Brendt Barbur has been a bicycle rider most of his life, ranging from BMXs as a kid to urban cycling and mountain biking as an adult. But it wasn't until a potentially tragic event -- he was hit by a bus while biking in New York City in 2000 -- that Barbur had the inspiration to take cycling in a new direction. As such, he started the Bicycle Film Festival in 2001 as a way to celebrate and raise

Sheryl Crow says it was difficult to be apart from ex-fiance Lance Armstrong after she was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.

BICYCLE FILM FESTIVALToday-Saturday, Minneapolis • A variety of events and films mark this unique festival. See www.bicyclefilmfestival.com for more information. DETROIT AT LYNX7 tonight, Target Center • Katie Smith returns with her new team for the first time since being traded by the Lynx. ROBBINSDALE WHIZ BANG RACE8 a.m. Sunday, Robbinsdale • There are 10K and 5K running options ($30 raceday,

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has dropped defamation lawsuits in France after winning three legal battles elsewhere over doping allegations.

Seven-time Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong has dropped defamation lawsuits in France after winning three legal battles elsewhere over doping allegations.

Seven-time Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong has dropped defamation lawsuits in France after winning three legal battles elsewhere over doping allegations.

Tour de France: He may forget his number and have dirty shoes, but Óscar Freire's win gave Spain a boost.

Spaniard Oscar Freire has deprived Tom Boonen of his first win in this year's Tour de France when he outsprinted the world champion to clinch the fifth stage.

World champion Tom Boonen, who has yet to win a stage in this year's Tour de France, admitted he has been struggling to hold his nerve since the beginning of the world's greatest race.

THERE were tired legs and fraying tempers in the Tour de France peloton yesterday as the riders sped beyond the 1,000-kilometre mark on what was a typical day of racing on the fifth stage, a rolling 225 kilometres from Beauvais to Caen. It was a quiet day for Operación Puerto and the racing took centre stage as the convoy continued its long journey west towards the Atlantic coast.