Follow SoCalCycling.com on Twitter for Amgen Tour of California Updates
SoCalCycling.com will be providing live updates during the Amgen Tour of CA and live updates and photos during the Solvang Time Trial and Pasadena finish on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SoCalCycling or @SoCalCycling. Twitter is a great way to follow the Amgen Tour of CA on your phone and on the down low at work with free apps like Twirl.
The U.S. Cup Announces Series Contests and Contingencies for Amateur Riders
2/18/09 - The U.S. Cup presented by Specialized is pleased to announce some very exciting series contest and contingencies available for amateur racers competing in the 2009 Kenda Cup West and Kenda Cup East series events. With its focus on providing amateur racers a better and more rewarding experience, the U.S. Cup has partnered with some of the bicycle industry’s leading companies to provide some unbelievable opportunities for amateur riders competing in the Kenda Cup West and Kenda Cup East series events. Contests include: KENDA PODIUM KICKBACK: Open to all racing categories, the Kenda Podium Kickback program will reimburse the race entry fee for one male and one female class winner at each of the Kenda Cup West/East series rounds, HAYES LUCKY 12-One racer at every Kenda Cup West, Kenda Cup East series round and one back up winner will be selected from the event pre registered rider list at random to receive Round trip airfare to Las Vegas and more, SPECIALIZED YOUTH MOVEMENT: The first five male and female pre registered riders 18 years and under to sign up for a Kenda Cup West or Kenda Cup East series event will be refunded the cost of registration up to $25, via a VISA check card, SHO-AIR U.S. CUP ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE ESSAY: This 250 word or less essay contest must be submitted through the dedicated contest page on U.S. Cup website. Here riders can share their ultimate race experience at a U.S. Cup series event. One Winner from the Kenda Cup West and Kenda Cup East series will be selected at the end of the respective series dates. more info >
Lance Armstrong's Time Trial Bike Recovered
2/18/09 - Lance Armstrong's time trial bike has been recovered just in time for Fridays Solvang Time Trial. A photo was posted of a Sacramento PD officer, with the time trial frame and components (no wheels were in the photo).
Cervelo TestTeam’s Thor Hushovd Wins Field Sprint in Modesto
2/17/09 - Completing one of the most defining stages of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, which included the Sierra Road climb, Thor Hushovd of Cervelo Test Team held on to take the stage win. Santa Rosa resident Levi Leipheimer of Astana had another strong performance in front of thousands of enthused cycling fans to retain the overall lead. The riders were hit hard early in Stage 3, just five miles into the race, when they took on the first King of the Mountains competition on Sierra Road. The racers then sped through flat sections that twisted and turned, including more than 40 switchbacks on Calaveras Road. After tackling the second KOM climb of the day, Patterson Pass, the stage concluded with a lap around a downtown circuit in Modesto. As the field started up the climb just outside of San Jose, a small breakaway group of four riders separated from the pack and was briefly joined by the previous day’s KOM leader Francisco Mancebo (of Rock Racing. After taking first place in the first KOM competition, Mancebo sat up, leaving four riders to fight off the front: Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Brian Vandborg (Liquigas), Jeffry Louder (BMC) and Brad White (Ouch). Back in the field, the combination of growing fatigue and inclimate weather conditions contributed to a string of mechanicals and accidents out on the road. Omer Klem (Bissell) and Ian MacGregor (Team Type 1) both crashed out of the race early on and even overall race leader Leipheimer had an innocuous look at the pavement around the 35-mile mark after clipping a Armstrong’s wheel. Only Leipheimer was able to remain in the race. "That was my fault; I just looked down for one second and it was windy and everybody moved left and right and next thing I know there was a touch of a wheel," commented Leipheimer. “It hurts but it happens. I didn’t break anything. I’ve done it before; it’s not big deal.” The four riders in the breakaway built a maximum gap of five and a half minutes, but this was not quite enough to hold off the hard charge by the sprinters in the final hour of racing. A strong move by Louder before the finishing circuit only delayed the inevitable until the very end, where he was the last to be caught. An impressive team effort propelled Hushovd to a sprint victory in front of a roaring crowd at the Modesto finish. Hushovd confirmed that the team lead-out train was what set him up for the race's first mass finish. “My teammates, including Hayden Roulston, started with 1 kilometer to go, and then Dominique Rollin pulled to just the last corner,” said Hushovd. “Then, Lancaster and I started to pass with only 150 meters to go, so our team did a great job today.” Rabobank's Oscar Freire Team Columbia-Highroad’s Mark Renshaw trailed in just behind for second and third, respectively. Stage Results, GC Results
The Tour of California peloton starts the climb of Sierra Grade from San Jose to Modesto.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
Bicycle Rack Design Competition Pays $2,000 to the Winner
2/17/09 - Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, in partnership with the Bike Writers Collective and the support of the Hollywood Project Area of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, is sponsoring a competition for a unique bicycle rack for the East Hollywood community. This project seeks to add visual appeal and transportation amenity to its vibrant East Hollywood streetscape along Hollywood Boulevard between Western Avenue and Vermont Avenue. The City of Los Angeles welcomes the creative energy of the greater community to assist in the creation of this important element of street furniture - the bicycle rack. The winning design will receive $2,000 and the competition is open to all artists and designers living in Los Angeles County. The deadline is Friday, March 6, 2009. more info >
Astana's Levi Leipheimer Attacks Climb and Moves into Lead
2/16/09 - Astana Cycling Team’s Levi Leipheimer took the overall lead in the second stage of the Amgen Tour of California. Nobody was able to answer Levi Leipheimer’s attack at the base of the final climb with 27 K (17 mi) to the finish line. Leipheimer then joined an earlier break and dropped all but Tom Peterson (Garmin). Leipheimer flew down the descent and hammered his way to the finish line in Santa Cruz. Peterson tucked in and conserved his strength for the finish while Levi Leipheimer concentrated on gaining back the 63 seconds that separated him from the leader’s jersey. Peterson took the stage with Leipheimer finishing with the gold jersey. Michael Rogers (Team Columbia) won the sprint of the chasing group of 18 riders with four Astana Cycling Team riders - 21 seconds behind. Chris Horner finished fourth. Former GC leader, Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) lost 1 minute 52 seconds. ""The weather has been nasty the last couple of days and I took off all my extra clothes before the last climb,” said the two-times Tour of California winner. “Then I thought I’d better go because if not I would freeze up with no clothes and freezing rain. There were some attacks at the bottom. Popo was next to me and I said, ‘Let’s go!’ I felt great and was trying to make some friends out there but basically I couldn’t wait any longer. Mancebo did a big effort yesterday and we definitely had that in mind,” continued Levi Leipheimer as he explained race tactics. "That’s the way it goes. Each day is a new bike race and that’s what’s exciting about bike racing. I feel confident that we have the best team here and we showed it yesterday. When we had to chase yesterday we just wanted to take the time back and set things up nicely for today."Lance Armstrong suffered a crash on the day but was able to continue and seems to feel fine: "A moto photograher from the race crashed right in front of me. Unfortuate but it could have been worse. I don't feel too bad. The hip is a little banged up but overall it was a great day." Regarding teammate Levi's bold ride, Armstrong said, "Levi proved he is the best guy in the race, hands down." Stage Results, GC Results
Levi Leipheimer savors his moment in the Yellow Jersey.
photo © Brian Hodes / www.VeloImages.com
Quote of the Day
2/16/09 - "The Tour of California should be in late April. Better weather, can get into the Sierras, final Tour of Italy tune up, etc." Lance Armstrong, after two days of racing in cold and rainy conditions.
The Tour of California peloton and caravan make their way across San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
Rock Racing’s Francisco Mancebo Wins in Santa Rosa After Epic Ride
2/15/09 - Record crowds were on hand for Stage 1 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California to watch the world’s top cyclists travel from Davis to Santa Rosa, culminating with a climactic finish in downtown Santa Rosa. Francisco Mancebo of Rock Racing took an early lead and ended up with the stage win, the team’s first in the Amgen Tour of California, ahead of Jurgen Van de Walle, of Quick Step, and Vincenzo Nibali of Liquigas. The 107.6-mile stage from Davis to Santa Rosa took the riders through the scenic settings of Lake Berryessa and Napa Valley before heading into downtown Santa Rosa. Motivated to attack by weather conditions, Mancebo left the field behind in the in the first half-hour of the race, a move that eventually brought him the stage victory. After the first feed zone, Prologue winner and race leader Fabian Cancellara of Saxo Bank had to abandon the race due to illness, leaving the Amgen Leader Jersey open for the taking. After his initial attack, Mancebo was joined by Aaron Kemp of Fly V Australia pb Successful Living Foundation and Tim Johnson of OUCH pb Maxxis on the descent following the first King of the Mountain (KOM) competition of the stage, and the race overall, on Highway 128. The riders formed a hard-working trio, eventually building a lead of more than 12 minutes over the pack. Mancebo left the breakaway group behind to take the lead on Howell Mountain, the second KOM, at 44 miles to go. With approximately 30 miles left in the stage, an all-star chase group of more than 20 riders, led by Astana, including both two-time defending race champion Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong , formed behind. Despite the chase group’s concerted efforts, Mancebo held on to the lead to cross the line and take the stage win in Santa Rosa. “When I attacked, I just wanted to keep going and stay ahead because the cold was hard for me, and slowly after I started speeding up, I started feeling more comfortable,” added Mancebo. “Five kilometers before the finish, I just wanted to keep going. I kept telling myself that I had to keep going and I was going to win.” The tight Santa Rosa finishing circuits have gained a reputation in the short history of the Amgen Tour of California. This year, due to weather conditions and for the safety of the riders, officials decided to call the general classification time when the first rider crossed the finish line for the first time (before the first of three circuits). “The decision was made about 80 miles into the race and was made solely for the safety of the riders,” said Jim Birrell, race director. “This will not be protocol for the rest of the race; if we have blue skies we will race as it’s written in the rule book.”
Rock Racing's Francisco Mancebo won the Davis to Santa Rosa stage in epic conditions.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
Columbia-Highroad’s Emilia Fahlin Wins the Amgen Tour of CA Women's Criterium
2/15/09 - Welcomed by thousands of fans lining the streets of Santa Rosa, Stage 1 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California featured the second-annual Women's Criterium presented by the Redwood Regional Breast Center. Emilia Fahlin (SWE), the youngest member of Team Columbia-Highroad, won the criterium race with an impressive performance besting an outstanding field of international competitors. The first event of the 2009 season on the National Racing Calendar (NRC), the Women’s Criterium took part over portions of the Stage 1 men’s finishing circuit in Santa Rosa. The second-annual event consisted of a field of 88 riders competing for more than $15,000 in prizes. Set as a category Pro 1,2 race and with a limit of eight riders per team, the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium showcased some of the world's top professional women's cycling teams, including defending champion Brooke Miller of Team TIBCO, who finished 15th overall. Rounding out the top three were Lauren Tamayo (USA) of Team TIBCO in second and Rachel Lloyd (USA) of Proman in third. Tamayo took first in the 2008 Women’s International Challenge and the 2008 Atlanta 10K Classic. Lloyd won the 2008 Single Speed World Championship Mountain Bike Race. Results >
Emilia Fahlen (Columbia-Highroad) wins the Amgen Tour of California Women's Crit in the rain.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
Armstrong's Time Trial Bike and Team Astana Bikes Stolen
2/15/09 - According to Lance Armstrong's Twitter, "Whoa!! They just came to my room and said our truck was broken into and someone stole my time trial bike (and they also stole 3 others. crazy!!!) Wtf?!? APB out to the twitterati." Times are tough for a lot of folks right now that are looking for ways to generate some cash and my guess is these thieves ran out of gold to sell at Cash4Gold. If you see this one of a kind bike, there is a reward being offered. Let's hope Armstrong gets his TT bike back before the Solvang Time Trial this Friday.
Have you seen this bike? A reward is being offered.
Cancellara Wins Prologue for the Second Year in a Row at the Amgen Tour of CA
2/14/09 - The 2009 Amgen Tour of California got underway in Sacramento as California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor Patrick Dempsey and record crowds cheered on the exciting Prologue win, for the second consecutive year, of 2008 Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara (SUI) of Saxo Bank. On a short, fast, flat individual time trial course in downtown Sacramento, Cancellara crossed the finish line in record time with the State Capitol building in the background. Cancellara beat out top cyclists, including two Tour de France champions, 10 world champions and seven Olympic medalists to take the win. The enthusiastic crowd, comprised of shoulder-to-shoulder fans, cheered on the cyclists as they made their way through downtown Sacramento. Completing the 2.41-mile course with a record time of 4:32, Cancellara will begin day two of the race wearing the Amgen Leader Jersey when Stage 1 takes the riders from Davis to Santa Rosa, a new route for the race, on Sunday beginning at noon. In second place, two seconds behind Cancellara, was defending champion Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Astana, followed closely by David Zabriskie (USA) of Garmin-Slipstream, who came in third, three seconds off the pace. “The Amgen Tour of California is the first race of the year and I’m very happy,” said Cancellara. “This is a beautiful race and I like coming every year. This is the second time I’ve won the Prologue, so it makes me happy. There is lots of beautiful scenery and the crowds are great.” Early race favorites include two-time defending champion Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, who finished second (4:34); George Hincapie (USA) of Team Columbia-Highroad (4:36), who finished sixth; Tom Boonen (BEL) of QuickStep, who finished seventh (4:36); and Christian Vande Velde (USA) of Garmin-Slipstream, who finished 22nd (4:41). The newly unveiled, Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider Jersey was awarded to Lance Armstrong (USA) of Astana, with the Herbalife Sprint Jersey went to two-time overall defending champion Leipheimer. The Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey was claimed by Mark Cavendish (GBR) of Team Columbia-Highroad. The California Travel & Tourism Commission King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey will be awarded for the first time after Stage 1 tomorrow, along with the other jerseys. Full Results >
Fabian Cancellara won the ATOC Prologue for the second year in a row.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
Astana teammates Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer put in a strong ride during the Prologue.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
Amgen Tour of California Team Rosters Announced
2/13/09 - Considered the best collection of talent to compete in a U.S. professional cycling stage race, the world-class roster of teams and cyclists* scheduled to participate in the 2009 Amgen Tour of California has been announced by race presenter AEG. An internationally sanctioned professional cycling road race, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will host 17 teams and 136 riders from 24 countries for the fourth-annual race from February 14-22. The race will bring the top cycling talent in the world to compete across more than 750 miles down the state of California from the state’s capital, Sacramento, to San Diego County. Attracting an unprecedented field of riders from around the world, cyclists hail from countries as far away as Belgium, Cuba, Finland, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden. “As the Amgen Tour of California continues to grow in stature year after year, we continue to see the caliber of the field increase,” said Andrew Messick, president, AEG Sports. “The group of cyclists that will comprise the field for the 2009 race will create an unprecedented level of competition that is sure to make 2009 the best year yet. We are looking forward to watching the competition unfold.” The field will include riders from well-known teams such as Astana, Team Columbia-Highroad, Quick Step, Saxo Bank and Garmin-Slipstream, which returns to defend the title as the winner of the overall team competition. Team Rosters >
Video - Lance Armstrong Blasts Journalist Paul Kimmage
2/13/09 - Lance Armstrong takes on Irish journalist Paul Kimmage who described Armstrong's return to cycling as a "cancer and the cancer is out of remission". Don't mess with Texas!
As the Cycling World Turns...
2/12/09 - As the Amgen Tour of California gets ready to get underway, excitement is brewing for both the cycling fans and teams competing. The field this year will be stacked with some of the best riders in the world including previous two time ATOC winner Levi Leipheimer, Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, Paris-Roubaix winner Tom Boonen, and a slew of riders making a comeback including seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, ATOC winner Floyd Landis (Temecula) and Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso. It’s going to be an exciting week of hard racing and challenging conditions with predicted rain and a strong possibly of snow over the higher elevations on Mt. Palomar and Mt. Hamilton. If you can't attend some of the stages, you can watch all the action with daily TV coverage on Versus or watch the race during each stage live online with the Tour Tracker ... This just in - there are reports that Floyd has crashed during a training ride leading into the Tour of California and is "bruised up pretty good," but will compete in the race. We wish him a quick recovery! ... Floyd fans will want to listen to a recent interview on XX Sports Radio San Diego ... It was announced yesterday that Lance Armstrong will not be working with Don Caitlin in an independent antidoping program afterall due to a “myriad of problems relating to administration, coordination and cost." "After a thorough review of the efficiency of a separate testing program the decision has been made to transfer the comprehensive program we had planned to do with Don Catlin to Ramsus Damsgaard, a renowned anti-doping expert who runs the Astana team’s internal testing program," said Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's long-time agent and lawyer. Armstrong’s test results from the internal tests by Damsgaard are now being posted online at livestrong.com.
Team Type 1 Announces ‘Signs For Sacramento’ Contest
2/12/09 - Fans who turn out to show their support for Team Type 1 at Saturday’s prologue time trial of the Amgen Tour of California can win free souvenirs as part of the team’s “Signs for Sacramento” contest. Representatives of Team Type 1 will be judging posters, banners and signs along the 2.4-mile (3.8 km) route that showcases the State Capitol, the Capitol Mall area and the well-known local Tower Bridge. The creators of the most original signs cheering on Team Type 1 will be awarded hats, T-shirts, socks and other official team memorabilia. To be eligible to win, the sign, banner or poster must feature the words “Team Type 1.” Judging will begin a half-hour before the first rider heads down the start ramp (1:30 p.m.) through the conclusion of the prologue (approximately 4 p.m.). Team Type 1 is the only one of 17 teams in the race with riders who have Type 1 diabetes. Phil Southerland (diagnosed in 1982 at the age of seven months) and Fabio Calabria (diagnosed in 2000 at the age of 13) will be joined in the nine-day race by Moises Aldape, Chris Jones, Valeriy Kobzarenko, Darren Lill, Ian MacGregor and Matt Wilson. Fans are invited to meet-and-greet Team Type 1 at every start and finish venue along the more than 750-mile route. Riders and staff of Team Type 1 will be on hand one hour before each stage and immediately following each race.
Floyd Landis (Team Ouch), left, raced the Boulevard Road Race as his first race back in 2 1/2 years.
The riders were greeted with snow and rain, which should be good prep for the Tour of CA.
photo © Mark Johnson/Ironstring.com
The Ups and Downs of Professional Cycling, an Interview with Jeremiah Wiscovitch
By Suzy Degazon, xtri.com
2/10/09 - Ultra triathlete, cyclist and runner Suzy Degazon had the chance to sit down with Jeremiah Wiscovitch (formerly of Rock Racing) last week to share his thoughts of pro cycling and what he is looking forward to in the future.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got involved in cycling?
My name is Jeremiah Wiscovitch and just turned 25, I come from a BMX racing background where I spent the last 4 years racing nationally all across the country. I really wouldn’t have even picked up a bike if it wasn’t for the owner of Incycle bicycles (Dominic Galenti) and my Dad (Al Wiscovitch), they were the ones that convinced me that road cycling was what it was going to take to step up my BMX racing. I entered a few road races and started winning right away and never looked back.
I understand you were a state champion in BMX, do you regret leaving the sport, that now your former competition is competing at Olympic level?
Yeah my time in BMX I was able to become California State Champion in my age group. I do not regret leaving BMX for one second; I have so many special memories in road cycling that I may have never had the chance to experience without leaving the sport. I think it is amazing to see guys I used to race every weekend taking their talents and hard work to the Olympic level. They truly deserve it after all the years of hard work!!
Full Interview >
Jeremiah Wiscovitch leads the Rock Racing Team at the Barry Wolfe GP.
photo © Danny Munson
U.S. Cup Opening Round at Bonelli Park to Feed 500 racers with In N Out Burgers
2/10/09 - The U.S. Cup presented by Specialized has announced that it will be pulling out all the stops at the opening round of the Kenda Cup West series by hiring the In N Out cook out trailer to feed five hundred racers at the March 1st event. The first five hundred hungry racers to register for the opening round of the Kenda Cup West event at Bonelli Park will receive a ticket for a free In N Out cheeseburger, drink and bag of chips as a show of appreciation for their participation in the U.S. Cup Series. Qualifying registered racers will be met with a full blown In N Out cook out trailer serving up famous In N Out burgers starting from 12:30 pm to 2:30pm. Spectators, family and friends also have the option of purchasing lunch from the In N Out cook out trailer during the two-hour serving period for an additional charge. Racers may pre enter or sign up the day of the event to qualify for the offer, first five hundred registered racers only will be fed free of charge.
Sergio Hernandez (Rock Racing) leads the break at the Dominguez Hill Crit, which he went on to win.
photo © Danny Munson
Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living Makes A Statement at Boulevard
2/9/09 - A week out from their upcoming debut in the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, the Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living Professional Cycling Team have announced their intentions with a powerful showing in the 90 mile Boulevard Road Race in east San Diego County on Saturday 7 February. Held in snowy and rainy conditions on a tough, hilly course featuring almost 8,000 feet of climbing, the race was dominated by Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living riders, with Ben Day taking the victory ahead of teammates David Kemp, Charles Dionne, and Bernard Sulzberger who rounded out third through fifth. Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living riders were on the attack from the start of the race, with Sulzberger taking an early flyer, hoping to “get warm”. Speaking about the race and his victory, Day said, “We managed to dictate the tempo of the race and get four into the race winning break. With our numerical advantage, it was simply a matter of doing the right things coming into the finish. I attacked with about 1 mile to go it’s always nice to get a win so early in the season!” Speaking about the snowy conditions, Day said, “I only arrived in California 2 days ago. I spent the last week training in 125 degree temperatures in Australia so this is a big contrast. Metaphorically, the cold race was a great warm up for me and the team! We’re looking forward to the Tour of California, and this hit out gives us a lot of confidence.” Not content with dominating in California, the team enjoyed success on the other side of the Pacific, with Australian-based riders dominating in Queensland’s Oakey Two Day with Haydn Brooks winning both races from an all-star local field. Speaking about the weekend’s results, Team Director Chris White said, “The strength of our results on both sides of the Pacific this weekend shows that our two-pronged program comprising professional and talent development squads is working well.”
Chris Daggs (Swamis DET) takes on the epic conditions at the Boulevard Road Race.
photo © Mark Johnson/Ironstring.com
Interview with Dotsie Bausch
2/8/09 - LN: What are you up to now? Retired? Not retired? Racing? Not racing? We have heard lots of grumblings, but what is really going on for you in 2009?
DB: I have a lot going on! I have taken a position as Assistant Director and Captain to Susy Pryde on the Jazz Apple Professional Cycling Team based out of New Zealand. However, I will be racing with them too. At the end of 2008, I felt well, bored, for lack of better terms. I have enjoyed the professional ranks for 8 years, but I reached a point where I wanted more, I wanted to do more, I wanted to give more. I was tired of constantly being focused on my own results and my own training program. I mean how many times can you do the same race over and over, year after year? I felt satisfied with my own career and wanted to be someone who helped to grow the sport that has given so much to me. I wanted to teach other young women, inspire them to get the results they were dreaming of, help others reach their potential. Susy is giving me a chance to be a teacher/motivator/captain as well as continue to race, which I love. Full Interview >
Dotsie Bausch takes on the role of Assistant Director and
Captain on the Jazz Apple Professional Cycling Team in 2008.
photo © John Segesta
Cyclists of All Ages and Levels Unite National Level Cycling at the Valley of the Sun
2/6/09 - The 17th Annual VALLEY OF THE SUN, John Earley Memorial Stage Race, presented by Landis Cyclery and Trek will be held Friday, Saturday, & Sunday February 13, 14, & 15. The VALLEY OF THE SUN Stage Race, held in the greater Phoenix area, is a premiere event that has become the largest attended, multi-day bicycle race in North America. In 2008, almost 900 cyclists competed in front of thousands of enthusiastic spectators as they lined the courses and cheered on the riders. The 2009 race will award over $10,000 in cash and prizes and will attract some of the top professional cycling teams from North America and abroad. Frank Pipp of Bissell Pro Cycling will be leading a team of 5 racers. No doubt, this will be a true showdown of strength and power. In addition, the three-day event hosts a variety of fund raising events for various non-profit organizations, including a race just for kids (complete with a helmet fitting clinic prior). This three-day event offers men and women, both amateur and professional road racing cyclists of all levels, the opportunity to compete for cash and prizes.
Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium to Kick Off the Women’s Pro Season
2/6/09 - The 2009 Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium presented by the Redwood Regional Breast Center will assemble some of the world’s top professional women cyclists to compete in Santa Rosa on Sunday, February 15, in the season opening NRC event. The second-annual race will, once again, be held in conjunction with Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California. Featuring a field that includes defending champion and 2008 U.S. National Criterium and Road Race Champion Brooke Miller, the race is sure to be an exciting and challenging competition, kicking off the women’s cycling season. “The Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium is returning for a second year to Santa Rosa to showcase the excitement and competitiveness of women's professional cycling to fans along the route," said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. "The 2009 race will bring together some of the finest competitors in women's professional cycling. That, combined with the men’s field, will make this an epic day of bike racing." The Women's Criterium will begin at 1 p.m. and will showcase some of the world's top professional women cyclists competing for more than $15,000 in prizes. Set as a category Pro 1/2 race, the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium will have a limit of eight riders per team. Once again using portions of the Stage 1 men’s finishing circuit in Santa Rosa, the Women’s Criterium will bring the thrill of professional women’s cycling to fans in the hours just before the men’s finish in downtown Santa Rosa. “The Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium is emerging as one of the top women’s cycling events in America and carries international athletic importance. The field of National Champions, World Cup winners and Olympians will be competing to become the leader of the 2009 National Race Calendar, as well as for the overall prizes,” said Laura Charameda, race director, Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium. “With huge crowds expected to be in Santa Rosa to see both the men’s Amgen Tour of California and the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium, the event promises to be exciting for both racers and cycling fans." The 2009 Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium roster includes representation from top American women’s cycling teams including, Team Columbia-Highroad, Webcor Builders, Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light, Team TIBCO and Proman.
Ride for LIVESTRONG Website to Support the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign
2/5/09 - The Astana Cycling Team announced its support for the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign. Team Astana unveiled the “Ride for LIVESTRONG” website - the team’s season-long effort to connect cycling fans around the world to the global fight against cancer. Ride for LIVESTRONG is composed of three elements a race kilometer contest, a fundraising initiative and an educational component. The announcement, made on World Cancer Day, took place at Team Astana’s press conference at training camp. “The 27 riders representing nine countries on Team Astana are proud to stand with Lance Armstrong in the global fight against cancer,” said Johan Bruyneel, Team Astana General Manager. “Many of the riders, like our fans, have a personal connection to cancer; Ride for LIVESTRONG allows them to take an active role this season to support this effort.” Fans will select their favorite Team Astana rider at the Ride for LIVESTRONG website, where they can view rider profiles and their connections to cancer. The website also features cancer statistics for each rider’s home country, as well as the burden of cancer in each of the countries where Team Astana will compete this season. By selecting a rider, fans can enter into a race km contest to win great team sponsor prizes, including a race-ridden 2009 Trek Madone 6.9 road bike; a special edition Giro Ionus LIVESTRONG road helmet signed by Lance Armstrong, and a Nike LIVESTRONG clothing package.
Niels Albert (Belgium) celebrates his win at the Cyclocross Worlds .
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
USA Cycling Contributes $360,000 to its Local Associations
2/5/09 - Following another year of solid growth in overall membership, USA Cycling announced today that it will distribute nearly $360,000 to its 34 Local Associations as part of its effort to support competitive cycling at the grassroots level. Based on 2008 license sales, USA Cycling will have delivered more than $1.7 million in direct funding to its Local Associations since the program’s inception in 2003. For the first time, all 34 Local Associations earned rebates from the sale of USA Cycling licenses. For the fourth consecutive year, the Northern California/Nevada Cycling Association earned the largest payout, qualifying for $36,105 in funding, followed by the Southern California/Nevada Cycling Association ($32,210), the New England Bicycle Racing Association ($30,520), the Texas Bicycle Racing Association ($23,225) and the Pennsylvania Cycling Association ($15,495). Each year, USA Cycling reinvests a significant percentage of its membership dollars back into each Local Association based on each organization’s license sales, including $10 for every license sold and $ 5 for per adult add-on license sold. These investments are in turn allocated and prioritized by each Local Association to support racing-specific programs in their respective geographic region. “The funding is a real bonus,” explained SCNCA president Eric Smith. “It has helped us to support a very successful Best All-Around Rider and Best All-Around Team series, as well as a results program that has driven more and more participation each year. We feel the payouts are also important to help support our juniors. Nearly a third of our funding from USA Cycling goes to support a variety of junior programs. In the past three years our junior membership has tripled and continues to grow. The funding we receive allows us to specifically dedicate resources to junior and women’s programs, as well as the growth of cyclo-cross.”
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Joel Price and Floyd Landis at the Team Ouch Training Camp in Temecula.
photo © Joel Price
Junior, U23 & Elite Road Nationals Awarded to Bend, Oregon
2/4/09 - The 2009-10 USA Cycling Junior, U23 & Elite Road National Championships have been awarded to the city of Bend, Ore., the national governing body announced today. The announcement comes six weeks after the cycling-friendly community was also awarded the next two editions of the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships. The dates for the 2009 USA Cycling Junior, U23 & Elite Road National Championships will be July 28 through Aug. 2. Since the Junior, U23 and Elite fields were combined into one national championship event in 2005, the 2009 edition marks the event’s first visit to the Pacific Northwest. Previous hosts include Anaheim, CA (2008), Seven Springs Resort in Champion, PA (2006-07) and Park City, Utah (2005). The six-day event will host approximately 1,000 competitive cyclists as they compete for national titles in three different disciplines of road racing the individual time trial, road race and criterium. “Bend is a destination for both recreational and competitive cycling, and we’re excited to bring another national championship to Oregon,” commented USA Cycling chief executive officer Steve Johnson. “Bend’s long tradition of community-wide support and passion for cycling convinced us to award them two national championships in the same year.”
Cavendish Sprints in for the First Win of 2009 at the Tour of Quatar
2/4/09 - Mark Cavendish captured his first victory of the 2009 season on Wednesday when he outsprinted the field on stage four of the Tour of Qatar. Cavendish took a convincing win in a stage where strong winds and splits in the bunch meant teamwork played a crucial part in his victory. “Today was the kind of day that had to finish in a win,” Cavendish said afterwards. “My team did a great job as a unit, working hard in the early part of the stage, getting Michael [Barry] in the break, then doing a brilliant job to get me up there for the final sprint. There were five of us in the front group early on, then four, then three in the last part, but everybody did a perfect job all day. The conditions were very tough, but that’s Qatar, it’s always windy here. There are two more stages to come and hopefully I’ll be able to do well in those ones, too. I’ve been unfortunate in the finishes earlier on in this race, now it seems my luck has turned.” On Wednesday Cavendish outpowered German Heinrich Haussler and Belgian race leader Tom Boonen in a long sprint in the northern fishing town of Madinat Al Shamal. After his victory, Cavendish is now lying ninth overall. In a dramatic day’s racing, cross-winds shattered the peloton on the long exposed ride from Doha’s Old Souq across the Qatar desert. But Cavendish and his Columbia-Highroad team-mates were never far from the front. Wednesday’s win was even more satisfying for Cavendish because in the first two sprint stages bad luck had kept Cavendish out of contention. Tuesday’s stage was particularly frustrating for the British rider. A puncture less than 1500 metres from the line wrecked Cavendish’s chances when he was on the point of accelerating for the finish. The Tour of Qatar ends on Friday, when Cavendish heads directly to the United States to join his team at a training camp leading up to the Amgen Tour of California.
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SoCalCycling.com Continues to Sponsor Elite Men's Team
SoCalCycling.com is proud to announce our continued support of our Elite Team for the fifth year in a row. We are excited to continue our partnerships with co-sponsors La Rocque Better Roofs, Inc. and Matco Tools (Sean Liske) this season. In addition, we have a newly redesigned red and white team kit and Team web site for 2008.
Team Director, Frank Sarate, has built the Elite Team to in clude eight Category 1/2 riders. The team is comprised of seasoned riders including, Frank Sarate and John Brady. John rode for such notable pro teams as 7-Eleven and Motorola, among other pro teams during his long career, and has 12 Irish Championship Titles and over 130 Pro 1/2 victories to his name.
The team also includes three young riders under the age of 25 and up and coming riders, including Sean Lackey, Alan Wagenbach and Jared Shimizu, Bill Purcell, Saul Hernandez and Chris Gagne. “I am very excited about the composition of the team and excited to be working with this group of young and up and coming riders to help them with their development and cycling goals,” explained Frank Sarate. The SoCalCycling.com Elite Team competes in races in Southern California, as well as select NRC races. more >
The SoCalCycling.com Elite Team.
photo © Dan Munson