Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

Le Tour Parcours

The Tour de France 2008 route was announced today in Paris. The big highlights of the route include a start in the Brittany region of France which is home to the likes of “The Badger” Bernard Hinault. There is no prologue time trial to kick things off, only a flat stage that will favor the sprinters. Things should not be too hectic since a team such as Milram or Quick-Step would be just as eager to control things to get a sprint victory early on.

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Binghamton Circuit Race 2006

Sunday April 29th will be my first race of the season. I couldn’t go to the Rochester Giros, the MaxPower Racign Training series was frozen out by bad weather and I also missed out on Bloomfield last week.

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“Swandrome Cyclocross” in Ithaca to kick-off the 2006 Central New York Cyclocross Series.

Syracuse, NY (September 24, 2006) – The Central New York Cyclocross Series kicks-off on Sunday, October 1st at the Swandrome Cyclocross race in Ithaca, NY. The course, with a mix of fields, woods, and a gravel road is expected to produce some heated competition for riders vying to take an early lead in the CNY Cyclocross Series. Short run-ups and multiple barriers make the Swandrome Cyclocross Race a fast, yet challenging event.

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The legendary Chris Thater Memorial happens on the weekend of August 26th and 27th. One of the biggest races in the Northeast features a heavy duty lineups of top domestic pros and top riders at all levels. I will be competing in the Men’s 4/5 race on Sunday morning at 8am.

Here is a preview from Matt Howey of Spokepost.com:

Race Preview: Chris Thater Memorial Criterium

Racing for prestige on the streets of Binghamton, NY
By Matt Howey

A Small Hill Helps Break Things
Up In the 2003 Professional Race

Binghamton, NY (August 17, 2006) — Ed Beamon, director of the Navigators Professional Cycling Team, answers a few questions below about the big upcoming Chris Thater Memorial Criterium in Binghamton, NY on August 26th and 27th. Of course, Ed’s Navigators team will be racing on Sunday in the marquee event, the men’s professional race. The pro race for 2006 is attracting some of the biggest domestic talent, all vying for their share of the prestige and monetary windfall that comes with a good performance at Thater.

The Teams
Here’s an overview of the teams slated to compete for the $20,000 purse in the Pro race:

• Health Net presented by MAXXIS
• Navigators Insurance
• T-Mobile
• Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Wines Pro Cycling Team
• Toyota-United
• Rite-Aid Pro Cycling
• Nerac / Outdoorlights.com Professional Cycling
• MONEX
• Jittery Joe’s-Zero Gravity Pro Cycling Team
• TargetTraining
• Priority Health
• KodakGallery.com/Sierra Nevada
• Jelly Belly Cycling Team
• VMG Racing

It seems like there are potential contenders from any of these teams. This is a veritable who’s who of American domestic professional cycling. The 50 mile race is 40 laps of a six-corner technical course with a small hill in it.

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Early season racing hits the Middle East with racing in Doha and the Tour of Qatar. The Doha International GP will take place on Jan 27th and will feature the debut of Erik “Zoom Zoom” Zabel with his new Milram team. Petacchi will not be present, so Zabel gets to test out the leadout train for himself.

Tom Boonen will lead his QuickStep Team and show off the new “Maglia Iridata”. Other teams include Davitamon-Lotto, Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim and Unibet.com, Rabobank, Skill-Shimano, Phonak, Team CSC, le Gerolsteiner, Team Wiesenhof-Akud, Cofidis, Française des Jeux, Agritubel, Team Milram, Ceramica Panaria-Navigare, Naturino-Sapore di Mare and Kazak team CT Capec.

Tour of Qatar Stages:
Friday, January, 27th – Doha International Grand Prix
Doha Al Corniche: 108 km

Monday, January, 30th – 1st stage
Khalifa Stadium – Al Khor Corniche: 131,5 km

Tuesday, January, 31st – 2nd stage
Camel Race Track – Al Khor Corniche: 138 km

Wednesday, February, 1st – 3rd stage
Sealine Beach Resort – Khalifa Stadium : 160 km

Thursday, February, 2nd – 4th stage
Al Zubarah – Qatar Olympic Committee: 144 km

Friday, February, 3rd – 5th stage
Al Thakhira – Doha Corniche: 151,5 km (11 laps on the finish line))

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