Liberty ensures its presence will be felt
Boston-based Liberty Mutual wants to make sure the public knows it's not involved only in insurance. To that end, the company has brought six members of the Liberty Seguros team that rode in this year's Tour de France for a weekend of activities.
Some of the riders spent yesterday at the MIT Wind Tunnel testing helmets and wheels. Today, the cyclists will take part in the Rodman Ride for Kids fund-raiser in Foxborough. Tomorrow, they'll be at Belmont Wheelworks ''to meet the cycling community," said Liberty spokesman John Cusolito.
By far the most celebrated of the group is Robert Heras, who won the Spanish Vuelta last month for a record-setting fourth time. The team is auctioning on
Liberty Mutual, which is sponsoring the Rodman Ride, will have a team of 100 employees riding with their professional counterparts.
In addition to Heras, the team members include Joseba Beloki, a three-time top-three finisher in the Tour de France; Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, the Spanish time trial champion in 2002; Marcos Serrano, a stage winner in this year's Tour de France; Alberto Contador, and Luis Leon Sanchez.
Rapinski aboard
The Colavita Olive Oil racing team, directed by Frank McCormack of Leicester, has signed Viktor Rapinski of Belarus. Rapinski, 24, began racing on the US pro circuit in 2002 as a member of the defunct Saturn team, of which brothers Frank and Mark McCormack were members. Rapinski won the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic in 2003, then joined another US-based team before riding with Team Phonak of Europe. ''It's a great addition, especially since we lost Juan Jose [Haedo]," Mark McCormack said . . . The cyclocross racing circuit has begun, and will make two stops in Gloucester Oct. 29 and 30. For the fifth year, the Essex County Velo club is hosting the two Grand Prix races at Gloucester's Stage Fort Park. Expected to race are former national champions Tim Johnson of Middleton and Mark McCormack of Foxborough, and Jesse Anthony of Beverly, who has six junior and Under-23 national championships.Craig king of hill
Adam Craig grew up in Bangor, Maine, but spends most of his summer on the West Coast, where he competes in mountain bike racing. Last month Craig, 24, won the short track nationals in Mammoth, Calif. Craig, who started riding mountain bikes when he was 13, joined the national racing circuit about six years ago. ''I did all eight World Cup races this summer, so I didn't have many weekends off," he said. Craig is heading back to Bangor and plans to enter the cyclocross races in the region, which culminate with the national championship in Providence Dec. 9-10. In between he might go kayaking or kayak surfing. ''But my bread and butter is mountain biking," said Craig, who is a three-time Under-23 mountain bike champion and three-time Under-23 Cyclocross champion . . . Bobby Julich, who earned a bronze medal in the time trial race in Athens last year, was 11th in the World Championships two weeks ago in Madrid. Julich, 33, finished 1 minute 45.37 seconds behind Michael Rogers of Australia. Rogers, who covered the 27.4-mile course in 53:34.49, became the first rider to win three consecutive elite men's world time trials titles.
