MTB News & Racing Round-up, November 27, 2009

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Date published:

November 27, 2009, 23:16

Edited by Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

Welcome to our regular roundup of what's happening in mountain biking. Feel free to send feedback, news, & releases to mtb@cyclingnews.com and results, reports & photos to cyclingnews@cyclingnews.com.

• Lofer, Austria to host 24-hour race

  

  Article published:

  November 27, 2009, 17:00

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  New mountain bike event to raise money for youth welfare organization

  A new 24-hour mountain bike race is coming to Autria in the spring of 2010. The first edition of the 24 hours of Lofer will be run on May 22-23 in the center of Saalachtal in Lofer. The event will benefit a youth welfare organization Pro Juventute.

  The race will be run on a 5.6km course with 78m of climbing per lap. "This may sound unspectacular, but considering the duration of 24 hours, it is quite challenging," predicted organizers.

  "I think we have created an interesting course with some highlights, which on one hand makes for fun and on the other is rideable," said Skyder Sportpromotion's Stephan Salscheider.

  "The race came out of a desire to combine the participants' fun with a charity project."

  Two, four or eight-rider teams will be allowed. The benefit organization, Pro Juventute will send an eight-rider team of celebrities to the race.

  For more information, visit www.24h-lofer.at.

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• New Zealand Cup switches venues

  

  Article published:

  November 27, 2009, 15:26

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Tauranga to replace Whakatane for downhill round five

  A round of the 2010 New Zealand Mountain Bike Cup will switch from Whakatane to Tauranga. Round five will happen at a new downhill race site on Mt. Kopukairoa on February 12-13.

  "Due to unresolvable access issues, Whakatane is unable to host...," read a statement from Mountain Bike New Zealand Event Coordinator Chris Mildon.
  
  Tim Lawton, a key driver behind the Mt. Kopukairoa downhill facility, is excited about the opportunity for the region. "Everything has fallen into place really well for us, with the local riding community right behind this initiative and enthusiastic to host the NZ MTB Cup event."

  The updated schedule of New Zealand events is below.

  RaboPlus New Zealand MTB Cup, Downhill Series (Revised)
  January 8-9: Round 1 - Christchurch
  January 15-17: Round 2 - Dunedin
  January 23-24: Round 3 - Nelson
  February 5-6: Round 4 - Rotorua
  February 12-13: Round 5 - Tauranga
  February 20-21: Round 6 - Rotorua

  RaboPlus New Zealand MTB Cup, Cross Country Series
  January 10: Round 1 - Christchurch
  January 16: Round 2 - Dunedin
  January 23: Round 3 - Nelson
  February 7: Round 4 - Tokoroa
  February 14: Round 5 - Hamilton
  February 20: Round 6 - Rotorua

  RaboPlus New Zealand National Mountain Bike Championships
  February 26 - March 1: Wellington

  New Zealand Marathon National Championships
  March 6: Wellington

  UCI Oceania Mountain Bike Championships
  March 18-21: Dunedin, New Zealand

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• Registration opening for El Reto del Quetzal

  

  Article published:

  November 27, 2009, 15:20

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  New solo category added for 2010 race

  Registration for the 2010 El Reto del Quetzal mountain bike stage race will open on December 1, and spots are limited to 150. The next edition of the race is set for October 8-10.

  "Every year El Reto gets bigger and bigger, but we dont want a crowded race," said promoter Netzer Quan, explaining the relatively small field limit.

  Riders will be able to sign up for the traditional two-person teams, but there is also a new solo category option.

  For more information on the race, visit www.elretodelquetzal.com.

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• Singlespeed worlds registration to open in December

  

  Article published:

  November 27, 2009, 15:01

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Plenty of singlespeed action set for New Zealand, Australia

  The Rotorua Singlespeed Society (RSS) will soon open registration for the 2010 Singlespeed World Championships to be held in Rotorua, New Zealand, on October 22-24, 2010. The race will be held in conjunction with the first Rotorua Bike Festival.

  Entries for Singlespeed Worlds will be taken starting on December 31 at midnight local New Zealand summer time. According to organizers, anyone can enter, but entries will be strictly limited.

  Leading up to the worlds, Kiwi racers will have a chance to fine tune their form at the 2010 New Zealand Singlespeed National Championships on April 24 in Queenstown.

  In the more immediate future, this weekend November 28-29, the Australians will contest their singlespeed nationals. The Hunter Mountain Bike Association is hosting the race at its newest trail network, Awaba in the harbour side city of Newcastle.

  For more information on worlds, visit www.sswc10nz.com, for more information on New Zealand nationals, visit www.qmtbc.co.nz, and for more information on Australian nationals, visit www.twentysixinches.com/ssnats.

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• Tour de Tryptophan 24 Hours of Fullerton Loop for after Thanksgiving

  

  Article published:

  November 26, 2009, 17:08

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Event will benefit Brent Thomson Memorial Fund

  The sixth annual Tour de Tryptophan / 24 hours of the Fullerton Loop will begin on Friday in Southern California and will benefit the Brent Thompson Memorial Fund.

  The fundraiser fun ride will commence at noon on Friday and finish at noon on Saturday. As it is a fun ride with no rules, riders can start or finish at any time - do one lap, go home for the evening and do another in the morning or ride their brains out for 24 hours. Seventeen laps seems to be the reigning record.

  The Fullerton Loop is an 11-mile network of suburban trails that pass through city parks, horse trails, hidden pathways and creekside wilderness. Originally pieced together by Richard Cunningham of Mantis Bikes and Mountain Bike Action fame in 1983, hundreds of people ride and train on the famed loop every day. This 24-hour event was conceived as a celebration of the loop, and an excuse to burn off Thanksgiving dinner while supporting a good cause.

  This year's event honors Brent Thompson, who created most of the trails riders enjoy at Bootleg Canyon, outside of Boulder City, Nevada. Thomson passed away earlier in the year, and his artist son Barret is working with other artists to create a sculpture honoring Brent to be erected onsite at Bootleg Canyon.

  Past recipients of funds raised at the Tour de Tryptophan include Children's Hospital of Orange County, Hans Rey's Wheels 4 Life Charity - benefitting cycling-oriented needs in Africa, the Tara Llanes Recovery Fund and the SoCal High School Cycling League.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed.

• High School Mountain Bike Leagues give thanks

  

  Article published:

  November 26, 2009, 16:13

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  NorCal and SoCal Leagues raise US$100K at CycleFests

  The NorCal and SoCal High School Cycling Leagues raised over $100,000 together at their respective annual CycleFest fundraisers. The SoCal League almost doubled its attendance over 2008.

  "We are very thankful for having had two highly successful CycleFest events this year," said Matt Fritzinger, founder of the NorCal League. "The funds raised will help these leagues keep pace with the enormous growth that is expected for the 2010 season."

  The NorCal CycleFest, which featured Jonathan Vaughters of the Garmin Cycling Team, was supported by a long list of silent auction donors and sponsors, among them Specialized Bicycle Components, Fox Racing Shox, GU Sports, Ritchey Logic, NCNCA, Mountain Hardwear, Syncros, Mike's Bikes, Clif Bar, Marin Cyclists, and McGuire Real Estate. The weekend's festivities, comprised a cocktail reception, gala dinner, and 50-mile CHP-supported ride, raised a total of more than US$60,000 and were attended by 400 people.

  The SoCal Interscholastic Cycling League enjoyed a massive boost in attendance over its first-year fundraiser in 2008. Bob Roll entertained 150 diners aboard the Queen Mary luxury ocean liner, moored at Long Beach. Many companies contributed to the dinner and silent auction, including Kaiser Federal Bank, Team Sho-Air, Specialized Bicycle Components, SoCal Endurance, Turner Bikes, Stan's Monrovia Cyclery, Mellow Johnny's, PAA Cycling Club, and Team Kareen. A total of US$40,000 was raised.

  "I am inspired that in these difficult times so many people came out to support the growth and sustainability of the SoCal League," said SoCal Director Matt Gunnell. "We had 85 people at our inaugural event in 2008 and 150 in 2009. With this type of support, I see a strong future for the League."

  The emerging Colorado High School Cycling League will have its inaugural CycleFest dinner in Denver, on April 24, 2010.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed.

• Vera Carrara plans comeback, Olympic mountain bike gold

  

  Article published:

  November 25, 2009, 13:27

  By:

  Gregor Brown

  Multiple World Champion on track aims for London, on the trails

  Italy's Vera Carrara is making a comeback to cycling with the goal of winning gold at the 2012 Olympics in London. She will not be competition on the track, where she is a two-time elite World Champion, but on the dirt trails in the mountain bike discipline.

  "It's still a humble discipline, where it is easier to be in contact with a range of people, with the children. It's made for me," Carrara told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

  Carrara raced professional track rider from 2001 to 2008, winning gold medals in the points race at the 2005 and 2006 World Championships. She retired after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she finished 14th in the points race.

  "The motor exists, but I lack the technique," she continued. Italy's two-time Olympic mountain bike gold medallist "Paola Pezzo has already told me that she will advise me. I love challenges: there are two and a half years to go to London, I can do it."

  She will work with the same trainer as Marco Pinotti and Noemi Cantele, Omar Beltran. She will teach young cyclists the same methods Beltran teaches, that it is possible to win without doping.

  "I want to eliminate the culture of suspicion. Many times, ten minutes after I'd won a race, I would heard some bothersome statements that would not allow me to enjoy my moment."

  Carrara will start in her first mountain bike race in January at South America's TransAndes Challenge. She will compete in the six-stage race over the Andes mountain range with Beltran.

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