Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, January 5, 2017

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2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia

Stupidity has a knack of getting its way. - Albert Camus

Upcoming Racing:

• January 15 - 22: People's Choice Classic & Tour Down Under

Latest completed racing:

• January 1-3: Mitchelton Wines Bay Cycling Classic
• October 20-23, 2016: Abu Dhabi Tour
• October 23, 2016: Chrono des Nations
• October 23, 2016: Japan Cup

The year of the rainbow starts for BORA – hansgrohe

The team that used to be called Bora-Argon 18 posted this update:

Besides the UCI World Champions jersey of Peter Sagan, the team reveals three national Champions jerseys: Rafal Majka (Pol), José Mendes (Por) and Juraj Sagan (Svk). First pictures of all riders are available to download at the new web domain of the team, www.bora-hansgrohe.com. 

Peter Sagan in his 2017 jersey

Like usual, the rainbow is the well-known key visual of the official World Champions jersey. Next to this, the logos of the team’s main sponsor, BORA and the title sponsor, hansgrohe are in the centre of attention in the 2017 edition of the jersey. As a little surprise Peter Sagan’s own logo is represented on the backside of the jersey – a tribute to the UCI double World Champion.

“Obviously, it is a special moment in the life of a team manager to present a World Champions jersey. I am very proud and thankful that I am awarded this honour now. Peter is once again the “eye catcher” in the peloton, this is also important for our sponsors. We decided to put Peter’s own logo on the backside of the jersey as a special “thank you” for his outstanding performances the last years. But I must admit, that I am also very proud to have three national Champions in my team. At some races, there will be more white than black in our line-ups.” – Ralph Denk, Team Manager

“I am proud to wear again the rainbow jersey, now in the lights of BORA – hansgrohe. But with the new year also the records start from zero again, now again hard work will be the basis for success. With my new team, I am sure, we are on track so far.” – Peter Sagan, double UCI World Champion

Team Movistar confirms Tour Down Under squad

The team posted this news:

UCI WorldTour's opening event (January 15-22) set to kick off Eusebio Unzué-led squad's 38th season in professional cycling.

As with every season for the last decade, the Movistar Team will start their 2017 with the Tour Down Under (17-22 January), the opening race of the UCI WorldTour, which includes six stages - two of them short mountain-top finishes, in Paracombe (Wednesday 18) and Old Willunga Hill (Saturday 21) - suited for sprinters and explosive climbers. The action will begin two days earlier at the traditional People's Choice Classic (Sunday 15).

The Blues will be travelling to Adelaide this weekend, their seven-man lineup including two of the Spanish outfit's signings for the new season: Carlos Barbero - expected to be their sprinting weapon - and Víctor de la Parte. The full list also features Jasha Sütterlin, Gorka Izagirre, Marc Soler and brothers José and Jesús Herrada.

Jesus Herrada (shown at the 2016 Dauphine) will start his season in Australia.

UAE team presents team kit and bikes

This release came from the team:

The first pedal strokes of the team UAE, the first World Tour team of the United Arab Emirates, were taken. The kick-off of the team took place today in a press conference at the St. Regis Hotel in Nations Tower in Abu Dhabi. Team unveiled its 2017 team kit from Champion System as well as the team bike, the Colnago C60.

Team UAE presentation

While this is a tradition for such events, most notably, Team UAE also explained many of the ideas and concepts to promote and inspire cycling and a healthy lifestyle in the UAE and to reinforce the UAE's position as a gllobal sporting capital and tourism hub, were presented.

The press conference was attended by five of the team's riders (Rui Costa, Louis Meintjes, Filippo Ganna, Matej Mohoric and Andrea Guardini) and the managers Giuseppe Saronni e Carlo Saronni. Team UAE also announced that it would be signing Yousef Mirza, the first Emirati rider on a World Tour team for the 2017 season.

Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, future president of the team, outlined the details of the project: “We are very pleased and excited to be the main sponsor of such a talented and historic team. We look forward to many years of working together, winning together and inspiring together a new generation of cyclists in the UAE and beyond.

“A strong positive attitude and life along with strong competition and sport are key to a healthy mind and lifestyle and we here in the Emirates want to promote such positive values in our locals and citiziens and indeed around the world”.

Giuseppe Saronni, general manager of the team, pointed out that: “A new chapter of the team’s cycling path begins today here in Abu Dhabi and on behalf of all the team’s member I can assure that we’re excited and glad to be able to rely on people who clearly inspired us with their passion and devotion to cycling.

“We thank Mr Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri and his colleagues for their commitment to our team, we’ll do our best to succeed both in the competitions and here in Abu Dhabi.

“We’re assuming a major exciting responsibility representing all over the world a whole Nation: I’m sure that, thanks to the experience of our sports group and thanks to the ideas and suggestions which will come from Mr Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, we’ll be able to achieve our goals and to meet his high expectations. We’re taking a first step on a course towards the excellence”.

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