Elite is supporting 12 of the 22 formations that will be lining up for the start of the Tour de France on Saturday, June 3rd from Rotterdam, Holland. More than half of the bicycles jostling for position at the Grande Boucle will be equipped – according to the needs of the team – either with Custom Race water bottles, customised for many riders with their national flag colours; or with Sior, the innovative Elite water bottle made in carbon and titanium that’s light and resistant. When the group is gruelling up the Alpine and Pyrenean climbs, to quench their thirst they can count on Elite Team, the 550 ml squeeze bottle with a push-pull rubber stopper. It’s easy to extract and simple to use in any phase of a race.

The Elite sponsored teams lining up to start the Grande Boucle are: Caisse d’Epargne, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Footon-Servetto, HTC-Columbia, AG2R La Mondiale, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Francaise des Jeux, Liquigas-Doimo, BMC Racing Team, Team Sky, Katusha and Cervelo Test Team.

Many Sidi Sport stars are participating in the 2010 Grande Boucle that starts off with a time trial on Saturday July 3rd in Rotterdam, Holland. And without a doubt the brightest among those stars have got to be Alberto Contador and Ivan Basso.

contador

Between the two of them, these champions boast an extraordinary list of accomplishments. The Spanish ace has won two Tour de France races (2007 and 2009) and in 2008 he scored a double coup by capturing the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. The Italian champ also has a full plate, with two victories in the Giro d’Italia (2006 and 2010) and a series of podiums and placements in the Tour (3rd in 2004 and 2nd in 2005) in the era of his highness Lance Armstrong.

Basso

This promises to be a great Tour de France for the Sidi colours. First the Savoia Alps and then the Pyrenees will become the stage for epic battles played out on the pedals, starring these two titans of modern cycling. Basso has already more than proved his worth by capturing the pink jersey in 2010, and he can count on backup from his fellow gladiators on the Liquigas Doimo juggernaut, who fought like lions in the Giro, stage after stage, all the way to the grand finale in the Arena in Verona. Contador comes to the tour supported by the Astana armada that joins the Eastern winds of Kazakhstan with all the Latin fire and temperament of Spain.

Both champions will have a valuable ally in common: Genius 6.6 Carbon Lite, the top-of-the-line shoe with full carbon sole from the Sidi Sport collection. A light and resistant shoe that guarantees the maximum performance without sacrificing the comfort and safety of a rider’s feet. However at the same time both Basso and Contador will have to stay on the lookout for fierce competition from riders who certainly won’t just be sitting on their pedals watching. The race for the yellow jersey is on!

Visconti

This weekend was dedicated to National Championships on roads around the world. In Italy Giovanni Visconti enjoyed a worthy victory when he crossed the finish line in Conegliano waving the Italian tri-coloured flag. For the “Marine” from Team ISD Neri Giambenini it’s his career third Italian National champion’s jersey, coming after his 2007 success as a pro and his triumph in the under 23 category back in 2003. The podium was dominated by Elite, with Ivan Santaromita (Liquigas-Doimo) in second place and Alessandro Ballan (BMC-Racing), coming in third. It’s a matter of pride for Elite to shine on its home roads in the Veneto as a sponsor of the Italian cycling week. In the Tri-coloured time trial it was a 5th success for the specialist Marco Pinotti (Htc-Columbia).

Elite enjoyed many trademark successes this weekend. In Great Britain it was a hat trick with Geraint Thomas coming in first, followed by Kennaugh and Stannard. In the women’s group the winner is Emma Pooley (Cervelo Test Team). In France, Bbox Bouygues Telecom show that scored a double with Thomas Voeckler coming in first on road and Nicolas Vogondy coming out on top in the time trial. In Spain Caisse d’Epargne also doubled down with Josè Ivan Gutierrez coming in first on the road and Luis Leon Sanchez scoring highest in the time trial. Viking Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) was king of Norway in the road race and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Htc-columbia) was first in the time trial. In Switzerland Martin Elmiger (Ag2r-La Mondiale) clinched victory in the road race and Di Rubens Bertogliati (Androni Giocattoli) dominated the time trial. In Germany time trial win for Toni Martin (Htc-Columbia). Katusha enjoyed a double in Russia with Alexander Kolobnev first on the road and Vladimir Gusev taking the time trial. In Byelorussia, Aleksandr Kuschynski (Liquigas-Doimo)tasted victory in the road race. Lithuania saw a time trial victory go to Ignatas Konovalovas (Cervelo Test Team). In Finland victory on the road went to Jussi Veikkanen (Francaise des Jeux).

Absalon e Schurter

Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower) and Julien Absalon (Orbea) have given the Sidi Sport colours a magical double win in the first test of World Cup mountain biking that took place on Sunday, April 25th in Great Britain. The race was quite spectacular, dominated from start to finish by the two Sidi aces. It was held on the thrilling circuit in the Dolby Forest in Yorkshire, a new entry in the World Cup stage locations. This is the forest made famous by the legendary adventures of Robin Hood, the gentleman outlaw who “stole from the rich to give to the poor”. It was a clash between two giants who both belong to the “fat tyre” stables of Sidi Sport. Defending World Champion Nino Schurter beat Olympic Champion Julien Absalon over the finish line in the final sprint. And with them on the highest steps of the podium were their MTB Dragon 2 Carbon Srs shoes, the top of the line shoes from the 2010 Sidi off road collection. This shoe has confirmed itself as a veritable “dragon” in off road terrain. It’s strong features include the light, resistant and high performance MTB Srs Carbon Sole, the unmistakable Sidi closure system made up of the micrometric Caliper lever, the Tecno II System micrometric front closure, the High Security Velcro strap and the adjustable technical heel that reinforces the back part of the shoe.

Attached: photo of Nino Schurter and Julien Absalon on the finish line and details from the Sidi MTB Dragon 2 Carbon Srs model.

SCOTT Bicycles sponsored members of the dominant Commerzbank Triathlon Team just concluded their 2010 training camp on the beautiful island of Mallorca. While the camp provided an excellent chance for team members to train and prepare for the upcoming racing season, it also allowed them the rare opportunity to do so together, sharing valuable insight and feedback with each other and sponsors alike.

In spite of being a team, these triathletes largely race in different events throughout the world for the bulk of the season before converging at the end of the year to compete together at the Kona Ironman World Championship.

Last year the entire Commerzbank Team qualified for Kona, and several have already secured their spots for 2010, including Normann Stadler, Timo Bracht and Marino Vanhoenacker. The team produced some of the fastest bike splits at Kona in 2009, led by Maik Twelsiek’s blazing 4:28:34. Moreover, the team managed three top-fifteen finishes, more than any other contingent.

Look for Commerzbank Triathlon Team at the top of the leader board again in 2010.

The new AGILIS 2010 crank

The new AGILIS 2010 crank has been completely revamped, being upgraded both technically and visually, to bring the Agilis into the new decennium at a level of performance you expect from ROTOR.

Technically, the update has been nothing less than revolutionary. AGILIS cranks now share their axle and crank clamp design with 3D crank (a system proven by the Cervélo TestTeam), also allowing for a conventional installation procedure. This ultra-secure clamping system uses a single oversized DTT bolt to do the clamping job only two conventional bolts can do and integrates a replaceable threaded insert between the crank and the bolt, giving extra protection against product damage due to over-tightening. The updated interface and axle dramatically increases stiffness, fulfilling the expectations of even the most demanding consumer.

Continued application of our proven Hollowminium II crank arm manufacturing technology ensures that the ever-critical weight constraints are attended to by the elimination of all but the most necessary structural material.

Visually, the results are spectacular. The new, elegant laser design belies the crank’s exceptional rigidity and accentuates its light weight; harmonizing perfectly with the crank arms’ fluid shape by mimicking their attractive organic curves and striking angles. Another distinctive visual element is the crank’s spider; which will be manufactured exclusively in red for all crank variants (130 bcd, 110 bcd, XC2 and XC3). Full integration of the ROTOR logo into the new design language of the crank provides a competition ready branding style without jarring with the Ágilis’ newly found supermodel look.

- Weight (w/o rings & BB):

525g/517g Compact road (175/170mm) and 550g/542g XC2 Mtb (175/170mm)

- Sizes & availability:

175 & 172.5mm (available now) 170mm (Mid April).

Mark Cavendish

First season acute for Cannonball! Mark Cavendish the strong sprinter from Columbia-HTC Team won, Tuesday March 23rd, the second stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya from Salt to Banyoles of 182 km. Solving the health problems that have characterized his first season part now Cavendish is back on Spain roads to win and did so in his own way, beating everyone at the final sprint. Yesterday in second place was the Argentine Jose Haedo (Saxo-Bank), third the Spaniard Aitor Galdos (Euskaltel-Euskadi). HTC Columbia Team, the most winning of the 2009 season, it is confirmed in the 2010 as one of the most representative Elite squad.

The fastest is back! Welcome back Mark!

Rapha womens cycling clothing

Rapha announce that the Women’s range has now arrived. Developed over two years after huge demand from the cycling world, Rapha introduce three new core products that use the same performance fabrics as the men’s range but with tailoring and features designed specifically for female riders.

http://www.rapha.cc/products/womens

Stowaway Jacket

Windproof, water resistant and breathable, this three-season cycling jacket is designed for riding in changeable conditions. Ultra lightweight, it packs down small enough to fit inside a jersey pocket.

See the jacket:

http://www.rapha.cc/womens-stowaway-jacket-1

Classic Jersey

The Classic Jersey combines high performance with distinctive styling. Based on Rapha’s original cycling jersey, its Sportwool fabric is high-wicking, breathable and comfortable. The full-length zip and arm warmers make it suited to varied conditions.

See the jersey:

http://www.rapha.cc/womens-classic-jersey

Rapha Women’s Shorts

Combining the comfort and performance of the men’s shorts without the inconvenience of bibs, the Women’s Shorts have a high-waist at the back with a soft gripper for a snug and secure fit and use a top level pad from specialists Cytech.

See the shorts:

http://www.rapha.cc/womens-shorts

Oscar Freire Gomez

Oscar Freire Gomez (Rabobank) was in fine form on Saturday, March 20th, on the Sanremo waterfront as he literally burned Tom Boonen and Alessandro Petacchi in the sprint after 300 km in this spectacular and exciting Spring Super Classic.

The Sidi Sport colours rounded out a splendid day with the Italian Champion Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha) on the front line for the entire race, on the attack against Poggio and in the lead until the last kilometre. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone), winner of the Tirreno-Adriatico, shone as one of the best climbers, and the guys on the Liquigas juggernaut stood out with Daniele Bennati, Franco Pellizotti, Daniel Oss, Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger.

The relationship between Sidi and Oscarito Freire has lasted many years. “I was so concentrated on the race – explains the Spanish ace – that Saturday morning I was already on the bus on my way to the starting line at the Sforzesco Castle in Milan before I realised that I’d forgotten my Sidi Ergo 2 Carbon Lite shoes in my hotel room…fortunately, my team mate Langeveld saw them and brought them to me! I was lucky; I don’t know what I would have done otherwise…I cannot race without my Sidi!”

Oscar Freire thus confirms himself as one of the most outstanding champions in the Sidi Sport line up. This is his third success at the Milano-Sanremo which, added to his three World Championships and his other wins, combine for a total of 13 one-day grand classics won by Freire in his extraordinary career. And he’s not done yet! There’s still a long season ahead…and as the Italian saying goes, the more you eat, the hungrier you feel!

Behind the scenes look at how the team Radio Shack Bikes are built!