American Phinney to lead BMC Racing in world title defense (The Associated Press)

The jagged scars running up Taylor Phinney’s left calf and across his knee read like a road map of what he’s overcome since a devastating crash threatened his cycling career. Reclining in a chair just off Broad Street, where Phinney will compete in each of the three main races in this year’s world championships over the next week, he acknowledges his return to the world stage has exceeded even his ambitious expectations. ”It’s gone a lot better than I anticipated for a lot of reasons, a lot of them mental,” said Phinney, who tore numerous ligaments and broke several bones in the crash during last year’s U.S. national championships.