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The Return of the Angel!

Cycling fans -- especially male ones -- will be happy to learn that Jana Ireton will reprise her role as the Specialized Angel during this year's Amgen Tour of California, slated for Feb. 18-25.

I sent an e-mail to Jana on Monday night, and she responded to me Tuesday afternoon. Here's her reply:

Hello Roger,

Thank you so much for your nice email. It is great to hear from you again. I am happy to announce that I will be returning with Specialized this year as their Angel for the TOC!!!

I'm so excited to be a part of TOC for the 2nd year. I was delighted that Specialized asked for my return. Last year was incredible as the Specialized Angel being at 4 tours: TOC, Sea Otter, Giro (d'Italia), and TOF (Tour de France). Amazing!!!

Thank you as well for mentioning me on your blog. It is such a privilege and I do have your blog saved in my favorites and have passed it on to all my friends, family, and of course Specialized and my good friends in the cycling industry too. ...

Angel Kisses,
Jana Ireton

For those of you unable to see the Tour of California live, the race will be broadcast this year on the Versus channel (formerly OLN), and the TV schedule has been posted on the tour's Web site.

This year's race should be of special of interest to bicycle racing fans in the Midwest. It will give you a taste of what to expect in the inaugural Tour of Missouri, which will be Sept. 11-16. The same organization that manages the Tour of California, Medalist Sports, also will manage the Tour of Missouri.

We can only hope that in addition to the elite cyclists that will be coming to Missouri that the Specialized Angel will be coming to spread her blessings among cyclists and spectators alike!

Speaking of the Tour of Missouri, the KCBike.Info blog is reporting that there will be an announcement concerning the route Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. The folks in Springfield, Mo., are confident their city will be the finishing spot for an early stage of the tour, the Springfield News-Leader reports.

And if the map released early today by the Missouri Bicycle Federation (PDF file) is correct, they shall have their wish. The map -- which lacks information about the precise roads that will be used -- indicates the following:

Stage 1 (Sept. 11): Road race with finishing circuit in Kansas City
Stage 2 (Sept. 12): Road race from Clinton to Springfield
Stage 3 (Sept. 13): Time trial in Branson
Stage 4 (Sept. 14): Road race from Lebanon to Columbia
Stage 5 (Sept. 15): Road race from Jefferson City to St. Charles
Stage 6 (Sept. 16): Circuit race in St. Louis

Labels: cycling, racing, Specialized Angel, Tour of California, Tour of Missouri

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