Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

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

The Tour de Georgia’s route was unveiled yesterday.

Stage 1: Tuesday, April 18 � Augusta, Ga. to Macon, Ga. � Augusta: Third year to host the Tour, with a Stage Start venue in 2003 and Overall Start in 2005 � Macon: Fourth consecutive year as a host city, having participated as a Stage Finish and Stage Start in 2003, a one-day Stage Circuit in 2004, and a Stage Finish in 2005

Stage 2: Wednesday, April 19 � Fayetteville, Ga. to Rome, Ga. � Fayetteville: Returns to the Tour for a second consecutive year as a Stage Start � Rome: Fourth consecutive year as a host city, having participated as a Stage Finish in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and having hosted the Individual Time Trial in 2004 and 2005

Stage 3: Thursday, April 20 � Individual Time Trial from Chickamauga/Walker Co., Ga. to Chattanooga,Tenn. � Chickamauga/Walker Co.: Hosts a Tour stage for the first time, with the start of the ITT � Chattanooga: First city outside the state of Georgia to host the Tour, with the finish of the ITT

Stage 4: Friday, April 21 � Dalton, Ga. to Dahlonega, Ga. � Dalton: Fourth consecutive year as a Stage Start and home to professional cyclist Saul Raisin � Dahlonega: Third consecutive year as a Stage Finish, and bringing its renowned Bear in the Square festival to Tour fans

Stage 5: Saturday, April 22 � Blairsville/Union Co., Ga. to Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns Co., Ga. � Blairsville/Union County: Returns for second consecutive year as a Stage Start � Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns County: A third consecutive stint as a Stage Finish, with its epic finish on The Bald, the highest peak in Georgia, and compared to the Alpe d�Huez of the Tour de France

Stage 6: Sunday, April 23 � Cumming/Forsyth Co., Ga. to Alpharetta, Ga. � Cumming/Forsyth County: Inaugural Stage host for the Tour, with a Stage Start on the final day, in conjunction with the Taste of Forsyth; was a Sprint line host community in 2004 and 2005 � Alpharetta: A third year as the Overall Finish host city, with its signature four-mile finishing circuit

http://www.tourdegeorgia.com/
North American News: Georgia details unveiled; Osipow Discovers Bears; Colorado troubles?

Some more details out in the news about the Tour of California. Other than Amgen being the title sponsor, ESPN2 will return to broadcasting cycling by showing daily one hour recaps during the race.
–cycling on tv rant –
Glad to see that more than one network is interested in cycling. This also helps to weaken the PBR style hold that OLN has on cycling. Even though they have the rights to many races, they either do not show them, or show them one month or more after they are over. The Giro di Lombardia is going to be on OLN on November 20th. To the uninitiated, that is well more than one month after the race happened and the results well know. What kind of ratings does OLN expect for an event that is one month after the fact and heavily edited, plus with numerous show promos and commercials thrown in? Try doing that with any American sport and see what results you get.
–end cycling on tv rant–

There are more details on the race at cyclingnews and velonews.

Cyclingnews.com: Tour of California details announced

Velonews: California showpiece for Levi, George and the gang

The Tour of California will be announced today with an interesting sponsor. AMGEN, the maker of EPO is th etitle sponsor of the race. Very odd that the maker of the substances which cause the biggest contreversy in cycling is choosing to support the sport. They want to change their image and promote the drug in the treatment of cancer. Not sure what to make of this, but I am glad that California is getting a bike race.
Velonews: EPO maker to back California Tour
Tour of California Site (Newly updated!) View Official Announcement November 02, 2005 at 4:00 PM Eastern
Tour de California Press Release
USATODAY.com – EPO drug maker backs cycling race