Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, February 5, 2016

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. - Kurt Vonnegut

Racing today:

• February 3 - 6: Dubai Tour
• February 3 - 7: Etoile de Bessèges
• February 3 - 7: Herald Sun Tour
• February 3 - 7: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

Kenneth Van Bilsen makes clear the dangers of racing

Cofidis rider Kenneth Van Bilsen (Cofidis) was one of the riders taken down in the Etoile de Bessèges' second stage Thursday. He tweeted a picture of his hamburgered leg before he was driven to the hospital. "Probably a lot of stitches," he prophesied, Looks that way from here.

Louis Verhlest (VC Roubaix-Lille-Metropole) lashed out on Van Bilsen's twitter page against Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling, came in third) for the crash, saying it was deliberate.

Ouch. Heal quickly Kenneth.

European Imports of E-Bikes continues to grow

I hope this happens some day in the U.S. This story was in Bike-EU.

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The electric bike market in Europe must have performed exceptionally good in 2015. This is indicated by the Eurostat import statistics. In the January to August 2015 period the total e-bike import grew by 26.5% to over 550,000 units.

The e-bike import growth of over 25% contrasts sharply with the import of ‘regular’ bicycles. This grew by only 2.1% in the first eight months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. Total bicycle import stood at close to 5.3 million units. It brought the total import (e-bikes and regular bikes) to some 5.8 million units in which the e-bike share came in at about 10%.

From that total of 550,000 imported e-bikes, about 390,000 were 25km/h – 250W models. The import of these e-bikes grew by a big 24.3% while the average value per imported unit stood at close to € 500. The vast majority of the 25km/h – 250W electric bicycles were imported from China; about 300,000 in total, up 17.4% in the January – August 2015 period compared to the same period a year earlier.

You can read the entire story here

Lampre-Merida reports on the Dubai Tour

This note came from the team:

Second chapter of the battle of the best sprinters of the bunch in the Dubai Tour.
Sacha Modolo played again the role of the protagonist and, after the 4th place obtained in the first stage, he was 2nd in the second stage of the Arab race.

On the finish line in Palm Jumeirah, after having covered 183 completely flat kilometers from the start in Dubai International Marine Club, LAMPRE-MERIDA's sprinter was preceded by Viviani, crossing the finish line before Nizzolo and Guardini.

Elia Viviani wins stage two.

The stage was led by 4 riders (Mancebo, Dillier, De Kort and Bialoblocki) which attacked in the first part of the course, but the bunch could not miss the chance to give to the fast riders another opportunity, so the breakaway was neutralized at 15 km to go.

LAMPRE-MERIDA tried in the early part of the stage to join the breakaway, thanks to the attempts of Conti, Polanc, Petilli and Feng: the Taiwanese champion was so close to be in the main attack.

A crash at the end of the tunnel which connects the mainland to the Palm Jumeirah mixed up the situation of the approach to the sprint, however Modolo had no problem in choosing the best wheel, that was the one of Viviani.
Sacha tried to overtake his compatriot, but the side wind prevented him to pass him.

Modolo is 4th in the overall classification, at 4" to the new leader Viviani.

"We planned to be in the breakaways and our riders made several attempts for escaping from the bunch - sport director Marzano explained - Feng had almost reached the leading four riders, but he could not complete the chase.

In the sprint, Ferrari was once again very precious for Modolo, leading him just behind Viviani at 700 mt to the arrival: unfortunately, Viviani today was very strong and he did not make mistakes".

The third stage (Dubai-Hatta Dam, 172 km) will be crucial for the overall standing: the arrival will be on the hill of Hatta Dam, a sharp rise of about 200% with gradients from 12% to 17%.

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary