- Système U-Gitane
Cycling team infobox
teamname=Système U-Gitane
code=
base= FRA
founded=1986
disbanded=1989
manager=Cyrille Guimard
techdirector=
ds1 =
ds2 =
ds3 =
ds4 =
ds5 =
discipline=Road
Cyclo-cross
status=Retired
season =1986-1987
1988
1989
oldname = Système U
Système U-Gitane
Super U-Raleigh-FiatSystème U-Gitane was an French professional
cycling team that was existed from 1986 to 1988 and which cycled on and promotedGitane 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 theSystème U group.History
A Système U
cycling team 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 asJean Rene Bernaudeau and Colombian Martin Ramirez Ramirez. [cite web|url=http://www.cyclingwebsite.net/ploegfiche.php?id=6485|title=Systeme U|publisher=de wielersite|accessdate=2007-11-10] The sponsor Système U decided to take over the sponsorship of the highly successfulRenault-Elf-Gitane team whenRenault decided to retire from the peloton. [cite web|url=http://www.gitaneusa.com/racing.asp|title=Racing|publisher=Gitane USA|accessdate=2007-11-09]Renault-Elf-Gitane which was directed by former French cycling championCyrille Guimard had dominated theTour de France between 1978 and 1984. The 1986 season started well withLaurent Fignon winning the spring semi-classicLa Flèche Wallonne andThierry Marie winning the prologue of the1986 Tour de France . Marie wore themaillot jaune for several days as the team also won theTeam time trial of that year’s Tour but the best for theGeneral Classification was the 10th place of French ChampionYvon Madiot . The following year, the team achieved success withCharly Mottet who won theDauphiné Libéré stage race and then wore themaillot jaune for several days in the1987 Tour de France and finished fourth overall. The team won the team classification of that Tour. Mottet also won theIndividual time trial classic at the end of the season, theGP des Nations . In 1988, Fignon showed good form to win theMilan-Sanremo Classic as well as the stage race theTour de l'Avenir while Mottet won theGiro 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 inMilan-Sanremo , a win in the1989 Giro d'Italia and the closest ever second place in the history of theTour de France in the1989 Tour de France . During this timeCyrille Guimard was the maindirecteur sportif with Bernard Quilfen and Jacques Cadicou being the other directeur sportifs. AfterSystème 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.Famous riders
*
Laurent Fignon
*Charly Mottet
*Eric Boyer
*Yvon Madiot
*Marc Madiot
*Thierry Marie
*Christophe Lavainne
*Martial Gayant
*Jacky Durand
*Bjarne Riis
*Pascal Simon Important Victories
*
Giro d'Italia General Classification 1989
*FRA Cyclo Cross Championship 1986, 1987, 1988
*FRA Road Race Championship 1986, 1987
*Milan-Sanremo 1988, 1989
*Giro di Lombardia 1988
*La Flèche Wallonne 1986
*Tour de l'Avenir 1988
*Paris-BourgesGeneral Classification 1986
*GP Eddy Merckx 1986
*GP des Nations 1987, 1988, 1989
*Dauphiné Libéré General Classification 1987
*GP Ouest-France 1986
*Paris-Camembert 1988
*Ronde van Nederland 1988, 1989
*Tour du Haut Var 1989References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.