Astana's team rider Alberto Contador of Spain (C) holds up his arms crossing the finish line to win the 68th Paris-Nice cycling race in Nice March 14,2010. Contador won the race ahead of Spain's Alejandro Valverde and Luis-Leon Sanchez. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE - Tags: SPORT CYCLING)

Astana's team rider Alberto Contador of Spain (C) celebrates after winning the 68th Paris-Nice cycling race in Nice March 14,2010. Contador won the race ahead of Spain's Alejandro Valverde (R) and Luis-Leon Sanchez (L). REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE - Tags: SPORT CYCLING)

Astana's team rider Alberto Contador of Spain celebrates after winning the 68th Paris-Nice cycling race in Nice March 14, 2010. Contador won the race ahead of Spain's Alejandro Valverde and Luis-Leon Sanchez. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE - Tags: SPORT CYCLING)

Astana's team rider Alberto Contador of Spain reacts after winning the 68th Paris-Nice cycling race in Nice March 14,2010. Contador won the race ahead of Spain's Alejandro Valverde and Luis-Leon Sanchez. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE - Tags: SPORT CYCLING)

Astana's team rider Alberto Contador of Spain (R) is congratulated by Alejandro Valverde after winning the Paris-Nice cycling race in Nice March 14,2010. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE - Tags: SPORT CYCLING)

Cofidis' team rider Amael Moinard (L) of France celebrates winning ahead of Thomas Voeckler (R) during the last stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race in Nice March 14, 2010. Alberto Contador of Spain won the race. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE - Tags: SPORT CYCLING)

Mikhail Ignatiev won the penultimate stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico on Monday and Michele Scarponi held on to a slim overall lead in the weeklong race. Ignatiev, a Russian with the Katusha team, covered the hilly 134-kilometer (83-mile) route from Montecosaro to Macerata in 3 hours, 18 minutes, 9 seconds.

Organizers for the Milan-San Remo have confirmed that seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will take part in Saturday's race. RCS Sport said Monday that Armstrong made the commitment in a phone call with race director Angelo Zomegnan. The Milan-San Remo is the opening single-day classic of the cycling season, and at 185 miles it is one of the longest races of the year.

* Russia's Ignatiev takes stage for Katusha

Russia's Mikhail Ignatiev of the Katusha team won the sixth stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico on Monday.

One year after cracking in the penultimate stage, Alberto Contador showed how much he has matured by mastering a treacherous finale in the Paris-Nice race on Sunday.

Alberto Contador of Spain won the Paris-Nice race for the second time Sunday after successfully defending his narrow lead over Alejandro Valverde in the seventh and final stage. Amael Moinard of France won the 73.8-mile stage around Nice in a sprint finish, finishing less a wheel's length ahead of Frenchman Thomas Voeckler after overtaking him at the line.

Does a 140.6-mile race seem crazy for an age-group triathlete with a full-time job, family and life? Fear not! With a some preparation and planning, you can go the distance.

Do the scenes from Kona inspire you to push yourself beyond an Olympic-distance tri? Active Expert Gale Bernhardt explains what to expect when training for your first Ironman.

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Active Expert Gale Bernhardt answer readers' questions on subjects such as Ironman-readiness, establishing a training routine and more.