Cycling News

San Diego Cyclo-Vets Brings Exciting Day of Bicycle Racing to Town on April 10th
3/29/11 - A .6-mile closed loop in Mira Mesa will make for great viewing on April 10th as a home-town club brings a full day of spectacular bicycle racing to San Diego.
 
Cyclo-Vets have a 27-year history of providing all riders 35 and older (families welcome) an organized program for becoming a better rider.  The club has taken many casual riders off the street and turned them into Master’s-level national and world champions.
 
The annual event on April 10th is part of Cyclo-Vet’s program approach to better cycling for all riders, with this event focusing on the highest level of amateur racing.  Racers will come from all over the country to compete starting at 7 am with the final race at 3:20 pm.  Cyclo-Vets also sponsors, as part of this race, the state championships for “Super Masters”, racers over 50 for women and 65 for men. Winners in each 5-year age group will wear the State Bear jersey for 2011.Come and watch the competition, fueled by a big prize list and more than 23 “primes” or prizes on specific laps of each race. The races will be on Heunnenkens St, closest corner is Waples, in Mira Mesa.
 
Most importantly, if this event gives you dreams of improving your riding skills, maybe even racing some day, check out their web page at cyclo-vets.org. Cyclo-Vets is a 501K nonprofit and we would love to have new riders come to our introductory rides on Saturday mornings.

Masters 35 + Podium - Criterium Stage Winner Chris DeMarchi (SKLZ p/b Pista Palace),
KOM Kevin Phillips (ironfly), GC Winner Kevin Klein(Yahoo! Cycling Team),
Points Winner Adam Livingston (SKLZ p/b Pista Palace)

Neben and Day Clinch SDSR Titles, Hosking and Escuela Win Criterium
3/28/11 - Chloe Hosking took her second win of the season today at the Incycle / Cannondale Old Town Grand Prix. The team kept Amber Neben in the leader's jersey for the overall win with Amanda Miller in second for the GC. There was bit of controversy yesterday after two women off the front descended behind a men's group who had passed them at the feed zone. HTC-Highroad stayed in yellow, but the girls adjusted their strategy for stage three. "After keeping yellow yesterday, we still wanted to set Chloe up," said Miller, "But today coming in we also wanted to take time bonuses away from Kristen Armstrong and Heather Logan-Springer. I was able to gain three seconds in the second sprint and got back up in the GC, and Chloe surfed the pack and saved up for the finish."

In the men's race, a fast pace was set with several time bonuses up for grabs. A late race crash with four to go took out riders from the major teams including Jamis- Sutter Home and Jelly Belly as they fought to get their trains going. Ricardo Escuela (Full Circle Cycling) came off the Jamis Sutter Home train after the last corner to take the win ahead of the Borrajo brothers. The Kenda/5-hour Energy Pro Cycling pb Geargrinder Team kept race leader Ben Day out of danger and in yellow for his third consecutive overall title in three years. Photo Gallery >, Results >

Men's Overall Classification - Ben Day stayed in yellow from day one. Photo Gallery >
Photo © SoCalCycling.com

Hammer Takes Omnium Silver to Wrap Up a Record-Setting Track Worlds
3/27/11 - Sarah Hammer (Temecula, CA/OUCH) moved from fourth to second place in the women’s omnium to earn the silver on the final day of competition at the UCI Track World Championships. With Sunday’s finish combined with gold in the individual pursuit and silver in the team pursuit, Hammer became the first American woman ever to earn three medals in a single cycling world championship. “Yesterday was a little bit of a rough day for me, but the nature of the omnium is to be able to kind of re-set after a bad event,” explained Hammer. more >

Women's Overall Classification - Amber Neben won the leaders and climbers jersey. Photo Gallery >.
Photo © SoCalCycling.com

Video: Cancellara Leaves a Path of Destruction at E3 Prijs Harelbek
3/26/11 - For the second year in a row Fabian Cancellara has won E3 Prijs Harelbeke, a 202 kilometres long race including twelve climbs and several cobbled sectors that turn the race into a mini-Tour of Flanders. With a powerful move with 32 kilometres remaining in the race, Cancellara put in a huge attack on the Kwaremont, overcoming two untimely flats and an unfortunate mechanical trouble.

Day and Neben Maintain Lead at the San Dimas Stage Race
3/26/11 - The San Dimas Hospital Road Race was held on the rolling and picturesque course around Bonelli Park. The men's race saw a break of three get off the front on the second lap which included Pure Black teammates Roman Van Uden and Michael Northey along with Eric Schildge (Jamis-Sutter Home). Chris Baldwin (Team Juwi Solar/First Solar) bridged across on lap seven followed by a chase group of five riders including Sergio Hernandez (Jelly Belly pb Kenda). Ben Day's Kenda/5-hour Energy Pro Cycling pb Geargrinder Team brought the group back for a field sprint, with Anibal Borrajo (Jamis-Sutter Home) taking an emotional win. In the women's race, Heather Logan Sprenger (Colavita Forno D'Asolo) soloed to victory ahead of her teammate Theresa Cliff-Ryan and Cristina Gokey-Smith (Rouse Bicycles). The riders will continue to battle for their chance to move up in the GC or go for a stage win on Sunday in the Incycle/Cannondale Old Town Grand Prix in downtown San Dimas. All Category Results >

Neben and Day Post Fastest Times up Glendora Mountain Road
3/25/11 - Former Time Trial World Champion, Amber Neben lived up to her title with a victory in the San Dimas Stage Race's individual time trial today, followed by Amanda Miller.  "Any time you have to throw down a fifteen minute effort, it's hard," says Neben, "Plus it's March and it felt like it! But I had a good ride and we as a team are happy with things, it's great to have my first win with HTC." Sport director Jens Zemke is happy with the results, now able to work more tactically with the team into stage two.  "We were working for a good start, and now we are in a comfortable position," says Zemke, "We should have a decent time gap to defend tomorrow.  Tomorrow the stage is pretty hard, but we plan to ride open and aggressive to keep our lead." Amanda Miller finished behind Neben and in front of Kristin Armstrong, another former world champion.  "The climb was tough, but steady enough that you could keep a good rhythm," says Miller. "There was a little bit of a head-wind and you could feel it in a few of the turns, but I was still able to catch people which I think gave me the momentum I needed to pull second."  Neben added, "We have our work cut out for us tomorrow and Sunday, it should be an aggressive race, but it's really good to have two cards up front, I am very confident in the team."  In the Pro Men’s race Ben Day (Kenda/5-hour Energy Pro Cycling pb Geargrinder) rode to his third consecutive win in three years with a time of  12:48, which was 5 seconds faster than his 2010 time. Day, who previously road for Fly V Australia, won the Time Trial and the Overall GC in 2009 and 2010 and is looking to repeat in 2011 with his new team. Matt Cooke (Team Exergy) posted a time of 13:02 for 2nd, while Tour of Georgia Stage Winner Cesar Grajales (Realcyclist.com) was 3rd with a time of 13:08. It is now up to the Kenda/5-hour Energy Pro Cycling pb Geargrinder Team to defend Day’s lead for his run at his third title.  All Category Results >

Sarah Hammer Wins Her Fourth Individual Pursuit World Title
3/25/11 - After winning the silver medal in the women’s team pursuit just last night, Sarah Hammer (Temecula/OUCH) returned to competition at the UCI Track World Championships Friday and collected a gold medal in the 3,000-meter individual pursuit. For Hammer the world championship gold is her fourth, tying legendary American pursuiter Rebecca Twigg. In Friday night’s gold medal final, Hammer had to dig deep as she found herself down by 3/10ths of a second to the reigning Olympic silver medalist, Alison Shanks of New Zealand, heading into the final 1,000 meters of the race. Just as she did in 2006, 2007 and 2010 Hammer laid it down in the closing meters and earned her fourth women’s individual pursuit world title; by just nearly 3/10ths of a second. more >

US Women’s Team Pursuit Team Rides to Silver at Track World Championships
3/24/11 - The women’s team pursuit squad of Sarah Hammer (Temecula/OUCH), Jennie Reed (Seattle, WA/OUCH) and Dotsie Bausch (Irvine/OUCH) brought home the first medal of the 2011 UCI Track World Championships for the United States. After turning out the second best time in the morning’s qualifier, the trio was defeated by Great Britain in the evening’s gold-medal match-up. The silver is the first-ever medal for the U.S. in the event. Giddeon Massie (Cypress/Bike Religion) just missed qualifying for the men’s sprint tournament, finishing 27th out of 50 in the flying 200 meter. more >

The HTC-Highroad team recons the Tour of Flanders course.
Photo © TDWSport.com

Redlands Bicycle Classic Announces 27 Men’s Teams and 15 Women’s Teams
3/24/11 - Still reeling from an influx of record entrants for this year’s event, the all-volunteer Redlands Bicycle Classic Organizing Committee has announced the teams and competitors for this year’s race including 15 women’s teams and 27 men’s teams.

“We expect to see nothing less than fireworks this year!” says Executive Committee Member and Marketing Director Scott Welsh. “The men’s field has plenty of star power across multiple generations, with young talents like Lachlan Morton (Chipotle Development) and the legendary Alexi Grewal (Swamis Development). And on the women’s side, the race is equally stacked! With very strong teams like Colavita Forno D’Asolo and HTC Highroad, not to mention individual champions Kristin Armstrong (Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12, former 2-time World TT Champion) and Mara Abbott (SC Velo-Empower Coaching, former RBC overall/stage winner and current Giro Donne champion) the racing is sure to be fierce.” more >

George Hincapie made a surprise visit to the start of Stage 2
at the Volta a Catalunya, riding from his nearby home in Girona.
Photo © Georges Lüchinger

Celebration of Life Ride for Mark Bixby this Friday
3/23/11 - Mark Bixby, promoter of the Long Beach Bicycle Festival tragically lost his life last Wednesday in a plane crash at the Long Beach airport and we lost a great friend. Tony Cruz invites all cyclists to join in a bike ride in memory of Mark this coming Friday March 25th.  The ride will leave from the parking lot  between the Sailing Center and Gondola Getaway at 8:00 - Map. The ride will be approximately one hour and will return in time for the 10:00 service. Please share this with anyone that might want to participate in this event in Mark's memory. Schedule of Events >

Rand Miller (Webcor/Alto Velo) won a wet Spring Classic Grand Prix in Ontario from a break
of 11 riders. Michael Smth Larsen (SoCalCycling.com) was close behind in second.
Photo © Kenneth Hill

Race Report: Out of the Frying Pan, into the Fire: The Tucson Bicycle Classic
Lucas Binder, SKLZ pb Pista Palace
3/23/11 - The second stage race of March is the Tucson Bicycle Classic out in Arizona. Like most stage races it is 3 days long, starting with a time trial. The one notable difference about this stage race is that rather than ending in the traditional non-GC-affecting crit, it ends with brutal 50 mile circuit race that can potentially scramble the GC more than Jens Voigt scrambles a dozen ostrich eggs before every 6-hour training ride. It would be a full 3 days of stage racing. What potential the final day had to affect the GC was made up for by a lack of potential to get GC time on the first day. It was a short, rolling time trial course that would be won by very few seconds. I had a poor time trial and learned the hard way that getting in a good warm up is more important than using a disk. Next time I’ll be sure to spend less time fumbling to put a cassette on a disk and more time on the trainer. more >

USA Cycling Repeals Decision to Allow Race Radios in NRC Events
3/22/11 - Based on concerns raised by cycling’s international federation, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), USA Cycling reversed its earlier decision and will continue the ban on the use of race radios in all national-level competition; including USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar (NRC) and national championship events.  "After consultation with the UCI, it is apparent that allowing race radios in domestic NRC races would negatively impact the UCI registered teams and riders who would no longer be allowed to compete in these events,” explained Bill Peterson, president of the USA Cycling board of directors and USPRO board member. “The absence of UCI registered teams and riders would have a highly detrimental impact, not only on the team sponsors, but also on the hard working NRC promoters and the sponsors and communities who support these races.” Steve Johnson, USA Cycling CEO said,"While we remain convinced of the value of race radios with regard to their potential for increased safety for riders and spectators, we will respect the UCI's request to continue the ban of race radios in national calendar races and national championships."

San Dimas Stage Race Announces Teams Set to Compete
3/22/11 - The dates for the San Dimas Stage Race (SDSR) are almost here. The SDSR is a premier race which attracts top flight riders and teams in all categories and provides great entertainment for spectators of all ages.  Now in its 12th year, the race is hosted by Southern California Velo (SC Velo) is supported by terrific sponsors and staffed by dedicated volunteers led by Race Director Al Wiscovitch. Registration is complete with over 900 riders signed up. Many world class professional teams and riders are on the roster.  Talented riders from around the country and beyond have signed up in large numbers in all categories from Pro to Juniors, including three San Dimas Pro champions from the race’s early years.  From 2000, Jamie Paolinetti will be racing in the Masters 35+ group for the SKLZ p/b Pista Palace team and Amber Neben will be riding for HTC-Highroad in the Women’s Pro/Cat 1-2-3 group. more >

The Incycle/Cannondale Old Town Grand Prix attracts large crowds at SDSR.

Audio Interview with Taylor Phinney After Stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya
3/21/11 - Taylor Phinney resumed his racing program for the BMC Racing Team at the Volta a Catalunya following his recovery from a training ride crash last month. Phinney talks about the difficulites of his first race back. The Volta a Catalunya runs from March 21-27.

Specialized Celebrates Milan-San Remo Win on New S-Works + McLaren Venge
3/20/11 - Matt Goss of HTC-Highroad took full advantage of his talent and his S-Works + McLaren Venge, a brand new bike that made its race debut after its global launch at the fabled McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK, on Thursday, just 48 hours before the race started. "I could not have dreamed of a better race today," said Goss. "To be on the top step, ahead of Cancellara and Gilbert is amazing." Goss became the first Australian to win Milano-San Remo. He responded to attacks in the closing kilometers and sprinted ahead of Fabian Cancellara and Philippe Gilbert.For Specialized and McLaren engineers, the day had special significance: the new S-Works + McLaren Venge that Goss rode to victory was the bike they'd collaborated together on over the past year.  The unique development partnership between Specialized and McLaren brought the advanced materials and carbon layup design that McLaren has employed in their F1-winning race cars into the world of race bikes. more >

Matt Goss (HTC-Highroad) on his way to winning Milan San-Remo on the new Venge.
Photo © Specialized

HTC-Highroad’s Matt Goss Gets Biggest Win of Career in Milan-San Remo
3/19/11 - After 298 kilometers the Australian outsprinted a group of eight riders in the streets of San Remo to claim the victory ahead of Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and Belgium's Philippe Gilbert. "I knew I'd been going well, I knew I could get a good result, but actually to get the win is  incredible." Goss said. "I knew Gilbert was dangerous and would try for an attack on the Poggio [climb], so I rode across to that front group just as we reached the top, and once I was with them I knew I was in with a chance. It was an advantage knowing the route. I live nearby and I've trained over the Poggio a few times in the last few days just to check it again. The descent was fast, but it wasn't too tricky because fortunately it wasn't wet, and with 500 meters to go I just gave it everything I had and hoped for the best."  Goss has had a spectacular 2011 season thus far, with stage victories in the Tour Down Under, the  Tour of Oman, and most recently in Paris-Nice. Milan-San Remo is his eighth win of the year so far. "It's been absolutely incredible," Goss said, "I couldn't have dreamed up a better start to the year." Following Mark Cavendish's win in 2009, this is HTC-Highroad's second victory in three years in Milan-San Remo, one of cycling's top five biggest one-day races.

Matt Goss (HTC-Highroad) wins Milan-San Remo.
Photo © TDWSport.com

Tribute to Mark Bixby, Director of Long Beach Bicycle Festival
By Tony Cruz
3/18/11 – The cycling world lost a dear friend yesterday. His name was Mark Bixby and he was the organizer of the Long Beach Bicycle Festival. Mark was more than just an avid cyclist and advocate for bicycling throughout California. He was much more in so many ways.

There are very few people that I know that could bring others together and inspire them like Mark Bixby did. Mark had a special passion and vision to serve and better his community in away that I had never experienced before. He had a supportive and very natural ability to motivate people, regardless if he had just met you, or you were already a friend and fellow Freddy out riding side by side with him on the open road at the crack of dawn. It was his unselfish and welcoming nature that immediately drew people to him, including myself and made it great to know him on many levels. more >

Amgen Tour of California Announces Teams
3/17/11 – A world-class field of professional cycling teams, rivaling every other stage race in 2011, has once again been assembled for the upcoming Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in America, which will travel nearly 800 miles throughout California from May 15 – 22, 2011. Announced today by AEG, presenter of the race, the lineup of teams includes 19 elite international and domestic squads, ensuring a spectacular racing competition for the sixth-annual event. With the race’s move on the calendar to May last year, the Amgen Tour of California has further solidified its position as one of the most important cycling races in the world by continuing to draw the strongest and most talented field of teams ever assembled for a U.S. cycling race. more >

The future generation of cyclists enjoyed the Kids Race at the Tour de Murrieta.
Photo © Donal Pearce

Long Beach Cycling Advocate Mark Bixby Dies in Plane Crash
3/17/11 - Sadness has struck the cycling community with the news that Long Beach real estate broker and cycling advocate Mark Bixby was killed in a plane crash on Wednesday morning. Bixby, along with five prominent members of the Long Beach Community were tragically killed after their plane tried to land at the Long Beach Airport after take off for a ski trip in Park City, Utah.  Long Beach real estate executive Mike Jensen survived and remains in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial Hospital.  Bixby is the founding director of the popular Long Beach Bike Festival, which includes the Long Beach Grand Prix and Tour of Long Beach. SoCalCycling.com extends our condolences and prayers.

Mark Bixby was an advocate for making Long Beach a bike friendly community.

PossAbilities and Redlands Bicycle Classic Add Stage to Handcycle Events
3/16/11 - In recent years the Redlands Bicycle Classic has become more than just an internationally recognized professional cycling race, it has become an event that leads by promoting the core values of Health, Diversity, and the Environment. This commitment has been no more evident than with the association and partnership of the Loma Linda University PossAbililities program. “Once again PossAbilities is excited to be the presenting sponsor of the 2011 Redlands Bicycle Classic,” says PossAbilities Manager, Pedro R. Payne. “For the last 5 years we’ve been honored to be a partner in this very exciting event. It seems every year the RBC keeps getting better and better!” more >

Race Report: The Racing Heats Up: Tour De Murrieta
By Lucas Binder, SKLZ pb Pista Palace
3/15/11 – March is Stage Race Month in California, and for us Southern Californians the first stage race is the Tour De Murrieta. The race is actually an omnium, which changes things up a little and allows people to race individual days if they choose, however most people do all three days. The usual teams were out in force: SKLZ/Pista Palace, Monster Media, Full Circle, Cash Call, SoCalCycling.com, La Grange, Swamis, as well as a full Jelly Belly squad and the Guatemalan National Team . March is also when the first NRC race of the year is held, the Redlands Classic, and nearly all of the teams represented at Murrieta would also be racing at Redlands at the end of the month, so it was a chance for everyone to gauge the competition. more >

Eric Marcotte (SKLZ pb Pista Palace) wins the circuit race at the Tour de Murrieta from a break.
photo © Eddie Meza

Cadel Evans Wins Stage 6 at Tirreno-Adriatico
3/14/11 - Cadel Evans impressively scored the BMC Racing Team's first victory of the season Monday by winning the penultimate stage of Tirreno-Adriatico and adding to his overall lead.  The former world champion showed his strength by following every attack in the leg-breaking final kilometer, then surging past Giovanni Visconti (IFarnese Vini-Neri Sottoli) through the final turn with the finish line in sight. It was Evans' first victory since his win on Stage 7 of last year's Giro d'Italia. "I'm feeling very happy," Evans said. "Yesterday was one thing to take the (leader's) jersey, but to win a stage in the jersey makes me really, really happy." Evans now leads Michele Scarponi (ILampre-ISD) by nine seconds and four others are within 30 seconds of the lead with only Tuesday's 9.3-kilometer time trial remaining. "My main thing ˆ and the first plan today ˆ was not to lose any seconds," Evans said. "Of course, if there was any opportunity to gain seconds, that's always an advantage going into tomorrow. We're still riding only a 10-kilometer time trial but it's always a bigger advantage than a lesser advantage." A two-man breakaway that had been ahead by more than seven minutes in the 182 km race was brought back with 16 km to go, thanks to the chasing efforts of the BMC Racing Team. From there, Evans continued to receive impressive support from Alessandro Ballan and George Hincapie, who kept the pace high as the finishing climb neared. "The whole team was fantastic and Alessandro and George were really, really exceptional today," Evans said. "Thanks to them for putting me in the right position, I just had to finish it up in the last kilometer."

Race leader Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) powers to a win during Stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico.
photo © Tim De Waele

Masters Track Nationals Dates Moved to July 26-31
3/14/11 - Competition dates for the USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships have been moved forward one week to July 26-31. The event will take place at the Valley Preferred Velodrome in Trexlertown, Pa. “Due to some local scheduling issues, the management of Valley Preferred Velodrome asked to move the event forward a week,” said USA Cycling Managing Director of National Events, Micah Rice. Previously scheduled for Aug. 2-7, the event will be moving one week earlier than originally announced to the dates of July 26-31.

Rahsaan Bahati (SKLZ pb Pista Palace) wins the Jax Bicycle Grand Prix at the Tour de Murrieta.
photo © Eddie Meza

Tony Martin Claims Biggest Win with Paris-Nice Overall
3/13/11 - HTC-Highroad's Tony Martin was proclaimed overall winner in the Paris-Nice stage race on Sunday in what was a landmark victory both for the young German and for his team. "We've won lots of stage races before, but never one of this calibre," commented HTC-Highroad sports director Allan Peiper, "and at the same time it's a huge step up in Tony's personal career, too. Tony led like a real champion, he really put his stamp on the race with that time trial win and then as a team we did well to defend it." After mountainous terrain and poor weather shredded the field on the final 122 kilometer stage, Martin crossed the finishing line safely in the main pack of just a dozen riders. Second in the final podium was German Andreas Klöden, 36 seconds behind with Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain in third at 41 seconds. more >

Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) blasts into the Overall lead at Paris-Nice after a win in the Time Trial.
photo © TDWSport.com 

Race Radios to be Allowed in NRC Races Again
3/11/11 - After gathering input from U.S. teams, riders, organizers, officials and other stakeholders, USA Cycling has determined that teams will be allowed to once again use race radios in National Racing Calendar (NRC) competition and at the USA Cycling professional and elite road national championship events.   Following international precedent in 2010, USA Cycling banned the use of race radios in national-level events with subsequent plans for evaluation on all aspects of that decision at the end of the year. After review, the U.S. Professional Racing Organization board of trustees recommended lifting the radio ban. more >

Race Jerseys Unveiled for 2011 Amgen Tour of California
3/11/11 – AEG, presenter of the Amgen Tour of California professional road cycling race, has unveiled the race jerseys for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California. A long-standing tradition for professional cycling races, the special race jerseys will be awarded daily to overall race leaders in several categories. The 2011 race, which will cover nearly 800 miles of scenic California roadways and highways from May 15 – 22, will feature many of the world’s elite cyclists vying for these ‘leader’ jerseys.

For the third year in a row, Hincapie Sportswear has been named the official jersey supplier for the Amgen Tour of California and will produce each of the specially designed jerseys awarded to riders who excel each stage in the following classifications: Jerseys >

2011 Amgen Tour of California Leaders Jersey. Classification Jerseys >

Monique “Pua” Mata Signs with Team Sho-Air
3/10/11 - Pua Mata will be representing Team Sho-Air as a sponsored Professional Athlete, she will be involved in all aspects of our sponsorship endeavors, from the US Cup to our club sponsored teams of over 800+ amateur based athletes as well as all other professional and community based projects.  Pua will lead club team rides, participate in training camps for riders ranging from the beginner to the expert level, and make appearances and speaking engagements. Pua will be competing in endurance based MTB racing for Team Sho-Air; she will concentrate in the newly established USAC Pro EUT and will debut for Team Sho-Air at the first Pro EUT in Hot Springs Arkansas this weekend 03-12-11. She will compete in the Spa City Extreme 6 Hour race with her Team Sho-Air teammate Manuel “Manny” Prado where they will each compete solo in the event. She will also compete in other endurance based events throughout the year. more >

Pua Mata, riding for Team Sho-Air in 2011, tries out her new bike.

Crossroads Tour Kicks off with Cannondale/Red Bull Riders Johnson and Chase
3/10/11 - Cannondale/Red Bull Athletes Tim Johnson and Aaron Chase will embark on a journey of the East coast, hitting local Cannondale/Red Bull dealers along the way. Equipped with a complete quiver of Cannondale bikes including the SuperSix, SuperX, Bad Boy, and the Jekyll the duo will shred singletrack, bike paths,and the crazy streets of New York. Tim and Aaron will ultimately end up at Highland Mountain Bike Park, where Tim Johnson will experience his first back flip on a bicycle.

The event kicks off March 11th at Bike Dr Waldorf with autograph signing at 6:00 and an unforgettable evening of videos, schwag and a raffle to support Wheels 4 Life starting at 8:00 PM. We encourage you to join the boys at a location near you for a great riding experience, autographs and endless Red Bulls. Event Dates & Locations >

Matt Goss (HTC-Highroad) sprints for the win during Stage 3 of Paris-Nice.
photo © TDWSport.com

SLO International Film Festival Presents Chasing Legends Tomorrow Night
3/9/11 - San Luis Obispo's 17th annual film festival presents the exciting new film, Chasing Legends on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 7p.m. at the Fremont Theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo. Chasing Legends is a documentary that follows the San Luis Obispo-based Team HTC-Highroad through the ups and downs of the 2009 Tour de France. Director Jason Barry uses a multitude of high-tech, high-def cameras mounted on bikes, motorcycles, helicopters and team cars to capture the essence of the race. Barry will take you behind-the-scenes of the world's premier cycling event. A silent auction and raffle for HTC-Highroad gear  will be held as well as items donated including a bike provided by Specialized and Art's Cyclery! Former HTC-Highroad riders Kim Anderson Aaron Olsen will be there representing their new company, Handlebar Coffee. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the SLO Bike Coalition, and Carla's Circle Fund. Carla Swart was one of the most talented young riders in the world when she was tragically killed in traffic while training in her home country of South Africa. She was 23 years old with an incredible collegiate career behind her. HTC-Highroad was honored to have been her first professional team, even for such a short while. Tickets for the movie are on sale online or at the door starting 6pm.

Cycling Advocate Stephen Box is Running for City Council in LA’s Council District 4
3/8/11 - Long-time cycling advocate Stephen Box is running for a spot on the City Council in Los Angeles City Council District 4 with the election being held today, March 8.  Alex Thompson who has partnered with  Stephen Box in Bikeside LA, the Bike Writers Collective, and in authoring the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights and guiding the Backbone Bikeway Network said, “I’ve been working hard these past weeks to get Stephen elected City Councilman in LA’s Council District 4. If you bike, you know we need help in City Hall, and if you’ve ever been inside the building, you know we don’t have much help inside.  Stephen has been, and always will be, an unapologetic champion for cyclists, and that’s why getting him to City Hall is imperative.” Alex added, “Stephen is our guy - he fought against a uninspiring bike plan and a exclusionary process until we finally turned it around in the midnight hour.  So much of what makes the LA's new Bike Plan great is due to Stephen.   He brought LAPD to the table and he co-authored the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights.  He discovered an error in the 10% set aside of Measure R funds that resulted in additional $7 million for cyclists and pedestrians.  He’s been there for a truckload of cyclists when they were hit by cars, hassled and handcuffed unjustly, or run off the road by buses.  Perhaps more powerful than all of the above, he’s been a mentor to numerous bike activists, showing them the doors at City Hall and coaching them on their public comments.”

In addition, Box fought for our rights to be able continue to ride at the Rose Bowl a few years ago in front of the Pasadena City Council.

Thompson closed with, “LA can and will be a great cycling city - the question is will it be 35 years before that’s a reality, or 10?  With Stephen in office, we can make it 10, so I hope you will join me in supporting his candidacy.”

Race Report - Australian Mountain Bike National Championships
By Sid Taberlay (Kenda / H2O Overdrive)
3/6/11 - XC Race Report - The XC became a day of challenges. It started with a bit of an ordinary call up; I also got caught in a pile up, to then find myself entering the course proper in the high twenties. With the course being 95% tight single track and only having one very small open section in the middle I had to wait till the end of the lap to make up any ground. At the end of the first lap I was well and truly over a minute down, but feeling as fresh as a daisy. On the second lap, up the major climb of the course and the only open section I was able to get through traffic and move up into 4th and start hunting down the leading group of three. By the start of the fourth lap I had moved up into 2nd and twenty seconds off the lead. In my rush to close the gap I got a little loose and clipped a nasty rock, with only the one pits at the start/finish I had no choice but to put a tube in. more >

Sid Taberlay (Kenda/H2O Overdrive) prepares to go down the rocky
drop off at the Australian National Mountain Bike Championships.

US Squad Announced for Track World Championships
3/5/11 - USA Cycling has named ten athletes to the U.S. roster for the upcoming UCI Track World Championships which are set for March 23-27 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Defending world champion in the individual pursuit, Sarah Hammer (OUCH) will lead the team over the five days of competition. Hammer’s status as reigning world champion earned her the automatic nomination to represent the U.S. in the individual pursuit. She also automatically qualified for the international omnium by virtue of her gold medal performance at the Manchester World Cup last month.  Joining Hammer as the only other automatic qualifier on the women’s team will be Jennie Reed (OUCH). Reed earned a spot in the scratch race with her silver medal performance in Manchester last month.    In addition to their individual events, Hammer and Reed will team up with discretionary picks Lauren Tamayo (OUCH), Dotsie Bausch (OUCH), and Cari Higgins (Boulder, CO/Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY 12) to train for the team pursuit. In Apeldoorn, three of these riders will be chosen to compete.  Rounding out the women’s side of competition, Cari Higgins earned a discretionary nomination to compete in the points race.

Giddeon Massie (Bike Religion) and Dean Tracy (Rubicon Cycling) grabbed automatic nominations to represent the US in the team sprint by meeting the time standard at the Manchester World Cup. The pair will be joined in training for the event by discretionary nominees Michael Blatchford and Kevin Mansker (Momentum Coaching Group). Three riders will be chosen from the four to compete for the world title. Massie will then go off on his own to compete in the men’s sprint.  Reigning national omnium champion, Bobby Lea (The Sports TEAM) is a discretionary selection to represent the USA in both the international omnium and scratch race in Apeldoorn.

San Dimas Stage Race Expands Juniors Category
3/5/11 - The San Dimas Stage Race, now in its 12th running on March 25-27, has expanded its Juniors category to include 15 and 16 year old riders along with the 17 and 18 year old riders.  The two groups will race together, but be scored separately.  Both groups will be awarded cash prizes at the conclusion of the last day of racing.  A bonus for the Junior racers is their races are part of USA Cycling’s Lance Armstrong Junior Race Series and they also qualify for SoCal Cup points. SC Velo, the host club for SDSR, is committed to expanding the opportunities for Junior racers, as through their active and successful Juniors racing team and its involvement with the Southern California Nevada Cycling Association's Junior Camp.

Sid Taberlay’s 2011 Privateer Program Under the Banner of Kenda / H2O Overdrive
3/4/11 - Pro mountain biker, Sid Taberlay has announced that he has put his own privateer program together for 2011, that is comprised of current and past relationships. Sid is an Athens Olympian, 6x National Champion and World Championship Medalist.

Sid said, “I have been fortunate enough to spend the better part of a decade traveling the world racing my bike, and this year I wanted to continue that tradition but I also wanted to do something a little different.  Although I am a competitive person, I actually get the most satisfaction by being able to give back to my supporters, friends and family. They have also shared in the hard work to get me where I am today and this is turn lead to my desire to continue long-standing friendships and relationships in the industry. Having spent pretty much my life riding Rockshox / Sram and Rob Eva always having my back, I knew he and John Dawson were a good place to start. A continuing relationship with Randy at H2O Overdrive and positive discussions with Steve Blick at Oakley, Jason at Crankbrothers and Dennis at Yor Health gave me a strong foundation to build upon.” more >

Taberlay who announced his new privateer program and sponsors for 2011
recently competed in the Australian National Championships.