Système U-Gitane
Encyclopedia
Système U-Gitane was an French
professional cycling team
that was existed from 1986 to 1988 and which cycled on and promoted Gitane
racing bikes. In 1989 the team was renamed Super U-Raleigh-Fiat and rode Raleigh racing bikes
. Super U being a chain of supermarkets owned by the Système U
group.
existed during the 1984 season with Marcel Boishardy as manager which was a continuation of the Wolber-Spidel team of the 1983 season. This team included riders such as Jean Rene Bernaudeau and Colombia
n Martin Ramirez Ramirez. The sponsor Système U decided to take over the sponsorship of the highly successful Renault-Elf-Gitane
team when Renault
decided to retire from the peloton. Renault-Elf-Gitane
which was directed by former French
cycling champion Cyrille Guimard
had dominated the Tour de France
between 1978 and 1984. The 1986 season started well with Laurent Fignon
winning the spring semi-classic La Flèche Wallonne
and Thierry Marie
winning the prologue of the 1986 Tour de France
. Marie wore the maillot jaune for several days as the team also won the Team time trial
of that year’s Tour but the best for the General Classification
was the 10th place of French Champion Yvon Madiot. The following year, the team achieved success with Charly Mottet
who won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré stage race and then wore the maillot jaune for several days in the 1987 Tour de France
and finished fourth overall. The team won the team classification of that Tour. Mottet also won the Individual time trial
classic at the end of the season, the GP des Nations. In 1988, Fignon showed good form to win the Milan – San Remo Classic
as well as the stage race the Tour de l'Avenir
while Mottet won the Giro di Lombardia. In 1989, the team was renamed Super U after one of the supermarkets that the Système U cooperative owned and Gitane cycles stopped their long association with Guimard’s team. Raleigh cycles took their place and became the second sponsor as well. The year marked Fignon’s return to form with a second win in Milan – San Remo, a win in the 1989 Giro d'Italia
and the closest ever second place in the history of the Tour de France
in the 1989 Tour de France
. During this time Cyrille Guimard
was the main directeur sportif
with Bernard Quilfen and Jacques Cadicou being the other directeur sportifs. After Système U
decided to withdraw sponsorship, Castorama
a French
retailer of DIY and home improvement supplies took over as main sponsor making the Castorama cycling team
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
professional cycling team
Cycling team
A cycling team is a group of cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle races whether recreational or professional - and the supporting personnel...
that was existed from 1986 to 1988 and which cycled on and promoted Gitane
Gitane
Gitane is a French manufacturer of bicycles based in Machecoul, France; the name "Gitane" means gypsy woman. The brand was synonymous with French bicycle racing from the 1960s through the mid-1980s, sponsoring riders such as Jacques Anquetil , Lucien Van Impe , Bernard Hinault , Laurent Fignon ,...
racing bikes. In 1989 the team was renamed Super U-Raleigh-Fiat and rode Raleigh racing bikes
Raleigh Bicycle Company
The Raleigh Bicycle Company is a bicycle manufacturer originally based in Nottingham, UK. It is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world. From 1921 to 1935 Raleigh also produced motorcycles and three-wheel cars, leading to the formation of the Reliant Company.-Early years:Raleigh's history...
. Super U being a chain of supermarkets owned by the Système U
Système U
Système U is a French retailers' cooperative, comprising about eight hundred independent hypermarkets, and supermarkets, headquartered in the Parc Tertiaire SILIC in Rungis, France....
group.
History
A Système U cycling teamCycling team
A cycling team is a group of cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle races whether recreational or professional - and the supporting personnel...
existed during the 1984 season with Marcel Boishardy as manager which was a continuation of the Wolber-Spidel team of the 1983 season. This team included riders such as Jean Rene Bernaudeau and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n Martin Ramirez Ramirez. The sponsor Système U decided to take over the sponsorship of the highly successful Renault-Elf-Gitane
Renault-Elf-Gitane
Renault-Elf-Gitane was a French professional cycling team that existed from 1978 to 1985 and which cycled on and promoted Gitane racing bikes.-History:...
team when Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
decided to retire from the peloton. Renault-Elf-Gitane
Renault-Elf-Gitane
Renault-Elf-Gitane was a French professional cycling team that existed from 1978 to 1985 and which cycled on and promoted Gitane racing bikes.-History:...
which was directed by former French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
cycling champion Cyrille Guimard
Cyrille Guimard
Cyrille Guimard is a French former professional road racing cyclist who became a directeur sportif and then a television commentator...
had dominated the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
between 1978 and 1984. The 1986 season started well with Laurent Fignon
Laurent Fignon
Laurent Patrick Fignon was a French professional road bicycle racer. He won the Tour de France in 1983 and in 1984. He missed winning it a third time, in 1989, by 8 seconds, the closest margin ever to decide the tour. He also won the Giro d'Italia in 1989, after having been the runner-up in 1984,...
winning the spring semi-classic La Flèche Wallonne
La Flèche Wallonne
La Flèche Wallonne is a major men's professional cycle road race held in April each year in Belgium.The first of two Belgian Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne is today normally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège–Bastogne–Liège...
and Thierry Marie
Thierry Marie
Thierry Marie is a former French cyclist. Marie had a very good prologue: he won the Tour de France prologue three times in his career, and because of that he wore the yellow jersey in those three years, for seven days in total.- Major victories :1985198719881989- Tour de France :*1985 - 67th*1986...
winning the prologue of the 1986 Tour de France
1986 Tour de France
The 1986 Tour de France was the 73rd Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 27, 1986. The total race distance was 4094 km, distributed over 23 stages and a prologue. It was won by Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour...
. Marie wore the maillot jaune for several days as the team also won the Team time trial
Team time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...
of that year’s Tour but the best for the General Classification
General Classification
The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
was the 10th place of French Champion Yvon Madiot. The following year, the team achieved success with Charly Mottet
Charly Mottet
Charly Mottet is a French former professional cyclist .He was one of the best French road cyclists of his era, Mottet won a total of 67 races, including the Tour de Romandie in 1990, and has 8 participations in the Tour de France. His best results in the Tour de France were the 4th positions in...
who won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré stage race and then wore the maillot jaune for several days in the 1987 Tour de France
1987 Tour de France
The 1987 Tour de France was the 74th Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 26, 1987. It consisted of 25 stages over 4231 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.645 km/h...
and finished fourth overall. The team won the team classification of that Tour. Mottet also won the Individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
classic at the end of the season, the GP des Nations. In 1988, Fignon showed good form to win the Milan – San Remo Classic
Classic cycle races
The classic cycle races are one-day professional cycling road races in the international calendar. Most of the events, all run in western Europe, have been fixtures on the professional calendar for decades and the oldest ones date back to the 19th Century. They are normally held at roughly the same...
as well as the stage race the Tour de l'Avenir
Tour de l'Avenir
Tour de l'Avenir is a French road bicycle racing stage race, which started in 1961 as a race similar to the Tour de France and over much of the same course but for amateurs and for semi-professionals known as independents. Riders competed in national teams...
while Mottet won the Giro di Lombardia. In 1989, the team was renamed Super U after one of the supermarkets that the Système U cooperative owned and Gitane cycles stopped their long association with Guimard’s team. Raleigh cycles took their place and became the second sponsor as well. The year marked Fignon’s return to form with a second win in Milan – San Remo, a win in the 1989 Giro d'Italia
1989 Giro d'Italia
The 1989 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 10 June 1989, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by the French Laurent Fignon.This 72nd edition was 3,623 km long, completed at an average speed of 38.747 km/h.- General classification :...
and the closest ever second place in the history of the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
in the 1989 Tour de France
1989 Tour de France
The 1989 Tour de France was the 76th Tour de France, a race of 21 stages and a prologue, over 3285 km in total. In the closest tour in history, Greg LeMond was behind by 50 seconds at the start of the final stage, a time trial into Paris. LeMond rode for an average speed of 54.55 km/h ,...
. During this time Cyrille Guimard
Cyrille Guimard
Cyrille Guimard is a French former professional road racing cyclist who became a directeur sportif and then a television commentator...
was the main directeur sportif
Directeur sportif
A directeur sportif is a person directing a cycling team during a road bicycle racing event...
with Bernard Quilfen and Jacques Cadicou being the other directeur sportifs. After Système U
Système U
Système U is a French retailers' cooperative, comprising about eight hundred independent hypermarkets, and supermarkets, headquartered in the Parc Tertiaire SILIC in Rungis, France....
decided to withdraw sponsorship, Castorama
Castorama
Castorama is a French retailer of DIY and home improvement tools and supplies. It has its head office in Templemars.The company became a subsidiary of Kingfisher plc in 1998, along with Castorama's own subsidiary Brico Dépôt. Some outlets have been converted or relocated under the Brico Dépôt DIY...
a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
retailer of DIY and home improvement supplies took over as main sponsor making the Castorama cycling team
Castorama (cycling team)
Castorama is a former French professional cycling team that existed from 1990 to 1995 and was sponsored by the French DIY and home improvement retailer Castorama....
.
Famous riders
- Laurent FignonLaurent FignonLaurent Patrick Fignon was a French professional road bicycle racer. He won the Tour de France in 1983 and in 1984. He missed winning it a third time, in 1989, by 8 seconds, the closest margin ever to decide the tour. He also won the Giro d'Italia in 1989, after having been the runner-up in 1984,...
- Charly MottetCharly MottetCharly Mottet is a French former professional cyclist .He was one of the best French road cyclists of his era, Mottet won a total of 67 races, including the Tour de Romandie in 1990, and has 8 participations in the Tour de France. His best results in the Tour de France were the 4th positions in...
- Eric BoyerEric BoyerEric Boyer was a French professional road bicycle racer. In the 1988 Tour de France, Boyer finished on the 5th place in the overall classification. Boyer won a stage in the 1991 Giro d'Italia. After his cycling career, Boyer worked for television and newspapers. He is currently manager of the...
- Yvon Madiot
- Marc MadiotMarc MadiotMarc Madiot is a French former professional road racing cyclist and double winner of Paris–Roubaix. Retired from racing in 1994, he is now best known as the directeur sportif of Française des Jeux, a UCI ProTour cycling team....
- Thierry MarieThierry MarieThierry Marie is a former French cyclist. Marie had a very good prologue: he won the Tour de France prologue three times in his career, and because of that he wore the yellow jersey in those three years, for seven days in total.- Major victories :1985198719881989- Tour de France :*1985 - 67th*1986...
- Christophe LavainneChristophe LavainneChristophe Lavainne was a French professional bicycle racer. Lavaine was two times French national cyclo-cross champion, and won a stage in the 1987 Tour de France.- Palmarès :19841987...
- Martial GayantMartial GayantMartial Gayant is a former French cyclist, now a team captain of Française des Jeux. In 1988, Gayant came second in the World road Championships.- Major victories :Source:1981* GP des Nations, amateurs1984...
- Jacky DurandJacky DurandJacky Durand is a retired French professional road bicycle racer. Durand had an attacking style, winning the Ronde van Vlaanderen in 1992 after a breakaway, and three stages in the Tour de France....
- Bjarne RiisBjarne RiisBjarne Lykkegård Riis , nicknamed The Eagle from Herning , is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France, and is now the team owner and manager of Danish UCI ProTour outfit Team Saxo Bank Sungard...
- Pascal SimonPascal SimonPascal Simon is a retired French road racing cyclist. A native of Mesnil St. Loup, he was a professional cyclist from 1979 to 1991. Pascal was the oldest of four brothers that all became professional cyclists: Régis, Jerôme and François.In 1983, Simon obtained the yellow jersey while riding for...
Important Victories
- Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1989 Cyclo Cross Championship 1986, 1987, 1988 Road Race Championship 1986, 1987 - Milan – San Remo 1988, 1989
- Giro di Lombardia 1988
- La Flèche WallonneLa Flèche WallonneLa Flèche Wallonne is a major men's professional cycle road race held in April each year in Belgium.The first of two Belgian Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne is today normally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège–Bastogne–Liège...
1986 - Tour de l'AvenirTour de l'AvenirTour de l'Avenir is a French road bicycle racing stage race, which started in 1961 as a race similar to the Tour de France and over much of the same course but for amateurs and for semi-professionals known as independents. Riders competed in national teams...
1988 - Paris–Bourges General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1986 - GP Eddy Merckx 1986
- GP des Nations 1987, 1988, 1989
- Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1987 - GP Ouest-FranceGP Ouest-FranceGrand-Prix de Plouay Ouest-France is an elite cycle race held annually in late summer around a circuit based on the small Breton village of Plouay since 1931...
1986 - Paris–Camembert 1988
- Ronde van NederlandRonde van NederlandThe Ronde van Nederland is a road bicycle racing stage-race in the Netherlands, founded in 1948. It's an annual race since 1975. Because of the start of the UCI ProTour in 2005 the tour was replaced by the Eneco Tour of Benelux....
1988, 1989 - Tour du Haut VarTour du Haut VarThe Tour du Haut Var is an early-season two-day road bicycle race in the Provence region of France. From 2005 to 2008, it was organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. In 2009, the race was changed to a two-day 2.1 event.-Palmarès:...
1989