First Edition Cycling News for May 27, 2005

Edited by John Stevenson

Montréal World Cup this weekend

By Mitch Friedman

The battle for the finish in 2004
Photo ©: Rob Karman

The women's World Cup series crosses the Atlantic to Canada this weekend for its seventh round in Montréal on May 28. It is followed by the four-day Tour du Grand Montréal stage race, the combination guaranteeing that plenty of the world's top female racers will make the trip across.

The Montréal World Cup, now considered a classic, is known as a course to be reckoned with. The parcours is unchanged since 1999, and so the start and finish line will once again be located at the top of the Camilien-Houde climb, which concludes at the summit of the magnificent Mont-Royal course. The race will take in a grueling 12 circuits of the 8.35 km lap for 100 km total.

Australian sprinter Oenone Wood (Nurnberger Versicherung) currently leads the women's world cup by a nine-point margin over the Netherlands' Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort - Flexpoint). While Wood will be in Montréal to defend her lead, the hilly course may not suit her and victory seems more likely to go to a climbing specialist. American Amber Neben demonstrated her climbing prowess at the recent Tour de l'Aude and is a rider to watch, as is local heroine and defending champion Genevieve Jeanson (ACDA-Rona) who also won here in 2003.

Tour du Grand Montréal stages

Stage 1a - May 30: Lachine ITT, 3.5km
Stage 1b - May 30: Petite Italie criterium, 50km
Stage 2 - May 31: Rigaud road race, 120.2km
Stage 3 - June 1: Terrebonne circuit race, 80km
Stage 4 - June 2: Mont-St-Hilaire, 114.55km

Teams and Riders

Not all riders and teams will ride both events.

ACDA-Rona: Genevieve Jeanson, Magen Long, Kelly Benjamin, Cathrine Walberg
Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team: Suzanne Ljungskog, Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel, Linda Serup, Amber Neben
Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung: Oenone Wood, Judith Arndt, Olivia Gollan, Madeleine Lindberg, Regina Schleicher, Anke Wichmann
Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan: Rochelle Gilmore, Alessandre Grassi, Miyoko Karami, Gessica Turato
Nobili Rubinetterie-Menikini Cogeas: Joanne Kiesanowski, Edita Pucinskaite, Olga Slyusareva, Sigrid Corneo, Daniella Fusar Poli, Anna Gusmini
Team S.A.T.S: Rachel Heal, Trine Hansen, Melissa Holt, Dorte Lohse Rasmussen
ELK Haus-Tirol Noe: Andrea Graus, Christine Mueller, Patricia Hempel, Monika Schachl
Colombian national team: Ana Paola Madrinan Villegas, Milerlandy Agudelo, Monica Lorena Mendes Ortiz, Maroa Luisa Calle Williams
Canadian national team: Kristen Robbin, Anna Tratnyek, Kylie Case, Jenny Trew, Suzanne Macht, Lisa Sweeney
Quark: Annette Beutler, Helen Kelly, Grace Fleury, Audrey Lemieux, Kate Sherwin, Amy Moore
Ellicyle Sport Expert-Louis Garneau: Lyne Bessette, Joanie Caron, Genevieve Gagnon, Lisa Sweeney, Jacqueline Mourao
Velo Bella: Gabriella Gonzalez-Ferrat, Jennifer Chapman, Jill McLaughlin, Barbara Howe, Hiroko Shimada, Melodie Metzger
Colavita-Cooking Light: Susan Palmer-Komar, Kim Anderson, Michelle Beltran, Dotsie Cowden, Rebecca Larson, Christina Peick
Diet Cheerwine: Juile Belanger, Julia Farell, Tara Ross, Leigh Hobson, Rhonda Stickle, Merrill Collins, Heather Lamson
Subway: Melissa Sanborn, Sima Trapp, Susan Weldon, Nocole Wangsgard
Biovail: Jennifer Stephenson, Rebecca Nelson, Lynn Gaggioli, Amanda Shaw, Anna Garnett, Jennifer Magur
Equipe du Quebec: Stephanie Bourbeau, Caroline Montigny, Elisa Gagnon, Marie-Pier Bedard, Carline Theberge, Kathy St-Laurent, Julie Hutsebault
Composite International: Helena Coney, Dulce Pliego Moreno, Ashley Robenson, Marielle Aunave

LeBlanc visits Utrecht

Tour de France boss Jean-Marie LeBlanc made a low-key visit to the Dutch town of Utrecht last weekend to inspect the town's facilities in respect of its bid to host the start of the Tour de France in 2009.

LeBlanc's visit was practically incognito, with only a few Utrecht civil servants notified of his arrival. LeBlanc's aim, it seems, to get a feel for the city without the hoopla that usually accompanies an inspection by the head of the world's largest annual sporting event.

"This is the ultimate affirmation that Utrecht has become a very serious candidate," Jeroen Wielaert told Utrechts Nieuwsblad. Wielart, the Dutch journalist who initiated the push for Utrecht to host the Tour's grand depart more than three years ago, said that the idea was initially greeted with skepticism, but that had been overcome with the the setting up of a foundation to work on bringing the Tour to the area and the support of the municipal council.

Boucher extends

MrBookmaker.com-SportsTech rider David Boucher has extended his contract with Hilaire Vanderschueren's team, the team has announced. Boucher hopes to thanks the team with a good result in the Tour of Belgium, and is aiming for a top placing in the French national time trial championships.

Teams announced for Tour de Beauce Bell

The organizers of the Tour de Beauce Bell say they are expected a total of 18 teams, and almost 130 riders for the start of the race's 20th anniversary edition on June 14.

The Canadian contingent will include Symmetrics, with Eric Wohlberg and Svein Tuft; Italpasta - Transport Belmire c.c.; Volkswagen-Trek; Team Québec; and the Canadian national team with Charles Dionne and Dominique Perras.

Five teams are expected from the USA: Navigators Insurance; Health Net presented by Maxxis with Canadian Gordon Fraser; Jittery Joe's - Kalahari with Québec's Bruno Langlois, team NERAC.com; and team CRCA/Sakonet Technologies.

The full contingent from outside North America has yet to be finalized, but will include Paged - MBK - Scout from Poland, Stevens Racing from Germany, MG XPower from Australia, and the return of Tecos-Mercurio from Mexico.

North Shore Outlook Cycling Gear Swap

The North Shore Outlook Cycling Gear Swap at Lynn Valley Centre (1199 Lynn Valley Rd.), North Vancouver, Saturday May 28 is claimed by the organisers to be western Canada's largest cycling swap meet.

Entry fee is $2 with a 15 percent service charge on all items sold. All proceeds will go to Northshore Mountainbike Events Society's Legacy Fund, which helps to provide wilderness access for people with disabilities, trail repair and maintenance, mountain biking facilitation and planning, as well as education and awareness campaigns. The entry fee includes entry into a draw to win prizes including autographed rider photo prints, DVDs, and a full day riding lesson from downhiller Shaums March & Mad March Racing.

For more information see www.shoregearswap.com.

RAMS Cycling hires Andy Clark

The Rams Cycling Team at Colorado State University has announced that it has hired Andy Clark as directeur sportif for the team. Clarke will work closely with the team and the Friends of Rams Cycling (alumni booster) to further develop the program, making Colorado State University a destination school for cyclists.

A CSU alumnus himself Clarke grew up in Colorado Springs where he raced on the track before attending CSU in 1991 and joining its cycling team. However, in his sophomore year the temptation to race in Belgium was too great and he went to school part time and raced full time. He spent three years racing in Europe followed by seven on the US domestic circuit pro teams including Colorado Cyclist, Tokyo Jo's, and most recently Team Rio Grand from Fort Collins. He returned to CSU, completing his B.A. in History in 1998.

Cycling NSW launches $5 junior membership drive

Cycling NSW, the regional cycling body for the Australian state of New South Wales, has announced a $5 Junior Membership Drive package. Cycling clubs in the state are now able to offer a club racing licence to under-9, under-11 and under-13 racers for just AU$5 plus club membership fees (which are already typically very low for these young riders).

The scheme will run from May 26 to September 30, 2005 and Cycling NSW says that if the program is successful there is a good chance that it will be extended nationally in 2006.

Fore more information see www.nsw.cycling.org.au.

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