Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, January 8, 2022
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2021 Tour de France | 2021 Giro d'Italia
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. - Mother Teresa
Les Woodland's book Tour de France: The Inside Story - Making the World's Greatest Bicycle Race is available as an audiobook here. For the print and Kindle eBook versions, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- Jan 22, 2022: Flandriencross
- Jan 26 - 29, 2022: Challenge Illes Balears
- Jan 30 - Feb 6, 2022:
Vuelta a San JuanCancelled - Jan 31: GP Cycliste la Marseillaise
- Feb 1 -5: Saudi Tour
- Feb 2 - 6: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
- Feb 2 - 6: Etoile de Bessèges
- Feb 12, 2022: Gavere Cyclocross
Latest completed racing:
- Jan 1, 2022: GP Sven Nys Cross
- Dec 30: Azencross
- Dec 29:
DiegemcrossCancelled - Dec 27: Heusden Zolder Cyclocross
- Dec 19: Namur Cyclocross
- Dec 11: Ethiascross-Essen
- Dec 5:
Scheldecross Antwerp- Cancelled because of Covid-19 - Nov 13: GP Leuven
The team sent me this news:
The USA-based shipping platform ascends to naming rights partner of EF Pro Cycling, team to ride as EF Education-EasyPost in 2022 and beyond
EasyPost, which joined the EF Pro Cycling team as a partner and supplier at the Tour de France in 2021, will become a naming rights partner of the team starting this season. The team will ride as EF Education-EasyPost in 2022 and beyond.
EasyPost’s mission is to remove the technical complexities of logistics so customers can grow their businesses. The company, founded in 2012 as the first RESTful API for shipping, has thousands of customers shipping billions of dollars worth of packages annually.
The EF Education-Nippo team before the start of the 4th stage of the Vuelta. Sirotti photo
Jarrett Streebin, EasyPost founder and CEO:
“There was never a question where we’d get involved when we looked at cycling. I’ve followed JV’s work since Argyle and sideburns. He leads the world in his commitment to ethical cycling and pushing the boundaries of human performance. JV has also led cycling in his approach to nutrition and technology. In the same manner, EasyPost leads its industry in reliability and technology. So we’re excited to combine forces with the greatest American cycling team.”
Jonathan Vaughters, EF Pro Cycling CEO:
“From a sporting perspective, it’s absolutely wonderful to have Jarrett and EasyPost as part of the team. We align on the performance goals of the team, and how to get there together. EasyPost is a company built on innovation and efficiency, much like how we run our team; we’re always looking to improve in every way possible. We have a really good group of riders and staff, and we’re going to keep getting better, thanks to EasyPost. The business element of the partnership is something I’m excited to see us work on as well. Our job is to get the EasyPost name out there and recognizable as they expand their business and introduce EasyPost’s innovative and fast-growing business to the world.”
EasyPosts’ 10,000+ enterprises range in size from public companies to enterprise businesses, and EasyPost’s single integration allows businesses to streamline, automate, and gain end-to-end control of their shipping process with its suite of flexible solutions. Some of the biggest names in retail trust EasyPost for its reliable, cost effective, and innovative approach to shipping. EasyPost integrates global carriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL in order to bring customers a seamless experience.
All told, the EF Education-EasyPost cycling team moves more than 2,000 packages per year out of the Spain “Service Course,” shipping items such as team kits, bicycles, and enough components to service more than 200 bikes. Speed and efficiency are crucial for a cycling team, be that on the road or at the headquarters.
NIPPO, the team’s co-naming partner in 2021, remains a partner with the EF Pro Cycling organization and is a co-naming partner on the EF Education-NIPPO Development team.
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The squad sent me this announcement:
Vincent Lavenu, General Manager of the team:
“In 2022, our team is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. It is essential to continue to look to the future by continuing the momentum that has motivated us since 1992. Our story is above all a human adventure where everyone, riders, members of the management, as well as partners, have contributed to making, 30 years later, this AG2R CITROËN TEAM determined to shine on all the roads of the world. In 2021 we enjoyed a lot of satisfaction with 12 wins including a stage victory in each of the three grand tours. We are proud also to see the riders from our training team become authentic champions and seasoned professionals. In 2022, our riders, supported by an especially professional coaching staff, and with the support of loyal and involved partners, will aim to achieve an even fuller and more fruitful season with the same enthusiasm and freshness that have driven us for 30 years.”
The AG2R CITROËN TEAM, represented by manager Vincent Lavenu, and cyclists Benoît Cosnefroy, Paul Lapeira, Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Greg Van Avermaet, raised the curtain today in Paris to present the team and launch the 2022 season, along with André Renaudin and Bruno Angles, respectively CEO and Deputy CEO of AG2R LA MONDIALE, and Vincent Cobée, CEO of CITROËN.
André Renaudin, directeur général d’AG2R LA MONDIALE”
“Soon we will have spent a quarter of a century of partnership with the Vincent Lavenu team. What a great adventure and how many emotional moments we have shared! And what pride for our entire corporate body, our directors, policy holders and employees, to see the riders and the members of the management wearing our colors. We have confidence in the new generation of athletes to continue to embody our values of solidarity and performance. For this new season, we remain united by the same ambition: to see the team and our riders win great victories together and to climb on the podiums of the biggest races!”
Vincent Cobée, Directeur général de CITROËN:
“We are very proud to be part of this sporting adventure alongside AG2R LA MONDIALE and Vincent Lavenu’s cycling team. The first year of our partnership was full of emotion, and the team performed very well, notably with remarkable victories at the three grand tours. It confirmed its position as the first French team on the world stage. For this new season, we are confident in the potential of the team and can be even more ambitious. Without a doubt, 2022 will be a landmark year. Not only will the team celebrate its 30th anniversary, but we will also provide them with the C5 X, the new flagship of the Citroën range. Innovative, the C5X is the perfect representation of the Citroën philosophy, it brilliantly achieves the synthesis between the elegance of the sedan and the utility of the station wagon. I’m sure it will be an asset in supporting the team’s efforts at the biggest races of the season.”
The number: 29
29 riders make up the 2022 squad, from 9 nations: France, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United States, Finland, Australia, and Austria.
The news
The entire AG2R CITROËN team will be training in Dénia (Spain) from January 8 to 19. The first race of the season will be the Vuelta Mallorca (January 26-30).
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They should be easy to spot in races.
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The team sent me this news release:
The WorldTour outfit from Raubling has joined forces with the Dutch bike care and maintenance company ahead of the 2022 season. As part of a long-term deal, Dynamic Bike Care will become the exclusive supplier of bike care products to the team.
Under the partnership, BORA-hansgrohe will be employing a wide range of products in the areas of cleaning, lubrication and assembly, as part of the daily upkeep and maintenance of its equipment. However, the partnership also extends beyond the day-to-day utilisation of such materials to ensure the working order of its bicycles, with the team also playing a role in the development of new performance-focused products.
“From a technical and performance perspective, I can say that we are very lucky to have Dynamic Bike Care as a partner for the next few years. We’ll now have the opportunity to use top-level products, such as the Speed Potion Wax (the winner of the Bike Motion Award 2021 in the “Performance Improvement” category). These products are of a very high quality and will definitely help the team to work towards achieving our goals on the road.” – Gerd Kodanik, Head of Technical Development at BORA – hansgrohe
“Dynamic Bike Care is extremely proud to be part of the selected group of top brands in the cycling industry that BORA – hansgrohe partners with to ensure riders and staff have access to the best possible products. Signing a partnership with a world class team like BORA – hansgrohe solidifies our position in the peloton and enables us to continuously develop top notch bike care products in the same high pace we have been doing since we acquired the brand in 2020” - Rob Fleu, Managing Director at Dynamic Bike Care
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