Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, November 27, 2021
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2021 Tour de France | 2021 Giro d'Italia
Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal. - T. S. Eliot
Upcoming racing:
- Dec 5: Scheldecross Antwerp
- Dec 11: Ethiascross-Essen
- Dec 19: Namur Cyclocross
- 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: Vuelta a San Juan
- Feb 12, 2022: Gavere Cyclocross
Latest completed racing:
- Nov 13: GP Leuven
- Nov 7: Elite Men European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 6: Elite Women European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 1: Koppenberg Cyclocross
- Oct 31: Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse Cross
- Oct 24: Ronde van Drenthe
- Oct 23: Ruddervoorde Cyclocross
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 2, 1976 - 2018 is available as an audiobook here.
The team sent me this announcement:
Team BikeExchange women, to be named Team BikeExchange Jayco in 2022, has confirmed its 13-rider roster for the next season, with the goal of using its diverse talent across the board, as it sees its most significant roster change since the team’s inception in 2012.
“The work done over this last year, working together with performance and technical team, has been very intense and I do believe that we have managed to put together the best line-up possible for the 2022 season,” General Manager Brent Copeland stated. “We have deeply analysed what has been done in the past and how we have to manage our future. Last season wasn’t the easiest for us, but with the talent and determination of our riders and staff members, we believe can step back up in the WorldTour ranking once again.”
Strength in diversity
2022 will see six new riders from four different countries join the Australian outfit with their attributes ranging from raw power to track speed and valuable racing experience.
The influx of different traits and abilities should allow the squad to be competitive in an array of races as it looks build on the 2021 season and develop into the future.
“Next year is really exciting for us as we have six new riders joining us, all with different strengths,” Head Sport Director Martin Vestby explained. “This is something that I think will be to our advantage, having a real variety of riders that can challenge for the victory from many different race scenarios.
"In the past we have often had one or two main leaders, next year we will of course have leaders for certain target races but in general, we are known as a team that gives opportunities to more riders and will continue doing that.”
Amanda Spratt (shown at the 2020 Tour Down Under) will race in 2022 for Team BikeExchange Jayco
A mix of new and old
The shake-up sees just three core riders remain (Amanda Spratt 11th season, Jess Allen 7th season, Georgia Williams 6th season) with all other riders having spent one year or less with the squad. With this, it brings a flair of fresh motivation and enthusiasm as the Australian outfit begins its second decade within the rapidly progressing women’s WorldTour peloton.
With new rider ages ranging from 22 to 33-years-old, the squad is hoping this will go hand-in-hand, with the older wisdom in the team complimenting the youth.
“It is almost like a new, fresh start for us in 2022,” Martin continued. “We will see quite a big change to the roster compared to previous years and this is an exciting challenge for us, and I think it will make the whole team step-up a level.
"The older riders in the team, like Spratt who has been here since 2012, will be able guide the new recruits and show them our team culture and riding style and likewise, they can learn a lot from the new riders and their ideas.
"It will be really interesting to see how the six new riders can progress and develop with us in 2022, as they will all be making the step up into the World Tour with us. This is a big step for any rider, but we saw the likes of Teniel and Urška making great progression this season, and both were able to win UCI races in their first year with us.”
Team BikeExchange Jayco women for 2022:
Jess Allen (AUS, 28)
Ariana Fidanza (ITA, 26)
Amanda Spratt (AUS, 34)
Teniel Campbell (TTO, 24)
Alexandra Manly (AUS, 25) New rider for 2022
Georgia Baker (AUS, 27) New rider for 2022
Nina Kessler (NED, 33) New rider for 2022
Chelisie Tan Wei Shi (SIN, 31) New rider for 2022
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (AUS, 23) New rider for 2022
Kristen Faulkner (USA, 28) New rider for 2022
Ane Santesteban (ESP, 30)
Georgia Williams (NZL, 28)
Urška Žigart (SLO, 24)
2022 Team BikeExchange Jayco women’s squad stats:
No. of riders: 13
No. of Australians: 5
No. of internationals: 8 (1x NZL, 1x ITA, 1x TTO, 1x NED, 1x USA, 1x ESP, 1x SLO, 1x SIN)
Youngest rider: Ruby Roseman-Gannon (22)
Oldest rider: Amanda Spratt (34)
Average age: 27.7
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Alaphilippe’s Team Deceuninck-Quick Step posted this news:
Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s rider takes home the prestigious prize for the third consecutive year.
Julian Alaphilippe received the Velo d’Or Français, which rewards the best French cyclist of the year, the cherry on the top of another memorable season for the World Champion. The 29-year-old from Saint-Amand-Montrond started the campaign with the rainbow jersey on his shoulders, and took three wins in the first six months of the season: a Tirreno-Adriatico stage in Chiusdino, Flèche Wallonne and the opening stage of Le Tour.
Julian Alaphilippe wins the World Road Championship again in September 2021. Sirotti photo
But his finest moment of 2021 came in late September, when Alaphilippe successfully defended his world title in Leuven after sailing away from the rest of the field with one of his trademark attacks inside the final 20 kilometers of the race. It was a resounding success that sent him straight into the history books, as the first ever Frenchman to win the race in back-to-back years.
“I am really happy and I want to thank everyone who voted for me. I had a good season, a special one, as I got to discover what it means to race in the rainbow jersey – in my opinion, the most beautiful in the entire world. Every time I put it on, I tried to do my best, and I am excited at the thought that I will continue to wear it for another twelve months. This makes me even more motivated for next year and the goals I have”, said Julian.
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Bicycle Retailer & Industry News posted this:
WELS, Austria (BRAIN) — Rossignol Groupe has sold Felt Bicycles to the Pierer Mobility, best known as the parent company of the KTM motorcycle brand, Pierer announced Tuesday.
While Pierer has a long history in gas-powered bikes, it is moving aggressively into e-bikes and other low-voltage two-wheelers in recent years. In the U.S. the Austria-based company began selling sells its Husqvarna e-bikes in the U.S. and Canada, earlier this year, primarily through its motorsports dealerships.
Stefan Pierer, the CEO of Pierer Mobility, said, "The acquisition of Felt Bicycles fits perfectly with the overall strategy of Pierer E-Bikes – that of becoming a global player in the field of two-wheel mobility, with both electric and non-electric bikes, across all cycling categories. With FELT we are able to expand our bicycle portfolio and also strongly enter the North American market with an established, high-performance brand. The company is also heavily involved in competition, which brings an extra attraction for us."
The company bought the Felt brand assets and business assets in Europe and North America. Felt employees will be integrated with the Pierer E-BIkes Gmbh group.
The Felt sale follows Rossignol's offloading of its Time bike and Time pedal businesses earlier this and completes the French mega-brand's exit from a multi-brand strategy in cycling. Rossignol will continue to sell Rossignol-branded bikes.
You can read the entire story here.
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