California-based Gran Fondo USA LLC today announced on Tuesday the renewal of Colnago’s title sponsorship of Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego and the launch of the inaugural Gran Fondo Colnago Philadelphia in 2010.

 

"Gran fondo means ‘big ride’ in Italian," said company co-founder Matteo Gerevini, "and these events combine fun and challenging bike routes with a unique passion for cycling that is only found in Italy."

 

The Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego will take place on March 7, 2010. Now entering its second year, the event features three route options, all of which start and finish in downtown San Diego’s Little Italy. Cyclists travel along the Pacific coast, take a unique ride through the US Olympic Training Center, and then head up into the mountains before returning to the city. All participants enjoy a post-event lunch, consumer expo, a free cycling jersey and much more.

 

The new Gran Fondo Colnago Philadelphia occurs on August 8, 2010, and is designed along a similar format. 

 

(l to r) Rob Klingensmith, Ernesto Colnago, and Matteo Gerevini present the 2010 Gran Fondo USA events during the Giro d'Italia in Valdobbiadene

"We were pleased to host over 1,100 cyclists in our first year," said San Diego event director Rob Klingensmith. "With new promotions, sponsors and rider benefits, we hope to increase that number significantly in 2010."

Both events share title sponsorship from Colnago, the leading manufacturer of Italian bicycles, and enjoy support from other Italian companies including Campagnolo, Briko, ExpoBici and Villa Sandi, producers of the leading Prosecco Valdobbiadene sparkling wines. Domestically, Gran Fondo USA is sponsored by sports nutrition company PacificHealth Laboratories – makers of Accelerade, Endurox and Forze GPS,  Speedplay pedals; and Ride Strong Bike Tours.

In the photo: Ernesto Colnago between Rob Klingensmith and Matteo Gerevini on Monday 11th May, 2009 (the day of the arrival of the Giro d’Italia in Prosecco’s  land ) at “Locanda Sandi”  restaurant in Valdobbiadene at the presentation of Gran Fondo USA events.

Armstrong and Bruyneel need more than smiles to keep Astana rolling

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

May 31 Deadline For Astana

Team Astana manager Johan Bruyneel revealed Tuesday that the UCI has set a deadline of May 31 for the Kazakh sponsor's finances to be resolved, otherwise the team of Armstrong, Contador, Leipheimer, et. al. will face suspension. Astana has not paid its staff recently and despite assurances from the Kazakhstan cycling federation, the future does not look rosy for the team. Lance Armstrong has been discussing sponsorship possibilities with potential backers from the United States, and has stated on his own that he would like to assume control of a team in the near future.

Nonetheless, time is running out.

"That's the deadline to arrange the whole financial situation," Bruyneel commented in an AP report Tuesday, referring to the May 31 deadline. "If it's not taken care of by then, the letter says that the team will be suspended."

"At least we're going to be able to finish the Giro," he added. Clearly a new solution must present itself for the team to remain active and a viable candidate for the Tour de France in July, where both Contador and Armstrong are expected to shine.

UCI president Pat McQuaid is planning a trip to Kazakhstan later this week to discuss the situation with the team's backers and the Kazakh federation.

"It's difficult to go to any major corporation and say in the middle of the calendar year, or the fiscal year, and say, 'how about we start in 20 or 30 days?'" Armstrong said, "but we'll see."

Confirmed: No Tour For Boonen

Tour de France race organizers confirmed on Tuesday that Tom Boonen (Quick Step) will not compete in this year's race after testing positive for cocaine for the second time.

"It's obviously impossible for Tom Boonen to start the Tour," Tour director Christian Prudhomme told AFP. "The most important thing for him, as it was said, particularly by his team, is to look after himself and to think about his future as a person, rather than thinking about sport."

Boonen tested positive for cocaine in April, less than 12 months after he tested positive for the drug for the first time in May 2008. He was forced to miss last year's Tour de France as a consequence of the first test. He has been suspended indefinitely by his Quick Step team.

Furthermore, Boonen faces a possible six-month ban as a result of the positive test. Although cocaine does not figure on the list of banned substances for an out-of-competition test, the UCI has decided to begin a disciplinary procedure against Boonen.

"Following the control conducted by the Flemish authorities on the Belgian rider Tom Boonen, which revealed the use of cocaine, the UCI President Pat McQuaid has decided to refer the matter to the UCI Disciplinary Commission," a UCI statement read. "The behavior of Tom Boonen, even though it does not constitute a violation of the anti-doping rules, can be considered unacceptable (Art. 1.2.079) and liable to harm the image, reputation or interests of cycling or the UCI (Art. 12.1.005). This infringement is punishable by a suspension of 1-6 months."

Boonen's Quick Step team has not backed away from supporting its star rider, but management is unlikely to offer much of a fight against the mounting challenges facing the rider on the sporting level.

Kristin Armstrong continues her solid climb up the ranks in the women's peloton

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

First World Cup For Kristin Armstrong

American Kristin Armstrong (Cervélo TestTeam) took the first World Cup win of her already successful career by outsprinting breakaway companion Marianne Vos at the Berner Rundfahrt on Sunday. The race, held in the backyard of Swiss-based Cervélo TestTeam, marked another step forward for Armstrong, an Olympic gold medalist in the Beijing time trial.

"I've trained hard in the last few weeks and I am in good shape," she said after the race. "The team was really strong today. We had Claudia Häussler in the break and I went easy in the peloton."

"On the last climb I attacked together with Marianne Vos and we worked perfectly together," she added. "In the last 200 metres she started to sprint to the finish and I came just off of her wheel and past her to take first at the finish line."

Armstrong will line up for Cervélo TestTeam Wednesday at the Tour de l'Aude in France, an important stage race on the women's calendar and a major goal for Armstrong.

"It’s my first World Cup win, so I’m very happy," Armstrong said of her win on Sunday. "[The team is from] Switzerland, so to win 'our' World Cup is important, for our sponsors and our team."

"The team has been working hard together all year, we’ve had many wins, but we haven’t had a World Cup win, so it’s a very big day for us."