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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, November 9, 2022

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2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus

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.

Upcoming racing

• Nov 20: Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse Cross
• Dec 4: Scheldecross Antwerp
• Dec 10: Exact Cross Essen
• 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:

• Nov 5 & 6: European Cyclocross Championships
• Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
• Oct 29: Superprestige Ruddervoorde Cyclocross
• Oct 11 - 18: Tour de Langkawi
• Oct 16: Japan Cup
• Oct 16: Veneto Classic
• Oct 16: Chrono des Nations
• Oct 12: Giro del Veneto

At Q36.5 we’ve been driven by our mission of ‘Innovation for Human Performance’. Today, we’re proud to carry our mission forward by announcing officially that Q36.5 will be the sponsor and technical garment provider of the Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM, managed by Doug Ryder [Ed: formerly manager of Team Qhubeka Next-Hash]. Former Italian professional cyclist Vincenzo Nibali will join the team as technical advisor and Q36.5 brand ambassador.

On the left is Vincenzo Nibali alongside Alejandro Valverde at the 2022 Il Lombardia, the final race for both men. Now Nibali will be the tech advisor to the Q36.5 team. Sirotti photo

Since our inception in 2013, Q36.5 has been pushing the limits of cycling apparel by using highly technological fabrics that guarantee next-level thermoregulation for athletes in the most extreme and difficult conditions. Our name is rooted in research and development – “quaerere” in Latin meaning ”research” and 36.5 indicating the ideal body temperature in degrees Celsius during any form of physical activity. Q36.5 excels as a research laboratory with its roots in Italian craftsmanship, resulting in award-winning innovations such as the UNIQUE Bib Shorts, the world’s first entirely seamless and three dimensional bibs.

This mission is seen reflected in the Pro Team’s mission of ‘Racing the Future’ – allowing the team to function as a research laboratory and vehicle for change alike, that aims to redefine the future of the sport and its impact on the world.

“What really unites us in the mission of our Pro Team is the belief that cycling has the power to create positive change and pave the way forward for people and performance to progress.” Luigi Bergamo, CEO & Head of R&D of Q36.5 states. “Our expertise in product development has allowed athletes for years now to make significant gains and improve their performance and we’re extremely proud to see the team’s riders benefit from our products.”

Bergamo says that for Q36.5, the team will be a testing ground for creating world-winning performances through people, product, and technology. Together they will further develop the next generation of highly technical, sustainable and absolutely functional Race Wear to be tried and tested by pro athletes during the toughest conditions. The core focus is to maximize performance through sustainable innovations and push the boundaries through radical product development.

“Thanks to Nibali’s involvement, we’ll be able to leverage his incredible wealth of knowledge and experience and actively involve him in product testing and the development of the new Q36.5 Pro Team Race Wear.” Bergamo adds.

“After 18 seasons racing at the highest level, I am now excited to continue working in the world of professional cycling in this new role. As the team’s technical advisor, I will have the opportunity to pass on to the next generation the knowledge I have acquired over all these years as a pro. The collaboration with Q36.5 will see me actively working with the R&D team to develop more and more advanced products”, Nibali adds.

With progress at its core, the Team’s mission is to function equally as a springboard for people and talents, and as a means to help communities grow sustainably using the upwards mobility that bikes offer. Doug Ryder, General Manager of the team highlights the importance of bicycles. “Bikes don’t only bring people together, they also move them forward. As a team, we’ll be racing for more than just winning, we’re racing to positively shape the future, with a key focus on mobility, education, and development.”

With 13 nationalities represented in the Q36.5 Pro Cycling’s squad of 23 riders, the team offers an inspiring blend of youth and experience. Our squad will race with a goal of establishing our presence in the professional peloton. Our continental team will act as a springboard for people and talents.

The 2023 Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team riders:
· Negasi Haylu Abreha – ETH
· Matteo Badilatti – SUI
· Jack Bauer – NZL
· Gianluca Brambilla – ITA
· Walter Calzoni – ITA
· Marcel Camprubi Pijuan – ESP
· Fabio Christen – SUI
· Filippo Colombo – SUI
· Filippo Conca – ITA
· Corey Davis – USA
· Tom Devriendt – BEL
· Mark Donovan- GBR
· Alessandro Fedeli – ITA
· Carl Fredrik Hagen – NOR
· Damien Howson – AUS
· Tobias Ludvigsson – SWE
· Cyrus Monk – AUS
· Matteo Moschetti – ITA
· Nicolo’ Parisini – ITA
· Antonio Puppio – ITA
· Joseph Rosskopf – USA
· Szymon Sajnok – POL
· Nickolas Zukowsky – CAN

They will be led by Performance Manager Alex Sans Vega, who will be supported by sports directors Aart Vierhouten and Gabriele Missaglia. The coaching staff will be led by Carles Tur Carbonell and Mattia Michelusi.

Head of Performance, Alex Sans Vega elaborates: “We have assembled a talented, motivated and committed group of individuals, who can be competitive in every type of race and terrain. We want to perform at the highest level from the beginning. The experienced riders who have joined us from the WorldTour bring a wealth of knowledge and will be able to mentor the youngsters in our squad. We have an excellent mix to become one of the best Pro Teams.”

Here’s the team’s post:

12 successes, 60 podiums, an accession to the UCI WorldTour through the sporting results obtained over the last three seasons, and in particular this year 2022, such is the balance sheet posted by the Arkéa-Samsic team at the end of the past year.

Amaury Capiot wins the 2022 GP d'Ouverture-La Marseillaise. Sirotti photo

Emmanuel Hubert, General Manager:
“Objective achieved! The sporting strategy developed three years ago has borne fruit. At the end of the 2022 season, it has resulted in a “collective victory” for the Arkéa Samsic team, our accession for three seasons to the UCI WorldTour. Like a L1 football team, playing in the Champions League, except that for cyclists, this competition runs for the whole season. I am happy for my riders, my staff. Winning a place in the UCI WorldTour on the competition field is not an achievement, but a first step. I hope that we will be in this category for the long term. There will be adversity, we know that, but we Bretons like to take up challenges. Our 2022 route has been built around 12 successes, but also 60 podiums. This shows the density of our performances. Our leaders, like Warren Barguil, have been able to respond and have been able to achieve great successes, notably at UCI WorldTour level, on the roads of Tirreno-Adritiaco. I also have a thought for Nacer Bouhanni and Élie Gesbert who only had half a year for the reasons we all know, but nevertheless all of them were driving forces in the races they were able to compete in. This year was also the year of the confirmation of Matîs Louvel, Amaury Capiot, Hugo Hofstetter and the beautiful discovery at the highest level of Kévin Vauquelin. Season after season, our team has become an institution. It is above the men who compose it. Sometimes, some of them have to leave, but the institution remains strong and mobilises the forces that remain.”

Théo Ouvrard, Sport Manager:
“We have secured our place in the UCI WorldTour peloton on the sporting field through our performances, which have been better than our initial expectations with more than 1000 points ahead of the first relegated team in this division. The Arkéa-Samsic team won twelve races and scored 60 podiums, but what I remember most is the continuity of performances throughout the 2022 season. All the frontrunners have had an impact on the races in terms of their attitude during the race, but also in terms of results. This is an important approach to racing, especially in view of the next season with a full UCI WorldTour calendar. We have shown that we are ready to take on this status from 2022 without the UCI WorldTour label. Our calendar will expand in 2023 but we have already demonstrated that we have the arguments to be present, including in the new competitions that will be included in the Arkéa-Samsic team programme.”

Bicycle Retailer & Industry News posted this:

At least five industry companies announced earnings reports this week, with most in positive territory. Giant Bicycle said sales were up 14% through the first three quarters. Giant said profits were squeezed somewhat by a higher OE mix and production costs, but a strong U.S. dollar helped. Fox Factory sales were up 18% company-wide and 9% in its bicycle-related businesses in its most recent quarter. Compass Diversified said sales were up 22% in its most recent quarter, with growth at BOA and Marucci (the parent of LizardSkins). Compass also acquired PrimaLoft in the quarter. Vista Outdoor said sales were nearly flat in its most recent quarter, company-wide, but up 6% in its Outdoor segment, which includes Bell, Giro, QuietKat, Fox Racing, CamelBak and other brands. GoPro revenue dropped 4% despite selling 55% more service subscriptions.

You can read all the reports Bicycle Retailer assembled here.

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