FEATURES


THE SPRING CLASSICS

After a few frustratingly close calls at recent races, the Killer returns to prominence with a big win at the oldest of the classics.

At this mid-spring Belgian classic, between Amstel Gold and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, there’s no getting around The Wall.

Broken and bandaged from a crash during the Tour of the Basque Country, Stefan Schumacher certainly looked deserving of the Amstel Gold, but in a textbook example of a stack ’em and attack ’em breakaway, he earned it the hard way.



GIRO D’ITALIA

As Giro d’Italia race director Angelo Zomegnan looks forward to the famed upcoming grand tour, don’t expect defending champ Ivan Basso to share his optimism just yet.

Start with one team time trial, add eight flat stages, five mixed stages, another five mountain stages, then two individual time trials and you have the makings for one interesting 2007 Giro d’Italia.

There’s no such thing as a sure thing. But if you’re a betting man, here are the inside odds on five favorites and five long shots.

22 teams competing in 21 stages. Here’s a breakdown of the rosters.



TOUR DE GEORGIA

While the breakaway played an end game some 30 minutes out front, the bunch settled into a five-hour training ride. Race director Jim Birrell is seriously disappointed and has put some teams on notice.

The defining section of the 2007 Tour de Georgia turned out to be a stage 3 breakaway. Here’s a team-by-team analysis of that critical move.

Tyler Hamilton ended a long dry spell in Georgia. Here are his thoughts about the return, along with the conflicting views of his colleagues.



MORE FEATURES

Geoff Kabush and Georgia Gould steamrolled the North American cross-country fields in Santa Barbara County.

Call it motivation or good ol’ national pride, but when the dust finally settled at this important run-up to the Olympics in Beijing, it was China that crowded the podium.

From the humble Priority Health-Bissell squad comes this season’s top NRC stage racer, Ben Jacques-Maynes.

Toyota has overtaken GM as America’s number-one car manufacturer, and Toyota-United is taking over domestic sprint finishes.



DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

The “pot team” sparks interest in its title sponsor

Three young sprinters begin to upset the world favorites

Whistler’s legendary Crankworx festival comes to Colorado

Tubular mountain wheels, tires and more

Lance Bohlen reinvigorates KORE

More of the industry’s new wares shown at the Sea Otter Classic

Sam Hill’s custom Iron Horse downhill racer

Make the most of your recovery rides

Three quick trainer workouts

Hutchinson’s tubeless road tires

with Maynard Hershon

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