Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, December 10, 2016

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2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. - Benjamin Franklin

Upcoming racing:

• January 1-3: Michelton Wines Bay Cycling Classic

Latest completed racing:

• October 20-23: Abu Dhabi Tour
• October 23: Chrono des Nations
• October 23: Japan Cup
• October 22-30: Tour of Hainan

World Anti-Doping Agency report shows extent of huge Russian
doping program

The Washington Post posted this damning article:

An investigative report Friday from the international agency that polices drugs in sport put the full scale of the Russian doping controversy into better focus, detailing one of the largest cheating scandals in history and implicating government employees and more than 1,000 Russian athletes who benefited from manipulations to conceal positive doping tests.

The Russian athletes and government officials were involved in an “institutional conspiracy” of an “unprecedented scale,” Richard McLaren, a Canadian lawyer and sports ethics expert who led the investigation for the World Anti-Doping Agency, said at a news conference Friday morning in London. The elaborate doping system and associated coverup began in at least 2011, McLaren said, and continued beyond the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.

“It is impossible to know how deep and how far back the conspiracy goes,” McLaren said. “For years, international sports competition has been unknowingly hijacked by the Russians. Coaches and athletes have been playing on an uneven field. Sports fans and spectators have been deceived. It’s time that this stops.”

You can read the entire story (and it's extensive) here.

Bram Tankink adds another year to Team LottoNL-Jumbo contract

The team sent me this news:

Bram Tankink extended his contract with Team LottoNL-Jumbo for one year, through 2017. It means that the Dutchman, who just celebrated his 38th birthday, will begin his 10th season with the Dutch WorldTour team.

"I decide season by season and this year, and I decided to add on a year to my career,” said the road captain. “I feel good, I'm motivated and I am very happy with this team. Why should I stop now?” This season, Tankink rode the Giro d'Italia to support Steven Kruijswijk. Next year, he wants to captain the team to a higher level. "This year's Giro was a unique experience and that is something I would like to experience again,” he said.

"I can use my experience with the new professionals teach the new pros through the season. To be a professional is a result of hard work and talent, but it is important to realise that cycling is a profession and a way of life. I hope to instil this in the new guys. "

Bram Tankink in the 2016 Giro d'Italia

Technical Director Nico Verhoeven is relieved to have Tankink’s experience in his ranks for 2017. "Bram adds value to the team, as a helper and certainly as road captain. He can read the race through his years of experience and share his experience with the other riders. "

Tankink will work in one-day races and stage races. "Bram is a good rider who can be used anywhere. He can climb cols with best half of the peloton, so he can stay by Gesink and Kruijswijk. He is also helpful in the spring classics for riders like Lars Boom.”

BMC Racing Team looks towards 2017

The team sent me this update:

09 December, 2016, Denia (ESP): BMC Racing Team's preparation for the 2017 season is officially underway with riders and staff gathering in Denia, Spain for the annual pre-season training camp.

BMC Racing Team General Manager Jim Ochowicz said the camp is a good opportunity to reflect on the 2016 season and get ready for the upcoming year of racing.

"The 2016 season was another successful year of racing for BMC Racing Team, and we rounded out the year with 30 wins, 12 of which were at the UCI WorldTour level," Ochowicz explained.

"Three of our riders, Rohan Dennis, Manuel Quinziato and Philippe Gilbert, became national champions. Greg Van Avermaet won a stage at the Tour de France and wore the yellow jersey for three days, and Richie Porte showed his potential as a Grand Tour leader with fifth overall. Jempy Drucker won a stage at the Vuelta a Espana, Darwin Atapuma wore the red jersey for four stages, and BMC Racing Team won the team classification."

"Of course Greg Van Avermaet's victory in the road race at the Rio Olympic Games was another big highlight of the 2016 season, and we had many other memorable victories throughout the year."

Greg van Avermaet wins the Rio Olympic road race

BMC Racing Team welcomes five new riders to the 2017 roster.

"We retain our core group of riders and welcome five new team members to our ranks, ranging from some of the most experienced riders in the peloton with Martin Elmiger, Nicolas Roche and Francisco Ventoso, and two riders just starting out their professional careers, Kilian Frankiny and Miles Scotson. Our 28-rider roster is a balanced one, and with these 28 riders we hope to continue our success and build towards the big goal of the season, the Tour de France."

BMC Racing Team 2017 Roster

Continuing Riders: Tom Bohli (SUI), Brent Bookwalter (USA), Damiano Caruso (ITA), Rohan Dennis (AUS), Alessandro De Marchi (ITA), Silvan Dillier (SUI), Jempy Drucker (LUX), Floris Gerts (NED), Ben Hermans (BEL), Stefan Küng (SUI), Amaël Moinard (FRA), Daniel Oss (ITA), Richie Porte (AUS), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Joey Rosskopf (USA), Samuel Sánchez (ESP), Michael Schär (SUI), Manuel Senni (ITA), Dylan Teuns (BEL), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Tejay van Garderen (USA), Loïc Vliegen (BEL), Danilo Wyss (SUI).

New Riders: Martin Elmiger (SUI), Kilian Frankiny (SUI), Nicolas Roche (IRL), Miles Scotson (AUS), Francisco Ventoso (ESP).

ORICA-BikeExchange and ORICA-AIS to wear Giordana in 2017 and beyond

The teams sent me this news release:

ORICA-BikeExchange and ORICA-AIS are pleased to announce a new partnership that will see both teams wear Giordana Cycling Apparel in 2017 and beyond. The new sponsorship, that covers both racing and training wear, will ensure the Australian teams are supported with top of the range garments from a proven cycling provider whilst also benefitting from the company’s innovative approach, ensuring a top performance product.

“We are really excited to forge a partnership with Giordana,” general manager Shayne Bannan said. “They have supported the sport of cycling for a long time and with a proven record in quality and performance, we are looking forward to working with them into the future.”

“We are confident that both our men and women will enjoy the benefits of Giordana’s new product line as we work together to provide them the optimum support for success on the road.”

Giordana has enjoyed ongoing successes with professional teams and events since the 1980's.  A former supplier to Le Tour De France, Giordana is one of a small number of brands still made in Italy. It is also part of an even smaller group of cycling clothing manufacturers who actually develop and make their products in their own factory.

“We are thrilled to be aligned with ORICA-BikeExchange,” Giorgio Andretta, founder of Giordana, stated. “We have developed an entirely new line of garments to help the athletes perform at their best.

“Our new FormaRed-Carbon® Pro (FR-C® Pro) line will make up the core of the kits we supply the team. It’s our new, top of the line collection with a diverse range of garments for racing and training. Our goal with FR-C Pro was to set the bar high in regards to innovation and performance to handle any riding condition throughout the year.

“Moving forward, we will continue to evolve the Giordana range with the feedback we garner from partnering with the ORICA-BikeExchange teams.”

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