by Paul Ricci

2007 has been an epic year for cyclists from the steel city. The national master's, elite, and junior road racing championships were held this past July in Seven Springs, PA with strong showings by local racers. Barbara Grabowski placed third in the age 50-54 master's time trial. Joe Ruggery took third in the 35-39 road race. Betsy Shogren won the age 30-34 road race while she and her husband Gunnar finished second in the mixed tandem road race.

The most dominant performance at nationals by a local racer would have to Sinead Miller. The BMX champion placed third in the time trial, second in the road race, and first in the in the criterium in the 17-18 category. As a result of her performance she was invited to the Junior World Championships in Aquascalientes, Mexico. She competed in the road race and the time trial where she placed 17th overall and 1:43 behind the leader.

One local rider who has worked his way up the junior ranks is Mike Friedman. He is a former under 23 year old road racing champion and has won national titles in track cycling. Currently he is racing for the professional Team Slipstream, run by former Tour de France racer Jonathan Vaughters. The team just signed David Zabriskie, Christian Vande Velde, and David Millar. Mike has raced in Europe and in the US where he placed fourth in the US pro time trial last year. This year he won a stage at the Tour de Toona and the most aggressive rider competition for the tour.