February 27/03 1:25 am - Dionne on the Mend, Gears Racing Canada Cup, BC Racing Season Starts, Willamette Canceled, Tour d'Afrique

Posted by Editoress on 02/27/03
 

Charles Dionne on the Mend

Charles Dionne is well on his way to recovering from the effects of a serious crash (broken fingers and bad gash in his thigh) at the end of Stage 2 of the Tour de Langkawi.

The pin was removed from his finger today, and he has been riding a stationary bike at a local club. The stitches in his thigh are healing well, but he is having to be careful so the skin does not attach itself to the muscle. .Charles is heading back to the states at the beginning of next week and hopes to be back racing before the end of March.


Gears Racing Canada Cup at Hardwood Hills
Courtesy Hardwwd Hills

Hardwood Hills is pleased to announce the continued support by Gears Racing Institute as the title sponsor of the Gears Racing Canada Cup at Hardwood Hills on Saturday May 31st and Sunday June 1, 2003. This Ontario stop on the National Circuit has annually been the largest attended Canada Cup since 1996.

The support from Gears allows the 2003 Canada Cup to attain the important UCI sanctioning recognition of "E1" Category. The "E1" status helps Canadian riders to gain valuable UCI points for Olympic qualification. This event, having attained this standard, is also required to have a minimum $8,000 Elite prize purse.

"In the present days of declining corporate sponsorship, Gears' support is critical in allowing us to maintain the "E1" status and offer our Canadian riders the best race experience and development opportunities", stated Glenn Meeuwisse, Race Director. "Ontario is extremely lucky to have a group like Gears Racing supporting athletes and racing opportunities".

The Gears Racing Canada Cup is also part of the Bonham and Co. Ontario Cup series. It will host the Elite Cross-Country races on Saturday, with Elite Short Track and all other Cross-Country events on Sunday.

Full event and entry information is available at gearsracing.com and


Racing Season Kicks Off in BC
Courtesy Gordon Ross, Team Escape Velocity

The annual Team Escape Velocity / dEVo Spring Series starts this Sunday, March 1st in Langley BC. This year's event features 3 new courses and a total of 10 races during March 2003, including the first edition of the Joe Hailey Memorial Stage Race on the final weekend of the month.

The districts of Langley and Abbotsford play host to the Spring Series races, a well-attended and competitive month of road racing in BC. Race courses include the popular River Road circuit course, the hilly Armstrong road race, the Bradner road race (also used in the summer as the Bradner Masters race course), the Zero Ave. circuit, and the flat and fast Gloucester loop.

The Joe Hailey Memorial Stage Race will take place on the last weekend of the month, with the Zero Ave. circuit on Saturday March 29th and the Gloucester Crit and a new Time Trial on Sunday March 30th.

Organized by dEVo, the youth development division of Team Escape Velocity, the Spring Series kicks off at River Road at 10:30 AM start time on Sunday, March 1st. Sign-on opens at 9:30 AM.

For more information, please visit the Escape Velocity website at www.escapevelocity.bc.ca/springseries/index.html


Tour of Willamette Canceled

Citing lack of sponsorship and the police no longer making their services available on a volunteer basis, the stage race regarded by many as the toughest in North America has been canceled. While this makes 2 years in a row the race has not been held, the organizer says 2004 looks good.

Tour d'Afrique

Follow the tour as the riders make their way south along the east coast of Africa. www.tourdafrique.com