Two of the world’s top Ironman triathletes, one male and one female, will ride Giant in 2011. Timo Bracht, two-time Ironman European Champion, returns for his third year on Giant, and this year Bracht is joined by 2009 ITU European Champion Virginia Berasategui of Spain.
Both Bracht and Berasategui will ride Giant Trinity Advanced SL bikes as they focus on Ironman distance triathlon events.
“We’re excited to have two of the world’s top triathletes partnering with Giant this year,” said Giant Sports Marketing Manager Tom Davies. “Timo has been a force since he started riding Giant two years ago, and we see great things ahead for Virginia too.”
Bracht, a 35-year-old German, has five career Ironman wins, including his latest at Ironman Arizona last November. At the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii last year, Bracht posted the fastest bike split among the top-10 pros, using his Trinity Advanced SL to secure a sixth-place finish.
“Since I started riding the Trinity Advanced SL, my results on the bike have been the best of my career,” Bracht said. “I’ve enjoyed working with Giant as they continue to develop new technology for racing against the clock.”
Bracht started his 2011 season in early March at the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, where he finished ninth, and is again focused on the sport’s major Ironman events. He will compete in several triathlons this summer in his build-up to his main goal of the season, the Ironman World Championships in October.
Berasategui, a 35-year-old from the Basque region of Spain, is a new member of the Giant global triathlon squad. A multiple World and European Champion in both triathlon and duathlon, plus a top-five finisher at the Ironman World Championships in both 2009 and 2010, she looks to continue her upward trajectory in 2011.
“I am really excited about joining Giant and working with their technical staff,” Berasategui said. “I know Timo has had tremendous success and some incredibly fast bike splits on his Giant. Having the fastest bike is a critical part of my overall performance.”
Berasategui will start her 2011 season in late April, at the Wildflower Triathlon in California. She will compete in both Ironman and half-Ironman events this summer, and, like Bracht, her main goal is the Ironman Worlds in Hawaii.
You can follow Bracht and Berasategui throughout the season at giant-bicycles.com or on the Giant Facebook page.
www.giant-bicycles.com
The 2011 mountain bike season is underway for the Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team, which has several of its riders training and racing on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Fabian Giger of Switzerland and Emil Lindgren of Sweden finished fourth and fifth respectively in the overall classification at Round 2 of the Cyprus Sunshine Cup, a three-day stage race that finished on Sunday.
The three-day stage race in the Macheras Mountains began with a 5.5km time trial, which was nearly won by another Rabobank-Giant rider, Henk Jaap Moorlag. The 2009 Dutch Junior National Champion finished second by less than half a second. Moorlag would go on to finish sixth overall.
The following day, Giger finished second in the point-to-point cross-country, moving up to second in GC. And Lindgren finished third on the final day cross-country stage, moving up to fifth overall and giving Rabobank-Giant three podium appearances in three days. All of the Rabobank-Giant riders raced on Anthem X Advanced SL full-suspension bikes or XtC Advanced SL hardtails depending on course conditions and personal choice throughout the race.
US fields more UCI elite MTB teams than any other nation
According to UCI’s final list of 2011 MTB elite teams, the United States will field seven teams at the discipline’s highest tier from a total of 30 squads which were awarded the elite status.
With a total of seven teams, namely Luna Pro Team, Monster Energy, Santa Cruz Syndicate, Specialized Factory Racing, Subaru- Trek, Team Maxxis- Rocky Mountain and Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team, the United States fields more UCI elite MTB teams than any other nation in the world. Second is Germany with five teams, while several other nations will host three.
The best teams were chosen based on a ranking established by the UCI on September 27, 2010 by adding up the UCI points of the best riders within each team. The mixed teams, both endurance and gravity, are made up of 144 riders, of which 10 are in the Juniors category. The teams, which will be identifiable by a logo on their vehicles and their riders’ race outfits, will be obliged to enter at least one rider in all 10 rounds of the 2011 Mountain Bike World Cup. In return, they will benefit from numerous advantages such as free entry in the World Cup events and races on the UCI Mountain Bike International Calendar.
U.S. based UCI Elite Mountain Bike Teams:
LUNA PRO TEAM (LUN)
MONSTER ENERGY / SPECIALIZED / MAD CATZ (MER)
SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE (SCB)
SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING (SFR)
SUBARU-TREK (STR)
TEAM MAXXIS-ROCKY MOUNTAIN (TMR)
YETI FOX SHOX FACTORY RACE TEAM (YET)
source: http://www.usacycling.org
http://www.rockyroads.net
6 March 2011
Cyprus Sunshine Cup #3
Next to the Ancient Kingdom of Amathous, in Agios Tychon, this relatively new course is specailly designed for the riders who want something different. Challenging the limits of both the riders and the bikes, the Amathous course is offering what one could ask just few weeks away from the main races and the world cups.
On a lap of 5.5 kms and 192m of ascend, you can ride next to the acheological monuments, up on the hill, in single trails, forest roads on rocky terrain and next to the beach. A small adventure in just 5,5kms.
www.cyclingcy.com
Langvad repeats, Skarnitzl “unbelievable”
“Unbelievable”, Jan Skarnitzl said after recognizing that he has ridden the fastest time in Friday’s time trial. “Impossible” said Henk-Jaap Moorlag (Ned), when he was told that he got into second place, beaten only by 0,42 seconds.
“It felt not like being fast”, the Rabobank-Giant rider said after finishing the lap on the partially new and shortened cross country course. But nearly every rider was telling the same, because the cross country pros at this point of the season are still not used to this demands of high intensity effort.
Skarnitzl, who changed the team from Giant to Rubena Birell Specialized, didn’t expect the success anway. “I got the bike one day before Voroklini race and I’m still not used to it. And I changed my coach and my training program”, the winner of Cyprus Sunshine Cup 2010 explained.
The talented u23 rider Henk-Jaap Moorlag told that after a bad day at the Sunshine Cup opener in Voroklini every day he felt stronger.
Karl Markt (Aut), the winner of Sunshine Cups opener, again showed a pretty good shape. As third place his difference to Skarnitzl was only 1,41 seconds. On Saturdays second stage, the point to point race, he will be again in the fight for the podium. The same should be with Emil Lindgren (Swe), who lost only 1,54 seconds. “I wanted to win but it was not too bad, I think”, the Rabobank-Giant rider said.
Annika Langvad (Easton Rockets) continued what she started at Voroklini. She won the time trial by 46 seconds to Slovenian Blaza Klemencic (Felt Ötztal X-Bionic) and 1:14 minutes to Lene Byberg (Specialized).
“I really like the course. With my new Fuji bike races becoming like playing and having fun”, Langvad said.
Blaza Klemencic was okay with her second place. “Time trial is not my discipline and I felt better than five days ago”, she commented.
For Lene Byberg the time trial was the first race since seven months when she finished her season due to physical problems. “I’d rather like to do five laps than one but I felt the power in my legs and I had the fire I missed last year”, said the Norwegian looking forward to the next two stages.
The appearance of three times Four Cross overall world cup winner Anneke Beerten (Ned) ended up on a respectable 24th place (+4:06). “Unbelievable hard, my legs were exploding. The intensity is so crazy. I was so nervous before the start, even after all the years of racing”, Beerten commented her debut in an international cross country race.
Results Top 5 5,5 kilometer time trial
Women
1. Annika Langvad (Den) 19:21,6
2. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) 20:07,6
3. Lene Byberg (Nor) 20:36,0
4. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) 20:42,2
5. Rie Katayama (Jpn) 21:01,2
Men
1. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) 16:32,8
2. Henk Jaap Moorlag (Ned) 16:33,2
3. Karl Markt (Aut) 16:34,2
4. Emil Lindgren (Swe) 16:34,3
5. Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) 16:46,
www.cyclingcy.com
Markt Wins Cyprus Sunshine Cup #1
Monday, February 21, 2011
Oroklini, Cyprus – Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Rider Karl Markt took the win at the Cyprus Sunshine Cup #1 on Sunday. The Austrian took the win with a time of 1:45:39, and finished 20 seconds ahead of second place on the rough course.
The Cyprus Sunshine Cup is an International mountain bike series that kicks off the mountain bike season in Europe. The course was in excellent condition with sun and warm temperatures. 80 riders started the Men’s Race.
Going into the final lap, Markt was in the lead group that had been whittled to just five riders. On the first climb, Markt went to the front and pushed the tempo, shedding two of his competitors from the group. That left just two Rabobank riders and Markt in the lead group.
The pace was fast, and Markt was able to distance one of the two remaining men in the windy section. Just before the final downhill, Markt was able to take a considerable lead after the final rider dropped his chain.
“My full suspension bike surely was an advantage today, but I didn’t expect a win,” said Markt. “Maybe top five but not the victory. My start was not that good but then I found a good rhythm. When I had the gap, I was riding hard but then was surprised that nobody was coming behind me. In the windy section my power was the decisive advantage.”
Additionally, Felt Oetztal X-Bioninc’s Simon Scheiber took 15th in the Men’s Race and Blaza Klemencic took second place in the Women’s Race. All three riders raced Felt’s carbon full-suspension Edict LTD.
The TOUR OF CYPRUS 2011 invitational will take place from the 05-08 May 11.
This marks the 1st time of the event as organised by Cyprus Sport Services and will be over 450km of cycling with approximately 5000 m total ascent.
The CSS support team will provide vehicular support, baggage transport and arrange accommodation.
Gery/CSS will produce a daily safety brief on the route and weather conditions.
The map of the TOUR OF CYPRUS 2011 route will be available soon.
To keep a high level of quality the maximum number of participants is limited to 12 riders.
Andi Wittmann being filmed in Austria for a segment in the film “Framed.”
Share | Giant is expanding its global freeride program, sponsoring three riders from three different countries in 2011. With their diverse riding talents, Kurt Sorge, Andi Wittmann and Jeff Lenosky will keep Giant on the leading edge of freeride products, competition and culture.
From film projects and big-mountain contests to slopestyle, dirt jump, street and trials competitions around the world, Giant has the freeride scene covered in 2011.
Andi Wittmann is the newest member of the team. The 23-year-old German has been riding Giant the last few years and has stepped up to the global crew for 2011.
“I’m really stoked to be joining the Giant global family this year,” Wittmann said. “I’m looking forward to riding and competing around the world—keep an eye out for me in contests and films.”
Wittmann’s main competition bike is his STP equipped with Fox Racing Shox. And depending on the event, he chooses from his stable of Maestro Suspension bikes, including Reign and Faith.
For 2011, Wittmann is focused on the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour, which kicks off in April with the Vienna Air King contest in Austria. He’s also working on a film called “Framed,” which features stunning footage of Wittmann riding alpine trails in Austria.
Giant’s big-mountain freerider is Kurt Sorge. The 22-year-old Canadian competes mainly on the Maestro Suspension-equipped Faith, and he also chooses Trance X for certain slopestyle events. This year Sorge is riding RockShox suspension products, a SRAM drivetrain, Truvativ components, DT Swiss wheels and Schwalbe tires.
In 2011, Sorge is focusing on film shoots and major freeride contests, including Crankworx and the Chatel Mountain Style event in France, which he won in 2009.
“This will be my seventh year with Giant, and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Sorge said. “I’m really excited for the upcoming year, I’m doing more filming and I’m pumped to get back into the contest scene including the whole FMB Tour.”
Also back with the team this year is trials and urban freeride legend Jeff Lenosky. The New Jersey native competes in observed trials and freeride contests on his STP bike equipped with Shimano components and Fox Racing Shox. In addition to competing, Lenosky performs more than 100 demonstrations and shows each year. He helps design courses for U.S. trials and freeride competitions, and works with Giant’s product development team.
“I’m excited about another busy year,” Lenosky said. “It’s only January and I’ve already been riding my STP at events all around the country. Lots more to look forward to in the months ahead.”
For more on Giant’s freeride athletes and bikes, including bios, photos and up-to-date news, follow the team on the Giant Facebook page.
2011 Giant Global Freeride Program
Jeff Lenosky (USA)
Kurt Sorge (CAN)
Andi Wittmann (GER)
Just one year out of the Junior ranks, Lars Van der Haar of the Rabobank-Giant team captured the Under-23 Cyclocross World Champion’s title in Germany on Saturday. The 19-year-old, representing The Netherlands, unleashed a powerful finishing kick, surging ahead of a lead group on his Giant TCX Advanced SL in the closing meters of the race. Van der Haar’s Rabobank-Giant teammate Mike Teunissen finished right behind him, giving Giant and The Netherlands gold and silver.
Van der Haar’s win put the finishing touches on a masterful season: In U23 racing, he won the European Championship, the World Cup overall and the World Championship, emerging as the dominant young rider in elite cyclocross racing.
The 47 starters in the men’s U23 race had favorable conditions on the course in St. Wendel, in Southwestern Germany. The course thawed out in time for their race, softening it up so that it was somewhat muddy but not frozen.
Teunissen put on an aggressive display, attacking several times in the final laps. But Van der Haar diligently maintained his position near the front, and chose his moment to attack. He launched it just before the finishing stretch on an athletic track, then held it to the line.
Gerben De Knegt was the top Rabobank-Giant finisher in Sunday’s elite men’s race. The Dutch rider finished 11th.
Welcome to The Cyclist in Cyprus! This is my first post. I’m ready to roll….downhill all the way!
I’m going to regularly post funny or interesting (never both at the same time :-) and short stories about cycling in Cyprus, so mark this page and visit frequently.
You comments on this new website are welcome. Thanks, Gery