blog

Victory in China!

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:59:48 +0200

Shelly Olds of Team AA-Drink/Leontien.nl sprinted to victory in the Chongming Island World Cup race which ended in a bunch sprint!

Earlier last week the international women's peloton rode the Tour of Chongming Island stage race which was followed by the World Cup race this weekend. During last weeks stages Shelly was also in the front with a third place in the bunch sprint and a fourth place in the general classification. "This feels great and is a relieve for me and the team. Feeling good all week it didn't lead to a victory yet, but this is a great revanche!" Olds explained!

The podium was completed by another succesful woman on FFWD Wheels as Italian Monia Baccaille sprinted to third place. Baccaille also rode a great stage race in Chongming with a stage victory and a second place in the General Classification!

Photo: Cor Vos

Second place European Championships Triathlon!

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:02:46 +0200

FFWD Wheels supports Para triathlete Peter Boronkay who placed second on the European Championships in Eilat, Israël!

The former two times World Champion from Hungary finished second on the sprint distance in the Tri-4 category!

The next race for Peter will be the World Championship Series in Madrid where he is aiming on the highest podium spot again!

Baccaille sprints to victory!

Thu, 10 May 2012 14:01:52 +0200

Italian rider Monia Baccaille of the MCipollini-Giambenini women's team won the second stage of the Tour Of Chongming Island!

After a third place in the first stage yesterday Monia was able to beat the peloton today in a bunch sprint. With her victory and third place of yesterday she is now leading the general classification!

The complete team is doing well in China with a third, fifth and seventh place yesterday the fluo-yellow ladies show themselves.

Westra surprises!

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:05:57 +0200

In the first stage of the Tour De Romandie Lieuwe Westra sprinted to second place behind Bradley Wiggins!

In a similar sprint during Paris-Nice the Vacansoleil-DCM rider showed already to manage well in a flat sprint with a third place. "I did not feel good but was able to maintain myself easily in front of the peloton on the climbs" Westra explained. "After a wet prologue the motivation is better after this stage, but there are tough stages to come"!

Although a great motivation after the first stage, Lieuwe Westra did not feel good in the second stage and decided to take rest and abandon the Tour of Romandie today!

Photo: Cor Vos

Triathlon victory for FFWD!

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:09:21 +0200

FFWD Wheels sponsored athlete Emma-Kate Lidbury won the Challenge Fuertaventura!

The British athlete lead from start to finish and completed the half Ironman distance in 4:32:41, almost three minutes before number two of the race.

Lidbury is familiar with the Island where she spend most of the winter training for the season. "After spending some weeks at home in Oxford, I needed a change of scene and see the sun again. Upon arrival I felt relaxed and ready to race!" says Emma-Kate.

Emma-Kate chose a combination of the FFWD F9R rear wheel with the F6R front wheel. This combination has great aerodynamic advantages but keeps you in control of your bike because of the lower front wheel!

photo's: © http://sports.jamesmitchell.eu

Feillu sprints to second place!

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:37:40 +0200

Team Vacansoleil-DCM had a strong presence in the GP Pino Cerami with Feillu on second place!

With one kilometre to go it was Marco Marcato who was leading the race after attacking at 20 kilometres before the finish with two others. As the peloton caught them it was Belgian rider Gaetan Bille who jumped out of the pack and was able to solo to the finish line.

Romain Feillu was the fastest of the sprinting peloton and had to settle with a second place.

In Spain Wout Poels tried his luck on the final very steep 500 metres of the climb but could not maintain untill the finish where Rodriguez won. Poels ended the stage on place 8 and is now 7th in the general classification of the Vuelta Ciclista Al Pais Vasco.

Photo: Cor Vos

Wout Poels Second in Sprint!

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:40:40 +0200

Wout Poels surprised Team Vacansoleil-DCM by finishing second in the first stage of the Vuelta Ciclista Al Pais Vasco!

It was no surprise that Poels finished second, but the way he did so in a bunch sprint was new for both the team and Poels himself. Being a climber who finished second on the Angliru last year, this sprint success was not expected.

Wout Poels has shown last year already to be able to handle different types of terrain in WorldTour races. "From the Tirreno-Adriatico I've trained hard and explored the courses of the classics in the Ardennes. I feel good and am looking forward to those races!" Poels said after the race.

Johnny Hoogerland crashed during the stage and needed to have his elbow stitched. Fortunately he was able to continue the race.

Both riders are preparing for the classics to come in the Ardennes and the Amstel Gold Race in their home country.

Photo: Cor Vos

Monia Baccaille wins!

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:38:58 +0200

Italian rider Monia Baccaille wins GP De Dottignies in Belgium!

The complete team of MCipollini-Giambenini-Gaus worked hard to put Baccaille in a good position for the sprint. In the final metres Baccaille was able to take revenge for her second place of last year. This year the positions changed and Baccaille won before Emma Johansson who won last year.

The famous Mario Cipollini is close with the team and has recently trained with the girls showing them the details of a race. The sprint training with Mario paid off for Monia Baccaille resulting in this great victory.

For the women's team the choice of wheels are FFWD F6R and F4R, most of the time combined as set with F6R in the rear and F4R in the front for more control.

Photo: Sportfoto.nl

Close call for Westra!

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:16:48 +0200

With only a difference of four seconds, Lieuwe Westra ended on second place in the Flemish race 'Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde'!

Westra gave it all as he explains: "I always run into a stronger guy in the time trial of this race. This is the fourth time I finish second in this time trial, but I couldn't go any faster and did not make any mistakes!"

Sylvain Chavanel was four seconds faster in the time trial and with that Westra ended second in the general classification for the second year in a row. Westra really had his mind set to win this race, but can not blame himself.

In the morning stage Team Vacansoleil-DCM was also close to victory with a third place for sprinter Kenny van Hummel. After a fourth place in the second stage Van Hummel chose the wheel of Kittel, but it was not the best position.

Looking back at the race in general the team is satisfied that all riders ended the race safely and are in good shape for the Tour of Flanders this Sunday.

The team for the Tour of Flanders will consist of: Stijn Devolder, Kris Boeckmans, Lieuwe Westra, Miko Selvaggi, Marco Marcato, Gustav Larsson, Wouter Mol and Björn Leukemans!

Photo: Cor Vos

Victory for Armitstead

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:50:00 +0200

Team AA-Drink/Leontien.nl won the first edition of Gent-Wevelgem for women!

Lizzie Armitstead showed with an impressive solo to be ready for the Tour of Flanders next week. The strong team performance was completed with a third place for Jessie Daams.

Armitstead did not plan to ride a long solo but attacked on a climb to test her legs. She was accompanied by Liesbet de Vocht who could not keep up with Armitstead on the Kemmelberg and therefore continued solo.

After her victory in 'Omloop het Hageland - Tielt Winge' Lizzie Armitstead wins again in a spectaculair way. All eyes are on the Tour of Flanders now!

Photo: ©Wim Hoste www.cyclephotos.be

Vacansoleil-DCM rules Paris-Nice!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:52:39 +0100

Team Vacansoleil-DCM won the team classification in Paris-Nice after a very impressive week!

Victories in the prologue (Larsson), stage 5 (Westra), stage 7 (De Gendt), a third place in the fourth stage, second place in the final TT and a second place in the general classification for Lieuwe Westra!

The team also participated in several escapes and due to that it was Frederik Veuchelen who secured the polka dot jersey as King of the Mountain!

No need to say more that this team has showed themselves and are on top in the team classification.

Another part of the team rode in Italy the Tirreno-Adriatico where Wout Poels won the Young Riders classification. Johnny Hoogerland showed to be fit for the classics with a fifth place in the general classification.

Photo: Cor Vos

Westra wins in Paris-Nice

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:22:55 +0100

Lieuwe Westra finishes solo in fifth stage of Paris-Nice!

It's the second victory of Team Vacansoleil-DCM this week in Paris-Nice after the prologue this Sunday. With his third place yesterday, Westra showed already that he is in good condition. Although today's stage was more difficult with some climbing it was no problem for Lieuwe to maintain its position in the front of the peloton. The break-away of the day included team mate Frederik Veuchelen who ended in the polka dot jersey.

Just before the final climb the first group got caught and it was leader Wiggins who tried to attack. Westra followed easily, attacked himself and as no one could follow rode solo to the finish!

With his victory Westra is now second in the general classification, six seconds behind Wiggins. "I try to maintain this position to see what I can do in the last Time Trial" says Westra!

Photo: Cor Vos

Westra sprints to third place

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:14:08 +0100

Lieuwe Westra sprinted to a third place in 4th stage of Paris-Nice!

After a disappointing Time Trial on Sunday, Westra focussed on the following stages to improve his general classification. With some unsuccessful break-away's there was no other option then to finish in front of the peloton.

Due to a flat tire of sprinter Kris Boeckmans at four kilometre before the finish, Westra went for his own luck. In a nice sprint he got to a third place which brought him on sixth place in the general classification.

"I feel good and am looking forward to the coming days, although there are some difficult stages ahead!" explains Westra.

Photo: Cor Vos

Larsson wins in TT

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:55:27 +0100

Gustav Erik Larsson wins prologue of Paris-Nice!

Last year it was Thomas De Gendt who opened in Paris-Nice with a victory for Team Vacansoleil-DCM and this year it's Swedish TT Champion Larsson who is the fastest in the prologue. De Gendt was also strong finishing fifth overall and by clocking the fastest time on the climb he got the polka dot jersey.

Lieuwe Westra who is eager to ride a good general classification was unfortunate to start in the rain and finish 19th in the prologue.

Photo: Cor Vos

Coming soon!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:52:13 +0100

The FFWD F6R 'Team Edition' in Celeste color will be coming soon!

FFWD Wheels is supplying Team Vacansoleil-DCM with custom made wheels in the well-known Bianchi Celeste color. To accomodate the many consumers riding on Celeste colored Bianchi bikes, FFWD has decided to make the custom Vacansoleil-DCM team wheel available to the market as well. Customers can choose between F6R tubular or clincher wheels fitted with the FFWD hubs. Deliveries will start in April 2012.

These wheels can also be found in the Bianchi team replica bikes.

Boeckmans close again!

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:21:58 +0100

In the second stage of the Volta Ao Algarve, Vacansoleil-DCM sprinter Kris Boeckmans was close to victory!

The Belgian sprinter unfortunately faced a stronger Boasson Hagen and finished second. After a year of injury in 2011, Boeckmans sprinted twice to the podium this year. The team is confident to see Kris more in bunch sprints this season, explains Sports Director Hilaire Van Der Schueren.

In the last 20 kilometres of the stage Thomas De Gendt escaped with Christophe Riblon, but they were caught five kilometres before the finish. Johnny Hoogerland then brought Boeckmans in the right place for the sprint.

Dutch Para Cycling Success!

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:43:12 +0100

The Dutch National Para Cycling team has been succesful at the World Championships in the USA.

In Los Angelas the Dutch team won two Bronze medals on the track with the 1 kilometre time trial for Tandem couples. Kathrin Goeken and Kim van Dijk as well as Rinne Oost and Patrick Bos rode to a third place.

With these third places at the World Championships both couples met the qualification to race at the Olympic Games later this year!

FFWD Wheels is proud to be part of this team and to support them in their Olympic journey!

Keisse/Hester win in Copenhagen

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:59:52 +0100

Iljo Keisse and Marc Hester won the six days of Copenhagen! The couple is both supported by FFWD Wheels with the best material to race on the track.

On the final night, Keisse and Hester could make the difference with the Danish couple Rasmussen/Morkov who finished second with a six points gap.

The Copenhagen six day race was the last race for Danny Stam of Team AA-Drink/Leontien.nl after announcing his retirement earlier this season.

Victory for Marcato!

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:12:54 +0100

Marco Marcato takes first victory for Team Vacansoleil-DCM in 2012!

The third stage of the 'Etoile de Bessèges' was a shortened version due to the bad weather conditions. A peloton of 60 riders made it to the finish where Marcato was the fastest of the bunch.

After being close in 'La Marseillaise' my sprint training now paid off, explains Marco. For Marcato this is his second victory at Vacansoleil-DCM since he joined the team in 2009.

Wild wins in Qatar!

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:02:57 +0100

Kirsten Wild of Team AA-drink/Leontien.nl won the first stage in Qatar!

The Dutch rider was able to outsprint six others who formed the leading group. With her victory Wild is the first leader of the three day stage race in Qatar.

Kirsten knows how to race in the dessert of Qatar as she won the race in 2009 and 2010 already!