April, 2008

I did not feel so crispy fresh for the whole race. Probably I trained a little bit too hard this week. Not many hours, but very intensive intervals on Wednesday with motor pacing afterwards. I felt too good on that day, and probably burned myself a little. Anyway second is still very good, but my feeling was not as good as in Houffalize. Ok, the course was also totally different today. Every climb full gas, or thats how it felt to me. The downhillʼs were really fun with a few steep drops. There was a huge crowed here and they loved it. I did not love my job that much during the race. I was suffering form A-Z. The first laps I could hardly hold on and was always around 10th position. Luckily there was a flat section at the start/finish where I could always catch up again.

Race Reports, Sunday April 27th, 2008

Women’s Race @ 10:30: Lene builds on her world cup standing since last weekend

Lene working her way down one of the tricky drops (courtesy Gary Perkin)

As promised, but not in line with previous years here in Offenburg, where rain was the norm, the sun was shinning down brightly, leaving very dry, fast racing conditions. I have to say confidence was high on my part going into Lene’s race and I felt at least a top ten position was realistic, but Lene proved that and more to place a very commendable 7th overall.

Lene working hard to maintain her position (courtesy Gary Perkin) 

L-R: Sandy, Bobby and Benno needed some warmer gear last week in Houffalize, eventhough the rain did not bother us, but this week the sun is really shinning

The word from Offenburg is that the sun is shinning, the course is dry, meaning super light Specialized Tires and fast racing conditions tomorrow unlike last year, when Offenburg was like a mud bath. The team are motivated and ready for racing tomorrow.

A snappy 350km in the black bullet with Claire, Susi, Lene and Liam and the Irishman behind the wheel found us in Offenburg, Germany. The team are now relaxing, resting and tapering ahead of Sunday's second showdown of World Cup racing. On the journey I introduced everybody to competitor radio and our very own Ned Overend's interview! You should tune in to www.competitorradio.com for more.

The black bullet!

Race Reports, Sunday April 20th April, 2008

Women’s Race @ 10:30: Lene has a good start to her season

This weekend’s racing in Belgium featured the biggest fields ever attending the Houffalize World Cup, which says a lot of positive things for what many would argue to be the most popular venue on the circuit. Lene had a bad start and was to be found lingering in the low twenties, which was probably due to some cobwebs because of a lack of early season racing. As the racing progressed Lene grew stronger to finish a very creditable 11th position.

Lene is smiles pre race start (courtesy Gary Perkin) 

It is not everyday that you get the opportunity to meet, never mind race against the hero that inspired you as a kid. I was in the fortunate position to do exactly that this weekend at the South African Xterra held in Eligin, Grabouw.

Conrad Stoltz............ I have memories of me as a little aspiring triathlete sitting at our dinner table staring at this lean, mean triathlete absolutely captivated by the stories he was telling of his racing in Europe. I must have been 10 years old. I can't exactly remember and Conrad was back from Europe (I think France?)and having dinner at our house. I always knew of some awesome South African triathlete racing somewhere else, but to finally meet him was a mayor wow. I was inspired...later that year I wrote down in my yearbook that mum made us fill in each year that I wantto be a Professional Triathlete when I grow up.I think that was the first time Conrad made me think "I want to be able to do that".

Report by Conrad on XTerra, South Africa 

Where to start?! Well everything was going great. Both the lads and girls had a solid day in the prologue and into stage one, where the lads took the overall lead following their stage win and the girls placing sixth with their endurance background still to come we were looking good. Stage two and Burry and Christoph (Team Songo) despite Burry suffering from a “slow puncture” finished second retaining their overall lead and the girls maintaining their position.

The first get together of the season was in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where we had a team training camp prior to The Cape Epic. Liam Killeen opted to do two Norba’s (he won one of the marathon Norba Rounds), so he was absent and unfortunately Lene Byberg, who had been training in South Africa became ill just before the commencement of the camp, so she returned home to Norway. Left were three of our five world champions for 2007 in Christoph Sauser (Marathon MTB Champion), Conrad Stoltz (Xterra World Champion) and Rebecca Rusch (24 hour solo World Champion), who were ably assisted by our mechanics Benno Willeit, Ryan Palmer, soigneur Claire Rushworth and manager Bobby Behan.

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Specialized Factory Racing is part of the Specialized Bicycles global athlete programme.

For 2008 we have an action packed season culminating in the Olympic Games for Christoph Sauser, Liam Killeen and Lene Byberg. Kyle Strait is a king of many trades so he will be combining a busy race schedule on the World Cup Circuit with plenty of free riding. Conrad Stoltz and Rebecca Rusch will be both aiming to retain their XTerra and MTB Solo 24 hour World Championships titles respectively.

Welcome to the new website of Specialized Factory Racing. Here you can find all of the latest updates from our team. We hope to share with you many of the trials, tribulations and triumphs on the road ahead.