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Mountain Biking News - August 2009
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Monday, 31 August 2009JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- German superstar Jens Voigt, a multiple Tour de France stage winner and two-time Tour of Germany champion, Sweden's two-time national time trial champion and Beijing Olympic silver medalist Gustav Larsson, will look to lead the world's No. 2-ranked Saxo Bank team at this year's Tour of Missouri, scheduled for September 7 - 13, 2009.
In addition to Voigt and Larss on, Saxo Bank's roster includes: American Jason McCartney; Tour de France super domestiques Chris Anker Sorensen and Nicki Sorensen, both of Denmark; Lars Bak of Denmark and Marcus Lungqvist of Sweden; and J.J. Haedo, the Argentinian sprinter who has won five stages in the top American stage races the past three years. One rider has yet to be named to the eight-man team.
"This is a very deep and talented team," said Jim Birrell the Tour of Missouri's race director. "It's great to have the participation of Saxo Bank and its quality riders in the Tour of Missouri for the first time. Jens Voigt is a long-time favorite by cycling fans around the world. The rest of their team will no doubt contest for both G.C. and stage wins. They are one of the best stage racing teams in the world."
Voigt became a world wonder recently on YouTube after he violently crashed going 55 mph descending during a stage at July's Tour de France. Fortunately, he was not critically injured. He was seen by more than 3 million people within 24 hours after the crash n YouTube, in which he suffered a fractured cheek bone and concussion. McCartney placed third overall in the 2008 Amgen Tour of California and has been King of the Mountain champion at the Tour de Georgia. Haedo, who has won three stages the past couple years in the Tour of California will try to match speed with sprinters Mark Cavendish of Columbia-HTC and Cervelo TestTeam's Thor Hushovd.
The race begins in St. Louis on Monday, September 7, Labor Day, with a 10-lap, 75-mile circuit race that will be fast and flat and favor a sprinter taking the leader's jersey. On Tuesday, September 8, the race will transfer south to Ste. Genevieve with a 112.4-mile road race to Cape Girardeau. The terrain is hilly to moderate and features finishing circuits.
On Wednesday, September 9, cyclists will face their toughest challenge of the race, with a hilly 114.3-mile stage in the Northern Ozark Mountains from Farmington to Rolla. After a short transfer on Thursday, September 10, the race will proceed from St. James to Jefferson City, with the circuit finish featuring a steep 300-meter uphill sprint to the finish.
Riders will be able make up time Friday, September 11, during the individual time trial at Sedalia with a 19-mile race against the clock around Missouri's State Fairgrounds. On Saturday, September 12, cyclists will race from Chillicothe to St. Joseph while hitting moderate to hilly terrain.
The weeklong journey through the Show-Me-State concludes with a hilly circuit through the streets of Kansas City, Sunday, September 13. The Kansas City circuit will feature two king of the mountain points with more than 2,000 feet of climbing over 72 miles.
The upgrade has drawn top pro tour teams Astana, Cervélo TestTeam, Columbia- HTC, Garmin- Slipstream, Liquigas, Saxo Bank and Quickstep, all recent Tour de France teams, of which won 14 of 21 stages of the world’s biggest race. Domestic teams participating in 2009 include BISSELL Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing, Colovita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Jelly Belly, Kelly Benefit Strategies, OUCH presented by Maxxis, and Team Type 1. Canada's top team Planet Energy rounds out the field.
Previously announced were superstars of the sports, including Britain's Cavendish, a 10-time Tour de France stage winner and wildly considered the world's best sprinter; 2007 Tour of Missouri champion George Hincapie; three-time world champion Mick Rogers of Australia, all of team Columbia-HTC; Norway's Hushovd, the sprint jersey winner of this year's Tour de France and Cervelo TestTeam member Heinrich Haussler, a stage winner at the this year's Tour de France; Italy's Franco Pellizotti of the Liquigas-Cannondale team, the 2009 Tour de France KOM Champion and Australia's Rory Sutherland and Floyd Landis of Team OUCH, and the top ranked rider on the domestic circuit. Top five-ranked teams Astana and QuickStep will announce their top riders in the next couple days.
The race will be contested over seven days and seven stages. There will be two circuit races (St. Louis, Kansas City), one individual time trial (Sedalia), and four point to-point road races (Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau; Farmington to Rolla; St. James to Jefferson City; Chillicothe to St. Joseph). The race is sanctioned by USA Cycling and UCI, the international governing body for the sport.
For more information, go to www.tourofmissouri.com.
Friday, 28 August 2009SOUTH AFRICA - Two time BMX World Junior Champion, Sam Willoughby from Australia, continued his meteoric rise to fame after winning the second round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, presented by Swatch in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa on Saturday.
The current elite men's World Champion and World ranked number one rider, Donny Robinson from the USA placed second with Rob van den Wi ldenberg of the Netherlands in third.
Willoughby made history last month by be the first rider to claim back-to-back junior world titles in front of his home crowd and did not disappoint again today by winning every heat plus his quarterfinal and semifinal.
In the final, 18 year old Willoughby started in the favoured inside lane, with Robinson on his left in lane two. Willoughby's powerful start gave him the edge and this secured the all-important holeshot into the first turn.
A bike-length gap opened up and Willoughby kept his lead into the technical third straight. Willoughby gave his signature one arm up salute across the finish line to claim his first ever Supercross World Cup win.
"I'm really excited with this win! It's the right end to a perfect day I guess," said the charismatic Willoughby. "I had lane two in my first heat, but won that and held lane one for the rest of the day which proved decisive."
"It was exciting to win the junior (world championships)," explained Willoughby, "but it's all about the men's race. This is the real business now."
Robinson was full of praise for Willoughby but felt that the inside lane was undoubtedly a factor in the final result.
"Sam is improving all the time. He's a real talent and so consistent. I would have loved to have had lane one for the final, but he made the most of it and he never made a single mistake. I planned to run at him in the third straight, but he was flawless through there."
Van den Wildenberg claimed third making it his first ever podium in a World Cup.
In the elite women's race it was a clean sweep for newly crowned World Champion, Sarah Walker from New Zealand. The 21 year old Olympian was a hot favourite after qualifying fastest on Friday but a hand injury during practice put her in doubt during the day.
"It feels really good to get a World Cup win so soon after winning the World Championships," she said. "I have definitely developed a lot of confidence lately and it’s showing in my results."
"I took it a bit easy in the semifinal motos because I didn't want to risk doing something silly and not making the final. But in the final I let it all out and I had a really good race," smiled Walker, who had crashed during practice.
Walker recovered enough to win comfortably ahead of Maria Gabriela Diaz from Argentina in second. French rider Eva Ailloud claimed third. The best placed Australian was Rachel Bracken who crashed in the final but rode across the line to place sixth.
An enthusiastic crowd watched the first elite BMX race of its kind in Africa which is a precursor to the 2010 UCI BMX World Championships, which will also be held in Pietermaritzburg next July.
Thursday, 27 August 2009JEFFERSON CITY, MO --- American Christian Vande Velde, last year's race champion and eighth-place finisher at this years' Tour de France and four-time U.S. National Champion in the time trial David Zabriskie, will look to defend the race title for Garmin-Slipstream at this year's Tour of Missouri, scheduled for September 7 - 13, 2009.
"Christian is a great and worthy champion, and one of the top cyclists in the world," said Jim Birrell the Tour of Missouri's race director. "It's great to welcome him back and his teammate David Zabriskie, of whom we believe the overall course favors. The Garmin-Slipstream team will again field a great team and have progressed into one of the world's top teams. A great sign for American cycling."
In addition to Vande Velde and Zabriskie, Garmin-Slipstream also named Steven Cozza of the United States as part of the team. Cozza was the Best Young Rider at the 2007 Tour of Missouri and has showed well in the race the past two years. A total team roster will be announced later this month.
"The Tour of Missouri is a great American cycling race," said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of the Slipstream team. "As an American team, we are proud to not only participate but to defend Christian's title."
Vande Velde finished eighth in the Tour de France only seven weeks after a severe crash at the Tour of Italy, where he fractured seven bones, including five vertabrae, a testament to his fortitude and abilities. Zabriskie performed very well in the Tour de France and was second overall last February in America's other major race, the Amgen Tour of California. Zabriskie has won four national titles in the individual time trial and remains the only American to win a stage of the Tours de France, Italy and Spain. The only time trial for the Tour of Missouri will be in Sedalia, Friday, September 11th and may play a determining factor in the overall selection of the race.
"I am looking forward to defending my title at the Tour of Missouri. It was a great experience for me and my Garmin teammates last year," said Vande Velde. "It's a very well-organized and promoted race. And, being so close to my home in Chicago, I will be able to race in front of a lot of family and friends. This is the first major international stage race ever in the Midwest so I want to see it do well."
The image of Vande Velde has been featured on numerous marketing materials for the race including advertisements, billboards, television advertising, posters, hero cards, and even on more than 1.5 million phone books through an arrangement with sponsor AT&T.
"We thought Christian was the perfect poster boy for the race," said Steve Brunner, the director of marketing for the Tour of Missouri. "Not only was he the 2008 race winner but a great rider who has additional regional appeal because he comes from nearby Chicago."
The race begins in St. Louis on Monday, September 7, Labor Day, with a 10-lap, 75-mile circuit race that will be fast and flat and favor a sprinter taking the leader's jersey. On Tuesday, September 8, the race will transfer south to Ste. Genevieve with a 112.4-mile road race to Cape Girardeau. The terrain is hilly to moderate and features finishing circuits.
On Wednesday, September 9, cyclists will face their toughest challenge of the race, with a hilly 114.3-mile stage in the Northern Ozark Mountains from Farmington to Rolla. After a short transfer on Thursday, September 10, the race will proceed from St. James to Jefferson City, with the circuit finish featuring a steep 300-meter uphill sprint to the finish.
Riders will be able make up time Friday, September 11, during the individual time trial at Sedalia with a 19-mile race against the clock around Missouri's State Fairgrounds. On Saturday, September 12, cyclists will race from Chillicothe to St. Joseph while hitting moderate to hilly terrain.
The weeklong journey through the Show-Me-State concludes with a hilly circuit through the streets of Kansas City, Sunday, September 13. The Kansas City circuit will feature two king of the mountain points with more than 2,000 feet of climbing over 72 miles.
The upgrade has drawn top pro tour teams Astana, Cervélo TestTeam, Columbia- HTC, Garmin- Slipstream, Liquigas, Saxo Bank and Quickstep, all recent Tour de France teams, of which won 14 of 21 stages of the world’s biggest race. Domestic teams participating in 2009 include BISSELL Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing, Colovita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Jelly Belly, Kelly Benefit Strategies, OUCH presented by Maxxis, and Team Type 1. Canada’s top team Planet Energy rounds out the field.
Previously announced were superstars of the sports, including Britain's Mark Cavendish, a 10-time Tour de France stage winner and wildly considered the world's best sprinter; 2007 Tour of Missouri champion George Hincapie; three-time world champion Mick Rogers of Australia, all of team Columbia-HTC; Norway's Thor Hushovd, the sprint jersey winner of this year's Tour de France and Cervelo TestTeam member Heinrich Haussler, a stage winner at the this year's Tour de France; Italy's Franco Pellizotti of the Liquigas-Cannondale team, the 2009 Tour de France KOM Champion and Australia's Rory Sutherland of Team OUCH, and the top ranked rider on the domestic circuit. Top five-ranked team Saxo Bank, Astana and QuickStep will announce their top riders next week.
The race will be contested over seven days and seven stages. There will be two circuit races (St. Louis, Kansas City), one individual time trial (Sedalia), and four point to-point road races (Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau; Farmington to Rolla; St. James to Jefferson City; Chillicothe to St. Joseph). Other team rosters will be announced this month. The race is sanctioned by USA Cycling and UCI, the international governing body for the sport.
For more information: www.tourofmissouri.com
Route
Stage 1 – St. Louis, circuit race, 75 miles (120.7 km) - flat
Stage 2 – Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau, 112.4 miles (180.9 km) – moderate to hilly
Stage 3 – Farmington to Rolla, 114.3 mi. (183.9 km) – hilly
Stage 4 – St. James to Jefferson City, 109.2 mi. (175.7 mi.) – moderate
Stage 5 – Sedalia, Time Trial, 19 mi. (30.5 km) - flat
Stage 6 – Chillicothe to St. Joseph, 110.3 mi. (177.4 km) – moderate to hilly
Stage 7 – Kansas City, circuit race, 72.3 mi. (116.4 km) – moderate with short steep hills
Tour Contacts: Steve Brunner, 719.272.7022 or Priscilla Visintine, 314.821.8232
State Contact: Gary McElyea, 417.848.4878
Garmin-Slipstream Contact: Marya Pongrace, Garmin-Slipstream, 347.698.3412
Wednesday, 26 August 2009SAN MATEO, Calif.—Back in a new venue after a year's hiatus, Coyote Point Park, the Tour de Peninsula (TdP) attracted 1400 riders, August 2, from across the age spectrum to rides ranging from a half-mile loop for kids up to a tough 63-miler for seasoned pedalers.
Altogether around 1600 outdoor enthusiasts came out to enjoy the offerings of Coyote Point Park, the TdP festivities, and the range of bicycle rides.
"I am delighted with the way it went. The new venue works really well, and we have had a lot of very positive feedback and suggestions. I would like to thank all those who took part, as well as all those who organized it. Special mention should go to the Parks Pledge Pedalers, who went the extra mile to raise money for Bicycle Sunday on Canada Road," said Julia Bott, executive director of the San Mateo County Parks Foundation.
The 'dirty shirt' ride attracted people of all ages. Some 30 children showed up for the kids' ride, and at the other end of the spectrum, a couple in their mid-70's, enjoyed a sunny morning's pedal through the historic parks of San Mateo County.
All experience levels were represented too, including Eric Yim of San Francisco, who had chosen to tackle the 63-mile course with a group of friends. He rode a bicycle with platform pedals.
Eric said, "It was pretty fun. That King Mountain was a killer. This is the longest bike ride I have done. I started riding for transportation when my car insurance ran out. I prepared for this one by riding Critical Mass on Friday night, I think that wore me out a bit."
Stephen Walker, 62, of San Jose, completes about eight 100-mile rides a year these days. "I've been riding the Tour de Peninsula for many years. I'm glad they have three routes now. The 63-mile route was really fun, it was well worth the effort. It was the first time I've ridden down Millbrae (Avenue) and along the path by the Bay here," he said.
An annual fixture in the Bay Area's cycling world since 1991, the Tour de Peninsula (TdP), grew to be the largest urban bicycle ride in northern California. This fully-supported ride, which starts and finishes at Coyote Point Park in San Mateo, offers:
A variety of ride options (20, 31 and 63 miles).
Short kids' ride in Coyote Point Park.
Scenic and historic route options visiting numerous San Mateo County Parks.
Mechanical assistance, rest stops with food and beverage, and a First Aid crew.
Family-friendly activities in Coyote Point Park, which includes an award-winning children's playground. Picnic and barbecuing facilities, free admission to Coyote Point Museum, bike safety classes.
The San Mateo County Parks Foundation raises funds for projects that improve trails, restore habitat, promote environmental education, and encourage recreational use of parks.
Next year's ride will be on the first Sunday in August. Check for information at www.supportparks.org/tdp.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009Boulder, CO, USA - The new Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is here! Newly updated to include the latest tech in cycling, Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is the best organized and illustrated guide to maintaining a bicycle. The book is now available in bookstores, bike shops, and online.
Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance has become one of the world's best-selling books on bicycle care. This smartly organized and clearly illustrated guide-now in 2 colors for easier reference-can make a mechanic out of anyone. Lennard Zinn's expert advice turns road bike maintenance, repair, and upgrades into quick work.
With Zinn's book anyone can properly maintain, tune, fix, or upgrade a bicycle to ensure years of trouble-free riding. Newcomers and experienced mechanics alike will benefit from hundreds of illustrations, exploded views of how components go together, and Zinn's practical, time-saving tips. Zinn's friendly advice is confidence-inspiring, and his years of experience make tackling even the most daunting task fun and easy.
Zinn covers all the latest high-tech equipment without neglecting older, tried and true bike technology. In 440 pages, this new edition includes:
* The basics: For those whose mechanical skills stop at pumping tires, Zinn's guidance will demonstrate how to maintain a bike in perfect condition.
* The advanced: Zinn has time-saving tips to speed work on difficult tasks. Zinn covers integrated spindle cranks, carbon forks, internal headsets, ceramic bearings, and more with exploded diagrams to show the way.
* The latest tech: Zinn explores the ins and outs of the newest components including: Campagnolo's 11-speed, Shimano's electronic Dura-Ace, SRAM's Red shifters, Campagnolo's Ultra-Torque cranks, and more.
* Older components: Zinn's years of experience help cyclists make sense of old metal.
* Cyclocross: New cyclocross-specific information throughout, along with more pro tips, more illustrations, more recommendations - more of what you need to know.
Lennard Zinn is one of the world's leading authorities on bicycle repair. A master frame builder and an enthusiastic rider and mechanic, Zinn is also a technical writer for VeloNews magazine. Zinn is the bestselling author of Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance and producer of a 4-hour instructional DVD of the same title. Zinn is also author of Zinn & the Art of Triathlon Bikes, Zinn's Cycling Primer, The Mountain Bike Performance Handbook, and The Mountain Bike Owner's Manual.
VeloPress is an endurance sports and fitness publisher with books on cycling, triathlon, running, swimming, yoga, nutrition, and the histories and personalities of our sports. VeloPress is the book publishing division of Competitor Group, Inc., publisher of VeloNews, Triathlete, Inside Triathlon, and Competitor magazines and producer of the Rock 'N' Roll marathon and half-marathon series and the Muddy Buddy adventure series.
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