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By Alastair Hamilton on December 13, 2018
An ultra-full EUROTRASH Thursday! Sky pull the plug after 10 years – Top Story. So much cycling news to get through: Vuelta a España 2020 to start in Utrecht, Floyd's Pro Cycling, team news from BORA-hansgrohe, Bahrain-Merida, Lotto Soudal, AG2R-La Mondiale, Trek-Segafredo, Team Novo Nordisk, Vital Concept-B&B HOTELS, Jumbo-Visma and Katusha-Alpecin. Training camps for Bahrain-Merida, UAE Team Emirates and NIPPO Vini Fantini Faizanè. Cycling Canada welcomes new President, Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev's health, Rally helps Falcons and the best of Peter Sagan. Enjoy.
TOP STORY: 2019 – Team Sky Final Year
The executives of Sky have announced that it is ending its involvement with professional cycling and Team Sky after 10 years at the end of the 2019 season.
The riders and other members of staff were told of the decision in Mallorca at their winter training camp. The team intends to find a new owner and sponsor to take over the team by the end of the year, but considering how much that would cost, it might be a difficult job. Sky paid more than £150 million over the 10 year period.
Team boss, Sir Dave Brailsford said: "While Sky will be moving on at the end of next year, the team is open-minded about the future and the potential of working with a new partner, should the right opportunity present itself. For now, I would like to thank all Team Sky riders and staff, past and present – and above all the fans who have supported us on this adventure."
In a statement Team Sky said: "In terms of the future, we are open minded. If we can find a new long-term partner to take the Team forward into a new era, then we will do so. And we will be doing everything we can to make that happen over the coming weeks and months. Equally, any future partner would have to be the right partner – one who shares our ethos and buys in to our values.
This news has only just been announced; we can't predict what will happen from 2020 and there are no guarantees. Whatever happens, we will make sure there is clarity one way or the other about the future of the Team before the Tour de France next July."
In recent years the team has been suffering from bad publicity, starting with Bradley Wiggins' Tour de France win and the UK parliamentary committee said that both Wiggins and Team Sky had "crossed an ethical line" by manipulated the anti-doping system to allow the administration of performance enhancing drugs before the 2012 Tour de France. After that there was 'Jiffy Gate' and the lost laptop and wrongly ordered patches by Dr Richard Freeman. Then there was Chris Froome's inhaler case, but Sky insist these are not the reason for terminating their involvement.
Any sponsor loss is bad news for all the employees, not just the riders. Sky changed cycling in Britain, bringing in new people to the sport. On a sporting point; will the UCI now ban power meters in races?
Prediction for the future: Geraint Thomas wins the 2019 Giro d'Italia, Chris Froome takes his 5th Tour de France and then retires and cycling in Britain goes back to those 'weirdos in lycra'.
Can Sir B replace the Sky behemoth?
Noord-Brabant and Utrecht Welcome the Official Start of La Vuelta 2020
Utrecht and Noord-Brabant will form the course for the official start of La Vuelta together in 2020. Vuelta Director, Javier Guillén, informed the Mayor of Utrecht, Jan van Zanen, of this on Monday and the both made the official announcement today in Utrecht. The team presentation, the start with a team time trial and the finish of the second stage are to be held in Utrecht in August. The second stage will start in 's-Hertogenbosch, while the complete third stage will cover the Province of Noord-Brabant, both starting and finishing in Breda.
The municipalities of Breda,'s-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht, and the provinces of Noord-Brabant and Utrecht have responded enthusiastically to the ultimate allocation of this major cycling event. The provinces and cities involved intend to turn La Vuelta 2020 into a festive occasion, organized both for and by their residents. The provincial and municipal authorities have plans to literally paint the place red, not only along the route of the race, but also in their respective areas.
Salida Oficial from the Netherlands
The Vuelta Director, Javier Guillén, is looking forward to the 'Salida Oficial' in the Netherlands. This will be the second official start of La Vuelta in the Netherlands after Assen 2009 and the fourth time abroad after Lisboa 1987, Assen 2009 and Nîmes 2017. Javier Guillén has every confidence in the successful organization of the event in these cities and provinces. The municipality of Utrecht plays a coordinating role. There is a great passion for cycling in both Utrecht and Noord-Brabant. Both provinces have experience in hosting (major) cycling events. In addition, the cultural-historical ties between Spain and the Netherlands and the topic of sustainability are to serve as the central theme. This was one of the major criteria influencing the management's decision to award the start of La Vuelta 2020 to Utrecht and North Brabant. The Business Peloton Utrecht (BPU) took the initiative to bring the Vuelta start to the Netherlands. BPU is a business network for Utrecht companies and institutions which have a passion for cycling. BPU initially approached the authorities in Utrecht and Brabant in early 2017.
Joint Funding
Preparations for La Vuelta 2020 will commence on January 1st 2019, with the establishment of a project organization. The five municipal and provincial bodies in question have joined forces to make it possible to host La Vuelta. However, the private sector is also closely involved in funding the event. Furthermore, a grant application will be submitted to the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports.
Bahrain-Merida Kit for 2019
2019 jersey is evolution of the previous two jerseys (2017 and 2018), as color scheme is the same, but this year we wanted to honor all the stakeholders of our team, all our sponsors, partners, riders, and staff, and those are represented through all the lines that are intersecting with each other, showing that no matter what we do for the team, we are working together for the same goal. It is interesting to have a jersey that is not symmetric, while at the same time it looks like typical Bahrain Merida jersey.
Floyd's Pro Cycling Announces Name Change / First Signings / Bike Sponsor
The team is excited to announce first-round signings to the 2019 roster and their bike sponsor for the upcoming season. Additionally, legal issues with the Canadian Government have forced a name change. Floyd's Of Leadville Pro Cycling Team will now be Floyd's Pro Cycling.
Team director Gordon Fraser highlights FPC's goals upon inheriting the infrastructure and mission of Silber Pro Cycling, the Canadian UCI Continental team formed in 2013, saying "We're going to focus on developing the best young cycling talent in Canada while expanding to recruit some of North America's most dynamic and proven riders."
Early signings include:
Travis McCabe (USA) – formerly of UHC
Serghei Tvetcov (Rom)- formerly of UHC
Nick Zukowsky (Can)- returning from Silber team
Keegan Swirbul (USA)- formerly of Jelly Belly
Jonathan Clarke (AUS)- formerly of UHC
Carson Miles (Can)- raced 2018 Junior Worlds
Robin Plamondon (Can)- raced 2018 Junior Worlds.
Landis and Fraser are also excited to announce that they will be competing aboard Van Dessel bicycles in 2019. Van Dessel's expertise in multi-surface applications will be in play as the team adds gravel and mtb events to their race calendar, starting in Canada on April 28 with Paris to Ancaster.
"Once we decided to race cross-category, partnering with Van Dessel made perfect sense," added Fraser.
The FPC's 2019 season will be funded by Floyd Landis' personal contribution of funds. The team's organization in Canada had introduced some legal hurdles due to the changing landscape of Canadian cannabis laws, and sponsorship by Floyd's U.S. companies. But Landis says he's committed to supporting the team no matter what.
"Canada is sorting out the legalities surrounding CBD and athletics," Landis says. "My commitment to the team remains unchanged regardless of what it needs to be called. After years of litigation, I have no desire to enter another lengthy legal battle over the name."
FPC is destined to make an impact with the talented list of riders on the 2019 roster. Heading the list of early signings is Arizona native Travis McCabe. He's been a frequent visitor to the podium in the past five years with stage wins in Utah, Colorado, Gila, and Redlands, as well as abroad in Langkawi and the Herald Sun Tour. He's a versatile sprinter who can win both criteriums and high-altitude stages. His engaging personality and enthusiasm for cycling fit in well with Floyd's expanded goal of gravel and mountain bike events.
Another notable new name is US-based Romanian Serghei Tvetcov. Serghei has worn leader jerseys in most US stage races and hung on to overall victory in many of them. A world-class time trialist, he comes from the United Healthcare team and brings leadership and professionalism to FPC. That experience will be shored up by Jonathan Clarke, a seasoned veteran and former captain of UHC, Jelly Belly, and Toyota.
Former Jelly Belly rider Keegan Swirbul finished well in 2018, with excellent performances in Utah and Colorado and FPC is excited to see what he can accomplish alongside his new teammates.
Returning riders include Emile Jean and Nick Zukowsky. Emile Jean starts his fourth season with the organization, bringing proven speed and valuable teamwork to the squad. In 2018, Zukowsky won the Canadian Criterium Championships and had numerous encouraging performances on GC and in TTs, including finishing 21st at the U23 World Championships.
Twenty-year-old Zukowsky will highlight a group of promising U23 riders signed by FPC, including two riders emerging from the Junior ranks, Carson Miles and Robin Plamondon. Both riders represented Canada at the 2018 World Championships and will benefit from the tutelage of their teammates.
Travis McCabe and Jonathan Clarke in Utah:
Ackermann and Buchmann Extend Early with BORA – hansgrohe
During a press conference held at the first team camp in Mallorca, BORA – hansgrohe is pleased to announce the extension of both young German talents until the end of 2021. While Peter Sagan will be once again focusing on the Spring Classics, Maximilian Schachmann is looking forward to his first season with the German WorldTeam under the direction of Ralph Denk.
"We are without doubt very pleased to have been able to reach an agreement so early with Pascal and Emanuel. With these two riders, along with Maximilian, we have three outstanding German talents in our ranks, with whom we will pursue long-term goals. Pascal will take on the Giro d'Italia, his first Grand Tour, next season, while Emanuel will focus on the Tour de France in 2019. We will work on building upon Maximilian's strengths, just as we have successfully done over the past few years with Pascal and Emanuel. With Peter, we will be pursuing similar goals as in recent years. His racing program differs slightly from 2018, however, the focus will remain on the Classics and the Tour. We enjoyed a very successful season in 2018, but we strive to continue to improve. If we are able to take out a Monument and the Green Jersey at the Tour, we will be very satisfied. However, it is also an objective of ours to finish at least one Grand Tour in the top five overall. Unfortunately, this has eluded us in recent years." – Ralph Denk, Team Manager
"I have always said that it was a big dream of mine to become a professional with BORA – hansgrohe. I feel at home in the team and have made many good friends here. We are like a family, and this also likely forms the basis of much of our success. Ralph Denk and Enrico Poitschke have given me time and space to develop my strengths right from the start. This is an opportunity that is not always available to young riders, so I am extremely grateful for this. For me, it was logical to continue in the same direction with the team. The fact that we now have three young German hopefuls in a German team is also certainly a good sign for the state of German cycling." – Pascal Ackermann.
"It is of course reassuring to know so early in which direction I will be heading. I feel like I am now free to concentrate on important goals such as achieving sporting success. Unfortunately, my first experience leading the team in a Grand Tour was not quite what I had hoped for, but overall my season was very good, and I have certainly made another step forward towards reaching the top. In 2019, the Tour de France will be my big goal. Last year, I was able to finish in 15th position, and I hope to achieve a top ten next year." – Emanuel Buchmann.
"It is really nice to see how the team has grown around me. Pascal and Emanuel are big talents and have developed very well, but there are also many others, such as Lukas and Patrick, who also do an incredible job. It is really a pleasure to ride with all the guys. With the addition of Jempy and Oscar, we have been able to strengthen our squad for the Classics. I will be racing in Australia and also in Argentina at the beginning of next year, and so will begin my season in Europe a bit later. My goals, however, remain unchanged: Sanremo, Flanders and Roubaix, but I will also ride Amstel and Liège. After the Classics, I will once again prepare for the Tour de France." – Peter Sagan.
"It has always been a goal of mine to ride for a German team. The guys have been very welcoming and I have to say that I have been positively surprised with the professionalism and meticulousness within the team. Although we are only in December, we have already accomplished a lot: training plans, performance tests, fittings, and adjusting all the fine details. Now we will focus on the hard yards on the bike. I am happy with my race program, and I think I will have some good opportunities. We have not yet decided which Grand Tour I will ride in 2019, but I think that one of the first highlights for me will be the Ardennes Classics." – Maximilian Schachmann.
McLaren to Become Joint Venture Partner in Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team
McLaren Group has announced today that it is to become a 50 percent joint venture partner in Team Bahrain Merida, the UCI WorldTour team with a long-term vision to participate at the top level of the sport. The partnership is rooted in three key areas: technical collaboration, human high performance and marketing and commercial services, delivered through McLaren Applied Technologies and the group's marketing specialism.
The move signals the continued ambition of the McLaren Group to innovate at the intersection of technology and human endeavor, and reflects the collective vision of its Bahraini ownership to unite its investments in sport and technology through McLaren and Team Bahrain Merida.
McLaren Applied Technologies undertakes challenging projects that naturally fit with McLaren's skills, experience and technical capacity. Competition, racing and the combination of athlete and machine are the life blood of McLaren's 50-year-plus history and cycling is one of the rawest examples of all those elements coming together.
McLaren Applied Technologies has a proven track record of unlocking and delivering extraordinary human performance in sport and cycling. In recent years teams at McLaren Applied Technology successfully collaborated with Californian bicycle manufacturer Specialized, on the design and creation of the legendary Specialized S-Works+ McLaren Venge racing bike.
Ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games the company collaborated with Team GB's cycling, rowing, sailing and canoeing teams who reaped the rewards from performance management systems designed by McLaren Applied Technologies.
Team Bahrain Merida comes into the partnership from a position of strength and this venture represents a natural part of the team's growth. The combination of the team's upward trajectory, and McLaren technology, human performance and marketing expertise, will underpin the joint ambition to build an internationally recognized pro-cycling brand through a long-term partnership aim to be the best in professional cycling.
John Allert, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren, said: "Racing, technology and human performance are at the heart of everything we do at McLaren. Cycling is something we have been involved with in the past and have been looking at entering for some time. It is a completely natural fit for our skills and our ambitions and a perfect partnership with Team Bahrain Merida who have the right vision and approach for the future. We will be working tirelessly in the months ahead as we know the world of professional cycling is home to some of the best athletes and competitive teams in the world of sport."
"What Team Bahrain Merida has achieved in less than two years, off a standing start, is hugely impressive. Working together with a team this driven is a very exciting prospect indeed."
Brent Copeland, General Manager, Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team, said: "McLaren has been raising the bar for technological innovation and sport performance for decades. The combination of our passion and vision for Team Bahrain Merida to be a winning team, with McLaren's expertise and dedication, is the perfect partnership."
Duncan Bradley, Health and Human Performance Director, McLaren Applied Technologies, said: "To be the best in sport you need the right vision, athletes, team and technology and I believe we have all of those with the partnership we have entered with Team Bahrain Merida. We will be working side-by-side to ensure an integrated approach and that we get the best out every part of the team."
HH Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, commented: "Our partnership with McLaren is one that gives me great national pride and excitement for the future of Bahrain cycling. We want to be the best in the world and an example to others of how to compete in this most challenging of elite sports. The partnership with McLaren will provide invaluable expertise and experience of getting the best out of machines and athletes and will help to accelerate our team's journey to the pinnacle of professional cycling."
Gerben Thijssen and Brent Van Moer to Become Pro on 1 July 2019
On 1 July 2019, Gerben Thijssen (20) and Brent Van Moer (20) will be transferring from the Lotto Soudal U23 team to the WorldTour team. Thijssen conquered the Belgian U23 road title this year, while Van Moer claimed silver at the U23 World Time Trial Championships. Both riders are currently in Mallorca on a training camp with the WorldTour team.
Kurt Van de Wouwer, head of the sports department of Lotto Soudal U23: "We have chosen to let Brent and Gerben join the December training camp, so they can already get to know the riders and staff of the WorldTour team. That will make their integration in the team much easier next year. Of course they get an adapted training schedule. Their season also starts about six weeks later than that of the pros, so that's still far ahead. We decided to let them join the team halfway through the year to keep the pressure as low as possible. That's something we already did in the past when for example Tim Wellens and Louis Vervaeke turned pro. In the spring there is always more pressure from outside the team, also on young riders. We want to give them the time to adapt."
"Gerben made a strong début in the U23 category last year. He won the Top Competition race in Sint-Niklaas after beating Álvaro Hodeg in the sprint. And he and Fabio Jakobsen could both step on the podium as winner of the fourth stage of the Olympia's Tour. Soon, we realized that Gerben was a rider for our WorldTour team. We hope he can stand his ground in bunch sprints. First, we can expect him to set good results in 1.1 or 1.HC races; in semi-Classics like the Brussels Cycling Classic."
"Brent has loads of power, therefore he's so good at time trialling. His silver medal at the past World Championships was a real surprise. He did much better than we had expected. He should definitely keep on working on his time trial skills, because he can still make a lot of progression. At the WorldTour team he will definitely be a big support for his teammates, although he will also get his own chance in some races to discover his own limits."
Gerben Thijssen:
Official Presentation of AG2R-La Mondiale
Officially presented in Paris, the AG2R-La Mondiale pro cycling team talks about recruitment, objectives for the 2019 season and, of course, a review of the 2018 season.
The 2019 team: continue the teamwork instilled over recent years
The AG2R-La Mondiale team has been strengthened with the arrival of 4 riders with different profiles. These signings, in the wake of a fine 2018 season, should allow us to shine during the spring classics with the hope of taking one of cycling's big prizes before turning to stage racing.
After a great year with the amateurs and as a trainee with the team at the end of the season, Geoffrey Bouchard joins AG2R-La Mondiale pro team. At 26, the amateur French champion will continue to progress with the professionals.
Dorian Godon, a professional since 2017, chalked up his 1st victory during the 2018 season. With his blistering pace, this 22 year old racer will join us to bolster the Flanders Classics group.
An experienced rider and globetrotter, Larry Warbasse will be the 1st American rider to join the team. At 28, this former US champion and stage winner on the 2017 Tour de Suisse will bring his experience to the Ardennes Classics and also to stage racing.
The Finnish rider, Jaakko Hänninen, 3rd in the U23s world championships, is part of the team as of August 1st.
The AG2R-La Mondiale team will have 11 riders from Chambéry Cyclisme Formation, i.e. more than 1/3rd of its membership (38%).
Long-term partners and a new collaboration
The team is lucky to have long-term support and more particularly in its partnership with AG2R-La Mondiale, which began 21 years ago. The riders will wear EKOÏ helmets for the 8th season running, and BOLLE glasses for the 5th season running. The association with the wheel brand MAVIC is starting its 3rd year, whilst for the 2nd season running, ROSTI will provide the team's clothing lines with Levis providing daywear. Finally, the AG2R-La Mondiale team is opening a new chapter with the EDDY MERCKX BIKES brand which will be providing bicycles for the next 2 seasons.
"France's favorite team" since 2014
With podium finishes on Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a best young rider shirt at the Tour de France, a silver medal in the world championship and 15 successes featured in AG2R-La Mondiale team's 2018 season, including:
– The French time trial championships with Pierre Latour winning for the 2nd year running
– The Bretagne Classic for Oliver Naesen
– 2 stages of the Vuelta a España for Tony Gallopin and Alexandre Geniez.
Team spirit, the combative nature of its riders and the attitude of the whole group has really made its mark with the French audience, which considers AG2R-La Mondiale as its favorite team for the 5th year running (according to a Kantar TNS survey carried out in September 2018).
Vincent Lavenu, Managing Director:
"The 2018 season showed us that everything is possible. The consistency of Oliver Naesen
in the classics, Silvan Dillier's exploits on Paris-Roubaix, Romain Bardet who was up there with the best riders in the world during the classics as well as on the Tour de France, Pierre Latour's progress and of course the stage wins on the Vuelta a España secured by Tony Gallopin and Alexandre Geniez, marked a season full of thrills.
And I won't forget the unconditional support of our supporters and technical partners, without whom none of this would be possible. The team will be ready to begin its 28th season in the professional ranks and I'm sure that there are still some great chapters to be written in our story. Recruitment for the 2019 season is designed to continue our work in the wake of these great performances in 2018.
The progress we've made over the seasons would not have been possible without the loyal, fraternal support of a partner like AG2R-La Mondiale. Today, we are able to compete with the very best teams in the peloton.
Over the years, we have built a mature, solid, united group. We work with ambition and humility, conscious that the very top spot on the podium is within our reach. We are ready to take up this new challenge, working with our leader, Romain Bardet, and a solid, ambitious team. The AG2R-La Mondiale team has everything it takes for future success! Everything is possible. That is the message I would like to share with our riders and all our partners and supporters."
André Renaudin, AG2R-La Mondiale Managing Director: "With each great race, I am still as emotional and as proud of our riders as ever, as are all of my colleagues at AG2R-La Mondiale. Vincent Lavenu and his team perfectly embody the drive for performance and the spirit of solidarity that are very much a part of our day-to-day work. They clearly represent our values and in this way present a positive image of AG2R-La Mondiale to the general public and the people insured with us."
José Messer, Director of sponsoring at AG2R-La Mondiale: "I was lucky enough to follow the team during training sessions and a few races this year, and to see exactly the investment that all the actors involved are prepared to make to achieve the highest level. I was impressed by the great team spirit they show every day in what they do, and I can't wait for the 2019 season to begin to see them push themselves and reach those levels of performance again."
AG2R-La Mondiale line-up for 2019:
Gediminas Bagdonas, Romain Bardet, François Bidard, Geoffrey Bouchard, Mikaël Cherel, Clément Chevrier, Benoît Cosnefroy, Nico Denz, Silvan Dillier, Axel Domont, Samuel Dumoulin, Hubert Dupont, Julien Duval, Mathias Frank, Tony Gallopin, Ben Gastauer, Alexandre Geniez, Dorian Godon, Alexis Gougeard, Jaakko Hänninen, Quentin Jauregui, Pierre Latour, Oliver Naesen, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Nans Peters, Stijn Vandenbergh, Clément Venturini, Alexis Vuillermoz, Larry Warbasse.
AG2R-La Mondiale 2019:
Trek-Segafredo Announce Official 2019 Rosters for Men and Women
Syracuse, Sicily – The 2019 Trek-Segafredo men's and women's teams have gathered in Sicily for their annual December training camp, this year held at the I Monasteri Golf & SPA Resort, a member of Trek-Segafredo's partner JSH hotels and resorts.
The men's roster is comprised of 25 riders, a mix of experience and youth, with new signing Richie Porte headlining the team. There will be 19 returning riders from 2018 and five new faces, plus the reappearance of Edward Theuns after a year with Team Sunweb.
The new Trek-Segafredo women's squad enters its maiden year and will number 13 women from 10 nationalities. The team will be highlighted by the return of the 2015 World Champion Lizzie Deignan, who is back after taking the 2018 season off to give birth to her baby daughter, born in September.
Both the men's and women's teams will begin the 2019 season at the Tour Down Under in January.
Trek-Segafredo Men:
Fumiyuki Beppu (JPN), Julien Bernard (FRA), Gianluca Brambilla (ITA), Giulio Ciccone (ITA), Will Clarke (AUS), Nicola Conci (ITA), Koen de Kort (NED), John Degenkolb (GER), Niklas Eg (DEN), Fabio Felline (ITA), Alex Frame (NZL), Michael Gogl (AUT), Markel Irizar (SPA), Alex Kirsch (LUX), Bauke Mollema (NED), Matteo Moschetti (ITA), Ryan Mullen (IRL), Jarlinson Pantano (COL), Mads Pedersen (DEN), Richie Porte (AUS), Kiel Reijnen (USA), Toms Skujins (LAT), Peter Stetina (USA), Jasper Stuyven (BEL), Edward Theuns (BEL).
Trek-Segafredo Women:
Audrey Cordon-Ragot (FRA), Lizzie Deignan (UK), Lauretta Hanson (AUS), Lotta Lepistö (FIN), Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA), Jolanda Neff (SWI), Letizia Paternoster (ITA), Anna Plichta (POL), Ellen van Dijk (NED), Abi Van Twisk (UK), Tayler Wiles (USA), Ruth Winder (USA), Trixi Worrack (GER).
Team Novo Nordisk Adds Five New Riders to 2019 Pro Roster
The world's first all-diabetes pro cycling team brings in an Olympian and advances four riders from its development squad while adding changes to its GSG-designed jersey.
Team Novo Nordisk, the world's first all-diabetes pro cycling team, will race its seventh season with 16 athletes from a dozen countries. The five new riders joining the team include Olympian and three-time former Hungarian national champion Peter Kusztor (HUN), Oliver Behringer (SUI), Declan Irvine (AUS), Sam Munday (AUS) and Ulugbek Saidov (UZB). Both Behringer and Irvine raced as stagiaires with the men's professional team during the 2018 season.
"I want to say a big thanks and congratulations to the 2018 squad. We had one victory, seven podiums, and 11 top five finishes, which are the most in Team Novo Nordisk's six-year history. This success was the combined result of confidence and teamwork," Team Novo Nordisk's CEO and Co-Founder Phil Southerland said. "Looking to 2019, I'm confident this trend will continue, and the addition of four development riders and veteran pro Peter Kusztor will serve as tremendous boosts for the team."
All athletes on Team Novo Nordisk race with type 1 diabetes. Since its launch in December 2012, the organization has focused heavily on identifying and developing endurance athletes from around the world with diabetes, which has lead to an extensive junior and development program where riders have the opportunity to advance to the men's professional team.
"Since our inception, we've set high standards for this program. To maintain this momentum, it is critical to move up this young generation of talented athletes with diabetes to the professional team," Team Novo Nordisk Senior Vice President of Athletics Vassili Davidenko said. "Our entire project is designed to provide them with as many opportunities as possible to succeed. We consciously blend our race rosters, so the neo-pros race alongside experienced veterans. This keeps motivation and moral high because the young riders are so eager to learn. Additionally, it provides all our riders with direction so they can continue to progress in a step-by-step manner."
Four of Team Novo Nordisk's five new athletes are products of its development program. Behringer, Irvine, Munday, and Saidov all spent at least two seasons racing as a part of the team's development pipeline. Saidov is Team Novo Nordisk's first professional rider from Central Asia.
For the first time in its history, Team Novo Nordisk is adding a new rider to its professional roster from outside of its development pipeline. Kusztor was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after breaking his collarbone at the Czech Cycling Tour (August 2018). Before going in for surgery, doctors checked his fasting blood glucose levels and discovered they were elevated. Eventually, endocrinologists ran a series of tests and diagnosed the 33-year-old with type 1 diagnosis. Accolades over his 14-year career include representing Hungary at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, two-time Hungary national road race champion (2010, 2012), Hungary national time trial champion (2010), winner overall at the Tour of Bretagne (2011), second overall at Gemenc GP (2017) and lining up for four UCI Road World Championships (2008, 2009, 2012, 2013).
"Our returning riders have another season of racing in the pro peloton and our stagiaires impressed me these past few races. They showed significant improvements by the end of the year," Davidenko said. "We have big expectations in Kusztor and are proud to add him to our roster. I expect the entire project will be stronger in 2019."
Team Novo Nordisk's new 2019 GSG-designed jersey will feature repeating white text with the words 'inspire, educate and empower' down the torso below a light blue circle that serves as the global symbol for diabetes awareness. The navy blue jersey will continue to feature the words "Changing Diabetes" across the chest. The 2019 changes will continue to bring awareness to Team Novo Nordisk's mission to inspire, educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes.
"We are going into 2019 hungry for success. We just finished a pre-season training camp, and our riders' fitness is ahead of schedule compared to 2017," Southerland said. "I trust that our riders, coaches and medical staff will continue to build on this foundation and this growth with translate into success on the road, which allows us to have an even greater impact alongside Novo Nordisk to continue changing diabetes around the world."
The 2018 season saw Team Novo Nordisk achieve its best results to date, including 11 top five finishes and seven podium appearances. David Lozano (ESP) earned the team's second victory when he soloed to win Stage 7 of the Tour du Rwanda. The Spaniard had a standout season that saw him collect 10 top 10 finishes including fifth overall at the Tour of Estonia, fifth overall at the Tour du Rwanda and the KOM jersey following Stage 3 of the Vuelta Aragon. Frenchman Quentin Valognes, who now functions as an ambassador for the team, took home the Intermediate Sprint Jersey at the Dubai Tour while fellow Frenchman Charles Planet earned the Fighter's Jersey on Stage 3 of the PostNord Danmark Rundt and wore the Sprint leader's jersey on Stage 1 of the Tour of Hongrie. Planet also stood on the podium after finishing runner-up on the Tour of Hongrie Prologue.
"Looking towards 2019, our focus continues to be on developing our riders, so that they can be competitive at the top level of the sport. We do this by racing in many countries and at various levels all with the aim to provide hope and inspiration for everyone affected by diabetes," Davidenko said.
Team Novo Nordisk's full 2019 roster includes:
Oliver Behringer – SUI, Mehdi Benhamouda – FRA, Sam Brand – GBR (IMN), Fabio Calabria – AUS, Stephen Clancy – IRL, Joonas Henttala – FIN, Declan Irvine – AUS, Brian Kamstra – NED, Peter Kusztor – HUN, David Lozano – ESP, Emanuel Mini – ARG, Sam Munday – AUS, Andrea Peron – ITA, Charles Planet – FRA, Umberto Poli – ITA, Ulugbek Saidov – UZB.
About Team Novo Nordisk
Team Novo Nordisk is a global all-diabetes sports team of cyclists spearheaded by the world's first all-diabetes UCI Professional Continental cycling team. In 2012, Phil Southerland, co-founder and CEO of the team, and global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, came together to create Team Novo Nordisk, based on a shared vision to inspire, educate and empower people around the world affected by diabetes. For more information, go to www.teamnovonordisk.com.
Glaz, Noir… and Luminous, the 2019 Jersey of Vital Concept – B&B HOTELS!
White, new partners and a delicate Breton touch, the graphic designers of the Vital Concept Cycling Club played the card of harmony and visibility by drawing the 2019 jersey revealed this Tuesday. Runners, manufacturer, general manager, all praise the novelties of a tunic that keeps the Glaz and the Black for main colors, well in the Club spirit.
Lighter, more visible from a distance and with new symbols, the 2019 jersey is as effective as it is aesthetic. An outfit that Jerome Pineau would have liked to wear time of his sporting size. "It's all about taste but this shirt is, in my eyes, one of the most beautiful that we have ever seen in the pack. Last year, we listened to remarks that told us that our colors did not always stand out in the helicopter images. The white keys will bring brightness to all, allow us to be more visible and, since our jersey 2018 was one of the public's favorite, we wanted to keep its general line and its colors."
Another change that appears on the upper back, the scapular, always present on the bust, is reversed and represents a roof, symbol of the hotel business, the activity of our new partner B & B HOTELS. The different sponsors, old and new, have harmoniously found their place on the new outfit. "It is a great pride to have been able to join the names of our three new jersey partners – B&B HOTELS, Synergie and Armor-lux – by remaining faithful to our graphic charter and our color code, continues Jérôme Pineau. Without their approval, it would have been impossible for us to make such a beautiful jersey."
Ultimate innovation that should cause talk radio waves, the white lace on the back pockets of the jersey. "This detail allows us to assert a little more our Breton identity, says the general manager of the Club, even if the brand Brittany and the white and black of Gwenn-Ha-Du (the flag of the region) are already present."
Partner of the Vital Concept Cycling Club since its inception, the manufacturer Noret was particularly attentive to the riders, who contributed to the technical improvement of the jersey by their remarks and suggestions. "We made some changes following their feedback, says Jean-Noël Bonenfant, director of the historic Breton brand. They wanted a higher collar on the shirt they will use until the end of winter. In 2018, we had already added pockets on the sides and the main other changes involved the integration of new partners, in perfect agreement with the graphic designers of the team. We continue to work with several riders, including Kevin Reza and Johan Le Bon, on improvements such as a removable hood to slide under the helmet. Seeing the runners get involved in this way is a huge satisfaction. Last spring, they visited us in Saint-Denoual (Côtes-d'Armor), on our production site and it was the first time that we could exchange with runners, listen to their wishes, before the end of the season . They discovered our tools, our employees and did not hide their surprise by discovering how we made cycling jerseys. Their exchanges with the bosses, in particular, proved very rich and, at Noret, the Club is unanimous."
Like the shirt manufacturer and the general manager of the Club, the riders were eager to reveal their future outfit. "Do not hide it, we are still great kids and it is with great excitement that we discovered our new jersey, recognizes Bryan Coquard, model of a day during the shooting in the street art gallery DéDalE, Vannes. There are real changes compared to 2018 and the fact that the Club renews the visual aspect of the jersey to this point is significant. It is the mark of a dynamic team, who is not afraid to move. White brings light, lace is a nice nod and I do not think any team has ever worn on his jersey. I find the lace pretty fun…" True to its colors, the Club has not made a revolution in drawing his jersey 2019. Rather an evolution. "We keep our trademark, we stay in the spirit Glaz, continues the Rooster. White adds a little pep. As for the collar, it reminds me of the combination of British trackers at one time, when they had worn a turtleneck to favor aerodynamics. It will be perfect for the beginning of the season and then, in good weather, we will come back to a lower pass."
Unveiled at just two weeks of Christmas, the Vital Concept jersey – B&B HOTELS 2019 is about to pass a test of popularity in the coming days, via social networks in particular. Jean-Noël Bonenfant and his troops.
Visma Long-Term Name Sponsor of Speed Skating and Cycling Team Jumbo-Visma
Team Oranje, in which the speed skating and the cycling team of Jac Orie and Richard Plugge are united, has secured Visma as a second name sponsor for at least five years, starting in 2019. Norwegian company Visma provides business software, IT solutions for retail and IT-related development and consultancy. Both the speed skating and the cycling team will act as Team Jumbo-Visma.
"We are thrilled to be the new sponsor of one of the world's best cycling and speed skating teams. Visma provides business-critical software to the public and private sector across a range of industries. We have now reached a stage where we are going from being a Nordic software brand to a Pan-European and supporting team Jumbo-Visma will be an important step in increasing our footprint in Europe", says Visma CEO Øystein Moan.
"Thanks to the fruitful cooperation and the development that we have gone through together, Jumbo dared to support our vision for a long and indefinite period of time. This has not gone unnoticed. It has created appeal within the sports world and also in the business world. The agreement with Visma is a result of this", explains Plugge.
"Visma has been interested for a longer period of time", Plugge continues. "The long-term support of Jumbo, the resignation of Lotto and especially the way we have positioned ourselves in recent years have convinced Visma to partner up with us. We perform with athletes who have been developed in our team. Visma is the first Norwegian company to support cycling on this scale and I am very proud of that. Moreover, in Norway speed skating counts, just like in the Netherlands. The partnership with Visma underpins the strength of Team Oranje."
Orie concurs with his fellow director. "I think it's great that a company like Visma has chosen for our combined speed skating and cycling team", he says. "As a Norwegian company, they display a big interest in both speed skating and cycling, just like many Dutch companies. That's why this immediately felt like a good match. I look forward to using their knowledge of software in analyzing our large amount of test data. I am convinced that by joining forces, we can take the next step in our development."
"We believe this sponsorship will put the Visma brand on the European map and help Visma increase its presence and brand awareness in the Netherlands and throughout Europe. Visma is expanding its activities in the Netherlands and recently acquired one of the leading Dutch providers of payroll and HR software, Raet. Cycling is also a popular sport in both current and potential markets, making the sponsorship a great fit for Visma," Moan concludes.
Katusha Alpecin Choses BMW as Official Car Partner
Swiss WorldTour team Katusha Alpecin will cooperate for the next three years with BMW. The official handing-over of the keys happened last Friday evening at the 2019 team presentation of Katusha Alpecin in Koblenz, Germany. Leasing company Alphabet is providing the fleet of 14 BMWs, including 12 of the 518d Touring and 2 BMW X3 models.
General Manager José Azevedo: "We are happy in this partnership with BMW. It is nice to work with this prestigious and innovative brand, but there is more to this partnership. This car offers us safety and comfort and that is, of course, important in the often very hectic circumstances of a cycling race. Safety is our absolute number one priority, but comfort is a close second. Most notably our mechanics will appreciate the roomy space. Sometimes we sit more than seven to eight hours in the car. After the races we can take our riders back to the hotel in real comfort, as post-race recovery begins the minute the race is over."
Eddy Haesendonck, President and CEO of BMW Group Belux, is also enthusiastic about the partnership. "The dynamics of Katusha Alpecin cycling team match perfectly with the dynamic performances of our BMWs. Moreover, the BMW Touring and BMW X3 offer the necessary luxury and comfort that riders and support staff need and deserve."
With their 4 brands – BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad – BMW Group is the number one producer of premium cars and motorbikes. In 2017, BMW Group sold 2,463,500 autos and 164,000 bikes worldwide.
During the cycling season, Katusha Alpecin and BMW Group Belux will partner on events together, both in and out of races and look forward to the winning combination of solid racing results and a successful partnership in the years to come.
Tom Van Assche (Corporate Sales Manager BMW Group Belux), Erwin Neuville (Business Manager Corporate Sales BMW Group Belux), José Azevedo (General Manager TKA), Ilnur Zakarin and Marcel Kittel:
Bahrain-Merida Start Training Camp on Island Hvar
Bahrain-Merida staff and athletes will be spending two weeks in December on Croatian island Hvar, where the Team's last training camp before the challenges of the new season will take place.
The training camp will take place again like last year, on the beautiful island of Hvar in Croatia, where the team have found the perfect partner and generous host in the Hvar Tourist Board, that contributed a great deal in the organizational part, and Sunčani Hvar Hotels, which is an excellent base location for the whole team, our guests, partners, journalists, and sponsors. Hotel Amfora where team and all the guests, in total 160 persons, will be accommodate is located right by the sea and offer top conditions for relaxation of athletes and staff after hard work and also all facilities needed for perfect execution of the full schedule of the activities planned for the training camp. Sunčani Hvar Hotels is the leading hotel group on Croatia's premier island Hvar with a diverse collection of modern, luxury and budget hotels. The emphasis is on fostering unique experiences in one of the most beautiful islands in the Adriatic with a goal of delivering unrivaled propositions to travelers from all over the world.
The organization of the training camp was like last year much easier due to a great support from Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board and Tourist Board of City of Hvar that helped the team to prepare all the activities through which our team members and guests can fully experience and appreciate this destination. This year Hvar celebrate 150 years of organized tourism on the island. In the last few years a lot of efforts were put into developing Hvar as an attractive destination for cycling tourism. The island has just the right amplitudes to offer great training conditions also to professionals – this year Team Bahrain Merida results confirmed that. On this training camp our guests, riders and staff will have the chance to experience the island through visiting traditional villages, riding through magnificent landscapes, pass picturesque vineyards and lavender fields, and through enjoying unique gastronomy that will all contribute in a exclusive experience for all senses.
During media days, from 12th to 14th December, journalists and photographers from all over the world will join the Team on Hvar and have a unique opportunity to spend some time with Bahrain-Merida riders and staff, to carry one-on-one interviews with them and to even ride bicycles side by side with them. A formal team presentation will be held on Wednesday 12th December at 2:30 p.m., where the Team representatives, sponsors and partners will present key strategies and tactics for 2019. Team prepares also a FUN BIKE RIDE with Merida bikes and island experience for journalists on Thursday 13th December when they will visit a local restaurant and taste gastronomic island treasure.
Team's sponsors will also join the athletes and staff at the beginning of the training camp and spend some time on the beautiful island of Hvar and also give final inputs about the new equipment that Team Bahrain-Merida will use in the new season. With 8 new riders team will for sure be ready for a new challenges in 2019.
UAE Team Emirates Training in Spain Team's Winter Training Camp Starts Today
The work began for UAE Team Emirates at a training camp that runs from today through December 21 in Spain. All 29 cyclists will be present and working hard towards 2019.
The team is basing itself at the Gran Palas Hotel in La Pineda, near Tarragona.
Today, the riders will have their first group ride on their Colnago bicycles, carrying out a series of drills on the Spanish roads.
But it's not just the bikes. The team is trying out Met helmets, Champion System clothing and other materials needed for the 2019 season.
With all the riders on hand, the team's sports directors and staff can meet individually with each cyclist to plan competitions and carry out evaluation tests, part of the base for the coming race season.
Riding in the UAE during the team camp that took place in October:
Nippo Vini Fantini Faizanè: Second Training Camp in La Spezia
The second training camp looking forward to 2019 season is going to start in La Spezia. From December 11th to 16th the #OrangeBlue will be at the Hotel Il Gabbiano. Medical visits, official photos and official videos together with "lessons" meetings about, nutrition, ADAMS and communication. Sunday closed cycling open to cyclists and fans of the area.
December 10, La Spezia.
The second training camp of the NIPPO Vini Fantini Faizanè team is on its way. From 11 to 16 December the team will meet in La Spezia, at the Hotel Il Gabbiano, to carry out many important activities in view of 2019.
A full agenda of appointments concentrated in a few days, to allow then the athletes of the team to train regularly on the straps of the house until the training camp of Calpe scheduled for January, when the team will meet to finalize the best preparatory work in view of the start of the season.
In the 6 days in La Spezia scheduled medical visits at the beginning of the season and athletic tests in addition to the official photos of the beginning of the year that will have as background the beauties of the city and the province of La Spezia.
Friday it is video-shooting time, to prepare the video that will present the team and the 2019 roster to the international public. There will be moments of lessons with athletes in nutrition class, with the nutritionist of the team and with the new integrator partner who will be announced in these days of training camp. Equally important are the "lessons" related to ADAMS, the availability platform of the international anti-doping organization WADA, and the communication lesson by the communication agency Sun-TIMES, which will give important indications on the use of social media network to exploit its full potential.
As usual the training camp will close with a convivial dinner open to all local fans, at the Hotel Il Gabbiano this Saturday, December 15, and with a ride open to all fans of the area on Sunday morning December 16th.
Information about the dinner and fans ride will soon be published on the official social media channels of the team.
Cycling Canada Welcomes New President
Cycling Canada is pleased to welcome Pierre Laflamme as its new President following an election held at a Special Meeting today by the organization's member Provinces and Territories.
Laflamme, a Quebec City-based investment advisor and accountant by trade, has a long history in cycling and has been a member of Cycling Canada's Board of Directors since September 2017. A former racer on both the road and mountain bike, he has been the President of Club Élicycle in Quebec for three years. Laflamme is a CPA and CA and has worked with Desjardins Wealth Management in Quebec for the past 8 years.
"It's exciting to come full circle, going from a passionate cyclist and club administrator to a Cycling Canada Board member and now President," Laflamme said. "It's an honour and a privilege to be able to give something back to the sport that I love. We've had great leaders in Canadian cycling and I'm looking forward to following in their footsteps. I want to thank our Provincial and Territorial partners for their confidence and I look forward to working with our Board, staff and all of our stakeholders to continue to build and grow the sport in an integrated way across the country."
Cycling Canada announced on November 11th that its former President John Tolkamp would officially step down from his position in December after ten years at the helm of the organization's Board of Directors. A total of three nominations were submitted for the election, including current Board member Robin Porter (Toronto, ON), as well as Stefano Rover (Montreal, QC) who previously served on Cycling Canada's Board between 2009 and 2012.
"We want to thank John for his dedication and hard work as President over the last ten years," said Matthew Jeffries, Executive Director of Cycling Canada. "He has been a tremendous ambassador and champion for our organization and our athletes. We're looking forward to working with Pierre in his new capacity and we're confident that he will bring the same level of passion and leadership to the position as John."
Cycling Canada's Inter-Provincial Council conducted candidate interviews during the week of December 3rd in advance of the Special Meeting. The newly-elected President will serve for the balance of the current 4-year term, which will conclude in October of 2021.
Pierre Laflamme:
Official Statement on Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev's State of Health
Due to the identified health problems Astana Pro Team decided not to extend the contractual relations for the season of 2019 with the Kazakh rider Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev.
After a health incident at the training camp in September 2018, the certain suspicions about Balhtiyar Kozhatayev's state of heart health have appeared. Astana Pro Team immediately has initiated and conducted a series of in-depth tests with the involvement of leading cardiologists.
According to the results of the tests and after consultations with specialists cardiologists in sports and taking into account the recommendations of the Association of sports doctors, the medical council of Astana Pro Team decided that the state of health of the athlete's heart does not allow him to perform in professional races at the level of the UCI WorldTour.
"The state of health of Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev in the last few months has raised some questions, so we decided to perform a number of tests in several cardiac centers in order to understand the situation as accurately as possible. Fortunately, no grave pathologies, that might threaten the life of the athlete, were found. However, some deviations have appeared and they are incompatible with the loads that exist in the WorldTour. Therefore, our council informed the team's management about the current situation and recommended the rider to quit the active professional career," said Serge Niamke, the chief doctor of Astana Pro Team.
"For all of us it is an absolutely unexpected situation. The decision we made was a tough one, but, first of all, it was done in favor of athlete's health, which always was and still is our main priority. The health problems that Bakhtiyar suffered this autumn, led to a number of medical tests, which, in the end, became the basis for clear recommendations – it is impossible to perform at the level of the UCI WorldTour. It is very sad, as Kozhataev is a young and talented rider, however, we simply do not have the right to put in risk the health of the athlete. Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev's contract ends at the end of this year, and we made a decision not to extend it. In any case, the team will support Bakhtiyar as much as possible in this difficult moment. On behalf of the whole team I want to thank Bakhtiyar for all the years spent in Astana and wish him, first of all, health and good luck," said the general manager of the team Alexandr Vinokurov.
Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev:
Team Helps 100 Children from Falcons Youth and Family Services Receive New Bicycles
Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon and team partner Rally Health hosted their third-annual "Holiday Bike Build" at StubHub Center, where 100 kids from Gardena-based Falcons Youth and Family Services received brand-new bicycles and Bell helmets.
Gordon, a Rally Health Ambassador, led activities for the after-school event that inspired children ages 5-12 to adopt healthy habits and focus on their education.
Rally Cycling's Brad Huff, Jesse Anthony, Megan Jastrab, Robin Carpenter, and Ty Magner joined Gordon in leading a series of health and fitness-inspired activities including football drills and potato-sack races before leading the children in a ride on their new bikes around the StubHub Center concourse.
"It's incredibly rewarding to be able to draw from my own experience and Rally's message of healthy living to inspire these kids to stay healthy and stay in school, and now with their new bikes, to get plenty of fun exercise," said Gordon.
Peter Sagan – Ready for 2019
Peter Sagan is ready for next season! Watch the Peter Sagan best moments of 2018:
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Don't forget to check the "NEWSWIRE" section, you can find it on the homepage, just above the EuroTrash section. The bits of news that missed the EuroTrash deadline are in there, plus any news as-it-happens will be added there too.
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*Finance is made available on the Honda CBR650F subject to application and status. If you are under 21 years of age then a parent or guardian will be required to a be a joint applicant with you. Written quotations are available on request. The above illustrations assume that finance is made available by one of our main finance providers. Images are for illustration purposes only.
** If you choose to hand the Honda CBR650F back at the end of a PCP term you may be liable for any costs that are necessary to put the bike into good repair and condition commensurate with age and miles travelled. If you exceed the miles over the term of the agreement you will also be liable for an excess mileage charge.


text:
Amen to Zombie: October 1st, 2010
In a world where experimental electronic music exponentially splinters into a multitude of rogue genres that slowly shuffle the globe from demilitarized dance floors to sleeper cell bedroom studios and back, a team of disparate scientists tracks this solanum-like pandemic while desperately trying to interpret cryptic field recordings of Samhain's past, not one day at a time, but from Amen to Zombie…
Sound Effects No. 21
More Death and Horror
Death of the Fly – The hydraulic press opens and shuts on "It" forever
Vampire Feeding – A late night snack is good for the blood
Death By Harikiri – The honourable way to die-Japanese style
Sweeny Todd The Barber – Sharpen the razor, the meat pies are nearly finished.
Wind Through Crack In Door
Wind In The Trees
Synthesised Wind (Electronic) *Just to set the scene and keep you chilled.
Sea Monster – The foghorns call, and are answered by a slimy horror.
Sharpening The Knife – A keen blade causes no pain.
Falling Scream – Watch you don't trip.
Premature Burial – Pray it doesn't happen to you.
Wild Dogs – They don't eat from tins.
The Iron Maiden – Not a political point to be seen, just sharp ones.
Death In The Swamp – Watch where you tread, you might slip forever.
The Sewer Rats – You're not alone down here, I hear the patter of tiny feet.
The Poisoned Drink – Cheers!-for the last time.
The Rack – The hag laughs as you grow taller.
Midnight Strangler – Lock up at night or you'll run out of breath.
Assorted Gun Shots – All electronic, so they can't hurt-can they?
At The Dentist – Open wide, there's a drill coming to bore you.
Time Bomb – The suspense will kill you.
Death By Electrocution – The last shock you'll get.
Gouging Eyeballs – One down, one to go.
Russian Roulette – Your turn to pull the trigger comrade.
Death By Garrotting – Take a deep breath-just the one.
Suicide By Gas – Gas Mark 10 for one hour, but don't strike a match.
First find of the the looming Halloween sound effects recordings season and we got some heavy gear. Found this one in a kind of pricey shop in Philadelphia. But, just take a look at that cover. Flyman-watches-Dracula-bite-a-woman-with-a-bare-tit-who-watches-a-man-get-pulled-by-the-rack-and-spikes-lowered-on-him-by-Death-as-another-man-drowning-in-sewage-and-a-wolf-and-a-dragon-watch. This record could have cost $50 and I would have considered buying it. Thankfully eight bucks did the work and this slice of vinyl was mine.
Right off the bat you know its going to be fun. Death of a Fly, you can hear the hydraulic warming up and then the actual crushing of the fly sounds like Mr. Owl taking a bite of a Tootsie-pop.
This is my first run-in with any foreign Halloween sound effects recordings, and why not just go for cream with one drummed up by Mike Harding & Peter Harwood. Both worked as producers/engineers for the BBC, and specifically M. Harding has worked in the Radiophonic Workshop. Not necessarily one of the main players at the Radiophonic Workshop, but has contributed to some of the vast Radiophonic catalog.
Firstly, if you're not familiar with the Radiophonic Workshop, quite simply way back in 1958 the BBC built a small three room studio for the expressed purpose of creating any of the background music, theme songs, or any other type of sound that was not the human voice for all of the BBC's original programing. They did work for the radio as well. The collective essentially worked as the BBC's private in-house band. I've mentioned Library Music before and that's exactly what the Radiophonic Workshop produced. Sort of.
Because of the progressive techniques and the fact that most of the staff at the RW had a lot of freedom, the material became wildly popular. This lead to the BBC releasing some of their "library music" commercially. You may have heard of Dr. Who. RW came up with that as well as tons of other really, really bad-ass Sci-Fi pieces, years before anyone was doing similar work in popular or even underground music.
Which brings us back to More Death and Horror. Technically its part of a Sound Effects series, 21st in the series to be exact, but the idea behind the record and the fact that M. Harding is the main player here make it feel more like a Radiophonic Workshop release, but maybe its one from a sister label. M. Harding is also responsible for such gems as Through a Glass, Darkly an official RW prog rock release and, of course, Sound Effects no. 13 Death and Horror and no. 27 Even More Death and Horror.
Even More Death and Horror has a perfect rating on Discogs and includes a piece called Torture Lab: AD 2500. So I'm definitely interested in tracking some more of the series. Although it might be a difficult task, there are bootleg CD-Rs of the releases already cataloged at Discogs. At any rate I'm happy to have scored this one, and as a bonus I found a clear red flexi-disc in the sleeve. Boosh.
Before we get to any review of the material, "suffocating inside this prison"* its important for me to blab on here about something. I find it interesting how what once was considered library music has now unfolded into a number of genres. Or, alternatively, I'm marveling at advertising's ability to influence. Almost as if music consumers were tired of getting fed crap by the music industry, wanted what advertisers kept to themselves, and in turn became composers themselves. Library music is the first island you swim to from the vast oceans of academic noise. It's the first chance for experimental sounds to be heard by the public more often than not.
We have become such keen consumers of products, that we now want to market ourselves. We do so in the ways of the internet, YouTube and Facebook. And instead of being sold a musical product, there are artists that have put it upon themselves to take stranger sounds from the grips of advertisers and bend them to promote themselves. There have been countless New/No Wave, Techno/Electro, etc. artist that have come up through the 80's have cited the RW as a key influence.
Delia Derbyshire is seen here beatmatching two reel-to-reels. Years before New York and hip-hop and all the late 70's explosion of dance music. Delia was also responsible for the programing and execution of the Dr. Who theme and is the golden age pin-up of bridge trolls who stare at drum machines. She was a sexy bird, but let's get back on track.
As far as the two camps of Halloween sound effects records go, More Death and Horror falls on the side of pure sound effects. No narratives or spooky stories. Just a string of Polaroid type pieces of audio that do their best to bring to life their titles. And where they fail, M. Harding puts it on you to make up better stories. Which is why this feels more like a RW or library music record to me than a Halloween sound effects record.
Sidebar: I've got to come up with a good name for these types of recordings besides Halloween sound effects recordings. Hmmm, maybe Spooky Sounds?
Anyway, the record is a fine collection of a wide variety of spooky sounds, mostly ending in someone's death. Which may beg the question that if you were to use this as source material for you very own radio play, it would be your one-stop-shop for interesting deaths. Including "Death by Garrotting," which is the most gruesome sounding, mainly because I didn't know what garrotting was before I looked it up. But from the edge to the label, it's not much of a thrill. It was fun to listen to the first time, checking back at the cover to see how the poor bloke was being put to death this time around. But as a stand-alone record that you could just put on and be swept up into, it falls flat. Not coming out of that gate strong, I do like this record for what it could be: source material. And I think that kind of takes away from what it actually is. A well packaged cache of the sounds of people "dying." But Halloween-ing season is game on!
Goodnight out there, whatever you are
*quote attributed to Reginald VonVorst
By: NoahAndrews
NoahAndrews

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Story of Michael Ray Mason
My fiancé is Michael Ray Mason. He is represented by James Pearce. Pearce does Public Defender work, but Michaels parents retained him to represent Michael.
This whole nightmare started on November 5, 2000. Michael was driving an RV, we had borrowed from some friends (it was not stolen, it was not reported stolen either) and it stalled. He was on the side of the road trying to get it started when he saw an elderly woman drive by scowling at him. Shortly afterwards RPD (Redding Police) pulled up, as well as a man in another vehicle. Michael was holding a flashlight and the man in the truck simply insisted it had been stolen from his truck. (It wasn't true, the flashlight was purchased at Ace Hardware, we had a receipt for it, but Michael didn't have it on him.) Based on the flashlight the police officer searched the RV and found possible stolen property. A bag of keys and stolen DMV tags in a jacket pocket. They charged Michael with the stolen Tags but they returned the jacket to the owner of the RV.
They took Michael in and questioned him for approximately 8 hours-that was the length of time it took them to get a search warrant for our residence. In our residence they found stolen property, drugs and paraphernalia. They charged me with all of the drugs and paraphernalia and they only charged Michael with the stolen property. (I have been completely clean and sober since.) If you ask me, they did that to ensure that he wouldn't be offered any drug treatment. The arresting officer told me Michael appeared to be under the influence and there were fresh track marks on his arms, but that is not written in any of the police reports.
Michael was arrested and charged with 3 counts (I think it started off with 3) of receiving stolen property. His parents arranged for his Bail and he was out of Jail approximately 1 week later. 3 Days after he was released from jail the police showed up at our door and arrested him again. They said they had just finished going through the stuff they had confiscated and were bringing a total of 12 new charges against him. In court his bail was increased to half a million-for committing a crime while out on Bail (there was a warrant issued, they consider that a new crime). Of course that was too much money so he's sat in jail ever since and his parents are still paying for a bail that only lasted 3 days.
A couple of months after his arrest the man who had insisted his flashlight was stolen came forward and said he had found his flashlight, so the charge was dropped. This is the charge that the whole case was based on. But there has been no mention that maybe the search of the RV was illegal to begin with.
On the day of Michael's preliminary hearing, his arresting officers came to see him. They said "if you waive your preliminary hearing, the DA will not pursue 25 to Life. (3 strikes) Michael waived the Preliminary hearing, the DA retracted his pursuit of 25 to life, and then two weeks later, at a settlement conference, the DA said he was pursuing 25 to life. You see, they simply tricked him, because they are charging him with a lot that they can't prove. Also, they have stacked his charges, so the DA is saying in court that he has 28 charges, 2 petty thefts with priors, 1 2nd degree vehicle burglary, and all of the rest are receiving stolen property. What's hilarious is these stolen items are things like, a pair of sunglasses. He has a felony charge for a pair of $12.00 sunglasses that were stolen from a woman's dashboard. I think the most valuable thing they arrested him for was a credit card.
When probation interviewed him, her report stated that there are fourteen separate acts that occurred on different dates, meaning that the sentences have to be consecutive; she said legally, they have to sentence him to 365 years. (I'm pretty sure that's what the total is.) Throughout these 3 years that he has been in the jail there have been various verbal offers that the DA has not honored. 6 months ago she offered to "over-look" one strike and let him choose which charges to plead to, as long as the sentence equals 18 years @ 80%. That's insane, he did not hurt anyone. There is no violence in his record. A month after that she'd offer him 32 years and claims that she never offered him 18years. We don't know if Michael has misunderstood his lawyer, if the lawyer is lying to us or the DA is playing games. It's just strange how the DA's offer seems to change every time we go to court, it's more years every time, in most cases the years go down, not up.
The funny thing is, he was given 2 strikes on one case back in 1995. Vehicle burglary, residential burglary and petty theft. It was the only time he's ever been in serious trouble, his first time to prison, they gave him a maximum term of 8 years and two strikes. The original deal he signed at the settlement conference was for one strike; the DA changed it and gave him two strikes at sentencing. He had a public defender at the time that told him she was sorry she didn't do better for him, but she was going through a lot in her life and on pain medication. That all sounds pretty suspicious to me. It seems like there should be room for an appeal there.
He is officially going to trial now. He can't decide between trial by jury, or trial by judge. The DA has threatened him that if he goes to trial he could get 500 years. Keep in mind; these are charges that would normally be misdemeanors.
I've seen sex offenders, habitual criminals and known violent offenders get better deals than this, what is going on?
He is not receiving fair treatment under the law. We plan to investigate other cases in the county that were treated differently, isn't everyone entitled to equal treatment?


Plotting and explaining the end-to-end user journey of a service, including multiple online and offline touch points a user might interact with.
Using performance analysis and user research data to improve and refine the user experience.
Creating user interfaces, flows and sites that are fundamentally easy to understand and use.
Designing interfaces that are responsive as well as platform and device agnostic, so they work on as many different end user devices as possible.
Creating and/or following agreed design patterns (eg styling of basic form elements and transaction pages).
Using image editing tools to support the creation of designs, layouts and user interfaces.
Using a version control system, including to support collaborative teamwork in agile development.
The Service Design Manual includes an overview of design skills, looking at what designers do and what capabilities to look for when hiring designers.
The Service Design Manual includes a wide array of resources for designers on good design practice for services on GOV.UK.
The UX review is an external blog on user experience (UX) design. It includes aguide for beginners.


The system and I...we're not friends. If you've followed my writing here and in magazines and at my column over at Hilltownfamilies.org...this statement comes as no surprise. Our fractured judicial system has failed my family more times than I care to remember. And while I tend toward forward motion, leaving behind the bad and forging ahead to try and make change where I can, today, I allowed myself to look back in order to share the story of my personal experiences in family court with Rob Smith who is currently running for Warren County Family Court Judge.
Now I have to admit, that most of me was immediately prepared to like Rob for the simple reason that he was WILLING to listen, wanted to meet and found time so that we could do so right away. It was a particularly different sensation having someone who could potentially be our county's new family court judge have the innate wisdom to hear from a constituent hopefully so that he could tuck the stories figuratively into his briefcase and carry the lessons learned into the court with him.
However, I will also admit, that there was a little part of me that firmly remained a cynic, deeply entrenched in the mire of bad memories. And so, I may have also had a teeny tiny notion that speaking with Rob would prove that cynic correct somehow; that perhaps he'd be less than genuine, less than a listener, and I guess...more of the same.
But here's the thing, the thing I need you all to know especially if you are of voting age and live in Warren County NY, Rob Smith put that itty bitty cynical part of me at ease within the first 10 minutes of our conversation. And while I won't go into the stories I shared, I will share with you what I learned about Rob that makes me absolutely certain that he is the right choice on Tuesday.
First and foremost, Rob let me talk. And while I talked he listened. The consummate communicator, he was engaged. He asked questions. He gathered data. He wanted clarifications and (I know you won't believe this) but when he didn't know something, he actually said it. I kid you not. (Think of it, a politician who speaks the truth about himself!) I have to say that his demeanor and the engagement he showed really and truly surprised me. Perhaps it is because of this specific and volatile election cycle, but his ability to give audience to and try and learn from the tragic consequences that came from my family's experiences in the judicial system seems singularly rare.
Secondly, Rob Smith wants to be family court judge so he can...wait for it...help families. Now if that seems like a given to you, think again. Like any other career, there is a hierarchy in the judicial world where the position of family court judge is at the bottom and for many is often looked upon as a first "stepping stone" in order to climb the judicial ladder. And while other judges or candidates may have aspirations or even have past campaigns to join the ranks of more prestigious judicial positions, Rob is on the record and told me personally today that being family court judge is what he is aspiring to be--period--end of story. He doesn't want any other position, saying, "I am 48 years old. I know who I am and what I stand for. I have always wanted to be able to help children and families and this is the ultimate way to do that." And you know what? I believed him. I believed him when he said that the position of family court judge would have his full attention and dedication. It wasn't just a plausible declaration, it was clear that he was he was absolute in this resolution. And honestly, isn't that what you'd want if you ever found yourself or you child in his court; someone dedicated to his role as an adjudicator, taking seriously and finding importance in his role of protecting children in a life-long way?
Another reason Rob has my vote is because it was quite obvious to me after over an hour and a half of intense conversation, that Rob is a man who knows how important it is to see each family and each child as complex entities who'd therefore (of course) need complex approaches to problem solving. I can't tell you how very impressed I was when I shared with Rob my feelings of the court's inability to deviate from some invisible procedural box of steps (for lack of a better phrase) when he answered that as a judge, he knows that he'd need to ferret out the question "why is this happening to this family? to this child?" He said that it'd be an absolute necessity to be devoted to putting together all the pieces from all sides in order to have the most complete picture he could have for each one of his cases. And, shocks of all shocks, do that work BEFORE any court time took place. (Ok...that was the cynic in me. I'll try to keep her from popping up too often.) Being sure to do his due diligence in this way, Rob ensures us all that his decisions would be based on what was best for each individual family instead of a cookie cutter response. Essentially, reconstructing the past in order to make the best decisions for the future of the family before him. His response, I have to tell you, was nothing short of marvelous to this cynical mom.
Towards the end of our conversation, I spoke to Rob about the work I have been doing over the years to try and change the system. From speaking with elected officials to becoming a mental health advocate to creating a show to help end mental illness's stigma, I shared with Rob how very often I felt as if it wasn't enough. Despite tireless work for the last three years, I had not moved the needle enough for my liking. The system was still the system--systemic in its failure. I confided in him that I never wanted another mother to ever go through what I had gone through but that sometimes seemed so very out of reach. That's when Rob said the thing that solidified my vote. He said, "Sometimes, it takes a strong judge to stand up in order to make a statement on what is needed to make the world better." And I have to tell you all, I believe Rob just may be the guy to do that.
Rob Smith, my sweet friends and readers, has all the qualities that I could ever ask for in a family court judge; a man who isn't afraid to do what's needed, a human whose wise enough to do what's best for individual families, and do it in a dedicated manner. Really what else is there? I hope that you'll consider voting for him on Tuesday. Our families, our children depend on it.


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WSS/PAD/POS 604: Inequality and Policy Analysis
Government Sources
Research (and Writing) Savvy
Angela Hackstadt
Dewey Library 202
University at Albany
Subjects: Law, Political Science, Public Administration and Policy
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You can access other helpful guides (like this one) at the links below.
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Librarians are available to assist with research questions at Dewey Graduate Library Monday through Thursday between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Please contact your librarian if you would like to schedule a research consultation outside of these hours.
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Research consultations are available on a drop-in basis on Mondays between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Please email me to schedule a consultation outside of these hours. I am available for evening appointments between 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm Monday through Thursday with at least 48 hours notice.
Angela Hackstadt, Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration and Law
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Reserve the Dewey Classroom for presentation practice, group study, or collaboration with peers. Visit the Dewey Graduate Library website for more information.
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The reference desk at University Library opens at 10:00 am Monday through Friday and at 1:00 pm on Sundays.
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Use ILLiad to request
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Keeping track of your research steps and findings is part of a good research strategy.
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Keep track of the database you used, the search terms you used, the filters or limits, and the date you conducted the search.
Make a note of the number of results. It doesn't have to be exact; it can be as general as "too many" or "not enough."
Save results worth reviewing in your preferred citation manager or copy and paste the permalinks in your research trail.
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Last Updated: Mar 17, 2021 10:35 AM
URL: https://libguides.library.albany.edu/wss604


Following our recent post about the loss of the beginners' training apiary at Kethins, we are pleased to report that a potential new site has now been found. Many thanks to all of you who kindly made suggestions or offered accomodation and we will post further details on this and the next working party soon!
← New Apiary required – urgently!


By CCN.com: Ford gave its fourth-quarter earnings call this afternoon. Despite a serious decline in interest in China and Europe, the company posted a 1% improvement over last year's Q4 revenues as a whole, and a 2% gain for the whole year. The earnings call was launched as the markets closed with F seeing a nearly 2% drop in share price.
In 2018, our F series outsold the nearest competitor by the widest margin ever.
This corresponds to a mention in the presentation of more than 1 million F-Series pickups sold. Ford says this is the largest lead they've had on competitors ever. Importantly, Ford is working on a zero-emissions version of the popular F-150 pickup truck. This is part of a trend among traditional car manufacturers to begin the process of eating Tesla's lunch. Superior manufacturing processes as well as a much wider network of dealerships give Ford and other major automakers a big advantage.
In 2017, the "automotive structural" cost at Ford increased more than $1 billion. However, in 2018 they "arrested this trend" and kept costs flat year-over-year. They expect to do the same in 2019.
One of two expansion areas that Ford is focused on is the "mobility" industry. They acquired San Francisco-based Spin in November and immediately launched operations in Detroit. The e-scooter company cost Ford less than $50 million, reportedly.
At the same time, they are expanding aggressively into electric and zero-emissions models of existing vehicles. While the Ford Focus is one of their best-selling cars and markets well to those interested in electric vehicles, the company believes there is new market potential in developing completely emission-less vehicles.
Ford launched the Focus fuel-efficient model of car in China during 2018. Despite this effort, overall sales in both China and Europe were down. Executives repeatedly stressed that both tariffs and unfavorable sales activity in China and Europe slowed overall growth for Ford.
In a year of no global growth in industry volume and relatively light new product action at Ford, we delivered very strong market factors. […] We delivered 45% of this in the fourth quarter alone. […] In 2019 we have planned a year of more significant product actions in growing segments.
Shanks said that Ford spent roughly $750 million in 2018 on tariff-related effects, as well as an additional $1.1 billion in "commodity costs" unrelated to tariffs. Ford also spent around $775 million in a product recall last year.
The company ended 2018 with about $23 billion in cash on hand and total liquidity well above $30 billion. As a whole, the company earned around $7 billion. Although China and Europe were loss leaders in 2018, Shanks expects them to join North America in 2019 in creating an EBIT improvement. Investors can expect an offset to improvement through investment in both AI and "mobility" markets. Autonomous vehicles are a current priority for Ford, and they are investing heavily in research there.
Ford shares took an overall loss of more than 10 cents over the course of the day. The lackluster revenue growth of 1% may spur further sell-offs in the morning. While it is typical to wait until after the markets close to give financial reports, Ford may have been wise to wait in this respect.
Ford opened the day more than 10 cents higher than it closed. Investors may react by to lackluster 1% growth by selling off in the morning, or the opposite may happen on news of plans to expand in autonomous vehicles and alternative vehicle markets.
While politicians and pundits tout the best economy in history, stalwart companies like Ford are struggling to post overly positive results. They incurred somewhere around a quarter-billion dollars in losses as a result of layoffs (separation costs). Throughout the morass of a bad international year, they clawed profits for investors and kept ahead of the competition in the US. To top it off, their pension program remains fully funded, a figure that should be noted by the aggressive tax authorities in their home country.


The first 3-reels were invented in San Francisco in 1887. These original slots became known as one-armed bandits and have served as inspiration for modern classic arcade machines, which can be found today in many online casinos. Such machines have three reels, in which there are different characters. As a rule, the latter – it is a picture of fruit or sevens. The simplicity of these games is the main factor that makes them so popular. Although, with the gradual development and improvement of online casinos machines have become more interesting and now they offer many useful and beneficial functions. This resulted in a decline in demand for 3-reel slots among the users. Fortunately, to date, these machines are also being upgraded, and thereby they have returned to the ranks of popular games.
Although, what kind of slot machine in front of you - with three, five or seven reels - its use will not be difficult for you. The biggest difference between the 3 drum machines and other games is the betting system, for which coins are provided. Their value can vary from 0,01 to 5,00 dollars, sometimes more. Typically, in these games you can bet up to three coins. For this reason, there are 3 tables of payments. Each of them considers the possible benefits for every combination at a rate of 1, 2 or 3 coins. Naturally, the more your bet, the more you can get. In any online casino you can find a great choice of such machines. Here you will find a completely different gaming machines-Desert Treasures, Fruit Machine, Happy Fruits, Night Life, Sport Party and many others. Each slot machine has its own character. It can be felt from the first spin of the reels. But the generosity of online machines is the same; the payment does not fall below 92% -95%.
Attractiveness. All simulators of gambling machines in online casinos are made in colorful design; all the games are accompanied by a pleasant and relaxing music that will make your pastime more fun.
Control of integrity. Not every online casino can confirm to player the integrity of their software. But you can find casinos that follow the latest trends, and offer fair game. In some online casinos you can find so-called mechanism of honesty control or Honesty control. As the basis of this mechanism casinos put data hashing algorithm MD5. More information about the Control of honesty can be found in the Internet. Some casinos can offer you to check what is Honesty control for free, playing roulette in the mode of Fun.
Learning opportunities. In some online casinos you can play slot machines not just for money, you can also play for fun. Restore your experience by learning all the subtleties of characters of slots. This will allow you later, playing for money, to build your game strategy and thus increase the probability of winning.
Confidentiality. Nobody and never will not know how much time you have spent at slot machines, what sum you have won and transferred in the casino. Casino can guarantee you confidentiality using secure algorithms for data transfer and storage.