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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, December 23, 2015

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

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. - Mae West

Lampre-Merida 2016 racing kit

Here's the press release regarding the changes to the team kit for 2016:

Tour de France: the Inside Story

In 2016 Champion System will still be the official supplier of cycling clothing for LAMPRE-MERIDA and in the next season they will provide a racing kit which will be a continuum with the latest editions.

Few changes comparing to the kits of the past two years: the racing clothing for 2016 will be part of a three years period during which the fans got accustomized to the design of the kits, becoming distinguishable.

The changes will make the jersey even more visible, with the blue background and the Lampre fuchsia and the Merida green which make the kit unique.

2016 Lampre kit

Diego Ulissi and Sacha Modolo in the 2016 Lampre kit.

The fuchsia bow on the back of the jersey is larger so that the riders can be more recognizable in the aerial tv shoots and also the fucshia and green graphic details which underline the lettering Lampre and Merida on the front and on the back of the jersey are larger.

The most important places for what concern the exposition are reserved for Lampre and Merida lettering and also the logo Champion System is placed in visible positions.

The lettering Cieffe Forni Industriali is placed on the shoulders, on the chest in addition to the lettering Lamital and Lamfer there are the lettering Mitsubishi Motors and Fred Mello.

UCI End of year update

This release is from UCI president Brian Cookson:

As we approach the end of 2015, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the significant progress we have made in modernising the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in order to make us an international federation of outstanding performance and integrity. This goal lies at the heart of the UCI Strategy that was agreed earlier this year and is the cornerstone for all our activity. Our strategic priorities are driven by four core principles – development, internationalisation, ethics and excellence – which underpin everything we do in partnership with our member federations and confederations.

Brian Cookson

UCI president Brian Cookson

So what have we achieved over the past 12 months?

Revolutionise our approach to anti-doping

The UCI year started with the introduction of new Anti-Doping Rules to reflect the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code. These further strengthened cycling’s anti-doping procedures with far reaching sanctions on teams with riders who are found to have doped (competition suspension plus a fine of 5% of the team budget).We have made many other changes including establishing an Anti-Doping Tribunal to handle the cases of international riders which heard its first case a few weeks ago.

We are strongly committed to strengthening our ties with all anti-doping organisations, and are pleased with the 10 sharing agreements that we have now signed with National Anti-Doping Organisations such as Switzerland, France, Denmark, South Africa and the United Kingdom. More will follow in 2016.

We truly believe that an effective fight for a clean sport can only be achieved through joining forces and we see these partnerships as clear signs of our restored reputation. For instance, together with the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF), the UCI has collaborated with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for the first time on the 2015 Amgen Tour of California and the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond.

These changes are being made because it is the right thing to do. They are also starting to bring wider benefits to our sport as building trust in cycling is not just about morality, it’s about boosting our commercial success, broadcast exposure and reaching new fans. So, for example, it is great news and no coincidence that German broadcaster ARD is now live broadcasting the Tour de France after a three year absence.

Embrace openness and transparency

I was elected with a mandate to restore trust and credibility in our sport and the UCI. In 2015 we have made significant progress in doing exactly this. The UCI opened itself up to an unprecedented level of independent scrutiny from the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC). Some of the report, when it was published in March – on time and below the budget allocated – made uncomfortable reading, but we had to acknowledge that lessons needed to be learned. This was a brave thing to do and the cycling family should take real credit for playing its part in cooperating with the CIRC.

The report looked in detail at the past, but much more importantly, it made recommendations for the future and we are now busy implementing those including:

•The establishment of a storage and re-testing strategy;
•Working with WADA and other experts to analyse new substances and trends;
•Implementing appropriate night-time testing.

In short, we are now ensuring an intelligence-led approach that will increase the effectiveness of our testing programme.

The UCI also reinvigorated its Athletes Commission to make sure the voice of the riders is heard loud and clear. For the first time, the members have been elected directly by their peers. The 13 members come from four continents, with Men-Women parity ensured for the four Olympic disciplines (road, track, mountain bike, BMX) and para-cycling. At least one of the Athletes Commission’s representatives in each discipline will also serve on the respective Commission for that discipline.

The mission of the Athletes Commission is to:

•Improve the training and competition conditions for athletes;
•Give riders the opportunity to have their say with the guarantee of being heard by the cycling family and its administration;
•Allow the UCI to receive riders’ opinions directly;
•Reinforce the links between current or recently-retired athletes and the UCI.

The UCI Athletes Commission recently met for the first time and elected Bobbie Traksel as President. And I will be delighted to welcome him on the UCI Management Committee at our meeting next month.

Click here to read the entire report

Selle Royal to open Utah facility

This news was in Bike Europe:

SALT LAKE CITY, USA — The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) in Utah, USA, along with Selle Royal group, announces that Selle Royal group will be opening a new facility in Utah, with a plan to generate 65 jobs in the next 7 years.

“Utah is truly a global hub for outdoor products,” said Val Hale, executive director of GOED. “It’s wonderful to see an established international company like Selle Royal group recognize this and join the ranks. We look forward to the contributions they will make to our outdoor recreation industry.”

Utah holds about seven bicycle and P&A makers as well as distributors. Among them the most renowned one is Specialized Bicycle Components. There are also smaller brands like Speedstar, Fezzari Bicycles and Sunfast.

In the Utah government press release Gaspare Licata, general manager of Selle Royal North America, says, “Our group is made of product-driven brands. We have the ambition with this investment to be able to develop the greatest products in the bicycle industry. The state of Utah, and Ogden in particular, is becoming a great area for outdoor industry, and we think we can attract great talent here. We thank the city of Ogden for being such a committed partner to build this important pillar for the growth of our group.”

With the 2008 take-over of Crank Brothers the Italian saddle maker expanded its product base to mountain bike parts like pedals, wheels, tools and pumps. Selle Royal group employs more than 1,000 people worldwide, distributing in over 70 countries their brands (among others) Selle Royal, Fizik and Brooks.

Here's a link to the complete Selle Royal story posted in Bike Europe

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