Archive for 'releases'
Serebryakov keeps podium victory flowers after winning stage five at the Tour de Korea
Posted on 26. Apr, 2012 by pressrelease.
Team Type 1-Sanofi rider Aleksandr Serebryakov won a bike race on Thursday, breathing a huge sigh of relief as he crossed the line with his right arm raised, and leaving no doubt that he is a world class sprinter.
Serebryakov, from Russia, turned an ace leadout from teammate Aldo Ino Ilesic at 500 meters to go in the 146km fifth stage from Geochang to Gumi into a 200m solo launch up the right side of the dead-straight finish while his competitors chased shadows off to his far left.
“The pressure was off psychologically because we feel like we actually won the stage two days ago, before being relegated, and today was a chance for us to build on our confidence and win a little justice for Team Type 1-Sanofi,” said Serebryakov.
On Tuesday, Serebryakov’s stage three sprint victory was annulled when a local rider who finished in second place complained to domestic commissaires that the Russian drifted from his line and unsafely blocked his competitors.
“For 30 minutes on Tuesday after the race we sat in the antidoping room with the flowers and the victory medal, thinking we had won. Then one person from the organization came over to tell us we lost, took away the medal and the flowers, and there was no way to make a counterargument or explain the situation, because it was a done deal,” said Team Type 1-Sanofi Director Sportif Frederic Moncassin.
“The team is very motivated to win more stages in this race, because we want more podium victory flowers,” Moncassin said.
Thursday’s stage five of the Tour de Korea was raced under bright blue sunny skies, a sharp contrast to Wednesday’s cancelled fourth stage after a relentless downpour put 10cm of water on the roads before the 12km neutral rollout was even completed.
“On Thursday the race was perfect for us, but there were three crashes in the peloton caused by race organization motorcycles. Harley-Davidsons are good bikes, but not handy or nimble in a big race,” said Moncassin.
Team Type 1-Sanofi General Manager Vassili Davidenko, in Bodrum guiding another squad at the Tour of Turkey, praised the young Russian rider.
“We had a victory last year at the Tour de Korea taken away from us by bad road marshalling, and the bad luck got worse this year when Daniele Callegarin crashed out on Tuesday. To see Serebryakov come across the line first on Thursday is a big relief, because it confirms what we already knew when he finished fifth at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne in February. Two wins in Korea, and two more podiums in Turkey this week is a pretty successful set of results,” Davidenko said.
Team Type 1-Sanofi CEO and Founder Phil Southerland called Serebryakov’s win a huge accomplishment for the global diabetes community.
“A win by a rider on Team Type 1-Sanofi is a win for our entire organization, and for the larger diabetes family around the world. Doctors and patients see a victory in a bike race as tremendous motivation to take control of their diabetes, and for Sasha to get podium flowers in Korea is proof positive that with patience and the right combination of factors, success is inevitable,” Southerland said.
Continue Reading
Longer TT Course for Nature Valley Grand Prix
Posted on 25. Apr, 2012 by lyne.
Street construction is forcing a change in the opening time trial for the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The five-day stage race, one of the top races on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar, has often been decided by seconds, and team directors expect this new time trial course will have a huge effect on the leader’s jersey as well as team tactics.
The first day’s time trial stage has typically run along the Mississippi River in Minnesota’s capital, St. Paul, and the new course follows the river as well. The new start, however, moves from south of downtown to the west near the Ford Dam and follows Mississippi River Boulevard north then flips around at Eustis Street for the return trip. Finishers will not have to climb the 11 percent grade of Ohio Street as in years past, but the new course contains a series of technical rollers that total an equal amount of climbing and extend the 6.1 mile course to 7.7 miles.
2012 Nature Valley Grand Prix Time Trial course - photo courtesy naturevalleybicyclefestival.com
“The longer time trial favors our team, because we have so many strong TT guys”, said Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies team director Jonas Carney. “We’ve had three riders in the Nature Valley Grand Prix yellow jersey. Zwiz (Scott Zwizanski) and (Tom) Zirbel won the time trial on the previous course while (Jesse) Anthony is the defending champion. We have to have a strong TT and hopefully take the jersey. Then if the jersey changes hands, we have to make sure it still says Optum on the front.”
“Street construction is usually the bane of a race organizer’s existence,” said Nature Valley Grand Prix director David LaPorte, “but, when we were forced to move the downtown Minneapolis race to the Uptown district, we were rewarded with such a more successful race. It’s looking like the same thing will happen with the time trial. The course is challenging and, for the first time in our history, the top riders will be able to use follow cars.”
The Nature Valley Grand Prix has also banned the use of aero equipment, and that requirement still holds.
Kristin Armstrong (Peanut Butter & Co Twenty12) fastest at St Paul Time Trial
“Time trials are tests of sustained power, aero position and pain tolerance”, LaPorte said. “We want to take equipment differences out of the equation, particularly since small budget teams can’t afford to bring time trial bikes. Our time trial is a test of athlete versus athlete and the best time trialists will still have the top results. For example, four of the top five women in last year’s race were also top five the next weekend at the USA Cycling Time Trial Championships, where they used full aero equipment.”
Wednesday, June 13, will be a double-stage day, with the time trial in the morning followed by the Downtown St Paul Criterium that night. Racers travel south on Thursday for the Cannon Falls Road Race, returning to Minneapolis for the Uptown Criterium on Friday, head east for Queen stage of the Menomonie Road Race in Wisconsin, before finishing in Minnesota for the marquee event-the Stillwater Criterium, which features the 20 percent grade Chilkoot Hill climb to the finish line.
Continue Reading
Kabush Blazes to Win
Posted on 24. Apr, 2012 by pressrelease.
Geoff Kabush (SCOTT-3Rox) atop the Sea Otter Classic cross-country podium, Sid Taberlay (H2O Overdrive) 2nd, Max Plaxton (Specialized) 3rd – photo courtesy SCOTT-3Rox
The Sea Otter Classic marks the official beginning of MTB racing in North America and the debut of new SCOTT – 3Rox Team. With a commanding lead, Geoff Kabush piloted his Spark 29 in the unusually hot conditions across the line first at Laguna Seca Raceway. Kabush is new to the 29’r platform, having just switched bike sponsors the wheel size was not available to him until now. It was also Geoff’s first race aboard the Spark, having opted for the Scale 29 in the first two World Cups.
Geoff Kabush (SCOTT-3Rox) at Sea Otter Classic - photo courtesy SCOTT-3Rox
“The 29’r suits me well,” remarked Kabush. “Instantly I’ve found myself relaxing more on the climbs because the wheel carries better momentum and has more traction, allowing me to work less and conserve energy. When I’m at the start line looking around I haven’t a tinge of ‘Bike Envy’ because I know my Spark 29 is lightest in class.”
A hot day at Sea Otter Classic - photo courtesy SCOTT-3Rox
“I’ve been very patient in regards to signing a North American XC racer since we’ve entered the US market,” remarked Adrian Montgomery. “The opportunity to work with Kabush and 3Rox Racing to prove our 29” product was exactly what SCOTT needed to compliment the other race programs we have running worldwide. To start off the season in this fashion is incredible. We are truly dominating races worldwide now. “
Geoff Kabush (SCOTT-3Rox) atop the Sea Otter Classic cross-country podium, Sid Taberlay (H2O Overdrive) 2nd, Max Plaxton (Specialized) 3rd - photo courtesy SCOTT-3Rox
Continue Reading
Ilesic 4th, Serebryakov relegated, Callegarin crashes out in day of tumult at Tour de Korea
Posted on 24. Apr, 2012 by pressrelease.
Team Type 1-Sanofi rider Aldo Ino Ilesic claimed fourth place in a mass sprint on Tuesday at the Tour de Korea, in a finish marred by a serious crash during the stage for teammate Daniele Callegarin.
Ilesic, from Slovenia, finished fifth on the day, and was working to lead out teammate Aleksandr Serebryakov at the end of 135km stage three to within striking distance, where the young Russian rider launched clearly ahead of the pack to win the bike race.
But Serebryakov’s raised arms across the finish line were brought down more than a half hour later and his medal taken away after local riders complained to race officials that he deviated from his line. Judges reviewed video and Serebryakov’s victory was annulled for irregular sprinting.
Unfortunate and contestable as that decision may be, it pales in comparison to Callegarin’s crash. The Italian rider, who last August crashed out of the US Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado with serious facial and hand injuries after slipping through the gaps in a cattle crossing, on Tuesday in Korea slammed up against a stone wall on a downhill.
“Nobody from the race saw Daniele hit the wall, even though he was chasing a six-man breakaway. Nothing was on race radio, the race doctor didn’t want to drive near the riders. When I saw him after the pack passed he was covered in blood and his knee and hand were gashed open,” said Director Sportif Frederic Moncassin.
Callegarin, who rehabilitated himself over the winter and held out from racing this season until just one week ago, insisted on continuing the stage, and was paced up to a gruppetto. After the race he was taken to a local hospital and treated for deep scrapes to his right thigh and arm.
“He’s out of the race and will need assistance to get home. His leg is very stiff and he needs a wheelchair to move around, but these are wounds that will heal, and we will make sure that he gets home fine,” said Moncassin.
Continue Reading
Routley Top 10 Of Mountain Stage In Turkey
Posted on 24. Apr, 2012 by pressrelease.
File photo: Will Routley (Spidertech) at 2011 Amgen Tour of California
Canadian cyclist Will Routley of Whistler, BC had a stellar day with Team SpiderTech powered by C10, cracking the Top 10 on the third stage of the Presidential Tour of Turkey, in what proved to be a very difficult mountain stage stretching almost 152 kilometres.
Routley finished the day in 10th place, three minutes behind the stage winner, and jumped to the 10th place of the overall general classification after three of eight stages to sit among the race leaders.
The race was a tough one, with maximum intensity for most the day. Routley, a specialist of high-intensity races, has become accustomed to day-long breaks. He benefited from a weakened field as they hit the final climb, and took the opportunity to propel himself among the top riders of the race.
“I’m surprised and really happy. I didn’t expect to ride that well on a climb like that. I think it was really hard all day and that was an advantage for me. Everyone was cooked at the end and didn’t climb as punchy as they would have otherwise”, said Will Routley after the race, who was thrilled to be in the mix with Tour de France star Alexandre Vinokourov in the final climb, and even more thrilled to drop him.
The stage winner, Ivaïlo Gabrovski of Team Konya Torku Seker Sporhad an impressive ride, winning the stage from the main break of the day. Gabrovski won with a lead of 1:29, and takes the overall lead in the race, by a large time difference of 1:33 with five stages left.
“Things didn’t go exactly as we planned today,” said team director Kevin Field. “But that’s often the case in biking. We wanted Will [Routley], Pat [McCarty], Ryan [Roth] and Hugo [Houle] to be in the mix today. And they were — they adapted well to the race.”
Race Profile
Event : Presidential Tour of Turkey (Turkey)
Class : UCI 2.HC (Europe Tour)
Type: Eight-day Stage Race
Stage 3: ANTALYA – ELMALI (151,8 Km)
Stage winner: Ivaïlo GABROVSKI (Konya Torku Seker Spor)
Race leader: Ivaïlo GABROVSKI (Konya Torku Seker Spor
Continue Reading
NCC: New women’s leader, men’s standings tighten after Sunny King Criterium
Posted on 24. Apr, 2012 by pressrelease.
The USA Cycling National Criterium (NCC) rolled into Anniston, Ala., for the Sunny King Criterium on Saturday. Several thousand fans attended and even more watched a live, online stream of the thrilling event. After the third of 19 events on the calendar, there is a new women’s leader and the men’s standings have tightened dramatically. Additionally, the race’s benefactor, the American Cancer Society, will receive a $10,000 donation from the success of the event.
Women. After winning the pro women’s race in Anniston, Ala., on Saturday, Erica Allar (RideClean-PatentIt.com) jumped from third place in last week’s standings into the top spot of the NCC women’s standings. Allar has racked up 152 points to build a 32-point lead on last week’s standings leader, Nicky Wangsgard (Primal-MapMyRide Women’s Racing), who has slipped to second place. Jade Wilcoxson (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies), who was the runner up to Allar in Alabama, moved up one spot since last week into third place, six points behind Wangsgard and 24 points ahead of fourth-place Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Team Exergy Twenty12). The third-place finisher at Sunny King, Laura van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) holds fifth place, eight points behind Cliff-Ryan.
The riders from Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies quickly assembled at the front at the start of the 60-minute race. After several unsuccessful attacks, a five-rider breakaway got away from the field. The breakaway included the three women who would earn podium spots. As the strung out lead group reached the uphill finish line, Allar’s sprint provided her a lead of several bike lengths over runner-up Wilcoxson and third-place van Gilder.
After placing six riders in the top 10 of the pro women’s race, Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies added 116 points to the 106 it had previously tallied to top the NCC women’s team standings. Primal-MapMyRide Women’s Racing dropped into second place with 120 points, three points ahead of third-place Team Exergy Twenty12. NOW and Novartis recorded 12 points at the Sunny King Criterium and trails Team Exergy Twenty12 by 29 points and leads fifth-place Team TIBCO-To the Top by 16.
Men. Hilton Clarke’s (UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis) lead atop the NCC men’s standings has been trimmed to only 19 points by Isaac Howe (Concord, N.H./Kenda 5 Hour Energy p/b Geagrinder). Howe won the pro men’s race in Alabama to add 80 points to his total and jump from third into second place in the standings. Carlos Alzate Escobar (Team Exergy), who finished second to Howe in the race, leapt from fifth into third place, 53 points behind Howe. Last week’s runner up in the standings, Alejandro Borrajo (Jamis-Sutter Home) did not add to his 90 points and slipped to fourth place, 18 points behind Alzate. After sitting in fourth place in last week’s standings, Jacobe Keough (UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis) dropped one spot to fifth with 72 points.
The pro men’s race proved to be the most aggressive race of the day. Phil Gaimon (Kenda-5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder), who currently sits in second place on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar men’s standings, attacked the field early with Ben Chaddock (Team Exergy). The pair built a 30-second lead in the early stages of the 60-lap contest. Gradually, Chaddock fell off Gaimon’s pace and Gaimon rode solo for several laps, grabbing primes. Eventually, the field caught up to Gaimon and when he rejoined the field, several attacks were launched as teams tried to gain an advantage.
The race settled with eight laps remaining and Team Mountain Khakis-Smart Stop, Team Exergy and Kenda-5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder began to form their leadouts at the front of the field. Howe utilized his team’s leadout to sprint to the finish line ahead of Alzate and Kyle Wamsley (Jamis-Sutter Home), who finished second and third, respectively.
UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis’ lead atop the NCC men’s team standings has been trimmed to 69 points after the Sunny King Criterium. Jamis-Sutter Home, bolstered by two riders placing in the top six of the pro men’s race, trimmed 35 points off its deficit remains in second place. Kenda 5 Hour Energy p/b Geagrinder has also narrowed its margin by 40 points for second place to only two points. Team Exergy overtook Team Type 1 for fourth place, holding a slim two-point cushion on Team Type 1.
USA Cycling NCC Standings:
Men
1. Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis) — 180
2. Isaac Howe (Concord, N.H./Kenda 5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder) — 161
3. Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/Team Exergy) — 108
4. Alejandro Borrajo (ARG/Jamis-Sutter Home) — 90
5. Jacobe Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis) — 72
Women
1. Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./RideClean-PatentIt.com) — 152
2. Nicky Wangsgard (Cedar City, Utah/Primal-MapMyRide Women’s Racing) — 120
3. Jade Wilcoxson (Talent, Ore./Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 114
4. Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Team Exergy Twenty12) — 90
5. Laura van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom) — 82
Men’s Team Standings
1. UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis — 275
2. Jamis-Sutter Home — 206
3. Kenda 5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder — 204
4. Team Exergy — 116
5. Team Type 1 — 114
Women’s Team Standings
1. Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 222
2. Primal-MapMyRide Women’s Racing — 120
3. Team Exergy Twenty 12 — 117
4. NOW and Novartis for MS — 88
5. Team TIBCO/To the Top — 72
For complete standings, visit the NCC’s official webpage at usacycling.org/ncc.
The USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar continues in two weeks as the men and women will compete in USA Crits Speed Week in Georgia and South Carolina from May 4-6. The first day features the Spartanburg Regional Classic in Spartanburg, S.C., on May 4 before the Electric City Circuit in Anderson, S.C. on May 5. The Global Imports Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge in Sandy Springs, Ga., on May 6 concludes the weekend of racing.
Continue Reading
Two-Time National Champion Ryan Trebon joins Cannondale prepared by Cyclocrossworld.com
Posted on 19. Apr, 2012 by pressrelease.
The Cannondale prepared by Cyclocrossworld.com Professional Cyclocross Team has reloaded in a big way for the 2012-2013 season, signing two-time cyclocross National Champion Ryan Trebon. Trebon joins six-time National Champion Tim Johnson, Jamey Driscoll and reigning U23 National Champion and elite women’s silver medalist Kaitlin Antonneau on the squad for 2012.
“Stu [Thorne] asked me if I wanted to race for the team, and I asked him ‘why do you want me to race for you?’ He said ‘because we want to win races’ and that’s pretty much all it took to convince me.”
“I’ve known Stu for a long time and I have a lot of respect for him. I think that he does a really good job at what he does. It was kind of an offer I couldn’t refuse to pass up.”
“I’m really looking forward to not having to worry about anything else besides just racing. I know those guys will take care of it all and it’s a good opportunity for me to just concentrate 100% on what happens in the races.”
Despite the shift in teams, Trebon’s goals for the 2012-2013 season remain the same as in years past: the U.S. National Championships, the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross, and success internationally. This season, however, will be a little different with the UCI World Championships taking place in Louisville, Kentucky.
“My goals are the same as I assume everyone else’s are: I want to do well at the USGPs and I’m pretty keen on Nationals, but having Worlds in Louisville is important and I think I’m going to try and arrive there with the best fitness possible. I think that the structure behind the team is going to help me get there with the fitness that I need and with the least amount of stress. That was one of the deciding factors in the direction I took myself this year.”
Continue Reading
Kirchmann takes silver in road race at 2012 Pan-American Championships
Posted on 12. Mar, 2012 by lyne.
Leah Kirchmann took the silver medal in the women’s road race on the final day of the 2012 UCI Pan-American Championships on Sunday in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. After 90 kilometers of racing, Kirchmann crossed the finish line in second place of a bunch sprint won by Cuban rider Yumari Gonzalez. Janildes Fernandez of Brazil was third and USA’s Shelley Olds took fourth.
“I’m really excited that I won a silver for Canada. It’s one of my greatest achievements and it was one of my targeted races this season. The team worked really well together. We wanted a break so we played well off each other by continually attacking and putting pressure on the group. The Americans wanted a sprint so they brought back a lot of the attacks. It worked well for us in the end,” said Kirchmann, the 2011 Canadian Criterium Champion and winner of the 2011 Tour of Elk Grove.
“I really enjoyed my time in Argentina. The staff made our time easy as they were so helpful – we were well taken care of,” added Kirchmann who races for Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies.
Denise Kelly, Head coach of the Canadian Road Cycling Team, is happy with this podium performance. “I couldn’t be happier with the overall success of the team. Motivation was high all through the week, and the team cohesion was great and the athletes performed their best. It’s a great start to the season for us.”
The 12-lap, 90-kilometer race took place on a 7.5 kilometer circuit, which featured a sharp, 200m ascent soon after the start finish line, the biggest challenge for the riders.
The other five Canadians in the race all placed in the top 20. Rhae-Christie Shaw (Exergy Twenty12), Heather Logan-Sprenger (Exergy Twenty12), Karol-Ann Camuel, Denise Ramsden (Optum-KBS) and Joanie Caron finished 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th and 20th respectively. For the USA, newly crowned Continental Time Trial Champion Amber Neben (Specialized-lululemon), Beth Newell (NOW and Novartis for MS), and Coryn Rivera (Exergy Twenty12) finished 22nd, 25th, and 29th respectively.
In the final event, both the elite and U23 raced at the same on the 165-kilometer course. With a sixth-place finish in the bunch sprint, Rob Bush (Chipotle Development Team) was the highest placed American rider in the U23 contest won by Arnold Olabarria of Chile. Grabbing the silver and bronze medals were Carlos Quishpe of Ecuador and Fabrizio Von Nacher of Mexico. Americans Ty Magner (TT1), Matthew Lipscomb (Hincapie Development Team), and Nathan Brown (Trek-Livestrong) were 16th, 17th, and 18th respectively.
Brothers Maximiliano and Mauro Richeze of Argentina went 1-2 in the Elite men’s race. Fabian Aguilar of Uruguay was third. Canada did not send a men’s team to the Pan Am Road events.
Final tally. In the final tally of medals over the track and road events, the United States of America finished in third place with 14 medals (three gold, three silver and eight bronze) and Canada was fourth with three gold, three silver and one bronze medals for a total of seven medals. Chile took home the most gold medals, five, and two silver and one bronze medals.
Continue Reading
2012 Tour of America’s Dairyland Schedule
Posted on 14. Feb, 2012 by lyne.
The 2012 schedule for the Tour of America’s Dairyland presented by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (“ToAD”) is out. The omnium competition will travel throughout 11 Wisconsin communities, June 21 – July 1, and include four dates on the USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (“NCC”).
- Thursday, June 21
Shorewood Criterium Cycling Classic (Pro Men and Pro Women races only) - Friday, June 22
East Troy Cycling Classic (Criterium) - Saturday, June 23
Giro d’ Grafton (Criterium) - Sunday, June 24
Waukesha Carl Zach Cycling Classic (Criterium) - Monday, June 25
Greenbush Road Race - Tuesday, June 26
Schlitz Park Criterium (Downtown Milwaukee) - Wednesday, June 27
Town of Erin Road Race - Thursday, June 28 – *NCC Event *
Sheboygan Harbor Centre Bike Race - Friday, June 29 – *NCC Event *
Fond du Lac Gran Prix (Criterium) - Saturday, June 30 – *NCC Event *
Downer Classic (Milwaukee’s Eastside) - Sunday, July 1 – *NCC Event *
Madison Criterium
Advance online registration is expected to open in early March for Tour of America’s Dairyland, now the largest competitive cycling event in the United States, based on USA Cycling registration statistics.
“We continue to be able to offer our racers challenging new courses, improved scoring systems, huge payouts, bigger crowds, participation in the NCC, and so much more…because of the continued incredible support Tour of America’s Dairyland receives from Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board,” said ToAD co-founder Bill Ochowicz. “We’re incredibly grateful for Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board’s renewed presenting sponsorship of ToAD, and it’s something we have never taken for granted. This year ToAD is going to be off the charts.”
The 2012 ToAD schedule also includes two new courses: the scenic yet challenging Town of Erin Road Race and the East Troy Cycling Classic. Just over a half mile in total length, the East Troy criterium will arguably be the most technical course ever showcased during ToAD. The super fast, six-corner criterium is flat with the first and second turns seemingly blending into one around the historic downtown square of East Troy.
“The Town of Erin Road Race will be one of the most challenging road races riders will ever see,” said Executive Director Jack Hirt. “The course will be a little over 10 miles in length and have 355 feet of climbing per lap, starting and finishing at the The Basilica of the National Shrine at Holy Hill.”
Continue Reading
USA vs Canada Showdown #2 At Home Depot Velodrome
Posted on 20. Jan, 2012 by lyne.
AEG Facilities’ Home Depot Center Velodrome will host the second installment of the USA vs. Canada Showdown Series on Sunday, January 22 at 6 p.m. The series will pit national team riders from the U.S. and Canadian National Teams in both sprint and endurance races in a free-to-the-public evening event.
The U.S. and Canadian National Teams are in training residency at The Home Depot Center Velodrome, and the racing series will provide an opportunity for the teams to augment their training programs in a competitive and spirited environment. The national team race lineup includes men’s and women’s sprint competitions. Other races during the evening include an invitational points race, Madison and exhibition kids racing.
USA national team riders expected to participate include sprint Olympians Giddeon Massie and Michael Blachford, along with eight other U.S. National Team riders to contest the men’s and women’s sprint competitions. Canada’s Stéphane Cossette returns to racing after a major accident. He will be joined by Commonwealth Games medalist Travis Smith, and five other members of the Canadian National Team.
The two-hour exhibition is free to the public, and will offer food and beverages for purchase, including burgers, hot dogs, soda and beer. For more information and a complete race schedule, please visit homedepotcenter.com.
