March 1/06 11:16 am - OCA Announces Athlete Selection for Gold Card Assistance, 2006 Velo Bella-Kona Elite Team Announcement

Posted by Editoress on 03/1/06
 

2005-2006 Quest for Gold Athlete Assistance Program Ontario Card Nominations Announced!
Courtesy OCA

The Ontario Cycling Association would like to congratulate the talented athletes who have been selected for Ontario Cards under the 2005-2006 Quest for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP). The athletes nominated were selected using the sport specific selection criteria developed by the Ontario Cycling Association, approved by its Board of Directors and applied by the Ontario Cycling Association Athlete Selection Committee.

The Ontario Cycling Association congratulates these athletes on their successful performances, and their selection for Quest for Gold OAAP funding. It's a significant step forward that our Ministry has taken to support the efforts of our athletes.

Brooke Boocock - Road
Sarah Coney - MTB XC
Chris DaSilva - BMX
Tim DaSilva - BMX
Krystal Jeffs - Road
Celeste Jones-Baumgardt - Road
Marty Lazarski - MTB XC
Kaitlin Michener - MTB XC
Adam Morka - MTB XC
Amanda Sin - MTB XC
Catherine Vipond - MTB XC
Derek Zandstra - MTB XC


Velo Bella-Kona Elite Tam announced
Courtesy Velo Bella-Kona Cycling Team

Velo Bella-Kona is pleased to announce their Elite Road team roster for 2006! Created from internally developed Velo Bella talent and additions from the former Ford-Basis Cycling Team, you will be seeing the pink, blue and black at road races, criteriums and stage races across North America.

The team will be lead by the legendary "Snerf‰ herself, Nicole Freedman. Nicole is notorious for her hilarious way of relating our exciting sport to the outside world, as well as for her leadership and coaching talents. Nicole will also be adding additional Velo Bella-Kona sponsored "women's racing" clinics to her schedule in order to help Velo Bella-Kona fulfill its goals of bringing new female riders into the peloton and teaching them the skills necessary to step up on the podiums across North America.

Making up the roster will be Velo Bella-Kona racers with solid 2005 seasons, Hiroko Shimada, Jennifer Chapman and Jane Zeigler, as well as the talented time-trial specialist Kele Murdin (formerly of Ford Basis) and Jennifer Joynt, both fresh faces to the Velo Bella-Kona organization. Wendy Simms and Kristin Danielson will make a few guest appearances from the Velo Bella - Kona Pro MTB team along with former Ford-Basis rider Alisha "Little" Lion.

Keeping with Velo Bella-Kona's PRIMARY focus of growing women's cycling as a whole, the Elite Team will be adding other Velo Bella Elites from their growing talent pool of club members as guest riders to join them at select races to help foster growth and experience at the national competing level. Additionally, the Elite Team will be joined by hundreds of amateur racers who will compete in local road races throughout the United States.

The Bellas will be riding custom painted Kona carbon Queen Zing road and TT bikes, complete with Easton wheels, posts, stems and bars; Selle San Marco's new Glamour Aspide saddles; Crank Brothers Quattro pedals; Truvativ cranks, and Wipperman chains. Hincapie Sportswear, Giro Helmets, Patagonia outerwear, Zeal Optics and SIDI shoes, will protect the gals from the elements. Pedros and Ultimate Support will be super-charging the Velo Bella - Kona Podium Boys' toolboxes with the best tools, lubes, and Bike Stands available on the market to keep the Bellas bikes running clean and smooth.

Myke Berna, (formerly of Charles Schwab Women's Team, Autotrader.com, Mercury, and Saturn Cycling) will be overseeing the gals' upcoming training camp and acting as Director Sportif. Brent Chapman is Team Manager, and Dr. Massimo Testa (formerly Team Physician for such Tour de France teams as Mapei and Motorola) will be providing physiological testing and training at the UC-Davis Sports Performance Clinic.

The Roster:

Nicole Freedman
Hiroko Shimada
Jennifer Chapman
Kele Murdin
Jane Ziegler
Jennifer Joynt
Wendy Simms
Kristin Danielson
Alisha Lion

Velo Bella-Kona's contagious spirit and unique approach to women's competitive cycling have created a following across the United States and around the world. The Bellas encourage women to ride and race, no matter what their level.

Velo Bella-Kona is a non-profit, grassroots, multidiscipline cycling team based out of Watsonville, CA. The Velo Bella-Kona mission is to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle through cycling and laughter. They inspire women to get out and ride a bike, race a bike, and to eventually grow the pool of talent and have a lot of fun along the way. While the core Velo Bella-Kona Team is a committed group of female racers, membership includes female cyclists interested in completing their first race, century, or even group ride. More information on Velo Bella-Kona can be found on their website: www.velobella.org.