Jim Mansoor, Race Team Director
I am excited to be the new Race Team Director for 2001. I would first like to thank John Steggall, the 2000 Race Ream Director, for all of his hard work during the last year. He initiated many positive changes in the Race Team and I hope to continue making positive changes in the next year. Also, I look forward to continue working with John as he is not going too far away from the Race Team, just changing jobs (Webmaster and whatever else we can get him involved in!). John was able to secure for the Race Team a generous budget from the DBC General Club (thank you General Club) which will allow us to generate a Juniors program, secure cheaper uniforms for our racers and continue to support our racers for in-District and out-of-District racing.
For 2001, I hope to organize the framework for our Juniors program so that we can recruit and develop young racers from the Davis area. John Steggall and Sean Miller have agreed to coordinate this effort and I look forward to working with them. I also hope to work with the other Race Team coaches, Judd Van Sickle and Shawn Miller, in trying to bring more of a team approach to racing for each age group and category of racers. We will use the Davis Bike Club race rides to practice the team approach. Additionally, I would like to continue recruiting new riders, although I believe we have already rebuilt the Race Team. We had over 30 riders show up at our first Race Team meeting in January and I know of many racers who could not make it. For 2001, we will continue our collaborative efforts with the UC Davis Aggie Cycling Club, recruiting the Aggies to race for us and work with our Juniors.
Probably the biggest event in 2001 will be the 25th Anniversary of the Davis Bike Club 4th of July Criterium. We have already formed committees and are working on securing a title sponsor for the race. I would like to see this year's race be the biggest in the 25 year history of the race. The Race Team would like to encourage the General Club members to get involved with the race, and I can guarantee that we will be making recruiting efforts of General Club members. Like the Davis Double Century and Foxy Fall Century, the 4th of July Crit is a well-known classic around Northern California that really defines the Davis Bike Club.
That's it for now. I hope everyone has a successful 2001 racing season. I look forward to seeing you all out on the roads!
The Race Team would like to extend a hearty Get Well! to Sarah Poehlmann, who suffered a broken leg and ankle in a crash in January in San Diego. You'll be back on the bike in no time!
Long time DBC member Caren Spore has signed on to Team Jane Cosmetics. A recent article from Cycling News announced the 2001 roster which included Davis’ Caren Spore.
In six years, Jane Cosmetics Cycling Team has grown from a local junior development program into a national caliber women's squad, having its first season on the national circuit last year. The women will compete in most of the National Racing Calendar events including the Redlands Classic and the HP Laserjet Women's Challenge. Off the bike, the team has plans to do presentations for girls' groups across the country teaching them about the sport. Not only are they all great athletes, but the team includes excellent role models for your girls: Ph.D. candidates, moms, scientists, and educators.
The entire article can be seen at (www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/jan01/jan10news).
Congratulations to Caren and best wishes for another great season!
The Davis Bike Club Race Team would like to acknowlege the 2001 sponsors: