News Shorts - 2 October

The racing has been great, but the politics towards 2024 is next level

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 1 Oct - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on the B grade start line

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 1 Oct - Ian Grant at the B grade finish

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 1 Oct - Peter Verhoeven on the C grade start line

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 1 Oct - Ian Grant

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 1 Oct - Peter Verhoeven

BiciSport in Belgium @ 23 Sept - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) finished 7th in the Wingene Flanders cyclo cross

BiciSport in Belgium @ Kruibeke @ 23 Sept - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Team Force) finished second in the Kruibeke Gravel race and nicely rewarded with some commemorative Duvel beer.

BiciSport in Belgium @ Kruibeke @ @ 23 Sept - Koen VerHulst (right) at the Kruibeke Gravel behind the eventual winner

BiciSport in Belgium @ Kruibeke @ @ 23 Sept - right to left in Eddy VerHulst, Mike Lawson & Koen VerHulst

BiciSport in Belgium @ 24 Sept - Mike Lawson (white helmet - BiciSport Team Force) joined his Team Force team mates around the Flemish rural laneways near the Dutch-Belgian border

Bright @ Victorian Alps @ 25 Sept - the Bright-Harrietville Rail Trail has been opened only a short time but this totally car free pedal is worth doing. It is 26k from Bright to Harrietville - so roughly a 50k round trip with coffee at Harrietville. The rail trail is ever so slightly up hill towards Harrietville and is narrow in some parts. This is more than compensated by numerous riverside sections with great natural beauty.

Ian Grainger & Mike O’Reilly completed the ride on 25 September in cloudy and chilly conditions

Bright @ Victorian Alps @ 25 Sept - the Bright-Harrietville Rail Trail runs beside the Ovens River

Bright @ VBright @ Victorian Alps @ 25 Sept - the Bright-Harrietville Rail Trail winds its way through the local forests near the road towards Tawonga Gap

Bright @ Victorian Alps @ 25 Sept - Ian Grainger & MOR at the Harrietville Cafe after the ride along the Bright-Harrietville rail trail

Bright @ Victorian Alps @ 25 Sept - MOR @ a chilly Bright before the 50k loop of Bright-Harrietville-Bright journey with team mate Ian Grainger

NSW TTT CHAMPIONSHIPS 7 OCTOBER @ SINGLETON

BICISPORT TEAMS

• Masters 120+

  • Rolly Delaytz, Stew Campbell, Dudley Hoskins, Craig Pager, Steve Holland (Reserve)

    Team Manager - Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 2 Oct (Mon)

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

• 7 Oct

  • Downes Nursery Classic (Eastern Creek Raceway)

  • NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• 8 Oct

  • West Head Road Race (Manly)

  • 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 3 Oct & Thurs 5 Oct

  • 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 5 Oct

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

• Sat 7 Oct

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 8 Oct

  • Depart Shark Park carpark near Cronulla @ 9.30am for Kurnell & return

Novell Software Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands) - 1995

This team has been around for many years in numerous versions - Kwantum (1984-86), Superconfex (1987-89), Buckler (90-92), WordPerfect (93-94), Novell (95), Rabobank (1996-2012), Belkin (2013-14), Lotto Jumbo Visma (2015 +)

Novell was computers, Bell did the helmets, Colnago did the bikes , Decca the clothing

1995 was a virtual zero year results wise. Novell pulled the plug at the end of 1995 and so began the EPO drug era. Things got a lot better results wise after 1995 … just don’t ask why.

In 1995 … Erik Dekker won 5 races and Djamolidine Abdoujaparov won a Tour de France sprint stage. However, that was it for 1995. The rest were a classy lot but didn’t win much - Marc Wauters, Henk Vogels (Aus), Vlat Ekimov, Michael Boogerd, Frans Maassen, Leon Van Bon, & Edwig van Hooydonck. (pictured above) . A dose of the right EPO stuff helped from 1996 onwards.

Novell Software Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands) - Henk Vogels (Aus)

Novell Software Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands) - Henk Vogels (Aus)

News Shorts - 25 September

National Masters Road Championships @ 21-24 Sept @ Dookie (near Shepparton) - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness), Ross Bowles (Harlequin CC), and Peter Budd (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the M7 start line at the rural village of Dookie (30k from Shepparton).

National Masters Road Championships @ 21-24 Sept @ Dookie - Peter Budd at the start of the M7 road race at Dookie

National Masters Road Championships @ 21-24 Sept @ Dookie - Ian Grant in the M7 road race

National Masters Road Championships @ 21-24 Sept @ Dookie - Ian Grant during the M7 road race

National Masters Road Championships @ 21-24 Sept @ Dookie - Ian Grant finishes 11th in M7 bunch sprint

National Masters Road Championships @ 21-24 Sept @ Shepparton - Ian Grant in the M7 Criterium

National Masters Road Championships @ 21-24 Sept @ Shepparton - Peter Budd in the M7 Criterium

National Masters Road Championships @ 21-24 Sept @ Shepparton - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness), MOR & Peter Budd (BiciSport Happy Wheels) @ the 18th green @ Shepparton Golf Club.

National Masters Road Championships @ 21-24 Sept @ Shepparton - MOR at the World Wars Memorial just outside Shepparton

Belgian Cyclo Cross Season begins this week - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) hits the Flanders mud this coming week

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 1 Oct (Sun)

  • Gears & Beers Cyclo Sportive (Wagga, NSW)

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

• 2 Oct (Mon)

  • 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 26 Sept & Thurs 28 Sept

  • 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 28 Sept

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

• Sat 30 Sept

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 1 Oct

  • Depart Shark Park carpark near Cronulla @ 9.30am for Kurnell & return

Magniflex Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1973-81 plus 86-87

Magniflex as the main sponsor made Italian mattresses, Famcucline was kitchens, Zonca was domestic lighting, and the bikes were either Olmo or Alan (again both Italian).

A classic jersey from a classic period but they really didn’t win much except for Pierino Gavazzi. Gavazzi was an exceptional sprinter and took 64 victories and winning Milan San Remo in 1980 was no surprise. Wave a flag in front of him and victory beckoned.

Gavazzi wins

Gavzazzi (second right) wins the Milan San Remo Classic 1980

News Shorts - 18 September

Orange Newcrest Challenge @ Orange @ 10 Sept - Dudley Hoskin (left in yellow - BiciSport Happy Wheels) finishes the Orange Cyclosportive in chilly conditions.

Masters National Masters Championships @ Shepparton (Vic) @ 21-24 September - Peter Budd represents BiciSport

Masters National Masters Championships @ Shepparton (Vic) @ 21-24 September - Ian Grant represents BiciSport

Belgian Cyclo Cross Series @ Flanders from late September - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) returns to the cyclo cross motherland in Flanders (Belgium) from the end of September for a 4 week season

BiciSport organised ride from Griffith to Melbourne over 21-24 October & 550k.

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

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park Criteriums @ 10 Sept - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in B grade

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park Criteriums @ 10 Sept - Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels) in B grade

NSW TTT CHAMPIONSHIPS ON 7 OCTOBER, BICISPORT NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN, TEAM TRAINING ON 1 OCTOBER

• BiciSport Team Nominations are now open

• Training sessions will be held on Sunday 1 October. Meet up is 8.00am at the Hills Nursery carpark Terrey Hills just off Mona Vale Rd. Departure time is 8.30am for Booralie Rd.

• Please contact Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 21-24 Sept

  • National Masters Road Championships (Shepparton, Vic)

    • BiciSport starters - Ian Grant & Peter Budd

• 23 -24 Sept

  • Community Ride + Criteriums @ Wollongong

• 24 Sept

  • Belgian CycloCross Series (BiciSport - Mike Lawson)

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • CycloRama Retro Ride (York Street, Sydney City)

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 19 Sept & Thurs 21 Sept

  • 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 21 Sept

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

• Sat 23 Sept

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 24 Sept

  • Depart Shark Park carpark near Cronulla @ 9.30am for Kurnell & return

Helvetia La Suisse Pro Cycling Team (Switzerland) - 1988-92

Helvetica was insurance and La Suisse being media. Bikes were Villiger (Swiss) with co-sponsorship from Weinmann (cycle components). Team Manager was Paul Kochli.

Generally considered to play above their weight results wise but it was highly talented top end. The team collected stage wins in major Tours plus several one day Classic victories. Gilles Delion won the Tour of Lombardy Classic ably supported by Steve Bauer, Laurent Defaux, Pascal Richard, Michael Wilson (Aus) & Niki Ruttiman,

Helvetia La Suisse Pro Cycling Team (Switzerland) - Steve Bauer

Helvetia La Suisse Pro Cycling Team (Switzerland) - Gilles Delion wins the Tour of Lombardy

Helvetia La Suisse Pro Cycling Team (Switzerland) - Gilles Delion wins again

News Shorts - 11 September

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 10 Sept - Both Craig Pager (left - BiciSport Happy Wheels) and Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) rode well in B grade at Sunday Heffron.

Masters National Championships @ Shepparton Victoria @ 21-24 Sept

Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) & Peter Budd (BiciSport Happy Wheels) will lead the BiciSport team effort at Shepparton. The Individual Time Trial is at Dookie outside Shepparton is on the Thursday but at a somewhat shortened distance of 16k. The road races are again at Dookie over the Friday & Saturday with gentile rolling hills or again comparatively flat. Criteriums are in downtown Shepparton on the Sunday.

Masters National Championships @ Shepparton Victoria @ 21-24 Sept - Peter Budd will be racing at Shepparton

BiciSport Belgium @ 8 Sept - Nick Felix (BiciSport Team Force) takes victory # 4 in Flanders. Nick is in the new “white” version of the Team Force jersey.

BiciSport Belgium @ 8 Sept - Nick Felix (centre - BiciSport Team Force) takes victory # 4 in Flanders

BiciSport Team Force @ Tongeren Belgium @ 25 Aug - The three day Team Force camp was 150k per day and included the Mur de Huy climb (used in the professional Classic in April)

BiciSport Team Force @ Tongeren Belgium @ 25 Aug

BiciSport Team Force @ Tongeren Belgium @ 25 Aug

The BiciSport team ride from Griffith to Melbourne iover 4 days and 550k is 25 to 28 October.

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

NSW TTT CHAMPIONSHIPS ON 7 OCTOBER, BICISPORT NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN, TEAM TRAINING ON 1 OCTOBER

• BiciSport Team Nominations are now open

• Training sessions will be held on Sunday 1 October. Meet up is 8.00am at the Hills Nursery carpark Terrey Hills just off Mona Vale Rd. Departure time is 8.30am for Booralie Rd.

• Please contact Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

RACE SEEKER

• 17 Sept

• Noosa Rise & Grind Cyclosportive (Qld)

• 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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

  • Depart Shark Park carpark near Cronulla @ 9.30am for Kurnell & return

• Tues 12 Sept & Thurs 14 Sept

  • 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 14 Sept

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

• Sat 16 Sept

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Carrera Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1984-96

Carrera was Italian jeans with numerous supporting sponsors in Tassoni, Peugeot, Vagabond & Tonello. The Peugeot sponsorship was a hang over courtesy of Stephen Roche. Bikes were originally Battaglin (Italian), then towards the end it morphed into Carrera (again Italian). Group sets were Campagnolo, team shoes were Gaerne (Italian), team clothing was Nalini & drugs were most definitely EPO and lots of it.

Team victories were endless - be it Grand Tours, Classics or World Road Championships. Roberto Visentini won the ‘86 Giro, then Roche won the Grand Triple in ‘87 with Romandie, Giro, Tour & World Road Championships (only Merckx had done that previously). Claudio Chiappucci went podium at the ‘90 Tour de France. Marco Pantani joined the team in 1994 and that was very much a drug fueled journey. The team had more stars than the night sky in Acacio Da Silva, Giovanni Battaglin, Bruno Leali, Urs Zimmermann, Erich Maechler, Guido Bontempi, Rolf Sorenson, Djamolidine Abduzhaparov, Mario Chiesa, Ivan Ghirotto and Fabio Roscioli. Most were named in a 2000 court case regarding EPO use and team history was put in the trash can.

Carrera stopped sponsorship in 1996 and sponsorship then went to the supermarket chain Mercatone Uno in 1997. The Pantani “era” really began in earnest and it all ended tragically for Marco and professional cycling generally. It was a dark period as pro cycling resembled something akin to street theatre blended with athletic karaoke.

Carrera Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Marco Pantani at the Tour de France

Carrera Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Claudio Chiappucci (right)

Carrera Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Claudio Chiappucci

Carrera Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Stephen Roche

Carrera Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Roberto Visentini (left), Stephen Roche (in ‘87 Giro Pink Jersey) followed by loyal Belgian team mate Eddy Schepers. Team mates maybe, but friends never

Carrera Pro Cycling Team (Italy)

Carrera Pro Cycling Team (Italy)

News Shorts - 4 September

Who will forget the shambolic start to the Vuelta with non existent logistical planning mixed with poor weather

Into the Vuelta and Week 2 and it looks like Remco versus Team UAE & Team Jumbo Everywhere.

BiciSport Team Force @ Tongeren training camp (Dutch Belgian border) @ 27 Aug - Tongeren is a town on the edge of the Dutch Belgian border and offered Team Force the ideal training camp location with numerous rural roads and little traffic

BiciSport Team Force @ Tongeren training camp (Dutch Belgian border) @ 27 Aug - outside Tongeren

BiciSport Team Force @ Tongeren training camp (Dutch Belgian border) @ 27 Aug - Koen VerHulst (sunglasses - BiciSport Team Force) in front of what looks like street art in the middle of an agricultural field for reasons totally unknown ….

BiciSport Team Force @ Tongeren training camp (Dutch Belgian border) @ 27 Aug - before the ride start

NSW Team Time Trial Championships are to be held on Saturday 7 October @ Singleton.

BiciSport training will be held at Terrey Hills 0n Sunday 1 October. Meet up is at the Hills Nursery @ 8.00am

NSW TTT CHAMPIONSHIPS ON 7 OCTOBER & BICISPORT NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN, TEAM TRAINING ON 1 OCTOBER

• BiciSport Team Nominations are now open

• Training sessions will be held on Sunday 1 October. Meet up is 8.00am at the Hills Nursery carpark Terrey Hills just off Mona Vale Rd. Departure time is 8.30am for Booralie Rd.

• Please contact Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

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

• 10 Sept

  • Orange Newcrest Challenge CycloSportive (Orange, NSW)

  • Amy Gillett CycloSportive (Lorne, Vic)

  • 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 5 Sept & Thurs 7 Sept

  • 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 7 Sept

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

• Sat 9 Sept

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 10 Sept

  • Depart Shark Park carpark near Cronulla @ 9.30am for Kurnell & return

Caballero Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands) - 1962-72

The team sponsor was Cabellero cigarettes and the team became Goudsmit Hoff in 1971-72.

A dutch team for a decade but results were somewhat slim. Wim Schepers won the 1970 Amstel Gold Classic and beyond that it was domestic races only with Palle lykke (sprinter), Henk Vogels SNR (Australia), Richard Bukacki (noted sprinter), Arie Den Hartog, Leo Duyndam & Jan Krekels.

Caballero Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands) - Richard Bukacki was a noted Belgian sprinter

Caballero Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands)

News Shorts - 28 August

National Masters Cyclo Cross Championships @ Ballarat @ 19 Aug - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) takes the Gold medal in the Masters M9 category in Ballarat

BiciSport Belgium @ Sombeke @ 20 Aug - Koen VerHulst (3rd place - BiciSport Team Force) takes his first podium in the Masters 40+ category at Sombeke in East Flanders Belgium.

BiciSport Belgium @ Sombeke @ 21 Aug - Nick Felix (BiciSport Team Force) takes the victory at Hassdonk (near Antwerp)

BiciSport Belgium @ Sombeke @ 21 Aug - Winners are grinners … Team Force with Nick Eelix (centre) and Koen VerHulst to his immediate left

BiciSport @ Sandstone Cafe @ Terrey Hills @ 19 Aug - L to R - Dudley Hoskin, Ian Grainger, Nigel Smith, Tony Rabbidge, MOR & Marty Wright. The BiciSport coffee grupetto meets every Saturday morning @ Sandstone Cafe on Myoora Rd @ 9.30am. All welcome

BiciSport @ Crescent Head @ 19 Aug - MOR just south of Crescent Head

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

• 3 Sept

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters) - Waratah Championships (No Visitors)

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 29 Aug & Thurs 31 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 31 Aug

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

• Sat 2 Sept

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Margnat Paloma Pro Cycling Team ( France) - 1958-65

Margnat was French wine. Notwithstanding a staggering 39 riders in the 1963 team line up they really didn’t win much. Yes, Federico Bahamontes (pictured above) won the Tour de France KOM in 62/63/64 and Andre Darrigade was a top ranking sprinter but for the rest it was slim pickings.

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