Strong U23 Road Squad Announced

July 4th, 2009

SYDNEY (NSW): Cycling Australia is pleased to confirm the riders who have so far qualified in the 2009 National U23 Men’s Road Squad

Riders named in the squad are eligible for selection in the Australian Team for the 2009 UCI Road World Championships being staged in Mendrisio, Switzerland from September 23 to 27. Additional riders may be added to the squad up until August 20 with the final U23 men’s team due for announcement on Tuesday September 1.

The Squad has been determined on the basis of performances in competition and training as per the Selection Document.

World Championships Under 23 Road Race
* Jack Bobridge
* Daniel Braunsteins
* Johnathon Lovelock

Michael Matthews at the Jayco sponsorship launch in Melbourne last month

Michael Matthews at the Jayco sponsorship launch in Melbourne last month

* Michael Mathews
* Travis Meyer
* Mark O’Brien
* Tim Roe
* Nicholas Walker
* Adam Semple

World Championships Under 23 Time-Trial

* Jack Anderson
* Jack Bobridge
* Travis Meyer
* Michael Mathews

Schedule for Selection of U23 Men’s Road Team for the 2009 World Championships

* Thursday August 20 – Deadline to add names to the squad
* Friday Aug 21 – Selections submitted to the CEO for HPMC endorsement
* Tuesday September 1 - U23 Men’s Road Team announced by CA
* Friday September 4- Closing date for appeals against non-selection to the U23 Men’s Road Team
* Week commencing September 7 - Period identified to conduct any appeal hearings, if required

The maximum team size is subject to UCI allocated quotas.

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2010 Australasian Schools Cycling Cup to be Bigger Event

June 25th, 2009

SHEPPARTON (VIC): As many Australians are preparing to ‘Yell for Cadel’, as he goes in search of victory at this year’s Tour de France, school students from around the country are eagerly awaiting the 2010 Australasian Schools Cycling Cup.

This year the Cup attracted students from more than 60 schools and next year’s event (March 23-25 2010) is shaping up to be even bigger thanks to the increased support from the Greater Shepparton City Council and a partnership with event management company, TL Sports.

“Greater Shepparton City Council is extremely excited to again be hosting the Australasian Schools Cycling Cup and can now confirm that this is going to be a three day event for 2010,” Cr. Geoff Dobson, Mayor Greater Shepparton City Council, said.

“This grows on the huge success of the 2009 event, which saw in excess of 300 competitors converge on the region.

“With the event expanding to include participants from the Australasian region and including the discipline of BMX in 2010 we are delighted that the event’s long term vision of supporting kids wanting to try cycling is being fulfilled.”

Event Director Susan Stewart is pleased to confirm that TL Sports will join Sportzlink as a management partner of the event.

“The event was growing quickly and by forming this partnership with a company that shares a passion with the grass roots level of cycling as well as managing one the Australia’s premier elite cycling events, I could see benefits to the standard of event we could offer to the schools” Stewart said.

The flagship event that TL Sports manages is the Jayco Herald Sun Tour - Australia’s longest running stage race.

“Each year we see riders like Stuart O’Grady and Simon Gerrans do battle for the Jayco Herald Sun Tour but these guys have started somewhere and there’s no better way to get involved in competitive cycling than at the Australasian Schools Cycling Cup,” director of TL Sports, Michael Hands, said.

“And as much as it would be great to be the next Cadel Evans the most important thing is making sure cycling is fun, which is what the Cup is all about.”

Event Details:

* Dates: March 23-25, 2010
* Location: Dookie - east of Shepparton, approx 2.5 hrs north of Melbourne
* Eligibility: Entry must be through your school - there is no minimum or maximum number of entries.

* Categories:
Snr Male (Yrs 10, 11, 12)
Snr Female (Yrs 10, 11, 12)
Jnr Male (Yrs 7, 8, 9)
Jnr Female (Yrs 7, 8, 9)
* Disciplines:
Individual Time Trial (Road)
Road Race (Road)
Hill Climb (Road)
Teams Time Trial (min 3 riders) (Road)
Cross Country (MTB)
Downhill (MTB)
BMX
* Entries: On-line entry will be open January 28, 2010

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TIME FOR NZTA TO TAKE WALKING & CYCLING SERIOUSLY, SAY BRIDGE RIDERS

June 25th, 2009

AUCKLAND (NEW ZEALAND): After watching more than 5000 people stream across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, GetAcross spokesperson Bevan Woodward says: “This is an incredible outcome. We are blown away by the high turn out of Aucklanders and their determination to get walking and cycling access on our Harbour Bridge.

“As organisers, we were very clear in our instructions that supporters mustn’t force their way onto the Bridge, but ‘people power’ took over today. People of all ages and from all walks of life decided that they’d had enough of the Transport Agency’s inaction and wanted to show how strongly they felt.”

“I do apologise to motorists caught up in the traffic congestion. It was never our intention to cause disruption to the traffic, however the Transport Agency needs to review how it handled the situation.

“The Transport Agency refused our requests to meet or even discuss the event in the months leading up. We had requested two traffic lanes to provide safe access without disrupting the traffic, the same way the Auckland marathon does each year.

“Yet the Transport Agency decided on the day to close all 4 north-bound lanes,” he added.

“We hope that the Transport Agency now decides to take the Auckland Harbour Bridge walk/cycleway seriously. We have had enough of their weak excuses as to why it cannot be provided.

“In fact the Transport Agency’s conduct has been so poor, that last week we lodged a complaint with the Auditor-General’s office.”

“Moving forward, we are prepared to work with the Transport Agency in a productive and positive manner. Today we have asked the NZTA’s CEO and Chair for a meeting to discuss how we can do this.”

Update: GetAcross has has lodged a complaint with the auditor-general over what it calls the New Zealand Transport Agency’s “unprofessional and misleading conduct.” Watch this space!

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Launceston’s Indoor Tour de Heart

June 24th, 2009

LAUNCESTON (TASMANIA): Invitations are being sent out to Tasmanian cyclists to participate in the Tour De Heart Indoor Challenge which will be held in the PYCSAM Gym in Launceston on Saturday, August 22, starting at 1pm.

Rosalie Saville is the co-ordinator for this unique fund raiser which is aimed at promoting the Heart Foundation celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and also, of course, raising funds for and awareness of the Foundation’s work.

So the challenge is being issued to, “local identities with a penchant for lycra and rubber, staying up late to watch your heroes blazing a trail up the Alpe d’Huez and drinking espresso chasers to get that adrenalin pumping.

“Let’s put that passion and energy to good use - raising much needed funds to aid research into heart disease. It is reported that Lance Armstroing’s heart is 33% larger than the average man, but we reckon that your act of courage taking on this challenge as a starter will show more heart than the hardest working domestique, so we look forward to seeing you at the starting line.”

Gunns and Mitre 10 are sponsoring the event which will be a four stage indoor cycling challenge, two hours of cycling as in the Tour de France (well sort of) and contestants will need to be parepared to:
* Show their sprinting ability
* Hill climbing ability
* Race tactics (against their competitors)
* Raise $350 entry fee (donated to Heart Foundation)

The challenge will utilise the new Body-Bike stationary bikes from Denmark and each competitors own bike on a wind trainer and there are prizes.

There are Three Category Winners:
* Overall Winner GC rider consistent - gets the coveted Heart Foundation jersey.
* Sprint King - built for speed only!
* Mountain Goat KOM - loves a skyline view.

If you’re interested and haven’t received your personal invite yet, contact Rosalie Saville on 0419 177450.

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Canberra Tour - Appeal for Volunteers

June 24th, 2009

CANBERRA (ACT): The DBR Australia 2009 Junior and Women’s Canberra Tour is rapidly approaching and Malcolm Cook has sent out an call, “Your Help Is Needed.”

“The DBR Australia 2009 Junior and Women’s Canberra Tour will be held over the period Friday July 3 to Sunday July 5. This is Australia’s premier Women’s and Junior Tour and we need your help for the race to go ahead.”

The format of the racing is:
• Friday afternoon July 3: a Time-Trail for Open Women and Under 19 Male riders
• Saturday morning July 4: Road races across all categories
• Saturday afternoon July 4: Criterium races across all categories
• Sunday morning July 5: Road races across all categories
• Sunday afternoon July 5: Time-Trials for Under 11 to Under 17 riders

“We urgently need your help to marshal for the Road and Time-Trial sessions. All it takes is a few hours of your time one morning or afternoon.

“If you can help out with marshalling or are interested in being a lead car or spares vehicles for one of the grades please email Malcolm Cook at malcolm.cook@deewr.gov.au or phone 0427 594 131.

“Please try and make an effort to support our women and juniors by coming out. You will get to see some great racing and get great satisfaction from helping out.

“If you are riding then please try and get a relative tor friend or partner to volunteer. And if you rode the Canberra Tour you may be interested to know that nearly a third of those volunteers were the parents or relatives of juniors.

“As an added bonus, if you are a Hartley Challenge rider we will donate money to your team.”

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