BikeThrow.com

The following is a compilation of the news floating around the Minnesota cycling scene of the past week. If you have any more news, ideas or tips please feel free to email us at bikethrow [at] gmail [dot] com.

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Ohio Street Added To NVGP

Minneapolis (May 19, 2008) — The organizers of the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival and the Nature Valley Grand Prix announced today that Stage 3 of the five-day, six-stage race, the Saint Paul Time Trial, on Friday, June 13, will include an additional mile at the end of the course up the Ohio/Cherokee hill, a favorite with local cyclists. The hill is a kilometer long and averages an 8% grade.

The addition of this hill dramatically changes the character of this stage, and its effect on the final outcome of the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The change was driven by local racing fans, Tim “Super Rookie” Hayes and Spenser “Dis” Haugh, local amateur cyclists with Grumpy’s / Little Guy Racing.

The 2007 Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial was a flat, five-mile time trail along Lilydale Road in Saint Paul. A time trial, called “the race of truth”, is an individual race against the clock. Although the time trial is shortest race of the event, the time gained or lost in this stage has had a major impact on the final overall standings, where the top placings are usually separated by only seconds.

“This climb will totally change the time trial”, said Jelly Belly Pro Cycling team manager Danny Van Haute. “Time trial specialists are often poor climbers and the time that they gain on the flat sections of the course could be lost on the climb. This is also going to complicate the equipment choices, since it won’t be obvious whether to use a time trial bike or a road bike.” Time trial bikes are specially designed in wind tunnels to slice through the air on flat courses, but the design changes that make them aerodynamic can also make them inefficient on climbs.

“We love the Nature Valley Grand Prix”, said Tim Hayes, one of the local fans who proposed the new course, “but we thought that the time trial needed more character. I’ve been bugging [Nature Valley Grand Prix director David] LaPorte about this for a year and I think that it’s awesome that they’re going to do it. I was shocked that a pro race of this level would take a suggestion from a fan.”

The City of Saint Paul has also shown strong support for the new course. “I think that the cyclists have to be nuts to want to race up that hill”, said City Councilman Dave Thune, “but I’m happy to come out to watch them suffer. It’s going to be a spectacular finish. Cherokee Park is a scenic overlook and the fans will have a panoramic view of downtown Saint Paul and the Mississippi River. Although I don’t imagine that the racers will enjoy it as much as the rest of us will.”

The Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial will be held the morning of Friday, June 13. Riders will begin the race from a Start House, created by RSP Architects, on Lilydale Road under the Smith Avenue Bridge, and then finish on Cherokee Street, near the top of that same bridge. The first woman will start at 9:00 a.m., before the men begin at 10:30 a.m.

The Great River Energy Bicycle Festival featuring the Nature Valley Grand Prix is held June 11-15. The event is free and open to the public. It is the only professional sporting event in Minnesota for which no ticket is required.

For more information about the Great River Enegry Bicycle Festival and the Nature Valley Grand Prix, visit www.minnbikefest.com

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Casper Reigns Supreme

Daniel Casper (Grandstay) posted a near identical time to his previous victory on Black Dog Road this past Sunday to take the top honors over teammate Brian Koeneman (Grandstay). The attendance was a little sparse due to a 12noon start time and the ever popular Wheels on Willy criterium in Madison. No word yet on how the local teams did in Madison, but Grandstay, Bianchi/GP and Flanders were expected to make the trip.

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Track Racing Returns To Blaine

Track racing starts this Thursday night in Blaine at 7pm. It is the first night of racing for the year and the track is looking in fantastic shape thanks to the dedicated volunteers led by Kevin Schaeffer and Bob Williams (1971 State Road Champion). The racing this season promises to be the best in recent memory with the anticipated arrival of more road riders to the boards. Recent graduates of the track class include Linda Sone (Flanders) and Dan Casper (Grandstay).

Sporting the number 1 bib from last season is the 2007 Track Rider Of the Year, Brian Crosby (Speedfix) is planning on sticking around for much of the local season after his contract with Cody Racing in Colorado Springs fell apart with the demise of that team in the off season. Crosby enters the season after spending the past few months herding Llamas in Patagonia, South America. He is hoping to return to Europe for the Six Day season and is planning on using Blaine as his training ground.

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Duluth Classic News

The Duluth Classic pre-registration ends on Monday evening. The Mens category 3 and Womens 1/2/3 are shaping up to be big battles for the General Classification with many unknown riders taking to the start line. The Mens 1/2 field is still light on registrants despite the deep prize lists. As always, the Masters categories will be hard fought as the Duluth Classic enters its second year in existence.

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Yorgos Is Back

Yorgos Arambidjis (Flanders) has returned from college at Fort Lewis College in Colorado and is excited to get back in the swing of things on the local scene. You may remember Yorgos from last season when he flew through the categories to become a Category 2 at the end of the season for the Athletes Under Construction squad. His biggest win last year was the Cat4 State Criterium title when he attacked from 7 laps out to take the win solo across the line. His first local race of the year will be at the Snake Alley Criterium with his Flanders teammates.

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This Week On BikeThrow

This weeks podcast promises to be one of the best with special guests Kevin Schaeffer (MCF President/Loon State) and Category 6 representatives; Tyler Deniston and Derick Lewis. The topics will include the reoccurring Opus troubles stemming from bicycle racers unwillingness to follow simple rules, and the upcoming State Fair Criterium series produced by Category 6 Racing. All that and a new Nature Valley podcast coming this week on your number one source for Minnesota Cycling and Gossip, BTDC.