November 25/05 10:09 am - New Team for Miller, UCI News, Zabriskie Ride Success

Posted by Editor on 11/25/05
 

New Team for Buck Miller

Buck Miller dropped us a line to let us know about his 2006 team:

I don't know if this is worthy of making your daily news section, but I know a bunch of people are wondering what I'm doing! I'll be on the top amateur team in the States next year, Fiordifrutta/Cannondale from New England, doing a sturdy NRC program. They have a good record in launching riders to US Pro teams, hopefuly I'll be on that list in 07!


UCI Appoints Continental Advisors
Courtesy UCI

On 14th and 15th November, the UCI organised a conference for future Advisors of the UCI Africa Tour, UCI America Tour and the UCI Asia Tour. Lead by Philippe Chevallier, Sports Coordinator-Road, these two days enabled Jean-Pierre and Theresia van Zyl (UCI Africa Tour), Pierre Hutsebaut (UCI America Tour) and Jamaluddin Mahmood (UCI Asia Tour) to study their 2006 duties. Continental Advisors will be responsible for relaying the UCI's development policy for Road cycling. They will support their continent with the aim of increasing Road cycling activities in Africa, America and Asia.


Increase in Women's Road Team Applications
Courtesy UCI

Women's cycling is doing well. The proof being that 40 teams have submitted their applications for the 2006 season. Even if all of them have not been selected, this is a big increase compared to 2005 when 25 teams were registered. The initiative by T-Mobile, already sponsor of one the best teams in the UCI ProTour, is also very welcome.


Team Giga-Bike Day in Yellow Successful

Victoria, B.C. - Team Giga-Bike's fundraising event "A Day in Yellow" with Dave Zabriskie was a great success; raising $8365.00 to help purchase team equipment for the 2006 race season.

"I thought the event was phenomenal! I can't wait to promote another event like this in the future. It was a big effort to make this event happen it is very satisfying to see it go off smoothly. It's fantastic to have Dave Zabriskie and the community come out to support the team and take part in this fundraiser. Everyone did a great job helping to put this event together and it was pure joy to ride the route with everyone and see people enjoying themselves." says Giga-Bike President Calvin Straathof.

A Day in Yellow paired up 30 cyclists to ride shoulder-to-shoulder with the fastest stage winner in Tour de France history, Dave Zabriskie. Cyclists enjoyed a brisk 50KM ride along Victoria's waterfront and through neighbouring communities. Cyclists joined Dave Zabriskie afterwards for a private dinner and movie.

A Day in Yellow is the first time a Tour de France Yellow jersey wearer visited Vancouver Island. The event sold out within weeks and the community embraced the event which included press coverage in local newspapers and television stations (Please see www.teamgigabike.com/teammedia.php for media coverage). Participating cyclists had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride with Dave Zabriskie and were escorted by a team of four Police Motorcycles. The police closed all intersections on the route and allowed the group to roll through intersections without any delay while at the same time providing security from motorist's. The ride also included local professional cyclist Erinne Willock of Team Webcor and Olympic Gold Medal winning triathlete Simon Whitfield.

During the event Dave Zabriskie presented an honorary member of the Tour de Rock with a check for $1000 towards the Canadian Cancer Research foundation. A dozen Tour de Rock members from past and present teams participated in the event as well.

Team Giga-Bike (www.teamgigabike.com) is a Victoria based cycling team (formerly TeenSpeed Cycling Team) dedicated to the development of young athletes at the cadet, junior and espoir levels. Team Giga-Bike participates year round in Road, Track and Mountain Bike events in Victoria, BC and the Pacific Northwest.