Platinum Performance had a strong presence in the first Criterium of the year promoted by Echelon Santa Barbara and appropriately titled "Mothballs". The Platinum boys rode well with representation in every move that jumped off the front. At 6 laps to go they took complete control of the race with Steve Smith and John Orach going pull for pull on the front, stringing out the pack to keep the race safe and discouraging any surges or attacks. … [Read more...]

SOLVANG- Joining the previously announced eight ProTour teams, nine additional Pro Continental and Continental teams have been confirmed for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California by AEG, presenter of the professional cycling race.The nine-day stage race from February 14-22, 2009 will feature 17 of the world’s top professional teams, including world-renowned riders Lance Armstrong, two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer, three-time World Champion Oscar Freire and 2008 Olympic gold medal … [Read more...]

John Goodman, the sole representative from the Platinum Performance Cycling Team, placed tenth in the sport 50-54 age group at the Southridge race last Saturday.Goodman said his placing was “pretty poor, but my plan is to improve and exceed my mid pack status from last season.”The weather offered a sunny and warm day to the racers, but they were faced with roughly 50 knots of wind, which Goodman said was not a big help on the climbs. … [Read more...]

Several Platinum racers competed in the Gibralter Hillclimb TT fundraiser for the UCSB Triathalon Team last Saturday.Mark Fennell placed second overall and first in the 40-plus age group, while Ron Takeda and Shigy Suziki placed third and fifth respectively in the 40-plus age group.Additionally, Mark Luke placed ninth in the 40-plus age group, while Steve Boelter placed 19th, Tim Marquez at 27 and Byron Beck rounding out at 36th. … [Read more...]

Gary Douville and the Bobby Langin father-son duo led the Platinum Performance Cycling Team to a 10th-place finish in the 2008 SoCalCross Prestige Series for cyclocross.Douville recorded a seventh-place result in the Elite Division. Bobby Langin Jr. also competed at the Elite level, coming in 9th. Langin came in 18th in the singlespeed division too.Bobby Langin Sr. came in seventh in his Master Men Division (45+). Steve Silva and Ron Takeda also competed in the 45-plus age group, … [Read more...]

Lance Armstrong and defending champion Levi Leipheimer are joining forces to lead Astana at the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, race organizers announced on Thursday.The 750-mile, nine-day cycling race begins in Sacramento on Feb. 14 and ends on Feb. 22 in San Diego.The race - in its fourth year - has done away with the stage that began along Cabrillo Blvd. in Santa Barbara but will still feature a time-trial stage that loops the Santa Ynez Valley starting and ending in Solvang. That … [Read more...]

Solvang —This morning, around 100 guests (including an estimated 40 supporters and spectators, 35 cyclists, 30 Solvang School sixth grade students from John Padfield’s class and local dignitaries County Supervisor Brooks Firestone, Solvang Mayor Jim Richardson, Council member Linda Jackson, Solvang City Manager Brad Vidro and Solvang Chamber of Commerce President Linda Johansen) attended the 3rd annual “Ride the Route” event held at Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall (moved from … [Read more...]