Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, January 9, 2021
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2020 Tour de France | 2020 Giro d'Italia
The audiobook version of The Story of the Tour de France, Volume 1 is available.
The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none. - Thomas Carlyle
Upcoming racing:
- 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:
- Jan 1: GP Sven Nys Cyclocross
- Dec 26: Heusden-Zolder Cyclocross
- Dec 23: Azencross-Herentals
- Dec 20: Namur Cyclocross
- Dec 13: Gavere Cyclocross
- Dec 12: Scheldecross
- Nov 14: GP Leuven Cyclocross
- Nov 7 - 8: European Cyclocross Championships
Team Garmin-Australia Announced for 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling
The race organizer sent me this release:
Team Garmin-Australia has joined with AusCycling in announcing a new partnership as they join the 120 strong peloton racing in the 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling.
Led by World Tour star and INEOS Grenadiers rider, Richie Porte, Team Garmin-Australia will be joined by EF Education-NIPPO's James Whelan and four time track world title holder, Sam Welsford, among others.
Richie Porte at the 2019 Tour de France. Sirotti photo
“The quality of both the men’s and women’s teams is testament to the passion each of these riders have for racing and starting the 2021 season at the Santos Festival of Cycling,” said Stuart O’Grady, Men’s Race Director.
“We’re really excited that Team Garmin-Australia have committed to racing at this year’s Santos Festival of Cycling and are looking forward to them bringing their experience and energy to the race.”
The six-member women’s outfit is highlighted by leader and triple world champion Annette Edmondson, with rising stars Maeve Plouffe, Georgia Baker and Trek Segafredo’s Lauretta Hanson.
Annette Edmondson (shown at the 2018 Tour Down Under) will be at the Santos Cycling Festival.
“We are eager to showcase the quality of racing in Australia with both the men’s and women’s teams, but I’m particularly excited by the strength, skill and experience of the Women’s team,” said Kimberley Conte, Women’s Race Director.
“To bring in this quality of athlete and some of our future cycling stars is legacy to the Santos Tour Down Under.”
Team Garmin-Australia will join the teams lining up for the 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling with a field comprised of National Road Series, Continental and World Tour riders.
“The quality of teams and of the cyclists racing in this year’s event will really put Australian cycling on the map for passionate fans and cycling and sporting enthusiasts,” adds Event Manager, Ryan Healy.
“We are bringing some of the best WorldTour riders and of course the up-and-coming champions to race. Fans will have the opportunity to watch great racing, but to also watch our future champions in the making.”
Team Garmin-Australia’s participation will offer the race a dynamic element that incorporates riders from the World Tour stage, Commonwealth and Olympic Games and World Champion excellence. The combination of athletic prowess within Team Garmin-Australia is certainly a nod to the multi-faceted nature of the 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling.
Team Garmin-Australia: 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling:
MEN’S
Richie Porte - AUS
Sam Welsford - AUS
Kelland O’Brien - AUS
Leigh Howard - AUS
Luke Plapp - AUS
Alex Porter - AUS
James Whelan - AUS
WOMEN’S
Maeve Plouffe - AUS
Annette Edmonson - AUS
Georgia Baker - AUS
Ashlee Ankudinoff - AUS
Sarah Gigante - AUS
Lauretta Hanson – AUS
Neve Bradbury - AUS
Stuart O’Grady, Men’s Race Director:
“It’s great to see Richie back in Australia after his historic Tour de France podium and for him to be racing as a part of the Garmin-Australia National Team is really special. Let’s hope the fans come out in their droves to give Richie the pat on the back that he so well deserves”
Simon Jones, AusCycling Performance Director:
“We are really pleased to have the opportunity to race on what’s going to be home roads for the Australian Cycling Team. I want to take this opportunity to thank the organisers for continuing the race this year, and I hope it’s going to be a success for all taking part.”
Team Jumbo-Visma and ŠKODA join forces
Here's the team's announcement:
ŠKODA and Team Jumbo-Visma have joined forces. As of January 1 - and for a period of three years - ŠKODA will provide the successful cycling and speed skating team plus Team Jumbo-Visma’s team management with an extensive fleet of dozens of ŠKODAs.
As part of the collaboration between Team Jumbo-Visma and ŠKODA, the skating team and cycling team, including the sports directors, team management and soigneurs, will have a total of 57 cars at their disposal. ŠKODA deploys almost their entire range, with the SUPERB COMBI, OCTAVIA COMBI, KAMIQ, KAROQ, KODIAQ, FABIA, SCALA and the fully electric ENYAQ iV, which made its debut in the Tour de France last year and led the peloton as a command vehicle. In addition, ŠKODA provides Team Jumbo-Visma with spacious transport vans from sister brand Volkswagen.
Team Jumbo-Visma uses the vehicles to, among other things, follow and support top riders in the classics, grand tours and other well-known cycling races. But also for travel to and from the (inter)national ice rinks.
“With this agreement with Team Jumbo-Visma, we give the starting signal for a renewed, long-term and sportive cooperation”, explains Tjeerd Tuitel, General Manager of ŠKODA Netherlands. “Our positive intentions are initially expressed in a three-year agreement with the team, with the ambition to expand that partnership over time. ŠKODA has been closely involved in cycling both internationally and nationally for many years, and we have also worked closely with ice skating in the recent past."
"I am therefore proud that with this agreement, we are once again joining forces with Team Jumbo-Visma. With them, we have a partner who is among the absolute world top in both disciplines. We look forward to support both the cycling team and the speed skating team of Team Jumbo-Visma in their mission to be successful in the Tour de France and the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022.”
Richard Plugge, Director of Team Jumbo-Visma: “We are very enthusiastic about the return of ŠKODA as the car partner of our team. The link between ŠKODA and the cycling world is very strong and ŠKODA provides us with a reliable fleet. We are therefore very proud that ŠKODA will be part of our partner group again from 2021.”
At Team Jumbo-Visma, ŠKODA will meet a well-known partner: Cervélo. Like ŠKODA, the bicycle brand is part of Pon Holdings. The aim is to be successful together.
ŠKODA certainly has great affinity with cycling. In Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic, the company started producing bicycles in 1895, 125 years ago. Today, the ŠKODA is involved in cycling on many levels. For example, the brand has been associated with the Tour de France since 2004 as an official car partner and sponsor of the green jersey. The Vuelta a España and other popular (cycling) sports events can also rely on ŠKODA.
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