First Edition News for August 14, 2003

Edited by John Stevenson

Contreras battles on after bike loss at Pan-Ams

Have you seen this bike?
Photo: © Roth

Mexican track star Nancy Contreras is competing at the Pan-American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with a borrowed bicycle put together with parts from other three bicycles, according to a report on www.deporte.org.mx. The bike on which she placed second in the 500m time trial and third in the match sprint at the recent Track World Championships in Stuttgart was lost by the airline that transported the Mexican team to Santo Domingo. Contreras' bike went missing along with another 15 bikes belonging to the Mexican team, a loss of equipment valued at a total of 80 thousand dollars. Despite the loss of her bike, Contreras will continue to competing on the borrowed machine.

Davidenko is a daddy

Navigator's rider Vassili Davidenko became a father for the first time on Monday August 11 with the arrival of a baby girl, Elizabeth-Katerina. Davidenko's wife Janna and the Elizabeth-Katerina came home from hospital yesterday and are both "healthy as can be" according to Navigator's team manager Ed Beamon. Beamon says the happy father is "floating around on a cloud," and adds with a laugh, "I hope I can get him down before the [USPRO criterium] championships this weekend!"

Domina Vacanze Elitron for Zürich

Domina Vacanze has announced the team that will line up for this weekend's Championship of Zürich, the eighth round of the World Cup. The team will be: Claudio Astolfi, Massimo Giunti, Alexander Kolobnev, Kyrylo Pospyeyev, Michele Scarponi, Alberto Ongarato, Martin Derganc (Slo) and Paolo Valoti.

Domina Vacanze directeur sportif Antonio Salutini says he thinks Michele Scarponi is the team's best chance on the "difficult" Zürich course, but his form is doubtful. "He has not ridden much since the Tour of Italy. We will see," says Salutini.

Portland to host consecutive 'cross nats

Portland, Oregon will host the next two US cyclo-cross national championships, USA Cycling announced yesterday. The events will take place December 12-14, 2003 and December 10-12, 2004 and will see competition for national titles in the men's and women's elite, espoir, junior, and masters age-group categories.

Portland-based Club Vivo Promotions will promote and manage the events. Club Vivo is known for its popular Cross Crusade series which last year included two UCI-sanctioned races among its eight events, and typically attracted 350 riders per week to its races.

The last time the US cyclo-cross nationals was held in the Pacific North west was in Seattle in 1996. It's a welcome return to the area, according to USA Cycling's field operations manager Matt Murphy who says, "The area has a storied tradition of great cross events and we look forward to two new chapters in Portland in 2003 and 2004.

Tandemonium! at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome

Tandem racing returns to the Lehigh Valley velodrome this Friday August 15 with an Tandemonium!, a two-up racing event that should see plenty of the speed and excitement associated with this slightly mad branch of the sport.

"People are attracted to the speed and power of the two-man tandem bicycles," said Pat McDonough, Lehigh Valley Velodrome Director, "and there is always some kind of drama involved."

That drama usually comes from the simple fact that two riders and one lightweight bike is a recipe for very high speeds and occasionally spectacular mechanical problems, as over-strained bike parts simply give up the ghost.

Tandemonium! teams will consist of top tandem riders in both the mixed and open categories. Mixed categories will include at least one female competitor while the open category allows any team combination. Top teams include Mike Beers, two-time U.S. National Champion in the tandem event, with Argentinean Sebastian Alexandre along with the team of Larry Detris, former U.S. Junior World Team member with Collegiate National Champion, Jeremy Miller.

Also on hand will be top international cyclists from Australia, South Africa, Scotland, and the United States competing in the men's and women's chariot races, unknown distance, men's points race and women's 5-mile scratch.

NORBA gets cash for finals

Thanks to eleventh-hour sponsorship from Mountain Bike TV, NORBA will be able to offer cash prizes to winners in all the pro categories (cross country, downhill, short track, and mountain cross) at this weekend's NORBA series final at Durango Mountain Resort.

Mountain Bike TV is stepping up to the plate to promote its winter series of marathon races, the 9to5 Race Day. The Florida-based series is described as "a new concept in marathon racing" and will run from January to May 2004 providing "warm weather venues in winter, and ... off-season prize money," according to Mountain Bike TV executive producer Joe Stone.

Hamilton world's takes to air with Westjet

The 2003 Road World Championships yesterday announced the addition of Canadian airline Westjet to its roster of sponsors. WestJet will be the official national airline of the road world's, which takes place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada October 6 to 12, 2003.

Hamilton is Westjet's 'hub city' from which is serves 26 Canadian cities. Bill Lamberton, WestJet's vice president of marketing and sales, said, "We are pleased to support the 2003 Road World Championships. WestJet is a strong supporter of community events and organizations across Canada, and we encourage Canadians to show their pride in our athletes by attending this event."

Eugene Celebration seeks volunteers

The Eugene, Oregon Celebration Cycling Classic on September 20-21 is appealing for volunteers to help run the two-day race. Says race director Jim Anderson, "We are very appreciative of the volunteer work that happens at this event. We couldn't do it without you! You are a part of the team of volunteers who fill over 1,200 shifts and invest over 3,600 hours in the community to make the Eugene Celebration the great success that it is. In 2002 the cycling classic had over 200 volunteer positions filled."

Benefits of volunteering include admission to the Eugene Celebration for the entire weekend, a 2003 Celebration t-shirt, entry into the volunteer raffle and "the best seat in the house for some great racing."

For more information email the volunteer coordinator (volunteers@eugeneevents.com) call 541-681-4108 or visit www.eugenecelebration.com or www.obra.org/eugene_celebration.

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