Cycling News Roundup - 25 December 2009
Team News & Christmas Greetings, Tour Down Under Squads, Garmin/Transitions, Caisse d'Epargne, Johan Bruyneel, Mark Renshaw, Teutenberg & Martin Honored, Duvel Signs Lyons, Team Zappi, Tour of California Breakaway From Cancer, and more...

Tour Down Under
Ag2r la Mondiale -
Santos Tour Down Under Squad
Vincent Lavenu has announced the squad selected for the first UCI ProTour event in Australia. Cyril Dessel and Martin Elmiger will lead the team at the Tour Down Under from January 19th to 24th. Bissell,

• Cyril Dessel
• Martin Elmiger
• Blel Kadri
• Yuriy Krivtsov
• René Mandri
• Anthony Ravard
• Ludovic Turpin
Directeur Sportif:• Laurent Biondi

Caisse d'Epargne
Tour Down Under Squad Opens 2010 Season
Caisse d'Epargne is sending its "A" team of riders to the Australian race this January highlighted by the top flight talents of , Iván Gutiérrez, Luis León Sánchez and Alejandro Valverde.

The team will be looking to do a reconaissance of the Melbourne - Geelong circuit for the 2010 Championships while in the land of Oz.

Caisse d'Epargne Squad for Tour Down Under
Mathieu Drujon
Vicente García Acosta
Iván Gutiérrez
Mathieu Perget
José Joaquín Rojas
Luis León Sánchez
Alejandro Valverde
Director: Neil Stephens

Johan Bruyneel
Johan and Family, Eva, Victoria and Christian send a Christmas Video Message.

German Cyclists of the Year
Columbia-HTC's Tony Martin, Ina Yoko Teutenberg Honored
Columbia-HTC's Tony Martin and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg were named 2009 Cyclist of the Year by the German cycling journal Radsport. Twenty-four-year-old Martin was honored after an outstanding season during which he spent twelve days in the white jersey at the Tour de France, and took second overall in the Tour de Suisse. In second place was Columbia-HTC teammate Andre Greipel.

Teutenberg scored an impressive 24 victories in 2009, more than any pro rider, including the Tour of Flanders, three stage wins at Tour de l'Aude and the German National Road Championship.

Columbia/HTC
Renshaw's Gradual Recovery Underway
Mark Renshaw is "showing good initial progress" in his recovery after being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr in early December, said Team Columbia-HTC doctor Helge Riepenhof.

Renshaw, who was a key part of Team Columbia-HTC's 2009 record success of 85 victories, skipped training camp in December and will continue his recuperation during the first races of the season. The team is closely monitoring his condition and his blood tests already show improvement.

"We don't see his 2010 season goals in any danger," said Team Manager Rolf Aldag. "He would have loved to race in Tour Down Under but we are confident that he will once again show great performances in the Grand Tours as a lead out for Mark Cavendish, and that he will be just as strong as he was this year.

"He may even be fresher for the second half of the season, when the World Championships take place in his home country," he added.

While resting from heavy training, Renshaw has been active in the community, organizing an event to raise money for Prostate cancer. www.highroadsports.com

Columbia-HTC Anticipates Vuelta Success in 2010
The recently published Vuelta a Espana 2010 route offers plenty of chances for Columbia-HTC's riders to be as successful as they were in the 2009 race, says sports director Allan Peiper. Columbia-HTC won five stages in the 2009 Vuelta, and the team's sprinter André Greipel took the points competition overall.

Columbia-HTC was one of just three teams to secure stage victories in all three major Tours last season. "The Tour of Spain 2010 route is very demanding and the racing will be fast-moving and exciting all the way through, which is how we like it," Peiper pointed out. "In the past we've always done well in those kinds of races. In next year's Vuelta, the mountain stages aren't really concentrated in one or two big blocks like in the Tour de France.

 So with so much different terrain on offer, we can expect opportunities to come up constantly. Overall, the route favors the real climbers, because the opening 16-kilometre team time trial will be won and lost by seconds, not minutes, and there's only one individual time trial afterwards. However, you start to suffer on one of those big climbs in the Pyrenees and you can lose a minute a kilometre. The route is deliberately designed so you can lose or win the Vuelta right up to the second to last day, as has happened in the past. It's going to be a real challenge.

"For Columbia-HTC, this is going to be an interesting race, one in which our GC contenders and some of our other riders will have a real chance to shine."

Footon/Servetto/Fuji
Team in Blue to be announced in January
The  2010 team roster will be officially presented next January 10th 2010 in the Hotel Villa Pasiega, in Cantabrian village of Hoznayo. The young squad, ranked as UCI ProTeam next season, will open this way its final training camp –held until January 14th- before the official start of their racing calendar, with the Santos Tour Down Under on Aussie soil and the Tour de San Luis being run in northern Argentina.

The team presentation will count on the presence by all riders in the oficial line-up, plus the attractive premiere of the short film done on purpose by director Víctor Cábaco, with renowned actor Pablo Pujol as the main role in a cast including guest star Dani Sordo, recently crowned as vice-World Rally Champion

Team Garmin-Transitions
The team wishes Happy holidays to its fans with a downloadable 2010 race calendar with the teams race dates.
Garmin Transitions Calendar .pdf

Duvel/Moorgat
Team Signs Patrick Lyons
Daily Peloton and Pappillon contributor Patrick Lyons aka The Flandrian has reached a two year sponsorship agreement with Belgian Brewery Duvel/Moorgat . With budget cuts and focus on other marketing venues Flandrian's prevoius sponsor Heineken/Amstel Light did not renew it's agreement for the coming season.

After brief discussions with Public Relations Director Larry Bennett at Duvel an agreement was reached late yesterday. " We are excited to have Patrick back with the Duvel family, he is a great ambassador to the brand and sport."

Eric Sakolowsky of Velo Europa will be providing Cyfac bicycles for upcoming season. " This is an exciting partnership with Patrick, Duvel and Cyfac."

Patrick will be competing mostly in regional events along with several post Tour de France criteriums in Belguim and Holland. He will additionally compete in the Press World Cycling Championships in September in Belgium.

 MAC Cyclocross Series
MAC Publishes Final Point Standings
The MAC Cyclocross Series has published the final 2009 point standings for its team classification and 15 individual classes for the 2009 season. Winning the MAC Team Classification for the second straight year was the C3-Athletes Serving Athletes squad, led by Laura Van Gilder who also repeats as the Elite Women’s Champion. On the men’s side, Swiss rider Valentin Scherz made the trip from Europe profitable as he not only became the first racer in MAC history to claim both the U23 and Elite Men titles, but also the first to win both titles in the same year.

In the other Elite age groups, Zach Bender used consistent results and savvy scheduling to take the inaugural Elite Junior title, while Jennifer Maxwell added the MAC Masters 35+ to her palmares. Mike Yozell and Blair Saunders took Elite 35+ and 45+ Masters respectively. For a full listing of all classes see www.MidAtlanticCross.com

The Series now moves to Philadelphia for its annual awards “MACquet” on January 9 at the Manayunk Brew Pub, details to be posted soon on BikeReg.com . One rider who will not be attending is double MAC champ Valentin Scherz, who has returned home in search of a Swiss National Championship to compliment his American titles. But in a recent interview with In the Cross Hairs, Scherz gave one of the year’s better acceptance speeches, “I’m honored to have won your beautiful MAC series, because it’s definitely a good series, mixing good courses, nice atmospheres, good competitors and fun! …You have nothing to envy from Europe.”

BISSELL® Pro Cycling Confirms the Returning Support of its Top Sponsors
The BISSELL Pro Cycling Team returns for 2010 with the continued support of team owner and title sponsor, BISSELL Homecare, Inc. BISSELL’s Chairman and CEO, Mark Bissell, reaffirms his commitment to the sport of cycling and being aligned with a top performing team. “The team is building off another strong season with a solid core of experienced riders and the additions of developing talent,” says Mark Bissell. “I join other team sponsors in eager anticipation for another dominant season.” In 2009, the team was consistently on the podium at major U.S. stage races such as Mt. Hood, Nature Valley Grand Prix, the Fitchburg Classic, the Tour of Utah, the Tour of Missouri and was the top domestic team finishing 2nd overall in the team classification at the Tour of Missouri. Other key team sponsors, Advantage Benefits, Kellogg, and EmploymentGroup, share BISSELL’s passion for the sport and are dedicated to promoting healthy living through athletic competition.

The BISSELL Pro Cycling Team will be racing the new Pinarello Dogma equipped with Campagnolo Record 11-speed, M.O.s.t carbon bars and stems, Easton EC 90 wheels, and Speedplay Zero pedals. The team will once again be outfitted by Giordana cycling apparel.

Team Supports Ronald McDonald House
New for 2010, the BISSELL Pro Cycling Team is very proud to announce a charitable partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC)®. The team will help raise awareness for RMHC, which is dedicated to improving children’s access to the highest quality health care and ensuring families can face the weight of an illness together. The BISSELL team also is excited to participate in the BISSELL Spring Clean-up Day at a local Ronald McDonald House®, in which employees roll up their sleeves to scrub, vacuum and clean the Ronald McDonald Houses, helping to ensure the families’ stay is pleasant and relaxing as they focus on what is most important – their sick child.

Building on the success of 2009, The BISSELL Pro Cycling Team is confident in its new acquisitions to the roster. “We added more speed for the criteriums and sprint finishes which will give us the depth to perform in any race we line up for,” says manager Glen Mitchell. “Ben Jacques-Maynes and Frank Pipp are proven leaders and their knowledge and strength will guide our 2010 BISSELL team through the most prestigious races on the American UCI and NRC calendars,” adds Mitchell.
 www.Bissellprocycling.com

Team Sponsors

About Bissell - BISSELL Homecare, Inc. is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a 133-year-old floor care innovator and international marketer of home cleaning products, including sweepers, vacuums, deep cleaning machines and cleaning formulas sold at retail locations worldwide. The company, in its fourth generation of family leadership, is the seventh oldest privately held manufacturing company in the United States.

About RMHC - Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Families and children being cared for at seventy-three percent of the most prestigious children’s hospitals in the world benefit from one or more of the RMHC core programs. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most - right in their own communities. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children's lives through its global network of local Chapters in 52 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®. RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $460 million in grants and program services to children's programs around the world. These programs and grants provide a bridge to quality health care and allows families more time together helping in the healing process. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org

Team Type 1
Hires Michael Carter As Assistant Director
Former professional cyclist and reigning Radweltpokal masters world champion Michael Carter will be an assistant director for Team Type 1 in 2010.

Carter raced from 1984 to 1993 and later directed the first China registered professional cycling team, the Marco Polo Cycling Team. In addition to competing in all three Grand Tours (the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España) the American’s career highlights include a victory in the DuPont Pro Cycling Championships in 1990 and third place overall in the Tour de Romandie in 1991.

At the age of 46, Carter remains a competitive cyclist and owner of his own coaching business. Last August, he won the 45-plus division of the Radweltpokal road race at the World Cup championships in St. Johann, Austria.

“My goal is to take the riders we have, get to know them, work with them and draw the best out of them,” he said. “I want to help them reach their potential and bring them together as a team. I’ll work with the chemistry that exists there and improve on it. We want them to be the best riders they can be and be the best team they can be.”

Team Type 1 is the world’s only professional cycling team with a roster that includes riders who have Type 1 diabetes. Created in 2004 by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge, the team strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. This season, Team Type 1 registered 54 wins and 114 podium finishes.

Southerland said Carter brings a wealth of experience to the team, particularly in the realm of competing in Europe and Asia.

“I’ve known Mike for about 10 years now,” Southerland said. “When I was 18 years old, I thought he was an extremely classy individual who was able to mold a group of guys into a cohesive team in one week. To bring his knowledge and success on a worldwide level to our program will help us reach people all over the world affected by diabetes.”

Carter will assist Vassili Davidenko, who has been with Team Type 1 since the creation of the men’s professional program in 2008. Gord Fraser, the team’s assistant director in 2009, opted not to return to Team Type 1 for 2010.

Carter and his wife, Nanci, own a own coaching business, Echelon Sports Performance. They live in Littleton, Colo., with their three-year-old daughter, Samantha.

Team Zappi - Great Britain
Sabbath Sponsor Team Zappi’s Plan to Develop Young Cycling Talent
A new team of five young riders has been announced. Team Zappi’s will be headed up by former Italian professional Flavio Zappi, who will take on the role as rider/manager, after making his comeback to cycling in 2007. The team will ride Sabbath Bicycles’ renowned Monday’s Child model, equipped with SRAM Force, throughout the 2010 season.

The team aims to promote development of young riders in the Oxford area. Zappi, now 49, raced three Giro d’Italia tours and was 12th in the 1984 Milan San Remo. Zappi is well-known in Oxford for his cyclist-friendly Zappi’s Cafe, and mentored two up-and-coming riders in the 2009 season. He now wants to go further: “It’s very difficult for young riders to gain experience and develop in the UK, as there’s not the culture of road racing as a youth sport here, unlike in France and Italy,” explained Zappi.

Greg Roche, MD of Sabbath Bicycles said: “We’ve had a strong commitment to cycle racing teams since we started business in 2007, and we get great satisfaction in helping cyclists who want to seriously develop and make a go of it on the continent. We like the ethos of Zappi’s and it’ll be interesting to see how the riders mature with high-level racing and advice.”

Team Zappi’s will give the opportunity for riders to take part in Belgium Interclubs and stage races in Italy, thanks to Flavio Zappi’s extensive cycling network back on the continent. Riders will also be targeting some of the UK Premier Calendar series. The team have the addition of senior rider Tom Kirk for extra advice and support, who takes the role as assistant manager/rider.

The confirmed team is as follows:
Dexter Gardias (U23)
Sam Parker (U23)
Tom Yeatman (U23)
Jack Kirk (U23)
Will Fox (U23)
Flavio Zappi (Senior, Rider/Manager)
Tom Kirk (Senior, Rider/Assistant Manager)

As part of Team Zappi’s commitment to the community, the race team will provide the platform for a cycling club, which already has regular group rides, social functions and training sessions. This is in addition to a youth and women’s squad, also advised by Zappi. The team had their first official get-together at Oxford’s popular Ashmolean Museum on Monday 14th December 2009, where the Sabbath team bikes were unveiled for the U23 team, along with riders and the management staff.

Sponsors:
Sabbath Bicycles
Claytan Australia
KTP
Fuzzyducks
Accelerate
Continental
SRAM
One11
www.sabbathbicycles.co.uk
www.flaviozappi.com

Liquigas
Back on Elite Trainers
December 15th, 2009 – During the winter months, in order to prepare for a new competitive season there are three basic components for a proper and productive workout: riding a bike on the roads (weather conditions permitting) should be combined with an indoor training program that includes pedalling on rollers and power building exercises in a gym using a weight training regimen.

Ivan Basso hard at work on the trainers at the San Pellegrino Pass.

Using rollers is fundamental not only for professionals, but also for amateurs and cycling tourists who don’t want to lose their game. The riders from Team Liquigas, one of the most outstanding formations from the Elite stables, know this better than anyone. During their recent retreat on the snows of Trentino, at the San Pellegrino Pass in Val di Fassa, they alternated outdoor activities (cycling, snowshoeing and ski alpinism) with a series of customized sessions on training machines provided by Elite.

For Ivan Basso, Franco Pellizotti, Vincezo Nibali, Roman Kreuziger and all the other riders of the team, this was their chance for a first hands-on test of the new Crono Power Fluid roller, the technological and design marvel introduced in the 2010 Elite collection. They also got to pedal on the unparalleled Realpower, the latest generation electronic trainer and the jewel in the crown of the Elite line; a machine that develops extraordinary power and is able to simulate gradients of up to 20%.

Tour of California Breakaway Rides on Tour Courses
Two Spring 2010 rides raise funds and awareness for Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® initiative
Cycling enthusiasts and fans are invited to participate in “The Breakaway Rides presented by Specialized”, two riding events held in conjunction with the upcoming 2010 Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race set for May 16-23, 2010. Both rides will be held in April 2010 (one month prior to the 2010 Amgen Tour of California) and will serve to raise awareness and funds for Breakaway from Cancer®, the signature initiative of Amgen and the Amgen Tour of California, which aims to raise awareness of the resources available to cancer patients from prevention and diagnosis through treatment and survivorship.

Each ‘Breakaway Ride’ will give cycling enthusiasts a chance to ride on the actual route of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California with three distances for each event to accommodate various skill and fitness levels. The longest distance covers an entire stage of the Amgen Tour of California, the same as will be ridden by the pros. Participants will be chip timed and fully supported, with a maximum of 3,500 riders per event.

The dates of the two Breakaway Rides are:
* Sunday, April 25: Stage 2 route – Davis to Santa Rosa
* Sunday, April 11: Stage 8 route – Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura Hills

A portion of each rider’s entry fee will be donated to Breakaway from Cancer’s charitable partners – Prevent Cancer Foundation, Patient Advocate Foundation, Cancer Support Community and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. Additionally, riders and their supporters will have the opportunity to earn gifts and prizes by making additional contributions to Breakaway from Cancer and its partners via Active.com’s ActiveGiving program. Some of the prize packages include VIP experiences at the 2010 Amgen Tour of California along with a top-of-line S-Works Tarmac or Roubaix bike, donated by Specialized, presented as a grand prize to each Breakaway Ride’s top fundraiser.

“We are happy to provide amateur cyclists with an opportunity to ride the same route as the pros and to be able to compare their times to the greatest cyclists in the world,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “We are expecting that these rides will expose cyclists to the beauty and challenges that our professional athletes will face.”

As the title sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California for the fifth consecutive year, Amgen will continue to leverage the race to raise awareness and support for people affected by cancer through the Breakaway from Cancer initiative.

"The Breakaway Ride events will give cycling enthusiasts and community members an opportunity to experience the 2010 Amgen Tour route first hand and at the same time support The Breakaway from Cancer initiative, which raises awareness of a range of free services available to people affected by cancer," said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. "Amgen and its non-profit Breakaway from Cancer partners applaud AEG and Specialized for their outstanding support of these events."

“As the ‘Breakaway Ride’s’ presenting sponsor, Specialized is excited to participate in these events,” according to Ben Capron, Specialized Chief Brand Officer. “We feel lucky because we’re riders first, and participation in these two epic routes is actually part of our ‘work’. From a business perspective, we’re all about enabling riders to have better cycling experiences through the bikes, equipment, and services we create and, these rides extend the way we help people enjoy riding. Finally, being a part of increasing awareness and funding for the fight against cancer aligns with our ambitious philanthropic goals,” added Capron.

AEG, owners of the Amgen Tour of California, is partnering with Pacific Sports, a leading sports and event management company who will produce the rides. Pacific Sports has produced running and triathlon events throughout the world for over thirty years and is excited to be a part of the inaugural “The Breakaway Ride presented by Specialized”. Jack Caress, President and CEO of Pacific Sports, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Amgen and AEG on this new event. To see over 7,000 dedicated cyclists take on two great stages of the Amgen Tour of California will be a truly memorable day for cycling, not to mention for the cyclists themselves.”

Registration opens December 16 to Specialized customers, athletes, and friends around the world, with public registration started pm December 21 at www.Active.com  Details for each ride route will be announced on February 1, 2010, at the official 2010 Amgen Tour of California route announcement. For more information, please visit www.breakawayride.com, www.amgentourofcalifornia.com, or visit your Specialized dealer.

About Breakaway from Cancer® - Founded in 2005, Breakaway from Cancer is a complementary component to the Amgen race sponsorship. Breakaway from Cancer strives to raise awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients from prevention to education, and patient care to advocacy and financial support. The initiative includes charitable partners Prevent Cancer Foundation, Patient Advocate Foundation, Cancer Support Community and the National Coalition for Cancer. Learn more at www.breakawayfromcancer.com.

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