Photos archive   Videos - Interviews and Action    Cyclingnews Reader's Pics of 2004

Cycling photography for January - Part I

Rabobank team presentation
Discovery Channel and Quick.Step team presentations
Marco Polo Cycling Team Launch
Jayco Bay Classic
National Cyclo-cross Championships
Manchester Track World Cup
MrBookmaker.com & Bouygues Telecom presentations
Premio Asteasu de Ciclo-cross
Grand Prix du Nouvel-An
Tasmanian Carnivals
Grote Prijs Sven Nys
Int. Herforderer Radquerfeldein-Rennen
Centrumcross Surhuisterveen
Azencross Loenhout
Tour of South China Sea
Großer Weihnachtspreis
Superprestige #6 Diegem
Lance Armstrong at Scary Fast 'Cross
Budvar Cup #7
Stevens Cross Cup

Copyright notice: The photo's that appear here are all subject to copyright, and may not be reproduced in any form anywhere else without the owner's permission. Copies, either print or electronic, of the photographs can be requested by contacting the photographer in most cases, as email or website addresses are usually provided with the images. The exceptions are AFP photos, which are not available for individual sale.

Rabobank team presentation

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by DCP/Bert Geerts

• The Rabobank team is presented in Hilversum, The Netherlands
• Team director Erik Breukink with a shiny brand new machine
• Team director Erik Breukink with star rider Oscar Freire
• Three-time World Champ Oscar Freire will be one of Rabobank's top men in 2005
• Oscar Freire and Erik Dekker are both sporting the team's Keep Supporting Asia caps
• Erik Dekker is serious about doing well in the classics this year
• Michael Boogerd wants to win a classic
• Michael Rasmussen wants to win a stage in the Tour
• Three of Rabobank's new signings: Denis Menchov, Pedro Horillo and Gerben Löwik
• Denis Menchov wants a top five finish in the Tour
• The Russian connection: Denis Menchov and Alexander Kolobnev
• Alexander Kolobnev is one of the team's many national champions
• Thomas Dekker has made the step up to the big league in 2005
• Hello boys it's showtime

Marco Polo Cycling Team Launch

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Francis Cerny/Nikon

• Riders and staff at the press conference in Zhuhai
• Mr Tian Junrong, president of the Chinese Cycling Association, told the press how happy the Chinese Association is with the first Chinese pro-team
• Journalists from all over China came to the press conference
• The riders listen carefully to the team plans
• From l to r: The vice secretary general of the CCA, Mr Tian Junrong, commercial manager of Marco Polo Cycling Rob Conijn, and Todd McKeane of Trek bikes
• Mr Tian Junrong speeks to the reporters
• Trek's Todd McKeane discusses the finer points of the Marco Polo team bike
• The riders sign their contracts; some of those questions can be difficult
• Fathers name? Well that's easy enough.
• Place of birth? Another easy one
• Capital City of Azerbaijan? Why is that there?
• Ah I know that one! Baku!
• Chinese Mountainbike and criterium champion Fuyu Li, giving an interview to Chinese national TV
• The Marco Polo team showing off with their brandnew Trek team bike
• During Tour of South China Sea, the team celebrated the new year
• Fuyu Li from Shandong, the Chinese mountainbike and criterium champion
• A talented rider from Shanghai; Gang Xu
• Beijings Tong Yu and his new bike

Discovery Channel and Quick.Step team presentations

Discovery Channel

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews.com

• The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team is presented in Silver Spring, Maryland
• Lance Armstrong with the new Discovery Channel team strip
• Armstrong poses with his new Trek Madone in Discovery Channel livery.
• Clad in his new Discovery Channel team strip Lance Armstrong (C) is honored with the 2004 Velo d'Or, presented by Velo Magazine's Editor Gilles Conte (L) while Discovery Channel team sports director Johan Bruyneel (R) looks on.
• Yaroslav Popovych smiling before he takes the stage at the Discovery Channel team presentation
• 2002 Giro d'Italia winner Paolo Savoldelli watching the proceedings at the presentation of his new Discovery Channel team. Savoldelli will be Discovery's leader in the Giro this year.
• Belgian Brains Trust Johan Bruyneel (L) and Dirk Demol (R) are all smiles during the Discovery Channel team presentation
• Johan Bruneeyl talks about the strong additions to the team
• Lance Armstrong looking relaxed and optimistic
• Lance Armstrong "I better think about that one."
• Dan Osipow hands Lance his 2005 TREK
• Lance takes a look at the new colours
• Lance Armstrong looking pretty happy with his new rig
• The pointy-end of Trek's TT bike, kitted out in cycling's finest
• Smooth carbon-fiber lines shaped to cut down as much drag as possible
• A bontrager seatpost sits on top of the TT bike, along with a Bontrager Race X Lite saddle
• Bontrager Race XXX Lite Aerobars will lead Discovery to many hopeful wins
• Carbon, carbon, everywhere
• Down the back, Shimano 10-speed Dura-Ace does the job
• Smooth lines for a smooth ride
• Shimano 10-speed Dura-Ace puts the power where it is needed
• 2005 Discovery Channel team Trek
• From pedal to pavement, only the best for Discovery
• Giro provides Discovery with their lid of choice
• The bulge in the seat-tube provides the perfect place for a logo
• Dura-Ace post, and the Bontrager Race X Lite saddle
• Even more Bontrager gear, with some Chris King thrown in
• Looking down on some XXX bike-porn

Quick.Step

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Luc Claessen/actiefotos.be

• The Quick.Step team is presented in Tielt, Belgium
• The team's top guns (L to R): Tom Boonen, Paolo Bettini, Michael Rogers, Nick Nuyens, Filippo Pozzato
• Team manager Patrick Lefevere
• Tom Boonen won 20 races in 2004
• Tom Boonen (L) with Patrick Lefevere and Patrick Sinkewitz
• Tom Boonen with one of the team's top workers, Servais Knaven
• Nick Nuyens hopes to continue where he left off in 2004
• Filippo Pozzato is one of the team's big acquisitions
• New signing Rik Verbrugghe
• Quick.Step will once again be on Time machines
• A closeup of Mick Rogers' bike
• The Quick.Step team car before it gets muddy

Images by Quick Step Cycling Team

• From left to right: Patrick Lefevere (Team manager), Luc Maes (owner Latexco), Frans De Cock (owner Unilin Flooring), Tom Boonen, Paolo Bettini, Michael Rogers, Nick Nuyens, Dimitri De Fauw,
• From left to right: Paolo Bettini, Tom Boonen, Michael Rogers, Rik Verbrugghe, Nick Nuyens, Filippo Pozzato

National Cyclo-cross Championships

British Cyclo-cross Championships

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Pierce/PhotoSport International

• Junior winner Alex Atkins (Evans Cycles RT).
• The Junior Men's podium.
• Helen Wyman (Toyota Motor Company) eventually finished third.
• Louise Robinson (Stourbridge CC) en route to a national championship crown.
• An crash early on in the first lap of the elite men's race.
• Nick Craig (Team Scott) runs away with the win.
• Nick Craig (Team Scott) is all focus.
• Julian Winn (Pinarello RT) muscles his way through the course.
• The Elite men's podium.

Images by Steve Roe

• Nicole Cooke (Safi-Pasta Zara), deep in thought.
• Helen Wyman (Toyota Motor Company) crests the hill and finishes third in the championship.
• Nicole Cooke (Safi-Pasta Zara) heads up climb, followed by eventual winner Louise Robinson (Stourbridge CC).
• Gabriella Day (Team Bottecchia/Fat Birds Don't Fly) ... the rain is on its way!
• Louise Robinson (Stourbridge CC) en route to victory.
• Victoria Wilkinson (Science in Sport.com) heads towards a second place.
• The Elite women's podium.
• The Elite men round the first corner.
• Julian Winn (Pinarello RT) powers up.
• The main bunch head up climb.
• Liam Killeen's first race in Specialized colours.
• Journey around the pits and pressure washers!
• Liam Killeen (Specialized) holds on to his second place.
• Matt Ellis (Planet X/On One) sweeps down to finish third.
• First place to Nick Craig (Team Scott).
• The Elite men's podium.

Czech Republic Cyclo-cross Championships

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Milan Sames/www.sames.cz

• Petr Dlask (Author Praha), leads the field into the race
• Last year's Czech champion Kamil Ausbuher (Budvar Tabor) - today 5th
• Czech cyclo-cross star Jiri Pospisil (Stevens Jeantex) didn't ride well today and gave up
• Radomir Simunek jnr, placed today 3rd
• A very strong Author Praha team flies over the bridge, but it was not enough for victory today
• In race action - Ausbuher (5th), Simunek (3rd), Stybar (1st)
• Martin Bina (Author Praha) lead solo in the middle of the race - it was not enough for victory
• Zdenek Stybar (Mercedes Benz Selle Italia) was the best today despite his young age (19)
• Final lap - two Czech former champions Dlask and Ausbuher try to catch leading trio of youngsters - they were not successfully, placing 4th and 5th
• Petr Dlask (Author Praha) rides towards the finish and 4th place
• Jezek, Zlamalik, Lukes good performance today, but not enough for a podium finish

Images by Petr Resl

• Zdenek Stybar wins the Czech Republic Cyclo-cross Championships
• Zdenek Stybar just moments after his amazing win
• Podium place-getters Bina, Stybar and Simunek

Danish Cyclo-cross Championships

Images by Frank Rud Jensen

• The Elite Men's Podium Tommy Nielsen, Kim Petersen, Joachim Parbo
• The Elite Men's Podium Tommy Nielsen (Farum-Værløse), Kim Petersen (Odense Energi), Joachim Parbo (Cycling Aarhus)
• A delighted Kim Petersen about to become Danish national CX champion
• Kim Petersen is a happy boy after winning the Men's Elite race
• The Elite Women's podium Janne Nielsen, Mette Andersen, Karin Jacobsen

Images by Arne M Christensen

• Mette Andersen ,Danish Women's CX Champion

Images by Jesper Johannesen

• Kim Petersen looked strong on way to winning
• Kim Petersen celebrates his win in the Men's Elite race
• The men's podium pose for the cameras

Dutch Cyclo-cross Championships

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Christine Grein/www.capture-the-peloton.com

• Gerben de Knegt (Goirle) raced hard, but just missed on a podium finish
• Maarten Nijland (Rossum) concentrates on a podium finish
• Rabobank rider Richard Groenendaal (St. Michielsgestel) can smell a podium finish
• Richard Groenendaal solos for a while
• Shouldering the bike, Groenendaal concentrates on a potential win
• A man on a mission
• Richard Groenendaal heads out in front
• The finish in sight, and a win coming up for Richard Groenendaal
• Wilant van Gils (Schijndel) just missed out on a win
• Richard Groenendaal takes out the Dutch Cyclo-cross Championships
• .. and then the exhaustion hits like a freight-train
• Third placed Maarten Nijland
• The new Dutch Cyclo-cross champ Richard Groenendaal
• The podium placed riders, Wilant van Gils, Richard Groenendaal and Maarten Nijland
• Second placed rider, Wilant van Gils

French Cyclo-cross Championships

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Régis Garnier/www.velofotopro.fr.st

• The U23 Podium Steve Chainel (2nd), Romain Villa (1st), Julien Belgy (3rd)
• The women's podium: Laurence Leboucher (2nd), Maryline Salvetat (1st) and Nadia Triquet (3rd)
• Laurence Leboucher finishes second.
• John Gadret's fan club
• Christophe Agnolutto presents the jersey of the new team Agritubel.
• John Gadret before the start.
• David Boucher (MrBookmaker)
• Eventual winner Francis Mourey (La Francaise des Jeux)
• John Gadret (Jartazi) and Arnaud Labbe (Auber.93)
• Laurent Lefevre (Bouygues Telecom)
• Sandy Casar after the race...
• The podium (L to R): Gadret, Mourey, Labbe.

German Cyclo-cross Championships

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mario Stiehl/www.world-of-cycling.com

• The Men's Podium
• Fabian Brzezinski (IGAS Wendland) tackles a climb on foot
• Henning Jaecks (VC Frankfurt 1883) right on the attack
• Reto Matt (SG Rheinfelden) looking good on his way to third
• Jens Reuker (RC Olympia Emmendingen) pushes it
• Men's winner Jens Schwedler (Harvestehuder RSV v. 1909) carried his trusty steed over the line
• Jens Schwedler looks composed
• Men's winner Jens Schwedler with a great new jersey and medal
• Jens Schwedler looks powerful on this climb to victory in the men's race
• Harvestehuder RSV teammembers rode very strongly today
• Rene von Lipinski (RC Kleinmachnow) looking good on this part of the course
• Steffen Weigold (Team Lamonta)
• Finn Heitmann (RC Endspurt Herford) embraced after his victory in the U23 race
• Finn Heitmann (RC Endspurt Herford) celebrates victory in the men's U23 race
• Finn Heitmann takes the indoor barriers on his way to victory
• U23 winner Finn Heitmann powers on a flat section
• The U23 peloton runs a hill
• The U23 podium (L-R): Paul Voss (OSC Potsdam), Finn Heitmann (RC Endspurt Herford), Karl Schoknecht (RC Kleinmachnow)
• Thorsten Struch (RSV Stuttgart-Vaihingen 1901) on his way to fourth place
• Thorsten Struch looked strong both on and off the bike
• Fourth-placed Thorsten Struch finished 44 seconds behind winner Finn Heitmann
• Paul Voss (OSC Potsdam) on his way to second place
• Susanne Juranek (RSC Oldenburg 1965) did well to finish fourth
• Nicole Kampeter (RC Endspurt Herford) looked good in finishing third
• Hanka Kupfernagel (Vlaanderen T-interim) saluted victory the traditional way
• Hanka Kupfernagel commanded the course on her way to victory
• Women's race winner Hanka Kupfernagel was strongest of all
• The women went out hard in their race
• What's that phrase about winners... The women's podium (L-R): Sabine Spitz (Fusion Pro Team), Hanka Kupfernagel (Vlaanderen T-interim), Nicole Kampeter (RC Endspurt Herford)
• Sabine Spitz (Fusion Pro Team) giving it all on her way to second

Italian Cyclo-cross Championships

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Massimiliano Pizzolato/www.ciclonews.it

• Daniele Pontoni before the race
• Derik Zampedri prepares
• The start of the Elite Men
• Even the stars come out to watch the cross. Ivan Basso all rugged up
• Stefano Basso shoulders his bike
• Paola Bortolini puts in a strong race
• Winner of the junior men, Davide Malacarne
• Daniele Pontoni hits the top of the climb
• … then he jumps back on for the next section
• Annabella Stroparo just keeps on going
• Igor Tavella shows the strain
• Derik Zampedri glides downhill
• The Under-23 podium
• Davide Malacarne, winner of the junior men
• The Elite Women's podium
• Junior Men's podium
• Elite men's podium with Ivan Basso and Damiano Cunego
• Derik Zampedri and Mosole Remo

Spanish Cyclo-cross Championships

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Martin Hardie

• David Seco hard at work on his way to winning
• The going was tough in the Spanish CX Championships
• Heads down, going up
• Some ride, most push
• Conditions weren't too bad for the Spanish CX Championships
• But they get tougher as you do it more often
• David Seco after just missing out on winning
• Riders looked more comfortable on the easier parts of the course
• Unai Yus begins to wind it up
• The winning bike of Unai Yus
• Unai Yus' steed upon which he became Spanish CX Champ
• Unai Yus with the crowd after winning the Spanish CX Championships

Manchester Track World Cup

Day 1 - January 7: Men: Keirin, Individual Pursuit, Scratch Race, Kilometre TT; Women: Sprint, Points Race

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Nick Rosenthal/fatnick.com

• Rene Wolff (Germany) behind the bike
• Pavel Buran (Czech Republic) on his way to winning round 1 of the men's keirin
• Action from the men's keirin
• Behind the bike in the men's keirin
• Shane Kelly (Australia) in the men's keirin
• Kerrie Meares (Australia) prepares for her 200m TT
• Sara Magdalena (Poland) went over 12 seconds
• Yvonne Hijgenaar (Netherlands) was second fastest qualifier
• Susan Panzer qualified 11th and was bundled out in round 1
• Simona Krupeckaite (Lithuania) made the top 10 in the women's sprint qualifying
• Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) qualified 5th
• Emilie Jeannot (France)
• Grr.
• Willy Kanis (Netherlands) on the bank
• Natallia Tsylinskaya (Belarus) in a mean mood
• Elisa Frisoni (Italy) concentrates for her 200m TT
• Lenka Valova (Czech Republic) winds up
• Kazunari Watanabe (Japan) falls during the repechage of the men's keirin
• Oblivious, Damian Zielinski (Poland) keeps gunning for the line
• Kazunari Watanabe (Japan) on the deck in the men's keirin
• Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) and Kerrie Meares (Australia) have the same idea in mind
• Susan Panzer keeps an eye on her compatriot Christin Muche during the 1/8 finals of the women's sprint
• Germans Susan Panzer and Christin Muche go head to head
• Elisa Frisoni (Italy) gets ready to pass Willy Kanis (Netherlands) in the 1/8 finals of the women's sprint
• Simona Krupeckaite (Lithuania) defeats Clara Sanchez (France) in the first round

Day 2 - January 8: Men: Team Pursuit; Sprint, Points Race; Women: Individual Pursuit, 500m TT

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Nick Rosenthal/fatnick.com

• Mickael Bourgain of France puts Australia's Jobie Dajka out of the sprint competition.
• Germany's Matthias John exits the sprint series as rapid Spaniard Jose Villanueva powers past him.
• Teun Mulder of the Netherlands tries his best, but France's Gregory Bauge uses his strength to come round the outside.
• Magdalena Sara of Poland is a sprinter to watch for the future.
• Kwiatkowski and Villanueva slug it out in the sprints
• Villaneuva and Bauge playing sprinter's games...
• Men's sprint podium: Mickael Bourgain of France, flanked by Lukasz Kwiatkowski and Jose Villanueva
• The Dutch team pursuit squad riding to fourth place.
• The German quartet looked smooth on its way to the bronze medal
• The British team pursuit squad on its way to the gold medal
• No pain, no gain!
• Vicky Pendleton gives it some welly on her second lap
• Elisa Frisone of Italy powers towards a bronze medal
• Switzerland's Karin Thürig is an oasis of calm and precision as she rides towards the bronze medal
• Katherine Bates of Australia makes it look easy. Winner of the women's points race the previous day, Bates has sizzling form a the Manchester World Cup
• Britain's Emma Davies joins the "I gave it 100%" club .... but gets a silver medal as consolation prize.
• Katherine Bates flanked by Emma Davies and Karn Thürig
• Head down, full power, afterburners ignited: Tamilla Abassova of Russia, wearing the series leader's jersey, powers to gold in the 500m time trial
• The men's points race gets underway
• Russia's Nikita Eskov rode an excellent race to finish second
• America's Colby Pearce was rarely far from the action
• Britain's Olympic pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins has announced he'll be concentrating on the road for the next two years, but aims to be back on the track in 2007 in time for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
• Wiggins, Pearce and Eskov
• In the last lap of the race Colby Pearce tries to get past Nikita Eskov to take second place... but can't quite find the speed to pass the younger Russian
• Points winner Vasil Kiryienka with silver medallist Nikita Eskov and bronze medallist Colby Pearce

Day 3 - January 9: Men: Japanese Keirin, Madison, Team Sprint; Women: Scratch Race, Keirin

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Pierce/Photo Sport International

• Chris Hoy (GBr) flying during day 3 action
• A successful day for Chris Hoy as his team won the men's team Sprint
• Rob Hayles (GBr) had to retire after crashing in the Madison
• Riders from Germany and the USA fiercely contest the women's kierin
• Dean and Russell Downing work hard in the men's Madison

Images by Nick Rosenthal/fatnick.com

• Mickael Bourgain (France) in the heats of the Japanese Keirin, with Chris Hoy, Shane Kelly and Jose Escubedo
• Marty Nothstein, Keirin man. During the UCI world cup track meeting in Manchester, Nothstein announced that 2005 will be his last year as a pro cyclist
• Germany's Jan van Eijden in the Keirin. Half a lap later, Jan got all tangled up and fell, with Craig MacLean joining him on the wood
• Josiah Ng and Jose Antonio Villanueva amongst the thick of the action during day 3
• Take four big men... shake, and prepare for explosive action!
• They look ever so well behaved don't they? Uchida Kei, Yamamada Yuji, Matthias John and Ivan Vrba take up station behind the derny
• Tatsina Sharakova of Belarus rode aggressively, gaining a lap on the field in the heats
• A rhapsody in blue
• Katherine Bates in a league of her own. To quote from that wonderful children's book, The Gruffalo: "You go ahead, and I'll follow after"
• Germany's Lotte Becker and Russia's Apollinaria Bakova were there to race, not just to ride their bikes
• Lada Kozlikova, Wan Yiu Wong and Nikki Harris riding in the scratch race heats at the Manchester round of the UCI World Cup Track series
• Russell and Dean Downing do a madison change. Dean throws Russell in
• Kenny de Ketele (Bel) slings Wouter van Mechelen (Bel) into the race. This pair gained a lap on the field in the final, with the French duo, and took second place in the madison event
• Wim Stroetinga chucks Niki Terpstra into the race
• Alex Aeschbach and Ralph Zimmermann
• Slovakia's Martin Liska an experienced six-day rider, took a tumble in the Madison heats but returned to the track
• King Wei Cheung and Kam-Po Wong (Hong Kong)
• Jerome Neuville and Andy Flickinger (France) won the men's madison
• Miguel Alzamora and Asier Maeztu (Spain). The Spanish riders were involved in a crash in the final, and were issued a formal warning by the commissaires
• Britain's Steve Cummings managed to crash right in front of the camera!
• Cummings made it up again after his crash
• Colby Pearce throws big Marty Nothstein into the race. Nothstein rode the Keirin heats, then the Madison heats, then the Keirin repechage. And that was just the morning!
• Leaders of the Madison event in the world cup track series, Czech riders Petr Lazar (bottom) and Martin Blaha (top) - seen here in their leader's jerseys
• Mikhail Ignatiev and Nikolay Trousov (Rus). Do you like Ignatiev's Olympic rings on his helmet? You too can have one... all you have to do is win the points race at the next Olympics
• Guo of China lies on the ground after falling heavily in the women's keirin. She recovered and rode in the repechage

Images by John Pierce/Photo Sport International

• An American rider checks behind
• French rider Mickaël Bourgain pocketed £10,000 for the invitation-only keirin event
• Double gold paralympic medalist breaks the hour record
• The board says it all
• Darren Kenny on the podium
• Chris Boardman talks to Darren Kenny after his record-breaking ride
• Setting the pace in the men's keiren qualifying round
• Italian rider Elisa Frisoni in the women's keirin
• Chris Hoy (GBr) puts his race-face on
• Jason Queally prepares for the men's team sprint
• Queally is off in the men's team sprint
• Chris Hoy in the men's team sprint
• Australia was fast, but not fast enough
• Hoy heads home
• Rob Hayles goes down in the men's madison
• Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
• And that is going to hurt tomorrow
• Rob Hayles (GBr) had to retire after the crash
• The Spanish riders handsling during the Madison
• Marty Nothstein in the madison final

MrBookmaker.com & Bouygues Telecom presentations

MrBookmaker.com

Images by Daniel Schamps

• The Belgian and French members of MrBookmaker: Geert Omloop, Kurt Van de Wouwer, Gorik Gardeyn, Frank Vandenbroucke (all Bel), Frederic Gabriel, Julien Laidoun, Laurent Paumier, Camille Bouquet and David Boucher (all Fra)
• Frank Vandenbroucke's bike is a new Ridley Damocles

Bouygues Telecom

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Daniel Schamps

• The Bouygues Telecom team is presented in all its glory, with French champion Thomas Voeckler in the middle
• Thomas Voeckler resplendent in his French champion's jersey

Images by velofotopro.fr.st

• Gilles Pélisson, boss of Bouygues Telecom presents the riders with their jerseys
• Four young sport directors Christophe Faudot, Christian Guiberteau, Ismael Mottier and Dominique Arnould (L to R)
• Laurent Brochard
• Giovanni Bernaudeau and Walter Beneteau
• Everyone looks happy with the proceedings
• Pierrick Fédrigo and co. (L-R: Pierre Drancourt, Mathieu Claude, Sébastien Chavanel and Anthony Charteau)
• Yohann Gene
• Anthony Geslin
• The come back of Mickael Pichon after his serious accident during the 2004 Dauphiné Libéré.
• Gilles Pélisson looks very happy with his team
• French Champion Thomas Voeckler and Unai Yus
• Thomas Voeckler is ready for a new year...
• Franck Bouyer sleeping during the team presentation
• The team 2005

Premio Asteasu de Ciclo-cross

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Oskar Matxin

• The cyclo-cross men on the first lap
• Wesley van der Linden (Vlaanderen) won the race for the second year in a row
• Ryan Trebon (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) had a great race to finish second
• Unai Yus (La Boulangere) prepares for the classics with 'cross
• Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly) was sixth place for the U.S. behind professional Unai Yus
• Jesse Anthony working hard to finish 8th
• Bjorn Rondelez (Wincor Nixdorf) had a bad start, but a good finish
• U.S. Champion Jonathan Page didn't have a great day

Grand Prix du Nouvel-An

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Hervé Dancerellevelostory.net

• Daphny van den Brand (Ton van Bemmelen) won the women's race by 15 seconds
• The women's podium: Marianne Vos (2nd), Daphny van den Brand (1st) and Paola Bortolin (3rd)
• Tom Vannoppen (Palmans-Sapim) on his way to victory
• David Pagnier (Charvieu-Chavagneux) couldn't match Vannoppen, but held on for second
• Pascal Perrin (ASPTT Nancy) was fourth on the day
• Tom Vannoppen (Palmans-Sapim) wins the men's race
• The elite men's podium: David Pagnier (2nd), Tom Vannoppen (1st) and Philippe Gilbert (3rd)

Grote Prijs Sven Nys

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by cyclocrossprosport.be

• Sven Nys (Rabobank) was in his element in his home town 'cross
• Bart Wellens (Fidea) almost got there...2nd
• Ben Berden (Saey-Deschacht) was just off the podium in fourth
• Lars Boom (Rabobank) mixing it up with the big boys to finish an impressive 5th
• Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) was off the podium today in sixth
• Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) gives it gas
• Bart Aernouts (Rabobank) was eighth
• Sven Vanthourenhout in his first race for Rabobank
• Jonathan Page (Cervelo-HotTubes-Adidas-Mavic) almost cracked the top 10
• Kevin Pauwels (Fidea) was 16th, and not the best of the U23's
• Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) was sick and got lapped
• Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) wanting it to be over
• Mariusz Gil (Poland) a fair way down
• David Meys (Profel) adds some colour
• Taking risks is part of cyclo-cross
• Stay on the path!
• Radomir Simunek Jr (Author) looks tired
• Radomir Simunek Jr (Author) enjoying the mud?
• Christophe Roodhooft (Palmans-Sapim) was lapped three times
• Vaclav Jezek (Author) was five minutes down at the end
• Wilant van Gils (Rietveld) finished a creditable 7th
• Wim Jacobs (Fidea) knows how to concentrate
• Davy Commeyne (Palmans-Sapim) didn't finish
• David Willemsens getting his clean white jersey muddied
• Christian Heule (Stevens) didn't finish

Int. Herforderer Radquerfeldein-Rennen

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mani Wollner/foto-grafik-satz.de

• Luxemburg Champion Suzy Godart powering around a corner
• German Champion Hanka Kupfernagel beeing watched by her coach, German cross-legend Mike Kluge
• Suzy Godart
• Local crosser Nicole Kampeter finished in 3rd place
• A difficult passage of the tricky parcours
• Martina Zwick (U17) started with the ladies
• Hanka Kupfernagel once again rode her own race...
• ...and clearly won the race
• Helen Wyman from Great Britain (left) finished 2nd
• Helen Wyman gave all she had
• The women's podium: Helen Wyman (2nd), Hanka Kupfernagel (1st) and Nicole Kampeter (3rd)
• German Champion and local hero Malte Urban finished the race after 2 laps because of his wounded knee
• Fully concentrated
• The Stevens team had a strong performance
• Jan Ramsauer from Switzerland
• Taking all the risks
• Some riders found it hard to find their way...
• Banzai!
• Full speed in the woods
• Just powersliding...
• Finn Heitmann from Herford an up and coming German 'cross hope
• Jiri Pospisil atacked on the 3rd lap and defended his lead
• Maarten Nijland five-time winner in Herford, couldn't follow Pospisil
• Now let's go uphill!
• Ondrej Lukes had a good day
• Hurry up!
• Jiri Pospisil winner in Herford 2004
• Maarten Nijland finishing 2nd
• Ondrej Lukes coming in 3rd place
• Youngster Finn Heitmann finishing in fourth place
• The podium: Finn Heitmann (4th), Maarten Nijland (2nd), Jiri Pospisil (winner) and Ondrej Lukes (3rd)

Centrumcross Surhuisterveen

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by DCP/Bert Geerts

• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker) gets ready for his last 'cross race
• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker) puts the race face on
• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker) in action
• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker) in action
• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker) towels down after the race
• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker) : where to from here?
• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker) is remembered fondly
• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker) salutes his supporters
• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker) and Groenendaal shake hands
• Peter van Santvliet (Fidea) on his way to third
• Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) through the sand on his way to winning
• Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) wins the Centrumcross
• The men's podium (L to R): Wilant van Gils (2nd), Richard Groenendaal (1st) and Peter Van Santvliet (3rd)
• The women's podium (L to R): Paola Bortolin (2nd), Reza Ravenstein (1st) and Marieke Haverdings (3rd)

Azencross Loenhout

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Luc Claessen/cyclingnews.com/actiefotos.be

• The start of the elite men's race was fast
• Eddy Merckx on hand to watch the proceedings
• Sven Nys (Rabobank) likes this sort of thing
• Nys tackles the bumps
• Sven Nys (Rabobank) takes a corner
• Sven Nys (Rabobank) en route to another win
• Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) was second on the day, but disqualified for an irregular bike change after he jumped the fence into the pit area
• Tom Vannoppen (MrBookmaker.com) keeps his centre of gravity low
• Peter van Santvliet (Fidea) driving hard
• Sven Vanthourenhout (Quick.Step) navigates the bumps
• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker.com-Palmans) focused until the end
• Petr Dlask (Author) keeps down
• Kamil Ausbuher (Budweiser) was 22nd
• Bart Wellens (Fidea) from the front
• Sven Nys (Rabobank) gives another victory salute
• The place getters in the elite men's race didn't want to come to the podium, after they felt Groenendaal's disqualification was unfair
• Nicole Leijten-De Bie finished 15th in the women's race
• Laurence Leboucher (Fra) was off the pace in 12th
• Sabine Spitz (Ger) on her way to third place
• Daphny van den Brand (Heijdens Ten Tusscher) wins the women's race
• Hanka Kupfernagel finishes 2nd in the women's race
• Hanka Kupfernagel at the finish
• The women's podium (L to R): Hanka Kupfernagel (2nd), Daphny van den Brand (1st) and Sabine Spitz (3rd)
• World U23 Champ Kevin Pauwels (Fidea) takes an obstacle with ease
• Radomir Simunek Jr (Author) looking somewhat muddied
• Geert Wellens (Fidea) was 11th in the U23 race
• Kevin Pauwels (Fidea) wins the U23 race
• The U23 podium (L to R): Radomír Simunek Jr. (2nd), Kevin Pauwels (1st) and Mariusz Gil (3rd)

Images by cyclocrossprosport.be

• Mario De Clercq (MrBookmaker.com-Palmans) in his last 'cross race in Belgium
• Jonathan Page (Cervelo-HotTubes-Adidas-Mavic) full steam ahead
• Jonathan Page (Cervelo-HotTubes-Adidas-Mavic) head down
• Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) was again in the top three
• Bart Wellens (Fidea) didn't finish today
• Barry Wicks (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) struggles in the mud
• Eric Tonkin (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) looking for a way forward
• Keiichi Tsujura (Jpn) hard at it
• Christian Heule (Stevens) being careful
• Christian Heule (Stevens) focused

Tour of South China Sea

Stage 1 - December 26: Hong Kong road race, 105.4 km

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Francis Cerny/Nikon Camera

• The Marco Polo Cycling Team for the Tour of South China Sea 2004. L to R: Team manager Allan Wolhuter (South-Africa), Marco Polo Cycling Hong Kong manager Louis Lui, Chi Yin Leung (Hong Kong), Rhys Pollock (Australia), Masahiko Mifune (Japan), Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikh (Mongolia), mechanic Yu Kau Wai (Hong Kong) and kneeling Remko Kramer (Netherlands) and John Tonks (Hong Kong national Champion).
• A little girl posing for a photo in front of the peloton before the start of the first stage of the Tour of South China Sea 2004 in Hong Kong.

Stage 2 - December 27: Shenzhen circuit race, 90 km

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Francis Cerny/Nikon Camera

• Russian talent Alexander Hatuntsev in the yellow jersey before stage 2.
• The peloton passes a huge billboard promoting cycling as a sport.
• Masahiko Mifune (Marco Polo Cycling Team) wins stage 2 by more then a bike length.
• Masahiko Mifune (Marco Polo Cycling Team) celebrates his victory with champagne.
• Masahiko Mifune (Marco Polo Cycling Team) in the yellow jersey after stage 2 of the Tour of South China Sea.
• The Marco Polo Cycling Team with the yellow jersey. L to R: Team manager Allan Wolhuter (South-Africa), Chi Yin Leung (Hong Kong), Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikh (Mongolia), Masahiko Mifune (Japan), Remko Kramer (Netherlands), Rhys Pollock (Australia), and John Tonks (the Hong Kong national Champion)

Stage 3 - December 28: Guangzhou, 110 km

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Francis Cerny/Nikon Camera

• Entertainment before the start of stage 3 in front of the Chime Long Night Zoo in Guangzhou.
• Entertainment before the start of stage 3 in front of the Chime Long Night Zoo in Guangzhou.
• The start of stage 3 with the Chinese balloon ritual
• Some victims of the mass crash: Remko Kramer and Rhys Pollock from the Marco Polo Cycling Team.

Stage 4 - December 29: Zhongshan, 88 km

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Francis Cerny/Nikon Camera

• Racing on California style streets in China
• The peloton racing through the s-bend.
• Kin San Wu from the Hong Kong National Team and other riders don't look happy with the hard tempo up the rise.
• Max Nielsen from Glud and Marstrand winning stage 4 of the Tour of South China Sea.

Stage 5 - December 30: Zhuhai circuit race, 108 km

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Francis Cerny/Nikon Camera

• The Tour of South China Sea on the Zhuhai car racing track.
• The peloton from behind on the Zhuhai car racing track.
• The Russians from Moskou City Sports take the lead.

Stage 6 - December 31: Macau, 90 km

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Francis Cerny/Nikon Camera

• Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikh and Rhys Pollock from the Marco Polo Cycling Team before the start of stage 6 at the gate towards the A-Ma hill.
• The riders struggle towards the finish at the steep hill-top finish.
• Masahiko Mifune from the Marco Polo Cycling Team finishing the stage and losing his yellow jersey

Stage 7 - January 1: Macau (Jockey Club Square) criterium, 66 km

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Francis Cerny/Nikon Camera

• Marco Polo Cycling Team manager Allan Wolhuter from South Africa with his Chinese lunch.
• John Tonks from the Marco Polo Cycling Team in one his attacks during the last stage of the Tour of South China Sea 2004.
• The Moskou City Sports Team in action during the last stage of the Tour of South China Sea 2004. Tour leader Alexander Hatuntsev in fourth position.

Großer Weihnachtspreis

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Elmar Krings/www.rexite.de

• Robert Bartko is here
• The start of the Omnium of the Aces
• Franz Stocher leads Matt Gilmore and Danny Stam
• Rolf Aldag leads Zabel and Bartko
• Rolf Aldag at full throttle
• Aldag and Zabel congratulate each other after the win
• Erik Zabel looks happy to be back after a three month break
• Team Germany was victorious in the Omnium of the Aces
• The international team included Matthew Gilmore, Theo Bos and Barry Forde, among others
• Swiss rider Peter Jörg gets ready
• Jimmi Madsen prepares for the Stayers race
• Carsten Podlesch and Andreas Kappes battle it out in the Stayers race
• Top Dutch rider Danny Stam
• The heavy motors get going with Stam leading Kappes and Podlesch
• Andreas Kappes (top) overtakes
• Andreas Beikirch en route to victory in the Stayers World Cup
• Andreas Beikirch keeping in control
• The podium of the Stayers World Cup (L to R): Peter Jörg (2nd), Andreas Beikirch/Dieter Durst (1st) and Carsten Podlesch (3rd)
• Andreas Beikirch delivers some champagne to Carsten Podlesch (R)
• Podlesch is taken by surprise by Beikirch's pacer Dieter Durst
• Oh dear
• Carsten Podlesch in post-champagne recovery mode
• Theo Bos salutes the crowd
• World Champ Theo Bos in action
• Rene Wolff celebrates a victory
• Jens Fiedler says goodbye to the fans in Dortmund
• Jens Fiedler leads Rene Wolff and Theo Bos on a merry dance
• Stefan Nimke leads Barry Forde and Morne Blignaut
• Barry Forde clinches a win
• Jens Fiedler is still on his extended goodbye tour
• Flat out in the derny

Superprestige #6 Diegem

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by cyclocross-belgium.be

• Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) powering away from Groenendaal
• Christian Heule (Stevens) in his Swiss champion's gear
• Petr Dlask (Author) finished 17th
• Petr Dlask (Author) leads Christian Heule
• Enrico Franzoi (Saeco) guiding his machine through mud
• Andreas Klinkby (Vejen BC) has a worried look
• Malte Urban (Stevens) finished 24th
• Jonathan Page almost comes to grief
• Jonathan Page looking more determined
• Ryan Trebon (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) en route to 18th
• Erik Tonkin (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) wondering how many laps there are to go
• Barry Wicks (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) with tongue akimbo
• Ryan Trebon (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) powers through the mud
• Erik Tonkin (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) navigates a climb
• Ryan Trebon (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) enjoying himself
• Barry Wicks (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) in suffer mode

Images by cyclocrossprosport.be

• Erwin Vervecken (Fidea) maintains his concentration
• Sven Nys (Rabobank) ahead of the pack in a corner
• Sven Nys (Rabobank) working hard
• Sven Nys (Rabobank) is cool, calm and collected, as always
• Bart Wellens (Fidea) showing signs of improvement
• Nys leads Wellens
• Sven Vanthourenhout (Quick.Step) leads Groenendaal
• Tom Vannoppen (MrBookmaker.com) fights it out with Nys
• Ben Berden (Saey-Deschacht) with a tight grip
• Ben Berden (Saey-Deschacht) hurtles into a corner
• Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) was in the action, as always
• Richard Groenendaal (Rabobank) cornering smoothly
• Enrico Franzoi (Saeco) was with the leaders for much of the race
• Christian Heule (Stevens) finished 16th on the day
• Martin Nijland (Heijdens-Ten Tusscher)
• Jonathan Page gives himself a helping hand
• Jonathan Page clearly enjoying himself
• Where to from here?
• Davy Commeyne (MrBookmaker.com) focuses on the ground
• The Kona boys in action for the USA
• Barry Wicks (Kona/Clarks/LesGets) in action
• Wim Jacobs (Fidea) cutting things fine
• Andreas Klinkby (Vejen BC) was Denmark's best rider, finishing 30th
• Michel Baumgartner did not finish the race
• Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn) finished last in the elite men, but he finished…

Lance Armstrong at Scary Fast 'Cross

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Dorothy Wong

• Lance Armstrong and Tony Cruz smile on the start line
• Lance Armstrong brings Tour-winning power to cross
• And they're off - Lance Armstrong powers away from the line
• Lance Armstrong runs with the bike
• Sheryl Crow accompanied Armstrong and the two cheered on the non-elite racers
• Lance Armstrong probbaly won't need to do this in the Tour
• Up, up and away! Armstrong leaps the barriers
• Lance Armstrong runs the barriers
• Lance Armstrong rides with a strangely-decorated competitor in the Scary Fast 'cross
• Lance Armstrong crests a rise

Images by Matt Gunnell

• Lance Armstrong and entourage
• In-demand signature - Armstrong signs gear for fans
• Lance Armstrong and Tony Cruz (right) on the start line
• Tony Cruz - the former Postie lined up with team-mate Armstrong for a cross outing
• Lance Armstrong rides in the Scary Fast cyclocross
• Lance Armstrong runs across the barriers

Budvar Cup #7

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Milan Sames/www.sames.cz

• Martin Bína (Author Praha), junior World Cup star, leads the field up the hill.
• Martin Zlamalik (Budvar Tabor), last year's U23 European Champion, finished fourth today.
• Easy does it - Ondrej Lukes (Tatramleko) guides him and his machine around a tricky bend, eventually finishing fifth.
• Zdenek Mlynar (Sparta Praha), the best-placed Czech rider on the World Cup, didn't ride at full power today and finished sixth.
• Martin Bína (Author Praha) displaying his strength.
• Frantisek Kloucek (Author Praha), one of a new generation of Czech cyclocrossers.
• Petr Dlask (Author Praha) checks his advantage onn last lap, eventually winning the race by 24 seconds from team-mate Martin Bina.
• Radomir Simunek (Author Praha) rounded out the podium positions.
• Author Praha 1-2-3 on the podium - the Author Praha team showed its dominance today, with Martin Bína (2nd, L), Petr Dlask (1st, M), and Radomir Simunek (3rd) taking a clean sweep of the podium.

Stevens Cross Cup

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mario Stiehl/www.world-of-cycling.com

• Mario de Clercq (MrBookmaker.com-Palmans) strides over the barriers en route to victory.
• It all looks so easy for Mario de Clercq.
• Mirjam Melchers (Stevens) on her way to winning the women's race.
• The rest of the field are way behind Mario de Clercq (MrBookmaker.com-Palmans).
• The podium - (L to R) Jirí Pospisil (Stevens International Cyclocross Team, 2nd), Mario de Clercq (MrBookmaker.com-Palmans, 1st), Malte Urban (Stevens International Cyclocross Team, 3rd).
• Let's take two on that, fellas.

For more photos, e.g. Vlaamse Druivenveldrit (Overijse), GP Rouwmoer Essen, Kleicross Lebbeke, US CX Nationals, Japanese Cyclocross championships, Queensland GP 2 - Surfers Paradise, Los Angeles Track World Cup, Capital Cross Classic, Revolution 6, Red Bull Giants of Rio, CCCP - Cyclo Cross at Coyote Point, South Bank Grand Prix Cycling, Bianchi Cross, W.E. Stedman Grand Prix/Verge NECCS 7, Oceania Track Championships, Vlaamse Witloofveldrit Vossem, Nebraska State Cyclocross Championships, Boulder Cycloross Series 5, Sonoma Valley Cyclocross, Gent Six, Challenge de la France Cycliste 2, Superprestige 5 - Gieten, Gearworks Bay State Cross, Cyclo-Cross World Cup 4, Clarence St Cyclery Cup, Shimano 2004 Australian Cyclists of the Year Awards, Carnegie Caulfield CC - Nov. 23, Eastern Suburbs CC - Nov. 23 and Hobart Wheelers Summer Criterium 2 please consult our archives.