2009 Reston Town Center Grand Prix

From wounded warrior Master Sergeant Dean Wagner, US Army.

On June 28th I represented the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) in two pro-am bicycle races at the 2009 Reston Town Center Grand Prix. This was the 8th running of the race in the very competitive Mid-Atlantic Bike Racing area. The course ran through the streets of center-city Reston, VA – a 1.2 mile course with 8 technical turns. Tough racing for a one-hander!

In the photo is Dean with race organizer Mitch Ferro.

The local bicycle team, Evolution Cycling, presented the race and teamed with the WWP and the Raisin Hope Foundation in an effort to raise funds and awareness for two great causes. Funds were raised through donations and raffle tickets sales and the community supported the cause.

In the photo above is Mitch with Dr. Craig Clark who was one of the top 50+ racers in the country before suffering a traumatic brain injury while racing last year.

I raced the Masters and the CAT 4 races. Each race was 1 hour and we averaged over 25 mph. Criterium style racing permits no time for recovery – it’s all-out for the entire race.

The afternoon CAT 4 race was greeted with rain which made the technical course even more of a challenge, not to mention avoiding all the crashes.

The race announcer really raised awareness for the WWP and gave me two pre-race “call-outs” and recognized my 21 years of military service, injury, my 2008 National Paralympics Road Race title, and the WWP. He also described how the WWP supports injured airmen, marines, sailors, and soldiers in an effort to reach their goals.

The WWP continues support for my racing efforts and recently presented me with a new Trek Madone 6.9 frame-set donated through Trek USA and the WWP.

Reston, VA and the greater Washington, DC area displayed great support during the day of racing and my new bike had quite a workout!

Soldier Ride, Lone Star State

I would like to thank Major David Underwood, US Army, for his report on the soldier ride in Texas last March. David gave his arm in Iraq but continues to soldier on and will remain on active duty!

Major David Underwood and his wife Malissa

The Soldier Ride, Lone Star State, was held 11-15 March visiting Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, Texas.This ride was dedicated to the memory of PFC Brandon Bobb and PFC Ron J. Joshua, Jr. killed in Iraq on July 17, 2007.
The ride began in Austin at Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop (owned by Lance Armstrong) and Eileen Schaubert and the rest of the gang at Mellow Johnny's did a great job making us feel at home.
The weather was unseasonably cold, in the low 40s, all three days. That combined with rain required a weather call each morning, but Mother Nature cooperated and the rain stopped each day just long enough for us to start.

The ride in Austin took us through downtown on a twelve mile loop that ended back at Mellow Johnny's.

Even with the rain the ride received great support from the citizens of Austin.

The Underwood kids rode along, their first Soldier Ride. They rode all three days, the third day in Corpus Christi Thomas rode until he told his Dad "I can't feel my legs", at which point Major Underwood put him on the bus. Thomas got a new Gary Fisher bike from Mellow Johnny's for his birthday.

His little sister, Alexandra, moved up to his bike, and both kids did a great job of keeping up.

The second day started in San Antonio. Once again it was in the low 40s with heavy rain at 8:00 that morning. Luckily, the rain stopped at about 8:30, and we started the twenty-two mile ride on time at the Alamo with a large crowd and a lot of press on hand.

We rode through downtown San Antonio and then out onto the bike trails south of town. The rain started again, but everyone rode hard enough we managed to stay a little warm.

The Wounded Warriors from Brooke Army Medical Center joined us for the San Antonio ride, and brought some of the therapists with them, including Major Jay Classing - head of Occupational Therapy at the Center for the Intrepid (CFI).

The ride ended at Braunig Park south of San Antonio, and we boarded a bus to Corpus Christi.
The ride in Corpus Christi included a fundraiser that brought in hundreds of riders from around Texas.
The weather in Corpus was the worst of the three days, with a twenty to thirty mile an hour wind off of the Gulf making the ride even more of a challenge. The ride was twenty miles from Whataburger field in Corpus out to the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and back.
The Warriors pushed through, and while many of us could not feel our extremities when we were done, it was great riding with the police and fire and rescue folks from Corpus.

The event received great press coverage, with reporters in all three cities conducting interviews with different warriors along the way.

For more information and pictures from this ride please see:

Link to Austin News 8 Video

Link to Austin American Statesman & Austin 360 Video

Link to Texas Public Radio MP3

Link to Austin News 8 Article

Link to Texas Public Radio Article

Link to the Austin American-Statesman Blog

Link to Pamela LeBlanc article in the Austin American Statesman & Austin 360

Link to Mike Baird Article #1 for the Corpus Ride

Link to Mike Baird Article #2 for the Corpus Ride

Link to Killeen Daily Herald Article

Pictures from warrior Dave Underwood

Wounded Warrior Project Bike jersey

I have had many requests for a source for purchasing a WWP bike jersey. Since WWP is in the business of helping wounded veterans and not selling clothing this has been difficult.

Now you can purchase a WWP jersey online. The price is $90 and a portion of the proceeds goes to WWP.

http://www.bikingthings.com/wowaprbije.html

Now get out there and ride!

Giro d’Italia coverage on Universal Sports

They have just completed 5 Stages of this event and Lance Armstrong is 2:38 behind the leaders.

Event: Giro d’Italia

Dates: May 9 -31 (21 Stages)

Online: 8:30am ET (LIVE)

URL: www.universalsports.com

TV: 12:00pm ET (Delayed)

URL: www.universalsports.tv (Check TV Channel Listings)

Background on Universal Sports

We serve as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic-related and lifestyle sports programming available on television and online. Universal Sports is a 24-hour television channel available in 45 million television households in markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Reno and Omaha. Major world championship and Olympic qualifying events found on Universal Sports range from track and field, skiing, swimming, gymnastics, marathons and cycling, to volleyball, rowing, triathlon, fencing, speed skating and martial arts.

And no, Al Giordano isn't really racing for Astana :-)

Soldier Ride, Golden State

The Soldier Ride, Golden State, was held February 18-22 visiting Santa Barbara, Santa Monica (Los Angeles), and San Diego.

This ride was dedicated to the memory of Sergeant David Hart of Los Angeles who was killed in Iraq in on January 8, 2008.
Riding began in beautiful Santa Barbara. We rode along the ocean from Goleta to downtown Santa Barbara.
It was a little chilly in the early morning but soon warmed up and was a beautiful day.Former pro cyclist Saul Raisin once again rode with the wounded warriors. In the picture below he gives a helping hand to Sergeant First Class Norberto "Norbie" Lara on a steep hill.
After the ride we loaded up on the tour bus and headed to Paso Robles to watch the Amgen Tour of California stage 5 race finish. The town graciously donated VIP seating to the warriors and we watched the sprinters fight for the stage win. Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man racing for Columbia High Road handily won the sprint. It is amazing to see the world's best cyclists ride by at over 30 mph.

Photo Courtesy of Darrell Parks, www.darrellparks.com, and Pez Cycling News, www.pezcyclingnews.com

After the race we were treated to a behind the scenes look at racing with the Astana Pro Cycling Team. Astana is also sponsored by Trek and our contact there Mark Joslyn set up the meet and greet for us.

Director Sean Yates provided a "Pro Cycling 101" to the warriors and staff.

Photo Courtesy of Darrell Parks, www.darrellparks.com

We got to get a close look at the bicycles and other support equipment. Here warrior Melissa Stockwell checks out Lance Armstrong's bike.
Pro racers Chris Horner and Gregy Rast also came out and told us what it's like to be a pro racer and posed for some pictures.

Pro Cyclist Chris Horner and Soldier Ride National Tour Director Woody Groton.

For a few days this was the most famous bike in America. Lance Armstrong's Time Trial bike was stolen and later returned.

Day two of riding started at the famous Santa Monica Pier. We gathered at the base of the pier with local supporters and excellent live media coverage from Tricia Takasugi of the local Fox affiliate, KTTV Channel 11.

After the ceremonial start we rode south on the bike path past Venice Beach to Marina del Ray.

While we were out the local firefighters and some school children formed a welcome reception.
That night Boston Scientific sponsored a dinner at a local Italian restaurant. Rick Allen, the drummer from Def Leppard who is an amputee from a car accident joined us for dinner. Rick has made many visits to Walter Reed and started the Raven Drum Foundation to assist with the healing process for wounded warriors.

The final day of riding started at the old Naval Hospital in San Diego.
After a short ride to the Coronado ferry we crossed over to Coronado Island and continued our ride.
We again had perfect weather and scenery.
At the end of the ride local U-Haul staff and executives treated the group to a post ride lunch.
Former Army officer Bobby Leong joined us for the three days of riding before he started a cross country ride to raise funds for WWP.
Here Jessica Benson, wife of wounded warrior Lahtseen Benson and Nicole Hart, widow of David Hart pose for a picture during one of the rides. Lahtseen and David were best friends while serving in the 101st Airborne Division.
I'd also like to recognize John "JB" DiCarlantonio who is the Logistics Coordinator for Soldier Ride. JB works very hard to ensure the rides run like clockwork. JB is a retired NYPD officer.
For more information and pictures from this ride please see:

Photos from Darrell Parks (Astana meet and greet)

Photos from warrior Art Murguia

Photos from Bryan Thombs, owner of EVOMO

Pictures from warrior Larry Foster

Other coverage:

Astana Cycling Team website

EVOMO blog

CSUN aids student vets With suicide rates for veterans increasing, campus programs seek to heal ‘hidden wounds of war’ by Ashley Gordon / Staff Reporter (please listen to the audio interviews)

Rider Profile: 1st Lt Andrew Kinard, USMC

I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted. I still owe a ride report for California and Texas but I wanted to highlight a rider. Last night Andrew Kinard introduced Country Music Artist Trace Adkins at the American Country Music Association Awards.



It was amazing to see the reaction of the crowd to Andrew.

Andrew has participated in three Soldier Rides.

At the Montauk Point Light House, July 2008

Andrew is welcomed to the White House by President Bush during the 2008-2009 Soldier Ride kick off.

It is an honor to have worked with him and to call him my friend. Here is his bio.

First Lieutenant Andrew Kinard, US Marine Corps

Lieutenant Andrew Kinard, age 26, of Spartanburg, SC led a Light Armored Vehicle platoon in Al Anbar Province, Iraq after graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 2005. In October 2006, while conducting a foot patrol, 1stLt Kinard and his Marines were attacked by an IED, and 1stLt Kinard suffered the loss of both of his legs. After recovering from his wounds at Walter Reed AMC Andrew began working on the staff of Senator Graham. Next fall Andrew will attend graduate school at Harvard.

Sock Guy

Sock Guy is a great company. Every year they pick a charity to help out and this year they picked Wounded Warrior Project.You can purchase your own pair online from Sock Guy at http://www.sockguy.com/product1323.html or from our friends at EVOMO