merckx RSS

CHPT3, cycling, merckx, racing, shorts, sixdayr -

CHPT3 take to London Six Day

The Spirit of the Six Day – written and photographed by CHPT3 Ambassador, @garethwinter It’s been 40 years since the iconic Molteni jersey raced professionally, ridden to fame on the back of the greatest cyclist of all time – Eddy Merckx (AKA The Cannibal, as he ‘ate’ his competition). Why is Merckx the G.O.A.T? His versatility… no other rider in history can boast Eddy’s palmarès. Merckx won all three Grand Tours, all five Monuments, World Championships, track events, held the Hour Record, and he dominated 6 Day events with his partner Patrick Sercu. The iconic burnt orange jersey sponsored by Molteni – an Italian Salami factory – was resurrected for the London 6 Day at Lee Valley Velodrome. The Velodrome is built on top of the old Eastway Cycle Circuit, which Merckx himself raced on during the Glenryck Cup – 11th June 1977. Fellow CHPT3 Ambassador Adam Blythe (AKA The Captain) and 6-day partner, Jon Dibben of Team Sky, had the honour – and responsibility – of racing in the Molteni colours, bringing Ghent to London. However there was no pressure to perform like the Cannibal, and Sercu, this was about honoring and celebrating history, not repeating it. Adam channeling ...

Read more

castelli, history, merckx, Milan-San Remo, milano, Racing, sanremo -

Milan-San Remo: History, route, climbs and all you need to know

You know the season has really started when the pro peloton lines up in Milan to make the very long journey to the coast and the finish line in San Remo. This Saturday the top classics riders will battle it out in the first big appointment of the season. The 291-kilometer route is identical to last year’s, with the Poggio crested with 5.4 kilometers remaining and the finish on Via Roma. Last year, Michal Kwiatkowski, Peter Sagan and Julian Alaphilippe attacked on the Poggio. Following a brilliant descent, the race came down to a thrilling three-up sprint, with Kwiato taking the win (see video below). Though the race is often viewed as a sprinters’ classic, the finale with the climbs of the Cipressa and Poggio provides opportunities for punchy climbers, northern classics riders and breakaway specialists to try to escape the sprinters. THE HISTORY Milan-San Remo, also called “The Spring Classic” or “La Classicissima,” marks the real start of the classics season and is the first Monument of the year. With the first official edition held in 1907, Milan-San Remo has a long history, and it is one of the few races to retain its long distance of almost 300 ...

Read more

Tags