In its 125th anniversary year, Bianchi got off to a fantastic start in the international road race calendar thanks to the impressive results achieved worldwide by Team Jayco Skins and the AIS Women Road Team, both equipped with Celeste bikes.
 
On Monday March 1st, Aussie Michael Matthews - equipped with the new Bianchi 928 Carbon T-Cube - won a hectic bunch sprint at the end of the 174.5 km first stage of the Tour de Langkawi, in Malaysia. Team Jayco Skins’ rider claimed an outstanding win ahead of Spaniard Vidal Cells (Footon Servetto) with Ruslan Tieubayev (KAZ) third.

"It’s unbelievable," said Matthews soon after the finish. "I came here wanting to win but not expecting it, so it’s really good”. "In the finale I just made sure I stayed in the top ten and followed guys who were going off the front then the Footon guy (Cells) hit out pretty early so I had something to run at, and it gave me something to chase," said Matthews who despite the win says it was one of his toughest days in the saddle.

"It was boiling hot and humid - ridiculous conditions," he explained. "Felt like I was riding in a sauna, couldn't breath and really wasn't having much fun until the end. Crossing the line first though was heaps of fun."
 
Whilst Team Jayco Skins is currently in the spotlight over the torrid roads of Malaysia (the Tour de Langkawi ends on Sunday 7), the Bianchi bikes of the AIS Women Road Team shined at the Tour of New Zealand which concluded on Sunday February 28.  

The young AIS team - which includes some of the most talented Australian girls - was second overall in the Teams Classification category with Tiffany Cromwell finishing third overall and awarded the “Best Young Rider” in the race. Team mate Kirtsy Broun won the overall Points Classification. Amanda Spratt, on the comeback trail from a year’s lay off with injury in 2009, was 8th overall.