2009 Team training camp a success

To kick off the new season of road racing, the 2009 Webcor/AltoVelo Men's team held their annual training camp last weekend in Los Osos, CA. We packed 21 guys into a huge house right on the bay:

Spanning 4 days, the camp consisted of some of those long rainy rides that ensure team bonding, but we also got some nice sunny days in--everyone's fitness appears to be coming along well.

We had an interesting run-in with some locals way out in the middle of nowhere who were dragging a fallen tree off of the road. The following exchange took place (note: this is an unedited, verbatim transcript):

Rand: "Hi, how are you? Do you mind stopping [dragging the tree] while we sneak past?"

Crazy Man: "Yeah. Sure. But while you're here, let me tell you something." [Redneck begins slowly stepping towards me menacingly] "You bike riders are so stupid out here. I've put more bicyclists in the hospital than you've got fingers!"

Rand: "Uh...ok."

Crazy Man: "You aint gonna like it when we KILL you." [Keep in mind these guys have chainsaws].

Rand: "Nope...uh...you're right."

Crazy Man: "Let me tell you...you guys are so stupid, you got a DEGREE in STUPID!"

Rand: "Yes sir...now I am gonna go."

Somehow we avoided dismemberment, but it was quite a surreal experience. The rest of the rides were relatively uneventful and fun.

Most importantly, everyone had a great time and got to know one-another better. The team is always a very serious bunch (as you can see clearly in these photos):


Keith Williams of Williams Wheels drove his truck as a support vehicle, and we kept him busy with flats and other mechanicals. Special thanks to him!

Looking forward to an exciting season with a talented group of riders...we will update the blog weekly throughout the remainder of the season, so stay tuned!

2009 Webcor Press Release

As seen on Cyclingnews.com:

Following a successful 2008 season, the Webcor/AltoVelo racing team is expanding its Elite Amateur Men's team for the upcoming 2009 season. The core of last year's Pro/1/2 team remains intact, and will be bolstered by additions to the roster.

For the 2009 season, the Elite Amateur Men's team will be divided into a National-level "NRC Squad" that will be focused on larger National Racing Calendar (NRC) events all around the United States. Another part of the team will be the "Regional Squad" that will focus on rider development and in-district racing.

The roster for the "NRC Squad" for 2009 will consist of returning riders James Badia, Fabrice Dubost, Rob MacNeill, Rand Miller and Ryan Prsha. They will be joined by new additions Brian Bucholz (from Kelly Benefit Strategies Pro), Justin Fraga (from BPG/Montano Velo) and Ryan Parnes (from Metromint).

Roster and Photos coming soon!

In addition, we will soon be uploading all race reports to this site.

Webcor Aussie Summer

With Cross Season in full swing in the northern hemisphere, the Aussie member of the team Jono Coulter returned home to Australia for a short rest and then a tough Summer of Criterium Racing. First up was the Noosa International Criterium, won by Robbie McEwen (Silence Lotto) from Henk Vogels (Toyota United)and Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joes). Jono suffered on the double hot dog circuit after only a week on the bike and did not contest the finale.

Big prizemoney was on offer the following weekend at the Fusion Criterium at Nundah, and Jono was able to surf the team trains in the final laps for a 7 th place finish. Two U23 riders upstaged the more fancy Pro riders with Kyle Bateson from USM beating Peter Thompson from Fusion. Finally at the SALT International Criterium, Jono was involved in the bunch sprint for 1st with Robbie McEwen (Silence Lotto) beating Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joes) and Mark ledgerwood (Virgin Blue) to end the race in 14th.

Webcor Ignites the San Francisco Twilight GP

The penultimate round of the USA Crits Series was run and won in Downtown San Francisco, with an estimated crowd of 22000 people on hand to witness the Go Green team against some of the USA's fastest criterium specialists.

After arriving at the race Pro-Style and having a great team of support staff to prepare the bikes and bodies, the atmosphere was electric for the call up on Union Street and Filmore. With Webcor as an event sponsor also, the Go green team had preferential grid positions, among USA Crits leading teams Toshiba Santos, TIME Pro Cycling, Jittery Joes, Successful Living, Rock Racing and California Giant. The race also included riders from Italian Professional outfit Amore & Vita.

Rand Miller, Rob MacNeill, James Badia and our new secret weapon Ryan Prsha were highly active in the front of the race, launching into every opportunity and sticking at the front end of the pack. With three laps to go Ryan was in a move off the front, with Rand in the top ten until his front wheel was damaged in a bumping incident. In the final kick Ryan was pushed into the barriers, somersaulting across the finishing straight only 100 metres from the line. Jamo was baulked by the incident but still finished in the money at 20th spot. Thats Racing!

After the race an Ambulance was called for Ryan but he bravely got up and joined the rest of the team in the Webcor Team event put on by our great sponsor, Andy Ball of Webcor.

You can view some pictures of the race at www.webcorsfgp.blogspot.com

Rand Miller Wins Folsom ITT!

Rand Miller brought Sexy back at the Folsom ITT as a prelude to the San Francisco Twilight GP. Setting a blistering average speed of 28.23mph on the windy and undulating circuit, claiming his first win of the year after being in the money at nearly every race he as entered. Check out www.wavelite.blogspot.com for his cheeky report.

Webcor AV Elite Team at the 2008 San Francisco Twilight Criterium

Four years ago on the streets of downtown San Francisco Webcor Builders Pro Cycling Team achieved one of its greatest victories with Charles Dionne winning the San Francisco Grand Prix...

On September 13, 2008 Six riders from the Webcor Alto Velo Elite team will be lining up against the USA's finest criterium specialists in the second last race of the USA Crits Series at the San Francisco Twilight Criterium. Webcor's Ted Huang, Frank Scioscia and Director Bruce Wilford have negotiated a package deal with race promoters Project Sport that will allow the Go Greens quickest riders to go head to head with a full Professional field. The race will be the biggest end of season event on the calendar, with over $15000 in prizemoney on a course that takes in the world famous Fillmore, Greenwich and Union streets in downtown San Francisco. Webcor CEO Andy Ball and Webcor VIPs and Guests will be on hand to watch proceedings, as well as members of the Webcor Alto Velo Racing Club and thousands of cheering fans and revellers. To see comments from Andy Ball on Cyclingnews, scroll down when you click on "Webcor Team Brings Best to San Francisco" .

The Webcor Elite team will comprise:

Rand Miller

James Badia

Rob MacNeill

Jono Coulter

Ryan Prsha

Neil Harrington

Alternates are Chris Crawford , Graham Simpson and Jeff Williams, all who have ridden as strong support in the qualifying races, while Bruce Wilford will be Director Sportif with assistance from Matt Beebe. The Bike Connection and Williams Wheels will provide the team with full support. Be there for the action, with the womens Pro Race at 630pm, and the Mens Pro Race at 8pm, with an Afterparty at http://www.apartment24sf.com/ .

Parking for fans and friends will be at the Marina Middle School, on Fillmore and Bay Streets. The Webcor Men and Women will be warming up from 530pm in the Pro Athlete Village just beyond turn 1 on Union between Fillmore and Steiner. At this time Webcor AV will also be represented by our top club riders starting at 5pm on the same course, be sure to give them a Go Green shout out!

Fabrice Dubost 5th at Benicia Downtown Criterium

Fabrice Dubost was unlucky to be dogged by a wily Tyler Dibble in the finale of the Benicia Downtown Criterium. After a fast race that was punctuated by constant attacking over the undulating and windy bay-side circuit, Fabrice managed to seperate from a selection of 12 riders to be solo at the front. With 5 to go Dibble bridged the gap but was unable to contribute to the break, until the final corner, when he took advantage of a 5lap tow to pass Fabrice in the rush to the line.
Webcor was well represented throughout the race with Rob MacNeill, Rand Miller, Ryan Prsha and Jono Coulter being involved in breakaway efforts and Graham Simpson, Chris Crawford, Bo Hebestreit and Jan Diemont also contributing.

1st Tyler Dibble (Cal Giant)

2nd Kevin klein (Rock Racing)

3rd Keith Miller (Cal Giant)

4th Jackson Stewart (BMC)

5th Fabrice Dubost (Webcor)

Metromint Giro Di San Francisco- Rand Miller Top Ten!

The Pacific State Bank Cal Cup Finale was run and won in downtown San Francisco with the Metromint Giro Di Sanfrancisco. With constant attacking by an aggressive field, Webcor AV was ever present as selection after selection was formed and reabsorbed. Fabrice Dubost spent 30 minutes solo ahead of the peleton chasing eventual winner Andy Jacques Mayne (California Giant) and Eric Wohlberg (Symmetrics), but when he was reintegrated 5 laps from the end it was left to our young speedster Rand Miller (pictured) to sprint into the placings. Race results, report and Cal Cup rankings to be posted soon.

Check out the Webcor Team Spec 2008 Giant TCR Advanced 2 at Bike Connection

The Webcor AV Elite team has been racing on these sweet bikes in 2008. Part of an agressive race package put forth by Giant, the Advanced TCR 2 is responsive, slick and vertically compliant, ensuring our team can trust putting the power through the frame in the finale. Whether you need comfort over an arduous 100mile road race, or youre generating huge wattage in a sprint like James Badia can, this ride has it all. Check them out at http://www.bikeconnection.net/ or better still, drop in to the Palo Alto, California store on El Camino and let Mike and the guys hook you up.

Cal Cup mid way round up for August 23

Fabrice Dubost 4th at University RR, establishes top 3 ranking in the Cal Cup standings behind Symmetrics Eric Wohlberg.
Jono Coulter was the top finisher at San Ardo RR, scoring 18th in a fast race.
Go to www.wavelite.blogspot.com for details.

Rand Miller and James Badia compete at Downers Grove USA Crit Championships

Webcor Alto Velo Elite Team sent our two finest sprinters to the USA Elite Criterium Championships in Downers Grove, Illinois over the weekend of 16-17 August. The boys warmed up their legs with the Pro Am race on Saturday, before tackling the famed Downers Grove circuit on Sunday in the race for the stars and stripes jersey.
The race was won by current California Giant Strawberries rider Ken Hanson, while James and Rand finished strongly after the 100km slugfest to both finish in the main peleton in the dash to the line. Visit http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/aug08/USPROcrit08/?id=results/USPROcrit084 for the official race report.

Webcor scores its first Pro 1/2 Win in 2008!

Fabrice Dubost attacked his breakaway group 35miles from the finish to solo to victory at todays Winters Cal Cup race. Despite searing heat and a charging field, Fabrice managed to hold off a charging peleton, led by Symmetrics rider Eric Wohlberg (Can), by over a minute and a half.
You can read Fabrice's full account of his maiden USA victory at the Webcor AV Elite blogspot:
http://wavelite.blogspot.com/2008/08/webcoralto-velo-wins-winters-road-race.html

Fabrice 3rd among the Pros at Carrera de San Rafael

Fabrice Dubost and Arroussen Laflamme scored an amazing top ten double at the Carrera de San Rafael. After a group of 20 seperated itself from the peleton early into the 90 minute twilight crit, Fabrice was able to match and counter the attacks of eventual winner and former Webcor Pro Bernard Van Ulden (Jelly Belly) and Scott Zwisanski (Bissell). Fabrice outkicked Jared Barrilleux (Jittery Joes) and Eric Wohlberg (Symmetrics) in the final straight for 3rd, while Arroussen rode a "beautiful race" for 9th.

After being very active in the bunch shutting down potential bridging moves, Rand and James led home the field kick to finish in front of Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing).

After standing on the podium receiveing flowers and champagne in front of thousands of fans, Fabrice wrote this report: http://www.wavelite.blogspot.com/2008/08/san-rafael-race-report.html

Pictures can be viewed here: http://garrettlau.smugmug.com/gallery/5673352_tNFaw#349415504_vdZEh

Williams Wheels System 38 gets 5 stars on Cyclingnews

Williams Wheels supplies Webcor AV Elite Team with access to their premium race wheelsets and support at NCNCA races. Moreover, Keith Williams works in close conjunction with our team sprinter, James Badia to fine tune the development of his wheelsets. This week the Williams Wheels System 38 is profiled on http://www.cyclingnews.com/ - click on the link to see how this Bay Area company gets 5 stars from Cyclingnews!

Webcor AV 3rd at NCNCA Districts with Fabrice DuBost

Fabrice Dubost maintained a Webcor AV legacy this weekend by sprinting to third place at the end of a gruelling 105mile NCNCA Districts Championships. The race was dominated by a strong California Giant Strawberries, with Steve Reaney and Andy Jacques Mayne taking first and second, but Webcor AV was able to use the strengths of Dubost, Rand Miller and Arroussen LaFlamme in the front group to outgun every other elite NCNCA squad and end up on the podium. View Fabrice's complete report at www.wavelite.blogspot.com