Cycling News Roundup - 2 July 2008
Team News, Rock Racing - Catastrophic Injury Fund, Guillaume Bonnafond Signs with Ag2r, Sharon Laws, Iron Hill Twilight Crit, Giordana Crossroads Classic, Versus live Online, SIDI Women's Shoe

Ag2r la Mondiale Signs Guillaume Bonnafond
Guillaume Bonnafond signed a 2 year professional contract with Ag2r la Mondiale. Gillaume comes out of a partnership with Chambéry Cyclisme Formation, the center of training of the team Ag2r la Mondiale which it partnered with  in 2006. He is the 4th rider to rise to the pro ranks from CCF to join Vincent Lavenu after Blaise Sonnery, Jean-Charles Senac and Alexandr Pliuschin.

Vincent Lavenu: “This signature rewards the regular and logical progression for the one of the best French amateurs of the moment. ”

The 21 year old, Guillaume Bonnafond performed well this year in le Tour des Pays de Savoie et la Ronde de l’Isard. Showing his stuff in the French Amateur road championships Bonnafond finished second to Jean-Christophe Péraud who won the final sprint after of a long race (165 kms) taking the victory. The heat and difficult course caused a great attrition of the peloton; but Guillaume kept his head and did well to take silver.

“This shows I am in good condition. I am in preparation for the championships of Europe and my preparations have already borne its fruits. I am overall satisfied with my race. I had good feelings in race end but I am a little disappointed to arrive late for the win. Now I hope my form will hold for us the next week to the championships of Europe.”

Guillaume Bonnafond
• 21 years old - Born 23/06/1987 in Valence
• Height/weight: 1m84/66 kg
• First licence at 13 years
• Successive clubs: Crest Saillant/le Cheylard CF 07 / Charvieu Chavagneux Isère Cyclisme/Chambéry cyclisme Formation
• Favorite memory: “Without a doubt,  the Tour du Val d'Aoste 2007 when I finished second at the stage." Current Studies: Second year Business Management.

Halfords Bikehut Team
Sharon Laws on Road to Recovery
Halfords Bikehut rider Sharon Laws has had an operation to put a plate in her leg after she cracked her fibula when she hit a pothole during a training ride near her home town of Abergavenny last week.

Now out hospital, Laws will spend the next two weeks at the English Institute of Sport's medical centre in Manchester where she will be given physiotherapy by some of the best sports medicine specialists in the world. Treatment options include training on a stationary bike using only her good leg.

British Cycling hopes she will be able to return to full training within a week.
"It's not all doom and gloom," commented British Cycling's Performance Director Dave Brailsford. "We've got everyone working on it and are still hopeful that she could be fit enough for Olympic selection."

Laws had been hotly tipped to join team mate Nicole Cooke and Emma Pooley in the women's road race in Beijing. A recent convert to road racing from mountain biking, Laws came to prominence after getting second place in the Australian National Road Race Championship in January. She made her GB debut at Fleche Wallone in April and finished in the top ten at the Tour de l'Aude in May.

Laws was recently crowned National 25 Mile Time Trial Champion and until her accident was among the favourites for this coming weekends National Road Race Championship.

Saunier Duval/Scott
Camelbak and Saunier Duval/Scott's Pick up the Podium promotion continues during Tour de France.
After its success in the Tour of California and the Giro d´Italia, Pick Up the Podium, the promotional campaign jointly launched by CAMELBAK and SAUNIER DUVAL-SCOTT, is now coming to France for the Grande Boucle 2008. This initiative encourages spectators to pick up the water bottles thrown by the riders -some 2,000 in a three-week tour- to find great prizes in them. In so doing, they'll be protecting the environment from unnecessary waste.

Saunier Duval's Ricco has a CamelBak bottle handed up.

The spectators lining the roads in the different stages of the Tour of France will be able to pick up the newly introduced CamelBak Podium bottles used by Riccò, Piepoli, De la Fuente, and the other "red birds." Besides collecting their favourite rider´s bottles, they´ll have to look for stickers bearing promotion codes. These codes (to be sent to promotions@camelbak.com) will enter competitions for fantastic prizes, including SCOTT, Castelli and Fi´zi:k products.

Thanks to this campaign, during the Tour de France cycling fans will have the chance to hold CAMELBAK´s new and reusable bottle CamelBak Podium, which has been described by the prestigious Bicycling Magazine as “a step up, just because drinking from it on the bike is that much smoother.” Produced from easier-to-squeeze TruTaste polypropylene with Hydroguard permanent anti bacterial protection, all you taste is your drink, not your bottle. The wide screw cap makes preparing drinks easy, while the self-sealing valve can be locked off in transit and in use. The new bottle´s flow rate is simply amazing! It's available in 600ml and 700ml, and then there's the special Saunier Duval/Scott edition.

USA CRITS Series Fireworks
Iron Hill Twilight Criterium lights up Independence Day Weekend
The 4th annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium is up next in the USA CRITS Series, and a stellar cast of male and female pro cyclists will be competing for a total of $15,000 in prize money. The rivalries that make criterium racing an exciting, spectator-friendly sport, will be on display again in West Chester, Pennsylvania on July 5. Teams like TOSHIBA-Santo presented by Herbalife, Richmond Pro Cycling, Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Team Inferno Racing, Time Pro Cycling, Locos Grill & Pub, and Kelly Benefit Strategies will send their riders to the starting line in the men’s match-up.

Besides vying for the victory at Iron Hill, Cuba’s Yosvany Falcon (TOSHIBA-Santo) and Australia’s “Lightning” Jeff Hopkins (Team Inferno) are in a race to overtake Rock Racing’s Rahsaan Bahati who is now the overall series leader. Last year’s overall series winner, Frank Travieso (TOSHIBA-Santo), another Cuban, is in fourth place, and he says his job this year is to help teammate Falcon clinch the series. “I will help him to win, because he did the same for me last year,” says Travieso. “I crashed in the Athens Twilight and broke my hand, so it’s really hard for me to sprint right now.”

In the women’s field, perennial competitors, Cheerwine Cycling, Vanderkitten Racing, Aaron’s Professional Women’s Cycling Team, Metro Volkswagen Cycling Team, Colavita Sutter Home and Advil/Chapstick are expected to fight for dominance in an impressive field. Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) is currently the overall leader in the series, followed by Jennifer Wilson (Vanderkitten), Allyson Brandt (Cheerwine), Taitt Sato (Value Act), Tina Pic (Colavita) and Jennifer McRae (Advil Chapstick).

The Iron Hill Twilight Criterium and each competition in the USA CRITS Series will have an outright winner on the day, but each racer can earn points in several ways throughout each competition in the 11-race Series. Here’s how:
· Starting the race
· Finishing order
· Leading laps
· Winning lap primes (pronounced ‘premes’)

“The great thing about the USA CRITS Series is that the racers and their teams enjoy the rivalries they have been built up season after season, and they fight really hard to get and keep the upper hand and win points during each race and throughout the Series,” says event organizer Ravi Rajcoomar. “That makes for fierce competition on the course and an exciting race for the fans.”

For more information on the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium visit www.ironhilltwilightcriterium.com.
USA CRITS 2008 Series (races remaining):
Iron Hill Twilight Criterium - West Chester, PA - 7/5
BC Cancer Fdn. - Tour de Gastown - Vancouver, BC - 7/16
Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium - Boise, ID - July 19
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium - Charlotte, NC - 8/2
Chris Thater Memorial - Binghamton, NY 8/8
San Francisco Twilight Criterium - San Francisco, CA 9/13
USA CRITS Championship Final - Las Vegas, NV - 9/25

Rock Racing Announces Creation of Catastrophic Injury Fund
First-Of-Its-Kind Fund To Benefit Professional Cyclists
Culver City, Calif. -- Rock Racing today announced the creation of the “Professional Cycling Catastrophic Injury Fund,” a charitable entity to raise money for professional and elite amateur cyclists who suffer a catastrophic injury as a result of their participation in the competitive sport of cycling.

The first of its kind, the fund will offer financial assistance for riders who are injured in a sport that often involves high speeds and technical courses -- particularly in major events such as the Tour de France, which begins July 5.

“Devastating crashes and cycling go hand in hand and currently there is no safety net in place,” said Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball. “If these riders get seriously injured, that’s it. There is no insurance, no pension and no workman’s comp. There is nothing. This is the first time there will be a financial support mechanism in place.”

Rock Racing will make the initial contribution with a significant donation and will continue the fund’s growth through direct monetary contributions as well as a percentage of its own sales. Ten percent of all Rock Racing on-line sales will benefit the fund as will 100 percent of proceeds from special Fund-branded products to be introduced later this year. The goal is to raise $20 million over the next two years.

While Rock Racing is taking the lead in securing protection for these athletes and their families, Ball says it is a collective industry responsibility.

“I challenge every other cycling organization, sponsor, and manufacturer -any entity that generates revenue from bicycle racing - to contribute to this fund and support these amazing athletes for the risks they take every day. The fund will create a truly powerful and viable resource that supports our sport and takes care of our athletes.”

The fund will be devoted to providing financial assistance for medical and rehabilitative care, increasing public awareness of safety issues related to bicycle racing, promoting increased participation in the sport and engaging in other charitable activities associated with cycling.

The establishment of the Professional and Amateur Cyclist Injury Fund comes on the heels of a year marked by an inordinate number of crashes.

At the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico in May, former Mexican National Champion Fausto Munoz Esparza crashed during a high-speed descent and was left paralyzed. At speeds of 50 mph, cyclist Tim Duggan landed on his head and was left unconscious on the pavement during Stage 3 of the Tour de Georgia. High-profile races such as the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia have sidelined elite racers and brought renewed attention to the sport’s dangerous nature. Saul Raisin, David Zabriskie and 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador are among those whose tales of dramatic crashes and road rash are legendary.

Rock Racing’s Fred Rodriguez, a three-time U.S. national road race champion, appreciates the establishment of the fund, having himself experienced a number of potentially career-ending crashes.

“The thrill of cycling comes with the reality that one hard fall can end it all,” Rodriguez said. “Until now, there has been no formal support system for cyclists who crash. This fund is an important step in the right direction for the sport as a whole.”

As a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, contributions to the fund will be tax deductible. Decisions regarding the amounts and future beneficiaries of the fund will be decided by a panel of experts and other persons committed to the sport of cycling.

ABOUT ROCK RACING: Rock Racing is an eclectic team of powerful, world-class athletes who are redefining professional cycling through incredible teamwork and a flamboyant flair never before seen in the pro peloton. Created in 2007 and sponsored by Rock & Republic CEO and Creative Director Michael Ball, the team rapidly became a fan favorite through its thrilling racing action, cunning tactics and winning tradition. It also redefined the look of the pro cycling team uniform with jerseys and shorts that seemingly changed from race to race. In 2008, Rock Racing hits the road with a singular vision: to be the No. 1 cycling team in the United States. The team competes in UCI and USA Cycling-sanctioned races on both the road and track and will be represented at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Additionally, Rock Racing sponsors successful women’s and junior racing teams that are making headlines on a local level and paving the way for a bright future for the sport.

Versus.com to Live Stream Tour de France
Live Stage 1 & 2 Before T.V. Coverage Begins
VERSUS.com, the official Tour de France website in the United States, will offer live streaming of the race from 6:30-8:30 a.m. ET for Stage 1 on Saturday, July 5, and from 7:00-8:30 a.m. ET for Stage 2 on Sunday, July 6. Televised coverage of the Tour de France on VERSUS will start at 8:30 a.m. ET both days.

For the eighth straight year from the Alps to Paris, the network will, on average, air 14 hours of race action per day. Daily coverage includes a pre-race show followed by live morning race coverage, race action replays four times daily and an expanded primetime show. During the key mountain stages VERSUS will provide extended coverage beginning, some days, at 6:30 a.m. ET. Start times will vary depending on stages and rest days; a complete schedule is available at VERSUS.com.

8th Annual Giordana Crossroads Classic
9 Days of Racing July 25 - August 3, 2008
Charlotte, North Carolina - Charlotte Sports Cycling is proud to announce they teamed with several local cycling teams to bring nine days of criterium racing to the Piedmont and Foothills of North Carolina. The eighth annual event will feature nine criterium races held July 25 - August 3 and will visit nine different North Carolina cities: Taylorsville, Lenoir, Morganton, Mocksville, Concord, Salisbury, Statesville, Harrisburg, and Winston-Salem. This exciting nine-day race brings an incredible amount of energy to each downtown as professional and amateur cyclists alike will fill the streets with color, excitement, and speed as the racers battle in the daily criterium events.

Charlotte Sports Cycling President, Neal Boyd says, "Each of the Cities involved with the Crossroads are incredibly excited about the event visiting their community." "The Cities have really embraced the event and provided a tremendous amount of support for the nine-day race"

The nine-day event will kick off Friday evening July 25 in the quaint Town of Taylorsville, NC. Taylorsville, nestled in the Foothills of North Carolina, will be entertained by the first ever bike race to travel the streets of the community. Crossroads will stay in the Foothills of NC with events in Lenoir on Saturday and Morganton on Sunday.

Monday will give the cyclists an opportunity to rest and gear up for six consecutive days of racing. The racing will resume in the beautiful Downtown of Mocksville, NC with a criterium event that raises money for the United Way. Wednesday, Crossroads promoters are brining back a classic course with an event in Downtown Concord. The .4 of a mile course is flat and super fast race venue.

Thursday evening, Crossroads will make its way to the City of Salisbury with one of the most unique courses during the nine-day event. The course in Salisbury is a "figure-eight" loop that is exciting for the race participants and the spectators. The City of Statesville will play host to the cycling community on Friday evening during Crossroads. Statesville is the only City to host an event all eight years of the Crossroads Classic.

Harrisburg, NC will host its first ever criterium event in their Town Center Plaza on Saturday. Town Center Plaza is beautiful mixed use development in the center of Harrisburg.

The Giordana Crossroads Classic is anchored by the Hanes Park Classic NRC race in Winston-Salem, NC. The Hanes Park Classic has been a staple on the southeast racing calendar for many years and is in its second year on the NRC calendar. Professional men will race for $15,000 and the women will race for $7,500.

July 25 - Taylorsville, NC
July 26 - Lenoir, NC
July 27 - Morganton, NC
July 29 - Mocksville, NC
July 30 - Concord, NC
July 31 - Salisbury, NC
August 1 - Statesville, NC
August 2 - Harrisburg, NC
August 3 - Winston-Salem, NC

For more information on this exciting nine-day race event, check out www.crossroadscyclingclassic.com FLOWERS FOR WOMEN

Flower patterns for the new Sidi Genius 5 pro woman
A graphic trend in more beautiful and captivating clothing for Genius 5 pro woman, part of the new 2008/2009 Collection for Sidi Sport presented recently during the international Sidi Sport distributors’ meeting at company headquarters in Maser (TV).

Performance and elegance join with a new look in light blue flower motifs on a white background to make Genius 5 pro woman a great cycling shoe as well as a beautiful fashion statement. In addition to its graphics and colors, the technical characteristics of the Genius 5 pro woman make it the ideal shoe for the woman who doesn’t want to sacrifice fashion and elegance to when she rides her bicycle.

Flowers dedicated to the female sector of the bicycling world are also an homage to the Milan - San Remo race, also known as the “flower’s classic”, where Sidi has emerged victorious in the last three editions with Fabian Cancellara (2008), Oscar Freire Gomez (2007) and Filippo Pozzato (2006). At the 2008 Spring Classic Race, it was actually our own Pippo Pozzato who tried out the brand new Sidi shoes with the floral pattern designed exclusively for him for the occasion, in celebration of his 2006 success in the same race.

Idealized and realized for the feminine foot, Genius 5 pro woman stands out for its soft instep closure system with its adjustable band on the top of the foot equipped with the caliper lever for a micrometric closure that permits easy adjustment even while moving, and the high security Velcro system with Velcro bands that close the front of the shoe securely and snugly.

Genius 5 pro woman also features an important innovation in the sole. All the models in the Genius 5, Zephyr and Spark range are equipped with the millennium 3 sole, an evolution of the millennium 2 sole. A new light and aerodynamic sole in nylon, as usual, but with a new design reinforced with carbon fibers that make the sole 36% more resistant. The Millennium 3 sole is compatible with all the best pedals on the market. www.sidisport.it

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