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Just Business? Drama Takes Over New England Velodrome’s Cyclocross and Track Racing
March 21st, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news
Races between NEV and CycleLoft riders foreshadowed the conflict that has arisen this season. © Natalia McKittrick
This is the first of a two-part series with exclusive interviews with the parties involved with New England’s velodrome, the home to a weekly cyclocross training series and the New England Velo-Cross Challenge. Check back later for part two including our interview with the former head of the New England Velodrome, Tony Eberhardt. Have an opinion? Drop a comment below.
I don’t believe I’ll breach journalistic objectivity by saying that New England is the heartbeat of cyclocross in the US. The Red Sox, I hear, are having trouble selling tickets on weekends conflicting with Gloucester Grand Prix or Northampton Cycle-Smart Verge races. No, not really. You get the point though.
Cyclocross has penetrated so deep under New Englanders’ rough skin that even a local velodrome developed a cyclocross course rash. Tony Eberhardt started the New England Velodrome (NEV), located in Londonderry, NH (45-60 min drive from Boston) five years ago. The inherited former go-cart track came with the scars of cracks in the pavement, bushes, divots and some fencing. Five years in, with the help of volunteers, friends, family and sponsors the track was not only offering a full track racing menu, but also started hosting a compliment of cyclocross and BMX racing, including a weekly training series. …continue reading: Just Business? Drama Takes Over New England Velodrome’s Cyclocross and Track Racing
What Keeps You Moving?
March 21st, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news, editorial
Photo via flickr by pixelrobber
by Jamie Mack
It’s 5:30 AM and I’m in my basement listening to Tim Johnson talk about coloring in one of his 9-balls for the 23rd time. The only thought going through my head, other than that I need to put in a new video tomorrow, is why am I up this early, pedaling away on the trainer. It’s not because this is fun – it’s not, but most of you know that – and it certainly isn’t because of some obsessive need to beat the digital bastard from Computrainer that I chase every morning (I’m never going to catch him if I keep giving those extra 10 watts). Like most of you, I’m up early, out late or giving up some other part of normal life to pursue this passion of ‘cross. I do this… …continue reading: What Keeps You Moving?
Cyclocross and Adult Fantasy Fulfillment Found on Craigslist…in One Ad
March 21st, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news
We at Cyclocross Magazine don’t typically peruse the section of Craigslist.org that talks about adult fantasies, but recently we innocently stumbled across an ad titled “Seeking tall engineer for vicarious fantasy fulfillment.” Normally, it wouldn’t even get a click, but when it’s in the bicycle section, and with a mechanical engineering degree in house, curiosity got the best of us. We (nervously) clicked.
Well, we’re glad we did. …continue reading: Cyclocross and Adult Fantasy Fulfillment Found on Craigslist…in One Ad
DVD Review: Warriors of Cyclocross
March 20th, 2010 Filed Under print magazine archives, reviews, video
Warriors of Cyclocross
This product review is from Issue 8. Want to see more great content like this? You can buy backorders of the entire Issue 8, as well as most of the Issues published to date, and subscribe to Cyclocross Magazine on our Subscription page.
The new Warriors of Cyclocross DVD covers Junior Men, Espoir Men, Elite Women and Elite Men races from the 2008 Nationals in Kansas City. The same company that made last year’s Zero Traction has created Warriors, and not surprisingly the two films share many characteristics.
See the trailer below: …continue reading: DVD Review: Warriors of Cyclocross
Tour of Flanders Party Aims to Help Juniors and Depressed Cyclocrossers
March 19th, 2010 Filed Under press releases
Tour of Flanders party for jonesin' cyclocross lovers to benefit CRCA Juniors
So cyclocross season is over and done with, and you’re mulling around in a state of semi-depression. What else is there to watch? What will satisfy your desire to see mucked up pros suffering their hearts out for you? Lucky for you, it’s cobble time!
That’s right kids, the Spring Classics are upon us, and the races are gruesome and unforgiving. You’ll never see bike racers suffer more in one day than when they’re racing the classics. This naturally makes for great spectatin’.
The Tour of Flanders is coming up on Sunday, April 4th (Yes, it’s Easter Sunday), and Staten CX promoter Christophe Jammet is putting on a fun Tour of Flanders viewing party in New York City. The party is happening at …continue reading: Tour of Flanders Party Aims to Help Juniors and Depressed Cyclocrossers
Women Compete for Cash-Filled HUPiggy Trophy at SpectaCross
March 19th, 2010 Filed Under press releases
Hup United Gets Piggy with Women at SpectaCross. © Kevin Dillard, Demoncats.com
by Ken Getchell
March 19, 2010 – Conshohocken, PA, USA: HUP United’s Chip Baker never thought he’d be happy to see his name on a pig’s butt. Last year, Baker inadvertently sponsored the piggy bank trophy that was awarded to Al Donahue as winner of the featured event at the inaugural New Jersey State Fair SpectaCross in Augusta, New Jersey. This year, Baker is not only intentionally sponsoring the Chip Baker Trophy for the winner of the Garden State Open at the New Jersey State Fair SpectaCross, he and his HUP United team are also co-sponsoring a similar Piggy Bank Tophy for the Women’s winner of the SpectaCross’ Battle of the Sexes event: the HUPiggy Trophy. Better yet, Baker is stuffing the HUPiggy bank with $250 so that the day’s fastest Woman is guaranteed to win at least as much as the winner of the Garden State Open. In fact, with overall prizes also being awarded in the Battle of the Sexes (which pits Elite Women against Junior Men) and women also being eligible for the Garden State Open, it’s likely that the Women’s winner of the HUPiggy will take home more cash than any other racer at SpectaCross. …continue reading: Women Compete for Cash-Filled HUPiggy Trophy at SpectaCross
Inflator Reviews: Prestaflator and Problem Solvers Air-Bob Universal
March 18th, 2010 Filed Under print magazine archives, reviews
Prestaflator and Problem Solvers Air-Bob Universal Inflators
This product review is from Issue 8. Want to see more great content like this? You can buy back copies of the entire Issue 8, as well as most of the issues published to date, and subscribe to Cyclocross Magazine on our subscription page.
If you are fortunate enough to have an air compressor in your shop or garage, you know how useful it can be for all sorts of things. With a long enough air hose and the right air tool, you can loosen lug nuts, paint furniture, blow gunk out of your cassette and even clean gutters. But all of that, of course, is mere justification for the luxury purchase of a machine which will effortlessly inflate your bike tires for you. While just about any cheap accessory kit will include a basic Schrader valve inflator, I’m willing to bet that you have Presta valves on your wheelsets – in which case you basically have two choices: the Prestaflator and Problem Solvers’ Air-Bob. I tested both. …continue reading: Inflator Reviews: Prestaflator and Problem Solvers Air-Bob Universal
Pro Cyclocross Rumors and Rumblings – March 17, 2010
March 17th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news, euro-file
Happy St. Patrick’s Day one and all! It was a dark week for professional cyclocross, with the announcement of a pair of EPO positive tests from the World Championships, and the subsequent reports of a suicide attempt in its aftermath. Here at PCR&R, we’ll try to keep those parties out of the news as much as possible, and instead focus on some other breaking news. Mafia Racing’s Jake Wells moves to Hudz/Subaru – what could be one of the best teams of 2010 and Cyclocross stars get moving on the fat tires.
Jake Wells Moves to Hudz/Subaru
After a storied career with Colorado-based Mafia Racing, Jake Wells will move to the Hudz/Subaru squad for the 2010 season. Wells will continue to race for the Mafia Racing team through the mountain bike season, …continue reading: Pro Cyclocross Rumors and Rumblings – March 17, 2010
Diary of a Cross Pro: Helen Wyman Gets Back in the Saddle
March 17th, 2010 Filed Under rider diary
Helen Wyman's Group Gets a Riding Lesson from Police © Helen Wyman
In her latest column, British National Champ Helen Wyman gets back on the bike to prep for her next cycling season, after a short off-the-bike holiday. Catch up on her last report, the Top-10 Moments of the Season.
by Helen Wyman
As a cyclist riding more than one season in a year, the annual holiday time always seems to pass very quickly and this year was no exception. The only difference I found was, when I started training again, the weather was even worse than when I finished the ‘cross season.
One of the highlights of my holiday included the Gazet van Antwerp prize presentation. Held in a very fancy auditorium in the KBC bank in the center of Antwerp, it was a really amazing event. All the riders and their partners were seated at the front of the hall with name tags on the seats, very cool. The organizers gave speeches and they showed highlights from all the categories before presenting the prizes. Plus they had an incredible stunt guy showing us his skills, including jumping wheel by wheel over and around Erwin Vervecken as he lay on the stage. …continue reading: Diary of a Cross Pro: Helen Wyman Gets Back in the Saddle
Teams Wrangle over Stybar, Pauwels
March 16th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news
Stybar leads teammate Pauwels in Asper - Gavere. © Dan Seaton
Newly-crowned world champ Zdeněk Štybar and his teammate Kevin Pauwels are at the center of a great deal of speculation and wooing, despite their contractual obligations to their current Telenet – Fidea team until 2011. Štybar openly admitted on his website a few weeks ago that Štybar he is in negotiations for a contract for next year, stating that he had offers from his current Telenet – Fidea squad as well as Lanbouwkrediet, Sunweb – Revor Agricole and Quick Step. According to Belgian website Sport.be, Sunweb has also aggressively pursued Pauwels, who had a breakthrough win at this year’s World Cup in Zolder.
As Telenet – Fidea Hans Van Kasteren told Gazet van Antwerpen, he’s none too happy that these teams are approaching his riders while they’re under contract. …continue reading: Teams Wrangle over Stybar, Pauwels
Kacper Szczepaniak Attempts Suicide
March 15th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news
The U23 podium in Tabor © Bart Hazen
Kacper Szczepaniak, the young Polish rider who placed second in the U23 World Championships in Tabor and subsequently tested positive for EPO, tried to kill himself. His brother Pawel, who won the event and also tested positive for EPO, confirmed the news and reported to Belgian publication Het Laatste Nieuws that it was their father who intervened. …continue reading: Kacper Szczepaniak Attempts Suicide
2010-2011 UCI World Cup Cyclocross Calendar
March 14th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news
The 2009-2010 cyclocross season saw a record number of fans, including millions watching on TV in Europe and throughout the world. As top racers contemplate their race schedules for next season, most of us regular folks look to our local races for competition but dream of the storied courses of the UCI World Cup. The 2010-2011 UCI World Cup schedule has been released by the UCI, with the races beginning in October and the series finale taking place one week before the 2011 World Championships in St. Wendel, Germany on January 29-30, 2011. …continue reading: 2010-2011 UCI World Cup Cyclocross Calendar
Reactions to Szczepaniak Brothers’ Positive Doping Tests
March 13th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news, editorial
Arnaud Jouffroy, here claiming the top step in Lille, may soon be the World U23 champ as well. © Bart Hazen
Cyclocross continues to be at the center of lots of hub-bub in cycling news outlets, and is the focus of a good deal of online chatter. Unfortunately the story that’s creating all the stir continues to be the positive EPO test readings for Polish brothers Pawel and Kacper Szczepaniak, the top two finishers in the U23 World Championship race in Tabor, Czech Republic.
The main take-away from the story, of course, is a negative one. Not only has doping now tainted the most prestigious cyclocross event of the year, but it was perpetrated by a 19 and 20 year-old. Somehow, I instantly was struck by upsides as well – for one thing, the cheaters were caught. For another, the guys who were doping achieved a clear performance benefit over the rest of the field. There’s a definite blind leap here, but maybe this means the other top riders are clean? I’d like to think so. …continue reading: Reactions to Szczepaniak Brothers’ Positive Doping Tests
Change in Colorado: Bill Peterson Becomes President of USA Cycling Board of Directors
March 12th, 2010 Filed Under press releases
Bill Peterson replaces Mark Abramson as president of the USA Cycling Board of Directors. Abramson previously led Collegiate cycling but had a soft spot for ‘cross, winning the Sandbagger title at the Cyclocross National Championship in Baltimore, MD. Peterson comes to the position with a background of working with USPRO, Tour of California and the NFL. Will Peterson help take American cyclocross to the level of the Tour of California and the NFL, or will he focus on USPRO road cycling? Full press release below.
Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 11, 2010) —The USA Cycling Board of Directors elected Bill Peterson as president at its biannual meeting, Wednesday in Colorado Springs. The board of directors of the national governing body for the sport of competitive cycling in the United States also re-elected three additional officers.
Peterson takes office immediately and replaces Mark Abramson, who served a two-year term …continue reading: Change in Colorado: Bill Peterson Becomes President of USA Cycling Board of Directors
Szczepaniak Brothers Positive for EPO at World Championships – Updated
March 11th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news
The U23 podium in Tabor, with Kacper and Pawel Szczepaniak, Arnaud Jouffroy © Bart Hazen
The Polish brothers Kacper and Pawel Szczepaniak were found to be positive for EPO at the UCI World Cyclocross Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic on January 31. Pawel, 20, came away with the Espoir World Championship title, winning with a 20 second gap over the younger Kacper, 19, in second place. Pending a review and confirmation of the tests, the brothers may be stripped of their medals, which would move France’s Arnaud Jouffroy into the gold medal position, Belgium’s Tom Meeusen into second, and Poland’s Marek Konwa into third. …continue reading: Szczepaniak Brothers Positive for EPO at World Championships – Updated
