Crystal City, Va. – In a race that Shawn Milne said he simply hoped to finish, the fifth-year pro from Beverly, Mass., delivered much more in Sunday’s Air Force Cycling Classic.

Milne pulled off one of the most high profile victories in the two-year history of the Team Type 1 men’s professional program by out-sprinting four breakaway companions at the end of the 109.2-mile (175 km) USA Cycling Professional Tour series event in Crystal City, Va.

It was the 20th win of the season for the Team Type 1 men and the third in just one week’s time.

“I didn’t feel good all day,” an overjoyed Milne said. “In fact, I felt miserable. With two laps to go, I was supposed to be ready to lead out Ken (Hanson) and I told him I didn’t think I had it in me.”

Despite the inclination to pack it in, Milne forged on and soon found himself and teammate Matt Wilson riding in the decisive break. But once again, he wasn’t thinking about his own chances.

“Matt was feeling well, so I was taking more pulls, trying to keep everyone working together,” Milne said.

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Petaluma, CA – Alison Starnes of Team TIBCO demonstrated yet again on Sunday that she is a rising star on the women’s pro cycling scene.

Still showing good form after a five-race stint with the U.S. National Development Team in France in late April and early May, Starnes and teammate Alison Rosenthal took on a small but solid field at the Spring Hill Road Race near Petaluma, and Starnes left everyone in her wake.

“Our plan was to use the first lap to get to know the course and make sure we were warmed up, figure out the best places to attack and go from there,” Starnes said of the 23-mile loop they would do three times.

However, she decided not to wait. “I started attacking at mile 17,” she said. “I got caught, countered and got caught again. The third time, everyone seemed to sit up for a minute. I just put my head down and went as hard as I could.”

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Denis Menchov of Russia won the 100th Giro d’Italia on Sunday despite falling in the last kilometer of the final stage.

Menchov finished 41 seconds in front of Danilo Di Luca, while Franco Pellizotti finished third overall, 1:59 back.

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Tulsa, Okla. – Monique Hanley fractured three vertebrae and dislocated her shoulder Saturday during the Brady Village Criterium on the second day of the Tulsa Tough cycling series in Tulsa, Okla.

The Team Type 1 rider was one of at least three dozen riders who were involved a crash early on in the women’s professional race.

“I had nowhere to go but to be catapulted,” Hanley said.

The Australian has full range of movement in her arms and legs, Team Type 1 Team Director Jack Seehafer said.

“That’s the good news,” he said. “But her dislocated shoulder will require surgery,”

In addition to her broken bones, Hanley also has scrapes on her back, a bloody knee, swollen wrist and sore neck.

Even eventual race winner Shelley Olds (PROMAN Women’s Cycling Team) was caught up in the crash.

“I’ve never been in that big of a pile up,” Olds told the Tulsa World newspaper.

Hanley is one of two women with Type 1 diabetes on the Team Type 1 professional women’s squad. The 31-year-old was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 19 but quickly took up cycling as a way to stay active. She twice was a part of Team Type 1’s eight-rider squad for the Race Across America and last year won a bronze medal at the Australian National Track Championships.

Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre won his second stage of the centenary Tour of Italy on the 19th stage over 164km from Avellino to Vesuvio on Friday as Russian Denis Menchov held onto the leader’s pink jersey.

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Michele Scarponi of the Serramenti team won the 18th stage of the Tour of Italy on Thursday following a 182km ride from Sulmona to Benevento.

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Team TIBCO takes on international competition in Montreal
Los Altos, California – Team TIBCO takes on one of the top international fields this Saturday in the Montreal World Cup, the sixth race in the 10-race World Cup competition. After Sunday off, the team will begin the four-day, five-stage Grand Tour du Montreal on Monday.

For both races, Team TIBCO will field a six-rider squad deep with international experience and success. New Zealander Joanne Kiesanowski, who has had a consistently strong spring campaign that included winning the Sea Otter circuit race, will be one of the team’s top contenders Saturday. The veteran Kiwi finished 8th in the World Championship Road Race in 2008.

Emma Rickards, who spent the previous four season racing the European circuit, is a veteran of numerous World Cup races. She helped teammates to a number of World Cup wins, and also took 2nd place in the 2008 Geelong World Cup race.

U.S. National Road and Criterium Champion Brooke Miller brings a wealth of U.S. National Team racing to Montreal. Her top international results include a stage win of the French Tour de Ardeche and winning the Sprinters Competition of the Ronde van Drenthe in the Netherlands. She has scored numerous top-10 stage finishes at the Tour du Montreal, as well. Miller has been heating up this spring, winning four of the six races she contested in the Southeast criterium series in late April and early May, while posting podium finishes in the other two.

Rising Canadian star Julie Beveridge will also take the start in the biggest international races on her home soil. She comes into the race after a stint with the Canadian National Team in Europe that saw her post a top-10 finish at the challenging Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs in Luxembourg.

Lauren Tamayo has shown good form since opening the season strong at the Tour of Qutar with the national team, and following that up with 2nd at the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium. She finished 6th overall at the Redlands Classic, and posted a number of top-10 finishes in the Southeast crit series after helping Miller to her wins.

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Franco Pellizotti wins the short 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia in an uphill finish, while Denis Menchov retains the overall leader’s pink jersey.

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Vancouver-Based Eyewear Manufacturer Strikes 3-Year Licensing Deal for Tour de France

NORTH VANCOUVER, CANADA – As the number one most viewed annual sporting event in the world, the annual Le Tour de France cycling race is a popular and highly anticipated event every year. With a company and ownership background deeply rooted in the bicycling industry, Vancouver, Canada-based Suntech Optics has signed a three-year licensing deal with Amaury Sport Organization (referred to as ASO owner and organizer of Le Tour de France) as exclusive North American eyewear supplier for the Tour de France brand.

“I believe the best results come from great teamwork,” enthused Melanie Martin, owner and CEO, “and this is an incredibly exciting partnership.”

With the launch of their Tour de France logoed eyewear set for 2010, Suntech Optics will have the exclusive rights to sunglasses throughout North America via mass markets, sporting goods and bike specialty shops. Working with MODA International Marketing — the exclusive Licensing Agent for Le Tour de France in North America – Suntech Optics will design a collection of cycling inspired styles to showcase the Tour de France logo. These styles will come in different sized frames to fit a variety of Tour de France fans.

Martin continued, “With over two decades of designing eyewear for cyclists through our sister brand Ryders, we feel this partnership is a natural marriage of authentic design, product expertise and a strong brand name.”

With the increased exposure the Tour de France has received over the last decade garnering more live spectators (more than 14.5 million) than the Olympics and World Cup combined, Suntech Optics looks to provide consumers, fans and race supporters with high-quality, sunglasses that capture the greatness of this amazing race.

While considering the possibilities of this opportunity, President & COO James Murray acknowledged, “It’s exciting to be able to bring a product to market that inspires people and allows them to be part of this amazing world event – Le Tour de France.”

“Suntech Optics will give consumers the opportunity to purchase “Official” Le Tour de France eyewear during the key selling season, while the event is happening, and throughout the year,” notes Michelle Alfandari, president of MODA International Marketing. “With the popularity of cycling, Le Tour de France represents an active lifestyle brand conveying enormous credibility of form and function for sunglasses.”

Frédéric Viargues, Chef de Groupe Commercial et Licences Service Marketing Operationnel says, “I am very pleased with this new association and the quality product that Suntech Optics produces. I look forward to a successful, long-term relationship with Suntech Optics.”

Spaniard Carlos Sastre staged a stunning late charge to win the 16th stage of the Giro d’Italia, while Russia’s Denis Menchov still topped the overall standings after finishing second.

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