Official starters as of February 20, 2012

• Back to top
• Send this page to a friend
• Share this page with others
• Print this page

Back to top

Cyclingnews Features

WASHINGTON, DC (BRAIN) Feb 22, 10:44 MT—The Alliance for Biking & Walking is working with the Street Plans Collaborative to promote open streets — the temporary closure of city streets to motorized vehicles to build communities and encourage active transportation.

The two groups have launched a website and published a guide to help communities plan the open street events.

The website, www.OpenStreetsProject.org, showcases dozens of current initiatives across the continent. The Open Streets Guide features best practices from 67 initiatives.
 
“Open Streets initiatives are transformational for people and their communities,” said Jeffrey Miller, alliance president and CEO. “When communities open their streets to people, they inspire citizens to see their roads as public spaces, and provide a welcoming gateway for residents to engage in healthy lifestyles and active transportation.”

Volkswagen has also recently partnered with Bikes Belong to support development of bike-friendly communities and create a cleaner environment.

DUARTE, CA (BRAIN) Feb 22, 11:02 MT—DUARTE, CA (BRAIN) Feb 22, 11:14 MT—Dahon has been awarded a Taipei Cycle Design & Innovation Award for its EEZZ bike, operating under prototype name, Metro.

The new 16-inch wheel model weighs 9kg and can be folded or assembled in less than seven seconds.

The Taipei Cycle D&I Awards are organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council in collaboration with the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters’ Association. 207 products were entered into this year’s competition and five of the 74 winners will be awarded the Gold Award at Taipei Cycle Show next month.

Bicycle Retailer & Industry News

Competitive Cyclist get season off to perfect start

Competitive Cyclist’s first-year pro Mike Olheiser got his rookie season underway with an impressive solo win Tuesday at the first stage of the Rutas de Americas, a UCI 2.2 race in Uruguay.

Olheiser rode away from the fractured bunch in an effort to take a three-second KOM time bonus about 99 km into the 146 km opening stage from Montevideo to Minas. When no one in the field reacted to Olheiser’s move, the 37-year-old multiple masters time trial world champion pressed the issue and zeroed in on his first professional win.

“They gave him a good-sized gap, and I was like, ‘hmmm, they don’t know this guy can time trial like we do,’” said Competitive Cyclist director Gord Fraser. “It was really difficult terrain with a lot of up and down. He was able to get his momentum up on the downhills and really carry it over the rollers. So he just did a great job.”

The Rutas de Americas marks the team’s first foray into international racing after team leader Francisco Mancebo won the USA Cycling National Race Calendar individual title last year. Fraser said Olheiser’s first professional win in as many tries has already set the tone for a major team goal this season.

“I’ve been big on this word diversification of results, and we’ve certainly got it the very first race,” Fraser said. “So I couldn’t be happier for the guys. It’s good for the morale. We’re having a great time here already. It’s quite an adventure, and it’s certainly different than what we’re used to, so we’re rolling with it and having a good time. This will just set us up for the rest of the week without any pressure now.”

Mancebo started the fireworks Tuesday for Competitive Cyclist, soloing away from the bunch to win the first intermediate sprint at 28 km and grabbing the time bonus. The team continued to force the issue for the next 30 km, working with Porongos de Flores of Uruguay to keep the pace high over the rolling terrain.

Olheiser made his move after the peloton split into two groups. While teammates Mancebo and Chad Beyer rode heard on the ever-shrinking chase group behind, Olheiser battled to an eight-second gap at the finish. With time bonuses, Olheiser climbs into the overall race lead with a 14-second margin over Pablo Pintos of Uruguay. Fraser said Beyer was in position to take second on the stage when a Brasilian rider altered his line, causing Beyer to unclip to regain his balance and losing his spot.

The race continues Wednesday with the 150 km stage from Jose P. Varela to Melo. Fraser said his team will not be aggressively patrolling the front of the peloton to defend Olheiser’s lead, but will look for others to animate the race in the coming days.

“I still think it’s kind of a crap shoot, honestly,” Fraser said “There are so many factors that can go into it. We’re just really happy with the win. We’re not going to ride the front by any stretch. We’re going to play a more passive defense and try to engage the competition as much as possible and count on some local rivalries to see what shakes free.”

The six-day stage race ends February 26 with a stage from Trinidad to Montevideo. After the Rutas, Competitive Cyclist will split into two squads, with half the team contesting the Tour of Mexico while the other half heads to the San Dimas Stage Race and then Redlands Bicycle Classic for the USA Cycling National Race Calendar opener.

Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world – twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed

• Back to top
• Send this page to a friend
• Share this page with others
• Print this page

Tags:

neo-pro

Cyclingnews News Headlines

Minneapolis – The only race series in the United States offering amateur cyclists trips to the Nature Valley Grand Prix, where they will compete against the country’s top men and women professionals, has a new name and several new cities for 2012.

Formerly known as the Nature Valley Pro Ride, the new “Nature Valley Pro Chase” will select the top amateur man and woman at six races to become part of a pair of composite Nature Valley Cycling Teams for the 14th annual edition of the premier stage race on the 2012 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar.

”This name better reflects the goal of the program, which is to emotionally engage the entire cycling community by telling the stories of the participants,” Nature Valley Grand Prix Executive Director David LaPorte said. ”What hasn’t changed is the opportunity it gives top amateurs to be noticed by pro team managers and potentially receive a pro contract.”

Rider invitations will be issued following each of the six stops on the Nature Valley Pro Chase national tour: Tour de Murrieta (March 10-11) near San Diego; Jefferson Cup (April 1) near Charlottesville, Va.; Tour de Moore (April 28) near Raleigh, N.C.; Superior Morgul Classic (May 18-20) near Boulder, Colo.; Memorial Day Weekend Omnium (May 26-28) in the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois; San Jose Omnium (May 30-31) near San Jose, Calif.

The Tour de Murrieta, the Tour de Moore and the Superior Morgul Classic are new to the calendar while the Memorial Day Weekend Omnium and Jefferson Cup return from last year. The San Jose Omnium was a stop on the series in 2010.

Tour de Murrieta promoter Ernie Sanchez said he looks to add a new element to his race each year and the Nature Valley Pro Chase is a perfect fit.

“This is huge for us it’s going to add that extra element of excitement to our race,” Sanchez said. “We’ve had some great competitors over the years, from Chris Horner to Sarah Hammer and Chad Beyer and we always have a very strong, competitive men’s category 1 field. I know they’ll be looking forward to what some refer to as the “American Idol” of cycling. So we’re proud to be a part of it.”

Nature Valley Pro Chase qualifiers will earn free entries to the Nature Valley Grand Prix, generous travel stipends, team clothing, housing, ground transportation, and staff support for their composite teams. They will also receive pro-level recognition before, during and after the events, including pre-race call-ups and participation in promotional and media appearances. Their entire journey can be followed through blogs and on-line videos on the Nature Valley Pro Chase website (www.naturevalleyprochase), the Nature Valley Grand Prix Facebook page (www.facebook.com/NatureValleyGrandPrix) and on Twitter (@NVBikeFest).

Snapshot glances at the six Nature Valley Pro Chase events:

Tour de Murrieta (March 10-11), San Diego: Three unique courses comprise a weekend of racing – Friday’s time trial features a 1.2-mile portion of unpaved/dirt road. Saturday’s criterium is run on a lightning-fast, one-mile course in historic Downtown Murrieta, while Sunday’s circuit race is run on a 3.5-mile course (56 miles for men, 46 miles for women).

Jefferson Cup (April 1), Charlottesville, Va.: Nearly two dozen editions make this is the oldest continually run road race in the Mid-Atlantic region. The course for the one-day race winds through rolling countryside south of Charlottesville. The race is 70 miles for men and 40 miles for women.

Tour de Moore (April 28), Raleigh, N.C.: The oldest road race in the South (this is the 37th edition) has previously been used as both a Pan American games qualifier. Men will tackle four laps of a 27-mile rolling loop of the Fort Bragg Military Reservation (112 miles) while women do two laps for a 58-mile race.

Superior Morgul Classic (May 18-20), Boulder, Colo.: The Morgul Classic has three days of racing and roots in the famed Red Zinger and Coors Classic races. Friday’s time trial starts on top of “The Hump” and is a 6.5-mile course up “The Wall.” Satruday is a criterium through the town of Superior, followed by Sunday’s road race on the fabled Morgul Bismark course.

Memorial Day Weekend Omnium (May 26-28), Iowa and Illinois: Returning for the second straight year, the three days of racing consist of a trio of unique criteriums: Snake Alley, Melon City and the Quad City Criterium – which, at 47 years old, is the fourth oldest criterium in the nation and the oldest in Illiois. All three have been a fixture on the Midwest racing circuit on Memorial Day weekend for more than a quarter century.

San Jose Omnium (May 27-28), San Jose, Calif.: One of the longest running bike races in San Jose, Calif., the road race (63.5 miles for men, 63.5 miles for women) climbs 4,500 feet in 20 miles over Mt. Hamilton, the highest peak in the Bay area, on a course that was part of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. The criterium is run over a one-mile course in Morgan Hill, Calif.

About the Nature Valley Bicycle Festival
Now in its 14th year, the Nature Valley Bicycle Festival is a ten-day celebration of bicycling that includes amateur and professional racing and community events. The Nature Valley Grand Prix has become the premier professional bike race in the U.S., attracting top American racing teams and nearly 300 top riders from around the world. Races are free and open to the public. It is the only professional sporting event in Minnesota for which no admission ticket is required. Proceeds from the Nature Valley Grand Prix are donated to Children’s Lighthouse of Minnesota, a pediatric hospice project. For a detailed schedule of events visit www.naturevalleybicyclefestival.com.

Bicycle.net | Attitude is Everything

• By Andrew Hood
• Published 57 mins ago

Team GB received a rowdy welcome from the crowds during Thursday’s preliminaries in the men’s 4000m team pursuit. Photo: Andrew Hood

LONDON (VN) – The British track team is quietly confident it’s on the right track heading toward the 2012 Olympic Games.

After winning five gold medals and earning hardware in seven of 10 Olympic disciplines that will be held on London’s brand new Olympic velodrome during this weekend’s World Cup stop, Team GB is hoping it will be hitting its stride just in time to defend its pride on home boards later this summer.

In 2008, Team GB dominated track racing, winning a total of 14 medals, eight of them gold. Whether the team can come close to repeating that success will be one of the big stories as London hosts the Summer Games.

Leading the charge is UK’s track team captain and sprint king Chris Hoy.
The Scot gained knighthood after bringing home three gold medals from
Beijing in the 2008 Olympic Games. After a strong showing this
week, it appears Hoy is hitting his stride just in time for an Olympic
defense.

Hoy took a dramatic sprint victory Sunday after winning gold in the
Keirin on Saturday and bronze in the team sprint Friday.

“We can take a lot from this, it’s the best we’ve been as a team since
Beijing,” Hoy said Sunday. “It reminds me of the world championships
in 2008, that feeling that we’re on a roll now.”

Team GB gave rowdy, sell-out crowds something to cheer about during
four days of competition in the stylish venue that made its debut over
the weekend during the Olympic test event.

The crowd came alive whenever a British rider hit the boards. Team
pursuiter Ed Clancy described the crowd noise as a “wall of sound.”

“It was so loud when we were racing, I was shaking on the bike,” said
star sprinter Victoria Pendleton. “That helps us lift our game. We
don’t want to disappoint the home crowds.” Whether that kind of
pressure can backfire remains to be seen.

Changes in the track program mean that there will be fewer medals
offered on the boards. For 2012, there will be five medal events for
both men and women. Gone are the points race, the Madison and the
individual pursuit on the men’s side while the women see the addition
of team sprint, the keirin, team pursuit and omnium.

Hoy and Pendleton headline the UK track unit, though final selection
won’t come until later this summer.

Pendleton won gold in the women’s team sprint with new partner Jess
Varnish, but didn’t medal in the sprint (coming in fourth) or keirin (fifth).

“There’s no need to panic now,” Pendleton said. “August is still a
ways away. The time to hit your peak is then, not now. I can take a
lot of out of this weekend. I love the track and I am extra-motivated
to race in front of these crowds.”

Arch-rival Australia promises to not go down without a fight. The team
brings a stacked squad loaded with new talent, such as Cameron Meyer
and Jack Bobridge. Australia beat back defending team pursuit
champions Team GB on Sunday.

“We know we have some work to do,” said Geraint Thomas, a member of
the 2008 winning TP squad. “It won’t be a stroll through the park.
Australia will be a touch rival, but we believe we can go faster.”

Gone are reigning double individual and team pursuit champion Bradley
Wiggins, who will chase Olympic medals on the road instead, as well as
world champion Mark Cavendish, who raced the Madison in Beijing and
was the only member of the British track team not to medal in China
after he and Wiggins fell flat in the Madison.

Expectations will be sky high come August. BBC and other UK media
promise blanket coverage of the track. For this weekend’s event, more
than 700 journalists were credentialed for this weekend’s World Cup
leg. Team GB promises to give them something positive to write about.

FILED UNDER: Road TAGS: London 2012 Olympics

VeloNews

• By Justin Davis of AFP
• Published 2 hours ago

Great Britain’s Laura Trott (L), Joanna Rowsell (C) and Danielle King (R) race the Women’s Team Pursuit Final against Canada at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup, a test event for the London 2012 Olympic Games, at the Velodrome in the Olympic Park in London on February 17, 2012. The British team won the gold medal, winning in a world-record time of 3:18:148. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS

LONDON (AFP) — Track cycling could be set for an Olympic boost when a host of world records are expected to fall at London’s new state of the art velodrome.
  
After four days of racing at the final World Cup event of the season, an official Olympic test event, only two world records were set in London’s east end last weekend.
  
Yet that number is expected to increase significantly as intense rivalry and the ‘curing’ of the wooden boards covering the largely oval 250-meter track come into play this August.
  
On Friday Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch set a new world mark of 32.828sec in the two-lap team sprint, a time beaten in the final by Great Britain’s Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish, who clocked 32.754.
  
In another women’s event, the 12-lap team pursuit, it was more of the same. After Australia’s three-women team had set a new record of 3:19.164, Britain went on to win the final in a new time of 3:18.148.
  
The International Cycling Union (UCI) sanctions world records in a total of 12 track events, eight of which are on the Olympic program. Arguably the most coveted record to hold in Olympic track is in the team
pursuit.
  
On Sunday, the Australian quartet of Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Alexander Edmondson and Michael Hepburn scorched to 3:54 — the third-fastest time recorded for the 4km event — to beat Britain, and threaten the world record of 3:53.314 the Brits set on their way to Olympic gold in Beijing four years ago. Experts estimate that teams will have to clock around 3:50 to win Olympic gold in the 4km men’s event.
  
Bobridge, the world record holder in the non-Olympic event of the individual pursuit (4:10.532), says that is a near certainty. “It’s only a new track, and for the track to be that fast already, with it being so new, is a good sign of things to come,” Bobridge told AFP. “Give it another six months for the boards to cure and a bit more racing on it, and come the Games there will be pretty good times for sure.”
  
For American pursuit specialist Sarah Hammer the London velodrome is particularly kind for pursuit. ”Obviously it’s very round, a good pursuiters track… one you can keep full gas on all the way around,” said Hammer, who hopes the reputation of the women’s team pursuit event benefits in London.
  
“We’re a new event, it’s thrilling that we get to do it as women. I would expect and hope we have the same high achievement for the times.”
  
Specialists in the speed events meanwhile were happy with the chance to test their tactics on the steep banking and home straights of the velodrome — made from 56km of sustainably-sourced Siberian pine and some 350,000 nails.
  
Jason Kenny is battling British teammate Sir Chris Hoy for the sole sprinter’s spot available in the event at the Games. “A lot of tracks we’ve been racing on have quite longer (home) straights,” he said. “And when you’re in a match sprint and leading out and trying to overtake someone it
does change the characteristics of the race and you just have to race accordingly. It’s just a learning curve really. It’s been really good to get on the track and experience some fast racing ahead of the Olympics.”
  
Kenny was recently awarded the sprint world title after France’s Gregory Bauge was stripped of the rainbow jersey for a doping rule misdemeanor. In London both riders are sure to represent their respective countries in the team sprint, an event in which Britain are Olympic champions and France are world champions.
  
“It’s a nice track,” Bauge told AFP after his team took silver behind Germany on Saturday. “It feels really good to ride on and with the atmosphere and the heat, plus a little medal motivation from us, I think we can go much faster in London.”

FILED UNDER: News / Track TAGS: London 2012 Olympics

VeloNews