Mapei is Back

[ptourkin]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/12/news/mapei-sport-returns-to-cycling-with-trek-factory-racing_390193

[AngryScientist]

Sweet.

Too bad they couldnt have partnered with an italian bike company though, particularly 'nago...

[marciero]

Time flies. It's really been 14 years?

[MattTuck]

I have 3 main reactions to this.

1. Am I the only one that is suspicious of descriptions like "Mapei Sport is one of the best sports science centers in the world"?

2. What are the jersey implications of this move?

3.
http://www.sport28.nl/images/uploads/Parijs-Roubaix-1996.jpg

[Louis]

Best jersey ever.

[bobswire]

Cool but I best not raise my hope they'll be using these bikes too.



http://i65.tinypic.com/28mkark.jpg

[harryblack]

I have 3 main reactions to this.

1. Am I the only one that is suspicious of descriptions like "Mapei Sport is one of the best sports science centers in the world"?

2. What are the jersey implications of this move?

3.
http://www.sport28.nl/images/uploads/Parijs-Roubaix-1996.jpg

Matt Tuck beat me to it... discrete!!

I did kinda like those Colnagos but have zero nostalgia for nine speed Dura Ace (or any chunky / clunky Shimano brifters); everyone (oft rightly) with gripes about press fit etc likely didn't use DA bottom bracket back then or swapped it out for Ultregra.

[gone]

1. Am I the only one that is suspicious of descriptions like "Mapei Sport is one of the best sports science centers in the world"?

On the face of it and given all of the doping in cycling the statement sure raises red flags but the reality is the owner of Mapei, Giorgio Squinzi was strongly anti doping and pro scientific training methods. If I recall correctly (it's been several years since I read it) he created the center specifically to combat doping by giving riders an alternative to doping.

Squinzi left cycling sponsorship because he couldn't stand what pro cycling had become during the EPO era. I thought then and think now it was one of the saddest days in cycling history - when a genuine fan of cycling who has the wherewithal to sponsor a team leaves the sport - and I welcome his return as a sponsor.

edited to add: and I love my Mapei Colnago

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p170/ghsmith54/My%20Fleet%20of%20Bikes/DSC_0206.jpg

[beeatnik]

Trek, I'm starting to like your style.

[bcroslin]

Best jersey ever.

I was thinking OMG I can get my hands on a new Mapei kit and then I see it will likely have Trek logos all over it. No thanks.

Mapei Colnagos are still the coolest ever.

http://velo.net.au/image/width/800/height/800/file/photo_jay_s_colnago_mapei_c59_italia_817.jpg

[thirdgenbird]

That Mapei Colnago is still the coolest ever.

[Coalfield]

Mapei Colnagos are still the coolest ever.

http://velo.net.au/image/width/800/height/800/file/photo_jay_s_colnago_mapei_c59_italia_817.jpg

Arguably the coolest ever.........

[livingminimal]

On the face of it and given all of the doping in cycling the statement sure raises red flags but the reality is the owner of Mapei, Giorgio Squinzi was strongly anti doping and pro scientific training methods. If I recall correctly (it's been several years since I read it) he created the center specifically to combat doping by giving riders an alternative to doping.

Squinzi left cycling sponsorship because he couldn't stand what pro cycling had become during the EPO era. I thought then and think now it was one of the saddest days in cycling history - when a genuine fan of cycling who has the wherewithal to sponsor a team leaves the sport - and I welcome his return as a sponsor.

edited to add: and I love my Mapei Colnago

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p170/ghsmith54/My%20Fleet%20of%20Bikes/DSC_0206.jpg


You're my hero at present.

[false_Aest]

Gonna load up on EPO.

Also there's a group of fat 55 year olds in SoCal that will be really happy that their rotting kits will be relevant again.

[ultraman6970]

Trek in the uniforms?? hmm....

Can you imagine how many treks will be sold with the mapei colors now? Scary thought

[livingminimal]

Gonna load up on EPO.

Also there's a group of fat 55 year olds in SoCal that will be really happy that their rotting kits will be relevant again.


You're crazy.
I'm only 39.

[yashcha]

You're crazy.
I'm only 39.

Same here. 39. I wish I could find a Colnago Mapei Ct1.

[livingminimal]

Same here. 39. I wish I could find a Colnago Mapei Ct1.

Thats the dream. I saw someone tooling up Jamboree awhile ago on a Mapel C in a full Mapei kit. It was glorious.

[Spin]

I used some of their grout last year.

[yashcha]

Thats the dream. I saw someone tooling up Jamboree awhile ago on a Mapel C in a full Mapei kit. It was glorious.

People hate that time in cycling, but that is the exactly the time I entered the sport. Anyone who saw Bartoli, Musseuw, Tafi, Vandenbrouke, Friere...in that kit will never forget how awesome it was to watch those guys. I can't remember how many times you would do the "Bartoli" on the local hill, or go Tafi on a breakaway.

[bfd]

Trek in the uniforms?? hmm....

Vam you imagine how many treks will be sold with the mapei colors now? Scary thought

Yeah a 10.25lb Mapei Emonda....