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The new Specialized Angel

Photo by Ken Conley

Thanks to California photographer Ken Conley, we have an interesting photo of the new Specialized Angel who has been gracing this year's Amgen Tour of California.

I haven't been able to track down her name, despite numerous Google news, blog and Web searches.

A reader who commented on an earlier post about the previous Specialized Angel, Jana Ireton, thinks the new Angel is very lovely.

I would agree, but I have to admit I'm an Jana fan. But, as Jana says, I wish Specialized and its new Angel the best of luck.

Labels: Specialized Angel, Tour of California

Roger 2 comments 2:21 AM

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

A new Angel for Specialized

Here's a disappointing bit of news: Jana Ireton won't be back as the Specialized Angel for this year's Amgen Tour of California bicycle race on Feb. 17-24.

Here's the note Jana sent me today.

Hello Roger,

Happy 2008! I hope all is well with you. Another great year of cycling is among us and TOC is less than a month away.

I was hoping to share the good news of my return as the Specialized Angel for the 3rd year, but Specialized did not ask for my return. I was heart-broken when they gave me the news that they decided to have another girl from Spain be the Angel at TOC this year. They thanked me for all I've done to make the Angel iconic and to not take it personal, but it was the majority opinion of having this someone be the Angel who spoke multiple languages and keeping it fresh for the press.

It was very difficult for me to imagine someone else in my wings. After all, I was the first Specialized Angel who the cycling industry was so taken with and I was so taken with them. Being that there has been one Devil (Didi Senft) in Europe for many years, I was dreaming whole-heartily of being the one Angel for the U.S. I do respect Specialized's decision for whomever they choose to be their Angel -- I'm just disheartened that it will not be me.

I have to say as I told Specialized that I am truly grateful to have been the Specialized Angel all this time and will remember this amazing experience for the rest of my life. I've been able to embrace the cycling phenomenon like never before. I absolutely loved being at the KOMs, starts, & finishes blowing my signature kisses to all the riders, team cars, motorcades, police squad cars, caravan, and of course the fantastic fans. So a special thanks to you and featuring me in your blog these past 2 years and although you will not see me in my glorious wings, I will be along the sidelines cheering on the riders at various stages of TOC and enjoying every moment as I have always done. And yes, "I am Specialized!"

Kisses,
Jana Ireton

I, too, am disappointed that Jana will not be the Specialized Angel. I've never met Jana, but she always has been kind and gracious in her notes to me over the years. It sounds like she's taking the news as well as can be expected, but the fact she still will attend the Tour of California tells me she's a class act.

With that, I leave you with one more photo of Jana:

Labels: Specialized Angel, Tour of California

Roger 2 comments 7:55 PM

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Specialized Angel sightings

Hopefully, you're reading the stories about the Amgen Tour of California from sources such as VeloNews, Bicycling magazine and other sources included in the feeds in the right column of this blog. I'm not going to comment much on the race itself here because these sources do a much better job than I could hope to do.

The Specialized Angel, Jana Ireton, continues to draw lots of attention on the Internet. At left is a nice photo by California photographer Ken Conley, who posted this image on Flicker.

Specialized's own coverage of the race includes an elevation chart of the day's route, complete with where the Angel will be that day.

Tuesday's race coverage by VeloNews includes a picture of the Angel in all her glory.

The VelociPete blog has plenty of nice photos of the Angel, both from 2006 and 2007. The Angel changed her outfit this year. Gone is the long, flowing skirt, but she's sporting some truly funky boots this year.

PezCycling News did an interview with Jana before the race, and she comes off very well. I'm not surprised, given her prompt and friendly e-mails she's sent me in the past year.

It's good to see Levi Leipheimer is leading the race after the second stage, and I'm pulling for him to continue his success the rest of the week.

Labels: cycling, racing, Specialized Angel

Roger 0 comments 10:07 AM

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

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

Roger 0 comments 3:02 AM