Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, March 14, 2023

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2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia

It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages. - Henry Ford

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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

• March 15: Nokere Koerse
• March 15: Milano-Torino
• March 16: GP de Denain
• March 18: Milano-Sanremo
• March 18: Classic Loire Atlantic

Latest completed racing:

• March 5 - 13: Paris-Nice
• March 6 - 13: Tirreno-Adriatico
• March 13: Ronde van Drenthe
• March 4: Strade Bianche
• March 1: Trofeo Laigueglia
• Feb 28: Le Samyn
• Feb 26: Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
• Feb 26: La Drome Classic

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Team Soudal Quick-Step back to racing in Belgium

Here’s the team’s post:

The only team to have won Nokere Koerse four times this century, Soudal Quick-Step will be in action this Wednesday at the Belgian one-day race, which will once again revolve around the Nokereberg. The short but demanding hill will feature several times on the route of the 76th edition (189.8km), and is also where the race will conclude, but until then the peloton is set to tackle several hurdles, in the form of the Wolvenberg, Petegemberg, Tiegemberg or Lange Ast, to name just a few.

Tim Merlier winning the 2022 edition of Nokere Koerse

Two days later, Bredene Koksijde Classic (200.9km) awaits with a combination of cobbled hills – including the iconic Kemmelberg – pavé stretches and narrow roads. To add to these, strong winds could once again make an appearance, as was the case back in 2021, and spread chaos in the bunch, changing the whole dynamic of the race and bringing more riders, not just the sprinters, in contention.

The most successful sprinter of the season so far, with four wins – three of them in the World Tour – under his belt, Belgian Champion Tim Merlier will pin on a number for the two races, part of a team that will include also Josef Cerny, Jannik Steimle, Martin Svrcek, Bert Van Lerberghe, Stan Van Tricht and Ethan Vernon, another Soudal Quick-Step rider who has scored multiple victories this year.

“Nokere Koerse is the same as last year, so there are no surprises. We are going to the start with a strong and motivated squad, featuring defending champion Tim Merlier, who knows the course, as he lives around 15 kilometers from there. It should come down to a bunch sprint, but the weather could change everything, especially as we have a total of 25 kilometers of cobbles on the menu”, explained sports director Iljo Keisse. “In Bredene, the tricky part could be the second part of the race, and that’s because we could have some strong winds and even some rain, but the team is a solid one, can control the race and is ready to give out everything.”

Manufacturer refuses to recall $13 helmet sold at Walmart, CPSC says

Bicycle Retailer & Industry News posted this important product news:

CPSC is telling cyclists to stop using and destroy the helmets.

Here is the original post by Bicycle Retailer & Industry News.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using and destroy TureClos bike helmets, sold on Walmart.com last year, because they do not meet federal safety standards. The CPSC says the China-based seller of the helmets has refused to recall the helmets or offer consumers any remedy.

The helmet that the CPSC needs to be destroyed if you have one.

The CPSC said the helmets do not comply with its positional stability, retention system, impact attenuation, and labeling requirements for bicycle helmets.

It said the seller, which the CPSC identified as Dongguanshisuyubgsgabgnaiyiuxiangongsi, of China, has refused to recall the helmets so CPSC is continuing to pursue a recall.

The helmets were sold online at www.walmart.com from March through November 2022 for about $13. The helmets were sold in size Large (L), fitting a head circumference of about 22 ½ to 25 inches. The helmets are black with blue accents, with black and white stripes, black straps and a red buckle. There is no labeling inside the helmet and no outer markings.

CPSC said it tested the TureClos bicycle helmets and found they failed to meet federal safety standard. CPSC said it is aware of other TureClos bicycle helmets offered for sale online in the color red but the CPSC has not specifically tested the safety of thuse helmets.

CPSC urged consumers to stop using the helmets, cut the straps, and dispose of them immediately. They are asked to report any incidents involving product injuries or defects to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

 

 

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