Système U–Gitane

Système U–Gitane

Team information
Registered	France
Founded	1986
Disbanded	1989
Discipline	Road Cyclo-cross
Status	Retired
Key personnel
General manager	Cyrille Guimard
Team name history
1986-1987 1988 1989	Système U Système U-Gitane Super U-Raleigh-Fiat

Système U–Gitane was a 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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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 Critérium du 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 Grand Prix des Nations. In 1988, Fignon showed good form to win the Milan–San Remo 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–San Remo, 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

Riders who have won a Grand Tour, held the leader's jersey of a Grand Tour, won a stage of a Grand Tour, won a classic or won a national championship. Their wins may have been at any time in their careers, not necessarily during their time in the Système U team:

• 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
•  France Cyclo Cross Championship 1986, 1987, 1988
•  France Road Race Championship 1986, 1987
• Milan–San Remo 1988, 1989
• Giro di Lombardia 1988
• La Flèche Wallonne 1986
• Tour de l'Avenir 1988
• Paris–Bourges General classification 1986
• Grand Prix Eddy Merckx 1986
• Grand Prix des Nations 1987, 1988, 1989
• Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré General classification 1987
• GP Ouest-France 1986
• Paris–Camembert 1988
• Ronde van Nederland 1988, 1989
• Tour du Haut Var 1989

Roster

1986

Rider Date of birth  Previous team  Laurent Biondi July 19, 1959 Alain Bondue April 08, 1959 Éric Boyer December 02, 1963 Laurent Fignon August 12, 1960 Renault-Elf (1985) Dominique Gaigne July 03, 1961 Bernard Gavillet March 06, 1960 Martial Gayant November 16, 1962 Rolf Hofeditz August 31, 1962 Christophe Lavainne December 22, 1963 Dominique Lecrocq July 07, 1963 Søren Lilholt September 22, 1965 Yvon Madiot June 21, 1962 Jean-Marc Manfrin March 04, 1963 Thierry Marie June 25, 1963 Charly Mottet December 16, 1962 Renault-Elf (1985) Pascal Robert October 22, 1963 Denis Roux November 05, 1961 Renault-Elf (1985) Jonas Tegström January 01, 1965

1987

Rider Date of birth  Previous team  Laurent Biondi July 19, 1959 Alain Bondue April 08, 1959 Éric Boyer December 02, 1963 Philippe Boyer (Aug 01–Dec 31) March 30, 1956 Laurent Fignon August 12, 1960 Renault-Elf (1985) Bernard Gavillet March 06, 1960 Martial Gayant November 16, 1962 Éric Guyot March 10, 1962 Christophe Lavainne December 22, 1963 Søren Lilholt September 22, 1965 Marc Madiot April 16, 1959 Renault-Elf (1985) Yvon Madiot June 21, 1962 Jean-Marc Manfrin March 04, 1963 Thierry Marie June 25, 1963 Charly Mottet December 16, 1962 Renault-Elf (1985) Joël Pelier March 23, 1962 Pascal Poisson June 29, 1958 Gérard Rué May 07, 1965 Jonas Tegström January 01, 1965

1988

Rider Date of birth  Previous team  Wayne Bennington October 26, 1964 Éric Boyer December 02, 1963 Philippe Boyer March 30, 1956 Jacques Decrion November 18, 1961 Pascal Dubois October 27, 1962 Laurent Fignon August 12, 1960 Renault-Elf (1985) Dominique Garde March 18, 1959 Jean-Claude Garde September 12, 1960 Éric Guyot March 10, 1962 Christophe Lavainne December 22, 1963 Thierry Marie June 25, 1963 Laurent Masson March 02, 1964 Charly Mottet December 16, 1962 Renault-Elf (1985) Jean-Louis Peillon July 20, 1961 Joël Pelier March 23, 1962 Gérard Rué May 07, 1965 Pascal Simon September 27, 1956 Z-Peugeot (1987)

1989

Rider Date of birth  Previous team  Vincent Barteau March 18, 1962 Wayne Bennington October 26, 1964 Yves Bonnamour July 16, 1961 Jacques Decrion November 18, 1961 Pascal Dubois October 27, 1962 Jacky Durand February 10, 1967 Laurent Fignon August 12, 1960 Renault-Elf (1985) Dominique Garde March 18, 1959 Jean-Claude Garde September 12, 1960 Heinz Imboden January 04, 1962 Christophe Lavainne December 22, 1963 Yvon Ledanois July 05, 1969 Thierry Marie June 25, 1963 Laurent Masson (Jan 01–Feb 28) March 02, 1964 Frédéric Moncassin September 26, 1968 Jean-Louis Peillon July 20, 1961 Bjarne Riis April 03, 1964 Gérard Rué May 07, 1965 Éric Salomon May 23, 1962 Claude Séguy August 14, 1961 Pascal Simon September 27, 1956 Z-Peugeot (1987) Bruno Wojtinek March 06, 1963

References

1. "Systeme U". de wielersite. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
2. "Racing". Gitane USA. Retrieved 2007-11-09.