Press and News

OPQS organizes fan day on June 2nd

By thien   May 14, 2012

The Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team wants to keep engaging with its fans. That`s why the Belgian team will organize a fan day on June 2nd. On that day the fans can meet up with the riders and staff. The fan day kicks off with a breakfast. After a ride on the bike a famous Belgian BBQ will end the day.

Sport and pleasure combined
During the 2012 season the Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team keeps it fans up to date on the website and social media feeds. The teams also wants to engage the fans offline by organizing several events. In March the fan team presentation took place. On June 2nd it`s time for the official fan day of the team. The team combined sport and pleasure on the fan day.

At 8:30 a.m. the day starts with a breakfast, where the fans can eat a sandwich and drink coffee or tea with their idols or staff. After the breakfast is done a cycle tour over 25 or 80 kilometres is waiting for the fans. Off course the Omega Pharma – Quick-Step riders will accompany the fans during their ride. When the bike ride has finished, a tasteful BBQ is waiting for the fans, riders. and staff.

Besides all activities, the team fleet is also there on June 2nd. So the fans can take a look at the team car or team bus. There are also some other attractions and animations on site.

Registration at website
Fans who want to attend the fan day on June 2nd can register on a special page on the Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team website: http://omegapharma-quickstep.com/nl/fanday.

Tour-of-California

Peter Sagan Repeats Sprint to Finish to Take Stage 2

By thien   May 14, 2012

APTOS, CALIF. – Young Slovakian cycling sensation and overall 2012 Amgen Tour of California race leader Peter Sagan (SVK) of Liquigas-Cannondale crashed and punctured a tire on a wicked descent, but recovered to win Stage 2 of the race in Santa Cruz, Calif., his second consecutive stage in as many days. Ironically, the punctured tire was also the second flat of the race in as many days for the 22-year-old Sagan who maintained his overall lead over Australia’s Heinrich Haussler of the Garmin-Barracuda team after the second stage of America’s greatest professional cycling race. Leigh Howard (AUS) of Orica-GreenEDGE, who placed third during Stage 2, remained in third place overall.

“I don’t know, maybe it takes a natural disaster,” said Sagan, when asked what it would take to stop his winning ways, noting he suffered an untimely punctured tire three miles from the finish yesterday and still won Stage 1. “I am feeling good. I will see tomorrow (to make it three straight wins),” he continued.

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By advertisement   May 14, 2012

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Tour-of-California

Stage 1 Press Conference – Rider Quotes

By thien   May 13, 2012

Peter Sagan (SVK)
Liquigas-Cannondale
Stage 1 Amgen Race Leader; Visit California Sprint Jersey Rider; Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey Leader

On his thoughts of winning Stage 1 and holding onto the Amgen Race Leader jersey
“I want to thank my teammates for helping me win this stage. Ted King, who helped me with 3km to go and Daniel Goss who piloted me to the front so I was able to win. It’s going to be really tough to hold onto the yellow jersey. This race will definitely get harder and harder as we go.”

On having a close finish similar to this stage win
“When I was under 23 [U23], I flatted with 6km to go. I attacked and escaped. I didn’t win that but it was kind of a similar situation.”

Levi Leipheimer (USA)
Omega Pharma-QuickStep
Stage 1 Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider
On his first race back
“It was great to be here in my hometown in Santa Rosa. Today was a huge success. The course was beautiful and I knew every meter of the road. To be honest, I suffered a little, and suffering on your own roads isn’t fun, but I am just happy to be here.”

On the hometown course
“The design of the course was really nice. Everyone here in downtown got to see the start and participate in the village and see us a few times. It makes for a great experience for the fans and, hopefully, more stages can be designed like that.”

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Uncategorized

Jeff Louder Goes on the Attack in Opening Stage of 2012 Tour of California

By thien   May 13, 2012

Santa Rosa, CA – Jeff Louder (USA) of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team got off the front early in the 2012 Amgen Tour of California and remained in the lead group for more than four hours and 32 minutes before being reeled in the final few minutes of an exciting opening stage in Santa Rosa, California. Louder’s gutsy performance earned him a 3rd place standing in the General Classification in a stage that was won by Liquigas-Cannondale’s Peter Sagan (SVK). Garmin-Barracuda’s Heinrich Haussler (AUS) took second while Team Exergy’s Fred Rodriguez (USA) who finished in third.

Louder’s aggressive riding also enabled him to pick up both sprint victories on the day. General Manager and Team Director, Mike Tamayo, praised the effort from the Salt Lake City, Utah native and his Teammates.

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Tour-of-California

Peter Sagan of Liquigas-Cannondale Sprints to the Finish to take Stage 1

By thien   May 13, 2012

California must suit Peter Sagan (SVK) of Liquigas-Cannondale well. The 22-year-old rider overcame a flat tire five kilometers (3.1 miles) from the finish only to be towed back up to the pack at more than 40 miles per hour to pass his challengers within the last 100 meters to win Stage 1 of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California before tens of thousands of screaming fans in Santa Rosa.

“I want to thank my teammates for helping me win this stage,” said Sagan. “Ted King, who helped me with 3km to go and Daniel Goss who piloted me to the front so I was able to win. It’s going to be really tough to hold onto the yellow jersey. This race will definitely get harder and harder as we go.”

Today’s stage kicked off the seventh edition of the race, which will take cyclists nearly 750 miles throughout some of California’s most iconic terrain, including the Pacific Coast, Mt. Diablo and Big Bear Lake over the next six days, before ending at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20.

Record crowds came out in Santa Rosa to support the world-class field of 128 riders, who headed out behind Santa Rosa native and three-time Amgen Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Omega Pharma-QuickStep on two short neutral laps before setting out on the 115.9-mile course. The Stage 1 route took cyclists through the Sonoma wine country before winding up and over to the Pacific Coast, and then back into Santa Rosa, where Sagan outsprinted Heinrich Haussler (AUS) of Garmin-Barracuda and Fred Rodriguez (USA) of Team Exergy to take the Stage 1 victory.

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Press and News | Tour-of-California

Omega Pharma Rider Quotes from Stage 1

By thien   May 13, 2012

After the peloton reeled in the final three riders of an original eight rider breakaway with 10km to go, it became clear that the 185.5km Stage 1 of AMGEN Tour of California would likely come down to a field sprint. However, a crash with more than 3km to go affected the chances of several riders — including Bert Grabsch — and an unfortunate flat tire for Tom Boonen with 600 meters to go cost him the chance of contesting the stage.

“It was an hard stage but I really fought to try to do the sprint,” Boonen said. “I came back in the peloton at about 9 miles to go thanks to Vandenbergh who helped me a lot. At that point I started thinking about the sprint. I was in good position, ready to take off but I had a flat tire at about 600 meters from the finish, crossing the railroad. Fortunately I didn’t crash, but I lost my chance to make the sprint. We will try again.”

“The course was beautiful and the fact I know every meter of the Rosa makes it enjoyable,” Levi Leipheimer said of racing in his home town, Santa Rosa. “But to be honest I suffered a little bit, so that always stinks. Especially when you’re suffering on your own roads. Good and bad, but i’m happy to be here. I think participating in the AMGEN Tour of California is of the utmost importance to be good in July for the Tour de France and hopefully the Olympics. There’s Tour of Utah, hopefully the USA Pro Cycling Challenge — there’s a lot of races left in the season and that was a lot of my motivation to recover as fast as possible and train as much as my leg would allow me to in order for me to be fit enough to take the start here, finish, and then benefit from the race and not just get blown out the back within one or two days.”

Feature Articles | Tour-of-California

Team Exergy Comes to Tour of California Seeking Gold

By thien   May 12, 2012

Team Exergy is making their Tour of California debut this year, and the’ve decided to go for gold in the Golden State. Working through the night tonight to make sure their bikes are ready for the start tomorrow, they’ve brought the aces of design Trademark Sign Company with them to bling out their race bikes. Remi McManus reached out to the teams gear and equipment sponsors with a gold theme idea and they quickly mobilized to make it happen. Here’s the first shot of the teams Felt FC race bike complete with Gold signature parts.

Microshift was able to get the team new groupsets utilizing Gold instead of the traditional team green. Fizik came through with gold versions of the Ariones and Antares the team rides. K-Edge came through with gold versions of both their chain catcher and custom number plate holders. Component manufacturer FSA quickly got the team new bar tape and headset spacers to compliment the other gold bits. The completed package should make the team stand out when they line up at the start of the Tour of California tomorrow in Santa Rosa.

More photos to come, but check these out for now…

Tour-of-California

2012 Kick Off Press Conference – Rider Quotes

By thien   May 11, 2012

Levi Leipheimer (USA)
Omega Pharma-QuickStep
Three-time Amgen Tour of California Champion
On the start taking place in Santa Rosa
“I remember the day we had the press conference in San Francisco. It was the fall of 2005 where we were announcing there would be a tour in California. I remember dreaming of that race that would one day assemble in Santa Rosa, and now seven years later, here we are. It has been phenomenal to watch the race develop and I am so proud to be a part of that in a lot of ways. Our community as a whole has made some stars and inspired the next generation of athletes and I am really proud of the race and our community who have worked really hard to make this possible.”

On his current health and his recent injury
“My leg is a different story that has gone on too long. Some days are better than others. Recovery is not as good as you would hope, but in the end, there is not a whole lot that you can do. It’s been a trying five and a half weeks. All I can say is in the end is — I go to frustration, to suffering, to hurting, to feeling sorry for myself, to at least I am here able to enjoy life and this race. I have to keep reminding myself of that.”

On making his decision on competing this year
“The thought of me not starting here in Santa Rosa; working along with so many great people to make a win happen, it just kills me. It’s important that I show the team that I would not be a burden or a weak link because it’s not fair to them. I wanted to show my team that I am here to compete. I am very relieved and happy to say that I will start in this race.”

On whether his injury is a pain issue or performance issue
“It’s more a performance issue; an injury like this pretty much shuts the leg off. I’m operating with less than 100 percent of power. I’ve worked really hard and I am really sick of icing my leg. With this in mind, I am just so happy to be a part of the event here in Sonoma County.”

On how he has helped leap cycling forward for the young cyclists in today’s world
“We’ve all done our best to help make this sport an inspiration for the next generation – they have already started kicking down the door. Tejay [van Garderen] has already shown he can battle the Classifications. I think that I can speak for Chris [Horner] and that we are not ready to quit the battle right now. It’s a story of young versus old. Not sure how much longer we will be able to knock them down, but we’re here to compete.”

On racing for fitness or to win
“I’ve got to be realistic, it wasn’t just broken, the bone was apart. I have only been training for two weeks but as professional athletes we were taught and engrained to reach for the stars. I’ve got to be realistic that I have not been training that much and it has taken me a lot of hard work to get where I am now after my injury. You should not count on me for the overall.”

Tejay van Garderen (USA)
BMC Racing Team
On what it’s like to be on the home team
“It’s really special. I’ve just got to see the BMC service course and its right next door to a brewery.”

On his team makeup and their approach this year
“We have a strong and well-rounded team of some climbers and “all-rounders” that will give [Tom] Boonen a little trouble in some of the sprints. I personally plan to do my best to achieve the highest overall.”

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Feature Articles | Tour-of-California

Trek Honors Jens Voigt with new bike for Tour of California

By thien   May 11, 2012


“Shut up Legs” paint scheme the latest rider-themed bike from Trek’s Race Shop

Trek is excited to announce the unveiling of a Jens Voigt-themed paint scheme designed for the world’s most popular rouleur, just in time for the Amgen Tour of California. The all-new “Shut up Legs” scheme pays homage to one of cycling’s most respected competitors and a nod to one of the more popular post-race quotations attributed to him. Along with the famous quote printed along the top of the top tube, reminding its rider of the hardman’s philosophy of controlling the body with the mind, a weathered wolf’s head is emblazoned on the seat and head tubes, speaking to Jens’ uncanny ability to seemingly always lead the pack. The bike also incorporates amazing statistics from Voigt’s long career as a professional cyclist, with the numbers hidden inside the fork legs and within the downtube logo.

Never short for words, Voigt had a lot to say about the design throughout the concept and development of the bike. “I was thrilled when Trek said they wanted to do a bike for me,” commented Voigt. “We went back and forth about the theme and I talked a lot about the way I approach racing and going for the attack and we came up with this really cool wolf theme. It’s pretty aggressive but I feel like it fits.”

“We wanted to incorporate some of the accomplishments of his huge career so we asked Jens to talk about his career and to list some interesting statistics from his years on a bike,” said Trek VP Joe Vadeboncoeur. “He came back with the standard stuff, ‘64 pro wins, 15 years as a pro, 35 wins as an amateur’ but what was really unique, and this just speaks to who Jens is; was that he included things like ‘100 crashes, 11 broken bones, 25 screws or pins, 1300 kg of pasta eaten’. It was an amazing list that he had kept and we’ve incorporated all of it into the details of the bike.”

The bike will be raced at Tour of California, with a replica on display at Trek’s festival space at each stage. Voigt’s bike is the latest edition in a line of rider-inspired paint schemes crafted by Trek’s in-house Creative Design Studio. Last year during the 2011 Tour de France, Trek unveiled limited-edition paint schemes for Frank and Andy Schleck as well as the popular “Spartacus” bike for Fabian Cancellara.