Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2020 Tour de France | 2020 Giro d'Italia
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. - Aesop
Current racing:
- Dec 12: Scheldecross
Upcoming racing:
- Dec 13: Gavere Cyclocross
- Jan 19 - 24, 2021: Santos Festival of Cycling
- Jan 28 - 31, 2021: Challenge Illes Belears
Latest completed racing:
- Nov 14: GP Leuven Cyclocross
- Nov 7 - 8: European Cyclocross Championships
- Oct 31: Cyclocross Koppenberg
- Oct 24: Cyclocross Ruddervoorde
- Oct 20 - Nov 8: Vuelta a España
- October 3 - 25: Giro d'Italia
Lotto Soudal extends with Campagnolo
The team sent me this update:
Lotto Soudal is happy to announce that it renewed its contract with premium brand Campagnolo for 2021. The Italian company will supply the Lotto Soudal WorldTeam, as well as the Ladies and U23 teams with wheels and groupsets.
“For over 80 years, the quality and precision of Campagnolo's products have contributed to the victories of the greatest cycling champions of all time. From Coppi, Merckx and Indurain to Nibali, Pogačar, Ewan and Gilbert. We are proud to feature in that list”, says Lotto Soudal General Manager John Lelangue.
“It’s more than ten years that we share the roads together with Team Lotto Soudal and we are delighted to enhance our partnership for the next season. We had incredible memories over the years and we are sure more will come in 2021. Having even the Ladies and the U23 teams will provide a full testing platform for our product“ added Campagnolo Marketing Manager Nicolò Ildos.
Bicycles have certainly changed over the last few years.
“The Campagnolo groupset is definitely the nicest groupset to look at on a bike. It would be my only choice if I ever had to design a bike", says Caleb Ewan.
The Lotto Soudal WorldTeam will use the Ridley Noah Fast Disc and Ridley Helium SLX Disc bikes equipped with Campagnolo Super Record EPS 12 Speed electronic Disc Brake groupset and Campagnolo Bora 35 Disc Brake and Campagnolo Bora 50 Disc Brake wheels.
“It’s always nice to see that the best riders from all time have used Campagnolo”, says Philippe Gilbert. “I use the Bora 50 because it’s a wheel able to go everywhere, it can descend and climb really good - I’m really happy with this.”
Caleb Ewan adds: “My favourite wheel combination is the Bora 50 in the back and front. They’re what I like to sprint on and even in the mountain stages they’re light enough to go through the mountains.”
"I think Campagnolo is a lot of tradition and history, a little bit of a lifestyle - it’s definitely a special product”, says John Degenkolb. “The first time I used Campagnolo was when I was 11 years old, and for quite some years. Then already it worked smooth and trustable. Our newest groupset is of course from another level.”
The Campagnolo Super Record EPS 12 Speed electronic Disc Brake groupset is indeed the state of the art in terms of performance and quality. It combines the disc brake system with the electronic 12-speed transmission.
Lotto Soudal’s head mechanic Steven Van Olmen: “Fast shifting, always precise and effortless for the cyclist, and a very gradual gear ratio are just some of the extraordinary characteristics of the EPS groupset, whose performance is ensured by the tried and tested Campagnolo disc brake system and the AMS (Adjustable Modulation System) and Reach adjustment management options. It makes our work even a bit easier.”
The Lotto Soudal Ladies and U23 Teams will use the Ridley Helium SLX Disc bikes equipped with Campagnolo Super Record EPS electronic rim brake groupset and Campagnolo Bora One 35 and Campagnolo Bora One 50 wheels.
Bianchi announces new look bikes for GreenEDGE Cycling's 2021 season
Here’s the team’s press release:
GreenEDGE Cycling is pleased to announce the new look Bianchi bikes for the 2021 season. The number one bike in the UCI WorldTour receives a total renewal for 2021 with an invigorated colour scheme and graphic approach.
The purpose of the aesthetic is boldness and visibility in the bunch while retaining the elegant sophistication for which Bianchi is renowned, and a total alignment between the rider and their equipment. Despite this new approach, the look of the new GreenEDGE racing machine's remain loyal to the high standards of Italian design.
Here's the 2021 bike.
Claudio Masnata – Bianchi Marketing and Communication Manager:
“The new look has been devised in close partnership between Bianchi and GreenEDGE, helping to bring together our aligned communication aims, by treating the bicycle and rider as a single integrated entity.”
The marque’s signature celeste is joined by a new turquoise-celeste shade that adds an element of modernity, and these two are contrasted against carbon black – emblematic of the company’s approach to innovation and marginal gains. The end result is a dynamic, forward-thinking colour scheme which creates the effect of colours flashing diagonally through the frame.
Darach McQuaid – Chairman GreenEDGE Cycling:
“For GreenEDGE Cycling, the 2021 season is a new era, a new beginning, and racing it with an iconic brand like Bianchi, will be a great honour. Over the past nine years we have achieved incredible results in the UCI WorldTour.
"Bianchi will bring their unique Italian style and innovative technologies to the team and together we will aim to achieve great success. We have worked hard in these last months to put together the best team, with the best riders and staff, and we can’t wait to begin this new journey with Bianchi.”
Reparto Corse: Pedigree Refreshed
Bianchi was the first bicycle company in the world to create a racing division and the Reparto Corse name has been associated with competitive excellence since the days of Fausto Coppi.
Today, the branding of Reparto Corse has been reimagined to mark this new chapter in Bianchi performance history and gives a start to a structured and ambitious project. While the look has been updated, the dedication to finding competitive advantages, developing new technologies, and the desire and dedication to excel, remain unchanged. It is Bianchi’s goal to spread that passion and enthusiasm from elite riders in the UCI WorldTour to cyclists all around the world.
The new Reparto Corse logo will appear on the livery of GreenEDGE Cycling’s racing bicycles, including selected custom components.
Simon Yates, Michael Matthews, Amanda Spratt and their teammates will pursue victory in the world’s biggest races with the finest racing technologies at their disposal.
Specialissima Disc: A high-performance all-rounder, which will excel in every race situation but is at its best in GC battles when the 750g frame enhances the explosive climbing ability of the world’s best riders. The power of lightweight.
Oltre XR4 Disc: Bianchi’s aerodynamic race bike, delivering a superbly rigid frame with reactive handling. Designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics, and tested and optimised in the wind tunnel. Ideal for sprints, breaking away and hilly courses.
Aquila: The world famous, world-beating Bianchi time trial bike. It is super aero and fully integrated, with an extra-light build to support riders on hillier courses. Unparalleled control and efficiency in the race of truth.
Bianchi Racing Equipment:
- Shimano Durace Di2 disc
- Shimano C40 – C60 disc wheelset
- Reparto Corse by Vision/Fsa cockpit
- Pirelli P Zero tires
- Fizik saddles
- Tacx bottles/cages
- Garmin computers
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary