January 12/01 5:01 am - Redden, CCA Whistler Announcement, U.S. Road Schedule

Posted by Editor on 01/12/01
 

Redden Up for Ontario Award
(courtesy Ed Zacharewski)

Chrissy Redden is one of the 3 finalists for the Golden Horseshoe Athlete of the Year. The award will be presented and winner announced at the Catholic Youth Organization dinner Feb 21.


Whistler World Cup Cancelled

January 11th 2001, Ottawa - The Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) announces the cancellation of the "Triple" World Cup (DH,XC,DL) which was to be held in Whistler, BC., July 7th-8th, 2001. This decision was made by the UCI Mountain Bike Commission following their meeting held this week in Lausanne, Switzerland. The UCI was informed by Whistler resort that they were not in a position to continue with the organization of the event.

"We were all very excited to have Canada hosting a 2nd Mountain Bike World Cup, especially in Western Canada, as this has been an objective of the association over the past years. We are very disappointed as such events ensure the long term development of our sport in Canada", said Executive Director, Mr. Patrick Healy.

CCA competition coordinator, Mr. Brett Stewart is of opinion that "this is a most regrettable outcome that will undoubtedly impact the opportunity for high level mountain bike events in western Canada".

Canada will be hosting the Mountain Bike World Cup Final in Mont Sainte-Anne, August 24-26 2001.


Coupe du Monde en vélo de montagne à Whistler annulée

Le 11 janvier 2001, Ottawa - L'Association cycliste canadienne (ACC) se voit dans l'obligation de retirer de son Calendrier national 2001 l'événement de la "Triple" Coupe du Monde (DH,XC,DL) qui devait avoir lieu le 7-8 juillet prochain à Whistler, CB.

Cette décision fût prise par la Commission de vélo de montagne de l'UCI suite à une réunion tenue plus tôt cette semaine en Lausanne, Irlande. Whistler Resort a informer l'UCI qu'il ne serait pas en position de poursuivre l'organisation de l'événement.

"Nous étions excité à l'idée d'avoir une deuxiême Coupe du monde au Canada, surtout dans l'ouest du Canada, puisque cela était un des objectif visé par l'association au cours des derniêres années. Nous sommes três désapointé puisque ce genre d'événement assure le développement à long terme du sport au Canada" explique le directeur exécutif de l'Association cycliste canadienne, M. Patrick Healy.

Le coordonnateur des compétitions de l'ACC, M. Brett Stewart, est d'avis que "c'est une situation regrettable qui va sans doute avoir d'importantes répercutions sur les opportunités d'événements de vélo de montagne de haut niveau dans l'ouest du pays."

À ce moment, la finale de la Coupe du Monde de vélo de montagne sera présentée au Mont Sainte-Anne du 24 au 26 août 2001.


U.S. 2001 National Road Calendar
(courtesy Patrice Quintero, USCF)

With more than 50 races on the 2001 schedule, the USCF National Racing Calendar reads like a vacation planner's dream -- San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Miami. But, with national points and big prize money on the line, road cycling's fastest riders have little time for sightseeing.

The NRC, open to pro 1/2 men and all categories of women racers, celebrates its fifth year in 2001, with eight new events highlighting the series' already packed schedule.

The first new NRC race in 2001 is the Housatonic Valley Classic in Danbury, Conn., May 20. Next, the NRC hits the Big Apple when it goes to New York for the Manhattan Invitational Aug. 2.

The next two new calendar events run back to back in September. The San Rafael Cycling Classic in California, Sept. 8, will be a great prelude to the San Francisco Grand Prix, Sept. 9 in California's Golden Gate city. The San Francisco Grand Prix boasts the third-largest prize purse on the 2001 schedule -- $100,000.

Five new races run in September and October. After San Francisco, racers head south to Irvine, Calif., for the Irvine Cycling Grand Prix Sept. 24. It's off to Columbus, Ohio, the following weekend for the U.S. Open Cycling Championships, with the Deland (Fla.) Cycling Grand Prix set to roll Sept. 30. The Mercy Celebrity Classic Criterium, Oct. 6, in Fort Smith, Ark., rounds out the last of the 2001 NRC additions.

Rider favorites return in 2001 as well. The Redlands (Calif.) Bicycle Classic is the third race on the schedule, beginning March 13 and wrapping up March 18. The Xcelerate Twilight in Georgia continues to a bright spot in the Southeast region, and the Tour de 'Toona is a Pennsylvania classic. In addition, 13 NRC races are considered UCI events in 2001.

The Idaho's HP Women's Challenge, set for June 13-24 in Idaho, is putting up largest prize purse of the 2001 NRC. The world's top pro women will vie for part of the $128,000 being offered. The First Union USPRO Championships, June 10, draws the country's best men, as well as international riders, to Philadelphia. The race also has the second-largest NRC prize purse -- $125,000.

"Each year, the NRC gets better and better. With so many races in so many places nationwide, there's something for everyone, whether you're a racer or a spectator," said USCF National Events Director Tara Morris. "We're proud of the schedule we've put together for the 2001 season."

In 2000, more than 720 pro 1/2 racers competed in the NRC. American powerhouse Mercury placed first the men's team rankings, while Saturn took top honors in the women's team category. Mercury rider Gord Fraser from Canada won the men's individual title, while John Lieswyn was the top American at third. Georgian Tina Mayolo-Pic of autotrader.com won the women's title.

2001 National Road Calendar (NRC)
Men and women's events are indicated by either a 'm' and/or a 'w' after the race title. UCI events are preceeded by an asterik.

March 3-4 SaveMart Bicycle Classic (m/w) California
March 10-11 Sequoia Cycling Classic (m/w) Sequoia, Calif.
March 13-18 Redlands Bicycle Classic (m/w) Redlands, Calif.
*March 22-25 Mercury Sea Otter Classic (m/w) Monterey, Calif.
March 29-April 1 Solana Bicycle Classic (m/w) Solana Beach, Calif.
April 7 BMC Software Lance Armstrong Criterium (m/w) Austin, Texas
April 10-15 Tour of Willamette (m/w) Lane County, Ore.
April 21 BMC Software Tour of San Jose (m/w) San Jose, Calif.
April 22 TDK Nevada City Bicycle Classic (m/w) Nevada City, Calif.
April 27 First Charter Criterium (m) Shelby, N.C.
April 28-29 Xcelerate Twilight (m/w) Athens, Ga.
May 2-6 Wells Fargo Tour of the Gila (m/w) Silver City, N.M.
May 15-19 America's Cup (m) Massachusetts
May 20 Housatonic Valley Classic (m/w) Danbury, Conn.
May 24 Elite National Time Trial Championships (m/w) Redding, Calif.
May 26 Elite National Road Race Championships (m/w) Redding, Calif.
May 28 Tour of Somerville (m/w) Somerville, N.J.
*June 2 Capital Cup (m/w) Arlington, Va.
June 3 U.S. Postal Service Clarendon Cup (m/w)Arlington, Va.
*June 5 First Union Invitational (m) Lancaster, Pa.
*June 7 First Union Classic (m) Trenton, N.J.
*June 8 First Union Hill Climb (m) Manayunk, Pa.
June 9 NYC Women's Sports Challenge (w) New York
*June 10 First Union USPRO Championships (m) Philadelphia
*June 10 First Union Liberty Classic Women's World Cup (w) Philadelphia
*June 13-24 HP LaserJet Women's Challenge (w) Idaho
June 16-17 Touchstone Energy Bicycle Classic (m/w) St. Paul, Minn.
June 28-July 1 Fitchburg Classic (m/w) Boston
*July 8 Four Bridges of Elgin (m/under-23) Elgin, Ill.
July 8 BMC Software Tour of Arlington (m/w) Arlington, Mass.
July 11-15 Cascade Cycling Classic (m/w) Bend, Ore.
July 24-29 Wendy's International Cycling Classic (m/w) Hillard, Ohio
July 31-Aug. 5 Tour de 'Toona (m/w) Altoona, Pa.
Aug. 2 Manhattan Invitational (m) Manhattan, N.Y.
Aug. 11-12 Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix (m/w) Manhattan Beach, Calif.
*Aug. 19 USPRO Criterium Championships (m/w) Downer's Grove, Ill.
Aug. 19 USCF Criterium Championships (m/w) Downer's Grove, Ill.
Aug. 24-26 Hotter than Hell Hundred (m/w) Texas
Aug. 26 Chris Thater Memorial Criterium (m/w) Binghamton, N.Y.
Sept. 1-3 Killington Stage Race (m/w) Killington, Vt.
Sept. 2 The Zinger Colorado
Sept. 8 San Rafael Cycling Classic San Rafael, Calif.
Sept. 9 San Francisco Grand Prix (m/w) San Francisco
Sept. 15 Univest Grand Prix (m/w) Souderton, Pa.
*Sept. 16 BMC Software Tour of Houston (m/w) Houston
Sept. 16 Bear Mountain Road Race Harriman State Park, New York
Sept. 24 Irvine Cycling Grand Prix (m/w) Irvine, Calif.
Sept. 29 US Open Cycling Championships Columbus, Ohio
Sept. 30 Deland Cycling Grand Prix (m/w) Deland, Fla.
Oct. 6 Mercy Celebrity Classic Criterium (m/w) Fort Smith, Ark.
Oct. 13-14 Michelin Classic (m/w) Greenville, S.C.
Oct. 19-21 Sunshine Cycling Classic/Great Coconut Grove Bicycle Race(m/w) Miami