Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, December 27, 2021

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2021 Tour de France | 2021 Giro d'Italia

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said. - Peter Drucker

---

Bill & Carol McGann's book TheStory of the Giro d'Italia, Vol 1: 1909 - 1970 is available as an audiobook here. For the print and Kindle eBook versions, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• Dec 27: Heusden Zolder Cyclocross

Upcoming racing:

• Dec 29: Diegemcross Cancelled
• 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

---

Wout van Aert solos to fourth cross victory in Dendermonde

Here’s the report from van Aert’s Team Jumbo-Visma:

Wout van Aert has also won his fourth cyclocross race of the season. The Belgian cyclocross champion did an excellent job on the technical and challenging course in Dendermonde by arriving solo at the finish.

After some time in the mud, Wout van Aerts solos across the finish line.

Van Aert had hoped for a better start but recovered immediately. Halfway through the race, an elite group of three, including Van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, and Toon Aerts, were calling the shots. Shortly after, the rider of Team Jumbo-Visma decided to go for it.

Van Aert showed that he had absorbed his team’s training camp well and rode solo to the finish with the utmost concentration. As a result, the 27-year-old rider was able to win for the fourth time in his still young cyclocross season. The next challenge awaits the day after the cross in Dendermonde. Van Aert will start in Heusden-Zolder after Christmas.

"It was a bit of a search for me in the beginning", Van Aert said afterward. "I was caught in a big group, and because of that, I lost my sight on the course. As the first lap went on, the situation improved, and I was able to anticipate the course of the race. I tried to put Van der Poel and Aerts under pressure early on, but the desired result did not materialise. Fortunately, the second attempt did pay off. The Christmas period is the best time to contest the various cyclocross races. I love the atmosphere that surrounds this sport, although it was a shame that the public was not allowed to be present today. I am happy with this victory, and I hope I can continue these results in the coming period. The next challenge will be tomorrow."

Lucinda Brand wins Dendermonde Cross

Here’s what Lucinda Brand had to say after finishing the race four seconds ahead of Clara Honsinger:

“It is never easy. It was very hard and there was a lot of running and trying to find the place where you could keep some speed, especially at the beginning. I had to find my way a bit and keep a little bit of patience to get in my rhythm. I had to trust that this is the course where in the end the strongest will come out in front."

Lucinda Brand wins again.

And here’s Clara Honsiger’s comment:

“I was trying to keep it as smooth as possible and see where I can make up time on the last lap. Maybe if it was five minutes longer it could have been mine.

“I remember this race from last year and even though it is flat it really saps energy. I was patient as I knew that a lot of the riders would fade towards the end and that is when I could really put the power down and make up some time”

BikeExchange acquires delivery service Kitzuma for $3.4 million

Bicycle Retailer and Industry News posted this:

SYDNEY, Australia (BRAIN) — BikeExchange, the Australia-based marketplace (and owner of the pro race team), has acquired Kitzuma, a bike-shipping service that launched last December.

BikeExchange, whose stock is publicly traded on the Australian stock exchange (ASX:BEX), said it will pay $3.375 for Kitzuma.

Kitzuma offers "white glove" bike delivery for retailers and for brands including Wahoo, Litespeed, Ventum, Quintana Roo, LeMond, Alchemy and Enve, generally for about $200. Bikes are picked up and delivered fully assembled in Kitzuma's vehicles.

The company's three founders, Tylor Essick, Chris Cosgrove and Tony Eggers, plan to stay with the company, BikeExchange said. Kitzuma is based in Asheville, North Carolina.

You can read the entire story here.

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary