Imagine Cycling - Blog RSS (Opinion)

Team Profiles: Vacansoleil-DCM

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:11:24 +0100

Sponsored by the European holiday company, Vacansoleil, the team is based in the Netherlands and lead by Daan Luijx. The team was established back in 2008 and took a number of the riders and staff that used to be part of the Cycle Collstrop team, where directeur sportif Hilaire van der Schueren made a name for himself.

They made their road racing debut in the 2009 season and won four overall titles and took eight stage victories through riders including Borut Bozic and the impressive youngster...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Team RadioShack

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:39:28 +0100

Formed in 2009, Team RadioShack are co-owned by one of the sports’ greatest ever competitors, if not one of the greatest sportsmen of all time – seven-time winner of the Tour de France, the American Lance Armstrong.

The team is managed by Capital Sports and Entertainment, a sports and events management group based...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Garmin-Cervelo

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:07:46 +0100

Formed in 2007 as a combination of the TIAA-CREF and 5280 development teams, Garmin-Cervelo, managed by Slipstream Sports, began competing on the UCI ProTour under the name of their managers before becoming the team we know them as today for the start of the 2011 season.

The team began making a name for themselves in 2008, with Bradley Wiggins and Christian Van de Velde...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Team Sky

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:25:27 +0100

Based in Manchester and managed by Dave Brailsford, Team Sky were formed on the back of a £30million sponsorship deal from the media giants, running until 2013, and they set themselves the ambitious aim of winning the Tour de France within five years.

With Brailsford at the helm, Sean Yates was named as the head Directeur Sportif with Marcus Ljungvist and Steven de Jongh assisting. Nicolas Porta...

By Chris White

Cavendish to ride in Tour of Britain

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:07:51 +0100

British cycling fans would have been delighted to hear the news that one of their best riders has signed up to ride in the Tour of Britain which begins this Sunday in Peebles, Scotland.

Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man, winner of the green jersey at this year’s By Chris White

Team Profiles: Saxo Bank-SunGard

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:24:29 +0100

The latest of my team profiles focuses on the Danish team Saxo Bank-SunGard, owned and managed by Bjarne Riis, the former Tour de France winner.

Founded in 1998 under the name of Team home-Jack & Jones, the team started in the second tier of professional cycling before moving up to the UCI ProTour in 2000. The team have since com...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Rabobank

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:49:11 +0100

Founded back in 1984 under the name Kwantum, the team has competed in every Tour de France and have remained in the ProTour since its inception in 1998.

Since 2009, Rabobank have used...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Quickstep Cycling Team

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:12:49 +0100

The Belgian team lead by Patrick Lefevere were formed back in 2003 under the name Quickstep-Davitamon after the Mapei-Quickstep team disbanded following nine years at the top level of world cycling.

Quickstep, the title sponsors, produces laminate flooring, and the team itself uses Eddy Merckx bikes. They have a backroom staff list consisting of Rik Verbrugghe, Davide Bramati, Wilfried Peeters, Rik van Slycke and Luca Guercilena.

Paolo...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Pro Team Astana

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:26:15 +0100

Astana are a UCI Pro Cycling team based in Kazakhstan, having previously made themselves at home in Switzerland and Luxembourg. The Astana group – a coalition of state-owned companies based in the capital city, Astana, are the title sponsors of the team.

The team has suffered from a number of doping related issues, forcing the original team management to be sacked and replaced by Giuseppe Martinell...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Omega Pharma-Lotto

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:59:24 +0100

As one of the longest serving teams on the UCI ProTeam list, the Belgians at Omega Pharma-Lotto have become one of the best known and best organised teams on the circuit.

Founded back in 1985, the team is managed by Geert Coeman, with Marc Sargeant the directeur sportif, with assistance coming from Hendrik Redant, Herman Frison and Jose de Cauwer.

The team have two main sponsors. Lotto,...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Movistar Team

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:14:33 +0100

The Spanish Movistar Team are one of the most successful cycling teams on the UCI ProTour, with twelve Grand Tours general classification victories under their belts. Since the start of the 2011 season, they have been backed by the mobile phone company Telefonica, who provide the team with significant financial backing.

Since the 2008 season, Eusebio Unzue, who took over the top...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Liquigas-Cannondale

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:07:00 +0100

The Liquigas-Cannondale cycling team is an Italian based squad sponsored by Italian liquified gas company Liquigas and the American bike manufacturers, Cannondale, whose backing has seen a number of American riders joining the squad.

The team was founded back in 1999 under the name Liquigas, and they slowly made their name in the second division, joining the top level in 2005, with sponsorship coming from Bianchi. Cannondale joined the team as the sponsor in 2007 and the team have gone...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Leopard Trek

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:34:03 +0100

Lead by the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank, Leopard Trek have established themselves as one of the most dominant forces on the UCI World Tour, despite only joining at the start of 2011. The experienced management duo, with tam managers Brian Nygaard and Kim Andersen are building a young team that is destined for success.

Based in Luxembourg, the idea of building a team around two of the biggest cycling stars in the world...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Lampre-ISD

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:54:50 +0100

The Lampre-ISD team are an Italian cycling team formed back in 2005 under the name of Lampre-Caffita as a merger between the Lampre and Saeco teams. The Italian team have been in the UCI Pro Tour since their formation year, but were suspended temporarily for 2010 for missing an event.

Consisting of predominantly Italian riders, the team looks like one of the strongest ProTour teams, and feature riders such as Alessandro Petacchi, Damiano Cunego and Danilo Hondo, and following the arrival...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Team Katusha

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:01:21 +0100

Russian team Katusha were formed in 2009 and are run by the Russian Global Cycling Project foundation, which is funded by a number of Russian businesses, including Gazprom, Rostechnologi and Itera. With this substantial financial backing, the team began with a budget of over €15million, meaning they could attract some of the top names in world cycling.

The team made their debut at the one-day Down Under Clas...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: HTC Highroad

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:25:24 +0100

A young but successful squad, the HTC Highroad team will be looking to build on their recent achievements in 2011. The American team, formed in 1991, is run by team manager Bob Stapleton and are sponsored by Taiwanese smartphone company HTC, after being formerly sponsored by sportswear company Columbia.

The team had a number of stage victories at their most successful competition to date, the 2009 Tour de France, with British cyclist Mark Cavendish picking up six wins, the most significant...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: Euskaltel-Euskadi

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:49:12 +0100

The Basque cycling team was established back in 1994 and has gone from strength to strength ever since under general manager Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano.

One of the most distinctive teams in world cycling, the Euskaltel-Euskadi team wear all orange uniforms and use Orbea bikes.

As with other Basque teams, such as the football team Athletic Bilbao, the squad is picked from Basque-only riders, and retaining the services of the Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez will boost the team...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: BMC Racing Team

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:19:07 +0100

The American BMC Racing Team was founded back in 2007, and is currently co-owned by Jim Ochowicz, the American cycling legend, and Gavin Chilcott, with John Lelangue working with the team as a sporting director.

BMC Racing is a Swiss-based bike frame manufacturer, specialising in making racing bikes and materials.

In 2011, the team were granted UCI Pro Team status, establishing them as one of the top racing teams in world cycling. A number of the world’s top riders have ...

By Chris White

Team Profiles: AG2R La Mondiale

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:28:15 +0100

In the first of our world cycling team profiles, we take a look at the French AG2R La Mondiale squad.

Formed back in 2000 as AG2R Prevoyance, they are sponsored by French-based interprofessional insurance and supplementary retirement fund group AG2R, and the La Mondiale Group, which is a French-based international group for supplementary pension and estate planning insurance.

They are the only French team registered in the UCI World Tour this year and have brought in seven riders...

By Chris White

Mountain Bikes on a Budget

Tue, 31 May 2011 17:02:36 +0100

If you’re into mountain biking and are looking for a new bike on a budget, it can be difficult to find the right one for you, without spending too much. Luckily, many budget bikes have improved in recent years, making them much more like their more expensive rivals, but perfectly good enough for the casual mountain biker who just wants to go out and ride in the woods or around the reservoirs of Britain.

Some bikes, however, might be described as ‘mountain bikes’, giving that impre...

By Chris White

More Drugs Allegations Made Against Armstrong

Tue, 24 May 2011 12:22:12 +0100

The reputation of a cycling legend, and one of the world’s most popular sporting figures took another dent this week, with yet another former team-mate, once described as being “like a brother.”

Lance Armstrong, the seven-time winner of the Tour de France, is accused by former team-mate George Hincapie of taking the banned substance EPO on “regular occasions.” Hincapie rode alongside Armstrong in all seven of his victories, has reportedly told officials that the pair used to take th...

By Chris White

Five Key Tools To Maintain Your Bike

Mon, 16 May 2011 16:53:26 +0100

If you own a bike you need to carry out regular maintenance to keep it in good condition, but you don’t need to break the bank buying several expensive tools, you just need the right ones. Here are our five key suggestions of which tools you might need to keep your bike in top shape.

Chain checker – chains and cogsets have increased in value on the top-price bikes, and you don’t want to let these wear out. A good chain checker will ensure that you know exactly how worn your chain i...

By Chris White

Why Not Cycle To Work?

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:21:18 +0100

With London's congestion charge and increased traffic on the roads in Britain, many commuters have started cycling to and from work, and if you are one of those thinking about switching to pedal power, we have a few skills and tips to make your journey much safer and easier.

Just because you are not in a car, doesn't mean the laws of the road do not apply. If you're approaching a red light, you still have to stop. If you fail to do so, it is at your own risk and you are still breaking...
By Chris White

On Your Bike!

Fri, 06 May 2011 10:35:20 +0100

With the sun now out and the summer holidays just on that hazy horizon, it's a perfect time to dust off the bike, pump up the tyres, shake off the spiders that have nested in the suspension and get out in the countryside.

For many youngsters, and adults for that matter, cycling may have been something that hasn't been an option before, or another of those new years resolutions that went out with the Christmas tree, so we have a few ideas to help you get out on your bike, get fit and have...

By Chris White

Team GB gunning for Olympic success - but at what price?

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:24:56 +0100

Dave Brailsford, performance director at Team GB hinted today when talking to the BBC that Britain may sacrifice medals at next year’s World Track Championships in favour of home glory and the London games.

Speaking to journalists, Brailsford said that going all the way across the world just months before 2012 games is a questionable tactic. This year’s performance at the Championships has been worse than in previous years but in all fairness, the team had previously set the bar...

By Shaun Edwards

Armstrong should've quit while he was ahead

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:48:35 +0000

Quit while you’re ahead, the famous idiom that suggests carrying on will only taint what has already been achieved, how often will these words ring true?

Yesterday Lance Armstrong confirmed his retirement from competitive cycling. The Texan had retired in 2005 but returned for the 2009 Tour de France where he finished third. Armstrong had already told media that the recent Tour Down Under in Melbourne would be his last tour competition and yesterday’s announcement was just to con...

By Shaun Edwards

Cycling and drugs throughout history

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:19:31 +0000

Allegations of doping are plaguing the world of cycling at the moment – barely a week goes by without a new star embroiled in some sort of scandal. This week it is the turn of Riccardo Ricco who will now be investigated by the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping body.

The cyclist returned to the saddle after a ban of nearly 2 years when he was found to be guilty of doping during the 2008 Tour de France. This time however it was doctors who informed the Italian authorities that ...

By Shaun Edwards

Armstrong aims to clear his name

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:22:19 +0000

Lance Armstrong has had an illustrious career in cycling, but it seemed to all come to a rather sad end last week as he bowed out at the Tour Down Under event. Armstrong finished a lowly 65th in the final rankings, amidst doping allegations in his home country of the United States.

Here we will look at some of the highlights...

By Shaun Edwards

The best climber in the business

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:43:22 +0000

Some cyclists are born to sprint, some are born to compete on all terrains and some are born to climb mountains – and the latter can definitely be said of Belgium legend Lucien Van Impe.
The guy was a pure climber and this allowed him to stand out in a generation that included greats like Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Joop Zoetemelk and it was on the mountains were he was most comfortable.
At times it appeared as though he was content to sit with the rest of the field as they strug...

By Jeff Dawson

Alfredo Binda - setting the standards

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:54:38 +0000

There are people who set precedents in sport and there are people that follow the standards set by others – and the great Alfredo Binda was definitely a man who set the standards for everyone else.
Born in Italy but raised in France, Binda was the man who set a lot of firsts in professional cycling, leading the way for the likes of Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault to follow.
A mesmeric climber who was born for the mountains, Binda became the first cyclist to win the Giro d’Italia five times,...

By Jeff Dawson

Second best on so many occasions

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:37:57 +0000

He is considered one of the best of all time and he enjoyed a career that outlived many of his competitors but, Joop Zoetemelk, will always be remembered for being in the shadows of the best ever riders – Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault.
One of Zoetemelk’s gifts was his longevity in cycling, competing on the main stage until his 40s and he holds the record for the most appearances in the Tour de France, a competition he started and finished 16 times. He also holds perhaps the most unwanted re...

By Jeff Dawson

Greg Lemond - legend!

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:58:25 +0000

American Greg Lemond was one of the most talented riders of his generation, proving his talent several times at the two biggest races of the cycling calendar – the Tour de France and the World Championship Road Race.
What made Lemond so special was his capabilities in sprints, time trials and on the climbs and this made him a devastating opponent for those he was up against. Other than the great Lance Armstrong, Lemond is considered the most talented cyclist to come from across the pond.
H...

By Jeff Dawson

Fun and little bit crazy!

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:48:48 +0000

The New Year is almost upon us and it’s that time of year when most of us start thinking about what our resolutions are going to be and what we can do that is new and fun in the year ahead. Well have you considered Cyclo-Cross? Have you even heard of it? If not, here’s a guide to what it is and how to get involved. It could be a lot of fun and is one of the easiest branches of cycling to get involved in.
But most importantly, it’s also one of the most fun and enjoyable.
Firstly, Cycl...

By Jeff Dawson

The greatest Italian cyclist ever

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:03:50 +0000

The Italians have always had a great legacy when it comes to cycling, they are a nation that wins countless titles on the roads but perhaps the best Italian rider of all time is Felice Gimondi.
A stunning all-round rider, Gimondi is in the mold of the great Italian Campionissimos, and was the first and is still the only Italian to win all three of the Grand Tours – the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
He claimed a total of five victories in these races and is one ...

By Jeff Dawson

'Cycling is cleaner than ever'

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:18:35 +0100

Over the past few weeks we have seen lots of stories relating to doping problems within cycling and this week, British sprint king Mark Cavendish and Italian cycling legend, Mario Cipollini, have both said they feel their sport is being unfairly singled out and that in their opinion, cycling is cleaner than it’s ever been.
But are they right?
Recently we have read about Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov who was banned for two years for doping at the 2007 Tour de France; we have heard...

By Jeff Dawson

One of the greatest all-rounders ever - Louison Bobet

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:25:40 +0100

Towards the back end of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali’s careers came a young Frenchman who took the cycling world by storm and left his mark on the history books. He was Louison Bobet, a great champion and a complete rider.
Bobet was blessed with natural ability and a smooth pedalling stroke but his was his dedication and determination that made him a great champion.
He taught himself how to sprint and he used to sprint at the end of every race, whether he was competing for the win o...

By Jeff Dawson

Gino the Pious - hard-working hard-headed and deeply religious

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:02:32 +0100

To cycling fans he was Gino the Pious, to the rest of the world he was Gino Bartali, one of the greatest cycling stars of all-time. A man who was dedicated to both his sport and his religion. A typical Tuscan – hard-working, hard-headed and deeply religious.
He was ruthless on the road and he took nonsense from no-one. He was one of these riders who would rather crash out trying than let others passed him easily.
And this was in evidence early in his career, when, two famed Italian sprin...

By Jeff Dawson

Fausto Coppi - transcended cycling

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:36:15 +0100

Often in sport there are athletes and characters who transcend their chosen pursuit and become something more than just a sportsman.
And Italian legend Fausto Coppi - the Campionissimo, or Champion of Champions to us English - was one of those men. He was a champion during a golden era for the sport, the Post World War II years and he helped his broken nation rejoice after years of heartache.
Italy, traumatized by ware, looked to sports heroes for its victories after their defeat in...

By Jeff Dawson

Is Contador innocent of drugs claims?

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:12:21 +0100

Once again, cycling has been rocked by one of its stars failing a drugs test. The sport is constantly under scrutiny for the use of drugs as the world’s best cyclists take on the draining and mind blowing road races such as the Tour de France.
In a sport where power, speed and endurance are key, it is rife with the opportunity take drugs. And this year’s Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has tested positive for a banned drug.
He, however, claims he is the victim of contaminate...

By Jeff Dawson

Jacques Anquetil - set the benchmark in cycling

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:27:46 +0100

It’s becoming a familiar tale of cycling greats as I delve further into their lives – the best have all died young and French great Jacques Anquetil was no different.
The pre-eminent stage race and time trial rider of his day, Anquetil was just 53 when he passed in 1987. His record sits just behind the best of all time – Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault are the only riders in history who have a more impressive record.
Anquetil was the first man to win five Tour de France and he was also t...

By Jeff Dawson

Bernard Hinault. The Badger. A legend!

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:39:46 +0100

The Badger. Yep that’s right, we’re talking about Bernard Hinault, nicknamed The Badger because of his fighting style when cornered. The second greatest cyclist of all-time, whose achievements are second only to the legendary Eddy Merckx.
Like Merckx, Frenchman Hinault was a complete rider who could climb, sprint and time trial with the very best riders. His record of 10 Grand Tour victories is again only beaten by the German’s 11. In fact it’s only Merckx who can boast a better record and the...

By Jeff Dawson

Laurent Fignon - Legend

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:20:43 +0100

I have written many blogs recently about past sportsmen, greats who have since departed this life for something much grander. But it is with slight trepidation that I write this today for the gutsy Laurent Fignon, one of cycling’s all time best, who has sadly recently past after a battle with cancer, aged just 50.
The reason for my hesitance is that I don’t think I can do such a competitor proud. With his memory so fresh, I fear that the more knowledgeable cycling fans may be able to easily p...

By Jeff Dawson

The greatest sprinter of all time

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:50:15 +0100

He is the greatest sprinter of all time. Faster than Usain Bolt. You don’t believe me? Ok, well he had two wheels to help him, but cycling’s Mario Cipollini is a legend of the sport and one of the fastest men to ever grace cycling.

Nicknamed the Lion King and Super Mario, the great Italian changed the way sprinting was seen in cycling and made it an art form that the likes of Mark Cavendish now exploit every time they are involved in a sprint finish.

Cipollini’s speed was unrivalled an...

By Jeff Dawson

Power grace dignity and brilliance...that's Miguel Indurain

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:16:36 +0100

He's the first cyclist I ever remember seeing when I watched the Tour de France with my dad when I was a kid. He had a style that encompassed power, style, grace and gratitude and seemed like he could brush his rivals aside at all times.

His name: 'Big Mig' Miguel Indurain.

Standing 6ft 2in tall and weighing in at 80kg, this powerhouse became the first ever person to win five Tour de France's in succession, and only the fourth person to win it five times in its history.

His power...

By Jeff Dawson

'The greatest cyclist of all time? - Eddy Merckx

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:22:29 +0100

Comparing sportsmen and women from different eras is a thoughtless task and makes it nigh on impossible to say who is the greatest of them all.

However, when it comes to cycling, one hall of famer stands out and is perhaps the most suited to such the tag of 'the greatest cyclist of all time'. And that's 'The Cannibal', German Eddy Merckx.

This tremendous athlete dominated the sport for 10 of the 13 seasons he competed in and won the most important races, in some cases on multiple occasions.

Born...

By Jeff Dawson