Friday, March 28, 2008

Union Velo adds a new sponsor RINET COMPANY


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Friday, March 21, 2008

Union Velo's Ben Corbalis & Lees-Mcrae makes Cycling News

Lees-McRae: On the road to collegiate success
Lees-McRae can boast one of the most successful collegiate cycling programs in the US. The squad has earned two consecutive cyclo-cross national championship titles in 2006 and 2007 and it finished second to Fort Lewis College at the 2007 collegiate mountain bike national championships. An amazing almost 10% of its small student body of about 600 are members of the college's cycling team. Cyclingnews' Sue George talked to Coach Doug Owen about the Lees-McRae cycling program.
Kacey Mandefield is just one of the Lees-McRae riders with experience visiting national championship podiumsPhoto ©: Matthew Owen

The Lees-McRae team is in its seventh year, making it one of the newer collegiate programs in the country. Despite its small school population, the team has been competing as a Division I school since the 2006-2007 school year.
"We started out strong and we made the leap to Division I," said Coach Doug Owen. "We are probably the smallest school competing in Division I. However, some of the stronger schools in the country do not draw from gigantic campuses - like Fort William and Lindsey Wilson. Some of the best schools are smaller ones without football teams."
In fact, at Lees-McRae, cycling is the largest sports team and probably the only the one with four competitive seasons: track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross and road. "This year, we have 52 active riders, including 14 women," said Owen. "To be able to participate in all of the programs, we need a large number of riders. It's not like volleyball or soccer where you have just one season."
"A majority of our riders do multiple disciplines. Most have one on which they focus, but they love competing and being part of the program," said Owen who mentioned one of the team's riders - a national championship level mountain biker who will also race on the road this spring.
Not everyone on the team is concerned about racing. "We have some riders who want to come ride with us and don't want to race," said Owen. "For example, we have one woman who's not racing because she's a senior who is focusing on graduating."
The team hopes some of its riders will become interested in racing and endeavours to create a supportive environment for those willing to make the transition. "We want to create an environment where anyone can come out and try racing."
"The mindset of our program is we want you to get the most you can out of cycling, but we also want you to walk the aisle and be a college graduate."
- Lees-McRae Collegiate Cycling Team Coach Doug Owen
"This year we are really promoting an intro to racing program. This will appeal to those who like to ride with the team but aren't so sure about the racing part," said Owen. "During the first half of races in the intro program, experienced riders will pair with others, and then they'll bow out and let the newbie racers compete on their own for the rest of the race."
But in the end, it doesn't matter if the school's riders don't stick to racing. Underlying all of Owen's work is his goal of "creating cyclists for life". "I'm 50 and I still race, so I can tell them they can race the rest of their life."
When it comes to cycling, Owen doesn't ask his riders to sacrifice their studies. "The mindset of our program is we want you to get the most you can out of cycling, but we also want you to walk the aisle and be a college graduate."
Still growing
Jo Markham raced the short track Photo ©: Nick Young

The Lees-McRae program has grown thanks to not only the involvement of Owen, but also others in the administration.
"The school's president who started at the same time as me was also a cyclist and he supported me doubling the program," said Owen. "Now we are bringing in 25 riders per year."
Administrators see value in the school's largest athletic program, which is seeing regular success nationally. "Our cycling program is a recruiting asset for our school. Our program has gotten to be so well known that we draw people from all over the country."
Technically, the team is considered a club sport as it is at most colleges and universities in the US. "In reality, every school looks at cycling as a club sport, and from an insurance standpoint, we are officially considered a club," said Owen, "but in the eyes of a cycling world, we consider ourselves a varsity sport because we give scholarships and get money from the school [to support the team]."
PJ Noto races the dual slalom Photo ©: Nick Young

The team has built enough momentum and a successful record that recruiting comes more easily now. "We have riders who just hear about us," said Owen, who still does plenty of active recruiting. "I go to all the junior national events around the country. My assistant coach races pro and travels to many events. I still race actively and talk to juniors all over."
Not being part of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) makes recruiting cyclists a less complicated task. "Since we're not [in the] NCAA, we don't have restrictions on how to recruit riders. So I can talk to kids who are 12, 13, and 14 years-old. I always tell them I want them to come to school here, but if they go to college anywhere that's more important."
Lees-McRae cycling team has been around just long enough that some of its alumni are making themselves knowing in the professional cycling world. Taylor Tolleson first rode for Team Slipstream, but has transferred to Team BMC for 2008.
Perhaps the school's best known cyclist is former Tour of Virginia winner Brent Brookwalter, also racing for BMC. "He had a bad crash last March, and all his plans were put on hold for a year," said Owen. "Over the five years he was in college, he was maybe the most decorated cyclist. He won mountain bike, road, and cross national individual and team titles." Brookwalter graduated with a pre-medicine honors degree in biology.
2008 will be the first time that Tolleson and Brookwalter will be team-mates again since their collegiate days.
All about strategy
The Lees-McRae women's team wins a silver Photo ©: Doug Owen

Collegiate cycling is truly a team event, with both the men's and the women's racers scoring points in various categories that are ultimately combined for a team omnium score. Because the points of riders of both genders and all levels count, more experienced riders are encouraged to teach and nurture those with less experience in the greater interest of the team's results.
Owen is starting his fourth year as a coach and last year was the school's first graduating class. "We had seven riders graduate. This year we'll have 11 graduates, then 18 next year," said Owen. "We're just at the cusp when we're starting to put people out there."
New for the 2008 season is a rule change to encourage more strategy within collegiate races. "In the past, we scored four of four riders. This year, we will race six and score three," said Owen who helps nationally with the leadership of collegiate cycling. "We think this will help collegiate road cycling at a national level. We're carrying forward what we do in the conference level, in which the top four of however many you put in score."
Competing in the Southeast Collegiate Conference, Lees-McRae started racing on March 1. Its season builds in importance and culminates in the conference finals, which the school will host on April 19-20, and the national championship in Fort Collins, Colorado, on May 9-11.
Lees-McRae is going into this road season as its conference's powerhouse. "We're the top team in our conference. The University of Georgia and Auburn will be our challengers.
Aaron Bradford races the dual slalom Photo ©: Nick Young

"It's tough on the other teams out there because we're so deep. We'll go into the season with 14 or 15 A-level riders. We have enough variety in our riders that we can put four or five high level riders out there regardless of the course type."
Thanks to large numbers, the team benefits from a diverse collection of riders - many of whom play specific roles. "We have power riders, climbers, sprinters and we focus on the team approach. We protect our sprinters like a pro team would. In climbing races, we help those riders."
Being at the top of the conference doesn't mean Lees-McRae can slack off. Owen knows his top racers will need to be ready for nationals. "When you go to nationals, you see other teams like you. We know we'll go up against teams with same strength and depth." He considers schools like Fort Lewis and Stanford as top competition.
When the mountain biking season rolls around in the fall, the school will enjoy the advantage of competing on home turf for the second consecutive year when it again hosts the USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships.
Lees-McRae Team Roster: Mike Anderson, Preston Anderson, Aaron Bradford, Ed Burress, Thomas Cockerton, Sean Condron, Rebbecca Conklin, Chris Consorto, Ben Corbalis, Nick Dale, John Doyle, Gonzalo Escobar, Dane Garvik, Katie Getchell, Robert Hancock, Jesse Hayes, Kristi Henne, Kaylie Henne, Will Hoffarth, Kevin Holldber, Ben Hulse, Chloe Jackson, Scott Jackson, Sam Keesler, Wentworth Knipe, Kristine Koch, Randy Laprairie, Kacey Mandefield, Kristin Markham, Vincent Massey, Olivia Maurey, Sean Ross McCoy, PJ Noto, Matthew Owen, Brad Perley, Chris Pickerell, Diego Rameriz, Michael Rozelle, James Schaffernoth, Austin Simmons, Stephen Solt, Ally Stacher, Carla Swart, Andrew Talansky, Michael Talley, Eric Thompson, Hannah Trimble, Jacob Vigneault, Carson Worts, Christian White.
Stay tuned to Cyclingnews for upcoming diary entries from members of the Lees-McRae Collegiate Cycling Team. In the meantime, for more information, visit www.bobcatsports.lmc.edu.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Races in Southern New England

Upcoming Events
March
Ronde de Bethel
Bethel, CT
3/2/2008
Criterium
Plainville Spring Series
Plainville, CT
3/8/2008
Criterium
Ris van Bethel
Bethel, CT
3/9/2008
Criterium
Charge Pond Training Series
Plymouth, MA
3/15/2008
Training Race
Plainville Spring Series
Plainville, CT
3/15/2008
Criterium
Tour de Kirche
Bethel, CT
3/16/2008
Criterium
Wells Ave Training Crit Series Sundays 3/16 - 9/21
Newton, MA
3/16/2008
Training Race
Charge Pond Training Series
Plymouth, MA
3/22/2008
Training Race
Plainville Spring Series
Plainville, CT
3/22/2008
Criterium
Charge Pond Training Series
Plymouth, MA
3/29/2008
Training Race
Plainville Spring Series
Plainville, CT
3/29/2008
Criterium
Bethel CDP Gold Race
Bethel, CT
3/30/2008
Criterium
Michael Schott Memorial Circuit Race
Marblehead, MA
3/30/2008
Road
April
Charge Pond Training Series
Plymouth, MA
4/5/2008
Training Race
Plainville Spring Series
Plainville, CT
4/5/2008
Criterium
Criterium de Bethel
Bethel, CT
4/6/2008
Criterium
NHIS Thursday Night Training Series 4/10 - 9/25
Loudon, NH
4/10/2008
Training Race
6th Annual Chris Hinds Memorial Criterium
Charlestown, RI
4/12/2008
Criterium
Boston Beanpot Cycling Classic RR & TTT-ECCC
Grafton , MA
4/12/2008
Road
Frontier Criterium
Loudon, NH
4/12/2008
Criterium
Plainville Spring Series
Plainville, CT
4/12/2008
Criterium
Boston Beanpot Cycling Classic - Criterium
Somerville, MA
4/13/2008
Criterium
Circuit de Francis J Clarke
Bethel, CT
4/13/2008
Criterium
Turtle Pond Circuit Race
Loudon, NH
4/13/2008
Road
Plainville Spring Series
Plainville, CT
4/19/2008
Criterium
Rick Newhouse Memorial Criterium
Charlestown, RI
4/19/2008
Criterium
UVM/Dartmouth L´Enfer du Nord - ECCC
Burlington, VT
4/19/2008
Road
Myles Standish State Park Road Race
Plymouth, MA
4/20/2008
Road
UVM/Dartmouth L´Enfer du Nord - ECCC
Burlington, VT
4/20/2008
Criterium
ECCC Championships- RR;TTT;Crit
tbd, NH
4/26/2008
Road
Sturbridge Road Race
Fiskdale, MA
4/26/2008
Road
ECCC Championships- Road;TTT;Crit
tbd, NH
4/27/2008
Road
Palmer Library Road Race
Warren, MA
4/27/2008
Road
May
Jiminy Peak Road Race
Hancock, MA
5/3/2008
Road
Mass-Bike MS Ride to the Vineyard 2008
Martha´s Vineyard, MA
5/3/2008
Charity Ride
Blue Hills Circuit Race
Milton, MA
5/4/2008
Road
Sports & Fitness Edge/GMBC Practice Criterium
Essex Junction, VT
5/6/2008
Training Race
Mystic Velo Criterium
Charlestowm, RI
5/10/2008
Criterium
Sterling Road Race
Sterling, MA
5/10/2008
Road
Lake Sunapee Road Race
Newbury, NH
5/17/2008
Road
North Stonington Road Race
North Stonington , CT
5/18/2008
Road
Sports & Fitness Edge/GMBC Practice Criterium
Essex Junction, VT
5/20/2008
Training Race
Cyclonauts Racers Criterium
Stafford Springs, CT
5/24/2008
Criterium
Hartford Downtown Criterium
Hartford, CT
5/25/2008
Criterium
Lake Auburn Road Race
Auburn, ME
5/31/2008
Road
June
Lake Auburn Circuit Race
Auburn, ME
6/1/2008
Road
Sports & Fitness Edge/GMBC Practice Criterium
Essex Junction, VT
6/3/2008
Training Race
Waterville Valley Time Trial
Campton, NH
6/7/2008
Time Trial
CT Coast Criterium
Bethel, CT
6/8/2008
Criterium
Cyclonaut Racers Road Race
Monson, MA
6/14/2008
Road
Housatonic Hills Road Race
Southbury, CT
6/15/2008
Road
Sports & Fitness Edge/GMBC Practice Criterium
Essex Junction, VT
6/17/2008
Training Race
Nutmeg Games Criterium
New Britain, CT
6/21/2008
Criterium
Whaling City Criterium
New London, CT
6/22/2008
Criterium
Cox Charities Classic Criterium
Providence, RI
6/28/2008
Criterium
Mass- Bike MS Cape Cod Getaway Ride 2008
Boston Harbor Quincy to P´town, MA
6/28/2008
Charity Ride
Keith Berger Criterium
E. Hartford, CT
6/29/2008
Criterium
Thompson Speedway Criterium
Thompson, CT
6/30/2008
Criterium
July
Exeter Criterium
Exeter, NH
7/1/2008
Criterium
Sports & Fitness Edge/GMBC Practice Criterium
Essex Junction , VT
7/1/2008
Training Race
Fitchburg Longsjo Classic
Fitchburg, MA
7/3/2008
Stage Race
Fitchburg Longsjo Classic
Fitchburg, MA
7/4/2008
Stage Race
Fitchburg Longsjo Classic
Fitchburg, MA
7/5/2008
Stage Race
Fitchburg Longsjo Classic
Fitchburg, MA
7/6/2008
Stage Race
Attleboro Criterium & Kids Grass Crit
Attleboro, MA
7/12/2008
Criterium
New Britain Criterium
New Britain, CT
7/13/2008
Criterium
Sports & Fitness Edge/GMBC Practice Criterium
Essex Junction, VT
7/15/2008
Training Race
Workingman´s Stage Race 7/15 - 7/17
Amesbury, MA
7/15/2008
Stage Race
Workingman´s Stage Race
Amesbury, MA
7/16/2008
Stage Race
Workingman´s Stage Race
Amesbury, MA
7/17/2008
Stage Race
Claremont Downtown Criterium
Claremont, NH
7/19/2008
Criterium
Donovan Ruhlman Naugatuck Criterium
Naugatuck, CT
7/20/2008
Criterium
Yarmouth Clam Festival
Yarmouth, ME
7/20/2008
Road
George St. Bike Challenge for Major Taylor
Worcester, MA
7/27/2008
Non USCF
Norwell Circuit Race
Norwell, MA
7/27/2008
Road
August
Concord Criterium
Concord, NH
8/2/2008
Criterium
Central NH Road Race
Bow, NH
8/3/2008
Road
Sports & Fitness Edge/GMBC Practice Criterium
Essex Junction, VT
8/5/2008
Training Race
Mass Bike-MS Manchester Bike Ride 2008
Manchester, NH
8/9/2008
Charity Ride
Tour of the Hilltowns
Windsor, MA
8/9/2008
Road
Tokeneke Classic Road Race
E.Hartland, CT
8/10/2008
Road
Witches Cup Criterium
Salem, MA
8/13/2008
Criterium
Blount Seafood Fall River Criterium
Fall River, MA
8/17/2008
Criterium
Mass Bike-MS Destination Bordeaux
Bordeaux, FR
8/23/2008
Charity Ride
Saco Bay Criterium
Saco, ME
8/23/2008
Criterium
Robinson State Park Cyclocross
Agawam, MA
8/24/2008
Cross
Green Mountain Stage Race
Mad River Valley , VT
8/29/2008
Stage Race
Green Mountain Stage Race
Mad River Valley , VT
8/30/2008
Stage Race
Green Mountain Stage Race
Mad River Valley, VT
8/31/2008
Stage Race
September
Green Mountain Stage Race
Mad River Valley, VT
9/1/2008
Stage Race
Wrentham Development Center Cross Training Series
Wrentham, MA
9/3/2008
Training Race
Topsfield Circuit Race
Topsfield, MA
9/6/2008
Road
Wayne Elliot Memorial Criterium
Haverhill, MA
9/7/2008
Criterium
Bob Beal Masters Weekend
Charlestown, RI
9/13/2008
Stage Race
Adult Learning Center 2nd Annual Ride to Read
Nashua, NH
9/14/2008
Charity Ride
Amesbury Cyclocross
Amesbury, MA
9/14/2008
Cross
Bob Beal Masters Weekend
Charlestown, RI
9/14/2008
Stage Race
York Beach Criterium
York Beach, ME
9/19/2008
Criterium
Mohegan Sun Cycling Weekend - 3 Village Tour RR
Sprague, CT
9/20/2008
Road
Molly Stark Cross Challenge
New Boston, NH
9/20/2008
Cross
Mohegan Sun Cycling Weekend- Rose Pedal Criterium
Norwich , CT
9/21/2008
Criterium
Portsmouth Criterium
Portsmouth, NH
9/21/2008
Criterium
Sucker Brook Cross
Auburn, NH
9/21/2008
Cross
Catamount Cyclocross - UCI
Williston, VT
9/27/2008
Cross
Mass Bike-MS Bike & Hike the Berkshires 2008
The Berkshires, MA
9/27/2008
Charity Ride
Schoolhouse Cyclocross - UCI
Montpelier, VT
9/27/2008
Cross
October
Downeast Cyclocross
New Gloucester, ME
10/4/2008
Cross
Gloucester GP of Cyclocross - UCI
Gloucester, MA
10/11/2008
Cross
Gloucester GP of Cyclocross - UCI
Gloucester, MA
10/12/2008
Cross
Mansfield Hollow Cyclocross
Mansfield, CT
10/18/2008
Cross
Canton Cup Cyclocross
Canton, MA
10/19/2008
Cross
Wicked Cross
Bennington, VT
10/26/2008
Cross
November
Cyclesmart 1 Cyclocross - UCI
Northampton, MA
11/1/2008
Cross
Cyclesmart 2 Cyclocross - UCi
Northampton, MA
11/2/2008
Cross
Plymouth Cyclocross
Plymouth, MA
11/8/2008
Stage Race
VT Psycho Cross
Brownsville, VT
11/8/2008
Cross
Southington Cyclocross
Southington, CT
11/9/2008
Cross
Shedd Park Cyclocross
Lowell, MA
11/16/2008
Cross
Easthampton Cyclocross
Easthampton, MA
11/23/2008
Cross
Baystate Cyclocross - UCI
Sterling, MA
11/29/2008
Cross
Palmer Cross & Bike Swap
Palmer, MA
11/30/2008
Cross
December
NBX 1 Cyclocross - UCI
Warwick, RI
12/6/2008
Cross
NBX 2 Cyclocross - UCI
Warwick, RI
12/7/2008
Cross
MRC Cyclocross
Wrentham, MA
12/13/2008
Cross

The U.S. Open is on — for May in Providence

The U.S. Open is on — for May in Providence
By Steve Frothingham
Posted Mar. 4, 2008

Last year's race was held in epic conditions
Photo: Casey B. Gibson
Last April's inaugural U.S. Open road race was held in epic snowy conditions — and with nearly unprecedented network television coverage — in Virginia.
This year's event is likely to be quite different. The 112-mile professional event has been moved to Providence, Rhode Island, on May 31. And while promoters are still negotiating a title sponsor and TV deal, they say the date and location change will soon make it a fixture on the domestic calendar.
The race will start in downtown Providence, loop out around the Scituate Reservoir to the west, then return to the city for about ten laps of a 4- or 5-mile circuit, promoter Dick Durishin told VeloNews on Tuesday.
"The race has a new permanent home in Providence," said Durishin, who lives in the city. John Eustice will once again be the race director.
Until Tuesday, the event was still on the UCI calendar, and the USA Cycling Pro Tour calendar, for April 13th in Richmond. Because of the late change in date and location, the race is no longer on either calendar.
But Durishin notes that the Providence event could serve as a kick-off for the so-called "Philly Week" of pro races, which comprises the CSC Invitational criterium in Arlington, Virginia, on June 1, and Pennsylvania's Allenstown Classic, June 3rd; Reading Classic, June 5th; and the Liberty Classic in Philadelphia, June 8th.
"Our race will be over in plenty of time for the riders to get down to Arlington," he said.
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The race's name has been changed from the U.S. Open Cycling Championships to the U.S. Open of Cycling. It will include a men's and women's professional race and timed amateur charity rides on the same course.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Six Day Track Racing on Tap for Vegas during Interbike

Six-day track racing on tap for Vegas
By Steve Frothingham
Posted Mar. 3, 2008

Infield hospitality at last month's Copenhagen-6
Photo: Jack Simes III
One of the legends of American bike racing is planning a 6-day-style track race for this fall in Las Vegas, to coincide with the Interbike trade show there.
Jack Simes III, a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1960, '64 and '68, and coach of the 1976 Olympic team, has booked the arena at Mandalay Bay resort on the Vegas strip, and plans to hold the events on a new 166-meter plywood track. The races would be held September 23-25, with events from about 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. each night.
Planned events include Madison races, sprints, one-lap record attempts and motor-paced Derny races.
Simes told VeloNews that the 6-day atmosphere — the lights, the color, the speed — and the opportunities the events afford for posh receptions — mates well with the Las Vegas atmosphere and the needs of bike suppliers who attend Interbike.
"The hospitality at these events (in Europe) is huge. There will be opportunities for sponsors to book receptions and meet with clients on the infield," he said.
While the event is not an official part of Interbike, Simes says he has spoken with Interbike officials about cross promotions. Promoters put on a criterium and a cyclocross race during last fall's Interbike show. Neither of those events was a part of the show, but scheduled to take advantage of the thousands of fans who come to Las Vegas for Interbike. This year's Interbike is September 24-26 at the Sands Convention Center, preceded by two days of outdoor bike demos.
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Simes has met with European track racers and promoters three times this winter, and says he's talking with some well-known European racers about attending the event.
He said riders like world champions Bruno Risi and Franko Marvulli from Switzerland, Belgian pro Illio Keisse and veteran champion Marco Villa from Italy are "all excited to ride in Mandalay Bay and experience Las Vegas."
The Las Vegas-6 will be the first indoor event of the track season and the first event of its type held in the U.S. in about 35 years, Simes said. The track is being designed and built by Peter Junek, a former Czech track racer now living in Canada.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Ninigret Pick up Race 2008

NBX Bike Presents
Ninigret Spring 2008 Pick Up Crit Race
Sponsored by Apex Tech Group Inc.
Sunday Morning
March 2,9,16,30
Race Start at 10:00am
(cat 1-5 Licence required)
1 Day Licence Available
$5.00 Entry Fee
Under USCF Rules
Permit Pending
Directions: RT. 1 Charlestown, RI. Ninigret Park,
40 Miinutes south of East Greenwich,
For more Info call Matt Bodziony 1-140-782-4444