Mountain Bike Team for Continental Championships Announced
2/28/07 - USA Cycling has named 15 riders to the U.S. National Team that will compete in the 2007 Continental Mountain Bike Championships next month in Argentina. The Continental Championships will play a key role in determining how many start positions the United States will receive at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing since it offers significant international ranking points. USA Cycling will be sending its top athletes in four categories, elite men and women and U23 men and women. more >

Leipheimer Rides to Victory in 2007 Amgen Tour of California
2/24/07 - After eight days leading the peloton of 144 elite, international cyclists that included Olympic medalists and world champions, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer (USA) was crowned as champion of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California today with a total time of 24 hours, 57 minutes and 24 seconds.  A resident of Santa Rosa, Calif., Leipheimer is the second consecutive Californian to win the title. "It's one of my most satisfying victories because our team really had to fight hard.  I don't know if any other team could have done it besides the Discovery Channel team," said Leipheimer. more >

 
The top 3 GC places of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California go to
Jason McCartney (3rd), overall winner Levi Leipheimer and Jens Voight (2nd).
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Ivan Dominguez Delivers Toyota-United to Thrilling Victory
2/25/07 - Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team’s Ivan Dominguez burst from a hard-charging pack to win the seventh and final stage of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California today before a massive crowd lining the streets of downtown Long Beach. The rider known as “The Cuban Missile” outsprinted Graeme Brown (Rabobank) and Gerald Ciolek (T-Mobile) at the end of the 77.5 mile (124.7 km) circuit race. His victory was the only one by a non-Pro Tour team at this year’s race and marks the second straight year that Toyota-United has captured at least one stage win at the Amgen Tour of California. more >

Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) outsprinted the ProTour
sprinters to claim victory in Long Beach.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

TV star, Mark-Paul Gosselaar (left), and his Team Helen's/8th Wonder teammates
celebrate Gosselaar's win in Long Beach Shoreline Circuit Race.
photo © SoCalCycling.com

Haedo Wins in Santa Clarita, Leipheimer Retains Lead
2/25/07 - The biggest Amgen Tour of California crowd to date witnessed Team CSC's Juan Jose "J.J." Haedo (ARG) win a sprint to the finish line in Santa Clarita to take his second stage, with overall race leader, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer (USA) close behind, maintaining possession of the Amgen Leader Jersey going into Sunday's final stage in Long Beach, Calif. Today's Stage 6 of the Amgen Tour of California saw the toughest racing, the warmest weather and the biggest crowds of the seven racing days so far, as the peloton of world-class cyclists competed along a hilly route from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita. more >

JJ Haedo (CSC) celebrates his second win of this week.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Stage 6 Post-Race Comments
On the race overall - Pat McQuaid, President, (UCI)
2/24/07 - “This race is bigger than it was last year.  There are more people on the sidelines.  The organization has gotten bigger.  I’m very happy with the organizers’ continued commitment to this event.  There’s a lot of things here that European races could learn from.  Even only in its second year, the history has started and the acceptance of the event has started.  I think you’ve arrived when you’ve gotten to that stage.  I’m very, very happy to come back to this event that is growing and is one day going to be a very important event on the UCI cycling calendar.“ More post race comments >

Discovery Channel Pro's Levi Leipheimer Wins Solvang Time Trial
2/23/07 - Under sunny skies in Solvang, Calif., Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer, of Santa Rosa, Calif., further built on his overall lead in today's critical time trial, besting Team CSC's Jens Voigt (GER) by 18 seconds after an eagerly awaited showdown between the two cyclists. "I've been looking forward to this race for a year now, and for me it's a dream come true to be leading the Amgen Tour of California," said Leipheimer.  "I think I sprinted harder today because I didn’t know if I had won.  I had nothing left.  The moral on Discovery is sky high." more >

Leipheimer on his way to winning the TT.
photo © ironstring.com

Amgen Tour Tracker 2.0 is the Bomb
2/22/07 - The Amgen Tour Tracker 2.0 live coverage has been absolutely awesome, providing live real time video coverage as the race happens. A caffeinated Robbie Ventura provides the play by play along side a very mellow Joe Silva. Since some overgrown trees are blocking out the satellite that Versus is on, this has saved the day. If you haven't experienced it when the race is going on then definately check it out.

Levi Leipheimer Hangs on to Overall Lead, Voight Wins Stage
2/21/07 - After facing the brutal Sierra Road Category 1 climb approaching San Jose, Team CSC won its second consecutive stage with Jens Voight (GER) dominating most of the 94.8-mile (152.2km) stage with a time of 3:43.44 to best Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer (USA). Predictor-Lotto's Chris Horner (USA) rounded out the top three. As expected, the Sierra Road climb separated the riders and shook up the general classification. With Santa Rosa's Leipheimer retaining the overall leader position by three seconds, Voigt and Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis' Rory Sutherland (AUS) overtook second and third place respectively. more >

Floyd Fairness Fund Events this Weekend
2/21/07 - There are two events going on this weekend to help raise funds for the Floyd Fairness Fund (FFF). Join Floyd Landis on Saturday, February 24th from 6-9 pm at the Capistrano Beach home of Roger and Ann Worthington for an evening of refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and good cheer as we celebrate and support the accomplishments of Floyd Landis, the 2006 Tour de France Champion. The requested minimum donation is $250 per guest (Download Invitaton). In addition, the Floyd Fairness Fund is pleased to announce a FFF Town Hall Fundraiser at the San Pedro Brewing Company this Sunday with 2006 Tour de France Champion Floyd Landis. The entry is $35 per person and includes free San Pedro Brewing Company beer. Proceeds will support Floyd in his efforts to attain a fair hearing as he fights unsubstantiated doping allegations and works to establish a legacy of advocacy for athletes’ rights (Download Invitaton).

The new Rock and Republic team got there train in motion to lead
Rashaan Bahati to their first victory. photo © Tim Granger

Leipheimer Retains Lead after Stage 2
2/20/07 - Following a long, hard day of racing as nearly 150 elite cyclists competing in the 2007 Amgen Tour of California traveled from Santa Rosa to Sacramento, Team CSC sprinter J.J. Haedo (ARG) claimed today's stage victory in front of continuing record crowds that have reached 620,000 over the first three days of racing, with five left to go. Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer from Santa Rosa (where today's stage began) continues to wear the Amgen Leader Jersey following the finish in front of the state capitol building before thousands of fans, including many legislators who left their offices to witness the race's conclusion, as well as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who participated in the official post-race ceremonies. more >

Amgen Tour of California Photography
2/20/07 - We are lucky to have photographer extraordinaires, Mitchell Clinton and Mark Johnson, bringing the Amgen Tour of California to us daily this week. Please visit their web sites to learn more about how you can purchase their photos. View Daily Coverage and Photos >>

Rider's Quotes from ATOC Stage 1
Leipheimer on recovering from the crash
2/19/07 - “One of the riders lost his hand and went over the bars and brought half the peloton down, and I was in there.  But that’s bike racing I was trying to motivate them (other riders) to get off the ground.  I tried to get on my bike right away, but I could see that wasn’t possible.  I finally got my bike going, but it felt like forever.  George (Hincapie) and Ivan (Basso) really started to ride hard to bring me back.  I’m honored to have (Ivan) Basso and (George) Hincapie sacrificing everything they have for me today.  (Although I knew) it would be impossible to come back to the leaders when they’re riding that hard.” More Rider's Quotes >

Rabobank's Graeme Brown Wins Stage One in Santa Rosa
2/19/07 - Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California from Sausalito to Santa Rosa ended in a dramatic photo finish win of two centimeters by Rabobank's Graeme Brown (AUS) following a crash on the second circuit around downtown Santa Rosa.   An earlier crash about 70 miles into the race resulted in one of the race favorites, Team CSC's Dave Zabriskie, being forced to abandon the event.  He was taken to a local hospital for tests and has been released in good condition with a mild concussion and no fractures or other injuries. Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) retained the Amgen Leader's Jersey after a determined dash over the final 30 miles, which was spearheaded by his teammate, Italy's Ivan Basso, to catch a breakaway group of four talented climbers. "Ivan Basso was ripping it up. more >

Leipheimer Rides to Victory in the ATOC Prologue
2/18/07 - For the second consecutive year, Santa Rosa resident Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) rode to victory during the 2007 Amgen Tour of California Prologue stage before an enthusiastic crowd that San Francisco city officials estimated to be between 280,000 to 300,000 fans.  Reaching Coit Tower from San Francisco's famed Embarcadero in a record time of 4:49.05, Leipheimer will once again proudly ride into Santa Rosa wearing the Amgen Leader's Jersey when Stage 1 takes the riders from Sausalito to Santa Rosa Monday morning. more >

Dominque Rollin (KGSN) claimed the win in a 3 up sprint against his breakaway
companions at the Costa Mesa Crit. photo © SoCalCycling.com

Watch the ATOC Live Online with Tour Tracker 2.0
2/18/07 - For those of us that can't make each stage, you can watch the race unfold online with Tour Tracker 2.0. Just have have an escape route planned in case your boss walks by. Watch Live >

Cycling Race Says It Failed to Test for EPO
2/17/07 - From the New York Times - In only its second year, the Tour of California, which begins Sunday in San Francisco, has become the country’s most important professional cycling event, attracting more than 1 million spectators last year and a field of riders this year that ranks as the strongest ever assembled for a race in the United States. But the issue of performance-enhancing drugs hovers over the sport of cycling, and over the race. And now, organizers of the Tour of California, who boasted after last year’s race that no riders tested positive for banned substances, have acknowledged that riders were not tested for what has become the sport’s most abused drug — the blood booster known as EPO. more >

Tour of California Lifestyle Festival presented by HealthNet
2/16/07 - There's nothing like the thrill of the sprint finish of a professional bicycle race when the best cyclists in the world come thundering to the line in an exciting dash of speed hungry for the taste of victory. Experience it yourself at the end of each stage of the Amgen Tour of California from February 18-25, 2007. Make a day of it by coming to the Amgen Tour of California Lifestyle Festival presented by HealthNet at each of the eight finishing cities. Families and friends will gather to watch the race on the big screen television and then in-person as the peloton roars into town. There will be plenty to see and do for the whole family while celebrating the healthy cycling lifestyle along with taking in the unique sights, sounds and tastes each host city provides. The festival is free and open to everyone.

Amgen Tour of CA TV Schedule on Versus (Formerly OLN)

Prologue Sunday, Feb. 18th	2pm-4pm PST
Stage 1 Monday, Feb. 19th	8pm-9pm PST
Stage 2 Tuesday, Feb. 20th	8pm-9pm PST
Stage 3 Wednesday, Feb. 21st	8pm-9pm PST
Stage 4 Thursday, Feb. 22nd	8pm-9pm PST
Stage 5 Friday, Feb. 23rd	8pm-9pm PST
Stage 6 Saturday, Feb. 24th	8pm-9pm PST
Stage 7 Sunday, Feb. 25th	2pm-4pm PST

World Class Field Announced for the 2007 Amgen Tour of CA
2/14/07 - The world-class roster of teams and cyclists – considered to be the finest collection of talent to compete in a U.S. stage race – entered in the 2007 Amgen Tour of California, an internationally sanctioned professional cycling road race that will host 18 teams and 144 riders racing throughout California February 18-25, 2007, has been announced by race presenters AEG.In its second year, the race has already received an upgraded rating from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the international governing body of cycling, to a 2. Hors Classe (2.HC), the highest rating a professional stage race outside of Europe can receive. more >

Ivan Dominguez grabs another victory at the Roger Milliken Memorial Crit.
photo © KennyB / www.kennybz.com

Welcoming Testing, Team Battles Cycling’s Image
2/14/07 - From the New York Times - On these mild, clear winter days in the mountains east of San Diego, one professional cycling team is trying to set itself apart from the doping scandals that have shaken its sport. Like most teams, Team Slipstream is training on roller-coaster roads, sometimes more than 120 miles a day for more than six hours at a time. But there is a visible difference between this team and others: at the crook of the riders’ arms are a series of dark needle marks. They are the results of repeated blood tests, part of a drastic and innovative anti-doping program the team began here last month in an attempt to prove its riders are clean. more >

Johnny O'Mara (Team Sho-Air) powers up the climb at Winter Series #3
photo © Terry Martin

“Are you Ready To Race?” by Dave Jordaan, USA Certified Elite Coach
2/13/07 - The racing season is about to begin. Before your 1st race of the year you need to complete a few basic tasks to prepare for this season. The 1st thing to do is to prepare your race bag. Clean out your old food items i.e. throw out those 1-year old power bars and smelly gloves. If you do not have a racing bag as yet choose an old sports bag - preferably with a wet liner and then fill it with the following essential items; more >

2007 Tour de Murrieta Ready to “Kick-Off”
2/12/07 - With new courses, a big prize list, SRAM/Volvo neutral support for all riders, and SoCal Cup points and Women’s Cycling Challenge Series points up for grabs, the 2007 Tour de Murrieta is ready to roll,” said Ernie Sanchez, President of CA Pools Racing. Leading the charge in 2007 is new Race Director Tony Leckie, former race director for the San Dimas Stage Race.  “We made some modifications to the courses keeping them downtown and great for spectators, but we’ve also ensured they remain challenging for all competitors.  Furthermore, this year racers will be competing for cash prizes for individual stages and like last year, a large payout for those that register for the omnium,” Leckie said. more >

Shawn Olin breaks 8 Year Fiesta Island Time Trial Record
2/11/07 - The record set by Olympic cyclist Shaun Wallace on 9/12/1999 in 25:12 was broken today in 25:05 (20k/original long course), 29.72 MPH avg speed, by DeWalt Racing CAT 1 cyclist Shawn Olin in the wind, rain and mud on a custom built Tiemeyer pursuit fixed gear bike with 175mm FSA track cranks, Vision aerobars, Blackwell Research track disc/100mm wheelset, and Dura Ace front brake. He ran a 52x13 gear and spun over 90RPM, having had to come out of the aerobars in each corner due to the slick muddy conditions. Shawn is the 2004 US Military Time Trial National Champion.

Shawn Olin on his way to breaking the Fiesta Island TT Record
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Discovery Channel to Pull out of Sponsorship After 2007
2/9/07 - Discovery Channel has decided to pull the plug on sponsoring America's premiere cycling team at the end of this year. This comes on the wake of the firing of the Discovery Channel's CEO Billy Campbell earlier this week. The team is owned by Tailwind Sports and co-owned by Lance Armstrong and his attorney Bill Stapleton. This is unfortunate for the riders and staff. Hopefully they can find a replacement sponsor with deep pockets for 2008.

George H. and the rest of the Discovery Boys will be looking for a new ride in '08.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Women's Only Race Day at the ADT Event Center Velodrome on Feb 17
2/8/07 - It's Ladies Only at this event, including Junior Ladies! There will be fields for Masters 40+ and 50+, and Elite Cat 1 & 2, Cat 3, and Cat 4, plus the Junior Girls. Remember, you MUST be certified to ride the ADT, and have a valid USCF License!! The track will open at 8:30 am for registration and warm-up, and racing will begin at 10:00 am. See the race flyer for further details. Over $400 in cash and goodies!!

The 1/2/3 women's field lines up in the San Diego sunshine at Red Trolley.
photo © ironstring.com

Chris Baldwin, 2003 & 2005 USPRO Time Trial Champion, Gets Aero
2/7/07 - Toyota-United’s Chris Baldwin, one of the world's top time trialists, takes a windy ride at the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s Low Speed Wind Tunnel in preparation for the upcoming Amgen Tour of California.  Wind tunnel testing precisely measures how small changes in a cyclist’s position or equipment can improve his aerodynamic efficiency.

photo ©Kathleen Poulos

Health Net to Ride MERCO CREDIT UNION Cycling Classic
2/6/07 - The Health Net presented by Maxxis Cycling Team has entered nine riders, out of maximum of ten allowed, for the MERCO CREDIT UNION Cycling Classic Presented by McLane Pacific in Merced, CA.  The Health Net Team has become a dominant team over the past few years with one of their riders, now retired, winning the Downtown Grand Prix four consecutive years and the Road Race once.  To win at MERCO – in normal weather conditions – it takes a rider with a huge amount of speed and sprinting skills.  The races are long (124 miles in the Road Race and 45 in the Grand Prix) so teamwork is important.  Most teams send their sprinters.  If the weather gives riders some wind and rain these three riders may have what it takes to go the distance in a breakaway and win.- Source: Jennifer West, J. West Group

The Italians are Coming! Team Liquigas to Race in the Tour of CA
2/4/07 - Cannondale is proud to announce that Team Liquigas will send a strong team lineup to compete in the 2007 Amgen Tour of California. All right—it’s not quite Team Cinzano announcing their arrival to the US, in the movie epic Breaking Away. However, at Cannondale we’re just as excited as Dave Stoller was and every bit as obsessed with Italian racing teams. The Liquigas team will be making the trip with strong names in its lineup such as 2005 Italian National Champion Enrico Gasparotto, Vuelta stage winner Luca Paolini and Giro stage winner Franco Pellizotti. The team will be officially introduced to the US audience at 3:00pm on Saturday, February 17^th at Big Swingin’ Cycles’ “Inside the Tour of California” event. more >

Jax 4 Joe Ride and Greg Lemond at Jax Huntington Beach
2/1/07 - Please join in the Jax 4 Joe Ride on March 17th at Jax Irvine to help Joe Schraff, service manager at the Huntington Beach shop.  He’s a long term employee who is battling it out with cancer for the third time.  Jax is helping Joe raise money for treatments not covered by his insurance via the ride or donations. In addition, three time Tour de France winner, Greg LeMond will be a guest for Jax Client Appreciation Night at Huntington Beach, Thursday, February 22nd. more >

The Health PB Maxxis Team logs in some miles at their recent training camp.
photo courtesy - The Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis