Women's Cycling News Roundup, 9 October 2009

K. Armstrong honored, Team Hitec for 2010, Laws, Armitstead and Slappendel to Cervelo, Honda Hybrid Women's Tour, Leda Cox recovering, Jennifer Hohl's new team, Skyter Shipping, Schleicher hangs up bike, Leontien.nl for 2010, New riders and sponsor for Team DSB, World Cup 2010, Beltman and Rickards retire

Cyclist Kristin Armstrong honored by USOC for Outstanding Performances in September
The U.S. Olympic Committee announced USA Cycling's Kristin Armstrong and track athlete Tyson Gay as the September Athletes of the Month, while the USA World Cup Baseball Team was awarded Team of the Month honors.

Nearly 1,500 votes were cast by followers of the USOC's Twitter site (@USOlympic). The Twitter votes account for ten percent of the final tally, with a voting panel of U.S. Olympic family members comprising the remainder.

Kristin Armstrong takes the gold medal in the time trial at the Mendrisio Worlds
Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

Performing in her last international competition, Armstrong (Boise, Idaho) rode into retirement in September by earning her second world title in the elite women's time trial at the 2009 UCI Road World Championships in Mendrio, Switzerland on Sept. 23. The 2008 Olympic gold medalist recorded a time of 35:26.09 over the 27-kilometer course. Three days later, Armstrong just missed the podium in the elite women's road race, placing fourth in her final race before retirement.

Result
1. Kristin Armstrong, Cycling
2. Melanie Oudin, Tennis
3. Sanya Richards, Track & Field

Team Hitec Products UCK announces 2010 Team
The only Scandinavian womens UCI team continues in 2010 with the same name and main sponsor. After a season in which they exceeded its expectations, they are now ready for next year. In the UCI races they have taken its first victory and many podium placements. They had riders in the big championships, and are an established brand name within Scandinavian womens cycling.

The goals in 2010 is to climb towards the top of the UCI rankings, to participate in all the big championships, and to have as many as possible of its riders competing for the top spots. To achieve this they will build the young riders with a carefully adapted training and race programs. Each rider should rise its level and at the same time have fun with their sport. The responsible for this method will be the new coach and team manager Thijs Rondhuis. In the past he succesfully worked together with Marianne Vos and Team DSB Bank.

Sara Mustonen will be the team captain of Hitec in 2010
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

The team for 2010 will be:

Remaining riders
1. Line Foss (Oslo, Norway), born 1978: Climber, established herself as self-sacrificing domestique this year. A "work horse" that never gives up.
2. Tone Hatteland (Stavanger, Norway), born 1979: Sprinter, experienced finisher that spent most of the season as leadout/domestique, autumn spoiled by illness.
3. Isabelle Søderberg (Uppsala, Sweden), born 1989: Sprinter, maybe the most promising young talent in Sweden. 2 UCI podiums this year.
4. Margriet Kloppenburg (Copenhagen, Denmark), born 1988: Allrounder, Always a domestique this year, bronze in national champs TT was the season highlight resultwise.
5. Sara Mustonen (Stockholm, Sweden), born 1981: Sprinter in world class, can beat everyone, and will not relax until she do. First UCI-victory this year, and impressed with her team spirit when she gave up her bike to Emma Johansson after 5 km of the WC road race. 2010 will be massive for her, with a stronger team to her support.

New riders
6. Kristine Saastad (Kongsberg, Norway), born 1987: TT, The Norwegian champ from 2007 is already an established international. She is every team's dream with her attitude and working strength.
7. Frøydis Wærsted (Kongsberg, Norway), born 1987: Climber, the well deserved sole participant of Norway in WC this year. Her strength is her maneouvring in big pelotons, especially on hilly courses.
8. Martine Amundsen (Oslo, Norway), born 1991: TT/Allrounder, talented winner of the Norwegian cup for juniors, show promising strength, a rider for the future.
9. Emilie Moberg (Halden, Norway), born 1991: Sprinter, big talent, with potential for more than sprinting. In addition to a bunch of victories this year (among them the Norwagian nationals junior) she also won the green jersey in Assen, and a 15.place in EC.

Hitec's Isabelle Soderberg
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

10. Maria Grandt Petersen (Esbjerg, Denmark), born 1991: TT, world champ for juniors in 2008, she has already been allowed to do UCI races in 2009. A huge talent that we look forward to work with.
11. Jacqueline Hahn (Innsbruck, Østerrike), born 1991: TT/Climber, no 12 in the WC for juniors TT, and 17 on the road race. In the Austrian Championship she was inly beaten by star rider Christiane Soeder. Another big talent that were allowed by her federation to do UCI races as a junior.
12. Lisa Brennauer (Munchen, Germany), born 1988: Sprinter/TT, we became aware of this young star from the big team Equipe Nurnberger in Albstadt, where she took 3 consecutive podiums. When she after that impressed further with several top placements in the Giro de Toscana, it made Thijs Rondhuis travel to south Germany to talk to her and the German federation about Norway. Lisa is a big talent also on the track, where the Germans want to see her on the podium in the 2012 olympics. On the road, Lisa is already number 77 on the UCI ranking.

Sharon Laws joins Cervélo TestTeam
Cervélo TestTeam is pleased to announce the signing of a one-year contract with Sharon Laws from Great Britain.

Sharon Laws holds a degree in biology and a master’s in conservation and has worked with the British government, the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations. In 2002 she began participating in multisport events and over the next few years, while still working full-time, she took part in multiday mountain bike stage races, including the TransAlp and Cape Epic, which she won in 2004. For training she started riding on the road, and in 2008, having moved to Australia for work, she participated in the Australian national road race championships and finished 2nd. Laws moved back to the UK in 2008 to become a full-time cyclist, riding on Team Halfords. During the 2008 season, Laws finished 6th in the Tour de l’Aude and 5th in the Tour of Ardeche. She also represented Great Britain in the Olympic road race and in the World Championship road race and time trial.

Britain's Sharon Laws, here in action during the race in Kluisbergen (Belgium), is one of the new signings of Cervelo.
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

In 2009 she turned her focus to mountain biking, winning the female pairs category of the Cape Epic again and representing Britain in the European Championships, but after a bad shoulder injury she returned to the road in August and finished 7th in the Tour of Ardeche. She represented Britain at the World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, last month.

“I signed with Cervélo TestTeam because the team is run very professionally and has some of the best equipment in the industry. In addition the riders are committed to racing aggressively with a strong emphasis on teamwork. Participating on this team will provide me with an incredible opportunity to develop and improve significantly as a rider,” stated Laws.

“Sharon is one of the strongest climbers in the peloton, having come from a different sport into cycling and made great progress in a short time. She still needs to develop some technical skills, but she is extremely strong and will be a valuable support rider for our climbing team, especially for our GC riders Claudia Häusler (winner of the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de l’Aude), Emma Pooley (winner of the Grande Boucle) and Christiane Soeder,” said Thomas Campana, Team Manager.


Lizzie Armitstead one of the new Cervelo signings
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Slappendel and Armitstead join Cervélo TestTeam
Cervélo TestTeam is pleased to announce the signing of Iris Slappendel (NED) to a one-year contract and Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR) to a two-year contract.

Iris Slappendel is a native of Ouderkerk aan de IJssel. Her strengths as a time trialist and her expertise in the classics will fit very well and provide great support for the women’s team. The 24-year-old rider was the 2008 University World Champion in the time trial, won a stage in the 2006 Giro della Toscana, and was third overall in the GP Elsy Jacobs this year.

“This is a new step in my career,” said Slappendel. “I am honored that the best team in the world offered me a contract for 2010. That provides me with a lot of motivation. I have some goals planned as a cyclist and I think that this team suits me the best. My goal for 2010 is to be of value to the team, and if I get the chance I will also go for my own success.”

“Iris is on the team because she is a strong time trialist and team time trial specialist. We also needed a strong support rider, especially for the spring classics and to support our sprinter Kirsten Wild. Iris has a lot of potential and we believe we can help her reach her goals,” said Team Manager Thomas Campana.

With the signing of Elizabeth Armitstead, another very talented young rider joins the team next year. The 20-year-old British athlete won the white jersey as the best young rider in this year’s Giro d’Italia and also had a stage win in the 2009 Tour de Ardeche. She comes from the track world, where she placed first (in the team pursuit), second, and third at the 2009 World Championships. She also won the scratch race this year at the World Cup in Copenhagen.

Iris Slappendel one of the new Cervelo signings finished as third in the GP Elsy Jacobs
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

“I wanted to be part of the best women’s team in the world,” said Armitstead. “When the opportunity to join the team came along, I couldn’t turn it down. I am excited to race with the riders on the team and also to be able to use the team equipment. My goal for 2010 is to continue my development and learn from the more experienced riders on the team. I would like to be a key member of a winning team.”

“Elizabeth is just 20 years old and already is a world champion track rider. She had an incredible track and road season this year,” said Team Manager Thomas Campana. “We saw her for the first time in the Giro d’Italia, where she won the jersey for best overall young rider, and usually the winners of these jerseys are the future champions. She has impressed us with her excellent climbing and sprinting abilities and her good race instincts. We are really delighted to have her on board for next year.”

Junior World Champion to Team Hitec Products UCK
2008 Junior World Champion Maria Grandt Petersen from Denmark is going to ride for the Norwegian Hitec Products team in 2010. The 18 year old is coming from the Danish High End Sports team. In April she won the Junior stage race the Omloop van Borsele. In a statement the teams says "Maria fits both in our scandinavian profile and our wish to promote young riders. We are very happy that she joins our team, and look forward to work with her towards the olympics in 2012!"

New stage race in Australia: Honda Hybrid Women's Tour.
With the new Honda Hybrid Women's Tour women's cycling in Australia has took a step forward. The Tour has been launched because of the lack of a major stage race for women in Australia. The Tour will run in conjunction with the Herald Sun Tour next week.

Rochelle Gilmore is one of the stars in the new Honda Hybrid Women's Tour
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

The race led by former world championship silver medallist Liz Taylor Tadich will have some world class riders at the start with current Oceania Champion Rochelle Gilmore, Australian criterium champion Kirsty Broun and Amber Halliday.

The Honda Hybrid Women’s Tour will run from 15-17 October, 2009, and feature more than 70 women. The three-day stage race will consist of a 55km road race, 10km individual time trial and a criterium race in Lygon Street on a 2.1km circuit.

British Pro Leda Cox recovers from major spinal surgery
Leda Cox, one of Britain's most experienced professional road riders is recovering in hospital from major spinal surgery. Over the last weekend she had a double discectomy on her lumber spine and a piece of her spine was removed in an attempt to release her sciatic nerve which had been severely trapped since a crash in June during the Tour of Montreal in Canada. The crash in question also saw Cox separate her shoulder and crack the joint at the same time. Although her surgery has been declared a success by the specialist spinal team working on her at the Royal Orthopaedic hospital in West London there have been post operative complications which have seen Cox having to begin the slow process of learning to walk again.

Leda Cox in better times..
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

With 8 professional victories across America and Europe to her name in 2008 Cox was set, at the age of 34 to enter her prime in 2009 with the number one French UCI team, GSD Gestion but no sooner had the year began than she was banned from racing by the French federation for having what was best described as an abnormal heart rate. In a quite unbelievable sequence of events she was eventually cleared to race having been suspended for the first 2 months of the season once the FFC discovered that the initial diagnosis was incorrect. Cox set about making amends with her team and was soon selected to race with the Great Britain women's team in Europe where her form began to build before she headed to Canada for the Montreal World Cup and Tour of Montreal. She is currently in a specialist spinal care unit at the West London hospital, working with a team of physios and spinal surgeons in an attempt to regain control of her legs. Leda has asked that her thanks be passed on to those within the cycling community who have shown their support. Anyone wanting to wish her well can email cox-sports-management@live.co.uk


Jennifer Hohl new rider for Equipe Nürnberger/Skyter Shipping
Swiss National Champion Jennifer Hohl (Bigla Cycling Team) is going to ride for the Skyter Shipping (now Equipe Nürnberger) team next year. She signed a one-year deal with the German team. The 23 year old said "This is a very nice thing for me. The team belongs to the World top for years now. I wanted to ride for this team for a long time already. Now I'm part of the team I'm very motivated for next season".

Jennifer Hohl
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Skyter Shipping new main sponsor of Equipe Nürnberger
The team of Equipe Nürnberger has found a new main sponsor for the team after Nürnberger Versicherungen announced to quit its sponsorship at the end of the season. From 2010 the team will have Skyter Shipping as the new main sponsor. Skyter Shipping is an international company which trades in luxury yachts. The main office of the company is in Luxembourg.


Regina Schleicher hangs up her bike
Former World Champion Regina Schleicher (Equipe Nürnberger) has decided to quit her cycling career at the end of the season. The 35 year old competed for the team since 1996 and has won lots of races among them several World Cup races, a German national title and a World title. Schleicher's specialty was the sprint.

Chantal Blaak one of the team captains of Leontien.nl
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Leontien.nl announces 2010 roster
The Dutch Leontien.nl team of Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel has announced its roster for the 2010 season. The main riders of the team remain the same with European Champion Chantal Blaak and Andrea Bosman. Blaak had an offer from Team Columbia-HTC but decided to stay another year with the Dutch team. New riders in the team are Anne de Wildt, Tessa van Nieuwpoort and Marijn de Vries. Leaving the team are Marit Huisman and Suzanne van Veen. The full team is: Chantal Blaak, Andrea Bosman, Irene van den Broek, Monique van de Ree, Marlijn Binnendijk, Lucinda Brand, Josien van Wingerden, Lianne Wagtho, Anne de Wildt, Tessa van Nieuwpoort and Marijn de Vries.


Loes Markerink and Loes Gunnewijk to support Marianne Vos in 2010
Loes Markerink and Loes Gunnewijk (both Team Flexpoint) are going to ride for the team of Marianne Vos in 2010. Both have signed a one-year deal with the DSB Bank-Nederland Bloeit team. The team will continue next year with a new main sponsor as DSB Bank withdraws its sponsorship at the end of the season.

Loes Gunnewijk is going to ride alongside Marianne Vos in 2010
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Next to Vos the following riders of the present DSB Bank team will stay Janneke Kanis, Marieke van Wanrooij, Agnieta Francke, Noortje Tabak and Liesbeth Bakker. The team will count twelve riders for 2010, so there are still four spots available.


New World Cup races in 2010
The 2010 World Cup will have two new races namely the Tour of Chongming Island in China and the GP Ciudad de Valladolid in Spain. On the other hand the Tour de Berne will dissapear from the World Cup. The World Cup for 2010 will have the following races: Trofeo Alfredo Binda (28 march), Ronde van Vlaanderen (4 april), Ronde van Drenthe (10 april), Fleche Wallonne (21 april), Tour of Chongming Island (9 may), GP Montréal (29 may), GP Ciudad de Valladolid (6 june), Open de Suéde Vargarda TTT (30 july), Open de Suede Vargarda RR (1 august), GP de Plouay (21 august) and Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt (12 september). The 2009 World Cup was won by Marianne Vos.

Marianne Vos is the proud winner of the 2009 World Cup
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Columbia-HTC's Chantal Beltman retires
Columbia-HTC's Chantal Beltman rode the last race of her career last month with the final stage of the Holland Ladies Tour.

"I wanted to retire on home soil and after deciding in early August that it was time to hang up my wheels, this was the race I wanted to do in," Beltman said before the start.

"My family and friends have all come to see me on this stage, and it's a great way to end my career."

After turning pro in 1995, Beltman said her four World Cup wins as well as a silver medal in the World Championships in 2000 were the high points of her career.

"But if I had to single one World Cup victory out then that would have to be the Ronde Van Drenthe which I won last year, it's a Dutch race and winning at home was very special.

"As for the sport itself, I'd say it's changed a bit over the years during the time I've been racing, for the better. It's more professional and bigger name sponsors like Columbia Sportwear and HTC have come in to women's cycling."

At 33 Beltman has no doubts in her mind that it is time for her to retire, but says she'd like to continue to be linked to cycling.

Chantal Beltman
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

"Even though I'll miss the racing and my team-mates, it's the right moment to go and I'm finishing my career with the best team in the world. In three days time I'll start a two year course to become a sports director, so that should help me keep in touch as well."

"Chantal has been such an important part of the team," said Team Director Ronny Lauke. "Her talent, knowledge and experience, as well as her calm influence is invaluable. She will be missed."

High Road Sports wishes Chantal all the best for the future.

For more information on Team Columbia-HTC, please visit www.highroadsports.com

Rickards to retire, take on assistant director’s role for 2010.
Emma Rickards, who has been an invaluable member of Team TIBCO in 2009, has decided that she will retire at the end of this year as a rider, but she will continue on with Team TIBCO in 2010 in the role of assistant director to Jeff Corbett.

“This is something I’ve been thinking about since the end of Nature Valley,” the Australian pro said. “I started thinking about what I wanted to achieve as a rider, and I’ve done all the world cups and raced in Europe at the top level for four years. I came back here to the States to race hard, but to also have a bit more fun on the bike.

“This has been a fantastic year, and I’ve really enjoyed riding with this group of girls, but I don’t think my heart is quite in it anymore for racing,” she said. “When I started talking with Linda (Jackson) and Jeff about next season and the possibility of directing, I knew it was the right direction to head, and the right decision to make.

“I’m on the same page with Linda in terms of building the team, becoming UCI registered and racing in Europe. The fact that I’ll be staying with Team TIBCO and helping to build the program has helped ease the transition into the director’s role. I’m good friends with riders like Brooke (Miller), Meredith (Miller) and Jo (Kiesanowski), but I think there’s enough mutual respect among us that it will also help make the transition to directing a smooth one.”

As a former teacher, Rickards is looking forward to working with younger riders like Alison Starnes and helping to develop them into future stars. “It’s been great to watch Ali develop this year,” she said. “We not only raced together at Cascade, but we roomed together for two weeks up in Bend and we talked a lot, too. Just watching her race, you can see her starting to make good tactical decisions. She’s like a sponge right now. She’s learned a lot from racing with Team TIBCO here in the U.S., as well as with the national team in Europe. She’s really starting to grow as a rider.”

Emma is well known as a super-domestique, though she has collected her share of top results. They include 2nd place in the 2008 Geelong World Cup, as well as wearing the yellow leader’s jersey in the prestigious Internationale Thürigen Rundfhart (Germany) in 2007. She was also a member of the UCI Overall World Cup Team Classification Winner in 2006 (Univega) and 2007 (Raleigh Lifeforce). She represented Australia at the World Road Cycling Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008. She came to cycling from rowing, and was a multi-time Australian National Rowing Champion before turning to cycling full-time.

“Emma has been a fantastic teammate this year,” Corbett said. “She’s easily one of the most respected riders in professional racing, not just in the U.S. but in Europe, too. She really embodied the Team TIBCO philosophy of racing aggressively and intelligently this year. And I’m glad that things are working out so that we can keep her tactical experience and approach to racing as part of Team TIBCO for 2010 and beyond.”

Rickards will put her experience in top European world cup and stage races to work when Team TIBCO makes its first foray across the Atlantic in 2010.

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