Regional Cycling News for January 23, 2004Edited by Jeff Jones Revolution 2 this weekendThe second event in the new Revolution track series in Great Britain will take place at Manchester Velodrome this Saturday, January 24. World Pursuit Champion Bradley Wiggins and top British sprinter Jamie Staff have been confirmed as starters for the event, that will also feature the Greek and Irish National teams. One of the highlights of the evening will be the 1km Madison time trial competition with the 2001 World Madison Champion, Jerome Neuville and the 2002 World Madison silver medallist Roland Garber teaming up to race against the top British riders. Included in the Revolution 2 programme will also be exhibition races featuring two of Britain's top inline speed skaters, Chris Stafford and Vincent Henry. They will be racing against each other and going up against one of the track stars in a head-to-head pursuit. More information: www.cyclingrevolution.com. New North American women's racing seriesIn an effort to grow out of the shadows of men's racing in the USA and bring more attention to the talents of women's teams and racers and the sponsors who support them, the Women's Prestige Cycling Series will debut in 2004. This women's-only points series will feature some of the best race venues in North America, encompassing three of the top stage races already on the racing calendar and culminating in a season finale in Bermuda. "Women's racing is almost always in the shadow of the men's events when they have to share the same spotlight," said Giana Roberge of Team Speed Queen. "The Women's Prestige Cycling Series is an outstanding opportunity to give the women the attention that they deserve. These women are amazing athletes and the series will help educate the public as to just how exciting women's racing - or just riding a bike - can be." The Women's Prestige Cycling Series grew out of meetings that began in Minnesota last year at the first Yoplait Women's Cycling Summit Conference hosted at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The summit continued in October at Interbike, with an overwhelming number of women's team managers and riders requesting that promoters develop a race series that included most of the top women's races. The four events to be included in the inaugural year of the series will be: March 24-28: Redlands Bicycle Classic, California Gaining entry into the CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix will be a prize in itself, with the top 10 teams following The International receiving free airfare and housing for the event. The stage race will also count towards points for all teams, leaving it an important part of the series championship. The series will be produced as a partnership between promoters and women's teams. Teams that have already committed include Quark Cycling Team, Genesis Scuba Cycling Team, Team Basis, Victory Brewing Cycling Team, Velo Bella Cycling Team, TDS-Schwalbe Cycling Team, Red 5 Racing, Athletes By Design, Kenda Tire Cycling Team, Webcor Cycling Team, Worlddiff.com Cycling Team, Verizon Wireless Cycling Team, 9th & 9th - SLC Women, America's Dairyland Squad, and the Aquafina Cycling Team. More information (soon) at: www.womencyclists.com. Small increase in funding for Cycling IrelandBy Shane Stokes, Irishcycling.com Cycling Ireland today welcomed the allocation of €239,765 in NGB funding for 2004 by the Irish Sports Council. The figure represents a gain of €2,590 over last year's total, a slight increase but an important one in a year when twenty of the governing bodies had their funding reduced. CI CEO Stuart Hallam welcomed the news, saying that it showed the Sports Council recognised CI's "prudent use of funds last year." "We are grateful to the Irish Sports Council for the 2004 award," he said. "Whilst it does not allow us to introduce new initiatives just yet, the amount should enable us to continue to improve the structures of the organisation with our existing resources." Hallam stressed the importance of growth outside the Irish Sports Council's input. "Ultimately, the organisation must grow generically through activities within the club structure if we are to fund grass roots improvements, as well as international competition. The fact, though, that our 2004 funding is similar to the 2003 award is testimony in the eyes of the Sports Council to our prudent use of funds last year," he stated. Cycling Ireland will also receive funding via the Athens Enhancement Scheme, which is intended to help Irish riders prepare for this summer's Olympic Games. Details of this funding will be announced shortly by the Irish Sports Council. Mayo Wheelers looking aheadBy Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent Despite a number of defections on the racing scene and in officialdom, Mayo Wheelers is bracing itself for a full programme of fixtures this season. With new secretary Joe McGuire [of Sheeffry Challenge fame] in situ, things are proceeding quickly for the upcoming season. "Heretofore I was involved with the 'Challenge', which in the last number of years has come on in leaps and bounds," said McGuire. "I got into cycling through the leisure activities of Mayo Wheelers and their help and enthusiasm for that particular side of cycling was of immense value to me. "Of course the fact that Sean Kelly is patron of the 'Sheeffry Challenge' has made things that bit easier as a drawing power. We organise a number of events around the 'Challenge' which brings extra business to the town of Westport. We are always thinking of innovative cycling activities! Each year we organise a criterium in Westport which attracts a great deal of attention. I would like to run an evening event with the aid of lightening. In cycling terminology it is a nocturne. "Top of my shopping list would be Sean Kelly. Last September, he came out of retirement again and participated in one of these races in Newport in Wales. And he won! That would be a great draw and I’m sure Westport would welcome a development of this nature. So, the weekend of August the 28th looks as though it is going to be big. With the 'Sheeffry Challenge' and the ancillary events plus the nocturne. Then on Sunday we'll have the Classic," finished Joe. In between, Mayo Wheelers has a number of other promotions, including Ras Connnachta, and there is talk that the Under23 Irish Championships will also feature on its shopping list. World Champ jersey auction for Children's Cancer InstituteHere's your chance to own a piece of cycling history and help a great cause. The 2003 Australian World Champion Teams Pursuit squad of Luke Roberts, Peter Dawson, Graeme Brown, Brett Lancaster and Steve Wooldridge have generously donated a signed World Championship Rainbow Jersey as part of the fundraising activities for the Joseph Sunde Memorial Criteriums to be held on 26 January, 2004 in Sydney. The event raises money for the Childrens Cancer Institute of Australia and this year the signed jersey is being auctioned on eBay (click here to bid). The Australian team set a new world record of 3.57.280 when it won the title in Stuttgart last year. If you would like to make a donation direct to the Children's Cancer institute of Australia simply click here and quote 'Joseph Sunde Memorial' in the comments box. New addition for Sweet and ColemanAustralian cyclist Jay Sweet and his New Zealand fiancée Jacinta Coleman welcomed their son Max into the world in Auckland on Wednesday morning, January 22. All are well and doing fine. American Heritage/Whole Foods Cycling Team (HRRC)HRRC has announced that its team is expanding for 2004 and will include riders from Texas, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas. Despite the expansion, this will most likely be the last season for the club and a proposed transition to Division III status will possibly occur next season. HRRC will be a very strong national amateur contingent, fielding a squad of nine Cat. 1 riders and three Cat. 2 riders. Click here for the full roster.
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