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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, December 28, 2022

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2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia

James Joyce was a synthesizer, trying to bring in as much as he could. I am an analyzer, trying to leave out as much as I can. - Samuel Beckett

Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Giro d'Italia, A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Vol 1: 1909 - 1970 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• Dec 28: Diegem Cyclocross

Upcoming racing

• 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 27: Heusden-Zolder Cyclocross
• Dec 26: Gavere Cyclocross
• 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 post:

Team Jumbo-Visma Women is looking forward to an exciting year. The twelve victories from 2022 and winning the green jersey in the Tour de France makes the team hungry for more. In addition, the team is showing a lot of potential with young, new riders. They will be given time to develop a feel for the big races in the new season. These new riders were presented to the public on December 22 in Amsterdam.

In 2023, Team Jumbo-Visma Women will concentrate on a variety of factors. “We are a World Tour and a development team in one”, said Rutger Tijssen, sports technical manager of Team Jumbo-Visma Women. “As a result, our goals in the new year are twofold. On the one hand, we strive to take first places, podium finishes, and stage victories. On the other hand, we focus on the athletes’ individual processes. For me, the riders’ success this year will depend on their physical development and increased tactical proficiency.”

One of the riders with big ambitions is reigning Dutch champion Riejanne Markus. The 28-year-old rider had a successful 2022, partly because of two victories and several podium finishes. “Winning the Dutch championship was very special, especially considering the current level of women’s cycling. On top of that, there was the Tour. We fought for the green jersey for Marianne. I have never seen so many spectators along the side. I’m particularly excited about the time trials in 2023 and am hoping for a solid end result in a grand tour.”

Maud Oudeman and Carlijn Achtereekte are at the other end of the spectrum. Two years ago, the 19-year-old Oudeman took her chance at the Zwift Academy. The win earned her a professional contract. In the upcoming year, Oudeman will ride for Team Jumbo-Visma Women. “It’s special to be part of such a big team. We just finished the first training camp, and I have already learned a lot, including topics outside cycling. I have already picked up a lot from my teammates’ lifestyles. Learning and focusing on my development is the most important for next year.”

Last year, Achtereekte transitioned from skating to cycling, like Tijssen. “I was eager to try cycling. The team gave me a wonderful opportunity. I needed some adjusting. My performance in skating lasted four minutes. A cycling race takes a few hours, and I have a big peloton to compete with. I was already living as a top athlete. Although that was an advantage, I still have a lot to learn.”

Marianne Vos (shown in 2021) is back to winning races this cross season.

The new season of Marianne Vos has already begun. She won her first cyclocross race of the season in November. Due to her altitude training in Tenerife, the 35-year-old Dutch rider could not attend the presentation, but she was there through a phone connection. Vos expressed excitement about the coming year. “I’m working on my goals in Tenerife. I’ll be back on the field on January 5 to prepare for the national and international championships. Additionally, the upcoming season will feature some fantastic road races. You have to be competitive as a team every year, and I am excited to race with this team”, Vos concluded.
The world championship in Hoogerheide and the national championship in Zaltbommel are important races as well for newcomer Fem van Empel.

Here’s the team’s announcement:

For a second year in a row, the jersey and bib shorts of the World Team directed by Jean-François Bourlart are presented by the clothing manufacturer from Mantova, which is known for being on the cutting edge of technology and for dressing the most prestigious teams and the best riders in the world.

The neon yellow and dark blue colors, traditional and characteristic for the team’s identity, have been harmonized in a modern and sophisticated design from Belgian designer stycle.design.

The 2023 jersey.

As the first title partner, Intermarché stays omnipresent on the jersey. For the first time, the logo also appears on the back of the bib shorts. Circus, who occupied this place since 2017, now moves to the centre of the jersey as new title partner, above the logo of Wanty.

The sides of the bib shorts remain unchanged, with the presence of Bière des Amis 0.0% on the right leg and Vini Zabù on the left leg. The logo of Groupe Gobert Matériaux, which sponsors the team of Jean-François Bourlart since 2001, stays visible both on the front and the back side of the jersey.

The predominant white color on the shoulders and the upper part of the back offers an adequate visibility to each sponsor, like Wallonie, tile distributor Pierre & Sol, expert in reusable cups and solutions Re-Uz and historical partners Technord, Full Services and Digital Interim. The logo of Belgian sparkling wine Ruffus stays on the collar

The breast of the jersey reveals the collaboration with two new technical partners, more specifically helmet and glasses partner Uvex and cycling shoe specialist Gaerne, accompanied by the logos of Cube, Bryton, Nalini and Ford Steveny.

Biniam Girmay Hailu (Eritrea) and Rein Taaramäe (Estonia), the current national time trial champions of their respective countries, will wear a custom aerosuit in all time trials in which they will participate.

The new kit produced by Nalini also honors the former road race champions. The rainbow stripes decorate the sleeves of former world champion Rui Costa, just like the champion’s bands on the jerseys of Sven Erik Bystrøm (Norway), Louis Meintjes (South-Africa) and Rein Taaramäe (Estonia) refer to their achieved national titles.

Nalini is an Italian clothing manufacturer founded on the passion of the brothers Vincenzo and Claudio Mantovani in the sixties. With a special care for details, Nalini went through the cycling history dressing great champions like Fignon, Bugno, Chiapucci, Indurain or Pantani, thanks to the ongoing follow-up on the technical innovations to stay on the cutting edge of textile modernity. Nalini is a brand of factory MoaSport, which is still directed by Claudio Mantovani and produces its clothing line in its historical headquarters of Castel d’Ario (Mantova) to always defend "Made in Italy ".

“I'm pleased to discover our traditional colors on this new original and playful design! The collaboration of all our technical partners resulted in a successful composition around this new cycling jersey produced by Nalini. Each year, we continue making steps on the visual aspect, just like on a performance level. The collaboration with partners like Nalini, which don't overlook any detail, pushes us forward. Each rider receives a personalized and tailor-made kit. In 2022, the interaction with our sprinters, among whom Alexander Kristoff, led to the development of a faster sprint suit. I know that other projects to improve our aerodynamics and safety are currently in the pipeline. Our bright colors play an essential role for our visibility on the roads and enable us to distinguish ourselves in the peloton every day!” - Gerben Thijssen

“For 2023, we unreservedly reaffirm our support for Team Intermarchè-Circus-Wanty, which in 2022 has been an amazing revelation for us, to say the least. Indeed, in its second World Tour year, it won an impressive 24 victories, and we can't help but feel a surge of pride for the talent and perseverance it has shown on the field, as well as for the values that unite us, such as the strong link with the territory and the roots. Just like Nalini, which has been producing cycling apparel in Italy for more than 50 years.” - Claudio Mantovani (Founder Nalini)

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