Cyclingnews Racing News

Sauser aims to defend title at Bike Four Peaks

Sue George — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:14:44 GMT

Christoph Sauser (Specialized) is aiming to make it four wins in a row at the Bike Four Peaks mountain bike stage race, which was formerly known as the Tran Germany. In light of his past success, he is the clear favorite for this year's race, something that gives him motivation. "Being the one everyone is looking for helps. It makes you a favourite so you have to ride fast," said Sauser. "And when I compete, I want to win!" Just two weeks remain until the race from June 5 to ...

No holding back for McConnell after World Cup victory in Albstadt

Alex Malone — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:51:37 GMT

In what was a drought-ending win for Australia in last weekend's World Cup opener in Albstadt , Dan McConnell is ready to be in the mix when he takes to the front row at this weekend's second round in Novo Mesto na Morave , Czech Republic. The victory was in a sense a historic one with the result giving Australia its first World Cup XC win since Cadel Evans in 2000 while also proving McConnell his biggest result to date - having rounded-out the top-20 just once prior to his win on the muddy and ...

Trans-Sylvania Epic start list

Sue George — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:40:42 GMT

Start lists Solo men open # Rider Name (Country) Team 1 Drew Edsall (Kenda / Felt) 2 Sam Koerber (Progold) 3 Aaron Snyder (Tsepic Team) 4 Brian Matter (Racc / Trek / Progold) 5 Justin Lindine (Redline / Nbx) 6 Daniel Humm 7 Jesse Quagliaroli (Expo Wheelmen) 8 Madison Matthews (The Bicycle Shop / Mbr / Maxxis) 9 Cody Hawkins 10 Theo Procopos (Keswick Cycle) ...

Lechner returns to top step of World Cup podium

Sue George — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:22:37 GMT

Eva Lechner ( Colnago Sudtirol ) won her first career World Cup cross country race in Houffalize, Belgium, in 2010, the same season in which she finished third overall in the World Cup ranking. She followed it up with her second-ever World Cup cross country win in Albstadt, Germany on Sunday. "I am very content with myself," said Lechner after her victory. "My aim was a top 10 finish, but as I had good legs and believed in myself, I was able to win the race. It is very special to ...

Riders from several mountain bike disciplines share first Enduro World Series podium

Sue George — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:31:39 GMT

Just seven months after the creation of an Enduro World Series was announced, the first round took place over the May 18-19 weekend in Punta Ala, Italy. Over 500 riders from every mountain bike discipline and many nations arrived to take part in the highly anticipated race. Locals from the seaside resort came out in force to experience the opening night time trial, the prologue, and witnessed the world's fastest riders tear through the rain-slicked medieval cobblestone streets of Castiglione della ...

Illness ruins Cooper's U23 mountain bike World Cup debut

Sue George — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:56:46 GMT

Anton Cooper ( Cannondale Factory Racing ) was notably absent from the top of the results in the U23 men's cross country race at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup opener in Albstadt, Germany this weekend. The junior world champion had won every junior World Cup race he contested during the past two years and was expected to mix it up with the top U23s this season; however, illness struck the young rider, who finished near the rear of his field on Saturday. The 18-year-old suffered from a painful stomach ...

Mountain bike races bring big bucks to local economies

Sue George — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:22:42 GMT

A recent study in Oregon measured the effects of mountain bike races on the local economies. The research by Linfield College Professor Jeff McNamee documents the economic benefits of mountain biking events in the small Oregon towns of Bend and Oakridge. He also surveyed customers of a mountain bike tour company in Bend. Oregon's rural communities, particularly communities that once relied on timber revenues, are seeking new business models to sustain themselves, and many are looking to the recreation ...

Gagne makes podium at Albstadt World Cup eliminator

Sue George — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:04:45 GMT

Canadian mountain biker Raphaël Gagné took the fourth spot on the podium in the eliminator race at the opening event of the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Tour in Albstadt , Germany on Friday. "I'm glad I qualified. I didn't know what to expect. Making it to the final is super positive, even though I'm a little disappointed with how it turned out at the end of the final," said Gagné afterward. "In some ways, I was used to the format because I used to compete in ...

Fun facts and figures relating to the Albstadt MTB World Cup

Sue George — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:27:06 GMT

The 2013 UCI MTB World Cup will kick off in Albstadt Germany from May 17-19. Below are some fun facts and figures relating to the World Cup opener. - 676 athletes from 40 countries are registered to take part in the World Cup opener. The largest contingent, however, doesn't come from Germany. The strong cross country racing nation of Switzerland is in the first spot with 92 athletes. The German Cycling Federation (BDR) is sending 70 athletes. France comes in third with 72 athletes. - Regarding the ...

Fumic out of Albstadt mountain bike World Cup

Sue George — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:45:10 GMT

Manuel Fumic ( Cannondale Factory Racing ) was so popular among the local fans expected to attend the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup opener in Albstadt Germany that his image was selected for posters for the event. Unfortunately, Fumic will have to sit out the race this weekend after injuring himself in a crash yesterday. "Sad day for @FactoryRacing today. @ManuelFumic crashed in training and injured his shoulder," read a tweet from the Cannondale Factory Racing Team. Fumic was scheduled ...

Schurter motivated for Albstadt World Cup while Fumic hopes for home success

Sue George — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:11:29 GMT

Mountain Bike World Cup fans will turn their attention to Albstadt, Germany this weekend for the first round of the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup . In the men's race, home crowd favorite Manuel Fumic (Cannondale) will battle the big three favorites: Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower), Julien Absalon (BMC) and Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized). In the women's race, Catharine Pendrel (Luna) will try to defend her World Cup title against Maja Wloszczowska (Giant) and Marianne Vos (Giant) Ten months have ...

Canada Cup kicks off this weekend

Sue George — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:51:08 GMT

The 2013 Mountain Bike (MTB) Canada Cup Cycling Series is back for another summer, with cross country and downhill mountain bike races to be disputed in three different provinces, starting this weekend. The mountain bike series, in its 22nd edition, will feature four cross country and three downhill races in 2013, hosted in three provinces throughout the summer, travelling to Québec, Ontario and British Columbia, with the finals hosted in Whistler British Columbia. 2011 world champion Catharine ...

Counting down to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup

Sue George — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:52:35 GMT

After a long eight months off, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup resumes this weekend in Albstadt, Germany . The World Cup begins with back-to-back rounds; round 2 will happen the following weekend in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. The start to the 2013 World Cup season comes two months later than the 2012 Olympic year and one month later than in many typical seasons. The first two rounds of the 2013 World Cup will include eliminator and cross country races. 2013 is the first year that Albstadt is hosting ...

Knox recovered from knee injury and back to racing

Sue George — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:48:52 GMT

Max Knox (Specialized/EAI Solutions) will be a busy man during the first two weekends of May. The South African mountain biker is aiming to defend two MTN National mountain bike series titles. Last year, Knox won the MTN Clarens and MTN Gravel Travel marathons. However, there is a big difference between last year and this year. Last year, MTN Clarens was in May and the Gravel Travel in August, but this year the two races are scheduled to be only a week apart. Knox will be racing the UCI marathon ...

New Zealand names partial long team for mountain bike Worlds

Sue George — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:13:27 GMT

New Zealand selected junior riders for a short list team for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in South Africa in late August. The under 19 squad includes 12 confirmed riders and four riders still to be confirmed for the championships at Pietermaritzburg on August 28 to September 1. The full team will be named next month. New Zealand under 19 team (Confirmed riders so far) Cross country Harriet Beaven Sam Gaze Amber Johnston Brad Jones Ben Oliver Craig Oliver Downhill Lawrence Cawte Carl ...

Inaugural Enduro World Series to make first stop in Punta Ala

Sue George — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:21:31 GMT

Over 500 riders from almost every nation will set up camp in the outdoor paddock at Punta Ala beachside resort, in Maremma on the southern tip of Tuscany, over the weekend of May 18-19, to take part in the first race of the seven-stop inaugural Enduro World Series . The 62km course will offer 1,600 vertical metres of climbing over five to six hours of riding with a total of 20 minutes of racing. Organizers also boast excellent coffee to start the day and wine to finish it. It is Italy, after all. ...

Degenkolb ecstatic after taking first Giro d'Italia stage win

Sue George — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:56:03 GMT

Two years ago, while a first-year pro with HTC, one of German John Degenkolb 's biggest early wins, and first in the WorldTour, came on an uphill finish in stage 2 of the Criterium du Dauphine. Fast forward two seasons and Degenkolb, now 24, used his same skills in the uphill finish at Matera to clinch Argos-Shimano 's - and his - first-ever stage victory in the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday. Today's victory was also Germany's first Giro stage win since Andrei Greipel won - curiously enough, also for ...

Süss, Spitz and Bigham to battle at European marathon championships

Sue George — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Two former world champions and last year's European silver medalist are considered the top favorites for the European Marathon Championships that will take place as part of the Rothaus Hegau Bike-Marathon in Singen, Germany on Sunday, May 13. Sabine Spitz (Haibike), Esther Süss (Wheeler iXS) and Sally Bigham (Topeak Ergon) are the top contenders for the women's gold medal. "A title is a title," said Swiss rider Esther Süss, leaving no doubt about her ambition. Süss, who ...

Sauser, Lakata and Illias among favorites for European marathon championship

Sue George — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:18:41 GMT

The reigning marathon world champion and his two predecessors will compete for the European Marathon Championship title on Sunday, May 12, 2013, at the Rothaus Hegau Bike-Marathon in Singen, Germany. Periklis Ilias, Christoph Sauser and Alban Lakata are among the top favorites. Sauser has been marathon world champion twice - in 2007 and 2011. He was the runner-up at Worlds in 2008 and was the bronze medallist in 2009. Riding most recently with his Specialized teammate Jaroslav Kulhavy in March, ...

Sonntag leads American Interbanc/Cannondale team

Sue George — Sun, 05 May 2013 13:59:10 GMT

In only the second year of racing, the Southern California-based American Interbanc/Cannondale mountain bike team is being led Ben Sonntag, who recently signed for the squad. "I have some big races on my radar for 2013, and so far we're off to a great start, sitting third overall in the US Pro XCT Series standings and a finishing fourth in the Whiskey 50 ," said Sonntag. "I am excited about joining the American Interbanc/Cannondale team and even more excited to be back racing on Cannondale ...

Mountain biker Keey steps up results in 2013

Sue George — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:50:37 GMT

After the first three races in the South African MTN Marathon Series, Charles Keey (Cannondale/Blend Properties) is currently the leader. With his aggressive approach to racing, he has already accumulated 11,705 points so far this season. Keey's success in the MTN series can be ascribed to his consistency. He was victorious in Sabie and Tulbagh and finished third in Barberton . The 21-year-old Lourens Luus (RE:CM) is second with 10,815 points. He is followed by Waylon Woolcock with 10,647 points, ...

Schurter and Absalon rivalry resumes in Solothurn

Sue George — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:05:07 GMT

Once again, two-time Olympic champion Julien Absalon (BMC Racing Team) will lock horns with world champion Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower) in the lead-up to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. This weekend, the pair will battle in the third round of the BMC Cup, at the Bike Days event in Solothurn, Switzerland. In the women's race, local Nathalie Schneitter be the crowd favorite as she battles favorite Esther Süss. Solothurn will host the third showdown of 2013 so far between Absalon and Schurter. ...

Bresset targets racing comeback by early June

Sue George — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:44:43 GMT

Olympic and world cross country mountain bike champion Julie Bresset (BH Suntour KMC) is back on her bike on her home trainer following a broken collarbone at the Bundesliga race in Münsingen, Germany on April 14. Her BH-SR Suntour-KMC team manager Michel Hutsebaut told velovert.com that she should be able to resume training on the road soon. "There were no complications. Everything is going normally. She had a slight fever for a time, which is normal when the body receives such a shock," ...

NICA High School Cycling News Round-up - April 30, 2013

Sue George — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:48:41 GMT

On April 27, NICA made another milestone when the fledgling New York League held its inaugural event at Sprain Ridge Park, Yonkers, New York. Hopes are high that this league will grow to rival NorCal for participation figures. There were so many applications for spots in the first Leaders' Summit for coaches, ride leaders and volunteers, a second one has been scheduled for June 2013. April has been a breathless month. NICA had hardly finished the move to its new headquarters at 2414 6th St, Berkeley ...

Trans-Sylvania Epic details enduro plans

Sue George — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:38:29 GMT

The Trans-Sylvania Epic revealed details of the enduro competition that will be part of its week-long mountain bike stage race starting on May 26. During seven, technical east coast stages, racers will have the chance to compete for a daily leader's jersey by way of one or more enduro segments placed on each stage. Much like the sprinter's jersey in a major road tour, the enduro classification offers a different goal than GC finish and may better suit certain athletes. Rather than racing hard both ...