Here are some first impressions from Moriah MacGregor who just won this weekend's Tour of Walla Walla: "I felt good and rode well in both and kept GC throughout so got to take home my first leaders jersey. Yeah!! They separated out the results for 1/2 and 3's but we were all in the same pack- so a field of ~70, so not bad for a northwest race. Not that we saw most of those girls in the races!" "I finished 6th in the crit and 4th in the RR- I ended up having to do some work in the RR because one of my team mates was dropped right away and the other was getting dropped and catching back on. But I did as little as possible and going into the finish (which was a 3km climb) things basically just broke apart with myself and 2 + 3 in GC plus the team mate of #2 GC leading the charge. I was tempted to jump early, but decided to be conservative and not risk blowing up and losing the precious seconds... I was 4th across the line (no time bonuses for the finish). Both 2 + 3 in GC had pretty strong teams, so I was a bit worried for a little while."

This weekend marks a big weekend of racing for the Atlantic Cycling Centre riders. Following last weekend's win for Stuart Wight in a local race with his new HotTubes squad, it was now Moriah Jo MacGregor's turn to visit the top step on the podium. She did so yesterday by winning the Tour of Walla Walla time trial. She was wearing the leader's jersey for stage two, a 30 minutes criterium, held last night (no results yet). Today, the final stage is a 59 miles road race. Also racing this weekend is Riverview's Stuart Wight who will contest the Battenkill Roubaix event with the Senior 2 pack. Closer to us, the famous Wolfeville-Roubaix annual ride will also take part today and will mean the official start of the hostilities in Nova Scotia. On the highest level, Christian Meier is currently battling in the 44th Amstel Gold Race.

Hey All, Well, I just got back from competing in the Pan Am Championships in Santiago, Chile. I was there as part of a Canadian National team project . Catharine Pendrel and I left snowy cold Kamloops after a week of preparing in our heat chamber. (For our heat chamber we rode the trainer in a plastic walled off area where we cranked the furnace and the space heater to get the temperature up to 33deg C, yeah it was as bad as it sounds). We flew for 18 hours of travel before arriving in Santiago with the rest of the team. There we went through customs, where apparently I had a small bag of raisins I had forgotten about. I guess it is a bad idea to bring any fruit, vegetable, or seed into the country, because the customs agents proceeded to take the raisins, my passport, and me into a back room where they weighed the raisins, and fined me that amount (200g) in US $! Those were the most expensive raisins that I have never eaten! Following this hour long procedure I was finally able to get outside into the beautiful sunny, dry weather. We drove with all our bikes and gear out of Santiago and east up into the Andes. The mountain road we were on was quite crazy. It tops anything I have been on in North America or Europe for the length (40km), number of switchbacks (46) and just how narrow, off camber, and tight those switchbacks were. It took us about 1hr to get up it, where we were then delivered to an awesome little house, complete with excellent hosts and cooks Alexis and Cathy. The next few days were filled with figuring out the location, race course, and logistics of our area. Thanks goodness that Catharine and Max could both speak Spanish! On Day 2 we drove down to the race course. It was about 40min down the mountain from the 2800m we were staying at, to the course at an elevation of 1000m, however, our 2hr ride took 5hrs just due to logistics and the nice “relaxed” South American pace of life. The course was pretty good, it consisted of many of 1min climbs and two longer 4min climbs, and then lots of off Camber singletrack, that was exceptionally loose with ruts in it. It was actually quite challenging to ride, and there was one downhill that I think maybe only one racer rode during the race, as it was steep, with corners, rutted, and you really couldn’t slow down with so much “loose over hardpack”. On my first practice lap I crashed here (went straight into a bush), and during the week just about every racer had a few scratched here and there from unexpected falls on the loose terrain. Race day was a nice sunny 35deg, (just like every other day). We sent all the bikes with the team mechanic and manager Jerome Sanfracon and Steve Lund, as that way we knew they would get there safely and on time. However, it was not so easy for us, as our bus never showed up, and now we didn’t have bikes to ride down the hill. After a while though we were able to convince one of our hosts to drive us all the way down to the race course!!

Registration for the 2009 Spring camp, to be held from April 10 to 13 are now open. Dead line is April 3rd. Click on the "registration" button on the left of your screen and follow the instructions.

Team H&R BLOCK and KONA-ADOBE have joined forces in 2009 to introduce the newly formed registered trade team, Team H&R BLOCK–KONA. The team is proud to announce its riders and marketing partners for the 2009 racing season. Both teams have enjoyed considerable success in prior years and with their strong new partnership, look to build on their momentum in 2009. With their increased presence at regional and National events, they will continue to build a dominant force in Canadian road, track and cyclo-cross racing. The board of directors is excited to announce the elite riders for the 2009 season: - Marcel Aarden, 22, Victoria; Mt Seymour and Mt Washington Hill Climb Champion - Dustin Andrews, 19, Calgary; 2008 Jr National Team member Nations Cup Quebec - Zach Garland, 23, St. Johns, NFLD; Stage Winner Tour de Quebec and Walla Walla - Alistair Howard, 30, Vancouver; Multiple National and Provincial Champion - Cyrus Kangarloo, 25, Kelowna; current Alberta Provincial Road Race Champion - Mark MacDonald, 23, Calgary; multiple National Track Championship medalist - Garrett McLeod, 20, Wolfville, NS; National Espoir TT Championship medalist - Chris McNeil, 31, Calgary; multiple National Championship medalist - Matt Potma, 20, Vancouver; multiple National Championship medalist in Track and TT - Michael Rothengatter, 20, Coquitlam; current BC Espoir TT Champion - Aaron Schooler, 24, Edmonton; National Cyclo-Cross team member Strengthening the team on the regional front will be Robin Baillie, Shawn Goulet, Gideon Kristalka, Peter Lawrence and Zane Westerbeek. Chris McNeil will continue in a leadership role as Team Captain; bringing experience and mentorship that is a huge asset in developing the team’s riders. Alistair Howard will take on the role of Directeur Sportif to oversee the Elite team. With his international race experience and leadership abilities, Alistair is excited to direct the team, "The team is full of raw young talent that is poised to take the next step and become the dominant team in Western Canada." Returning for its fourth year as the primary marketing partner of the team is H&R Block, Canada’s leading retail tax Preparation Company. KONA is providing road, TT and CX framesets as well as lifestyle clothing. Giordana partners with professional race clothing. FSA provides fast carbon and ceramic parts with their cranks, brakes, handlebar, stem, headsets and TT bars. Mavic wheels, Panaracer tires and fi’zi:k saddles complete the team bikes. The riders will be outfitted by Rudy Project for helmets and sunglasses and Sidi for shoes. Hammer Nutrition provides nutritional products; Yakima brings bicycle vehicle racks and Minoura, stationary trainers. Curious Communications provides website and clothing design. Additional financial support is provided by Direct Cash with over 5,000 ATM machines across Canada; Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank; Stikeman Elliott LLP Canadian law firm of the year in 2007; Student Price Card Canada’s largest student discount program; SIX Real Estate Consultants - marketing strategists, creative professionals and industry experts with a proven record of success throughout Western Canada; Encore Publishing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation and a leading retail software publisher; Newalta is Canada's leading industrial waste management and environmental services company . Team H&R BLOCK–KONA is privileged to have these partners share their passion and excitement and would like to thank them for their support and dedication to the team’s riders and to the sport of cycling in Canada. Check out the new website at www.teamhrblock-kona.ca for more team info.

The Tour de PEI organizing committee is gearing up for the return of world-class cycling across Prince Edward Island. Tour de PEI, presented by Scotiabank, showcases Prince Edward Island’s seaside villages and idyllic countryside as a premiere cycling destination for both the elite and amateur rider. Now entering its third year, Tour de PEI has established itself in the International cycling community as a must-attend event for many of the World’s top female cyclists. International media, cycling governing bodies, and the participating cyclists are giving the previous two installments of Tour de PEI rave reviews; the Canadian Cycling Association praised the event with the Road Event Organizer of the Year award in 2007. Again this year, organizers are receiving requests from Olympic-calibre cyclists around the world who are vying for a spot in the race. About 100 elite cyclists are expected to compete in this year’s Tour. The 2009 edition of Tour de PEI is scheduled for June 7-11. There will be five stages: Stage 1: Summerside, Sunday, June 7- Tour 2009 will kick off in the City of Summerside with cyclists following the same route as in previous years. The City can expect to host plenty of spectators for Tour’s only weekend date. In addition, cycling enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that an amateur race will be held on the Summerside circuit prior to the main event. Stage 2: Confederation Bridge, Monday, June 8- Beginning in Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick, the individual time trials will once again see cyclists compete against the clock in a race toward Prince Edward Island across the longest bridge over ice-covered waters, the 12.9 kilometre-long Confederation Bridge. Stage 3: Kensington to North Rustico, Tuesday, June 9- As in 2008, riders will embark on a challenging road race through almost every major hill and valley central Prince Edward Island has to offer. The ladies will depart the sea of cheering school children in Kensington and continue on Route 20 through Parks Corner, along Route 8 through Freetown to Kinkora and Route 224 to New Glasgow, before sprinting to the finish in North Rustico. Stage 4: Dalvay to Montague to Georgetown, Wednesday, June 10- In an effort to shine the International spotlight on even more of Prince Edward Island, organizers welcome a new finish line host to this scenic road race. Cyclists will once again depart the beautiful National Park and ride deep into Kings County, looping twice through Pooles Corner before concluding in the County’s capital, Georgetown. Stage 5: Charlottetown, Thursday, June 11- Due to the Homburg Hotel construction site on Grafton Street, the preferred course that was used for the previous editions of Tour will not be available. In conjunction with the City of Charlottetown and all parties involved, we are now in the process of selecting a new course that will permit a tremendous event and a fantastic crowd. In addition to the elite event, Tour de PEI will also feature amateur, celebrity and children’s races, as well as a finish line concert to kick start the Confederation Bridge summer Concert Series. A portion of the proceeds from these events will benefit the Queen Elizabeth and Prince County Hospital Foundations. Details will be announced at a later date. Athlete profiles, detailed schedules, route maps, and regularly updated information can be found online at www.tourdepei.com.

The CCA is proud to announce the posting of the 2009 carding criteria. The French version will be available shortly, along with both English and French para-cycling criteria. Modifications: Please note that there have been 2 modifications to CCA website document content. With regards to the road Pan American championships the dates should read May 8th to the 10th. As per the posted carding criteria there has been changes automatic carding criteria in the track sprint events.

After Christian Meier a few weeks ago, it was now the turn of newly signed Giant Elite rider Moriah Jo MacGregor to start her racing season. She did so at the Valley of the Sun Stage race reprenting Team British Columbia. Moriah did very well finishing 2nd overall.

Well Hello, So it might seem kind of early to start talking about bike racing again, but training is well underway and a great opportunity has arose. I've been back to training since the beginning of January and things have been going really well. Since I was racing cross till the end of November I defiantly carried over some fitness and started training much more fit than I ever have before. I am also slowly curing some nagging hip and back problems by working with Phil Alcock at core health spa. We have been doing some really good functional strength and flexibility training. So now as i sit here looking out the window at a ranging blizzard it is hard to believe i will be racing a week long tour starting Sunday in the Dominican Republic. I am heading down on a composite team of 5 other cyclists (all from Quebec), racing for the composite team "tourdequebec". When we finish the race Sunday March 1st we'll have traveled over 1000km and for sure to have worked nicely on our tan lines. This further solidifies that i feel this is going to be the best season cycling yet. this race will give me valuable training miles for the season ahead. My season really starts April 22nd as i step on the flight for Vancouver. I will be racing for team H&R Block-Kona for the 2009 season. Unlike previous years, i will be solely concentration on cycling. With this we have a super busy race calendar featuring some bigger races. Furthermore, for you coffee drinkers out there, the team has a coffee sponsor. once the team website is up and running you can order the coffee from the site with proceeds going to the team. I will follow up once the site is up and running. Thanks for reading, Zack Garland Special Thanks to: H&R Block-KONA Cycling team Canary Cycles Core Health Spa The Atlantic Cycling Centre Nova Physio Therapy Bicycle Newfoundland and Labrador

The Canadian Cycling Association is pleased to announce the athletes who will be representing Canada at the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike Pan Am Championships being held in Santiago, Chile from March 20-22, 2009. Pan Am Championships are important for Canada as the award valuable UCI points to help maintain our nation ranking. Elite Women - Catharine Pendrel (BC) - Amanda Sin (ON) Elite Men - Seamus McGrath (BC) - Derek Zandstra (ON) - Max Plaxton (BC) - Matt Hadley (NB) U23 Female - Emily Batty (On) Two staff members (Mechanics and a Manager) will travel with the team. They will be confirmed soon.

Wow - 32 riders - aged 13 and up came out to chase each other around in the snow. The course was fabulously groomed by organizers and the great crew of helpers from the Dieppe Rotary Park. 2009 certainly marked the best event in its 4 years of existance. See some of the pics here. As you'll notice, great time was for by all. So here are the final results - congratulations to all the riders - it was a great day of racing and fun for all - even Chhaya who ended up running more than riding due to some recurring wheel problems: Open Men place name club laps 1 Stuart Wight Hot Tubes Development Team 8 2 Jeff Currie Mike's Bike Shop CC 8 3 Peter Wedge 8 4 Jean Richard Cormier Mike's Bike Shop CC 8 5 Charles Cormier Mike's Bike Shop CC 8 6 Patrice Boudreau Mike's Bike Shop CC 8 7 Guy Pellerin Giant Bicycles 7 8 Mike Leblanc Mike's Bike Shop CC 7 9 Denis Hebert Incline Sports 7 10 Marc Andre Deslaurier 7 11 Derrick Keith 7 12 Alain Goguen Mike's Bike Shop CC 7 13 Don Ricker Mike's Bike Shop CC 7 14 Sean Ritchie Mike's Bike Shop CC 7 15 Luc Arseneau Atlantic Cycling Centre 6 16 Jean Leger Mike's Bike Shop CC 6 17 Pablo Vergera Mike's Bike Shop CC 6 18 Rene Julien Mike's Bike Shop CC 6 19 Mike Connelly Cycling PEI 6 20 Mark Bowlan Cycling PEI 6 21 Phil Roche 5 Open Women 1 Joanne St. Pierre 6 2 Michelle Chase Mike's Bike Shop CC 5 3 Carolyn Belliveau Giant Bicycles 5 4 Krista Koval Fitworks Cycling Club 5 Junior Men 1 Julien Roussell Peter Wedge Cycling 6 2 Partick Maillet 5 3 Matthew McFarlane 5 4 Marc Evers Peter Wedge Cycling 5 5 Jeremie Gaudet 4 6 Julien Jaillet 4 7 Chhaya Ponn 4

Well, for those of you who feared last year’s melt down that turned the bike race into a virtually running race, or even that the recent heavy snow fall would ruin the event; well, not gonna happen this year. The course is now ready to go, all it needs is a day or two to settle down and get even harder. Crash Test Stuey came to the park to test ride it and the little dude I once pronounced “technically challenged” completed two laps without any glitches. In fact, he only got off the bike in the run up section; pretty much a given. At this moment, we are expecting great weather, registration’s possible on-line so, I’m wondering how many excuses you have left not to participate… Hope to see you all on Saturday! ___ Here are Crash Test Stuey's comments on the course: Well, I was riding the course this afternoon and it was an absolutely awesome time! Great job to Luc on all his hard work, it is certainly paying off. I was able to ride everything but the run-up (of course!) and there was just enough snow to make it a slippery good time, without too much to make it a running race! And as Luc said, not many excuses left, I just checked the weather network and they're calling for -2 for the high! I think some of the fall cross races were colder than that! So again, thanks to Luc for all his efforts this last while with the course, and I can't wait to get racing! Hopefully see many of you on the weekend. Cheers! Stuart

The 2009 Wintercross classic will be held on a nice 1,8 km course groomed in the snow at the St-Anselme Park in Dieppe. Beat the winter blues, and come and participate in the most fun event of the year! This event is part of the Dieppe Friendship Carnival. Riders from the three Maritime provinces will be joining local cyclists for this fun event. Event starts at 2:30 pm. Registrations are now opened!

The little guy from Sussex, Christian Meier, will make his official start of the 2009 season in the big league. On Sunday, alongside Lance Armstrong, Stuart O'Grady, Osacar Pereiro, Chrstian will be wearing number 167 on his Garmin - Slipstream national champion jersey. Cyclingnews will cover the event.

Jean-Richard Cormier, a regular at the Atlantic Cycling Centre, rides his offroad unicycle on a snow-covered Gregoire Street in Dieppe. See photo from the Times and Transcript.