News Shorts - 1 May

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 7 May

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Tues 2 May & Thurs 4 May

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 4 May

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

• Sat 6 May

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

IWC Pro Team (Switzerland) - 1981-82

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

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

News Shorts - 24 April

BiciSport @ Fleche Wallonne @ Mur de Huy @ 19 Apr

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 29 Apr

  • Great Otway Classic Cyclosportive (Vic)

  • Grafton to Inverell Classic (NRS - NSW)

    • BiciSport starters Klayton Smith & Craig Pager

• 30 Apr

  • Heffron Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Tues 25 Apr & Thurs 27 Apr

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 27 Apr

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

• Sat 29 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

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

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

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

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

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

Kokerelle B&B - early March 2023

Kokerelle B&B - early March 2023

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

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

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

News Shorts - 17 April

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

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

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

Ian finished 3rd in A2 grade on 16 Apr.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 17 Apr - 24 Apr

  • BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics

• 23 Apr

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Tues 18 Apr & Thurs 20 Apr

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 20 Apr

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

• Sat 22 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News Shorts - 10 April

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 10 Apr - 24 Apr

  • BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics

• 13-16 Apr

  • National Masters Track Championships (Brisbane)

• 15 Apr

  • Glen Innes Gravel

• 16 Apr

  • Mail Run CycloSportive (Singleton, NSW)

  • West Head Road Race (Manly)

  • Hayman Gravel Classic (ACT)

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Tues 11 Apr & Thurs 13 Apr

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 13 Apr

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

• Sat 15 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News Shorts - 3 April

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 2 Apr - the day dawned very cold but the wind was pretty soft when compared to previous days. The BiciSport group decided on an early morning ride with the Force Team on the Dutch-Belgian border then headed back to Oudenaarde to see the Ronde. The Womens Ronde (pictured above with 30k to go) was a cracker of an edition and the Men’s event was an all time classic.

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 2 Apr - Belge fan action in the Maarke Kerkem local pub # 1. Laden with genuine Flanders atmosphere all routing for Wout the Wonderful.

Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 2 Apr - Belge fan action in the Maarke Kerkem local pub # 2. A great round of applause greeted the amazing Podge victory.

Ronde Day Training Ride @ De Kikker @ 2 Apr - The Force Team lined up outside De Kikker Cafe in Niewerken Wass before a super brisk ride around the Dutch polders in the Netherlands (the Dutch Belge border is just 10k away).

Ronde Day Training Ride @ De Kikker @ 2 Apr - Koen Verhulst (left) and Mike Lawson (BiciSport - near red helmet) lead the post ride discussion in De Kikker pool room

Ronde Day Training Ride @ De Kikker Cafe @ 2 Apr - the church goers from across the road had departed the local church after Sunday service and headed straight for a cleansing ale at De Kikker (note - we hadn’t reached midday yet)

BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - The Dwars race was a midweek semi Classic over 200k. BiciSport ventured firstly down to the Holleweg cobbles then to the Etikhove Railay Bridge

BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - Greg Van Avermatt on the Holleweg cobbles near Oudenaarde

BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - Caleb Ewen @ Etikhove Railway Bridge

BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - Caleb Ewen @ Etikhove

BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - Phillipo Ganna on a charge

Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclosportive 2023 @ 1 Apr - Mike Lawson before the start in cold & damp conditions.

BiciSport to Belgium @ 30 Mar - Mike Lawson behind the Tom Boonen bronzed legs exhibition on top of the Taainberg cobbled climb near Etikhove in Flanders

BiciSport to Belgium @ 30 Mar - Mike Lawson (left) & Koen Verhulst after a local training around Oudenaarde. Koen is wearing the Team Force jersey with BiciSport noted across the collarbone. The sponsorship with BiciSport is a 3 year deal.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 3 Apr - 24 Apr

  • BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics

• 9 Apr

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

• 10 Apr (Mon)

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Eric Mather Cup - Waratah Masters)

  • Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

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

• Tues 4 Apr & Thurs 6 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 6 Apr

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

• Sat 8 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

The upcoming BiciSport Belgian calendar -

April

8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive, 9 - Paris Roubaix Classic

12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive (Netherlands)

16 - Amstel Gold Classic (Neth), 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic. 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic

Paris Roubaix 2023 - a time to eat cobbles as part of a balanced diet

BiciSport to Roubaix 2023 - A different approach for ‘23.

Accommodation is 4 nights in the tiny village of Bachy (located between Orchies & Cysiong) near the top of the attached map. An early morning drive to Compiegne for the Sunday start in Compiegne, dash to the mid race cobbles at Viesly, then more than a mad dash to the cobbles at Cysiong, then find a cafe somewhere with a tv.

Ugo De Rosa RIP - an inspiration to many and one of the most creative frame builders on the planet.

News Shorts - 27 March

BiciSport @ E3 Saxo Classic @ 25 Mar - a Jayco rider leads the breakaway just after the Kortekeer climb

The day dawned cold, wet & windy but improved late in the day. Missed spectating at the Holleweg cobbles due to heavy traffic congestion coupled with a downpour of rain. So it was off to the Kortekeer climb then down to the Mariaborrestraat cobbles just outside Oudenaarde. The race at that point was splitting badly with maybe five groups. Sadly Peter Sagan was right at the back looking forlorn. Van Aert took the victory. What a Classic day.

BiciSport @ E3 Saxo Classic @ 25 Mar - Wout van Aert just after the Kortekeer climb

BiciSport @ E3 Saxo Classic @ 25 Mar - VdP causing some real agitation on the Mariaborrestraat cobbles just outside Oudenaarde

BiciSport @ E3 Saxo Classic @ 25 Mar - Wout van Amazing on the Mariaborrstraat cobbles

BiciSport @ E3 Saxo Classic @ 25 Mar - Peter Sagan looking like he wanted to be anywhere but on the Mariaborrestraat cobbles.

BiciSport @ E3 Saxo Classic @ 25 Mar - QuickStep team car near Oudenaarde

Michel Wuyts Narration @ Maarke Kerkem @ 24 Mar - Michel has been the leading Belgian tv commentator for many years and presented a cycling narration about Tom Boonen, Frank Van Den Broucke, Andre Tchmil & Jacques Anquetil

Michel Wuyts Narration @ Maarke Kerkem @ 24 Mar

BiciSport report on the Ghent Wevelgem weekend can best be described as wet, windy & cold.

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 21 Mar - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes second overall & second in B grade and just a single point behind the B grade Series leader with one round to go on 28 March. Go Rolly !.

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 21 Mar - Henry Baird takes a great win and the B Grade Series pointscore lead by just one point from Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport)

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 21 Mar - Rolly Delaytz (wearing the B grade Series Leader Jersey)

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 21 Mar - Rolly Delaytz

NSW Masters Track Champs @ 19 Mar - Jeremy Hopson (BiciSport Pilu Racing) takes the Gold medal

NSW Masters Track Champs @ 19 Mar - Jeremy Hopson takes third

NSW Masters Track Champs @ 19 Mar - Masters medallists for BiciSport include Davide Browne, Peter Verhoeven & Ian Grant

NSW Masters Track Champs @ 19 Mar - Davide Browne goes Gold again

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 28 Mar

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

    • Oh no, this is the last one until October 23

• 27 Mar-26 Apr

  • BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics

    • De Ronde over 1 & 2 Apr

• 1 Apr

  • Snowy Mountains Classic Cyclosportive (Jindabyne)

  • Tour of Brisbane (Qld, NRS)

• 2 Apr

  • 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 28 Mar & Thurs 30 Mar

  • 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 Mar

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

• Sat 1 Apr

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Belgium @ Patersberg Training Ride @ 24 Mar - on a pedal near the Patersberg climb on the day before the E3 Classic and along comes Johan Miuseeuw and a happy snap ensued.

Johan was World Champion in 1996, won Tour of Flanders x 3, Paris Roubaix x 3 and E3 Classic x 2

The upcoming Belgian calendar going forward -

March

29 - Dwars Vlaanderen Classic

April

1 - Tour of Flanders CycloSportive, 2 - Tour of Flanders Classic

8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive (France), 9 - Paris Roubaix Classic

12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive (Netherlands)

16 - Amstel Gold Classic (Neth), 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic. 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic

The Ronde for 2023 - starts again in Brugge after a few years of starting in Antwerp. After the start a large loop out towards Kuurne, through Dienze, and the real action starts at Kluisbergen with 3 laps over the Old Kwaremont cobbled climb. The BiciSport group will follow the race by bike and see the Mens race five times and the Women’s race three times.

Flanders Classics 2023 have a 70 car fleet (yes, 70 !) of delightfully decorated BMW’s and this is the Race Convoy Lead Car. Now we are talking bling.

News Shorts - 20 March

Force Team gathering @ Nieuwkerken @ 17 Mar - Koen Verhulst (in 2023 Force team jersey) and Mike Lawson (right)

Mike Lawson & Mike O’Reilly met with the 20+ members of the Force Team at the Cafe De Kikker (The Frog Cafe) on the Belge-Dutch border. The team was in attendance to collect their 2023 team clothing & discuss the coming racing season (the teams first race is on 8 April in Nieuwkerken).

For those into their cycling history - Cafe De Kikker was the official Tom Steels supporters club watering hole.

BiciSport is co-sponsoring the Force team from 2023 (initially for a three year period). This collaboration is a great opportunity for BiciSport to support a progressive Belgian team and will open up further opportunities into the future. “BiciSport Australia” is located on the collarbone patch on the jersey.

Force Team gathering @ Nieuwkerken @ 17 Mar - back left is Mike Lawson, Koen VerHulst & Stijn VerHulst. A big thank you to Koen VerHulst for making the collaboration with the Belgian Force Team possible.

Force Team gathering @ Nieuwkerken @ 19 Mar - two days later and Mike Lawson goes with the Force team for a 2 hour journey through the Polder Land into the Netherlands & returns to the Cafe de Kikker

Force Team gathering @ Nieuwkerken @ 19 Mar - two days later and the Force Team pose for a happy snap in the Cafe De Kikker

Force Team gathering @ Nieuwkerken @ 17 Mar - Cafe De Kikker (The Frog Cafe) is the classic Flemish watering hole. Full of Flemish charm, a hint of rustic, nostalgic, neglected, edgy, blunt, old & smelly but above all completely friendly & welcoming.

Velle Junior Race @ 19 Mar - 95 starters lined up for the 55k junior race in good weather conditions

Velle Junior Race @ 19 Mar - before the start with Stijn & Maarten VerHulst (on the podium) in charge

Velle Junior Race @ 19 Mar - the junior peloton with two laps to go

Velle Junior Race @ 19 Mar - the first place went to Thor Feyaerts (Belgium)

Velle Junior Race @ 19 Mar - The Van Hoye sponsored Ford diesel is 30+ years old clunker and is an institution at the local Velle races as the official lead car. The term “Wedstrijd” just means cycle race.

In the picture is L to R … Mike Lawson, Maarten VerHulst (Velle Race Organiser), MOR & Eddy VerHulst.

BiciSport in Flanders @ Nokere Kourse @ 15 Mar - the Holleweg cobbles are just 2k from the tiny hamlet of Maarke Kerkem where BiciSport base themselves for the Belgian Spring Classics

BiciSport in Flanders @ Nokere Kourse @ 15 Mar - the Holleweg cobbles with Tim Merlier (Soudal QuickStep) who won the race

BiciSport in Flanders @ Nokere Kourse @ 15 Mar - the best presented team car in the Belgian pro peloton coupled with the best bike in the business

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 18 Mar - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes Gold in a Teams Pursuit !. Rumours that Davide is only a selfish sprinter has now been completely discounted, and we look forward to a blossoming road racing & hill climbing career

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 18 Mar - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes Gold in the Scratch Race

NSW Masters Track Champs @ DGV @ 18 Mar - Davide Brown (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took Silver in the Sprint

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 21 Mar

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

    • Summer Series concludes 28 Mar

• 20 Mar-26 Apr

  • BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics

• 26 Mar

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

  • Bobbin Head Classic Cyclosportive (Turramurra)

  • John Woodman Handicap (Wagga to Albury)

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 Mar & Thurs 23 Mar

  • 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 Mar

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

• Sat 25 Mar

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics 2023

In 2023 the Belgian Spring Classic program is detailed below with weekly updates in BiciSport News on this website or on the BiciSport Sydney Facebook page.

March

24 - E3 Saxo Classic, 25 - Ghent Wevelgem CycoSportive, 26 - Ghent Wevelgem Classic

29 - Dwars Vlaanderen Classic

April

1 - Tour of Flanders CycloSportive, 2 - Tour of Flanders Classic

8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive (France), 9 - Paris Roubaix Classic

12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive (Netherlands)

16 - Amstel Gold Classic (Neth), 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic, 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic

The Saxo E3 Classic is well known for the somewhat different pre publicity marketing. The marketing poster above is 2023, with 2017 below.

The E3 Classic itself is a Friday event over 250k before the Ghent Wevelgem weekend. The E3 is a virtual replica of the Tour of Flanders in many ways with the same cobbled climbs often raced from a different direction.

The feature of the Ghent Wevelgem weekend is the Menin Gate at Ieper. Dedicated to the lost soldiers with no known grave from World War 1.

News Shorts - 13 March

BiciSport @ Tirenno Adriatico Pro Tour @ 10 Mar - Mike Lawson (BiciSport - white helmet) with the Italian tifosi (or fans) at the stage finish at Sassetteto. Conditions were best described as BLEAK in Italy (the stage in the Paris Nice race was cancelled due to the same awful weather system). The wind was that strong Mike’s glasses were blown off his face !, and riding a bike was virtually impossible. At one point some 400m from the stage finish Mike was blown to a standstill. Mike also experienced heavy rain & hail. .

BiciSport @ Tirenno Adriatico Pro Tour @ 10 Mar - bleak conditions at Tirenno

BiciSport @ Castorano @ 9 Mar - Mike Lawson’s view from his apartment near Siena

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 7 Mar - Rolly Delaytz (far right - BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes first in B grade, with A grade taking the overall

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 7 Mar - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) hits the repeat button for a Tuesday night B grade victory

West Head Road Race @ 12 Mar - David Munro on the left (BiciSport Pilu Racing)

Carcoar @ Blayney Gravel @ 12 Mar - Marty Wright (BiciSport) centre of picture

Carcoar @ Blayney Gravel @ 12 Mar - Marty Wright

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 14 Mar

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

    • Summer Series concludes 28 Mar

• 14 Mar-26 Apr

  • BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics

• 17-19 Mar

  • NSW Masters Track Champs (DGV)

    • BiciSport starters Jeremy Hopson, Davide Browne, John Robb

• 19 Mar

  • Eastern Creek Dragway (Waratah Masters)

  • Velle Junior Race (Antwerp, Belgium) sponsored by BiciSport

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 Mar & Thurs 16 Mar

  • 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 Mar

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

• Sat 18 Mar

  • Odd Spoke Criteriums @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 6.45am

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Belgian Spring Classes 2023 @ 9 Mar - the Patersberg climb @ 9 Mar just 5k from Oudenaarde …..

Belgian Spring Classes 2023 @ 9 Mar - the BiciSport Service Course is at www.kokerelle.be (picture above taken @ 9 Mar). The swimming pool can wait until August ….

Belgian Spring Classes 2023 - another bbrrrr pic from the Kokerelle AirBnB towards the front garden @ 9 Mar. Even Santa’s little elf looks cold.

BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics 2023

In 2023 the Belgian Spring Classic program is detailed below with weekly updates in BiciSport News on this website or on the BiciSport Sydney Facebook page.

March

15 - Nokere Kourse (Belgium)

18 - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive, Velle Antwerp 55k Junior Race sponsored by BiciSport

24 - E3 Classic, 25 - Ghent Wevelgem CycoSportive, 26 - Ghent Wevelgem Classic

29 - Dwars Vlaanderen Classic

April

1 - Tour of Flanders CycloSportive, 2 - Tour of Flanders Classic

8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive (France), 9 - Paris Roubaix Classic

12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive (Netherlands)

16 - Amstel Gold Classic (Neth), 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic, 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic

For the Belgian Spring Classics the “Wednesday” professional races are typically “semi Classics” whilst the weekend races are generally full status Classics.

The first Wednesday race being the Nokere Kourse on 15 March starting in Deinze with the opening loop through Gavere, back towards Oudenaarde, up the Wolvenberg climb, across the Holleweg cobbles near Mater (just about every race in Flanders hits the Holleweg cobbles at some point) to finish with 4 local laps in the small village of Nokere

The BiciSport accommodation is at the tiny hamlet of Etikhove (Maarke Kerkem) which is close to the Wolvenberg climb (see above, map towards the right)

BiciSport is a co-sponsor to the Velle Junior Road Race over 55k on 19 March near Antwerp

BiciSport Velle (Belgium) Junior Race over 55k attracted 100 starters in 2022 (start line picture above).

The next edition is Sunday 19 March 2023 and again in Velle.

News Shorts - 6 March

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 28 Feb - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) comfortably won B grade at Heffron in a fine display of sprinting

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 28 Feb - Rolly Delaytz takes the B grade win

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 28 Feb - Rolly Delaytz

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 28 Feb - Rolly Delaytz crosses the finishing line

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 28 Feb - Rolly Delaytz

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 28 Feb - Giving Rolly the beauty treatment (… not that he needs it …)

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 28 Feb - Rolly Delaytz

Narrabeen Lakes Cycle Path @ 1 Mar - the Narrabeen Lakes cycle path is a mixture of bitumen and light gravel. It was a chance to pay respects to Graham Jones.

Graham Jones was a long time member of firstly Manly Cycle Club then BiciSport in his later years. Graham was a keen race organiser and contributor to all things cycling - including the development of the Terrey Hills cyclo cross circuit. Graham was killed in an 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 along the Narrabeen Lakes Walk (near the Narrabeen Fitness Centre carpark).

Mike Lawson (BiciSport) is currently in Siena for the Strade Bianche Classic

The village of Melden at the bottom of the Koppenberg climb - the Koppenberg Cafe always has topical artwork on the front window.

Koppenberg climb with views towards the Schelde River, just 5k from Oudenaarde

Oudenaarde dates are now confirmed for the BiciSport trip to the Belgian Spring Classics 2023. See the dates below. Weekly News updates and Facebook posts will be from 15 March starting at the Nokere Kourse near Oudenaarde. Mike Lawson gets the ball rolling at the Strada Bianche in Italy on 4 March

The picture above was taken at the Kapel Mur (Chapel Wall) at Geraadsbergen with Marty Wright & Mike Lawson

March

4 - Strada Bianche (Italy), 15 - Nokere Kourse (Belgium), 18 - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive, 19 - Velle Junior Road Race (sponsored by BiciSport)

24 - E3 Classic, 25 - Ghent Wevelgem CycoSportive, 26 - Ghent Wevelgem Classic, 29 - Dwars Vlaanderen Classic

April

1 - Tour of Flanders CycloSportive, 2 - Tour of Flanders Classic, 8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive

9 - Paris Roubaix Classic, 12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive

16 - Amstel Gold Classic, 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic, 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic

THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE 2023 - CANCELLED

• Due to ongoing issues with a road slippage at Bogong near Falls Creek the 2023 event has been cancelled and the next edition will be held on 10 March 2024

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 7 Mar

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 11 Mar

  • Bendigo Madison Weekend (Vic) - cancelled

• 12 Mar

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (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

• Tues 7 Mar & Thurs 9 Mar

  • 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 Mar

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

• Sat 11 Mar

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Trofeo Baracchi Two Man Time (Italy) - 1944 to 1991

Pictured above is Fausto Coppi (left) with Riccardo Filippi

This unique 100k Italian classic was created by Mino Baracchi in memory of his father (Angelo). The who’s who of world cycling took the victory in the two man time trial in Ercole Baldini, Aldo & Francesco Moser, Jacques Anquetil, Rudi Altig, Eddy Merckx, Ferdi Bracke, Felice Gimondi, Fons De Wolf & Freddy Maertens

Eddy Merckx (left) and Ferdi Bracke on the start ramp

Davide Boifava (left - Molteni) was one of the few Baracchi partners who gave Eddy Merckx (right) a hard time. Boifava was an excellent rider in his own right but had much more success as a pro team Sports Director in future years

Freddy Maertens (left) and Joop Zoetemelk

Knut Knudsen (left) & Roy Schuiten

Felice Gimondi (left) & Martin Rodriguez

Roger De Vlaeminck (left) & Eddy Merckx

News Shorts - 27 February

Quarter Everesting @ Newport @ 23 Feb over 2212m of climbing - Sam Green (BiciSport Happy Wheeels) recently completed the French climbs of Le Galibier & Alpe D’Huez simulating the steep gradients on a Wahoo Kicker.

Full of tenacity Sam completed the effort in 6 hours. Well done Sam.

Recovery Ward

Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) was involved in the West Head RR crash in mid February that resulted in a broken collarbone & 5 ribs. Tom goes in for additional shoulder surgery this week. Best wishes Tom.

Ian Grant also had a rubber side up at an Eastern Creek Raceway criterium a few weeks back & should return to racing shortly

Riverina Interclub @ Cobram @ 26 Feb - Peter Budd (BiciSport Happy Wheels) raced at the Cobram handicap on the NSW-Vic border and rode well in the first handicap of the 23 season

BiciSport coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ 25 Feb - a bumper turn out to Saturday coffee @ 9.30am. Several legends had already departed before this pic was snapped … L to R … Ian Grainger, Ken Edwards, Karl Hoad, Sean Mura, Marty Wright, John Robb & Tony Rabbidge. All welcome to Saturday coffee @ Sandstone @ 9.30am

Oudenaarde dates are now confirmed for the BiciSport trip to the Belgian Spring Classics 2023. See the dates below. Weekly News updates and Facebook posts will be from 15 March starting at the Nokere Kourse near Oudenaarde. Mike Lawson gets the ball rolling at the Strada Bianche in Italy on 4 March

March

4 - Strada Bianche (Italy), 15 - Nokere Kourse (Belgium), 18 - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive, 19 - Velle Junior Road Race (sponsored by BiciSport)

24 - E3 Classic, 25 - Ghent Wevelgem CycoSportive, 26 - Ghent Wevelgem Classic, 29 - Dwars Vlaanderen Classic

April

1 - Tour of Flanders CycloSportive, 2 - Tour of Flanders Classic, 8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive

9 - Paris Roubaix Classic, 12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive

16 - Amstel Gold Classic, 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic, 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic

VALE CON TOPARIS

• When you think of the Goulburn cycling community it doesn’t take long before the conversation turns to the Greengrocer Cafe and Con Toparis. Con was the linchpin of the local cycling community & fiercely passionate about just about everything he did … be it the cycling community, good coffee, high quality food and the love of go-karting. Sadly Con was killed on 18 February whilst cycling on the Goulburn-Crookwell Rd in a collision with a motorbike. RIP dear Con as you were much admired

• Con’s funeral will be held in Goulburn on 17 March @ 2pm. Details will be posted on the Goulburn CC Facebook page in due course

THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE 2023 - CANCELLED

• Due to ongoing issues with a road slippage at Bogong near Falls Creek the 2023 event has been cancelled and the next edition will be held on 10 March 2024

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 28 Feb

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 4-5 Mar

  • Tolland (Wagga) Weekend

• 5 Mar

  • 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 28 Feb & Thurs 2 Mar

  • 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 Mar

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

• Sat 4 Mar

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Linda McCartney Foods Pro Team (UK) - 1998-2001

A team based on vegetarianism & Linda McCartney Foods. The team moved from the domestic UK scene onto the UCI World Cup and selected Grand Tours (being the Tour of Italy - where David McKenzie won a stage). Sadly, the team itself had a shelf life less than the foods it was promoting, and eventually the team disbanded due to cost over runs and unpaid wages and less than satisfactory team management.

The team itself was an interesting mix of super talent … be it the Swiss one day Classic specialist in Pascal Richard and Max Sciandri, to the likes of Brad Wiggins, Charly Wegelius (ex Mapei), Chris Lillywhite and the great Aussie trio of David Mckenzie, Allan Iacone and Ben Brooks.

A non event as much as it was a low point in sports governance

News Shorts - 20 February

Victorian Alps (Bright) @ 16 Feb - Marty Wright (left - BiciSport) & Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport) lost in the hidden gems of the Victorian Alps

Victorian Alps (Bright) @ 18 Feb - atop Mt Hotham with Craig Pager (left) and Dudley Hoskin

Victorian Alps (Bright) @ 18 Feb - Steve Holland, Craig Pager, Dudley Hoskin & Marty Wright at Mt Hotham

Grafton Inverell Classic for 2023 - The race promoters have announced a revised G2I Technical Guide for this annual Classic. Details can be found in Special Events in this website.

BiciSport is happy to announce it is sponsoring a 55k Junior road race in the village of Velle near Antwerp in East Flanders in Belgium on 19 March.

BiciSport is also sponsoring an Elite race in August in Velle and co sponsoring the Force Masters Team in Belgium from 2023 for a 3 year period.

Dates are now confirmed for the BiciSport trip to the Belgian Spring Classics 2023. See the dates below. Weekly News updates and Facebook posts will be from 15 March starting at the Nokere Kourse near Oudenaarde. Mike Lawson gets the ball rolling at the Strada Bianche on 4 March

March

4 - Strada Bianche (Italy), 15 - Nokere Kourse (Belgium), 18 - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive, 19 - Velle Junior Road Race (sponsored by BiciSport)

24 - E3 Classic, 25 - Ghent Wevelgem CycoSportive, 26 - Ghent Wevelgem Classic, 29 - Dwars Vlaanderen Classic

April

1 - Tour of Flanders CycloSportive, 2 - Tour of Flanders Classic, 8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive

9 - Paris Roubaix Classic, 12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive

16 - Amstel Gold Classic, 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic, 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 21 Feb

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 25-26 Feb

  • Husky Triathlon (Jervis Bay)

• 26 Feb

  • 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 21 Feb & Thurs 23 Feb

  • 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 Feb

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

• Sat 25 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Miguel Poblet on the way to winning a stage in the Tour of Spain for IGNIS Pro Cycling Team

IGNIS Professional Cycling Team (Italy) - 1955-68

Italy (and much of Europe) was addicted to cycling sponsorship in the form of kitchens, home improvements, coffee, cigarettes or alochol. The Italian sponsor in IGNIS was home appliances (fridges, washing machines). The picture above is Ercole Baldani in the World Champions jersey together with Jacques Antiquel (FYNSEC). Team bikes were Frejus.

The team was around for 14 years but getting a handle on team results was limited. The team itself was littered with legends & cycling icons be it Ercole Baldini (1958 World Champion & Giro winner, Italian Road Champion) plus finished 6th in the 1958 Tour de France, Reg Arnold (Aussie track specialist but just for one year), Louis Bobet (French legend), Antonio Maspes (Italian track specialist), Gastone Nencini (won numerous Giro stages), Miguel Poblet (won in Spain regularly plus 3 Giro stages).

Ercole Baldini (IGNIS) in the World Champions jersey

Team IGNIS takes second in a Tour of Italy stage. The IGNIS team won the 1960 Teams Classification at the Tour of Italy. Note the tv camera car between the stage winner and the third place getter just behind.

IGNIS Team Presentation in 1960

News Shorts - 13 February

National MTB Championships @ Thredbo @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the start line. Eric took a Silver medal in the Masters Short Course and Bronze in the Enduro.

National MTB Championships @ Thredbo @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole

National MTB Championships @ Thredbo @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole on the podium

National MTB Championships @ Thredbo @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole on the Masters podium

West Head Road Race @ 12 Feb - Alex Gardiner (BiciSport Pilu Racing)

West Head Road Race @ 12 Feb - Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 7 Feb - Rolly Delaytz (left - BiciSport Happy Wheels) in the action in B grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 7 Feb - Rolly Delaytz

2023 will be Peter Sagan’s last World Tour road season, with a focus on the MTB event at the Paris Olympics in 2024. A stellar career by any measure and a job well done.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 14 Feb

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 9-18 Feb

  • MTB National Championships (Thredbo)

• 17-19 Feb

  • NSW Elite Track Champs (DGV, Bass Hill)

• 18 Feb

  • Ballarat Classic CycloSportive (Vic)

• 19 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 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 14 Feb

  • 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 Feb

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

  • 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

• Sat 18 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Bingoal Pauwels Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - 2011 to today

A Belgian team with a strong French bias & developmental focus. As the Flemish Belgian teams are loaded with Flemish speakers then so to is this French based (Wallonie) Belgian team with regional French speakers. Bikes are DeRosa, groupsets are Shimano with 25 riders on the team roster. Sponsors past & present are Wallonie Bruxelles (Regional government), Lotto, Credit Agricole (banking), Pauwels Sauces & Coca Cola. Clothing is from VerMarc

The racing program sits firmly with the Belgian Spring Classics from late February until the end of April. Getting in the “TV break of the day” is something of a fundamental obsession (as podium visits are more of a dream). Team results are somewhat rare (that’s an understatement) with Baptiste Planckaert & Kenny Dehaes the only notable exceptions (and they have a Flemish heritage).

Bingoal Pauwels Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - a nicely presented team car

Bingoal Pauwels Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - the team presentation in 2022 with the distinctive fluro team clothing

News Shorts - 6 February

Eastern Creek Dragway Criterium @ 5 Feb - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) in the A2 grade criterium

Eastern Creek Dragway Criterium @ 5 Feb - Eric Dole leads the A2 peloton with David Cooper (right) getting in on the action

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) before the start

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz before the start

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz exiting the “squarcircle’

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz exiting the “squarcircle’

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz exiting the “squarcircle’

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz approaching the finish line with 6 laps to go

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne took second at the Goulburn Wheelrace Final

Tom Boonen @ Maarkedal Belgium @ 25 Jan - Yes, Belgium is crazy about cycling (that is a given). There are monuments to numerous past champions - Merckx, Schotte & Wijnendaele (who organised the early editions of the Tour of Flanders). Along comes the bronzed legs only of Tom Boonen - Tom is pictured just to the right of the twin pins monument.

Tom Boonen @ Maarkedal Belgium @ 25 Jan - yes Tom … this really sounded like a great idea when first proposed and we really have to make something of this going forward. Every cyclist will now get a picture at the Taainberg climb near Oudenaarde … am currently figuring out how to squeeze BiciSport leg warmers & matching overshoes over this lot !

Tom Boonen @ Maarkedal Belgium @ 25 Jan - Tom Boonen still looking somewhat baffled by the bronzed outcome

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 7 Feb

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 9-18 Feb

  • MTB National Championships (Thredbo)

    • BiciSport starter Eric Dole

• 12 Feb

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (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

• Tues 7 Feb

  • 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 Feb

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

  • 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

• Sat 11 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Okay Whisky Pro Team (Belgium) - 1966-77

Okay Whisky started in 1966, and stayed as the primary sponsor until 1970 when it changed alcoholic beverages to Geens Watney (1970), then Watney Maes Pils (1973-74) and finally just Maes Pils (1975-77). Yes, it was all about the whisky or the beer sponsorship - heck it beats the “sports washing” by undemocratic & failed foreign countries which is commonplace these days. Original 1966 groupsets were firstly French Mafac but then moved onto Italian Campagnolo. Bikes were either Diamant or Groene Leeuw (both Belgian of course).

The team started in 1966 with just 5 riders, but in 1967 it jumped up to 34 riders and again up to 38 riders in 1968. The team was strictly Flemish and no French speakers sighted on any team listing. Team information and results are pretty sparse but riders included Alfons De Bal, Marcel Kubacki (a great sprinter who won numerous Belgian races but whose great career goes largely ignored), Frans Verbeek (Classics specialist), then the legendary Flemish triple crown of Herman Van Springel, Ward Sels & Rik Van Looy.

Okay Whisky - a very talented start line with far left Herman Van Springel, Ward Sels (3rd from right) & Rik Van Looy (far right).

Frans Verbeek wins for Watney Geens in 1970 … let the beer flow

Frans Verbeek wins again for Watney beer. Verbeek went on to establish the VerMarc Belgian cycle clothing organisation.

Okay Whisky Team Presentation outside the sponsors factory in 1966. Apologies for the picture quality.

News Shorts - 30 January

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the Goulburn velodrome fence had a cracker of a night - two wins, second in the Goulburn Wheelrace final and another third in the Kierin sprint. Event entries were very good and an altogether enjoyable promotion.

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne wins the 2 lap sprint

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne in the Goulburn Wheelrace heat. Davide would finish second in the final

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne

Lansdowne Park Criterium @ Waratah Masters @ 29 Jan - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes podium spot # 2 in A2 grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) with Lachlan Morton (EF EasyPost).

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - Rolly Delaytz on the start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - Rolly Delaytz climbing the Heffron Pimple with the finishing straight in the background

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - Rolly Delaytz after the finish

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - making Rolly look pretty

Cadel Evans CycloSportive @ Geelong @ 28 Jan - start line with Eric Dole & Peter Budd

Cadel Evans CycloSportive @ Geelong @ 28 Jan - L to R … Tony Jones, Dom Piromalli & Albert Ravanello (BiciSport) at the Geelong start

Cadel Evans CycloSportive @ Geelong @ 28 Jan - Eric Dole

Cadel Evans CycloSportive @ Geelong @ 28 Jan - Eric Dole (centre) & Peter Budd (right)

VALE RICHARD SPINKS

• Very sad to report the recent passing of Richard Spinks (Northern Sydney CC). Known & admired by many across the cycling spectrum - be it Northern Sydney, Caravello, Waratahs, Manly & BiciSport. Richard was seen regularly on all of the local rides and won many friends and medals at Masters Championships. RIP Richard, you will be missed by many.

• Funeral arrangements are to be a private family service

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 31 Jan

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 4 Feb

  • Melbourne to Warnambool Classic (Vic)

• 5 Feb

  • 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 24 Jan

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 26 Jan

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

  • 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

• Sat 28 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Zundert Continental Elite Team (Netherlands) - 1978-97

Ever wondered where the idea of the big professional cycling team bus came from ?.

Prior to 1986 it was common for professional team riders to arrive/depart in the standard team cars. All very primitive even back then but it made for great viewing for spectators. The picture above is the original Zundert cycling team car (before the team bus concept was created)

Along came Frans Siemons who supported the local Zundert cycling team near the Dutch-Belgian border and had three sons that raced (Jan, Ruud and Maurice). They wanted something better than just a small & cramped team car …. so the team bus idea was devised by Frans. Frans purchased a very old & second hand fire engine red London bus and had it fitted out for enhanced rider comfort.

The idea caught on quickly and the Zundert team bus concept was then copied by the Dutch PDM Professional team in 1986 and the rest is now history as team buses are the order of the day. Some Italian professional teams even hired the Zundert bus in 1993 & 94 when Mario Cipollini was a member of the MG-TechnoGym professional team. The Zundert team bus regularly featured at the Tour de France until 1997 and was a regular on the Alpe d’Huez climb at the famous Turn 13 (Turn 13 was nicknamed the Dutch Corner).

Zundert Team bus at the 1994 Tour de France with Johan Museeuw (left) & Patrick Lefevere (centre)

The original English fire engine red coloured Diana team bus at the Tour de France. Later bus versions were also in blue

Zundert Cycling Team Presentation @ Zundert on the Dutch-Belge border with the blue version of the team bus in the background’

News Shorts - 23 January

MTB National Series Round 1 @ ACT @ 21 Jan - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) before the start

MTB National Series Round 1 @ ACT @ 21 Jan - Eric Dole

MTB National Series Round 1 @ ACT @ 21 Jan - Eric Dole

MTB National Series Round 1 @ ACT @ 21 Jan - Eric Dole takes the victory

Mt Buffalo Victoria @ 15 Jan - Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels) sighted at Lake Catani at the top of Mt Buffalo

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Best wishes to Davide Browne as he returns to the Goulburn Track Open next Saturday looking for victory in the Goulburn Wheelrace

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 24 Jan

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 28-29 Jan

  • Goulburn & Bowral Track Opens

    • BiciSport - Davide Browne

• 28-29 Jan

  • Alpine Classic CycloSportive (Bright, Vic)

  • Cadel Evans CycloSportive (Geelong, Vic)

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 24 Jan

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 26 Jan

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

  • 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

• Sat 28 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Vittorio Adorni (Italy) - 1937-2022 (passed away 24 Dec 22)

Vittorio raced for several teams since his career started in 1962 with Philco, then moved on to Cynar, Salvarani (1964-66), Salamini (1967), Faema (1968), then finally SCIC (1969-70). As was typical of the time the popular sponsors were either coffee machines (Faema) or kitchens (Del Tongo, SCIC and Salvarani).

His career started in 1962, then won the Tour of Italy in 1965 (he went on to win 11 Giro stages). Other stage race victories included Romandie, Belgium & Switzerland.

Single day victories were seemingly rare but they were big - won the World Pro Road Championships at Imola Italy by a massive 10 minutes when Eddy Merckx refused to chase Adorni (a close Faema team mate & personal friend) and the close knit Italian team did the rest at Imola. Adorni also won an Italian National Road Championship in 1969.

Adorni was also a Salvarani Team Director, President of the Italian Riders Association, Italian TV cycling commentator plus a UCI Executive member. Elegant, faithful team mate, talented, a champion.

Felice Gimondi (left) and Vittorio Adorni. Loyal team mates and the best of friends.

Vittorio (left) & Felice riding the 1966 Barachi Trophy two rider time trial for Salvarani.

Adorni takes a rare sprint victory in 1968 for Faema

Team Faema in 1968 with Adorni (second left) and Merckx (third left)

The best of friends - Gimondi, Adorni, Merckx at the 1968 Tour of Italy

1969 Tour of Italy and Adorni had moved onto the SCIC team from Faema but the close friendship remained

Tour of Italy 1963 with Adorni riding for the Cynar team on the Dolomites gravel

Adorni wins the 1968 Worlds at Imola by a staggering 10 minutes when the Italian team put the block in and Merckx wouldn’t chase a close friend

Adorni in 1969 riding for the SCIC team in the World’s jersey

CYNAR circa 1963 and Adorni … 4th from the left

Adorni racing for Team Philco at the 1962 Tour of Italy

Team Philco presentation at the 1962 Tour of Italy (Adorni being far left)

News Shorts - 9 January

Tumut Classic Cyclosportive @ 8 Jan - Melissa & Peter Budd on the Tumut start line

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park Criterium @ 8 Jan - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in A2 grade rode aggresively all day and finished in the top 5. Lansdowne continues to attract good sized pelotons in each category.

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Criterium @ 8 Jan - Peter Verhoeven returned to Masters racing after a back injury & a dose of Covid 19. Peter rode C grade as a comeback effort with a target of returning to A2 grade in the immediate term.

HART Criteriums @ St Ives @ 1 Jan - Ian Grant on the narrow climb at the St Ives Driver Training School circuit

Noosa Hinterland @ 1 Jan - Klayton Smith (BiciSport Happy Wheels) with the 2045 Happy Wheels Team Time Trial squad

BiciSport Belgium @ 1 Jan - Koen VerHulst on a damp gravel ride along the Schelde River in East Flanders

BiciSport Belgium @ 1 Jan - Olivia VerHulst

Happy Wheels @ Khancoban in the Snowy Mountains @ 6 Jan - Stew Campbell and the team

BiciSport Terrey Hills @ Sandstone Cafe @ 1 Jan - Ian Grainger, Eric Dole, Marty Wright, Richard Mulberry & Nigel Smith

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 6-10 Jan

  • National Road Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

• 15 Jan

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

• 17 Jan

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 10 Jan

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 12 Jan

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

  • 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

• Sat 14 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Malvor Bottecchia Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1978-90

Numerous sponsors across 12 years with Malvor (womens cosmetics), Bottecchia (bikes), Colnago (bikes - for one year only), Hoonved (washing machines), Mavic (components), Sidi (cycling shoes). A team that existed over 10 years but wins were solely in Grand Tours. At the Tour of Italy they won 13 stages, France (x 2) and Spain (x 2).

The lead riders were Giuseppe Saronni (pictured above), then Lech Piasecki (Poland), Roberto Pagnin, Mario Beccia (single day specialist), Acacio De Silva (Portugal) and Daniel Gisiger (Swiss). They won their usual Giro stage which kept the team dream alive for over a decade but it was generally slim pickings in single day races where victories were few & very far between.

Roberto Pagnin

Mario Beccia (left) & Acacio De Silva (right)

News Shorts - 2 January

BiciSport in Flanders in 2023 - BiciSport is proud to announce collaboration with the Force Cycling Team based at Nieuwkerken in East Flanders Belgium for a three year period.

BiciSport will join Force Cycling as a sub sponsor with the name ‘BiciSport Australia’ along both sides of the jersey collarbone/shoulders. The Belgian sponsors are Sack, IT Figures, De Wilde, Bofi Boon, Zelfbouw, BiciSport Australia & Get Up Nutrition. The Belgian Team Principal is Nick Felix and the clothing manufacturer is BioRacer. The release of the 2023 Force Cycling team jersey (front & rear) is above/below.

The collaboration presents BiciSport riders with a unique opportunity to develop future contacts in Belgium should they wish to race in the heartland of Belgian cycling.

Sydney Christmas Track Carnivals @ 28-30 Dec - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took 4th place overall in B grade at the Sydney Track Carnivals

BiciSport Belgium & 31 Dec @ St Niklaas Belgium - Koen VerHulst avoiding the harsh Belgian winter wishing his Aussie friends a Happy New Year.

BiciSport Belgium & 31 Dec @ St Niklaas Belgium - Koen VerHulst somewhere in the “Italian Alps”

Wallers Arenberg Forest cobbles @ 19 Dec - The Arenberg Forest is famous as “the” cobbled section in the Paris Roubaix Classic. The picture above was taken on 19 December with a dusting of winter snow. The Arenberg cobbles look somewhat ‘sleepy’

Wallers Arenberg Forest cobbles - Marty Wright & Mike Lawson (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on the same Arenberg Forest cobbles when the snow has disappeared

Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

National Road Championships are in Ballarat from 6-10 January

RACe ENTRIES SLIDE POST COVID AND HITS ECR & WEST HEAD

• Race entries obviously were put on hold during the pandemic with numerous races cancelled. Post pandemic and restrictions have eased but race entries have most certainly not recovered.

• Waratah Masters recently announced that Masters A grade is now open to any rider over 19+ years (a 6 month trial commences in January 2023). This switch relates to just A grade and not the lower grades that remain Masters only. Times they are a changing and Waratahs have a monopoly on Masters only racing yet this isn’t enough.

• These trends are replicated at other races around Sydney, including those at West Head where the recent Wall Handicap saw a marked drop off in race entries (from pre Covid versus post Covid)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 6-10 Jan

  • National Road Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

• 8 Jan

  • Landsowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Tumut Classic Cyclosportive

• 10 Jan

  • Presentation Tour of Spain 2023

• 17 Jan

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 3 Jan

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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 5 Jan

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

  • 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

• Sat 7 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Gerben Karstens racing the Paris Tours Classic on a single speed bike.

Gerben Karstens at the finish of the 1965 Paris Tours Classic. Karsetens rode for the dutch Televizier Professional Cycling Team. Televizier was a dutch TV magazine.

In 1965 something unusual and no longer repeated happened in the classic Paris-Tours Classic

The controversy alive at that time related to the course profile being completely flat and there were those who defended it as adequate evidence to the "sprinters" - who were entitled to have a race on the professional calendar as proof of their single ability to just sprint.

The organization decided to take an unusual step - no gears but riders could only use a single freewheel that could be changed mid race (but no gear could be changed whilst still riding).

In this way the choice of the single gear ratio became fundamental (that’s an understatement).

Jacques Anquetil chose a 52 front chainwheel & a 16 single rear cog, Raymond Poulidor chose 51 x 17 at the start and then changed to 49 x 13 and then finally to 51 x 15. Gerben Karstens opted for 53 x 16, which would be replaced by 53 x 15 for the final sprint 25 km from the finish.

The race was furious but the escape that succeeded was that of the Dutchman Gerben Karstens. Karstens attacked with vigour and nothing could overcome it. Gerben Karstens was able to accomplish the feat of 246 km at an average of 45,029 km/h - setting a new record of the race (the current record belongs to the Ukrainian cyclist Andreï Tchmil - recorded 47.,539 km/h in 1997). The unusual experience of using single gears was not repeated again

Gerben Karstens (now riding for the then TI Raleigh team)

Gerben Karstens (right) passed away in October 2022. RIP Karstens.

News Shorts - 26 December

Bathurst Interclub road race @ 18 Dec - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took the top spot at the Bathurst Interclub. Ian has been a regular visitor to the podiums in several interclubs, State & National Masters Road Championships. Congratulations Ian on a great 2022 and we look forward to 2023.

Darren Benson in France @ Dec 22 - Best wishes Darren for a new start in rural France

Gent 6 Day @ t’Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - Iljo Keisee pulls a nice wheelie at 65kph behind the motorised derny … don’t try this at home

Cafe De Karper @ Gent Belgium - a simple matter of 400m down the road from t’Kuipe Velodrome is the Cafe De Karper owned by the father (Ronnie) of Iljo Keisse. Its flemish cycling to the core

Covid 19 …. that little treasure is the gift that keeps on giving with several BiciSport riders down at present. Speedy recovery to all.

Rest in Peace the admired Vittorio Adorni who passed away on 24 December 22. Picture above was winning the World Pro Road Championships at Imola in 1966. Class, elegance, sportsmanship, a gentleman.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 28-30 Dec

  • Sydney Christmas Track Carnivals (various Sydney Velodromes)

• 6-10 Jan

  • National Road Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

• 8 Jan

  • Landsowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Tumut Classic Cyclosportive

• 10 Jan

  • Presentation for the Tour of Spain 2023

• 17 Jan

  • Oh no …. there is no Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums until 17 Jan

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 27 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 29 Dec

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

  • 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

• Sat 31 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Eddy Merckx presents the Pope with a Molteni team bike at the 1975 Tour of Italy

The close relationships with Popes and cycling are well known. Pope Pius X (1903-14) perceived cycling “as a virtuous practice”. Pope Pius X11 (1939-58) took cycling to a whole new dimension with a small chapel built in 1948 on the Ghisallo Pass near Bellagio on Lake Como. Pope Paul V1 (1963-78) was a fervent advocate for physical exercise … “sports are the symbol of spiritual reality”. Finally, Pope Francis blessed the Tour of Italy Pink Jersey in 2013

The Ghisallo Church was commissioned in 1948 by Pope Pius X11 and is dedicated to all cyclists.

The Pope greets Felice Gimondi (right) and Eddy Merckx at the 1975 Tour of Italy

Pope Francis blesses the Tour of Italy leaders jersey in 2013

The Pope greets a beaming Felice Gimondi (Bianchi Campagnolo) at the start of the Tour of Italy 1974

Being Christmas nothing can top the Tour of Italy team presentation with the Pope kindly gracing the opening celebrations. Popes over the ages have been presented with several team bikes

Peter Sagan presents a Vatican inspired team bike to Pope Francis

The Pope receives his own Colnago

News Shorts - 19 December

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - The final contest of 2022 with an A grade Trophy Race (over 20 laps) plus the B-C grade handicap (over 15 laps). B grade really was not that committed to catching C grade and C grade comfortably took the podium with Stew Campbell (BiciSport Happy Wheels) putting in a great finish

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Stew Campbell takes second at the finish

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Rolly Delaytz rode well in B grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Rolly Delaytz

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Caleb Ewen was a stand out in a high octane A grade Trophy Race

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Rolly Delaytz on the B grade start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Stew Campbell on the C grade start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Rolly Delaytz getting “pinned up”

St Ives HART Criterium @ 16 Dec - Sam Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) finished 2nd in D grade

Sydney ‘1000’ Tempe Open @ 10 Dec - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Sydney ‘1000’ Tempe Open @ 10 Dec - Davide Browne on a charge

Sydney ‘1000’ Tempe Open @ 10 Dec - Davide Browne raced the tandem with Lizanne Willmott

Sydney ‘1000’ Tempe Open @ 10 Dec - Davide & Lizanne on the Tempe Velodrome banking

ACT XCO Championships @ 11 Dec - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes the Silver medal. A challenging technical MTB course at its best. Rocky, dusty, tree roots, steep climbs and fast challenging downhill. Eric finished just 27 seconds behind the Gold medal.

ACT XCO Championships @ 11 Dec - Eric Dole

ACT XCO Championships @ 11 Dec - Eric Dole

BiciSport Christmas Coffee @ Taste Buds @ 17 Dec - L to R … The BiciSport Grupetto consisted of Herve, Ian, Mike, Marty, Suzy, Tom, Sean, Karl, John, Tony & Raoul

C’mon Santa …. do the right thing … I have been good all year

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 17 Jan

  • Oh no …. there is no Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums until 17 Jan

• 28-30 Dec

  • Sydney Christmas Track Carnivals (various Sydney Velodromes)

• 6-10 Jan

  • National Road Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

• 8 Jan

  • Landsowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Tumut Classic Cyclosportive

• 10 Jan

  • Presentation Tour of Spain 2023

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 20 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 22 Dec

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

  • 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

• Sat 24 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Felice Gimondi - 1942 to 2019

One of the greatest Italian cyclists ever. If any competitive cyclist deserves the highest accolade for performance, grace & integrity then Felice is the man. Sadly passed away suddenly in 2019 (from a heart attack) when he still had an enormous presence across all sections of Italian & World cycling. Pictured above in a filthy Paris Roubaix Classic.

Felice was only the second cyclist to win all three Grand Tours (Spain - ‘68, Italy - ‘67, ‘69, ‘76, France - ‘65) and graced a Grand Tour podium some 12 times. Sponsor of choice was Salvarani (Italian kitchens) or Bianchi (bikes). Single day Classic victories were numerous - World Championships, National Champion, Lombardy x 2, Roubaix, San Remo, Paris Brussels. Team management also included looking after Marco Pantani.

Felice wins the Tour of Lombardy on the Como Velodrome. The tifosi goes crazy !

Felice wins the Milan San Remo Classic 1974 in a solo breakaway. The tifosi goes crazy again !

Felice wins the World Road Championships in Barcelona 1973.

A Championship full of intrigue, scandal and bribery as behind the scenes Freddy Maertens (Belgium) was on Shimano, and Freddy accused his team mate in Eddy Merckx of riding for the Campagnolo sponsored Gimondi. Maertens finished second & Merckx was fourth. Nothing beats a good scandal !

Gimondi @ Le Tour in 1965 riding for the Salvarani team. Note the front pockets on the jerseys.

Gimondi @ Le Tour 1965 with front pockets buttoned up.

Gimondi climbing in the Stelvio snow @ Giro riding for the Bianchi Campagnolo team

Gimondi @ Giro 1969

Eddy Merckx (left) & Felice Gimondi were the best of friends

Salvarini Team Presentation 1972 … Salvarini made high quality Italian kitchens (lots of them)

News Shorts - 12 December

West Head Road Race @ 12 Dec - Anthony Lowes (BiciSport Pilu Racing) at the start in the latest Pilu Racing team kit for 2023

West Head Road Race @ 12 Dec - Anthony Lowes

West Head Road Race @ 12 Dec - Anthony Lowes

West Head Road Race @ 12 Dec - Anthony Lowes

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Dragway @ 11 Dec - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on the attack

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the right

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec - Rolly Delaytz going over the Col del la Heffron

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) was a rare DNF in a super quick criterium … but what a night with Caleb Ewan in town

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport) receives his latest issue Happy Wheels team kit from Champion Systems Manager Kim Taranto

BiciSport Christmas Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills on Saturday 17 December @ 9.30am. All welcome.

Tour of Bright @ 4 Dec - a nice pedal late on the Sunday afternoon with BiciSport team mates & supporters out towards Tawonga Gap

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 13 Dec

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 17 Dec

  • BiciSport Christmas Coffee Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

• 18 Dec

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

  • Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 13 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 15 Dec

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

  • 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

• Sat 17 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Gitane Campagnolo Pro Team (France) - 1969-77

Gitane Campagnolo team was the forerunner to the more well known Renault Gitane team. A bike industry sponsored group with Gitane (frames) and Campagnolo the groupsets. The jersey is a retro icon

The team itself was loaded with super talent - a rising Bernard Hinault (eventually won 5 Tours de France), Liege, Paris Roubaix, Ghent Wevelgem, Grand Prix de Nations, World Pro Road Championships and a whole lot more.

Lucien Van Impe was a class act (Tour KOM jersey holder plus Tour winner as well) as was Gerben Karstens (classy sprinter) ably assisted by Roland Berland, Andre Chalmel, Robert Mintkiewicz, Willy Tierlinck (Belgium), Jacques Bossis & Bernard Quilfen. They won often and in every terrain. Gerben Karstens did “win” a Tour of Lombardy classic but failed the subsequent dope test - oops.

Lucien Van Impe in the KOM jersey at the Tour de France

Paris Roubaix Classic looked more like cyclo cross in Belgium

Gerben Karstens (Netherlands) wins the Amstel Gold Classic for Gitane

Bernard Hinault (Gitane Campagnolo) riding the 1979 World Road Championships in the Netherlands