Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, December 19, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable. - Coco Chanel
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Upcoming racing:
- December 26: Gavere Cyclocross
- December 27: Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross
- December 30: Diegem Cyclocross
- January 1: GP Sven Nys Cross
- January 18 - 26: Tour Down Under
Latest completed racing:
- December 15: Namur Cyclocross-Citadelcross
- November 17: Flandriencross
- November 3: European Cyclocross Championships
- November 1: X20 Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- October 27: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
- October 15 - 20: Tour of Guangxi
- October 20: Japan Cup Road Race
- October 20: Veneto Classic
Here's the news from the Agence France-Presse:
Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) – Cycling legend Rik Van Looy, renowned for his prowess in the one-day classics, has died at the age of 90, Belgian media reported on Wednesday.
Van Looy was rated as the greatest cycling champion Belgium had produced until the arrival of five-time Tour de France winner Eddy Merckx.
Known as the 'Emperor of Herentals' after the Belgian city where he lived, Van Looy delivered newspapers on his bicycle from the age of 12, turned professional at 20 and went on to chalk up 371 pro victories.
Rik Van Looy in the World Champion's rainbow jersey racing in the 1962 Gent-Wevelgem. He won the race, finishing 1min 29sec ahead of second-place Frans Schoubben.
He was a specialist in the one-day classics in his heyday in the 1950s and '60s, becoming the first cyclist, before Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck, to win at least once all five of cycling's monuments - Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy.
He was the only rider to have won all the classics of his era, 16 in total including eight monuments, something that Merckx, who never won Paris-Tours, was unable to do.
"Rik was an immense champion, an absolute icon with an incredible record of achievements," said Merckx, who was Van Looy's team-mate for one season in 1965, in a statement.
"Rik was a super champion who was almost unbeatable in the classics. I'm happy to have been able to race against him."
The 79-year-old revealed that Van Looy had contacted him 10 days ago to wish him well after Merckx had fallen from his bike, necessitating a hip replacement.
"Even though he was ill, he took the trouble to call me when I was in hospital after my crash," said Merckx.
"It wasn't until last month that his condition deteriorated rapidly. A few days ago, I gave him some words of encouragement myself."
Aside from his one-day success Van Looy claimed numerous stages on all the three big Tours in France, Italy and Spain and won the world road race title in 1960 and 1961.
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Here’s the team’s news:
GreenEDGE Cycling and MAAP, the performance-driven cycling apparel brand from Melbourne, Australia, have today announced a multi-year partnership, bringing MAAP to the UCI WorldTour as the official technical supplier to Team Jayco AlUla, Liv AlUla Jayco, and Liv AlUla Jayco Continental Team for the 2025 season and beyond.
The new purple kit.
Ready to turn heads in the new year, a distinctive and vibrant new look for both men and women’s teams will mark the start of a new era for the Australian registered team, that is set to embark on its 14th season in the UCI WorldTour peloton.
MAAP’s Melbourne roots bring a uniquely creative, yet globally inspired, perspective to cycling whilst its approach to style and design has helped change the way cycling apparel is considered, something GreenEDGE Cycling is excited to collaborate on and further.
Team Owner Gerry Ryan is excited to partner with an Australian brand that has become a global leader in its field and said: “The GreenEDGE Cycling adventure into the WorldTour as the first Australian professional cycling team has been an incredible journey and the team has expanded in many ways,” explains Ryan. “As we prepare to head into our 14th season we are very proud and excited to be collaborating with a world-leading Australian brand, MAAP.”
“The brand’s drive and spirit is something that fits in very well with our team culture and enabling the brand to step onto the WorldTour stage is something we are very proud of and passionate about. Their fresh approach to cycling apparel will really make GreenEDGE Cycling stand out in 2025. It is a new and exciting era for both GreenEDGE Cycling and MAAP.”
The 2025 kit has a distinct MAAP aesthetic and incorporates influences from the team and MAAP’s home of Australia and that of co-title sponsor AlUla. Designed to impart a sense of movement and speed, it combines inspirations from nature such as the windswept sands of the Outback and AlUla desert alongside influences from the world of professional cycling such as motion blurred photo finishes and wind tunnel testing.
The kit’s colour palette also draws on similar inspirations. Desert night skies, AlUla sunsets and the Aurora Australis (or Southern Lights) are all found in the rich violet ‘Aurora’ and deep ‘Midnight’ blue colours found on the kit. Whereas the striking ‘Shadow’ coloured bibs speak to MAAP’s pursuit of change and reluctance to follow trends. Finally, a nod to GreenEDGE’s long history in the pro peloton is found in the flashes of green dotted throughout the logos on the kit. With Giant and Liv road bikes and helmets to match, the look is complete.
Entering the UCI WorldTour as official technical supplier to GreenEDGE Cycling marks a bold new chapter for MAAP. Leveraging its experience in high performance cycling apparel by supplying cutting-edge performance kit and bringing its considered approach to style and design with a fresh new look for the teams.
Jarrad Smith, co-CEO and co-founder of MAAP, said:
“Since founding MAAP a decade ago, partnering with GreenEDGE has been a long-held dream of ours. We are so proud to be in this position and aim to do everything we can to enable both the men’s and women’s teams to realise their full potential race after race while also serving to inspire a whole new generation of riders coming into the sport.”
Oliver Cousins, co-CEO and co-Founder of MAAP, added:
“Our collaboration with GreenEDGE perfectly aligns with our vision of propelling the sport forward through a fresh perspective on performance and design. Both brands share a relentless drive to push boundaries, and we’re excited to equip these athletes with kit that gives them a performance edge and a distinctive look on the world stage”
GreenEDGE Cycling’s forward-thinking approach mirrors MAAP’s continual pursuit of progression in the sport. Both see the future of cycling as something to shape, not follow. This partnership showcases a shared ambition to break barriers and set new standards for the sport.
About MAAP
Founded in Melbourne, MAAP is a global leader in performance cycling apparel, driven by a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and advancing the sport. Through collaborations with elite athletes and teams, MAAP continues to set new standards for technical cycling apparel, engineered for both performance and environmental responsibility.
About GreenEDGE Cycling
As Australia’s first men’s and women’s UCI WorldTour cycling teams (Team Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco), GreenEDGE Cycling leads on the world stage as an international organisation with Australian roots. With a rich history of success and a forward-thinking approach, GreenEDGE represents the future of professional cycling.
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The team sent me this:
It’s finally out. The new kit in which the Lotto riders will shine from January 1st 2025. With Vermarc Sport, partner of the team since 2004, an almost full red jersey was designed highlighting the history of the team.
The 2025 Lotto Dstny jersey.
CCO Kenny Provyn explains the design of the new team kit:
“We are super proud on this new race outfit. The design reflects on the 40th year of Lotto in cycling, with a retro and playful vibe. It’s a huge milestone to have the National Lottery this long with us as a lifelong partner, for which we wanted to create a kit that takes us back in time but at the same being trendy, fast and new.”
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
UAE Team Emirates XRG have agreed a deal with Jan Christen which will see him in the UAE colours until 2030. The 20 year old Swiss has enjoyed a successful full debut season with the team having joined the squad at the end of 2023.
Jan Christen
After an exceptional career as both a junior and U-23, Christen made a smooth transition to the World Tour, with three professional victories in his first full season along with playing a key role as a helper in some of the teams biggest victories, such as Il Lombardia.
Mauro Gianetti (Team Principal & CEO): “We are very excited and pleased that Jan will continue in the team for many years to come. He is a big talent and we believe he has the right attitude and qualities to continue his progression with us. In his first year he has shown his ability to win but also to be part of a team and work as a team player which is very important quality for us. We want to see him continue to develop both as a rider and as a person.”
Jan Christen: “I’m super happy to extend my contract with UAE Team Emirates XRG until 2030.
"I’m very grateful for the team for showing so much trust in me. The opportunity to be in this environment which has been incredibly supportive – both on and off the bike – is a real privilege and I see it as the perfect place for myself to develop as a rider and make the next steps in my career.
"I’m still learning everyday from the best teammates possible and enjoying as much as i can with my feet on the ground and a lot of excitement for what‘s to come. I’m confident that I will make big steps forward in the coming years and achieve my big goals together with the team.”
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