April 2009 Entries
Bayard, NM – Rory Sutherland of the OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis benefited from teammate Floyd Landis’ presence in the main break of Stage 2 of the SRAM Tour of the Gila to take a strong 3rd place in the stage behind winner Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Colavita/Sutter Home).
While most of the green team has been at home training, Janel has been racing in Europe with the US national team.She recently raced the classic Fleche Wallone World Cup race. The women race on the same course as the men but earlier in the day. Here's her race report...
April 26, 2009 - Dana Point, CA - The Webcor team of Gina, Nikki, Alex and Katheryn raced the Dana Poiint Criterium today. This is a first year NRC event for the women and they put on a good race and so did we! The team put Gina in perfect position to win, and the leadout was so fast, we didn't even need our sprinter to finish things off! Nikki won the race with Gina in 2nd.
"I'm 56. I started riding in July 2007 so that I could ride in the BAK with my 18-year-old son in June 2008. My first ride was 0.9 miles and I thought I was going to die. I got better and completed every mile of the BAK. But, every day I was exhausted and watched the pavement 4 feet ahead as I pedaled counting off miles in my head. I've signed up for the BAK again in hopes I will be stronger and maybe will have the energy to view the scenery as I ride. What training advice do you have ... "
April 20, 2009 - Marin County, CA - USA Cycling today announced the nomination of PROMAN Hit Squad rider Cari Higgins to represent the USA at the upcoming Pan American Championships in Mexico. Higgins is the current elite National Champion in 500m, match sprint, Keirin and team sprint. Cari had a successful winter campaign in Australia with wins and podiums at the Melbourne Revolution and Tasmanian Carnivals.
April 19, 2009 - Cambridge, NY – The Tour of Battenkill was billed as a Northern Classic style race, an epic 200km grind with dirt roads, short, sharp hills and plenty of wind. In this race for the strongmen, Karl Menzies of the OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis earned 2nd place in a two-up sprint with Francois Parisien (Team Planet Energy), two minutes after Scott Nydham (BMC) had soloed in for an impressive victory.
"I do upper body weight training three times a week. Am scared to do legs because I read that in breaking down the muscle in order to make it stronger, you also lose the muscles' memory for pedaling. How long does it take for the muscle to lose the memory of the pedaling action, and how long does it take the muscle memory to recover?"
Marin County, Calif., April 13, 2009 – The PROMAN Women’s Professional Cycling Team today announced plans to expand its new Junior development program. After successes at multiple NorCal regional events already this season, the four-woman squad will compete in its first national level event at Sea Otter this Thursday and Friday, April 16-17, with plans to participate in other national caliber events throughout 2009.
"I'm a 50-something recreation & touring cyclist in California, embarking on the 7-day Bicycle Tour of Colorado (BTC) in June. In the closing days of the ’99 Ride the Rockies, I was barreling down Monarch Pass, unable to hold my head up in a tuck position because of neck fatigue. Other than that, it was a great time."
After years of recovering from a car wreck, I found myself overweight and diagnosed with diabetes. Not wanting to go on insulin, I begged my doctor to give me one shot at lowering my blood sugar, and I began riding a bike. I started out at 270 pounds, and three years later, I race at 185-190 lbs...
What self-respecting amateur athlete would turn down the opportunity to ride from Santa Barbara to Buellton with a pro cycling team?
Redlands,CA – March 28, 2009 – Following Stage 2 of the Redlands Cycling Classic, four members of the team including Floyd Landis and Rory Sutherland, assembled at the Voler Team Apparel tent in the race expo for an autograph session. “The turnout was fantastic,” said team director Mike Tamayo. The positive support expressed for the team was evident throughout, and fun was had by all!
With a short lull in the team stage race schedule, Webcor's Rebecca Much entered a classic race in her home state of IL, the Hillsoboro Rubaix. She nailed the victory and here is the photo to prove it:
Here is her report:
This weekend I did a race down in southern Illinois called the Hillsoboro-Roubaix. You have Paris-Roubaix in France every spring, and I wonder if there are race throughout Europe that emulate that famous race, because here in the states it seems like there are Roubaix like races throughout the country. Hillsboro-Roubaix is the midwestern version anyhow, and it's one of the best races in this part of the country in terms of course and local turn out. I love racing at home because you can drive to the races with friends and see everyone you grew up racing with...no better way to feel loved than to race at home in my opinion! The course was a 22 mile lap that we did twice that went through country roads with rollers and flat windy sections. The last 2-3k of each lap was the best part however as you went up 2 short but steep little hills before bombing down a hill onto cobbles that went to about 300 meters to go before the finish line.
You never know how races are going to play out in a local field, but this race was probably one of the most fun and aggressive races I've ever witnessed which was delighting! We started the race and after only 4 miles in the attacks started flying by Team Kenda. Myself and 2 other riders, Sydney Brown (Mercy Cycling) and Catherine Walberg (Kenda) got off and started hauling through the head, cross, and tailwinds riding across open fields and up and down small rollers. Sydney in particular was riding strong and I was so amped on the hard racing we had in store...the race had just begun! About 1/2 way through the first lap 4 other riders bridged up to us--2 more from Kenda: Christy Keely and Kristin Wentworth--along with Bri Kovak (Team Revolution), and Jessica Prinner (ABD Cycling). Everyone was super motivated to keep the break rolling and have a hard race which made the race incredibly enjoyable. I was particularly impressed with Jessica Prinner who is still a junior! Christy Keely worked hard for her team and got dropped off at the end of the first lap and Sydney Brown had an untimely flat so unfortunately she was missing as we neared the finish, however, she got an automatic spot on the Nature Valley Pro Ride team so her hard work did not go un rewarded. That made 5 of use approaching the finish and everyone turned themselves inside out all the way to the end where we met the 2 hills and cobbles for the final time. I attacked hard at the bottom of the second hill and gave it my all. I was alone at the top and knew all I had to do was keep it rolling to the finish over the cobbles and it would be a successful day. The cobbles and I befriended each other and I made it to the finish with about a 30 second gap for the W. I must say it felt really good to win, most of all because everyone in the break worked so hard and it was in front of my home crowd. I like to make the Chicagoland people proud!
The top 5 rounded out in this order with Catherine Walberg in 2nd, Bri Kovac 3rd, Kristin Wentworth 4th, and Jessica Prinner 5th. I got the coolest trophy as well...a ridiculously heavy cobble brick mounted on a pedestal...it is awesome. Great organization for the race and a great time all around!
Long Beach, CA - With no races on the national calendar this week, several riders from the OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis took to the streets for local races on both coasts. The result was two race wins and one overall omnium title, courtesy of John Murphy and Bobby Lea.