No no no - in 1976 the "Miko" team rode Superia (red) bikes, the "Jobo" team rode La France bikes, and the "Maes Pils" team rode Spendor (blue and yellow) bikes.
I count 14 teams, but 15 cars with roof racks are in line behind the main field. Is one a neutral support car?
Aldo Ross
Monroe, Ohio
Many thanks for the helpful replies to my original query on the bikes ridden by the various teams in the 76 Paris Roubaix race. Dave Feldman was especially helpful:
"Miko rode Merciers, and Jobo rode Lejeunes. David Feldman"
LeJeune was one of the missing teams, so now we have 14 teams and 11 bicycle brands accounted for. But now the question is why Jobo and Miko rode the same bike as other teams. The Gan team were up on Merciers (Poulidor was the leader, and looked spiffy on his pink bike) and LeJeune would have supplied their own team's bikes.
I haven't been able to find a tape segment with a clear shot of the Miko bikes, but they aren't pink. More of an orange. So are they Merciers? Or would they be Motobecane Team Champions? Motobecane hasn't been spotted yet in the peleton.
Would LeJeune sponsor their own team and also supply bikes to Jobo?
FYI, one of the mystery bikes, the Maes Pils machines, are blue.
And what is that missing 15th team!?!
Maybe humanity is just not supposed to know some things. (Sigh!)
Also see below for an interesting theory on white tape. Remember, big brother is watching!
Tom Adams, Kansas City
In a message dated 10/8/01 8:01:03 AM Central Daylight Time, KCTOMMY@msn.com writes:
Also, why did seemingly all the teams start the day with brand new white tape? Any reason other than aesthetics? Did they rewrap the bars for every race?
Tom,
Some years ago I was told by an East Coast shop owner that the bars were taped white so that the team coach could tell where the racer was placing his hands on the bars. If the wear pattern showed the rider was "on the hoods" and not "down in the drops" he would be reprimanded, or even fined. Apparently, this was done during training, as well as during events. Plausible explanation, I don't know if its true.
Regards,
Carlo Carr
New Orleans