Archive for My thoughts on recent races and events

Quick.Step to ride Eddy Merckx bikes

November 20, 2009 at 6:24 pm · Filed under Cycling, My thoughts on recent races and events, Technical stuff

Eddy Merckx Cycles will supply Quick.Step with bikes for three years from 1st January it was announced at a press conference in Grand-Bigard.

Not the Great Man’s usual tipple!

“It happened so totally  unexpected,” said manager Patrick Lefevere . “We never had any problem with Specialized  but there were differences about vision. We decided to split two days ago and everything was then went very quickly … “

As Specialized have moved over to Astana it seems likely that they would have remained with Quick.Step had the team signed Contador as was widely rumoured. Clearly the US manufacturer sees a Tour de France win as worth far more than any number of wins in the Spring classics.

Lefevere was previously with Merckx when his Domo-Farm Frites team rode Eddy’s bikes in 2001-02.  The great former champion says he is proud and delighted:” It is a great honor to work with a team as prestigious as Quick.Step. My bikes are top quality, but cycling is not like Formula One.  It is the rider not the horse that makes the difference … ” said Eddy mixing his sports somewhat.


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Museeuw puts something back

November 10, 2009 at 12:31 pm · Filed under Cycling, My thoughts on recent races and events

It is a well worn cliche that retired sportsmen want to give something back to the sport that made them rich and in Johan’s case it may well be true. He has been to Mongolia and has chosen four cyclists to come to Belgium to try their hand at cyclo-cross.

Museeuw bikes are now sold in twelve countries but it is unlikely that there will ever be a market on the steppes of Mongolia for £3000 flax bike frames so we must take the Lion of Flanders at his word when he says that he is involved purely for the good of the sport.

The successors of Ghengis Khan are staying for three months in the town of Kobbegem north west of Brussels. “No vodka, cola and just healthy eating. And certainly not escapades with women” are the rules that have been laid down. Let’s hope they enjoy their stay.

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Ten days in October that changed the World

October 19, 2009 at 5:00 pm · Filed under Cycling, My thoughts on recent races and events, The Worlds, The history of cycle racing

gilbert.tours

Ok, so I got a little carried away but what about Philippe Gilbert ? Four rides in ten days and four wins. And not just and old races, One Monument, one Classic, one semi-classic a top class catergory 1.1 race. Gilbert’s achievement must surely be unique. I think Cipo may have won four Tour stages on the trot but that just isn’t at all comparable.

Gilbert’s  October can be awarded the greatest complement in cycle racing; it is something that was beyond Eddy Merckx. Which leads me on to another feat that defeated the great Merckx. In the six years between 1977 and 1982 Gibi Baronchelli won all six editions of the Tour of the Appenines. Isn’t that extraordinary. Can you imagine the scene in the changing room by 1982. Moser, a double winner, saying to Saronni, Whatever happens don’t let that f*****g Baronchelli win again! And blow me up he pops.

My old mate Luigi Ortenzi previously of Harrow and now back in Italy was a big fan of Gibi and told me of  this amazing achievement. Not that Luigi’s judgement was reliable in matters of Italian cycling. He once told me how Hinault “stole” the 1980 rainbow jersey from Baronchelli. I have since watched some of the race on video and truth be told Gibi was stuffed by the Badger

But to return to Gilbert’s triumphs I don’t expect it will change anything. Boonen will still be the man with the bike mad Flemish public more interested in what Boonen puts up his nose than anything the Walloon Gilbert achieves.

For the record:
8th October, Coppa Sabatini
11th October,  Paris-Tours
15th October, Tour of Piemont
17th October, Tour of Lombardy

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