Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
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2019 Tour de France | 2019 Giro d'Italia
Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. - Otto von Bismarck
Upcoming racing:
- Dec 15: Vlaamse Druivencross
- Dec 22: World Cup, Namur
- Dec 26: World Cup Heusden-Zolder
- Dec 27: Azencross
- Dec 29: Superprestige Diegen
- Jan 1: GP Sven Nys
- Feb 22: GP Leuven
Latest completed racing:
- Dec 7: IKO Cyclocross-Essen
- Nov 17: Flandriencross
- Nov 10: European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 3: Telenet Superprestige Ruddervoorde
- Oct 27: Superprestige Gavere Cyclocross
- Oct 26: Cincinnati Cyclocross
- Oct 17-22: Tour of Guangxi
- Oct 20: Japan Cup
- Oct 20: Chrono des Nations
Team Sunweb 2020 kit revealed
Here's the team's announcement:
Today Team Sunweb presented their roster for the 2020 season in PON’s recently opened MOVE; their new building which showcases what they believe the world of sustainable mobility will look like in the future. The Men, Women and Development programs were all in attendance, coming together to celebrate the new year and highlighting the opportunities that lay ahead.
A new year means a new kit! Team Sunweb proudly announced their look for 2020 today; which features the same red colour and boasts the same distinctive Keep Challenging stripes.
The 2020 Team Sunweb kit
UCI announces 2020 Men's & Women's WorldTour and ProTeams
Here is the UCI's news release:
Dec 10, 2019, 14:39 PM: As part of the reform of women’s road cycling and its professionalisation, UCI Women’s WorldTour licences are being granted for the first time ever. In accordance with the UCI Regulations (art. 2.13.028 ff), and after a complete review of the files received according to all the criteria for attribution (ethical, financial, administrative), the UCI Licence Commission has decided to award UCI Women's WorldTour licences for the period 2020 - 2023, subject to compliance with the provisions for annual registration during the period, to the following teams [team name (UCI code - Nationality)]:
ALE' BTC LJUBLJANA (ALE – ITA)
CANYON / /SRAM RACING (CSR – GER)
CCC – LIV (CCC – POL)
FDJ NOUVELLE – AQUITAINE FUTUROSCOPE (FDJ – FRA)
MOVISTAR TEAM WOMEN (MOV – ESP)
TEAM SUNWEB (SUN – GER)
TREK – SEGAFREDO (TFS – USA).
According to article 2.13.056 of the UCI Regulations, these teams are registered as UCI Women’s WorldTeams for the 2020 season. The UCI Licence Commission is still evaluating the application file of MITCHELTON SCOTT (MTS - AUS) and a decision will be issued as soon as possible.
The maximum number of licenses that can be awarded (eight) according to the provisions of article 2.13.032 al.2 of UCI Regulations has been reached. The UCI is delighted to witness the development of women’s cycling at the highest level.
UCI WorldTeams
Concerning the attribution of UCI WorldTour licences for the period 2020-2022, and following a full review of the documentation received based on all criteria for attribution (ethical, financial, administrative, organisational and sporting), and in accordance with the UCI Regulations (art. 2.15.011), the UCI Licence Commission has decided to award UCI WorldTour licences, subject to compliance with the provisions for annual registration during the period, to the following teams [team name (UCI code - Nationality)]:
AG2R LA MONDIALE (ALM – FRA)
ASTANA PRO TEAM (AST – KAZ)
BAHRAIN – MCLAREN (TBM – BRN)
BORA – HANSGROHE (BOH – GER)
CCC TEAM (CCC – POL)
COFIDIS (COF – FRA) – new UCI WorldTeam
DECEUNINCK – QUICK – STEP (DQT – BEL)
EF EDUCATION FIRST (EF1 – USA)
GROUPAMA – FDJ (GFC – FRA)
ISRAEL CYCLING ACADEMY (ICA – ISR)
LOTTO SOUDAL (LTS – BEL)
MOVISTAR TEAM (MOV – ESP)
NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM (NTT – RSA)
TEAM INEOS (INS – GBR)
TEAM JUMBO – VISMA (TJV – NED)
TEAM SUNWEB (SUN – GER)
TREK – SEGAFREDO (TFS – USA)
UAE TEAM EMIRATES (UAD – UAE).
The file of the UCI WorldTeam MITCHELTON – SCOTT (MTS - AUS) is still being evaluated by the UCI Licence Commission, and a decision will be issued as soon as possible.
UCI ProTeam
In accordance with the UCI Regulations and following a full review of the documentation received based on all criteria for attribution (ethical, financial, administrative), the UCI has decided (art. 2.16.016 and 2.15.026a) to register the following UCI ProTeams, which had submitted a complete file by 1 November for the 2020 season [team name (UCI code - Nationality)]:
ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI – SIDERMEC (ANS – ITA)
BARDIANI CSF FAIZANE' (BCF – ITA)
CAJA RURAL – SEGUROS RGA (CJR – ESP)
CIRCUS – WANTY GOBERT (CWG – BEL)
FUNDACION – ORBEA (FOR – ESP) – new UCI ProTeam
GAZPROM – RUSVELO (GAZ – RUS)
RALLY CYCLING (RLY – USA)
RIWAL READYNEZ CYCLING TEAM (RIW – DEN)
SPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE (SVB – BEL)
TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC (ARK – FRA)
TEAM NOVO NORDISK (TNN – USA)
TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE (TDE – FRA)
UNO – X NORWEGIAN DEVELOPMENT TEAM (UXT – NOR) – new UCI ProTeam.
Furthermore, following the transfer by the UCI to the UCI Licence Commission of the files of the UCI ProTeams that were incomplete on 1 November (art. 2.16.016) the UCI Licence Commission has decided to register the following UCI ProTeams [team name (UCI code - Nationality)]:
B&B HOTELS – VITAL CONCEPT (VCB – FRA)
BURGOS – BH (BBH – ESP)
CORONDON (COC – BEL)
NIPPO DELKO PROVENCE (NDP – FRA)
VINO ZABU’ KTM (tbc – ITA)
The file of the UCI ProTeam BINGOAL – WB (tbc - BEL) is still being evaluated by the UCI Licence Commission, and a decision will be issued as soon as possible.
According to article 2.1.007bis and for the first time from next season, the UCI ProTeam TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE, first UCI ProTeam of the UCI World Ranking by teams as of the last day of the 2019 season, must be imperatively invited to all UCI WorldTour events. In addition, the UCI ProTeam CIRCUS – WANTY GOBERT, in second place of this ranking, must be invited to all UCI Classics Series events. At the end of the 2020 season, the mandatory invitations will be reattributed according to the UCI World Ranking by teams as of the last day of the 2020 season.
Team Bahrain McLaren announces new vision for 2020
Here's the team's announcement
UCI World Tour road racing outfit Team Bahrain McLaren today unveiled its dynamic new identity, team line-up and vision for 2020 at the McLaren Thought Leadership Centre in Woking, United Kingdom. The team, a joint venture between Bahrain World Tour Cycling Team and British automotive, racing and technology leader McLaren, will race as Team Bahrain McLaren in 2020.
Originally conceived by His Highness Shaikh Nasser, and having competed as Team Bahrain Merida since 2017, the change in the team’s name signals a bold new chapter in the team’s ownership, one in which the existing rider line-up, team management and support staff have all been supplemented. Team Bahrain McLaren will be overseen by the highly respected Rod Ellingworth, in the new role of Team Principal.
The 2020 Bahrain-McLaren jersey
As Team Bahrain Merida the team achieved an impressive number of race wins over three years, including Grand Tour podiums in its first season – the first team ever to achieve such a result in its debut year. Together with its foundation partner, leading bike brand Merida, the team built a strong technical and rider line-up, and multiple victories – including notable break throughs at Milano-San Remo and Il Lombardia, as well as numerous stage race and Grand Tour wins.
For 2020, the team has signed Grand Tour stars Mikel Landa and Wout Poels, as well as Mark Cavendish, the most successful Grand Tour sprinter of all time.
Joining Ellingworth’s new senior executive team are ex World Tour pro and British National Road Race Champion Roger Hammond, in the role of Performance Director, and Duncan Bradley, a founding member of McLaren’s Applied Technologies business – as the team’s inaugural Technical Director. They join Brent Copeland who moves to the new position of Operations Director, and Charlie Pym, who joins the team as Marketing Director.
John Allert, Joint Managing Director of Team Bahrain McLaren commented:
‘This is a great moment in the story of our team – joining forces with Bahrain World Tour Cycling Team to challenge the conventions of a sport we love and respect is exciting for everyone involved. We hope to give cycling’s passionate fans something new to cheer – this is a team built for tomorrow, with a great respect for the past. McLaren will bring technology to the team, a culture of continuous improvement, dynamic marketing and innovation forged in the most technically demanding sport in the world – F1. However, this is a phenomenally competitive sport, and we don’t underestimate the challenges nor the strength of our competition.’
Team Bahrain McLaren welcomes a number of new, industry leading partners to the World Tour. Joining the team’s technical bike partner, Merida, and Bahrain’s national oil company Bapco, are premium British performance apparel brand Le Col, as official race clothing partner, and Muc-off, the innovative cleaning and lubricant brand. Super luxury watch brand Richard Mille enters cycling for the first time, as does respected global news broadcaster CNBC.
The team’s strong connection to the Kingdom of Bahrain is represented by the proud and continuing support of Mumtalakat, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Batelco, NBB, Alba, First Energy Bank B.S.C. and Lulu Hypermarket, amongst many others.
Team Bahrain McLaren will also be working with a number of pro cycling’s most impressive technical partners – including leading edge helmet and eyewear brand Rudy Project, premium race shoe brand Sidi, cycling luggage innovator Scicon and Elite trainers.
Milan Erzen, co-founder of Team Bahrain Merida and Joint Managing Director of Team Bahrain McLaren commented:‘Today is a great moment for the entire team. We are indebted to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the support and belief it has had in this team right from the beginning of our journey in 2016. As we start this new and exciting chapter, we look forward to further promoting the benefits of our great sport to the Bahrain community, and giving them, as well as all our international fans and partners, plenty to cheer about in 2020.’
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