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-Fiat

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.

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 as Jean 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 successful Renault-Elf-Gitane team when Renault 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 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 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-Sanremo 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-Sanremo, 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.

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-Bourges General 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 1989

References