BikeRumor.com

Liquigas rider Peter Sagan sprung a massive surprise on the peloton today, as he launched a gutsy attack 1.9km out, and buried himself to stay ahead and claim a second stage win.

A tight left turn and a narrow plunge under a railway track distracted the bunch and the steep uphill after was the perfect springboard for the 20-year-old Slovakian. He followed Christophe Le Mevel’s wheel as the Française des Jeux rider jumped, but soon outstripped the Frenchman.

The pain was evident on his face as the peloton, in disarray, tried and failed to chase him back. This second stage win in his debut Paris-Nice more than makes up for the tricky, steep hill-top finish yesterday where he lost ground to many of his more experienced rivals.

“That kid is going to be more epic than Rapha,” a Liquigas team insider may (or may not) have said as they watched the former junior mountain-biking world champion recover in a heap on the ground.

Provisional standings after stage 5, Pernes-les-Fontaines - Aix-en-Provence.

1. Alberto Contador (AST)

2. Alejandro Valverde (GCE … +20″)

3. Roman Kreuziger (LIQ)

4. Luis Léon Sanchez (GCE)

5. Samuel Sanchez (EUS)

6. Jens Voigt (SAX)

7. Joaquin Rodriguez (GCE)

8. Peter Sagan (GRM)

Moots has teamed up with Dirt, Sweat & Gears as the title sponsor to assist with IMBA/SORBA’s continuing efforts to provide trail accessibility for the Southeast mountain biking community. In addition to event support, Moots will donate one of its signature handcrafted titanium mountain bike frames for the Dirt, Sweat & Gears grand prize drawing. 2010 marks the second year of Moots’ two-year sponsorship commitment to Dirt, Sweat & Gears and IMBA/SORBA.

Each $10 donation to IMBA/SORBA is an opportunity to take home a handcrafted Moots titanium mountain bike frame. Tickets can be purchased on the Moots and Dirt, Sweat & Gears websites, and through online race registration at BikeReg.com. One lucky recipient will be announced at the Dirt, Sweat & Gears awards ceremony on Saturday, May 15.

“Moots is psyched to team up with Dirt Sweat & Gears to promote trail advocacy”, said Rob Mitchell, president of Moots Cycles. “As one of the Southeast’s most friendly and festive mountain bike events, DSG brings hundreds of bike enthusiasts together. It’s an ideal opportunity to further awareness about the importance of trail preservation and development.”

The fourth annual Dirt, Sweat, & Gears (DSG) endurance mountain bike race festival is scheduled for May 14 and 15, 2010 in Fayetteville, TN. The 12-hour DSG race event on Saturday May 15, is one of five on USA Cycling’s Mountain Bike National Ultra-Endurance Calendar.

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PRESS RELEASE: Felt Bicycles is proud to announce it is continuing its sponsorship of the Mafia Racing off-road team in 2010. The Colorado-based Mafia Racing program started in 2007 and has grown each year to extend its reach to the national level while still remaining true to its grassroots community-based focus.

Joining the Mafia team this year are former Under-23 National Champion Sam Jurekovic of Colorado and three-time Utah State Cross-country champion Kathy Sherwin. Also new to the team this year is Tristan Schouten, a versatile road and cross-country rider and also a standout cyclocross racer, winning the 2010 Wisconsin state cyclo-cross champion and placing top-10 at the US Grand Prix of Cyclocross’ Planet Bike Cup.

Returning to Mafia Racing in 2010 is Becca Blay, who had a strong 2009 season, finishing fourth in the Mountain States Cup and finishing in the top-20 at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals in Granby, Colorado, last summer. Also back with the team is Jake Wells, whose strong 2009 cyclo-cross season culminated with a 12th place finish at the U.S. National Championships in Bend, Oregon. And finally, Seth Wealing will continue representing Mafia at XTERRA competitions. Wealing is a perennial favorite and former national champion in the off-road multisport competition series.

“We’re excited to be continuing our support of the Mafia Racing program in 2010,” said Jim Felt, the company namesake of Felt Bicycles. “It’s a unique program that accomplishes a lot with both its racing results and its community outreach efforts. Felt shares those same values, and this continues to be a great partnership.”

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Sierra Nevada's Solar Powered Beer Cooler

PRESS RELEASE: Each of the past several years, the Sea Otter Classic has substantially subtracted from its carbon footprint by ratcheting up efforts to make the event more sustainable. Incentives to reduce waste, preferred parking for carpoolers and hybrid or other alternative fuel vehicles, and a recycling program in a league of its own are the bedrock of Sea Otter’s sustainable initiatives. Partnerships with companies that live by their sustainable words, like Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Clif Bar & Co., Pedro’s, and Toyota, have strengthened and expanded Sea Otter’s “green” mission and new this year, if you like beer, then you’ll want to sample some brew at Sierra Nevada’s Solar Draft Trailer.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has developed a refrigerated beer trailer unlike any other 17′ trailer - this one is actually powered by solar energy. When it arrives at Sea Otter, it will have 15 photovoltaic panels that transfer solar energy to 14 batteries. Energy is converted from direct current (DC) into the more easy-to-use alternate current (AC) electricity, and then powers a compressor, which keeps the trailer at 36 degrees Fahrenheit and your beers cold.

“The idea is that, when we do an event that is three or four days long, like the Sea Otter Classic, we can pretty much set up in an open field and operate completely on solar power for the duration of the event,” said Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Eric Silverman.

2010 also marks Sierra Nevada’s third year as Sea Otter’s “Official Recycling Sponsor.” While recycling may be a small step, it is an important one. Since Day 1, Sierra Nevada’s expressed goal for the Sea Otter Classic has been to make recycling easy. The success of the program has earned Sea Otter “best in its class” praise for event recycling from Monterey County.

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Via Steephill.tv, here’s a U.S.-friendly link to video of the final climb that put Contador in Yellow today at Paris-Nice.  He basically rode away and made it look easy.  The Tour de France should be very, very interesting…

Today’s 173.5km stage from Maurs to Mende skirted the Massif Central for most of the day, and only at the end facing some difficult hills. And what a finish it was.

A seven-man break featuring Jérôme Pineau (Quickstep) held the front until the 3rd-cat climb 8km from the end; but they quickly melted back into the Astana-fronted peloton.

Then the bunch hit the final climb on the last 3km. It averaged 10% overall, yet a middle section of tortuously steep hairpins sorted the men from the boys - and notably saw Peter Sagan (Liquigas), yesterday’s stage winner, as well as King of the Mountains Laurent Mangel (Saur-Sojasun) quickly slip from front to back.

Le Mevel (Française des Jeux) had a little dig, but then Contador simply floated off, as is his wont, dancing away from the pack; and, although not quite as imperious as usual - Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) gave a good chase - he was never in any danger of being caught.

Contador took first - and, thanks to the bonus seconds, yellow jersey. Valverde came in some 10 seconds behind, closely followed by Olympic Champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel). Jens Voigt, who was potentially riding for the biggest result of his career, couldn’t hold with them and finished some 40 seconds back.

Overall standings:

1. Alberto Contador (AST)

2. Alejandro Valverde (GCE) +24″

3. Roman Kreuziger (LIQ)

4. Luis Léon Sanchez (GCE)

5. Samuel Sanchez (EUS)

6. Jens Voigt (SAX)

7. Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT)

8. Peter Sagan (LIQ)

Cervélo’s Heinrich Haussler abandoned.

Word on the street is Granny Gear has canceled the 2010 24 Hours of Big Bear Race, which also happened to be the 24 Hour National Championships!

For the first time in 19 years, Laird Knight has decided not to run the 24 hour races in West Virginia, and he’s also canceled 9-Mile (WI) event, too, leaving only the 24 Hours of Moab on his calendar.  Originally held in Canaan, then Snowshoe (ugh!), the event settled in Big Bear (Hazelton, WV) in 2005 and was scheduled for June 12 - 13, 2010.

Spokes Magazine reports in an interview with Knight that the economics and registration numbers just weren’t high enough to support the events this year, adding that many participants are older now and have to juggle families with race schedules (what, no one under 30’s racing anymore?).  Although 2010 dates are listed on their homepage, Granny Gear’s website does not have updated info on the 2010 events or registration available.  If you’ve already paid to register or sponsor, now’s the time to start freaking out.

As of this publishing, USA Cycling has not announced an alternate venue or any official news.

Celebrating it’s 10th anniversary, the BURN 24 Hour Challenge (presented by Bikerumor.com!) is filling spots as fast as ever, and early bird discounts end this coming Monday, March 15.  The BURN 24 Hour Challenge is the longest running, largest 24 hour mountain bike relay race in the Southeast!

Come out and race against the Bikerumor crew, marvel at the midnight Alien Abduction and enjoy the world-class trails at Dark Mountain in Wilkesboro, NC.  Race dates are Memorial Day weekend, May 29 - 30.

Perhaps his F*%kin’ Twitter signoff was a bit premature.

Floyd Landis, who was most recently in discussions with Rock Racing’s Michael Ball until the UCI decided it wasn’t going to let them play, has signed on with the Bahati Foundation Pro Cycle Team for the 2010 season.

“Cycling has given me so many opportunities that I wouldn’t otherwise have had, and I look forward to helping provide the same opportunities for less fortunate kids.” said Floyd Landis, who has previously won the Tour de Georgia, the Tour of California, Paris-Nice, and many other international races.

Team General Manager, Steve Owens commented “We’re confident in Floyd’s commitment to being a powerful ambassador for the Bahati Foundation and supporting the team in winning marquee events like the Tour of California.”

Josh Berry, a Portland, OR resident, also comes to the program as a member of the US National Team in Cyclocross.

Sure, Rock Racing’s made some interesting talent-acquisition decisions and is currently relegated to being the fastest amateur team in the world, but when it comes to business, it’s succeeded in getting and keeping attention, which is no small feat.  And let’s be honest, their new road bikes are pretty bad ass looking.

Now, Rock & Republic / Rock Racing founder Michael Ball says they’ll be producing a road bike with a belt drive, and we found photos of a fixed-gear bike and some pretty solid looking components on their website, indicating they’re actually taking this whole bike brand thing seriously.  No, you couldn’t race a belt drive in a pro race, but then when has appeasing the UCI ever been Ball’s M.O.?

Check out the rest of the goodies after the break…

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Peter Sagan of Liquigas won a thrilling shortened stage in the Paris-Nice today. Cut down to 155km  due to snow at St Junien, the course nevertheless contained three cat-2 and one cat-3 climb, which let Saur-Sojasun’s Laurent Mangel extend his King of the Mountains classification lead.

Caisse d’Epargne generally led the peloton once again, though the pack let a small breakaway lead until just before the final climb. This was always going to be decisive, being only 3 downhill kilometres from the stage finish in Aurillac.

Nicholas Roche (AG2R) jumped off the front halfway up, but only succeeded in taking former  world junior mountain biking champion Peter Sagan with him. Joaquin Rodriguez and Alberto Contador then flew away from the pack, too, and, just over the top, Tony Martin and powerhouse Jens Voigt also established themselves in the leading pack.

In this exalted company, Roche was always going to have to turn himself inside out to produce a result, and it’s no discredit to him that he didn’t take the stage, instead coming in third behind Sagan and Rodriguez. A stage win will surely come his way soon.

Unhappiest man in the peloton tonight? Roman Kreuziger, who has been outridden - and now leapfrogged in the GC - by his younger team-mate, whom he’ll now have to pull for. Happiest? Maybe Peter Sagan, with his first Pro Tour stage win, but I’d go for big Jens, who will now ride in yellow tomorrow from Aurillac to Rodèz. Bye bye Boom!

Standings after stage 3:

1. Jens Voigt (SAX)

2. Peter Sagan (LIQ)

3. Luis Leon Sanchez (GCE)

4. David Millar (GAR)

5. Roman Kreuziger (LIQ)

6. Alberto Contador (AST)

7. Levi Leipheimer (RSH)

8. Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT)

Another race, another big debut: Columbia HTC’s star sprinter Mark Cavendish finally got on the bike in anger today, but spent the stage trying to find his legs. The 148km from Livorno to Rosignano Solvay will, however, be some crucial miles for him as he prepares for the Milan-Sanremo next weekend.

Eventually it was Milram’s Linas Gerdemann who won this opening day of seven, though the 202km through filthy conditions seemed to sap the peloton’s will to sprint. BMC and Sky, both working well, pushed the peloton for the last 20km, but a four-man break led down some slippery descents.

They were caught by the peloton on the final corner yet nobody in the bunch took the initiative to sprint and the four men slipped clear again. Paolini led the charge but Gerdemann came through to beat Lastras Garcia on the line

Standings after the first stage:

1. Linas Gerdemann (MIL)

2. Pablo Lastras Garcia (GCE)

3. Matti  Breschel (SAX)

4. Lucca Paolini (ASA)

Mark your calendars; NBC’s Universal Sports channel confirmed it will be carrying coverage of some of the major road races this season, starting with Tirreno-Adriatico this Wednesday.

Coverage will run daily at 3pm and again at 8pm during the six day event. If you don’t get Universal Sports, we suggest finding a friend that does, but Universal is also broadcasting Tirreno-Adriatico, as well as some other races, live online via their website here. See the full schedule after the jump.

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Potog Wil Matthews sent us this photo of Team Bissell winning the team time trial Friday at the Merco Cycling Classic in Merced, California. It was a beautiful day for riding and a great day for Team Bissell, who had a flawless win.

Henderson wins by a wheel rim! Photo: Graham Watson. Please visit his galleries: http://photos.grahamwatson.com

Greg Henderson of Team Sky took the gusty, cold first stage of Paris-Nice yesterday. But the wind, narrow roads and sharp corners caused a number of crashes in the 203.5km stage from Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines to Contres.

Alberto Contador was the biggest name involved, crashing with Heinrich Haussler within the last 3km. He now fears the blow to his muscle might affect his race chances, but hopes to continue. The crashes, notably at 65km, 43km and 30km to go, fractured the race, leaving Contador, Levi Leipheimer and many others in a chasing second group. Despite a lot of effort expended, they were unable to reach the main peloton. Caisse d’Epargne did a good job for last year’s winner, Luis Léon Sanchez, of keeping the race broken up by driving the pace at the front.

In the final stretches, young Tony Martin (Columbia-HTC) sprinted off the front group along the finishing straight, but flagged in the headwind, leaving Lampre’s Gregor Bole to overtake and to be pipped, on the line, by Greg Henderson, whom he had unwittingly led out.

Official best-named man in the peloton, Lars Boom (Rabobank), had surprisingly taken the prologue time-trial on Sunday, leaving Saxobank’s Jens Voigt and Garmin’s David Millar in his wake. He was in a chasing group for most of the first stage, but bravely bridged the gap solo to join the fifteen-or-so leaders with less than 20km to go. With that effort, he secured his lead in the overall standings. Jens Voigt is second, five seconds behind, with a strong Millar moves up to third place.

Sky, meanwhile, must be pleased with Henderson’s stage win and sixth place in the GC. After Juan Antonio Flecha’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad win and Ian Stannard’s heroic third place finish at the KBK last weekend, their case for being invited to the Tour de France grows ever more compelling.

Overall standings going into today’s stage to Limoges:

1. Lars Boom (RAB)

2. Jens Voigt (SAX)

3. David Millar (GAR)

4. Luis Léon Sanchez (GCE)

5. Roman Kreuziger (LIQ)

6. Greg Henderson (SKY)

7. Levi Leipheimer (RSH)

8. Alberto Contador (AST)