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Cycling photography for May

Giro d'Italia
GP Etienne de Wilde-Laarne
Vuelta a Navarra
Grand Prix du Midi-Libre
Tour of Belgium
Choise Hotels Løbet - Post Cup 2
Housatonic Valley Classic
Tour of Japan
Fakta Løbet
Puivelde-Belsele
Rund um den Henninger Turm
Olympus Down Hill
Lincoln GP
Cat's Hill Criterium
Vuelta al Tolima
NORBA Nationals round 1 - Big Bear
48th Four Days of Dunkirk
Sydney Track World Cup
33rd GP de Wallonie
Giro di Toscana
SATS Grand Prix
Amstel Gold Race
UK U23 Road Championships
Tour de Romandie
Tour of the Gila
GP Midtbank & CSC Classic
GP Industria & Artigianato-Larciano
63rd Giro dell'Appennino
Ringerike Grand Prix
28th Trofée des Grimpeurs
Rund um den Henninger Turm
Shelby Criterium
Athens Twilight Criterium

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GP Etienne de Wilde-Laarne

Images by Luc De Smaele

• The first escape of the day with 8 riders away - Piet Rooiakkers (Jonge Renner Booischot) is leading before Giling Bas (Rabobank) and Werckx Gerry
• Giling Bas - made a very good impression on the Kruisberg
• A break of 16 formed - after the major climbs had been contested
• On the first cobbled passage - Bart Wellens took command of the leading group
• Gerry Werckx (Bouwelse WV) - loses contact with the lead group
• Gino De Weirdt (ICSA Team) - wins the Etienne de Wilde-Laarne for the third time. De Weirdt escaped from the leading group on the last lap to win by 34 seconds
• The podium places - Gino De Weirdt (ICSA Team, middle) wins the Etienne de Wilde-Laarne, ahead of team-mate Kurt Eeckhout and Frederik Broche (Onder Ons Parike)

Vuelta a Navarra

Photos courtesy of Jean-Francois Quenet.

Stage 1 - May 28: Tudela - Tudela, 169 km

• Team Krone - for the first time on a start line in Spain
• Christian Climent - winner of stage 1 in the Vuelta a Navarra
• Stage 1 runner-up Mads Kaggestad receiving tactical advice from his directeur sportif Oyvind Lillehagen

Stage 2 - May 29: Tudela - Tafalla, 171 km

• Team Krone about to start stage 2
• Stage 2 winner Carlos Castano (Supermercados Froiz)
• The leader Christian Climent
• For Mads Kaggestad, green is the colour of Team Krone and hope.
• Smiling Mads Kaggestad

Grand Prix du Midi-Libre

Stage 5 photos by AFP

• Laurent Paumier (Saint-Quentin Oktos) works to maintain his lead over the final 4km.
• Lance Armstrong (USPS) holds off ONCE and works up the final climb.
• Laurent Paumier (Saint-Quentin Oktos) takes his first pro victory.
• Both riders looking like they felt the climb.
• Lance Armstrong (USPS) pulling a face on the podium.
• A smiling Lance Armstrong (USPS) waves to the crowd.

Stage 4 photos by AFP

• The USPS team stick together in the bunch.
• Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) and Richard Virenque (Domo) climb Mont-Saint-Clair with the bunch.
• Richard Virenque (Domo) rides in the peloton before his attempted break.
• Andrei Kivilev (Cofidis) and Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) start to form their break on Mont-Saint-Clair.
• Lance Armstrong (USPS) tails the breakaways.
• Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali) abandons.
• Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) wins the stage and takes the prize for most interesting headband.
• Lance Armstrong (USPS) gets some pre-Tour yellow jersey practice.

Stage 3 photos by AFP

• Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) was six seconds too strong for Armstrong in the time trial
• Lance Armstrong (USPS) working hard in the time trial stage 3
• Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) looks like he's having fun exploring the upper limits of his aerobic range
• Richard Virenque (Domo) concentrating hard

Stage 2 photos by AFP

• Richard Virenque (Domo) leads the pack as the races begins.
• Florent Brard (Credit Agricole) before the accident in the decent which will put him out of the Midi Libre and the Tour.
• Lance Armstrong (USPS) looking like he just sat through "Old Yeller". Twice.
• Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali) and Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) share a joke on the road.
• Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) hails a cab up the assent.
• Fabrice Salanson (Bonjour) begins his move on the final climb.
• Fabrice Salanson (Bonjour) seals the victory.
• Alexandre Usov (Phonak) tries on the leaders jersey at the end of the stage.

Stage 1

• Domo man Richard Virenque looking cool at the start.
• Lance Armstrong (USPS) works with the pack.
• Lance Armstrong (USPS) in the centre of the peloton, looking in good TdF form.
• The peloton pass through the forest.
• Roberto Heras (USPS) and Lance Armstrong (USPS) (l-r) begin to form the Postal train.
• The Posties lead.
• Baden Cooke (La Francaise Des Jeux) takes the advantage at 200m to go and claims the first stage.
• Baden Cooke (La Francaise Des Jeux) lets out a subtle exclamation at the line.
• Baden Cooke (La Francaise Des Jeux) tries on the leaders jersey after the first stage.

Tour of Belgium

Images by AFP

Stages 2a & 2b - May 24

• Damien Nazon (Bonjour) outsprints his brother Jean-Patrick (La Francaise des Jeux) to take the morning stage by a couple of tyre widths.
• Bart Voskamp (Bankgiroloterij-Batavus) takes a bend on his way to winning the afternoon TT stage and tightening his grip on the overall lead.

Stage 1 - May 23: Oostende - Knokke-Heist, 221 km

• Jan Svorada (Lampre-Daikin) takes the stage just ahead of the bunch.
• Jan Svorada (Lampre-Daikin) salutes the crowd after stage 1.

Choise Hotels Løbet - Post Cup 2

Images courtesy of Frank Rud Jensen

• Jimmi Hansen (Team Bornholm) - looking dapper before the start
• Michael Reihs (Phonak) - learns how to take pictures from Allan Johansen (Team Eds Fakta)
• Out after 500m - Manu L'Hoir came off second best after a crash at the start of the race
• The boys from EDS-Fakta - string out the peloton up the climb
• Playing the numbers game - it's looking good for Team Fakta as the race reaches its climax
• Jacob Moe Rasmussen (Team EDS Fakta) - blocks for his four team-mates up the road
• Allan Bo Andresen (Team EDS Fakta) - wins in style, almost one minute ahead of Michael Reihs (Phonak)
• Michael Reihs (Phonak) prevents a Fakta 1-2-3, outsprinting Lars Bak and René Jørgensen from Team EDS Fakta
• The podium - Allan Bo Andresen (Team EDS Fakta) wins the second round and retains the overall lead in the Post Cup, ahead of second-placed Michael Reihs (Phonak) and team-mate Lars Bak (Team EDS Fakta.

2nd Housatonic Valley Classic

Images courtesy of Zui Hanafusa

• Chris Horner's efforts - took their toll towards the finish
• Mari Holden (T-Mobile USA National) - putting the hurt on the peloton
• Clara Hughes - happy to finish for a well-deserved 3rd place
• Amber Neben (T-Mobile USA National) - wasn't able to bring Anna Millward back, but rode extremely well for a fine second place
• Anna the Aggressor - Anna Millward (Saturn Cycling Team) in ominously good form gives her victory salute

Photos courtesy of Phil Marques

• Canadian Clara Hughes (Quebec Provincial) - rode strongly to finish 3rd
• Canadian Clara Hughes (Quebec Provincial) - looks happy with her bronze medal
• Anna Millward (Saturn Cycling Team) - most likely telling a reporter that she's almost back to her best
• The women's podium - Anna Millward (Saturn Cycling Team) takes the cake, ahead of Amber Neben (T-Mobile USA National) and Clara Hughes (Quebec Provincial)

Custom bikes at Housatonic

The Housatonic Valley Classic is one of the closest major US races to the HQ of aluminium bike maker Cannondale, so it's no surprise that four teams sponsored by the fat tube specialists were out in force. Kirsten Begg snapped the teams' bikes as they lounged around the pits showing off their custom colours.

• Wheelworks' black, red and yellow looks like 50mph standing still. Wheelworks is a very successful New England team co-sponsored with Belmont Wheelworks, a Massachusetts retailer. Cannondale frame designer Chris Peck rides for this team - he's responsible for all the Saeco and other team frames.
• Stage 1 - the in-house C'dale team not hiding in the office with this striking paintjob
• 7Up NutraFig's CAAD5s are understated grey with tasteful 7UP green and white. Classy!
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Team is a team in its first year pro, sponsored by a Californian brewery. They have a mix of old and young and include NCAA Road Champion Benjamin Jacques-Mayne; and they have matching tyres

7th Tour of Japan - 2.5

Photos courtesy of Miwako Sasaki

Stage 6 - May 26: Hibiya - Ooi Wharf Circuit (Tokyo), 155.1 km

• Riders gather for the stage start.
• Team Jura Suisse's train leads the bunch, trying to capture the leader's jersey in the final stage.
• The final break manages to stay away from the main bunch.
• Shinichi Fukushima (Team Bridgestone Anchor) leads the breakaways.
• Riders from the Kazakstanian team stop for drinks after the race.
• The boys from MROZ unwind after the stage.
• Scott Davis (Australian National Team) fakes an injury for a free ride...
• Shinri Suzuki (Shimano Racing) brings his daughter on the podium to share his stage win.
• Oleksandr Klymenko (Mroz) on the podium wearing his points jersey.
• Oleksandr Klymenko (Mroz) changes into the green GC winners jersey.
• Oleksandr Klymenko (Mroz) in his Mountains classification jersey.
• Team MROZ celebrate a very successful show in the Tour.
• Tjarco Cuppens (Team Comnet-Senges) claims the sprint classification.

Stage 5 - May 25: Utsunomiya Forest Park Circuit (Utsunomiya), 154.5 km

• Stefan Ganser (Team Comnet-Senges) shows his points jersey before stage 5.
• The riders struggle up the climbs.
• Bert Scheirlinckx (RDM-Flanders) fights to keep his green GC jersey.
• Scott Davis (Australian National Team) works with the bunch to pull in the three breakaways.
• Stage winner Shinichi Fukushima (Team Bridgestone Anchor) with the three jersey winners.
• Shinichi Fukushima (Team Bridgestone Anchor) talks to the press after his win.
• Simone Mori (Team Jura Suisse) fields some questions in his new leader's jersey.

Stage 3 - May 22: Japan Cycle Sports Center Circuit (Shuzenji), 120.0 km

• Gene Bates Australian National Team) signs in for stage 3.
• Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz) enters stage 3 in the leaders jersey.
• The Australian National Team gear up before the start.
• The riders assemble at the start.
• The peloton begin to build up pace
• Oleksandr Klymenko (Mroz) leads the early breakaway.
• Local fans gather at the road side.
• Scott Davis (Australian National Team) tries to bridge the gap.
• The deciding break forms with Simone Mori (Team Jura Suisse) and Oleksandr Klymenko (Mroz).
• Kam Po Wong, Bert Scheirlinckx and Tjarco Cuppens on the podium.

Stage 2 - May 20: Todaiji Temple - Nunome Dam Circuit (Nara), 146.2 km

• 92 riders started - in front of the Todaiji Temple in Nara
• The RDM-Flanders boys - looking chirpy before the stage start
• David Plas (RDM-Flanders) - happy to spend some time chatting to the locals
• Scott Davis (Australian National Team) - placed 25th on the stage and is lying 25th on GC
• A helping hand is always welcome - especially when they're holding a water bottle
• At the first mountain sprint (9 laps to go) - Poland's Kazimierz Stafiej (Mroz) crossed first in front of his teammate Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz) and Japanese Koki Shinbo (Asian Ind. Racing)
• After the final mountain sprint (3 laps to go) - Bert Scheirlinckx (RDM-Flanders) attacked the break of 13 riders and Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz) followed him
• Kazimierz Stafiej (Mroz) - won both mountain sprints today, allowing him to wear the red KOM jersey
• Scheirlinckx looked happy - as he wore the green leader's jersey, but it was found that Niedzwiecki was the real race leader according to the race rules
• Bert Scheirlinckx (RDM-Flanders) celebrates as he crosses the line in first place.
• Mateusz Mroz (Mroz), David Plas (RDM-Flanders) and Scott Davis (Australia) roll through the finish

Stage 1 - May 19: Sakai Senboku Circuit (Osaka), 140.8 km

• The first sprint of the day - won by Dutchman Tjarco Cuppens (Team Comnet-Senges)
• Hard to take - After the bunch sprint, Stijn Vanstraelen (RDM-Flanders) raised his arm and the race announcer called his name as the winner, but in the photo finish, it was found that Hordijk won the stage by just a few cm
• Japan's Makoto Iijima (Sumita Ravanello-Pearizumi) - jumped from the peloton with 300m to go and went for the win, but didn't have the power to hold off the flying Dutchman Jan Hordijk (AXA-VVZ)
• Tjarco Cuppens (Team Comnet-Senges) - wore the sprinters jersey after the first stage
• The peloton was under under close control - by riders from AXA and RDM-Flanders
• Dutchman Jan Hordijk (AXA-VVZ) - won the first stage of Tour of Japan, beating Belgian Stijn Vanstraelen (RDM-Flanders) in a bunch sprint and taking the first leader's jersey in the week long race
• Pierre Ackermann (Team Jura Suisse) - crashed with 2 laps to go but still managed to finish
• The podium - Jan Hordijk (AXA-VVZ) in the green leader's jersey and Tjarco Cuppens (Team Comnet-Senges) in the yellow sprint jersey

Fakta Løbet

Photos courtesy of Frank Rud Jensen

• Brian Bach Vandborg (Herning CK) wins - comfortably over Troels Halfeld Nielsen (Gr¿n Synergi) in the Men's A event
• The rest of the peleton - roll to the finish in the Men's A event
• The men's A grade podium - Brian Bach Vandborg (Herning CK) wins the Fakta L¿bet, ahead of Troels Halfeld Nielsen (Gr¿n Synergi) and Flemming Bennetsen (Herning CK)
• The Men's B grade podium - 1 - Hans J¿rgen Hellerup (Randers CK10), 2 - Dennis Boje Nielsen (T¿nder ACR), 3 - Mads Madsen (Esbjerg CR)
• Mads Christensen (PI - Team PH Ballerup) - wins his second race in two days in the Junior's race
• The Junior grade podium - 1 - Mads Christensen (PI - Team PH Ballerup), 2 - Lasse Stricker Br¿ndsted (Horsens AC), 3 - Christian Kn¿rr (Herning CK)
• The women's A grade podium - Dorte Lohse Rasmussen Rasmussen (Silkeborg IF Cykling) takes winner's bouquet from Lotte Schmidt (Randers CK10)

Puivelde-Belsele

Photo courtesy John Shanley. Belgium, May 16, 2002

• Gordon McCauley interviewed after the finish

Rund um den Henninger Turm

Photos courtesy Carlo Rosenkranz

• Polish rider Piotr Przy (CCC) who was in escape groups all day, saw his advantage fade in the final laps.
• Gerolsteiner´s Italian star Davide Rebellin attacks on the taunus hills, but Telekom chased him down.
• German Thorsten Schmitt gets the feeling he's being followed as the Telekom train hunts him down with only 2km to go.
• Erik Zabel gets his first big win this year.
• Zabel complains to the press for being so critical about his classic season.

Olympus Down Hill

Photos courtesy of the Croatian Cycling Federation

• One competitor looking a little too relaxed for jumping down cragged rocks.
• Grzegorz Zielinski (Greg Racing Team) speeds down the course.
• Preparing for take-off.
• A relaxing lift home after falling down hills for a few hours.
• The Men's Elite podium (l-r) Mathias Haas, Grzegorz Zielinski and Vlastimil Hyncica.
• The riders take to the city streets to give the locals a Trials display.
• Two competitors show the locals how it's done.

47th Lincoln International GP - 1.5

Images courtesy of Gerry McManus

• Riders were gasping for more air - right from the start
• The early break of six - had a lead that fluctuated from 18 to around 40 seconds as the bunch gained and lost interest
• Paul Redenbach (Team Down Under) - instigated a break taking five along for a brave short-lived effort
• John Tanner (Compensation Group) - was Julian Winn's shadow for most of the race
• The cobbled climb took no prisoners - but left plenty of victims
• Russell Downing (iteamnova) - was very active throughout the race, but succumbed to the inexorable grasp of the lead group of riders
• Mark Lovatt (Compensation Group) - had no answer to Pritchard's final attack up the climb
• Huw Pritchard (AngliaSport) - takes a win he's been chasing since he was 17 years old

Cat's Hill Criterium

Images by Al Williams

• Karen Brems (Webcor/Alto Velo) - was looking particularly fit and lean; then again, when hasn't she?
• Karen Brems (Webcor/Alto Velo) - showed superb form throughout the race
• Karen Brems (Webcor/Alto Velo) - was covering everything in the closing kilometres, eventually winning a close sprint with bars locked with the second-placed rider
• Helene Drumm from Team Spine - attacks the pack, forcing the other teams to chase. Drumm eventually won the QOM classification.
• Eric Wohlberg (Saturn) - using the big chainwheel on a 23% climb - scary
• Eric Wohlberg (Saturn) - showed the form today that enabled him to become the current Canadian TT champion
• Eric Wohlberg (Saturn) - tackles the 23% grades on his own
• Eric Wohlberg (Saturn) - rode like a man possessed, taking off solo and lapping the field

Vuelta al Tolima

• Alejandro I. Cortés (05 ORBITEL) rides in the stage
• Alejandro I. Cortés (05 ORBITEL) takes out stage one ahead of team-mate Élder Herrera

NORBA Nationals round 1 - Big Bear

Images by Rob Karman

Day one - May 10: Cross country

Images by Rob Karman

• Alison Dunlap (LUNA Chix) in her first major off-road outing in her new colours and world champ stripes
• Jimena Florit (RLX-Polo Sport) is another rider who has benefitted from road racing in the early season
• Mary Grigson (Gary Fisher-Subaru) leads Shonny Vanlandingham (Sobe/Cannondale) and Alison Dunlap (Luna Chix) in the chase for Florit
• Shonny Vanlandingham (Sobe/Cannondale) continues to improve
• Jimena Florit (RLX-Polo Sport) celebrates victory in the women's cross country
• Roland Green (TREK) looked strong after lots of early-season road racing
• Roland Green (TREK) looks set for another all-but-unstoppable season
• Ryder Hesjedal (Gary Fisher) leads Ziranda Madrigal (Turbo) in the day's closest battle
• Ziranda who? Top Mexican rider Ziranda Madrigal (Turbo) lives and trains at altitude, always an advantage when you have Big Bear's 8000ft to cope with
• Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (RLX-Polo Sport) rode confidently for fifth
• Roland Green (TREK) salutes the crowd as he takes the first victory of the NORBA series
• The battle for second place between Ziranda Madrigal (Turbo) and Ryder Hesjedal (Gary Fisher)

Day two - May 11: Pro-Expert Freetrials Competition

Images courtesy of Clifford Eveleigh

• Umm, I'm not sure where this is going...
• Ridin' it like a Harley
• Mum: "Son, what about no hands?"
• I could do this all day
• Watch out for your chainring buddy
• Wouldn't it be easier just to walk down the stairs?
• Woooah there horsey

Day two - May 11: Short-track cross-country

Images courtesy of Clifford Eveleigh

• Decisive attack
• Sprinting out of the saddle
• Fighting for a wheel on the pavement
• Putting the head and hammer down

Images by Rob Karman

• Ryder Hesjedal (Subaru-Gary Fisher) takes the holeshot
• Jose Adrian Bonilla Bonilla (Cafe de Costa Rica-Pizza Hut) - pipped to the post by Hesjedal
• Chris Sheppard (Haro Lee Dungarees) - fought his way up to the leaders and eventually a podium spot
• Seamus McGrath (Haro Lee Dungarees) takes a turn on the front of the hard-charging pack
• Todd Wells (Mongoose-Hyundai) chased hard to catch the lead group
• Ryder Hesjedal leads the main group in the men's race.
• Ryder Hesjedal concentrates
• Ryder Hesjedal crosses the line just ahead of Adrian Bonilla.
• Unsponsored rider Mary McConneloug made the early running.
• Shonny Vanlandingham (SoBe-Cannondale) supposedly taking it easy with a damaged ligament. If fourth place is easy...
• Shonny Vanlandingham in the chase after Dunlap and Florit
• Jimena Florit (RLX Polo Sport) was the only rider to match Dunlap's pace in the early stages, but had no answer to the world champ's final attack
• Susy Pryde (Velo Bella) crossed over from the road to take a creditable third place
• Alison Dunlap (Luna Chix) smiling on her way to the win
• Jimena Florit also looking cheerful - what is it about women's short-track?
• Alison Dunlap with an even bigger grin as she crosses the line

Day two - May 11: Dual

Images courtesy of Clifford Eveleigh

• Brian Lopes - guiding his trusty steed through a corner
• Blinded by the light
• About as horizontal as you can get
• Even more horizontal - really pushing the limits

Images by Rob Karman

• Anne-Caroline Chausson (Volvo-Cannondale) took an almost-predictable win in the dual
• Anne-Caroline Chausson works the berm on her way to yet another victory
• Wade Bootes (Trek/VW) powers to the win
• Tara Lanes (Yeti/Pearl Izumi) landed the national championship at long last
• Tara Lanes takes to the air to escape from Melissa Buhl (KHS/ODI)
• Kirt Vorheis (Haro/Lee Dungarees) is the final men's Dual national champ
• Former downhill champ Greg Herbold now gets his speed thrills by remote control

Day three - May 12: Downhill

Images by Rob Karman

• Chris Kovarik (Intense) bombing through the rock garden
• Chris Kovarik and the thousand yard stare
• Giant's Dustin Adams was the top North American
• John Kirkcaldie (Maxxis) piloted his Intense to second place
• John Kirkcaldie dodges a Big Bear rock or two
• John Kirkcaldie practises complete ground avoidance
• Anne-Caroline Chausson (Volvo-Cannondale) added yet another notch to her belt
• Anne-Caroline Chausson demonstrates the fine art of just covering the brakes
• Sabrina Jonnier (Intense) made it a French one-two in the downhill
• Tracy Moseley (Kona) made the trip over from the UK to land fourth place

48th Four Days of Dunkirk

Photos by AFP

Stage 1 - May 8: Dunkerque - Wasquehal, 183.6 km

• Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour) wins the sprint for the first stage in Wasquehal.
• Patrice Halgand - smiles on the podium after his win in stage 1.
• Patrice Halgand - waves his bouquet after winning the first stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk.

Stage 2 - May 9: Hellemmes - Steenvoorde, 190.0 km

• Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali) - signs autographs for grateful fans before the start
• Tom Steels (Mapei) - chats with a teammate before the start of the second stage.
• Janek Tombak (Cofidis) - wins the second stage

Stage 4 - May 10: Haines-lez-la-Bassée - Billy-Berclau ITT, 23.3 km

• Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) - smiles with his first season victory in Dunkirk
• Lampre's Raivis Belohvosciks - pulls on the pink leader's jersey after finishing second in the stage 4 time trial

33rd GP de Wallonie

Photos by AFP

• Nicolas Fritsch (FdJ) - leads the break in the GP de Wallonie, ahead of Belgian Dave Bruylandts (Domo, L) and Dane Lennie Kristensen (EDS-fakta, obscured)
• Dave Bruylandts (Domo-Farm Frites) - wins the GP Wallonie atop the Citadel of Namur.

75th Giro di Toscana

Photos courtesy of Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Kazak Aleksandr Shefer (Alessio) crosses the line first - denying the Italians victory in the Giro di Toscana
• Aleksandr Shefer (Alessio) - holds the trophy up high on the podium
• The podium - Aleksandr Shefer victorious, ahead of Italians Paolo Bettini (Mapei-Quick Step) and Giuseppe Palumbo (De Nardi-Pasta Montegrappa). Paolo appears distraught that his feet are not standing on the highest spot on the podium today

SATS Grand Prix

The SATS GP is a three stage bike race held in Sandnes, Norway, and is part of the Norweigan Cup. Egil Mathisen captured some great shots.

• No time to look at the scenery - Anita Valen's on her way to another win
• Anita Valen (Skien SK) - demolished all in the SATS GP, winning all three stages
• Fredrik Mohn - directeur sportif for team Fana, also appearing to play the role of team mechanic
• Determined - Gabriel Rasch (Team Krone) knows he's got great legs today
• Gabriel Rasch (Team Krone) - soloes his way to victory on the final stage, missing out on the overall by only three seconds
• Mr Consistency - Morten Christiansen (Sandnes SK) - wins the overall in the SATS Grand Prix with two thirds and a fourth

UK U23 Road Championships

Images courtesy of Gerry McManus

• The bunch idle on lap 1 - anxiously waiting for someone to make a move
• Mark Kelly (Dataphonics RT/United Rent) - leads the decisive break of six.
• Liam Killeen (Team (Y2K/Trek/SRAM/Luco) - decided to leave the idling bunch with Phil Dixon (Team Y2K) and proceeded to work their way through the field
• The main bunch reacts - to the numerous attacks already up the road, but this was to prove in vain.
• James Barnes (CC Chateaubriant) - in hot pursuit of an in-form Jamie Alberts.
• Jamie Alberts (CC Etupes) - completes a fine solo ride to the finish
• Mark Kelly (Dataphonics RT/United Rent) - sprinted away for second taking Barnes with him, as a rushing Killeen got to within half a wheel at the finish.

Tour of the Gila

Stage 1 - May 1: Dan Potts Memorial Time Trial, Tyrone, 15.7 miles

Images by Gila Wilderness dot.com

• Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) warms up before the TT
• Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) annihilated the field and beat her own previous year's time
• Jeannie Longo (Vit 'All) - the legend of French cycling rode a strong TT to take fourth
• Kristy Scrymgeour (Saturn) starts the time trial
• Open roads, hills and spectacular amounts of not very much at all characterise Gila country
• Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) is somewhat off the pace this week recovering from a broken foot!
• Mercury was in full effect with half of the top six placings

Images courtesy Tour of the Gila

Stage 2

• Saturn-Timex's Jessica Phillips working hard in the breakaway.
• Saturn-Timex's Kimberly Bruckner halfway up the Mogollon climb
• US National road and TT champion Kimberly Bruckner crosses the line at the top of the climb
• Genevieve Jeanson shares the work with teammate Meshy Holt.
• Kimberly Bruckner and Anna Millward tried to chase down Jeanson, but to no avail.
• Mercury riders Phil Zajicek and Scott Moninger flank race leader teammate Chris Wherry leading to the base of the climb.
• The women roll out of town amidst morning traffic.
• Former Rona rider Gabriela Gonzalez de Ferrat (Amoroso/HH Racing) put in a solid ride despite having no teammates.
• Aussie Kristy Scrymgeour driving the break in her 53.
• Jessica Phillips launches an attack on the way to Mogollon.
• Jeannie Longo riding 26 inch wheels.
• Jeanson wasn't afraid to help her teammates reel in any breakaways.
• Better than chemical enhancement, and safer too
• You can never have too many tattoos.

Stage 3

• U23 world champion Danny Pate was a marked man all day
• Saturn-Timex rider Frank McCormack getting in some training.brother Mark won the stage.
• Ouch
• Genevieve Jeanson crosses the line and starts her stop watch to check the damage.
• Genevieve Jeanson is congratulated by a fan after her successful 60 mile solo breakaway.

Stage 4

• The aftermath of the accident that took out Jeannie Longo.
• Longo injured her hip in the crash and dropped out of the race.
• Diet Rite's Tina Mayola-Pic follows a Rona rider around the corner.
• US National Team rider Katrina Berger chased down everything that went up the road in the crit
• Kim Bruckner with the no sock look.
• Ina Teutenberg (Saturn-Timex) is always in the front of a crit.
• The men used up the whole road in the crit
• Mercury swarmed the front and delivered their man for the win.
• A Jelly Belly rider gets a wheel change in the crit
• A TECOS rider gives the Mercury train the slip.
• Gord Fraser chats with fans after his crit win.

Stage 5

• The women rolled out of Silver City on the highway for the final Gila Monster stage.
• Jeanson all by herself with a 3:00 minute gap by the 25 mile mark.
• Jeanson passing stragglers from the men's race on her way to an unbelievable fourth stage victory.
• Jeanson gets her own wheel moto.
• Almost there.
• Bruckner and Bockel came in second and third respectively, 5:47 down.
• Last year's overall winner, Scott Moninger (Mercury), had to settle for second place on the GC.

Images by Jonathan Devich/Thefastrack.com

Stage 4 - May 4: Silver City Criterium, 43.2/27 miles (M/W)

• The Silver City court house backdrops the men leaving the 3rd turn.
• The men riding through downtown Silver City.
• The pro men take the last turn onto the Silver City main street
• Ofoto-Lombardi Sports, one of the new teams in 2002 men's pro peloton.
• The Prime Alliance team gives chase
• Ryan Guay, Navigators, mixes it up in one of the chase groups.
• The Mercury team was a blur this whole week.
• 5 laps to go and Mercury decided it was time to bring the break back.
• The men's pack with 1 lap to go in the criterium.
• The Mercury team closed a near 20 second gap on the last lap to deliver Gord Fraser to the line
• Kim Bruckner (Saturn) on the front in the criterium
• Kristy Scrymgeour, Saturn.
• Kori Kelli, Diet Rite, launches an attack on the outside.
• Tina Mayolo-Pic, Diet Rite, rode a strong race finishing 9th in the crit.
• Ina Teutenburg, Saturn, rode an aggressive race finishing in 2nd place.
• The women's field hammers up the climb on the back side of the course.
• I really liked the clouds in this one.
• Genevieve Jeanson, Rona, keeps check of the front of the field.
• Genevieve Jeanson, Rona, started the one lap lead out for teammate Karen Bockel's win.
• Karen Bockel, Rona, rolled in well in front of second place Ina Tutenburg of Saturn.
• The Rona girls explain exactly what happened on the last lap to team manager Andre' Aubut.

Stage 5 - May 5: Gila Monster Road Race, 103/67 miles (M/W)

• Anna Millward, Saturn, skips the road race and has a day of training after having been rushed to the hospital for an allergy from nuts the day before.
• Stacey Peters, ICO, sports a little road rash from a previous days racing but climbing strong.
• Kim Bruckner, Saturn, sporting her National Champion stripes leads a group up the climb.
• Gabriella Gonzalez de Ferrat, Amorosos/HH Racing, climbs hard with Meshy Holt of Rona on her wheel.
• Jessica Phillips, Saturn, and Gail Longnecker, Rona, working together on the climb.
• Genevieve Jeanson, Rona, on her way to her second Tour of the Gila victory in a row.
• Jeanson spends the day alone, closing in on 60 miles of another solo break-away.
• Women's Tour of the Gila winner for 2002 Genevieve Jeanson, Rona
• Carl Swenson, RLX Polo Sport, another mountain biker turned road racer for the week leads the chase group and gets 5th place for the day.
• Tom Danielson, Cannondale/Sobe, rode without teammates and finished 8th overall.
• Saturn chased hard but couldn't quite catch the 4 rider break..
• Gord Fraser, Mercury, yesterday's criterium winner had no trouble making the last climb today.
• Danny Pate, Prime Alliance, stayed focused the whole way up the climb finishing 2nd for the day and 3rd overall.
• Chris Wherry, Mercury, leads the break up the final climb of the 2002 Tour of the Gila and clinches his overall victory.
• Chris Wherry, Mercury the 2002 Tour of the Gila winner.

GP Midtbank & CSC Classic

Photos by Frank Rud Jensen and Steen Lyman Hansen/www.cykel-sport.dk

GP Midtbank (1.3) - Denmark, May 4

• The peloton - tackles the parcours of the GP Midtbank
• Lennie Kristensen (EDS-fakta) - and Geert Van Bondt (CSC) ride in the peloton.
• Lennie Kristensen - and Magnus Backstedt (fakta) round a corner
• Marcus Ljungqvist (EDS-fakta) - leads the way.
• Is this a road race - or an MTB cross country?
• Hanging on - through the dusty back roads
• A CSC (Michael Blaudzun) and CCC rider - look for wheels after puncturing on the rough roads.
• Phonak riders - in the thick of things
• Rudi Kemna (BankGiroLoterij) - wins the GP Midtbank
• The podium - Cezary Zamana (CCC, 2nd), Rudi Kemna (BankGiroLoterij, 1st) and Gordon McCauley (RDM-Flanders, 3rd)
• Laurent Jalabert (CSC) - looking forward to tomorrow's CSC classic.

CSC Classic (GP Aarhus) (1.3) ) - Denmark, May 5

• Laurent Jalabert (CSC) - gets ready to win another race.
• Jakob Piil (CSC) - leads the way on the finishing circuit
• EDS-fakta and CSC-Tiscali - were the main teams present at the end, not surprisingly.
• Laurent Jalabert (CSC) - leads out the sprint to win the CSC Classic from Allan Johansen (EDS-fakta, L) and Rik Reinerink (Bankgiroloterij, R).
• The podium - Rik Reinerink (Bankgiroloterij, 3rd), Laurent Jalabert (CSC, 1st) and Allan Johansen (EDS-fakta, 2nd)

26th GP Industria & Artigianato-Larciano

Photos courtesy of Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Stefano Garzelli (Mapei) - wins the GP Larciano in front of Guiliano Figueras (Panaria).
• Stefano Garzelli - on the podium.
• The podium - Guiliano Figueras (Panaria, 2nd), Stefano Garzelli (Mapei, 1st) and Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo, 3rd).

63rd Giro dell'Appennino

Photos courtesy Roberto Bettini and Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Panaria's Guiliano Figueras - wins the Giro dell'Appennino in front of Alexander Shefer (Alessio)
• Guiliano Figueras - wins the Giro dell'Appennino
• Guiliano Figueras (Panaria) - raises his arms in victory
• First and third from Panaria- Faat Zakirov and Guiliano Figueras.
• The podium - Alexandre Shefer (Alessio, 2nd), Guiliano Figueras (Panaria, 1st) and Faat Zakirov (Panaria, 3rd).
• Guiliano Figueras - on the podium with his prizes
• Guiliano Figueras - with his rather hefty trophy

Ringerike Grand Prix

Photos taken by Gunnar Mjaugedal/www.kjellman.no.

Stage 1 - May 1: Hønefoss - Hønefoss, 157.7 km

• Team Krone - leads the peloton during a wet first stage
• Mountain Biker Rune Høydahl - looked on form today
• The winner of stage 1 - Gustav Larsson (Crescent) was the hero of the stage: 140 km solo escape and the leader's jersey.

Stage 4 - May 4: Hønefoss - Hønefoss, 168.2 km

• Estonian Allan Oras - leads stage 4's early breakaway.
• Hard racing - during stage 4 of the Ringerike Grand Prix
• Fredrik Stormo (Norway) - leads the peloton.
• Race leader Gustav Larsson (Team Crescent) - rode well enough to keep hold of his jersey in stage 4
• Norwegian champion Erlend Engeslvold - on the 20% climb.
• Gustav Larsson (Team Crescent) - leads Rune Høydahl (Norway) on the climb.
• Tobias Legård (Team Crescent) - does the job for Gustav Larsson.
• Jonathan Dayus (Nantes 44) - goes on the attack with 25 km to go
• Andrew Randell (Sympatico-Jet Fuel Coffee) - leading out the sprint for stage 4

Stage 5- May 5: Hønefoss - Hønefoss, 170.2 km

Photos by Ole Martin Solberg/Sporten Ringerikes Blad and Gunnar Mjaugedal/www.kjellman.no.

• Team Krone's Mads Kaggestad - in action during stage 5.
• Mads Kaggestad (Team Krone) - raises his arms across the finish line in stage 5 of the Ringerike Grand Prix
• Thomas Nesset Sundal (Sandnes SK) - a man for the future
• Lars Breisith (Team Krone) winning the green jersey
• Rune Hoydahl (Giant) - MTB star riding well on the road.
• Gustav Larsson (Team Crescent) struggling up the Ripperbakken climb during the final stage of the Ringerike Grand Prix.
• Henrik Sparr (Sweden) rides during the fifth stage
• Gabriel Rasch (Team Krone), 2nd on GC and super domestique for Mads Kaggestad
• Mads Kaggestad (Team Krone) going for the GC
• Mads Kaggestad riding strongly during stage 5
• Henrik Sparr (Sweden) wins the fifth stage
• Mads Kaggestad realises that he's won the overall GC.
• Mads Kaggestad kisses his childhood dream
• The final podium: Lars Breisith (Team Krone, Points), Mads Kaggestad (Team Krone, Overall) and Samuel Torres (Nantes 44, Climbs)

A pic of Swedish cyclist Gustav Larsson by Daniel Erismann.

• Gustav Larsson - after his win in the time trial during the last year's GP Tell in Switzerland.

28th Trofée des Grimpeurs

Photos courtesy Christophe Henry

• Team Bonjour arrives at the start looking pretty relaxed.
• Navigators rider Kirk O'Bee with his patriotic bike before the start.
• Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) signs in.
• Didier Rous (Bonjour) before the start.
• Sandy Casar (Francaise des jeux) spends some time with fans before the start.
• The peloton prepare for some climbing.
• The pack hits the bottom of the Côte de l'Ermitage.
• Bruno Thibout (Jean Delatour) suffers on the Côte de l'Ermitage.
• Bonjour riders Sylvain Chavanel and Franck Bouyer.
• Final podium: Paumier, Chavanel and Bouyer.

Rund um den Henninger Turm

Photos by AFP, Hans Will/www.radsport-forum.de and Miwako Sasaki.

• Piotr Przydzial (CCC-Polsat) - takes the mountain prime the second time up the Mammolsheiner Berg (km 140)
• The Telekom express - led by Steffen Wesemann, Jens Heppner and Udo Bölts, pilots Erik Zabel into the final lap.
• Erik Zabel (Telekom) - was too good for Jo Planckaert (Cofidis, L) and Serguei Ivanov (Fassa, C) to win
• Oscar Freire (Mapei) - winds down after placing fourth in the race.
• The podium: Jo Planckaert (Cofidis, 2nd), Erik Zabel (Telekom, 1st) and Serguei Ivanov (Fassa Bortolo, 3rd).

Shelby Criterium

Photos courtesy Tom English

• The Shelby Criterium included a women's race for the first time this year.
• 1999-2000 Shelby winner Jonas Carney and 2001 (and soon to be 2002) winner Jamie Paolinetti at the start line.
• Mercury's John Wordin chases Chris Horner (Prime Alliance in) the bunch on the streets of Shelby.
• Gord Fraser (Mercury) , Jamie Paolinetti (Schroeder Iron), Mark Walters (Navigators), and Alex Candelario (Prime Alliance)
• Prime Alliance drives the chase in the closing laps of the 2002 Shelby Criterium.
• Jamie Paolinetti (Shroeder Iron) puts his head down and attacks with two laps to go.
• Alex Candelario (Prime Alliance) , Mark Walters (Navigators), and Gord Fraser (Mercury).
• Jamie Paolinetti surveys the chasing bunch as he enters the homestretch.
• The view from behind - Schroeder Iron's Jamie Paolinetti takes his second consecutive Shelby win.
• John Lieswyn (7Up) discussing his Monroe Tire Michellin Sprints prize win with Shelby Criterium Promoter Mike Keeley.

Athens Twilight Criterium

Photography courtesy Greg Schisla

• Gord Fraser (Mercury) talks to a few fans prior to the start of the race.
• Jittery Joe's team member Chris Pic warms up for the big event.
• The chase group tries to run down the break aways.
• The Mercury train has it wound up for the last laps.

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For more cycling photography, with events such as Veenendaal-Veenendaal, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Giro del Trentino, Vuelta Ciclista Castilla y Leon Feminas, Grote Scheldeprijs and Grand Prix Denain , Roswell Criterium, Colorado racing, Little 500, Essent Ronde van Drenthe, Settimana Lombarda, Paris-Roubaix, Fleche Wallonne , Australian Track Championships , Stamullen Road Club team launch, Hel van het Mergelland, Ontario Cup, Novilon Dames Ronde van Drenthe, Ride for the Roses please consult our monthly archives