Active Endurance Sports

Toyota-United Supports Injured Competitor

Jesse@Active — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:35:54 GMT

For Immediate Release -- May 9, 2008

Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team Makes Donation to Fallen Competitor Who Was Paralyzed at Tour of Gila
Team Will Auction off Signed Team Jersey on eBay to Raise Additional Funds

Bend, OR -- The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team announced today that its riders and staff donated $5,000 cash to Fausto Munoz Esparza, the rider who was paralyzed in a horrific high-speed crash in the Sunday, May 4, final stage of the Tour of Gila in Silver City, New Mexico. The cash consists of the riders' prize money they earned over last week's 5-day Tour of Gila and staff donations.

In addition, Toyota-United will auction off a team jersey signed by all 14 riders on eBay beginning Monday, May 12 in order to provide the general public with an opportunity to show their support for Fausto and his family.

Esparza 33, a former Mexican Nation Champion and father of three children, is in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit of El Paso's Thomason Hospital in Texas with a broken back which has left him paralyzed from the waist down. "He is very depressed and not sure what to make of this terrible situation. His wife, three children and parents have all come to El Paso to be by his side for the next three weeks until he gets out of the hospital" said Jose Manuel "Chepe" Garcia a Toyota-United rider and personal friend of Esparza.

"When I first heard how bad his accident was from Scott Moninger, (Asst. Team Director for Toyota-United) I immediately sprung into action and called Chepe who is a friend of Fausto's to see what was up. I could hear in his voice how upset he was and how Fausto is very depressed and makes his living racing a bike, which is no longer the case. Then Chepe told me how Fausto has three children and a wife to support. Being the Team Owner watching my riders risk everything each week and being married with a baby girl on the way in September, the whole situation really hit home for me. I then spoke with our riders and staff and we all agreed to do something for Fausto no matter how small it may be; but we want to start the ball rolling in hopes that other teams and fans will follow suit to help Fausto in his time of need" said Team Owner Sean Tucker.

Supporters may visit the Toyota-United website beginning Monday May 12th to link to an auction of a team jersey signed by all 14 members of the team to raise additional funds. www.toyota-united.com

In addition, people may make a private donation to:

Wells Fargo Bank
1201 N. Pope Street
Silver City, NM 88061
Attn: Fausto Munoz Esparza Donation Fund

Letters can be sent to:

Patient: Fausto Esparza, ICU/12
C/O Thomason Hospital
4815 Alameda Avenue
El Paso, TX 79905

Endurance Weekly: 5/5

Active Toby — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:46:25 GMT

The latest comic from Frazz creator and noted triathlete Jef Mallett:

Check out this roster of 15 green sports stars

Active Expert, Bruce Hildenbrand previews the Giro d'Italia that starts Saturday

Even with the torch atop Everest, Olympics are clouded
Climbing Everest because it's there is inspiring. Climbing Everest because it's in Tibet is not nearly so heartwarming, particularly to an international audience that is still trying to sort through the ethics of getting enthusiastic about August's Beijing Olympics. Read full story

Make doping a crime, says Lewis
Olympic legend Carl Lewis has called on governments around the world to make the use of banned substances in sport a criminal offense. Read full story

Shave valuable time in you bike-to-run triathlon transitions by installing a quick-lace system:

Cyclist Lights Up Times Square

Jesse@Active — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:55:46 GMT

Like he did for Dominique Rolling after his stage win at the Amgen Tour of California, Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team owner Sean Tucker put Ivan Dominguez on a Times Square big screen after his Tour of Georgia Stage 1 win.

The victory ensured that Toyota-United remains the only team in the world to have won at least one stage in every major American tour over the past three seasons.

You can listen to Sean Tucker talk about the team, why Rollin is know as "The Horse" and the future of American cycling at Bicycling.net.

America's Best Cyclists Roll Through Georgia

Jesse@Active — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:40:40 GMT

The Tour de Georgia is underway! Yesterday, super-sprinter Ivan Dominguez of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team won the 70.4-mile stage 1 from Tybee Island to Savannah.

Photo courtesy of Action Images

From the Toyota-United press release:
Ivan Stevic from Toyota-United was in an early breakaway of six riders that never gained more than a minute advantage over the field for most of the race. "With eight kilometers to go, the Pro Tour teams formed an alliance and drove hard to catch the leaders. Our guys were waiting in the wings to spring Dominguez to the finish if Stevic's group was caught," said Len Pettyjohn, Team Director for Toyota-United.

With 1,000 meters to go, Henk Vogels the team captain of Toyota-United led the charge with Dominique Rollin, Ivan Dominguez and Hilton Clarke on his wheel to set up the sprint for Dominguez. "Henk put us in a perfect position and took me to 500 meters where I let loose with everything I had to deliver Ivan as close to the finish as possible before he blew past me with 200 meters to go and easily won," said teammate Dominique Rollin.

"With 50 meters to go, I looked under my arm and saw I had the same gap as when I passed everyone earlier and realized then I was the fastest and no one was going to pass me." said Dominguez after the race.

Read more on the Tour de Georgia at Active Expert Bruce Hildenbrand's blog.

And you can follow all the action live over at WCSN.com. The fine folks at VeloNews.com have more on catching the peachiest cycling race in the world.

�SPINNING� NATION�, A NATIONWIDE DAY OF SPINNING�

Active Toby — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:28:02 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOW THIS IS POSITIVE SPIN
FRAN DRESCHER AND THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS PLEDGE TO JOIN
'SPINNING� NATION', A NATIONWIDE DAY OF SPINNING� TO CHANGE
THE WORLD.

(March 12, 2008 Los Angeles) This spring, fundraising for charities will take on a whole
new spin. On June 28, thousands of Spinning� enthusiasts across the country will join
actress Fran Drescher and other actors, athletes and enthusiasts to make the U.S. a
"Spinning� Nation". The largest fundraising event of its kind, registered fundraisers will
participate in four consecutive one-hour classes conducted in licensed Spinning�
facilities throughout the 50 states. Each rider will have raised at least $250 in pledges,
and collected funds will be donated to Athletes for a Cure, The AIDS Research Alliance
and The Cancer Schmancer Movement.

Response to "Spinning� Nation" has already been overwhelming. According to Scott
Zagarino, Executive Director of event-developer Sportsgrants, Inc., over 150 clubs
signed up to participate during the first 10 days of registration. "We designed the event
to accommodate up to 500 clubs which we thought was a very ambitious goal," said
Zagarino. "However, we have experienced such enthusiastic support for 'Spinning�
Nation' we may have to expand the parameters to include more clubs who want to take
part."

"Spinning� Nation" will be a day that marks several firsts in event fundraising. Mad
Dogg Athletics Inc., owners of the Spinning� trademark, has for the first time endorsed a
single nationwide charitable event, and health clubs from coast to coast have never before
joined together to simultaneously conduct the same charitable program. In addition, this
will be the first time three charitable organizations with diverse constituencies have ever
partnered for a single event, one of the goals of the Sportsgrants, Inc. organization. "In
2007, various charity events held in the US raised 43 billion dollars, but at a cost of 57
billion dollars," commented Zagarino. "We hope to change that fundraising paradigm
through Sportsgrants, Inc. by fostering innovative ideas and cooperation among
foundations, businesses and private citizens that result in effective fundraising with
minimum overhead and maximum benefit to the people and organizations who need our
help the most."

According to John Baudhuin, CEO of Mad Dogg Athletics, there are currently 165,000
licensed Spinning� instructors and over 1 million people attending a Spinning� class
every week. "We are proud to choose 'Spinning� Nation' as our first nationwide
fundraising effort, " Badhuin said. "It is fantastic to be able to channel the enthusiasm
people have for Spinning� towards fighting some of the world's most devastating
diseases."

Fran Drescher, who is president of Cancer Schmancer, is delighted to be part of this
groundbreaking event as well. "I'm absolutely thrilled that Cancer Schmancer has been
included as part of the Spinning� Nation fundraising event. I will do everything in my
power to make the day a success and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping
us realize our goal to ensure that all women's cancers get diagnosed in Stage One when
they're most curable."

Athletes for a Cure is a sports fundraising initiative of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Prostate Cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, effecting 1 in 6 men.
The AIDS Research Alliance is a national leader in fast-track independent AIDS
research, seeking to develop a cure for AIDS and develop strategies to prevent new HIV
infections. Thirty-three million people are currently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

~~~
Media Contact:
Kathy Jones
Halo Group
310-994-0066

For more information:
Spinning Nation www.spinningnation.org
Athletes for a Cure www.athletesforacure.org
The Aids Research Alliance www.aidsresearch.org
The Cancer Schmancer Movement www.cancerschmancer.org

Visit the Spinning� Nation Online Community

Leipheimer Wins 2008 Amgen Tour of California

Jesse@Active — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 02:55:09 GMT

The 2008 Amgen Tour of California is in the bag after a serious example of guts and glory during Stage 7 into Pasadena. Bissell Pro Cycling rider Tom Zirbel's solo breakaway in the wind and rain didn't survive the final six circuits around the Rose Bowl.

After the trailing sprinters caught him, Big George Hincapie hammered home to take the stage.

Levi Leipheimer's Astana team protected the yellow jersey to prefection, solidifying his second Tour of California overall title in as many years.

And proving that there's more to the squad than just being "That Clean Team," Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H3O took the overall team classification by a scant 16 seconds over Astana.

Stage 7 Results
1. George Hincapie - High Road 3:50:57
2. Rory Sutherland - Health Net Presented by Maxxis 3:50:57
3. Jason McCartney - Team CSC 3:50:57
4. Michael Creed - Rock Racing 3:50:57
5. Tom Zirbel - Bissell Pro Cycling 3:50:57

Overall Individual Classification
1. Levi Leipheimer - Astana 29:24:32
2. David Millar - Slipstream Chipotle 29:25:21
3. Christian Vande Velde - Slipstream Chipotle 29:25:40
4. Fabian Cancellara - Team CSC 29:25:50
5. Gustav Larsson - Team CSC 29:25:51

Overall Team Standings
1. Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H3O - 88:17:05
2. Astana - 88:17:21
3. Team CSC - 88:25: 49

Best Young Rider
1. Robert Gesink - Rabobank 29:26:50
2. Thomas Peterson - Slipstream Chipotle 29:27:30
3. Kevin Seeldraeyers - Quick Step 29:28:12

Overall Sprint Classification
1. Dominique Rollin - Toyota-United 44 points
2. Juan Jose Haedo - Team CSC 42 points
3. Gerald Ciolek - High Road 32 points

King of the Mountain
1. Scott Nydam - BMC Rcing 26 points
2. Jurgen Vandewalle - Quick Step 19 points
3. Robert Gesink - Rabobank 17 points

Most Aggressive Rider's Jersey (awarded by the press)
BMC Racing Team

Shift into Democracy's High Gear

Jesse@Active — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:05:16 GMT

With the political season heating up, I thought I'd turn my attention to some politicians who have made news in the cycling world.

First up is Mary Peters, Bicycling magazine's recent Wheel Sucker of the Month. Ms. Peters claimed, in an August interview with PBS that bike paths are unnecessary wastes of the government's transportation budget. Unfortunately for cyclists (and the environment and people who would prefer less cars on the road), Peters is the current secretary of transportation.

Then there's Paul Soglin, former mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. On a snowy day in December, he railed against cyclists who braved the roads, writing on his blog that they "should be taken out and shot." Let's hope he stays a "former" mayor.

At least there are politicians like Earl Blumenauer. This Wall Street Journal article details how the Oregon congressman chooses bike over car for his Capitol Hill commute and is a strong voice for cyclist advocacy.

For those looking to relieve the burden high gas prices are putting on their wallet, check out the *Gear Junkie*'s tips on winter commuting.

Ride safe, and remember that exercising your right to vote can sometimes impact your right to exercise.

Mark Your Race Calendars

Jesse@Active — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:25:36 GMT

In her article "Ten Tips for the New Year," Active Expert Gale Bernhardt's first recommendation is: Set a Goal.

What better way to give yourself something to work for in 2008 than to sign up for a race? But be aware, some pre-planning could save you a little money. Many races that already have registration open will be raising their prices beginning January 1.

For triathletes, that includes races such as the Accenture Chicago Triathlon, Vineman Ironman 70.3, Big Kahuna Triathlon (70.3-distance) and the Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des Moines, Iowa--which also happens to be the final Olympic qualifier for the 2008 U.S. triathlon team.

Other races will be opening registration right after the New Year. This includes the Superfrog Triathlon (70.3-distance), the 5430 Sports triathlon race series and the World Famous Mud Run, part of the Camp Pendleton (California) Hard Corps Race Series. On January 3, registration for opens to USA Triathlon members, with non-member registration opening the next day.

Now is the perfect time to find out the registration details of your favorite race and add it to this list. Runners, cyclists, adventure racers, swimmers and anyone who wants others to be a part of an awesome event can add it to the comments section below.

What's going to be your motivation to train in 2008?

National Cyclocross Championships Kick Off

Jesse@Active — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:47:05 GMT

Starting Thursday, December 13, and running through Sunday the 16th, the USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships will feature the best American racers fighting for the stars and stripes jersey.

Of the record total 2,045 competitors registered for the weekend, Ryan Trebon of Corvallis, Oregon, and Katie Compton of Colorado Springs, Colorado, will be back to defend their elite division titles. There are also 13 age-group champions returning to defend titles in nearly 40 races that will take place over the four-day event.

Athletes from 45 states plus the District of Columbia will compete on the almost two-mile course, which features two back-to-back stair sections, each 40 feet long. Placed a quarter-mile from the finish line, the stairs will make for some tight finishes.

Cyclocross is usually very spectator friendly, and the Kansas City course is no different. Several spots points allow viewers to take in the entire race, and heated spectator tents will also be provided (forecasts are for low to mid-30s for the event).

A wide start area, several segments of doubling-back and some tough hills round out what's in store for the riders. The course will be muddy due to winter storms that went through the area at the beginning of the week.

Jesse Anthony, reigning U23 champion, pushes his bike up a hill. Photo: ©2007 Action Images/Kurt Jambretz

Race Director Bill Marshall said in a press release, "The course is in great shape right now. We had about an inch of snow on the course before this ice storm, but the warmer rain melted it, so now it's a layer of ice. But it's been raining more than anything lately, so it's going to make for pretty muddy conditions for the entire week."

"I think weather always makes racing more interesting," said Georgia Gould, recent winner of the overall Gran Prix of Cyclocross Series and the current U.S. mountain bike national champion. "Mud adds an element of finesse and technical skill over and above simple brute strength. In the end, the winner is the one who makes the fewest mistakes on the slippery course."

Check out www.kccrossnationals.com for race schedules, spectator information, photos, results and more.

Favorite Advice and Activities from Trish and Toby

Active Toby — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 21:44:00 GMT

Hey everyone, Trish and Toby here. This month we've created a guide to our best seasonal articles to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout the holidays. No matter what your active passion may be, we've got you covered.

Lifestyle:
With holiday feasts right around the corner and weather that can diminish our motivation to train, it is not uncommon to pack on a few extra pounds this time of year. Active Expert Charles Stuart Platkin’s article, The Diet Detective: Fall Into Healthy Eating Habits, offers valuable tips for maintaining fitness without a compromise in performance at winter races and ensures a return to peak form in the spring.

Endurance:
Have you ever heard the saying, “athletes are made in the off season”? Now's the time to target your weaknesses and build proper technique and habits to lead into a successful racing season. Check out Boost Your Endurance in 7 Simple Steps and get the most from your off-season training.

Team:
Basketball season is upon us and it’s time for fundamental workouts with and without the basketball. Mississippi State basketball coach, Sharon Fanning, shares a 45-minute Workout that will developing confidence, coordination, strength, timing, and stamina on the hardwood.

Action:
Indoor Climbing Gyms Offer Year-round Fun Fitness and a nice break from the treadmill and stationary bike routine. Don’t let the winter elements take you off belay—utilize indoor climbing gyms to build stamina and confidence in a controlled environment. When the weather warms enough to head outdoors, you’ll be in peak condition.

Activities of Interest:
Check out Sacramento Winter Softball Camp by Olympic gold medalists Tairia Flowers and Natasha Watleyto hone your softball skills at the plate and in the field. Focus will be on increasing offensive power, slapping techniques, defensive fundamentals and pitching development. This camp will also feature practice-structure tips and drills along with valuable college recruiting advice from the pros.

Take advantage of The Classic Y-100, one of the last century rides of the year on November 25 in Ormond Beach, Florida. Crank out 100 in this inaugural ride that promises a beautiful route leading north along the Intracoastal waterway through parks and along the Atlantic coast. This event features a great safe route for beginners as well as 65- and 35-mile routes.

Folks in Southern California have already begun to register for the 2008 Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon on January 20. This was Toby’s first half marathon back in 2006 and he recommends it for runners of all abilities because of the fast course and beautiful ocean view.

See your training bear fruit at the oldest Ironman-distance triathlon held in the continental United States. Check out one of five 2008 Vineman events: Ironman 70.3, full Vineman, sprint tri at sundown, women's half or Aquabike during this weekend-long triathlon celebration.

The Blue Train's Last Ride in the U.S.

Jesse@Active — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:22:00 GMT

Tuesday, September 11, is the beginning of the inaugural Tour of Missouri. It's also the final chance for American cycling fans to see the Discovery Channel team compete. The team, which announced earlier this year that they will be disbanding following the 2007 season, will include Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, U.S.A. Cycling National Championship winner Levi Leipheimer and runner-up George Hincapie, and Yaroslav Papovych, who finished eighth at this year's Tour de France.

The Tour of Missouri begins in Kansas City and will cover 600 miles before finishing in St. Louis on Sunday, September 16th. More info at www.tourofmissouri.com. Versus looks to be airing taped coverage on Saturday, September 22 and Wednesday, the 26th.

Despite cycling's recent struggles and scandals, it's still sad that a great team like Discovery can buckle under the pressure of securing sponsorship. While they are one of the more expensive teams competing, they're also one of the more visible. From Lance Armstrong to Contador, Discovery has claimed several Tour de France podium spots since taking over sponsorship of the team from the U.S. Postal Service. Currently, they're the only American team competing on the international tour.

It'll be a tough void to fill. The team earned its following through victories--largely due to Armstrong. Team Slipstream, which prides itself on a rigorous drug-testing policy, has since signed several top tier riders but may not compete in the Tour de France until 2009. The Toyota-United Cycling Team has a very visible presence in American cycling, but doesn't compete internationally.

I'm jealous of the lucky fans who will line the roads of Missouri in the next several days. This is, however, an inaugural race. Along with the young Tour of California, perhaps we're seeing a resurgence of stage racing in America. Maybe without the cycling landscape here dominated by how well Discovery will do, new faces and teams will emerge, bringing with them younger, more eager fans.

One Continent Down...

Jesse@Active — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:23:00 GMT

Dan Sheret, who is attempting to cycle around the world, dipped the front wheel of his bicycle into the Pacific Ocean on August 16 after pedaling 4,120 miles across the country.

Sheret is an amputee who is riding to raise awareness for Clear Path International’s work with landmine and bomb survivors. Sponsored by the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team, he began his trip in Washington, D.C. escorted by Toyota-United riders Henk Vogels and Ivan Stevic. During the journey, Sheret stopped several times for media appearances, including an interview with .

Sheret leaves September 3 for the United Kingdom to begin the second part of his 16,000-mile Ability Trek 2007.

“I am going to trade the bike for my kayak and spend a couple of days on a beach eating crab and oysters,” Sheret said from his North Carolina home last week. More info on the ride can be found at www.abilitytrek.org .

One Year Out

Jesse@Active — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:20:00 GMT

Today, August 8th, begins the one-year countdown to the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing, China. Spending more money than any other host city ever, Beijing's venues are nearly ready for competition, with several staging test events in the next six months. To say that China is excited to show itself off to the world would be an understatement.

Fans of the Olympics should also be excited to learn that NBC will broadcast over 3,600 hours of coverage. The majority of it will be available via live streaming video online, a first for American viewers. This amount of coverage is more than the total of all previous Summer Games combined. Prime-time coverage will feature live swimming, gymnastics and beach volleyball.

Check out www.amazingawaits.org for a pretty inspirational video of Olympic highlights.

Solana Beach Team Relay Victory

Active Toby — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:33:00 GMT

My teammates and I competed in the Solana Beach Triathlon on Sunday morning. Our team, Active.com, won the mixed relay division and posted the best relay time overall. Swimmer, Carrie Smith handled the �-mile in 6 minutes, 59 seconds; our cyclist, Airey Baringer, biked the nine miles in 24:45; and I ran the 5K in 18:43 for a total team time of 50:27. Our performance ranked 15th place overall on the day.

Our team is satisfied with the outcome of the race and we've already begun planning our next event. I think we were most excited for the opportunity to compete as a team because we've each become used to training and competing on an individual basis. The camaraderie of the team environment proved motivational and I recommend this experience for anyone looking to get involved in the sport of triathlon or to gain valuable race-pace experience in any of the individual disciplines.

Individually, I set a PR because it was actually my first 5K distance. I felt extremely powerful throughout the 3.1 miles, and I've recovered well already. It's interesting to note that on Sunday I raced at a six-minutes-per mile pace and on August 11 I will be attempting the Mount Disappointment 50-mile ultra marathon, which demands a conservative pace of approximately 10-minute miles of mixed running and fast hiking.

Here is a video I made of the event using the video editing technology, Jumpcut, which is a new feature of Active.com

Inspirational Cycling on TV

Jesse@Active — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:21:00 GMT

For anybody looking for something a little more uplifting in the cycling world than the news coming out of France, tune in to "Larry King Live" on CNN Friday, July 27 (9pm ET, 6pm PT).

A segment called "Against All Odds" will feature Daniel Sheret, an endurance cyclist and below-the knee amputee attempting an around-the-world trip to raise money and awareness for Clear Path International and their work with landmine and bomb survivors. Sheret, who is sponsored by the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team, left Washington, D.C. on June 1. He is currently finishing up his trip across America in California.

More info on the journey can be found at www.abilitytrek.org.