Cycling

OGDEN -- Josh Jones carefully walked Will Chadwell through the mysteries of fine-tuning a bicycle's wheel spokes, saying "you turn it this way to tighten," and you want to tighten them just an itty bit at a time, and go around.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Monique van der Vorst has completed a remarkable transformation -- from Paralympic athlete to road racing cyclist with a top professional team.

The 27-year-old Dutch rider signed with the Rabobank women's team, meaning the former wheelchair and handcycle racer will now line up against elite able-bodied cyclists.

"My development has been very quick. I never could have imagined one year ago I would be here," Van der Vorst told The Associated Press. "All the training I did in the last 10 years gives me a good base."

Van der Vorst lost the use of her legs as a young teenager following ankle surgery. But she didn't lose her drive and determination. She won two silver medals in the handcycling road race and time trial at the Beijing Paralympics.

Last year, after a crash during training, she began getting the feeling back in her legs and eventually managed to walk again.

SALT LAKE CITY -- State road planners want future streets to be able to handle more than just cars.

The Wasatch Front Regional Council is currently talking with cities in the region about how to implement a policy that would make roads more accessible for all users, not just motorists.

PARIS -- Tour de France riders will face steeper mountain climbs and longer time trials, making for a wide-open race aimed to give stars like defending champion Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador plenty of challengers.

At Tuesday's presentation of the 2012 course, Tour director Christian Prudhomme said "more favorites can potentially be in the mix" in the quest for the leader's yellow jersey over the 2,162-mile route.

PARIS -- When French police carted away world champion cyclist David Millar in 2004 for doping, locking him in a cell that he says smelled of urine and disinfectant, I had zero sympathy. Let him rot, I thought.

 SNOWBASIN -- Lance Armstrong denied he’s receiving training help from a banned Italian doctor or his son, but maintains “those guys are my friends and that’s not going to change.”

Armstrong spoke Saturday at the XTERRA USA Championship — an off-road triathlon, where he finished fifth — in the wake of allegations that appeared in Italian media this week. The report by Corriere della Sera cited the work of unidentified Swiss and Italian investigators and said that Dr. Michele Ferrari was at the center of a widespread doping ring.

Corriere said Armstrong made payments to Ferrari through a now liquidated company but did not say when.

Ferrari, who was barred for life by the Italian Cycling Federation under a 2002 ruling, was Armstrong’s adviser for years but the seven-time Tour de France winner severed their professional relationship in 2004. Earlier this year, Armstrong acknowledged occasionally meeting with Ferarri socially.