Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
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2020 Tour de France | 2021 Giro d'Italia
The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell. - Andrew Carnegie
Upcoming racing:
- Oct 23: Ruddervoorde Cyclocross
- Oct 24: Ronde van Drenthe
Latest completed racing:
- Oct 17: Chrono des Nations
- Oct 17: Veneto Classic
- Oct 16: Grand Prix du Morbihan
- Oct 13: Giro del Veneto
- Oct 11: Coppa Agostoni
- Oct 10: Paris-Tours
- Oct 9: Il Lombardia
- Oct 7: Gran Piemonte
- Oct 7: Paris-Bourges
- Oct 6: Milano-Torino
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2019: A Year of New Faces is available as an audiobook here.
Movistar confirms women’s 2021 team roster
Here’s the team’s announcement:
The Movistar Team confirmed Monday its women’s roster composition for 2022, which will be the fifth season of the Sebastián Unzué-led squad -third as part of the recently-created UCI Women’s WorldTour category- in the top tier of women’s cycling.
Twelve riders from the current Telefónica-backed outfit will continue to wear the Blue jersey next season: Katrine Aalerud (NOR), Aude Biannic (FRA), Jelena Erić (SRB), Alicia González (ESP), Barbara Guarischi (ITA), Sheyla Gutiérrez (ESP), Sara Martín (ESP), Emma Norsgaard (DEN), Lourdes Oyarbide (ESP), Paula Patiño (COL), Gloria Rodríguez (ESP) and Annemiek van Vleuten (NED). They will be joined by two signings: the already confirmed move of Sarah Gigante (AUS) and a second reinforcement, confirmed by the team today, with Arlenis Sierra (CUB).
Annemiek van Vleuten winning the 2021 Dwars door Vlaanderen. Gomez Sport photo
In her sixth pro season, after five years as part of Aldo Piccolo’s Astana / AR Monex structure (2017-2021), Sierra (Manzanillo; 1992) will bring the Movistar Team her strong all-around abilities: she’s got great resilience, does well at hilly terrains and has a really strong sprint. She’s completed a fantastic 2021 late season: after her victory at the second of the Navarra Classics in May, she took two stage wins and the GC of the Giro Toscana, stage one of the Tour de l’Ardèche, the Tre Valli Varesine one-day race and a 5th spot in the Flanders World Championships’ road race.
Arlenis Sierra: “I’m so thankful to the team for their confidence. They really want to help me continue to develop myself and reach my best potential. I want to take advantage from this new experience, make the most out of this two-year contract, achieve even better results and improve as a rider and person.”
As the 2022 roster is confirmed, the Movistar Team would also like to wish all the best, and thank for their contribution, to the two departing riders: Alba Teruel, a founding member of the Blue squad in 2018, and Leah Thomas, a big protagonist of the Spanish team’s big success in 2021.
Marianne Vos takes second World Cup win in Iowa City
Vos’ Jumbo-Visma team posted this report:
Marianne Vos took her second World Cup victory in Iowa City in convincing fashion. The 34-year-old Dutch rider finished solo after a strong performance in warm conditions. Vos recaptures the leader’s jersey with her second victory in the World Cup cross and can start her rest period with a good feeling.
Vos (in orange jersey) racing in the 2021 World Championships. Sirotti photo
Vos wanted to make it a tough race and took the lead right from the start. Denise Betsema and Kata Blanka Vas could initially bridge the twelve-second gap. Vas fell away after a mistake, after which Vos made her decisive attack on the last passage of the steep Mount Krumpit
“The intervals came in quick succession, so it was tough,” Vos said afterwards. “I didn’t let Betsema and Vas come back on purpose to add to the tension. They approached quickly, and I knew it was still far. It was a great experience here in America. We had three beautiful races and the atmosphere was amazing. With these results, I can go home with great satisfaction. I’ll take a short break and then I will build up to the second part of the season.”
Dorel Sports, the parent group of Cannondale, Schwinn and GT will join up with Pon Holdings, the parent of Cervelo, Santa Cruz, and Gazelle
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News sent me this update:
MONTREAL (BRAIN) — Dorel Industries has agreed to sell Dorel Sports to Pon Holdings for $810 million in cash.
Dorel Sports is the parent group of Cannondale, Schwinn, GT and Mongoose. Pon Holdings is the parent of many bike brands, including Cervélo, Santa Cruz, and Gazelle. Pon, a privately held Dutch group with businesses in several sectors, recently acquired the Mike's Bikes retail chain in California.
"By combining Pon.Bike and Dorel Sports, a leading bicycle company in the world will be created, with a combined revenue of around 2.5 billion euro ($2.9 billion)," Pon said in a release Monday.
Janus Smalbraak, the CEO of Pon Holdings, said, "Today's step is a milestone in the creation of a world-leading bike company with a variety of quality brands. With the acquisition of Gazelle in 2012 we launched a strategy that step by step led us to the 1.5 billion in revenue bike group that we are today, with great comfort and performance bicycle brands, of which 70 percent electric. As a result of this strategy, we have now reached a highlight with the acquisition of Dorel Sports. They have a rich history with their iconic bike brands all with an impressive heritage. Schwinn is an institute in the US. Caloi the pride of Brazil. And Cannondale is a truly global brand with an excellent reputation. Dorel Sports really is complementary to Pon.Bike and that's why this is such a logical step. Together we can further cater the ever growing demand for quality and electric bikes, whether it's for urban use, leisure or sports. Biking is not only healthy, it also plays a critical role in fighting inner-city congestion. It's one of the most sustainable ways of transport. We are determined to make bikes a powerful part of mobility."
Dorel will retain its juvenile and furniture divisions and said it expects to use net proceeds to strengthen its balance sheet, return capital to shareholders and for general corporate purposes. The sale is expected to close before the end of the first quarter of 2022.
You can read the entire story here.
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