News Shorts - 14 June

St Ives to Broome (WA) @ 10 June - approaching the WA-NT border

St Ives to Broome (WA) @ 10 June - Eric Dole (BiciSport) enjoying the journey out the middle of somewhere

St Ives to Broome (WA) @ 11 June - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) sitting second wheel approaching Lake Argyle in Western Australia

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Recovery Ward - Best wishes to Raoul Westbrook after a car accident and time in RNS in recovery. Best wishes Raoul and a speedy recovery

  • Update @ 14 June - Raoul did take a heavy knock from the car with several broken bones (collarbone/ribs/pelvis) but Raoul is in remarkably good spirits and on the way to recovery. Raoul will be transferred out of RNS shortly for rehab on the northern beaches.

MELBURN ROOBAIX - COVID CAUSES A DATE CHANGE TO 29 AUGUST

• The Melburn Roobaix Cyclosportive set down for late June is now scheduled for 29 August courtesy of the latest Melbourne Covid lockdown

SINGLETON STATE TEAMS TIME TRIAL - RESERVE SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER

• By the time you read this it could be time to dust off the time trial beast and start thinking about the NSW Team Time Trial Championships on Saturday 30 October at Singleton

• BiciSport training sessions for the prospective TTT teams will commence in early August at Terrey Hills based out of Miramare Gardens (Sandstone Cafe on Myoora Rd).

• Details are in the Special Events section of this website

ST IVES TO BROOME (WA) - GREETINGS FROM THE WEST AUSTRALIAN BORDER

• The Burke & Wills peloton led by Eric Dole has arrived at the Western Australian border & currently sits near Lake Argyle (Western Australia). The next milestone is the big turn left past Lake Argyle (WA) and whilst Broome isn’t on the horizon just yet it is certainly coming

BOWRAL CLASSIC ADDS SATURDAY CRITERIUM TO THE OCTOBER WEEKEND

• The Bowral Classic has added a Saturday criterium based around the Bradman Oval on the outskirts of Bowral. Well done Bowral Classic for making a great weekend even better.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• June 19 - Wombeyan Caves Handicap (Southern Highlands)

• June 19-20 - Gunnedah Weekend (CyclingNSW)

• June 20 - Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (North Sydney CC), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 15 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 16 June

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 17 June

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 19 June - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30amx

Bonjour Professional Cycling Team (France) - 2000-2002 (with Sylvain Chavanel pictured)

Bonjour had its roots in System U (1984), Castorama (1990), then Jean Rene Bernandeau arrived in the shape of Team Vendee U in 1992. Bonjour arrived in 2000, then morphed into Brioches le Boulangere (2003), then onwards towards Bouygues Telecom, BBox, Europcar and finally today with Total Direct Energie and just perhaps Peter Sagan & Co in 2022 ?

Sponsors were Bonjour (home improvement chain), groupsets were Shimano, framesets by Time (one of the first monocoque carbon framesets) ... as an aside Tom Boonen (QuickStep) rode the highly desirable Time carbon framesets in the 2006 season. In the fashion stakes the French blue team kit was a real stunner (yes, even you would look good in this classy French team kit)

The team itself was based in the Vendee heartland of French cycling and it would be a touch unfair to say it was all about Sylvain Chavanel and Thomas Voekler but then again maybe it just was. Chavanel won the Four Days of Dunkirk stage race in 2002 but his more famous career days followed in QuickStep (everyone goes better in QuickStep) and Voekler’s fame went rogue when racing under the Europcar banner at the TdeF. In looking at the team photo it was a real struggle to get past Engoulvent, Geslin, Pineau and Rous as helpers of note. Maybe it was a case of if you looked good you raced good, but then again maybe not

News Shorts - 7 June

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Craig Pager (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) finishing in the lead group, just holding off the approaching Scratch group

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Craig Pager (in Bunch 7) on the Cullerin Climb

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Randolph Baral (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the Cullerin Climb

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Randolph Baral could be heard urging his Bunch 5 compatriots “onwards & upwards” but most preferred the crowded comfort zone at the back of Bunch 5

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing-centre) on the Cullerin Climb

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Matt Coy in the centre of Bunch 4 with his race face set to “on now”. Matt always gives 100% and then some.

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Ian Cocks (BiciSport Pilu Racing) has a deceptively relaxed style and looked to be doing it comfortably in Bunch 3

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Ian Cocks was on a good day in Bunch 3 until a flat tyre ended his effort

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 May - After the Gunning finish with Matt Coy, Randolph Baral & Craig Pager

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Ian Cocks (BiciSport Pilu Racing) was on a good day in Bunch 3 but suffered a slow puncture which prematurely ended his day

Ken Dinnerville @ Gunning @ 6 June - Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing) after the finish

West Head Time Trial @ 6 June - Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the way to 8th

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Dinnerville Handicap @ Gunning @ 6 June

  • The Ken Dinnerville is a long established Australian road handicap at the usual 100k (plus/minus) and for many years ran on roads in the Illawarra region behind Dapto. Residential development behind Dapto necessitated a switch to Gunning. The Gunning course runs along the old Hume Highway (beside the Melbourne-Sydney rail link) from Gunning to Breadalbane for two laps of 45k per lap with the peloton spread over 9 bunches. Peter Budd (BiciSport) won the inaugural Dinnerville Handicap in Gunning in 2019.

  • BiciSport starters were Craig Pager (Bunch 7), Randolph Baral (Bunch 5), Matt Coy (Bunch 4) & Ian Cocks (Bunch 3).

  • The race itself was a cracker - all bunches stayed together through lap 1 but things got super interesting half way through lap 2 … bunches 7-8-9 all merged at the front (including Craig Pager), whilst the Scratch group merged with bunches 2-3-4-5-6. At the nail biting finish the Scratch group finished barely 25 seconds behind the overall winner and you could see both groups nearly merging on the finish line. A handicap race never looked so exciting. Craig Pager finished well up in the sprint for (say) 20th (?), with super rides by Ian Cocks (until he punctured towards the finish), Matt Coy looked very good in Bunch 4 and Randolph Baral did a ton of work in Bunch 5.

• Eastern Creek Raceway @ 6 June - Ian Grainger finished top 10 in C grade

• West Head Time Trial @ 6 June - Tom Green finished 8th from 25 starters in 1 hour 16 minutes

• Recovery Ward - Best wishes to Raoul Westbrook after a car accident and time in RNS in recovery. Best wishes Raoul and a speedy recovery

  • Update @ 7 June - Raoul did take a heavy knock from the car with several broken bones (collarbone/ribs/pelvis) but Raoul is in remarkably good spirits and on the way to recovery after another 5 weeks in RNS.

SINGLETON STATE TEAMS TIME TRIAL - RESERVE SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER

• By the time you read this it could be time to dust off the time trial beast and start thinking about the NSW Team Time Trial Championships on Saturday 30 October at Singleton

• BiciSport training sessions for the prospective TTT teams will commence in early August at Terrey Hills based out of Miramare Gardens (Sandstone Cafe on Myoora Rd).

• Details are in the Special Events section of this website

ST IVES TO BROOME (WA) - GREETINGS FROM KATHERINE (NT) … TURN LEFT

• The Burke & Wills peloton led by Eric Dole continues half way through the Northern Territory & currently sits near Katherine (Northern Territory). The next milestone is the big turn left at Katherine and headed for the NT-WA border crossing in a few days

BOWRAL CLASSIC ADDS SATURDAY CRITERIUM TO THE OCTOBER WEEKEND

• The Bowral Classic has added a Saturday criterium based around the Bradman Oval on the outskirts of Bowral. Well done Bowral Classic for making a great weekend even better.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• June 12 - Canyonleigh (Southern Highlands)

• June 13 - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 8 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 9 June

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 10 June

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 12 June - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 4 June - L to R … Tony Rabbidge, Paul Worby, Nigel Smith & Richard Mulberry

Domo Farm Frites Pro Cycling Team - Servais Knaven takes victory at Paris Roubaix 2001

The easiest way to view Domo Farm Frites is through the career history of Patrick Lefevere (one of the greatest team managers of all time). Patrick Lefevere managed Marc (1980), Capri Sonne (81-82), Lotto (85-87), TVM (88), Domex (89-91), GB MG (91-94), Mapei (95-2000), Domo (01-02) and QuickStep (03 through to today). So where does the brief stint with Domo sit in all of this lot ?.

Firstly the basic bits - Domo (carpets), Farm Frites (fast food), Latexco (bedding), Vermarc (clothing), groupsets were Campagnolo and framesets the iconic Eddy Merckx. Latexco are still on the QuickStep jerseys to this day

If Domo was the segway from Mapei into QuickStep then some things never changed. Mapei took the complete podium at Paris Roubaix a remarkable THREE times and Domo Farm Frites continued that domination in 2001 with Knaven, Museeuw & Vainsteins. The Domo team roster was loaded with pre-Mapei and post-Quickstep super talent be it Museeuw (02 Roubaix winner), Peeters, Axel Merckx, Rodriguez, Vainsteins (World Pro Road Champion), McEwen (sprinter), Virenque (02 Paris Tours Classic winner), Hoste, Steegmanns, VanDenBroucke, Nuyens and Vansummeren.

Domo Farm Frites Pro Cycling Team - Johan Museeuw The Lion of Flanders

Domo Farm Frites Pro Cycling - The Servais Knaven Eddy Merckx from his 2001 Paris Roubaix victory

News Shorts - 31 May

Singleton Teams Time Championships are set for Saturday 30 October at Singleton. Training dates now announced in the BiciSport Special Events section of this website.

SINGLETON STATE TEAMS TIME TRIAL - RESERVE SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER

• By the time you read this it could be time to dust off the time trial beast and start thinking about the NSW Team Time Trial Championships on Saturday 30 October at Singleton

• BiciSport training sessions for the prospective TTT teams will commence in early August at Terrey Hills based out of Miramare Gardens (Sandstone Cafe on Myoora Rd).

• Details are in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Recovery Ward - Best wishes to Raoul Westbrook after a car accident and time in RNS in recovery. Best wishes Raoul and a speedy recovery

  • Update @ 29 May - Raoul did take a heavy knock from the car with several broken bones (collarbone/ribs/pelvis) but Raoul is in remarkably good spirits and on the way to recovery after another 6 weeks in RNS.

ST IVES TO BROOME (WA) - GREETINGS FROM KATHERINE (NT) … TURN LEFT

• The Burke & Wills peloton led by Eric Dole continues half way through the Northern Territory & currently sits near Katherine (Northern Territory). The next milestone is the big turn left at Katherine and headed for the NT-WA border crossing in a few days

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• June 5-6 - National Cyclo Cross Series (Port Adelaide, SA)

• June 5 - Hanging Rock Handicap (Southern Highlands)

• June 6 - West Head Time Trial (Manly CC), Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 1 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 2 June

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 3 June

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 5 June - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

TEAM COAST FROM 1999-2003

Team Coast (Germany) had something of a short life span and regrettably the money ran out in early 2003 (you simply couldn’t sell enough jeans to make it all fly). The team lasted through the second half of 2003 courtesy of Bianchi and they performed well at the TdeF 2003. Sponsors were Coast (clothing & jeans), groupsets were Campagnolo and framesets were the iconic, highly desirable celeste Bianchi. Team kit was gold-black but they also had a blue-black option that was also easy on the eye.

The team itself was a highly fancied group albeit some maybe past their “best before date” but a classy peloton nevertheless. Alex Zulle won the 2002 Tour of Switerland, plus a stage at Paris Nice, and the team featured at the Tour of Spain (courtesy of several notable Spanish team members on the team roster) . Jan Ullrich led the team at the 2003 Tour de France with team mates Thomas Liese (rode in Aussie at the Comm Bank Classic in the late 1990’s), Angel Casero, Fernando Escartin, Manuel Beltran, Mauro Gianetti, Lars Michaelson, Frank Hoj and Roland Meier.

Team Coast - Alex Zulle

Team Coast - Alex Zulle climbing in the 2002 Tour of Switzerland

Team Coast

News Shorts - 24 May

Taree Team Time Trial @ 22 May - Stew Campbell (left) and Randolph Baral combined in the 2 person teams event

Taree Team Time Trial @ 22 May - Stew Campbell & Randolph Baral (BiciSport Happy Wheels) at the new Taree event

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Recovery Ward - Best wishes to Raoul Westbrook after an accident and time in RNS in recovery. Best wishes Raoul and a speedy recovery

• Taree Time Trial @ 22-23 May - Stew Campbell & Randolph Baral (BiciSport Happy Wheels) ventured up the NSW north coast to Taree for the inaugural Taree Chrono. A podium spot beckoned but a late puncture (to Stew) ended the team effort.

ST IVES TO BROOME (WA) - GREETINGS FROM BANKA BANKA NORTHERN TERRITORY

• The Burke & Wills peloton led by Eric Dole continues half way through the Northern Territory & currently sits at Banka Banka (Northern Territory). The next milestone will be the NT-WA border crossing in a few days along the Buchanan Highway.

DE RONDE 104 NOW OUT ON YOUTUBE

• For fans of Ronde documentaries then Ronde 104 has just been released. Simply brilliant.

Ronde 104 - Van der Poel versus Van Aert

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 29 May - Bundanoon Handicap (Southern Highlands)

• 30 May - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 25 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 26 May

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 27 May

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 29 May - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

MELBURN ROOBAIX COBBLES RETURN ON 27 JUNE IN MELBOURNE

• Its quirky as the Melburn Roobaix cyclosportive finds all of the cobbled back lanes of inner city Melbourne to loosely replicate the French original (well maybe not) over some 40k. The finish is at the Brunswick Velodrome for a great day out.

Melburn Roobaix on 27 June has it all ! ! … its got cobbles and yes its super quirky

Index Alexia Professional Cycling Team - 2002 was a one lire hit wonder

Sometimes in cycling the back story is far more interesting than the racing itself. Who needs racing when politics and dollars or lire collide. So is the story of the one shot wonders at Index Alexia where the story got in the way of truth and a complete lack of real lire or dollars. Sponsors were Index (Internet ticketing services), Alexia (a Bergamo aluminium company), Ciocc frames (but branded as Coppi for some reason). Nobody knew what Blue Merchandising did as a sponsor but it didn’t really matter as no money was ever forthcoming (no surprises there). The team manager was Piercarlo Pedruzzi … who had the dream (or nightmare) but no dollars to keep the good ship Index afloat from day one. In fact the team ran out of money by February (of 2002) of the year it all started … the team itself was more like a lycra clad Ponzi scheme.

Team riders were an odd bunch of fading talent and Paolo Salvodelli very much the one and only main man. Paolo somehow actually won the 2002 Tour of Italy for Index Alexia but only when several other close competitors got busted for doping and arrested by the local police (that does help the DNF list). At the end of the day poor Paolo was still an unpaid leader of a bankrupt team who somehow took the coveted 2002 Giro pink jersey.

News Shorts - 17 May

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 16 May - Craig Pager took 6th in B grade on a delightful Merckx 525

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 16 May - Ian Grainger and Craig Pager

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 8 May - the Division 2 peloton climbs Gibraltar Range and the three BiciSport Happy Wheels riders can be spotted (L to R - Klayton Smith, Darren Benson & Travis Shields)

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 8 May - Travis Shelds (left) with Klayton Smith in Division 2

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 8 May - Darren Benson takes a feed at Mount Mitchell after 120k

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Cootamundra Handicap @ 15 May - Peter Budd chose a filthy day to open his 2021 CyclingNSW Open campaign. Heavy crosswinds greeted the strong field around the picturesque rolling hills on a rectangular circuit between Cootamundra & Temora. Fair to say that all bunches tore themselves apart in the strong crosswinds and Peter finished 105th.

• Heffron Park @ 16 May

  • Craig Pager finished a strong 6th in B grade. Craig almost pulled off the win and broke away at the bell lap and had a 200m lead and was caught in the final corner.

  • Ian Grainger in C grade got in the live tv “break of the day”, then got “the kick of the hammer” then went on to finish a good 7th.

• Central West Gravel Ride - Karl Hoad was sighted out at Dunedoo (wherever that is !!). The Central West Circuit does Mudgee-Gulgong-Dunedoo-Mendooran-Ballimore-Dubbo-Wellington and back to Mudgee. . -

Central West Gravel Ride @ 15 May - Karl Hoad (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on the gravel trail

The usual behind the scenes brilliance from De Ronde 104 at the 2020 edition on YouTube

ST IVES TO BROOME (WA) - GREETINGS FROM MOUNT ISA

• The Burke & Wills peloton led by Eric Dole continues towards the Northern Territory & currently sits at Mount Isa (Queensland).

De RONDE 104 NOW OUT ON YOUTUBE

• For fans of Ronde documentaries then Ronde 104 has just been released. Simply brilliant.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 22-23 May - Taree Two Person TT (Manning Valley CC), Greenhills Handicap (Southern Highlands)

• 23 May - West Head Road Race (Manly CC), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 18 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 19 May

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 20 May

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 22 May - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Tulip Computers Cycling Team - 1990-1992

A very classy team loaded with talent (both riders & managers) and its a pity it only lasted three years. Sponsors were Tulip Computers, framesets were either Rossin or Koga Miyata, groupsets Shimano, Gowa (clothing), motor vehicles (Interleasing), Levior (helmets). Team management was the legendary Jose De Cauwer (ex pro for TI Raleigh, Belgian National Coach, TV presenter) and Dirk Wayenberg (ex pro with Ijsboerke). The team kit is a much sought after retro item - a nice light green design that really presents well.

Team riders were a very talented group for both Tours & Classics. Adri Van Der Poel (father of, a true Classics & cyclocross specialist), Jerry Cooman (sprinter), Herman Frison, Soren Liholt, Allan Pieper, Peter Peters (sprinter), Colin Sturgess (track specialist), Michel Zanoli (sprinter), Ronny Van Holen (Classics), Luc Roosen (won Tour of Switzerland) & Jim Van der Laer (climber). All in all a very talented grupetto managed by De Cauwer & Wayenberg at the highest level.

Tulip Computers Cycling Team - Allan Pieper

Tulip Computers Cycling Team - Allan Pieper on the Flanders cobbles

News Shorts - 10 May

Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Division 2 and Darren Benson (BiciSport Happy Wheels) passes Feed Zone 1 in a breakaway

Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Travis Shields in the Division 2 peloton passing Feed Zone 1

Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Klayton Smith (Division 2) passes through the Feed Zone

Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - After the Division 2 finish with (L to R) … Klayton Smith, Travis Shields & Darren Benson

Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Klayton Smith passes the finish line in Division 2 after a great team result

Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - The BiciSport support team included Alex Simmons, Steve Dixon (both pictured), Peter Shields

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 8 May - Grafton & Inverell both offered some delightful accommodation off the beaten track

Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Clarence River outside Grafton at the BiciSport accommodation at dawn

Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - the Happy Wheels BiciSport team car for 2022 ? …. sighted at the BiciSport accommodation on the Clarence River … a 1926 Chevrolet International

VALE DAVID HUMPHREYS

• Very saddened to report the recent passing of David Humphreys. David was born in 1936 and competed in the Individual Road Race at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. A long time resident of Collaroy and an inspiration to anybody who sought his learned company and advice. David was a member of both Northern Sydney & Manly cycling clubs. One can only imagine the conversation between David & Ross Martin going on about now … miss you both

ST IVES TO BROOME (WA) - GREETINGS FROM LONGREACH

• The Burke & Wills peloton led by Eric Dole continues towards the Northern Territory & currently sits at Longreach (Queensland). More reports next week.

GRAFTON TO INVERELL CLASSIC - BICISPORT REPORT

• All roads lead to Grafton this week with Round 2 of the National Road Series and the Grafton to Inverell Classic on Saturday 8 May over 228k. The Classic hosted over 300 entries with BiciSport fielding seven starters. In Division 2 it was Darren Benson, Travis Shields & Klayton Smith with Division 3 for Dudley Hoskin, Randolph Baral. Tom Green & Craig Pager.

• So, what is in store in this Australian epic ?. Seven shorter climbs out of Grafton before “the biggie” which is the 18k climb of Gibraltar Range. The first Feed Zone comes at Mount Mitchell at the 120k mark, followed by the second Feed Zone at 160k at Glen Innes. The finish at Inverell beckons at 228k. Tom Green neatly summed it up … three laps of West Head before the 18k climb, then three more West Head laps after. Simple really.

  • Division 2 - Darren made a move up Gibraltar & was caught between the two man breakaway & peloton for a long time. Travis & Klayton supporting the move in the peloton. It eventually regrouped before Glen Innes with Darren & Travis contesting the bunch gallop. A super team ride by Darren, Travis & Klayton

  • Division 3 - Dudley was in a two man break which formed half way up Gibraltar Range and lasted 60k towards Glen Innes - at the Feed Zone the break had a four minute lead on the Div 3 peloton containing Tom & Randolph, with Craig just behind. It all came back together at Glen Innes. The eventual Div 3 winner attacked solo and the Happy Wheels team took up the challenge and Dudley, Randolph & Tom put it all down at the front of the Div 3 peloton in hot pursuit (both Randolph & Tom would pay for their efforts towards the end and were tailed off just before the Inverell finish). Dudley looked set for a potential podium result until his front wheel was shredded by a fellow competitor only 500m from the finish line & Dudley crashed heavily (thankfully nothing broken) and Duds was registered as a “Did Not Finish” with the finish line in sight. So … 227.5k completed and DNF it was.

• Congratulations to all riders in loading up the dedication, the full on commitment, Mike Lawson for making it happen, and Steve Dixon, Alex Simmons & Peter Shields for assisting on the day.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 15-16 May - Cootamundra Weekend (CycNSW), Wombeyan Caves Handicap (Southern Highlands)

• 16 May - Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (NSCC), Heffron Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 11 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 12 May

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 13 May

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 15 May - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

ONCE Professional Cycling Team - 1989-2006

If you were looking for a Spanish super team then ONCE was it. Sponsors were ONCE (charity), Liberty Seguros (insurance), Wurth (tools), Deutsche Bank, Astana, Eroski (supermarkets) & Castelli (clothing). Framesets were either Giant or Look, and groupsets Mavic or Shimano. The team kit was yellow, but pink during the Tour de France. Both bike setup and team kit were simple as they were highly highly desirable. Team manager was Manolo Saiz.

If Italy (and Belgium) had the Mapei super team then please step aside for ONCE as this was one serious unit loaded with serious talent. Its easier to list what they didn’t win - where they won numerous single day Classics (like Fleche Wallonne in Belgium), medium length stage races (in Paris Nice or Romandy), or multiple stages in the Grand Tours. Laurent Jalabert won the Tour of Spain (1995), then Alex Zulle took the same event in 1996 & 1997. Roberto Heras won the Tour of Spain in 2004. Notable team members included Jalabert, Zulle, Olano, Beloki, Nosal, de Galdeano, Heras, four Aussies (in Davis, Jonker, Stephens & Hodge), Chozas, Lejarreta, Mauri, Breukink, Sastre & Scarponi.

ONCE Professional Cycling Team - Marino Lejarreta

ONCE Professional Cycling Team - Alex Zulle in pink

News Shorts - 3 May

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 2 May - So much for a pensive looking Jeremy Hopson (BiciSport Pilu Racing) on the A grade start line as Jeremy took a fine win

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 2 May - Mike Taylor (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) completes a fine effort at Mudgee

St Ives to Broome (WA) @ 30 Apr - Eric Dole in a BiciSport blue jersey having a XXXX in southern Queensland. The grupetto has now passed through Roma (Queensland)

St Ives to Broome (WA) @ 30 Apr - Eric Dole (left) in cotton country

“Bernard” @ The Spit @ 2 May - After a minor gear box leak (thankyou BiciSport member Steve Dixon with sorting that out) plus some new tyres it was time to take the 1975 Tour de France Team Peugeot out for a Sunday morning coffee at dawn above The Spit. Conditions were ideal and being early there was nobody out and about.

BiciSport at the Grafton to Inverell Classic on 8 May - Gibraltar Range awaits the seven BiciSport starters next Saturday. The Grafton Classic is not all about Gibraltar Range with six registered climbs before the Gibraltar Range and another five climbs afterwards. There are three King of the Mountain sprints (25k @ Cattle Creek, 87k @ Gibraltar Range & 174k @ Glen Innes).

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 2 May - Mike Taylor represented BiciSport at Mudgee

• Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne @ 2 May - BiciSport had three starters with an A grade victory for Jeremy Hopson and Ian Grainger & Raoul Westbrook in C grade.

GRAFTON TO INVERELL - 7 BICISPORT STARTERS IN 2021

• All roads lead to Grafton this week with Round 2 of the National Road Series and the Grafton to Inverell Classic on Saturday 8 May over 228k. The Classic hosts over 300 entries with BiciSport fielding 7 starters. In Division 2 its Darren Benson, Travis Shields & Klayton Smith with Division 3 for Dudley Hoskin, Randolph Baral. Tom Green & Craig Pager.

• So, what is in store ?. Seven shorter climbs out of Grafton before “the biggie” which is the 16k climb of Gibraltar Range. The first Feed Zone comes at Mount Mitchell at the 120k mark, followed by the second Feed Zone at 160k at Glen Innes. The finish at Inverell beckons at 228k. Congratulations to all riders in making the commitment and Mike Lawson for making it happen.

NEW START FINISH FOR BOWRAL CLASSIC IN OCTOBER

• The new start finish for 2021 Bowral Classic is the iconic Bradman Oval in Bowral

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 8 May - Grafton to Inverell Classic (NRS, NSW), Hanging Rock Handicap (Southern Highlands)

• 9 May - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 4 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 5 May

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 6 May

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 8 May - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

RDM Flanders Professional Cycling Team @ Oudenaarde Belgium - 20 years & still going strong

Any cycling team based in Oudenaarde Belgium carrying the motif of Flanders Cycles is one full of history and full commitment to the sport. A prominent Oudenaarde local club (ASFRA Cycling Club) sits behind the Flanders Cycles team, a team that dabbles in all levels of Belgian domestic races from youth up to Under 23 & Elite categories.

Dan Lloyd (the current GCN TV Presenter) raced for Flanders Cycles (pictured above) on his way to being a World Tour rider with both Cervelo & Garmin professional teams. If you are serious about your cycling then this is an important first step. The Flanders Cycles team has also hosted BiciSport riders in Conor Tarlington (2016) and Peter Livingstone (2018). Flanders team management is Ronny & Franky Assez who are fully committed to the sport.

Flanders Cycling Team - Tour of East Flanders (Under 23) in 2018 with Peter Livingstone (on the right)

Flanders Cycling Team - Tour of East Flanders (Under 23) - Peter Livingstone

Flanders Cycling Team - Tour of East Flanders (Under 23) - Peter Livingstone (second left)

RDM Flanders Professional Cycling Team in 2002 including Ronny Assez

News Shorts - 26 April

West Head Road Race @ 25 Apr - Travis Shields went solo on both the opening lap but more importantly on the last one as well to take the win.

West Head Road Race @ 25 Apr - With Travis up the road taking the victory flowers, the peloton sprint contained Dudley Hoskin (3rd - second left), David Munro (centre) & Darren Benson (right)

West Head Road Race @ 25 Apr - Tom Green (right) did a power of team work at the front of the peloton followed by Darren Benson, Dudley Hoskin, David Munro & Craig Pager

West Head Road Race @ 25 Apr - Travis Shields & Dudley Hoskin on the podium

West Head Road Race @ 25 Apr - Craig Pager (BiciSport Anytime Fitness)

West Head Road Race @ 25 Apr - Randolph Baral & Stew Campbell (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

West Head Road Race @ 25 Apr - Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing) in the sprint finish

West Head Road Race @ 25 Apr - David Munro & Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing) both rode well at West Head

Brisbane MTB Race @ 18 Apr - Klayton Smith (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

St Ives to Broome @ 24 Apr - Eric Dole outside the Exchange Hotel … that must be a small Bistro and even smaller accommodation !!

St Ives to Broome @ 24 Apr - maybe racing to see who gets under the hot shower first

St Ives to Broome @ St Ives @ 20 Apr - Eric Dole (left) with BiciSport team mate Steve Holland

St Ives to Broome @ St Ives @ 20 Apr - the long march to Broome begins

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• West Head Road Race @ 25 Apr - BiciSport had a strong start list with the Grafton to Inverell Classic just a couple of weeks away courtesy of Dudley Hoskin, Mike Lawson, Tom Green, Stew Campbell, Darren Benson, Randolph Baral, Matt Coy, David Munro, Craig Pager & Travis Shields. Travis & Dudley went podium and big shout out to Tom Green for laying it down for the team.

• Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 25 Apr - Ian Grainger, Peter Verhoeven & Raoul Westbrook all featured

COFFS HARBOUR TO SYDNEY & SEAN MURA

• Sean Mura (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) is doing Coffs Harbour to Sydney for the Chain Reaction Charity Fund together with Andrew Bloxham.

• The charity ride commenced Saturday 24 April and concludes in St Leonards Park this coming Friday. Ride details are at www.chain-reaction.org.au/event/2021-sydney/home

AUSCYCLING NATIONAL MASTERS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS - JULY DATE ANNOUNCED

• The last minute date change is due to the last Brisbane Covid lockdown and is now 28-31 July at the Anna Meares Velodrome

NEW START FINISH FOR BOWRAL CLASSIC IN OCTOBER

• The new start finish for 2021 Bowral Classic is the iconic Bradman Oval in Bowral

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 1 May - Melbourne to Warnambool Classic (NRS, Vic), Hanging Rock Handicap (Southern Highlands)

• 2 May - Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive (Mudgee, NSW), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 27 Apr

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 28 Apr

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 29 Apr

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 1 May - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Coffs Harbour Club Ride @ 25 Apr - Alex Simmons (BiciSport + V) doing the Sunday morning club ride with Coff Harbour CC members. It included a celebratory coffee at Sawtell

Androni Professional Cycling Team (Italy) - 1996 to 2021 and still going

If anything displays clever Italian longevity then that is this team and Mr Italian Cycling himself in Gianni Savio. QuickStep has Patrick Lefevere, FDJ a Marc Madiot, well then Italy has Gianni Savio since 1996. You name it … Gianni has leveraged the deal with both sponsors & riders.

Team sponsors are too many and varied to name, some impossible to name with Androni Giocattoli (children’s toys), Kross (bikes), Lauretana (mineral water), Selle Italia (cycling components), Tre Colli (industrial brushes), Venezuala (a whole country no less !!), Bottecchia (bikes), Sidermec (tin plate processing & treated steel) and how about Serramenti PVC Doquigiovanni (aluminium window frames) for a sub sponsor.

Living in the shadow of the cycling World Tour must be exceedingly fragile but Savio survives with finding young talent and either using it, but sometimes even “leveraging” it in the case of a prospective Egan Bernal. Savio could sell coal to Newcastle or beer to the Belgians. Yes … and be assured an Androni rider is always but always in the television “break of the day” getting sponsorship exposure.

Team riders are as many as they are varied from Trent Wilson (Aust) to the likes of Franco Pellizotti, Danilo Hondo, Gabriele Missaglia, Danielle Nardello, Leo Moser, Jose Serpa, Rubens Bertogliati, a youthful Egan Bernal, Ivan Sosa, Pierino Gavazzi & a future star in the Italian Mosnada. If you have a heartbeat and have real talent, then Gianni will call you …

Androni Professional Cycling Team - Ivan Sosa

Androni Professional Cycling Team - a youthful Egan Bernal & Gianni Savio

Androni Professional Cycling Team - circa 2008 with Gilberto Simoni (centre) beside Gianni Savio (again in the photo) with sponsors squeezed onto every corner of the jersey

Androni Professional Cycling Team - Pierino Gavazzi wins the Tour of Tuscany

Androni Professional Cycling Team - Gianni Savio (centre) always but always gets in the team photo

News Shorts - 19 April

Congratulations to Lise Benjamin (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) who was recently awarded the NSW Cyclist of the Year Award in the Masters Women M7 category. Well done Lise.

Lise just won the Queensland State Criterium Championship for the Masters Women M7 category on 17 April

HEZ Criterium @ Kurri Kurri @ 17 Apr - Before the HEZ start with clean bikes and tyres that had some air … it couldn’t last. L to R in Karl Hoad, Ian Grainger & John Robb (BiciSport Anytime Fitness). Big thanks to Karl for providing the BiciSport team car for the day.

HEZ Criterium @ Kurri Kurri @ 17 Apr - every picture tells a story as John Robb & Karl Hoad await their fate on the HEZ start line in steady rain. Both punctured and Karl had a minor rubber side up (uninjured)

Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) and the St Ives to Broome epic awaits. The Tuesday morning send off is from St Ives (Pattisons Patiisiere) cnr Stanley St & Mona Vale Rd St Ives. Meet up time is 7.15am & departure time is 7.45am .

St Ives to Broome (WA) is a bit of a trip …

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• HEZ Criteriums @ Kurri Kurri @ 18 Apr - Karl Hoad & John Robb rode Division 4 & Ian Grainger Division 5. As per “standard HEZ operating procedures” both Karl & John got early punctures (everybody gets punctures at HEZ) & Ian was a peloton finish in filthy wet conditions.

• Eric Dole is headed for St Ives to Broome (in WA) in 51 ride days, 10 rest days & Eric kindly offered a response in a recent interview at Sandstone Cafe @ Terrey Hills

  • Why ?

    • It was Jeremy Lowes’ idea approximately 8 months ago, a “great opportunity”, and no there is no charity aspect nor a fund raiser

  • Who ?

    • Jeremy Lowe, Eric Dole, Peter Rau, Boon Yeo and Mark McCorkindale

    • The driver/support crew is Loz McCorkindale

  • Where

    • See the attached map above. Its mostly 100k-120k per day, with a couple of 180k days and a combination of camping & cabins. All roads are bitumen. The hilly days are the first 3 days getting over the Great Dividing Range from St Ives.

  • Bikes

    • Eric is riding a standard Giant (DEFI) which is a Gran Fondo style bike. Groupset is Shimano on 53/36 crankset on 30/11 rear sprockets. Tyres are 28 (by width) with some of the other riders are on 32.

  • Food

    • We’ll share the cooking and Loz in the support car will provide the ride food

  • Getting Home

    • Not 100% sure yet as plane travel is currently expensive, we may drive part of the way home … heck, why not ?…. .

AUSCYCLING NATIONAL MASTERS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS - JULY DATE ANNOUNCED

• The last minute date change is due to the last Brisbane Covid lockdown and is now 28-31 July at the Anna Meares Velodrome

NEW START FINISH FOR BOWRAL CLASSIC IN OCTOBER

• The new start finish for 2021 Bowral Classic is the iconic Bradman Oval in Bowral

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 19 Apr - Monday Night Criteriums @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 6.15pm (Penrith CC)

• 24 Apr - Great Otway Classic Cyclosportive (Geelong, Vic, Bundanoon Road Race (Southern Highlands CC)

• 25 Apr - West Head Road Race (Manly CC), Camden Roubaix Road Race (Camden CC), Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 20 Apr

  • St Ives to Broome Farewell Ride @ Pattsons Patissiere @ 7.15am for 7.45am departure

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Wed 21 Apr

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 22 Apr

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 24 Apr - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

John Crouchley (BiciSport Master) also masters his own Mead (a combination of honey, water & yeast), a very tasteful honey based alcoholic (O% to 20% ! !) brew. Crouch’s brew is 12%-14% alcohol by volume and packs the same punch as a Tour de France stage finish. The “bitter” version took first place at the Royal Easter Show 2021 and the website is Great Southern Mead & Honey if you would like some …

Not to be outdone, the John Crouchley manufactured Mead also took Silver in the “sweet’ Mead category at the Royal Easter Show 2021.

Mapei Professional Cycling Team - 1993 to 2002

Mapei is a name unique in cycling - both in the scale of the financial support extended to the sport and the outstanding results achieved by the team over a decade. Mapei (glues & plastics) were supported by sub sponsors Clas, GB (supermarkets), Briobi & QuickStep (flooring). Framesets were Colnago and groupsets Shimano. Mapei was Giogio Squinzi and the cycling team was in the mould of Patrick Lefevere.

The team won big (Classics, Grand Tours, National & World Championships) & won everywhere not least being the complete podium at the Paris Roubaix Classic in 1996, 1998 & 1999. Team members were a who’s who in Museeuw, Bartoli, Tafi, Ballerini, Faresin, Rominger, Bugno, Olano, Evans, Camerzind, Steels, Peeters, Axel Merckx, Nardello, Friere, Bettini, VanDenBrouke, Cancellara & Escartin. Thats not a team … its a juggernaut

Mapei Professional Cycling Team - Paulo Bettini

Mapei Professional Cycling Team - Gianni Bugno at the 1997 Tour of Langkawi

Mapei Professional Cycling Team - Patrick Lefevere (in the Mapei team car) with Wilfred Peeters

Mapei Professional Cycling Team - Paris Roubaix 1996 … Museeuw leads Tafi

Mapei Professional Cycling Team - Paris Roubaix 1996 and Mapei goes 1-2-3 at the Roubaix Velodrome with Museeuw, Bortalami and Tafi

Mapei Professional Cycling Team - 1998 Paris Roubaix & Franco Ballerini on the way to victory

Mapei Professional Cycling Team - Paris Roubaix 1999 and Mapei goes 1-2-3 at the Roubaix Velodrome with Peeters, Tafi and Steels

News Shorts - 12 April

Mt Keira (above Wollongong) recce ride @ 10 Apr - Randolph Baral and new BiciSport member Craig Pager at the top of Mt Keira in preparation for the Grafton to Inverell Classic on 8 May

Eric Dole does St Ives to Broome on 20 April …. Yes, Broome (WA) not Broom (in your garage) at 51 ride days, 10 rest days and a whole lotta NSW, Qld, NT and lets not forget WA.

Full details and an interview with Eric Dole in next weeks BiciSport News.

In the meantime if you’d like to be a part of the send off … reserve Tuesday 20 April @ Pattisons Patissiere at the corner of Stanley St/Mona Vale Rd St Ives. Meet up is 7.15am for a 7.45am departure in lycra. The accompanying peloton is doing Mt White then Palm Beach & home whilst the Dole peloton veers to Wollombi (for the end of day 1) .

Singleton Mail Run Cyclosportive @ 11 Apr - Alex Simmons & Mike O’Reilly before the chilly & windy start outside the Singleton Council Chambers

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• MTB Enduro @ Canberra ACT @ 11 Apr - Mike Lawson ventured down to the ACT for his second MTB race in 11 years. Mike finished 4th and made good progress during the event.

• Mail Run Cyclosportive @ 11 Apr - Everywhere we seem to go in cyclosportive world we see the cheery smiles of Rotary doing a great volunteers job. Well done them. Alex Simmons & MOR did the 65k option in blustery conditions from the west.. The course itself headed out towards the well known Teams Time Trial course at Glendon with a lovely diversion towards Mirannie & Westbrook. Not a car to be seen for the 3 hours. Well organised with some 509 starters.

NEW START FINISH FOR BOWRAL CLASSIC IN OCTOBER

• The new start finish for 2021 Bowral Classic is the iconic Bradman Oval in Bowral

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 12 Apr - Monday Night Criteriums @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 6.15pm (Penrith CC)

• 17 Apr - Orica Kurri Kurri Criteriums (Newcastle), Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney), Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters), Greenhills Road Race (Southern Highlands)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 13 Apr

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 14 Apr

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 15 Apr

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 17 Apr - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30amxx

Phonak Professional Cycling Team - 2000 to 2006. Major sponsor was Phonak (hearing systems) on innovative BMC framesets loaded with Campagnolo components. Team jersey design was universally acknowledged to equal that of say a Polti or a Le Groupment for being highly undesirable.

Team victories for 2000-2004 were more focused on one day events, but then progressed to Grand Tours & stage races in 2005 & 2006. “Progression and somewhat undesirable” seemed to go hand in hand for most of the team’s 6 year existence with 11 major “issues” for the likes of Summer, Buxhofer, Hamilton, Botero, Perez, Camerzind, Nose, Gonzalez, Guidi & Landis. In the end it all finished in 2006 and that probably was a good thing.

Phonak Cycling Team - something of a (then) futuristic BMC framset loaded with Campagnolo components

News Shorts - 5 April

Eric Mather Cup @ 5 Apr - Randolph Baral & Ian Grainger before the start

Eric Mather Cup @ 5 Apr - Davide Browne, Ian Grainger & David Cooper before the start

Eric Mather Cup @ 5 Apr - Randolph Baral (far right) leads the B grade peloton

Eric Mather Cup @ 5 Apr - David Cooper (far right, Anytime Fitness)

Eric Mather @ 5 Apr - Davide Browne (Happy Wheels)

Eric Mather Cup @ 5 Apr - Ian Grainger (centre, Anytime Fitness)

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 30 Mar - Rolly Delaytz (left, BiciSport Happy Wheels) took a fine 3rd in B grade at the final round of the Heffron Park Summer Series. Great racing all summer with the usual slick organisation by the Eastern Suburbs Cycling Club.

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 30 Mar - Rolly Delaytz again on the Heffron finishing straight

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 30 Mar - Rolly Delaytz wheel surfing in B grade at Heffron Park

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 30 Mar - Rolly Delaytz (3rd from left, bright yellow shoes) gets a very slight sniff of the podium at the finish of the last Summer Series criterium

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 30 Mar - Rolly Delaytz finishes with 3rd place in B grade

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Heffron Park Criteriums @ 30 Mar - Rolly Delaytz took 3rd in B grade

• Southern Cross Criterium @ Sutherland @ 3 Apr - Craig Pager rode well in B grade

• Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 4 Apr - Ian Grainger took 7th in C grade

• Eric Mather Cup @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 5 Apr - Huge numbers celebrated the Eric Mather Cup at ECR and all grades were full. Randolph Baral featured all day, with supporting rides by Davide Browne, David Cooper & Ian Grainger.

SINGELTON MAIL RUN CYCLOSPORTIVE ON 11 APRIL

• The Mail Run on 11 April is a long running cyclosportive in the Hunter Valley based out of Singleton on roads used in the NSW Teams Time Trial Championships around Glendon. A great weekend is guaranteed.

• Details are in the BiciSport Special Events section of this website.

NEW START FINISH FOR BOWRAL CLASSIC IN OCTOBER

• The new start finish for 2021 Bowral Classic is the iconic Bradman Oval in Bowral

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 10 Apr - Wombeyan Caves Handicap (Southern Highlands)

• 11 Apr - UCI Brisbane Gran Fondo (Qld), Mail Run Cyclospotive (Singleton, NSW), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters), Wagga to Albury Handicap (CyclingNSW)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 6 Apr

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 7 Apr

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 8 Apr

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 10 Apr - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Bike Bling # 1 @ 3 Apr - spotted at a Mascot cafe a simply stunning Colnago C60

Bike Bling # 2 @ 3 Apr - A gold Colnago C60 loaded with a Campagnolo groupset … how sweet it is

Bike Bling # 3 @ 3 Apr - the lucky C60 owner (right, Laz) and one delightful Colnago work of art

Hosted by Camden Cycling Club on 25 April

Cilo Aufina Professional Cycling Team (Switzerland) - 1940-58, then 1977-86

Cilo had two teams over the years with the first from 1940-58, then 1977 to 1986. Sponsorship was primarily Cilo (bicycles), Aufina (banking) with secondary sponsors in Shimano, Piz Buin (skin sun screen), Crans Montana (swiss holiday resort), Weinmann (cycle components) and Magniflex (Italian mattresses).

Don’t be disappointed if you didn’t realize the team even existed as their team results were few & far between notwithstanding that Cilo #2 went for some 9 years. Victories were left to Beat Beau (won two Tour de France stages and a noted mountain climber) but meaningful results pretty much ended there, with supporting victories from Gilbert Claus. Other notable team riders were Serge Demierre, Jean Marie Grezet, Urs Zimmermann & Erich Meachler …. a pretty classy line up but possibly past their prime and the exit door from the sport beckoned.

Cilo Weinmann Professional Cycling Team - Swiss champion Hugo Koblet

Cilo Aufina Professional Cycling Team - Urs Zimmermann

News Shorts - 29 March

Snowy Mountains Challenge @ 28 Mar - On the start line at the picturesque Adelong Showground with L to R … Peter Budd, Albert Ravanello & Dudley Hoskin

Snowy Mountains Challenge @ 28 Mar - Dudley Hoskin (left) took first home in the 160k category and Ian Grainger a fine 5th in 144k category.

Snowy Mountains Challenge @ 28 Mar - Dudley Hoskin and Melissa Budd at Adelong

Snowy Mountains Challenge @ 28 Mar - Peter Budd arrives at Adelong finish with Frank Signor in support. Peter had an “interesting” day (lost 2 bidons early on, then took a deviation courtesy of some non existent circuit signage).

Snowy Mountains Challenge @ 27 Mar - the day before the SM Challenge and the BiciSport Griffith grupetto ventured out from Tumut and climbed up the Blowering Dam wall to the lake itself.

L to R … Melissa Budd, Frank Signor, Albert Ravanello & Peter Budd.

Snowy Mountains Challenge @ 28 Mar - At the Adelong Showgrounds start with Will Walker (left) and Frank Signor

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Snowy Valley Challenge @ 28 Mar - Snowy Mountains Challenge was hosted by Tumut Rotary with a picturesque start at the Adelong Showground. For the majority it was 144k loop through Batlow, Tumbarumba & Rosewood with finish back at Adelong. Well done to Bill & Sandra Walker, Ian Grainger, Frank Signor, Dudley Hoskin, Melissa & Peter Budd, Albert Ravanello & Mike O’Reilly.

• Bobbin Head Classic @ 28 Mar - BiciSport starters included Peter Davis and Happy Wheels training group led by Stewart Campbell

SINGELTON MAIL RUN CYCLOSPORTIVE ON 11 APRIL

• The Mail Run on 11 April is a long running cyclosportive in the Hunter Valley based out of Singleton on roads used in the NSW Teams Time Trial Championships around Glendon. A great weekend is guaranteed.

• Details are in the BiciSport Special Events section of this website.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 30 Mar - Final Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criterium (Maroubra, NSW)

• 31 Mar-1 Apr - AusCycling National Masters Track Championships (Brisbane) - POSTPONED

• 4 Apr - Clare Classic Cyclosportive (South Australia), Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

• 5 Apr - Eric Mather Cup Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 30 Mar

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 31 Mar

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 1 Apr

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 3 Apr - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

BiciSport @ Sandstone Cafe @ 27 Mar - Andy Feltham (third left) graced the Sandstone coffee peloton at Terrey Hills on a holiday visit from Brisbane. L to R … Paul McDonald, Ian Grainger, Andy Feltham, Ian Garrity, Ken Edwards, Nigel Smith & Mike Lawson

Blast from the Historical Vault # 1 - Andy Feltham at Tempe Velodrome circa 1997 in the original BiciSport team kit (Hamill Press-Banholm Bakehouse-Maxim)

Blast from the Historical Vault # 2 - Andy Feltham (in a (then) new BiciSport red-white-blue team kit) followed by Richard Mulberry (in the Hamill Press jersey) in a Waratah Masters race at Underwood Rd Homebush in 1998

Blast from the Historical Vault # 3 - the 1997 Concord Shopping Centre criterium and Andy Feltham took third behind Keith Oliver (left) and Kevin Young (both Keith & Kevin being renowned sprinters).

Del Tongo Colnago Professional Cycling Team 1982-91

One of the best Italian cycling teams of the era, when all teams coming out of Italy were seemingly sponsored by some form of household appliances be it kitchen manufacturers (like De Tongo), famous coffee brands or home improvement paving products. Framesets were Colnago, groupsets were Campagnolo, team management was the highly regarded Pietro Algeri.

The team itself was loaded with top end Italian talent, but equally employed the odd notable foreigner in the form of Didi Thurau or a Rolf Golz (both Germany). Team victories were many & varied but with a clear Italian bias.

Italian riders included Beppe Saronni (won the ‘82 Worlds Road Race, ‘83 Giro, plus a Tour of Lombardy & Milan San Remo), then the one the only Mario Cipollini, Maurizio Fondriest (‘88 Worlds Road Race), Franco Ballerini, Fabio Baldato, Gibi Baronchelli (won Tour of Lombardy) and Franco Chioccioli (the ’91 Giro).

Del Tongo Colnago Professional Cycling Team - Rolf Golz (Germany)

Del Tongo Colnago Professional Cycling Team - Didi Thurau in the 1983 Het Volk Classic in Belgium

News Shorts - 22 March

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums - Eastern Suburbs host the final round on Tuesday 23 March @ 5pm.

Should 23 March get washed out the final round will be postponed to 30 March

CYCLOSPORTIVES DATES ANNOUNCED - SNOWY VALLEY 28 MARCH & SINGELTON 11 APRIL

• The Snowy Valley Challenge runs out of Adelong (near Tumut) on 28 March. Start & finish is in Adelong with a route via backroads to Batlow and return

• The Mail Run on 11 April is a long running cyclosportive in the Hunter Valley based out of Singleton on roads used in the NSW Teams Time Trial Championships around Glendon. A great weekend is guaranteed.

• Both event details are in the BiciSport Special Events section of this website.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 23 Mar - Heffron Park Criteriums - Final Round (Maroubra)

  • Will be postponed to 30 March if 23 March is washed out

• 27-28 Mar- Giro Della Donna Cyclosportive (Warburton, Vic)

• 28 Mar - Bobbin Head Classic (Turramurra), Snowy Mountains Challenge (Adelong, near Tumut), Heffron Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

• 31 Mar-1 Apr - AusCycling National Masters Track Championships (Brisbane)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 23 Mar

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 24 Mar

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 25 Mar

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 27 Mar - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

The Belgian Classic season continues with the E3 Harelbeke Classic on Vrijdag (Friday) 26 March on similar roads used in the Tour of Flanders next week. The E3 is well known for its quirky annual race publicity posters and the tradition continues in 2021.

Skil Sem Professional Cycling Team 1984-85

A quality French team with Jean De Gribaldy the iron fisted Sports Director ( … been there, done that, now get on with it sort of attitude … ). Sponsors in 1984 were Skil (drills), Reydel, Sem, Mavic (cycle components). Then in 1985 it switched to Sem, Kas (Spanish soft drinks) and Miko (ice cream). Framsets were Vitus Aluminium or Vitus Carbon and both had a pedigree of poor build quality and didn’t last long (frame breakages were common place).

The team itself won a lot and won big (often) … Sean Kelly was a class act and won 33 times in 1984 and took Paris Roubaix, Leige B Leige, Paris Tours and a whole lot more later in his career with Milan San Remo and Tour of Lombardy. Eric Caritoux won the Tour of Spain in 1984 with other victories flowed at Amstel Gold, Criterium International, Basque Tour & Nissan Classic. It was a class team with the likes of Gerrie Knetemann, Jean Claude Bagot, Frederic Vichot & Jorg Muller,

Skil Sem Professional Cycling Team 1984-85 - Sean Kelly in Paris Roubaix

Skil Sem Professional Cycling Team 1984-85 - Sean Kelly again in Paris Roubaix

Skil Sem Professional Cycling Team 1984-85 - Sean Kelly climbing the Geraadsbergen Mur cobbles in the Tour of Flanders

News Shorts - 15 March

Bathurst to Bathurst @ 14 Mar - Tom Green & a pensive Eric Dole on the start line … it wasn’t raining (yet)

Bathurst to Bathurst @ 14 Mar - a damp roll out from the Bathurst start for Tom & Eric

Bathurst to Bathurst @ 14 Mar - Tom Green has the ride of the weekend for an excellent 5th in category

Bathurst 2 Bathurst @ 14 Mar - Eric Dole finishing 15th in category in the Bathurst main street

Bathurst 2 Bathurst @ 14 Mar - before the (damp) start with Eric Dole, Ruth Strapp, Tom Green

Bathurst 2 Bathurst @ 14 Mar - Ruth Strapp on the Sunday start of the Bathurst Road Race

Bathurst 2 Bathurst @ 13 Mar - Ruth Strapp (far left - BicisPort Happy Wheels) in the Mt Panorama Criterium

Heffron Park @ 9 Mar - Rolly Delaytz “full gas” coming into the Heffron finishing straight

Heffron Park @ 9 Mar - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels).

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums conclude Season # 35 on Tuesday 23 March.

Heffron Park @ 9 Mar - Rolly Delaytz

Heffron Park @ 9 Mar - Rolly Delaytz

Heffron Park @ 9 Mar - Rolly Delaytz (3rd from left) on the Heffron Park finishing straight

West Head Individual Time Trial @ 7 Mar - Tim White (Anytime Fitness) giving it everything on the West Head Road

BATHURST 2 BATHURST REPORT BY MIKE O’R

• After overnight thunderstorms conditions dawned damp & dirty. Mt Panorama was slippery but everybody survived. Tom Green finished in the front group (for a super 5th), with Eric Dole in the second group for 15th and Ruth Strapp a solid 17th.

CYCLOSPORTIVES DATES ANNOUNCED - SNOWY VALLEY 28 MARCH & SINGELTON 11 APRIL

• The Snowy Valley Challenge runs out of Adelong (near Tumut) on 28 March. Start & finish is in Adelong with a route via backroads to Batlow and return

• The Mail Run on 11 April is a long running cyclosportive in the Hunter Valley based out of Singleton on roads used in the NSW Teams Time Trial Championships around Glendon. A great weekend is guaranteed.

• Both event details are in the BiciSport Special Events section of this website.

EASTERN CREEK MASTERS RACES NOW A 6.45AM START

• Effective immediately all Waratah Masters races at ECR go to a 6.45am start

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 16 Mar - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)

• 21 Mar- L’Etape Cyclosportive (Nowra) …. CANCELLED

• 21 Mar - Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

Griffith BiciSport @ 9 Mar - The Gang of Four during the early morning Griffith sunrise. The ride starts at 6am and headed out towards Lake Wanguyn on the outskirts of Griffith, then the final climb up to Pioneer Park above Griffith. Left to right - Melissa Budd, Tony Jones, Peter Budd and the Maglia Rosa in Frank Signor

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 16 Mar

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 17 Mar

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 18 Mar

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 20 Mar - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Fagor Professional Cycling Team from 1966-69 then 1985-1989. Fagor manufactures high quality kitchen appliances, with secondary sponsors in Mercier (bikes), MBK (bikes), Hutchinson (tyres), Fargas (?) and Bose (stereo equipment).

The early Fagor team (1966-69) was Spanish registered and was loaded with Spanish locals including Luis Ocana (pictured above - Luis won the 1973 Tour de France). The second Fagor team (1985-89) was French registered and had a much more Anglo feel with several English speaking notables.

The team won stages at both Giro & Tour. These Anglo imports into Fagor were a hugely talented peloton and included Sean Yates (the ultimate hard man), Stephen Roche (World, Giro & Tour winner), Robert Millar, Malcolm Elliott (won a stage in the 1988 Herald Sun Tour in Australia), Paul Kimmage, Pedro Munoz & Eddy Schepers. Fagor “Mark 2” only lasted 5 years (from 1985-89) and deserved a longer life.

Fagor Professional Cycling Team - Luis Ocana (centre) crashed in the 1969 Tour de France and was assisted to the stage finish by his Fagor team mates

Fagor Professional Cycling Team - Sean Yates was a powerhouse in the Milan San Remo Classic. Note the use of Campagnolo Delta brakes (universally acknowledged as the worst braking system ever invented).

Fagor Professional Cycling Team - Sean Yates (again on Delta brakes) takes a stage win at the Tour of Spain

Fagor Professional Cycling Team - Paul Kimmage (left) with Stephen Roche with not a Campag Delta brake caliper in sight.

Fagor Professional Cycling Team - Pedro Munoz (centre) wearing the last version of the Fagor team jersey in 1989. Most of the talented Anglo peloton had left the Fagor team in late 1988.

News Shorts - 8 March

Three Peaks Challenge @ 7 Mar - Randolph Baral grabs a snack at the summit of Mt Hotham

Three Peaks Challenge @ 7 Mar - As other riders scream past in a heavy tailwind at the Hotham summit, Randolph prepares to remount and descend off the mountain. Conditions were windy and chilly.

Three Peaks Challenge @ 7 Mar - Randolph Baral at Mt Hotham

Three Peaks Challenge @ 7 Mar - Randolph Baral loads up with food & drinks

Three Peaks Challenge @ 7 Mar - Randolph Baral at the summit of Mt Hotham

Three Peaks Challenge @ 7 Mar - Following Randolph Baral “live” at the Three Peaks, where Garmin technology made the life of a soigneur that much easier

Kurri Kurri Criterium @ 7 Mar - Ruth Strapp was 3rd in C grade

West Head Time Trial @ 7 Mar - Tom Green (Happy Wheels) and Mike Lawson (Anytime Fitness) rode well at the West Head ITT.

Tom went appreciably faster on a road bike than a TT bike (!!)

Heffron Park Criterium @ 2 Mar - Rolly Delaytz (3rd from left, BiciSport Happy Wheels) in the Tuesday night action

Heffron Park Criterium @ 2 Mar - Rolly leading the B grade peloton

Heffron Park Criterium @ 2 Mar - Rolly in second wheel

Heffron Park Criterium @ 2 Mar

THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE REPORT by Mike O’R

• Randolph Baral (BiciSport Happy Wheels) lined up for his first Three Peaks after months of planning and committed training. Conditions were ideal on the Sunday with a firm breeze at the top of Mt Hotham (at 7.30am sitting comfortably in the comfy Mt Hotham cafe). The Mt Hotham climb itself was closed from 8am until 1pm with Randolph forecast to arrive at the Mount Hotham summit from Falls Creek at 10.45am. Randolph had kindly provided “real time” progress monitoring courtesy of Garmin Livetrack so his position was instantly available. See picture below. How good was that when you are supporting a rider from the roadside.

• The event leader (and first NRS rider) crested the Hotham summit at 9.57am and Randolph came through right on target at 10.43am (first female came through at 10.32am). Randolph maybe stopped for 60-90 seconds, grabbed some race food, switched bidons, and vanished off down the mountain towards Omeo. Its difficult to gauge how many people in front of Randolph … maybe 90-110 riders (not easy to be any more precise). Randolph looked comfortable & composed at the Hotham summit.

• Further on from Hotham and it was something of a longer but gradual descent into the township of Omeo, then into the Omeo Valley itself. Randolph was on something like an “8.30” finishing time but WTF Hill claimed another victim and 9.25 was the end (and difficult) result. Well done Randolph for a job well done.

CYCLOSPORTIVES DATES ANNOUNCED - SNOWY VALLEY 28 MARCH & SINGELTON 11 APRIL

• The Snowy Valley Challenge runs out of Adelong (near Tumut) on 28 March. Start & finish is in Adelong with a route via backroads to Batlow and return

• The Mail Run on 11 April is a long running cyclosportive in the Hunter Valley based out of Singleton on roads used in the NSW Teams Time Trial Championships around Glendon. A great weekend is guaranteed.

• Both event details are in the BiciSport Special Events section of this website.

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Kurri Kurri (HEZ) Criterium @ 7 Mar - Ruth Strapp went top 3 at the HEZ Criterium in C grade

• Lansdowne Criterium @ 7 Mar - Ian Grainger was a peloton finish in C grade.

EASTERN CREEK MASTERS RACES NOW A 6.45AM START

• Effective immediately all Waratah Masters races at ECR go to a 6.45am start

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 9 Mar - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)

• 12-14 Mar - Bathurst 2 Bathurst (CyclingNSW)

• 14 Mar- Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 9 Mar

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 10 Mar

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 11 Mar

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 13 Mar - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

ANC Halfords Professional Cycling Team 1984-1988 were UK based. Team sponsorship was ANC (transport) & Halfords (retailing). Framsets were Peugeot & groupsets were Campagnolo.

Much has been written about the UK team that culminated in a start to the 1987 Tour de France that commenced in Berlin (only four ANC riders eventually finished the ‘87 Tour). The team itself didn’t go much past the ‘87 Tour. The next UK team to get a start in Le Tour was Barloworld some 20 years later. The ANC Team Director was Tony Capper who was more of a problem than a solution and financial (mis)management was not a strong point.

The team itself was very talented - hard working, diligent, admittedly in “at the European deep end” and Tony Capper didn’t help. Rattling off the team listing reflected a great team in Shane Sutton (Aust), Phil Thomas, Joey McLoughlin, Adrian Timmis, Paul Watson, Omar Palov, Chris Lilywhite and the esteemed Phil Griffihs (as Team Manager). A talented group of individuals that deserved a better fate.

Adrian Timmis @ 1987 Tour de France

Shane Sutton & Adrian Timmis @ 1987 Tour de France

ANC Halfords Team @ 1987 Tour de France

News Shorts - 1 March

NSW Masters Track Championships @ DGV @ 26-28 Feb - BiciSport was represented by Jeremy Hopson (Pilu Racing), Peter Verhoeven (Anytime Fitness) and Davide Browne (pictured above leading at DGV)

Heffron Park @ 23 Feb - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) at the Heffron Park approach to the finishing straight

Heffron Park @ 23 Feb - Rolly Delaytz (second right, BiciSport Happy Wheels) in the action at Heffron Park

Heffron Park @ 23 Feb - Rolly Delaytz (# 68) on the start line at Heffron Park

Three Peaks @ Falls Creek @ 7 Mar - Randolph Baral (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes on the monster that is the Three Peaks Challenge in the Victorian Alps

After an early 6.45am start at Falls Creek its a brisk 30k descent into Mt Beauty, then up and over Tawonga Gap, a flat run into Harrietville towards the bottom of Mount Hotham. Up and over Mount Hotham and its a long descent into the village of Omeo. Then its time for the picturesque Omeo Valley towards the back side of Falls Creek and the infamous “WTF Hill” that goes for a punishing 17k straight up from the Omeo Valley. Best of luck Randolph.

CYCLOSPORTIVES DATES ANNOUNCED - SNOWY VALLEY 28 MARCH & SINGELTON 11 APRIL

• The Snowy Valley Challenge runs out of Adelong (near Tumut) on 28 March. Start & finish is in Adelong with a route via backroads to Batlow and return

• The Mail Run on 11 April is a long running cyclosportive in the Hunter Valley based out of Singleton on roads used in the NSW Teams Time Trial Championships around Glendon. A great weekend is guaranteed.

• Both event details are in the BiciSport Special Events section of this website.

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Waratah Masters @ Heffron @ 28 Feb - C grade … a hard day at Criterium Central at Heffron courtesy of a strong southerly. Ian Grainger in the C grade break away early (12 riders from 30 starters). The 12 riders split and only 7 finished, including Ian Grainger. D grade … Raoul Westbrook rode super for 5th.

• NSW Masters Track Championships @ 26-28 Feb

  • Indiv Pursuit - Jeremy Hopson (Pilu Racing) took Silver @ 3min35secs

  • Sprint - Davide Browne qualified 1st in 11.687secs and took the Bronze medal

  • Scratch - Jeremy Hopson took Silver and Davide Browne 9th

  • Individual Time Trial - Davide Browne was 4th in 54.094secs

  • Points - Peter Verhoven 6th and David Browne 5th

• Huskinsonn Triathlon @ 28 Feb - Stew Campbell (BiciSport Happy Wheels) featured in the Husky Tri Weekend

EASTERN CREEK MASTERS RACES NOW A 6.45AM START

• Effective immediately all Waratah Masters races at ECR go to a 6.45am start

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 2 Mar - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)

• 6-7 Mar - Tolland Weekend (Wagga)

• 7 Mar- 3 Peaks Challenge (Falls Creek), West Head Time Trial (Manly CC), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 2 Mar

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 3 Mar

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 4 Mar

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 6 Mar - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Peugeot 504 @ 25 Feb - Frank Signor (left, BiciSport Griffith) was visiting Sydney and took the opportunity to inspect the Peugeot TdeF 75 team car

Sanson Gelati Professional Cvcling Team from 1965 to 1980. As Italian teams go the Sanson team typified the era - hard working and diligent with a single focus on Francesco Moser crossing the finishing line giving a victory salute. Sponsorship was Sanson Gelati (Italian ice cream), with supporting sponsorship from Luxor TV. Campagnolo supplied the groupsets with silver Benotto framsets in the early years then Moser himself provided the blue framesets towards the end of the team’s existence.

Francesco Moser won 273 races including 35 Six Day track events. Francesco won three Paris Roubaix Classics, Fleche Walloone, Ghent Wevelgem, Paris Tours, Tour of Lombardy, Giro in 1984, World Road Championships in 1977 plus a World Hour Track Record. It wasn’t all about Francesco with a classy group of team mates in Roger De Vlaeminck (won Milan San Remo), Mario Beccia, Gregor Braun, Phil Edwards (UK resident pictured above in Paris Roubaix) and Ronny De Witte (Belgium).

The competitive rivalry with Beppe Saronni was legendary and rivals the VanAert-Van Der Poel battles of today. If that wasn’t enough Francesco now makes a very fine wine.

Sanson Gelati Professional Cycling Team - The breakaway in the Ghent Wevelgem Classic 1979 with (L to R) …. Henk Lubberding (Dutch Champion), Francesco Moser (Sanson Gelati), Ludo Delcroix (Ijsboerke), Roger De Vlaeminck (Gis Gelati), Marc De Meyer (Flandria), Jan Raas (TI Raleigh) & Ronny De Witte (Sanson Gelati)

Sanson Gelati Professional Cycling Team - Francesco Moser (left) at the Giro with team mate Mario Beccia

Sanson Gelati Professional Cycling Team - Beppe Saronni (left) & Francesco Moser (1977 World Road Champion)

Sanson Gelati Professional Cycling Team - Francesco Moser in time trial mode atop a Benotto frameset loaded with a Campagnolo groupset

Sanson Gelati Professional Cycling Team - Benotto frames remain an iconic brand in the retro market

Sanson Gelati Prfessional Cycling Team - Freddy Maertens leads Gregor Braun (right, Sanson Gelati) on the Koppenberg climb in the Tour of Flanders Classic

News Shorts - 22 February

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 16 Feb - Rolly Delaytz (second left, BiciSport Happy Wheels) in the thick of the action at Heffron Park

Eastern Creek Masters @ 21 Feb - Peter Verhoeven (pictured) rode well in A2 grade with Ian Grainger 6th in C grade

Dunc Gray Velodrome @ 15 Feb - BiciSport ventured out to the DGV guided by the Track Maestro in John Crouchley.

Pictured above is Ian Grainger, John Crouchley & Karl Hoad

Kurri Kurri Criterium @ 21 Feb - Ruth Strapp (BiciSport Happy Wheels) before the start in wet & soggy conditions

The European Spring Classics start on 26 February with the Het Niewsblad Classic in Belgium

CYCLOSPORTIVES DATES ANNOUNCED - SNOWY VALLEY 28 MARCH & SINGELTON 11 APRIL

• The Snowy Valley Challenge runs out of Adelong (near Tumut) on 28 March. Start & finish is in Adelong with a route via backroads to Batlow and return

• The Mail Run on 11 April is a long running cyclosportive in the Hunter Valley based out of Singleton on roads used in the NSW Teams Time Trial Championships around Glendon. A great weekend is guaranteed.

• Both event details are in the BiciSport Special Events section of this website.

EASTERN CREEK MASTERS RACES NOW A 6.45AM START

• Effective immediately all Waratah Masters races at ECR go to a 6.45am start

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 23 Feb - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)

• 27-28 Feb - NSW Masters Track Championships (DGV)

• 28 Feb - Heffron Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 23 Feb

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 24 Feb

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 25 Feb

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 27 Feb - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Singleton Mail Run @ Sunday 11 April starts finishes from the Singleton Council Chambers

Polti Professional Cycling Team (1994-2000)

Sponsors were Polti (high quality vacuum steam cleaners), with Fausto Coppi (bikes) and groupsets being Shimano. The jersey design comfortably ranks #1 as the Worst Jersey Design of All Time ….

To say it was a difficult time in cycling would be a mild understatement with a myriad of distractions. The team itself consistently performed well (won stages at both Tour & Giro) and several one day Classics with Bugno (Flanders 1994) and Gianetti (Liege B Liege 1995).

If cycling history was somewhat bent out of shape during the teams existence then some of the individuals possibly fell into that category. Vansteins & Bugno both won World Road Championships, Gotti (a Giro), and other prominent individuals included Abdoujaparov, Virenque, Cassani, Jaksche, Gianetti, Herve, Celestino, Fidanza & Rebellin. History would suggest that’s a pretty memorable team line up in more ways than one.

Polti Professional Cycling Team - Gianni Bugno wins the 1994 Tour of Flanders by the narrowest of margins

News Shorts - 15 February

Kurri Kurri Criterium @ 14 Feb - Ruth Strapp before the start

West Head Road Race @ 14 Feb - Tom Green (right, BiciSport Happy Wheels) in Masters A grade

West Head Road Race @ 14 Feb - David Munro (BiciSport Pilu Racing) in Masters A grade

West Head Road Race @ 14 Feb - Matt Coy (second right, BiciSport Pilu Racing)

West Head Road Race @ 14 Feb - Mike Foster (right, Pilu Racing) sitting comfortably in the peloton

West Head Road Race @ 14 Feb - Mike Foster (right) in the sprint finish

Bega-Snowy Mountains-Bega with Eric Dole

Bega-Snowy Mountains-Bega and Eric Dole comes out of the mist

Bega-Snowy Mountains-Bega with a lovely drone photo & Eric Dole bringing up the rear (in blue)

The Singleton Mail Run Cyclosportive returns on Sunday 11 April on quiet Singleton roads previously travelled in the NSW Teams Time Trial Championships around Glendon & local environs.

Start finish is at the Singleton Council Chambers. Details in the BiciSport Special Events section.

SINGLETON MAIL RUN CYCLOSPORTIVE ANNOUNCED FOR 11 APRIL

• The Mail Run is a long running cyclosportive in the Hunter Valley based out of Singleton on roads used in the NSW Teams Time Trial Championships around Glendon. A great weekend is guaranteed. Details are in the BiciSport Special Events section of this website.

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• West Head Road Race @ 14 Feb - Strong BiciSport representation at West Head with Tom Green, David Munro, Matt Coy, Mike Foster, Jordan Reizes (2nd) & Eric Dole (5th)

• Kurri Kurri Interclub @ 14 Feb - Ruth Strapp was again prominent at HEZ Kurri

• Coast to Snowy Tour @ 5-10 Feb - Eric Dole rode the Waratah Masters inspired epic sportive from Bega to the Snowy Mountains & return to Bega over some 800k with 14,500 metres of climbing there and back. Congratulations Eric.

EASTERN CREEK MASTERS RACES NOW A 6.45AM START

• Effective immediately all Waratah Masters races at ECR go to a 6.45am start

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 16 Feb - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)

• 20 Feb - Lake Hume Cyclosportive (Albury Wodonga)

• 20-21 Feb - Clarence Street Cup & NSW Track Championships (DGV)

• 21 Feb - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters), Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney), Ballarat Cycle Classic Cyclosportive (Vic)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 16 Feb

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 17 Feb

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 18 Feb

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 20 Feb - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30amxxx

Flandria Professional Cycling Team - Rik Van Looy (Belgium) with Faema as a sub sponsor on the knicks

Flandria Professional Cycling Team - Roger De Vlaeminck (Belgium)

Flandria Professional Cycling Team (Belgium) from 1957 to 1979. The Flandria team (nicknamed the Red Guard) joined both Molteni and Brooklyn as one of the three super teams from the era. Pictured above are brothers Eric & Roger De Vlaeminck.

Flandria was a manufacturer of mopeds, bicycles, lawn mowers and motorbikes. Sub sponsors were equally varied in Dr Mann (medical supplies), Faema (coffee), Mars (chocolate bars) , Latina (insurance), Shimano (bicycle components), De Clerck, Carpenter, Comfortluxe and Kruger. During the 1970’s bringing in Shimano and developing the then new Dura Ace componentary was seen as revolutionary. Team manager was the legendary Belgian Briek Schotte.

The long and esteemed history of the team was daunting - assertive, driven, take no prisoners attitude that typified the no holds barred Belgian team culture. They won everything be it World Road Championships (with Van Looy, Monsere & Maertens), Grand Tours in Spain (Maertens won 17 stages) and Italy (Pollentier) and then there was the endless Classic victories courtesy of Pollentier, Godefroot, De Meyer, Van Springel, Maertens (again), Sean Kelly, Joop Zoetemelk, Peter Post and Rik Van Looy. They won it all and they won big. The battles with Eddy Merckx (Molteni) rivalled anything in cycle sport.

Flandria Professional Cycling Team - Walter Godefroot (Belgium) wins a stage in the Four Days of Dunkirk stage race in northern France.

Flandria Professional Cycling Team - Herman Van Springel with Flandria team dernys in the Bordeaux Paris Classic. Each rider raced behind their own team motorised derny.

Flandria Professional Cycling Team - Michel Pollentier (Flandria) leads team mate Freddy Maertens followed by Dutchman in Gerrie Knetemann (GAN)

News Shorts - 8 February

Newcastle Track Series @ 5 Feb - Davide Browne (Team Happy Wheels) dominated Round 1 of the Newcastle Series

National Road Championships @ Ballarat @ 7 Feb - Mike O’Reilly & Alex Simmons before the start of the Road Championships in Ballarat. Skoda provided the Race Commissaire cars.

National Road Championships @ Ballarat @ 7 Feb - Dudley Hoskin & Darren Benson doing a warm up ride around Lake Wendouree in Ballarat

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• National Elite Road Championships (Ballarat) @ 7 Feb

  • Darren Benson (BiciSport Happy Wheels) faced the pointy end of Aussie cycling with multiple laps of the Mt Helen circuit just outside Ballarat. It proved a tough day at the office in chilly & windy conditions.

• Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 7 Feb - C grade …. David Cooper & Ian Grainger featured in a messy sprint as grades overlapped in the finish

• Newcastle Hunter District Velodrome Track Series Round 1 @ 5 Feb - Davide Browne took 1st in the 500m time trial, 1st in the Sprint, 3rd in Scratch Race, 1st in the Aussie Crawl

• Heffron Criteriums @ Maroubra @ 2 Feb - Rolly Delaytz rode well in B grade at Heffron

EASTERN CREEK MASTERS RACES NOW A 6.45AM START

• Effective immediately all Waratah Masters races at ECR go to a 6.45am start

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 9 Feb - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)

• 13 Feb - Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic (Vic)

• 12-14 Feb - NSW Track Championships (DGV)

• 14 Feb - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters), West Head Road Race (Manly CC)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 9 Feb

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 10 Feb

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 11 Feb

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 13 Feb - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Bic Professional Cycling Team - With storm clouds brewing during a Tour de France mountains stage a classic photo of Bernard Labourdette (Bic)

Bic Professional Cycling Team (France) from 1967 to 1974. Pictured above is Jacques Anquetil (5 times Tour de France winner) with Felice Gimondi at the Giro.

Bic is a consumer goods company with pens & razor blades. The orange & white jersey features highly in any iconic jersey of all time competition. Bikes were either Geminiani, Anquetil and finally Motobecane. Groupsets in the early years were Mafac, Stronglight and in the later years it was Campagnolo.

A team loaded with extreme levels of outright talent. Winners were grinners and they smiled a lot with Tour de France winners in Jacques Anquetil, Jan Janssen, Luis Ocana and Lucien Aimar plus a future Tour de France Race Director in Jean Marie Leblanc. Some great team support riders in Raymond Riotte & Charly Grosskost. If that wasn’t enough the single day Classic squad was brimming with talent in Eric Leman, Roger Rosiers, Edward Sels (all Belgian) and English riders Vin Denson and Michael Wright.

Bic Professional Cycling Team featured Luis Ocana (winner 1973 Tour de France) atop the Motobecane Titanium frame. This was one of the earliest titanium framesets loaded with a Campagnolo groupset. Brake levers and chainwheels were heavily drilled and Luis enjoyed large flange Campagnolo hubs.

Bic Professional Cycling Team - Jacques Anquetil (left) with Roger Pingeon (Tour de France Yellow Jersey)

Bic Professional Cycling Team - Jacques Anquetil (Bic) prepares for a velodrome event whilst checking his saddle height. A lovely black & white picture from that classic era.

Bic Professional Cycling Team - Luis Ocana (left) wearing the 1973 Tour de France Yellow Jersey beside Manuel Fuente (Kas Kaskol)

Bic Professional Cycling Team - Fuente & Ocana in the 1973 Tour de France

Bic Professional Cycling Team - Ward Sels (Bic) beside Eddy Merckx (Faema) in the 1969 Tour of Flanders in heavy rain

Bic Professional Cycling Team presentation on the French Riveria

News Shorts - 1 February

West Head Road Race @ 31 Jan - Klayton Smith took 3rd

West Head Road Race @ 31 Jan - Dudley Hoskin, Klayton Smith, Rolly Delaytz & Darren Benson

Goulburn Track Open @ 30 Jan - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) approaches the Roller Derby ramp

Goulburn Track Open @ 30 Jan - Davide Browne giving it full gas in the Roller Derby. Davide reached the semi finals in a top ride

Goulburn Track Open @ 30 Jan - Davide Browne looking comfortable in the Scratch Race where he went on to finish second.

Goulburn Track Open @ 30 Jan - Davide Browne shadowed by Paul Craft in the Goulburn Wheelrace heat, where both riders qualified for the Final.

Bowral Track Open @ 31 Jan and the picturesque Bowral velodrome

Bowral Track Open @ 31 Jan - Davide Browne wins the Bowral Wheelrace heat in light drizzle

Bowral Track Open @ 31 Jan - Tandem versus 3 Man Teams Pursuit …. Davide Browne eyes off the opposition

Bowral Track Open @ 31 Jan - 3 Man Teams Pursuit on one side of the velodrome … tandem on the other side … Tandem wins by a narrow 15 metres over 3 laps

Bowral Track Open @ 31 Jan - Davide Browne (third wheel) in the Bowral Wheelrace Final, but victory alluded Davide this time.

Penrith Criterium @ Eastern Creek @ 25 Jan - Davide Browne took second place to the Master Blaster in Paul Craft

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 31 Jan - Raoul Westbrook 5th in D grade

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 31 Jan - Ian Grainger, Raoul Westbrook & David Cooper

Darren Benson (left - BiciSport Happy Wheels)

AUSCYCLING NATIONAL ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS - 3-7 FEBRUARY

• Darren Benson (BiciSport) lines up at the National Road Championships at Ballarat on 7 February. Simply put this effort is no cakewalk with 16 laps of the Mt Helen (double) climb just outside Ballarat.

• National Road Championships Program

  • 3 Feb - Time Trials - 9.15am to 6pm

  • 4 Feb - Time Trials - Para @ 10.00am, Club Teams Time Trial @ 12.30pm

  • 5 Feb - Criteriums (All Divisions) - 12.35pm to 6.30pm

  • 6 Feb - Road Races - Para @ 7.30am, Under 19 @ 9.40am, Under 23 @ 1.20pm

  • 7 Feb - Road Races - Women @ 8.50am, Men @ 12.30pm

• Website is www.roadnationals.org.au

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Penrith Criterium @ Eastern Creek @ 25 Jan - Davide Browne polished his form with second at the ECR criterium hosted by Penrith CC on the Monday night.

• Goulburn & Bowral Track Opens @ 30-31 January

  • Goulburn CC hosted a great carnival with excellent sized fields in each category, and the three Womens categories typified how good the resultant racing turned out to be. Davide Browne had a cracker of a night with a semi final berth in the Roller Derby, a victory in the Kieren & last Scratch Race, and second places both in the first Scratch Race & Wheelerace heat.

  • Southern Highlands CC hosted the Bowral Track Open at the delightful Bowral Velodrome. As velodromes go this takes the “most pretty award” every time. Davide won the Wheelrace heat & Kieren sprint, and was narrowly defeated in the Tandem teams pursuit

• Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 31 Jan - Raoul Westbrook took 5th in D grade, with both Ian Grainger & David Cooper prominent in C grade

• West Head Road Race @ 31 Jan - Klayton Smith went podium with 3rd, Darren Benson went top ten & a fine ride by Rolly Delaytz

EASTERN CREEK RACES NOW A 6.45AM START

• Effective immediately all Waratah Masters races at ECR go to a 6.45am start

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 2 Feb - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)

• 3-7 Feb - AusCycling National Road Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

• 7 Feb - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

• Tues 2 Feb

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Wed 3 Feb

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• Thurs 4 Feb

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am

  • Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am 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

• Sat 6 Feb - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Atala Professional Cycling Team 1908 to 1989. Yes, from 1908 is a long long time. Atala is Italian and naturally make bicycles. Co-sponsors included Dunlop (tyres), Pirelli (tyres), Ofmega & Campagnolo (both groupsets).

The team itself had somewhat moderate results in the early years (decades ?) with Vito Taccone & Gio Cordovani (pictured above in 1947). To be fair the team rarely ventured outside Italy.

The team won 15 Giro stages and two Giri overall. In the later years Urs Freuler won 10 World Track Championships, and other notables included Pierino Gavazzi and Gianni Bugno. Bugno went onto greater things in his following teams after Atala.

Atala Professional Cycling Team - Urs Freuler wins a Giro stage

Atala Professional Cycling Team - Urs Freuler (right) again at the Giro

Atala-Pirelli Cycling Team at the 1947 Giro

Atala Professional Cycling Team - Urs Freuler was the World Track Pointscore Champion