CHICAGO (AP)--American cycling star Davis Phinney is recovering from two brain operations that were done this month in an effort to relieve some Parkinson's disease symptoms.

The 48-year-old cyclist competed in the Olympics and in 1986 became the first American to win a road stage of the Tour de France. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's eight years ago.

link: http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-phinney-surgery&prov=ap&type=lgns

Hopes and Prayers for Davis!

So, given all the ASO/UCI in-fighting, the doping, the tours, the teams, the riders, the doctors, our own blog champions -- just WHO is the most powerful person in pro-cycling?

[editor's note, by chris] I nabbed the poll for the mail one, to your right. Enjoy... and think very carefully about your answer...