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If you are a serious biker, either already a race competitor or someone who is thinking about becoming a racer, you need a product like the Polar CS600. This is the newest in the power measuring computers from Polar and it goes way beyond any other models.

If you are a serious biker, either already a race competitor or someone who is thinking about becoming a racer, you need a product like the Polar CS600. The cost is about $710 for everything including the power unit, about $319 for the computer alone. This is the newest in the power measuring computers from Polar and it goes way beyond any other models. Using the Polar CS600 will help improve your cycling efficiency - you will get the most power out of every turn of the peddles by combining your pedaling, position, the type of bike you are using, your bike racing knowledge and many other little often overlooked variables that could make the difference between coming in at the head of the pack or trailing behind.

As with any type of equipment, every model improves on the one before. They learn from the previous models what more is needed and more importantly, from customer feedback, what the customer wants and Polar took this into consideration when developing their latest cycling computer. For instance, the display screen is not only easier to read, but gives more information. As any cyclist knows, you need to have equal power from the right and left, but as you go on and begin to get tired, you can lose the coordination necessary to maintain the balance. The 600 will let you know when you start to lose your balance and you can correct it immediately. You will find the training software is easy to use as well.

With the Polar CS600 you can set cycling limits for when you reach your personal goal for heart rate, cadence and/or energy output. If you exceed your pre set rate, the system alerts you. And these are only some of the features. The Polar CS600 will turn you into a cycling wizard.

It is very noticeable when you have it mounted on your bike, some of the components are a bit big and bulky, but if you are serious about improving your cycling skills and reaching the highest level of proficiency that is possible for you to achieve, then looks have to take second place to efficiency. When you tackle any type of activity, you owe it to yourself to do the become the best you can be.

Polar began back in 1977 when it developed the first wireless heart rate monitor for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski Team. Today their products are being used by professional athletes and the public as well.

The Tour of Taiwan provided the highlight in March with the American John Murphy emerging victorious by the tightest of margins in cold pre-summer weather.

An expanded race of eight stages, the Tour of Taiwan got off to a splendid start with Wong Kam Po of the Hong Kong national team registering the first of his two stage wins in a bunch sprint on the scenic Love River 88 kilometre criterium.

Wong, 34, also won the penultimate stage to emerge sixth in the general classification and third in the Asian riders’ classification.

Murphy (Health Net Presented by Maxxis) seized the overall lead on the second stage and kept it to the finish, beating compatriot and Team Type 1 rider Shawn Milne by a mere 10 seconds. Murphy also proved by far the best sprinter, winning the points classification as well with a 22 point margin over second placed Japanese rider Takashi Miyazawa of the Meitan Hompo-GDR team.

There was however no denying Miyazawa the Asian riders’ title, albeit by a very slight two second margin, over compatriot Taiji Nishitani of the Aisan Racing Team. Home team Giant Asia Racing Team, proved too strong in the battle for the overall teams classification, edging out the Netherlands registered Skil-Shimano, who featured an all-Japanese line-up, by a 15 seconds margin.

All top Asian riders will now prepare for the biggest event in April, the Asian Cycling Championships in Nara, Japan from April 15 to 17.

The Tour of Flanders is one of the biggest races in the World Cup Series. The race runs in parallel with the men’s (Pro Tour) event, with the closing kilometres covering the same parcours. The legendary climbs of the Muur (in Geraardsbergen) and Bosberg (11% and with 400 metres of cobbles) just 12 kilometres from the finish have been known as the place for the winner to launch her attack in the past.

In this, the fifth running De Ronde van Vlaanderen, there was action throughout the race, with the first riders attacking on the very first climb, Molenberg. Delays caused by crashes on the wet cobblestones made others nervous to maintain their position in the bunch without expending extra energy chasing back to position.

Trixi Worrack (Équipe Nürnberger) was particularly unfortunate; she suffered crashes at both ends of the race. Initially falling in the opening 25 kilometres, she was forced to switch to a spare bike and continued racing. Then, with only a few kilometres remaining, she was floored by a race motorcycle and taken to hospital. Whilst the German was not seriously injured, reports are that she is battered and heavily bruised; she had been in a position to help Suzanne De Goede with her sprint in the breakaway. After the event, De Goede admitted that she had been aware that a good finish could put her into the World Cup lead. “I was sorry for Trixi and disappointed that she was missing, she was in the front group and we could have worked together in the sprint.”

At Molenberg, Chantal Beltman (Team High Road), Marianne Vos (DSB Bank), Emma Johanssen (AA Drink) and Noemi Cantele (Team Bigla) got away. Giorgia Bronzini (Italy) and Luise Keller (Team High Road) jumped to close the gap over the cobbles through Mater. The lead group never managed to gain more than 1 minute 30 seconds, but the aggressive format for the race had been created.

The Muur caused the race to ‘explode’ and a group of fifteen riders formed. There were some attacks and counter-attacks on the way to Bosberg and it was on the final climb that the ever-active Chantal Beltman (Team High Road) attacked again, with Cantele, Duester (Cervélo Lifeforce), Johanssen (AA Drink), Vos (DSB Bank) and 2007 winner, Cooke (Bike Hut) going with her. Initially, Judith Arndt hesitated, given that the team already had Beltman ahead. Then she went, countering an attack by 2007 winner, Nicole Cooke (Bike Hut), which Beltman had closed.

On the rolling roads to the finish, it was only Kristin Armstrong (Cervélo Lifeforce) who could break away. She launched a strong attack and the only rider strong enough to go with her was Judith Arndt. The pair worked together on the run-in along the wide, dual carriageway, road. They turned right into the final 500 metres of the course and began sprinting. Despite a brave challenge by the American, Arndt opened up the gap and had time for an uncharacteristic celebration on the finish line (she is known for wisely making sure of the win and giving a victory salute well after the line). Kirsten Wild (AA Drink) won the sprint for third from Oenone Wood (Team High Road), with Marianne Vos (DSB Bank) fifth and Suzanne De Goede (Équipe Nürnberger) sixth. The remainder of the fifteen rider breakaway was completed by Nicole Cooke (Bike Hut), who rolled in at the rear. Her trump cards had been played earlier

Judith Arndt was overjoyed with her win. The German was quick to praise the efforts of her team-mates, recognising that “I didn’t have to do much because I had a team-mate [Chantal Beltman] in the break”. The place that Flanders has in the hearts of the elite women’s peloton is without doubt; “It is the best feeling. It is so special to win here at Flanders.” For the former World Champion and formidable stage race and one-day winner, this was the addition of yet another World Cup race of those regularly included in the series from recent years.

Suzanne De Goede (Équipe Nürnberger) was announced World Cup series Leader and presented to the crowd alongside Pro Tour leader, Andrei Greipel.

Consistent finishing in all three World Cups so far put De Goede on 95 points. She leads Arndt and Emma Pooley (Team Specialized Designs for Women) in the standings. The second and third-placed riders are equal on 75 points each.

Get ready for an intense week of ProTour action, starting this Sunday with the Tour of Flanders.

More than two months since he secured his strong opening lead in Australia’s Tour Down Under, German Andrei Greipel will be back in ProTour action this Sunday - in one of cycling’s most hallowed Classics.

The High Road sprinter was not initially down to take part in Flanders for his team. But having the ProTour leader’s jersey to defend, and a good advantage at the top of the classification, has changed all that.

Can Greipel successfully defend his lead on Sunday? The answer has to be a resounding yes.

Greipel took 62 points for his fine run of four stage wins and the overall in the Tour Down Under. Whoever finishes first in Flanders will automatically take just 50.

Victory in the first of cycling’s ‘monuments’, therefore, will not be good enough for a new leader to emerge in the ProTour.

But a strong result could certainly act as a springboard for a challenger against Greipel in the very near future - depending, of course, very much on what the High Road pro achieves himself on Sunday’s 264 kilometre epic.

However, April’s ProTour action does not end on Sunday. With Ghent-Wevelgem just three days later, and the Tour of the Basque Country running from April 7th - 12th, there are plenty of opportunities for an intriguingly complex battle for the ProTour lead to emerge.

Jose Joaquin Rojas of Caisse D’Epargne, third-placed on the ProTour general classification, is one such potential challenger to Greipel’s grip on the lead. Second in the recent GP Llodio - so clearly in form - and a winner of a stage of the Tour of Mallorca, Rojas did not finish last year in Flanders.

Even so, he still took ninth in last year’s Ghent-Wevelgem, showing that the Spaniard is no slouch when it comes to the Belgian climbs…

In the teams ranking, Francaise des Jeux are currently in power - but that could change fast in Flanders.

It is true that the French squad’s leader, Phillipe Gilbert is a strong challenger for Sunday’s race. At the same time the differences are too small for any team to feel their position is invulnerable.

And as every cycling fan knows, there is nothing predictable about the Tour of Flanders.