January 12/99 9:18 am - Trek Team News, `Cross, Writers Wanted

Posted by Editor on 01/12/99
 

A couple of press releases came in from Trek...

LeMond Returns to the Peloton with the Saturn Cycling Team

Waterloo, WI (January 11, 1999) -- A familiar name will return to professional cycling this year as Greg LeMond Bicycles announced today that the Saturn Cycling Team will be racing on the company's frames for the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Regarded as one of North America's elite road racing teams, Saturn expects to build upon last year's strong season which saw the team post 101 victories, 67 second place finishes and 53 number three spots. The balanced 1999 roster adds ten new riders who are eager to contribute to the returning core's success.

The returning veterans include Brian Walton, Bart Bowen and brothers Frank and Mark McCormack. Bowen captured ten top-three finishes in 1998, and Walton boasted eight top-three finishes including a victory at the Fyn Rundt in Denmark, as well as a World Cup Points Race victory. Both expect to have equally strong seasons in 1999 as they continue their leadership roles. The McCormacks combined for 22 victories and 47 top-three finishes in 1998. These wins were highlighted by Frank's U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championship, his top finishes at the Tour of Japan and the Motorola Cycling Classic, and Mark's Saturn Supercup Cyclo-cross Series Championship. Anticipate these two having equally-dominating seasons in 1999.

Also returning for Team Saturn will be third-year rider, and strategic
master, Chris Wherry, who proved to be a valuable asset to the team in 1998 because of his strong ability as an all-around cyclist and his knowledge of tactical racing. Rounding out the field of veterans are second-year rider, Levi Leipheimer, and Michael Barry, who joined the Saturn Team halfway through the 1998 season.

Leading the way for the women's side this season is fourth-year veteran and 1998 U.S. Criterium National Champion, Dede Demet, whose 26 top-three finishes included eleven wins. Demet will be a leader once again amongst a team with many young riders. Joining Demet will be second-year rider, Emily Robbins, who signed with Saturn at mid-season last year. Like Robbins, Canadian Lyne Bessette also joined Saturn late last season and anticipates a strong year in her first full season with the team.

Saturn has improved upon last year's roster by adding Adham Sbeih, Burke Swindlehurst, Seth Pelusi, Dutch rider, Jimmy Hansen, and sprinter, Robbie Ventura, to the men's side. Nicole Reinhardt, Susy Pryde, Tana Stone and Australian National Time Trial Champion, Anna Wilson, complete the Saturn women's team.

The Saturn Cycling Team's season begins shortly with their first event, Le Tour de Langkawi, on Feb. 3-14 in Malaysia. The race immediately follows the training camp set for January 15-27 in Solvang, California.


Ruthie Matthes Completes the Trek Volkswagen Professional Mountain Bike Racing Team's 1999 Roster

Waterloo, WI (January 11, 1999) -- The list of cycling legends on the 1999 Trek Volkswagen Professional Mountain Bike Racing Team's roster continues to grow with the announcement of the signing of Ruthie Matthes, three-time, defending NORBA champion. Along with newly-signed world champion road racer, Lance Armstrong, Matthes will join such familiar names as Travis Brown, Chantal Daucourt, Kirk Molday, Scott Sharples and Wade Bootes.

"I am very excited to be signing with Trek VW," said the former World and World Cup champion. "It is an honor to join such a highly-regarded professional team, and I am looking forward to a season of world-wide success!"

With the addition of Matthes and Armstrong, expectations are high for this year's Trek Volkswagen squad. The 1998 campaign will be a tough act to follow, however, as the team came through with its best year to date. Swiss European Champion, Chantal Daucourt, took the team's first ever UCI/Grundig World Cup victory in Hungary, Travis Brown won two NORBA nationals en route to a third place overall in the national rankings, and downhiller, Scott Sharples, garnered three top-three World Cup finishes
to end the season ranked seventh in the world.

Kirk Molday battled all season against an array of injuries, including a stint with the Epstein-Barr virus, but looks forward to regaining his 1997 form; a season in which he raced to a first overall in the NORBA NCS, eighth overall in World Cup points and a fourth place at the World Championships. And with one season under his belt, Trek BMX pro, Wade Bootes, will once again try his hand at Dual Slalom and Downhill events.


Belgian Championships of Cyclo-Cross - Wegimont (Liege)
(courtesy Phil Reinaers)

1. Marc Janssens
2. De Clerck Mario (World Champion 98)
3. Sven Nijs (Under 23 World Champion 98)
4. Peter Van Den Abeele
5. Vervecken Erwin


Attention all Wannabe Cycling Writers

The Ontario Cycling Association is looking for articles to insert in the 1999 Cycling in Ontario Guide. Write an article on anything you want to talk about relating to cycling and we will do our best to get it in for you. Just a note, We reserve the right to edit any article you send in and cannot gaurantee that your article will be printed.

All articles are due by January 22 1999 and should be in Microsoft Word or text file format. Send articles via email to bginter@ontariocycling .org or you can mail a disk to: Ontario Cycling Association, 1185 Eglinton Ave East, suite 408, Toronto, ON, M3C 3C6.

Any questions can be forwarded to Brendan Ginter, the Marketing Coordinator at the email address above or by Phone at (416) 426-7241.


Wanted: Advertisers

Any person or company interested in advertising in the 1999 Cycling in Ontario Guide should contact Brendan Ginter at the Ontario Cycling Association at bginter@ontariocycling.org or by phone at 416-426-7241. Lots of great opportunities available.


Team and Club Info

We are waiting for your team/club rosters! You can e-mail it to us.


Calendars

We are also waiting for Provincial Racing and Touring calendars. You can e-mail it to us here.