MTB News & Racing Round-up, Thursday, January 27, 2011

• Previous Edition
• Next Edition

Date published:

January 27, 2011, 18:00

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.

• Whole Athlete-Specialized kicks off 2011 with winter training camp

  

  Article published:

  January 24, 2011, 22:27

  By:

  Cycling News

  Development squad gets in early season training together

  The Whole Athlete-Specialized Cycling Team held its first team training camp of 2011 at the Whole Athlete Performance Center in Marin County, California this weekend.

  True to the company's holistic philosophy, the team not only enjoyed road and mountain bike riding on the bucolic back roads and scenic slopes of the famed Mt. Tamapais, but also practiced yoga each day, were treated to organic meals and participated in an array of presentations and workshops from sponsors, docs and supporters.

  From Team Sport Psychologist Dr. Joan Steidinger leading the young athletes in finding their "power zone", to kinesiology taping expert and Team Chiropractor Dr. Sara LeMarch showing the kids how to prevent and treat common injuries, the junior and under 23 riders were treated like professionals.

  For the 2011 season, the team will focus on the US Pro XCT series and National Championships, with the additional goal of again qualifying riders to the world championship team. In 2010, four juniors from the team represented the US in Mont Sainte Anne.

  Junior and Under 23 cross country racers comprise the bulk of the team, with a small contingent of Under 23 road-focused athletes as well. The young athletes range in age from 14-19, including current US National Champions, Kate Courtney (cross country), Keegan Swenson (cross country) and Zach Valdez (24-hour).

  Guided by their philosophy of "dedication, integrity and fun", the Whole Athlete-Specialized Development Team is a non-profit funded program providing young cyclists avenues to the higher levels of the sport.

  2011 Whole Athlete - Specialized Team

  Junior men - cross country
  Tony Smith (17/18)
  Max Houtzager (17/18)
  Keegan Swenson (17/18)
  Bobby Zidek (17/18)
  Sven Beer (17/18)
  Taylor Smith (17/18)
  Eliel Anttila (17/18)
  Johnny Kaufmann (15/16)
  Lucas Newcomb (15/16)

  Junior women - cross country
  Sofia Hamilton (17/18)
  Victoria Yoham (17/18)
  Kate Courtney (15/16)
  MacKinzie Stanley (15/16)
  Josie Nordrum (15/16)

  Under 23 men - cross country
  Will Curtis
  Zach Valdez
  Riley Predum
  Will Patterson

  Under 23 men - road
  Nick Newcomb
  Alec Kassin
  Nick Kinney
  Cody Tapley

• Mellow Johnny's Classic upgraded to UCI Cat. 1 status

  

  Article published:

  January 25, 2011, 20:15

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  No certain plans for Armstrong to race cross country at his ranch

  The Mellow Johnny's Classic has been awarded UCI Category 1 status on the international mountain bike calendar. Coming up on April 30, 2011, in Dripping Springs, Texas, the race will again be run on the 450-acre Juan Pelota Ranch owned by Lance Armstrong. It is also a stop in the US Pro XCT series.

  The UCI upgraded the status of the 2011 Mellow Johnny's Classic from category 2 to category 1 in response to requests by the race organization.

  "Our idea was always to grow the event and to set a high bar that we'd hit or go past," the race's Media Liaison Ted Arnold told Cyclingnews. "We had been trying pretty hard to get this designation."

  The Mellow Johnny's Classic came to be - in its first running in November of 2009 - after Lance Armstrong tweeted that he wanted to have a mountain bike event. The resulting race was run - with no UCI categorization - on the Armstrong's Juan Pelota ranch, located about one hour's drive outside of Austin.

  "It all started because Lance tweeted. I was at Interbike and he was in Austin, and we were all able to jump onboard and make the connections needed to make it happen," said Arnold. "A lot of people don't know how much passion Lance has for mountain biking. We had a huge response and sold out the event and we decided to come back in the spring."

  After a promoter dropped out of the US Pro XCT in 2010, Arnold's team saw the opportunity to take the race up a level. The second edition of the Mellow Johnny's Classic ran in May of 2010.

  "We thought the right thing to do was to step up and pick up a Cat. 2 spot offered by USA Cycling for the Pro XCT series. That was our second year."

  Run at the end of May, temperatures were scorching on race day, and many riders found the heat in conjunction with the humidity to be stifling. Fortunately for those negatively affected by racing in the heat, in 2011, the race is moving one month earlier on the calendar.

  "Last year, we ran the race on the only date we could do. It was part of the Texas series, and we had to squeeze into that calendar plus we were limited on options as we stepped into the US Pro XCT," said Arnold.

  "Rolling it back has assuaged some of the fears of the heat. For Texas riders, it's common to race in the heat, but we as organizers preferred an earlier date for more temperate weather. This year, we don't expect it to be nearly as warm." Arnold noted that organizers brought 10,000 pounds of ice to last year's event to keep racers from overheating.

  The 2011 Mellow Johnny's Classic will feature a cross country race, like other US Pro XCT rounds.  As in previous years, a short track will not be included in the weekend's racing.

  "We looked at possibilities for a short track, but it won't be this year," said Arnold. "We tried to work out a way  to re-arrange the schedule, payouts, etc., but it makes more sense to not have it this year, to put on the best cross country event we can, and add the short track for 2012."

  As part of the US Pro XCT, the event is likely to draw some big names. Arnold reported that only the Subaru-Trek team, which includes riders like Heather Irmiger, Sam Schultz and Jeremy Horgan Kobelski, and Rabobank-Giant's Adam Craig are confirmed thus far, but he is expecting others to attend, too. The UCI category 1 designation should help attract racers interested in chasing UCI points as the 2012 London Olympic Games loom on the horizon.

  Max Plaxton and Georgia Gould won the most recent edition of the Mellow Johnny's Classic in 2010.

  Lance or no Lance?

  With Armstrong having wrapped up his international, competitive cycling career and with the earlier date moving the Mellow Johnny's Classic away from the Amgen Tour of California on the domestic calendar, there is a possibility that the seven-time Tour de France winner could attend the race at his own farm, but Arnold thinks it's unlikely.

  "Right now, I'd say probably not," said Arnold of the chances of Armstrong racing come April 30. "With his schedule, we never really know. Obviously, if he decided to show up and do the event, he could. It's always been his decision and a last minute thing. I'd never say never, but at this point he's got no plans that I know of."

  Armstrong, who was not available for comment on this year's race, raced the first edition of the Mellow Johnny's Classic in 2009 although he flatted out. He did not compete in the second edition in 2010.

  With or without Armstrong, the cross country race will be run on a loop taking advantage of some of the nearly 10 miles of trails on his 450-acre ranch. It will feature open, very fast singletrack with lots of ledges and some climbing sprinkled in. Some of the trails have been specially built for the race while others have existed prior to the race.

  "Everyone really seemed to like the course," said Arnold. "The comments we got were that the riders didn't expect it to be as good at it is."

• Ferrand Prevot, Lapeyrie join Team Lapierre International

  

  Article published:

  January 25, 2011, 21:15

  By:

  Cycling News

  French squad sets sights on Olympics

  Pauline Ferrand Prevot and Thomas Lapeyrie are the two newest members of the Lapierre International mountain bike team. They join Alexis Vuillermoz on the 2011 squad.

  Two-time junior cross country world champion Ferrand Prevot will turn 19 in February. The young rider recently finished second in the French cyclo-cross national championship and is also the reigning junior road world champion and French junior time trial national champion.

  "I am happy to be part of Team Lapierre International. It is one of the only teams which enables me to compete at a world class level in all of my disciplines: mountain bike, road, time trialing and cyclo-cross," said Ferrand Prevot.

  "Ultimately, we have the same objective: the Olympics! My current goal is to go to London in 2012, but I am very focused on Rio 2016. Anyway, for the moment I don't want to make a choice between road and mountain bike, as long as I can race effectively in both of them."

  With a winter of hard training already in his legs, Lapeyrie is looking forward to starting his racing season in March. "Although I got my cross country bikes very early from Lapierre, I really enjoy riding a 160mm during the winter. Now, I am looking forward to the pre-season training camps and to the season opener mid-March in Cassis," said Lapeyrie, who is the 2007 French four cross national champion and who finished third in the 2010 Under 23 cross country French Cup.

  Vuillermoz welcomed his two new teammates and is going into the 2011 season with clear objectives.

  "There is a new dynamic in the team, with a very focused target: the Olympics. While I know that selection for London will be extremely tough within the French team, I believe we have everything on our side to reach this goal," said Vuillermoz.

  "I want to be in top condition in order to perform at my best. In a few days, I'm flying to Guadeloupe for two weeks of training. Conditions will be similar to the first World Cup in South Africa and I'll be able to mix road and mountain bike training."

• Orange Monkey - Cannondale registers as UCI team for 2011

  

  Article published:

  January 26, 2011, 16:37

  By:

  Cycling News

  South African Croeser is newest signing for UK-based squad

  The Orange Monkey-Cannondale cross country mountain bike team has been accepted by the UCI as a registered mountain bike team for 2011. The UK-based team, introduced in 2004, has grown each year and will undertake a demanding schedule of races at home and abroad, including five of the six World Cup events.

  South African Rourke Croeser, a multiple-time national champion, is the newest addition to the roster. He will race in the elite/under 23 category along with Ben Roff, who is moving up from the junior category. Paul Beales and Chris Andrews will compete in the elite category while Alex Baker will represent the team in junior races.

  Croeser is beginning his early season in South Africa before heading to the United Kingdom in May. The rest of the team will head to Cyprus for the Sunshine Cup series.

  Team Manager, Will Cooper will head the squad, along with two mechanics and a full pit set up at both domestic and European races.

  The team continues to be supported by Cannondale bikes, which has stepped up to a title sponsorship role. "It's great to see a lot of hard work and dedication, both on and off the bike, be rewarded as the team progresses to UCI status," said Mike Cotty, Cannondale's Marketing Manager. "I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the guys, and Cannondale, on the podium at many more races in 2011".

  The team is also sponsored by Schwalbe Tyres, Bioracer Clothing, KCNC Components, Pyreneescycling.com, Zipvit nutrition, Mavic Wheels, Casco Helmets, Squirt Lubricant, XCRacer.com, Pedal Precision, Magura Brakes, CycleOps Power and No Tubes Sealant.

  In keeping with the team's clean cycling stance, its riders have joined the anti-doping organization, Bike Pure, and will carry the blue wristband as the symbol of a Pure cyclist.

  2011 Orange Monkey-Cannondale Team Roster
  Chris Andrews (Elite)
  Alex Baker (Junior)
  Paul Beales (Elite)
  Rourke Croeser (Elite / under 23)
  Ben Roff (Elite / under 23)
  Will Cooper (Manager)
  Ian Roff (Mechanic)
  Michalis Karatzis (Mechanic)

• Ropelato signs with Steve Peat Syndicate

  

  Article published:

  January 26, 2011, 17:21

  By:

  Cycling News

  Young four cross star joins new team

  American gravity racer Mitch Ropelato signed with the Steve Peat Syndicate North America (SPSNA) for the 2011 season.

  "Its awesome to be able to include Mitch in our first year of the SPSNA. The program is designed to help out any level of rider raise their game on the race circuit and in their riding," said 2009 downhill World Champion Peat.

  "Mitch has already turned some heads out there and impressed lots of people, we feel we can offer him great support, a relaxed but professional set up and help him achieve his potential quicker for the 2011 season. Welcome aboard Mitch."

  Ropelato's results include a second place at the 2009 World Cup four cross round in Bromont and dual 2009 national championship titles in junior downhill and elite four cross.

  In contrast to conventional mountain bike teams, the Steve Peat Syndicate is a buy-in membership-based team. Also operating in the United Kingdom, it is in its first year in the United States.

  Ropelato will race a Santa Cruz V10 Carbon, with SRAM and Rock Shox componentry.

• US Olympic mountain bike team selection procedure published by USAC

  

  Article published:

  January 26, 2011, 18:30

  By:

  Cycling News

  Long team qualification period happening now

  For 2012 Olympic hopeful mountain bikers, 2011 is an important year. It's when their performances will help them qualify for the US Olympic Long Team. USA Cycling released its complete 2012 Olympic Games team qualification guidelines on Tuesday. Following up on Olympic Long Team selections due at the end of this year, the final Olympic team selection of up to three men and two women will be announced on June 15, 2012.

  Throughout most of 2011, the nation's best racers will be vying for a spot on the Olympic Games Long Team. Up to 10 men and 10 women will be selected based on performances between January 1 and December 1, 2011. A racer can earn a spot on the Long Team by finishing in the top 10 at the 2011 cross country mountain bike Worlds in Champery, Switzerland, or by finishing in the top 10 at any World Cup during the Long Team Qualification Period.

  A racer can also earn a spot by being ranked in the top three at the end of the US Pro XCT series. Space still permitting, racers with a ranking in the top 60 of the world as of December 1, 2011 will be eligible for the Long Team. Should more than 10 racers meet the aforementioned criteria, World Cup rankings will be the decider. If 10 racers do not meet the criteria, USAC may select additional nominees per its "Principles of Athlete Selection" guidelines.

  Making the Long Team is just the first step toward making the final Olympic team. The best way to get a spot on the start line in London, England, is for a racer to finish in the top five at the 2011 Worlds and then prove to the selectors that he or she is maintaining his or her form thereafter. Should more than one man or woman meet this goal, the top athlete will be chosen.

  Another way to make the final team is to win a cross country World Cup event during the final qualification period of January 1 to May 22, 2012, and then prove to selectors that form has been maintained accordingly. Should more than one man or woman meet this criterium, the rider with the highest World Cup ranking gets the nod.

  If places are still open on the final team, racers who finish in the top five in a World Cup during the final qualification period will be considered with the World Cup ranking again serving as the decider. After that, selectors will look to the top ranked US racer in the World Cup as of May 31, 2012, but only if that rider is in the top 15 overall.

  Should the automatic final team selection criteria enumerated above somehow not suffice to fill the squad, USA Cycling may invoke discretionary criteria. Discretionary criteria include factors like medal capability, recent history of strong international competition, capability of enhancing future team performance and future medal capability.

  All mountain bike Olympians must reach the age of 19 in the year of the Olympic Games.

  Once selected to the final team, riders may voluntarily withdraw from the team or be removed upon certification of injury or illness. Violation of the USAC code of conduct or any doping infractions of protocols by the IOC, IPC, PASO, WADA, IF, USADA and USOC are also grounds for removal.

  The 2012 Olympic Games are scheduled for July 27 - August 12 in London, United Kingdom.

  In 2008, Georgia Gould, Mary McConneloug, Adam Craig and Todd Wells represented the US in Beijing at the Olympics. All four racers are still actively competing on the international circuit. Factoring in other experienced and younger races, the battle for the 2012 team will likely prove another tough one.

  Key dates and numbers in US Team Selection for the 2012 Olympic Games
  Long team qualification period: January 1 to December 1, 2011
  Long Team max size: 10
  Long team nomination: December 1, 2011
  Final team qualification period: January 1 to May 22, 2012
  Final team size: Max of 2 (women) or 3 (men) based on how many places the US qualifies as a nation
  Final team nominated: June 15, 2012

• George, Knox to battle in Barberton marathon

  

  Article published:

  January 27, 2011, 16:20

  By:

  Cycling News

  Evans returns to racing after appendectomy

  South African mountain biking will have its own north vs. south contest on Saturday, January 29, when pro racers line up for the start of the 120km, UCI category 2 MTN Barberton marathon.

  David George (360 Life), a born and bred Capetonian, will represent the south and Max Knox (DCM), who grew up in Sabie, the north. Their duel on mountain bikes has the makings of a classic battle that might even go down to the wire with the two of them sprinting to the line.

  Knox can claim to be the indisputable mountain biking king of Barberton, because he has never been beaten in this marathon.

  Last year's victory was according to the book for Knox. "Ground control, we have completed our lift-off and is up and away at fast speed." This is how Knox's attack on the last big climb was could have been described by bystanders last year.

  After about 80 kilometers of hard racing, Knox, Burry Stander and Kevin Evans were still racing neck and neck and it seemed to be anyone's race. But in a matter of three minutes, at the bottom of the climb, the situation changed dramatically.

  Knox attacked and literally just flew away from Stander and Evans. They had no answer and had to look on as Knox disappeared from their sight, increasing his advantage with every pedal stroke. In the end he finished more than 10 minutes ahead of Stander and Evans.

  Knox only laughed when he was reminded of his heroic effort. "That is all history now. I cannot allow myself the luxury of dwelling on the past forever. On Saturday, there will be a new race with new challenges.

  "To be honest, I really, really want to win. MTN's Barberton and Sabie marathons are definitely two of the most important races for me, because I am a born and bred Lowvelder," said Knox. "The important consideration for me is not to become too obsessed about winning, because usually that is when you end up making stupid mistakes. I can only promise that I will give it my all to win. Hopefully it will be enough to ensure a victory."

  The constant rain since December is definitely one of the hottest conversation topics at the moment. It is, therefore, understandable that the most important question is whether or not it will rain on Saturday.

  Knox reckons it will not, but quickly added that the weather in the Lowveld is very unpredictable. "We will only really know what the weather is like when we get to the starting line. The one thing I do know is that it will be muddy," said Knox.

  Because the MTN Barberton marathon is not very technical, Knox predicts that the race will again be won on the last climb. The secret for winning, therefore, will be to stay with the race leaders, while also conserving as much energy as possible for a big assault on the final climb.

  With his victory in the MTN Attakwas earlier this month, George has proven that he is now a true mountain biker in every sense of the word. In the past, George could climb with the best, but he tended to lose time when the race became very technical. This is not the case any longer.

  It will definitely count in George's favour that he and his 360Life teammate, Kevin Evans, have been training in Clarens during the past two weeks. On Tuesday they did a six-hour training ride.

  "A big problem for me when racing in Barberton has always been the altitude, but I don't think it will be such a problem this time because my body has had an opportunity to adapt to the higher altitude."

  As is the case with Knox, George is not one for making bold predictions on winning. "I am definitely racing to win, but mountain biking is always unpredictable. You never know what will happen," said George.

  Evans, last year's overall winner of the MTN series, will be racing for the first time after his appendectomy. He made it clear that it was highly unlikely for him to win. "I see Saturday's race as just another hard training session."

  Adrien Niyonshuti (MTN Qhubeka), Brandon Stewart (DCM), Mannie Heymans (Garmin-adidas) and Ben-Melt Swanepoel (Specialized) are the other riders who have a realistic chance of finishing on the podium.

• New Leadville 100 race qualifier system coming

  

  Article published:

  January 27, 2011, 17:25

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Tour of California organizers partner with Lifetime Fitness

  Historically, winning the lottery to get into the popular Leadville 100 mountain bike race has been almost as tough as the race itself. However, a new qualifier system under development will provide additional race entry opportunities for the legendary 100-miler, which will be run next on August 13, 2011.

  AEG, the owner and operator of the Amgen Tour of California, will partner with Life Time Fitness, Inc., which owns the Leadville 100. The two companies are collaborating to grow and develop what may be the highest profile mountain bike race in North America. The race annually attracts top road and mountain bike racers including riders like Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Rebecca Rusch and Amanda Carey.

  AEG will create a national series of qualifying races, each of which will provide athletes with guaranteed entry into the perennially sold-out Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race. The series of races will provide avid cyclists with opportunities outside of the traditional Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race lottery system to gain entry into the event. In 2011, the Leadville Qualifying Series will consist of three races and will expand to eight races by 2013.

  "It struck me that the lottery system has some limitations," Andrew Messick, President of AEG, told Cyclingnews. "A lot of people who are serious cyclists want to do this race sometime in their lives but don't always get the chance. There is so much luck involved in getting in. We thought it'd be more fair to create this system."

  Messick's interest was piqued after his own involvement with the race. "I did the Leadville Trail 100 in 2010. I came away from my Leadville experience believing that it's such a fantastic event. It's a well known event within the mountain bike community, it's an exceptional event, and there is an opportunity for a much broader environment for the event.

  "I was a mountain biker when I was younger. For the last 10 years, I've been more of a road guy," Messick told Cyclingnews. "Getting reacquainted with mountain biking was a pleasure in my life in 2010. My preparation for Leadville was fantastic. It made me fall in love with mountain biking all over again."

  The three 2011 qualifying events will be held in June and July in California, Colorado and the Northeast. In 2012 and 2013 additional races will be added in Texas, the Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, and one more in California.

  Each qualifying event will provide 100 race entries into the Leadville Trail 100 MTB Race with half of the entries awarded to athletes based on age-group and elite-field performance and the other half selected from the pool of finishers who beat a qualifying time standard.

  Messick, who is signed up for the Leadville lottery for the 2011 edition of the race, said, "This series will provide an opportunity for others who haven't ridden their mountain bikes in a while or want to do something different than road riding which still involves riding their bikes. Leadville qualifying races should be super hard but not super technical, but they will still be a challenge."

  Qualifying events will be targeted at 100km each. "We don't think they should be 100 miles. That's a little long for earlier in the season, and we want the qualifying events to fit in the season as well as be a meaningful challenge for racers. A 100km race with lots of climbing is a solid day in the saddle for anyone. It also fits in with a training program for Leadville. We'll be looking for fireroad-focused courses."

  "We're excited to add a qualifier system to the epic Leadville Trail 100 MTB event," said Ken Cooper, vice president, Life Time Fitness Endurance. "Many mountain bikers dream of participating in the Leadville Trail 100 MTB. For some, that dream now can begin at a Leadville Qualifier."

  Specific qualifier events are still to be determined. They may or may be tied to established events. "We don't have an expressed point of view on that yet," said Messick. "Certainly there are advantages to either - to creating your own - you can do it how you want. By partnering with an existing race, we'd get the organization already built in although integrating sponsorship can be tough."

  AEG and Life Time Fitness will partner on both sponsorship sales and activation for the Leadville Trail 100. "We are delighted to help Life Time Fitness continue to grow the Leadville Trail 100. The Leadville Trail 100 is a legendary race and we are thrilled to be playing a role in its next phase of growth," said Messick. "Getting a Leadville belt buckle is a life-list achievement for many riders and we look forward to helping serious cyclists achieve this goal."

  Lottery entry for the 2011 Leadville Trail 100 MTB event will close on January 31, 2011.

  The Leadville Trail 100 MTB Race started in 1983. It is 103 miles and features 12,620 feet of climbing on single and doubletrack trails. The race is notoriously difficult in that it is run at more than 12,500 feet.  Levi Leipheimer and Rebecca Rusch won the 2010 edition of the race.