The Top 5 in cycling for the week of June 28th

5. Peanut Butter Rules: So when it came down to who dominated the women's sides of Nationals this past weekend, the ladies of the Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12 team were essentially unstoppable. Thanks to the work of Coryn Rivera who swept up the national criterium and road titles in the 17-18 age bracket, Shelly Evans who grabbed the elite women's crit win, and Mara Abbott who grabbed the elite road title, the new squad did virtually everything they set out to do. The only chink in their armor surfaced when it came to the time trial event, which fell to HTC-Columbia's Evelyn Stevens. Abbott still managed to get on the podium though in that event, taking third place. Well done ladies! Impressive video reel featuring the squad here: http://vimeo.com/12562785

4. Trek-Livestrong Rules: While the PB & Twenty 12 ladies were mopping up the women's side of nationals, one of the men in black from Trek-Livestrong was doing much the same in the U-23 category. Ben King, the 2007 champ in both the road and time trial disciplines, took not only the criterium title but also the road race victory the following day. A name to watch now, a name to watch for the future: http://www.treklivestrongu23.com/ben-king/

3. On Their Knees: Word began to circulate this past weekend that the Tour de France would start without two of the most recognizable names in the pro-peloton - Tom Boonen (Quickstep) and Henrich Haussler (Cervelo'). Both riders have had issues with their knees - Boonen in the Tour of California where he sustained a injury during stage 1 and again at the Tour de Suisse, and Haussler who sustained a knee injury back at the Volta a Algarve, made worse no doubt by his epic crash with Mark Cavendish also at the Swiss tour. Boonen's absence spells one less green jersey competitor, and previous stage winner Haussler will have to dream of what might have been this year while he recovers from the upcoming surgery to address his problem. With the grand depart just a few days away, suddenly the Tour is already less exciting.

2. Fitchburg Longsjo Classic: The next stop on USA Cycling's NRC calendar is the 50th anniversary of this Massachusetts tradition. Now having grown to a four-day stage race the event includes a hotly contested criterium. The roster of past winners is beyond illustrious in terms of the U.S. pro field - Wayne Stetina, Davis Phinney, and even Mr. Twitterstrong himself back in 1992. Running from the 2nd of July to 5th, more info about this true American classic can be found here: http://www.longsjo.com

1. 97th Tour de France: It's time. Cobbles, climbs, and Contador versus Armstrong - this year's Tour is like the whole of the cycling season compressed into three weeks. Despite some high profile absences, this year's start in Rotterdam is bound to elicit as much excitement as it always does. Potential highlights are too numerous to cover here, but be sure and not to sleep on the first week of action, which many are saying could be as decisive as the stages in the Pyrénées. And remember you can your TDF coverage here: http://www.versus.com/shows/tour-de-france