Cycling News

Video - Manhattan Beach Grand Prix - Bahati Three-Peats!
6/30/09 - Watch USPRO Criterium Champion, Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing), win his third consecutive Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix NRC Pro Men's Bicycle Race for a three-peat.

Bahati and Rivera Win at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix
6/29/09 - Rock Racing’s star sprinter won the 48th edition of the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix Sunday for the third consecutive year. It was his ninth win of the season and Rock Racing’s 24th victory on the year. “I wasn’t feeling any pressure to win here again,” Bahati said. “It was just coming from my friends and peers – not from the guys on the team. It was just like another race to me.” Bahati, the 27-year-old US professional criterium champion, convincingly swept across the line at the end of the 80-minute race at Live Oak Park ahead of runner-up Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) and the reigning US elite criterium champion, Ken Hanson (Team Type 1). Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball was among the several thousand fans lining the 1.4-mile hot dog-shaped course that borders the Pacific Ocean. That made the victory even sweeter, Bahati said. “I’m glad he  was there to witness another big win for the team,” Bahati said. “This shows that I care about my job and I’m glad I have a job. For me, I only wanted to show that Rock Racing competes a team, unselfishly. We have to show him we can succeed and give a sponsor its due.” New Rock recruit Ivan Dominguez was helping lead Bahati out in the final laps. “Ivan adds another dimension to this team,” Bahati said of the Rock racing’s acquisition earlier this month of the accomplished Cuban-American sprinter. “He said ‘Follow me and I’ll take you to the Promised Land.’ So I did.” But it wasn’t an entirely smooth ride in the final 200 meters when Team Type 1’s Aldo Ino Ilesic and teammate Ken Hanson tried to spoil the celebration by roaring past the Rock Racing lead-out train. “We had Nic (Sanderson), Caleb (Manion), Sergio (Hernandez) and all the boys on the front and basically got jumped by Team Type 1,” Bahati said. “So I got on Hanson’s wheel and made sure I was third through the last corner. From there, I knew I had it.” The only downside of Sunday’s race was a crash by Rock Racing’s Justin Williams. The US Under-23 national criterium champion went down with two laps to go and lost a few teeth in a jarring collision with the pavement.  In the women’s race, 16 year old junior phenom Coryn Rivera continued her winning streak with a well timed sprint. Rivera and her Proman Hit Squad teammates Nicole Brandt and Christen King's strategy was to cover the early breaks.  When the race came down to the almost predictable field sprint, Rivera came out of the corner in fourth position timing the sprint to perfection despite only being on junior gears. New Zealand's Malindi Maclean (Jazz Apple) finished 2nd with Catherine Fiedler-Cook (Tommasini) rounding out the podium for 3rd. In the 45 +, John Walsh (Amgen/Giant Masters) won the final sprint taking several primes along the way, with teammate Antony Galvan taking his third win in the 35+. In the Cat 2 race, Mike McMahon (Velocity) took the win in convincing fashion. Full Results >

Coryn Rivera (Proman Hit Squad) won the women's race at the
Manhattan Beach Grand Prix in a well timed sprint on junior gears.
photo © Brian Hodes / VeloImages

Team Type 2 Caps RAAM With Emotional Finish
6/28/09 - Team Type 2 crossed the finish line of the Race Across America (RAAM) early Sunday to complete the grueling, 3,021-mile (4,861 km) journey in seven days, seven hours and 24 minutes. The squad’s stirring finish in front of a large crowd on the City Dock in Annapolis, Md., featured a mix of hugs, smiles, a few tears and plenty of high fives. One long-time RAAM observer called it the most emotional finish line celebration he has ever witnessed. “It’s exciting to work so hard to get it done,” Team Type 2 director and rider Bob Avritt said. “It gives us the opportunity to look forward to help people and inspire them about what people with Type 2 diabetes can accomplish.” Team Type 2 is believed to be the first squad consisting entirely of athletes with Type 2 diabetes to successfully complete the non-stop, transcontinental race since teams began competing in RAAM in 1989. People living with the disease have too much sugar in their bloodstream because their bodies either do not use insulin properly or do not produce enough insulin. In addition to Avritt, team members were John Anderson, Bill Arnold, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Voorhees. Chaisson survived a scare in the final 12 hours of the race when he badly cut his right calf after slipping off the pedals. He needed seven stitches and a tetanus shot, but resumed riding four hours later. Team Type 2 is an extension of Team Type 1, which was founded in 2004 by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge. Team Type 1 has competed in RAAM since 2006 and has men’s and women’s professional racing teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 2 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes; through active management, one can achieve their goals, dreams, and potential. On Friday, Team Type 1 won the eight-person team division of RAAM in five days, nine hours and five minutes while bettering the race record. Many members of that team, as well as the squad’s volunteer crew, were in Annapolis Sunday morning to greet Team Type 2. Avritt said RAAM – which began last Saturday in Oceanside, Calif. – was everything that he expected. “Some of it was more difficult than I could have imagined,” he said. “The most difficult was the sleep deprivation. I knew it would be an issue, but not so much of a predominant issue. Regardless, we were able to meet our goal of finishing in seven days.”

Team Type 1 Wins Race Across America, Betters Team Record
6/26/09 - Team Type 1 rolled onto the Annapolis, Md., City Dock early Friday morning as champions of the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM). The athletes on Team Type 1 – all of whom have Type 1 diabetes – won the non-stop, transcontinental race in record time. They completed the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) distance in five days, nine hours and five minutes after starting Saturday afternoon in Oceanside, Calif. Their average speed of 23.41 mph bettered the 23.24 mph of last year's winner, the Norwegian Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling Team, which completed nearly the same distance in five days, nine hours and 43 minutes. At 2:38 a.m. EDT, Team Type 1 riders Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Tom Kingery, Lonny Knabe, Bob Schrank and Mark Suprenant were recognized on the victory podium to the cheers of a large crowd of supporters that included the team’s founder, Phil Southerland. “This is the biggest one for me by far of the three years I’ve done this,” RAAM team director Schrank said. “It seemed to have all the right pieces seemed to fall together. What was great was how well the team conducted itself in the face adversity.” That bad luck included a grass fire in the Arizona desert that destroyed a minivan, an RV that had its transmission go out in Utah and a crew car that ran out of gas – all within a 24-hour span early in the race. The team is also on the lookout for Suprenant's Orbea Ordu bicycle, which went missing Thursday night. RAAM Manager Dave Eldridge said overcoming those challenges was a testament to the focus and diligence of the team and nearly two dozen volunteer crew members.

Team Astana Announces Tour de France Team, No Horner
6/25/09 - Team Astana announced their Tour de France roster in a dramatic Flash video presententation. The Tour Team includes the following riders: 7 x Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong, 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, Andreas Klöden, Levi Leipheimer, Dmitriy Muravyev, Sergio Paulinho, Yaroslav Popovych, Gregory Rast and Haimar Zubeldia. Unfortunately, Chris Horner did not make the cut this year. Horner recently broke his tibia in a crash at the Giro 'd Italia and raced the Nevada City Classic where he wrote in his blog, "Unfortunately, I was feeling the lack of racing form right away, as the legs just were not firing the same as usual, and today's race wasn't going to give me any time to ease them back in." View Presentation >

Team Garmin-Slipstream Announces Tour de France Roster
6/24/09 - Team Garmin-Slipstream today announced its much-anticipated Tour de France roster. The riders that will represent the American team in tackling the world’s toughest sporting event are:  Julian Dean, Tyler Farrar, Ryder Hesjedal, Dan Martin, David Millar, Danny Pate, Christian Vande Velde, Bradley Wiggins, David Zabriskie “We are bringing a diverse and versatile squad to the 2009 Tour de France,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports, LLC and Director Sportif, Team Garmin-Slipstream.  “We had an incredible first Tour as a team last year and this year we hope for GC contention, possible stage wins and even the yellow jersey at some point.” The squad features four Americans, including Christian Vande Velde who was fourth in last year’s Tour and is returning from a crash in May that left him with five broken vertebrae and other fractures. Also on the list are current Irish national champion Dan Martin, Ryder Hesjedal of Canada, Julian Dean of New Zealand, and the UK’s David Millar and Bradley Wiggins. Dutchman Martijn Maaskant is the first reserve.  

Team Type 1 On Record Pace in RAAM
6/23/09 - The crackle over the megaphone broke the silence of an otherwise quiet morning Tuesday in western Kansas: "Nice job, buddy. You’re just going to fly right on through this town," said Team Type 1 Coach Nate Keck to rider Bob Schrank.  Cruising at 28 mph on his Orbea Ordu time trial bike, Schrank gave the "high sign" of acknowledgment without interrupting his cadence. This is business-as-usual for Team Type 1, which has been leading the eight-rider team division of the Race Across America (RAAM) since the 150th mile of the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) race that began Saturday in Oceanside, Calif. Not only was Team Type 1 ahead of second-place Team ViaSat by nearly two hours and 45 minutes at 6:30 a.m. EDT, but the team of riders who all have Type 1 diabetes is knocking out the miles faster than any squad – or anyone, for that matter – has ridden across the country since RAAM team competition began in 1992. Nearing the halfway point of the race, Team Type 1 is averaging 24 mph and riding at a pace nearly three hours faster than what Keck had calculated going into the race. Key to maintaining that record speed will be favorable weather conditions, he said. "We want to get through Kansas as quickly as we can today in the hopes we can get into areas where we don’t have to worry as much about the wind," Keck said. "We had a section last night that we had a headwind and a strong cross wind. That really takes its toll on the guys." While Team Type 1’s eight riders (Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Tom Kingery, Lonny Knabe, Schrank and Mark Suprenant) cruised along, Team Type 1 RAAM Manager Dave Eldridge had his own race to manage. The fourth-year crew chief was jamming through northeastern New Mexico in an attempt to get a new RV up to the team to replace the one that had its transmission go out Sunday morning near Mexican Hat, Utah. Unable to find a dealership close-by Monday, Eldridge rented a U-Haul, loaded it with the belongings from the broken-down RV and drove to an RV dealership in Flagstaff, Ariz. Never did he imagine so many logistical headaches – particularly one in which he would have to deal with having only one RV for 20 crew members and eight riders. The RV breakdown was the second of three major vehicular mishaps for Team Type 1 in a 24-hour span between Sunday and Monday. A fire destroyed one of the team's minivans early Sunday and a crew car ran out of gas Monday morning. Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org or on Twitter by following @teamtype1 and @teamtype2.

Team Type 1 Aims To Regain RAAM Crown
6/20/09 - Team Type 1 makes no secret about its goals for the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM), which began today in Oceanside, CA. “Our first expectation is to win the race,” said Team Type 1 Elite Team Director Bob Schrank. “Our second expectation is to break the record set by the Norwegian team last year. And always, our hope is that we complete the race in a safe manner.” The teams competing in RAAM begin pedaling the 3,021 miles (4,861 km) to Annapolis, Md., at 2 p.m. PDT. Last year, Team Type 1 finished less than four hours behind the Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling squad that won the eight-person team division in a time of five days, nine hours and 56 minutes. Team Type 1 is comprised entirely of athletes who have Type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels. The team was created in 2004 to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming the obstacles often associated with the condition. Team Type 1 co-founders Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge helped the team win the eight-person team division of the race in 2006 and 2007. The two are now members of the men’s professional cycling team. Team Type 1 also has a professional women’s program, a triathlon team, a development team and a second team for the Race Across America, Team Type 2. Tracking of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 in RAAM can be done at teamtype1.org.

Justin Williams (Rock Racing) outsprinted Uriel Rayo (SoCalCycling.com)
and Gideon Massey (Bike Religion) for the win at the Dominguez Hills Crit.
photo © KennyBZ.com

Bike Palace-San Pedro Grand Prix Brings Bike Racing to San Pedro on June 21st
6/19/09 - The Bike Palace-San Pedro Grand Prix brings its own economic stimulus to San Pedro on Fathers Day! With a greater than $5,000 cash purse including $2,500 for pro men and $1,000 for pro women, cruiser bike opportunity drawing, HipHop dancing, Rumble Seat (a Rockabilly band) as well as free youth racing in celebration of Fathers Day, this is the place to be. This race will also be featured on BikeSport Radio.  Paid riders are automatically entered into our cruiser bike drawing and you may buy additional drawing tickets on race day for only $ 1 each. All proceeds from additional ticket sales will be donated to the Beacon House and Cleansanpedro.org. Free Belgum Budder, and Larabars for race entrants too. Even if you don’t want to race, come on down to San Pedro at the waterfront on Sunday, June 21st  and watch fast and exciting Pro/Amateur bicycle racing in the streets at Harbor Blvd at 3 PM as Elite classes race for winner’s jerseys and our great cash prize purse put up by the Bike Palace. Don’t miss the team competition at 1 PM as the Masters Cycle League competes in round five of its race series. Team Sho-Air/Sonanace is the leading team followed closely by Amgen/Giant Masters Racing. After the Masters Cycle League race, free youth races for kids 10 & under take place where they can race their bicycles free on the Grand Prix finishing stretch.

The Pro 1/2 men celebrate on the podium at the 2008 San Pedro Grand Prix.
photo © backontrackproductions.com

Rock Racing Re-Signs Ivan Dominguez
6/18/09 - Sprinter Ivan Dominguez has signed with Rock Racing after a five-month ProTour stint with Fuji-Servetto. Dominguez initially signed with Rock Racing before the 2009 season, but left the team in early January to accept a spot with the new ProTour squad. His return to domestic racing was a personal decision, he said, based on a desire to be closer to his family and the races he loves. “Racing in Europe was a great opportunity, but this is where I want to be,” Dominguez said. “(Rock Racing Team Owner) Michael Ball left the door open for me and I’m grateful for the chance to be a part of this team again.” “We knew it was a dream of Ivan’s to race in Europe and completely supported his decision to pursue that dream,” Ball said. “I told Ivan he would always have a place on this team and I meant it. We are glad he’s back and look forward to his contributions throughout the rest of the season.” Dominguez, who was often referred to as “The Cuban Missile" due to his Cuban heritage, was granted U.S. citizenship Feb. 26. Since turning professional in 2000, the 33-year-old has won stages at the Amgen Tour of California, the Tour of Missouri and the now-defunct Tour de Georgia, in addition to victories at a number of major one-day races in the U.S. He defected from his home country while competing with the Cuban national cycling team at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York City.

Jeremiah Wiscovitch (SC Velo) outsprinted Chris DeMarchi (Amgen/Giant)) and
Rudy Napolitano (Liquid Fitness) for the win and the Bear Jersey.
photo © Priscilla Calderon

Financial Problems of the Astana Cycling Team Have Been Resolved
6/18/09 - Astana Cycling Team has a future again. Manager Johan Bruyneel has reached an agreement with the license holder, the Kazakh Cycling Federation (KCF). It was a fruitful meeting between Manager Johan Bruyneel, the managing company of Olympus SARL and KCF. Thanks to Rinus Wagtmans, who acted as representative of the Kazakh government, all parties reach a mutual and written agreement, which gives riders and staff of the Team sufficient guarantees for the operation and functioning of the Team for the remainder of the season. The mutual agreement resolves the financial difficulties the team has endured since April 2009. KCF paid off its debts to Olympus by June 10th and the promises made by the Kazakh government are fully guaranteed. Johan Bruyneel is pleased that the team can once again focus on racing. “I appreciate everyone’s patience and professionalism during this difficult time and support of the program. With only 16 days left to the Tour de France, the riders need rest in their minds. We are glad that we can continue with our strong Team. It was hardly imaginable that our strong Team would not have been able to participate in the world’s largest cycling event. Thanks to the guarantees made by the Kazakh government, we can continue with the same group that already proved in the past to be a real Team. We look forward to the next races. For us it will be a new start, but it will look familiar. This is the best solution. The Kazakh government showed that – despite the economical crisis – they really want to invest in cycling. They succeeded to find funds. We will not disappoint them. We look forward to representing our sponsor family with pride.”

Team Sho-Air/Specialized’s Plaxton Perfect at PRO XCT Round #4
6/16/09 - What a barn burner for Team Sho-Air/Specialized at round #4 of the PRO XCT tour held in Colorado Springs over the weekend.  Max Plaxton; “The Mountie” as he’s known north of the border, rode high on his Specialized steed to a spectacular victory over series rivals Jeremy Horgan Kobelski and Specialized Factory rider Todd Wells.  Plaxton left the Cheyenne Mountain venue with the PRO XCT men’s leaders’ jersey, his first US National XC win and extended his points lead to 10 over second place. Team Sho-Air/Specialized has now won 2 of the 4 PRO XCT events and has Plaxton in 1st, while Sid Taberlay sits 3rd in points.  Taberlay had an off day in 9th, as the Aussie was riding with some injured ribs he suffered from a training crash earlier in the week.  Still the scrappy Aussie gutted it out and held on to 3rd in the series points. The opening of the race was explosive as JHK drove it at the front.  Taberlay covered the move for Plaxton and pushed the paced. Taberlay then encountered some mechanical issues in the first rock garden section, handing second to Todd Wells and Plaxton. From there Plaxton took control putting on a riding clinic in the courses technical sections. “The Epic was working perfect for me and I knew it was the right call to make on this course.” explains Max. “I was really suffering on the climbs as the tempo was unreal, but I could make it up easy on the more technical sections and downhill sections to bridge the gap back up to JHK.” continued the men’s PRO XCT winner. Soon the field was whittled down to a two man shoot out, between Plaxton and JHK…..Wells was now all alone in 3rd in no man’s land 35+ seconds off the lead.  Further back in fourth was a dangling Kabush. At the front Plaxton traded punches as the two riders went at it, fighting for control leading into the courses many technical rock gardens and sketchy descents. Again, Plaxton’s technical ability aboard his S-Works Epic was evident over his hard tail rival as he simply could ride sections others had to walk. On the final lap of the four lap race, Plaxton was still trailing in second looking for a place to pass.  With a downhill tarmac finish, it was going to be imperative leading out of the last single track. When it looked as though Plaxton was boxed in and was going to have to settle for second, he found a line that he had been eyeing all day to make a dramatic last lap move stick, that left spectators and his rival all shaking their heads. From there Plaxton hit the pavement section down to the finish line to take his first US National Cross Country victory at round #4 of USA Cycling’s PRO XCT tour presented by Sho-Air.

Sutherland Wins the Overall at Nature Valley, Landis Takes Most Aggressive Rider
6/15/09 - Since the end of the opening stage time trial Wednesday morning, Rory Sutherland of the OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis had been chasing race leader Tom Zirbel (Bissell), needing to close a gap of 0:13 to repeat as champion of the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Finally, in the closing minutes of the final stage Sunday, Sutherland caught and passed Zirbel to erase the last seven seconds of his deficit, and take the overall title of the six-stage race by a slim, three-second margin. And there was no way he would’ve done it without a full team effort propelling him. “When things got really fast and crazy near the end on Wednesday night,” explained team directeur sportif Mike Tamayo, “gaps started to form and Zirbel was caught out of position. That allowed Rory to make the front group and pick up those six seconds. We wanted to try to create the same situation again today and open some gaps to see if we could catch Zirbel out.”But first, Tamayo said, they wanted to make Zirbel’s Bissell teammates work. “We sent the one guy on our team who has the capacity to ride away from guys on this course out on the attack,” he said. That was Floyd Landis, who initiated an attack with 14 laps to go, that forced Bissell to ride a hard tempo at the front until reeling him back in with seven trips remaining around the notorious Stillwater circuit, which featured the painfully steep Chilkoot Hill at its end. For his efforts, Landis earned the day’s Most Aggressive Rider jersey. OUCH Presented by Maxxis also got a little indirect help from the Colavita-Sutter Home squad, which had their sprinter, Lucas Sebastian Haedo sitting 3rd overall coming into the stage, just 0:10 behind Zirbel. As the OUCH Presented by Maxxis train came through the last corner before the second to last climb up Chilkoot, the pace had caused the desired gaps, and the team launched Sutherland, who drilled it as hard as he could up the climb. He jumped across to Anthony Colby (Colavita) and Phillip Mamos (Amore e Vita) to form the decisive move. The duo hung on as Sutherland continued to apply pressure on the descent and return to the foot of Chilkoot for one last climb to the finish. Mamos and Colby both took advantage of Sutherland towing them around the last lap, with Mamos sprinting ahead to win the stage by two seconds, while Colby got ahead of Sutherland on the line to take 2nd. But Sutherland was content with 3rd place. His goal wasn’t to win the stage. It was to get to the line far enough ahead of Zirbel to take the overall title.

Troupe Racing Report - Santa Barbara Bike Fest / Elings Park
By Michelle VanGilder
6/14/09 - It has been a few years since I raced at Elings Park. It was my first mountain bike race four years ago. I will never forget the temperature, sweltering hot, well into the 90's. The festival was a buzz with riders and spectators. Trucks stacked with DH bikes routed up the hill, Super-D practice swirled around the XC course, and the BMX course was like a skate park. I didn't know what to expect, but the flurry of activity was an amazing dynamic in itself. At the start I was nervous with butterflys. I didn't have any preconceived notion of what to expect or what I should be doing. I remembered sprinting at the word GO so hard that I died on the first climb, and got passed by many, including the leader. The climbs were tight, and steep, definitely not easy for a newbie. The top of the hill took us to beautiful ocean views. From there on, I did my best navigating the short turns. Unsure of how long the course was, I paced myself in the heat. Unfortunately the race ended sooner than I expected even though I had energy to spare. I came in second, which was nice for my first race. Since that year, I've added a few more races to my resume. So when it was time to sign up for Elings, I was excited to return to where it all began. This time the race experience was very different. The event had all the buzz of the previous year. The staging was in a larger field that overlooked sections of the xc, dh, and super d. It also expanded to include a newly developed pump track. The course was longer, adding a loose descents, several single track rollers, and final climb. more >

Michelle VanGilder (Troupe Racing) on her way to winning her class at the Elings Park XC.
Photo by Troupe Racing Co.

Video - Descending Techniques and Tips
6/13/09 - A few weeks ago, we showed you how to climb. Now that you have reached the top of the climb, you are ready for the reward - the descent! CycleFilm has produced a video that contains some great tips on how to descend efficiently. Our tip when descending, is to be sure to stay in your lane and keep your eyes open for oncoming traffic and be aware of traffic coming from behind. Also, be sure to avoid any rocks that have fallen on the road, which can cause flats at high speeds. Know your limits and remember, safety is key.

Christian Vande Velde Returns To Competition at the Tour de Suisse
6/11/09 - Christian Vande Velde, the Garmin-Slipstream team leader who sustained major injuries after crashing out of the Giro d’Italia in May, will compete in the 2009 Tour de Suisse later this week. The event marks Vande Velde’s return to racing. The American suffered seven fractures, including five vertebrae, one rib and his pelvis during a crash in stage three of the Giro. Team officials credit the comeback to Vande Velde’s motivation and rigorous training but caution that he is still recovering. The American, who was in the top five in last year’s Tour de France, was back on his bike just days after his final medical examinations and has kept up the pace ever since. “I said from the beginning that I was motivated to get back into my racing season,” said Vande Velde. “To be honest, the recovery has been excruciating at times, but at the end of a long, hard day I have the satisfaction of knowing I’m doing all I can to get back to my team. I’m excited to see how Suisse goes for me.” The Tour de Suisse, a 9-stage race, kicks off Saturday, June 13 in Liechtenstein, Switzerland. “Christian is a fighter, and he is still recovering from very significant injuries. The Tour de Suisse will be a good gauge for him to see what kind of condition he could be in should he ride the Tour de France,” said Jonathan Vaughters. “Less than a month ago he was in a hospital bed in Italy. To come back this quickly is truly a testament to his character.”

Tim VanGilder (Troupe Racing) leads the charge at the Elings Park XC in Santa Barbara.
Photo by Troupe Racing Co.

Greg Lemond Video Presentation at Play the Game
6/10/09 - Three-time Tour de France winner gave an interesting presentation at Play the Game conference in Coventry, UK where the focus is "visions for sport in times of crisis." In this 50 minute presentation, Lemond talks about his history in the sport, doping, corruption, his lawsuits and said, “I still enjoy it (cycling) as recreation, but as regards to following it at competition level, I’m done” he also added, “I would not like my kids to go into professional cycling today”. video >

Championship Season Shout Outs
6/9/09 - The past few weeks have provided SoCal racers with plenty of opportunities to win a coveted Championship Bear Jersey. A few weeks ago the Time Trial Championships and Team Trial Championships were held in Lake Los Angeles (which I’ve been told is a fancy name for Lancaster). Here, the riders put themselves in the hurt box in the race against the clock. Next up,  the Master’s Criterium Championships were held at the Paramount Grand Prix crowning Champions that possess fast twitch muscles and the abilty to bang bars. Last weekend, racers went the distance on a challenging course with a nice climb in Bakersfield vying to become Road Race Champions. I don’t remember having this many Championship categories in the 90’s, so will let you check out all of the winners that have scored themselves a Championship Jersey. Congratulations to all winners and wear the Bear with pride! results >

Elite Women's and Men's Podium at the Road Race Championships
1st. Melinda Weiner (Kahala/LaGrange) 2nd. Kristina Seley (Touchstone Climbing) 3rd. Simone Morissette (ACQUA AL 2/San Diego Bicycle Club) - 1st. Jeremiah Wiscovitch (SC Velo) 2nd. Chris DeMarchi (Amgen/Giant Masters) 3rd. Rudolph Napolitano (Liquid Fitness/Adageo Energy)
photo © LA Sports Photography / Larry Aronat

Team Sho-Air/Specialized Puts Two Riders on the Box at the TEVA Games
6/9/09 - Just one week after Team Sho-Air/Specialized riders Sid Taberlay and Max Plaxton went 1st and 3rd at round #3 of the PRO XCT series, the Sho-Air boys were at it again in Vail, Colorado for the TEVA Games.  This time the team put 2 riders on the podium and 3 riders in the top 10. In what has become one of the must attend events of the year, the TEVA games is quickly becoming a who’s who in the world of cross country mountain bike racing.  With over sixty riders, the 2009 TEVA cross country race was stacked with talent and included MTB legend Ned Overend making a guest appearance for Specialized Bicycles. This time, it was the team’s younger rider Sam Jurekovic flying the Sho-Air/Specialized colors as he landed himself and his Specialized S-Works Epic in 3rd place behind Pro XC veterans JHK and Specialized Factory rider Todd Wells.  Rounding out the podium in 5th was Sid Taberlay, who is not usually known for his high altitude prowess.  Max Plaxton the current PRO XCT series men’s leader rounded out the day in 9th. Jurekovic found his way onto the podium for the third time this year, but the TEVA games marks the first time the Sho-Air/Specialized rider did it without incident.  “I have definitely had some terrible luck this year with some mechanicals.” explains Jurekovic. “I’ve known I had the speed and fitness all year long however some bad luck has kept me from showing my true potential so far in 2009. I just want to thank everyone at Sho-Air and Specialized for standing behind me this year….hopefully I’ve got the monkey off my back and can be a regular podium contender.” continues Jurekovic.  Last weeks PRO XCT winner Taberlay was happy with his 5th place and this weekends training exercise. “Overall, I’m happy with my performance here at TEVA.  Sammy J rode a great race to show he’s certainly going to be a factor at next weeks PRO XCT event in Colorado Springs.” explained Taberlay.  “For me, I’m not a high altitude rider, so this was great training and a way for me to acclimate for next weekend’s PRO XCT race said Taberlay. The bike worked flawless and it was a real treat to come to Vail and compete with my team mates in an off weekend.” Next up, Team Sho-Air/Specialized heads to round # 4 of USA Cycling PRO XCT series, where Max Plaxton still holds the leaders jersey and team mate Sid Taberlay sits in 2nd place overall.

Sam Jurekovic (Team Sho-Air/Specialized) podiumed at the TEVA Games.

Bull BBQ and SoCalCycling.com Announce Our First BBQ Winner
6/8/09 - Congratulations to Rick Carney from Ventura, CA. He has won the first Colt Grill in the drawing for a free BBQ from SoCalCycling.com Elite Team Sponsor, Bull BBQ. If you didn't win don't worry, Bull BBQ will be giving away two more BBQ's in the upcoming months. To enter the next drawing, just click on the Bull BBQ banner on SoCalCycling.com or visit BullBBQ.com.

Columbia-Highroad's Andre Greipel wins the Philadelphia International Classic.
photo © epicimages.us

Komen Cruiser Rolls for a Good Cause and Donates to Komen for the Cure
6/8/09 - People who support Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s largest breast cancer advocacy organization, have a new way to be engaged in the breast cancer movement. Campus Cruisers is the first company to produce an entirely cause-branded bicycle, the Komen Cruiser, for which a portion from the sale of each bike will be donated to Komen for the Cure to help fund life-saving breast cancer research, education and community outreach projects. “This is a unique way for people to show their commitment to a special cause and have fun doing it,” said Brian Searchinger, the founder of Campus Cruisers. “Riding is part of an active lifestyle and it’s the ultimate “green” transportation”
For each sale of a Komen Cruiser, Campus Cruisers will donate at least $25 and up to $100 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker founded the organization 27 years ago in memory of her sister, and today it is the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to finding the cures for breast cancer. “The Komen Cruiser is the perfect symbol for what our organization does every day as we’re racing to the cures for breast cancer,” said Elizabeth Chandler, a corporate relations manager at Komen for the Cure.  “We encourage people to lead healthy lifestyles and be physically active, and this bicycle is a great way to do just that while supporting the breast cancer movement.” Each feature on the Komen Cruiser was designed to capture the Komen spirit— from the streaming ribbon graphics to the stylized K head badge and the customized pink ribbons on the fenders.
The Komen Cruiser is available in two models.  The one-speed, steel bike retails for $299; the three-speed, aluminum edition retails for $499. Komen Cruisers are available at select bicycle dealers and by ordering directly through the Campus Cruisers website, www.campuscruisers.com, or by calling (303) 442-0280.

A portion from the sale of each Komen Cruiser will be donated to Komen for the Cure.

Teutenberg and Greipel Win in Philly
6/7/09 - Columbia-Highroad’s Ina-Yoko Teutenberg won her third Liberty Classic Saturday with the help of fellow teammates who controlled the race around the 23-kilometer circuit through the streets of Philadelphia.   Crediting her teammates for her 17th win this season, Teutenberg called today’s win a “full-on team victory.  The girls did pretty much everything today. They worked like motorbikes throughout the race. Nuernberg attacked hard all day but our girls were always in control.  Being up on top of everything, we could neutralize all the breaks.” The women raced at such a fast pace as to catch the men racing on the same circuit, forcing race officials to neutralize the men’s race so the women could compete uninterrupted. “Today was a bit different than usual.  It was a lot more aggressive than usual, so I think everyone was tired at the end.” In today’s win, Teutenberg and three other Columbia-Highroad women were part of a 12-rider group who went clear on the last lap.  The four teammates including Abbott, Anderson and Arndt worked the break to deliver Teutenberg to a long sprint finish.  After the Columbia-Highroad women’s team won the Liberty Classic earlier in the day, the men’s team placed first and second a few hours later in the Philadelphia International Classic on Saturday finishing a successful day for the team. Sprinter Andre Greipel led the field to the line coming off the wheel of his teammate Greg Henderson, who held on for second place.  “From the car we didn’t get a lot of information on what was happening in the race but the riders did a great job. We had a very good team here so we had to take responsibility for the race. The other teams were looking at us to bring back the break and make the moves. The guys tried to get a few moves going late in the race and Edvald went in a second break which looked good for a while.” “There was a break with 60km to go,” said Boasson Hagen. “We had four guys in there but it was too big with 30 riders and it wasn’t working well. When it came back we tried again.” Boasson Hagen and his breakaway partner was close to catching the lead riders with 15km remaining in the race but the peloton was closing in and the bunch came back together. Columbia-Highroad set the pace for the last three laps through the finishing circuit and up Lemon Hill and finally set Greipel up for the win.

Iggy and Iggy Silva – 10 Years of Bike Racing Passion
By Mark Johnson for Competitor
6/6/09 - If you’ve been to a bike race in Southern California, you’ve seen a brawny bald guy bounding around the course like a friendly Labrador retriever. When riders rush past, the bald guy barks out “Gootch! Gootch! Goooooootch!” “Gootch” is 18-year-old Iggy Silva III, and the hyperactively friendly man is his 49-year-old dad, Iggy Silva Jr. The two Iggys are fixtures in the Southern California bike-racing scene. And in his first year racing with the pros, young Iggy is landing significant results. Silva, who rides for Rock Racing, won February’s prestigious 120-mile Merco pro road race in Merced. A few weeks later, riding against the best domestic teams in America, Silva took a third and a seventh in individual stages and won the best young rider’s jersey at the San Dimas pro stage race. Winning the Merco road race is no small feat for a seasoned pro, let alone a first-year teenager. Past winners of the Central Valley race include Tour de France veterans Baden Cooke, Chris Horner and Juan Jose Haedo. Track coach Tony Olsen taught Iggy how to ride at the San Diego velodrome. Olsen recounts that his dad brought Iggy to the velodrome when he was 7. “He was younger than we normally allow, but his dad said he would be there for all the classes. At first his talent did not stand out. He always showed a lot of enthusiasm and put in great efforts. You could tell he really enjoyed riding and racing. His dad always encouraged him to give his best and Little Iggy never gave less than 100 percent. It wasn’t until Little Iggy was about 12 or 13 that he really started to show his potential. By the time he was 15 he was a national-caliber rider in his age group.” When Iggy became a 17- to 18-year-old age group rider, he stepped up to the international competition – earning an invite to the World Junior Track Championships last year in South Africa. He has also raced in three-day track races in Belgium and on the road in Italy, Canada and Mexico. more >

Iggy Silva has found great success this year on the road. He won the
Merco Road Race and the best young rider’s jersey at the San Dimas Stage Race.
photo © Mark Johnson / Ironstring.com

Lance Armstrong and Anna Hansen Welcome a Baby Boy
6/5/09 - Lance Armstrong announced the birth of his and fiance Anna Hansen's new son Max with a twitter message that said, "Wassup, world? My name is Max Armstrong and I just arrived. My Mommy is healthy and so am I!" Baby Max weighs 7 lbs 5 oz and is 20 inches long. Armstrong has three other children with his ex-wife, Kristin including a son and twin daughters.

2009 Auburn Century – The Wildest Ride in the West
6/4/09 - The Wildest Ride in the West has a reputation for tough climbs, quiet roads and awesome food.  Get your legs are ready for this September 12, 2009 ride. The Lone Ranger course logs 140 miles and climbs nearly 17,000 feet.  This route is arguably one of the most challenging in the entire country and includes Iowa Hill, whose grade tops out near 20%.  Other options include the 110-mile Outlaw, the 70-mile Pony Express and the 40-mile Stagecoach. The start and finish is in Auburn, CA, just forty-five minutes from downtown Sacramento. For additional information please visit WildestRide.com or email [email protected].

Giddeon Massie (Bike Religion) outsprinted Uriel Rayo (SoCalCycling.com) in 2nd
and Paul Che (Pista Palace) in 3rd at the Paramount Grand Prix.
photo © Kristy Morrow

SCNCA Road Race Championships Weekend is Ready, Weather to be Incredible
6/3/09 - This weekend's SCNCA Road Race Championships and the Golden Empire Classic Road Race are ready to rock in Bakersfield. The weather gods have smiled, temperatures will be in the low 80’s with some clouds and conditions couldn’t be better! For those without feeders, neutral small water bottles will be available at the feed zone tables. If you were holding out, forget it! Race day registration will be available and online registration closes tonight at midnight. Come join the action. For more info please visit kernwheelmen.org.

Team Sho-Air/Specialized Rocks PRO XCT Round #3 at Bump N Grind
6/3/09 - No one would have guessed that after the dust had settled on round #3 of the PRO XCT series that Team Sho-Air/Specialized would have two riders on the podium and walk away with the PRO XCT series leader’s jersey, but that’s exactly what the team did. This weekends men’s pro field was stacked deep with talent as 70+ men lined up to do battle in Birmingham, Alabama. All the heavy hitters were there, along with some fresh faces and local regional talent. The race set off to a blistering start as the men rocketed up the pavement climb as newly crowned Costa Rican National Champion Manny Prado lead the initial charge for position into the first wooded single track section. Just before entering the single track Sho-Air/Specialized rider Sid Taberlay led Kabush, Trebon, JHK, Wells, Plaxton, Jurekovic and others. As the riders came out of the woods, it was Kabush on the front with Taberlay and a 15 man freight train leading up the steep road section climb before entering into another technical sinewy single track decent. As lap after lap went by multiple attacks whittled the field down to five players, which included Sho-Air/Specialized riders Sid Taberlay and Max Plaxton. On the rider’s last lap up the paved climb in the back section, Sho-Air’s Taberlay made a violent attack as the riders headed for a single track section. Only JHK was able to follow, with Sho-Air’s Plaxton and Specialized’s Todd Wells dropping off the back. From there Taberlay stayed glued to Horgan-Kobelski’s wheel as the two powered there way towards the finish. As they hit speeds in excess of 40 MPH on the down hill decent into the finish, Taberlay came out the slip stream to jump into the first of two 90 degree left hand corners leading to the start finish line straight. Once out of the last corner, Taberlay stomped on his S-Works Stumpjumper hard tail and put several bike lengths into second place Horgan-Kobelski. Only a few seconds back came Sho-Air/Specialized rider Max Plaxton aboard his S-Works Epic in a mono y mono sprint with Specialized Factory rider Todd Wells aboard his 29’er. In the end, it was Plaxton getting the nod for 3rd and retaining the PRO XCT leader’s jersey, while Taberlay’s win moved him into a tie for second place and only 5 points out of the leader’s jersey heading into round # 4 of the PRO XCT in Colorado Springs.

Denis Menchov celebrates winning the Giro d'Italia in front of the Coliseum in Rome.
The Liquigas Team road a strong and aggressive Giro and now gears up for the Tour de France.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com

Chris Baldwin Joins Team OUCH Presented by Maxxis
6/2/09 - The OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis has added Chris Baldwin, a two-time U.S. National Time Trial Champion, to its roster for the remainder of the 2009 season. Baldwin was recently fired by Rock Racing, then rehired before Tour of the Gila. “Chris has been one of North America’s top stage racers for this entire decade,” said team directeur sportif Mike Tamayo. “He’s an excellent time trialist and one of the best climbers around. He adds tremendous depth to our stage race squad. He’s had some great rides already this year, and I think he’ll really excel with this organization.”OUCH Presented by Maxxis team leader Rory Sutherland has battled against Baldwin for the past two years and is glad to now be riding along side him.“Chris is a good guy and a great rider,” Sutherland said. “His talents compliment in areas where we need more help. Obviously he’s a great time trialist, and he’s probably a better climber than I am, especially at altitude. He’s going to be a huge asset for us at races like Hood and Utah.” Baldwin noted that along with being able to race with a group of riders with whom he was already familiar, he was just as interested in the organization as a whole. “When I started to look for teams to move to, I was very selective in where I looked,” he said. “Mike was at the top of my list of people to call. Obviously, the team has had great success in the NRC. They set goals and objectives each year and achieve them. All the riders are very professional. They know their jobs and they do them well. I’m very structured in training and racing and the organization fits that. Baldwin won’t have to wait long. He’ll get his first test wearing the OUCH Presented by Maxxis colors at the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, which begins Wednesday. “I’m really looking forward to racing this week,” Baldwin said. “I’ve been training like a monster the past week since finding out that we were able to work out a deal.”He’ll be joined by Roman Kilun and Jonathan Chodroff for the challenging five-stage race, which features one of the toughest time trial and road race courses of any race in the country.

American Juniors Gain Valuable Experience at the Apeldoorn Velodrome in Holland
By Kit Karzen
6/1/09 - On the weekend of May 15, ten American Juniors stepped into the Apeldoorn Velodrome in Holland to compete in the Omnisport Interland Track Event. The Interland Series is a set of races held throughout  Europe to host the worlds best when it comes to hard core track  racing. This leg of the series saw representation from Great Britain, Scotland, Holland, Belgium, Czech Republic, and the United States. Even though most of these countries hold this as just another tab in  their normal program towards the development of their junior riders,  this is still a fairly new feature for the American Junior scene. Last year, Danny Heeley, Iggy Silva, USAC Coach Clay Worthington, and  I made our way to an Interland series passing through Ghent, Belgium,  after we competed in the Hasselt 3 Day earlier that week. We entered  the Velodrome wearing mismatched this and that. And to say the least, we were intimidated by the completely matching, track suit wearing,  fully staffed, Belgian team. Our fitness was not at the top, and our  mindset still adjusting to this new style of racing...we came home  empty-handed, no hardware in hand. But, as in any racing scenario, we  took the optimistic approach in understanding that we learned heaping amounts of information that would ultimately benefit us in the long run. more >