Shimano announced today that Dura-Ace Di2 7970 Electronic Groupset is in fact ready for production and will be available in January 2009!

For years, Shimano has been testing prototypes of its electronic Dura-Ace system. Pictures have surfaced from time to time of teams in the peloton that were testing the system, but no word on how far along in development it was or when we would see the final product come to fruition and into production. Well, wonder no longer, because Shimano today announced that Dura-Ace Di2 7970 is in fact in production and should start arriving at your local bike shop in January of 2009.

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Lafayette, Colorado  - Peaksware, LLC has announced the release of TrainingPeaks Version 3.0 for BETA testing. The webinar, conducted by Donavon Guyot, Peaksware CEO is open to anyone wishing to view the new version and will take place Friday, August 1st at 9:00 am Mountain Daylight Time (GMT -06:00, Denver, Colorado). Convert to your time zone here. Register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/574751683. If you would like a private demonstration of the new application, please contact jduerksen@peaksware.com.

Shortly after the webinar, TrainingPeaks Premium Personal and Professional Edition subscribers will be invited to join in a BETA test of Version 3.0. A BETA link will be added to every Premium Edition account which will allow the subscriber to operate in the new environment. The current TrainingPeaks version will remain accessible and because both versions share the same database, all data will be simultaneously live in both versions.

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Berkeley, California - Vanderkitten announced today that Robin Zellner (former Director/Owner of Kodak/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling) will be stepping in to guide the Vanderkitten Racing program through the remainder of the season. “This team is very strong and can win the series with the appropriate direction and leadership,” noted Zellner.

After serving as a consultant to the team for much of the season, Zellner will build upon a strong team reorganization by Northern California’s Michael Hernandez which enabled the Vanderkitten Racing program secure a solid lead in the USA Crits Series (Swagger) overall standings along with individual standings leader Jennifer Wilson.

“We’ve had a tremendous inaugural season, I couldn’t be more pleased with the efforts and determination of the women who represent Vanderkitten…along with all of our supporters,”stated Mark Zefeldt, Managing Director/Owner. Next race is the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium in Charlotte NC, August 2nd.

Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania - The Bicycle Product Suppliers Association announces new dates, location and conference director for the 12th annual BLC event

In an effort to better leverage networking opportunities and industry leadership attendance, the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA) today announced it signed a three-year agreement with the Sea Otter Classic to host its annual Bicycle Leadership Conference (BLC) in conjunction with the cycling festival through 2011.

The 2009 BLC will be held April 15-17, 2009 at the Sea Otter host hotel, the Embassy Suites in Seaside, Calif. The 2009 Sea Otter Classic will be held April 16-19 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey Calif., and is considered the world’s largest cycling festival.

“Aligning ourselves with the Sea Otter Classic, a well-attended and highly relevant cycling-focused event, is one way we can further support our attending membership and improve the effectiveness of our conference,” said John Nedeau, president of the BPSA and vice president of global sales for SRAM. “Because many of our members also attend the Sea Otter Classic, we are confident that by combining the two events we will boost attendance from manufacturers and suppliers alike.”

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Pedal Force RS2 Review - By Steve Cooper

• Semi-compact sloping top tube geometry
• Weight: 960 g (M)
• High modulus carbon monocoque
• Head tube for 1-1/8” Campagnolo Hiddenset or FSA Orbit CE compatible integrated headset
• Seat post diameter 31.6 mm
• Clamped-on front derailleur 34.9 mm
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
• Warranty: 5 years
• MSRP Frameset: $800

Intro:
The Urban Dictionary defines a red headed step child as “a person or group treated without the favor of birthright.” In some ways that fits the Pedal Force RS2. But lack of a pedigree is not this bike’s sole defining characteristic. Like many a hot red-head, this bike has that desirable “it” quality, and when your friends lustfully check her out on the street, just smile.

About six weeks ago, UPS delivered two suitcase sized boxes, with an extra large RS2 carbon fiber frame, an FKR8 fork, a SRAM Rival build kit, Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels and some well pedigreed components including a Ritchey WCS bar and stem, Michelin PRO3 rubber, and a Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow saddle.

Unpacking box number one, I was surprised. The frame was a looker. Sexy lines draped in vibrant gloss red and white, with carbon highlights throughout. With matching carbon fork and carbon seat post, this was clearly unexpected; honestly, I was excited.

The second box contained a SRAM rival group in retail boxes, the wheel set and skewers, handlebar, stem, Cinelli bar tape, headset, tires, tubes, rim strips, a fork expander plug and all the manufacturers’ manuals. The hook was set; I came up with some quick excuses to justify jumping into the build.

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On the same weekend Team Type 1 was celebrating Ian MacGregor’s victory at the Colorado State Road Race Championship, Jesse Anthony became the squad’s fourth rider to break his wrist.

MacGregor relied on his sprint to capture his first state title Saturday in Salida, Colo. On a brutally tough 87-mile (140 km) course, the Golden, Colo., resident was the strongest of a select group of eight riders up the final climb, beating long-time former (TIAA-CREF and Slipstream Sports) teammate Blake Caldwell of Team Garmin-Chipotle presented by H30 and Brad White (Successfulliving.com presented by ParkPre).

“I have really good form and it’s getting better all the time,” MacGregor said. “I haven’t been training too hard, just doing local races and waiting for the team to do some big races.”

In Milwaukee, Anthony was setting up for the field sprint Saturday night on the final lap of The Great Downer Avenue Bike Race when a rider went down in front of him. The collision broke the scaphoid bone in his right wrist, and left him with severe road rash on his right side.

“I flipped over the handlebars and was also hit by a few riders from behind while I was lying on the ground,” Anthony said. “It was certainly the worst crash I have ever been involved in.”

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Jamis Xenith Team - By Francis Cebedo

• Tri-Oval differential tubing diameters support larger riders without punishing smaller ones
• Asymmetrical muscle-shaped chainstays with driveside chainstay 10% larger than non-driveside chainstay yields 30% more volume & stiffness.
• 850 gram frame
• Weight -15.5 lbs
• MSRP - $5100

Intro

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Strengths

• sub 900 gram frame
• excellent lateral stiffness translates to a great turning, great handling bike
• very stiff bottom bracket produces a great climbing and great accelerating bike
• frame paint scheme and aesthetics is beautiful
• FSA cranks with ceramic BB is a nice touch

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As is tradition, the last stage of the Tour is little more than a coronation parade in honor of the champion and other jersey winners, usually ending in a bunch sprint on the Champs Elysees. The 95th Tour de France was no different, with Gert Steegmans redeeming Quick Step’s Tour de France with their first stage win.

Carlos Sastre is crowned the 95th Tour de France winner! Sastre was able to make the 143 kilometer stage into Paris without incident and becomes the third straight Spainard to win the title, besting Cadel Evans by 58 seconds.

Stage 21 Results
1 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step - 3.51.38
2 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia
3 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto
5 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
6 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
7 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
8 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
9 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
10 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld

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Carlos Sastre came in twelth today, two minutes and thirty found seconds behind stage winner Stefan Schumacher, to seal up his Tour de France victory. Sastre was able to hold off his top rivals to stay a minute and five seconds ahead of Cadel Evans in the General Classification.

For Stefan Schumacher, he wins his second TT this tour, besting world champion Fabian Cancellara by 21 seconds.

Stage 20 Results
1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner - 1.03.50
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - Saxo Bank - 0.21
3 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - 1.01
4 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 1.05
5 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 1.37
6 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 1.55
7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto - 2.05
8 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner - 2.19
9 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner - 2.21
10 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - 2.28

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Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel, of Cofidis, gave his current team a departing gift today, by winning Stage 19 of this year’s Tour de France. After breaking away with Jeremy Roy, the two worked together to build a 2 and a half minute lead, but in the final 200m Chavanel was able to accelerate away keeping Roy from taking the stage win. It was announced recently that Chavanel will be moving teams next year when he will ride for Belgium squad, Quickstep.

Carols Sastre remains in the Maillot Jaune.

Stage 19 Results
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone - 3.37.09
2 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia - 1.13
4 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
5 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
6 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
7 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
8 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
9 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30

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