Controversy at the worlds almost overshadowed the racing as Paolo Bettini shot back at his detractors, defending his rainbow jersey amid the crossfire in Stuttgart, Germany. UCI president Pat McQuaid knocked Bettini after his refusal to sign the UCI's anti-doping pledge, German television station ZDF cut its coverage of the race and Stuttgart sports committee chair Susanne Eisenmann pushed threats of court injunctions and lawsuits.

After months nursing broken bones that kept him from performing at his peak, Petacchi showed he was ready to race again, taking France's Paris-Tours with the help of his Milram teammates.

The first race at Interbike went off without a hitch, and the feed zones proved to be the place to party, Vegas-style.

Fabian Cancellara dominated again, beating out Hungarian Laszlo Bodrogi.

A long sprint thrust Slovakian Peter Velits into the rainbow stripes.

• INTERBIKE - Take a trip through this year's fabulous Las Vegas Interbike show, minus the hot desert sun and Elvis impersonators.
• HAND NUMBNESS - What's shakin'? If it's your numb hands after an hour or so in the saddle, then you definitely need to thumb through this read.
• JUST IN - ROL CX38 wheelsets are rolling in for the 'cross season, as well as Dakine white knuckle gloves, a car-battery-powered pressure washer and hot drinks for cold water bottles and warm recovery.
DEPARTMENT
• SINGLE MINDED - Jesse Lalonde, the 28-year-old 2006 world single-speed champion, beat out the big guys at the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, and he did it in one gear.
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• 86...............At the Back

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