castelli-cycling.com

Black has become white!
Though the newest team in the pro peloton, the Cervélo TestTeam has caused quite a stir and notched up some impressive race wins already this season. But it’s not just their riding that has been getting people talking, their striking black kit has had heads turning. For the 2009 Tour de France starting on Saturday 4 July, the Cervélo TestTeam will ditch its black jersey and shorts for a new white strip.

“We made the design change because racing during the hot summer temperatures that are normal in Europe is hard on the riders,” said Thomas Campana, Managing Director, Cervélo TestTeam, “and the lighter colour will provide some relief from the heat. All modifications to team kit design must be approved by the UCI and we appreciate their prompt attention in this matter.”

“Racing in hot weather is physically demanding, that’s a given, and despite the fact that Castelli makes some of the lightest and coolest fabrics in existence, wearing a lighter colour will make a big difference, both psychologically and physically, to a rider’s well being,” explained Steve Smith, Castelli Products. “UCI agreed that the rider’s health is paramount, and so we instituted the change.”

The color is not the only change for the jersey. Adds Steve Smith: “In addition to the new colour, the team is also debuting an updated Aero Race Jersey pattern that features new construction and fabrics around the arm and shoulder making it even more aerodynamic. With over 3 years of development and wind tunnel testing, this jersey saves 10 watts (at 40km/h) compared to standard race jerseys. This would be enough to slice about forty seconds from a 40km time trial, so it’s clearly an advantage.  Two thirds of the drag from a cyclist comes from the rider, not the bike. So even small gains here can make a big difference.”

Both the men and women team will be riding in the new white kit for the rest of the season starting with the upcoming Tour de France 2009 and the Giro d’Italia for Women.

Castelli will begin shipping the first pieces to the shops before the beginning of the Tour de France, with weekly shipments as we try to keep up with demand. The black kit is still in stock and will continue to be available until the end of the season.

The biggest surprise was Martin Reimer to become German champ. Reimer pulled off a major upset and took the German road title Sunday in Cottbus. A group of some 20 riders got away early in the race and built up a lead of over eight minutes.  As the lead group approached the finish line the first lap of the finishing circuit, Reimer (CTT), Dominic Klemme (Saxo Bank) and Roger Kluge (LKT Team Brandenburg) got away. The chase group waited too long to organize itself and chase the three young riders. Reimer won the sprint between the three leaders, with the chasing peloton arriving only a few seconds later.

Another first place went to the Cervélo women team with Christiane Soeder from Austria who also won the national title in 2004 and 2006. Soeder was part of a group of two riders and attacked on the climb with almost 50 km to go and was able to solo to the finish line with an impressive lead from 11 minutes on the duo behind her.

Austria
Christiane Soeder - 1st Women’s Road

Germany
- Claudia Häusler - 7th Women’s ITT
- Sarah Düster - 5th Women’s Road
- Martin Reimer - 1st Men’s Road

Great Britain
- Emma Pooley - 3rd Women’s Road
- Daniel Lloyd - 2nd  Men’s Road
- Roger Hammond - 5th  Men’s Road
- Jeremy Hunt - 10th  Men’s Road

Lithuania
- Ignatas Konovalovas - 1st Men’s ITT

Netherlands
- Kirsten Wild - 5th Women’s Road

Norway
- Thor Hushovd - 2nd Men’s Road
- Gabriel Rasch - 9th Men’s Road

With just five days to go the countdown is on for the second of this year’s three Classic Tours. The 96th edition of the Tour de France begins on Saturday, July 4 in Monaco. The 2009 Tour will cover 21 stages that include: 10 flat stages, 8 mountain stages, 2 individual time trials and 1 team time trial. The Tour will make its way over 3500 km through France, Spain and Switzerland before the final in Paris on the Champs Elysées on Sunday July 26.

The Team has a great mix of riders with various skills as sprinters, climbers and GC riders and from that we have chosen the final roster of nine athletes and three reserves (see below). Carlos Sastre (ESP), as the defending Tour champion and sprint ace Thor Hushovd (NOR) will serve as the team captains.

“The decision for the final Tour de France Team was certainly not an easy one,” said Thomas Campana, Managing Director. “Though we are fortunate to have many excellent riders who are in good shape and ready for the Tour, in the end only nine riders per team are allowed to start. “The goal, for our first Tour de France, will be for a top result in the GC (General Classification) with defending champion Carlos Sastre. The team will provide Carlos with their full support to help him achieve this goal. Another major goal for us will be to help our sprint ace Thor Hushovd, win the green jersey. Thor won it in 2005 and we believe he can do it again with this team. We are ready and the Team is looking forward to an exciting three weeks of racing.”

Cervélo TestTeam - Tour de France 2009
1 Iñigo Cuesta López ESP 03-06-1969
2 Volodymir Gustov UKR 15-02-1977
3 Heinrich Haussler GER 25-02-1984
4 Thor Hushovd NOR 18-01-1978
5 Andreas Klier GER 15-01-1976
6 Brett Lancaster AUS 15-11-1979
7 José Angel Gomez Marchante ESP 16-05-1980
8 Hayden Roulston NZL 10-01-1981
9 Carlos Sastre ESP 22-04-1975

Reserves
1 Xavier Florencio ESP 26-12-1979
2 Simon Gerrans AUS 16-05-1980
3 Gabriel Rasch NOR 08-04-1976

Sports Directors
1 Alex Sans Vega ESP 27-07-1976
2 Jean-Paul van Poppel NED 30-09-1962

Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the 96th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometres.

Cervélo TestTeam’s Emma Pooley won yesterday the Grande Boucle Feminine Internationale - ‘the ‘women’s Tour de France’.

Pooley was one of five riders to launch an attack on the first climb of yesterday’s stage. The Briton was supported in the break by two of her Cervelo team-mates, and the trio effectively countered the numerous attacks by her rival Marianne Vos, who was out to overthrow Pooley at the top of the table.

Although Vos won the last stage in Anglet, she only gained three seconds over Pooley plus a 10 second time bonus - not even enough for her to pass Pooley’s team mate and 2008 winner Christiane Soeder in the overall, giving Cervelo a one-two at the top of the final overall classification.

“I’m very happy,” said Pooley after the stage. “It was a hard day, probably the hardest stage of the race because the team had to work to defend the yellow jersey. When we ended up with three girls in a break of five we knew that the race was saved. The Grande Boucle is a really special race with a big history and I’m very happy to win it. My next goal will be the National Championships next weekend and after that the Giro d’Italia. I am looking forward to it.”

Pooley set the scene for what must rank as the biggest win of her professional career by winning the opening time trial. The Olympic time trial silver medallist then won stage three, giving her the race lead.

La Grande Boucle Feminine 2009: Final overall classification
1. Emma Pooley (GB) Cervelo in 7-24-36
2. Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo at 22sec
3. Marianne Vos (Ned) DSB Bank at 34sec

Emma Pooley won the opening stage of the Grande Boucle yesterday, beating Mariane Vos by 24 seconds over the 18.3km circuit.

It was a dominant performance all round by the Cervélo TestTeam who’s riders also filled spaces three to six, putting them in a strong position to defend the leader’s jersey.

Pooley, however, was in a class of her own as only two riders got within a minute of her in what was a relatively short course around Bressuire, north of Bordeaux.

Pooley was pleasantly surprised, not only with the stage win but the winning margin. “I didn’t expect to do well on that time trial course,” she said. “It wasn’t particularly lumpy but there was lots of gradual downhill, so it was very fast, then short, sharp climbs. It was very technical, on narrow winding roads with lots of gravel – which I’m not a big fan of – so I am really pleased.

“Someone said before the stage I wouldn’t do very well because it is technical, so that showed them!”

The Olympic silver medallist expected more of a challenge in the TT, especially from Cervélo team-mate Christiane Soeder. “I was really surprised by Christiane: she is normally so strong in a time trial. And it was a good course for [Marianne] Vos, too – a testers course,” said Pooley.

The Grand Boucle, formerly the biggest women’s stage race in the World, is a shadow of its former self. Only 66 riders started the race in Bressuire. “There are only four stages this year, so it’s more of a Petit Boucle than Grand!” joked Pooley. “I think this year it has suffered from a bit of a funding crisis. You spend far more time in the car than you do on the bike, which is never a good thing.

“But I am leading it, so I can’t complain.”

The super-strong Cervélo TestTeam is already in the driving seat. Will Pooley be supported all the way to the finish in Anglet? “To some extent, because the gaps are so big, but we have got such strength in depth in the team,” she said.

“Today’s stage is flat and fast. We are predicting a sprint finish – not my favourite kind of stage – but it is a small field and that makes it easier for me.”

RESULTS: Grande Boucle stage 1. Bressuire - Bressuire 18.3km TT
1 Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo 25-12 minutes
2 Mariane Vos (Ned) DSB Bank 25-36
3 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo 25-51
4 Regina Bruins (Ned) Cervelo 26-12
5 Kristen Wild (Ned) 26-46

www.cyclingweekly.co.uk

“We have had a dream start to our inaugural season,” said Thomas Campana, Managing Director, Cervélo TestTeam. “The Men’s TestTeam already have 14 victories to their credit, including four stage wins at the Giro d’Italia. We are looking forward to our first Tour de France and are particularly pleased to have the great Carlos Sastre riding for our team as the Tour’s defending champion. Carlos knows he has the entire team’s support to help him reach his goals. We would also like to win a couple of other stages on the way to Paris and with talents like our top sprinter Thor Hushovd and Heinrich Haussler anything is possible.”

Pre-selection Cervélo TestTeam - Tour de France 2009

1       Inigo Cuesta, ESP
2       Xavier Florencio, ESP
3       Simon Gerrans, AUS
4       Volodymir Gustov, UKR
5       Heinrich Haussler, GER
6       Thor Hushovd, NOR
7       Andreas Klier, GER
8       Brett Lancaster, AUS
9       José Angel Gomez Marchante, ESP
10     Gabriel Rasch, NOR
11     Hayden Roulston, NZL
12     Carlos Sastre, ESP

Cervélo TestTeam is currently the number one ranked pro cycling team following an impressive spring season and a strong showing at the Giro d’Italia. The Team gained 120 points as a result of their Giro performance for a total of 608 points, placing them 37 points in front of second place Caisse d’Epargne and 50 points up on Quick Step, who dominated the rankings throughout the April Classics.

“We didn’t set any goals for race performance, but are certainly excited about the success the riders have achieved in the first five months of the team’s existence,” said Gerard Vroomen, co-owner of Cervélo TestTeam. “I’m equally happy with the activities around the other two pillars of the TestTeam project; aiding the bike industry in product development and creating fan access opportunities. TestTeam Partners like Rotor, Zipp, Vittoria, 3T, Castelli and ZipVit, as well as Cervélo, have all made good use of the team’s resources in the development of new products. Our fan access events are also off to a good start, with three travel events to date and autograph sessions at a lot of races. In the Giro, our riders were available for autographs before most stages, and even after some. In the past, the argument was always that such activities hurt the race performance. We were willing to accept that drawback but that doesn’t seem to be an issue. The final piece of the puzzle is the documentary “Beyond the Peloton” on www.bartape.net, which gives fans who cannot visit us at races access to the team “virtually”.

The team’s recent successes and the upcoming Tour de France in July also provide excellent sponsorship opportunities.

“The feedback we’ve received from our original TestTeam partners indicates that the value the team has generated to date far exceeds their expectations,” explained Vroomen. “And though, as we’ve stated in the past, Cervélo enjoys the enormous brand exposure we get from our name on the uniform, we’re a brand that doesn’t need the 4-5 billion TV impressions generated at the Tour de France. We believe that other companies can benefit more from such exposure, and we would love to work together with another title sponsor to create even more activities around the team. With the world #1 status, the defending Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre, sprinter Thor Hushovd and a rising star like Henrich Haussler, the team offers excellent potential to build a strong brand association in the largest annual sporting event in the world.”

Round 3 of the National Series was held at the classic MTB venue, Margam Park in South Wales. Arriving to practice the course on Friday we were greeted by scorching hot sunshine. The course had the usual mix of long tough climbs, fast bumpy singletrack decents, and some new technical sections which were still wet and slippy from torrential rain earlier in the week. Two laps were enough to warm up the legs and scare myself on the decents….. The decents at Margam are not necessarily described as technical, but riders push the speeds as high as possible, and if you do stray offline there are old mining holes and stone walls waiting to cause maximum carnage. Luckily I stayed on course, just! A relaxing coffee in the sunshine was great, before the trip home to clean my RXC Team Bike, check the tyres, and swap the riser bars for flats with bar ends. The Margam climbs didn’t seem quite right without bar ends to grab in anger.

Race Day: Even hotter weather! Arrived at the race and soon found Richie, posing in the arena with his latest pink Castelli hat and pink bar tape!!

A quality turn out for the Elite race meant it was flat out from the start, led by World Cup riders Oli Beckinsale and Liam Killeen. My first lap could have been alot better….. A rider stopped dead infront of me making me wish I hadn’t fitted those bar ends, nice gash to the knee and throbbing pain for the following 10mins, no pain no gain. By the end of the first lap I had managed to catch Richie and a group of riders gasping on the climb to the highest point of the course. From there I tried to settle into a good pace, sustainable in the heat on such a tough course, picking of riders each lap.

By the finish I was 21st, totally cooked, but satisfied to finish a tough race after recently suffering with a virus which had ruined my ablility to ride a bike really quick. Confident I can now build from here and put in some solid rides later this season. Another excellent race from organiser supremo Martyn Salt, can’t wait for the next round at Crow Hill!

I have a busy schedule of criteriums, Cotswold League road races, and mtb races during June, aiming to be firing on all cylinders by late June/July for the MTB Nationals……

Richie had a solid race to finish 31st, didn’t look too tired to me though, perhaps saving his legs for the 100Km Marathon Champs the next day. All he needed to do was stay off the wine, get some sleep, avoid dodgy Chicken Paninis, and stick to the recovery drinks………

Bye for now, Dunc (Team Felt Racing)

Team web-site: http://www.saddleback.co.uk/felt-team-blog/