Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, December 17, 2022
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2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. - T. S. Eliot
Les Woodland's book Cycling's World Championships: The Inside Story is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing
- Dec 26: Gavere Cyclocross
- Dec 27: Heusden-Zolder Cyclocross
- Dec 29: Diegem Cyclocross
- Dec 30: Azencross-Loenhout
- Jan 1: GP Sven Nys Cyclocross
- Jan 14 - 22: Schwalbe Classic & Tour Down Under
- Jan 22 - 29: Vuelta a San Juan
- Jan 25 - 29: Challenge Illes Balears-Volta Ciclista a Mallorca
- Jan 28 & 29: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
Latest completed racing:
- Dec 10: Exact Cross Essen
- Dec 4: Scheldecross Antwerp
- Nov 20: Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse Cross
- Nov 5 & 6: European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- Oct 29: Superprestige Ruddervoorde Cyclocross
- Oct 11 - 18: Tour de Langkawi
Here’s the team’s news:
Soudal Quick-Step (currently Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) have unveiled the 2023 kit, with the Castelli jersey and shorts being available to purchase from our webshop.
Here's the final 2023 team kit design.
The design was first shown during the 2022 Tour de France rest day in Morzine, where it was announced that Soudal would come on board as our lead co-title sponsor, joining our long-term partners Quick-Step. Now we can reveal the final jersey, that our riders will wear in some of the world’s biggest races next year.
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Here’s the team’s update:
With just over two weeks until the cycling season kicks off in Australia, IPT is proud to present the team’s 2023 kit.
Designed by stycle.design and produced by EKOÏ, IPT’s new technical partner, the kit draws on the team’s core blue and white identity, but with a twist!
Standing out in the peloton is the team’s aim in 2023 says IPT General Manager Kjell Carlström.
The 2023 Israel-Premier Tech racing kit.
“When it came to designing our 2023 kit, we wanted to do something a little different. Our Racing For Change kit at the Tour de France was a huge success and, in our opinion, one of the best kits in the peloton in recent years. So we figured, why not do something a bit different all season long. Blue and white, the Israeli colors, are at the core of our identity. But, as we saw in 2022, there was a lot of blue and white in the peloton. So, we wanted to add some additional color into the mix and create a fresh and modern look that stands out on the bike. Particularly on the back of the jersey, where we have replaced the team logo with the monogram of our star and P from Premier Tech so that we can be easily spotted on television. That’s our aim for 2023: stand out in the peloton when it comes to our kit design and the way we race,” explains Carlström.
The abstract blue, pink, and orange design of the jersey is complimented by simple navy bib shorts which allow the jersey to shine, and combined with the team’s official EKOÏ helmet which will make its debut in Australia, creates a cohesive look.
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“EKOÏ wanted to provide the team with highly technical products, allowing all the riders to express themselves on any terrain, whatever the weather. We know that victory can be decided down to the last centimetre, so it is essential to be able to count on a perfect textile package where every detail has been studied. The aesthetic result is sublime. Now it’s time to start the season and show the rest of the peloton that the performance is also there!” says Pietro Cicoria, EKOÏ Sponsoring Manager.
Having designed the team’s Racing For Change kit, stycle.design was a clear choice when it came to designing IPT’s 2023 look.
“I’m really proud to continue working together with IPT! After the success at the 2022 Tour de France, design-wise and their stage wins, I could only wish to be involved in the 2023 design. As always, after receiving the brief, I tend to look for inspiration first, in any way possible. I discovered the Holon Design Museum in Tel Aviv, the first museum in Israel dedicated to design. Given the 2022 kit was inspired by the Bauhaus school of design, I figured this was a perfect match in keeping with a similar theme! From there, I used the outside of the museum as a base and drew inspiration from the flow of the walls and the beautiful lines, maintaining a blue and white base but adding additional color at the team’s request. It’s an honour that my designs extend to not only the men’s and women’s kit, but also their other design elements such as the vehicles.” adds Stijn Dossche of stycle.design.
In addition to a new design, the 2023 kit features the logos of IPT’s new partners: i24 news, Roland, and Cogeas, as well as Peace Park Capital and Chit Chats, the companies of IPT partners Ron Baron and Kevin Ham.
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Here’s the team’s news release:
Kevin Vauquelin and Matis Louvel have extended their contracts with Arkéa-Samsic, until 2025 for Vauquelin and 2024 for Louvel
Matîs Louvel wins the 2021 Vuelta a Castilla y León
Matîs Louvel:
“Continuing to write a common history with the Arkéa-Samsic team was an obvious choice for me. It’s a team where human relations are strong, there is a real “family life” between the riders and the staff. It is in this type of environment that I thrive. I have also not forgotten that the first General Manager who had confidence in me was Emmanuel Hubert, who gave me my first contract to sign. The team also keeps on progressing, we are now in the UCI WorldTour. The classics group is growing season after season, with quality and experienced reinforcements. I feel that there is a real enthusiasm for this type of event which motivates me, even if I also appreciate the stage races and the Grand Tours. The strength of the team is also the confidence that the General Manager and the sports staff give to young riders like me, by offering us the chance to express ourselves at the highest level without restricting us”.
Kévin Vauquelin:
“Extending my contract with the Arkéa-Samsic team allows me to be part of the team for the long term. With Emmanuel Hubert and the team management, we have established a career plan that should allow me to progress during this period, with a desire to grow in terms of performance. This also gives me a certain serenity, because I know that I can work while laying solid foundations for the future. The duration of my contract also covers the first three UCI WorldTour years of the team, which will give us the opportunity to continue growing together. I am 21 years old, I am still a neo-pro, and I know that I can’t race all the big races in a row, so my programme will be adapted, and for that, it was necessary to go through this contract extension which will allow me to expand my competition programme year after year. I am also happy with the confidence that Emmanuel Hubert has shown in me. I feel that he is behind me and the whole team, and to feel that I am surrounded by him is reassuring. I know that the whole team is behind me, that they expect results from me. I know that I’m under pressure, but it’s a good pressure that I’m put under within the Arkéa-Samsic team, the one that allows me to move forward”.
Emmanuel Hubert, General Manager:
“Kévin Vauquelin and Matis Louvel, each in their respective fields, were among the young French riders who made their mark during the 2022 season. Extending their contracts for several seasons was an obvious choice for me. We have noticed for some years now that young riders are very quick to play a leading role in modern cycling. Last year our two Norman riders made some very interesting first moves on the high performance scene. We have a real career plan for both of them, which is why we wanted to link their destiny to ours for these periods, so that they can work efficiently and calmly with us. The future of the Arkéa-Samsic team will be built in the coming years around our established managers of course, but also by relying on these young riders who will be brought to take the lead of the team over the months, over the years, on the one-day races as well as on the one-week stage races, or even more “.
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