First Edition Cycling News for July 4, 2005

Edited by Hedwig Kröner

Gerolsteiner looking for stage win in Austria

German team Gerolsteiner is hoping for a stage win at the upcoming Tour of Austria. Starting on Monday, July 4, the seven day-event will cover 1089 kilometres, with the most of them hilly following the topography of the country. "We're focusing on a stage win," said Raimund Dietzen, the accompanying directeur sportif, who selected six riders for the event: Markus Fothen, René Haselbacher, Uwe Peschel, Torsten Schmidt, Marco Serpellini and Markus Zberg.

Zberg and Haselbacher "are in good condition," he continues, "as for Fothen, who finished the Giro d'Italia 12th on GC, we have to see how he's coped with it. Haselbacher will try to pull something off as it's his home race."

The sprinter is especially loking forward to the two flat stages on Saturday and Sunday, but will face strong competition with Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) also racing. Beforehand, a mountain time trial on Thursday 7 (10 kilometres up to the Kitzbüheler Horn on 1670 m) will probably decide on general classification. "It will be interesting to see what Markus Fothen can do that day," Dietzen said. 20 teams will line-up in Linz tomorrow.

Quick.Step and Landbouwkrediet to Austria

Belgian team Quick.Step has also announced its line-up for the International Tour of Austria. Mads Christensen, Kevin De Weert, Josè Antonio Garrido, Juan Miguel Mercado,Josè Antonio Pecharroman and Luca Paolini are the riders selected for the cat. 2.1 rated stage race.

Starting for Landbouwkrediet-Colnago will be: Johan Verstrepen, Sven Renders, James Van Landschoot, Jurgen Van De Walle, Sergey Lagutin and Nico Sijmens.

Three French neo-pros in 2006

GP de Lys-lez-Lannoy winner Vincent Jérôme and Tour du Canton de St-Ciers stage winner Alexandre Pichot will become professionals in 2006. The two Vendée U riders will become stagiaires with Bouygues Telecom in August, before joining the squad, Velomania.net reports.

VC La Pomme-Marseille rider Rémi Pauriol, national amateur champion will also join the pro ranks next year with Crédit Agricole. He, too, will first do an internship with the squad in August 2005, then ride the Tour de l'Avenir in French Natioal team colours.

Mt. Holly-Smithville Invitational Grand Prix

The 7th edition of the Mt. Holly-Smithville Invitational Grand Prix is set to race through Burlington County, New Jersey on July 30. The 92 mile (148 km) circuit race consists of seven laps of a 12 mile circuit through Mt. Holly and the surrounding towns of Easthampton, Westhampton and Springfield - finishing with three 2.7 mile loops through Mt. Holly's residential and business district.

This year's event is open to UCI professional trade teams and a selection of elite amateur teams, who will compete for a $10,000 purse. Teams wishing to enter can submit an application via www.co.burlington.nj.us/bikerace. The team selection process will end on July 8 and selected teams will be announced on July 11. 28 teams with six riders per team, will be invited to compete in the 2005 edition of the race.

Proceeds of the race will go to the non-profit Smithville Village Conservancy to help in their restoration project of the Smithville mansion and Smithville Park in Burlington County, New Jersey.

Columbia River Bank Cascade Cycling Classic

The Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation (MBSEF) with the support of Columbia River Bank, will be holding the 26th Annual Columbia River Bank Cascade Cycling Classic (CRBCCC) in Oregon from July 6-10, 2005. The race, taken over by MBSEF last year, is going to fund the summer cycling program that the Foundation started last year.

The race is listed on the National Racing Calendar and consists of six stages run over five days for the professional men and a slightly shorter version for the professional women, masters and cat 2/3. Each stage is run on a different course. Traditionally there are three road races, one time trial, a circuit race and two criteriums. An awards ceremony is offered at the end of each stage, and awards for the overall title are offered during the awards ceremony at the final criterium race on Sunday in the Old Mill District.

A provisional start list is now up on www.cascade-classic.org

Ford-Basis adds Katharine Carroll

The Ford-Basis Women's Cycling Team has signed 24 year-old Katharine Carroll to its 2005 roster. Carroll, in her second season of cycling comes to Ford-Basis as a strong all-around rider with an affinity for climbing. A Nashville, Tennessee native, she impressived with a 4th place finish in her first National Calendar event, the Joe Martin Stage Race.

"Katharine and I pre-rode the time trial course together at Joe Martin," said team director Nicole Freedman. "I had never seen her before. I was so impressed - and not just because she climbed faster than me which often means very little... I offered her a place on the team right then. I think she thought I was joking. Katharine is a perfect fit for the team. She is strong, savvy, aggressive and most importantly a positive, genuine person. And, at 24, she even averages out my age," Freedamn joked around as usual.

"My immediate goals are just to learn how to race my bike," said Carroll, who noted, "I also realized that having my profile on the team's website would be a great way to get some dates." (All dating proposals can be addressed to katharine@ford-basiscycling.com. Please include height and income in the subject header. Proposals will be responded to in reverse order of latter quality).

Alkek Velodrome offers position

The Alkek Velodrome in Houston, Texas is seeking individuals who are interested in applying for their full time Recreation Supervisor position. This is a full time position with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department working with the velodrome. Responsibilities include planning and implementing cycling programs, both for youth and adult at the track. Coaching the junior team is another area of responsibility For more information, please contact Alkek Velodrome Manager, Kathy Volski at Kathy.Volski@cityofhouston.net.

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