Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, November 8, 2019
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2019 Tour de France | 2019 Giro d'Italia
In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this. – Terry Pratchett
Upcoming racing:
- Nov 10: European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 17: Flandriencross
Latest completed racing:
- Nov 3: Telenet Superprestige Ruddervoorde
- Oct 27: Superprestige Gavere Cyclocross
- Oct 26: Cincinnati Cyclocross
- Oct 17-22: Tour of Guangxi
- Oct 20: Japan Cup
- Oct 20: Chrono des Nations
- Oct 13: Paris-Tours
- Oct 12: Il Lombardia
Bora-hansgrohe and Sam Bennett go separate ways
The team sent me this news release:
After a great story of success in the past years, BORA - hansgrohe and Sam Bennett have decided to go separate ways.
Sam Bennett wins stage 14 of this year's Vuelta. Sirotti photo
Over the last six years, BORA - hansgrohe developed Sam Bennett into one of the best sprinters in the peloton. Against this background it however became more and more difficult to align the team’s and rider’s goals.
Therefore, BORA - hansgrohe’s management has decided to accept Sam Bennett’s wish to leave BORA - hansgrohe and continue his journey with another team.
BORA - hansgrohe wishes Sam Bennett all the best for his future and hopes that he can live up to his sporting dreams.
Trump tariffs to be phased out as US-China trade war is to end
Bike Europe sent me this news:
BEIJING, China – It will bring enormous relief in both the United States as well as in China; this morning it was announced that the Trump Tariffs are to be phased-out. This is to put an end to the trade war between America and China as well as the heavily raised import duties on many bicycle products that are imported from China into the U.S. The greatly increased import tariffs, enforced by President Trump have, in addition to the EU anti-dumping measures, led to a large-scale production relocation of bicycles, e-bikes and parts.
The news that the trade war between the United States and China will (eventually) be brought to an end was announced today by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The two countries have agreed to phase-out the existing import duties.
The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated this morning “This is what has been agreed after careful and constructive negotiations in the past two weeks.”
The withdrawal is dependent on the progress made with the conclusion of the trade agreement, the ministry added.
According to the Chinese ministry, if the first-phase deal with the US is signed, the levies will also be withdrawn, in line with the agreements made. But when and where this first-phase deal is to be signed is still unclear. However, the very clear statements made by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce point at least to the fact that there is progress in the negotiations between the two countries.
This news from China will be outright welcomed in the United States. And not in the least by the country’s cycling sector. Companies have been confronted in all kinds of areas with the negative consequences of the measures taken by President Trump that have led to (for many bicycle products) a five-fold increase in import tariffs. Dorel Industries Inc. for instance, the holding of subsidiaries like Cycling Sports Group, with brands including Cannondale, GT, Schwinn, Charge, Fabric, Guru, Mongoose, Caloi, IronHorse and Kid Trax, has been hit hard by the Trump Tariffs. Dorel suspended its dividend and said that third quarter results were harmed by increased U.S. tariffs on Chinese bikes, furniture and other goods Dorel sells.
You can read the entire article here.
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