Merckx questions Boonen's motivation

Cycling legend Eddy Merckx has voiced his concern over whether Tom Boonen can come back to the form that saw him win a trio of Paris-Roubaix titles in 2005, 2008 and 2009. Merckx, who is now a consultant at the Omega Pharma-Quick Step squad, has been a long time admirer of Boonenbut the rider’s last major Classics win came two years ago.
“I don’t think he’s the rider he once was,” Merckx said, pointing to the fact that Boonen is no longer a major contender in bunch sprints.

“Last year he had some problems with his hand, and he’s had knee problems, too. He’s not a young rider anymore,” Merckx is reported as saying.

Merckx also raised the issue of Boonen’s motivation.

“For him it’s also a question of motivation. If he can be motivated then he can perhaps come back in the Classics like Flanders and Roubaix but it will be very difficult for him to beat the sprinters these days.”

According to Merckx, Boonen’s chances of winning a major spring Classic depend on his form at the start of the season.

“I hope he can still win races like Roubaix and Flanders. Everything depends on the start of the season and how he starts - although last year he won Gent-Wevelgem and then wasn’t so good in Flanders or Roubaix.”

Merckx, who attended the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team presentation in Antwerp last week, also gave his opinion on the team’s strength in depth. Historically they have been built around the Classics but 2012 will see a slight change with the likes of Levi Leipheimer and Tony Martin drafted in to bolster the team’s stage racing and time trial skills.

Although both recruits will be expected to bring in success, Merckx has tipped Martin to shine to the extent of competing for a possible podium place at the Tour de France.

“With Leipheimer and Martin they have options but it’s not going to be easy to beat the likes of Contador, the Schlecks or Cadel Evans. Martin is still very young, he’s a very strong rider and there’s a lot of time trialing in the Tour de France. He can perhaps improve in the mountains and although he can’t win the Tour de France he could make the podium, “ Merckx said.

GreenEDGE GRANTED WORLDTOUR LICENSE

GreenEDGE Cycling is proud to announce that the UCI has approved its license application for WorldTour status. On the basis of the documentation submitted to the UCI License Commission, GreenEDGE has been granted a UCI World Tour license for the 2012-2013 period. This announcement gives Australia its first team in the WorldTour with a roster of 30 riders competing from 2012.
“This is a key moment for Australian cycling and we are proud to enter the WorldTour with a new and extremely motivated project,” says team founder Gerry Ryan. “I am convinced that we will bring great moments and a lot of passion to the sport with this team. I’d like to use this opportunity to congratulate the entire team and all of our partners with this important, historical step.”

Eighteen teams have been granted UCI WorldTour status. These teams will be eligible to compete in all WorldTour events.

“This is a team built for the future and we are obviously thrilled to have the license in place,” says General Manager Shayne Bannan. “We have been confident all along during the process, but at the same time humble towards the criteria you need to meet in order to get the final approval. We are currently busy with our first team camp and everything is coming together for a great debut year in the WorldTour. We’re young team with big ambitions about giving back to the sport and create excitement both in Australia and across the globe. Cycling has grown immensely over the last years and we are happy to be an integrated part of that positive development.”

Designer Road Bikes by Bianchi and Gucci

Italian firms Bianchi and Gucci have joined forces to create a new range high-end bikes  at only $14,000.

Bianchi by Gucci has brought together the talents of the legendary bike manufacturer and world-renowned fashion house to produce two bikes; a touring bike and a single-speed city model.

The matte black 11-speed carbon bike is for urban/off-road use and has a carbon fork and hydraulic disc brakes. It won't come cheap, though - it's listed on Gucci's US website at an eye-watering $14,000. The white single-speed city model is made from hydroformed steel and is listed at a comparatively modest but still steep $6,200. Both feature Gucci’s signature green/red/green stripe on the down tube, with a range of Gucci accessories, including helmet, gloves and water bottle, made to complete the look.

The bikes will be available to buy at select Gucci outlets around the world, including London, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Milan. They will also be showcased in Stockholm at Bianchi’s Café&Cycles, a concept store created by Bianchi’s owner and president Salvatore Grimaldi.

LEOPARD TREK continental team sets off in 2012

LEOPARD s.a., the owner of the RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK WorldTour Cycling Team, is proud to announce the launch of its Continental Team, named LEOPARD TREK. The Team will be led by Team Director Adriano Baffi.

“The Continental Team is aimed at promoting and developing Luxembourgish Cycling in the world”, says Flavio Becca. “Since Fränk and Andy Schleck conquered their place in cycling’s top tier and the Grand Duchy witnessed the birth of the 2011 LEOPARD TREK WorldTour Team, the popularity of cycling has grown to immense proportions. It shouldn’t be a surprise that we want to build for the future. With this Team we are able to structurally search for talent and provide experience and training to young and promising athletes.”

The LEOPARD TREK roster for 2012 will be the following: Eugenio Alafaci (ITA), Giorgio Brambilla (ITA), Jesus Ezquerra (SPA), Oliver Hofstetter (SUI), Bob Jungels (LUX), Julian Kern (GER), Alex Kirsch (LUX), Alexandr Pliuschin (MOL), Pit Schlechter (LUX), Fabio Silvestre (POR) and Joel Zangerle (LUX).

“The Team consists of a majority of U23 riders”, says Adriano Baffi, who acknowledges that there will be an important role for Alexandr Pliuschin and Bob Jungels, the 2010 Junior World Time Trial Champion. “Bob and Alexandr are absolute bright prospects and I am really looking forward to working closely with them. Alexandr will be our road captain: he is an all-rounder and has some experience already. Bob, from his side, will be able to grow in terms of endurance and experience.”

“The Team will concentrate on one single race program,” says Baffi. “I would like to see every rider race between 60 and 70 days per season, which would be an ideal learning experience for each one of them.”

Vacansoleil-DCM to ride Bianchi Oltre in 2012

Dutch World Tour squad in Italian training camp soon

Vacansoleil-DCM's bike supplier Bianchi has officially unveiled the new team Oltre model for the 2012 season. The carbon momocoque bike is described as "one of the best racing machines Bianchi has ever made. X-Tex carbon technology and Bianchi optimized aerodynamic shape give it an incredibly efficient power transmission and stiffness to weight ratio,' according to the Italian bike manufacturer's press release.

The Oltre combines Bianchi's traditional "celeste" colour with blue and white touches to match the official outfit of the WorldTour team, with the Bianchi Eagle logo located on the lower part of the down-tube. The frame is equipped with FSA components, Fast Forward wheels, Vredestein tires and Shimano Dura Ace gears.

Vacansoleil-DCM riders will get acquainted with their new equipment in Montecatini Terme (Italy) from December 10 to 20, where the first official team meeting will be held. From January 10 to 20, the Dutch WorldTour team will move to Spain, in Benidorm, for its second training camp ahead of the first 2012 season races.

2013 Tour de France unveils three Corsican stages

100th Tour de France to be celebrated by a first.

Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, on Tuesday morning unveiled the programme for the 2013 Grand Départ on the island of Corsica. The race's one-hundredth edition will see the Mediterranean island host three stages in what will be the Tour's first visit to Corsica, after having visited all the departments of mainland France, since its inception in 1903.

The first stage will see the peloton start in Porto-Vecchio in the south of the island for what should be a bunch sprint finish further north in Bastia. From Porto-Vecchio, the race will travel south to the cliffs of Bonifacio before moving up north again on one of the rare flat roads on the island to the stage finish in Bastia.

Stage two, on the other hand, will give the climbers the first opportunity to express themselves. Riders will start in Bastia and then move westwards over the challenging mountains of Corsica, via Corte, to finish in Ajaccio on the island's west coast. That day, climbs will include the Col de Bellagranajo (723m), Col de la Serra (807m) and Col de Vizzavona (1,163m) passes. Ten kilometres from the finish, the ascent of the steep slope of Monte Salario will provide another hurdle.

RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK ANNOUNCES 2012 ROSTER

LEOPARD s.a., the company behind the RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK ProTeam, is pleased to have its registration confirmed by the UCI License Commission.

In September 2011, LEOPARD s.a. announced that the team would have new management, sponsors and name in 2012. After three full months of preparation, the RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK roster for 2012 has been finalized and counts with 30 of the world’s top professional cyclists, hailing from 14 different nations. The team will be led by 6 team directors under the management and direction of General Manager Johan Bruyneel.

LEOPARD s.a. President Flavio Becca is confident that the team will be very competitive in 2012, prolonging the string of good results in 2011. “In our inaugural season we had many podium places in the classics and Tour de France. Oliver Zaugg completed the season with a spectacular Tour of Lombardy victory and we secured third place in the UCI World Tour ranking.  But like any owner, whether it is in business or sports, I am constantly looking for ways to improve the team.  Johan Bruyneel is a leader who has a proven record of unparalleled success.  He maximizes talent, employs winning strategies and motivates riders and staff to achieve greatness. I am confident that Johan is the best person for our team.”

Bruyneel has had a busy few months assembling the 2012 roster.  “I’ve never been one to shy away from challenges so when I was presented with this opportunity, I immediately saw the potential of the idea. We collectively decided it was a win-win partnership for all parties.  After that, we became focused on putting together 30 riders, which was a tougher task than I’ve ever experienced in the past.  Combining Team RadioShack riders that we made an agreement with for 2012, with existing LEOPARD TREK riders resulted in 42 riders, 12 over the maximum limit for World Tour teams.  We worked hard to ensure that every rider’s contract was honored and that each one had a place to ride in 2012; if not with RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK, then with another professional cycling team.  With the roster of 30 riders finalized, we can now spend all our time and effort in preparing this group for the challenges that lie ahead.”

STAGE RACING

With an impressive array of GC contenders in the team,