Giant-Australian Institute of Sport
Encyclopedia
The Giant-Australian Institute of Sport Cycling Team was an Australia
n professional cycling
team
sponsored by the Australian Institute of Sport
(AIS) and bicycle manufacturer Giant
. Heiko Salzwedel
and Brian Stephens were early directeur sportif
s. The fusion of the Giant-AIS and the Czech Husquarna team in 1997 extended its International profile, allowing to include foreign riders, such as Jens Voigt
, Jan Hruska
, Tomáš Konečný
. Consequently, the name of the team was changed to ZVVZ-Giant-AIS Cycling Team.
. In 1990, the AIS extended their commitment to Cycling and started the AIS Road Cycling programme in Canberra under AIS Head Coach and Australian National Road Coach Heiko Salzwedel
. Initially, 12 cyclists have been offered scholarships, amongst them Patrick Jonker
, Grant Rice, Darren Smith, Robert McLachlan
, Robert Crowe
, Jamie Kelly, Matt Bazzano and Jason Phillips.
In 1993, the AIS programme in Canberra was expanding to include the MTB and the Women’s Endurance programme. Cadel Evans
was in the first group of mountain bikers and Olympic Gold medalist Kathy Watt
being the most prominent riders of the Women's Endurance programme. Damian Grundy (MTB) and Andrew Logan (Women’s Endurance) have been appointed as AIS and National Coaches.
, Patrick Jonker
, Henk Vogels
, David McKenzie started their International cycling career at the Australian Institute of Sport
on GIANT bikes. When the Trade Team was founded in 1996, it became prime co-sponsor of the team bearing its name alongside with the Australian Institute of Sport.
, Jan Hruska
, Tomáš Konečný
and others.
, the Czech car manufacturer Škoda
started their extensive and long time commitment towards cycling in 1997, providing the team with 6 of their than brand new model Škoda Octavia
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional cycling
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
team
Cycling team
A cycling team is a group of cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle races whether recreational or professional - and the supporting personnel...
sponsored by the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
(AIS) and bicycle manufacturer Giant
Giant Manufacturing
Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is a Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer which bills itself as the world's largest bicycle manufacturer. Giant has manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, Netherlands, and Mainland China.-History:...
. Heiko Salzwedel
Heiko Salzwedel
Heiko Salzwedel is a German cycling coach and team manager. After moving from his native East Germany to Australia in 1990, he set up the Australian Institute of Sport Road Cycling/MTB programme in Canberra...
and Brian Stephens were early directeur sportif
Directeur sportif
A directeur sportif is a person directing a cycling team during a road bicycle racing event...
s. The fusion of the Giant-AIS and the Czech Husquarna team in 1997 extended its International profile, allowing to include foreign riders, such as Jens Voigt
Jens Voigt
Jens Voigt is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . Voigt is known for his propensity to attack, and for his positive racing attitude. He is capable of repeated attacking, holding a high tempo, and breaking away from the peloton...
, Jan Hruska
Jan Hruška
Jan Hruška is a former professional road bicycle racer from the Czech Republic, who turned professional in 1996. Hruska entered the 2000 Summer Olympics, but was removed after testing for a doping product.-Teams:...
, Tomáš Konečný
Tomáš Konečný
Tomáš Konečný is a Czech racing cyclist.- External links :* at sports-reference.com...
. Consequently, the name of the team was changed to ZVVZ-Giant-AIS Cycling Team.
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is the high-performance arm of the Government founded Australian Sports CommissionAustralian Sports Commission
The Australian Sports Commission is the governing body responsible for distributing funds and providing strategic guidance for sporting activity in Australia. It is an agency of the Government of Australia within the portfolio of Health and Ageing...
. In 1990, the AIS extended their commitment to Cycling and started the AIS Road Cycling programme in Canberra under AIS Head Coach and Australian National Road Coach Heiko Salzwedel
Heiko Salzwedel
Heiko Salzwedel is a German cycling coach and team manager. After moving from his native East Germany to Australia in 1990, he set up the Australian Institute of Sport Road Cycling/MTB programme in Canberra...
. Initially, 12 cyclists have been offered scholarships, amongst them Patrick Jonker
Patrick Jonker
Patrick Jonker is a retired Australian road bicycle racer from Dutch and German ancestry. He was a professional rider from 1993 to 2004...
, Grant Rice, Darren Smith, Robert McLachlan
Robert McLachlan
Robert McLachlan is a professional road bicycle racer from Australia. The 1992 Olympian now rides for the Drapac Porsche Development Program and a two-time series champion of the UCI Oceania Tour....
, Robert Crowe
Robert Crowe
Robert Crowe is a Paralympic cycling competitor from Australia. He won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Games in the Men's Road Race / Time Trial Tandem B1-3 event.-References:...
, Jamie Kelly, Matt Bazzano and Jason Phillips.
In 1993, the AIS programme in Canberra was expanding to include the MTB and the Women’s Endurance programme. Cadel Evans
Cadel Evans
Cadel Lee Evans is an Australian professional racing cyclist and winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Early in his career, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in...
was in the first group of mountain bikers and Olympic Gold medalist Kathy Watt
Kathy Watt
Kathryn Ann Watt is an Australian racing cyclist who won two medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain ....
being the most prominent riders of the Women's Endurance programme. Damian Grundy (MTB) and Andrew Logan (Women’s Endurance) have been appointed as AIS and National Coaches.
Giant
The Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer began its international sponsorship activities in 1991 with the Australian Institute of Sport Cycling Team. Riders, such as Robbie McEwenRobbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes...
, Patrick Jonker
Patrick Jonker
Patrick Jonker is a retired Australian road bicycle racer from Dutch and German ancestry. He was a professional rider from 1993 to 2004...
, Henk Vogels
Henk Vogels
Henk Vogels is an Australian former professional road bicycle racer who retired from competition at the conclusion of the 2008 season, which he rode with the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team...
, David McKenzie started their International cycling career at the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
on GIANT bikes. When the Trade Team was founded in 1996, it became prime co-sponsor of the team bearing its name alongside with the Australian Institute of Sport.
Jayco
As a consequence of their long standing relationship with Cycling teams and races in Australia, the American/Australian manufacturer of caravans and motorhomes, based in Melbourne, provided the team with custom made motorhomes both in USA and in Australia.ZVVZ
The financial support of Czech manufacturer of Airconditioning equipment enabled the Australian team to contract International riders, such as Jens VoigtJens Voigt
Jens Voigt is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . Voigt is known for his propensity to attack, and for his positive racing attitude. He is capable of repeated attacking, holding a high tempo, and breaking away from the peloton...
, Jan Hruska
Jan Hruška
Jan Hruška is a former professional road bicycle racer from the Czech Republic, who turned professional in 1996. Hruska entered the 2000 Summer Olympics, but was removed after testing for a doping product.-Teams:...
, Tomáš Konečný
Tomáš Konečný
Tomáš Konečný is a Czech racing cyclist.- External links :* at sports-reference.com...
and others.
Škoda
As a part of the Volkswagen GroupVolkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
, the Czech car manufacturer Škoda
Škoda Auto
Škoda Auto , more commonly known as Škoda, is an automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group...
started their extensive and long time commitment towards cycling in 1997, providing the team with 6 of their than brand new model Škoda Octavia
Škoda Octavia
The Škoda Octavia is a small family car produced by Czech automaker Škoda Auto since 1996, its name revived from a model originally produced between 1959 and 1971. The current Octavia is available in five-door liftback and station wagon....
.