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Driscoll, Elliott win Cycle-Smart International in Massachusetts
Cyclocrossworld.com-Cannondale's Jamey Driscoll and Stevens Cycles' Natasha Elliott won in Northampton, Massachusetts on Saturday, at the Cycle-Smart Invitational race. Driscoll's win ahead of Specialized's Andy Jacques-Maynes solidified his lead in the Verge New England series. Check back soon for photos and a complete report.
Wells, Gould win Boulder Cup Day 1
It was no day at the beach for the hundreds of professional and amateur ’crossers who competed in the opening round of the Boulder Cup, held Saturday on a sand-laden course at the Boulder Reservoir in Colorado. Todd Wells (GT) and Georgia Gould (Luna) took wins in the elite races, which stood as the fifth of eight round of the North American Cyclocross Trophy (NACT).
British riders continue to dominate World Cup track event in Manchester
Riders from Britain's successful Beijing Olympic team was out in front again as the hosts won all six golds up for grabs in Manchester Saturday on the second day of the opening leg of the World Cup. Ed Clancy and Geraint Thomas, half of Britain's gold medal-winning and record-breaking team pursuit quartet in Beijing, joined up with Rob Hayles and Steven Burke to enjoy a triumph on their home track. Bradley Wiggins, a member of the team that stood atop the podium in China, opted out in preference for Sunday's Madison while Paul Manning has retired.
British team continues track dominance at World Cup
Great Britain's track cyclists scored gold in five World Cup events at the Manchester Velodrome on Friday night in their first action since the team’s domination of events at the Beijing Olympics. Performance director Dave Brailsford said it was time to concentrate less on Britain's exploits in China, where the team won seven of 10 events in the velodrome, and to look towards the London Olympics in 2012. And his team was in a confident mood as a mixture of familiar faces and new names took top step on the podium as the Manchester leg of the World Cup series kicked off.
Giro to start in Venice
The Giro d’Italia will have some pretty spectacular digs for its 100th anniversary bash. Giro officials announced that the centennary edition of the rosa corsa will begin May 9 in Venice. The Giro will return to city of canals for the first time in 12 years. With Lance Armstrong leading an all-star cast that also will likely include 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre and Damiano Cunego, the Giro couldn’t ask for a better send off to celebrate a century of history.
Brit’s aim for World Cup
Britain's track team may have dominated the boards of the Olympic velodrome in China, but for the man who helped orchestrate those remarkable achievements it's back to business. Dave Brailsford, the Performance Director of British track cycling, returned from Beijing a happy man after seeing his riders claim seven of the 10 gold medals on offer at the Laoshan velodrome in August. But he won't let his squad of deserved medal winners rest on their laurels.
USA Cycling revamps track program
USA Cycling is launching a revamped track program intended to get young trackies more international experience early in their careers. In recent years, USAC has sent national teams to four track World Cups each season. Under the new program, the team will send some riders to all the UCI Track Calendar events, as appropriate, including European Grand Prix races and 6-day races. USA Cycling also will launch several domestic track training camps.
Fojtik, Steurs celebrate Croc’ Trophy wins
Australia’s Naomi Hansen, the woman who for the past ten days has managed a smile, even in her darkest moments, was handed the ultimate accolade by her fellow Crocodile Trophy combatants Friday when the race reached its final destination of Cape Tribulation in Tropical North Queensland. As the peloton rolled onto the beautiful beach, fringed with World Heritage-listed Rainforest, race winner Ondrej Fojtik (VIG+ Racing) steered his bike to one-side, making way for the Coopers Shimano Dream Team cyclist, who crossed the finish line in first place to claim the stage winner’s boomerang.
Northampton, Massachusetts, prepares for Cycle-Smart International cyclocross weekend.
New England cyclocrossers are headed to Northampton, Massachusetts, this weekend for the Cycle-Smart International, the oldest UCI cyclocross race in the U.S. This year's event is a two-day affair for the first time since 1996 and race director (and pro racer) Adam Myerson said the course will be significantly different each day.
On Gerdemann’s comments, the CVV cover and lifetime bans
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Pots and Kettles Re: Gerdemann criticizes Armstrong comeback Editor:
Boulder Cup cyclocross preview
The nation’s top cyclocross racers will descend upon Boulder, Colorado, this weekend for a pair of UCI events held under expected warm, sunny skies. Saturday’s event, a UCI C2, will be held along the sandy shores of the Boulder Reservoir, while Sunday’s Boulder Cup, a UCI C1, will be held on the grass at Harlow Platts Park. Both events are part of the North American Cyclocross Trophy series, which culminates November 23 at Whitmore’s Landscaping Super Cross Cup in Southampton, New York.
Lance Armstrong is planning to race in this weekend’s Tour de Gruene.
The quaint town of Gruene (pronounced 'green'), Texas, will host Lance Armstrong for the 25th anniversary of the Tour de Gruene. The silver anniversary event will not be the first time Armstrong has participated: he also jumped into the event's team time trial in 1996, teaming with Eddy Merckx just weeks after Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Kona adds new environmental guidelines to bike park program
The Kona Bike Park Program is growing. Fast. For 2009, the Kona Bicycle Company will establish an additional five new bike parks throughout Europe and North America adding to its current 21 parks. As always, Kona’s stance on providing increased benefits to all of these resorts and their users is at the forefront of establishing these new parks. Early this year, Kona partnered with WWF, the world conservation organization to create an important initiative: Environmental Bike Park Guidelines.
NAHBS launches promotion featuring top bicycle framebuilders
The North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) today announces the launch of its “Original Six” 2009 promotional campaign, highlighting a select group of frame builders that has exhibited every year since the show began five years ago. The Original Six builders exhibited at the first NAHBS in Houston, Texas in 2005. They will return as the show celebrates its fifth year, February 27 – March 1, 2009 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
Serotta Classique road bike
Sizes: 48 to 62 cm. Colors: Steel: Cobalt Blue, Onyx or Competition Red (shown) with Serotta solid white decals. Titanium: matte finish with solid white Serotta decals. Retail price: Framesets: $1,795 steel, $2,295 titanium. Complete bikes start at under $3,000. Web site: www.serotta.com/heritage The Serotta Classique is part of the bike company's three-model Heritage Collection, which includes a cyclocross, fixed gear and road frames (and complete bikes) in either steel or titanium.
Kona cyclocrosser Barry Wicks’ latest journal entry.
The wheel in front of me twitches and pulses with enormous energy as it tries desperately to pull away from my gasping breaths. My legs ache, the pain beginning deep, unbelievably deep, slowly creeping up through the layers of my consciousness, finally reaching the threshold where my struggle to ignore it is overcome and it comes gushing out in great spasms.
Gerdemann criticizes Armstrong comeback
Top German cyclist Linus Gerdemann, known for his staunch anti-doping stance, has criticized the return of Lance Armstrong to professional cycling, citing the doping suspicions — all of them unproven — that have dogged the seven-time Tour de France winner. "This is not positive for the credibility of cycling," said Gerdemann, winner of the Tour of Germany. "But there's nothing anyone can do about it."
Legally Speaking with Bob Mionske – The aftermath
I had just arrived in New York to visit Diana and we were finishing up a beautiful ride. I remember asking Diana how much further because the hunger pains were beginning to set in. It was only going to be 10km but I was ready to eat. We were climbing up a road after getting horned from an oncoming driver not wanting to see any cyclists on the road. The last image I remember is turning up the road and riding behind Diana....BAM!
Leipheimer on Tour: ‘Anything can happen on Ventoux’
Levi Leipheimer couldn’t be in Paris last week to watch the official unveiling of the route of the 2009 Tour de France, but he was certainly following the news. Like just about everyone, the Astana captain was keenly waiting for details of the 96th Tour. VeloNews caught up with Leipheimer while he was in Utah this week to gauge his reaction to the route. Here are excerpts from the interview: VeloNews: What was your first impression after seeing the route?
Rotor Bike Components is new sponsor of the Cervelo Test Team
Cervélo TestTeam is pleased to announce that Rotor Bike Components has become a sponsor of the team. Rotor Bike Components will supply both the men and women’s Cervélo TestTeams with Q-Rings (oval chainrings), Agilis Evo cranks and Sabb bottom brackets. “We are very pleased to be part of this new project,” said Ignacio Estellés, Rotor CEO. “In signing our 2-year agreement Rotor commits to apply its engineering to developing exciting new products, technologies and manufacturing methods, to provide the Cervelo TestTeam with the most advanced cycling components.”
Porky Gulch Classic Rolls into Pinkham Notch
Pinkham Notch, NH— On Saturday and Sunday, November 8 & 9, Great Glen Trails hosts the Porky Gulch Classic Stage Race, a three-stage, two-day cycling race that challenges cyclists in three distinct disciplines. The champion can claim the title of Best All Around Cyclist in New England.
McQuaid replies to comments from French
International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid issued the following statement Wednesday:
“The UCI conducts a robust anti-doping programme which consists of a large volume of good quality tests leading to a corresponding number of detections. We’ve worked well with the AFLD in the past so I don’t understand why there should be any confusion as to how we implement testing on riders.
Pendleton calls for Olympic equity
Victoria Pendleton has told 2012 Olympic Games chiefs it will be an embarrassment if women are not allowed to compete in the same number of races as male cyclists. Pendleton triumphed in the women's sprint in Beijing, one of eight golds won in an impressive total haul of 13 medals secured by the British track team at the Laoshan Velodrome. However, in China there were only three women's events on the track compared to seven for men. And that has left Pendleton feeling her achievement was "insignificant" compared to the three golds won in Beijing by British team-mate Chris Hoy.
Bishop, Sawicki win Oktoberfest
Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-Volkswagen) and Pua Sawicki (Ellsworth) won the National Mountain Bike Oktoberfest in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday. The eight-hour cross-country race was the final event of USA Cycling’s National Ultra Endurance calendar.
The elite event capped of a weekend of four different cross-country races.
Sevilla re-ups with Rock
Oscar Sevilla, fresh off becoming the first non-Colombian to win the Clásico RCN in that event's 48-year history, will ride for at least two more seasons with Rock Racing. Sevilla confirmed he’ll stay with the California-based team through 2010 and is keen to return to European racing. The Spanish climber says his Rock Racing team is hopeful of receiving some invitations to compete in an expanded European calendar for 2009, perhaps including the Vuelta a España.
The Explainer – Why not block?
Dear Explainer guy,
Why is blocking such a rarely used tactic? It seems that when there is a long breakaway that teams with riders in the break do not block or slow down the chase. Why is that? More typically, these riders do not take a turn at the front. I would think it would be better if those riders took their turn at the front and slowed the pace.
Cosmo Scrivanich
Hello Cosmo,
It does seem like there isn’t a lot of blocking going on in big races, but it does happen, albeit subtly.
Gerdemann joins Milram
Linus Gerdemann, the promising German hopeful who wore the yellow jersey in the 2007 Tour de France, has signed a two-year deal to join Milram. The 26-year-old, who raced three seasons with T-Mobile/Team Columbia, will give the last remaining big German squad a marquee national rider for the 2009 season. “We are very happy about the signing of Linus Gerdemann,” said team manager Gerry Van Gerwen. “After long negotiations, we can finally confirm the transfer. In Linus, we have a rider we most wanted, who will lead Team Milram in the coming years.”
Riders group releases testing numbers
There were some interesting numbers released by the professional cycling group (CPA) this week that revealed the biological passport is being implemented on a wide scale. Over the course of the 2008 season, some 6501 blood and urine samples were collected from 749 racers as part of the UCI’s effort to create a biological profile for each rider. The so-called biological passport is an ambitious anti-doping effort initiated by UCI officials, who insist that creating a biological profile of individual riders is one of the most effective tools in catching cheats.