BH return to international racing with Direct Energie

After the presentation in Paris of this new venture where the new Direct Energie vest and the BH bicycles were revealed to accompany part of the team this season, they went to the Valencian town of Calpe where until the coming 22nd, they will be concentrated and will wear the colours of the uniform and get used to their new machines.

BH bicycles return to the front line of international racing with Direct Energie, the French team, who will ride the Ultralight EVO, G6 Pro and the revolutionary G7 Disc models in those races in which the UCI decides that machines incorporating disc brakes can be used.

The Basque company through Direct Energie has the door open to become re-linked with top level cycle racing and once again offer satisfaction to the fans recalling epic triumphs like that of Fede Etxabe at the top of the Alpe D’Huez wearing the BH vest in a Tour de France.

In the word of Unai De la Fuente, BH manager, the alliance with the French team allows the firm “to return to the circuit of the most famous races in the world” and to count on the demands of high competition as the best showcase and test bench of “technology, innovation, lightness and aerodynamics of our material”.

With Direct Energie as a sponsor, the most relevant French electricity company takes over what was the Europcar team in the last season with all its structure. From team category, Continental Professional will compete in all the races of the French calendar as well as the hope of being invited to participate in the World Tour races with the Tour de France as the great objective.

Jean René Bernaudeau is leading the team of 22 racers highlighting the four pillars on which the Direct Energie team is sustained. The battling and untiring Thomas Voeckler, the opportunism and race vision of Sylvian Chavanel, the class and talent of Brain Coquard and the expectancy of the definite eclosion of Romain Sicard.

Chavanel returns under the direction of Bernaudeau, with whom he raced until 2004, and as well as retaining Coquard, they have incorporated other quality members like Adrien Petit.

Concentration and start of the season

After the presentation in Paris of this new venture where the new Direct Energie vest and the BH bicycles were revealed to accompany part of the team this season, they went to the Valencian town of Calpe where until the coming 22nd, they will be concentrated and will wear the colours of the uniform and get used to their new machines.

Part of the team has already left for the African continent to participate, from 18 to 24th January, in the first race in the history of Direct Energie.: La Tropicale Amissa Bongo in that African country.

Bernaudeau will take part as first director in this meeting with Thomas Voeckler, Yohan Gène, Tony Hurel, Bryan Nauleau, Adrien Petit and Alexandre Pichot.

On returning from Africa, the calendar continues because Direct Energie will participate in the G.P. La Marseillaise, on 31 January. In February the first two races confirmed are the Estrella de Bessèges, from the 3rd to the 7th, and after they will inaugurate the La Mediterranéene in the racing calendar from 11th to the 14th as an innovative race which in fours will go through three countries and will take the riders from the start at the Banyoles lake in Girona, through France for the two following stages and finish in the north of Italy in Bordighera.

Direct Energie Team, 2016: Thomas Voeckler, Bryan Coquard, Romain Sicard, Sylvain Chavanel, Angelo Tulik, Bryan Nauleau, Julen Morice, Romain Cardis, Guillaume Thevenot, Perrig Quéméneur, Thomas Boudat, Yohan Gène, Fabrice Jeandesboz, Ryan Anderson, Adrien Petit, Jérémy, Cornu, Lilian Calmejane, Romain Guillemois, Antoine Duchesne, Tony Hurel, Fabien Grellier, Alexandre Pichot.