Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - the team Madison hand sling is as close as it gets at over 55kph
Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - looking straight into the Gent 6 ‘mosh pit’ with a full house and a lot of Belge beer, plus a great race
Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent
Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - the VIP drinking arena under the Kuipe Velodrome is a lot of fun
Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - L to R …. BiciSport supporters enjoying the Gent 6 hospitality in the VIP area with Eddy Verbust, Kathleen, Freddy Verleyen & Line
Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 19 Nov - Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing) in B grade supported by Jordan Reizes
Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 19 Nov - Jordan Reizes (centre - BiciSport Pilu racing) beside Matt Coy (right)
Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 19 Nov - Alex Gardiner (BiciSport Pilu Racing) was 5th in A grade supported by Jeremy Hopson
Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 19 Nov - John Robb (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in C grade
BiciSport goes to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024
If you wish to go then please contact MOR on 0417 403 244 if you are interested. A combination of four unique Flemish cyclosportives, three semi classics and three legendary Classics in a 28 day period. Added to which there are several cycling museums worth a serious look plus velodromes in Gent, Roubaix & now a new velodrome in Zolder.
Accommodation is based in Oudenaarde (in the heart of Flanders) and the tiny hamlet of Bachy (near Zone 6) for the Paris Roubaix Classic. The BiciSport offering does not include the Schelde Prijs in Antwerp nor the Amstel Gold Race in Valkenberg.
March
13 Mar - Nokere Course
16 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive
22 Mar - E3 Grand Prix
23 Mar - Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive
24 Mar - Gent Wevelgem
27 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen
30 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclosportive
31 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen
April
6 Apr - Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive, Paris Roubaix (Women)
7 Apr - Paris Roubaix
RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK
25 Nov
Giro Della Donna Cyclosportive (Warburton, Vic)
Sydney 1000 Track Open (Tempe Velodrome)
26 Nov
Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)
BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES
Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings
Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park
Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe
Tues 21 Nov & Thurs 23 Nov
Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee
Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am
Thurs 23 Nov
Belgian Waffle Ride @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am for CP laps
Sat 25 Nov
Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am
Sun 26 Nov
Depart Shark Park carpark near Cronulla @ 9.30am for Kurnell & return
Mercatone Uno Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1992-2003
A team with a long history but a tale in two parts. The original team started in 1992 sponsored by Mercatone Uno (supermarkets), with Zucchini & Medeghini as co sponsors. The team collapsed at the end of 1996 and reformed in 1997 with completely new management & riders. Bike sponsorship was both Pinarello & Bianchi on Campagnolo groupsets. New sub sponsors from 1997 included Girmi, Bianchi, Albacom, Stream TV, Scanavino & Saeco (being coffee).
The early version of the team from 1992 to 1996 was a classy lot - Adri Van Der Poel, Francesco Casagrande, Michele Bartoli & Mario Cipolini … a lot of brilliant bling there. The second version of the Mercatone team saw the previous bling shipped out the door but the new bling was even better. It was all about Marco Pantani who finished 3rd in the 1997 Tour de France then won the Tour-Giro double in 1998. Things turned ugly for Pantani with a failed drug test at the 1999 Giro (and only got eventually much worse). Pantani’s final Giro was 14th in 2003. Stefano Garzelli won the Giro in 2000 and fair to say he was on the “same performing enhancing juice” as poor Marco. It all ended in chaos and tragedy and Italian cycling really hasn’t been quite the same since.
Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Casagrande was a fine stage race & Classics competitor
Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Adriano Baffi was a noted sprinter and won the Giro Points Classification in 1993
Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Marco Pantani wins a Tour de France stage
Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Marco Pantani in yellow at the 1998 Tour de France
Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Bianchi team bike is a retro icon