Axel Merckx comes from one of the most storied families in bicycling.

His father, Eddie Merckx, won the Tour de France five times. Axel Merckx, now 39, has competed in the Tour de France 10 times and won a bronze medal in the road race at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Axel Merckx is the team director for Trek/Livestrong, the Under-23 team created by Lance Armstrong that includes U.S. sensation Taylor Phinney, the 19-year-old reigning world champion in the individual pursuit, who hasn’t competed in a race since a July crash.

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While the announcement of Team RadioShack generated much buzz at the Tour de France, details were in short supply. While things are still falling into place for the new squad, Bill Stapleton, Lance Armstrong’s long-time agent and partner at Capital Sports & Entertainment (CSE) which owned and managed the US Postal and Discovery Channel squads and now owns and is managing Team RadioShack, discussed the team’s plans for the 2010 season.

The team is actively trying to get a ProTour license for 2010, but, while Johan Bruyneel is the name most associated with the sporting aspect of the squad, if a ProTour license is granted it will be in Bill Stapleton’s name. “We are going back to a similar structure under which we ran the Discovery Channel team where the license is held by an American company that is run by Bart [Knaggs] and I and Johan owns a piece of,” said Stapleton.

Taylor Phinney has finally ended speculation linking him with a move to Lance Armstrong’s Team RadioShack for 2010. Instead, Phinney will remain in the Under-23 ranks with Trek-Livestrong for another season, after which he may ride for Armstrong’s new squad. Phinney also confirmed that his road season may be over, with the world pursuit champion considering a return to the track for the remainder of the season.

“I’m 99 percent sure that I won’t be turning pro with RadioShack next year. I think our team will get a bit of help from RadioShack next year as we’re the development team for them,” said Phinney. “I will stay Under-23 so that I can get some experience and develop a little more. I don’t think I’m ready for the ProTour yet but in two years, depending on how next year goes, it could happen. Of course I think about one day turning pro with RadioShack.”

Taylor Phinney has reported that injuries he suffered in a crash during last month’s Cascade Classic were more serious than originally suspected.

Phinney, who was hospitalized after a crash in the fourth stage of the Oregon stage race, said that follow-up x-rays revealed a fracture of the dorsal surface of his C5 vertebra. Phinney was originally treated for a serious concussion.

“So…turns out I broke my dorsal spine of my C5 vertebra,” Phinney announced on his Twitter account. “Explains a lot. No Tour of Utah for me!”

Cycling can be the most beautiful sport in the world, but at the same time, so very frustrating. The constant highs and lows are enough to drive a normal man crazy! I know we have to get used to it though, as it is my chosen way of life. The highs and lows are routine in every season. Unfortunately for me – because I am still new at this and still learning the basics – I never feel ready for the low points.

My season has been great. I couldn’t have hoped for better support from my Trek-Livestrong team and the US National team. I’ve gotten in more race days this season than the past two years combined. And best of all, I’ve been winning. I didn’t expect that the wins would come this quickly. In fact, I thought because it’s my first year in Europe as an Under 23 rider, I would just get destroyed in every race I took part in. The season officially kicked off with my win in the Individual Pursuit at the World Track Championships in March. I knew I had that potential in me and I proved a lot to myself that day.

When Trek-Livestrong cyclist Taylor Phinney crashed his bike at the Cascade Classic in Oregon last month, it did not look good. But after a night in a Bend hospital, all signs pointed toward a quick recovery.

Today we learn that his injury is much more serious than originally thought. Taylor posted this note on his Twitter page today:

“So…turns out I broke my dorsal spine of my C5 vertibrae. Explains a lot. No Tour of Utah for me!”

Let’s all hope for a safe, speedy recovery for Phinney.

Despite a severe crash in the Cascade Classic, Trek-Livestrong’s Taylor Phinney believes he can race again this season and hasn’t ruled out racing with Lance Armstrong’s new team, RadioShack, in the future.

Phinney crashed on stage four of the Cascade Classic on Friday and suffered severe concussion. He spent a night in hospital and will face up to four weeks off the bike.

“I don’t remember anything about the fall,” he said. “I can recall breakfast and the first part of the race, which started on a climb. I was holding my position at the front with Bjorn [Selander] on my wheel and after that there’s no recollection in my mind as to what happened.”

Moises Aldape (Team Type 1) must have experienced a little déjà vu as he crossed the finish line of the Cascade Lakes Road Race by himself in stage 4 on Friday – he won this same stage last year.

Phil Zajicek (Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living) won a bunch sprint to take second place 13 seconds later, while Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) took third. The top of the GC remained unchanged with Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) retaining his lead, Jeff Louder (BMC) in second at 40 seconds back, and Mancebo in third at 1:00 back.

In the women’s race, the competition — and the reporters — were experiencing some déjà vu as they watched Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders) once again soloing across the line for her third stage win. Amber Rais (Team Tibco) came in 12 seconds later, ahead of Alison Powers (Team Type 1). Stevens retained her lead in the GC, while things shuffled a bit behind her: Rais remained in second at 1:18 down, while Powers is now third at 1:39 back.

Several of the nation’s top U23 teams are playing a key role throughout a host of National Racing Calendar (NRC) stage races this season. Top performances continued this week at the BMC Cascade Cycling Classic which saw America’s brightest talent, Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin), place second to Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) atop stage two’s mountain top finish in Three Creeks Snow Park.

Stage winner and overall race leader Sevilla displayed his climbing pedigree when he soloed to victory atop the 16-kilometre ascent. But Sevilla’s win was not easy as he faced a hard-fought battle from Stetina, who stayed with the Spaniard until the final kilometre. Sevilla surged over the closing 1000 metres to finish seven seconds ahead of the young talent.