Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, October 20, 2017
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2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia
Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it. - Pope John Paul II
Current racing:
- Oct 19 - 24: Tour of Guangxi
Upcoming racing:
- October 22: Japan Cup
Latest completed racing:
- October 17: Nationale Sluitingsprijs Putte-Kapellen
- Oct 10 - 15: Tour of Turkey
- October 8: Paris-Tours
- October 7: Il Lombardia
- October 5: Milano-Torino
- October 5: Paris-Bourges
Team LottoNL-Jumbo reports on the first stage of the Tour of Guangxi
Dylan Groenewegen became second in the opening stage of the Tour of Guangxi. The Colombian Fernando Gaviria grabbed the stage win in this Chinese WorldTour-race. In Beihai he was a bit faster than Dylan Groenewegen and Pascal Ackermann.
The stage consisted of two laps of 53.4 kilometres in Beihai, a big city in southern China. The stage was characterized by a breakaway of four riders. The peloton was led by the sprinters teams and Team LottoNL-Jumbo kept the gap less than 1'15 ". Eventually, the peloton caught the breakaway group and the decision was made in a bunch sprint.
"It was not a tough race", Groenewegen said. "The wide roads and the small climb were no problem. The final was fast and we were good in the front. I had a little delay, which meant I could not start my sprint in the best way. I'm disappointed, but I also know that there are great other opportunities to sprint this week."
"I've seen a good team", Sports Director Grischa Niermann said. "Our preparation for the sprint went according to plan, only the lead-out could have been a bit better." According to Niermann, the wide roads were not conducive for a good sprint train. "With so many teams wanting to sprint, it's hard to keep the sprint train on track. Eventually, we managed to get Dylan in a good position and he could sprint for the win."
Whether the chaotic lead-out made a difference, Niermann does not know. "It is good to see that Dylan was very disappointed after the finish. This clearly indicates that winning here is our only goal."
Fernando Gaviria wins the Guangxi Tour's first stage.
The young rider from Amsterdam took his 23rd podium spot of the season. It was definitely not the last chance for Groenewegen as the next few days are ideal for sprinters as well. The Tour of Guangxi ends Tuesday with a hilly ride to Guilin.
Janelle Crooks continues with ORICA-SCOTT for 2018
The team sent me this news:
ORICA-SCOTT are pleased to announce the re-signing of young Australian Jenelle Crooks for 2018. The 23-year-old joined the Australian outfit mid-way through the 2016 season and has gone from strength to strength this season whilst learning and helping her older, experienced teammates.
“I really enjoyed this year with the team and I learned so much,” Crooks said. “The culture of the riders and staff really makes the team such a great environment to learn and develop as a professional rider, not only on the bike but off the bike as well.”
“This made my transition to a full professional season so much easier and has got me super excited for next year. I am looking forward to developing more and working towards my goals for next season.”
This year’s big goal for the team was the prestigious women’s Giro-Rosa in July, sport director Gene Bates acknowledged Crooks’ important contributions to the team during this key race and is excited to have her continue for another season with the squad.
“It is great for us that Jenelle continues her development with the team in 2018,” Bates explained. “After several great races Jenelle really showed her class during the Giro-Rosa where she played a key role in supporting our leaders Annemiek van Vleuten and Amanda Spratt.”
“Since then she has gone from strength to strength. Jenelle will be one our youngest riders next season, but regardless of this, she will be one of our key riders in some of the tougher races. Jenelle has a very bright future with us.”
Jenelle Crooks
Date of Birth: 2nd July 1994 (23)
Place of birth: Perth, WA
Turned Pro: 2016
Key results
2017
- 2nd Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic - Stage 2
- 3rd Giro d'Italia Internazionale Feminile - Stage 1 (TTT)
- 6th Santos Womens Tour - Youth Classification
- 6th National Championships Australia - Road Race
- 10th Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic - General Classification
Other results:
- 2016 1st U23 National Road Race Championship - Australia
- 2016 10th National Road Race Championship - Australia
- 2015 1st Thuringen Rundfahrt and La Route de France - Youth classifications
- 2015 8th National Time Trial Championship - Australia
Velox invests in wheel building machinery
Most of us know Velox only as a rim tape maker. Bike Europe posted this piece about the firm's ongoing restructuring:
PARIS, France – Founded in 1903, the company Velox has been restructured completely since Patrick Guinard’s acquisition in 2011. “Our financial results are positive again and our turnover is increasing. Since the start of the year we are receiving more and more orders,” said Velox president and CEO Patrick Guinard.
Located in Argenteuil in the North of Paris’ suburbs plus a second factory in Brittany (La Guerche-de-Bretagne), the company generated turnover of €3 million last year. Guidoline is certainly the most well-known brand of the company. “We offer a wide range of products including more than 100 different kinds of handlebar tapes which are all manufactured in France”, Guinard said adding that the company
Besides the company’s brands like Guidoline and Velox, Patrick Guinard is particularly proud on his wheel set manufacturing and distribution in France and Belgium. “With our annual production of 120,000 wheel sets in our factory in Brittany we claim to be the number one in wheel manufacturing for aftermarket in France and Belgium,” Patrick Guinard explains.
In the past years Patrick Guinard has built strong relationships with companies like one of Europe’s largest rim manufacturers Mach 1. Velox is also working more and more with Mavic, Miche and Shimano to source hubs. Velox has developed a wide range of aluminum wheel sets. “This category can be only made close to the market because of the transportation costs. Although the weight is low, the wheels are still bulky,” Guinard claimed.
You can read the entire story here. (link may not always work)
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