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Armstrong, Neben Lead US Efforts in Elite Women's Road Race
9/29/07 - The U.S. Women’s National Team closed out its 2007 road season on Saturday as Kristin Armstrong (Boise, ID /Team Lipton) was the top American with a 13th-place finish in the 134-kilometer elite women’s road race at the UCI Road World Championships. Armstrong and teammate Amber Neben (Irvine, CA /Flexpoint) finished in a 16-rider chase group just six seconds behind winner Marta Bastianelli of Italy. After spending 18 kilometers in a two-woman breakaway with Italian Noemi Cantele on the penultimate lap of the seven-lap race, Neben placed 16th. Defending world champion Marianne Vos (NED) took the sprint from the chase group to claim the silver medal while Bastianelli’s Italian teammate, Giorgia Bronzini finished third. The United States put forth a strong team effort, but missed adding a second medal to Armstrong’s silver from Wednesday’s individual time trial. more >
LVG Wins WCSN USA Crit Finals and Title
9/28/07 - Laura Van Gilder used patience and teamwork from her fellow Cheerwine riders to take her third win of the WCSN USA Crits series and wrap up the season title. Riding in a 40-kilometer race in a Las Vegas parking lot, Van Gilder sped past three teammates and Australia's Rochelle Gilmore to take the the title by seconds. WCSN video >
Ivan Rules the Vegas Strip and Wins the WCSN USA Crit Finals
9/28/07 - In a season punctuated by flawless teamwork, Ivan Dominguez was ultimately on his own when it came time to deliver a victory for his Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team. Dominguez dramatically chased down Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies presented by Medifast) on the final lap, then outsprinted him to the line after the final turn to win the World Criterium Championship Thursday night under the lights in Las Vegas. The victory was Dominguez’s 15th of the season – a career-best – and the 38th of the season for Toyota-United. “This feels great,” Dominguez told the estimated crowd of 20,000 that gathered under the lights to watch the inaugural edition of the race. “All the guys are very happy. This has been a great year.” But before the 60 km (37-mile) race outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, Dominguez was downplaying his chances. more >, WCSN video >
Toyota-United’s Ivan Dominguez smiles through the darkness
as he racks up his 15th win of the season. Photo © Kurt Jambretz
Hollywood Bus Driver Attacks Cyclist, LAPD Handcuff Cyclist (& Wife!)
9/25/07 - A cyclist westbound on Hollywood Boulevard hears a loud horn behind him as he rides in the right side of the #2 lane, alongside a row of parked cars and dangerously close to the door zone. The motorist with the heavy horn hand turns out to be Metro Bus Driver #XXXXX and she passes the cyclist so closely that his left hand touches the side of the bus as it speeds past him. The number #1 lane is empty and nothing serves to prevent the bus driver from changing lanes to pass the cyclist except for a failure on her part to acknowledge the cyclist’s right to ride the streets of Los Angeles without having his life threatened. The bus proceeds down Hollywood Boulevard to a bus stop at Wilton and stops. The cyclist pulls up on the driver’s side of the bus and addresses the bus driver informing her that honking at a cyclist with no room to spare will only serve to startle the cyclist and cause a dangerous situation and that as a professional driver she should know that if the lane is too narrow to share, she should change lanes in order to pass without endangering the safety of the cyclist. The driver screams “You were in my way. You need to get off the road!” She slams the window shut. more > Give the Metro feedback >
Interbike is here again with the Outdoor Demo Sept. 24-25 and the Expo Sept. 26-28. Be sure to join the party at Cross Vegas and the WCSN USA Crit Finals.
Photo © SoCalCycling.com
Jansen Steps Down from Toyota-United - Pettyjohn, Moninger Step Up
9/24/07 - The man who helped lead the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team in its first two seasons is saying goodbye. Harm Jansen will direct his final race for Toyota-United at the World Criterium Championships in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 27. He has been with the team since its founding in 2005 and served as co-director with Frankie Andreu in 2006 and Kirk Willett in 2007. For the past 18 years, Jansen has been involved in pro cycling as a competitor, coach and team director. "This has been a very difficult decision because my heart is with cycling, but it is time to move on,” Jansen said. “These are two years I will obviously not forget. I was fortunate to be in a position to build this team to where it is today and I feel fortunate to have several choices of what I will do next.” more > Veteran pro cycling team director Len Pettyjohn will be joined by 17-year pro Scott Moninger to work as Toyota-United’s new director and assistant director, respectively. more >
Ivan Dominguez of Toyota-United captures his second stage win
at the inaugural Tour of Missouri. photo © Kathleen Poulos
Successful Living Extends Sponsorship for Three Years
9/24/07 - On the heels of wrapping up a stunning sophomore season, Successful Living and Lemire Racing, LLC have reached an agreement to continue title sponsorship of the Successful Living Pro Cycling Team for the next three seasons. Successful Living began its sponsorship in 2006 to help promote wealth building, motivation, and healthy living with their wide array of products. “Throughout my cycling and business careers I’ve learned that it takes time to build success, and that’s why I’m signing on for a minimum of three years with the team so that they can continue building their long term success,” said Russ Dalbey, President of Successful Living. "The team definitely displayed true team work through out the season and we plan on building it further for 2008 and beyond," said Steve Hegg, the Race Director for Team Successful Living. "Our goal is to keep the momentum going and become the number one team in the US in the next three years.” more >
Cycling Movie, Max VO2, in Pre-production - Cyclist/Actors Needed
9/23/07 - Red Cloud Productions is producing, Max V02 - The Potential Inside for release in late 2008. Attached to the project are Emmy and Artios winning casting director Jerold Franks CSA, who cast the pilot for the hit T.V. show "LOST", double Emmy winning set designer, Quintin Bennitt, and Christian music veteran Jim Daneker who has been performing with multiple-Grammy and Dove-winning artist Michael W. Smith for over 10 years. Featured in the project will be 2003 Pan American Games Gold medalist, Jeremiah Bishop, 6 time 24 hour solo World Champion, Chris Eatough, and Actor - Ransford Doherty, who co-starred with Bruce Willis in "Hostage". Production will begin in March of 2008. Riders from Team RiteAid, Kodak, and Kelly Benefits will be assisting in the race scenes. More information about the project is available at maxvo2themovie.com. Please submit head shot/resume to [email protected]. Also, please be sure to register on the movie website for production updates.
Landis Loses Appeal, Pereiro Declared 2006 Tour Winner
9/20/07 - Floyd Landis was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title and can receive a two-year ban after losing his appeal of a positive doping test on a 2-1 decision by US arbitrators announced Thursday. US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) officials and Landis' attorneys gave evidence to the three-man arbitration panel over nine days in May, the US cycling star maintaining his innocence despite testing positive for synthetic testosterone. "This ruling is a blow to athletes and cyclists everywhere," Landis said in a statement. more >
What Do You Think?
Chrono Champenois Time Trial - On the road again - By Amber Neben
9/19/07 - The Chrono took place on Sunday in Betheny, France. It was a 33.4km individual time trial with a UCI 1.1 ranking. I arrived back into Europe on Friday evening, managed a good night’s sleep, and then drove with my team director, Jean Paul van Poppel and teammate Mirjam VP 450km to Bethany on Saturday morning. We arrived about 2pm, and had a cozy lunch at a small café in the center of Reims. After we fueled up, Mir and I met up with Iris (my Flexpoint teammate) and the current Dutch national TT champion, Ellen van Dijk, and rode a lap of the course. It was a big lap that took us through 5 small towns. In between, it was wide open and fairly straight. Overall, the course was not technical and mostly flat. more >
Amber Neben waits to start her TT at the Chrono start house.
The Flying Scotsman Released Today on DVD
9/18/07 - Experience the inspirational and true story of an unlikely cycling champion who battled the odds to reach the pinnacle of his sport in The Flying Scotsman, riding onto DVD September 18 from MGM Home Entertainment. Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting, Melinda and Melinda) stars as Obree, an amateur cyclist and homegrown hero who became Scotland’s two-time world one-hour cycling record holder while also struggling and learning to cope with debilitating bouts of depression and anxiety. A true testament to the human spirit, the film spans the period of Obree’s life that saw him take, lose, and then retake the cycling title as he races to victory on a bicycle he built himself from scraps of metal and washing machine parts. Featuring a remarkable supporting cast including Laura Fraser (Vanilla Sky, A Knights Tale), Billy Boyd (The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, Master and Commander), and Brian Cox (Zodiac, Running With Scissors), The Flying Scotsman is a triumphant tale about a defiant outsider who’s perseverance, undying commitment and ambition allowed him to ride victorious against well-financed, professionally trained competitors on the international cycling scene. SoCalCycling.com gives The Flying Scotsman two thumbs up. Trailer >
Dominguez Wins Final Stage of Tour of Missouri
9/17/07 - Less than a half-hour before the start of the final stage of the Tour of Missouri Sunday afternoon, Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team Director Harm Jansen gathered what remained of his original eight-man squad for the six-day, six-stage race. Seated in the team’s bus just a few blocks from the start line were the three riders who would be charged with helping Ivan Dominguez get to the finish line first in the 74-mile (119 km) race that comprised seven circuits of a loop through the streets of downtown St. Louis. There was Chris Wherry, the team’s captain whose focus has shifted from being a powerful stage rider and overall contender to that of top lead-out man following season-ending injuries to Henk Vogels, Ivan Stevic and Caleb Manion. Toyota-United Report >
Toyota-United's Ivan Dominguez gets ready for his post-race smooches from
podium hostesses Jayna (left) and Whitney. photo © Kathleen Poulos
Test Ride Cannondale's '08 Line at The Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas
9/14/07 - You may never get a chance to sit behind the wheel of a $300,000 Ferrari or take the controls of a $5 million dollar jet fighter, but you will able to test-ride some of the most advanced, high-performance bicycles in the world ! Please join us Sept 26th–28th at the Cannondale/Red Rock Resort demo day, for this first time opportunity to ride the 2008 line of bikes. If road riding is your thing experience Red Rock Canyon aboard the all new full carbon SuperSix, Synapse SL or the bike that won the 2007 Giro de Italia the SystemSix. Mountain junkies can shred the single-track on a Rush Carbon, Taurine or the completely redesigned Scalpel Carbon. Whether you’re a hard-core hammer-head or a recreational rider, the Cannondale test ride program offers you a fantastic opportunity to try the very latest handcrafted speed machines from a true leader in the cycling industry. more info >
Serfas Optics Sunglass Collection Product Review
By Christy Nicholson
9/13/07 - Over the years Serfas has made cycling better with their great line of premium cycling accessories, including pumps, saddles, saddle bags, and more. After using these awesome accessories, I was really excited to wear sunglasses from the Serfas Optics Sunglass Collection. I have been wearing the sporty Force 5’s for riding and the stylish Azora’s off the bike.
The Force 5’s come in a sleek wrap design to optimize wind, sun and glare protection and come in four different frame colors to choose from. They also come with interchangeable lenses that include rust, brown, rose, and clear. The lenses can be changed easily depending on the lighting and provide 100% UVA and UVB protection. I was impressed at how comfortable the Force 5’s were. The elastomer nose pad and temple tips provide comfort and keep them from sliding around even when running the trails. They also have little air vents on the bottom that prevent them from fogging up. The Force 5’s MSRP is just $50.00.
The Azora’s classic women’s styling will have you looking great off the bike with their hip design. The Azora’s come in three different frame colors including gloss black, brown tortoise and clear rose. Each frame comes with a grey lense that offers important 100% UVA and UVB protection. I have been really happy with the Azora’s. They look great, feel comfortable and are very affordable with a MSRP of $35. This great pricing will leave extra money in your pocket to treat yourself to other fun things. Please visit the Serfas Optics web site to find men's and women's styles that fits your needs and locate a dealer near you.
Motor Tabs Official Supplier of WCSN USA Crits Finals
9/13/07 - Sports Engine LLC announced that its brand, MOTOR TABS™ Fluid Replacement System, has been named an official supplier to The World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) USA CRITS Finals. The WCSN USA CRITS Finals is the final race in the 2007 USA Crits Championship Series and will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, on Thursday evening, Sept. 27, 2007. The event is being held in conjunction with the Interbike tradeshow. The event will feature America’s top road squads, who will be competing on a tight, technical 1 kilometer course on the grounds of the Mandalay Bay Resort. It’s the first time an event such as this has been staged, and the industry buzz has started to ramp up as the race approaches.The event will feature Men and Womens Pro-Class races, and for Interbike exhibitors, an Industry Cup Challenge. The Pro-Women’s race will be at 6:15 P.M., the Industry Cup at 8:15 P.M., and the Pro-Men will race at 9:15 P.M. with an after party hosted at Mandalay Bay. In addition, MOTOR TABS will unveil its new Grape flavor (24-ct. box) at Interbike, as well as a 12-ct. Variety box. These new items join the existing 24-ct. boxes available in Fruit Punch, Lemon-Lime and Orange.
George Hincapie sprints to victory in stage 2 of the Tour of Missouri in
front of a huge crowd. photo courtesy Tour of Missouri
Tara Llanes Update - "I'm going to fight this all the way"
9/11/07 - The news that American downhill and 4X racer Tara Llanes had what appears to be a career ending accident while racing 4X at the recent Jeep King of Mountain event in Vail, Colorado filtered through about a week ago and shocked all who heard it. Tara is currently paralysed from the waist down. While the situation is still in flux, the prospects are not bright. more >
Read more updates at Tara's MySpace page. Charitable contributions can be made to help Tara with her recovery at tarallanesroadtorecovery.com.
Fans Get Chance to Design 2008 Slipstream/Chipotle Jersey
9/10/07 - For the first time in cycling history, a fan will design a professional team jersey. Slipstream’s “Get in the Slipstream” contest will allow fans to submit design ideas for the official 2008 Team Slipstream/Chipotle jersey. The winning design will become the official team jersey, worn by the team in and out of competition for the entire 2008 season. The winner will also receive a full team kit and jersey autographed by the team members. Fans can submit design ideas from August 31 – September 15, 2007 on the Slipstream Sports. Argyle must still be incorporated in the design. info >
Lopes, Kintner Capture World 4-Cross Titles in Scotland
9/9/07 - In a replay of the 2005 world championships, Brian Lopes (San Clemente, Calif./GT) and Jill Kintner (Seattle, Wash./GT) illustrated the strength of American gravity racing as they each collected their third-career world 4-Cross title on Friday at the 2007 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Their performances, along with a third-place effort from Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz./KHS), brought the U.S. medal count to four. After qualifying third on Thursday, Lopes, the world 4-Cross champion in 2002 and 2005, as well as the Dual Slalom world champion in 2001, rode a flawless final against top-seeded Romain Saladini (FRA), Roger Rinderknecht (SUI) and Jurg Meijer (NED) to earn the title. more >
Saul Raisin Returns to Racing
9/7/07 - Saul has been fighting hard to overcome a traumatic brain injury that he suffered in April 2006 while racing in Europe. This past weekend he made his return to racing at the USPro Championships in Greenville, SC. Enjoy this inspiring interview and footage of his comeback. video >
Bikes for Kids Utah Gears Up for Second Year;
1,000 Underprivileged Children to Receive New Bicycles
9/6/07 - Bikes for Kids Utah, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, today announced details of its upcoming fundraiser, including the inaugural Yield to Life Dave Zabriskie Time Trial Challenge, with proceeds going to benefit underprivileged children in Utah and bicycle awareness advocacy. On Saturday, October 6, Bikes for Kids Utah will provide new bicycles for 1,000 pre-qualified, underprivileged second graders from the Boys & Girls Club Boys in Salt Lake, Weber, Davis, Murray and Utah Counties. Also receiving bikes will be second graders from Heartland Elementary, Majestic Elementary, Guadelupe School and the Navajo Reservation in San Juan School district, as well as several other Utah elementary schools. Find out more on how you can help.
SoCal's Neil Shirley Podiums at the USPRO Road Championships
9/4/07 - San Diego's Neil Shirley had the ride of a lifetime finishing third at the USPRO Road Championships in Greenville, SC. This was good enough to stand on the podium with Tour de France studs Levi Leipheimer and George Hincapie. Not bad company to share a podium with! Check out Neil's web site to find out how he prepared for the USPRO Road Championships and his post race thoughts. Congrats Neil!
Neil Shirley (Jittery Joes) celebrates on the podium with Discovery Channel
teammates Levi Leipheimer and George Hincapie.
Tara Llanes Severely Injured after Crashing at Jeep KOM
9/4/07 - SoCal's Tara Llanes crashed in the Jeep King of the Mountain race on Saturday, September 1 in Vail, CO. She was airlifted to Denver Health Hospital, where she underwent 7 hours of surgery to correct massive trauma in her lower back. She also has a C-7 fracture which was deemed stable prior going into surgery. Tara once again made it through another surgery and is now breathing on her own and able to communicate with friends and family. Unfortunately, at this time she has no feeling below her waist, a symptom she suffered as a result of her crash. "We will continue to learn more about her injuries in the upcoming weeks and will continue to keep you posted. Since coming out of surgery, Tara, drugged and very happy, has kept in good spirit and has promised not to let this beat her. We ask that you have as much faith as Tara does throughout this difficult period. In the meantime, we are hoping Tara will be able to come back home in 1 to 2 weeks," her family noted in a statement. You can leave well wishes on Tara's Myspace page. If you would like to send anything, she is at:
Denver Health Medical Center
777 Bannock Street, Room B 336
Denver Colorado, 80204
Leipheimer Wins US Pro Race, Toyota-United's Swindlehurst 10th
9/3/07 - Burke Swindlehurst’s 10th-place finish Sunday led the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team at the USA Cycling Pro Championship Road Race. Swindlehurst was one of four Toyota-United riders in the 110-mile (177 km) race, three of whom finished. Chris Wherry was 20th and Justin England was 28th. Chris Baldwin joined eventual race winner Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) in a record ascent of Paris Mountain before withdrawing. Swindlehurst was with a small group that was chasing Leipheimer entering the first of three 3.76-mile (6.1 km) circuits in downtown Greenville. Swindlehurst attacked repeatedly, only to be chased down each time by Bobby Julich (CSC). Toyota-United Report >
Toyota-United's Chris Baldwin was the only rider to follow Levi Leipheimer's
attack on the third of four trips up Paris Mountain. photo © Charles Herskowitz
Zabriskie Repeats as Professional Time Trial National Champion
9/2/07 - David Zabriskie (Salt Lake City, Utah/Team CSC) successfully defended his professional time trial title on Saturday with a one-second victory over Danny Pate (Colorado Springs, Colo./Slipstream-Chipotle) at the 2007 USA Cycling Professional National Championships. Zabriskie averaged a speed of 45.644 k.p.h. over the 30-kilometer course to clock a winning time of 39 minutes, 34 seconds. His victory on Saturday marked the first time in 11 years in which a professional or elite male won two straight national time trial titles. Steve Hegg was the last athlete to record consecutive victories in the race against the clock in 1995 and ’96. more >
Toyota-United's Chris Baldwin rode to an eighth place finish in Saturday's time trial.
photo © Charles Herskowitz
