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Olympia Bikes Head To America

2/4/2012

With a tremendous history of innovation, demonstrated in outstanding proprietary technologies, such as integrated Di2 hidden battery slot on the top-end Boost and Ikon road models, and the new floating rear suspension on their Scrambler S6 triple butted alloy MTB, Olympia has continued pushing the limit of bicycle design for over 119 years.

With road, MTB, hybrid and city models utilizing both carbon and aluminum construction, Olympia offer outstanding design, value and approachability in an "exotic" namesake. Stage-Race is now developing a dedicated network of sales representatives across the US to service local dealers interested in bringing in the Olympia brand.

Olympia bicycles will also be available consumer direct through the new Stage-Race online store to be launched by late March of this season.

Partnering with Shopatron e-commerce solutions, consumers will be able to order all models, colors, sizes and complete build packages, whether or not there is a local Olympia dealer in their region. Dealers will also benefit from the added consumer reach of this Shopatron online solution, by leveraging the ability to of fulfill online end-consumer orders from their own existing stock.

With both Scapin and Olympia Bicycles now in portfolio, the Stage-Race Distribution is thrilled to offer US and Canadian dealers and customers access to these incredible pro-quality brands and products. Stage-Race will have a demo fleet of bikes arriving in the coming weeks, so interested dealers, accredited press and consumers are welcome to contact them at Stage Race. .

Olympia Bicycles will be available for delivery starting in March of 2012, and full technical data, model info, cataloges and brand history can be accessed at: Olympia Bikes.

Lance Armstrong Investigation Comes To An End

2/3/2012

Lance will no longer have to worry about answering to a grand jury.

(Photo: Bettini)

US prosecutors said Friday they had dropped their investigation into seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and other cyclists without bringing criminal charges.

A statement by US attorney Andre Birotte jnr said Birotte's office "is closing an investigation into allegations of federal criminal conduct by members and associates of a professional bicycle racing team owned in part by Lance Armstrong."

The probe has reportedly included a grand jury sitting in Los Angeles hearing testimony from former Armstrong teammates and associates. Although such grand jury proceedings are supposed to remain secret, the investigation has been widely reported on, prompting Birotte's office to take the step of announcing it had ended.

"The United States Attorney determined that a public announcement concerning the closing of the investigation was warranted by numerous reports about the investigation in media outlets around the world," the statement said.

Armstrong, who won the Tour de France from 1999-2005, has vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career. However, he became the subject of the probe by federal investigators who were trying to determine if the US Postal cycling team owed much of their success to a systematic doping program. The investigation was sparked in part by confessed dope cheat Floyd Landis, who claimed Armstrong schooled him in doping techniques when they were teammates. Landis was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title but didn't admit doping until 2010.

Last March, US Congressman Jack Kingston criticized the probe, saying he wasn't sure it was an effective use of resources. In July, Armstrong assembled a legal team to combat the leaks of grand jury information in the case, targeting investigators as well as media outlets including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Armstrong said at the time that the leaks were "designed to propagate public support" for the investigation while smearing his reputation.

Birotte did not give a reason for ending the investigation, and praised the agencies involved. "Mr. Birotte commended the joint investigative efforts of his prosecutors and special agents with the US Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Service - Office of the Inspector General."

Lee Muse's CashCall Cycling Journal

2/3/2012

Lee Muse (foreground) and Justin Williams having to tough it out in terrible SoCal weather.

For the second year, CashCall Mortgage Cycling team chose San Clemente, California as the place for its team camp. While many professional teams travel to southern California during the winter in search of warm weather, we are fortunate to call southern California home. It made things a lot easier on everyone to have the seven day training camp there. We didn’t have to travel far, and we knew all the roads to train on. At first glance, it was pretty much the same team camp as last year; however, things were different this time. New riders and new expectations were ever-present. You could feel it in the air; the team had shifted into a whole new gear.

The first day of camp was filled with loads of excitement. In just a few hours, we got to check out the sick new team cars and trailer, try on our new Jakroo clothes, do a photo shoot, eat dinner, and have a team meeting. As the night wound down, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far I had come to get here. It really set in that I had taken the plunge and committed to being a full time cyclist. I left my job two years ago with no expectations to go this far. Really, I just wanted to ride my bike for a few months and clear my head. I ended up getting really lucky when I met an amazing coach who saw potential in me, and helped me climb through the categories in just under a year. I spent last season with CashCall Mortgage learning the ropes racing at the NRC level, and this year I am looking to surprise people and be one of the most consistent riders out there. It’s not going to be easy, but I am doing everything I can to get there. My life has totally transitioned from being a recreational cyclist to a professional. Eating, sleeping, riding, stretching, resting, walking the dog...literally every aspect of my life is focused on improving. It sounds like an obsession, but once you learn to balance things, this stuff becomes second nature.

My training during the offseason was filled with loads of riding. No surprise there, but at this level, simply riding a ton of miles isn’t enough. When you train as hard as we do, you are always looking for that edge, that extra one percent to get a leg up on your competition. For me, Pilates is where I found that edge. This is the second year I have done Pilates during the offseason, and I cannot even begin to explain how beneficial it has been for me. Keeping your core strong is so important, especially when spending hours in the saddle. My lower back pain is gone, and I am stronger, more flexible, and more comfortable on the bike than I have ever been.

Breakfast in the team house is always interesting. Stefano Barberi, Dave Santos, Brian McCulloch, and I are the early risers. It doesn’t take long for the aroma of coffee to fill the house. Our first day of training was a mellow three hour ride. We had the team car following us with our photographer literally hanging out the back of the trunk. And you thought we were crazy! There were some funny moments on the ride for sure, like when Devan sprinted past us and yelled out, “Yeeeaaaaaahhhh,” and when Justin sprinted in his little ring. We made fun of Justin for that, but truth be told, the joke’s on us. He could probably outsprint all of us in his little ring…that dude is fast.

After the ride, the team made the trek out to Sho-Air International. We are very fortunate to have such amazing sponsors supporting us. I really enjoy getting the opportunity to meet our sponsors, because they all have their own unique stories as to how they created a successful business, and why they are choosing to sponsor our team. I got to listen to Scott Tedro, president of Sho-Air International, tell us his amazing story of how he turned to cycling to save his health, and how he saved his company from near disaster. His passion and dedication inspired me. Scott’s business does tradeshow shipping on a global scale. They ship event materials which are extremely time sensitive, and there is zero room for error. Scott is a guy who doesn’t know what an excuse is. He gets the job done, no matter what. I’ll remember that the next time I’m having a bad day on the bike.

It didn’t take long to realize that all the guys on the team really get along. We aren’t like family, we are family. Our team has five riders returning from last year, and we added three more this year. It was pretty cool to see how the new guys, Stefano Barberi, Justin Williams, and Wes Holloway fit right in. Everyone brings their own personality and sense of humor. Hanging out with our team, there is never a dull moment. And honestly, there have been times where Anthony Canevari and Devan Dunn have made me laugh so hard my stomach hurts.

Since Redlands Classic is a huge priority for CashCall Cycling, they used a day of camp for some course recon.

We did a lot of riding through Orange County, North County San Diego, and Redlands. Every single guy worked hard and showed why they deserve to be on this team. Our longest ride was 125 miles, which we completed in less than six hours…not too shabby. Riding is fun, but I always looked forward to coming back to the house. Why you ask? Because the house has a ridiculous hot tub with a waterfall, and every night we had some family or friends over to cook for us. Let’s just say there are some pretty skilled home chef’s cooking for us. I think we need to hire you guys…seriously.

When we do our training rides, it’s a great opportunity to talk to your teammates and get to know them better. We ride two-by-two, so sometimes you can spend hours riding next to the same person. One of my favorite guys to talk to is Brian (aka The Gnome). The guy is hands-down the nicest person I have ever met. He has a crazy job and an even crazier background spent in motocross. He is sort of a jack-of-all-trades. If I ever have plumbing problems, something isn’t right on my car, or I need to know who something random like who won Stage 4 in the 2006 Giro d’Italia and how it all played out, he is the guy I would call.

The highlight of team camp was visiting the CashCall headquarters. I’m not saying this to give a shameless plug for CashCall, I really mean it. We parked out front with our team car, van, and trailer, each wrapped with gigantic CashCall logos, as well as our custom painted KHS bikes. With the team standing out there in their CashCall Mortgage kits, a few employees came outside to see what all the fuss was about. A few more people came out, and a few more after that, and then a lot more. Before I knew it, there were probably 200 people checking out our team. All the guys posed for impromptu pictures with the CashCall employees. The level of interest was mind-blowing. So many people were excited and supportive of us. For a moment, I felt like a celebrity. The best part was when employees started asking for our socks as souvenirs, to which we happily obliged. We got to meet the owner of CashCall, Paul Reddam. What an honor that was. I shook his hand and made sure to thank him for his incredible support.

The team showing off their new duds and equipment to the CashCall Mortgage employees.

We finished up with a tour of the CashCall headquarters. The most incredible thing I noticed was how much the company has grown in the past year. It has easily more than doubled in size! There was something about being in that office, I don’t know whether it was the tone, the buzz of busy workers, or what, but you could feel that good things were happening there. I think we all left CashCall with a sense of pride in knowing that we helped contribute to that.

Team camp wrapped up with an omnium on our last training ride. With two sprints and two KOM’s, I knew the course and this challenge was right up my alley. I could tell everyone was dead tired from riding 95 miles with 9,000 feet of climbing the day before, but I was pumped to ride hard for one more day. The omnium was super competitive, and the final tally left Dave and I tied for the win, with Brian coming in a close third. Brian nearly spoiled it for everyone with a crazy attack in the final sprint, thanks to a little help from Justin.

Camp was a really awesome experience. I got to ride my brains out and have a lot of fun at the same time. It left me motivated to train even harder and pumped for the season. Racing starts in less than a week, and I can’t wait to test out my legs. It’s going to be an exciting year for sure!

American Classic Wins In France

2/2/2012

In their first race as Wheel Sponsors, on the latest version of AC’s Carbon 38 tubular wheel set, Samuel Dumolin wins the season opening GP Marseillaise France.

The team consists of four squads who will train and race on American Classic tubular carbon and alloy wheels on the European pro circuit. Bill Shook, American Classic founder and design engineer says, “We are going to the next level with this partnership with Cofidis. Samuel’s win is the perfect way to start our 30th year anniversary season. The riders have fast wheels for all race conditions, cobblestones, time trials and sprinting. Joining Cofidis riders and technical is the ideal platform for testing current and new technology.” Cofidis will race the AC carbon tubular 38, 58, 85, carbon tt disk wheels. We’ve also created an all new prototype aluminum tubular that’s currently a team only wheel and not yet on the market. The team will train on American Classic’s 420 Aero 3 wheelsets. Shook concludes, “Cofidis and American Classic are well aligned with the philosophy of teamwork, passion and determination. This is my dream come true after 30 years, to work with riders of this level to develop my unique ideas and help them compete at their best.”

For more info: American Classic

CashCall Mortgage Cycling Sprints Into 2012

2/1/2012

Poised for success, CashCall Cycling Team enters 2012 with a roster and sponsors that match their lofty goals for the season.

Southern California's premier Elite cycling team set the season in motion during their week-long training camp in San Clemente, CA from January 23-29. Camp consisted of big miles (400+ for the week), sponsor visits, team meetings, and of course lots of team bonding-on and off the bike. CashCall Mortgage Cycling will kick off their season with the Boulevard road race in east county San Diego on February 4th, before their turing attention to some of the season's biggest targets: San Dimas Stage Race, Redlands Classic, Tour of the Gila, Dana Point Grand Prix, Cascade Classic and Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. Look for a rider report and a preview of CashCall's 2012 KHS Flite Team bike to come. You can follow the team at CashCall Cycling

Video: Todd MacMillan/Not Far Now Productions

RBA Is Now An Apple App

1/31/2012

Good news for all you Apple App fans out there...Road Bike Action has been added to the Apple Newsstand. Now you can read every issue on your iPad. Go to the Apple Newsstand on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch and download the free app. Then enter your subscription and you are good to go.

For anyone wishing the same would be true for our sister 'zine Mountain Bike Action, well, your wish too has been granted as well.

News From The Euro Peloton

1/29/2012

Norway's Thor Hushovd will compete in this year's Tour of Italy which starts in Denmark in May, his Denia cycling team confirmed on Friday. The 2010 world champion has competed just once in the stage race five years ago and was d winner of a stage after Alessandro Petacchi failed a drugs test.

Hushovd, 33, also plans to race the Paris-Nice in March followed by the Tirreno-Adriatico ahead of the first big classic of the season - the Milan-Sanremo on March 19. The Giro starts on May 5 at Herning, Denmark.

Colombia Coldeportes Training Camp Report

After some days spent in the area of Bergamo where they will live throughout the whole cycling season, Colombia Coldeportes’ riders reached Torbole sul Garda (Trento, Italy) along with the staff on Friday January 27th.

The Team arrived at Aktivhotel Santalucia and enjoyed dinner together while talking about their training camp program for the days to come. The Escarabajos will train in the Lake Garda area from today to Friday February 3rd, when they will move to Tuscany to take part to the GP Costa degli Etruschi, on February 4th.

Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi explained the team’s program for the first day: “We’ll be starting at 10.00 for a four-hour ride along the Lake Garda. Hopefully, we will have good weather and conditions to make some good training and be ready when the racing season actually starts.”

A highlight of Colombia Coldeportes’ training camp will come on Monday January 30th, when the team will face the dreadful gradients of Punta Veleno, an incredibly hard climb (11% average gradient, peaking at 21%) characterizing the finale of 2012 Giro del Trentino’s third stage.

Good conditioning is not the only focus for next week: during seven days in Torbole, the whole team will have a valuable chance to get a better feel of each other, and improve their blend. Nevertheless, riders will need to give their best and impress the technical staff in order to win a nod for the season opening race.

“Despite having passed by these places several times, this is the first time I am actually enjoying Italy – Victor Hugo Pena stated – and I think this is a great area to train for the whole week. This training camp is going to be very important to ourselves – as we need to start fast and make a good impression right away – but also for Claudio, Valerio and the whole technical staff to really state our value as riders. The medical tests already showed these guys have got qualities, and they are willing to demonstrate it over these week and beyond.”

AG2R LA MONDIALE RIDER DOWN
Mathieu Perget has fallen yesterday on the fifth stage of the “Tour de San Luis”. He has been transferred to the hospital to have medical examinations.

After hearing the results, Eric Bouvat, the medical officer of the AG2R La Mondiale Team, confirmed the diagnosis:
“Mathieu is suffering from a fractured pelvis on the left side. This fracture doesn’t affect the hip joint but only the iliac wing. Surgery is not required but so that Mathieu can resume his training as soon as possible, he will have surgery in the next hours to fix the fractured fragment with a screw.”

The rider of the AG2R La Mondiale Team should be able to return on home-trainer within three weeks and to return to train on road in a month and a half.

Cadel Evans Has A Bigger Challenge Now

1/28/2012

Australian Cadel Evans believes recent additions to his BMC team will play a crucial role as he bids to cement his place in cycling's history books by defending his Tour de France crown in July. But the yellow jersey champion admits his historic feat could pale in comparison with a longer-term challenge - that of being a father to his newly-adopted son.

   "A Tour de France win only lasts until you lose one, a son you have for the rest of your life," Evans told media in a BMC team conference from Spain late Friday.

   Evans, Australia's first winner of cycling's premier event, revealed barely two weeks ago that he and his Italian wife Chiara had adopted a baby boy.

   Robel, who was found abandoned in a box at the side of the road as a baby, was adopted from an orphanage in Ethiopia just days after Christmas. With no brothers or sisters of his own, Evans admits he is taking to his new role tentatively, but with optimism.

   Confirming he became a father "officially on 28th of December", Evans added: "I go into it being a complete novice father - I have no brothers or sisters to learn from their children. It's been a lot of fun. I can't believe how keen I am to get home these days! But really, I'm still coming to terms with it all."

   When it comes to the Tour de France, former two-time runner-up Evans is much better versed. While his team played a vital role last year, BMC have beefed up their squad in the wake of the formidable Schleck brothers joining RadioShack-Nissan, and with Spaniard Alberto Contador making a possible return to the race.

   Andy Schleck came runner-up on the race for the third time last year, and with brother Frank also racing under Johan Bruyneel, who steered both Lance Armstrong and Contador to multiple titles, they will be among Evans' biggest challengers.

   "You can't argue with Johan Bruyneel's record. It's pretty difficult to say there's a better Tour de France (team) director than him, given the number of wins he has," said Evans. "That would indicate the Schleck brothers are in, if not the best hands, better hands. They're certainly going to be a force to be reckoned with and more than likely the guys to beat in July."

   Evans may also have to contend with three-time champion Contador, whose fate following a positive doping test at the 2010 Tour de France is set to be decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) next week.

   The 2012 edition of the Tour is dominated by time trials, making Evans, Contador, Britain's Bradley Wiggins and American Levi Leipheimer the early contenders. Of Contador, Evans would only say: "Assuming he's starting the Tour, he's going to be one of the guys to beat."

   Evans, meanwhile, insists he will benefit from the recent addition to BMC of multi-talented Belgian Philippe Gilbert and 2010 world champion Thor Hushovd of Norway, among others. Despite both being marquee names, Evans insisted: "You need those guys by your side. There's been talk of too many leaders in one team but that depends on personalities and I really look forward to racing with Phil again as a teammate."

   When it comes to the June 30-July 22 Tour, the whole BMC organisation will be expected to go beyond the call of duty for Evans.

   "It's fairly clear at the Tour what our objective is," added the Australian. "Our objective is to repeat the result of last year and that means all eggs in one basket and those guys sacrificing themselves for me."

The New Issue Has Landed!

1/28/2012

Yep, another action packed issue of Road Bike Action is on the stands now. What's inside you ask....

SPLITTING HAIRS AMONG GREATNESS
See what happens when we take six Superbikes (Cannondale Evo, Specialized Tarmac, BH Superlight, Bianchi Oltre, Cervelo S5 and Moots Vamoots) and put them through a group test. No, they aren’t all similar and that was point; mix and match to see what makes up some of the most talked about and sought after bikes on the market today.

FROM SICILY WITH LOVE
We head to the historical island off the Italian coast to get our first ride on Campagnolo’s long-in-the-works EPS electric drivetrain. Find out all the details as well as our answer to the one question everybody asks – “How does it compare to Shimano’s Di2?”

WHEN REAL HEROES AREN’T FOUND IN THE PRO PELOTON
It’s an unfortunate condition of a society longing for inspiration that the word “hero” gets thrown around so easily these days. Well, our own (Young) Michael White went looking for the real deal and he found them out on their bikes – just where you’d expect to find them. This is a read worth sharing.

PRO TIPS: HOW TO RECOVER
As hard as most of us like to go out, sometimes it’s hard because we never properly recovered from the previous ride. Here are ten Pro recovery tips that just might make your next ride more enjoyable. How do we know they’re Pro level? Well, our own Neil Shirley recounted what worked for him during his 8 year Pro career.

NEW PRODUCTS
We put a handful of new products to the test to see what works and what doesn’t. Topping the list are the fancy sub-1000 gram Mercury tubular wheels. Are they too light or just right? Of course not everyone has $3000 to spend on wheels, so, on the other end of the market we find the $500 American made Rolf Aspine wheels. Speaking of the economy, we also take a look at the “The Grand Bargain” which breaks down the market of bikes in the $1000 arena. Since this is the time of the year when it still gets dark early, we also have a guide to new light systems.

As if all that wasn’t enough, there is also the usual full complement of informative and entertaining high drama that makes up each issue: Ask RBA, Why We Ride, Being Pro, Girl Talk and Bike Culture.

Want to make sure you get each issue delivered straight to your front door - head to RBA Subscription.

BMC Gets New Team Bikes

1/27/2012

Gates Corp., maker of the Gates Carbon Drive belt-drive system for bicycles, has partnered with the Swiss bicycle brand BMC to become the official “lifestyle bike” sponsor of the BMC Racing Team. Cadel Evans and select teammates and race team staff will receive belt-drive commuter bikes from BMC’s lifestyle line as part of the sponsorship, which is believed to be unique among professional race teams.

BMC Racing Team trucks in Europe and the United States will carry BMC brand “urbanchallenge,” bicycles for use by team members and staff at race venues. In addition to the 11-speed UC01 models, Gates will give select team riders including Evans and George Hincapie “masschallenge” MC01 singlespeeds for commuting and personal use at home. Both bike models are equipped with Gates Carbon Drive, a chain-replacing technology that needs no greasy lubrication and will not stretch like a chain.

The UC01 and MC01 are the showpieces of BMC’s Lifestlye line and were launched in 2012 with the goal of producing the most advanced and appealing transportation bikes. The sponsorship was announced during the BMC Racing Team’s Sponsor Expo in Denia, Spain, where the team was holding its January training camp.

“We are honored to have Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and members of the BMC Racing Team commuting and running errands on belt-drive bikes,” says Greg Vigil, VP of Marketing for Gates. “Just like everyday bicycle commuters, pro racers also want a transportation bike that is clean and low-maintenance.”

BMC Racing Team owner Jim Ochowicz will also receive a UC01 for pedaling and commuting around his hometown. "The BMC Racing Team rides the most high-performance race bikes, and now we also have the most high-performance commuter and lifestyle bikes," Ochowicz says. "Gates Carbon Drive is an innovative technology that perfectly fits our team image of Swiss precision, speed and compelling aesthetics, and we are pleased to have Gates as an official sponsor."

"Gates sees this relationship with BMC Racing as a great way to build awareness of Carbon Drive's clean, quiet, light and strong advantages among European consumers and followers of elite road racing, the types of bicyclists who want nothing but the best commuter or city bike," says Todd Sellden, director of Gates Carbon Drive Systems.

The UC01 comes in 11-speed, eight-speed and three-speed versions, along with a singlespeed/fixie option. It is designed for commuting, fitness or leisure rides. The MC01 singlespeed is a high-concept bike that was conceived with the idea of getting Evans onto the lightest and most innovative city bike. Attractive, fast and light, the UC01 and MC01 are built on a lightweight iSC alloy frame and feature carbon forks, disc brakes and Gates' new CenterTrack drive train, which has won accolades from publications including Bicycling, Wired and Outside, and European media including Germany's Aktiv Radfahren and France's Velovert. For more information visit: BMC Racing

About Gates Carbon Drive
Consisting of a high-strength belt embedded with carbon fiber cords and two metal sprockets, Gates Carbon Drive is a low-maintenance, chain-replacing technology from Gates Corp., the global leader in automotive and industrial belts. Clean, quiet, light and strong, Carbon Drive requires no greasy lube, weighs less than a chain drive and will not stretch. Featured on bikes from BMC, Trek, Specialized, Scott, Focus and 64-plus brands, Carbon Drive has grown in popularity every year since its introduction in 2007 and will be spec’d on approximately 150 bike models worldwide in 2012, plus numerous custom belt drive models. Due to its low maintenance and ease of use, Carbon Drive is a technology that can get more people on bikes. Visit Gates Carbon Drive

Thomas Voeckler talks 2012 Tour de France

1/27/2012

Voeckler spent 10 days in yellow during the 2011 Tour de France, adding to the 10 days spent in yellow during the 2003 Tour. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Frenchman Thomas Voeckler admits finishing alongside the big yellow jersey favourites at July's Tour de France will be virtually impossible despite giving the hosts hope of a much longed-for podium place in 2011.

Dominated for decades by foreign cycling stars, the Tour de France came close to producing its first French podium finisher since Richard Virenque in 1997 when Voeckler rode to a respectable fourth place finish last July.

With this year's edition dominated by time trials, as well as the usual stages in the high mountains, Voeckler admits he may not be one of the race's big stars in 2012.

Instead, the Europcar team leader is taking things in his stride - and hoping teammate Pierre Rolland, tipped as a future winner of the race after claiming the race's white jersey for the best placed rider under-25, steps up to the plate.

"I had some great experiences on the Tour in 2011, but the best way to take a nosedive is to try and do the same as you've done before," Voeckler said at his team's presentation. "We'll be working hard this season, but at the end of the day it's only sport. If we do re-live those experiences... it will be totally unexpected."

Europcar, under their previous sponor name Bouygues, won two stages at the Tour in 2009, repeating the feat in 2010 when Anthony Charteau also won the race's King of the Mountains polka dot jersey.

Last year, Voeckler's name dominated the daily reports in the second half of the race as he fought a losing but intriguing battle to stay in contention for a podium place. Despite showing French fans his credentials, Voeckler knows he will be subject to the myriad variables that can make the difference between losing

and winning a major bike race.

"I'm far more confident than I was before. But you have to take into account the circumstances of bike racing, and the fact there are over 90 km of time trials (in 2012)," he added. "I can't say I'm aiming for a podium place. I'm a bit special in that I'll be going in with no major objectives, but that doesn't mean I'm not ambitious."

While Rolland helped soothe Voeckler's loss of the yellow jersey last year by winning an epic stage to Alpe d'Huez, the young Frenchman is also being cautious.

"My ambition is to do just as well on the Tour (as I did last year)," said Rolland. "Seeing Thomas have the yellow jersey was like a wake-up for me, made me realise what I could achieve and how I should race to achieve my aims. Gaining confidence is priceless for any bike racer."

Despite Europcar manager Jean-Rene Bernaudeau citing Rolland as a possible winner of their home race - France's first since Bernard Hinault in 1985 -the 25-year-old added: "Jean-Rene is, by nature, someone who is very optimistic.

"I'll do everything to try and make sure it happens one day, but I don't expect to go from 11th (overall) to first place. If I manage to improve my overall place this year, it will be a sign I'm on the right track. But right now, I'm miles away from trying to win the race."

Tour Of Oman Preview

1/25/2012

For the third consecutive year, following the sporting, popular and media success encountered during the previous editions, the Sultanate of Oman will be the center of the cycling world from 14th to 19th February 2012, for 16 teams from the international pack.

Whilst all-rounders and sprinters will be in their element on the magnificent roads that run along the Sea of Oman coast, punchers and climbers will also be able to showcase their talents on the country’s steep terrain. The stage at Jabal Al Akhdar (the Green Mountain) with a final climb of 5.8 km at an average gradient of 10.3%, that even reaches 13.5% over the last two kilometres, will be one of the high points of the third edition of the Tour of Oman.

The 16 Selected Teams:
BMC Racing Team                USA
Bridgestone Anchor    JPN
Champion System                 CHN
Farnese Neri Cycling Team    ITA
FDJ-BigMat                        FRA
Garmin-Barracuda                USA
Greenedge Cycling Team       AUS
Katusha Team                       RUS
Liquigas-Cannondale             ITA
Lotto-Belisol Team                BEL
Omega Pharma-Quick Step BEL
Project 1t4i                           NED
Rabobank                           NED
Radioshack-Nissan                USA
RTS Racing team                   TPE
Sky Pro Cycling                   GBR

The Route:
Stage 1, Tuesday 14th February: Al Alam Palace – Wadi Al Huwqayn (159 km)
Stage 2, Wednesday 15th February: Sur – Wadi Dayqah Dam (140,5 km)
Stage 3, Thursday 16th February: Al Awabi (Al Alya) – Bank Muscat HQ (144,5 km)
Stage 4, Friday 17th February: Bidbid (Nafa’a) – Al Wadi al Kabir (142,5 km)
Stage 5, Saturday 18th February: Royal Opera House – Jabal Al Akhdhar / Green Mountain (158 km)
Stage 6, Sunday 19th February: Al Khawd – Matrah Corniche (130,5 km)

Teammates Go Two Up in San Luis

1/24/2012

The magic moment of the Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team and of its sprinter Francesco Chicchi at the Tour de San Luis goes on. After yesterday’s magnificent photo-finish win, the 31-year-old Italian sprinter gave a repeat performance today edging out team mate Tom Boonen as both crossed the finish line with their arms up, celebrating a double podium for Omega Pharma – Quick-Step.

This is an important success that confirms Chicchi’s excellent form as well as that of the entire team, that today again worked brilliantly during the final sprint. During the first part of the race, Grabsch and Rabon dictated the pace in the leading pack of the peloton. Chavanel and Leipheimer started their action in the final 10 kilometers of the race, guiding Boonen and Chicchi up until the last kilometer.

“It was yet another phenomenal day”, a very happy Chicchi said. “I was supposed to help Boonen’s sprint in the end, seen as that was what we had decided during the morning meeting. I started the sprint with Casper and Tom right on my wheel. About 300 meters from the finish line I looked behind me and I didn’t see Tom anymore. At that point I launched my sprint and only in the last 50 meters I saw Tom near me. We both raised our hands and I stopped thinking about the sprint. It was only after passing the finish line that I understood I had won. It’s the first time I win two stages in a row during the same race, it’s a great feeling. Winter training and the serene atmosphere in the team are bringing in great results. Let me thank my team once again. The guys raced a team time-trial again today and they took Tom and I by the hand up until the very last kilometer. It’s a pleasure to race alongside athletes that are such great professionals.”

“We controlled the race perfectly once again today,” Boonen said after the end of the stage. “I was trying to get Chicchi’s wheel at the last kilometer in order to enhance my sprint, but another rider hit my front wheel making me wallow for a moment. I lost a few positions but I managed to keep good speed. I made my sprint attempt in the final meters and found myself head to head with Chicchi. We looked at each other and just by instinct we both raised our arms. We didn’t know who of us had won but it didn’t matter. We’re happy to have given the team another great day. I am in good shape and there will be more time for me to win.”

Thanks to today’s time bonuses, Chicchi can consolidate his advantage as leader of the standings while waiting for tomorrow’s mountain stage and Thursday’s time trial stage, when all the athletes atop the standings will put in their best effort.

Stage Classification: Fraga - Juana Kuslay 145.3 km.
1. Francesco Chicchi (ITA) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step
3. Jacob Keough (USA) Unitedhealtchare
4. Fco. Jose Ventoso (Spa) Movistar
5. Jimmy Casper (Fra) Ag2R-La Mondiale

General Classification
1. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick Step
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
3. Jacob Keough (USA) Unitedhealtchare

UnitedHealthcare snags podium spot in Argentina

1/24/2012

Just a week ago Keough was basking in the sun in Palm Springs during the UnitedHealthcare training camp.

American Jake Keough of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, followed up his 9th place finish yesterday in Stage 1 of Argentina’s Tour de San Luis, by rocketing to a 3rd place finish today in Stage 2.

In what turned out to be a fast and furious photo finish following the 145.3km jaunt from Fraga to Juana Koslay, Keough’s effort was bested only by the duo of Pro Tour sprinters from Omega Pharma-Quick Step, teammates Francesco Chicchi (Ita) and Tom Boonen (Bel), who took first and second respectively. With his win today, Chicchi has now captured the first two stages of the Tour de San Luis, and sits atop the general classification as the overall race leader.

Fresh off of a breakout year in 2011, Keough is picking up where he left off – in a bunch sprint finish and battling for the top spot on the podium. His third place finish was impressive as the speedster from Sandwich, Massachusetts topped some notable fast men, including Movistar’s Francisco Ventoso (Spa)and AG2R-LaMondiale’s Jimmy Casper (Fra). With his podium result today, Keough moved up to 3rd place in the general classification, behind Saxo Bank’s Juan Jose (J.J.) Haedo (Arg) and overall leader, Chicchi.

Commenting on Keough’s podium finish, General Manager and Director, Mike Tamayo stated, “I said it when we contracted Keough again for the years to come that he is one of the fastest guys in the world. Give him time to finish developing and the top step of the podium will be his."

Speaking on his Team’s performance, Tamayo, added, “This was a great test for our guys. We did not win today, but we will soon enough. What matters today is execution. The boys are working on how to win not just in San Luis but how to win throughout the season. We are here to learn to win as a Team, make mistakes as a Team, and grow as a Team.”

Tamayo continued, “I’m proud of their effort. Jeff Louder (USA) did an incredible job with 5km to go of keeping the sprinters in position. And Robert Förster (Ger) amazes me with his ability to be so unselfish and use his power and knowledge for this Team. This is truly an unselfish group of guys.”

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team roster for the 2012 Tour de San Luis:

Robert Förster (Ger)

Jake Keough (USA)

Jonny Clarke (Aus)

Ben Day (Aus)

Adrian Hegyvary (USA)

Jeff Louder (USA)

Jason McCartney (USA)

Jay Thomson (RSA)

Levi Leipheimer Readies For San Luis

1/22/2012

                                          Picture: ©TDWsport.com

The Omega Pharma/Quick-Step Cycling Team has officially announced the squad that will participate in the Tour de San Luis in Argentina, scheduled from January 23rd to the 29th, 2012. The team arrived in Argentina on a flight from Paris last night. Levi Leipheimer, who was training on the roads of his hometown, joined the team from the US.

“Overall the trip went well,” explained Sports Director Davide Bramati, who will be managing the team during the transfer. “We’re facing 7 stages for a total of 1,051 km, 19.5 of which will be time trials. The squad is in good shape and can defend itself on any terrain. For the sprints we can count on the skills of Boonen and Chicchi while for the more challenging stages the team will pull together around Levi Leipheimer, who could also do well in the 4th time trial stage with Bert Grabsch. The route is demanding and the starting line up is world class. However we are ready to take on the race. Our goal is to capture a stage and to figure well in the general classification.”

Riders:
Tom Boonen (BEL)
Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
Francesco Chicchi (ITA)
Bert Grabsch (GER)
Levi Leipheimer (USA)
Frantisek Rabon (CZE)

Sports Director:
Davide Bramati (ITA)

Stages
23.01.12, Stage 1   San Luis - Villa Mercedes   189.3 km
24.01.12, Stage 2   Fraga - Juana Koslay   145.3 km
25.01.12, Stage 3   Estancia Grande - Mirador del Potrero    168.2 km
26.01.12, Stage 4   San Luis - San Luis   19.5 km (ITT)
27.01.12, Stage 5 La Toma - Merlo (Mirador del Sol)   160.6 km
28.01.12, Stage 6   Luján - Quines   201.0 km
29.01.12, Stage 7 San Luis - San Luis   167.1 km

Tour Down Under, Final Stage Six

1/21/2012

Simon Gerrans couldn't beat Alejandro Valverde on time, but better finishes throughout the week ultimately delivered him and his new GreenEdge team their first big win.
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Australian champion Simon Gerrans secured his second career victory in the Tour Down Under Sunday following a tense 90 kilometer (55 mile) final stage, won by Germany's Andre Greipel.

   While Lotto-Belisol sprinter Greipel took his third stage win of the week and 11th in total, Gerrans claimed his first-ever stage race victory on the WorldTour and the first-ever win for the peloton's newest team, GreenEdge.

   "It's just fantastic. I really can't thank my teammates at GreenEdge enough," said Gerrans, who won the race in 2006 when it was not yet part of cycling's elite calendar. We had a tough task today with Alejandro Valverde, he's a tough customer. But I managed to hold on to the lead today, and I couldn't be happier."

   After a thrilling fifth stage on Friday which gave Gerrans the ochre jersey when he finished runner-up to Spanish ace Valverde, there was still plenty of stake on the final stage.

   Gerrans started the 20-lap circuit race with the same overall time as the Movistar team leader, but with the ochre jersey by virtue of better placings in previous stages.

   GreenEdge were given a boost when early attacks ate up the bonus seconds on offer at the intermediate sprints, where Valverde could have taken the virtual race lead.

   But from the midway point until the final two laps the Australian outfit were given a fresh challenge when RadioShack-Nissan rider Belgian Jan Bakelants, only 19 seconds adrift of Gerrans, went on the attack.

   GreenEdge sent Cameron Meyer up the road to mark him, but instead of pulling Bakelants back, Meyer's relays at the front helped increase the Belgian's lead on the chasing peloton to 51secs, making him the virtual leader.

   In the final two laps, however, Meyer put GreenEdge back into the black when he attacked solo. The bunch soon had Bakelants in their sights, and he was easily reeled in.

   The final lap then saw several teams move to the front as they jostled for position ahead of an imminent bunch sprint. But heading into the home straight only one team, Lotto-Belisol, dominated.

   "What can I say? I think the team was just amazing," said two-time race champion Greipel, who came off the wheels of teammates Adam Hansen and Greg Henderson to finish comfortably ahead of his sprint rivals. "I need to say 'chapeau' (hat's off) to all the guys, the way they did the sprint they made it look easy. All I had to do was the final 200 meters."

   In the overall standings Valverde finished second, with the same time as Gerrans, while Portuguese Tiago Machado of RadioShack-Nissan was third at 08sec.

RESULTS: sixth and final stage of the Tour Down Under WorldTour event, a 90km circuit race.
   Stage
   1. Andre Greipel (GER/LTB) 1hr 56min 48sec, 2. Mark Renshaw (AUS/RAB) same time, 3. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) s.t., 4. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR/FDJ) s.t., 5. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP/MOV) s.t., 6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) s.t., 7. Romain Feillu (FRA/VCD) s.t., 8. Jonathan Cantwell (AUS/SAX) s.t., 9. Fabio Sabatini (ITA/LIQ) s.t., 10. Manuel Belletti (ITA/ALM) s.t.
   Selected: 15. William Bonnet (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 25. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) s.t., 27. Simon Gerrans (AUS/GEC) s.t.

   General Classification
   1. Simon Gerrans (AUS) GreenEdge 20hr 46min 12sec, 2. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) same time, 3. Tiago Machado (POR/RNT) at 8secs, 4. Michael Rogers (AUS/SKY) 14, 5. Rohan Dennis (AUS/UNI) s.t., 6. Jan Bakelants (BEL/RNT) 16, 7. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 18, 8. Javier Moreno (ESP/MOV) 23, 9. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) 29, 10. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 32
   Selected: 18. Blel Kadri (FRA/ALM) 2:30, 28. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 3:11, 30. Romain Lemarchand (FRA/ALM) 3:33

Tour Down Under, Stage Five

1/21/2012

Alejandro Valverde (l) proved there is life after coming back from a two year doping ban.
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Any doubts a two-year doping ban would blunt the racing skills of Alejandro Valverde were ended Saturday when the Spaniard made a victorious return to the peloton.

   Valverde, 31, returned to competition at the Tour Down Under only last week after serving a two-year ban for his implication in the 'Operation Puerto' doping scandal which erupted in 2006.

   Despite initially playing down his ambitions at the six-stage WorldTour opener, Valverde showed he still possesses the skills that have made him one of the most feared riders in the pro ranks. In a thrilling end to the fifth and penultimate stage Saturday Valverde finished off the solid work of his Movistar team to pip Australian champion Simon Gerrans in a duel to the finish.

   While Gerrans took the race leader's ochre jersey to put GreenEdge within sight of their maiden WorldTour triumph, Valverde's win caused an uproar of celebration at his team bus.

   "It's an ideal comeback," Movistar sports director Jose Luis Arrieta told AFP. "Alejandro has put a lot of work in this past year, it's almost been like he was still competing. That is how much he has trained. After more than a year without racing, you never quite know where you are in terms of the competition. But this victory has shown that, when you're a champion, it never quite goes away."

   A former two-time winner of the prestigious one-day classic Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Valverde has also come close to winning the world champion's rainbow jersey in previous years.

   His last victory, however, was the Tour of Spain in 2009. He did win the 2010 Tour of Romandie, only for the authorities to annul all his results that year as they applied a retroactive ban.

   Looking skinny on his arrival in Adelaide two weeks ago - a sign of race fitness - Valverde's win surprised few in the peloton.

   BMC sporting director Rik Verbrugghe told AFP: "I'm not surprised. I'd heard he had done a lot of training before his first race, so for me at the beginning he was my favourite for the Tour Down Under. He's shown a lot of people that he's a rider to be reckoned with.

"He's just a class act, and it's right up his alley that kind of finish," said Australian Michael Rogers when asked if he was surprised at Valverde's win.

Overnight leader Martin Kohler agreed: "It's always going to be difficult being away from the peloton for two years.

   "But I saw him before (his ban), and now he's back, the same as before. For me it's not really a surprise. He's a really strong cyclist."

   Valverde, who was banned after being connected to a blood bag found in a raid in a Spanish laboratory in May 2006 but not banned until later because of official wrangling, was emotional on the podium.

   "There's a lot of emotions because now I can release all the fury I was keeping inside," said Valverde.
"Sentimentally speaking, I'd say this is the most special victory in my career. I was desperate for it and got it with the first real chance that came along, so it tastes so good.

RESULTS: Stage five of the Tour Down Under, a 151.5 km race from McLaren Vale to Old Willinga Hill:
   Stage
   1. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 3hr 45min 48sec, 2. Simon Gerrans (AUS/GEC) same time, 3. Tiago Machado (POR/RNT) at 2secs, 4. Michael Rogers (AUS/SKY) 4, 5. Rohan Dennis (AUS/UNI) 7, 6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 12, 7. Javier Moreno (ESP/MOV) 13, 8. Jan Bakelants (BEL/RNT) s.t., 9. Jack Bauer (NZL/GRM) 26, 10. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) s.t.
   Selected: 11. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) 29, 17. Martin Kohler (SUI/BMC) 1:18, 20. Blel Kadri (FRA/ALM) 2:22, 27. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 2:25

   General Classification
   1. Simon Gerrans (AUS/GEC) 18hr 49min 24sec, 2. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) same time, 3. Tiago Machado (POR/RNT) at 8secs, 4. Michael Rogers (AUS/SKY) 14, 5. Rohan Dennis (AUS/UNI) s.t., 6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 18, 7. Jack Bauer (NZL/GRM) 19, 8. Javier Moreno (ESP/MOV) 23, 9. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) 29, 10. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 32
   Selected: 15. Martin Kohler (SUI/BMC) 1:16, 19. Blel Kadri (FRA/ALM) 2:30, 26. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 2:35, 27. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 2:43

Tour Down Under, Stage Four

1/20/2012

New to the Russian Katusha team, three-time world champ Oscar Friere reminds himself what his former Rabobank colors looked like before pedaling off for a surprising win.
                                           Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Swiss time trial champion Martin Kohler regained the Tour Down Under lead Friday and the GreenEdge team finally swung into action on stage four in a bid to win their home race.

   BMC rider Kohler, who took the ochre jersey Wednesday from former two-time champion Andre Greipel, handed it back to the Lotto sprinter Thursday after the German's second stage win of the race.

   Greipel, however, was among a 90-man group left struggling after a determined spell of pace-setting on Menglers Hill allowed around 40 riders to go clear of the main peloton.

   After a technical finish into the Barossa Valley town of Tanunda, Spanish veteran Oscar Freire took the stage honors to claim his first win of the season, and his first for his new Russian outfit Katusha.

   He finished ahead of Germany's Gerald Ciolek and Italian Daniele Bennati, with overall victory contenders Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) and Michael Matthews (Rabobank) coming close behind.

   "It's great to get this first win of the season for myself and the team I just joined," said Freire, a former three-time world champion making his race debut on what is his final season. "It was a difficult finale, but that suited me. I won because the race was made hard."

After his victory Thursday Greipel claimed that Saturday's stage finish on Willunga Hill would end his overall race ambitions.

   However the German dominated the field at the first intermediate sprint to add three bonus seconds to his eight-second overnight lead on Kohler.

   That decision was like a "red flag" to the Australian GreenEdge team, who are keen to secure the win for national champion Simon Gerrans.

With around 23 km (14 miles) to race, they drove the pace hard early on the 3.5 km-long climb to Menglers Hill, and after being joined by the Movistar team of Alejandro Valverde their combined efforts left most of the peloton struggling.

   "That was like a red flag for us," GreenEdge's Matt White told AFP, referring to Greipel's earlier sprint.
"On Menglers Hill I used Robbie (McEwen) and Matt (Goss) and Leigh (Howard) just to put the pressure on and make it really intense. We wanted to put the sprinters into the red early. Movistar then moved up and took over from us. It split the peloton very early on the climb."

   The stragglers chased, but at the finish most came over the line over six minutes in arrears.

   GreenEdge's efforts kept Gerrans well in contention for a second Tour Down Under victory, but with a number of other contenders only seconds off the pace the team could be in for another tough day on Saturday.

   Kohler meanwhile has found himself in the unexpected position of being able to win the overall race.

   "I didn't expect to get the jersey again," said Kohler. "I only got it because Greipel was dropped on the climb. After that, we rode hard to make the gap bigger. Tomorrow there will 15 riders contending the win at the top of Willunga.Whether I keep the jersey depends a lot on how the race goes."

RESULTS: Stage four of the Tour Down Under, a 130 km race from Norwood to Tanunda:
   Stage
   1. Oscar Freire (ESP/KAT) 3hr 08min 34sec, 2. Gerald Ciolek (GER/OPQ) same time, 3. Daniele Bennati (ITA/RNT) s.t., 4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) s.t., 5. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) s.t., 6. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP/MOV) s.t., 7. Luke Roberts (AUS/SAX) s.t., 8. Kristijan Koren (SLO/LIQ) s.t., 9. Sergey Lagutin (UZB/VCD) s.t., 10. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/GRM) s.t.
   Selected: 11. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 17. Simin Gerrans (AUS/GEC) s.t., 30. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 31. Blel Khadri (FRA/ALM) s.t., 32. Martin Kohler (SUI/BMC) s.t., 33. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) s.t., 40. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/RAB) s.t., 55. Andre Greipel (GER/LTB) 7:45

   General classification
   1. Martin Kohler (SUI/BMC) 15hr 03min 34sec, 2. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) at 02secs, 3. Oscar Freire (ESP/KAT) s.t., 4. Gerald Ciolek (GER/OPQ) 6, 5. Simon Gerrans (AUS/GEC) 8, 6. Daniele Bennati (ITA/RNT) same time, 7. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) s.t., 8. Jan Bakelants (BEL/RNT) s.t., 9. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) s.t., 10. Rohan Dennis (AUS/UNI) s.t.
   Selected: 11. Blel Khadri (FRA/ALM) 10, 22. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 12, 24. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/GRM) s.t., 32. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/RAB) s.t., 35. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) s.t.

Bid On the Manx Missle's Power Parts

1/19/2012

Our friends at the Pro's Closet are at it again....here's your chance to win the power parts right off the fastest man in the pelotons bike - Mark Cavendish.

"This is the actual head unit from Mark Cavendish's Stage 21 victory in this year's tour. Yes, the Manx Missle himself was staring at this SRM while deep in the pain cave. Features a custom green color to match his green jersey. The SRM itself is brand new, just the head unit was used and autographed by Mark."

Head to the Cavendish E-Bay Auction.

Tour Down Under, Stage Three

1/19/2012

       Turns out that Australia isn't such a bad place to get the season started!
                                   Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Andre Greipel of Germany regained the lead of the Tour Down Under with yet another powerful sprint display which gave him his 10th stage win of the race Thursday.

   Lotto rider Greipel, a former two-time winner of the season's first WorldTour event, gave up the ochre jersey to Swiss time trial champion Martin Kohler, of BMC, on Wednesday's uphill finish at Stirling.

   However the German moved back into pole position after outclassing Belarusian Yauheni Hutarovitch (FDJ) and Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) with a powerful drive to the line at the end of a 134.5 km stage from Unley to Victor Harbour.

   Already victorious in the pre-race criterium on Sunday, Greipel won the opening stage on Tuesday, when he also lost valuable teammate Jurgen Roelandts to neck injuries in a 15-rider pile-up. In Roelandts' absence, Greipel relied on his other teammates - and duly finished off the job in style. But, he was quick to try and lift stricken Roelandts' spirits.

   "This victory is for Jurgen Roelandts, who's giving us his support from the hospital," said Greipel, who won his first Tour de France stage in 2011 and finished third at last year's world championships. "Although we have three injured riders, we still have a great team. The most important point of today's race was the one kilometre to go mark, I asked my guys to put me there in fifth or sixth position, and they did."

   Hutarovitch, whose FDJ team are making their return to cycling's top flight, thought his sprint was enough for the win.

   "It was a mad finish, because of all the roundabouts, the wind and the sheer speed," said Hutarovitch, who finished third on Tuesday's sprint. I went for it with 200 to go and until 20-30 meters to the finish I was still leading and thought I had it. Then I just saw Greipel powering past me. I'm encouraged, because I've been among the best sprinters in the race. But I would still have preferred to win."

   Thanks to the 10 bonus seconds he picked up for his win, Greipel now has an eight-second lead over Kohler, with Rabobank sprinter Michael Mathews in third at 12.

   GreenEdge all-rounder Simon Gerrans, the new Australian champion, is fifth at 16sec, with Boasson Hagen on the same time. Boasson Hagen has come close to beating Greipel twice so far, but his latest bid was hampered by some misfortune.

"I was a bit boxed in in the last couple of hundred meters so it was hard to get through. A Rabobank guy came on the left side, forced me out into the wind and after that it was too hard to pass," said the Norwegian. "And when I got to the finish I realized I had a puncture, so that didn't help."

   The race continues Friday with a 130 km ride from Norwood to Tanunda. However the potential race decider will likely be on Saturday when the fifth stage finishes on Old Willunga hill, which should fully test the climbing abilities of the sprinters who want to win the race. Greipel, for example, has all but given up hope of a third overall triumph, adding: "I'm happy to be in the lead again, but the time bonus doesn't matter really because the Willunga stage is too hard for me."

RESULTS: Stage Three, 134.5 km ride from Unley to Victor Harbor Thursday:
   Stage
   1. Andre Greipel (GER/LTB) 3hr 21min 55sec, 2. Yauheni Hutarovitch (BLR/FDJ) same time, 3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) s.t., 4. Mark Renshaw (AUS/RAB) s.t., 5. Robbie McEwen (AUS/GEC) s.t., 6. Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA/AST) s.t., 7. Heinrich Haussler (GER/GRM) s.t., 8. Daniele Bennati (RNT) s.t., 9. Manuel Belletti (FRA/ALM) s.t., 10. Chris Sutton (AUS/SKY) s.t.

Selected: 12. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) s.t., 13. Romain Feillu (FRA/VCD) s.t., 19. William Bonnet (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 20. Simon Gerrans (AUS/GEC)

   General classification
   1. Andre Greipel (GER/LTB) 11hr 54min 52sec, 2. Martin Kohler (SUI/BMC) at 08sec, 3. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) 12, 4. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/VCD) 14, 5. Simon Gerrans (AUS/GEC) 16, 6. Jan Bakelants (BEL/RNT) s.t., 7. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) s.t., 8. Eduard Voganov (RUS/KAT) s.t., 9. Rohan Dennis (AUS/UNI) 17, 10. Xavier Florencio (ESP/KAT) 20

   Selected: 14. William Bonnet (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 18. Blel Khadri (FRA/ALM) s.t., 29. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) s.t., 36. Romain Sicard (FRA/EUS) s.t., 40. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/RAB) s.t.

Tour Down Under, Stage Two

1/18/2012

Will Clarke took the biggest win of his career at stage two while BMC's Martin Kohler took the overall lead. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Australian Will Clarke was given a hero's reception by thousands of raucous fans after bringing a 140 km breakaway all the way to the finish of the Tour Down Under's second stage Wednesday.

Swiss rider Martin Kohler of the BMC team took possession of the race leader's ochre jersey from German Andre Greipel as the chasing peloton were outdone by the determined UniSA rider.

   "This is unbelievable really," said Clarke. "This is the biggest win of my career - it's my first win on the WorldTour."

   Yet at the start of the day, Clarke had somewhat more modest ambitions. He and Kohler had been part of a four-man break which attacked just after the start of the 148 km ride over undulating terrain from Lobethal to Stirling.

   And after the Swiss had pocketed most of the day's points, and bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints, which would prove crucial later in the race, he returned to the bunch with over two laps of a 26 km finishing circuit left.

   Clarke started the penultimate lap with a massive lead of 11 minutes on the chasing peloton, which by now had put some big engines from Team Sky, GreenEdge, Rabobank and Movistar up front in a bid to close the gap.

   Despite seeing his lead brought down to 7min 30sec at the start of his final lap, Clarke held on to solo over the line in 3hr 58min 35sec. Olympic team pursuit champion Geraint Thomas admitted the favorites had underestimated Clarke, and had spent too much time marking each other.

   "We just underestimated how strong he was," Thomas, of Team Sky, said. "There was a bit of bluffing, seeing which teams were going to ride... we started going and a few teams came up (to help), but unfortunately we didn't get him back on the line. "But fair play to him, great ride."

   Australian Michael Matthews of Rabobank won the group sprint for second place a minute later, with Simon Gerrans of GreenEdge third, Alejandro Valverde of Movistar fourth and Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen fifth.

   "This is unbelievable really," said Clarke, who failed to find a spot with a WorldTour team last year when former team Leopard folded. "I was up the road with a BMC rider (Kohler) to get some sprint points and I kept going when he went back to the peloton. He probably thought it wasn't worth keeping going. The peloton gave me more time and I thought, 'you guys are going to have to chase me hard catch me'. But I was dying in the last 10 km."

   Swiss time trial champion Kohler, who spent 130 km in a breakaway on Tuesday, takes the overall lead by two seconds from two-time race winner Greipel thanks mostly to the bonus seconds he took at the intermediate sprints.

   But heading into Thursday's third stage, an undulating 134.5 km ride from Unley to Victor Harbour, the race is still wide open with most of the main favorites within 12secs.

   "This means a lot, because it is my first leader's jersey," said Kohler. "But its going to be really hard for me to defend the jersey because I think the last two days I have lost a little bit of energy."

RESULTS: Second stage of the Tour Down Under WorldTour event, a 148 km ride from Lobethal to Stirling:
   Stage
   1. Will Clarke (AUS/UNI) 3hr 58min 35sec, 2. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) at 1min 02sec, 3. Simon Gerrans (AUS/GEC) same time, 4. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) s.t., 5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) s.t., 6. Oscar Freire (ESP/KAT) s.t., 7. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) s.t., 8. Luke Roberts (AUS/SAX) s.t., 9. Gerald Ciolek (GER/OPQ) s.t., 10. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/GRM) s.t.
   Selected: 11. Cameron Meyer (AUS/GEC) s.t., 21. Blel Khadri (FRA/ALM) s.t., 29. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/RAB), 31. Romain Lemarchand (FRA/ALM) s.t.
   General classification
   1. Martin Kohler (SUI/BMC) 8hr 33min 05sec, 2. Andre Greipel (GER/LTB) at 02secs, 3. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) 4, 4. Simon Gerrans (AUS/GEC) 8, 5. Rohan Dennis (AUS/UNI) 9, 6. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 10, 7. Xavier Florencio (ESP/KAT) 12, 8. Jonathan Cantwell (AUS/SAX) s.t., 9. Jan Bakelants (BEL/RNT) s.t., 10. Luke Roberts (AUS/SAX) s.t.
   Selected: 12. Blel Khadri (FRA/ALM) s.t., 13. Romain Lemarchand (FRA/ALM) s.t., 20. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV), 30. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) s.t., 31. Romain Sicard (FRA/EUS) s.t., 36. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/RAB) s.t., 66. Will Clarke (AUS/UNI) 36

OFFICIAL TEAM RELEASE
Champion System's Clarke Delivers Down Under
William Clarke's stirring solo victory Wednesday on Stage 2 of the Santos Tour Down Under will go down as one of the finest moments in the short history of the Champion System Pro Cycling Team.

Riding for Team UniSA, the exclusive Australian national team, Clarke delivered one of the most remarkable performances in the history of the WorldTour calendar event. The 26-year-old Tasmanian attacked with Martin Kohler (BMC Racing Team) from the start of the 148-kilometer race, then soloed the final 70 km to register the biggest win of his young professional career.

"This is unbelievable, really," Clarke said after crossing the finish line 62 seconds ahead of charging field that rapidly cut into his 12-minute lead in the final kilometers. "This is the biggest win of my career. It's my first win in the WorldTour. I knew my form was good."

Following the race from the Champion System team's training camp in Hong Kong, General Manager Ed Beamon said he couldn't help but believe even more fine performances from Clarke lie ahead. Earlier this month, Clarke registered a pair of top 10 finishes in the Australian road nationals, finishing fifth in the road race and eighth in the individual time trial.

"He's showing incredible form and that's a big reason why we were happy to give Will a break from the Champion System training camp to represent his country at the Santos Tour Down Under," Beamon said. "We hired him – to a large degree – because of his breakaway capability. He certainly proved that ability today. To manage such a time gap virtually on his own is more than impressive."

Because Clarke lost 1:40 on Tuesday's opening stage, he was not able to secure the race leader's jersey, which went to Kohler. But he did claim the SKODA King of the mountain jersey as well as Hindmarsh Most Aggressive Rider honors. He also leads the Jayco Sprint classification.

"I was dying in the last 10 kilometers," Clarke said. "(Team Manager) Dave Sanders was telling me to go for the GC (general classification). It's amazing that a breakaway rider can stay away for so long. It's sort of my speciality to keep going."

The six-day race continues Thursday with a 134.5 km stage that finishes in the seaside town of Victor Harbor.

The Champion System Pro Cycling Team is Asia's first pro continental squad. Presented last week in Beijing, the squad features 19 riders from 10 countries. The team will contest all the major races in Asia, as well as follow a program that includes races in Europe and North America.

Tour Down Under, Stage One

1/17/2012

Two-time race champion Andre Greipel of Germany took the leader's ochre jersey at the Tour Down Under Tuesday in a crash-marred start to the season's opening World Tour race.

   Lotto sprinter Greipel, who won the pre-race criterium on Sunday, won a photo finish decision from veteran Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre to set out his stall for a third overall win.

   "I am lucky that I won today, there was a massive crash with 800 metres to go," said Greipel (above). "My pedal got touched, and I lost positions from about fifth to 20th, but I managed to bridge the gap."

   Now a WorldTour event, the Tour Down Under offers ranking points to individual riders and their teams. And some believe that led to some erratic behaviour in the lead-up to a dramatic bunch finish.

   As several teams jostled in a bid to put their main sprinters in a winning position ahead of the home straight, one rider's mistake caused a whole bunch to hit the deck.

   Yet some later claimed that wasn't the main reason around 15 riders crashed just under a kilometre from the finish line of the 149 km ride from Prospect to Clare, during which temperatures were said to have reached 51 degrees Celsius (124 degrees Fahrenheit).

   Australian Matt Goss, hoping to score a first win for his new Australian team GreenEdge, said he saw some questionable tactics.

   "There were no doubt some idiots fighting for position who were going to do nothing at the finish (line) anyway," said Goss, the Milan-SanRemo champion who finished runner-up here last year. "Some of these guys have no care for what happens to themselves or what happens to everyone else."

   Briton Adam Blythe also complained of suspect tactics.

"Two Vacansoleil riders caused the crash," he told AFP. "To have two teammates causing a crash when they're not fighting against each other is just stupid.Under-eights racing don't do that, it's just ridiculous. They're not riding with their eyes closed."

   One of the Vacansoleil riders in question, Kenny Van Hummel, took skin off his left arm, buttocks and legs after hitting the tarmac.

   After his team claimed their two riders had been brought down by another, unidentified cyclist, Van Hummel said: "Someone came from the left and the right, I couldn't react and someone rode me off the bike. It was unbelievable."

   Van Hummel said the WorldTour status of the race had perhaps been a factor.

   "It's the first WorldTour race so everybody's trying to score points, and everybody wants to show his level and we're all motivated, but that means people are taking risks," he added. "Some people are trying for the sprint and they don't yet have the level for it."

   Veteran Frenchman Frederic Guesdon, who was caught up in the crash, was left with a fractured hip which could signal the end of his career according to his FDJ-BigMat team manager Yvon Madiot.

   A former Paris-Roubaix winner, Guesdon was scheduled to hang up his bike for good after the famous French classic in April, but Madiot said it was now unlikely he would be able to take part as planned.

Photos: Yuzuru Sunada

RESULTS: 149 km race between Prospect and Clare
   Stage
   1. Andre Greipel (GER) Lotto-Belisol 4hr 33min 40sec, 2. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) same time, 3. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR/FDJ) s.t., 4. Fabio Sabatini (ITA/LIQ) s.t., 5. Daniele Bennati (ITA/RSH) s.t., 6. Chris Sutton (AUS/SKY) s.t., 7. Jonathan Cantwell (AUS/SAX) s.t., 8. Xavier Florencio
(ESP/KAT) s.t., 9. Mark Renshaw (AUS/RAB) s.t., 10. Manuel Belletti (ITA/ALM) s.t., 11. Tom Palmer (AUS/UNI) s.t., 12. Michael Matthews (AUS/RAB) s.t., 13. William Bonnet (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 14. Romain Lemarchand (FRA/ALM) s.t., 15. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) s.t.
   Selected: 19. Romain Sicard (FRA/EUS) s.t., 31. Romain Feillu (FRA/VCD) s.t.

General classification
   1. Andre Greipel (GER) Lotto-Belisol 4hr 33min 30sec, 2. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) at 04secs, 3. Martin Kohler (SUI/BMC) same time, 4. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR/FDJ) s.t., 5. Rohan Dennis (AUS/UNI) 7, 6. Eduard Vorganov(RUS/KAT) 8, 7. Marcello Pavarin (ITA/VCD) 9, 8. Fabio Sabatini (ITA/LIQ) 10, 9. Daniele Bennati (ITA/RSH) s.t., 10. Chris Sutton (AUS/SKY) s.t., 11.
Jonathan Cantwell (AUS/SAX) s.t., 12. Xavier Florencio (ESP/KAT) s.t., 13. Mark Renshaw (AUS/RAB) s.t., 14. Manuel Belletti (ITA/ALM) s.t., 15. Tom Palmer (AUS/UNI) s.t.
   Selected: 17. William Bonnet (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 18. Romain Lemarchand
(FRA/ALM) s.t., 19. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) s.t., 23. Romain Sicard (FRA/EUS) s.t., 28. Blel Khadri (FRA/ALM) s.t., 39. Simon Gerrans (AUS/GEC) s.t.

Contador Ruling Gets Delayed Again

1/16/2012

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) expects to announce their verdict on three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador's doping case "during the week of January 31," the organisation said Monday.

   A verdict was initially set for mid-January, but CAS opted to delay the ruling, blaming the delay because of media allegations of bias against the three-man arbitration panel.

   "CAS asked the parties to clarify whether, at this stage in the procedure, any of them wanted to challenge the composition of the arbitration panel. As all answers were negative, the Panel will be able to resume its mission," read a statement issued by sport's highest court.

   "This regrettable incident has slightly delayed the work of the Panel and the publication of the final decision should now take place during the week of
31 January 2012."

   Contador tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France, but the Spaniard was cleared by the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) in February 2011, prompting the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and International Cycling Union (UCI) to appeal the decision to CAS.

   The 29-year-old Spaniard claimed he had ingested the banned substance by eating a contaminated steak, an explanation which satisfied the RFEC but which failed to pass muster with the International Cycling Union (UCI) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

   If CAS upholds the appeal the Spaniard faces a competition ban and being stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title and the Giro d'Italia, which he won for a second time last year, and any other victories since July 2010.

Oakley Announces 2012 Lineup

1/16/2012

Coming off a stellar 2011 season during which Oakley cyclists dominated the Tour de France taking
the top three spots in the General Classification as well as all four jerseys among a plethora of other
great victories, the brand is pleased to announce that it has further strengthened it’s cycling team
with the addition of four new athletes and new team sponsorships.

“Everything is in place for another great year for Oakley cycling,” said Patrick McIlvain, Oakley VP
Global Sports Marketing. “Our Sports Marketing Mangers have been out providing the personal
athlete service that Oakley is known for. With the latest in Oakley sport performance eyewear at
their disposal and a few more key additions to the team, you can expect more great things from the
Oakley cycling team in 2012.”

Oakley has long held an impressive roster of professional cyclists riding for the brand and this year,
the talent is even deeper. With the addition of UCI World Tour ranked No. 1, Philippe Gilbert,
current World Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin – both of whom are favorites to win Olympic
gold in the upcoming London Games – 2011 Tour de France White Jersey winner, Pierre Roland
and the 2011 Estonian Time Trial Champion, Rein Taaramae, the team is poised to reinvent what it
means to be an Oakley cyclist.

In 2012 Oakley is also the official eyewear partner of the following UCI World Tour teams:

Team Sky, featuring Oakley riders Bradley Wiggins, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Rigoberto Uran and
the team’s newest addition, 2011 World Road Race Champion, Mark Cavendish.

Team Radio Shack Nissan Trek, featuring Oakley riders Frank and Andy Schleck, Fabian Cancellara,
Jens Voigt and Haimar Zubeldia.

Team BMC, featuring Oakley riders Philippe Gilbert, Thor Hushovd, Taylor Phinney, George
Hincapie and 2011 Tour de France Champion Cadel Evans.

Team GreenEDGE, featuring Oakley riders Mathew Goss, Stuart O’Grady and Simon Gerrans.

Team Omega Pharma/Quick Step, featuring Oakley riders Tony Martin, Tom Boonen and Levi Leipheimer.

“We are excited to have such a breadth of talent on the Oakley team,” continued McIvain. “ It’s going to be a sensational year and we’re really looking forward to seeing the team in action.”

The 2012 season is under way with the Santos Tour Down Under starting on Tuesday, January 17.
Look for the Oakley team to shine in the opening events of the season. The riders are all equipped with custom Radar and Jawbone glasses, complete with an arsenal of HDO lenses and loaded with a full range of lens tints to cover any light condition from start to finish.

Oakley is also in full force with an on--site athlete lounge and custom bar in the athlete village. For
those unable to make it out to the race, follow the team’s accomplishments in Australia and throughout 2012 on Oakley.com where you can also learn more about the company’s latest advancements in sport performance eyewear.

For more info: Oakley.

Let The 2012 Season Begin!

1/15/2012

                                  The newly formed Team Lotto took the first big win of 2012.
                                                      Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Two-time Tour Down Under champion Andre Greipel of Germany signalled his intentions for a third overall win by triumphing at the warm-up Down Under Classic criterium on Sunday.

   Held over 30 laps of an inner city Adelaide circuit, the Down Under Classic criterium does not count towards the standings of the Tour Down Under, the first event of cycling's World Tour held over six stages Tuesday to Sunday.

   However, criterium winners have often gone on to finish well in the race itself, and Greipel - the champion in 2008 and 2010 - looked a class act in a hectic finale which saw several rivals fall out of contention.

   The German capitalised on the good lead-out work of his Lotto team to dominate Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) and Australia's Heinrich Haussler (Garmin), finishing just over the hour mark after 51 km of racing.

   "We worked really well out there tonight," said Greipel, who landed his maiden Tour de France stage win in 2011, paying tribute to the teammates who kept his lead-out train intact as different teams jostled for position.

   "It's always a good warm-up for the race itself," he added.

   Several other contenders were left disappointed they had not given the estimated crowd of 100,000 spectators a local win to celebrate.

   Mark Renshaw, now a sprinter in his own right for Rabobank after spending three years helping Briton Mark Cavendish amass 20 stage wins on the Tour de France, showed plenty of promise until disaster struck. The Australian punctured on the last lap, an incident which ruled him out of even contesting the sprint.

   "It's never happened to me before. It's not a great way to start off the season but the boys worked great out there and that's given me confidence for the rest of the race," said Renshaw. "I have to try and pay them back on Tuesday."

   While Australia's first top tier professional team, GreenEdge, made their historic debut on the World Tour, they were also left deflated. GreenEdge, Team Sky and Lotto were all pushing the pace in the final few laps, but the Aussies top finisher was veteran sprinter Robbie McEwen in 15th, at 02secs off the pace.

   "We didn't really get the sprint train going, and that's something we want to work on," said GreenEdge principal sports director Neil Stephens. "Compared to the days to come, this was the least important (day) for us.

We made a couple of mistakes, but we'll sit down, have a look at what went wrong and try to sort it out for the future."

   The race's first stage is Tuesday's 149km ride from Prospect to Clare.

RESULTS: Down Under Classic - 51 km warm-up for Tour Down Under World Tour event:
   1. Andre Greipel (GER) Lotto 1hr 03min 17sec, 2. Edvald Boasson HageN (NOR/SKY) same time, 3. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/GRM) s.t., 4. Jose Joaquin Rosas (ESP/MOV) s.t., 5. Steele Von Hoff (AUS/UNI) s.t., 6. Jonathan Cantwell (AUS/SAX) s.t., 7. Chris Sutton (AUS/SKY) s.t., 8. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (ESP/MOV) s.t., 9. Greg Henderson (NZL/SKY) s.t., 10. Alessandro Petacchi
(ITA/LAM) s.t.

The 2012 Race Season Is About To Begin With The Tour Down Under

1/14/2012

Details of the Tour Down Under stage race, the first WorldTour event of the season, held January 15-22:
   Jan 15
   Down Under Classic - 91 km criterium (no bearing on standings)
   Jan 17
   Stage 1 - Prospect to Clare (149 km)
   Jan 18
   Stage 2 - Lobethal to Stirling (148 km)
   Jan 19
   Stage 3 - Unley to Victor Harbor (134.5 km)
   Jan 20
   Stage 4 - Norwood to Tanunda (130 km)
   Jan 21
   Stage 5 - McLaren Vale to Old Willunga Hill (151.5 km)
   Jan 22
   Stage 6 - Adelaide (90 km)

TEAM GREENEDGE IS READY FOR THEIR CLOSE-UP

Australia's steady rise up the world cycling hierarchy will reach its peak on Sunday when the GreenEdge team makes its debut at the Tour Down Under.

   Since the pioneering Phil Anderson became the first non-European to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey in 1981, Australians have been consistently ranked among the world's best cyclists.

   Now GreenEdge, the first Australian team in the top tier of the pro peloton, is hoping to continue a heritage made even richer by Cadel Evans' landmark victories at the 2009 world championships and 2011 Tour de France.

   So far, GreenEdge doesn't possess a rider like Evans, who continues to ply his trade with Swiss-backed American outfit BMC. Grooming its own yellow jersey contender, however, is part of sporting director Matt White's plan. White expects Stuart O'Grady and Robbie McEwen - both in the twilight of their careers - to pass on years of valuable experience to the likes of emerging talents Cameron Meyer, Jack Bobridge and Leigh Howard.

   Tasmanian Matt Goss, who won the prestigious Milan-SanRemo one-day classic last season and finished runner-up to Britain's Mark Cavendish in the 2011 world championships, is likely to shoulder many of GreenEdge's hopes this season.

   Meanwhile, White admits GreenEdge is happy to feed off the huge buzz created by Evans' monumental success in 2011.

   "Everyone in Australia knows the Tour de France, everyone in Australia now knows Cadel Evans. Twelve months ago, that wasn't the case," White said in Adelaide on Saturday. "For us to come in as a team straight off the back of that, it's a great time for the team and a great time for Australian cycling."

   GreenEdge has already set the bar fairly high ahead of a season which promises some epic sprint battles between Goss and Cavendish.

   Until last year, both were teammates at the now-defunct HTC-Highroad team, with whom Cavendish won all 20 of his stages at the Tour de France and the race's coveted green jersey for the sprinters' points competition.

   In September, Goss was a close runner-up as Cavendish ended Britain's 46-year wait for the world road race title. But with the Isle of Man rider taking aim at Olympic road race gold at London 2012, White believes Goss has a realistic chance of challenging for the green jersey in GreenEdge's Tour de France debut in July.

   "At the Tour (de France) the green jersey is something we'll be taking aim at," added White. "I think Cav won't finish the Tour. His big goal is the Olympics."

   Goss believes this season could see "some of the most exciting sprints we've seen in a few years", but he is not convinced Cavendish's recent big-money move to Team Sky, who will also be supporting the yellow jersey hopes of Briton Brad Wiggins, will benefit him.

   "It's always a big risk having a big (name) sprinter and a big (name) guy for the yellow jersey," added Goss. "The one who's going to struggle is the yellow jersey guy because if you want to win the Tour de France you have to have the whole team dedicated to that one guy. But Cav knows how to win, whether he's got lead-out support men or not."

   O'Grady, a green-jersey challenger early in his career, became Australia's first winner of the gruelling Paris-Roubaix one-day classic in 2007.

   As one of the elder statesmen of the sport, GreenEdge's competitive debut in his native city of Adelaide is set to bring emotions to the fore.

   "It's going to be an historical moment in Australian cycling," he said. "It had to happen, we've ranked 3rd or 4th nation the last five years, we've won classics and a Tour (de France), world championships. We are a force to be reckoned with and not just a group of Aussies from the Outback!"

Aussie Gerrans targets Down Under title
Home favourite Simon Gerrans is hoping competing in Australia's green and gold colours will spur him to a second overall victory at the Tour Down Under which begins on Sunday. Gerrans, who has won stages on all three Grand Tours of Italy, France and Spain, started his 2012 season in style by claiming a first national road crown last week.

   Now he is looking to add the winner's ochre jersey from the opening tour stage, but faces a challenge from big names including Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, German former winner Andre Greipel and Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen.

   "I'm enjoying being marked as one of the favourites for the race and I'll be wearing this national champions jersey with pride," Gerrans, a winner in 2006, said on the eve of the race Saturday.

   Although GreenEdge teammate Cameron Meyer triumphed over Matt Goss in 2011 while racing for Garmin, Gerrans is arguably the team's best chance as it debuts Sunday as the first ever Australian-registered outfit in the professional peloton.

   A competitive field however, means the task ahead is tough.

   Valverde, of Movistar, is making his competitive comeback following a two-year doping ban after he was implicated in the Operation Puerto drugs scandal in 2006.

   Prior to his ban, Valverde was one of the most talented riders in the peloton, with tactical nous and determination to match.

   In the past a number of sprinters have triumphed at the race, although the course also suits the all-round talents of Edvald Boasson Hagen.

   A two-time stage winner at last year's Tour de France, the Norwegian is said to be on form after a hard winter training regime, including a Team Sky camp in Mallorca. The chances of a sprinter winning again, however, cannot be ruled out. Nearly all six stages are sprinter-friendly, and there are time bonuses of 10, six and four seconds on offer at the finish line for the first three finishers.

   "With the format of this year's race it's really wide open as to who the favourites are," Gerrans said. "Whether it's going to be a sprinter that's performing really well or maybe one of the others who are sort of punchier climbers. The guys that are traditionally going well in January - Andre Greipel, Luis Leon Sanchez and the comeback of Valverde, he's one to watch fairly closely as well. There's quite a few guys well be keeping our eyes on."

   After Monday's rest day, the race proper starts on Tuesday with a 149km section from Prospect to Clare. It ends Sunday with a 90 km street race in Adelaide.

Tom Boonen Is Ready To Go

1/14/2012

                                           Belgium's Tom Boonen - always a threat!
                                                     Photo: OPQS / Tim de Waele

Belgian sprinter Tom Boonen has said that the London Olympics will give him the chance to prove that at 31 he can still produce the goods in the saddle. Bothered by several injuries last year Boonen recorded just two race victories, Ghent-Wevelgem and the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar.

   The Mol-born cyclist is keen to prove the doubters wrong in 2012 and has set his sights on achieving glory in London.

   "I've studied the Olympic course. It's a good circuit. I am convinced that I can achieve something. The Olympic road event is a real goal," Boonen said at a presentation of the Omega Pharma-Quick step team in Vilvorde. "It will be without doubt one of the most important times of my career because the Games are the most prestigious sporting event. I wasn't in Athens (2004), nor Beijing (2008) and I regret it," he added.

   With the Tour de France not scheduled to finish until July 22, Boonen has questioned whether taking part in cycling's biggest race is the best way to prepare for the Olympic road race that takes place a mere six days after it finishes in Paris.

   "I don't know if the Tour is the best preparation for the Games. And with Levi Leipheimer and Tony Martin we have signed excellent riders for the general classification," said the 2005 World Champion.

   Despite the disappointment of an injury-plagued past couple of seasons, Boonen is adamant he still has the drive it takes to be successful.

   "I am obviously hungry for wins. I know what I can still do. Don't write me off... To win as early as possible in the season - why not the Milan-San Remo - would lift a massive weight off my shoulders. But my greatest wish, is to be able to participate in a full season without injury."

Omega Pharma-Quick Step squad for 2012

Belgian cycling team Omega Pharma-Quick Step's 30-man squad for the 2012 season, unveiled here on Friday:
   Former Quick Step riders: Tom Boonen (BEL), Sylvain Chavanel (FRA), Gerald Ciolek (GER), Dries Devenyns (BEL), Kevin De Weert (BEL), Jérôme Pineau (FRA), Zdenek Stybar (CZE), Gert Steegmans (BEL), Niki Terpstra (NED), Matteo Trentin (ITA), Dario Cataldo (ITA), Nikolas Maes (BEL), Kristof Vandewalle (BEL), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL), Julien Vermote (BEL), Francesco Chicchi (ITA), Iljo Keisse (BEL), Marco Bandiera (ITA)

   New arrivals: Tony Martin (GER/HTC), Matthew Brammeier (GBR/HTC), Levi Leipheimer (USA/Radio Shack), Serge Pauwels (BEL/Sky), Peter Velits (SVK/HTC), Bert Grabsch (GER/HTC), Michal Kwiatkowski (POL/Radio Shack), Michal Golas (POL/Vacansoleil), Andrew Fenn (GBR/An Post), Frantisek Rabon (CZE/HTC), Martin Velits (SVK/HTC), Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL/Katusha)

   General manager: Patrick Lefevere (BEL)
   Sporting directors: Davide Bramati (ITA), Brian Holm (DEN), Wilfried Peeters (BEL), Jan Schaffrath (GER), Tom Steels (BEL), Rik van Slycke (BEL)

Fizik Announces Team Line-up for 2012

1/13/2012

Fizik, the pre-eminent handmade Italian cycling brand, announces its pro road teams for 2012. Having fielded the largest number of teams in the last two editions of the Tour de France, fi’zi:k will again be the dominant saddle brand in the pro peloton in 2012.

Greatly contributing to its strength-in-numbers is new addition Team Sky (with Pinarello bikes). BMC Racing Team (BMC), Garmin-Barracuda (Cervelo), Liquigas-Cannondale (Cannondale), Rabobank (Giant), Cofidis (Look), Francaise des Jeux (Lapierre), Saur Sojasun (Time), Androni Giocattoli (Bianchi) and Team Colombia Coldeportes (Bianchi) are again all on fi’zi:k’s roster of UCI WorldTour and Pro Continental road teams.

Team Sky
With road race world champion Mark Cavendish joining Team Sky for 2012, fi’zi:k maintains the coveted ‘world champion saddle’ status for a second consecutive year after Thor Hushovd was world champion last season. The new partnership also marks the return to fi’zi:k for a number of riders including Bradley Wiggins, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Michael Rogers, Jeremy Hunt and Chris Sutton.

“Our ideals at fi’zi:k match perfectly with those at Team Sky, so this new partnership is a natural result of that shared vision,” Global Sport Marketing Manager, Gabriele Benedetti said. He continued, “Fi’zi:k’s mission has always been to improve the ride experience for every rider. It’s a concept that mirrors Team Sky’s constant quest for excellence and their desire to inspire people to ride. From our very first meeting, we realized we had a shared vision as well as the desire to target and attain substantial goals together.”

“Everyone at Team Sky is delighted to have formed this new and exciting partnership with fi’zi:k,” Team Sky's Team Principal Dave Brailsford said. “We are constantly looking for improvements in our bid to become the world’s number one cycling team and having fi’zi:k on board will help us try and achieve that.”

BMC Racing Team
Heralded as one of the 2012 super teams, BMC Racing Team is widely expected to add further success to fi’zi:k’s rich racing history. fi’zi:k celebrated its first Tour de France victory in 2011 when Cadel Evans won the sports biggest race using an Antares saddle. This year sees the arrival of Phillipe Gilbert at BMC, the number one-ranked rider in the world. He will race on a fi’zi:k saddles for the first time since turning pro in 2003.

George Hincapie will again use fi’zi:k in 2012. The veteran American is the only rider to have been a part of nine Tour de France winning teams and in July he could potentially capture the record for the most starts in the history of the Grand Boucle. These are historical times in cycling for both Hincapie and his favored Aliante saddle.

Thor Hushovd will aim for success in Paris-Roubaix using an Arione CX saddle with Greg Van Avermaet, the winner of 2011 Paris-Tours, also part of BMC’s super strong classics line-up. Long-time fi’zi:k friend, product tester and Arione rider Alessandro Ballan is again at BMC in 2012. He is one of only a few hand-picked pro riders to race in fi’zi:k’s high-quality cycling shoes.

Liquigas-Cannondale and Garmin-Barracuda
Two of fi’zi:k’s longest running team partnerships – Liquigas-Cannondale and Garmin-Barracuda - continue into 2012 and perfectly represent fi’zi:k’s relationship to the company’s pro racing partners.

“With the Service Course of Liquigas-Cannondale in our backyard we’ve built a special relationship that has become integral to the early stages of our product development process,” Benedetti explained. “Team Manager Roberto Amadio has helped us implement a consistent testing and feedback program that allows us to test product in real-time in both training and high-intensity race situations. It’s proved to be invaluable.”

fi’zi:k is now one of Team Garmin-Barracuda’s few remaining original sponsors, having been a part of the team since its inception in 2004, when CEO Jonathan Vaughters created the TIAA-CREF Junior Development team with aspirations of bringing them to the Tour de France. Not only has the team become a big part of fi’zi:k’s history, spanning half of the total time that the fi’zi:k brand has been in existence, but fi’zi:k has become a big part of the team’s history as one of the only current unchanged sponsors since their humble beginnings. Enriching this historic partnership was David Millar taking the race leader’s pink jersey at the 2011 Giro d’Italia while wearing fi’zi:k’s R1 road shoes.

Rabobank
With the addition of Mark Renshaw to Rabobank’s roster alongside Lars Boom and stage race rider Robert Gesink, the team from the Netherlands is in an enviable position in 2012. The cycling world will be watching when Renshaw rides a Aliante bull saddle and takes on old teammate and former team leader Mark Cavendish in the big sprint finishes.

The Kurve Saddle

Throughout winter and at early-season training camps, the fi’zi:k teams have been testing the new Kurve range. While it is still unknown which pros may ride the new product, the response from riders thus far has been consistently positive. The ability to customize the overall saddle flex by changing the Nose Tuner and the structure of the innovative Re:Flex shell that provides a unique level of comfort, are the two key features that have caught the attention of the pros. Ivan Basso and Phillipe Gilbert are among those that have been riding on Kurve saddles at their respective training camps. The three model line-up of Snake, Chameleon and Bull -based on the fi’zi:k Spine Concept fit system, provides three distinct shapes replicating the Arione, Antares and Aliante.

Among fi’zi:k’s UCI Pro Tour and UCI Pro Continental teams, saddle choice is divided almost evenly among the Aliante, the Arione and the Antares. fi’zi:k attributes this to their Spine Concept saddle-fit program where the rider is matched to their saddle based on both the cyclist’s spine flexibility as well as their riding style.

For more information about fi’zi:k’s high performance saddles, footwear and accessories visit the website at www.fizik.it.

Send your Fizik Contest answers to Why We Ride.

Champion System Pro Cycling Team Launches in Beijing

1/12/2012

The Champion System Pro Cycling Team features 18 athletes from 10 countries.

The presentation of the Champion System Pro Cycling Team Wednesday in Beijing was not only the first introduction of the squad to the world, it also illustrated the world of opportunities representing the new venture.

With 18 athletes from 10 countries, the Champion System team embodies a number of firsts in competitive cycling: the first Asian-based pro continental squad, and the first time a cycling apparel company is both the owner and title sponsor of an elite international team.

“From Day One we have always supported cyclists throughout Asia and now we have decided to take that support to the next level,” Louis Shih, executive manager of the Champion System Pro Cycling Team, said. “As the owner and title sponsor of the team, we are excited to see our elite athletes compete against the world's top professional cyclists while at the same time developing future Chinese stars in the sport of cycling.”

The Champion System squad is comprised of riders from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Estonia and the United States. While the team will contest all the major races in Asia – such as the Tour of Langkawi and the Tour of Beijing – a main goal of General Manager Ed Beamon will be to expose his eight Asian prospects to top-tier racing in Europe and North America.

“We’re about to embark on a historic journey and it is thanks to Champion System, the Chinese Cycling Association and all our sponsors, especially Fuji,” Beamon said.

The way Beamon describes it, the Champion System team is opening a new frontier for professional cycling. Along the way, that means opportunities for western and southern hemisphere riders are being created, but the biggest opportunities are for Asian riders, Beamon said.

“For the first time in the history of the sport there is an opportunity for a group of Asian riders to have the opportunity to race against the best riders in the world all over the world,” he said.

It is also an opportunity for the team’s bike sponsor, Fuji, to link its past and present, said Milay Galvez, sponsorship manager at Advanced Sports International. Fuji Bicycles evolved from the Nichibei Fuji Cycle Company, Ltd., a bicycle manufacturer established in Japan in 1899.

“We have deep, deep roots in Asia,” Galvez said. “Working with Champion System is a great opportunity for us as a brand because of our roots, that the team is the first professional continental team in Asia and Champion System is developing technologies like we are.”

Leading the Champion System Professional Cycling Team on the bike is Estonia’s Jann Kirsipuu. The 42-year-old, veteran sprinter will use his experience as a rider/coach. His accomplishments include four Tour de France stage wins, wearer of the yellow jersey for six days in 1999 and holder of the green jersey, plus more than 120 UCI victories.

“It’s not a comeback, it’s another part of my career,” Kirsipuu said. “I have a different task.”

Ultimately, as Beamon said, the new team is possible because of Champion System. The company is a technological leader in its industry, he noted.

“But in the very beginning Champion System has always had a passion and commitment to competitive cycling and I think this team represents somewhat a culmination of that dream,” Beamon said. “Hopefully, we will take this team to the Tour de France and the World Tour and we’ll carry the hopes and dreams of a lot of Asian and Chinese kids along with it.”

The 2012 Tour Of Spain Is Set

1/11/2012

This year's Tour of Spain will start in Pamplona on August 18 with a team time trial and the winner unveiled in Madrid on September 9 after a string of demanding stages including six that finish at altitude.

   One of those climbs is the dreaded Cuitu Negru in the northern Asturias province, graded in parts at 20 percent. The opening time trial in Pamplona will be along the streets the Basque city uses to run bulls for its famed San Fermin festival in July.

   Spanish rider Juan Jose Cobo, shock winner of the 2011 Vuelta, described this year's edition as "extremely demanding. Maybe too demanding for me," the 30-year-old Movistar rider told AFP, picking out the block of three stages in Asturias that all finish at altitude. "The three Asturias stages will be decisive for this Vuelta," he said. "I've planned a relatively light first half of the season to remain fresh for the Tour de France and be able to last through to the Vuelta."

   Euskatel rider Samuel Sanchez highlighted the 16th stage climb of Cuitu Negru as the most testing.

   "Of course, there's also Bola del Mundo one day from the arrival in Madrid, but the Cuitu Negru climb can change a lot of things. As a whole, this Vuelta offers up an interesting course. There are lots of summit arrivals but they are short and not never-ending. The individual time trial is quite short (40km) and shouldn't have a great bearing on this race," the 33-year-old Asturias native said.

   Race director Javier Guillen said of the 67th edition of the Tour of Spain: "We wanted to draw up an explosive course.

   Serious racing will start at the end of the first week, with a first mountain climb to the Valdezcaray ski resort on the fourth stage before the riders tackle the Gallina Col in Andorra four stages later.

   After an air transfer to Galicia in the northwest, the peloton face the individual time trial in the 11th stage before heading up into the northern mountains.

   The 20th stage sees riders climb the Bola del Mundo before descending towards the Spanish capital.

Rotor Launches The "Cobo Bison" Crank

1/11/2012

ROTOR is proud to announce the launch of a Limited Edition, “Cobo Bison” 3D crankset to commemorate GEOX-TMC’s Juan Jose Cobo victory at the 2011 Vuelta a España. Just 1000 units will be produced worldwide and available for purchase in 2012.

“This is the second time a ROTOR product has won a grand tour and we want to commemorate this exceptional victory in our home country”, Said ROTOR CEO Ignacio Estelles.

This victory is also the third major title the 3D crank has won:
• 2009 TdF Green Jersey
• 2010 Road World Championships
• 2011 Vuelta a España

Carlos Sastre’s Yellow Tour de France crank and Thor Hushovd’s Green Jersey crank were ROTOR’s last two customized cranks, and were just special one off units for the athletes. This time around this crank was specifically developed to be available to consumers.

This special richly anodized red 3D crank features an image of Cobo’s mascot “The Bison”, taken from cave paintings in his home region of Cantabria, Spain. Each crank will be individually numbered in series of just 1000 units. The initial production of these special cranks has already been shipped from the ROTOR factory and will hit stores by the beginning of January. Please check with your local distributor for prices and availability or head to Rotor USA.

Check out Road Bike Action's test of the Rotor Crank.

Levi's Gran Fondo Sign-Up Is Near

1/10/2012

Ol’ Paul Revere, when he wanted to know how the British were moving into Massachusetts, asked for a signal to be hung Boston's Old North Church: one lantern if by land, two if by sea. And if the thunderous forces come via the internet? Set the town ablaze.

Registration for Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge GranFondo opens at 9:00 AM PST on January 17th at www.levisgranfondo.com and, if past years are any indication, you’ll want to be at the ready. We’re still a first come, first served operation and despite having 7,500 spots to offer, we don’t expect them to last long. By “long,” we specifically mean that the gran route will probably sell out in a few days, the medio route in a few weeks. Piccolo spots tend to stay available for a while longer, but even those are eventually tough to track down.

Now, we know that 2011 registration was not without its...irregularities. The good news is that the Levi’s GranFondo team at Bike Monkey made a lot of changes to the 2012 registration to make sure that such a bummer time doesn’t repeat itself. We’re not kidding when we say we used the 2011 problems to completely redesign our registration systems, relocate our servers, and test, re-test, and re-retest the whole process. Expect a very smooth experience next week. We’re talking Teddy Pendergrass smooth.

Your registration covers a post-ride meal at our FondoSonoma Festival, a swag bag, a GranFondo t-shirt, a crack at GranFondo jersey pre-orders, a fair bit of goodies from us and our sponsors along the way, and the good feeling you get knowing you’re supporting the GranFondo’s beneficiaries. The ride itself? It’s free. Probably the most expensive t-shirt you’ve ever bought though.

Speaking of jerseys, this is what 2012’s GranFondo jersey will look like before you drape it over your rippling muscles. You can pre-order them (along with matching bibs or shorts) at a discount when you register and have them shipped to you later in the year (before the GranFondo, of course). Wait until the event and we may run out of your size. It's happened. These fine bits of finery are made for us by our tailors at Capo and they use “European sizing.” That’s Italian for “order at least one size up and don’t put ketchup on everything you eat, you ignorant Americano.” We’re not joking here. Please do consult the sizing chart before buying.

Finally, we’re pretty excited to present something that would whet the appetite of even the most cynical of cyclists. Ladies and gents, we'll be unveiling our 2011 Levi's GranFondo recap video, courtesy of Citizen Pictures, later this week on our newly revamped and remodeled website. Keep thine eyes glued to our Twitter and Facebook feeds for the release announcement. There’s a lot to be said about what this video conveys about the GranFondo, but more than anything, it makes you want to ride your bike again and again. And again.

It’s really that simple: Get to www.levisgranfondo.com on the 17th. Don’t click refresh 2189340 times. Breathe. Sign up. Enter your info. Breathe again. Take us up on some prime deals. Or not. Look for your confirmation email, then mark your calendar. You’ve just committed to a bike ride that will change your understanding of the word itself.

The 2012 RadioShack Team Gets Announced

1/6/2012

After three months off the bike and plenty of re-shuffling, re-organizing and re-vitalizing, it’s finally time for the cycling season to begin for RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK. Tonight, the team, the new kit and the team bikes were presented to 5,000 enthusiastic fans at the ‘Rockhal’ in Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. After the presentation, a surprise concert by Karl Bartos (Kraftwerk) put a musical end to a successful night.

While the riders have had time to return home and spend time with family and friends, behind the scenes the management and staff of RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK have been very busy preparing for a super season of racing. Directors have met with riders and penciled out tentative race schedules, kits have been designed, casual clothing has been sized and delivered, bikes have been produced and logistics have been put into play. With everything in place, now it’s time to start the season.

With more than 250 racing days on the calendar, there are plenty of opportunities for the team riders to shine throughout the year. First out of the gate is the World Tour Santos Down Under, January 15 to 22. RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK plans to send Daniele Bennati, Linus Gerdemann, Jan Bakelants, Tiago Machado, Hayden Roulston, Jesse Sergent and Jens Voigt to compete in this season opener that plenty of riders love to participate in as they escape the winter cold of Europe for the summer season in the Southern Hemisphere. Best of luck to the team riders in the inaugural representation of RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK in Adelaide!

The 2012 season is looking very promising, with a very exciting Classics season in March and April as the first big chapter. Expect plenty to report about during Milan-Sanremo (March 17), E3 Prijs Harelbeke (March 23), Gent-Wevelgem (March 25), Ronde van Vlaanderen (April 1), Paris-Roubaix (April 8), Amstel Gold (April 15) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 22).

In May comes the Amgen Tour of California (May 13 through 20th), where Chris Horner will defend his title, and the Giro d’Italia (May 5 through 27), where the team will hold a special thought to their fallen team mate Wouter Weylandt.

As June rolls around and national championships take place, the main focus will be on the lead-up races prior to the June 30th start of the 99th Tour de France in Parc d'Avroy, in the heart of Liège. With the full support of a team designed to put Andy Schleck in the maillot jaune in Paris on July 22nd, leaving behind three second-place finishes, July’s Tour promises to bring exciting daily racing for three solid weeks, covering a total distance of 3479km/2160mi. While Andy is our key player in the drama unfolding on the roads of France, make no mistake that other perfectly capable support riders are ready to step in if called to do so. With the likes of brother Fränk, Andreas Klöden, Haimar Zubeldia and Chris Horner all previous podium or top ten finishers, the team’s top priority is to win in Paris.

No break after the Tour, as 2012 is an Olympic year and no doubt from July 27 to August 12 there will be opportunities to see riders from RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK represent their home countries in the XXX Olympiad in London. While not a “team” event, the Olympics hold a special place in every pro

athlete’s heart and we hope to see many of our riders enjoy being Olympians and going for the gold. Fabian Cancellara is the defending gold medalist from the Beijing time trial and would certainly love to add to his medal collection.

Highlights in the last part of the season will be the Vuelta a España (August 19 through September 9), the World Championships in Valkenburg (with the first edition of the Team Time Trial for UCI Teams), and Il Lombardia (September 29).

While many people look to the new year to make resolutions and declarative statements about what they hope to accomplish but quickly forget about their resolve, the goals for RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK remain constant throughout the year: race hard, win with integrity and put on a great show for the RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK fans.

We’d like to invite you to have a look at our new social media sites:
www.radioshacknissantrek.com

http://twitter.radioshacknissantrek.com

http://facebook.radioshacknissantrek.com

Alejandro Valverde returns with Movistar

1/4/2012

Valverde will co-lead the Spanish Movistar team with Vuelta a Espana Juan Jose Cobo.

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Spaniard Alejandro Valverde said he's targeting winning the Tour de France this year as he was finally able to be unveiled by his Movistar team here on Wednesday.

Movistar had had to postpone the original ceremony in November as the 31-year-old - the 2009 Tour of Spain champion - had not yet come to the end of his two year drugs ban. Valverde, who along with reigning Tour of Spain champion Juan Jose Cobo will lead the team, refused to answer questions about his ban and preferred to focus on his ambitions for his return.

"The one day Classics will help me a little as preparation for my main target, the Tour de France," said Valverde, who used to ride for the Movistar team in its previous identity Caisse d'Epargne. "I am still lacking a little in stamina even if I have been training really hard," added Valverde, who trained with the Movistar team even while he was serving his ban.

Eusebio Unzue, the team's manager, said that team leader duties would be

split between Valverde and Cobo, who like the former rode for Caisse d'Epargne before leaving for Geox last season. "During the first-half of the year, the indisputable leader will be Alejandro Valverde, and for the Tour de France, they will both have the same targets," he said. "As for the Tour of Italy I am not still clear as to who the riders will be."

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team & NeilPryde

12/30/2011

The NeilPryde Diablo is a production bike that is available in a wide variety of color options.

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team announced today that NEILPRYDE has signed on as the official bike sponsor of the U.S. based pro continental team for 2012. The Team will unveil the new 2012 racing bikes during the Team’s training camp in Rancho Mirage, CA (Palm Springs area) January 11-13, 2012.

NEILPRYDE has been involved in top-level athlete sponsorship since the 1970s focusing to date on its windsurfing products, acquiring more than 40 World Championship titles. Known for producing race-winning equipment, Mr. Neil Pryde, the founder of Neil Pryde Limited (established 1970), noted that his company’s product development and technical innovation through constant testing in the most demanding conditions has always been the focus of the research and development program.

Mr. Pryde said, “The NEILPRYDE line of bikes was established in 2010 in collaboration with BMW Group Designworks USA as its design partner. It was designed with racing in mind and we are very proud to be the official frame and fork sponsor of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team. Our partnership with the Team allows us to further refine the award-winning NEILPRYDE Diablo and Alize by incorporating pro level Team riders into our integrated R&D process working with our in-house engineers, and this collaboration will certainly drive the development of exciting new models such as the Bayamo-Plus and Bura-SL.”

Commenting on the bikes the Team will ride this season, Directeur Sportif, Mike Tamayo, said, “Our athletes will be riding the Diablo model of the NEILPRYDE line, their carbon flagship. The carbon frame is a perfect match for the various terrains that Team UnitedHealthcare will have to tackle in 2012. The Diablo offers stiffness for acceleration while remaining lightweight. More exciting will be the Exoskeleton technology (proprietary to NEILPRYDE) that improves the lateral stiffness; in turn making it an amazing cornering machine.”

Speaking about the partnership between NEILPRYDE and the Team, Michael Pryde, the division manager at NEILPRYDE Bikes Division, stated, “The core values of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team and its management company Momentum Sports Group LLC are closely aligned with ours and we look forward to many years of collaboration with racing at the highest level throughout the US, Europe and new cycling markets in Asia.”

Gregory Raifman, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team’s Chairman & CEO, stated, “We are pleased to be working with NEILPRYDE and we look forward to a very solid year together. We are confident Neil Pryde Limited will be a great partner, meet our riders’ needs and help our organization continue to grow in the right direction.”

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team presentation is slated for Thursday, January 12, 2012 at Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage, California and will close out the Team’s training camp. Thereafter, the Team will head to Argentina to kick off its 2012 campaign at the Tour de San Luis (January 23 – 29), before heading to Spain for the Volta ao Algarve (February 15 – 19), and then on to Malaysia’s Tour of Langkawi (February 24 – March 4). The early season racing calendar will see the Team in Europe, North and South America and Asia before returning stateside for its first U.S. race, the Tampa Twilight Criterium (March 31).

About NEILPRYDE Bikes
NeilPryde (www.neilprydebikes.com), the leader in marine and action sports markets best known for their high-performance kitesurfing and windsurfing equipment, took a valiant step into a new industry segment in 2010, launching a range of high-performance road bikes. Two cutting-edge models, Alize and Diablo, were developed drawing on the company’s extensive knowledge of composite materials and aerodynamics, and vast experience in “Elegantly Engineering” high-performance action sports products. BMW Group DesignworksUSA were commissioned as a design partner for its global reputation in engineering premium designs for the most diverse industries from automotive and aircrafts to yachts and trains. In addition, the studio offered vast experience in translating distinct brand values into compelling design solutions, demonstrated in the Alize road bike and Diablo high-performance bike.

Contador's Fate Seems To Have An End Date

12/24/2011

                              An awful lot of cycling history rests in the balance of the court decision.
                                                             Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

   Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador will find out "between January 15 and 20" whether he is to be handed a doping ban from cycling, a top official was reported as saying Wednesday.

   Contador, the standout stage racer of his generation, was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) earlier this year despite testing positive for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, which he won.

    The Spaniard claimed he had ingested the banned substance by eating a contaminated steak, an explanation which satisfied the RFEC but which failed to pass muster with the International Cycling Union (UCI) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

   Both bodies appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the hope of handing the Spaniard a more substantial sanction. Following months of delays which ended with Contador pleading his case before a CAS hearing last month, CAS general secretary Matthieu Reeb said CAS would make a final decision "between January 15 and 20", according to www.rmcsport.fr radio.

   If CAS upholds the appeals the Spaniard faces a competition ban and being stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title and the Giro d'Italia, which he won for a second time this year, and any other victories since July 2010.

Amber Neben's Charity Bike Giveaway

12/22/2011

Amber and crew at the Dare To Be Project bike giveaway. (Photo: Josh Bustos)

For the third year in a row, Amber Neben, the 2008 World Time Trial Champion, has organized a holiday-time bike giveaway to underprivileged children in Southern California. Neben and her recently formed Dare To Be Project charity teamed up with bike sponsor Specialized and local Southern California charity the Illumination Foundation to deliver 70 bikes to underserved children in Orange County.

Along with bikes, Neben and volunteers handed out helmets and bike locks to the kids. (Photo: Josh Bustos)

"The charity is called The Dare To Be Project, and its primary goal is to reach out to homeless and/or underserved children by daring them to be whatever it is they want to be in life," said Neben, who suffered from spinal meningitis as a child. "I always hope that my own story can help inspire kids to overcome the adversity in their lives.

"There's rarely an easy path in life, and there's a lot of adversity. But we want to help these kids learn that with perseverance and hard work, they can aspire to be whatever they want to be. That's the simple message that we want to get out to supporters of the charity, that all kids should feel valued.

"Supplying bikes is just one small step, but I'm hoping it could lead to more for the charity and for these kids. First off, there's a lot of unfit and overweight kids out there, so anytime we can get young kids excited about riding bikes is a great thing. But more than that, a bike can be a useful tool that can get a young person to school, or to a job, and it's then something that can let kids know they're valued."

One of Neben's very first cycling sponsors, Rock 'N Road Cyclery, was on hand to lend support. (Photo: Josh Bustos)

While Neben has been focusing her charity's efforts around her local Southern California area, her long-term vision is to expand those efforts elsewhere.

"It would be fun to do this everywhere I race," said Neben. "To be able to bring bikes to kids in other towns across the country, and to continue to spread the Dare To Be message, would be amazing. There's underserved kids all over and they all need some inspiration and to feel valued."

For more info, check out The Dare To Be Project.

Amber Neben shows off the Specialized-Lululemon women's pro team's new kit before a training ride in Carlsbad, California. (Photo: RaeLynn Milley)

During the week before her bike giveaway, RBA sat down with Amber Neben during her Specialized-Lululemon team's first training camp in Carlsbad, California to discuss her professional goals going into 2012:

RBA: How has the transition been for your team, with the HTC-Highroad women's side becoming the Specialized-Lululemon squad?

Neben: It's been pretty smooth overall for everyone. The core group of riders is still the same, and we have most of the same staff. Everyone knows each other well and we've all worked together before. Kristy [Scrymgeour] runs things well, and she and her staff really pay attention to the details. Everyone involved is especially excited because now it's just the women, so there's no shared focus between us and the men's team.

RBA: What's your biggest goal for 2012?

Neben: The Olympics are my biggest goal, as well as the World Chmapionships. Training during an Olympic year is interesting, though, because you need to have a huge peak at the Olympics. So this year I might include a little more intense training during January and February to bring up my top end.

RBA: What's it like racing and training on a gluten-free diet?

Neben: I developed a gluten intolerance probably around 2007, but it took me at least a year to figure it out and about two years to get comfortable and dialed in. Developing a gluten-free diet was trial and error for me, and I just started eliminating things like bread and pasta. It's tricky with racing, because those things are standard in the team kitchens. Rice is a big base with me, and gluten-free cereals, quinoa and buckwheat. Finding carbohydrate sources is the trickiest thing.

Euro Race News: The UCI Year In Review

12/20/2011

         Cadel Evans will never forget the 2011 season when he finally won the Tour de France.
                                                                   Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

As Alberto Contador fought back tears during an impassioned plea against doping accusations last February, his rivals were planning for a season which would eventually etch some of their names in cycling's history books.

   By the end of 2011, only a few names stood out from the rest - and Contador, despite coasting to his second Giro d'Italia victory in June, wasn't among them.

   While Cadel Evans finally triumphed at the Tour de France and sprint king Mark Cavendish ended Britain's 46-year wait for a world road race title, the biggest draw of 2011 was arguably Philippe Gilbert.

   The Omega-Pharma rider was a big hit at the Tour de France where he produced a classy uphill finish to win the opening stage and pull on the coveted yellow jersey for the first time.

   Even before July rolled around, however, the Belgian had dominated the hilly one-day classics with a determination and panache that prompted Eddy Merckx-like comparisons from weathered cycling observers.

   Comparing any modern day cyclist to the Belgian legend is nonsensical. His was an era when racers rode over 150 days a year and Merckx, known as the 'Cannibal' for his voracious appetite, was and remains unrivalled.

   Yet many of Gilbert's 18 victories came in tough races, and he raced all year round in a bid to finish as world number one.

   In total he won a total of five one-day classics including the Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege - a trilogy known as the Ardennes Classics and achieved only once before, by Italian Davide Rebellin.

   Days prior to defending his Amstel crown Gilbert had won the Fleche Brabanconne on April 13, one of several 'semi-classic' victories the 29-year-old also added to his collection.

   It was that series that gave Gilbert most pleasure. "For me, that series (of four wins) was quite phenomenal," said Gilbert. "But it was also the way I won the races as well. What I'm also proud of is the fact that from April 13 to July 2, no one beat me in a race."

   Gilbert also took stage wins at the Tour of the Algarve and Tirreno-Adriatico, as well as overall victory and a stage win at both the Tour of Belgium and Ster ZLM Toer.

   And after three runner-up places in the five previous years, he was crowned Belgian champion in June, thus ending four years of Flemish hegemony in the black, orange and yellow jersey.

   Still, Quick Step's Tom Boonen, the 2005 world and 2009 Belgian champion, took his biggest win of the year at Ghent-Wevelgem a week after Australian Matt Goss took the biggest win of his career at Milan-San Remo, where Gilbert was third.

   Another Flemish, Saxo Bank's Nick Nuyens, proved the wiliest at the Tour of Flanders and a week later fellow Flandrian Johan Van Summeren of Garmin caused a huge upset to win Paris-Roubaix.

   While Gilbert got his maiden Tour de France stage in July, Evans was the man of the moment. Finally, the stars aligned for the Australian who had twice finished runner-up and fallen victim to misfortune in previous yellow jersey attempts.

   As three-time champion Contador suffered crashes early in the race, Evans' BMC outfit provided crucial support and he produced a series of remarkable performances to keep his bid alive in the mountains. On the penultimate stage's time trial, Evans easily overturned a 57sec deficit to Luxembourg's Andy Schleck to secure a historic win.

   "It's been years of hard work and there were a lot of moments in these three weeks where our Tour was lost but to get here safely with all my skin...just that alone is a quest in itself," said Evans.

   Post-Tour, Gilbert won the hilly San Sebastian Classic and, mid-August, won a stage and the overall at the Eneco Tour. He then captured the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec to ensure he would finish the year as world number one.

   The season of Contador paled in comparison, only being brightened by his marriage to his girlfriend of 10 years Macarena Pescador.

   Heading into 2012, the Spaniard is still awaiting deliberation from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on an appeal by cycling and doping authorities to ban him for a positive test for clenbuterol in 2010.

2013 SRAM RED Teaser Video

12/16/2011

The lightest complete group on the market is about to get an update, and whether it's merely a facelift or a complete makeover is still unclear. RED has been largely unchanged since it was introduced as SRAM's premier road group after Force paved the way for SRAM in the road market in 2006.

With Shimano's release of their second electronic group, Ultegra Di2, and Campagnolo's planned launch of their two new EPS groups, it would be safe to think SRAM was headed down the same electronic path. But, while so much is still unclear in the teaser video, one thing is clear: there is not a battery. Look for more details to come in January.

Latest News From Europe

12/14/2011

Despite battling through the 2011 Tour de France (above), Astana's Roman Kreuziger will skip the 2012 Tour. (Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Astana's Roman Kreuziger announced on Monday he would skip next year's Tour de France due to the number of time trials featuring on the route.

   The 2012 race features almost 100 kilometres of individual racing against the clock, a far higher percentage than in recent years, spread over the opening prologue (6.1km), stage nine (38 km) and the penultimate stage 19 (52 km).

   "I will risk losing a lot of time in them," said Kreuziger, winner of the 2008 Tour of Switzerland and 2009 Tour of Romandie who has lined up in four Tour de France, his best finish being ninth.

   The 25-year-old Czech, who fell heavily in this year's seventh stage, will instead divert his focus to the Tour of Italy.

   "The next Giro will be more reasonable than the 2011 race. I'll have a real chance of making the podium," he said.

MENCHOV HAS A NEW RIDE
    The last time so many kilometres of racing against the clock featured on a Tour de France was in 2007, when Spaniard Alberto Contador secured the second of his three victories by triumphing in the Lake Annecy time trial.

Russian Denis Menchov will race for the Katusha team from next season, moving from the soon to be defunct Geox, his new WorldTour team announced Monday.

   Menchov, 33, has twice made the podium in the Tour de France, posting third-place finishes in 2008 and 2010. He also won the Giro in 2009 and the Vuelta in 2005 and 2007.

A Ride For Life: Soon To Be A New Year's Eve Tradition

12/13/2011

Here's your chance to ride with a legend, and see how you stack up.

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Santa Clarita, CA is abuzz about the biggest cycling event in the area since the start of Stage 8 of the Amgen Tour of California last May. The inaugural edition of “A Ride For Life” will take place on December 31st; and it promises to feature some of RBA's favorite country roads that, while challenging, will still allow the less-then-race-fit a pleasant ride. With 100, 60, and 30-mile ride options there's a distance that should suit most everyone. Every rider will have a timing chip and receive a finishing time; and the 100 mile route will have a King (and Queen) of the Mountain and Sprint contest.

If the ride itself isn't enticing enough, maybe the opportunity to meet and ride with one of America's cycling greats, George Hincapie, will be. Big George will be out logging some last minute miles before heading off to Europe for his Spring Classics campaign. This could be your chance to see how you stack up against the 16-time Tour de France veteran!

A post ride family-friendly festival will include a tech expo and food area with a dozen food trucks, including Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, and Olive Garden, as well as a beer garden.

The organizer of “A Ride For Life”, Luther White stopped into the RBA offices to share his vision for this December 31st, and beyond.

RBA: What's the background of “A Ride For Life”?

Luther: “A Ride For Life” will be the first event my event management company has put on, so it's been busy for us to make sure all the details are covered. But so far the local support from the City of Santa Clarita and local businesses has been amazing. Santa Clarita signed on for five years with us, as did George Hincapie, so this is just the starting point. George is the ultimate professional and someone we wanted to align ourselves with due to his selfless nature. The ride will also support two charities, the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley.

RBA: What is your goal for the ride over the next five years?

Luther: I want to see 10,000 riders rolling out of Santa Clarita on New Year's Eve. Once the riders finish I want to have the event be a huge party, with a band and just an overall great time for everyone. Something like Levi's GranFondo where it's a destination event for people. They come to do the ride, but they hang out for a few days and enjoy the whole experience.

RBA: What other events do you have on tap for Santa Clarita?

Luther: I'm just about to announce the Mash Race Series. A few details still need to be worked out but it's going to be a Grand Prix type mid-week race, starting the first week of February and going for 8 weeks. It's a closed course on the roads and parking lot of the Six Flags theme park. The course will be lit, so it's a great opportunity to get people out and off the trainer in the evenings before the time change.

Visit www.arideforlife.com for more information and registration.

Always a fan favorite, George Hincapie will be kept busy signing autographs post-ride.

Press Release

If you are looking a truly memorable experience this New Year's Eve, make plans to join world-renowned cyclist George Hincapie and other cycling enthusiasts for one of several events hosted as part of A Ride for Life, benefitting Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita.

Supported by the City of Santa Clarita and produced by Icon Event Management, A Ride for Life will kick off at Central Park. Event opportunities include a 30 Mile Ride, 60 Mile Ride, 100 Mile Ride, a Kids 5K Ride, and a Family 5K Walk. Park activities also include a large expo and post-ride feast. The event offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to ride with Hincapie, who is a five-time Olympian and 16-time Tour de France veteran. In fact, he is the only teammate to have played a pivotal role in all seven Lance Armstrong victories and he and Lance are the only riders in the history of the sport to win the Tour de France seven times.

The City of Santa Clarita proudly supports cycling and has played host to the Amgen Tour of California four years since the event began. A Ride for Life provides a great opportunity for local and regional cyclists to enjoy the area's abundant trails and terrain while riding with one of the world's best cyclists.

A Ride for Life is an exciting chance for cyclists of all levels to ride with Mr. Hincapie - one of the world's best cyclists. We take great pride in offering our community unique events and believe there's no better way to start the New Year than with a healthy, community driven event like A Ride for Life, said Mayor Marsha McLean.

Residents have ample time to sign up for A Ride for Life events, which were designed with the novice and CAT 1 cyclist in mind. Event opportunities include:

* 30-Mile Ride, $65/per person

* 60-Mile Ride, $95/per person

* 100-Mile Ride, $125/per person

* 5K Kids Bike & Family 5K Walk for all ages, $15/per person (includes T-Shirt and finishers medal)

The 30, 60, and 90 mile rides are timed and provide an iconic day of riding and an opportunity to meet George Hincapie. Rider support for these three rides includes aid stations every 25 miles, medical support on the ride course, sag wagons and technical support all day. Registration fees for all three events includes: a commemorative T-shirt, swag bags from sponsors, and access to a large expo and food and beer garden.

Those interested in participating in A Ride for Life must register online at arideforlife.com. Maps, guided video tours of the race routes, and information about relay and VIP packages are also available online. A percentage of the net proceeds from the event will be donated to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley.

Androni-CIPI & Bianchi Get Things Started

12/10/2011

Androni Giocattoli-CIPI and Bianchi’s 2012 season started today. Gianni Savio’s team, extending the sponsorships agreement with Bianchi until the end of 2012 (with an option for 2013), met up for the first training camp in Cesenatico, Italy and will stay in camp until Sunday, December 18th.

Team Androni-CIPI recently signed youngsters Fabio Felline, winner of four races during the first two years as a professional rider and aknowledged as one of the most talented Italian riders in the peloton, and Francisco Moreno, first placed at the 2011 Cup of Spain Elite’s final ranking. They complete the roster alongside Italian Omar Bertazzo, Riccardo Chiarini, Alessandro De Marchi, Giairo Ermeti, Salvatore Mancuso, Antonino Parrinello, Antonio Santoro and Emanuele Sella, Venezuelan Carlos Ochoa, Yonnatta Monsalve and José Rujano, Colombian Miguel Angel Rubiano and Josè Serpa.

The first appointment for Androni Giocattoli-CIPI, on saddle of Bianchi Oltre bikes, is scheduled on January 23rd, contemporarily at Tour de San Luis in Argentina and at Tour de India. In 2011 Italian team achieved in the Southern-American race two stage wins with Roberto Ferrari and one with Josè Serpa, second placed in the final ranking.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Announces Host Cities for 2012

12/9/2011

With nearly 40 cities across the state expressing initial interest in the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, race officials have unveiled the 12 host cities that will serve as starts and finishes for the second annual stage race. After drawing more than 1 million fans in the inaugural year, the 2012 race will return to several cities and also visit new locations, showcasing the majestic beauty of the state.

Recently upgraded to a 2.HC ranking, the highest registration level next to the Tour de France, the race will visit a total of 12 official host cities over the course of the seven days, from August 20-26, 2012.

The host cities and stages of the 2012 USA Pro Challenge include:
•   Monday, Aug. 20            Stage 1                 Durango – Telluride
•   Tuesday, Aug. 21            Stage 2                 Montrose – Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte
•   Wednesday, Aug. 22       Stage 3                 Gunnison – Aspen
•   Thursday, Aug. 23           Stage 4                 Aspen – Beaver Creek/Vail Valley
•   Friday, Aug. 24               Stage 5                 Breckenridge – Colorado Springs
•   Saturday, Aug. 25           Stage 6                 Golden – Boulder
•   Sunday, Aug. 26            Stage 7/ITT        Denver

“The host cities selected for the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge will enable us to showcase the beauty and hospitality of Colorado to a worldwide audience,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “These cities are valued partners who will work with us, hand in hand, as we continue to raise the bar for professional cycling here in America.”

Overall winner of the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Levi Leipheimer said, “What makes Colorado uniquely challenging is the Rocky Mountains. Knowing that in 2012 we will start in one corner of the state and suffer through more mountain passes than any other race of this caliber in the North America is exciting. Add in the altitude factor and you’ve got one beast of a race.”

The four new cities joining the 2012 race – Durango, Telluride, Montrose and Boulder – each offer breathtaking scenery, as well as a unique cycling history, that will add to the overall impact of the race.
•   The “Four Corners” area is home to Bob Roll, one of professional cycling’s most iconic commentators, as well as the Iron Horse Classic Bicycle Race.
•   Durango is home to more professional cyclists, national champions and Olympians per capita than any other town in the United States.
•   Often referred to as the birthplace of American cycling, Boulder is consistently ranked one of the best cycling cities in the country.

“By incorporating iconic cycling cities like Boulder and Durango in our second-year race we will further build the virtual postcard for the state of Colorado that we established in our inaugural year,” added Hunter.

Also new in 2012 is the placement of the Individual Time Trial on the final day of racing in Denver, keeping fans holding their breath to the very end to see who will be awarded the overall victory after the seven days of fiercely competitive racing. Fans in Denver will have multiple opportunities to cheer for any given rider, as well as the benefit of both start line access to riders along the traditional team “pit row” and the thrilling finish line excitement.

A number of criteria were taken into consideration when evaluating potential host cities, including full city services support. The race also considered commitments in the areas of lodging, volunteer recruitment, marketing and local tourism, as well as an ability to host world-class athletes and promote the State of Colorado.

Further details of the start and finish line locations, as well as the specific, detailed route will be announced in the spring.

About the USA Pro Cycling Challenge
For seven consecutive days, the world’s top athletes race through the majestic Rockies, reaching higher altitudes than they’ve ever had to endure – more than two miles in elevation. One of the largest cycling events in United States history, the 2012 race will feature the best of the best in professional cycling, competing on a challenging course through some of America’s most beautiful scenery.

Referred to as “America’s Race,” the second annual USA Pro Cycling Challenge will take place August 20-26, 2012. More than 1 million spectators are expected to once again line the route to see if Levi Leipheimer will defend his title as winner of the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, while millions more around the world will watch the race on television and online through the Tour Tracker.

More information can be found on the USA Pro Cycling Challenge website and Twitter page @USAProChallenge.

Euro News: Merckx Gets Knighted

12/6/2011

French president Nicolas Sarkozy will honour Eddy Merckx by elevating the Belgian cycling legend to the highest possible Legion of Honour grade at the Elysee Palace next week, reports said on Tuesday.

   Boasting victories in almost every professional race of significance, Merckx - known as 'the Cannibal' for his voracious victory appetite - is considered the most successful cyclist of all time.

   The 66-year-old Belgian now produces racing bikes in his own name but his past achievements will come into focus on December 15 when Sarkozy promotes him from Chevalier (Knight) to Commandeur of the Legion of Honour.

   "It's a considerable honour," Merckx, who was initially made Chevalier at the start of the 1975 Tour de France, told Le Soir newspaper.

   Merckx is remembered for five victories in both the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia stages races, one Tour of Spain victory, three world road race crowns, the world hour record and a total of 31 wins in the one-day classics.

   There are five grades in the Legion of Honour, which can be bestowed upon non-French citizens: Chevalier, Officier, Commandeur, Grand Officier and Grand-Croix.

LEOPARD s.a., the owner of the RadioShack Nissan Trek WorldTour Cycling Team, is proud to announce the launch of its Continental Team, named Leopard Trek. The Team will be led by Team Director Adriano Baffi.

“The Continental Team is aimed at promoting and developing Luxembourgish Cycling in the world”, says Flavio Becca. “Since Fränk and Andy Schleck conquered their place in cycling’s top tier and the Grand Duchy witnessed the birth of the 2011 Leopard Trek WorldTour Team, the popularity of cycling has grown to immense proportions. It shouldn’t be a surprise that we want to build for the future. With this Team we are able to structurally search for talent and provide experience and training to young and promising athletes.”

The LEOPARD TREK roster for 2012 will be the following: Eugenio Alafaci (ITA), Giorgio Brambilla (ITA), Jesus Ezquerra (SPA), Oliver Hofstetter (SUI), Bob Jungels (LUX), Julian Kern (GER), Alex Kirsch (LUX), Alexandr Pliuschin (MOL), Pit Schlechter (LUX), Fabio Silvestre (POR) and Joel Zangerle (LUX).

“The Team consists of a majority of U23 riders”, says Adriano Baffi, who acknowledges that there will be an important role for Alexandr Pliuschin and Bob Jungels, the 2010 Junior World Time Trial Champion. “Bob and Alexandr are absolute bright prospects and I am really looking forward to working closely with them. Alexandr will be our road captain: he is an all-rounder and has some experience already. Bob, from his side, will be able to grow in terms of endurance and experience.”

“The Team will concentrate on one single race program,” says Baffi. “I would like to see every rider race between 60 and 70 days per season, which would be an ideal learning experience for each one of them.”

   bnl/jd/thw

Bianchi Unveils Vacansoleil Team Bike

12/6/2011

Bianchi officially unveils the new Vacansoleil-DCM's Oltre model for 2012 season. Designed for extreme racing conditions, Oltre is one of the best racing machines Bianchi has ever made. X-Tex carbon technology and Bianchi optimized aerodynamic shape give it an incredibly efficient power transmission and stiffness to weight ratio.

Characterized by a very solid outlook and aerodynamic shape, Vacansoleil-DCM’s Oltre enhances Bianchi’s traditional “celeste” color by matching it with blue and white touches – recalling the official outfit of the World Tour team. The Bianchi’s Eagle on the lower part of the down-tube, shaped with elegant dark celeste lines, provides a unique mix of tradition and aggressiveness.

Bianchi’s technical suppliers for 2012 Vacansoleil-DCM team’s Oltre are: FSA, Vision, Fast Forward, Vredestein, Selle San Marco, Elite, KMC, Look, CycleOps Power Tap and Lizard skins.

Frame: Bianchi HoC “OLTRE” (Carbon monocoque; headset 1,5”-1 /8”. X-Tex technology, UTSS - Ultra Thin Seat Stay, internal cable routing, BB30 System)
Fork: Bianchi OLTRE HoC full carbon 1,5”>1 1/8”
Seatpost: Bianchi OLTRE full carbon aero
Crankset: FSA K-FORCE Light BB30 Carbon 53/39
BB set: FSA BB30
Brakes: FSA K-FORCE
Headset: FSA ORBIT 1 1/8" - 1.5"
Stem: FSA OS-99 CSI alu/carbon
Handlebar: FSA K-FORCE carbon
Saddle: Selle San Marco Concor
Ribbon: Lizard skins
Wheels: Fast Forward
Tires: Vredestein Fortezza Pro Tricomp
Sprocket: Shimano Dura Ace
Chain: KMC L Gold
Bottle: Elite Corsa Team
Bottlecage: Elite Custom
Computer: Power Meter: Cycleops Power Tap

Vacansoleil-DCM's riders will start to dig deep on pedals in Montecatini Terme (Italy) from December 10th to 20th, seat of the first official meeting. From January 10th to 20th the Dutch World Tour team will move to Spain, in Benidorm, for the second training camp ahead of the first seasonal appointments.

For more info: Bianchi Bicycles

UCI Makes Their Final Team Selection

12/5/2011

    New Australian cycling outfit GreenEdge and American team RadioShack were given First Division licenses by the sport's governing body the International Cycling Union on Monday.

   The two finally got their licenses after documents they had been asked to furnish to the UCI satisfied the world body that they merited a place among the elite teams.

   Their acceptance means that as in 2011 there will be 18 First Division teams which gives them automatic entry as well as a compulsory one into all the major races of the year.

   The list of Continental Pro (2nd Division) teams will be announced on December 12.

   First Division teams:
   Australia: GreenEdge
   Belgium: Lotto, Omega Pharma
   Denmark: Saxo Bank
   Spain: Euskaltel, Movistar
   United States: BMC, Garmin, RadioShack
   France: AG2R La Mondiale, FDJ
   Great Britain: Sky
   Italy: Lampre, Liquigas
   Kazakhstan: Astana
   Netherlands: Rabobank, Vacansoleil
   Russia: Katusha

Zap's (not a) End of The Year Blog

12/1/2011

CLOSING OUT 2011 WTH SOME ODDS & ENDS

Our friend Kenny Parry is a hardcore rider who has endured 14 knee operations which resulted in limited extension in his right leg...of course that didn't stop him from devising his own solution for his unequal pedal extension.

Why is Sean holding our Cervelo S5 test bike upside down? As we were pulling the seatpost out to fit the bike in his car, the tricky internal seat binder fell into the frame. If you own one of these Tour de France stage winning bikes, be sure to mind the binder!

When riding in the "California cold" there's no real reason to run these winter shoes, but if you insist on riding in the cold, weather specific shoes can make a big difference in how long you stay out.

Looking for a new aluminum 'cross bike that's made in America? Maybe you should consider a Stoemper Ronny. Available in six sizes, the made in Oregon frame features triple-butted tubes, beautiful dropouts, a carbon fork, BB30 bottom bracket and a 1 1/8"-1 1/2" tapered head tube to control front end chatter.

This is Belgian 'crosser Ben Berden who dropped by the palatial RBA towers to show-off his bike and go out on a lunch ride. Maybe not your typical looking Belgian 'crosser, but he's the real deal and following his three month stint racing in America he heads home to take up his native sport in front of the home crowd.

WHAT'S ALLEN BEEN UP TO?
Allen Lim is a quirky guy. Probably one of the more brilliant guys in the sport, he's worked with some of America's top riders, yet, despite his international acclaim, the dude is like a wallflower...never reaching for a spotlight or microphone. Last time I saw him was when I literally bumped into him in the sidewalk traffic on the Strip in Las Vegas during the bike show as we were both headed to our rooms after our respective (and long) industry dinners. Super friendly to a fault, you can just tell that there is a ton of useful info floating around in his mind waiting to get out. Well, here are two of them...

The Feed Zone Cookbook provides 150 flavorful recipes that even the busiest athletes can prepare in less time than it takes to warm up for a workout. With simple recipes requiring just a handful of ingredients, Biju and Lim show how easy it is for athletes to prepare their own food, whether at home or on the go.

The Feed Zone Cookbook strikes the perfect balance between science and practice so that athletes will change the way they think about food, replacing highly processed food substitutes with real, nourishing foods that will satisfy every athlete's cravings.

The Feed Zone Cookbook includes:
- 150 delicious recipes illustrated with full-color photographs
- Allen Lim's take on the science and practice of food
- Portable whole foods, including Lim's famous rice cakes and more
- Dozens of quick-prep meals for before and after workouts
- Shortcuts, substitutions, and techniques to save time in the kitchen
- Gluten-free and vegetarian alternatives to favorite dishes

What does Levi say about the book? "Not only did Biju and Allen help salvage a disastrous start to my 2011 season and turn it into one of my best, they actually got me into the kitchen, cooking these recipes."

The Feed Zone Cookbook is now available in bookstores and online for $25.

What else is Allen up to these days? Well, besides the cookbook he's also now marketing his Secret Drink Mix. Made with natural ingredients in four flavors and in his own typical understated style, there are two types to choose; Exercise and Anytime. $20 for a 1lb sack of either.

AS FOR TWO OF MY MOST DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR...
To say that this last year was a tumultuous one for me would be a huge understatement. Regular readers of
RBA might recall that a few months ago in my mag column I related the sad news of my wife Ronette's passing. "Rono" had been diagnosed with cancer just two years prior and although we knew it was serious, we never thought the end would come so quick, but it did. Such is life.

However, from some of the deepest lows I've experienced in my life, on November 3 of this year I was brought to both unexpected & overwhelming heights. That was the day that a local cyclist/philanthropist/one man army (aka Jack Nosco) put on his third annual Mike Nosco Memorial Ride which acts as a benefit for cancer survivors. This year Ronette was the chosen recipient and she was so excited at the thought of it...alas, she did not live long enough to witness the ride in person (although like so many others, I too felt she was looking down on us and spreading the sunshine of the day).

In her stead, over 450 cyclists did show up to "enjoy" a grueling 80 mile ride with 8000 feet of climbing. So many friends, so many strangers - there simply aren't words to describe what felt like an "out of body" experience for both myself and our daughter - it was a day we will NEVER forget.

Two days after the ride I was on a plane to Sicily to partake in the roll-out of Campagnolo's new EPS electronic drivetrain. The trip to Sicily was a big deal both professionally and personally. This was a historic event and I was stoked to be one of among 35 lucky journos to get the invite. It was also proof positive to me that life does indeed go on. It all sounds so cliche' I know, but the Hallmark card sentiment that "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" rang as true as ever on those two days. And now, I carry on taking notes, meeting deadlines, getting sacked on the lunch rides and hoping that every time my phone rings it's my fabu kid Xakota on the other end!

2011 has been a crazy year - just ask Mark Cavendish - and as I close it out here, I just wanted to be sure to say THANKS TO ALL & FOR ALL.

THE ELECTRIC VALENTINO

I first met Valentino Campagnolo back in the late '80's when the Italian component maker was making their disastrous foray into mountain biking. Valentino is a true gentlemen and for better or worse, I admire his determination to keep all of his parts production based in Europe.

After landing in the town of Catania, we headed up to Taormina where we enjoyed a night at the beachfront La Plage Resort.

Hey, I've never been shy in admitting that life a cycling journo is a great gig...this is where we enjoyed our post tech briefing cocktails and finger foods. Sicilian swankiness, cold Proseco and plenty of bike talk - nice.

Here I am sharing a quiet moment with my Pinarello Dogma test bike.

Moments later the whole lot of us were screaming through the town town of Lingualossa before heading to a former Giro d'Italia climbing route up and around Mt.Etna.

I don't know what it is, but authentic race bikes are just so cool.

WHEN FRIENDS & FAMILY COUNT MOST

The Mike Nosco Memorial ride was led out by the sweet Campy VW Jetta station wagon with a string of riders trailing behind towards Pacific Coast Highway.

A handful of my old mountain biker homies came out to enjoy the ride including Daryl Price (aboard a sweet custom painted Colnago C-59) and multi-time National and World Champion (and former 7-Eleven rider) John Tomac.

Oakley's Steve Blick played the "I'm so out of shape" pre-ride hype...then smoked all of us who truly were out of shape up the Deer Creek climb. Steve knows about the hardship of cancer as his son Tyler is also battling the disease and to help others, Steve created I Ride For The Kids.

Former AMA Supercross & NORBA champ Johnny "O'Show" O'Mara is a devout mountain biker, but he made the trip out to ride with both his throttle twisting and pedaling friends like Steve Tilford.

Speaking of throttle twisters, one of my local heroes growing up was factory Yamaha rider and Supercross Champ Mike "too Tall" Bell. Long ago he once wow'd me by flying past me on the downhill at Carlsbad Raceway and he did again on this ride by riding alongside me and sharing the pain as we climbed Latigo Canyon. Without a doubt one of the most sensational parts of the ride was the "circle of life" element that was so pervasive - this industry, this sport, is family and "we" go way back. Thanks Mike.

Our own Neil Shirley drags Ned "El Capitan" Overend up the last big climb so that the former National and World mountain bike Champ could retain some dignity and finish with the fast guys (just kidding Ned!). Ned was literally one of the three reasons I first fell in love with mountain bikes back in the late '80's (the others were his teammate Lisa Muhich and the whole idea of riding bikes in the great outdoors).

Former AMA Superbike champ & World Superbike runner Ben Bostrom gets friendly with our ace shooter John Ker as he rides along with Garmin Cervelo's David Zabriske and Ben's brother Eric (also a former throttle twisting National Champ and factory Kawasaki rider).

After a scenic & leisurely roll down Pacific Coast Highway, the route turned left for the ridiculously steep Deer Creek climb. This is where the 450 rider pack broke up!

Later in the day everyone was met with the third and final climb up Latigo Canyon - which never seemed to end. The Santa Monica Mountains remain one of the best riding areas in all of California. Epic views, epic climbs and epic Mexican food!

Besides the famous road, mountain and throttle twisting champs, the BMX'ers also turned out for the ride - this is BMX great Stu Thomsen. Funny thing, I actually once raced against Stu in a BMX race at Saddleback Park back in the mid-'70's...and here we were still out on two wheels some 35 years later. Bicycles rule!

While Steve Tilford was making the climbs, he made sure to check on how his stocks were doing on Wall Street.

After about six hours in the saddle, Mike Bell and I were slowly and agonizingly nearing the finish when we first ran into Andy Hampsten (pink jersey) who was out looking for more miles to ride and then Mike Kloser (R) who came looking for me. Mike snapped the shot..and as the empty road behind shows, he and I were hardly in the thick of things by days end.

Here's something I never got to see during the ride - the front of the pack. This is the "fast guy" pace line running down Hidden Valley to the finish.

This is the one many army that made the ride possible. Jack Nosco lost his brother Mike in a car accident on November 3 and in his memory - and for the good of others - he has created an annual charity ride in his brother's memory. There are no words to express our appreciation for all you - and the volunteers - did that day Jack. See you next year for the 4th annual ride!

WHY WE RIDE SCHWAG CONTEST
The random winner of this contest will be the person that not only answers the following questions correctly, but who also sends in the best "Why I Ride" story/testimony. That person that we pick will get a Campagnolo schwag kit that includes everything I didn't use when we took our Sicilian test ride: Campy socks, plus a Campy riding vest & gloves plus a random shirt from our pile of industry T's.
1. What title did Steve Tilford claim back in 1983?
2. Name three brands of motorcycle that Ben Bostrom won races on.
3. What city in Italy is Campagnolo located?
4. What city does Ned Overend call home?
5. Why do you ride?
Send your answers to Why I Ride Contest

Bissell Pro Cycling Readies For 2012

11/30/2011

The top ranked continental team, BISSELL Pro Cycling, reaches a new level in 2012 by teaming up with the premier cycling components manufacturer, Campagnolo. BISSELL will be racing with the Campagnolo Record 11 speed groupset and will also have the opportunity to experience their new EPS shifting group throughout the season.

“Everyone at Campagnolo is very excited to be partnering with the BISSELL Pro Cycling Team for the coming years,” said Tom Kattus, general manager, Campagnolo North America. “Campagnolo is steeped in racing tradition and working with the No. 1 ranked team in the NRC is consistent with our commitment to supporting bicycle racing on a global basis. We look forward to working with Glen Mitchell (BPC Team Manager) and the team here in North America as they defend their No.1 ranking and reach for new heights.”

The exceptional components will be paired with the equally outstanding race bike, the Pinarello Dogma 2. The newly re-designed Dogma 2 will be stiffer, lighter and more aerodynamic. The Team is proud to race and train on Easton cycling wheels. Known as the composite experts, Easton's broad range of wheels offer industry-leading aerodynamics, durability and speed. The Easton wheels will again be fitted with Vredestein’s Tricomp racing tubulars for their low rolling resistance and maximum grip.

BISSELL also welcomes SRM to its family of sponsors and looks forward to the use of SRM’s new Campagnolo-based power meter. Amy Creed of SRM said, “SRM is excited to debut its newest offering, the SRM Campagnolo PowerMeter to the North American professional racing scene through BISSELL Pro Cycling Team in 2012.” Capping off the team’s top equipment will be Speedplay’s Zero pedal systems and Fizik’s high performance saddles.

Giordana will continue to style and manufacture BISSELL’s cycling apparel and accessories, while Merrell will again fill the team’s after-sport apparel needs. Bell Sports will provide the team with the top-of-the-line performance helmets, exclusively-the Bell Volt for road racing and the Bell Javelin for time trials. The team will be suited with DMT shoes on a Speedplay approved sole which provides a perfectly flat platform on a compatible 4-bolt pedal system. BISSELL will continue to depend on 1st Endurance for its sports nutrition with its full line of performance and endurance products.

BISSELL mechanics are pleased to welcome the support of two new sponsors, Finish Line and Feedback Sports. Finish Line will provide the team with a full line of bicycle care products including lubes, degreasers, and cleaners. Feedback Sports will supply bicycle work stands and portable storage stands. Stuffitts will also join sponsors as a provider of portable drying systems for helmets, shoes and bags.

The BISSELL Pro Cycling Team continues to have the financial support of companies from the West Michigan business community led by title sponsor BISSELL Homecare, Inc. BISSELL continues its long established history in the sport of cycling which began in 2003 with the sponsorship of the US Postal Team. BISSELL’s innovative and high-performance brand partners with the sport to demonstrate the company’s commitment to health and wellness both inside and outside the home.

The team continues to have the support of Advantage Benefits Group. ABG CEO, Bob Hughes, has been one of the foremost supporters of cycling in the Midwest. Hughes’ involvement began in the early 2000s with the ABG-Endeavor Team and his dedication to up-and-coming cyclists continues today with a new development team, BISSELL-ABG-NUVO.

Returning as a sponsor for 2012 after two years out of the sport is Emerald Spas, a leader in the home spa industry. Additionally, the BISSELL Pro Cycling Team is honored to have the continuing support of EmploymentGroup. The Michigan-based company partners with local and global Fortune 500 companies to provide staffing solutions and business services.

“EmploymentGroup became involved with the team when BISSELL took over the title sponsorship to partner with great companies like BISSELL and Advantage Benefits to promote the great sport of cycling”, said Mark Lancaster, CEO, EmploymentGroup. “It fits with our company vision of ‘Delivering Success’ and the team certainly did that by winning the NRC team title in 2011.”

2012 Team Sponsors:
BISSELL Homecare Inc
Advantage Benefits Group
EmploymentGroup
Emerald Spa
Frames: Pinarello Dogma 2 and Pinarello Graal
Components: Campagnolo Record 11spd
Wheels: Easton EC90, SLX, SL, Aero, TT90
Power Meter: SRM
Saddles: Fi’zi:k
Pedals: Speedplay Zero
Bars/Stem: MOst
Tires: Vredestein
Clothing: Giordana
Shoes: DMT
Helmets: Bell
Trainers: Blackburn
Pump & Accessories: BlackBurn
Nutrition: First Endurance
Cleaning/Lubricants: Finishline
Stands/Racks: Feedback Sports
Drying system: Stuffitts
Vehicle Racks: Yakima
Casual Clothing: Merrell
Foot Fitness Performance Center
K-Edge Cycling Solutions
Speed Merchants
Echelon Cycle & Multisport
For updates on BISSELL Pro Cycling year round, visit www.Bissellprocycling.com.

ABOUT BISSELL
A 135-year-old company, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based BISSELL Homecare Inc. is the top-selling brand in floor care appliances in North America,* with an expanding presence worldwide. As an innovator of cleaning products, BISSELL produces and sells vacuums, sweepers, deep-cleaning machines, bare-floor cleaners and cleaning formulas at retail locations across the globe. The company is in its fourth generation of family leadership.

Team TIBCO Women's Cycling Team In 2012

11/30/2011

         Megan Guarnier will bring her burgeoning talent back to Team TIBCO for 2012.
   Photo by Jonathan Devich, Epic Images.

To the Top Cycling, the operator of the TIBCO Women’s Pro Cycling Team, is proud to announce its 2012 Elite roster. The Team returns a strong core of riders from the 2011 squad, while adding specific depth and strength with new riders. The team will be riding the Specialized Amira SL4, equipped with SRAM Red and Reynolds carbon race wheels. A full list of corporate and product partners will be announced soon.

The new riders add significantly to the Team’s stage racing strength, with emerging star and 2010 Team TIBCO member Amanda Miller leading the group. Miller had a breakout year in 2011 on the international scene, winning a stage of International Thuringen Rundfahrt, and posting consistently strong results in Europe, leading to a spot on the U.S. World Championships team.

“We knew Amanda was a special rider when we brought her onto the team in 2010,” said Team TIBCO founder and manager Linda Jackson. “This season, she continued to develop into a top-flight talent.”

The Team also adds 2011 Canadian National Road Champion Veronique Fortin. The 31-year-old is one of the rising stars of Canadian cycling, taking the title while working full-time as an anesthesiologist.

“Vero is an exceptional climber, and a rider whose talent is only starting to emerge,” Jackson said. “We’re really excited to have her and to see how she continues to develop.” Rounding out the climbing talent is Lindsay Myers, who was a teammate of Erinne Willock on Webcor in 2010.

Team TIBCO bolstered its sprinting capabilities for 2012, adding Lauren Hall and Jen Purcell. Hall put up a strong year of results in 2011, including a pair of wins and the overall title at the Gateway Cup in St. Louis in September, while Jen Purcell showed consistent strength, inc luding a 3rd place finish at the Liberty Classic in Philadelphia.

BUILDING AROUND A STRONG CORE

The Team retained a strong core of it’s riders, including Olympians Erinne Willock and Joanne Kiesanowski, Meredith Miller and Megan Guarnier, who closed her season with the overall win at the Giro Toscana.

“Everything came together for Megan at Toscana,” Jackson said. “This is only the beginning for her. Megan is an incredibly talented rider who is just starting to see the fruits of her dedication and passion for the sport.”

Three-time Track World Champion Tara Whitten also returns to the squad. In addition to taking her third rainbow jersey, she showed her road abilities in 2011, taking the leader’s jersey in a pair of races after storming to prologue wins.

“Tara will be focused on the track again with an eye on Omnium gold at the London Olympics,” Jackson said. “We’re really proud to have her on the squad and we want to support her efforts to win gold in 2012.”

Three-time U23 national champion Samantha Schneider, young talent Kendall Ryan, and overall powerhouse Jennifer Wheeler also return.

“Jennifer had a great first pro season in 2011,” Jackson said. “She has continued her rapid development and we think she is going to be on fire in 2012.”

The team will be focused on the NCC and NRC race calendars, while also helping their athletes pursue their objectives of making the 2012 Olympics.

“The U.S. needs to finish as one of the top five countries in the UCI rankings by May 30 in order to send a four-rider squad to the Olympic Games,” Jackson said. “To support the goals of both our athletes and USA Cycling, we will be sending Team TIBCO to Europe for two solid blocks of racing in the spring. These races will prime our riders to come back to the U.S ready to kick off the N RC calendar with Redlands.”

    Team TIBCO Juniors and Team TIBCO II continue to build for 2012

To the Top Cycling will continue to support the Team TIBCO Juniors and Team TIBCO II squads, both of which enjoyed great success in 2011. “Both of these teams are important to our organization’s mission of providing opportunities for women to develop as athletes and people, so they can reach their full potential,” Jackson said. “We’re all really proud of the achievements both teams had in 2011 and we’re looking forward to more for 2012.”

The five-rider junior squad brought home four U.S. junior national championships, led by a pair of younger sisters of elite-team members: Alexis Ryan and Skylar Schneider, who both collected two each. Both are back, along with Aliya Traficante, Page Robertson and new additions Shannon Bhatia and Bailey Semian.

Team TIBCO II, the organization’s Bay Area amateur squad, proved to be a formidable team in the category 3 and 4 races in 2011. The squad won the Bay Area Women’s Cycling Series Category 3 team category with Bobbi Jo Price winning the individual title and Ann Kodani finishing 5th. Jill Eyres was the # 1 ranked Category 4 rider. The team is expanding for 2012 and looking to continue their impact on the Northern California racing scene.

You Too Can Ride The Tour of California

11/29/2011

For the second year, Carmichael Training Systems has partnered with AEG, presenter of the Amgen Tour of California, to deliver an exclusive experience for serious amateur cyclists. A select team of athletes and CTS Coaches, including CTS Founder and CEO, Chris Carmichael, are “going pro” for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California as part of “The Amgen Tour of California Race Experience.” The team will ride more than 750 miles in eight days to complete every stage of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California.

The CTS Amgen Tour of California Race Experience will put amateur cyclists, selected through an online application process via http://trainright.com/atoc-2012, on the start line of every stage of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California a few hours before the professional peloton departs. This is not a wine-and-cheese cycling tour; the CTS team must work together as a cohesive unit and ride fast enough to stay ahead of the approaching professional peloton. If they do not, they will be forced off the race course by the pros.

Carmichael, who raced the 1986 Tour de France with the iconic 7-Eleven Team and directed US National Cycling Teams at some of the world’s biggest races, said, “I’ve been around professional cycling for a long time and I wanted to create an unforgettable opportunity for cycling fans to experience a professional stage race from the inside. Athletes on my team are going to feel the pressure of being chased by the peloton, understand the need to work together as a team, and share the camaraderie that only comes from experiencing extreme efforts together.”

Carrying the Amgen Tour of California Race Experience well beyond the bike, the race organization will provide the CTS Team with similar accommodations, meals, and amenities as the pro teams competing in the event. And just like the pros, riders will be required to live out of one team-supplied duffel bag, have professional mechanics on the route with them, and professional massage therapy after each stage.
“Last year’s Amgen Tour of California Race Experience was a tremendous success,” commented Carmichael. “We had 22 riders and coaches on the team, which ultimately managed to reach the finish line in time each day and complete the entire race. We want to thank AEG for their continued support of our event and for cycling in general. Their commitment to our event has helped us to create an unparalleled experience for devoted amateur cyclists.”

The cost of this exclusive race experience is $11,500 and CTS is accepting applications from riders who believe they have the fitness to successfully complete this challenge. Interested athletes should go to http://trainright.com/atoc-2012 to apply online for the CTS Amgen Tour of California Race Experience Team. There is no cost to apply, must be at least 18 years old to participate, and applications must be completed by December 16, 2011.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with Carmichael Training Systems once again for the 'going pro’ racing experience," said Kristin Bachochin, executive director of the Amgen Tour of California. "We're proud that the Amgen Tour of California can be the platform for this once-in-a-lifetime experience for amateur cyclists. Given that last year, the team was able to ride the same course as the professionals and finish the race in time is a testament to their tremendous athleticism. We look forward to supporting the 2012 team next year."

The Amgen Tour of California Race Experience is one event in “Chris Carmichael’s Epic Endurance Bucket List” (http://www.trainright.com/bucketlist). Others events on the list include the Leadville 100, Trans Andes, and the La Ruta de los Conquistadores. These epic events target the adventurous endurance athlete and feature various packages of CTS coaching, camps and race support.

“There’s a hunger out there for big challenges,” commented Carmichael. “The demand is there as well. We filled the 2011 Amgen Tour of California Race Experience to capacity in two days, just by reaching out to individual athletes we already knew.”

About the Amgen Tour of California
The largest cycling event in America, the 2012 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 13-20, 2012.

About CTS
Founded by Olympian, US Olympic Committee Coach of the Year, and bestselling author, Chris Carmichael in 2000, Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) inspires and empowers the athlete in EVERY BODY to perform at their best. The company offers personal coaching, training camps, and performance testing services to athletes of all ability levels. CTS is the Official Coaching Partner of Ironman and Ironman 70.3. For more information on CTS, visit www.trainright.com.

Cervelo Enters The Tour Business

11/29/2011

The Cervélo Pro Travel Experience is a travel experience like no other, designed entirely for the passionate cyclist. Two iconic Canadian companies, both uncompromising innovators in their respective fields of active travel and performance bikes, have combined forces and expertise to create a series of cycling travel packages built around the experience of pro cycling.

Both Cervélo and Butterfield & Robinson are respected for their unwavering pursuit of excellence, innovation and customer care. Performance bike manufacturer Cervélo—literally, "brain bike"—set the pro cycling world afire 16 years ago when they introduced a revolutionary new design to the time trial bike market. In 2009, Cervélo became the first bike manufacturer in the modern era to have its own cycling team at the highest levels of racing. Cervélo's partner for their travel venture are active travel experts Butterfield & Robinson, who have been operating upscale biking and walking journeys across the globe since 1966. B&R pioneered "active travel," and their intense focus on delivering superlative experiences to their customers, combined with intimate local insights.

Trips will be offered around race events offering interaction with pro-cyclists. Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold Cup, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Giro d'Italia , the Amgen Tour of California, The Tour, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec and the UCI Road World Championships. Other trips are based around iconic rides such as: the French Alps, the Pyrénées, the Cols of Provence, Santa Barbara and the Italian Alps. All riders will be provided with Cervélo gear and a custom fitted Cervélo R3 team bike. They will also have the opportunity to test ride a Cervélo S5 aero bike and enjoy soigneur services (e.g. pre and post ride massages).

Both companies believe passionately in the relentless pursuit of excellence—whether on the track, on the road, or around the dinner table. These trips bring a combination of cutting-edge bicycle engineering and envelope-pushing travel artistry; delivering finely balanced and completely unique once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

www.travel.cervelo.com

Island Start For 2013 Tour de France

11/24/2011

The 2013 centenary edition of the Tour de France will get under way in Corsica, a first in the history of the world's most famous cycling race.

   Tour de France chief Christian Prudhomme described the initiative as "a real challenge", adding that further details would be released during an official presentation in Ajaccio on December 6.

   The race created by French rider and sports journalist Henri Desgrange in 1903, will mark its centenary in 2013 as it did not take place during the two World Wars.

   According to the local daily Corse Matin, three stages will take place on the Mediterranean Island, from Porto Vecchio to Calvi, passing by Bastia and Ajaccio before returning to mainland France. All the regions of French have hosted a stage of the Tour but the race never crossed over to the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte for logistical reasons.

   In 2012, the Tour starts on June 30 in the Belgian town of Liege.

Contador's Fate Now In The Balance

11/24/2011

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador, who is fighting a bid to impose a doping ban which could strip him of his 2010 Tour de France win, pled his case before a panel on Thursday.

   The three-time Tour de France champion addressed a closed hearing at the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sports, which has been charged with examining if minute traces of clenbuterol found in a urine sample in 2010 is proof that Contador used drugs to enhance his performance.

   Contador emerged red-eyed from the building and got into a taxi with his brother Fran without addressing waiting media. CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb said the cyclist spoke for about 15 minutes on the last day of the case.

   More than 20 witnesses have given evidence since it opened on Monday at CAS headquarters before being moved to the International Olympic Committee, also in Lausanne, so as to ensure simultaneous translation during the trial.

   Unfortunately, anyone looking for some closure on the case will have to wait - no ruling is expected before 2012.

   The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) initially cleared Contador of any wrongdoing after he claimed his sample had been contaminated by a steak which he ate on the second rest day of the 2010 Tour de France. That ruling allowed Contador to continue competing, but the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) filed appeals to CAS.

   A file of some 4,000 pages is being examined by the court chaired by Israeli lawyer Efraim Barack, who is assisted by Swiss Quentin Byrne-Sutton and German Ulrich Hass.

   If CAS upholds the appeals the Spaniard faces a competition ban and being stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title and the Giro d'Italia, which he won for a second time this year, and any other victories since July 2010.

   The parties are entitled to challenge the court's decision before the federal Swiss court within 30 days but only concerning procedural matters. Contador has insisted that he has never taken banned drugs, even going as far as to pass a lie detector test to prove his innocence.

Spanish Doper Round-Up

11/23/2011

Spanish medical doctor Eufemiano Fuentes and six others will go on trial over a doping scandal that rocked world cycling in 2006, said a judge's ruling released Wednesday.

   The seven suspects will be tried for a crime "against public health" over the allegations, which surfaced in 2006, said the ruling by Judge Antonio Serrano. A date must now be fixed for the trial.

   Prosecutors are seeking two years' jail and professional bans for the same period against the accused, saying they engaged in acts "to artificially enhance the performance of cyclists." Spanish police mounted "Operation Puerto" in May 2006 against the suspected blood doping ring.

   At the time prosecutors accused Fuentes and Jose Luis Merino, haemotology chief at Madrid's La Princesa hospital, of drawing blood from competitors and then re-injecting it to boost their oxygen-carrying red blood cell count.

   In 2006, Spanish police said they had seized up to 200 blood packs in the apartments of Fuentes and Merino, accused of being paid for their services by cycling competitors and officials. A judge had closed the case in 2007 saying the accused could not be charged with with a crime against public health. But it was reopened a year later when prosecutors appealed to the Madrid provincial court.

   Prosecutors had few other options because a law against trafficking in doping products only came into force in February 2007.

   Those now facing trial are Fuentes, his sister Yolanda Fuentes, doctors Jose Luis Merino and Alfredo Cordova, and former cycling team sports officials Manolo Saiz, Jose Ignacio Labarta and Vicente Belda.

   The scandal led to the expulsion of several favourites on the eve of the 2006 Tour de France including Italian Ivan Basso, German Jan Ullrich and Spaniard Francisco Mancebo. Ullrich announced his retirement and Basso was suspended for two years by the Italian Cycling Federation as a result.

Euro News: The UCI Starts Picking & Choosing

11/21/2011

Never mind all those days in the yellow jersey - the Europcar of Thomas Voeckler the long-time leader of this year's Tour de France was demoted from the elite list of professional cycling teams on Monday by the sport's governing body the International Cycling Union (UCI).

Not surprisingly, the Spanish Geox team also lost their elite status though that was anticipated as their main sponsor had pulled its support recently.

Not too surprising, the two teams have been replaced by French teams FDJ and AG2R La Mondiale with Spanish outfit Euskaltel also losing out.

The UCI have handed out 16 team licenses thusfar with a maximum of 18 allowed. The last two places are likely to go to new Australian team GreenEdge and RadioShack.

"The decisions on those two will be delivered at another time," the UCI said in a statement. "The commission is awaiting supplementary documents that those two teams have been asked to provide."

The WorldTour license gains the team an automatic entry for the most prestigious races, notably the three major stage Tours (Tour de France, the Giro, and the Tour of Spain) and which they are obliged to race in.

   Teams allocated with First Division (WorldTour) licenses:
   Astana (KAZ), BMC and Garmin (USA), Lampre and Liquigas (ITA), Movistar (ESP), Rabobank and Vacansoleil (NED), Sky (GBR)
   Katusha (RUS) and Lotto (BEL) till 2015
   FDJ (FRA) and Omega Pharma (BEL) till 2014
   Saxo Bank (DEN), Euskaltel (ESP) and AG2R La Mondiale (FRA) till 2012.

Contador On The Eve Of Defense

11/20/2011

Contador has two Grand Tour titles riding on the CAS decision, not to mention the 2012 season and beyond. (Photo: Velo Dramatic)

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador will on Monday fight a bid by cycling's governing body to impose a doping ban which could strip him of his 2010 Tour de France win. The three-time Tour de France champion is to plead his case at the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sports, which has been charged with examining if minute traces of clenbuterol found in a urine sample in 2010 is proof that Contador used drugs to enhance his performance.

The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) initially cleared Contador of any wrongdoing after he claimed his sample had been contaminated by a steak which he ate on the second rest day of the 2010 Tour de France. That ruling allowed Contador to continue competing, but the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) filed appeals to CAS.

The four-day hearing at CAS will take place behind closed doors and the court has said that it will "issue its decision with reasons as soon as possible but probably not sooner than several weeks following the completion of the hearing".

At the heart of the case is the 50 picograms of clenbuterol, found in his urine on 21 July 2010, during a rest day of the Tour de France at Pau. Although known as a powerful drug used to treat asthma, clenbuterol can also help build up lean muscle mass and burn off fat. Contador's lawyers argue that he was contaminated by a steak consumed the previous evening and which originated from his native Spain.

His defence will say that even if the anabolic agent used to boost cattle growth has been banned in the European Union, there remains the possibility that it is still being used by some. The Spanish Cycling Federation bought the argument and in February cleared Contador of all charges.

In Spain, where Contador has the support of personalities including outgoing prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero, only beef producers found the argument of bad taste. However, the UCI and WADA were not convinced and decided to file an appear at sport's highest court - CAS. CAS had planned to rule before the 2011 edition of the Tour, but in June, the hearing was pushed to August on Contador's request.

Later, WADA sought a further extension after Contador's lawyers sent them 3,000 pages of documents shortly before their scheduled meeting in Lausanne. WADA and UCI have so far remained tightlipped about the evidence that they would be putting before the CAS. Some media outlets have raised the possibility that the cyclist may have had a banned blood transfusion, shown by a high concentration of plastic residues measured in his urine at the same time as the clenbuterol.

If CAS upholds appeals by the UCI and the WADA, the Spaniard faces a competition ban and being stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title and the Giro d'Italia, which he won for a second time this year, and any other victories since July 2010. Contador meanwhile insists that he has never taken banned drugs, even going as far as to pass a lie detector test to prove his innocence.

Campagnolo Christmas Toy Drive Ride

11/13/2011

If you happen to be in the San Diego area on December 10, c'mon out and ride for a good cause.

Your Chance To Own A Team Sky Factory Bike

11/13/2011

The Story:
This is Edvald Boasson Hagen's actual spare bike from this years tour, straight from the top of the team car.

The Cause:
The Pro's Closet are doing a series of auctions to help our friend Steve Blick who has been serving the industry in a million and one capacities for over two decades.

Steve 8 year old son Tyler was just diagnosed with Leukemia. Insurance isn't going to be covering his treatment so the athletes that Steve has worked with through the years are rallying to donate key auction items for us to sell and donate 100% of the proceeds to helping Tyler fight his fight.

This dogma from team Sky is the first of theses auctions. There is a long list of other items like Mark Cavendish actual SRM system from the tour, signed and with all the data still on it , Shawn White's signed googles etc, the list goes on....

For more info and to make a bid, head to: I want Edvald's Pinarello Dogma.

Video from "Ride For Ronette"

11/11/2011

Ride For Ronette from Travis Fant on Vimeo.

Cadel Evans Keeps On Winning

11/11/2011

As it turns out, being the first Aussie to win the Tour de France is kind of a big deal.

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France winner Cadel Evans was named the Australian cyclist of the year at an awards ceremony in Sydney, the fourth time he has claimed the coveted gong.

Evans, 34, made history when he became the first Australian to win the race in July and in recognition of his achievement was awarded the Sir Hubert Opperman medal at the ceremony late Friday.

Evans, who became Australia's first world road race champion in 2009, also received the Australian honor in 2006, 2007 and 2009. He has ruled out competing at Australia's Tour Down Under in January as he looks at aiming for world and Olympic glory as well as defending his yellow Tour de France jersey.

Bid On Basso's Bike

11/8/2011

You can own this bike! Ivan Basso in action during the 2011 Giro di Lombardia.

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Attention all race fans! Up for sale on eBay is one of Ivan Basso's personal race bikes, the Cannondale SuperSix EVO that he raced during part of the 2011 season. After finishing in fourth place at the 2011 Giro di Lombardia, Basso autographed the bike's top tube and donated the bike to the Mike Nosco Memorial foundation, in honor of Ronette Espinoza who passed away earlier this year from cancer.

Check out this VIDEO of Ivan Basso's personal message of dedication.

Now for some details about the bike iself...

It's a Cannodale SuperSix EVO team bike, size 56 cm, and is the actual bike used by Ivan Basso during the 2011 Giro di Lombardia. It's built with a team-spec SRAM Red drivetrain and Mavic Cosmic Ultimate tubular wheels. Along with the bike, the winning bidder will receive a team Liquigas-Cannondale replica kit (in size Large), as well as a set of Mavic wheel bags.

This is your chance to own a piece of cycling history, folks! And it's all for a good cause, to boot. So good luck and get bidding.

Contador Goes To Court

11/5/2011

    Triple Tour de France champion Alberto Contador married fiancee Macarena Pescador Saturday in his home town of Pinto, the cyclist's agent announced.

   The 28-year-old Spaniard brought an end to his seasson in August following a disappointing campaign in the Tour de France which he finished in fifth place behind champion Cadel Evans of Australia.

   Contador aims to return to the race next year, but must first await a potentially career-changing decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

   The Saxo Bank rider tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, which he won, and blamed it on a contaminated steak he claims to have eaten on the race's second rest day.

   Cleared by the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC), Contador is now waiting for CAS to deliberate after the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) contested the RFEC decision.

   CAS is set to make an announcement regarding Contador on November 21-24. Earlier this year Contador dominated his rivals at the Giro d'Italia to claim his second career victory in the Italian three-week stage race.

   Considered the best stage racer of his generation, Contador has won six Grand Tours in total including the Tour of Spain.

Amgen Tour of California Host Cities Announced

11/4/2011

Stage 7's Mt Baldy ascent will once again be a decisive day.

As announced earlier this year, Stage 1 of the race will start in Santa Rosa, hometown of three-time Amgen Tour of California Champion Levi Leipheimer. The race will then take the riders from San Francisco to Santa Cruz County for Stage 2, starting with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop and once again bringing the route back along the picturesque coast of the Pacific Ocean. Heading inland, Stage 3 of the race will begin in San Jose (the only city to be a Host City each of the previous six years of the event) and end in Livermore, traversing an entirely new part of the state not showcased in previous editions of the race. A new city for 2012, Stage 4 will start in Sonora and wind its way south, featuring several new climbs, before what’s sure to be a dramatic sprint finish in Clovis.

“I’m so proud to have the Amgen Tour of California coming back to Santa Rosa and Sonoma County in 2012,” said Levi Leipheimer, three-time race winner (2007, 2008, 2009) and Santa Rosa resident. “As host of the overall start on May 13, we’ll have a chance to show off our home town to the world, both on race day and in the days leading up to it as the teams and media gather here before the start. I’m looking forward to introducing some of the best cyclists in the world to some of the best cycling in the world – right here in my back yard. The 2012 Amgen Tour of California will be a hard fought battle as we march away from Santa Rosa towards the mighty Mt Baldy.”

The much-anticipated Individual Time Trial, Stage 5, will be held in Bakersfield, a city that has hosted the Amgen Tour of California before (although not the Time Trial specifically), likely proving to favor those who have more than just speed as part of their repertoire. Stage 6 will start in Palmdale and head to Big Bear Lake, which was the site of a thrilling stage finish in 2010 when Michael Rogers (AUS) of HTC-Columbia secured his place as the race leader. For 2012, new challenges arise as a new climb is thrown into the mix.

Stage 7 of the race will start in Ontario, another new city for 2012, and once again include a grueling route to the top of Mt Baldy. During the 2011 race, Mt Baldy was the scene of an electric stage finish when American cyclists and RadioShack teammates Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer crossed the finish line first and second respectively. Tacking on an additional 10 miles to the route with the start in Ontario, Stage 7 will likely prove to be the penultimate stage once again.

The final stage of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, Stage 8 will take place in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, sending riders in and around L.A. LIVE, the sports and entertainment district which includes STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE within its footprint, for an epic overall finish to a thrilling race.

“This race is special because it takes place in one of the most beautiful places in the world – California,” said Chris Horner, 2011 Amgen Tour of California Champion. “The Host Cities are always so welcoming and the crowds are always great, not to mention, they provide some of the toughest racing terrain around! I’m looking forward to racing in California again and defending my title in 2012.”

The 13 Host Cities for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California:

· Stage 1: Sunday, May 13 – Santa Rosa

· Stage 2: Monday, May 14 – San Francisco to Santa Cruz County

· Stage 3: Tuesday, May 15 – San Jose to Livermore

· Stage 4: Wednesday, May 16 – Sonora (new for 2012) to Clovis

· Stage 5: Thursday, May 17 – Bakersfield (Individual Time Trial)

· Stage 6: Friday, May 18 – Palmdale to Big Bear Lake

· Stage 7: Saturday, May 19 – Ontario (new for 2012) to Mt. Baldy

· Stage 8: Sunday, May 20 – Los Angeles/L.A. LIVE

Latest News From Europe

10/30/2011

                                  Old man Petacchi says he still has two more years in him.
                                              Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi has revealed he wants to continue racing for two more years, even though he is fast approaching his 38th birthday.

   The Lampre rider, a winner of the points classification at all three Grand Tours, told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he asks himself whether or not he should continue but is ready to keep going.

   "Sometimes I ask myself. It's the passion, I'm totally serious about this sport, 110 percent," he said.

   Pettachi has won six Tour de France stages in his his career and 22 in his home Tour of Italy. He was suspended for a year after testing positive for the banned substance salbutamol in the 2007 Tour of Italy.

Wegmann signs for Garmin

Former German champion Fabian Wegmann has signed a one-year deal with American cycling team Garmin, the rider announced Wednesday. Wegmann, 31, has twice won the German national road title, in 2007 and 2008.

   Despite having a two-year contract with Leopard-Trek through 2012, Wegmann became surplus to requirements after the Luxembourg-based outfit merged with RadioShack to create RadioShack-Nissan-Trek.

Hincapie Headlines "A Ride For Life"

10/27/2011

George Hincapie will be spending his New Year's Eve on the roads of Santa Clarita, CA

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

As a tribute to top-ranked American cyclist George Hincapie, Icon Event Management announces A Ride For Life, a fun cycling and fitness event, taking place in the northern Los Angeles community of Santa Clarita (home of Road Bike Action) on December 31, 2011. Hincapie himself will participate in the event prior to his leaving to Europe to start the final campaign of his professional career.

The fun ride is designed to be an enjoyable and challenging experience for both the novice rider through competitive cyclists. People new to cycling and simply want to come out to support these great charities, experience the lifestyle or get some exercise, the 30 mile ride option might be perfect. For those who desire more of a challenge, join the 60 mile course. And then those looking to complete their first century (100-mile ride) as well as those more experienced riders may want to throw down with George, the longer distance is the ideal environment.

Luther White, ride organizer and owner of Icon Event Management says "We will have incredible support on the course, keeping our riders safe, fed and moving forward". When asked about the involvement of and tribute to Mr. Hincapie, he added "George Hincapie is an Iconic figure in the world of Cycling. What a tremendous opportunity for an amateur cyclist to ride on his wheel".

White adds that riders be sure to utilize the aid stations to properly fuel throughout this event and take advantage of the support provided by expert bike technicians should they experience any mechanical difficulties. The technicians will perform basic roadside assistance such as tire and tube changes and mechanical adjustments. Riders need to remember, as a self-sustained event, it is their responsibility to make sure their bicycle is in good working order prior to this event.

About the course, event promoters add "We have several challenge stages for the serious cyclists all taking place after the 60 mile marker including King of the Hill, Sprint Stage and overall Time". When asked about the event, Luther White says "We are expecting 3000 riders and registration has already begun to fill up. I hope participants register early, as we do not want to disappoint anyone". And what about those helping to make the event a seamless success? And exited White mentioned "You can tell the excitement surrounding an event when the volunteer registrations began the day we opened up the web-site".

Also part of the day's festivities is a kids 5k bike / Adult walk for those interested in supporting this great cause as a family. All ages welcome from infants, to four legged friends, come as you may. There will be food and activities available for everyone at the venue following the ride / walk. Entry fee for this event includes a tee-shirt and finishers medal for the children.

A percentage of the net proceeds from the event will be donated to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley. For additional details, people can visit the website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. Event day smartphone check-ins will be facilitated through the A Ride For Life Foursquare location.

Go to A Ride For Life for more information and registration.

French Justice Catches Up With Floyd Landis

10/24/2011

                                       Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
                                               Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

The prosecutor in a computer hacking case against the defrocked Tour de France champion Floyd Landis on Monday called for an 18-month suspended prison sentence for the American cyclist.

   The French state prosecutor called for the Tribunel Correctionel - a criminal court - in Nanterre just outside Paris to hand down the same suspended sentence to Landis' former coach Arnie Baker, in his case for "concealment."

   They claim that both men were aware of the "fraudulous origin" of documents pirated from the French Anti-Doping Laboratory (LNDD) in 2006.

   Landis and Baker stand accused of "fraudulently breaking into a computer system" in a case brought by media company Vivendi.

   Landis, now 36, is suspected of illegally obtaining documentation in a bid to contest his positive dope-test results from stage 16 of the 2006 Tour de France.

   He was stripped of his victory on that year's Tour, and after spending years and millions of dollars in an effort to clear his name, he finally confessed to doping last year.

Two Athletes Named to 2012 Paralympics Track Worlds Team

10/23/2011

Matt Bigos put in a winning effort during Nationals to secure a spot for the World Championships. (Photos: Velo Images)

U.S. Paralympics recently announced the team to compete in the 2012 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Los Angles, California, February 9-12. Named to the team are two San Diego based athletes, Matt Bigos and Greta Neimanas. Both athletes were named to the team after their performances at the recent USA Cycling Paralympic Track Nationals. Neimanas took top honors in the Women's 3k Pursuit and silver in the 500m Time Trial; Bigos took home a gold in the Men's 1k Time Trial.

Both athletes have decided to make North County San Diego their home base due to the extensive racing and training scene in the area. After spending 5 years in San Diego, Bigos is a regular face on many local training rides and at most of the southern California races. Neimanas recently moved to the area after spending the winter training in San Diego two years ago to take advantage of the amazing weather, training rides and race scene. Both riders are not only hoping for good performances at the 2012 UCI Para-cycling World Championships but also looking forward to representing the USA in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London next summer.

Neimanas looks to add a rainbow jersey to her collection of Stars and Stripes.

To follow the athletes on their journey to Track Worlds and onwards to London, be sure to visit the links below.

http://www.facebook.com/mattbigosathlete

http://www.facebook.com/Neimanation

American Dope Pusher Gets Punished

10/21/2011

Joe Papp, a 36-year-old former American pro cyclist, was hit with an eight-year competition ban Friday by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for his role in distributing banned drugs.

   The punishment was handed down because Papp pleaded guilty in 2010 to two felony charges in connection with the distribution of banned substances, human growth hormone and EPO (erythropoietin), over the Internet on behalf of a Chinese distributor.

   Papp was punished by USADA as a repeat offender, having tested positive for synthetic testosterone after a race in Turkey and receiving a two-year ban in 2006.

   He could have faced a life ban but the eight-year ban was a reduced punishment because he has aided anti-doping officials. The ban was backdated to September 1, 2007, and so would end on August 31, 2015, although Papp's elite-level career has been effectively over for some time.

   In 2007, Papp notably testified for USADA against Floyd Landis in the disgraced former Tour de France rider's legal appeal hearing. Landis was stripped of the Tour title and after a long legal fight failed to overturn the punishment admitted he had taken performance-enhancing drugs.

   Papp has shared other information about criminal activities and possible doping violations with authorities.

   "After today, the real anti-doping work begins!" Papp posted on his Twitter feed.

   The news came one day after Argentine rider Juan Pablo Dotti was issued a two-year ban after a positive doping test result last June in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

   "Saddened but obv not even the least bit surprised to see my former teammate & friend JP Dotti suspended for his doping," Papp said on Twitter. "One by one all of my former 'associates' & clients & enablers will be rolled-up, so why you'd continue to deceive with a straight face is beyond me."

Friere & Zabel Moves To Katusha

10/20/2011

                                        Zabel knows a thing or two about sprinting.
                                                   Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Former Tour de France sprint king Erik Zabel is set to become the new advisor to the fast men of Katusha, the Russian team's new manager, Hans-Michael Holczer, said Thursday.

   Zabel, 41, is a six-time winner of the sprinters' green jersey at the Tour de France and in recent years been mentoring Britain's Mark Cavendish at the HTC-Highroad team. He has also been working with Canyon Bicycles who have replaced Focus as the team's bike sponsor.

   With HTC folding at the end of the season and Cavendish having signed for Team Sky as of 2012, Zabel will now give expert advice to the likes of Denis Galimzyanov, one of the current generation's up and coming sprinters and who won Paris-Brussels in September.

   "Erik will start with us this winter, he will have the same role with our team," said Holczer, the former manager of German team Gerolsteiner.

   In an illustrious career which ended on a sour note - after he admitted to once using the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) - Zabel won Milan-SanRemo four times, Paris-Tours three times and 12 stages in the Tour de France.

   Katusha, whose team leader is Spanish climber Joaquin Rodriguez, has recently undergone a management overhaul with new sporting directors in Germain pair Christian Henn, formerly of Gerolsteiner, and Michael Rich.

Freire joins Katusha
Spain's Oscar Freire, a three-time world champion, will race for Katusha nhext season, the Russian team announced on Thursday. The 35-year-old had raced for Dutch outfit Rabobank since 2003.

   "I know a lot of the Katusha riders and I am very motivated for the next season," said Freire, a world champion in 1999, 2001 and 2004 and a four-time stage winner on the Tour de France.

Three Unrelated Events Worth Knowing About

10/19/2011

Milano Goes Brooklyn at Second Red Hook Crit Milano
Brooklyn, New York's exciting Red Hook Criterium has busted out trans-atlantic as the unsanctioned bike race race was held for the second year in Milano, Italy. The race is run late at night on a short technical circuit in the Bovisa area of Milano and pulled in pro roadies, track racers, bike messengers and urban cyclists, all competing on track bikes.

After two consecutive 2nd place finishes in the Red Hook Crit, American criterium specialist Mountain Khaki's Neil Bezdek took his first international win, dominating the italian version by taking first overall, fastest lap and both race primes in the 2011 Red Hook Crit Milano. Last year's RHCM winner Jon Ander Ortuondo was second and Alexander Barouh third.

RESULTS: Red Hook Crit Milano
1. Neil Bezdek 43'01"
Average speed: 45.20kph
2. Jon Ander Ortuondo @ ST
3. Alexander Barouh @ 01"?

To see the Manhattan race: Red Hook Citerium

Dan Wheldon Memorial Grand Prix
The entire racing community was sadden by the tragic death of Dan Wheldon at the Las Vegas 300 IndyCar race on Oct. 16. This hit all of us at Pole Position Raceway very hard since Wheldon was competing in a car owned by Sam Schmidt, one of the many professional racers behind the Pole Position Raceway chain of indoor kart tracks. Wheldon was also at our Vegas track just days before the accident to participate in a fundraiser to support Graham Rahal's Race For Research project. To honor the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Pole Position Raceway is hosting the Dan Wheldon Memorial Grand Prix on Nov. 6 at 11:00am at all six of our tracks, and it's open to the public. Cost for this event is $60 per racer, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Wheldon family to assist with the education of their two young children. The Grand Prix format features a practice, timed qualifier, and a head-to-head main event. Advanced registration is recommended and can be done by calling the tracks at the following numbers:
Corona, CA 951/817-5032
Las Vegas, NV 702/227-7223
Murrieta, CA 951/461-1600
New York / Jersey City 201/333-7223
Oklahoma City, OK 405/942-2292
Summerlin, NV 702/227-7223

For more information: Pole Position Raceway

Jan Ullrich Will Ride The Miami Gran Fondo

Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour de France champion and Olympic gold medalist is the latest athlete to become a StarEvents Ambassador and will be participating in the final round of the 2011 Gran Fondo USA series at the Gran Fondo Miami on November 20th 2011.

Ullrich will be on the start line with thousands of amateur cyclist to take part in the “Italian style” event. And after a number of years out of the sport, he has rediscovered the passion he once had when was competing at the top level.“After some private difficulties in the past, I have found the love for cycling again. Cycling was always the most important part of my life and I now find it enjoyable again, said Ullrich. “The sport of cycling provides a certain lifestyle as well as an additional quality of life through health, fitness and pleasure. Moving forward I would like to share this with others and the concept of “Gran Fondo USA” fits perfectly within this goal. At some points during my professional career, I was not able to enjoy the simple pleasures of racing over different terrain, the camaraderie with my teammates and at some points the hard effort was no pleasure at all. Today all this has changed and the values and philosophy of the professionally organized Gran Fondo USA series fits perfectly with my objectives and values to have fun while still being competitive”, Ullrich said.

With events like Miami, with its picturesque landscapes with the view to the Caribbean sea or Gran Fondo Los Angeles where cyclists ride on the world famous Rodeo Drive, Gran Fondo USA has created a series with something unique and special for everyone who participates. “StarEvents have created a great product for amateur cyclists and along with Georg Hochegger and Paco Wrolich, we aim to create and organize additional Gran Fondos in Germany and all around the world”, Ullrich said.

Gran Fondo USA are mass participating cycling events organized by StarEvents and are held over certain distances and in very special and exclusive destinations. Furthermore, the international TriStar series is facilitating the incorporation of many cyclists into the world of triathlon by participating in the races either individually or as part of relay teams.

More Info: Florida Gran Fondo

Cavendish Melds Tour & Olympic Glory

10/18/2011

        Welcome to 2012 - just picture Cavendish aboard a Pinarello waring some rainbow stripes.
                                                     Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

World champion Mark Cavendish believes completing the 2012 Tour de France, with a possible fourth consecutive stage win on the Champs Elysees, won't hamper his ambition to win Olympic gold in London.

   Cavendish has 20 stage wins from the world's premier bike race in the past five years including the past three final stages on the French capital's world famous avenue. Despite the Olympic road race taking place six days after the Tour's finale on July 22, the Isle of Man rider is not changing his plans.

   "I'm going to Paris," Cavendish told reporters after the 2012 race route was unveiled Tuesday. "I think most of the guys who are favourites for the Olympics will be riding the Tour de France anyway, so it shouldn't put me in a bad position. I have to finish the Tour de France if I want to win on the Champs-Elysees. Then it's five (six) days (to the Olympics). It is how it is, so I'll try and go my best for four weeks."

   In July Cavendish won the race's green jersey for the sprinters' points competition for the first time and capped his year by being crowned Britain's first world road race champion in 46 years at Copenhagen.

   Now wearing the coveted rainbow stripes, the Manxman is one of the hottest properties in cycling and he will be racing alongside yellow jersey contender Brad Wiggins after signing for Team Sky recently.

   Despite the inherent risk of being part of a Tour de France team which has ambitions to win both jerseys - the last to do so was the Telekom team with Jan Ullrich and Erik Zabel in 1997 - Cavendish believes their ambitions can co-exist peacefully.

   "Me and Brad speak every day. If there were problems between us then at least one of us wouldn't be at Sky next year," added Cavendish, whose current team HTC-Highroad will fold at year's end. "I've joined Sky because I think they can perform well. Brad's at Sky because he thinks they can perform well. Sky have ambition, so what's the problem? Teams have done it before."

   After his maiden green jersey triumph, Cavendish will be confident of defending the title in 2012. And with 96.1 km of time trials in the 2012 race, he believes Sky also have the power to put Wiggins into the yellow jersey.

   "It's a challenge for a lot of teams and teams have done it in the past. We've got the horsepower to do it, so we're going to try and get green and yellow," he added, claiming the race route suits Wiggins well. There are 96 kilometres of time trialling over three weeks, but there are some steep climbs. He'll have to be on super, super form, which he will be at the Tour de France."

The 2012 Tour de France Is Official

10/18/2011

The 99th Tour de France was presented today at the Palais des Congrès in Paris and the route revealed by last week's computer glitch by ASO proved to be accurate. The 2012 edition of Le Grande Boucle has a return to two long time trials totaling 96.1 km, more than double last years total and the most time-trial mileage since 2007. And with three summit finishes, the 2012 Tour de France champion will have to be a complete rider to win Le Grande Boucle.

Defending Tour champion Cadel Evans of Team BMC said of the 2012 edition, “I think the route suits me; you need a good team there for the GC (general classification) to win, but we have that. I think the second half is favorable towards me.There are longer time trials, and they are a little bit flatter this year so that’s a little more favorable to the rouleurs".

2011 Tour runner up Andy Schleck of Team Radio Shack exclaimed “There’s still 25 mountain passes
to negotiate, and there were 23 this year so it will be hard in the mountains, but there’s a lot of time trialling
and that’s something I’m currently working on. Ideally I would like to see another mountain top finish and
one less time trial. But I have to take things as they are and keep on working on my time trial,” said Schleck.

Saxo Bank's Alberto Contador participation in the 2012 Tour de France is not certain at this point, as the
2010 Tour champion is awaiting the CAS ruling on his clenbuterol positive early next month. Meanwhile, Contador said "It will be a race in which you have to attack, which is not a bad thing. It will all be decided
in the mountains.This is a course that favors Cadel Evans. I like the route, but of course it is not the best
for me maybe it is better for Cadel Evans, it is more for the riders that go very strong in the time trials and
for me maybe I need to attack before the time trials."

With the 2012 Olympic road race happening just five days after the Tour finish on July 22 July, 2011 Tour
Maillot Vert and World Champion Mark Cavendish says he will go all the way to Paris at next years Tour
anyway. "I'm going to Paris," said Cav, saying most of the contenders for Olympic gold in London would
be racing at the Tour.

BELGIAN BEGINNINGS
The 2012 Tour de France starts Saturday 30 June and has it's first week of racing starting in Liège, Belgium and across northern France, while Stage 3 to Boulogne-sur-Mer will have offer some tough climbs in the Monts du Boulonnais before an uphill finish. After a few stages for sprinter and attacking riders, Stage 7 brings the Tour to the Vosges mountains of Eastern France and an uphill finish on a 5.5km climb at an average gradient of 9.5 percent, with some parts exceeding 15 percent to the ski station of La Planche des Belles Filles. This mountain stage should provide the first selection of the 2012 Tour.

Then Stage 9's hilly 38km time trial from Arc-et-Senans to Besançon will further separate the pretenders from the contenders at the 2012 Tour. After a rest day in Besançon, Stage 10 powers across the Jura mountains features the 17km long, steep ascent of the Col du Grand Colombier, 40km from the finish. The next day, Stage 11 has the second of three summit finishes atop the 18km ascent to 1705m at La Toussuire-Les Sybelles on July 12 via the legendary Cols de la Madeleine et de la Croix de Fer.

After the Alps, the parcours of the 99th Tour de France heads west across Southern France for some sprinters stages before starting the tough Pyrenees stages. Stage 14 will be a tough opener with the steep Port de Lers and above all the 9.4 km long Mur de Péguère. This second ascent was last on the Tour’s route in 1973 and has grades up to 14%!

After a sprinters stage to Pau and a second rest day Stage 16 offers the classic "Circle of Death" climbs of the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin and Peyresourde to finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon.

The Pyrenees stages conclude with the final summit finish of the 2012 Tour on Stage 17 to Peyragudes via the steep Col de Mente, Col des Ares, Port de Bales to finish atop the 15.4km ascent to the Peyragudes ski station (via the Peyresourde) at 1603M.

The parcours of the 99th Tour de France then heads due north for the second time trial of the race, a flat, windy 52km ride from Bonneval to Chartres on the penultimate day before the final procession from Rambouillet-Paris Champs-Élysées on Sunday, 22 July.

The overall profile of the 2012 Tour de France has 25 climbs classified as second, first or beyond category in the following regions:
1 climb in the Vosges Mountains
3 climbs in the Jura Mountains (France)
4 climbs in the Jura Mountains (Switzerland)
6 climbs in the Alps
11 climbs in the Pyrenees

The 2012 Tour de France has nine new stage towns: Abbeville, Annonay, Davezieux, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, La Planche des Belles Filles, Peyragudes, Porrentruy, Samatan, Tomblaine, Visé.

2012 Tour de France stages:
Prologue Sat 30 June: Liège-Liège / 6.1 km
Stage 1 / Sun 1 July: Lièg-Seraing / 198 km
Stage 2 / Mon 2 July: Visé-Tournai / 207 km
Stage 3 / Tues 3 July Orchies-Boulogne-sur-Mer / 197 km
Stage 4 / Wed 4 July Abbeville-Rouen / 214 km
Stage 5 / Thurs 5 July Rouen-Saint-Quentin / 197 km
Stage 6 / Fri 6 July Épernay-Metz / 210 km
Stage 7 / Sat 7 July Tomblaine-La Planche des Belles Filles / 199 km
Stage 8 / Sun 8 July Belfort-Porrentruy / 154 km
Stage 9 / Mon 9 July Arc-et-Senans-Besançon / 38 km (Individual Time trial)
Rest Day Besançon / Tue 10 July
Stage 10 / Wed 11 July Mâcon-Bellegarde-sur-Valserine / 194 km
Stage 11 / Thurs 12 July Albertville-La Toussuire Les Sybelles / 140 km
Stage 12 / Fri 13 July Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne-Annonay / 220 km
Stage 13 / Sat 14 July Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux-Le Cap d’Agde / 215 km
Stage 14 / Sun 15 July Limoux-Foix / 192 km
Stage 15 / Mon 16 July Samatan-Pau / 160 km
Rest Day Pau / Tue 17 July
Stage 16 / Weds 18 July Pau-Bagnères-de-Luchon / 197 km
Stage 17 / Thurs 19 July Bagnères-de-Luchon-Peyragudes / 144 km
Stage 18 / Fri 20 July Blagnac-Brive-la-Gaillarde / 215 km
Stage 19 / Sat 21 July Bonneval-Chartres / 52 km (Individual Time trial)
Stage 20 / Sun 22 July Rambouillet-Paris Champs-Élysées / 130 km

THE CLIMBS
Stage 7: La Planche des Belles Filles
La Planche des Belles Filles: 5.9 km at 8.5 percent average (1035m)

Stage 8: Porrentruy
Cote de Maison-Rouge: 7.9km at 5% (784m)
Cote de Saignelegier: 7.8km at 6.1% (979m)
Cote de Saulcy: 4.6km at 8.6% (931m)
Cote de la Caquerelle: 4.3km at 7.6% (827m)
Col de la Croix: 3.7km at 9.2% (779m)

Stage 10 Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
Cote de Corlier: 6.4km at 5.5% (762m)
Col du Grand Colombier: 17.4km at 7.1% (1501m)

Stage 11: La Toussuire
Col de la Madeleine: 25.3km at 6.2% (2000 m)
Col de la Croix-de-Fer: 22.4km at 6.9% (2067 m)
Col du Mollard: 5.77km at 6.8% (1638 m)
La Toussuire: 18km at 6.1% (1705 m)

Stage 12: Annonay
Col du Grand Cucheron: 12.5km at 6.5% (1188 m)
Col du Granier: 9.7km at 8.6% (1134 m)

Stage 14: Foix
Col du Portel: 5.3km at 6.3% (601 m)
Port de Lers: 11.4km at 7% (1517 m)
Mur de Peguere: 9.4km at 7.9% (1375 m)

Stage 16: Bagneres-de-Luchon:
Col d’Aubisque: 16.4km at 7.1% (1709 m)
Col du Tourmalet: 19km at 7.4% (2115 m)
Col d’Aspin: 12.44km at 4.8% (1489 m)
Col de Peyresourde: 9.5km at 6.77% (1559 m)

Stage 17: Peyragudes
Col de Mente: 9.3km at 9.1% (1349 m)
Col des Ares: 6km at 5.33% (797 m)
Port de Bales: 11.8km at 7.7% (1755 m)
Peyragudes (via Peyresourde): 15.4km at 5.1% (1603 m)

Oliver Zaugg Shocks at Tour of Lombardy

10/16/2011

A win for the Swiss that doesn't come from Cancellara is rare indeed. Zaugg earns himself his first professional victory by shocking the favorites.

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Unheralded Swiss Oliver Zaugg of Team Leopard stunned a host of favorites to claim the biggest win of his career at the season-ending classic, the Tour of Lombardy on Saturday. Ireland's Dan Martin, of Garmin-Cervelo, finished second, with Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez of Team Katusha in third place, eight seconds in arrears after 6hr 20min of racing.

Until what was his first professional win, Zaugg, who finished 11th overall in the 2008 Tour of Spain, had been largely considered a domestique. But after Leopard team bosses nominated him and Danish teammate Jakob Fuglsang, who finished fourth last year, as their road captains for the day the 30-year-old seized his chance. "I have always been a helper during my career," said an ecstatic Zaugg. "Ever since I started racing, my job has been to help my captains. The team believed that my condition was good, and they gave me a chance today.

"They designated Jakob (Fuglsang) and me as captains together. I am incredibly grateful that the team gave me a shot in a race like Lombardy." Belgian Philippe Gilbert, the winner the past two seasons, was one of several favorites for the 'Race of the Falling Leaves' who struggled to keep pace in a tough finale where Zaugg made all the difference.

The Omega-Pharma rider eventually finished in eighth, being pipped to the line by Italian champion Giovanni Visconti. "What can I say? The result was logical and, as expected, it came down to the last climb," said Gilbert, who has won five of the season's 13 classics but admitted he was on his limit. "I was bordering on cramping up."

Italian Vincenzo Nibali, the 2010 Tour of Spain champion, had come into this year's race determined to make amends for crashing out last year, when Gilbert tamed wet and windy conditions to claim his second consecutive win. The Liquigas rider first put his intentions on display with an acceleration early on the Madonna del Ghisallo climb, which caused a first selection in the peloton. He crested the summit, 53km from the finish, with a lead of 1min 20sec lead on Gilbert and Fuglsang.

But once back on flat terrain around the shores of Lake Como, climbing specialist Nibali struggled to ward off a 34-man peloton being driven mainly by Team Sky, with Australian Michael Rogers leading the chase on the way to the day's final climb at Villa Vergano. Nibali was caught 16.5 km from the finish, where he trailed home over seven minutes off the pace, and left lamenting changes to this year's course. "When I had a gap of 1:40 I really thought I could win. I gave it everything, but the road from the Ghisallo to the next climb was too flat for my liking," he said. It was on the steep pitches towards the summit that Zaugg pulled ahead to leave a dwindling group of frontrunners in his wake, coming over the summit with a 15sec lead.

On the 9km stretch to the finish in Lecco, two chase groups got organized behind him, but they ultimately failed to reel the Swiss in. "It worked out very well," added Zaugg. "My hope had been that I would attack solo and hold off the others all the way to the finish. "I don't have a sprint. I'm not a big guy. What I did was the only scenario in which I could win the race. The way things played out was exactly what I had planned."

He becomes the fourth Swiss to win the race - one of cycling's five classic 'monuments' with Milan-SanRemo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Liege-Bastogne-Liege - and the first since Oscar Camenzind in 1998. Zaugg's victory also gave Team Leopard, for whom countryman Fabian Cancellara failed to fire in the cobbled spring classics, a first major classics win of the season.

Top-10 Results

1. Oliver Zaugg (SUI/LEO) 6hr 20min 02sec, 2. Daniel Martin (IRL/GRM) at 08sec, 3. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) same time, 4. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) s.t., 5. Przemyslaw Niemec (POL/LAM) s.t., 6. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/COG) s.t., 7. Giovanni Visconti (ITA/FAR) 16, 8. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/OLO) s.t., 9. Carlos Betancur (COL/ASA) s.t., 10. Riccardo Chiarini (ITA/KAT)

2011 Classic Winners

Milan-SanRemo: Matthew Goss (AUS/HTC)

Tour of Flanders: Nick Nuyens (BEL/Saxo Bank)

Ghent-Wevelgem: Tom Boonen (BEL/Quick Step)

Paris-Roubaix: Johan Vansummeren (BEL/Garmin)

Amstel Gold Race: Philippe Gilbert (BEL/Omega Pharma)

Fleche Wallonne: Philippe Gilbert

Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Philippe Gilbert

Clasica San Sebastian: Philippe Gilbert

Cyclassics: Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/Sky)

Quebec Grand Prix: Philippe Gilbert

Montreal Grand Prix: Rui Costa (POR/Movistar)

Paris-Tours: Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC)

Tour of Lombardy: Oliver Zaugg (SUI/Leopard)

Road Bike Action's November Issue

10/16/2011

What better way to welcome the fall months than with a new issue of Road Bike Action? The November issue has just landed and inside you'll definitely want to read our full report on Shimano's new Ultegra level of their battery operated Di2 drivetrain. Michael White traveled to the UCI HQ in Switzerland for the official unveiling and came away with answers to the most important questions about the lower priced drivetrain. Is it any better than the higher priced Dura Ace version?

WHAT ELSE WILL YOU WANT TO READ?

Jeff Spencer attends to Levi Leipheimer during the team's ill-fated Tour de France.

* Our good friend Jeff Spencer takes us inside the Tour de France meltdown with Team RadioShack from inside the team bus where he tended to the broken riders for every stage. You won't find this kind of close-up, intimate look inside a ProTour team anywhere else.

* Even more unequaled access to the big names of the sport comes from our Euro correspondent Tim Maloney's conversation with Ernesto Colnago who shares with us his continued frustration with not being able to win the Tour de France. This is a remarkable inside story from a true king of the sport.

* On the tech side we take a good look at the ever changing world of bottom brackets. There are now more different systems with competing claims on increased performance than ever before and we break them all down to see what works and what doesn't.

* On the bike test front you'll find the first review of the new disc specific Volagi carbon bike out of San Francisco. The Canadians are well represented with bike tests from Rocky Mountain and Argon.

Cadel finally made it and we look back on how he got to the top of the pops in July.
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

* Tim Maloney also provides us with look at just how Cadel Evans got to where he is as the 2010 Tour de France champion. It's been a long, twisty road filled with plenty of detours.

* You'll also find a review of three new wheels, new shoes and a Q&A with one of America's top women racers, Kirsten Armstrong, who continues in her quest for a spot in the 2012 Olympics.

* Look for the new issue at your local newsstand or bike shop now...or if you want it delivered straight to your mail box or computer, head to Road Bike Action Subscribe.

The 2012 Giro Gets Hacked!

10/14/2011

Seems like the internet gremlins also got into the Giro d’Italia website as the Italian Grand Tour inadvertently posted this information yesterday, but soon took it down. Here is an unofficial list of the '12 Giro d’Italia, with 198 riders and 22 teams, which will be officially announced Sunday October 16th in Milano. The first three stages in Denmark have already been announced so these are official but the rest of the 2012 Giro will be confirmed shortly.

Be sure to watch this Giro d'Italia video before you read the schedule and book your trip!

2012 Giro d’Italia stages (Unofficial)
Sat 5 May: Stage 1 / Herning–Herning ITT (8.7 km)?
Sun 6 May: Herning–Herning (206 km)
Mon 7 May: Horsens–Horsens (190 Km) / transfer to Italy post stage?
Tue 8 May: Rest day Verona?Wed 9 May: Verona–Verona TTT (32.2 km)?
Thu 10 May: Modena–Fano (199 km)?
Fri 11 May: Urbino–Porto Sant’Elpidio (207 Km)?
Sat 12 May: Recanati–Rocca di Cambio (202 km)?
Sun 13 May: Sulmona–Lago Laceno (229 km)?
Mon 14 May: San Giorgio nel Sannio-Frosinone (171 km)?
Tue 15 May: Civitavecchia–Assisi (187 km)?
Wed 16 May: Assisi–Montecatini Terme (243 Km)?
Thu 17 May: Seravezza–Sestri Levante (157 km)?
Fri 18 May: Savona–Cervere (121 km)?
Sat 19 May: Cherasco–Cervinia (205 km)?
Sun 20 May: Busto Arsizio–Lecco / Pian dei Resinelli (172 km)
Mon 21 May: Rest day Lecco?
Tue 22 May: Limone sul Garda–Falzes/Pfalzen (174 km)?
Wed 23 May: Falzes/Pfalzen–Cortina d’Ampezzo (187 km)
Thu 24 May: San Vito di Cadore–Vedelago (139 km)
Fri 25 May: Treviso–Alpe di Pampeago (197km)?
Sat 26 May: Caldes/Val di Sole–Passo dello Stelvio (218 km)?
Sun 27 May: Milano–Milano ITT (31.5 km)

Philippe Gilbert Eyes A Third Tour Of Lombardy Victory

10/13/2011

The Belgian National Champion and World Tour points leader looks for one more feather in his cap for 2011 at this weekend's Tour of Lombardy.

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Belgium's Philippe Gilbert is aiming to bring the curtain down on a stellar season so far when he lines up with a third consecutive victory in mind at the Tour of Lombardy on Saturday. For the past two years Gilbert has brought his season to a close in sensational fashion at the 106-year-old Italian classic known affectionately as the 'Race of the Falling Leaves'.

But a third consecutive win in Lecco would be special for a man who has been the outstanding performer in cycling's hillier classics throughout 2011, and arguably the biggest star of the 2011 peloton. Gilbert started the season by winning the famous Italian race Montepaschi Strade Bianche, which includes 70 kilometres of gravel roads before going on a four-race victory streak which has etched his name in the history books.

After winning Brabantse Pijl, a Belgian semi-classic, Gilbert defended his title at Holland's sole one-day classic, the Amstel Gold Race, after a perfectly timed escape on the Cauberg climb. A similarly timed move on the much steeper Mur de Huy allowed Gilbert to win the Fleche Wallonne semi-classic in Belgium, and left him as the bookies favorite to win Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the oldest cycling classic still in existence.

Four days later the tactically-astute Belgian did not fail to deliver when he defied the presence in the hilly finale of Luxembourg siblings Andy and Frank Schleck, to leave the pair below him on the podium in Ans just outside the Walloon city. In winning Amstel, Fleche and Liege, Gilbert became only the second rider in history, after Davide Rebellin in 2004, to win what is known as the Ardennes classics in the same year.

Practically unstoppable, Gilbert went on to win the Tour of Belgium and the Belgian road and time trial titles. At the Tour de France where he claimed his maiden stage win on the opening day to pull on the race's yellow jersey. A three-week long battle with Mark Cavendish for the race's green jersey ensued, with the British sprint ace prevailing. However Gilbert put his credentials back on display almost immediately by winning the San Sebastian Classic for the first time a week after July's three-week epic. Victories followed in the Eneco Tour, where he won stage three, and at the inaugural Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, where he took over as the world number one from Australia's Tour de France winner Cadel Evans.

At last year's Tour of Lombardy Gilbert defied wet and windy conditions to beat Italian Michele Scarponi by a dozen seconds, forging his win on the tough 9.5km, 6.6 percent gradient Sormano climb at the 41km to go mark. He went on to clinch victory after a 20km flat stretch on the shores of Lake Como, leading into the final climb at San Fermo della Battagila. Like last year, Gilbert missed out on victory at Paris-Tours when the French classic was held last week. However that is likely to count little as the Belgian faces the threat of like-minded champions such as Italian Damiano Cunego, looking for his fourth win, Scarponi, Vincenzo Nibali and Spanish duo Samuel Sanchez, the Olympic champion, and Joaquim Rodriugez. Arguably going in his favour is the inclusion of a new finish which includes a 3km-long slog to Villa Vergano with gradients touching 15 percent near the summit, 9km away from the finish.

Breaking News: Cavendish Joins Sky for 2012

10/11/2011

Mark Cavendish will take the rainbow jersey to Team Sky in 2012.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

World champion Mark Cavendish completed his move to Team Sky on Tuesday after several weeks of speculation linking the rider to the British-based outfit. Dave Brailsford, the Team Sky Principal and British Cycling's performance director, confirmed the widely expected news that Cavendish will race for his team from next year.

Cavendish, 26, last month became the first British male to win the world title since 1965, the crowning achievement of a season which also saw him win the sprinter's green jersey in the Tour de France.

"Mark is a born winner and what excites me most is the attitude he brings to all the teams he rides for," Brailsford said.

"We want to inspire more fans to get into cycling and I can think of no-one better to help us do that. We are delighted that the new world champion will be riding for Team Sky next season."

The deal to sign Cavendish is a major success for Brailsford and he admits he can't wait to work with the one of the best cyclists of his era.

"Mark is the greatest sprinter of his generation and is well on his way to becoming the greatest of all time," Brailsford added.

"He is a rider of exceptional talent who has proved his pedigree at the very highest level of our sport."

Cavendish has won 20 Tour de France stages in his career and a further 10 stages across the two other Grand Tours, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour of Spain. He expects his move to Team Sky to be the catalyst for even more success in the future.

"I'm confident that we can achieve success with the guys at Sky and my aim is to win stages and the green jersey at the Tour de France," Cavendish said

Cavendish will be reunited with several of his Great Britain colleagues at Team Sky, including three-time Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas.

Wiggins would seem to have most to lose from Cavendish's arrival as he will no longer be the team's pre-eminent rider, but he said: "Team Sky has enjoyed a fantastic second season and Mark's signing is another statement of our intent for next year and beyond."

Geraint Thomas, who along with Wiggins was part of the squad which helped Cavendish to win the world road race, added: "Cav joining Team Sky is fantastic news.

"In many ways it's like he's coming home - the team has a number of riders and support staff that he grew up with and it won't take him any time to settle in."

Moving to Team Sky in time for next year's Olympic Games is a bonus for Cavendish, who will start as favourite in the road race in London.

"When we started with Team Sky everyone questioned the dual role of the team, did it conflict, and they couldn't see the advantage, but in Mark's case when you look at the Olympic road race we can make sure he has an optimal programme going into 2012," Brailsford said.

"Previously we would have been negotiating with his pro team, hoping that they would have empathy with us, because they would consider he had different goals.

"As it is, he can ride all the start of next year alongside some of the British riders who are likely to support him in the Games."

Team Sky also announced the signing of Austrian Bernie Eisel, one of Cavendish's close friends and favoured support riders at his previous team HTC-Highroad.

2012 Tour de France Course Preview Leaked Early!

10/10/2011

A computer glitch at ASO (the Tour de France owner) caused the closely guarded 2012 Tour de France route to be revealed early today by a Dutch website. The news hit the wires and now Road Bike Action has it for you a week early. Bear in mind that this information is still "unofficial" and subject to change according to ASO. The 2012 Tour de France consists of 20 Stages over 3479 kilometers. There are 9 flat stages, 4 rolling stages with uphill finishes, 5 mountain stages with two new mountaintop finishes in La Toussuire Les Sybelles and Peyragudes, 2 two individual time trial stages, 1 prologue and 2 rest days.

The overall profile of the 2012 Tour de France has 25 climbs classified as second, first or beyond category in the following regions:
1 climb in the Vosges Mountains
3 climbs in the Jura Mountains (France)
4 climbs in the Jura Mountains (Switzerland)
6 climbs in the Alps
11 climbs in the Pyrenees

The 2012 Tour de France has nine new stage towns: Abbeville, Annonay, Davezieux, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, La Planche des Belles Filles, Peyragudes, Porrentruy, Samatan, Tomblaine, Visé.

2012 Tour de France stages:
Prologue Sat 30 June: Liège-Liège / 6.1 km
Stage 1 / Sun 1 July: Lièg-Seraing / 198 km
Stage 2 / Mon 2 July: Visé-Tournai / 207 km
Stage 3 / Tues 3 July Orchie-Boulogne-sur-Mer / 197 km
Stage 4 / Wed 4 July Abbeville-Rouen / 214 km
Stage 5 / Thurs 5 July Rouen-Saint-Quentin / 197 km
Stage 6 / Fri 6 July Épernay-Metz / 210 km
Stage 7 / Sat 7 July Tomblaine-La Planche des Belles Filles / 199 km
Stage 8 / Sun 8 July Belfort-Porrentruy / 154 km
Stage 9 / Mon 9 July Arc-et-Senans-Besançon / 38 km (Individual Time trial)
Rest Day Besançon / Tue 10 July
Stage 10 / Wed 11 July Mâcon-Bellegarde-sur-Valserine / 194 km
Stage 11 / Thurs 12 July Albertville-La Toussuire Les Sybelles / 140 km
Stage 12 / Fri 13 July Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne-Annonay / 220 km
Stage 13 / Sat 14 July Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux-Le Cap d’Agde / 215 km
Stage 14 / Sun 15 July Limoux-Foix / 192 km
Stage 15 / Mon 16 July Samatan-Pau / 160 km
Rest Day Pau / Tue 17 July
Stage 16 / Weds 18 July Pau-Bagnères-de-Luchon / 197 km
Stage 17 / Thurs 19 July Bagnères-de-Luchon-Peyragudes / 144 km
Stage 18 / Fri 20 July Blagnac-Brive-la-Gaillarde / 215 km
Stage 19 / Sat 21 July Bonneval-Chartres / 52 km (Individual Time trial)
Stage 20 / Sun 22 July Rambouillet-Paris Champs-Élysées / 130 km

Euro Race News: HTC Takes Another Win

10/9/2011

Germany's Tony Martin claimed his first stage race victory as world time trial champion (and the disappearing teams 120th win of the season) when he won the inaugural Tour of Beijing on Sunday.

   Russia's Denis Galimzyanov, of Team Katusha, dominated a mass sprint to win the fifth and final stage of the race, which is making its first appearance on the International Cycling Union's WorldTour.

   Martin had taken possession of the red jersey with victory in the race-opening time trial in mid-week and, backed by a committed HTC-Highroad team, managed to protect his lead throughout the race held in and around the Chinese capital.

   The victory tops and tails a stellar year for the 26-year-old German, who began 2011 by winning Paris-Nice and recently achieved a lifelong dream of winning the world time trial championship, at Copenhagen.

   "It's been a fantastic year and now a fantastic week for me," Martin said. Its really nice to have a victory and makes me so proud to win the first race here. But we had a very strong team that was pulling the whole time and I have to thank them for the win. The whole team was magnificent."

   Galimzyanov has been one of the outstanding performers among the elite peloton's new boys this season, and finally ended his quest for a maiden victory when he left Argentina's Juan Jose Haedo and Elia Viviani in his wake.

   "Of course I am very, very happy because this is my first victory on the pro tour," said Galimzyanov, who also won the green jersey for the points competition. I needed the team to bring me to the last kilometer in a good position and they did it. I am happy about the jersey of course, but I am happier about the stage.
For me it is much more important."

RESULTS: Tour of Beijing
The fifth and final stage of the Tour of Beijing, a 118 km race held in the Chinese capital Sunday:
   Stage
   1. Denis Galimzyanov (RUS) Katusha 2hr 19min 44sec, 2. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG/SAX) same time, 3. Elia Viviani (ITA/LIQ) s.t., 4. Matteo Trentin (ITA/QST) s.t., 5. Davide Appollonio (ITA/SKY) s.t., 6. Francesco Chicchi (ITA/QST) s.t., 7. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/GRM) s.t., 8. Giancomo Nizzolo
(ITA/LEO) s.t., 9. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/BMC) s.t., 10. Sebastien Hinault (FRA/ALM) s.t.

   General classification
   1. Tony Martin (GER/HTC) 13hr 39min 11sec, 2. David Millar (GBR/GRM) at 17sec, 3. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 26, 4. Stephen Cummings (GBR/SKY) 35, 5. Olivier Kaisen (BEL/OLO) 39, 6. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/RAB) 41, 7. Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA/ALM) 43, 8. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 43, 9. Dario Cataldo (ITA/QST) 43, 10. Niki Terpstra (NED/QST) 46
Selected: 18. Janez Brajkovic (SLO/RSH) 55, 44. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 1:24, 51. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 1:57

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE REAL EUROPE
Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet of the BMC team won a sprint finish to claim the Paris-Tours cycling classic here on Sunday ahead of Italian Marco Marcato of Vacansoleil.

RESULTS: Paris-Tours classic results for the 105th edition of the Paris-Tours cycling classic over 230.5km here on Sunday:
   1. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC 5hr 21min 43sec (average: 42.988 km/h), 2. Marco Marcato (ITA) at 02sec, 3. Kasper Klostergaard-Larsen (DEN) 15, 4. Ian Stannard (GBR) same time, 5. Laszlo Bodrogi (FRA) s.t., 6. Mickael Delage (FRA) at 22sec, 7. Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) s.t., 8. Stuart O'Grady (AUS) s.t., 9. Roy Curvers (NED) s.t., 10. Arnaud Gerard (FRA) s.t., 11. John Degenkolb
(GER) 48, 12. Mathew Hayman (AUS) s.t., 13. David Boucher (FRA) s.t., 14. Maarten Tjallinghii (NED) s.t., 15. Damien Gaudin (FRA) s.t.
   Selected: 19. Robbie McEwen (AUS) at 1min 23sec, 20. Oscar Freire (ESP) s.t., 27. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) s.t., 34. Romain Feillu (FRA) s.t., 35. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) s.t., 42. Mark Cavendish (GBR) s.t., 67. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) at 1min 46sec

Euro Race News: Bianchi Steps It Up

10/7/2011

Bianchi and WorldTour team Vacansoleil-DCM are proud to announce that Bianchi’s Oltre will be the official bicycle sponsor to the team for 2012 and 2013. The Italy-based manufacturer Bianchi and Vacansoleil-DCM signed a two-year sponsorship agreement, with an option to extend the contract into future years.

Bianchi continues a long and successful history in cycling with the best professional teams in the world. With the Vacansoleil-DCM team (granted WorldTour Team license by UCI until 2013), Bianchi secures participation in the major international WorldTour events, like Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a Espanã, Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.

Vacansoleil-DCM team will race on the Bianchi Oltre, part of the Bianchi HoC family. The Oltre carbon road frame was designed for extreme racing conditions and it is one of the best racing machines Bianchi has ever made. X-Tex carbon technology and Bianchi optimized aerodynamic shape give it an incredibly efficient power transmission and stiffness to weight ratio. “Bianchi Oltre is the ideal bike for professional and expert riders, and our new partnership with Vacansoleil-DCM will provide us with an important opportunity to further develop and test our carbon technology”, Bianchi CEO Bob Ippolito said.

Bianchi owner and President Salvatore Grimaldi: "With the sponsorship of Vacansoleil-DCM, Bianchi continues to expand its investment in performance cycling and global sports marketing. Our goal is to increase our presence and visibility as one of the world’s leading performance cycling brands”.
Vacansoleil-DCM team manager Daan Luijkx is excited to be together with Bianchi. “For us Bianchi is the best option for our long term strategy and we look forward to our winning cooperation. With a history of 126 years, we believe Bianchi will be an incredible partner. The Bianchi Oltre stands for high-technology, advanced product development and Italian design which support our goal to reach victories in WorldTour races.

Both Vacansoleil-DCM and Bianchi are product driven with a global vision”. Bianchi Technical suppliers: FSA, Vision, Fast Forward, Vredestein, Selle San Marco, Elite and KMC will also join the team.

PETACCHI GETS PUNTED

Don't expect to see Alessandro Petacchi (center) in London next summer.
                                     Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Italian cycling federation chiefs have put the brakes on Alessandro Petacchi's hopes of an Olympic swansong in London next year, a day after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) gave hope to hundreds of athletes.

   CAS earlier this week upheld an appeal by American sprinter LaShawn Merritt against his ban from the Olympics following positive tests for the anabolic steroid DHEA, which led to a 21-month ban.

   The ruling has since paved the way for other athletes who have served doping bans - and who therefore fell foul of their respective Olympic committees - to appeal against being banned from the four-yearly showpiece.

   Petacchi, 37, has not been considered for Olympic selection because he has previously served a ban of more than six months.

   He was sacked by his former team, Milram, in May 2008 and suspended after it was revealed he had tested positive for salbutamol at the 2007 Tour of Italy. Since then he has been implicated in several other doping affairs.

   Italian cycling federation chief Renato Di Rocco told Italian media Friday: "Select Alessandro Petacchi? No, there's no chance. We will continue operating as we do. There's no talk of sanctions but we have strict criteria for anyone wanting to wear the Italian national team jersey."

Being There: Levi's Gran Fondo

10/6/2011

An endless sea of riders get ready to depart for the 3rd Annual Levi's Gran Fondo

Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo exceeded everyone's, even Levi's, expectations in its very first edition in 2009. It continues to do so today. The 6,000 spots available for the 103-mile Gran distance sold out in only 10 days. The additional 1,500 spots for the 63-mile Medio and 32-mile Piccolo distance sold out quickly as well. So, to say that the 2011 edition of the GranFondo was a success would be a huge understatement. At the start line, the feeling of camaraderie was nearly palpable in the air of Santa Rosa for the GranFondo. Maintaining this feeling year after year is really important to Levi and he believes there are certain vital elements to keep it going. He explained, "We want to keep the community aspect; that's why we always want to have the mass start. The elite aspect is great; we want to have people that want to win. But mostly we want to get people on their bikes, mingling, and talking."

Levi himself summed it up nicely when he told me that, “The ride isn't about me, it's about the experience. I want people to have the courage to tackle it and push themselves." After the ride finished, it was back to the Finley Center for the Fondo Sonoma Festival; where, I was told, were around 15,000 people in attendance. This wasn't too surprising since Santa Rosa has always been a popular place for cycling. But there can be no doubt that the Fondo has helped it to become more mainstream.

The post-ride Fondo Sonoma Festival was so packed full of people that navigating from booth to booth was a challenge.

To gauge the overall success of the 2011 edition of Levi's GranFondo all I had to do was take a look at the event's Facebook page. Comment after comment expressed nothing short of pure enjoyment of this year's event, and eager anticipation for next year's. The course was epic, the scenery beautiful, the volunteers dedicated and the community supportive. What more could anyone hope for, besides more spots open next year?

When we had a chance to sit down at the Festival "El Patron" shared his vision for the future of the event. "My dream is to wake up for the 25th Annual edition of Levi's GranFondo. My results will fade in people's memories, but this can last forever. I want people to think, 'It's our ride!' and the event will take on a life of its own." He was also quick to point out that the credit for putting on the event should go to Bike Monkey; "They worked their fingers to the bone to get everything organized and running smoothly."

Once on the King Ridge climb, it didn't take long before the group had thinned out significantly. Levi told me (right) how training on King Ridge helped mold him into the rider he is today. (Photo: Ken Conley)

THE RIDE

As the ride rolled out under partly cloudy skies, there was plenty of excitement and nervous energy in the air. The Gran Fondo’s course is a challenging one, no matter what your skill level. As the ride went through the streets of downtown Santa Rosa the pace stayed mellow, giving everyone an opportunity to settle into their place in the pack. A dozen or so pro riders from the area gave the ride the elite factor that Levi feels is important. The list included Levi’s RadioShack teammate Jason McCartney, Team Exergy’s Freddy Rodriguez, SpiderTech’s Lucas Euser, UnitedHealthcare’s Chris Jones, and Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth’s Julian Kyer. About 10-miles into the ride, the pace ratcheted up a few notches as we approached the first of many climbs on tap for the day. The two-mile, 600-foot climb caused the group of thousands to be cut down to a front group of 50 or so. Levi, McCartney and a few other others kept the group lined out for the next 15 miles until we reached the day’s main event: King Ridge. Once on the 10-18 percent pitches of the first King Ridge climb it was clear why this ride has garnered so much attention and respect in two short years. A light sprinkle of rain added another dimension to the climb. Wet roads are not foreign to the area; in fact, a thin moss was growing out of the cracks in the road giving my tires cause for slippage when out of the saddle. By the top of the first of two main King Ridge climbs, the lead group of riders was down to just six. Levi looked around and said, “Man, this looks like the front of any US race”. He was right; the front group was down to just pro level riders.

As we rode across the ridge, the drizzle of rain increased while the temperature hovered in the low-60s. Levi said, “This is the typical weather for this area. It’s riding out here that has shaped me and toughened me during my career”. Once we reached the first rest stop, we swung in for a quick water top off and a few cream cookies. Levi stayed to visit with the volunteers and ride at a more casual pace as the rest of our small group pushed on to the second climb on King Ridge. By the time we crested the1,000-foot grind, it was down to three: Julian Kyer, Chris Jones and me. Fortunately the roads dried up, making the 50+ mph plummet from the ridge to the shoreline a little less frightening. Once on the coast, the hoped for tailwind seemed to swirl in every direction, except the one that would give us some relief.

UnitedHealthcare's Chris Jones, KBS-OptumHealth's Julian Kyer and I went it alone after the second climb on King Ridge.

With about 30 miles to go we reached the junction where the Gran and Medio courses intersected, sharing the rest of the course to the finish. As we passed the riders from the Medio route I was reminded of people’s passion for cycling; regardless of their pace or the equipment they were riding, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Apart from our love of riding, we also had something else in common: all that separated us from the finish line, lunch, and a cold beer at the Festival was one last climb. While not as substantial as what we faced on King Ridge, the 80-miles in my 9-hours of training a week legs made it feel more like an alpine pass than the 800-foot hill that it was. Mid-way up, Chris Jones and I were left alone to vie for the bragging rights of having the fastest time for the 2011 edition of the ride. After not having raced in over a year, I was hungry to cross the line first; Chris had just finished a full-season of International racing, and didn’t quite have the same desire to suffer on a “fun ride” as I did. Nevertheless, I took plenty of pride in unleashing a sprint to be the first finisher of the Gran route, coming in at 4 hours, 41 min for the 100-mile, 7,300 feet of climbing ride. I’m already counting down the days until the 4th Annual Levi’s Gran Fondo—358 days to go…

The fastest male and female riders got to take home a custom made wine bottle holder, complete with a bottle of 2007 Arnot Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon and a Levi's Gran Fondo belt buckle. I've had plenty of offers to help me drink the Cabernet-so thoughtful.

Riding With Alberto Contador

10/4/2011

For a weekday with a chance of rain, the turnout to ride with Contador was impressive. (Photo: Robertson/VeloDramatic)

Alberto Contador surprised the San Francisco Bay area cycling community over the weekend by tweeting that he would be coming to town for a ride—and everyone was invited. During his whirlwind three-day trip to California to visit Specialized he wanted an opportunity to ride—so why not include everybody?

The ride rolled out of Mike’s Bikes with approximately 150 riders, but by the time we exited the bike path a few miles later the pack had grown to over 200. The 20-mile Paradise loop was enough for most everyone to see the 3-time Tour de France champion, and snap one-handed photos while trying to maneuver around potholes. The pace was reasonable for the first half; but as the road narrowed, the hammer went down on the front by the locals. The time for chatting and picture taking was clearly over.

With a dramatically reduced group we hit a couple of short climbs before descending back down to the bay. Even in Contador’s “off-season form” he showed why he’s a six-time Grand Tour winner when he stretched his legs on the climbs, making quick work of a 1-mile climb. It's obvious he doesn't suffer from the same off-season affliction as Jan Ulrich, who had a famous, and much maligned, love of pastries. Once we were back from the ride I was able to sit down with Alberto Contador for an interview:

(Photo: Robertson/VeloDramatic)

RBA: How confident are you that the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) will rule in your favor after the November hearing?

Alberto: I’m very confident. I have experts supporting my case and the facts are there to support my argument. It is something that is not in my mind when I’m racing; but when I’m not, it is on my mind.

RBA: If you knew earlier in the year that your CAS hearing wasn’t going to be until November, would you have changed your race program to focus on the Tour de France?

Alberto: No, I’m very happy with my win at the Giro. My intention going into the Giro was to use it as preparation for the Tour, but I didn’t expect it to be so hard. Once in the Giro, I wanted to race to win and that ended up hurting me in the Tour but I’m happy with my win.

RBA: Is the Giro d’ Italia/Tour de France double victory possible in the same season?

Alberto: It is possible. Many factors have to be perfect though. The courses would have to suit me perfectly, and I would need a super strong team for both races to give me support and keep me protected.

RBA: What race wins are on your bucket list?

Alberto: I would like to win some Classics, like Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. I’m never able to prepare 100% since it doesn’t make sense in my schedule to peak for them, so they’re hard to win. Tirreno-Addriatico is another one that’s missing from my palmares. The World Championships are important too, but the courses in recent years haven't suited my strengths. I would like to do the Olympics next year, and though the road race isn’t a good one for me, I would like to help my country win. The time trial is something I could focus on since it’s so close to the end of the Tour I could still have good form.

RBA: Is there any US racing in your future?

Alberto: I would like to race the Tour of California because I like the area and terrain. Cycling is getting more and more popular in the US and it’s becoming more important for world cycling. I wasn’t able to do Tour of California the past two years because it was the same period as the Giro. If I came to the race I would come to win, not just be there, but that could negatively affect my chances in the Tour.

RBA: How closely do you work with Specialized on product development?

Alberto: That’s one of the reasons I’m here; I give a lot of feedback and their objective is to always continue making things better. Specialized is a brand that invests heavily in development. It’s hard to find any other brands that can give as much support as they can, from bikes, shoes and helmets.

RBA: If you could go on vacation and ride anywhere, where would it be?

Alberto: If it was a real vacation the bike would stay home!

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO OF MY RIDE WITH ALBERTO ON ROAD BIKE ACTION'S FACEBOOK PAGE...RBA FaceBook.

Euro Race News: Viva Vinokourov

10/2/2011

                          Few riders show the tenacity as Vino. He keeps things exciting.
                                                     Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov, victim of a fall during the Tour de France, confirmed on Thursday that he will continue to compete in 2012 with the Astana team.

   "If I want to continue on it's also for the Astana Team. These past two years I've achieved good results and I want my team to benefit," said the 38-year-old who had previously said he intended to retire at the end of this season.

   The International Cycling Union's evaluation of a team to stay in the elite level is based on their riders for the coming season.

   "I can't quit the team just like that and I have to stay as well for my country," he said. "I've returned to training and will be at the starting line for the upcoming Tour of Lombardy (October 15) and then will be ready to start for a new season on the roads."

   Vinokourov underwent surgery after a thigh fracture during the Tour de France and had announced that he intended to retire at the end of this season.

   Vinokourov, who began his professional career with the Casino team in 1998, twice won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day classic, and finished third on the Tour de France in 2003.

   As well as his exploits, Vinokourov - who also won a silver medal in the Olympic road race at Athens in 2000 - has also courted controversy in a 13-year career.

   He was thrown off the Tour de France, after the 15th stage and during the second rest day, in 2007 when it was announced he had tested positive for blood doping.

   Vinokourov was sacked by his Astana team and served a two-year ban.

"JANI" JOINS ASTANA
   Slovenia cyclist Janez Brajkovic, the winner of the 2010 Criterium du Dauphine, has rejoined Astana, the Kazakhstan team announced on Friday.

   "With Roman Kreuziger they will form a key partnership for the main Tours and will be groomed to become leaders of the team. They will also be able to benefit from the experience of Alexandre Vinokourov," said Astana manager Giuseppe Martinelli.

   The 27-year-old Brajkovic, a former world under-23 time trial champion, rejoins Astana after spells with Discovery Channel, Astana and Radioshack. He was forced out of this year's Tour de France in the first week after a fall.

Las Vegas RTC Century Ride

9/30/2011

Fabulous Las Vegas is again calling cycling enthusiasts across the country to register now to join the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) for RTC Viva Bike Vegas 2011 on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011.

Space is limited and online registration closes on Oct. 12. Riders interested in participating should register now at www.vivabikevegas.com.

This year, all riders will have the unique opportunity to begin their bike ride under the bright lights of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip with a police escort.

The fourth annual cycling event, presented by Vector Media, will feature three spectacular routes for cyclists of all skill levels, including a 103-mile century ride as well as 60-mile and 17-mile routes.

Century riders will travel from the Las Vegas Strip to the vistas of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the scenic trails near Lake Mead National Park. Both the 60-mile and century rides will also include the scenic Redo Rock Loop for the first time.

After the ride, cyclists and spectators can relax with live entertainment, cheer on returning riders, and share stories about the ride at the RTC Viva Bike Vegas Beer Garden sponsored by Miller's Ale House and Bonanza Beverage. The beer garden to be held at Town Square will be open to anyone 21 years of age and older, and proceeds from it will benefit After-School All-Stars Las Vegas.

The RTC has partnered with Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo and Staybridge Suites Las Vegas which will provide cyclists with discounted room rates. Cyclists should register today and can book their room online at www.vivabikevegas.com, saving time and money on their Las Vegas trip.

Proceeds from RTC Viva Bike Vegas 2011 will benefit three local charities: Nevada Cancer Institute, After-School All-Stars Las Vegas and Nevada Child Seekers.

The RTC is the transit authority, transportation planning agency and regional traffic management agency for Southern Nevada. The RTC’s vision is to provide a safe, convenient and effective regional transportation system that enhances mobility and air quality for citizens and visitors. The RTC encourages residents and visitors to use alternate commute modes to help reduce traffic congestion, clean the air and improve the quality of life in Southern Nevada. For more information: Las Vegas Century

Euro Race News: Doping On the Wane

9/30/2011

World cycling president Pat McQuaid believes the sport has turned a corner and has ushered in a new era in which cheats have very little room for maneuver.

For decades cycling has suffered from a doping culture which, in 1998, hit epic proportions when the Festina affair revealed the true extent of drug use in the peloton.

   The International Cycling Union (UCI) has been fighting back through a raft of measures which mean that potential cheats are now more under scrutiny than ever.

   A record 570 tests were carried out at the Tour de France in July, and only one positive case, that of Russian Alexandr Kolobnev, was revealed. All the rest were negative, according to UCI anti-doping manager Francesca Rossi.

   While the UCI is still awaiting the full results from 537 tests carried out at the Tour of Spain, the 511 tests carried out at the Tour of Italy were also negative.

   McQuaid believes a sea change has taken place within the peloton.

   "Bit by bit, cycling has been changing from a sport which has a doping culture to a sport which has an
anti-doping culture," the Irishman told a press conference at the world championships. "The UCI is seen as a reference in the fight against doping now. The sport of cycling is seen in many ways as a pioneer in the fight against doping."

   In 2001 cycling was the first sport to introduce a test for EPO (erythropoietin), a hormone which enhances performance significantly in endurance sports by boosting the oxygen-rich red blood cells in the blood.

   Three years ago the UCI pioneered a biological passport program. Biological parameters are charted in a profile, which is then used as the basis to compare samples from subsequent tests. UCI anti-doping manager Rossi said that over 21,000 tests had been conducted since the introduction of the biological passport.

   "As of today, 955 riders are part of our testing pool - compared with 848 last year," Rossi said, adding that the emphasis is now on targeted testing as opposed to extensive testing.

   "We are now doing intelligent testing - which does not mean we were stupid," she explained. "We target the riders we believe need to be more tested than others."

   Although it has its detractors, some of whom believe that athletes can always come up with new ways to cheat the tests, the biological passport has been widely accepted by international sports/anti-doping bodies.

   The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) earlier this year overruled decisions by the Italian National Committee and the Olympic Committee of Slovenia to clear Franco Pellizotti and Tadej Valjavec respectively, banning the two riders for two years solely on the evidence of their biological passports.

   Earlier this season cycling bosses introduced a 'no needle policy,' which was also enforced by the international rowing federation. The International Olympic Committee has since implemented the regime for the 2012 London Games.

   While the affair surrounding three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has yet to be settled - CAS will deliberate in November over a failed test last year - McQuaid believes the cheats have little room for maneuver.

   "The strategy we want to undertake in the coming months and years is that the UCI does everything it has to do in anti-doping and catches the cheats when cheats are to be caught and gets them out of the sport," he said.

   "That's the way it should be. We've had big dramas in the past few years but I don't see that continuing in the future."

Looking Ahead With Mark Cavendish

9/29/2011

                         Mark Cavendish had an amazing 2011 season - what's next?
                                               Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Mark Cavendish added another significant line to his remarkable list of honours when he ended a 46-year wait for a British men's world road race title on Sunday.

   Barely minutes after his latest exploit, the 26-year-old from the Isle of Man was talking up his chances of becoming Olympic champion at London in 2012.

   With 20 Tour de France stage wins, and his first green jersey for the race's points competition in 2011, Cavendish has played a major role in putting Britain on the world cycling map in the past five years.

   Yet he went one step better when he became only the second Briton, and the first since Tom Simpson in 1965, to pull on the famous rainbow stripes. As a sprint specialist, Cavendish does not have the physical capacities to win a tough endurance test like the Tour de France yellow jersey.

   But he believes he has won the next best thing.

   "At the start of the season I said I had two goals: the green jersey, and the rainbow stripes," said Cavendish, who beat his Australian teammate at HTC-Highroad, Matthew Goss, into second after the 260 km race. "I can't win the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, so this is the next best thing for me.
In terms of professional cycling, you can't get anything better than winning the rainbow jersey. Now I get to wear the rainbow bands for the next year."

   He added: "The Olympics is different, because you've only got five riders and the course next year will be more difficult than here. "But I'm going to prepare as best as I can for it."

   Cavendish's bid for gold at the worlds last year in Geelong ended prematurely when he appeared to have been mis-informed about the profile of the hilly Australian course.

   But where last year he had only a few support riders, this year's road race course presented just too good an opportunity to miss for the British team.

   It was mainly flat, and - if his team was able to get their tactics right- likely to end in the kind of bunch sprint Cavendish adores.

   "We knew three years ago when this course was announced, we put a plan together to put these best guys together," explained Cavendish.

   British riders throughout the peloton have since worked tirelessly for the results and rankings points that would allow Britain to qualify more riders for the world championships.

   On the day the eight-man team were committed to keeping Cavendish protected and out of the wind and protected all day long, before the fast pace-setting of David Millar and Bradley Wiggins played a decisive role in tiring rivals in the final laps. From then on Cavendish counted on Welshman Geraint Thomas and Ian Standard for support on the home straight.

   But he was quick to share out the plaudits.

   "We had eight of the best guys in the world. It was incredible, we took it on from start to finish," said Cavendish. "Bradley Wiggins, he probably rode the whole of the last lap on his own. They all rode out their skins today. It's a shame they can't wear the world champion's jersey as well. I've won the jersey, but I just put the finishing touches to the mission."


Cavendish to race Paris-Tours
   Paris-Tours organisers ASO (Amaury Sports Organisation) have invited Mark Cavendish to become the first world road race champion to compete in the French sprinters' classic next month.

   Cavendish became only the second Briton, and the first since Tom Simpson in 1965, to win the road race world champion's rainbow stripes in Copenhagen on Sunday. The 26-year-old from the Isle of Man, who races for HTC-Highroad, has never won the late season French classic but is set to participate in his new rainbow stripes on October 9.

   Organisers ASO are hoping Cavendish could buck a recent trend which has seen newly-crowned world champions failing to win the race.

   "Where Tom Boonen failed in 2005, just like Oscar Freire the previous year, Cavendish could become the first world champion to triumph in his new jersey on the famous Grammont Avenue," said ASO.

   Philippe Gilbert of Belgium, one of the most prolific riders in the peloton this season and a former two-time winner (2008, 2009), will also fancy his chances.

   Norway's Thor Hushovd, world champion in 2010, will line up for Garmin while Vacansoleil's Romain Feillu will carry French hopes following his sixth place finish behind Cavendish in Copenhagen.

   Former three-time world champion Oscar Freire of Spain won last year's edition from a bunch sprint after Frenchman Geoffroy Lequatre, a late escapee, was caught in the final few hundred metres.

CAVENDISH FACT FILE
   Date of birth: May 21, 1985
   Place of birth: Laxey (Isle of Man/Britain)
   Nationality: British
   Lives: Quarrata (Tuscany, Italy)
   Teams: Sparkasse (2005 and 2006), T-Mobile (2007), High Road, HTC-Columbia, HTC-Highroad (since 2008)

   Principal results
   One Day Races:
   World road race championship 2011
   Milan-SanRemo 2009
   GP de l'Escaut 2007, 2008 and 2011, Tour of Bochum 2009

   Stage Races:
   Four Days of Dunkirk - two stages 2007
   Tour of Catalunya - three stages (2 in 2007, 1 in 2010)
   Tour du Benelux - one stage 2007
   Three Days of La Panne - four stages (2 in 2008, 2 in 2009)
   Tour of Romandy - two stages (prologue in 2008, 1 in 2010)
   Tour of Ireland - three stages (2 in 2008, 1 in 2009)
   Tirreno-Adriatico - one stage (2009)
   Tour of Switzerland - two stages (2009)

   Grands Tours:
   Tour de France - 20 stages
   Giro d'Italia - seven stages
   Tour of Spain - three stages

   Track: World Madison champion in 2005 (with Rob Hayles) and 2008 (with Bradley Wiggins)

HTC TEAM REPORT: CAVENDISH TAKES THIRD GOLD MEDAL FOR HTC-HIGHROAD AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mark Cavendish secured a world championship title for Great Britiain on Sunday and the third gold medal this week for HTC-Highroad. HTC-Highroad finished the week with five medals including gold for Tony Martin and Judith Arndt in the time trial events; Silver for Matt Goss and Bronze for Ina-Yoko Teutenberg in the road race.

After a fast race, with Great Britain spending the majority of the day controlling the peloton to reel in the break, Cavendish was delivered in good position to the final straight. He was challenged by HTC-Highroad teammate Goss in the final meters, but was able to hold them off to take his first ever world road title. Former Highroad rider Andre Greipel took the bronze medal.

"I'm really proud," said Cavendish after the race. "This has been a three year project for us. Ever since the course was announced we have been preparing for this."

"Not just me but all the guys who rode so well today and others committed to making sure we qualify a good team. A World title is something special and I'm going to wear the rainbow jersey with pride over the next year."

For more information: HTC-Highroad

Ride Calendar: Five Rides For Good Causes

9/27/2011

As LIVESTRONG Day approaches on October 2nd, FRS Healthy Performance, the makers of natural performance beverage products and energy chews, are gearing up to celebrate The LIVESTRONG Foundation and help encourage people to join the fight against cancer. FRS products began with health scientists trying to provide sustained energy for chemotherapy patients and are powered by a patented formula containing Quercetin, green tea catechins and essential vitamins.

Each year, on the anniversary of Lance Armstrong’s cancer diagnosis, the LIVESTRONG Foundation asks the world to come together to support cancer awareness—this is known as LIVESTRONG Day. As a partner of LIVESTRONG, FRS joins in the fight for a cause that affects too many.

To honor the work of LIVESTRONG, FRS is asking the question: How does LIVESTRONG inspire you? Through traditional and social media, on-line ads and the support of The Dan Patrick Show, entrants may submit a 200-word essay for a chance to win a trip for two to Austin, TX for the LIVESTRONG Challenge on October 14th-16th.

FRS and The Dan Patrick Show will promote the contest via banner ads and commercials starring Dan Patrick’s ‘Danettes’. During the week of 9/26, the Danettes will star in vignettes telling viewers how they LIVESTRONG while demonstrating their cycling technique on Johnson Health Tech LIVESTRONG bikes. Starting this week (Sept 19th-Oct 1st), The Dan Patrick Show will direct viewers to go to www.danpatrick.com and click on the FRS/LIVESTRONG link to submit their essays or videos. Fans may also go directly to www.facebook.com/frshealthyenergy to enter.

OCTOBER 16 ON BOTH COASTS: RIDE TO SURVIVE

For west coast cyclists there are few things better than riding in Santa Barbara, California and that's where
the 3rd annual Ride to Survive will be taking place with a variety of different ride options to participate in. On the same weekend, there are indoor cycling events taking place in both New Jersey and Kansas.

For more info: Tour de Pink.

OCTOBER 30: TEAM HELEN'S 8TH WONDER CYCLING CHALLENGE

This locally famous ride provides cyclists with a choice of three different distance routes each which takes the riders through some of the most beautiful, but demanding roads in the Santa Monica/Malibu mountains. Besides the ride there is a picnic and silent auction taking place at the the Saddlerock Ranch afterwards.

For more info: Team Helen's Challenge

NOVEMBER 3: MIKE NOSCO CHALLENGE

Mike Nosco was a SoCal local cyclist who, along with his brother Jack, spent countless hours pedaling in the hills the hills of Agoura. In 19xx, Mike was killed in a traffic accident and to help remember his brother and the charitable work he did, Jack started a charity ride himself. Each year he picks a person close to the local cycling community and this year the ride is in memory of Ronette Espinoza who passed from cancer last May. The ride takes place on a Thursday and the route can be long and hard, but shortcuts are possible! This year's event looks to collect plenty of cycling industry luminaries and riders as diverse as Garmin's Dave Zabriske to former National & World Champion mountain biker Ned Overend. Following the ride, there will be a big picnic and bike schwag auction.

For more info: Mike Nosco Challenge

World Road Race Championship

9/25/2011

Mark Cavendish now has a Rainbow Jersey to add to his rapidly expanding jersey collection.

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Mark Cavendish became Britain's first world road race champion since the late Tom Simpson in 1965 when he dominated a bunch sprint to win the men's elite race at the road world championships here Sunday. Australian Matthew Goss finished second to take the silver with German Andre Greipel winning the bronze after 260 km of racing. "We knew it was the best chance we had since San Sebastian in 1965 to bring the rainbow jersey back to Britain," said Cavendish. "And with the best eight riders in the race, we achieved that. It's incredible. It's the work of Great Britain, and I'm bringing it (jersey) back."

On a mainly flat 14 km circuit that was not conducive to attacking, the first salvos came early, an eight-man breakaway forming and going on to build a maximum lead of nearly 10 minutes on the main bunch. They were reeled in well before the finish and, in the final laps, a flurry of attacks was soon brought to heel by a miserly and determined peloton which hit a record average speed of 45km/h for the race. Britain, helped by Germany, had taken a firm grip early on to boost their chances of a bunch sprint for Cavendish and their work paid off handsomely. After putting the Isle of Man sprinter in prime position on the 500-metre uphill finish, he found a gap inside the final 200 and powered up the inside of the barriers to beat Goss by half a wheel. "When I kick I know whether I'm going to win or not," added Cavendish.

Goss, who like Cavendish had to tweak his preparations after dropping out of the Tour of Spain with a virus, said his race could not have worked out better - except for one major detail. "I don't like being the bridesmaid! I would much rather be wearing that jersey there," said the Australian, pointing at the rainbow stripes being worn by Cavendish, his teammate at HTC-Highroad. Goss, however, was quick to pay tribute to both Britain and Australia. "When he went, I kind of jumped on the wheel. I knew it was still a long way to the finish line and I had in the back of my mind I could get back if everything went well, but in the the end I ran out of meters. "You can't dwell, his (British) team rode really strongly and you can't take that away from them. And the team did everything for me. Big hats off to those guys, I wasn't far away from finishing off the job."

Reigning world champion Thor Hushovd of Norway was one of several top names who got stuck behind following a crash on the sixth lap. With the pace upfront unrelenting, his group never recovered their deficit. Before then, world number one Philippe Gilbert, who is not considered a true sprinter like Cavendish and Goss, had tried to toughen the race for the sprinters by Belgian teammates on the attack. But the pace being set meant he was given little opportunity to launch any trademark attacks. In the finale he sprinted, but could only finish 17th. "We tried to make the race as hard as possible but the British and the German teams controlled it pretty tightly," said Gilbert. "It was impossible to stay out in front without being chased down. It just proves what I said before the race, I wasn't a favourite on this kind of course."

It was a sentiment that Goss confirmed: "It's really difficult to ride away on this circuit when the bunch is going that fast." After his key lead-out man Tony Martin and three other Germany teammates were caught behind, Greipel admitted he had to change tack. "We were helping Britain in the chase up until the crash, but we had to change our plans after that," said the German, who won his maiden Tour de France stage in July. "It's just a pity Tony got stuck behind. We had brought the best German team I could have for this race."

Top-10 Results

1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) 5hr 40min 27sec, 2. Matthew Goss (AUS) same time,

3. Andre Greipel (GER) s.t., 4. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) s.t., 5. Jurgen

Roelandts (BEL) s.t., 6. Romain Feillu (FRA) s.t., 7. Borut Bozic (SLO) s.t.,

8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) s.t., 9. Oscar Freire (ESP) s.t., 10. Tyler

Farrar (USA) s.t.

World Championship Report

9/24/2011

Defending champion Thor Hushovd and Belgian ace Philippe Gilbert accept that if they are to win the world road race title then it will be very much against the odds.

   One of cycling's most coveted prizes, the rainbow jersey is up for grabs on Sunday when the elite men bring the road world championships to an end after 266 km of racing.

   Hushovd made history for Norway last year by triumphing on a far hillier course in Geelong, Australia ahead of Dane Matti Breschel and Allan Davis of Australia. And while he is being tipped for a rare double, the Norwegian is playing it cool.

   The elite men's peloton will complete a mainly flat 14 km circuit 17 times after riding 28 km from Copenhagen city centre, with the finish line at the end of a rising 500 meter long stretch.

   Those characteristics suit some riders, mainly the powerful sprinters, better than others. Hushovd, Slovakian Peter Sagan, Australian Matt Goss, Oscar Freire of Spain, Mark Cavendish of Britain and Gilbert are all in the mix.

   Hushovd, who confirmed he had fully recovered from a course of antibiotics by winning a stage at the Tour of Britain last week, is taking nothing for granted.

   "With guys like Peter Sagan, Philippe Gilbert, Oscar Freire and Mark Cavendish, there are plenty of potential winners," said Hushovd. "(Italian) Daniele Bennati has one of the strongest teams in the race, and the Germans will have a very solid team led by Andre Greipel. We only have four riders, so we're going to have to rely on the work of others."

   Having fewer teammates than the rest of his rivals - because of the relative lack of Norwegian participants in top level cycling - failed to prevent Hushovd from triumphing last year when tactical nous and sheer power made the difference.

   This year, with no major hills or difficulties on the race, tactics alone could be the decider.

   Teams who are counting solely on their main sprinter to finish the job will likely race to create a bunch or select group sprint, while others - who have no, or less rapid, fast men - could work with others to avoid such a scenario.

   Although Gilbert has a powerful sprint going uphill, the Belgian is playing his chances down.

   "I'm feeling in great condition at the moment, and ready for the worlds...but the course isn't the best one for me," said Gilbert, who is about to finish the season as the world number one. But everyone knows that it will be long, fast and difficult to control over 266 km. I'm sure it's going to finish in a sprint, but that won't be easy to do in the last 500 meters. You have to really get your effort, and your timing right."

   While next year's worlds course in the Netherlands, which is hillier, suits Gilbert far better, some contenders don't have that luxury.

   British sprinter Mark Cavendish, a 20-time stage winner on the Tour de France, has been the name on everyone's lips since Copenhagen's course was announced. And while Cavendish will benefit full British line-up - he only had three support riders last year - he might not get another shot at the rainbow jersey on his preferred flatter terrain for years.

   "If there's ever a course for us to win on with Mark, with the team we've got, and the form the team is in, based on recent results, this is it," said teammate Bradley Wiggins. "He's also got the disadvantage that most of the peloton know he's one of the favorites, so we're not going to be handed it on a plate."

World Championship Report

9/24/2011

                            Bronzini's repeat rainbow jersey was a big win for Italy.
                                                 Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Giorgia Bronzini of Italy produced a trademark power sprint to successfully defend her elite road race title and leave Marianne Vos in tears at the road world championships on Saturday.

   Bronzini, 28, came over the finish line of the 140 km race a wheel length ahead of Dutchwoman Vos, who took her fifth consecutive silver medal in the event and sixth consecutive podium place.

   Ina-Yoko Teutenberg of Germany took third place, a full bike length behind, with Britain's Olympic champion Nicole Cooke finishing fourth.

   Canadian speed skating and cycling Olympian Clara Hughes had made an audacious bid for victory when she attacked late on the third from last of the race's 10 laps of a 14 km circuit. But despite powering to a lead of nearly a minute on a bunch which seemed reluctant to chase, her glory bid came to a virtual end once the peloton shook itself to life on the last lap. She was reeled in with a little over 3km to race, prompting a wave of attacks before the long stretch leading to the slightly uphill finish line.

   Once on the home straight the leading contenders were all back together but, as expected, the 500-meter uphill stretch leading to the finish was decisive.

   Vos had been led in superbly by a strong Dutch team, but once on the rise Teutenberg made a solo bid for glory on the left hand side. As she slowed, Bronzini was brought up the inside of the barriers on the wheel of a teammate. Vos appeared to be impeded by Teutenberg and had to pull around the German as she tried to follow Bronzini when the Italian went alone.

   Vos, however, never recovered from that extra effort and, despite a late surge meters before the finish, she failed to pull pull level with the Italian.

   The week-long championships end Sunday with the 266 km men's road race.

RESULTS: Elite women's Road Race
   1. Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) 3hr 21min 08sec, 2. Marianne Vos (NED) same time, 3. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (GER) s.t., 4. Nicole Cooke (GBR) s.t., 5. Julia Martisova (RUS) s.t., 6. Chloe Hosking (AUS) s.t., 7. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR) s.t., 8. Ludivine Henrion (BEL) s.t., 9. Rasa Leleivyte (LTU) s.t., 10.
Aude Biannic (FRA) s.t., 11. Svetlana Bubnenkova (RUS) s.t., 12. Joelle Numainville (CAN) s.t., 13. Lise Nostvold (NOR) s.t., 14. Emma Johansson (SWE) s.t., 15. Grace Verbeke (BEL) s.t.

World Championship Report

9/23/2011

                                Will Matt Goss be the new world's boss come Sunday?
                                               Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Australia's Matt Goss believes he could have the edge over HTC-Highroad teammate Mark Cavendish if the pair come to duel for cycling's coveted rainbow jersey at the road world championships on Sunday.

   The 266 km men's road race is the blue ribbon event of the week-long competition with the likes of Cavendish, Philippe Gilbert, Oscar Freire and a handful of other big names out to try and succeed Norwegian Thor Hushvod.

   Having taken his stage win tally on the Tour de France to 20 this year, Cavendish is the big favorite on a mainly flat but winding course which finishes on a slightly rising 800-metre home straight.

   Teammate Bradley Wiggins says it could be this year, or never, for the talented Isle of Man sprinter.

   "If there's ever a course for us to win on with Mark, with the team we've got, and the form the team is in based on recent results, this is it," said Wiggins.

   Whether Britain can gel in the way Cavendish's HTC-Highroad team have during a record-setting spell in the peloton remains to be seen.

   Cavendish's teammate Goss will be hoping the British sprint lead-out train comes unstuck. Despite admitting his own preparation has been "less than ideal", after pulling out of the Tour of Spain early with a virus, the Australian has emulated race intensity and distance by competing elsewhere in recent weeks.

   Asked if he can beat Cavendish, Goss told AFP: "That's something we'll find out on Sunday. It's different sprinting after 266 km than it is at the end of a 180 km stage race. My advantage is that I still generally have quite a strong sprint at the end of a hard race. But at the same time, he (Cavendish) won Milan-SanRemo in a sprint as well, so it's going to be (decided by) how our bodies are holding up at this time of the year."

   Starting with a 28 km stretch out of central Copenhagen, the race continues on 17 laps of a 14 km circuit. Although tactics and sheer pace should whittle the peloton down in the closing laps, the ultimate decider, however, could be the finishing straight.

   Coming immediately after a sharp, right-hand turn, a 400-metre flat section leads towards another 400 metre long false-flat. In theory it suits the sprinters who thrive on slight uphill finishes, although it could, in the closing kilometres, also prompt a late attack that could go all the way to the finish.

   Gilbert, who has enjoyed his best ever season winning the three Ardennes classics, the Belgian title, a stage in the Tour de France, the San Sebastian classic and the Quebec GP, is one of the few who could arguably employ either tactic.

   "He's certainly going to be on my radar and everyone else's," admitted Goss. "If they (Belgians) set out to make the race hard then there's a real chance that he could get the win at the end of the day. He's definitely good at it (uphill sprinting). I think he's got that thing where you don't feel lactic acid or something! He's a real threat, that's for sure."

   Among the other favorites are Slovakian sprinter Peter Sagan, a three-time stage winner at the Tour of Spain, while Spain's Freire said he will retire if he wins a record fourth title.

   Wiggins says Cavendish, however, won't be handed anything on a plate.

   "It's going to take the ride of his life to win it, but it always does to win a world title," added the Londoner. As Thor did last year, he's going to have to play it safe a bit and play it smart all day."

   Goss meanwhile hopes his failure to complete the Tour of Spain isn't too much of a handicap.

   "If my body holds up I think we can do good, but I can't say I'm gonna beat Cav hands down. But I'm certainly not going into the race thinking I can't beat him. Otherwise there's no point in being here."

LOOKING BACK: The last 10 winners of the rainbow jersey:
   Men
   2001 (Lisbon, Portugal): Oscar Freire (ESP)
   2002 (Zolder, Belgium): Mario Cipollini (ITA)
   2003 (Hamilton, Canada): Igor Astarloa (ESP)

   2004 (Verona, Italy): Oscar Freire (ESP)
   2005 (Madrid): Tom Boonen (BEL)
   2006 (Salzburg, Austria): Paolo Bettini (ITA)
   2007 (Stuttgart, Germany): Paolo Bettini (ITA)
   2008 (Varese, Italy): Alessandro Ballan (ITA)
   2009 (Mendrisio, Switzerland): Cadel Evans (AUS)
   2010 (Geelong, Australia): Thor Hushvod (NOR)

World Championship Report

9/23/2011

UNITED STATES CHOSEN AS WORLDS SITE IN 2015
The International Cycling Union (UCI) selected Richmond, Virginia, as host of the 2015 road cycling world championships on Wednesday, the first US site for the event since 1986.

   Oman has challenged the American bid before pulling out as a candidate, leaving Richmond, about a two-hour drive south of Washington, to claim the event. The last US host city was Colorado Springs in 1986.

     More than 1,000 competitors from about 70 nations will ride in the event, set for September 19-27, 2015. It will feature elite men and women competing in road races, individual times trials and a new team time trial. "Hosting the world championships will help bring Richmond one step closer to being one of the world's great bicycling cities," Richmond mayor Dwight Jones said.

   The city hosted stops in the Tour de Trump and Tour DuPont, stage races from around 20 years ago that included such US stars as Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong.

   "Richmond stepped up and proved they could support world-class cycling," said Mike Plant, a US member of the UCI management committee.

FRANCE GOES 1-1 IN U-23 MEN'S RACE

            The French National team had their race winning tactics down!
                   Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

   Arnaud Demare gave a glimpse of what will be required to win cycling's coveted rainbow jersey when he claimed a deserved gold in the men's under-23 road race at the road world championships on Friday.

   Sprint specialist Demare, a trainee with the French professional team FDJ, led a French one-two with compatriot Adrien Petit taking the silver ahead of Britain's Andrew Fenn after 168 km of racing.

   The under-23 men used the same 14 km circuit in the suburb of Rudersdal which will be used by the elite men in their 266 km race on Sunday, when they tackle it 17 times after a 28 km ride from the center of Copenhagen.

   And more than one contender for Sunday's big event was watching the race to gauge which tactics will best be employed on the mainly flat course whose uphill finish has so far kept the field guessing.

   Australian Michael Hepburn, who took bronze in the time trial earlier in the week, had been one of the big favorites for gold in the under-23 road race. But despite the Australians taking their responsibilities at the front of the peloton throughout, their earlier efforts meant they were reduced to virtual bystanders by the time the home straight came into sight.

   Demare and Petit - a first-year professional with Cofidis - both played the waiting game throughout the race, sending teammates up to the front in a bid to stymie potential attacks. Their tactics ultimately allowed them to save precious energy, and when they pulled to the front once on the rising, 400-metre straight leading to the finish line they remained unchallenged.

   English-born Fenn, a former track cyclist who rode for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and is a former winner of the junior Paris-Roubaix, had to dig deep in the final meters to hold off Germany's Rudiger Selig.

World Chamionships: Mens TT Results

9/21/2011

Like his German compatriot, HTC teammate and women's TT winner Judith Arndt, Tony Martin scored one last huge victory for the year. Look for Martin to stay on a Specialized in 2012, but in QuickStep colors. Photos by Yuzuru Sunada

Germany's Tony Martin ended the long reign of Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara by winning the time trial gold at the road world championships here Wednesday.

   Martin claimed his maiden world title in the discipline, with Britain's Bradley Wiggins finishing second to take the silver. Cancellara, who came close to missing out on a medal in an error strewn performance, won the bronze.

   Martin, a time trial specialist who rides with the HTC-Highroad team, had finished runner-up in the event the past two years to Cancellara.

   The Swiss had won the title four times in the past fives years, deciding not to compete in 2008, when Germany's Bert Grabsch won in Varese, having just won the Olympic title in Beijing.

   Martin, however, had signaled his form by relegating Cancellara to over a minute and a half behind him on his way to victory in the recent 10th stage of the Tour of Spain.

   And the German proved that he was fully deserving of the title after speeding his way, at an average of 51.8 km/h, over the 46.4 km course to post a winning time of 53min 43.85sec.

   Having set a time of 54:59.68, Wiggins (above) had looked set for a third place finish but he secured the silver thanks to errors on the part of Cancellara who twice was forced to slow down to avoid hitting the barriers after tight turns. On his second mishap, the Swiss star actually came to a standstill after he had rounded a right hand bend, losing the precious seconds which almost cost him a medal. In the end he stopped the clock in 55:04.44.

   Germany's Bert Grabsch, who won the world title in Cancellara's absence in 2008, came fourth at just 11secs behind the Swiss.

Last, but not least, Taylor Phinney was the top American finisher in 15th place followed in by compatriot Andrew Talansky.

RESULTS: Men's Time Trial (46.4 km)
   1. Tony Martin (GER) 53min 43.85sec, 2. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) 54.59.68, 3.Fabian Cancellara (SUI) 55.04.44, 4. Bert Grabsch (GER) 55:15.61, 5. Jack Bobridge (AUS) 55:57.71, 6. Richie Porte (AUS) 56:13.39, 7. David Millar (GBR) 56:29.47, 8. Lieuwe Westra (NED) 57:02.37, 9. Alexandr Dyachenko (KAZ) 57:03.16, 10. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) 57:14.44, 11. Jonathon Castroviejo (ESP) 57:18.22, 12. Gustav Larsson (SWE) 57:18.47, 13. Svein Tuft (CAN) 57:19.74, 14. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) 57:28.59, 15. Taylor Phinney (USA) 57:36.43, 16. Andrew Talansky (USA) 57:41.74, 17. Nelson Oliveira (POR) 57:58.83, 18. Jesse Sergent (NZL) 58:10.16, 19. Jack Bauer (NZL) 58:10.84, 20. Stef Clement (NED) 58:17.78

World Championship Women's TT Results

9/21/2011

        Germany's Judith Arndt took yet another win for the soon to be disbanded HTC.
                                                   Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Former world road race champion Judith Arndt defied the wet conditions to claim her maiden time trial gold at the world road championships on Tuesday.

   Arndt scorched over a rain-hit and technical 27.8km course to clock a winning time of 37min 07.38sec, pushing Danish-born New Zealander Linda Villumsen down to second place.

   Villumsen timed 37:29.11 to take the silver medal while Britain's defending champion Emma Pooley took the bronze in 37:31.51.

   Arndt, who won the road race gold in 2004, has been attempting to win the worlds time trial for years and came close to her goal last year when she finished second behind Pooley on a far more difficult course in Australia.

   In 2010, it was the same three riders on the podium, with Villumsen finishing in third place.

   Pooley, a climbing specialist, came into the race playing down her medal hopes because of the flat and technical profile of the course in the Danish capital.

   However the Swiss-based professional put in an impressive display, coming over the halfway line in provisional second place and going on to challenge for a medal on the second of the two circuits.

   Canada's women meanwhile were among the biggest losers on the day.

   In drier conditions former Olympic speed skater Clara Hughes had topped the provisional podium when she set an early benchmark of 37:44, and she survived for most of the race until being pushed into second by compatriot Tara Whitten.

   In the end, Whitten missed out on the bronze by 2.3sec, with Hughes finishing fifth a further 10secs off the pace.

Results: Women's Time trial (27.8 km)
   1. Judith Arndt (GER) 37min 07.38sec, 2. Linda Villumsen (NZL) at 21.73, 3. Emma Pooley (GBR) 24.13, 4. Tara Whitten (CAN) 26.16, 5. Clara Hughes (CAN) 36.79, 6. Eleonora Van Dijk (NED) 38.88, 7. Rhae-Christie Shaw (CAN) 39.23, 8. Amber Neben (USA) 41.09, 9. Emilia Fahlin (SWE) 55.06, 10. Marianne Vos (NED) 55.77, 11. Ina Teutenberg (GER) 56.14, 12. Shara Gillow (AUS) 1:00.55, 13. Elena Tchalykh (AZE) 1:00.84, 14. Emma Johansson (SWE) 1:01.13, 15. Evelyn Stevens (USA) 1:21.73
   Selected: 31. Taryn Heather (AUS) 3:08.71, 40. Nontasin Chanpeng (THA) 3:59.35, 45. Monrudee Chapookham (THA) 4:21.88, 47. Dinah Chan (SIN) 4:56.11

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team's 2012 Roster Announced

9/21/2011

Jake Keough: From Cape Cod to the National Spotlight. Photo: Jon Safka

Momentum Sports Group (owner and operator of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) announced that several of its key riders are returning for the 2012 season, including 2011 breakout sprinting sensation, Jake Keough (USA). Keough was a significant factor in the Team’s 21 race wins and 60 podium appearances this season, landing on the podium 16 times (including eight wins) himself.

In addition to Keough, Boy Van Poppel (Ned), Chris Jones (USA), Adrian Hegyvary (USA), Jonny Clarke, (Aus), Hilton Clarke (Aus), Karl Menzies (Aus), Brad White (USA), and Davide Frattini (ITA) are returning as well. Momentum Sports Group announced previously that veteran Team member Rory Sutherland (Aus) and super sprinter and podium mainstay, Robert Förster (Ger) will be back and part of what promises to be an even stronger Team.

In short, 2011 proved to be a banner year for Jake Keough. The hard working, fearless and confident young Keough, who hails from Sandwich, Massachusetts, held nothing back on race day. He was unquestionably a dominant force in the domestic sprints and his multiple podium appearances at China’s Tour of Qinghai Lake showed he has the mettle to compete on the international stage.

Keough kicked off the Team’s US racing calendar with spectacular performances in the Southeast, winning the USA Criteriums SpeedWeek series, and never looking back, landing on the podium in the majority of races he competed in throughout the year.

Commenting on Keough’s season, General Manager and Directeur Sportif, Mike Tamayo, said, “When I first brought Jake on board in 2010 it was with the idea of making him stronger and faster, something that doesn’t happen in one year. He had a number of wins in 2011, but more importantly his strength and ability to handle harder races and a bigger stress load has taken a big step forward. Jake is one of the guys the sport will be talking about again next year and in 2013, as he starts to win on bigger stages. I am sure of that.”

Success equals eight guys riding as one unit. Photo: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

When speaking of returning sprinters Jonny and Hilton Clarke, Hegyvary, Menzies and Van Poppel, Tamayo was effusive in his praise, saying, “These guys are the glue to what – and why – those in our sport quickly dubbed us the UnitedHealthcare Blue Train. This crew truly defines what teamwork is all about and when you see any combination of our eight guys in formation at the front heading into the final laps of a criterium, the speed, intensity and focus is simply incredible! In so many of races this year, they sacrificed to put Robert or Jake in a position to win. It’s the selfless attitude and approach which our riders display that makes our Team successful. They understand that eight guys need to ride as one unit to put the Team in position to win. After all, who wouldn’t want seven guys riding with you focused on helping you win?”
Tamayo further reinforced the confidence he has in his riders when talking about Frattini, White, Jones and Menzies.

“There are no better breakaway experts than Brad White and Davide Frattini,” Tamayo said, “These guys bring that same mentality of selfless riding in the stage races and climbing races. They are always willing to do their work or what’s asked of them and it always benefits the Team. Guys like Brad and Davide are critical to our Team’s success.”

“Chris Jones,” Tamayo said, “is consistent and confident. Whether it’s helping Robert move around before a big sprint or climbing with Rory at the biggest races, he is one of our more versatile riders and knows what it takes to put our guys in a position to win. And Karl has been with us for several years. Menzies has such raw power and ferocious strength. Every sprinter would love to have that much strength taking him to the line.”

Boy Van Poppel: Speed, Strength and Promise
An integral member of the Team’s sprint squad, the young Van Poppel has shown promise and has a bright future. Van Poppel raced extremely well in last week’s Tour of Britain, where he held onto 3rd place overall and remained in the top five for several stages in the Tour. Early in the season, he landed in the top 10 in several races in Europe, including the Volta ao Algarve and Ronde van Drenthe and on the podium several times in the US.

“Boy is still developing much like the team is developing,” Tamayo said. “We saw glimpses of how strong he really is this year and we will only see him get stronger and smarter as we keep working with him. I think Hendrik Redant (the Team’s new European Director) will actually be a great addition to his career, especially helping him read the Belgium style races.”

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team’s Returning Riders for 2012:
Rory Sutherland (Aus)
Robert Förster (Ger)
Jake Keough (USA)
Boy Van Poppel (Ned)
Karl Menzies (Aus)
Jonny Clarke (Aus)
Hilton Clarke (Aus)
Adrian Hegyvary (USA)
Chris Jones (USA)
Brad White (USA)
Davide Frattini (Ita)

Univest Grand Prix Results

9/20/2011

Jesse Anthony of Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth was the catalyst for a relentless Univest Grand Prix Doylestown Criterium, winning the race, the sprinters jersey, and the overall weekend title after attacking, staying away for multiple laps, and taking the sprint out of a decimated field Sunday.

Anthony outsprinted Jackie Simes (Jamis/Sutter Home) and Robin Carpenter (BikeReg.com) for the win on a slightly uphill finishing straight. Simes took a flyer with a lap remaining in the 36-lap, 50-mile race, and only Carpenter and Anthony were able to bridge to him halfway through the bell lap.

“We worked together for a little bit and then I got stuck to lead out,” Simes said. “I thought I timed my sprint pretty well. It was an uphill sprint. I jumped at a pretty good time but I was just overpowered at the end.”

Anthony, who earlier attacked the field with 18 laps remaining, was eventually joined by his Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth teammate Thomas Soladay, plus Brett Tivers (Garneau Club Chassures) and Johan Landstrom (Cyklecity). The break stayed away from 13 laps to five laps remaining, thanks to a surging group of eight chasers. The front split gained a gap of almost a minute by the bell lap.

“There were two different teams blocking and covering moves, keeping the chase from getting too close,” Carpenter said. “A lot of the amateur guys just came to the front and just started working and got close enough where the attacks and counter attacks managed to get the break. At one point it got just hard enough where a gap opened up. I knew I just had to be racing at the front to make the split.”

The 1.4-mile course of the Univest Doylestown Criterium wreaked havoc on the field, reducing the size of the peloton to 40 out of the 89 starters with 15 laps remaining. Anthony called it a "grueling" course.

“Some of the corners kind of string things out on the downhill, and then the whole back section is just slightly uphill,” he said. “No matter where you’re riding in the pack it’s really hard. There’s not much sitting in. It’s not really a field sprinter’s course because it’s hard to stay at the back with all the whiplash. It’s definitely a great crit course because it weeds out all the strong guys from the guys who are kind of tired.”

Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth, however, managed to get two riders in the four-man breakaway, and several riders in the front split that battled for the last five laps.

“The whole team came out to race aggressively today,” Anthony said. “That’s what it takes to win races. You need a full team. One rider never wins a race by himself.”

The peloton surged to speeds faster than 30 miles an hour at times, giving no one time to sit up or the field to be anything but single file on the way to the fastest finish in eight editions of the race. In addition to Anthony taking the Leidy’s Pork Products Best Sprinter Award and the Univest Overall winner’s jersey, Tivers took home The Intelligencer’s Most Aggressive Rider Award.

“This high-level field really took advantage of this race course and ripped it to pieces,” Univest Grand Prix Promoter John Eustice said. “It was a bar fight out there ... a tremendously exciting race. The crowd was 10 deep at the finish line. I’ve never had a crowd like this. Again, it’s an example of how great American bike racing is and how great the American professional class is. I believe in them.”

Anthony, a Beverly Mass., native who won Stage 1 of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and the overall at the Nature Valley Grand Prix, said the Univest Grand Prix is as prestigious a win as any in the United States.

“The Univest Grand Prix is a staple on the American racing calendar and one of the biggest in the U.S., being a UCI race,” he said. “It showed by the crowd and the attendance here today in Doylestown. It was fantastic. Coming up that finishing straight, I was going deaf the last few laps. That’s an awesome feeling.”

The World Versus Cancellara

9/19/2011

Tony Martin will take inspiration from his recent beating of world time trial king Fabian Cancellara when he aims to end the Swiss's reign at the world road championships.

   But the German specialist won't be alone, with Bradley Wiggins, compatriot Bert Grabsch and Cancellara himself all out to triumph in the 46.4 km race against the clock Wednesday.

   One-day classics king Cancellara rode into the history books last year when he won a record fourth time trial rainbow jersey at Geelong, Australia.

   Martin, however, has been knocking on the Swiss star's door for several years and forced his way in with a sensational victory at the Tour of Spain several weeks ago.

   On the 10th stage around Salamanca, a 47 km time trial, he beat the man known as 'Spartacus' by 1min 27sec. Britain's Chris Froome was second at 59, with compatriot Wiggins third at 1:22.

   Rumor has it that Cancellara is not in his best possible condition for the race, held on two laps of a mainly flat but slightly technical 23.2 km circuit.

   The Swiss may also fancy his chances in Sunday's blue ribbon event of the road race, described - because of it's flat profile - as a 'sprinter's course' but which, on closer inspection, leaves the way open for any number of riders.

   Although Martin won't rule out the four-time champion, he believes Wiggins and his teammate, David Millar, will be his biggest obstacles to gold.

   "I would say Wiggins and Millar are my biggest rivals," said Martin. "But I won't rule Cancellara out."

   Millar, who won the world title at Hamilton, Canada in 2003 - only to hand the gold medal back when he later admitted to doping - came closest to upsetting Cancellara last year when he took the silver behind the Swiss, when Martin won his second consecutive bronze.

   However, the Scot believes that this year British hopes of a podium place lie with Wiggins, who rebounded from his crash misery at the Tour de France in July to finish third at the recent Tour of Spain.

   "I'm not as good as I'd like to be," said Millar. "I'll do my job, but I think Bradley (Wiggins) is going to be flying the flag for us."

   He also refuses to rule out Cancellara, but said: "Obviously Cancellara is always good. But this course is one for the big (powerful) guys, like Grabsch and (Canada's) Svein Tuft."

   Grabsch, who was Germany's last time trial world champion, on a relatively flat course in Varese, Italy, in 2008, is considered an outside bet for gold.

   Squat and with powerful legs, he should excel on the course which features numerous corners and bends which will require the right mix of precision steering and speed.

   But, said Wiggins, there will be few opportunities for making up time on rivals meaning the more powerful specialists have a theoretical advantage.

   "It's going to be really close as there's not much give on the course. There's not a place where you can lose a lot (of time)," said the triple Olympic pursuit champion. It's just real physical, and for whoever can sustain the best (pace) for an hour."

UCI Road World Championships Report:

9/19/2011

Luke Durbridge - (Photos: Yuzuru Sunada)

Luke Durbridge and Jessica Allen successfully launched Australia's gold medals bid at the road cycling world championships Monday with respective time trial victories.

Durbridge, who finished second in the men's under-23 event last year in Australia, produced a time trial masterclass to achieve his year's ambition by completing a flat but technical 35.2 km course in 42min 47.13sec. First at every intermediate point, the 20-year-old - whose next focus is to cement his place in Australia's track pursuit team for the London Games in 2012 - left Denmark's Rasmus Christian Quaade in second at 35sec.

Fellow pursuit specialist Michael Hepburn survived a crash three-quarters of the way into his race to go on and take the bronze, giving Australia three medals from the first day of the week-long event.

"It's fantastic," said Durbridge, who admitted that watching Allen win the women's junior event earlier had given him a boost. "I watched Jess win the gold an hour before my race, that was a special moment for her and I wanted to come out here and get mine (gold). "It's a really big moment for us, and for Australia."

Jessica Allen

Allen, the 2011 Oceania junior time trial champion, was last to start the 13.9 km race against the clock and went on to clock a winning time of 19min 18.63sec. The 18-year-old's performance ended the brief hopes of Britain's Elinor Barker, who moments earlier had timed 19:20.47 to push provisional leader. Mieke Kroger of Germany down into second place. Barker, 17, took silver while 18-year-old Kroger, who had set the early pace in 19:21.43, took the bronze.

Allen said she had been given a boost from the information being relayed by her team car. "It was great to have the race radio with my coach Donna (Rae-Szalinski) in the car behind assisting me through the course, telling me what corners were up ahead, and that really helped me maintain a high speed throughout," she said.

It was on one of the course's numerous corners that Hepburn's bid for the gold came unstuck. The 20-year-old avoided one crash on a tricky corner, but lost it moments later when going round a left-hand bend. Although he got up for a quick bike change, he crucially lost momentum, and precious time.

"You don't plan for these things to happen. It shakes you up a bit, you lose time and in an event like this you can't afford to do that," said Hepburn, who along with Durbridge won world team pursuit gold earlier this year.

Quaade had bested Hepburn's halfway time by three seconds, and after the Dane gave it everything in the second, 17.6 km lap to come over the line 11secs faster than the Australian he almost fainted when he came off his bike. In the end, he was quick to concede defeat.

"I'm happy. Durbridge was much better than me today so I can't complain," conceded Quaade.

Australia's under-23 men will have one of the strongest teams in Friday's road race, and Hepburn aims to make amends: "The only thing I'm thinking of now is the road race. "We have one of the strongest teams here and we're all pretty motivated."

Results from the opening day of the road world championships:

Junior women Time trial (13.9 km)

1. Jessica Allen (AUS) 19min 18.63sec
2. Elinor Barker (GBR) at 1.84sec
3. Mieke Kroger (GER) 2.80
4. Thalita De Jong (NED) 14.93
5. Rossella Ratto (ITA) 31.07
6. Georgia Williams (NZL) 43.95
7. Annie Ewart (CAN) 45.87
8. Kamilla Valin (DEN) 46.34
9. Mathilde Favre (FRA) 50.78
10. Alexandra Chekina (RUS) 52.30

Under-23 men - Time trial (35.2 km)

1. Luke Durbridge (AUS) 42min 47.13sec
2. Rasmus Christian Quaade (DEN) at 35.68sec
3. Michael Hepburn (AUS) 46.47
4. Anton Vorobyev (RUS) 58.99
5. Jasper Hamelink (NED) 1min 52.94
6. Jason Christie (NZL) 2:00.48
7. Luis Mas Bonet (ESP) 2:04.18
8. Tom Dumoulin (NED) 2:04.71
9. Damien Howson (AUS) 2:05.99
10. Rudy Molard (FRA) 2:09.67

Tour of Britian Report (Final Results)

9/19/2011

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Holland's Lars Boom held his nerve to win the Tour of Britain in the final stage in London on Sunday.

Boom, riding for the Rabobank team, landed the general classification title, while Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) won the final stage and Steve Cummings (Team Sky) finished in second place overall.

Boom took second place in stage 8a, the individual time trial, and then held his position in the circuit race, stage 8b, where Cavendish's powerful sprint saw him cross the line first.

Team Sky's Geraint Thomas secured the points jersey, while Cavendish's performance, as he finished runner-up to his fellow British rider, delighted HTC-Highroad sport director Allan Peiper.

"The crowds were great, it was a spectacular finish for Cav in his home country, as well as for the team to finish a long tour on a high note," Peiper said.

Cummings was pleased to secure overall second place in the race on the final day.

"It's a good result," he said. "Obviously with it being our home race it would be good if we could have won."We didn't really have a lot of good luck throughout the race. I crashed, Geraint (Thomas) crashed and then we came up against a really strong rider in Lars Boom on that terrain. But overall it's pretty good."

Results 8A:

1 Alex Dowsett (GBr) Sky Procycling
2 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
3 Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
4 Stephen Cummings (GBr) Sky Procycling
5 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling
6 Alexander Wetterhall (Swe) Endura Racing
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling
8 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo
9 Damien Gaudin (Fra) Team Europcar
10 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Leopard Trek
11 Rick Flens (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
12 Iker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) Endura Racing
13 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad
14 Jan Barta (Cze) Team NetApp
15 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) HTC-Highroad
16 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Leopard Trek
17 Jack Bauer (NZl) Endura Racing
18 Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp
19 Leopold Konig (Cze) Team NetApp
20 William Clarke (Aus) Leopard Trek

Results 8B:

1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad
2 Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad
3 Robert Förster (Ger) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
4 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling
5 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Procycling
6 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Leopard Trek
7 Tobyn Horton (GBr) Motorpoint
8 Andrew Fenn (GBr) An Post - Sean Kelly
9 Dan Craven (Nam) Rapha Condor - Sharp
10 Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator
11 Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team NetApp
12 Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team
13 Jonathan McEvoy (GBr) Motorpoint
14 Iker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) Endura Racing
15 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Leopard Trek
16 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo
17 Boy Van Poppel (Ned) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
18 Marcin Bialoblocki (Pol) Motorpoint
19 Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo
20 Rory SutherlandUnitedHealthcareat

World championships Preview

9/18/2011

Mark Cavendish (Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Trade team niceties are set to be thrown to one side and replaced with enmity on a national scale next week when the cream of the peloton descend on Copenhagen to battle it out for cycling's coveted rainbow jersey. And Mark Cavendish, the Briton who has taken sprinting to new levels in five years Tour de France domination, is the man most of the elite men's competition will be looking to beat.

Not since the great Tom Simpson in 1965 has Britain feted a world champion in the men's road race. But Cavendish, the 26-year-old Isle of Man rider who has become one of the sport's few global stars, is being tipped to end that long wait on a relatively flat course which promises a bunch or select group finish.

The men's elite road race on September 25 caps a week of racing in which the elite women, under-23 men and junior men will each get to compete in a road race and an individual time trial. But as at most worlds, what goes on off the bike and what goes on during the race - when team-mates who should become rivals can become ad hoc allies - could become a hot topic of conversation in the lead up to the 266 km finale next Sunday.

Matt Goss & Mark Cavendish

One of Cavendish's rivals for what would be Britain's second men's title will be Matt Goss, his teammate at HTC-Highroad who is leading Australia's bid for only a second men's world road crown after Cadel Evans's win in 2009. Australia have already moved to make sure that Cavendish gets no extra help by designating Mark Renshaw, the Manxman's loyal lead-out man for the sprints at HTC-Highroad, as a replacement on their national team.

A day after that announcement, Renshaw - who next year will race for Dutch team Rabobank - finished ahead of Cavendish in the Tour of Britain's fifth stage. Whether that result was designed by the pair to cock a snook to Australian team selectors or not is anybody's guess. But, in the defense of Australia, cases of teammates from different countries collaborating at the worlds are not, unfortunately, unknown.

Depending on the difficulty of the course, most road races turn out to be ones of attrition where the presence of teammates in the finale can make the difference between victory and gut-wrenching defeat. On a hilly course which surprisingly finished with a select group sprint last year in Geelong, Australia Thor Hushovd claimed a deserved and historic victory for Norway.

All contenders, whether for the road races or the time trials, have recently been acquiring the kilometers and intensity required for the competition by racing at the Tour of Spain.

Goss and Cavendish, however, had to leave the three-week race early because of stomach trouble. While Cavendish was given special permission by the International Cycling Union (UCI) to compete at the Tour of Britain, which overlaps with the Tour of Spain, Goss has been left competing in a number of smaller one-day races, and motor-pacing in training.

"I'm not sure I will make up for what I missed out on in the Vuelta," Goss said. "You saw how hard that is and how much good that is going to do for everyone. But I think I can make up enough to be competitive. You don't win any world championship without being in a great form."

Fabian Cancellara

Swiss star Fabian Cancellara meanwhile has a chance to extend his record victory tally in the time trial, which he won for a record fourth time in Australia last year.

Ahead of Copenhagen, the Leopard-Trek rider - a former winner of Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders - pulled out of the Tour of Spain early in a bid to boost his chances of a fifth crown.

"I think a reigning world champion should always defend his jersey, so Im going to try to win the time trial for the fifth time," said Cancellara.

World road race championships schedule

September 19

Time trial Junior Women, 13,9 km
Time trial Under 23 Men, 35,2 km (2x17,6 km)

September 20

Time trial Junior Men, 27,8 km (2x13,9 km)
Time trial Elite Women, 27,8 km (2x13,9 km)

September 21

Time trial Elite Men, 46,4 km (2x23,2 km)

September 23

Road race Junior Women, 70 km (5 x 14km)
Road race Under 23 Men, 168 km (12 x 14km)

September 24

Road race Junior Men, 126 km (9 x 14km)
Road race Elite Women, 140 km (10 x 14km)

September 25

Road race Elite Men, 266 km (17 x 14km + 28 km)

For information on team selection see the Road Bike Action 'WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER UPDATE' Post