Latest News

June 21/10 - Alison has decided to make her retirement official

This news has been announced in the current issue of the Canadian magazine PEDAL. They have written a nice article about Alison's career and they also have her on the cover of the new issue.

December 6/09 9 - USGP STANLEY Portland Cup Day One

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

LUNA's Katerina Nash came to Portland for the final stop of the USGP of Cyclocross with a commanding Series lead and today she proved no less dominant than in previous USGP outings. Nash has crushed her competition all season long and today proved to be no different. Alison Sydor had another strong start but soon faded to the chase group as only Amy Dombroski (Schlamm p/b Clement & Primus Mootry) was able to stay close. Sydor along with Meredith Miller and Nash's LUNA Teammate Alison Dunlap made chase but ultimately could not make up ground on the flying Nash.

With yet another USGP victory delivered, Nash has all but wrapped up her second consecutive Series title. Dombroski crossed the line in second and showed that she is a rider coming into form at the right time of the season. She also claimed the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider Prize for her never-say-die ride against such a formidable opponent. Sydor, who had dangled behind a powerful Meredith Miller and Alison Dunlap, found new strength to launch a late attack to out sprint Miller for the third step of the podium.

Women
1 Katerina Nash (Luna Chix)
2 Amy Dombroski (Schlamm p/b Clement & Primus Mootry)
3 Alison Sydor (Maxxis/Rocky Mountain)
4 Meredith Miller (Cal Giant Berry Farms/Specialized)
5 Alison Dunlap (Luna Chix)
6 Kelli Emmett (Giant)
7 Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale)
8 Linda Sone (Planet Bike)
9 Barb Howe (Vanderkitten)
10 Kaitlin Antonneau (Planet Bike)

November 30/09 - BC Cyclo-cross Championships

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

Elite Women
1 Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain Factory Team) 0:48:21
2 Jean Ann McKirdy (Local Ride Racing) 0:52:11
3 Sandra Walter (Local Ride Racing) 0:52:51
4 Joele Guynup (Island Racing Club) 0:54:05
5 Stacey Hutton (Mighty CX) 0:54:22

November 15/09 - USGP Mercer Cup Day Two

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

In the womens' race, Nash had a surprise challenger early in the race with Dombroski. Although the Czech superstar broke loose, Dombroski never cracked and finished on the pavement within 30 seconds of Nash. For that she would receive honors as the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider. The day also saw another powerful ride from Meredith Miller, who caught and dropped Georgia Gould (Luna) on way to a third place ride.

Women
1 Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team)
2 Amy Dombroski (Richard Sachs-RGM Watches-Radix)
3 Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO)
4 Georgia Gould (LUNA Pro Team)
5 Alison Dunlap (LUNA Pro Team)
6 Alison Sydor (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain)

November 14/09 - USGP Mercer Cup Day One

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

As important as power, however, was experience in this venue, where several days of rain spawned the formation of a grassy, mud that forced mechanics to work as hard as racers.

The women's race saw the continued improvement of Nash, who expects to finish on the podium at the World Championships in her native Czech Republic. She proved herself world class again in this race. After Canadian National Champion Alison Sydor's strong start, Nash strangled this race and rode to a stunning solo win. In second, however, nothing seemed certain. After a weak start, Georgia Gould (Luna) pushed into second. Behind her was a scrum that included Amy Dombroski (Schlamm), Alison Dunlap (Luna), Maureen Bruno Roy (M&M/Seven) and Kelli Emmett (Giant). But the surge came from way back as Meredith Miller (California Giant/Specialized) came from 20 spots back and pounded up the wheel of Gould. After catching and passing Gould, however, Miller bobbled and lost the spot. Gould would finish second; Miller third. But Miller would receive Most Aggressive Rider honors for her efforts.

Women
1 Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team)
2 Georgia Gould (LUNA Pro Team)
3 Meredith Miller (California Giant/Specialized)
4 Alison Dunlap (LUNA Pro Team)
5 Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles)
...
10 Alison Sydor (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain)

October 24/09 - USGP Derby Cup Cup Day 1

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

The Elite Women's race started with a strong group of six that included Team Luna riders Nash, Georgia Gould, and Alison Dunlap, with Sue Butler (Mona Vie/Cannondale), Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis) and Kristen Wentworth (Planet Bike). The move by Nash not an attack but a tourniquet. The Czech rider pounded away. Gould clung to second and Sydor held for third.

Farther back, the rising 22-year-old star Amy Dombroski (Richard Sachs/RGM Watches) wound up on the ground, having folded up the front of her bike in a ditch. By the time she re-mounted, more than 20 riders had passed.

As Nash and Gould pulled away, Dombroski started to recover. Sydor faded. Butler faded. Wentworth faded. But Dombroski, along with National Road Champion Meredith Miller (Callifornia Giant) surged forward. With two laps to go Dombroski drew even to the legendary Dunlap, an Olympian and former World Champion, rode alongside briefly with her one-time idol.

Dombroski and Jamey Driscoll both grew up in the Vermont hamlet of Jericho. And neither have much reverence for Olympians. Dombroski surged away to finish third. For her strong efforts on the day Dombroski was also named the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider.

Elite Women
1 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team
2 Georgia Gould (USA) LUNA Pro Team
3 Amy Dombroski (USA) Richard Sachs-RGM Watches-
4 Alison Dunlap (USA) LUNA Pro Team
5 Meredith Miller (USA) Team TIBCO
6 Alison Sydor (Can) Maxxis/Rocky Mountain
7 Kristin Wentworth (USA) Planet Bike
8 Susan Butler (USA) Monavie-Cannondale.com
9 Kari Studley (USA) Velo Bella
10 Kaitlin Antonneau (USA) Planet Bike

October 25/09 - USGP Derby Cup Cup Day Two

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

Johnson and Nash Victorious at the U.S Gran Prix of Cyclocross Derby City Cup presented by Papa John's, Louisville, KY

The word of the day in Louisville is supremacy. To the growing ranks of cyclo-cross fans in the Midwest, the fourth stop of the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclo-cross served up a World Class clinic with Katerina Nash (Luna) and Tim Johnson (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) as the instructors.

The women's race saw Nash pound away for a repeat solo victory. The Czech rider used the American race to build momentum for a European campaign towards her bid to be World Champion in her native country in January. Behind her rode the ghosts of cyclocross past, present and future. Alison Dunlap, a six-time national champion and former World Champion on the mountain bike, earned the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider award for attacking a stellar chase group repeatedly to form a chase with herself and teammate, Georgia Gould. The one rider who would not stay down was Amy Dombroski (Richard Sachs/RGM Watches). The 22-year-old Vermont wunderkind recovered from another poor start to reach Dunlap. She rode with the legends until the final sprint, where she charged into a glue-like patch of mud to challenge Dunlap in the sprint for second. Although she nearly crashed, the risk paid off. She hit the pavement first and charged to the finish. After a bike throw, Dombroski claimed the silver.

Women
1 Katerina Nash (LUNA)
2 Amy Dombroski (Richard Sachs)
3 Alison Dunlap (LUNA)
4 Georgia Gould (LUNA)
5 Alison Sydor (Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain)
6 Sue Butler (Cannondale/Monavie)
7 Kari Studley- Velo Bella)
8 Kristin Wentworth (Planet Bike)
9 Meredith Miller (California Giant Berry Farm /Specialized)
10 Kailtlin Antonneau (Planet Bike)

October 11/09 - Jim Horner Cyclo-cross Grand Prix

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

Elite Women (5 laps) 15.5 km
1 Alison Sydor (BC) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain 0:42:05
2 Natasha Elliott (ON) Garneau Club Chaussure Oglivy 0:43:22
3 Pepper Harlton (AB) Juventus/RVC 0:45:06
4 Mical Dyck (AB) Trek Toronto/Terrascape 0:45:52
5 Sarah Stewart (BC) Total Restoration 0:46:03

October 10/09 - Cyclocross Nationals

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

Geoff Kabush of Victoria won his second consecutive national cyclo-cross title on Saturday, while Vancouver's Alison Sydor won her first.

Sydor, a former national champion in both road and mountain biking, became the first Canadian athlete to win titles in the three disciplines. The 42 year old three-time mountain bike world champion only took up the sport seriously this season, and came into the race facing tough competition from Pepper Harlton of Edmonton and Natasha Elliott of Cornwall, Ontario. Sydor and Harlton dropped Elliott after she crashed, and then Sydor attacked her rival shortly before the midway point of the race, to win with a time of 43 minutes and 38 seconds, 49 seconds ahead of Harlton, with Elliott at one minute and ten seconds.

"I knew that both Pepper and Natasha would be my biggest rivals," explained Sydor. "On one of the steep climbs I got a small gap on Pepper so I just kept it going, widening it on the technical parts where I seemed to be stronger. It's a real honour to have won now in three separate disciplines, especially when there is almost two decades between my first [national title] and this one."

Women
1 Alison Sydor (BC) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain 43:38
2 Pepper Harlton (AB) Juventus 44:27
3 Natasha Elliott (ON) Garneau Club Chaussure Oglivy 44:48
4 Mical Dyck (AB) Trek Toronto/Terrascape 46:31
5 Sarah Stewart (BC) Total Restoration 46:58

October 5/09 - Vanier Park Cyclocross Classic

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

For the Women A & B a smaller, very high quality field took the line, but on this day there was no doubt about the victor, as the legendary Alison Sydor of Rocky Mountain-Maxxis navigated swiftly and silently, ever upwards through the B men sharing the course to take a commanding win over Local Ride Racing's Jean Ann McKirdy. Sarah Stewart of Total Restoration, Island Racing Club's Joele Guynup, and Kelly Jones riding for Sugoi filled the 3-5 spots on the podium. Organizers decided to expand the cash prizing beyond the required top 3, and instead went to 5 deep prizing for the women also, in recognition of the high calibre of riders in attendance and also hoping to provide incentive to further boost women's participation in the sport.

A & B Women
1 Alison Sydor
2 Jean Ann McKirdy
3 Sarah Stewart
4 Joele Guynup
5 Kelly Jones

September 29/09 - USGP of Cyclocross Planet Bike Cup

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

USGP of Cyclocross Planet Bike Cup - Day 1

Sun Prairie, WI USA

The USGP of Cyclocross raced in Sun Prairie, WI today under beautiful sunny skies and warm weather. The racing for the inaugural USGP Planet Bike Cup was fast and aggressive from the gun.

The talent in Elite Women's field was the deepest and most competitive to date and marked Alison Sydor's stunning return to cyclocross. Sydor was named the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider .

Elite Women
1 Katherine Compton (USA) Planet Bike
2 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team
3 Georgia Gould (USA) LUNA Pro Team
4 Amy Dombroski (USA) Richard Sachs-RGM
5 Alison Sydor (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain

USGP of Cyclocross Planet Bike Cup - Day 2

Sun Prairie, WI USA

In the Elite Women's race Planet Bike's Katie Compton once again put on an amazing display of power to claim her second victory in as many days. LUNA's Katerina Nash rode a bold race - attacking Compton and briefly taking the lead before Compton chased her down and powered away to a solo win of her own. A charging Nash finished second and LUNA teammate Georgia Gould came in third.

Elite Women
1 Katherine Compton (USA) Planet Bike
2 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team
3 Georgia Gould (USA) LUNA Pro Team
4 Susan Butler (USA) Monavie-Cannondale.com
5 Alison Sydor (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain

September 20/09 - FSA Star Crossed `Cross brief results

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

Full Speed Ahead Star Crossed race in Redmond, WA, on September 19th

Elite Women
1 Helen Wyman (Kona)
2 Sue Butler (Monavie/Cannondale)
3 Alison Dunlap (Luna)
4 Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain - Maxxis)
5 Kari Studley (Velo Bella)

September 9/09 - Team H&R BLOCK-KONA Langley Cyclocross Classic

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

BC Cross Cup #1 - Sunday Sept 6th

The season opener of the BC Cross Cup saw 113 riders battle it out in the farm fields of Aldor Acres in Langley.

Rain was a threat in the morning but the skies cleared for near perfect race conditions. The morning rain softened up the soil for a few soft muddy sections complemented by a long run up, barriers, loose gravel corners and fast hard pack gravel. In all, racers praised the revised course which provided a few extra twists and turns.

Open Women
1 Alison Sydor
2 Jean Ann McKirdy
3 Sarah Stewart
4 Joele Guynup
5 Kelly Jones

July 5/09 - BC Bike Race: Final Report and Results

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

Whistler Creekside was thriving with energy as the seventh and final stage of the BC Bike Race rolled into town.

370 racers from more than 16 countries have tested their bodies, their bikes and, in some cases, their friendships this week while pedaling through more than 350 kilometers of singletrack in south western British Columbia.

The final Whistler stage was a mere 30km long, roughly half the distance of the other stages in the race. In speaking to racers after Stage 6 in Squamish, many were relieved to have less distance to cover on the final day...the finisher's medal was within reach.

Team Of Two Open Women
1. Luna Chix - Katerina Nash & Catharine Pendrel 21:49:42
2. Rocky Mountain - Alison Sydor & Lea Davison 22:42:03
3. Oak Bay Bikes - Lisa Ludwig & Dawn Anderson 25:13:35

April 19/09 - Paris Ancaster

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

16th annual Paris to Ancaster. Results for the 60 km event. 1st to 699th finishers

60 km
1 Jeremy Powers (LM20-29) 1:55:10
2 Mike Garrigan (LM20-29) 1:55:35
3 Mark Batty (LM20-29) 1:58:09
4 Erik Box (LM20-29) 1:58:24
5 Peter Mogg (LM30-39) 1:59:03
6 Michael Simonson (LM20-29) 1:59:23
7 Mitch Bailey (LM16-19) 1:59:25
8 Tyson Wagler (LM16-19) 1:59:27
9 Jon Kinsie (LM20-29) 2:00:28
10 Andrew Watson (LM20-29) 2:02:03
11 Alison Sydor (LF40-49) 2:02:22
...

72 Melissa Bunn (LF20-29) 2:14:13

March 28/09 - Cape Epic: Sydor and Pfitzenmaier take Overall

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

Sydor and Pfitzenmaier win overall in Mixed Category

The Adidas Big Tree team of Nico Pfitzenmaier and Alison Sydor won their category in an overall time of 32:13:10, having won 6 of the seven stages as well as the Prologue.

In second place overall was the Wheeler - IXS Pro team Marcel Bartholet and Esther Süss in a time of 32:51:56.

Paul Cordes and Yolande Speedy (IMC/ Momentum GT/ Activeworx) finished in third place overall (33:44:48) with Lukas Kubis and Ivonne Kraft (Haibike - VMT Afripex) in fourth (34:04:38).

Says Nico Pfitzenmaier of Adidas Big Tree: "It's been such an honour to ride for The Big Tree Foundation. It gave this race a whole new meaning for us. You have to admit that we're very blessed and privileged to be doing what we're doing, to be healthy and live the life we're living. I now live in South Africa and every day I see people that aren't as lucky as I am. It's really great to see that there's still hope in children's eyes and that they can be filled with joy and laughter, no matter how poor their standard of living may be. Sport and education can make all the difference to prevent children from losing track. Crime, drugs and alcohol are often just an escape from inhumane conditions. I hope we're able to create some awareness of the great work Big Tree is doing and that there are many more people out there who'll support them in future. Athletes can serve well as role models, and to top it all we can truthfully say that the money donated arrives where it's needed."

Adds his team mate Alison Sydor: "I had a bit of a mechanical issue with my frame last night. It wasn't repairable so the guys of team adidas Garmin helped me out with a bike. Since I was riding on a borrowed bike, I didn't want to risk anything so we went slow. We also had a side cut in one of our tyres which we had to repair with a tube. The final stage started a little stressful, but after that we were riding stress free. It's the best if you can really enjoy the final stage. Last year I said right after the race I want to come back and I did. I stayed with Nico in Stellenbosch prior to the race and we had a great time. South Africa is such a wonderful country. The people are very friendly, hospitable and generous. It's the people here that make me want to stay longer and come back all the time."

What will Sydor be doing this evening? "Eating something that doesn't have any sugar in it! We'll have a big SA braai with friends in Stellenbosch and I'm expecting a lot of good meat and some great red wine. My sister is here with me, so we'll enjoy the last hours before flying back home to Canada on Monday night."

July 22/08 - Jeantex BIKE Transalp:

Sydor/Sundstedt win 4th consecutive stage

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

Team Rocky Mountain with fourth consecutive stage win!

Alison Sydor and Pia Sundstedt keep their clean slate in the ladies category. After 4:08:23.5 hours, team Rocky Mountain crossed the finish line as first women pairing. Defending champions Sandra and Peggy Klose from Zwillingscraft-Ideal who were able to win this stage two years ago came in more than 8:30 minutes later (4:16:56.8). The Danish Norgaard sisters Anna-Sofie and Kristine from Team Cube 5 rounded out the women's podium as third (4:23:09.4).

GC - Women
1 Team Rocky Mountain (Alison Sydor/Pia Sundstedt) 16:07:48
2 Zwillingscraft-Ideal (Peggy Klose/Sandra Klose) 16:32:14
3 Team Cube 5 (Anna-Sofie Noorgard/Christin Norgaard) 16:38:46
5 Fiat/Rotwild (Kerstin Brachtendorf/Daniele Troesch) 17:27:48
4 Dolphin-Trek (Katrin Schwing/Fabienne Heinzmann) 17:42:22

June 7/08 12:44 pm - CRAFT Bike Transgermany: Final GC

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com

Final GC
1. Team Cube Wls (Anna-Sofie Norgaard/Kristine Norgaard) 26:30:14
2. Team Rocky Mountain (Pia Sundstedt/Alison Sydor) 26:45:16
3. Team Fiat Rotwild Damen (Kerstin Brachtendorf/Daniele Troesch) 27:30:50
4. Team Etto Hoydahl (Nina Gässler/Camilla Hott Johansen) 29:35:38
5. Sirius-Team Frankenwald (Jasmin Erhardt/Birgit Schnapp) 31:11:48

Courtesy : www.canadiancyclist.com