afternoon I realized that my legs had felt good the last couple days and decided to give another try at .75 miles.

While walking up to school, I give a few short 50 ft jogs to try and warm up slightly before the run. My knees were screaming whenever I did so and I almost backed out of the run. Determined to at least give an effort I continued on. I would quit the run if the pain lingered once the run began.

As with most sports related activities, once you actually get started anything that may have been bothering physically often fades away unless its serious. My run started and never did I feel the knee pain. My lungs burned with the cool air and the muscles ached with lactic acid but that is to be expected.

Lap 1 - 1:28
Lap 2 - 1:36
Lap 3 - 1:41

Pretty interesting results now that I look back on my last effort. My first lap was 5 seconds slower. The second lap was identical and the third lap was 5 seconds faster resulting in the same total time (4:46) as last week. Apparently I paced myself better to start and thus had more left in the tank with which to finish. I'm happy but would have liked to show a little improvement.

News Item of the Day The Secretary of State for Spanish Sport, Jaime Lissavetzky, and the French Minister of Sport, Jean-Francois Lamour, have signed an agreement to assist each other in the fight against doping. The accord was signed in Paris on Wednesday, and is aimed at improving communication between anti-doping experts in both countries. Lissavetzky also hinted at signing a similar agreement with Italy.

Neither country has a national anti-doping agency at the moment, although in France there is one being debated in parliament before the end of the year. Lissavetzky hopes that a similar agency will be created in Spain, and this new agreement will allow each country to exchange information over the setting up of such agencies. Both countries agreed that the agencies should be independent bodies protected by the Government.

I'm being a complete lazy butt and not doing anything again today.

News Item of the Day Following the World Road Championships in Verona, Italy last week, the UCI has issued a new set of rider rankings. There were changes at the top of both the men's, women's and junior men's rankings, with Erik Zabel (T-Mobile), Judith Arndt (Nürnberger) and Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic) respectively taking over the number one positions. The best U23 rider on the rankings remains Thomas Dekker (Rabobank TT3), who finished the World's with two silver medals to his credit.

World's winner Oscar Freire (Rabobank) moved himself up into the top 10 from 11th spot, while Damiano Cunego (now 3rd) and Alejandro Valverde (4th) swapped placed. Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) jumped up a spot to 7th on the rankings. In the women's rankings, Arndt pushed Mirjam Melchers (Farm Frites-Hartol) down to second and Oenone Wood (Australia) to third. World's silver medalist Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) rocketed up from 60th to 17th, while bronze medalist Anita Valen (Team S.A.T.S.) went from 11th to 6th.

U23 road race winner Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) gained a massive number of places, moving from 207th to 6th, while in the juniors, Simon Spilak (Slovenia) was deposed by Kreuziger. Silver medalist Rafaâ Chtioui (Tunisia) climbed from 111th to 9th place.

Team meeting tonight so it is a rest day. Former local junior rider Alex Boyd rode in the Junior World Championships over the weekend in Verona, Italy. No details yet other than the fact that he did not finish. There was a crash very early in the race involving an American and I tend to believe it was Alex.

Now I can always brag that I often a beat someone who participated in the UCI World Championships. Dang, I'm good.

News Item of the Day The most consistent rider in cycling, Erik Zabel (Germany), once again had to settle for a second place as he was beaten by Oscar Freire in the final sprint of the Elite Men's Road Race in Verona yesterday. It was Zabel's best result in a World Championship, but his 18th second place of the year, a statistic that he actually bettered five years ago. "18 second places, yeah it's true!" said Zabel to T-Mobile's website. "It still doesn't beat my record from 1999. I had 21 second places that year. I have only one or two races left this season, so it looks like that record is safe for another year!"

Although he was in tears shortly after the finish, in the end Zabel was happy with the silver. "I am extremely pleased with how things went for me here today," he said. "I had a good day...The silver medal is a great result for us. Maybe also it will return me to the number one spot on the UCI world rankings."

Zabel had three teammates in the final selection: Steffen Wesemann, Matthias Kessler and Danilo Hondo. Although Hondo is also a good sprinter, the pair agreed that he would ride for Zabel. "Before the race I had a good discussion with Danilo and he had already agreed to ride for me, if the race unfolded like it did. So I am very thankful to him and the rest of the team."

Zabel was agonisingly close to the rainbow jersey again, but had to admit that "an exceptional rider in Oscar Freire beat me on the day. I am very happy with a silver medal. Second is my best ever placing at a World Championships or Olympic Games. If I had missed out on a top three placing, then I would have been disappointed. But the whole team put in such good work that this silver was well deserved. Every one of us fought tooth and nail for that silver medal."

Went to Castlewood today and met up with Jay, Mark and Peder. We rode the river trail out to Glencoe and back. Jay and I went up the stairs to the top of Lone Wolf while Peder and Mark rode back to the car to inflate and tire and then ride up Lone Wolf. All four of went down the backside. It is much rougher this year than last. More stumps, logs and rocks.

We were out riding for a little under two hours and while we were certainly going quick and times I never felt terribly stressed and afterward was feeling fresh. I can't believe I'm in that good of shape.

I'm a little concerned about my thighs. The last time I ran I mentioned how they felt really bad for the first half lap. They still feel very tight. When I dismount and run a little I feel them pulling. The next few days I think I should concentrate on trying to stretch them out regularly and make a decision whether or not to run this week at all. I really don't want to pull a muscle right now.

News Item of the Day VERONA, Italy (AP) -- Spain's Oscar Freire won the road race at the cycling world championships for the third time Sunday in a sprint finish.

He joined Belgium's Eddy Merckx and Rik Van Steenbergen and Italy's Alfredo Binda as the only three-time winners.

Germany's Erik Zabel was second and Italy's Luca Paolini third in the 164.6-mile race in the hometown of Romeo and Juliet. Freire completed 18 laps, including the renowned Torricelle climb, in 6 hours, 57 minutes, 15 seconds, with Zabel and Paolini given the same time.

Freire won his first world title on this same course in 1999 and his second gold medal was in 2001 in Lisbon, Portugal.

``I think five years ago is still my most beautiful victory,'' Freire said. ``We had a little luck with Bettini today.''

Olympic gold medalist Paolo Bettini of Italy quit in the 15th lap after injuring his knee in an accident with his team car. Bettini and Freire were the favorites in a race that lived up to its expectations of a battle between the powerhouse Spanish and Italian teams.

Without Bettini, 2004 Giro d'Italia winner Damiano Cunego became Italy's lead rider. Cunego and Ivan Basso, the Italian who finished third in the Tour de France, vied with Freire and teammate Alejandro Valverde, the Netherlands' Michael Boogerd and Australia's Stuart O'Grady on the final climb.

The six riders held a lead at the top of the climb. Several others caught up on the high-speed descent, and Freire was set up by Valverde in the final sprint on the long, straight finish. Valverde was fourth in the Spanish Vuelta a week earlier.

``I just took Valverde's wheel and I did a perfect sprint with a perfect teammate,'' Freire said. ``I spoke with Valverde five laps before the finish, and he said he felt good and I told him I was feeling good and we decided to work together in the finale.''

O'Grady and fellow Australian Allan Davis finished fourth and fifth and Valverde was sixth. Cunego came in ninth, with Basso 11th. The top 15 riders each received the same time.

Freire mentioned nearly every teammate for pushing so hard on the front of the pack throughout the second half of the race.

``This team is not just me,'' Freire said. ``Valverde could also have won today. He provided an excellent lead.''

Freire also won the opening World Cup classic Milan-San Remo race and a stage in the Vuelta this year while riding for his Dutch trade team Rabobank. He could become the first four-time gold medalist when the worlds are held in Spain next year.

What a gorgeous October day. Not a cloud in the sky all day with a little chill in the air. Rode for 1.5 hrs today on the Lemay, Missouri State, Fenton route. Last week I purposely rode the same route entirely in the small ring. Today, the small ring was only on the hills. The legs are feeling it more than I expected because I did not go extremely hard.

News of the Day Both Lampre and Saeco have confirmed their merger for 2005 today. The two Italian Pro Cycling teams, represented by their respective presidents Emanuele Galbusera and Sergio Zappella, reached an agreement yesterday in Bologna. The new combined team will be managed by Giuseppe Saronni and Claudio Corti, and will include the best riders from both teams, including Damiano Cunego (2004 Giro d’Italia winner), Gilberto Simoni and Igor Astarloa. The new Pro Tour team has yet to be given a name, which will be announced in an official press conference, together with further rider details, managers and technical staff.

Didnt run tonight. The weather tonight was a little wet at 6pm so I just decided to skip any workout

News Item of the Day BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) -- An Italian doctor who treated leading cyclists, including six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, received a 12-month suspended jail sentence for sports fraud and malpractice.

Michele Ferrari, however, was acquitted of the most severe charge of distributing health-threatening doping products. His lawyer, Dario Bolognesi, said they will appeal the sentence. Lorenzo Gresti, the public prosecutor, had recommended 14 months in jail.

Armstrong said that because of the court decision he is cutting his ties with Ferrari, whom he called a ``longtime friend and trusted adviser.'' Ferrari has worked as a conditioning consultant to Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team since 1999.

``I have always said that I have zero tolerance for anyone convicted of using or facilitating the use of performance-enhancing drugs,'' Armstrong said.

Armstrong was not been mentioned in the trial. The American cycling great said in an interview last year he would reevaluate their relationship if the doctor was found guilty.

Ferrari denied ever dispensing illegal substances to athletes and said he did not expect this sentence because ``I'm innocent in this whole affair.'' Ferrari had claimed he assisted athletes at his studio with ``alternative strategies such as diet and training.''

Italian cyclist Filippo Simeoni, one of Ferrari's leading accusers, told the Italian news agency ANSA the sentence ``shows my statements were justified.'' Simeoni had claimed in court that the asterisks on the lists prepared by Ferrari for some cyclists indicated the use of banned drugs.