Cycling News Roundup 21 August
Team News: GP Quest Plouay Squad Announcements, Trofeo Melinda, 2 Giorni Ciclistica Internazionale di Vertova,  EuroSport's Sean Kelly Vuelta Prognostications, Saxo Bank NDS...

GP Plouay Team Announcements:
Caisse d'Epagrne
Fresh off a victory in the Tour du Limousin the team of Yvon Ledanois brings winner Mathieu Perget to the French classic.
Riders: David Arroyo, Anthony Charteau, Arnold Jeannesson, Alberto Losada, Mathieu Perget, Luis León Sánchez.
Director: Yvon Ledanois.

Weekend in Plouay for Liquigas-Doimo
The green and blue team will line up Bennati, Kreuziger and Quinziato
Liquigas-Doimo will not miss, on Sunday 23rd August, the GP Ouest France-Plouay. The French road race, drawn on a circuit that has to be repeated 12 times for 229 kilometres total, will offer a new chance to the green and blue team to increase his seasonal plunder, now composed of 15 victories.

Directeur sportif Stefano Zanatta will have at disposal the talent of Daniele Bennati if the arrival will be a sprint, the power of Manuel Quinziato and the fantasy of Roman Kreuziger to seek a victory. A good result in Plouay will allow to the young Czech rider to lsolidify his third place in UCI World Ranking, occupied with 310 points (6 overCavendish and 24 less than Andy Schleck). Liquigas-Doimo is in fourth position with 800 points in the team ranking behind Astana, Saxo Bank and Team Columbia-HTC.

Together with Bennati, Kreuziger and Quinziato; Valerio Agnoli, Kjell Carlström, Aliaksandr Kuchynski, Fabio Sabatini and Alessandro Vanotti will be present.

Ag2r la Mondiale
Ludovi Turpin Injury out of Plouay
A fall in the 3rd stage of the Tour du Limousin, Ludovic Turpin suffered from bruises on his tailbone. If pain persists further investigations be carried out. Therefore, the rider will miss the GP Quest Plouay which he was scheduled to ride. He was replaced by Cédric Pineau.

 Ag2r la Mondiale Squad
Alexandr Efimkin
John Gadret
Sébastien Hinault
Lloyd Mondory
René Mandri
Cédric PIineau
 Nicolas Roche
 Nicolas Rousseau
D.S.: · Gilles Mas

 Astana
Klöden Abandons Eneco Tour - Wrist Injury
Andreas Klöden had to abandon in the Eneco Tour due to a wrist injury. Klöden was involved in a crash with five riders just before the climb of the Old Kwaremont, after 50 kilometer in the stage from Ardooie to Brussels. At the top of the climb he was unable to continue the race because of a swollen left wrist. A first examination by the race doctor did not reveal any fracture, contrary to many uncontrolled reports in some media. Andreas Klöden returns home now to Switzerland where his wrist will be examined again.

“It’s a pity”, said the German rider, sixth in last Tour de France. “After the Tour, I took some rest but I was really motivated for this race. Especially the Saturday stage suited me well.”

Alberto Contador out of GP Quest Plouay
Next Sunday Alberto Contador will not start in the Grand Prix Ouest-France in Plouay. The winner of the 2009 Tour de France had to stop his training program due to a cold. "I do not want to reappear after the Tour de France without being able to ride decent race, that’s why I prefer not to take the start and to recover completely”, explained Alberto Contador.

Contador plans to take a break from August 24th till the end of September. "Now I will take a real holiday," he says. “Then I will ride a criterium in Bavikhove (Belgium) on September 6th. In that period we will evaluate a possible participation to the World Championships in Mendrisio.”

Columbia/HTC Womens Team
UCI Women's World Cup - GP Plouay
Columbia-HTC's Luise Keller has high hopes for an impressive performance in the GP Plouay in France this Saturday, the World Cup race in which she took a close second last year. Run off on a 19-kilometre circuit, tackled six times, Keller believes Plouay is "as hard as all the other World Cups, a real challenge. That's why it's almost always decided in a break, like last year when I got second."

"There are two big climbs on each circuit, one of which is really steep, about 500 metres long and with false flats after the summit. That sort of course makes it a wide-open race. The crowds at Plouay are always enormous, too, much bigger than at some other women's races, and getting that degreee of support turns it into a really special event. There's never a problem about getting motivated for Plouay."

Keller is aiming for a ride at the World Championships, and the German says that a strong showing in Plouay, which, like the World's circuit is very hilly, would help her chances of getting selected.

"Together with Luise, Kim Anderson's win in the Route de France has really given a boost to Kim's morale, and Chantal [Beltman] is in really good form, too," comments Columbia-HTC sports director Ronny Lauke. "We've got a lot of riders in good shape, and that's the ideal way to take on Plouay."

Columbia-HTC for GP Plouay: Kim Anderson (USA); Kate Bates (Aus); Chantal Beltman (Hol); Emilia Fahlin (Den); Luise Keller (Ger); Ellen Van Dijk (Hol).

18th Trofeo Melinda
Saturday 22nd August, in Trentino, Italy

Team Barloworld
Mauricio Soler to lead at Trofeo Melinda
Following the Vuelta a Burgos in Spain and the Italian Trittico Lombardo, Team Barloworld is ready to face the 18th edition of the Trofeo Melinda – Val di Non in Trentino, Northern Italy.

Under the guidance of Valerio Tebaldi, eight riders who are in good condition and determined to be in the action throughout the entire 194 km one-day race. The Trofeo Melinda is marked out by a hilly route with a final 31.3 km circuit to be ridden three consecutive times and containing the testing ascent to Fondo, where they will finish.

Team Barloworld’s line-up includes the strong Colombian climbers Mauricio Soler and Felix Cardenas. Also in the team are Carlo Scognamiglio and Marco Corti, who impressed in the summer calendar showing his climbing abilities. Completing the squad are Francesco Bellotti, Gianpaolo Cheula and South Africa's John Lee Augustyn and Daryl Impey.

Liquigas-Doimo at the starting line of “Melinda”
For Ivan Basso - last appointment before the Vuelta
After the engagement of the Trittico Regione Lombardia, a new Italian race is awaiting Liquigas-Doimo. On Saturday 22nd August the green and blue team will be at the starting line of 18th Trofeo Melinda, road race that from Malè will take to Fondo, in Val di Non.

On the 194 kilometres of the route, characterized by hard ascents and a climb to the finish, Liquigas-Doimo will rely first of all on Ivan Basso, protagonist of a busy program of races to prepare for the Vuelta a España.

Ivan Basso... "The climbs of “Melinda, are ideal to end my training period for the Vuelta. It will be a useful test to test the level of my condition. August was a full month in which I alternated racing and training in mountain to arrive at the Spanish race at the best of my abilities. The program was completed without difficulties. I’m satisfied."

Under the orders of directeur sportif Dario Mariuzzo, together with Basso will field seven riders: stagiare Cesare Benedetti and Maciej Paterski, Vladimir Miholjevic, Ivan Santaromita, Gorazd Stangelj, Sylwester Szmyd and Oliver Zaugg.

Quick Step Connection
Patrick Lefevere has held exploratory talks with the brother and manager of Tour winner Alberto Contador. "There is still nothing concrete," assures the team manager of Quick-Step so.

Alberto Contador is still under contract with Astana, but the Spaniard wants to leave the team. Other teams have their arrows aimed at the double Tour-winner. Caisse d'Epargne is the main candidate, but Quick Step put his light on to the manager of Contador.  "I have been asked whether a transfer is possible," says Patrick Lefevere.

"I was told that Alberto Contador still under contract next season is to Astana. Moreover, the question of who I'll all have to take if Contador is for our team wants to sign. Contador is a very interesting and attractive rider, but to date there is still nothing concrete."

Saxo Bank
Contract  Extensions
Frank Høj, Kasper Klostergaard and Anders Lund will also be part of the team in 2010 and these extensions are the first in a row of contract extensions on the Danish team.

"All three of them have been part of our success this year and each in their own way deserve a new contract. Frank was unlucky and broke his collarbone during Tour of Flanders, but in spite of this he has demonstrated beyond a doubt that he has the ability to work well with the young riders on the team, and he also posses the strength to last till the end of each stage. Kasper impressed during the classics and has a tremendous potential for the cobblestone races, but at the same time he is also able to lend a hand in almost any kind of terrain. His determination to work hard is obvious and just that entitles him to a spot on the team. Anders still hasn't quite unfolded his talent but I am confident it will happen. He has made a solid effort during the Giro and several of the one-day races this year and in my opinion it is only a matter of time before he grabs his first victory as a pro rider," says Bjarne Riis.

"After I returned to Team Saxo Bank this season I've felt like I've returned home and I've definitely rediscovered the joy of racing. I'm happy to get the chance to do another season because I really enjoy working with the young riders on the team. And of course I also believe I am able to make a valuable contribution in the classics,” says Frank Høj, who won bronze at the National Championships this year after having recovered from the injuries he suffered as a result of his crash in Tour of Flanders.

"I think I've had a good season so far and it's been great to be a part of it all for real - especially the classics. I'm very comfortable with my role as a helper and I still think I can improve my game further with the team," determines Kasper Klostergaard, who played an important role during this year's classics  - especially with a long break in Milano-Sanremo and a great performance in Paris-Roubaix.

"I'm extremely happy to be able to stay with the team, where I feel I get the chance to both help out in the big races and also go for a result of my own once in a while. I think I've learnt a lot during the last couple of seasons and I look forward to achieving results should the opportunity come along," says Anders Lund, who has a top-ten spot in the stage to Valdobbiadene in this year's Giro d'Italia as his best result so far in 2009

Only 8 days to “2 Giorni Internazionale Juniores di Vertova”
Less than eight days to the 39th edition of “2 Giorni Ciclistica Internazionale di Vertova” the most important appointment at the end of season in international calendar of Juniors category.

Uc San Marco Vertova, under the patronage of the family Paganessi and the municipal administration of Vertova, Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August will bring some of the best Junior cycling teams of the world to compete on the roads of the Seriana Valley .

The program is the usual with the two road races known as “13th Trofeo Comune di Vertova – 8th Memorial Pietro Merelli” to be held Saturday 29 August and  the “39th Trofeo Emilio Paganessi” to be held Sunday 30 August.

Teams that will take part in the competitions are 32: 20 Italian and 12 foreign representatives from Belgium, France, Denmark, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Russia and Switzerland. The latter three countries will be represented also by their national team.

Saturday: “13th Trofeo Comune di Vertova – 8th Memorial Pietro Merelli” will take place over a distance of 79 km (5 laps km 9 + 5 laps of 6,8 km) on a demanding route, where last year Danish rider Sebastian Lander won; he is also present this year with his team, the Glud & Mastrand Horsen Hobro. Departure at 2pm from Via Don B. Ferrari, arriving in the same street about 3.45pm.

Sunday:  “39th Trofeo Emilio Paganessi” will be disputed over120 km on a very demanding route. Riders will climb once the Gpm of Fino del Monte (760 mt.) and three times the Gpm of Casnigo (552 mt.). The start will be at 9am from Via Don B. Ferrari in Vertova, arrival scheduled for 12pm on Viale Rimembranze.

The Jerseys: The leaders of the special rankings of “2 Giorni Ciclistica Internazionale di Vertova” will dress different jersey: is the Cyclamen jersey of Classification “Great Combined Comune di Vertova”, the Green jersey of Classification “Gran Premio della Montagna”, the Red Jersey of Classification “Sprint” and the White jersey for the leader of “Young” classification.

Live Report:  During the “2 Giorni Ciclistica Internazionale di Vertova” will be possible to visit the website www.bicibg.it for live textual updates about the races.

Eurosport
Vuelta Live Coverage  Sean Kelly Predictions...
The line-up for the Vuelta will include several riders who made positive names for themselves following strong performances in the Tour de France. Team Saxo Bank are represented strongly, while Astana, Liquigas among others all have riders capable of winning the general classification.

Former Tour de France green jersey winner and Eurosport commentator for the Vuelta Sean Kelly, offers his thoughts on the riders to watch;

“First of all the Schleck brothers Andy and Frank for Saxo Bank must be mentioned as obvious contenders after their efforts in the Tour . Fabio Cancellara also joins them especially in the time-trials. Ivan Basso and Roman Kreuziger from Liquigas cannot be counted out, and I feel that Liquigas overall has one of the strongest teams, and could definitely provide the winner.”

“Valverde of Caisse d’Epargne will be looking to prove a point, he promises so much and so far hasn’t delivered so it will be interesting to see if he can do it in a big race. Cadel Evans will be hoping to rectify his season after an extremely disappointing Tour de France. “My overall bet for the win would be Andreas Kloden from Astana. I like the way he rides and I feel that he deserves a win in a big race following several impressive performances.”

This year’s Vuelta sees a steady start gradually getting tougher. The first seven stages, four of which are based in the Netherlands, include five flat stages as well as two individual time-trials. Following this, eight of the final fourteen stages include tough mountain climbs. The difficulty begins in stage eight and Sean Kelly believes this could be the real start of the race;
“This is the first mountain stage and I think this is the moment where we will see the real contenders for the general classification. It is the first time the riders will be tested and it will give an indication to who is in good shape and who is likely to put up a challenge.”

“I also think the stage 12 ride from Almeria to Alto de Velefique is going to be very crucial. It will be a gruelling stage with a mountain top finish, and it could cause some movement between possible winners in the overall classification.”

Join commentators David Harmon and Sean Kelly as Eurosport brings LIVE coverage from every stage of the season’s final Grand Tour.

Windham Mountain to Host 2010 MTB World Cup Finals
Venue brings back memories of Mountain Biking's golden years
Windham Mountain, New York, becomes the first mainland USA venue since 1992 to host the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup finals, when a multi-discipline event, including cross country, downhill and four cross will conclude the 2010 series, August 28-29.

The last time a world cup mountain bike event took place in the USA was 2005, when the series visited Angel Fire resort in New Mexico. In 1996, the finals venue was Honolulu, Hawaii, and in 1992 the finals venue for the cross country was Vail, Colorado.

Windham Mountain hosted a national series event in 2008, and then again earlier in 2009. Tim Woods, the president and general manager of Windham Mountain, said: "When we were awarded the World Cup finals, we knew it would be critical to develop partnerships with professionals who have ‘been there and done that.’ The margin for error is zero. We worked with Blue Wolf Events last year on the East Coast Nationals and it was immediately clear that their experience, organization and attention to detail are the perfect fit for us. They will be a big part of ensuring that the World Cup’s return to the United States is a success."

One of the most qualified top-level mountain bike event organizers in the US, Jeff Frost of Blue Wolf Events has world cup organization experience dating back to the early ‘90s in Mount Snow. Then in this decade there followed a stint with GaleForce at the world cup races in Napa and Telluride. The Windham Mountain world cup finals are expected to attract most, if not all, of the top contenders in the world, since only one week later the world championships take place at Mont-Sainte-Anne, near Quebec City.

"With New York City only two and a half hours drive, and Boston only three hours, I think we will see a lot of people come out for this race. It's been a long while since such a concentration of mountain biking talent has visited these shores. I'm getting goose bumps already thinking about the excitement it will generate. The world cup circuit has gotten so competitive again, and there is so much at stake in the finals, I think the atmosphere is going to be just electric," said Jeff Frost.

The importance of bringing world cup racing to US soil cannot be understated. “In Canada and other nations we’ve seen that World Cups are critical for the development of local athletes. The inclusion of Windham, leading up to the world championships, is sure to provide a significant boost to the performances of U.S. athletes, as well as introducing many aspiring young riders to the highest levels of competition.” said veteran journalist Rob Jones, editor of Canadiancyclist.com.

The challenging mountain bike courses in north eastern USA, combined with the compact convenience of the resort accommodations, made this area an annual favorite of riders on the world cup circuit back in the glory days of the 1990s. Journalists of the day recall that some of the greatest races in the history of the sport took place in this part of the world. Windham stands poised to renew an old and very fruitful relationship.

Windham Mountain is a family-oriented resort in the northern Catskill Mountains of New York, just an hour south of Albany and 2.5 hours north of New York City. Windham offers big mountain skiing and snowboarding (1,600 vertical feet and 46 trails) and other fun activities like snow tubing, ice skating, skateboarding, paintball and a bungee trampoline. For more information about Windham Mountain, visit www.WindhamMountain.com To learn more about mountain biking at Windham, visit www.windhammountainbike.com

Gripped Films: Chasing Legends in France
Film focuses on Team Columbia/HTC in Le Tour.
Gripped Films Captures the 2009 Tour de France through the eyes of Team Columbia-HTC Gripped films has begun principle photography on their 3rd feature film, Chasing Legends. The film will show the grit, passion and history of the Tour de France with stories from the sports most prolific thletes and commentators.

Chasing Legends compares the greatest heroes in professional cycling with a dramatic show of teamwork and panache from Team Columbia-HTC through the 2009 Tour de France. The film will  show what it means to race in the Tour and how important it is for the Columbia-HTC team to do it clean. Using a multitude of cameras, Gripped Films will include historical and current race footage, artistic travelogue footage of the French countryside and villages as well as commentary from the voice of cycling for the USA, Phil Liggett and Bob Roll.

Chasing Legends will premiere at the start of the 2010 Tour of California and have a screening tour in select cities around the world.. The film will be released on DVD and BluRay - the first high-def, American made production of the Tour de France. More information about the film, including a blog and twitter can be found at: www.chasinglegends.com 

About Gripped Films- Gripped Films has 7 years of international filming experience for ESPN, National Geographic, Trek Bicycles and Alaskan Wilderness League. They have filmed worldwide in every weather condition imaginable, from mountain peaks in China to shark infested Caribbean reefs 100’ below the surface. They have also filmed professional cyclists on nearly every continent in over 15 countries. Their previous two films, Off Road to Athens and 24 Solo have won multiple international awards. Off Road to Athens won Best Documentary at the prestigious 2006 Vail Film Festival.

Team Saxo Bank-riders choose NDS supplements.
 A fruitful cooperation on food supplements and restitution has been so successful that several riders from Team Saxo Bank now continue to use NDS dietary supplements.

Many athletes, beyond pain and inflammation, also experience problems with their immune system and digestion. Since these conditions sometimes prevent excellent performances Riis Cycling A/S has tested the effect of giving the riders natural NDS vitamins, minerals, sebacic acids and beneficial intestinal bacteria.

Since January 2009, the riders have been offered to supplement their diet with food supplements from Engholm NDS Group. Danish Chris Anker Sørensen has been pleased with the pilot project and is one of the riders who now choses to continue to use NDS supplements.

"It had a great effect on me using dietary supplements and I feel they have been a good complement to the nutrition program, I follow - both in terms of my restitution as a professional athlete, but also in relation to my general well being”, said the Danish Tour de France debutant.

"In the trial period from January to June 2009 the riders have been training hard, overcome many demanding races, traveled a lot and done quite a few beautiful results. All this gives a physical stress response you might expect would give the riders digestive problems, muscle pain, fatigue and infections. The overall conclusion of the experiment shows that NDS dietary supplements, has compensated for many of the otherwise predictable physical reactions. Most riders had fewer symptoms during this period and have been so pleased with the products that they have chosen to continue to supplement the diet with NDS supplements”, says nutrition therapist Marianne Fjordgård, who has been running the pilot project in collaboration with Anne Dorthe Tanderup, Riis Cycling.

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