First Edition Cycling News for May 12, 2005

Edited by Jeff Jones & Hedwig Kröner

Van Petegem delays

Peter van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto) will not be returning to competition for another two weeks, as he is still recovering from his crash in Paris-Roubaix. Van Petegem had injuries to his back, groin, ribs, and left knee, and it's taken him a month to get over them. He was able to train for 150 km last Monday, but has ruled himself out from starting in the Tour de Picardie this weekend. "I don't see the point of going back home after one day," he told Het Laatste Nieuws. "That would be a mental blow. I prefer to calmly build up to my best condition."

Rabobank to Catalunya

Rabobank has announced its team roster for the Volta a Catalunya, the next ProTour race, from May 16-22. The following riders will take the start in start in Salou, Spain: Erik Dekker, Bram de Groot, Pedro Horrillo Muñoz, Gerben Löwik, Joost Posthuma, Jukka Vastaranta, Pieter Weening and Remmert Wielinga. Reserves are Ronald Mutsaars and Mathew Hayman. Erik Breukink will be the team leader of the Rabo Cycling Team in Volta a Catalunya.

Dierckxsens competing again

Ludo Dierckxsens, who suffered a muscular tear after a crash in Paris-Roubaix has healed his injury and will take up competition again on Friday in the Tour de Picardie, as well as Monday in Villers Côterets, his team Landbouwkrediet-Colnago has announced. The Belgian will be able to get back into racing pace and evaluate the continuation of his program until the National Championships.

Special classifications announced for Tour of Connecticut

Yale University heads list as title of Best Young Rider prize

In a direct nod to its Tour de France inspiration, the Tour of Connecticut from Friday, May 20-Sunday, May 22, will award three special competition race leader jerseys. The Best Hill Climber, Best Sprinter and Best Young Rider leader jerseys will complement the Yellow Jersey of overall Tour leader, sponsored by the Northwest Connecticut Convention & Visitors Bureau. The distinctive jerseys are awarded at the finish of each of the three days of racing with the overall winners crowned after the final stage in Litchfield Hills/Torrington.

Yale University will be the sponsor of the Best Young Rider White Jersey, awarded to the leading rider in the race born in 1983 or later. Yale's support is the culmination of three years of efforts by a trio of Yale alumni, cycling fans and New York City residents: Tom Kempner, current sponsor of the Yale Cycling Team, David Williams, who doubles as sponsor of the Williams Trading Best Hill Climber Jersey, and Doug Ellis, a supporter of developmental cycling.

Cycling fans will easily recognize the bright red and white polka dot jersey of the Williams Trading Best Hill Climber jersey, awarded to the top scorer in a series of hilltop finish lines. The grueling terrain of northwest Connecticut will insure that only a worthy champion will don the jersey by the end of the three-day race in Torrington.

The Best Sprinter jersey sponsored by Champion System, the official technical wear supplier of the Tour of CT, will be bright orange in a departure from the traditional green used at the Tour de France. This is the prize for the flatlanders, the sprinters of the racing world, who will contest a series of flat sprints for points during each of the stages of the Tour of Connecticut, which unfolds as follows:

Stage one is a 40-mile race in New Haven around the famed Green. Start time is 6:00 pm.

Stage two is a grueling 62-mile race on a four-mile circuit within the city limits of Waterbury. It has been called the hardest race in North America. Start time is 12:00 pm.

Stage three covers 137 miles through the hills and valleys of Litchfield Hills with the start and finish in Torrington. A recreational ride for weekend warriors and children's races are part of the day's family activities. Start time is 11:20 am with children's races and the final laps of the men's race beginning at 3:00 pm.

For more information please go to: www.tourofct.com

Collegiate Road Nationals set for this weekend

Everything is in place for the 2005 USA NCCA Collegiate Road Cycling National Championships to get under way this weekend. Over 350 college students from 70 collegiate cycling teams around the country are making their way to Lawrence, Kansas, U.S. to race for bragging rights in Division I and Division II competition from May 13-15.

The University of California at Berkeley is hoping to take the overall Division I title for a fourth year in a row, while Dartmouth College will fight to defend its Division II title. Racing begins Friday morning with the Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Criteriums. Held in downtown Lawrence, this spectator-friendly event features an L-shaped course with six turns. With the exception of a slight rise in the start/finish area, the course is relatively flat which will make for some very fast racing.

Saturday’s Rudy Project Road Race will take place on a difficult course and riders will have to face some strong Kansas winds. The 28.2 mile loop has rolling and steep hills with a climb just before the sprint finish.

Finally, the teams will test their skills in a fast team time trial on Sunday. The course is flat until a slight rise at the first turn-around. It will flatten out again until the final turn where teams will once again face a slight uphill right before the long downhill finish. Individual and team titles will be awarded following the time trials.

The University of Kansas Cycling Club and KLM Marketing Solutions are hosting this year’s National Championships. For further event details, visit www.kuroadnationals.com

Excel Sports Boulder Stage Race presented by Compass

By Rob Karman

Featuring world class historic courses once raced by Hinault, Lemond and Hampsten, the Excel Sports Boulder Stage Race promises to be a race to remember. It all starts this Friday with the Morgul-Bismarck Time Trial. Taking in about half of the original Morgul-Bismarck loop from the Red Zinger/Coors Classic, this TT features the infamous "Hump", "Wall" (of the Movie American Flyers fame) and the "Feedhill".

On Saturday, racers face the original Boulder-Roubaix course that was once featured on the National Racing Calendar. This 8.5 mile loop of rolling dirt roads with a fast paved downhill will test rider's skill, endurance and equipment.

Sunday brings a double stage day starting in the morning with the Sunshine Canyon Hill Climb, a 9 mile up hill lung burner through some of the most scenic territory known to man. Riders will face a short recovery before the North Boulder Park Criterium in the afternoon. This classic course was the scene of many epic battles during the Red Zinger/Coors Classic and was the stage for the introduction to bike racing for many current and former pros including Davis Phinney, one of America's best ever.

The Pro-1-2 men's race is shaping up to be a re-match between season revelation and Boulder local Andy Bajadali (Vitamin Cottage) and Burke "T-Bird" Swindlehurst. Bajadali narrowly lost the Tour of the Gila on the final day to Burke Swindlehurst (Sea Silver) and his Vitamin Cottage team will be firing on all cylinders to help him take the victory on home turf. Also on the start list is National TT Champ Chris Baldwin who will be aiming to lower the course record on the historic TT route en route to taking the GC win.

In the Pro-1-2 Women's race, last year's defending champ and former MTB Olympian Ann Trombley (ExcelSports.com) will have her work cut out for her as T-mobile team mates National Road Race Champ Kristin Armstrong and former TT World Champ Mari Holden will pack a 1-2 punch for the magenta squad.

With only 2 days to go, the fields are filling up fast for the 2nd Annual Excel Sports Boulder Stage Race presented by Compass Bank. Registration is still open at www.boulderbikerace.com where you will also find more details about the race.

Look for same day coverage on cyclingnews.com.

Input wanted for Women's Summit

With the annual women's summit at Nature Valley Grand Prix (USA) coming up next month on Wednesday, June 8, panelists are looking for rider and manager input and topic ideas for this year's edition. The summit is a chance for those with a stake in women's cycling to help guide the future direction of our sport.

Some suggested topics have been:

- Would having 'regional' NRC titles in addition to one overall title help teams that don't have the budget to travel to the NRC events but are competitive in the NRC events in their area? For example, a western NRC title, Midwestern, and Eastern title, comprised of events in those areas.

- What is working with sponsors?

- What is working to attract and retain riders?

- Would a website devoted solely to women's events be useful? What would be covered?

- What can USAC do differently to help women's cycling?

- What successful models to grow cycling exist that can be duplicated elsewhere?

Whether you live and race in the USA or elsewhere, if you have an interest in women's cycling and would like to contribute, please send your ideas for topics to either kristy@cyclingnews.com or rebecca@tds.net.

Demarte joins Drapac-Porsche

1998 Junior World Champion, Australian Rahna Demarte, has been accepted into the Drapac-Porsche Development Program as an elite rider. Demarte is making a return to cycling after spending four years establishing other aspects of her life, including study. Rahna is currently at Victoria University completing a double degree (Bachelor of Business - Event Management and Bachelor of Arts - Sports Administration).

"This really means a lot to me," said Rahna, adding that she is aiming to again represent Australia at the World Track Titles. She also spends a lot of her spare time doing volunteer work, which includes assignments for Cyclesport Victoria (team manager) and the National Basketball League (group leader-event organiser).

Drapac-Porsche Development Program director and sponsor, Michael Drapac, was very pleased with Rahna's placement in the program. "Rahna has all the qualities outlined by our program philosophy, having invested a great deal of time and energy into developing all aspects of her life," said Drapac. "She also brings the program a level of maturity and leadership that will benefit all program members. We look forward to working with her."

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