Team Type 1 Taking Aggressive Approach To USPRO Championship

Greenville, S.C. - There will be no waiting and watching when it comes to Team Type 1's approach to Sunday's Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championship Road Race.

An aggressive attitude will be key to winning the 110-mile (177 km) race in Greenville, S.C., according to Team Type 1 Assistant Sport Director Vassili Davidenko.

No fewer than four riders from Team Type 1 are viable contenders for the stars-and-stripes jersey that goes to the winner of one of the most prestigious one-day races in the United States, Davidenko said.

That list includes last year's sixth-place finisher, Shawn Milne, and Chris Jones – who finished ninth.

"Dan (Holt) and Ian (MacGregor) have also shown excellent form lately (so) they have to be protected up to one point too," Davidenko said. "But to win, we have to race aggressively. We can't wait until the end."

In addition to those four, Team Type 1 co-founders Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge will also be among the 113 professionals who line up for Sunday's 1 p.m. start. They are believed to be the first competitors with Type 1 diabetes to ever compete in the national championship road race.

Live coverage of the event will be streamed on the Internet on Justin.tv.

Past winners of the national championship road race include Team Type 1 General Manager Tom Schuler (1987), speed skating Olympic champion Eric Heiden (1985), Lance Armstrong (1993), George Hincapie (1998, 2006) and Fred Rodriguez (2000, 2001, 2004).

In a race that traditionally has seen fewer than 35 riders make it to the end, Davidenko said it will take an all-out effort by every Team Type 1 rider to put one or more riders in position to win.

"Some guys will be in the early break, someone will be helping our key guys - keeping them in the right place and bringing them to the front before the big climb."

That "big climb" is the more than three-mile ascent of Paris Mountain, which will be covered four times. The race will make a total of 10 passes through Greenville (including three laps each of a start and finish circuit) on a new start/finish area in the popular West End section of the downtown area.

For Southerland, it will be his first major race since undergoing surgery in May to repair a constriction in the iliac artery in his left leg.

"Obviously this is a new, great experience for Joe and Phil to be part of the pro team at nationals," Davidenko said. "Joe needs to be active in the early part of the race and if any break goes, he will need to be there. For Phil, this is his first race with the team after his surgery, so he will be helping the guys from the beginning until the end."

Eldridge will also compete in Saturday's 20.7-mile (33 km) individual time trial at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. The first rider goes off at 11 a.m., with Eldridge's start time to be determined Friday night.

Davidenko said Eldridge has good late-season form and the fairly flat, technical course suits his riding style.

"The important thing is to see where he stands now," Davidenko said. "This will be very helpful for his preparation for the 2009 season."

While Eldridge is racing aganst the clock, Southerland will be conducting a live interview with Internet broadcast announcer Nathan O'Neill about Team Type 1's mission and message. The worldwide broadcast will complement the tremendous attention the team has received this week on the Versus network while racing at the Tour of Ireland.

On Tap...

Across the pond, the Vuelta a Espana begins this weekend. The third of Europe's grand tours has always suffered in perception because of its place on the racing calendar, but that doesn't mean it is less grand than either the Tour or the Giro.

The Vuelta certainly won't suffer from a lack of star power as we will get to see the winners of both this year's Tour and Giro face off in somewhat of a rubber match. In addition to Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank) and Alberto Contador (Astana), Tom Boonen (Quick Step), who was a non-invitee to the Tour de France, will make his 2008 grand tour debut at the Vuelta.

For a full PREVIEW
For the START LIST


Schedule
Stage 1 - August 30 Granada - Granada TTT (7 km)
Stage 2 - August 31 Granada – Jaén (167 km)
Stage 3 - September 1 Jaén – Córdoba (165 km)
Stage 4 - September 2 Córdoba – Puertollano (153 km)
Stage 5 - September 3 Ciudad Real - Ciudad Real ITT (40 km)
Stage 6 - September 4 Ciudad Real - Toledo162 km
Rest Day 1 - September 5
Stage 7 - September 6 Barbastro – Andorra (224 km)
Stage 8 - September 7 Andorra - Pla de Beret (160 km)
Stage 9 - September 8 Viella – Sabiñánigo (198 km)
Stage 10 - September 9 Sabiñánigo – Zaragoza (173 km)
Stage 11 - September 10 Calahorra – Burgos (178 km)
Stage 12 - September 11 Burgos – Suances (180 km)
Rest Day 2 - September 12
Stage 13 - September 13 San Vicente de la Barquera - Alto de L'Angliru (199 km)
Stage 14 - September 14 Oviedo - E. E. Fuentes de Invierno (158 km)
Stage 15 - September 15 Cudillero – Ponferrada (198 km)
Stage 16 - September 16 Ponferrada – Zamora (185 km)
Stage 17 - September 17 Zamora – Valladolid (160 km)
Stage 18 - September 18 Valladolid - Las Rozas (179 km)
Stage 19 - September 19 Las Rozas – Segovia (161 km)
Stage 20 - September 20 La Granja de San Ildefonso - Alto de Navacerrada ITT (16 km)
Stage 21 - September 21 San Sebastián de los Reyes – Madrid (110 km)


In the States, the USA Cycling Pro Championships takes place in Greenville, South Carolina this weekend.

Schedule of Events & Details
Saturday, August 30 - USA Cycling Professional Individual Time Trial Championship

• Start/finish will feature a new course at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The Greenville CU-ICAR campus is located off of Millennium Blvd. in Technology Neighborhood I, 12 miles from downtown Greenville.
• The ITT start will begin at 11:00 a.m.
• The Championship course is 6.9 miles in length and participating athletes will complete 3 laps, for a total of 20.7 miles.
• Staggered start at one minute intervals for competitors

Sunday, August 31st - USA Cycling Professional Road Race Championship

• Start/Finish in downtown Greenville; start time 1:00pm and finish between 4:00-5:00 p.m.
• Over 110 miles of racing with 10 downtown laps; over 100 athletes expected in the field
• FREE downtown health & wellness expo during the race, including Big Screen TV with live race coverage

Before the Tour of Missouri kicks off on September 8th, the Show-Me state makes way for the Gateway Cup over Labor Day Weekend. In an effort to promote women's racing in the Midwest, an $8,000 minimum is available in the purse for the four days of criterium racing.


For more details, visit the Gateway Cup website.

Around The Bend
For races in and around your specific area check the listings below.

08/30/2008
Lehigh Valley Winery Criterium
Breinigsville, PA
Challenge Challenge Road Race
Challenge, CA
1st Annual Greenford Road Race
Greenford, OH
Trophee de Grimpeurs - Un-Official Michigan State Climbers Championship
Milford, MI
Far West Championships
Encino, CA
West Lafayette Road Race
West Lafayette, IN
Civano Town Criterium
Tucson, AZ
2008 Nittany Cup
Breinigsville, PA
Illinois State Time Trial Championship
Harvard, IL

08/31/2008
Dunnigan Hills Road Race
Yolo, CA
Clarks Valley Elite TT Championship 40 and 20 KM
Harrisburg, PA

09/01/2008
44th Debaets-Devo Pro-AM Memorial
Auburn Hills, MI
Giro Di San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
IL. State Velo Kilo & 500m Championship
Northbrook, IL

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


Within Sight
09/06/2008
Lotoja Classic
Logan, UT to Jackson, WY
Warnerville Time Trial
Oakdale, CA
Priority Health Cycling Classic
Grand Rapids, MI
Univest Grand Prix
Souderton, PA
LARPD Cyclocross Race Series
Livermore, CA
Nebraska State Championship Road Race
Raymond, NE
Walnut Cove Criterium
Walnut Cove, NC

09/07/2008
Team Time Trial and Tandem TT Arizona State Championship
Picacho Peak, AZ
Redding Velo Mt Shasta Hillclimb
Mt Shasta City, CA
Fiesta Island SCNCA Masters/Jrs TT Championships
San Diego, CA
Benicia Town Race
Benicia, CA
Univest Criterium of Doylestown
Doylestown, PA
Carolina Cup 2008
Greensboro, NC

Hershey's Turns Pink to Honor Breast Cancer Awarness Month

Pedaling Awareness: Hershey®’s Tour de Pink Four-Day Charity Bike Ride and Online Charity Ride Raise Funds and Awareness


HERSHEY, Pa. – For the fourth year, The Hershey Company will turn pink in October to help raise awareness of breast cancer. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the iconic Hershey®’s Kisses® Brand Milk Chocolates, Hershey®’s Nuggets Chocolates, Hershey®’s Syrup, York® Peppermint Patties and Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures will feature pink packaging to showcase the company’s commitment to educating women, supporting research and finding a cure for breast cancer, a disease that will affect over 182,000 women in 2008. In addition, Hershey’s is hosting a four-day charity bike ride and virtual online charity ride inviting everyone to get involved and support the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), the premier international non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to addressing the concerns and issues unique to young women and breast cancer.

“The Hershey Company is committed to supporting breast cancer education and awareness. We want to offer real ways to get involved, so this year we added a virtual component to our annual four-day charity bike ride,” said Michele Buck, Senior Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer, The Hershey Company. “Breast cancer affects women of all ages, and we are dedicated to making a difference, contributing more than $1 million to the Young Survival Coalition in the past four years.”

Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to increase the quality and quantity of life for all young women affected by breast cancer by educating the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities and influencing them to address the incidence of the disease in women ages 40 and under. The YSC serves as a point of contact for young women affected by the disease.

“The Hershey Company’s commitment to the Young Survival Coalition funds vital programs and services for young women battling breast cancer,” said Lanita Moss, President and Co-Founder of the Young Survival Coalition. “Through the Hershey brands and Hershey’s Tour de Pink bike ride, we are fulfilling our mission to raise awareness and funds for young women and their families.”

The Hershey Company will donate $300,000 to the YSC in 2008, raising awareness for breast cancer and funding critical programming and research.

Join The Cause: Hershey’s Tour de Pink and Virtual Ride
The Hershey’s Tour de Pink – a four-day, 220-mile bike ride from Hershey, Pa., to New York City – will take place October 3 to October 6. For the first time, this year people across the country can get involved in their community by joining the Hershey’s Tour de Pink Virtual Ride. Challenging riders to pedal 220 miles by October 6, the Hershey’s Tour de Pink Virtual Ride provides the resources to have people participate in the ride and raise funds for The Young Survival Coalition. Virtual ride participants are required to raise a minimum of $250 in order to receive an official Hershey’s Tour de Pink jersey. Participants can choose a bike of their choice, from a stationary bike to a bicycle built for two, or a combination of bicycle types, to log the 220 miles required to complete the Virtual Ride. Participate as an individual or as a team and log miles online. For more information or to become a virtual rider and participate in your community, visit www.hersheyspledge.com.

Pink Pride: Hershey Limited-Edition Pink Products
Hershey limited-edition pink products will be available September through October at mass, grocery and specialty retailers. Products sporting pink packaging include: Hershey’s Kisses Brand Milk Chocolates, Hershey’s Nuggets Chocolates, Hershey’s Syrup, York Peppermint Patties and for the first time, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures. York Peppermint Patties also will turn its white peppermint centers pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the YSC.

About the Young Survival Coalition
The Young Survival Coalition was founded in 1998 by three women diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 35 who were discouraged by the lack of information available to young women diagnosed with the disease. With revenues of $2.4 million, over 23,000 constituents, nine staff people and six affiliates, the YSC works to change the face of breast cancer by advocating for more research on young women and breast cancer and providing this underserved population with programs and services specific to them. The YSC also provides a peer-support network of survivors as well as vital resources to decrease the sense of isolation felt by young women affected by breast cancer.

Trips for Kids Founding Director Receives Jefferson Award

Marilyn Price's vision and commitment honored

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - Trips for Kid's (TFK) founding director, Marilyn Price, recently received the widely-recognized Jefferson Award for community service for 21 years as the driving force behind the organization.

On the local level, the Jefferson Award spotlights ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward. TFK is a non-profit organization that provides mountain bike outings and environmental education for kids who would not otherwise be exposed to such activities. The organization teaches lessons in personal responsibility, achievement and environmental awareness through the simple act of having fun.

Through Price's tireless stewardship, TFK has grown from her original idea in 1988 to a 64-chapter international organization which has served tens of thousands of disadvantaged, young people in the inner-cities. Most participate in mountain bikes rides in nearby parks and wild lands, while others learn bike repair and maintenance through earn-a-bike programs. Hundreds of adult volunteers say they receive as much from TFK experiences as the kids do. The San Francisco Chronicle and the local CBS affiliate station KPIX featured stories about Marilyn's initial vision for TFK and her long-term dedication to its expansion and its mission.

More information about TFK and its mission can be found at www.tripsforkids.org. More information about the Jefferson Awards, administered by the American Institute for Public Service, a national foundation that honors community service, may be found at its web site www.jeffersonawards.org.

Youth Is Served

In youth everything is deemed possible. No obstacle is too high, no goal unattainable.

The laws of nature and the desires of man, however, tell us otherwise. The human body is fragile and the choices we make can lead us to unending heights or abysmal lows.

Such was the plight of Mark Cavendish this summer. Already a World Champion on the track for Great Britain in the Madison, Cavendish sought to prove himself on cycling’s ultimate proving ground, the Tour de France.


His exploits at this year’s Tour led many to the conclusion that he is the fastest sprinter in recent cycling history. But his failure at the Beijing Olympic Games showed that he literally bit off a little more than he could chew.

In this world of big time, but diminishing, cycling sponsorship what would you choose?

Columbia or Great Britain? Disappointing a sponsor or disappointing a nation? Riding for the people who sign your paycheck or riding for people who work for theirs? Tour de France teammates or Bradley Wiggins? Green Jersey or Gold Medal?

It is perhaps a decidedly personal choice, but in his attempt to have both, Cavendish got neither.

Such are the travails and impetuousness of youth.

The Kenyans Are Coming, The Kenyans Are Coming

It was a story that was buried on Cyclingnews, but anyone who read it and watched the Beijing Olympic Games could see the future potential of a world wide peloton; a peloton that is dominated not by those of European blood but by African.

Kenya has long been known as a country of great runners. Their foot speed and natural endurance often go unmatched. In the recent Olympic Games, their men and women won gold or medaled in distances from 800m to the marathon.

The winner of the men's marathon, Samuel Wanjiru, won the event in a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes and 32 seconds. His pace was a blistering 4 minutes, 49 seconds per mile.

Recently, with the support of Nicholas Leong, two black African riders from Kenya went to the Alpine region of Isère, France to test their climbing skills on the epic mountain of L'Alpe d'Huez.

In their first attempt on August 7th, Zakayo Nderi and Samwel Mwangi clocked an impressive 43'35 and 44'45 minutes respectively.

"In the 2004 Tour de France's individual time trial up the famous mountain, Lance Armstrong clocked 39'41 minutes, with the tenth-placed rider that day being 2008 Tour winner Carlos Sastre at 42'08 minutes."

Leong firmly believes that "with the right support, an East African can become a world class climbing specialist. Nderi and Mwangi have the heart, lungs and legs of marathoners, but all they want to be are the first black African professional cyclists in the world."


A movie is being made about Nderi's and Mwangi's cycling trials. And with a little help, they may just be the first black African cyclist to make it into the professional cycling ranks and better yet, the historic pavers of a future cycling legacy.

To read more about their journey, visit www.theafricancyclist.com.

Photo: AP (top)

"Doping is to Sport What Criminality is to Society."

During the waning moments of NBC’s Olympic coverage, Bob Costas interviewed International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge. Though their conversation touched on a variety of sporting topics, it was Rogge’s honest and pragmatic answer on the subject of doping and the credibility of athletic performances that left me wondering if it was even realistic to think that the sport of cycling might ever be clean.

Costas: As we speak, five athletes have been disqualified for doping violations here. Another couple of dozen were caught by their own countries and disqualified before coming to the Olympics. In fairness, the IOC administers very tough drug testing. More sophisticated, more frequent than ever. You're saving the samples now for eight years so you can catch cheaters after the fact. But there are skeptics. You know, they'll say no matter how hard you try; the cheaters will always be ahead of the police. So, how confident are you that the performances we see here are credible?

Rogge: As credible as possible. Let me be very clear. The fight against doping was my number one priority when I started as president of the International Olympic Committee. We have stepped up the doping test from 2,500 in Sydney to 4,500 now, and also you described all the other measures that we have taken. We can say that we've...it's never been so difficult to cheat as today. Does this mean that there is absolutely no athlete running around doping? Of course not. We have to be realistic. Doping is to sport what criminality is to society. You will never have a society without criminality. You will always need judges, prisons and laws. And we'll always need to fight against doping. But it is our sacred duty to protect the athletes and their health and the credibility of the competition. To bring it down to the lowest possible level, and that is what we are doing.

There are many among us who have lobbied, clamored, and even raged for the sport of cycling to "get" clean. But for what purpose?

Is it because we, like Jacques Rogge, believe it is our "sacred duty to protect the athletes" from themselves or is our desire for a cleaner sport a bit more selfish. Many of us sat idly by with rose-colored glasses when the sport of cycling cannibalized itself with rampant doping. The unbelievable speeds, the inhuman performances, even the nationalism amazed and entertained us. But in the end we were all made to look like fools.

Now, websites and cycling pundits have urged us to "take back" what was lost. Agencies, committees, and even teams have gone to extremes, testing and tracking their athletes' every movement, to insure that what we are witnessing is indeed real.

But to believe that doping, like crime, will cease to exist because of these measures is perhaps the bigger fallacy. After all, cyclists do not live nor do cycling events occur in a vacuum. The idealism of a perfect cycling world can only be met with shattering disappointment.

Instead, the void of cycling innocence lost needs to be filled by something more fundamental. Just as we once connected to those unbelievable performances because they made us believe in the unbridled potential of us all, we now need to tap into the guttural pain and suffering that we've all shared, and continue to share, on two wheels.

Because it is in that so called "bag of suffering" that cycling will find its way out of these troubled times. For within it is the powerful and bittersweet memory of that grand deception that will enable us to not only recognize forged performances but also drive us to make sure that those that seek to enhance their performance are deterred well before they are punished.

Interbike International Bicycle Expo 2008 Pre Show Numbers on Schedule to Match or Exceed Last Year's Show

Bicycle industry optimistic about the future, as indicated by increases in Interbike exhibit space and pre-registration attendance


SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. - Interbike has announced that pre-show numbers for the indoor portion of the industry's annual gathering, the International Bicycle Expo, are expected to match or exceed the numbers from last year's show.

An indication the industry is feeling positive about the future, despite uncertain economic times, the 2008 International Bicycle Expo already includes close to 312,000 of net-sold, square-feet of exhibit space, not including the thousands of square-feet given to industry non-profit and advocacy organizations. As of the release date, the reported figure represents close to 800 exhibiting companies and more than 1,100 brands.

The final net-sold, square-foot figure is expected to be close to or higher than last year's record show. The trade-only event will be held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, September 24-26.

With recent increases in the price of gasoline, bicycles are gaining momentum as a viable alternative mode of transportation. Bicycle retailers report increases in new bike sales and in repair orders of older bikes as well. Capitalizing on the momentum, bicycle and accessory manufacturers are planning on launching a broad range of new products at Interbike.

"With sales greatly increasing in the commuting category, and other categories as well, we are looking forward to introducing several new products at the show," said Steve Flagg, President of QBP. "As QBP has grown with the market, Interbike has been and will continue to be the best venue for us to launch new products."

Another indication of the industry's optimism is in planned Interbike attendance. More than 13,000 individual buyers, representing close to 3,000 storefronts plan on attending the Interbike International Bicycle Expo, an increase of 21 percent for both figures, compared to the same time last year.

"The bicycle industry is in a very exciting position," said Andy Tompkins, Interbike's show director. "Consumers are looking for ways to save money, and they are looking to bikes to help them do that, both in their daily life and for recreation. Interbike is a direct reflection of the marketplace, and the increase in the number of exhibiting companies, both international and domestic, suggests the industry is very healthy and has opportunities for growth."

The first two days of the industry only bicycle and accessory trade show start with the OutDoor Demo in Bootleg Canyon, Nevada, September 22-23, where bicycle retailers and members of the media will be able to test products from close to 140 bicycle and accessory manufacturers and counting. Immediately following the OutDoor Demo will be the indoor portion of the show, the Interbike International Bicycle Expo, September 24-26.

Interbike promises to be a great show for exhibitors, retailers and members of the media. For more information about exhibiting at Interbike and other events and marketing opportunities surrounding the show visit www.interbike.com.

Team Type 1’s Wilson Takes King Of The Mountain Jersey In Ireland

Waterford, Ireland — When Team Type 1 signed Matt Wilson, it was assumed the 2004 Australian national road champion would be a pillar of experience for the first-year professional team.

A broken wrist sustained in training in March interrupted those plans for a time. But an ever-determined Wilson never let the injury get in the way of helping the team out - be it at the Tour de Georgia in April, the Tour de Beauce in June or Wednesday at the Tour of Ireland.

Displaying the form that has won him three races this season, Wilson drove a breakaway that nearly stayed away to the finish of the opening stage of the Tour of Ireland. And his extraordinary efforts were rewarded with the donning of the red jersey of King of the Mountain leader after winning three of the four categorized climbs along the 119-mile (192 km) route.

Mark Cavendish (Team Colombia) won the field sprint in Waterford ahead of Julian Dean (Garmin-Chipotle presented by H30) and Alexander Kristoff (Joker-Bianchi Team) to earn the yellow jersey of overall race leader. In July, Cavendish won four stages of the Tour de France.

Wilson figured prominently into what was unexpectedly a tough opening stage of the five-day, 547-mile (881 km) race.

Following several short-lived breakaway attempts, Travis Meyer (SouthAustralia.com), David George (MTN South Africa) and Irish rider Martyn Irvine (Pezula) built a 15-second advantage. Seeing the opportunity, Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon ordered Wilson to jump across the gap.

The four quickly worked together to build a lead that topped off at nearly eight minutes. Meanwhile, Wilson was racking up King of the Mountains points by winning the Category 1 climb of Mount Leinster. By the time the leaders reached the hot spot sprint in Borris 83 miles into the race, it was only Wilson and Meyer at the front, as the other two escapees could not keep pace.

The two could not hold off the charging efforts of Team Colombia and Garmin-Chipotle, though. With less than six miles remaining, Wilson and Meyer were reeled in.

Wilson told Cyclingnews.com reporter Shane Stokes that it would have been hard to stay away to the finish.

"I was really hoping that a few more guys would come along with us and we would have a better chance of staying away and setting up a bit of a GC (general classification)," Wilson said. "But there was only four of us out there and unfortunately we lost two of them about halfway through, so there was just me and the other Aussie guy left out front. He was really strong and we gave it a good shot."

Wilson told Ben Delaney of VeloNews.com that he has a good chance of hanging onto the red jersey of King of the Mountain leader.

"I've got a strong team here, so I'm sure they'll help me defend it."

Valeriy Kobzarenko was Team Type 1's top finisher on the day in 12th place. Wilson is the team's best-placed rider overall, eight seconds behind Cavendish in fourth place.

While Team Type 1 was celebrating Wilson's accomplishment, it was also lamenting the loss of Glen Chadwick, who did not finish the stage.

"Glen was having serious sinus problems and had real difficulty breathing," Beamon said. "Maybe all the travel this month finally caught up to him.

"It's a big disappointment especially since he would be very helpful trying to set Matty up for the KOM in the next couple of days. But Kobzarenko and Moises (Aldape) look good, and I think they will all get stronger as the week goes on."

Chadwick finished third at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah earlier this month and joined Aldape as the team's representatives at the Olympic Games in Beijing for New Zealand and Mexico, respectively.

Racing continues Thursday with an up-and-down, 98-mile (158 km) stage from Thurles to Loughrea. The Versus Network will provide a one-hour recap show at 6 p.m. EST/3 p.m. PST.

Photo: Copyright Margaret O'Kelly

Interbike OutDoor Demo Looking Strong for September 2008

Bicycle retailers and media can demo a broad range of products at Bootleg Canyon demo site, including cyclocross bikes on a cyclocross-specific course

Las Vegas - Interbike has announced that its annual OutDoor Demo at Bootleg Canyon, Nevada, is on schedule to meet or exceed last year's event. As of release date, the OutDoor Demo has 63,500 of net-sold, square-feet of exhibit space and is continuing to grow as manufacturers submit exhibiting contracts.

"The OutDoor Demo continues to be an important event for manufactures and bicycle retailers," said Rich Kelly, Interbike's marketing manager. "Retailers want and need hands-on testing opportunities. The industry continues to introduce a broad range of bikes and accessories for different uses, such as cyclocross and commuting, and OutDoor Demo is the perfect opportunity to demo them all."

This year's edition of the OutDoor Demo will be held September 22-23, 2008, and will now include a cyclocross demo loop, prepared by CrossVegas, LLC, with 40cm high barriers interspersed along a 1-kilometer undulating course.

The 2008 Interbike OutDoor Demo expo area is returning to the Bootleg Canyon park, which was improved last year with landscaping and new pavement by Boulder City's Parks and Recreation. Bootleg Canyon, home to one of the International Mountain Bicycle Association's (IMBA) "Epic Rides," features:

• An extensive groomed trail network
• Professionally built BMX track
• Closed-road loop
• Downhill-specific trails
• Dirt-jumping section
• Closed-cyclocross course

OutDoor Demo provides retailers from all over North America, international retailers and members of the media the opportunity to test 2009-model bikes and accessories from close to 130 exhibitors. Exhibiting companies at OutDoor Demo include Bell Sports, Cannondale, Giant, Jamis, Kona, Scott USA, Shimano, Specialized, SRAM and Trek Bicycles, to name a few.

Key sponsors of the 2008 Interbike OutDoor include:

• Cervélo - Road Demo Loop Start House
• Fox Racing Shox - Suspension Tuning Support
• GUsports - Official Energy Gel
• Mavic - Road Demo Loop Tech Support
• Park Tool - Rider Cooling Station
• Pedro's - Bike Wash and Environmental Sustainability
• PowerBar - Official Energy Food
• Save Our Soles - Schwag Bag Contributor

Each year the bicycle industry gathers in Las Vegas to conduct the business of cycling. Produced by Interbike, the OutDoor Demo is the first two days of the industry's weeklong trade-only event. The indoor portion of the show, the Interbike International Bicycle Expo, runs immediately following the OutDoor Demo and will be held at the Sands Convention and Expo Center in Las Vegas, September 24-26.

For more information about Interbike and other events and marketing opportunities surrounding the show, please visit www.interbike.com.

Beijing Wrap

After 16 days of competition, the historic Games of the 29th Summer Olympiad came to a close. Though America's Michael Phelps and later Jamaica's Usain Bolt would dominate the headlines, the sport of cycling proved to be just as noteworthy.

A Cooke, an Unlikely Conquistador, a Swiss Freight Train, and an American Heroine
It sounds like the beginning of an extremely tacky joke, but the road events were each won by one of the above. Great Britain's Nicole Cooke took the top spot during a deluge in the women's road race, while the least decorated of the Spanish five-some, Samuel Sanchez, won the men's road race and attained something that no countryman has ever laid claim to, a gold medal.

In the Individual Time Trial, a current and a former World Champion in Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) and America's Kristin Armstrong proved to be their weight in gold.


But perhaps just as impressive as Cancellara's gold medal ride was the effort of Levi Leipheimer (USA) in the time trial. Absent of world-class competition for some time because of his professional team's exclusion from the Tour de France, Leipheimer reaffirmed his position among the world's elite by winning bronze.

God Save The Queen
Great Britain may have turned Hong Kong back over to China in 1997, but their track team certainly looked right at home at the Laoshan velodrome taking 12 medals and setting a world record.

Chris Hoy led the way with three gold medals (Men's sprints, Men's team sprints, and keirin) while Bradley Wiggins contributed two golds of his own (Individual Pursuit, and Team Pursuit with Ed Clancy, Paul Manning, and Thomas Geraint). Wiggins had the opportunity to match Hoy's three golds, but Wiggins and Madison partner Mark Cavendish failed to make the finals.

It remains to be seen whether Cavendish's quick turn around from participating [and excelling] in the Tour de France was responsible for their downfall, but it ultimately may have contributed to the inability of the reigning World Champions to contest for a medal.

Victoria Pendleton and Rebecca Romero also won gold for the British Empire in the Women's sprints and Individual Pursuit, respectively.

Great Britain's domination surely has the track cycling world shuddering at the thought of what awaits them in London in 2012.

Other Olympic Champions on the track include the Netherlands' 21-year old sensation Marianne Vos (Women's Points Race), Spain's Joan Llaneras (Men's Points Race), and Argentina's Juan Esteban Curuchet and Walter Fernando Perez (Madison).

If you are a fan of US Track Cycling then you couldn't have been more disappointed in these Olympics. The team's controversial [and some might say prima-donnaish] arrival in Beijing probably left most fans wondering if their focus wasn't more on surviving the Games of the 29th Olympiad rather than competing in them. That point couldn't have been driven home anymore poignantly than when I read that some of our track athletes continued to wear their filtrating masks anytime they were outside the velodrome.


I know athletes are creatures of habit, meticulous in our preparations [at times to the point of crippling compulsiveness], and even superstitious. Each also has a choice in deciding what is to their athletic benefit. But there also comes a time when champions are not only able to adapt to their surrounding environment, but able to overcome them as well [even if some of those distractions were better reserved for tabloid fodder].

The "X" in BMX
For those who were skeptical about another extreme sport invading the Olympics, you may have missed out on the most exciting event not only in cycling but for the whole of the Olympic Games.


Latvia's Maris Strombergs was as steady as a metronome in winning gold, but the same could be said for the American pair of Mike Day and Donny Robinson who finished in second and third.


In the women's event, France's mountain bike legend Anne-Caroline Chausson took the gold, but she was seriously challenged throughout the entire competition by countrywoman Laetitia le Corguille (silver), America's Jill Kitner (bronze) who is a former World Champion in her own right, and track sprint champion Shanaze Reade (Great Britain).

The Other Spitz and Hope For France
Mountain biking capped off the cycling events at the Beijing Olympic Games. Because of the Phelps-ian drama of eclipsing Mark Spitz's record of 7 gold medals in a single Olympics, few knew of the other Spitz competing in these Games.

In the women's cross country race, Germany's 36-year old Sabine Spitz took home gold. America's hopes for a medal, Mary McConneloug and Georgia Gould, would come in 7th and 8th.


For the men, cycling hungry France would finish 1-2 with Julien Absalon claiming the top spot over Jean-Christophe Peraud.

Photos: Getty Images (first, second, fourth); Xinhua (third, fifth, sixth)

Images From Downers Grove

Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) greets teammate Laura Van Gilder at the start of the Saturday's Cat 1/2/3 race.

Amber Rais (Team TIBCO) shows off her cornering skills; a must for the 8 corner course at Downers Grove.

Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) and Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) mark each other in Saturday's race. The pair is inextricably linked to the races in Downers Grove because of the 2006 finale.

My former teammate who currently runs the website Chicago Bike Racing, Luke Seemann (xXx Racing - Athletico) competed in the Cat 3 race and then filled in for an under-manned Velonews staff.

Meredith Miller (Aaron's Women's Professional Cycling) was active all weekend. Finishing second on Saturday, Miller attempted another breakaway on Sunday.

Vanderkitten's Leigh Valletti "rips" it up heading into the first turn during Sunday's SRAM Elite Women's National Criterium Championship.

Ken Hanson (California Giant Berry Farms) takes the victory in the Double Tree Guest Suites Elite Men's National Criterium Championship.

The quintessential racer, Antonio Cruz (BMC Racing) narrowly missed taking the stars and stripes jersey finishing in fourth on Sunday.

Kirk O'Bee (Health Net presented by Maxxis) showed well over the weekend in defense of his title. He would finish in fourth during Saturday's warm-up and in 24th on Sunday.

A surprise to most in the field, and probably moreso to himself, Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Chipotle) a Lemont, IL native lined up for Sunday's SAAB USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship. Despite carrying the American banner in the Tour de France, Vande Velde was not too well respected by some in the field. That is, until he took a flyer late in the race and put the peloton into some difficulty.

Photos: Leonard Basobas

The Power of Now

Downers Grove, IL - In the ultra competitive world of business software, TIBCO sets themselves apart by giving their customers “what they want, how they want it, when they want it.”

In many respects, Team TIBCO, the women’s professional cycling team sponsored by the California based software company provides their fans with the same sort of attentiveness, giving them victories, with some flair, at various times throughout the cycling season.

But perhaps more important than their sponsor’s “the power of now” philosophy is the descriptor that lies in front of their name, team.

From the inaugural Tour of California Women’s Criterium to the Commerce Bank Liberty Classic, Linda Jackson’s charges have exemplified teamwork and defined what it means to be a teammate. Their support for each other is visible during races, but what is even more amazing is their support for each other after races. If one finds their way onto the podium, the rest are usually within close proximity cheering for their teammate, or on a few occasions correcting an announcer's gaffe.

Franges Warms It Up
At the US National Criterium Championships on August 16th and 17th, the scene was no different as Team TIBCO won both races, Saturday’s Cat 1/2/3 and Sunday’s SRAM Elite Women’s National Criterium Championship, with teamwork.


On Saturday it was Sarah Caravella, er Lauren Franges [a bid number mix up had officials and announcers believing Caravella had won even as Franges ascended the podium] who would take the traditional warm-up race of the Criterium National Championship weekend.

Midway through the Cat 1/2/3 race a breakaway with Franges, Meredith Miller (Aaron’s Women’s Professional Cycling), Andrea Dvorak (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) and Laura Bowles (Team Advil-Chapstick) developed.

With three of the four major teams involved in the break, the exception being Cheerwine, the peloton was content to let the race go up the road and save their legs for the next day. Leading through the final turn on the same course used for Sunday's National Criterium Championship, Franges would take out the sprint and never looked back.


Lauren would tell Cyclingnews afterward, "Typically this race is always a break – not everyone is motivated to race with the big day tomorrow."

Results
1 Lauren Franges (Team TIBCO)
2 Meredith Miller (Aaron's Pro Cycling)
3 Andrea Dvorak (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
4 Laura Bowles (Team Advil-ChapStick)

Miller Doubles Her Pleasure
An 11AM start for Sunday’s SRAM Elite Women’s National Criterium Championship should have mitigated the heat of a typical Midwestern summer’s day. But once the race started, the women inside the barricades quickly generated enough heat to raise the temperature.

The pace was blistering from the opening horn, and any breakaway attempts were never allowed to range too far off the front.

Again, it was Team TIBCO who claimed the top prize as Brooke Miller won the field sprint in front of Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway) and Jen McRae (Team Advil-Chapstick).


Miller was quick to thank her teammates who kept her out of trouble and help shepherd her to the line. Of note was the exceptional effort by the previous day’s winner, Lauren Franges who helped lead out Miller in the final sprint and Amber Rais who absolutely buried herself early on to make sure that no break got away without Team TIBCO’s presence.


Miller's victory helped her claim a stars and stripes double as she won the US National Road Race Championship in Southern California on August 9th.

Results
1 Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO)
2 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing)
3 Jen Mc Rae (Advil Chapstick)
4 Katharine Carroll (Aaron's Women's Professional Cycling)
5 Lara Kroepsch (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)

Photos: Leonard Basobas

Rocking the Criterium National Championships

Downers Grove, IL — They made the most unlikely pair, Rock Racing and Team TIBCO; fundamentally different in their makeup and markedly divergent in their approach to marketing their teams. Yet, for a weekend their paths converged in the western suburbs of Chicago with both teams leaving with a National Champion among their ranks and a sweep of the weekend races.

Rock Racing 1-2 In Criterium Nationals Warm-Up
Rock Racing’s Sterling Magnell and Kayle Leogrande finished 1-2 during last Saturday night’s Pro-Am Challenge, the warm-up to the Saab USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship at Downers Grove, Ill.

Magnell launched an attack with two corners to go on the figure-eight course, then held off the charging field on the slightly uphill finish to score Rock Racing’s 33rd win of the season.

“Sterling went past everyone going five or six kilometers an hour faster than everyone else,” Leogrande said. “It looked like he was shot out of a cannon.”

As Magnell blazed across the finish line, Leogrande jumped defending national criterium champion Kirk O’Bee (Health Net presented by Maxxis), who was also passed by third-place finisher Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling) in the final few meters.

The Rock Racing pair’s success was set up by teammates who covered moves throughout the 31-mile (50 km race). In the waning minutes of the race, it was Rahsaan Bahati who was the engine powering the team’s lead out. His Herculean effort came just a handful of laps after the 2000 amateur criterium champion stopped for a free lap following a flat tire.

“Rahsaan came up to me and asked, ‘Do you want to win?,’ ” Magnell said. “So I jumped on his wheel and Kayle followed. When I felt him slowing down coming into the second-to-last corner, I punched out and went for it.”

Magnelll’s move was reminiscent of the strategy that earned him a victory at the Great Downer Avenue Bike Race at the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic. It was one of two races the 25-year-old won while finishing second overall in the 17-day series.


“I had confidence I could hold my speed and hit out,” Magnell said of his now-signature move. “I also knew Kayle was right there and could win if I didn’t.”

More than 150 amateurs and professionals competed Saturday night.

“The win tonight was good for the morale but we’re staying hungry,” Magnell said. “This was by no means our goal. (Winning) the national title is our No. 1 goal.”

Results
1 Sterling Magnell (USA) Rock Racing
2 Kayle Leogrande (USA) Rock Racing
3 Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team
4 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
5 Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light

Bahati's Instant Karma
Helping to carry a teammate to victory the night before, Rahsaan Bahati was instantly rewarded for his efforts with a victory in Sunday's Saab USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship.

Bahati out-sprinted Alex Candelario (Kelly Benefit Strategies presented by Medifast) and third-place finisher Mark Hekman (Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling) at the end of the 62-mile (100 km) race to join Rock Racing teammate Justin Williams as a winner of the coveted stars-and-stripes national championship jersey.


Earlier this month, Williams captured the USA Cycling Under-23 National Criterium Championship in Anaheim, Calif. It is believed to be the first time two African-Americans have earned national cycling titles in the same discipline in the same season.

“This has got to be some type of history,” Bahati said after notching his ninth win and receiving a congratulatory call from Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball. “There is definitely some significance to it. Perhaps we won’t see it now, but in the future it will carry some weight.”

“I don’t think there’s another team in the world that would allow and promote and support these individuals to the level that they have attained,” Ball said. “Whether it be Rahsaan Bahati, Justin Williams, Oscar Sevilla, Tyler Hamilton or Kayle Leogrande, if it wasn’t for the program we put together collectively, they could not have had these results. It is really, really special.”

Bahati said his second victory at Downers Grove fulfills a season-long goal.

“It was a huge relief to come across the line with my arms up,” Bahati said. “Candelario, Hekman and I came into the last turn NASCAR style – pretty much stacked three-wide with me in the middle. But once we got into the straightaway and I got the gear going, I knew I had it.”

Earlier this spring, things didn’t look so promising for the 26-year-old. He nearly ended his season prematurely after learning that his right thigh bone was overgrown. It created constant pain in his upper thigh on each pedal stroke. Ultimately, he decided against undergoing surgery to correct the problem. That led to wins in Athens and Manhattan Beach and a spot on Rock Racing’s squad for the Tour of Britain next month.

“I told him he’s the fastest man on this planet,” Ball said. “There’s not a race in the world that he can’t win and I believe that whole-heartedly.”

Results
1 Rahsaan Bahati (USA) Rock Racing
2 Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast
3 Mark Hekman (USA) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling presented by Herbalife
4 Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team
5 Kyle Wamsley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light

Photos: Vero Image (first and third); Leonard Basobas (second and fourth)

On Tap...

The Beijing Olympic Games wind down this weekend. The thrills and spills supplied by the inaugural running of BMX races earlier this week give way to the technical singletrack of Mountain Bike racing. The women's race takes place today with the men taking their turn at the Laoshan Mountain Bike Course on Saturday.

Presently, Germany's Sabine Spitz is riding away from the women's field. On Saturday, look for Switzerland's Christoph Sauser to take out the men's field.

For races in you particular neck of the woods, consult the listings below.

In The Hood
08/23/2008
Bicycling Magazine “Tour De Brew”
Allentown, PA
San Ardo Road Race
San Ardo, CA
2008 ADT Event Center Velodrome Championships
Carson, CA
Warsaw Downtown Classic
Warsaw, IN
Chiropractic Partners Criterium
Brookfield, WI
MABRA Track Championships
Trexlertown, PA
Sanpete Classic Road Race
Spring City, UT
Tour of Oak Brook
Oak Brook, IL
Valley City Street Fair Road Race
Valley City, OH

08/24/2008
Summer End GP Race #5 12th Annual (Final)
Ontario, CA
Bicycling Magazine “Tour De Brew”
Allentown, PA
Chicago Time Trial Series-Willow Springs
Willow Springs, IL
University Road Race
Santa Cruz, CA
Skull Valley Road Race
Skull Valley, AZ
Rum Village Criterium
South Bend, IN
Chiropractic Partners Charity Time Trial
Eagle, WI
Page Valley Road Race
Page County, VA

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


Up The Road
08/30/2008
Lehigh Valley Winery Criterium
Breinigsville, PA
Challenge Challenge Road Race
Challenge, CA
1st Annual Greenford Road Race
Greenford, OH
Trophee de Grimpeurs - Un-Official Michigan State Climbers Championship
Milford, MI
Far West Championships
Encino, CA
West Lafayette Road Race
West Lafayette, IN
Civano Town Criterium
Tucson, AZ
2008 Nittany Cup
Breinigsville, PA
Illinois State Time Trial Championship
Harvard, IL

08/31/2008
Dunnigan Hills Road Race
Yolo, CA
Clarks Valley Elite TT Championship 40 and 20 KM
Harrisburg, PA

09/01/2008
44th Debaets-Devo Pro-AM Memorial
Auburn Hills, MI
Giro Di San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
IL. State Velo Kilo & 500m Championship
Northbrook, IL

Team Type 1's Chadwick Third Overall At Tour of Utah

Tooele, Utah – Glen Chadwick’s third-place finish overall at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, as well as a third place in the team classification, confirms that Team Type 1 is one of the top stage racing teams in America, said Sport Director Ed Beamon.

Billed as the “America’s Toughest Stage Race,” (the race even owns the copyright on the phrase) Chadwick held onto his podium place with an impressive top 10 finish in Sunday’s final stage, the KJZZ Time Trial at Miller Motor Sports Park in Tooele, Utah.

“I’m really proud of how all the guys rode,” Beamon said. “We were even short-handed for this race, not having Moises (Aldape). So we lost a guy who could have been a real difference-maker.

Aldape competed in the Olympic men’s road race for Mexico, but travel logistics prevented him from making trip back in time for the five-day, five-stage race.

Chadwick also competed in Beijing and brought the form that earned him a spot on New Zealand’s Olympic team to the tour where he had finished second two years ago. This time, he came away with the polka dot jersey as the race’s best climber. At the Tour de Beauce in Canada in June, he did the same while finishing fifth overall.

“I am happy with my finish,” Chadwick said. “Jeff (Louder) was a favorite because this is his state. Two years ago, I probably cost him the race when I towed his teammate (Scott Moninger) to the finish line on the last day.”

Louder (BMC Pro Cycling Team) trailed yellow jersey wearer Blake Caldwell (Garmin-Chipotle) by seen seconds heading into the final 7.5-mile (12 km) time trial. But Louder blazed to the third-fastest time on the day to beat Caldwell by 15 seconds and win the race by fewer than 10 seconds overall.

(Official results for the stage and final individual and team classification were not available at the time of publication of this news release.)

Though Team Type 1 was denied a spot in the Tour of Missouri – one of the three “grand tours” of the United States – the squad did receive an invitation to the Tour of Ireland, which runs Aug. 27-31.

Chadwick was scheduled to fly back to his home in Belgium, where he will spend one week before heading to Ireland. Already this year, Chadwick said he has spent more than 240 hours on airplanes – or the equivalent of 10 days. Particularly grueling was his flight back from Beijing last week after competing in the men’s Olympic road race.

“And I still have to go to Australia later this year,” he said.

Photo: Courtesy Team Type 1

Same As It Ever Was

...Not Quite.
According to the New York Times, City Room, New York City cyclists are now privy to hip and colorful bike racks, courtesy of Talking Heads front man, David Byrne. Before he and band mates made songs such as Life During Wartime, Psycho Killer, and Once in a Lifetime famous, they attended the Rhode Island School of Design.

Yesterday, the New York Department of Transportation in partnership with the art gallery PaceWildenstein, announced that it had installed nine temporary bike racks designed by Mr. Byrne.

Said the musician and biking enthusiast of his designs,

“It was important to me that these new racks be the same thickness and material as the existing racks—to help identify them as practical bike racks and not just modern art. The locations about as perfect as one could imagine — Wall Street for the dollar sign and Bergdorf’s for the giant high heel!”

READ More & SEE the remaining 7 designs...

Team Type 1’s Chadwick Is Tour Of Utah’s Mountain King

Snowbird Ski Resort, Utah — With Team Type 1 founder Phil Southerland watching from the team car, Glen Chadwick animated the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah Saturday on a tortuous course that included nearly 15,000 feet of climbing.

Chadwick's attack on the leg-breaking ascent to the Snowbird Ski Resort eventually led to a third-place finish in the 98-mile (158 km) Snowbird Road Race that was won by local favorite Jeff Louder (BMC Pro Cycling Team), ahead of overall leader Blake Caldwell (Garmin-Chipotle).

The impressive finish by Chadwick, the 2006 runner-up in this race, was nearly overshadowed by the results of a trio of Team Type 1 riders who placed in the top 20: Valeriy Kobzarenko was 12th, Matt Wilson was 14th and Ian MacGregor was 20th.

Those performances lifted Team Type 1 into third place in the team standings with only Sunday's 7.5-mile (12 km) KJZZ Time Trial to go in the five-day, five-stage race. Chadwick lies third overall, 42 seconds behind Caldwell, with only Sunday's individual time trial remaining.

Team Type 1 Sport Director said the achievements speak volumes about the character of the first-year team that was denied an invitation to compete in the Tour of Missouri next month.

"Guys like Matt (Wilson) and Ian (MacGregor) really stepped up today because they want to be part of the team effort," Beamon said. "It kind of shows the depth of this team. We don’t have the big superstar rider. We just have a lot of guys that cling to one another."

Chadwick claimed the team's 73rd podium finish of the season and sewed up the Zions Bank King of the Mountains jersey. It was his second mountains classification crown of the season, following his polka-dot jersey win at Tour de Beauce. It came exactly eight days after he competed for New Zealand in the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

"I sort of waited until the other guys started to pop," Chadwick said. "When I saw (Tom) Danielson was on the front and slowing down, I thought 'what the heck' and gave it a go."

Chadwick will have a fight on his hands if he is to move up any higher on the overall classification. The 31-year-old said he has spent more time lately working on his climbing than his time trialing.

"We'll see how I'm feeling," he said. "It's going to be an interesting course - with lots of corners on a race track."

Southerland, who is recovering from surgery on arteries in his legs, said the teamwork exhibited Saturday serves as proof that Team Type 1 is on track for its long-range goal to field a team in the Tour de France in 2012.

"It seems that the harder the race, the better this team rides," Southerland said. "It's great to see everyone step up the challenge every time."

Rodriguez Fights Off Stomach Bug For Second

Salt Lake City — Simply competing in the Toyota Downtown Criterium was an accomplishment for Rock Racing’s Fred Rodriguez Friday night at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.

A stomach virus nearly kept the three-time U.S national road race champion from finishing Thursday’s University Health Care Road Race. The unpleasant feeling actually had Rodriguez considering withdrawing from the third stage of the five-day race before the twilight criterium in Downtown Salt Lake City.

“So second place isn’t bad,” he said. “I gave it everything I had.”


Ricardo Escuela (Successful Living presented by ParkPre) won the one-hour-plus-five-laps race ahead of Rodriguez while Johnny Clark (Toyota-United Pro Cycling) was third. Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla placed fifth, just behind overall race leader Blake Caldwell (Garmin-Chipotle).

Rodriguez said a pair of big efforts by Rock Racing teammate Cesar Grajales on the bell lap put him in position for the final sprint.

“But coming around the last corner, one of my teammates thought the other guy was yelling to ‘go’ so he sat up,” Rodriguez said. “When he sat up, there was a lull in the sprint and I couldn’t make up the gap.”

The flat, four-corner criterium in front of a big crowd led to no changes in the overall classification. But that will not be the case for Saturday’s “Queen Stage” of the event. The Snowbird Road Race, which begins at the Lodge at Park City, travels 98 miles (158 km) and gains 14,778 feet in elevation.

Among the 12 contenders who are within 30 seconds of Caldwell’s lead are three from Rock Racing: Grajlaes in eighth, Tyler Hamilton in ninth and Sevilla (10th).

In addition to Rodriguez’s podium finish in Utah, Rock Racing also earned a bronze medal Friday at the USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships in Carson, Calif., when Danny Finneran placed third in the men’s 17-18 division of the 3 km individual pursuit.

Photos: Vero Image