Listed below are the quiz solutions…
1. Wearing pink and white nevertheless it’s not Santa. Identify the rider pictured above and what group he’s becoming a member of in every week’s time. “Zingle bells, Zingle bells, Axel Zingle all the best way, oh what enjoyable it’s to signal for Visma-LAB“… even when it doesn’t rhyme. Simply as Christophe Laporte was signing from Cofidis, Zingle needs to be comparable though he’s a special type of rider, punchier uphill whereas Laporte you’d shortly choose for a group time trial. Each share an MTB background however Zingle started as a downhill skier and is a relative newcomer to highway biking… even when he did the Tour de France final summer time.
2. “Veni, veni Emmanuel” is a conventional Christmas carol. Which French group supervisor is perhaps singing it in anticipation of 2025? Cédric Vasseur as a result of out goes Zingle and he’s signed Emanuel Buchmann on a one 12 months deal. Fourth within the Tour de France, seventh within the Giro, “Buchi” is an enormous signing however dangerous too and each side want the deal to work. It’s a part of the factors race to keep away from relegation subsequent 12 months.
3. It seems to be like Santa’s Elves get time without work in the summertime to vacation in France however who is aware of? As a substitute are you able to title a race with an “Elf” within the title? How in regards to the Elfstedenrace though this will get its title because the “eleven village race” within the Netherlands reasonably than any of Santa’s domestiques. It’s derived from an ice-skating race which hardly ever takes place any extra because the canals, rivers and polders don’t freeze typically sufficient every winter.
That Was The Yr That Was4. The place did Milan-Sanremo begin? Pavia, a primary and whereas there have been well mannered excuses in regards to the metropolis marathon on the similar time, there appears to be extra politics behind it and the race most likely gained’t be again within the Lombard capital too quickly.
5. What occurred on the stretch of highway pictured above? If you wish to work by elimination you possibly can see French highway markings, the D77 label from Google and a flat, straight piece of highway. Nonetheless not apparent although. So right here’s the highway however with an image going through in the other way…
It’s notable how the Tour de France can change a location, a strip of highway on the sting of a logistics park turns into a stadium for the day, a spot in sports activities historical past even. Your blogger as soon as had the concept of inserting guerilla plaques by the highway to mark occasions in biking historical past however the concept was simple to consider, bothersome to do and possibly mildly unlawful too. Possibly a Google Map itemizing locations the place these occurred is simpler and can stay on longer than any small steel badge?
6. Which males’s World Tour races have been gained by non-WorldTeam riders (in the future and GC solely, not each stage). The Tour Down Below, the UAE Tour, the Flèche Wallonne, Eschborn-Frankfurt and the Tour of Guangxi… all between IPT and Lotto-Dsnty that are set to rejoin the World Tour in 2026.
7. Who’re the youngest and oldest riders respectively within the top-50 UCI males’s rankings for 2024? The cut-off of fifty offers us 37 12 months outdated Alexander Kristoff, the youngest is Juan Ayuso, born a number of months after fellow 22 12 months outdated Arnaud De Lie. The common age within the top-50 is 28.4 years so for all of the concentrate on younger expertise, “older” riders are bankable.
8. Which males’s WorldTeam didn’t have a single rider scoring 1,000 UCI factors or extra this 12 months? Astana, their greatest scorer was Lorenzo Fortunato on 652 factors and solely 4 riders scored 500 or extra factors. This has put them in a deep gap relating to the promotion-relegation contest which can be determined on the finish of 2025 however they’ve gone on an enormous hiring spree. Can they do it? Extra evaluation will observe within the new 12 months however the quick reply is it’s very robust.
Embed from Getty Photographs
9. Mark Cavendish was knighted, turning into a “Sir” this 12 months. Identify a retired bicycle owner with superior rank of the Aristocracy or standing. How in regards to the Baron Edouard Merckx?
10. Identify two founding managers who stepped down from operating or left their groups this 12 months? Patrick Lefevere is stepping down, however not vanishing as he’s bought his common column in Het Nieuwsblad and retains seat on the board of Soudal-Quickstep. Vincent Lavenu although was sacked from Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale and the problem might not be completed with litigation. For all of the discuss of “biking’s damaged enterprise mannequin” we’re seeing groups outlasting managers; however the identical managers most likely need extra compensation and fairness which may typically clarify a number of vocal complaints.
11. The Giro d’Italia had a stage begin spoilt by unhealthy climate. Identify a professional race exterior of Italy the place racing was altered due to the climate. The O Gran Camino Race involves thoughts, it’s a enjoyable early season race however northern Spain in February is chilly.
12. Which former rider and group supervisor died this 12 months on the age of 99? Raphaël Geminiani. A bigger-than-life character in a number of methods. I wished to put in writing an obituary however researching his profession solely made it tougher, there are conflicting tales, exaggerations, delusion and extra… all a part of the “Gem” story.
The Peloton’s Obtained Expertise
13. Guillaume Martin’s final win was… a literary prize courtesy of the august Académie Française. What’s the title of his newest e-book? Les Gens Qui Revent or “These Who Dream” and one other semi-autobiographical novel however this time extra in regards to the manor home and farm buildings he has renovated. An creator, a professional bicycle owner, he additionally describes himself as a builder. He’s switched to Groupama-FDJ. The group wished to signal him years in the past out of the newbie ranks however determined to tackle others and so Martin went to Wanty.
14. Identify a professional bicycle owner who has been nationwide champion in one other sport. Loads of selection however Florian Lipowitz was a German college champion in biathlon. If biking in winter didn’t imply the quagmire of cyclo-cross however snow then Purple Bull-Bora-hansgrohe could be spectacular with Lipowitz, skimo champo Toni Palzer… and one other rider apparently was once a ski jumper.
15. Identify three professional cyclists who’re both medical medical doctors or trainees hoping to qualify. Doktor Marlen Reusser, doctoresse Elise Chabbey and Max Walscheid is near finishing his research, utilizing spare time throughout the season. He has plans to grow to be a sports activities physician. There are different examples too.
Biking translated
16. What’s a literal translation of Poggio in English? Hill. It shares the identical Latin root as podium. It’s a plain title for a rare place for one afternoon each March, in biking it’s Il Poggio or The Hill.
17. What’s a literal translation of Taaienberg in English? The Robust-berg. No surprise Tom Boonen used to love doing the harm up there.
18. Which sprinter’s surname interprets as “cabbage”? Charlotte Kool sounds cool nevertheless it’s pronounced like coal or kohl.
A rider’s greatest buddy
20. What’s Lotte Kopecky’s canine referred to as? A Labrador referred to as Olie.
21. Identify certainly one of Arnaud De Lie’s cows. De Lie’s father has a farm with an enormous dairy herd however he’s bought 4 particular bovines for himself, Simone, Wachaute, Sidonie and Noisette. He’s additionally bought a Weimar canine referred to as Oscar. To date so bucolic nevertheless it appears like a matter of time till he swaps his tractor for a sportscar.
22. What have Tom Pidcock and Juan Ayuso bought in widespread? They each have Dachshunds, aka sausage canines.
Trophies
23. Which race is the trophy above from? Paris-Good, the “Race to the Solar”, apparent once you see it however eclipsed the Tirreno-Adriatico’s large trident. As ever the preposition “to” is doing a variety of the work as a result of begin is chilly and the mountains greater than frosty.
24. Who gained the Trofeo Bonacossa this 12 months? Tadej Pogačar on the Giro. Up to now in case you have been doubtful a few previous race winner then “Eddy Merckx” often saved the day, now “Pogačar” is a response too. Pogačar gained a lot in 2024 together with this elective prize which is called to rejoice the previous proprietor of La Gazzetta Dello Sport Alberto Bonacossa. The Bonacossa nonetheless personal the Giro d’Italia and lease the organisational rights to RCS.
25. Paris-Roubaix awards a cobblestone on a plinth, what accent comes with it? An allen key.
Retired?27. Identify an ex-rider who’s now operating a resort. Aleksandr Kolobnev is one, operating the Syncrosfera resort in Spain which permits friends to remain in hypoxic rooms to simulate altitude. Many years earlier than operating a resort or bar was a daily job for ex-pros however many institutions are a part of chains reasonably than one thing for a person to tackle; Giro winner Pavel Tonkov used to run the Hospedería del Atalia in Cordoba however bought out to a series of boutique accommodations.
28. Identify an ex-rider who’s operating a wine bar. Clément Chevrier rode with Ag2r La Mondiale and was at all times excited by wine. He stop the game to grow to be a sommelier in a Michelin-starred restaurant and now co-owns a wine bar in Geneva, Switzerland.
29. Which ex-rider is making this wine referred to as Kilomètre 0? Axel Domont and his wine is on the menu on the wine bar of his outdated group mate Chevier.
Enterprise
30. What product options throughout Shimano’s Ultegra, Tiagra and Stradic traces? Fishing reels. Shimano makes bike elements and fishing deal with. Biking accounts for about three quarters of Shimano’s enterprise and a few product traces throughout each divisions share the identical title like Ultegra and Tiagra.
31. Seeing races proven stay from begin to end is nearly the norm now. Which was the primary highway stage of the Tour de France to be proven stay this fashion? Stage 19 of the 1989 Tour de France from Villard-de-Lans to Aix-les-Bains, simply 125km. Quick phases and stay TV aren’t essentially new and the ’89 stage was an ideal one with one of the best riders on the assault earlier than sprinting for the win.
32. Of all of the groups paying highway groups for naming rights, which group has the sponsor with the largest stockmarket capitalisation? Novo Nordisk forward of United Healthcare. Two large firms… with comparatively small groups. However after all states just like the UAE are even greater.
33. Are there extra males or ladies spectators on the roadside for the Tour de France? Extra ladies apparently, 52%-48% in response to Christian Prudhomme in a latest interview, a primary and an indication of the Tour’s altering viewers.
As Seen On Display
34. Sponsors don’t simply use professional biking to succeed in prospects. Are you able to title the group sponsor from the advert screengrab above? Lidl, the German grocery store with cabinets stuffed with a lot of produce however little selection, this helps hold the prices down with fewer product traces to ship and large bargaining energy for the retailer. Spending on a biking group may appear lavish by comparability however the sport reaches simply the correct markets and demographics.
35. Are you able to title the group sponsor from the advert screengrab above? Jayco, the caravan producer, the notional sponsor that’s the automobile for benefactor Gerry Ryan’s sports activities spending.
36. Tougher now, are you able to title the group sponsor from the advert screengrab above? Cofidis, you possibly can see the yellow and pink colors of the 2025 equipment right here and it’s from a sequence about preconceptions, that is about youngsters being too lazy to work, and even to be caught working. Loads of the corporate’s advertising and marketing is about being on the facet of the “little man” and the group matches with this.
Image spherical
37. Identify the bicycle owner from the photographs above. Maxim Van Gils.
38. Identify the bicycle owner from the photographs above. Roger Adria. Roger Hammond was a type of Paris-Roubaix specialists. Adria Cellular is a Slovenian producer of tenting automobiles, they’ve backed a Conti group – Primož Roglič began right here – and one factor you don’t get on TV is how many individuals present as much as the Tour de France in these automobiles; or how dear they’re.
39. Identify the bicycle owner from the photographs above. Pello Bilbao (sorry).
40. Identify the bicycle owner from the photographs above. Aaron Gate, certainly one of Astana’s signings and a artful rider who they’ll want for factors.
