2012 Sea Otter Dates Announced
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 9:49AM 
Monterey, Calif. (October 12, 2011) - Cyclists and fans are invited to 'save the date' for the 22nd Annual Sea Otter Classic to be held Thursday-Sunday, April 19-22, 2012, at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey, California.
More than 50,000 cyclists and fans are expected to compete, participate and cheer athletes through dozens of events and product demos during what is considered the largest gathering of the world cycling community. At the heart of the weekend cycling festival will be an expo area with more than 300 exhibitors. Leading cycling brands will be showing off the newest and best cycling services and products available to consumers.
Mountain Bike events include Cross Country, Dual Slalom, Short Track, and Downhill. Road events are Road Racing, Criterium, and Circuit Racing on the world famous Laguna Seca Raceway. Less competitive options are also available: Salinas Valley-Carmel Valley, Coastal, and Mountain Bike Routes are offered in a Gran Fondo. And, new for 2012, a Cyclocross event will be held during Sea Otter. More details on the event will be available soon.
Sea Otter is a family event, and daily activities encourage children's interest in cycling, including a Bike Play Zone, Kids' Races, and BMX Demos. A traditional Sea Otter Egg Hunt for the youngest, and other attractions geared to kids, make Sea Otter a highlight of the year for family members of all ages.
Everyone is welcome at this all-inclusive jamboree of cyclists from around the world. Join the fun as Sea Otter Classic launches its third decade of celebrating cycling.
About Sea Otter Classic
A four-day "Celebration of Sport," Sea Otter Classic is regarded as the world's largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. The 22nd Annual Sea Otter Classic is April 19-22, 2012 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California. For more information, visit www.seaotterclassic.com or call (800) 218-8411.
Join A World Cup Team For 2012
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 5:06AM
Selected riders will have the exclusive opportunity to join a team setup with a world-class support structure that will be comparable to a top world cup team. Receiving this complete race season package for less than the price of a bike.
This has been made possible thanks to the support of UK distribution company Hotlines Europe Ltd, meaning we can offer young riders a custom built, World Cup standard, Lapierre DH920 race bike, plus full race support package for just £4’950.00
2012 UCI World Cup, Bicycle, Downhill Racing, UCI |
Chain Reaction Cycles On Bicycle Retailer
Monday, October 10, 2011 at 8:45AM "BALLYCLARE, Ireland—As the industry’s largest online retailer, Chain Reaction Cycles catches flak for selling discounted out-of-season product, and is often the brunt of brick-and-mortar shops’ complaints about competition from Internet sales straining their businesses.
But company director Chris Watson shrugs off the negative image his company might carry with some in the industry, pointing to its success built over 26 years in business.
“A lot of that just has to do with just getting on the job, just getting on with certain customers and stop bitching essentially about what somebody else is doing or what somebody else is discounting in the industry. You concentrate on your customer and take care of them, you’re going to get somewhere,” said Watson, who has worked for his parents’ business since he was a teenager. "
By Nicole Formosa
4X, Bicycle, Downhill Mountain Bike |
UCI's Response To 4X Being Cut
Monday, October 10, 2011 at 8:25AM Next year the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup calendar will undergo a facelift: the disappearance of four-cross and the official introduction of the cross-country eliminator (XCE) aim to keep the mountain bike discipline abreast of current trends.
However, the UCI’s Manager of Off-Road Disciplines, Peter Van den Abeele, stresses that the withdrawal of four-cross from the World Cup in no way rings the death toll of this spectacular format.
“Four-cross has been an important part of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series for many years,” says Peter Van den Abeele. “Since its introduction, it has been highly appreciated both by riders and spectators. The UCI supports four-cross and sincerely hopes that organisers will continue to register their four-cross events on the UCI international calendar.”
He confirmed that the withdrawal of four-cross related only to the World Cup. The format will remain for the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Leogang, and registrations for four-cross races are still being accepted for the UCI international calendar. Peter Van den Abeele adds that the UCI is open to working with any organiser looking to host a UCI registered four-cross event during a World Cup weekend.
“With enough advance notice, we can work together to ensure that, where possible, timetables and services complement each other for the benefit of the sport.”
So why will we no longer see four-cross at the World Cup?
“Four-cross has proved more successful in some regions than others. This fact, coupled with the high financial costs and the environmental issues associated with the building of four-cross courses has led the UCI to make this decision. Four-cross competitions remain viable in a few World Cup venues but the lack of interest in others does not warrant continuing with this format in the World Cup series.”
He added that the gravity events were an important part of the mountain bike discipline and would still be strongly represented in the World Cup by the ever-popular downhill competitions. One of the aims of the decision to withdraw four-cross was to nurture and develop the format in regions where it has a large following, without forcing it on regions where it generates little interest.
“Although there is low participation in four-cross events in the World Cup, the UCI is convinced that the development of more regional, national and other international events will benefit this exciting format,” said Peter Van den Abeele.
Cross-country eliminator
Meanwhile the increasing popularity of the cross-country eliminator format has led the UCI to officially integrate it into the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
Introduced in Europe two years ago, this format, suited to Olympic cross-country (XCO) specialists, sees four competitors race each other over a lap of around 1km. World Cup test events held in Dalby Forest (GBR) and Nove Mesto na Morave (CZE) last season were very successful, and in 2012 the format will be part of the World Cup events in Houffalize (BEL) Nove Mesto na Morave and La Bresse (FRA).
2012 will also see the crowning of the first XCE World Champion: this new format is being introduced to the UCI World Championships, and will be raced the day after the XCO event.
Development of gravity endurance events
Another flourishing mountain bike format is that of gravity endurance, which UCI Gravity Endurance Coordinator Chris Ball is looking to develop within the UCI by working with existing “enduro” events and riders.
His aim is to develop a discipline that will attract an increasing number of mountain bikers as it combines the physical endurance of cross-country riding with the technical difficulty and excitement of downhill racing.
The UCI invites organisers of current gravity enduro events to contact the UCI with a view to establishing a UCI Enduro Calendar from 2013. Enduro events can be in the form of multi-stage races, day races or mass start races.
UCI Communication Services
2012 UCI World Cup, 4X, Bicycle, Four Cross, Mountain Bike, UCI |
2011 UCI World Cup Best Events
Monday, October 10, 2011 at 8:21AM In keeping with tradition, riders, UCI Mountain Bike teams, media, sponsors and UCI officials voted for the best events of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano. At the end of each season, a trophy is awarded to one of the organisers in each of the three disciplines: cross-country, downhill and four-cross.
Cross-country: Nove Mesto Na Morave convinces all
Part of the World Cup calendar for the first time, the Czech event convinced all. The perfect organisation, great TV production and enthusiastic crowds, with as a cherry on the cake the win of the national hero Jaroslav Kuhlavy, had many considering the event as the best in years. Offenburg (GER) was lauded as one of the most technical courses of the series and came in second place ahead of last year’s elected winner, the Yorkshire Dalby Forest (GBR).
Downhill: La Bresse takes the top spot
La Bresse (France) who joined the World Cup calendar just two years ago was voted best downhill event of the season. The smooth organisation, unique atmosphere and the thousands of spectators that turned out for this event ensured its popularity within the mountain bike community. The short, old school track which renders tight results was also cited. Last year’s winner, the well established Fort William (GBR), also proved popular in second place, noted for its great loud, big and boisterous crowd and long demanding track. The small ski resort three hours north of New York City, Windham (USA), took third place with a particular mention for the excellent organisation as well as the welcome and enthusiasm of the local population and its local community support/work.
Four-cross: Fort William rewarded for its efforts
Ten years of World Cups / World Championships has seen Fort William rise as the most popular Four-cross event of 2011. The new track is providing great racing and clearly seduced everyone. Val di Sole (ITA) which in 2008 hosted the Mountain Bike World Championships, was also well liked and took second place. The Austrian resort of Leogang in third place is creating a buzz with its permanent track, designed by the German Four-cross rider, Guido Tschugg. Leogang will host next year’s Mountain Bike World Championships.
Every year, the competition for the trophy for the Mountain Bike World Cup’s best event is more intense and more closely fought. This is more than encouraging for the quality of the series’ events!
