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

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...

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.

Bianchis Dominate in Early Season Racing

Congratulations to all three of our professional racing teams - Vacansoleil-DCM, Androni-Giocattoli-Venezuela, and Colombia Coldeportes - for impressive victories this past week!

Jose Serpa Wins Tour de Langkawi on Oltre - Jose Rujano Finishes 2nd.  Read full story here on Cycling News...

Gustav Larsson Wins Opening Stage Time Trial at Paris-Nice on his Pico Crono - Thomas De Gent Takes KOM.  Read full story here on Cycling News...

Kenny Van Hummel Takes 3rd in Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen.  Read full story here on Cycling News...

Van Hummel and crew have been taking turns racing the Oltre, Infinito, and Impulso, depending on race conditions.

Jarlinson Pantano Finishes 12th at Bianche Strada on Sempre.  Read article about team here on Velo Nation...

Wout Poels Finishes 3rd in Vuelta Mercia on Oltre.  

Three teams, five podium finishing models! 

Photo Gallery: Vacansoleil-DCM training in Benidorm

"The latest team fine-tuning their fitness under a Mediterranean sky are Dutch team Vacansoleil-DCM, who have based themselves in Benidorm on the Costa Blanca."  Read the full report at Cycling News...

Sell all pictures in the Photo Gallery...

Vacansoleil-DCM starts with jersey and some bad luck in Tour Down Under

    Photo courtesy of Vacansoleil - DCM

Marcello Pavarin takes KOM while three riders crash.  Read more here...

Marcello Pavarin King of the Mountain Stage 1 Tour Down Under

  

After the first full stage of racing at Santos Tour Down Under in Australia, Vacansoleil-DCM's Marcello Pavarin captures the King Of the Mountain jersey and inches up to a respectable 7th place overall at just 9 seconds back.

More action shots on Bianchi USA's official Facebook page.

See Pavarin in a nice action shot here and here in the breakaway at velonation. 

Keep up with all the race results at the TDU official site. 

Coldeportes' Sempre - First Actual Photos

The unveiling of Colombia-Coldeportes' 2012 Bianchi Sempre featuring SRAM Red!

 

Follow the team on their official website, Facebook, and Twitter.  Pictures also appear on the official Facebook page of Bianchi USA.  

Tour Down Under 2012: Prologue Recap

Sunday, January 15th marked the start of the 2012 Pro Tour with the Prologue for the Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia.

It also marked the debut of Vacansoleil-DCM astride their 2012 Bianchi Oltres.  Here is a short, 6-minute YouTube video recapping the prologue (double-click to launch in full screen format).  The team's Romain Feillu finished an impressive 13th.

See more photos on Bianchi USA's official Facebook fan page:

More commentary:

From Pez Cycling; "The bike race was good. Tour organizers said it was the fastest race to date... I also saw the aftermath of Vacansoleil-DCM’s Kenny van Hummel’s crash. He had some bad road rash, but it didn’t look like anything too serious."  Read more at Pez Cycling... 

Former winner Jose Rujano to lead Androni team in Tour de Langkawi

Giro d’Italia stage winner Jose Rujano will get what will be a very important season for him underway on February 24th when he lines out in the Tour de Langkawi, a race he won in 2010.

The climber had a strong 2011 season and if he can manage to build on that, his goal of a podium finish or better in the Giro d’Italia seems possible. He’s been confirmed as the leader of the Androni Giocattoli squad in the Malaysian race and a big result there would give him motivation for the months to follow.

Read more at velonation...

Denifl seeking elusive first pro win with Vacansoleil-DCM

 

Stefan Denifl has switched to his third professional team in as many years, after debuting in the pro ranks for the Cervélo Test Team and riding for Leopard Trek last year. The Austrian is on the hunt for his first win with World Tour team Vacansoleil-DCM and says he already feels at home.

“It’s great,” he commented to VeloNation, when asked about the environment at the new team. “I really enjoyed my first camps and get together with Vacansoleil-DCM. It’s professional and organized, like it should be. Cool team-mates and motivated staff…I am looking forward to starting the season.”

Read more at velonation.com...

Sella is late call-up to Androni’s Tour de San Luis squad

 

Italian climber Emanuele Sella will have an earlier-than-expected start to his season after his Androni Giocattoli team decided to send him to the Tour de San Luis in Argentina.

The Venezuelan Carlos Ochoa was originally due to take part, but the team stated today that because of an intestinal virus, he had been scratched from its start list. The coaching team decided that Sella was the fittest of the remaining riders and so he has been given the call-up.

Read more on velonation.com... 

FEATURES: BIANCHI UNVEILS THREE 2012 TEAM BIKES

In order, Vacansoleil-DCM, Androni-Giocattoli, and Colombia-Coldeportes.

Read the full article on Road Bike Action...

Colombia-Coldeportes 2012 roster completed

I

In addition to launching the team's official website, Colombia-Coldeportes has finalized its 2012 roster.

The official roster of Colombia-Coldeportes 2012 features the following athletes:

John Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col, 1988);
Robinson Eduardo Chalapud Gomez (Col, 1984);
Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col, 1990);
Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (Col, 1986);
Juan Pablo Foreno Carreno (Col, 1983);
Javier Alberto Gonzalez Carrera (Col, 1979);
Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez (Col, 1979);
Wilson Alexander Marentes Torres (Col, 1985);
Frank Jair Osorio (Col, 1988);
Dalivier Ospina Navarro (Col, 1985);
Jarlinson Pantano Gomez (Col, 1988);
Victor Hugo Peña Grisales (Col, 1974);
Carlos Julian Quintero Norena (Col, 1986);
Michael Rodriguez Galindo (Col, 1989);
Jeffri Johan Romero Corredor (Col, 1989);
Juan Pablo Suarez Suarez (Col, 1985).

Best of luck in 2012!

Video: Vacansoleil Working Together with Bianchi

Click on the box to enlarge to a full YouTube video screen.  Enjoy!

Tirreno-Adriatico, Sanremo and Lombardia for Colombia’s comeback in 2012

Team Colombia Coldeportes has been invited to take part to 2012 Tirreno-Adriatico, Milano-Sanremo, Strade Bianche and Giro di Lombardia, the most important races organized by RCS Sport, with the sole exception of Giro d’Italia, and are clearly the number one aim for the Colombian outfit. As for the four wild cards, Androni, Farnese, Colnago-CSF and Team NetApp got RCS Sport’s nod.

Nevertheless, the news spread by RCS Sport has been received in pretty good mood at the Team’s headquarter in Adro. “Having the opportunity to race in three World Tour races in our very first season,” General Manager Claudio Corti stated. “We will get a chance to show off right away at the Tirreno-Adriatico, and to take part to some great Classics like Sanremo and Lombardia. It is a good achievement for a new team, as we apparently managed to win people’s sympathy and consideration in such a short term.”

Read more at bikeworldnews.com...

Colombia Coldeportes team pledges to chase Tour or Vuelta wildcard

 

Officially invited today to three out of four of RCS Sports big races but missing out on the Giro d’Italia, the Colombia Coldeportes team has said that it is still gunning to ride a Grand Tour in 2012.

“It’s a shame we can’t be at the start of the Corsa Rosa this year, though we were flattered by the great attention and sympathy our team collected, despite being assembled just some weeks ago,” said general manager Claudio Corti this evening. “We still believe in our chances for a start at the Tour de France or at the Vuelta a Espana in 2012.”

Read more at velonation.com...

2012 Giro d'Italia wildcards named

Congratulations to Team Androni-Giocattoli for being invited to the 2012 Giro d'Italia!  Androni will be joining Vacansoleil-DCM in this epic race with each team representing Bianchi on a slightly different version of the venerable Oltre.

Congratulations to Colombia-Coldeportes for being invited to the 2012 Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo, and Tour of Lombardy!  While we are disappointed that Colombia-Coldeportes did not secure one of the four wildcard spots offered to Pro Continental teams, we are very anxious for their debut on the 2012 Sempre in these other epic races.

The loyalties of Bianchi fans will be put to a test when Coldeportes goes head-to-head with Vacansoleil-DCM in both Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo and against Androni Giocattoli in Tour of Lombardy.

As always, may the best team win - as long as it's on a Bianchi!

Read story at cyclingnews.com...

Video of Vacansoleil-DCM Team for 2012

 

Click on the box to enlarge it to a full YouTube screen.  Enjoy!

Bianchi unveils Colombia Coldeportes’ Sempre model

 

Bianchi’s Sempre model is the official bike of the new Professional team Colombia Coldeportes for 2012 season. Featuring Bianchi’s special racing geometry, the Sempre carbon monocoque frame is part ofB4P (Born for Performance) family and is engeneered to combine stiffness with lightweight.

Read more at bikeworldnews.com...