Cycling News Roundup 16 February 2006
Revolution 12, DP ToCA Chat Saturday, Tour of California Events: HealthNet TV, Sea Otter Classic, Health Net Hockey Shark? Tyler Hamilton Fdn Auction, Marco Polo Team, Cycling Fundraisers for PKU, Leukemia, Cancer.

The Tour - Tour de France Novel Meet the Author
Meet Dave Shields author of the award winning "The Race" and the new no holds barred sequel "The Tour" that confronts the issue of sports doping. Saturday in  the Daily Peloton Chat Room... Special Guest!! Tour de France veteran Marty Jemison will be joining us in the chat.

Meet Dave Shields the Author
Where:  Daily Peloton Chat Room
When:  Saturday February 18th on the eve of the Tour of California
11am Pacific Time USA, 12 noon Mountain time, 10 am Eastern. 20:00 Central European time.

Catch Health Net Pro Team on TV This Week
A number of riders from the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis will be appearing on Bay area television programs in the next couple days:
Friday, February 17, 8:40 a.m.: Garrett Peltonen, Karl Menzies and Alberto Tiberio will appear live on "Sacramento & Co.", ABC Channel 10 in Sacramento.
Friday, February 17, 8:45 a.m.: Mike Jones, Mike Sayers and/or Greg Henderson will appear live on the morning show on KTVU Fox Channel 2, San Francisco's top-rated morning show, to talk about the Amgen Tour of California.
Saturday, February 18, 6:30 p.m. and midnight: Mike Sayers will appear on "The Last Honest Sports Show" on UPN 44/Cable 12. Check listings for exact time. He will be taping the show Thursday evening at the KPIX studios, Broadway and Embarcadero, San Francisco at 8:30 pm. Those interested in attending the taping, visit http://kbhk.com/thelasthonestsportsshow/ for tickets.

Revolution 12 Manchester Velodrome February 18
Newton and Hayles Lead the Way at Revolution 12
Revolution 12 on Saturday 18th February will be the last chance to see top British Cyclists Rob Hayles and Chris Newton in action before they make the trip over to Australia to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.

With the rest of the elite squad already down under it is down to Hayles and Newton to defend national pride against what will be the strongest international line up ever seen at a Revolution event. With four international teams including Matt Gilmore and Iijo Keisse from Belgium, Danny Stam and Peter Schep from Holland, Franco Marvulli and Alex Aeschbach from Switzerland and Jimmi Madsen and Marc Hester from Denmark, the racing will be intense.

“With the line up at Revolution 12 the racing is going to be fast” commented Hayles. “I’m riding well at the moment and the preparation is going to plan so it will be good to get some fast racing in against the six day guys to fine tune my form, it should be an exciting end to the Revolution season so I’m looking forward to it.”

For Newton things haven’t been running so smoothly as he suffered a deep cut to his hand in a crash at the end of the 2nd stage at the Tour of Langkawi, “It was a sprint finish and I got edged out and there was only one place I could go and that was over my handlebars,” said Newton. “I struggled a bit after that but it hasn’t affected my preparation for the Games. I’ve had to do things a different way round but its all swings and roundabouts.”

With the grand finale a 20km Madison at Revolution 12 there have been concerns over Newton’s participation but the Recycling.co.uk rider is more than up for the challenge, “I’ll be fine. I was a bit apprehensive when I heard the calibre of riders that will be there but the hand is healing up nicely so I don’t think it will affect my performance. I’m feeling strong and I know Rob is so we will be ready to give it a good shot.”

Hayles and Newton will be backed up by a strong domestic field featuring British Madison Champions Tony Gibb and James Taylor and DFL/Cyclingnews.com brothers Russell and Dean Downing.

The Future is Bright at Revolution
The future looks good for British track cycling as another generation of future stars will be decided at the Manchester Velodrome this weekend in the culmination of the Revolution Future Stars competition.

Now in its third year the competition has often provided more action and drama than the elite events and has nurtured some of Britain’s most promising new talent with last season’s top riders making significant progress as part of British Cycling’s Olympic Development Programme.

Steven Burke won the competition but on paper the biggest success has been runner up Andy Tennant who went on to take the Individual Pursuit title at the 2005 Junior World Championships. Tennant and Burke have also enjoyed success in the Team Pursuit taking silver at the Junior World Championships and winning the Junior European Championships. Now part of the elite field both these riders are clearly enjoying the benefit of racing at Revolution,
“The Future Stars racing provided the step up to the level I’m at now and my track skills have improved significantly over the last year” commented Burke. “It is a great experience to now be riding against so many world class riders and I’m learning from them all the time.”

For season 3 the Future Stars has been sponsored by Raleigh, one of the UK’s best known cycling names. Raleigh’s involvement has meant that Future Stars competitions have been set up for both girls and boys giving more riders the chance to show their talent in a competitive arena. Indeed, the first girls Future Stars competition has provided some excellent racing and has shown the strength of Welsh cycling with the Welsh trio of Lucy Richards, Katie Curtis and Alex Greenfield in first, second and third places respectively. Richards has dominated the competition and looks set to take the first female title,

“I think I have raced well, it hasn’t been easy and the racing was hard but I really enjoyed it. It’s good experience to race in front of a crowd like that; they really get behind you and support you and they create a great atmosphere. It's the biggest crowd I've ridden in front of; it has been fantastic.”

In the boys competition a star of the future has definitely emerged with Peter Kennaugh providing and awesome display of racing and track skill, “I'm obviously delighted with my performance”, commented Kennaugh. “Riding in front of thousands of people who pack the velodrome once a month for the Revolution series is an amazing experience, I don't even have to psyche myself up before the races because the crowd get me so fired up.”

Kennaugh is a perfect example of what the Revolution Future Stars is all about and with strong ambitions ahead it is just the starting point for the Manx rider “This year I will be riding with the Glendene CC team on the road, I will be racing in Belgium and competing in the Junior Buckly series, however my main goals this season are the World and European junior track champs with Great Britain.”

Revolution Future Stars Quotes:
Lucy Richards
Q. It looks like you have won the competition. How do you feel about your performance and the experience you have had riding at Revolution?
A. I think I did well, it wasn’t easy and the racing was hard but I really enjoyed it and I hope to do it again next year. It’s good experience to race in front of a crowd like that.

Q. What are your plans for the year ahead?
A. I’m first year junior this year so I will probably be doing the women’s national road series and I will do the women’s national track series again because I really enjoyed doing the track series last year. I will probably do the women’s national track champs again as well as the juniors track champs. I will just have to see how my training goes.

Peter Kennaugh
Q. You’ve dominated the Future Stars competition this season. How do you feel about your performance and your experience riding at Revolution?
A. I'm obviously delighted with my performance at the Revolution's, I knew going into this revolution series that I had a good chance of winning and if I performed to my best then I would have a good chance of taking the overall honors and so far I have been fairly consistent throughout the series, however its not over till the fat lady sings!! As for my experience of riding at the Revolution I can honestly say it's like no other experience. Riding in front of thousands of people who pack the velodrome once a month for the Revolution series is an amazing experience, I don't even have to psyche myself up before the races because the crowd get me so fired up.

Q. What are your plans for the year ahead?
A. This year I will be riding with the Glendene CC team on the road, I will be racing in Belgium and competing in the Junior Buckly series, however my main goals this season are the World and European junior track champs with Great Britain.
The Future Stars will only be part of an action packed race programme with more international riders than ever before competing in the elite racing. Full information on Revolution 12 can be found at www.cyclingrevolution.com. Tickets can be bought online or by calling 07005 942 579 or the Velodrome on 0161 223 2244 and pressing option 3.

Revolution 12 Schedule
Event        Type         Detail           Other Info
INTRODUCTIONS
EV1    Elite Team Elimination    30 Laps Team out every 2 laps
EV2    Revolution Sprint    200mtr Time Trial
EV3    Raleigh Future Stars    5K Scratch Race - Boys 5Km
EV4    Raleigh Future Stars Devil – Girls
EV5    Revolution Sprint – Round 1   4 x 3 Winners to Final Losers to Ev10
EV6    Elite Points Race   10K
EV7    Raleigh Future Stars 1 Mile Dash – Boys 1.62Km
EV8    Revolution Sprint Semi finals 2 x 2 Winners to Final  Losers to Ev10
EV9    Raleigh Future Stars 5Km Scratch Race – Girls 5Km
EV10  Revolution Sprint losers 6 lap dash  1 x11
EV11  Revolution Sprint – Final 1 x 2
EV12  1km Madison Time   Trial 1Km  6 Teams
EV13  Revolution Future Stars 1 Mile Dash - Girls  1.62 Km
EV14  JIMMI MADSEN - PRESENTATION
EV15  Revolution Future Stars Devil - Boys
EV16  Team Sprint GB v Germany
EV17  PRESENTATION Raleigh Future Stars
EV18  Elite Madison  20Km  80 Laps

Amgen Tour of California Events:
Health Net Presented by Maxxis signs San Jose Sharks’ Thornton to one-day “contract”
The Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis will have one extra rider for the Stage 3 individual time trial at the Amgen Tour of California. Scott Thornton of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks will don Health Net Presented by Maxxis kit, mount a Health Net Presented by Maxxis Cannondale time trial bike and ride the entire course for the time trial in south San Jose shortly before the pros begin rolling out at 11 a.m., February 22, 2006.
“When I got the word I’d be riding the time trial in Health Net Presented by Maxxis colors, I was pretty excited,” Thornton said. “How often do you get an opportunity like this?”
Thornton became a serious cyclist during the NHL lock-out last season, even completing the grueling Sierra Death Ride, a 120-mile climb fest in the Lake Tahoe region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Thornton will leave from the start area near the IBM campus on Bailey Road south of San Jose at approximately 9:00 a.m., and roll through the undulating 17-mile course to the finish by Los Paseos Elementary School on Santa Teresa Boulevard. He will be escorted by the Health Net Presented by Maxxis follow car – in case he gets a flat tire and needs a wheel change – as well as a media van and several members of the San Jose Police Department motorcycle detail.

When asked if he had any predictions on how long he would take to finish, he was coy. “I just want to roll the course and enjoy it,” Thornton said. “I’m not trying to set any records. I’ll leave that to guys like my teammate Nathan O’Neill.”

Prior to riding the time trial course, Thornton will be the featured guest at the 7:30 a.m. media breakfast at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, on McKean Road/County Highway G8. Following his ride, Thornton will be a guest of Health Net Presented by Maxxis at the team’s RV, where he and several teammates will be available to sign autographs, conduct further interviews and watch the professional cyclists as they head out on the course.

What: Scott Thornton, San Jose Sharks, Time Trial Exhibition
Where: Media Breakfast, Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, 23600 McKean Road
TT Start: IBM Campus, Bailey Rd., South San Jose
TT Finish: Los Paseos Elementary School, Santa Teresa Blvd., South San Jose
Autographs and meet and greet to follow
When:      February 22, 2006
Ride Start: 9:00 a.m. Finish: 9:55 a.m. (times approximate)
Official Stage 3 Start: 11 a.m.
Bike: Health Net Presented by Maxxis Cannondale Time Trial Bike, equipped with Shimano components; Ritchey seatpost and Probiscus TT bar/stem; Health Net Presented by Maxxis team issue Fi’zi:k saddle, Speedplay pedals; and Reynolds Stratus Deep V carbon wheels rolling on Maxxis tires.

Race Announcements
OBRA Season Opener
Cherry Pie February 19th Harrisburg, Oregon
Prizes: Yummy gourmet Wild Plum Cherry Pies
Day of event registration available. (Day of race registration is still open for all categories...a second Category 5 19-39 field has been created and will start at 11:30. As of 2/12, there were about 20 spaces left in the Masters 40+ Category 5.) Registration opens at 8:30 am.
Online pre-registration is now closed.
Already registerd online? You can get another copy of your registration confirmation here.
Snail Mail: checks to Norman Babcock 1860 W. 14th Ave; Eugene, OR 97402
licensing and rules OBRA licenses are required for all riders. Single race licenses are available for $5. All OBRA rules apply.  Directions 1-5 to exit 209 by Harrisburg just west of I-5. Park in Sherman Bros Parking Lot. Not Cafe area. Overnight parking at KOA campground 100 meters from the start.
info Contact Norman Babcock at 2dogracing@comcast.net or (541) 520-3717

THE WORLD'S LARGEST CYCLING FESTIVAL,
THE SEA OTTER CLASSIC, KEEPS GETTING BETTER
The 16-year Mecca for Cyclists Continues to Draw Enthusiasts New and Old
Monterey, CA - Each year the Sea Otter Classic garners worldwide media attention and draws the top Olympic, pro, and amateur athletes from over 30 countries for intense competition in front of audiences of 50,000+. "Despite being one of the first events of the year, Sea Otter is the climax of the season in its size and complexity," said Sea Otter spokesperson, Marla Streb (Luna Women's Mt. Bike Team/Red Bull). This year the multi-sport, four-day 'Celebration of Cycling' begins on April 6 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey, California.

From beginners to pro athletes we've always done our best keep Sea Otter fresh by providing cyclists with new and innovative events. This year is no different," said Frank Yohannan, president of the Sea Otter Classic. "We continue to draw the best pro athletes by providing challenging venues designed by world-class course designers. Our focus is on supporting younger athletes so they can live their dreams while engaging in an active lifestyle."

"Sea Otter represents so much more to me than just another bike race. It represents my passion for life." says 20 year old Cross Country Semi Pro, Nick Agate, (Maxxis), from Berkeley, CA. Nick began racing Sea Otter in 2001 and was the 2004 Norcal MTB League Jr. Expert State Champion. "Athletes from around the world travel to Monterey for one weekend every year to compete in what is arguably the largest cycling event in the world second only to the Tour de France."

"I always look forward to this huge festival, if not to see all my friends in the industry, but to see the many new faces being turned on to our sport," said Streb. "This year the Sea Otter Circus will be jam packed with exciting new action that is sure to thrill all those who come out! Once new riders attend the Sea Otter, they're hooked," said Streb.

Below is a sampling of what's new at Sea Otter this year:
BMX Demo's, Ryan Leech shows his stuff
Ryan Leech from Norco Performance Bicycles, undoubtedly one of the world's best Mountain Bike Trials Show performers, will be on hand along with several other talented BMXers from GT-Mngoose to show their tricks for audiences at Sea Otter's BMX Demo's.

Mountain Bike Cross Country Course, a change in course and direction
Sea Otter's STAGE RACE is the only North American event to be awarded a *S1 ranking by the UCI this year. Sea Otter's Director of Athlete Services, Jeff Frost talks about the new course, "we're excited to work with the Bureau of Land Management to develop this exciting new cross -country race loop. This loop offers so much that Sea Otter traditionalists have come to love and offers many new exciting challenges - uphill technical singletrack, more passing from the start of the race, and a downhill to the finish!"

Pro Circuit Race gets longer, and tougher
The Pro Circuit race continues to attract top pro road racers to the famed Laguna Seca Raceway. "This year's Pro Road race is a classic circuit race and is already known as one of the tougher circuits in the US," explains Kendra Wenzel, Sea Otter's Pro Circuit Race Coordinator. "Now, with its added length, the race will become known definitively as one of the toughest. The men will race 70 miles on the Laguna Seca Raceway, 31 trips of the steep 300 foot backside climb and the women will prove their toughness by racing 50 miles with 22 trips up the famed climb and corkscrew, nearly doubling the length of editions of the race only several years ago."

Recreational Bike Tours provides more distance options and new routes
Roadies can now choose between 20/40/100-mile rides and Mountain Bikers can enjoy new trails with 10/20 and Epic mile options.

Newly designed Mountain Cross Course
Glen Jacobs, internationally acclaimed Australian designer will showcase the best mountain bike athletes in the world on his newly designed Mountain Cross course.

SRAM Invitational Dirt Jump Contest, extended from two to four days
A spectator favorite, Sea Otter now offers four full days of Dirt Jumping excitement. The world's best Dirt Jumpers will be on hand to take on the Sea Otter's Dirt Jump built by Rob Giustina from On-Course Events.
'The Schoolyard,' hosted by Team NSO/DEVO
The Napa Sheriff's Activities League has developed some of the best junior riders in the United States today. "The Schoolyard" offers young riders a tool-loan kiosk, repair stations, and repair and maintenance clinics taught by professional mechanics.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (the Society) is the chosen charity of the Sea Otter Classic
Through a partnership with the Society, cyclists and spectators can raise money through 'Make Cures Happen' which funds cancer research that helps the hundreds of thousands of people battling leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Money will be raised this year in honor of Joshua Alfaro, an 8-year-old boy with leukemia, who lives in Salinas. The Society will also raise money for their Pennies for Patients program through Sea Otter's School Outreach Program.

National Mountain Bike Series - Norba Update:
Item Roundup 15 February 2006
Until the procedures for national team selection have been determined by USA Cycling, it will not be known whether the National Mountain Bike Series has any direct bearing on the selection of team members for the 2008 Olympic team as previously stated .
Please visit www.usacycling.org  for current National, World and Olympic team selection criteria and policies.
About the National Mountain Bike Series
The National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) identifies the most consistently brilliant Mountain Bike competitors in North America. The series is owned and sanctioned by USA Cycling, the national governing body for the sport of cycling in the United States. The NMBS is licensed and managed as a separate entity by a consortium
comprising of Team Big Bear, Inc. and Blue Wolf Events, LLC. It is the highest ranked Mountain Bike racing series in the United States.
For more information please email info@norbanationals.com or visit www.norbanationals.com.

SEA OTTER CLASSIC AND LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
TEAM UP TO 'MAKE CURES HAPPEN'
Monterey, CA - The Sea Otter Classic, the world's largest cycling festival, joins forces with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to give cyclists and spectators an opportunity to raise money through a fundraising program called 'Make Cures Happen.' Money will be raised in honor of Joshua Alfaro, an 8-year-old boy with leukemia, who lives in Salinas, CA.

When asked if he wanted to be the honoree for the Sea Otter Classic, Joshua responded, "It would be an honor." "When he said it would be an honor, he really meant it," says his mother Darice. "He has told me that he sees himself as part of the chain of other kids who have had and who will have cancer. He participates in fundraising events like this so that in the future other kids will have an easier treatment than he has had."

"We are grateful that the organizers of the Sea Otter Classic have made The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society their charity of choice," said Greg Becker, President of the Board of Trustees of the Society's Silicon Valley & Monterey Bay Area Chapter. "The cyclists and spectators who raise money through 'Make Cures Happen' are funding cancer research that will help hundreds of thousands of people battling leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma."

"Sea Otter is pleased to have the opportunity to work in partnership with an organization that has made such a positive impact on both living a healthy, active lifestyle and providing researchers with the means to explore a cure for diseases that touch so many people's daily lives," said Frank Yohannan, President of Sea Otter Classic. "We look forward to building a longstanding relationship with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to work together to creatively build programs that achieve mutual goals.

Eight-year-old Joshua Alfaro was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago. He lives in Salinas, less than 20 miles from the site of the Sea Otter Classic. Joshua travels over 100 miles to UCSF once a month for chemotherapy that is administered through a needle in his hand. He also endures lumbar punctures once every three months, and many blood draws and daily oral medications at home. Joshua has made it through one year of treatment and is facing two-and-a-half more.

Through 'Make Cures Happen,' cyclists and spectators of the Sea Otter Classic ask their friends and families for donations to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The money is raised in Joshua's honor and helps blood cancer patients across the country because The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society invests that money in research and patient services. As an added fundraising incentive, anyone who raises over $600 will be invited to a VIP party during the event and will be included in a drawing of the following adventure trips and bicycles:
Adventure Trips
G.A.P. Adventures has donated a 15-day adrenaline-filled Hike, Bike and Raft Trip in Costa Rica. Value: $1295. For more information visit: http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/CHB.
Cycle America has donated a choice of a weeklong bicycle trip.
Value: $835.00. For more information visit: www.cycleameria.com.
Timberline Tours has donated a choice of a one-week bicycle or hiking trip of any value through western U.S & Canada, including 34 national parks & monuments. Value: up to $2705.00. For more information visit www.timbertours.com.
O.A.R.S. has donated a 1-day Whitewater Rafting Trip in California for two on the South Fork of the American River in California. Value: $250. For more information visit: www.oars.com.
Mariah Wilderness Expeditions has donated a 2-day Whitewater Rafting Trip in California, South Fork American trip combined with a 1-Day Middle Fork American trip for 1 person in California. Value: $419. For more information please visit: www.mariahwe.com.
All Outdoors has donated a Whitewater rafting trip for 2 people, South Fork of the American River, California, Monday - Thursday. Value: $537.00. For more information: www.aorafting.com
Bikes
1 GT Road Bike - GTR 2.0 - MSRP $1,299.99 each
1 GT MTB Bike - Avalanche 2.0 - MSRP $449.99
1 GT BMX Bike - Performer - MSRP $279.99
Spectators and cyclists who would like more information on "Make Cures Happen" can visit www.lls.org/sanjose/soc or call 1.877-LLS-CURE. Be sure to visit the Society's expo booth where a GT Bike will be raffled off on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 7-9.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's mission is to find a cure for blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. It is also dedicated to improving the quality of life of patients and their families. The need is great because leukemia is the leading cancer killer of people under the age of 20. But blood cancer affects adults, too. Every five minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every ten minutes someone dies from one of these diseases. In its effort to find a cure, the Society supports research grants across the country and locally at UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCSF and UC Davis. For more information on the Society, visit www.LLS.org or call 408-271-8300.
About Sea Otter Classic LLC
The 16th Annual Sea Otter Classic will be held April 6 - 9, 2006 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California, USA. The four-day 'Celebration of Cycling' is considered the world's largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. The Cypress Youth Fund is the Sea Otter Classic's philanthropic arm. The Fund provides funding to organizations that benefit their communities in the areas of youth, sport, education, and environment. More information can be found at www.seaotterclassic.com or by calling 800-218-8411.

Sea Otter's 'Path to Sustainability'
The Sea Otter Classic is committed to reducing its ecological footprint on the Laguna Seca Recreation Area and the adjacent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property. In conjunction with CLIF Bar, Sea Otter will begin building an environmental sustainability program and give incentives to competitors, spectators, sponsors and vendors to do their part to reduce their impact at the event.
Event-goers can expect to find all the traditional activities they've come to know and love at Sea Otter including competition for cyclists of all age groups and skill levels in a wide range of professional and amateur categories; the largest outdoor consumer tradeshow located in the Sea Otter Village where 250+ vendors will showcase the latest trends and technologies in road cycling, mountain biking and recreational products; a plethora of family-fun activities including a kids carnival with all things bouncy, a bike rodeo and the Sea Otter Egg Hunt (now on Saturday and Sunday); the highly competitive Pro Gravity Omnium; and, of course, informal post-race tailgating celebrations in Sea Otter's massive tent city of 5,000+ campers.
Event entry fees range from $25 - $85 (includes a free festival pass for a friend), spectator fees are $10 per day or $30 for a four-day pass, and kids 12 and under gain free entry to all Sea Otter Classic recreational events including family-friendly road and mountain bike tours.
The preferred method of transportation at Sea Otter is on a bike. Spectators are encouraged to bring bikes along so they don't miss any of the action going on in other parts the Laguna Seca Recreational Area.
Maps of the race courses are provided by MotionBased Technologies and Google World and are located at www.seaotterclassic.com.

Tyler Hamilton Foundation Online Auction
9 Days left to bid on unique items
There are almost 10 days left to bid on some of the wonderful unique items in the THF online auction. These items are not found anywhere else!
New items include:
Training Like Tyler - a 10 week training program with Tyler as the coach
Phonak jersey signed by the 2005 Tour de France Phonak Team the day before the Tour ended
Phonak jersey worn by Tyler in the 2004 Tour de France with his number still attached
Dinner for two at Incanto with Chef Chris Cosentino - recently seen on Martha Stewart's Live

There are also some wonderful Colorado items such as a swag bag from CU; tickets to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and the Colorado Music Festival; and a gift certificate to McGuckins (you can bring your dog!).
And for those back in New England there is a great overnight at the new Boston Waterfront Westin or a Threedom Pass for your favorite NH ski mountains.

Items are valued from $5 to priceless. There is something for everyone so grab a cup of your favorite coffee and go for a stroll through the auction.
We thank all the friends and supporters that have enthusiastically donated items to fill our auction catalog. Now we're counting on your generous bid to help us reach our goal.
Please place your bid now. We wanted to create a unique online event that would offer all of our supporters a fun and exciting way to help us raise the funds we need in the coming year. The catalog is filled with great merchandise, useful services and unique experiences.
Place your bid here.

"Ride Across America for PKU Research"
To all cyclists living near the “southern tier “ cycle route of the united states ( Calif, AZ, NM , TX , LA , AL , and FL) on March 5th 2006 a 65 year old veteran cyclist of 22 years, and four of his friends, will undertake a 3200 mile ride across America from San Diego, California to St Augustine, Florida. This trip will take approx. Four to five weeks.

As this group passes through your area, we are encouraging cycling club members to turn out to ride a ways with them. “bill” Rahe and his fellow cyclists are doing this to raise both research funds and public awareness for a little known, and rare genetic disease called PKU (phenylketonuria). All monies raised go 100% to PKU research.
Pku is inherited by approximately one in every ten thousand newborns. However, because of its rarity, it receives relatively little funding towards research from major corporations, foundations, government, etc.
Much of the monies currently raised, come from family and friends of those with PKU.
Please consult the schedule at www.macpad.org to learn when the group will pass through your area.
For more information call/email: (717) 872-7546 info@macpad.org

King Cycle Group Contributes to Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation,
Oregon & SW Washington Affiliate
Limited Edition Pretty & Strong Components Sales Promotion Results In $10,000+ Contribution
Portland, OR, February 15, 2006- King Cycle Group announces today the contribution of $10,316.56 to the Oregon and Southwest Washington Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in conclusion of the company’s second annual Pretty & Strong sales promotion.

The promotion, which ran from September 1, 2005 to December 23, 2005, featured limited production runs of pink anodized bicycle components including the company’s celebrated sealed bearing headset. Additionally, road and mountain bike hubs, headset spacers and stem caps, stickers, and a limited edition t-shirt were offered. A portion of the proceeds from every Pretty & Strong component or product sold was allocated to the local Affiliate of the Komen Foundation.

King Cycle Group’s Jacki Sterner noted the shared interest of the entire company in supporting this program. “Obviously, our pink headset is the same as our silver or our black one and so on,” she said. “What is unique about the Pretty & Strong pink headset, and the hubs too, is the group of people here at King Cycle Group who decided to make it a symbol for a cause. The dealers who chose to sell it and the riders who chose to buy it carried that commitment to completion. I am continually amazed that we have the people inside our company and customer support outside who can make this sort of thing go.”

Regarding the affiliation with the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Sterner added, “There are several excellent breast cancer awareness and outreach organizations in the United States. We chose the Komen Foundation because they are internationally recognized and have nearly become synonymous with breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. We donate to our local Komen Affiliate because their organizational efficiency is extremely high.”

The Pretty & Strong campaign was a hit with bicycle retailers as consumers have long held Chris King Precision Components in high regard. John Cormier of Laughing Dog Bikes in Amherst, MA expressed amazement at how quickly the components sold once in store. “The hubs we ordered spent very little time in the showcase,” he said. “And surprisingly, most of my Pretty & Strong customers were men. In particular, the headset and the individual stem cap became a popular identifier within the cycling community. These components had a galvanizing effect across all categories of cyclists in our area for this cause.”

Other retailers such as Bicycle Sport Shop in Austin, TX took the promotion out of the accessories case and onto the sales floor. “We built up a special edition Juliana with a Pretty & Strong NoThreadSet and hubs,” said store manager Scott Linnville. “We had a customer come in who absolutely loved it. After we explained the cause behind the promotion she was convinced this was her perfect bicycle. A lot of our staff bought pink headsets, too. I’d say it’s the coolest limited edition color ever from Chris King,” he concluded.

Additionally, the program featured a call to action for everyone involved. King Cycle Group invited cyclists to skip a ride during the month of October and instead receive or assist someone in receiving a mammogram or clinical screening. Since 1993, the third Friday of October has been declared National Mammography Day and visitors to the King website were given numerous resources to make arrangements for a screening or to learn more.

“Our challenge to advance the local fight against breast cancer remains as great today as ever, but with the generous support from local companies like King Cycle Group, we are making a difference,” said Christine McDonald, executive director of the local Komen Foundation. “More women and men are beating breast cancer today through the education, screening, treatment and research programs made possible by the local Komen Foundation and their community partners.”
About King Cycle Group
King Cycle Group is widely recognized as a leading manufacturer of precision bicycle components and is located in Portland, Oregon, often noted as North America’s best city for bicycling. The company, which includes Chris King Precision Components, provides product sales and service support to over 3000 authorized dealers throughout the United States and to distributors in 24 countries worldwide. King Cycle Group is an official supplier to the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team™ and supports numerous regional and national bicycle programs. The company will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2006. For more information about King Cycle Group, please visit: www.chrisking.com
Contact: Chris DiStefano marketing@chrisking.com -or- 503-972-4050 x244

Two victories in a row for the Marco Polo Cycling Team
Tour of Siam and Tour of Thailand Victories
The Marco Polo Cycling Team, the first Chinese professional cycling team, had a great start of the year, winning the international Tour of Siam in Thailand. The Tour of Siam is one of the most important races in Asia, with a total distance of over 1000 km's starting in Bangkok and finishing in Phuket. Mongolian Marco Polo rider Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikh won a stage and Thomas Rabou from the Netherlands won the overall and the team won the overall team classification!
Tour of Thailand
One week later the Marco Polo Cycling Team was successful again! Chinese Marco Polo Cycling Team rider Fuyu Li won the overall classification of the international Tour of Thailand a stage race over 1100km in 6 stages from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. At January 29, the day the Chinese New Year starts, Fuyu Li raced the last stage of the Tour of Thailand in the yellow jersey.
Fuyu Li: ''I am so happy to show that I have the international level to win a stage race. Today is a special day for China because the Chinese New Year starts. It is great to win this Tour of Thailand today!''

The Marco Polo Cycling Team gives the best Chinese cyclist a program to improve their international level and Fuyu is right on schedule to qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympics!!
Photos and reports can be found at the website in the news.

Fuyu Li wins gold medal at All China Games!
Marco Polo Cycling Team rider Fuyu Li won the gold medal at the China Games! The China Games are once every 4 years and are the most important sports event in China before the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
At the Marco Polo Cycling Team Fuyu got the chance to improve his international performance. Fuyu had his first international experience last year in Qatar between Tour de France professionals. We hope he will also reach this level. Fuyu Li and the Marco Polo Cycling Team race with the Trek - Madone bicycle also used by the winning team in the Tour de France.

National Champions Robin Reid and Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikh
Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikh managed to win the Mongolian National Championships at the road as well as in the time trial again. He has been champion for many years now, but the competition gets harder every year.
Robin Reid became National Champion of New Zealand in the time trial.

Marco Polo Cycling Fund: Development aid projects, Sri Lanka, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Mongolia
2005 was the UN year of Sports. And the Marco Polo Cycling Fund used this opportunity to work at cycling development projects in 4 countries, Sri Lanka, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Mongolia.
The Sri Lankan national team got the chance to participate in a Tsunami memorial race in Thailand and was helped with material. In Eritrea the promotion of women cycling races was supported. In Ethiopia trainers and cyclists learned from cycling experts, one of them former Tour de France rider Peter Winnen. And in Mongolia we help the creation of club structures and organize Kids races.
Cycling clothing and material is being collected for these development countries.
More information and some photos at the Dutch language site: www.wielrennersvoorwielrenners.nl
Of course the projects continue in 2006 and we are working on English information on the Marco Polo Cycling Fund. If you already want to support. Send an e-mail to: info@marcopolocycling.com
Loh Sea Keong Cycling School talent
One of the upcoming riders in international cycling is Malaysian Loh Sea Keong. Only 19 years old he came over to Europe last season to challenge himself in the hard competition here. He came over to the Marco Polo Cycling School and stayed with the team riders in the training centre in Geleen in the south of Holland. At first he had a hard time to even finish races but he worked hard with dedication. And after a few months he was able to win a few prices. He finished the season in the Tour d'Indonesia where he raced very strong. His fast development gave him the opportunity to race this year in the Marco Polo Cycling Team - Continental Team. We hope to see great cycling from him in the future.
Get your own Marco Polo Cycling clothing - now also Paypal payment possible
Order your own Marco Polo Cycling clothing. The jersey has a full zipper and of course the shorts are bib-shorts. Check the design and order your gear from merchandising at our internet site www.marcopolocycling.com Send an e-mail with your order: info@marcopolocycling.com

Bike Biz News
New Cycling Race Promotions g4
g4 Productions Site Launch
Four experienced event producers have joined forces to create a new endurance sports event company, g4 Productions, that offers large corporations, non-profit organizations and other businesses the opportunity to implement key branding strategies & marketing programs targeting the growing 'healthy-active' consumer market through the development of custom designed sporting events.

g4 Productions specializes in the creation, production & management of professional and amateur cycling, running and multi-sport events as well as integrated corporate hospitality programs. g4 Productions provides turnkey opportunities for corporations & organizations that want to target product initiatives, ad / public relations campaigns and events that target an active lifestyle demographic through both sporting events and professional team sponsorship opportunities.

g4 Productions is a unique partnership between four women who have over fifty years of collective experience in sports marketing, technical planning, operations, marketing and sponsorship of endurance athletics and integrated corporate hospitality programs. g4 Productions principals in the new venture are Robin Morton, Alice Armstrong, Joan Hanscom and Kristen Reiss.

g4 Productions Senior Partner Robin Morton explained that "We all bring our unique skills and perspective to the table with g4 Productions. Together we are the complete package for any company or organization that wants to reach out to an active lifestyle demographic."

Dan D'Armond, Director of Community and Government Relations for BMC Software, enthused, "The news about the formation of g4 is fantastic! I have worked with the founders for years and each of them is among the best of what they do. From event management to promotions to sponsorship activation, they have a proven track record at developing and executing successful programs and events that meet the needs of organizers, athletes and sponsors."

"This 'healthy-active' demographic is one that so many companies and organizations are trying to reach," said Morton, "and with our extensive experience in endurance event marketing, the g4 team has unparalleled expertise to deliver this market for our clients."

Gerard Bisceglia, CEO of USA Cycling agreed, "Any organization that chooses to secure the services of this group of professionals will never regret its decision."
For further info on g4 productions please visit www.g4events.com

Ultimate Bicycle-Pineville, Ultimate Bicycle
Matthews, & Bicycle
Sport-Myers Park, today announced the launch of their new USAC licensed amateur cycling team, TEAM
ULTIMATE. The teams web site can be found at www.ultimatebike.com.
The mission of Team Ultimate Cycling is to offer the road cyclist an enjoyable riding environment targeted
at competition & fitness, while growing the awareness of our Ultimate Pineville, Ultimate Matthews, and
Bicycle Sport in the Metrolina area of North and South Carolina.
Team Ultimate is comprised of 23 men and 1 woman in multiple categorizations from 3 to 5, targeting the
local racing calendar in the Metrolina area. The Metrolina area is defined as Mecklenburg and
surrounding counties of North & South Carolina in addition to Greenville and Columbia, SC, along with the
Greensboro, Raleigh, and Southern Pines areas of North Carolina. Some of the races the team will be
focusing on but not limited to include: Greenville Training Series, RHBC Omnium, Tour de Moore, NC/SC
Road and Time Trial Championships, Dilworth Criterium, Crossroad Series, Carolina Time Trial Series, and
selected Maxxis Georgia Cup races.
The Team:
Adam Spitz
Alan Teeling
Bruce Chapman
Bruce Humphries
Cameron Beddingfield
Chris Behrmann
Chris Brown
Chris Monteverdi
Daniel Bennett
Doug Nelson
Ilan Paltrow
Jeff Phillips
Joe Vacca
Justin Vanderwalker
Lara Cassidy
Michael Perry
Neil Roeth
Neill Rowland
Scott Staley
Steve Donelson
Steve Dyckes
Steve Navratil
Trent Walker
Mark Gonda - Team Director
Dan Williams- Team President

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee needs to employ more anit-doping test technicians.

Yang Tianle, former head of the Beijing Anti-doping Laboratory, made the remarks Tuesday, calling for more professionals to join the team.

The senior scientific official emphasized the Olympiad is a large-scale sports event. The huge number of drug tests to be carried out during the Games requires a substantial staff of technicians.

Laboratory workers from both China and abroad are invited to join the Olympic team.

Professor Yang said professional training will be provided to these technicians to help them develop into anti-doping test specialists.

Meanwhile, China will strengthen its cooperation with the international community to conduct research in gene-doping.

Beijing anti-doping lab has passed the International Olympic Committee's annual review for 16 consecutive years. The lab will shoulder the critical and expansive task of carrying out all the doping tests for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.