Cycling News Roundup 8 February 2007
Cavendish Close, Toyota/United Pro in the Wind, Caisse D.Epargne, SIS Sponsors CSC, Wayne Pomario Olympics Commissaire, Tanja Slater, Monique Sawicki and more...

Toyota/United Pro Cycling Team -  Riding Against the Wind
Wind Tunnel that is - at the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Toyota/United’s Chris Baldwin, twice USA National TT Champion Chris Baldwin, (2003 & 2005) was in the wind tunnels this week sharpening up his position in preparation for the Tour of California. Chris a world class time trialist, known for his blistering speed riding against the clock. Last year riding in defense of his title Chris was second in the nationals to David Zabriskie. At the race’s midway mark, Baldwin held an eight-second advantage on Zabriskie and was on pace to defend his title before an eleventh-hour crash derailed his hopes.

Chris hanging in the wind as the computer measures wind resistance. Photo c. Toyota/United Pro/Kathleen Poulos

Cruel fate intervened on Chris Baldwin's effort when he overcooked a corner in one of the final turns, Baldwin locked up his rear wheel and crashed. Barring the crash the result may have been quite different for the defending champ. The crash resulted in a flat tire that necessitated a bike change, and the slow, uphill restart that followed made it all but impossible for Baldwin to remain a threat: At the line, Baldwin still turned in the second-fastest time, posting a 42:21:56 a mere thirty-three seconds from the win.

A man to watch at the Tour of California Prologue and time trial in Solvang this year.
Chris takes a windy ride at the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s Low Speed Wind Tunnel in preparation for the upcoming Amgen Tour of California. The wind tunnel testing precisely measured how small changes in a Chis’s position or equipment can improve his aerodynamic efficiency. Photo c. Toyota/United Pro/Kathleen Poulos

Britain’s Mark Cavendish close to first victory for T-Mobile Team on debut in France
In his debut race for Team T-Mobile British rider Mark Cavendish finished a close second behind Angelo Furlan (Credit Agricole/Italy) on Wednesday’s first stage of the Etoile de Bèsseges. After 126 km around the French city of Marseille the Italian held off the Briton's challenge in the final sprint. Team colleague André Greiple also was up with the leaders, but was out-sprinted in the last curve.

T-Mobile Team Sporting Manager Allan Peiper was satisfied about the team's performance. "We have two top sprinters competing for the first time in a team and they still have to work things out between each other. In the next few days I'm sure this cooperation will function better and I'm optimistic that it will lead to success".

The first European tour of 2007 (UCI category 2.1) was marked by some aggressive attacking cycling. Unibet tried to match Tuesday's success at the GP Ouverture La Marseillaise by breaking away from the peloton. T-Mobile's other British rider, Roger Hammond, again showed he could lead from the front and was able to stay in contention with the main leaders on the undulating terrain. But French teams Cofidis and Credit Agricole didn't let the group get too far ahead and were able to narrow the gap as the race went into the decisive final phase in the Golfe du Lion.
Thursday’s 149 km second stage takes the peloton from Nimes to Saint Ambroix.

Team Caisse D.Epargne Training Camp
Today biomechanical testing of the Teams riders.
Within the framework of the activities the Team Caisse d’Epargne riders are carrying out during their training camp in Palma, they spent some time to realize biomechanical tests with the Italian biomechanic Alessandro Mariano. These tests are intended to improve the position on the bicycle -road and time-trial.

Caisse d'Epargne-Vladimir Efimkin is measured for a biomechanic fit for his Pinarello. Photo c. Abarca Sports

Oscar Pereiro was feeling better today but not well enough to train with his team-mates yet. We have to wait to see how his state will evolve before deciding when he can start training again.

Team CSC and Science in Sport in Partnership.
From the beginning of the 2007 season, the number one team in professional cycling will be using the full Science in Sport product range. Science in Sport (SIS) will be providing nutrition to the Team CSC athletes and getting feedback to further develop their state of the art products.

“Science in Sport is extremely pleased to be entering into this partnership with Team CSC. Over the years we have had strong links with many individual riders in the Pro Tour Peloton, including some who have worn the coveted yellow jersey. Working closely with Team CSC, the number one ranked cycling team in the World, will provide us with valuable feedback to further develop our leading range of energy, recovery and adaptation products, and will also give us the perfect platform to launch the SiS brand to the rest of the world. This collaboration with Team CSC also presents Science in Sport with the opportunity to work closely with the riders and staff to further improve and develop our existing range of products, as well as aiding the riders in continuing to compete and be successful at the highest level", says Peter Slater from Science in Sport

“For us, working together with Science in Sport means that will be using the most scientifically advanced products on the market for races, recovery and training. We look forward to be going into competition with these products, but we also see a unique opportunity to share the feedback we give to SIS so other athletes on all levels can benefit. Our collaboration with SIS is a win-win situation and we feel convinced that this will help us maintain our position as not only best team in the world, but also the most innovative”, says Bjarne Riis.
For further information contact: Peter Slater, www.scienceinsport.com

Canadian Cycling Association
Olympic appointment awarded to Canada’s cycling Commissaire Wayne Pomario

The Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) is pleased to announce that Canada’s Wayne Pomario has been appointed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as chief commissaire/president for the track cycling events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
 

"I am very happy to be appointed as chief commissaire and president," said Wayne Pomario, current chair of the CCA Officials Committee and president of Cycling British Columbia. "It is a great honor and although I have been working in numerous international events, I am very grateful to the UCI for having confidence in my ability to do the job."

Pomario has been a UCI International Commissaire since 1997, when he arrived in Canada from native South Africa, where he used to race road cycling - he was South African National Champion in Individual Time Trial in 1993. Pomario has also been involved in track cycling event organization for many years, and he started to work in South Africa as an official, soon becoming an international expert in track cycling. He is now an international commissaire in road, track and cyclo-cross, and has worked in all those disciplines in major international competition.

The track events will take place in Beijing (CHN) on August 15-19, 2008. In the meantime, Pomario has also been appointed by the UCI as president of the Commissaires Panel for a test event which will take place in 2007.

Tanja Slater Launches Website
Tanja is a professional cyclist riding for the Raleigh Lifeforce Creation Team based in Switzerland.

Tanja in action... Photo c. www.tanjaslater.com
Browse the site to find out more information about Tanja for current news and updates on her season racing in Europe. http://www.tanjaslater.com/

X-Fusion Sponsors Monique Sawiki
Monique Sawicki to race on X-Fusion Performance Suspension in 2007
X-Fusion is pleased to announce that it will supply ultra-endurance superstar Monique Sawicki with suspension for the 2007 race season. Monique will race on X-Fusion O2 PVA and O2 RC rear shocks and the awesome new Velvet PVA fork. The popular rider from Hawaii known as Pua is the latest addition to an already strong group of ultra-endurance athletes sponsored by X-Fusion.

Monique burst onto the mountain bike racing scene in 2004, dominating the Marathon discipline at NORBA events and earning the Series Championship. In 2005, she won three of the five NORBA Marathons en route to again being crowned Series Champion. Pua also took the 24 Hour Solo National Champion title in Spokane, WA and finished second in the 24 Hour Solo World Championships in Whistler, BC.

Last season started well with a win at Vision Quest and a top 20 at Sea Otter. A bad crash in June at the Mont Ste. Anne World Cup resulted in a month off the bike. Pua bounced back quickly and showed how strong she is by finishing third at the USA Cycling National Championships in Sonoma, CA. Just two weekends ago, Monique showed that she is back completely by winning not only the Pro Women’s event at the 12 Hours of Temecula, but also the overall. She beat the Pro Men’s winner by five minutes; this after helping a crashed rider and a rider whose light had stopped working.

“My first exposure to Monique was at the 2005 24 Hour World Solo Championships in Whistler, BC,” said Alex Wheeler, US Marketing Manager for X-Fusion. “It was obvious to me then that she was a phenomenal racer and would be a great addition to the X-Fusion team. We are extremely pleased to be her new suspension sponsor and look forward to a fabulous season.” Pua not only competes on her mountain bike, but she also lends her time doing clinics for shops and speaking to kids at schools.

“I am very excited to be working with X-fusion this year and beyond. They are a great company with great products. It's going to be a great year!” said Pua after inking the deal. Monique’s team for 2007 is Team Ergon/Ellsworth sponsored by Ergon Biker Ergonomics and Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles.

About X-Fusion: X-Fusion is a global designer and manufacturer of world-class, high-performance suspension products. X-Fusion produces a complete line of rear shocks under the model names O2, Vector and Glyde as well as suspension forks under the names Velvet and Delta 8. X-Fusion distributes its products throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information on this topic, please call Alex Wheeler 408-866-0188 or inquiries about X-Fusion in the United States can be directed to mailto:usinfo@x-fusion-shox.com. Also visit www.x-fusion-shox.com.

Race and Event Calendar
17th Annual Sea Otter Classic, a 'Celebration of Sport'
2007 Sea Otter Classic, Cycling's Grand Season Opener, adds BMX, Thule Adventure Race, and SRAM MTB Super D to the Lineup - SRAM Dirt Jump Competition at the 2006 Sea Otter Classic

DATE: April 12-15, 2007
LOCATION: Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California, USA
WHO: Outdoor sport enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels

DESCRIPTION: The Sea Otter Classic will evolve in 2007 to best its own reputation as the largest, most celebrated cycling festival in North America. Now, the multi-day event, historically known throughout the world as the cycling season's premier kick-off event, will ratchet up an already brimming schedule of cycling events with some key additions that reflect Sea Otter's innovative spirit.

New to Sea Otter in 2007: The Sea Otter Classic now plays host to the '08 Olympic medal sport, BMX Racing; the USARA sanctioned Sea Otter Classic Thule Adventure Race, where teams must find their way through an undisclosed course by kayaking, biking, running, and a final navigational leg, using nothing more than a map and compass; and, the SRAM MTB Super D, a hybrid of downhill and cross-country racing with a Le Mans style start, requiring not only power, but also a finely tuned descending strategy to win.

The Sea Otter Classic has founded its reputation as the go-to event through events like SRAM Pro NRC Road Circuit Race, SRAM Mountain Bike Endurance events (MTB Time Trial, MTB Short Track, MTB Cross Country, and the new! MTB Super D), SRAM Mountain Bike Gravity events (MTB Dual Slalom and MTB Downhill), Bicycling Magazine Road Bike Tours (15 mile/Century), Mountain Bike Magazine Off-Road Tours (10/20 mile) and the absolute crowd pleaser, SRAM Invitational Dirt Jump Contest. At the center of the non-stop action is the massive Sea Otter Village and Expo, home to the world's largest outdoor consumer tradeshow featuring nearly 300 vendors and an international food court. The festival provides loads of friend and family fun activities, including the Mountain Bike Ride Zone hosted by Bikeskills, Kids' Bike Rodeo hosted by the Napa County Sheriff's Office, and many other spectator favorites including the crowd pleaser BMX Demos. The Sea Otter Classic draws nearly 10,000 professional, amateur and recreational athletes; 50,000 spectators; and, more than 300 media representatives from across the globe.

All recreational events and festival admittance are free to kids under 12! All Active Duty and Retired Military Personnel and their families will receive two passes for the price of one. They must present a Military ID Card. Spectator festival passes are $10 per day or $30 for four days.
ATHLETE REGISTRATION: www.seaotterclassic.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.seaotterclassic.com or, 800-218-8411 / 831-373-2331

About Sea Otter Classic LLC
The 17th Annual Sea Otter Classic will be held April 12 - 15, 2007 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California, USA. The four-day 'Celebration of Sport' is considered the world's largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. The Cypress Youth Fund is the Sea Otter Classic's philanthropic arm. The Fund provides funding to organizations that benefit their communities in the areas of youth, sport, education, and environment. More information can be found at www.seaotterclassic.com  or by calling 800-218-8411.

Purple Extreme to sponsor Team Kenda Tire Women’s Cycling
Team Kenda Tire is pleased to announce that Purple Extreme has agreed to sponsor our team again for the 2007 racing season as exclusive supplier of chain lubricant.

The team’s extensive National Racing Calendar (NRC), as well as regional and off-road racing schedule, warrants a product with four-season performance and reliability. As the product name implies, we have found Purple Extreme unrivaled in extreme conditions. Corie Berrigan, a winner of multiple road races and current Illinois State Cyclocross Champion, added that “Purple Extreme keeps my drive train quiet, clean & protected on the road or trails in any season.”

Paul Forsythe, Team Director, equally excited about the sponsorship, stated that, “It is a godsend product for race mechanics. I have supported entire stage races without any concern for cleaning or lubing chains.” Compared to other products used in the past, team member Melissa Cover summarized it nicely by saying “Purple Extreme works great and smells good too!”

About Team Kenda Tire Women’s Cycling Team: Team Kenda Tire, began in 1998 with nine riders excelling at bicycle racing. Over the years, the team grew in size and to date boasts an Elite and Development team with “hubs” of riders in Phoenix, Boulder, Kansas City, Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Des Moines, Atlanta and in Carlisle, Ontario (Canada.). The team competes in North America focusing on the National Race Calendar and in top Canadian events sanctioned by the Canadian Cycling Association. http://www.teamkendatire.com