Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, November 3, 2018
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2018 Tour de France | 2018 Giro d'Italia
People think that I must be a very strange person. This is not correct. I have the heart of a small boy. It is in a glass jar on my desk. - Stephen King
Latest completed racing:
- November 1: Cyclocross Koppenberg
- October 28: Cyclocross Ruddervorde
- October 23 - 31: Tour of Hainan
- October 21: Japan Cup
- October 9 - 14: Presidential Tour of Turkey
- October 14: Chrono des Nations
- October 13: Il Lombardia
- October 11: Gran Piemonte
- October 10: Milano-Torino
- October 9: Tre Valli Varesine
- October 7: Paris-Tours
- October 7: GP Bruno Beghelli
- October 6: Giro dell'Emilia
Australian champ Alex Edmondson re-signs with Mitchelton-Scott
Here's the team's release:
Australian champion Alex Edmondson is pleased to re-sign with Mitchelton-SCOTT for two more seasons as he looks to continue his development with an eye on becoming a classics specialist.
The 24-year-old has made a steady transition from his track background to becoming a full time WorldTour road rider with the help and guidance of the Australian squad, which he feels is a 'great fit' for his progression.
After winning the elusive national title at the start of the 2018 season, Edmondson has continued to impress, showing a wealth of potential on the road which the team hope to nurture further in this early stage of his road career.
Alex Edmondson at the 2017 Tour of Romandie. Sirotti photo
Alex Edmondson:
"I’m stoked to sign with the team for another two years. It's an amazing group of guys, not only the riders but the staff as well which makes racing my bike so enjoyable.
"I feel as though Mitchelton-SCOTT is a great fit for me as there’s a huge variety of guys in the team that I have the opportunity to learn from plus race alongside.
"For me over the next two years I am looking to keep developing and, of course, try and give the classics a really good shot because that’s always been a big dream of mine."
Matt White - Head Sports director:
“Alex is continuing to make the transition from a world class track rider to a full time road rider. We see a real future with Alex especially in our classics group and exposure to high level racing will be key to his development, this year's Vuelta a España was a crucial step for his development for the Spring of 2019.
"We see him growing into a real classics specialist and that takes time. We are excited to be able to continue his development with us."
Alex Edmondson
Date of Birth: 22nd December 1993 (24)
Nationality: Australian
Place of birth: Miri, Malaysia
Turned Pro: 2016
Joined Mitchelton-SCOTT: 2016
Top results:
- 2018 1st National Championships Australia - Road Race
- 2018 3rd Herald Sun Tour - Stage 2
- 2017 3rd Tour de Romandie - Prologue
- 2015 1st Ronde van Vlaanderen Beloften (under 23)
- Multiple track world champion
Trek-Segafredo 2019 men's and women's kits revealed
Here's the team's release:
The London Rouleur Classic event provided the venue for today’s unveiling of the new Trek-Segafredo men’s and women’s kits for the 2019 racing season.
The presentation was attended by three Trek-Segafredo team members: John Degenkolb and Koen de Kort from the men’s side, and British cyclist Lizzie Deignan represented the new Trek-Segafredo women’s team, all of whom were modeling the new Santini-designed and manufactured kits.
Red and black have been chosen once again for the men’s kit while the women’s will center around navy blue coordinated with various other lighter blues.
"Dressing the teams and supporting the athletes both in training and in competition, listening to their needs and then creating technical kit designed around those needs has always been a priority for Santini," commented Monica Santini, CEO Santini Cycling Wear, "and we are proud that our partnership with the Trek-Segafredo team has now also been extended to supplying the kit for the new women’s squad."
Both the men’s and women’s teams will be supplied with all the kit they need to tackle a year of both international races at the very highest level and an extremely intensive training schedule. The cyclists will be receiving full kits and accessories for each season and latitudes they will encounter. Santini paid particular attention to the technical materials used for the winter kits; the teams will receive a broad range of garments made using innovative fabrics and technologies to allow them to train and compete efficiently and comfortably in the chilliest of weather.
The Trek-Segafredo kits encapsulate the Italian company’s unparalleled expertise in both design and manufacture in the professional cycling wear sector.
The men’s team kit
The main kit that the men’s team will be using in competition focuses on the iconic Trek-Segafredo colors of black and red. However, in light of the need to boost cyclist safety during training, the training kits will be made from fluorescent yellow to make the wearers more visible to other road users. Fluorescent yellow will also be used for the women’s team’s training kits.
The aerodynamically-cut jersey is made mostly from ultralight yet ultra-tough Bodyfit fabric with perforated Rudy fabric used for the front, pockets, collar, and sides to boost breathability. The coordinating shorts have a large area made from Impact, a Sitip fabric incorporating Dyneema® fibers which are 15 times stronger than steel for outstanding abrasion and tear resistance. The material, which was also used in the 2018 kit, is particularly popular with the team members who asked for it to be used again in 2019. Impact fabric was also chosen in the development of the road skinsuit that will be provided to all the team too.
"You just got to love our new kits," said John Degenkolb. "I can't choose between them! The retro style is truly amazing and it makes me long for the new season to start - 2019, bring it on!”
Koen de Kort in the 2019 kit
Koen de Kort was equally enthusiastic about the new Santini kits. "I really like the new red race kit," said Koen. "The black bib-shorts are very stylish, and I personally love the sleeves of the kit. I think it will stand out in the peloton and we might take the best-looking kit (again) this year!”
The women’s team kit
In a slightly different version from the men’s kit, the women’s is a mix of navy blue and lighter blues. Made from the same fabrics as the men’s version, it is specifically cut and tailored for the female body. The navy-blue shorts incorporate the innovative C3 Woman chamois which is light and comfortable with guaranteed shock absorption.
Lizzie Deignan in the 2019 kit
“I’m really excited about the new Trek-Segafredo kit from Santini and can’t wait to start wearing it for training and racing," said Lizzie Deignan. "Trek and Santini have done a great job designing something that is both functional and stylish. The team is excited about wearing it because it looks good and it is technically second to none, so it will be brilliant for performance too.”
GM is getting into the e-bike business
This is a surpise!
CNN posted this:
New York (CNN): General Motors makes a lot of money from pickup trucks and SUVs, but now it's getting into the bicycle business.
On Friday, GM unveiled two electric bikes that will go on sale next year. E-bikes are pedal bikes that also have a small battery pack and an electric motor. As a rider pedals, the electric motor provides additional power. Some e-bikes can run on electricity alone with no pedaling. GM would not say whether its new bikes would require pedaling.
"You get on the bike and you feel like you have the wind at your back in both directions," said Jennifer Cathcart, e-bike marketing manager at GM.
General Motors new electric bikes have no name, yet. Potential customers are being asked to provide ideas.
The bikes, including their electric motors, were developed by GM with assistance from engineers who worked on the automaker's electric cars, such as the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
The two new bikes, one of which is foldable, are designed with urban use in mind. Because they require less exertion to ride, e-bikes do away with some common objections to bike riding. In particular, riders won't have to work up a sweat on their way to work, even when riding uphill, Cathcart said. The bikes will include built-in front and back lights, GM said.
You can read the entire story here.
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