In 1919, a talented young bike racer from Flanders named Henri “Ritte” Van Lerberghe showed up bikeless to the starting line of the Tour of Flanders. The First World War had just ended, and ready for battle of a different kind, Ritte traveled to the race straight from the frontlines. Within minutes of the start, Ritte borrowed a bike from a local, and in the typical Ritte style he attacked the pack almost immediately.

Ritte built up such a sizable lead that he decided to stop and have a pre-celebratory beer. One beer turned into three or four, and despite the fact that he now felt more like hanging out with the locals than winning, Ritte was coaxed back on his borrowed bike and wobbled across the street to complete the finishing laps on the velodrome. Second place rolled in no less than 14 minutes later. Ritte had won Belgium’s greatest race and had fun
doing it.

Legend has it that Ritte started up a racing team and named it after himself. He thought bike racing should be as fun as it is demanding, and as enjoyable as it is miserable. And after 90 years of hibernation, The Ritte van Vlaanderen Cycling Team has re emerged in the heart of Southern California.

Ritte van Vlaanderen (pronounced “Rit-uh”) is poised to be a dominant force in West Coast amateur bicycle racing starting in the 2010 season. But Team Ritte aims to
be successful in more than just wins; they aim to change the culture of what is sometimes too serious, and too agro amateur racing in the West Coast.

As well as being a presence at the major West Coast races, Ritte van Vlaanderen will also have a National and International online presence through its partnership with the cycling news website Bicycle.net. This partnership allows Team Ritte to have a voice in the cycling cyber world, and help to spread the Ritte message of great racing and good beer (in that order).

For more information on Team Ritte contact:

Spencer Canon
ritteracing@gmail.com

Jonathan Tessler
ritteracing@gmail.com

(310) 961-BIKE

www.ritteracing.com