Cycling photography for March - Part II

The Local East Coast Australian Time is plus 30 minutes

Jack Granger Memorial
12th Trofeo Citta' Di Rosignano
Tirreno-Adriatico
Paris-Nice
Australian Madison Championships
Redlands Bicycle Classic
Bendigo Madison
Vuelta a Murcia
Hamilton World 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 photo's, which are not available for individual sale.

Jack Granger Memorial

• Dancing with the devil - by the time the race appeared up the Devil's Staircase for the fifth time, the leading group had swelled to 25.
• Anthony Malarczyk (Atom Elite RT) - forcing the pace up the climb of the Devil's staircase.
• Gethin Butler (Preston Wheelers) - right, was particularly active in the final selection.
• Butler, Pritchard and Lovatt - chasing down the breakaway duo of Julian Winn and John Tanner.
• Tanner and Winn on the last lap - thinking about their tactics for the finish.

12th Trofeo Citta' Di Rosignano

• Nicole Cooke looks suitably triumphant as she crosses the line
• Nicole Cooke celebrates with team manager Giorgio Zauli.
• Nicole Cooke on the podium with Noemi Cantele (H2O-Pasta Zara) and Simona Parente (Edilsavino)

Tirreno-Adriatico

Stage 1 - March 14: Massa Lubrense-Sorrento, 124 km

Pictures by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Erik Zabel waits to start
• Erik Zabel (Telekom) looks across as he beats Giovanni Lombardi (Acqua e Sapone) across the line
• Erik Zabel and Giovanni Lombardi roll away from the finish line
• Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo) talks to reporters after the stage
• Francesco Casagrande ponders an answer
• Erik Zabel holds the trophy aloft on the podium
• Erik Zabel smartens himself up on the podium
• Erik Zabel smiles and waves from the podium
• Erik Zabel smiles from the podium after pulling on the race leader jersey
• Erik Zabel in profile

Picture by Roberto Bettini

• Erik Zabel edges out Giovanni Lombardi across the line

Stage 2 - March 15: Sorrente-Frosinone, 212 km

• Erik Zabel (Telekom) - composes himself before the start of stage 2
• The sprint - Paolo Bettini triumphs as Erik Zabel (L) leads home the bunch
• Paolo Bettini (Mapei) - raises his arms as he crosses the line
• Paolo Bettini - raises his arms as he crosses the line
• Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) - rides across the line in the peloton
• A bandaged Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) - rides across the line
• Johan Museeuw (Domo) - accidentally eats the directions to his hotel
• Paolo Bettini - waves from the podium
• Paolo Bettini - accepts his impressive trophy
• Erik Zabel - smiles on the podium in his leader's jersey

Stage 3 - March 16: Anagni-Rocca di Cambio, 180 km

• Oscar Freire (Mapei) - kitted out in his white World Champion's gear before the start
• There is only one - Mario Cipollini
• Francesco Casagrande - chats with his young daughter
• Danilo Di Luca - punches the air as he crosses the line
• Erik Zabel (Telekom) - had to relinquish the leader's jersey in stage 3
• Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) - on the podium in the leader's jersey

Stage 4 - March 17: Rieti - Rieti ITT, 12.7 km

• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) - finished 50 seconds off the pace set by Dekker.
• Italian Giuliano Figueras (Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo) - finished 41 seconds behind Dekker in 44th place.
• Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) - practices his routine before going to the dentist, finishing 46 down on fellow Dutchman Erik Dekker.
• Paolo Savoldelli (Index-Alexia) - has a good time trial, finishing 24 seconds down in 17th place.
• Italo-cool. A Mapei rider looking suave on his Colnago C-40.
• In the zone - a Alessio rider carefully negotiates his way around the 12.7 kilometre course.
• Rabo-power - pushing through the pain barrier.
• Yesterday's leader Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) - had a poor ride, losing 44 seconds to Dekker after finishing in 48th place.
• Dutchman Erik Dekker (Rabobank) - becomes the new overall leader in Tirreno-Adriatico after winning today's 12.7 kilometre time trial in Rieti.

Stage 5 - March 18: Rieti-Torricella Sicura, 150 km

• Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) - finishes ahead of Erik Zabel (Telekom) in the fifth stage of Tirreno-Adriatico
• Danilo Di Luca - raises his arms as he wins the fifth stage
• Danilo Di Luca - immediately after his victory
• Danilo Di Luca - salutes from the podium after his stage win
• Erik Dekker (Rabobank) - on the podium for the second day in the leader's jersey

Paris-Nice

Prologue - March 10: Issy-les-Moulineaux ITT, 5.2 km

Pictures by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Laszlo Bodrogi (Mapei) smiles from the podium some more after winning the first leader's jersey in the 60th Paris-Nice
• Laszlo Bodrogi (Mapei) on his way to winning the prologue
• Fernando Escartin (Team Coast) rides in the prologue
• Dario Frigo (Tacconi Sport) concentrates on a corner
• Serguei Gontchar (Fassa Bortolo) working hard in the prologue
• Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali) wonders why time trials are held at five o'clock
• Andreas Klöden (Telekom) sports the latest aerodynamic headwear
• Nico Mattan (Cofidis) was one of a group of riders to lose just four seconds
• Axel Merckx (Domo) in the prologue. Note golf-ball-dimples on TT helmet
• Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo) finished 'mid pack'
• Didier Rous (Bonjour) - another look at the French champ's colours
• Richard Virenque (Domo) takes a corner in the prologue
• Alex Zülle (Coast) grits his teeth

Pictures by AFP

• Laszlo Bodrogi (Mapei) - in full time trial mode during the prologue of Paris-Nice
• French champion Dider Rous (Bonjour) - came close to winning the prologue
• Dario Frigo (Tacconi Sport) - in his "comeback ride"
• Laurent Jalabert (CSC) - negotiates a corner
• Former P-N winner Andreas Kloeden (Telekom) - rides during the prologue
• Eventual fourth place getter - Nico Mattan (Cofidis) in the prologue
• Nicolas Jalabert (CSC) - does his best to avoid the photographer as he flies around a corner
• Richard Virenque (Domo) - rides during the prologue
• Alex Zuelle (Team Coast) - navigates the prologue course
• Laszlo Bodrogi (Mapei) - smiles from the podium

Stage 1 - March 11: Blois - Saint-Amand-Montrond, 176 km

• Dario Frigo (Tacconi) - chats with a former teammate before the start
• Laurent Jalabert - looks across at the competition on the start line
• Richard Virenque (Domo) - signs autographs before stage 1
• Former race organiser Laurent Fignon - now in an assistant's role
• ONCE-Eroski director - Manolo Saiz
• The peloton - roll along through the French countryside
• Richard Virenque and Laurent Jalabert - ride during the first stage of Paris-Nice
• Didier Rous and Nicolas Jalabert - ride during stage 1
• Andrea Tafi - leads the Mapei-Quick Step train in defense of Laszlo Bodrogi's leader's jersey
• Dario Frigo (Tacconi) - at the head of the peloton on one of the small climbs
• Alessandro Petacchi - gets his wheel in front of Kirsipuu and McEwen
• Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) - punches the air as he wins stage one
• Alessandro Petacchi - on the podium in the leader's jersey

Stage 2 - March 12: Moulins - Belleville, 170 km

• Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) gets ready for the second stage
• Laurent Dufaux (Alessio) wonders why he's being photographed through a wheel.
• Luis Perez (Coast), Jo Planckaert (Cofidis) and Dario Cioni (Mapei-Quick Step) escaped on the stage's longest break
• Fassa Bortolo controlled the stage, chasing down any significant break
• Fassa Bortolo protected their white-and-yellow jersey
• Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) in the bunch with Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali)
• Robbie McEwen (Lotto) raises his arms in triumph as he out-sprints Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo)
• Robbie McEwen (Lotto) celebrates as he crosses the line

Stage 3 - March 13: Saint-Etienne - Saint-Etienne, 147.5 km

• Didier Rous (Bonjour) - contemplates the task ahead at the start
• Didier Rous - in the peloton during the third stage of Paris-Nice
• Riders from the Phonak team - set the pace in the afternoon sun
• Richard Virenque (Domo) - rides at the head of the race on one of the many climbs during stage 3
• Richard Virenque - with Mickael Pichon (Bonjour) during a breakaway attempt
• Laurent Jalabert (CSC) - and Alex Zuelle (Coast) in the peloton during stage 3
• Laurent Jalabert - wins the third stage into St Etienne.
• Laurent Jalabert - extremely pumped with his win
• Laurent Jalabert - clenches his fist after claiming victory
• Didier Rous - smiles from the podium after claiming the leader's jersey

Stage 4 - March 14: Pertuis - Toulon (Mont Faron), 175 km

• The Bonjour team worked efficiently to minimise Rous' losses.
• Félix Garcia Casas (Bigmat.Auber 93) was tenth in stage 4.
• Didier Rous (Bonjour) leads the chasers.
• Andrei Kivilev (Cofidis) leads Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) and Laurent Jalabert (CSC) on the climb of Mont Faron
• Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) makes his move on Mont Faron, leaving Kivilev and Jalabert in his wake.
• Alexandre Vinokourov climbs out of the saddle on Mont Faron
• Alexandre Vinokourov celebrates as he crosses the line
• Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole) grits his teeth as he arrives at the finish
• Alexandre Vinokourov salutes the crowd from the podium

Stage 5 - March 15: Toulon - Cannes, 188.5 km

Photo's by Yuzuru Sunada

• Alessandro Petacchi - clearly wins stage 5
• Alessandro Petacchi - just after his win
• Alessandro Petacchi - on the podium
• Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) - in the yellow and white leader's jersey

Stage 6 - March 16: Saint-Raphaël - Col d'Eze, 175 km

Photo's by Yuzuru Sunada

• Dario Frigo (Tacconi) - rides towards victory on the Col d'Eze
• Cadel Evans (Mapei) - second in the stage
• Race leader Alex Vinokourov (Telekom) - in the charge to the top of the Col d'Eze
• Richard Virenque (Domo) - it was not his day today
• A happy Dario Frigo afterwards - with his director sportif Davide Boifava
• Dario Frigo (Tacconi) - waves from the podium

Stage 7 - March 17: Nice - Nice, 157 km

Photo's by Yuzuru Sunada

• Alexandre Vinokourov and Laurent Jalabert - in their respective leader's and points jerseys before the start of the final stage
• The peloton - race along Nice's Promenade Anglais during the final stage of Paris-Nice
• Robbie McEwen (Lotto) - beats Tom Steels (Mapei) in the sprint
• Alexandre Vinokourov - with the Kazakh flag
• The final podium - Sandy Casar (2nd), Alexandre Vinokourov (1st) and Laurent Jalabert (3rd)
• Alexandre Vinokourov - on the podium with his daughter and a stuffed lion

Australian Madison Championships

Photos by Karen Forman

• Triumphant the madison winners: (from left) fourth placegetters Mark Renshaw/ Erik Weispennig, silver medallists Brett Aitken/Darren Young, gold medallists Rodney McGee/Ben Brooks and bronze medallists Jame Carney/Mike Tillman.
• Maurie Cramer Memorial Wheelrace winner Mark Renshaw (centre) on the podium with second placegetter Jame Carney of the USA. Renshaw just pipped the American on the line after a one on one sprint from the bell.
• All lined up . . . scratch markers Matthew Farmer, Nicolas Sanderson, Erik Weispfennig, Rodney McGee, Jame Carne and Mark Renshaw at the start of the Maurie Cramer Memorial Wheelrace, won by Renshaw.
• Great position . . . spectators make the most of the newly introduced infield bar at Vodafone Arena, watching the Australian Open Madison Championship.
• Melbourne . . . or is it Europe? Diners in the infield dining area have a great view of the track.
• Action aplenty as competitors in the madison regroup after a mid-race sprint.
• Hail the new Australian champions: Ben Brooks (left) and Rod McGee with their trophy and jerseys.
• Americans Jame Carne (left) and Mike Tillman say thanks to Australia for some top racing, after taking bronze in the Australian madison championship.
• NSW Institute of Sport riders Stephen Wooldridge and Jono Davis, before the start of the madison.

Redlands Bicycle Classic

Photo's by Rob Karman/www.roadbikephotos.com

Stage 1 - March 13: Mt. Rubidoux Time Trial, 5 km (m/w)

• Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) - on his way to the fastest men's time
• US TT champion Trent Klasna (Saturn) - on his way to finishing second
• The Navigators Kirk O'Bee - during his ride
• Soren Petersen (Saturn) - managed fourth in the men's race
• Canadian Roland Green - put in a good time for 6th
• Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) - rode impressively to smash last year's time by 22 seconds.
• Genevieve Jeanson - powering up Mt Rubidoux
• Genevieve Jeanson - during her winning ride
• Judith Arndt (Saturn) - rides during the time trial
• Lyne Bessette (Saturn) - goes full tilt up Mt Rubidoux
• Lyne Bessette - managed third place in the women's event
• Petra Rossner (Saturn) - used her strength to good advantage in the TT, finishing fourth
• Petra Rossner - gives it everything

And a couple from Richard Bryne/www.speedplay.com

• Men's TT winner Chris Horner - points to a key part of his bike
• The men's podium - Chris Baldwin (3rd), Chris Horner (1st), and Trent Klasna (2nd)

Stage 2 - March 14. Highland Circuit Race, 82 km/59 km (m/w)

• Some schoolchildren - watching the action on stage 2
• Mari Holden (USA-Cannondale) - working hard
• Mari Holden - third in stage 2
• Alison Dunlap (Luna) - rode a solid race for fourth
• Judith Arndt (Saturn) - on the attack
• Petra Rossner (Saturn) - emulating her teammate Judith Arndt
• Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) - leads Lyne Bessette (Saturn) during the second stage
• Genevieve Jeanson - was too strong to lose much time today
• Lyne Bessette (Saturn) - had to work hard today to gain time on Jeanson
• Lyne Bessette - gives it everything at the finish to gain four seconds
• The men's pack - making full use of the road on a downhill section
• Trent Klasna - leads a breakaway in the men's race
• Trent Klasna (Saturn) - takes a corner at speed during stage 2 of Redlands
• Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) defending - or should we say attacking - his leader's jersey
• Chris Horner - congratulates his teammate Mike Creed after winning the stage

Stage 3 - March 15: Sun Oak Glen Road Race, 174 km/130 km (m/w)

• Judith Arndt (Saturn) shadowed by Andrea Hannos (Rona) - during her epic breakaway in stage 3
• Judith Arndt - grits her teeth during her long effort
• Judith Arndt - on the final climb, focussing on victory
• Andrea Hannos (Rona) - only had the company of her team car on the final climb
• Andrea Hannos - riding hard on the final climb
• Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) - missed the boat by 10 minutes today
• Genevieve Jeanson - trying to limit her losses
• Lyne Bessette (Saturn) - played the supporter's role today to finish 5th
• Lyne Bessette - didn't want to lose too much time to Jeanson
• Roland Green (Canada) - was impressive in victory today
• Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) and Roland Green (Canada) - working together on the last climb
• A breakaway - in the men's race
• Soren Petersen (Saturn) - rode into third spot
• Dave Zabriske (US Postal) - on the final climb
• Trent Klasna (Saturn) - finding it tough on the climb
• A race marshall - passes the time in the usual manner

Stage 4 - March 16: Downtown Criterium, 90/60 mins (m/w)

• Blue is in
• Prime Alliance - once again at the front to set the tempo
• Trent Klasna (Saturn) - negotiates the tight circuit
• Robbie Ventura (US Postal)
• Tony Cruz (US Postal) - finished fourth in the men's criterium
• Roland Green (Canada) - concentrates hard
• Charles Dionne (7Up/Nutrafig) - during the men's race
• Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) - rides during the mens' race
• Charles Dionne - gets a clear lead in the sprint
• Charles Dionne - wins the men's criterium
• Charles Dionne - a very happy winner of the men's crit
• Judith Arndt (Saturn) - now in the leader's jersey, gets ready to race
• Genevieve Jeanson (RONA) - in the mountains jersey, gets ready to race
• Mari Holden (USA-Cannondale) - before the start of the women's race
• Ina Teutenberg (Saturn) - on the attack
• Saturn lead - with Nicole Freedman in third place
• Joanne Kiesanowski (Diet Rite) - during the women's race
• The women's sprint - Nicole Freedman goes flat out with Tina Mayolo right on her wheel
• Nicole Freedman (RONA) - wins the women's criterium from Tina Mayolo

Stage 5 - March 17: Sunset Road Race 142 km/99.5 km (m/w)

• Canadian Geneviève Jeanson (RONA) - launches a bold solo attack right from the gun, eventually finishing in 3rd place on the final stage.
• Geneveive Jeanson - leads Ina Teutenberg (Saturn) on the first lap.
• Team time trial - Judith Arndt and Lyne Bessette drive on in the hunt for Geneviève Jeanson.
• Team time trial take 2 - Judith Arndt and Lyne Bessette lookin' strong.
• Team time trial take 3 - Judith Arndt and Lyne Bessette not paying much attention to the beautiful mountainous backdrop.
• On the loose - Bessette, Arndt and Alexander in their attempt to shut down the bold solo attack of Geneviève Jeanson.
• Arndt I strong? - Judith Arndt on her way to the stage and overall victory.
• The final women's podium - Judith Arndt takes the cake from Canadians Geneviève Jeanson (RONA), left, and Andrea Hannos (RONA), right.
• Roland Green (Canada) - leads the break, eventually finishing 2nd overall on GC.
• Danny Pate (Prime Alliance) - carefully guides his team-mate and overall winner Chris Horner around a tight corner.
• Leading the chase - the boys from Prime Alliance in the hunt for Roland Green, Horner's chief rival.
• Stringing out the peleton - the well-oiled machine from Prime Alliance.
• Dutch fastman Harm Jansen - ecstatic with his victory, taking off on his own with two laps to go.
• Stage winner Harm Jansen - is congratulated by overall winner Chris Horner (Prime Alliance).
• The final men's podium - Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) takes out the Redlands Bicycle Classic, with Roland Green (Canada) second.

Additional photos from Stage 5 by Mark Rich

• Trent Klasna (Saturn) - drives the break containing Roland Green (Canada).
• Trent Klasna (Saturn) - doing damage on the climb.
• Prime time position - the boys from Prime Alliance on the front bring back the break.
• Prime time position 2 - the boys from Prime Alliance get on the front bring and back the break containing danger man Roland Green.
• Doin' the Lance - a rider tries to give the 'Lance' look up the climb.
• Forming an alliance - Harm Jansen (Saturn) and Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) work well together to hold off the remnants of the main bunch.
• Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) - riding within himself to claim second on the stage and the overall victory.

Bendigo Madison

Karen Forman was at the Bendigo Madison to capture all the action.

• Scott McGrory - chats with Cyclingnews reporter Karen Forman
• Scott McGrory and Brett Aitken - get ready to race in the Bendigo Madison
• The bunch packed tightly - in the early stages of the race
• The Bendigo crowd - enjoying the night's action
• Brett Aitken - enjoys the trappings of success, after winning the madison with Scott McGrory
• Bendigo winners - Scott McGrory and Brett Aitken enjoy the moment

Vuelta a Murcia

• Fabio Sacchi (Saeco-Longoni Sport) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the second stage
• Fabio Sacchi (Saeco-Longoni Sport) - wins the third stage
• Angel Edo (Milaneza-MSS) - wins the fourth stage
• Angel Edo (Milaneza-MSS) - on the podium in the leader's jersey after stage 4
• Colombian Victor Hugo Peña (US Postal) - rides during the final stage time trial in Murcia
• Rene Andrle (ONCE) - was the winner of the final TT
• Victor Hugo Peña (US Postal) - kisses his trophy for the overall victory
• The podium after stage 5: Jan Hruska (2nd), Victor Hugo Peña (1st) and Oscar Camenzind (3rd)

Hamilton World Cup

Photo's by Tom Balks

• The ideal way - to watch the World Cup. Tea and coffee for four.
• Some of the crowd - gathered at the Start/Finish
• New Zealanders - Tania Duff-Miller (L) and Sarah Ulmer (R)
• Esther Van Der Helm (Netherlands) - stretches before the start
• The Japanese team - warms up alonside Hayley Rutherford (AIS).
• Saturn's team manager - Giana Roberge out for a spin
• Petra Rossner (Saturn) - signs autographs for the kids
• A novel way - of viewing the race from the air
• The excitement - was too much for some...
• Mirjam Melchers - looking very serious before the start
• The start in Hamilton
• Cathy Marsal (Saturn) - sets the pace with Hanka Kupfernagel on her wheel
• One of the many breakaways - during the race
• Priska Doppman (Switzerland) - powers along
• Judith Arndt (Saturn) - corners hard during the race
• Petra Rossner (Saturn) - in her World Cup jersey during the race
• Petra Rossner (Saturn) - takes a tight corner
• Kimberly Bruckner (Saturn) - leads the peloton
• Hanka Kupfernagel (Nurnberger) - leads Rochelle Gilmore (AIS)
• Saturn leads the reduced peloton - during the latter stages of the race
• Petra Rossner - outsprints Rochelle Gilmore for the win
• Rochelle Gilmore (AIS) - delighted with her second place
• Hanka Kupfernagel (Nurnberger) - interviewed afterwards
• Hanka Kupfernagel - smiles after her third place
• Hugs and smiles again - from Saturn after another polished performance
• The Saturn team - pose with the flowers after their victory
• The podium: Rochelle Gilmore (2nd), Petra Rossner (1st) and Hanka Kupferngael (3rd)
• The UCI's Pat McQuaid - awards the best placed New Zealander Roz Reekie-May with a trophy
• Petra Rossner - gets her new World Cup jersey from Pat McQuaid

Want some more?

For more cycling photography, with events such as Trofeo Pantalica, AIS women's team bike launch, GP Lugano, Tour de Snowy, Tour of Tasmania , Clarence St Cyclery Cup, Tour of Cuba, Tour du Haut Var , Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne , Omloop Het Volk, VDB arrested, A Sirotti Gallery - early-season images from Italy and Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana please consult our monthly archives