Cycling News Roundup 27 April 2007
Team News: Liège - Bastogne - Liège, Giro d'Italia, Paolo Fornaciari Website
Launch , “L’Amore de Velocita”, Race Announcements, Bike Biz News... Photos
“L’Amore de Velocita” Iban Mayo featured in Castelli ad. (more info below)
Liège - Bastogne - Liège Teams
Caisse d'Epargne Squad
Coureurs: Vicente García Acosta, David López, Fran Pérez, Vicente Reynes,
Joaquím Rodríguez, José Joaquín Rojas, Luis León Sánchez et Alejandro Valverde.
Directeur: Eusebio Unzúe.
Team CSC
Fränk Schleck Captain
Fränk Schleck has been chosen as team captain on Sunday, when Team CSC
participates in the final of the three Ardenner Classics, Liègè-Bastogne-Liège,
where the peloton will have to climb infamous mountains such as Côte de Wanne,
Côte de Stockeu, Côte de la Haute-Levée, Côte de la Redoute, Côte du
Sart-Tilman-Tilff and last but not least Côte de Saint-Nicolas.
Liègè-Bastogne-Liège is the oldest of the spring classics. The history of the
race goes all the way back to 1892, but this year is "only" the 92nd edition of
the race though, because of several breaks during the first 50 years of its
existence.
The fact that Schleck has been chosen as captain is a natural outcome of the
last few weeks. "His results in Amstel Gold Race and Fléche Wallonne clearly
showed that Fränk is our best bet on Sunday. But we're also hoping for a good
result in the team's competition, which should be possible with such a strong
team," explains Kim Andersen.
Schleck was 10th in Amstel Gold Race in spite of a serious crash about 35
kilometers before the finish and he was seventh in Fléche Wallonne earlier in
the week.
"It's impressive of Fränk after what happened with the crash and all. He hurt
his head, his back and one arm, where he seems to have a trapped nerve or
something, because his arm goes numb, when he sits in the same position on his
bike for too long. But we're hoping that he'll be one hundred percent ready for
Sunday, because he's definitely proved that his form is there," continues
Kim Andersen.
Tired soldier Andy Schleck after Fleche Wallone finish.
Photo c. Bart Hazen.
For the last two years Team CSC has had three riders in the top-20, so there
is a lot to live up to for this year's line-up. Last year Schleck was seventh
and in 2005 Jens Voigt managed a second place. Team CSC also has a victory in
2003, where Tyler Hamilton crossed the finish line solo.
Team CSC Squad: Fränk Schleck, Bobby
Julich, Karsten Kroon, Andy Schleck, Nicki Sørensen, Jens Voigt, Alexandr
Kolobnev
Team CSC's
team for Giro d'Italia
Team CSC has appointed the following riders for this years Giro d'Italia: David
Zabriskie, Fabian Cancellara, Alexandr Kolobnev, Andy Schleck, Juan José Haedo,
Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Michael Blauzun, Matti Breschel og Volodymir Gustov.
”Our line-up for Giro d'Italia this year consists of mainly young riders
backed up by some of the more experienced ones. I think we have the opportunity
to do well throughout the entire race due to the diversity of this group. Both
in the shape of stage wins and we may also be able to take the pink leader's
jersey at the beginning of the race. It will be interesting to see, what this
particular group of riders can do. Haedo has already shown that he can compete
with the best sprinters, and I also think we'll have a few great opportunities
in some of the more hilly stages as well as the time trials of course,”
announces Bjarne Riis regarding the Giro, which starts with a 24-kilometer team
time trial on May 12th in Sardinia, and as tradition dictates finishes three
weeks later in Milan.
Lampre/Fondital
Cunego Captain at Leige.
Cunego won for the third time Giro del Trentino. Lampre-Fondital's cyclists is
still first in the overall standing after the last stage, Toscolano Maderno-Arco,
won at sprint by Richeze. Cunego, who finished 37th, won Giro del Trentino with
18" on Scarponi and 40" on Mazzanti.
Damiano Cunego will be Lampre-Fondital's captain for Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
The Italian cyclist, 3rd last year, will try to win the Belgian race with the
help of Bono, Loosli, Possoni, Righi, Szmyd, Valjavec and Vila. Fabrizio
Bontempi will be the sport director and the staff will be the same that followed
the team in Fleche Wallone.
"The team is a good mix of cylists with qualities: we will ready in every moment
of the race - Bontempi said - Damiano has just won Giro del Trentino: his morale
will be very good".
Giro del Trentino:
Damiano Cunego is still the leader of the overall standing of Giro del Trentino:
thanks to the 3rd place obtained in the 3rd stage (Cavareno Valle di Non-Toscolano
Maderno, 176,4 kms) won by Garzelli, Damiano has 14" of advantage on Scarponi
and 36" on Mazzanti.The 4th stage, the final one, will bring the group from
Toscolano Maderno to Arco.
Paolo Fornaciari. photo courtesy Lampre/Fondital
The energy and the sympathy of Paolo Fornaciari are on the web. The blue-fucsia
cyclist's website is on line: at the address
www.paolofornaciari.it you can
get to know Paolo better and follow his activity thanks to news, photos, movies
and direct reportage by "Forna" himself. Paris Roubaix video.
A great site for a great character of the cycling world!
T-Mobile
Previews Giro d'Italia Climb
Marco Pinotti, Paolo Savoldelli and Giuseppe Guerrini rode the San
Marcos Pass the Giro d'Italia climb last Saturday.
Photos here.
T-Mobile Team to Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Kim Kirchen leads magenta team at cycling’s oldest classic
The Spring Classics season enters its last lap with Sunday's Liège-
Bastogne-Liège, the oldest of cycling’s five “monuments”. Kim Kirchen spearheads
the T-Mobile Team challenge at the hilly Classic. For the looping 262-km
north-south trek through the Ardennes, the Luxembourg Champion will backed by
almost the same cast as he was for Wednesday’s Flèche Wallonne - with Patrik
Sinkewitz, Michael Barry, Axel Merckx and the Aussie duo of Michael Rogers and
Scott Davis are all in action.
After the disappointing outcome for the team at Flèche, sporting director
Valerio Piva is hoping that Kirchen, Sinkewitz or Rogers can bounce back quickly
and get themselves in contention for a top-ten place in Liège. “Michael is no
longer hampered by the knee injury he suffered at the Pais Vasco, and is back to
his old form," says Piva who believes the race parcours should play into
Sinkewitz’s hands. “Of the five biggest cycling monuments, Liège is certainly
the toughest. The climbs are not as steep as at Flèche, but they are longer.
That suits Patrik,” says Piva.
Rounding out the eight-man roster in Belgium are the Ukrainian veteran Serhiy
Honchar and Aussie newcomer Adam Hansen, who replace Marco Pinotti and Thomas
Ziegler from Wednesday’s selection. Liège-Bastogne-Liège is the hilliest of
cycling’s great one-day races and the peloton will have to show it the respect
it deserves.
Twelve climbs over 262-km set to put riders through
their paces
Though the first 100km cover flat terrain, the final 150 kilometres
from Bastogne back to Liège’s hill-top suburb of Ans cover constantly undulating
terrain that turns the race into a real battle of attrition. As the race
intensity builds, the riders hardly have time to stretch their aching
backs. "You are always at the limit and need to stay alert, or you’ll be
instantly dropped on some of the climbs,” says Patrik Sinkewitz, who last year
placed fourth and knows how to handle the ‘Old Lady’.
The T-Mobile Team in
brief:
Michael Barry (31/Canada), Scott Davis (28/Australia), Adam Hansen
(25/Australia), Kim Kirchen (28/Luxembourg), Axel Merckx (34/Belgium), Serhiy
Honchar (36/Ukraine), Michael Rogers (27/Australia), Patrik Sinkewitz (26).
Sporting director: Valerio Piva (48/Italy)
Two-pronged attack for
T-Mobile Team at “Henninger Turm”
Sprinting ace Ciolek is Sport Director Aldag’s trump
card
The T-Mobile Team is highly motivated for the 46th edition of the legendary „Rund
um den Henninger-Turm" on Tuesday May 1. The eight man magenta team will be led
by Patrik Sinkewitz and Linus Gerdemann in the German state of Hesse.
“The ‘Henninger Turm' is not just a highlight in the racing calendar
from a German perspective, said Sport Direktor Rolf Aldag. “The numerous cycling
fans along the course means there’s always a great atmosphere. The cyclists
increase their tempo by a few percentage points.“ A peloton of 192 cyclists from
24 teams will be competing on “Labor Day” with its challenging course through
the Taunus region before winding its way along the 190 Km course with seven
mountain and five sprint classifications towards the finishing line in downtown
Frankfurt.
The T-Mobile Team represents a wide selection of cyclists ready to adapt to
every race situation. “We’ll be planning a two-pronged attack“, says an
enthusiastic Aldag, explaining the Bonn-based team’s racing tactics: If a group
escapes we want Patrik or Linus to be there with them, if its ends in a sprint
we’ll play our trump card - Gerald Ciolek." The rising star from Cologne came
second in 2006 when he was with Team Wiesenhof, finishing just behind Italian
Stefano Garzelli, but demonstrating his promise in an exhausting up- and
downhill course through the Taunus.
Sinkewitz/Gerdemann gear up for the escapes
Patrik Sinkewitz has also set himself a goal this year. In 2006 he looked as if
he was assured a podium place. After more than 100 km the German pro matched the
tempo of “Escape King” Jens Voigt out in front. But on the final lap the duo
were rounded up by the peloton. “Of course I was disappointed that I didn’t pull
off a win in front of my home crowd. But I won’t let that get me down and this
year I’ll be attacking again”, promised Sinkewitz, demonstrating the importance
of this German Classic for the Sporting Director and also the T-Mobile Team.
Aldag: “For a German team with a German sponsor this race is a question of
prestige for us and has its own special status." The T-Mobile team competing in
Tuesday’s race will also include Classics specialist Marcus Burghardt, Bert
Grabsch and Andreas Klier, all-rounder Thomas Ziegler as well as Australian Adam
Hansen.
The T-Mobile Team in brief:
Marcus Burghardt (23), Gerald Ciolek (20), Linus Gerdemann (24), Bert Grabsch
(31), Adam Hansen (25/Australia), Andreas Klier (31), Patrik Sinkewitz (26),
Thomas Ziegler (26).
Sporting directors: Brian Holm (44/Denmark), Allan Peiper (47/Australia)
www.t-mobile-team.com
AEG-TOSHIBA-JetNetwork
USA Southeast Crit Series
Hometown heroes AEG-TOSHIBA-JetNetwork Pro Cycling announced its roster today
for the USA Crits Southeast series. The team will be led by super-sprinters
Frank Travieso and Keith Norris, both coming off strong rides overseas and in
the annual California racing swing. Chris Frederick, Yosvany Falcon, Ivan
Franco, and Eric Keim will round out the team’s six-man hit squad for the
eight-race NRC series. “We are really excited for the Twilight and the USA Crits
Southeast series, as most of the guys live in Athens we want to put on a big
show for the hometown fans,” said team sport director and past Twilight champion
Roberto Gaggioli. “I love the Twilight and our team is definitely one to watch
as it is a priority for us,” added the newest Athens resident.
Former Twilight Junior and Finals winner Norris stated, “Twilight is one of
the reasons I returned to racing, the crowds, the excitement, the atmosphere,
it’s the best in the world. The fans will really be in for a treat this year.”
“This year’s Twilight features the most parity among the major teams seen for
some time in US racing as each team has a few guys that can really win the
Twilight and the overall USA Crits Southeast series,” stated event founder Gene
Dixon. “We are really excited to kick off our series in Athens and race in some
of the best cycling-friendly towns in the region and showcase our favorite brand
of racing.” This years USA Crits Southeast series will feature 8 races for both
men and women and will boast over $150,000 in prize money.
USA Southeast Criterium Series
Heyward Allen Toyota Athens Twilight. Athens, GA - April 28th
Nalley Historic Roswell Criterium. Roswell, GA - April 29th
Beaufort Memorial Classic. Beaufort, SC - May 1st
Walterboro Walterboro Cycling Classic. Walterboro, SC - May 2nd
Uptown Greenwood Criterium. Greenwood, SC - May 3rd
Smithbarney Classic. Spartanburg, SC - May 4th
Sunny King Criterium. Anniston, AL - May 5th
Decatur Daily Downtown Criterium. Decatur, AL - May 6th
Keep up with the latest news from the AEG-TOSHIBA-JetNetwork team at
www.aerospacecycling.com.
Website Launch
Pro Team Successfulliving/Parkpre has launched their website:
http://www.teamsuccessfulliving.com/
California Race Videos
Wente Road Race and
Crit.
Roman Kilun (Health Net) times his attack from the pack to win the Wente Road
Race.
Stacy Marple (Team TIBCO) worked with her team continuously throughout the road
race which eventually put her in a break with Jill McLaughlin (Touchstone)
Race Announcements:
National Mountain Bike Series Returns to Fontana
Round Three, the "Urban Assault" happening May 3-6
On May 3-7 mountain bike racers and enthusiasts will gather in the hills outside
of Los Angeles at Southridge Park in Fontana, California for Round Three of the
2007 National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) – the Fontana National presented by
Team KONA Bikes.
This is the second year that the NMBS will take its “Urban Assault” theme to
Fontana, with the idea that holding mountain biking events in close proximity to
large population centers will help increase the exposure and popularity of the
sport. Based on the numbers of participants (well over 1500) as well as
spectators at last year’s season-opening event, the idea is a success.
Typical NMBS venues are the remote, relatively less accessible, mountainous
ski resorts scattered around the United States, which offer the fantastic
terrain necessary for mountain bike racing, but also limit that accessibility
for amateur racers and especially spectators. Managing Director of the NMBS,
Jeffrey Frost has worked to find a good blend of venues for his series such that
it can draw new interest while also satisfying the purists. To that end, you can
see an arc in the series as now the first half of the NMBS visits areas that are
nearer to major cities, while the last three events of the series maintain the
traditional, rugged, high mountain vibe, with events at the Deer Valley resort
in Park City, Utah; the Sugar Mountain Resort in North Carolina; and the series
finals in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
Southridge Park in Fontana has been a southern California mountain biking
hotspot for almost two decades, which just goes to show that venues selected for
their accessibility don’t lack in excellent quality courses and scenery. Frost
wouldn’t have it any other way, as he scrupulously examined all aspects of the
venue before he sought to bring his series, along with some of the top racing
professionals in the nation and world, to Fontana. Having been involved with
mountain bike racing in the US for about fifteen years, and with the NMBS for
the last eight of those, means that Jeffrey Frost probably has the best
understanding of the mountain biking community of anyone out there. It’s this
understanding that drove Frost to make the painful but logical decision to cut
marathon cross country racing from the NMBS program this year. As he explains,
“The NMBS has been criticized for not being ‘urban,’ or accessible –
unfortunately, when you go to an ‘urban’ venue you lose the ability to do a
marathon. Our ‘urban’ venues can support a marathon in distance - with multiple
laps of the cross country course - but not in spirit. Several of the best
marathon courses over the years have been in the least accessible venues.” He
goes on to say that, “In hopes of developing better marathon racers in this
country, we leave the discipline to those events that specialize in it.”
Marathon may not longer feature, but Fontana has an otherwise full slate of
racing. There will be the KENDA Cross Country (XC) presented by Turner, the
KENDA Short Track Cross Country (STXC), the Fox Downhill (DH) presented by KHS,
the Super-D, and the Fox Four Cross (4X) presented by ODI. Tom Spiegel of Team
Big Bear mentioned that they’ve added a mile of single track to the already very
technical Cross Country course, but that otherwise the various courses will
remain the same as in 2006. Jared Rando (Giant MTB Team) will be looking to
repeat his success on the 4X course that he won on last year, while last year’s
women’s pro Cross Country winner, Shonny Vandlandingham (Luna Women’s MTB Team),
will be looking to do the same in her event. In 2006, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
(Subaru-Gary Fisher) twice finished second to Canadian Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) in
both the XC and STXC races, so he will be returning this year with a vengeance
to drive him onto that top podium spot.
In addition to all the racing in Fontana, there will be a large Expo with
Exhibitors displaying all the latest mountain bike gadgetry and more. Be sure to
check out the Toyota FJ Cruisers Trail Team in the Expo area as they show off
the capabilities of their four-wheeler. Hanging out at the KONA Bicycles trailer
in between races will be the “Twin Timber” themselves, Barry Wicks and Ryan
Trebon. Free for kids 12 and under is the Shimano Kids Race, which will take
place at 2:00pm on Sunday. Also free are at least ten bicycles that KHS Bicycles
will raffle off: one bike every hour during the day on Saturday and Sunday; the
raffle is free to enter, but you must be present to win.
Bike Biz News
Castelli Gets a Global Campaign Worth Singing About
Opera-themed ads uniquely tout Castelli’s newest cycling apparel
Typically, high-performance cycling gear is advertised in a predictable fashion:
images of sweaty riders pedal across somnolent feature-benefit copy. Whether
it’s a $4,000 carbon-fiber bike frame or a five-buck sports drink, the approach
seldom varies.
Millar Laments the Death of Wind Resistance
Marketing agency Leopold Ketel & Partners of Portland, Ore., however, took a
decidedly different tack for Castelli, the renowned Italian apparel maker. The
agency introduced the company’s new Rosso Corsa line of clothing by creating an
opera-themed print campaign, one that pits the desires of professional bike
racers against the performance-sapping villains of wind resistance, gravity, and
constriction.
The campaign features five Castelli products: the unrestrictive Free Bibshort;
the lightweight, gravity-defying Superleggera jersey; the aerodynamic,
wind‑cheating Split Second jersey; the breathable 170BPM jacket; and the warm
and wind-proof Espresso jacket – each a breakthrough design within the cycling
industry.
Simoni Chooses to Leave Gravity Behind
Titled “L’Amore de Velocita” (The Love of Speed),
the five-part opera includes the scenes Millar Laments the Death of Wind
Resistance, Millar Rejoices at the Return of Wind, Simoni Chooses to Leave
Gravity Behind, Simoni Proclaims His Love for Winter, and Restriction Fails to
Strangle Iban Mayo. David Millar, Gilberto Simoni, and Iban Mayo all ride for
the Saunier Duval-Prodir team, sponsored by Castelli.
Against a backdrop of picturesque European vistas, the ads feature dramatic
poses of Millar, Simoni and Mayo interacting with women “singers” representing
the forces of “evil.” A copy block describes the scene, artfully combining the
opera’s narrative with the products’ technical information. LKP copywriter Mike
Houston was responsible for pulling off this delicate balancing act.
“Cycling advertising is all very much the same,” explained Andrew Reed, LKP
creative director for design, who teamed with Houston to create the campaign.
“We tried to find a memorable, passionate and Italian way to talk about
Castelli’s technical apparel while also featuring an authentic pro cyclist. At
the same time, we needed to be true to the heritage, fashion and technical
innovation that has always separated the Castelli brand from its rivals.”
Photography took place in Estepone, Spain, (site of the Saunier Duval-Prodir
training camp) using a local photographer and models; the opera clothing was
also sourced locally.
The print-only campaign is running in select U.S. cycling publications,
including CycleSport and VeloNews, as well as in magazines throughout Europe.
The ads are being translated into Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, Flemish,
Belgian, German, and Portuguese. LKP directs Castelli’s brand marketing globally
as well as in the U.S.
In addition to Reed and Houston, LKP’s Castelli account team includes John
Russell, strategic director; Stephanie Kafoury, account manager; Jerry Ketel,
executive creative director; Gary Medley, public relations.
Leopold Ketel & Partners is a leading Northwest agency that creates marketing
strategies and campaigns for such prominent Northwest companies as Tillamook
Cheese, Hood River Distillers, Castelli Cycling Apparel, Benchmade Knife
Company, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Springbrook Properties, Oregon Coast
Aquarium, Oregon Humane Society, ODS Health Plans, Oregon Scientific, Old Mill
District in Bend, and RadiSys Technologies. For more information, call
503-295-1918 or visit www.leoketel.com.
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