News:

• It’s still as toss-up as for teams and riders going into the Paris-Nice race starting this weekend. The organizers obviously want to hold a professional bike race. The riders need to ride so they can get paid. The teams need to appear to honor commitments to their sponsors. The UCI, not being able to see beyond the end of its nose wants to sanction, and possibly fine, the riders and teams that choose to participate.
  • What does this accomplish? If there is no one left to race, what’s the point?
  • As I sort of expected, this article seems to indicate that the UCI might be more flexible for participation rules for the Tour de France. Seems that the UCI might have been trying to make their complaint with the ASO over a race that, in general, has less international exposure than the TdF.
  • Gerolsteiner, Liquigas and Saunier Duval have yet to file their official rosters for the race pending the outcome of the bickering.
• Alberto Contador, last year’s winner of the Tdf and locked out of this year’s race, is focusing on the Olympics and the Vuelta.
• Seems that Mario Cipollini and Michael Ball have kissed and made up. Cipollini will be focusing on a repeat win at the Milano-Sanremo race. This is all dependent on Rock Racing getting a wildcard invite to the race.
  • The route for Milano-Sanremo will change slightly this year, getting a new climb. The race had to be diverted slightly due to a landslide and temporary road closure.
• The Tour of Georgia, starting April 21st in Tybee Island, GA will replace an individual time trial with a team time trial on a motorsports track. The race also goes into South Carolina a bit and will feature a new route the Blue Ridge Mountains.
• Velo Vie Bicycles will be sponsoring the Amore & Vita-McDonalds cycling team this year. They’ll be providing 4 of their top of the line carbon fiber bikes to the team and will be creating a custom Vitesse 300 for the 2008 race season.
• There’s a new record holder for the world’s lightest bike. It only has 12 speeds and probably wouldn’t survive a pothole, but hey…
• Mergers & Acquisitions Desk:
  • Dorel/Pacific Cycles has bought Cannondale & Sugoi
  • Shimano has purchased Pearl Izumi from Nautilus, Inc.
  • Selle Italia takes over Crank Brothers.
  • Fox Racing Shox has sold 76% of the company to Compass Holdings
  • Veltec Sports purchased the Descente license and will distribute their products throughout North America and Europe.
  • VeloNews’ parent, Inside Communications was purchased by Falconhead Capital and will become part of the Competitor Group.

Results:

• Belgian rider Phillipe Gilbert took the Omloop Het Volk in a dramatic solo victory.
• Stephen de Jongh of Belgian powerhouse team Quick Step won Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne the next day
• Giro del Capo (South Africa)
  • Stage 1: Christian Pfannberger of Barloworld wins the stage
  • Stage 2: Michael Morkov (Danish National Team) takes the stage. Pfannberger holds onto the G.C.
  • Luke Roberts (Kuota-Senge) wins the stage, but Pfannberger is right on his tail and keeps the leader’s jersey.
• Vuelta a Murcia (Spain)
  • Stage 1: Graeme Brown of Rabobank takes the sprint to win the first stage.
  • Stage 2: Chechu Rubiera (Astana) wins a snowy mountains stage. Aitor Perez-Arietta (Extremadura Gallardo Gruppo) leads the G.C. Rubiera sits in second overall. Graeme Brown must have had a bad day - he’s now sitting more than 20 minutes off of the lead.
  • Stage 3: J.J. Haedo takes the stage. Full results pending.
• Memorial Samyn (Belgium): Phillipe Gilbert is having a good week. He takes another win at home in Belgium.

Phew. I think that’s enough typing for now.