Rock Racing Announces Creation of Catastrophic Injury Fund First-Of-Its-Kind Fund To Benefit Professional Cyclists

Culver City, Calif. -- Rock Racing today announced the creation of the “Professional Cycling Catastrophic Injury Fund,” a charitable entity to raise money for professional and elite amateur cyclists who suffer a catastrophic injury as a result of their participation in the competitive sport of cycling.

The first of its kind, the fund will offer financial assistance for riders who are injured in a sport that often involves high speeds and technical courses -- particularly in major events such as the Tour de France, which begins July 5.

“Devastating crashes and cycling go hand in hand and currently there is no safety net in place,” said Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball. “If these riders get seriously injured, that’s it. There is no insurance, no pension and no workman’s comp. There is nothing. This is the first time there will be a financial support mechanism in place.”

Rock Racing will make the initial contribution with a significant donation and will continue the fund’s growth through direct monetary contributions as well as a percentage of its own sales. Ten percent of all Rock Racing on-line sales will benefit the fund as will 100 percent of proceeds from special Fund-branded products to be introduced later this year. The goal is to raise $20 million over the next two years.

While Rock Racing is taking the lead in securing protection for these athletes and their families, Ball says it is a collective industry responsibility.

“I challenge every other cycling organization, sponsor, and manufacturer -- any entity that generates revenue from bicycle racing -- to contribute to this fund and support these amazing athletes for the risks they take every day. The fund will create a truly powerful and viable resource that supports our sport and takes care of our athletes.”

The fund will be devoted to providing financial assistance for medical and rehabilitative care, increasing public awareness of safety issues related to bicycle racing, promoting increased participation in the sport and engaging in other charitable activities associated with cycling.

The establishment of the Professional and Amateur Cyclist Injury Fund comes on the heels of a year marked by an inordinate number of crashes.

At the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico in May, former Mexican National Champion Fausto Munoz Esparza crashed during a high-speed descent and was left paralyzed. At speeds of 50 mph, cyclist Tim Duggan landed on his head and was left unconscious on the pavement during Stage 3 of the Tour de Georgia. High-profile races such as the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia have sidelined elite racers and brought renewed attention to the sport’s dangerous nature. Saul Raisin, David Zabriskie and 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador are among those whose tales of dramatic crashes and road rash are legendary.

Rock Racing’s Fred Rodriguez, a three-time U.S. national road race champion, appreciates the establishment of the fund, having himself experienced a number of potentially career-ending crashes.

“The thrill of cycling comes with the reality that one hard fall can end it all,” Rodriguez said. “Until now, there has been no formal support system for cyclists who crash. This fund is an important step in the right direction for the sport as a whole.”

As a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, contributions to the fund will be tax deductible. Decisions regarding the amounts and future beneficiaries of the fund will be decided by a panel of experts and other persons committed to the sport of cycling.

Interbike International Bicycle Expo and OutDoor Demo to Remain in Las Vegas

Host city research and industry feedback confirms Las Vegas is the best return on investment for exhibitors and attendees of North America's largest cycling trade show

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. - After two years of collecting potential host city data and retailer, manufacturer and industry partner feedback, Interbike management today announced the trade show will remain in Las Vegas, and that they are currently finalizing an agreement with the Sands Expo and Convention Center to host the industry's show for a minimum of three more years, beginning with the 2010 show.

"The decision to keep the Interbike show in Vegas comes after years of research and communication with our retailer attendees, exhibiting manufacturers and important industry partners," said Lance Camisasca, Interbike's industry consultant. "The data and communication we have collected, along with industry recommendations from organizations like the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) and Bikes Belong, confirm our decision to keep the show in Las Vegas."

Keeping Las Vegas as the host city for the Interbike trade show came into question two years ago in preparation to renew the show's contract with the Sands Convention Center, which expires with the 2009 show. Among other things, members of the industry were interested in seeing the show support a more cycling-friendly city, while maintaining the best return on investment for exhibitors and retail buyers.

The Decision Process
In identifying possible locations for the show, Interbike selected key market criteria it considered mandatory for a host venue. Interbike's top venue requirements include:

• Contiguous exhibit space of at least 700,000 gross square-feet and ample meeting room space,
• An event location where retailer and manufacturer attendance can be maximized,
• A large and diverse selection of hotels, restaurants and entertainment options conveniently located to the events,
• An international airport located within close proximity to the event with many flight options, numerous carriers and low airfare rates,
• Relaxed labor union regulations and high quality services,
• An OutDoor Demo site with great weather, extensive cross country/downhill trails and a closed road loop, and
• An event market that is recognized as a cycling culture destination.

After determining the requirements for a potential host city, Interbike gathered research and data concerning hotel room availability, transportation costs, labor rates and convention centers in cities such as Anaheim, Calif., Denver, and Salt Lake City.

At the 2007 and 2008 Bicycle Leadership Conferences (BLC), Interbike presented to the industry host city suggestions and led roundtable discussions to assess the needs of exhibiting manufacturers. Manufacturer feedback included keeping exhibitor costs down, continuing to attract a strong audience of quality buyers and attending media, and strengthening the OutDoor Demo events, regardless of the show's location.

As part of its annual post-show retailer survey, Interbike asked specific questions about retailer satisfaction with the show, its locations and potential host cities. Retailer responses included:

• 96 percent of retailers surveyed were very satisfied or satisfied with their overall show experience,
• The number one and two reasons retailers attended the show were to see new products and take in a variety of product segments,
• As of the April 2008, 88 percent of retailers are planning on attending Interbike this year.

When asked which city would best suite their business needs...

• 45 percent said Las Vegas,
• 36 percent said Denver, and
• 19 percent said Anaheim.

Retailers' top reasons for choosing Las Vegas include the lodging, restaurant and entertainment options, fun destination and ease of getting to the event.

"While no one city is a completely perfect fit for the show, we are confident that Las Vegas continues to be the city of choice for the majority of our members," said Fred Clements, executive director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association. "After numerous communications with our members and board and reviewing the annual survey results, the proof is in the numbers. In addition to what shop owners and managers say to us and what they put in a survey, retailers' loudest vote has been with their feet by attending the show."

As a final step, armed with the numbers and data from the retailer survey, attendance history, host city research and manufacturer responses to panel discussions at the annual BLC, Interbike met with NBDA and Bikes Belong board members and presented the recommendation to keep Interbike in Las Vegas.

"Interbike did a great job of sharing their survey results and other research," said Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong. "After so many years in Las Vegas, the simple idea of a new host city is appealing, but the data shows that retailers and suppliers still prefer this city for a variety of good reasons. Thus, we support the decision to stay for the next few years."

"I will sleep well at night knowing that no stone was left unturned in our efforts to make the best decision for our industry's manufactures, suppliers and retail buyers," Camisasca said. "All of the data and research shows that by and large, retailers like Las Vegas and will continue to attend Interbike in this market. Exhibitors want strong attendance, the lowest cost of doing business and a dynamite location for the OutDoor Demo. Las Vegas delivers exceptionally well in all of these critical areas, but we will continue to evaluate potential host cities as they develop."

For more information about the 2008 International Bicycle Expo, OutDoor Demo and/or OutDoor Demo East, please visit www.interbike.com.

Rock Racing’s Bahati Rules Manhattan Beach Again

Manhattan Beach, Calif. — Rahsaan Bahati won his sixth race of the season in convincing fashion Sunday, scoring an impressive second straight victory at the 47th edition of the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix.

Bahati swept across the finish line on a sun-splashed afternoon at Live Oak Park ahead of runner-up Ricardo Escuela (Successful Living presented by Parkpre) and Brad Huff (Jelly Belly Pro Cycling).

“I had a lot of trust in my teammates and they delivered,” Bahati said before being congratulated by Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball and a host of teammates and cheering fans. “With a lap to go, I was concerned about us getting swarmed. But our lead out was tremendous. The guys started sprinting with a kilometer to go.”

Ball said he was thrilled that Rock Racing could be a part of the long-standing event. Several thousand fans lined the 1.4-mile (2.2 km) hot dog-shaped course that borders the Pacific Ocean.

“Being able to celebrate a victory again makes our involvement this year even sweeter,” Ball said.

Rock Racing was an official sponsor of the race and the team’s official vehicle, a Cadillac CTS, served as the pace car. The iBN Sports network also provided live, online coverage of the entire event, which is available on-demand at www.ibnsports.com.

The victory was Rock Racing’s 20th of the season and its second at a National Race Calendar event. Santiago Botero won the overall title at the Redlands Bicycle Classic to open the NRC calendar in April.

In last year’s race, Bahati edged out Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United Pro Cycling) while Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance) was third.


This time, Bahati said having so many teammates around him at the end of the 90-minute race was reassuring. Rock Racing controlled the front the final laps of the race on the strength of Fred Rodriguez, Kayle Leogrande, Peter Dawson, Jeremiah Wiscovitch and Sterling Magnell. Rock Racing even chased down a move of six late in the 90-minute race that included its own Rudolph “Rudy” Napolitano.

“We just couldn’t put all that pressure on Rudy to come through at the end so we told him to just sit on and the rest of our guys helped bring them back,” Bahati said.

Halfway around the world Sunday, Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla scored a runner-up finish at the Spanish national championship road race. Racing without any teammates, Sevilla finished second to Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) in the challenging 130-mile (210 km) race. Oscar Pereiro, another one of eight riders from Caisse d’Epargne in the race, was third.

Photos: Vero Image

Aldape Gets Nod For Olympics

Moises Aldape of Team Type 1 will represent Mexico at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

For the 26-year old Aldape, the achievement caps an important goal. He will be his country’s sole representative in road cycling.

“The Olympics happen only once every four years, so it is extra special,” he said. “I am also very happy to have this opportunity to reward my new Team Type 1 squad. I think it is a great accomplishment for a first-year team to place a rider in the Olympics.”

Aldape recently finished third on one stage and third overall at the Tour de Beauce stage race in Canada while winning the sprint competition. He was seventh at the Commerce Bank International Cycling Classic in Philadelphia June 8 and his eighth place in April at the Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T helped Team Type 1 finish third in the team competition.

Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon said Aldape’s selection presents a tremendous opportunity to help the squad spread its message to a large audience. Team Type 1 was created in 2004 by two riders with Type 1 diabetes – Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge – to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming the obstacles often associated with the condition.

“We have been trying to give Moises a race schedule that would help him get the points and exposure necessary to make the team and we will continue to help him get prepared for the big event,” Beamon said.

Aldape will be one of approximately 85 athletes from Mexico at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, which begin Aug. 8. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, the Latin American country earned four medals (two silver and two bronze).

Photo: Marco Quezada

Code RED

Can You Handle The Truth?

When it comes to our bicycles and related equipment, most cyclists fall into one of three catergories, the scientist, the pragmatist, or a combination of both. The scientist, or engineer, possesses an intimate, some would say obsessive, knowledge of their equipment, whereas the pragmatist knows what works, or doesn't particularly work, well.

Most of us fall into the latter category, likely gravitating toward one of the two extremes.

While I am a big fan of Lennard Zinn (Velonews) and James Huang (Cyclingnews), many of their articles never reach the true pragmatist in our ranks. So I thought who better to provide a review than a person who uses the equipment to the extreme most of the time.

Team TIBCO's, Amber Rais once again graces our site with her presence to provide a practical review of SRAM's newest gruppo, Red.

SRAM Red
I had flown to California from Austria the day before my introduction to SRAM Red. Team TIBCO met early morning that day in Palo Alto, where a fleet of very sexy LOOK 585 frames awaited us with custom painted blue flames and full SRAM Red gruppos: hot. I couldn’t wait to get going on this new racing steed. As we rolled out of the parking lot, however, I panicked: “Aaack! Brooke, how do I shift using SRAM?”


My teammate Brooke Miller responded with what I considered unnerving nonchalance in light of the route ahead and my utter lack of experience with SRAM shifting.

“One click to upshift; two to downshift. It’s easy,” she said.

I wasn’t so sure, until a few blocks later, by which time I already had the hang of it. I’ve never had to think about it since.

SRAM refers to this phenomenon as intuitive feel. I call it amazing. Jetlagged and on a new bike, it took me only a few shifts to get comfortable with the Double Tap controls. Two days later, I raced my first crit of the season on SRAM Red with no trouble at all.

Comfort and Performance
The SRAM Red shifters (as well as their Force and Rival counterparts) have generated ubiquitous buzz with regard to their comfortable feel on the bike. By far my favorite quote comes from my friend Ueyn of Stanford Cycling, who e-mailed me after trying the SRAM gruppo for the first time:

“Those SRAM shifters felt like a melty stick of butter in my hands, too: perfectly shaped and delicious! And to top it off, I love the hidden shifter cables.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. SRAM intentionally designed the DoubleTap mechanism to ergonomically fit the shape of the human hand, and the result is, well, like butter.


In addition to how Red shifters seem molded to fit your own hand, they offer further customization by way of adjustable levers. Both the brake and shifter levers allow for reach adjustment, so those with smaller hands (like many of us women) can bring both levers closer to the handlebar drop, increasing the accessibility of the brake and shifter as well as creating a far more comfortable position for your hands and wrists while in the drops.


I love this new adjustable feature! I used to stick two furniture pads into my old DA shifters to bring the levers closer to the handlebar (they do make plastic inserts for this purpose, but the furniture pads are only 10 cents each). I can now get the fit I need by adjusting the shifters themselves without sacrificing style, which -- as we all know -- is priority number one.

SRAM Red also minimizes the distance required to move the shift lever for a desired gear change and shifts so quickly and cleanly that you’ll never have to think about it (they call this zero loss travel). With Red, one shifts instinctively without the distraction of delayed shifting or awkward hand maneuvering. In my observation, the ability to shift instinctively without hindrance is part of why Red has such good intuitive feel.


Perhaps the most physically obvious feature of riding the Red gruppo, aside from the buttery comfort of the shifters in your hands, is the ceramic GXP BB bearings. I’ve been told this bearing increases pedalstroke efficiency by more than 70% over conventional BB bearings, and while I’m no number cruncher when it comes to riding my bike, I feel this difference in a big way. Red’s ceramic bearing and stiff carbon cranks and spider produce surprising smoothness, and after training on a conventional crankset, pedaling Red feels similar to hitting a stretch of ultra-smooth pavement after grinding over miles of chip-seal. The difference is enough to make you feel as though you’ve discovered your very own superhero alter ego (the tights and spandex help, too).

Weight
I could not tell you the weight of my race bike with Red, but I can tell you how it feels, which is to say light. SRAM engineers designed Red to be lighter and more responsive than any other gruppo on the market, and their innovations seem poised to shape the future of road components.


Making something lighter often requires compromising strength or durability, but Red’s rear cassette gets around this problem with a machined, hollow piece of steel, creating a lighter, more precise and durable component. The weight savings on the rear cassette as well as a few other tweaks (e.g., the stiff carbon spider on the crankset) bumps the total weight of the Red gruppo below that of any other complete gruppo on the market. Plus, the cassette shifts like a dream and is much easier to clean than conventional ones!

Overall Impressions
I am no expert on bicycle mechanics; I simply ride a lot and know what I like. I like a machine that jumps when I jump, shifts when I shift and becomes an extension of me in moving forward as fast as possible. My best athletic performances occur when I’m not thinking, or rather, when thought and action unite. I am not thinking about my hand position or shifting; I’m racing. Mind, body and machine align with unified instinct for one goal. Red's clean and unobtrusive performance facilitates this fusion, providing the best available conduit between human power and mechanical speed on the bike.

In the words of Ferris Bueller: “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”

Photos: Courtesy Amber Rais (Team TIBCO)

On Tap...

On the NRC this weekend is the AT&T Crit presented by AMLI in Austin, TX. The race, also part of the USA Crit Series, started five years ago with the opening of the first AMLI building, AMLI on 2nd. As the downtown 2nd Street District has grown, so has the race. The area, now replete with shops, stores, restaurants, and a new high rise AMLI, has helped to showcase some of the top criterium racers from around the world.

The course is a flat standard 1km, 4 corner criterium that traverses Austin City Hall and AMLI on 2nd Street, Colorado, 4th Street, and through the Warehouse District on Guadalupe.

Racing began yesterday evening, with the featured professional races to be held on Saturday. Packet pick up is on Friday at Lance Armstrong's new bike shop, Mellow Johnny's, on Nueces.

Saturday Schedule

• Amateur racing starts at 2pm
• Meet and Greet with Pro Racers at the expo area 6:00-7pm*
• Pro 1-2 Womens race 7:00pm
• Pro 1 Mens race 8pm
• Post Race Dinner fund raiser Sullivans*

* Tickets available through BikeReg.com

AMLI, a multifamily company based out of Chicago that is focused on the development, acquisition and management of luxury apartment communities throughout the nation.

In Your Backyard
If you can't make it down to Austin, check out some of the races in select regions around the country.

06/20/2008
Charles Schwab Dash For Cash
Glendale, AZ
Superior Bike Fest
Marquette, MI
NC Blueberry Festival Criterium
Burgaw, NC
World Series of Bicycling
Trexlertown, PA

06/21/2008
Dan Spencer Memorial Road Race
Bloomsburg, PA
Giro d' Grafton
Grafton, WI
Cobb Park Criterium
Kankakee, IL
La Mirada Grand Prix
La Mirada, CA
Napa Downtown & Riverfront Gran Prix
Napa, CA
Riverview Grand Prix
Oakmont, PA
SCNCA Jr Track Championship
Carson, CA
The Newmark Center Classic
Miami Township, OH
Downtown Bloomington Criterium
Bloomington, IN

06/22/2008
Grand Prix of Groveport
Groveport, OH
Bloomsburg Town Park Criterium
Bloomsburg, PA
Fox River Grove Cycling Challenge
Fox River Grove, IL
San Pedro Grand Prix
San Pedro, CA
Fiorucci VA State Senior TT Championships
Stoney Creek, VA
State Games of North Carolina- Crit
Greensboro, NC
Sheboygan Harbor Centre Bike Race
Sheboygan, WI
Mt Diablo Hill Climb
Walnut Creek, CA

For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to Truesport.com .



Up the Road
06/24/2008- 06/29/2008
American Eagle Tour of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, PA

06/27/2008- 06/29/2008
Gold Nugget Jr Stage Race
Mariposa County, CA

06/27/2008
Town Mountain Hill Climb
Asheville, NC

06/28/2008
Hyde Park Blast
Cincinnati, OH
Green Trolley Criterium
San Diego, CA
Brownstown Road Race
Lancaster County, PA
Rockford Criterium
Rockford, MI
2008 Summit Center Classic
Flagstaff, AZ
Tour de Grandview
Grandview, OH
Race To The Nite Ride
Indianapolis, IN

06/29/2008
Wolverine State Time Trial Championship
Dearborn Heights, MI
Proctor Cycling Classic
Peoria, IL
State Criterium Champions
Burlingame Criterium
Burlingame, CA
Iowa State Track Championships
Kenosha, WI Track

Portraits From Philadelphia

Erica Allar (Aaron's Women's Professional Cycling) - A rising star in the Women's Professional peloton, Erica would finish 10th at the Liberty Classic.

Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) - The quintessential sprinter from Cuba had a rough day and did not figure into the finale.

Slipstream/Chipotle presented by H30 - In the staging area, usually a flurry of activity, the Burrito boys conserved their energy before heading out to race in the 90 plus degree temperatures.

Alison Powers (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) - Finished in 34th, after returning from a spectacular showing at the Tour de l'Aude.

Mara Abbott (Team High Road) - The reigning US National Road Champion would help spring teammate Chantal Beltman to victory. She would finish 24th.

Vanderkitten Racing - The first-year team from Northern California would place 4 riders in the top 50. Melissa Sanborn (193) would be their highest finisher in 18th.

Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo-Lifeforce) - The first up "The Wall" in Manayunk, Kristin would earn the Queen of the Mountains jersey for her efforts. She would miss the podium presentation as a result of heat exhaustion.

Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream/Chipotle presented by H30) - The former Paris-Roubaix winner would not be a factor in the summer's first heat wave.

Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO) - The TIBCO leader would miss the final selection, but take home the field sprint to claim second.

Regina Schleicher (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) - The former World Champion used every motivating technique in her arsenal to help her teammate ascend "The Wall." Regina would finish in 5th, her teammate in 28th.

Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) - The incomparable Pic looked every bit the part of suffering, but would still finish 6th.

Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) - In a 7-man break for most of the day, Hamilton would roll across the line in 61st.

Kacey Manderfield (Verducci Breakaway) - The best U23 rider turned podium girl for the little gentleman who presented her trophy.

Photos: © Leonard Basobas

Welcome to the Blogosphere

As if the blogosphere needed another blogger, Lance Armstrong has joined our ranks, not with his own blog but as an author on the mighty Huffington Post.

In Lance's first submission, Decisive Action To Achieve Your Goals, he details his new online venture, Livestrong.com, "an ambitious web site project that aspires to be THE destination on the Internet to inspire and inform people about leading a healthy, fit lifestyle."

As LA writes,

Livestrong.com is not just another web site packed with health information and expert advice. In my opinion, there is plenty of information already out there and furthermore, sitting at your desk surfing the web is not the key to a healthy, active life. Livestrong.com aspires to be a totally interactive community, where you can connect with people of similar interests and health concerns and obtain easy-to-find, specific advice from respected experts. We've made a strong effort to have the tone of the site be upbeat and motivating, rather than dry and academic. Consider this distressing news from a recent survey fielded by Harris Interactive: 86% of Americans attempt healthy lifestyle changes, but only 46% are successful. I don't think this failure rate is due to lack of knowledge, but instead with a flawed approach. As an athlete, I know it's easy to set goals - whether it's winning the Tour de France, lowering my marathon time or trying to eat a little healthier. The hard part is follow-through: staying focused and motivated over the long term. We envision you using Livestrong.com to get motivated, focused and then take real-life, decisive action to achieve your goals.

So if you want to acheive your fitness goals, check out Livestrong.com today.

Grooming The Future

Teams Strive to Groom Tomorrow's Cycling Stars at American Eagle Outfitters® Tour of Pennsylvania Presented by Highmark Healthy High 5®

Philadelphia – Frankie Andreu can only chuckle when asked about his own transition out of cycling’s junior racing ranks and up to the senior level. The one-time Lance Armstrong lieutenant who started the Tour de France nine times says that back in his day the law of the jungle ruled.

“It was survival of the fittest. We didn’t have anything like [the Tour of Pennsylvania],” recalled Andreu, who will direct the California-based ZteaM at the 420-mile, under-25 stage race that starts June 24 in Philadelphia and finishes six days later on June 29 in Pittsburgh. “After I graduated from juniors, I was always going up against the big boys. I got my tail handed to me every single race because once you turned 18 and became a category 1 racer, you were competing against adults with way more experience than you. That’s why this race has really set itself apart. I think it has a lot of importance for these young riders. It can open a lot of doors. If you do well here, you can get noticed and make that next step.”

Indeed, from a development standpoint, you can’t overstate the importance of the American Eagle Outfitters ® Tour of Pennsylvania Presented By Highmark Healthy High 5®. Similar to Division I collegiate athletics or minor league baseball, the under-25 stage race gives promising riders a chance to compete against their peers – and not dive immediately into the deep end.

“I think if you’re the most talented guy coming out of the junior ranks, then you are going to be able to make the transition okay,” explained Jonas Carney, a former pro who now directs the Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast team, one of 18 six-man squads slated to start the Tour of Pennsylvania. “But some guys don’t develop as quickly. They need some races where they can be competitive and learn how to win, as opposed to just learning how to survive. I think you really develop some bad habits if you are always in way over your head. That’s why this race is such a great opportunity for these kids. They can come out and race and not be expected to go up against eight Toyota-United pros or a bunch of ProTour guys like you had at the Philly week races.”

This need for a middle ground has also launched a slew of development-minded programs. In fact, almost all the teams that will compete at the Pennsylvania tour place some – if not all – of their focus on grooming young riders for professional careers. A prime example is the Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Time Pro Cycling team, whose No. 1 goal is educating the sport’s future stars.

“The concept of the team is to create an environment and structure where young riders can have the opportunity to learn by doing,” said Time team director Erik Saunders. “I mean if you look at your average high school basketball player, he probably knows more about basketball than any cat. 1 cyclist. That’s a sad situation. We are trying to help change that because we felt that there was big hole in the development side of pro cycling. That’s why we set up our team to be a trade school for cyclists.”

The California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized team boasts a similar mission statement. The Watsonville-based squad is made up exclusively of riders that have come up through its club ranks, learning from the team’s elite members all along the way.

“We’ve got people on our elite team who are ages 19 to 42,” explained team director Anthony Gallino. “And all those people help mentor our young guys, teaching them what it takes to get to the next level. We try to get to them before they discover girls and beer and cars, and instill the kind of dedication that it takes to advance through this sport. Because we all know that’s not an easy thing to do.”

No doubt in these days of sponsorship contraction and reduced team budgets, getting noticed has become much harder. There are fewer pro team roster spots than in years past, making opportunity tougher to come by.

“I think this race is very important for the guys in terms of their future careers,” affirmed John Robertson, team director of the South Africa-based Konica Minolta Continental Cycling Team, one of seven international teams competing at the Tour of Pennsylvania. “It’s a major race that will get major attention within the sport. They’ll have a real chance to get good results, and that in turn will help them get bigger contracts.”

The Tour even became the driving force behind the formation of the PA Lightning, a brand new development team out of the host state, Pennsylvania. With mostly young home grown riders, all with international experience, the squad hopes that a good showing in their home race will lead to support by Pennsylvania-based companies for national and international competition. The concept was embraced by Pittsburgh-based Seagate who is sponsoring the PA Lightning in the race across the state.

“A race like this is perfect for showcasing the cycling talent coming out of Pennsylvania”, said John Gill who is sponsor liaison for the team. “When a company like Seagate steps up to help a young, determined team, it becomes a rallying point for employees that can be extended to their business units around the globe.”

Plus the record $150,000 prize purse on the line at the Tour of Pennsylvania makes this the richest Espoir race in the world, something that ensures credibility and international prestige.

Team Type 1 Completes Race Across America

Annapolis, Md. — As dawn broke in Annapolis, Md., Tuesday, Team Type 1 completed the Race Across America (RAAM) with a runner-up finish in the eight-person team division of the non-stop, transcontinental race.

The eight members of the squad, all of whom have Type 1 diabetes, bicycled the final miles of their journey together to complete the 3,015-mile race that began last Wednesday in Oceanside, Calif., about four hours after the winners.

The Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling won the eight-person division in a time of five days, nine hours and 56 minutes. That time bettered the previous record for the category (five days, 15 hours, 43 minutes), established last year by Team Type 1. The Norwegian-based team averaged 23.2 mph, the second-fastest speed ever ridden in the race regardless of category.

Team Type 1’s official finish time was five days, 13 hours and 40 minutes. The squad incurred one hour’s worth of penalties while Byggkjøp/BMC Cycling received one 15-minute penalty.

“Finishing second was not something we wanted because we got into this to win it,” Team Type 1 RAAM Team Director and racer Bob Schrank said. “But how we did it was important – by helping each other, by managing our blood sugar, by waking each other up. That’s what this team was all about it. It was a group of people with Type 1 diabetes learning how to be successful in what they were doing.”

In addition to Schrank, Team Type 1 consisted of Australian Monique Hanley, Americans Alex Bowden, Matt Brooks, Andy Mead, Mark Suprenant and Tim Powell and New Zealander Timothy Hargrave. Schrank and Mead captained the squad’s two foursomes.

The Byggkjøp/BMC Cycling and Team Type 1 squads waged a head-to-head battle over the course of the race, with neither team gaining more than a four-hour advantage. At one point past the halfway mark, Team Type 1 had whittled what had been a three-hour lead down to fewer than 90 minutes.

“We used different strategies than we have in the past,” Schrank said. “Overall, it worked out really well. We used everyone to their highest strengths.”

Along the way, Team Type 1 pedaled up and over mountains, into strong winds through powerful thunderstorms while enduring extreme temperature swings and a high-speed crash involving Alex Bowden. Even the team’s coach, Rick Crawford, survived some hardship, undergoing a procedure to place three stents in the arteries of his heart just a day before the event.

Throughout the course of the race, Team Type 1 racers used Apidra’s rapid-acting insulin made by sanofi-aventis, as well as Abbott Diabetes Care’s FreeStyle Navigator and Insulet Corporation's OmniPod Insulin Management System. They boosted their blood sugar level with Dex-4 Glucose.

Team Type 1 was created in 2004 by Type 1 diabetes racers Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming the obstacles often associated with the condition. Southerland and Eldridge are now professionals, racing on Team Type 1’s 15-member pro squad that won the team classification Sunday at the Tour de Beauce stage race in Canada.

Southerland, who accompanied the team for part of the route, said he was proud that Team Type 1 did not give up.

“We set out to win the race and break our own record and unfortunately things didn’t go as planned,” he said. “About halfway through, we were having a hard time but our team didn’t give up.

“They rode a hell of a race and did a great job of getting the word out there that people with diabetes can accomplish anything a normal person can do with the right technology and control. More team followed Team Type 1 than ever and it was inspiring for me to personally follow them, too.”

Tour of PA Route Presents Challenges for Riders

Route For American Eagle Outfitters® Tour of Pennsylvania Presented by Highmark Healthy High 5® To Present Challenges at Every Turn

Philadelphia – Wicked wind, steamy temperatures and plenty of challenging terrain are just some of the factors sure to make the inaugural running of the American Eagle Outfitters ®Tour of Pennsylvania, presented by Highmark Healthy High 5® a race to remember.

Facing this formidable challenge are 120 of the world’s most promising under-25 cyclists, who together will represent no less than nine countries and five continents -- North and South America, Australia, Africa and Europe.

The task before them is a testing six-day, 420-mile course that commences on Philadelphia’s hallowed cycling grounds, then roughly follows the Forbes Road (U.S. Highway 30), before finishing in Pittsburgh as part of the city’s 250th anniversary celebration.

“The number one goal was to trace the Forbes Trail as best we could,” explained Jerry Casale, chief operating officer of Tour of PA, LLC, the company hired by Pittsburgh 250 to run this first-year event. “This is the same route George Washington and John Forbes used 250 years ago. Along the way we’ll pass through a lot of the places that were founded that same year – Bedford, Ligonier, Latrobe. They are all celebrating their 250th and that was a very important aspect of designing this course.”

Of course, creating a challenging race was also high on the priority list for the event that runs June 24-29, commencing with a double-duty day in Philadelphia. The morning of June 24 brings a short prologue time trial, with an evening criterium to follow.

“Philadelphia has a very rich cycling tradition,” said Casale. “So what better place to start this race.”

Expect the sprinter’s to rule day 2, a mostly flat 91-mile run from Downingtown to Carlisle, which takes riders through the heart of Amish country where they’ll likely encounter Lancaster County’s distinctive horse-and-buggy transportation.

Stage 3 is when things begin to get serious. The 104-mile ride from Camp Hill to Bedford is a classic progressive affair, with 37 miles of mellow terrain followed by a pair of mountain ascents. The first KOM officially begins at mile 63, sending riders on a 3.5-mile climb to the top of Tuscarora Summit.

After a brief respite, things will heat up again on the climb up Sideling Hill, a 3-mile grind with 2,500 feet of elevation gain. From there it will be a mad dash to the finish, as riders hit speeds of 50 mph during the rapid descent to Bedford.

“The difficulty really builds as the day goes on,” added Dave Chauner, executive director of the event and himself a former Olympic-level cyclist. “There could be a decisive breakaway, or maybe we’ll just see a lot of people coming off the back. You never really know and that’s part of what makes it this leg so exciting.”

That excitement will continue to build on day 4, when an already fatigued peloton takes on arguably the race’s toughest stage, the 60-mile trek from Bedford to Latrobe. What this stage lacks in distance, it makes up for in pure punch.

“What’s going to make it tough is that within about the first 10 miles the climbing starts,” explained Robin Zellner, the Tour of Pennsylvania’s technical director. “That’s the day that will reveal who the true climbers are. There are two major climbs in it, plus a couple of wild descents.”

Climb No. 1 will send the field up and over the Allegheny Mountains by way of the Bald Knob Summit, a 5.5-mile grunt with grades nearing 15 percent. After a quick rolling descent, the course turns uphill again, this time taking on the Laurel Hill Summit, a 2-mile climb with 15-percent grades. This day is almost certain to be the hardest stage of the race, and will certainly separate the wheat from the shaft.

“When you factor in that this will be the fourth day of racing and it comes on the heels of a hard stage, this will definitely be a decisive day,” Chauner predicted. “We’ll know a lot more about what the final overall standing will look like after this day.”

That should take nothing away from the final two stages, which include an 83-mile ride from Ligonier to Pittsburgh, and then a 50-mile criterium in the Steel City itself.

The stage 5 route will follow a mostly rolling course with one short climb at mile 21, and one last intermediate sprint at mile 38. Then it’s off to Pittsburgh and an expected sprint finish at the headquarters of title sponsor American Eagle Outfitters.

The Tour of Pennsylvania culminates a day later with a classic criterium in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. This four-corner course will give locals a great chance to see what the sport of cycling is all about.

“Overall I think it’s going to be a great course,” concluded Chauner. “It will be challenging and I think you’ll see a lot of attrition. It can be very hot in Pennsylvania that time of year, and there’s also the chance for lots of headwind because we’re going east to west most of the time. My prediction is that there will only be about 80-90 guys left at the finish.”

For the top survivors, the payoff for pain will be a share of the $150,000 total prize purse, the richest in the world for an Espoir-class event.

USA's Taylor Phinney Sets New Track Cycling World Record at ADT Event Center

Seventeen Year Old Sets First-Ever World Record on The Home Depot Center’s Velodrome

Carson, CA (June 16, 2008) – Seventeen year old cyclist Taylor Phinney of Boulder, Colorado, has set a new world junior record in the 3,000-meter individual pursuit event with a time of 3:16.65 this afternoon at the ADT Event Center located at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The record set by Phinney, nominated to the United States Olympic Team which will announce its members on July 1, is the first world record set on the velodrome inside the ADT Event Center.

Phinney, talking part in USA Cycling’s team selection camp, said, “Achieving this mark was one of my goals when I started my Olympic training this year,” said Phinney. “As our team prepares for Beijing, I couldn’t be more proud to set this record and am excited to represent the United States in the Olympics.”

The new world record eclipses the old mark of 3:17.775 achieved by Michael Ford (Australia) in 2004.

Having opened July 21, 2004, the 2,450-seat ADT Event Center features North America’s only indoor cycling velodrome and has hosted such prestigious events such as the 2004 UCI Junior Track Cycling Championships, the 2005 UCI Track Cycling Championships and the 2007 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classic among other prestigious events.

ASO & AEG Enter Into Cycling Partnership Agreement

Perhaps this is reading too much into the press release below, but it only seems fitting to be skeptical of most things in professional cycling these days.

The decision by the AEG and the ASO to enter into a marketing partnership seems one-sided, as the lesser known Amgen Tour of California will certainly benefit most from a joint and global marketing strategy.

Honestly, what country doesn't know about the Tour de France or on which July dates it takes place?

So the question remains, what does the ASO really get in return?

Will the ASO have a larger voice in American cycling? Will it have a determination on how the Amgen Tour of California is or should be run? Will it decide which riders will be allowed to participate?

One thing is certain, no riders previously suspected or guilty of a doping violation [even those who have served out a suspension] will ever ride the Amgen Tour of California.

Yes, I can hear Michael Ball's screaming from here...

Owners of Tour de France & Amgen Tour of California Create Marketing Partnership

Los Angeles, CA – Amaury Sport Organisation (“ASO”) and AEG, owners respectively of the Tour de France and the Amgen Tour of California, have formed a multi-dimensional marketing partnership to grow and develop each other’s events, it was announced by Yann Le Moenner, Deputy Director, Amaury Sport Organisation S.A. (ASO), Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France and Andrew Messick, President, AEG Sports.

Beginning with the upcoming 2008 Tour de France and 2009 Amgen Tour of California, the multi-year agreement calls for the organizations to develop and initiate comprehensive cross-promotional platforms for the world’s most prestigious cycling event and America’s most successful cycling race, as well as provide assistance with media and sponsorship sales for the races in their respective regions.

“Being able to partner with one of the leading sports and entertainment groups in the United States is a great privilege for ASO,” said Yann Le Moenner. “AEG’s success in developing and promoting properties like the Los Angeles Galaxy team with David Beckham as well as, among others, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, will greatly benefit the Tour de France in the United States.”

“The Amgen Tour of California, which will celebrate its fourth anniversary in February 2009, is still a brand new event on the cycling calendar, but one with a promising future ahead of it,” added Christian Prudhomme. “Here at ASO we are particularly pleased to be able to provide this event with our support and our recognized skills and know-how established through the organization of centenary events, such as the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. We believe that it is also our duty to participate in the worldwide promotion and expansion of the sport of cycling and the development of constantly evolving new races, like the Amgen Tour of California.”

Among the key components of the agreement, ASO will assist AEG with the international distribution of the Amgen Tour of California television and digital media rights. ASO will develop, produce and distribute a portfolio of programming formats, including live coverage of the race. Additionally, AEG will be assisting ASO with the sales of specific sponsorship packages designed for partners looking for the ability to communicate through cycling’s most prestigious brand in the United States.

“AEG is delighted to be able to partner with the Amaury Sport Organization, which is without doubt the world’s most experienced and successful organizer of bicycle races,” said Messick. “With their help, we hope to be able to help grow the sport of cycling, the Tour de France, and of course our Amgen Tour of California.”

The partnership will be focused on the support and development of each organization’s race and will leverage all marketing assets and media associated with each event including on-site visibility as well as broadcast components.

Wilson Wins Final Tour de Beauce Stage; RAAM Team Running Second

Quebec City, Canada — Team Type 1’s professional squad had a lot to celebrate Sunday.

Matt Wilson scored a stage win, Glen Chadwick won the King of the Mountains crown and Moises Aldape claimed the sprint jersey and third-place overall as Team Type 1 also won the team classification at the Tour de Beauce stage race in Canada.

In addition to Aldape’s podium finish, Team Type 1 had Valeriy Kobzarenko finish fourth overall and Chadwick fifth. Canadian Svein Tuft (Symmetrics Cycling Team) took the overall title while Bernardo Colex (Tecos Trek UAG) finished second.

For Wilson, it was his second victory of the year and his first in North America. The former Australian national road race champion had been slowed this season by a broken wrist suffered in a training accident. But in Sunday’s 77.7-mile (125 km) circuit race in Quebec City, Wilson played team tactics to perfection by escaping out of the main break to claim the win by four seconds over Philipp Mamos (Sparkasse).

“We knew Symmetrics would try to ride a slow pace today and that the field would probably let them go,” Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon said. “So we gambled that they might let the break get the five minutes Chris (Jones) needed to move into the top three overall. We got to almost four minutes, but some of the guys in the break would not cooperate and it started coming back.”

In the Race Across America (RAAM) – an event in which Team Type 1 is the two-time defending champion in the eight-person team division, the squad was running a close second late Sunday night with fewer than 700 miles remaining in the non-stop, 3,015-mile (4,852 km) transcontinental race.

Team Type 1 – which is made up entirely of athletes with Type 1 diabetes – trailed the Byggkjøp presented by BMC Cycling Team by less than 90 minutes at the 39th of 54 time stations. Both squads were averaging better than the record 22.42 mph that Team Type 1 averaged in winning the event in 2007.

At its current pace, Team Type 1 will arrive at the finish line in Annapolis, Md., Tuesday between the hours of 1 and 4 a.m.

Rocking Harlem Classic With Bahati’s Runner-Up Finish

As 53rd Tooth reported (see comments), the winner of the 35th annual Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic "threw the bike across the finish line and put his rig and his face on the pavement immediately thereafter."

"Throwing" may seem very simplistic on the surface but its a technique that needs practicing, even if you're in the professional ranks.

Afterall, winning should never feel oh so...OUCH!

[And if you've never seen what real panic looks like, just click to enlarge the photos below to view the facial expressions of the riders immediately behind the crash].

Harlem, N.Y. — Rock Racing’s Rahsaan Bahati was edged at the line by Erik Barlevav (TIME Pro Cycling) in an exciting finish to the 35th annual Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic presented by Rock Racing.

Barlevav lost control of his bicycle and sprawled to the pavement after a successful bike throw at the end of the 55-lap criterium. A little shaken, but smiling, the first-year professional managed to get up unassisted and take a victory lap with a bouquet of flowers.


Before the race, Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball addressed the crowd and saluted promoter John Eustice for breathing new life into the event.

“This was a great day for Harlem and great day for New York,” Ball said. “This race is a diamond-in-the-rough and we’re going to help turn it into one of the premier races in the United States.”

The World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) provided live coverage on the afternoon of racing that included a bike messenger “mania” race. But it was the pro race that was the featured event on Father’s Day when Barlevav snuck through to play the spoiler.

“I felt Bahati coming up on my left and threw my bike as hard as I could,” Barlevav said. “Being such a humid day, my hands just slipped off the bars. I guess I should have been wearing gloves”

Rock Racing rode prominently throughout the race around East Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park. Tyler Hamilton controlled the front of the 100-strong peloton for the better part of the final 10 laps and helped set up the Rock Racing lead-out train the delivered Fred Rodriguez first to the final corner, about 300 meters from the finish line.

But Rodriguez had Bahati tucked in his slipstream and the winner of this year’s Athens Twilight Criterium appeared to have secured his second win in the third race of the USA CRITS series.

“The plan was for Freddie to get me to the last corner,” Bahati said. “But I lost his wheel to Ivan Dominguez and Alejandro Barrajo – one went right and one went left. So I had to come from too far back. If I had maybe three more meters, I would have won.”

Jake Keough (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology) finished third.

In front of a crowd of several thousand, a number of riders made ill-fated attempts to break away on the flat, four-corner, eight-tenths-of-a-mile course, including Toyota-United’s Ivan Dominguez – who last won on the streets of New York against Lance Armstrong in 2002 at the New York City Cycling Championship.

Photos: Vero Image

Happy Father's Day

We don't post many non-cycling related items on the site, but I would be remiss in not mentioning something about the passing of television journalist, Tim Russert, who is best known for moderating NBC's Meet the Press.

Initially, I thought it too morbid a topic for this day where people across the country are celebrating their fathers, but who better to write about than a person who possessed a great love for his own father, was a model father for his own son, and was the ultimate surrogate father to all those with whom he worked.

In my brief time, and novice attempts, at interviewing people, Russert was a role model of sorts for his fair, poignant, and at times "tough" style. He was knowledgeable about the topics at hand and about those he interviewed. At seemingly every instance, he emanated his love for his profession.

His untimely passing was one that not only shook the NBC family, but families around the country.

To my father and all the fathers, living or deceased, we wish you all a Happy Father's Day or sweet remembrances.

Rocking Central Park

Rock Racing warmed up for Sunday's 35th annual Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic presented by Rock Racing with a Friday afternoon ride through New York's Central Park.

Rahsaan Bahati (top), winner of the Athens Twilight Criterium, "Fast Freddie" Rodriguez (middle), and Owner Michael Ball (bottom), among others, participated in Friday's ride through Central Park. Ball sporting a commemorative jersey the team will wear in Sunday's held court with local cyclist.


Photos: Vero Image

On Tap...

Nature Valley Grand Prix
Many of the racers who we saw out in Philadelphia on Sunday were subjected to a quick turn around as they have been competing at the Nature Valley Grand Prix since this past Wednesday. The storms that have ravaged so much of the Midwest have interjected on the racing this week as officials neutralized Stage 1, the St. Paul Lowertown Criterium.

Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo-Lifeforce) who had lapped the talented field on her way to victory wasn't given any benefit of her advantage because of the conditions. Despite overwhelming the competition, officials nullified Armstrong's time gains because they ruled the race unsafe. Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO) continued to demonstrate her form by coming in second, while teammate Brooke Miller followed in third.

Likewise, Kirk O'Bee (Health Net - Maxxis) looked to be on his way to a victory, but the men's race was completely neutralized when an official's motorcycle went down.

During Stage 2, the Cannon Falls Road Race, O'Bee would gain some measure of redemption as the US National Criterium Champion would deliver after a perfect lead out by his Health Net - Maxxis teammates. Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light) claimed victory on the women's side besting Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO) and Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) in the sprint.

Kiesanowski, who wasn't earmarked to contest the day's sprint would pick up the team's mantle once leader Brooke Miller went down in the final circuit.

Redemption was once again the theme on Stage 3, the St. Paul Riverfront Time Trial, as Kristin Armstrong dominated in her specialty. She would take the overall lead from Tina Pic. On the men's side, Bissell's Ben Jacques-Maynes would grab the stage and the overall lead.

Racing continued on Friday afternoon with Stage 4, the Minneapolis Downtown Criterium. Team TIBCO's Brooke Miller would finally get things squared away and take a convincing sprint ahead of Tina Pic and Kate Bates (Team High Road), while Kirk O'Bee would continue his winning ways. Both Kristin Armstrong and Ben Jacques-Maynes would retain their overall leads.

The NVGP heads to Mankato for Saturday's Mankato Road Race and concludes with the Stillwater Criterium on Sunday the 15th.

Criterium du Dauphine Libere
For the European professionals, the Criterium du Dauphine Libere also concludes this Sunday. After Stage 5, Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) sits atop the overall standings. The revelation of the race, and perhaps the year so far, has been Valverde's victory [that isn't a misprint] in the 31km Stage 3 ITT in Saint-Paul-en-Jarez. He defeated a host of time trial specialists, most notably second place finisher American Levi Leipheimer. If Valverde's victory wasn't an aberration, he may finally prove to be a real contender for the Tour crown in a few week's time.

Harlem Rocks
The USA Crits Series makes a stop in Harlem this weekend for the 35th edition of the Harlem Skyscraper Classic. This year's presenting sponsor is Michael Ball's Rock Racing. Racing starts at noon on Sunday at Marcus Garvey Park.

Closer To Home
For races in and around specific areas of the country, consult the listings below.

06/14/2008
San Fernando Criterium
San Fernando, CA
Cyclesport Junior State Crit
Livermore, CA
Sherman Park Criterium
Chicago, IL
Wisconsin State Criterium Championships
Ripon, WI
NC Championship Road Race
Salisbury, NC
Pescadero Coastal Classic Road Race
Pescadero, CA
Bird-in-Hand Road Race
Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster County, PA
Midwest Cycling Group Allen Park Criterium
Allen Park, MI
Specialized/Sierra Nevada Criterium
Folsom, CA
Utah State Championship Road Race
Clarkston, UT

06/15/2008
Bicycle John's Grand Prix
Glendale, CA
Ann Arbor Tour de Kids
Ann Arbor, MI
Picacho Time Trial Series
Tucson, AZ
Cargas Criterium
Lancaster, PA
Virginia Farm Bureau Criterium
Hampton, VA
Chicago Time Trial Series
Willow Springs, IL

For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to Truesport.com .

Philadelphia PROMAN

Philadelphia, PA - PROMAN Racing is a Marin County based elite women’s cycling team comprised of seasoned race veterans and promising rising stars. Founded and managed by Nicola Cranmer (above), the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) affiliate team is really starting to hit its stride in 2008 with riders such as Shelley Olds and Rachel Lloyd.

A call out from Nicola to sponsors and supporters of the women's elite team landed our logo on our first [and hopefully not last] team car.


Below are two FLICKR-styled story boards (5 photos or less) chronicling PROMAN Racing's day at the Commerce Bank Liberty Classic.

"Team..."



"...Work"


Results:
8th - Shelley Olds
27th - Melodie Metzger
39th - Rachel Lloyd
52nd - Virginia Perkins
DNF - Helene Drumm
DNF - Kristin Drumm

Photos: Leonard Basobas

"Team..." - (top to bottom: Guest DS, Frankie Andreu; Rachel Lloyd (center); Shelley Olds; Helene Drumm (front) & Virginia Perkins (back); Shelley Olds, Virginia Perkins, Melodie Metzger (l to r).

"...Work" - (top to bottom: Rachel Lloyd; Shelley Olds; Kristin Drumm; Melodie Metzger)