NorCal Cycling News

{a move this week brought about lacking access to the interwebs - so apologies for the break in transmission during what was … without doubt, one of the more fascinating weeks in American cycling history}

Let’s Start with the L’Aude

Tour De L’Aude … it’s French for hot women on bikes.  L’Aude is the premier sporting stage race for women in the world.  It’s the femme version of the Tour DAY France ~ with chamois cracking stages that charge break-neck through needle narrow Euro streets and launch hailmary up lung blowing climbs.  L’Aude is one of the oldest, most prestigious races in all the world and this year’s version is an excellent indication that American women’s cycling is not only on the rise, it’s rising to the top.

Both Katheryn Curi Mattis and Mara Abbot have won stages for the US National Team.  Brooke Miller, riding for the American-based professsional squad, Team TIBCO, has dominated the sprints competition and looks to secure the jersey in the final 90km stage taking place today.  Both the US National Team and TIBCO have proven themselves to be huge animators in the long stage race, throwing themselves off the front of the race with determined ferocity.  Beautiful racing.
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Moving on to the Mach … a Tour of California hero

Bissell Pro Cycling’s ToC was forged this year by breakaways and none was more important to the team than Paul Mach’s exploits off the front.  Jeremy Vennel was also in the high-profile breakaway on the final day … which was a fitting bookend to Mach’s opening day breakaway escapade.  Mach pulled on the Climber’s Jersey for a day … putting his name in the record books and splashing Bissell advertising around the world.

Well done, well done.

The nerdy-quirk PhD candidate even got himself in another hammer campaign during the week … putting up with HTC’s Renshaw for untold kilometers and forcing Garmin-Transitions to earn their paychecks.
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Olympia’s Tour … the new big thing is here

Taylor Phinney won 4 stages and the overall in one of the Netherland’s most prestigious races.  For those who have eyes only for Lance Armstrong … well, here’s your new prescription.

Taylor Phinney won 2 bunch sprints … in the Netherlands, btw.  Home of the 200lb meatburgers who love to hook bars and gnaw on each others’ necks like a deleted scene of Brokeback Mountain.

Taylor Phinney has won back to back World Championship titles in the pursuit.  To win a world championship in the pursuit on the velodrome is like 24 hours of waterboarding and having your nuggets zapped by Jack Bower … all super-concentrated into 3 minutes and 17 seconds.

Taylor Phinney is barely old enough to vote.
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If you’re looking for the next big thing in American Cycling … the name is Phinney.
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Speaking of Track Racing

The first Friday Night of the 2010 Hellyer season scorched the velodrome last week.  It was a cold, blustery night … and I’ll be pickled pink if the June 4th edition will be held under 70+ degree temperatures where all the jerseys are short sleeved and skin can be seen everywhere.

Beth Newell dominated the women’s omnium, Dave McCook edged it out for the elite men, and Mark Fairman won the category 3/4 omnium. Hugely notable was Megan Guarnier racing both the men’s and women’s elite events during the night.  Huge endurance displayed by the TIBCO pro … and can’t wait to see how Big Meg turns on the gas for the rest of the US road season.

Even with the chills, the folks from Bay Area Women’s Cycling put on a huge show ~ free food, free drinks (always drink responsibly … burp), and loads of cool people to hang out with and watch sprint after sprint.  Jonathan Racine is the 2010 promoter and the show was all kinds of fun as DJ Chris Panella spun music to keep toes tapping as thighs burned from spinning.  I’m looking forward to announcing for the June 4th race … and then remember ~ June 11-12 is the American Velodrome Challenge!

The AVC is where all the pros come out to shine and mix it up for the first major event of the 2010 track season.  It’s always a party at the AVC.
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Sacramento Grand Prix and the Kern County Women’s Stage Race

Coryn Rivera won the field sprint for the Tour of California associated Sacramento Grand Prix last weekend.  Her Peanut Butter team did an exceptional leadout for the teenage sensation during the final laps, and the little assassin turned the daggers deep to kick away from the field ~ displaying legspeed and bike handling skills of a bike-ninja.

Touchstone Climbing rode bravely, with rider after rider launching away from the pack, and it must be noted that Metromint Cycling also put in their digs to split the field. But it was a field of women that had all eyes on a bunch sprint … and the crowds were not disappointed.

Rivera was delivered to the finish in good position, but she still had to flash out a long, powerful sprint to win it over the Lithuanian star, Modesta Vzesniauskaite of Colavita/Baci Pro Cycling.

The day before was the Scotts Valley Grand Prix … a first year event worthy of note for it’s high prize purse and effort to produce a big show.  Nichole Wangsgard took the win out of a break in a much more animated, hotly contested race than the SGP.  The Scotts Valley race has potential and here’s hoping the folks at Third Pillar see the value in continuing it.
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But … all eyes were for the Tour of California

To say that Floyd Landis’ revelations were shocking would be … an understatement of European proportions.  Unfortunately, I’ve run out of time and have to jet ~ but, would be very interested in opinions on the subject.  Hopefully, I’ll be able throw up some pics tonite, do a bit of editing, and start gossiping proper tomorrow.

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