Tag: rabobank

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Rabobank Quit the Game

rabobankThe aftershocks from the Armstrong doping allegations continue to be felt with yesterday’s somewhat shock announcement that Rabobank are to end their team sponsorship deal and walk away from supporting pro cycling after 17 years. Earlier in the week the team had suspended Carlos Barredo after the UCI announced they were to investigate the Spaniard for doping; this, it would appear, was the straw that broke the camels back, with Rabobank’s Bert Bruggink making their position clear, saying, ‘We are no longer convinced that the international professional world of cycling can make this a clean and fair sport…’

 

Rabobank has enjoyed 23 stage wins across the last 16 Tour de France editions, but have not been beyond historical controversy (their Danish star Michael Rasmussen was banned in 2007). However the Dutch bank’s decision to end their love affair with the sport seems somewhat peculiar – punishing the current, clean crop of riders for the sins of the fathers…

 

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Going Green at the TdF

Always interesting to cast your mind to some of the background minutiae of life with a pro cycling team. Have you ever considered, for example, just how all that kit gets washed day to day during a Grand Tour? No nor had Cyclo, but from Saturday June 30 The Rabobank Cycling Team’s DAF CF materials truck, which houses two washing machines for both kit and the riders’ personal clothing, will be powered by seven solar panels to add a dash of environmental credential. The panels will provide 100% of the power needed not only for the washers but also the refrigerator and freezer used for sandwiches and food for the feed bags.

 

The new truck, which made its pre-solar debut at the Tour de Suisse, is the result of a collaboration between a number of companies; it was designed by Elenbaas, had the custom chassis (which required space under the loading platform for a series of storage batteries) built by De Rijke, whilst Victron Energy provided the solar panels themselves. Finally, Stork Technical Services prepared the truck to enable it to stow the 35 bicycles and extra wheel sets destined for the Tour de France.

 

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Men Down Under

Team Sky have named their provisional seven-man line up for the 2012 Tour Down Under, the traditional Australian season opener. They comprise Great Britain’s Geraint Thomas and Alex Dowsett, Australians Mathew Hayman, Michael Rogers and Christopher Sutton, Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen (a heavily tipped TdU winner following an outstanding 2011) and the USA’s Danny Pate making his Sky debut after the move from HTC-Highroad.

 

Rabobank has similarly revealed their TdU squad; they will be fielding: Luis Leon Sanchez, Mark Renshaw, Michael Matthews, Graeme Brown, Tom Leezer, Jos Van Emden and Wilco Kelderman.

 

The Tour Down Under takes place January 17-22 and in 2012 will see a one-day Cancer Council Classic preceding the main six-stage event.