Gitane-Campagnolo

Infobox Cycling team
teamname=Gitane-Campagnolo


code=
base= FRA
founded=1972
disbanded=1977
manager=
techdirector=
ds1 =Andre Desvrages
ds2 =Jean Stablinski
ds3 =Cyrille Guimard
ds4 =Maurice Champion
ds5 =
discipline=Road
Cyclo-cross
status=Retired
season =1972
1973
1974
1975-1977
oldname = Gitane
Gitane-Frigecreme
Sonolor-Gitane
Gitane-Campagnolo

Gitane-Campagnolo was a French professional cycling team from 1972 to 1977 which rode on Gitane racing bikes.

History

The team was called Gitane in 1972 and was directed by Andre Desvrages for whom, in 1973, future 1980 Tour de France winner Joop Zoetemelk rode. Gitane had sponsored teams during the late 1950s and 1960s which included Jacques Anquetil. In 1974, the Gitane team fused with the Sonolor team of directeur sportif Jean Stablinski creating Sonolor-Gitane, which included the Belgian climber Lucien van Impe. The team was called Gitane-Campagnolo from 1975-1977 and in 1975 signed 1971 French amateur champion Bernard Hinault. During this time the team was directed by Stablinski, but Cyrille Guimard was becoming involved as well as Maurice Champion.

Guimard took over as main directeur sportif in 1976 and directed van Impe to success in the 1976 Tour de France. Van Impe left at the end of 1976 and Hinault was designated captain for stage races. Even though Hinault won the Dauphiné Libéré in 1977 in front of Bernard Thevenet and Lucien Van Impe, he did not start the Tour de France.

After Renault auto group purchased Gitane, Renault became the main sponsor of the team making the Renault-Elf-Gitane team.cite web|url=http://www.gitaneusa.com/racing.asp|title=Racing|publisher=Gitane USA|accessdate=2007-11-09]

Famous riders

*Joop Zoetemelk
*Lucien Van Impe
*Bernard Hinault
*Cyrille Guimard

Important Victories

*Tour de France General Classification 1976
*AUS Road Race Championship 1976
*BEL Road Race Championship 1975
*FRA Cyclo Cross Championships 1976
*NED Road Race Championship 1973
*Liège-Bastogne-Liège 1977
*Gent Wevelgem 1977
*GP Ouest-France 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977
*Dauphiné Libéré General Classification 1977
*Circuit Cycliste de la Sarthe 1975
*Paris-Camembert 1975, 1976
*GP de Denain 1974, 1977
*GP Fourmies 1974
*Criterium International 1977

References