Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
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2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. - Leonardo da Vinci
Latest completed racing:
- November 26: Flandriencross
- November 25: Zeven Cyclocross
- November 19: Bogense Cyclocross
- November 12: Gavere Cyclocross
- November 5: European Cyclocross Championships
- Oct 28 - Nov 5: Tour of Hainan
- November 1: Cyclocross Koppenberg
- October 29: Cyclocross Ruddervoorde
- October 28: Cincy CX, Devou Park
- October 28: Grote Prijs van Brabant
Team Sky unveils 2018 racing kit
The team sent me this press release:
Team Sky has unveiled its new kit for next season and revealed the new, white jersey riders will be wearing in 2018.
The kit, produced with Team Sky’s Performance Clothing Partner Castelli, will give the team a new look for the new season. However, the kit also retains many of the features that have made Team Sky riders so recognisable in the peloton.
The line on the back of the jersey, a feature of every Team Sky kit since the team began racing in 2010, remains integral to the design while the ‘data pattern’, which records every one of Team Sky’s victories, has been updated to include the team’s wins from 2017.
Victories from 2010-2016 are now in one place on the back of the jersey, with all the wins from the historic 2017 season represented by a pattern embedded within a blue band across the front of the new jersey.
The reintroduction of the blue band is inspired by the design of the kits worn by Team Sky in their first years of racing.
Chris Froome models the 2018 Sky jersey
Introducing the new Team Sky kit for 2018, Team Sky Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “We initially changed to white jerseys for the Tour de France last summer, and it was the feedback from riders and the response from our fans that inspired us to go white for the 2018 season. Our ambition is for our riders to have the leading performance clothing in the peloton, and we believe that the 2018 kit is our best yet”.
Reflecting on Team Sky’s partnership with Castelli, Brailsford added: “Castelli have a long record of innovation within our sport, both in terms of performance and design. They put performance first and are pioneers in research and development. They put the rider at the heart of their thinking and our 2018 kit reflects that.
“From the outset we quickly developed the high levels of dialogue and communication that have characterised our partnership. That has enabled us to work dynamically on the testing, feedback and development cycle, combining our knowledge and experience and applying that straight to the rider and their performance in both training and racing. Our success in 2017 is testament to that collaborative approach.
“Castelli lead the way when it comes to performance clothing in our sport and we are sure we will continue to see the benefits of our partnership as we look to new challenges in 2018.”
Steve Smith, Brand Manager at Castelli, said: “Since we began our partnership with Team Sky they have embraced new ideas around every aspect of the team kit. That attitude has given us the opportunity to work with them to create something unique and different for 2018. Not only does the new kit look great, but we’re confident it will be the best performing Team Sky kit yet.
“Castelli and Team Sky have worked closely throughout 2017 to refine, update and improve all aspects of the kit. Riders and staff have been right at the heart of the process, influencing everything from design through to the specific technical updates we have made. We’re proud of our partnership with Team Sky and we’re looking forward to more success together in 2018”.
2018 Giro d'Italia Presentation - Wednesday, November 29th
Here's the organizer's release:
The presentation of Giro d’Italia 2018 will be on 29th November starting from 5 p.m. CET.
The route of the 101st edition, starting on 4 May 2018 from Israel, will be unveiled in the presence of the last Giro d’Italia winner, Tom Dumoulin, the two times Giro winner Vincenzo Nibali, Fabio Aru (third in 2014 and second in 2015), and Alberto Contador (winner of the Corsa Rosa in 2008 and 2015), as well as representatives of the teams, sponsors, media and other institutions.
2017 winner Tom Dumoulin will be at the 2018 Giro route presentation
The presentation of will be available to watch via live streaming on www.giroditalia.it. In Italy, the presentation will be also broadcast live on Rai 2 and on www.raiplay.it.
Dick's Sporting Goods reports strong e-commerce sales for third quarter
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News sent me this news piece:
PITTSBURGH, Penn. (BRAIN) — Dick's Sporting Goods has posted its sales and earnings for the third quarter of 2017, which ended Oct. 28. The company's net income for the quarter was $36.9 million or 35 cents per share, exceeding expectations of 22 to 30 cents per share. The sporting goods retailer's net sales also increased 7.4 percent to approximately $1.94 billion in the third quarter, while consolidated same-store earnings fell 0.9 percent over the same period in 2016, when those sales were up 5.2 percent.
E-commerce sales continue to be strong for the retailer, increasing about 16 percent and comprising 10.3 percent of total net sales, compared with 9.6 percent for the third quarter of 2016. But the company's earning were down 24.5 percent from a net income of $48.9 million or 44 cents, over the same quarter in 2016.
"In the third quarter, we delivered earnings per diluted share and comp sales at the high end of our expectations, with continued double-digit growth in e-commerce. As expected, margins were under pressure in this highly promotional environment, but our strategy for this environment enabled us to continue to capture market share," said Edward W. Stack, Dick's chairman and CEO. "As we look to the fourth quarter, we are comfortable with our prior implied sales and earnings outlook, and believe we are well positioned to gain additional market share."
You can read the entire story here.
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