Delta 7 Bikes

Starting today, we’ll be featuring Delta-7 IsoTruss Carbon Fiber bikes at the Interbike International Bicycle Expo in Las Vegas. Interbike is the largest bicycle industry trade show in North America, held from September 23 -25 at the Sands Hotel Expo Center. We’re very excited to be featured at such a large event: they expect up to 23,000 attendees with over 700 exhibiting companies. Although we’re in Vegas for three days, Interbike actually begins with a two-day outdoor demo in Boulder City, Nevada prior to the indoor expo.

If you’re at Interbike this year, please stop by booth #641 and say hello. For more information , check out Interbike’s website and their blog (http://www.interbiketimes.com/).

Riding for Garmin-Slipstream, Tom Danielson of Boulder, Colorado finished 30^th out of 173 riders in the second stage of the Vuelta a Espana.

While his teammate, Tyler Farrar, holds the hopes for the team in the sprint category, Danielson is the team’s favorite over the flats of the 191-kilometer race.

Danielson is amidst a comeback to regain the racing form he showed in 2006 when he captured a win at stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana.

Shortly after a successful racing season in 2006, Danielson crashed in stage one of the 2007 Vuelta, breaking his shoulder and herniating his L5-S1 disk. At the same time that Danielson was struggling with intense back pain, an inexplicable stomach illness held him from reaching top form.

Danielson is finally pain-free of the shoulder injury and doctors were able to diagnose and cure the stomach complication.

Void of the injuries, he is showing some of the same promise and talent this month that had him mentioned as one of the top up-and-coming American riders in 2006. Danielson began August with a win on stage four of the Vuelta a Burgos and is looking to build on that performance during the 2009 Vuelta.

To keep track of Tom during the Vuelta a Espana, read his first-hand account of the race on Twitter. In 140 characters or less, this is what Tom had to say about Stage 3 of the Vuelta: “I’m ok! Big crash inside 3 k to go. Hit the ground going fast but I am very lucky. My bike not so much.”  After seeing the video and story on VeloNews, you’ll agree that Tom was very lucky!

The Eurobike 2009 global trade show is just around the corner next week!  From September 2-5, hundreds of vendors will arrive in Friedrichshafen, Germany to show off the latest & greatest products available in the cycling industry at what has been called “the world’s most important trade fair in the bicycling segment.”

This year, Delta 7 will be represented at location A1-301 in the Paul Lange & Co. Shimano Deutschland booth.  Please stop by and say hello if you plan to attend!

Yesterday ended the fifth and final stage of the Tour of Utah cycling race - well known as the most difficult stage race in America.  For those unfamiliar with Tour of Utah, it covers 325 miles of varying terrain and altitude from Park City to Tooele over 6 days and 5 stages, with a $45,000 purse.  More climbing is involved in this race than another other in the US.    The 4th and “signature” stage begins in Park City with 3 laps around the historic Main Street area before heading towards Midway, Draper, and Sandy.

While Bernie Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) won the final stage on Sunday, Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) remained the overall leader to win the Tour of Utah.  Mancebo finished 46 seconds ahead of Darren Lill (Team Type 1) and Lill finished 43 seconds ahead of the 3rd place finisher and defending champion, Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Team).

Other Tour of Utah jersey winners included:

• Best Young Rider & King of the Mountain (KOM) - Alex Howes (Garmin/Felt)
• Best sprinter - David Veilleux (Kelly Benefit Strategies)
• Best Utah Rider - Darren Lill (Team Type 1)

For more photos of the Tour of Utah & individual stage results, check out VeloNews and the official Tour of Utah site.

In association with the race, Delta 7 Sports donated an Ascend Road Bike to support teamgive.org.  A raffle was held Sunday after the final stage.

Be sure to read about Dan Pope’s experience on the Delta 7 Ascend Bike during the Snowbird Hill Climb (see the Aug 22 11:00pm post):

“This was a good day for me. The Delta 7 Ascend racing bike was nimble and light. I was able to ride without stopping through Little Cottonwood Canyon, which was a personal victory for me. My heart rate hovered between 120 and 130, and I didn’t need to push it higher. I simply paced myself, pedaling slowly and steadily up to the base of Snowbird. My legs burned a little, but honestly it wasn’t too bad. At least today I haven’t felt it. I’m sure there will be some pain tomorrow.”  Continue reading…

On a more serious note, Saturday’s 1,000 Warriors race, associated with the Tour of Utah, turned extremely dangerous when five cyclists were involved in a crash with an SUV on State Road 92 close to Timpanogos Caves.  When the SUV suddenly stopped (possibly to avoid another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction), a cyclist from Mesa, AZ crashed into the back of the SUV, sending him through the SUV’s back windshield.  One other cyclist collided with the back of the SUV and three others crashed in an attempt to avoid the vehicle.  Luckily, two of the cyclists who crashed were EMTs and were able to administer care to the individual from Mesa, AZ who was in critical condition after the collision.  He was flown to University Hospital and is currently recovering from multiple surgeries.  All others involved in the crash have been treated and released.  The event is a not so subtle reminder to “Share the Road” and maintain a high level of awareness whether you’re traveling on a bike or driving a vehicle.  We are just thankful everyone involved will be alright!

Racing for Verducci Breakaway Racing, Theresa Cliff-Ryan proved her elite status against much of the cycling competition last Sunday at the 23^rd Annual USA Cycling Elite Women National Criterium Championship in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Pushing hard for a spot on the podium, Cliff-Ryan finished 5th out of 40 riders on the 31 laps of the 50-kilometer course.  The Cedar Hills, Michigan native maneuvered the challenging turns of the championship course in front of 15,000 cycling fans on Delta 7’s Ascend Road Bike.

Tina Pic, with the Colavita/Sutter Home team, led the pack around the final corner and took home her 6th National Criterium Championship title.  The 2008 defending champion, Brooke Miller, took home a 2nd place podium finish.  Check out all results from Downers Grove.

Built with Delta 7’s unique IsoTruss Technology, the Ascend’s stiffness, extreme responsiveness, and light-weight, carbon-fiber engineering made it an extraordinary partner for the tight cornering and breakaway sprinting of the Criterium Championship.

Theresa Cliff-Ryan, part of the Verducci Racing Team and Delta 7 sponsored cyclist, enjoyed back-to-back podiums earlier this month in North Carolina at the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational and Hanes Park Classic.  Theresa, a Michigan native and former 25 time world champion inline speed skater, has set her focus in recent years on becoming world-class contender in the cycling circuit with great success.

Theresa’s third place podium finish at the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational in Charlotte on August 8th came after a last minute push in front of over 20,000 fans!  The Women’s event was a 25-mile criterium held on a 1.3 mile course in downtown Charlotte and was part of the USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar.

3rd Place Finish at Presbyterian Hospital Invitational

Just one day later on August 9 and in 100 degree heat, Theresa improved her podium placement with a second place finish at Winston Salem’s Hanes Park Classic.   Theresa earned her podium spot after a close sprint to the finish line against Laura van Gilder, the current USA Crit Series leader.  With a prize purse of over $15,000, the Hanes Park Classic has been drawing world-class, professional cyclists for over 30 years and is also part of the USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar.

Theresa's 2nd place finish at Hanes Park Classic

Don’t miss Theresa tomorrow at the National Criterium Championships in Downer’s Grove, IL as she vies for her second title.  We could be in for another exciting finish with Brooke Miller defending her title from last year!

Check out all of Theresa Cliff-Ryan’s race results.