LES VÉLOS D’ALAUNA

13/06/2026

En congé réouverture Mercredi 17 Juin

05/06/2026

🇮🇹 Bianchi Team 2003
The team born out of chaos

Photos: David Plaza - Jan Ullrich - Ángel Casero (Bianchi) 2003

At the beginning of 2003, Team Coast was on the verge of financial collapse.
Riders were no longer being paid and the structure was close to disappearing mid-season.

That’s when the famous Italian bicycle manufacturer Bianchi stepped in and took over the team. 🇮🇹🚴‍♂️

An unexpected rebirth… that would give birth to one of the most beautiful teams of the early 2000s.

Because just a few weeks earlier, a huge name had arrived:
🔥 Jan Ullrich.

The German rider, winner of the 1997 Tour de France, had just left Telekom after testing positive for amphetamines in 2002.

Criticized, fragile, but still immensely talented, Ullrich joined Bianchi with one goal:
👉 beat Lance Armstrong at the 2003 Tour de France.

And for three weeks…
he was probably the only rider to truly make Armstrong suffer during his reign.

⚡ Growing stronger day after day
⚡ attacks in the mountains
⚡ time trial masterclasses
⚡ legendary duel with Armstrong

Before Armstrong’s titles were stripped years later, Ullrich finished 2nd in the 2003 Tour, only 61 seconds behind the American.

The smallest winning margin recorded during Armstrong’s 7 “victories” 👀

The podium was completed by Alexandre Vinokourov, Ullrich’s former teammate at Telekom.

Around Ullrich, the Bianchi team featured several well-known riders:
🇪🇸 Ángel Casero
🇪🇸 David Plaza
🇮🇹 Fabrizio Guidi
🇩🇪 Tobias Steinhauser
🇩🇪 André Korff

Despite a memorable season and huge media exposure, the Bianchi adventure lasted only one year.

Why?
👉 Ullrich eventually returned to Telekom.
👉 Without a leader, the project lost all sporting credibility at the highest level.

The team disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared.

But in cycling history, Jan Ullrich’s celeste Bianchi jersey and bike from the 2003 Tour remain an iconic memory to this day 🔥

Peace & ride.

05/06/2026

03/06/2026

28/04/2026

Je profite du Vendredi 1 Mai pour un peu de repos , en étant fermé le Samedi 2 .