Tuesday, June 30, 2009

It's Not About the Bike, It's About You

In case you were wondering what Lance Armstrong's motivation is for going after an unprecedented 8th Tour de France victory, you need only watch the video, Driven, below. Sadly, he isn't lacking in motivation...

Rock Racing’s Bahati Owns Manhattan Beach, Loans It To Precocious PROMAN


Manhattan Beach, Calif. — If he keeps this up, the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix is going to have to be renamed the “Rahsaan Bahati Grand Prix.”

Rock Racing’s star sprinter won the 48th edition of the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix Sunday for the third consecutive year. It was his ninth win of the season and Rock Racing’s 24th victory on the year.

“I wasn’t feeling any pressure to win here again,” Bahati said. “It was just coming from my friends and peers – not from the guys on the team. It was just like another race to me.”

Bahati, the 27-year-old U.S. professional criterium champion, convincingly swept across the line at the end of the 80-minute race at Live Oak Park ahead of runner-up Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) and the reigning U.S. elite criterium champion, Ken Hanson (Team Type 1).

Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball was among the several thousand fans lining the 1.4-mile (2.2 km) hot dog-shaped course that borders the Pacific Ocean. That made the victory even sweeter, Bahati said.

“I’m glad he was there to witness another big win for the team,” Bahati said. “This shows that I care about my job and I’m glad I have a job. For me, I only wanted to show that Rock Racing competes a team, unselfishly. We have to show him we can succeed and give a sponsor its due.”

Last year, Bahati beat out Ricardo Escuela and Brad Huff. In 2007, the rider he beat here to take his first win – Ivan Dominguez – was helping lead him out in the final laps.

“Ivan adds another dimension to this team,” Bahati said of the Rock racing’s acquisition earlier this month of the accomplished Cuban-American sprinter. “He said ‘Follow me and I’ll take you to the Promised Land.’ So I did.”

But it wasn’t an entirely smooth ride in the final 200 meters when Team Type 1’s Aldo Ino Ilesic and teammate Ken Hanson tried to spoil the celebration by roaring past the Rock Racing lead-out train.

“We had Nic (Sanderson), Caleb (Manion), Sergio (Hernandez) and all the boys on the front and basically got jumped by Team Type 1,” Bahati said. “So I got on Hanson’s wheel and made sure I was third through the last corner. From there, I knew I had it.”

The only downside of Sunday’s race was a crash by Rock Racing’s Justin Williams. The U.S. Under-23 national criterium champion went down with two laps to go and lost a few teeth in a jarring collision with the pavement.

PROMAN Produces Another Hit
In the women's race, the precocious talents of 16-year old Coryn Rivera (Proman Hit Squad) were on display as she "went to the mattresses" with about 300 meters out to take the sprint ahead of Malindi Maclean (Jazz Apple) and Catherine Fiedler-Cook (Tommasini).

Monday, June 29, 2009

Team Type 2 Caps RAAM With Emotional Finish


Annapolis, Md. – Team Type 2 crossed the finish line of the Race Across America (RAAM) early Sunday to complete the grueling, 3,021-mile (4,861 km) journey in seven days, seven hours and 24 minutes.

The squad’s stirring finish in front of a large crowd on the City Dock in Annapolis, Md., featured a mix of hugs, smiles, a few tears and plenty of high fives. One long-time RAAM observer called it the most emotional finish line celebration he has ever witnessed.

“It’s exciting to work so hard to get it done,” Team Type 2 director and rider Bob Avritt said. “It gives us the opportunity to look forward to help people and inspire them about what people with Type 2 diabetes can accomplish.”

Team Type 2 is believed to be the first squad consisting entirely of athletes with Type 2 diabetes to successfully complete the non-stop, transcontinental race since teams began competing in RAAM in 1989. People living with the disease have too much sugar in their bloodstream because their bodies either do not use insulin properly or do not produce enough insulin.

In addition to Avritt, team members were John Anderson, Bill Arnold, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Voorhees.


Chaisson survived a scare in the final 12 hours of the race when he badly cut his right calf after slipping off the pedals. He needed seven stitches and a tetanus shot, but resumed riding four hours later.

Team Type 2 is an extension of Team Type 1, which was founded in 2004 by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge. Team Type 1 has competed in RAAM since 2006 and has men’s and women’s professional racing teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 2 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes; through active management, one can achieve their goals, dreams, and potential.

On Friday, Team Type 1 won the eight-person team division of RAAM in five days, nine hours and five minutes while bettering the race record. Many members of that team, as well as the squad’s volunteer crew, were in Annapolis Sunday morning to greet Team Type 2.

Avritt said RAAM – which began last Saturday in Oceanside, Calif. – was everything that he expected.

“Some of it was more difficult than I could have imagined,” he said. “The most difficult was the sleep deprivation. I knew it would be an issue, but not so much of a predominant issue. Regardless, we were able to meet our goal of finishing in seven days.”

Photos: Courtesy Michael Scholl

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Astana Does Not Want A Double Burger


Team Astana has named their nine for the New French Revolution. The roster includes:

Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloden, Haimar Zubeldia, Yaroslav Popovych, Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast, and first-timer, Kazakh rider Dimitriy Muravyey.

The most notable exclusion from the Tour team was 37-year old American Chris Horner, he of In-N-Out Double-Double fame, who fell victim to politics and a numbers game. Watching Horner in his domestique role at this year’s Amgen Tour of California and at some of the pre-Tour tune up races, there was no denying his benefit to his teammates as a tireless worker or his instincts as a big-time racer.

Instead, the financially troubled Kazakhstan sponsor has chosen to sacrifice talent and team chemistry for the sake of having a countryman represent their colors in the biggest race of the season.

You're still angry about Borat, really?

Friday, June 26, 2009

Team Type 1 Wins Race Across America, Betters Team Record


Annapolis, Md. – Team Type 1 rolled onto the Annapolis, Md., City Dock early Friday morning as champions of the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM).

The athletes on Team Type 1 – all of whom have Type 1 diabetes – won the non-stop, transcontinental race in record time. They completed the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) distance in five days, nine hours and five minutes after starting Saturday afternoon in Oceanside, Calif.

Their average speed of 23.41 mph bettered the 23.24 mph of last year's winner, the Norwegian Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling Team, which completed nearly the same distance in five days, nine hours and 43 minutes.

At 2:38 a.m. EDT, Team Type 1 riders Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Tom Kingery, Lonny Knabe, Bob Schrank and Mark Suprenant were recognized on the victory podium to the cheers of a large crowd of supporters that included the team’s founder, Phil Southerland.

Schrank, the RAAM team director, teamed with Southerland and Team Type 1 co-founder Joe Eldridge in 2007 when Team Type 1 won its second straight eight-rider RAAM team title. Last year, Bowden, Brooks and Suprenant joined Schrank on the squad that finished as runners-up.

“This is the biggest one for me by far of the three years I’ve done this,” Schrank said. “It seemed to have all the right pieces seemed to fall together. What was great was how well the team conducted itself in the face adversity.”


That bad luck included a grass fire in the Arizona desert that destroyed a minivan, an RV that had its transmission go out in Utah and a crew car that ran out of gas – all within a 24-hour span early in the race. The team is also on the lookout for Suprenant's Orbea Ordu bicycle, which went missing Thursday night.

RAAM Manager Dave Eldridge said overcoming those challenges was a testament to the focus and diligence of the team and nearly two dozen volunteer crew members.

“Once we physically removed the riders from the environment to fight the challenges, they went back to the task at hand, which was to push the pedals as hard as they could and go east,” Eldridge said. “The crew also did a great job. We made some decisions to keep people back and move people forward with the team and they came through with the support that was necessary. That’s really consistent of the message of Team Type 1. You have to manage the disease, just like you manage things in real life.”

Another remarkable story to emerge was the perseverance of Kingery, a member of the new Team Type 1 triathlon squad. The 33-year-old, Delaware, Ohio, resident broke his hand a month before the race.

“I came into this knowing I wasn’t the strongest climber and my cast limited my climbing training,” Kingery said. “So that made it even more of a challenge. I knew my strong suit would be on the flats.”

The team's quest to better the existing RAAM team record hung in the balance until the final hours of the race. Two of the Team Type 1's three slowest legs of the 53 time stations along the route came in the final 300 miles. The toll of pedaling for 10 or 15 minutes at a time for more than five days caught up to the riders, RAAM Coach Nate Keck said.

“I knew that getting the record was not a given,” Keck said. “But I also knew that we had a shot. So coming down to the finish, I basically just told the guys what we had to achieve to get it and they went out and knocked it down. We were fortunate to only get one time penalty. If we had received any more, we definitely would have been out of luck.”

Team Type 1 was created in 2004 to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming the obstacles often associated with the condition. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels.

Photos: Courtesy, Karen Scheerer (top - from L to R: Tom Kingery, Mark Suprenant, Alex Bowden, Lonny Knabe, Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Matt Brooks and Bob Schrank); Courtesy, Michael Scholl (bottom - Simon Bennett powers through a time station near Flagstaff, Ariz.)

Bahati’s Ultimate Pro-Tour Cycling Experience Gets Additional Star Power


Carson, Calif. – Reigning United States criterium champion Rahsaan Bahati won't be the only star doing the pedaling at the Ultimate Pro-Tour Cycling Experience camp presented by Bahati Racing and Cannondale in mid-July in Aliso Viejo, Calif.

Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor Shemar Moore (inset) will meet camp participants when they participate in his charity ride to benefit the MS Society during the four-day cycling training camp. Moore plays Special Agent Derek Morgan in the CBS hit series, “Criminal Minds.”

There is still time to register for the Ultimate Pro-Tour Cycling Experience camp. From July 16-19, cyclists will receive professional riding instruction, learn racing tactics and skills, and receive expert advice about sports nutrition, recovery, strength training and time and energy management.

Bahati, who will be aiming for his third consecutive victory at Sunday’s Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, said he is excited about the opportunity to fine tune and enhance the skills of cyclists of all abilities. He is the camp’s primary instructor.

“I’m also pleased that everyone will get a chance to meet my friend Shemar, whose mother suffers from multiple sclerosis,” Bahati said. “Not only will they be getting the best in cycling instruction but they will also get a chance to show their support for a worthwhile cause and participate in a fun event.”

The Pro Cycling Experience includes fully-supported rides with support bicycles provided by Cannondale, sag and support vehicles to keep cyclists safe; on-site mechanics to keep bikes cleaned and tuned; on-staff masseurs to provide daily massages for peak performance and optimal recovery; a professional bike fit to ensure bicycles are custom adjusted to individual riders; chiropractic adjustments to keep everyone fine-tuned physically; daily lectures and skills clinics to educate participates on best practices; and ride appropriate nutrition lessons to inform athletes of how to get the most out of their daily food and beverage intake.

Camp participants will also enjoy first-class accommodations at the Renaissance Club Sport Resort in Aliso Viejo, Calif. In addition to its extensive full-service workout facility, rejuvenating day spa and top-rated restaurants, its guest rooms provide a one-of-a-kind, relaxing experience.

The four-day Ultimate Pro-Tour Cycling Experience camp presented by Bahati Racing and Cannondale includes all activities and accommodations for $1,400. Food and beverages are also included (with the exception of alcohol). For information on registering, visit the Bahati Racing website at www.bahatiracing.com.

Bahati is one of the most successful American cyclists on the road and track, having won more than a half-dozen national championships during a professional career that began in 2001. He is a member of the Rock Racing team.

Team Type 1 Earns Tour of Missouri Spot

Atlanta – The Team Type 1 men’s professional team will be a part of one of the most prestigious stage races in the United States when it takes the start line of the Tour of Missouri in early September.

Team Type 1 has won nearly two dozen races and stands fifth in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) standings. Earlier this year, the only professional cycling team in the world with a mission to spread inspiration to those affected by diabetes competed in North America’s other major event, the Amgen Tour of California.

"We would like to extend a big thank you to the state of Missouri for having us in their race,” Team Type 1 founder and second-year professional Phil Southerland said. “I am very excited that we will again be competing against the best in the world, and have the opportunity to share our message of inspiration to people affected by diabetes.

"I have done a lot of work with the Lantus and Apidra insulin representatives in the state who have shown me what a great diabetes community Missouri has. I very much look forward to working with them, so that everyone with diabetes in Missouri has a chance to meet Team Type 1."

For the first time since its inaugural year, the Tour of Missouri will travel east to west, starting in St. Louis and finishing in Kansas City. The past two years, the race routed west to east, beginning in Kansas City and ending in St. Louis.

The more than 600-mile (965 km) race will be contested over seven days and seven stages. There will be two circuit races (St. Louis and Kansas City), one time trial (Sedalia) and four point-to-point road races (Ste. Genevieve-Cape Girardeau, Farmington-Rolla, St. James-Jefferson City and Chillicothe-St. Joseph).

Team Type 1 was created in 2004 by Southerland and Joe Eldridge, a pair of avid cyclists with Type 1 diabetes. In 2006 and 2007, the pair captained Team Type 1 to back-to-back victories in the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM). In 2008, the team grew to include a 15-rider professional continental team that included four riders with Type 1 diabetes. This year, Team Type 1 expanded to include a triathlon team, a developmental squad, a women's professional squad and a second team for RAAM: Team Type 2.

Team Type 1’s roster for the Tour of Missouri will be announced at a later date.

RAAM Finish Line In Sight For Team Type 1


Near Ellenboro, W.Va. – Team Type 1 remained on pace Thursday morning to finish the Race Across America (RAAM) a little after midnight Eastern Daylight Time.

The team that is comprised entirely of athletes who have Type 1 diabetes is also riding fast enough to better the RAAM transcontinental crossing record of five days, nine hours and 43 minutes, established last year by the Norwegian Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling Team.

Through 2,575 miles of the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) race from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md., Team Type 1 was averaging 23.76 mph. The second-place team in the race, Team ViaSat, was averaging 22.64 mph and riding nearly five-and-a-half hours behind Team Type 1 as of 8 a.m. EDT.

The past 24 hours for Team Type 1’s Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Tom Kingery, Lonny Knabe, Bob Schrank and Mark Suprenant has not come without a few setbacks.

Bowden briefly had a scare Wednesday when his FreeStyle Navigator continuous blood glucose monitor revealed his blood sugar dropped from 307 to 56 in 25 minutes during a shift in Illinois. But he made a quick correction using rapid-acting insulin Apidra, along with eating gels, cookies and some candy.

Team Type 1 was also hit with its first 15-minute penalty of the race Wednesday night when RAAM officials ruled the team’s follow car failed to yield to follow traffic in Ohio.

But there was a more memorable moment Wednesday when Brooks turned in one of the most impressive riding shifts of the race when the vehicle carrying the riders who would replace him took a wrong turn near Oxford, Ohio.

“Matt ended up being out there for 28 miles and he averaged more than 26 miles an hour,” Team Type 1 RAAM Coach Nate Keck said. “The kid just cranked it.”

About a day behind Team Type 1 on the road, Team Type 2 was producing its own impressive performance. The eight riders who have Type 2 diabetes shifted up their strategy – turning to shorter, three-mile riding shifts – to up their average speed by nearly an entire mile-an-hour in a 24-hour span.

The team of John Anderson, Bill Arnold, Bob Avritt, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Voorhees throttled through three of the 53 time stations along the route with an average speed of more than 22 mph to raise their average speed to 17.45 mph. At that pace, Team Type 2 will reach the finish line Saturday night.

“We’re going to try and add another mile an hour to that today,” Avritt said. “We’re going to do everything we can to go fast until we hit the Appalachian Mountains because we’ll give back some time in those climbs, for sure.”

Avritt was also pleased that Team Type 2 is riding fast enough to easily make the second of three time cut-off points (the Mississippi River) for teams.

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org or on Twitter by following @teamtype1 and @teamtype2.

Photo: Courtesy Karen Scheerer

Team Garmin-Slipstream Names Tour Roster

Boulder, CO – Team Garmin-Slipstream today announced its much-anticipated Tour de France roster. The riders that will represent the American team in tackling the world’s toughest sporting event are:

Julian Dean, Tyler Farrar, Ryder Hesjedal, Dan Martin, David Millar, Danny Pate, Christian Vande Velde, Bradley Wiggins, David Zabriskie

“We are bringing a diverse and versatile squad to the 2009 Tour de France,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports, LLC and Director Sportif, Team Garmin-Slipstream. “We had an incredible first Tour as a team last year and this year we hope for GC contention, possible stage wins and even the yellow jersey at some point.”


The squad features four Americans, including Christian Vande Velde who was fourth in last year’s Tour and is returning from a crash in May that left him with five broken vertebrae and other fractures. Also on the list are current Irish national champion Dan Martin, Ryder Hesjedal of Canada, Julian Dean of New Zealand, and the UK’s David Millar and Bradley Wiggins. Dutchman Martijn Maaskant is the first reserve.

"As the title sponsor, we couldn't be more excited about the roster of champions that we're sending to the Tour to represent Garmin," said Jon Cassat, Garmin's vice president of communications. "With our Edge 705 on their handlebars guiding their way, we all look forward to cheering Garmin-Slipstream as they push the pace of the peloton."

Photo: Leonard Basobas

Team Type 1 Still Leads RAAM; Team Type 2 Increases Pace

Crossing The Mississippi River – As Team Type 1 made short work of Kansas and Missouri to grow its lead to nearly four hours early Wednesday, Team Type 2 increased its average speed in the Race Across America (RAAM).

Team Type 1 crossed the Mississippi River shortly before 8 a.m. EDT Wednesday, having completed more than 2,000 of the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) non-stop race that began in Oceanside, Calif., and finishes in Annapolis, Md. The second-place team in the eight-rider division, Team ViaSat, was riding three hours and 59 minutes behind the squad that is comprised entirely of athletes with Type 1 diabetes.

“We’re trying to stay ahead of our time from last year,” Team Type 1 General Manager Tom Schuler said from the support car following rider Tom Kingery. “Our speed dropped a bit overnight when we hit a nasty headwind going through the Ozarks and we thought we were going to get caught up in some thunderstorms, but the rain ended up going around us.”

By averaging nearly 24 mph, Team Type 1 remains on pace to better the existing RAAM record of five days, nine hours and 43 minutes, established last year by the Norwegian Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling Team.

Bob Schrank, who has been part of Team Type 1’s past two RAAM squads, said fatigue has started to set in. But he remains optimistic the squad can maintain its record pace as it heads through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

“We’re riding great and the crew is doing everything it possibly can to make sure that is all we are doing – just riding,” Schrank said.

Team Type 2, which consists of eight riders who all have Type 2 diabetes, continued its strategy of utilizing short rider shifts – 3 to 4-mile pulls – to fight off stiff crosswinds that buffeted them across central Kansas.

"It’s nice to have the breeze when it’s more than 90 degrees out, but the wind is also beating the crap out of us," Team Type 2’s Bob Chaisson said. "It is definitely adding to the challenge."

Temperatures hovered near the century mark Tuesday, which made for some of the most brutal riding conditions to date. Staying hydrated while seeing that all the riders properly managed their blood sugar was tasked to Dr. Bill Russell, the team’s endocrinologist.


“One of the things that has helped Team Type 1 the most has been the experience from the guys who are returning from last year,” Dr. Russell said. “Every day on the ride is a different day in terms of what their basal rates need to be and how much Apidra or Lantus they need to keep their blood sugar under control. It seems like initially they need to cut back considerably on their insulin and then it slowly rises as they go on further.”

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org or on Twitter by following @teamtype1 and @teamtype2.

Photos: Courtesy Race Across America (top - Team Type 2's Bob Chaisson cruises through New Mexico); Courtesy Michael Scholl (Simon Bennett of Team Type 1 powers across the Kansas plains near El Dorado Tuesday).

Team Type 2 Easily Makes First Time Cut

Near Taos, N.M. — Team Type 2 successfully completed one of its goals Tuesday morning at the Race Across America (RAAM).

The eight-rider team that is comprised entirely of athletes with Type 2 diabetes rolled through Taos, N.M., which is one of two intermediate checkpoints along the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) route. Teams must reach these checkpoints within a designated time to officially continue in the non-stop, transcontinental race.


Team Type 2 Manager Bob Avritt said the accomplishment was satisfying for him and teammates John Anderson, Bill Arnold, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Voorhees.

“We’re also happy to be out-pacing another team, too,” Avritt said as he prepared to ride another shift on his Orbea Opal bicycle.

Through the first 1,044 miles (1,680 km), Team Type 2 is averaging 16.8 mph. At that pace, the squad will reach the finish line in Annapolis, Md., sometime Sunday morning.

Team Type 2 crew member Kevin Stewart said morale is high for both riders and crew. Unlike Team Type 1, which is participating in RAAM for the fourth time, this is Team Type 2’s maiden voyage in the event that is billed as the “world’s toughest bicycle race.”

“I’m real pleased with the way things are going,” Stewart said. “We’re doing our rider exchanges a little bit better and the riders are pleased with their times and how they are riding and how they are feeling.”

Avritt said he checked his blood sugar more than 20 times during a 160-mile shift Monday night into Tuesday morning. People with Type 2 diabetes have too much sugar in their bloodstream because their bodies either do not use insulin properly or do not produce enough insulin.

“We check our levels before we get on the bike and after we get back from each pull,” Avritt said. “We’re doing five-mile pulls with the goal of 15 minutes, which is a 20 mph average. Our blood glucose has been going down 50 to 70 points per pull, so we can tell it’s very demanding.”

Team Type 2 crew member Andrew Burgess said it has been inspiring to watch. He said at one point, Cowley – a 42-year-old Milwaukee resident who has had Type 2 diabetes for the past 10 years – was going more than 60 mph down a descent. What followed looked to be a tremendous challenge for the American Diabetes Association employee who lost 25 pounds training for RAAM.

“We knew Peter was excellent at descending, but when it comes to climbing we established that in this group, Bob (Avritt) and Bill Arnold are the climbers. So we had no intention of Peter doing the climb through Monument Pass. But it was like watching Rocky running up the steps. He was just killing it. It was a bittersweet moment. He was psyched he had done it, but glad he could call it a day.”

Team Type 1 On Record Pace In RAAM


Near Bloom, Kan. – The crackle over the megaphone broke the silence of an otherwise quiet morning Tuesday in western Kansas:

"Nice job, buddy. You’re just going to fly right on through this town," said Team Type 1 Coach Nate Keck to rider Bob Schrank.

Cruising at 28 mph on his Orbea Ordu time trial bike, Schrank gave the "high sign" of acknowledgment without interrupting his cadence.

This is business-as-usual for Team Type 1, which has been leading the eight-rider team division of the Race Across America (RAAM) since the 150th mile of the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) race that began Saturday in Oceanside, Calif.

Not only was Team Type 1 ahead of second-place Team ViaSat by nearly two hours and 45 minutes at 6:30 a.m. EDT, but the team of riders who all have Type 1 diabetes is knocking out the miles faster than any squad – or anyone, for that matter – has ridden across the country since RAAM team competition began in 1992.

Nearing the halfway point of the race, Team Type 1 is averaging 24 mph and riding at a pace nearly three hours faster than what Keck had calculated going into the race. Key to maintaining that record speed will be favorable weather conditions, he said.

"We want to get through Kansas as quickly as we can today in the hopes we can get into areas where we don’t have to worry as much about the wind," Keck said. "We had a section last night that we had a headwind and a strong cross wind. That really takes its toll on the guys."

Late Monday night, Team Type 1 caught up to and passed its first solo participant, Switzerland's Hermann Bachmann of the 50-59 age division, who left Oceanside, Calif., nearly three days before the team competitors.

"Those solo riders are amazing," Keck said.

While Team Type 1’s eight riders (Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Tom Kingery, Lonny Knabe, Schrank and Mark Suprenant) cruised along, Team Type 1 RAAM Manager Dave Eldridge had his own race to manage.

The fourth-year crew chief was jamming through northeastern New Mexico in an attempt to get a new RV up to the team to replace the one that had its transmission go out Sunday morning near Mexican Hat, Utah. Unable to find a dealership close-by Monday, Eldridge rented a U-Haul, loaded it with the belongings from the broken-down RV and drove to an RV dealership in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Never did he imagine so many logistical headaches – particularly one in which he would have to deal with having only one RV for 20 crew members and eight riders.

"This just doesn’t fit into the plan," Eldridge said late Monday night. "But it’s certainly something we have to plan for in the future."

The RV breakdown was the second of three major vehicular mishaps for Team Type 1 in a 24-hour span between Sunday and Monday. A fire destroyed one of the team's minivans early Sunday and a crew car ran out of gas Monday morning.

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org or on Twitter by following @teamtype1 and @teamtype2.

Photo: Courtesy Race Across America

Injuries Sideline Team Type 1 Australians Hanley, Calabria


Atlanta – Team Type 1 Australian professionals Fabio Calabria and Monique Hanley are on the road to recovery from serious injuries.

Calabria had to be admitted to a Colorado hospital Friday night with a severe infection from a saddle sore. He had already been sidelined by a broken bone in his hand sustained June 6 during a training ride crash the day before the TD Bank Philadelphia International Classic.

Hanley was seriously injured in a massive pile-up during the Tulsa Tough criterium series May 30 in Tulsa, Okla. She suffered spinous process fractures of the thoracic 3, 4 and 5 vertebrae (i.e, a broken back) as well as a separation of the Acromioclavicular joint in her right shoulder. She underwent shoulder surgery last Wednesday in Australia and was released from the hospital Saturday.

Calabria – who, like Hanley has Type 1 diabetes – said it is too early to tell how long he may be off the bike due to the infection.

“I’ve just been sitting here in the hospital watching bad movies and following Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 in the Race Across America through Twitter,” he said.

Hanley’s surgery was monumental from a diabetes standpoint. Due to hospital policy, her OmniPod Insulin Management System had to be removed.

“I taught my husband, Ewin, how to attach a new pod and correct for a high blood glucose, which he did in the recovery room after surgery while I was still out of it,” Hanley said.

During the two days after the surgery, Hanley said she experienced severe nausea and vomiting.

“My blood sugars were skyrocketing,” she said. “I haven't been this resistant in ages, including prior to the crash in Tulsa.”

Hanley is expected to be able to start training again in about six weeks. She says she has lost 12 pounds since coming home.

“But I am feeling better and starting to eat more,” she said. “(My) hubby is doing an awesome job looking after me.”

Team Type 1 Survives Vehicle Fire At RAAM

Cottonwood, Ariz. – A fire that destroyed Team Type 1's rider transport van threatened to burn up the team's lead Sunday morning in the Arizona desert at the Race Across America (RAAM).

But quick action by the crew kept the eight-rider team going and Team Type 1 led by more than an hour Sunday afternoon at Time Station No. 7 in Cottonwood, Ariz., 437 miles (704 km) into the race.

The fire started beneath the mini-van that hauls the riders and pulls the trailer carrying their Orbea bicycles. It happened when the van's hot catalytic converter came in contact with tall grass on the side of the road while the vehicle was pulled off to make a rider exchange.


Fortunately, no one was hurt. But the van was permanently damaged and a large area of the pavement was scorched.

Team Type 1 General Manager Tom Schuler, who is serving as a crew member for the team during RAAM, said he was amazing by how fast riders and staff responded to the situation.

"They had to put out the fire, disconnect the trailer hitch, reconnect the trailer to another vehicle, move the bikes around and get a new vehicle," Schuler said. "We were really fortunate that we were able to disconnect that trailer from the frame of the burned-out vehicle and move it onto a different van."

As a temporary stop-gap, Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 RAAM manager Dave Eldridge put his utility van into action as the rider vehicle until he was able to secure a new rental. Eldridge is the father of Joe Eldridge, who co-founded Team Type 1 with Phil Southerland in 2004.

In the wake of the fire, RAAM organizers put out a message to the more than 70 other crews following teams or individuals in the transcontinental race. It read, in part:

RAAM wish to extend their appreciation for the quick reaction of the crew to mitigate what could have been a very dangerous event. RAAM is unable to control all aspect of the Race and therefore they cannot take responsibility for unfortunate events that may occur during the Race. Please be aware of your surroundings (especially the dry ground cover in California) and the impact you may have on them during the race.

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org. Both squads are providing inspiration to people affected by diabetes around the world.

Team Type 1 Takes Early Lead In RAAM


Near Salome, Ariz. – Team Type 1 took over the lead in the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM) fewer than 150 miles into the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) transcontinental race.

As the race neared the second of 53 time stations, Team Type 1 passed early leader, Team ViaSat, about 140 miles into the race near Brawley, Calif.


Through the first 293 miles of the non-stop race from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md., Team Type 1 is averaging 26.74 mph. Team ViaSat remains second, averaging 25.58 mph.

All eight athletes on Team Type 1 have Type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels. The team finished second last year.

Team Type 1’s eight riders are split into two teams: “Tango” (Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Tom Kingery and Mark Suprenant) and “Cash” (Bob Schrank, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks and Lonny Knabe).

Also on the road in the eight-person division is Team Type 2, a first-year team that consists of eight riders who all have Type 2 diabetes. They are: John Anderson, Bob Avritt, Bill Arnold, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Vorhees.

Team Type 1 founder Phil Southerland was on hand to see both teams off in Oceanside Saturday afternoon. He said the two squads have an opportunity to touch people throughout the world who are affected by diabetes.

“This is our fourth year with Team Type 1 and the guys are as pumped as ever to have a record crossing,” he said. “With Team Type 2, I don’t there’s a guy on the team who hasn’t lost 20 pounds since training camp back in late January.

“That’s the message we want to send: live a healthy lifestyle. It was great seeing the smiles on the faces of the crew who were all so excited to be here because we are all part of something great. We’re living with diabetes every day and certainly it’s a challenge. But we’re doing this so we can help others do it better.”

Southerland and Joe Eldridge helped the team win the eight-person team division of the race in 2006 and 2007. The two are now members of the Team Type 1 men’s professional cycling team. Team Type 1 also fields a professional women’s program, a triathlon team and a development team.

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org.

Photos: Courtesy Andrew Burgess (top); Courtesy Race Across America (bottom).

Team Type 1 Aims To Regain RAAM Crown


Oceanside, Calif. – Team Type 1 makes no secret about its goals for the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM), which begins Saturday in Oceanside, Calif.

“Our first expectation is to win the race,” said Team Type 1 Elite Team Director Bob Schrank. “Our second expectation is to break the record set by the Norwegian team last year. And always, our hope is that we complete the race in a safe manner.”

The teams competing in RAAM begin pedaling the 3,021 miles (4,861 km) to Annapolis, Md., at 2 p.m. PDT. Last year, Team Type 1 finished less than four hours behind the Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling squad that won the eight-person team division in a time of five days, nine hours and 56 minutes.

Team Type 1 is comprised entirely of athletes who have Type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels. The team was created in 2004 to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming the obstacles often associated with the condition.

Team Type 1 co-founders Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge helped the team win the eight-person team division of the race in 2006 and 2007. The two are now members of the men’s professional cycling team. Team Type 1 also has a professional women’s program, a triathlon team, a development team and a second team for the Race Across America, Team Type 2.

This year’s Team Type 1 squad for RAAM consists of (name, age, hometown, country):

Jeff Bannink, 38, Beaverton, Ore., United States
Simon Bennett, 25, St. Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia
Alex Bowden, 19, DeKalb, Ill., United States
Matt Brooks, 21, Pickerington, Ohio, United States
Tom Kingery, 33, Delaware, Ohio, United States
Lonny Knabe, 33, Portland, Ore., United States
Bob Schrank, 40, Round Lake Park, Ill., United States
Mark Suprenant, 44, Milford, N.H., United States

Bowden, Brooks, Schrank and Suprenant return from last year’s squad, with Schrank also having raced for Team Type 1 in 2007.

Schrank said having diabetes makes parts of the grueling, non-stop race more difficult. While other teams can relax after riding a shift, Team Type 1’s athletes must be vigilant about monitoring their blood sugar.

“We are constantly using the Navigator and our OmniPods to make small corrections to our Apidra or Lantus (insulin),” he said. “As anyone with diabetes will tell you, managing diabetes is a 24-7 job.”

Tracking of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 in RAAM can be done through the teams’ official website, teamtype1.org.
Photo: Sean Weide

Rock Racing Doubles At Vuelta Pilsen a Columbia

Tunja & Bogota, Colombia - This past weekend, Rock Racing’s Victor Hugo Peña and Glen Chadwick delivered consecutive wins on Stage 12 and 13 at the 59th Vuelta Pilsen a Colombia.


Peña crossed the line is solo fashion to take the mountainous 159km Stage 12. The Columbian born Peña was part of a four-man break that never looked back. With 400 meters to go it was Peña and Lotería de Boyacá's Uberlino Mesa in a head to head battle for the win, with Peña pulling away comfortably in the final meters to the finish

“It was important for us to have a big result today and everyone worked extremely hard.” said Peña. “I dedicate this win to my teammates.”

For the former yellow jersey wearer at the Tour de France, the win marks his fourth at the Vuelta a Colombia, his last victory in 2008 when he won Stage 7.

Complimenting Peña’s victory for Rock Racing, were fourth and fifth place finishes for teammates Francisco Mancebo and Oscar Sevilla.

Stage 12 Results
1. Victor Peña (Rock Racing)
2. Uberlino Mesa (Loteria de Boyaca)
3. Pablo wilches (Nectar Cundinamarca)
4. Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing)
5. Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing)

On Stage 13, Glen Chadwick delivered the second straight win for Rock Racing, whild teammate Paco Mancebo took second.


Like Peña the day before, the New Zealand native soloed to victory in the heart of downtown Bogota.

Despite rainy and cold conditions, Chadwick attacked early and built a four minute lead over the peloton. He was never caught and rode almost 100 kilometers alone, crossing the finish line three and a half minutes ahead of the group. Mancebo emerged from the pack to take second.

Rock Racing’s Jose Gutierrez and Oscar Sevilla were also 6th and 7th, earning the team four of the day’s top 10 spots.

"Winning today in Bogota was incredible,” said Chadwick. “We have an amazing team. Yesterday it was Victor (Hugo Peña) and today it was me. I can’t say enough about this group of guys."

Stage 13 Results
1. Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing)
2. Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing)
3. Rafael Montiel (Nectar Cundinamarca)

Photos: Luis Barbosa (www.ciclismohoy.com)

Ritchey Design Time Trial Handlebars Compliant with International Cycling Union "3:1" Component Regulation

Ritchey Design shares the bicycle industry's concerns about UCI regulations that could limit future innovation in bicycle equipment design

SAN CARLOS, Calif. - Ritchey Design announced today that its time trial handlebars, the WCS Carbon Hammerhead and WCS Carbon Interval, comply with the International Cycling Union's (UCI) "3:1" bicycle design regulation that the governing body will begin enforcing on all competitive bicycle equipment starting July 1, 2009.

"Ritchey time trial handlebars were designed with the UCI three-to-one ratio in mind, as are all of our products. We have used this design guideline to make great time trial products that are verified by elite teams on both the USA and European circuits," said Steve Parke, Ritchey Design general manager. "Still, Ritchey is concerned about the impact UCI's design regulations will have on the future of bicycle design innovation, and we're committed to working with UCI and manufactures to ensure that competitive cycling develops in a way that is positive for the sport and the industries that support it."


The 3:1 rule, a series of UCI cycling regulations, stipulates that all bicycle parts and components must be built with measurements that do not exceed a three-to-one ratio. Created in 2000 but not actively enforced until the beginning of the 2009 season, bicycle teams, riders and manufacturers had widely interpreted the rule to apply only to bicycle frame tubes.

UCI will also enforce its corresponding cycling regulation that bans bicycle equipment that decreases air resistance to artificially accelerate propulsion, a regulation that has uncertain implications for the future of bicycle design. To read the UCI Regulations on "General Organization of Cycling as a Sport" in full, go to the Ritchey Blog.

Ritchey WCS Carbon Hammerhead and WCS Carbon Interval Time Trial bars
The WCS Carbon Hammerhead, available in 38cm and 40cm widths, is a flat style base bar with a wide range of extensions and arm rests. The WCS Carbon Interval is a 40cm, 60mm drop base bar. Both the Hammerhead and the Carbon Interval include carbon lay-up to provide torsional strength and are designed to comply with the UCI's "3:1" rule.


The WCS Carbon Hammerhead has seen recent success with rider Cadel Evans of Silence-Lotto who won the opening time trial at the 63rd Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré on June 7, 2009. A Tour de France favorite, Evans comfortably maintained his lead in the second stage of the race the following day.

Rory Sutherland of OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis rode the WCS Carbon Hammerhead to a second-place finish in the June 10 opening time trial of the 2009 Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Ritchey Design also provides time trial equipment to ColaVita Men's and Women's teams, Team TIBCO, Team Jelly Belly and Lampre.

Ritchey Design has a vested interest in the future of bicycle design innovation. Though the "3:1" rule doesn't directly threaten Ritchey Design's components, Ritchey Design has joined an international association of bicycle equipment manufacturers whose charter is to create a formal line of communication with UCI concerning its bicycle design regulations. To read Ritchey Design's official statement on joining the association, please go to www.ritcheylogic.com.

Rock Racing Re-Signs Ivan Dominguez


Culver City, Calif. – Sprinter Ivan Dominguez has signed with Rock Racing after a five-month ProTour stint with Fuji-Servetto.

Dominguez initially signed with Rock Racing before the 2009 season, but left the team in early January to accept a spot with the new ProTour squad. His return to domestic racing was a personal decision, he said, based on a desire to be closer to his family and the races he loves.

“Racing in Europe was a great opportunity, but this is where I want to be,” Dominguez said. “(Rock Racing Team Owner) Michael Ball left the door open for me and I’m grateful for the chance to be a part of this team again.”

“We knew it was a dream of Ivan’s to race in Europe and completely supported his decision to pursue that dream,” Ball said. “I told Ivan he would always have a place on this team and I meant it. We are glad he’s back and look forward to his contributions throughout the rest of the season.”

Dominguez, who was often referred to as “The Cuban Missile" due to his Cuban heritage, was granted U.S. citizenship Feb. 26. Since turning professional in 2000, the 33-year-old has won stages at the Amgen Tour of California, the Tour of Missouri and the now-defunct Tour de Georgia, in addition to victories at a number of major one-day races in the U.S.

He defected from his home country while competing with the Cuban national cycling team at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York City.

Photo: Leonard Basobas (Dominguez at the 2008 Philadelphia International Cycling Championship)

SCOTT USA Announces The Commerzbank Triathlon Team


Sun Valley, Idaho - The legendary green and white of the Dresdner Kleinwort Triathlon Team has been replaced by the yellow of Commerzbank. It’s the same great team, with a new look and new a title sponsor. With the merger of Commerzbank and Dresdner Kleinwort Bank now complete, Commerzbank has committed to continuing the team as Commerzbank Triathlon Team until 2011.

The team is lead by Normann Stadler and will also include Marino Vanhoenacker, Maik Twelsiek, Jan Raphael, Scott Neyedli, Markus Fachbach, Matthias Hecht and Timo Bracht.

The athletes will compete on both the Scott Plasma2 triathlon bike, the fastest bike at the 2008 Ironman WC in Kona, Hawaii, and in the Makani Running shoes.


The team has already begun competing under the new name and in the new colors. This past weekend team leader Normann Stadler (above) won the Maxdorf Triathlon in Germany. With a big smile on his face, the new father joked, “Since my child was born last week, the sleep deficit turned into lots of energy.”

“Scott Bicycles has tremendous momentum right now in Triathlon, so we decided to step up and support the entire Commerzbank team to give us more global presence in the sport,” commented Adrian Montgomery. “The team image is very good, and all of their athletes are now qualified for the big show in Kona so we couldn’t be happier with the program and look forward to the World Championships in October where they can show their stuff.”

Elsewhere in Germany, team member Maik Twelsiek won the Bonn Triathlon, four minutes ahead of second place, Faris Al-Sultan. This latest victory means that all of the Commerzbank athletes are now qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, October 10th, 2009.

The next challenges for Team Commerzbank will come at the Ironman at Roth and the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt, Germany. Keep your eyes on the yellow flash of Team Commerzbank!

For more information, contact Adrian Montgomery at 208.622.1036 or via email at amontgomery@scottusa.com.

The Kitchen Sink, Hamilton Behind The Eight Ball


He was out. He had left the beautiful sport under his own volition and seemed at peace with leaving behind a life that had become as undulating as any mountainous Tour stage. His cycling career was just an after thought, a footnote in the grand history of the sport. Then it happened.

In an act that could only be compared to exhuming a body and then shooting it to make sure that that person were dead, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspended the retired Tyler Hamilton for eight (8) years for his second doping offense.

It can be argued that USADA was in their right and simply following the letter of the anti-doping guidelines. But they overreached in Hamilton's case. Their act is more about a demonstration of power, rather than processes and procedures.

You stay classy USADA.


"The eight-year suspension is unfortunate and disheartening," stated Hamilton. "At this time, however, my focus remains on my mother, my family, battling my depression and getting better. This has been an extremely difficult and trying period, but I am determined to get through it.

I would like to thank Michael Ball, the Rock Racing team, my fans, family and friends, for their continued support during this time. Moving forward, I am going to put a lot of my time and energy towards helping others who face severe depression overcome the obstacles this illness brings."


Michael Ball, Rock Racing Owner, added that "while we understand Tyler was given the minimum suspension under the current rules, it is unfortunate that this young man who has so much left to give to cycling both on and off the bike, will not have the opportunity to continue in the sport he dedicated so much of his life to.”

"Tyler took an herbal anti-depressant in a moment of crisis, with no intention or possibility of enhancing his cycling performance," argued Chris Manderson, Counsel For Tyler Hamilton. "Despite that, the rules do not distinguish between an intentional doping violation and Tyler's attempt to self medicate for depression, and the USADA Protocol imposes a minimum eight-year penalty in this situation.

The penalty is no different than it would be for an athlete who intentionally used testosterone in competition. USADA could not have imposed a lesser penalty even if it had been understanding of Tyler's situation and wanted to impose a sanction more fitting to Tyler's lack of performance-enhancing intent. He would have no realistic chance of reducing the penalty in an arbitration hearing.

Although we believe the sanction is exceptionally harsh and completely disproportional to the transgression, Tyler has chosen to focus on getting better instead of fighting a pointless battle against the anti-doping regime."

Photo: Leonard Basobas

Nature Valley Grand Prix Airs On Universal Sports

Top ranked stage race featured dramatic finishes in men's and women's races


The Nature Valley Grand Prix, the top race on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar held on June 10 - 14, will air on Universal Sports, the event's worldwide broadcast partner. Originally slotted for a half hour, the program has been expanded to a full hour because there were far too many compelling storylines to cover in the shorter program. Airings will be:
  • Saturday, 6/27, 2:00 PM
  • Sunday, 6/28, 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday, 6/30, 11:00 AM
  • Sunday, 7/5, 4:00 PM
  • Monday, 7/6, 6:00 PM
**All Eastern Time

This was three-time defending champion Kristin Armstrong's last race in the United States before her retirement after the World Championships at the end of September in Mendrisio, Switzerland. With none of her Cervelo Test Team teammates to support her, Armstrong faced the daunting challenge of a stacked peloton that seemed to be on a unified mission to deny Armstrong her fourth consecutive win. She maintained the yellow jersey at the penultimate stage in Mankato, but by only 11 seconds. The race was decided with a dramatic finish in the Stillwater Criterium.

Following the race, Armstrong took the microphone and said an emotional farewell to US racing. After her retirement, she'll focus her efforts on the Kristin Armstrong Academy, a development program for women under the age of 23.

The men's race was equally dramatic, with Bissell's Tom Zirbel taking the lead over Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis) at the opening time trial. Zirbel, an unlikely challenger at 6'4" and 198 pounds, held the lead through the Mankato Road Race, despite the extreme hill on that race's finishing circuit. The race was settled at the brutal Stillwater Criterium, where Sutherland's teammate Floyd Landis played a key role, earning Landis the Freewheel Bike Most Aggressive Rider jersey and setting up a dramatic finish.

The program will also stream from www.UniversalSports.com

Powers Third For Team Type 1 At Nature Valley

Stillwater, MNAlison Powers put Team Type 1 on the podium Sunday for the fourth time at a women’s National Racing Calendar (NRC) event when she finished third at the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Powers also retained her lead in the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series (WPCS) while assuming the lead in the WPCS sprint classification from her Team Type 1 teammate, Kori Seehafer.

Perhaps the only disappointment for the reigning U.S. national time trial champion was that she could not hang onto the second place spot that she had held since the opening time trial of the five-day, six-stage race in Minnesota.

“It was a hard race today, I’m tired,” Powers said after completing 13 trips up Chilkoot Hill, a narrow climb on the 1.4-mile (2.3 km) course that features an average grade of 18 percent. “But our team is so amazing that come next month at the Cascade Classic, we’ll be ready to win the overall again like we did at Joe Martin.”

Powers finished 11th in Sunday’s Stillwater Criterium, 20 seconds behind stage winner and overall champion Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team). That result allowed Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad) to move ahead of Powers in the final standings.

“I pretty much knew I was riding for third when Shelley was riding so strongly and keeping up with Kristin,” Power said. “With about three laps to go, they were in sight and I was making up ground and catching and I thought maybe I could get still second. But she beat me by two seconds and rode so strongly that she deserved second.”

Powers’ already successful season includes an overall victory at the Joe Martin Stage Race, runner-up at the SRAM Tour of the Gila and third place overall at the Redlands Bicycle Classic – all NRC events. She came into the Nature Valley Grand Prix as the NRC points leader while Team Type 1 – a first-year women’s professional program – was No. 1 in the team standings.

In the men’s race, Michael Creed led Team Type 1 with a ninth-place finish. Like Powers, Creed was unable to improve on his overall placing during the 20-lap men’s race that was won by Phillip Mamos (Amore & Vita presented by Life Time Fitness-Velo Vie) ahead of Anthony Colby (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light).

Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis) overcame a seven-second deficit in the final stage to successfully defend his title from a year ago ahead of Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling), who had held the lead since the opening time trial.

Team Type 1 Director Sportif Vassili Davidenko said Creed was simply out-manned as the race blew apart in the final laps. Creed was fourth overall, 22 seconds behind Zirbel, coming into the final stage.

“Our intention was to move Mike onto the podium, but at the end it was really tough,” Davidenko said. “He was left with one teammate (Ken Hanson) and then the last couple of laps he was racing alone against OUCH and Colavita. So that was really difficult. But he did a great job and the guys did a good job over the course of the entire week.”

Team Type 1 came into the race with only seven riders after Fabio Calabria broke a bone in his hand June 6 while training for the TD Bank Philadelphia International Championships. The team lost another rider Friday night when Timothy Hargrave did not make the time cut in the Uptown Minneapolis Criterium.

Armstrong, Naturally; Sutherland Defends Nature Valley Grand Prix Title

If you ask any title holder, in any sports, they will all make the same claim; defending a title is a tough assignment. Then again, if you are an absolute hammer like Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis) or Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo TestTeam), taking on that type of a challenge is just part of the fun.

Although Sutherland's road to consecutive victories at the Nature Valley Grand Prix was a bit more arduous, entering the final race, the Stillwater Criterium, seven (7) seconds in arrears, he once again proved his mettle and took the final leader's jersey just three (3) seconds ahead of Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling).

Final General Classification - Men
1. Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis)
2. Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling)
3. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
4. Tyler Wren (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
5. Anthony Colby (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
6. Peter Latham (Bissell Pro Cycling)
7. Will Routley (Jelly Belly Cycling Team)
8. Bernard Vanulden (Jelly Belly Cycling Team)
9. Mike Creed (Team Type1)
10. Luis Romero Amaran (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)

For Armstrong, who would claim her fourth consecutive Nature Valley Grand Prix title, the victory was the proverbial icing on the cake of a career full of wonderful memories in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." Retiring at year's end, Armstrong would out duel Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad) by thirty (30) seconds.

Final General Classification - Women
1. Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team)
2. Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad)
3. Alison Powers (Team Type 1)
4. Katharine Carroll (Team TIBCO)
5. Anne Samplonius (Lip Smacker)
6. Andrea Dvorak (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
7. Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO)
8. Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
9. Amanda Miller (Lip Smacker)
10. Alexis Rhodes (Webcor Builders)

The Nature Valley Grand Prix was also the third stop of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series. Allison Powers (Team Type 1) took over as Overall Leader as well as the Sprint Jersey Leader, while the Best Young Rider Jersey went to Rebecca Much (Webcor Builders).

Photo: Leonard Basobas

Thursday, June 25, 2009

First Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids San Diego a Huge Success; Will Grow to Four Cities in 2010

San Diego, CA - Not content with 150 children's smiles in San Diego, Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids will expand in 2010 and conduct its bicycle giveaways in four cities: San Diego, Houston, Indianapolis and Boston. The foundation will team with the Boys and Girls Clubs in each city and plans to distribute 250 bicycles, helmets and locks per location.

"Going into last week's event in San Diego, we decided that we wanted Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids to have a national reach," says Dan Gindling, President of Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids. "Kimberlee rode and raced her bike all over the country, why not grow the event into other cities."

Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids was established to honor Kimberlee Caledonia, a talented and avid cyclist who died of brain cancer in 2008. This past Saturday, 150 underprivileged San Diego 1st and 2nd graders received brand new bmx bikes, helmets, locks and cycling caps from the foundation.

Weeks before the event, the children were given the essay question: "What would you do with a new bicycle?". Their answers were graded with the winning children awarded a certificate good for a free bike, helmet, lock and cycling cap. (Those kids who were deemed deserving a bike received a certificate no matter their essay answer.)

The San Diego event began with a bike build on Friday night, where 30 volunteers built 150 bmx bicycles. Final quality control was performed by Speedplay President Richard Bryne, and Dave Grylls, Olympic bike racer and Pan Am and U.S. National cycling champ. Then on Saturday, the giveaway began with each child receiving their goodies plus a bicycle riding safety lesson.

"It was a wonderful, heart-warming event," says Theresa Davis, Area Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. "To see the kids beaming when they got their bikes was uplifting. We can't wait until next year's event."

Says Gindling, who was also Kimberlee's husband: "We will be getting photos and copies of the children's essays up on the KBK website (www.kimsbikes.org) real soon. Some of the essays are funny, some sad, others poignant."

For those wishing to get involved with Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids, through sponsorship or donation, please e-mail: info@kimsikes.org.

"Showerless" Body Cleaner?

If you're a commuter, one of your biggest concerns, aside from traffic, is how and where to get clean after your ride (and if it isn't, I'm sure your co-workers probably wish it would be). The folks at 10 nine 8 might have a solution for you, Rocket Shower(R), the "Showerless" Body Cleaner, which is now being distributed by Trek.

Fredericksburg, TX - The world of cycling has just gotten a whole lot cleaner, because now IBDs can conveniently get their Rocket Shower fix through Trek.

With Rocket Shower, no need to worry about shower facilities at work. A few quick sprays of Rocket Shower all over your body (yes, even "down there") and you're ready for the day. The spray-on, wipe-off formula quickly and effectively cleans and refreshes the body, cools the skin and helps prevent even the worse body odor. Simple. And effective.

"I'm really excited that Trek has decided to distribute Rocket Shower to its dealers," says Linda DuPriest, founder of 10 Nine 8, the makers of Rocket Shower. "Trek's 'One World, Two Wheels' program and its 'Women Who Ride' club are key in getting more people on bikes. I'm very happy to be a part of company that is so forward thinking and making an impact on the cycling culture."

Rocket Shower removes one key obstacle for people looking to commute by bike: personal hygiene. Rocket Shower is formulated using witch hazel, citrus, mint, vitamin E and a trace amount of alcohol. Delivered via pump sprayer, the formula cleans by helping evaporate sweat and killing the bacteria that cause body odor. The lasting peppermint and grapefruit oils cool the skin and provide a fresh, clean feel and fragrance.

"I developed Rocket Shower after the office where I worked moved into a facility with no shower," says DuPriest. "At first I just used the product myself everyday after riding to work, then other bicycle commuters started asking for it. Now it's available to everyone."

DuPriest, who worked as the advocacy director at Specialized for a decade, says Rocket Shower is very popular with women cyclists, bike commuters, and triathletes who work-out numerous times each day but don't have the time to shower between exercises.

"I have found that once dealers try Rocket Shower they immediately see the benefits and order the product."

Rocket Shower comes in non-aerosol spray bottle sizes of 8.5 oz., 4 oz., and 2 oz., which is perfect for airplane carryon. The 8.5 oz size is also available in a fine mist sprayer. For those who want to spare the landfill and reuse their Rocket Shower sprayers, gallon and quart bulk refill sizes are available. The Rocket Shower product line also includes three versions of the Jet Pack(TM), a complete clean-up kit that fits easily into a messenger bag, backpack, airline carryon or checked luggage.

All 10 Nine 8 products are available through Trek or at www.10nine8.net or 512/785-7751

Team Type 1's Kobzarenko Is Philly's King Of The Mountains

PhiladelphiaValeriy Kobzarenko put Team Type 1 in the spotlight for nearly half of Sunday’s TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship, capping it off with a place on the podium by winning the race’s King of the Mountains crown.

The 32-year-old Ukrainian spent 70 miles in the lead as part of a three-man breakaway that led by nearly eight minutes at one point of the 156-mile (250 km) race. But a concerted chase by eventual race winner André Greipel’s Columbia-Highroad squad brought an end to the trio’s escape inside the final 10 miles.

“I told the guys before the race that we would have to do something out of a breakaway because there are so many great sprinters here,” Team Type 1 Director Vassili Davidenko said. “Valeriy did a great job on the front today. I was hoping they could stay away to the finish but it just didn’t work out.”

Kobzarenko racked up 38 points on the two King of the Mountains (KOM) locations along the 14.4-mile (23 km) course that winds its way through the streets of Philadelphia. The more challenging of the two climbs, the Manayunk Wall, is a brutal half-mile climb featuring a 17-percent grade.

On four of five trips up “The Wall” when Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling), Daniel Oss (Liquigas) and Kobzarenko were in the lead, Kobzarenko was either the first or second rider to crest the leg-breaking climb where thousands of fans had gathered to cheer them on.

“I knew I had to go for the points because it could pay off later,” Kobzarenko said.

Indeed it did. When early KOM leader Daniel Holloway (U.S. National Team) dropped out after earning 50 points during his own 70-mile breakaway, Kobarenko needed only to finish the race to win the prize.

The weekend was not entirely positive for Team Type 1, which lost both Shawn Milne and Fabio Calabria to injury. Milne was involved in a pile-up with 800 meters to go and suffered a second-degree separation of his right shoulder, while Calabria didn’t even start after colliding with a cyclist on a bike path during a training ride on Saturday. Both are expected to be out of action several weeks.

Milne’s said his crash happened while he was setting up a lead out for teammate Ken Hanson. The two were among the first 15 riders in the pack at the time.

“A guy in front of me looked over his shoulder and hit Hilton Clarke,” Milne said. “I just remember seeing someone on the ground and going right over them.”

Hanson wound up as Team Type 1’s best finisher in 27th place. Chris Jones was 29th, Moises Aldape 37th, Kobzarenko 41st, Matt Wilson 53rd and Darren Lill finished 55th.

Photos: Courtesy of Casey B. Gibson (www.cbgphoto.com)

Powers Leads Team Type 1 At Liberty Classic

Philadelphia Alison Powers’ sixth-place finish led Team Type 1 Sunday at the 14th edition of the TD Bank Liberty Classic.

The reigning United States time trial champion was among a group of a dozen riders who slipped the field on the final of four laps around the 14.4-mile course through the streets of Philadelphia. As they rounded the finishing straight onto Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Powers started her sprint from 300 meters out.

“I thought I better go now or else the sprinters will gap me,” she said. “I pretty much led out the people that were on my wheel. I’m a little disappointed that I was thinking too much, but I’ve never been in a situation like that.”

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Columbia-Highroad) was first to the finish line of the 56-mile (91 km) race to win it for the third time. Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO) was second and Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad) was third.

Powers did increase her lead in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) standings by earning 54 points for her top 10 finish. The second and third-place riders in the NRC standings – Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders) and third-place Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo-Lifeforce) did not score points. (Armstrong wasn’t in the race, while Mattis finished 41st.)

All five Team Type 1 riders finished the race: Jen McRae was 15th, Veronica Leal 33rd, Kori Seehafer 36th and Jacquelyn Crowell finished 52nd.


Seehafer, who has ridden nearly every edition of the race since 1999, said it was one of the most aggressive that she could recall. At one point, the women’s field passed the men’s race that was traveling on the same course. The men started their 156-mile (250 km) race about 10 minutes ahead of the women.

“There was the potential for a break to go every time we went up the climb (of the Manayunk Wall),” Seehafer said. “I couldn’t accelerate hard today so I blew myself up the last time up the climb to get Allie (Powers) and Jen (McRae) in position.”

Photos: Courtesy of Casey B. Gibson (www.cbgphoto.com)

Teutenberg Lady Liberty, Again; Greipel Completes Columbia-Highroad Sweep


The TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this month. The one-day race, and its corresponding women’s Liberty Classic, is widely considered to be one of America’s crown jewels of cycling. But surprisingly, if not for a midnight sponsorship deal, the race that features the festival like atmosphere up Manayunk Wall, crowds swarming over Lemon Hill, and the winding scenery of the Schuylkill River, all juxtaposed against the rich history of City of Brotherly Love, might also have been felled by the troubled economy.

With the men’s and women’s races run simultaneously, Ina Teutenberg would not only lead a Columbia-Highroad and German sweep of the races, with teammate and countryman, Andre Greipel taking out the men’s field sprint, but also the women’s field past the men’s for the first time in any race’s history.

As officials allowed the speeding women to race by a men's field that had to be neutralized, Teutenberg would later tell Velonews, “When we went past the men, I told them they were pussies!”

The victory would be Teutenberg’s 3rd career Liberty Classic win and her 17th of the 2009 season. Team TIBCO’s Joanne Kiesanowski would finish second and Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad) would take third. For Olds, reaching the podium has become somewhat of a norm this season as she had already won five races, including the omnium title and two of the three Tulsa Tough criteriums the week before, on the road prior to starting the Liberty Classic.

Women’s Results
1. Ina Teutenberg (Team Columbia-Highroad)
2. Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO)
3. Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad)
4. Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung)
5. Catherine Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Homes presented by Cooking Light)
6. Alison Powers (Team Type 1)
7. Ruth Corset (Jazz Apple Cycling Team)
8. Chrissy Ruiter (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)
9. Amber Neben (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung)
10. Kim Anderson (Team Columbia-Highroad)

Men’s Results

1. Andre Greipel (Team Columbia – Highroad)
2. Greg Henderson (Team Columbia – Highroad)
3. Kirk O’Bee (Bissell Pro Cycling)
4. Harald Starzengruber (Elk Haus)
5. David Vitoria (Rock Racing)
6. Keven Lacombe (Planet Energy)
7. Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
8. Christofer Stevenson (Swedish National Team)
9. Lucas Haedo (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
10. Andrew Pinfold (OUCH presented by Maxxis)

Photo: Courtesy of Todd Leister (Leister Images). For more images from the race click here.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Return from Hiatus: The Bicycle Blotter

One of the great things about blogging is being your own boss. As such, we gave ourselves an extended leave of absence. Call it the quiet before the July storm that is the Tour de France.

Aside from our Publish2 Newsgroup remaining active, its been roughly three weeks since our last post. In that time, news from the cycling world mirrored the continuous movement of life and had simply strolled on by without much commentary.

Over the next several posts, we'll rely on some of our colleagues to work our way back into the fray before the news peloton leaves us behind.

The Blotter
This past week has seen cycling grab the headlines of the blotter wire with news of the aftermath of stealing Lance's one-off time trial machine and the implosion of The Missile.

As reported by several media outlets, 40-year-old Lee Crider will receive a 3 year prison sentence for stealing Lance Armstong's time trial bicycle the night after the Amgen Tour of California Prologue back in February.

While the debate certainly centers around whether the punishment fits the crime, two items from the story are hard to ignore. First, is the amount for which the stolen bicycle was unloaded.

"A police report says he bought Armstrong's $10,000 bike, a Trek Livestrong 1274, from Crider for $200."

Talk about diminishing returns.

Second, is the fact that Crider even thought he could get away with taking the one-of-a-kind bicycle. Yesterday, the Dan Patrick Show likened it to stealing a precious work of art that couldn't be shown to anyone. If he hasn't already been enshrined, Crider deserves to be in the hall of stupidest criminals ever.



When I first started mountain biking, I was a big fan of Brian Lopes and Missy "The Missile" Giove. In fact, they are the reason I still ride a Cannondale today. So it was especially saddening to hear of Giove's recent exploits.

"Giove, 37, and Eric Canori, 30, of Wilton were charged Tuesday with conspiring to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana."

Giove, who won downhill World Championship in 1994, World Cup season titles in 1997 and 1998, and US National titles from 1999-2001, faces up to "40 years in prison and a $2 million fine."

"The Missile" Living Large

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

It's Not About the Bike, It's About You

In case you were wondering what Lance Armstrong's motivation is for going after an unprecedented 8th Tour de France victory, you need only watch the video, Driven, below. Sadly, he isn't lacking in motivation...

Rock Racing’s Bahati Owns Manhattan Beach, Loans It To Precocious PROMAN


Manhattan Beach, Calif. — If he keeps this up, the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix is going to have to be renamed the “Rahsaan Bahati Grand Prix.”

Rock Racing’s star sprinter won the 48th edition of the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix Sunday for the third consecutive year. It was his ninth win of the season and Rock Racing’s 24th victory on the year.

“I wasn’t feeling any pressure to win here again,” Bahati said. “It was just coming from my friends and peers – not from the guys on the team. It was just like another race to me.”

Bahati, the 27-year-old U.S. professional criterium champion, convincingly swept across the line at the end of the 80-minute race at Live Oak Park ahead of runner-up Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) and the reigning U.S. elite criterium champion, Ken Hanson (Team Type 1).

Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball was among the several thousand fans lining the 1.4-mile (2.2 km) hot dog-shaped course that borders the Pacific Ocean. That made the victory even sweeter, Bahati said.

“I’m glad he was there to witness another big win for the team,” Bahati said. “This shows that I care about my job and I’m glad I have a job. For me, I only wanted to show that Rock Racing competes a team, unselfishly. We have to show him we can succeed and give a sponsor its due.”

Last year, Bahati beat out Ricardo Escuela and Brad Huff. In 2007, the rider he beat here to take his first win – Ivan Dominguez – was helping lead him out in the final laps.

“Ivan adds another dimension to this team,” Bahati said of the Rock racing’s acquisition earlier this month of the accomplished Cuban-American sprinter. “He said ‘Follow me and I’ll take you to the Promised Land.’ So I did.”

But it wasn’t an entirely smooth ride in the final 200 meters when Team Type 1’s Aldo Ino Ilesic and teammate Ken Hanson tried to spoil the celebration by roaring past the Rock Racing lead-out train.

“We had Nic (Sanderson), Caleb (Manion), Sergio (Hernandez) and all the boys on the front and basically got jumped by Team Type 1,” Bahati said. “So I got on Hanson’s wheel and made sure I was third through the last corner. From there, I knew I had it.”

The only downside of Sunday’s race was a crash by Rock Racing’s Justin Williams. The U.S. Under-23 national criterium champion went down with two laps to go and lost a few teeth in a jarring collision with the pavement.

PROMAN Produces Another Hit
In the women's race, the precocious talents of 16-year old Coryn Rivera (Proman Hit Squad) were on display as she "went to the mattresses" with about 300 meters out to take the sprint ahead of Malindi Maclean (Jazz Apple) and Catherine Fiedler-Cook (Tommasini).

Monday, June 29, 2009

Team Type 2 Caps RAAM With Emotional Finish


Annapolis, Md. – Team Type 2 crossed the finish line of the Race Across America (RAAM) early Sunday to complete the grueling, 3,021-mile (4,861 km) journey in seven days, seven hours and 24 minutes.

The squad’s stirring finish in front of a large crowd on the City Dock in Annapolis, Md., featured a mix of hugs, smiles, a few tears and plenty of high fives. One long-time RAAM observer called it the most emotional finish line celebration he has ever witnessed.

“It’s exciting to work so hard to get it done,” Team Type 2 director and rider Bob Avritt said. “It gives us the opportunity to look forward to help people and inspire them about what people with Type 2 diabetes can accomplish.”

Team Type 2 is believed to be the first squad consisting entirely of athletes with Type 2 diabetes to successfully complete the non-stop, transcontinental race since teams began competing in RAAM in 1989. People living with the disease have too much sugar in their bloodstream because their bodies either do not use insulin properly or do not produce enough insulin.

In addition to Avritt, team members were John Anderson, Bill Arnold, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Voorhees.


Chaisson survived a scare in the final 12 hours of the race when he badly cut his right calf after slipping off the pedals. He needed seven stitches and a tetanus shot, but resumed riding four hours later.

Team Type 2 is an extension of Team Type 1, which was founded in 2004 by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge. Team Type 1 has competed in RAAM since 2006 and has men’s and women’s professional racing teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 2 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes; through active management, one can achieve their goals, dreams, and potential.

On Friday, Team Type 1 won the eight-person team division of RAAM in five days, nine hours and five minutes while bettering the race record. Many members of that team, as well as the squad’s volunteer crew, were in Annapolis Sunday morning to greet Team Type 2.

Avritt said RAAM – which began last Saturday in Oceanside, Calif. – was everything that he expected.

“Some of it was more difficult than I could have imagined,” he said. “The most difficult was the sleep deprivation. I knew it would be an issue, but not so much of a predominant issue. Regardless, we were able to meet our goal of finishing in seven days.”

Photos: Courtesy Michael Scholl

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Astana Does Not Want A Double Burger


Team Astana has named their nine for the New French Revolution. The roster includes:

Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloden, Haimar Zubeldia, Yaroslav Popovych, Sergio Paulinho, Gregory Rast, and first-timer, Kazakh rider Dimitriy Muravyey.

The most notable exclusion from the Tour team was 37-year old American Chris Horner, he of In-N-Out Double-Double fame, who fell victim to politics and a numbers game. Watching Horner in his domestique role at this year’s Amgen Tour of California and at some of the pre-Tour tune up races, there was no denying his benefit to his teammates as a tireless worker or his instincts as a big-time racer.

Instead, the financially troubled Kazakhstan sponsor has chosen to sacrifice talent and team chemistry for the sake of having a countryman represent their colors in the biggest race of the season.

You're still angry about Borat, really?

Friday, June 26, 2009

Team Type 1 Wins Race Across America, Betters Team Record


Annapolis, Md. – Team Type 1 rolled onto the Annapolis, Md., City Dock early Friday morning as champions of the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM).

The athletes on Team Type 1 – all of whom have Type 1 diabetes – won the non-stop, transcontinental race in record time. They completed the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) distance in five days, nine hours and five minutes after starting Saturday afternoon in Oceanside, Calif.

Their average speed of 23.41 mph bettered the 23.24 mph of last year's winner, the Norwegian Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling Team, which completed nearly the same distance in five days, nine hours and 43 minutes.

At 2:38 a.m. EDT, Team Type 1 riders Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Tom Kingery, Lonny Knabe, Bob Schrank and Mark Suprenant were recognized on the victory podium to the cheers of a large crowd of supporters that included the team’s founder, Phil Southerland.

Schrank, the RAAM team director, teamed with Southerland and Team Type 1 co-founder Joe Eldridge in 2007 when Team Type 1 won its second straight eight-rider RAAM team title. Last year, Bowden, Brooks and Suprenant joined Schrank on the squad that finished as runners-up.

“This is the biggest one for me by far of the three years I’ve done this,” Schrank said. “It seemed to have all the right pieces seemed to fall together. What was great was how well the team conducted itself in the face adversity.”


That bad luck included a grass fire in the Arizona desert that destroyed a minivan, an RV that had its transmission go out in Utah and a crew car that ran out of gas – all within a 24-hour span early in the race. The team is also on the lookout for Suprenant's Orbea Ordu bicycle, which went missing Thursday night.

RAAM Manager Dave Eldridge said overcoming those challenges was a testament to the focus and diligence of the team and nearly two dozen volunteer crew members.

“Once we physically removed the riders from the environment to fight the challenges, they went back to the task at hand, which was to push the pedals as hard as they could and go east,” Eldridge said. “The crew also did a great job. We made some decisions to keep people back and move people forward with the team and they came through with the support that was necessary. That’s really consistent of the message of Team Type 1. You have to manage the disease, just like you manage things in real life.”

Another remarkable story to emerge was the perseverance of Kingery, a member of the new Team Type 1 triathlon squad. The 33-year-old, Delaware, Ohio, resident broke his hand a month before the race.

“I came into this knowing I wasn’t the strongest climber and my cast limited my climbing training,” Kingery said. “So that made it even more of a challenge. I knew my strong suit would be on the flats.”

The team's quest to better the existing RAAM team record hung in the balance until the final hours of the race. Two of the Team Type 1's three slowest legs of the 53 time stations along the route came in the final 300 miles. The toll of pedaling for 10 or 15 minutes at a time for more than five days caught up to the riders, RAAM Coach Nate Keck said.

“I knew that getting the record was not a given,” Keck said. “But I also knew that we had a shot. So coming down to the finish, I basically just told the guys what we had to achieve to get it and they went out and knocked it down. We were fortunate to only get one time penalty. If we had received any more, we definitely would have been out of luck.”

Team Type 1 was created in 2004 to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming the obstacles often associated with the condition. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels.

Photos: Courtesy, Karen Scheerer (top - from L to R: Tom Kingery, Mark Suprenant, Alex Bowden, Lonny Knabe, Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Matt Brooks and Bob Schrank); Courtesy, Michael Scholl (bottom - Simon Bennett powers through a time station near Flagstaff, Ariz.)

Bahati’s Ultimate Pro-Tour Cycling Experience Gets Additional Star Power


Carson, Calif. – Reigning United States criterium champion Rahsaan Bahati won't be the only star doing the pedaling at the Ultimate Pro-Tour Cycling Experience camp presented by Bahati Racing and Cannondale in mid-July in Aliso Viejo, Calif.

Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor Shemar Moore (inset) will meet camp participants when they participate in his charity ride to benefit the MS Society during the four-day cycling training camp. Moore plays Special Agent Derek Morgan in the CBS hit series, “Criminal Minds.”

There is still time to register for the Ultimate Pro-Tour Cycling Experience camp. From July 16-19, cyclists will receive professional riding instruction, learn racing tactics and skills, and receive expert advice about sports nutrition, recovery, strength training and time and energy management.

Bahati, who will be aiming for his third consecutive victory at Sunday’s Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, said he is excited about the opportunity to fine tune and enhance the skills of cyclists of all abilities. He is the camp’s primary instructor.

“I’m also pleased that everyone will get a chance to meet my friend Shemar, whose mother suffers from multiple sclerosis,” Bahati said. “Not only will they be getting the best in cycling instruction but they will also get a chance to show their support for a worthwhile cause and participate in a fun event.”

The Pro Cycling Experience includes fully-supported rides with support bicycles provided by Cannondale, sag and support vehicles to keep cyclists safe; on-site mechanics to keep bikes cleaned and tuned; on-staff masseurs to provide daily massages for peak performance and optimal recovery; a professional bike fit to ensure bicycles are custom adjusted to individual riders; chiropractic adjustments to keep everyone fine-tuned physically; daily lectures and skills clinics to educate participates on best practices; and ride appropriate nutrition lessons to inform athletes of how to get the most out of their daily food and beverage intake.

Camp participants will also enjoy first-class accommodations at the Renaissance Club Sport Resort in Aliso Viejo, Calif. In addition to its extensive full-service workout facility, rejuvenating day spa and top-rated restaurants, its guest rooms provide a one-of-a-kind, relaxing experience.

The four-day Ultimate Pro-Tour Cycling Experience camp presented by Bahati Racing and Cannondale includes all activities and accommodations for $1,400. Food and beverages are also included (with the exception of alcohol). For information on registering, visit the Bahati Racing website at www.bahatiracing.com.

Bahati is one of the most successful American cyclists on the road and track, having won more than a half-dozen national championships during a professional career that began in 2001. He is a member of the Rock Racing team.

Team Type 1 Earns Tour of Missouri Spot

Atlanta – The Team Type 1 men’s professional team will be a part of one of the most prestigious stage races in the United States when it takes the start line of the Tour of Missouri in early September.

Team Type 1 has won nearly two dozen races and stands fifth in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) standings. Earlier this year, the only professional cycling team in the world with a mission to spread inspiration to those affected by diabetes competed in North America’s other major event, the Amgen Tour of California.

"We would like to extend a big thank you to the state of Missouri for having us in their race,” Team Type 1 founder and second-year professional Phil Southerland said. “I am very excited that we will again be competing against the best in the world, and have the opportunity to share our message of inspiration to people affected by diabetes.

"I have done a lot of work with the Lantus and Apidra insulin representatives in the state who have shown me what a great diabetes community Missouri has. I very much look forward to working with them, so that everyone with diabetes in Missouri has a chance to meet Team Type 1."

For the first time since its inaugural year, the Tour of Missouri will travel east to west, starting in St. Louis and finishing in Kansas City. The past two years, the race routed west to east, beginning in Kansas City and ending in St. Louis.

The more than 600-mile (965 km) race will be contested over seven days and seven stages. There will be two circuit races (St. Louis and Kansas City), one time trial (Sedalia) and four point-to-point road races (Ste. Genevieve-Cape Girardeau, Farmington-Rolla, St. James-Jefferson City and Chillicothe-St. Joseph).

Team Type 1 was created in 2004 by Southerland and Joe Eldridge, a pair of avid cyclists with Type 1 diabetes. In 2006 and 2007, the pair captained Team Type 1 to back-to-back victories in the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM). In 2008, the team grew to include a 15-rider professional continental team that included four riders with Type 1 diabetes. This year, Team Type 1 expanded to include a triathlon team, a developmental squad, a women's professional squad and a second team for RAAM: Team Type 2.

Team Type 1’s roster for the Tour of Missouri will be announced at a later date.

RAAM Finish Line In Sight For Team Type 1


Near Ellenboro, W.Va. – Team Type 1 remained on pace Thursday morning to finish the Race Across America (RAAM) a little after midnight Eastern Daylight Time.

The team that is comprised entirely of athletes who have Type 1 diabetes is also riding fast enough to better the RAAM transcontinental crossing record of five days, nine hours and 43 minutes, established last year by the Norwegian Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling Team.

Through 2,575 miles of the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) race from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md., Team Type 1 was averaging 23.76 mph. The second-place team in the race, Team ViaSat, was averaging 22.64 mph and riding nearly five-and-a-half hours behind Team Type 1 as of 8 a.m. EDT.

The past 24 hours for Team Type 1’s Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Tom Kingery, Lonny Knabe, Bob Schrank and Mark Suprenant has not come without a few setbacks.

Bowden briefly had a scare Wednesday when his FreeStyle Navigator continuous blood glucose monitor revealed his blood sugar dropped from 307 to 56 in 25 minutes during a shift in Illinois. But he made a quick correction using rapid-acting insulin Apidra, along with eating gels, cookies and some candy.

Team Type 1 was also hit with its first 15-minute penalty of the race Wednesday night when RAAM officials ruled the team’s follow car failed to yield to follow traffic in Ohio.

But there was a more memorable moment Wednesday when Brooks turned in one of the most impressive riding shifts of the race when the vehicle carrying the riders who would replace him took a wrong turn near Oxford, Ohio.

“Matt ended up being out there for 28 miles and he averaged more than 26 miles an hour,” Team Type 1 RAAM Coach Nate Keck said. “The kid just cranked it.”

About a day behind Team Type 1 on the road, Team Type 2 was producing its own impressive performance. The eight riders who have Type 2 diabetes shifted up their strategy – turning to shorter, three-mile riding shifts – to up their average speed by nearly an entire mile-an-hour in a 24-hour span.

The team of John Anderson, Bill Arnold, Bob Avritt, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Voorhees throttled through three of the 53 time stations along the route with an average speed of more than 22 mph to raise their average speed to 17.45 mph. At that pace, Team Type 2 will reach the finish line Saturday night.

“We’re going to try and add another mile an hour to that today,” Avritt said. “We’re going to do everything we can to go fast until we hit the Appalachian Mountains because we’ll give back some time in those climbs, for sure.”

Avritt was also pleased that Team Type 2 is riding fast enough to easily make the second of three time cut-off points (the Mississippi River) for teams.

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org or on Twitter by following @teamtype1 and @teamtype2.

Photo: Courtesy Karen Scheerer

Team Garmin-Slipstream Names Tour Roster

Boulder, CO – Team Garmin-Slipstream today announced its much-anticipated Tour de France roster. The riders that will represent the American team in tackling the world’s toughest sporting event are:

Julian Dean, Tyler Farrar, Ryder Hesjedal, Dan Martin, David Millar, Danny Pate, Christian Vande Velde, Bradley Wiggins, David Zabriskie

“We are bringing a diverse and versatile squad to the 2009 Tour de France,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports, LLC and Director Sportif, Team Garmin-Slipstream. “We had an incredible first Tour as a team last year and this year we hope for GC contention, possible stage wins and even the yellow jersey at some point.”


The squad features four Americans, including Christian Vande Velde who was fourth in last year’s Tour and is returning from a crash in May that left him with five broken vertebrae and other fractures. Also on the list are current Irish national champion Dan Martin, Ryder Hesjedal of Canada, Julian Dean of New Zealand, and the UK’s David Millar and Bradley Wiggins. Dutchman Martijn Maaskant is the first reserve.

"As the title sponsor, we couldn't be more excited about the roster of champions that we're sending to the Tour to represent Garmin," said Jon Cassat, Garmin's vice president of communications. "With our Edge 705 on their handlebars guiding their way, we all look forward to cheering Garmin-Slipstream as they push the pace of the peloton."

Photo: Leonard Basobas

Team Type 1 Still Leads RAAM; Team Type 2 Increases Pace

Crossing The Mississippi River – As Team Type 1 made short work of Kansas and Missouri to grow its lead to nearly four hours early Wednesday, Team Type 2 increased its average speed in the Race Across America (RAAM).

Team Type 1 crossed the Mississippi River shortly before 8 a.m. EDT Wednesday, having completed more than 2,000 of the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) non-stop race that began in Oceanside, Calif., and finishes in Annapolis, Md. The second-place team in the eight-rider division, Team ViaSat, was riding three hours and 59 minutes behind the squad that is comprised entirely of athletes with Type 1 diabetes.

“We’re trying to stay ahead of our time from last year,” Team Type 1 General Manager Tom Schuler said from the support car following rider Tom Kingery. “Our speed dropped a bit overnight when we hit a nasty headwind going through the Ozarks and we thought we were going to get caught up in some thunderstorms, but the rain ended up going around us.”

By averaging nearly 24 mph, Team Type 1 remains on pace to better the existing RAAM record of five days, nine hours and 43 minutes, established last year by the Norwegian Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling Team.

Bob Schrank, who has been part of Team Type 1’s past two RAAM squads, said fatigue has started to set in. But he remains optimistic the squad can maintain its record pace as it heads through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

“We’re riding great and the crew is doing everything it possibly can to make sure that is all we are doing – just riding,” Schrank said.

Team Type 2, which consists of eight riders who all have Type 2 diabetes, continued its strategy of utilizing short rider shifts – 3 to 4-mile pulls – to fight off stiff crosswinds that buffeted them across central Kansas.

"It’s nice to have the breeze when it’s more than 90 degrees out, but the wind is also beating the crap out of us," Team Type 2’s Bob Chaisson said. "It is definitely adding to the challenge."

Temperatures hovered near the century mark Tuesday, which made for some of the most brutal riding conditions to date. Staying hydrated while seeing that all the riders properly managed their blood sugar was tasked to Dr. Bill Russell, the team’s endocrinologist.


“One of the things that has helped Team Type 1 the most has been the experience from the guys who are returning from last year,” Dr. Russell said. “Every day on the ride is a different day in terms of what their basal rates need to be and how much Apidra or Lantus they need to keep their blood sugar under control. It seems like initially they need to cut back considerably on their insulin and then it slowly rises as they go on further.”

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org or on Twitter by following @teamtype1 and @teamtype2.

Photos: Courtesy Race Across America (top - Team Type 2's Bob Chaisson cruises through New Mexico); Courtesy Michael Scholl (Simon Bennett of Team Type 1 powers across the Kansas plains near El Dorado Tuesday).

Team Type 2 Easily Makes First Time Cut

Near Taos, N.M. — Team Type 2 successfully completed one of its goals Tuesday morning at the Race Across America (RAAM).

The eight-rider team that is comprised entirely of athletes with Type 2 diabetes rolled through Taos, N.M., which is one of two intermediate checkpoints along the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) route. Teams must reach these checkpoints within a designated time to officially continue in the non-stop, transcontinental race.


Team Type 2 Manager Bob Avritt said the accomplishment was satisfying for him and teammates John Anderson, Bill Arnold, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Voorhees.

“We’re also happy to be out-pacing another team, too,” Avritt said as he prepared to ride another shift on his Orbea Opal bicycle.

Through the first 1,044 miles (1,680 km), Team Type 2 is averaging 16.8 mph. At that pace, the squad will reach the finish line in Annapolis, Md., sometime Sunday morning.

Team Type 2 crew member Kevin Stewart said morale is high for both riders and crew. Unlike Team Type 1, which is participating in RAAM for the fourth time, this is Team Type 2’s maiden voyage in the event that is billed as the “world’s toughest bicycle race.”

“I’m real pleased with the way things are going,” Stewart said. “We’re doing our rider exchanges a little bit better and the riders are pleased with their times and how they are riding and how they are feeling.”

Avritt said he checked his blood sugar more than 20 times during a 160-mile shift Monday night into Tuesday morning. People with Type 2 diabetes have too much sugar in their bloodstream because their bodies either do not use insulin properly or do not produce enough insulin.

“We check our levels before we get on the bike and after we get back from each pull,” Avritt said. “We’re doing five-mile pulls with the goal of 15 minutes, which is a 20 mph average. Our blood glucose has been going down 50 to 70 points per pull, so we can tell it’s very demanding.”

Team Type 2 crew member Andrew Burgess said it has been inspiring to watch. He said at one point, Cowley – a 42-year-old Milwaukee resident who has had Type 2 diabetes for the past 10 years – was going more than 60 mph down a descent. What followed looked to be a tremendous challenge for the American Diabetes Association employee who lost 25 pounds training for RAAM.

“We knew Peter was excellent at descending, but when it comes to climbing we established that in this group, Bob (Avritt) and Bill Arnold are the climbers. So we had no intention of Peter doing the climb through Monument Pass. But it was like watching Rocky running up the steps. He was just killing it. It was a bittersweet moment. He was psyched he had done it, but glad he could call it a day.”

Team Type 1 On Record Pace In RAAM


Near Bloom, Kan. – The crackle over the megaphone broke the silence of an otherwise quiet morning Tuesday in western Kansas:

"Nice job, buddy. You’re just going to fly right on through this town," said Team Type 1 Coach Nate Keck to rider Bob Schrank.

Cruising at 28 mph on his Orbea Ordu time trial bike, Schrank gave the "high sign" of acknowledgment without interrupting his cadence.

This is business-as-usual for Team Type 1, which has been leading the eight-rider team division of the Race Across America (RAAM) since the 150th mile of the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) race that began Saturday in Oceanside, Calif.

Not only was Team Type 1 ahead of second-place Team ViaSat by nearly two hours and 45 minutes at 6:30 a.m. EDT, but the team of riders who all have Type 1 diabetes is knocking out the miles faster than any squad – or anyone, for that matter – has ridden across the country since RAAM team competition began in 1992.

Nearing the halfway point of the race, Team Type 1 is averaging 24 mph and riding at a pace nearly three hours faster than what Keck had calculated going into the race. Key to maintaining that record speed will be favorable weather conditions, he said.

"We want to get through Kansas as quickly as we can today in the hopes we can get into areas where we don’t have to worry as much about the wind," Keck said. "We had a section last night that we had a headwind and a strong cross wind. That really takes its toll on the guys."

Late Monday night, Team Type 1 caught up to and passed its first solo participant, Switzerland's Hermann Bachmann of the 50-59 age division, who left Oceanside, Calif., nearly three days before the team competitors.

"Those solo riders are amazing," Keck said.

While Team Type 1’s eight riders (Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Tom Kingery, Lonny Knabe, Schrank and Mark Suprenant) cruised along, Team Type 1 RAAM Manager Dave Eldridge had his own race to manage.

The fourth-year crew chief was jamming through northeastern New Mexico in an attempt to get a new RV up to the team to replace the one that had its transmission go out Sunday morning near Mexican Hat, Utah. Unable to find a dealership close-by Monday, Eldridge rented a U-Haul, loaded it with the belongings from the broken-down RV and drove to an RV dealership in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Never did he imagine so many logistical headaches – particularly one in which he would have to deal with having only one RV for 20 crew members and eight riders.

"This just doesn’t fit into the plan," Eldridge said late Monday night. "But it’s certainly something we have to plan for in the future."

The RV breakdown was the second of three major vehicular mishaps for Team Type 1 in a 24-hour span between Sunday and Monday. A fire destroyed one of the team's minivans early Sunday and a crew car ran out of gas Monday morning.

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org or on Twitter by following @teamtype1 and @teamtype2.

Photo: Courtesy Race Across America

Injuries Sideline Team Type 1 Australians Hanley, Calabria


Atlanta – Team Type 1 Australian professionals Fabio Calabria and Monique Hanley are on the road to recovery from serious injuries.

Calabria had to be admitted to a Colorado hospital Friday night with a severe infection from a saddle sore. He had already been sidelined by a broken bone in his hand sustained June 6 during a training ride crash the day before the TD Bank Philadelphia International Classic.

Hanley was seriously injured in a massive pile-up during the Tulsa Tough criterium series May 30 in Tulsa, Okla. She suffered spinous process fractures of the thoracic 3, 4 and 5 vertebrae (i.e, a broken back) as well as a separation of the Acromioclavicular joint in her right shoulder. She underwent shoulder surgery last Wednesday in Australia and was released from the hospital Saturday.

Calabria – who, like Hanley has Type 1 diabetes – said it is too early to tell how long he may be off the bike due to the infection.

“I’ve just been sitting here in the hospital watching bad movies and following Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 in the Race Across America through Twitter,” he said.

Hanley’s surgery was monumental from a diabetes standpoint. Due to hospital policy, her OmniPod Insulin Management System had to be removed.

“I taught my husband, Ewin, how to attach a new pod and correct for a high blood glucose, which he did in the recovery room after surgery while I was still out of it,” Hanley said.

During the two days after the surgery, Hanley said she experienced severe nausea and vomiting.

“My blood sugars were skyrocketing,” she said. “I haven't been this resistant in ages, including prior to the crash in Tulsa.”

Hanley is expected to be able to start training again in about six weeks. She says she has lost 12 pounds since coming home.

“But I am feeling better and starting to eat more,” she said. “(My) hubby is doing an awesome job looking after me.”

Team Type 1 Survives Vehicle Fire At RAAM

Cottonwood, Ariz. – A fire that destroyed Team Type 1's rider transport van threatened to burn up the team's lead Sunday morning in the Arizona desert at the Race Across America (RAAM).

But quick action by the crew kept the eight-rider team going and Team Type 1 led by more than an hour Sunday afternoon at Time Station No. 7 in Cottonwood, Ariz., 437 miles (704 km) into the race.

The fire started beneath the mini-van that hauls the riders and pulls the trailer carrying their Orbea bicycles. It happened when the van's hot catalytic converter came in contact with tall grass on the side of the road while the vehicle was pulled off to make a rider exchange.


Fortunately, no one was hurt. But the van was permanently damaged and a large area of the pavement was scorched.

Team Type 1 General Manager Tom Schuler, who is serving as a crew member for the team during RAAM, said he was amazing by how fast riders and staff responded to the situation.

"They had to put out the fire, disconnect the trailer hitch, reconnect the trailer to another vehicle, move the bikes around and get a new vehicle," Schuler said. "We were really fortunate that we were able to disconnect that trailer from the frame of the burned-out vehicle and move it onto a different van."

As a temporary stop-gap, Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 RAAM manager Dave Eldridge put his utility van into action as the rider vehicle until he was able to secure a new rental. Eldridge is the father of Joe Eldridge, who co-founded Team Type 1 with Phil Southerland in 2004.

In the wake of the fire, RAAM organizers put out a message to the more than 70 other crews following teams or individuals in the transcontinental race. It read, in part:

RAAM wish to extend their appreciation for the quick reaction of the crew to mitigate what could have been a very dangerous event. RAAM is unable to control all aspect of the Race and therefore they cannot take responsibility for unfortunate events that may occur during the Race. Please be aware of your surroundings (especially the dry ground cover in California) and the impact you may have on them during the race.

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org. Both squads are providing inspiration to people affected by diabetes around the world.

Team Type 1 Takes Early Lead In RAAM


Near Salome, Ariz. – Team Type 1 took over the lead in the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM) fewer than 150 miles into the 3,021-mile (4,861 km) transcontinental race.

As the race neared the second of 53 time stations, Team Type 1 passed early leader, Team ViaSat, about 140 miles into the race near Brawley, Calif.


Through the first 293 miles of the non-stop race from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md., Team Type 1 is averaging 26.74 mph. Team ViaSat remains second, averaging 25.58 mph.

All eight athletes on Team Type 1 have Type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels. The team finished second last year.

Team Type 1’s eight riders are split into two teams: “Tango” (Jeff Bannink, Simon Bennett, Tom Kingery and Mark Suprenant) and “Cash” (Bob Schrank, Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks and Lonny Knabe).

Also on the road in the eight-person division is Team Type 2, a first-year team that consists of eight riders who all have Type 2 diabetes. They are: John Anderson, Bob Avritt, Bill Arnold, Bob Chaisson, Larry Cleveland, Peter Cowley, Mark Thul and Denny Vorhees.

Team Type 1 founder Phil Southerland was on hand to see both teams off in Oceanside Saturday afternoon. He said the two squads have an opportunity to touch people throughout the world who are affected by diabetes.

“This is our fourth year with Team Type 1 and the guys are as pumped as ever to have a record crossing,” he said. “With Team Type 2, I don’t there’s a guy on the team who hasn’t lost 20 pounds since training camp back in late January.

“That’s the message we want to send: live a healthy lifestyle. It was great seeing the smiles on the faces of the crew who were all so excited to be here because we are all part of something great. We’re living with diabetes every day and certainly it’s a challenge. But we’re doing this so we can help others do it better.”

Southerland and Joe Eldridge helped the team win the eight-person team division of the race in 2006 and 2007. The two are now members of the Team Type 1 men’s professional cycling team. Team Type 1 also fields a professional women’s program, a triathlon team and a development team.

Follow the progress of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 during RAAM by going to teamtype1.org.

Photos: Courtesy Andrew Burgess (top); Courtesy Race Across America (bottom).

Team Type 1 Aims To Regain RAAM Crown


Oceanside, Calif. – Team Type 1 makes no secret about its goals for the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM), which begins Saturday in Oceanside, Calif.

“Our first expectation is to win the race,” said Team Type 1 Elite Team Director Bob Schrank. “Our second expectation is to break the record set by the Norwegian team last year. And always, our hope is that we complete the race in a safe manner.”

The teams competing in RAAM begin pedaling the 3,021 miles (4,861 km) to Annapolis, Md., at 2 p.m. PDT. Last year, Team Type 1 finished less than four hours behind the Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling squad that won the eight-person team division in a time of five days, nine hours and 56 minutes.

Team Type 1 is comprised entirely of athletes who have Type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels. The team was created in 2004 to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming the obstacles often associated with the condition.

Team Type 1 co-founders Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge helped the team win the eight-person team division of the race in 2006 and 2007. The two are now members of the men’s professional cycling team. Team Type 1 also has a professional women’s program, a triathlon team, a development team and a second team for the Race Across America, Team Type 2.

This year’s Team Type 1 squad for RAAM consists of (name, age, hometown, country):

Jeff Bannink, 38, Beaverton, Ore., United States
Simon Bennett, 25, St. Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia
Alex Bowden, 19, DeKalb, Ill., United States
Matt Brooks, 21, Pickerington, Ohio, United States
Tom Kingery, 33, Delaware, Ohio, United States
Lonny Knabe, 33, Portland, Ore., United States
Bob Schrank, 40, Round Lake Park, Ill., United States
Mark Suprenant, 44, Milford, N.H., United States

Bowden, Brooks, Schrank and Suprenant return from last year’s squad, with Schrank also having raced for Team Type 1 in 2007.

Schrank said having diabetes makes parts of the grueling, non-stop race more difficult. While other teams can relax after riding a shift, Team Type 1’s athletes must be vigilant about monitoring their blood sugar.

“We are constantly using the Navigator and our OmniPods to make small corrections to our Apidra or Lantus (insulin),” he said. “As anyone with diabetes will tell you, managing diabetes is a 24-7 job.”

Tracking of Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 in RAAM can be done through the teams’ official website, teamtype1.org.
Photo: Sean Weide

Rock Racing Doubles At Vuelta Pilsen a Columbia

Tunja & Bogota, Colombia - This past weekend, Rock Racing’s Victor Hugo Peña and Glen Chadwick delivered consecutive wins on Stage 12 and 13 at the 59th Vuelta Pilsen a Colombia.


Peña crossed the line is solo fashion to take the mountainous 159km Stage 12. The Columbian born Peña was part of a four-man break that never looked back. With 400 meters to go it was Peña and Lotería de Boyacá's Uberlino Mesa in a head to head battle for the win, with Peña pulling away comfortably in the final meters to the finish

“It was important for us to have a big result today and everyone worked extremely hard.” said Peña. “I dedicate this win to my teammates.”

For the former yellow jersey wearer at the Tour de France, the win marks his fourth at the Vuelta a Colombia, his last victory in 2008 when he won Stage 7.

Complimenting Peña’s victory for Rock Racing, were fourth and fifth place finishes for teammates Francisco Mancebo and Oscar Sevilla.

Stage 12 Results
1. Victor Peña (Rock Racing)
2. Uberlino Mesa (Loteria de Boyaca)
3. Pablo wilches (Nectar Cundinamarca)
4. Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing)
5. Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing)

On Stage 13, Glen Chadwick delivered the second straight win for Rock Racing, whild teammate Paco Mancebo took second.


Like Peña the day before, the New Zealand native soloed to victory in the heart of downtown Bogota.

Despite rainy and cold conditions, Chadwick attacked early and built a four minute lead over the peloton. He was never caught and rode almost 100 kilometers alone, crossing the finish line three and a half minutes ahead of the group. Mancebo emerged from the pack to take second.

Rock Racing’s Jose Gutierrez and Oscar Sevilla were also 6th and 7th, earning the team four of the day’s top 10 spots.

"Winning today in Bogota was incredible,” said Chadwick. “We have an amazing team. Yesterday it was Victor (Hugo Peña) and today it was me. I can’t say enough about this group of guys."

Stage 13 Results
1. Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing)
2. Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing)
3. Rafael Montiel (Nectar Cundinamarca)

Photos: Luis Barbosa (www.ciclismohoy.com)

Ritchey Design Time Trial Handlebars Compliant with International Cycling Union "3:1" Component Regulation

Ritchey Design shares the bicycle industry's concerns about UCI regulations that could limit future innovation in bicycle equipment design

SAN CARLOS, Calif. - Ritchey Design announced today that its time trial handlebars, the WCS Carbon Hammerhead and WCS Carbon Interval, comply with the International Cycling Union's (UCI) "3:1" bicycle design regulation that the governing body will begin enforcing on all competitive bicycle equipment starting July 1, 2009.

"Ritchey time trial handlebars were designed with the UCI three-to-one ratio in mind, as are all of our products. We have used this design guideline to make great time trial products that are verified by elite teams on both the USA and European circuits," said Steve Parke, Ritchey Design general manager. "Still, Ritchey is concerned about the impact UCI's design regulations will have on the future of bicycle design innovation, and we're committed to working with UCI and manufactures to ensure that competitive cycling develops in a way that is positive for the sport and the industries that support it."


The 3:1 rule, a series of UCI cycling regulations, stipulates that all bicycle parts and components must be built with measurements that do not exceed a three-to-one ratio. Created in 2000 but not actively enforced until the beginning of the 2009 season, bicycle teams, riders and manufacturers had widely interpreted the rule to apply only to bicycle frame tubes.

UCI will also enforce its corresponding cycling regulation that bans bicycle equipment that decreases air resistance to artificially accelerate propulsion, a regulation that has uncertain implications for the future of bicycle design. To read the UCI Regulations on "General Organization of Cycling as a Sport" in full, go to the Ritchey Blog.

Ritchey WCS Carbon Hammerhead and WCS Carbon Interval Time Trial bars
The WCS Carbon Hammerhead, available in 38cm and 40cm widths, is a flat style base bar with a wide range of extensions and arm rests. The WCS Carbon Interval is a 40cm, 60mm drop base bar. Both the Hammerhead and the Carbon Interval include carbon lay-up to provide torsional strength and are designed to comply with the UCI's "3:1" rule.


The WCS Carbon Hammerhead has seen recent success with rider Cadel Evans of Silence-Lotto who won the opening time trial at the 63rd Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré on June 7, 2009. A Tour de France favorite, Evans comfortably maintained his lead in the second stage of the race the following day.

Rory Sutherland of OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis rode the WCS Carbon Hammerhead to a second-place finish in the June 10 opening time trial of the 2009 Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Ritchey Design also provides time trial equipment to ColaVita Men's and Women's teams, Team TIBCO, Team Jelly Belly and Lampre.

Ritchey Design has a vested interest in the future of bicycle design innovation. Though the "3:1" rule doesn't directly threaten Ritchey Design's components, Ritchey Design has joined an international association of bicycle equipment manufacturers whose charter is to create a formal line of communication with UCI concerning its bicycle design regulations. To read Ritchey Design's official statement on joining the association, please go to www.ritcheylogic.com.

Rock Racing Re-Signs Ivan Dominguez


Culver City, Calif. – Sprinter Ivan Dominguez has signed with Rock Racing after a five-month ProTour stint with Fuji-Servetto.

Dominguez initially signed with Rock Racing before the 2009 season, but left the team in early January to accept a spot with the new ProTour squad. His return to domestic racing was a personal decision, he said, based on a desire to be closer to his family and the races he loves.

“Racing in Europe was a great opportunity, but this is where I want to be,” Dominguez said. “(Rock Racing Team Owner) Michael Ball left the door open for me and I’m grateful for the chance to be a part of this team again.”

“We knew it was a dream of Ivan’s to race in Europe and completely supported his decision to pursue that dream,” Ball said. “I told Ivan he would always have a place on this team and I meant it. We are glad he’s back and look forward to his contributions throughout the rest of the season.”

Dominguez, who was often referred to as “The Cuban Missile" due to his Cuban heritage, was granted U.S. citizenship Feb. 26. Since turning professional in 2000, the 33-year-old has won stages at the Amgen Tour of California, the Tour of Missouri and the now-defunct Tour de Georgia, in addition to victories at a number of major one-day races in the U.S.

He defected from his home country while competing with the Cuban national cycling team at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York City.

Photo: Leonard Basobas (Dominguez at the 2008 Philadelphia International Cycling Championship)

SCOTT USA Announces The Commerzbank Triathlon Team


Sun Valley, Idaho - The legendary green and white of the Dresdner Kleinwort Triathlon Team has been replaced by the yellow of Commerzbank. It’s the same great team, with a new look and new a title sponsor. With the merger of Commerzbank and Dresdner Kleinwort Bank now complete, Commerzbank has committed to continuing the team as Commerzbank Triathlon Team until 2011.

The team is lead by Normann Stadler and will also include Marino Vanhoenacker, Maik Twelsiek, Jan Raphael, Scott Neyedli, Markus Fachbach, Matthias Hecht and Timo Bracht.

The athletes will compete on both the Scott Plasma2 triathlon bike, the fastest bike at the 2008 Ironman WC in Kona, Hawaii, and in the Makani Running shoes.


The team has already begun competing under the new name and in the new colors. This past weekend team leader Normann Stadler (above) won the Maxdorf Triathlon in Germany. With a big smile on his face, the new father joked, “Since my child was born last week, the sleep deficit turned into lots of energy.”

“Scott Bicycles has tremendous momentum right now in Triathlon, so we decided to step up and support the entire Commerzbank team to give us more global presence in the sport,” commented Adrian Montgomery. “The team image is very good, and all of their athletes are now qualified for the big show in Kona so we couldn’t be happier with the program and look forward to the World Championships in October where they can show their stuff.”

Elsewhere in Germany, team member Maik Twelsiek won the Bonn Triathlon, four minutes ahead of second place, Faris Al-Sultan. This latest victory means that all of the Commerzbank athletes are now qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, October 10th, 2009.

The next challenges for Team Commerzbank will come at the Ironman at Roth and the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt, Germany. Keep your eyes on the yellow flash of Team Commerzbank!

For more information, contact Adrian Montgomery at 208.622.1036 or via email at amontgomery@scottusa.com.

The Kitchen Sink, Hamilton Behind The Eight Ball


He was out. He had left the beautiful sport under his own volition and seemed at peace with leaving behind a life that had become as undulating as any mountainous Tour stage. His cycling career was just an after thought, a footnote in the grand history of the sport. Then it happened.

In an act that could only be compared to exhuming a body and then shooting it to make sure that that person were dead, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspended the retired Tyler Hamilton for eight (8) years for his second doping offense.

It can be argued that USADA was in their right and simply following the letter of the anti-doping guidelines. But they overreached in Hamilton's case. Their act is more about a demonstration of power, rather than processes and procedures.

You stay classy USADA.


"The eight-year suspension is unfortunate and disheartening," stated Hamilton. "At this time, however, my focus remains on my mother, my family, battling my depression and getting better. This has been an extremely difficult and trying period, but I am determined to get through it.

I would like to thank Michael Ball, the Rock Racing team, my fans, family and friends, for their continued support during this time. Moving forward, I am going to put a lot of my time and energy towards helping others who face severe depression overcome the obstacles this illness brings."


Michael Ball, Rock Racing Owner, added that "while we understand Tyler was given the minimum suspension under the current rules, it is unfortunate that this young man who has so much left to give to cycling both on and off the bike, will not have the opportunity to continue in the sport he dedicated so much of his life to.”

"Tyler took an herbal anti-depressant in a moment of crisis, with no intention or possibility of enhancing his cycling performance," argued Chris Manderson, Counsel For Tyler Hamilton. "Despite that, the rules do not distinguish between an intentional doping violation and Tyler's attempt to self medicate for depression, and the USADA Protocol imposes a minimum eight-year penalty in this situation.

The penalty is no different than it would be for an athlete who intentionally used testosterone in competition. USADA could not have imposed a lesser penalty even if it had been understanding of Tyler's situation and wanted to impose a sanction more fitting to Tyler's lack of performance-enhancing intent. He would have no realistic chance of reducing the penalty in an arbitration hearing.

Although we believe the sanction is exceptionally harsh and completely disproportional to the transgression, Tyler has chosen to focus on getting better instead of fighting a pointless battle against the anti-doping regime."

Photo: Leonard Basobas

Nature Valley Grand Prix Airs On Universal Sports

Top ranked stage race featured dramatic finishes in men's and women's races


The Nature Valley Grand Prix, the top race on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar held on June 10 - 14, will air on Universal Sports, the event's worldwide broadcast partner. Originally slotted for a half hour, the program has been expanded to a full hour because there were far too many compelling storylines to cover in the shorter program. Airings will be:
  • Saturday, 6/27, 2:00 PM
  • Sunday, 6/28, 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday, 6/30, 11:00 AM
  • Sunday, 7/5, 4:00 PM
  • Monday, 7/6, 6:00 PM
**All Eastern Time

This was three-time defending champion Kristin Armstrong's last race in the United States before her retirement after the World Championships at the end of September in Mendrisio, Switzerland. With none of her Cervelo Test Team teammates to support her, Armstrong faced the daunting challenge of a stacked peloton that seemed to be on a unified mission to deny Armstrong her fourth consecutive win. She maintained the yellow jersey at the penultimate stage in Mankato, but by only 11 seconds. The race was decided with a dramatic finish in the Stillwater Criterium.

Following the race, Armstrong took the microphone and said an emotional farewell to US racing. After her retirement, she'll focus her efforts on the Kristin Armstrong Academy, a development program for women under the age of 23.

The men's race was equally dramatic, with Bissell's Tom Zirbel taking the lead over Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis) at the opening time trial. Zirbel, an unlikely challenger at 6'4" and 198 pounds, held the lead through the Mankato Road Race, despite the extreme hill on that race's finishing circuit. The race was settled at the brutal Stillwater Criterium, where Sutherland's teammate Floyd Landis played a key role, earning Landis the Freewheel Bike Most Aggressive Rider jersey and setting up a dramatic finish.

The program will also stream from www.UniversalSports.com

Powers Third For Team Type 1 At Nature Valley

Stillwater, MNAlison Powers put Team Type 1 on the podium Sunday for the fourth time at a women’s National Racing Calendar (NRC) event when she finished third at the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Powers also retained her lead in the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series (WPCS) while assuming the lead in the WPCS sprint classification from her Team Type 1 teammate, Kori Seehafer.

Perhaps the only disappointment for the reigning U.S. national time trial champion was that she could not hang onto the second place spot that she had held since the opening time trial of the five-day, six-stage race in Minnesota.

“It was a hard race today, I’m tired,” Powers said after completing 13 trips up Chilkoot Hill, a narrow climb on the 1.4-mile (2.3 km) course that features an average grade of 18 percent. “But our team is so amazing that come next month at the Cascade Classic, we’ll be ready to win the overall again like we did at Joe Martin.”

Powers finished 11th in Sunday’s Stillwater Criterium, 20 seconds behind stage winner and overall champion Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team). That result allowed Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad) to move ahead of Powers in the final standings.

“I pretty much knew I was riding for third when Shelley was riding so strongly and keeping up with Kristin,” Power said. “With about three laps to go, they were in sight and I was making up ground and catching and I thought maybe I could get still second. But she beat me by two seconds and rode so strongly that she deserved second.”

Powers’ already successful season includes an overall victory at the Joe Martin Stage Race, runner-up at the SRAM Tour of the Gila and third place overall at the Redlands Bicycle Classic – all NRC events. She came into the Nature Valley Grand Prix as the NRC points leader while Team Type 1 – a first-year women’s professional program – was No. 1 in the team standings.

In the men’s race, Michael Creed led Team Type 1 with a ninth-place finish. Like Powers, Creed was unable to improve on his overall placing during the 20-lap men’s race that was won by Phillip Mamos (Amore & Vita presented by Life Time Fitness-Velo Vie) ahead of Anthony Colby (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light).

Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis) overcame a seven-second deficit in the final stage to successfully defend his title from a year ago ahead of Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling), who had held the lead since the opening time trial.

Team Type 1 Director Sportif Vassili Davidenko said Creed was simply out-manned as the race blew apart in the final laps. Creed was fourth overall, 22 seconds behind Zirbel, coming into the final stage.

“Our intention was to move Mike onto the podium, but at the end it was really tough,” Davidenko said. “He was left with one teammate (Ken Hanson) and then the last couple of laps he was racing alone against OUCH and Colavita. So that was really difficult. But he did a great job and the guys did a good job over the course of the entire week.”

Team Type 1 came into the race with only seven riders after Fabio Calabria broke a bone in his hand June 6 while training for the TD Bank Philadelphia International Championships. The team lost another rider Friday night when Timothy Hargrave did not make the time cut in the Uptown Minneapolis Criterium.

Armstrong, Naturally; Sutherland Defends Nature Valley Grand Prix Title

If you ask any title holder, in any sports, they will all make the same claim; defending a title is a tough assignment. Then again, if you are an absolute hammer like Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis) or Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo TestTeam), taking on that type of a challenge is just part of the fun.

Although Sutherland's road to consecutive victories at the Nature Valley Grand Prix was a bit more arduous, entering the final race, the Stillwater Criterium, seven (7) seconds in arrears, he once again proved his mettle and took the final leader's jersey just three (3) seconds ahead of Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling).

Final General Classification - Men
1. Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis)
2. Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling)
3. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
4. Tyler Wren (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
5. Anthony Colby (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
6. Peter Latham (Bissell Pro Cycling)
7. Will Routley (Jelly Belly Cycling Team)
8. Bernard Vanulden (Jelly Belly Cycling Team)
9. Mike Creed (Team Type1)
10. Luis Romero Amaran (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)

For Armstrong, who would claim her fourth consecutive Nature Valley Grand Prix title, the victory was the proverbial icing on the cake of a career full of wonderful memories in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." Retiring at year's end, Armstrong would out duel Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad) by thirty (30) seconds.

Final General Classification - Women
1. Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team)
2. Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad)
3. Alison Powers (Team Type 1)
4. Katharine Carroll (Team TIBCO)
5. Anne Samplonius (Lip Smacker)
6. Andrea Dvorak (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
7. Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO)
8. Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
9. Amanda Miller (Lip Smacker)
10. Alexis Rhodes (Webcor Builders)

The Nature Valley Grand Prix was also the third stop of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series. Allison Powers (Team Type 1) took over as Overall Leader as well as the Sprint Jersey Leader, while the Best Young Rider Jersey went to Rebecca Much (Webcor Builders).

Photo: Leonard Basobas

Thursday, June 25, 2009

First Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids San Diego a Huge Success; Will Grow to Four Cities in 2010

San Diego, CA - Not content with 150 children's smiles in San Diego, Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids will expand in 2010 and conduct its bicycle giveaways in four cities: San Diego, Houston, Indianapolis and Boston. The foundation will team with the Boys and Girls Clubs in each city and plans to distribute 250 bicycles, helmets and locks per location.

"Going into last week's event in San Diego, we decided that we wanted Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids to have a national reach," says Dan Gindling, President of Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids. "Kimberlee rode and raced her bike all over the country, why not grow the event into other cities."

Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids was established to honor Kimberlee Caledonia, a talented and avid cyclist who died of brain cancer in 2008. This past Saturday, 150 underprivileged San Diego 1st and 2nd graders received brand new bmx bikes, helmets, locks and cycling caps from the foundation.

Weeks before the event, the children were given the essay question: "What would you do with a new bicycle?". Their answers were graded with the winning children awarded a certificate good for a free bike, helmet, lock and cycling cap. (Those kids who were deemed deserving a bike received a certificate no matter their essay answer.)

The San Diego event began with a bike build on Friday night, where 30 volunteers built 150 bmx bicycles. Final quality control was performed by Speedplay President Richard Bryne, and Dave Grylls, Olympic bike racer and Pan Am and U.S. National cycling champ. Then on Saturday, the giveaway began with each child receiving their goodies plus a bicycle riding safety lesson.

"It was a wonderful, heart-warming event," says Theresa Davis, Area Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. "To see the kids beaming when they got their bikes was uplifting. We can't wait until next year's event."

Says Gindling, who was also Kimberlee's husband: "We will be getting photos and copies of the children's essays up on the KBK website (www.kimsbikes.org) real soon. Some of the essays are funny, some sad, others poignant."

For those wishing to get involved with Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids, through sponsorship or donation, please e-mail: info@kimsikes.org.

"Showerless" Body Cleaner?

If you're a commuter, one of your biggest concerns, aside from traffic, is how and where to get clean after your ride (and if it isn't, I'm sure your co-workers probably wish it would be). The folks at 10 nine 8 might have a solution for you, Rocket Shower(R), the "Showerless" Body Cleaner, which is now being distributed by Trek.

Fredericksburg, TX - The world of cycling has just gotten a whole lot cleaner, because now IBDs can conveniently get their Rocket Shower fix through Trek.

With Rocket Shower, no need to worry about shower facilities at work. A few quick sprays of Rocket Shower all over your body (yes, even "down there") and you're ready for the day. The spray-on, wipe-off formula quickly and effectively cleans and refreshes the body, cools the skin and helps prevent even the worse body odor. Simple. And effective.

"I'm really excited that Trek has decided to distribute Rocket Shower to its dealers," says Linda DuPriest, founder of 10 Nine 8, the makers of Rocket Shower. "Trek's 'One World, Two Wheels' program and its 'Women Who Ride' club are key in getting more people on bikes. I'm very happy to be a part of company that is so forward thinking and making an impact on the cycling culture."

Rocket Shower removes one key obstacle for people looking to commute by bike: personal hygiene. Rocket Shower is formulated using witch hazel, citrus, mint, vitamin E and a trace amount of alcohol. Delivered via pump sprayer, the formula cleans by helping evaporate sweat and killing the bacteria that cause body odor. The lasting peppermint and grapefruit oils cool the skin and provide a fresh, clean feel and fragrance.

"I developed Rocket Shower after the office where I worked moved into a facility with no shower," says DuPriest. "At first I just used the product myself everyday after riding to work, then other bicycle commuters started asking for it. Now it's available to everyone."

DuPriest, who worked as the advocacy director at Specialized for a decade, says Rocket Shower is very popular with women cyclists, bike commuters, and triathletes who work-out numerous times each day but don't have the time to shower between exercises.

"I have found that once dealers try Rocket Shower they immediately see the benefits and order the product."

Rocket Shower comes in non-aerosol spray bottle sizes of 8.5 oz., 4 oz., and 2 oz., which is perfect for airplane carryon. The 8.5 oz size is also available in a fine mist sprayer. For those who want to spare the landfill and reuse their Rocket Shower sprayers, gallon and quart bulk refill sizes are available. The Rocket Shower product line also includes three versions of the Jet Pack(TM), a complete clean-up kit that fits easily into a messenger bag, backpack, airline carryon or checked luggage.

All 10 Nine 8 products are available through Trek or at www.10nine8.net or 512/785-7751

Team Type 1's Kobzarenko Is Philly's King Of The Mountains

PhiladelphiaValeriy Kobzarenko put Team Type 1 in the spotlight for nearly half of Sunday’s TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship, capping it off with a place on the podium by winning the race’s King of the Mountains crown.

The 32-year-old Ukrainian spent 70 miles in the lead as part of a three-man breakaway that led by nearly eight minutes at one point of the 156-mile (250 km) race. But a concerted chase by eventual race winner André Greipel’s Columbia-Highroad squad brought an end to the trio’s escape inside the final 10 miles.

“I told the guys before the race that we would have to do something out of a breakaway because there are so many great sprinters here,” Team Type 1 Director Vassili Davidenko said. “Valeriy did a great job on the front today. I was hoping they could stay away to the finish but it just didn’t work out.”

Kobzarenko racked up 38 points on the two King of the Mountains (KOM) locations along the 14.4-mile (23 km) course that winds its way through the streets of Philadelphia. The more challenging of the two climbs, the Manayunk Wall, is a brutal half-mile climb featuring a 17-percent grade.

On four of five trips up “The Wall” when Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling), Daniel Oss (Liquigas) and Kobzarenko were in the lead, Kobzarenko was either the first or second rider to crest the leg-breaking climb where thousands of fans had gathered to cheer them on.

“I knew I had to go for the points because it could pay off later,” Kobzarenko said.

Indeed it did. When early KOM leader Daniel Holloway (U.S. National Team) dropped out after earning 50 points during his own 70-mile breakaway, Kobarenko needed only to finish the race to win the prize.

The weekend was not entirely positive for Team Type 1, which lost both Shawn Milne and Fabio Calabria to injury. Milne was involved in a pile-up with 800 meters to go and suffered a second-degree separation of his right shoulder, while Calabria didn’t even start after colliding with a cyclist on a bike path during a training ride on Saturday. Both are expected to be out of action several weeks.

Milne’s said his crash happened while he was setting up a lead out for teammate Ken Hanson. The two were among the first 15 riders in the pack at the time.

“A guy in front of me looked over his shoulder and hit Hilton Clarke,” Milne said. “I just remember seeing someone on the ground and going right over them.”

Hanson wound up as Team Type 1’s best finisher in 27th place. Chris Jones was 29th, Moises Aldape 37th, Kobzarenko 41st, Matt Wilson 53rd and Darren Lill finished 55th.

Photos: Courtesy of Casey B. Gibson (www.cbgphoto.com)

Powers Leads Team Type 1 At Liberty Classic

Philadelphia Alison Powers’ sixth-place finish led Team Type 1 Sunday at the 14th edition of the TD Bank Liberty Classic.

The reigning United States time trial champion was among a group of a dozen riders who slipped the field on the final of four laps around the 14.4-mile course through the streets of Philadelphia. As they rounded the finishing straight onto Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Powers started her sprint from 300 meters out.

“I thought I better go now or else the sprinters will gap me,” she said. “I pretty much led out the people that were on my wheel. I’m a little disappointed that I was thinking too much, but I’ve never been in a situation like that.”

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Columbia-Highroad) was first to the finish line of the 56-mile (91 km) race to win it for the third time. Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO) was second and Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad) was third.

Powers did increase her lead in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) standings by earning 54 points for her top 10 finish. The second and third-place riders in the NRC standings – Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders) and third-place Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo-Lifeforce) did not score points. (Armstrong wasn’t in the race, while Mattis finished 41st.)

All five Team Type 1 riders finished the race: Jen McRae was 15th, Veronica Leal 33rd, Kori Seehafer 36th and Jacquelyn Crowell finished 52nd.


Seehafer, who has ridden nearly every edition of the race since 1999, said it was one of the most aggressive that she could recall. At one point, the women’s field passed the men’s race that was traveling on the same course. The men started their 156-mile (250 km) race about 10 minutes ahead of the women.

“There was the potential for a break to go every time we went up the climb (of the Manayunk Wall),” Seehafer said. “I couldn’t accelerate hard today so I blew myself up the last time up the climb to get Allie (Powers) and Jen (McRae) in position.”

Photos: Courtesy of Casey B. Gibson (www.cbgphoto.com)

Teutenberg Lady Liberty, Again; Greipel Completes Columbia-Highroad Sweep


The TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this month. The one-day race, and its corresponding women’s Liberty Classic, is widely considered to be one of America’s crown jewels of cycling. But surprisingly, if not for a midnight sponsorship deal, the race that features the festival like atmosphere up Manayunk Wall, crowds swarming over Lemon Hill, and the winding scenery of the Schuylkill River, all juxtaposed against the rich history of City of Brotherly Love, might also have been felled by the troubled economy.

With the men’s and women’s races run simultaneously, Ina Teutenberg would not only lead a Columbia-Highroad and German sweep of the races, with teammate and countryman, Andre Greipel taking out the men’s field sprint, but also the women’s field past the men’s for the first time in any race’s history.

As officials allowed the speeding women to race by a men's field that had to be neutralized, Teutenberg would later tell Velonews, “When we went past the men, I told them they were pussies!”

The victory would be Teutenberg’s 3rd career Liberty Classic win and her 17th of the 2009 season. Team TIBCO’s Joanne Kiesanowski would finish second and Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad) would take third. For Olds, reaching the podium has become somewhat of a norm this season as she had already won five races, including the omnium title and two of the three Tulsa Tough criteriums the week before, on the road prior to starting the Liberty Classic.

Women’s Results
1. Ina Teutenberg (Team Columbia-Highroad)
2. Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO)
3. Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad)
4. Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung)
5. Catherine Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Homes presented by Cooking Light)
6. Alison Powers (Team Type 1)
7. Ruth Corset (Jazz Apple Cycling Team)
8. Chrissy Ruiter (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)
9. Amber Neben (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung)
10. Kim Anderson (Team Columbia-Highroad)

Men’s Results

1. Andre Greipel (Team Columbia – Highroad)
2. Greg Henderson (Team Columbia – Highroad)
3. Kirk O’Bee (Bissell Pro Cycling)
4. Harald Starzengruber (Elk Haus)
5. David Vitoria (Rock Racing)
6. Keven Lacombe (Planet Energy)
7. Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
8. Christofer Stevenson (Swedish National Team)
9. Lucas Haedo (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
10. Andrew Pinfold (OUCH presented by Maxxis)

Photo: Courtesy of Todd Leister (Leister Images). For more images from the race click here.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Return from Hiatus: The Bicycle Blotter

One of the great things about blogging is being your own boss. As such, we gave ourselves an extended leave of absence. Call it the quiet before the July storm that is the Tour de France.

Aside from our Publish2 Newsgroup remaining active, its been roughly three weeks since our last post. In that time, news from the cycling world mirrored the continuous movement of life and had simply strolled on by without much commentary.

Over the next several posts, we'll rely on some of our colleagues to work our way back into the fray before the news peloton leaves us behind.

The Blotter
This past week has seen cycling grab the headlines of the blotter wire with news of the aftermath of stealing Lance's one-off time trial machine and the implosion of The Missile.

As reported by several media outlets, 40-year-old Lee Crider will receive a 3 year prison sentence for stealing Lance Armstong's time trial bicycle the night after the Amgen Tour of California Prologue back in February.

While the debate certainly centers around whether the punishment fits the crime, two items from the story are hard to ignore. First, is the amount for which the stolen bicycle was unloaded.

"A police report says he bought Armstrong's $10,000 bike, a Trek Livestrong 1274, from Crider for $200."

Talk about diminishing returns.

Second, is the fact that Crider even thought he could get away with taking the one-of-a-kind bicycle. Yesterday, the Dan Patrick Show likened it to stealing a precious work of art that couldn't be shown to anyone. If he hasn't already been enshrined, Crider deserves to be in the hall of stupidest criminals ever.



When I first started mountain biking, I was a big fan of Brian Lopes and Missy "The Missile" Giove. In fact, they are the reason I still ride a Cannondale today. So it was especially saddening to hear of Giove's recent exploits.

"Giove, 37, and Eric Canori, 30, of Wilton were charged Tuesday with conspiring to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana."

Giove, who won downhill World Championship in 1994, World Cup season titles in 1997 and 1998, and US National titles from 1999-2001, faces up to "40 years in prison and a $2 million fine."

"The Missile" Living Large