Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, November 19, 2016

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2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. - Carl Sagan

Latest completed racing:

• October 9 - 16: World Road Cycling Championships
• October 20-23: Abu Dhabi Tour
• October 23: Chrono des Nations
• October 23: Japan Cup
• October 22-30: Tour of Hainan

Hayman caps off season as Australian Cyclist of the Year

Orica-BikeExcahnge sent me this:

Paris-Roubaix champion Mathew Hayman has capped off a dream year, claiming a swag of accolades at the 2016 Cycling Australia Awards this evening.

Hayman, who conquered the ‘Hell of the North’ on his 15th attempt just six weeks after breaking his wrist, then went on to complete his first full Tour de France and represent Australia at the world championships in Qatar. The 38-year-old this evening won the Male Road Cyclist of the Year, the People’s Choice Award and the coveted Sir Hubert 'Oppy' Opperman Medal & Trophy for the 2016 Australian Cyclist of the Year.

The ORICA-BikeExchange rider said the season had validated his entire career. “My life has changed and my career has been validated in many ways,” Hayman said. “I feel more confident when racing, like the weight of having to prove myself has been lifted. For some reason 2016 has been the culmination of my whole career, winning Paris Roubaix and finishing the Tour have been dreams come true.

“I feel like all the riding I have ever done over all those years, all came together, it has also been a lot of fun.”

Mathew Hayman wins 2016 Paris-Roubaix

World championship bronze medallist Katrin Garfoot capped off a successful evening for ORICA-BikeExchange and ORICA-AIS, taking out the Female Road Cyclist of the Year award.

Hayman is the first ORICA-BikeExchange rider to win the Australian Cyclist of the Year Award since Simon Gerrans won in 2014. He also joins the likes of Cadel Evans, Anna Meares and inaugural winner Russell Mockridge. “The Oppy award is recognition from Australia that you are among the very elite,” Hayman acknowledged. “It caps off a year of firsts for me and it is a privilege to be among the past winners.”

“To be recognised among the cream of Australian cyclists who have performed on the world stage winning world championships, Olympic medals and Grand Tours is a true honour.”

ORICA-BikeExchange general manager Shayne Bannan congratulated Hayman, pleased with the recognition of one of the team’s most selfless riders. “To watch Mat being recognised for his 2016 season is a huge pleasure for me and everyone involved at ORICA-BikeExchange,” Bannan said.

“His 2016 season was obviously a stand out results-wise, but for us, this is recognition for the many more years of commitment, sacrifice, leadership and contribution that came before it. It’s these attributes that make Mat the bike rider and the person he is, and that make his achievements this year even more special.”

Etixx-Quick Step updates Gent 6-Day

The team posted this Day-3 news:

The third night of the competition witnessed three victories of the Team LIDL riders.

You just can't tell that the 76th edition of the Gent Six Day is the first time that six-day specialist Iljo Keisse and Omnium Olympic champion Elia Viviani are pairing up for a track event. The two already run like a well-oiled machine on the 't Kuipke Velodrome, despite riding together for just three days. But what days these were, with the experienced duo taking a total of nine victories, three of which came on Thursday night.

First to break the ice was six-time winner of the event Iljo Keisse, who was in a class of his own in the derny, conquering the first race of the evening and the big 66-lap final, where he didn't give his opponents any chance. Between these two victories, Elia Viviani emerged as the fastest in the first supersprint, taking the team's total number of points to 215 points midway through the competition.

The event resumes Friday evening, when more than ten races are on the schedule.

General classification:

1. Kenny De Ketele/Moreno de Pauw – 230 points

2. Iljo Keisse/Elia Viviani – 215 points

3. Bradley Wiggins/Mark Cavendish – 204 points

Segafredo Zanetti extends sponsorship of Trek-Segafredo through 2020

This team posted this release:

After a successful year as co-title sponsor of Trek-Segafredo, and with exciting changes for 2017 in sight, Segafredo Zanetti has decided to extend their partnership through 2020, adding two years to the initial three-year agreement.

Massimo Zanetti, President of MZB Group: “The first season of Trek-Segafredo brought us exactly what we were aiming for and even more than that. That is why we didn’t hesitate to prolong our collaboration with the team through 2020.”

Joe Vadeboncoeur, Vice President of Trek Bicycles: “Over the past season coffee and bikes have proven once again to be a very natural combination. The Trek and Segafredo brands fit together more naturally than we could have ever hoped.  Both Trek and Segafredo want to be the absolute leaders in our segment, and we are happy to see that spirit mirrored in the riders and staff of Trek-Segafredo.”

Luca Guercilena, General Manager of Trek-Segafredo: “We are obviously excited that Segafredo will keep supporting the team through 2020. This long-term investment shows their trust and faith in our collaboration. Over the last year, we’ve witnessed great involvement from the people at Segafredo. That was very stimulating for us indeed. Knowing that they will be with us four more years gives us the stability and the space to keep investing in our team, going from the development of young riders to the continuous improvement and support for our more experienced riders.”

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