With a massive sprint final and the perfect help of his team mates, Patrick Lechner proved his good shape and sprinted to 6th place on today’s stage at Tour of Ireland.

It was the longest stage of the tour today, with 188 kilometers from Mullingar to Charleville through the heart of the Emerald Isle. To participate at The Ràs is always very special. This race is more than just a normal stage race. It has the character of a big tradition in Ireland and it seems that everybody celebrates The Ràs when it rolls through the villages.

Also the Irish county teams are every year more than motivated to fight against the professional teams from Europe and give the best they have to make the race as hard as possible for them. Couple of times this also leads to nervous and hectic race and leads to crashes from time to time. And you can believe: to get down on Irish roads hurts like hell, as the asphalt is very hard and not friendly to skin and bones. This is also what makes this race so unique and special!

Today’s stage had all what it needs to have an interesting race day. It began very fast and hectic. The peloton did 51 Kilometers during the first hour and one attack was followed by the next as there are also many young riders who are very motivated and aggressive. After a while a 2 man break away made it and reached a gap of 7 minutes until the pack started to bring them back. Road racing is not a kind of mathematics where you can always calculate everything, as there are so many influences why things are as they are. Road racing is such a complex sport and we all love this pure kind of sports. In the end the two guys could take a couple of seconds to the finish and fought among themselves for the victory. Behind them the real race went on. Sprint preparations, positioning and fighting for every centimeter. That is what it is about when the pack arrives to the finish line.

The Stradalli – BIKE AID boys did so well today. It needs a lot of teamwork to be successful as a rider. Especially in the sprint you need to rely on your team mates. When you ride alongside your competitors with couple of millimeters of distance, speeding up to 70 kph and fighting with all you have your teammates make all the difference. It is scary to think about. In the last kilometer nobody really takes this in mind. Today it was Nikodemus Holler who brought the guys in position and Joschka Beck was leading Patrick Lechner out to the final sprint. One by one they all did a good job and just a crash in front of them avoided more. Patrick sprinted to 4th place of the pack and reached 6th place on stage result!

STRADALLI – BIKE AID PREPARES FOR IRELAND AND WALES UCI RACES

The An Post Ras Ireland is the most prestigious race in Ireland, begins May 22 and Stradalli – Bike Aid pro cycling team will bring a full A-squad to compete for the overall of the 8-day UCI 2.2 stage race.

The Ras has been sponsored by An Post for the past six years, but has been a mainstay in the top level of Irish racing since 1953. The race regularly attracts top teams from all over the world. In attendance this year will be well known trade teams such as Madison Genesis UCI Continental Team and JLT Condor presented by Mavic from Britain. 

The An Post Ras is noted for being a tough race due to the hills and volatile weather. The weather in Ireland is consistently rainy and windy. The hilly terrain of Ireland combined with the weather will ensure all teams will have a tough time fighting for the leader’s jersey over the course of 8 stages.

A team containing a mix of German , French and African riders will contest An Post Ras while another top level group of Stradalli – BikeAid Riders will make their to Wales for UCI 1.1 Velothon Wales, a race also historically frequented by top level professional riders from Europe.

The team is finalizing their preparations for the race. Stradalli – Bike Aid team management are taking the ferry from Dunkerque, France to Dover in the United Kingdom so they can safely transport team cars, busses, bikes and gear necessary to complete a long block of racing in Great Britain.

Stradalli - Bikeaid pro cycling team getting ready for Ardennen , Belgium 1 day race

Stradalli Cycle Summer Clearance Sale Continues

The Stradalli Cycle summer clearance sale has been extended through the end of August. This is a great opportunity to get a carbon fiber bike for 25-40% off. Road bikes, mountain, time trial, cyclocross and more. Get these bikes at the best possible prices you will find anywhere and get them before the sale ends.

You can also find great deals on racing apparel, wheel sets and more. How confident are we in our products? Stradalli Cycle has its very own pro race team and sponsors multiple teams and racers all around the world. That’s standing by your product in a big way the fact that you have pro racers all around the world compete AND win on your bikes.

So when you are thinking about getting a new bike make sure you go with a carbon fiber one. Carbon fiber bikes weigh considerably less than the standard ones you will find at retail stores which may not seem like a big deal until you need to load it in the car or carry it up a flight of stairs. That’s when you will appreciate having a lighter cycle but it’s much more than that.

These cycles are more durable, give you a better ride and can take more of a beating. If you want to give cycling a real shot and get the most out of it then you need to start with the right equipment. That’s why cycling is such a passion for people and the right cycle could be the last piece of gym equipment you ever have to buy.

Grant Potter Has 2nd Successful Surgery

Stradalli Cycle Team Captain and World Champ Grant Potter had successful surgery last week in Ft. Lauderdale. This was the 2nd surgery in a matter of weeks for Potter who is on the fast road to recovery. The team is hopeful he will be able to start training in less than a couple of months with the expectation being that he will return to competitive action at the beginning of next year, if not sooner. You can read more about Grant Potter and the team at the Stradalli Cycle Blog.

Stradalli Cycle - Safetti Pro Racer Ruben Companioni Leading USA Crits Overall Series

Stradalli Cycle -Safetti pro racer Ruben Companioni is now on top of the USA Crits Overall Men's standings after finishing in the top 3 at the Hyde Park Blast in Cincinnati. Companioni is not the only one on top as Stradalli Cycle-Safetti Smart Wear and Texas Roadhouse Cycling p/b Stradalli combine to own 4 of the top 10 spots in the overall standings. Now it’s 4 Stradalli bikes in the top 8.

“It’s really cool to look at the board and see your guy at the top, but to see so many other guys in the top 8 and even more of our guys are inching up on the top 10 as well. Before this season we set a goal, to build the best possible team. I wanted the team to work together to get the best results and if you look at the standings right now that’s what you will see. Now it’s 4 Stradalli bikes in the top 8. We’ve had plenty of doubters but when you look at what we have achieved I think the results speak for themselves.” Stradalli Cycle CEO Tom Steinbacher

If that wasn’t enough, the Stradalli Cycle-Safetti Pro Team currently sits 2nd in the overall team standings for USA Crits. With a great mix of athletic youth and seasoned veterans who have seen and done it all in pro cycling, this team is poised to win a lot more jerseys with their full carbon road bikes leading the way.

“The last trip we just came back from says everything you need to know about who this team is. Guys are giving teammates their bike to finish a race, helping out in any way they can to make sure Ruben got the lead, working on improving in the team standings, not missing  training because they were tired or complaining because of how long the trip was. I have never seen a more focused team than the one we have this year and the irony is they are all having a lot of fun.” Tom Steinbacher

It is amazing how focused the team is. They face another big challenge coming up as they head to the Andersen/Banducci Twilight Criterium in Boise, Idaho on Saturday, July 11th.

“We love the competition, that’s when we seem to do our best. This was a long road trip but we got stronger as it went and that’s because we love being a part of this team. When Ruben got into first in the standings we all felt like it was a team win, not just his win. Our goal the rest of the season is make sure he stays at the top and we take the team overall championship as well. We know we can do it because we’re in July and we are still here." Young Stradalli Cycle Pro Racer Abel Quintana

The Boise trip will start another long road trip for the team but they are looking forward to the opportunity to compete out west again and prove they belong at the top of the standings where they intend on staying the rest of the year.

Written By James Cox

Teamwork helps Stradalli Cycle Pro Team at Tour of America's Dairyland Series

The Stradalli Cycle Pro Race team continues their trip of the Tour of America's Dairyland Series with races in the Giro d’Grafton, East Troy Classic, Waukesha Carl Zach Cycling Classic,  Milwaukee Mile and more races to come. Thus far it has been a very successful trip with Jose F Frank winning the coveted Cow jersey and hanging onto it over the weekend and Ruben Companioni wracking up numerous top ten finishes.

Team owner Tom Steinbacher has been very pleased with the teamwork and performance of his pro race team thus far; "The guys have done a heck of a job. When you go on the road with anyone for 3 weeks you wonder how guys will be and if they will get along. I have been amazed how much teamwork and focus they have had on this trip. Every race they are focused on helping each other out. A great example is at the Milwaukee Mile when Jose F Frank got a flat tire and 3 of his teammates stopped to help him. Then, teammate Abel Quintana actually gave his bike to Frank so he could finish the race. You cannot teach that kind of teamwork, they want to help each other and it is awesome."

You can keep updated on the teams trip at the Stradalli Cycle Blog

Stradalli Cycle Team Heads into Tour of America’s Dairyland Pro Cycling

The Stradalli Cycle Pro Team heads into the Tour of America's Dairyland Series. The series will feature several races beginning Thursday, the 19th and running through the weekend. This is the middle marker for the 21 day road trip for the team. You can read more about this trip and race results at the Stradalli Cycle Blog