Latest Cycling News for November 30, 2005Edited by John Stevenson & Les Clarke "Two wheels before four anytime!"Bradley McGee takes to the track - the race-track, that is...
Upholding a family tradition that's held towards the end of each year, Bradley McGee and his three brothers decided they'd up the stakes in 2005 - by jumping into some seriously beefed-up race cars and going hell for leather around the circuit at Eastern Creek International Raceway. Anthony Tan was there to witness high octane sibling rivalry at its best. "Ford or Holden" was the call from the supervisor, whose 15 or so trainees had just been given their 10-minute induction to V8 Supercar racing. "Holden! Holden!" says a youthful, skinny looking bloke in his jump suit, smiling away like Christmas had come early. It happened to be Française des Jeux pro Brad McGee. And it turns out the four McGee bros - Brad, Rodney, Craig and Andrew - do something wild like this every year. "Last year it was go-karts; this year, we've stepped it up a notch," says Rod. 28 year-old Brad, the best-known of the McGee clan, tells Cyclingnews he's still got his Holden Monaro when he's in Sydney, but confesses it's an auto. "But don't tell anyone!" he adds. Okay, Brad... Click here for the full story. Roche recovering after operationIrish professional Nicolas Roche underwent an operation on Monday to remove four wisdom teeth. The 21 year old underwent general anaesthetic during the procedure, but hopes to be back training soon. He recently met up with the rest of his Cofidis team-mates at the French squad's first training camp in Amiens, held between the 21st and the 25th of November. The next training camp will be in Montpellier between the 12th and 17th of December. Roche, son of the 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche, had a solid first season with the team. He took two top ten placings in 1.1 ranked events, finishing sixth in the Tour du Finistère and fourth in the Tour de Vendée. Osipow leaves Tailwind SportsDan Osipow has resigned from his post as managing director of Tailwind Sports, the company that co-manages the Discovery Channel team. Tailwind has managed the team in all of its previous incarnations, and Osipow has been a part of the company since its inception in the early 1990's. Osipow said he had, "had an incredible experience working for Tailwind Sports over the years and am very proud to have contributed even in the smallest way to the success and growth of this team." Osipow paid tribute to the achievements of the team, which include wins at all three grand tours, particularly Lance Armstrong's seven Tour de France victories between 1999-2005. Osipow has joined ISP Sports and will work as an associate general manager of Cal Sports Properties, focusing mainly on the sponsorship and marketing of the University of Cal Berkeley's football and basketball programmes. Rhode Island hosts Verge NECCS finalsA state better known for its yacht racing, Rhode Island will host this weekend's Verge New England Championships Cyclo-Cross Series finals with the W.E. Stedman Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross on Saturday, and the Castor's Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross on Sunday. This event will be preparation for the following weekend's Liberty Mutual US national championships as well as a race-heavy end to the six-race Verge NECCS. With top riders from all across the US flying in to get a final shot of racing before Nationals, overall Verge NECCS winner's will be decided in Warwick on Sunday Coming into the Rhode Island "double dip" Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) maintains a slim 15 point series lead over four-time defending Verge NECCS champion Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar). While Johnson and McCormack concentrate on racing each other for the Verge NECCS crown, non-title contenders Todd Wells (GT-Hyundai), winner of the final USGP race, Barry Wicks (Kona), winner of USGP #5, and Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly-Pool Gel) may well throw a few spanners into the overall points chase. Under-23 Series leader Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar) has clinched his Verge NECCS title and appears likely to finish in the top three in the elite men's points as well. With elite women's points leader Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) missing the final weekend due to commitments in Europe, the women's overall title will be decided - second-placed Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrication) needs a solid weekend to take the overall series jersey but it may well be within her grasp. For more information on the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series please go to www.necyclocross.com Canadian Cycling Association's new presidentPierre Blanchard has been elected president of the Canadian Cycling Association, following the association's AGM in Whitehorse, Yukon, on November 27. Mr. Blanchard, a physician, has served as president of the Fédération Québecoise des Sports Cyclistes since November 2002, and has a long list of cycling credentials - besides being a UCI International Commissaire he has also been a member of the UCI MTB Commission, head instructor for UCI international commissaires and UCI anti-doping and medical inspector. He has also officiated at more the 50 international and domestic events, and won the 2004 Sports Québec "Official of the Year" Award for all sports. Enocsson best female Swedish mountain bikerAfter a great 2005, Swedish mountain biker Anna Enocsson won Best Female Mountain Biker and Best Achievement of the Year at the Swedish MTB Association's national awards, on November 26. Nominated for the 'Best Female Mountain Biker of the Year' and 'Best Achievement of the Year' awards, Enocsson took out both categories in front of 700 guests at the gala ceremony. Enocsson's achievements in 2005 included winning two marathon world cup rounds and winning her category with colleague Esther Süss in this year's Transalp Challenge, making her the clear winner in judge's minds for both awards. Twentyfour12 Endurance event brings more grueling racingKeith Bontrager has become a technical director for a new 24-hour race taking place in 2006, called Twentyfour12. It will be run at the purpose-built venue of Lodgewood Park, Ellesmere in Shropshire, England on July 22-23; the 24-hour and 12-hour races will be run concurrently, with both starting at midday on July 22. According to organisers, Bontrager has improved the area's less popular features and added new elements, coming up with a more diverse race structure than any previous 24 hour event. Bontrager has long been associated with endurance mountain bike competitions, including stage and long distance racing, and has said of the race, "After racing in as many of these as I have I'm looking forward to finally helping put a race on. I know what I've liked in a 24 hour race and what I haven't, so it'll be a challenge to put as much of the good stuff together in one event. It will definitely be fast and fun, designed for the racer in every respect." Categories include: Expert mixed (minimum 1 woman), Men's Open (max 1 elite/expert rider), Women's Open Fun (up to five riders, any ages, any sex) and Just for fun (6-12 riders, any ages, any sex) Sub categories with the open categories: Masters (combined age 130+), Veterans (Combines age 170+), Shop (2 stores or less), Singlespeed and University For more information on the endurance event of 2006 and to download entry forms go to: www.twentyfour12.com Top junior riders to compete in Tasmanian carnivals
The Sports Carnivals Association of Tasmania [SCAT] has announced that two of Australia's premier junior cyclists from Western Australia will race at this year's Nationalgrid Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals. Recently-crowned Australian junior track cyclist of the year Scott Sunderland, who at 17 was placed in over 16 national and state events in 2005 will join Australian junior road cyclist of the year Cameron Meyer to compete at the carnivals.
Meyer is the current under 19 Madison champion of Australia and already has several national and international medal placings in track endurance and road events. Organisers believe both riders will provide even more quality to the already strong cycling programme over the Christmas Carnival series. For more information on the Christmas carnivals, see www.tascarnivals.com. Clark helps NSW trackiesOne of Australia's most famous track cyclists, Six-day legend Danny Clark, is lending a hand to up and coming riders from the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS). Clark will be in Sydney on Friday to work with NSWIS riders including Mark Renshaw, Chris Sutton and Olympic gold medallist Stephen Wooldridge on their Madison racing skills. NSWIS cycling head coach, Gary Sutton is the man responsible for bringing Clark to Sydney. "Danny Clark is one of the premier cyclists in the world and I believe that the knowledge he will be able to pass on to our riders will be invaluable," said Sutton. "Australia has a great record in the Madison at an international level. We hope that by drawing on the expertise of athletes such as Clark, we will be able to build on this record well into the future." Oenone Wood & Australian health minister turn out for $350,000 fund-raiser
Australia's Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott; Olympian and World Cup champion Oenone Wood; mountain runner turned cyclist Paul Crake; and dual Olympian Tracy Gaudrey were among 270 riders who raised over $350,000 over the weekend for Canberra-based charity Hartley Lifecare. In what is believed to be the biggest fund raising event ever held in Canberra, the ride traveled from the city, Australia's capital, to Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciusko, and back, a 454km round trip. On the way they endured freezing temperatures, rain, and blustery winds. "It was very emotional when they made it back to Canberra," said Jenny Mollett, executive director of Hartley.
The Ability Cycle Challenge ride started from Fyshwick Markets at 6am Friday 25 November 25, which meant that Oenone Wood, who was named Female Road Cyclist of the Year at the Cycling Australia awards on Friday, missed the ceremony to be involved in the fund-raiser. Riders returned, Sunday November 27. The funds will be used by Hartley to support and provide services to those living in the ACT and surrounding areas with severe or complex disabilities. For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Hartley Lifecare
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