News
Landis Loses CAS Appeal
6/30/08 - Floyd Landis lost his appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the fight against doping charges that were brought against him for testing postive for synthetic testosterone in the 2006 Tour de France. "Consequently, Floyd Landis is disqualified from the Tour de France 2006 and is suspended for a period of two years starting from January 30, 2007. Floyd Landis has been ordered to pay the sum of $100,000 to USADA as a contribution towards its costs in the CAS arbitration." Landis has consistently denied wrongdoing and blamed procedural mistakes by the French laboratory for his positive test. "Maybe with finally being held accountable...he might finally realize that the best thing for him to do is acknowledge his mistake to dope and try to come clean," USADA head Travis Tygart Tygart said. "But that's a decision he will have to decide."
Antony Galvan (Now MS Society) takes the victory over Armin Rahm
(Vitamix/Sixtufit.com) and Haldane Morris (Team Rock) in the 35 + at the MBGP.
photo © ironstring.com
Rock Racing’s Bahati Rules Manhattan Beach Again
6/30/08 - "I had a lot of trust in my teammates and they delivered,” Bahati said before being congratulated by Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball and a host of teammates and cheering fans. “With a lap to go, I was concerned about us getting swarmed. But our lead out was tremendous. The guys started sprinting with a kilometer to go.” Ball said he was thrilled that Rock Racing could be a part of the long-standing event. Several thousand fans lined the 1.4-mile (2.2 km) hot dog-shaped course that borders the Pacific Ocean. “Being able to celebrate a victory again makes our involvement this year even sweeter,” Ball said. Rock Racing was an official sponsor of the race and the team’s official vehicle, a Cadillac CTS, served as the pace car. The iBN Sports network also provided live, online coverage of the entire event, which is available on-demand at ibnsports.com. In last year’s race, Bahati edged out Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United Pro Cycling) while Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance) was third. This time, Bahati said having so many teammates around him at the end of the 90-minute race was reassuring. Rock Racing controlled the front the final laps of the race on the strength of Fred Rodriguez, Kayle Leogrande, Peter Dawson, Jeremiah Wiscovitch and Sterling Magnell. Rock Racing even chased down a move of six late in the 90-minute race that included its own Rudolph “Rudy” Napolitano. “We just couldn’t put all that pressure on Rudy to come through at the end so we told him to just sit on and the rest of our guys helped bring them back,” Bahati said.
Brooke Miller Wins Manhattan Beach Grand Prix
6/30/08 - TIBCO's Brooke Miller used her powerful sprint to take the victory over Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) and Jenn McRae (Advil/Chapstick) at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. Former (Timex) teammates, Pam Schuster (Helens / Trek) and Suzy Pryde (Jazz Apple) were off the front for several laps together putting on a good show, but eventually got reeled in.
Brooke Miller (TIBCO) out sprinted Laura Van Gilder for the win at MBGP.
photo © ironstring.com
Rock Racing Announces Creation of Catastrophic Injury Fund
6/29/08 - Rock Racing today announced the creation of the “Professional Cycling Catastrophic Injury Fund,” a charitable entity to raise money for professional and elite amateur cyclists who suffer a catastrophic injury as a result of their participation in the competitive sport of cycling. The first of its kind, the fund will offer financial assistance for riders who are injured in a sport that often involves high speeds and technical courses -- particularly in major events such as the Tour de France, which begins July 5. “Devastating crashes and cycling go hand in hand and currently there is no safety net in place,” said Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball. “If these riders get seriously injured, that’s it. There is no insurance, no pension and no workman’s comp. There is nothing. This is the first time there will be a financial support mechanism in place.” Rock Racing will make the initial contribution with a significant donation and will continue the fund’s growth through direct monetary contributions as well as a percentage of its own sales. Ten percent of all Rock Racing on-line sales will benefit the fund as will 100 percent of proceeds from special Fund-branded products to be introduced later this year. The goal is to raise $20 million over the next two years.
Team La Ruta/Sho-Air/Economy Rent A Car ready for BC Bike Race
6/28/08 - Team Sho-Air in partnership with La Ruta de Los Conquistadores and Economy Rent a Car is entering two of their top endurance riders in this years BC Race. After a strong finish at the '07 La Ruta and currently top 10 overall in the 2008 NMBS Series, Manuel Prado and Mavin Campos; former 2003 La Ruta Champion will be competing in the ultra challenging Canadian Stage Race in the province of British Columbia. Prado and Campos will be competing in the "Elite" men’s duo category. This is one of the two team classes they have for the stage race this year in order to ensure safety and promote camaraderie. In this category, the two riders must remain together for the duration of the race. This won’t be hard to do as the Costa Rican duo has trained and raced together for the past 3 years. The duo arrived early to practice and ride the local British Columbia local trails, which has helped the Ticos' to learn the technical skills needed in order to ride well in the 7 day stage race. Day 1 starts in Victoria and day 7 ends in the famous mountain bike town of Whistler. The race will take off on June 28th and finishes on July 4th.
Paul Che (Five Star WVO) get another win at the Green Trolley Crit.
photo © ironstring.com
National Championships in Orange County Seeks Host Housing
6/27/08 - The National Cycling Championships for Juniors, U23 and Elite riders is being held in Orange County from August 5th - 10th. This is an exciting opportunity for Southern California cyclists and fans to witness some great racing and in addition to participate in the Host Housing Programs for teams and riders. If you have never hosted racers before, it is a really fun experience for the riders and hosts, with long lasting relationships being formed. The racers are also great role models for young kids and teens. Host Families usually offer a place for the riders to sleep, some space in their fridge, and the use of their washer/dryer. If you can provide host housing in the Orange County and Disneyland areas, please contact Michelle Carroll at [email protected] for more info.
Troupe Racing's Race Report - Hot Training Rides + Rim Nordic
6/27/08 - This weekend was the first event of one of SoCal’s best XC race series - Rim Nordic. This area is about 20 minutes outside of Big Bear Lake in Running Springs. It’s epic riding: plenty of woodsy single track, panoramic climbs and great switchback sections through the trees. It’s a great venue for racing that always draws a ton of riders including a number of pros that are in our area. But because May and June have been pretty intense racing and riding months, most of the team decided to sit out and focus on getting in some much needed training miles. Roy and Ben made the trip up to represent, and here’s Roy’s report: It was a bit cooler up there compared to home. On the way up there we saw the temp drop 15 degrees. More on News >
Ben Blank and Roy Alvarado (Troupe Racing) get ready to start at Rim Nordic.
American Mountain Classic partners with Specialized and Primal Wear
6/26/08 - Sho-Air International and Team Big Bear are pleased to announce that Specialized Bicycles and Primal Wear will be official Co-Sponsors of the 2008 American Mountain Classic MTB stage race, set to run August 21-24 in Brian Head, UT. The A.M.C. is set to be America’s Richest MTB stage race with over $20,000 in cash and prizes. Specialized, a world leader in bicycle and bicyle component technology will raffle off a brand new 2008 Specialized Expert Epic bicycle. Anyone who registers on or before July 15th for the A.M.C. will be eligible for the drawing. more >
SoCalCycling.com teammates, Sean Lackey and Saul Hernandez,
try to stay cool at the San Pedro Grand Prix.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
Mt. Charleston Hill Climb in Las Vegas is Set for August 30th
6/25/08 - On August 30, 2008 the Mt. Charleston Hill Climb in Las Vegas, NV will once again be the staging area for the SCNCA hill climb championship race. Now in its 23rd year, the Mt. Charleston Hill Climb is the oldest road race in Las Vegas, attracting some of the fastest racers from Nevada, California, Arizona and Utah. Besides the enjoyment of racing up one of southern Nevada’s most beautiful roads, the Mt. Charleston Hill Climb also has a kids’ race and pancake breakfast for all the participants. This year each entrant will receive a Polar water bottle and other sponsor goodies as part of their entry packet. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers of each category. And race times will be readily available. With an ideal gathering spot at the Ski and Snowboard Resort, the Mt. Charleston Hill Climb is a great event for the whole cycling family. more info >
Looking down at the Pro 1/2 men as they go by below.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
Team Columbia Announces Tour de France Roster
6/25/08 - Team Columbia (formerly High Road) has annnounced it' TdF roster. “The team has been on a big wave of success this year,” added team owner Bob Stapleton, “and we bring confidence, team work and good spirit into the Tour. It was difficult to select the Tour de France team because so many of riders deserved a spot”. The roster includes: Kim Kirchen, George Hincapie (USA), Thomas Lövkvist, Kanstantsin Sivtsov, Mark Cavendish, Gerald Ciolek, Adam Hansen, Marcus Burghardt, Bernhard Eisel.
SoCalCycling.com Continues to Sponsor Elite Men's Team
6/24/08 - SoCalCycling.com is proud to announce our continued support of our Elite Team for the fifth year in a row. We are excited to continue our partnerships with co-sponsors La Rocque Better Roofs, Inc. and Matco Tools (Sean Liske) this season. In addition, we have a newly redesigned red and white team kit and Team web site for 2008.
Team Director, Frank Sarate, has built the Elite Team to include eight Category 1/2 riders. The team is comprised of seasoned riders including, Frank Sarate and John Brady. John rode for such notable pro teams as 7-Eleven and Motorola, among other pro teams during his long career, and has 12 Irish Championship Titles and over 130 Pro 1/2 victories to his name.
The team also includes three young riders under the age of 25 and up and coming riders, including Sean Lackey, Alan Wagenbach and Jared Shimizu, Bill Purcell, Saul Hernandez and Chris Gagne. “I am very excited about the composition of the team and excited to be working with this group of young and up and coming riders to help them with their development and cycling goals,” explained Frank Sarate. The SoCalCycling.com Elite Team competes in races in Southern California, as well as select NRC races. more >
The SoCalCycling.com Elite Team.
Garmin-Chipotle Announces Tour de France Roster
6/24/08 - Team Garmin-Chipotle presented by H30 today announced its much-anticipated Tour de France roster, which features three of only four Americans in the entire Tour peloton. The riders that will represent Team Garmin-Chipotle in tackling the world’s toughest sporting event are: Magnus Backstedt, Julian Dean, Will Frischkorn, Ryder Hesjedal, Trent Lowe, Martijn Maaskant, David Millar, Danny Pate. Christian Vande Velde.
Karl Bordine (5 Star WVO) outsprints Raul Frias (Vitamix / Sixtufit)
at the San Pedro GP. photo © SoCalCycling.com
Chevron Manhattan Beach GP this Sunday, Rock Racing Sponsors
6/23/08 - The 47th Annual Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, June 29, 2008, race officials have announced. Record crowds are anticipated to support over 1,000 racers battling for $26,500 in prize money and the coveted winners' jerseys. Racing action begins at 7 a.m. at Live Oak Park, just steps from the ocean in Manhattan Beach. Joining Chevron for this year’s race as a presenting sponsor is Rock Racing. Known for its notable roster including two former world champions, two Olympic gold medalists, four Tour de France stage winners and eight current and former national champions, the 2008 Rock Racing team will bring a new flair to the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. The team is led by Tyler Hamilton, Oscar Sevilla, Fred Rodriguez, Víctor Hugo Peña, Santiago Botero, and last year’s Manhattan Beach Grand Prix winner Rahsaan Bahati. “We are excited about the addition of Rock Racing as the presenting sponsor of the Grand Prix and are proud that this race has achieved global prominence on the professional racing circuit,” said Rod Spackman, of Chevron, the event’s title sponsor for the past 17 years. more >
Katharine Lundby (Helens/Trek), Bonnie Bourque (Acqua al 2/SDBC)
and Morgan Kapp (SBW) made the winning break at the San Pedro GP.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
San Pedro GP and La Mirada GP Serve Up a Hot Weekend of Racing
6/23/08 - This weekend was another hot one hitting triple digits and making things tough on the racers at the La Mirada Grand Prix and San Pedro Grand Prix, two awesome races with great courses. As Rahsaan Bahati says, “It’s hotter than fish grease.” I won’t argue with him there. When we arrived at the San Pedro Grand Prix, the women were battling it out for the Elite State Championship title. A break including, Morgan Kapp (SBW), Bonnie Bourque (Acqua al 2/SDBC) and Katharine Lundby (Helens/Trek) was off the front, with Anna Lang (Aarons) chasing hard with one to go. In the end, Lundby waited patiently and out sprinted her breakaway companions for the State Criterium Title. The Pro 1/2 men’s race was animated with a lot of attacks and short lived breaks throughout the race, but the stifling heat took it’s toll on the riders and nothing stuck. The riders laid it on the line on the last lap and carnage ensued with crashes in both hairpins taking out some good guys. Karl Bordine (5 Star WVO) escaped the crashes and won his 10 millionth championship jersey by out sprinting Raul Frias (Vitamix / Sixtufit) and Rudy Napolitano (Rock Racing). Congratulations to the new champs on your victories!
Guy Quits Job to Ride Across America to Save Friends Daughters Life
6/20/08 - Scott Parsons quit his job as Western Vice President of Sales at Georgia Pacific, packed his life in storage and put his life on hold to ride his bike across the USA to raise awareness of Rett Syndrome. Scott will be riding to raise money for research towards Rett Syndrome and Robert Smith’s non-profit mikyla-cure.org. Scott left from San Francisco on 6/5/2008 and will ride up the west coast and then over to Boston. The ride will take about 3.5 months. Rett Syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects 1 in 10,000 girls: 20 girls a day are born with Rett. Only 50% of the girls will walk with some assistance, most use functional use of their hands and will never talk. But there’s hope! In February of 2007, the high-profile journal Science published a seminal paper by Adrian Bird, Ph.D. demonstrating reversal of symptoms in mouse models of Rett Syndrome. Fully mature mice, so ill that they were a few days from death, were rescued over a matter of weeks to become virtually indistinguishable from healthy mice. A disease that had been considered intractable turns out to be dramatically reversible! It is believed Rett will be the first neurological disorder cured! But your help is needed to raise $4.2 million to further fund and expand Adrian Bird’s research and other drug screening projects. Visit mikyla-cure.org to see the interview with Adrian Bird Ph.D and to track Scott’s ride and to learn more about Rett Syndrome. Visit often as Scott will be updating the site with news and events from the road!
Contact: Annie Smith, 949-306-1522, [email protected]
The 2nd Annual SLO Downtown Criterium Classic Held on July 20th
6/19/08 - $$Prize Money$$ - On the heels of an important movement to award equal prize money, the purse includes $2,000 in cash for both the men's 1/2/Pro and women's 1/2/3/Pro. There will be over $6,000 in total cash and prizes awarded throughout the day. "The Masters 35+ 1-3 has just increased to 4 digits at $1000 in total cash and prizes, from a previous $700. Sponsors keep throwing in more great product and support - and we're honored to pass it on to our hard-working athletes," says Event Director Shaba Mohseni. Classic Course - The downtown course has a gradual climb after corner 1, up through the smooth cobbles of the Mission Plaza chicane, and then continues up through the Tour of California finish line at Osos Street, and ultimately turns back to the main drag on Higuera Street for a fast, slightly downhill finish. The streets will be packed deep with enthusiastic spectators. The prizes will be many and the cash prize list is growing. Community Festival Rallies around the Races - Introducing the "Deux Run Run - Dash to Raise Cash", a 2-lap "fun-raiser" run for Special Olympics on the course! The downtown sector is transformed into a Festival Celebrating Bikes, Community, Sustainability, & FUN. Bring Family and Friends & Enjoy the SLO Life. Shopping, Restaurants, Full Expo, Demos, Giveaways, Spider Bikes Go-Kart Track, Bicycle Valet Parking. More Info - Visit cencalcycling.com for more info and details. Please note, the Sisquoc RR is being held Saturday the 19th (just a short 45 minute drive south of SLO), so you can make a cycling weekend out of it.
Justin England wins the Nevada City Classic in front of a huge crowd of fans.
photo © Veronika Lenzi
My Bud's Ride Savior
6/19/08 - When checking out the SLO Downtown Criterium Classic web site, I came across a picture and story of my old friend, Jef Hiner. I met Jef back in 1987 when he worked at Bud's Bike Shop in Claremont when I first started riding seriously. That was also the year I first did my favorite training ride, the Bud's Ride. Back then, we used to do the ride on Saturdays and Wednesdays. After two years of doing the ride, I could almost make it up the Raging Waters hill, but would get popped right at the top. This was the only part of the course that gave me trouble, so Jef was cool enough to let me grab his jersey pocket over that last little part of the hill and pull me over the top. It was just enough to make the difference and I could hang the rest of the ride. After a few weeks of grabbing his pocket each lap, I was finally strong enough to do it on my own. The funny thing is, this is about where I am in my fitness right now and wish that Jef was out there to lend me his jersey pocket today. I will always appreciate and remember the help from him that allowed me to break through. Thanks Jef!
Jef Hiner in 1985 racing the pro-am race at the SLO Crit at the corner of
Broad and Higuera street. Photo by George Hovis
Toyota-United’s Justin England Wins 48th Annual Nevada City Classic
6/18/08 - Justin England makes late solo attack to claim his first win as a member of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team at the Nevada City Classic. In what is considered by many cycling aficionados to be the toughest one-day race in America, and is the second oldest race in America, the 48th annual Nevada City Classic has been a platform for some of the great American legends of the sport to show their skills and strength over the decades. Past winners include 3-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond and 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. The 90 minute race was contested on the historical 1.1 mile loop in downtown Nevada City which features the infamous 120 foot stair step climb plus a rolling hill on the back straightaway for a tough 5,000 feet of climbing through the event. After 45 minutes of non-stop attacks, England was able to breakaway with Scott Nydam (BMC), the two worked together to increase their lead over the hard chasing field for the remainder of the race. However, with 3 laps to go, England wanted to make certain to win the race as he did back in 2004 so he attacked Nydam down the home straight reaching speeds of over 50MPH. “Once I got a small two bike length gap on Scott, I just drilled it up the hill and extended my lead to about 10 seconds” said England. I saw with less than a lap to go Scott was making his way back to me, so I gave it more juice and won by a comfortable margin and got that monkey off my back with my first win on the team and in 3 years”.
Race winner Erik Barlevav (TIME Pro Cycling) hits the pavement after crossing the
finish line of the 35th annual Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic pb Rock Racing.
photo © Vero Image
Slipstream Sports Signs Garmin as Title Sponsor
6/18/08 - Garmin International Inc., the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today its title sponsorship of Slipstream Sports, an elite cycling team that will be showcasing its dedication to clean competition in one of the biggest events in professional sports: the Tour de France. Information on Garmin’s title sponsorship, including the new team logo and visuals, will be revealed on July 3 in Brest, France, in the press room at Penfeld Parc des Expositions de Brest. Garmin and Slipstream Sports share similar success stories rooted in hard work, innovation and an unwavering insistence on quality results. Just as Garmin is a global leader with facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia, the Slipstream squad assembled elite athletes from around the world. Team Garmin features several Tour de France stage winners and five National Champions from the USA, Sweden, UK, New Zealand and Canada. At this summer’s Olympics in Beijing, 17-year-old phenom Taylor Phinney will be among the members of Team Garmin competing for gold at the Games.
As the Cycling World Turns...
6/17/08 - Lots of things going on out there ... Congrats to Eric Barlevav of Northridge for winning the Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic pb Rock Racing in spectacular fashion just edging out local boy Rahsaan Bahati. I’m sure these two will be banging bars many times in the future ... It’s great to see Team CSC and High Road both secure new sponsors for next year (Saxo Bank for CSC and Columbia Sportswear for High Road). You never know if the economy and TdF shenanigans of the past two years will have a negative impact on the search for incoming sponsors, so this is very welcome news for the fans, riders and staff. Speaking of sponsors, Tom Boonen’s sponsor Quick Step met with the ASO with the hopes of allowing Boonen to compete in the Tour de France after being banned for a positive cocaine test. So far, no answer has been given for sure, but the ASO should really consider the ladies that tune into the Tour just for Boonen, I mean the Tour ... It looks like things are heating up with Lance Armstrong and his latest blond, actress Kate Hudson, with the two celebrating Father’s Day together in NYC with their kids. Lance definitely has a type. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Until next time...
A little blurry, due to the rider's warp speed ... Paul Che (Five Star WVO)
out sprints Drew Salcedo (Acqua al 2/SDBC) & John Brady (SoCalCycling.com)
in front of the Dream Works Studio at the Bicycle Johns Grand Prix.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
Neil Shirley Diary Tour De Beauce – Stage 6
6/17/08 - We awoke to a chilly wet morning for the final day of Beauce. Not exactly the weather you hope for after a week of racing. But, we really have been lucky with the weather so far this tour so I guess I don’t have any room to complain. As we made the drive to Quebec City the weather started drying up and everyone’s spirit went up. more >
Taylor Phinney Sets World Junior Record in the Pursuit
6/17/08 - Seventeen year old cyclist Taylor Phinney of Boulder, Colorado, has set a new world junior record in the 3,000-meter individual pursuit event with a time of 3:16.65 this afternoon at the ADT Event Center located at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The record set by Phinney, nominated to the United States Olympic Team which will announce its members on July 1, is the first world record set on the velodrome inside the ADT Event Center. Phinney, talking part in USA Cycling’s team selection camp, said, “Achieving this mark was one of my goals when I started my Olympic training this year,” said Phinney. “As our team prepares for Beijing, I couldn’t be more proud to set this record and am excited to represent the United States in the Olympics. ”The new world record eclipses the old mark of 3:17.775 achieved by Michael Ford (Australia) in 2004.
ASO and AEG Form Partnership
6/17/08 - Amaury Sport Organisation (“ASO”) and AEG, owners respectively of the Tour de France and the Amgen Tour of California, have formed a multi-dimensional marketing partnership to grow and develop each other’s events, it was announced by Yann Le Moenner, Deputy Director, Amaury Sport Organisation S.A. (ASO), Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France and Andrew Messick, President, AEG Sports. Beginning with the upcoming 2008 Tour de France and 2009 Amgen Tour of California, the multi-year agreement calls for the organizations to develop and initiate comprehensive cross-promotional platforms for the world’s most prestigious cycling event and America’s most successful cycling race, as well as provide assistance with media and sponsorship sales for the races in their respective regions.
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A & E's Intervention to Feature Former Pro Cyclist Tonight
6/16/08 - After a troubled childhood that sent him to juvenile hall for felony arson, Chad Gerlach's father introduced him to cycling at age 15. Chad went pro and cycled on the same team as Lance Armstrong. But after getting kicked off the team for "personality conflicts," Chad was crushed and turned to drugs. Now homeless, Chad spends his days panhandling, smoking crack, and drinking. His family's many efforts to get him off the streets have failed. Their last hope is an intervention. Chad raced for Team Redlands in the mid-90's and went on to race with such teams as US Postal and Sierra Nevada before quitting in 2002. TV Schedule: Monday, June 16 9:00pm EST and Tuesday, June 17 1:00am EST.
The Women's 1/2 Podium at the San Fernando Criterium
1st Skylee Armstrong (Bicycle Johns), 2nd Pam Schuster (Helens) and
3rd Lisa Young (Acqua al 2/SDBC) photo © Matt Gunnell
Rock Racing Rocks Harlem Classic With Bahati’s Runner-Up Finish
6/16/08 - Rock Racing’s Rahsaan Bahati was edged at the line by Erik Barlevav (TIME Pro Cycling) in an exciting finish to the 35th annual Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic presented by Rock Racing. Barlevav lost control of his bicycle and sprawled to the pavement after a successful bike throw at the end of the 55-lap criterium. A little shaken, but smiling, the first-year professional managed to get up unassisted and take a victory lap with a bouquet of flowers. The World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) provided live coverage of the afternoon of racing that included a bike messenger “mania” race. But it was the pro race that was the featured event on Father’s Day when Barlevav snuck through to play the spoiler. “I felt Bahati coming up on my left and threw my bike as hard as I could,” Barlevav said. “Being such a humid day, my hands just slipped off the bars. I guess I should have been wearing gloves” Rodriguez had Bahati tucked in his slipstream and the winner of this year’s Athens Twilight Criterium appeared to have secured his second win in the third race of the USA CRITS series. “The plan was for Freddie to get me to the last corner,” Bahati said. “But I lost his wheel to Ivan Dominguez and Alejandro Barrajo – one went right and one went left. So I had to come from too far back. If I had maybe three more meters, I would have won.”
The San Fernando Criterium podium featured frequent winner, Karl Bordine,
(5 Star WVO), Rigo Meza (Coates Cyclery) and Peter Rennie (Now-MS Society)
in the Pro 1-3 race. photo © Matt Gunnell
Come Watch the Track Olympic Trials
6/15/08 - The Olympic Trials for track cycling will be held this Sunday and Monday at the ADT Event Center Velodrome in Carson, Ca. This event is open to the public (free admission) and would love to see all track cycling supporters at the event as America's top track superstars attempt to move one step closer to a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. Come on out and support the riders.
Track Olympic Trials Schedule
|
Sunday, June 15
Warm up 3:00pm - 4:50pm |
Monday, June 16
Warm up 12:00pm - 1:50pm |
Neil Shirley Diary Tour De Beauce – Stage 5
6/15/08 - I’m still in a fog from today’s Saint Georges circuit race. The 90-mile, 15 lap race had a leg breaker 1-mile climb every lap. With the GC so close it was going to be a battle today especially considering that the finish was at the top of the climb. I wanted to be aggressive early and see if I could get up the road. Well, I accomplished my goal. The very first time up the climb a break formed about midway up. I jumped across with 200 meters to go to the top and caught on just before the descent. Initially it was 11 of us but 3 laps later 3 more finally caught on after a long chase. more >, video
Rahsaan Bahati of Rock Racing, winner of the Athens Twilight Criterium, took part in the team's training ride through New York's Central Park prior to Sunday's 35th annual Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic presented by Rock Racing.
photo © Vero Image
Tour de l’Aude - by Amber Neben
6/14/08 - Well, the big race of the spring came and went. Despite the fact that my team Flexpoint did not get invited, I was able to find an open spot on the USA National team. Although I was disappointed not to be in the race with my team (and the 3x defending champions,) I was excited to still have a chance to race. It was also fun to have the chance to compete with my American mates. And… I will always be honored to wear the USA jersey. The race started with a prologue, had a team time trial on the third day, and plenty of hard racing in between. The courses were laid out a little different this year. There weren’t any long climbs, and there wasn’t really anything hard to separate things in the final few days. However, in the end, the race produced a worthy podium with Ljungskog, Arndt, and Worrack. more >
Rock Racing's Fred Rodriguez (second from left) finished third in the
sprint to the line Sunday at the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic.
photo © Vero Image
Neil Shirley Diary Tour De Beauce – Stages 4a & 4b
6/14/08 - Double days are like paying taxes; you have to do it but no one likes it. With a 20-kilometer time trial over rolling terrain in the morning and then a 60-kilometer criterium in the evening it makes for a long day. At least I was able to get in two naps, one before lunch and then another one after lunch. Since I’m so far out of the overall I didn’t have any pressure on me in the TT. I just had to make sure I made the time cut, but that wasn’t a problem. We were hoping that Ben Kneller would have a good ride. He’s the best time trialist on the team right now and coming off of a top-10 in the TT at Mt Hood we knew he had a good shot. But, the race is taking its toll on him and he posted a top-25. I know he was disappointed since it was a course he should go well on but after three hard road stages you don’t know how your legs will react to the effort. Svein Tuft of Symmetrics won the TT by over 40 seconds and took the leaders jersey from Tecos. We all headed back to the hotel to eat and recover for the evening crit. I put my feet up and watched the Simpson’s in French. more >,
St. 4a Video >, St. 4b Video >
Karl Bordine solos to victory in the Pro 1/2 race at the
Dewalt 3rd Ave Village Grand Prix.
photo © www.ironstring.com
Neil Shirley Diary Tour De Beauce – Stage 3
6/13/08 - This stage was a climbers delight! The only problem for me is that right now I can’t be referred to anything of the sort. Today was 100-miles of up’s and down’s and then a few bigger up’s and down’s before hitting the 10%, 6 K climb of Mt Megantic. Anytime they put an observatory on top of the mountain you know you’re in for a tough one. What do Mt Megantic, Brasstown Bald, Palomar Mountain, and Mt Hamilton all have in common? They all have observatories on top! Stay away from these climbs, they are way too painful! more >, video >
Cannondale Supports AIDS/LifeCycle 7 to Record 11.6 Million Dollars
6/12/08 - Have you ever worked on bikes for 16 hours a day, 8 days straight … as a volunteer? Well that’s just what a group of 25 mechanics from Cannondale, Mikes Bikes, Helen’s Cycles and a team of volunteers know as “Bike Tech” just did. They also loved every second of it! AIDS/LifeCycle has been a major force in raising awareness about the continued effect of HIV and the growing need for services as the number of people living with the disease continues to increase year after year. This event has also raised an incredible amount of money to help combat this trend. Over the course of the week-long event, the riders (sometimes outnumbering the populations of the communities they ride through) are greeted by local residents of eight counties who line roadways and visit rider pit-stops to show their support. In past years, cheering groups of schoolchildren have stood alongside the road with homemade signs and refreshments. Many local residents show support with signs of thanks that invoke memories of loved ones lost to AIDS. more >
Motor Tab's Greg Sellers and SoCalCycling.com's Frank Sarate catch up
after the Pro 1/2 race at the Dana Point Grand Prix.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
Neil Shirley Diary Tour De Beauce – Stage 2
6/12/08 - Today was a little better of a day for Jittery Joe’s. I think Philly is finally getting flushed out of our legs. The course today was similar to yesterday, 105 miles, 3 KOM climbs and a lot of 300 meter to 1 K climbs scattered throughout the course. The main difference from yesterday is the finish; Stage 1 had a very tough last few miles that split the field up significantly where as today we have flat roads for the last 10 miles into the finish. With 10-25 mph winds expected for the day it seemed like the conditions could be harder than the course. The race started much quicker than yesterday’s leisurely early pace. There was the usual flurry of attacks until one poor sole finally got away, by himself. Tecos controlled the front but couldn’t set a very hard tempo or else the solo rider would be brought back immediately. Everyone was content with the situation for the first half of the stage but as the winds picked up Amore Vita decided to throw it in the gutter. more >
Neil Shirley Diary Tour De Beauce – Stage 1
6/11/08 - This week the Jittery Joe’s team (7 of us) is up in Quebec taking part in the 6-day Tour De Beauce Stage Race. It’s a UCI 2.2 event, which means it attracts a lot of International teams. A handful of the teams that we were racing against at the Commerce Bank Triple Crown last week are present, including Team Type 1 who with a stacked roster are the team to beat. There are teams from 12 different countries, including New Zealand, Ireland, Britain, South Africa, and of course Canada. Beauce is famous for their relentlessly undulating terrain, bad weather, and roads that aren’t even suitable to drive a car on. Due to the harsh winters the roads have huge cracks and holes everywhere. more >
Quote of the Day
6/11/08 - "The competition this year is more stacked than two fat girls hugging." - Rahsaan Bahati, about his competition at the Lehigh Valley Classic.
Rock Racing Launches Fan Photo Contest on Flickr
6/10/08 - Rock Racing announces an on-line photo contest that will give fans the opportunity to share their favorite Rock Racing photos for a chance to win a full team kit and other popular Rock Racing gear. The grand-prize winner will receive a full team kit including a jersey, bib shorts, arm warmers, knee warmers, gloves, socks and shoe covers in the team’s signature “venom” design. All entries received will also be eligible to win one of five gift packs, which include a Rock Racing t-shirt, water bottle and trucker hat, to be awarded in a random drawing at the conclusion of the contest. SoCalCycling.com has even posted a few of our Rock photos in hopes of winning something (like a cute little tank and hoodie)! : ) more info >
San Fernando Criterium Offers Fun Downtown Course This Saturday
6/9/08 - With the summer crit season heating up in So Cal, PAA is happy to kick off a three weekend span of double-crit weekends with the San Fernando Criterium on Saturday June 14th. Pre-registration is available via SportsBaseOnline.com up until Thursday at midnight with the race picking up the service fee. For those that have done the race, you know it's a deceptive course. It appears reasonably flat but it's a LONG way from the last bend up a false flat to the finish! Come on out and race a downtown course that has hosted both Elite and Masters Championships in the past! The City is proud of the race and the roads are ready to go!
Neil Shirley Diary Commerce Bank Triple Crown – Philadelphia
6/9/08 - Today was the big dance, Philly! This is one of the few races all year where the locals love us. It seems like the whole city comes out to support the race. OK, Maybe not the whole city but at least 200,000 of them do. This was the 24th consecutive year of the race in the same location. Although it’s no longer the USPRO race it still is as prestigious as ever. Did I mention that it’s 156 miles? That’s right, 156 miles. More miles in one day than most people are able to train in the whole week. Philly generally plays out like this; an early break gets away over the top of Manayunk Wall on lap one or two. They get a large, sometimes very large gap until one of the ProTour teams decides to take the reins and chip away at the gap. The break is usually caught on lap 9 out of 10 and then it’s full throttle up Manayunk Wall the last time. A group of 50-70 comes together on the descent and fight out the win in a field sprint. While the course itself isn’t necessarily selective it becomes a race of attrition, people start going out the back in clumps each time up Manayunk starting around lap 6. more >
CSC’s Breschel Scores Dramatic Sprint Win in Philly
6/8/08 - On paper, Team CSC looked to be an underdog at the Philadelphia International Championship. The Danish-based team has been besieged by injuries this season and only sent six of a possible eight riders to contest the 2008 Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling series. But six was enough for the ProTour squad, which saw young rising star Matti Breschel score an impressive field sprint win at the end of Sunday’s 156-mile race. The victory was CSC’s second straight at the prestigious event that this year celebrated its 24th anniversary. A year ago, team rider J.J. Haedo grabbed the top prize. A scheduling conflict kept the Argentinean in Europe this time around, but Breschel filled in admirably, bursting across the line first at the end of the hot, hard day in the saddle. more >
Leipheimer Wins Dauphiné Libéré Prologue
6/8/08 - Putting up a defiant statement right from the start, Team Astana’s Levi Leipheimer stormed the short prologue course in the opening stage of the 60th Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, shouting out loud and clear once again that Tour de France organizer’s ASO have certainly missed the boat when it comes to inviting the best teams to compete in the biggest race of the year. With all other teams racing in the Dauphiné headed to the Tour next month and using this race as a final tune-up before the main event, the non-invitees of Astana Cycling Team have brought a squad of riders fully intent on taking the win as another show of strength and unity. more >
Dutchwoman Beltman Solos to Victory in Philly's Liberty Classic
6/8/08 - Like Big Brown at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg came up short in her bid to sweep the Triple Crown. But unlike the heavily favored horse, Teutenberg had teammates to fall back on. Teutenberg won the first two rounds of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling in the Lehigh Valley and Reading, but settled for third in Sunday’s Philadelphia Liberty Classic. In her place, fellow High Road rider Chantal Beltman soloed out of a late-race, four-rider break to take the final leg win. “We won as a team today,” said Beltman, who finished the 57.6-mile race in 2:28:52, six seconds ahead of Brooke Miller (Team Tibco) who won the bunch sprint for second. “When you have a strong sprinter like Ina on your team, you are always in a good position. We have six strong riders so we had a lot of cards to play.” more >
Chipotle Offers "Le Burrito" During the Tour de France
6/7/08 - Chipotle Mexican Grill today announced that it will offer a new, limited time burrito in honor of American cycling team, Slipstream-Chipotle, which will compete in the Tour de France in July. Called “Le Burrito,” it is made to meet the dietary needs of world-class athletes and will be featured in all Chipotle restaurants nationwide throughout the Tour de France, which runs from July 5 through July 27. “We have sponsored team Slipstream-Chipotle for three years because we share their belief in doing things the right way,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and CEO of Chipotle. “To the team, that means working to eliminate drugs and doping from professional cycling. To Chipotle, it means eliminating the use of antibiotics, hormones and other drugs from livestock farming. That is one of the ways we are changing the way the world thinks about and eats fast food.” Le Burrito is a Chipotle burrito filled with naturally raised chicken (from birds that are raised in a humane way, never given antibiotics or added hormones, and fed a pure vegetarian diet), black beans, cilantro lime rice, mild tomato salsa, and freshly made guacamole. This combination provides an energy-boosting ratio of 65 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent fat, and 15 percent protein that allows cyclists to perform at their best while racing. Le Burrito will be available at all Chipotle restaurants throughout the Tour de France.
Neil Shirley Diary Commerce Bank Triple Crown – Reading
6/6/08 - Reading, PA is host to the second round of the Triple Crown. The 10 lap 75-mile race is a mostly urban circuit taking the racers through Reading’s neighborhoods and finishes in the middle of downtown. It is a rolling course for the first 7 laps. Then it gets hard! For the last 3 laps of the race they throw in a 700-foot climb to shake things up. The climb isn’t that bad when you pre-ride the course, but then in the race when you go up it at 20 mph it gives it a whole new dimension. This would be my third time racing in Reading. Last year I had a good ride and finished in the top-15. This is a race I had been really looking forward to, with such a tough finish I knew it suited my riding style and I felt a top-10 or better was realistic. Well, my plans were derailed this morning when I woke up sick. I could barely force myself out of bed for our 10:30 departure time. During the drive to Reading I was feeling worse and worse. I was really wishing I was back at the hotel sleeping. I could have gotten out of starting the race but since I am the co-captain of the team and our captain Trent Wilson is out with a broken hand I felt that I needed to at least line up and then go from there. more >
Dana Point Grand Prix is a Cycling and Community Celebration
6/5/08 - For the second year in a row, the Dana Point Grand Prix has thrown a great party for the racers, the Dana Point community and cycling fans. The racers were treated to a challenging, fast course that ran through the tree lined neighborhood overlooking the beautiful Dana Point Harbor and raced along the highly visible PCH before heading home to the start / finish area. The festivities included a party atmosphere, several bands along the course, a food court, Expo Area, a kids race, thousands of happy spectators and some of the best racing in So Cal. Great job to the race organizers and a BIG thank you to the City of Dana Point for letting us celebrate in your community. We are already looking forward to next year!
Sevilla Wins Reading Classic
6/5/08 - Oscar Sevilla of Rock Racing soloed away from three breakaway companions in the final six miles Thursday to win the Commerce Bank Reading Classic. Sevilla launched a vicious attack on the third and final trip up the challenging switchback climb of Mt. Penn, leaving behind a pair of riders from Team Type 1, Moises Aldape and Valeriy Kobzarenko, and Bernardo Colex (Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara). Sevilla's victory in the 74-mile (119 km) race makes him one of the favorites for Sunday's third and final leg of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling, the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship.
Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) wins the Commerce Bank Reading Classic.
photo © Vero Image
Southern California State Series - XC Race #4, Big Bear Shootout
By: David Sheek (outsideallday.com)
6/5/08 - After four races in the series things are starting to heat up, not just because it’s June, but because racers are focusing on the competition in their groups as riders’ skills and fitness begin to peak this season and as riders are on the hunt for every point for the individual title or for their team. The weather in Big Bear, California Sunday was the best weather of all the races this season as it was in the high 70’s with some cooler breezes. The course was fast with all the long fire roads but this year Tom Speigel and Team Big Bear added a lot more single-track to the course than usual. It was good to see some steep technical sections used as it allowed some riders areas to make up space after the losing time on the fire roads. The Pro Men were out on course first and it was Manny Prado of Team Sho-Air who was expected to take the win on the day, with the impressive season he has been having on the NMBS. more >
Neil Shirley Diary Commerce Bank Triple Crown – Lehigh
6/4/08 - Today kicked off the Commerce Bank Triple Crown. This is one of the most prestigious and respected events on the US calendar. The race series goes back over 25 years. I believe Core States was the original sponsor then it was Wachovia Bank now it’s Commerce Bank. The 3 races are technically all one-day events but they do keep track of points for the top 20 of each race and give a nice $10,000 bonus to the overall winner. Lehigh was a totally new venue this year. Lancaster had been the opening round for the last few years but somehow Lehigh stole the show. The course looked to be a relatively flat 7-mile circuit with a short but steep puncher of a climb 1 mile from the finish. We were on tap for 12 laps. It was a warm 85 degrees with the normal Philadelphia summer humidity. I was expecting the heat so I was extra mindful of my hydration the last few days, I even upped my salt intake yesterday. more >
Neil Shirley (Jittery Joes) takes time out to smile in Allentown.
photo © Vero Image
Rock Racing Sponsors Commerce Bank Triple Crown Of Cycling & Wall
6/3/08 - Rock Racing is going “all-in” for one of the most prestigious weeks of professional bicycle racing in the United States. The team is now an official sponsor of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling. Building on its “Here to Stay” motto, Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball said it is a perfect fit for the team to strongly support such a popular, prestigious and long-running event that is often referred to as “Philly Week.” “We wanted to be a part of Philly Week in a big way,” Ball said. “That meant more than just bringing the best team to compete in it.” As part of the team’s sponsorship, Rock Racing will present a one-hour highlights show on the Versus Network on the weekend of June 21-22 featuring aerial views of the action from the “Rock Racing Cam.” In addition to fielding a talent-laden roster that includes Fred Rodriguez (USA), Tyler Hamilton (USA), Oscar Sevilla (ESP), Victor Hugo Peña (COL), Sergio Hernandez (USA), Doug Ollerenshaw (USA), Jeremiah Wiscovich (USA), and Michael Creed (USA), Rock Racing will “own” the world-famous Manayunk Wall during the Philadelphia International Championship on Sunday, June 8. For the 156-mile (251 km) race, the signature event of the series, the steep, leg-breaking 17 percent grade that is traditionally the site of the most lively house parties and raucous fans, will be branded as “The Rock Racing Wall.” “The Wall is one of the greatest fan traditions in all of pro cycling,” Ball said. “It made perfect sense for Rock Racing to salute all the great house parties and celebrations that have taken place on this part of the course over the past 23 years.”
The Pro 1/2 field provided a colorful display of speed in scenic Dana Point.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
Congratulations to the Masters and Juniors Crit Champions
|
Masters Crit Champions
|
Juniors Crit Champions
|
|
W35+
Bonnie Breeze (Helens/Trek) |
Jr 10-12
Marcelo Cleveland (SC Velo) |
|
W45+
Pam Schuster (Helens/Trek) |
Jr 13-14
Nicholas Tarrant (SC Velo) |
|
30+
Karl Bordine (Five Star WVO) |
Jr 15-16
Cory Williams (Major Motion) |
|
35+
Patrick Caro (Schroeder Iron) |
Jr 17-18
Alfredo Cruz (Team Rock) |
|
40+
Mark Scott (Cynergy Cycles) |
Jr Women 10-12
Rachel Cross (Sho-air/Sonance) |
|
45+
Thurlow Rogers (Amgen/Giant) |
Jr Women 13-14
Alexis Ryan (Major Motion) |
|
50+
Dale Luedtke (UC Cyclery) |
Jr Women 15-18
Coryn Rivera (Kahala LaGrange) |
|
55+
Kalman Szkalak (UC Cyclery) |
Jr Women 15-16
Coryn Rivera (Kahala LaGrange) |
|
60+
John Rubcic (UC Cyclery) |
Jr Women 17-18
Angela Bosco (SC Velo) |
Giro Showdown
6/1/08 - Alberto Contador (Astana) survived another tough day in the saddle with attacks from his closest rival Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) over the Gavia and Mortirolo passes in stage 20 of the Giro d' Italia. Only 4 seconds seperate the two going into the final 28.5 km time trial, which is going to make for a very exciting race. So far, Contador has proven to be the better time trialist, but as they say, it's not over 'til the fat lady sings. If Contador wins the Giro, hopefully he'll get a little consolation for having to sit out of the Tour de France next month. Catch the dance off online today at Rai.it or on TV on Versus at noon.
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