News
Still In Some Pain, Ivan Dominguez Says He Is Ready To Race
6/30/07 - You wouldn’t know it by the sound of his voice, but it has been a frustrating six weeks for Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team’s Ivan Dominguez.
For Those Who Sweat, Some Small Stuff
6/29/07 - Southern California's Premier Energy Drink Company, Motor Tabs, was recently featured in this New York Times Article.
To stay hydrated, athletes must replace electrolytes like sodium and potassium that are lost in sweat. But many triathletes and runners prefer to eat their carbohydrates (like chewy bars) instead of gulping Gatorade or Cytomax, carb-loaded drinks with a hint of electrolytes. This long-distance set now has a new option that leaves carbohydrates out of the equation: electrolyte-drink tablets. Tablet makers figure athletes already eat enough energy bars and gels to meet the roughly 80-gram limit that their bodies can shuttle to their muscles in an hour. more >
2007 Bicycle Film Festival Comes to LA June 28-July 1
6/28/07 - Returning for a third year to Los Angeles, the 2007 Bicycle Film Festival is making the second stop off its annual tour in the city better known for its highways than its greenways, with four days of bike-related fun. This year, the BFF features films from over ten countries, including Romania, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, and the United States. The festival kicks of Thursday, June 28 with a huge Bikes Rock! Show, bands to be announced. Headliners include Toronto Film Festival Special Jury Award Winner Monkey Warfare, BMX flick Grounded, a fourperson manned vessel of adventure in BikeCar and history of mountain-biking documentary Klunkerz. In Los Angeles, the BFF will be screened at The Vine Theatre (6321 Hollywood Blvd.) with films on June 29 & 30, and a block party on July 1. website >
Pacific State Bank Grand Prix
6/28/07 - The mens pro/1/2 race was definitly the highlight event of the day. With a full field, this race had it all. Attack after attack, crashes and big prize money, made for an "edge of your seat" race. Finally, with about 10 to go, 3 riders managed to hold a gap. Cal Giant had their entire squad in the front of the chasing pack, determined to move their sprinter up to a winning position. With 2 laps to go, they... well, just watch the video.
The Pro 1/2 riders chase after the $10,000 purse.
46th Annual Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix
6/27/07 - The 46th Annual Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix race categories are filling fast and all indications are for record field sizes. Rock Racing is coming loaded. Look for a major shootout between Toyota United, Health Net, Successful Living, and Rock Racing to see who owns SoCal. Throw in a few riders from Discovery, Jittery Joes, Navigators and a big dose of Team 5 Star Fish and you have a recipe for an HUGE Pro/1 race. More great news! The MBGP has entered into an agreement with iBN Sports to broadcast the entire race day live on the Internet. Millions of cycling fans around the world will be tuned in to watch the race. Please let your friends and family know that not only can they can watch you live on July 1st at www.ibnsports.com, but the broadcast will be available for several weeks. We will have multiple cameras around the course so be sure to smile and be on your best behavior. There will be tons of vendors with a lot of schwag, great food, and the famous kid’s races. These are the same kid’s race where Tony Cruz got his start! The weather will be fantastic and we are bringing back the best announcers in the business, Dave Towle and Ralph Elliot, to entertain and enlighten. On-line registration close at 9:00 PM on June 28th. For more details, visit www.mbgp.com.
Cannondale Supports AIDS/LifeCycle 6 to New Records
6/26/07 - Ranging in ages from 18 to 78, a record 2,300 cyclists from 10 countries and 43 states exuberantly rode their bicycles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in support of this year’s AIDS/LifeCycle 6. During the 7-day event, the bike riders along with the nearly 450 "roadie" volunteers raised a record $11 million this year, surpassing last year's total by nearly $3 million. To date, the AIDS/LifeCycle ride has raised nearly $30 million for HIV/AIDS services. Cannondale continues to be a proud supporter of this monumental yearly effort. more >
The San Pedro Grand Prix Provides Great Race and Venue
6/25/07 - The San Pedro Grand Prix offered the riders another cool waterfront venue that was challenging for the racers and enjoyable for the spectators. The course overlooked the busy Port of Los Angeles and had enough climbing and wind that the fitness challenged did not survive. In the men's Pro 1/2 race, a break of 13 ended up lapping the field and left only two spots remaining for the pack to try to pick up the remaining cash. Rock Racing set up their leadout train with one to go delivering Kayle LeoGrande and Rahsaan Bahati to the line for first and second, with Tony Cruz (Discovery) rounding out the podium. Two time Tour de l'Aude winner and SoCalCycling.com diarist, Amber Neben, joined the men for some good training and outlasted many of them. My favorite moment of the race was when the break was off and Amber was at the front of the pack towing the guys around and looking back, as if to say "Come on guys, lets go!" That was priceless.
Tony Cruz (Discovery) leads the break of thirteen at the San Pedro Grand Prix.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
Stevic Back In Yellow After Third Place in Friday’s Time Trial
6/22/07 - Ivan Stevic of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team pulled off a stunning performance in Friday morning’s Stage 3 individual time trial to regain the yellow jersey he lost the night before at the ninth annual Nature Valley Grand Prix.The Serbian National Champion was only nine seconds slower than eight-time Australian national time trial champion Nathan O’Neill (Health Net presented by Maxxis), who won the 5.0-mile (8.0 km) race against the clock with an average speed of 31.6 mph. Stage 3 >, Stage 4 >
Stevic Overcomes Crash to Win Nature Valley Grand Prix Opener
6/20/07 - Ivan Stevic of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team captured the opening stage of the ninth annual Nature Valley Grand Prix Wednesday night by winning the Downtown St. Paul Criterium. Stevic rebounded from a mid-race crash that sent him over the handlebars and onto the pavement coming into the first turn of the six-corner, six-tenths of a mile (1.1 km) course that the racers circled for 60 minutes. “Two guys in front of me crashed and I lost control and went down,” Stevic said. “I got back up and I was pretty angry after that so the adrenalin was really flowing.” Stevic was delivered to the finish line by teammates Henk Vogels, Caleb Manion and Sean Sullivan in what Toyota-United Team Director Harm Jansen called “an impressive leadout.” Kirk O’Bee (Health Net presented by Maxxis) finished second and Jonathan Page (Nature Valley) was third. more >
Ivan Stevic celebrates with a fist pump while teammate Henk Vogels (rt)
also revels in the victory. photo © Matthew Moses
Dauphiné Libéré Video Highlights
Montreal World Cup Race Report - by Amber Neben
6/19/07 - The race took place the Saturday after l’Aude finished. In the five days (six if you count the few hours before midnight on Sunday after l’Aude) in between, I sat in a car for 800+ kilometers to Paris, at the CDG airport for 2.5 hrs, on a plane for 2 hrs, at the FRA airport for 2.5 hrs, on a plane for 11 hrs, home for three days to figure out where I was and how my legs worked, back to LAX for a few hours, and then another 6 hrs on a plane. I arrived into Montreal about 9pm, and I made it to the university dorms that were hosting the world cup racers about 10:30pm. If I lost you, don’t worry… I wasn’t always sure what time it was, or where I was either! I just knew that I needed to wake up and race the next day. more >
Amber Neben (rt) and her Flexpoint teammates sign in at the Montreal World Cup.
Bike Palace - San Pedro Grand Prix returns on all new course June 23rd
6/18/07 - With a water front view from virtually the entire course, a 600 meter-plus straight line finish, a $1,500.00 cash Men’s Pro 1,2 prize list, and six packs of Captain Nimrod’s Ale for the Masters 35, the San Pedro Grand PrixTM is sure to be a summer hit. Saturday, June 23 also makes this a great tune up race for State Championships the next day. The San Pedro Grand PrixTM includes two new age/ability categories; Masters 35+ 4/5 and Men’s Cat 5 Beginner age 40+ (both are filling up rapidly). Bring your kids for free youth races for 12 & under (after the Pro race). All free youth racers will get free Matchbox, Hotwheels or MattelTM toy (while supplies last). All paid entries will also receive a drawing ticket for our opportunity drawing for a Nirve Classic Cruiser Bike and other fabulous prizes. Race announcing & staging by Ralph Elliot and after 3:30 pm live jazz/blues music by Loretta McNair. more >
Gil Correa (Five Star Fish) outpowered his competitors in the long drag race
sprint at the Bicycle Johns GP. photo © SoCalCycling.com
Sneak Peek of Cannondale's New Aero Slice
6/16/07 - Check out Cannondale's new speed machine that helped blast Danilo Di Luca to his Giro victory. Watch Video >
Paramount Crit Prize List Increased for Masters Women - Press
6/14/07 - You ladies asked, the WCC spoke up, the Promoter Delivered! Paramount Racing has agreed to raise the purse to $300 plus the Gift Certificates for a total of $400 for the 35+ and the 45+ women's fields for the Master Women's State Championships. Now it is your turn. This year's master women's events are a stepping stone for the future of Master Women's Racing. Please do EVERYTHING you can to show up June 24th to the Paramount Master State Criterium Championships. This is your chance! The Cat 4 women will be prized separately by the WCC in the Master Women's Events for WCC points towards their individual standings in the Cat 4 Women's Series. That's right! The Cat 4 women DO have a race! (35/45+). more >
photo © Dorothy Wong
Bakersfield Gets Blogged
6/13/07 - I came across a couple of blogs that are entertaining and tell the grueling tale from the peloton in the Pro 1, 2 and women's race at the State Road Race this past weekend in Bakersfield. Read "Visiting Purgatory, Then Wisdom from a Zen Master" and "Bake My Field".
Final Kilometer Pile-Up Dashes Toyota-United’s Hopes in Philly
6/12/07 - The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team saw its two best opportunities to win Sunday’s Commerce Bank International Championship end in two different ways. A late-race breakaway that included Toyota-United’s Caleb Manion and Ivan Stevic was chased down and caught on the final trip up the Manayunk Wall. But the bigger blow came with the finish line in sight and four Toyota-United riders near the front of the pack. A collision nearly took down Henk Vogels and held up the others as CSC’s Juan Jose Haedo sprinted down the parkway for the victory. Despite the misfortunes, Toyota-United Team Director Harm Jansen had many positives to point out after the 156-mile (251 km) race that was run in record time. more >
“It’s frustrating when you ride six hours and everything comes unglued in the last kilometer.”- Toyota-United’s Sean Sullivan on Philly
photo © Charles M. Herskowitz
Congratulations to the State Road Race Champions!
6/11/07 - The following riders won the State Road Race in their respective categories in a tough, hot road race Bakersfield. They can now sport the CA State Champ jersey.
- Cat 1/2 - Rigo Meza (Coates Cyclery / Arce Bros)
- Cat 3 - Jason First (Team Velosport)
- Cat 4 - Jarette Capelli (Camarillo Bike Company)
- Women Cat 1/2 - Ruth Clemence (Team Simple Green)
- Women Cat 3 - Maike Sander (Kalyra/Bella Nova)
- Women Cat 4 - Fiona Petersen (Team Simple Green)
- 30+ - Michael Easter (Time Factory Team)
- 35+ - John Rondash (NOW-MS Society)
- 45+ - Thurlow Rogers (Vision Velo)
Jeremiah Wiscovitch (Rock Racing) edges out Nick Onate (SDBC / Karl Strauss)
for the win at the Ontario Criterium. A group of 11 lapped the field. You Tube Video
Toyota-United Set for International Championship in Philly
6/9/07 - The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team will put two former champions and a stage winner at the Tour de Georgia on the start line of Sunday’s Commerce Bank International Championship in Philadelphia. American Chris Wherry (2005) and Australian Henk Vogels (2000) have each earned wins in the 156-mile (251 km) race when it was contested as the USPRO road race championship. They will join Serbian national champion Ivan Stevic, winner of Stage 2 at the Tour de Georgia, on Toyota-United’s roster for the final event of the Triple Crown of Cycling. Sunday’s race begins at 9 a.m. more >
Interbike Sponsors Inaugural Las Vegas World Crit Championship
6/8/07 - Interbike today announced it is the presenting sponsor of the World Criterium Championship, to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada the night of Thursday, September 27, 2007 - day two of Interbike's international bicycle expo. The World Criterium Championship is the final race in the 10-city 2007 USA Crits Championship Series and will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, near Interbike's home at the Sands Convention Center. The World Criterium Championship will have Men and Women Pro-Class races, and for Interbike exhibitors, an Industry Cup Challenge. The Pro- Women's race will be at 7:00 p.m., the Industry Cup at 8:00 p.m., and the Pro-Men will race at 9:00 p.m. with an after party hosted at Mandalay Bay. The fast and technical, six turn, 1-kilometer course will wind through many of the popular areas of the Mandalay Bay resort guaranteeing large numbers of spectators for the event. Now that's what I'm talking about!
Wired To Win: Surviving The Tour de France Opens June 29
6/7/07 - The IMAX film Wired To Win: Surviving The Tour de France will be playing at the California Science Center in Los Angeles from June 9 through October 4. The highly anticipated film takes you through the legendary Tour de France – a bicycle race that has been called the world’s most grueling sports event, and the ultimate test of the human brain. To purchase tickets or make group reservations for your club please click the banner above.
Tour de l’Aude Race Report - by Amber Neben
6/5/07 - Tour de l’Aude 3 years doing the race and 3 wins! Only this year, I had the opportunity to help my teammate, Susanne, win the jersey. The early, important stages in the race were the prologue and the team time trial. I was happy with my prologue. Considering it was a completely flat, 5 min effort, I had a very good ride. I was within 2 sec of Arndt and a few seconds in front of Worrack and the other GC contenders. The team time trial on the third day was a very technical, 43km loop. My team worked very well together. Jean Paul’s plan of keeping everyone around helped us in the end. more >
Bahati Wins CSC Invitational, Ivan Stevic Finishes Second
6/3/07 - Ivan Stevic of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team came within inches of winning the sprint finish Saturday at the 10th annual CSC Invitational. It was a drag race from the final corner to the finish line, with Stevic being narrowly edged by Rashaan Bahati (Rock & Republic Cycling Team) while Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team) was third. “It was a long sprint and into a headwind, so it probably helped Rashaan that he was able to come from behind me,” Stevic said. "I'm happy for him and his team.” Toyota United Report >, Bahati's Blog >
Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) outsprints Ivan Stevic (Toyota-United).
photo © Charles M. Herskowitz
