Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, November 21, 2019
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2019 Tour de France | 2019 Giro d'Italia
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits. – Mark Twain
Upcoming racing:
- Dec 7: IKO Cyclocross-Essen
- 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:
- 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 INEOS signs young talent Carlos Rodriguez
Team INEOS sent me this release:
Hailing from Granada, the 18 year old has greatly impressed at the junior level of the sport, winning the Gipuzkoa Klasika, in addition to overall success at the Tour de Gironde.
Carlos Rodriguez. Russ Ellis photo
A two-time Spanish Junior time trial champion, Rodriguez has demonstrated considerable all-round capabilities whilst riding for his country in Nations Cup events, in addition to the Kometa Cycling junior team.
Signing a four-year deal with Team INEOS, Rodriguez will dovetail his racing alongside university, where he is studying for a degree in engineering.
On signing for the team, Rodriguez said: “To be a part of Team INEOS is incredible. You can see that young riders are doing so well within this team. They are surrounded by the best people and it’s the best option to develop myself as a cyclist. I’m looking forward to learning from the best riders and staff in the sport.
“At this stage in my career I think of myself as an all-round rider. Being consistent across the different disciplines is my strength, but I like the climbs and the tough races.
“I am under no illusions it is a big step up to the professional level. The training is going to be harder and the races much faster. I think that if I work hard, step by step, I can progress and adapt myself to the WorldTour. That’s my main objective for the next few seasons and I’m in the best place to do that.”
Team INEOS Coach Xabier Artetxe has been impressed by what he’s seen from Rodriguez and explained how the team will look to aid his development.
He said: “Carlos has achieved some really good results in Spanish races and in the last two or three years he’s been one of, if not the best rider of his age. He was really motivated and he had all the options in his hands. He chose this one – to become a WorldTour rider and develop step by step. The most important thing is to have a really clear focus on where he is now, and where he’s going in the future. it’s going to be a big step and a challenge. We need to take care of him.
“He’ll start from zero, learn everything and find his place in professional cycling. I think he’s going to be a really good climber in the future. He’s an exciting talent, a bright guy doing a university course in engineering. It’s an important focus for him, keeping up his studies and his cycling.
“The goal is to be in a position where he can learn as much as possible. It’s not about the results or how he performs in the races. He’ll be in training camps and races with some of the best riders in the world and learn from them. He’s in the best university that he can be in for cycling, and if he’s smart then he’s going to absorb all this experience.”
Movistar rider Daniele Bennati retires
Here's the team's post:
Today (November 18), we bid farewell to Daniele Bennati, who is putting an end into a legendary, 18-year sporting career, with 54 victories in his palmarès, after three seasons wearing our colours. As a Movistar Team member, he's been a true sporting director on the bike, an invaluable piece of help for our leaders.
Daniele Bennati wins 2016 Tour of Denmark stage one.
Daniele is an example of elegance, both on and off the bike. Above his undeniable talent, there's always been a magnificent character, full of kindness and generosity. An injury to his back, made worse by a crash sustained at this year's Vuelta a Castilla y León -which also caused him a collarbone fracture-, will keep the Italian away from racing. Yet we're sure that the best is yet to come.
Giant's revenue over last 3 quarters up 5%
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News sent me this:
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Giant Group continues to post strong growth in revenue through the first three quarters of the year, driven by a 40% increase in European sales of its e-bikes.
Overall, the Taiwan manufacturer's revenue hit NT$47.7 billion ($1.6 billion), a 5% increase compared to the same period last year.
Giant, publicly traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, has seen its share price over the last nine months increased 52.4% from NT$144 ($4.71) to NT$219.50 ($7.19) from Jan. 2 through Nov. 14. Earnings per share for the first three quarters is NT$7.32 ($0.24).
Giant, riding a growing wave of e-bike demand, reported an 18.8% increase in before-tax income, hitting NT$3.9 billion ($127.7 million). It also set a record 33.5% increase in after-tax income of NT$2.75 billion ($90.1 million), the company said Thursday.
Thanks to sales in Europe and a double-digit recovery in sales in China's domestic market, the company's gross margin and operating margin also improved over 2018, the company said. "Giant saw healthy growth from all key markets in local currency with Europe taking the lead at double-digit growth in revenue for the first three quarters," the company said, adding that e-bike sales in Europe were the driving factor.
You can read the entire story here.
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