31.   Kazakhstan rider Sergui Lavrenenko again emerged as the top rider among Asian participants and won the orange jersey for fifth time.

32.   Last week saw the exit of top riders, Gilberto Simoni and Stefano Garzelli, in a doping scandal.

33.   Many top riders are missing this year.

34.   Michele Bartoli and Andrea Tafi head the strong Italian team with Michael Boogerd and Leon van Bon the top Dutch riders.

35.   Nagano is the first major competition where all top riders, in peak form, will have fully adapted to the new skates.

36.   Motorola has been the only American team on the Tour de France and has Lance Armstrong as its top rider.

37.   On the road, the world championships will also be missing other top riders not caught in any drug taking, including the last three Tour de France winners.

38.   Other top riders have also criticized the timing and location of the world championships.

39.   Schaeffer was the top rider in the team event that ended Wednesday, leading Australia to the team gold medal.

40.   Riis frustrated other top riders by unrelenting attacks in the mountains.