FEATURES

The City of Brotherly Love seemed to forget the meaning behind its motto, at least during the last leg of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling, when a more fitting slogan might have been “Attack and
Counterattack” with all the major teams showing no mercy.

Greg Henderson hoped for a sequel to his 2006 win at the Reading Classic, but when the course called for two additional laps up the Mount Penn loop, the finish came down to a race around two risky
corners and one spectacular sprint by Bernhard Eisel.

America’s lean, mean racing format, with its punchy climbs and potholed corners, all designed to attract the attention of unsuspecting spectators, comes as a shock to the traditional racing tactics of visiting Europeans, but that’s just what Bernhard Eisel needed for the Lancaster Classic.

Rock Racing added some bling to its already swank image when Rashaan Bahati out-pounced Ivan Stevic in the bell lap of the 10th CSC Invitational. You know, that silver trophy would make a great
hood ornament on the team’s black Cadillac Escalades.

A scorching sun, along with the notorious winds of the Columbia River Gorge, flamed tempers at the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic prompting heated exchanges between Ben Jacques-Maynes and, well, just about
the entire Health Net-Maxxis squad.

Sometimes there’s just no substitute for experience, as veteran Fabiana Luperini demonstrated at the 10th edition of the classic climber’s race in Montréal, out-sprinting newbie Mara Abbott who was simply giddy about her second place showing. Ah, to be young again.

After conquering the decisive climbs of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Monte Zoncolan, with only four stages to go before the final run into Milan, Danilo Di Luca looked pretty in pink on his way to winning the Giro just as “The Killer” predicted almost 10 years ago.

After a near-fatal crash that put the young racer in a coma, Saul Raisin has literally rebuilt himself from the ground up — learning to walk, think and ride again — all with the singular objective of returning to the pro peloton. You might say it’s his raisin d’être.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

Continent-hopper Alejandro Borrajo recently landed in North America, wherethe Argentinean has made a prominent showing on the U.S. race scene.

Novgorad native Vladimir Gusev may have goose-stepped his way onto Discovery’s Tour de France roster after an impressive victory at the Tour of Belgium.

If you build it, they will come. World-class downhill and cross-country trails at New Mexico’s Angel Fire Ski Resort stoked this year’s Chile Challenge.

All the best gadgetry from the Giro d’Italia, each Dolomite-tested and hand-selected by tech editor Matt Pacocha.

Three essential strategies for winning sprints: Move up! Move up! Move up!

with Maynard Hershon

• Leters
• VeloNotes
• Calendar
• Classified/VeloMarket

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