Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, November 12, 2016

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia

Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door. - Coco Chanel

Latest completed racing:

• October 11: Nationale Sluitingprijs-Putte Kapellen
• October 9 - 16: World Road Cycling Championships
• October 20-23: Abu Dhabi Tour
• October 23: Chrono des Nations
• October 23: Japan Cup
• October 22-30: Tour of Hainan

Colnago sells direct online in the U.S.

Bicycle Retailer & Industry News sent me this:

CHICAGO (BRAIN) — Colnago has launched an online sales platform in the U.S. Through the program, consumers are able to browse and purchase previous model year products, which will be assembled and delivered through local retailers.

The program, first announced to authorized Colnago dealers over the summer, is designed to drive online consumers back into brick-and-mortar retailers, the company stated in a press release.

Now available on Colnago's U.S. website, consumers can purchase bicycles and framesets at reduced prices, but are required to select from a list of nearby retailers for shipping. Retailers will remain fully involved — from assembly to delivery of the bicycle to the end user, according to Colnago.

You can read the entire story here.

Daniele Bennati looks forward to 2017

This was posted by Bennati's Movistar team:

A temptation assaults the interviewer as he meets Daniele Bennati, when it comes to talking previous individual success. Yet the second most veteran rider within Eusebio Unzué's ranks for 2017 -36 years old; 15 seasons in the pro scene; 30-some victories, including stage wins in all three Grand Tours- comes into the Movistar Team to offer strength in present tense, and become a vital member of the group. He immediately gives off dignity and lordship when coming across his way for the first time, values so necessary into a sport and team so rich in tradition and sensibility as cycling and the Blues.

Daniele Bennati (in his 2013-2016 Tinkoff colors) winning the first stage of this year's Tour of Denmark

“I couldn't enjoy the team meeting in Pamplona in late October as much as I'd have liked to know the group well, because I spent the first day in my room, sick, unable to get off my bed. However, what I found during the rest of the week was an atmosphere really close to my lifestyle, so similar the Spanish attitude to the Italian. I had always wanted to ride for this team at some point, and always kept a very good relationship with Eusebio, yet, by many reasons -being under contract with other squads; some different preferences from either myself or Eusebio during my career-, there wasn't a real chance to make it real until today. We both knew that the team I was part of was folding after 2016 and my contract was expiring so, ever since the late part of 2015, we keep talking to each other so I could make it into the team. I'm so happy to be part of this family, and I want to make sure that all my experience can be passed on to my team-mates and make the group stronger."

Long focused on seeking for sprint victories in the past, his latest stretch (2014-16) with Tinkoff saw the man from Arezzo combining that individual role, in more sporadic rations, with invaluable teamwork on the flat. “These are two very different labours, but I know I can do well on them, one task at a time. Looking at my 2017 calendar, I'd like to focus on that individual role early, seeking for some space in classics like Milano-Sanremo or Paris-Roubaix, to later devote myself gladly to Alejandro and Nairo, especially into Grand Tours."

Bennati will be the seventh Italian rider to be part of the Abarca Sports organisation in its 38 years of existence. “Even though he's not part of the team anymore, Giovanni Visconti has helped me much to understand how things work into the team. He's told me wonders about the atmosphere surrounding this group, and I know that he also told Eusebio lots of good things about me. I know him well, as I do with Adriano Malori. We all know how much he has suffered to get back on track after the horrifying accident he experienced in January. The whole group, including myself, must remain by his side, as close as possible, to help him our in his recovery - every single member of this team and many others outside want him to get to the same level he was showing before his crash."

Daniele doesn't look for any goals in particular in his 2017 season. “Above all, what I want is not to suffer from crashes like last year's. I had to stay 50 days completely still due to my fractured vertebra in Milano-Sanremo, so my health will be the most important thing come 2017. Should that new season be fortunate physical-wise, results and teamwork will surely follow. I'll put all of my energy into that."

Team Dimension Data headed to Tour du Rwanda

Here's the team's preview:

While the European professional season may have ended a few weeks ago, on Sunday one of the most important races on the African cycling calendar gets underway in the form of the 8th Tour du Rwanda. Our African Team has a long history with the UCI 2.2 event and we are delighted to be able to send our Continental Team to the event this year. Starting with a prologue on Sunday, the race then takes in 7 undulating road stages before finishing in Kigali next Sunday, 20th November.

In 2009, the inaugural edition of the Tour du Rwanda took place and we had Adrien Niyonshuti, who was part road rider and part mountain biker for our African Team back then, compete in the event. Niyonshuti went on to finish 3rd overall that year and he would be the first of a number of our riders to grace the Tour du Rwanda podium in the years that followed.

"The Tour du Rwanda is a really important race for Team Dimension Data because it is one of the biggest races in Africa. It is part of the UCI African Tour calendar and it has become a great race. You can ask nearly all of my African World Tour teammates, I think we have all done this race more than once each and they will tell you it is a great race. This race really helps to develop African riders because the organisation and competition is always very good“, Niyonshuti says. "For a race in Africa the Tour du Rwanda also gets some good coverage and this is because the federation and the government support the race so well. They really work hard to make it a good race. It is an excelent advert for African cycling and also for world cycling actually, you will see how many fans come to watch.“

"The Tour du Rwanda is one of the most beautiful races I have done in my career with amazing green landscapes, wonderful winding mountain roads and an amazing amount of spectators“, fellow Dimension Data for Qhubeka rider Jacques Janse van Rensburg states and adds: "That being said, it’s also one of the hardest races on the African continent! The level is really good there with some European teams also competing with the best of Africa! Definitely a great race for the development of young riders, preparing them for European racing. Myself, and a all other African riders on our World Tour team did the Tour du Rwanda before and it was a great and important race for us!“

Jacques Janse van Rensburg was one of the 5 of African riders who formed part of the first ever African registered team that took part in the Tour de France last year, which only underlines the competion in Rwanda. Especially, the 2010 edition of the race was very good to three of our current World Tour riders, Daniel Teklehaimanot won the overall, Natnael Berhane was 2nd and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg was 3rd. Racing as MTN-Qhubeka in 2011, Dylan Girdlestone, brother of our continental team rider Keagan Girdlestone placed 3rd overall and in our African Team’s colours, Louis Meintjes finished 2nd overall during the 2013 edition.

As the Tour du Rwanda grew in popularity, and year in year out the crowds flocked to the roadside by their thousands, the Tour du Rwanda became the event where the cream of the African cycling talent crop always rose to the top. Merhawi Kudus (6th in 2012) Valens Ndayisenga (2014 winner) and Metkel Eyob (4th in 2015) are 3 more riders who enjoyed success in Rwanda before joining our African Team.

Now, taking place over 8 days throughout the Rwandan countryside, the Tour du Rwanda is the perfect platform for young African riders to showcase their talent which history has already proven to be true. This year, our Dimension Data for Qhubeka continental team will send Rwandan National Road Race champion Bonaventure Uwizeyimana,Valens Ndayisenga, Amanuel Gebreigzabhier, Metkel Eyob and Junrey Navarro to line up against 14 other 5-rider teams. While our continental team are focused on riding away with the overall honors at this years Tour du Rwanda, we look forward to some exciting racing against the best emerging talent in African cycling.

"Even though I can’t race this year I am happy my Dimension Data Continental teammates are racing“, Niyonshuti continues. "I have been helping them prepare for this race for the last few weeks and they are looking really good.“

The Tour du Rwanda has established itself as one of Africa’s major stage races and has helped a lot of African riders to develop theirselves. It is a great pleasure for our African team to come back to this race.

"We have always liked to come and to play a relevant role at the Tour of Rwanda. We will once again try to leave our mark here as, in terms of race quality, it’s a very important stepping stone for African riders to grow. We have seen this with quite a few of our own riders who are now enjoying some good success in renowned European races. It would be great, if the Tour of Rwanda could become even bigger in the future, as this would help to further grow the level of racing here and allow for more big teams to take part“, concludes Dimension Data for Qhubeka team principal Douglas Ryder.

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary