Sem-France Loire

Infobox Cycling team
teamname=Sem-France Loire


code=SEM
base=FRA
founded=1980
disbanded=1984
manager =Jean de Gribaldy
techdirector =Christian Rumeau
ds1 =Pierre Rivory
ds2 =Albéric Schotte
ds3 =
ds4 =
ds5 =
discipline =Road
Cyclo-cross
status =Retired
season =1980
1981-1982
1983
oldname =Puch-Sem-Campagnolo
Sem-France Loire-Campagnolo
Sem-France Loire-Reydel
kit
The Sem-Loire France cycling team is a former French professional cycling team that existed for four years from 1980 to 1983. Although a small teamcite book|title=Kelly: A biography |first=David |last=Walsh |year=1991 |isbn=978-1856880244 |publisher=Springfield Books] , directeur sportif Jean de Gribaldy directed the team achieved success in classic races and in stage races such as Paris-Nice and the Tour de France as well as the French championships.

History

The team formed after directeur sportif Jean de Gribaldy took the French section of the successful Belgian Flandria-Velda cycling team after Flandria withdrew sponsorship. De Gribaldy took Portuguese rider Joaquim Agostinho with him as team leader of his new team. With several sponsors, de Gribaldy formed a French team called Puch-Sem-Campagnolo. In its first year, Agostinho finished fifth in the 1980 Tour de France. [cite web|url=http://www.jeandegribaldy.com/index.php?zone=pages/equ_80|title=Puch-Sem-Campagnolo|publisher=Jean de Gribaldy.com|accessdate=2007-11-17] The team rode on Puch cycles. The following year this team became Sem-France Loire and where Serge Bucherie became road race champion of France. During the summer of 1981, Seán Kelly got in touch with his former directeur sportif about joining the team. De Gribaldy organised the sponsorship and 1982 marked the return of Seán Kelly to de Gribaldy which immediately turned into success. Kelly had been riding in a Belgian team with a Belgian leader in Eddy Planckaert, was now made the team leader. With this support and drive behind him, Kelly went to the prestigious stage race Paris-Nice and won. Kelly continued that success by winning the maillot vert of the 1982 Tour de France and the 1983 Tour de France. Sem-France Loire stayed the sponsor until 1984 when small power tool manufacturer Skil became the main sponsor making the Skil-Sem team.

Famous cyclists

*Joaquim Agostinho
*Seán Kelly
*Eric Caritoux
*Steven Rooks
*Marcel Tinazzi
*Serge Beucherie
*René Bittinger

Important Victories

*FRA Road Race Championship 1981
*SUI Cyclo Cross Championship 1981
*Paris-Camembert 1981
*Dagmersellen, Cyclocross 1981
*Paris-Nice 1982, 1983
*Giro di Lombardia 1983
*Liège-Bastogne-Liège 1983
*Nice–Alassio 1982, 1983
*Critérium International 1983
*GP d'Isbergues 1983
*Tour de Suisse 1983

References