The Inaugural US Open Championships in Virginia seemed to be a warm weather type of event. But my Central New York cold weather depression was lifted when I watched the NBC coverage and saw snow and cold temperatures greeting the riders. The weather was bad enough to delay the start of the race for 90 minutes, especially since the TV helicopters were downed. TV, I was surprised to see the event was on NBC Sports on a Saturday afternoon. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come?
The US Open Championships racing did not disappoint. CNY man Dan Timmerman of Kodak-Sierra Nevada was in an early breakaway when the weather was at its worst. Perhaps he was so used to riding in the snow that he had to show others how it was done. The Mexican Tecos team was said to be begging other teams for spare warm weather gear. The weather in the Richmond Virginia suburbs was nasty, the cobbled roads of Libby hill and some of the industrial sections of town made it feel like a Belgian Classic race. The Richmond circuit could have been more scenic and some of the roads seems to be in back alleys behind giant industrial buildings.
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In very wet conditions, competition is fierce on 6-corner Thater course
By Matt Howey
Hilton Clarke (Navigators) Salutes Victory at Chris Thater
Binghamton, NY (August 27, 2006) – In pouring rain and cooler temperatures, many of the United States’ brightest cycling stars stood at attention as the national anthem was played in anticipation for the start of the men’s professional race at the 2006 Chris Thater Memorial Criterium. The race, in its 23rd edition, is held on a tough and semi-technical 1.2 mile course around Binghamton’s Recreation Park. With a short climb, substantial prize money (to the tune of $20,000 for the pros alone), and a stop on the national racing calendar, the Chris Thater Criterium has become known as one of the toughest events of the year to win.
Brandon Chricton (Symmetrics) Took 25% of Available Primes
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Cyclelicio.us has an entry on the feasability of having a Tour of US. Looking at some of the major US races which are about 1 week long, would it be feasable to combine these to to one three week race?
Tour of California – 8 stages
Tour de Georgia – 6 stages
Tour de Toona – 7 stages
It looks like there would be many hinderances to setting up a Tour of US. The main would be geography.
I would be against such an idea as I think the regional one week race aspect has better potential. If more areas begin to setup their own stage races, then that would help cycling in the US in several ways:
1) No reliance on a single race as the focus of all cycling means less problems when a sponsor pulls out or event gets cancelled. The cancelling of the Tour Du Pont in 1996 left a void that was not filled until the Tour De Georgia started up.
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The United Pro Cycling Team will be revealed today. The new venture tries to create a new model for cycling team formation where they are not completely reliant on a sponsor for the teams survival.
“United Pro Cycling Team is a new concept, as far as this sport is concerned,” said team owner and founder Sean Tucker. “Our joint fan membership and sponsorship business model is similar to that of NASCAR and Formula 1 and now brings a new look to cycling as well.”
Structured in a manner similar to the fan-inclusive models of NASCAR and Formula 1, where each team is its own individual brand supported by a strong corporate partner, fans of the team will have the opportunity to develop a long-term relationship and support the team by subscribing for membership. It’s a model currently used by the Basque Euskaltel-Euskadi ProTour squad, and with limited success by the former Flanders-iteamNova.com team. — Velonews
The United Pro Cycling Team is loaded with talent so results should not be a problem. Their roster includes:
USPRO road champion Chris Wherry, reigning national time trial champion Chris Baldwin, Pan Am Games champion Ivan Dominguez, former U.S. Olympian Tony Cruz and four-time Argentinean national champion Juan Jose Haedo. Other key additions include Mariano Friedick, Justin England and Ivan Stevic. Sharing team director responsibilities are Frankie Andreu, a nine-time Tour de France finisher and the U.S. Postal Service director of U.S. racing in 2001-2002, and Harm Jansen, a former Saturn rider and the 2001 USPRO criterium winner. — Velonews
The team will be riding United Bikes which is a company created by the team. The bikes are made of Easton Scandium Tubing.
The new kit is heavy on the stars and stripes theme. Chris Wherry’s US National Champion Jersey does not look that different from the rest of the team’s kit.
Toyota United
Velonews Story
Walker Texas Ranger and Jack Bauer are tough guys, but they don’t race for HealthNet. Mike Jones is the toughest of them all, and to prove it “The Pros Stuff Gossip” pages has a list of Random Facts About Mike Jones:
When Mike Jones sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Mike Jones has not had to pay taxes ever.
To prove it isn’t that big of a deal to beat cancer. Mike Jones smoked 15 cartons of cigarettes a day for 2 years and acquired 7 different kinds of cancer only to rid them from his body by flexing for 30 minutes. Beat that, Lance Armstrong.
Mike Jones sleeps with a night light. Not because Mike Jones is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Mike Jones.
Mike Jones ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.
Mike Jones can touch MC Hammer.
A blind man once stepped on Mike Jones shoe. Mike replied, “Don’t you know who I am? I’m Mike Jones!” The mere mention of his name cured this man blindness. Sadly the first, last, and only thing this man ever saw, was a fatal roundhouse delivered by Mike Jones.
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