Gates Corp., maker of the Gates Carbon Drive belt-drive system for bicycles, has partnered with the Swiss bicycle brand BMC to become the official “lifestyle bike” sponsor of the BMC Racing Team. Cadel Evans and select teammates and race team staff will receive belt-drive commuter bikes from BMC’s lifestyle line as part of the sponsorship, which is believed to be unique among professional race teams.
BMC Racing Team trucks in Europe and the United States will carry BMC brand “urbanchallenge,” bicycles for use by team members and staff at race venues. In addition to the 11-speed UC01 models, Gates will give select team riders including Evans and George Hincapie “masschallenge” MC01 singlespeedsfor commuting and personal use at home. Both bike models are equipped with Gates Carbon Drive, a chain-replacing technology that needs no greasy lubrication and will not stretch like a chain.
The UC01 and MC01 are the showpieces of BMC’s Lifestlye line and were launched in 2012 with the goal of producing the most advanced and appealing transportation bikes. The sponsorship was announced during the BMC Racing Team’s Sponsor Expo in Denia, Spain, where the team was holding its January training camp.
“We are honored to have Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and members of the BMC Racing Team commuting and running errands on belt-drive bikes,” says Greg Vigil, VP of Marketing for Gates. “Just like everyday bicycle commuters, pro racers also want a transportation bike that is clean and low-maintenance.”
BMC Racing Team owner Jim Ochowicz will also receive a UC01 for pedaling and commuting around his hometown. "The BMC Racing Team rides the most high-performance race bikes, and now we also have the most high-performance commuter and lifestyle bikes," Ochowicz says. "Gates Carbon Drive is an innovative technology that perfectly fits our team image of Swiss precision, speed and compelling aesthetics, and we are pleased to have Gates as an official sponsor."
"Gates sees this relationship with BMC Racing as a great way to build awareness of Carbon Drive's clean, quiet, light and strong advantages among European consumers and followers of elite road racing, the types of bicyclists who want nothing but the best commuter or city bike," says Todd Sellden, director of Gates Carbon Drive Systems.
The UC01 comes in 11-speed, eight-speed and three-speed versions, along with a singlespeed/fixie option. It is designed for commuting, fitness or leisure rides. The MC01 singlespeed is a high-concept bike that was conceived with the idea of getting Evans onto the lightest and most innovative city bike. Attractive, fast and light, the UC01 and MC01 are built on a lightweight iSC alloy frame and feature carbon forks, disc brakes and Gates' new CenterTrack drive train, which has won accolades from publications including Bicycling, Wired and Outside, and European media including Germany's Aktiv Radfahren and France's Velovert. For more information visit: BMC Racing
About Gates Carbon Drive
Consisting of a high-strength belt embedded with carbon fiber cords and two metal sprockets, Gates Carbon Drive is a low-maintenance, chain-replacing technology from Gates Corp., the global leader in automotive and industrial belts. Clean, quiet, light and strong, Carbon Drive requires no greasy lube, weighs less than a chain drive and will not stretch. Featured on bikes from BMC, Trek, Specialized, Scott, Focus and 64-plus brands, Carbon Drive has grown in popularity every year since its introduction in 2007 and will be spec’d on approximately 150 bike models worldwide in 2012, plus numerous custom belt drive models. Due to its low maintenance and ease of use, Carbon Drive is a technology that can get more people on bikes. VisitGates Carbon Drive
Voeckler spent 10 days in yellow during the 2011 Tour de France, adding to the 10 days spent in yellow during the 2003 Tour. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada
Frenchman Thomas Voeckler admits finishing alongside the big yellow jersey favourites at July's Tour de France will be virtually impossible despite giving the hosts hope of a much longed-for podium place in 2011.
Dominated for decades by foreign cycling stars, the Tour de France came close to producing its first French podium finisher since Richard Virenque in 1997 when Voeckler rode to a respectable fourth place finish last July.
With this year's edition dominated by time trials, as well as the usual stages in the high mountains, Voeckler admits he may not be one of the race's big stars in 2012.
Instead, the Europcar team leader is taking things in his stride - and hoping teammate Pierre Rolland, tipped as a future winner of the race after claiming the race's white jersey for the best placed rider under-25, steps up to the plate.
"I had some great experiences on the Tour in 2011, but the best way to take a nosedive is to try and do the same as you've done before," Voeckler said at his team's presentation. "We'll be working hard this season, but at the end of the day it's only sport. If we do re-live those experiences... it will be totally unexpected."
Europcar, under their previous sponor name Bouygues, won two stages at the Tour in 2009, repeating the feat in 2010 when Anthony Charteau also won the race's King of the Mountains polka dot jersey.
Last year, Voeckler's name dominated the daily reports in the second half of the race as he fought a losing but intriguing battle to stay in contention for a podium place. Despite showing French fans his credentials, Voeckler knows he will be subject to the myriad variables that can make the difference between losing
and winning a major bike race.
"I'm far more confident than I was before. But you have to take into account the circumstances of bike racing, and the fact there are over 90 km of time trials (in 2012)," he added. "I can't say I'm aiming for a podium place. I'm a bit special in that I'll be going in with no major objectives, but that doesn't mean I'm not ambitious."
While Rolland helped soothe Voeckler's loss of the yellow jersey last year by winning an epic stage to Alpe d'Huez, the young Frenchman is also being cautious.
"My ambition is to do just as well on the Tour (as I did last year)," said Rolland. "Seeing Thomas have the yellow jersey was like a wake-up for me, made me realise what I could achieve and how I should race to achieve my aims. Gaining confidence is priceless for any bike racer."
Despite Europcar manager Jean-Rene Bernaudeau citing Rolland as a possible winner of their home race - France's first since Bernard Hinault in 1985 -the 25-year-old added: "Jean-Rene is, by nature, someone who is very optimistic.
"I'll do everything to try and make sure it happens one day, but I don't expect to go from 11th (overall) to first place. If I manage to improve my overall place this year, it will be a sign I'm on the right track. But right now, I'm miles away from trying to win the race."
For the third consecutive year, following the sporting, popular and media success encountered during the previous editions, the Sultanate of Oman will be the center of the cycling world from 14th to 19th February 2012, for 16 teams from the international pack.
Whilst all-rounders and sprinters will be in their element on the magnificent roads that run along the Sea of Oman coast, punchers and climbers will also be able to showcase their talents on the country’s steep terrain. The stage at Jabal Al Akhdar (the Green Mountain) with a final climb of 5.8 km at an average gradient of 10.3%, that even reaches 13.5% over the last two kilometres, will be one of the high points of the third edition of the Tour of Oman.
The 16 Selected Teams:
BMC Racing Team USA
Bridgestone Anchor JPN
Champion System CHN
Farnese Neri Cycling Team ITA
FDJ-BigMat FRA
Garmin-Barracuda USA
Greenedge Cycling Team AUS
Katusha Team RUS
Liquigas-Cannondale ITA
Lotto-Belisol Team BEL
Omega Pharma-Quick Step BEL
Project 1t4i NED
Rabobank NED
Radioshack-Nissan USA
RTS Racing team TPE
Sky Pro Cycling GBR
The Route:
Stage 1, Tuesday 14th February: Al Alam Palace – Wadi Al Huwqayn (159 km)
Stage 2, Wednesday 15th February: Sur – Wadi Dayqah Dam (140,5 km)
Stage 3, Thursday 16th February: Al Awabi (Al Alya) – Bank Muscat HQ (144,5 km)
Stage 4, Friday 17th February: Bidbid (Nafa’a) – Al Wadi al Kabir (142,5 km)
Stage 5, Saturday 18th February: Royal Opera House – Jabal Al Akhdhar / Green Mountain (158 km)
Stage 6, Sunday 19th February: Al Khawd – Matrah Corniche (130,5 km)
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