Lampre Fondital News
Paxti Vila Wins in Paris Nice
Today it was Paxti Vila's turn to bring Lampre-Fondital's color on the podium's highest place in the third stage of Paris-Nice (Julienas -Saint Etienne of 168 kms).

On a hard course with one first category climb, Vila escaped with Floyd Landis: the leading two covered in a very good way the last climb and finished the race with Vila's victory and Landis conquering the leader's jersey (Vila second in overall standing with a gap of 9").

Stage standing:
1 Patxi Xabier Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre-Fondital 4.23'28"
2 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems
3 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi a 1'16"

In the first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico (Tivoli-Tivoli of 167 kms) the victory was for Paolo Bettini: behind him Zabel and Hushovd. For Lampre-Fondital a 7^th place with Ballan.

Maurizio Piovani's comment: "We worked for Figueras, but unfortunately Giuliano had some health problem and couldn't stay in the first positions. So we tried with Ballan, who obtain a placement in the first positions".

Vila vince alla Parigi-Nizza
Quest'oggi, a portare i colori della Lampre-Fondital sul gradino più alto del podio, ci ha pensato Paxti Vila, splendido vincitore della terza tappa della Parigi-Nizza, la Julienas-Saint Etienne di 168 km.

Su un percorso duro che prevedeva anche una salita di prima categoria, il basco ha dato vita a una fuga che lo ha visto protagonista assieme all'americano Floyd Landis: ottimo il passo sull'ultima salita per i due, perfetta l'intesa e chiusura di tappa con vittoria per Paxti Vila e maglia di leader della corsa per l'americano (Vila secondo in classifica generale a 9").

Nella prima tappa della Tirreno-Adriatico (Tivoli-tivoli di 167 km) la vittoria va a Paolo Bettini, che sullo strappo finale ha regolato Zabel e Hushovd. Per la Lampre-Fondital un 7° posto con Ballan, che il ds Maurizio Piovani ha commentato così: "Avevamo lavorato per mettere Figueras nella condizione di lottare per la vittoria, però purtroppo Giuliano non è stato bene e non ha potuto stare davanti. Abbiamo allora provato con Ballan, che ha centrato un piazzamento tra i primi".

”Fränk lost a bit of momentum at the final part of the climb, and he wasn't able to bridge up to the two leaders on the descent towards Saint Etienne. It was a very hard stage and Bobby Julich lost a lot of time. Now we'll try and support Fränk the best we can so he can improve in the GC. Generally speaking we are back to square one in this race. We didn't think we'd have a rider for the overall win, but we'll still try and make a good result,” said Bjarne Riis.

Patxi Vila eventually took the stage and is now just nine seconds behind Floyd Landis in the overall standings, where Fränk Schleck improved to a fifth place after finishing fourth in today's 170-kilometer stage.

Michael Blaudzun Knee Injury
Team CSC will have to do without Michael Blaudzun for the remainder of Paris-Nice, as he abandoned the race on Wednesday due to a knee injury. 

CSC at Tirreno Adriatico
The Italian coast-to-coast race, Tirreno-Adriatico, started with a 167-kilometer stage with start and finish in Tivoli, east of Rome. The stage finished with a three kilometer climb and half the peloton sprinted for the victory. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) won the stage ahead of Erik Zabel (Milram). Karsten Kroon led Team CSC in 14th place.

”The stage went as expected. We were positioned well at the end but unfortunately Cancellara had a flat at the bottom of the climb and he never reconnected with the first group. It's quite an exciting route in this year's Tirreno-Adriatico, and we have a couple of interesting stages further on in the race where Basso will be able to try out his form,” said sports director Scott Sunderland after the stage.

Against tradition this year's edition of the Tirreno-Adriatico has a long time trial and also an actual mountain stage with an 11-kilometer climb and summit finish in San Giacomo.

The Velodrome at Bloomer Park
Receives Prestigious Flaherty Award
Rochester Hills, Michigan -- The Velodrome at Bloomer Park in Rochester Hills, recognized for its excellence as a park facility and for its superb programs, was honored with the 2006 Daniel L. Flaherty Memorial Award.

The prestigious award is given annually by the Great Lakes Park Training Institutes at its annual conference, held recently in Angola, Indiana. The Velodrome was the project of note among entries from six states – Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin. The Velodrome was the perfect blend of Public, Private and Non Profit groups working together for the greater good of the community and its residents.

The privately-funded Velodrome, spearheaded and completed by velodrome designer and builder Dale Hughes, is a model for private-public cooperation. The 1/8th mile oval was built on an abandoned parking lot in Rochester Hills’ Bloomer Park after a creative fundraising campaign. Volunteers provided the labor and continue to maintain and operate the track, which was given to the city upon completion, making Rochester Hills one of only 17 communities in the U.S. to list a Velodrome among its facilities.

Beyond the actual construction of the $1 million sports facility, the institutes also recognized programming at the Velodrome, a carefully designed opportunity to engage the public to ride, race or watch events. Hughes is also the coordinator of events at the track,
“Programming is everything,” he said. “Our track is open seven days a week. Youngsters, adults, everyone, can come and ride—it’s free the first time. After that, there’s a nominal fee. Youngsters 18 and under are free all the time, all season long.”

“Its accessibility is critical to its success,” said Hughes, but he also noted that in the site design and construction every effort was made to blend the oval into the forested acreage surrounding it. Tiered festival seating is carved out of a grassy hillside and the track itself is nestled into the terrain.
“Unless you know its there, it really is not even noticeable,” said Hughes. “But the riders know and so do the fans.”
Alan Buckenmeyer, Park Manager with the city of Rochester Hills, agrees as the Velodrome has increased Park income by over 40%.

Hughes will pass it onto Mayor Pat Somerville o0f Rochester Hills at a special presentation planned for early Spring. The Velodrome will open May 1st . starting its 6th season. The Velodrome at Bloomer Park is really a prototype facility for communities around the globe to copy – world class yet low cost. Part of a strategic plan to develop more tracks and track racing in the USA.
For more information contact:
Dale Hughes
Velodrome at Bloomer Park
248-961-3705
dale@NAS-TRACK.com

Also, Christoph is very excited about the new partnership. "I am very proud to represent Gin Tonic Fashion, as it has always been one of my favourite clothing brands, and I like it's trendy image. The deal just came together at the right time for the beginning of the new season".
It is a one year deal, with a strong option until 2008. The Gin Tonic Fashion label will also be represented with sticker on Christoph's helmet and podium cap.
For more Info: http://www.gintonic.de/main.html
Enjoy your day, and happy trails! Christoph
http://www.sauserwind.com

Race News:
Discover Communications Announces Sponsorship of  the Ford Tour de Georgia
Silver Spring, Md. – Discovery Communications announced today that it has signed an official Signature Sponsor agreement with Ford Tour de Georgia for the 2006 premier cycling event. The Ford Tour de Georgia is an annual, world-class, professional cycling stage race and series of city festivals across Georgia. The Tour, now in its fourth year, will take place April 18-23, and is the highest-ranked cycling stage race (2.HC) in North America sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale and USA Cycling. Proceeds from the event benefit the Georgia Cancer Coalition, a statewide network of people and organizations working together to fight cancer.

Discovery Communications is the title sponsor of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, and this agreement is Discovery’s first-ever sponsorship of a major cycling event. The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team’s Tom Danielson, the 2005 Tour de Georgia champion, will return this year to compete along with several of his Discovery teammates including 14-time Tour de France participant and Olympic Gold Medalist Viatcheslav “Eki” Ekimov, 2005 Tour de France Best Young Rider Yaroslav Popovych, and 2004 Tour de Georgia mountains competition winner Jason McCartney.

“We at Discovery see this sponsorship as a natural extension of our multifaceted, global partnership with the 27 riders from 15 countries that comprise the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team,” said Judith A. McHale, President and Chief Executive Officer, Discovery Communications. “The Discovery Channel Team and the Tour de Georgia represent the same qualities of integrity, perseverance and excellence--qualities on which Discovery places high value--and which now translate into supporting an outstanding cause by helping to make a difference for the Georgia Cancer Coalition.”

As Discovery enters the second year of its sponsorship of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, the company is looking forward to building on the legacy of its legendary former lead rider, Lance Armstrong. Discovery’s on-site sponsorship activities at the Ford Tour de Georgia will include the promotion of a new integrated multimedia campaign branded Race to Replace, which is designed to give audiences around the world an immersive look at what will be an incredible and historic passing of the torch by one of history’s greatest champions.

The Race to Replace initiative will provide in-depth coverage of the team’s athletes, training, preparation and development across Discovery’s global television, broadband, commerce and on-line platforms. Involving fans, viewers and enthusiasts from around the world, Discovery will chronicle and provide in-depth information on the health, fitness, science and technology that comprise the building of a professional cycling team.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in 170 countries and territories with nearly 1.4 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI’s over 100 networks of distinctive programming represent 27 network entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Español, Discovery Kids en Español, Discovery HD Theater, FitTV, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), Discovery Home & Health and Discovery Real Time. DCI’s other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI’s ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company’s Founder and Chairman.
About the Tour de Georgia: The Ford Tour de Georgia is North America’s premier, professional cycling event and rolling festival of community activities. The Tour is held annually in the spring with a varying route. It is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and USA Cycling (USAC) as a 2.HC rating (highest ranked event in North America), making the event one of the top stage races for elite athletes around the world. The 2005 Tour was won by Tom Danielson (USA) of the Discovery Channel Professional Cycling Team; champions from previous years include Lance Armstrong (USA) in 2004 and Chris Horner (USA) 2003. The Tour’s official beneficiary is the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC). The Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Georgia Department of Human Resources are teaming up to bring the Live Healthy Georgia Expo to the finish cities of the 2006 Ford Tour de Georgia. The Live Healthy Georgia Expo includes a variety of interactive, health-focused booths, children's activities, food and fun activities for all ages. The Ford Tour de Georgia is owned by The Georgia Partnership for Economic Development (GPED) and is managed by Medalist Sports. Merchandise and the latest updates are available at the official website, www.fordtourdegeorgia.com.
About the Georgia Cancer Coalition: The Georgia Cancer Coalition leads Georgia's comprehensive cancer initiative, uniting people and organizations to work together to save lives and reduce suffering from cancer. As a public-private partnership, the Coalition works to strengthen existing cancer related programs and create new initiatives that accelerate cancer prevention, early detection, and research and treatment to make the highest level of care accessible to all Georgians. The Georgia Cancer Coalition provides guidance and assistance for using Georgia's resources in the fight to reverse the cancer mortality and incidence rates. The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model. The official website is www.georgiacancer.org.

First Amgen Tour of California Breaks Attendance Records
Professional Cycling Stage Race Gets High Marks from Cities, Athletes, Sponsors and Fans;
2007 Planning Underway Following Successful First Year
The recently concluded Amgen Tour of California, an eight-day professional cycling road race, drew more than 1.3 million spectators from February 19-26, 2006, setting records in attendance for any single sporting event in California, as well as for any cycling event in the U.S. The inaugural event, which covered 600 miles of California roadway from San Francisco to Redondo Beach, received praise from its host cities, teams and sponsors, as well as from the Union Cycliste International (UCI), the international governing body of cycling.

Thousands of spectators lined the finish on Stage 7 of the Tour of California

In addition to the thousands of fans lining every stage of the race, the official Web site had 367,000 visitors who registered more than fifteen million “page views” over the eight days of racing, with the vast majority enjoying live race coverage provided by Adobe and enhanced by Google technology. A breakthrough in Internet race coverage, www.amgentourofcalifornia.com provided fans with live text updates, four channels of live streaming video and continuously updated still photos from the road. The site continues to be one of the sport’s most viewed with fans logging on for race recaps, statistics and commemorative memorabilia.

California resident Floyd Landis (USA) of Phonak Hearing Systems walked away as the overall champion of the Amgen Tour of California with El Segundo-based CSC taking the overall team top prize. With preliminary details of the 2007 route expected in the next 30 to 60 days, race presenter AEG has reiterated its commitment to building the race into one of the premier sporting events in the world.

“We set out to create an event that will one day rival the Tour de France,” said Timothy J. Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG. “We will not rest until we allow the American riders to have the best event in all of cycling in their home country. This year was a giant leap toward achieving that goal.”

The 10 host cities for the inaugural race included San Francisco, Sausalito, Santa Rosa, Martinez, San Jose, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Thousand Oaks and Redondo Beach. Cities throughout California are eager to host the second annual race.

“We’re coming back in 2007 and already are thinking about ways to make this event even better,” said Shawn Hunter, president of AEG Sports, presenters of the Amgen Tour of California. “We are extremely satisfied with this first year, and the best is yet to come.”
“We built this race on three objectives: to create a great experience for riders, the communities and the corporate sponsors,” said Bob Colarossi, managing director of the Amgen Tour of California. “The cities that we visited this year are very pleased with the positive effect that the race had on their communities. Not only have our 2006 host cities asked us back, but new cities have also inundated us with requests to come to their areas next year.”

The world’s best riders echoed the sentiment, expressing an overwhelmingly positive experience in California. “From the moment I heard about the Amgen Tour of California, I knew it would be of the highest quality,” said Santa Rosa resident and California Travel and Tourism King of the Mountain competition winner Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team Gerolsteiner. “I can say now that it was even better than expected,” continued Leipheimer who won the race’s Prologue held in San Francisco.
“It’s very high up on the list. I think it was a great event,” added overall fourth place finisher and winner of two stages George Hincapie (USA) of the Discovery Channel Professional Cycling Team and spokesperson for the Amgen Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative. “It’s a good indication that all of the foreign riders were happy with the event. It couldn’t have gone any better.”

When asked to compare the California race to those about to take place in Europe, overall second place finisher David Zabriskie (USA) of Team CSC said, “We’re going to take a lot of warm clothes [to Europe] and wish this race was still happening.”

The highest ranking officials from UCI and USA Cycling – the international and national governing bodies of the sport – were on hand in California to witness the race. Both Pat McQuaid, president of the UCI, and Gerard Bisceglia, president of USA Cycling, gave high praise to the inaugural event.
“It looks to be a good race. Not just good teams here, but the teams have brought good riders as well, and they’re all motivated to do very well. From the UCI’s point of view, it’s good to see this in its first year,” said McQuaid. “I have no doubt that the potential is here to grow and develop this race into a big, big spectacle in both the state of California and the United States.”
Speaking about the importance of establishing races like the Amgen Tour of California for the overall development of American professional cycling, Bisceglia said, “The hardest thing for USA Cycling is having your children leave home. To let our riders grow up, we have to let them leave home and go to Europe. But if we can bring this kind of cycling to the U.S., we can keep our children at home.”

To help ensure the success of the Amgen Tour of California, race presenter AEG partnered with like-minded companies who have an interest in growing the sport of cycling while communicating the importance of health and wellness to California communities.
In December 2005, the race’s title sponsor Amgen launched the Breakaway from Cancer initiative. A partnership between Amgen, The Wellness Community and George Hincapie, Breakaway from Cancer is a complementary component of the race that includes a series of free workshops designed to help people who are affected by cancer learn about new treatments, side effects, support networks and educational resources.

“We are delighted with the inaugural Amgen Tour of California,” said Kevin Sharer, Amgen's chairman and chief executive officer. “We are also pleased with the success of our Breakaway from Cancer initiative, which resulted in a donation of $1.1 million to The Wellness Community to support cancer patients. Amgen looks forward to our continuing sponsorship of this world class cycling event.”

In addition to Amgen’s partnership with AEG, eight companies joined as founding partners for the inaugural year: Adobe, ADT Security Services, California Travel and Tourism, Clif Bar, Health Net, Herbalife, KB Home and Union Bank of California. Coca-Cola Zero, Google, Kendall-Jackson, Prodir and Voler also supported the race as official partners.

“Our partners are as vital to the success of this event as the athletes and host cities,” said Hunter. “Their belief in this race, support of our vision and commitment to ensuring that this event was a great experience for everyone involved made this one of the greatest first-year events that I have ever been a part of.”
ABOUT AMGEN: Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.

ABOUT AEG: AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, The Manchester Evening News Arena and NOKIA Theatre Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), five Major League Soccer franchises, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race, and the upcoming ING Bay to Breakers footrace taking place in San Francisco May 21st; AEG LIVE, the organization’s live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. Additionally, the company has begun fully developing the 28-acre Millennium Dome and adjacent property located in the eastern part of London along the Thames River and will create the O2, a new arena within the ‘Dome’ and additional arenas, on a 50-acre site in the heart of Berlin and Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri; stadiums in Bridgeview, Illinois and Harrison, New Jersey. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.

Cycling Biz News:
Serotta Competition Bicycles
David Powers named Director of Sales and Marketing
Serotta Competition Bicycles, the leading manufacturer of custom-fit bicycles for more than 34 years, is pleased to announce David Powers as the Director of Sales and Marketing. Powers, a native of Schenectady, returns to the area bringing almost two decades of sales and marketing management expertise to the role.

Powers will lead all facets of global sales and marketing for Serotta, including building, supporting and enhancing independent dealers and distributors. At the same time, Powers will head the marketing department and spearhead brand management, continuing the superior quality consistent with Serotta.
“The Serotta brand has incredible equity and a solid, strategic foundation thanks to Ben Serotta’s industry expertise and leadership,” said Powers. “I look forward to working with this passionate team to build a future where the focus on custom-fit will be the basis for the best bicycles for leading dealers and discerning customers.”
“When I was in my early twenties, I entered a road bike race in Ballston Spa,” Powers added. “All I remember about that race is that a rider on a Serotta bike defeated me and I’ve been impressed with the brand ever since.”

“Dave Powers is a proven leader in sales and management with formidable experience in top sports and lifestyle companies,” said Ben Serotta, Founder and CEO of Serotta Competition Bicycles. “As a veteran of the athletic industry and a sports enthusiast, Dave will build the Serotta brand and expand our retail presence in key markets.”

Prior to joining Serotta, Powers spent more than 17 years with Saucony, Inc., a global performance athletic footwear and apparel manufacturer. His experience includes four years as director of sales for Saucony’s U.S. division and six years as director of international sales for the European division. He lived in Heidelberg, Germany for several years where he served as director of Saucony’s European headquarters. Powers also spent a decade as the national sales manager for UK and Hood Sailmakers, leading multi-national companies in the sailing industry.
Powers is an accomplished athlete, who rowed on the men’s varsity crew team at Boston University under 1964 Olympic Gold Medallist, Hugh Foley. Powers has also participated in numerous road bike, mountain bike, duathlon and triathlon competitions. He competed in both Ironman Germany (the European Ironman Championships) and Powerman Zofingen (the most prestigious long distance duathlon race of the world).
He plans to reside in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. with his wife Joan and daughters, Kelly (12) and Jennifer (10). His sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jean and Robert Tarrant (owners of the Saratoga Rowing Center) also reside in Saratoga Springs with their daughters, Molly, Melanie and Bonnie.

About Serotta Competition Bicycles: Serotta Competition Bicycles (www.serotta.com) is an American company, based in Saratoga Springs, NY, leading the world in custom bicycle design and handcrafted manufacturing. Focused exclusively on the individual, the end result is a superior bicycle that delivers the ultimate ride for years to come.
Serotta riders, whether avid cyclists or recreational hobbyists, appreciate our holistic fit process that integrates an individual’s size, biomechanical capabilities and fitness goals. This proprietary approach is dramatically different from the industry practice of plugging in basic body measurements and building bikes based on pre-set, generic formulas.
Serotta customization, combined with advanced design, cutting-edge technology, precision assembly and discerning material selection, inspires brand loyalty and promises personalized speed, power, control and performance for each Serotta cyclist.

RacerMate, Inc.  Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Lottery
the manufacturer of the CompuTrainer bicycle trainer/simulator and founder of the Electronic Bicycle Racing Association, celebrates the 30th anniversary this year of the introduction of the "Original Wind Load Trainer."
RacerMate unveiled the world's first bicycle wind trainer in 1976 at the Interbike Show in Anaheim, Calif., to the amusement and consternation of bicycle dealers who jokingly described it as a “treadmill for squirrels.” This invention, in fact, sparked a revolution in indoor bike training that has grown to include magnetic trainers, fluid
trainers, and computer-controlled electronic trainers led by CompuTrainer and Velotron.

RacerMate is commemorating its landmark invention with a search for "Original Wind Load Trainers" that are still in existence. One lucky owner will win a new CompuTrainer! Owners of an "Original Wind Load Trainer" have until December 15, 2006, to enter a lottery for a FREE CompuTrainer model Lab3D complete with Coaching Software, valued at $1,474.00.
The “Original Wind Load Trainer” attaches to the bicycle seat post with a swivel mount, and the wind fans rest on top of the rear tire. The beauty of this design from the viewpoint of performance is that as speed increases so does the press-on force of the fans against the tire---thereby totally eliminating slippage even during rapid acceleration. None of the subsequent copies by companies throughout the world have incorporated this more costly design feature, and as a result, the “Original Wind Load Trainer” remains the best performing wind load trainer of all time. *CompuTrainer 2006*
The fact that many “Original Wind Load Trainers” are still operational after 30 years also attests to the uncompromising quality and durability of all RacerMate trainers.
For more information about the “Original Wind Load Trainer” anniversary and lottery, please visit us on the web at www.racermateinc.com .