Cycling News
BISSELL Pro Cycling Removes Kirk O’Bee from Team for Contract Violation
7/31/09 - BISSELL Pro Cycling has removed Kirk O’Bee from the team today, immediately after learning that the rider has violated its no-tolerance policy agreed to under his contract. The rider’s actions are an isolated incident that occurred independently and without the knowledge of both team management and his teammates. BISSELL and each of its team sponsors are committed to fair competition, and support efforts for an end to performance-enhancing drugs in the sport of cycling through the enforcement of a strict zero-tolerance policy.m “I deeply regret that a mistake I made as an individual will reflect poorly on the entire sport,” said O’Bee in a statement acknowledging his contract violation. “I’d especially like to apologize to my teammates and to my sponsors, and hope that my actions will not damage their good names.”O’Bee’s termination from BISSELL will not affect the team’s race schedule for the remainder of the year or any other day-to-day team operations. Separately from BISSELL, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are working with O’Bee to resolve his violation, and the team can make no further comments on this private matter.
US National Championships Crown New Women's Road Race Champions
7/30/09 - The USA Cycling Elite National Championships got underway with the Road Race held on the Awbrey Butte Circuit in Bend, Oregon. In the Junior Women’s 17-18 category, Coryn Rivera won her 24th National Title after winning the National Championship Road Race. In the Elite Women’s race, Team Type 1’s Kori Seehafer’s bid for a solo victory at the USA Cycling Elite National Championship Road Race came up a few miles short Thursday as she was passed by a group of four riders within three miles of the finish of the 67-mile (107.5 km) race. Seehafer finished fifth as Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO) soloed to the win, ahead of Christina Ruiter (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) and Kristen Lasasso (Team Lip Smacker). Amy Drombroski (Webcor Builders Women's Professional Cycling Team) earned the Under 23 national title while Team Type 1’s Jacquelyn Crowell finished third in that category. The elite and age group categories competed together on the course that included more than 1,000 feet of climbing on each of the four laps of a 17-mile (27 km) circuit. Seehafer said she did what she could to hang on after attacking with 15 miles to go and building a 35-second gap that forced a reaction from the field and the formation of the eventual four-rider chase group. “I got caught at the right turn at the base of the last climb,” Seehafer said after her best finish at road nationals since a sixth-place in 2007. “I stayed with them until you take the right turn – about five kilometers from the finish. At that point, I was hurting and got dropped on the little climb. Then I caught up with them, only to watch Meredith attack and get off solo. Then I got dropped again.” Initially, the group chasing Seehafer numbered five and included Team Type 1’s Jen McRae, who – like teammates Alison Powers, Samantha Schneider and Crowell – had been monitoring riders trying to mount the chase. “I ended up covering the decisive move that went to Kori, but I just couldn’t say with them on that climb,” McRae said. Seehafer said if she had to do it all over again, she would have kept riding hard after catching the four.
Velo Club La Grange & Adageo Energy Bring Racing to Brentwood On August 9
7/28/09 - The Brentwood Grand Prix presented by Adageo Energy and hosted by Velo Club La Grange will return to Brentwood for a great day of bicycle racing excitement on Sunday, August 9, 2009. The Grand Prix has races of all types, from those featuring the fastest professionals in the United States to those for strong amateur and masters racers as well as fun-filled kids races. The course is a one-mile circuit along San Vicente Boulevard through the heart of downtown Brentwood. The Grand Prix promises to be the largest and richest cycling event of the year in the City of Los Angeles, and will be an integral part of the celebration of Velo Club La Grange’s 40 year history. The event attracts more than 500 amateur and professional bicycle racers from across the United States and several foreign countries. Thousands of race fans and cycling enthusiasts will be on hand to witness the fast racing action. While in Brentwood they can explore throughout the day the exposition area showcasing the latest in cycling technology and nutritional products as well as featuring displays of developing green technologies. The Expo also includes a free bicycle valet and package check. Admission and parking are free on the nearby streets with additional paid parking available at the Veterans Administration. The Grand Prix includes 10 categories by age and gender, with the racing program beginning at 7 a.m. with the Women’s Cat. 3/4 race. The event will again feature the Helen’s Cycles Kids Races for boys and girls ages 5-11. The highlight of the day, the Men’s Pro Race, will start at 2:50 p.m. $3,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded in this race alone. More information is available at BrentwoodGrandPrix.com.
The Tour is Over, but the Attacks are Still Flying
7/27/09 - The Tour de France has only been over for a day and things are still heating up between seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and 2009 Tour de France Champion Alberto Contador. Contador stated in a press conference, “My relationship with Lance Armstrong is zero. He is a great rider and has completed a great race but it is another thing on a personal level, where I have never had great admiration for him and I never will. On this Tour, the days in the hotel were harder than the those on the road. The situation was tense and delicate because the relationship between myself and Lance extended to the rest of the staff." Lance took to his Twitter to respond to Contador by saying “Seeing these comments from AC. If I were him I'd drop this drivel and start thanking his team. w/o them, he doesn't win. hey pistolero, there is no "i" in "team". what did i say in March? Lots to learn. Restated.” Axel Merckx even chimed in with “A champion is also measured on how much he respect his teammates and opponents. You can win a race on your own not a grand tour.” One thing is for sure, Contador and Armstrong will not be teammates next year and we can expect a battle like no other. Too bad we have to wait 11 months for it!
What Do You Think?
7/27/09 - Tell us what you think with a vote or a comment.
Contador Takes his Second Tour de France Title, Cavendish Wins in Paris
7/26/09 - After three weeks of exciting racing, Alberto Contador (Astana) has clinched the overall victory at the Tour de France, followed by young talent Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) in second and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong (Astana), who was making a comeback since his last Tour win four years ago. On the final stage into Paris on the Champs Elysées , Columbia-HTC's Mark Cavendish and teammate Mark Renshaw blasted to first and second place in the final stage of the Tour de France in Paris on Sunday. Cavendish and Renshaw broke away from the head of the pack on the final corner, with Cavendish celebrating his sixth stage victory and first ever finish in the Tour de France. The Columbia-HTC rider's victory came on the Champs Elysées in the heart of the French capital, on a finishing circuit for the Tour's final stage which is often classified as the sprinters' World Championships. "Winning here in Paris is one of the most spectacular moments any sprinter can have," Cavendish said afterwards. "But it's one thing to do that sprint and another thing to execute it, and I'm always put in the best position possible by my team. I've got the most talented group of individuals I could ask for helping me to do that. It takes a lot of special people to make sure everything is done perfectly and that's what the guys do. I always said with that pressure on me, there's no excuse for not winning so I have to do it." Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) fought a hard battle for the points jersey over the three weeks and beat out Cavendish by twenty five points.
Mark Cavendish and leadout man Mark Renshaw celebrate on the Champs-Élysées.
photo © TDWSport.com
Dominguez and Rivera Win the Downtown Bend Criterium
7/26/09 - It took Rock Racing nearly the entire race to chase down a four-man breakaway Saturday night at the Downtown Bend Criterium at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic. Ivan Dominguez blazed down the long finishing stretch lined by a massive crowd to score Rock Racing’s second stage win. Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita-Sutter Homes presented by Cooking Light) finished second and Andrew Pinfold (OUCH presented by Maxxis) was third. Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla, who won Stage 2 to take the overall lead, retained his yellow jersey, as there was no change in the overall standings. Dominguez’s fast finish would not have been possible without the help of his Rock Racing teammates, who worked tirelessly to keep Kirk Carlsen (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin), Michael Creed (Team Type 1), Russ Langley (Battley Harley-Davidson) and Jackson Stewart (BMC Pro Cycling) from stealing the win. The four came within 15 seconds of catching the back of the field at one point. But Rock Racing teamed up with OUCH presented by Maxxis and the two teams traded pulls to shave seconds off the advantage each time around the six-tenths-of-a-mile (1 km) course after the four riders’ lead peaked at 60 seconds with 35 minutes left in the 90-minute race. “I said to the guys to keep the break there,” Dominguez said. “I told them we had to take care of the jersey. Tomorrow’s another day. We didn’t need to kill it. That was good for us.” In the women’s race, Coryn Rivera earned her first NRC win in front of an enthusiastic crowd by outsprinting seasoned veteran Tina Pic (Colavita) and Kirsty Broun (Lipsmacker).
Rock Racing's Ivan Dominguez celebrates his victory in the Downtown Bend Criterium
Saturday night at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.
photo © Bob Cullinan, CycleTo
Video - Chris Horner Interview
7/24/09 - In his candid style, Chris Horner talks about the Tour de France, drama at Astana and Alberto Contador's tactics on Stage 17. Horner always tells it like it is!
Lance Armstrong Announces his New Team - Team RadioShack
7/23/09 - There was a lot of internet speculation on who Armstrong's new sponsor would be. Many possibilities were mentioned including Twitter, Apple, Oracle and Google. Then it was discovered by Cyclingfans.com that Capital Sports & Entertainment, the managing group for the Team, had registered the domain name TeamRadioShack.com prior to the announcement, which turned out to be the sponsor. So far, the team roster has not been announced yet, but Armstrong says he will compete in the Tour of California over the Giro d' Italia. "Teaming up with RadioShack makes sense for a number of reasons. For one, it's very appealing to me that they have a huge base of stores throughout the U.S. and Mexico. We have an incredible opportunity to leverage RadioShack's connection to tens of millions of people to spread the LIVESTRONG message," said Armstrong. "Also, in cycling, the technology we use on our bikes matters - it allows us to compete at the highest level. It's important to me to partner with a brand that understands the role technology plays in people's lives." RadioShack also plans to activate their 35,000 employees and almost 6,000 stores across the country to raise awareness and funding for the fight against cancer through the Lance Armstrong Foundation and LIVESTRONG. "We know that cancer research and survivorship is near to the hearts of many of our associates and customers, and together with Lance and his Foundation, we have the power to make a meaningful difference," said Julian Day, RadioShack's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. video >
Armstrong finished 16th in the Time Trial, but moved up to 3rd GC, while
Contador blazed the course for the win and now has a 4:11 advantage over Andy Schleck in GC.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
Sevilla Rocks Cascade With Victory And Race Lead
7/23/09 - Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla threw down an attack that only Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) could follow on the slopes leading to the Three Peaks Snow Park Wednesday. The result was a stage win and the overall lead for the Spaniard at the 30th annual Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic. Rock Racing teammate Francisco Mancebo was third on the day and moved into second overall, 27 seconds behind. Chris Baldwin (OUCH pb Maxxis) is third, 35 seconds back of Sevilla. Rock Racing Team Director Laurenzo LaPage said after putting five riders in the 23-man breakaway that decided Stage 1 on Tuesday, it was no accident that Rock Racing was calling the shots again. “Our plan this morning was to send Victor Hugo Pena or David Vitoria into the breakaway to put pressure on the leaders and that’s exactly what we did,” LaPage said. “ It couldn’t have been more perfect.” For much of Wednesday’s 80-mile race, it looked like Sevilla’s Rock Racing teammate Vitoria was going to be the one climbing the victory platform and displacing yellow jersey wearer Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell). Vitoria and three others were part of a breakaway that gained as much as a two-and-half minutes lead before being reeled in on the final climb. “Laurenzo laid out the plan and we did exactly what we had to do,” Sevilla said. “David had a great race and worked very hard in the break. The whole team worked hard. I’m very happy with today’s win and very happy for my team. We feel good going into tomorrow’s time trial and are confident we can hold onto the lead.”
Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell) won Stage 1 at the Cascade Cycling Classic with
Jeff Louder (BMC) in second and Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) in 3rd.
photo © Brian Hodes / VeloImages
SoCal Juniors Selected for Junior Road and Track Worlds in Moscow
7/22/09 - USA Cycling has announced the US team for the 2009 UCI Junior Road and Track World Championships which will be held in Moscow, Russia August 11-15. Several of SoCal’s top Juniors have been selected to the Junior Worlds Team including Coryn Rivera, Kendall Ryan, Kit Karzen, Ian Moir and Danny Heeley. Coryn Rivera (Proman Hit Squad) earned a spot on the women’s road race and time trial roster as well the track squad, where she will compete in the women’s 2K pursuit, points race, and omnium. Kendall Ryan (NOW-MS Society) also was selected to the road race squad. On the men’s side, Kit Karzen (NOW-MS Society), Danny Heeley (South Bay Wheelmen), and Ian Moir (Rock Racing) have all been selected for the men’s track team. Karzen will compete in the scratch race while Heeley competes in the points race. Both Karzen and Heeley will team up as partners in the Madison. Moir is scheduled to for the omnium and 3k pursuit.
The yellow jersey group arrives at the finish of Stage 16 in Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Armstrong made an incredible effort bridging to the yellow jersey group.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
Cascade Boasts Strongest Men's Field, Top Women Use as a Tune-Up for Nationals
7/21/09 - The Cascade Cycling Classic, a six-day, six-stage race begins Tuesday in Bend, Oregon, and promises to be one of the most competitive stage races on National Racing Calendar (NRC) circuit this season. A record 185 riders are scheduled to compete. Team Type 1’s eight-rider roster includes one former Cascade Classic champion (Michael Creed), a pair of stage winners from a year ago (Matt Wilson and Moises Aldape) and the rider who finished third overall here last year (Darren Lill). Assistant Director Gord Fraser said Team Type 1 has two serious contenders for the overall in Creed and Lill. “That being said, there’s going to be a lot of teams who have really good contenders who excel at racing at altitude at this race,” Fraser said. “There’s the Rock Racing guys (Glen Chadwick, Ivan Dominguez, Cesar Grajales, Jose Gutierrez, Francisco Mancebo, Victor Hugo Pena, Oscar Sevilla and David Vitoria), Chris Baldwin from OUCH, a full contingent from Bissell and the list goes on. This might be one of the best races of the year in terms of teams bringing personnel to do well.” The Ouch squad is headlined by 2007 and 2008 NRC points champion Rory Sutherland, stage race specialist Floyd Landis and Baldwin. “Floyd gives us overall strength, Rory can both climb and sprint well, and Baldwin is one of the best climbers in the country, particularly at altitude,” said team directeur sportif Mike Tamayo. The goals are simple for the Team Type 1 women’s professional squad for the 30th edition of the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic “We would really like a podium finish and a stage win,” Team Type 1 Director Jack Seehafer said. Team Type 1 will use it as a tune-up for the USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships, which take place in Bend next week. SoCal’s Coryn Rivera (Proman-Hit Squad) will also be competing in the Cascade Cycling Classic as final preparation for the Junior National Time Trial Championships and Junior National Road Race Championships the following week. This year’s Cascade Cycling Classic includes four road races, a time trial and a criterium.
Bull BBQ and SoCalCycling.com Announce Our Second BBQ Winner
7/20/09 - Congratulations to Chris Valliere from Oakley, CA. He has won a Colt Grill in the drawing for a free BBQ from SoCalCycling.com Elite Team Sponsor, Bull BBQ. If you didn't win don't worry, we will be giving away one more BBQ. To enter the next drawing, just click on the Bull BBQ banner on SoCalCycling.com or visit BullBBQ.com through July 31st.
The SoCalCycling.com Elite Team. Enter at BullBBQ.com by July 31st for a chance to win a Colt Grill.
3rd Annual Ladera Ranch Grand Prix of Cycling to Benefit Local & National Charities
7/20/09 - Attention Cyclists: Ladera Ranch will be hosting its 3rd annual Ladera Ranch Grand Prix of Cycling, an all-day cycling event on Sunday, August 16th. The Grand Prix comprises of twelve different races throughout the day from 7am to 6pm with 100% of the event proceeds benefitting the Tinkerbell Guild for CHOC Hospital and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Last year the event hosted 500 racers and event officials expect to have between 600-800 participants this year. And, as extra incentive, this year the race is offering over $7500.00 in cash and prizes thanks to it Presenting Sponsor CIELL CYCLING and Supporting Sponsor Rock N’ Road Cyclery. "Last year's event blew away all our expectations. This is an ultra fast course that proved to be as exciting to watch last year as to participate", said Jeff Davis, event founder. "The second edition of this event brought out all the big names in local cycling and we anticipate an even broader range of athletes making this race one of the most exciting races of the cycling season." “ We also added a Rock N’ Road kids race in the middle of the day to bring in more families to the event. For more information on the Ladera Ranch Grand Prix of Cycling or for a course map, please visit LaderaRanchGrandPrix.com or download a flyer. For questions or for sponsorship opportunities, please email Jeff Davis or Ryan Miller and to volunteer, please email Stuart McClure.
US Cup Modifies PRO XCT Series Schedule
7/18/09 - The US Cup has answered the call of the PRO XCT teams, riders and industry to conclude the PRO XCT series at Windham Mountain Resort on August 15th and 16th. Windham Mountain will not only host the PRO XCT series final, but the TrailWatch.net short track series final as well. “After feedback from several of the pro teams and given the current state of the economy, travel costs and schedules, we have elected to make Windham Mountain the series finale for the PRO XCT series as well as the TrailWatch.net short track series, elaborates Ty Kady US Cup marketing director. “September is packed full of World Cup racing commitments and Interbike, so we felt it was best to conclude the series at Windham Mountain.” In addition, we are now going to host the U.S. Cup unification round at Bonelli Park in San Dimas, California on September the 20th where the facility and schedule is much more suitable to host the final. “While we had a lot of the PRO XCT riders and teams support the idea of hosting the PRO XCT finale in conjunction with dirt demo, there were still some companies who expressed concern that the race would take away from their event. And with Cross season starting up on the 26th in Wisconsin, it put some of the Pro riders in a pinch with scheduling conflicts. So at the end of the day, we all agreed it would be best to make Windham the PRO XCT final, and move the U.S. Cup shootout to Bonelli Park a week prior to Interbike, continues Kady.
Frank at SoCalCycling.com (rt) presents our long time Team sponsor Guy La Rocque of La Rocque
Better Roofs with a Team jersey. Guy is heading to France for the last week of the Tour.
Leipheimer Comes Out of Wrist Surgery Successfully
7/17/09 - Team Astana's Levi Leipheimer broke his right wrist after a crash in the 12th stage of the Tour de France and has been successfully operated on Friday, July 17th. The doctors joined the two parts of the broken scaphoid with a 22 mm titanium Herbert Screw. The operation was done in the Centre SOS Main Nancy (Hôpital Jeanne d'Arc) in Dommartin-lès-Toul. Leipheimer will return to the United States as soon as possible to begin his recovery. Leipheimer, three-times on the podium in Grand Tours, was obviously very disappointed to not be able to take the part in the 13th stage departing from Vittel."My wrist hurts a lot but it doesn’t compare to the pain of watching the Tour leave me behind and not be able to ride the Tour with my teammates. We've had a big battle so far and we’re the favorites and I wanted to be part of that. For sure I wasn't the biggest favorite, but it was a tactic that we could play. If I went up the road, the others would have had to chase. A day like today would maybe have offered possibilities for me,” Leipheimer concluded. About the crash he said, “The turn came upon me fast. I started to brake and slide a little bit and ran out of room and touched another wheel. I was sliding and saw the curb coming and I put my hand out…that's where I broke my wrist." The reaction of Johan Bruyneel came with, "He had a bad night, so we went to the hospital this morning where they saw the fracture. He is out now. For us it changes a lot. He was in fourth place. He was one of the guys who could potentially win the Tour. Strategically it will make a difference." Armstrong also commented on the loss of Levi to this year’s Tour: "It's a serious blow for our team. We had a nice four-headed approach there. Twenty-five percent of it is gone now. Not only does it hurt us, it helps the others. It turns their morale. They're maybe thinking that the team is weakened. It's unfortunate but it's part of bike racing."
George Hincapie powered the break and missed moving into the yellow jersey by just 5 seconds.
photo © TDWSport.com
Leipheimer Abandons the Tour with a Broken Wrist
7/17/09 - Astana's Levi Leipheimer, who was sitting in 4th GC, had an unfortunate crash with 2.5 kilometers to go going into the Stage 12 finish in Vittel. He ended up hitting the curb and upon further examination ended up with a broken wrist. Leipheimer announced via his Twitter account, "My wrist is broken. I can't describe how disapointed I am". He also posted a picture of the damage.
Hamilton's Attorney Sounds Off Regarding WADA’s Decision to Seek a Lifetime Ban
7/16/09 - "Tyler Hamilton took Mitamins, an herbal anti-depressant, in a moment of crisis while out of competition, with no intention or possibility of enhancing his cycling performance. Despite that, the rules do not distinguish between an intentional doping violation and Tyler's attempt to self medicate for depression. Based on their protocol, USADA imposed the minimum eight-year penalty in this situation, which was within the acceptable range of sanctions established by the World Anti-Doping Code, and we accepted that so Tyler could focus on his health and his future. Now, contrary to Tyler's settlement with USADA, WADA is pursuing a lifetime ban as if Tyler's self-medication for depression had been an intentional violation to boost performance. There is no reasonable basis to have the maximum penalty imposed upon Tyler Hamilton for taking an herbal anti-depressant that happened to contain DHEA. Tyler has been diagnosed with and is battling clinical depression, an illness which many people suffer from, and which took the life of his grandmother and has afflicted his mother and sister. Even worse, WADA has stated that the 8 year sanction "warrants scrutiny from an independent tribunal" because "it was the result of an agreement between USADA and the athlete," as though Tyler and USADA had somehow colluded in wrongdoing by agreeing to a sanction within the acceptable range under the WADA code. WADA did not even notify Tyler nor myself (Tyler's attorney of record) of its intent to pursue this action; we learned of it through the media. WADA’s insistence on a lifetime ban against Tyler is a vindictive, personal and ruthless attempt to destroy a man who suffers from a serious illness, has ended his career, and has already accepted the penalty imposed upon him."
A Tribute to Chris "Hipp Star" Hipp
By Roger Worthington
7/15/09 - Chris Hipp died today. Worst sentence I ever wrote. He was on his way to an early morning training ride. He never got there. Apparently suffered an aneurysm. I'm fairly certain he would've won the city limit sprint otherwise.
Lorraine has been comforted all day by many of their friends. She's an incredibly strong and brave woman -- I know Chris loved her deeply.
I know I speak for many of you when I say the obvious -- we're hurting. We lost a strange and unique friend. He was many things: a hard core spee-r-inter, an inquisitive explorer (he loved maps), a cybergeek (he invented a server gizmo called the Blade but never got the credit he deserved), a pioneer in graphics (he wrote my law firm's first news letter in 1990), a student of technofop (he preferred Gary Neuman to Jim Hendrix), and one of the warmest guys on the planet, which is odd because he always complained about not being warmed up before the final sprint. He helped found Team Labor Power in 1990. In the past few years, when I took an extended time out and others moved on, he kept the Labor dream alive, single-handedly and with pride.
He helped write the cyclist's dictionary, giving us words and phrases like: "pounding idiots," "stoopid sport," 12k dreamer," "gritty not pritty," and of course "EEEDEEEOTTS!." He had an uncanny ear for odd sounds. He could entertain himself for hours making exotic chirps, trills, flutters and hoots. I think he was actually able to talk to the birds who frequented the feeder outside his window. I know he was able to talk to his cats.
Chris "Hipp Star" Hipp made a big impact in the cycling world and will be missed.
SoCalCycling.com has set up a tribute page for Chris in our forum
if you would like to leave a comment or share your memories.
We've all got a million Hipp Star stories. In the near future, we will want to hold a tribute to the Hipp Star. Thinking out loud, perhaps a Friday night tribute dinner followed by a group ride the next morning. The trick is in finding a time that will be convenient to greatest number of people. Chris' remaining survivor is his brother Michael, who lives in Dallas. Chris and Lorraine met in Dallas about 15 years ago and they didn't migrate to Redwood City until about 2000 (dont hold me to the dates) so they have about a zillion friends in both states.
Stay tuned for details about logistics of the tribute (he'd like that I used that word -- he pretty much admitted that he was "logistically impaired"). We want to celebrate the quirky trajectory of his life. He's one of the few people I've known who really did mature like one of those fine wines you hear about without losing his playfulness. In my view, Hipp had found his stride. He was poised and comfortable with the size and scope of his life. He was the guy you wanted to share a foxhole with when the bullets started flying. You just knew he was going to keep his cool and help get you out of there unscathed. He made me feel safe. "Never quit," he always told me, with a mixture of sternness and optimism. "You never know what will happen in the end, you just might rally."
Peace be with you Brother Hipp Star. May you always take that Great Big City Limit Sign Sprint in the Sky.
Labor for Life,
Roger
Chris "Hipp Star" Hipp - 8/6/1961 - 7/14/2009.
Cavendish Wins Fourth Tour Victory and Takes Back the Green Jersey
7/15/09 - Columbia-HTC's Mark Cavendish has powered to a fourth stage win in the 2009 Tour de France on Wednesday, a victory that has allowed the British rider to regain the overall lead in the points jersey competition. Today's win marks the 24-year-old's eighth career Tour stage win. Already the winner of stages 2, 3 and 10, on stage 11's 192 kilometre ride from Vatan to Saint-Fargeau Cavendish was perfectly lead out by teammates George Hincapie, Tony Martin, and Mark Renshaw. The Columbia-HTC sprinter finished almost a bike length ahead of American Tyler Farrar and Yauheni Hutarovitch of Bylorussia to claim his 17th win of the season. "There's nothing better than a win. You can talk and plan at the dinner table but success is the biggest motivation," Cavendish said. "We all know that if we do our job 100-percent right it'll come out right. It's a cliche but in our team it really is 'all for one and one for all. There was a bit of an uphill at the finish but it wasn't very long. I went for the line with 150 metres to go, not 200 metres to go, and I knew some guys would try to come back at me on the final but that was the only real difference it made." Back in green as the leader of the points classification, Cavendish said "it would be nice to hold onto this all the way through, but it doesn't change my gameplan. My big aim is still to reach Paris and win on the Champs Elysées."
Cavendish Wins Again on a Radio Free Stage 10
7/14/09 - Mark Cavendish has stormed to a third stage win in the 2009 Tour de France for Columbia-HTC on Tuesday. Already victorious on stages two and three, Cavendish outpowered Norway's Thor Hushovd and American Tyler Farrar to clinch the 194.5-kilometre stage from Limoges to Issoudun by over two bike lengths. The Columbia-HTC rider was perfectly led out by his teammates in the tricky final kilometres with Mark Renshaw bringing him up to speed before powering ahead for a clear win. "Mark Renshaw for me is the man of the day," Cavendish said afterwards. "It was a technical finish, slightly uphill and very twisty, but Mark did a great job for me taking me through those last corners. Really all I had to do was finish off his work. It's an important victory for me. I wanted to prove today that I didn't come through the Pyrenees for nothing, and the team rode brilliantly for me again. They delivered me perfectly to the finish and I was able to deliver." Cavendish rubbed his green sunglasses when crossing the line, a reference to his continuing battle for the points competition, which he led in the first week. "It's a nice colour, maybe I'll get to wear more green before the end of the race again. I'll certainly try my best to get the green jersey back." The winner of four stages last year, Cavendish calculates that "There are four more opportunities for bunch sprints, three more this week, and I'll keep on going for the wins. My big objective is to win on the Champs Elysées in Paris on the last day." The radio free race day which was implemented by the ASO and UCI proved to be less exciting than they hoped, as the riders rode piano most of the day.
Thank You Note From Justin Williams for Recent Dental Work Fundraiser
7/13/09 - Justin Williams would like to thank the generous contributors that donated to the recent fundraiser that SoCalCycling.com held to assist with the dental work that is needed due to a bad crash at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix in the following letter:
I'd like to take this time to thank everyone for their support. For everyone that has put in their time and effort, it really means a lot. To Christy and Frank at SoCalCycling.com, I cannot thank you enough for the fundraiser you put on to help for my dental work. To all the people that donated to that fundraiser I'm very thankful. You didn't have to but you did. A very big thank you to Rahsaan Bahati for looking out for me and my best interest. I greatly appreciated all your hard work.
Sincerely,
Justin Williams
Hanson and Rivera Win At the San Rafael Twilight Criterium
7/13/09 - Ken Hanson of Team Type 1 shot through the darkness to win the San Rafael Twilight Criterium in front of several thousand spectators Saturday night in the Marin County town north of San Francisco. Hanson, the reigning U.S. elite national criterium champion beat US Pro Criterium Champion Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) and Daniel Holloway (Team Garmin-Slipstream) to earn his second win of the year and seventh podium finish. “It was pretty fast, so I just waited for my time to move up,” Hanson said. “Coming through the last corner, he (Bahati) went left with Holloway, I had an open slot to the right so I had a clear shot to the line. Fortunately, I was able to hold it all the way.” Hanson said he remained patient throughout the 75-minute race, even as a number of breakaways threatened to spoil the field sprint. With no teammates to help chase them down, it was left to the Hanson to do much of the work. “I made some big efforts to stay up front and go with any dangerous moves,” he said. One time I had to chase for half a lap.” In the women's race, Coryn Rivera (Proman Hit Squad) outsprinted Stacy Marple (Colavita/sutter Home) and Olivia Dillon (Touchstone Climbing) for the win.
The colorful bottles of the Tour de France.
photo © TDWSport.com
Be one of 100 riders to ride with 3x Tour de France Champion Greg LeMond on Aug 8
7/12/09 - Greg LeMond, three-time Tour de France Champion will host a benefit ride through the hills of Montecito and along the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, August 8th. The ride is a fund-raiser for 1in6, an organization that LeMond co-founded whose mission is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood live healthier, happier lives on Saturday, “Although many studies have demonstrated the enormity of this problem, there are almost no resources specifically available to men who have survived childhood sexual abuse,” said Steve LePore, Executive Director of 1in6. Male childhood sexual abuse inflicts severe damage on millions of men, and on our whole society, in the form of higher rates of mental illness, alcoholism, family and relationship dysfunction and a host of other problems. “Greg’s willingness and courage in coming forward as a survivor himself and lending his support to this cause should be applauded. The fact that Greg sits on the board and takes an active role in the direction of the organization is equally impressive, said LePore.” “ "I know first-hand how the pain and shame of having been abused as a child can affect one’s life, and I only wish 1in6 had been available when I was coming to terms with this,” said LeMond, who became a founding member of the 1in6 board after learning of the organization’s mission and work. “In looking back over my own life, I can tell you that no joy has been greater than being with my wife and children without the ‘dark cloud’ of shame and guilt that my childhood abuse caused me.” With recent reductions in charitable giving due to poor economic conditions, the fundraiser will provide vital support for 1in6 online programming including comprehensive information on male childhood sexual abuse, an online resource lending library, and an online hotline which will launch in July. The exclusive “le Tour de Montecito,” limited to 100 riders, will allow participants to ride up-close and personal with LeMond and enjoy a post-ride cookout at a Montecito farm house. To sign up, go to www.1in6.org and follow the “le Tour de Montecito” link.
Women Go for the Gold: Central Coast Cycling Classic Women's Focus Weekend,
National Championships – Masters Road & Junior Track, Bike Talk: Women on Bikes
By Dorothy Wong
7/10/09 - It was an amazing 4th of July season where women from So Cal were making their mark in cycling across the nation taking home 14 National Championships from Juniors to Masters 70+! Supporting the women was the theme of the Central Coast Cycling Classic in San Luis Obispo, three days of women-focused activities hosted by the Women’s Cyclng Challenge including a celebration ride through the scenic roads of SLO, a women’s clinic, road racing for all levels including masters women, a meet and greet dinner, and women’s boutique and warm-up lounge at the finale of the SCNCA Elite Criterium Championships. Pam Schuster (Helens) swept both days earning the 35+ win and the Cat1/2 Elite Crit Championship. Kimberly Turner (Chicken Ranch) won the Cat 3 Crit Championship and Sara Bell of Ventura (Metal MTN) won the Cat 4 Crit title. Sue Fish (Kalyra) and Jeanette Candau (Echelon) won the Cycling Made Real – 2 day points competition 35+ 45+. Thanks to SLO-Nexxus, Shaba Mohseni of Nimble Creative for providing an incredible opportunity for women. More than 100 women took part in the weekend! more >
Budget Cuts Jeopardize the Tour of Missouri
7/9/09 - Missouri State Governor Nixon’s Department of Economic Development is proposing to cut a 1.5 million subsidy to the Tour of Missouri, which is scheduled from September 7-13. Medalist Sports Chris Aranholt said that the cut would force the race to be canceled with such a short notice to find the needed funding. The Tour de Georgia, which Medalist Sports also managed, was canceled for 2009 due to a lack of funding due to the economic downturn. If the Tour of Missouri is canceled it will be an unfortunate blow for the team’s and fans that have already invested in attending with booked hotels and airfare. In addition, contracts have been signed by the state, cities, sponsors and vendors that will need to be honored or be faced with litigation. At this time, the following fourteen teams are confirmed to compete in the Tour of Missouri this September: Astana, BMC Racing, Cervelo Test Team, Garmin-Slipstream, Jelly Belly, Liquigas, OUCH pb Maxxis, Quick Step, Team Saxo Bank, Columbia/HTC, Bissell, Colavita /Sutter Home, Kelly Benefit Strategies and Team Type 1. Lt. Governor Peter Kinder who is also the Chairman of the Missouri Tourism Commission wrote, “I am urging cycling fans across our great state, and around the world to contact Gov. Jay Nixon at 573-751-3222 and tell him to release the funding for the largest sporting event ever held in our state."
SoCal Masters Earn Masters Criterium Championship Titles
7/9/09 - The USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships wrapped up with the men’s 30-49 criterium contests on a wet Fourth of July. The final four masters road Stars 'n Stripes jerseys were awarded following fierce battles on the half-mile course around the infamous infield at Churchill Downs. The eldest age division of the day, the 45-49 men, set an aggressive tone early with numerous riders trying to make a break in the 50-lap affair. In the end however it came down to a sprint to the line between the top 15 riders. Track and criterium specialist John Walsh (Amgen Giant Masters) proved the strength of his kick, outsprinting the talented group by less than a second. The men’s 40-44 race played out in dramatically different fashion with a break of five powering away to grab the top-five spots from the massive field. The division’s best all-around rider, Grant Potter (Champion Porsche p/b Racers Edge) scored his first-ever national title outpowering his break partners to win the gold. Michael Johnson (Sho-air/Sonace) had to settle for silver by only tenths of a second and last year’s champion Byron Nix (Green Mountain Sports) finished third. In what may have been the most exciting race of the event, three riders, John Puffer (Texas Roadhouse), Chris DeMarchi (Amgen Giant Masters) and Andrew Clarke (Panther-RGF) held off a talented field in the 35-39 age division. The excitement didn’t end there however, coming down to a photo finish to decide the national championship as Puffer was able to edge Demarchi by only inches for the Stars-and-Stripes. It was all Kenny Fuller (Simple Green) in the 60-64 men’s contest. Mid-way through the 44-lap affair, the former masters world champ and now 38 time national champion took off and never looked back, lapping most of the field twice. In addition, Link Lindquist (Sho-air) placed 1st 80+ Men’s Criterium, Patricia Baker (Lightning Velo) placed 1st in the 70+ Women’s Criterium and Robert Paganini (PAA) placed 3rd in the 70-74 Men’s Criterium. Results >
Video - Interview with Chris DeMarchi and John Puffer after the 35-39 USA Cycling Masters Criterium Championship
SLO Downtown Criterium Crowns Criterium Champions
7/7/09 - The SLO Downtown Criterium provided a day of action packed racing as the riders tried to win the Elite Criterium Championship title. In the Pro 1/2 Men’s race, Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) took first place and the Elite Criterium Championship in an intense field sprint to the line, coming out from his hiding place in the pack within the last turns of the course. For his win, Bahati gets to add a Bear jersey to his wardrobe, which currently includes the coveted Star ‘n Stripes Jersey of the USPRO Criterium Champion. Championship results for Men’s Pro 1-2 race are: 1st Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing), 2nd Kenneth Hanson (Team Type 1) and 3rd Jeremiah Wiscovitch (SC Velo). In what was an exciting and dynamic event with riders taking flyers and testing the field continuously throughout the race, Marina Duvnjak (Jazz Apple Cycling) supported by a strong squad of teammates, took first place in the Women Pro 1-3 race. Championship results for the Women Pro 1-3 are: 1st Pam Schuster (Helens/Cannondale), 2nd Beatriz Rodriguez (Kahala LaGrange) and 3rd Kate Ligler (Dolce Vita Cycling). Full Results >
Shaba Mohseni, leads the Women's 3-4 peloton in the SLO Downtown Criterium Classic.
photo © Mandy Gamble / shotboxphotos.com
Team Astana Wins Team Time Trial, 22 Hundredths Of A Second From Yellow
7/7/09 - Astana Cycling Team won the 4th stage in the Tour the France, a team time trial in Montpellier over 39 km (24 miles). In the process of winning today, Lance Armstrong just missed taking another maillot jaune by tenths of a second to Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) who remains in yellow since his opening time trial win on Sunday. With Cancellara and Armstrong tied, the next three slots on GC all belong to Team Astana with Alberto Contador in 3rd at 19-seconds back, Andreas Kloden 4th at 23-seconds off the pace and Levi Leipheimer rounding out the top five at 31 seconds behind. Haimar Zubeldia sits in 7th, Sergio Paulinho in 11th and Yaroslav Popovych in 18th, putting seven of nine team riders in the top 20. Garmin and Team Astana were even on time at the first check point, just behind leaders Caisse d'Eparge by seven-seconds. By the 2nd time check Astana had grabbed the lead and were 23-seconds ahead of Garmin. Still in front at the 3rd check point the advantage had gone down to 17-seconds where it held through the finish. Gregory Rast and then Dmitriy Muravyev were the first team riders to drop off with the remaining seven powering on until the final kilometer when Yaroslav Popovych lost contact with the team of six. With Armstrong repeatedly taking long pulls throughout the stage, it was Contador who led through the last rise to the finish line with the clock stopping at 46:29 on the fifth man, who happened to be Armstrong.
Armstrong leads Team Astana during the TTT.
photo courtesy Team Astana
Reactions By Lance Armstrong
Q: Is this a bittersweet victory because of missing yellow?
LA:"Yes and no. We did what we could. That's cycling. We can look at each other and say that we did our best. The most important thing is that we won the stage and took time on the other rivals. I said it earlier to Alberto as well that it is so important that we take time to Evans, Sastre and the others. We were fairly successful. I wouldn't like to be two minutes down right now."
Q: After your return, did you expect to be so close now?
LA: "No. What happened yesterday, you couldn't expect that neither. It's nice to be close, to win a stage, to win an event we like so much. We will see now. This is a confession: 12 months ago I expected it to be easier, so yes, I expected it. Six months ago I did not expect it any more. I realized that it was harder than I thought. I was just disrespectful to Carlos Sastre or Cadel Evans. This is not easy at all. Today I am realistic. I have both feet on the ground. It will not be like in 2001 or 2005. It will be harder. That's as honest as I can say it."
Fundraiser for Justin Williams Dental Work After Crash at MBGP
7/6/09 - U-23 National Criterium Champion Justin Williams (Rock Racing) suffered a bad crash at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix with 2 laps to go. Unfortunately, his mouth hit his stem and he lost his two front teeth and chipped several bottom teeth. As we all know, dental work is very expensive. Rahsaan Bahati and his Rock Racing teammates have generously donated their MBGP prize winnings. SoCalCycling.com wants to help make up the difference needed, so we are asking for your help in raising the additional funds needed to give Justin his great smile back. We have set up a ChipIn account above where you can contribute via PayPal or credit card. Any amount will help and is greatly appreciated! Thanks and let's see how the cycling community can rally!
Update: We have met / exceeded our goal by raising $2,345.00 in just 66 hours for Justin's new smile! We are blown away by everyone's generosity. Thank you so much to all of you that contributed! SoCalCycling.com
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Cavendish Blazes to his Second Straight Tour de France Win
7/6/09 - Columbia-HTC's Mark Cavendish soared to his second straight win in the Tour de France on Monday, strengthening his overall hold on the green jersey. In a small bunch sprint finish, Cavendish was once again the fastest in the 196.5-kilometre stage from Marseilles to La Grande Motte. Cavendish's victory was the sixth Tour stage win and 43rd victory of his career, and came after 27 riders, including the entire Columbia-HTC team, broke away from the peloton around 30 kilometres to go. The 24-year-old rider made a gesture of using a mobile phone as he crossed the line, and he explained that it was in honor of his team's new sponsor, HTC. "This gesture was dedicated to HTC because they introduced a new phone last week and I said if I win I'd do that for them," Cavendish explained. "There are eight sprint stages we have targeted here, so hopefully I'll get a few more before the end of the Tour, and one of them will be a win on the Champs Elysées." Speaking of the Columbia-HTC squad's coordinated teamwork, he expleined, "It was brilliant. We were the only sprint team that wanted to ride today in the front group, but it worked out and the other teams had to ride behind anyway to chase us. You could really appreciate how strong we were as a squad and we took a lot of time out of the guys behind. It was a hard last kilometre, but I had five guys around me in the last build-up for the sprint. Mark Renshaw kept his cool and left it very late because there was a headwind but it worked out well. In the Astana camp, Armstrong rode attentively in a cross wind section and managed to make the split and moved into 3rd GC. Meanwhile, Contador got caught out and finished 41 seconds back dropping from 2nd GC to 4th GC.
The Columbia-HTC Team proves that having a little fun off the bike,
does wonders for their on the bike performance.
photo © TDWSport.com
SoCal Juniors Bring Home National Titles from Junior Track Nationals
7/6/09 - SoCal’s Junior cyclists were successful in winning the lion's share of the stars ‘n stripes jerseys at the USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships at the Home Depot Center Velodrome, which were held July 2-5. Many of these young riders had the opportunity to gain valuable experience racing in Europe with the Junior National Team earlier this year. As the racing got underway on the men’s side, Danny Heeley (South Bay Wheelmen) and Kit Karzen (NOW-MS Society) teamed up to win the gold over Ian Moir (Rock Racing) and Benny Swedeberg (Rad Racing) in the Madison. In the 17-18 3 Kilometer Pursuit, Ian Moir (Rock Racing) bested Danny Heeley (South Bay Wheelmen) in the gold medal round to take the national title. Additionally, the Men’s Team Sprint was won by Danny Heeley, Benny Swedberg and Jesse Marans. On the women’s side, Kendall Ryan (VRC NOW) lapped the field and gained 26 points to win the women’s 17-18 points race with Coryn Rivera (Proman Hit Squad ) finishing in 2nd. Coryn Rivera won her 22nd national title in the Team Sprint with Christine Barron, as well as her 23rd national title by winning the Women’s 17-18 2-kilometer Pursuit. Christine Barron (Home Depot Center Team) had a successful week winning three gold medals in the Women’s 15-16 500 Meter Time Trial, 15-16 Junior Women’s Sprint and the 15-16 Women’s 6km Scratch Race. In the younger age categories, Chazmichael Morales (Connie Cycling CP) won the Junior Men’s 10-12 500m Time Trial, Men’s 10-12 1 Kilometer Scratch Race and Omnium, while Tara McCormick (Cal Pacific Export) stood atop the podium in the Women 13-14 1 Kilometer Scratch Race and Omnium. Congratulations to our new Junior Track Champions and to all of those that participated! Full Results >
Cavendish Takes the Stage Win and Green Jersey for Columbia-HTC
7/5/09 - Mark Cavendish has blasted to his first victory of the 2009 Tour de France on Sunday's 187-kilometre stage from Monaco to Brignoles, a victory that also places him in the green jersey as the leader of the race's points classification. The Columbia-HTC rider took his fourteenth win of the 2009 season with a powerful charge for the finish line that left him clearly ahead of runners-up Tyler Farrar of the United States and Roman Feillu of France. Cavendish now heads the Tour's points classification and for the first time in his career. On Monday's stage three, he will wear the green jersey as leader of that competition in the Tour de France. Afterwards Cavendish hugged and thanked his Columbia-HTC teammates for having given him such strong support during the stage. "The team were superb, they're all great riders and I'm just glad I can win at the end of everything they do for me," he said. "There were a lot of squads trying to get past us. They were all very keen to get a result, but we kept going and kept going and when we do that there's only ever going to be one result. I was able to go all out and get the win. It was perfect for us, and it's perfect to be able to do that after such hard work by my teammates. It's a very special result and now I've got the green jersey, I couldn't be more satisfied." Cavendish added, "I have two goals here. My personal goal is to finish the Tour, and my job, my second goal, is to win stages. I don't think it's wise to go for the green jersey right from the start, so now I've won one stage I want to go all the way to Paris and see if I can win some more and maybe take a last win on the Champs Elysées."
Video - Lance Armstrong at Tour de France Prologue
7/4/09 - CycleFilm captured Lance Armstrong at the start house as he prepares to ride his first Tour de France Prologue in four years. Armstrong went on to finish 10th in 20:12, 40 seconds behind race winner Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) who blazed the demanding Monaco course in 19:32. Astana put in a good team showing with four riders placing in the top ten, including Alberto Contador in 19:50, Andréas Kloden in 19:54 and Levi Leipheimer in 20:02. Astana is also leading the Team GC. It should get interesting as the race unfolds in the weeks to come!
Women in SoCal are Leaving Their Mark this Summer! July is Off with a Bang!
By: Dot Wong
7/3/09 - The women of Southern California are doing amazing things this summer in road! Here is an update and reports sent to me I'd love to share with you all. Junior women started things off taking the track championships at the Encino Velodrome then it was time for the Junior women's criterium championships at Ontario June 13th where Rachel Cross (Sho-air/Sonance) won the 10-12 year old championship, Tara McCormick (Cal-Pacific Export Packers / LV) took the 13-14 year old championship, Somersby Jenkins (Echelon Santa Barbara) won the 15-16 while Ivie Crawford (Southern California Velo) won the 17-18 women's title. It was amazing to see the determination on their faces and pride of their family and teams! more >
Video - Manhattan Beach Grand Prix - Rahsaan Bahati Interview!
7/2/09 - USPRO Criterium Champion Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) talks about
how he won the 2009 Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix for the third year in a row.
Sergio Hernandez leads the Rock Racing train on the bell lap at the MBGP.
photo © Brian Hodes / VeloImages
SoCal Masters Bring Home Stars ‘N Stripes Jerseys From Masters Nationals
7/2/09 - SoCal’s Masters have taken the USA Cycling Masters National Championships by storm in Louisville, Ky and have taken the National Championship title in many of their respective categories. Our SoCal Master’s contingent has always been one of the best in the Nation and due to their success, we will be seeing many more Stars ‘N Stripes jerseys at the races and on the local group rides. Congrats to our new Masters National Champions! 35-39 Men’s Road Race - Michael Onkels (Sho-air/Sonace), 50-54 Men’s Road Race - Keith Ketterer (Amgen/Giant Masters), 55-59 Men’s Road Race - Wayne Stetina (Amgen/Giant Masters), 60-64 Men’s Road Race - Kenny Fuller (Simple Green), 80+ Men’s Road Race - Link Lindquist (Sho-air), 35-39 Women’s Road Race - Dotsie Bausch (Jazz Apple), 70+ Women’s Road Race - Patricia Baker (Lightning Velo), 50-54 Women’s Time Trial - Ruth Clemence (Simple Green), 55-59 Women’s Time Trial - Julie Kaplan (Team Hammer Nutrition), 60-64 Men’s Time Trial Kenny Fuller - (Simple Green), 80-84 Men’s Time Trial - Link Lindquist (Sho-air), Men’s 70+ Tandem Time Trial - Gil Correa and Chris DeMarchi (Amgen/Giant Masters), Women’s Tandem Time Trial - Jill Gass and Sonia Ross (Kalyra), 110+ Men’s Tandem Road Race - David Pretchl (Edge Cyclesports), 90+ Tandem Female Road Race - Jill Gass (Kalyra) and 90+ Mixed Tandem Road Race - Sherri Norton (Simple Green). The USA Cycling Masters National Championships will continue through July 4th.
Antony Galvan (Amgen/Giant Masters) winning the MBGP in the 35+ for the
3rd year in a row out of a 6-man breakaway that went on the 3rd lap.
photo © Brian Hodes / VeloImages
Father and Son Grand Tour Dream Ends With Tragedy
By Stephen Box
7/1/09 - 21 years ago, Rodrigo "Rod" Armas strapped on his helmet, hopped onto his bike and set off on the LA Wheelmen's Grand Tour, an annual cycling event that starts and finishes in Malibu, drawing participants from throughout California as well the surrounding Western States. Grand Tour riders typically have an appetite for distance as is evidenced by the route options which range from the 200 Kilometer, 200 mile, 300 mile and 400 mile routes. The Grand Tour is a fully supported event meaning that there are abundant pit stops and sag teams that patrol the route, offering everything from encouragement and refreshments to medical and mechanical support. The ride starts early on Saturday morning and riders must complete their selected route within 24 hours.This past Saturday, Rod again saddled up for the Grand Tour, this time accompanied by Christian, his 14 year-old-son. They were among the last cyclists to check in, picking up numbers 473 and 474. Rod strapped on the same helmet he used 21 years before and the father and son team set off on the Highland Double, a 200 mile route that heads up to Port Hueneme and then turns inland over the rural, quieter and hillier back roads of Ventura County. more >
