It’s a belated Christmas message but in just in time for the new year!  CycleSeen.com hopes everyone in the cycling community had an excellent Christmas, got plenty of new cycling gear/equipment and has an excellent new year.  I’m sure many of you will be out working off that Christmas Turkey in the coming days if not already in the cold days between Christmas day and New Years day.

Thats all, and just a note that the site will not be updated for a few days as I’ll be busy partying and bringing in the new year!

Ricky

By Susan Westemeyer, Cyclingnews.com

Erik Zabel is going into his 15th year as a professional cyclist, has nearly 200 career victories, with palmares better than most teams could offer, rides from the first race of the season to the last and fills in the off-season by riding (and of course winning) six-day races. Cyclingnews’ Susan Westemeyer tracked him down to ask if there is anything he can’t do.

While he may be an iron man on the bike, as a father there is one thing Zabel can’t do. The rider freely admits that when watching his son Rick, who, not surprisingly, also races, he simply can’t watch the 13 year-old cross the line. “I just can’t look at the finish line, I always stand in the last curve. The worst is if he crashes. Then I turn weak. I don’t want him to make any mistakes, but on the other hand, I know that he has to make mistakes.”

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By Shane Stokes, Cyclingnews.com

Following a quiet couple of seasons with the AG2R-Prévoyance team, former world junior champion Mark Scanlon is training hard before moving to race on the US circuit in 2007. The 26 year-old competed in the Tour de France in 2004 and has been racing professional on the continent for four years. However, having taken the decision to turn his back on European racing, it appears he has rediscovered his motivation and has been working hard.

“I have four weeks of training done now and have covered 2,400 miles [3862 kilometres], about 600 more than in the same period last year,” he said this week. “It is just a matter of keeping that going until I get away again in January. I’m feeling motivated - the change of scene is one factor, and so too the fact that I know I can win races next year. That is a bit of a boost all right.”

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From CyclingUlster.com 

Irish cycling legend Sean Kelly was in Lisburn today accompanied by Dame Mary Peters and former Time Trial great Dave Lloyd to launch the Tour of Ireland Cycle Challenge. Joe Barr and Marc Barr, two brothers from the north west of Ireland, are the driving force behind this event and they feel the time is right to address a shortfall within Irish leisure cycling.

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After recently giving the site a complete face lift and new look we’ve also decided to change up the name as well.  Originally Mtbleague.com the site has been re-branded and named cycleseen.com since we no long just cover the mountain biking leagues.  Aiming to bring stories, articles and photos of what we’ve seen from all areas of the cycling scene be that road, off-road or touring, re-naming the site was a good idea. I hope you like the play on words!  The old address will still get you here while we spread the word of the new name but help us out by spreading the word. 

There’s a whole stack of interesting stuff coming soon including ride guides for both road and off road throughout Northern Ireland.  Shortly thereafter there will be an option to submit your own ride guide be it in Northern Ireland or elsewhere.  (In fact, anywhere at all is welcome).  If you know it to be good, we want to hear about it.  We’ve also got the message board forum up and running, again catering for all areas of cycling so join up and have your voice heard!

That’s just a little taster of some of the ideas and plans for the site.  Keep checking back for more interesting features coming up soon…

Report by Andy Potts

Team BHB rider Lewis Ferguson won the J C Campbell Ulster Cyclo Cross Championship at a cold and blustery Kilbroney Park on Saturday. The race was dominated by Ferguson and North Down’s Ray Brownfield, both riders suffering punctures during a thrilling battle for the title. The Rostrevor venue once again proved highly popular with the riders, a fast but testing course being laid out by organisers Newry Wheelers.

View Photos »

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