Velogal's Cycling Race Blog
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Yesss! Fantastic line-up for Team Radio Shack for 2010! I am delighted to see Chechu in the line-up. He is a first-class rider and first-class person. Here is the roster as published on cyclingnews.com: 2010 Team RadioShack Roster
Management
And: Shut-up Astana management, you are being so foolish... Link Thursday, November 05, 2009
Please help our troops bring home their best buddies from Iraq and Afghanistan. The bond between a soldier and a stray, starving animal that they have adopted is often what gets them thru the horrors they experience. Everyone can spare $10 - please give something today. http://tinyurl.com/yk5vcd2 Read the heartwarming story of one dog who came home: Saving Cinnamon http://tinyurl.com/y9wkboj Labels: baghdad pups, buddies, troops Link Tuesday, October 06, 2009
But, if you're bored with cycling, or even if you're not, you could read about my new passion here: http://sammaryelewisphoto.blogspot.com/  Link Wednesday, February 25, 2009
That totally sucks about DZ's house getting looted. How in the Hell did nobody notice? Or maybe his house is isolated. And even stealing his cars, too? Hope they catch those bastards, lock them up and throw the key away. If you're on Facebook - join the group to keep watch for his stuff. Thursday, February 19, 2009
ATOC Stage 5 - Sweet lead out by Renshaw for Cavendish.Yeah, Cavendish is really good, so he gets labelled as "cocky" and "arrogant". Sound familiar? Note to Versus: Bag that moronic gal who pesters the team guys with her not funny, not clever interviews. Her segment today with Mavic was pathetic and idiotic. I know darn well what the team guys say after she and the cameras leave. Tuesday, February 17, 2009
ATOC Stage 2 - It was just awesome to see Levi take off on the Bonney Doon climb, in the pouring rain. No Fear... Labels: ATOC Sunday, February 15, 2009
ATOC Stage 1 start in Davis is at noon, and the weather forecast is ugly for the Sacramento Valley. From www.wunderground.com: ... Wind Advisory is now in effect until 4 PM PST this afternoon for the central and southern Sacramento Valley... Delta... northern San Joaquin Valley and Motherlode. A strong Pacific frontal system moving through northern California has brought strong southerly winds to the region. Southerly winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph will be possible today as the cold front moves slowly eastward across the area. Winds are expected to decrease by late this afternoon... but may increaseagain later tonight. Motorists (...and cyclists?)are advised to exercise caution and allow extra time toreach your destination. Labels: ATOC Saturday, February 14, 2009
ATOC Prologue - Bobke is all cleaned up - no mutton chops for his interviews. Lance is looking lean, wearing his Mellow Johhny's hat. Phil called Chechu "an aging veteran". Chechu is a year younger than Lance... Rain is holding off, but the wind is ugly. Labels: ATOC Thursday, February 12, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
OMG! Can you believe it? Now that pro cycling season is back, that zany Podium Girl Gone Bad has been sighted on both Facebook and Twitter! Rumor has it that she has been seen being naughty behind the podium at the Tour Down Under! If you are on Facebook, better search for her page...It is under Other Public Figures, of course... Labels: facebook, podium girl gone bad, tour down under, twitter Link Sunday, January 04, 2009
The cycling community and the cancer survivor's community, are mourning the death of Jim Owens. He has become an inspiration and a symbol of courage. Altho I did not know him, I am sorry to hear of his passing, and I wish him peace on his greatest ride. Follow the Link to learn more about this courageous man and his 2004 Tour of Hope Ride... My good friend, Andy Anderson, posted this on the caringbridge http://tinyurl.com/cxwyw guestbook: Farewell Brother Jim ! We will not stand at your grave and weep; You are not there. You do not sleep. You live in the thousand winds that blow, Tailwinds that help the cyclists go Uphill and down, with cries of ‘No Chain!’ The toughest of rides, without any pain. You’re riding round Heaven with Martha and Scott And Lori and Damon – the C.C.C. lot! You circle the clouds, and you never feel pain, For the bikes that you ride, use wings, not a chain! You live in the sunlight on ripened grain. You live in the gentle autumn rain. You live in the ‘whooooooooooosh’ of tyres on tar As a peloton passes, a colourful blur, So, we will not stand at your grave and cry; You are not there. You did not die. You live in our hearts, and for you we give thanks, ‘Tis we who are the blessed, for you rode in our ranks, No matter at all we don’t share a mother For ours is the honour to call you - our brother ! Farewell, Brother Jim, you’ve shown us the way to truly LiveSTRONG. You’ve been a shining example of courage and grace in adversity, of good humour in the hours of darkness; an example we can but feebly try to emulate if that be our lot, though I doubt we could achieve the high standard you have set. You may have gone from our sight, but you will live long in our hearts – it was not for nothing that we love you – our friend and our brother. Andy [Based on ‘Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep’] CCC Labels: Jim Owens Link Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Labels: baghdad pups Link Wednesday, December 24, 2008
So Lance is gonna be a daddy again? http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081224/ts_alt_afp/cyclingusaarmstrongbaby Labels: lance armstrong Link Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Well, well, our old friend, Podium Girl Gone Bad is now on Twitter. Guess she just can't keep her nose (a-hem) out of the 2009 Tour. Labels: podium girl gone bad, tour de france Link Sunday, November 23, 2008
Labels: lance armstrong Friday, November 07, 2008
Heads-up, y'all. Lance says he may do the Rocky Hills Round Up MTB on Sunday. He pre-rode the course today. Thursday, November 06, 2008
You gotta watch the 38 minute video interview of Lance at the Web 2.0 conference in SF this week. I must say Lance was in top form, and there were some really funny moments, especially his response to the last question from an audience member. Hey Lance, why didn't you let me know you were going to be in SF? Oh well, I guess it must have been teensy weensy forgetfulness on his part... Uh huh, right... I think somehow I must have slipped off from his invite list. Next time, tweet me, Lance... You can catch my rather boring tweets at www.twitter.com/velogal Labels: lance armstrong Link Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Lance, Levi and Alberto in the San Diego wind tunnel. Combo of bonding and competition, if I know those guys. And I do. Levi is really competitive - good on him. Lance and Levi share that same drive that allows them to suffer for a victory... Sunday, November 02, 2008
Labels: lance armstrong Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Thanks to Mark for the heads-up about Lance twittering. http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong Very cool to keep up with Numero Uno via Twitter.... So... not to be outdone, I renewed my Twitter account. You can check it out by following the link, but warning... it won't be all cycling. Labels: lance armstrong, twitter, velogal Link Wednesday, September 24, 2008
From the website for the Adelaide, Australia Tour Down Under: Lance Armstrong to Race at 2009 TDU World cycling superstar Lance Armstrong is to make his official comeback to professional road cycling racing at South Australia's 2009 ProTour Tour Down Under. Premier Mike Rann said he was delighted to make the announcement today, about eight hours ahead of the American cycling legend's news conference in New York later tonight SA time. "Lance participating in the Tour Down Under will mean the biggest influx of overseas and interstate visitors to any sporting event in South Australia's history. "Attracting world cycling icon Lance Armstrong to begin his comeback in South Australia is a major coup for the State and will place the Tour Down Under front and centre of the world professional cycling events. "Lance Armstrong's global profile has the potential to double the 15 000 people who come to SA to watch the race, and we are told we can anticipate a quadrupling of worldwide media coverage for the event - because of his immense popularity. "Given that the TV coverage of this year's Tour Down Under amounted to 84 hours of international TV coverage throughout Europe, India, Asia and Northern America this year - the exposure for both the race and for South Australia next year will be massive. "In January this year, the Tour resulted in more than $17 million being pumped into the State's economy, and a total of 548 000 people watched the week long event. "It's exciting the know the event next January will be bigger by a long way." Mr Rann says Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, had made it very clear that part of his comeback was to raise awareness of cancer and its global burden. Labels: lance armstrong Link Tuesday, September 23, 2008
So Lance is going to hold a press conference tomorrow in NY about his Global Cancer Initiative, and then at another press conference on Thursday at Interbike, he will announce his plans for his return to cycling. Bummer that I can’t be at Interbike this year, but like everybody else, I had to tighten up on the spending.... A long-time reader, Burt, gave me a heads-up on an article in the Sydney Morning Herald that rumors about a “possible buyout” by Lance of the Tour de France from ASO, calling it an “audacious plan”. Huh? Is this April 1st or what? However, you can read it for yourself if you follow the link. And then there’s the thing with Alberto Contador and Lance on the same team. Alberto has been tearing up the road with his wins since he was aced out of the 2008 Tour. He said that he welcomed Lance back to the cycling world, but more recently sounds like he is wondering if there is room for them both at Astana. Alberto feels that he has rightly won the title of team leader for 2009, especially at the TdF. However, he is wondering how that will work if Lance has that same goal... Don’t think Alberto would have any trouble finding another team, but sure hope we don't lose him... Stay tuned... Labels: alberto contador, lance armstrong, tour de france Link Friday, September 19, 2008
So Chechu Rubiera just signed with Astana for one more year... Can Lance be far behind? From Snowmass to Astana... How cool would it be if my Iron Man, Eke, got on two wheels instead of four in 2009 for Astana? Wednesday, September 10, 2008
How nice to hear from so many of my readers, even though I have somewhat abandoned my blog. I especially appreciated the encouragement from John B., and thanks! So, by popular demand (a-hem) I’ll share what I am thinking about Lance’s return to the cycling world. I did a memory lane thing and looked at some of my photos that I took at the Postal training camp in 2002. Go to my smugmug gallery http://www.velogal.smugmug.com/ to have a look at just a few of them. Wow, all the guys looked so young then. It was such an exciting time for all of us! And then I looked at what I wrote in my last posting on the now defunct Unofficial Lance Armstrong Fan Club> Here’s what I said, “September 23, 2007 - Quote from Lance in The Canadian Press on the Floyd Landis decision: "Armstrong spoke briefly with reporters before he jumped on a bicycle, saying that his career focus now is on fighting cancer. He declined to answer questions regarding the decision a few days ago in which an arbitration panel stripped Floyd Landis of his 2006 Tour de France title because it said Landis used synthetic testosterone. "I'd love to answer the question but unfortunately I'm out of that business," said Armstrong. "I'm here to fight cancer. I haven't looked online. I still love the bike and ride all the time but on the competitive side I'm just not engaged." He said cycling issues now are "just a distraction for me." Velogal thinks that Lance's current feelings about his role in the cycling world are her cue to close down this Lance Fan Site. I started this site in December, 2000 as a tribute to Lance, and he has never let me down in his courage, honesty and integrity as a cyclist and a seven-time Tour de France Champion. Along with messages from untold numbers of Lance's faithful fans, I have endured hate mail, personal threats, virus attacks, and deliberate spam usage of my email address. I have been proud to carry the Lance Armstrong Fan Club Banner for all those years. I have been honored to be invited to the team training camps for the last seven years. It has been a great ride with Lance and his team of high-class, hard working guys. My focus for this site has been Lance in the cycling world, and it doesn't feel right to me to change the focus to following Lance around the world now. Lance already has plenty of coverage and support for his tremendous and inspiring fight against cancer. Thanks to all the faithful and long-term fans of this site... “ Well, it sounds like Lance is back in that cycling biz again and, knowing Lance, he will ride, and train, and suffer, and give 100% to get ready for those races. And will he be with Astana? Jeeze, I cannot imagine that he would ride anywhere else. Hmmm - I was just thinking what the ASO old boys might be saying when they heard the news... “Merde”, “Sacre Bleu”, Non, Non.. Mon Dieu!” “Quick, call zee cesspool at Chatenay Malabry and prepare some piss samples for 2009!” So I guess you will be hearing from me from time to time. Not everyday, I’ve got other things going... Oh yeah - here come the same few haters, hitting the Comment button... Puleeze, I’ve already heard from you few, and know what you’re gonna say... So save it, I’m not gonna publish it... Get your own blog... Labels: lance armstrong Link Monday, June 30, 2008
Floyd gets flicked by CAS and is ordered to pay USADA $100k. Disgusting that CAS took so long to just follow the party line, which is what everybody expected them to do... ASO's tentacles are reaching everywhere. Now even to the Amgen Tour of California... Speaking of ASO, the Tour de Farce starts on the 5th, without Astana and their top riders. I wish all the American riders well, but without Astana, it's going to be pretty bland... Guess it took this appalling decision to shake me into posting after such a long absence... Labels: floyd landis, tour de france Monday, February 18, 2008
You can catch my “up close and personal” style of photos from the Palo Alto Prologue of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California at www.velogal.smugmug.com. It was just great to see so many of the Discovery guys with the Astana team. I was given an Astana cap and team credential and several welcome hugs from the guys. I have to say that my Iron Man, Eki, is a real class act. Thank you, Eki, for everything...And Chechu is just the best... It was pretty laid-back around the team parking area at the hotel. The crowds of fans around the team area have steadily dwindled, around not only Astana, but all the other teams, too. The Rock Racing area was on the other side of the hotel from the rest of the team parking, and they had quite a crowd. Their wrenches are so totally hip and cool.. but then everybody around Michael Ball is. The contrast between Rock Racing and Slipstream is fascinating to observe, and so typified by their kits. Also on race day, the fans packed the street to get autographs from Tyler Hamilton, Santiago Botero and Oscar Sevilla. Rock Racing had a big, shiny black Rolls Royce and a little gal who repeated, like a recording, “ Please stand away from the car, please stand away from the car”.. They also had a huge bodyguard in a black suit and sunglasses, with a hip hair style...Of course, their barbed wire protest kits generated a ton of interest and the three guys were signing posters like mad. . “Whatcha gonna do when they come for you - Bad Boys, Bad Boys” Hell - design an edgy crucifixion kit overnight and let the banned riders sign posters. Great publicity - Love it... So did the fans. The Astana guys look real good, but they are all so disappointed about the Tour exclusion. It makes no logical sense at all. Look at how many teams since 1996 have been nailed for some kind of doping offense and still rode in the Tour the next year.. Think Festina history. Think last Tour’s Rabobank and the formerly T-Mobile team - are they excluded this year? What’s that you say? You think that that ASO knows damn well that Johan has another winning team and this is the way to stop him? You say you think that there is Revenge in the ASO cold money hearts and beady ASO eyes? I’ll be darned - who would’ve ever thunk it.... Labels: amgen tour of california, Astana, palo alto prologue, rock racing, tyler hamilton Link Saturday, February 16, 2008
SOURCE: Trek Bicycles Feb 16, 2008 19:07 ET Levi Leipheimer Unveils LetLeviRide.com Highlighted Links LetLeviRide.com PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwire - February 16, 2008) - Speaking at a press conference on the eve of this year's Tour of California Prologue, defending Tour of California champion and 2007 Tour de France podium finisher Levi Leipheimer unveiled LetLeviRide.com, a grassroots campaign to appeal the Amaury Sport Organization's (ASO) recent decision to ban Leipheimer's team, Astana, from participating in this summer's Tour de France. Visitors to LetLeviRide.com have an opportunity to pledge their support for Levi and add their name to a petition directed at the ASO. "With LetLeviRide.com I'm not disputing the ASO's right to decide which teams it invites to the Tour and which teams it doesn't," noted the USPRO Champion Leipheimer. "I'm drawing attention to the fact that this decision by the ASO is completely arbitrary and unjust. I had nothing to do with Astana prior to joining the team this year. There are many other teams with tainted pasts that haven't changed management or structure like the new Astana has, yet Astana is singled out and excluded. Where's the consistency? By taking action now it looks political. It looks like the ASO has a grudge against a team that can win its races. My hope is that this campaign will encourage the ASO to reconsider its decision." On February 13th, the ASO barred Team Astana from competing in any race or event organized by the ASO in 2008. The ASO owns premiere cycling events like Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Tours, and the famed Tour de France. To justify its decision, the ASO cited the doping scandals of last year's Tour de France. For anyone who has followed cycling's ongoing battle against doping, the ASO's rationale is suspect. Astana's entire organizational structure has been rebuilt under the direction of the team's new General Manager, Johan Bruyneel, who has thoroughly cleaned house. What's more, Astana has adopted the rigorous doping controls developed by the highly respected anti-doping expert Dr. Rasmus Damsgaard, and Astana now spends more money on anti-doping controls than any other team in the pro peloton. There's no comparison between the Astana team of 2007 and the new Astana. "That the happenings of last year ... prompted the Tour organizers to leave Astana out of the season's most important race sounds understandable," noted Bruyneel. "However, Astana Cycling Team 2008 has nothing to do with the team of last year. We have done everything to change the dynamics of the team. New management, new riders, new philosophy. Only the name of the sponsor remained." The ASO has nonetheless largely ignored the new Astana's restructuring efforts, and as a consequence of excluding the entire team from competing in ASO events, has stripped athletes like Levi Leipheimer of the opportunity to realize their life's ambition of competing in the Tour. "I've trained my whole life to race the Tour," noted Leipheimer. "It's my dream to win the Tour de France; it's my life long goal." Labels: levi leipheimer Link Saturday, February 02, 2008
Velogal rides again, sort of. While I won't be covering the Amgen Tour of California as media this year, my buddy, Frank Scioscia asked me to give a heads-up about local AToC events. Please volunteer for the Palo Alto Prologue - they need your help! CHARITY CHALLENGE - BID ON THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME TO RACE AGAINST THE PROS The 2008 AMGEN Tour of California Prologue's Charity Challenge on February 17, 2008 PALO ALTO - Ever wonder how fast the riders of the Tour de France, Olympics and Tour of California really are? Ever wonder how you might stack up against Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie and Fabian Cancellara? This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance to test your speed against some of the world’s greatest cyclists. This is more than a backstage pass to the Pro Tour – it’s a chance to experience first hand the excitement of riding a major prologue. You will ride the Palo Alto/Stanford prologue course just moments before 130 of the top cycling professionals in the world officially kick-off the 2008 Amgen Tour of California. Imagine your name announced by the same famous voices that will be providing the live race coverage, a photo of you in the official start house, thousands of fans (and pros) cheering you down the start ramp and on until you reach the finish and look up to see your time posted on the big screen … or perhaps even the leader board? In this short 2 mile race of truth you will race individually against the clock. Not only will you test yourself, but you can challenge your friends, go head to head against the Mayor, Stanford’s Vice Provost and other local celebrities and afterwards watch as the world’s best pros challenge your time. · Close quarters with the pros as you and they prepare for the race. · Official UCI timing and officiating · Official prologue course closed just for you · Your name announced to the roaring crowds · Professional photography of you leaving the start house · Professional photography of you blasting across the finish line · Your time announced and posted on the Video Screen · Awards stage recognition of the fastest man, fastest woman and the largest donor This is a priceless opportunity for every cycling fan, enthusiast and weekend warrior. Lasting only a few short moments, it will be remembered for a lifetime. Space is limited – so the 25 highest donations made to the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation (call 1-800-341-0310 to place your bid for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity) between now and Feb 15 th at 12 noon (pst) will earn a spot to test this course. Minimum bid is $500. Then, the official ranking will be updated and posted daily. Official bidding will start soon, so check back. Note: All donations to this event will be handled through the Palo Alto Recreation foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization, and are tax deductible. For those who wish to have professional coaching advice, or a fitting on your TT bike for optimum speed, consult Dan Smith in Menlo Park at Sportvelo (650)324-BIKE (2453): http://www.sportvelo.com Need to buy a TT bike like the pro’s use? Contact Jeff at Palo Alto Bicycles 171 University Ave, Palo Alto - (650) 328-7411. For more information about the Prologue course, check out http://www.paloaltostanfordprologue.com But wait, there's more! WEBCOR SAN JOSE KING-OF-THE-MOUNTAIN RIDE The Webcor San Jose King-of-the-Mountain Ride, Saturday, Feb. 16, kicks off a week of South Bay cycling events, culminating in the Amgen Tour of California Modesto-to-San Jose Stage 3 finish Wednesday, February 20, at San Jose City Hall. A pre-ride to the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, the WEBCOR San Jose King-Of-The-Mountain Ride will feature a tortuous ascent up Sierra Road. Riding like seasoned professionals up the breathtaking Sierra hill, the best and the hardiest cyclists will compete for honor of being King-of-the-Mountain. Registration Site https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Item.aspx?item_id=2076 THE RIDE Participants will gather at City Hall on Saturday, February 16 for an overview of the morning. The ride will start at 10 a.m., with Police motorcycles leading a rolling closure north and east to the base of the Sierra Road climb. At that point, cyclists will cross a timing pad to activate timing chips and began the Sierra Road ascent: a 3.7-mile, 1830-foot climb, with an average gradient of 10 percent. Below is a graph illustrating the Sierra Road portion only of the ride, indicating overall elevation gain and gradient change over distance. The ride officially ends at the Sierra Hill summit, with riders invited to continue back to City Hall. The total ride is approximately 26 miles. Riders will reconvene at San Jose City Hall for a post ride celebration including lunch and prizes. NEW FOR 2008! SunPower PedalOn AWARDS Honoring cycling club and company teams, the SunPower PedalOn Awards is a play on the cycling term “peloton,” the large main group in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close to other riders. Cycling clubs and company teams will be recognized for best (top 5) times and most participants. While winning cycling clubs and company teams will both receive commemorative trophies, the cycling club with the best time and the one with the most participants will each win a Specialized Allez Elite Compact bike-a $1,200 value. When registering, please be sure to enter your Team Name, otherwise you will not be entered into this category. THE MATTSON TECHNOLOGY CEO CHALLENGE The Mattson Technology CEO Challenge is a competition where Silicon Valley corporate leaders and elected officials will vie for the honor of being the “CEO King-of-the-Mountain.” Participants will receive a Mattson Technology CEO Challenge jersey and an invitation to the Mattson Technology luncheon, Wed., Feb. 20, in San Jose City Hall Rotunda overlooking the Amgen Tour of California Stage 3 finish line. The male and female CEO cyclist with the fastest Webcor King-of-the-Mountain time each will be presented with a commemorative award and a $500 gift certificate donated by Undiscovered Country Tours—a premium cycling tour specialist—on the podium at the Wednesday, February 20, Amgen Tour of California stage finish line at San Jose City Hall. PARKING For information and location of Downtown Parking Facilities, please visit, sjdowntownparking.com. The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition will provide on-site free guarded bike parking for the pre- and post-ride events. THE BENEFICIARY Over the past 20 years, the rate of overweight children has tripled, and today obesity related illnesses like diabetes are affecting children at a rapidly increasing rate and at earlier ages. According to a study released by the California Department of Health Services, physical inactivity, obesity, and overweight cost the state of California an estimated $12.7 billion a year in medical care. Proceeds from the King-of-the-Mountain Ride will benefit Fit for Learning. Fit for Learning is a program-provided by the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) in cooperation with Healthy Silicon Valley-that addresses the crisis of childhood obesity and is a multi-faceted initiative that will increase physical activity and encourage healthy nutrition among elementary school students in Santa Clara County. Fit for Learning addresses the environment at every level: the classroom, the school, the district and community. For more information, visit www.fitforlearning.org. TITLE SPONSOR Webcor Builders is the largest general contractor in the Bay Area and the 10th largest concrete contractor in the nation. Over thirty-five years of serving clients such as Oracle, eBay, Lucasfilm, and the California Academy of Sciences has secured Webcor's position as a leading builder of large-scale, high-profile projects. In line with the company’s leadership position is its community outreach. Webcor Builders works hard to make a difference in the community by donating time and talents to non-profit organizations, especially those that benefit children and families. Plus, through the Webcor Cycling Team, Webcor Builders hopes to demonstrate to youth the importance of teamwork and a way to become true champions. The combination of these two strategic endeavors made the Webcor San Jose King-of-the-Mountain Ride a perfect match for Webcor Builders. EVENT PRODUCER The WEBCOR San Jose King-of-the-Mountain Ride is being produced by the City of San Jose, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, San Jose Sports Authority and Blue Wolf Events, a comprehensive event management and production company, specializing in cycling events. For almost 15 years BlueWolf has been managing and producing all kinds of events in all kinds of locations through all four seasons. : Labels: amgen tour of california, charity challenge, palo alto prologue, webcor san jose king of the mountain challenge Link Thursday, December 13, 2007
Press Release from Trek: Dec 12, 2007 18:38 ET Trek Named Team Astana's Official Bike Sponsor Astana's Team Issue Trek Madone WATERLOO, WI--(Marketwire - December 12, 2007) - Trek Bicycle Corporation today announced that the Astana Cycling Team has chosen Trek to be the official team bike supplier for the 2008 season and beyond. Starting on January 1, 2008, Team Astana will rely on the proven technology of Trek OCLV Carbon to provide them with the lightest, fastest, and best handling bikes in the pro peloton. Riders like defending Tour de France Champion Alberto Contador and U.S. Road Champion Levi Leipheimer will count on the cutting-edge technology and superior ride characteristics of the all-new Madone for all-around workhorse duties in the most demanding races on the professional calendar. For time trial events, Astana riders will race against the clock aboard the fastest bike on the circuit, the wind-cheating Equinox TTX. "We're excited to be part of the new Astana and to continue racing at the sport's highest level," noted Trek President John Burke. "What counts here is having the best riders on the best bikes. We have faith in Johan [Bruyneel] and we're fired up about working with riders like Levi and Alberto." Trek's presence in the pro peloton was recently put into question when Tailwind Sports, the parent company for the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team -- the team Trek has sponsored for the last ten years -- announced that it would disband the team after the 2007 season. But when team director Johan Bruyneel announced his decision to take over direction of the Astana Team beginning in 2008 -- bringing with him '07 TdF podium finishers Contador and Leipheimer -- the decision to join Bruyneel at Astana was a natural one. "When we learned that the Discovery Team was dissolving after the 2007 season, we knew that we wanted to stay in the pro peloton," noted Scott Daubert, Trek's Road Bike Brand Manager. "But we didn't want to jump into just any team; we wanted to make sure any future sponsorships would be the right move for Trek, even if that meant sitting out the 2008 season. When Johan approached us about a possible move to Astana, we realized that the opportunity to continue working with him was too good to pass up. It's no secret that we've enjoyed tremendous success with Johan over the past decade, and he's demonstrated time and time again that he's one of the savviest tacticians in professional cycling. We're excited to be able to continue building on what has to date been a very fruitful partnership. The chance to continue working with riders like Contador and Leipheimer and now Chris Horner is an added bonus." For his part, Bruyneel is excited to enter the second phase of his team management career, welcoming the challenges and opportunities associated with taking over the Astana team. "It was not an easy decision to return to cycling after my retirement announcement in August," Bruyneel said when Astana officially announced his appointment as general manager. "However, in my new role with Astana I have found new challenges and I am excited to help the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation grow the sport in the country." Bruyneel continued, "Under my guidance, the Team will strictly abide by the UCI Pro Team Code of Conduct, as well as any and all anti-doping measures agreed to by the UCI or the Team's Union. Additionally, the Astana Team has taken further measures by subscribing to the anti-doping program developed by Dr. Rasmus Damsgaard and utilized by Team CSC in 2007. The Damsgaard anti-doping system is currently the most effective and comprehensive program available." When it came to find a bike sponsor for the new Astana, the choice was a clear one for Bruyneel. "I didn't go to anyone else for bikes in 2008," noted Bruyneel about his decision to approach Trek. "Trek is the only company that can support our program. I know this from the success we have had together. There are lots of details in running a team and knowing that the bikes will be good every time we race tells me that I made the right choice." The riders look forward to competing on Trek bikes, too. "Obviously Trek knows what they are doing. Look at the races they have won," voiced 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador. "I'm happy to stay on a Trek to defend my Tour title." 2007 Tour de France podium finisher Levi Leipheimer echoed Bruyneel and Contador's sentiments: "I'm very happy to have Trek as the sponsor of the new Astana team. Trek was an integral part of my success during 2007. The new Madone has all the elements I look for in a high-performance bike; it's light, stiff, and looks awesome. Most importantly, I know I can trust its reliability." Trek Travel will also partner with the Astana team, offering behind the scenes access to the team. This exclusive access to the world's most successful stage racing team continues to set Trek Travel apart in the active travel industry. Riders will be introduced to the new Astana team bikes at December's orientation camp in Valencia, Spain. Riders will be fully outfitted in time for January's New Mexico training camp. The team's first race aboard Trek bicycles will be Australia's Tour Down Under, which races from January 22-27, 2008. About Trek Bicycles: Headquartered in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Trek Bicycle Corporation is a global leader in bicycle design and manufacturing. From the original hand-built steel touring frames introduced in 1976 to the revolutionary OCLV carbon fiber first introduced in 1992, Trek's passion for innovation, quality, and performance leads the industry with next-generation technology and thinking. With an unprecedented eight Tour de France titles in the last nine years, six straight 24-hour World Solo Mountain Bike Championships, and countless other professional wins, Trek enjoys a rich tradition of victory in the world's premier cycling events. Today, with a broad range of bicycles and cycling products under the Trek, Gary Fisher, LeMond, Bontrager, and Klein brand names, Trek continues to pursue new ways to bring the joy of cycling to all people. About Astana: Established in 2006 under the auspices of the Cycling Federation of Kazakhstan, and sponsored by a consortium of major Kazakh industries, the Astana Cycling Team was created as a vehicle to spark the interests and foster the development of Kazakhstan's young riders. Named for the new capital of the Independent Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana, which means "capital city," ensures that the best and brightest riders in Kazakhstan have an opportunity to compete at the sport's highest level. Success for Astana is not only a source of national pride for the Kazakh people, but also gives inspiration to nearly 6,000 young Kazakhs enrolled at 14 government-sponsored training centers. Astana operates under the direction of the team's general manager, Johan Bruyneel, the director sportif for eight of the last nine Tour de France champions. CONTACT:Scott Daubert(800) 313 8735, ext 12589Email Contact Labels: Astana, Johan Bruyneel, Trek Bikes, Trek Madone Link Wednesday, December 05, 2007
For some people, Holiday time means buying a puppy as a gift. These folks have good intentions, but a puppy or kitten is not just a cute present, it should be a lifetime committment to training, protecting and caring. A Ride for the Roses buddy, Branan, just sent along this warning about puppymill presents and sleazy breeders (such as Peter W. Rapp in Los Gatos). Thanks to USA Today... Beware of Doggie in Window Puppy mills make a comeback; sleazy breeders sell sickly pets. Last December, Mary Klein wanted a Westie pup as a Christmas surprise for her three children. She saw a breeder's newspaper ad, called him and agreed to meet him at a Wal-Mart near her home in Chantilly, Va., after he told her the kennel would be too long a drive. Mary Klein instantly fell for the little ball of white fur, paid $500, and left with a sheaf of documents and a puppy that she named Kipper. Almost immediately, Kipper fell ill. She vomited. She had diarrhea. She didn't eat. Kipper was diagnosed with parvovirus, so sick she had to be euthanized. Two days after being bought and three days before Christmas, the puppy died in Klein's arms. Like thousands of other pet buyers each year, Klein fell victim to a puppy mill — shadowy operations throughout the nation that churn out puppies in inhumane, often unsanitary, conditions. The breeding dogs spend their lives in wire cages, giving birth twice a year. The puppies, frequently inbred, are often sick, unsocialized or prone to genetic diseases. But Klein didn't know any of that when she started her puppy hunt. What she discovered when she dug into Kipper's documents was that her dog came from a mass production kennel in Bland County, Va. — one that later came under scrutiny when a fire killed 200 of its dogs. It is now closed. In the early 1990s, investigations by animal welfare groups, media attention and raids shut down some of the worst mills, but they are on the rise again, according to the Humane Society of the U.S. and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Virginia, along with Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio and Indiana, are considered hotbeds of puppy mill activity. Earlier this month, authorities raided an operation in Hillsville, Va., seized 1,000 dogs and sent them to shelters. The raid revealed the suffering of these breeding animals. Many didn't know how to walk on solid ground, never having been out of a cage. In a nation of dog lovers, how could such operations thrive? Explanations include weak laws, lackluster enforcement and demand for pedigreed dogs. Under federal rules, a beagle could legally spend its life in a dishwasher-sized cage. Nor are there enough inspectors: 105 are charged with overseeing about 10,000 facilities, including kennels, zoos and research labs. High-volume operations that sell directly to the public don't need a federal license, and most state laws and enforcement are weak. The hopeful news is that some of this is changing. In the past year, Pennsylvania has beefed up inspections and prosecutions. The state has proposed more stringent regulations, including doubling the minimum cage size. Incredibly, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, which represents breeders and pet stores, has balked even at that minimal attempt to better the dogs' lives. States are best positioned to address the problem, but as the regulatory battles drag on, the best weapon is consumer knowledge. Animal advocates (www.stoppuppymills.org) recommend that prospective pet owners avoid stores that get puppies from mills. Owners should look for dogs at shelters or insist that breeders show them a puppy's parents, medical history and home. As Mary Klein sadly learned, reputable breeders don't meet buyers in parking lots. Posted at 12:21 AM/ET, November 30, 2007 in Animals - Editorial, Business issues - Editorial, Lifestyle issues - Editorial, USA TODAY Labels: puppymills Link
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Velogal talks about cycling, and whatever else comes to mind....
We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals... We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of splendor and travail of the earth. Henry Beston 1928
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