Of the eighteen ProTour teams only three are using Campagnolo this season:
Lotto-Belisol, Campagnolo EPS on Ridley frames
Movistar Team, Campagnolo EPS on Pinarello frames
Lampre-ISD, Campagnolo EPS on Wilier frames
Ten of the ProTour teams are using Shimano and five are using SRAM.
Campagnolo, founded as a company in 1933, won the Tour de France in 1948 with its rod gear "Cambio Corsa" shift system used by Gino Bartali. The two shift levers were mounted on the seatstays.
Shimano's first Grand Tour victory was in the 1988 Giro d'Italia won by Andy Hamspten. The first victory in the Tour de France was in 1999 when Lance Armstrong won using Dura-Ace.
SRAM's first Grand Tour victory also came in the Giro d'Italia, in 2008, which was won by Alberto Contador. SRAM's first victory in the Tour de France came in 2010, also with Alberto Contador. As Alberto Contador has been stripped of that victory I wonder if SRAM can claim that as their first TdF victory??? (ed note: yes, as Andy Schleck was also riding SRAM; thanks JonMack for correction).
In the Pro-Contintnal teams the situation with Campagnolo is worse, only two of twenty-two team are using Campagnolo this season:
Team Europcar, Campagnolo Super Record on Colnago frames
Colnago-CSF Inox, Campagnolo Super Record on Colnago frames
What am I riding? Take a look here, here, and here.
Source for use of Campagnolo in the 2012 season: Campagnolo
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Andy Schleck was also riding SRAM in the 2010 TdF...
ReplyDeleteSAd, but not surprising. Shimano and SRAM are spending a lot of money to be in the peloton. Gone are the days when teams selected gear based on performance, especially when, at this point, they all perform so well.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing a build now and if it weren't for a tremendous deal from Ribble.co.uk, I probably would have switched to the new SRAM Red.
When you think tiny Campagnolo makes ONLY high-end stuff for roadracing machines it's amazing they can afford to equip (and pay out the money) any pro teams these days. Shimano and SRAM are almost like Honda and Yamaha vs tiny Ducati in MOTOGP. And just like Ducati, the quality and style of Campagnolo is timeless while the others will always be victims of "the newest-latest" syndrome. Compare the prices for Anniversary groupsets from Campagnolo vs those from Shimano as an example. (Disclaimer: Campagnolo is an official supplier to CycleItalia)
ReplyDeleteBravo, Angelo. Except for 6 months in 1998, I also am exclusively a Campagnolo rider since 1983. Quality, durability, style, ergonomics, and technology. The combo cannot be beaten. I have worked on a lot of Sram, and frankly I don't know how people can be willing to spend so much and settle for its inferior styling, ergonomics and performance. Top riders will win on most anything, but I want my full money's worth so I would never opt for Sram.
ReplyDeleteDave - one word explains this, MARKETING. When your product costs are very low (hence low quality, lots of returns, etc.) but your selling price is high (compare prices of Red vs Record)you have piles of money to buy advertising promoting your products and drive sales via sponsorships of teams like BigTex'. I doubt Campy has ever had the profit margins required, they've been content to make the best stuff and sell everything they make. Only time will tell if this strategy will continue to be successful for them. W Campagnolo!
ReplyDelete