3 Stage Wins, 2 Determined Teams, 1 Podium Finish - 1 Amazing Bike; Bianchi Oltre

Vacansoleil-DCM's Thomas De Gendt on the podium at the 2012 Giro

Congratulations to Thomas De Gendt for finishing 3rd in the 2012 Giro d'Italia!  With only two stages to go and sitting in 8th place at 5:40 behind race leader Joaquim Rodriguez, Thomas turned in the ride of his career with a victory atop the Stelvio.  He followed his incredible queen's stage win with an impressive 5th place finish in the individual time trial the following day, beating both Rodriguez and ultimate race winner Ryder Hesjedal.  

Thomas De Gendt winning the penultimate Giro stage atop Stelvio

De Gendt's third place finish was just 1:39 behind Hesjedal after a grueling 91 hours and 39 minutes of racing in 21 stages over 28 days.  He and his Vacansoleil-DCM team managed seven top ten stage finishes along the way.  This was a very strong grand tour showing for a team known for its spring classics prowess.

Miguel Rubiano winning Stage 6 of 2012 Giro d'Italia

Congratulations also to Androni-Giocattoli-Venezuela for two very impressive stage victories in the 2012 Giro d'Italia!  Miguel Rubiano dominated the first challenging mountain day with his win in Stage 6.  Roberto Ferrari took an impressive sprint finish over Mark Cavendish in Stage 11.  

Roberto Ferrari winning Stage 11 of 2012 Giro d'Italia

 
Italian pride was on full display each and every day of the Giro with a total of 9 top ten finishes including 2 second place (Felline and De Marchi) and 2 third place (De Marchi and Ferrari) podium appearances.  Hats off to Gianni Savio and his talented and tenacious team!  

Vacansoleil-DCM Giro Anniversary Bike

Bianchi is proud to have both the Vacansoleil and Androni teams racing on the Bianchi Oltre!   

Androni's Oltres for the Giro d'Italia

Strong Showing by Colombia-Coldeportes and Bianchi Sempre at Amgen Tour of California

Colombia-Coldeportes team at start of ATOC, courtesy of Bianchi USA

Congratulations to Colombia-Coldeportes on their North American racing debut!  This first-year Colombian national team gave an impressive performance at the 7th Amgen Tour of California. 

Fabio Duarte, 5th in Amgen Tour of California

Fabio Duarte took 5th overall (1:36 back from winner Robert Gesink and ahead of favorites Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer).  Darwin Atapuma finished 16th (4:28 behind).  

The team also picked up 2nd (Atapuma) and 3rd (Duarte) place finishes on the race's toughest stage (Stage 7, Mount Baldy), with Most Aggressive Rider honors to Atapuma in Stage 7 and Most Courageous Rider awarded to Wilson Marentes in Stage 3.  

Atapuma taking the lead from Horner, courtesy of cyclingnews.com

The strongest showing for the team came racing up the steep slopes of Mount Baldy in Stage 7.  Radio Shack's Chris Horner, last year's defending champion, led a breakaway in an attempt to make up his 2:50 deficit and reclaim the yellow jersey.  One by one, Horner dropped all other riders in the break except Darwin Atapuma.  As the slopes steepened and the peloton closed the gap, Atapuma attacked and led the race until the final kilometer. 

On the steep uphill finish in that final kilometer, Atapuma was barely outsprinted in the final meters by eventual race winner, Robert Gesink.  Meanwhile, Duarte had passed all the race favorites on the final climb, sliding in just behind Atapuma for an impressive 3rd place finish.  As Gesink moved up to claim the yellow jersey as the overall race leader, Duarte advanced from #16 to #5 in the GC standings.

Fabio Duarte breaking away from the peloton, Courtesy of Bianchi USA

"It was a very hard day. I was looking at Horner when he attacked, so I could stay in his wake and then press for the stage win," Atapuma said. "The stage win was so close, but second place in such an important stage at such an important race is a very good result."

 Duarte, who rode through the jetsam caused by Gesink's explosive attack, was pleased with third on the stage. "We are very happy with our team display today. Our aim was to take the stage win, and the team gave its all to race this objective," Duarte said. "We came very close. This is the kind of result that says thank you to the whole staff and all the people working for us, and of course the team."  Quotes courtesy of cyclingnews.com. 

The team deserves all the credit for their skill, strategy, and determination.  A stated goal for the team was to be a part of every breakaway and dominate the toughest climbs.  "Inspired by climbing" is the team's motto and their prowess was on display whenever the road turned steep.  Viewers on NBC Sports were treated to images of the team out front in stages two, three, four, six, and seven, showing off the Bianchi Sempre.

Bianchi Sempre Colombia-Coldeportes team bike, ATOC 2012

Congratulations to the Bianchi Sempre and its North American Racing Debut!  The Sempre was first released by Bianchi's famed Reparto Corse in fall 2010.  Designed to be a more affordable version of Bianchi's Hors Categorie professional racing models, the Sempre features Bianchi's proven race geometry, Nanotech carbon technology, Ultra Thin Seat Stays, and BB30 bottom bracket.  The Coldeportes team is proving that the Sempre is every bit as capable of winning pro races as its big brother the Oltre and a worthy successor to the models that propelled the likes of Coppi, Gimondi, and Pantani to victory. 

Bianchi Sempre with Shimano 105, $2299

An amateur racer or road cycling enthusiast can purchase a complete Sempre featuring the exact frame - same geometry and identical carbon formulation - as the model raced by Coldeportes riders, starting at $2299 (Shimano 105).  The exact frame and identical carbon fork with carbon steer tube is available in Ultegra ($3149), Ultegra Di2 ($4999), SRAM Red ($5999), and as a frameset ($1999).  For those who prefer an authentic Italian version the Sempre is also offered in Veloce ($3099).

To find out more about the Colombia-Coldeportes team, you can visit their official website, fan them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.  You can read about them in the recap of stages two, three, four, and seven on Cycling News.

To find out more about the Bianchi Sempre, visit Bianchi USA or read the many reviews posted here.  You can also fan Bianchi on Facebook and follow Bianchi on Twitter.  

RBA: Latest News; Bianchi at Flanders

Carbon or Aluminum?  Bianchi's Coast to Coast line offers both to Vacansoleil-DCM riders racing Tour of Flanders.

"Stijn Devolder's choice is Infinito whilst Bjorn Leukemans and Marco Marcato preferred Impulso to perform better under the specific conditions of the Belgian classic race: both models assure the best absorption of the strong vibrations due to the cobbles of Northern Classics' roads, thanks to Kevlar insertions in the seat stays and the carbon fork and to a rear triangle featuring a horizontal pipe section narrow and high."

“For this kind of courses I always prefer aluminum. - Leukemans stated -. Impulso is a rigid frame on asphalt and a comfortable on cobbles, without wasting power transmission".  Italian Marcato confirms: “I was never so quick on the cobbles. As for stability and reactivity, the Impulso is the perfect bike to run the Northern Classics”. 

"The Infinito is incredibly stable over demanding courses and offer the riders the optimal riding position for long distances."

Read the full report on Road Bike Action...

Coming Soon - Oltre Review in Peloton Magazine

Bianchi is proud to be part of Peloton Magazine's latest issue focusing on all things Italian.  

We anxiously await its availability on newsstands April 3, 2012 so we can share with you the wonderful review of our flagship racing bike, the Oltre.  

Until then, enjoy Peloton's preview video and try to wait patiently for your chance to peruse the three-page layout devoted to the bicycle of choice for professional racing's Vacansoleil-DCM and Androni-Giocattoli teams.


BTW, did we forget to mention Peloton's drawing for a 2012 Sempre Veloce similar to the model raced by the Colombia-Coldeportes team?  You should definitely pickup a copy for more details...

 

Oltre Review on Bike Radar

Bianchi Oltre Super Record Review - March 21, 2012

 

 "What did surprise us, though, is the bike’s comfort... Here, though, the sheer smoothness is outstanding. There’s a lightness about every aspect of the ride... While some race bikes are all brutish speed and power, the Oltre is just as quick but it achieves this with a nimble, almost delicate touch."

Read the full review at Bike Radar...

Westra Takes Stage 5 of Paris-Nice on Bianchi Oltre

Congratulations to Lieuwe Westra from Team Vacansoleil-DCM on his win in Stage 5 of Paris-Nice!  Additional congratulations to Frederik Veuchelen for his commanding lead in the King Of The Mountains category!

Read full results from the Queen Stage of Paris-Nice on Cycling News and Velonation...


This is yet another victory for the Bianchi Oltre in the early part of the 2012 racing season.  Read about earlier results here.

In Print: Oltre in RBA's 2012 Bike Buyer's Guide

Find one-half page devoted to the Oltre in the 2012 Bike Buyer's Guide published by Road Bike Action Magazine (page 26).


"The famed Italian brand brings in the all-new Oltre as their flagship model.  Through material choices and tube shaping, the Oltre is a balance between stiffness, weight, and aerodynamics..."


The Oltre is available in Super Record and Dura Ace in addition to a frameset with both standard and electronic shift cable routing options that can be custom built to your own specifications.  A version with the all new Campagnolo Super Record EPS electronic shifting system is coming soon!  


Read more Oltre reviews here and here.

Read about continued racing successes on the Oltre here.