News Shorts - 8 July

Bathurst Interclub @ 6 July - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took the second place podium spot.

No Brakes Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 29 June - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) third from right on the DGV boards

No Brakes Racing @ Dunc Grey Velodrome @ 29 June - Davide Browne on the fence shadows Paul Craft

BiciSport Belgium @ East Flanders @ 30 June - Briek VerHulst (BiciSport Anytime Fitness)

BiciSport Belgium @ East Flanders @ 30 June - Briek VerHulst in the Flemish mud

BiciSport-Molteni-Tour de France coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 6 July - a BiciSport celebration for Sir Cav going 35 individual stage wins at Le Tour 2024 … Molteni team L to R … Tony R, David S, Doris C, Tom G, Jock Y, Bob G, Martine, Nigel S, John L (Molteni hat), Ian G, Herve B (green) & MOR

BiciSport-Molteni-Tour de France coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 6 July - Bob Green (left) kindly provided the Eddy Merckx bike (MX Leader) built in the Merckx factory in Meise Belgium in the traditional Molteni orange

BiciSport-Molteni-Tour de France coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 6 July - the french are never far from a celebration and Herve Boutin represented the “Tricolore” at the Molteni coffee

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 14 July

  • TREK ITT Series (Eastern Creek Raceway)

  • 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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 9 July & Thurs 11 July

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 11 July

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

• Sat 13 July

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

Italian Pro Team Cars @ Tour of Italy (Giro) @ 1961 - Faema being famous Italian coffee

Italian Pro Team Cars @ Tour of Italy (Giro) @ 1961 - Team Taurea looking very fashionable

Italian Pro Team Cars @ Tour of Italy (Giro) @ 1961 - Legnano were a bike sponsor

Italian Pro Team Cars @ Tour of Italy (Giro) @ 1961 - Benotto another bike sponsor with spare tyres draped over the team bike

Italian Pro Team Cars @ Tour of Italy (Giro) @ 1961 - Guerra another bike sponsor

Italian Pro Team Cars @ Tour of Italy (Giro) @ 1961 - Bianchi. The spare wheels above the front headlights !

Spanish Pro Team Cars @ Tour of Spain @ 1961 - support convoy

Belgian Pro Team Cars @ Tour de France @ 1969 - Faema car with Eddy Merckx with hollowed rear door

News Shorts - 1 July

BiciSport is proud to announce both Codemo Machinery Services and Ciccia (at Freshwater) as team sponsors to the Tour of Bright (Victoria) in November-December 2024.

Codemo are major suppliers of farm machinery to the Griffith agricultural region & Ciccia is a boutique Italian cafe in central Freshwater in the northern suburbs of Sydney. Happy Wheels Waterloo continues as a life time supporter of BiciSport together with the Happy Wheels team (which also continues as now into 2025).

Codemo Machinery Services in Griffith support the BiciSport team at the Tour of Bright 2024

Bathurst Handicap @ 29 June - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took 20th place in the Interclub handicap

Griffith NSW @ 22 June - on an isolated road on the outskirts of Griffith with Peter Wythes, Rodger Thompson Seagrave, Frank Signor & Ross Webster.

BiciSport Team Force @ 22 June @ Polderland @ the Dutch-Belgian border in hot conditions

The BiciSport-Molteni-Tour de France coffee is on Saturday 6 July @ 9.30am @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills off Myoora Rd.

A couple of retro Eddy Merckx - Molteni bikes will feature in the Molteni celebrations. So if you have a retro t shirt or cycling jersey then bring it along. All welcome.

Ok lads … who is in ?? for BiciSport-Molteni coffee at Sandstone Cafe on Saturday 6 July @ 9.30am …

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 6 July (Sat)

  • BiciSport-Molteni Coffee

    • Sandstone Cafe, Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

      • All welcome

• 7 July

  • Heffron Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 2 July & Thurs 4 July

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 4 July

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

• Sat 6 July

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

Vivi Benotto Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1982-83

Sponsors were Vivi, plus co-sponsors in Selle Italia (saddles), Puma (shoes), and Benotto (frames).

Very much a boutique Italian team focused on the Tour of Italy (Giro) in both 1982 and 1983. Franco Chioccioli won the Young Rider classification at the ‘83 Giro and went on to win the ‘91 Giro. Meaningful team mates were few and far between with Gregor Braun and Jos Lammertink being the rare exceptions.

News Shorts - 24 June

The Tour de France starts at the end of this week and the fearless BiciSport web editor predictions are -

* Podagar will win the Tour by 5 minutes …. then head to the Tour of Spain and do the Triple

* UAE will win the Teams Classification

* UAE will get 4 riders in the top 15. Adam Yates will be brilliant.

* Ineos will have a great Tour on both the General & Teams classfication with Pidcock & Bernal

* Remco E will be fortunate to go top 10 (more like a top 20) - one super bad day in the mountains will ruin it all, give up on riding the Tours altogether and head to Flanders & Roubaix and the Spring Classics in 2025 where he really belongs.

* Visma -Lease a Bike will be lucky to win a stage & Vingegaard will struggle in the third week (that’s brave). Maybe Jorgenson will save the Visma Tour with a stage win. Wout & Vinny should have both stayed at home & ridden the Vuelta instead.

* Simon Yates (Jayco) & Primoz Roglic will go top 10. Roglic will crash.

* Derek Gee at Premier Tech will win a stage & go top 15 (maybe top 10)

* Mark Cavendish breaks the Merckx record of stage wins ... justice would support please no ! !. Sir Cav will not finish the Tour.

* SBS commentary team will be outside the time limit from Stage 1 and will not start Stage 2

BiciSport Team Force @ East Flanders @ 15 June - Nick Felix is both the Team Force sprinter and team principal. BiciSport sponsors Team Force for the second year in 2024 and have extended this into 2026.

BiciSport Team Force @ East Flanders @ 15 June - Nick Felix (right) with Force team mates. BiciSport Australia sits on the collar bone of the team jerseys

BiciSport Team Force @ East Flanders Belgium @ 15 June

BiciSport Team Force @ East Flanders Belgium @ 15 June - Nick Felix in third wheel

Ciccia @ Freshwater is a new BiciSport co supporter

The BiciSport-Molteni-Tour de France coffee is on Saturday 6 July @ 9.30am @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills off Myoora Rd.

A couple of retro Eddy Merckx - Molteni bikes will feature in the Molteni celebrations. So if you have a retro t shirt or cycling jersey then bring it along. All welcome.

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 29 June

  • Goodyear Gravel Grind (Tamworth, NSW)

  • Tour de France (starts in Florence, Italy)

• 30 June

  • Melburn Roobaix Cyclosportive (Melbourne, Vic)

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

  • NSW ACT Cyclocross Series Round 4 (Mt Stromlo, Canberra)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 25 June & Thurs 27 June

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 27 June

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

• Sat 29 June

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

Selle San Marco Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1981-82

Selle San Marco still make high quality cycle racing seats to this day and co sponsor numerous pro cycling teams. Groupsets were Campagnolo and framesets were Wilier. Team jerseys were a good design but the team cars missed the mark completely.

Team results for two years rested with Alfio Vandi who won a couple of Italian semi Classics and rode two Giros. Simply put - they didn’t win much and the sponsorship end couldn’t come fast enough. Thankfully San Marco still produce a great product.

News Shorts - 17 June

Maraton Franja @ Ljubjana Slovenia @ 12 June - Darren Benson (left - BiciSport Happy Wheels) finished 7th for his French team

BiciSport @ Noosa Hinterland @ 13 June - Marty Wright (BiciSport) at Gympie coffee

BiciSport @ Noosa Hinterland @ 13 June - Marty Wright on the Noosa trails

BiciSport @ Noosa Hinterland @ 13 June - on the Noosa trails

BiciSport Retro from the Vault @ 2004 - Posted on Facebook last week was Davide Browne (BiciSport - blue helmet) at the Goulburn Track Open in 2004

BiciSport Retro from the Vault @ 2004 - Davide Browne (third from left) on the Goulburn Velodrome start line

Stelvio Pass @ Italian Dolomites @ 13 June - Colnago with a view down the Stelvio Pass

Stelvio Pass @ Italian Dolomites @ 13 June

Stelvio Pass @ Italian Dolomites @ 13 June

Stelvio Pass @ Italian Dolomites @ 13 June

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 22 June

  • TREK ITT Series (Penrith Lakes)

• 23 June

  • Eastern Creek Dragway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 18 June & Thurs 20 June

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 20 June

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

• Sat 22 June

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

Cyndarella Isotonic Pro Cycling Team (Swiss) - 1988

Very much a second tier team with a very small list of victories (stage wins at Tour de Swiss and Giro), sitting on fashionable LOOK bikes with Shimano groupsets. Isotonic is a sports drink and the clothing was provided by Assos.

Results were restricted to the Tours of Switzerland & Romandie and Beat Breu went 11th in the Giro in 1988 (the Giro year over the Gavia Pass in the snow). Other team notables were Gisiger, Jarmann, Fuchs & Stutz. The team photos below have crates of fruit in the photo … maybe a clue as to the Cyndarella origins.

News Shorts - 10 June

Waratah Masters Criteriums @ Lansdowne @ 9 June - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes 3rd in B grade

Waratah Masters Criteriums @ Lansdowne @ 9 June - Ian Grant takes 3rd by the narrowest of margins on the line

Waratah Masters Criteriums @ Lansdowne @ 9 June - Ian Grant in the early break of the day in B grade

Waratah Masters Criteriums @ Lansdowne @ 9 June - Ian Grant

Waratah Masters Criteriums @ Lansdowne @ 9 June - Ian Grant

Waratah Masters Criteriums @ Lansdowne @ 9 June - Ian Grant on the B grade start line

Dinnerville Handicap Race @ Dapto @ 2 June - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) just after the start line

Once upon a time in cycling paradise, not that long ago, NSW had a healthy number of 100k road race handicaps on the State racing program. Be it the two Cootamundra Weekends, the Coonabarabran Gunnedah. the Wagga Albury, or maybe a Grafton Inverell, a Goulburn Camden, the Mussellbrook Tamworth, a Nyngan Dubbo or lastly a nice Mudgee Open. Some interclub level handicaps remain but they too are now as rare as Campagnolo 10 speed.

Now its just one - the Ken Dinnerville handicap in Dapto.

Dinnerville Handicap Race @ Dapto @ 2 June - Ian Grant in the hurt box in Bunch 4

Dinnerville Handicap Race @ Dapto @ 2 June - Danny O’Keefe before his mechanical

Dinnerville Handicap Race @ Dapto @ 2 June - at the start finish line at Dapto

Dinnerville Handicap Race @ Dapto @ 2 June - Wollongong World Championships 2022 BBQ was alive and well at Dapto. All we need is Remco !!

Dinnerville Handicap Race @ Dapto @ 2 June - before the start with MOR & Danny O’Keefe

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 13 June (Thurs)

  • CyclingNSW Annual General Meeting (Hurstville Oval Function Room)

• 16 June

  • 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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 11 June & Thurs 13 June

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 13 June

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

• Sat 15 June

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

Eorotex Mavic Gitane Pro Cycling Team (Switzerland) - A vague Swiss team with a media presence of limited scope. In fact its better know as Eurotex on most google searches.

Sponsors were Magniflex (Italian mattresses), Mavic (cycling components), Gitane were the bikes, and Assos did the team clothing.

News Shorts - 3 June

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) finished 3rd in Masters M7

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Ian Grant is presented his Bronze medal by MOR (past Director CyclingNSW)

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Ian Grant takes third by the narrowest of margins

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Eric Dole takes seventh in the M7 sprint finish

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Eric Dole (right) with Ian Grant fourth wheel

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Ian Grant leads from Eric Dole in fifth wheel

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Danny O’Keefe (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) has recently resumed club racing and this was his first State Championship level race in many years. The hurt box loomed larger than life but it was great to see him fighting.

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Danny O’Keefe far right

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - M7 start line with Ian Grant (left) & Eric Dole

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Ian Grant, MOR & Eric Dole

NSW Masters Criterium Championships @ Unanderra @ 1 June - Danny O’Keefe (left), MOR & Eric Dole

BiciSport Colorado USA interclub criteriums @ 30 May - Dan Reback gives the BiciSport team cap a run at the Colorado interclub criterium. Dan rode the Tour of Flanders & Paris Roubaix Cyclosportives in 2024.

Gravel Epic @ Central Queensland @ 30 May - Marty Wright (BiciSport) is on a 4 week gravel ride from Noosa to central Queensland with 2000k over the 4 weeks. Congratulations Marty on another epic gravel adventure.

AC CycloCross National Series @ the Adelaide round - Mike Lawson (BiciSport) is currently sitting 3rd on the current series pointscore

BiciSport Thursday Ride @ Centennial Park @ 30 May - for an autumnal ride another good turn up at the Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am The ride is on every Thursday and all are welcome.

TREK Compass ITT Series kicks off on 9 June @ Waratah Park Sutherland

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 9 June (Sun)

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Trek Compass ITT Series (Waratah Park)

• 10 June (Mon)

  • Lansdowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • NSW-ACT Cyclo Cross (Sun Valley @ Springwood, NSW)

    • BiciSport starter - Mike Lawson

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 4 June & Thurs 6 June

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 6 June

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

• Sat 8 June

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

GIS Gelati Jolly Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1978 to 1991

GIS Gelati was the primary sponsor for many years, and secondary sponsors came and went. This period with Jolly was 1987 & 1988. GIS was certainly Italian ice cream and Jolly was an Italian footwear company.

Team members through the whole term (78 to 91) contained every Italian of note but at different times … from Moser to Saronni to Chioccioli. The 1987 and 1988 years were comparatively lean results wise - Johan Van de Velde won some Giro stages but team support was meagre in Adriano Baffi (sprinter), Franco Chioccioli (Tour rider), sprinters Pettito & Masciarelli.

Van der Velde did a legendary ride in the snow on the Gavia Pass in the ‘88 Giro (won by Andy Hampsten).

Johan Van der Velde on the snow capped Gavis Pass in 1988 … stopping to put his gloves on

Adriano Baffi was the GIS Jolly team sprinter

News Shorts - 27 May

UCI Masters MTB World Championships @ Cairns @ 15-19 May - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) in the pink jersey competed at the UCI Worlds and took 6th in the M7 category.

UCI Masters MTB World Championships @ Cairns @ 15-19 May - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the start line.

UCI Masters MTB World Championships @ Cairns @ 15-19 May - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

UCI Masters MTB World Championships @ Cairns @ 15-19 May - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Kurri Kurri Interclub @ 25 May - Danny O’Keefe (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took 3rd in B grade

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 26 May - Ian Grant (far left - BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took the sprint prime in the B grade criterium

BiciSport Gravel @ North Queensland @ 25 May - Marty Wright (BiciSport) currently between Noosa & Nowhere on gravel. Hopefully more pictures next week.

BiciSport Gravel @ North Queensland @ 25 May - Marty Wright is out there somewhere !!!

BiciSport Thursday ride @ Centennial Park @ 23 May - John Robb, William Walker, John Crouchley & Peter Stupka. Will Walker brought out the attractive retro Hillbrick frame loaded with a nice Campagnolo groupset with index down shifters. The Thursday ride starts @ 10.30am from the Spruce Goose Cafe in the centre of Centennial Park. All welcome.

BiciSport Thursday ride @ Centennial Park @ 23 May - MOR & William Walker featuring a nice retro Hillbrick main course with a Campagnolo dessert

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 1 June

  • NSW Masters Criterium Championships (Illawarra Crit Circuit, Dapto)

    • BiciSport starters - Ian Grant, Danny O’Keefe, Eric Dole

• 2 June

• Dinnerville Handicap (Dapto NSW)

  • BiciSport starters - Ian Grant, Danny O’Keefe

• Heffron Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 29 & Thurs 31 May

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 31 May

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

• Sat 1 June

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

Reynolds Pro Cycling Team (Spain) - 1980 to today

Over 40 years of sponsorship & top tier racing from Reynolds, Banesto, Illes Balears, Caisse d’Epargue and now Movistar. Reynolds was aluminium, bikes were Italian in Pinarello and groupsets were Campagnolo.

The Reynolds years were very much about Pedro Delgado (who won the ‘88 Tour de France & ‘89 Tour of Spain). Angel Arroyo did win a Tour of Spain but then failed the drug test. Oops. Most of the great team results flowed after 1989.

News Shorts - 20 May

UCI Masters MTB World Championships @ Cairns @ 15-19 May - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) competed at the UCI Worlds and took 6th in the M7 category.

UCI Masters MTB World Championships @ Cairns @ 15-19 May - Eric Dole (right) on the start line

Giro 2024 - No Stelvio Pass this year which is a pity but lets hope so in 2025. Maybe its time to switch the dates for the Giro & Vuelta so the higher peaks of the Dolomites can be used again.

Giro 2024 - the majestic Stelvio Pass looking unrideable in 2024

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 19 May - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) rode well in B grade

Parramatta Interclub @ Oakville @ 18 May - Danny O’Keefe (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) rode well in B grade

Parramatta Interclub @ Oakville @ 18 May - Danny O’Keefe (left - BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in B grade

BiciSport grupetto @ Centennial Park @ 16 May - L to R … Peter S, John R, Ian G, John C, John C & MOR. The BiciSport peloton meets every Thursday @ 10.30am at the Spruce Goose Cafe in Centennial Park. All welcome.

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 26 May

• Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 22 & Thurs 23 May

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 23 May

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

• Sat 25 May

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

Euro Soap-Crack Meubelen Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - 1985

Euro Soap was domestic cleaning services and Crack was a Belgian furniture store. Bikes were Belgian (Diamant). Team clothing was by Decca.

A blinder of a domestic Belgian team with 17 victories in 1985 in local Belgian races (no Classics and no major tours). The only really notables were Freddy Maertens (twice World Champion but headed for retirement), Eddy van Haerens (sprinter) and the soon to be retired Willy Tierlinck. A cracker of a team that won a lot but nobody really knows about.

Euro Soap-Crack Meubelen Pro Cycling Team (Belgium)

Euro Soap-Crack Meubelen Pro Cycling Team (Belgium)

Euro Soap-Crack Meubelen Pro Cycling Team (Belgium)

News Shorts - 13 May

The Giro climbs the Gavia Pass in 1960 but will they get over the snow bound Stelvio in 2024 ?

Wouter Weylandt carried number 108 at the Giro. RIP WW.

UCI Gravel World Series qualifier @ Nannup (WA) @ 12 May - Mike Lawson qualified second in his Masters category at Nannup for a World Championship start

BiciSport Team Force Belgium @ Sinaai Flanders @ 7 May - BiciSport Team Force (left) takes second in Sinaai

UCI Masters MTB Championships @ 15-19 May - best wishes to Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) at the UCI MTB Worlds in Cairns

Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels) features on the inside front cover of the latest Bicycling Australia magazine

Craig Pager (second left - BiciSport Happy Wheels) features on the inside front cover just after the Bowral start

Mudgee Classic @ 5 May - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on the Mudgee start line

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 15-19 May

  • World MTB Championships (Cairns, Qld)

    • BiciSport starter - Eric Dole

• 19 May

• Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

• NSW-ACT CycloCross Series (Dunc Gray Velodrome)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 14 & Thurs 16 May

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 16 May

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

• Sat 18 May

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

SEFB Peugeot Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - 1987-91

A span of five years with the SEFB Savings Bank (Belgium) as the major sponsor. Bike sponsors were Moser, Peugeot, Daccordi and finally LOOK. Team manager was the legendary Ferdi Bracke.

Team results were patchy notwithstanding some exceptional team riders - Johan Devos (sprinter), Danny De Bie (cyclo cross), Rene Martens (won Tour of Flanders with the DAF team), Johan Bruynell (Mr Fixit), Dirk Heirweg (sprinter), Paul Haghedooran (future Belge champion at Lotto) and Andrei Tchmil (future Paris Roubaix winner again at Lotto).

SEFB Peugeot Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - Johan Bruynell also rode for ONCE and perhaps better known as the Sports Director at US Postal

SEFB Peugeot Pro Cycling Team (Belgium)

SEFB Peugeot Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - Daniel Beelen

SEFB Peugeot Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - Johan Devos

SEFB Peugeot Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - Johan Devos wins at Gullegem (Belgium)

SEFB Peugeot Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - Team presentation

News Shorts - 6 May

AusCycling MTB Marathon National Championships @ Masters 7 @ Wagga @ 5 May - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took a great Bronze medal

AusCycling MTB Marathon National Championships @ Masters 7 @ Wagga @ 5 May - Congratulations Eric. Great job.

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - in slight drizzle at the Mudgee start … L to R … Craig Pager, Dudley Hoskin & Ian Grant

Dudley went on to finish a great 3rd outright and a super ride by Craig Pager in the front group. Strong rides by Ian Grant, Robbie Brown & Danny O’Keefe & John Robb punctured.

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - Craig Pager, Dudley Hoskin & Ian Grant

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - Mudgee start line with Dudley Hoskin (centre) & Danny O’Keefe (right)

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - Mudgee start line … Craig Pager, MOR, Dudley Hoskin & Ian Grant

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - Robbie Brown on a damp start line in Mudgee. Robbie was first woman in 3hrs 32min in the 120k category

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - Craig Pager leads the first group at the 80k mark with Dudley Hoskin just behind

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - Dudley Hoskin (right) in the lead group at the 80k mark

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - Dudley Hoskin, MOR & Craig Pager at Feed Zone 2 @ the 140k mark in the leading group in the 175k category

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - Ian Grant & MOR at Feed Zone 2 @ 140k of the full 175k

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 5 May - BiciSport support car at Feed Zone 2 @ the 140k mark

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 3 May - The rain had yet to set in at Mudgee on the Friday with L to R … Dudley Hoskin, Alex Simmons, John Robb, Robbie Brown, MOR & Ian Grant

Mudgee is better known these days for its wine and agriculture but its history also includes gold mining at Hargraves (the locale of the BiciSport Service Course) and coal mining at Ulan (40k north of Mudgee)

Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive @ 3 May - The BiciSport Service Course on Hill End Rd (aka The Worlds End Rd) in serious kangaroo country out of Mudgee at the hamlet of Hargraves. Hargraves was an old gold mining village out of Mudgee.

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 11 May

  • Bathurst Gravel (NSW)

• 11-12 May

  • Tour of Orange (NSW)

• 12 May

• Eastern Creek Dragway (Waratah Masters)

• West Head Road Race (Manly)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 7 & Thurs 9 May

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 9 May

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

• Sat 11 May

  • BiciSport Coffee @ Berkelow Cafe @ Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

Alpilatte OLMO Cierre Cycling Team (Italy - San Marino) - 1985

The team was broadly under the Alfa Lum banner from 1982-1990 but Apilatte was the 1985 verson. Apilatte was dairy products and bikes were OLMO (being Italian). Cars were supplied by Mazda.

Riders were a classy lot but results in 1985 were pretty poor. Team members were Guiseppe Martinelli (more famous as a future team Sports Director), Roberto Gaggioli (sprinter), Marino Lajarretta (Grand Tour rider), Michael Wilson (classy Aussie rider), Serge Demierre, Marino Amadori & Maurizio Fondriest (future World Pro Road Champion).

News Shorts - 29 April

Grafton to Inverell Classic @ 27 Apr - Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels) pushed through another G2I in a slight tailwind from Grafton. The combined B & C grade got down to heavy business at the 25k mark and peloton split apart with a solid 200k to go. Craig rode well and can be proud of his effort..

Grafton to Inverell Classic @ 27 Apr - Craig Pager after the finish

Grafton to Inverell Classic @ 27 Apr - Craig Pager & MOR at the Mount Mitchell Feed Zone

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 28 Apr - In C grade Danny O’Keefe (above - second right) took 5th and team mate David Cooper took 6th. Fine job team.

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 28 Apr - the C grade peloton at Eastern Creek Raceway with David Cooper (far right) and Danny O’Keefe immediately behind him.

The BiciSport Saturday coffee stop is now at Berkelow Cafe at the very top of the McCarrs Creek Rd climb @ Terrey Hills @ 9.30am. All welcome

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 4-5 May

  • Mudgee Classic Cyclosportive (NSW)

    • BiciSport starters - Ian Grant, Dudley Hoskin, John Robb, MOR, Robbie B, Danny O’Keefe, Alex S, Craig Pager & John Coffey.

  • Convict 100 Gravel (St Albans, NSW)

  • Wagga to Albury Weekend (John Woodman Memorial) - CANCELLED

  • MTB XCO Nationals (Wagga)

    • BiciSport starter - Eric Dole

• 5 May

• 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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 30 April & Thurs 2 May

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 2 May

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

• Sat 4 May

  • Coffee @ Berkelow Cafe @ Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

Lotto Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - 1985 to today

An institution in Belgian pro cycling since 1985 & still punching hard to this day. This version is strictly 1987 which regrettably was a lean year results wise. Team manager was the legendary Walter Godefroot. Bikes were Eddy Merckx, groupsets were Campagnolo, attitude was unbreakable.

Riders were no mixed bag - hard men & more Flemish cobbles and rain the better. More class than a Prada bag. Paul Haghedooren (pictured above), Marc Sergeant, Claude Criquielion, Johan Museeuw, Wilfred Nelissen, Eddy Schepers, Jeff Lieckens (hard nut), Rik Verbrugge, Robbie McEwen, Lief Hoste, Cadel Evans, Phillipe Gilbert & Andre Greipel.

Jeff Lieckens - a brutally tough Classics rider …. the more Belgian cobbles & shitty weather the better

Marc Sergeant - a super classy Classics rider and maybe an even better Sports Director at Team Lotto over many years

Eddy Schepers - a great dnmestique to numerous Lotto team leaders

Walter Godefroot (far left) was the esteemed Lotto team manager

News Shorts - 22 April

NSW-ACT Cyclo Cross Season has begun last weekend.

Upcoming dates are -

* May 19 - Dunc Gray Velodrome (Sydney)

* June 10 - Sun Valley (near Springwood) NSW

* June 30 - Mt Stromlo (ACT)

* July 20+21 - Heffron Park (Maroubra, NSW)

* July 28 - St Ives Showground (NSW)

Grafton to Inverell Classic @ 27 Apr - Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels - pictured) takes on the 228k G2I next Saturday. Best wishes Craig.

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 21 Apr - Ian Grant finished 5th in B grade (right - blue Anytime jersey)

Brisbane Gran Fondo & 14 Apr - Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport Happy Wheels) won the Masters 55-59 category. Well done Duds.

Brisbane Gran Fondo & 14 Apr - Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) rode an excellent Brisbane Gran Fondo

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 27 Apr

  • Grafton to Inverell Classic

    • Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

• 28 Apr

• Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 23 Apr & Thurs 25 Apr

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 25 Apr

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

• Sat 27 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Sapa Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1979

A single year, boutique Italian professional team and 1979 was it. Virtually no information anywhere but a couple of notable team members.

Vittorio finished top 10 in the 1976 Olympic Road Race for Italy and has Sport Directors roles at both Milram & Jayco.

Paolo Rosola - A noted team bunch sprinter

Flanders Follies # 6 - 15 April

BiciSport in Siena (Italy) @ 7 April - Mike Lawson (BiciSport) on a bunch ride with ‘the one, the only’ Mario Cipolini. Mario is a previous World Pro Road Champion and the winner of numerous Tour & Giro stages plus the odd Milan San Remo & Ghent Wevelgem Classic.

BiciSport Team Force @ Cafe Manuvel in St Niklaas (Belgium) @ 13 Apr - Steven Slettentemmer, Nick Felix (Team Force Principal) and MOR at Cafe Manuvel in Sint Niklaas.

BiciSport is in the second year of the Team Force sponsorship and happy to announce the sponsorship extension into 2026. Thank you Nick and best wishes for the rest of 2024.

BiciSport Team Force @ Cafe Manuvel in St Niklaas (Belgium) @ 13 Apr - nice wall art as you walk in the door

BiciSport Team Force @ Cafe Manuvel in St Niklaas (Belgium) @ 13 Apr - nicely presented inside

Avelgem Ride (Belgium) @ 14 Apr - A ride with Filip around the Flemish lanes and canal paths between Avelgem and the Koppenberg at Melden. A brief coffee stop at the Bar Blyss at Melden at the Koppenberg with (seated) ,,Bjorn & Lydie (bar owners) and MOR & Filip.

Avelgem Ride (Belgium) @ 14 Apr - At the base of the Koppenberg with Filip & MOR

Avelgem Ride (Belgium) @ 14 Apr - Oude Kwaremont cobbles

Jowan Cycles @ Kluisbergen (Belgium) @ 13 Apr - obvious but not sure its comfortable

BiciSport Saturday morning coffee venue has moved to Berkelow Cafe (ex Tempo Cafe) at the top of McCarrs Creek Road Terrey Hills near the roundabout @ 9.30am. All welcome.

RACE SEEKER THIS WEEK

• 21 Apr

• Eastern Creek Dragway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Every Tues/Sat/Sun Mornings

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

• Tues 16 Apr & Thurs 18 Apr

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 18 Apr

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

• Sat 20 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Soiree des Legends @ 4 Apr - a celebration of Paris Roubaix legends featuring Roger De Vlaeminck, Andre Tchmil & Alan Bondue in the Jean Stablinski Velodrome in Roubaix. The crowd numbered 1,000 people.

Soiree des Legends @ 4 Apr

Soiree des Legends @ 4 Apr - Andre Tchmil (second left) in the centre of the velodrome

Soiree des Legends @ 4 Apr - L to R … Bondue, Tchmil & De Vlaeminck on centre stage

Soiree des Legends @ 4 Apr - Andre Tchmil being interviewed

Soiree des Legends @ 4 Apr - L to R … MOR, Filip D & son

BiciSport Team Force @ Nieuwkerken (Antwerp) @ 4 Apr - conditions were cold, damp & dirty for the Belge peloton

BiciSport Team Force @ Nieuwkerken (Antwerp) @ 4 Apr - Nick Felix on the left after the finish

BiciSport Team Force @ Nieuwkerken (Antwerp) @ 4 Apr - MOR on the left, Nick Felix on the right

BiciSport Team Force @ Nieuwkerken (Antwerp) @ 4 Apr - MOR (centre) with BiciSport Team Force after the 65k circuit race. Conditions were filthy.

Flanders Follies # 5 - 8 April

Paris Roubaix Classic @ Chez Francois Cafe in Triosville (Zone 28) of the Roubaix cobbles

Paris Roubaix Classic @ 7 Apr - Mathieu van Der Poel annihilated the Paris Roubaix peloton. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix Classic @ 7 Apr - Carrefour d’Arbre cobbles with Jesper Phillipsen. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix Classic @ 7 Apr - Carrefour d’Arbre cobbles. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix Classic @ 7 Apr - Carrefour d’Arbre cobbles . Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix Classic @ 7 Apr - Carrefour d’Arbre cobbles. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix Classic @ 7 Apr - Paul Vermeiren & MOR at a World War 1 concrete bunker only 500m from the Carrefour d’Arbre cobbles.. Paul Vermeiren was a three times Belgian Olympian in Archery (‘88, ‘92 & ‘96)

Paris Roubaix Classic @ 7 Apr - Paul Vermeiren (left) & MOR at the Carrefour d’Arbre cobbles,

Paris Roubaix Classic @ 7 Apr - a big shout out to the tireless volunteers that keep the cobbles alive, lumpy & bumpy.

FLANDERS FOLLIES - DATES THIS COMING WEEK

April

10 Apr - Brabant Arrow (Brussels) 14 Apr - Amstel Gold Race (Netherlands)

Paris Roubaix Femmes @ 6 Apr - The sole breakaway charges through Haspres. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix Femmes @ 6 Apr - The chasing peloton through Haspres. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix Femmes @ 6 Apr - Lotte Kopecky leads through the Brillon cobbles. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix Femmes @ 6 Apr - the peloton passes over the Brillon cobbles

Paris Roubaix Femmes @ 6 Apr - lunch at the Cafe De La Place with the French owner (Ingrid) & MOR

Paris Roubaix Femmes @ 6 Apr - Haspres breakfast was at the Cafe de l’Europe

Lidl Trek Service Course @ 2 Mar - Eddy VerBust, Freddy Verleyen & MOR attended the Lidl Trek service course

Lidl Trek Service Course @ 2 Mar

Lidl Trek Service Course @ 2 Mar - MOR & Eddy VerBust

Flanders Follies # 4 - 1 April

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV peloton passing the Koppenberg Cafe at Melden. Photo MOR

Conditions started off reasonably nice at Melden but soon turned dark, wet & cold. Mathieu Van der Poel was virtually one of the few that didn’t walk up the Koppenberg. It was a VdP smash fest. The beer and community spirit at the Koppenberg Cafe and the “after party” at the Oude Schelde Cafe was something else.

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV peloton passing the Koppenberg Cafe. Photo MOR

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV peloton hits the base of the greasy Koppenberg climb. A lot of riders ended up walking. Photo MOR

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - at the base of the Koppenberg climb this Cofidis rider took a wrong turn ! ! ! … the only cyclist on the planet who doesn’t know the Koppenberg climb. What was he thinking ?. His stupidity is only equalled by the lack of consideration for the three other riders who he nearly collided with on the second attempt. Photo MOR

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV peloton approaching the Koppenberg climb Photo MOR

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV drinking crew from Ronse hit the Koppenberg Cafe. MOR duly obliged offering guidance where required

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - after the Melden experience MOR pedalled no more than 2 kilometres to the Oude Schelde Cafe - where he met the 82 year old owner and some of the best Flemish people you could hope to meet.

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - MOR may not own the Oude Schelde cafe but he did for 2 hours. Nothing beats being an Aussie at the RVV. It was special.

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - sadly it was time to leave in steady rain for the freezing pedal back to the accommodation at Kluisbergen.

This was the send off for an Aussie guy who they knew for barely two hours. What a day and then Matthews gets relegated … 260k in miserable conditions to then go do that - really ?,

Ronde warm up @ Friday 29 Mar - sighted at the local bus stop at Oudenaarde …. L to R …. Max Walschid, Luke Durbridge, Elmarelmar Reinders & Michael Matthews. Photo Mike Lawson (BiciSport)

Kurri Kurri Interclub @ 30 Mar - Danny O’Keefe (2nd right) rode well in B grade for 6th place

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 30+31 Mar - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took two podiums over the weekend

FLANDERS FOLLIES - DATES THIS COMING WEEK

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)

Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Wout van Aert at the start in Roeselare. Photo MOR

Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Julian Allaphillipe at the start. Photo MOR

Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Jesper Stuyven at the start. Photo MOR

Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Photo MOR

Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - LIDL Trek service course. Photo MOR

Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Race service course with MOR (left), Eddy (centre), Freddy (right) & Flanders Baloise team mechanic

Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - at the Monsere Monument outside the Koers Cycling Museum in Roeselare ….with MOR (left), Eddy (centre) & Freddy (right)

Roubaix Velodrome @ 4 April - A special night at the Roubaix Velodrome with Roger De Vlaeminck, Andrei Tchmil & Alain Bondue. BiciSport will be there.

Flanders Follies # 3 - 25 March

E3 Grand Prix @ Harelbeke Belgium @ 23 Mar - Mathieu Van Der Poel climbs the Katteberg climb just outside Oudenaarde. Photo MOR

The day dawned damp & cold but the rain held off - PTL. There were three viewings today of the E3 - on top of the Katteberg climb just outside Oudenaarde after 30k, Then a short drive to the Kortekeer climb and some up close & personal pictures of Mathieu & Wout. Conditions were bordering on bleak - the wind was up as was the drizzle. The final viewing was on the Mariaborrestraat cobbles just before Mathieu VDP put the race to the sword. It really was a VDP demolition.

Next week on BiciSport website News is Flanders Follies # 4 and the Across Flanders (Dwars Vlaanderen) race plus the mighty Tour of Flanders (Ronde Van Vlaanderen) race & RVV cyclosportive.

E3 Grand Prix @ Harelbeke Belgium @ 23 Mar - Michael Matthews climbs the Katteberg climb just outside Oudenaarde. Photo MOR

E3 Grand Prix @ Harelbeke Belgium @ 23 Mar - Bin Girmay climbs the Katteberg climb just outside Oudenaarde. Photo MOR

E3 Grand Prix @ Harelbeke Belgium @ 23 Mar - Mathieu Van Der Poel climbs the Kortekeer climb just ahead of Wout van Aert. Photo MOR

E3 Grand Prix @ Harelbeke Belgium @ 23 Mar - Wout van Aert on the Kortekeer climb. Photo MOR

E3 Grand Prix @ Harelbeke Belgium @ 23 Mar - MOR (left) on the Kortekeer climb in cold condtions. Photo MOR

E3 Grand Prix @ Harelbeke Belgium @ 23 Mar - Mathieu Van Der Poel with Wout van Aert on the Mariaborrestraat cobbles. Photo MOR

E3 Grand Prix @ Harelbeke Belgium @ 23 Mar - tasting a nice champagne on the Katteberg climb with L to R … Anthony, Wesley, MOR & Gunther. Great company lads, what a laugh

E3 Grand Prix @ Harelbeke Belgium @ 23 Mar - a fine peloton of English lads over for the E3 Grand Prix with MOR keeping them honest. The blue Gazelle retro bike something of a rare gem.

Ghent Wevelgem CycloSportive @ Wevelgem Belgium @ 24 Mar - MOR over the line frozen solid, not interested

Ghent Wevelgem CycloSportive @ Wevelgem Belgium @ 24 Mar - Mike Lawson (left) & MOR at the GW Cyclosportive start area in downtown Wevelgem

The GW Cyclosportive is a well drilled affair with great organisation. Within 3k from the start you’re out in isolated country lanes headed towards famous World War One flash points at Geluwe, Zonnebeke & Passchendaele. The day was getting windy & the wind chill factor was literally right in your face. Mike Lawson was doing it easy but MOR dug more holes than a WW1 trench. MOR retired at 50k but Mike Lawson completed the 80k loop.

FLANDERS FOLLIES - DATES THIS COMING WEEK

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)

BiciSport Team Force @ Kallo (on the coast near Antwerp) Belgium @ 17 Mar - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Team Force - right of picture) is very much finding his racing legs in the early season competitions. The form is coming Koen … be patient man …

BiciSport Flanders Follies @ Belgium @ 21 Mar - a most pleasurable ride around the rural laneways of Temse (near Antwerp) with L to R … Maarten VerHulst, MOR & Eddy VerHulst

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 19 Mar - Julian Arias (BiciSport Happy Wheels) second from the left on the start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 19 Mar - Christian Quintero (BiciSport Happy Wheels) far right

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