Echoes of Battenkill

Click to enlarge photo

Tour of the Battenkill: Photo: © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Tour of the Battenkill: Photo: © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

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Photo: Alizee Brien (Specialized-Mazda © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Quebec women shine at 2012 Battenkill

by Pasquale Stalteri & John Symon

April 16, 2012 (Cambridge, NY) - Quebec women did extremely well in Saturday’s elite women’s race. Veronique Fortin (Tibco/To the Top) won the 99.2km/62-mile race at the Tour of the Battenkill in a time of 3:00:38. In second was Crystal Anthony (USA) LadiesFirst Racing in second and Canada’s Alizee Brien (Specialized-Mazda-SGC) third on the podium. 

In total, four Quebec women finished in the top 10. In contrast, only one Quebec man, Bruno Langlois (Garneau Quebecor) finished in the top 10 in Sunday’s 200km men’s race.

Fortin, the current Canadian road champ, spoke to MdC just after crossing the finish line. She spoke about the strong field of competing women on the Battenkill start line. Anthony told Pedal that the dirt sections were very soft, and this made them difficult.

Brien, who is only 18 years old, was perhaps the revelation of the race. Brien’s coach, Gerard Penarroya, told MdC that he was very happy to have to girls in the top 10. Penarroya also spoke about the challenges caused by the dust on dirt sections of the race circuit, but said that his girls really enjoyed Battenkill.

Evelyne Blouin (Real Deal Racing / La Bicicletta) finished fifth. Some 55 women were on the start line and 51 finished, including eight Canadians.

Editors note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we arrived late on Saturday afternoon and regret not having as extensive a collection of photos of the women's elite race as we have of the men's. Thank you for your understanding. 

Tour of the Battenkill Champion Veronique Fortin (Tibco/To the Top)
Photo © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Tour of the Battenkill Champion Veronique Fortin (Tibco/To the Top)
Photo © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Podium féminin à Battenkill © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Tour of the Battenkill Women Pro 1/2

Results

1. Veronique Fortin (Tibco/To the Top) 3:00:38
2. Crystal Anthony (LadiesFirst Racing) 0:44
3. Alizee Brien (Specialized-Mazda-SGC) 0:44
4. Marti Shea (Destination Cycling) 0:45
5. Evelyne Blouin (Real Deal Racing / La Bicicletta) 2:59
6. Kathleen Billington (Vanderkitten-Focus) 4:12
7. Anne Donley (Boulder Orthopedic) 4:13
8. Melissa Ross (Team Kenda presented by Geargrinder) 4:13
9. Fabienne Gérard (CRCA/Eumaeus Asset Mgmt-Fuoriclasse) 4:13
10. Anne Marie Morrin (Specialized-Mazda-SGC) 4:13
11. Patty Buerkle (Edlow Int p/b Bike Beat) 4:13
12. Monika Sattler (XO COMMUNICATIONS p/b CISCO) 4:13
13. Jessica Chong (Morgan Stanley Cycling Team) 4:13
14. Peggy LeGrand (US Military) 4:13
15. Laura Ralston (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder) 4:13
16. Beth Ruiz (Farm Team Elite Women’s Cycling) 4:13
17. Kathleen Lysakowski (Farm Team Elite Cycling Team) 4:13
18. Kacy Wander (Farm Team Elite Women’s Cycling) 4:13
19. Jennifer Martin (Team Kenda presented by Geargrinder) 4:14
20. Virginia Gautier (Specialized-Mazda-SGC) 4:14
21. Yuri Matsumoto (Wheelworks Racing) 4:14
22. Gabrielle Pilote Fortin (Équipe Dedaccai-hype) 4:14
23. Martha Buckley (Wheelworks Racing) 4:16
24. Jenny Ives (Farm Team Elite Women’s Cycling) 5:40
25. Stephanie Skoreyko (Kallisto/Wheels of Oakville) 5:40
26. Silke Wunderwald (Kenda presented by Geargrinder) 5:57
27. Casey Kelly (MVP Health Care Cycling) 6:39
28. Sheila Vibert (Sunapee Racing Team) 6:40
29. Mary Zider (Colavita-EspnW Pro Cycling) 6:40
30. Cara Gillis (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder) 7:10
31. Michelle Paiement (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery) 7:11
32. Sara Clafferty (ABRT) 8:41
33. Rosanne Van Dorn (Team Placid Planet) 8:41
34. Ruth Sherman (Corning/Notubes/Swan Cycles) 8:42
35. Robyn Passander (ZCC Zanes Cycles) 8:43
36. Kyleanne Hunter (XO COMMUNICATIONS p/b CISCO) 11:19
37. Raquel Miller (CRCA/Houlihan-Lokey) 11:20
38. Erin Silliman (MVP Health Care Cycling) 12:33
39. Audrey Scott (Farm Team Elite Women’s Cycling) 12:39
40. Clara Kelly (NEBC p/b Cycle Loft) 16:09
41. Mary Costelloe (Kutztown University) 21:14
42. Lauren De Crescenzo (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder) 25:42
43. Sara Foster (Corning/No Tubes Race Team/Swan Cycles) 25:42
44. Mia Moore (Les Petites Victoires) 25:43
45. Anna McLoon (Ind) 25:45
46. Thea Parent (Peanut Butter & Co Human Zoom) 27:38
47. Meredith Ehn (Farm Team Elite Women’s Cycling) 27:55
48. Adriane Provost (Ind) 28:42
49. Stacey Jensen (Team Kenda presented by Geargrinder) 28:53
50. Colleen Paine (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder) 33:34
51. Kristine Church (Ind) 49:44
DNF Laurel Green (Peaks Coaching Group)
DNF Sarah Krzysiak (Farm Team Elite Women’s Cycling)
DNF Kate Veronneau (Kutztown Cutters)
DNF Arley Kemmerer (MUD)

__________________________________________________

L’équipe Specialized-Mazda-SGC satisfaite;

Tour of the Battenkill 2012

Courtoisie de Specialized-Mazda-SGC

Cambridge, NY 14 avril 2012 - Trois membres de l’équipe féminine Specialized-Mazda-SGC, soit Anne-Marie Morin, Alizée Brien et Virginie Gauthier ont pris part, samedi dernier, à leur première course officielle de la saison 2012 à Cambridge, dans l’état de New York. Longue de 100 km, le Tour of the Battenkill est réputé pour ses sections en terre battue et son parcours ponctué de plusieurs montées, qui en viennent à bout des plus aguerris.

Le niveau du peloton était plutôt relevé, entre autre avec la présence de la championne canadienne Véronique Fortin (Tibco/To the Top), gagnante de la course. Alizée Brien, qui en était à sa première course chez les seniors, s’en est tiré avec un résultat exceptionnel en terminant en troisième position, après être restée 2^ème pendant 20km, à quelques secondes en chasse derrière Fortin. Anne-Marie a quant à elle terminé en 10^ème position dans le peloton de tête, suivie de près par Virginie (20^ème), dans le même temps.

Ce fût donc une excellente première sortie pour l’équipe Specialized-Mazda-SGC, qui prendra part, dans les deux prochaines semaines, au Grand Prix de Contrecoeur ainsi qu’au Grand Prix Ste-Martine.

___________________________________________________

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Mancebo wins Tour of the Battenkill

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Francisco Mancebo Perez 100m from the finish
Photo © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

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MANCEBO WINS

by Pasquale Stalteri & John Symon

April 16, 2012 (Cambridge, NY) - It was Francisco Mancebo Perez (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team) who won Sunday’s Tour of the Battenkill pro elite men’s race around Cambridge, New York. Mancebo, a Spaniard, rode the 200km course in a time of 4:55:54. Jesse Anthony (Team Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies) finised second, only two seconds back while Jeremy Vennell (Bissell PRO Cycling) finished third with the same time.

Bruno Langlois (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team) was the top Canadian, finishing ninth and 1:59 back from the leader. Only two other Canadian riders finished: Aaron Fillion (Ride with Rendall Cycling Team) finished 25^th, Pierrick Naud (Équipe cycliste EKOÏ.com/Gaspésien) who came in 30^th. The 2011 champion, Brett Tivers (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team), a New Zealander based in Quebec City, finished 45^th.

Of the 153 cyclists on the start line at 12 noon, only 59 finished the difficult race on hilly terrain that alternates between asphalt and gravel. Near the end of the second of the two laps, a huge gap had developed between about 20 leaders and the rest of the peloton.

Langlois told MdC that he was lucky, neither flatting out nor being caught in a crash. Tivers explained that he got caught behind a crash. “Some days things line up for you and some days they don’t,” he said philosophically. Mathieu Roy (Équipe cycliste EKOÏ.com/Gaspésien) DNF’d after flatting three times and crashing once. Numerous cyclists told us of the difficulties caused by dust and loose gravel. “We were going down the hills at about 80km,” Charly Vives (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team) told us. “But it was so dusty that I couldn’t see the road in front.”  Rémi Pelletier-Roy (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team) said that the main lesson from 2012 was to try and ride near the front of the pack in 2013.

Mancebo’s Canadian connection is through his coach, Gordon Fraser, a former Olympic cyclist and Tour de France participant.

American Greg LeMond, a three time TdF winner, was very visible around Cambridge this weekend. MdC spoke to LeMond at length.

Tour of the Battenkill 


Organizer: Anthem Sports, Dieter Drake Distance: 200km

# starters: 153 # did not start: # classified: 59

Avg Speed: 40.55kph # did not finish:

 Tour of the Battenkill Pro Elite Men

1. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team)  4:55:54
2. Jesse Anthony (Team Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies)  0:02
3. Jeremy Vennell (Bissell PRO Cycling)
4. Joey Rosskopf (Team Type 1- Sanofil)  0:25
5. Michael Friedman (Team Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies)
6. Jeffry Louder (United Healthcare Pro Cycling)
7. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell PRO Cycling)
8. Benjamin Day (United Healthcare Pro Cycling)
9. Bruno Langlois (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team)  1:59
10. John Murphy (Kenda/5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder)  2:46
11. Chad Beyer (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team)  6:03
12. Tom Last (Team IG- Sigma Sport)  6:20
13. Devan Dunn (CashCall Mortgage)  7:31
14. Cole House (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team)  0:11:43
15. Shawn Milne (Kenda/5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder)
16. Luca Damiani (Kenda/5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder)
17. Evan Oliphant (Team Raleigh-GAC)
18. Kiel Reijnen (Team Type 1- Sanofil)
19. Adam Farabaugh (XO Communications p/b Cisco Systems)
20. David Fleischhauer (Hagens Berman Elite Cycling)
21. Frank Kevin Pipp (Bissell PRO Cycling)
22. Ian Crane (Hagens Berman Elite Cycling)
23. Keck Baker (XO Communications p/b Cisco Systems)
24. Jeff Perrin (Juwi Solar Elite Cycling)
25. Aaron Fillion (Ride with Rendall Cycling Team)
26. David Santos (CashCall Mortgage)
27. Karl Menzies (United Healthcare Pro Cycling)
28. Jacob Rytlewski (Astellas Oncology Cycling)
29. Lee Muse (CashCall Mortgage)
30. Pierrick Naud (Équipe cycliste EKOÏ.com/Gaspésien)
31. Brian Mcculloch (CashCall Mortgage)
32. Alexander Candelario (Team Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies)
33. Ian Holt (Juwi Solar Elite Cycling)
34. Ryan Knapp (Team Panther)
35. Liam Holohan (Team Raleigh-GAC)
36. Scott Tietzel (Juwi Solar Elite Cycling)
37. Dan Chabanov (Champion System)
38. Mark Langlands (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team)
39. Simon Richardson (Team IG- Sigma Sport)
40. Christopher Uberti (Team Panther)
41. Stefano Barberi (CashCall Mortgage)
42. Steve Fisher (Hagens Berman Elite Cycling)
43. Wouter Sybrandy (Team IG- Sigma Sport)
44. Cesar Augusto Grajales (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team)
45. Brett Tivers (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team)
46. Steve Lampier (Team IG- Sigma Sport)
47. Daniel Lloyd (Team IG- Sigma Sport)
48. Andrew Bajadali (Team Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies)
49. Max Jenkins (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team)  0:12:06
50. Mike Olheiser (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team)
51. Edison Blair Turner (Hincapie Sportswear Development)  0:12:10
52. Chris Gruber (Champion System)  0:12:20
53. Travis Livermon (Team Mountain Khakis- SmartStop)  0:12:32
54. Peter Morse (OCTTO presented by Cervélo.)  0:13:29
55. Greg Krause (Juwi Solar Elite Cycling)
56. Wyatt Stoup (Mt. Borah Cyling Team)  0:14:37
57. Martz Alder (Hincapie Sportswear Development)  0:14:56
58. Chris Barton (Bissell PRO Cycling)  0:15:06
59. Phillip Gaimon (Kenda/5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder)
DNF  Geoffroy Dussault (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team)
DNF  Charly Vives (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team)  
DNF  Rémi Pelletier-Roy (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team)  
DNF  Adam Carr (Équipe cycliste EKOÏ.com/Gaspésien)  
DNF  Mathieu Roy (Équipe cycliste EKOÏ.com/Gaspésien)  
DNF  Antoine Matteau (Équipe cycliste EKOÏ.com/Gaspésien)
DNF  Jordan Brochu (Équipe cycliste EKOÏ.com/Gaspésien)
DNF  François Chabot (Équipe cycliste EKOÏ.com/Gaspésien)
DNF  Isaac Enderline (Hincapie Sportswear Development)
DNF  Andrew Joseph Meyer (Hincapie Sportswear Development)
DNF  Jovan Zekavica (Hincapie Sportswear Development)
DNF  Parker Kyzer (Hincapie Sportswear Development)
DNF  James Stemper (Kenda/5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder)
DNF  Max Korus (Kenda/5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder)
DNF  Marsh Cooper (Team Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies)
DNF  Scott Zwizanski (Team Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies)
DNF  Peter Hawkins (Team IG- Sigma Sport)
DNF  Jonathan Hamblen (Team Mountain Khakis- SmartStop)
DNF  Jerome Townsend (Team Mountain Khakis- SmartStop)
DNF  Adam Myerson (Team Mountain Khakis- SmartStop)
DNF  Chris Monteleone (Team Mountain Khakis- SmartStop)
DNF  Russell Hampton (Team Raleigh-GAC)
DNF  Daniel Holloway (Team Raleigh-GAC)
DNF  Simon Holt (Team Raleigh-GAC)
DNF  James Sparling (Team Raleigh-GAC)
DNF  Alex Bowden (Team Type 1- Sanofil)
DNF  William Dugan (Team Type 1- Sanofil)
DNF  Joe Eldridge (Team Type 1- Sanofil)
DNF  Hilton Clarke (United Healthcare Pro Cycling)
DNF  Jay Thompson (United Healthcare Pro Cycling)
DNF  Adrian Hegyvary (United Healthcare Pro Cycling)
DNF  John Minturn (Bikereg.com/Cannondale Cycling Team)
DNF  Stephen Weller (Bikereg.com/Cannondale Cycling Team)
DNF  Peter Hurst (Bikereg.com/Cannondale Cycling Team)
DNF  Evan Burkhart (Bikereg.com/Cannondale Cycling Team)
DNF  Zack Noonan (Bikereg.com/Cannondale Cycling Team)
DNF  Wesley Kline (Bikereg.com/Cannondale Cycling Team)
DNF  Ryan Aitcheson (Team Panther)
DNF  Ben Damhoff (Team Panther)
DNF  Andrew Seitz (Team Panther)
DNF  Robert Stumpf (Team Panther)
DNF  Casey Roth (Ride with Rendall Cycling Team)
DNF  Olivier Delaney (Ride with Rendall Cycling Team)
DNF  Kiernan Orange (Ride with Rendall Cycling Team)
DNF  Matteo Dal-Cin (Ride with Rendall Cycling Team)
DNF  Stephen Keeping (Ride with Rendall Cycling Team)
DNF  William Blackburn (Team Medique p/b Silber Investments)
DNF  Sebastien Lacroix (Team Medique p/b Silber Investments)
DNF  Scott Loong (Team Medique p/b Silber Investments)
DNF  Kianoush Missaghi (Team Medique p/b Silber Investments)
DNF  James Picolli (Team Medique p/b Silber Investments)
DNF  Robert Ralph (Team Medique p/b Silber Investments)
DNF  Osmond Bakker (OCTTO presented by Cervélo)
DNF  Kevin Black (OCTTO presented by Cervélo)
DNF  David Byer (OCTTO presented by Cervélo)
DNF  Yuri Hrycaj (OCTTO presented by Cervélo)
DNF  Brian Trafford (OCTTO presented by Cervélo)
DNF  Anthony Hall (Champion System)
DNF  Timothy Rugg (Champion System)
DNF  Chris Johnson (Champion System)
DNF  Igor Volshteyn (Champion System)
DNF  Kennett Peterson (Hagens Berman Elite Cycling)
DNF  Gabe Varela (Hagens Berman Elite Cycling)
DNF  Jesse Reams (Hagens Berman Elite Cycling)
DNF  Michael Margarite (Stans Notubes / AXA Equitable Cycling Team)
DNF  Stephen Kincaid (Stans Notubes / AXA Equitable Cycling Team)
DNF  Joseph Whitman (Stans Notubes / AXA Equitable Cycling Team)
DNF  Jacob Mueller (Stans Notubes / AXA Equitable Cycling Team)
DNF  Stephen Cummings (Stans Notubes / AXA Equitable Cycling Team)
DNF  Bobby Lea (Pure Energy Cycling Team)
DNF  Barry Miller (Pure Energy Cycling Team)
DNF  Michael Chauner (Pure Energy Cycling Team)
DNF  Nick Frey (Pure Energy Cycling Team)
DNF  William (Booey) Hottenstein (Mt. Borah Cyling Team)
DNF  John Hunter (Mt. Borah Cyling Team)
DNF  Andrew Mccullough (Mt. Borah Cyling Team)
DNF  Matthew Spohn (Mt. Borah Cyling Team)
DNF  Adam Switters (XO Communications p/b Cisco Systems)
DNF  Sean Barrie (XO Communications p/b Cisco Systems)
DNF  Jamie Riggs (Jet Fuel Cycling Team)
DNF  Anton Varabei (Jet Fuel Cycling Team)
DNF  Joe Guiliano (Jet Fuel Cycling Team)
DNF  Andrew Randell (Jet Fuel Cycling Team)
DNF  Jesse Goodrich (Juwi Solar Elite Cycling)
DNF  Julian Kyer (Juwi Solar Elite Cycling)
DNF  Zachary Bergh (Astellas Oncology Cycling)
DNF  Daniel Harm (Astellas Oncology Cycling)
DNF  Nicholas Inabinet (Astellas Oncology Cycling)
DNF  Andre Vandenberg (Astellas Oncology Cycling)
DNF  Simon Bennett (Athletix Cycling Team Benefiting Globalbike)
DNF  Shane Braley (Athletix Cycling Team Benefiting Globalbike)
DNF  Coulton Hartrich (Athletix Cycling Team Benefiting Globalbike)
DNF  Christian Parrett (Athletix Cycling Team Benefiting Globalbike)
DNF  James Schurman (Athletix Cycling Team Benefiting Globalbike)
DNF  Joshua Whitmore (Athletix Cycling Team Benefiting Globalbike)

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Echoes of Battenkill
Pedal Magazine

Read More

Tour of the Battenkill: deux québécoises sur le podium

Podium féminin à Battenkill © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Battenkill: Deux Québécoises sur le Podium

par Pasquale Stalteri & John Symon

le 14 avril 2012 (Cambridge, NY) – Deux québécoises se sont trouvées sur le podium cet après-midi au Tour of the Battenkill.  Véronique Fortin (Tibco/To the Top) a pris la victoire aujourd'hui avec un temps de 3 h 48 s dans la course de  99.2km. Crystal Anthony (USA) LadiesFirst Racing se trouvait en deuxième place tandis que Alizée Brien (Specialized-Mazda-SGC) finissait en troisième.

Résultats (brefs)

1. Véronique Fortin (Can) Tibco/To the Top 3:00:38

2. Crystal Anthony (USA) LadiesFirst Racing 0:44

3. Alizée Brien (Can) Specialized-Mazda-SGC 0:44

4. Marti Shea (USA) Destination Cycling 0:45

5. Evelyne Blouin (Can) Real Deal Racing / La Bicicletta 2:59
10- Anne-Marie-Morin, Specialized Mazda SGC, à 4:13

résultats officiels

 plus de nouvelles de Battenkill à suivre...

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GARNEAU-QUEBECOR: NO. 1 AMATEUR CYCLING TEAM IN CANADA

Team Garneau-Quebecor photo © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

(press conference photos below) En francais

Louis Garneau speaks to us about his partnership with Quebecor, team and about David Veilleux

Montréal, April 12, 2012 - Louis Garneau, President of Louis Garneau Sports, and Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor, are pleased to introduce the new 25-member Garneau-Quebecor cycling team, made up of 11 riders from Québec, 12 from Ontario, the Maritimes and British Columbia, and 2 from New Zealand.

The aim of the team is to develop world-class cyclists. It gives promising young riders a chance to grow and improve as part of a team, providing them with the means to develop their talent and achieve their goals. Team alumni include David Veilleux, who now rides the pro circuit as a member of France's Europcar team.

"That's the team's main raison d'être," said Louis Garneau. "We want to give our talented young athletes an opportunity to develop and give them a springboard to help them realize their dream, be it to compete in international amateur meets, to join the pro circuit, or even to represent their country at the Olympics."

During the 2012 season, the Garneau-Quebecor team will participate in a number of international-calibre races, including the Tour de Beauce, and several major events on the US East Coast. In fact, the team leaves tomorrow for New York State to compete in the Tour of the Battenkill. One of its members, Brett Tivers, will be defending his title after winning the race last year.

In competition, the riders use the full Louis Garneau cycling solution (shorts, jersey, helmet, shoes, gloves, bikes and accessories), serving as a test bed for product development.

Quebecor, the team's lead partner, sees its backing as a natural extension of its longstanding involvement in developing young talent in all fields: culture, business, sport. "Our support for elite athletes is in keeping with our commitment to promoting success and excellence," said Pierre Karl Péladeau. "Helping champions emerge, improve and become tomorrow's star pro athletes is a way for us to invest in the Québec of the future."

The Garneau-Quebecor cycling team's partners - Norton Rose, Cascades, Shimano, Vittoria, Sports Experts, Fedex, Delmar, Aquafina, Deloitte and Couture Rochette - are making a vital contribution to the development of young cyclists in Québec and the rest of Canada.

About Louis Garneau Sports

Louis Garneau Sports, founded in 1983, is an industry leader for cycling and triathlon apparel, helmets and shoes, which are distributed in over 36 countries. Louis Garneau also offers a complete line of bikes for the Canadian market. The commitment to outfit both cyclists and triathletes head to toe is known as the cycling solution and triathlon solution respectively. Its reputation is built on the technological expertise and innovative engineering that go into the products it designs and produces, making it a transformational force in cycling. Louis Garneau sets the standard for technology and performance, transforming simple concepts into smart products. For more information, see the website at www.louisgarneau.com.

About Quebecor Inc.

Quebecor Inc. (TSX: QBR.A, QBR.B) is a holding company with a 54.7% interest in Quebecor Media Inc., one of Canada's largest media groups, with more than 16,000 employees. Quebecor Media Inc., through its subsidiary Videotron Ltd., is an integrated communications company engaged in cable television, interactive multimedia development, Internet access services, cable telephone services and mobile telephone services. Through Sun Media Corporation, Quebecor Media Inc. is the largest publisher of newspapers in Canada. It also operates Canoe.ca and its network of English and French language Internet properties in Canada. In the broadcasting sector, Quebecor Media Inc. operates, through TVA Group Inc., the number one French language general interest television network in Québec, a number of specialty channels and the SUN News English language channel. Another subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., Nurun Inc., is a major interactive technologies and communications agency with offices in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. Quebecor Media Inc. is also active in magazine publishing (TVA Publishing Inc.), video game development (BlooBuzz Studios, L.P.), book publishing and distribution (Sogides Group Inc. and CEC Publishing Inc.), the production, distribution and retailing of cultural products (Archambault Group Inc. and TVA Films), DVD, Blu-ray disc and videogame rental and retailing (Le SuperClub Vidéotron Ltd), the printing and distribution of regional newspapers and flyers (Quebecor Media Printing Inc. and Quebecor Media Network Inc.), news content production and distribution (QMI Agency), multiplatform advertising solutions (QMI Sales) and the publishing of printed and online directories, through Quebecor MediaPagesTM.

Louis Garneau photo © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Pierre Karl Péladeau photo © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Pierre Karl Péladeau photo © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Louis Garneau photo © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Remi Pelletier-Roy photo © Pasquale Stalteri / Miroir du Cyclisme

Tean Garneau-Quebecor 2012

Road Team:

• Antoine Duchesne 
• Brett Tivers 
• Bruno Langlois
• Charly Vives
• Geoffroy Dussault
• Jean-Francois Racine
• Joakim Albert
• Mark Longlands
• Maxine Vives
• Remi Pelletier-Roy

Mountain bike Team:

• Francis Morin 
• Leni Trudel 
• Marc-Andre Daigle

Team Coach: 

• Christian Leduc 

___________________________________________________

GARNEAU-QUEBECOR :

L’équipe cycliste amateur n° 1 au Canada

Montréal, le 12 avril 2012 – Messieurs Louis Garneau, président de Louis Garneau Sports, et Pierre Karl Péladeau, président et chef de la direction de Quebecor, sont heureux de présenter la nouvelle équipe cycliste Garneau-Quebecor, composée de 25 coureurs, dont 11 coureurs québécois, 12 coureurs de l’Ontario, des Maritimes et de la Colombie-Britannique, ainsi que 2 coureurs néo-zélandais.

L’équipe se veut une équipe de développement de cyclistes de niveau international. Sa vocation première est de permettre à de jeunes coureurs prometteurs d’évoluer et de progresser au sein d’une équipe qui leur permettra de développer leur talent en leur donnant les moyens de réaliser leurs ambitions. Parmi les athlètes qui sont passés par l’équipe, citons David Veilleux, qui court maintenant sur le circuit professionnel au sein de l’équipe française Europcar.

« C’est la principale raison d’être de l’équipe », souligne Louis Garneau. « Nous espérons ainsi permettre à nos jeunes talents de se développer et leur servir de tremplin pour réaliser leurs plus grandes ambitions, que ce soit de courir sur les circuits des compétitions amateur de niveau mondial, de joindre les rangs des professionnels ou même de représenter leur pays lors des Jeux Olympiques. »

La saison 2012 de l’équipe Garneau-Quebecor sera marquée par des courses de niveau international dont le Tour de Beauce, ainsi que par plusieurs épreuves d’importance disputées sur la côte est américaine. Les coureurs repartent d’ailleurs dès demain pour les États-Unis afin de participer au Tour de Battenkill, dans l’état de New York, où Brett Tivers, un des membres de l’équipe, défendra son titre après sa victoire de l’an dernier.

Lors des compétitions, les coureurs portent la solution cycliste complète Louis Garneau, soit vêtements, casque, souliers, gants, accessoires et vélos, servant ainsi de banc d’essai au développement des produits. 

Partenaire principal de l’équipe, Quebecor voit dans sa participation un prolongement naturel de son engagement de toujours envers la relève, tant culturelle et entrepreneuriale que sportive. « Notre soutien aux sportifs d’élite s’inscrit dans une démarche de promotion de la réussite et de l’excellence », a déclaré Pierre Karl Péladeau. « Contribuer à l’émergence et au perfectionnement de nos champions, ceux qui brilleront dans des équipes professionnelles, c’est une façon pour nous d’investir dans le Québec de demain ».

Plusieurs partenaires participent à la réalisation de ce projet : Norton Rose, Cascades, Shimano, Vittoria, Sports Experts, Fedex, Delmar, Aquafina, Deloitte et Couture Rochette. Leur apport est essentiel afin de soutenir la relève cycliste au Québec et au Canada.

À propos de Louis Garneau Sports

Louis Garneau Sports, fondée en 1983, est un chef de file dans l'industrie du cyclisme et du triathlon, distribuant ses vêtements, ses casques et ses souliers dans plus de 36 pays. Louis Garneau offre, aussi, une ligne complète de vélos sur le marché canadien. L'entreprise s'est consacrée à équiper des cyclistes et des triathlètes de la tête aux pieds, formant la solution cycliste et la solution triathlon. Les produits que nous développons représentent l'expertise et l'innovation technologique qui font notre renommée, nous permettant de transformer l'essence même du cyclisme. Louis Garneau est la référence dans l'industrie en ce qui concerne la technologie et la performance, transformant de simples concepts en produits intelligents. Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez consulter le site Web www.louisgarneau.com.

À propos de Quebecor inc.

Quebecor inc. (TSX : QBR.A, QBR.B) est une société de gestion détenant une participation de 54,7 % dans Québecor Média inc., l'un des plus importants conglomérats de médias du Canada, comptant plus de 16 000 employés. Québecor Média inc. est, grâce à sa filiale Vidéotron ltée, une entreprise intégrée de communications active dans la télédistribution, le développement multimédia interactif, les services d'accès Internet, la téléphonie par câble et la téléphonie mobile. Par l'intermédiaire de Corporation Sun Media, Québecor Média inc. est le plus grand éditeur de journaux du Canada. Elle exploite également Canoe.ca et son réseau de propriétés Internet au Canada en langues française et anglaise. Dans le domaine de la télédiffusion, Quebecor Média inc. exploite, par l'entremise de Groupe TVA inc., le premier réseau de télévision francophone généraliste du Québec, diverses chaînes spécialisées et la chaîne de langue anglaise SUN News. Une autre filiale de Québecor Média inc., Nurun inc., est une importante agence de technologies et de communications interactives avec des bureaux au Canada, aux États-Unis, en Europe et en Asie. Québecor Média inc. est active dans l'édition de magazines (TVA Publications inc.), dans l'édition et la distribution de livres (Groupe Sogides inc. et Les Éditions CEC inc.), dans la production, la distribution et la vente au détail de produits culturels (Groupe Archambault inc., TVA Films), dans le développement de jeux vidéo (Studios BlooBuzz, s.e.c.), dans la location et la vente au détail de DVD, de disques Blu-ray et de jeux vidéos (Le SuperClub Vidéotron ltée), dans l’impression et la distribution de journaux régionaux et de circulaires (Imprimerie Québecor Média inc. et Réseau Québecor Média inc.), dans la production et la diffusion de contenus d’information (Agence QMI), dans la commercialisation d’ententes publicitaires multiplateformes (QMI Ventes) et dans l'édition d'annuaires imprimés et en ligne par l'intermédiaire de Quebecor PagesMédiaMC.

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Tivers sizes up the Battenkill

Click to enlarge photo

2011 Tour of the Battenkill Champion Brett Tivers (Garneau /Quebecor Cycling Team) 
Photo © Pasquale Stalteri

Tivers sizes up the Battenkill

2011 champ describes team, race

by Pasquale Stalteri & John Symon

April 11, 2012 (Cambridge, NY) - The 2012 Tour of the Battenkill men's pro race starts on Main Street in Cambridge at 12 noon Sunday. This season opener will see riders will competing on a two-lap, 124 mile (200km) course that makes direct passes through the villages of Cambridge, Salem, and Greenwich each lap. More than 150 international, professional riders making up 29 teams and their support cars will race with a rolling closure format allowing riders access to both sides of the road during the race, with the assistance of law enforcement.

To better understand this UCI-sanctioned race, Miroir du Cyclisme contacted Brett Tivers (Garneau /Quebecor Cycling Team), the 2011 champion. A New Zealand rider based in Quebec City, last year Tivers rode the 158.4km (99 mile) course in a time of 4:07:37, edging out second place Jesse Anthony (KBS-OptumHealth) by 11 seconds. Third place in 2011 went to Brendan Housler (Mt. Borah Custom Apparel/Minerva Design) who finished 47 seconds back. This Sunday’s pro men’s race will be 42km longer than the 2011 edition.

Miroir du Cyclisme (MdC): Are you or the Garneau team facing any particular challenges in 2011 at Battenkill?

Brett Tivers (BT): Our team is definitely one that will have a lot of focus on due to results we achieved last year but this is a new team with new riders and we are about a new fresh start.

We have a more all-rounded team this year with plenty of options within a race. This is very good as if someone is not feeling great then there is another rider to step up to the plate and we as a team can put our energy around them. Based on my race result from last year, I could be more of a marked man, which means that my teammates have more leeway in the race.

What are the unique challenges at Battenkill?

BT: Battenkill is all about riding position. The dirt sections mean that if you are riding at the front, it is generally safer and this also stops you from getting caught behind any splits in the bunch, held up behind crashes etc. The key is to also relax on the dirt sections; too many riders last year panicked and were trying to move up on dirt. They ended taking bad lines resulting in hitting pot holes, running off the road and puncturing unnecessarily.

This year the [extra] distance is going to add a lot to the challenge of the race.  Some 200km for such an early part of the season could mean that those that have prepared for the season in warmer climate could be easily the ones in better form due to a greater level of fitness.

MdC: How the race is suited or not to your style of racing?

BT: The race last year suited me in the fact that it was a war of attrition. When I attacked the main bunch across to the break it was just after a very hard dirt section that had included a climb which split the [peloton] to pieces. A slight lull in the bunch and I knew it was time to attack!  This style of racing is where, if you have done the hard yards in training and come into the race fit, you will do well.

MdC: How you overcame these challenges and found a way to win?

BT: Last year I had gone into the race riding for another team mate so when I had attacked the bunch (40-50km from finish) to bridge to the break. The plan was always to make it easier on my teammate, Shaun McCarthy, in the bunch.  It was only 15km from the finish so that I thought we could actually stay away. And it was only 4km from the finish when I was chasing the sole breakaway rider, Jesse Anthony. I thought that if I catch him on the last false flat section, then I might actually win the race!

I attacked the race in a long breakaway soon after catching them. I rode with one other rider before dropping him on the last dirt climb 7km from the finish. I caught Jesse 2km from the finish, attacking him instantly on the other side of the road.

MdC: And the biggest lesson from 2011?

BT:  I think the biggest thing that I learnt last year was to approach a race with a relaxed attitude.  This let me to view the race with a better perspective which allowed me to read [what was going on] a lot better.

Please note that at least three of my wins last year happened when I was racing for teammates and simply by trying to set up wins for them when I found myself in the winning move…oops. Perhaps this was all due to the fact I wasn’t in the race to win, but simply support my teammates which meant less pressure. I had the ability to therefore read the race without the worry of winning it!

MdC: How does the road ahead look for 2012?

I’m not sure how the season will pan out for me, last year will be pretty hard to beat and my training this season started a lot later and has been very up and down suffering the effects of a long season that only really finished mid-January. My season last year was one of those seasons that everything fell into place from my solid 3 month pre-season to how every race unfolded.  My team had a huge roll in most of these races and results.  Therefore this season for me is all about helping my younger teammates develop as riders both on and off the bike. It will give me great satisfaction in assisting them get some results that will propel them onto greater things

MdC: Thanks Brett. Good luck on Sunday!

Editor’s note: we consider Brett to be an honorary Canadian and wish the best to him and all Canuck riders at the Battenkill!

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Tour of The Battenkill Preview

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Defending Pro mens champion Brett Tivers (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team)
  Photo courtesy of © Barry Koblenz/BaseTwelvePhoto 

Tour of the Battenkill coming April 14—15;

But women’s champ not returning in 2012

by Pasquale Stalteri & John Symon

The 8th annual Tour of the Battenkill, nicknamed "America's Queen of the Classics," takes place on the weekend of April 14—15 around Cambridge, NY.

With many categories from junior to masters over the two days, this event is the beginning of the road racing calendar for many cyclists in the American northeast and in eastern Canada. The pro men’s race this year has received a UCI 1.2 sanction this year, returning to the status it held in 2010, but lost in 2011. The Tour of the Battenkill has also secured a spot on USA Cycling's National Racing Calendar (NRC) for 2012. The popular Pro/Am event, including the elite women's race takes place on Saturday, while the professional men's NRC race on Sunday. Some 3,000 riders are expected to race over the two days. Former multiple Tour de France winner, Greg LeMond is expected to take part in the ceremonies.

Sunday’s pro men’s race is a two-lap, 200 kilometre professional event that is expected to draw some 200 riders. The race course at Battenkill involves an “embedded loop” of 80 mile/130km in distance that varies between 100 and 800 feet elevation with five notable climbs at about the eight, 27, 36, 66, and 74 mile marks. This loop also famously features seven ‘dirt’ (gravel) sections that apparently comprise some 25 percent of the course. The start and finish of the Battenkill loop is in Cambridge NY, while cyclists pass through or near the towns of Eagleville, Shushan, East Greenwich, and Greenwich, as well as the Hudson River and the Hoosic River.

While the team invite list (pro men’s race only) is posted below, there is no 2012 start list currently posted at the Tour of the Battenkill website. However MdC has learned that one of the 2011 champions, Canadian Lex Albrecht (Optum Pro Cycling p/b KBS), will NOT be there this year. Albrecht won the women’s 102.4km (64 miles) race in 2011 with a time of 3:15:30 while riding for Team Juvederm-Specialized. Albrecht confirmed to MdC that she will instead be racing at The Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium in Charlotte, NC on April 14. “It is the team that decides, not me, that`s why,” Albrecht explained to MdC. “I asked to go to Battenkill, but it's not on our calendar.”

It is unclear if 2011 Battenkill second place finisher, Kacy Wander (CAWES p/b Specialized) or third place finisher, Melissa Ross (Team Kenda P/b GearGrinder) will be there in 2012.

The pro men’s champion in 2011 was Brett Tivers (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team), a New Zealand rider based in Quebec City. Last year Tivers rode the 158.4km (99 mile) course in a time of 4:07:37, edging out second place Jesse Anthony (KBS-OptumHealth) by 11 seconds. Third place in 2011 went to Brendan Housler (Mt. Borah Custom Apparel/Minerva Design) who finished 47 seconds back.

Tivers confirmed to MdC that he will be there in 2012 and went on to say that: “Battenkill is all about riding position. The dirt sections mean that if you are riding at the front, it is generally safer and also stops you from getting caught behind any splits in the bunch or held up behind crashes etc. The key is to also relax on the dirt sections. Too many riders last year panicked and were trying to move up on dirt taking bad lines resulting in hitting pot holes, running off the road and puncturing unnecessarily.”

“This year the distance is going to add a lot to the challenge of the race.  With over 200km for such an early part of the season, this could mean that those that have prepared for the season in warmer climate could be easily the ones [who win] due to a greater level of fitness.”

Apart from Tivers, eight other Garneau riders finished in the field of 80 pro men riders in 2011; apparently the team will be back in force for the 2012 edition.

Meanwhile, Gérard Penarroya, the manager of Albrecht’s former team (now called Specialized-Mazda-SGC), told MdC that he is going to Battenkill this year with three cyclists: Alizée Brien, Virginie Gauthier, and Anne-Marie Morin.

April 15, 2012 UCI 1.2, 200km Tour of the Battenkill teams (by team category):

UCI Professional Continental

Team Type 1 - Sanofi (USA)

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling (USA)

UCI Continental

Bissell Pro Cycling Team (USA)

BMC - Hincapie Sportswear Development (USA)

Competitive Cyclist Racing Team (USA)

EKOÏ.com - Gaspésien (Can)

Kenda/5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder (USA)

Team IG - Sigma Sport (GBr)

Team Mountain Khakis - SmartStop (USA)

Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA)

Team Raleigh - GAC (GBr)

Wonderful Pistachios Cycling (USA)

Elite amateur

Astellas Cycling (USA)

Athletix Cycling Team Benefiting Globalbike (USA)

Bikereg.com/Cannondale Cycling Team (USA)

CashCall Mortgage (USA)

Champion System p/b Stan’s NoTubes/CRCA (USA)

Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team (Can)

Hagens Berman Elite Cycling (USA)

Jet Fuel Cycling Team (Can)

Juwi Solar Elite Cycling (USA)

Mt. Borah Cycling Team (USA)

OCTTO presented by Cervélo (Can)

Pure Energy Cycling Team (USA)

Ride with Rendall Cycling Team (Can)

Stans NoTubes / AXA Equitable Cycling Team (USA)

Team Medique p/b Silber Investments (Can)

Team Panther p/b Competitive Cyclist (USA)

XO Communications p/b Cisco Systems (USA)

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