Latest Cycling News for February 3, 2006Edited by Jeff Jones and Les Clarke An interview with Carlos BarredoOne number at a timeCarlos Barredo is part of the Liberty Seguros-Würth team that shared the spotlight alongside the Ag2R juggernaut at this year's Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, with the young Spaniard taking a win on stage 3 and featuring in the action all week. Cyclingnews' Hernan Alvarez spoke with Barredo about the heat in Australia, his desire to be a classics rider and a collection very close to his heart.
Liberty Seguros-Würth's Carlos Barredo soloed into Yankalilla on stage 3 of this year's Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under to take his second victory as a professional, his first one coming in stage 3 of the Vuelta a Asturias in 2004. Hailing from Oviedo and living in the seaside city of Gijon, Barredo had the conditioning to tolerate the tremendous heat very well during Australia's premier stage race, and he needed it during his brave effort on January 20. With the Tour of Flanders as his greatest dream and hopes of playing a big role in the Belgian races some day, Barredo is a rider to look out for. Cyclingnews: How was that victory in Yankalilla? Carlos Barredo: Well...it was a victory I searched for last year; there were many "shots hitting the crossbar", as I used to say, and I was really eager to win. It's my second win as a professional. It's a very nice win because the atmosphere at the Tour Down Under, especially in the stage finishes, is beautiful. There were many people - a great atmosphere. Click here for the full interview Australian Commonwealth Games team namedBy David Olle in Melbourne By the banks of the Yarra river and a bend in the Commonwealth Games Road course, the 33-strong Australian Cycling Team to contest the 2006 Commonwealth Games was officially announced on Friday afternoon. Four athletes were present to share in the limelight of the presentation: Alexis Rhodes, Katherine Bates, Chris Jongewaard and Ben Kersten. The women's road team includes two Olympic road champions in Sara Carrigan and Kathy Watt. This is Kathy Watt's fourth Comm Games selection and her medal bag brims with four gold, one silver and one bronze from appearances in '90, '94 and '98. There are also two pairs of siblings in the cycling team, Meares and Bates, bringing to five the total for the whole Australian Comm Games team. The men's road team is becoming increasingly difficult for selectors as Australia's ranks swell in the European peloton, but good hometown performances in the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under and National's ensured the choices of Allan Davis, Simon Gerrans, Matt Hayman, Ben Day and William Walker. Nathan O'Neill is selected for the time trial. Gerrans is having a shoulder reconstruction after crashing in the GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise, but is hopeful that he will recover in time for the Games. Australia is the number one ranked track cycling nation in the world, with the Games team comprising dual Athens gold medallist, Ryan Bayley; world record holder and Olympic champion, Anna Meares; dual Manchester Commonwealth Games champion, Kerrie Meares; 2005 World Cup Kilometre Series winner, Ben Kersten; and 2004 Junior World Champion, Shane Perkins, who will join four time World Champion, 1994 and 1998 Commonwealth Games Time Trial gold medallist Shane Kelly, who has been selected for his third Commonwealth Games team, to make up the sprint group. Chris Jongewaard, who won the first of two auto-selection races for the MTB team, was clearly pleased with the black and white selection policy, after being nominated for Athens in 2004, before being stood down after a challenge was upheld. Sid Taberlay won the second auto-selection race with 2004 Olympian Josh Fleming making up the three man squad. The three women selected for MTB are all fresh to the role, with Dellys Starr (nee Franke), Emma Colson and Claire Baxter all having their first Games outing. Alexis Rhodes, a survivor of the women's road incident in Germany last year, made special mention of the effect Amy Gillett had had on her, as such a strong role model, and felt that Amy's memory would always be a driving part of the women's road team, wherever they line up. It should be noted here that although the athletes have been named by discipline, they may, at the discretion of team management coaches, be entered in other disciplines. Team rosterRoad Cycling Women Natalie Bates (25, NSW) Men Allan Davis (25, Qld) (A 'shadow' group of male road cyclists was also named. These are reserves,
only to be selected if any of the above are unavailable) Mountain Biking Women Claire Baxter (24, Vic) Men Josh Fleming (30, NSW) Track Cycling Women Katherine Bates (23, NSW) Men Ryan Bayley (23, WA) Dwars door Gendringen still outThe Dutch one day race Dwars door Gendringen will once again not take place, reports De Telegraaf. Cancelled in 2005, the 2006 edition of the 1.1 classed race is still having financial problems, partly brought on by the fact that it clashes with the ProTour event, the Eneco Tour on August 20. Symmetrics meets the peopleCanada's Symmetrics Cycling team will be having its first full team training camp in Langley, BC, Canada, running from February 8-12. Apart from the opportunity to meet each other and try out their equipment, the team will also be holding a ride open to the public and media on Saturday, February 11 at 12:00 noon. The ride will start from the Walnut Grove Community Center, 8889 Walnut Grove Drive, Langley, BC V1M 2N7 and will be fully supported by a team car. On hand will be new riders Andrew Randell and Brandon Crichton, both from Ontario, three-time Olympian Eric Wohlberg, reigning Canadian U23 time trial and cyclo-cross champion Christian Meier, national champions Svein Tuft (two time) and Mandy Poitras (15 time). Both Svein and Mandy will be representing Canada at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Australia. There will also be food and refreshments indoors following the ride, and riders of all levels are welcome. Louis Garneau continues with Canadian Cycling AssociationCanadian manufacturer Louis Garneau will continue its 22 year association with the Canadian Cycling Association. The company will be the CCA's official supplier, providing clothing, helmets, and for the first time, frames to the team. The partnership will go until at least the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. Union Bank of California sponsors Tour of CaliforniaUnion Bank of California and AEG yesterday announced a sponsorship agreement that names Union Bank as a founding partner of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California, to be held February 19-26. Union Bank will be presenting sponsor of the Best Young Rider competition as well as the presenting sponsor of Stage 2 from Martinez to San Jose. "By sponsoring the Best Young Rider competition, Union Bank is showing its commitment to ensuring the success and growth of American cycling," said Shawn Hunter, president of AEG Sports. Union Bank will also donate approximately $45,000 over the eight-day race to the Wellness Community as part of their ongoing contribution to that charity, which is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing free emotional support, education and hope for people with cancer and their loved ones. For more information on the Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com Maxxis doubles up on race sponsorshipMaxxis has announced that it will sponsor the inaugural Tour of California (February 19-26) and maintain its sponsorship of the Tour de Georgia (April 18-23). Maxxis is the official automotive and bicycle tyre of the Tour of California and is also the presenting sponsor of the eight Lifestyle Festivals offered in the finish cities during the race. Brad Klipping, bicycle marketing coordinator with Maxxis, is enthusiastic about the new sponsorship, saying, "Maxxis is extremely excited to continue supporting the growth of professional road racing in the United States. We believe that the Tour of California will become one of the most respected and anticipated tours of the professional calendar." Maxxis has been a sponsor of the Tour de Georgia since its inception, and will also once again offer spectator entertainment, sponsor feed zones and serve as the official tyre of the Tour. Klipping is also excited by the strength of Maxxis' ties with the Tour de Georgia in the company's home state. "The Tour de Georgia is the most anticipated race of the year...Georgia is special. It captures the beauty and emotion of our great home state, showcasing it through the lens of an intense weeklong competition," he said For more information on the Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com and for more information on the Tour of Georgia, please visit www.tourdegeorgia.com. San Dimas Stage Race bigger in 2006According to race organisers, this year's 7th San Dimas Stage Race (March 17-19) in the greater Los Angeles area is expected to be even bigger. Riders will be competing for their share of over $20,000 in cash and prizes, with something for the kids in the form of a Shimano Kid's race on Sunday, March 19. March 17: Stage 1 - Glendora Chevrolet time trial March 18: Stage 2 - Incycle/Cannondale road race March 19: Stage 3 - San Dimas Hospital Old Town Classic/Shimano kid's race For additional information or registration for 2006 San Dimas Stage Race, please visit www.scvelo.com. Overcoming in BrisbaneThe cycling documentary by Tomas Gislason, Overcoming, commenced its season at the Schonell Theatre, St. Lucia (Brisbane) on Thursday night. With former pro rider, Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis as the protagonist, the film follows him and his new Team CSC closely as they strive to become the best in the world and win the Tour de France. Overcoming is a frank, no-holds-barred portrait of a world few people can imagine: a world in which even the toughest go under as the team strives to realise its ambition. First week's screenings: Thu 2 & Fri 3 Feb. 2pm & 8.15; Sat 4 Feb 4.15 & 8.15; Sun 5 Feb 3.15 & 7.15; Mon 6 to Wed 8 4.15 & 8.30 (check their web site www.schonell.com for more details) Schonell Twin Theatres is offering a $2.00 discount to anyone who reads this news release and flashes a cycling club membership card. Overcoming in Sydney for road safetyOvercoming also hits the theatre in Sydney next week and will be shown at the Dendy Opera Quays. The premiere screening will be on Thursday night, February 9th at 6:30pm and will be very much a social affair. The event will double as a venture to raise awareness for cyclists on the road and will be promoting the Amy Gillett Foundation. If you'd like to ride to the event, a ride will leave Coluzzi Bar in Darlinghurst at 5:30pm to arrive at the Dendy at 6pm for free coffee and mineral water courtesy of Sydney's gourmet coffee company, Numero Uno and San Benedetto. Arrangements will be made to ensure bikes are secure. If you're not riding, come straight from work and socialise before and after movie with great coffee. Dendy Cinema have offered to donate $1.00 from each ticket to the Amy Gillett Foundation and you can pre-book tickets by phone by calling (02) 9247 3800 during cinema opening hours. More information: www.dendy.com.au/special.html#overcomingopening and www.aztecinternational.com.au/ Oxfam Challenge India cycle tourOxfam Australia's brand new cycle adventure in India's vivid north-west takes place from March 3-15, 2006, helping raise funds and awareness for Oxfam projects in that country. To take part, participants pay an initial registration fee of $300 and then fundraise or pay $5,000. About half of this amount represents trip costs with the remainder contributing to Oxfam Australia's development work around the globe and in Indigenous Australia. "Oxfam Challenge gives you the opportunity to experience a fascinating part of the world, visit an Oxfam project and raise funds to support our vital development work," says Chris Roberts, Oxfam Challenge Coordinator. "You'll see first hand how local communities benefit from the money you raise and another side of life to the country that everyday tourists may not see." For a detailed itinerary or more information call 1800 088 110, email challenge@oxfam.org.au, or visit www.oxfam.org.au/challenge Subaru Cycling Team presented by Deutsche BankThe Subaru Cycling Team presented by Deutsche Bank has announced its team roster and sponsors for the coming year. The Subaru Cycling Team is an elite men's squad based in Atlanta, GA. It's USCF club, Roswell Velo also supports a club-level men's team and the Travelgirl women's cycling team. Roswell Velo also organizes and promotes the 5th annual Nalley Historic Roswell Criterium, an NRC event on April 30th. The Subaru Cycling Team will return a strong lineup from the 2005 season including 2005 USCF Men's Elite Road Race podium finisher Jed Schneider, US 100K Classic podium finisher Wes Garland, Georgia State Criterium Champion Brian Bibens and Georgia State Masters Road Race Champion Jim Rasmussen. "We have 15 Cat 1 & 2 riders allowing us to field two full teams on any given weekend" said Jed Schneider, director of the men's elite team. The 2006 team will also feature three US Under 23 National Team riders John Murphy, Michael Wolf and Winston David. These riders will wear the Subaru Cycling Team kit stateside when they are not representing the US National Team. Click here for the full announcement and roster
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