Fizik 2012 Pro Teams
Having fielded the largest number of teams in the last two Tours de France, fi’zi:k again returns as the dominant saddle brand in the pro peloton. Contributing to its strength-in-numbers presence and closing the gap left by the dissolution of HTC-Highroad is Team Sky. With 2011 Road World Champion, Mark Cavendish on board, fi’zi:k maintains coveted ‘world champion saddle’ status. Throughout his transition from Team HTC-Highroad to Team Sky, Cavendish was staunch not only in his decision to join Team Sky but also in his desire to use only the best equipment available.
Returning in 2012 to fi’zi:k’s roster of UCI Pro and Pro Continental road teams are: the BMC Racing Team; pro men and pro women Garmin-Barracuda; Liquigas-Cannondale;Rabobank pro men and pro women; Cofidis; and FDJ-Big Mat;Saur Sojasun; Androni Giocatolli; and Team Colombia Coldeportes.
Heralded as one of the 2012 super teams is the BMC Racing Team who continues to add volumes to fi’zi:k’s rich, racing history.Despite many milestones in the brand’s youthful sixteen-year history, it wasn’t until Cadel Evans rode onto the Champs Elyse on his Antares that fi’zi:k could finally celebrate its first Tour de France victory. Facilitating another first is the arrival of UCI number one ranked rider, Phillipe Gilbert who has now chosen the KURVE Bull for the Classics. His union with the BMC Racing Team means he will race on fi’zi:k saddles for the first time since turning pro in 2003.
Returning to fi’zi:k on his favored Aliante is fan-favorite George Hincapie who is the only rider to have been a part of nine Tour de France winning teams and in July could potentially capture the record for the most starts in the history of the Grand Boucle. Long-time fi’zi:k friend, product tester and Arione rider, Alessandro Ballan, completed his own historical installment in 2011 when he was one of only a few hand-picked pro to race in fi’zi:k’s new cycling shoes.
Two of fi’zi:k’s longest running team partnerships – Team Liquigas and Team Garmin-Barracuda - continue into 2012 and represent fi’zi:k’s relationship to its pro racing partners and athletes at its very core. Said Benedetti, “With the Service Course of Team Liquigas in our backyard we’ve built a relationship that has become integral to the early stages of our product development process. Team Manager Roberto Amadio has helped implement a consistent testing and feedback program that allows us to test product in real-time cycles through both training and high-intensity race situations. It has proved invaluable.”
Fi’zi:k is now one of Team Garmin-Barracuda’s only remainingoriginal sponsors having been a part of the team since its 2004 inception when CEO and Director Sportif Jonathan Vaughters created the TIAA-CREF Jr. Development team with aspirations of bringing them to the Tour de France. Now in year eight, not only has the team become a big part of fi’zi:k history by spanning half of the total time that the fi’zi:k brand has been in existence, but fi’zi:k has become a big part of the team’s history as one of the only current unchanged sponsors since their humble beginnings. Enriching this historic partnership was the momentous occasion of David Millar riding into the Giro’s pink jersey in 2011 while wearing fi’zi:k’s R3 road shoes.
With the addition of Mark Renshaw to Team Rabobank’s roster of Classics rider Lars Boom and GC rider Robert Gesink, the 2012 team is in an enviable spotlight. The cycling world will be tuning in to watch the former Cavendish loyal lead-out man in Renshaw – a true Aliante bull - go head-to-head with his old teammate in the last 200 meters.
With Team Sky’s Richie Porte having just won the Volta Ao Algarve overall in his new white and black R3 road shoes, we believe this could be our most successful season ever. And we truly love it.