Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
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2020 Tour de France | 2020 Giro d'Italia
The audiobook version of The Story of the Tour de France, Volume 1 is available.
As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest. - Nelson Mandela
Upcoming racing:
- Feb 19 - 21: Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var
- Feb 21 - 27: UAE Tour
Cancelled & postponed races:
- Feb 3 - 7:
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana(postponed) - Feb 9 - 14:
Tour of Oman(cancelled) - Feb 17 - 21:
Vuelta Cicista Andalucia - Ruta del Sol(postponed) - Feb 17 - 21:
Volta ao Algarve(postponed)
Latest completed racing:
- Feb 11 - 14: Tour de la Provence
- Feb 14: Clasica de Almeria
- Feb 3 - 7: Etoile de Bèsseges
- Jan 31: GP Cycliste la Marseillaise
- Jan 21 - 24: Santos Festival of Cycling
- Jan 23: Flandriencross
- Jan 1: GP Sven Nys Cyclocross
Team Ag2r-Citroën to ride Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var
The team sent me this release:
Riders scheduled to start:
Ben Gastauer
Dorian Godom
Greg Van Avermaet
Ben O’Connor
Oliver Naesen
Nans Peters
Clement Champoussin
Directors sportifs: Nicolas Guille, Didier Jannel
NANS PETERS : “Raise my arms in victory”
“I finished the 2020 season on November 8th at the Vuelta a Espana. So I needed to shift my usual time when I stop racing and take a total break from the bike. I started training on the bike again on December 20th and the January training camp in Spain allowed me to work on my base mostly. I’ve always started my racing season a bit late so I don’t have a problem with that. I know that compared to riders who have been racing for three weeks already, I will certainly be a little short on racing form. The Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var has three difficult stages, and that doesn’t displease me at all because I like aggressive races. Last year I finished second at the top of Mont Faron. I am happy to be back in competition. My goals for the year are simple: raise my arms in victory as often as possible, regardless of the race. I want to be in good shape for the Tour de France, of course, but that means doing well at the highlights that come before which will be the Volta a Catalunya (March 22-28) and the Tour de Romandie (April 27-May 2).”
Nans Peters winning stage eight of the 2020 Tour de France. Sirotti photo
The number:10,419
In 2020, Nans Peters was the team’s rider to compete in the most race days. He raced 65 days or 10,419 kilometers.
The news: A week of rest for Lilian Calmejane
The victim of a crash on Saturday during the third stage of the Tour de la Provence, Lilian Calmejane, who suffered a slight head trauma with a major bruise on his face, must take a one-week rest period. His return to racing will be decided by how quickly the contusion to his right shoulder heals.
UAE Team Emirates will also head to the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var
Here's the team's release:
UAE Team Emirates will take aim at their next race, the Tour des Alpes
Maritimes et du Var [2.1] in France from 19-21 February.
The team will call on the experience of David De La Cruz and Rui Costa to
lead the squad as they go in search of the first victory of the 2021
campaign.
Director Sportif duo Fabio Baldato (Ita) and Simone Pedrazzini (Swi) will
lead the following riders:
-Camilo Ardila (Col)
-David De La Cruz (Spa)
-Joe Dombrowski (USA)
-Rui Costa (Por)
-Ryan Gibbons (RSA)
-Cristian Muñoz (Col)
-Aleksander Riabushenko (Blr)
David de la Cruz (shown at the 2016 Vuelta) will be racing in France this week. Sirotti photo
David De La Cruz: ”We have three intense stages with lots of climbing and
fierce competition also. On paper we have a balanced team with options for
the GC with myself and the chance of stage opportunities through Gibbons and
Costa.
"Preparations have gone well. This race will be part of my build-up to
Paris-Nice and Volta Catalunya. I’ve had a good block of training at
altitude at Mount Teide with the team and I’m excited to finally pin the
race numbers on again and get the 2021 season started.”
Shimano says its bike-related sales were up 3% in 2020, but makes no mention of supply chain challenges
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News sent me this:
TOKYO (BRAIN) — After a rocky start, Shimano managed a 2.7% increase in revenues last year in its bike division, and an 18% increase in operating income in its bike business.
Bike-related sales for the Japanese component giant totaled 297.8 billion yen ($2.85 billion) up from 290 billion yen in 2019. Bicycle-related sales accounted for 79% of Shimano’s business, with fishing tackle accounting for most of the rest.
In an earnings summary released Tuesday, Shimano made little mention of the industry’s continued supply chain challenges or its role in those challenges. It did note that “trends of shortages in both distributor inventories and retail inventories persisted” throughout 2020.
Shimano is forecasting a 20.5% increase in net sales for the full 2021. Compared with last year, much of the increase will happen in the first half, the company predicts. Last year in the first half, sales were down 15% to 123 billion yen. For 2021, Shimano is forecasting first-half sales of 237.7 billion yen, a 48% increase.
You can read the entire story here.
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