FOCUS will again be at the starting line in next season’s ProTour. The German bicycle brand has recently signed a three-year contract with the Russian Team Katusha as technical sponsor for their bikes.

FOCUS Managing Director Mathias Seidler and Team Katusha President Andrei Tchmil recently met. Following several discussions and negotiations they finally found an agreement. Having taken his team to third place in the world rankings by the start of August 2010, Tchmil aims to secure them a permanent place place among the world’s best. To achieve this he is investing in the new high-end bike from the FOCUS workshops and the “Made in Germany” quality label for the three next seasons. Seidler too is investing in sporting success. For two years now, FOCUS has been an active player in the arena of the world’s most important cycle races. The partnership with the German Team Milram opened the door to the international bicycle market. Now Seidler and FOCUS are hoping to open this door a little wider.

“Our aim is a long-term partnership which will allow us to further broaden our excellent experiences in the ProTour over the last two years internationally,”

says Seidler.

Russian team – international riders

One of the topics discussed was the make-up of the team. FOCUS has agreed with the team management that the core of the team’s riders in 2011 should come from Russia. In addition to these, there are riders from very different backgrounds in what is already a very international team. For example, 2009 Italian Champion, Filippo Pozzato will continue to ride for Katusha. Spain’s Joaquin Rodriguez, the only rider able to challenge the leading pair of Contador and Schleck up in the mountains in this year’s Tour de France, will also remain with Katusha.

“We are investing quite deliberately in a strong international team,”

says FOCUS Marketing Director, Herwig Reus.

“We hope to achieve great sporting success with this team and to prove beyond doubt what our bikes are capable of. Needless to say, these expectations go hand in hand with our aim to further develop our markets abroad and increase demand for our products.”

The bike: FOCUS Izalco Team Katusha

Katusha will compete in the stage races and one-day races on the FOCUS Izalco Team Katusha starting in the next season. Based on the latest phase in the evolution of the FOCUS Izalco frame, the components used include those from partners Prologo, SRAM, Continental and FSA. The frame design is based on the team colours, red, blue and white. Red will be the dominant colour of both the jersey and the bike in future to match the FOCUS brand colours.

For time trials, the team will compete on the FOCUS Izalco Chrono, co-designed by time-trial guru Andreas Walser and also sporting the new colours.

Besides the original team bikes, FOCUS customers will also be able to buy a team replica, a FOCUS Cayo, track and cyclocross bikes in matching designs.

Continental and U23 Team choose the FOCUS Cayo

Team Katusha was founded by former cycling pro and current Team President, Andrei Tchmil, in 2008. Within an incredibly short time the team has secured a place among the best of the cycling elite. Known by its made-up name, Katusha, the team aims not only to achieve sporting success, but also to make cycling better known and more accessible in Russia. In addition to the ProTour team, the other teams from the Russian racing stable will compete in races on FOCUS bikes. Both the Continental and U23 teams will be equipped with a team version of the carbon racing bike, the FOCUS Cayo. There are plans to extend the Katusha project to MTB and cyclocross as well in future, sports in which FOCUS has been a benchmark in the industry for years.

EVOC Signs World Champion

EVOC is pleased to announce the signing of current British and UCI World DH Champion and all round MTB legend Steve Peat.

The sports luggage brand has brought a fresh approach to the MTB market with their stylish and high performance products, which are made with high quality and high function right across the range. The young company has been making serious waves in the luggage and trail pack market and having the current UCI World Champion join the team is the icing on the cake for the brand. EVOC’s marketing manager Jan Sallawitz said:

“It is incredible how much attention we are getting after only being in the market for 2 years. Initially we made bags just for ourselves and now we are absolutely stoked that so many people love our stuff – including a world champion! Having the chance to work together with Steve Peat is a great step for us, not only because of his long time experience with travel luggage and backpacks that can make our products way better, but especially because of his absolute passion for mountain biking. This was one of the reasons for us founding EVOC in the first place. Welcome aboard, Peaty!”

Steve will be using the full range of EVOC luggage to transport his bike and kit to races and events, as well as the range of back packs to take his hydration system and tools out on the trail. With a full C.E rated spine protector built into the FREERIDE CC and FREERIDE TRAIL back packs they are the perfect companion to Steve when he heads out on the trail. As a rider who likes to ride at full throttle the EVOC high performance and low weight do not hinder movement whilst riding, and knowing that your back is protected is a top priority for anyone, let alone a World Champion.

After years of travelling the globe racing his bike Steve is also very happy to be ditching the old cardboard bike boxes in favour of the EVOC Bike Travel Bag. The bike travel bag has become ‘the’ way of transporting your bike and is the number one choice for riders, racers and magazine editors alike. Between them they have given the bag 10/10 scores in tests and now with Peaty on board it is the choice of champions.

“I am very happy to be joining the EVOC team and to be using their quality products both on the bike and when travelling the world. The trail packs offer such high performance and knowing I have a full back protector built-in gives me the peace of mind to go faster out on the trail. The bike travel bag is so easy to use I know I can put my new carbon V10 straight in, zip it up and head off to the race track without the need to keep taping a box up, brilliant.”

Peaty commented.

EVOC would like to take this opportunity to welcome Steve Peat to the EVOC family. Having a World Champion on the team further proves the performance of the EVOC range and is testament to the performance of the product.

EVOC protect the things you love!

View all Evoc kit via our Evoc Page

This September, cycling fans across the UK will have the chance to take part in Britain’s best bike race. Once again The Tour of Britain has teamed up with The Prostate Cancer Charity to deliver a unique cycling experience for you to ride in the tyre tracks of the world’s best professionals.

As a special incentive for Wiggle subscribers we are offering anybody who signs up via the Wiggle newsletter a chance to win an exclusive prize. All cyclists will be entered into a prize draw to win two places to ride in an official race car on an actual stage of the Tour of Britain. We are even throwing in VIP hospitality for the day and a signed jersey!

Riding across the backbone of Wales, across the Cotswolds and central England and finishing with the open prairies of East Anglia taking in 380 miles across the widest part of the UK David Harmon, Eurosport’s Cycling Commentator and Jez Hastings, a wilderness guide, will attempt to make the Side-to-Side record in under 17.5 hours. They will be joined at the hips, literally, as they pedal in unison on their state of the art tandem, Rocket 1.

Every second will count as the timekeepers start the clock at 4am from Pembroke Castle on Saturday 21 August and stop it once the team touch down at the Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth. Contending with regular traffic along the route, Team Wiggle Tandem may not receive any outside assistance. Where you’d see a team car assisting riders in a road race as it drives along side them, David and Jez will only be able to pick up musette bags (food bags) from crew who are posted on the roadside, they will need to make all their own navigational decisions as their support vehicles ride behind them and keeping an eye on the clock they will need to judge their pace to stay within the record time, yet ensuring they don’t blow up before they reach their destination.

With two delayed attempts due to injury and unfavourable weather conditions, Harmon and Hastings have been chomping at the bit to get underway with the attempt since March. Fitting the attempts between a busy commentating schedule has been tough, however the changeable weather patterns this year have seen the riders and team wait with baited breath until the very last minute to make the decision to go ahead with the record attempt.

As the team gather in Pembroke in Wales, weatherman Ian Michaelwaite has given the thumbs up with a South West South wind of around 8mph, whilst a good westerly wind is what is needed the more southerly wind is a far cry from the Easterly head wind the team would have faced earlier in the year.

Whilst the attempt is scheduled to start at 4am, the riders have a few hours either side of this time to make a start should the wind turn behind them. Their progress can be tracked on Map My Tracks once they get underway, with the route link and updates being posted on Twitter under WiggleTandem.

Roadside support would be an added bonus for the team, with their proposed route and schedule posted below. Cheer them loudly if you see them along the way and overtake safely if you happen to be caught up behind them.

For further information:

Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WiggleTandem
Website: http://teamwiggletandem.com
Routemap & schedule: http://www.teamwiggletandem.com/side_to_side.html

Wiggle Super Series announces end of season cycle festival in the New Forest National Park

The hugely successful Wiggle Super Series is excited to announce its New Forest 100 Sportive on October 3 will now be part of a two-day cycle festival set in the beautiful New Forest National Park.

UK Cycling Events, organisers of the Wiggle Super Series, is working with the New Forest National Park Authority to expand the sportive and provide riders and families with an action-packed weekend. The festival will include a mountain bike/cyclocross event with three route options on Saturday, October 2, as well as a hill climb event, live music, entertainment, BBQs, food, refreshments, children’s rides and activities and great offers for overnight accommodation. Riders taking part in the MTB/cyclocross event will be able to choose from a 44-mile route, a 25-miler or a family fun 10-mile option.

The road sportive will be the main focus of attention on Sunday, October 3, when riders will be able to choose from the Epic 100-mile route, the Standard 66-miler or the fun 44-mile option. The course sweeps through the New Forest’s network of quiet roads, taking in some challenging but short hills such as the 25 per cent Blissford Hill. Martin Barden, of UK Cycling Events, said: “We are hugely excited to be working with the New Forest National Park Authority to host this cycle festival. It’s the perfect way to celebrate a brilliant year of events which have been so well attended. A weekend of family fun is the best way to enjoy getting out on your bike.”

The hill climb event on Saturday afternoon could prove to be the perfect warm down for those in action earlier in the day – or act as a great warm up for the sportive riders. Prizes will be awarded to the top 10 riders in two categories (road riders and knobbly tyre riders) as they climb the 1km course just outside Brockenhurst. The event is being run in partnership with New Forest Cycling Club.
Anyone interested in taking part in the weekend is urged to enter soon to avoid disappointment as last year’s sportive was a sell-out success. Entry fees include electronic timing, well stocked feed stations, event photography, bike wash facilities, clearly signed courses and plenty more.

To enter the New Forest 100 Sportive visit www.wiggle.co.uk/c/cycle/7/Events/ or to find out more about the festival weekend visit www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk. For an insight into riding a Wiggle Super Series event in the New Forest National Park check out this video of the Spring Sportive, which took place in April:

For event information please contact Martin Barden on 07545 137133.

Team Wiggle rider to tackle the world’s toughest single day MTB race

Team Wiggle’s Matt Page is preparing to take part in the Grand Raid Cristalp Mountain Bike Marathon in the Swiss Alps. The event, on August 21, features 5600m of climbing over the 140km course. It will form a vital part of Matt’s preparation for the Solo 24hour Mountain Bike World Championships in Australia in October.

Matt, who will be racing on his Focus Raven hardtail, said:

“The Cristalp is a really tough event and in previous years has been dubbed the hardest single day MTB race. This race comes at a crucial point in my training for the 24hr World Championships in Australia, which is just seven weeks away from this event.”

This will be Matt’s first European marathon race so he will be using it to gain valuable experience rather than challenge for a place on the podium. He said: “I think it’ll be a steep learning curve. The top racers will be very experienced and have a full support team behind them. I hope to be the top British finisher. Just finishing can be an achievement in itself due to the strict time cut-offs.”
As well as taking part in the race, Matt will be using his time in the Swiss Alps to maximise training opportunities. He said:

“I’ll be spending the week in Switzerland doing plenty of long rides in the mountains. Now is the time when getting serious training in [for Australia] will have the biggest effect.”

Preparation of the body and the bike are going well for Matt, who added:

“I am feeling strong fitness-wise and I have just about finished preparing the bike. I have swapped a few parts over from my Focus First race bikes onto the Raven so that I’ll have a race bike weighing in at under 20lb, which should help me fly up every metre of the climbs.”

After the Cristalp, Matt will return home to Wales for two solid weeks of training before racing the Kielder 100 on September 4, the Midlands XC on September 5 and then the British Marathon Championships on September 12. Ten days later he flies to Australia ahead of the World Championships in Canberra.

This is an exclusive discounted offer for Wiggle customers and social media followers.

As Wiggle broadens its range of hard hitting mountain bikes and equipment, with top bike brands like Titus, Turner, Pace, Evil and many more, not to mention a myriad of quality freeride and all mountain bike parts, we have partnered with Dirt Mountain bike magazine to bring you this exclusive offer.

 Subscribe today for £3 and get:

• 3 issues of Dirt Mountain Bike magazine for only £3 (save £7.80)
• Free Dirt branded t-shirt
• Free delivery direct to your door
• Cancel at any time and get a full refund on unsent issues

Dirt is the most influential MTB magazine in the world. For over thirteen years we have bought the best journalists and photographers together to capture the essence and energy of mountain biking, taking core riders to the very heart of the action. Each issue features everything from practical advice, specialist gear reviews to top rated personalities in the sport. We promote the subculture and lifestyle of modern day off-road riding to bring you a compelling and unrivalled read. Dirt Mountain Bike is more than just a magazine, we are a community of MTB enthusiasts who love off road trails as much as you do.

CLICK HERE to subscribe now, with our cheapest ever offer; only £3

As you may of read recently, the British Volleyball Federation were set to be disbanded across Europe to play for European teams, threatening their ability to train with each other on the lead up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Exactly two years before the official launch ceremony, the 18 girls and support staff begin a 250 mile cycle ride from Sheffield to London in an aim to gather awareness and raise funds to cover the £250,000 deficit that is forcing many of the girls to look for support elsewhere across Europe. We have some great coverage of their progress and exposure, check out the video and photos below!

Photos
British Volleyball Federation flickr Images

ITV’s Coverage On the Olympic Hopefuls.
http://www.itv.com/news/uks-olympic-hopefuls47770/

BBC Coverage
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/volleyball/8851544.stm

Change Your World and win

Sustrans’ annual ‘Change Your World’ campaign kicked off on Tuesday 1st June at www.changeyourworld.org.uk.

Sustrans is a leading UK charity on a mission to enable us all to travel by foot, bike and public transport for more of the journeys we make every day.

And that’s just what Change Your World is all about. Visit the campaign website and pledge a local journey by foot, bike or public transport so, together, we can clock up enough miles to travel around the world by 4 July – all 24,900 miles!

If we all made more journeys without the car, we would enjoy healthier journeys, cleaner air, quieter roads and better spaces to move through and live in.

By pledging, not only will you be participating in a great campaign which shows that by each taking a small step, we can work together to make a big difference, but there’s also the chance to win some great prizes from Center Parcs, Riverford and Lush.

Once you have pledged, you can also tell the Government that you want them to act too – to make the right decisions now and invest more in making it easier for everyone to travel in ways that are good for our health and the environment.

Pledge your journey now at www.changeyourworld.org.uk.

Matthew aims for world title

10:53am Wednesday 2nd June 2010, The Guardian Online

A Towy Valley postman is gearing up to make the delivery of his life as he aims to bring home the world 24-hour endurance mountain bike championship.

Matthew Page, of Cilycwm, scooped the British 24-hour title on May 23, after leaving the rest of the field trailing in his wake at Newcastleton.

The 25-year-old former Rhys Prichard and Llandovery College pupil completed a mind-blowing 22 laps of the gruelling course in just under 24 hours, stopping for less than two minutes throughout the entire race and completing more than 250 miles.

Matthew’s nearest rival could manage only 21 laps of the course.

The British title was just another honour to add to Matthew’s growing trophy collection after won the European single speed championship 12-hour race in April and the Mountain Mayhem title last year.

“I knew that I was in with a good chance of winning it,”

said Matthew, who trains up to 30 hours each week.

“There were perhaps 10 people of the 90 entrants capable of winning, and I knew I would have to make sure I was there at the end. “The race climbs meant I had cycled the equivalent of going up Everest and then quite a bit more.”

The marathon battle took its toll with Matthew expecting to need six weeks to fully recover with British and European titles already under his belt, he is now preparing for the world title event in Australia in October.

“I had hoped to go there under the radar, but after the British title they will all know I am coming,”

said Matthew.

“The Australians are the best endurance mountain bikers in the world, so it will be great to go out there and take them on in their own back yard.

“There is going to be a full range of competitors from across the world, Europeans, Americans, Canadians and of course Australians.”

Matthew already has the best endurance mountain bike sponsorship deal in the UK thanks to a tie-in with Internet bike company Wiggle.co.uk, but hopes that a successful autumn could see his racing taken to a new level.

“My focus now is totally on Australia and the world championships and there is a real possibility of going professional next year if I can win it.

“I have a great team behind me thanks to my deal with wiggle.co.uk and the support of my family and my fiancee Nia so to make it pro would be something really special,”

said Matthew.

Dreams of the world title and a professional sponsorship deal have given Matthew the sort of focus that will ensure his is among the leading pack when the finish line comes in sight.

“I will be going there ranked third or fourth in the world, but I am going there to win.”

Read Matthew’s Full blog report below.

Matt Page Blog : UK 24hr Solo Championships