News Shorts - 8 January

BiciSport Belgium @ St Niklaas Flanders @ 3 Jan - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Belgium) sends a New Years greeting to all at BiciSport from his indoor trainer as Belgium cops a Queensland style rain deluge

Les Amis du Pont Gibus (The Friends of Gibus Bridge) is the volunteer organisation that keeps the Paris Roubaix cobbles in their repaired (and original) condition. The Gibus Bridge is a derelict railway bridge just 5k after the Wallers Arenberg Forest and is named in the honour of Gilbert Duclos Lasalle who twice won the Paris Roubaix Classic.

They wish you a happy 2024.

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 7 Jan - Ian Grant (left) and Peter Verhoeven before the start.

Ian rode B grade and attacked with 5 laps to go in a breakaway and was only caught on the last corner on the last lap, to then finish in the peloton. Peter V rode C grade for a well deserved peloton finish.

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 7 Jan - Ian Grant

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 7 Jan - Ian Grant (right) down the ECR main straight

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 7 Jan - Ian Grant (left) on the attack in a B grade breakaway on the bell lap - only to be caught on the last corner

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 7 Jan - Peter Vehoeven in the C grade peloton

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 7 Jan - Peter Verhoeven (far right) down the ECR main straight

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 7 Jan - Peter Verhoeven crosses the finish line in C grade

Tumut Cycle Classic @ 7 Jan - Francesco Signor (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) with Roger Thomson Seagrave on the outward loop along the Snowy River outside Tumut

Tumut Cycle Classic Cyclosportive @ 7 Jan - Francesco Signor (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) carried dossard # 7567

BiciSport to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024 - now includes Grand Prix Denain in Northern France on 14 March. This trip will not include Eddy Merckx winning in Flanders for Faema (pictured above)

A BiciSport Belgium campaign is a combination of four unique Flemish cyclosportives, four semi classics (including the Grand Prix Denain in northern France) and three legendary Classics in a 28 day period. Added to which there are several cycling museums worth a serious look plus velodromes in Gent, Roubaix & now a new velodrome in Zolder. A detailed daily race & viewing guide is now posted in Special Events. on this website

If you’re interested in going please contact MOR on 0417 403 244

March

13 Mar - Nokere Course 14 Mar - Grand Prix Denain 16 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive

22 Mar - E3 Grand Prix 23 Mar - Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive 24 Mar - Gent Wevelgem

27 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen 30 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclosportive 31 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen

April

6 Apr - Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive, Paris Roubaix (Women) 7 Apr - Paris Roubaix

Grand Prix Denain has been added to the BiciSport start sheet and covers much of the pave used in Paris Roubaix classic in early April

The Grand Prix Denain is located in northern France and covers many of the cobbled roads used in the Paris Roubaix Classic. The race starts with the northern ‘blue loop’, then the ‘orange loop’ then finishing with the ‘red cobbled loop’. BiciSport accommodation is in the village of Haspres with at least 7 viewing locations by bike.

BiciSport @ Freshwater Sydney @ 3 Seagulls Cafe on Harbord Road @ 3 Jan - Andy Feltham (right) down from Brisbane for the Christmas New Year period

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 12-21 Jan

  • Tour Down Under (Adelaide, SA)

• 14 Jan

  • 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 9 Jan & Thurs 11 Jan

  • Blossoms & Buds 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 Jan

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

• Sat 13 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 14 Jan

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

Saunier Duval Prodir Pro Cycling Team (Spain) - 2004-11

Riccardo Ricco pictured above

Maybe some things in life were destined to end badly, right from day one, then this team was it. Riccardo Ricco was expelled from the 2008 Tour de France (on stage 4) and the full team was expelled for doping on stage 12. Subsequently both Ricco & Piepoli were sacked by the team for doping but the team culture was so corrupt the whole organisation maybe needed to be expelled to another planet. The sponsor departed at the end of 2009, and somehow replaced by Fuji Servetto in 2010 then replaced by GEOX (maker of fine Italian shoes). The Italian shoes lasted longer than the team sponsorship and GEOX gave the team the boot and soon departed. It was a sad reflection on the sport that this mess was allowed to function for as long as it did.

Piepoli wins from Ricco - the bogus team results failed the ‘pub test’, and if it was too good to be true, you’d be right

Piepoli leads from Ricco … the fantasy on public display

News Shorts - 1 January

Happy New Year & a healthy 2024 to all BiciSport members & friends.

A nice retro picture of Oostende (Belgium) at New Year with a cobbled street with classic cars from that era.

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 31 Dec - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in the centre of picture in Masters B grade

Dunc Gray Velodrome Christmas Racing @ 27-30 Dec - Lawson Browne (BiciSport Anytime Fitness)

Dunc Gray Velodrome Christmas Racing @ 27-30 Dec - Lawson Browne

Dunc Gray Velodrome Christmas Racing @ 27-30 Dec - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Dunc Gray Velodrome Christmas Racing @ 27-30 Dec - Davide Browne

BiciSport @ Griffith @ 28 Dec - Team Panettone with Francesco Signor, MOR & Peter Budd.

A brief ride out towards Lake Wyangan by Team Panettone for a Giro del la Griffith-ini and return plus coffee in central Griffith.

BiciSport @ Griffith @ 28 Dec - Francesco Signor, Peter & Rose Piccolo & MOR with farm doggoes

BiciSport @ Griffith @ 29 Dec

Congratulations to the great Belgian Rik Van Looy who just turned 90.

Rik won endless Classics, a World Professional Road Championship plus numerous Grand Tour stages. In Belgium Rik #1 is Rik Van Steenbergen (RIP), Rik #2 is Rik van Looy and Rik #3 is Rik van Linden. Legends all.

Rik Van Looy (Rik #2) - one of the most accompolished cyclists to ever grace a bicycle.

Note the gear changers on the end of the handlebars, a small flange front hub but a large flange rear hub & helmets were optional in the 1960’s. The team sponsor was Faema (Italian coffee) & bike sponsor was Flandria (Belgium) although the frame decal is missing in this picture (this suggests the frame was actually Italian but no decal was affixed).

Rik Van Looy (Rik #2) - Rik (right) in the winning move in a wet & grimy Tour of Flanders

Rik Van Looy (Rik #2) - a graphic Paris Roubaix picture of Rik #2 giving it 100% across the Northern France pave. Note the continued use of gear change levers on the end of the handelbars plus an empty front bottle cage on the handelbars.

Happy Wheels @ Waterloo trading hours between 25 December & 8 January

BiciSport Masters of Spin Calendar for January 2024

After the picture of Craig Pager in December nearly bought the BiciSport website crashing down its now appropriate to tone the BiciSport Masters of Spin Calendar down a level for January with Signore Panatone Italia himself, the highly popular soigneur Francesco Signor (BiciSport Griffith) … so it gets a tad confusing as Frank gets ‘Mister Mister’ from time to time. Thanks Frank for your on-going support and safe cycling around Griffith with Team Budd & BiciSport Griffith in 2024.

Tumut Classic Cyclosportive is to be held on Sunday 7 January over some great country roads in and around Tumut. Keeping off the Snowy Mountains is the only recommendation, but the rest is pure cycling heaven.

If you’re interested please contact Peter Budd (see contact details below)

TUMUT CYCLCLOSPORTIVE - 7 JANUARY

CADEL EVANS WEEKEND (GEELONG) - 26-28 JANUARY

• Tumut offers a great cyclosportive on 7 January just a short drive from Sydney and the Cadel Evans weekend is another great cycling weekend

• BiciSport Griffith is going to both events and if you want company at the events then contact Peter Budd (BiciSport) on 0431 012 174

• Booking local accommodation is your responsibility

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 3-7 Jan

  • AusCycling National Road Championships (Ballarat)

• 7 Jan

  • 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 2 Jan & Thurs 4 Jan

  • Blossoms & Buds 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 Jan

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

• Sat 6 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 7 Jan

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

Raleigh Banana Pro Cycling Team (UK) - 1987-89

The Raleigh Cycle Company started production nearly 100 years before this team. Raleigh Weinmann was the pro team in 1986 before the Banana cosponsor came on board for three years. The UK pro scene was only small when compared to say Continental Europe, but was a classy peloton, rich in history. Bike sponsor was obviously Raleigh with Pirelli (tyres) and Shimano (groupsets).

Team members were all highly regarded in Tim Harris, Chris Lilywhite, David Rayner (RIP & pictured above), Adrian Timmis, Chris Walker, David Mann, Phil Thomas, Steve Douce, Paul Sherwin, Malcolm Elliott, Mark Bell, Paul Watson & John Clay. Everybody raves on about the current Ineos pro team when the Raleigh Banana team was equally rich in both ability & results.

Raleigh Banana Pro Cycling Team (UK)

Raleigh Banana Pro Cycling Team (UK) - David Rayner (RIP) now has a UK charitable foundation named in his honour who continues to actively support UK racing cyclists to race in Belgium.

Raleigh Banana Pro Cycling Team (UK)

News Shorts - 25 December

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes second place in the B+C Grade handicap

The final pre Christmas race is the highly rated Easts Trophy Race - A Grade do a seperate scratch race and B+C Grade compete in the traditional handicap format. Rolly Delaytz was an A Grade starter and Christian Quintero & Julian Arias teamed up in C Grade. Julian “did the job” for Happy Wheels team mate Christian & Christian took an excellent 2nd place in the bunch sprint. Great team work on display.

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Christian Quintero

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Before the start with Team Delaytz (left), Rolly Delaytz, Julian Arias & Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Christian Quintero “getting pinned up”

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Rolly Delaytz & family “getting pinned up”

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Christian Quintero

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Christian Quintero

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Christian Quintero after the finish

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Julian Arias

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Julian Arias

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Julian Arias after the finish

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Rolly Delaytz at the start in A Grade

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Rolly Delaytz

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Stew (Computa) Campbell (BiciSport Happy Wheels) won the Heffron Trophy Race in 1997. Legend.

Tuesday Night Heffron @ 19 Dec - Anthony Spurgeon, Stew Campbell & MOR on the Heffron Park finishing straight. Anthony Spurgeon won numerous editions of the Easts Trophy Race and the acknowledged King of Heffron.

Stewart Campbell (Happy Wheels) won the Trophy Race in 1997

Happy Wheels trading hours between 25 December & 8 January

TUMUT CYCLCLOSPORTIVE - 7 JANUARY

CADEL EVANS WEEKEND (GEELONG) - 26-28 JANUARY

• Tumut offers a great cyclosportive on 7 January just a short drive from Sydney and the Cadel Evans weekend is another great cycling weekend

• BiciSport Griffith is going to both events and if you want company at the events then contact Peter Budd (BiciSport) on 0431 012 174

• Booking local accommodation is your responsibility

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 28-30 Dec

  • Sydney Christmas Track Series

    • BiciSport starters - Lawson Browne, David Browne, Campbell Browne

• 31 Dec

  • 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 26 Dec & Thurs 28 Dec

  • Blossoms & Buds 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 Dec

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

• Sat 30 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 31 Dec

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

Nivea Fuchs Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1954-56

Fiorenzo Magni had won the 1955 Tour of Italy but the sponsor (Fuchs bikes) wanted to withdraw sponsorship. Magni came up with the original idea of searching for a non cycling sponsor & approached Nivea (a German cosmetic company). So began the era of non cycling related sponsors and in Italy it led to Faema (coffee), Ignis (washing machines), St Raphael (drinks), Del Tongo & Salvarani (kitchens), and the list goes on and on. Thank you Fiorenzo for being so inspirational.

Magni broke his shoulder in the 1956 Giro and the team mechanic came up with the idea of biting a piece of tape with his teeth to ease the pain. Magni led an 11 rider team but Nivea only paid Magni who then had to sub contract his 10 team mates to him directly.

Nivea Fuchs Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Fiorenzo Magni climbing the San Luca climb at Bologna with a broken shoulder in the 1956 Giro

Nivea Fuchs Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Fiorenzo Magni climbing the San Luca climb at Bologna with a broken shoulder in the 1956 Giro

Nivea Fuchs Pro Cycling Team (Italy)

Nivea Fuchs Pro Cycling Team (Italy)

News Shorts - 18 December

Best wishes to everybody for a great Christmas and a happy & healthy 2024

BiciSport Christmas Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 16 Dec - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force), Robbie Brown, Marina Joulianos, Eric Dole, Tony Rabbidge, Davide Browne, Lawson Browne, Campbell Browne (kneeling), Ian Grainger, Nigel Smith, Richard (Rik 4) Mulberry (Solo-Lotto Belisol) & MOR

Bathurst Cycling Club Renshaws Pedal Project Christmas Hamper Race @ 17 Dec - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes another podium in Season 23. Well done Ian.

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 12 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes a super B Grade victory

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 12 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (middle of picture with fluro socks) is first B grader across the line

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 12 Dec - Christian Quintero & Rolly Delaytz celebrate a Rolly victory at Heffron

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 12 Dec - Rolly Delaytz after winning B Grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 12 Dec - Christian Quintero starting in Heffron in C Grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 12 Dec - Christian Quintero

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 12 Dec - L to R … Christian Quintero, Julian Arias, MOR & Rolly Delaytz on the start line at Heffron Park. Both Christian & Julian have now joined the BiciSport Happy Wheels squad

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 12 Dec

No Brakes Racing @ Dunc Gray Velodrome @ 13 Dec - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) builds the form towards the Goulburn-Bowral events in February 24

LACC Criteriums @ Newington Homebush @ 12 Dec - Having won in D Grade it is now C Grade for David Cooper. Things got a bit harder this time around.

BiciSport @ PTG Museum @ Drongen Flanders @ 11 Dec - Partick DeGeyter is the owner of the PTG bike shop & museum in Flanders. The museum is exceptional in the quality of the clothing & retro memorabilia on display. The BiciSport hat is a nice touch.

BiciSport @ PTG Museum @ Drongen Flanders @ 11 Dec - Partick DeGeyter

PTG Museum @ Drongen Flanders

PTG Museum @ Drongen Flanders

TUMUT CYCLCLOSPORTIVE - 7 JANUARY

CADEL EVANS WEEKEND (GEELONG) - 26-28 JANUARY

• Tumut offers a great cyclosportive on 7 January just a short drive from Sydney and the Cadel Evans weekend is another great cycling weekend

• BiciSport Griffith is going to both events and if you want company at the events then contact Peter Budd (BiciSport) on 0431 012 174

• Booking local accommodation is your responsibility

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 24 Dec

  • 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 19 Dec & Thurs 21 Dec

  • Blossoms & Buds 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 Dec

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

• Sat 23 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 24 Dec

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

Carrera Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1984-96

Carrera was Italian Jeans. Bikes were Battaglin in the early years, then also Carrera from 1990 in collaboration with Campagnolo. Jersey design is most certainly iconic.

The team itself crossed both one day Classics and Grand Tours. Visentini won the Giro in ‘86, then Roche won the Giro/Tour/Worlds triple crown in ‘87. Roche was everywhere in 1987. The team was full of exceptional talent - with Bontempi, Leali, Breu, Zimmermann, Chiappucci, Maechler, Ghirotto and Pantani (from ‘94-96). Things get more than complicated with systemic team doping and it was easier to ask ‘who wasn’t involved in that nonsense’. It all ended very poorly when Carrera ended sponsorship at the end of ‘96 and for some (including Pantani) it was all about to get a whole lot worse ending in tragedy for Pantani.

Visentini on the right

Visentini at the Giro

Bontempi was a noted sprinter

News Shorts - 11 December

BiciSport Christmas coffee is at Sandstone Cafe Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am @ Saturday 16 December. All welcome.

Tuesday Night Criteriums @ Heffron Park @ 5 Dec - Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Tuesday Night Criteriums @ Heffron Park @ 5 Dec - Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels) in second wheel

Tuesday Night Criteriums @ Heffron Park @ 5 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the far right of the B grade peloton

Entry is via Buncheur

Tour of Bright 23 (reprise) @ 3 Dec - the winner of the inaugural Panettone Cup is Dudley Hoskin. The award was considered and awarded by the BiciSport Soigneurs Tribunal

Tour of Bright 23 (reprise) @ 3 Dec - the BiciSport Soigneurs Tribunal consisted of a motley crew in L to R … John Robb, Francesco Signor (nice shirt Frank), Peter Figg (legend), MOR & Marina J.

Tour of Bright 23 (reprise) @ 4 Dec - if racing the Tour of Bright wasn’t hard enough then Craig Pager headed for the Falls Creek snow resort on Monday 4 December. Another long climb of Tawonga Gap, into the township of Mt Beauty, then to the top of the Falls Creek mountain. The landslip at Mt Bogong is still under road repair but is passable. MOR & Marina J (Happy Wheels soigneur) assisted with ride support on the training ride and met Craig near the village of Mt Bogong.

Tour of Bright 23 (reprise) @ 4 Dec - before departing on a light spin on the Harrietville Rail Trail. The Harrietville Rail Trail is a new edition on the local Bright cycling scene and is a 50k round trip on traffic free cycle paths towards Mt Hotham.

L to R in Peter Budd, Frank Signor, MOR, John Robb & Melissa Budd

Tour of Bright 23 (reprise) @ 4 Dec - John Robb (left) and Peter Budd crossing the Ovens River on the Harrietville Rail Trail

Tour of Bright 23 (reprise) @ 4 Dec - Frank Signor crossing the Ovens River on the Harrietville Rail Trail

Is Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) a distant relative to the famous Raul Alcala ?. We may need a Royal Commission on this ….

Raul Alcala is a famous Mexican cyclist who competed between 1985-99 and again in 2008 and 2010. Raul became the the first Mexican cyclist to compete in the Tour de France. Professional teams included 7-Eleven (86-88), PDM (89-92), then Word Perfect (93), Motorola (94-97), Team GT (98), Arreola Hnos (2008-10). Raul’s major claim to fame was winning the Young Riders classification at the 1987 Tour de France and finished in the top 10 in 5 Grand Tours.

The real Rolly (aka Raul Alcala ?) Delaytz at Heffron Park

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 16 Dec

  • Dubbo Track Open

  • Christmas Classic (Eastern Creek Raceway) - see flyer above

• 17 Dec

  • 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 12 Dec & Thurs 14 Dec

  • 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 Dec

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

• Sat 16 Dec

  • Christmas Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 17 Dec

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

Miko-Carlos Professional Pro Team (France) - !974-76

The team was originally branded MIC- Ludo then became Miko (being French ice cream). Team manager was the legendary Jean De Gribaldy (who also managed the KAS team with Sean Kelly in the mid 1980’s). Framesets were ALAN (being Italian) … noted as being supremely elegant but equally prone to breaking and extreme bottom bracket sway.

Team riders were many but results were few - George Pintens won the Liege Bastogne Liege Classic in 1974 but it was as good as it got. The other team riders included Eric Leman (genuine Belgian legend but at the end of his illustrious career), Regis Clere, Paul Wellens, Michel Laurent, Hubert Mathis, Jan Krekels (noted sprinter) & Wilfred Wesemael (another Belgian hard man)

Jean de Gribaldy (Miko Team Manager) far right

News Shorts - 4 December

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 1 Dec - A big thankyou to a great competitive team,

Dudley Hoskin took the Masters C grade victory, ably supported by Craig Pager. In Masters 60+ and more great efforts by Ian Grant, Eric Dole & Steve Holland. Robbie Brown took a well deserved second in Women C grade

Thank you Dudley for setting the professional tone at the BiciSport Service Corse in Porepunkah, Happy Wheels & Anytime Fitness for supporting the project, plus a small peloton of tireless soigneurs in Frank S, Peter F, Marina J, Melissa & Peter B, Brooke G and John R.

The team picture above is a big shout out to the absent Randolph B, Tom G & Klayton S and the Flanders flag is for our Belgian friend Eddy Ver Bust

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes a great victory in Masters C grade after two great days of determination & application

Tour of Bright 23 @ 3 Dec - Robbie Brown takes a great second place in Womens C grade

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 start with Craig Pager & Dudley Hoskin

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 start with Ian Grant

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 start for Steve Holland

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 start for Eric Dole & Steve Holland

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 finish for Craig Pager in wet conditions

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 finish for Dudley Hoskin

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 finish for Dudley Hoskin

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 finish for Ian Grant

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 finish for Eric Dole in heavy fog atop Tawonga Gap

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 finish for Eric Dole

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 finish for Steve Holland in heavy fog atop Tawonga Gap

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 1 finish for Steve Holland

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 2 time trial Ian Grant

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 2 time trial with Peter Figg (left) and Dudley Hoskin

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 2 time trial Dudley Hoskin

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 2 time trial Eric Dole

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 2 time trial Craig Pager with 500m to go in the time trial

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 2 time trial and Peter Figg (left) and MOR , with MOR inflicting words of supreme wisdom …

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 2 time trial and Peter Figg (left) and MOR , with Peter returning a swift serve with his own words of supreme wisdom …

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 2 Dec - Stage 2 time trial and Frank Signor, Marina J and MOR, with the mandatory Flanders flag in attendance

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - Dudley Hoskin taking victory on Stage 3 General Classification

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - Eric Dole finishing Stage 3 at Mt Buffalo

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - Steve Holland finishing Stage 3

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - Robbie Brown at the finish of Stage 3

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - Craig Pager at the Stage 3 finish

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - Steve Holland and Eric Dole after the Stage 3 finish

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - the BiciSport mosh pit at the Mt Buffalo finish on Stage 3

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - The three wise men at Bright 2023 …. Peter Figg, Francesco Signor & MOR. A big thankyou to both Peter and Francesco for the best team members you could ever hope for. See you in 2024.

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - The BiciSport AGM with Peter Budd & MOR at Mt Buffalo

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - Craig Pager doing the promo pose for the BiciSport Masters of Spin Calendar 2024 in the Dudley pool at Bright. Eric Dole has kindly offered to be January 2024

Tour of Bright 2023 @ 3 Dec - Peter Budd climbing Mt Buffalo on the Sunday

LACC Criteriums @ Homebush @ 30 Nov - David Cooper (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) won D grade and Davide Browne took 3rd in C grade

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 9 Dec

  • Trek Sydney Cup (DGV Bass Hill)

• 10 Dec

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

  • West Road Race “The Wall Handicap” (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 5 Dec & Thurs 7 Dec

  • 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 Dec

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

• Sat 9 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 10 Dec

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

Tour of Bright 2023 @ Training Day - John R, Dudley H, Robbie B, Eric Dole & MOR

Tour of Bright 2023 @ Training Day - MOR with Dudley, Robbie & Eric in the Wandiligong Valley doing a recce on the ITT course

Tour of Bright 2023 @ Training Day - Craig Pager on Mt Buffalo

Tour of Bright 2023 @ Training Day - Craig Pager on Mt Buffalo

Tour of Bright 2023 @ Training Day - Craig Pager on Mt Buffalo

Tour of Bright 2023 @ Training Day - Dudley, Robbie, Eric & Santa at the Rosewhite Valley recce

Tour of Bright 2023 @ Training Day - Robbie at Wandiligong Valley recce

Tour of Bright 2023 @ Training Day - Eric Dole at Wandiligong Valley recce

Tour of Bright 2023 @ Training Day - Dudley Hoskin at Wandiligong Valley recce

News Shorts - 27 November

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 26 Nov - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes a fine B grade win

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 21 Nov - Rolly Delaytz & Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

For 2024 there are some changes at the BiciSport team going forward - with MOR taking on a more proactive day to day team management role within both the Happy Wheels & Anytime groups, Marina J comes on board as a HW soigneur for major supported events, Rufus is the new BiciSport doggoe mascot for 2024, BiciSport team clothing now includes both Cuore & Champion Systems offerings, the Happy Wheels jersey has been tweaked to now include Cervelo (see above), and a special welcome to Christian Quintero as a new Happy Wheels group member.

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 21 Nov - R to L …. Rolly Delaytz , Marina J (as the new Happy Wheels team soigneur) & Mark Rowling (Peloton Sports)

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 21 Nov - Rolly Delaytz in the new BiciSport Happy Wheels team kit for the summer season 2023-24

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 21 Nov - MOR & Rolly Delaytz

BiciSport to the Tour of Bright over 2-3 December. The team arrives in cycling paradise on 28 November

Stage 1 is flat out of Bright (to Ovens), then right along the Rosewhite Valley (a few climbs), then descend down to the Kiewa Valley and turn right direction Tawonga Gap to a mountain top finish

Stage 2 is an undulating ITT along the Wandiligong Valley on the Saturday afternoon.

Stage 3 on the Sunday morning is Bright to the mountain top finish at Mt Buffalo

BiciSport at the Tour of Bright 2023

After sooo much fun at the 2022 Tour of Bright it was agreed that BiciSport would reduce emphasis on more traditional events in NSW and head for Bright in Alpine Victoria in 2023. The result is 20 riders & soigneurs in the BiciSport grupetto in Dudley H, Steve H, Mike O’R, Marina J, Peter B, Melissa B, Frank S, Craig P, Robbie B, Chris F, Eric D, Doris C, Maria N, Ian G, Gabrielle H, Brooke G, Barbara H, Tony H & John R.

Stage details are posted above with more information in the BiciSport Special Events section in this website. Stages 1 & 2 are on Sat 2 Dec and Stage 3 is on Sun 3 Dec.

Rufus is the new BiciSport mascot for 2024

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 2 Dec

  • Bathurst Track Open

• 2-3 Dec

  • Tour of Bright (Bright, Alpine Region Victoria)

    • BiciSport at the Tour of Bright

• 3 Dec

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Orange Track Open

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 28 Nov & Thurs 30 Nov

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 30 Nov

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

• Sat 2 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 3 Dec

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

HB Alarm Systems Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands) - 1979-81

HB Alarm Systems were high quality domestic and industrial security alarm systems. Team bikes were Gios (Italian). The jersey design was … well no, go try again.

If any team was ever described as … well why ? … then this obscure Dutch outfit was it. Team members were led by Richard Bukacki (highly regarded Belgian sprinter but at the end of a great career). Other notables included Jos Schipper and Jos Lammertink (both good sprinters who won stages at the Tour of Spain and Tour of Netherlands). Everyone else in the team carried the surname prefix ‘Van’ but didn’t really win anything.

News Shorts - 20 November

Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - the team Madison hand sling is as close as it gets at over 55kph

Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - looking straight into the Gent 6 ‘mosh pit’ with a full house and a lot of Belge beer, plus a great race

Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent

Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - the VIP drinking arena under the Kuipe Velodrome is a lot of fun

Gent 6 2023 @ the Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - L to R …. BiciSport supporters enjoying the Gent 6 hospitality in the VIP area with Eddy Verbust, Kathleen, Freddy Verleyen & Line

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 19 Nov - Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing) in B grade supported by Jordan Reizes

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 19 Nov - Jordan Reizes (centre - BiciSport Pilu racing) beside Matt Coy (right)

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 19 Nov - Alex Gardiner (BiciSport Pilu Racing) was 5th in A grade supported by Jeremy Hopson

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 19 Nov - John Robb (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in C grade

BiciSport goes to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024

If you wish to go then please contact MOR on 0417 403 244 if you are interested. A combination of four unique Flemish cyclosportives, three semi classics and three legendary Classics in a 28 day period. Added to which there are several cycling museums worth a serious look plus velodromes in Gent, Roubaix & now a new velodrome in Zolder.

Accommodation is based in Oudenaarde (in the heart of Flanders) and the tiny hamlet of Bachy (near Zone 6) for the Paris Roubaix Classic. The BiciSport offering does not include the Schelde Prijs in Antwerp nor the Amstel Gold Race in Valkenberg.

March

13 Mar - Nokere Course

16 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive

22 Mar - E3 Grand Prix

23 Mar - Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive

24 Mar - Gent Wevelgem

27 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen

30 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclosportive

31 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen

April

6 Apr - Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive, Paris Roubaix (Women)

7 Apr - Paris Roubaix

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 25 Nov

  • Giro Della Donna Cyclosportive (Warburton, Vic)

  • Sydney 1000 Track Open (Tempe Velodrome)

• 26 Nov

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Tues 21 Nov & Thurs 23 Nov

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 23 Nov

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

• Sat 25 Nov

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 26 Nov

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

Mercatone Uno Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1992-2003

A team with a long history but a tale in two parts. The original team started in 1992 sponsored by Mercatone Uno (supermarkets), with Zucchini & Medeghini as co sponsors. The team collapsed at the end of 1996 and reformed in 1997 with completely new management & riders. Bike sponsorship was both Pinarello & Bianchi on Campagnolo groupsets. New sub sponsors from 1997 included Girmi, Bianchi, Albacom, Stream TV, Scanavino & Saeco (being coffee).

The early version of the team from 1992 to 1996 was a classy lot - Adri Van Der Poel, Francesco Casagrande, Michele Bartoli & Mario Cipolini … a lot of brilliant bling there. The second version of the Mercatone team saw the previous bling shipped out the door but the new bling was even better. It was all about Marco Pantani who finished 3rd in the 1997 Tour de France then won the Tour-Giro double in 1998. Things turned ugly for Pantani with a failed drug test at the 1999 Giro (and only got eventually much worse). Pantani’s final Giro was 14th in 2003. Stefano Garzelli won the Giro in 2000 and fair to say he was on the “same performing enhancing juice” as poor Marco. It all ended in chaos and tragedy and Italian cycling really hasn’t been quite the same since.

Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Casagrande was a fine stage race & Classics competitor

Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Adriano Baffi was a noted sprinter and won the Giro Points Classification in 1993

Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Marco Pantani wins a Tour de France stage

Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Marco Pantani in yellow at the 1998 Tour de France

Mercatone Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Bianchi team bike is a retro icon

News Shorts - 13 November

Graham Jones Memorial Ceremony @ 10 Nov - a small BiciSport peloton gathered to remember Graham with a BiciSport jersey, a bidon courtesy of Le Porte du Hainaut (Zone 15 at the Paris Roubaix Classic) and a tiny Peugeot peloton. Graham was a Paris Roubaix supporter.

Graham Jones was a long time member of firstly Manly CC then BiciSport. Graham was a keen race organiser and contributor to all things cycling including the development of the Terrey Hills BMX track. Graham was also instrumental in the creation of the Narrabeen Lakes walking & cyclepath.

Graham was killed in a early morning training ride near Chatswood on 10 November 2002. In memory of Graham's strong community focus there is a walking bridge named in his honour around the Narrabeen Lakes Walk.

West Head Road Race @ 12 Nov - Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes the victory in the Masters category ably supported by his BiciSport team mate Steve Holland.

Newcastle Road Race @ Kurri Kurri @ 12 Nov - Danny O’Keefe (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in his first B grade race in 5 years and it was a good bunch finish result. Congrats Danny.

Newcastle Road Race @ Kurri Kurri @ 12 Nov - Danny O’Keefe

Newcastle Road Race @ Kurri Kurri @ 12 Nov - Danny O’Keefe

Bathurst Road Race @ 12 Nov - Brooke and Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness)

BiciSport goes to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024

If you wish to go then please contact MOR on 0417 403 244 if you are interested. A combination of four unique Flemish cyclosportives, three semi classics and three legendary Classics in a 28 day period. Added to which there are several cycling museums worth a serious look plus velodromes in Gent, Roubaix & now a new velodrome in Zolder.

Accommodation is based in Oudenaarde (in the heart of Flanders) and the tiny hamlet of Bachy (near Zone 6) for the Paris Roubaix Classic. The BiciSport offering does not include the Schelde Prijs in Antwerp nor the Amstel Gold Race in Valkenberg.

March

13 Mar - Nokere Course

16 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive

22 Mar - E3 Grand Prix

23 Mar - Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive

24 Mar - Gent Wevelgem

27 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen

30 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclosportive

31 Mar - Ronde van Vlaanderen

April

6 Apr - Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive, Paris Roubaix (Women)

7 Apr - Paris Roubaix

BiciSport goes to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024

BiciSport goes to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024

BiciSport goes to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024

BiciSport goes to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024

BiciSport goes to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024

BiciSport goes to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024 - Johan Museeuw

A Westlink M7 Cyclepath promotion on 18 November

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 14-19 Nov

  • Gent 6 Day (Belgium)

• 18 Nov

  • M7 Westlink Community Event

• 19 Nov

  • Landowne 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 14 Nov & Thurs 16 Nov

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 16 Nov

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

• Sat 18 Nov

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 19 Nov

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

Gent 6 Day @ Kuipke Velodrome 14-19 Nov 23 - Eddy Merckx

Gent 6 Day @ Kuipke Velodrome 14-19 Nov 23 - Patrick Sercu (Black Jersey)

Gent 6 Day @ Kuipke Velodrome 14-19 Nov 23 - Patrick Sercu & Eddy Merckx (Fiat) at the 1977 Gent 6

Gent 6 Day @ Kuipke Velodrome 14-19 Nov 23 - when you retire from your last Gent 6 it is a great send off

Gent 6 Day @ Kuipke Velodrome 14-19 Nov 23 - the steep walls of the Kuipke Velodrome in Gent

Gent 6 Day @ Kuipke Velodrome 14-19 Nov 23 - the great atmosphere track side

News Shorts - 6 November

Illawarra Track Open @ 28 Oct - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes podium @ Unanderra Velodrome

NeoCycling Summer Track Series @ Lidcombe Oval @ 29 Oct - Lawson Browne (BiciSport Anytime Fitness)

NeoCycling Summer Track Series @ Lidcombe Oval @ 29 Oct - Campbell Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

NeoCycling Summer Track Series @ Lidcombe Oval @ 29 Oct - Campbell Browne

BiciSport @ French Car Club of Canberra @ 4 Nov - MOR & Steve Dixon (BiciSport) enjoy the fabulous French retro car display in Barton ACT. Maybe not as prestigious as the Battle of Waterloo English-French car display in mid June but still entertaining nevertheless.

Graham Jones was a long time member of firstly Manly CC then BiciSport. Graham was a keen race organiser and contributor to all things cycling including the development of the Terrey Hills BMX track. Graham was also instrumental in the creation of the Narrabeen Lakes walking & cyclepath.

Graham was killed in a early morning training ride near Chatswood on 10 November 2002. In memory of Graham's strong community focus there is a walking bridge named in his honour around the Narrabeen Lakes Walk.

There will be a brief remembrance ceremony at the Jones Memorial on Friday 10 November @ 10.30am. For further details contact Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Car parking is available in the nearby Middle Park Reserve just off the Wakehurst Parkway beside the Narrabeen Lakes

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 10 Nov (Friday)

  • HART Criteriums @ St Ives Driver Training Centre (Manly CC)

  • Graham Jones Memorial Ceremony @ Middle Park @ Narrabeen Lakes @ 10.30am. Contact Mike O’R on 0417 403 244 if you wish to attend

• 11 Nov

  • Bass Coast Classic Cyclosportive (Inverloch, Vic)

  • Wagga Golden Wheel Velodrome (Wagga CC)

• 12 Nov

  • West Head Road Race (Manly CC)

  • 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 7 Nov & Thurs 9 Nov

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 9 Nov

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

• Sat 11 Nov

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Jolly Componibili - Club 88 Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1989-97

Jolly was a kitchen maker & Club 88 was a holiday travel company. Bikes were Moser (Italian) but the groupsets Shimano. Sponsorship flipped to AKI Gipiemme in 1995. Clothing was Nalini and the jersey design looked like a mess.

A team with a strong Italian focus and they won several Tour of Italy stages and a few one day Italian semi classics … but not a lot outside of Italy. Team members were a blend of riders on the way up the career ladder (like Endrio Leoni (sprinter), Nicola Miceli (sprinter), Peter Pieters (sprinter), Zenon Jaskula (Giro GC rider), Dimitri Konychev (all rounder) and Gilberto Simoni), but equally several riders were headed for retirement in Erich Maechler (ex Team Carrera) .

News Shorts - 30 October

BiciSport Griffith to Melbourne @ Day 1 @ ride start in Griffith @ 25 Oct - it was cold & chilly for the Griffith start

BiciSport Griffith to Melbourne @ Day 2 on the Cobb Highway towards Deniliquin - Melissa Budd leads

BiciSport Griffith to Melbourne @ Day 2 @ on the Cobb Highway towards Deniliquin

BiciSport Griffith to Melbourne @ Day 4 @ Heathcote start with the final 110k into Melbourne - L to R … Tony Jones, Max Kopp, Albert Ravanello, David Cunningham & Peter Budd

BiciSport Griffith to Melbourne @ Day 4 @ Flinders St Station in Melbourne. Congratulations to everybody from BiciSport Griffith

Central Coast Cycling Club Enduro @ 29 Oct - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes 3rd place

Heffron Park Tuesday Night @ 24 Oct - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) commenced hie 2023-24 season in the revised 2024 Happy Wheels team kit

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 22 Oct - Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing) took 3rd in B grade. Matt followed this good result with second in B grade on 29 Oct

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 22 Oct - Matt Coy storming past the new Heffron Centre

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 22 Oct - Matt Coy

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 22 Oct - David Cooper (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in Masters C grade

BiciSport Belgium @ Bossuit @ 21 Oct - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) on the Bossuit start line

BiciSport Belgium @ Bossuit @ 21 Oct - Mike Lawson facing some real Flanders mud

BiciSport Belgium @ Bossuit @ 21 Oct - Mike Lawson

BiciSport Belgium @ Bossuit @ 21 Oct - Mike Lawsons final Belgian race and laying 4th in the Masters category pointscore

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 31 Oct (Tuesday)

  • Below The Belt Charity @ Eastern Creek Raceway

• 4 Nov

  • Canberra Track Open (ACT)

• 5 Nov

  • Community Ride : Sydney to the Gong

  • 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 31 Oct & Thurs 2 Nov

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 2 Nov

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

• Sat 4 Nov

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 5 Nov

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

Tuesday 31 Oct @ Eastern Creek Raceway - A three hour traffic free ride around the popular Eastern Creek Raceway for just $50 from 8am to 11am. Go to www.belowthe belt.org.au

KAS Pro Cycling Team - Sean Kelly

KAS Pro Cycling Team - Sean Kelly sorting out the KAS Vitus bike after a crash at the Paris Roubaix Classic

Kas Pro Cycling Team (Spain) - 1958-79 + 3 years in the 1980’s

KAS was a Spanish soft drink manufacturer, groupsets were Campagnolo then Mavic & framesets were Vitus (in the 1980’s)

The early version of KAS from 1958 was somewhat focused on pure climbers - Frederico Bahamontes, Julio Jiminez and then onto Jose Manual Fuente. The 1980’s version included Sean Kelly (pictured above) who won the Milan San Remo Classic & the Paris Roubaix Classic supported by Acacio De Silva and Stephen Hodge (Aus)

KAS at the start of the Paris Nice stage race (beside Eddy Merckx)

News Shorts - 23 October

Bowral Classic start @ 22 Oct - Craig Pager on the start line. @ 6am in downtown Bowral The usual professional promotion by Bicycling Australia magazine coupled with a great course through the Southern Highlands

Bowral Classic Criterium @ 21 Oct - Klayton Smith (BiciSport Happy Wheels) was prominent in the Division 3 criterium with a top 10 placing

Bowral Classic Criterium @ 21 Oct - Klayton Smith

Bowral Classic Criterium @ 21 Oct - L to R … John Robb (BiciSport Anytime Fitness), Klayton Smith & Craig Pager on the Bowral Classic Criterium start line

Bowral Classic Criterium @ 21 Oct - John Robb had his first race in 4 years and a good first up effort in hot conditions @ Loseby Park.

Bowral Classic Criterium @ 21 Oct - Craig Pager (right) rode well in the Division 3 criterium

Bowral Classic Criterium @ 21 Oct - Craig Pager

Bowral Classic start @ 22 Oct - cold & fresh was order of the day at the Bowral main street start @ 6am with MOR & Klayton Smith

Albert Bishop Park Criteriums (Qld) @ 15 Oct - Klayton Smith (BiciSport Happy Wheels) was prominent

Albert Bishop Park Criteriums (Qld) @ 15 Oct - Klayton Smith is towards the rear of the Albert Bishop peloton (right side)

BiciSport Belgium @ Ardooie @ 20 Oct - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) at Ardooie and it was a Belgian National Series CX event and Mike finished 20th overall and 8th in the Masters 55+ category.

BiciSport Belgium @ Bossuit @ 21 Oct - Mike Lawson’s final Belgian CX event was in heavy Flanders mud with a lake view

BiciSport Belgium @ Beveren Flanders @ 16 Oct - Nick Felix (BiciSport Team Force) takes win # 4 for the season at Beveren

BiciSport Belgium @ Beveren Flanders @ 16 Oct - Nick Felix headed towards win # 4

BiciSport Belgium @ Beveren Flanders @ 16 Oct - Team Force at Beveren

BiciSport Belgium @ Beveren @ 15 Oct - Nick Felix (centre) on the Beveren start line

BiciSport Griffith to Melbourne ride is over 550k from 24-28 October. The 4 day journey is -

* Day 1 (Wednesday) - Griffith to Hay @ 133k

* Day 2 - Hay to Mathoura (past Deniliquin) @ 158k

* Day 3 - Mathoura to Heathcote (near Bendigo) @ 138k

* Day 4 - Heathcote to Melbourne (St Kilda) @ 125k

The course has overnight stops in Hay, Mathoura (near Deniliquin), Heathcote (near Bendigo), then to Melbourne (St Kilda) on the Saturday. Regular posts will be made to the BiciSport Sydney Facebook page.

Confirmed BiciSport starters include Albert Ravanello, Mike O’Reilly, Peter & Melissa Budd, Tony James with others to be confirmed shortly

BiciSport @ Sandstone Cafe @ Terrey Hills on Myoora Rd. Coffee is served from 9.30am until 10.30am every Saturday. All welcome.

BiciSport @ Sandstone Cafe @ Terrey Hills - Richard M, Kenny E, Peter K, Ian G, Nigel S, Eric D, Tony R & Marty W

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 24-28 Oct

  • Griffith to Melbourne BiciSport Ride over 550k

    • Peter & Melissa Budd, Tony James, Mike O’Reilly & Albert Ravanello

• 28 Oct

  • Illawarra Track Open

    • BiciSport starter - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

• 29 Oct

  • Jim Bundy Memorial (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

    • BiciSport starter - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

  • 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 24 Oct & Thurs 26 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 26 Oct

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

• Sat 28 Oct

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 29 Oct

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

Held at the Eastern Creek Raceway in western Sydney on Tuesday 31 October @ 8am start.

Entry fees are just $50 for a 3 hour effort at Eastern Creek. Well worth the look.

Sammontana Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1973-74

Sammontana was Italian ice cream, the bikes were either De Rosa or Benotto (seriously Italian). Groupsets were Campagnolo (no more Italian than that). Team manager was the iconic Alfredo Martini (the future Sports Director of the Italian National Team). The jersey is a retro icon and you can taste the garlic running through your veins.

At just two years in existence we probably deserved more of Sammontana, but the team had a somewhat narrow focus …. mostly Italian single day Classics and a couple of Giro’s. Franco Bitossi was the stand out leader (won both Giro Emelia & Veneto single day semi classics), supported by either Walter Riccomi, Fabbrizo Fabbri, Moreno Argentin, Claudio Corti, George Mount (USA) & Giuseppe Perletto (won a Giro stage). Some names listed here went on to far greater things in the future at either Gewiss Bianchi and other teams

Franco Bitossi on a charge at the Giro d’Emilia

News Shorts - 16 October

The Italian Classics 23 - IL Lombardia 2023 @ Curva Pinot (Pinot Corner) near the Bergamo finish. Everyone very much together at Curva Pinot and a fine tribute to Thibaut.

The Italian Classics 23 - Autumn has closed out the 2023 professional season. The IL Lombardia Classic as usual passed the IL Perlo Hotel (above) near Lake Como on the Madonna di Ghisallo climb.

The picture is from the 1948 race with Fausto Coppi and roadside fans dressed in suit & tie (as you do).

The Italian Classics 23 - The IL Perlo Hotel has been regularly used by the BiciSport gruppetto and ideal for an October ride around Lake Como and nearby Lake Iseo & Lake Garda . Lake Iseo is one special place for a bike ride.

The Italian Classics 23 - Mike Lawson (BiciSport) rides the same road just above the Il Perlo Hotel with Lake Como in the distance

The Italian Classics 23 - Alberto Elli (Mapei) was a Tour de France Yellow Jersey during his illustrious pro career and Alberto hosts the guided tours around Lake Come from the IL Perlo Hotel with the BiciSport grupetto. The picture is at the Bellagio Ferry wharf

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park Criteriums @ 15 Oct - David Cooper (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in Masters C grade

Belgian CycloCross Series @ Zele Flanders @ 3 Oct - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Team Force) at Zele

Belgian CycloCross Series @ Zele Flanders @ 3 Oct - Mike Lawson

Belgian CycloCross Series @ Zele Flanders @ 3 Oct - Mike Lawson leads Category E @ Zele

Belgian CycloCross Series @ Zele Flanders @ 3 Oct - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Team Force) on the charge at Zele

Belgian CycloCross Series @ Zele Flanders @ 3 Oct - Koen VerHulst charges over the man made staircase across a Flanders field in Zele

Belgian CycloCross Series @ Zele Flanders @ 3 Oct - Koen VerHulst with the BiciSport Deputy Sports Director in Olivia VerHulst

BiciSport Belgium @ 4 Oct - Eddy VerHulst (left) with Mike Lawson before an early morning ride around the rural Flanders laneways between the village of Velle and Antwerp

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 8 Oct - Ian Grant (far right - BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took 5th in B grade

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 8 Oct - Ian Grant

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 8 Oct - Ian Grant passes the BiciSport RVV 075 support car (RVV 075 represents the Ronde van Vlaanderen and ‘075’ commemorates the 1975 winner Eddy Merckx)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 21 Oct

  • Bowral Classic Criterium

    • BiciSport starters - Klayton Smith, John Robb & Craig Pager

• 22 Oct

  • Bowral Classic Cyclosportive (Bowral)

  • 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 17 Oct & Thurs 19 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 19 Oct

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

• Sat 21 Oct

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 22 Oct

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

Alessio-Bianchi Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1998-2004

Alessio was alloy motor car sports wheels based in Italy. The bikes were De Rosa early on, but then Bianchi (again Italy). Sub sponsors were Memory Card (an IT provider).

A quality Italian team that picked up 8-10 victories per year, mostly in one day races or stages in Tours. Team members were headed by … well everybody really, as the team had an endless supply of quality Chiefs but not enough Indians. Magnus Backstedt won the Paris Roubaix Classic (that was big) and other supporting riders included a classy lot - Franco Pellizotti, Fabio Baldato, Angelo Furlan, Scott Sunderland (Aus - pictured below), Andrea Tafi, Gabriele Colombo, Andrea Ferrigato, Gilberto Simoni & Laurent Dufaux.

News Shorts - 9 October

NSW Team Time Trial Championships @ Singleton @ 7 Oct - The BiciSport Happy Wheels team takes the Bronze medal in the Masters 120+ category . The team being Stew Campbell, Rolly Delaytz, Dudley Hoskin & Craig Pager. Fine job lads.

NSW Team Time Trial Championships @ Singleton @ 7 Oct - Dudley Hoskin, Craig Pager, Rolly Delaytz and Stew ‘Green’ Campbell

NSW Team Time Trial Championships @ Singleton @ 7 Oct - The Bronze medal a nice reward for L to R … Craig Pager, Dudley Hoskin, MOR, Stew Campbell & Rolly Delaytz

NSW Team Time Trial Championships @ Singleton @ 7 Oct - before the start with Rolly Delaytz, Stew Campbell, Dudley Hoskin & Craig Pager

NSW Team Time Trial Championships @ Singleton @ 7 Oct - before the start with Dudley Hoskin, Craig Pager, HW team soigneur Marina J, Rolly Delaytz & Stew Campbell

NSW Team Time Trial Championships @ Singleton @ 7 Oct - at the start line for Craig, Rolly, Stew (obscured) & Dudley

NSW Team Time Trial Championships @ Singleton @ 7 Oct - on the first climb just 3k from the start

NSW Team Time Trial Championships training @ Centennial Park @ Thursday 5 Oct - L to R … a dawn BiciSport team happy snap training picture with a friendly Spruce Goose coffee patron & lovely doggoe at the Spruce Goose Cafe with MOR, Rolly Delaytz, Stewart Campbell, Dudley Hoskin & Craig Pager

Gears & Beers Cyclosportive @ Wagga Wagga @ 1 Oct - Eric Dole (right - BiciSport Happy Wheels) departs Wagga in the early morning light

Gears & Beers Cyclosportive @ Wagga Wagga @ 1 Oct - Eric Dole before the start

Gears & Beers Cyclosportive @ Wagga Wagga @ 1 Oct - Eric Dole on the dirt

Gears & Beers Cyclosportive @ Wagga Wagga @ 1 Oct - the dusty Wagga peloton during ‘The Dirty 130’

Gears & Beers Cyclosportive @ Wagga Wagga @ 1 Oct - passing through the Wagga canola fields

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 2 Oct - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes 4th in B grade

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 2 Oct - Ian Grant (BiciSport) & Brooke after the presentation

BiciSport goes Italian @ 2 Oct - Freddy Verleyen gives his BiciSport hat a tasty Sicilian holiday

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 14 Oct

  • Old Spoke Circuit Race (Eastern Creek Raceway)

  • Tamworth Track Open

• 15 Oct

  • Gundy Gravel (Two Wheel Tours)

  • 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 10 Oct & Thurs 12 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 12 Oct

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

• Sat 14 Oct

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 15 Oct

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

Super Ser Pro Cycling Team (Spain) - 1975-76

Super Ser as the main sponsor was Spanish gas heaters, bikes & groupsets were Zeus (again Spanish). Team clothing was Puma. Zeus components were available in Australia at that time (an alternate purchase to Campagnolo).

Luis Ocana was the Super Ser team leader after winning the Tour de France in 1973 but the glory days for dear Luis were fast disappearing in 1975 & 76. Luis was a tortured soul and committed suicide in 1994. Fuchs & Tamanes were the primary source of race results, but these results were again pretty thin, and the team folded after just two years.

Super Ser Pro Cycling Team (Spain) - Luis Ocana

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.