Racing round up

It's early season, so what's it matter?

• Leipheimer won the Tour of California again, but it's so early in the year it only means he has to peak again later... but for what, when Astana won't be in Le Tour?
• Evans has some climbing form but again it's too early to really know what this will mean. He could be on a new level, or it could mean nothing
  
• McEwen isn't figuring in the sprints, but he had a fall too. He started slow in Australia, too and has been lying low. Does this mean he's getting old and slow or is he just planning to peak later in the year?
• O'Grady fell again but he seems to be coming back from last year's pain
• Haven't seen much of Mick Rogers
• Brownie is taking a few podium places and the occasional win but not setting the world on fire, but JJ Haedo looks hot in Spain: Team CSC's Juan José Haedo took his second European win of the season on stage three of the Vuelta a Murcia, taking out the bunch sprint on the 146 kilometre stage from Puerto Lumbreras to San Pedro del Pinatar. The Argentinian winner of last Sunday's Classica Almeria finished ahead of Koldo Fernández ( Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Grame Brown (Rabobank).
  
• Pettachi and Boonen are their usual selves in these early-season romps
  
• Luke Roberts took a stage in SA:Team Kuota-Senges' Luke Roberts won stage three, and a strong second place by Austrian champion Christian Pfannberger enabled the Barloworld rider to strengthen his hold on the pink leader's jersey. Belgian National Team rider Dominique Cornu finished in third for the day.

It's really too early to say what it all means. Although Petacchi and Boonen look good to battle out a few sprints, with Haedo, Brown and Freire up there as well, the usual cast and crew are ready to join in the fray, too, like Bettini. Especially in an Olympic year. Roll on Milan-San Remo...