Regional Cycling News for November 1, 2005

Edited by John Stevenson & Les Clarke

Tasmanian carnivals receive boost ahead of launch

Graeme Brown takes the win in the Burnie Wheel during the last Tasmanian carnival series
Photo ©: Shane Goss

With the launch of this year's Tasmanian Christmas carnival series just two weeks away, the series has been boosted by the signing of Canadian cycling stars Jenny Trew and Chris Reid. Both are contenders to represent Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and are seeking to improve their chances by competing at the carnivals.

24-year-old Trew, from Alberta Canada, is a multiple track medallist, winning three medals at the 2005 Canadian National Track Championships. 24-year-old Reid, who recently graduated with Honours in History from the Victoria University in Ontario Canada, has taken 12 months off employment to concentrate on his cycling. The former mountain bike star has notched up several credible performances in track endurance events including third in a recent major Madison event in America.

It's some time since any Canadian cyclists have competed at the carnivals so it will be very good to have them compete, hopefully encouraging more for the future. In an endeavour to extend the Commonwealth Games flavour the association is currently holding discussions with the coach of the Scottish Cycling Team, with the Association hopeful of making an announcement on some type of collaboration between the two parties soon.

Elite women riders Jessie McClean and Tiffany Cromwell will compete at the carnivals, both riders having competed for the Australian national team during 2005. McClean competed successfully at last year's carnivals and is keen to return, while Cromwell has recently returned from the World Junior Championships in Austria.

With local champion Belinda Goss a confirmed starter in the women's events, this year's series of carnivals looks to be coming together as a big event. Racing in the women's ranks at last year's carnivals was a highlight of the with separate events being held for the first time but I think this year the women's events will be even better. The current interest being shown by the women cyclists is very encouraging.

The official launch of the Christmas carnivals will take place at the Launceston Country Club on Wednesday November 16 by Jim Cox, Tasmanian Minister for Sport and Recreation.

For more information see www.tascarnivals.com.

Rennie prepares for world record jump

Australian downhill rider Nathan Rennie is in final preparations for his world record jump attempt, travelling from Sydney to outback South Australia yesterday where the jump will take place. 'The Painted Desert', where the jump will take place, is three hours outside the opal mining town of Cooper Pedy on the road to Oodnadatta. Filming on a 30-minute special on the jump has already begun, with the jump scheduled for Thursday, weather permitting.

Rennie is attempting to jump in excess of 116ft, the current world record for a jump on a bicycle. A special 12 metre long, 3 metre wide ramp has been constructed and the 2003 world cup downhill champ will be towed into the ramp by motorcycle to reach the required speed for a successful attempt.

Willamette Valley Classic

Race promoter Sweet Sports has announced the Willamette Valley Classic Stage Race, a three-day, four-stage race in the Eugene, Oregon area on April 21-23, 2006.

The race will consist of two circuit races (one long & one short course), an extended time trial and a queen stage that includes three climbs described by organisers as "epic". The courses are a mixture of traditional and new venues in an area that features single lane, paved forest roads winding for miles through lush green forest.

A full range of abilities will be catered for, with separate races for women's Pro/1/2/3 and 3/4 categories, separate men cat 4 and cat 5 fields, and a junior 15-18 race.

For more information see www.willamettevalleyclassic.com

Bostrom auctions Cannondale for Katrina relief

AMA Superbike racer Eric Bostrom is auctioning his custom-painted Cannondale Synapse to raise money for the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief fund.

Like many motorbike racers, Bostrom rides bikes for training. In July he received a Cannondale Synapse painted by Airtrix to match his Ducati. The carbon framed bike boasts a full complement of FSA and Shimano components, including Dura-Ace wheels.

Now Bostrom, who recently signed for Yamaha, is auctioning the bike via eBay, with all the proceeds going to the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief. "It was such a big disaster, so every bit helps," said Bostrom in an announcement. "Obviously the money is going to go to people who really need it, plus someone else will get a really cool bike out of the deal so everybody wins!"

Bidding currently stands at US$2,550 with just under seven days to go. For more details or to bid, see www.ebay.com

Over $2000 collected at Nebraska trails fundraiser

The third annual "Trails Have Our Respect" (T.H.O.R) fundraiser raised $2137 for the Nebraska trail advocacy group, which is dedicated to developing new mountain bike riding areas and making existing riding areas better. The donations more than doubled the amount collected from the 2004 fundraiser.

The event at Platte River State Park near Louisville featured a freeride jump demo with local riders and a free barbecue courtesy of Omaha Steaks and Jim and Jan Thomas of Home Real Estate. There was also a Q&A session with Trek-VW rider and former Olympian, Travis Brown, 2005 24-hour national champion Cameron Chambers (Gary Fisher-Subaru), five-time masters MTB world champion Steve Tilford and Kenda rider Catherine Walberg, as well as a raffle featuring Bontrager products.

The discussion with the visiting pro riders was a lively one, covering a wide range of topics from nutrition to product development, a topic that is close to Brown. "My role with Trek is changing and I am spending a lot of time testing new products," explained Brown to a crowd of nearly 200. "It's an opportunity for me to give back to the mountain bike family."

Symmetrics increases women's team

Symmetrics Cycling has announced an increase in its elite women's cycling team from three to five riders for 2006. Returning riders Marni Hambleton, Maria Lee and Mandy Poitras will be joined by Stacey Spencer and Naomi Cooper to form a squad that Symmetrics Cycling director Jeremy Storie says boasts "remarkable credentials".

Mandy Poitras is a 15-time national champion, multiple World Cup winner, and worlds silver medalist on the track. She will continue to race for Symmetrics on the road and will wear the Canadian national criterium champion's jersey for 2006.

Marni Hambleton is coming off her best season ever with wins at Yaletown, TST, and Walla Walla, as well as winning the BC Cup overall and the BC Criterium Championships.

Maria Lee rode exceptionally well in support until hit by a car in June ending her season but is now back on the bike ready for 2006.

Joining Mandy, Marni, and Maria will be Stacey Spencer and Naomi Cooper. Spencer is making a return to competitive cycling after taking time off to give birth to her first child, Lilly. Stacey has ridden for several top US teams in the past and has twice won the criterium at the national championships.

Naomi Cooper is a junior national champion entering her first year as a senior. Naomi has raced both the road and the track at the world championships for Canada in her junior years.

Team Terry 2006

Team Terry, a women's semi-pro road racing team based in Rochester, New York is currently seeking riders for its fifth consecutive season. The team will be focusing on a calendar of national and regional races primarily in the North-eastern US and Canada. Interested riders should send a one page resume to rosie@terrybicycles.com.

Previous News    Next News

(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2005)