podiuminsight.com

Bill Peterson elected President of USA Cycling Board of Directors

Posted on 12. Mar, 2010 by lyne.

Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 11, 2010)—The USA Cycling Board of Directors elected Bill Peterson as president at its biannual meeting, Wednesday in Colorado Springs. The board of directors of the national governing body for the sport of competitive cycling in the United States also re-elected three additional officers.

Peterson takes office immediately and replaces Mark Abramson, who served a two-year term beginning in March of 2008.

As board president Peterson will work closely with the organization’s senior management team to fulfill USA Cycling’s mission of achieving sustained athletic success and growing the sport of cycling in America. The office carries a two-year term with the next election slated for the spring of 2012.

Abramson was elected as one of two Vice Presidents on the board as Wayne Stetina was also re-elected as Vice President. Jim Patton was re-elected as Secretary.

“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to be in this position especially at a time when USA Cycling and its staff has done a nice job of creating a solid plan for the future in both business development and athletic support,” stated Peterson. “It is exciting to be around such great energy and focus. We hope to continue to grow the organization’s relationship with our members and other partners within the sport, while at the same time increasing our profile on the international stage and continuing to be a good Olympic partner.”

Peterson served on the USPRO’s board of trustees as an at-large representative for two years and has been the group’s representative on the USA Cycling Board of Directors for that same span. USPRO is a trustee organization within the USA Cycling umbrella whose purpose is to guide and promote professional bicycle racing.

Peterson was an integral part of the initial development of the Tour of California and served as the point person for two UCI Track Cycling World Championships. Professionally, he worked with the National Football League’s European operation for almost 10 years, the last two as Managing Director and then President. In these positions Peterson developed an array of knowledge of complex projects, strategic plans and goal achievement. Also a former vice president with Anschutz Entertainment Group in Los Angeles, Peterson drove its Sports Division, which manages everything from the David Beckham Academy to corporate-sponsored cycling, track and field and tennis events. His career highlights also include his position as Managing Director of the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles where he spearheaded the construction of the nation’s only 250-meter, indoor velodrome. Peterson earned his Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania.

“I would like to thank Mark for his continued service to our organization and welcome Bill in his new role,” said Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling. “As we delve into increasingly complex initiatives in our efforts to grow competitive cycling across the United States, we are fortunate to have such an experienced and talented team on board.”

The 15-member USA Cycling Board of Directors consists of representatives from each of the organization’s five associations – the United States Cycling Federation (road, track & cyclo-cross), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), the United States Professional Racing Organization (pro men’s road racing), the National Collegiate Cycling Association (collegiate cycling) and the BMX Association (bicycle motocross). Additionally, the USA Cycling Development Foundation also holds seats on the Board.

Continue Reading

Pepsi To Sponsor 2010 Tour Of The Battenkill

Posted on 11. Mar, 2010 by lyne.

(Cambridge, N.Y. – March 11, 2010) – Organizers of the 2010 Tour of the Battenkill are proud to announce Pepsi as Presenting Sponsor of the April cycling event in Washington County, NY. Pepsi will provide the event the long sought after support for the professional race, held on April 18. Based in Purchase, N.Y., Pepsi will also supply a variety of beverages for riders and spectators, including Gatorade and Aquafina.

“The Tour of the Battenkill is a world-class event that essentially takes place in our backyard,” said Bill Morgan, regional sales director, Pepsi Beverages Company. “We have seen the type of excitement it has brought to the community and we’re pleased to officially support the event this year. We look forward to watching the athletes compete on race day.”

Tour of the Battenkill Director Dieter Drake is happy about the new sponsor.

“We’ve struggled since December to find a way to make this event happen in its entirety,” said Drake. “Getting on the international pro calendar was a goal we accomplished this year and Pepsi will allow us to move forward.”

“This is a fantastic event for New York,” said Morgan. “As a New York company, it’s important for us to engage in the events and communities that make our state so special.”

Joining Pepsi as a major sponsor this year is Trampoline Design of Glens Falls, NY (www.designtramp.com). Trampoline Design is a fully integrated design & communications firm and is providing all media for the 2010 event, including event logos, all branded material, event advertising, and the newly-launched website – www.tourofthebattenkill.com, which has received more than 200,000 hits since its launch in mid-February.

Drake sees the launch of the website and the media campaign leading up to the April event as critical to the overall success of the event.

“I am incredibly pleased with what the folks at Trampoline Design were able to do with our media leading up to the event,” said Drake. “They’ve brought a level of professionalism that is well-beyond our small staff’s capabilities. On top of that they are cyclists and cycling fans who clearly understand where this event can go in the future. Well done!”

The 2010 Tour of the Battenkill will be held over two weekends in April: the Pro/Am on Saturday, April 10; the Ride2Recovery CycleFest – a non-competitive ride to benefit wounded veterans – on Saturday, April 17; and the Professional Invitational on Sunday, April 18. The Pro/Am is the largest road race in North America and expects more than 2,000 riders in 25 different categories competing over the rugged 62 mile course in Washington County’s scenic Battenkill Valley. The Ride2Recovery CycleFest program is produced by the Fitness Challenge Foundation (501C3) in partnership with the Military and VA Volunteer Service Office. 500 recreational riders are expected for the Ride2Recovery CycleFest. The Professional Invitational will feature between 22 and 25 teams and 200 professional and elite riders from North America, Europe, and Australia competing over a 124 mile course that features 25% dirt roads. All events start and finish in Cambridge , NY where a race expo will provide entertainment, food, sports & fitness vendors at various locations in Cambridge and nearby Greenwich . A live race video broadcast is also planned for the Professional Invitational.

Continue Reading

Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team Bolsters Roster with Floyd Landis

Posted on 09. Mar, 2010 by lyne.

Newport Beach, CA March 9, 2010 – The Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team is proud to announce two new members and ambassadors for the Bahati Foundation. Floyd Landis and Josh Berry come onto the team just in time for the Bahati Foundation Launch and Pro Cycling Team Introduction this Friday, March 12th at one of the most exciting venues in downtown Los Angeles, Club Nokia.

Floyd Landis, winner of the Tour de Georgia, the Tour of California, Paris-Nice, and many other international races, joins the team with a focus on the mission of the Bahati Foundation to support inner-city youth and garner positive attention through his success on the bike.

“Cycling has given me so many opportunities that I wouldn’t otherwise have had, and I look forward to helping provide the same opportunities for less fortunate kids.” said Floyd Landis.

Team General Manager, Steve Owens commented “We’re confident in Floyd’s commitment to being a powerful ambassador for the Bahati Foundation and supporting the team in winning marquee events like the Tour of California.”

Josh Berry, a Portland, OR resident, comes to the program as a member of the US National Team in Cyclocross.

Rahsaan Bahati and Floyd Landis will be at Helen’s Cycles at 2501 Broadway in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 5-7pm. They will present the one-of-a-kind Cannondale X Mike Giant graffiti bike that will be on auction at the Bahati Foundation Launch, discuss the Foundation outreach programs and offer invitations to the Bahati Foundation Launch and Pro Cycling Team Introduction on March 12th.

Continue Reading

Kersten clinches Singapore

Posted on 08. Mar, 2010 by lyne.

Singapore – Fly V Australia fast man Ben Kersten won the prestigious OCBC cycle Singapore criterium  in emphatic fashion this past weekend.

Ben Kersten of Fly V australia

The stakes were high with big money on the line with a cool $12,500 for the criterium winner. Amongst the 65-rider field, BISSELL, Kelly Benefit Strategies, Team Type 1 and Fly V Australia all lined up to compete in the 90-minute crit raced on a 2km circuit.

With a dangerous break hanging out front of the hard chasing peloton inside 5 laps to go, Ben’s teammates had to go into overdrive to reel the dangerous move in. Scott Law, Hayden Brooks and Pat Shaw provided the horsepower and with just 300 meters to go the dangerous move was neutralized.

Ben said, “It was looking touch and go in the last few laps but with a lap remaining I thought we had done enough to challenge for the sprint. I positioned myself well and once the break was caught I focused on the sprint. I went at 150 meters to go and had the speed to get there first.”

Team DS Henk Vogels commented, “The pressure was on us as we had arguably two of the best sprinters in the field with Kersten and Law. Law is a name to watch and at just 18 years of age has tremendous natural ability. Benny really impressed me with the confidence and condition he displayed today.”

Michele Merlo of Footon Servetto was second and took home $8K. In third was Angelo Furlan (Lampre).

Continue Reading

USA Cycling names eight-person roster for Track World Championships

Posted on 05. Mar, 2010 by lyne.

Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 5, 2010) – USA Cycling announced today the eight-person U.S. roster for the upcoming UCI Track World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, March 24-28.

USA Team at 2008 Track LA World Cup

As the defending world champion in the individual pursuit, 19-year-old Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo./Trek-Livestrong) earned an automatic nomination to the men’s squad. The 2009 world championships in Poland saw Phinney become the first American male to win an elite world title on the track in 13 years. In addition to defending his pursuit title, he will also contest the Omnium event in Copenhagen.

Rounding out the men’s squad will be discretionary nominees Daniel Holloway (Morgan Hill, Calif.), Colby Pearce (Boulder, Colo./Big Shark Bicycle Company), and Giddeon Massie (Cypress, Calif./Bike Religion). Holloway will contest the Scratch Race and then team up with Pearce for the Madison. Massie will compete in the Sprint and Kilometer Time Trial.

Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif.) received the only automatic nomination to the women’s squad by clocking a 3:27 to win the individual pursuit at the World Cup in Cali, Columbia earlier this season. The two-time world champion will compete for a third rainbow jersey in the individual pursuit and will also contest the Omnium event.

Discretionary nominees Lauren Tamayo (Asheville, N.C./Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12) and Dotsie Bausch (Irvine, Calif./ATF-Empower Coaching Systems) will then join Hammer for the Team Pursuit event. Also receiving a nomination to the women’s team is Shelley Evans (Scotts Valley, Calif./Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12). Evans, who is fresh off the overall win at the Women’s Tour of New Zealand, will compete in the Points Race and Scratch Race in Copenhagen.

2010 UCI Track World Championships (website)
Copenhagen, Denmark
March 24-28, 2010

Men

• Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo./Trek-Livestrong) – Individual Pursuit, Omnium
• Daniel Holloway (Morgan Hill, Calif.)– Scratch Race, Madison
• Colby Pearce (Boulder, Colo./Big Shark Bicycle Company) – Madison
• Giddeon Massie(Cypress, Calif./Bike Religion) – Sprint, Kilo

Women

• Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif.)– Individual Pursuit, Omnium, Team Pursuit
• Lauren Tamayo (Asheville, N.C./Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12)– Team Pursuit
• Dotsie Bausch (Irvine, Calif./ATF-Empower Coaching Systems) – Team Pursuit
• Shelley Evans (Scotts Valley, Calif./Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12) – Points Race, Scratch

Continue Reading

CrossVegas Promoter Named “50+ Planners & Places to Watch in 2010”

Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by lyne.

Brook Watts of Longmont Colorado, was among the honorees of SportsEvents Magazine’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

The special feature, “50+ Planners & Places to Watch in 2010,” included in the January 2010 issue of SportsEvents Magazine spotlights industry professionals from across the country including Watts, promoter of CrossVegas.

CrossVegas 2009 women's podium: Winner Katie Comptn (Planet Bike), 2nd Katerina Nash (Luna), 3rd Georgia Gould (Luna) and podium dudes

The industry professionals profiled in SportsEvents Magazine’s “50+ Planners & Places to Watch in 2010” were nominated by readers of the magazine and by their industry peers.

“When we put the call out to readers to nominate sports planners and sports-friendly destinations and venues for SportsEvents Magazine’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, we asked them to recommend only the best,” said J. Talty O’Connor, publisher of SportsEvents Magazine. “We believe our select group of planners, destination marketing organizations, and fields and facilities not only meet but exceed the high demands of producing successful sports events today.”

Watts commented, “It’s a pleasure to be recognized for what has always been a labor of love. I’m overjoyed that a cycling event has been selected since it shows how our niche sport has moved more into the mainstream.”

To read the special feature, “50+ Planners & Places to Watch in 2010,” and learn about the 2010 honorees of SportsEvents Magazine’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, visit www.sportseventsmagazine.com.

Continue Reading

Pros talk about Sea Otter Classic

Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by lyne.

Sea Otter Classic Spokespeople: Jacques-Maynes, Nash, Wallace, Benjamin, Stander, and Pruitt Tell a Tale of Sea Otters Past

MONTEREY, Calif. Starting in 1991, the Sea Otter Classic laid the foundation to bring a celebration of cycling to mid-coastal California. Now in its twentieth year, Sea Otter continues to create the opportunity for competitors, fans, families, and industry influencers to forge and galvanize reputations in front of an international community of peers and leaders. Product debuts from Thule, SRAM and Specialized have become annual attractions while competitive events set the backdrop for racers to test themselves against some of the fastest cyclists in the world. But don’t take our word, the following spokespeople are at your service to provide some perspective of the Sea Otter Classic. This year’s Sea Otter Classic takes place April 15-18, 2010 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey.

Andy Jacques-Maynes, 31, professional road racer for BISSELL Pro Cycling

Elite road pro, Andy Jacques-Maynes, grew up in Berkeley, Calif. and started racing at Sea Otter as a teenager. Whatever Sea Otter could offer, Jacques-Maynes would race, which included cross-country, downhill, dual slalom, short track, road, mountain bike stage racing, and whatever else he could sign up for. He turned pro for a while before settling in behind a desk at Specialized, where he continued to race at the elite level until a horrific crash three years ago literally airlifted him right out of the sport. As one who doesn’t dwell on past experiences, Jacques-Maynes charged back into racing and picked up the US national cyclocross title for men 30-34 less than seven months after the crash.

Last year Jacques-Maynes scored his first win at Sea Otter as part of the Bissell Pro Cycling Team. For Team Bissell, Sea Otter stands out as a chance to show sponsors the value of their investment.

BISSELL's Andy Jacques-Maynes soloed to win at 2009 Sea Otter

“It’s a unique opportunity for us to race in front of our sponsors and give back to them,” Jacques-Maynes said. “Fausto Pinarello was in the crowd watching me win the Circuit Race last year – that was really cool. My job last year was to look for opportunities to attack and our overall goal was to win. On the day, my legs worked like magic, and I didn’t even feel the climb. It was a good day, I’m glad I could win the race for the team.”

Jacques-Maynes is married to Josie (formerly Beggs, if you follow pro women’s bike racing), who also holds a US national ‘cross title. They live in Morgan Hill, Calif.

Katerina Nash, 32, professional mountain bike racer for LUNA Chix Pro Team

Nash (née Hanusová) was born into Communist-controlled Czechoslovakia in 1977 where she started out as a ski racer at age five and later got into mountain bike racing at age 15 as part of her summer training. Then came a second place finish as a junior at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Kirchzarten, Germany in 1995, and a spot on the Czech Republic’s summer Olympic team for the debut of mountain biking in 1996. She became a fulltime mountain bike racer for the LUNA team in 2003 and has scored numerous wins since then. She’s as popular off the bike as she is on it, given her athleticism and history and she could likely join any racing team in the world if she chose yet she’s settled in the California Sierra Nevadas, where she still skis during the off-season.

Luna's Katerina Nash tackles the cross-country race at 2009 Sea Otter

“If I had to describe Sea Otter to my fellow European competitors who have yet to experience it, I’d simply say, Come and experience this race. It’s a great race in a beautiful part of a world.’”

This will be her ninth year racing at Sea Otter and, in addition to turning the pedals in both Short Track and Cross-country, Nash as part of team LUNA – will play host to several events for the benefit of fans and sponsors. In fact all of the LUNA team’s off-road Olympians, national and world champions will be present at the 20th Anniversary of Sea Otter.

Eric Wallace, North American Brand Manager for Thule/industry influencer

Like many folks in the bike industry, Eric Wallace launched his career by working in, and managing bike shops in order to finance his racing habit. Once he realized that he was a better manager than athlete, he took the reins of a couple major powerhouse racing programs, for instance Volvo-Cannondale, Trek/VW, and Team Maxxis, before he went to work for Thule. Wallace has weathered 16 years of Sea Otters (both figuratively and literally) and, if the critics ever get too loud, Wallace aims straight from the hip to silence them.

“People always love to shoot negatives at the leader be it industry, athlete or event,” Wallace said. “The Otter is the official kickoff to the cycling world in North America – we get to see all the latest and greatest, ride things that we only saw in the magazines, and talk to and discuss our products with real live consumers. It’s real world and yes, it will be sunny, windy, rainy, hail, sleet and snow – but we love every second of it.”

Thule’s indefatiguable perseverace to create carrying, cargo, and storage solutions yields results every time. For Sea Otter – according to Wallace – “We plan to annoy our neighbors with our new audio partner – loud, obnoxious and a ton of fun.”

Thule’s engineers have been hard at work with new products that will be shown at Sea Otter, including a debut lineup of trunk mounted bike carriers that are poised to set a new standard for that category.

Kelly Benjamin, 34, professional road racer for Colavita/Baci Women’s Cycling Team p/b Cooking Light

Kelly Benjamin took advantage of last year’s debut criterium to reinforce the racing field and stretch her legs for the remaining two road races. Crosswinds bullied all of the racers but Benjamin had double-duty as both leader and domestique for her team of one while her teammates urged her on from the sidelines. She won that race but abstained from a chest-thumping victory, choosing instead to tip her helmet to the new event designed to offer more opportunities for road racing.

Kelly Benjamin (Colavita/Sutter Home) at 2009 Tour of Missouri

“I wanted to show my support for the new race and being outnumbered and with no teammates just makes you have to race smarter and a bit more conservatively,” Benjamin said. “But I always knew I’d have a good chance of winning if I rode a smart race. When the winning breakaway was established and no one in the break had any teammates and the playing field was level, I knew that I had a really good chance of winning.”

Benjamin has lofty goals for 2010 and Sea Otter serves as a true test of her fitness. Her team’s top priority is to deliver someone to the top of the podium in each race. Secondary or perhaps equally as important is to keep the championship jersey within the team’s grasp. For herself, Benjamin would like to deliver solid performances in the early part of the season – which includes Sea Otter – in hopes of being selected by the national team to represent the US at European races later in the season.

Sea Otter also gives Benjamin a chance to reconnect and fortify relations with her team, which are key elements to winning races. Her strengths in teamwork, sprinting, and leadouts depend on the team’s synergy, which will get a boost during the days surrounding Sea Otter.

Burry Stander, 22, professional mountain bike racer for Specialized

A decade earlier and thousands of miles away on the east coast of South Africa, a future Olympian and world champion endured ego-crushing bike rides with his father and older brothers in Port Shepstone and on equipment unfit for young Stander. The suffering only spurred him to ride farther and faster and perhaps, one day, to meet some of the world’s most celebrated cyclists that graced the pages of Stander’s stash of American mountain bike magazines.

Since then Stander has traveled the distance from South Africa to Monterey three times to take his place on the Sea Otter start line among some of the world’s current heroes of mountain biking but this year will be different. Now Stander is one of those heroes.

“Well growing up I always used to read about the race in the magazines; I must have been, like 12, when I first heard of the event,” Stander said. “It was the racing season opener for the world’s top pros so I figured it was super cool.”

Last year Stander scored the world cross-country title for U23 men but don’t expect to see Stander in the rainbow stripes of the world champion at Sea Otter. UCI rules dictate that a racer’s race age is the age he will be on December 31, which in Stander’s case will be 23 (his birthday is September 16). He joined the elite ranks this year but his consistent top-10 finishes in the elite races throughout 2009 suggests that Stander won’t rest until he’s added another rainbow jersey to his collection.

Kathy Pruitt, 27, professional downhill racer for Jamis

California native, Kathy Pruitt, would love to see off-road gravity racing become more radical and less “cookie-cutter”-like in hopes that a fresh perspective would revitalize interest and create opportunities for the swelling ranks of talented riders. Pruitt gets some credit for the talent pool growth since her dedication to gravity racing spans 13+ years and includes one world title and a bronze medal at the 2009 Mountain Bike World Championships. Pruitt first raced at Sea Otter in 1997 and, while her connection to the event is personal her sister manages a significant part of the event production Pruitt has been an independently loyal participant inspired by her singular allegiance to the sport.

“Racing is just one part of the cycling world and I like to develop my skills with coaching, photo/media/video trips and anything that will challenge me,” Pruitt said. “Sea Otter is the biggest cycling festival in the whole world, I wouldn’t miss it.”

Sea Otter’s dual slalom course consistently attracts the world’s top gravity talent, who regard the course as one of the best around. For Pruitt, Stander, Nash, Wallace, Benjamin, Jacques-Maynes, and the rest of the racers, industry folks, friends, families and fans, Sea Otter offers one of the rarest chances to commingle with peers, rivals, and idols.

Continue Reading

Tour of California starts with Women’s Racing

Posted on 23. Feb, 2010 by lyne.

Project Sport, LLC – producers of the San Francisco and San Rafael Twilight Criterium cycling races – announced today an agreement with the Sacramento Sports Commission and the Amgen Tour of California to present a professional criterium-style cycling race in conjunction with Stage 1 of the 2010 Tour, to be contested on the morning of May 16, 2010, just prior to the Tour’s opening stage arrival in Sacramento.

Columbia-HTCs Emilia Fahlin won the wet Tour of California Women's Criterium in 2009

The Sacramento Grand Prix at the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will begin at 10 a.m. and travel a 1.4 mile course circling the Capitol Building, duplicating portions of the Tour’s circuit just hours before Stage 1 is slated to finish in downtown Sacramento. It will include men’s and women’s races of category Pro/1/2 cyclists, and will feature cyclists from the 2012 US Women’s Olympic team.

While the Tour showcases the world’s best cyclists in a European-style road racing format, the Grand Prix will exhibit cycling’s best short course and up-and-coming cyclists, and will rejoin women’s cycling to the prominence offered by an event that serves as the United States’ premier staging of the sport. The women’s criterium marks the return of women’s professional racing to the Tour and will feature some of the best female cyclists in the world.

“The Sacramento Sports Commission is very excited to have reached an agreement with Project Sport to stage this professional criterium for men and women racers as a prelude to the 2010 Amgen Tour of California,” said Commission Executive Director John McCasey. “We envision the great crowds we enjoyed last year lining the course. When you factor in a Sunday afternoon finish in May, this should be a great win for the sport of cycling, for the cyclists and for Sacramento.”

“The Sacramento Grand Prix is emerging as one of the top women’s cycling events in America and carries international athletic importance,” followed Ryan Dawkins, president of Project Sport and race director of Sacramento Grand Prix. “With huge crowds expected in Sacramento the event promises to be exciting for both racers and cycling fans.”

The Grand Prix will offer fans a particularly close look at the elite of women’s cycling. The field of female competitors will feature members of Team Twenty12, assembled for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and led by Kristin Armstrong, a 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist and the current World Time Trial Champion.

“I am very pleased that Project Sport is including a women’s event in conjunction with the Tour’s men’s race,” said Nicola Cranmer, General Manager of the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12 team. “Its my hope that this partnership could develop into a great stage race for the women too. It’s critical to our sponsors that women’s racing gets the attention it deserves and is able to take advantage of the great media impressions that the Amgen Tour of California affords. Women’s racing is dynamic and exciting. I can assure you the cyclists will put on a great show for the spectators and the City of Sacramento.”

The Sacramento Grand Prix becomes the third major professional cycling event produced by Project Sport, in addition to a roster of running events including the San Francisco US Half Marathon series. The company has been in discussion with the Sacramento Sports Commission for several years conceptualizing this race.

“We didn’t come to this decision overnight,” said McCasey. “We have been talking for three years about this idea. Our LOC put Project Sport through a pretty thorough evaluation and Ryan Dawkins and his staff did a great job of presenting this concept and showing how nicely they could fit the three hour presentation into an already busy day of setup. We are excited to partner with Project Sport not only for this year but in going forward with the Sacramento Grand Prix in future years. They showed great patience and persistence.”

Continue Reading

Jamis/Sutter Home Scores Two Podium Finishes at Rutas de America

Posted on 21. Feb, 2010 by lyne.

With support from a well-rounded squad, Alejandro Borrajo of Jamis/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team Presented by Colavita sprinted to a first place finish in Stage Two at the Rutas de America. The following day, Anibal Borrajo secured the podium with a second place win in Stage Three, bringing his GC standing to third.

Celebrating the victories with the Borrajo brothers were teammates Andy Guptill, Frank Travieso, Demis Aleman and Guido Palma, who helped lead Alejandro and Anibal to their podium finishes. Frank also holds the Sprint Leader Jersey for all three stages.

Andy Guptill, one of the most promising young cyclists racing in the North American peloton and a three-year veteran with Jamis/Sutter Home, is the team’s race commentator for the 2010 season. Here is his report from Stages One and Two of Rutas de America;

The wind was howling and rain was falling as riders lined up for the start of Stage One of Rutas de America, a grueling 112-mile race in the capitol city of Montevideo, Uruguay. After a long neutral procession through the streets of Montevideo, racing was underway with attacks right from the gun. Jamis/Sutter Home was aggressive from the start, and after only several kilometers of racing, Frank Travieso found himself in a solo breakaway. After riding alone for almost 25 miles, another rider was finally able to bridge to Frank and the two worked together, putting several minutes into the field. Several times throughout the day, the peloton would split into several pieces in the strong cross winds, which ultimately caught Alejandro Borrajo in a crash. Heading towards the finish, Frank and his breakaway companion were reeled in and the stage finished in a field sprint, with Anibal Borrajo finishing an excellent 5th. Frank’s time off the front did not go unrewarded as he dawned the Sprint Leader Jersey for having won both intermediate sprints during the stage.

The sun was shining for the start of Stage 2, another lengthy and windy 105 miles road race from Montevideo to Minas. Jamis/Sutter Home was attacking and covering moves from the start, with Demis Aleman and Guido Palma representing the team in a large break that finally got away after almost 25 miles of racing. The pace in the peloton did not settle for long, and soon the attacks started coming fast and furious once again. The field would blow apart and then regroup before blowing apart again, each time dropping some riders for good. Nearing the finish, two riders had established a small gap over the front group and it looked like they may make it all the way to the line. Alejandro realized this and jumped away from the group in pursuit. After chasing alone for more than three miles, Alejandro finally made contact with the two riders and the trio gave everything to stay away from the hard-charging peloton and maintained a small, 15-30 second advantage. Coming into the finishing straight, Alejandro was able to out-sprint his breakaway companions for the victory.

“I knew once I caught them, if we stayed away I could win,” said Alejandro. “I know those two other riders, and I am the better sprinter.”

It was an impressive and bold move on Alejandro’s part to bridge across to the riders, and a well deserved win. Frank also maintained his lead in the sprint competition, and continues to wear the green Sprint Leader Jersey.

“After training camp and Tour of San Luis, the men are performing skillfully together as a solid team,” said Sebastian Alexandre, Directeur Sportif of Jamis/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling. “After three successful stages, the team is well poised to stay on the podium for the remaining of Rutas de America.”

Continue Reading

Ride 2 Tour of California stages with George Hincapie & Patrick Dempsey for Breakaway from Cancer

Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by lyne.

Two April Cycling Events will Raise Funds and Awareness for Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Initiative

LOS ANGELES (February 17, 2009) – Patrick Dempsey and George Hincapie today confirmed their participation in the ‘Breakaway Ride presented by Specialized,’ two cycling events held in conjunction with the upcoming 2010 Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race set for May 16-23, 2010. Held in April (one month prior to the 2010 Amgen Tour of California), the rides are open to the public and will serve to raise funds for Breakaway from Cancer®, the signature cancer support initiative of the Amgen Tour of California. Breakaway from Cancer aims to raise awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients from prevention to education and patient care to advocacy and financial support.

Patrick Dempsey at the 2007 Tour of California

Each ‘Breakaway Ride’ will give cycling enthusiasts and fans a chance to ride on the actual route of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California with three distances for each event to accommodate various skill and fitness levels (short, medium and long). The longest distance covers an entire stage of the Amgen Tour of California, the same as will be ridden by the pros. Participants will be chip timed and supported, with a maximum of 3,500 riders per event. Maps detailing the distances can be found on www.breakawayride.com.

The first Breakaway Ride will take place on Sunday, April 11 and will feature the Stage 8 route in the cities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills, the worldwide headquarter community of title sponsor Amgen. Demonstrating his commitment to the cause and enthusiasm for cycling, television and film actor Patrick Dempsey will ride in this first event. Dempsey, whose mom is a four-time ovarian cancer survivor, is an advocate for cancer support services. In 2008, he founded the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine.
“I am looking forward to reuniting with my friends from Amgen and Breakaway from Cancer to help raise awareness and funds for the non-profit cancer support organizations,” said Dempsey, who served as a spokesperson for Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer initiative in 2007. “I am also excited about the opportunity to ride a piece of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California route together with fellow Southern California cycling enthusiasts!”

The second Breakaway Ride will take place on Sunday, April 25, and will feature the Stage 2 route from Davis to Santa Rosa. Four-time Amgen Tour of California competitor and Breakaway from Cancer supporter George Hincapie will attend this event.
“Nearly everyone is touched by cancer, including my family, and it’s important to know that you don’t have to fight cancer alone,” said Hincapie. “I joined Breakaway from Cancer in 2005 because people need to know that education, resources and support are available as they fight the disease.”

A portion of each rider’s entry fee will be donated to Breakaway from Cancer’s charitable partners – Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community (formerly The Wellness Community), Patient Advocate Foundation and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. Participants will have the opportunity to earn gifts and prizes by raising additional funds for Breakaway from Cancer partners via the ActiveGiving program on Active.com. The most successful fundraisers will have the opportunity to meet and ride with Dempsey at the April 11 ride and with Hincapie on April 25. Other prize packages include exclusive VIP experiences at the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, Amgen Tour of California official race merchandise and other cycling-related items. Additionally, the top fundraiser of each Breakaway Ride will receive a top-of-line Specialized S-Works Tarmac or Roubaix bike.

“These Breakaway Rides will provide amateur cyclists and community members the opportunity to ride the same route that the pros will experience only one month later in the Amgen Tour of California,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “The commitment and dedication shown by Patrick Dempsey and George Hincapie to Breakaway from Cancer is inspiring, and we look forward to their involvement.”

As the title sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California for the fifth consecutive year, Amgen will continue to leverage the race to raise awareness and support for people affected by cancer through its Breakaway from Cancer initiative.
“Amgen and its non-profit Breakaway from Cancer partners are pleased to have George Hincapie and Patrick Dempsey join us in supporting Breakaway from Cancer, which raises awareness of the free services available to people affected by cancer,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology.

Presenting sponsor of the Breakaway Ride, Specialized, will use this opportunity to further their philanthropic goals and bring better cycling experiences to even more people.

“We are really excited to partner with the Breakaway Ride to support Amgen’s cancer initiatives and to get cyclists out on their bikes. Tying into the Amgen Tour of California and getting to ride the actual route is a unique opportunity for riders and ties into our goal to get people to ride more; more often,” said Ian Dewar, partnership manager for Specialized.

AEG, presenter of the Amgen Tour of California, is partnering with Pacific Sports, a leading sports and event management company that has created running and triathlon events throughout the world for more than 30 years to produce the rides.
“We are breaking new ground in amateur cycling in the United States,” said Jack Caress, president & CEO, Pacific Sports. ”To be a part of an inaugural event such as the Breakaway Rides is gratifying, and we are honored to be benefitting a great cause like Breakaway from Cancer.”

To register for one of the Breakaway Rides, visit www.Active.com. For more information, please visit www.breakawayride.com, www.amgentourofcalifornia.com, or visit your Specialized dealer.

Continue Reading