Cycling News Roundup 15 April 2008
Team News, GP Comune di Lonate Ceppino, Czech Women's Cup, BMX SuperCross, "Circle the Bald", Sea Otter Green. Photos and more...

Tom Boonen Photo © Yoni Peeters

Lampre - Amorbieta Cunego Victory
While Ballan was in the leading positions on the cobblestones and then followed Boonen and Cancellara in the crucial attack, in Amorbieta Damiano Cunego was showing his form, pedaling in a decisive way and preceding in the final sprint a very quick Valverde.

"This victory consoles me for the small disappointment for not having reached the podium of Vuelta al Pais Vasco," Cunego said, "I was near victory in the past years, today I hit the target. Now my attention is on Ardenne Classics".

Alessandro Ballan rides the center of the cobbled path in Paris Roubaix.
Photo c. Lampre

Team MILRAM starting in the Scheldeprijs
Erik Zabel Leads
On Wednesdy, April 16, Team MILRAM will start in the Grand Prix Scheldeprijs (UCI 1.HC). Erik Zabel will lead the MILRAM team in the traditional one-day Belgian race. The Directeurs sportif Antonio Bevilaqua and Raoul Liebregts will also look to German MILRAM riders Dennis Haueisen, Enrico Poitschke, Markus Eichler and Martin Müller, as well as Australian Brett Lancaster, Luca Barla of Italy and Slovakian youngster Martin Velits.

„We expect a typical belgian one-day race with lots of wind and rain,“ said MILRAM Directeur Sportif Raoul Liebregts. „You have to be very attentive in this race. It is always possible for an escape group to come through and for the peloton to be held back because of the strong wind.“ That happened, for example, in 2006, when only 22 riders finished the race.

The Grand Prix Scheldeprijs has been run in Belgian Flanders since 1907. The course goes over a total of 207 kilometers from Antwerpen to Schoten. A 149 km course is followed by three laps of a 16 km closing round. So far only two Germans have been abel to win the traditional race, Dietrich Thurau in 1987, and Erik Zabel in 1997. Last year the 37-year old sprinter was best MILRAM finisher in the race, in seventh place. The two Slovakian youngsters Peter and Martin Velits finished 12th and 16th for their then Team Wiesenhof-Felt.

The MILRAM line-up:
Brett LancasterAUS/Monsummano Terme-Pistoia,ITA), Dennis Haueisen (GER/Gera), Enrico Poitschke (GER/Gera), Erik Zabel (GER/Unna), Luca Barla (ITA/Sanremo-Imperia), Markus Eichler (GER/Mönchengladbach), Martin Müller (GER/Berlin), Martin Velits (SVK/Riemst,BEL)
Sports Director: Antonio Bevilaqua (ITA), Raoul Liebregts (NED)

26th GP Comune di Lonate Ceppino - Varese, Italy
Andrea Sogne Prevails
Andrea Sogne took the first victory in some time in the Student Category for Gruppo Sportivo Prealpino Sports Group. The boys directed by Walter Giordan have had a good sign of things to come from Andrea Sogne who, having placed in earlier events has reached a time of good form and performance to win the 58 kilometer - 26th edition of the GP of Lonate Ceppino - Memorial Daniel Ferrario and Sebastian Tubiana, organized from the Society Ciclistica Lonate Ceppino that got under way with 189 contenders.

Mauro Marcassoli (Valle Seriana) finished second followed by Luca Wackermann (Pol Molinello) filling out the final podium step and team mate Marco Wackermann (Pol. Molinello) 4th and  Alex Rota Scalabrini (Pol. Ravasio) in for 5th.

Andrea Sogne takes a decisive win in Varese. Photo c. Sergio Gianoli

The action of the young man from Besnate was greeted with cheers at the finish where he led the peloton with a handy margin averaging a fast 38 km/h. The Prealpino rider attacked in the final kilometer  to leave his adversaries fighting for second place. This is a victory of prestige, showing that the Andrea has attained early season form. Unfortunately two riders of Gruppo Sportivo Prealpino crashed  Mattia Gumiero and  Federico Branduardi who fell in the second half of the race.
Thanks to Sergio Gianoli

26th GP Comune di Lonate Ceppino
Ordine di arrivo:
58 km - 1:30 - 38.667 km/h
1)Andrea Sogne (Prealpino)
2) Mauro Marcassoli (Valle Seriana)
3) Luca Wackermann (Pol Molinello)
4) Marco Wackermann (Pol. Molinello)
5) Alex Rota Scalabrini (Pol. Ravasio)
6) Steve Rizzardini ( Pol. Molinello)
7) Andrea Panzeri (Alzate Brianza)
8) Simone Mattio (Vigor-Cycling Team)
9) Giuseppe Bovio (Bonalanza)
10) Alberto Cerutti (Novarese).

Czech Republic
Czech Women's Cup 2008
Sobeslav – 12.4.2008 – Kriterium
On the Saturday the 12th of April the first race of women Czech Cup 2008 took place in Sobslav. Won by the favourite for the race Lada Kozlikova (ASC Dukla Praha). In the junior women's it was  Lucie Zaleska  of team CK Lukas Frames Blsany taking the victory.

Women line up for the start of the Kriterium. Photo c. Michal Frantik

Results Sobeslav Kriterium
1.Kozlikova Lada ASC Dukla Praha
2.Fialova Dana KC Slavia Praha
3.Babunkova Andrea KC Slezan F-M
4.Scuckova Jirina CK Lukas Frames Blsany
5.Potočná Eva KC Slavia Praha

The following day the women lined up for the Mtn Bike Cross Country race in Pardubice, where Tereza Hurikova finished solo to win the race.

Tereza Hurikova  Photo c. Michal Frantik

Results Padubice Mtn Bike Cross Country
1. Tereza Hurikova Ceska sporitelna MTB Team 1:27:53
2. Natalija Krompetsová ISD 1:31:16
3. Pavla Havlíková KC Kooperativa SG Jablonec n. N. 1:34:00

Czech Women's Cup 2008 - Picin Road Race
The second race of the women Czech Cup 2008 on the road race was won Lada Kozlikova (ASC Dukla Praha. In junior women it was Gabriela Slamova of team (ASO Dukla Brno) took the win.

Lada Kozlikova busy with an interview after the race. Photo c. Michal Frantik

Picin Road Race Results
Position Name Family Name Club
1. Lada Kozlikova  Asc Dukla Praha
2. Dana Fialova  Arbö Askö Uniqa Wiesbauer Graz,  Kc Slavia Praha
3. Jana Kyptova   Johnson Controls As Ml.Bol.
4. Andrea Babunková   Tj Slezan Frydek - Mistek
5. Eva Potocna   Kc Slavia Praha
6. Pavla Havlikova  Kc Kooperativa Sg Jablonec N.N
7. Jana Kabrtova   Spinning Mb-Alpine Pro
8. Jiřina  Scuckova Ck Lucas Frames Blsany
9. Martina Säcklova  Tj Cykloprag
10. Andrea Chlumska  Ck Bitovska
Thanks to Michal Frantik

Winners Tereza Hurikova and  Lada Kozlikova with Michal Frantik
Photo c. Michal Frantik

Herman Wins BMX SuperCross World Cup # 2
Martin Finishes Second in Women's Event
Adelaide, Australia (April 13, 2008)-The United States continued to illustrate its depth in BMX racing on Sunday when David Herman (Wheat Ridge, Colorado) won the men's race at the second round of the 2008 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup and Arielle Martin (Pleasant Grove, Utah) finished second in the women's event.

As the only American to qualify for the final eight-man main, Herman out kicked several of the world's top riders to capture the biggest win of his career. After qualifying 23rd in Saturday's time trial session, Herman managed to advance all the way to the finals where he faced Maris Strombergs (NED), Kamakazi (AUS), Michal Prokop (CZE), Raymon van der Biezen (NED), Luke Madill (AUS), Emillo Falla (ECU), and Jared Graves (AUS). In the winner-take-all format, Herman crossed the line in 30.446 seconds to finish just 0.283 of a second ahead of Strombergs for the victory.

Despite earning the number one seed, Donny Robinson (Napa, Calif.), as well as compatriots Mike Day (Santa Clarita, Calif.) and Bubba Harris (Goodyear, Ariz.), were all eliminated from contention in the semifinals.

Kiwi Sarah Walker Wins Women's Race
In the women's race, Martin finished second to Sarah Walker (NZL) by just 0.267 of a second in an eight-woman final that featured three Americans. Jill Kintner (Seattle, Wash.) finished fifth overall while Amanda Geving (Largo, Fla.) placed sixth.

Martin earned the second seed behind Jana Horakova (CZE) before finishing behind Walker in a final that also included her two countrywomen, as well as Samantha Cools (CAN), Tanya Bailey (AUS), Nicole Callisto (AUS) and Maria Gabriella Diaz (ARG).

The international BMX contingent will next compete at the third round of the 2008 UCI Supercross World Cup in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 9-10 before the men will compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Chula Vista, Calif. On June 14.

Southern Appalachian Bicycle Association Announces the
5th Annual "Circle the Bald" Bike Ride to celebrate Tour de Georgia
Our 5th annual recreational bicycle ride to celebrate the Tour de Georgia will be held Saturday, April 26, 2008. Starting in Hiawassee, GA at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, just minutes from Brasstown Bald, the ride will begin with a mass start after the pre-ride briefing at 8:00 AM.

Ride options will include a 12-mile rolling course and a 36-mile, challenging, hilly course that circles Brasstown Bald. You can ride a portion of the same route that the world's best professional cyclists will ride later that day.

Then, spend the afternoon cheering on the pro peloton as they assault Brasstown Bald and finish Stage 6 atop the highest point in Georgia at 4,783 feet. Pre-registration guarantees a commemorative T-shirt to the first 300 participants. The registration fee is $25 postmarked before April 19th, $30 postmarked after April 19th or on-site. 1,000 Rider Limit. Register at www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1521091 or www.sabacycling.com. 

Proceeds for this event go to the development of the Jackrabbit Mountain Bike and Hiking Trail Project, which will provide additional recreational opportunities and economic development for Clay County, NC and the adjoining Towns County, GA.

ABOUT THE JACKRABBIT MOUNTAIN TRAIL PROJECT - SABA is working with the USFS, along with the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association to develop a trail system off of Jackrabbit Road in Clay County, North Carolina. This is located on a peninsula on beautiful Lake Chatuge, on the North Carolina/Georgia border. An estimated 14-15 miles of trail is planned, with 7-8 miles being a perimeter trail bordering the lake, and 5-7 miles being inner connector and ridge line trails. Land management studies have been completed, and the design & construction phase has begun.

With almost 7 miles of environmentally sound, sustainable trail completed, Jackrabbit has already been deemed the 'Ritz-Carlton' of mountain bike trails. As one of the premier trail systems in the Southeast, the Jackrabbit Mountain Trail Project has all the ingredients necessary to becoming a destination site when completed… beautiful Lake Chatuge, campgrounds, nearby hotel and motel accommodations, great restaurants, shops and more! For additional information visit www.sabacycling.com

Sea Otter Takes a Few Giant Steps Toward Reducing its Carbon Footprint
Sea Otter partners set examples for how to be responsible environmental stewards
Sea Otter's Environmental Stewardship seeks to preserve Laguna Seca and Fort Ord - Quietly over the years, the Sea Otter Classic has managed to make great strides as a "green" event by reducing its carbon footprint. Now Sea Otter has become the model against which other events in the Monterey Bay area get measured. Partnerships with companies that have existing "green" initiatives already in place, like Toyota, Clif Bar, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Pedro's, become part of the process to achieving a more sustainable, more environmentally responsible event. New this year, Sierra Nevada has signed on as the "Official Recycling Sponsor" and who better to lead Sea Otter's recycling efforts than a company that managed to divert 98.2 percent of total solid waste from landfill through recycling and reuse efforts during 2007.

"Recycling is something that we do naturally here at our plant," said Cheri Chastain, sustainability coordinator for Sierra Nevada. "So going to and participating at events, we wanted to improve the recycle-ability of products, now it's at the point where we can start expanding and doing these things at the events we're attending."

While recycling may be a small step, it is an important one. Sierra Nevada's expressed goal for the Sea Otter Classic is to make recycling easy. Next to every trashcan there will be a recycling bin so, an impulsive action to chuck recyclables in the trashcan should be easy enough to divert to the recycling bin right next to it. Now how easy is that?

Accessorize with Clif Bar
Clif Bar will take all energy bar wrappers (that's right, ALL of them) at their booth, number 227 to later be converted into useful objects like tote bags and purses. The environmentally conscious Clif Bar & Co., in partnership with Terracycle, will be unveiling its new energy bar wrapper-recycling program, called the Wrapper Brigade at Sea Otter. For a look at the final product or just to learn more about the Wrapper Brigade, go here.

Sea Otter will also be the first stop on the 2008 tour of the Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge, which challenges people to fight global warming by walking or riding bikes for trips that are two miles or less. Clif Bar unveiled its 2 Mile Challenge project at Interbike last year and the response so far has been positive.

"People everywhere really seem to be getting behind the concept of using a bike to make those quick trips of under two miles from where they live," said Ryan Mayo, mobile marketing manager for Clif Bar & Co. "It’s not hard to see that it’s going to take some proactivity on our collective part if we want to make a difference on the climate change front. To that end, no one said that fighting climate change has to be boring – and what’s more fun than emission-free travel on two wheels?! Here at Clif Bar, we enjoy our time on the bike for sure, so this was a natural evolution for us to help along the car-to-bike mode shift movement."

A portion of staff members will be pedaling to Laguna Seca from Clif HQ in Berkeley (120 miles) and every Clif employee who attends Sea Otter will commute to Laguna Seca from their hotel.

Green Fizz Wash - Pedro's Bike Wash cleans without harming the environment
A Cleaner "Clean" at the Pedro's Bike Wash
Pedro's brand bicycle care will further reduce environmental impact to the Laguna Seca Recreation Area and Fort Ord trails by providing Pedro’s Green Fizz Bike Wash Station, where dirty bikes will get their own kind of environmentally friendly spa treatment. Green Fizz, a biodegradable foaming bike wash, ProJ, a biodegradable, professional-strength citrus degreaser, and Go!, Pedro’s newest biodegradable and sustainable chain lube, will be on hand for cyclists who care about both their bikes and the environment to scrub, degrease, and lube their rides.

“We’re excited to offer the bike wash at Sea Otter. The event’s commitment to the planet is tremendous and we think that should be supported at every level. We want all riders to be able to wash their bikes and kill the dirt without killing the fish” said Jason Elhardt, Pedro’s marketing and communications manager.

Preferential treatment for hybrids, courtesy of Toyota
For the second year, anyone arriving at Sea Otter in a hybrid vehicle, like a Toyota Prius or Highlander, will be directed to premier reserved parking. Pedal-powered vehicles and carpools of four or more people per vehicle will also gain access. The reserved parking area is hosted by Toyota.

With some of the nation's most environmentally proactive companies distinguishing Sea Otter just by their presence, Sea Otter must evolve as a responsible Environmental Steward to keep pace with its esteemed partners. Recycling, reducing, and solving the challenges of climate change have become a global responsibility. This year's programs offered by the Sea Otter Classic, its partners and its participants take a giant leap in minimizing the event's carbon footprint.

About Sea Otter Classic, Inc. - The 18th Annual Sea Otter Classic will be held April 17-20, 2008 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California, USA. The four-day "Celebration of Sport" is considered the world's largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. The Sea Otter Classic benefits the Davis Phinney Foundation, which supports Parkinson's disease research and wellness, and IMBA California, which organizes advocacy and trailbuilding efforts statewide and strengthens California mountain bike clubs. More information can be found at www.seaotterclassic.com

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