Dexter Robson photos

Here's some photos from Dexter Robson taken last Summer and Fall.

Dexter Robson is on Intense frame and Fox fork.
Also sponsored for Giro helmet and GoPro camera.

Jany Mitges representing for Opus

Eric Mayeu and Trevor Bodogh

 
This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to meet some of the great people of OGC/Opus, amazing athletes and numerous excited cyclists and wannabe cyclists at the Toronto International Bike Show.  This was my first opportunity to meet Eric Mayeu, Marketing guru for OGC who has shown incredible belief in me and my skills as an Ambassador for OGC/Opus.  There was also Vicki Schouten (unfortunately I don’t have a picture of her) but she is the extraordinary Social Media person that kept the world connected to the Opus action as it happened at the bike show.


 

Trevor Bodogh and Jany Mitges

Not only that, I was able to speak to Trevor Bodogh an amazing athlete that displayed his magnificent bike skills for 3 shows a day throughout the weekend.  You can find many of his videos on YouTube and they are well worth watching.

Jany and the Opus Fhast 1

The weekend was filled with a lot of fun experiences and it was awesome to see so many people psyched about Opus Bikes (not to mention me!)  I couldn’t help but smile and take in the awesome energy that filled the show.  I had the chance to have some pics taken by Vicki of my unbreakable smile as I stood beside the bikes I will have the pleasure of racing on for 2012.  First pic is the incredibly fast “Fhast 1″ 29′er mountain bike.  A beautiful hardtail machine that rides with the comfort of a full suspension, but has the agility and speed of a gazelle and is unbelievably light.

Jany and the Vivace

Second is the Vivace…..well just look at the picture and drool….I did standing beside it.  When I won’t be on my mountain bike, it will be this magnificent bike that will propel me down the roads with little effort and slice through the air like a stealth bomber.
If you haven’t seen the awesome selection of bicycles that Opus has to offer or want to see more about the great bikes I will be on, check out these links Fhast 1 29, Vivace and Opus Bikes!


A big thanks to everyone!  What a great start to my Ambassador and Racer role for 2012.




Stay on Target

ABS Carbon Aerobrake review

Here's a review of the Profile Design's ABS Carbon Aerobrake levers on TriBomb website.

WHAT YOU GET 

An ultra lightweight, sweet looking set of carbon brake levers. 

WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE

A slightly less sharp edge at the bottom tips of the levers 

WHAT WE THINK

A nice set of carbon levers with the added bonus of being some of the lightest we've tested. 

To read the full review:

TriBomb.com

 
 

Gear Floss from Finish Line

Finish Line Gear Floss demonstration / information.

 

Reverb in NY Time

An unsuspecting, but well deserved, accolade for the Giro Reverb helmet by Fashion Designer and Cycling fan, Sir Paul Smith. Check out the Reverb among other “Essential equipment” for cycling commuters in NY Times Style Magazine.

tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com

SpiderTech California-bound

TEAM SPIDERTECH INVITED TO RACE 2012 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA 

Lucas Euser to race at home after spectacular recovery, and will aim for repeat success 

(St. Catharines, ON – March 14, 2012)  – Team SpiderTech powered by C10, Canada’s own pro-continental professional cycling team, will once again race the Amgen Tour of California, announced the organizing committee on Tuesday.

Held for the seventh consecutive year in 2012, the Tour of California is arguably the fifth largest stage race in the world, attracting both World Champions and Tour de France winners. In 2011, the Tour of California was broadcast in high definition to 216 countries worldwide. It drew out more than two million on-site spectators to cheer on the riders, and was viewed by more than two billion fans worldwide, via broadcast and print media. The event carried an impressive economic impact of over 300 million dollars in communities across California.

“We are thrilled to receive an invite from the Tour of California. This is a ‘top class race’ for our riders to challenge the best in the world and it is a priority for our sponsor SpiderTech and its C10 partners. We need to spread the word to California and world marketplace of the amazing properties of SpiderTech tape and how it help our athletes heal, recover and perform day in day out,” said Steve Bauer, co-founder and directeur sportif for Team SpiderTech.

Added Bauer: “Once again, some of the world’s top cyclists will be racing at this prestigious event, and Team SpiderTech will be bringing its top riders and contend for stage performances, and a perhaps a repeat of one of the jersey prizes. Our team has good success in the past and we hope to continue that momentum.”

Last year, Team SpiderTech’s Pat McCarty won the coveted King of the Mountain jersey at the Amgen Tour of California, awarded to the top climber.

In 2008, American-based cyclist Lucas Euser of Napa, California, was struck by a vehicle while training in Girona, Spain — a near-fatal accident that resulted in a broken knee cap among other soft-tissue injuries.

But with determination, hard work and the extensive use of the SpiderTech taping products during his rehabilitation, the Californian rider was able to fully recover and find his pre-injury racing form. In 2010, he successfully completed his recovery, and finished 18th of the General Classification of the Amgen Tour of California, in front of his closest friends and family. Today, Euser and McCarty form a one-two punch for SpiderTech on the climbing stages across the world.

The 2012 edition will start in Santa Rosa on May 13 and travel more than 1200 kilometres throughout some of California’s most majestic and iconic highways, roadways and coastlines before the final stage on May 20 when the race will start in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive and finish at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.

Half of the sixteen teams announced hail from the UCI World Tour, while four pro-continental teams, including Team SpiderTech, have been awarded a spot on the start line. Four American-based continental teams will also be part of the race.

The final roster for Team SpiderTech will be announced closer to the event.

Follow Team SpiderTech on Twitter for live updates from the caravan. You can also follow your team on Facebook. 

RACE PROFILE

• Event : Amgen Tour of California (USA)
• Class : UCI 2.HC (America Tour)
• Type: Stage Race (Eight stages)
• Website

THE TEAMS
UCI World Tour Teams: BMC Racing Team (USA); Rabobank Cycling Team (NED); Garmin- Barracuda (USA); RadioShack-Nissan-Trek (LUX); Liquigas-Cannondale (ITA); Omega Pharma – QuickStep (BEL); AG2R La Mondiale (FRA); GreenEDGE Cycling Team (AUS)

UCI Pro-continental/continental: SpiderTech powered by C10 (CAN); UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA); Project 1t4i (NED); Colombia-Coldeportes (COL); Team Optum Presented By Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA); Bissell Pro Cycling (USA); Team Exergy (USA); Bontrager Livestrong Team (USA). 

THE STAGES
Stage 1: Santa Rosa – Santa Rosa (186.5 km)
Stage 2: San Francisco – Santa Cruz County (188.5 km)
Stage 3: San Jose – Livermore (185.5 km)
Stage 4: Sonora – Clovis (209.6 km)
Stage 5: Bakersfield Individual Time Trial (29.7 km)
Stage 6: Palmdale – Big Bear Lake (186.3 km)
Stage 7: Ontario – Mt. Baldy (126.0 km)
Stage 8: Beverly Hills – Los Angeles (72 km)

Team SpiderTech powered by C10 is supported by Giro and Finish Line.

Labonté : 8e à sa première course 2012

Véronique Labonté est en France depuis le début du mois et déjà une première course avec sa nouvelle formation C.S.M. Épinay sur Seine. La course s'est bien déroulé pour Véronique et elle a complété 1re Coupe de France à Chambéry en 8e position.

Vous pouvez suivre le cheminement de Véronique sur son blogue.

veroniquelabonte.com

Véronique est commandité par Opus et Giro.
Vélo Amadeus; casque, gants et souliers Giro.

Sweet day after returning from baja!

Dave Norona and Jon head off into the backcountry to do some ski touring!

www.twitter.com/davenorona

www.facebook.com/NoronaLife

www.noronalife.com

Dave Norona uses Giro Winter helmet and GoPro camera.

Les premiers coups de pédale de 2012

Aujourd’hui, voit le jour une toute nouvelle tribune sur ce blogue. Deux coureurs de la seule équipe canadienne Continentale Pro, SpiderTech propulsée par C10, nous ferons part de leur expérience au sein de ce projet unique au Canada. Lors de ces tribunes hebdomadaires, les coureurs parleront de leurs performances en course, de l’ambiance qui règne à l’intérieur de l’équipe, de leurs horaires ainsi que diverses anecdotes, entre autres.

Cette semaine Hugo Houle nous fait un résumé de son cheminement depuis le mois de janvier.

Il y a déjà 7 semaines, je quittais le Québec pour aller débuter la saison en Europe. Je suis d’abord allé en Haute Normandie, chez un ami de mon entraîneur Pierre Hutsebaut, pour un stage d’entraînement de 2 semaines, où j’ai accumulé les kilomètres pour me faire une bonne base de volume, avant d’aller rejoindre mon équipe à Aix-en Provence pour le premier camp d’entraînement.

J’étais tout excité à l’idée d’aller rouler au chaud avec mes coéquipiers, mais en arrivant à Aix-en-Provence, je fus surpris par une température qui oscillait autour de 0 degré avec quelques centimètres de neige.  Pas grave, c’est le début de saison ! Nous avions tous hâte d’aller rouler, de tester notre niveau de forme par rapport à nos coéquipiers et de confirmer si notre entraînement hivernal avait été bénéfique.

Alors, on part déterminé à rouler avec nos nouveaux vélos Argon18 Gallium Pro malgré le froid et la neige.  Nous avons réussi à effectuer des entraînements de qualité, mais il fallait tout de même faire attention à la glace noire comme en témoigne cette photo.

Ce fut, malgré la température, un excellent camp d’entraînement pour se mettre en jambe et pratiquer quelques «Lead Out» en vue des premières courses.

En parlant de course, mon calendrier se déroule principalement en Belgique. J’ai participé aux 2 premières semi-classiques belges de la saison soit Le Circuit Het Nieuwsblad et Kurne-Bruxelle-Kurne. Pour les moins familiers, ce sont des épreuves qui ont vu le jour au début des années 1940 et sont restées uniques en raison des nombreuses sections de routes pavées qu’elles empruntent. Les pavés seront certainement un sujet sur lequel nous reviendrons.

Notre prochaine semi-classique sera À travers les Flandres qui aura lieu le 21 mars. Le parcours emprunte plusieurs secteurs pavés du Tour des Flandres, un des monuments des classiques printanières. Je vous reviens avec les commentaires d’après course des « Spidermans ». 

À Bientôt !

Hugo Houle

facebook.com/Hugo-Houle

L'Équipe SpiderTech propulsée par C10 est supportée par Giro et Finish Line.

Nibali wins Tirreno-Adriatico

On a dramatic final day in the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race across Italy, Vincenzo Nibali of the Liquigas-Cannondale team secured overall victory with a strong final TT. His time trial was 20 seconds faster than the original GC leader, so he moved from third place into first. This victory in the overall completed a series of increasingly strong performances from the Mavic-sponsored Liquigas team.

On stage 4, the Liquigas team rode on the front for most of the day to keep the race close. The 250km route featured many climbs, but it was the final 5km that proved decisive. Sagan's teammate Nibali helped power a lead group of 5 clear from the field, but he faded slightly in the last 1000 meters. Sagan salvaged the win for Liquigas in a powerful sprint.

The next day in stage 5, Nibali left nothing to chance and attacked on the final climb. With 4km remaining, he moved clear to win the queen stage on a summit finish. In doing so, he moved within 12 seconds of the overall lead.

With a time bonus one day later on stage 6, followed by his strong stage 7 TT on the final day, Nibali edged out Chris Horner for the overall win. Nibali’s win surprised the field and confirmed his form for the upcoming grand tour season.

Associated products:

Cosmic Carbone Ultimate
Cosmic Carbone 80
Comete Road

Liquigas triumphant in Tirreno

Liquigas-Cannondale riders pulled out the stops during a key weekend in the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race across Italy, and they came away with a pair of victories. First, powerful Peter Sagan outsprinted a lead group to win the mountainous stage 4. One day later, Vincenzo Nibali made a solo escape to take the stage 5 summit finish on top of Prati di Tivo.

On stage 4, the Liquigas team rode on the front for most of the day to keep the race close. The 250km route featured many climbs, but it was the final 5km that proved decisive. Sagan's teammate Nibali helped power a lead group of 5 clear from the field, but he faded slightly in the last 1000 meters. Sagan salvaged the win for Liquigas in a powerful sprint.

The next day in stage 5, Nibali left nothing to chance and attacked on the final climb. With 4km remaining, he moved clear to win the queen stage on a summit finish. In doing so, he moved within 12 seconds of the overall lead.

Associated products:

Cosmic Carbone Ultimate

Andréanne Pichette troisième

Andréanne s'est illustrée de belle manière lors de la US Cup Bonelli Park Pro Triple Crown au Bonelli Park, à San Dimas, en Californie. 

Tout d'abord avec une cinquième position à l'épreuve Short track, puis une victoire au Super D et finalement une troisième place à l'épreuve du Cross country.

Andréanne sera de l'équipe canadienne pour représenter le pays aux championnats panaméricains dans quelques semaines.

apichette.blogspot.com

 

 

 Andréanne est commanditée par Opus, Giro, Fox et Easton.
 Vélo Fhast 29er, casque, gants et souliers Giro, fourche Fox et roues Easton. 

Shaman goes wild

Here's one of our coolest kids that was on the third step of the podium for his video for the Coor's Light Challenge in Mont Saint-Sauveur last weekend.

Vincent Prévost is a full Giro Sponsored athlete with the Shiv 2 / Onset on this video.

Skiing by Vince Prevost
Directed by Xavier Mayrand

Vincent Prévost's a Giro sponsored athlete. Shiv 2 helmet and Onset goggles.

Parisien à Sports Extra

Le coureur SpiderTech powered by C10 François Parisien est de retour au Québec pour soigner son genou blessé. Il a pris le temps mardi pour paraître sur l’émission Radio-Canada Sports Extra avec René Pothier à Montréal.

C’est une excellente entrevue dans laquelle François parle de sa blessure, son équipe, ses commanditaires et la saison 2012.

Entrevue de François

L'Équipe SpiderTech propulsée par C10 est supportée par Giro et Finish Line.