Triple Crankset

So Kiss Me And Smile For Me...

2009-08-09T20:36:00.003-04:00

Well our posts are packed, we're ready to go...

Back in March, the Triple Crankset celebrated its three-year anniversary. As we have grown over the years, it became readily apparent that we would have to switch to another blogging platform other than Blogger. We had pushed it to its limits. Frankly, our last redesign probably had those using Internet Explorer questioning whether we knew anything about design or creating a website.

So after three years we say goodbye to Blogger and enter a new, and hopefully better phase with the Triple Crankset.

As of today, we have relocated. The URL, www.triplecrankset.com will remain the same. But this site will be defaulted back to its original blogspot.com extension.

Please visit our new site at http://triplecrankset.com.

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The Triple

Team Type 1’s Ilesic Second, Kelly Benefit's Veillux Victor At Charlotte

2009-08-09T19:22:00.004-04:00

Charlotte, N.C. – They didn’t win the race, but Team Type 1’s Aldo Ino Ilesic and Valeriy Kobzarenko made a memorable showing Saturday night at the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium.

In front of a massive crowd in Downtown Charlotte, N.C., the pair integrated themselves into the decisive breakaway of the 50-mile (80 km) National Racing Calendar (NRC) event.

But it was David Veilleux (Kelly Benefit Strategies) who pulled off the most heroic move of the night, soloing to victory from Ilesic, Kobzarenko and eight others who had left the field behind at the race’s halfway point.

Ilesic went on to finish second, winning the sprint of the remaining breakaway riders. Karl Menzies (OUCH presented by Maxxis) was third.

“He surprised us,” Ilesic said of Veilleux’s move that earned him a check for $12,500. “No one expected he would go. And only two guys were pulling to bring him back, Kobzarenko and Luis Amaran (of Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light). I had to wait for the sprint. That was my job.”

Veilleux made his move with two-and-a-half laps to go of the 1.25-mile (2 km) course. With only Team Type 1 and Colavita-Sutter Home having more than one rider in the breakaway, it was up to them to take up the chase.

“His gap was growing lap-by-lap, even with 10 guys chasing him,” Team Type 1 Director Sportif Vassili Davidenko said of Veilleux. “He was amazing.”

Kobzarenko also put on an impressive show of force, integrating himself in nearly every significant breakaway during the race. The Ukrainian showed the strength that earned him the King of the Mountains title at the TD Bank International Championship in Philadelphia in June.

“Kobza was a super teammate,” Davidenko said. “I’m happy tonight because all of our guys rode aggressively and we were so close to winning the race. If it had come down to a sprint, Aldo would have easily won.”

Ilesic had hoped to score Team Type 1’s 50th victory of the season in his adopted hometown after winning a pair of races at the Giordana Crossroads Classic earlier this week. Now he turns his attention to Sunday’s Hanes Park Classic in Winston-Salem, N.C. The professional women will race for 50 minutes at 1:45 p.m. EDT, while the 90-minute professional men’s race begins at 3:05 p.m. EDT.

USA CRITS Series Continues with Presbyterian Hospital Invitational

2009-08-06T23:22:00.001-04:00

2008 Winners Alejandro Borrajo and Katherine Carroll look for repeat in Charlotte

Athens, GA - The Presybterian Hospital Invitational Criterium hits the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday, August 8 as the USA CRITS National Series rolls into town. The 3rd stop of the Series will see the top men's and women's criterium racers take on the 1.2 mile course in hopes of moving up in the Series Overall and cashing in on the $75,000 prize list.

Team Mountain Khakis has dominated the races in the Series this year, slotting three riders in the top five of the Overall Competition and leading the Team Competition by 508 points over Kelly Benefit Strategies and Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light. Tom Soladay is in the VeloNews Red, White, and Blue Leader's Jersey and plans to not give it up, saying, "I'm going to be at all the remaining races. The team is going to be at all the races. Last year, the team competition was so close, we missed it by 3 points, and Adam placed second. We are not going to let that happen again."

The Winston-Salem-based team will certainly have its hands full Saturday night with a full Colavita squad looking to defend its 2008 win in Charlotte in Alejandro Borrajo. Borrajo and his hit squad will be in full force looking to make up lost time and points in the Team Competition, as well as another win in the USA CRITS Series. Luca Damiani already took top honors at Iron Hill Twilight Criterium in July.

Look for Kelly Benefit Strategies to be in the mix to protect Jake Keough's second place standing in the Series. Keogh will be racing in the Champion System Best Young Rider Jesey.

On the women's front, the Team and Individual Overall competitions are much closer. Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) is in the Overall lead, while teammate Kristen Lasasso is 99 points back in 2nd. Team Vanderkitten is leading the Team Competition with Team Kenda only 64 points behind. Fireworks will be flying on Saturday night as Tina Pic and her Colavita squad will be in the mix, as well as 2008 Presybterian Hospital Invitational winner Katherine Carroll and 2009 National Criterium Champion Brooke Miller and their TIBCO squad. Watch for 2008 Overall USA CRITS Champion Jennifer Wilson and the 2008 Team winner Vanderkitten fight for position as they seek a second Overall title.

Men's Overall Standings
1. Tom Soladay (Team Mountain Khakis) - 423 pts
2. Jake Keough (Kelly Benefit Strategies) - 396 pts
3. Mark Hekman (Team Mountain Khakis) - 380 pts

Men's Lap Leader Standings
1. Russ Langley (Battley-Harley Davidson) - 37 laps
2. Kyle Wamsley (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) - 22 laps
3. John Murphy (OUCH presented by Maxxis) - 16 laps

Men's Best Young Rider Standings
1. Jake Keough (Kelly Benefit Strategies) - 396 pts
2. David Guttenplan (Team Mountain Khakis) - 245 pts
3. Isaac Howe (Team Mountain Khakis) - 222 pts

Men's Team Standings
1. Team Mountain Khakis - 1538 pts
2. Kelly Benefit Strategies - 1030 pts
3. Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light - 763 pts

Women's Overall Standings
1. Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) - 483 pts
2. Kristen Lasasso (Mellow Mushroom) - 384 pts
3. Jennifer Wilson (Team Vanderkitten) - 376 pts

Women's Lap Leader
1. Cath Cheatley (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) - 19 laps
2. Lauren Tamayo (Team TIBCO) - 10 laps
3. Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1) - 9 laps

Women's Best Young Rider
1. Jessie Maclean (Verducci/Breakaway) - 217 pts
2. Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1) - 206 pts
3. Samantha Schneider (Team Type 1) - 205 pts

Women's Team Standings
1. Team Vanderkitten - 1262 pts
2. Team Kenda - 1218 pts
3. Altarum Women's Cycling Team - 988 pts

USA CRITS Remaining Schedule
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational, Charlotte, NC - August 8
Chris Thater Memorial, Binghamton, NY - August 30
TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX, Dallas, TX - September 17 (men only)
USA CRITS Finals, Las Vegas, NV - September 24

Team Type 1's Ilesic Makes It Two Straight At Crossroads Classic

2009-08-06T23:14:00.000-04:00

Concord, N.C. – Team Type 1’s Aldo Ino Ilesic notched his fifth victory of the season – and won his second race in two nights – Wednesday at the Cabarrus Creamery Criterium in Concord, N.C.

Ilesic beat Eric Barlevav (Team Mountain Khakis) and Neil Bezdek (GS Mengoni) to the line at the end of the hour-long race. The criterium was the second in a series of five races this week that make up the ninth annual Giordana Crossroads Classic.

Tuesday night, Ilesic won a three-up sprint from a breakaway at the Mocksville Criterium in Mocksville, N.C. His victories are the 48th and 49th of the season for the Team Type 1 men’s professional squad.

Ilesic said his confidence is riding high heading into Saturday’s Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium in Charlotte. The event is one of the richest one-day races in the country, with a $12,500 prize to the winner of the men’s race.

“I’ve had to do a lot of work the past two nights – beating quality competition with no help because I was racing without teammates here,” he said. “Tonight, the Mountain Khakis team was attacking me all the time with six or seven guys. I was having to pull things back all the time on my own.”

Despite donning the yellow jersey of overall leader of the Crossroads Classic, Ilesic said he will not participate in the remaining three races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Instead, the 24-year-old Slovenian said he would like nothing more than to score the team’s 50th win in Charlotte, his adopted hometown.

“I didn’t plan to do the whole series. I just wanted to do them as a warm-up for Saturday,” he said. “Now I have two rest days coming up. I’m really focused on the race in Charlotte because it’s where I live. I would love to win it.”

Joining Ilesic in Saturday’s 50-mile (80 km) race will be teammates Joe Eldridge, Ken Hanson, Daniel Holt, Valeriy Kobzarenko and Shawn Milne. Hanson is the reigning USA Cycling Elite criterium champion while Milne won the 2006 edition of the race. Eldridge is one of four riders on the Team Type 1 men’s pro team who has Type 1 diabetes.

The Team Type 1 women will be led in Charlotte by newly-crowned USA Cycling Under 23 criterium champion Samantha Schneider. She will be joined by Jacquelyn Crowell, Jen McRae, Morgan Patton, Alison Powers and Kori Seehafer. Patton is one of two riders on the women’s pro squad who has Type 1 diabetes.

Photos: Courtesy Jon Safka Photography

Women’s Prestige Cycling Series Finale Shakes Up Standings

2009-08-06T23:11:00.000-04:00

Team classification takes unexpected twist and the Sprints tie is broken

Minneapolis, MN - The Women’s Prestige Cycling Series began in 2004 with the goal of highlighting women’s racing by giving them a spotlight that they don’t have to share with the men. Organized by the Nature Valley Grand Prix, the Series grew out of meetings that began in Minnesota in 2003 at the first Women’s Cycling Summit Conference hosted by that event.

The 2009 Women’s Prestige Cycling Series began at the Redlands Bicycle Classic (March 26 – 29), followed by the Joe Martin Stage race (May 7 – 10) and then the Nature Valley Grand Prix (June 10 – 14) before concluding at the Cascade Cycling Classic (July 21 – 26).

Team Classification - The season long see saw battle between Team TIBCO and Webcor Builders ended in TIBCO’s favor at the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series grand finale at the Cascade Cycling Classic. Although Webcor’s guest rider Evelyn Stevens won the stage race, she wasn’t eligible for the Series. TIBCO finished with a wide margin and Webcor dropped to third, behind Team Type 1.

1. Team TIBCO - 1319
2. Team Type 1 - 819
3. Webcor Builders Cycling Team - 786
4. ValueAct Capital Cycling Team - 677
5. Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light - 437

Sprint Classification – The most dramatic fight for the jerseys was in the Sprint classification, where Tina Pic (Colavita Sutter Home) had been tied on points with Alison Powers (Team Type 1), with the edge going to Powers because of the tie breakers. By the end of the Cascade Classic, Pic had it all sown up the Series Sprint competition and Powers had slipped to fourth.

1. Tina Pic, Colavita Sutter Home - 429
2. Joanne Kiesanowski, Team TIBCO - 286
3. Gina Grain, Webcor Builders Cycling Team - 275
4. Alison Powers, Team Type 1 - 250
5. Kirsty Broun, Lip Smackers- 165

Individual Classification – In contrast, there were no surprises in the individual classification. Alison Powers seeming insurmountable lead going into Cascade just got wider and the top three positions were unchanged.

1. Alison Powers, Team Type 1 - 616
2. Katharine Carroll, Team TIBCO - 388
3. Katheryn Mattis, Webcor Builders Cycling Team - 285
4. Joanne Kiesanowski, Team TIBCO - 246
5. Christina Ruiter, Value Act Capital - 231

Young Rider – Webcor’s Rebecca Much maintained her lead in the Series Best Young Rider classification, despite losing ground to TIBCO’s Julie Beveridge. Alexis Rhodes (Webcor Builders) fell from second to third because she didn’t attend Cascade.

1. Rebecca Much, Webcor Builders Cycling Team - 649
2. Julie Beveridge, Team TIBCO - 528
3. Alexis Rhodes, Webcor Builders Cycling Team - 429
4. Amanda Miller, Lip Smackers – 352
5. Tiffany Cromwell, Colavita Sutter Home - 264

Cavendish Highlights Team Columbia–HTC Roster for Upcoming Tour of Missouri

2009-08-06T23:03:00.001-04:00

Three-time world-champion Michael Rogers and 2007 Tour of Missouri winner George Hincapie also named as part of the squad

Jefferson City, MO - Mark Cavendish, who won six stages during the recently completed Tour de France, headlines a star studded international Team Columbia-HTC squad for this year's Tour of Missouri, scheduled for September 7 – 13, 2009.

Joining Cavendish are three-time world champion Michael Rogers and superstar lead-out man Mark Renshaw, both of Australia, Canadian Michael Barry, a stage winner in last year's Tour of Missouri, as well as former Italian time trial-champion Marco Pinotti.

"It is a very important part of our mission to contribute to the growth of racing in the US. The Tour of Missouri is a very well-run and promoted race that is attracting top teams from around the globe and is increasingly recognized as a top international event," said Bob Stapleton, the general manager and owner of Highroad sports, the company that runs Team Columbia – HTC. "We're pleased to be able to bring a top roster to the Missouri in the hope of repeating our success of last year and to be a part of a great spectacle for the fans of cycling in America."

American stalwart George Hincapie, who broke his collarbone in the last week of the Tour de France, is day to day, according to Stapleton, and a final decision on his participation will be rendered at the end of the month.

"To have the world's top sprinter, second place overall finisher from last year's race, and the 2007 race champion all on the same roster coming, it's a beautiful thing," said race director Jim Birrell. "Like last year, they certainly should be a team to contend with for both the overall classification title and individual stage wins."

Added Cavendish, a three-time tour of Missouri stage winner in 2008 and winner of more than 20 races this year: "I really enjoyed Tour of Missouri last year. Cycling fans in America are genuinely enthusiastic about watching us race which makes for a great atmosphere."

Tour organizers have also reached an agreement to feature Cavendish on several marketing materials, including the official map guide for the Tour. Columbia sportswear is the official clothing sponsor for the 2009 Tour of Missouri.

The race begins in St. Louis on Monday, September 7, Labor Day, with a 10-lap, 75-mile circuit race that will be fast and flat and favor a sprinter taking the leader's jersey. On Tuesday, September 8, the race will transfer south to Ste. Genevieve with a 112.4-mile road race to Cape Girardeau. The terrain is hilly to moderate and features finishing circuits.

On Wednesday, September 9, cyclists will face their toughest challenge of the race, with a hilly 114.3-mile stage in the Northern Ozark Mountains from Farmington to Rolla. After a short transfer on Thursday, September 10, the race will proceed from St. James to Jefferson City, with the circuit finish featuring a steep 300-meter uphill sprint to the finish.

Riders will be able make up time Friday, September 11, during the individual time trial at Sedalia with an 19-mile race against the clock around Missouri's State Fairgrounds. On Saturday, September 12, cyclists will race from Chillicothe to St. Joseph while hitting moderate to hilly terrain.

The weeklong journey through the Show-Me-State concludes with a hilly circuit through the streets of Kansas City, Sunday, September 13. The Kansas City circuit will feature two king of the mountain points with more than 3000 feet of climbing over 72 miles. "I think they did a great job of capturing the challenging terrain of the state," said Rory Sutherland, the current national race calendar leader in the United States and a rider in the past two Tours of Missouri.

Though a stellar world-class field was presented last year, the three-year-old race is expected to be even better as the Tour of Missouri was granted an upgrade to one of the top five-ranked events outside Europe by international and national federation's for cycling last month.

The upgrade has drawn top pro tour teams Astana, Cervelo Test Team, Columbia- HTC, Garmin- Slipstream, Liquigas, Saxo Bank and Quickstep, all recent Tour de France teams, of which won 14 of 21 stages of the world's biggest race. Domestic teams participating in 2009 include BISSELL Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing, Colovita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Jelly Belly, Kelly Benefit Strategies, OUCH presented by Maxxis, and Team Type 1. Canada's top team Planet Energy rounds out the field.

Photo: PhotoSport International

Former World Champion Will Compete At Glencoe Grand Prix

2009-08-06T22:55:00.000-04:00

Glencoe, Ill. – The field for this year’s Glencoe Grand Prix presented by AT&T grew more impressive with the announcement that 2008 world omnium champion Hayden Godfrey will be competing in Sunday’s Pro-I-II race.

Godfrey is a 14-time New Zealand national champion who won the third world track title of his career in cycling’s version of the pentathlon. The omnium consists of five events: a 200-meter flying start time trial, five kilometer scratch race, three kilometer individual pursuit, 15 kilometer points race and a one kilometer time trial.

Glencoe Grand Prix Race Director Jon Knouse said news of Godfrey’s participation is creating quite a stir for the third edition of the race that boasts an $11,500 prize list.

“It's not every day a world champion comes to town,” Knouse said. “The people of Glencoe and the Glencoe Grand Prix are over the moon and thrilled to have Hayden Godfrey race with us in our community.”

Joining Godfrey for Sunday’s 70-minutes-plus-two-laps Pro-I-II race will be Jason Allen and Josh England. All three are members of the New Zealand-based Subway-Avanti Pro Cycling Team. They will be vying for a $5,000 prize purse that will also include 10 primes of $100 each.

“We're hoping this will give some of the top regional racers an added incentive to come out,” Knouse said. “Competing against these guys will be something they can tell their grandkids about.”

Cyclists of all abilities and categories will begin racing at 8 a.m. on a four-corner, 0.9‐mile course through the city’s downtown streets. Last year, the Glencoe Grand Prix was voted “Race of the Year” by the Illinois Cycling Association.

Riders are encouraged to pre-register online at www.bikereg.com. Same-day race registration opens at 7 a.m. and closes a half-hour prior to each race. Finish line (chip) timing is provided by Ultramax Events and SRAM will provide neutral support.

A complete schedule of race distances and times is available on the official race website: www.glencoegrandprix.com.

2009 Interbike Exhibitor List On Par with Last Year; Major Exhibitors Returning

2009-08-06T22:49:00.000-04:00

With many category-specific events and show features, Interbike continues to serve as the annual gathering place for the cycling industry

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. - Interbike continues to be the place for gathering members of the bike industry at the 2009 Interbike International Expo and Outdoor Demo in Las Vegas the week of September 21-25. While at the five-day event, attendees and media will see the latest products and technologies from every major bicycle, component and accessory manufacturer in the cycling industry.

"This year's Interbike is shaping up to be among our strongest shows," said Andy Tompkins, Interbike's show director. "Just as in years past, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with all their key suppliers along with enjoying the comradery and networking the show naturally provides. Regardless of individual sales and marketing strategies, manufacturers recognize the value of participating in the week-long industry event. We are looking forward to another successful show."

Advanced Sports Inc. is one of the 1,100 brands preparing to participate in next month's industry event.

"Interbike provides us the opportunity to tell our complete brand story and meet new and existing customers, especially with our Breezer, SE and Kestrel lines," said Pat Cunnane, president of Advanced Sports, Inc., parent company of Breezer, Fuji, Kestrel and SE Bicycles. "Even with a tough economy, Interbike is the place to be. Last year at Interbike we successfully launched the Breezer line of commuter bikes, and this year we are looking forward to a successful relaunching of Breezer mountain bikes as well."

Interbike will also host 65 new exhibitors including SANYO, a major electronics company that chose Interbike to launch one of its first electric bikes for the North America consumer bike market.

"While SANYO is exhibiting at Interbike for the first time, we are not newcomers to the cycling industry," said David Cabanban, business development manager for SANYO North America Corporation. "Our first product was a bicycle lamp, and Interbike offers us the perfect stage to place our latest innovations in electric bike technology in front of top industry influencers and allow retailers and the media to ride the future."

Kicking off with the only industry demo event of its kind, the Interbike Outdoor Demo gives attendees the chance to put the latest bikes and accessories through real-to-life testing. Amid the backdrop of Bootleg Canyon, home to one of International Mountain Bicycling Association's (IMBA) "Epic Rides," Outdoor Demo will provide an extensive groomed trail network, downhill-specific trails and dirt-jumping section. Returning features will also include a closed-cyclocross course set up and managed by CrossVegas LLC.

For road bike dealers and enthusiasts, Outdoor Demo will also include a closed road loop for demos and the annual Tour de Lake Mead. The 24-mile ride to Lake Mead and back continues to be a fun networking opportunity and a great way to give retailers and journalists an extended demo on vendor's latest bikes and gear.

Once inside the expo at the Sands Convention Center, Interbike will host a number of product launches, business meetings and events tied to recent growth in the commuter and electric bike categories.

After positive feedback from attendees and exhibitors alike, the Urban Legend Fashion Show will highlight a range of stylish, smart, sexy and professional clothing that fit into everyday life and work great on a bike. Instead of a traditional catwalk, a road loop will be laid out in the main exhibit hall. Urban Legend attendees will gather in and around the loop, while models ride among the audience. The innovative layout, inspired by Momentum magazine, allows the models to display urban cycling apparel and bikes in action and allows each attendee a front row seat.

The Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA) will be hosting two seminars during the Interbike Expo aimed at helping retailers sell more electric bikes (e-bikes) and how to trouble shoot repairs for e-bikes.

BMX, a vibrant category that is also an important gateway for youth into many of the other cycling categories, will be prominently displayed at Interbike with a professionally built BMX track at Outdoor Demo, the BMX Zone, Rail Jam and a special BMX editorial section in the Interbike Event Guide produced by RideBMX magazine. For more information please see Interbike's recent press release.

Once the tradeshow workday is done, Interbike participants are invited to attend the third annual CrossVegas and USA CRITS Finals on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, respectively.

CrossVegas competitors will include both Elite Women's and Men's races along with the Wheelers and Dealers race for industry members. Interbike will provide complimentary shuttle service for attendees from The Sands to the race location from 6:00 p.m. -11:00 p.m., shuttles leaving every 15 minutes.

The USA CRITS Finals are the grand finale to the 2009 USA CRITS National Series and will be held at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The event will feature Pro Men, Pro Women and Amateur competitor categories along with an Industry Cup, all on a fast and technical 1-kilometer course.

For more information about the week-long Interbike Expo and Outdoor Demo event, please visit www.interbike.com.

Twenty-Five Corporate Partners for 25th National Pro Cycling Championships

2009-08-06T22:27:00.000-04:00

Volunteer Positions Still Available for Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championships

Greenville, S.C. - With one month until the nation's top professional athletes vie for the prestigious U.S. national cycling championships, a solid roster of 25 local and national businesses have committed to support this prestigious event. Organizers expect over 60,000 spectators for the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championships, now in its fourth year in Greenville, S.C., which will take place August 29-30, 2009.

Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHS), one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare providers in South Carolina, returns for a fourth year in partnership, third year as title sponsor, for the championship weekend. Both the City of Greenville and County of Greenville return as official event hosts, providing valuable public safety support that is vital to all spectators and competitors. One of the new sponsors for 2009 is Duke Energy, which joins as the event's presenting sponsor of the Individual Time Trial Championships held at CU-ICAR.

"Obviously, we are grateful for the continued public and private support of the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championships, especially during these challenging economic times," noted Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of Medalist Sports, which produces the event on behalf of USA Cycling, Inc. "The Championships are a perfect fit to the Greenville community in many ways - a world-class cycling event which brings national attention to Greenville, promotes health & wellness activities, and, at the same time, raises significant fundraising dollars for the local cancer community."

Having commitments from 25 sponsors with a month to go to the 2009 GHS USA Cycling Professional Championships allows organizers to get a head start on activation programs. In addition to providing product and services for the Championships, Medalist Sports encourages all corporate and community partners to support the P3 charitable events and to get involved with volunteerism.

Nearly 400 volunteers are put into action each summer for this event, now in its fourth year in Greenville, S.C. Volunteers typically come from the Southeast, and some come from as far away as California for the weekend event. For many cycling fans, it is the best way to watch the event, and score an official T-shirt and complimentary Subway lunch at the same time. Others find it matter of community pride to help the city host an event that receives a national spotlight for the region, such as local RoundTowners, Hands on Greenville, Greenville Hospital System and Greenville Spinners Bicycle Club.

"We've come to consider the USA Cycling Professional Championships our signature event in Greenville, and we are just as excited to be a part of this today as we were four years ago," added Jim Bourey, City Manager of Greenville.

On Saturday, Aug. 29, the 20.7-mile Professional Individual Time Trial Championship will return to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). On Sunday, Aug. 30, the 110-mile Professional Road Race Championship will be contested, utilizing a start/finish location in the West End section of downtown Greenville and challenging athletes with four climbs over Paris Mountain on the north side of Greenville County. Both courses will also host new races for the U.S. Handcycling Series, presented by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, giving these elite athletes a final tune-up for the world championships in Europe in September.

2009 marks the fourth year of the Stars and Stripes Challenge and a partnership with the Palmetto Peloton Project (P3). Last year a record $110,000 was presented for cancer research by P3 with Stars and Stripes Challenge events. In the three years that the P3 organization has partnered with the Championships, it has raised over $400,000. Recreational cyclists, with advance registration, again can challenge themselves to the same road race course as the pros, including the Paris Mountain climb, or enjoy a six-mile Family Fun Ride. Funds this year will be distributed to GHS' Oncology Research Institute, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Activate Upstate. Event details and registration can be found at www.p3ride.org.

This summer will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Professional Road Race Championship. After 21 years in Philadelphia, Pa., the Professional Road Race Championship moved to Greenville in 2006. That same year the Professional Individual Time Trial Championship was added to the schedule. USA Cycling, Inc., which sanctions the event, extended a three-year licensing agreement for 2009 to keep the dual championship in Greenville. Strong corporate and community support are key factors in keeping this event in the Southeast.

2009 Sponsors:

AT&T
AVF Creations, official web services and technology provider
AVIS/Budget, official rental car agency
Budweiser of Greenville and Michelob Ultra, official beer products
City of Greenville, host sponsor
County of Greenville, host sponsor
COSTCO Greenville, providing food and beverage supplies for volunteers and P3 charitable events
CU-ICAR, official host of the Individual Time Trial Championships
DUKE ENERGY, presenting sponsor
Entercom Radio, official media partner (B93.7, WORD, Rock 101, and The Planet)
GO Magazine, official media partner
GREENVILLE HOSPITAL SYSTEM, Title Sponsor
Greenville News, official media partner
Hincapie Sportswear, official cycling merchandise vendor
Hilton Greenville, official hotel
Icelandic Glacial, official water
Jani-King, official commercial cleaning services
Level 42 Vodka, providing spirits for hospitality functions
MAVIC, providing neutral support services to both events
Rosen Associates Development
Sutter Home, providing wine for hospitality venues
Universal Sports Television, official media partner (recap show Sept. 12 at 4:00 p.m. EST)
Wachovia, official banking services
WYFF-4, official media partner (recap show Sept. 5 at 1:30 p.m. EST)
Yakima, official roof rack/bike rack equipment

Applications for all volunteer positions, maps of race courses and updated events schedules are available online at the official event web site - www.usacyclingchampionships.com.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, August 29, 2009

11:00 a.m. - USA Cycling Professional Individual Time Trial Championship
Tbd - Time Trial for US Handcycling Series, presented by Paralyzed Veterans of America
Start/Finish - Millenium Dr. at CU/ICAR Greenville, S.C. 29607
Cost - free for all spectators watching both Time Trials

Sunday, August 30, 2009

7:30 a.m.- Stars and Stripes Challenge Bicycle Ride
Start/Finish - S Main & Camperdown streets in downtown Greenville, S.C.29601
Cost - $50 adults advance registration for Stars and Stripes Bicycle Ride

10:00 a.m.- Stars and Stripes Challenge Family Ride
Location - Falls Park
Cost - Free for all families

1:00 p.m.- USA Cycling Professional Road Race Championship
Tbd - Criterium for US Handcycling Series, presented by Paralyzed Veterans of America
Start/Finish - Main & Camperdown streets in downtown Greenville, S.C.29601
Cost - Free for all spectators watching Road Race

Wind Tunnel Tests Prove That Speedplay Pedals Are Faster!

2009-08-06T20:19:00.004-04:00

San Diego, Calif. - In recent wind tunnel testing, Speedplay, Inc. has discovered the aerodynamic importance of pedal choice. The first known wind tunnel test of clipless pedals, conducted at the San Diego Air & Space Technology Wind Tunnel, established a notable difference in the coefficient of drag when comparing Speedplay pedals to other brands.

"In order to measure the wind resistance of pedals, I created a fully-articulated robotic cyclist to accurately replicate a real-life racing scenario and to eliminate human variance in the wind tunnel," explained Speedplay's pedal designer, Richard Bryne. "The robotic cyclist pedaled the bike at a cadence of 100 rpm and at a speed of 30 miles per hour in each test."

Speedplay Zero pedals bested the two other clipless pedal brands tested by posting a substantially lower coefficient of drag score. While each of the other pedal brands posted the same coefficient-of-drag score of .243, Speedplay pedals produced a lower drag score of 237. The reduction in wind drag of Speedplay pedals, when converted into time saved, results in an incredible 33 seconds per hour advantage. "I suspected Speedplay pedals would prove to be more aerodynamic than the others because of their minimal frontal area, but even I was surprised by the margin of difference," said Bryne.

To put the significance of this speed advantage into perspective, using Speedplay pedals is comparable to switching from a standard front wheel to a deep-profile, aerodynamic front wheel, according to available data. This aerodynamic advantage is important to competitors because it is easier to gain speed by reducing drag than by increasing power.

The result is also good news for speed seekers who appreciate good value, since a change to Speedplay pedals is an inexpensive way for a cyclist to gain a meaningful increase in speed.

For more information, visit www.Speedplay.com/33seconds

Team Type 1 Goes 1-2 In Under 23 Criterium Championship

2009-08-06T20:07:00.004-04:00

Bend, Ore. – Team Type 1 put the finishing touches on an already successful week of racing at the USA Cycling Elite National Championships with a 1-2 finish Sunday in the women’s Under 23 criterium.

Samantha Schneider and Jacquelyn Crowell attacked the field a third of the way into the race and rode away to finish first and second, respectively, in the 21-mile (35 km) race through the downtown streets of Bend, Ore. Lauren Hecht (Webcor Alto Velo) won the field sprint for third.

For the four days of the event, Team Type 1 came away with two gold medals, a silver, a bronze, and a fifth-place podium finish. It was an impressive performance that brought a big grin to the normally stoic face of Women’s Team Director Jack Seehafer.

“We’re definitely pleased with our performance,” Seehafer said. “It’s been a really good first year for us.”

Crowell’s silver medal adds to the gold she won in the Under 23 individual time trial on Friday. In the same event, Team Type 1’s Alison Powers earned a bronze medal in the elite ranks. And on Thursday, Team Type 1’s Kori Seehafer finished fifth in the elite road race.

In Sunday’s criterium, Crowell and Schneider bided their time in the back of the field as a flurry of attacks went off in the first 10 trips around the six-tenths-of-a-mile course during the 35-lap race. But with 22 laps to go, Crowell attacked with Schneider on her wheel and the pair quickly built a seven-second lead.

“I think we caught a lot of people off guard,” Schneider said of the attack through the second-to-last turn on the rectangular course.

Trading pulls on the front, the two ticked off lap-after-lap, averaging 26 miles per hour as their lead grew to 10 seconds, then to 15, then 20, but was pegged back to 10 with 14 laps remaining.

“I was getting a little worried when the gap dropped back down,” Seehafer said. “The field was actually getting organized and working together.”

But Schneider and Crowell produced their second-fastest lap of the race to push the lead back to 16 seconds and deflate the spirit of the chase behind. When their advantage grew to 38 seconds with three laps to go, the only question remaining was who would cross the finish line first.

Crowell said the decision was an easy one.

“The goal today was to get Sam a win and that’s what we did,” she said.

Schneider said she was happy to earn the victory – her second on the season – and the right to wear a special stars-and-stripes jersey for one year in every criterium she races.

“I think it was pretty fair,” Schneider said. “She (Crowell) got the time trial championship and I got the criterium.”

Photos: Courtesy Team Type 1

Cobb Cycling Introduces Newest Saddle: The Max

2009-08-06T19:47:00.003-04:00

John Cobb Builds on Success of His V-Flow Saddle Line with New Model

Tyler, TX – Cobb Cycling has announced the immediate availability of its Max saddle, the latest addition to John Cobb’s line of rider-friendly bicycle saddles. Cobb has worked with many of the best cyclists and triathletes in the world, including Lance Armstrong, Greg LeMond, and top international Ironman pro triathlete Kate Major, and has been considered one of the foremost authorities on aerodynamics, ergonomics, biomechanics and component design for over two decades.

Cobb developed the Max – available in both white and black – to provide maximum comfort for triathletes, time trialists and cyclists of all disciplines. The lowered nose section combined with the deeply cut pressure-relief trough is designed to reduce pressure on the perineum, which includes a man’s prostate area and a woman’s most sensitive soft tissue. The Max utilizes the same narrow rear section of Cobb’s popular V-Flow models which does two things: 1) it encourages male and female riders to sit further back on the saddle, even when in an aero position, better incorporating their skeletal system for support via their sit-bones, and 2) it also facilitates the more natural rotation of a rider’s hips for better efficiency and power.

One feature of the Max saddle is a new, higher density foam. “Ongoing testing with riders who spend a lot of time on their bikes demonstrated that a firmer surface can provide longer-lasting comfort if the seat is shaped correctly,” explained Cobb. “The new foam will save weight while providing enhanced comfort for long rides and high volume training.” Cobb also explained that the rail design of the Max will make it easier for riders to achieve ideal positioning and proper setback for UCI-sanctioned events: “It boasts one of the longest sets of rails available, so the Max will easily adjust to a rider’s desired position.” The Max weighs 255 grams and is readily identified by its distinctive shape.

Team Type 1’s Leal Is Mexican National Time Trial Champion

2009-08-06T19:40:00.002-04:00

Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico – Veronica Leal rode to victory in the rain last Saturday at the Mexican individual time trial championships, earning Team Type 1 its second national title in as many days.

Leal was 10 seconds faster than Pan American gold medalist Giuseppina Grassi in the 12.4-mile (20 km) race against the clock over soggy streets in Ameca, Jalisco. Fernanda Jurado was third, 42 seconds behind Leal, who completed the distance in 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

Leal was happy to have exacted a measure of revenge against the rider who beat her by nearly 90 seconds last week in a time trial of nearly the same distance. It also erased memories of her runner-up finish to Grassi in this same race a year ago.

“I’m extremely excited and very grateful to the people who have supported me,” Leal said. “I have been training for this since January and it’s been my goal to win all along. I’m extremely thankful for all the things Team Type 1 has given me this year. I’m very happy to be part of such a great team.”

Team Type 1 Women’s Team Director Jack Seehafer said he wasn’t surprised at Leal’s performance.

“We knew she had the capability and the big thing was that she was continuing to get used to her Orbea Ordu time trial bike,” he said. “The whole team is exited about her win. It was something we talked about at the beginning of the season.”

The victory was the 30th for the Team Type 1 women’s professional squad in its inaugural season. Team Type 1 is currently No. 1 in both the team and individual standings of the National Racing Calendar (NRC). Leal’s teammate, Alison Powers, also won the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series (WPCS), an overall competition comprising stage races around the United States between March and July.

Leal’s time trial success follows a gold medal performance Friday by Jacquelyn Crowell in the Under 23 time trial and a bronze by Powers in the elite time trial at the USA Cycling National Championships in Bend, Ore.

Photo: Courtesy Wenceslao Rodriguez

Team Type 1’s Crowell Earns Gold, Powers Bronze In Time Trial

2009-08-06T19:28:00.006-04:00

Bend, Ore. – Jackie Crowell made history with her victory last Friday in the Under 23 time trial at the USA Cycling Elite National Championships in Bend, Ore.

In winning the 21-mile (35 km) race against the clock, the 21-year-old earned Team Type 1’s first national title. Jerika Hutchinson (Team TIBCO) was second, 14 seconds behind, and Rachel Warner (Charlottesville Racing Club) was third.

Team Type 1’s Alison Powers earned a bronze medal in the elite women’s time trial over the same distance, finishing 23 seconds behind the winning time of Jessica Phillips (Team Lip Smackers). Evelyn Stevens (Century Road Club Association) was second, one second behind Phillips’ winning time of 50:35.

The Team Type 1 women’s professional squad was created this year as an extension of the already successful program of Race Across America (RAAM) and professional men’s teams founded by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge. Every team includes athletes who have Type 1 diabetes who are striving to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes.

Team Director Jack Seehafer said the two medal-winning performances add to an already outstanding season. Team Type 1 leads the National Racing Calendar (NRC) standings, Powers is No. 1 in the individual NRC competition and she recently won the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series (WPCS).

“I know Alison is a little bit disappointed, but she gave it her all out there,” Seehafer said. “It’s a good motivator for the off-season for her. I think we’re really going to end the season pretty strong and go out and try and win some criteriums now.”

By virtue of her victory, Crowell earns the right to wear a stars-and-stripes jersey in time trials next year. Friday’s national title was her sixth after earning five as a junior (under the age of 18), including two in the time trial discipline.

“But this will be the one I am most proud of because it’s at the elite level,” she said.

Crowell said equipment and good advice helped make the difference. Her time was the 14th fastest overall on a day when temperatures in the 90s and wind made the race against the clock all the more difficult.

“I had our mechanic, Paul (Mazurek) put a 55 tooth chain ring on the front, which was the key to winning,” she said. “And my Orbea Ordu (bike) was awesome. I also have to thank our director, Jack, who has helped me so much in my first year as a professional. He’s been very supportive.”

Following a day off, Crowell, Morgan Patton and Samantha Schneider will look to reach the podium again for Team Type 1 in Sunday's 21-mile (35 km) Under 23 criterium. Patton is one of two riders on the women’s team who has Type 1 diabetes.

In the elite men’s time trial, Team Type 1 Elite Team member Jeff Bannink had a problem with his saddle a third of the way into his 21-mile (35 km) time trial. The end result was a 46th place finish for the rider from Beaverton, Ore., who was one of eight members of this year’s squad that won RAAM in record time.

Photos: Courtesy Carson Blume Photography (top); Team Type 1 (middle & bottom)

Wiggins Walking the Walk

2009-07-31T11:13:00.006-04:00

With his fourth placed finish in the recently completed Tour de France, it would be easy for some in this ultra skeptical, almost completely cynical, world of professional cycling to doubt the performance of Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream).

But whether it has been in Olympic competition on the track or during even the lesser known road races, Wiggins has always been at the forefront of offering himself up for testing. With the backing of Team Garmin-Slipstream, which has been dedicated to total transparency and ethical sportsmanship since its inception, the team, at the request of Wiggins, has released his hemoglobin and off score data from 2008 training camp through the 2009 Tour de France. This profile indicates no evidence of blood manipulation.

“Brad is an exceptionally talented athlete and it was great to see him do so well in the Tour de France. He’s always been an outspoken advocate of clean cycling. He requested that we release his results after the Tour and his decision makes me and the entire team proud,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports.

We can only hope that measures such as these can lead to a greater transparency within the sport, and a cleaner peloton now and in the future.

Team Type 1’s Seehafer Fifth At Elite Road Nationals, Crowell Third For U23

2009-07-31T11:07:00.003-04:00

Bend, Ore. – Kori Seehafer’s bid for a solo victory at the USA Cycling Elite National Championship Road Race came up a few miles short Thursday.

The Team Type 1 rider was caught and passed by a group of four riders within three miles of the finish of the 67-mile (107.5 km) race that was run on the challenging Awbrey Butte circuit around Bend, Ore.

Seehafer finished fifth as Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO) soloed to the win, ahead of Christina Ruiter (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) and Kristen Lasasso (Team Lip Smacker).

Amy Drombroski (Webcor Builders Women's Professional Cycling Team) earned the Under 23 national title while Team Type 1’s Jacquelyn Crowell finished third in that category. The elite and age group categories competed together on the course that included more than 1,000 feet of climbing on each of the four laps of a 17-mile (27 km) circuit.

Seehafer said she did what she could to hang on after attacking with 15 miles to go and building a 35-second gap that forced a reaction from the field and the formation of the eventual four-rider chase group.

“I got caught at the right turn at the base of the last climb,” Seehafer said after her best finish at road nationals since a sixth-place in 2007. “I stayed with them until you take the right turn – about five kilometers from the finish. At that point, I was hurting and got dropped on the little climb. Then I caught up with them, only to watch Meredith attack and get off solo. Then I got dropped again.”

Initially, the group chasing Seehafer numbered five and included Team Type 1’s Jen McRae, who – like teammates Alison Powers, Samantha Schneider and Crowell – had been monitoring riders trying to mount the chase.

“I ended up covering the decisive move that went to Kori, but I just couldn’t say with them on that climb,” McRae said.

Seehafer said if she had to do it all over again, she would have kept riding hard after catching the four.

“My mistake was that when I caught them after chasing back, I should have gone straight through them instead of sitting up,” she said. “I just don’t have the acceleration after an effort like that.”

Crowell, who finished second in the USA Cycling Collegiate National Road Race Championships earlier this year, was pleased with her third-place finish among riders 23 or younger. More important than a strong finish, she said, was to try and help Seehafer get the win.

“I saw the attack with Amy (Drombroski) go and my teammate, Jen (McRae), was immediately on it,” Crowell said. “Once you see your teammate on an attack you can’t do anything. So I just let it go and hoped it would come back.”

Powers, Seehafer and Crowell will compete in the individual time trial Friday. Team Type 1’s Jeff Bannink is entered in the Elite men’s division. He was one of eight riders who have Type 1 diabetes who competed in – and won – the Race Across America (RAAM) in June.

Team Type 1 Women Aim For National Titles

2009-07-29T21:00:00.004-04:00

Bend, Ore. – The Team Type 1 women’s professional squad has its sights set on challenging for a national title or two at this week’s USA Cycling Elite National Championships in Bend, Ore.

The first-year team’s best chances to put riders on the podium come in Thursday’s road race, the Elite and Under 23 individual time trials on Friday and Sunday’s Under 23 criterium.

Team Type 1’s Alison Powers is favored to successfully defend her national title in the 21-mile (35 km) elite time trial. Teammates Kori Seehafer and Jacquelyn Crowell will also race against the clock over nearly the same course that they did in last week’s Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

Team Type 1 Director Jack Seehafer said that is one factor playing into his riders’ favor.

“Also, with it being a longer course, it definitely suits Alison and Kori,” he said. “In a sense, it’s good that Alison lost the time trial during Cascade because she’s focused and fired up to get the job done.”

Last year, on a hilly course that ran through Santiago Canyon in Irvine, Calif., Powers beat Mara Abbott (Team Columbia-HTC) in the time trial by 99 seconds.

In Thursday morning’s 67-mile (107.5 km) Awbrey Butte Circuit Race – another course used in last week’s Cascade Classic – Kori Seehafer will be Team Type 1’s protected rider. Each of the four laps of the 17-mile (27 km) circuit feature more than 1,000 feet of climbing. Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO) is the defending champion.

“Because of the climbing, it’s definitely going to eliminate a lot of the sprinter-type riders,” Jack Seehafer said. “It is definitely going to favor more of an all-around rider. Hopefully, we can get Jen (McRae) up and over the climb because we need her at the end. Depending on how the race is going, we might have Alison (Powers) shut it down early, just to make sure she’s good and ready for the time trial the next day.”

Weather may play also play a factor in the ultimate selection, Jack Seehafer said.

“It’ll be a cool morning start and in the 90s by the time they finish,” he said. “It won’t be as bad as it was for some of the road races during Cascade. That might make for more aggressive racing.”

Following a day off, Crowell, Morgan Patton and Samantha Schneider look to reach the podium for Team Type 1 in the 21-mile (35 km) Under 23 criterium. Last year’s race came down to a field sprint for the stars-and-stripes jersey, with Beatriz Rodriguez beating Kacey Manderfield and Amara Boursaw.

“We’ll look for Jackie to get in a breakaway because she has the motor and that’s her style of racing,” Jack Seehafer said. “If it comes down to a field sprint, we’ll be looking at Sam or Morgan.”

Patton is one of two riders with Type 1 diabetes on the Team Type 1 women’s professional team. She must carefully monitor her blood sugar level during competition because her body does not naturally produce insulin.

Team Type 1 Elite Team member Jeff Bannink, who also has Type 1 diabetes, is competing in the elite men’s 21-mile (35 km) individual time trial on Friday. Last month, the 38-year-old Beaverton, Ore., resident was a member of the Team Type 1 squad that bettered the Race Across America (RAAM) record on its way to winning the 3,012-mile (4,861 km) transcontinental race.

Kenda's Numainville Victorious at 2nd Annual Chicago Criterium

2009-07-27T19:00:00.000-04:00

Chicago, IL – Fresh from a Gold Medal performance in the 99km road race at the Pan American Games in Hidalgo, Mexico, Joëlle Numainville (Team Kenda) would win Sunday's 2nd Annual Chicago Criterium ahead of Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) and Sarah Caravella (ALAN), respectively.

The 21-year-old barely had time to celebrate her Pan American victory for her native Canada before she boarded a plane destined for Chicago. She would arrive late on Saturday night to join her teammates.

Because of the short turn around, the goal for the 50-minutes plus 2-laps criterium was to respond to any moves put forth by the peloton to protect Numainville and ensure no missed opportunities for a win.

The team, which included Catherine Walberg, Ashley James, Christy Keely and team captain, Kristin Wentworth executed to perfection. With the largest presence of the thirty-five woman field, Team Kenda would also win several primes during the women's Cat 1/2/3 race to go along with the overall victory.

In the final lap several riders shuffled, but Numainville’s only concern was to grab a good wheel despite being marked by several riders. Joëlle indicated that she was confident in her ability to drill it straight into the finish and thanked her teammates for their help in making the win possible.

Results - Women 1/2/3
1. Joëlle Numainville (Team Kenda)
2. Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom)
3. Sarah Caravella (ALAN)

Photos: Paul Forsythe

Triple Exclusive - An Interview with PROMAN's Nicola Cranmer

2009-07-27T16:40:00.005-04:00

At the highest level of the sport, the Directeur Sportif, or sporting director, manages the daily operations of the cycling team. Often times you will see them following their riders in the team car, communicating with them about tactics, race situations, or upcoming terrain, and even provide some mechanical assistance. But at the lower levels of the sport, the responsibilities of the sporting director, or team manager, can run the full gambit of things, from pinning race numbers on jerseys or filling water bottles to sending out newsletters or even being the team masseuse.

Such is the life of Nicola Cranmer, Team Manager for the PROMAN Hit Squad. Since founding the California based women’s cycling team in 2006, Nicola has taken it from regional amateur team to national elite professional team, and now to UCI track team. In doing so, she has helped foster the dreams of the individuals she has worked with as well as precipitated the agenda of all women in cycling.

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Nicola to discuss PROMAN’s newly formed Junior Development program, garner her perspective on women’s cycling, and explore her own passions as a cyclist.

Granny’s 30 (G): From your bio, you stated that you were previously an apprentice jockey, did you grow up around horses?

Nicola Cranmer (NC): Yes, you could say that in a sense, the horses were mostly on television; it certainly wasn’t a glamorous poetic introduction to them.

My dad is a huge horse racing fan, so I grew up with him jumping up and down on the edge of the sofa screaming ‘go on my son, come on come on! Betting on horses is legal everywhere in England and its quite common to pop down to the local bookies on a Saturday morning, get some fish and chips and a few pints and either watch racing at home or at the pub. My dad would bet a few pounds on a horse for himself and for me. Mostly I picked horses for their name back then, later on form. I was one of those girls that had every inch of her bedroom wall covered with pictures of horses; most of my friends had pictures of Duran Duran, Starsky and Hutch or the Human League, horses most certainly kept me out of trouble [that came later].

My mum when she was younger used to baby-sit for one of the leading thoroughbred trainers in England – Sir Gordon Richards; she stayed in touch with him and occasionally rode his horses. I remember one day I must have been about seven or eight I watched my mum riding, she was challenged by the man she was riding with to a race, they galloped across a field neck and neck it was very exciting, my Mum won the ‘race’ and it left quite an impression on me. I was then hooked. We were quite poor growing up although I didn’t realize it at the time, so I could never afford to have a horse of my own. I worked in a riding school on the weekends in exchange for free riding lessons; I knew I wanted to make a career out of it. My grandparents lived in a village where there was a training facility, so when I finished my secondary modern school, I moved in with them and worked for one of the leading trainers in the UK.

G: Were you ever into equestrian riding or was it purely racing? If racing, what type, flat or steeplechase?

NC: I competed in gymkhanas at about age 12 and a little cross-country; I went straight into thoroughbred racing at age 16. I was fortunate enough to work in the top yard in the country for a trainer, David Elsworth. In my first year in horse racing, one of the horses I took care of, Melindra won at Royal ascot, I got to meet the queen mum, that’s where the glamorous side of horse racing came in. Melindra was a very sassy two year old filly that was rescued by a police woman from a knackers yard, (slaughter house) turns out she was a really good sprinter, of course it was a rags to riches story that the media loved. It’s sort of the equivalent of an unknown rider winning Flanders.

It was a mixed yard, both flat and steeplechase.

G: How did you get into the sport of cycling? Did you ride prior to your move to California…before your mountain biking days?

NC: The only bike riding I ever did in England was a way of avoiding drinking and driving, although you could still get arrested for being drunk on a bike. The good thing was the local police man rode a bike and I was pretty sure I could out ride him if I needed to

There is a huge pub culture in England and it’s just what you do, if you weren’t paralytic by 11pm (pub closing) it just wasn’t a good night out. It’s weird thinking about it now, but it’s part of life there. I was 17 at the time. I lived in a little village and would ride my bike to the pub – skirt, heels and all. I think my bike had 3 gears but I didn’t really ever use them. It also had a dynamo light which was really tricky when riding home from the pub at night, struggling up the hill with the light getting dimmer and dimmer and finally stopping at the top, the first few feet of the descent it was pitch black until the dynamo got working again! Once in a while my skirt would get sucked into the oily chain, I mostly wore black then so it didn’t bother me much. It would have been far too sensible and not very fashionable to put trousers and trainers (sneakers) on.

I moved to California in 1986, primarily because I needed to take some time off from riding horses due to an injury, I decided to move to California for six months. While I was here I met a guy, Dan Lewbin, then expert National XC Champ, in the local bike shop – Planeaway Bikes, formerly the Koski Brother’s Cove Bike Shop in Tiburon (The Koski Brothers are the less known pioneers of mountain biking), who asked if I would like to go riding one day. I actually purchased a road bike first and would go on long rides by myself. I had no clue as to what I was doing. I would pack a lunch; slices of cheese, ham or salami and weird things like that…sometimes I would be out there all day.

I eventually borrowed a mountain bike and went riding with Dan and his friends who belonged to a sort of renegade outlaw team, DFL - "Dead Fucking Last," I quickly became a ‘member.’ At that time, mountain bike racing was so fun with classic races like Shasta Lemurian, Revenge of the Siskyous, TNT, Rockhopper, etc. These were more point-to-point or big epic loop races, which have now been replaced in favor of more spectator friendly lap races. It was good times, with bands and kegs at the finishes. I was naturally quite good and progressed quickly from sport to expert cross country, then to pro downhill. I raced for WTB and later PROFLEX. WTB now sponsors my team with tires and saddles.

In 1997, my life abruptly changed and so did my bike racing career, which I hesitate to call a career as I wasn’t getting paid. While riding my mountain bike on a Mount Tam fire road, I got a speeding ticket (yes, the state park rangers would literally hide behind trees on fire roads with radar guns), which led to a refusal of entry back into the US due to an over stayed visa. As I was not allowed to be let back into the US for over two years, I moved back to London, and signed with Lennox Lewis’s sports agency as a mountain biker.

My three years back in the UK were pretty incredible though. I met some wonderful people; one of them would eventually be the title sponsor of the team that I was to start 8 years later. It’s quite a long story, but a fascinating one for another day!

I moved back to the States in 2001 and then found myself back on the bike again. Simon Andalib, former Village Peddler employee/bike racer, was responsible for getting me back into racing, and pro mountain biker Chris Greene was a huge support and training partner.

G: What was your motivation behind starting up a cycling team?

NC: My main motivation…racing on a co-ed team I noticed that the men got more support than the women. This was frustrating so I decided to form a women’s team. I quickly found a shop sponsor, Paradigm Cycles, which at the time was owned by Julia Violich. Julia who is also the current 40+ national XC champ and 2nd placed finisher at Masters Worlds, has since sold the shop, and assists as our sponsorship director. It would be impossible running the team without her support.

Our title sponsor came to us very quickly too, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without them. PROMAN – PROject MANagement is a German engineering company, one of the biggest in the world, they certainly don’t need the advertising. They sponsor the team solely to assist its athletes attaining their goals and dreams; a very unique situation. I am eternally grateful for their support.

G: When you decided to start up the team, what was the hardest thing about starting it up? What turned out to be easier than you thought?

NC: The title sponsor came very easily, that was huge! Starting the team was actually one of those serendipitous moments where everything flowed. Not saying anything was really easy, it’s always been hard work, which is something I am not afraid of. I think the hardest thing is being taken seriously. It seems you have to pay your dues in road cycling for people to respect you. The team is rolling into its 4th year and I think we are gaining respect both on and off the bike. The road scene is pretty tight knit and I would say much of the respect is gained off the bike; integrity and a good sense of humor go a long way. There have been times that have challenged me beyond what I thought was my capacity but I seem to be coming out of it all OK. I have certainly made plenty of mistakes along the way. I don’t pretend to be anything I’m not, I don’t pretend to even know what I am doing – I am just doing it to the best of my ability with what I know. I think it’s a continual learning process and I enjoy pushing myself to become better at what I do. I love the sport of cycling and intend to be here for a long time. It’s a wonderful community of people and I have forged friendships that will last a lifetime.

We are at a point in the team’s growth where we are outgrowing our title sponsor. Although PROMAN will continue to support us I need to generate more sponsor dollars to give the athletes what they deserve. There is just so much that I want to do. We rely on private donations from fans, family and friends, even cyclists from other teams have contributed in the past. Without this kind of support we would not exist. We are definitely a community effort.

G: As Team Manager for PROMAN Hit Squad what are your responsibilities?

NC: Well, this may take a while, I do everything from securing sponsorships, order clothing, take care of logistics, update the blog, write newsletter, fill water bottles, recruiting and even occasionally massages, I was a massage therapist for 11 years – you name it I do it. It wouldn’t be fair to say I am a one-woman show, but I do take care of the meat of the project and I couldn’t do it without the help of the team and friends. I definitely need to delegate more. I think most people have no idea what goes into running a team. I really almost have three teams to run, road, cross and track, which is split into two categories domestic and UCI. The UCI team has been a challenge; one of our riders Shelley Olds has excelled beyond belief and will continue to do so.

I formed the UCI team two years ago to enable Shelley to compete at the highest level of track racing, the World Cup circuit. Last year we were in Sydney, Beijing, LA and Copenhagen. This year Manchester and Melbourne, and she raced Copenhagen with the US National team. It’s been a great experience and an interesting one. I sit at managers’ meetings at these World Cup events and I am the only woman team owner in a room of about 150 managers and coaches, there are other women coaches and managers but very few (by the way, some assume I am the masseuse).

I would like to see more women in leadership roles in cycling especially in track racing. Working with former Saturn director, Giana Roberge has been instrumental in my growth and confidence. Her years of experience brought professionalism and high expectation to the team. I have learned a lot from her and take my responsibilities very seriously. Giana has since stepped away from her directing role with the birth of her first child. One of my biggest responsibilities is to the athletes on the team who not only show ability on the bike but passion loyalty, dedication and a trust in me to assist them with their goals.

Shelley Olds plays an important role as my partner on the team, her dedication and vision is so strong. Shelley has had opportunities to join other teams, and certainly get paid better, but she is determined to create the kind of environment that will allow her to follow her dream of the 2012 Olympics. She is a natural leader and has inspired me to reach for higher goals than I would have imagined. Her fiancé Rob Evans has also been a significant in developing a business strategy for the team for the future. Tim Brennan, team mechanic and sounding board, has also been a dedicated supporter of the team, taking care of everything technical and just basically being a good ear when times get rough. My ringtone on his phone is the pinball machine…I think that tells you a lot!

Julia Violich has also been a rock. She is a dedicated supporter of everything cycling, who I could not do without. We are also very fortunate to be joined by Cari Higgins, 4-time elite track champ. Cari fits well into our program, she has a strong track focus and dedicates much time to mentoring juniors in her hometown of Boulder, CO. Rachel Lloyd is another key member, she keeps things dirty with her Cross and Super D skills and is also a natural with the juniors. All team members contribute in one way or another and without the support of these people there would be no team.

I would also be remiss if I did not mention any and all of our sponsors: PROMAN, Violich Farms, Paradigm Cycles, BMC Bikes, Cane Creek Wheels, SRAM Bike Components, Enduro Bearings, Rudy Project, Voler Clothing, JL Racing Clothing, Skins, Northwave Shoes, WTB Tires & Saddles, Arundel Cage & Bar Tape. Sapim Spokes, Velocity Rims, Dumondetech Lube, Pure Swiss Water, Mez Design, CLIF Bar, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Whole Athlete, Marin Spine & Wellness, Larkspur Hotels, Northpoint Advisors, and Brake Through Media.

G: Some former band/orchestra members who have gone up front [of the band] with the baton have stated that it's hard to jump back in [for whatever reason], have you found that with your managing a team and racing for it?

NC: The first two years it was not a problem for me to manage and race as we were racing at a regional level and the team was smaller. Things changed; however, going into the third year when NRC races came into the picture, and now UCI. It’s very important to have a solid foundation by which to operate a team, and I have come to terms that I will be racing less. I am ok with that. I think racing with the team on occasion has its definite advantages. Although all the girls appreciate what I do as a manager there is nothing quite like sacrificing your personal race for another, it forms a deep bond and a different level of appreciation.

Managing has its own set of challenges to keep me focused. I will jump in a few crits this year to help my teammates but I will focus mostly on track racing. My goals will be at Masters Track Nationals and hopefully Masters Track Worlds. But the girls on the team are so dedicated and focused that they deserve more attention, although they constantly remind me to focus on myself. My priority as far as the team goes is them. If I can provide a situation where all they have to worry about is racing their bike I will be happy. That being said, most of the current team members are very active in the team’s growth off the bike as well. We do have a great support crew.

G: Mountain or Road?

NC: Mountain for the soul, the big drop offs and technical descents, road for the grace, sprints and team efforts

G: Road or Track?

NC: Track for the speed and tangibility and to increase power for the road

G: Crits or Stage Races?

NC: Crit slut all the way! I am starting to appreciate more and more the beauty and challenges of the stage race though.

G: With your title sponsor (PROMAN) in Dusseldorf, Germany has there been any talk/consideration of the team racing in Europe?

NC: Yes we have considered racing the road team in Europe, it’s very expensive to send a team but we certainly hope to, the Spring Classics would be a priority if we had the budget. The UCI track team has raced two World Cup seasons overseas. Since we first chatted, PROMAN riders, Shelley Olds, Rachel Lloyd & Megan Guarnier, Ashley Dymond and Coryn Rivera have raced for the US National team in Europe. Shelley competed in Italy on the track and was on the podium all three days of racing and was on the podium at a World Cup. Megan also competed in races in Italy, Belgium and France, including the Spring Classic – Tour of Flanders. Both Shelley and Megan also recently competed in the Giro d’Italia Femminile. Betina Hold also headed to Europe to race for the Canadian National Team.

We have Jim Miller to thank for these opportunities internationally. These kinds of experiences are invaluable to our athletes and will add to the depth of our young squad. Jim has developed an outstanding women’s program and works very closely with developing domestic teams. He is very modest in regards to his achievements but I am very grateful for his focus on women’s racing.

I also want to mention two other people, Michael Engleman and Kristin Armstrong. Michael Engleman’s contribution to women’s cycling in the form of The U.S Women’s Cycling Development Program (USWCDP) is crucial to the maintenance & growth of the sport. Likewise, Kristin Armstrong's contribution to cycling as a whole and to women's cycling specifically is immeasurable. The newly formed Kristin Armstrong Academy is instrumental in the development of our young riders.

BMC bicycles, based in Switzerland and distributed by QBP, is working with the team for the second year. We had an opportunity to visit the facility last summer, and it is an amazing place. All the guys who work for BMC are a great. We are the first U.S women’s team that BMC has worked with and I am really grateful for their support, and the support of women’s racing.

G: Where do you see PROMAN/ Racing in the future…with a full U23 Development squad…as a UCI team racing both in the US and in Europe?

NC: My vision for the team has become apparent and crystal clear in the past couple of months. Creating our junior program is very exciting.

The junior development compliments our elite program offering accomplished riders an opportunity to pass along experience and wisdom. It is my hope that the team can offer the juniors an environment where they can develop their cycling skills, achieve their personal goals in competition and to encourage and maintain a healthy lifestyle as well as creating future ambassadors for women's cycling. It’s easy to talk the talk but we are truly walking it and have an international vision for our development program.

I feel that an investment in junior riders, girls in particular, is crucial to the growth of women's racing in the US. Recently appointed USAC athletic director, Jim Miller, has assured me that he will continue to focus on women's development. Miller has successfully developed the women's road endurance program that has resulted in world class contenders and Olympic gold.

It was an easy choice for us to include juniors in our program. You don't get the instant podium gratification that you would if I used the budget to hire elite riders, but PROMAN team members are in this for the long haul and we hope to contribute more to women's cycling than a win on any given weekend. Don't get me wrong, its fun to win and see the athletes achieve their performance goals but we are dedicated to taking this program well past the podium and helping secure the future of women’s cycling.

Although we are the USA’s premiere women's track team, our focus is definitely more diverse, spanning road, cross track and mountain. I feel it’s important to expose all of our juniors to every discipline defining a focus can come much later. It is my goal to get two of our juniors to World Cup level in the next two years. I would like to do it sooner but to compete at the elite World Cup level the rider has to be at the racing age of 18. Our riders range from ages 12 – 16 years old. The two I have in mind will be ready as soon as they are 17-years-old, so in 2010 and 2011 expect to see two of our juniors racing Track World Cups…the Road to 2016 Olympics is already being paved.

We currently have four junior girls from the Bay Area, where the team is based. We wanted to be very hands on in our first year in order to discover the needs of these young athletes. We plan on expanding it into a national program in the future. We have also added Coryn Rivera, who at 16-years-old holds 21 national titles, road, track and cross, to the roster. She will be focusing on Junior Worlds as well as some NRC races. On junior gearing, she has wins at this year’s Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, the San Rafael Twilight Criterium, and on Saturday she pulled off her biggest win in the Downtown Bend Criterium, which is part of the Cascade Cycling Classic.

Current National champions, Shelley Olds and Cari Higgins and I will be scouting for new juniors throughout the year. It’s our aim to establish more programs throughout the US over the next few years. Budget is our only limiting factor. I am finding many more companies, even industry sponsors, are keen to assist in the development of future athletes. I am hoping that this is an indicator of a promising future for our program; after all it secures their future consumer base! It is apparent that there is a need for more junior girls programs; this was evident by the number of resumes I received from many aspiring athletes, mostly from the USA but also from Australia, Ecuador and Mexico.

Our program is designed to take care of a rider from junior through elite. There are other junior programs as well as pro women's teams out there, but its in-between where lots of girls fall through the cracks. It’s my hope to bridge that gap. While focusing on juniors with world level potential, it’s my hope to offer a club program to young girls that just enjoy riding and competing at regional levels but will have a support system and resources to tap into. Again, the infrastructure for this is set and the wheels are in motion, it just requires a bigger budget.

Supporting juniors comes with a lot of responsibility, which we take very seriously, there are challenges involved. Of course there is a huge emphasis and encouragement on schoolwork.

The junior are an integral part of the team, their unbridled enthusiasm, is infectious and breathes vibrancy into it.

G: PROMAN won the NCNCA Women's Premiere Series in 2006 & 2007, had exceptional results at the 2008 US Track Nationals…what are the team goals this year…your personal goals?

NC: As far as team goals, a national jersey in every discipline wouldn’t be too farfetched: road, track, mountain and cross. And to see the team grow and succeed both on and off the bike, community is a big part of the plan for PROMAN Racing. I would also like to see continued development of women’s track and road racing in the US. A goal is to add more women’s stages to the Amgen Tour of California, and this could potentially happen. This year’s criterium, while a little early in the NRC calendar, was even more well received than last year. It’s very important for women’s racing to be associated with the rolling Amgen Tour of California media machine and other U.S tours.

Increased media exposure for Women’s racing is necessary to leverage more sponsorship dollars. Last year, PROMAN hosted the first International Style Omnium at Hellyer Velodrome. Because of its success, it will now be contested at the national level at the USAC Track Nationals in October.

G: What was your best moment on a bicycle…the worst?

NC: Best - Thousand Esses (Laguanitas fire break) it was a beautiful summer day or at least I remember it that way. I was riding with a few guys and we were going to poach some illegal single track, this trail was particularly challenging and there was a section near the top of the trail that very few people had conquered. That particular day I felt really confident dropping into the trail, I even said out loud that I was going to clean it today. It actually wasn’t even a trail but a firebreak; it was steep and loose. The guys I was riding with started ahead of me and they were waiting at the most difficult section as we were going to practice it. Well I was relaxed and happy and started in on the descent, I gracefully approached the difficult section with my eyes fixed on the trail ahead, it felt like I just floated over it and continued on, past my friends and just kept going. My friends were astonished, as was I. That was about 13 years ago and they still talk about it. The trail seems to have gotten steeper over the years and the drop off even bigger, but hey that’s the stuff legends are made of and that day, in my mind, I was one!

Worst moment had to be riding in the Mount Shasta area the day began clear and sunny but at about the 4th hour of riding a snow storm blew in and I had a long road descent, I was the most cold I had ever been, I could barely brake and my tears froze! I felt cold for days after.

G: Your most memorable race…your most forgetful?

NC: Let’s start with the worst. Worst race would have to be as a cat 3 on the road – Snelling road race. I was on third wheel going into the final half kilometer, with the field a few meters behind, this was a very rough road aptly named the cheese grater. I had a front tire blow out and went down immediately, after that it was carnage; the noise was something I will never forget, half the peloton rode over me. I ended up with some separated ribs, lots of road rash and tire burns on my neck and back where I had literally been ridden over. There were gals who were far worse off than me, including Tracey Ford who was racing for a rival team and she lost the tip of her finger. I felt really awful. Although it was an accident and no one blamed me, it was a tough time for sure. I personally contacted all involved that I knew were hurt.

Most memorable...I have won several races but somehow the moments that spring to mind are the races I have performed a solid lead out or bridged a team mate to a break or brought back a break. I do get great satisfaction out of team work, but yes its fun to win. One particularly memorable moment was helping Tracey Ford win the Fidelity Burlingame Criterium 2 years ago. Yes, the same Tracey who had lost the tip of her finger in the horrible Snelling crash!

Burlingame was a goal race for her. I had flown back the night before from my managerial duties at Nature Valley GP where Shelley Olds ended up 6th in the GC. I was feeling like crap, it had been a tough week. During the race I felt as though I could not hold my position, with three laps to go I could see that Tracey was not in a good spot, she was 2nd wheel and would find herself at the front much too early. I am not sure what happened in that moment but I knew that I was committed to helping her win, I went from the back of the field to the front, picked up Kristin along the way, leaving Tracey third wheel, I put the hammer down and went as hard as I could for over a lap to ensure no surge from behind, I pulled off with two turns to go leaving Kristin to finish the job for Tracey. Tracey won and was so grateful. It’s amazing where you can find strength when someone is depending on you. We have a lot of gals on the team that will bury themselves for the cause. It wasn’t a national level race but the satisfaction of helping a team mate achieve a goal was what mattered.

G: What did you think about Georgia Gould's petitioning the UCI for "Equal Pay"?

NC: I signed it and I agree that women should get equal pay but I am not sure if contacting the UCI directly on this is the only answer, although of course they have the power to implement the rule. It’s the race promoters who need to understand that women deserve equal pay – it’s a numbers game when you look at it from a business perspective and more men generally enter the races. But yes, absolutely women dedicate just as much of their lives to training and racing and in my opinion actually make more sacrifices so they deserve equal pay. This is different as it is salary but in a UCI track trade team contract, minimum wage (approx $12,000) is to be paid to both male and female racers annually.

G: You've stated that the team is somewhere in between a professional team and an amateur one. What are the unique challenges that you're confronted with "straddling both canoes," so to speak?

NC: The biggest challenge is man power. I want to be able to support a regional team as well as a pro team but it’s become apparent that I cannot do it all and will be focusing on a UCI track trade team and a small road team in 2009. This will allow me time to contribute in other areas of cycling, such as race promotion and to do a better job of managing. I am determined to make a stamp in the world of track racing, there needs to be more support for women also in road racing too but there are already some strong women ambassadors for the road.

G: You have two riders in Shelley Olds and Rachel Lloyd who have proven that they can compete on a world stage, how do you support their efforts while building that team of riders to support them?

NC: Both Shelley and Rachel’s disciplines; track and cyclocross are not so team oriented, it’s the road racing that brings the team together. They both enjoy being part of a team during the road season as it takes the pressure off the individual performance. Shelley’s goal was to podium at a track World Cup this year and to develop as a track racer with the ultimate goal of the Points race at the 2012 Olympics. She achieved the first goal. I have decided to put a strong focus in this area; it is something I love to do.

Rachel had similar goals for this year, which perhaps will be her last at the World Cup level of cyclocross. It was a difficult decision for me, but this season, so Rachel could get the level of support she deserves, she will be racing on another team with a very strong cross identity. With an already stretched out budget with increasing costs of international travel it seemed like the best thing for Rachel. It was a tough choice for both of us as she is very loyal and we are also great friends. She has rejoined us for road races in 2009.

G: Riders and teams come and go, but women’s cycling seems to be getting hit fairly hard with sponsors pulling out for the 2009 season. First, what is appealing about women’s cycling relative to men’s cycling? What do you think should change in women's cycling to get people, and sponsors, more interested and excited about it?

NC: This is a question that quite honestly bewilders me. I see the massive marketing potential in women athletes but it seems to be a sentiment that is not shared. There is a fine line between exploiting women's sexuality and women’s athleticism in cycling...it seems to be defined as one or the other, I think marketing strategists are confused by this. I recently spent time at the Amgen Tour of California and I was reminded of how the cycling industry is run primarily by men who show very little interest in women's cycling. Yes, some companies dedicate a few sponsorship dollars and product to a couple of teams for PR purposes, but in large part most companies are not very interested in the true development of women’s cycling. Men's teams get far more. There are a few industry companies; however that have put thought into women’s products. I have always been incredibly grateful for all the support but this gratitude can easily turn into frustration.

I believe women are far better ambassadors for the sport and the products they represent, for example, whenever the team travels internationally we take an extra few days to visit sponsors or dealers where their products are sold or we visit local schools. Team members will make time for shop rides or rides with local clubs. We are always well received wherever we go. Team members constantly reach out to the public to promote their sport. I can honestly say this is true of most women’s teams.

Women’s racing is exciting, I know that the top women’s teams in the U.S are very conscious of the comparisons to men's racing and race aggressively and hard to keep it exciting.

There are many parallels between the cycling industry I am now immersed in, and the world of horse racing and soccer that I grew up in. The struggle for women is very apparent. I am not one for sugar coating and there is a lot of smoke and mirrors in women's cycling and I certainly don’t want to sound bitter but it’s a sport that is struggling to gain the attention and exposure it deserves. The women racers and team managers make incredible compromises and sacrifices to ensure that their teams are out there on the circuit. Demographics show that women purchase more bikes than men and support the sport financially.

So what's the problem?

I wish I knew the answer. Surely it cannot all be a focus on the Tour de France and other grand tours? I notice in certain popular online cycling magazines that the men and the women can compete in the same NRC event and the men's headline is always first and in bold and the women's underneath in a smaller font!

I do know that the bigger races in the USA should all include a women's event; it helps to be a part of a big media machine like Amgen Tour of California or Tour of Missouri as both of these races are working hard to include a women's event, it my hope to see an extension of the criterium at ATOC. A three day stage race would be a good start.

That being said, we are forging ahead with a new program model that will ensure longevity and continued growth in the sport. We have a team of very bright future stars, I used to love the expression, "sky’s the limit," but I think we can go further.

Photos: Rob Evans (first through third, fifth and seventh); Bob Cullinan, CycleTo (fourth and sixth)

Third At Cascade, Team Type 1’s Powers Wins WPCS

2009-07-27T16:31:00.001-04:00

Bend, Ore. – Being called to stand on the final podium at a National Racing Calendar (NRC) event is becoming a familiar routine for Team Type 1’s Alison Powers.

For the sixth time this season, Powers finished in the top three to retain her lead in the NRC individual standings. With only five races remaining in the series and a more than 200-point lead over her nearest competitor, Powers all but has the title locked up.

“This is really great,” Powers said after finishing third at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic behind Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders) and runner-up Amber Rais (Team TIBCO). “Every stage race is different. So it’s great that the best overall GC (general classification) rider wins it because you have to be good at every one. I am lucky I have had a good team to help me.”

Powers placed fifth on Sunday’s final stage, the Deschutes Brewery Awbrey Butte Circuit Race. Kristin McGrath (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) won the 52-mile (83 km) race ahead of Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO) and Catherine Cheatley (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light).

But the third-place result overall was made all the more special because it crowned Powers the winner of the season-long Women’s Professional Cycling Series. The WPCS is a four-race event that also includes the Redlands Bicycle Classic, Joe Martin Stage Race and the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Team Director Jack Seehafer said Powers’ accomplishment does not come as a surprise, despite Team Type 1 being a first-year women’s program.

“We knew the abilities of all of our riders and what they were capable of achieving,” he said. “So it was a matter of holding up to those expectations. We also knew Alison wanted to learn and grow as a stage racer. So we worked to fuel that passion and work with her to succeed in putting her on the podium in every stage race this year.”

Powers finished third at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, second at the SRAM Tour of the Gila, first at the Joe Martin Stage Race, third at the Nature Valley Grand Prix and second at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic. Later this week, she will defend her national time trial title at the USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships, which also take place in Bend.

In the men’s race Sunday, Team Type 1’s Moises Aldape finished fourth in 83-mile (133 km) race as Matt Wilson wound up as the team’s best-placed overall finisher in eighth place. Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla won the race overall title.

Stage 6 Results
1. Kristin Mcgrath (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
2. Joanne Kiesanowski (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light

Final General Classification
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1
4. Julie Beveridge (USA) Team TIBCO
5. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
6. Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
7. Katharine Carroll (USA) Team TIBCO
8. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Lip Smacker
9. Robin Farina (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
10. Joanne Kiesanowski (USA) Team TIBCO

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Rock Racing’s Sevilla Conquers Cascade Classic

2009-07-27T16:23:00.000-04:00

Bend, Ore. — Rock Racing stamped its authority on the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic in a big way during Sunday’s final stage of the six-day race in Bend, Ore.

Yellow jersey wearer Oscar Sevilla helped Rock Racing teammate Francisco Mancebo put in an attack in the final miles of the Deschutes Brewery Awbrey Butte Circuit Race that moved Mancebo from third to second overall in the final standings.

In addition to the 1-2 finish overall, Rock Racing also took home the team title to cap a week that saw it win two stages and place third in two others.

“It was a good job by the boys,” Rock Racing Team Director Lorenzo LaPage said. “This was a difficult racem but all season long, this team has shown that it is strong and every guy has good experience. They just keep getting better and better.”
Jeff Louder (BMC Pro Cycling) was the rider Mancebo displaced for second place. Louder finished 20 seconds behind Sevilla and Mancebo in the final 83-mile (133 km) race that was won by Anthony Colby (Colavita-Sutter Homes presented by Cooking Light).

About the only disappointment of the race, LaPage said, was a crash Sunday that left David Vitoria with a lot of road rash but no broken bones.

“Thankfully, he’s OK,” LaPage said. “The idea was to bring Sevilla, Pena and Mancebo into good position on the last lap but after he (Vitoria) fell off, we had to do all the work with just three guys.”

Sevilla’s victory is Rock Racing’s 30th on the year to go along with 63 podium (top three) placings. It is also the Spaniard’s first win at a stage race in the United States and his first overall victory at a stage race since capturing the RCN Classic in Colombia last October.

Stage 6 Results
1. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita Sutter Home
2. Taylor Shelden (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin
3. Alex Howes (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin

Final General Classification
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing
3. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
4. Rory Sutherland (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
5. Chris Baldwin (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
6. Jeremy Vennell (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
7. Victor Hugo Pena (USA) Rock Racing
8. Matt Wilson (USA) Team Type 1
9. Steve Bovay (USA) BMC Racing Team
10. Chris Jones (USA) Team Type 1

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Rock Racing’s Dominguez Dazzles Downtown Bend, PROMAN's Rivera Sparkles

2009-07-26T20:24:00.001-04:00

Bend, Ore. — It took Rock Racing nearly the entire race to chase down a four-man breakaway Saturday night at the Downtown Bend Criterium at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

But once the catch was made, there was little doubt who would be the man of the moment.

Ivan Dominguez blazed down the long finishing stretch lined by a massive crowd to score Rock Racing’s second stage win. Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita-Sutter Homes presented by Cooking Light) finished second and Andrew Pinfold (OUCH presented by Maxxis) was third.

Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla, who won Stage 2 to take the overall lead, retained his yellow jersey, as there was no change in the overall standings.

The victory is Dominguez’s first since joining the Rock Racing team earlier last month. But he is no stranger to winning in Bend. Two years ago, the Cuban-born, U.S. citizen won this same stage (racing for the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team) in a field sprint.

“The last win that I had was in Georgia (at the Tour de Georgia in April of 2008), so this feels great,” Dominguez said. “I like this sprint. It’s long – the way I like. I knew if I went with 300 meters to go that no one was going to pass me.”

Dominguez’s fast finish would not have been possible without the help of his Rock Racing teammates, who worked tirelessly to keep Kirk Carlsen (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin), Michael Creed (Team Type 1), Russ Langley (Battley Harley-Davidson) and Jackson Stewart (BMC Pro Cycling) from stealing the win. The four came within 15 seconds of catching the back of the field at one point.

But Rock Racing teamed up with OUCH presented by Maxxis and the two teams traded pulls to shave seconds off the advantage each time around the six-tenths-of-a-mile (1 km) course after the four riders’ lead peaked at 60 seconds with 35 minutes left in the 90-minute race.

“I said to the guys to keep the break there,” Dominguez said. “I told them we had to take care of the jersey. Tomorrow’s another day. We didn’t need to kill it. That was good for us.”

Sunday’s final stage is the 83-mile 133 km) Awbrey Butte Circuit Race. Sevilla leads Jeff Louder (BMC) by 40 seconds. Rock Racing’s Francisco Mancebo is in third, 1:00 back of Sevilla. A third rider from Rock Racing, Victor Hugo Peña, is seventh, 1:54 behind.

Stage 5 Results - Men
1. Ivan Dominguez (USA) Rock Racing
2. Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Colavita-Sutter Home
3. Andrew Pinfold (Can) OUCH presentec by Maxxis

General Classification After Stage 5 - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (Rock Racing)
2. Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Tea)
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Rock Racing)
4. Ian Mckissick (BMC Racing Team)
5. Rory Sutherland OUCH presented by Maxxis)
6. Chris Baldwin (OUCH presented by Maxxis)
7. Victor Hugo Pena (Rock Racing)
8. Darren Lill (Team Type 1)
9. Jeremy Vennell (BISSELL Pro Cycling Team)
10. Matt Wilson (Team Type 1)

Youth Is Served
With much of the focus surrounding the precocious talents of Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders), who was still atop of the General Classification of the 30th Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic going into Saturday's Downtown Bend Criterium, it was easy to forget about all of the amazing talent within the Women's peloton.

Not to be overshadowed, Coryn Rivera (PROMAN Hit Squad) showed why she would also be a force to reckon with in the future. The 16-year-old Rivera, already a winner at this year's Manhattan Beach Grand Prix and San Rafael Twilight Criterium, would out kick Colavita's Tina Pic and Kristy Broun (Team Lip Smacker) to take the Downtown Bend Criterium.

Given the assembled field, this is undoubtedly Rivera's biggest win to date, and surprisingly all of it was done with junior gearing.

Stage 5 Results - Women
1. Coryn Rivera (USA) Proman Hit Squad
2. Tina Pic (USA) Colavita-Sutter Home
3. Kristy Broun (Aus) Lip Smackers

General Classification After Stage 5 - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders)
2. Amber Rais (Team TIBCO)
3. Alison Powers (Team Type 1)
4. Julie Beveridge (Team TIBCO)
5. Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
6. Katharine Carroll (Team TIBCO)
7. Chrissy Ruiter (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)
8. Jessica Phillips (Team Lip Smacker)
9. Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO)
10. Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO)

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages (top); Bob Cullinan, CycleTo (middle and bottom)

Lance: "It's been a very healthy experience"

2009-07-26T20:22:00.001-04:00

Cavendish Cruises on Champs-Élysées, Contador Crowned - 96th Tour de France Stage 21

2009-07-26T18:43:00.002-04:00

An exultant Alberto Contador (Astana) stood on top of the final Tour de France podium for the second time in his short cycling career. The 2007 Tour de France champion can now boast of consecutive Tour victories (a team exclusion in 2008 prevented him from defending his Tour crown) and a total of four consecutive Grand Tour championships (winner of the 2008 Giro d'Italia and 2008 Vuelta a Espana).

He is undoubtedly the strongest stage racer currently in the peloton.

Where The Tour Was Won
In looking back on the 96th Tour de France, many pundits will point to Contador's dominating performances on Stage 15, the climb to Verbier, and on Stage 18, winning the Individual Time Trial in Annecy, as keys to his overall victory. But the true foundation of his victory came in two seemingly insignificant gestures, both of which would raise questions of his tactical abilities and also his loyalties as a teammate.

The first was his late attack on Stage 7. Left out of the selection on the windy Stage 3, where he failed to keep the wheel of the rider in front of him, Contador would attack on the slopes of the Andorre Arcalis. His manuever would gain back the time that he lost on Stage 3, and effectively help him leapfrog his teammate, Lance Armstrong, in the overall standings by two seconds. Although neither teammate would claim the yellow jersey on that day, Contador placed himself in the better position to take it if Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) or his team failed to defend it.

The second was his late attack on Stage 17. On the Queen stage of this year's Tour, Contador's decision to attack on the final slope to La Grand Bornand helped elevate Andy and Frank Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) in the overall standings, to second and third, while simultaneously putting time into his teammates, Lance Armstrong and Andreas Kloden, before the final time trial. Although many were focused on how Contador's actions essentially ruined the opportunity for an Astana sweep of the final Tour podium, it presented Contador with the comfortable proposition of having to out duel the Schleck brothers in the Annecy time trial rather than his more accomplished teammates.

Although both of his superlative efforts on Stage 15 and on Stage 18 ruled the above points of argument moot, if neither of these occurred we may be talking about Lance Armstrong's 8th Tour de France championship or Andy Schleck's first.

Cavendish's Half-Dozen
Before relief turned into exultation for Contador, the other matter of the drag race on the Champs-Élysées had to be settled. The other dominant force in this year's race, Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC), would win easily and lead a Columbia 1-2 on the final stage of the 96th Tour de France. The victory marked his sixth during this year's race, and his tenth Tour win overall.

During the final finishing circuits; however, it looked as if Garmin-Slipstream had finally come up with a plan to diffuse the explosive Columbia - HTC locomotive. But lead-out men George Hincapie and Mark Renshaw would have none of it. When they launched their final assault, none were able to stay in their streamline. The 24-year-old from the Isle of Man cruised to a victory as final lead-out man Renshaw celebrated from behind and claimed second. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Slipstream) would follow in third.

Stage 21 Results
1. Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC)
2. Mark Renshaw (Team Columbia - HTC)
3. Tyler Farar (Garmin - Slipstream)

Final General Classification
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 81:46:17
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:04:11
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:05:24
4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:06:01
5. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:06:04
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:06:42
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:07:35
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:12:04
9. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - 0:14:16
10. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:14:25

Final Leaders' Jerseys Classification
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Astana - Best Team Classification

Highlights & Revelations

Juergen van de Broeck (Silence-Lotto) - Could he be the next great Belgian stage racer?
Andy Shcleck (Team Saxo Bank) - Attacks like a fiend, and is improving in the time trial
Tony Martin (Columbia-HTC) - On a team dominated by a sprinter, Martin did it mostly by himself.
Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) - Lighter and more effective, will he focus solely on the road?
Brice Feillu (Agritubel) - A French champion in the making?
Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo Test Team) - An emotional win for a sprinter during a mountain stage
Mark Cavendish (Columbia-HTC) - At 24-years-old, the sky is the limit.

Vélib' je t'aime - City of Lights to City of Bikes

2009-07-26T18:26:00.002-04:00

Cycling has been a significant part of the French culture since the first Tour de France departed from Paris in 1903. But with the advent of the automobile, the streets of Paris have seen a steady decline of everyday cyclists, to the point where the activity might even be considered virtually extinct.

But a funny thing happened two years ago with the introduction of the bike sharing program known as Vélib', or roughly translated "free bikes," that caused author Jay Walljaspar to remark that "the City of Lights has become the City of Bikes."

Walljaspar would go on to write about the system,

"Few spots in Paris are more than a five minute stroll from one of the 1,451 Vélib' sidewalk stations...The idea is to encourage short trips - running errands, meeting friends at a cafe, pedaling to a metro stop - so there are plenty of bikes available for everyone to use....Users can buy a daily ($1.40), weekly ($7) or yearly ($40) pass at any bike station with a credit card, from which a deposit will be taken in case the bike never returns."

None to surprisingly, there was upsurge of bicycle use with its launch in July of 2007, making the once seemingly arduous activity "fashionable" and placing auto users on the defensive.

Although there has been a recent spike in bicycle thefts, which has brought into question whether the demise of the system is impending, Vélib' has converted the city that host the most famous bicycle race from one that watches people ride bicycles to one that actually uses them.

Numerous cities in the United States, such as Washington, DC, have successfully employed similar bike sharing programs, but none are as extensive as those found in Europe.

Team Type 1’s Leal Wins Bronze At Pan Am Games

2009-07-26T15:37:00.002-04:00

Hidalgo, Mexico – Team Type 1’s Veronica Leal won a bronze medal Friday at the Pan American Games women’s road race in Hidalgo, Mexico.

Leal was part of a five-rider group that contested the sprint at the end of the 83-mile (99 km) race. Joelle Numainville of Canada won the gold medal and Paola Munoz of Chile took the silver.

“That’s a great result for her,” Team Type 1 women’s Team Director Jack Seehafer said. “She kept feeling better and better on every lap and I think the criteriums here in the United States have helped improve her sprint.”

In 2006, Leal’s Team Type 1 teammate and Seehafer’s wife, Kori, won the silver medal in the Pan Am Games road race while riding for the United States.

Leal narrowly missed adding a second medal to her collection on Thursday when she finished fourth in the 12.3-mile (19.8 km) individual time trial. Alessandra Giuseppina Grassi Herrera of Mexico won the gold in 29 minutes and 10 seconds. Tara Whitten of Canada was second, 36 seconds behind, and Valeria Muller of Argentina finished third, 1:01 back. Leal’s time was 1:21 slower than Grassi Herrera.

“I was feeling great, but I did feel the effects of the high altitude,” Leal said. “But I’m still very, very happy.”

The Pan Am Games were originally scheduled for mid-May, but were delayed due to the H1N1 virus outbreak.

Jack Seehafer said Leal’s performance sets the stage for a run at more medals at next weekend’s Mexican national road and time trial championships.

“It’s good to see Veronica getting used to her Orbea Ordu time trial bike,” he said. “I also think the road race at nationals is very well suited for her to win the (national championship) jersey.”

Team Type 1’s Powers Climbs To Third Overall

2009-07-25T23:51:00.000-04:00

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort – Team Type 1 women’s Team Director Jack Seehafer told Alison Powers the climb to the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort suited her. But Powers said she wasn’t so convinced.

"After the climb two days ago and how poorly I did in the time trial (third) Thursday, I didn’t have much confidence,” Powers said. “It’s amazing how fast you can lose your self-confidence.”

But those doubts were swept away on the ascent to the finish of the 71-mile (114 km) race when Powers found herself in the final selection. By the time the race reached the parking lot of the ski resort, only race leader Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders) was up ahead and Powers found herself sprinting against Amber Rais (Team TIBCO) for second place.

"The final climb was perfect for me," Powers said. "It was not very steep, with a gentle grade, and those are the ones where I can do the best. What I didn’t realize was that we would ride all the way around the parking lot. I was getting quite tired at that point, so Amber was able to sit on and then sprint around me.”

The third-place finish was Powers' second straight of the six-day race and moved her into third place overall, one minute and 39 seconds behind Stevens. Rais is second overall, 18 seconds behind Stevens.

Only Saturday’s hour-long criterium and Sunday’s 52-mile (84 km) Awbrey Butte Circuit Race remain in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) event. Powers aims to earn her sixth podium finish at an NRC event this season. She finished third at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, runner-up at the SRAM Tour of the Gila, first at the Joe Martin Stage Race, third at the Nature Valley Grand Prix and runner-up at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic.

Powers is the NRC women's individual points leader and Team Type 1 is No. 1 in the team competition. Powers is also the leader in the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series.

Stage 4 Results - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1

General Classification After Stage 4 - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1
4. Julie Beveridge (USA) Team TIBCO
5. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
6. Katharine Carroll (USA) Team TIBCO
7. Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
8. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Lip Smacker
9. Alison Starnes (USA) Team TIBCO
10. Meredith Miller (USA) Team TIBCO

Photo: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Team Type 1’s Aldape Solos To Victory

2009-07-25T23:40:00.000-04:00

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort – Moises Aldape of Team Type 1 repeated his victory of a year ago at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, soloing away from two others Friday to win the Cascade Lakes Road Race at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

Aldape attacked Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) and Steve Bovay (BMC Racing Team) with about a mile to go in the 84-mile (135 km) race. His sharp acceleration on the final uphill pitch before the run-in to the ski station parking lot opened a decisive gap.

"I remember last year’s race perfectly," Adalpe said after being congratulated by his Team Type 1 teammates. "So with one kilometer to go, I knew there was a possibility for me break away to win the stage. So I seized the opportunity."

Phil Zajicek (Fly V Australia) was second and Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) was third. Mancebo’s teammate, Oscar Sevilla, retained the overall lead.

Team Type 1 Assistant Director Gord Fraser said he sent a clear message in the team’s pre-race meeting: put away thoughts of the overall classification and just win the stage.

“And the guys responded with a first rate performance,” Fraser said. “Before the race started, I was really counting on some of our older riders like Moises, Matt (Wilson) and Valeriy (Kobzarenko) to start stepping up and riding like they normally ride. I think they’ve responded very well to that and it’s a reflection of how hard our team races. Having our older riders step up gives us an incredibly new dynamic and I expect nothing less for the rest of the year.”

Last year, Aldape won this same stage of the six-stage National Racing Calendar (NRC) event by out-sprinting five breakaway companions in the final hundred meters on the way to winning the King of the Mountains crown. He later represented Mexico in the Beijing Olympics.

But this season hasn't been as kind to the 27-year-old. He has missed much of the year with a prostrate injury that first came to light in February and forced his withdrawal from the Amgen Tour of California in February.

This is Aldape's second victory of the year, adding to a win at the 64 Aniversario Diario El Sol del Centro Clásica Ciclística on April 11 in Aguascalientes, Mexico. It is also the 46th of the season for the Team Type 1 men, surpassing the 45 victories that the team racked up in its first year as a professional squad in 2008.

For much of Friday's race, it looked like another Team Type 1 rider – Michael Creed – might be the one climbing to the top of the victory stand. Creed was part of a seven-man breakaway that escaped the pack 17 miles in and built as much as three-minute lead with 34 miles to go.

But the chasing efforts by Rock Racing, which has had Oscar Sevilla in the leader's yellow jersey since his Stage 2 win on Wednesday, pulled the escapees within a minute with nine miles to go. From there, a second breakaway group – this one containing Aldape – bridged up and rode through the remnants of the original group.

Stage 4 Results - Men
1. Moises Aldape (USA) Team Type 1
2. Phil Zajicek (USA) Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing

General Classification - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing
4. Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team
5. Rory Sutherland (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
6. Chris Baldwin (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
7. Victor Hugo Pena (USA) Rock Racing
8. Darren Lill (USA) Team Type 1
9. Jeremy Vennell (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
10. Matt Wilson (USA) Team Type 1

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Team Type 1’s Holt Takes Lead At Gwinett Bike Fest

2009-07-25T23:08:00.000-04:00

Duluth, Ga. – Team Type 1’s Dan Holt finished second during last Thursday’s Gwinnett Center Criterium but it was good enough for him to climb into the overall lead at the third Annual Gwinnett Bike Fest.

The six-races-in-five-days event in Georgia features more than 600 local, regional, national and international competitors.

With the help of teammate and Team Type 1 co-founder Joe Eldridge (below), Holt bridged a gap to a group of six riders who eventually lapped the field in the 90-minute race.

“I was pretty happy I made it across the gap,” Holt said. “They (the six in the lead) were pretty far gone. I wasn’t sure I could get across, but I thought I had better try.”

With about 15 minutes to go, Holt was on his own when Eldridge’s blood sugar began to drop. Eldridge is one of four riders with Type 1 diabetes on the Team Type 1 men’s professional team.

“I was having trouble holding the wheel in the easy sections and went straight into survival mode,” he said. “I took in about 60 grams of carbohydrates to no avail. The blood sugar had dropped too low for me to help out and I had to pull the plug to get more food.”

Eldridge said it was the first time in recent memory that his blood sugar has gone low during a race.

“I reviewed what I did and realized I had not taken in nearly enough carbs,” he said.

Despite a lack of teammates, Holt still managed to finish runner-up in the sprint to Alessandro Bazzana (Fly V Australia). In Wednesday’s 50-mile Road Atlanta Circuit Race, Holt was part of an 11-man breakaway on the way to a fourth-place finish.

With only Eldridge to help him, Holt said he will do his best to hang onto the overall lead in today’s 85-mile Subaru Gwinnett Road Race in Dacula, Ga. There are two stages Saturday: the six-mile Addictive Cycles Time Trial in Buford, Ga., and a downtown criterium in Norcross, Ga., in the afternoon. Sunday’s final race is the Events Response Circuit Race in Lawrenceville, Ga.

“There’s a little bit of pressure,” Holt said. “Fly V Australia has four guys, so they are probably going to try and stick it to us. But I have a great teammate in Joe. We’ll see what happens.”

Confusion Reigns Over Powers’ Third Place Finish, Zirbel Finds Truth

2009-07-25T23:07:00.001-04:00

Bend, Ore. – Team Type 1’s Alison Powers was congratulated by reporters for winning the Skyliner’s Time Trial Thursday at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

A few minutes later, race officials told her she had actually finished second in the 16-mile (25 km) race against the clock.

And by the time she was summoned to the podium for the post-race awards ceremony, the reigning national time trial champion was accepting the prize for third place.

The surprising turn of events was confusing for reporters covering the race and a major disappointment for Powers, who was using the race as a tune-up for the same event at next week’s USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships, which also take place in Bend, Ore.

Jessica Phillips (Team Lip Smackers), the apparent race winner, was not present for the awards ceremony. A member of her team reached her by phone but the Aspen, Colo., resident was unable to return in time for the podium ceremonies. That resulted in a $70 fine from the officials and forfeiture of the $150 she would have received for winning the race.

Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO) was listed as finishing second, two seconds ahead of Powers and 12 seconds behind Phillips. Race leader Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders) was listed as fourth, 15 seconds behind Powers.

USA Cycling officials blamed reporters for the confusion, saying the results being tabulated by hand were unofficial. No timing clock was visible at the finish line, leaving reporters to look over the shoulders of judges who were recording and manually calculating times from stopwatches.

Powers said she isn’t familiar with either Phillips or Starnes, having never before shared a podium with them.

“Jessica Phillips is super strong, so maybe she had an amazing ride today. It’s good for her,” Power said.

Phillips and Powers have competed head-to-head in time trials in two National Racing Calendar (NRC) events the past two months. Three weeks ago at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, Phillips finished 46 seconds behind Powers in an 8.8-mile (14 km) time trial that Powers won. At the Nature Valley Grand Prix last month, Phillips finished 13th, 51 seconds behind Powers, in a six-mile time trial. Powers was second that day, 13 seconds off the winning time of former world time trial champion Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team).

Thursday’s runner-up finish was Starnes’ third in a time trial this season but her first at an NRC event. At the Cyclepath Cyclery Calavares Time Trial in Sunol, Calif., in May, she lost by 10 seconds to Emily Zell (PROMAN Racing). At the NCNCA District Time Trial Championship in June in Sattely, Calif., she finished nearly two minute behind winner Molly Van Houweling (Metromint Cycling). Neither Van Houweling nor Zell are competing at the Cascade Classic.

Powers’ performance moves her into fifth overall, 1:21 behind Stevens, with three stages remaining. Friday is the 71-mile (114 km) Cascade Lakes Road Race. Saturday is an hour-long criterium in Downtown Bend, followed by Sunday’s 52-mile (84 km) Awbrey Butte Circuit Race.

Stage 3 Results - Women
1. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Lip Smacker
2. Alison Starnes (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1

General Classification After Stage 3 - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Katharine Carroll (USA) Team TIBCO
4. Julie Beveridge (USA) Team TIBCO
5. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1
6. Alison Starnes (USA) Team TIBCO
7. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
8. Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
9. Meredith Miller (USA) Team TIBCO
10. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Lip Smacker

Zirbel Takes Cascade's Race of Truth
Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) once again laid down the law in an Individual Time Trial. The best placed domestic rider in this year's Amgen Tour of California Solvang ITT, Zirbel proved once again to be the undisputed fastest chrono man in the domestic peloton as he was eleven seconds faster than BMC's Ian Mckissick and 44 seconds better than Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing).

Stage 3 Results - Men
1. Tom Zirbel (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
2. Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team
3. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing

General Classification After Stage 3 - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing
4. Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team
5. Rory Sutherland (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
6. Chris Baldwin (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
7. Victor Hugo Pena (USA) Rock Racing
8. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
9. Darren Lill (USA) Team Type 1
10. Jeremy Vennell (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Sevilla Rocks Cascade With Victory And Race Lead, Stevens Doubles

2009-07-25T22:46:00.000-04:00

Bend, Ore. — Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla threw down an attack that only Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) could follow on the slopes leading to the Three Peaks Snow Park last Wednesday.

The result was a stage win and the overall lead for the Spaniard at the 30th annual Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic. Rock Racing teammate Francisco Mancebo was third on the day and moved into second overall, 27 seconds behind. Chris Baldwin (OUCH presented by Maxxis) is third, 35 seconds back of Sevilla.

Rock Racing Team Director Laurenzo LaPage said after putting five riders in the 23-man breakaway that decided Stage 1 on Tuesday, it was no accident that Rock Racing was calling the shots again.

“Our plan this morning was to send Victor Hugo Pena or David Vitoria into the breakaway to put pressure on the leaders and that’s exactly what we did,” LaPage said. “ It couldn’t have been more perfect.”

For much of Wednesday’s 80-mile (128 km) race, it looked like Sevilla’s Rock Racing teammate Vitoria was going to be the one climbing the victory platform and displacing yellow jersey wearer Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling). Vitoria and three others were part of a breakaway that gained as much as a two-and-half minutes lead before being reeled in on the final climb.

“Laurenzo laid out the plan and we did exactly what we had to do,” Sevilla said. “David had a great race and worked very hard in the break. The whole team worked hard. I’m very happy with today’s win and very happy for my team. We feel good going into tomorrow’s time trial and are confident we can hold onto the lead.”

Thursday’s Skyliner’s Time Trial is a 16-mile (25 km) out-and-back humpback course: climbing going out and descending coming back.

Sevilla’s win was his second of the season, following a victory on the second stage of the Vuelta a Asturias in Spain on April 29. It also marks the first time he has led a race in the United States since he wore the yellow jersey at the San Dimas Stage Race in March of last year.

Stage 2 Results - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Peter Stetina (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing

General Classification After Stage 2 - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing
3. Chris Baldwin (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
4. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
5. Rory Sutherland (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
6. Matt Wilson (USA) Team Type 1
7. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
8. Darren Lill (USA) Team Type 1
9. Steve Bovay (USA) BMC Racing Team
10. Chris Jones (USA) Team Type 1

Stevens Doubles Down
There seems to be no stopping the runaway locomotive that is Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders). Stevens who normally uses the hilly terrain in New York's Central Park as her training ground proved to be equally adept at hilltop finishes as she would win a two up sprint with Colavita's Cath Cheatley in Three Creeks Snow Park. Kristin McGrath (ValueAct Capital) would take third.

With her second consecutive victory at the 30th Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic, Stevens remains atop the General Classification, with Cheatley now slotting into second and Crissy Ruiter (ValueAct Capital) in third.

Stage 2 Results - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
3. Kristin McGrath (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team

General Classification After Stage 2 - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
3. Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
4. Kristin McGrath (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
5. Katharine Carroll (USA) Team TIBCO
6. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
7. Stacy Marple (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
8. Julie Beveridge (USA) Team TIBCO
9. Alisha Welsh (USA) Wines of Washington/bikesale.com
10. Robin Farina (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team

Photos: Carson Blume (top); Bob Cullinan (bottom)

Stevens Surprises Again, Ben Jacques-Maynes Solos at Cascade

2009-07-25T21:47:00.001-04:00

During this time of year, the cycling world gets caught up in a little event called the Tour de France. And while we here at the Triple have devoted much of our coverage to the Grand Boucle, it is not the only thing going, although it may just seem that way.

The 30th Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic kicked off this past Tuesday, July 21st, with the Deschutes County road race. The first of the six stage cycling event was won by Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders) and Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissel Pro Cycling), respectively.

NRC Darling
Stevens, the surprise victor at this year's Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic as a guest member of the Team Lipsmacker, continued to amaze, this time as a guest member for Webcor Builders as she out-kicked her team's main sprinter and the rest of the field to take the 113km road race.

She would later tell Cyclingnews, “I jumped to do a lead-out for Gina but I think I went a little too hard - no one ever taught me how to do a lead-out,” said Stevens. “I had a gap, saw 200 meters to go and I kicked it - I got it. It feels really cool to win against good sprinters. I’ve never done it before, not at this level.”

The precocious Stevens has been nothing short of phenomenal, as she has quite literally exploded on to the elite scene. Because of her unique training methods and her relative inexperience, she will be a rider to watch for years to come. It is truly a scary proposition to think about how good she could become, and not long before professional team makes her a permanent member.

Stage 1 Results - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Tina Pic (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
3. Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team

Ben For A Friend
In the men's race, Ben Jacques-Maynes would solo to victory on a scorching Bend, Oregon day. With temperatures hovering around 100 degrees Farhenheit, Jacques-Maynes was able to get off the front of a group that numbered 21 strong with one kilometer to go. A hard charging Jeff Louder (BMC) and Paco Mancebo (Rock Racing) would round out the podium.

A jubilant but sober Jacques-Maynes would dedicate the victory to the memory of a friend after the race.

"Winning solo is the only way to do it when there are so many sprinters in the group," said Jacques-Maynes. "I want to dedicate this win to the memory of Chris Hipp. He was a close friend of mine who died of an embolism one week ago suddenly while he was out riding his bike. It is very tragic. I have been think of him a lot this week and he meant a lot to me," he would tell Cyclingnews.

Stage 1 Results - Men
1. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
2. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing

Photo: Team Lipsmacker (Stevens in yellow at the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic)

Garate Conquers Ventoux, Another Spanish Treble - 96th Tour de France Stage 20

2009-07-25T19:54:00.000-04:00

The anticipated fight for General Classification places lived up to its hype, but the day, which featured the ascent of the fabled Mont Ventoux, belonged to Rabobank's Juan Manuel Garate.

Involved in an early break of sixteen riders, the 33-year-old Spaniard would launch an attack on the slopes of Ventoux, to which only the surprising Tony Martin (Team Columbia - HTC) could respond. The pair would stay away through the immense crowds that descended on this Tour's final proving ground, but one final attack by Garate with less than two kilometers to go would finally send the 2007 Giro d'Italia maglia verde winner over the top.

Martin would hang on for second just in front of the hard charging Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), who along with the other GC contenders had started the climb some three minutes after Garate and Martin. Astana teammates Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong would finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

Stage 20 Results
1. Juan Manuel Garate (Rabobank)
2. Tony Martin (Team Columbia - HTC)
3. Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank)

Schleck Relentless, Spain's Other Treble
Because the final stage of the Tour de France is mostly ceremonial, the battle for podium placing and standings would be decided today on the slopes of Mont Ventoux.

Short of riding his bicycle in demolition derby like style, Andy Schleck would work every angle in the attempt to pull back some time from maillot jaune wearer, Alberto Contador, as well as propel his brother Frank Schleck to a podium finish in Paris. The younger Schleck was relentless on the slopes of Ventoux. His constant attacks followed each other so closely that it seemed like one massive and continuous effort.

The 27-year-old Contador was more than equal to the task, easily capturing Schleck's wheel after every effort. Brother Frank; however, did not have the legs that earned him the victory on Stage 17. At day's end, Frank was only be able to move up one place in the standings, to fifth, and Andy was unable to garner any time from Contador.

With his fourth placed finish on the stage, Alberto Contador capped one of the most eventful Tour's in history. He would win his second consecutive Tour de France, after being excluded in 2008, and his fourth consecutive grand tour victory overall. His victory also earned Spain it's third consecutive Tour de France championship, with Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team) winning last year's Grand Boucle.

General Classification After Stage 20
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 81:46:17
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:04:11
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:05:24
4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:06:01
5. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:06:04
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:06:42
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:07:35
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:12:04
9. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - 0:14:16
10. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:14:25

Barring a major catastrophe, the final Leaders' Jerseys in Paris will be as stated below.

Jersey Leaders After Stage 20
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Astana - Best Team Classification

Next: Stage 21 - Montereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris Champs-Élysées (164 km)
Outside of some of the one-day Classics, the most prestigious finish in cycling is on the famous Champs-Elysees. Can Cavendish take his sixth victory of this Tour?

Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

Holy Manxman, Cavendish Takes Fifth - 96th Tour de France Stage 19

2009-07-24T20:43:00.002-04:00

Sandwiched between the final Individual Time Trial and the climb up the mystical Mont Ventoux, today's 178 km Stage 19 from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas was supposed to be a relaxed transitional stage where a break would amble off the front and the peloton would amble, er race, after, but never quite catch them.

And for the first half of the race, that looked to be the circumstance as a group of twenty strong went off the front. But apparently a few teams did not receive the morning memo.

Rabobank, which for all intensive purposes has been missing from this year's Tour, also missed today's break. Determined to salvage the remainder of their Tour, the Dutch based team set out to bring back the break and set up their sprinter, Oscar Freire, for the finale.

The team was a success in the first part, but after their yeoman's like effort to catch the break only leader Denis Menchov was left to guide Freire to the finish line.

Enter the Columbia - HTC locomotive.

With a Category 2 climb less than forty kilometers from the finish in Aubenas, many had disregarded the sprinters' chances well before the race had started. But like the knockout artists of the "sweet science," a sprinter always has a puncher's chance for a victory. And no one knows this better than Columbia - HTC, which has the ultimate knockout artist in Mark Cavendish.

A slimmed down version of the Columbia -HTC train, including George Hincapie, Mark Renshaw and Tony Martin would reel in a late breakaway attempt by Laurent Lefevre (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) and Alessandro Ballan (Lampre), and soften up the other teams' sprinters before giving way to their own. Cavendish would deliver the final blow with an incredible long distance sprint that seemed as devastating at its launch as it did during its finish.

Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) and former teammate, Gerald Ciolek (Milram) contested the sprint, which is to say that they were closest to see Manxman claim his fifth win of this year's Tour.

Stage 19 Results
1. Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC)
2. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team)
3. Gerald Ciolek (Milram)

With a bit of guile and attentiveness, Lance Armstrong (Astana) was able to pull back four seconds from the top two on the General Classification. Although he did not formerly contest the sprint, he was close enough to be given the same time at the finish. Armstrong now sits seventy seconds behind Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) for second place, while building a fifteen second lead over fourth placed Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream)

General Classification After Stage 19
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 73:15:39
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:04:11
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:05:21
4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:05:36
5. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:05:38
6. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:05:59
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:07:15
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:10:08
9. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:12:38
10. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:12:41

Jersey Leaders After Stage 19
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 20 - Montelimar to Mont Ventoux (167km)
Mont Ventoux, 'Nuff said.

Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

Furia, Contador Unloads - 96th Tour de France Stage 18

2009-07-23T23:05:00.002-04:00

It is called the "race of truth" for a reason. The Individual Time Trial is cycling's equivalent of confession; a bearing of the soul, displaying all a rider's strengths and unveiling all his weaknesses.

In today's 40.5 kilometer effort, Alberto Contador (Astana) showed more strength than weakness in winning the Stage 18 Individual Time Trial around Lake Annecy.

The 26-year-old Spainard whose trademark single shot salute has become an all too familiar sight at the end of mountain stages looked to have brought out the machine gun as he unloaded on the rest of the peloton besting everyone's time at each interval. Contador would finish ahead of Olympic and former World Time Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) by three seconds, and Mikhail Ignatiev (Team Katusha), who set the early best time on the road by fifteen seconds.

Stage 18 Results
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:48:31
2. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:03
3. Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha - 0:00:15

Other Notables
5. David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
10. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
11. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
12. Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto
16. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
19. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - HTC
20. Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - HTC
21. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
24. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
34. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - HTC
35. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
39. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana
43. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Slipstream
54. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
70. Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
119. Danny Pate (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
151. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream

Lost In Translation
Two years ago, Alberto Contador was the darling of the professional cycling world. Handpicked by Johan Bruyneel to succeed Lance Armstrong as Discovery Channel's Tour leader, the then 24-year-old was seen as a veritable Spanish carbon copy of the retiring "patron of the peloton," replete with his own life threatening back story. He would even deliver at the 2007 Tour de France in Armstrong-esque fashion; dancing on the pedals and time trialing with turbine like cadence.

A political power play would exclude Contador and his Astana teammates from the 2008 edition of the Tour, but he, and they, would win seemingly every race of their choosing, including the 2008 Giro d'Italia and the 2008 Vuelta a Espana.

After today's Individual Time Trial in Annecy, the Spaniard with the infectious smile is on the verge of winning his second consecutive Tour de France and his fourth consecutive grand tour.

But, instead of being lauded and held up by the the world of cycling as the great champion that his immense talents and skills bear him out to be, he has all but been vilified and even dogged by a litany of performance enhancing allegations. Some may point to the fact that he brought these issues upon himself; unable to deal with the return of Armstrong in a mature and diplomatic way, Contador has allowed the seeds of doubt to fully take root and let his ego get the better of him. He has been a quiet, but divisive force, attacking his teammates on the road outside of the team construct, and therefore never ingratiating himself to them.

To read the Spanish papers, this is all the American's fault. But until Contador is able to embrace the sentiments of the French philosopher, Charles de Montesquieu, who once stated that “to become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them,” then he will never be considered the great champion that he deems himself to be, in any language.

General Classification After Stage 18
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 73:15:39
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:04:11
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:05:25
4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:05:36
5. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:05:38
6. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:05:59
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:07:15
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:10:08
9. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:12:38
10. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:12:41

Jersey Leaders After Stage 18
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 19 - Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas (178 km)
A classic transition stage. Will the contenders for podium spots come out to play before the dreaded Mont Ventoux?

Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

It's Official - Team RadioShack

2009-07-23T14:03:00.004-04:00

RadioShack Partners With Seven-Time Tour de France Winner Lance Armstrong to Form New Cycling Team in 2010

Press Release -- RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) is proud to announce a partnership with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong to form a new American Pro-Tour cycling team. Beginning in 2010, Lance Armstrong will compete for Team RadioShack as a cyclist, runner and triathlete in events around the world, including the 2010 Tour de France.

Lance Armstrong returned to the world stage of professional cycling in order to promote the efforts of the LIVESTRONG Foundation and their fight against cancer. From the start of the 2009 season at the Tour Down Under in Australia, Lance's return has generated significant attention and has allowed LIVESTRONG to step up awareness, grassroots action and fundraising in the global fight against cancer.

"This has been a great season so far - the response in the countries we've been to has been amazing and it's clear now that this was the right choice. Utilizing the massive media attention that the sport receives has been the perfect vehicle to help spread the LIVESTRONG message around the world," said Lance Armstrong. "To be able to compete for an American team comprised of the world's top cyclists, supported by the best coaches and staff - I couldn't be happier to partner with RadioShack, a truly iconic American brand," said Armstrong.

"Teaming up with RadioShack makes sense for a number of reasons. For one, it's very appealing to me that they have a huge base of stores throughout the U.S. and Mexico. We have an incredible opportunity to leverage RadioShack's connection to tens of millions of people to spread the LIVESTRONG message," said Armstrong. "Also, in cycling, the technology we use on our bikes matters - it allows us to compete at the highest level. It's important to me to partner with a brand that understands the role technology plays in people's lives."

"RadioShack keeps people connected in a highly mobile world through innovative technology from leading brands," said Lee Applbaum, RadioShack's Chief Marketing Officer. "As one of the greatest athletes of our generation, a father, a cancer survivor, and a tireless advocate in the fight against cancer, Lance Armstrong understands the power of keeping people connected and that's why we feel he's the perfect partner for our brand. "

"This is an exciting time at RadioShack," added Applbaum. "We are re-launching our brand with a new creative platform in early August, and now having Lance on our team - an American icon who embodies the spirit of mobility, connectivity and philanthropy - really allows us to accelerate our brand's evolution."

RadioShack also plans to activate their 35,000 employees and almost 6,000 stores across the country to raise awareness and funding for the fight against cancer through the Lance Armstrong Foundation and LIVESTRONG. "We know that cancer research and survivorship is near to the hearts of many of our associates and customers, and together with Lance and his Foundation, we have the power to make a meaningful difference," said Julian Day, RadioShack's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

RadioShack will also sponsor the LIVESTRONG Foundation's signature fundraising event, the LIVESTRONG Challenge Series, a 5K run/walk and cycling ride held in four cities throughout the United States, providing support for an ongoing, self-sustaining fundraising vehicle to raise money for the fight against cancer.

"RadioShack's sponsorship will help spread the spirit of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign and fuel its efforts make cancer a global priority. The cancer community salutes RadioShack's efforts and the investment they are making in support of 28 million people living with this disease," said Doug Ulman, CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Wasserman Media Group managed the partnership process on behalf of Capital Sports & Entertainment and Lance Armstrong.

The Brothers Schleck - 96th Tour de France Stage 17

2009-07-22T23:43:00.000-04:00

Attack. It must be a common word in the Schleck family home as ever since the roads of this year's Tour turned upwards, that is all Frank Schleck and younger brother, Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) have done, attack.

Today, the Brothers Schleck were rewarded for their efforts. The elder would win the Queen stage from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand, while Andy would watch with arms raised and take third.

Yellow jersey leader, Alberto Contador (Astana), who was the only other rider able to keep pace with the Schleck, slotted in between the brothers to take second.

Stage 17 Results
1. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

With the Schlecks and Saxo Bank playing the instigators once again, the General Classification underwent major revisions. After a bit of fortuitous circumstance that saw Alberto Contador attack late on the final climb of the day, only to shed his Astana teammate, Andreas Kloden, who sat in second place on the virtual standings, Andy Schleck would move into second place and Frank Schleck into third.

General Classification After Stage 17
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 72:27:09
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:02:26
3. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:03:25
4. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:03:55
5. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:04:44
6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:04:53
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:05:09
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:08:08
9. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:09:19
10. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:10:50

It's Not Easy Being Green, Really?
One of the more remarkable efforts on a day full of them was that of Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team). Involved in the early break, the big Norwegian looked like he was a contender for the maillot a pois rouges rather than the maillot vert.

Perhaps spurred on by Mark Cavendish's (Team Columbia - HTC) comments that the green jersey competition was tainted because of circumstances that caused officials to relegate the Isle of Man sprinter at the end of Stage 14, Hushovd climbed away from the green jersey competition on Stage 17. He would extend his lead over Cavendish by 30 points.

Jersey Leaders After Stage 17
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 18 - Individual Time Trial - Annecy (40.5 km)
The route around Lake Annecy would be beautiful on any other day for the riders of the Tour de France. But with podium placings on the line, the 25 mile trip around the lake is sure to be a torture fest. Can Lance Armstrong and Andreas Kloden climb back up into the top three and complete an Astan sweep? Will Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) show the time trialing form that brought him an Olympic medal in the Pursuit?

Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

A Star Solos, Mikel Astarloza That Is - 96th Tour de France Stage 16

2009-07-22T21:15:00.000-04:00

By all accounts, Mikel Astarloza (Eusaktel-Euskadi) has never had the opportunity, in his professional cycling career, to punch the air, raise his arms in victory, or even offer up a victory salute at the end of a race.

But that is no longer the case, as Astarloza rider soloed to victory on Stage 16 of the 96th Tour de France.

Part of the early break that would number as many as twenty-five at one juncture, Astarloza was a prominent figure throughout the day. Vacillating between the tete de la course and the first chase group, the 29-year-old Basque rider would bridge back up to the lead group several kilometers from the summit of the final climb. With two kilometers before the finish line, Astarloza was fully committed and quickly created a gap to his breakaway companions, who had no answer.

Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) and Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) would contest the placings behind and finish in second and third, respectively.

Stage 16 Results
1. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
2. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
3. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom

Rest, It Does A Body Good
After Stage 15, he was quick to caution us. "There might be people out there who expect me to ride like I did in 2004, 2005, but that's not reality, I don't think."

But anyone who watched Lance Armstrong (Astana) ride up Stage 16's final climb, the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard, could easily counter that reality is based on perception. And what we perceived was a 37-year-old former Tour champion who could not only still climb with the best in the world, but also climb away from them.

Armstrong's Stage 16 effort; however, did not have me thinking of 2004, 2005, but of 2003. On the memorable stage to Luz-Ardiden, which saw the Texan taste pavement because of a fan's musette bag, Armstrong would ride back and then over the lead group on his way to an incredible victory.

While this effort ended once he reached the yellow jersey group of his teammate, Alberto Contador (Astana), Armstrong's flash of form caused his anxious and excitable fan base to explode.

As the commentator/moderator of the LIVE blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com, I was instantly caught back up in my fandom as people from all over the world expressed their enthusiasm in unbridled ways. Rest, apparently, does a body good. Vive le Lance!

Shake Up
A minor shake up to the General Classification occurred after Stage 16. Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale), who wore the maillot jaune from the end of Stage 7 to the start of Stage 15, fell precipitously, and out of the top ten. Defending champion, Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team), on the other hand, would work his way into the top ten, slotting in at the 9th position.

General Classification After Stage 16
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 63:17:56
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:01:37
3. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:01:46
4. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:02:17
5. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:02:26
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:02:51
7. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:03:09
8. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:03:25
9. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team - 0:03:52
10. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:03:59

Jersey Leaders After Stage 16
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Update: Jens Voigt Hospitalized
On the descent into Bourg-Saint-Maurice, German strong man, Jens Voigt (Team Saxo Bank) had a horrific crash. Unconscious and bloody, Voigt was transported to the hospital where it was later revealed that he had fractured his right cheekbone and had a concussion.

Next: Stage 17 - Bourg-Saint-Maurice to La Grand Bornand (159 km)
The Queen stage of the 96th Tour de France is certain to create a further selection as the riders bid adieu to the Alps in a magnanimous way.

Km 18.0 - Cormet de Roselend (D.902-D.925) - 18.1 km climb to 5.7 % - Category 1
Km 56.0 - Col des Saisies - 15.1 km climb to 6 % - Category 1
Km 111.5 - Côte d'Araches - 6.3 km climb to 7 % - Category 2
Km 140.5 - Col de Romme - 8.8 km climb to 8.9 % - Category 1
Km 154.5 - Col de la Colombière - 7.5 km climb to 8.5 % - Category 1

Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

Ritchey Design Forms Partnership with MacLean Quality Composites

2009-07-20T23:36:00.003-04:00

Ritchey Design forms partnership with MacLean Quality Composites to produce its Superlogic Carbon rims, all versions of its high-end carbon wheelsets now shipping

SAN CARLOS, Calif. - Ritchey Design, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-quality road and mountain bike components, announced it has formed a partnership with MacLean Quality Composites to produce the carbon rims for its Superlogic Carbon road wheelsets.

Ritchey Design has been fulfilling orders for the Superlogic Carbon road tubular wheelset since January, and with the new partnership it is now shipping the clincher versions.

Ritchey Design Superlogic Wheelset Specifications

Rims - Exclusive uni-directional, 100 percent high-modulus carbon
Rear Hub - WCS V4 (24-hole, cold forged, precision bearings, alloy freehub body in Campagnolo and Shimano/SRAM configurations)
Front Hub - WCS V3 (20-hole, cold forged, precision bearings, round flanges)
Skewers - WCS Titanium model
Spokes - DT bladed New Aero Light (Radial front, 2-cross rear)
Nipples - Alloy Hex style nipples with NYLOK BLUE PATCH™ threads
Assembly - Handbuilt at Ritchey Design California
Estimated Weight - 1,180 grams (Tubular) and 1,420 grams (Clinchers)
Available - Now
MSRP - $2,850/set (Tubulars), $3,000/set (Clinchers)

Women’s Prestige Cycling Series Grand Finale at Cascade Classic

2009-07-20T23:26:00.000-04:00

New series addition is final stop on 2009 tour

Minneapolis – The 2009 Women’s Prestige Cycling Series wraps up this week at the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Oregon. Held right before the US National Championships in Bend, the Cascade Classic boasts one of the strongest women’s fields of the year.

The Team Competition has been a see-saw battle between Team TIBCO and Webcor Cycling all season, with TIBCO claiming the lead at the opener in Redlands Bicycle Classic in March, then losing it to Webcor at the Joe Martin Stage Race in May before reclaiming it at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in June. But TIBCO’s lead is razor thin, with only 769 point compared to 740 for Webcor, so the final standings will come down to the grand finale at Cascade.

In contrast, Team Type 1’s Alison Powers appears to have the individual classification all locked up, barring an unforeseen catastrophe. With 484 points, she seems to have an insurmountable lead over Team TIBCO’s Katherine Carroll (300 points) and Webcor’s Katheryn Mattis (275 points), leaving Carroll and Mattis to battle for second place.

The Series’ Best Young Rider competition is still up for grabs, but it’s a family affair, with Webcor teammates at the top of the standings. Rebecca Much took the lead at Joe Martin but then lost ground to Alexis Rhodes at Nature Valley, where Rhodes won the Mankato Road Race. While Much and Rhodes are close (484 vs. 429 points), third place Julie Beveridge (Team TIBCO) is far enough back (308 points) as a result of missing the Joe Martin Stage Race that she doesn’t represent a threat to either of the Webcor riders.

The Series sprint classification is very much in play, coming out of the Nature Valley Grand Prix as a dead heat, with Alison Powers tied with Tina Pic (Colavita Sutter Homes). The tie was broken because Powers had the higher ranking at Nature Valley. But the favorite for the Series Sprint title may be Australian Criterium Champion Kristy Broun, who’ll be racing for Lip Smackers in Cascade. Although she trails Powers and Pic (165 vs. 209 points), she scored all of those points in just one event, the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Similar performances by these three riders could see Broun vault over Powers and Pic and into the Sprint jersey at the Series finale.

Team Type 1 Women View Cascade As Tune-Up For Nationals

2009-07-20T23:23:00.001-04:00

Bend, Ore. – The goals are simple for the Team Type 1 women’s professional squad for the 30th edition of the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Ore.

“We would really like a podium finish and a stage win,” Team Type 1 Director Jack Seehafer said. “More so, I want to see them have some fun and race aggressively.”

Team Type 1 will field a reduced squad for the six-day, six-stage National Racing Calendar (NRC) event and use it as a tune-up for the USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships, which take place in Bend next week.

The team’s five riders for the Cascade Classic are Jacquelyn Crowell, Morgan Patton, Alison Powers, Samantha Schneider and Kori Seehafer. Patton is one of two riders on the team who has Type 1 diabetes.

Powers and Team Type 1 are the season-long leaders in the NRC individual and team standings. Powers also leads the overall and sprint categories of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series, a four-race event that also includes the Redlands Bicycle Classic, Joe Martin Stage Race and the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Though she is no stranger to Bend, this will Powers’ first time to race the Cascade Classic.

“When I competed with the U.S. national ski team, we had various camps in May in Bend,” Powers said. “I’m super excited for this race. It’s a strong field and it will be awesome practice for nationals. The time trial is pretty much on the national time trial course and the last stage is the same course as the national road race.”

This year’s race includes four road races, a time trial and a criterium. Tuesday is the 71-mile (114 km) Smith Rock Road Race, followed by the 78-mile (125 km) Three Creeks Road Race. Thursday’s Stage 3 time trial is on a 16-mile (25 km) out-and-back course featuring a seven-mile climb. Friday’s 71-mile (114 km) Cascade Lakes Road Race is followed by an hour-long criterium Saturday night in Downtown Bend. The final stage is the Awbrey Butte Circuit Race, a 66-mile (106 km) race that includes laps of a 17-mile (27 km) circuit.

Team Type 1 Men Send Talent-Rich Roster To Bend

2009-07-20T23:19:00.002-04:00

Bend, Ore. – The Team Type 1 men’s professional squad will field an impressive line-up for the 30th annual Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

The six-day, six-stage race begins Tuesday in Bend, Ore., and promises to be one of the most competitive stage races on National Racing Calendar (NRC) circuit this season. A record 185 riders are scheduled to compete.

Team Type 1’s eight-rider roster includes one former Cascade Classic champion, Michael Creed, a pair of stage winners from a year ago, Matt Wilson and Moises Aldape, and the rider who finished third overall here last year, Darren Lill.

Assistant Director Gord Fraser said Team Type 1 has two serious contenders for the overall in Creed and Lill.

“That being said, there’s going to be a lot of teams who have really good contenders who excel at racing at altitude at this race,” Fraser said. “There’s the Rock Racing guys, Chris Baldwin from OUCH, a full contingent from Bissell and the list goes on. This might be one of the best races of the year in terms of teams bringing personnel to do well.”

Creed has been a solid addition to the only professional cycling team in the world with riders who have Type 1 diabetes. The 28-year-old won the 2004 edition of the Cascade Classic and he has led Team Type 1 at the Nature Valley Grand Prix (fourth overall) and Fitchburg Longsjo Classic (fifth overall).

Lill finished third on the Stage 3 Skyliner's Time Trial last year (while competing for the BMC Racing Team) on the way to his third place overall behind Levi Leipheimer (Astana).

Aldape won the Stage 4 Cascade Lakes Road Race last year on the way to earning the King of the Mountains title while Wilson captured the Stage 2 Three Creeks Road Race, wore the race leader’s yellow jersey for one day and finished fifth overall. This year, both riders have been slowed by injury.

“I think we’ll see the real Matt Wilson for the rest of the year,” Fraser said. “If we have him at full strength, that will help us tremendously. The same goes for Moises.”

The balance of Team Type 1’s roster is equally as talent-laden. Shawn Milne won a USA Cycling Professional Tour series event, the Air Force Cycling Classic in May, and finished second in the final stage at the Cascade Classic a year ago.

Valeriy Kobzarenko earned the King of the Mountain crown at the TD Bank International Cycling Classic in Philadelphia last month. Chris Jones scored one of the team’s two victories at an NRC event this season with a win on the final day at the Joe Martin Stage Race and Ian MacGregor has three wins to his credit this year.

This year’s event includes four road races, a time trial and a criterium. Tuesday is the 71-mile (114 km) Smith Rock Road Race, followed by the 78-mile (125 km) Three Creeks Road Race. Thursday’s Stage 3 time trial is on a 16-mile (25 km) out-and-back course featuring a seven-mile climb. Friday’s 83-mile (133 km) Cascade Lakes Road Race is followed by a 90-minute criterium Saturday night in Downtown Bend. The final stage is the Awbrey Butte Circuit Race, an 83-mile race that includes laps of a 17-mile (27 km) circuit.

Ritchey Design's Latest Road and Mountain Pedals Available this September

2009-07-20T22:57:00.007-04:00

Ritchey Design is set to release its latest road, the WCS Echelon, and mountain, the Pro Paradigm, pedals at the end of the summer.

The WCS Echelon Pedal, MSRP $189.95, has a body made of 6061 alloy and a cromoly spindle with (adjustable) retention claw made of carbon-resin composite. Weighing-in at 233 grams, the WCS Echelon has great strength and durability for its compact size. The distance between the axle and body platform is extremely low which creates a highly efficient pedaling arc, especially in the top of the pedal stroke - almost eliminating the traditional "dead zone." The pedal's light-weight cleat provides a wide platform for greater support and foot comfort.

The Pro Paradigm Mountain Pedal, MSRP $149.95, replaces the previous Pro V4 Mountain Pedal and has an improved bearing/axle system allowing for adjustability and service. Sporting a new anodized red body, the 255-gram pedal has a low-profile body-to-axle design for efficient pedaling. The dual-sided design has superior mud clearance and a stainless steel retention claw for easy entry and exit over the life of the pedal.

More information about the latest Ritchey Design pedals and other WCS products is available at www.ritcheylogic.com.

Trips for Kids Opens its 68th Chapter

2009-07-20T22:51:00.002-04:00

Trips for Kids works with Ladysmith-Hawkins School District to help establish a mountain bike riding program to benefit local children in the district

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - Trips for Kids (TFK), a non-profit organization that uses mountain biking trips to promote self-confidence and environmental awareness among disadvantaged youth, today announced the establishment of its 68th chapter in Ladysmith, Wisconsin in conjunction with the Ladysmith-Hawkins School District. The Trips for Kids Ladysmith Chapter will serve the district's disadvantaged youth.

"Working directly with a school district enables a chapter to connect immediately with kids who can benefit from the program. It also instantly establishes Trips for Kids as a community-based youth development resource," says Marilyn Price, TFK founder and director.

Price continued, "Since bicycles and kids are a natural match, young people can be more open to learning when bikes are involved. An ultimate goal would be to integrate bicycling into the physical education departments of schools throughout the country."

The TFK chapters in Trinidad, Calif. and Pueblo Pintado, N.M. are also associated with their local school district and TFK Triangle in Durham, N.C. regularly works with its local middle schools. The TFK chapter-school relationships allow students multiple opportunities to participate in the TFK rides and reinforce their relationship with the organization.

The TFK chapters formed in conjunction with a school have found that it is easier to reach some students on the trail than it is in the classroom. Students at schools affiliated with TFK have improved behavior, attendance and relationships with their teachers.

Matt Bunton, president of the Ladysmith TFK chapter, said, "The effort to involve the students in Trips for Kids will ultimately increase their ownership of their school and further their academic and social development. As they participate in this program, the students will learn how to successfully conquer challenges on the trail and in other areas of their life."

More than 50,000 disadvantaged young people have participated in TFK's day-long cycling adventures that take them through nearby parks and outdoor recreation areas. In addition to vigorous outdoor activity, they also enjoy the encouragement of caring adults who teach them about the environment, the importance of healthy choices and satisfaction of accomplishing their goals.

Team Type 1 Goes 1-2, Armstrong Takes Final US Race - Boise Twilight Criterium

2009-07-20T22:34:00.001-04:00

Boise, Idaho – Ken Hanson (left) won for the second straight week and Aldo Ino Ilesic finished second as Team Type 1 went 1-2 Saturday night at the 23rd annual Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium in Boise, Idaho.

Racing in 95-degree heat on a day when the mercury reached a record 106 degrees earlier, Hanson scored his third victory and eighth podium finish of the year. It was the 21st win on the road for Team Type 1 and the second in a National Racing Calendar (NRC) event.

Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) finished third.

Last week, Hanson raced without any teammates and won the San Rafael (Calif.) Twilight Criterium ahead of U.S. national criterium champion Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing). Hanson is the reigning U.S. elite criterium champion.

“The team was great," Hanson said. "It was awesome. It couldn't have been more perfect from a team standpoint."

A feverish chase by all five of Team Type 1’s riders closed what looked to be an insurmountable gap to a pair of breakaway riders with one lap remaining in the one hour-plus-five-laps race on the 0.6-mile (1 km), four-corner course through Downtown Boise.

“With five laps to go, the gap was 15 seconds and with one lap to go, it was five seconds,” Team Type 1 Director Sportif Vassili Davidenko said. “On the backstretch with half a lap to go, it was still four seconds. But our guys were going full gas and Aldo and Ken came out of the last corner with a 20-meter gap.”

Team Type 1 co-founder Joe Eldridge, the only rider in the race with Type 1 diabetes, was instrumental in driving the pursuit, along with teammates Michael Creed and Dan Holt. Eldridge was active throughout the race, earning two primes as fellow Team Type 1 co-founder and second-year professional Phil Southerland watched from the announcer’s stand.

Davidenko said the electrifying finish was easily the highlight of the season to date, particularly considering it came against the top two teams in the NRC standings, Colavita-Sutter Home and Bissell Pro Cycling, which each fielded full eight-rider rosters.

“All of our guys were just flying at the end,” Davidenko said. “It was unbelievable how they were drilling it. This race is a reflection of the huge progress Team Type 1 has made since January when it comes to sprinting and criteriums. It was a total team effort tonight.”

Saturday’s race was the second straight year the Boise Twilight Criterium has featured a 1-2 finish by riders from the same team. Last year, Hilton Clarke and Dominique Rollin of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team were the first two riders across the line.

Kristin Armstrong Wins Final Race on US Soil

There was some question as to whether Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) would participate in her home town race, Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium, but a last minute decision payed off handsomely with her third victory in four years in Boise.

"It was a special night," Armstrong would later tell the Idaho Statesman. "In fact, (Friday) night, when I had dinner downtown, I decided I just really wanted to race my last race in front of this fan base. I just imagined myself watching, and I was like, 'I can't, I can't watch. Are you kidding me?' "

Liza Rachetto (SugarCRM) and Tiffany Pezzulo (DFT presented by Treads) would finish second and third, respectively.

In her final season, the 35-year-old Armstrong will most likely cap her season and career when she competes in September's World Championships in Switzerland.

Van Gilder, Damiani Victorious - 5th Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium

2009-07-20T21:56:00.001-04:00

On July 11th, an elite women's and men's field took to the streets of West Chester, PA for the 5th Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium. A crowd of approximately 25,000 gathered to watch the USA CRITS Series event, and they were treated to a night of exciting racing.

The attacks started early in the women’s event. On the third lap of the 40 kilometer race, a break of five (5) including, Laura Bowles (Vanderkitten Racing), Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light), Gemma Dudley (BikeNZ), Christina Smith (Veloforma), and Jesse Maclean (Verducci Breakaway Racing) went off the front.

Two laps later, Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) and Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing) would bridge up to the leading group of riders to make it seven strong.

After lapping a shattered main field with 22 laps to go, the attacks came fast and furious. Cath Cheatley was the first to go, followed by former Cheerwine teammate, Van Gilder.

The two worked well together to stay away. And on the final lap, Van Gilder would unleash her trademark sprint to easily beat Cheatley to the line. Theresa Cliff-Ryan rounded out the podium. With the win, Van Gilder took the lead in the USA CRITS overall standings.

Women’s Overall Standings
1. Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom), 483 pts
2. Kristin Lasasso (Mellow Mushroom), 385 pts
3. Jennifer Wilson (Vanderkitten Racing), 376 pts

Best Young Rider Leader - Jessie Maclean (Verducci Breakaway Racing)

Lap Leader - Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light) – 22 laps

In the men’s race, Russ Langley (Battley Harley-Davidson) attacked on the first lap of the 60 kilometer race to take a $250 dollar prime. Langley would build a sizeable gap on the main the field, and remain off the front for the majority of the race.

With 32 laps to go, however, the chase began in earnest. Mike Friedman (Garmin Slipstream) hit the front and pulled six others with him including, Josh England (Subway Avanti Cycling Team), Tom Soladay (Team Mountain Khakis), Luca Damiani and Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita Sutter Home, presented by Cooking Light), Will Hoffarth (Team Mountain Khakis), and David Fuentes (Battley Harley-Davidson).

The finale would end up in a bunch sprint contested by the break of seven. With a lead out provided by teammate Alejandro Borrajo, Damiani would take the sprint by several bike lengths. Soladay finished second, and Langley placed third. With his second placed finish, Tom Soladay (Team Mountain Khakis) would take the lead in the USA CRITS overall standings.

Men’s Overall Standings
1. Tom Soladay (Team Mountain Khakis), 423 pts
2. Jake Keough (Kelly Benefit Strategies), 396 pts
3. Mark Hekman (Team Mountain Khakis), 380 pts

Best Young Rider Leader – Jake Keough (Kelly Benefit Strategies)

Lap Leader – Russ Langley (Battley Harley Davidson) – 37 laps

With six events remaining, the USA CRITS Series now heads to Charlotte, NC for the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational on August 8th, where the USA CRITS pro men’s and women’s field will be competing for more than $75,000 in combined cash prizes.

USA CRITS Series Schedule
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational – Charlotte, NC August 8, 2009
Capital Criterium – Washington, D.C. August 23, 2009
Chris Thater Memorial – Binghamton, NY August 30, 2009
Austin International Downtown Criterium – Austin, TX September 5, 2009
TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX – Dallas, TX September 17, 2009
USA CRITS Finals – Las Vegas, NV September 24, 2009

Flight of the Contador - 96th Tour de France Stage 15

2009-07-20T16:44:00.001-04:00

The air of anticipation surrounding yesterday’s Stage 15 of the 96th Tour de France was duly justified. It would be the first major sorting out of the top contenders, and finally provide a substantial argument in the ongoing debate of who is the “strongest” rider on Team Astana.

An early break of twelve riders provided the early excitement as the Swiss National Champion, Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) was in the mix to take the first Alpine stage of this year’s Tour, which just happened to finish on Swiss soil.

But it would be the group behind, containing all the heavy pre-race favorites that would build up an already anxious race into an unadulterated frenzy. The methodical humming pace set in the early kilometers would crescendo into the sounds of factory level machinery at the base of the final climb as teams jockeyed for position to launch their leaders.

Most boisterous among them was Team Saxo Bank. Jens Voigt, the big and tireless German one-man breakaway, was sent immediately to the front. Voigt gritted and mashed his way up the lower slopes to Verbier shedding all the would be contenders and unprepared to the side. Once Voigt red-lined, an up-the-road Cancellara grabbed the Saxo Bank reigns and emptied any remaining reserves.

The selection complete, it was left up to team leader, Andy Schleck, to reach for the brass ring.

But Alberto Contador (Team Astana) had other plans.

Bridled since Stage 7 and overwhelmed by the daily barrage of inquires into team dynamics, the boyish-faced Contador had patiently waited for this day to do as his body intended; to ride uphill, and fast.

Unlike the remaining contenders, the 26-year-old Spaniard, already winner of all three Grand Tours, seemed unaffected by the frenetic pace set up the early portions of the climb. So with a simple kick to his pedals, he surged effortlessly forward. He would ride without much measure of those around him, all seemingly "on the rivet," instead focusing on his own rapid rhythm and the prize waiting ahead, the maillot jaune, which had eluded him since 2007.

Contador would cross the line forty-three seconds ahead of Andy Schleck and one minute and three seconds in front of Vicenzo Nibali (Liquigas).

Stage 15 Results
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

In Hot Pursuit
Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) is an anomaly. He is not supposed to be here, in the top ten of the General Classification, let alone in the top three of the Grande Boucle. But there he sits, nine seconds behind second placed Lance Armstrong and one minute and forty-six seconds from leader Alberto Contador.

The 29-year-old Brit, a two time Olympic Gold medalists in the Pursuit (2004, 2008) and owner of 6 World Championships on the pines (Pursuit in 2003, 2007, and 2008; Team Pursuit in 2007 & 2008, and Madison in 2008), Wiggins is without question the revelation of this year’s Tour.

His body slimmed and his focus solely on the road, Wiggins is more than just a casual threat to claim victory in Paris. If he and Garmin-Slipstream can take back some time in the next few days, Wiggins could be looking at the Individual Time Trial, a discipline similar to the Pursuit, in Annecy to decide his fate.

Realistically, Lance
ESPN's Jeremy Schaap, son to legendary American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author Dick Schaap, caught up with Lance immediately after Stage 15. 'Nuff, said.

General Classification After Stage 15
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 63:17:56
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:01:37
3. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:01:46
4. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:02:17
5. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:02:26
6. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale - 0:02:30
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:02:51
8. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC - 0:03:07
9. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:03:09
10. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:03:25

After taking the race lead on Stage 7, Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) finally relinquished the maillot jaune today. He would finish a more than respectable 19th place on Stage 15 and now slots into 7th on the General Classification. Likewise, Columbia - HTC's Tony Martin gave way to Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) in the Best Young Rider's Classification. Martin had been in the maillot blanc since Stage 1.

Jersey Leader's After Stage 15
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Rest Day in Verbier; Tuesday, Stage 16 - Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (159 km)
A dog day afternoon for the 96th Tour de France as the riders tackle the Grand and Petit Col du Saint Bernard climbs.

Km 40.5 - Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard - 24.4 km climb to 6.2 % - Category HC
Km 128.0 - Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard - 22.6 km climb to 5.1 % - Category 1

Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

Russian Rouleur, Ivanov Solos, Hincapie Gutted - 96th Tour de France Stage 14

2009-07-19T05:55:00.001-04:00

The fireworks were suppose to come in the third week of the 96th Tour de France, with the mountain top finish in Verbier, the medieval torturous trip to La Grand Bornand, a decisive ITT in Annecy, and the topper, the mystical Mont Ventoux.

But the fireworks came a day early in the form of five seconds that are bound to go down in Tour de France lore.

The day belonged to Serguei Ivanov (Katusha), whose timely and definitive counter attack in the final kilometers of Stage 14 left his breakaway companions gasping and grasping for air. The 34-year-old Russian National Champion and winner of this year's Amstel Gold would solo to victory in front of Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) and Hayden Roulston (Cervelo Test Team).

The win provided a ray of light to Katusha, which has seemed somewhat lost in this Tour without Robbie McEwen.

Stage 14 Results
1. Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha
2. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
3. Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cervelo TestTeam

Five Seconds From Glory, Hincapie Gutted
George Hincapie (Team Columbia-HTC) has been a stalwart of the professional peloton for over a decade, turning professional in 1994 and racing in his 14th Tour de France. His career has been filled with memorable victories, but also heartbreaking losses. As such, the 36-year-old is a sentimental figure both inside and outside the peloton.

Yesterday's stage from Vittel to Colmar was especially gut wrenching to watch as "Big George" did everything in his power to claim the second maillot jaune of his 15 year professional career, only to have the honor taken away from him in a most dishonorable way.

Involved in a twelve man break for the better part of the day, Hincapie drove and prodded his fellow escapees in an effort to earn himself the yellow leader's jersey. In the virtual clubhouse, Hincapie stood the leader.

But behind the break a series of circumstances played out that at days end had Hincapie lashing out at some of his former teammates, and questioning others.

"I am just extremely disappointed...I don’t know why Astana was riding behind; it’s highly insulting to me."

For over an hour, Hincapie's former US Postal/Discovery teammates, now with Astana, set the pacing making at the front of the peloton. The gap to the Hincapie led break increased to over seven (7) minutes during that time, but it was never allowed to climb over that marker.

As expected, the gap eventually came down as a result of AG2R La Mondiale's efforts to keep their leader, Rinaldo Nocentini, in yellow. But with a sizable distance to cover and another hard effort in front of them, Nocentini's men had finally run out of gas, slowing their pace and looking back at the peloton for some one, any one, to help their efforts.

To AG2R's rescue came Garmin-Slipstream.

Well chronicled rivals to their American based counterpart, Columbia-HTC, the orders had gone out and several Garmin-Slipstream riders amassed up front and helped AG2R pull back just enough time to retain the maillot jaune and keep it off Hincapie's shoulders, by a scant 5 seconds.

The aftermath of the situation was a scene more reminiscent of a Congressional hearing, littered with denials, excuses, and rhetoric, than of a bicycle race.

Because of the sentimental character that George Hincapie strikes, it is all too easy to over dramatized the situation that played out over 200km, as Matty White, Hincapie's former teammate and current Garmin-Slipstream race director stated to Velonews,

"It is unfortunate, but it’s my opinion we wouldn’t even be talking about it if it wasn’t George. If it was another rider, or another team or even someone else at Columbia. But we’re talking about it because George is American and he’s friends with the guys in team. But this was just the unfortunate consequence of guys riding at the front."

It is after all just a bicycle race, and these are more than typical occurrences, right?

Perhaps the most telling piece of what truly transpired may have come from one of the quietest and understated guys in the peloton. In four simple words sent out on Twitter, David Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream) substantiated what most of us were ready to leave to conjecture,

"Pawns In Their Game..."

Now Featuring - A Few Good Men
Starring As: Pfc. William T. Santiago - George Hincapie; Pfc. Louden Downey - David Zabriskie; Lt. Jonathan Kendrick - Matty White; Col. Nathan R. Jessup - Jonathan Vaughters

General Classification After Stage 14
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - HTC
3. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
4. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
5. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux
6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
7. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
8. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
9. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
10. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

There was no change to the leader's jerseys classifications.

Jersey Leader's After Stage 14
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Stage 15 - Pontarlier to Verbier (207.5 km)
The main course of 96th Tour de France is about to be served. Which of the contenders will go on the attack...will Astana's team leadership get sorted out...will an unknown quantity become a revelation?

Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

Guten Onya, Haussler Overcome - 96th Tour de France Stage 13

2009-07-17T18:51:00.000-04:00

On what was referred to as a medium mountain stage, a sprinter/classics rider would take the day. Such is the paradoxical nature of the Tour de France, where the fastest are sometimes the slowest, and the meek looking are sometimes the strongest.

Then again, today's victor is somewhat of a paradox himself. Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo Test Team) was born in Australia to German parents, but now lives in Germany. He speaks German and English, but with an Aussie accent. He favors the cold weather riding conditions of the northern spring classics, but has recently decided to move back to the warm weather of Australia.

Confused yet?

An area that is not of confusion for the 24-year old Haussler is his capabilities as a racer. He is an excellent rider. During the spring Classics campaign, Haussler would narrowly miss out on claiming two of the five monuments of cycling, the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Milano-San Remo; finishing second in both. And today, the German-Australian would take the biggest prize of his young career, a stage in the Tour de France.

Involved in a breakaway from the start, Haussler would shed all of his companions on the way to Colmar. Solo, the emotionally overcome Haussler would cross the line over four minutes ahead of the next rider, Amets Txurruka (Euskatel-Euskadi). Brice Feillu (Agritubel), the French revelation from Stage 7, rounded out today's podium.

Stage 13 Results
1. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 4:56:26
2. Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:04:11
3. Brice Feillu (Fra) Agritubel

Say It Ain't So
As a result of this morning's withdrawal of Levi Leipheimer (Astana), who sat in fourth on the General Classification, everyone moves up a spot. Leipheimer, who crashed in the final kilometers of the yesterday's stage, was found to have a broken wrist this morning. With surgery scheduled for this afternoon, the void created by Leipheimer's absence, both physically and psychologically, may cause Astana to reassess their tactics for the Alpine stages.

General Classification After Stage 13
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
5. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
6. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
7. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
8. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
10. Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

To The Mattresses
The competition for the maillot vert and the maillot à pois rouges has been fought tooth and nail. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) once again takes over the Points lead, proving that that the Green Jersey goes to the most consistent finisher and not the best sprinter of the Tour. The big Norwegian was able to get up and down on the undulating parcours, and took the points for his 6th place finish. He now holds a 5 point lead over Mark Cavendish (Columbia - HTC) who sauntered to the line today in the autobus.

Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) battle with Egoi Martinez (Euskatel-Euskadi) would yield him the maillot à pois rouges, which had sat on the Spaniard's shoulders for the past few days.

Jersey Leader's After Stage 13
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Stage 14 - Colmar to Besançon (199 km)
Sprinters, come out and play! A relatively flat stage will surely call out the sprinters with the high mountains in their near future. Can Cavendish come back over the top of Hushovd in the battle for the green jersey?

Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

WADA Seeks Lifetime Ban for Hamilton

2009-07-17T00:39:00.004-04:00

Last month, I wrote that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) had thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at Tyler Hamilton in suspending him for eight (8) years.

I was wrong. That honor belongs to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which is seeking a lifetime ban for Hamilton as a result of his second doping offense.

In response to WADA’s decision to seek a lifetime ban, Chris Manderson, Attorney of Record for Tyler Hamilton, released this statement yesterday.

"Tyler Hamilton took Mitamins, an herbal anti-depressant, in a moment of crisis while out of competition, with no intention or possibility of enhancing his cycling performance. Despite that, the rules do not distinguish between an intentional doping violation and Tyler's attempt to self medicate for depression. Based on their protocol, USADA imposed the minimum eight-year penalty in this situation, which was within the acceptable range of sanctions established by the World Anti-Doping Code, and we accepted that so Tyler could focus on his health and his future.

Now, contrary to Tyler's settlement with USADA, WADA is pursuing a lifetime ban as if Tyler's self-medication for depression had been an intentional violation to boost performance. There is no reasonable basis to have the maximum penalty imposed upon Tyler Hamilton for taking an herbal anti-depressant that happened to contain DHEA. Tyler has been diagnosed with and is battling clinical depression, an illness which many people suffer from, and which took the life of his grandmother and has afflicted his mother and sister.

Even worse, WADA has stated that the 8 year sanction "warrants scrutiny from an independent tribunal" because "it was the result of an agreement between USADA and the athlete," as though Tyler and USADA had somehow colluded in wrongdoing by agreeing to a sanction within the acceptable range under the WADA code. WADA did not even notify Tyler nor myself (Tyler's attorney of record) of its intent to pursue this action; we learned of it through the media.

WADA’s insistence on a lifetime ban against Tyler is a vindictive, personal and ruthless attempt to destroy a man who suffers from a serious illness, has ended his career, and has already accepted the penalty imposed upon him."

Rock Racing Team Owner, Michael Ball, added, “WADA continues to dig up graves and unjustly target undeserving individuals . The organization’s attempt to vilify Tyler Hamilton by pursuing a lifetime ban is despicable. This is clearly an athlete who did not take a banned substance for any performing enhancing benefits, yet took full accountability and responsibility for his actions. He cooperated every step of the way and accepted an eight year ban without a fight.

WADA claims to promote fairness and equality for athletes worldwide, principles that clearly do not apply to Tyler Hamilton. This action sends a very stark message to all athletes, that WADA can and will impose its will on certain individuals with absolutely no regard for the truth.

Cycling doesn’t need scapegoats to be cleaner. It needs fair anti-doping practices enforced by organizations that are truly interested in protecting the integrity of our sports.”

Great Dane, Sörensen Solos - 96th Tour de France Stage 12

2009-07-16T23:21:00.002-04:00

The course profile of the 211.5km Stage 12, from Tonnerre to Vittel, suggested another day for the sprinters, but instead it belonged to a breakaway.

Team Saxo Bank's Nicki Sörensen proved to be the strongest of a group of seven who escaped at the 74km mark. After bridging up to the orginal group of six escapees that included, the King of the Mountain (KOM) leader, Egoi Martinez (Euskatel-Euskadi), Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), Laurent Lefevre (BBOX Bouygues Telecom), Marcus Fothen (Milram), Sylvain Calzati (Agritubel), and Rémi Pauriol (Cofidis), the 34-year-old Dane would make one brilliant move after another. His final attack would separate him from his breakaway companions and launch himself on a solo sojourn into Vittel. An elated and exhausted Sörensen would cross the line 48 seconds ahead of Laurent Lefevre and Franco Pellizotti.

For his efforts, Sörensen would pull back over six minutes to the yellow jersey and move himself up ten places on the General Classification.

Stage 12 Results
1. Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
2. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
3. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

General Classification After Stage 12
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

No change to the top ten on the General Classification, but Mark Cavendish (Columbia - HTC) was able to extend his lead in the maillot vert competition over Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team). Cavendish took points at the first intermediate sprint and in the finale, where he took the bunch sprint and finished 8th.

Jersey Leader's After Stage 12
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC

Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskatel-Euskadi

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Stage 13 - Vittel to Colmar (200 km)
Referred to as a medium mountainous stage, Stage 13 features five climbs:

Côte de Xertigny (at km 46) - 2.0 km climb to 5.3 % - Category 3
Col de la Schlucht (at km 105) - 8.9 km climb to 4.2 % - Category 2
Col du Platzerwasel (at km 138.5) - 8.7 km climb to 7.6 % - Category 1
Col du Bannstein (at km 165.5) - 2.1 km climb to 5.1 % - Category 3
Col du Firstplan (at km 179.5) - 8.4 km climb to 5.4 % - Category 2

Don't expect this stage to be decisive in the grand scheme of things, but rest assured the maillot jaune will weigh heavy on the shoulders of Rinaldo Nocentini and his AG2R La Mondiale teammates. Will they be able to defend it for one more day?

Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

Deja Dominant, Cavendish Takes Fourth - 96th Tour de France Stage 11

2009-07-16T00:12:00.002-04:00

With an uphill finish on today's 192km Stage 11 from Vatan to Saint Fargeau, Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC) was not a popular pick to take the victory.

Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) and Oscar Freire (Rabobank) seemed more physically suited for this type of finishing straight and had proven so during the Stage 6 run in into Barcleona. Even Classics' hardmen like Pippo Pozzato (Liquigas) and Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) were deemed better fits to take the win in Saint Fargeau.

Oh, how soon we forget.

These were the same criticisms that pundits, and riders alike, had previously leveled against the the Isle of Man sprinter, that is until this year's la classica di Primavera, Milano-San Remo.

On that day, Cavendish would tame the vaunted climbs up the Cipressa and Poggia for his first major victory.

It came as a bit of a surprise then that Cavendish's chances to win today's uphill sprint amounted to a little more than background noise for some commentators. The win gave Cavendish four in this year's race, while tying him with Barry Hoban for most Tour victories, eight, by a British rider.

For those who believe Mark Cavendish to be the "fastest man on two wheels," you can now attach the qualifier, on any parcour.

A more than game Tyler Farrar (Garmin - Slipstream) finished second, and Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) rounded out the podium.

Stage 11 Results
1. Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC)
2. Tyler Farrar (Garmin - Slipstream)
3. Alessandro Ballan (Lampre)

General Classification After Stage 11
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

As a result of his stage win, Cavendish reclaimed the maillot vert from Hushovd who faded in today's finale.

Jersey Leader's After Stage 11
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC

Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskatel-Euskadi

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Stage 12 - Tonnerre to Vittel (211.5 km)
Can the Columbia - HTC train deliver Manxman for a third day in a row? Right now, the only train that might be able to keep up with the boys from SLO is the TGV. Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

British Fireworks on Bastille Day - 96th Tour de France Stage 10

2009-07-14T20:49:00.004-04:00

On Le Fête Nationale, Bastille Day, the fireworks were supplied, not by a Frenchman, but by a Brit.

Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC), technically from the Isle of Man, showed that he had enough firepower to light up the overcast skies over the Stage 10 finishing town of Issoudun as he easily took the sprint in front of Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin - Slipstream).

No other man, or more specifically Frenchman, was even close.

It is true that Manxman is currently considered as "the fastest man on two wheels," but on this day of French national pride and in what is considered the greatest bicycle race, La Grand Boucle, on the racing calendar, it seems as if the country that produced great champions such as Hinault and Anquetil is now bone dry of them.

Despite their three victories in ten stages of this year's Tour de France, French road cycling has been surpassed by every other cycling country, even tiny Luxembourg, which boasts serious Tour contenders in the Brothers Schleck and Cavendish's teammate, Kim Kirchen.

The same, however, cannot be said of the French National Track Cycling Team, which is one of the world's finest programs and has at least beaten their British counterparts with some regularity in recent times.

If only the French could transfer some of that talent to the road, as Britain clearly has in Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins (Team Garmin - Slipsteam), then France may have something more to celebrate than what transpired in 1789 (and no that isn't the last time a Frenchman won the Tour de France).

See more of Cavendish, with teammate George Hincapie and Lance Armstrong on LIVESTRONG.com

Stage 10 Results
1. Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC)
2. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team)
3. Tyler Farrar (Garmin - Slipstream)

General Classification After Stage 10
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

Thor Hushovd did just enough in the sprint to keep the maillot vert on his shoulders and off a very anxious Cavendish, whose appetite for green is becoming voracious.

Jersey Leader's After Stage 10
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskatel-Euskadi

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Stage 11 - Vatan to Saint Fargeau (192 km)
Another day for the sprinter's...or will a breakaway succeed? Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com

Team Type 1 the Toast from Coast to Coast

2009-07-14T01:46:00.000-04:00

Eldridge Keeps Lead In Rider Of The Year Standings

East Point, Ga. – Team Type 1 co-founder Joe Eldridge maintained his lead in the East Point Velodrome Rider of the Year standings following Saturday’s “Outback Bikes presents The Wheelrace,” the second of three pro race series events at the Dick Lane Velodrome.

Eldridge finished third on points in the omnium scoring with a win in the madison, second in the 60-lap points race and five-lap scratch race and fourth in the miss-n-out and 20-lap motorpace races. Emile Abraham (AeroCat Cycling Team) took the overall Saturday night, ahead of Bennet VanderGenugten (Kenda Pro Cycling).

For the season, Eldridge leads Steve Hill (Brooks Cycles) by 50 points in the Rider of the Year standings. Abraham is third, 64 points behind.

As one of four riders on the Team Type 1 men’s professional squad who has Type 1 diabetes, Eldridge must closely monitor his blood glucose level during competition. In Saturday’s race, he went into the 60-lap points race with a level of 172 and finished at 146.

In the Madison race that he won later on that hot and humid night, he was 164 at the start and 240 at the finish.

“That race was very intense and high stress,” Eldridge said. “that’s what caused my blood glucose (to) spike. After the race, I did a bolus of Apidra to get the sugar back down and was at 103 about 45 minutes after the race.”

Hanson Wins At San Rafael

San Rafael, Calif. – Ken Hanson of Team Type 1 shot through the darkness to win the San Rafael Twilight Criterium in front of several thousand spectators Saturday night in the Marin County town north of San Francisco.

Hanson, the reigning U.S. elite national criterium champion beat U.S. professional criterium champion Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) and Daniel Holloway (Team Garmin-Slipstream) to earn his second win of the year and seventh podium finish.

“It was pretty fast, so I just waited for my time to move up,” Hanson said. “Coming through the last corner, he (Bahati) went left with Holloway, I had an open slot to the right so I had a clear shot to the line. Fortunately, I was able to hold it all the way.”

Hanson said he remained patient throughout the 75-minute race, even as a number of breakaways threatened to spoil the field sprint. With no teammates to help chase them down, it was left to the Hanson to do much of the work.

“I made some big efforts to stay up front and go with any dangerous moves,” he said. One time I had to chase for half a lap.”

Powers Victorious At Winter Park Series Race

Winter Park, Colo. – Alison Powers of Team Type 1 won her final tune-up before this weekend’s USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships by capturing the Valley Point-to-Point mountain bike race Saturday in Winter Park, Colo.

The reigning U.S. national time trial champion was 22 seconds faster than Eszter Horanyi (Waltworks/Fuentes Design) over a 23.5-mile (37.8 km) course that featured 2,600 feet of climbing. Amy Dombroski (Webcor Builders) finished third.

Powers’s victory was her 12th of the season and the 27th for the Team Type 1 women’s professional team.

Team Lampre on New Wilier Triestina Bicycles at Tour de France

2009-07-14T01:44:00.000-04:00

World Champion Ballan and Teammates Showcase 2010 Wilier Models

Atlanta, GA – Wilier Triestina USA has announced that ProTour Team Lampre is riding two new Wilier production models at the 2009 edition of the Tour de France. Staff members of Team Lampre hosted a number of journalists on-site before the start in Monaco who had a chance to see Wilier’s top competition models for 2010, including the Cento1 Superleggera and the Tri-Crono time trial bike.

The Cento1 Superleggera (“Superlight” or “SL”) is identical in form and technical characteristics as the award-winning Cento1 and was already ProTour proven before the Grand Départ, having been ridden by members of Team Lampre at the Giro d’Italia. The monocoque composition of the Cento1 SL benefits from three innovations: 1) a larger scale implementation of carbon wonder-material 46 Ton, 2) the strategic application of 60 Ton in key stress areas, and 3) the enhanced directional orientation of both those materials. The final layer of carbon added before the monocoque mold is set for curing is designed to dampen road vibrations as well as make the frame more impact-resistant.

Wilier also redesigned the bottom bracket shell and head tube to reduce weight, and went even further by utilizing the latest in paint and clear coat technology to shave grams. All of these efforts have resulted in a weight savings of 130gr.

With the success of the Cento Crono in both the ProTour and in professional triathlon, Wilier dealers and customers asked for a more affordable version of the TT superbike to satisfy broader demand. The new Tri-Crono is a slightly revamped version of the Cento Crono which provides the same waveform dynamics aerodynamic design, performance features and carbon composition, while targeting a more aggressive price point. The Tri-Crono has become the official time trial bike of Team Lampre.

Angelo Cilli, President of Wilier Triestina USA, said, “We believe that in this era of composites technology and bike development, the number one priority is thoughtful innovation. By thoughtful I mean are not only looking to create bikes that are among the lightest and most aerodynamic – they must also ride and handle ‘like a Wilier,’ which has made our bikes famous since 1906. We are happy to announce that our 2010 product line lives up to those expectations in every way.”

BBOX Doubles, Nocentini Jaundice - 96th Tour de France Stage 9

2009-07-14T01:33:00.000-04:00

With the Col d'Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet prominently featured on the 160.5 km Stage 9 from Saint-Gaudens to Tarbes, fireworks among the top contenders was highly anticipated.

But as the kilometers clicked by and the race unfolded, it became painfully obvious that the big guns of the peloton would remain holstered. None ventured to attack, nor feign interest in doing so. In fact, the pace up the monstrous Tourmalet was slow enough that most believed the sprinter's autobus had summitted with the waifish climbers.

Instead, the excitement came from a pair of breakaway companions who had to dig deep in the final kilometers to hold off a hard rushing peloton.

Pierrick Fedrigo (BBOX Bouygues Telecom) out sprinted Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) to take the victory ahead of a peloton that slowed sufficiently in the narrow run in of Tarbes. Fedrigo's triumph gave BBOX Bouygues Telecom a pair of wins, and the country of France a trio, in this year's Tour.

Oscar Freire (Rabobank), a three-time World Champion, would cross the line as the best of the rest for third place.

Stage 9 Results
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
2. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
3. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank

No movement in the General Classification occurred despite Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) flatting in the final kilometers of the run into Tarbes. The ever attentive Jens Voigt was able to tow his teammate up to the back of the fleeing peloton in order to prevent any time gaps.

Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) remained in yellow, and looks like a great bet to defend the jersey up until Alps.

General Classification After Stage 9
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

Jersey Leader's After Stage 9
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskatel-Euskadi

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Rest Day - Limoges; Stage 10 - Limoges to Issoudun (160.5 km)
A classic sprinter's profile...the battle for the maillot vert renews.

Hausler Finishes In Pink, Bookends For Wild - 20th Giro Donne Stage 9

2009-07-12T23:42:00.000-04:00

To say that the women of Cervelo Test Team had an outstanding ten days at the Giro d'Italia Femminile would perhaps be an understatement.

The team proved utterly dominant, winning the Prologue and 2 other stages, and leading the General Classification, including on the final stage, for eight (8) out of ten (10) days.

Kirsten Wild would finish with bookend victories, claiming the Prologue and Stage 9; the latter in a sprint ahead of Safi - Pasta Zara Titanedi teammates, Giorgia Bronzini and Diana Ziliute.

Stage 9 Results
1. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervelo TestTeam
2. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Titanedi
3. Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi - Pasta Zara Titanedi

Other Stage Notables
9. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
13. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
17. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
31. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
56. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
68. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
80. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
82. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
84. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
92. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
98. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
103. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
104. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data

Wild's teammate, Claudia Hausler, capped Cervelo's week by finishing Stage 9 safely in the pack and taking the overall victory 30 seconds ahead of American Mara Abbott (Team Columbia - HTC), who won Stage 3.

Final General Classification
1. Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam - 25:21:32
2. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women - 0:00:30
3. Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team - 0:02:33
4. Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam - 0:06:35
5. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino - 0:06:51
6. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi - 0:08:53
7. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox - 0:10:54
8. Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo TestTeam - 0:12:29
9. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint - 0:14:13
10. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago - 0:14:23

Other Notables
11. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam - 0:16:31
14. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox - 0:21:53
19. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women - 0:29:05
29. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team - 0:48:08
54. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team - 1:15:43
56. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team - 1:16:30
70. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team - 1:26:36
77. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team - 1:36:07
82. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data - 1:47:58
98. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data - 2:17:55
99. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team - 2:19:22

Leader's Jersey Winners
maglia rosa - Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team)
maglia ciclamino - Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team)
maglia verde - Mara Abbott (Columbia - HTC Women)
maglia bianca - Elizabeth Armitstead (Lotto Betisol Ladies Team)

Photo: www.girodonne.it

Robin and Lance (from Livestrong.com)

2009-07-12T17:58:00.005-04:00

This video is available on Livestrong.com, of course, which the Crankset hopes you check often (especially when Granny is live-blogging the Tour stages, as he did this past weekend).

What's striking about the video is how much Robin Williams has aged since his heart surgery in the spring and just how lean OBL looks (the cheeks have that hollow look of years past).

That said, Robin is as funny as ever; I can watch this piece over and over! And OBL is riding with his form of old. The best of the '09 Tour is yet to come!

robinandlance.AVI -- powered by http://www.livestrong.com

Trixi, A Speed Racer - 20th Giro Donne Stage 8

2009-07-11T20:48:00.000-04:00

Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) soloed to victory on the eighth stage of the 2009 Giro Donne from San Marco dei Cavoti to Pesco Sannita.

The highly motivated German would set out on her solo sojourn right after the start of today's stage in San Marco dei Cavoti. A group of four, including Shelley Olds (USA), Svetlana Bubnenkova (Fenixs), Tatiana Guderzo (Michela Fanin Record Rox), and Loes Gunnewijk (Flexpoint), eventually set out in pursuit of Worrack. But by that time, Worrack had already built up a substantial lead. She would cross the line 1 minute and 35 seconds ahead of the quartet.

PROMAN Hit Squad's Shelley Olds, riding for the US National Team, took second ahead of Bubnenkova.

Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team) held on to the maglia rosa and inched closer to the overall title. Her compatriot, Judith Arndt (Team Columbia - HTC), however, wasn't as fortunate. Arndt was forced to withdraw today after a crash. She suffered a severe contusion to the right shoulder, elbow and right side, and was transported to the hospital for radiographs.

Stage 8 Results
1. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
2. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team 0:01:13
3. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino

Other Notables
12. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
14. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
17. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
32. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
58. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
61. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
62. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
95. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data
96. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
108. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
112. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
DNF Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women

General Classification After Stage 8
1. Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam
2. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
3. Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
4. Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam
5. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino
6. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi
7. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
8. Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo TestTeam
9. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint
10. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago

Other Notables
11. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
14. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
19. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
30. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
40. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
57. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
58. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
75. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
81. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
88. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
103. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data
107. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team

With Judith Arndt crashing out of the race, Claudia Hausler

Jersey Leader's After Stage 8
maglia rosa - Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team)
maglia ciclamino - Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team)
maglia verde - Mara Abbott (Columbia - HTC Women)
maglia bianca - Elizabeth Armitstead (Lotto Betisol Ladies Team)

Next: Stage 9 - Grumo Nevano (111.2km)
The final stage of the 2009 Giro Donne.

Photo: www.girodonne.it

León Sánchez Out Thinks Then Out Sprints - 96th Tour de France Stage 8

2009-07-11T20:29:00.001-04:00

It has become abundantly clear that the 2009 edition of the Tour de France will test the full specter of talents and strengths of each rider. The parcours do not really favor one style of rider, like the climber, or time trialist, nor do they favor the combination rider, like the climber/time trialist or the sprinter/climber.

The route truly seems to be for the classic all-rounder. The Tour organizers have seen to that fact.

The number of mountain-top finishes, while exciting viewing for the average cycling fan, have been reduced and replaced in favor of mountain stages that take in the full expanse of the mountain, both ascent and descent. This fact has provided riders with more opportunities to attack, and whether they are aware of it or not, given them back the instinctual racing capabilities that many feel have been lost with the over abundance of in-race communications.

The outcome of today's Stage 8, covering 176.5km from Andorre-la-Vieille to Saint-Girons showed how difficult is it for one team to control the race, or for one rider to simply display his excellence in one particular cycling discipline.

The day was filled with continuous assaults out of the peloton providing a shuffling and reshuffling of the lead group. A group of four, including Luis León Sánchez Gil (Caisse d'Epargne), Mikel Astarloza (Euskatel-Euskadi), Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), and Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R La Mondiale) would finally establish themselves up the final climb.

At the line, Sanchez would out think and then out sprint his breakaway companions to claim the victory.

Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) remained in yellow, as there was no significant change atop the General Classification. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) would take some intermediate sprint points out on the course to move into the maillot vert lead in front of Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC), while Christophe Kern (Cofidis) would climb into polka-dots.

Stage 8 Results
1. Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
2. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
3. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi

General Classification After Stage 8
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

Jersey Leader's After Stage 8
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Stage 9 - Saint-Gaudens to Tarbes (160.5 km)
The Hors Categorie, Col du Tourmalet looms large on the stage to Tarbes. Follow our LIVE Tour de France commentary on LIVESTRONG.com.

Follow The Tour LIVE on LIVESTRONG.com

2009-07-11T06:56:00.001-04:00

We've been handed the keys, so to speak, of the LIVESTRONG.com LIVE Coverage of the 96th Tour de France.

Follow the rest of the Tour with us, as we guest commentate/moderate the LIVE Blogging feed on the LIVESTRONG.com website. Special thanks to Jodi Cararas, Director of Content, who initiated the contact, and to Dan Brian, Director, LIVESTRONG.com. We may not be Phil and Paul, yet, but we hope to add some of the crankiness that the Triple has become known for, and keep the well oiled machine, that is LIVESTRONG.com, moving forward.

Role Reversal, Hausler Takes Stage Ahead of Arndt - 20th Giro Donne Stage 7

2009-07-11T02:00:00.000-04:00

The winner of this year's Tour de L'Aude, Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team) is one step closer to winning the 20th Giro Donne and achieving the monumental double.

In an effort reminiscent of the stage before, Hausler and Team Columbia -HTC teammates Judith Arndt and Mara Abbott would separate themselves from the peloton. But unlike yesterday, it would be Claudia Hausler taking the 131.2 km Stage 7 from Andria to Castel del Monte ahead of Arndt and Abbott, respectively.

Barring a catastrophe or an extraordinary effort, the final maglia rosa should be on the shoulders of one of these three women.

Stage 7 Results
1. Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam
2. Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women
3. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women

Other Notables
6. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
16. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
17. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
29. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
35. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
38. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
62. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
101. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
102. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
104. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
107. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
109. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data

General Classification After Stage 7
1. Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam
2. Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women
3. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
4. Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
5. Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam
6. Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo TestTeam
7. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi
8. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino
9. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago
10. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox

Other Notables
13. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
15. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
18. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
37. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
61. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
62. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
63. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
86. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
90. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
102. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
107. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data

maglia rosa - Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team)
maglia ciclamino - Judith Arndt (Columbia - HTC Women)
maglia verde - Mara Abbott (Columbia - HTC Women)
maglia bianca - Elizabeth Armitstead (Lotto Betisol Ladies Team)

Next: Stage 8 - San Marco dei Cavoti to Pesco Sannita (115.6 km)

Feillu Precocious, Contador Flies The Coup - 96th Tour de France Stage 7

2009-07-11T01:31:00.000-04:00

Credit should be given when it is due. Brice Feillu (Agritubel), a first year French professional and brother of sprinter Romain Feillu (Agritubel), was simply superb on a day, which saw the first mountains of the 96th Tour de France.

Likewise, the Italian Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) surprised himself and rode his way into the maillot jaune.

But, the battle behind the breakaway overshadowed everything.

Alberto Contador (Astana) would make his opening statement in the debate for leadership of Team Astana, and for the Tour. In a move which seemed to catch his teammates, including Lance Armstrong by surprise, Contador accelerated away from a select group of riders, climbing his way into second, a scant 2 seconds ahead of the 37-year-old Texan.

Although he is not working the Tour, perhaps our commentator friend, Dave Towle, could describe it best. "It's On, On Like Donkey Kong!"

Stage 7 Results
1. Brice Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
2. Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
3. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram

As you can imagine, the first mountainous stage of the 2009 Tour de France brought with it some major upheaval. Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale), seemingly forgotten on the GC, takes the maillot jaune by virtue of being in the breakaway.

General Classification After Stage 7
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

Jersey Leader's After Stage 7
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC

Brice Feillu (Fra) Agritubel

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Stage 8 - Andorre-la-Vieille to Saint-Girons (176.5 km)

Hoch soll Arndt leben! - 20th Giro Donne Stage 6

2009-07-11T00:55:00.000-04:00

Team Columbia - HTC's Judith Arndt wins the sixth stage as Cervelo passes around the maglia rosa

With only three stages left until the completion of the 2009 Giro Donne, Stage 6 from Cerro al Volturno to Sannita Sant'Elena would prove to be decisive.

The 119 km route, marked by a series of long climbs in the province of Isernia, brought the class of the field to the forefront. A pair of Team Columbia - HTC teammates, German Judith Arndt and American Mara Abbott would duel with Claudia Häusler (Cervelo Test Team) in the finale.

Ultimately, Arndt would take the stage just ahead of her German compatriot, Häusler, but the 2009 Tour de l'Aude champion would garner the greatest spoils as she claimed the maglia rosa off the shoulder of her teammate, Emma Pooley (Cervelo Test Team), who defended the leader's jersey for the past three days.

Stage 6 Results
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women
2. Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam
3. Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team

Other Notables
4. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
11. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
13. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
17. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
22. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
30. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
48. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
50. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
75. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
79. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
104. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
109. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
120. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data

General Classification After Stage 6
1. Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam
2. Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women
3. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
4. Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
5. Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam
6. Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo TestTeam
7. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi
8. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino
9. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago
10. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox

Other Notables
14. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
15. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
20. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
35. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
40. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
64. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
66. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
68. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
81. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
90. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
101. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
111. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data

maglia rosa - Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team)
maglia ciclamino - Judith Arndt (Columbia - HTC Women)
maglia verde - Mara Abbott (Columbia - HTC Women)
maglia bianca - Elizabeth Armitstead (Lotto Betisol Ladies Team)

Next: Stage 7 - Andria to Castel del Monte

Barcelona Thunderstruck...Hushovd Takes Stage, Millar Captures Hearts - 96th Tour de France Stage 6

2009-07-11T00:39:00.000-04:00

It's a common occurrence in the sport of cycling, the person(s) who makes the race often doesn't win it. Such was the case yesterday on the 181.5 km Stage 6 from Gerone to Barcelone. Garmin-Slipstream's David Millar made the race, but Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) finished it.

Thursday's course, lumpy with a relatively flat run into the finish, and the weather, overcast and stormy, beckoned to those who might seek their fortune away from the comfort of the gruppo. Several attempts by various riders failed early on. But as the skies began to open up, Millar, Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) and Stéphane Augé (Cofidis) were finally able to break free of the peloton’s constraints.

Millar would quickly find himself alone, tete de la course, as Chavanel and Augé ultimately relented to those intrusive inner voices that spoke to the futility of their attempted endeavor.

In the finale, it seemed as if the cycling gods had finally conspired to carry Millar on to victory. Slick roads and a tortuous entry into Barcelona sent chasing riders to the pavement; speeds fluctuated.

But, destiny's call proved to be a siren song for Millar. Just meters away from the flamme rouge, he would succumb to the angry and furious spinning of the sprinters' wheels. Chief among them was Hushovd, who powered by a pair of Spaniards eager to win on home soil.

The sport of cycling is, on any given day, as elating as it is crushing, as beautiful as it is cruel. But what is most remarkable about cycling is the fact that legendary efforts are sometimes lauded more than the victories that oversahdowed them at the time.

The win may have gone to Hushovd, but hearts and minds were with Millar.

Stage 6 Results
1. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
2. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
3. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

General Classification After Stage 6
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 19:29:22
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:19
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:00:23
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0:00:31
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:00:38
7 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC 0:00:52
8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:01:16
9 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:22
10 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC

Jersey Leader's After Stage 6
Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank

Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC

Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Stage 7 - Barcelone to Andorre Arcalis (224km)
The first day in the mountains should offer up the first true selection.

Cantele Lane - 20th Giro Donne Stage 5

2009-07-09T10:20:00.002-04:00

Noemi Cantele (Bigla Cycling Team) claimed her first Giro Donne win yesterday by taking the 114km fifth stage, from Fossacesia to Cerro al Volturno, solo.

The Italian proved to be the strongest of a group of six that escaped midway through the stage. The group, which included Cantele’s teammate, Jennifer Hohl, Giorgia Bronzini (Safi Pasta Zara), Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia), Sigrid Corneo (Selle Italy Ghezzi), and Julia Martisova (Gauss RDZ), would build up over a minute lead on the peloton heading into the final climb. But only Cantele would survive the finale that kicked up at 16% in some sections and was followed by a section of Pavè. Bronzini would cross the line in second just ahead of Teutenberg.

Stage 5 Results
1. Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team
2. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Titanedi
3. Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women

American chances took a serious hit as Amber Neben (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) would crash out of the race. She sat in 5th place on the General Classification before the start of Stage 5.

Other Notables
18. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
20. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
30. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
50. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
51. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
72. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
75. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
81. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
82. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
93. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
117. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
118. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data
DNF Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung

Despite a ninth place finish on Stage 5, Emma Pooley (Cervelo TestTeam) remained on top of the General Classification standings and donned her third maglia rosa of the 20th Giro Donne.

General Classification After Stage 5
1. Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam
2. Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam
3. Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women
4. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
5. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino
6. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago
7. Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo TestTeam
8. Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
9. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi
10. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox

Other Notables
15. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
21. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
34. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
52. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
58. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
62. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
63. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
76. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
79. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
88. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
103. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
112. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data

Leader's Jerseys After Stage 5
maglia rosa - Emma Pooley (Cervelo Test Team)
maglia ciclamino - Judith Arndt (Team Columbia - HTC Women)
maglia verde - Mara Abbott (Team Columbia - HTC Women)
maglia bianca - Elizabeth Armitstead (Lotto Betisol Ladies Team)

Next: Stage 6 - Cerro al Volturno to Sannita Sant'Elena (119 km)

Photo: http://www.procm.ch/noemi-cantele/ (Cantele at the 2009 Tour de l'Aude)

Voeckler Makes Amends, Solos - 96th Tour de France Stage 5

2009-07-09T00:40:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I had a bit of fun at the expense of BBOX Bouygues Telecom after their disastrous and forgettable team time trial.

Not since Michael Rasmussen's attempt at time trialing, during one of the final stages of the 2005 Tour de France, had my senses vacillated from disappointment to embarrassment, and from tragedy to comedy so instantaneously.

But, one of the beautiful aspects of participating in a three week race is having the opportunity to immediately redeem yourself should things go as terribly wrong as they did for BBOX on Stage 4.

Taking up the challenge to defend, and perhaps regain some respect for, his BBOX Bouygues Telecom teammates would be Thomas Voeckler. Caught up in an early breakaway of four on the 196.5 km Stage 5 from Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan, Voeckler would end up soloing to victory in front of a French crowd steeped in Catalan culture. Breakaway partner, Mikhail Ignatiev (Team Katusha) narrowly hung on for second before a hard charging peloton led by Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC) swarmed him over.

Stage 5 Results
1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
2. Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha
3. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC

There was no change at the top of the General Classification, nor did any leader's jerseys change hands.

General Classification After Stage 5
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
3. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
4. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
5. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
7. Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Astana
8. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
9. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
10. David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream

Jersey Leader's After Stage 5
Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank

Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC

Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Francaise Des Jeux

Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC

Next: Stage 6 - Gérone to Barcelone (181.5 km)
It should be another mad dash into the city of Barcelona with the mountains looming on Stage 7.

Teutenberg Takes Twentieth - 20th Giro Donne Stage 4

2009-07-08T07:36:00.003-04:00

With all due respect to Mark Cavendish, but he may not even be the best sprinter on Team Columbia - HTC. That distinction belongs to Ina Yoko-Teutenberg (Columbia - HTC Women), who won yesterday's 109.2km Stage 4 of the 20th Giro Donne in Porto Sant'Elpidio.

The victory was Teutenberg's 20th on the year. Kirsten Wild (Cervelo TestTeam) and Monia Baccaille (S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox) would finish second and third respectively.

The top of the General Classification would remain relatively unchanged with Emma Pooley (Cervelo TestTeam) staying in the catbird seat for the second consecutive day.

Results After Stage 4
1. Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women
2. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervelo TestTeam
3. Monia Baccaille (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox

Other Notables
5. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
9. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
14. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
16. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
17. Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
31. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
32. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
39. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
62. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
67. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
76. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
90. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
91. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
113. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data

General Classification After Stage 4
1. Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam
2. Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
3. Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam
4. Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women
5. Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
6. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino
7. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago
8. Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo TestTeam
9. Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
10. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi

Other Notables
16. Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam
23. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
34. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
52. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) US National Team
64. Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team
70. Meredith Miller (USA) US National Team
71. Lisa Racchetto (USA) Team System Data
72. Lauren Tamayo (USA) US National Team
81. Shelley Olds (USA) US National Team
88. Megan Guarnier (USA) US National Team
91. Brooke Miller (USA) US National Team
102. Liz Hatch (USA) Team System Data

Next: Stage 5 - Fossacesia to Cerro al Volturno (109.2km)

Photo: www.girodonne.it