News Shorts - 21 August

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 18 Aug - Campbell Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) went through an injury plagued Friday night series but rode his first Wheelrace and took the victory by 5 lengths. Well done Cam.

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 18 Aug - Campbell Browne on the right

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 18 Aug - Campbell Browne on the DGV fence on the right

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 18 Aug - Lawson Browne (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) is a Division 3 series winner

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 18 Aug - Lawson Browne

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 18 Aug - Lawson Browne

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 18 Aug - Lawson Browne

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 18 Aug - David Browne is a Division 2 winner at Friday Night Track Racing

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 16 Aug - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Belgium) with the second placed Aussie in William Kirkham (Dulwich Hill Cycling Club)

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 16 Aug - The Velle podium with the BiciSport logo top right on the sponsors wall

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 16 Aug - The Velle podium with the BiciSport logo

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 16 Aug - The Velle peloton of 83 starters on the start line

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 16 Aug - BiciSport Team Force at the Velle start in hot conditions

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 16 Aug - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Team Force) right of picture celebrating with Flemish cycling retro colleagues at Velle

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 16 Aug - Flemish cycling retro colleagues at Velle

BiciSport Belgium @ Zingem Flanders @ 11 Aug - Team Force continues to impress at the Zingem kermesse with Team Force principal in Nick Felix (centre of picture) and Koen VerHulst (BiciSport) on the right

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 16 Aug - a very healthy crowd gathered at the start line in Velle with a near record 82 starters

BICISPORT GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN LATE OCTOBER 23

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

  • All welcome

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 26 Aug

  • Lake St Clair CycloSportive (near Singleton)

• 27 Aug

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 22 Aug & Thurs 24 Aug

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 24 Aug

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am for CP laps

• Sat 26 Aug

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Dormilon Pro Cycling Team (Spain) - 1985-87

Dormilon Colchones manufactured Spanish mattresses and the groupsets were Campagnolo.

Yes, it was a Spanish team but it looked more like a refugee camp for wayward Belgians in search of the end of career contract - be it Marc Somers, Lucien Van Impe (Grand Tour legend), Rudy Patry, Leo Wellens, Benny Van Brabant, Eddy De Bie (cyclocross), Ludo Loos & Eric Van de Perre (who rode the Herald SunTour in Oz). None of the Spanish riders seem to win anything …

News Shorts - 14 August

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 13 Aug - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes another victory at Waratah Masters after taking victory at the Gunning State Championships just the day before. Luckily Ian doesn’t struggle with heights as he spends a lot of time climbing podiums these days.

NSW Masters Championships @ Gunning @ 12 Aug - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes the victory in the M7 category. Ian won the M7 category at Singleton in 2022 and retained the M7 crown in 2023.

NSW Masters Championships @ Gunning @ 12 Aug - Peter Budd (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took an excellent 4th in the M7 category, with Ian Grant after the finish

NSW Masters Championships @ Gunning @ 12 Aug - Peter Budd half way through the M7 road race in chilly conditions

NSW Masters Championships @ Gunning @ 12 Aug - Ian Grant with MOR after the victory

NSW Masters Championships @ Gunning @ 12 Aug - Steve Holland (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) with immediately behind Dean Gale (BiciSport Pilu Racing) & Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing)

NSW Masters Championships @ Gunning @ 12 Aug - Steve Holland went top 10 in M6 category for a fine ride

NSW Masters Championships @ Gunning @ 12 Aug - Matt Coy (left) rode well in the M6 category

NSW Masters Championships @ Gunning @ 12 Aug - Dean Gale on the attack in the M6 category & went a very good top 10

NSW Masters Championships @ Gunning @ 13 Aug - Dudley Hoskin finished 5th in the M5 category

Friday Night Track Racing @ DGV @ 11 Aug - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Friday Night Track Racing @ DGV @ 11 Aug - Davide Browne

Friday Night Track Racing @ DGV @ 11 Aug - Davide Browne (right) on the DGV fence line

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 15 Aug - The race is held tomorrow (Tuesday 15 Aug) in Flanders

BiciSport Belgium @ Velle Flanders @ 15 Aug - The new “sponsors media wall” plus publicity posters (on the left) are up in the village of Velle

Francois Doulcier was the head of Amis du Paris Roubaix … the volunteer organisation that assists with rebuilding the various cobbled sections of the Paris Roubaix route. Rest in peace Francois, you will be missed

BICISPORT GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN LATE OCTOBER 23

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

  • All welcome

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 15 Aug

  • Velle Criterium (Flanders Belgium) sponsored by BiciSport

• 18 Aug

  • Friday Night Track Racing (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

• 19-20 Aug

  • National Cyclo Cross Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

    • BiciSport starter - Mike Lawson

• 20 Aug

  • Heffron Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 15 Aug & Thurs 17 Aug

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 17 Aug

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am for CP laps

• Sat 19 Aug

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

La Redoute Motobecane

La Redoute Pro Cycling (France) - 1975-85

La Redoute was a mail order company based in Roubaix. Bikes were Motobecane (French). Team manager was Phillipe Crepel.

An outstanding French team of the highest order - capable of winning at either Grand Tours or single day Classics. Alain Bondue (pictured above at the Paris Roubaix Classic), Jean Luc Vandenbroucke (Classics), Bernard Vallet (climber), Robert Alban (climber), Johan De Muynck (Grand Tours), Paul Sherwin (all rounder), Ferdi Van Den Haute (Classics), Stephen Roche (Grand Tours & stage races) and Pierre Bazzo (team domestique).

Le Redoute Pro Cycling - Robert Alban (right) at the Tour de France beside Phil Anderson

Le Redoute Pro Cycling - Paul Sherwin at the Tour de France

Le Redoute Pro Cycling - Ferdi Van Den Haute (centre)

Le Redoute Pro Cycling - Ferdi Van Den Haute on the floor

Le Redoute Pro Cycling - snow is the go for this Le Redoute professional in the Paris Nice stage race

News Shorts - 7 August

Sydney Masters Championships @ Lansdowne Park @ 5 Aug - Ian Grant (left - BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took the Bronze medal in the Masters M7 supported by his team mate Peter Verhoeven (right)

Sydney Masters Championships @ Lansdowne Park @ 5 Aug - Ian Grant

Sydney Masters Championships @ Lansdowne Park @ 5 Aug - Ian Grant (left) & Peter Verhoeven

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Gray Velodrome @ 4 Aug - David Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) immediately behind the motor bike at DGV

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Gray Velodrome @ 4 Aug - David Browne takes a win

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Gray Velodrome @ 4 Aug - Lawson Browne (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on the DGV fence (last wheel - right)

Friday Night Track Racing @ Dunc Gray Velodrome @ 4 Aug - Lawson Browne in third wheel

Camden CycloCross Interclub @ 31 July - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Anytime Fitness)

Camden CycloCross Interclub @ 31 July - Mike Lawson

Camden CycloCross Interclub @ 31 July - Mike Lawson

South of France @ Med @ 31 July - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) in pink jersey enjoying the delights of the Med

South of France @ Med @ 31 July - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) in pink jersey

BICISPORT GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN OCTOBER 23

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

  • All welcome

NSW MASTERS CHAMPS & NATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPS - PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

• August 12 & 13 is the NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships at Gunning near Goulburn

• The National Masters Road Championships (September21-24) are Shepparton & Dookie (Victoria)

  • Full Championship details are now posted in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Gunning, NSW)

  • BiciSport starters - Peter Budd, Ian Grant, Steve Holland, Dudley Hoskin, Ian Grainger, Matt Coy, Dean Gale

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Oct 25-28 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

  • Tour of Bright stage maps for 2023 now posted in Special Events

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 11 Aug

  • Friday Night Track Racing (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

• 12 Aug

  • Noosa Retro Bike Show (Qld)

• 12 & 13 Aug

  • NSW Masters Championships (Gunning, NSW)

• 13 Aug

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

  • West Head Road Race (Manly CC)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 8 Aug & Thurs 10 Aug

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Sat 12 Aug

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

BiciSport sponsored Elite race @ Velle Flanders Belgium @ 15 Aug - a great event conducted with inspiring Flemish community support

BiciSport sponsored Elite race @ Velle Flanders Belgium @ 15 Aug

News Shorts - 31 July

Friday Night Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 28 July - David Browne, Campbell Browne & Lawson Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Friday Night Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 28 July - Lawson Browne (BiciSport)

BiciSport Belgium @ Purrs (Flanders) @ 21 July - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Team Force) on the attack in Puurs

BiciSport Belgium @ Purrs (Flanders) @ 21 July - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Team Force)

Cancelled due to roadworks

SYDNEY SPRING CYCLE 2023 - CANCELLED

BATTLE OF THE BORDER 2023 - CANCELLATION RUMOURS SURFACE

ALPINE CLASSIC BRIGHT 2024 - CANCELLED

You must ask …. what is going on ?? and its not restricted to just one State ?. Numerous great cycling promotions have hit the wall in an avalanche of cancellations - be it the Noosa Classic, Sydney Spring Cycle, some AusCycling NRS races, and now the Alpine Classic in Bright in January 2024.

• Sydney Spring Cycle - One of the best community rides in NSW will not be held in early October 23 due to rising event management costs and diminishing sponsorship.

• Gossip on the street is the Battle of the Border NRS promotion has been lost. A public execution is pending. Happy to be proved wrong on this …

• The Alpine Classic 2024 in Bright has now slipped into history having started in 1986. What a shame.

BICISPORT GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN OCTOBER 23

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

  • All welcome

NSW MASTERS CHAMPS & NATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPS - PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

• August 5 & 6

  • August 5 is Lansdowne Park (Sydney Championships)

  • August 6 is the Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre CarPark Circuit (NSW Masters Criterium Champs)

• August 12 & 13 is the NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships at Gunning near Goulburn

• The National Masters Road Championships (September21-24) are Shepparton & Dookie (Victoria)

  • Full Championship details are now posted in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Lansdowne Park)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre - CarPark Circuit)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Gunning, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 12-15 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

  • Tour of Bright stage maps for 2023 now posted in Special Events

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 4 Aug

  • Friday Night Track Racing (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

• 5 Aug

  • Sydney & Country Championships (Lansdowne Park)

    • BiciSport starters - Ian Grant, Ian Grainger, Peter Verhoeven

• 6 Aug

  • NSW Criterium Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

    • BiciSport starters - Ian Grant, Ian Grainger, Peter Verhoeven

  • Eastern Creek Dragway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 1 Aug & Thurs 3 Aug

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 3 Aug

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 5 Aug

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Murella Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1984-88

Murella were Italian tiles with bike sponsorship from either Rossin or Alan (again Italian). Groupsets were Campagnolo. Sub sponsors varied through Fanini, Soteco, Selle Italia, Remac & Seven Up (soft drinks). Any of the team jersey designs were a matter of individual taste - general consensus was they were a total shocker (all of them)

Team results … it was mostly about the foreigners (Rolf Sorensen, John Eustice (US), Dag Pedersen) with the best local being Alessandro Paganessi (a noted sprinter). The team rode 5 Giro’s and won 4 Giro stages which kept the Italian sponsors interested (until they weren’t).

News Shorts - 24 July

NSW CycloCross Championships @ Heffron Park @ 23 July - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) rode well in the Masters 9 category to take the M9 victory

NSW CycloCross Championships @ Heffron Park @ 23 July - Mike Lawson does the Heffron bunny hop with the BiciSport Flemish Fan Club

NSW CycloCross Championships @ Heffron Park @ 23 July - BiciSport Flemish Fan Club in search of Duvel beer and Uber Eats

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 23 July - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) finished 3rd in B grade

Queensland CycoCross Championships @ 17 July - Klayton Smith (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took victory in the Masters M5 category in Queensland. Congratulations Klayton.

Queensland CycoCross Championships @ 17 July - Klayton Smith

Queensland CycoCross Championships @ 17 July - Klayton Smith

BiciSport Belgium @ Vrasene (Flanders) @ 16 July - Michael Blommaert (Team Force - black helmet - picture centre) takes a close third in Vrasene

BiciSport Belgium @ Vrasene (Flanders) @ 16 July - Michael Blommaert (right) third on the Vrasene podium

BICISPORT GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN OCTOBER 23

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

• All welcome

SYDNEY SPRING CYCLE - CANCELLED

TOUR OF THE TROPICS - CANCELLED

• On the back of other Queensland event cancellations (including the Noosa Classic CycloSportive) the NRS level Tour of the Tropics has just been cancelled with just 8 days notice.

• One of the best community rides in NSW will not be held in October 23 due to rising event management costs and diminishing sponsorship.

SYDNEY MASTERS CHAMPS, NSW MASTERS CHAMPS & NATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPS - PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

• Reserve the weekend of August 5 & 6

  • August 5 is Lansdowne Park (Sydney Championships)

  • August 6 is the Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre CarPark Circuit (NSW Masters Criterium Champs)

• The following weekend (August 12 & 13) is the NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships at Gunning near Goulburn

• The National Masters Road Championships (September21-24) are Shepparton & Dookie (Victoria)

  • Full Championship details are now posted in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Lansdowne Park)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre - CarPark Circuit)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Gunning, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 12-15 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

  • Tour of Bright stage maps for 2023 now posted in Special Events

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 28 July

  • Friday Night Track Racing (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

• 28-30 July

  • Tour of the Tropics (NRS - Qld) - CANCELLED

• 30 July

  • NSW Cyclo Cross Series (Camden)

  • Heffron Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 25 July & Thurs 27 July

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 27 July

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 29 July

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Magniflex Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1973-87

Title sponsors were Magniflex Italian mattresses with either Olmo, Alan, Torpado or Rossin (all Italian) supplying the bikes. Secondary sponsors were Famcucine (kitchens) & Centroscarpa.

The team went for over a decade but victories were restricted to random stage wins in Grand Tours (mostly the Giro). Pierino Gavazzi (pictured above) was a pure sprinter and took a great victory in Milan San Remo in 1980 plus a win in Paris Brussels and several Giro stages. Numerous classy support riders in Bernt Johanssen, Paolo Rosola (another sprinter), Vittorio Algeri and a youthful Franco Ballerini (future winner of Paris Roubaix with team Mapei)

News Shorts - 17 July

NSW Cyclo Cross series @ 16 July @ St Ives Showground - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) at the St Ives Showground start in C grade.

Cyclo Cross continues to improve in leaps & bounds and the St Ives round had an excellent course, great entries in all categories and an excellent promotion. Congratulations to Peloton Sports Cycling Club. The State Championships are next Sunday at Heffron Park.

NSW Cyclo Cross series @ 16 July @ St Ives Showground - Mike Lawson

NSW Cyclo Cross series @ 16 July @ St Ives Showground - Mike Lawson

NSW Cyclo Cross series @ 16 July @ St Ives Showground - Mike Lawson

NSW Cyclo Cross series @ 16 July @ St Ives Showground - Mike van der O’Reilly with fellow Belgian Mike van der Lawson (BiciSport Team Force)

BICISPORT GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN OCTOBER 23

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

• All welcome

SYDNEY MASTERS CHAMPS, NSW MASTERS CHAMPS & NATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPS - PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

• Reserve the weekend of August 5 & 6

  • August 5 is Lansdowne Park (Sydney Championships)

  • August 6 is the Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre CarPark Circuit (NSW Masters Criterium Champs)

• The following weekend (August 12 & 13) is the NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships at Gunning near Goulburn

• The National Masters Road Championships (September21-24) are Shepparton & Dookie (Victoria)

  • Full Championship details are now posted in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• July 23 - NSW CycloCross Championships (Heffron Park)

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Lansdowne Park)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre - CarPark Circuit)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Gunning, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 12-15 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 21 July

  • Friday Night Track Racing (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

• 22 July

  • Compass ITT Series (Penrith Lakes)

• 23 July

  • NSW Cyclo Cross Championships (Heffron Park)

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 18 July & Thurs 20 July

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 20 July

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 22 July

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Eldor-Viner-Mapei Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - first part of 1993 only

1993 and out of chaos became a legendary professional team.

Eldor combined with Viner bikes to form the Eldor Viner pro team at the beginning of 1993. But troubles started when the Eldor money never ever materialized from day 1 and Viner Cycles carried the team until Mapei stepped in just before the Tour of Italy in mid 1993. So then began the Mapei dynasty from mid 1993.

Eldor Viner team riders were a very capable peloton even if good financial management maybe never came their way. The early 14 rider team at Eldor Viner was full of talent - Della Santa, Gelfi (sadly RIP), Noe, Giovannetti, Bontempi & Ghiotto all went to future professional teams with great distinction. Losing Gelfi to depression/suicide was a sad outcome.

Eldor Viner team rider Luca Gelfi who also then rode for Mapei, Del Tongo, BresciaLat and Rose Mary professional teams in Italy

Eldor Viner professional team presentation in early 1993 when the only thing professional was the team presentation itself … the rest was financial smoke & lire mirrors and very little of the latter until Mapei saved the day

Mapei Professional Team from 1994 … where the money was real and so too were the real results

News Shorts - 10 July

NSW Cyclo Cross Series @ 8 July @ Dunc Gray Velodrome - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) on the start line

NSW Cyclo Cross Series @ 8 July @ Dunc Gray Velodrome - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) on the start line

NSW Cyclo Cross Series @ 8 July @ Dunc Gray Velodrome - Mike Lawson launches from a brisk start

NSW Cyclo Cross Series @ 8 July @ Dunc Gray Velodrome - Mike Lawson

NSW Cyclo Cross Series @ 8 July @ Dunc Gray Velodrome - Mike Lawson on the DGV stairs

NSW Cyclo Cross Series @ 8 July @ Dunc Gray Velodrome - Mike Lawson does the CX Hip Hop

BiciSport Belgium @ 5 July - Briek VerHulst (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) has recently completed a 5 day cycling tour starting-finishing in the regional city of St Niklaas. The tour rode the tiny Flemish laneways around Lokeren, Wassmunster & Hassdonk

BICISPORT GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN OCTOBER 23

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

• All welcome

NSW MASTERS SYDNEY CHAMPS & NSW MASTERS ROAD CHAMPS - PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

• Reserve the weekend of August 5 & 6

  • August 5 is Lansdowne Park (Sydney Championships)

  • August 6 is the Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre CarPark Circuit (NSW Masters Criterium Champs)

• The following weekend (August 12 & 13) is the NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships at Gunning near Goulburn

  • Full Championship details are now posted in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• July 16 - NSW CycloCross Series (St Ives)

• July 23 - NSW CycloCross Championships (Heffron Park)

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Lansdowne Park)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre - CarPark Circuit)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Gunning, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 12-15 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 14 July

  • Friday Night Track Racing (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

• 16 July

  • Mt Kuring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)

  • Eastern Creek Dragway Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • NSW Cyclo Cross Series (St Ives)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 11 July & Thurs 13 July

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 13 July

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 15 July

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

ZOR Helios Gemeaz Cusin (Spain) - 1979-93

A team previously known as Amaya Segouros from 1979 (you are totally forgiven if you are blissfully unaware of that important fact) …. a team that became ZOR from 1980 until the end of 1983. Sponsorship origins are unknown as is most of the team results save for two victories in the Tour of Spain. Bike sponsorship was by the Spanish brand in BH and groupsets were Campagnolo.

Fausto Ruperez won the Tour of Spain in 1980, and Alvaro Pino won in Spain again in 1986. Beyond that its near impossible to see a meaningful result. Team members also included Juan Fernandez, Pedro Munoz, Edwardo Chozas, Laude Cubino (climber), Anselmo Fuerte (climber) and Phillipe Bouvatier (France).

News Shorts - 3 July

BiciSport @ China @ 27 June - Klayton Smith (BiciSport Happy Wheels) has been touring China

BiciSport @ China @ 27 June - Klayton Smith

NSW Cyclocross round @ DGV @ 8-9 July - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) does both days at the upcoming NSW Cyclocross series around the DGV Velodrome @ Bass Hill. Races start from 9.30am and Mike hits the grass at 10.30am in the M6+ category

BICISPORT GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN OCTOBER 23

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

• All welcome

NSW MASTERS SYDNEY CHAMPS COURSE NOW LANSDOWNE PARK & NSW MASTERS ROAD CHAMPS - PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

• Saturday 5 March is now at Lansdowne Park and Sunday is the Penrith Lakes Car Park for the NSW Criterium Championships. .

• The following weekend (August 12 & 13) is the NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships at Gunning near Goulburn

• Full Championship details are now posted in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• July 8-9 - NSW CycloCross Series (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

• July 23 - NSW Cyclo Cross Championships (Heffron Park)

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Lansdowne Park)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

  • CarPark Circuit

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Gunning, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 12-15 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 7 July

  • Friday Night Track Racing (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

• 8-9 July

  • NSW Cyclo Cross Series (DGV Velodrome)

    • BiciSport starter Mike Lawson

• 9 July

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 4 July & Thurs 6 July

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 6 July

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 8 July

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

“Belgian Brown Cafes” @ Viane (Geraadsbergen) - Belgium is renowned for its numerous “Brown Cafes”. These are local cafes that are invariably set in a brown (wood) decor Be it the coffee tables, the bar itself (yes, they all sell alcohol as the need arises). Everything just resonates a heavy wooden feel. There is usually at least two Brown Cafes in most local suburbs or villages dotted all over Flanders.

The Brown Cafe shown here is in the village of Viane near the Mur of Geraadsbergen and in true cycling mad Belgian style it has a cycling theme (some would call it an obsession ! ! not a theme). This cafe has everything …

“Belgian Brown Cafes” @ Viane (Geraadsbergen) # 1 … petrol cans hanging from the roof

“Belgian Brown Cafes” @ Viane (Geraadsbergen) # 2

“Belgian Brown Cafes” @ Viane (Geraadsbergen) # 3 …. note the rider standing on the left, and his mate further back

“Belgian Brown Cafes” @ Viane (Geraadsbergen) # 4

“Belgian Brown Cafes” @ Viane (Geraadsbergen) # 5

“Belgian Brown Cafes” @ Viane (Geraadsbergen) # 6 … cycling shoes & leather helmets hanging from the ceiling

“Belgian Brown Cafes” @ Viane (Geraadsbergen) # 7

News Shorts - 26 June

BiciSport @ Dolomites Italy @ 24 June - Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport Happy Wheels) knows precisely where to park the treasured bike in the Dolomites

BiciSport @ Dolomites Italy @ 23 June - Dudley Hoskin @ Lake Iseo on the edge of the Dolomites just east of Bergamo

BiciSport @ Dolomites Italy @ 23 June - Dudley Hoskin @ Lake Iseo

BiciSport @ Dolomites Italy @ 23 June - Dudley Hoskin @ Lake Iseo

BiciSport Belgium @ Kruibeke @ 18 June - Nick Felix is turning into something of a Kermesse King with a second victory at Kruibeke (podium above). Kruibeke was 14 laps of a 4.3k circuit with the race a cracking 43kph average speed. Congrats Nick.

BiciSport Belgium @ Kruibeke @ 18 June - Nick Felix takes the win

BiciSport Belgium @ Kruibeke @ 18 June - A strong Team Force enjoyed the team win

BiciSport Belgium @ Kruibeke @ 18 June - Nick Felix and Team Force started how they finished … on the front row

BiciSport at the Tour of Belgium 2023 - Freddy Verheyen (in BiciSport cap)

BICISPORT ANNOUNCES GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN OCTOBER 23

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

• All welcome

NSW MASTERS SYDNEY CHAMPS & NSW MASTERS ROAD CHAMPS - PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

• Reserve the weekend of August 5 & 6 for the Penrith Lakes World Masters Championships - the Saturday is the Lake Circuit and Sunday is the Car Park for the NSW Criterium Championships

• The following weekend (August 12 & 13) is the NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships at Gunning near Goulburn

• Full Championship details are now posted in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Gunning, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 12-15 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

WARATAH MASTERS RACE PROGRAM OUT TO 31 DEC 23 ANNOUNCED

• Waratahs continue to organise high quality interclub events on a weekly basis and Waratah’s recently announced their race calendar out to 31 Dec 23. Their race dates can now be found on the Calender section of this website

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 2 July

  • NSW CycloCross Series (Canberra ACT)

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 27 June & Thurs 29 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 29 June

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Shark Park Cronulla Carpark @ 12noon for Kurnell & return

• Sat 1 July

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Milram Pro Cycling Team (Germany) - 2006-10

Sponsorship was by Milram (German milk), Motorex (a Swiss oil company), De Nardi, bikes were Colnago in a lovely sky blue. Jersey design was a classic, a simple sky blue. Clothing was Santini and cars were Skoda.

Milram were something of a stage race team (for targeted stage wins, not the overall GC) - like the early version of Orica GreenEdge. Throw in a couple of single day Classics (like Paris Tours) and there you have it. Lets win. The EPO drug wave derailed everything towards the end.

Team victories very much hung off Erik Zabel & Alessandro Petacchi (sprinters of the highest order). Stage victories followed at the Tour of Spain and Tour of Italy (where Petacchi won five stages in 2007 but then failed a dope test). Highly regarded team members were numerous - Servais Knaven (Classics), Ralph Grabsch, Brett Lancaster (Aus), Luke Roberts (Aus), Linus Gerdemann, Gerald Ciolek and a youthful Niki Terpstra who went on to win at Flanders & Roubaix with QuickStep. Its a pity it all ended in 2010 as it was a classy sky blue peloton.

Milram Pro Cycling Team - Erik Zabel

Milram Pro Cycling Team - a youthful Niki Terpstra before all things got much better at QuickStep

Milram Pro Cycling Team - Erik Zabel

Milram Pro Cycling Team

News Shorts - 19 June

BiciSport to Belgium in 2024 - The Belgian Spring Classics for 2024 are just a Sydney summer season away. If watching the best bike racing on the planet, coupled with several Classic cyclosportives over truly Classic terrain, the odd historic cycling museum or visiting the rustic Roubaix Velodrome is you then you should contact BiciSport and reserve your place in the Bici peloton. The contact is Mike O”Reilly on 0417 403 244

BiciSport to Belgium in 2024 - The BiciSport Service Corse is the Kokerelle B&B in Maarke Kerkem near Oudenaarde. An ideal location with the Koppenberg & Old Kwaremont just 5 kilometres down the Schelde bike path. A chance to walk up the Koppenberg every day of your holidays …

BiciSport team coffee is taken every Saturday morning @ 9.30am @ Sandstone Cafe on Myoora Road Terrey Hills. All welcome.

BiciSport Belgium @ Kruibeke East Flanders @ 11 June - Nick Felix (front row, 2nd from left) leads the Team Force squad at Kruibeke. The inaugural season for the Force peloton and the results just keep coming. Mike Lawson (BiciSport) heads to Belgium in November and based on the roadies results, Mike will have some challenges to match the roadies.

BiciSport Belgium @ Kruibeke East Flanders @ 11 June - Nick Felix (third from left) on the front row at Kruibeke

BiciSport Belgium @ Kruibeke East Flanders @ 11 June - Nick Felix (second right) at Kruibeke

BiciSport Belgium @ Kruibeke East Flanders @ 11 June

BiciSport Belgium @ Kruibeke East Flanders @ 11 June

BICISPORT ANNOUNCES GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN OCTOBER 23

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

• All welcome

NSW MASTERS SYDNEY CHAMPS & NSW MASTERS ROAD CHAMPS - PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

• Reserve the weekend of August 5 & 6 for the Penrith Lakes World Masters Championships - the Saturday is the Lake Circuit and Sunday is the Car Park for the NSW Criterium Championships

• The following weekend (August 12 & 13) is the NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships at Gunning near Goulburn

• Full Championship details are now posted in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Goulburn, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7-8 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 12-15 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

WARATAH MASTERS RACE PROGRAM OUT TO 31 DEC 23 ANNOUNCED

• Waratahs continue to organise high quality interclub events on a weekly basis and Waratah’s recently announced their race calendar out to 31 Dec 23. Their race dates can now be found on the Calender section of this website

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 24 June

  • AusCycling National Gravel Championships (Tasmania)

• 25 June

  • Orica Classic (Kurri Kurri, NSW)

  • Melburn Roobaix CycloSportive (Melbourne, Vic)

  • Heffron Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 20 June & Thurs 22 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 22 June

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 24 June

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Gewiss Ballan Pro Cycling (Italy) - 1993-97

Much has been written about this team, and its not all about a bunch of high level results and a nice retro jersey - there was a substantial dark side. Sponsorship was by Gewiss (electrical engineering), Ballan (garage doors). Bikes were Bianchi and groupsets Campagnolo. Team clothing was by Biemme. Jersey design was a stunner and a retro classic.

The team enjoyed success at the Giro, the Tour and numerous single day Classics. This team wasn’t the only pro team fueled by the performance enhancing EPO drug but you get a sense of the problem when the team doctor publicly stated “taking EPO is like taking orange juice”. Geez, where can I get those oranges !! …

The Gewiss team is generally noted as performing somewhat spectacularly on the “orange juice” when they took 1-2-3 at the Fleche Walloone Classic in Belgium in 1994 (the fact that the Mapei team took the 1-2-3 podium at the Paris Roubaix Classic a staggering THREE times and this is somehow always ignored).

Team members were big hitters at all Tours & Classics - Evgeni Berzin, Ivan Gotti (famous for his dad ferrying the “orange juice” in his campervan at the Giro), Giogio Furlan (won the Milan San Remo Classic), Nicola Minali (sprinter), Moreno Argentin (Classics), Piotr Ugrumov (Giro specialist) and Bjarne Rijs (his nickname was Mr 60 % based on excessive EPO consumption).

… Mr 60% ….

Fleche Walloone Classic 1994 … and The Fix is in …

The infamous Fleche Walloone Classic podium 1994

News Shorts - 12 June

NSW CycloCross Round @ Sun Valley (near Springwood) @ 12 June - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) rode in a strong B grade field of 35 riders over 8 laps around the Sun Valley Pony Club facility. A mishap on lap 2 (where two competitors crashed into his rear mech) caused some delay but he finished well.

NSW CycloCross Round @ Sun Valley (near Springwood) @ 12 June - Mike Lawson in the sandy pony dressage arena

NSW CycloCross Round @ Sun Valley (near Springwood) @ 12 June - Mike Lawson runs in the sand

NSW CycloCross Round @ Sun Valley (near Springwood) @ 12 June - Mike Lawson

NSW CycloCross Round @ Sun Valley (near Springwood) @ 12 June - Mike Lawson & MOR

BiciSport Belgium @ Maldegem @ 4 June - Nick Felix (Team Force) takes the victory at Maldegem (East Flanders)

BiciSport Belgium @ Maldegem @ 4 June - Nick Felix & Team Force on the Maldegem start line

BiciSport Belgium @ Maldegem @ 4 June - Nick Felix on the start line

BiciSport Belgium @ Maldegem @ 4 June - Nick Felix mid race in Maldegem

BiciSport Belgium @ Maldegem @ 4 June - Two Team Force riders controlling the peloton in rural Maldegem

ARE RACE RADIOS STIFLING PRO ROAD CYCLING ?

• The professional stage race typically goes like this …. the second level pro teams fight like hungry dogs to get into the television break of the day and race to a 4 minute lead. The peloton know exactly where and when they are anywhere. The breakaway edges towards a 4 minute lead.

• When the breakaway gets to the magical 4 minutes lead the breakaway eases back just a touch, but then so does the peloton !!. So here we are (all live on your pay for view tv screen) with two groups essentially soft pedaling (or crystal cranking) with neither giving it 100%. When they both hit the magical 50k to go mark, then hostilities resume in earnest. The peloton catches the break right on the 5k to go banner. The local hero wins the stage and the pantomime resumes the next day. The only way to reduce the boredom is to finish the stage up a wall. .

• The recommended solution is to ban team race radios and make pro stage racing worth watching. Racing into the unknown makes it all the more exciting. This beats a staged pantomime every time.

BICISPORT ANNOUNCES GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE IN OCTOBER 23

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

• All welcome

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

• Note that the NSW Masters Road Championships are split over two weekends & venues

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Goulburn, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7-8 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 12-15 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

WARATAH MASTERS RACE PROGRAM OUT TO 31 DEC 23 ANNOUNCED

• Waratahs continue to to organise high quality interclub events on a weekly basis and Waratah’s recently announced their race calendar out to 31 Dec 23. Their race dates can now be found on the Calender section of this website

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 17 June

  • Mogo Gravel (NSW South Coast)

• 18 June

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Compass ITT Series (Waratah Parh, Sutherland)

  • Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 13 June & Thurs 15 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 15 June

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 17 June

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Skala Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands) - 1985-87

The great Hennie Kuiper (centre of above picture) in the 1987 Amstel Gold Classic

Skala was best described as one day race wonders. Stage racing was certainly not their speciality but anything with a one day tag was theirs for the taking and they won a lot. Main sponsor was Skala (hair shampoo) with numerous sub sponsors in Skil (timber saws), Chiori, Roland (pianos), TW Rock (a Belgian rock festival !!). Bikes were Gazelle (Dutch) or Colnago (Italian).

Team members reflected the one day strategy - Johan Capiot (sprinter), Herman Frison (Classics), Brian Holm (Classics), Hennie Kuiper (ex World Champion & more Classics), Jesper Skibby (famous for being run over by a commissaires car on the Koppenberg in 1987), Brian Sorensen, Jean-Paul van Poppel (sprinter), Ferdi Van Den Haute (the hard man of the hard men), Nico Verhoeven & Dirk Wayenberg.

Skala Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands) - Ferdi van den Haute was one tough hard man

Skala Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands)

Skala Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands)

News Shorts - 5 June

National CycloCross Round @ Adelaide @ 3 June - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) on the Adelaide start line

National CycloCross Round @ Adelaide @ 3 June - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force)

National CycloCross Round @ Adelaide @ 3 June - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force)

National CycloCross Round @ Adelaide @ 3 June - Mike Lawson takes the victory

BiciSport @ Mawson Trail @ South Australian Outback @ 1 June - Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport) on the rugged Mawson Trail somewhere between there and way over there

BiciSport @ Mawson Trail @ South Australian Outback @ 1 June - Dudley Hoskin at Blinman

BiciSport @ Mawson Trail @ South Australian Outback @ 1 June - Dudley Hoskin cooking up a storm

BiciSport @ Mawson Trail @ South Australian Outback @ 1 June - Dudley Hoskin with a Mario Cipolini lookalike

BiciSport @ Mawson Trail @ South Australian Outback @ 1 June - the views on the Mawson Trail

BiciSport Belgium @ Limburg @ 28 May - Briek VerHulst (BiciSport) # 1 riding the Amstel Gold Classic roads in Limburg

BiciSport Belgium @ Limburg @ 28 May - Briek VerHulst (BiciSport) # 2 riding the Amstel Gold Classic roads in Limburg

BiciSport Belgium @ Limburg @ 28 May - Briek VerHulst (BiciSport) # 3 riding the Amstel Gold Classic roads in Limburg

Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) will be competing at Sun Valley in the Lower Blue Mountains near Springwood. Mike starts in the B Grade event starting @ 12noon. Address is Sun Valley Reserve, Sun Valley Rd

ARE RACE RADIOS STIFLING PRO ROAD CYCLING ?

• The professional stage race typically goes like this …. the second level pro teams fight like hungry dogs to get into the television break of the day and race to a 4 minute lead. The peloton know exactly where and when they are anywhere. The breakaway edges towards a 4 minute lead.

• When the breakaway gets to the magical 4 minutes lead the breakaway eases back just a touch, but then so does the peloton !!. So here we are (all live on your pay for view tv screen) with two groups essentially soft pedaling (or crystal cranking) with neither giving it 100%. When they both hit the magical 50k to go mark, then hostilities resume in earnest. The peloton catches the break right on the 5k to go banner. The local hero wins the stage and the pantomime resumes the next day. The only way to reduce the boredom is to finish the stage up a wall. .

• The recommended solution is to ban team race radios and make pro stage racing worth watching. Racing into the unknown makes it all the more exciting. This beats a staged pantomime every time.

BICISPORT ANNOUNCES GRIFFITH TO MELBOURNE RIDE in OCTOBER 23

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

• All welcome

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

• Note that the NSW Masters Road Championships are split over two weekends & venues

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (venue tbc)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Goulburn, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7-8 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 12-15 - BiciSport Enduro Ride from Griffith to Melbourne

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

WARATAH MASTERS RACE PROGRAM OUT TO 31 DEC 23 ANNOUNCED

• Waratahs continue to to organise high quality interclub events on a weekly basis and Waratah’s recently announced their race calendar out to 31 Dec 23. Their race dates can now be found on the Calender section of this website

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 11 June

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

• 12 June (Mon)

  • NSW Cyclo Cross Series (Lower Blue Mountains @ Sun Valley)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 6 June & Thurs 8 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 8 June

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 10 June

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Hitachi Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - 1985-89

The Hitachi years came out of the previous Belgian Splendor team. Sponsorship was headed by Hitachi (electronics) with numerous sub sponsors - Sunair, Robland, Marc, Bosal (car mufflers) and BCE Snooker. Bike sponsors were originally Splendor (Belgian) but moved to Rossin (Italian). Groupsets were Mavic.

It was simplistic to say it was all about Claude Criquielion (World Road Champion) as the support group was truly exceptional - be it Edwin Bafcop, Marc Assez, Dirk De Wolf (Classics), Fons De Wolf (Classics), Rudy Dhaenens (future World Road Champion) & Rudy Matthijs (Classics). They won a lot across every terrain.

Hitachi Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - Claude Criquielion (RIP) has his victory at Fleche Wallonne Classic celebrated by having his own corner named after him on the steep Mur de Huy climb at the Fleche Wallonne Classic

Hitachi Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - Claude Criquielion in the World Road Champions jersey

Hitachi Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - Claude Criquielion takes victory in the 1987 Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen)

Claude Criquielion in the World Road Champions jersey

News Shorts - 29 May

The Giro has finally ended and now for Le Tour

The Giro ‘18 - Frank Signor (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) atop the famous Passo Gavia

The Giro ‘18 - Peter Budd (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) atop the Passo del Mortirolo

The Giro ‘18 - Melissa & Peter Budd at the Passo Gavia

The Giro ‘18 - Peter Budd, Frank Signor & Roger Thomson Seagrave looking for a great coffee in Bormio

Albert Bishop Park (Brisbane) @ Memorial Race @ 21 May - Klayton Smith (BiciSport Happy Wheels) again featured in this popular criterium and in his words “is determined to win one of these before the year ends”.

IS FRIDAY CYCLING NOW THE NEW “SILENT SUNDAY” ?

• With changing work habits courtesy of Covid 19 … is there a sense that Wednesday & Thursday are now super busy car days on the local roads (everybody is back in the office), yet Friday now seems to be a much lighter day ? … Saturday of course remains close to shambolic as always

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

• Note that the NSW Masters Championships are split over two weekends & venues

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Venue tbc)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Goulburn, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7-8 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 3 June (Sat)

  • Eastern Creek Raceway @ 6.50am

  • National CycloCross Series (Adelaide, SA)

    • BiciSport starter Mike Lawson

• 4 June

  • Eastern Creek Dragway Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Dinnerville Handicaps (Dapto, NSW)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 30 May & Thurs 1 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 1 June

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 3 June

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Jan Van Erp Tegels Cycling Team (Netherlands) - 1968-80

In an era when Dutch “amateur” trade teams were generally more professional than the so called professional teams of that era. Jan Van Erp was a dutch tile company and had 7 World Champions at one point. Clothing was supplied by Castelli and the bikes were either Concorde (being Dutch) or Saronni (an Italian sub brand of Colnago). As amateur teams go this was anything but “amateur” and very much professional in budget, organization, results & culture

A classy Jan van Erp peloton that included Gerrit Solleveld, Steve Jones (UK), Adrie Van Der Poel (father of the currently famous Van Der Poel), Jan Raas, Henk Lubberding, Bert Oosterbosch, David Akam (UK) and Johnny Broers.

Jan van Erp Tegels - 1978 World Teams Time Trial Champions over 100k. Jan Gisbers as manager went on to lead the professional PDM team as manager

News Shorts - 22 May

NSW CycloCross Round @ Heffron Park Maroubra @ 14 May - Pictured above is Mike Lawson (BiciSport Force Team) at Heffron. It was Mike’s first outing in the Belgian Force team kit. BiciSport is sponsoring the Belgian Force team for three years from 2023

NSW CycloCross Round @ Heffron Park Maroubra @ 14 May - Mike Lawson

NSW CycloCross Round @ Heffron Park Maroubra @ 14 May - Mike Lawson

NSW CycloCross Round @ Heffron Park Maroubra @ 14 May

BiciSport @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 20 May - Tony R, Marty W, Ian G, Karl H & Nigel S. Coffee is served every Saturday @ 9.30am. All welcome.

NOOSA CLASSIC CYCLOSPORTIVE POSTPONED FOR 2023

A loss in Qld government support has led to the postponement of this truly exceptional event. See you in 2024 we hope.

IS FRIDAY CYCLING NOW THE NEW “SILENT SUNDAY” ?

• With changing work habits courtesy of Covid 19 … is there a sense that Wednesday & Thursday are now super busy car days on the local roads (everybody is back in the office), yet Friday now seems to be a much lighter day ? … Saturday of course remains close to shambolic as always

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023

• Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

• Note that the NSW Masters Championships are split over two weekends & venues

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 6 - NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Venue tbc)

• Aug 12-13 - NSW Masters ITT & Road Championships (Goulburn, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7-8 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 28 May

  • Heffron Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 23 May & Thurs 25 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 25 May

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 27 May

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Cafe de Columbia Pro Cycling Team (Columbia) - 1983-90

Sponsorship was from the Columbian Coffee Plantation Owners Association and co sponsors were Varta (car batteries) with Mavic (cycling components), Wolber (tyres) and Vitus the bike frames.

The team roster had 24 riders (all Columbians) but only Luis “Lucho” Herrera and Fabio Parra rated a mention on the race result sheets. It was really all about Lucho & Parra. Lucho won a stage in the ‘84 Tour de France (the Alpe D’Huez stage no less) & Lucho then won the ‘87 Tour of Spain and the ‘88 Dauphine Libere stage race.

The drop in world coffee prices during 1990 ended the team dream.

Cafe de Columbia Pro Cycling Team (Columbia) - Lucho Herrera in the French Alps during the 1988 Dauphine Libere stage race

Cafe de Columbia Pro Cycling Team (Columbia) - Lucho Herrera

News Shorts - 15 May

Bathurst Road Race @ 13 May - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes second in Bathurst A Grade

West Head Road Race @ 14 May - Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport Happy Wheels) at the West Head turning point in heavy fog with just a hint of autumn sunshine breaking through

West Head Road Race @ 14 May - Dudley Hoskin

West Head Road Race @ 14 May - Dudley Hoskin

West Head Road Race @ 14 May - MOR & Dudley Hoskin after the finish

Dudley Hoskin took the victory at the Aquabike Tri Series @ Port Stephens on 13 May

Melburn Roubaix is the ultimate cobbled cyclosportive in urban Melbourne on 25 June. Numerous cobbled laneways coupled with great coffee and a friendly atmosphere.

BICISPORT SPECIAL Events FOR 2023

Bicisport has a range of primary & secondary Special Events listed on this website (see the separate web page). These events receive personal rider support and the primary events also come with some financial support. Any questions should be directed to Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Upcoming primary Special Events for 2023 include -

• Aug 5 - Sydney & Country Championships (Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre)

• Aug 11-13 - NSW Masters Road Championships (Goulburn, NSW)

• Sept 21-24 - National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

• Oct 7-8 - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• Oct 21-22 - Bowral Classic CycloSportive (Bowral, NSW)

• Dec 2-3 - Tour of Bright (Bright, Vic)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 20-21 May

  • Cootamundra Weekend (AusNSW)

  • National Cyclo Cross Series (Perth WA)

• 21 May

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

  • Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 16 May & Thurs 18 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 18 May

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 20 May

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

7-Eleven Pro Cycling Team (USA) - 1981-90

One of the original super teams by any measure. Sponsorship was by 7 Eleven (US food chain) until 1991 then it switched to Motorola. Bike sponsors were Schwinn (1981-84), Murray (85-86), Huffy (87-88), Merckx (from 89 into the Motorola years). Hoonved (washing machines) co sponsored the team in Italy as did American Airlines. Tyres were supplied by Wolber and groupsets were Shimano

The womens team was a classy peloton (with Rebecca Twigg), but went one better with Andy Hampsten (won the Tour of Italy in ‘88, and 3rd in Italy in ‘89). The support team was again a classy peloton with Heiden, Grewal, Alcala, Bradley, Demgen, Van Haute, Hayman, Phinney, Kiefel, Stieda, Roll, Shapiro & Yates. The team won stages at Tours of Italy, France & Switzerland.

7-Eleven Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Andy Hampsten (left) with team mate Raul Alcala

7-Eleven Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Alexi Grewal (turning)

7-Eleven Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Andy Hampsten climbing the snow covered Gavia Pass in the 1988 Tour of Italy

7-Eleven Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Andy Hampsten on the Gavia Pass

7-Eleven Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Andy Hampsten wins the 1988 Tour of Italy

News Shorts - 8 May

BiciSport @ Kosciusko National Park near Cabramurra @ 1 May - BiciSport’s Marty Wright & Dudley Hoskin ventured into “Bear Grylls Territory” with gravel roads, local wildlife & campside accommodation. Congratulations guys and it makes Paris Roubaix look like a cruise. Marty Wright is pictured above.

BiciSport @ Kosciusko National Park near Cabramurra @ 1 May

BiciSport @ Kosciusko National Park near Cabramurra @ 1 May

BiciSport @ Kosciusko National Park near Cabramurra @ 1 May

BiciSport Belgium @ East Flanders Road Race @ 1 May - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Belgium) on the start line

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 8 May

  • Compass ITT Series @ Eastern Creek (Camden CC)

• 13 May

  • AusCycling AGM

• 14 May

  • NSW Cyclo Cross Series (Heffron Park, NSW)

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

  • West Head Road Race (Manly CC)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 9 May & Thurs 11 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 11 May

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 13 May

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Dauphine Tour & Plane Flight & Bordeaux Paris & Mauberge Criterium @ 1965 - Jacques Anquetil (Ford France) left pictured with Raymond Poulidor (BP) & Rik Van Looy (Solo)

The Jacques Anquetil story runs thus … In a single 11 day period Master Jacques won the 8 day Dauphine Tour, rode the 557k Bordeaux Paris behind a motorized derny then raced the Mauberge Pro Criterium. It was no surprise that Jacques was famous for calling UCI drug tests “an invasion of personal liberty”.

Jacques won the Dauphine Tour, then 2 hours later caught the flight from Nimes to Bordeaux for the 557k Bordeaux race. The plane flight was organised by the French President Charles de Gaulle.

Jacques won Bordeaux Paris by just 57 seconds over his team mate Jean Stablinski with Tom Simpson third. The very next day Jacques drove to northern France to compete in the Mauberge pro criterium.

Dauphine Tour & Plane Flight & Bordeaux Paris & Mauberge Criterium @ 1965 - Jacques aboard the French President sponsored flight from Nimes

Dauphine Tour & Plane Flight & Bordeaux Paris & Mauberge Criterium @ 1965 - departing the Nimes flight at Bordeaux

Dauphine Tour & Plane Flight & Bordeaux Paris & Mauberge Criterium @ 1965

Jacques wins Bordeaux Paris at the Vincennes Velodrome in Paris with his two derny drivers (the last 300k was paced behind the motorised derny). The second derny was a spare should the first derny break down.

Dauphine Tour & Plane Flight & Bordeaux Paris & Mauberge Criterium @ 1965 - Jacques behind the team derny with the spare derny in reserve

Dauphine Tour & Plane Flight & Bordeaux Paris & Mauberge Criterium @ 1965 - Jacques behind the team derny during Bordeaux Paris

News Shorts - 1 May

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - BiciSport started both Klayton Smith & Craig Pager.

Conditions were ideal for the 228k journey over the Gibraltar Range. Both Klayton & Craig rode themselves to a standstill and should be very well satisfied as they left everything out on the road.

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - Klayton Smith (BiciSport Happy Wheels) climbing the Waterloo Range outside Glen Innes with 180k completed.

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - Craig Pager leading (BiciSport Happy Wheels) at the 120k Mount Mitchell Feed Zone.

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - Craig Pager dropped his chain at the Mount Mitchell Feed Zone and after quick assistance immediately remounted

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - Klayton Smith at the Inverell finish

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - Craig Pager at the Inverell finish

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - Craig Pager at the Inverell finish

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - BiciSport grupetto to Grafton 23 with Craig Pager, MOR & Klayton Smith. We really missed you Randolph … get better soon

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - Steve McLean (aka Bundy) the adorable motor cycle scout at the Mount Mitchell Feed Zone with MOR. Bundy has been a great volunteer over the years to many NSW races offering race official support.

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 29 Apr - Bundy revealing all at the Grafton Inverell Classic Feed Zone

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 7 May

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 2 May & Thurs 4 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 4 May

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 6 May

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

IWC Pro Team (Switzerland) - 1981-82

The IWC pro team was arguably the smallest pro team in the peloton with the primary rider being just Patrick Sercu (of Belgium). The IWC team lasted from 1981 until the end of 1982. Sercu’s pro career extended from 1961 until the end of 1983 with the IWC sponsorship finishing at the end of 1982.

IWC made high quality Swiss watches, the bikes were Eddy Merckx (naturally, as Eddy was the best mate of Patrick). Team clothing was supplied by Decca. Sercu won an Olympic Sprint Gold on the velodrome, plus three World Sprint Championships, a staggering 88 six day races on the velodrome plus the Points jersey at the 1974 Tour de France.

News Shorts - 24 April

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - across the top of Mur de Huy and The Podge in total control (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - The Podge # 2 (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - Fleche peloton (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - Fleche peloton (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - Tom Pidcock at the Mur de Huy feed zone (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - The Podge # 3 at the Mur de Huy feed zone (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - the Womens Fleche Classic over a hilly 130k included three laps of the Fleche circuit (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - Aussie rider Rachael Neylan (Cofidis - white arm warmers) (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - Womens race team cars just 2k from the start in Huy (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - World Champion Annemiek Van Vlueten # 1 (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - World Champion Annemiek van Vlueten # 2 (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr - Womens Fleche podium (photo MOR)

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy Cycling Cafe @ 18 Apr - wherever there is a Belgian cycling classic these days up springs the latest cycling themed coffee shop + mini clothing store.

The Mur de Huy cycle cafe offering rated well with good coffee & excellent food. The town of Huy offered everything from graphic World War 2 atrocities against the local Belgian population in the Citadel, to its own nuclear power station (… must have one of those in your suburb …), then plenty of heavy traffic on clogged narrow roads. This is compensated by quiet and very welcome canal cycle paths, good cafes & challenging local climbs. However, its one of those towns best described as … if it wasn’t for a professional Classic cycle race then you may not go there.

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ 18 Apr - the view over Huy from atop the Huy Citadel with the Tihange nuclear power station in the background. The steep Mur de Huy used in the cycle classic is in the forested area to the right of the picture.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 29 Apr

  • Great Otway Classic Cyclosportive (Vic)

  • Grafton to Inverell Classic (NRS - NSW)

    • BiciSport starters Klayton Smith & Craig Pager

• 30 Apr

  • Heffron Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 25 Apr & Thurs 27 Apr

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 27 Apr

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 29 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne Classic @ 17 Apr - Team Lotto at the top of the Mur de Huy climb on a training ride # 1

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne Classic @ 17 Apr - Team Lotto at the top of the Mur de Huy climb on a training ride # 2

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne Classic @ 17 Apr - Team Lotto at the top of the Mur de Huy climb on a training ride # 3

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne Classic @ 17 Apr - Team Lotto at the top of the Mur de Huy climb on a training ride with the Australian rider Harry Sweeny

BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Claasics 2023 - thanks for coming, see you in 2024

Kokerelle B&B - early March 2023

Kokerelle B&B - early March 2023

Kokerelle B&B - more like a home than a place to visit

Kokerelle B&B - picture taken in mid March 23 with the hedges still bare from the previous winter

Kokerelle B&B - picture taken end April 23 - nice & green with summer on the way

News Shorts - 17 April

West Head Road Race @ 16 Apr - Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes third in the Masters category

BiciSport Griffith @ 15 Apr - L to R … Max Kopp, Albert Ravanello & Peter Budd after they completed the 200k ride from Griffith to Wagga

Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) has made a welcome return to Masters racing at both Lansdowne Park & Eastern Creek after sustaining injuries from a crash at Eastern Creek.

Ian finished 3rd in A2 grade on 16 Apr.

BiciSport Report @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 16 Apr - the day dawned damp but greatly improved by lunchtime. The Podge dominated from 60k out and crushed the opposition. Most of the day was spent in the Fixed Gear Coffee lounge in central Valkenburg.

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 16 Apr - The Podge gets in the break of the day some 65k+ from the finish and looked menacing as he passed through Valkenburg the first time (picture MOR)

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 16 Apr - chasing The Podge inspired breakaway was the somewhat tortured peloton already looking broken at Valkenburg the first time (picture MOR)

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 16 Apr - chasing riders in Valkenburg through the race convoy

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 16 Apr - The Podge comes through Valkenburg the second time and most definitely solo. The race was over (picture MOR) with The Podge having a lower back stretch

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 16 Apr - Healey & Pidcock come through Valkenburg looking miserable having been worked over by The Podge on the second pass (picture MOR).

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 16 Apr - the Womens race convoy passes the Fixed Gear Coffee lounge … home for an Amstel Gold day out.

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 16 Apr - huge crowds in Valkenburg with loud music, lots of alcohol and The Podge took the victory

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 15 Apr - Fixed Gear Coffee lounge # 1 in Valkenburg sees the Womens Race pass five times and the Mens race pass twice (in the street outside).

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 15 Apr - Fixed Gear Coffee lounge # 2 is a mixture of bike shop & coffee lounge right in the heart of Valkenburg

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 15 Apr - Fixed Gear Coffee lounge # 3

BiciSport @ Amstel Gold Classic @ 15 Apr - Australian cyclist Rachael Neylan (second left) with her Cofidis team mates at Valkenburg

The Shimano Experience Centre @ Valkenburg @ 16 Apr - Wow # 1 …. located in a most insignificant street in the outskirts of Valkenburg is the Shimano Experience Centre (with Anytime Fitness upstairs !). This was amazing, stylishly designed inside & out, with all manner of displays & goodies inside ranging from clothing, gravel, MTB & road bikes, bike hire and a nice cafe.

The Shimano Experience Centre @ Valkenburg @ 16 Apr - Wow # 2 … inside the front foyer

The Shimano Experience Centre @ Valkenburg @ 16 Apr - Wow # 3 … a tiny part of a huge display zone inside

BiciSport Training @ Velle (Antwerp) @ 10 Apr - The day after Paris Roubaix and a chance to ride the rural laneways near Antwerp for L to R … Mike van der Lawson, Koen VerHulst, Eddy VerHulst & MOR

BiciSport @ Sint Niklaas @ 10 Apr - Koen VerHulst (left) presents Mike van der Lawson with his new Force team jersey. BiciSport is sponsoring the Belgian Force team for three years from 2023. BiciSport Australia is on the collarbone part of the jersey

BiciSport @ Niewkerken Waas WAOD event @ 7 Apr - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Team Force) rode well in Niewkerken over 60k. There are three cycle racing leagues in Belgium - UCI (first category), WAOD (second category) & TTC (third category)

BiciSport Team Force @ Niewkerken @ 7 Apr - Team Force took their first WAOD victory with Tom Vanneuville (red helmet)

BiciSport Team Force @ Niewkerken @ 7 Apr - Team Force celebrates with Tom Vanneuville (white wine)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 17 Apr - 24 Apr

  • BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics

• 23 Apr

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 18 Apr & Thurs 20 Apr

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 20 Apr

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 22 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

A grand tour of a very grand cycling “Brown Belgian Cafe” - Belgium is littered with what they call Brown Cafes.

Literally every village has at least two - dressed in heavy brown tones, wood work everywhere, plus the heavy tinge of stale cigarettes or maybe just simply stale (that can also include the customers ! ). People may even call them rustic, others call them “period”. The special Brown Cafe in these pictures is by invitation only and very much a cyclists paradise. In the above pic note the signatures of Johan Museeuw, Frank Hoste & Eddy Merckx (twice) plus Jo Planckaert

A grand tour of a grand cycling “Brown Belgian Cafe” # 2

A grand tour of a grand cycling “Brown Belgian Cafe” # 3

A grand tour of a grand cycling “Brown Belgian Cafe” # 4

A grand tour of a grand cycling “Brown Belgian Cafe” # 5 - very much a Stairway to Cycling Heaven

A grand tour of a grand cycling “Brown Belgian Cafe” # 6

Liege Bastogne Liege 2023 - not an easy race to follow by car, and at best maybe two or three viewings. The red return leg has two relatively easy viewings near Vielsam

News Shorts - 10 April

Eastern Creek Raceway @ 10 Apr - Stew Campbell (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes a B grade victory

BiciSport Report on Paris Roubaix 23 @ 9 Apr - Just over a two hour drive down the A1 Motorway in heavy fog for a 9am arrival in Compiegne. Crowds were building in Compiegne and took up position under the start banner at 9.30am and waited.

Plans were to then hit zone 6 but police road closures near Orchies thwarted that idea and we settled for zone 15 by sheer accident (we really had no choice). Talk about good luck as the police had set the road closures kilometres away in the middle of nowhere & then along came the salvation in dear old zone 15. Zone 15 came with its own bustling street party, a big tv screen, food, local produce and a band & seemingly endless beer, The French crowd was all for Van Aert but the victory went to VdP.

Paris Roubaix 23 @ 9 Apr - Compiegne start line (Wout van Aert in yellow jersey)

Paris Roubaix 23 @ 9 Apr - Zone 15 street party was left of picture in a local farmers paddock …. and it went off

Paris Roubaix 23 @ 9 Apr - The zone 15 street party had a must see TV screen & seats were provided

Paris Roubaix 23 @ 9 Apr - The zone 15 street party came with live music

Paris Roubaix 23 @ 9 Apr - VdP followed by Delkenlob & Ganna through the Zone 15 Feed Zone

Paris Roubaix 23 @ 9 Apr - Wout van Aert through the Zone 15 Feed Zone with VdP just behind

Paris Roubaix CycloSportive @ 8 Apr - Mike Lawson (BiciSport) before the start of the PR CycloSportive on the Saturday near the Roubaix Velodrome

Paris Roubaix 23 @ 8 Apr - The latest Eddy Merckx monument unveiled at the Camphin-en-Pevele cobbles just before this edition of Hell and 20k from the finish at the Roubaix Velodrome

Paris Roubaix 23 @ 8 Apr - on the Wannehain pave @ zone 6

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 10 Apr - 24 Apr

  • BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics

• 13-16 Apr

  • National Masters Track Championships (Brisbane)

• 15 Apr

  • Glen Innes Gravel

• 16 Apr

  • Mail Run CycloSportive (Singleton, NSW)

  • West Head Road Race (Manly)

  • Hayman Gravel Classic (ACT)

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 11 Apr & Thurs 13 Apr

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 13 Apr

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 15 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Paris Roubaix Training Day (Thursday) @ 6 Apr - Wout van Aert has completed his training effort at the Roubaix Velodrome. Conditions were cold & damp on the Thursday with light drizzle making the pave both slippery & dangerous.

Paris Roubaix Training Day (Thursday) @ 6 Apr - A very dirty Team Wanty rider jumping into the Wanty team bus after finishing at Carrefour

Paris Roubaix Training Day (Thursday) @ 6 Apr - AG2R on the Carrefour pave

Paris Roubaix Training Day (Thursday) @ 6 Apr - No putting your mouth to that gift from the Wanty Sports Director …. at the Carrefour pave with the L’Arbre Hotel in the background (right)

Amstel Gold Race starts in Maastricht then morphs into the worlds hilliest criterium over some 260k.

Lets not talk about the endless corners, countless traffic furniture and general road calming devices !. Most climbs and connect roads are traversed several times and in the opposite direction to the first pass. The finish is in Valkenberg (only 15 minutes by train from the Maastricht start).

Despite racing on rural laneways it’s not the easiest race to follow in a car or on a bike. A case of getting to Valkenberg and watch them come past a few times then head to a local cafe with a TV and a beer.