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With a magnificent race at the Challenge Bahrain, Michael Raelert has ended a phenomenal 2014 season for Castelli.  The 34-year old won the first edition of the half-distance event in the Kingdom of Bahrain on Santa Claus day in 3:36:04 hours. Michael Raelert took the win ahead of his fellow countryman Andreas Dreitz (3:38:23 hours) and Australian Tim Reed (3:39:26 hours). As all year Michael benefited from the aero and performance advantage of Castelli’s FREE tri collection. “I’m totally happy. I’m absolutely over the moon. This is a fantastic end of the season. When you win a race, it always feels good, but if you can even win a big race like this one, it’s just overwhelming. And the most important thing is: I’m back after my injury.” In the past few weeks there have been many rumors about the new event in Bahrain. It was not only the flat race course which promised a superb race, but especially a stellar pro field. “If you read all these names, you are anything else but cool when you start into such a race,” said Michael Raelert after the finish on the Formula 1 circuit of Manama. He came down the finish ...

Although winter weather is coming—it has already arrived in some areas—it shouldn’t keep anyone indoors during one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. Between sunbreaks and showers, quiet roads are walled in with color, begging to be explored. It was on such a day that Garmin-Sharp rider, Alex Howes, stopped by the Castelli USA office in Portland, Oregon. His schedule was pretty tight, but he was able to give us a couple hours for a quick photo/video shoot in the area. We headed out to Rocky Point Road, just north of the city, and he pointed his bike uphill. The short climb had nothing of the sweeping alpine vistas that are found in europe, but the wet roads and play of bright-colored leaves against the dark trees made for some nice images of the new Alpha Wind Jersey.    

Michael Raelert has finished his trip to Australia with a great victory at the Ironman 70.3 Ballarat. It’s been his 4th win in an Ironman 70.3 event this year after conquering Rügen, Miami and Mandurah. In 3:48:33 the 34-year old won the race in the southeast of Australia in a sovereign way. Australian Jamie Huggett was runner-up in 3:57:33 only one second ahead of his fellow countryman Luke Bell. Michael Raelert after crossing the line: “It was a really tough race. It was cold, wet and windy. In the beginning of the race the wind was not too strong, but at the end it was pretty stormy.” Already in water, Michael Raelert could open up a little gap on the 1.9 km long course. He exited the water after 23:57 minutes, leading Australian co-favorite Luke Bell by 11 seconds. Matt Bailey from Australia followed in third place only two seconds behind Luke Bell. On the bike, it was on Michael Raelert and Luke Bell to ride away from the rest of the field and to put a lot of time on their pursuers. “Due to the conditions, it was challenging to keep the rhythm high. It was tough to pace yourself at ...

Michael Raelert claimed the victory at the SunSmart Ironman 70.3 Mandurah thanks to an outstanding performance. The 34-year old won the race in Western Australia in 3:35:55 after opening up a decisive gap on the run. Two Australians ranked in silver and bronze position: Tim Reed took second place in 3:38:42 in front of Christian Kemp (3:39:43). “Today, this was a really tough job,” said Michael Raelert, “but the result is absolutely nice. The race was very fast from the start and I felt good. If you can finish an Ironman 70.3 in such a fast time, everything is even better.” Moreover, Michael Raelert seemed to be on the way to improve his own world record in Ironman 70.3 during the final run. He achieved the time of 3:34:04 on November 14th in 2009 when he won the first of two consecutive titles at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater, Florida. Ironman 70.3 Mandurah was held as the Australian Pro Championship which guaranteed top competitors and a fast race right from the start. “The signs for this race were simple: attack,” said Michael Raelert. Two weeks before in Miami he had not been totally satisfied with his swim. “My ...

“Not every one of you will become a Grand Tour guy.” Mike Sayers wasted little time before deflating some of the air out of the room filled with testosterone and aspirations emblematic of his audience of bike racers ranging in age from 16 to 23. For many riders present in the room, hearing these words from Sayers — the U23 Program Director at USA Cycling — was a first reality check of many as they began their transition from amateur bicycle racing to the professional peloton. This was their first day on the job at the Hagens Berman U23 Cycling Team. The real work started a few months later under the warm spring sun of Southern California when team principals Todd Herriott and David Richter pulled the team together for training camp. Between the hundreds of miles ridden in the Santa Monica mountains that week to the first race of the season at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, all the way to the the wet and blustery conditions in the season-closing race at the Bucks County Classic in Doylestown, PA the year was filled with its share of highs. There was Adrien Costa’s overall win at the 1/2 race at Tour of the ...