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Team HTC-Highroad to disband after season

This is some very unfortunate and sad news coming from the cycling world. Cycling team HTC-Highroads will be disbanding at the end of the season.

Top professional cycling team HTC-Highroad is folding after five years in the sport following an unsuccessful effort to secure a long-term sponsor.

Team owner Bob Stapleton announced the decision Thursday, urging riders such as 20-time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish of Britain, top time trialist Tony Martin of Germany and up-and-coming American Tejay van Garderen to find new teams for 2012.

The American squad has been one of pro cycling’s most successful since it was formed, winning 484 races, including 54 grand tour stages.

Stapleton said the team’s “success has been based on our outstanding people” and he was making the decision to disband the team now so that they could find teams in 2012.

I hate to see any team disband but especially a extremely successful, American team.

Tour de France stage 3 video

Here's the video of stage 3 of the Tour de France with Tyler Farrar winning!

Tyler Farrar wins 3rd stage of Tour de France

Happy 4th of July!

To celebrate Tyler Farrar of Wenatchee, Washington won the 3rd stage of the Tour de France. He's my favorite rider and this was so awesome following the day after Team Garmin Cervelo won the team time trial.

As he crossed the finish line Farrar held up his hands to make a "W" with his fingers to honor his friend Wouter Weylandt. Weylandt died in a crash during the Giro d'Italia in May.

“It’s a dream to win today. I was close the past few Tours, second, third, second, so to win a stage is incredible,” Farrar said.

“To have the world champion and yellow jersey leading you out is amazing. Our team was perfect today, with Millar and Dean and Hushovd. The first objectives were to win the team time trial and to win a stage. Now we’ll what the rest of the Tour brings.”

Garmin-Cervélo proudly rode at the front of the peloton to protect the leader’s jersey held by Hushovd. Five riders peeled off the front early and methodically built up a seven-minute, but it was all for naught as Garmin kept up steady to pressure to assure that Hushovd would arrive to the line with chances to defend his yellow jersey as well as challenge for the stage victory.

“The objective today was to win with Tyler and keep the jersey,” Hushovd said. “After winning yesterday and having the jersey, now we win a stage, it’s perfect. We’ll see tomorrow if we can keep the streak going.”

Dave Zabriskie, Ramunas Navardauskas and Tom Danielson took turns setting tempo on the front of the peloton to keep the pressure. Strong crosswinds became a factor, especially over the day’s lone climb at a bridge over the Loire at Saint-Nazaire. The team rode perfectly to set up Farrar. Millar took a long pull in the closing 500 meters, before Hushovd then long-time leadout man Dean finishing off the work to set up Farrar. French rider Romain Feillu came through second and JJ Rojas was third, but Farrar won with style in his first-career Tour de France stage victory.

Farrar also becomes the first American to win a Tour stage on the Fourth of July.

Congrats Tyler! Way to represent not only your country but also Washington!

Impact of loss won't stop Tyler Farrar

Here is a great article by Bonnie D. Ford of ESPN on Wenatchee's Tyler Farrar.

TIFFAUGES, France -- Tyler Farrar is a sprinter disguised as a gentleman. He has all of the drive and passion but none of the abrasiveness often associated with the specialty. At 27, he is one of the most good-natured, composed presences in the peloton, and he is not one to wear his emotions on his jersey sleeve.

That was partly why it was so heartbreaking to see him grieve publicly. Farrar's dear friend Wouter Weylandt, a Belgian from the American rider's adopted home in Ghent, died after crashing in the Giro d'Italia on May 9, leaving behind a pregnant partner. Farrar learned the news in the most jarring manner possible, from a reporter at the team bus. His Garmin-Cervelo teammate David Millar tried his best to console an inconsolable young man that night.

The next morning, Farrar set off with the rest of the field, riding 134 miles at a deliberately neutralized pace to pay homage to Weylandt. It took more than six hours. A short distance from the finish, Weylandt's Leopard-Trek teammates went to the front and beckoned Farrar to join them. They wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders. The images of Farrar inclining his head slightly, making no effort to hide his raw, stricken face, are not easily forgotten.

You can read the rest of her article over on ESPN.

Here's to a great Tour for Farrar!

Happy Tour de France day!

Today the Tour de France started! 10 Americans in it. Including Tyler Farrar of Wenatchee, Washington.

New Team Garmin-Cervélo kit features return of argyle

Team Garmin-Cervélo unveiled their new Tour de France kit today.

And I love it.

I was very disappointed in their kits this season when they got rid of the argyle. You can't be the Argyle Armada without argyle!

But the Team Garmin-Cervélo 2011 Tour de France kit brings the argyle back! It also switches the dominate color from black to white on the jersey. Which will be much cooler for the hot weather of the Tour de France.

The new jersey and shorts retain the distinctive Garmin and Cervélo logos, but reverse white with black on the jersey. The signature Slipstream Sports argyle is prominently displayed.

“We’re really excited about the Tour de France kit,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports and Director Sportif, Team Garmin-Cervélo. “The lighter color is perfect for hot weather and our signature argyle is more prominent.”

This is the third time Castelli have introduced new clothing at the Tour de France. “We consider the Tour de France a very special event that deserves a special design,” said Steve Smith, Castelli Brand Manager.

“This team is rider-centric, and Castelli has done its part to make sure the riders have the most comfortable and technically advanced clothing for this big event. 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.

National Bike to Work Day 2011

This Friday, May 20, is National Bike to Work Day.

So grab you're bike and head to work. And think you have a tough commute to work? Check out Danny MacAskill's commute. Now that's something.

Levi: A Documentary

Saw this over on Levi Leipheimer's site. I think it looks good. Worth checking out.

Coming in the fall of 2012.

This film will take its viewers on a journey through Levi Leipheimer’s rise from the mining town of Butte, Montana to the podium of the Tour de France.

Scheduled to debut during the 2012 GranFondo in Santa Rosa, CA. Sign up on our mailing list to be informed of DVD pre-sales and other film related information.

2011 Amgen Tour of California

Tomorrow, May 15, the 2011 edition of the Amgen Tour of California kicks off and it's sure to be a great eight days of racing.

The Tour of California is the largest cycling event in America. And because of that many of the great riders from around the world will be taking part. And with 18 teams in the race there are bound to be some some great rivalries.

Here are the 2011 teams:

The official site has nice video previews of each of the stages of the race. Unfortunately there wasn't an embed option so you'll have to go to the videos page of the Amgen Tour of California site.

Tomorrow's Stage One starts in South Lake Tahoe and heads to North Lake Tahoe-Northstar at Tahoe Resort.

Miles: 118.7 KM: 191.0
Start: Sun, May 15: South Lake Tahoe
Finish: North Lake Tahoe - Northstar at Tahoe Resort
Start Time: 10:30am Finish ETA: 3:12-3:36pm

The question is, what team and/or rider are you rooting for? Me, I'm still all about the argyle.

World's smallest velodrome - Red Bull Mini drome

I saw this over on the Team Bonney Lake Bicycle site.

London welcomed the Red Bull Mini Drome to York Hall, where over 1000 spectators gathered to get a taster of the world's smallest velodrome in action.

Fixed gear riders from across the UK tried to hold on to the red line as they rode around the track aiming for the fastest time.

The purpose built track has been engineered in Germany by Velotrack, the team that built the velodromes for the Atlanta Olympics and the Delhi Commonwealth Games. The Red Bull Mini Drome track will maintain race-worthy dimensions in the smallest possible size to enable a single pursuit.

The Ride Trailer

Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race, linked up with the MS Society and rode his bike across the country to raise funds and awareness for the disease.

His trip is now a documentary. And it looks awesome.

The Ride, will be available for download tomorrow, February 3rd. As well as at screenings across the country.

Phil will be at all of the screenings.
100% of the box office goes to benefit the National MS Society
Thu Feb 3 8:00pm Los Angeles, CA
Mon Feb 7 7:30pm Denver, CO
Tue Feb 8 7:30pm Minneapolis, MN
Wed Feb 9 7:30pm St. Louis, MO
Thu Feb 10 7:30pm Chicago, IL
Fri Feb 11 Pittsburgh, PA Theater Details Soon
Sun Feb 13 7:30pm Philadelphia, PA
Wed Feb 16 7:30pm Boston, MA
Thu Feb 17 7:30pm Dallas, TX
Fri Feb 18 5:30pm New York, NY

2011 Team RadioShack Team Kit

The 2011 Team RadioShack Team kit has been unveiled. I don't think it's as cool as those black jerseys that they wore the final day of the Tour de France.

But I do think these are neat. And should stand out in the peloton.

Climbing bike lock

If you own a bike then I'm sure you own a bike lock. But even the best of bike locks can be broke or cut and your bike stolen.

But what if you were able to lock your bike to a pole, say 10 feet in the air?

Then no one could steal it.

That's the idea behind the German company, Conrad, and their new pole climbing bike lock.

The lock uses motorized rollerblade wheels to scale up a lamp post. All you need to do is attach the lock to the post, hook your bike to the lock and let the robot climb the pole.

Here's a video about the making of the lock. If you don't want to watch the whole video, you have to go to 1:20 in the video, so you can see the contraption in work. It even is complete with the familiar car alarm "beep".

2011 Garmin-Cervélo team jersey design

Today Slipstream Sports, LLC released a sneak peak of Team Garmin-Cervélo jerseys. Earlier this year Team Garmin-Transitions and Cervélo SA joined forces for the 2011 season to create a new team that is known as Garmin-Cervélo.

Check out the team jersey:

What do you think of the new look?

I think the black is pretty cool. A much tougher look than the white of last year.

However I really hope that there is more argyle on the jersey than just the sleeve. The argyle is what really sets the Garmin jerseys apart from other cycling teams.

I guess we'll see once the team releases views of the full kit.

And here's what this year's jersey looked like in case you forgot:

Tyler Farrar interview in Portland

Tyler Farrar, of Wenatchee, Washington, was in Upper Echelon Fitness in Portland. Here's a video from the interview:

Farrar's season will start in January 2011 with the Tour Down Under. Which is the opening event of the 2011 ProTour season.

Farrar, who is with Garmin Transitions, was a stage winner in the Giro d'Italia and Spanish Vuelta last season. The event runs from Jan. 16-23.

Farrar joins Lance Armstrong in the field. The seven-time Tour de France winner will compete in the event for the third straight year.

The race will be Armstrong's last professional event outside the United States.

Arnold Schwarzenegger on bike

This is perhaps the funniest photo I have seen in a long time.

People's Coast Classic videos

Here's the week of the People's Coast Classic in videos taken by the Northern Rangers. Thank you again to all who donated to the Arthritis Foundation. As at team we raised more that $7,500! Thank you again! Hope you enjoy.

(BTW Day 5 is probably my favorite)

Day 1: Astoria to Garibaldi

Day 2: Garibaldi to Lincoln City

Day 3: Lincoln City to Yachats

Day 4: Yachats to North Bend

Day 5: North Bend to Port Orford

Day 6: Port Orford to Brookings

People's Coast Classic: Day 2 and 3

Sorry for no post yesterday but the place we were staying at in Lincoln City didn't have wireless internet. So no update.

But here's how the trip has been going.

Yesterday was going to be the longest and have the most hills of the entire trip. It was just under 70 miles. We took off at about 7 AM and decided that since it was goign to be a tough day Team Brooklynn would "go postal." See the photo. USPS all the way!

We saw a number of sites including the Tillamook Cheese Factory. We took a tour. Ate some cheese and then went on our way.

We had some great views through out the day of the Oregon coast.

Near the end of the ride was a big big big hill that we had to climb. Once getting to the top it was nice rolling hills into Lincoln City.

At Lincoln City we camp in a baseball field. We claimed left field.

Today we took off at about 7 again and had a shorter day. We had hoped to stop and look for whales but the fog never lifted the whole day. However we did get to stop at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and view all they had. It's a pretty neat place if you ever get the chance to stop.

We arrived in Yachats after a little over 50 miles. The fog is still here and its pretty chilly with the wind. The mist swirls through camp.

Tomorrow is going to be about 65ish miles. And we'll be able to stop at the Sea Lion Caves.

Total miles is just over 178.

People's Coast Classic: Day 1

Today my dad, Jeff and I started on the People's Coast Classic.

We started in Astoria and boy was it cold. (See Jeff in blanket) He rode with the blanket for a ways, and it turned into a cape. I pretended that I didn't know him.

The ride today was a little over 58 miles. The sun eventually burned off the clouds and we rode the final part in the sunshine. Now it is sunny at our camp in Garibaldi.

Tomorrow is the longest and toughest day of the ride which should be about 70 miles and offers a number of hills. Here's to hoping that Jeff doesn't have to pull me up them.

We shot some Northern Rangers videos along the way and I'll get those up when we get back.

But for now I'm going to go find some dinner and then probably go to sleep.

Bicycle training update

Today I headed out on my final training ride for the People's Coast Classic before the wedding and honeymoon. I'll have one more training ride when I get back before the PCC. Just a quick ride the week before.

However on today's ride I felt great. A quick 40 miles and the legs felt strong. Some climbing, some flat, some rolling hills.

Also, on my ride outside of Issaquah I saw these two cute little mini horses.

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