Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
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2021 Tour de France | 2021 Giro d'Italia
I don't try to describe the future. I try to prevent it. - Ray Bradbury
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 2: 1976 - 2018 is available as an audiobook here. For the print or Kindle eBook version just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- Dec 27: Heusden Zolder Cyclocross
- Dec 29: Diegemcross
- Dec 30: Azencross
- Jan 1, 2022: GP Sven Nys Cross
- Jan 16 - 23, 2022: Le Tour de Langkawi
- Jan 22, 2022: Flandriencross
- Jan 26 - 29, 2022: Challenge Illes Balears
- Jan 30 - Feb 6, 2022: Vuelta a San Juan
- Feb 12, 2022: Gavere Cyclocross
Latest completed racing:
- Dec 19: Namur Cyclocross
- Dec 11: Ethiascross-Essen
- Dec 5:
Scheldecross Antwerp- Cancelled because of Covid-19 - Nov 13: GP Leuven
- Nov 7: Elite Men European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 6: Elite Women European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 1: Koppenberg Cyclocross
Here’s the report from the Daily Mail:
A man has been charged with robbery by police investigating the break-in at the home of Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish.
Romario Henry, 30, from Lewisham, south east London, was arrested after Cavendish, 36, and his model wife Peta Todd were set upon by four armed men in a raid at their house in Ongar, Essex, at around 2.35am on November 27.
Mark Cavendish at the 2021 Gent Six Day before his crash.
The 30-year-old is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court today charged with two counts of robbery.
Two 27-year-old men – one from Gillingham and one from Camberwell – were also arrested last week and have been released on bail until January 12, Essex Police said.
Last month, the athlete and his wife were set upon by armed thugs in a planned raid at their house.
Their children watched in terror as their parents were attacked and threatened and were left 'incredibly shaken' by the incident.
None of the family sustained serious injuries but the burglars made off with a Louis Vuitton suitcase and two high-value watches.
The attack came just six days after Cavendish suffered two broken ribs and a collapsed lung in a horrific crash in Belgium.
Speaking at the time Mr Cavendish said: 'As I'm sure you will understand, this incident has left our family extremely distressed – not just myself and Peta but our children as well, who feared for their lives and are now struggling with the after-effects.
'No one should have to experience the sort of violence and threats made against us, let alone this happening in a family home – a place where everyone should feel safe.
'The items taken are simply material goods and our priority at the moment is to make sure we all recover from the incident as a family, and we know this is likely to take some time.'
You can read the entire story here.
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The team sent me this press release:
Geraint Thomas has signed a new two-year contract to remain an INEOS Grenadier.
Thomas, who has been with the team since its inception in 2010, has signed a contract that will take his time with the team to 14 years.
And the 2018 Tour de France winner is entering 2022 as determined as ever: “I’m still super motivated to work hard and train hard. That’s what I love doing. I still really enjoy riding my bike, pushing myself. When you can see the finish line of your professional sporting career, you want to make the most of it every day and make it all count.
Geraint Thomas at the 2021 Dauphiné. Sirotti photo
"Obviously I had a tough end to 2021 but up until the crash at the Tour, I was in the best shape I’d been. I’m still very motivated to perform in the biggest races. I’ll probably look at doing the Ardennes which I’ve never done properly. That’s exciting and new, and hopefully then go on the Tour to play a big role there.
"I'm super excited about the last few years of my career with the team. It’s going to be fun - that’s the main thing. People keep asking me what my role will be and obviously I want to keep winning myself, but being a part of a winning team and having fun with some of my best mates is as important - and to do that I’ll need to be at my best.”
The Welshman, now 35, has spent the last two weeks at the team’s 2022 pre-season camp in Mallorca, preparing for his 16th season as a professional.
"The team has evolved a lot over the past 12 years. The vibe in Mallorca camp compared to recent years feels different with lots of young, new guys and fresh faces. Everyone is excited about going forwards as a team, closer together. I want to play a key role in that.”
INEOS Grenadiers Deputy Team Prinicipal Rod Eliingworth said: “G has been with us since the start. He’s won the biggest races, mentored younger riders, been a brilliant ambassador for the sport and, throughout, helped to inspire countless people to get on their bikes.
"We know - and he knows - that there is still more to come. He is hungry for more success at the highest level. Next season is going to be a real fight. The competition is stronger than ever. We are going all in as a team and G is going to be a big part of that for us.”
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Bicycle Retailer & Industry News posted this:
OSAKA, Japan (BRAIN) — Shimano says it successfully petitioned the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to have an e-commerce website taken down because it was posing as a Shimano company site.
Shimano warned the public about the site in October.
"After discovering the site in question, we promptly sent a petition for its closure to the relevant agencies and organizations, including sending a warning letter, and we have confirmed that the site was closed in early December," Shimano announced Wednesday. "We will continue to take resolute action against any suspicious websites posing as our company or our group."
Visitors to the site now see a notice from ICANN that it has been suspended "as a result of dispute resolution proceedings pursuant to the Uniform Rapid Suspension System (URS)."
According to ICANN, the URS is a quicker, alternative to its regular Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy, for cases where rights holders are "experiencing the most clear-cut cases of infringement."
You can read the entire story here.
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