WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: 2011 Model Year Anthem Giant Bicycles
Units: About 370
Importer: Giant Bicycle Inc., of Newbury Park, Calif.
Manufacturer: Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd., of Taiwan
Hazard: The frame can crack at the junction of the seat post and top tube, posing a fall hazard to riders.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves 2011 model year Giant Anthem X 29er 1, 2 and 3 model bicycles. The bicycles were sold in small, medium and large. “Giant” and the model name are printed on the bicycle.
Sold by: Authorized Giant Bicycle dealers nationwide during August 2010 for between $2,200 and $3,500.
Manufactured in: Taiwan
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop riding the recalled bicycles and contact any authorized Giant Bicycle dealer for a free inspection and repair.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Giant Bicycle toll-free at (866) 458-2555 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.giant-bicycles.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2010
Release #11-038
Utah Cyclocross Series Race #8 Debuts New Course at Mt. Ogden Golf Course
Photos by Ryan Hamilton and Chris See. Video by Sam Ray. Report by Ryan Hamilton.
By Ryan Hamilton
Bingham flies over the barriers. Photo: Ryan Hamilton
Photo: Ryan Hamilton
Fat tires hold fast on the slippery hill. Photo: Ryan Hamilton
Kris Walker adding to her lead. Photo: Ryan Hamilton
Men’s leaders finishing lap 1. Photo: Ryan Hamilton
Bart Gillespie (left) and Jason Sager fly through the barriers. Photo: Ryan Hamilton
Kelsy Bingham leading the chase group through the barriers. Photo: Ryan Hamilton
Bart Gillespie leads Jason Sager in the Men’s A’s. Gillespie won the race and the State Title. Photo by Chris See. Find more at fredmarx.photoshelter.com
Art O’Conner takes the win in the Men’s 35+ A. Photo by Chris See. Find more at fredmarx.photoshelter.com
Bart Gillespie leads Jason Sager in the Men's A's. Gillespie won the race and the State Title. Photo by Chris See. Find more at fredmarx.photoshelter.com
The temperature finally took a dip this last week and gave local cyclocross racers some cool weather, a nice change from the hot dusty races that have been run so far this year. The organizers of the Utah Cyclocross series pulled out a brand new course for the State Championship race on Nov. 13th. The race was held on the Mt. Ogden Golf Course. This meant grass, and lots of it. Many of the day’s racers had been expecting the course to be a mellow ride over small hills and around trees. The course that met riders when they showed up on Saturday was nothing like that. It was a true World Cup style course, long climbs, lots of off camber sections and fast sweeping descents. It was really the perfect course to host the Utah State Championship race. To top it all off, the Viewmont High School Drumline added some atmosphere to a day of exciting races.
After several flites of C class and age group racers the action turned up a notch when the Women’s A class took the line. All of the usual fast riders were there to contest this year’s state champ title. The race started and Kelsy Bingham took a clean holeshot into the first turn. After half a lap, perennial favorite Kris Walker had a lead of about 10 seconds on the chase group of Kelsy Bingham, Meg Plank and Erika Powers. The race would run like this for nearly the entire 40 minutes. Each lap Walker would add to her lead, eventually finishing the race with an uncontested 1st place. In the last lap Kelsy put in a hard solo effort and finished the race about 30 seconds ahead of the next closest competitor. The real race was on for 3rd. Meg Plank came into the final section just ahead of Erika Powers. Powers tried to go inside to cut ahead, but a big sprint from Plank kept her in front. Since Kris Walker is not a Utah resident this meant Kelsey Bingham took the title of Utah State Champ for 2010 and moved Erika Powers to the bottom step of the podium. Congratulations go out to all four of the top women for putting in a hard effort on a really tough course.
Art O'Conner Wins the Men's 35+ A's. Photo by Chris See
The Men’s A race took place in a similar fashion with a group of 4 taking charge and never looking back. The difference was that there was never a leader. Lap after lap Bart Gillespie, Alex Grant, Jason Sager and Keegan Swenson stayed together with each of them taking turns at the front. After 5 laps Swenson was dropped from the lead pack, but never let 5th place get close. Gillespie commented after the race, “All the riders in the group are very strong and with a course like this it was hard for anyone to really get out in front. If it had rained [and made the grass slick] it would have been a different race.” With the Viewmont High School drumline playing next to the barriers we saw Gillespie take the lead with 1000 meters to go. The crowd held their breath to see if he would be able to hold off the charge from Sager and Grant. Bart “The Beagle” kept on the pedals, flying around the 180 turn just before the finish line and took another state championship title. Grant couldn’t get ahead of Sager, and ended up 3rd to Sager’s second.
After the race and on the UTCX.net forum, comment after comment was made to Matt Ohran about how much everyone liked the course. It had its challenges, some were not big fans of the large climb that took place in the first half of the course, but all in all most really liked the change and the challenge.
Video of the Men’s A’s and Men’s 35+ A’s by Sam Ray
Video of the Women’s A, B, C race by Sam Ray.
Video of the Clydesdale’s, Juniors, and 35 C by Sam Ray
November 13 — Utah Cyclocross Series Race #8 at Mt. Ogden Golf Course, State Championship, Ogden, UT
Jenni Curtis on the Wasatch Crest Trail. Photo: Photo John. See more of Photo John's photos at http://flickr.com/photos/photo-john
Our Fall Winter 2010 Issue is now available as a PDF (8.7 mb download) – Featuring Rider of the Year Awards, Cyclocross coverage and tech, Metal Cowboy Column, A Rockies Bike Tour, Lotoja, 24 Hours of Moab, Spoke Lit review, Delta 7 Profile, 24 Hour Bike Shop Profile, Primal Women’s Pro Team, Using Cycling to Teach Science, The State of US Road Racing, Cross Out Cancer, UBC News, Collective News, Stories of the Road Review, Bicycling Studies, Results, Commuter Column, Mechanics Corner, Calendar and More!
New: The ads in the pdf are now hyperlinks – click on them to go to the advertiser’s webpage.
Pick up a copy at your favorite bike shop or other location today.
Washington, D.C. – November 04, 2010 – The League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking are pleased to announce a new, three-year campaign to double federal funding for bicycling and walking by 2013. The Advocacy Advance initiative is backed by renewed support from SRAM, an innovative maker of bicycle components.
The League and Alliance have been awarded up to $1.2 million from SRAM over the next three years to unite active transportation advocates across the nation and give them tools and resources to secure increased funding from existing federal transportation programs for critical bicycle and pedestrian projects.
“At SRAM we believe that bicycles improve the environment, ease congestion, reduce the cost of transportation and create healthier communities,” says Stan Day, SRAM CEO. “The biggest barrier to increased bicycle use in daily lives is the lack of appropriate infrastructure, and local bicycle advocates are working to break down those barriers across the country. The Advocacy Advance campaign will empower those advocates to dramatically improve conditions for bicyclists.”
The Advocacy Advance partnership was created two years ago, with major funding from SRAM. Under that banner, League and Alliance staff research issues vital to the bicycling community and create reports that give advocates the data and knowledge they need to effectively promote bicycling. The partnership has also awarded more than $500,000 in direct grants, technical assistance and scholarships to build the capacity of local and state bicycle advocacy organizations and jumpstart innovative campaigns.
Building on these successes and stepping up to a new challenge, the Advocacy Advance Team is now strategically targeting federal funding. While bicycling and walking make up 12 percent of all trips in the U.S., those modes receive less than two percent of federal transportation dollars. By 2013, that will change.
“Our initiative to double the federal investment in bicycling and walking projects in three years is both bold and essential to creating more livable communities,” says Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “SRAM’s commitment to Advocacy Advance demonstrates its leadership in the industry, and its faith in the powerful partnership between the League and Alliance to accomplish this goal.”
“We know local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy leaders have both a remarkable passion and the community connections to make real change on the ground,” says Jeffrey Miller, Alliance President/CEO. “The Alliance and the League are committing to work even more closely with those leaders to deliver strategic training, assistance and grants so they can make communities better places to bike and walk.”
More details about Advocacy Advance will be released in coming months.
About the Alliance: The Alliance for Biking & Walking is the North American coalition of more than 165 grassroots biking and walking advocacy organizations. The Alliance works to create, strengthen and unite state and local organizations through research, training, resources, grants and sharing of best practices. www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org
About the League: The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America’s 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. www.BikeLeague.org
On September 25th, the Canyon Sports Bicycle Transit Center (BTC) opened in Salt Lake City at the Intermodal Hub. The new facility combines self-service bicycle storage for commuters, shower facilities, do it yourself repair facilities along with a full service bike shop. The facility was funded through a partnership of the Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, Wasatch Front Regional Council, Utah Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy and the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and will be run by Canyon Sports.
The BTC will have storage for 86 bicycles. Memberships are needed to store a bicycle and are available on a daily, monthly, or yearly basis for $2, $12, or $96 respectively.
The BTC is located in the UTA Intermodal Hub at 250 S., 600 W. in Salt Lake City.
Find out more at bicycletransitcenter.com or call 801-359-0814.
November 3, 2010 – (Taylors, SC) – Checkpoint Tracker Adventure Racing today announces team Odyssey Adventure Racing-IMONPoint.org as the winner of the twenty eight hour race that began on October, 29, 2010 in Moab, Utah. The four person coed elite team including Shane Hagarman, Mark Lattanzi, Jennifer Moos and Charlie Roberts from Salem, Virginia crossed the finish line at 5:19 am MDT after 21 hours and 19 minutes of racing across a 110-mile course. The impressive course included river boarding, kayaking, trekking, ascending, a Tyrolean traverse, rappelling, canyoneering, orienteering and mountain biking.
“We have had a phenomenal year racing in the Checkpoint Tracker series and have been looking forward to the National Championship in Moab since July,” said, Shane, team captain of Odyssey Adventure Racing-IMONPoint.org. “Wow, between the river boarding, breathtaking scenery during the trek, stellar ropes, riding the Slick Rock Trail at night, and racing head to head against the best teams in the country, it was an unforgettable experience. 2011, here we come. Thanks to Odyssey Adventure Racing-IMONPoint.org, all our sponsors, Gravity Play and Checkpoint Tracker.”
For taking first place in the Coed Elite division, team Odyssey Adventure Racing-IMONPoint.org will be awarded $5,000 cash, shoes from Hi-Tec, watches from Tech4o, limited edition knives from SOG Knives & Tools and Terrain Navigator software from MyTopo.com.
The second place team in the Coed Elite division was DART-nuun-SportMulti earning $3,000 and a custom gear package. Third place went to Team Gore-Tex whom will receive $2,000 and a custom gear package.
“Odyssey Adventure Racing-IMONPoint.org have been fierce competitors all year with multiple top five finishes at Checkpoint Tracker events,” said Paul Angell, President of Checkpoint Tracker. “They raced fast and smart here in Moab, on a very challenging course, against the toughest field of competitors assembled at one event all year. We commend their skill, athleticism and sportsmanship. They are truly champions in every sense of the word.“
For a full list of race result including all divisions, please refer to http://www.checkpointtracker.com/2010-Final-Results.xlsx.pdf.
Race Across the Sky 2010 Chronicles Leadville 100
Centennial, Colo. – October 6, 2010 – NCM Fathom, Citizen Pictures and Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM) take audiences for an all-new death-defying journey alongside some of the world’s greatest cyclists and runners for Race Across the Sky 2010, a special in-theater Fathom event to be shown exclusively in more than 550 select movie theaters on Thursday, November 4 at 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT / 6:30 p.m. MT / and 8:00 p.m. PT (tape delayed), with an encore presentation in select locations on Tuesday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. local time. Race Across the Sky 2010 features behind-the-scenes stories from the August 14, 2010 mountain bike race in Leadville, Colo., where world-class and amateur athletes tested their strength, faith and endurance as they compete, along with those aspiring ‘Leadmen’ and ‘Leadwomen’ who go beyond this one-day cycling event to conquer merciless running races during their ambitious five-race endeavor.
Race Across the Sky 2010 will include the all new documentary of tales and tears from the cycling and foot races held this summer and will also feature a live discussion with famous blind adventurer Eric Weihenmayer who rode in this year’s Leadville Trail 100 on a tandem; Olympian cyclists Levi Leipheimer and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelsk; Solo World Female Champion Rebecca Rusch; and Mountain Bike Hall of Famer and six-time Leadville Trail 100 (LT100) champion Dave Wiens, among others.
Tickets to both the live and encore Fathom events are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the web site (theaters and participants may be subject to change).
Citizen Pictures returned to the former mining town of Leadville at 10,200 feet above sea level this August for the Leadville Trail 100, capturing the energy, excitement, drama, human spirit and inspiring stories from one of the most intense endurance races of all time. To film Race Across the Sky 2010, the crew shot breathtaking aerial views of the cyclists as they navigated dangerous mountain terrain and muscled through 14,000 feet of vertical climb.
Race Across the Sky 2010 follows the success of 2009’s Race Across the Sky – Leadville Trail 100 event, which focused on the August 2009 cyclists’ journey – including seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong – from the start line to the finish line. Armstrong won the 2009 race, setting a new record time with 6:28:50 – crossing the finish line with a flattened rear tire.
The upcoming in-theater Fathom event will not only bring stories from the 2010 race to life, but will also update audiences on the latest exploits of the admired 2009 featured athletes. Attendees will witness the impossible from Weihenmayer – who was the first blind climber to summit Mount Everest – and watch as Rusch shatters the old 1996 Women’s record by over 10 minutes.
“Race Across the Sky is truly an inspiration and a breathtaking experience on the big screen,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom. “This event will resonate with everyone in theaters witnessing the triumph of the human spirit over what seem like impossible odds. We will meet up with some old friends from last year’s 2009 Race Across the Sky and some new athletes and experts who reflect on their own personal journeys to and through this amazing challenge of grit and determination in high altitude.”
The Leadville Trail 100 began as a running race 27 years ago and mountain bike racing was added in 1994, becoming a competition with more than 1,000 entries. It has become increasingly popular, more than doubling its number of entries over the last six years.
Race Across the Sky – 2010 will appear in 552 theaters, including AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Clearview Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Goodrich Quality Theatres, Hollywood Theaters, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, Malco Theatres, Marcus Theatres, National Amusements, Rave Motion Pictures, R/C Theatres and Regal Entertainment Group movie theaters, as well as Bainbridge 5 (Seattle, WA), The Carolina (Asheville, NC), the Palace Cinema 9 (South Burlington, VT) and The Peerless Theatre (Holyoke, CO), through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network – North America’s largest cinema broadcast network.
Bicycles Recalled by Easton Sports; Seat Post Poses Fall Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Bicycles with 2010 EC90 Zero seat posts
Units: About 200
Importer: Easton Sports, of Scotts Valley, Calif.
Hazard: The carbon top clamp of the seat post can crack, posing a fall hazard to the user.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves bicycles with 2010 EC90 Zero seat posts. The EC90 Zero seat posts are black with red and gray graphics. “EC90” is printed on the post.
Sold at: Turner Suspension Bicycles, Ibis Cycles and Security Bicycle Accessories retailers nationwide from April 2010 through August 2010 for between $150 and $200.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop riding the bicycles and contact any authorized Easton Sports for a free replacement top seat clamp.
Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Easton Sports toll-free at (866) 892-6059 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.eastonbike.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11027.html
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2010
Release #11-027
CROSS OUT CANCER
Utah Cyclocross (UTCX) Supports Local Cancer Patients and Joins Lance Armstrong Foundation in Fight Against Cancer
Salt Lake City, Utah – October 26, 2010 — Utah Cyclcross (www.utcx.net) in support of local cancer patients, joins the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s (LAF) fight against cancer by raising funds through CROSS OUT CANCER, a cyclocross ride for all ages and abilities held in conjunction with the Utah Cyclocross Series. The ride will be held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday November 27. 2010 at Wheeler Historic Farm, located at 6351 S. 900 E. Salt Lake City, Utah 84121. To register for the event or for more information visit www.utcx.net. In addition to the ride, there will be an auction with proceeds benefiting LAF. Companies are encouraged to contact UTCX if they are interested in contributing items for the auction.
When Utah cyclist and a member of the USA Cycling National Team Connor O’Leary (19 years old) was diagnosed with cancer this past summer, he and the cycling community knew they had to get involved to help others fighting this disease. The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Lance Armstrong personally have been a critical part of Connor’s care, so he was excited when his father, David O’Leary, suggested teaming up with Utah Cyclocross (www.utcx.net) to create CROSS OUT CANCER, a fun cyclocross event supporting LAF.
Utah Cyclocross organizer Matt Ohran stated, “When David O’Leary approached me about doing a fundraiser for Cancer I was honored that he thought that Utah Cyclocross could help make a difference. Hearing about his son Connor’s condition was heart breaking. I watched Connor mature into a very strong cyclist over the past years both on the road and at the UTCX series. I also immediately thought of Matt Bradley one of our most passionate Crossers who just had his foot amputated just below the knee, and of Cindi Yorgason, one of our race officials who both are battling cancer. The answer was an immediate YES – let’s figures out how and what we need to do to make this happen.”
CROSS OUT CANCER allows individuals in the greater Salt Lake City area to do something bold in the face of cancer by demonstrating support for local patients and by supporting the mission of the LAF to inspire and empower people affected by cancer.
UTCX has pledged to donate 100% of registration proceeds from this special ride, which will be held in the middle of the normal cylocross races for the day, to LAF. This event is in support of the many members of our community fighting against cancer including numerous cyclists who are currently battling this disease.
David O’Leary, a Lance Armstrong Foundation Fundraiser said, “We are proud and excited to be supporting this event and join thousands of other LAF supporters around the world in raising much needed funds to fight this disease that affects over 28 million people world wide. Together, we can help people with cancer live life on their own terms.”
The event will be held snow, rain, sleet or shine and all in attendance are encouraged to wear yellow, the color of LAF (LIVESTRONG). O’Leary went on to say, “Whether someone rides or simply comes to watch, they will be involved in an incredibly exciting event and will have personally helped to CROSS OUT CANCER.”
Funds raised through CROSS OUT CANCER will enable the LAF to continue helping people across the nation with the physical, emotional and practical challenges of cancer. Since its inception in 1997, the LAF has raised over $325 million to fight cancer.
What is Cyclocross?
Cyclocross is a competitive sport on a bicycle during the fall/winter months. A cross bike looks like a road bike but has knobby tires and mountain bike cantilever brakes. Course’s have a mix of dirt, grass, and pavement. Laps are shorter and usually take anywhere from 8 to 12 minutes depending on the venue. 1, 2 sometimes 3 barrier sections are set up that usually require you to dismount your bike, run with your bike, and then remount your bike. These dismount and run sections also help keep the feet warm on a cold race day. Races last anywhere from 40 minutes to 1 hour depending on the category. Cyclocross is the FASTEST growing segment of cycling currently in the United States. Cyclocross is very spectator friendly and there are categories for all ages and abilities, even Kiddie Cross.
About the Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Lance Armstrong Foundation inspires and empowers people affected by cancer. We provide the practical tools and resources survivors need to live life on their own terms. Our goal is to create a fundamental change in the expectations and experience of living with cancer and to lead and sustain a survivorship movement to help eliminate suffering due to cancer. We believe that in the battle with cancer, unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. The LAF was founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong and is located in Austin, Texas.
For more information:
Matt Ohran
801-718-7165 [email protected]
Utah Cyclocross (www.utcx.net)
David O’Leary
801-560-2860 [email protected]
Lance Armstrong Foundation Fundraiser
Allison Wright
512- 279-8356 [email protected]
Lance Armstrong Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Revl carbon bicycle brakes
Units: About 500
Importer: Perigeum Development Inc., dba The Hive, of Petaluma, Calif.
Hazard: The cable clamping area of the bicycle brakes can crack over time, causing the brakes to fail. This could pose a fall or crash hazard to the cyclist.
Incidents/Injuries: No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recall involves black Revl carbon road bicycle brakes with date codes 41B, 44B, 45B, 53B, 13C and 16C printed on the underside of the carbon brake arms. “Revl” is printed on the brake.
Sold at: Bicycle specialty stores nationwide from September 2009 through August 2010 for about $390 per set.
Manufactured in: Taiwan
Remedy: Consumers should stop using their bicycles with these recalled brakes and contact The Hive for replacement parts and instruction to repair their brakes or contact their retailer to perform the repair free of charge.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact The Hive at (800) 801-9936 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11010.html
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2010
Release #11-010
UTCX race number 2 was upon us on a cool clear October 9th. After racing there so many times in 2009 it was beginning to feel a little stagnant and over done. Matt Ohran, director of the UTCX series did a great job of changing the route just enough to make things interesting again.
The start line was in the usual place, just north of the parking area. The racers headed east before dropping down to a fast grassy sweeping curve then into the first of the short climbs included on the course. After a quick left hand turn and a drop down the side of the hill the course encountered it’s first change. After picking up speed through the ravine riders were forced over the top of the next hill and onto the other side to get around a large log before making the 180 turn. It added an element of difficulty as the corner was tight and off camber forcing riders to manage their speed and bike handling skills to keep forward momentum and stay on track. After winding back to the other side onto another off camber section we found ourselves on the sandy horse race track in the center of the Fairgrounds. The damp ground kept the sand packed and made for a relatively solid surface on which to ride, as long as you didn’t venture into the inside of the track to cut some distance off of this section of the course. Instead of the usual short section of the track that we got used to last year, we stayed on the track for around 500 yards before heading back through the infield gates and hitting the triple-barrier section.
The remainder of the course was mostly the same as last year, winding back and forth around the steeplechase grounds. There was an extra single-log barrier that most found too difficult to hop and were forced to remount on a mellow uphill section. Some riders opted to continue the run to the top while others remounted and rode the rest; racers didn’t seem to come to a consensus on the fastest way to accomplish this section. The usual double log-barrier was in effect with riders dismounting to jump the stacked logs with most remounting to hop the single log barrier that is now scarred from wheels and chainrings. I managed to put my own stamp on the log once or twice in an ill timed attempt at bunny-hopping the obstacle. A quick couple of S-turns and it was back to the Start-Finish line.
The Slyfox cash zone was in effect with lots of dollar bills, and a few hundred dollar bills, being handed out to those willing to go just a little off course. Racers must be donating quite a bit because the gilly suited madman, that we call our own, always had his mitts full of fresh cash to hand out. Racers were happy to find that the usual bumper crop of goat-heads had been stymied by weed killer before any of the thorns could mature enough to be a threat.
After landing many top 10 performances last year but never a podium, Women’s A racer, Kelsy Bingham managed a first place finish. Perennial strong woman Kris Walker took 2nd. And our own local pro Kathy Sherwin rounded things out with a 3rd place finish immediately after taking 2nd place in the Mens 35+ B race; glutton for punishment that Kathy Sherwin.
Photo: Jen Hamilton
In the Men’s A race, local working man’s hero Bart Gillespie added one more 1st place finish to his trophy wall. Jason Sager took 2nd and Reed Wycoff ended up 3rd in a tightly contested race.
Geelong, Australia (Sept. 30, 2010) – David Zabriskie (Salt Lake City, Utah/Garmin-Transitions) posted the top result for the United States with an eighth-place finish in the elite men’s time trial at the 2010 UCI Road Cycling World Championships on Thursday. The youngest rider in the 42-man field; Tejay Van Garderen (Fort Collins, Colo./Columbia-HTC) finished in 24th place.
Zabriskie, who was amongst the day’s favorites after earning the silver in 2006 and bronze in 2008, posted a time of 1:01:00.60 over the 45.6-kilometer course. The four-time USA Cycling Professional Time Trial Champion completed the first of two laps around downtown Geelong under the 30 minute mark which put him amongst the medal contenders. There were however seven powerhouse riders to follow and Zabriskie was pushed down to eighth.
As a Pro Tour rider for the HTC-Columbia team, 22 year-old Van Garderen was not able to race amongst the U23s yesterday making him the youngest rider amongst today’s elite men’s field. Just off the Vuelta Espana, the youngster was able to put up a time of 1:02:50.08 for 24th place on a deceivingly tough course on a chilly and windy day.
“After the Vuelta and then with the time change I just couldn’t get on top of it out of the corners,” explained Van Garderen. “I just didn’t have that snap; just missing that little edge. The course is a fun one. It has a little bit of everything: rollers, flats, bumpy roads, wind. If I was on a great day it may have been the perfect course for me.”
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland earned his fourth elite time trial world title in impressive fashion with a time of 58:09.19; more than one minute faster than silver medalist David Millar (GBR). Tony Martin of Germany earned the bronze which, much to the dismay of the Australian crowd, pushed a pair of Aussies out of medal contention.
On Friday six American men will tackle the 159-kilometer U23 men’s road race beginning at 1:00 p.m. local time.
The moon was full, the Las Vegas lights shimmered in the distance, the crowds were noisy and the racing was hot at CrossVegas. In a show of force, Czech National Cyclocross Champion Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) soloed to victory, her first at the race after taking second the past two years.
“This is one of my favorite races and it’s a good crowd tonight.” Nash said. “Every time you win it’s super exciting it wasn’t easy out there, it’s a super tough course. I just put in a good effort maybe half-way through the race, the gap kept growing. I had teammates back there, they were super strong but they weren’t going to let me go so I put my head down and Mary was riding extremely strong today. CrossVegas is a big deal and it’s exciting to win out here.”
From the start of the race, the women of Luna Pro Team were in total control of the 40-minute race. Nash and her teammates Georgia Gould, and Amy Dombroski went immediately to the front and established a fast paced tempo. Joining the lead group was former US National cross country champion, Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven Cycles).
With three laps to go Nash attacked hard and established a huge lead. The battle was on for the remaining podium slots.
“I knew where my race was and I had to be smart about it. I was pretty much soft-pedaling on the front, neither of them would come around. Finally a little bit of help on windy sections but got a little blocked off on the last hillclimb,” said McConneloug.
Though McConneloug pressed the Luna Pro Team riders, Dombroski timed her attack in the final lap and prevailed to take second.
“Last year that was where I was able to get out of the group that I was with.” Dombroski used her knowledge of the course to attack on the climb. “You have to attack where it’s hard, I think that’s probably one of the hardest part, because it’s a steep hill, the grasses are real dry, I just of gave it everything there and tried to keep turning the pedals over even though I was totally inside out.”
McConneloug came in third, with Gould finishing fourth.
Francis Mourey (left) won the race in a dramatic sprint. Tim Johnson is on the right.
The Elite Men’s race looked to be a repeat of last year when defending champion Jamey Driscoll Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) took a solo flyer halfway through the race and looked to set to repeat. But that wasn’t counting on French Cyclocross Champion Francis Mourey (FDJ), just coming off from back-to-back wins in Seattle, who nipped Driscoll at the line after a final lap surge to take the win.
“Tonight, an enormous crowd. I think that for Americans, cyclocross is a big party, and we saw that tonight the crowd was present, it was a really beautiful evening.” Mourey said. It is Mourey’s first visit to Las Vegas and he compared it to the first time a child see a Christmas tree. “Grandiose.”
“It’s a bummer to be out there and try so hard and get nipped by half a wheel at the line, but his reputation precedes him, he’s a darned good bike rider.” Driscoll said after the race.
Two laps into the 60-minute race, Driscoll attacked the lead group and managed to build a gap of up to 24 seconds. Behind him, a chase group was formed which included Ryan Trebon (Kona), Chris Jones (Rapha Focus), Jonathan Page (Planet Bike), Christian Heule (Vc Gippingen Champion System), Gerben De Knegt (Rabobank-Giant Off Road) and Driscoll’s teammates US National Cyclocross Champion Tim Johnson and Jeremy Powers. Even though Johnson and Powers were playing defense, the gap slowly started to come down, with Trebon and Jones taking turns at the front.
Driscoll could see them coming but was buoyed by the fans. “That was pretty crazy. I was getting blinded by the flashes but the crowd was totally electrifying it was awesome to have hem cheering me on, it definitely raised my spirits out there.”
Tired from traveling, the Frenchman bidded his time in the group.“I knew that I had a chance to win in a sprint and I wagered my race on a sprint and it worked”.
With half a lap to go, Mourey put in a huge surge and was able to sprint ahead of Driscoll to pip him at the line. De Knegt came in third right after Driscoll.
