Cycling News

UniversalSports.com to Webcast the UCI Cyclocross World Championships
1/30/09 - UniversalSports.com, in conjunction with the International Cycling Union (UCI), presents same day webcast coverage of the Cyclocross World Championships this Sunday from Hoogerheide, Netherlands. UniversalSports.com will post the elite men’s and women’s races same day for video on-demand viewing.  Universal Sports, available in 30 million homes, will present encore presentations of CrossVegas on Friday, Jan. 30 at 11:30 a.m. ET and Saturday, Jan. 31 at 6 a.m. ET. In addition, fans can visit the cycling section on UniversalSports.com for updated broadcast schedules (TV and online), news, video highlights, special features, photo galleries and more.

Germany’s Philipp Walsleben won the U23 category at the CX Worlds being held in the Netherlands.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

2009 Amgen Tour of California Features the Strongest Pro Field Ever in the U.S.
1/30/09 - The 2009 Amgen Tour of California will assemble the best-ever collection of the world’s top cyclists when America’s most important road race begins February 14, in Sacramento.  Featuring a field that includes seven-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong and two-time defending Amgen Tour of California Champion Levi Leipheimer (both racing for Astana), the 136 rider peloton also is expected to include 2006 Giro d’Italia Champion Ivan Basso (leader of team Liquigas); 2008 Olympic Champion in the time trial Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank); 2006 Amgen Tour of California Champion Floyd Landis (Ouch presented by Maxxis); 2005 World Champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step); three-time World Champion Oscar Freire (Rabobank); two-time United States National Champion George Hincapie (Team Columbia); and the top American performer in the 2008 Tour de France Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream).  Other anticipated participants include, 2008 Tour de France Champion Carlos Sastre (Cervélo TestTeam); four-time Norwegian National Champion Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam); 2008 U.S. Professional Champion and Olympic Gold Medal Winner Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing); Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia), widely considered to be the world’s best sprinter; 2008 Best Young Rider in the Amgen Tour of California Robert Gesink (Rabobank); and 2008 Tour de France Best Young Rider Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank). “It is clear that this year’s Amgen Tour of California has the greatest field ever assembled in our country.  We have legendary champions like Lance Armstrong, an extraordinary array of the best professional cyclists riding today and many of the most talented young riders in the world,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports.  The unprecedented field of riders includes two Tour de France Champions (Armstrong, Sastre), a Giro d’Italia Champion (Basso), 10 World Champions (Armstrong, Boonen, Cancellara, Michael Rogers, Cavendish, Brett Lancaster, Stuart O’Grady, Francisco Chicchi-Jr, Yoroslav Popovych-Jr. and Janez Brajokovic-Jr.), 26 Olympians and eight Olympic medalists (Armstrong, Cancellara, Hamilton, Leipheimer, Gustav Larsson, O’Grady, Rogers and Hayden Roulston) and 25 past and current National Champions.        

San Diego At Last!
By Mark Johnson
1/29/09 - For the first time in its four-year history, on February 22, 2009 the Amgen Tour of California is coming to San Diego. This hilly humdinger of a stage is rich with opportunities for spectators to get within inches of pro cycling superstars - including a recently un-retired Lance Armstrong. Tour organizers are planning a 100-mile route that starts in Rancho Bernardo, ends in Escondido and hurls the peloton over 5,000-foot plus Mount Palomar. Before hitting Palomar, the route will test the field's legs, weary after eight days of racing, on the steep ascent of Highland Valley Road east of Rancho Bernardo. And pending Highway Patrol approval, race organizers have penciled in a final crushing ascent of Cole Grade, a climb that rips up into nearly vertical avocado groves on the western flank of the Pauma Valley. To get a taste of the Stage Nine climbs, in October we rode them with San Diego-based pro cyclists Neil Shirley and Cody Stevenson. Shirley is a climbing ace who has won the King of the Mountains Jersey at the prestigious Tour of Utah and Philadelphia International races, while Stevenson is an Aussie sprinter who earned his chops during five years of Belgian racing. "Who ever comes out on top on the final day is a legitimate bike racer," says Shirley after doing all three climbs. "There's no faking it on this stage." more >

Lee Wilmore (Celo Pacific) and American World Champ Kathy Sarvary (50-54 Women) at CX Worlds.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

So Cal Cross Fever and ’08-09 CX Season Comes to an End with Last Chance Cross
By David Sheek
1/28/09 - 'Last Chance Cross’ took place Sunday Jan 25th, as the last race in So Cal AND the finale of the Cross Fever Series. The event took place at Cornerstone RV Park and Picnic area affectionately known as the Flying B Ranch in Black Star Canyon, CA. The ranch presented amazing terrain with world cup potential. Race director and long-time Pro MTBer, Michael Lee brought his experience along with support from World Champion mountain biker Brian Lopes (Oakley/Ibis) to create a course with plenty of excitement for those who challenged it. The course was a mix of fast pavement, numerous off camber S-turns around trees, through gravel and steep hillsides as well as the tricky u-turn barriers and sand pit made riders dismount and remount numerous times per lap. Overall, it was another one of the great courses of this season and a recipe of road, bumpy dirt, sand, gravel, wood chips, banked turns, and steep jolting climbs to make it one of the most technically challenging course yet! Rock N Road Cyclery hosted Sunday’s event with support from Team CICLE. Mike Lee went 100% at the task to make the day top-notch with the goal to host this event during the peak ’09-10 season. Cross Fans were treated to lots of beer, tacos, and exciting racing action including lots of bloopers for the cross reel; I am guilty of hitting the deck twice and have bruises as evidence. Cross Fever Series Leaders rode hard to win their races as well as overall series medals and custom aspirin/cold compress trophies going to those racers with a severe case of cross fever! more >

Junior, Jacob Dodge has Cross Fever traveling to all four races from Fresno!
photo © KreativeShots.com

San Diego Bicycle Club Announces the SDBC Elite Teams
1/26/09 - The San Diego Bicycle Club is proud to present the 2009 SDBC Elite Teams. Both the women's and men's  teams recently completed a great two-day training camp, which was held in the San Diego area. This is the 6th consecutive year of racing for the elite team. 2009 team members include (back row L-R) Chris McDonald, Nick Onate, Sammy Dean, Tomo Hamasaki, Aaron Quesnell, Nick Turner, Scott Hammack, Chris Bennett, Andrew Salcedo, Randall Coxworth, Jorge Castillo, (front row L-R) Bonnie Bourque, Melinda Johnson, Kara Vidaca, Lisa Young, Crystal Howard, Jenny Eyerman, Simone Morissette.

2009 SDBC Elite Men' and Women's Teams
photo © Todd Willis

Toyota-United’s Sean Tucker Looks Back
By Mark Johnson
1/24/09 - In the three years the Toyota-United Pro cycling team raced throughout the United States, the team won over 160 races and put its riders on the podium 355 times. From Canadian hard man Dominique Rollin winning a stage of the Amgen Tour of California after seven hours in pounding rain, to Cuban Ivan Dominguez taking a stage of the Tour of Missouri, Toyota-United spent three years as major domo of domestic racing's house of pain. After Toyota decided to put its advertising dollars elsewhere in 2009, 40-year-old team owner Sean Tucker opted to spend 2009 focusing on his new baby daughter and other business interests, including producing a documentary film about the 2008 season with Toyota-United. Tucker has been involved with United States bicycle racing since 1979 - I caught up with him to collect his thoughts on the years he spent running Toyota-United. More >

Bikesport Radio Debuts in Southern California on Monday, January 26
1/23/09 - Bikesport Radio is a news and talk show that will play on Los Angeles Free Radio and initially be a bi-weekly program. The show is new for SoCal and has the goal of helping cycling gain more media exposure. Bikesport Radio will report on the weekends' race results and hopes to have guests in the studio. The show will be at noon on alternate Mondays and beginning on January 26th, Junior National Champion Iggy Silva will be in the studio. Juniors are the future of our sport, and your calls are welcome to talk with Iggy. The inventor of Geolung, a new breathing device that can be used to filter out contaminated air during commuting or off-road riding, strengthen the lungs, or even to simulate altitude training depending on which filter is installed will also be in the studio. To ask the radio guests questions, please call 213-252-0998. The non-profit studio currently has only one line so most likely you will get a busy signal, so please be patient. You can listen to the show at http://www.killradio.org:8000/  (The website is under construction, so be sure to use the exact address above.) This non-profit radio station is sponsored by Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE)i. If you'd like to support this show and see it continue, you can make a donation to support the radio station at saveourplanet.org.

"Last Chance Cross" Premieres on Sunday, January 25 at the Flying B in Silverado
1/23/09 - Don't miss the Series Finale this Sunday, January 25th AND your LAST CHANCE (to) ‘CROSS!!! at the Flying “B” Ranch - Cornerstone-Black Star RV Park & Picnic Area. Hosted by Rock N Road Cyclery and Team CICLE, this will be the first ever CX race at the Flying B Ranch and the last race of the 2008-09 cyclocross season. There is a $1,500 prize list in 14 race categories with cash prizes to the following categories: Men 1/2/3, Women 1/2/3, Masters 35+ Men & Women and Single Speed, plus there is Free Kids Racing. Demo ‘cross bikes are available for first timers and Juniors, plus there is a free beginner's clinic, BBQ and beer! Be a part of the celebration! The course is 20% paved, 20% grass and 60% dirt. more info >

Final Teams Announced for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California
1/22/09 - Joining the previously announced eight ProTour teams, nine additional Pro Continental and Continental teams have been confirmed for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California by AEG, presenter of the professional cycling race. The nine-day stage race will feature 17 of the world’s top professional teams, including world-renowned riders Lance Armstrong, two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer, three-time World Champion Oscar Freire and 2008 Olympic gold medal winner and world champion Fabian Cancellara, racing more than 750-miles from the state’s capitol, Sacramento, to San Diego County. The complete 2009 Amgen Tour of California roster will feature the following 17 professional cycling teams: Ag2r-La Mondiale, Astana,  Bissell Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing Team, Cervelo Test Team, Colavita/Sutter Home pb Cooking Light, Fly V Australia pb Successful Living Foundation Team, Garmin-Slipstream, Jelly Belly Cycling Team, Liquigas, Ouch Presented by Maxxis, Quick Step, Rabobank, Rock Racing, Saxo Bank, Team Columbia and Team Type 1.

Defending TDU Champ Greipel Crashes Out and Will Need 12 Weeks of Recovery
1/22/09 - Defending Tour Down Under champion Andre Greipel will need up to 12 weeks recovery after dislocating his right shoulder during stage three of the Tour Down Under. The Columbia-Highroad rider was taken to Flinders medical centre in Unley after being involved in a multiple-rider crash when he struck a police motorbike early on in the race. “It was really unlucky, the racing was fast and there was a strong crosswind when they came over the lip of a climb,” commented team sports director Allan Peiper.  “Andre wasn’t able to see the front end of the bunch because it had bent back round due to the crosswind, nobody yelled [to warn of upcoming danger, as normally happens in bike racing] because the racing was so fast and he was the first guy that went into the bike. [Race leader] Allan Davis and four other guys went down.” Apart from dislocating his shoulder, Greipel needed stitches in his right arm, left leg and a deep cut in his right elbow. He will now fly back to Germany for an operation on his shoulder. “He may need up to 12 weeks before he gets back on the bike,” Peiper added. “Riders are tough and like to get back on their bikes as soon as possible, but after a shoulder operation you need to remain immobile for long periods of time and that obviously makes it tougher to ride a bike again.” Greipel, who is showing excellent early season form is disappointed in not being able to continue the race and now looks forward to a quick recovery. “Normally it means I will be three months away from racing,” he said. “Hopefully I will heal quicker than that.”

Video - Tour Down Under
1/21/09 - SBS Cycling Central has some excellent video coverage of the Tour Down Under, complete with Phil and Paul. Video >

El Dorado Park Cross Fever Receives Rave Reviews
1/21/09 - Velo Allegro hosted its first ever CX race at El Dorado Park in the City of Long Beach last Sunday. The venue and course layout was one of the best this season. Designer, Jonathan Livesay created a magical route that wound its way through the beautiful lakeside park. The natural log jump was a fan favorite, and the demanding switchback climb to the Thule/Planet Bike double barrier run-up quickly swept racers back down the bumpy hillside and onto one of the numerous paved sections of the course allowing riders a chance to recover then pour it on into the numerous turns making for an overall super fun rollercoaster ride. Cross Fever hit hard as racers came all the way from Fresno, San Diego and Santa Barbara to race the January 2009 SoCal 'Cross Fever Series. Fans were treated to an exciting 15-18 Jr. Men's race. The battle of the "Bens" unfolded as 'crosser, Ben Bertiger (CICLE) returning from injury to challenge up and coming 'crosser, Ben Barthel (Echelon SB). Ben Bertiger pushed the pace while Barthel sat patiently waiting to make his move. Ben Barthel took the victory in one of the most exciting races of the day! Jacob Dodge (Team Vapor) found out he has 'Cross Fever traveling all the way from Fresno to compete and now leads the series finishing 3rd on the day, and has the highest overall point total! more >

The hot battle in the Juniors race was the 15-18 men's race. The battle
of the "Bens" as Ben Bertiger (CICLE) leads Ben Barthel (Echelon SB).
photo © Kenneth Hill

The Poor College Kids Road Race Offers Scenic Racing on January 31st
1/20/09 - Come start the season right and race January 31, 2009 at the Poor College Kids Road Race presented by the UCSB Cycling Team. With a rolling course on beautiful roads in the Santa Ynez Valley wine country, this race will challenge all. It is not a pure climbers course but has enough climbing to make the race selective and bunch sprints will be rare. The course starts on Zaca Station Road near Los Olivos and rolls onto Foxen Canyon climbing slowly, but painfully before descending steeply to the meandering flat roads of the Santa Ynez Valley which is surrounded by wineries and vineyards. Seventeen miles after the start, the race turns around in front of the Rancho Sisquoc Winery coming back up gradually prior to the steep climb before descending to the finish. Being in the heart of Wine Country, it can be easily deduced what kind of prizes that entails for those that are smart enough to win. The racing fields will range from Category 5 to Pro. With major Pro teams like Team Type 1 having their training camps in the area to prepare for the upcoming season and the Tour of California, the pro field has the potential to be absolutely stacked with big names. Come on out and support some poor college kids and help them put enough food on the table, so they can continue to race their bikes and promote another set of great races later in the year. more info >

Columbia-Highroad’s Greipel Wins Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under
1/20/09 - Columbia-Highroad’s Andre Greipel can breathe a little easier today after winning his first stage of the 2009 Tour Down Under for his team. After winning four stages and the overall classification at the 2008 edition of the race, and continuing to win throughout the season, Greipel’s first aim was to start the season as well as he did last year. “All I really wanted was to win a stage here,” explained Greipel. “Everything on top of that is a bonus.” Greipel won the bunch sprint at the end of a blistering hot 140km stage set in north east Adelaide. “I had the perfect lead out from the team, just like I did on Sunday [at the pre-tour citerium],” he said of the final kilometres. “On Sunday, we had a bit of bad luck and it was my fault at the end that we didn’t win so we really wanted to try it again. I got another perfect lead out and this time I had luck on my side and we won. It was really hot all day,” Greipel said of the conditions. “Too hot for the two guys in the break away. Bernie [Eisel] started riding to bring them back with about 70km to go, but it was so hot that we didn’t need to chase very hard. We were very grateful for the ice we got in the feed zone. The final part of the race was really fast. The guys did a great job. In the finishing straight I was on the wheel of Mark Renshaw and he took me all the way. Then Robbie [McEwen] started the sprint and I grabbed his wheel.”  Greipel now wears the orange leaders jersey into stage two of the tour  holding a five second lead over Australian Baden Cooke.

Biking for Obama Riders Arrive in DC and Receive Inauguration Tickets
1/19/09 - Los Angeles cyclist Ryan Bowen set out on a journey to ride from his home in Los Angeles, CA to the nation’s capital Washington DC to witness Barack Obama’s inaugaration. Bowen and fellow cyclists left Los Angeles on bike nearly a month and a half ago, with no inauguration tickets, on what they called “the Highway of Hope”. According to his web site he “entitled this journey the Highway of Hope because every border that I cross and every piece of land that I touch has been affected by this monumental election. So on this journey I seek to expose the hope that Barack Obama has imposed upon every region of this country.”  He posted his plea for a ticket to the Inauguration on January 12th. Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) and Rep. Blumenauer answered the plea with two tickets for Ryan and a fellow Biking for Obama rider. Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 12:15 PM at the Jefferson Memorial, Rep. Blumenauer will present Bowen with Inauguration tickets on behalf of the Congressional Bike Caucus and Rep. Becerra. Tomorrow, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, will join Ryan Bowen, Founder of Biking for Obama, and over fifty riders as the Biking for Obama team bikes the final leg of their cross-country bicycle trek into Washington, D.C. for Tuesday’s Presidential Inauguration.

As the Cycling World Turns...
1/18/09 - We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief that Rock Racing managed to make the deadline with their bank guarantee deposit that is required for a UCI License. The team was given a 4 pm deadline on Friday to deposit 10% of the riders' salaries or they would not receive their UCI license. This is good news for the riders, whose livelihoods depend on earning a solid paycheck throughout the year and were counting on racing in UCI events. Hopefully, this is a sign that Rock’s management is getting their act together and we can look forward to hearing about strong performances on the bike, instead of off-season shenanigans, lawsuits and sketchy contracts. Next, we will have to see if Rock Racing will be accepted into the Tour of California and if their fans are “Here to Stay” ... Speaking of contracts, Jeremiah Wiscovitch, who raced for Rock Racing the last two years, challenged the validity of  his contract in court after being released by the team and won. He was awarded the value of his bike, which was $ 8,000 less depreciation ... For all of you romantics, Lance Armstrong recently became engaged to his expectant girlfriend, Anna Hansen, with a romantic proposal on the beach during his stay in Hawaii. A friend said, “Although he has a reputation as a ladies’ man, he’s also very traditional, and just feels more comfortable being married before having a baby.” ... And great news for all the ladies in the house, Tom Boonen will be returning to compete in his second Tour of California next month. He says the race is great preparation for the upcoming Spring Classics, the fans are great and he is hoping for less rain this time.  Until next time...

Astana and Lance Armstrong Announce Independent Drug Testing Program
1/18/09 - The ASTANA Professional Cycling Team and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong today announced the launch of a new, comprehensive drug testing program for Lance Armstrong.  For the past four months, Dr. Don Catlin, the Chief Science Officer of Anti-Doping Sciences Institute, Inc. and one of the leading international anti-doping experts, has been developing a customized program to test Lance Armstrong throughout the 2009 cycling competition season for the use of performance enhancing substances and methods.  The program calls for testing about once every three days.  The new program’s testing is in addition to all the other drug testing to which Lance Armstrong is subject, including out-of-competition testing by the WADA, the UCI, the USADA, in-competition testing at all of the events in which Lance will compete in 2009, and ASTANA’s additional testing of all members of the ASTANA team.  The program has been launched, sample collection has commenced, and Dr. Catlin will issue reports on an on-going basis about the program results.  Since his comeback announcement a few months ago, Armstrong has been tested 12 times in out-of-competition testing in addition to testing in the ASTANA program and the new ADSI program. According to Lance Armstrong, “My goal in agreeing to participate in this program is to reduce speculation and debate about drug testing issues that might divert attention away from what my cycling comeback is all about – our global cancer campaign.  I am riding in 2009 to help end the stigma of cancer, build a grassroots movement about worldwide cancer collaboration, and make cancer a worldwide priority.”  According to Dr. Don Catlin, “We have developed an extensive monitoring program.  It accomplishes my goals: To have high frequency testing to maximize the amount of data collected and minimize possibilities the athlete might have to thwart the system, to store frozen samples for two to eight years to give ADSI the ability to perform new or additional tests, and to be independent and offer program transparency to the public and international anti-doping authorities.

Thurlow Rogers: 30 Years of Turbo
By Mark Johnson
1/17/09 - What is it with the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and endurance athletes who stay at the top of their game forever? Dara Torres swam in her first Olympics in L.A. and the 41 year old took three medals this summer in Beijing. France's 50-year-old Jeannie Longo, the winningest cyclist ever, raced her first Olympic road race in L.A. and finished two seconds shy of a bronze medal in the Beijing time trial, and placed 24th in the road race. And then there's Thurlow Rogers, the then-24-year-old American who placed sixth in L.A.'s Olympic cycling road race, just behind fellow Americans Davis Phinney and race winner Alexi Grewal - and well ahead of future five-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain, who didn't even finish. Today, like Torres and Longo, 48-year-old Thurlow "Turbo" Rogers is still putting the wood to athletes half his age. In August 2008 the Los Angeles-based Rogers, who works in the bike industry, rode away from a field of 130 riders and placed third in USA Cycling's 104-mile Elite Nationals road race in Orange County, California. A month before that, he had captured both road and time trial titles at USA Cycling's Masters Nationals event. In 2006 Rogers won the Masters World Championship road race in Austria. More >

Thurlow Rogers is still dropping the hammer after three decades.
photo © Mark Johnson / Ironstring.com

Team Garmin-Slipstream Unveils a New Kit Design for 2009
1/16/09 - Team Garmin-Slipstream, the top U.S. professional cycling team, today unveiled its 2009 team kits. The new team kit highlights title sponsor Garmin's leadership role, while also bringing attention to Slipstream and its focus on ethical sporting and developing the next generation of American champions. Designed and produced by Pearl Izumi's Colorado-based Advanced Development Team, the 2009 kits are highlighted by the ultra aerodynamic time trial Speed-Suit. Second skin fit and strategically located, proprietary fabrics work together to create the fastest Speed-Suit ever produced and provide an aerodynamic advantage for riders. And, the kit wouldn't be complete without strong argyle elements, including orange shoulders and an orange-dominated Giro helmet – which will be easy to spot in the pro peloton. Despite the change in design of the 2009 kits, Chipotle remains a valuable and significant sponsor of Team Garmin-Slipstream. According to Vaughters, "we are still powered by Chipotle burritos, as we always have been. Chipotle is our secret training weapon."

Join the Bike MS Southern California Ride in Ventura this October
1/16/09 - Join Bike MS in the best ride of your life in Southern California’s premier cycling event held in Ventura on October 3rd and 4th. We have route options for every level of cyclists, ranging from 15 – 160 miles; you will surely find a route fit for you. The event takes place in the beautiful city of Ventura, a place to bring the whole family and friends to join in on the fun. You’ll explore Southern California’s most picturesque areas on your bike. Bike MS will be with you every pedal stroke of the way as you take on the challenge and join the movement to create a world free of MS. Enjoy delicious meals and strong support, with rest stops every 15 miles and SAG vehicles. A fantastic festival awaits you on Saturday afternoon with great food, music, a beer garden, massage tent and fun games.  Most importantly, you will not only get an unforgettable weekend, but a chance to make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. The money you raise will support education, advocacy, research and local programs that enhance the quality of life for people with MS and their families. More info >

Cross Fever Rolls into Long Beach this Sunday, January 18 for El Dorado Park CX
1/15/09 - Set at the Beautiful Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande, racers and bike-enthusiasts came together to experience the debut CX event for SLO County, including wine tasting, BBQ, and some really fun racing on a course that kept you on your toes! Photos and results can be found at CenCalCycling.com. NEXT UP this Sunday on January 18 is Cross Fever Race #3 El Dorado Park CX is coming to Long Beach! Velo Allegro will host its first ever CX race at El Dorado Park. There will be fun for the entire family including FREE kids racing and beginner clinic – taking place in the park area of the famed Eldo Crit, the course will sweep through the beautiful lakeside park. Bring your picnic blanket or fishing gear... oh and the bike too! There will be cash prizes for the Men 1/2/3, Women 1/2/3, Masters 35+ Men, 35+ Women and SingleSpeed!!! more info >

Cross fans go nuts at the Talley Vineyards CX in SLO.
photo © Bill Mulder

SoCal High School Mountain Bikers Gearing Up for Big First Season
1/15/09 - Great things for the future of mountain biking are happening right now in Southern California. The Southern California Interscholastic Cycling League is gearing up for its inaugural season with schools, riders and coaches from across the region signing up to be part of this energetic new movement in school sports. Ten high school teams have registered for the league so far, already far exceeding the 2009 target of six teams. “People have been putting a lot of time into this. We’re seeing teachers, cycling coaches, parents, industry insiders, all wanting to get involved in this movement. We even had a journalist help out at a training camp he was covering for Mountain Bike Action magazine,” said SoCal League president Quintin Easton. Easton added that, “By working with the guidance of experienced staff and the proven formula of the NorCal league, we are seeing an outstanding series of camps and races take shape. These are very exciting days!” The SoCal League ran two camps last December. The next rider camp, to be held at Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, is on February 7th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The day’s activities will be split into halves. The morning session will focus on mountain biking skills, in which braking, gear selection, and body positioning will be taught to provide foundation skills for the challenges of the race series. After the skills learning session will come lunch, and then in the second half of the day students get to practice what they learned in a fun trail ride. Not only will just students acquire skills. For many of the coaches present, working with a group of high school students in the mountain biking environment is a new experience. They will gain invaluable experience conducting a high school mountain bike ride.

Win a Ride with Floyd Landis, Rory Sutherland and the OUCH pb Maxxis Team
1/14/09 - One lucky person and a friend will win a ride with the OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis on Saturday, January 24th, during the first weekend of the team’s upcoming training camp in Temecula, California. The winner and their guest will join the full team and team sponsors for a two-hour VIP ride, during which they’ll have the opportunity to chat with team leaders Floyd Landis, Rory Sutherland and Tim Johnson, as well as the rest of the OUCH Presented by Maxxis squad. The winner will also receive an official Team OUCH race kit, as well as two Team OUCH t-shirts and an experience they'll never forget. To enter you'll just need to join the team's news email list by deadline for entries is 9:00 PM (U.S. Pacific) on Friday, January 16, and one winner will be selected at random the day after. more info >

The beautiful Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande hosted the debut CX event for
SLO County and including wine tasting, BBQ, and some great racing.
photo © Bill Mulder

Statement from Michael Ball Regarding Rock Racing
1/13/09 - "Rumors of Rock Racing’s untimely demise have been greatly exaggerated. The team is proceeding with a full racing schedule of domestic racing in 2009 and is actively pursuing any and all opportunities related to racing outside the United States. I am committed to my team and my riders are committed to making Rock Racing one of the most exciting teams in the pro peloton. Our key riders will all be returning and will be ready to compete against the world’s best. We thank our fans for their continued support of Rock Racing. Baden Cooke did what he felt was in the best interest of his career and I wish him all the best. There was no malice there."

Rock Racing's CEO, Michael Ball, flashing a pair of devil horns in better times.
photo © SoCalCycling.com

BMC Racing Team: Training Camp Diary - Today with Swiss Champion Markus Zberg
1/12/09 - Even though I have already been in California for three days, I don’t quite feel that I have fully arrived yet. The nine hour time difference between the Western United States and Switzerland is indeed tough to get used to. The only advantage at the moment is that I don't have trouble waking up in the morning since I can't sleep anyways! So I had no trouble being ready for the 7am call for the medical tests! Starting my 14th season as a professional I have been around the block a few times but never before have I had to undergo tests quite as extensive as the ones I had at the Napa Valley Hospital. I had to increase my running intensity several levels on a treadmill. Not only was I not used to it, but it was also really hard. The level of difficulty though made me even happier with my results. The evaluation showed that I was still able to post the best values. The cardio specialist Dr. Wong said that with my values, I could continue at the highest levels of cycling for the next ten years. I am not thinking so far ahead at the moment. First, we enjoyed a three hour ride in the California sun with my team mates, followed by a then well-deserved massage. In the evening we had our first team meeting where the philosophy and goals for the 2009 season were presented. I have to say that my first impressions of my new team are very positive. We comfortably rounded off a long and busy day with a relaxing Italian dinner. All in all, I am looking forward to spending the next two weeks here in Santa Rosa. I am convinced that this is the ideal place for us to form an athletic and interpersonal base here which will hold us in good stead throughout the season. And if the rest of the season goes as well as this first day has started, then I will be very pleased because I feel that with my top-notch medical examination, I have my first victory of the season in the bag!

Lance Armstrong Ready for the Tour Down Under
1/11/09 - For the past two weeks Lance Armstrong has been on the Big Island of Hawaii putting the final preparation in for his comeback to pro racing after 3.5 years away. Armstrong had some fun and relaxation with his kids the first few days on the beautiful island, which is famous for it's black sand beaches and lava fields. But, last week his coach, Chris Carmichael, arrived and turned the screws with one final block of intense training before the Tour Down Under in Australia, which runs from January 18-25. Armstrong just arrived in Australia where he will be joining up with his Astana teammates and will have a week to acclimate to the time change and weather before the racing starts. You can catch the Tour Down Under daily on Versus.

Team Columbia-Highroad Aims to Reach Even Higher in 2009
1/11/09 - Team Columbia-Highroad officially launched the 2009 season at their team presentation today in Mallorca, Spain, promising an impressive sequel to the team’s hugely successful run of victories in 2008. The half-hour presentation of Team Columbia-Highroad’s 36 athletes started with a brief overview of the winning 2008 season, in which the men’s team won 85 races, and the women’s squad notched up 68--more than any other. In the comments that followed, Team Columbia-Highroad owner Bob Stapleton and team manager Rolf Aldag said they were confident the squad would raise the bar even higher in 2009.  Working as a team and winning fairly remain the cornerstone of the team’s strategy for success. “Whether we win or lose, it is done as a team,” Stapleton commented. “I’m not just proud of our success, I’m proud of the way in which we achieve it.  All of the victories were earned by a good collective effort - by the riders and the management.  We are built around the best practices and the best equipment in the sport, and we are constantly looking for better methods.  The support of our 20 partners brings valuable resources and knowledge to that process.” more & roster >

Columbia-Highroad has a new look for '09.

OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis Unveiled
1/10/09 - OUCH Presented by Maxxis returns a number of the riders who played a critical role in the team earning its fifth consecutive NRC Team Championship title in 2008 (under the Health Net pb Maxxis team). Floyd Landis will be joined by Australian Rory Sutherland, who won his second consecutive NRC Individual Points Championship in 2008. John Murphy also returns following a breakthrough season that landed him in the top five of the NRC standings. Team captain and 2007 cyclocross national champion Tim Johnson also returns to continue filling his leadership role on the road. They're joined by Tasmanian strongman Karl Menzies, who will be looking to rebound from an injury-plagued 2008 with another strong year for the team. Patrick McCarty brings a wealth of stage-racing experience to OUCH Presented by Maxxis from years racing at the sport's top level in Europe. He was part of the team that won the first stage Team Time Trial of the 2008 Giro d'Italia, and his big engine and his experience will be a huge asset to the team. Super-domestique Roman Kilun rounds out the returning riders. The team welcomes five new riders besides Landis to its roster. They include Cameron Evans and Andrew Pinfold, both coming from the Canadian outfit Symmetrics. Bradley White comes to the team from Successful Living, while Bobby Lea joins from Toyota-United. Neo-pro Jonathan Chodroff, the current elite time trial national champion, rounds out the squad. The OUCH Pro Cycling Team presented by Maxxis will convene for the first time at training camp in this month in Temecula to prepare for its first major race of the season, the Amgen Tour of California. You can follow the Ouch Pro Cycling Team on their new web site and on Twitter.

Training: Optimal Fit - Cycling Biomechanics
By Michael Lovegren M.S. NASM-PES, CES
1/9/09 - In the last two decades, applied biomechanics has advanced the sport of cycling by changing how athletes train and by improving body position on the bicycle. The sport of cycling has evolved due to bike frame geometry changes and expanded the racing venues from simple roadways to a variety of roads and trails. Scientific knowledge has altered cycling performances with the successful athletes utilizing such information gained by wind tunnel testing, power meters, and the geometry changes in seat tube angles. Definition of Biomechanics - Biomechanics is the study of motion and the effects of forces relative to the human body; a field that combines discipline of physiology and engineering mechanics, which utilizes tools of physics, mathematics, and engineering to describe the properties of physiology [1]. more >

Hart Park CX features a tough hill climb and a chance to earn some cash for the riders.
photo © Larry Aronat - LASportsPhoto.com

NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League is Seeking a Winter/Spring Intern
1/8/09 - The NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League is now accepting applications for the Winter/Spring Program Internship position.  The Program Intern will be responsible for helping with program coordination, distribution of materials, event planning, office needs and general office and field projects. Kyle Wright, who filled the position in 2008 commented: “I loved working for the League.  As the Intern I did just about every job there was to do, newsletters, lots of errands, helping plan events, course design and building, and League promotions.  The best part of working for the League was that it never felt like a job. “Working for the League taught me everything from writing to organizational skills; whether I was packing my car with race supplies or writing an email, organization was key. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that Oakland has some sweet Mountain Biking!” “Ideally this opportunity would have been announced months ago,” stated League Assistant Director Justin Morgan, “but thanks to a generous 11th hour funding source we can now seek a new staffer to help launch the 2009 season. We are excited about this opportunity optimistic that the right person for this job will emerge.” more info >

Cross Fever #1: Hart Park Cyclocross Report
By Dot Wong
1/7/09 - Sunday, January 4th was race #1 of the inaugural SoCal 'Cross Fever Series -- all events taking place in January 2009 and showing off cyclocross racing at its finest on some of the best courses southern/central California has to offer! Sam Ames and the Kern Wheelmen Bicycle Club kicked off ‘Cross Fever with the classic Hart Park CX event in Bakersfield, brought to you by Action Sports, Glinn and Giordano Physical Therapy, Guinn Construction and Bidart Farms. The rains passed throughout the holidays and a couple days prior making the parcourse the best its been in years. Green grass and awesome soil conditions treated racers to the classic style Euro course that Bakersfield is famous for and brought with it a little taste of Belgian-like slippery conditions taking its share of victims in the turns and off-camber hillsides. Ample pavement at the start led riders into the twisting grass downhill and off camber sections followed by technical twists, turns and wide open power sections. The true test on the day lied in the three run ups strung together in succession. While not very long, they were challenging and proved to be the deciding factor before the start finish. more >

Hart Park CX Race Director, Sam Ames, weaves his way through a colorful web.
photo © Larry Aronat - LASportsPhoto.com

Amgen-Giant Masters Charity Challenge
Elite masters cycling team challenges California-based cycling teams to ‘ride and raise’
for charity during the Amgen Tour of California 
1/6/09 - A select group of the Amgen-Giant Elite Masters Racing Team will be riding stages of the Amgen Tour of California in advance of the race to help promote awareness and raise money for Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative. Breakaway from Cancer™ is a complimentary component to Amgen's sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California to increase awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients, from prevention to education, and patient care to advocacy and support. To support charity, the Amgen-Giant squad is reaching out to other California cycling teams to ‘share a stage’ while getting some good base miles during the tour. Cycling team members will be asked to raise charity funds in advance for the Breakaway campaign in order to participate.  Participants will begin the stage route hours in advance of the official stage start time with the goal to arrive into the finishing city in advance of the race. Rolling support will be provided for the rides." "This is a great way for California's competitive cycling community to get in some great training while supporting Breakaway from Cancer, an important component to the Amgen Tour of California", says Malcolm Hill, of Amgen-Giant Elite Masters Racing. "Our racing team is part of the larger Amgen Cycling Club whose mission includes raising funds for cancer initiative partners. We are challenging other riders and teams to become part of the highest profile cycling event in the U.S. by participating in one or more of our stage awareness rides."Riders select which stage(s) they wish to participate. As in years past, the stage routes include spectacular scenery and challenging sections.  “The stage rides are not a race but we encourage participation limited to stronger riders”, says Hill. “We hope to raise a minimum of $100 per rider for each stage with 100% of the funds raised to directly reach the Breakaway partners”.  A list of riders and teams participating in the Breakaway from Cancer awareness rides for each stage will be announced prior to the Amgen Tour of California. more info >

Join the Amgen-Giant Masters Team in the Amgen-Giant Masters Charity Challenge.

Team Columbia Named “Team of the Year” and “Best International” Teams
1/5/09 - In 2008 Team Columbia-Highroad was voted “Team of the Year” by Procycling magazine and “Best International Team” and “Best International Women’s Team” by VeloNews, along with other awards such as Best Rookie – Tony Martin and Best sprinter- Mark Cavendish. In a triumphant year for the team the men notched up a remarkable total of 84 wins during the season, while the Women’s squad won 64.  Both teams won more races than any other competing team. From the early-season Tour Down Under in Australia through the Dutch and Belgian Classics, from the bunch sprints in the Tour de France to the mountain-top finishes of Switzerland and Germany, Columbia’s men and women have always have been competitive. No matter where the victories were taken, Team Columbia has retained their strong emphasis on team unity and cohesion, the nurturing of talented young riders and winning fairly and clearly across the world. The women’s team finished the season ranked number one in the world with twelve of the 13 riders winning races during the year. Judith Arndt won three rounds of the World Cup and the Series overall as well as Tour of Montreal, the Thueringen Tour and Giro della Toscana. She topped of the season with medals in both the TT and the RR at World Championships. With such a successful season over, the team now looks forward to the start of the 2009 season with the hope and aim to continue to develop and continue to succeed. The year will start with a team training camp in Mallorca, Spain, and a National Championships for the three Australian’s in the men’s team followed shortly after by Tour Down Under. The team of 27 men and 11 women comes from 18 different nations in 2009 and consists of nine national champions, three world champions and the top young talent of the present and the future.

As the Cycling World Turns...
1/4/09 - The Rock Racing saga continues as Baden Cooke threatens to sue Michael Ball for breach of contract. According to Cooke, he was offered a contract worth several hundred thousand dollars for two years in November, but told just before Christmas that the team had no sponsor, no bikes and his two-year contract could be guaranteed for only six months. Cooke convinced three other Aussies, Nick Sanderson, Caleb Manion and Aaron Kemps to join him on Rock Racing, but their deals have been cut too. Recently, Cooke managed to find a job with the Dutch team, Vacansoleil. Other riders, in addition to Cooke, that have left Rock Racing since the 2009 roster was released in November include Ivan Dominguez and Will Walker (both to Fuji-Servetto), and Austin Carroll will be riding for the BMC Racing Team ... Local stars and National Champions, Rahsaan Bahati and Justin Williams are currently racing for Rock Racing at the Jayco Bay Classic. Unfortunately, Bahati was injured in a crash suffering a fractured ankle and torn ligaments during Stage 2 ... In mountain biking, Trek-Volkswagen is finally calling it quits after 13 years when Volkswagen announced that they would not continue sponsoring the team in December. The late date will make it difficult for many of the riders to find new teams for 2009, since most rosters are full ... In case you missed it, there were some heated moments at the Cyclocross Nationals. A couple of hecklers decided to heckle Jonathan Page during an interview with Dave Towle, which led to a brawl caught on video after Page’s wife and brother asked the hecklers to pipe down. In addition, tempers were flaring out on the course when Jon Baker took a punch at longtime CX’er Adam Myerson. In 2000, Myerson was punched in the side of his head by Scott Mercer and received serious injuries to his skull in the gnarly shape of a fist.  Glad to see that Myerson took the high road in this incident and came out unscathed.

Awesome views of the mountains let the riders forget the pain for a few moments.
photo © SCPS - Eric Colton

Video - New Years Day Ride
1/3/09 - Over 400 riders rung in the New Year in foggy conditions, with the New Years Day Ride that starts in Long Beach and makes its way down PCH to Dana Point.

Talley VineCross, Race #2 on the SoCal Cross Fever Series
1/1/09 - SLO County's cyclocross debut is about to unfold at Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande on Sunday January 11th, and it's sure to be a great competition and one big CX party!   All details, including lodging discounts at Best Western Inn are at cencalcycling.com. Compete on a course that takes you on an adventure through the Talley farmland and vineyards.  This 1.8- mile circuit consists of dirt roads looping through the valley floor and several terrace areas.  Challenging climbs, fun descents, and several natural barrier sections consisting of grassy culvert crossings dot the course. Family, friends, and fans are all welcome to enjoy a truly spectator-friendly course, a family-style BBQ, and great deals on wine by the glass in the courtyard. Scan the circuit on high from the comfort of the tasting terrace or meander among the vines at your favorite turn on the course.   CX bikes available for demo, as well as a Kids' Kross race and Fun Race at the end of the day. Cash Prizes to Men 1/2/3, Women 1/2/3, and Masters 35+.  Great merchandise prizes from Time Sports, Fluid Recovery, Voler Team Apparel, and more! 

Show me the money!
photo © SCPS - Eric Colton

Video - Hart Park Cyclocross Hill Climb