Vuelta Sonora-Arizona Volta de Ciclismo Internacional do Estado de São Paulo Commonwealth Games - Melbourne dEVo Spring Series Tidbits for the Road Media Links and Downloads Sponsors Symmetrics And Shimano At Toronto Bike Show Marni Hambleton and Brandon Crichton headed to Toronto to promote team sponsors Shimano and Symmetrics at the Toronto Bike Show. It was a whirlwind of a trip, with Marni catching the plane from Vancouver at 4 p.m. carrying a 90 pound bike bag that included her Norco CRR Crabon spec'd, of course, with Shimano DuraAce, as well as Brandon's Norco Diabolique 2 time trial bike and Sugoi casual clothing and other miscellaneous items. Marni and Brandon then headed to the Shimano tent and began to help out, meet fans - young and old, and answer questions to up-and-coming riders. Joë Layno from Shimano designed a very cool poster of the team which was given to the publich, signed of course by the two S-Team members - check it out here. (520k pdf) The duo spent the weekend signing, greeting, promoting the team and of course, bragging about their sweet Shimano gear - from fast wheels, to slick groups, to brand new silver shoes. Check out the News, Newsletter and In The News sections on Symmetrics Cycling's website.	April 8, 2006 - Volume 1 Symmetrics Cycling, entering its second year as a pro team, has increased its budget, expanded its program, and as expected, raised its goals. This year the team hopes to dominate all racing at the National and US level, and at the same time, become the top team in the UCI America Tour. With an excellent increase in sponsorship from Coast Capital Savings, Shimano and Norco, among others, the team is set to light the scene on fire. Here's what the team has already been up to - and the season has barely begun! Vuelta Sonora-Arizona Symmetrics Cycling began its season in earnest, capping off a week of racing in Mexico at the Vuelta Sonora-Arizona with one stage win, several podiums, the U23 jersey, a GC top place and, mostly, some solid training and valuable UCI points. Symmetrics veteran Eric Wohlberg was sitting third, just 16 seconds behind the leader by the midpoint of the race, but hopes of taking the leader's jersey were dashed by some bad luck. Wohlberg flatted at a crucial moment in stage 4 and ended up losing time, ultimately dropping to sixth overall. With just 1.5km to go from the finish, Wohlberg double-flatted. A very fast bike change from Andrew Randell meant he could limit his losses. However, the team did take home a leader's jersey - Marsh Cooper did some fine riding to win the U23 jersey. After 6 stages of tough racing, the Symmetrics Cycling team had the following to boast: - 1st U23 Jersey - 1st Stage 3 - 2nd Stage 4 - 3rd Stage 4 - 3rd Team GC - 4th Stage 6 - 4th Stage 1 - 6th on GC Volta de Ciclismo Internacional do Estado de São Paulo The next step in the Symmetrics Cycling team's quest for the UCI America Tour took place at the Volta de Ciclismo Internacional do Estado de São Paulo. A 9-stage Tour, the race took place in the area surrounding São Paulo, and the city itself. Competition was fierce, with many of the top Brazilian and South American teams present. The team had already somewhat acclimated themselves to the heat in Mexico, and the aggressive style of racing that is typical of many races in Latin and South America. All in all, the team fared well. With stages ranging from 80km to 250km, the tough race should serve well - "money in the bank", so to speak, for the rest of the season. Brad Fairall just missed a stage win for the squad on the fourth, and longest stage from Atibaia - São Carlos. After 249.5 km, Fairall was just pipped to the line - but more importantly, one of Symmetrics youngest riders showed he is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the future. Fairall also showed Symmetrics belief in developing younger Canadian riders the next day - when he placed 10th in the time trial, proving his legs had recovered from the tough day before! Fairall had another good showing, taking fourth on Stage 8 - Ribeirão Preto to Campinas, a 223 km day in the saddle. Jacob Erker rode consistently throughout the long tour, finishing just outside of the top-20. Commonwealth Games - Melbourne Symmetrics had an impressive two riders at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The "Queen's Olympics", the Games are the next closest dream event for any professional athlete from Canada or the Commonwealth. Svein Tuft and Mandy Poitras headed down under for a mix of events - both on the road and the track. Svein Tuft had a strong ride to finish just outside the medals in the TT - behind his against-the-clock nemesis Nathan O'Neill, from Australia. O'Neill and Tuft went head to head last year for top honours at the Tour de Beauce Bell. Poitras had a very strong road race - showing the pundits that yes, she can still do both the pavement and the track, very, very well - riding in a breakaway for almost all of the day. Poitras' move would be caught and she helped set up her Canadian teammate Gina Grain for fourth - just outside the medals. In the men's road race, Tuft finished a solid twentieth after he too fulfilled the duty of teammate, setting up his usual rival Gord Fraser for a shot at a medal; Fraser finished fifth. In the tough heat of Australia, Tuft was one of just 30-odd finishers - his reputation as a hard man continues. Poitras and Tuft also raced on the track. For Poitras the expectations were high - a medal - and for Tuft, it was just to "give it a go." Poitras just missed out on a medal during the Points race, she made a late race move, she moved up to fifth. Tuft, on a last minute decision to test his legs on the track, rode the 4km pursuit - finishing an impressive 11th. More impressive was his time - although compatriot and track veteran Zach Bell finished faster, Tuft was within a second of the former National record, held by Olympic silver medalist Brian Walton! Remember - Tuft has very little track experience too - so will we see more of the Langley rider on the track? "It was definitely interesting and very tough. I think it's possible I could do it more if the schedule allowed me," Tuft explained. "I mean, it's only 4km but it's the toughest 4km you will ever do. It's my kind of race - you are feeling it the next day." dEVo Spring Series Even though Symmetrics Cycling seems to have been all over the world - and it's barely April - the team has still been able to race at home in Canada in the now-famous Spring series. Originally begun as a low-key set of races in March, the month of races has become the "it races" of the West Coast, with attendance from some of the top roadies and mountain bikers honing their fitness for the upcoming season. The S-Team, despite its busy schedule, did manage to represent in most of the events and continued to show why they are Canada's number one team. In almost every race entered, Symmetrics won. The finale of the series, the dEVo Spring Classic Stage Race, Andrew Pinfold and Svein Tuft took top honours, after sweeping the individual stages as well. Will Routley managed to take a sweet weekend the week before - taking both the Saturday and Sunday races, and Cory Lange took a win at the infamously difficult Armstrong race before that.