Cycling News Today 9 March 2006
Central Valley Classic Weather Warning, Georgia Bikes "Share the Road," Symmetrics Vuelta Sonora, Suzuki Sponsors ColaVita Teams, Hans Rey Launches Wheels For Life, Race in Belgium with UK Club Kingsnorth Wheelers.

Race Notes:
Central Valley Classic
Extreme Weather for ITT Friday:
Weather reports for the Tollhouse area indicate a strong cold front will move into the area overnight, and the snow level may descend as low as 500 feet. Snow accumulations may be anywhere from a trace to a couple of inches. The real problem however will be the amount of ice and debris on the time trial course, making the road dangerous or impassible for riders and support vehicles.

This is highly unusual weather pattern for this time of year in central California. Thank you for your patience and understanding through this situation. We are working hard to provide a challenging but safe event for everyone.

We will know more in the morning, and will confirm the final location at 8:00 am. For logistics purposes, the alternate Time Trial location will be 10 miles east of Fresno, approximately a 25 minute drive from central Fresno.
Central Valley Classic A final decision on the location of the CVC time trial will be made Friday morning, March 10th, at 8:00 am. Before you leave your hotel or host house, please check the website tomorrow morning, call the CVC hotline at 559-233-8052, or sign up on the website to receive email notifications.
Central Valley Classic Race Committee

Georgia Bikes
"Share the Road"
Following up on yesterdays article about Georgia Rides to the Capital. I had to pass along a bit of  advocacy news on the new license plate available to Georgia residents for their vehicles. Income generated by the plates will be used by the state for motorist and cyclist safety, education, and awareness projects and programs.
Better yet the plate is a constant reminder to motorists to share the road with Cyclists. They say, "Any good idea has wings," and this one might be something you'd like to duplicate in your state or Country.
Georgia needs 1000 application for the plates to make them available and the count is now at 630; so if your in Georgia take some time to look at the Georgia Bikes site and participate. Details below:

The Georgia SHARE THE ROAD specialty license plate is really going to happen... once the state receives at least 1,000 applications of $25 each in 2006. So lets make it quick and fun. Lets turn it into a race. The challenge is a friendly, unofficial, competition with the new NASCAR plates to be the first to the 1,000 point line.

On Tuesday, January 3, go to the local “tag office” in your county of residence. Take your identification and $25 directly to the counter staff asking to apply for the Georgia SHARE THE ROAD specialty license plate. Be sure to get and save your receipt. Once there are at least 1,000 applications (hopefully we will have won the race with NASCAR), the state will begin manufacturing the plates and distributing them to those county tag offices where applications were submitted. You will can get your tag on your normal renewal date; or you have the option of getting the plate early for an additional $25. The standard fees will be a one-time, $25, plate manufacturing fee (which will be credited if you provide your application fee receipt) and the annual, $25, specialty license plate fee. You are still responsible for your standard, annual, $20, registration fee and any of your applicable ad valorem taxes.

Note that ALL of the $25, annual, SHARE THE ROAD specialty license plate fee is intended to go to the Governor's Office Of Highway Safety (pending the state's yearly general appropriations process) for use in motorist and cyclist safety, education, and awareness projects and programs. Note too that the $25 application fee will be refundable in the unlikely event that 1,000 are not received by the end of 2007.

Symmetrics Vuelta Sonora - Arizona /Mexico
Cooper wins U23 Jersey, Wohlberg 6th Overall in Mexico
Feb 28 – March 5, 2006
Symmetrics Cycling capped off a week of racing in Mexico with one stage win, several podiums, the U23 jersey, a GC top place and mostly, some solid training and valuable UCI points.
Symmetrics veteran Eric Wohlberg was sitting third, just 16 seconds behind the leader by the mid point of the race, but hopes of taking the leader's jersey were dashed by some bad luck.

Wohlberg flatted at a crucial moment in stage 4 and ended up losing time, ultimately dropping to sixth overall. With just 1.5km to go from the finish, Wohlberg double-flatted. A very fast bike change from Andrew Randell meant he could limit his losses. However, the team did take home a leader's jersey - Marsh Cooper did some fine riding to win the U23 jersey.

The final stage was shortened to 90km and the team rode very well, lined out in full force behind the strong Tecos Mexican pro team. After Wohlberg's win in stage 3, the team was hungry to end off the Mexican adventure in style with a win. Unfortunately, the course was not entirely conducive to attacking - it was a flat corner-less oval with some sweeping bends - essentially a vacuum.
Langley's Svein Tuft, testing his legs for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, did get in a move for a good part of the race but the peloton wanted a sprint - which is exactly what happened. The S-Team was at the front in the final kilometers with a strong leadout. Andrew Pinfold was the go-to man for the sprint and got bumped in the final bump, scrubbing some speed: Pinner still took home fourth and all GC riders finished safely in the bunch.

After 6 stages of tough racing, the Symmetrics Cycling team had the following to boast:
- 1st U23 Jersey
- 1st Stage 3
- 2nd Stage 4
- 3rd Stage 4
- 3rd Team GC
- 4th Stage 6
- 4th Stage 1
- 6th on GC

Now, with tans from sunny racing in Mexico, the team heads to rainy California. The racing in Mexico definitely provided some solid racing to get the team's legs going for 2006. The squad will take their early season form and meet up with other American pros at the Central Valley Classic in Fresno, California.

Rider & Team Sponsor News:
American Suzuki Rides with ColaVita
Sponsors Men and Women's Cycling Teams 2006/2007
To further communicate its “Way of Life” brand strategy and illustrate how its products play an integral part of consumers’ active lifestyles, American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) today announced a multi-year agreement with the Colavita men’s and women’s cycling teams. The team sponsorship makes Suzuki the official motor vehicle sponsor of both the Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Winery Men’s Cycling Team and Colavita/Cooking Light Women’s Cycling Team.

The ColaVita Team Suzuki Forenza

“Suzuki and the Colavita men’s and women’s cycling teams are a perfect fit,” said Tom Carney, director of sales and marketing of American Suzuki Automotive Operations. “ASMC’s sponsorship of Team Colavita Cycling is a natural extension of Suzuki’s ‘Way of Life’ philosophy, which focuses on adventure-seeking enthusiasts who choose to live life instead of watch it go by.”

As part of the sponsorship agreement, both the Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Winery Men’s Cycling Team and Colavita/Cooking Light Women’s Cycling Team will use a custom-wrapped Suzuki Forenza Wagon as their team vehicle throughout the 2006/2007 racing seasons. Additionally, the men’s team will display the Suzuki logo on their race uniforms in 2007.

“We are pleased to welcome American Suzuki Motor Corporation as a sponsor of the Colavita men’s and women’s cycling teams,” said John Profaci, vice president of marketing of Colavita Olive Oil. “The versatility of the Forenza Wagons will be a real asset for our teams as they travel across the country to race and train.”

The Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Winery Men’s Cycling Team began the season ranked #2 in USA Cycling’s standings after just three seasons on the pro circuit. Some of the team’s top cyclists include Mark McCormack, ranked #2 in the NRC Men’s Individual Standings and a former USPRO Road Champion; Belarus-native and two-time winner of the International Cycling Classic Viktor Rapinski; Kyle Wamsley, who ranked first at the Tour of Somerville and third at the USPRO & USCF Criterium Championships in 2005; and Davide Frattini of Varese, Italy, winner of La Vuelta de Bisbee and the Giro d’Italia Elite under 26.

With the signing of 2005 NRC Champion and four-time National Criterium Champion Tina Pic and other former members of the Quark squad, the Colavita/Cooking Light Women’s Cycling Team enters the 2006 racing season with its strongest line up to date. The team’s top returning cyclists include Canadian Time Trial champion and Fitchburg Longsjo winner Sue Palmer-Komar, and Dotsie Cowden, who distinguished herself with breakthrough rides at the Tour of Gila and Tour of Altoona in 2005.

Suzuki’s sponsorship of the Colavita men’s and women’s cycling teams supports its emerging and invigorating “Way of Life” brand advertising campaign, designed to increase brand awareness and catapult the company into the outdoor enthusiast automotive landscape. In 2006, Suzuki will look to promote its sponsorship of the cycling teams through national and local programs/initiatives, including locally based dealer efforts.

2006 Forenza Wagon: The 2006 Forenza Wagon, which will be featured throughout the Team Colavita men’s and women’s racing season, offers a sporty appearance that provides first-class visibility, refined and spacious interior and overall versatility to meet the needs of consumers’ adventurous lifestyles. The Forenza Wagon comes in one well-equipped model with one available upgrade package and a starting MSRP of $14,499.
Suzuki Product Line: Suzuki offers an impressive and versatile product line, which includes the 2006 Grand Vitara, the popular Forenza sedan and Forenza wagon, the five-door Reno, the Aerio and Aerio SX, the Verona and the Suzuki XL-7, one of America’s most affordable seven-passenger SUVs.

About American Suzuki: The Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was founded in 1985 by Suzuki Motor Corporation. ASMC markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of more than 540 automotive dealerships in 49 states. ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle and outboard motors manufacturer with sales of more than 2 million new vehicles annually. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has operations in 125 countries. For more information, go to www.suzukiauto.com

About Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Winery
Now celebrating its 25th year, Colavita USA LLC, headquartered in Linden, NJ, is a leading marketer of Italian specialty food products. A family-owned business, Colavita imports and distributes the #1 brand of Italian extra-virgin olive oil in the U.S. as well as durum wheat semolina pasta, a full selection of balsamic and wine vinegars, and many other fine Italian products. www.Colavita.com.
Trinchero Family Estates is wholly owned and operated by the Trinchero family, Napa Valley vintners since 1948. The company produces the wines of Sutter Home, Trinchero, Montevina, Wild Bunch, Trinity Oaks, Folie à Deux, Menage à Trois, the number one alcohol-removed wine, Fre, and imports Angove’s, Reynolds Vineyards and Little Boomey wines of Australia. For more information, visit www.tfewines.com
Founded in 1987, Cooking Light (www.cookinglight.com) is the world’s largest food magazine. Each month, more than 11 million consumers turn to Cooking Light to “eat smart, be fit and live well.” CookingLight.com provides daily food and fitness updates, healthy recipes and nutrition advice to millions of unique visitors every year.

Tyler Hamilton Foundation
Hosts Race Series
Over the next few months, THF in collaboration with DBC Events (Denver-Boulder Couriers) will host a series of Criteriums and Road Races. You can find the whole schedule at www.dbcevents.com  or here.
The goal for THF of the unsanctioned races is to encourage as many people, especially junior cyclists, to try it out and get on a bike. Junior cyclists do not pay any registration fee. There is also a citizens race for people that have not raced before – another opportunity to explore the world of cycling.
We have also contacted all the teams in Colorado to see what opportunities are available for juniors and provided the opportunity for teams and organizations to use the THF booth for materials, etc.
There is an article in Cycling News about last week’s events that Scott Moninger of Health Net won.
We encourage you to spread the word and if you are in Colorado, stop by with or without your bike.

Kingsnorth International Wheelers
Recruiting Riders to Race in Belgium
The British club, Kingsnorth International Wheelers are recruiting riders to join them in Belgium.
The team, under the directorship of Gentenaar Staf Boone, have their base in and around Ghent and again will have a programme of kermeses and interclub races.

Among the winners last year were Tasmanian, Darren Young, 19 year old Lithuanian Tomas Tareilis, and evergreen Patrick Vanhoulandt, who is still winning races at 42 years old.

Clothing and transportation are provided and the team offers cheap accomodation.
For further details contact Staf Boone (Bel), 00 32 9 2250096, Peter Murphy (GB) 00 44 1233 636443 or Ian Whitehead (GB) 00 44 1689 896292
The Kingsnorth Club web page can be viewed on www.ruxleycycles.co.uk

Advocacy News
Hans Rey
Launches Wheels 4 Life
It is my pleasure to announce that I have just launched a non-profit charity called Wheels 4 Life: www.wheels4life.org.
The goal of this charity is to provide thousands of people in Third World countries with bicycles so that they can elevate their standard of living. For many people, a bicycle can make all the difference to escape the vicious circle of the poverty trap.

I have traveled to almost 60 countries, and have met and sometimes worked with people who make much less that $200 US per year. Often they live in remote villages and the only form of transportation they have is their feet. It is often too long of a walk to get to a job, go to school or to the market to sell their goods.
Wheels 4 Life will also support healthcare workers, nurses and doctors to enable them to be more mobile, allowing them to see more patients in less time.

I'm working with local agencies, organizations, schools and healthcare groups to assure the bikes donated will end up in the hands of people who really need them. All of my work is on a volunteer basis, and I pay all of my own expenses while working for W4L. We will keep administrative costs to a minimum to assure that the maximum amount of money goes to purchasing bikes.

A donation of any amount is appreciated. For $150 we can buy a person a brand-new 6-speed bicycle that is specially designed for the rural areas and has durable, easy-to-replace components. This price includes all shipping, duty and tax costs.
How can you help?
• Donate to our website. Any amount is appreciated. It's easy, fast, and secure to pay by credit card or PayPal at www.wheels4life.org.
• Forward this message to your friends, family and co-workers.
• Link the Wheels 4 Life website to your or your company's website (banners and buttons available at our site).
• If you are a media representative, I'd be very appreciative if you could give us a plug/write-up.
• If you are a Corporation, please consider a Corporate Sponsorship for minimum of $1000 per year.
Thank you very much for your consideration and support.

Hans Rey has been a professional athlete for 20 years, he still travels the world promoting biking and riding the unridable. He has been competing and demonstrating his talents in 60 countries, in recent years he been filming documentaries with his 'Hans Rey Adventure Team', combining his extreme biking skills with different cultures and always in search of something historical or mysterious.

With 'Wheels 4 Life' Hans wants to give something back to the people he met on his journey's, he so very grateful for the opportunities and career he had through the sport. A bicycle can make all the difference in a persons life. It can be the difference between having a job or not, going to school or not, seeing a doctor or being seen by a doctor or not, etc......
For us bicycles are recreational equipment, for some people it can be survival.
Thanks for taking the time and consideration to help
Hans Rey