Minneapolis, MN - Silver medalist and World Champion cyclist Kristin Armstrong will return to the Nature Valley Grand Prix in 2008, participating in the annual five-day, six-stage race for the third consecutive year. This time, in addition to racing in the Nature Valley Grand Prix to defend her title as two-time champion, Armstrong returns as a member of the Cervelo-Lifeforce Professional Cycling Team bound for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Coming off a win at the Tour of New Zealand in March, Armstrong will use the grueling stages of the Nature Valley Grand Prix to assist in her preparation for the Olympics in Beijing where she will ride with the women’s U.S. Cycling Team.

“Kristin is at the top of her sport and it’s a thrill to have such a talented rider join the field once again as she prepares for the 2008 Summer Olympics,” said David LaPorte, Festival director. “She has dominated the Nature Valley Grand Prix women’s races for two consecutive years. This year the women participating in the race will strive to beat a World Champion rider and potential Olympic medalist, which will make for some exciting races.”

Armstrong will be riding with Emma Rickards, a team member of the Cervelo-Lifeforce Professional Cycling Team. Cervélo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team is an elite professional women’s cycling team based in Switzerland and races on the UCI Women’s Road World Cup circuit.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix will be held June 11 - 15 and is ranked #1 for women and #3 for men in the United States.

Read the rest of this entry �

The MN Fixed Gear Classic will be the prelude to the five-day festival

Minneapolis - Organizers of the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival are excited to announce the return of velodrome track racing to this annual, multi-day bicycling celebration. The MN Fixed Gear Classic, held Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., is a prelude to the five-day festival.

The MN Fixed Gear Classic kicks-off on Saturday, June 7 with the Hoigaard’s Tour de Kid’s Bicycling Clinic from 4 to
6 p.m. Velodrome racing begins Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. and will continue on Sunday, June 8 from 1:00 to 4 p.m.

Velodrome racing features world class cyclists racing at speeds of up to 40 mph. Bikes used in fixed-gear track races have only one gear and do not have brakes, making the races fast and exciting for both spectators and riders. The excitement, speed of the racers around gravity-defying turns, and the close proximity of riders often results in some spectacular crashes.

Velodrome racing is an Olympic sport that attracts elite riders from throughout the world. In fact, most of the cycling medals awarded in the Olympics are given in track racing. Many of the world’s premiere track cyclists, including several Beijing hopefuls, will be competing in the track races. Committed racers include the legendary Roberto Chiappa, 41-time Italian National Champion, former World champion and a member of the Italian Olympic Team.

Read the rest of this entry �