Regional News for May 25, 2002

Edited by Karen Forman

New routes; 19 teams for Canadian GP de Beauce

Organisers of next month's Grand Prix cycliste de Beauce Postes in Canada have added some new routes to the 17th edition of the event, to be held June 17-23.

Nineteen teams totaling 133 riders from 20 countries including Canada, Unites States, Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Australia, Italy, Mexico and Kazakhstan, will contest the event.

Several international teams will be back - such as Mroz - Supradyn Witaminy (Pol), NŸrnberger - Versicherung (Ger), Marlux - Ville de Charleroi (Bel), Mapei - Quick Step (Ita) et Tecos-Turbo (Mex). The United States will be represented by Saturn, Prime Alliance, Navigators, Mercury and 7Up Nutra Fig with Charles Dionne.

Two new teams will also compete for the first time - Québécois Dominique Perras, IteamNova.com and the National Team of Kazakhstan. Team WŸstenrot - Zvvz from Czech Republic is back after a year off. Canada will well represented with six teams: Sympatico-Jet Fuel Coffee, the National Team, Volkswagen - Trek, Team Québec, Les Espoirs de Laval and Atlas Cold / Ital Pasta c.c.

The 2002 Grand Prix cycliste de Beauce Postes Canada will start on the evening of June 17 with a 350-metre parallel sprint on Saint-Jean Street in Québec. The next day, riders will discover the Chaudière-Appalaches region during the 165km Lévis-Sainte-Marie stage.

On Wednesday, June 19, the pack will ride 150km on the roads of the towns of the Bellechasse et Etchemins regions for the Lac-Etchemin/Lac-Etchemin stage, back for a second consecutive year.

During the fourth stage on Thursday, the riders will travel 171km from Saint-Georges to finally reach the summit of the Mont Mégantic. The following day, they will contest a 22km individual time trial near Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande.

The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd will be important, with several races on the program. Saturday June 22 will begin with a 112km half-stage, a loop starting in Saint-Georges towards St-Zacharie, St-Théophile, St-Martin and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande. This half-stage will end three hours later where it started. Recreational riders will have the chance to compare themselves to the professionals during the day, as well.

A criterium comprising 32, two kilometre loops of a course in downtown Saint-Georges will complete the day. Then finally, on Sunday, the Grand Prix cycliste de Beauce Postes Canada will end with a 143 km road circuit.

Memorial ride a "good warm-up"

The Vic Chisholm Memorial Ride to be held by Burlington Bicycle Club in the US tomorrow (Sunday) offered riders the chance to warm up for coming US Cycling Federation events, spokesman Judy Jennings said.

Ms Jennings suggested that since there were no other USCF races nearby this weekend, the event was an ideal opportunity to prepare for the NC/SC Road Race Championships, the Town Mountain Road Hillclimb Time Trial and other races later in June.

The event will be held over 40km and 16km routes south of Burlington and take riders through the scenic southern Alamance and Guilford Counties.

"We offer great routes, great scenery, country roads without a lot of traffic, full sag, rest stops, refreshments, and a drawing for door prizes after the ride," Ms Jennings said.

This year the Alamance County Special Olympic Cycling Team will be assisting us at the rest stops. All proceeds from the ride will be donated to their team.

Registration will take place between 8.15 and 9am and the ride begins at 9am. For further information email Judy Jennings at jennings@netpath.net

US Cycling seeks new comms director

The United States Cycling Federation is seeking a new communications director, following the departure on Friday of Patrice Quintero, who is leaving the sport.

Quintero, who said the decision to leave had been "difficult", will work through the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Durango this weekend, before Colorado Springs Utilities as a Communications Specialist in its Corporate Communications Division.

AIS program identifies six potential stars

The Australian Institute of Sport Talent Identification Program program has not slowed down, with at least 23 of the 29 women who rode at the 2002 National Titles indicating they would continue in the sport.

According to Cycling Australia national development manager Glenn Doney, said at least six of the 30 women selected for the program, have the potential to be superstars in several years given the right training environment.

He said the women were being encouraged to join winter Friday night track racing fixtures at Sydney's Olympic Dunc Gray velodrome in Bankstown.