Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
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2020 Tour de France | 2020 Giro d'Italia
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. - Wayne Gretzky
Upcoming racing:
- Dec 23: Azencross
- Jan 19 - 24, 2021: Santos Festival of Cycling
- Jan 24 - 31, 2021: Vuelta a San Juan
- Jan 28 - 31, 2021: Challenge Illes Belears
Latest completed racing:
- Dec 20: Namur Cyclocross
- Dec 13: Gavere Cyclocross
- Dec 12: Scheldecross
- 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
Bahrain-McLaren to be Team Bahrain Victorious in 2021
Here is the team’s press release:
Team Bahrain McLaren announced today that it will compete as Team Bahrain Victorious in the 2021 season as part of a change in its strategic direction.
This transition represents an exciting new chapter in the team’s journey which will expedite its vision to showcase the ambition and optimism of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the world. The inclusion of Victorious into the team’s name serves as a constant reminder of its goal to achieve success at the highest level both on and off the bike.
The performance-first ethos instilled during the 2020 season was evident through the team’s five top-ten finishes across the Grand Tours. Team Bahrain Victorious carries over this ethos and spirit of optimism which is symbolized by the striking blue touches on the new kit design, which additionally celebrates the national colour of Bahrain.
To complement the existing rider line-up which includes Mikel Landa, Pello Bilbao, Wout Poels, Dylan Teuns, Sonny Colbrelli and Matej Mohoric, the team has signed Jack Haig, Jonathan Milan and Gino Mäder.
Dylan Teuns (shown racing in the 2020 Ruta del Sol) will be racing for Team Bahrain Victorious in 2021. Sirotti photo
The team’s founder, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa commented: “Cycling is one of the most challenging sports which requires dedication, discipline and perseverance. It’s these values that are needed to take on endurance sports which are capable of promoting a better lifestyle for all. Team Bahrain Victorious will reflect our vision for building a performance-first team that aims to inspire and win at the highest level.”
His Highness is an avid sportsman who found his passion for cycling through triathlon and launched a series of initiatives to endorse cycling, including the Bahrain Cycling Academy which nurtures and develops local talent and reduces the barriers to participation.
The team’s strong connection to the Kingdom of Bahrain is represented by the proud support of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bapco, Batelco, National Bank of Bahrain and Alba amongst many others.
The Kingdom of Bahrain has been involved in UCI WorldTour cycling since 2017 with the support of Merida Bikes, who will continue to be an integral partner of the team, supplying race-winning bikes and continuous innovation alongside their technical partners FSA cockpits, Vision wheels, Prologo saddles, Continental tires and Shimano power meters.
In addition to Merida, Team Bahrain Victorious will also be working with several of pro cycling’s most impressive technical partners – including leading-edge helmet and eyewear brand Rudy Project, cycling luggage innovator Scicon, Elite trainers and bottles, performance apparel brand Nalini and the most innovative tool brands Snap-On and Bahco.
Global news broadcaster CNBC, bespoke tailors Cad & The Dandy, Rocket Espresso and Bristot have also renewed their partnership with the team for 2021.
Writer and adventurer Roy Wallack dies after mountain biking accident
The Los Angeles Times posted this terrible news:
Writer and adventurer Roy M. Wallack has died after a mountain biking accident in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Wallack, 64, was a longtime contributor to the Los Angeles Times, focusing on fitness and the outdoors, and the author of sports and fitness books. [ He also was an editor at Triathlete, Bicycle Guide & California Bicyclist]
He was an avid hiker, runner and cyclist who completed extreme challenges such as the 750-mile Paris-Brest-Paris bike tour and the Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley.
Wallack was biking with friends on the Guadalasca Trail, a popular route in Point Mugu State Park, when he crashed while riding down a steep trail and hit his head on a large rock about 9:30 a.m. Saturday, said Capt. Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Friends who were at the scene said he might have had a medical issue that caused him to fall.
They and an EMT and a cardiologist who happened on the scene performed CPR until a helicopter arrived, the friends said. Rescuers attempted to save him, but he died at the scene, Buschow said.
Wallack’s work for The Times spanned barre classes, triathlons, kayaking, the L.A. Marathon and more. He penned a column on gear for many years, keeping fitness fans in the loop about the hottest must-haves.
You can read the entire story here.
Thieves swipe $160,000 in bikes from Specialized headquarters
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News posted this:
MORGAN HILL, Calif. (BRAIN) — Thieves made off with museum pieces and bikes owned by employees of Specialized Bicycle Components last Sunday, Dec. 13.
According to police bikes valued at more than $160,000 were taken from the company’s headquarters during a daytime break-in and robbery.
Prototypes and personally-owned bikes, as well as bikes on display in the company’s museum, located in the lobby of the world headquarters in Morgan Hill.
The tally is 18 bikes gone missing. Among them are irreplaceable, custom bicycles made for cycling celebrities.
Mike Sinyard, who founded the company in 1974, lost two Stumpjumpers in the incident. Also taken were Ned Overend’s national championship-winning S-Works Fatboy, an S-Works Tarmac ridden by 2016 Olympic triathlon champion Gwen Jorgensen, an S-Works Shiv ridden by Tony Martin at the 2012 Olympics, a yellow S-Works Tarmac ridden by Fabian Cancellara at the 2010 Tour de France, Peter Sagan’s Paris-Roubaix winning S-Works Roubaix and his custom-painted S-Works Venge from the 2019 Tour de France, as well as an S-Works Epic ridden by Jaroslav Kulhavy to at the 2012 Olympics, reports PinkBike.
Morgan Hill police said a white box truck and a maroon Toyota 4Runner were used to transport the stolen bikes.
You can read the entire story here.
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