Skil-Sem (cycling team)

Infobox Cycling team
teamname=Skil-Sem


code=SKIL
base= FRA
founded=1984
disbanded=1986
manager=Jean de Gribaldy
techdirector=Christian Rumeau
ds1=Alberic Schotte
ds2=
ds3=
ds4=
ds5=
discipline=Road
status=Professional
season=1984
1985
oldname=Skil-Sem-Mavic-Reydel
Skil-Reydel-Sem
kit

The Skil-Sem cycling team is a former French professional cycling team that existed for two years from 1984 to 1985. The team was the continuation of the Sem-France Loire team. The Skil-Sem team is notable for that it was the team with whom Seán Kelly dominated the sport in 1984 earning himself the nickname "the new cannibal" in reference to the previous "cannibal" of the sport Eddy Merckx. This together with Eric Caritoux's win in the Vuelta a España made the team directed by de Gribaldy extremely successful in the spring of 1984.

History

The manufacturer of small power tools Skil became the main sponsor in 1984 of the team that was directed by Jean de Gribaldy called the Sem-France Loire cycling team. The Sem-France Loire team had won the two editions of the stage race Paris-Nice and the two previous maillot verts of the Tour de France with Seán Kelly. In addition, Kelly had won his first Classic in October 1983 with the Giro di Lombardia. During 1984 the team was called Skil-Sem-Mavic–Reydel and was directed by de Gribaldy and Christian Rumeau. During this year the team achieved great successes with Kelly dominating the sport that spring and achieving 33 victories in 1984. Kelly won two major classics in Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège as well as several other classics in Blois-Chaville, GP Ouest-France and the GP Fourmies. While de Gribaldy was with Kelly riding the Amstel Gold Race, Eric Caritoux went to the Vuelta a España which used to be held in late April to mid May. Caritoux had already won the stage to the Mont Ventoux of the 1984 Paris-Nice (of which Kelly won the overall race) and was a great climbing talent but the team did not enter the Vuelta a España with great ambitions. [cite web|url=http://www.sportgeschiedenis.nl/2007/09/20/eric-caritoux-en-de-vuelta-van-1984.aspx|title=Eric Caritoux en de Vuelta van 1984|publisher=Sportgeschiendenis.nl|accessdate=2007-11-25] Caritoux rode himself into the leader's jersey and eventually won the race with only six seconds over the second place finisher in the General Classification. [cite web|url=http://www.jeandegribaldy.com/index.php?zone=pages/equ_84|title=1984 Skil-Sem-Mavic-Reydel|publisher=|accessdate=2007-11-17] It has been written that the team used "de Gribaldy bikes". [cite web|url=http://www.cyclingwebsite.net/ploegfiche.php?id=6481|title=Skil-Reydel 1984|publisher=de wielersite.nl|accessdate=2007-11-17] The bikes had either a Vitus 979 aluminium or a Vitus carbon fibre frame, both re-labelled as "de Gribaldy", and were fitted with Mavic components. The following year, several of the co-sponsors changed and the team was called Skil-Reydel–Sem. During 1985 Kelly won Paris-Nice, the Giro di Lombardia, finished fourth overall in the 1985 Tour de France and won the maillot vert. Gerrie Knetemann won the Amstel Gold Race and Jean-Claude Leclercq became French road race champion. [cite web|url=http://www.jeandegribaldy.com/index.php?zone=pages/equ_85|title=1985 Skil Reydel Sem|publisher=Jean de Gribaldy.com|accessdate=2007-11-17] At the end of 1985, de Gribaldy found a new sponsor to replace Skil. Kas the Spanish brand of soft drinks who had previously sponsored a successful Spanish cycling team during the 1970's became the main sponsor of the team making the Kas cycling team.

Famous cyclists

*Jean-Claude Bagot
*René Bittinger
*Eric Caritoux
*Seán Kelly
*Jean-Claude Leclercq
*Gilles Mas
*Fréderic Vichot
*Gerrie Knetemann
*Jörg Müller

Important victories

*Vuelta a España General Classification 1984 (Caritoux)
*Tour de France Points Classification 1985
*FRA Road Race Championships 1985
*Paris-Roubaix 1984
*Liège-Bastogne-Liège 1984
*Giro di Lombardia 1985
*Blois – Chaville 1984
*Amstel Gold Race 1985
*Paris-Nice 1984, 1985
*Critérium International 1984
*Tour Méditerranéen 1984
*Tour du Haut-Var 1984
*Grand Prix de Plouay 1984
*Paris-Bourges 1984
*Grand Prix d’Aix en Provence 1984
*GP Ouest-France 1984, 1985
*Vuelta al País Vasco 1984
*Tour de Romandie 1985
*Nissan Classic 1985
*GP Fourmies 1985

References