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Friday News Briefs

Published July 6, 2012

AGU Holding buys Fast Forward Wheels • Francesco Moser to participate in LA-Pasadena Gran Fondo • Smith leaving USAC, position open • Adventure Cycling wants award nominations • Segment of monument to be displayed at USAPCC

ALKMAAR, The Netherlands (BRAIN) Friday July 6 2012 10:50 AM MT—AGU Holding B.V. has purchased Fast Forward Wheels B.V., a carbon wheels manufacturer based in Zwolle, The Netherlands.

FFWD Wheels was founded by Henk Schipper in 2006. Schipper and partner Roland ten Brinke will remain with the company as directors after the acquisition. The company also has 12 employees and the new owners said no employment changes will are expected as a result of the acquisition.

AGU Holding B.V. is owned by Jaap and Peter van den Kommer. The Holding company is distinct from AGU B.V., a Dutch importer and distributor. The company said AGU B.V. will not distribute FFWD wheels; instead the wheels will continue to be distributed through its current channels.

According to a company release, AGU Holding B.V. expects to acquire one or two more companies within the bike industry "within the foreseeable future."


Francesco Moser to participate in LA-Pasadena Gran Fondo

LOS ANGELES, CA (BRAIN) Friday July 6 2012 10:27 AM MT—Retired pro Francesco Moser will participate in the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Los Angeles-Pasadena on July 21 and 22. 
 
Moser was the third most winning professional in cycling history, with 273 career victories. He also is well-known for breaking Eddy Merckx' long-standing hour record, in 1984.
 
Moser will be in Pasadena to celebrate the inaugural Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia.  In addition to starting the ride on Sunday morning he will attend a VIP evening reception on Saturday, July 21 and will be available Saturday afternoon, July 21st, in the expo area to meet and greet fans and cycling enthusiasts. 

More information: www.gfgiro.com.


Smith leaving USAC, position open

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (BRAIN) Friday July 6 2012 10:44 AM MT—Andrea Smith is stepping down as USA Cycling's director of communications to take a position with Colorado’s non-profit organ procurement organization, the Donor Alliance. Smith's last day at USAC will be August 17.

"My time at USA Cycling has been a wonderful experience and I look forward to following the continued growth and prosperity of this organization and sport," Smith said in an email.

USA Cycling has begun a search for a replacement and is advertising the position on its website.


Adventure Cycling wants award nominations

MISSOULA, MT (BRAIN) Friday July 6 2012 11:04 AM MT—Adventure Cycling Association is seeking nominations for its 8th annual Bicycle Travel Awards.

The awards' categories include the Pacesetter Bicycle Travel Award, the June Curry Trail Angel Award, the Braxton Bike Shop Award, and the Adventure Cycling Volunteer-of-the-Year Award.

The Pacesetter Bicycle Travel Award recognizes the efforts of those who have supported or promoted bicycle travel in the U.S. in an exemplary way.

The June Curry Trail Angel Award awards an individual or group that has made a traveling cyclist's journey easier or possible in some significant way.

The Sam Braxton Bike Shop Award honors a bike shop that has promoted the bike-travel cause and built enthusiasm for bike touring in its community. Braxton Bike Shop in Missoula was the inaugural winner of this award. The shop was integral to the success of BikeCentennial ‘76, the event that kick-started Adventure Cycling Association.

The Adventure Cycling Volunteer-of-the-Year Award is presented to an outstanding volunteer who has furthered the organization's goal of inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle.

Nominations will be accepted through September 30.

More information: adventurecycling.org/awards.


Segment of monument to be displayed at USAPCC

BOULDER, CO (BRAIN) Friday July 6 2012 10:15 AM MT—Promoters of the planned US Cycling Monument say a segment of the sculpture will be displayed on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall during the penultimate stage of the US Pro Cycling Challenge next month.

The monument will eventually be placed at North Boulder Park, site of many Coors Classic criterium stages. Supporters have raised about $56,000 of the $215,000 needed to complete the monument. In the meantime, some funds have been released to create a part of the sculpture for display during the USPCC. The race will pass Pearl Street on its way to a planned finish atop Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder.

More information: uscyclingmonument.com.

Related: Previous News Briefs

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