Weekend Preview: Milan-San Remo, World Cup MTB and Michigan Rides

There is an awful lot of good bike racing this weekend, folks, and kolo tc has slapped together a helpful little schedule to make sure you’re ready to tune in. With the first Monument of the season, Milan-San Remo, popping up tomorrow bright and early, let’s plan your rides and other races around it.

MSR should go live in Flemish and Italian by 8am through Sporza and RAI TV. kolo tc will have links up as they go live beginning at 7am tomorrow morning, as well as full Twittering of the race. EuroSport has been a bit late in coverage this year but don’t expect them to be slack for Milan-San Remo. With Cavendish in with a great chance, they should have coverage by 8 and will definitely have coverage by 9am EST at the absolute latest. Check back here tomorrow morning for full MSR information.

Also starting Saturday is the first MTB World Cup event. Streaming broadcasts will be provided by Red Bull this year after a few excellent seasons with Freecaster TV. Red Bull has developed a whole new channel to provide streaming coverage from all 10 UCI World Cup  stops in 2012 with an emphasis on Elite Men’s and Women’s XC and DH, as well as the new Eliminator races, which will take place at 3 of the 10 World Cups. The Women’s race begins at 5.30 am and will conclude by 7.20 EST, with a 30 minute break before the Men’s race which begins at 7.50. For a full schedule from Red Bull, follow this link and for 2011 highlights, click here.  Reigning World Champion Jaroslav Kulhavy, pictured above, is prepped and ready to return to his dominating ways after a very strong early season.

Start off your Sunday with the DH Finals from the World Cup in South Africa beginning at 8.15 EST before getting the bike out yourself and testing yourself in one of the many Barry-Roubaix preparation rides happening all across the state. The racers will be out in droves at the BRX course all weekend, including rides of varying ability starting Sunday at 10 and noon. Up in Traverse City, the tough men prepping for the Roubaix will take on the VASA-‘Burg-VASA, a 38 mile pavement and gravel road ride that will serve as the final big tune-up for many Hagerty, Einstein and other racers. The brain child of TJ Jenema, the ride has become a staple Up North in just its second year.

In the Grand Rapids area, kolo tc and the Grand Valley State University Collegiate Cycling Club are ganging up for the first ever There Will Be Blood Unofficial Gravel Road Race. You can read about the race but it really has to be experienced. Over the course of two hours and one lap, riders can expect to take on De Paterberg climb, a 101 foot wall, roughly seven times. In addition, the race is over rough, fast dirt roads and a strong wind sure to tear groups into pieces. You can join the FREE bike race on the event’s Facebook page right here.

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