San Luis Obispo, CA -8th March 2010 - HTC-Columbia will field a strong mix of all-rounders and sprinters for this year's edition of Tirreno-Adriatico, which starts on Wednesday in the coastal city of Livorno, Italy. "I'm only expecting a couple of bunch sprint finishes, the first and the last stages," comments Valerio Piva, HTC-Columbia's sports director for the seven-day Italian event. "But with all these tough little finishing circuits in between, no time trial, and two very long, hard stages in the mountains of central Italy, Tirreno will probably see some big splits in the field, too. The time bonuses at the finishes and in the intermediate sprints will have a larger than usual influence on the way the race develops, too."
HTC-Columbia's Michael Rogers [AUS] is expected to be contending the overall. After winning the Tour of Andalusia in Spain and placing well in the Strade Bianche event this weekend, the Australian is highly motivated for Italy's second biggest stage race.
"Michael's certainly in great shape, although it's a pity there's no time trial, which would have suited him even more", Piva comments. "For the overall classification we've also got Michael Albasini [SWI] , too, who's always up there with the other top guys on stages with uphill finishes. And Marco Pinotti's [ITA] always got a good chance in these sorts of races, too."
Mark Cavendish [GB] will use Tirreno-Adriatico, according to Piva, "as another important step toward Milan-San Remo. That said, there's no way he'll be going in too deep. You don't want to burn yourself out in Tirreno-Adriatico and not have enough strength left to do well in Milan-San Remo. But whenever there's a bunch sprint, that's always a good stage for Mark."
HTC-Columbia for Tirreno-Adriatico: Michael Albasini (Swi); Lars Bak (Den); Mark Cavendish (GB); Bernhard Eisel (Aut); Marco Pinotti (Ita); Bert Grabsch (Ger); Peter Velits (Slo); Michael Rogers (Aus).
Beverly Hills, Calif. – Amidst Australian dignitaries, shapely flight attendants and a packed ballroom of invitation-only guests, sponsors and media, the Fly V Australia professional cycling team was unveiled Friday night at the posh Montage hotel in Beverly Hills.
The Honorable Peter Beattie, Queensland's Trade Commissioner, was on hand to help introduce 10 of the team’s 15 riders, as well as Team Owner Chris White, Technical Director Ed Beamon and the team’s management and staff. Several of the Fly V Australia red, white and black De Rosa bicycles were on display as the backdrop for the ceremony.
White beamed with pride as he told the audience gathered at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant that the second-year, Australian-registered team was doing things “a bit differently” in its quest to one day become a ProTour team and compete in the sport’s greatest races, including the Tour de France.
“We’re haven’t gone straight to Europe. We’re going to Europe via America,” White said. ”We see America as the doorway to Europe and great events like the Amgen Tour of California as the entryway into the Grand Tours.”
Among the 15 riders on Fly V Australia are 10 Australians, two South Africans and one rider each from Canada, Italy and the United States. Ten of the 15 were on hand Friday and escorted through the crowd by female V Australia “cabin crew” attendants: Alessandro Bazzana, Jonathan Cantwell, Jai Crawford, Ben Day, Charles Dionne, Aaron Kemps, Darren Lill, Bernard Sulzberger, David Tanner and Phil Zajicek. Missing were Hayden Brooks, Ben Kersten and Jay Thomson (who were racing) and Darren Rolfe and David Kemp (who were attending Rolfe’s wedding). Additionally, Director Sportif Henk Vogels was absent due to the recent birth of his fourth child and Digital Development Director Brett Roland was in Australia.
White said the team exudes the true meaning of “mateship” – a word that is printed inside the collar of the team’s Santini racing jerseys.
“Mateship is pulling at the front of the bunch for hours on end so that you can deliver a race win,” White said. “It is making sure your mate has enough water to finish the stage. It is making sure all the little things are done that you might not otherwise want to do.”
In 2009, Fly V Australia won 94 races. The team’s U.S. racing schedule begins March 19 at the San Dimas Stage Race and continues through September, highlighted by anticipated participation in stage races such as the Amgen Tour of California, the SRAM Tour of the Gila, the Tour de Beauce in Canada and the one-day International Classic in Philadelphia.
In addition to nearly 200 race days in North America, Fly V Australia also hopes to land berths in late-season European races like the Tour of Ireland and the Tour of Britain before resuming its Australian program with the Tour of Tasmania, the Sun Tour and the Australian criterium series in November and December.
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Speeding into the night: The 2010 Redlands Bicycle Classic Brings Twilight Racing To Downtown Redlands [release]
Redlands, Calif. - March 5, 2010 -As anticipation builds for the first National Racing Calendar event of the cycling season - the Redlands Bicycle Classic Organizing Committee is shaking up this years' event. The Redlands Classic Criterium is known throughout the peloton as an insanely fast, no holds barred, full throttle event that keeps even the savviest of racers on their toes. Now add a twilight twist, the mingling of a vocal downtown crowd on a Saturday night, live musicians eclectically 'strutting' their craft on a street corner, and the unmistakable whirl of 200 racers screaming around an eight turn course.
For what may seem, from the outside, as an odd blend of sheer speed and tranquil small town atmosphere, this is exactly what the RBC Organizing Committee is shooting for. "A night 'crit' is a very exciting race," says RBC Technical Director Sean Rooks. "We wanted to bring together the downtown atmosphere that Redlands is famous for, and blend that with the cool atmosphere of a night crit, it's good for downtown, it's good for the bike race, everyone wins, it should be amazing to watch."
With only a few 'Twilight' 'crits' for the professional peloton to contest throughout the year, this is a unique venue for riders to showcase their talent. As most bike racing takes place during the early hours of the day, this type of event has the ability to bring out not just the cycling savvy enthusiasts, but all those folks that thrive on the Redlands night life, the college kids looking for entertainment, the coffee shop hang-outs, and even those families looking to enjoy a meal at one of the local downtown businesses. "Blending our race with the already established downtown atmosphere is a great way to showcase all that Redlands has to offer", says Race Director Dan Rendler. "This twilight crit will bring together the best of both worlds, Redlands locals will see world class bike racers speeding through town, while the professional peloton and it's contingent will get to experience first hand our quaint downtown atmosphere. We're really looking forward to it."
As the jazz band tunes up their saxophones and the local coffee shop brews up a special concoction, the pro bike racers racing in this years' Redlands Bicycle Classic powered by Loma Linda University PossAbilities presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will be adding extra handle bar tape to prepare for some Saturday night 'white knuckle' 'crit' racing in Downtown Redlands!
For more information, including race times, distances, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.redlandsclassic.com.
Watch Tirreno-Adriatico on Universal Sports... Coming Soon!
Universal Sports is set to broadcast the Tirreno-Adriatico UCI Road Race from March 10-16. We will be broadcasting it on TV and on-line same day delay. Some prominent riders that will be competing are Evans, Bennati, Boonen, Cavendish, Cancellara, and Andy Schleck.
Universal will also be broadcasting the Milan-San Remo race with Lance Armstrong on March 20th.
Velo Pasadena Hosts Ride With Fly V Australia [release]
Pasadena, Calif. – The Fly V Australia professional cycling team is giving fans the opportunity to ride along Saturday as it tackles the route of a stage of this year’s Amgen Tour of California.
Saturday’s ride leaves from the Velo Pasadena bicycle shop at 2562 East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, Calif., at 10 a.m. Velo Pasadena is owned by former professional and Armenian national champion Hrach Gevrikyan.
“It’s great to have Fly V Australia out to do this kind of stuff that we do a lot of,” Gevrikyan said. “We’ll accommodate the guys who are here to hammer, as well as the Average Joes, too.”
The Fly V Australia roster consists of 10 Australians, two South Africans and one rider each from the United States, Canada and Italy. The second-year continental team is holding its training camp in Agoura Hills, Calif., this week. Saturday’s ride will serve as a reconnaissance of sorts for the team, which hopes to receive a berth in this year’s Amgen Tour of California.
“Cycling is about community and the professional cycling arena is the streets and neighborhoods of Main Street,” Fly V Australia Team Owner Chris White said. “As athletes, we appreciate the support and enthusiasm of our followers and fellow enthusiasts, and enjoy the opportunity to share the fun and passion of riding with local riders in their community.”
Velo Pasadena is one of the top dealers for DeRosa bicycles, which the Fly V Australia team will race on throughout the 2010 season. “We are privileged to be racing one of the best bikes ever made,” White said. “So it’s a great opportunity to share our experiences of success on the racing circuit with the dealers and consumers who have the opportunity to ride the same bikes we race.”
Saturday’s ride leaves Velo Pasadena at 10 a.m. and heads on Angeles Crest Highway toward Cloud Burst Summit, returning to Pasadena with a total distance of about 81 miles (130 km). Fans are welcome to join the team for all or part of the ride, or welcome to stop by the bicycle shop to meet the team before the ride begins.
In 2009, Fly V Australia won 94 races, including its first and last events in both Australia and the United States.
2010 Team Roster
Bazzana, Alessandro (ITA)
Brooks, Hayden
Cantwell, Jonathon
Crawford, Jai
Day, Benjamin
Dionne, Charles (CAN)
Kemps, Aaron
Kemp, David
Kersten, Benjamin
Lill Darren, (RSA)
Rolfe, Darren
Sulzberger, Bernard
Tanner, David
Thomson, Jay (RSA)
Zajicek, Philip (USA)
Pedro's "Greens" Up New Location in Advance of Move [release]
HAVERHILL, Mass. (March 1, 2010) - Today Pedro's announced its move to historic Haverhill, Massachusetts where the company has taken up residence in one of the city's notable architectural sites to begin the next chapter of the Pedro's tale. Built in 1912, the Burgess Building was the centerpiece of the region's once-thriving shoe industry. Now nearly a century later, the Burgess Building has has undergone a "facelift" in keeping with Pedro's mission and ethos while staying loyal to its solid New England foundation. As the country's first poured concrete structure, the overbuilt edifice now houses Pedro's headquarters and research and development facility.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA--The 2010 Shimano NAHBS Awards Jury has been assembled to determine the outcome of what is seen by some as the most prestigious competition in the cycling world: the Shimano North American Handmade Bicycle Show Awards, an annual contest held at the show, which this year is in the Greater Richmond Convention Center, Virginia, February 26-28. The award winners are announced at 3 p.m. on Sunday February 28th in the show hall.
The judges have been assembled by the Jury chairman, Dale Brown, in consultation with the show's founder and director, Don Walker. They are:
Dale Brown: Bike shop owner , cycles de ORO/frame builder/race promoter- Greensboro, NC
Jamie Swan: instructor at Webb Institute/frame builder/machinist - Glen Cove, NY
Peter Weigle: frame builder - Lyme, CT
Steven Maasland: 30 years in bicycle industry retail, wholesale & manufacturing/frame builder - Moorestown, NJ
Roman Stankus: Architect/frame builder - Atlanta GA
Don Ferris: Prop. Anvil Tooling, Littleton, CO
Dale Brown said "The 2010 NAHBS jury has been assembled with members who are deeply knowledgeable about the technical aspects of handmade bicycles. All have built their own frames, some as a main vocation, others as just one part of their overall cycling credentials. They all share a continuing passion for bicycles and bicycle making."
Richmond, Virginia--With less than two days remaining until the opening of the sixth Shimano North American Handmade Bicycle Show, pre-event registrations have topped 2,000, an increase of more than 100% over the previous high mark of 977, set at Portland in 2008. The international custom bicycles show runs February 26-28 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, in Richmond, Virginia.
Show founder and president, Don Walker, said "The way this show keeps growing is very satisfying to me personally, and I'm sure to all of the exhibitors who make it the world's number one custom bicycles show. People maybe don't realize the amount of effort by all concerned that goes into putting this show on, but this kind of recognition makes all that work worthwhile. Evidently Richmond is an outstanding location for this show."
With large crowds expected at the show this year, attendees are encouraged to visit the show on Friday and Sunday, rather than Saturday, which is usually the busiest day. For those that wish to travel to the show by bicycle, which is encouraged too, the show provides bicycle valet parking for $2.
Steegmans and Vaitkus in Belgium’s Opening Weekend
Gert Steegmans and Tomas Vaitkus will race in the opening weekend’s races of the Belgian cycling season. Their participation was questionable after crashes in the third and first stages of last week’s Tour of Algarve.
Gert Steegmans suffered a concussion after landing on his head in stage three. After three days rest he did a 50 kilometer training ride on Tuesday, followed by a 6 hour training ride on Wednesday. He could finish both rides without experiencing a headache.
“Since Monday I have had no headaches. The nausea has disappeared too,” said Steegmans. “The doctors advised me to wait an extra day and to stay in the dark to take no risks. Though – as everyone joked – I could not have a concussion because of a lack of brains in my head! The two training rides have convinced me that I am able to play a role in both weekend races. My good condition cannot be completely gone. The only thing that worries me a bit is the stiffness in my neck and upper leg but that is not the end of the world. I can deal with it.”
Tomas Vaitkus, who crashed on his shoulder, kept his shoulder immobilized for a few days. Though his shoulder injury still causes some pain, Vaitkus will take the risk to start.
“In Russia there is a saying: ‘One who doesn’t take a risk, will not drink champagne’. So I will start,” Vaitkus commented. “In the past two-to-three days I have less pain, but it is still present. On the other hand, I was able to ride 180 kilometers today on the bike. I am confident of a better 2010 than 2009, certainly with less crashes anyway.”
In last year’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Vaitkus was on his way to a top-5 placing when he could not escape the crash of another rider in the final sprint and broke a bone in his right elbow.
The Team line-up for the next races:
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Bel), 27/02/2010
Riders: Fumiyuki Beppu, Sam Bewley, Daryl Impey, Gregory Rast, Sébastien Rosseler, Bjorn Selander, Gert Steegmans & Tomas Vaitkus
Director: Dirk Demol
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (Bel), 28/02/2010
Riders: Fumiyuki Beppu, Sam Bewley, Daryl Impey, Gregory Rast, Sébastien Rosseler, Bjorn Selander, Gert Steegmans & Tomas Vaitkus
Director: Dirk Demol
Genuine Innovations announces this week shipping of the NEW Air Chuck Elite [release]
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