Flanders Follies # 2 - 18 March

BiciSport Junior Race @ Velle Antwerp @ 17 Mar - L to R podium with Eddy VerBust, Koen VerHulst, Sander Willems (2nd), Vic De Smet (1st), Ian Kimpe (3rd), Stijn VerHulst & Maarten VerHulst.

BiciSport Junior Race @ Velle Antwerp @ 17 Mar - MOR, Vic De Smet (winner) & Eddy VerBust

BiciSport Junior Race @ Velle Antwerp @ 17 Mar - start line tension with an apprehensive Maarten VerHulst (Race Director)

BiciSport Junior Race @ Velle Antwerp @ 17 Mar - the race started in damp & greasy conditions for the 102 starters for the 56k race over nine laps of an urban circuit.

BiciSport Junior Race @ Velle Antwerp @ 17 Mar - mid race and the damp conditions persisted

BiciSport Junior Race @ Velle Antwerp @ 17 Mar - Vis De Smet takes the victory

BiciSport Junior Race @ Velle Antwerp @ 17 Mar - The Garage Van Hoye Ford lead car is a Velle cycle race institution ,,,, it creaks, it groans, it coughs and nobody can get the ignition key out of the ignition for years (nobody would steal it anyway). Maarten VerHulst (Race Director) is on the far right just checking that the Van Hoye beast is still working

BiciSport Junior Race @ Velle Antwerp @ 17 Mar - the safest place is to be in front of the Garage Van Hoye Ford with Eddy VerBust & MOR

BiciSport Junior Race @ Velle Antwerp @ 17 Mar - the sponsors podium wall in front of the local church with Eddy VerBust, Eddy VerHulst & Eddy van der O’Reilly

AusCycling National Cross Country Olympic MTB Championships @ 17 Mar - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) had a great start until he crashed from lack of grip & injured a thumb and was a DNF.

AusCycling National Cross Country Olympic MTB Championships @ 17 Mar - Eric Dole on the start line

AusCycling National Short Track MTB Championships @ 15 Mar - Eric Dole takes a deserved Bronze medal. Congratulations Eric.

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 12 Mar - Julian Soto (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 12 Mar - Rolly Delaytz

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 12 Mar - Julian Arias

Heffron Park Criteriums @ 12 Mar - Rafael Avecedo (left) in his first outing in Happy wheels colours

Monsere Monument @ Gierle Belgium @ 15 Mar - Jean Pierre Monsere (Belgium) was the reigning World Pro Road Champion from 1970.

On 15 March 1971 he was killed in a pro race at Gierle (north of Antwerp) in an accident with a car. The Monsere Monument was erected in his honour at the place of the accident. BiciSport attended the ceremony with Eddy VerHulst & MOR. An interview with MOR & Belgian TV can be found at www.RTV.be

Monsere Monument @ Gierle Belgium @ 15 Mar - MOR with Suske Verhaegen (black jacket) and Eddy VerHulst. Suske Verhaegen rode in the BIC professional team with Luis Ocana in the 1970’s.

Monsere Monument @ Gierle Belgium @ 15 Mar - Eddy VerHulst (left) beside Suske Verhaegen

FLANDERS FOLLIES - DATES THIS COMING WEEK

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 (U19, U23, Professionals)

10 Apr - Brabant Arrow (Brussels) 14 Apr - Amstel Gold Race (Netherlands) 17 Apr - Fleche Walloon (Huy)

Denain Grand Prix (France) @ 14 Mar - Condtions were ideal at Denain but the pave was super slippery & wet. MOR stayed at the nearby village of Haspres a short drive out of Denain. The cobble sections were those early sections used regularly in Paris Roubaix Classic.

Denain Grand Prix (France) @ 14 Mar - Haspres cobbles were dangerous & slippery

Denain Grand Prix (France) @ 14 Mar - cobbles near Quievy

Nokere Kourse @ Nokere @ 13 Mar - Tim Merler (Soudal QS) takes the victory in Nokere

Nokere Kourse @ Nokere @ 13 Mar - The Nokere race followed a somewhat predictable path … 6 riders in a tv break of the day with the peloton weighing up when to chase for the inevitable bunch sprint.

The race started in Deinze and headed for the Holleweg cobbles (picture above) near Oudenaarde. Eventually the peloton won the day & Tim Merlier took the sprint.

Nokere Kourse @ Nokere @ 13 Mar - Thomas De Gendt (Lotto, blue helmet) on the Holleweg cobbles at the Feed Zone

Nokere Kourse @ Nokere @ 13 Mar - the Nokere peloton starting to muster the troops in chasing the breakaways.

Nokere Kourse @ Nokere @ 13 Mar - approaching the Holleweg cobbles

Nokere Kourse @ Nokere @ 13 Mar - people you meet on the Holleweg cobbles … MOR & Fabio Jacobson’s dad (right) drove down from the Netherlands to see his famous son pass on the Holleweg and then finish second in Nokere to Merler. Conditions were very cold but at least the wind had eased.

Nokere Kourse @ Nokere @ 13 Mar - one of the prettiest team cars in Soudal Quick Step at the Holleweg cobbles Feed Zone

Flanders Follies # 1 - 11 March

3 Peaks Challenge @ Falls Creek @ 10 Mar - Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) muscled his way around 3 Peaks in 9 hours 59 minutes. A courageous effort in really hot conditions and a welcome return to the hurt box for a great athlete. Proud of you Tom.

Strade Bianche (Italy) @ 2 Mar - Mike Lawson (BiciSport) at the Strade Entry Wall. Mike finished 12th in the Masters M8 category in Strade Bianche.

Strade Bianche (Italy) @ 2 Mar - Mike Lawson’s bike on the famous Tuscany white gravel.

West Head Road Race @ 10 Mar - The BiciSport starting line up in the Masters 50+ category - L to R …. Eric Dole, Dudley Hoskin, Danny O’Keefe, Steve Holland (what am I doing here ?) & Matt Coy

West Head racing is a great way to set a personal racing benchmark, learn from the experience, go away and train harder & smarter, then return to see how you’ve improved. Everybody gave it their best, save for Danny who punctured not 2k from the start having driven all the way down early from Newcastle !. Cyclists are a timid bunch but you’ll enjoy the “please avoid feeding the wildlife” traffic advisory.

Dudley finished an excellent third in the Masters 50+ category

West Head Road Race @ 10 Mar - Dudley Hoskin takes 3rd in the Masters 50+ category

West Head Road Race @ 10 Mar - Dudley Hoskin takes third (lost second by a tyre)

West Head Road Race @ 10 Mar - Dudley Hoskin

West Head Road Race @ 10 Mar - L to R …. Eric Dole (fluro shoes), Steve Holland (blue knicks), Dudley Hoskin (fluro shoes) and Matt Coy (green jersey) passing the BiciSport team car near the finish

West Head Road Race @ 10 Mar - a determined Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing) passing the BiciSport team car

West Head Road Race @ 10 Mar - Steve Holland

West Head Road Race @ 10 Mar - L to R … Dudley Hoskin, Steve Holland with Eric Dole (slightly obscured)

West Head Road Race @ 10 Mar - Robbie Brown rode well in Womens B grade passing the BiciSport team car

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 5 Mar - L to R … Julian Arias, Christian Quintero, MOR, Rolly Delaytz & Raphael Avecedo (all BiciSport Happy Wheels). The Heffron handicapping maybe requires a Royal Commission with a heavy A grade bias evident from the very start and so it proved.

Rolly Delaytz took 2nd in B grade but A grade took the overall podium in a canter.

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 5 Mar - Julian, Christian & Raphael on the Heffron Park start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 5 Mar - Rolly Delaytz approaching the Heffron finishing straight

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 5 Mar - Julian Arias leads Christian Quintero

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 5 Mar - Raphael Avecedo

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 5 Mar - the post race post mortem

BiciSport Team Force @ St Gillis Wass Belgium @ 5 Mar - BiciSport co sponsors the Belgian Team Force for the second year in 2024. The team meets outside the local church in the village of St Gillis Waas on 5 March for the first group ride of the year

BiciSport Team Force @ St Gillis Wass Belgium @ 5 Mar - Team Force at the post ride coffee at De Kikker (The Rabbit) Cafe in St Gillis Waas near Antwerp.

Flanders Follies & the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024

Welcome to the first edition of Flanders Follies 2024. The detailed race by race, cyclosportive by cyclosportive, cobbles by cobbles, beer by beer review is now posted in BiciSport Special Events section of this website. This is a useful guide to the Where, the When and the How to get around the Belgian Spring Classics.

Accommodation will be at the Kokerelle B&B ‘service corse’ in the tiny Flemish village of Maarke Kerkem which is situated just 5k from Oudenaarde and adjacent to the Eikenberg cobbled climb used regularly in the Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen) professional cycling classic.

The first week in Belgium is action packed with professional races at Nokere (13 Mar), Denain (14 Mar), Monsere Tribute (15 Mar), Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive (16 Mar) & the Antwerp Junior Race sponsored by BiciSport (17 Mar). This is the second year of BiciSport sponsorship of the Antwerp junior race.

Photos will be posted in Flanders Follies # 2 on this web page on Monday 18 Mar. Hope you enjoy the Flemish journey.

Flanders Follies Belgium 2024

This picture is taken on 12 March 2024 in wet & freezing conditions. The Kokerelle B&B in Maarke Kerkem is just 5k outside Oudenaarde

Flanders Follies Belgium 2024 - Kokerelle B&B in Maarke Kerkem has a nice outside courtyard except when it rains. Accommodation is on the left.

Flanders Follies Belgium 2024 - Kokerelle B&B in Maarke Kerkem and conditions are cold & damp. The farm behind has the loudest sheep on the planet.

FLANDERS FOLLIES - DATES THIS WEEK

13 Mar - Nokere Course 14 Mar - Denain Grand Prix (France) 15 Mar - Monsere Anniversary Tribute

16 Mar - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive 17 Mar - BiciSport Antwerp Junior Race (in Velle)

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 (U19, U23, Professionals)

10 Apr - Brabant Arrow (Brussels) 14 Apr - Amstel Gold Race (Netherlands) 17 Apr - Fleche Walloon (Huy)

Antwerp Junior Race in Belgium on 17 March is sponsored by BiciSport for the second year

Flanders Classics is the lead cycling promoter for the Belgian Spring. The support cars are a leading stand out.

Belgium Spring Classics 2024 - nothing beats a Soudal Quick Step team car loaded with Specialised team bikes

Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) for women is always a great race

Koppenberg climb in Flanders is known as the Black Beast … its steep @ 25%, its wet, its cobbled, you may walk

News Shorts - 4 March

The Belgian Spring Classics are fast approaching.

The BiciSport Flanders Follies website updates commence from 11 March and there will be seven weekly editions of Flanders Follies.

You can get weekly Belgian updates here every Monday in BiciSport News plus a broader overview on all things Belgium in BiciSport Special Events (… the When, the Where and the How …)

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 3 Mar - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took the B grade win with Eric Dole (right) an excellent 5th

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 3 Mar - Ian Grant on the start line

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 3 Mar - Eric Dole on the start line

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 3 Mar - Ian Grant in B grade mid race

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 3 Mar - Eric Dole leads team mate Ian Grant in B grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes third outright

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes third outright

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes third outright on the right with Julian Arias in the middle for 5th

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes third outright with Julian Arias 5th (far right)

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - Christian Quintero

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - Rolly Delaytz rode well in B grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - Julian Arias rode very well for 5th outright

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - Julian Soto was a big improver in C grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - Rolly Delaytz sitting in 5th place (fluro shoes) on the Heffron finishing straight

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - MOR solo on the Pimple Hill

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - post race post mortem

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 27 Feb - BiciSport Happy Wheels starting line up from L to R … Rolly Delaytz, Julian Arias, MOR, Christian Quintero & Julian Soto

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 10 Mar

  • West Head Road Race (Manly CC)

    • BiciSport starters - Eric Dole

  • 3 Peaks Challenge Cyclosportive (Falls Creek, Vic)

  • Eastern Creek Raceway Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Gruppo Molteni @ Centennial Park

    • Gruppo Molteni meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.20am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at the Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 5 Mar & Thurs 7 Mar

  • 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 7 Mar

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

• Sat 9 Mar

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 10 Mar

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

GRAFTON to INVERELL CLASSIC ENTERS THE UNKNOWN

When it comes to cycling icons then look no further than the mighty Grafton to Inverell Classic - 228k of pure cycling history and a winners rostrum of ultimate distinction. If you’re Victorian they may have their beloved Melbourne to Warnambool Classic (longer in distance with an equally prestigious podium history). But things are changing in 2024.

The Grafton used to be a single race handicap, with limit markers (who started first) set at approximately 75 minutes. The Grafton organisation set the trend several years ago to dispense with the 75 minute handicap concept, and introduce graded scratch races. At the time this was revolutionary and succeeded - with A/B/C grades departing Grafton for the epic 228k journey.

In 2024 the Grafton Classic graded scratch races are gone, and the only two bunches that depart Grafton are now not graded by ability (simply NRS or age based). Another major shift in emphasis is that some races now depart from Mount Mitchell and avoid the Gibraltar Range climb all together. How will it fly ? … no idea but entry levels will be watched with keen interest.

Bianchi Faema Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1978-79

Bianchi started sponsoring pro teams since 1899 !! and has had endless versions of the same team. This is the Bianchi Faema version from just 1978 and 1979. Bianchi was Italian bikes and Faema being Italian coffee machines. Groupsets were obviously Campagnolo.

In looking at the team results they were surprisingly thin in 78 & 79. Several of the team were outright legends of the sport but nearly all were past their very best and it showed in the results. The best team mates were Contini, De Muynck (Belgian - pictured above), Gimondi, Knudsen, Parsani & the Belgian sprint legend Rik Van Linden. That was a seriously talented team with outright legends everywhere but the clock was ticking loudly and they didn’t win a lot in those two years with Faema.

Felice Gimondi on the Milan Velodrome

Faema did the coffee machines

News Shorts - 26 February

The Belgian Opening Weekend has heralded in the start of the Belgian racing season with the Het Nieuwsblad- Kuurne weekend double header.

BiciSport heads to the Belgian Spring Classics on 10 March and the first edition of Flanders Follies will appear here on 10 March.

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Peter Verhoeven (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes Silver in the Masters Pointscore

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) a Silver in the Kieren

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) a Bronze in Kieren

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Ian Grant a Silver in the Points Race

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Bicisport at DGV with MOR, Brooke Green, Davide Browne & Ian Grant.

Disappointing is an absolute understatement to report that 2024 individual Masters entries dipped below 290 (excluding Team Sprint & Teams Pursuit entries). Entries usually range from 310 to 330 individual Masters entries … so under 290 is a really really poor outcome. Furthermore, no Men Masters Team Pursuit entries at all when the competition in the past has totaled a healthy 22 teams (those were the days not that long ago).

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Davide Browne

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Davide Browne

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Ian Grant in warm up mode

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Peter Verhoeven (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) atop a nice retro Moser on the warm up platform

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 24 Feb - Peter Verhoeven

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 3 Mar

  • Central Coast Criterium Championships (Ourimbah Campus, NSW)

    • Visitors welcome

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Gruppo Molteni @ Centennial Park

    • Gruppo Molteni meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.20am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at the Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 27 Feb & Thurs 29 Feb

  • 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 29 Feb

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

• Sat 2 Mar

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 3 Mar

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

GIS Gelati Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1978-91

One of the best Italian pro teams of that era (or any era really). Sponsors were GIS Gelati (Italian ice cream) with an endless supply of classic Italian bike suppliers - Pinarello, Benotto x 2, Colnago, Olmo, Moser, Rossin & Basso …. everybody had a crack. Groupsets were Campagnolo (of course). Jersey design was and remains iconic.

Team results were everywhere (thanks to De Vlaeminck & Moser) but the Tour of Italy was a rich source of results with 23 stage wins, plus stage wins in Tour of Spain & Tirreno. Team members were a classy lot - Saronni, De Vlaeminck, Moser, Basso, Van der Velde, Baffi, Akam (UK), Giovannetti, Bitossi & Panizza. A great team full of talent.

Franco Bitossi

Felice Gimondi (left) & Franco Bitossi (right)

Marino Basso

Beppe Saronni

News Shorts - 19 February

VALE NOEL LA ROSE - Rest in Peace on 12 February 24

Picture above is Noel with Daryl Impey at the Tour Down Under

I first met Noel La Rose in 1982 at a club race in the Adelaide Hills. Noel’s close friend Peter Frisken had been dropped in the same race, and it was my first race in the Adelaide Hills. I had punctured & was hopelessly lost. then I rode back with Peter Frisken trying to find my mother (and her beloved Leyland Tasmin motor car) in the start finish area near Meadows (a small local village). Noel, Peter & myself became inseparable friends ever since with numerous rides up Norton Summit towards Lobethal into the Adelaide Hills. You could not wish for two nicer guys to pedal with around the Adelaide Hills.

Noel was always a trusted source of wisdom and knowledgeable in all things cycling. A fine man, a lovely family, and he will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure to know dear Noel. No doubt both Peter & Noel are now doing a Norton Summit-Lobethal loop together figuring out who will pay for coffee at Lobethal and who will win the town sprint along Gorge Rd.

Funeral details - Thursday 22 February @ St Michaels Church @ 45 Maxim Street West Ryde @ 11.30am

MOR - 12 Feb 2024

Peter Frisken (left) and Noel La Rose at the Edwardstown Velodrome in Adelaide

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 23-25 Feb

  • NSW Masters Track Championships (DGV Velodrome)

    • BiciSport starters - Jeremy Hopson, Ian Grant, Peter Verhoeven, Davide Browne

• 25 Feb

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Husky Triathlon (NSW)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Gruppo Molteni @ Centennial Park

    • Gruppo Molteni meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.20am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at the Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 20 Feb & Thurs 22 Feb

  • 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 22 Feb

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

• Sat 24 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 25 Feb

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

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 18 Feb - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in the blue shoes in Masters B grade with 37 starters

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 18 Feb - Ian Grant

Mt Hotham summit in the Victorian Alps @ 15 Feb - Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Mt Hotham summit in the Victorian Alps @ 15 Feb

Furzi-FT-Vibor Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1974-78

Furzi was Italian furniture, bikes were either Viner (Italian-they worked) or Alan (Italian-very pretty but never worked unless crazy bottom bracket flex & sway is your thing).

The Furzi team only existed for the Tour of Italy - 1974 was a complete dud with zero results. Things improved greatly in 1976 when real talent arrived in Panizza, Visentini, Boifava, Conti, Polidori, Zilioli and Vicino. Most moved onto other teams for great careers, but the Furzi team folded at the end of 1979.

Marino Basso (future World Pro World Road Champion) …. atop an Alan frame !! …. how did he not bend a frame on a daily basis such was the bottom bracket sway under any sort of pressure. Note - Marino used gear shifters at the end of the handelbars.

Italo Zilioli - an outstanding cyclist in any generation

Zilioli-Basso-Boifava - three of the best Italians to ever sit on a bike

Now that is a retro team car …. you want one !

News Shorts - 12 February

BiciSport proudly co sponsor the Force Cycling Team in Nieuwkerken Belgium (not far from Antwerp). The Force Team Presentation was held 3 February

West Head Road Race @ 11 Feb - the post race coffee at Sandstone Cafe @ Terrey Hills with L to R … Eric D, Doris C, Steve H, Chris F, Dudley H, Andy T, David R, Ross B & Robbie B. Photo by MOR

West Head Road Race @ 11 Feb - Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport Happy Wheels) rode well in the Masters category. Dudley is at the West Head u turn. Photo by MOR

West Head Road Race @ 11 Feb - Dudley Hoskin

West Head Road Race @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) found the going tough … until he realised he had started in a higher grade by mistake. Oops ….

West Head Road Race @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole

West Head Road Race @ 11 Feb - L to R … Eric Dole, Dudley Hoskin & Steve Holland

Goulburn Track Open @ 3 Feb - Davide Browne & MOR attended the Goulburn event on 3 February. Hot does not begin to describe it !. Davide collected placings in the Division 2 Scratch Race & Kieren motor paced event and qualified for the Goulburn Wheelrace Final. All Goulburn photos MOR

Goulburn Track Open @ 3 Feb - Davide Browne on the Goulburn fence line

Goulburn Track Open @ 3 Feb - Davide Browne in 3rd position

Goulburn Track Open @ 3 Feb - Davide Browne

Goulburn Track Open @ 3 Feb - Davide Browne (right)

Goulburn Track Open @ 3 Feb - the lights are blazing at Goulburn in the final Division 2 event, with Davide second from left

Goulburn Track Open @ 3 Feb - Davide Browne assisted with the Roller Derby

Ernesto Colnago turns 92 years young. Grazie Ernesto !

Ernesto Colnago working on a Molteni team bike with a youthful Gianni Motta

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 17 Feb

  • Ballarat Classic Cyclosportive (Vic)

• 18 Feb

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

    • Ian Grant (BiciSport)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Gruppo Molteni @ Centennial Park

    • Gruppo Molteni meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.20am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at the Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 13 Feb & Thurs 15 Feb

  • 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 15 Feb

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

• Sat 17 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 18 Feb

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

Kelme Pro Cycling Team (Spain) - 1980-2006

26 years is a long time to sponsor a team, and Kelme makes fine shoes. For some in this team it indeed was a long walk (some of it drug fueled). Kelme are shoes with bikes supplied by Gios & Merckx. Sub sponsors were Ibexpress, Artiach, Varta (car batteries), Costa Blanca (tourism), Eurosport (tv channel) & Communidad Valenciana (local government). The jersey … was something that never but never comes out of your wardrobe, its a shocker.

Results had a real Spanish flavour, except for maybe some Tour de France highlights. Heras won the Tour of Spain in 2000, and Gonzalez won the Spanish Tour in 2002. Jesus Manzano flagged the doping issue in 2004 and showed what a dodgy lot they really were - Valverde, Heras, Belda, Gonzalez, Sevilla, Casero & Escartin. Spanish teams don’t really figure highly in this column …. not a surprise really.

News Shorts - 5 February

Central Coast Velodrome @ Call Cup @ 24 Jan - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes 3rd at the Call Cup.

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 30 Jan - the annual Sunde/Spurgeon Memorial Criteriums offer great history coupled with great domestic racing

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 30 Jan - Julian Arias (left) & Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels). In the handicap B grade ruled the day and C grade did it hard. Julian was second C grade to finish

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 30 Jan - Julian Arias (left) & Christian Quintero

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 30 Jan - Christian Quintero (left) & Julian Arias

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 30 Jan - Christian Quintero

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 30 Jan - Davde Browne and his 1985 single speed steel Benotto

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 30 Jan - Julian Arias, MOR & Christian Quintero

DGV Christmas Series - Father & Son (Lawson & Davide) Browne together in a Team Madison …. a great family picture for the ages

BiciSport Masters of Spin Calendar for February 2024

Francesco Signor dominated the January 24 edition of the BiciSport Masters of Spin Calendar. This month its the turn of the Eternal French Baguette in Eric Dole cruising through a sea of panatone at a Church Point cafe.

Stew Campbell at Happy Wheels Waterloo is well known for great cycling artwork …. a taster for what is below and headed for the upcoming Husky Triathlon

RACE RADIOS IN PROFESSIONAL RACEs - LET’s BAN THEM

• The search for instant & perfect knowledge drives everybody to be addicted to their mobile phones. Go out for dinner with your significant other and an sms buzz will distract you, and nearly everybody forgets who is at the dinner table as you focus on your iphone addiction. Ditto applies in pro bike races with race radios.

• The story is thus …. like the recent pro race in Geelong the early breakaway in a pro race fights like dogs to get in the tv break of the day. Once established the breaks gets to the magical 4 or 5 minute lead. Race radios give both the breakaway & peloton perfect knowledge - both to who is in the break, and how far ahead they are. Am not sure why they persist with motorcycle timing marshals as they really aren’t needed.

• With perfect knowledge through race radios the breakaway knows the magical 5 minutes is about their limit - so the games start. The breakaway eases off to roughly 85% effort and then the peloton does the same ! ! !. So now the organized street theatre or mobile kareoke begins - all played out on live television. Two groups of “racers” rolling along at 85% like its an outdoor pantomime. The poor tv commentators try to make sense out of the abstract boredom before their eyes and show you pictures of surfers at Bells Beach.

• Eventually the stale mate is broken with say 50k-60k to go as the breakaway gets the nod, and they resume hostilties (maybe they can win this time ?). The peloton are wired to race radios as well, and they go full gas instantaneously and overwhelm the breakaway with 15k-20k to go. Job well done and the lycra clad pantomime is complete for another day. The last 15k are the real deal and a deserving winner takes the flowers. What does the underwhelmed tv viewers make of this sporting charade ?.

• Ban race radios and we may get a descent bike race

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 11 Feb

  • Lake Hume Challenge Cyclosportive (Albury NSW)

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

  • West Head Road Race (Manly CC)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Gruppo Molteni @ Centennial Park

    • Gruppo Molteni meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.20am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at the Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 6 Feb & Thurs 8 Feb

  • 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 8 Feb

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

• Sat 10 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 11 Feb

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

San Giacomo Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1979-80

The team only lasted two years, which is a pity. San Giacomo followed the Italian trend as a kitchen producer. In 1979 the bikes were Alan (Italian & performed badly), but improved with Benotto in 1980.

The 1979 team was a shocker with only an aging Fausto Bertoglio (ex Giro winner) any good. Into 1980 and a whole new team - Moreno Argentin (future legend & World Champion), Claudio Corti (single day rider of note), Alain de Roo (Belgium), Freddy Maertens (all time legend & past/future World Road Champion), George Mount (USA), Clyde Sefton (one of Australia’s finest) and Roberto Visentini. The revamped 1980 team had excellent performances from Visentini, Maertens & Clyde Sefton.

San Giacomo Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Freddy Maertens climbs the Koppenberg cobbles in the Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen) heading towards 5th place

San Giacomo Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Freddy Maertens on the Koppenberg climb in Flanders

San Giacomo Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - a classic Ronde breakaway with (left to right) - Michel Pollentier, Francesco Moser, Roger De Vlaeminck, Jan Raas (World Champion) and Freddy M at the rear. Freddy ended up an excellent 5th.

San Giacomo Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - a chaotic finish at the 1980 Tour of Spain with two San Giacomo team riders on the right (near the Coca Cola car)

San Giacomo Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - Clyde (Kevin) Sefton was one of Australia’s best in the professionals after second in the Olympic Road Race in Munich in 1972

San Giacomo Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - a youthful Roberto Visentini before he joined the Carrera team and won the Giro

Team Presentation in 1980

News Shorts - 29 January

BiciSport has been sponsoring the Force Cycling Team in Nieuwkerken (near Antwerp) in Belgium since 2023 for a three year period. The team presentation is to be held on 3 February in the town of Temse.

Koen VerHulst will be the BiciSport representative on 3 February

Trans Andean Epic 2024 - Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport Happy Wheels) recently completed the Trans Andean epic ride that started in Santiago and ended in Buenos Aires in South America . Total distance of 1,710k over 9 days with 8,000m of climbing

Bathurst Road Race @ 28 Jan - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes the victory

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 23 Jan - Julian Arias, Julian Soto & Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels) before the start in C grade. A grade dominated the opening round of the Heffron Summer Series, and both B & C grade did it real tough

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 23 Jan - Julian Arias on the Heffron start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 23 Jan - Julian Soto on the Heffron start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 23 Jan - Julian Arias on the Heffron main straight

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 23 Jan - Julian Arias

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 23 Jan - Christian Quintero in C grade on the Heffron main straight

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 23 Jan - Christian Quintero on the Heffron Pimple Hill

The Goulburn Track Open is to be held on Saturday 3 Feb and features Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) in search of Goulburn Wheelrace glory

The Rutherglen Cyclosportive on 20 April - A lovely cyclosportive through the Rutherglen wine district in North East Victoria.

Go to www.rutherglenrotary.org.

Vale Jan Bogaert @ 24 Jan @ 66 years. RIP

BiciSport has a long time connection with the town of Temse in East Flanders. Temse sits on the River Schelde just 50k from Antwerp. With Temse came Jan Bogaert - a very classy professional cyclist who raced from 1980 to 1995. Jan also has a major cyclosportive in July each year based in Temse named in his honour.

Jan rode for several teams including Vermeer Thijs (see Jan winning a stage in the Tour of Switzerland above). Europ Decor, TVM, & Palmans professional teams.

Jan was a super quick sprinter and won 50 UCI level events with single day victories including E3 Grand Prix, Schaal Sels, Schelde Prijs, Nokere Koerse & Dwars Vlaanderen, then Amstel Gold 2nd place and twice 5th in the Tout of Flanders. Stage wins in Tours were numerous - be it Herald Sun Tour, Milk Race (UK), Circuit Franco Belge, Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium.

A typical Jan Bogaert giving it 100% riding in the Europ Decor team colours

WHEN INTERESTS OF ORGANISATIONS & ATHLETES DIVERGE

• It would be fair to state that staging any National Road Championships anywhere except the eastern States … well it is headed for an uphill challenge in more ways than one. For some the financial challenges are less when these are offset by taxpayer funded budgets, but invariably the financial burden is simply transferred to others in the cycling hierarchy (being the athletes & supporters).

• Loxton (SA) & Perth (WA) …. two new venues on the national road cycling Championship calendar in late 2024 & early 2025. Obviously those governments that have friendly tourism budgets may believe the promised hordes of lycra clad legends invading their town or city as appealing. But will they invade regional SA and far away WA ?

• In the case of Loxton you must wonder what the economic & tourism benefits could possibly be to a small town in outback SA as there is virtually no accommodation some 250k from Adelaide. Surely there must be a more suitable NSW venue for Masters championships … somewhere, anywhere …

• Perth ? ... Perth has been tried before at the Masters level and the term “success” was a much abused term. With expensive Christmas air tickets and a double drive for mum & dad across the Nullabor Plain, you must wonder who will attend and how will they afford to get there. What if you have an aspiring Junior (in Tasmania) and the cyclist is virtually obliged to attend to get national recognition ?. What of the related Gran Fondo, Masters & Para events held at Ballarat ?. Maybe the teaser is, on the way home, spend another fortune in accommodation and watch the TDU in Adelaide. Maybe watch the Lanterne Rouge podcast and do none of the above.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 3 Feb

  • BiciSport Force Cycling Team Presentation (Temse, Belgium)

  • Goulburn Track Open

    • Note - the Bowral Track Open set down for 4 Feb has been cancelled

• 4 Feb

  • 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 8.20am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 30 Jan & Thurs 1 Feb

  • 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 1 Feb

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

• Sat 3 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 4 Feb

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

Panasonic Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands (1984-92)

Led by the no nonsense manager in Peter Post (pictured above). Post won the Paris Roubaix Classic himself and was renowned for being hard, hard and then hard some more. Both on himself and all around him.

The Panasonic team came out of the TI Raleigh team …. half of the team went to the new Panasonic team, while others followed Jan Raas to the new Kwantum team. The rivalry between the two teams was bitter & acrimonious. Sponsorship was Panasonic (electrical goods), Isostar (sports drinks), bikes were either Raleigh, Colnago, Eddy Merckx then finally a generic Panasonic brand. Groupsets were Campagnolo early on then Shimano towards the end.

Riders …. well, where to start …. riders were a classy lot, victories in all events as required. Erik Beukink for stage races, Phil Anderson for both stage races & one day Classics, Eddy Planckaert (Classics) , then Tuen Van Vliet, John Paul Van Poppel, Johan Lammerts, Alan Pieper, Steven Rooks, Peter Winnen, Gert van Theuinesse, Robert Millar, Johan van der Velde, Olaf Ludwig, Eric Van der Aerden & Marc Sergeant.

Peter Post doing what PP does best ….

Eddy Planckaert was a renowned single day Classic rider

Johan Van Der Velde (centre) at the Tour of Italy

Phil Anderson (Australia)

Eric Van Der Aerden (right) crashes on the Mur de Geradsbergen in a wet Tour of Flanders

Alan Pieper on a team Eddy Merckx bike

Eric Van der Aerden

News Shorts - 22 January

Happy Wheels & Julian Allaphlippe @ Tour Down Under (Adelaide) @ 19 Jan

BiciSport to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024 - Mike O’Brien (left) and Mike Lawson in the heart of Northern France. On the Wednesday before Roubaix all of the traffic signs are up … the joys of not getting lost

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

BiciSport accommodation @ Oudenaarde Belgium @ 18 Jan … best described as bleak

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 26-28 Jan

  • Cadel Evans Road Race (Geelong, Vic)

• 28 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 23 Jan & Thurs 25 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 25 Jan

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

• Sat 27 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 28 Jan

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

Milk Race (UK) - Richard Mulberry (left) was a highly accomplished elite cyclist for many years (both in the UK & Europe) and can be found most Saturdays for BiciSport coffee at the Sandstone Cafe. Tell Richard how good the Millwall Football Club is … he enjoys hearing that too.

Richard rode the Milk Race in 1967 (yes, before you were born) in the London Team. Richard got 6th in the second stage but his reward was food poisoning and was a ‘did not finish’ on the Dundee stage. The Milk Race that year was won by Rene Pijnen (future pro and famous 6 Day velodrome rider) from a youthful Joop Zoetemelk (future winner of the Tour de France and World Pro Road Champion). Richard was some time getting over his Dundee DNF and headed for Europe in 1968 to further his international career.

The Milk Race ran from 1945 to 1999 and was a leading amateur & professional stage race. Winners included local boy Les West (1965 & 67), Fedor Den Hertog (1969) & Hennie Kuiper (1972).

Milk Race (UK) - a somewhat pensive Richard Mulberry before the stage start in the ‘67 Milk Race

Milk Race (UK) 1992 - Tim Hall leads Shane Sutton on Devils Staircase in 1992

Milk Race (UK) 1987 - Malcolm Elliott wins a stage in 1987

Milk Race (UK) 1987 - the 1987 podium with Igor Sumnikov (left), Malcolm Elliott (Yellow), Dave Rayner (White), Paul Watson (Red)

Milk Race (UK) 1993 - Chris Lilywhite won the Milk Race in 1993

News Shorts - 15 January

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 14 Jan - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took 4th in B grade supported by Peter Verhoeven in C grade.

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 14 Jan - Peter Verhoeven (third wheel white helmet in Bici AF jersey) in C Grade

Tumut Cycle Classic Cyclosportive @ 7 Jan - Melissa Budd

Tumut Cycle Classic Cyclosportive @ 7 Jan - Francesco Signor

Tumut Cycle Classic Cyclosportive @ 7 Jan - Peter Budd starts from Tumut at the break of dawn

Heffron Park Tuesday Nights recommences on 16 January 2024

BiciSport to the Belgium Spring Classics in 2024 - Marty Wright (BiciSport) climbs the steep Koppenberg climb

The BiciSport tour now includes Grand Prix Denain in Northern France on 14 March.

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

Richard Bukacki takes another Belgian victory

Richard Bukacki (Hertekamp Pro Team) - RIP

VALE RICHARD BUKACKI - NEVER MET, BUT ALMOST

For those that browse the BiciSport website a small Covid time project has been the weekly blog on various professional teams, and we’ve nearly hit the 200 mark in pro team reviews. A nice little Covid period past time as Gladys gave us the 11am Covid update on the media.

A name that kept cropping up in various teams was Richard Bukacki. Richard’s results just kept appearing too regularly and he won several times a year, usually in a sprint finish.

So I contacted Richard directly on FaceBook Messenger about 4 weeks ago , told him of my interest in his successful career and could we meet in Belgium in March 2024 and he to autograph a Hertekamp jersey for me. Eddy VerBust (who lives in Belgium) agreed to source a retro Hertekamp jersey from the period. The idea was to meet at the Velle Flanders junior race on March 17 sponsored by BiciSport. Sadly we never got there.

Richard at the age of 77 years passed away suddenly on 12 January and our meeting & celebration of his career at Velle won’t happen. Thoughts and prayers to his family at this time.

CADEL EVANS WEEKEND (GEELONG) - 26-28 JANUARY

• The Cadel Evans weekend in Geelong is another great cycling weekend. BiciSport is going and if you want company then contact Peter Budd (BiciSport) on 0431 012 174.

• Booking local accommodation is your responsibility

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 12-21 Jan

  • Tour Down Under (Adelaide)

• 21 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 16 Jan & Thurs 18 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 18 Jan

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

• Sat 20 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

• Sun 21 Jan

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

Masta Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - 1980-85

Totally 100% Belgian domestic pro team sponsored by Masta with sub sponsors in Cornelo & TeVe Blad. TeVe Blad was a weekly TV magazine. Bikes were either Olmo (Italian) or Puch (Swiss). The Puch bike was about as uninspiring as it gets (see above) and it looked better designed for local mail deliveries. C’mon Eric van der Tosser ... where is my real Olmo ?

The team was all about Johnny De Nul who won somewhere between 4-7 kermesse style races in Flanders each year. Occasionally they would get a start in Belgian semi Classics but results were grim & slim. When Johnny D wasn’t winning it was over to Richard Bukacki (a much better semi Classics quality rider than De Nul ever was). Both De Nul & Bukacki had blistering sprints and if they could see a finishing line flag then the podium flowers were theirs. Other notable team mates were Marc De Smet & Marcel van der Slagmolen (what a great Flemish name)

Same picture, same team car …. just the following year

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) .