Cyclists form team in hopes of taking Tour

Jun 23, 2008 12:00:21

Reese Hanneman got tired of seeing local cyclists finish behind better organized riders from Anchorage in the multi-stage Tour of Fairbanks. So the talented cyclist, a recent Lathrop High School graduate, approached veteran rider Fred Harbison this spring with an idea. “Reese came to me and said, ‘What do you think about a team?’ and I said ‘Sure,’” related Harbison, who then went pedaling for sponsors. With the assistance of Raven Cross Country, Smith Air Services and the Fairbanks Cycle Club, Raven Racing was born. Suddenly the 20-member squad, with slick new jerseys, has become the face of competitive cycling in Fairbanks. Its mission: not only to reclaim the Tour of Fairbanks (by dethroning three-time champ Matt Novakovich of Anchorage’s The Bicycle Shop) but to represent Fairbanks at a handful of other events this summer around Alaska and in the Yukon. “With the team we can go into the races with a little more strategy,” said Hanneman, a standout Nordic skier who has dramatically improved his form on two wheels this season. Raven Racing will get its first test tonight in the opening stage of the Tour of Fairbanks, a hill climb that starts at 7 p.m. at the Ester Fire Department. Teams from Anchorage, Juneau and Whitehorse are also signed up. http://newsminer.com/news/2008/jun/12/cyclist s-form-team-hopes-taking-tour/?opinion