Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, November 25, 2015

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"Outside of a dog, a book is your best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

BikeRaceInfo.com to get re-design

Friends, in a few weeks BikeRaceInfo.com will get a new look as well as hugely increased functionality. The site is going to become much friendlier to handheld devices, being able to zoom in and out, like the sites of all the big guys. We'll keep you posted on our progress. But if you check our race results one day and think you're at the wrong site, it's very likely we've made the big change.

Thanks so much for visiting us. You're the reason we're here and we want to make your visit and enjoyable and informative as possible.

We just want to say thanks for the site visit. Enjoy the road.

Dimension Data gets World Tour license

The team currently called MTN-Qhubeka put out this news:

The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced earlier today that our African Team [MTN-Qhubeka], which will race as Team Dimension Data in 2016, has received a World Tour license for the 2016 season.

It is a historic day in the world of cycling and for the continent of Africa as for the first time, Africa will have a team represented at the highest level of the sport. While we were always hopeful of making it into the World Tour, the excitement of today’s announcement has been met with great joy among our team, partners and fans across the world.

The realisation of this dream has only been made possible by years of hard work, strategic partnerships, incredible riders producing exceptional performances and support staff. We are delighted to rewrite the history books and place African cycling at the highest level in World Cycling. To our partners Dimension Data, Deloitte, Cervélo, Sapinda, Rotor and all the others that have believed in the future of this team thank you for your support in making this a reality. As a World Tour team we believe we will be able to mobilise more people on bicycles through the Qhubeka Charity and our #BicyclesChangeLives campaign.

In addition, we are delighted to announce that we will be registering a UCI Continental in 2016. This team will be based out of our training center in Lucca, Italy and will allow our young, up and coming African riders to race a solid European season.

MTN-Qhubeka (shown racing in the 2015 Tour de France) will be Dimension Data in 2016

Douglas Ryder – Team Principle: This is incredible, I am so happy for this team, our partners and all the staff and riders that have worked so hard over the years to keep building this team to push beyond the boundaries and believe that anything is possible. To get this news on our training camp in Cape Town as we are bonding with our new team for the future is simply the best motivation to move forward into 2016.

Brett Dawson – CEO Dimension Data: As the title sponsor, we’re extremely proud to be part of the team’s iconic rise from one of the five wild cards teams to ride in this year’s Tour de France to World Tour status. We look forward to accelerating our journey together and continue to play a role in developing African riders into professional cyclists who will compete in some of the world’s greatest cycling events.

Tom Boonen resumes training

Six weeks after his terrible crash at the Tour of Abu Dhabi where he fractured his left temporal skull bone, Tom Boonen is back on his bike.

Tom Boonen earlier this year at the Eneco Tour

"Things are improving since my accident. When I returned home from Abu Dhabi I was tired and I was suffering, but day after day I have been feeling better," he told at a press briefing. "Now everything is going in the right direction. I am happy because I was able to resume training - not very intensely - just a few days, outings of about three hours, followed by a few days off because the doctors recommended that I not rush things. It's really important to listen to my body and do things correctly before the new season. "

Ivan Santaromita signs with continental team

2013 Italian road champion Ivan Santaromita has signed with Skydive Dubai for one year. He goes to the lower-ranked continental team after two years with Orica-GreenEdge, where he did not win a single race. He described his time with the Australian team as "hell" ["Gli ultimi due anni sono stati un inferno"].

Ivan Santaromita at the 2015 Tour de Romandie

He told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he had been been in negotiations with higher ranked Pro Continental teams, but he refused to pay the teams money to get a place on one of the squads, a wide-spread practice that has only recently been revealed.

"I'll start again at Skydive and am sure I will get my career back on track."

Addy Engels joins Team LottoNL-Jumbo

LottoNL-Jumbo sent me this team update:

Addy Engels will strengthen the sports technical team at Team LottoNL-Jumbo as of January 1, 2016. Engels has a long track record in professional cycling with four years as sports director at Team Giant-Alpecin. With LottoNL-Jumbo, he will coach.

Managing Director Richard Plugge is pleased with the addition of Addy Engels to the technical staff. "Our team is focused on innovation and coaching to encourage the development of our riders and thus to maximise their potential. Addy works according to that vision. He is someone who can convey the tactical plan to all members of the team. Addy can bind a group and get them to work more closely together, allowing the individual to rise above himself.”

Addy Engels is looking forward to the upcoming season with his new employer. “The past years, I noticed less of a fit with my team. If you want to continue, it is better to find a new challenge. I'm going to put most of my energy at LottoNL-Jumbo into coaching, that is my passion. The sport aspirations and focus within their three-year plan appeal to me. "

I also got this note from them about their Shimano sponsorship:

Team LottoNL-Jumbo has extended her partnership with cycling component brand Shimano for three years. Shimano will provide the team with wheels, chainsets, pedals, brakes and PRO components, which will be featured on the team’s bikes in 2016. The riders will also be provided with road cycling shoes, performance eyewear, Dura Ace elite racing groupsets and gear shifting options.

"We're very happy to have the best groupsets on our bikes again for next season. Shimano is an innovative brand that suits the team perfectly," Richard Plugge, general manager Team LottoNL-Jumbo. "Shimano components are incredibly reliable and have been race-proven time and time again. Riders trust the equipment to deliver them to the finish line. Shimano gives them one less thing to worry about during a race."

A new addition to the agreement this year is Shimano’s R-Series eyewear and cycling shoes. Having technology such as polarized and photochromic lenses with anti-fog, anti-scratch and hydrophobic treatments will be a huge advantage for protecting the riders’ eyes in a multitude of conditions.

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