Good Luck Cole House!

Cole House (BMC) of Oneida, WI recently showed some good form during Superweek - winning the Whitnall Park RR plus getting on the podium at Downer Avenue.

 From the BMC Pro Racing Team page (http://www.bmc-racing.com/int-en/team/news/team/bmc-racing-team-names-cole-house-stagiaire.html)

American Cole House will spend the rest of the 2010 season as a stagiaire with the BMC Racing Team. His first race is expected to be the Tour de l'Ain, Aug. 10-14.

Prime OpportunityBMC Racing Team President Jim Ochowicz said House's promotion is chance for the Oneida, Wis., resident to show himself in the pro peloton for the first time. "It's up to him seize the opportunity and show what they can do," Ochowicz said. House won a stage of the recent International Cycling Classic and spent much of the spring racing with USA Cycling's Under 23 team. He is believed to be the first Native American professional cyclist.

Good ExperienceBMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said there is a big difference between amateur U23 racing and pro level. "It's a good experience for him and for him to see where we is and what we can expect in the future," Lelangue said. "The most important thing is for him to get experience on this level."

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Lakefront Road Race - video by Verizon U25

Best video so far. Great job. Also great to see the young generation enjoying the Long Course. Home to 7 national championships.

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Jonathon Cantwell wins the 42nd annual Superweek.

Along with his sixth stage victory in this year's series, a Superweek record, Aussie Jonathon Cantwell also won the overall competition for the second time. German Rene Birkenfeld (Steven's Racing) was third, and Frenchman Aurelion Passeron, who wore the yellow leaders jersey almost the entire time but fell ill in the final days, was third.

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Superweek - Cudahy

Good race yesterday. Report later this morning after I go to battle in traffic.

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2010 Superweek - Lake Geneva

For the first time in it's 42 year history, the Superweek series hit the scenic lakeside vacation land of Lake Geneva, which is certainly the most beautiful venue of this year's competition. Being smack dab in the middle of one of the busiest vacation spots in Wisconsin didn't go without it's logistical problems, but organizers, local authorities, and strong support of hard working volunteers pulled it off by putting on a safe, on schedule, and enjoyable event for all the racers and fans.

Oh, it was a sunny, hot summer day that put all the racers into stress, but that breeze off the lake sure was soothing! The course was a fast 0.8 mile rolling loop with mostly sweeping turns and was highly praised by all the racers. In the Women's 1/2/3 race, Greta Neimanas (XXX Racing) put in a late solo effort to come across the line first and take the win. The Men's Pro race was a wild affair with no less than 17 riders taking a lap on the field, and three getting two laps! Fly V Australia was a major player in the strategy as always, but once again they got shut out of the top three podium spots. Today it was the Aussie SHAUN McCARTHY (Garneau Club Chaussure) who stood on the top step, followed by Zachary Davies (Subaru) and Ryan Freund (Verizon). AURELION PASSERON (Garneau Club Chaussure) remains in yellow as the series leader, and BERNIE SULZBERGER (Fly V Australia) still wears the red points leader jersey.

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2010 Superweek - Willow Springs

It was a hot and humid day on Chicago's far south side as riders tackled the 3.5 mile circuit/road race course. A closed course that featured mostly smooth pavement and a long, nasty stair stepped climb with the finish at the top. The Pro men hit it hard as usual with 7 riders eventually escaping on about lap 3. By the end, they built up a 4 minute gap and it was Germany's Rene Birkenfeld (Steven's Racing) taking the uphill drag race over Aurelion Passeron (Garneau Club Chaussure). After them, it was just plain carnage as riders finished - completely spent, having just left their hearts out on the course. It was a hard race for all.

GALLERY    RESULTS

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Superweek - Day what ever - Richton Park

Loosing track of the days already. That's okay, as long as I'm in the right town. Major upsets in last night's Men's Pro race. The course is something like just under a mile that goes around a local park. Wide open and easy turns for the most part which kept the breakaways at bay, except for the Pro Men. Early on, 3 riders gained a lap and that looked like that was it. Half way, a few guys escaped - so what. Then a few more escaped - big deal. However, now with 12 to go ... WHOA! ... another four guys gained a lap ... then FOUR MORE gained a lap. Now there were 10 riders on the lead lap, and everything is topsy turvey! Fly V Australia thought they had it in the bag with Hayden Brooks and Jay Thomson up a lap and super stars Cantwell and Sulzburger fresh ready to lead them out to certain victory. Life is good mate! Last lap, and across the line it was Sulzberger then Cantwell for 11th and 12th ... then ... then ... Carlos Ospina (Colombia National Team) for the victory, BRYAN MCVEY (ReCycling p/b Ascension) second place, who is from nearby Arlington Heights, and third was Andrew Gonzales (Metro Volkswagen ).

Fly V got shut out!

However, Sulzberger is now in the red Points jersey, and Colombia's Ospina is now the series leader and wears yellow.

More photos HERE.

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Superweek - Day 2 - Geneva

I know that I've driven past here on the way to a cyclocross race, but this was the first time I spent in this town. It's pretty cool! As far as the racing, there was plenty of parking, lots of food available, the finish straight was very spectator friendly and for the final Pro race, there was a pretty sizable crowd enjoying Passeron's impressive victory (He rode in the Tour in '08 you know). The course was fast with turn three being quite tricky for everybody. It was a slight downhill right hander that got narrower in the exit, just a bit off camber with a double divot right at the apex that you could not avoid. A number of riders were shuttled off down the sidewalk, but props to them for not hitting the tree or ending up in the flowers. One rider almost went into the garage, but he got it stopped just in time. The Pro riders didn't have much trouble with it despite all the noise from bouncing carbon machines and shifting gears. Every lap it sounded like someone was going down, but I think only one rider took to the sidewalk.

That's all for now. Off to the far flung southern 'burbs (from here in Milwaukee!).

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Superweek - Day 1 - Beverly

Short and sweet. Good crowd of spectators, fair sized field (60-75?)- 28 finished (RESULTS) Five riders gain a lap, then Jay Thompson and a Columbian go off and also gain a lap. After a hefty prime, SULZBERGER and BURDZILAUSKAS go off again with Sulzberger taking it on the final lap. South African Jay Thompson was third (who will be racing in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday - $15,000 purse for the Pro race!).

GALLERY

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