Cycling News

Powers Wins Sunset Stage, Teutenberg Takes Redlands Classic GC by 1 Second
3/30/09 - Ina Teutenberg succeeded in winning the Redlands Classic on Sunday in nail biting dramatic fashion. After taking third place in Thursday's uphill prologue, Teutenberg trailed Nuernberger/Sho-Air's Amber Neben by 27 seconds. Gradually making up time over Friday and Saturday's stage Teutenberg went into the final stage still with two seconds to make up. On a difficult course that consisted of nine laps of a hilly neighbourhood course in Redlands, the Columbia-Highroad women went on the attack to gain seconds. Winning the first time bonus sprint of the race at the top of the first climb, Teutenberg moved into the race lead by one second. The team then raced to protect the lead over the next eight laps. A feat that proved harder than it looked. As well as constant attacks from Neben to get the jersey back, Teutenberg was involved in two crashes and had two punctured wheels. "I couldn't have won this race today if I didn't have such a good team around me," said Teutenberg. "They kept the race together. They all stayed with me at all times to help me pacing on the climbs and get me in position for the next climb. The first time I punctured, Emilia gave me her wheel which was perfect. Unfortunately while we did that a girl came around the corner and crashed into us. "On the last lap I punctured my back wheel and had to go straight into a brick wall," continued Teutenberg. "Mara was right there with me and we swapped bikes. I rode to the finish on her bike and she came in on my bike which looked quite funny. "We were also very happy with the way the field reacted to my crash on the last lap. They waited for me to get back up which was great sportsmanship."  The stage finished in a sprint with Alison Powers taking the win and Teutenberg finishing safely in the top ten to win the overall tour by a mere second. Current US Time Trial Champion Alison Powers of Team Type 1 attacked solo going into the finish, successfully giving her the win. “I tried to stay out of the wind,” said Powers. “If I can start at the front and hang on, that works for me. Our director gave us great input and it worked out really well. I expected to be suffering the whole time, but it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Coming down I tried to save energy and see if any chances opened up, and one did.” Joanne Kiesanowski of Team Tibco and Webcor Builders Cycling Team’s Nikki Butterfield finished second and third, right on Powers’ wheel. Results >

L) Ina Teutenberg marks Amber Neben on the Sunset Loop, R) Alison Powers wins the stage.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Wamsley Solos to Sunset Victory, BMC’s Louder Holds on to Redlands Classic GC
3/30/09 - The Stage Three Beaver Medical Group Sunset Road Race started in downtown Redlands before taking cyclists up to a hill-laden 6.2-mile circuit that the men completed 12 times. The final leg of the race brought the men back to the downtown loop for five final laps of speed. For the men, the field split into two large groups early into the race with the front group consistently staying single file. During the 12 laps, the front group was trimmed down with the BMC yellow jersey leading the remaining cyclists. During the last 5K there were several attacks in the lead group. As the race moved back downtown for the final five laps, Kyle Wamsley with Colavita Sutter Home broke off the front and held it until the final seconds as he finished first, just three seconds ahead of Kirk Carlsen of Garmin-Holoweko Partners-Felt and Jacob Erker of Kelly Benefits Strategies.  “It was really aggressive today. It wasn’t the standard of just let a break get up the road that BMC could manage, let it sit at two minutes and then whittle it down,” said Erker. “There are a lot of good teams here and they didn’t want to let BMC just set their own tempo so the attacks started very early today. Hat’s off to BMC; they finished with two guys at the front and kept control the whole time. We threw everything we could at them. We haven’t raced very much yet and didn’t know what to expect in Redlands. We got third today and that’s not too bad.”  Finishing the weekend with his biggest win since taking the overall at the 2008 Tour of Utah, BMC's Jeff Louder unequivocally proclaimed the victory as being impossible without the team support he enjoyed throughout the weekend.  As one of the most difficult road race circuits on the US calendar, only the very strongest teams can hope to defend a lead the entire 146 kilometers.  "You can't get a group to rally like our guys did without having at least one deal closer on the team," Chilcott said.  "Today, Jeff filled that role perfectly."  The humble Louder was quick to point out that flawless riding by the team formed the backbone of his success.  "I am so honoured to see how these guys have ridden for me," Louder said.   Results >

Redlands Classic Overall Leaders: (L-R) KOM - Kirk Carlsen (Garmin-Holoweko Partners-Felt),
GC - Jeff Louder (BMC), Sprint - Kyle Wamsley (Colavita) .
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Ina Teutenberg and Jackson Stewart Win the Redlands Classic Criterium
3/28/09 - Ina Teutenberg and the Columbia-Highroad team succeeded in winning their second stage of the Redlands Classic on Saturday. Teutenberg took the bunch sprint at the downtown criterium ahead of Tina Pic (Colavita) and Gina Grain (Webcor). The stage win and a sprint midway through the race gave Teutenberg the time bonus seconds needed to move to within three seconds of the overall race lead with one stage remaining. "We're really happy with the win today," said Teutenberg. "The girls did a great job of keeping it together so that I could sprint for seconds.""It's getting close," said Teutenberg. "It's all coming down to time bonus seconds. Now we just have to try to stay with [Amber] Neben on the climbs tomorrow. It's a tough course but we'll give it our best. We have Mara [Abbott] within 40 seconds on GC too and Alex who won the final stage last year can do something tomorrow. So we know what we're up against. We just have to try everything." In the men's race, race leader Jeff Louder's BMC Racing Team rode on the front in defense of his yellow jersey from lap one. Several breakaways attempted to gain time on the chasing peloton and go for the stage win, but it came back together. With two laps to go, Kirk O'Bee (Bissell) attacked with a strong solo move, but was swallowed by the hard chasing peloton who wanted the win just as bad. BMC's race tactics paid off as Jackson Stewart powered to the victory ahead of Team Ouch's Andrew Pinfold with his BMC teammate Brent Bookwalter taking third in the sprint. Jeff Louder heads into tomorrow's final stage, the Beaver Medical Group Sunset Road Race, still in yellow race leaders jersey. It should be a great battle for both the women and men as they take on the challenging Sunset Road Race course, where anything can happen and the GC has been known to change. For more info on the race or if you would like to come out and cheer the riders on please visit redlandsclassic.com. Results >

 
Columbia-Highroad's Ina Teutenberg on her way to winning another one.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Redlands Bicycle Classic Beaumont Stage Proves to be a Tough One
3/27/09 - Spinning wheels battled howling winds as cyclists fought hard to the finish at Friday’s 2009 Redlands Bicycle Classic Stage One race in Beaumont, Calif. The race, presented by PossAbilities in partnership with CH&E Investments, featured world class athletes vying for a stage win and strong positions toward the overall win. Today’s events started with an 18-mile handcycle course that tore through downtown Beaumont with world class athletes competing for the win. The men’s and women’s Stage One race unfolded over a 22.3-mile loop that the men completed four times and the women three. The courses long leg stretches usually feature fast-paced sprints, but the wind turned the area into a more strategic battlefield. The hills on the course hurt, but the wind was more challenging, said the women’s first place finisher Ina Teutenberg (Columbia-Highroad). Teutenberg now trails race leader Amber Neben by 14 seconds with two stages remaining. "It was a pretty tough day," explained Teutenberg. "It was very windy and Tibco did a good job of putting it in the gutter which split up the bunch.  We wanted to try to get a break up the road to shake up the GC  so we were very aggressive. For the men’s Stage One race, it was a push until the final lap as a group of four breakaway companions, just 13 seconds ahead of the fast closing main group, sprinted for the title. In the end, Jeff Louder (BMC) threw his hands up in victory as he powered past the rest of the group. "It was a windy day, so sometimes it felt like you were riding straight into a wall," said Louder. "There was a long downhill drive and I knew if we got down there and pushed it, it should work out, and it did. Overall this was a really tactical race. You don't see a lot of these types of races in America, so it was good to be a part of it." Louder moved into the GC lead after todays win. Racing events continue tomorrow with the Stage Two portion of the races in downtown Redlands with the men’s and women’s criterium. For more info on the race or if you would like to come out and cheer the riders on please visit redlandsclassic.com. Results > 

The Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living Team worked hard at the
front to protect race leader, Ben Day, with some help from Team OUCH.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Video - San Dimas Stage Race - Pro Men's Criterium Finish
3/27/09 - Watch Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living) edge out Sebastian Haedo (Colavita) and Team Ouch's John Murphy for the win in this exciting field sprint finish during the San Dimas Stage Race Incycle/Cannondale Old Town Grand Prix in downtown San Dimas.

Amber Neben and Ben Day Stamp Their Marks in the Redlands Classic Prologue
3/26/09 - With five technical kilometers of time trialing on the schedule in the opening prologue of the 2009 Redlands Bicycle Classic, Ben Day (Fly V Australia pb Successful Living Foundation) and Amber Neben (Team Nurnberger/Sho-Air) conducted a clinic for the men’s and women’s peloton. With a winning time that spanned 25 seconds to second place finisher Mara Abbott (Columbia-Highroad), Neben, the current World Time Trial Champion, ripped up the challenging prologue course to post an incredible time of 10:40.67. Columbia-Highroad teammates, Mara Abbott and Ina Teutenberg, rode incredibly strong posting finishing times within a single second of each other at 11:07.55 and 11:07.84. Alison Powers (Team Type 1) with a time of 11:18.50 and Katheryn Mattis (Webcor) with a time of 11:42.15 rounded out the top five. In the men’s race, Ben Day (Fly V Australia pb Successful Living Foundation) continued his winning ways that started a week ago with a Stage and Overall win at the San Dimas Stage Race. Day scorched the course in a time of 9:19.88, with Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing) in second at 9:23.42 and Tom Zirbel in third in 9:26.13. Chris Baldwin (Rock Racing) was fourth with a time of 9:28.44 and Jeff Louder (BMC Racing) placed fifth with a time of 9:31.68. With a long and challenging stage in front of the riders tomorrow in Beaumont, the Nurnberger/Sho-Air and Fly V Australia pb Successful Living Foundation teams will have their work cut out for them defending the coveted Redlands Bicycle Classic race leaders jersey. For more info on the race or if you would like to come out and cheer the riders on please visit redlandsclassic.com. Results >

Amber Neben (Team Nurnberger/Sho-Air) and Ben Day (Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living)
on their way to winning the Redlands Classic Prologue.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Experience Nevada's Spectacular Landscapes on the Tour de Fire Charity Ride
3/26/09 - The Spring Mountain Cycling Club presents its fifth Tour de Fire charity bike ride Saturday, May 2. Choose one of six route options from 20 to 132 miles. From Boulder Beach in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, you’ll ride along the lake over rolling hills on well-maintained roads. You’ll experience spectacular views of the lake, dramatic red rock outcroppings, and the magnificence of the desert southwest in all its rugged glory. Our well-stocked rest stops and support vehicles will pamper you. Those tough enough to take on the metric double will enter Valley of Fire State Park. Nevada’s first state park features some of the most breathtaking scenery in the area. Bring a camera to capture the graceful natural beauty of eroded sandstone, carved by 150 million years of wind. Proceeds of this event go to Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, providing social, emotional, educational and financial support to families of children with cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases.

Landis and Sutherland to Lead OUCH pb Maxxis at Redlands Classic
3/25/09 - Floyd Landis and two-time defending NRC points champion Rory Sutherland will lead the OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis into the 2009 NRC opening Redlands Classic, beginning Thursday, March 26. Last year’s Redlands Classic saw NRC champion Sutherland fly to a win in the opening prologue and take a hard-earned 3rd place in the final road stage en route to 4th overall. While Sutherland will still be a marked man, other teams will have to contest with the presence of Landis as well. “Having serious cards like Landis and Sutherland to play will make things that much more difficult for other teams,” Tamayo said. “It takes the pressure off of Rory because everyone was watching him last year.” So will the presence of the teams two Canadians, rising stage race star Cameron Evans and sprinter Andrew Pinfold. Both riders enter Redlands on good form after each took a stage win at the Vuelta Mexico earlier this month, and Pinfold rode his way onto the podium in two other stages. Their ability to win out of breaks, as demonstrated in Mexico, adds another element of danger to the team. Joining them on break patrol will be the ever-aggressive Bradley White.“Simply put, we have a lot more horsepower this year,” Tamayo said. Sutherland and Landis will have the ample support for the two hilly road stages, led as always by team captain and super-domestique Tim Johnson, as well hard-working Roman Kilun. This year, they have the added horsepower of veteran Patrick McCarty. Though this is the beginning of the battle for another NRC team title, Tamayo emphasized again that NRC points aren’t the goal. “We always go out to win races,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the style of this team if we didn’t try to maximize the weekend with stage wins as well as going for the overall title. If we win races, the point will come. And as with every race, we’ll use Redlands to work on tactics and keep getting better.” The Redlands Classic opens Thursday with a 5 km climbing prologue. It continues Friday with the 156 km Beaumont Circuit Race and follows Saturday with the 90-minute City of Redlands Downtown Criterium. The race concludes Sunday with the hilly 146.5 km Beaver Medical Center Sunset Road Race. Redlands Roster: Cam Evans, Tim Johnson, Roman Kilun, Floyd Landis, Karl Menzies, Andrew Pinfold, Rory Sutherland, Brad White.

Team OUCH is ready for the Redlands Classic.
photo © Jonathan Devich

Handcyclists Ready to do Battle at the Redlands Bicycle Classic Over Three Stages
3/24/09 - As the anticipation builds for the 25th running of the Redlands Bicycle Classic, the U.S. Handcycling Federation has finalized its 2009 start list. As with the 2008 edition the RBC kicks off the eight-round U.S. Handcycling Series, but unlike ‘08 this year’s event will feature nearly double the amount of athletes. Nearly thirty handcyclists are set to do battle over three days of racing, beginning with an uphill time trial Thursday, March 26th. Among those favored for glory are; Carlos Moleda, a former Navy SEAL and Ironman world record holder (wheel chair athlete); Monica Bascio a former world handcycling champion (’02) and 2-time U.S. National Handcycling Champion; David Randall the defending U.S. Handcycling Series overall champion (long-seat); Erica Davis defending RBC champion (women’s division); Matt Updike former 2-time U.S. National Handcycling champion and ’08 Olympic Team member; and Scott McNeice winner of the ’08 RBC and defending U.S. Handcycling Series champion (knee-seat). “I’m impressed by the level of talent attending this year’s event,” said Race Director Dan Rendler. “With names like McNeice, Davis, Randall, Moleda, Updike, and Bascio attending our event it is easy to see why handcycling has become a core piece of our race, it’s going to be an exciting event!” Mountain Bike Champion, Tara Llanes, will be also competing. This year’s Redlands Bicycle Classic kicks of Thursday, March 26th and the PossAbilities handcyclists will be the first to tackle the grueling uphill time trial course. Be sure to tune into redlandsclassic.com for up to date info and results.

Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living) edged out Sebastian Haedo (Colavita).
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Taking Pre Orders for SoCalCycling.com Team Clothing Through March 31st
We are currently taking pre orders for anyone that would like to order a SoCalCycling.com jersey and bib shorts. These are high quality, custom jerseys and bib shorts by Champion System that look and feel great. The deadline to order is March 31st and the clothing should be available in mid to late May. Thanks in advance! Order Now >

Lance Armstrong Breaks His Collar Bone in Castilla y León
3/23/09 - Lance Armstrong was involved in a crash during the first stage of Castilla y León in Spain where he has broken his collar bone. He was taken by ambulance to the Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valladolid where a fracture of the middle third of the right collar bone was diagnosed. When asked how the crash happened, Lance said "At the end of the race, people started to get a bit excited to win the race. Everybody wanted to be in the front and  couple of guys crashed in front of me, crossed the wheels and I hit them over the top. It happens quick when it happens. It could have been worse, I suppose. I have road rash abrasions on right hip and arm but the big problem is the broken collarbone. I never had this before. It is pretty painful. Now we must have to see how it heals. I will go back to the US and there we will decide on surgery.” Armstrong was scheduled to compete in the Giro d'Italia starting on May 9, but his preparation has now been sidelined. He said "I am very disappointed. Very. Especially for the Giro. Now the biggest problem is the pain. It hurts. We will see. The guys in the hospital in Valladolid were great and very nice and helpful. But now I feel miserable. I need to relax a couple of days, fix the problem and make a plan. I hope I can tell you more about the Giro in a week.” If you would like to send Lance well wishes, you can do so at the LiveStrong Blog." Video >

Day and Teutenberg Win the Incycle/Cannondale Old Town GP and SDSR Overall
3/23/09 - Columbia-Highroad’s Ina-Yoko Teutenberg put on another good performance on Sunday in San Dimas to win her second consecutive stage. With the stage win, she also stole the overall win.  After taking the two time bonus primes early in the race, Teutenberg went on the attack. She opened the gap quickly and was able to hold off the chasing bunch to win solo.  "That final effort really hurt," said Teutenberg, "but it was fun. I felt really good today and I didn't want to wait for a sprint, so I went for it. My teammates did a good job of controlling things back in the bunch so it all worked out. It's been a great three days of racing for us." Tina Pic (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light) won the field sprint for second and young up and comer, Kendall Ryan (NOW-MS Society), placed third. Columbia-Highroad riders Mara Abbott and Alex Wrubleski also took home the Young Riders Jersey and the Mountain Jersey respectively. In the Pro Men’s race, only 1 second separated Fly V pb Successful Living’s Ben Day and Jelly Belly’s Phil Gaimon going into the final stage. In what was predicted to be an animated race, several riders escaped the peloton to form numerous breaks, but nothing seemed to stick in the windy conditions. The Fly V pb Successful Living team rode attentively and kept things under control, with race leader Ben Day picking up a six second bonus in the hot spot sprint and a prime, while Alessandro Bazzana earned enough hot spot points to wrap up the Green Sprinters Jersey. With five to go, Team OUCH got their train rolling for sprinter John Murphy, and with two to go the Bissell Team tried to derail it for their sprinter Cody O’Reilly. In the end, both teams came up a little short on the long circuit and Fly V’s Jonathan Cantwell powered to the line first with a bike throw for the win just beating out Sebastian Haedo (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light) for second and John Murphy (OUCH pb Maxxis) for third. Shawn Milne (Team Type 1) won the King of the Mountain Polka Dot Jersey, while Phil Gaimon (Jelly Belly) was awarded the White Jersey for the Best Young Rider. Stage 3 and GC Results >

Teutenberg and Gaimon Win San Dimas Road Race, Abbott and Day Keep Lead
3/22/09 - Columbia-Highroad’s Ina-Yoko Teutenberg took her third victory for the season on Saturday winning stage two of the San Dimas Stage Race at the San Dimas Hospital Road Race at Bonelli Park out of a 13 person break. On lap two of an undulating 11km circuit, an attack at the mountain sprint formed a break that stayed away for the remainder of the race. Columbia-Highroad had three in the break including Teutenberg, Kim Anderson and Alex Wrubleski. "On the third lap Mara was able to bridge across," said Teutenberg, "so then we started working the break really hard." "The race was a lot harder that I expected," she added. "the course is  up and down all day with no recovery and we worked really hard in the break. By the 9th lap the hill just before the finish was getting really painful.  It was a good day."  Teutenberg won the sprint to take the victory, her teammate Wrubleski now holds the lead in the mountains competition and Abbott remains in the overall lead going into the final day of racing on Sunday. Colavita teammates Catherine Cheatley and Tiffany Cromwell finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, with local standout Coryn Rivera (Metro Volkswagen) finishing in 4th. In the Pro men’s race, Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living had the challenge of keeping the other teams in check on the demanding course while protecting GC Leader Ben Day’s Yellow Jersey. Several breaks escaped the peloton throughout the day, but were eventually reeled back in.  In the end, Jelly Belly’s Phil Gaimon took a flyer and held off a hard charging peloton to the line for the victory and picked up the valuable 20 second time bonus with local talents Cody O’Reilly (Bissell) taking 2nd and Iggy Silva (Rock Racing) rounding out the podium for 3rd. The road race finish put Gaimon just 1 second behind Day in GC going into today's final stage, the Incycle/Cannondale Old Town Grand Prix, located in downtown San Dimas. Remember the nail biter last year, when Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla lost by just 1 second to Team Ouch’s Cameron Evans on the crit course? Expect a battle royale as the riders and teams go for valuable time bonuses or try to get up the road to gain time and steal the win. Stage 2 Results >

Thurlow Rogers (Amgen/Giant) and Ruben Meza (SoCalCycling.com) take on the 3.8 mile
Glendora Mountain time trial up GMR at the San Dimas Stage Race.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Cavendish Realizes a Dream with Milan-San Remo Victory
3/21/09 - Team Columbia-Highroad’s Mark Cavendish realized a career-long dream on Saturday, winning Milan-San Remo at the first attempt with an amazing sprint finish. The 23 year-old from the Isle of Man was carefully protected by his team mates during the 298km race and then he beat Germany’s Heinrick Haussler in the sprint. He was so fast in the final three hundred metres that all the other sprinters were timed as finishing two seconds behind him. Cavendish has become known as the fastest sprinter in the world while riding for Team Columbia-Highroad but is now proving that he can also be a classics rider. “When you win sprints you prove you’re a great sprinter but when you win a great one-day race like Milan-San Remo you’ve proved you’re a great rider. I wanted to prove I’m a great rider and that’s what I did today,” Cavendish said. Cavendish celebrated with the Team Columbia riders and staff. He gave the team’s sprint consultant and four-time Milan-San Remo winner Erik Zabel an emotional hug.   “Without his help I wouldn’t have won today,” Cavendish said of Zabel.  “We did the reconnaissance twice and I knew exactly where I had to be at what time and knew exactly how hard I could go and when. It was the knowledge that he gave me that got me through the bike race today.”  “If the right people believe in you that’s all that matters and the team worked perfectly for me.We had four or five guys who could have won but they sacrificed their chances so that I could win. Tommy Lovkvist could have attacked but he made sure I was second wheel on the Cipressa. Then George Hincapie guided me on the Poggio and then gave it full gas in the sprint. I knew it could work and it did. It’s a really special day for us all.”

Abbott and Day Win the Glendora Chevrolet TT at the San Dimas Stage Race
3/20/09 - Team Columbia-Highroad’s Mara Abbott clocked the fastest time at the Glendora Mountain time trial at San Dimas Friday, beating the second place rider by a full 46 seconds with a time of 15:01 and defending her 2008 win on the same course. The Columbia-Highroad women dominated the event with four riders finishing in the top ten. Canadian National Road Champion Alex Wrubleski finished fifth, while Ina-Yoko Teutenberg and Kim Anderson took sixth and eighth respectively.  “It feels really good to be in this position, especially since so many on our team finished in the top ten,” claimed Abbott. “It was a steady climb but never really too steep. It’s so great that the whole team did so well.  That’s pretty remarkable.” The 3.8 mile race featured a gradual climb up Glendora Mountain Road which ranks among the most popular climbs in Southern California. The 23-year-old American improved her own 2008 time by 20 seconds. "It was a great start,” continued Abbott.  “Since we placed so high, tomorrow should bring us a lot of opportunities.” Kristen LaSasso (Kahala-LaGrange) was second with a time of 15:47, and Robin Farina (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) was third with a time of 15:53. Ben Day of Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living stormed the course with a time of 12:44, with Rock Racing's Chris Baldwin finishing nine seconds back in 12:53, and Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) with a time of 12:57. Look for some fireworks tomorrow at the San Dimas Hospital Road Race at Bonelli Park as teams try to shake the GC up. Stage 1 Results >

Evans Leads OUCH Presented by Maxxis in Defense of San Dimas Title
3/19/09 - Cameron Evans of the OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis returns to the San Dimas Stage Race this Friday wearing the number 1 of defending champion. In 2008, Evans won the race in dramatic fashion, escaping off the front on the final stage and erasing a one-minute gap to race leader Santiago Botero (Rock Racing) to take the overall title. The rising Canadian star begins the race as a much better-known quantity this year, and comes into San Dimas following a stellar performance at the Vuelta Mexico that included winning Stage 6 of that race. San Dimas also marks the return of 2007 and 2008 NRC champion Rory Sutherland following his strong performance in the Amgen Tour of California. The team will be led on the road by captain Tim Johnson. The race begins Friday with a 3.7 mile climbing prologue, followed Saturday by a hilly road race run on a 7.15-mile circuit. The race concludes Sunday with the Old Town Grand Prix, raced on a 1.2-mile circuit in downtown San Dimas. OUCH Presented by Maxxis for the San Dimas Stage Race, March 20-22: Jonathan Chodroff, Cam Evans, Tim Johnson, Roman Kilun, Bobby Lea, John Murphy, Andrew Pinfold, Rory Sutherland.

Redlands Bicycle Classic Attracts National And International Talent  
3/19/09 - It’s going to be a full house on both the Men’s and Women’s starting line come the prologue of the 2009 Redlands Bicycle Classic. With more than 200 men and nearly 150 women, the 2009 edition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic is sure to scorch the streets when it gets underway on Thursday March 26th. “Not only is this one of the largest number of entrants we’ve had for both the men’s and women’s fields, but it’s also one of the most prestigious,” said Race Director Dan Rendler. “The women’s field reads as a ‘who’s-who’ of female cycling, while the men’s field features 11 of the 13 registered UCI Continental teams!” Some of the A-List ladies that will be hitting the streets of Redlands include Laura Van Gilder, Amber Neben, Mara Abott, Kim Anderson, Rebecca Much, Emilia Fahlin, Brooke Miller, Alison Powers, Ina Tutenberg, Kat Carroll, Tina Pic, and Alex Wrubleski. Among those names are no less than five current national champions, one current world champion, the current NRC champion and over 20 race wins between them in 2008 alone… impressive to say the least. As for the men, their field is highlighted by stand out performers such as Rhassan Bahati, Jeff Louder, Scott Nydam, Andy Bajadali, Floyd Landis, Chris Wherry, Ben Jacques-Maynes, Neil Shirley, Justin Williams, Pat McCarty, and Rory Sutherland. The list includes two current national champions; a Tour of California KOM Jersey winner; a two-time NRC Champion; former RBC stage and GC winners; the recipients of the Most Aggressive Riders Jersey at both the Tour de Georgia and Tour of California; the 2008 Carroll King Sportsmanship Award winner and former US National Road Champion, not to mention the winner of the ’06 edition of the Tour of California, Paris-Nice, and the Tour de Georgia... a proven and accomplished field that could line up for any European race. With this much talent lining up to do battle for the coveted RBC overall leaders jersey there is no clear favorite, but one thing is for sure, the prologue of this years’ RBC is set to kick off 4 days of non-stop fireworks.  For a complete list of riders please visit redlandsclassic.com.

Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia pb Successful Living) won the Circuit Race at
the Tour de Murrieta with Sergio Hernandez (Rock Racing) taking second.
photo © Mark Johnson / ironstring.com

Creating Scofflaw Cyclists, then Killing Them
By Seth Davidson
* Seth is a cyclist and attorney in Los Angeles. Call or email him with questions, [email protected], 424-241-8118.  
3/18/09 - Every Sunday the Kettle Ride leaves Manhattan Beach at 7:00 a.m. and makes its way to Santa Monica, and then on to Cross Creek via PCH. Every Sunday at the intersection of Via Marina and Washington, the 60+ pack of cyclists waits at the intersection until one of two things happens: A rider crosses the street and pushes the pedestrian crosswalk button, or a car trips the underground signal to change the light from red to green.
 
The first option puts the button-pusher in the crosshairs of any oncoming traffic. The second option, early in the morning in Venice, can take a very long while.
 
Maddeningly, if you patiently wait for the light to change on its own, it never will. That’s because the signal actuator system embedded in the asphalt at that intersection can’t recognize bicycles. This problem is replicated thousands of times throughout Southern California, and many cyclists will inevitably give up on the light and run it.
 
Motorists see what appears to be scofflaw behavior and use it to justify their belligerence towards bikers. Riders who run the red light put themselves at even greater risk by venturing across intersections when oncoming or turn traffic still has a green light. When the cyclist gets hit, injured, or killed, he’s legally in the wrong and the motorist has a great defense to any negligence suit the cyclist might bring. The whole thing confirms the motoring public’s distorted perception that cyclists never stop at red lights.
 
The irony, if there’s any irony in riders getting egged into traffic and hit by cars, is that although cyclists are required by the California motor vehicle code to abide by traffic laws, the road engineers and street planners are not required to design traffic signals that recognize bicycles. Joseph Heller would love it. more >

Floyd Landis (Team OUCH) raced the Tour de Murrieta this weekend.
photo © Mark Johnson / ironstring.com

Video - US Cup Mountain Bike Race at Bonelli Park

2009 US Cup - Bonelli from ChannelMTB on Vimeo.

BMC's Chad Beyer Wins Tour de Murrieta
3/17/09 - The Tour de Murrieta Omnium race took place in Southern California this weekend, gathering together a strong domestic field for the two stage event.  Chad Beyer snagged the victory in Saturday's Downtown Murrieta criterium and locked up the overall title with a strong third place finish in Sunday's circuit race.   BMC brought Chad Beyer along with Tony Cruz, Taylor Tolleson and Chris Barton to contest the event in Murrieta. Considering several teams had a much larger representation and the total number of riders in the field reached about 130, BMC would have to be very cagey and selective in their tactics.  "There were just four of us again, but we all road really well together," Beyer reported.  "The race on Saturday was very aggressive with attacks happening all the time, but none of them were really able to get too much time on the field."  All four members of BMC were joining in several of the breaks.  Late in the race, a two man break gained around 40 seconds on the peloton.  "A Fly-V and a Time team racer took off and looked like they might stay away," Beyer said.  "Then with 7 laps to go Tony Cruz attacked with another rider and got a really good gap again."  Not willing to let BMC's former Criterium National Champion get away, Rock Racing pulled back the duo with around 3 laps remaining.  That left only the first two-man break still up the road.  With the advantage and responsibility of holding the leader's jersey, the four BMC team members had their work cut out for them during the 100km (60 mile) circuit race on Sunday.  "Chris, Tony and Taylor worked so well for me and were instrumental in helping me keep the lead," Beyer said. The windy day was again jam-packed with aggressive riding.  "All four of us were spending the day covering moves and even trying to create a few," Beyer said.  "I was following the moves made by guys close to me on the GC since if I go, the guys behind me on the GC would have to work just as hard or harder to keep me close."  Not willing to wait for the other GC contenders to attack, Beyer took the race to them.  "With about 10 miles to go, I attacked hard from the pack and only Floyd Landis, and a guy from Rock Racing and Fly-V came with me," Beyer recalled.  Landis racing more or less to gain fitness was willing to ride with Beyer to help make the break stick.  "Floyd and I were really driving the break while the other two sat on," Beyer said.  "Floyd just wanted to go hard and it was awesome that he was willing to work with me because there's no way I could have stayed away alone for that long with the other two sitting on."  

The Pro field at the Tour de Murrieta got strung out in the Circuit Race.
photo © Mark Johnson / ironstring.com

U.S. Cup Answers the Call for Unity Within the Cycling Community
3/15/09 - The U.S. Cup presented by Specialized has answered the call to support both cross-country and gravity riders at the upcoming Kenda Cup West/PRO XCT tour round at Fontana on March 28th - 29th. In a collective effort to give back to the sport and honor its different disciplines, the U.S. Cup has decided to provide Kenda rider swag bags to both cross-country and gravity racers. The first 250 cross-country riders and the first 250 gravity riders to pre register for the event online will receive a complimentary Kenda rider swag bag, plus one ticket good for a free IN-N-OUT cheeseburger, drink and chips. Rider’s who are among the first 250 to pre register in cross country and gravity events respectively, will be able to redeem their IN-N-OUT burger coupon on Sunday from 12 pm-3pm, just in time to watch the fastest male and female cross-country and gravity riders slug it out for Sunday’s main events! Additional IN-N-OUT burgers will be available for purchase during Sunday’s event for riders, industry, friends and family. The Kenda Swag bag will be loaded with product from U.S. Cup series sponsors including: a U.S. Cup series water bottle, Static XC # plate, PRO XCT event T-Shirt, and sample product from H2O Overdrive, KMC, E.S.I. grips, E2 Hydro, Dedicated Athlete, Kenda, Mountain Bike Action, GU and other series sponsors. more >

BMC's Chad Beyer outsprinted Fly V Australia's David Kemp for the win at the Tour de Murrieta.
Ruben Meza (SoCalCycling.com) and Peter Anderson (CA Pools Racing) look good during the crit.
L) photo © Kathleen Clinton R) Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Phil Keoghan of the "The Amazing Race" Rides Across America - Join him March 28
Keoghan To Embark on a 40 Day, Coast-to-Coast Bike Ride Across America, Averaging 100 Miles Per Day, Covering Over 3,500 Miles Total with Pit Stops in Over 30 Cities
3/14/09 - Phil Keoghan, host of CBS's THE AMAZING RACE, will embark on his boldest adventure yet — cycling from Los Angeles to New York — a ride that will average 100 miles per day for a total of over 3,500 miles, spanning 40 days with pit stops in over 30 different cities."I fly over 400,000 miles a year and I figured it was time to stretch my legs. I love to ride so I thought I'd see what this great country looks like up close instead of taking a bird's eye view at 30,000 feet," said Keoghan. "In this economic climate, bike riding makes a lot of sense — it's good for your waistline and easy on your wallet." Phil Keoghan's "Ride Across America Presented by GNC" will kickoff on March 28 in Los Angeles and end on May 9 (the day before the finale of THE AMAZING RACE 14) in New York. Along the way, he'll attend meet and greets with supporters at local GNC stores, visit CBS affiliates, attend open-casting calls for the next installment of THE AMAZING RACE, sign copies of his best-selling book No Opportunity Wasted, and ride alongside ex-Racers and fans of THE AMAZING RACE. He will also be participating in rallies hosted by the National MS Society to build awareness for Bike MS and the MS movement. YOU can ride alongside Phil when he departs on his journey. Whether you ride 1 mile or 100, you will help raise MS awareness and motivate others to join Bike MS. Join Phil on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the 8:00 am start at 2600 Bernard Way, Santa Monica, CA. For more info, please contact Kriszta Quick by email or at 310.479.4456 ext. 135. Read more about Phil's Ride Across America and coming soon, you can track his route on philridesacrossamerica.com. You can also ride with Phil at the Bike MS: Southern California Ride on October 3 & 4, 2009.

Phil Keoghan, host of CBS's THE AMAZING RACE, will embark on his boldest
adventure yet — cycling from Los Angeles to New York. Join him on March 28th.

Redlands Bicycle Classic Names Christine Thorburn as ‘Legends Award’ Recipient
3/13/09 - Within the community of professional cyclists live a few legends; Christine Thorburn is one of those legends. Thorburn’s dedication and self motivation represent the true essence of professional cycling; along with personal sacrifice and unrelenting determination Thorburn did everything right to leave an enduring impression on the sport. For her efforts she will be recognized by The Redlands Bicycle Classic Organizing Committee and honored as the recipient of the 2009 ‘Legends Award’. As one of a few American cyclists to experience success on the world stage, Thorburn has “palmares” that include a silver medal at the ’05 Pan Am Games; two top five finishes at the UCI World Championships, including a bronze medal; not to mention taking home five medals over the years in U.S. National Championship competition. Most notably Thorburn’s ticket to the world stage came via Redlands with a win at the '04 National Timetrial Championship (held in Redlands), which solidified her spot on the '04 Olympic team. She continued her local dominance by winning the '05 edition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Along with her legendary race results, Thorburn has managed to accomplish many things off her bicycle too, including graduating from Stanford with a medical degree. It was this balance and display of commitment that caught the attention of the Redlands Bicycle Classic Organizing Committee and ultimately awarded her the 2009 Redlands Bicycle Classic ‘Legends Award’. Thorburn continued her sentiments for the Redlands area by saying “Redlands has been a special place for me since my first visit in 2004. The volunteers and host families make the RBC so much more than a bike race – it feels like my home away from home.  Thank you for this amazing honor as I transition from my cycling career to the next phase of my life. Come see all the speed, talent and skill, and be part of the ceremony that honors a legendary American athlete on March 28th, 2009 in downtown Redlands.  For more info, including race times, distances and volunteer opportunities, visit redlandsclassic.com.

Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico Video Coverage
3/13/09 - If you just can't wait for the Versus TV coverage of Paris-Nice this Sunday, then you'll be happy to know that you can watch the video coverage of all the stages of Paris-Nice plus Tirreno-Adriatico right now! Video >

Dana Weber (Trek/World Bicycle Relief) and Manny Prado (Sho-Air/Specialized)
leading at the top of Blackstar Canyon during Vision Quest.

BMC To Ride the Legendary Paris-Roubaix
3/12/09 - BMC has succeeded in gaining an invitation to one of the monuments of cycling. "We are very happy to have been invited to the Paris-Roubaix as it shows the level of confidence that the race organizations have in our future," Directeur Sportif John Lelangue explained.  "It is an incredible race and every one of our riders will be proud to participate."  The extremely high level of competition will necessitate realistic expectations, as Paris-Roubaix will arguably be the most prestigious and difficult race yet for BMC.  "In such a race, the level is so high that we will need to set attainable objectives," Lelangue said.  "First and foremost we are excited about gaining the experience, and so we will work hard to be aggressive in the breaks and ultimately be there at the end in Roubaix." Paris-Roubaix is one of those special races that every professional wants to race at least once in a career.  BMC has a stable of young riders who are keen to excel on the cobbles.  "We will certainly bring a group of riders motivated to succeed in the race," Lelangue said.  "Danilo Wyss took a podium place in the U23 race a couple of years ago, so we are counting on young riders like Wyss, Martin Kohler, Thomas Frei and Brent Bookwalter."  Lelangue continued, "I was also very pleased to see how well Ian McKissick handled the cobbles in the most recent races in Flanders, and we will have more experienced riders like Alex Moos, Jeff Louder and Tony Cruz to round out a very strong group."  The team has a full schedule between now and April 12 to help prepare them for their rendezvous with the cobbles.  "I am really proud for the team and know that the guys will arrive at the start line well prepared and motivated," Lelangue concluded.

Lance Armstrong will be riding a new Trek Madone 6.9 for Milan-San Remo designed by Artist
KAWS. Lance had KAWS hide WNW 2009 (Winners Not Whiners) on the bike’s bottom bracket.
photo © SoCalCycling.com

Christian Vande Velde Solos to Victory in Paris-Nice
3/11/09 - Garmin-Slipstream’s Christian Vande Velde’s Paris-Nice got off to a rough start when he crashed in a wet corner in the opening Prologue on Sunday, but as bike racing goes, things got better today when Christian soloed to victory in Saint Etienne. Vande Velde  found himself in a 100 K break that included Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis), Tony Martin (Columbia-Highroad), Dani Moreno (Caisse d’Epargne), Nicholas Roche (Ag2r), Alexandr Kolobnev (Saxo Bank), and Xavier Florencio (Cervélo TestTeam). With 20 K to go, Vande Velde attacked the break and soloed in to finish 14 seconds up on the group for a huge win that is sure to set the stage for another great season.  “After my crash during Sunday’s prologue, I told myself that the best way to avoid any other problems would be to ride at the front,” Christian told L’Equipe.

Video - Paris-Nice Stage 4 - Vande Velde Takes the Win

Troupe Racing Report - US Cup #1 at Bonelli Park
3/10/09 - When Scott Tedro, owner/founder of his company Sho-Air and creator of the U.S. Cup National Series stood on stage at the start this weekend's first race, he gave us all some back story on his efforts to bring back the now defunct NMBS event series. "They [the cycling industry] said that you all didn't care about racing, and that mountain bike racing is dead in the States", he shouted. The field of 700 riders booed and laughed - at that moment, nothing could be further from the truth. His speech lasted a few short minutes. He urged everyone to race safely, and as the seconds ticked by as the race was about to start, Scott proudly declared "Racing is back in the States!", and the first wave of riders were off! Yep. Racing is back, and the 2009 season is underway. If this event is a sign of things to come, then its going to be an awesome year. Race organizers had over 300 riders pre-registered, and were expecting 500 in total. But, when the registration tent closed, 700 riders had come to part of this big event. This was no ordinary weekend race - this one had vendors, a huge timing/announcing stage, a finishing area that had a world class feel, free In-N-Out burgers, and a killer course. It felt like a mini Sea Otter. A few of us had pre-ridden the course a week prior. This payed off- the course had a few fast downhill sections that ended with a sharp 180 degree turn. more >

Laura Knight, en route to her first place finish in women's cat 2 XC at the US Cup at Bonelli Park.
photo © michelle mah

Nike Hosts Event with Lance Armstrong in Hollywood to Raise Funds for LAF
3/9/09 - On Saturday night, Nike hosted a one-of-a-kind event in Hollywood with Lance Armstrong, world-renowned artists and 700 cycling enthusiasts. Nike and Armstrong teamed up to launch Stages, a global art exhibition and sale, that features original artwork from over 20 artists that will raise funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the fight against cancer.

Photo, Nike, Susan Goldman

Lance Armstrong led the “group ride” with 700 lucky cyclists and celebrities, including Patrick Dempsy (Grey’s Anatomy) and Evan Handler (Californication), from the Children’s Hospital on Vermont and Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. The ride traveled 2.2 miles down a traffic free Sunset Blvd. to the Nike Sportswear at the Montalban Theater on Vine St. where a mural of Armstrong painted by Shepard Fairey graced the south wall of the Theater.  

Lance Armstrong, Nike CEO Mark Parker and Artist Shepard Fairey pose in front of a mural
done by Fairey at Nike Sportswear at the Montalbán in the Hollywood
Photo, Nike, Susan Goldman

Once the ride was over, the cyclists were treated to valet bike parking under the mural of Armstrong and were invited into the Montalban Theater to view the Stages art exhibit and enjoy cocktails and appetizers at the bar or VIP Lounge.  Guests were able to view Lance Armstrong’s bikes that he rode in the Amgen Tour of California and two new bikes designed by artists KAWS and Barry McGee, as well as a new collection of Nike Sportswear apparel and footwear that was designed to celebrate human potential and overcoming adversity by various artists. The night continued in the theater with comedian Ben Stiller, Livestrong CEO Doug Ulman, Lance Armstrong, Nike CEO Mark Parker, Artist Shepard Fairey and closed with Musicians Ben Harper & Relentless7 rockin’ the house. More Photos >

A new collection of Nike Sportswear apparel and footwear.
photo © SoCalCycling.com

Important Information for All Rose Bowl Ride Riders
From The Rose Bowl Historical Ride Committee
3/8/09 - To All Rose Bowl Riders: We, The Rose Bowl Historical Ride Committee, has met with the Rose Bowl Operating Committee in order to keep the ride going and safe. As with last year we are asking for your full cooperation in enforcing the guidelines in order to preserve the ride for this year and for future generations. The RBOC and the City of Pasadena are working on long term solutions to the problem of increased recreational use of the Rose Bowl. We have members on their committees and are keeping Pasadena "Bicycle Friendly." Please read and sign the attached guidelines and bring them with you to the first ride March 10 at 5:55. The ride will be only 8 laps for the first couple of weeks until the light takes over. Please note that we are still just one quick reading of an ordinance away from "no organized peloton riding in the Rose Bowl." Thank you so much for your support last year and continued support this year. Please be courteous to the other users of the Rose Bowl. The Committee: Katie Safford, Chris Keller, Mark Rich, Lon Bender, Scott King, Bob LLamas, Chris Zeigler
Rules and Guidelines >

Lance Armstrong and LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa address 700 cyclists that rode through
the streets of Hollywood on Saturday night to Nike Sportwear's Montalban Theater,
where the global art exhibition Stages was launched to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
photo © SoCalCycling.com

Alberto Contador Wins the Time Trial and Yellow Jersey in Paris-Nice
3/8/09 - Alberto Contador impressed the cycling world by winning the opening time trial in the French stage race Paris-Nice that runs March 8th-15th. In Amilly he was seven seconds faster than Olympic pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins (Slipstream-Garmin). Luis León Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) finished third, ten seconds behind. It was a short 9.3 K opening time trial in and around Amilly on a completely flat course with few corners. Contador, already a winner of Paris-Nice in 2007, was happy, but surprised as well: "Honestly, I am very surprised," said the stage winner. "I am a good time trialist, but this was a short distance, a flat course, not really my thing, and then against all those time trial specialists. Moreover, with the rain, I did not take extreme risks in the corners. Of course, everybody had the same bad weather conditions. I am becoming more and more a  complete rider. No, I did not change anything on my position on the bike.  It is exactly the same as in 2008." Earlier than expected Astana Cycling Team will have to control the race.  "For tomorrow's stage we will have to be attentive to defend the jersey,” continued  Contador.  “Although this yellow jersey is nice, it is more important for us to have that jersey next Sunday in Nice." For Alberto Contador, it is already his third victory in the young season. Earlier he won the time trial and the overall general classification in the Tour of Algarve.

Team OUCH's Cameron Evans Wins Stage Six of la Vuelta Mexico
3/7/09 - Cameron Evans of the OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis won the three-up sprint to take the victory at the end of Stage 6 of la Vuelta Mexico. The rolling, 190 km stage saw a break succeed for the third consecutive day. And for the third consecutive day, an OUCH Presented by Maxxis rider made the most of it. “We knew a break had a good shot to stay away to the finish,” Evans said. “We wanted to make sure we had a guy in every move.” As has been the case all week, attacks came early and often, with Brad White of OUCH Presented by Maxxis covering one short-lived break. But another one went shortly after that break came back, and Evans covered. This group grew to about 15 riders, including race leader Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti). “We knew the break wasn’t going anywhere with him in it,” Evans said. But as the initial group was about to be reabsorbed, a seven-rider group formed from it sans Rodriguez, and the newly re-constituted group, including Evans, established a gap on the peloton. That gap extended to over five minutes, and as the break went over the first KoM, three riders dropped off, leaving Evans, Chris Baldwin (Rock Racing), former race leader Juan Pablo Magallenas (Mexican National Team) and John Freddy Parra (Tecos). Heading up the second KoM, the Colombian Parra dropped off, leaving three riders together over the top with a lead down to 1:30 on the peloton, and another mostly downhill or flat 25 km to the finish. But the three riders were able to open the gap a bit on the descent and gain a little breathing room to play the inevitable cat and mouse games coming into the finish. “Baldwin attacked a couple times,” Evans said. “I covered the first one, and Magallenas covered the second. I knew he was pretty strong, but I was feeling pretty good and thought I had a good chance at the finish. I just need to be patient.” The patience paid off, with Evans taking the three-up sprint and a big stage win for the team.

Jeremy Lusk Memorial Ride Aims to Raise Funds for Freestyle MXer's Family
By Jeffrey Ishmael
3/6/09 - By now, many are probably asking what this ride is that I’m planning on doing March 6th- 8th.  Long story short, I’ve been fortunate enough to be working with a company in an industry I enjoy very much….the Action Sports industry. One that equally mixes lifestyle, culture, and corporate into a single environment. Currently, that company is Osiris Shoes. It’s a company that has built a successful brand through 14 years of hard work. Some of that hard work has come through the support of its professional athletes. Athletes involved with Skating, Surfing, BMX, and Freestyle Motocross. One of our most visible athletes, FMX rider and champion, Jeremy Lusk, died after attempting one of his jumps he was so well known for. This happened at the beginning of February at an event in Costa Rica. Jeremy was only 24 years old and had a full life ahead of him. We had just renewed his contract through 2011. Unfortunately, the expenses started mounting up for the family and his wife. From the medical bills, to having to airlift Jeremy back home. With that in mind, we all have resources and capabilities that we can use to help others, regardless of how unique they might be. For myself, that happens to be cycling. I’ve raised funds in the low 5-figures for MS fundraising rides, so I thought it would be a good platform to do the same.  Only this time the stakes are a bit higher to prompt higher levels of donation. I’ve scheduled to ride a 3-day solo ride form San Francisco to Irvine, where I’ll end at the Metal Mulisha offices, which was another sponsor of Jeremy’s. I’ll have overnight stops in Carmel and Solvang before finishing in Irvine. I’ve targeted a goal of $25,000 and have reached almost 50% of that goal. I’ve rallied our company distributors in 14 countries, key suppliers, as well as folks outside the company.  I also have a support driver who will be stationed at key points along the route should a bike change be necessary or to just have a quick nutrition hit.  The 3-day ride will total almost 470 miles and I estimate I’ll be on the bike approximately 27 hours. Would folks write the check anyway…they probably would based on the kind of person Jeremy was. But this type of effort creates a very positive vibe for those involved and gives them one more element to stand behind and unite in Jeremy’s memory.
Donate to the Jeremy Lusk Trust >

FMX rider and champion, Jeremy Lusk.

Vitoria Rocks Vuelta Mexico With Solo Win, Bahati and Silva Win in Merced
3/5/09 - The wins just keep coming for Rock Racing, with David Vitoria being the latest rider to throw a double-armed salute in the air for the team whose uniforms feature the words “Rock’s Not Dead.” The fourth-year Swiss pro soloed to victory in Wednesday’s fourth stage of the Vuelta Mexico Telmex. His win in the 124-mile (200 km) race from Tlaxcala to Cuernavaca marked the team’s eighth win of the year and its third in the past five days. On Saturday, Rahsaan Bahati led a 1-2 finish by Rock Racing at the Merco Classic Downtown Criterium, followed by Iggy Silva’s win at the Merco Classic Foothills Road Race on Sunday. In Wednesday’s race, Vitoria escaped from three others – Arquimedes Lam (Tecos De La Uga), Francesco Rivera (Amica Chips-Knauf) and Andrew Pinfold (OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis) – on a steep climb in the closing miles to beat Lam by 20 seconds. Pinfold was third, 1:53 behind. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) retained the overall lead by finishing in the peloton, 2:49 behind Vitoria. Rock Racing’s Enrique Gutierrez placed seventh on the day and is fifth in the overall standings, 10 seconds behind. Rock Racing’s Glen Chadwick, the race’s defending champion, is seventh overall, 13 seconds back. At 133 miles (215 km), Thursday’s fifth stage is the longest of the eight-day race and features no fewer than eight King of the Mountain hot spots before ending in Toluca.

US Cup presented by Specialized: Kenda Cup West Race Report-Bonelli Park
3/4/09 - You couldn’t have written a more perfect script for the US Cup’s opening round at Bonelli Park on Sunday, March 1st. With clear skies, an all new XC course, temps in the 80’s and a record 680+ cross-country athletes for the Bonelli Park venue; apparently someone missed the memo that cross country-mountain biking was dead in the United States! And who could blame them. The US Cup fed over 500 hungry racers In 'n Out burgers after the event, and the Kenda Swag bag was loaded with event T-Shirts and product that hasn’t been seen at a cross country event in years. The men’s Pro XC race was nothing short of a barn burner as a field of forty Pro men lined up for the Kenda Cup West opener. Add to the fact that Speed Television’s Jason Britton of the show “Super Bikes” led out the neutral start of the men’s Pro field in a stand up wheelie on his custom Kawasaki 600 stunt bike, the energy from the crowd was electric! Make sure to keep an eye out on Tuesday nights for Speed Televisions show “Super Bikes” featuring the Kenda Cup West Opener that will premier in the next few weeks. After Britton peeled off the front of the neutral start, the race was on for the four lap men’s Pro XC race. Immediately KHS/Cytomax rider Chuck Jenkins put the power down at the front entering the first climb out of the start. Jenkins held the tempo just till the top, until Sammy Jurekovic from Sho-Air/Specialized took over. more >

(Left) Sid Taberlay following Jason Britton’s instructions on executing a perfect wheelie.
L to r: Taberlay, Menso De Jong, Andy Schultz, Manny Prado and Chuck Jenkins far Right.

What Do You Think About the Amgen Tour of CA Super Fans?
3/3/09 - You have to agree that this year the fans showed up in force at the Amgen Tour of CA, including several Super Fans that were dressed in crazy costumes ranging from Elvis, Antler Guy, Borat, Big Hair Superfan, and the Sumo Twins. A couple Super Fans that weren’t so super in the eyes of the riders were the annoying FRS Guy who received a pop to the head from Mick Rogers over the top of Mt. Palomar and the syringe toting Yellow Devil, who Lance Armstrong pushed down into the snow.  There has been some spirited discussion in our forum on the Super Fans of this years Amgen Tour of California and whether some of them crossed the line or if it is just part of the charm of the race and the Amgen Tour of CA has finally hit the big time now that there are more of these crazy characters coming out of the woodwork. Let us know your thoughts with a vote or a comment!