August 3/01 1:37 am - Mountain Bike Nationals, Women's World Cup, IMBA, Birthdays

Posted by Editoress on 08/3/01
 

Mountain Bike Nationals Coverage Begins Today

The 2001 Mountain Bike National Championships begin today in Kamloops BC with the Team Time Trial. Rob and Greg are on site and we should be starting reports at about 4pm ET, 1pm PT local time.


Women's World Cup #7: Trophée International - Bordeaux, France
Report courtesy Team Saturn

Anna Millward of the Saturn Cycling Team was third today in the World Cup race in Bordeaux, France, and retains her overall lead in the World Cup standings. Her closest rival, Mirjam Melchers, was fourth. Olga Slioussareva (Russia) won the race. A German riding for the Zanini team, Regina Schleicher, second.

There were some early breaks that were threats, but Ina Teutenberg and others worked like crazy to bring them back and keep the tempo high so that it would come down to a field sprint, which was the case. Anna and Melchers shadowed each other all day. The pace was very high - 55-60 km at times - which was due in part to a tailwind.

Judith Arndt rode for Saturn today to replace Lyne Bessette, who stayed home to race in Canadian nationals and is now at Tour de Toona. Anke Erlank of Saturn is leading that race after winning yesterday's stage. Kimberly Bruckner did not start today in France as she is still suffering from the crash she was in at the Thuringen-Rundfahrt in Germany last week.

Results - 122 km

1. Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Carpe Diem
2. Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michele Fanini
3. Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn
4. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O

World Cup standings

1. Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn 303 pts
2. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O 252


New York Times Focuses on Mountain Bike Trail Access
Courtesy IMBA

The August 1st edition of the New York Times includes a 1,400-word story that analyzes the trail access debate between cyclists and other conservation-minded groups. Entitled "Mountain Bikers Try to Hold Their Own on the Trails," the article appeared in all editions of this prestigious paper, which boasts a daily worldwide circulation of more than one million. The article begins on the front page of the Sports section and includes three photos.

Writer Grace Lichtenstein focuses on recently proposed legislation that would close the Rogers Pass trail near Winter Park, Colorado, to mountain bikers by declaring it part of a Wilderness area. This well-balanced story presents IMBA's position and also includes comments from environmental groups and Winter Park mountain bikers. IMBA's national policy advisor Gary Sprung is quoted several times.

"This story accurately portrays many of our key issues," said IMBA executive director Tim Blumenthal. "It also challenges some of the assumptions that have prompted unreasonable trail access restrictions."

The complete story is available on the New York Times website at:
N.Y. Times


Happy Birthday to.... Mathieu Toulouse, Jesse Keefer and Antoine Varghese: who have birthdays today.

national, nationals