November 29/03 9:12 am - DH Team News, CC Store Specials

Posted by Editor on 11/29/03
 

Laurin to Iron Horse, Looking for Replacement

Boucherville, QC - December 1st 2003

The BALFA Cycles Factory Team announces the transfer of back-to-back Canada Cup champion Mathieu Laurin to Team Iron Horse / Mad Catz. The factory pilot's contract for the 2004 season was bought back by the American team.

The BALFA Cycles Factory Team is currently negotiating with other pilots to replace Mathieu on the roster and should be able to announce his replacement shortly. Emmanuel Moisan, team manager, had this to say about the unusual situation: "Today's announcement is proof of the quality of our team and that we develop world class athletes. Mat had two excellent seasons wearing BALFA Team green and got noticed by the whole world of downhill racing. He also helped us achieve many of our objectives with the program. Mathieu has become a world cup level athlete with BALFA and deserves a complete world cup season. We're happy to see Canadian talent being recognized by the International DH community and we will use the money we received for his transfer to continue developing Elite National racers."

The BALFA Cycles Factory Team currently has Whistler's Claire Buchar, a three year veteran on the roster, under contract for 2004. Klarko, as she is known, represented Canada at the world championships in 2003 and scored two Norba top ten and two world cup top fifteen results. Second at Nationals, she had a breakthrough season last year and is currently sitting in 15th place for 4X and 22nd place for DH in the International Cycling Union (UCI) rankings, both as top Canadian. 2003 Factory pilot Stéphane Mailhot will also be returning to the team for a second season. Both are looking forward to the new season, where they will compete North American world cups, National championships and a mix of Norba and Canada Cup events.


Giant Bicycles Canada Announces 2004 Downhill Team

Vancouver, B.C. - November 28th, 2003 - Coming off of a successful 2003 race season, Giant Canada has been working hard over the fall months to improve on an already good program. We are now proud to announce our 2004 professional downhill team, a team that boasts Canada's best
young talent!

For the 2004 season, Giant Canada has a new addition to the team with the signing of Danika Schroeter. We feel Danika is one of Canada's top young rising stars and were very pleased to acquire her to represent our company for this coming season. Even though the 2003 season was Danika's first year in the Pro class, stating her as a rising star is still an understatement. Danika basically raced as an independent last season and still managed to win all four Canadian National series races she entered and in doing so easily claimed the title of Canadian National series winner!

To top that off, Danika also never finished out of the top three in the BC Cup Provincial series races last season. We look forward to her continued success in 2004.

Back on the team for 2004 is Victoria, B.C.'s Brant Lyon. Brant started out the season last year with a string of bad luck that included colliding with a spectator on course, clipping a branch and snapping his brake lever to breaking his thumb on race morning at a Norba race, to name a few.

However, Brant redeemed himself with an extremely strong finish to the 2003 race season. Brant stepped up with a first and fourth place finish at the last two Canadian National series races as well as a second and a pair of third place finishes in the BC Cup Provincial race series, which was good enough for second overall. Once we find a four-leaf clover to stick in the back of Brant's jersey, everything should be on track for an amazing 2004 season.

The third member, and second year Giant rider, is Eastern Canada's Eric Goss. The one factor that stood out in my mind about Eric is his amazing consistency when competing in the big races. During the 2003 season, Eric was the only rider in Canada to finish in the top five at every Canadian National series race, including the Nationals. Eric's solid results made him an easy choice for us to re-sign him for the 2004 season.

For the 2004 year, Giant Canada team riders will be competing in BC Cup Provincial series races, the Canadian National series, selected Norba races as well as North American World Cups. With three talented riders and Giant Canada's extensive support program we have no doubt our 2004 Giant Canada team will once again be a force to be reckoned with on the National circuit!

Sean Jenkins
Race Program Director
Giant Bicycles Canada Inc.


Commemorative Issue, Worlds Clothing

Just a reminder that sales for the Road Worlds Commemorative Issue end on Monday, December 1st. If you want to reserve your copy of this photographic memento from Hamilton, be sure to get your order in by the end of Monday. Click on the button in the upper right hand corner of your browser window. You can either order online through our secure server, or download the order form and fax it in. We will also accept telephone orders between 9 am and 5 pm EST on Monday.

Sales of the last few items of Worlds clothing are also moving briskly. We have 4 pairs of small Santini bib tights, with the official Worlds logo, a few pairs of our special edition armwarmers, and some Worlds socks remaining. When these are gone, that is the very, very end of them.

We also have a new blowout item - selected pro team socks. DeFeet brand pro socks for Credit Agricole, Domo Farm Frites and Lemond are available in limited quantities and limited sizes for 60% off - only $5.95 per pair! Look under Socks in the Clothing section of the CC Store. You can go directly to the sock section by clicking Here. Check out the Pro Jerseys section for deals on selected North American and European team jerseys.