Pinarello’s new

Dogma F
O Page 38

The Tour’s gravel Cav gets a Neilson Powless

stage previewed knighthood and his hero dad
O Page 24 O Page 10 O Page 34

New look, new content

Welcome to your new-look Cycling I would love to know what you think
Weekly! Over recent months we’ve of this issue so please drop me a line at
been working hard on updating your the email address below. This is your
favourite cycling magazine and we’re magazine and all feedback is welcome.
ŔşǫƴÝǰ´ĭƹÝÍƴƹşƴĔÝƹƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴĭƝƝǓÝƴĭŔƹşƴ TŔÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴƹħĭŔĔƴíƴŔÝǰƹƴǫÝÝĻƴĭƝƴşǓƏƴ
your hands. We’ve kept many of the 124-page Tour de France preview issue,
regular features we know are important your essential guide to the greatest
to our readers, expanded some sporting event on the planet. This
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what many of you will simply know as
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can get their names in the mag whether 8ƴ ‰’ƹÝƝƴƏݒÍDZƴĭúƴ_şĔ’¹’Əƴú’ĭĽƝ
they’re regular racers or big-mile riders 44 ,şǫƴƹşƴĆĔħƹƴ¥’´ĻƴƹşƴúǓĽĽƴĆƹŔÝƝƝ
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3
 In Focus
Helter skelter
The peloton climbs the
Gotthard Pass on stage
four of the Tour de Suisse
last week. In this bird’s-
eye view, you can see the
full extent of the flotilla
that is a bike race.
Torstein Træen (Bahrain
Victorious) went on to
win the stage.

Photos: Getty Images

 OOOO

O

OO

OOO

O OO OOO OOOO

Pretty in pink Indoor cycling Sprint power Yellow power
Jarno Widar (Lotto Dstny Clara Copponi rides her Tim Merlier of Soudal- Demi Vollering, on a road
Development) celebrates track bike inside the Quick Step grits his teeth bike, time trials during
winning the eight-stage Cirque d’Hiver in Paris, as as he sprints to victory on stage two of the Tour de
Giro d’Italia Next Gen. part of a promotional stage two of the Baloise Suisse. The hilly race
The 18-year-old Belgian event for the Olympics, Belgium Tour last week. against the clock was won
won stage three and which are well under 50 The Belgian would go on by the SD Worx-Protime
controlled the baby Grand days away. The arena is to win stage five of the rider, her second stage
Tour to the finish. usually used for a circus. race as well. win in a row.
 In Focus

Photos Alamy, Getty Images

 Yates in winning
form ahead of Tour
News

UAE Emirates dominate Tour de Suisse as team get

ƏݒÍDZƴƹşƴ¥’´Ļƴ_şĔ’¹’ƏƌƝƴ&ĭƏşīqşǓƏƴÍşǓ¥ĽÝƴ¥ĭÍ

A
͒Ŋƴ‰’ƹÝƝƴĽÝúƹƴƹħÝƴ ǫĭƹħƴ_şĔ’¹’Əƴīƴǫħşƴ rider, who won the day.
Tour de Suisse not dominated the Giro d’Italia in “About 2km to go, I wasn’t
only as a WorldTour May - also lining up, but he ƝǓƏÝƴĭúƴ.ƴ´şǓĽÍƴÍşƴĭƹÆƊƴ‰’ƹÝƝƴ
stage race victor will be there both to help, and said. “Obviously, I had the
for a fourth time, but as a wait in the wings as an two time checks with João in
potential favourite for the understudy de luxe should front of me and I knew he was
Tour de France. The British any chances arise. going to accelerate a little bit
rider, along with his UAE Team The friendly intra-team there in the end.
Emirates team-mate João clash between Almeida and “Actually, I just couldn’t
Almeida, dominated the ‰’ƹÝƝƴ´’ŊÝƴƹşƴ’ƴħݒÍƴşŔƴ accelerate, I was already over
eight-stage race last week. the final-day time trial, a the limit so I just tried to hold
The pair will now head to the discipline which would the pace and thankfully it was
Tour in the support of their usually favour the former ÝŔşǓĔħÆƊƴ‰’ƹÝƝƴ´şŔƹĭŔǓÝÍÆƴ’Ɲƴ
ƹݒŊƴĽÝ’ÍÝƏÆƴq’ÍÝĸƴ_şĔ’¹’ƏÆƴ over the latter. And so it he tried to catch his breath.
but ready to step up should turned out, but with a steep “It was such a hard climb, but
the opportunity present itself. ´ĽĭŊ¥ƴƹħƏşǫŔƴĭŔÆƴ‰’ƹÝƝƴǫ’ƝƴĭŔƴ one thing I had in the back of
It is the second year in his element and ended up my mind for a while was the
’ƴƏşǫƴƹħ’ƹƴ‰’ƹÝƝƴħ’ƝƴǫşŔƴ’ƴ conceding just eight 2019 Tirreno-Adriatico,
WorldTour stage race in seconds to the Portuguese where I lost the TT on the last
Switzerland, and the 31-
year-old looked head and
shoulders above everyone – day by one second, and this
save Almeida – in the Alps. had lived rent-free in my
The man from Bury won two head for many years, so it’s
of the eight stages, finishing good to win a TT like this.”
second on a further three, For UAE, there is almost
with Almeida the victor on an embarrassment of riches
two of those occasions. to fit into a single Tour squad.
H’ƝƹƴDZݒƏÆƴ‰’ƹÝƝƴƹƏ’ǪÝĽĽÝÍƴƹşƴ ĽşŔĔƝĭÍÝƴ_şĔ’¹’ƏÆƴ‰’ƹÝƝƴ’ŔÍƴ
the Tour off the back of Almeida will be Juan Ayuso,
second at the Critérium du Pavel Sivakov, Marc Soler,
Dauphiné, and duly won the Tim Wellens and Nils Politt.
opening stage. To be in While other teams, like
Florence having triumphed at Visma-Lease a Bike, will have
the Tour de Suisse will give tricky selection decisions to
him hope of more success. make due to a series of injury
Having finished third at last crises, UAE seem very settled,
year’s Tour, there isn’t much and ready to go all in for
more he can do, especially qħÝƴúĭŔ’ĽƴŵşÍĭǓŊƴŷĽƴƹşƴƏŹÅƴĽŊÝĭ͒Æƴ‰’ƹÝƝÆƴM’ƹƹĭ’ƝƴkĻĸÝĽŊşƝÝ _şĔ’¹’ƏÆƴşƏƴŊ’DZ¥Ýƴ‰’ƹÝƝż

8
 ‰’ƹÝƝƴħ’ŊŊÝƏƝƴ
ħşŊÝƴħĭƝƴşǪÝƏ’ĽĽƴ
ĽÝ’ÍƴǫĭƹħƴǪĭ´ƹşƏDZƴ
on stage five

Tom Pidcock the GC rider

Tom Pidcock bolstered his chances “It’s my best ever time trial result “Of course, I don’t want to just be
of becoming a GC contender with a since turning pro, so I can be really ƝşŊÝşŔÝƴǫħşƴĆŔĭƝħÝƝƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴƹşŵƴ
career-best time trial performance happy with that,” he said. “I think 10 on GC all the time,” he said in
at the Tour de Suisse on Sunday. every day I’ve got better this week... Switzerland. “[My performance]
qħÝƴƏĭƹƴĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴĆúƹħƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴƏ’´ÝƌƝƴ the numbers were really high as well, is certainly positive for the future.”
closing test against the clock, 50 so I think I can be really happy.” In an interview with Cycling
seconds down on the stage winner, The 24-year-old placed sixth Weekly last month,
João Almeida. The course was overall, his highest placing in Pidcock explained that he
almost entirely uphill, climbing 875m a WorldTour stage race. is expecting a “big summer”
over 15.7km to Villars-sur-Ollon, The Ineos Grenadiers rider this year, with his priority
and was contested on road bikes. has ambitions to ride being to defend his
Speaking after the stage, Pidcock for the GC at the Tour cross-country
said his ride was “certainly positive de France, where he mountain bike
for the future”. ĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴŪDŽƹħƴĭŔƴǎǼǎDŽżƴ Olympic title.

9 9
Words: Adam Becket Photos: Zac Williams/SWpix.com, Getty

A humbled Cavendish
will complete his last
Tour as a knight

names. Everyone watches

the Tour de France.”
Tilbury, who was Cycling
Weekly ’s Local Hero in 2019,
said she remembered when
she realised Cavendish was
something special.
“He came down to the
National Sports Centre
through BMX racing,”

Arise, Sir Cav

Tilbury explained. “Legend
has it, he said to his mum,
‘If I get one of those
mountain bikes, I think I can
win it.’ He got a mountain
News

bike, started winning, and

The Manx Missile was awarded a knighthood then got a drop handlebar
bike, and it soon became
in the King’s Birthday Honours apparent that he had
something special.

M
“He didn’t like to lose, and
by lose I mean coming
ark Cavendish am truly humbled. There are the one we all want. It’s second. He started to show
was left some incredible names on fantastic news, and so well his force then, he was
“speechless” the list who have been deserved. I couldn’t think of passionate about it.”
after being honoured for services they anything better. Last month, Cavendish
awarded a knighthood in the have done for the country “Everybody on the Isle of took the 164th road victory
King’s Birthday Honours last this last year. To be alongside Man adores him. From kids of his storied career, which
week. The Astana-Qazaqstan those names is very special.” to grannies. I have a friend put him one win ahead of
rider, preparing for his last ,ĭƝƴĆƏƝƹƴ´ş’´ħÆƴşƹƴ in her 70s who knows all the Italian sprinter Mario
Tour de France in just over a Tilbury, who came into names of the top sprinters, Cipollini, making him the
week, has become Sir Mark contact with Cavendish at who would never have most successful male
Cavendish, ready for one the National Sports Centre otherwise known all the sprinter in cycling history.
ĆŔ’ĽƴƹĭĽƹƴ’ƹƴƹħÝƴqşǓƏƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴ ĭŔƴşǓĔĽ’ƝÆƴ.ƝĽÝƴşúƴM’ŔÆƴƝ’ĭÍƴ
win record. that it was “well deserved”
The 39-year-old, who is in and that it “couldn’t go to a
his last year as a professional better person”.
cyclist, followed Bradley “I just think it has been so
Wiggins, Chris Hoy and long coming,” she told
Jason Kenny in becoming a Cycling Weekly on Friday.
cycling knight. “I am “What he’s done for British
completely honoured,” he cycling, world cycling, is just
said. “Speechless, really. amazing, and to think he
“Obviously everything I comes from an island in the
do in my career is for the middle of the Irish Sea... He
results. You put the work in, has been world champion, Cav’s first coach,
you get it. To have that ruled the Tour de France, Dot Tilbury, won
recognised by His Majesty there aren’t many accolades CW’s Local Hero
the King is pretty special. I left for him to get, apart from award in 2019

10
 Five things you need to know about...

British Road Race

Race Preview

National Championships
Friday 21 June-Sunday 23 June | Tees Valley

1 2
New circuit, There’s less climbing Lizzie Deignan has won three Williams (Israel-Premier
same finish In 2023, the men times, only Nicole Cooke, Tech) and Claire Steels
A cursory look tackled over 4,000m with a blistering tally of nine (Movistar) hold the KOM
’ƹƴƹħÝƴħݒͥĭŔÝƴĆŔĭƝħƴ’ƹƴ of ascent; in 2024 that’s wins, has retained the title and QOM respectively,
Saltburn Bank could lead dropped to just 2,835m for over consecutive years. both set in last year’s race.

4 5
you to believe this National the open race. The women’s
Championships is a repeat race has fallen from 2,826m Beware Brotton Bank Darlington’s chance
of 2023, but the 2024 course to 2,025m. Last year’s race The climb into the to shine
takes a more languid route was highly selective but village of Brotton In the 19th century,
through the Tees Valley expect a few more riders to proved very selective at the town of Darlington was
countryside than last year. be in contention come the last year’s race. Rising 52m best known for hosting the
However, the total distance closing stages this year. over its 700m of tarmac, it debut of the 1,724kg Durham

3
is similar, so you’ll see the reaches a gradient in the Ox, a gargantuan heifer that
riders come past fewer Georgi’s chance to double digits in its second attracted crowds as it
ƹĭŊÝƝÅƴĆǪÝƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴǫşŊÝŔÆƴ equal Cooke half. It was here that Anna toured the country. On the
down from seven, and seven _úÝĭüÝƏƴ&ÝşƏĔĭƴǫşǓĽÍƴ Henderson (Visma-Lease evening of Friday 21 June
for the men, down from 10. become only the second a Bike) forced the decisive the town welcomes the
That gives you more time woman in the 21st century to selection in the women’s Ŋ’ĔŔĭĆ´ÝŔƹƴ¥Ý’ƝƹƝƴşúƴ
to go to the bar at the successfully defend her title race. From here it’s all cycling as it plays host to
Victoria pub a short walk should she retain the British downhill to the foot the open and women’s
from the course. stripes on Sunday. While of Saltburn Bank. Stevie circuit races.

12
 Riders to watch

Stevie Williams (Israel-Premier Tech)

The Israel-Premier Tech rider comes in with the hottest form
ĭŔƴƹħÝƴşŵÝŔƴĆÝĽÍƴ’úƹÝƏƴǪĭ´ƹşƏDZƴ’ƹƴ%Ľä´ħÝƴƒ’ĽĽşŔŔÝƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴ
spring and only narrowly missing out on a win from a small
group on the hilly third stage of the Tour de Suisse last week.
CW rating 
Distance:
Women 130km _úÝĭüÝƏƴ&ÝşƏĔĭ ŷÍƝŊīĆƏŊÝŔĭ´ħƴ_şƝƹNHŹ
Open 182km The defending champion has been the model of consistency
ĭŔƴǎǼǎDŽƴǫĭƹħşǓƹƴĔ’ĭŔĭŔĔƴ’ƴǫĭŔÆƴǫĭƹħƴƹħƏÝÝƴŵşÍĭǓŊƴĆŔĭƝħÝƝƴ
Start/finish: and six other top 10s. The shorter race may actually suit her
Saltburn-by-the-Sea powerful style more than in 2023. CW rating 

Focus on HĭǸǸĭÝƴÝĭĔŔ’ŔƴŷHĭÍĽīqƏÝĻŹ
Saltburn Bank &ǓŔŔĭŔĔƴúşƏƴ’ƴúşǓƏƹħƴƹĭƹĽÝÆƴƹħÝƴ‰şƏĻƝħĭƏÝǫşŊ’ŔƴǫşŔƴƹħÝƴ
Rising up out of the North mountains competition at the recent Tour of Britain Women;
Sea, the punishing 18% the mix of climbing and punch required to win here should
slopes of this climb will suit her to a T. CW rating 
be tackled at the end of
every lap. The sheer number
Anna Henderson ŷBǓŊ¥şīHݒƝÝƴ’ƴĭĻÝŹ
of repetitions in 2023
meant the speed up here qħÝƴBǓŊ¥şīHݒƝÝƴ’ƴĭĻÝƴƏĭÍÝƏƴǫ’ƝƴƝÝ´şŔÍƴşŔƴ&ƴ’ƹƴƹħÝƴqşǓƏƴ
was not enough to see any of Britain Women, showing she’s fully recovered from a

Words: Adam Becket Photos: Getty Images, SWpix.com

men challenge the Strava collarbone break earlier this year. She could improve on
top 10, and only three
ƹħĭƏÍƴĽ’ƝƹƴDZݒƏƴ¥ǓƹƴŊĭĔħƹƴŔÝÝÍƴƹşƴ’ƹƹ’´Ļƴ¥ÝúşƏÝƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ
women did. British junior
Imogen Wolff (Shibden climb. CW rating 
Apex) will hope that her
44-second QOM time, Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers)
gained in a National Series In the last month the Londoner has been on the podium of a
race in April, will survive.
ƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭ’Ľƴ’ƹƴƹħÝƴqşǓƏƴÍÝƴkǓĭƝƝÝƴ’ŔÍƴ’ƴĆƏƝƹī´’ƹÝĔşƏDZƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƴ’ƹƴ
When CW asked Wolff
what it takes to get the the Tour of Norway. That versatile talent, plus the fact he is
QOM, she said: “Lots of building for the Olympics in August, makes him a threat for
lactic acid! It’s just how the jersey. CW rating 
much power you can put
out for that one minute.
The pain hits you afterwards. Joseph Blackmore (Israel-Premier Tech)
It’s gnarly for sure.” Blackmore was promoted to Israel-Premier Tech’s senior
She’s not expecting to team from their development set-up in May due to a string
keep her crown when the şúƴƹħƏÝÝƴ&ƴǫĭŔƝƴĭŔƴżŪƴ’ŔÍƴżǎīƏ’ŔĻÝÍƴƏ’´ÝƝƴ’ŔÍƴǪĭ´ƹşƏDZƴ’ƹƴƹħÝƴ
pros tackle it again though:
wǎDŽƴHĭäĔÝī’ƝƹşĔŔÝīHĭäĔÝżƴ,ĭƝƴ´şŔĆÍÝŔ´ÝƴǫĭĽĽƴ¥ÝƴƝĻDZƴħĭĔħƴ
“To be honest, I didn’t know I
had it until Tim Ferguson but will this course have enough altitude gain to suit him?
[Shibden manager] told me CW rating 
about five minutes ago.”

Last year’s road

race podiums
Men - 1. Fred Wright
(Bahrain Victorious)
After victory at
2. James Knox
Flèche, Williams
(Soudal-Quick Step)
is a rider to
3. Stevie Williams watch closely
(Israel-Premier Tech)
Women - 1. Pfeiffer Georgi
(dsm-firmenich PostNL)
2. Claire Steels (Israel-
Premier Tech Roland)
3. Anna Henderson
(Visma-Lease a Bike)
 Rider column

FRED WRIGHT
SWEET SALVATION

L
ots of hours in pocket gives a slow-toasting
the saddle spent ÝüÝ´ƹÆƴ’Ľǫ’DZƝƴ’ƴŔĭ´ÝƴƹƏݒƹƴ
racing or training after some intervals. The
means one thing team has started making
is certain for us rice crispy cakes instead of
professionals – we have to the usual rice cakes for us at
eat lots of food. Most of that races and I’ve also followed
food comes in the form of suit at home. They seem to
carbohydrates. be taking over the whole
As much as Eddie Abbew peloton. I guess because
may disagree, for us carbs everyone loves them.
are king. In the past few I always loved Rice
years the amount of carbs Krispie Squares and the
being consumed has only team’s creations are the
increased. I remember same but with more carbs.
just three or four years ago Perfect for optimising
being told to eat 90g an pocket space. I’ve got such a
hour and thinking that was sweet tooth that I’d happily
a lot. Now in the bunch eat them all day in training.
guys are pushing 120g and musettes and bottles, it ratio of size to grams of I’ve not yet had a problem at
sometimes even more. can be quite tricky to carry ´’Ə¥Ɲżƴ_ş´ĻÝƹƴƋƝƹǓü’¥ĭĽĭƹDZƌƴ the dentist but every yearly
To match the high 120g/h worth of carbs for is important. check-up I do get a bit
numbers in racing it’s also ĆǪÝƴħşǓƏƝżƴ Sweets are always a nervous. My poor teeth.
important to have training When the stock of team good option. Recently I’ve
days where you also push nutrition is low at home, discovered pop tarts, 70g
high grams per hour. As I spend a lot of time in of carbs for one packet! OK,
you can imagine, without supermarkets looking for nutritionally not the most O Fred Wright rides for
soigneurs handing up food sources with a good optimal but a warm back Bahrain Victorious

¦
UuHΐ¦Êu'Ʌʤ
With two consecutive victories in healthy advantage going into the stage of the Tour of Slovenia after
the high mountains earlier this ĆŔ’Ľƴƹǫşƴ͒DZƝż attacking from three kilometres
week, Demi Vollering (SD Worx- In Belgium, Tim Merlier şǓƹƴ’ŔÍƴħÝĽÍƴşüƴĽÝǰ’ŔÍÝƏƴFƏĭƝƹşü
Protime) laid the foundations for (Soudal-Quick Step) claimed (Uno-X Mobility). Giovanni Aleotti
overall victory at the Tour de Ǫĭ´ƹşƏDZƴşŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴ (Bora-Hansgrohe) won overall.
Suisse Women. Vollering has been Baloise Belgium Tour on Sunday, Britain’s Matthew Brennan
in sensational form so far this year, ħĭƝƴƝÝ´şŔÍƴǫĭŔƴşǓƹƴşúƴĆǪÝƴƝƹ’ĔÝƝżƴ (Visma-Lease a Bike Development)
winning the Vuelta España Merlier got the better of Jasper ǫşŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴGiro
Feminina, Itzulia Women and Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) d’Italia Next Gen ahead of Niklas
Vuelta a Burgos in Spain. in Brussels, who also won a Behrens (Lidl-Trek Future Racing)
qħÝƴǓƹ´ħǫşŊ’ŔƴǫşŔƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ stage of the event, as Søren and Luca Paletti (VF Group-
Ɲƹ’ĔÝƴǫĭƹħƴ’Ŕƴ’ƹƹ’´ĻƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) Bardiani CSF-Faizane). Jano Widar
kilometre, and backed this up claimed the overall crown. (Lotto Dstny Development Team)
with a win on stage two’s hilly Elsewhere Ben Healy (EF ĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴĭŔƴĎƬƹħÆƴ¥ǓƹƴħÝĽÍƴşŔƴƹşƴƝݒĽƴ
individual time trial, handing her a ÍǓ´’ƹĭşŔī’ƝDZ_şƝƹŹƴǫşŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ the overall title in Italy.

14
 World exclusive

Wiggins hopes to
return to the Tour
Interview

2012 winner aims to be at race ‘in some capacity’

despite bankruptcy, writes Amy Sedghi

S
ir Bradley Wiggins 2020 in an attempt to pay ´şŔĆƏŊÝÍƴħÝƴħ’Íƴ¥ÝÝŔƴ
has said that he back creditors. sexually abused by a former
has now found a Speaking exclusively to coach. In recent years there
“happy balance” Cycling Weekly at the have been angry rants about
with cycling, and will be National Cycle Show last how much he hates cycling,
at the Tour de France in ǫÝÝĻÆƴƹħÝƴĎĎīDZݒƏīşĽÍƴ but also nostalgic trips down
some capacity this year, refused to answer questions memory lane on speaking
adding that he felt more şŔƴħĭƝƴĆŔ’Ŕ´ÝƝÆƴĭŔƝƹݒÍƴ tours around the country.
comfortable in his own skin discussing his personal “You fall in and out of A painful reckoning with
than ever before. relationship with the sport, love with things, or you his past has led Wiggins
The former Tour winner and what it is like being a have enough of it, or at times to a place of acceptance
’ŔÍƴĆǪÝīƹĭŊÝƴTĽDZŊŵĭ´ƴ parent to a professional it becomes an obsession
champion was declared cyclist. His son, Ben, rides like it did for me,” he said of
bankrupt at Lancaster for Hagens Berman Jayco. cycling. After a period of
County Court last week, with “I’ve always been around time where he wouldn’t even
his lawyer telling the Daily cycling, and as much as I’ve watch any racing, he says
Mail Wiggins had “lost tried to push it away in the that he’s now found “a happy
absolutely everything”, had past, I realised that it’s balance”. Wiggins will be
¥ÝÝŔƴĽÝúƹƴƉƝşú’īƝǓƏĆŔĔƊƴ’ŔÍƴ always going to be there,” back at this year’s Tour de
was “without a penny”. he said. The comments France in some capacity,
Wiggins had been in an ƏÝČÝ´ƹƴƒĭĔĔĭŔƝƌƝƴƝƹƏǓĔĔĽÝƴ although right now he says
Individual Voluntary ǫĭƹħƴƹħÝƴ’¥ǓƝÝƴħÝƴƝǓüÝƏÝÍƴ ħÝƴ´’ŔƌƹƴƝħ’ƏÝƴƝŵÝ´ĭĆ´ƴ
Arrangement since July when he was 12. In 2022 he details due to an embargo. believes it was always his
He thinks there “destiny” to become a
should be more of cyclist, following in the
a welfare system in footsteps of his father, the
place for those Australian professional
leaving or retiring cyclist Gary Wiggins.
from the sport: He described being
“but how that’s set “forever told” about his
up and funded, I father, a man who he had a
don’t know. Íĭþ´ǓĽƹƴƏÝĽ’ƹĭşŔƝħĭŵƴǫĭƹħƴ
“You stop and and who left him and his
no one ever mother when he was just
contacts you two years old. “We are a
again,” he product of our childhood
said plainly. and upbringing and I think
Photos Getty Images

qħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴÝǪÝƏƴ that never leaves you,”

British winner of Wiggins stated with
the Tour de France characteristic frankness.
’ŔÍƴĆǪÝīƹĭŊÝƴ TŔƴƹħÝƴƹşŵĭ´ƴşúƴǓƝĭŔĔƴ
Wiggins is determined TĽDZŊŵĭ´ƴĔşĽÍƴ cycling as a distraction,
to put parenting first
medallist, Wiggins ƒĭĔĔĭŔƝƴƏÝČÝ´ƹÝÍƴşŔƴħşǫƴĭŔƴ
with son Ben (right)

16
 MY VIEW
ADAM
BECKET
News editor

It is hard not to feel sorry for Bradley

Wiggins. Since being on top of the
ǫşƏĽÍƴĭŔƴǎǼŪǎÆƴĭƹƴħ’Ɲƴ¥ÝÝŔƴ’ƴÍĭþ´ǓĽƹƴ
decade. We know now, obviously,
that it was far from a perfect time
for him, with a troubled upbringing,
ŊÝŔƹ’ĽƴħݒĽƹħƴĭƝƝǓÝƝÆƴ’¥ǓƝÝƴƝǓüÝƏÝÍƴ
during his childhood, and struggles
with the adulation that his success
brought him.
ƹƴĎĎÆƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƏĭƹşŔƴƹşƴǫĭŔƴƹħÝƴ
Tour de France still has a lot to give
the world of cycling, whether that’s
through punditry on television, or
helping the next generation of stars,
starting with his son, Ben.
I’m reminded a bit of Andrew
%ĽĭŔƹşüÆƴƹħÝƴúşƏŊÝƏƴŔĔĽ’ŔÍƴ´Əĭ´ĻÝƹÝƏÆƴ
who was bigger than his sport, spoke
publicly about his depression, and
ƝƹƏǓĔĔĽÝÍƴƹşƴĆƹƴĭŔƹşƴƹħÝƴŔşƏŊ’ĽƴǫşƏĽÍƴ
– is he a television presenter, a boxer,
şƏƴƝşŊÝƹħĭŔĔƴÝĽƝÝƄƴ%ĽĭŔƹşüƴħ’ƝƴŔşǫƴ
found a place as a coach for the
ŔĔĽ’ŔÍƴƹݒŊÆƴ’ŔÍƴşŔÝƴǫşŔÍÝƏƝƴĭúƴ
the past he would tighten his adulthood, but I’ve become there is a redemptive arc for Wiggins.
focus on the bike whenever the opposite to my own kids. Having tried rowing, podcasting
“anything big” would happen I’ve become everything that and punditry, what’s next for the
in his life. Now that he is I wanted my parents to be,” ĆǪÝīƹĭŊÝƴTĽDZŊŵĭ´ƴĔşĽÍƴŊÝ͒ĽĽĭƝƹƄƴ
retired, there has been a lot he shared. The British public still holds him in
to unpack mentally and kŵݒĻĭŔĔƴƝŵÝ´ĭĆ´’ĽĽDZƴ high regard, and his personality
emotionally. He described about his relationship with şüÝƏƝƴƝşŊÝƹħĭŔĔƴƹħ’ƹƴŊ’ŔDZƴşƹħÝƏƴ
not being able to properly junior world champion Ben, cyclists don’t have. He seemed
process the grief of missing ƹħÝƴĎĎīDZݒƏīşĽÍƴƹÝĽĽĭŔĔĽDZƴ positive in our interview with him, and
his father’s funeral in 2008, said: “I don’t get involved I hope he can properly bounce back.
because he had to ride the in his cycling. I’m just his Bankruptcy is a low ebb, but hopefully
World Championships three dad and I think that’s an it is very much the bottom, and a
weeks later. He was also left important thing to say. good future can begin now. Whatever
with “a lot of unanswered I just want to be his dad.” his role is at the Tour, he will be
questions” due to his Wiggins said that welcomed by the fans, and that
father’s absence in his life, although he mentors his should be a starting point to feel at
but it has also given him son, as any parent would, home again in the world of cycling.
clarity when it comes to his he knew it would have
own role as a parent. been “very unhealthy”
“I realised how much to get into a working
ƹħ’ƹƌƝƴ’üÝ´ƹÝÍƴŊÝƴĭŔƴŊDZƴ relationship with him.

17
 THE HUB
All the news you might have missed from the last seven days

Rider disqualified
from Tour of
Slovenia for using
‘supertuck’ position Matteo Jorgenson
Uno-X Mobility’s Johannes Instagram
Kulset was kicked out of
the Tour of Slovenia last “A postcard from
Friday for using the Tignes.” The US rider
‘supertuck’ aero might have teased
position on stage the Visma-Lease a Bike
three. The position Tour de France team
was banned by in his post, including
the UCI on safety Jonas Vingegaard
grounds in April 2021. and Wout van Aert.

124
RideLondon
Classique
“I feel grateful that I cancelled in 2025
years have been able to do The three-stage
A 25km track race silver my hobby as my job RideLondon Classique
medal won by Great for so many years” has been cancelled by
Britain at the 1900 – former British its organisers for 2025
Olympic Games has been champion Alice Barnes after it was pushed back a
awarded to France after on deciding to retire week by the UCI. London
124 years. Its winner, at the end of 2025. Marathon Events said that
Lloyd Hildebrand, was the date change meant it
judged to be French. couldn’t be run next year.

YELLOW CARDS
COME TO
What’s hot: What’s not: CYCLING
Campervans Royal Parks Cycling
Demi Vollering recently credentials A ‘yellow card’ system will
recced the Tour de London’s long-standing be trialled by the UCI, as
France Femmes Avec Richmond Park time trial part of rule changes to
Zwift route not with has been cancelled over make road races safer.
ƹħÝƴÝŔƹşǓƏ’ĔÝƴ¥ÝĆƹƹĭŔĔƴ concerns regarding There will also be changes
of the UCI’s #1 number cyclists breaking speed to the 3km rule and how
one rider, but in limits and after several time gaps are calculated
a campervan, with reported “cycling- on sprint stages.
her dog. related incidents”.

18
 What you’re saying

Riding clipless pedals LETTER OF

Ǹʾ̿ΐΔȴƲΐǾ̿ͣΔΐΔɇʔƲ THE WEEK
I’m old enough to have started my I nearly had an accident riding clipped CW was the clincher
cycling career in toe clips and straps. in, so I now ride with one clipless pedal Thank you for the incredibly
I did my falling then. Once I switched ’ŔÍƴşŔÝƴȒƹƴŵÝ͒Ľżƴ.ƴĻŔşǫƴǫħ’ƹƴƝşŊÝƴ complicated and informative
to clipless I thought, ‘Why did I wait so people will say but I’ve done it for years article ‘Tech question, how
long?’ I never had a problem with and it works for me. I know I can always do I keep my tubeless set-up
clipless. It’s always been very natural. put one foot down easily and still get safe?’ (CW, 23 May) regarding
Tommy James some help pedalling. No problem up the trials and tribulations
mountains either. Sue Morton of switching to a tubeless
I have a wrecked knee and don’t have ƝÝƹīǓŵżƴ.ƴ’ŊƴŔşǫƴĆƏŊĽDZƴ
the strength to twist for release. I tried You don’t forget how to unclip, you convinced that I will continue
with mtb pedals and it was a nightmare. forget that you need to. Ride with with clinchers and inner tubes
Quick-release SPDs by Shimano were someone who will remind you as a for the foreseeable future.
the solution for me, suddenly I could do stop approaches. After a ride or two it Colin Inett,
what everyone else did! Having said becomes second nature. David Studner Thanet Road Club
ƹħ’ƹÆƴ.ƌǪÝƴĸǓƝƹƴĔşŔÝƴ¥’´ĻƴƹşƴȒƹƴŵÝ͒ĽƝƴ
for my road bike. Maureen Simmonds Learn to clip/unclip on a trainer. Took Ed - We probably should say
my youngest daughter that wasn’t the aim of the
10 minutes to learn article, Colin, but we hope it
Clipless pedals are
intuitive to use and ’ŔÍƴƝħÝƴŔÝǪÝƏƴúÝĽĽƴşüżƴ helped you come to the right
quick to master Chris Cole conclusion. Tubeless set-ups
ħ’ǪÝƴƹħÝĭƏƴ¥ÝŔÝĆƹƝÆƴ¥ǓƹƴĭúƴDZşǓƴ
Anticipation have wheels that roll nicely
is everything. along with inner tubes and
Gareth Roberts high-pressure tyres there’s
no urgency to change.
Practise on grass and
wind the springs right
şüżƴǪÝƏDZ¥şÍDZƴú’ĽĽƝƴşüƴ
a couple of times.
Graham Austin loosest setting and don’t overthink it.
Always clip in with your leading foot
Make sure you adjust ĆƏƝƹÆƴƹħÝŔƴƏÝǪÝƏƝÝƴĭƹƴúşƏƴ´ĽĭŵŵĭŔĔƴşǓƹżƴ
your pedals to the Michele Linton-Sinclair

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21
Stage nine of the Tour de France features
32km on the white roads of the Champagne
region. Steve Shrubsall grabs his gravel bike
to sample what lies in wait for the peloton
 eing the Tour de France my brother James and photographer
race director must give cĭ´ħ’ƏÍƴíƴǫÝƏÝƴÝŔƴƏşǓƹÝƴƹşƴĆŔÍƴşǓƹƴúşƏƴ
Christian Prudhomme ourselves just what wild vision entered
more than a few restless Prudhomme’s mind that fateful night.
nights. In the small hours
of a September morning – GRAPPLING WITH GRAVEL
weeks before the following Our destination: the rolling Champagne
year’s route is announced region, where this year’s stage nine, on
to a clamouring crowd ƦƴBǓĽDZÆƴǫĭĽĽƴƝƹ’Əƹƴ’ŔÍƴĆŔĭƝħƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴƹşǫŔƴ
of riders, journalists and of Troyes. Conjured in a moment of
boulangerie proprietors – I imagine a genius, Prudhomme and the Tour’s lead
panic-stricken Prudhomme coming to course designer, Thierry Gouvenou,
from a nightmare featuring the same inserted 14 gravel sectors covering
old mountains and TT kilometres as 32km of the 199km stage. A brilliant
the previous dozen editions. For a Tour move, unless you’re Remco Evenepoel
de France to be heralded a success, a who was frankly disgusted with the idea
more eclectic set of stages is needed of including the chemins blancs in the
– France needs to be well and truly 2024 Tour.
toured. As many stones as possible The weather in the few days prior
need to be turned. And for this year’s to our visit was hot and sunny – wall-
ƏşǓƹÝÆƴƹħÝƴƏ’´ÝƴÍĭƏÝ´ƹşƏƴħ’Íƴ’ƴ¥şŔ’ƴĆÍÝƴ to-wall sunshine in Troyes with
eureka moment. afternoon highs of 24ºC. Perfect. But
OK, I’m not suggesting that the race after clicking the little arrow on the
director woke up one day screaming BBC Weather app that allows you to
‘GRAVEL!’ at the top of his lungs – but embark on a little time travel, we were
for the purposes of this feature, let’s regrettably informed that on the day
run with it – because as an explanation of our arrival, and throughout our time
şúƴşŔÝƴŵ’Əƹĭ´ǓĽ’ƏƴƝƹ’ĔÝÆƴĭƹƴĆƹƝƴƹħÝƴ there, the temperature would drop by
parcours perfectly. Barely out of his some 10ºC, the wind would pick up and,
pyjamas, then, and long before the of course, it would rain. Oh, for the love
boulangerie proprietors, half of the pro of gravel…
peloton and a cluster of journalists had úƹÝƏƴşǓƏƴĆƏƝƹƴŔĭĔħƹƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴ
the chance to enquire as to what on Champagne region, we breakfasted
earth he was raving about, stage nine on that classic Continental melange
of this year’s Tour had been signed, of meat, cheese and bread before
sealed and delivered. Fast-forward to heading to the start of the course just
mid-May 2024 and our CW team – me, a few clicks out of the town. We rode ç.ΐ.uÂ.¦.'ΐ
ÂP.ΐGU¦¶Âΐ
Brothers Steve
(left) and James GRAVEL SECTOR
summon the
spirit of fraternité AT BREAKNECK
for their white
roads odyssey ¶¤..'ƍΐ
¤¦Ê'Pss.̺¶ΐ
'¦.
sΐ¦.
iU¶.'
’ŊĭÍƴ´şşĽƴǫݒƹħÝƏƴ’ŔÍƴÍƏĭǸǸĽÝƴƝşƴĆŔÝƴ
it barely registered, our eyes instead
feasting on the billiard-table-smooth
roads – possibly resurfaced for the
Tour’s pending arrival – a glorious

26
 STAGE
PUHPiUHP¶
If you’re planning on heading
şǪÝƏƴƹşƴ%Ə’Ŕ´ÝƴúşƏƴ’ƴĆƏƝƹīħ’ŔÍƴ
Tour experience, the gravel stage
is the nearest to Blighty, with
Troyes being just four hours by
car from Calais. Here we’ve
marked out the best places to
watch the stage – but get there
early, the hills in particular are
premium vantage points.

OCôte de Val Frion: This gravel

sector could split the peloton or
even prove a launchpad for a
race-winning move. Expect a lot
of jostling for position in the
kilometres prior to this part of
the course.

The chemins blancs will be

perfect for puncheurs but
purgatory for most GC men

Ľ’´ĻƴşúƴƹƏ’þ´Æƴ’ŔÍƴ’ƴƃǓĭƹÝƴ’ƝƹşǓŔÍĭŔĔƴ There isn’t much to say about

landscape. Neat rows of pinot gris roll ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴĈǼĻŊƴ’ƝĭÍÝƴúƏşŊƴĭƹƝƴ
to the horizon, then back again; as if aforementioned pretty, rolling nature,
someone’s picked up the landscape but then suddenly gravel happened. An
like a carpet and shaken perfect waves unexpected prompt from my Garmin OCôte de Chacenay: Steep
into it. informed me that I would soon be gradients and gravel abound. If
So James I and pedalled away from taking a left turn. “I don’t see any left the Côte de Val Frion doesn’t get
Troyes and further into grape and turns, do you?” I asked James. any bites, then the Côte de
gravel country. The good thing about “Only that beaten-up path over Chacenay, some 10 miles
riding with a sibling is they can lend there,” he replied. down the road, most certainly
you a tenner for an Orangina and a will. It’s rough, rugged and
Camembert cob when you leave your TOOLS FOR THE TASK ridiculously steep.
wallet at the hotel. The bad thing about kşƴĭƹƴǫ’Ɲƴƹħ’ƹƴǫÝƴÝŔƹÝƏÝÍƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ
it is that there’s always a hint of an gravel sector at breakneck speed, OThe ĆŔ’Ľ 60km: With almost as
argument in the air. But the route thus and Prudhomme’s dream was being much gravel as tarmac, the latter
far was so idyllic that we were enjoying realised – right here, right now. Then part of this stage will be a real
one another’s company immensely, we stopped and consulted the map, treat to watch. Helicopter
commenting on French countryside ĸǓƝƹƴĭŔƴ´’ƝÝżƴBǓƝƹƴ’¥şǓƹƴƝ’ƹĭƝĆÝÍƴƹħ’ƹƴ footage of riders ripping up
quirks and harking back to a holiday this was indeed the right way and our rustic roads in the Champagne
spent in the region back in... well, what Garmins hadn’t diverted us to Mordor, region could be some of the best
seemed like light years ago. we continued. The tech beneath us at this year’s Tour.

27
 Steve (right) prepares to
leave James for dust in his
quest for Strava kudos

about to be tested was, in James’s case, me with the gel, the Revolt gobbled up of coarsely strewn gravel, but also
a Specialized Roubaix with hints of ƹħÝƴú’ƝƹÆƴȒƹƴƹƏ’´ĻƴǓŔÍÝƏƴĭƹƝƴǫĭÍÝÆƴ the potentially peloton-splitting
suspension in the fork and the seatpost şüīƏş’ÍƴƹDZƏÝƝƴ’ŔÍƴ¥ÝĔĔÝÍƴúşƏƴŊşƏÝƴşúƴ fourth-category ascent of the Côte
and 32mm tyres; and beneath me, a the same. de Val Frion.
Giant Revolt X Pro with 40mm of front .ƹƴǫ’ƝƴşŔƴƹħÝƴúşǓƏƹħƴ’ŔÍƴĆúƹħƴ We stopped at the top to catch
travel, a dropper post and 42mm tyres. sections of gravel that the ride became our breath, and to speculate on what
If I was a betting man I’d say that decidedly more bumpy. Now just might transpire at this point during
come 7 July when the Tour rides this over halfway through the stage, the the race. “I think Matthieu van der Poel
stage, we are unlikely to see any of rolling slopes had been replaced with will attack here,” opined James, “and
the peloton piloting gravel bikes. In far sharper, bracing gradients that if solo the next 90-odd kilometres back
fact, we’re unlikely to see anything you’re built like me – regardless of the into Troyes.”
even loosely resembling a gravel bike. bike you ride – are a real sod to ascend. Ɖ_şĔ’¹’ƏÆƊƴ.ƴƏÝƹşƏƹÝÍƴíƴĽ’ƏĔÝĽDZƴ
Which is a shame, because this surface Sector 11 (they count down from 14 to ¥Ý´’ǓƝÝƴƉ_şĔ’¹’ƏƊƴǫ’ƝƴŔşǫƴŊDZƴ’ŔƝǫÝƏƴ
is perfect for them. Whereas before I’d one) comprises not only 3,429 metres to any cycling-related queries. Who’s
assumed the Giant Revolt X had been going to win the
designed for multi-surface endurance qşǓƏƄƴ_şĔ’¹’Əżƴ
outings, it was now abundantly clear Who’s going to
ĭƹƴħ’Íƴ¥ÝÝŔƴÍÝƝĭĔŔÝÍƴƝŵÝ´ĭĆ´’ĽĽDZƴúşƏƴ win the Worlds?
this path. _şĔ’¹’ƏżƴƒħşƌƝƴ
.ƴƏş´ĻÝƹÝÍƴ’ĽşŔĔÆƴÝüşƏƹĽÝƝƝĽDZƴ going to win the
displacing loose substrate as I rode. 41st edition of
As the rain stopped and the sun toyed the Jock Wadley
with the idea of putting its hat on, a Memorial Road
´ÝƏƹ’ĭŔƴ’ŊşǓŔƹƴşúƴÍǓƝƹƴĆĽĽÝÍƴƹħÝƴ’ĭƏżƴƒÝƴ Race? Pog– you
cut through a series of quintessential get the idea. In
French villages with their bar-tabacs, seriousness,
boulangeries and charcuteries – none however much
of which were open, of course. as it astounds
Such was my appetite at this stage me to think this,
I could have propped up the local let alone write
economy until the Tour arrived – but, it in a national
alas the shops were closed, as usual, so publication,
ǫÝƴĆƝħÝÍƴŊşƏÝƴĔÝĽƝƴúƏşŊƴşǓƏƴŵş´ĻÝƹƝƴ I don’t think
,’ĽúīƹĭŊ¥ÝƏÝÍƴħşǓƝÝƝƴ’ƏÝƴ’ƴÍĭƝƹĭŔ´ƹĭǪÝƴúݒƹǓƏÝƴ
and found the next sector. Much like of Troyes and surrounding towns and villages
_şĔ’¹’ƏƴǫĭĽĽƴǫĭŔƴ

28
Pinot gris as far as the eye
can see in this section of How to get there
Champagne country
qƏşDZÝƝƴĭƝƴşŔĽDZƴŪŪǼƴŊĭĽÝƝƴƝşǓƹħīݒƝƹƴşúƴ_’ƏĭƝÆƴƝşƴƹħÝƏÝƌƝƴƹħÝƴ
option of flying into the capital and then proceeding by
train, car or even bike down to the Champagne town.
Likewise, you could get the Eurostar into Paris from
London. We chose to drive, which took just over four
hours from Calais and was a very straightforward journey
using toll roads.

this stage. My hunch is that James’s

Scan to see all
Van der Poel prediction is correct.
our routes on
That said, all of the Classics specialists Komoot
in the race will have looked at this
stage and run out of ink underlining
it, so it’s by no means a foregone
conclusion. This will be a hard-fought 20mil 40mil 60mil 80mil 100mil 120mil

belter of a stage. 1,200 ft

600 ft

WHITE LIGHTNING 600 ft

300 ft
Having negotiated what we considered
the decisive section of the day, the
run-in to Troyes began. But hang on,
we’d only ridden about 10 kilometres’ Where to stay
worth of gravel at this stage, so where
So late in the day, it’s likely that all hotels in and around
was the rest of it? Right in front of
Troyes are already at capacity. However, looking on Airbnb
us. Yes, the concluding kilometres of
there are ample options in Troyes and out on the course itself
stage nine of this year’s Tour are almost
which would provide home from home comfort while
exclusively composed of the rough
experiencing the biggest annual sporting event on the
ƝƹǓüżƴŊ’ǸĭŔĔĽDZÆƴƹħÝƴǫħĭƹÝƴŵ’ƹħƝƴŷƹħÝƴ
planet. We stayed at the Hotel Kyriad where rooms start at
literal translation of chemins blancs)
£73 per night: Hotel Kyriad, 44 Av. Chomedey de
ČşǫƴşŔÝƴ’úƹÝƏƴƹħÝƴşƹħÝƏƴíƴ’ĽĽƴƹħÝƴǫ’DZƴƹşƴ
Maisonneuve, 10000 Troyes, France (+33) 325452922.
ƹħÝƴ´ĭƹDZƴĽĭŊĭƹƝÆƴǫĭƹħƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴƝĭǰƴƝÝ´ƹşƏƝƴ
’ĽĽƴ´şŊĭŔĔƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴDŽDŽƴĻĭĽşŊÝƹƏÝƝż Where to eat
%ĭƏƝƹƴƹħĭŔĔƝƴĆƏƝƹÆƴƹħşǓĔħƴíƴĭƹƴǫ’ƝƴƹĭŊÝƴ
úşƏƴ’ƴ_şĔ’¹’ƏīÝƝƃǓÝƴ’ƹƹ’´ĻżƴNşÆƴŔşƹƴ This being France, there are myriad dining options and the
just to upset James but because, after food is almost always exceptional. The regional speciality,
careful examination of stage nine’s however, is andouiette – a sausage made from all the bits of a
Strava segments, I’d noted that each pig that often get hurried into the bin. Give it a try… but don’t
of the gravelly ones had only 80 or so ¥Ľ’ŊÝƴǓƝ÷ƴƒÝƴ’ƹÝƴ’ƹƴkĭĔŔşƏĭǸǸ’ƴqƏşDZÝƝÆƴ’ƴŊĭÍīƹĭÝƏƴ.ƹ’Ľĭ’Ŕƴ
previous entries on the leaderboard. ݒƹÝƏDZÆƴĔƏݒƹƴúşƏƴŵƏÝīƏĭÍÝƴ´’Ə¥şīĽş’ÍĭŔĔżƴSignorizza Troyes:
It occurred to me that if I approached 42 Av. Chomedey de Maisonneuve, 10000 Troyes, France,
these with a high level of exuberance, (+33) 325761375.
I might come away with a shiny new

29
 The peloton will be hoping
for a fair wind when the
Tour hits the region in July

crown. I’d need to go deep, though, as I looked and as poorly paced as ƹħÝƴ’ĔÝƝżƴ.ƹƴǫĭĽĽƴ¥ÝƴƏĭÍÍÝŔƴȒƹīşǓƹƴ¥DZƴ
very deep. ƹħĭƝƴÝüşƏƹƴŊ’DZƴħ’ǪÝƴ¥ÝÝŔÆƴƝħÝÝƏƴǫĭĽĽƴ the one-day specialists and endured
And so it began: I bid James ÍƏşǪÝƴŊÝƴşŔƴƹşƴƹħÝƴĆŔĭƝħƴĽĭŔÝƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ with gritted teeth by the GC guys,
bon voyage – I would be riding the Boulevard du 1er Ram in Troyes. notwithstanding a certain young man
next sector solo unless he had the Back at the hotel and after a demi- from Slovenia. With hints of Flanders,
inclination to join me in vying for the pression of bière blanche, I uploaded my suggestions of Paris-Roubaix and
place of the fastest man in the French ride to Strava in preparation of a ‘hey, positive wafts of Strade Bianche,
vineyards – and let rip. It wasn’t long look at me’-themed evening. Nothing. this will be a stone cold Classic in the
¥ÝúşƏÝƴ.ƴǫ’ƝƴĆǸǸĭŔĔƴĽĭĻÝƴ’ƴ¥’ÍĽDZƴŵǓĽĽÝÍƴ Not even a top 10. Just my luck that all middle of the greatest Grand Tour of
pint of lager as grape farmers leapt the other riders on the leaderboard them all. So pour yourself a glass of
from my path. One can only imagine the were WorldTour pros recceing the route. bubbly, sit back and enjoy the show.
hushed conversations that took place Stupid Tour de France.
in the bar-tabac that evening: “C’était… Strava-segment hunting aside,
c’était… horrible!” As dishevelled this has all the makings of a stage for

OCW feature writer and sub-editor

Steve Shrubsall has developed an
appetite for riding epic distances on
his gravel bike – alongside an
insatiable appetite for carbs
X: @steveshrubsall
ƏşƹħÝƏƝƴĭŔƴ’ƏŊƝƴ’ƹƴMşŔŊ’ƏƹĭŔīĽÝī,’ǓƹÆƴ¥ǓƹƴŔşƹƴúşƏƴĽşŔĔƴ’ƝƴkƹÝǪÝƴĔşÝƝƴĭƹƴ’ĽşŔÝ Insta: steveshrubsall

30
 MEET THE MAKER
NEILSON POWLESS
AND HIS DAD JACK
The US rider and his Ironman champ dad tell Chris Marshall-Bell about
their Indigenous American ancestry and fun-first training ethos

ħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ.ŔÍĭĔÝŔşǓƝƴNşƏƹħƴ ’ƝƴǫÝĽĽƴ’ƝƴƏǓŔŔĭŔĔƴ’ŔÍƴĽ’ĻÝƴƝǫĭŊŊĭŔĔÆƴ qħÝƴ´şǓŵĽÝƌƝƴĆƏƝƹƴ´ħĭĽÍÆƴkħ’DZŔ’Æƴǫ’Ɲƴ

ŊÝƏĭ´’ŔƴƹşƴƏĭÍÝƴƹħÝƴqşǓƏƴ ƹħ’ƹƴŊşƝƹƴĭŔƹÝƏÝƝƹÝÍƴħĭŊżƴÍǪÝŔƹǓƏÝƴ ¥şƏŔƴĭŔƴŪřřĎÆƴ’ŔÍƴĭƝƴŔşǫƴ’ƴŵƏşúÝƝƝĭşŔ’Ľƴ
ÍÝƴ%Ə’Ŕ´ÝÆƴNÝĭĽƝşŔƴ_şǫĽÝƝƝƴ ƹƏĭ’ƹħĽşŔƝÆƴĭŔƴŵ’Əƹĭ´ǓĽ’ƏƴƹħÝƴˆƹÝƏƏ’ƴ Əş’Íƴ’ŔÍƴŊşǓŔƹ’ĭŔƴ¥ĭĻÝƴƏĭÍÝƏƴǫħşƴǫ’Ɲƴ
ǫ’ƝƴŵÝƏħ’ŵƝƴÍÝƝƹĭŔÝÍƴƹşƴ ƝÝƏĭÝƝÆƴǫÝƏÝƴƹħÝƴƏݒĽŊƴǫħÝƏÝƴħĭƝƴ wǎDŽƴŔ’ƹĭşŔ’Ľƴ´ƏşƝƝī´şǓŔƹƏDZƴ´ħ’ŊŵĭşŔƴ
¥Ý´şŊÝƴ’ƴŵƏşúÝƝƝĭşŔ’Ľƴ ŵşƹÝŔƹĭ’Ľƴ¥ÝĔ’ŔƴƹşƴƝħĭŔÝƴƹħƏşǓĔħż ĭŔƴǎǼŪDŽżƴNÝĭĽƝşŔƴǫ’Ɲƴ¥şƏŔƴĭŔƴŪřřƬÆƴ’ŔÍƴ
ƝŵşƏƹƝŵÝƏƝşŔżƴ,ĭƝƴú’ƹħÝƏƴ NÝĭĽƝşŔƌƝƴ͒ÍƴB’´Ļƴǫ’Ɲƴ’ƴĽ’ƹÝƴƝƹ’ƏƹÝƏƴ ǫħÝŔƴħÝƴǫ’ƝƴĆǪÝÆƴƹħÝƴú’ŊĭĽDZƴƏÝĽş´’ƹÝÍƴ
B’´Ļƴǫ’ƝƴƹħÝƴwŔĭƹÝÍƴkƹ’ƹÝƝƴ ĭŔƴÝŔÍǓƏ’Ŕ´ÝƴƝŵşƏƹżƴB’´ĻƌƝƴú’ƹħÝƏƴ ƹşƴ’ĽĭúşƏŔĭ’żƴşƹħƴƝĭ¥ĽĭŔĔƝƴǫşŔƴˆƹÝƏƏ’ƴ
ĭƏƴ%şƏ´Ýƴ’ƹħĽÝƹÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴ M’ƹƹħÝǫÆƴNÝĭĽƝşŔƌƝƴĔƏ’ŔÍú’ƹħÝƏÆƴǫ’Ɲƴ’ƴ ƹĭƹĽÝƝƴ’ƝƴĻĭÍƝÆƴ’ŔÍƴĭŔƴǎǼŪĎƴNÝĭĽƝşŔƴ
DZݒƏƴĭŔƴŪřřǎÆƴƹħÝƴƝ’ŊÝƴDZݒƏƴ ƹƏĭ¥’ĽƴŊÝŊ¥ÝƏƴşúƴƹħÝƴTŔÝĭ͒ƴN’ƹĭşŔƴ’ŔÍƴ ´şŊŊĭƹƹÝÍƴƹşƴşŔÝƴƝŵşƏƹÅƴƏş’ÍƴƏ’´ĭŔĔżƴ
ƹħ’ƹƴħĭƝƴŊşƹħÝƏƴBݒŔÝƹƹÝƴ ¥Ý´’ŊÝƴ’ƴŵ’Ə’ƹƏşşŵÝƏÆƴŊݒŔĭŔĔƴB’´Ļƴ ƴƒşƏĽÍqşǓƏƴŵƏşƴƝĭŔ´ÝƴǎǼŪåÆƴ’ŔÍƴƏĭÍĭŔĔƴ
ĽĽƏÝÍƴ´şŊŵÝƹÝÍƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴŊ’Ə’ƹħşŔƴ’ƹƴ ǫ’Ɲƴ¥şƏŔƴşŔƴ’ŔƴĭƏƴ%şƏ´Ýƴ¥’ƝÝƴ’ŔÍƴƝŵÝŔƹƴ úşƏƴ%ƴÍǓ´’ƹĭşŔī’ƝDZ_şƝƹƴƝĭŔ´ÝƴǎǼǎǼÆƴ
ƹħÝƴ’Ə´ÝĽşŔ’ƴTĽDZŊŵĭ´ƝƴúşƏƴħÝƏƴħşŊÝƴ ŵ’ƏƹƴşúƴħĭƝƴ´ħĭĽÍħşşÍƴşŔƴƹħÝƴkƹş´Ļ¥ƏĭÍĔÝƴ ħÝƌƝƴǫşŔƴ’ƴħ’ŔÍúǓĽƴşúƴ¥ĭĔƴŵƏşƴƏ’´ÝƝƴ’ŔÍƴ
´şǓŔƹƏDZƴşúƴ&Ǔ’Ŋż cÝƝÝƏǪ’ƹĭşŔƴĭŔƴƒĭƝ´şŔƝĭŔżƴ’ĔÝƴĆĔħƹĭŔĔƴ ǫşƏŔƴƹħÝƴFĭŔĔƴşúƴƹħÝƴMşǓŔƹ’ĭŔƝƴĸÝƏƝÝDZƴ
ƒħĭĽÝƴħÝƴǫ’Ɲƴ’ƴDZşǓŔĔƝƹÝƏƴĔƏşǫĭŔĔƴ ’ŔÍƴǫÝĭĔħƹĽĭúƹĭŔĔƴǫÝƏÝƴB’´ĻƌƝƴƝŵşƏƹƝƴ ’ƹƴƹħÝƴqşǓƏƴÍÝƴ%Ə’Ŕ´Ýż
ǓŵƴĭŔƴcşƝÝǪĭĽĽÝÆƴ’ĽĭúşƏŔĭ’Æƴĭƹƴǫ’Ɲƴ ǓŔƹĭĽƴħÝƴĸşĭŔÝÍƴƹħÝƴŊĭĽĭƹ’ƏDZƴħĭŊƝÝĽúƴĭŔƴ kşÆƴǫħ’ƹƴĭŊŵ’´ƹƴÍĭÍƴƹħÝĭƏƴú’ŊĭĽDZƴ
’ŔDZşŔÝƌƝƴĔǓÝƝƝƴǫħĭ´ħƴƝŵşƏƹƴNÝĭĽƝşŔƴ ƹħÝƴŪřåǼƝÆƴĔşĭŔĔƴşŔƴƹşƴ¥Ý´şŊÝƴ’ƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ ¥’´ĻĔƏşǓŔÍƝƴħ’ǪÝƴşŔƴƹħÝĭƏƴƝŵşƏƹĭŔĔƴ
ǫşǓĽÍƴÝŔÍƴǓŵƴŊ’ĻĭŔĔƴħĭƝƴĽĭǪĭŔĔƴúƏşŊżƴ ƹƏ’ĭŔÝƏƴĭŔƴƝŵÝ´ĭ’ĽƴşŵÝƏ’ƹĭşŔƝż ’´ħĭÝǪÝŊÝŔƹƝƄƴƒÝƴ´ħ’ƹƹÝÍƴ
,ÝƴŵĽ’DZÝÍƴ¥’ƝĻÝƹ¥’ĽĽÆƴƝş´´ÝƏÆƴ’ŔÍƴǫ’Ɲƴ ĔÝÍƴǎřÆƴB’´Ļƴǫ’ƝƴĭŔƹƏşÍǓ´ÝÍƴ ƹşƴB’´Ļƴ’ŔÍƴNÝĭĽƝşŔƴƹşƴĆŔÍƴşǓƹżƴ
Ɖ’ƴƏݒĽĽDZƴĔşşÍƴ¥şǰÝƏƊƴ’´´şƏÍĭŔĔƴƹşƴ ƹşƴƹƏĭ’ƹħĽşŔƴ¥DZƴ’ƴúƏĭÝŔÍÆƴ’ŔÍƴħÝƴǫ’Ɲƴ
ú’ƹħÝƏƴB’´Ļżƴ.ƹƴǫ’ƝƴħĭƹƹĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴ´şǓŔƹƏDZƴ ĭŔƝƹ’ŔƹĽDZƴħşşĻÝÍżƴ,ÝƴƃǓ’ĽĭĆÝÍƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴ
ƹƏ’ĭĽƝƴşŔƴħĭƝƴŊşǓŔƹ’ĭŔƴ¥ĭĻÝÆƴƹħşǓĔħÆƴ .ƏşŔŊ’ŔƴƒşƏĽÍƴħ’ŊŵĭşŔƝħĭŵƝƴşŔƴ NEILSON POWLESS
ħĭƝƴĆƏƝƹƴ’ƹƹÝŊŵƹÆƴ Age: ǎƦ
’ŔÍƴ´şŊŵÝƹÝÍƴ Height: Ƭúƹ
ĭŔƴ’ŔşƹħÝƏƴƝĭǰÆƴ Raised: cşƝÝǪĭĽĽÝÆƴ’ĽĭúşƏŔĭ’Æƴwk
¥Ý´şŊĭŔĔƴ’ƴƹħƏÝÝī Lives: Nĭ´ÝÆƴ%Ə’Ŕ´Ý
ƹĭŊÝƴĽĽƴMĭĽĭƹ’ƏDZƴ Occupation: DZ´ĽĭƝƹƴúşƏƴ%ƴÍǓ´’ƹĭşŔī
.ƏşŔŊ’ŔƴǫşƏĽÍƴ ’ƝDZ_şƝƹż
´ħ’ŊŵĭşŔżƴ.ƹƴǫ’Ɲƴ Biggest sporting achievement: Ľ“Ɲĭ´’ƴ
ǫħĭĽÝƴƝƹ’ƹĭşŔÝÍƴ k’ŔƴkÝ¥’Ɲƹĭ“ŔÆƴǎǼǎŪ
ĭŔƴ&Ǔ’ŊÆƴ’ƴwkī
´şŔƹƏşĽĽÝÍƴĭƝĽ’ŔÍƴ What does being Indigenous
ĭŔƴƹħÝƴ_’´ĭĆ´ƴ American mean to you?
T´Ý’ŔÆƴƹħ’ƹƴB’´Ļƴ ĽŊşƝƹƴÝǪÝƏDZşŔÝƴǫħşƴħ’ƝƴĔÝŔÝƏ’ƹĭşŔƝƴ
ŊÝƹƴħĭƝƴǫĭúÝƴBÝŔÆƴ şúƴN’ƹĭǪÝƴŊÝƏĭ´’ŔƝƴĭŔƴƹħÝĭƏƴú’ŊĭĽDZƴǫĭĽĽƴ
’ŔÍƴƹħÝƴŵ’ĭƏƴŊşǪÝÍƴ ħ’ǪÝƴ’ƹƴĽÝ’ƝƹƴŪŻƴşúƴǓƏşŵݒŔƴşƏƴƝşŊÝƴ
ƹşƴ’ŔƴĭƏƴ%şƏ´Ýƴ şƹħÝƏƴÍÝƝ´ÝŔ͒ŔƹƝƴĭŔƴƹħÝĭƏƴ¥ĽşşÍÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ
¥’ƝÝƴĭŔƴ%ĽşƏĭ͒ƴ ŊDZƴĔƏ’ŔÍŵ’ƴĭƝƴŪǼǼŻƴN’ƹĭǪÝżƴqşƴħ’ǪÝƴ
Left to right: Jeanette, Shayna, Jack and ’úƹÝƏƴƹħÝƴ’Ə´ÝĽşŔ’ƴ ƝǓ´ħƴ’ƴ´ĽşƝÝƴ´şŔŔÝ´ƹĭşŔƴƹşƴ’´ƹĭǪÝƴ
Neilson training for triathlon in 2008 TĽDZŊŵĭ´Ɲż ŊÝƏĭ´’ŔƴħĭƝƹşƏDZƴ’ŔÍƴħÝƏĭƹ’ĔÝƴŊ’ĻÝƝƴ

34
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 ŊÝƴúÝÝĽƴŵƏşǓÍƴ’ŔÍƴĔƏşǓŔÍÝÍżƴƒÝƴƝŵÝŔƹƴ
şǓƏƴƝǓŊŊÝƏƝƴşŔƴƹħÝƴƏÝƝÝƏǪ’ƹĭşŔƴ’ŔÍƴ.ƴ
ħ’ÍƴƝşƴŊǓ´ħƴúǓŔż

How do you remember your childhood?

ĽĽƴúşǓƏƴşúƴǓƝƴǫşǓĽÍƴƏǓŔÆƴ¥ĭĻÝƴ’ŔÍƴ
ƝǫĭŊƴÝǪÝƏDZƴ͒DZÆƴ’ƝƴǫÝƴħ’Íƴ%şĽƝşŊƴ
H’ĻÝƴŔݒƏ¥DZƴ’ŔÍƴ’ŔƴÝŔÍĽÝƝƝƴ’ŊşǓŔƹƴşúƴ
ŊşǓŔƹ’ĭŔƴ¥ĭĻÝƴ’ŔÍƴƏǓŔŔĭŔĔƴƹƏ’ĭĽƝżƴ.ƹƴǫ’Ɲƴ
’ĽĽƴ’¥şǓƹƴ’ÍǪÝŔƹǓƏÝż

How good an athlete were you?

cǓŔŔĭŔĔƴǫ’ƝƴŊDZƴƝƹƏşŔĔÝƝƹƴƝŵşƏƹÆƴ
’ŔÍƴĭŔƴħĭĔħƴƝ´ħşşĽƴ.ƴƏÝ´şƏÍÝÍƴ’ƴĈĻƴ
ƹĭŊÝƴşúƴŪĎÅĈǼÆƴƹħÝƴú’ƝƹÝƝƹƴĭŔƴŔşƏƹħÝƏŔƴ
’ĽĭúşƏŔĭ’żƴMDZƴŊşŊƴ¥şǓĔħƹƴ’ƴƝħĭƏƹƴǫĭƹħƴ
ƹħÝƴƹĭŊÝƴ´ħÝÝƝĭĽDZƴŵƏĭŔƹÝÍƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ¥’´Ļ÷

What about swimming?

.ƹƴǫ’ƝƴŊDZƴǫݒĻÝƝƹƴƝŵşƏƹƴúşƏƴƝǓƏÝÆƴ
¥Ǔƹƴ.ƴÍşƴƹħĭŔĻƴĭƹƴŊĭĔħƹƴ¥ÝƴƹħÝƴƏݒƝşŔƴ
ǫħDZƴ.ƴħ’ǪÝƴŊǓ´ħƴ¥ĭĔĔÝƏƴ´şĽĽ’Ə¥şŔÝƝƴ
ƹħ’ŔƴŊşƝƹƴ´DZ´ĽĭƝƹƝżƴ
Pushing the pace on the
Are you a triathlete at heart? Champs Élysées at last
.ƴĔ’ǪÝƴǓŵƴƹƏĭ’ƹħĽşŔƴ’ĔÝÍƴŪƬƴşƏƴŪƦÆƴ’ŔÍƴúşƏƴ year’s Tour de France
’ƴĽşŔĔƴƹĭŊÝƴ.ƴĭÍÝŔƹĭĆÝÍƴ’Ɲƴ’ƴƹƏĭ’ƹħĽÝƹÝżƴ
ƒħÝŔƴ.ƴŊşǪÝÍƴƹşƴƹħÝƴƏş’Íƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔƴ
ǫşƏĽÍÆƴ.ƴúÝĽƹƴĽĭĻÝƴ’ƴĆƝħƴşǓƹƴşúƴǫ’ƹÝƏÅƴ.ƴ ǪÝƏDZƴƹĭŊÝƴǫÝƴǫÝŔƹƴşǓƹÆƴƹħÝƏÝƴǫ’Ɲƴ ¥ƏݒĻƴúƏÝÝƴúƏşŊƴƹħ’ƹÆƴ’ŔÍƴ¥Ý´’ǓƝÝƴşúƴ
ǫşƏÝƴƝħşƏƹƴƝş´ĻƝÆƴÍĭÍŔƌƹƴĻŔşǫƴǫħ’ƹƴ¥ĭ¥ƴ ’Ľǫ’DZƝƴƝşŊÝƹħĭŔĔƴƹşƴĆǰżƴƉƒÝƌƏÝƴĔşŔŔ’ƴ ħĭƝƴƏÝƝşǓƏ´ÝúǓĽŔÝƝƝƴĭƹƴÝŔ’¥ĽÝÍƴŊÝƴ’ŔÍƴ
ƝƹƏ’ŵƝƴǫÝƏÝÆƴǫşƏÝƴŊDZƴĔĽ’ƝƝÝƝƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ ǫƏ’ŵƴƹħşƝÝƴħ’ŔÍƝƴ’ƏşǓŔÍƴDZşǓƏƴŔÝ´Ļƴ kħ’DZŔ’ƴƹşƴħ’ǪÝƴƹħÝƴ´ħĭĽÍħşşÍƴǫÝƴÍĭÍż
ĭŔƝĭÍÝƴşúƴŊDZƴħÝĽŊÝƹƴƝƹƏ’ŵƝÆƴ’ŔÍƴƝĽĭŵīşŔƴ ƝşƴDZşǓƌĽĽƴ¥ÝƴúşƏ´ÝÍƴƹşƴĻÝÝŵƴƹħÝŊƴǓŵ÷Ɗƴ
ƹƏĭ’ƹħĽşŔƴƝħşÝƝż ƝħÝƌÍƴƝ’DZżƴTƏƴĭƹƴǫşǓĽÍƴ¥ÝÅƴƉaǓĭƹƴĻĭ´ĻĭŔĔƴ Were you aware of your parents’
DZşǓƏƴħÝÝĽƝƴ¥’´ĻƴƝşƴú’Ə÷Ɗƴ sporting successes?
Did your parents coach you? ÝĆŔĭƹÝĽDZƴŊDZƴ͒ÍƌƝÆƴ’ƝƴħÝƴǫ’Ɲƴ’Ľǫ’DZƝƴ
MDZƴ͒Íƴúş´ǓƝÝÍƴşŔƴƝǫĭŊŊĭŔĔƴ’ŔÍƴ How did they coach you? ǫĭŔŔĭŔĔƴ’ŔÍƴħÝƴħ’ÍƴƝşƴŊ’ŔDZƴƹƏşŵħĭÝƝżƴ
´DZ´ĽĭŔĔÆƴ’ŔÍƴŊDZƴŊşŊƴ´ş’´ħÝÍƴƏǓŔŔĭŔĔżƴ qħÝDZƴÍĭÍŔƌƹƴǫƏĭƹÝƴ’ŔDZƴƹƏ’ĭŔĭŔĔƴ
ŵƏşĔƏ’ŊŊÝƝƴúşƏƴǓƝÆƴ ƒħ’ƹƌƝƴşŔÝƴ¥ĭĔƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔ´Ýƴ¥ÝƹǫÝÝŔƴ
ƹħÝDZƌÍƴĸǓƝƹƴ´şŊÝƴǓŵƴǫĭƹħƴ you and your dad?
ƝşŊÝƹħĭŔĔƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴ ,Ýƴ´’Ŕƴħ’ŔÍĽÝƴƹħÝƴ´şĽÍƴ¥ÝƹƹÝƏƴƹħ’Ŕƴ.ƴ
ݒ´ħƴ͒DZÆƴŊ’ĻĭŔĔƴǓŵƴ ´’ŔƴíƴħÝƌƝƴĔşƹƴŊşƏÝƴŊݒƹƴşŔƴħĭƝƴ¥şŔÝƝż
ǫşƏĻşǓƹƝƴşŔƴƹħÝƴČDZƴ
ÍÝŵÝŔÍĭŔĔƴşŔƴǫħ’ƹƴǫÝƴ
ǫ’ŔƹÝÍƴƹşƴÍşżƴ JACK POWLESS
Age:ƴƬDŽ
Did your dad’s tough Height: ĈúƹƴřĭŔ
childhood inspire you? Raised: .ŔÍĭ’Ŕ’Æƴwk
,ÝƴĔƏÝǫƴǓŵƴĭŔƴ’Ŕƴ.ŔÍĭ’Ŕ’ƴ Lives: %ĽşƏĭ͒Æƴwk
ǪĭĽĽ’ĔÝƴşúƴĎǼƴŵÝşŵĽÝÆƴ Occupation: cÝƹĭƏÝÍƴwkƴĭƏƴ%şƏ´Ý
ĽĭǪĭŔĔƴĭŔƴ’ƴƹǫşī¥ÝÍƴ Biggest sporting achievement: wkƴĭƏƴ
ħşǓƝÝƴşüīĔƏĭÍƴǫĭƹħƴħĭƝƴ %şƏ´Ýƴ’ƹħĽÝƹÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴDZݒƏÆƴŪřřǎ
ĔƏ’ŔÍŵ’ÆƴħĭƝƴŊşŊƴ’ŔÍƴ
ĆǪÝƴƝĭ¥ĽĭŔĔƝÆƴǫĭƹħƴŔşƴ You had an unusual upbringing?
ƏǓŔŔĭŔĔƴǫ’ƹÝƏƴ’ŔÍƴĽĭǪĭŔĔƴ ‰ÝƝÆƴ.ƴÍĭÍŔƌƹƴƏݒĽĽDZƴĻŔşǫƴŊDZƴú’ƹħÝƏƴ
şüƴĔşǪÝƏŔŊÝŔƹƴ¥şǰÝƝƴ ǓŔƹĭĽƴ.ƴǫ’ƝƴŪŪÆƴ¥ǓƹƴƹħÝŔƴ.ƴǫşǓĽÍƴƝŵÝŔÍƴ
Powless’s parents have been at the heart of şúƴúşşÍƴݒ´ħƴŊşŔƹħżƴqħÝƴ ÝǪÝƏDZƴƝǓŊŊÝƏƴǫĭƹħƴħĭŊƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ
his development as a person and athlete ŊĭĽĭƹ’ƏDZƴǫ’ƝƴħĭƝƴǫ’DZƴƹşƴ ƏÝƝÝƏǪ’ƹĭşŔƴĭŔƴƒĭƝ´şŔƝĭŔżƴMDZƴ͒Íƴǫ’Ɲƴ

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ǪÝƏDZƴĭŔƝƹƏǓŊÝŔƹ’ĽƴĭŔƴÝÍǓ´’ƹĭŔĔƴ’ŔÍƴ
ÍÝǪÝĽşŵĭŔĔƴşǓƏƴĻŔşǫĽÝÍĔÝƴ’ŔÍƴŵ’ƝƝĭşŔƴ
úşƏƴşǓƏƴƏşşƹƝżƴ,Ýƴǫ’Ɲƴ’Ŕƴ’Ŋ’ǸĭŔĔƴŊ’Ŕż

Did your father do any sports?

,Ýƴǫ’Ɲƴ’ƴ¥şǰÝƏƴ’ŔÍƴǫ’ƝƴǓƏşŵݒŔƴ ÂP.ΐuɅuG.¦¦UuHΐ¦Êu'
úݒƹħÝƏǫÝĭĔħƹƴŊĭĽĭƹ’ƏDZƴ´ħ’ŊŵĭşŔƴǫħÝŔƴ Guess what he said when we asked…
ħÝƴǫ’ƝƴƝƹ’ƹĭşŔÝÍƴĭŔƴ&ÝƏŊ’ŔDZżƴƒħÝŔƴ
ħÝƴĽÝúƹƴƹħÝƴ’ƏŊDZÆƴħÝƴƹǓƏŔÝÍƴŵƏşƴ’ŔÍƴ Sum up your dad. Neilson’s answer:ƴ,ÝƴĽşǪÝƝƴħ’ƏÍƴ
şŵÝŔÝÍƴħĭƝƴşǫŔƴ¥şǰĭŔĔƴĔDZŊƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ ǫşƏĻƴ¥Ǔƹƴ’ĽƝşƴĻŔşǫƝƴħşǫƴƹşƴŊ’ĻÝƴĽĭúÝƴúǓŔƴ’ŔÍƴÝŔĸşDZƴ
ƏÝƝÝƏǪ’ƹĭşŔżƴ,ÝƴƹƏ’ĭŔÝÍƴNÝĭĽƝşŔƴ’ŔÍƴ ĭƹżƴJack’s guess: ,ÝƴƏÝ´ÝŔƹĽDZƴƹşĽÍƴŊÝƴ.ƌŊƴƹħÝƴĆƹƹÝƝƹƴ
kħ’DZŔ’ƴ’ƝƴĻĭÍƝżƴ şĽÍƴĔǓDZƴħÝƴĻŔÝǫżƴ.ƴǫ’ƝŔƌƹƴƝǓƏÝƴħşǫƴƹşƴƹ’ĻÝƴƹħ’ƹ÷

How did you approach training? What’s a habit your dad ought to change? N: .ƴÍşƴ
ƒħÝŔƴ.ƴǫ’Ɲƴ´şŊŵÝƹĭŔĔƴĭŔƴ.ƏşŔŊ’Ŕƴ ƝşŊÝƹĭŊÝƝƴǫĭƝħƴħÝƴ’ŔÍƴMşŊƴǫşǓĽÍŔƌƹƴƹ’ĽĻƴ’¥şǓƹƴ
ƒşƏĽÍƴħ’ŊŵĭşŔƝħĭŵƝÆƴşƹħÝƏƝƴǫÝƏÝƴ ŊÝƴ’ŔÍƴŊDZƴƝĭƝƹÝƏƴƝşƴŊǓ´ħ÷ƴ.ƴĻŔşǫƴƹħÝDZƌƏÝƴŵƏşǓÍƴ
ÍşĭŔĔƴǎĈǼƴŊĭĽÝƝƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ¥ĭĻÝÆƴĎǼīŊĭĽÝƴ ¥ǓƹƴÍşŔƌƹƴƹ’ĽĻƴ’¥şǓƹƴĭƹƴúşƏƴƹşşƴĽşŔĔÆƴDZݒħƄƴJ:ƴ,ÝƏÝƌƝƴ
ƏǓŔƝƴ’ŔÍƴǎǼÆǼǼǼīDZ’ƏÍƴƝǫĭŊƝƴ’ƴǫÝÝĻÆƴ ’ƴħ’¥ĭƹƴħÝƴŔÝÝÍƝƴƹşƴ´ħ’ŔĔÝÅƴ´’ĽĽƴǓƝƴŊşƏÝƴşúƹÝŔ÷ƴ.úƴ
¥Ǔƹƴ.ƴǫ’ƝƴÍşĭŔĔƴħ’Ľúƴşúƴƹħ’ƹż ǫÝƴǫ’Ŕƹƴƹşƴƹ’ĽĻƴƹşƴNÝĭĽƝşŔÆƴǫÝƴħ’ǪÝƴƹşƴ´’ĽĽƴħĭŊ÷

Has that changed over the years? How are you and your dad most similar? N:ƴƒÝƌƏÝƴ
NşƹƴƏݒĽĽDZÆƴ’ŔÍƴƹħÝƴǪÝƏDZƴĽşǫīǪşĽǓŊÝƴ ¥şƹħƴݒƝDZĔşĭŔĔÆƴħ’ŵŵDZƴĔǓDZƝƴǫħşƴÍşƴƝƹǓüƴ¥Ý´’ǓƝÝƴ
ŊÝƹħşÍƴĭƝƴħşǫƴǫÝƴƹƏ’ĭŔÝÍƴƹħÝƴĻĭÍƝƴ ǫÝƴĽĭĻÝƴĭƹżJ: ,şǫƴŔĭ´ÝƴǫÝƴ¥şƹħƴ’ƏÝ÷
¥Ý´’ǓƝÝƴǫÝƴŊ’ÍÝƴĭƹƴúǓŔƴúşƏƴƹħÝŊżƴqħÝDZƴ
ÍĭÍŔƌƹƴĻŔşǫƴƹħÝDZƴǫÝƏÝƴǫşƏĻĭŔĔƴşǓƹƥƴ Are you physically similar? N:ƴ%’´ĭ’ĽĽDZÆƴDZÝƝÆƴ¥ǓƹƴşǓƏƴ
ƹħÝDZƴǫÝƏÝƴĸǓƝƹƴħ’ǪĭŔĔƴ’ƴĔşşÍƴƹĭŊÝżƴ ¥şÍDZƴƹDZŵÝƝƴ’ƏÝƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹżƴqħ’ƹƴƝ’ĭÍÆƴ.ƴ´’ŔƴħşŵƴşŔƴħĭƝƴ
’ŔŔşŔ͒ĽÝƴĔƏ’ǪÝĽƴ¥ĭĻÝƴ’ŔÍƴŔşƹƴħ’ǪÝƴƹşƴ´ħ’ŔĔÝƴ’ƴ
How did your military background ƹħĭŔĔżƴTŔƴƹħÝƴ¥ĭĻÝƴǫÝƴħ’ǪÝƴƹħÝƴÝǰ’´ƹƴƝ’ŊÝƴŵşƝĭƹĭşŔżƴ
ĭŔČǓÝŔ´ÝƴDZşǓƏƴŵ’ƏÝŔƹĭŔĔƄ J: ,ĭƝƴǪÝƏDZƴŔ’ƏƏşǫƴħĭŵƝƴ’ŔÍƴ¥Əş’ÍƴƝħşǓĽÍÝƏƝƴ’ƏÝƴŊşƏÝƴ
TǓƏƴŵ’ƏÝŔƹĭŔĔƴǫ’ƝƴƹħÝƴşŵŵşƝĭƹÝƴşúƴ ƝĭŊĭĽ’ƏƴƹşƴħĭƝƴŊşŊƌƝż
ƏÝĔĭŊÝŔƹÝÍÆƴƹħ’ƹƌƝƴúşƏƴƝǓƏÝżƴ.ƹƴǫ’Ɲƴ’ĽĽƴ
’¥şǓƹƴÍÝǪÝĽşŵĭŔĔƴ’ƴĽşǪÝƴúşƏƴƝŵşƏƹżƴǓƹƴ Who’s more competitive? N: NşƴŊ’ƹƹÝƏƴǫħ’ƹƴĭƹƴĭƝÆƴ
ǫÝƴ’ĽƝşƴƹ’ǓĔħƹƴƹħÝŊƴÍĭƝ´ĭŵĽĭŔÝƴ’ŔÍƴ ŊDZƴ͒Íƴǫ’ŔƹƝƴƹşƴĭŊŵƏşǪÝżƴ,ÝƌĽĽƴ¥ÝƴŊ’ĻĭŔĔƴ’ƴ´şüÝÝƴ
Ɲƹĭ´ĻĭŔĔƴƝşŊÝƹħĭŔĔƴşǓƹżƴ ’ŔÍƴħÝƌĽĽƴƹħĭŔĻÆƴƋ,şǫƴ´’Ŕƴ.ƴĭŊŵƏşǪÝƴƹħĭƝƴÝƝŵƏÝƝƝşƄƌƴ
J:ƴ.ƴƹħĭŔĻƴƹħ’ƹƴşŔÝƌƝƴŊÝ÷ƴTǓƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴĻĭÍƝÆƴkħ’DZŔ’ƴĭƝƴ
Why did you place such ŊşƏÝƴ´şŊŵÝƹĭƹĭǪÝƴƹħ’ŔƴNÝĭĽƝşŔż
importance on sport?
Ý´’ǓƝÝƴĭƹƴǫ’ƝƴƝǓ´ħƴ’ƴĔşşÍƴǫ’DZƴ What’s tougher, triathlon or cycling?

Photos Alamy, Getty Images, SWpix.com, Snowy Mountain Photography

ƹşƴŊÝÝƹƴşƹħÝƏƴĻĭÍƝƴ’ŔÍƴƹşƴÍÝǪÝĽşŵƴ N: qħÝDZƌƏÝƴ¥şƹħƴħ’ƏÍƴ¥Ǔƹƴ.ƴƹħĭŔĻƴħÝƌÍƴƝ’DZƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔƴ
ĽÝ’ÍÝƏƝħĭŵƴ’ŔÍƴƹݒŊī¥ǓĭĽÍĭŔĔƴƝĻĭĽĽƝżƴ ¥Ý´’ǓƝÝƴDZşǓƴ´’ŔƴƹƏ’ĭŔƴŵÝƏúÝ´ƹĽDZƴ¥ǓƹƴDZşǓƌƏÝƴ
qħ’ƹƌƝƴǫħDZƴƹħÝDZƴŵĽ’DZÝÍƴƝş´´ÝƏÆƴ ’ƹƴƹħÝƴŊÝƏ´DZƴşúƴşƹħÝƏƴŵÝşŵĽÝżƴJ: qƏĭ’ƹħĽşŔƴĭƝƴ
¥’ƝĻÝƹ¥’ĽĽÆƴǪşĽĽÝDZ¥’ĽĽƴ’ŔÍƴÝǪÝŔƴƹħݒƹƏÝƴ ħ’ƏÍÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ’úƹÝƏƴ¥ÝĭŔĔƴ’ƏşǓŔÍƴƏş’Íƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔÆƴ
’ŔÍƴ¥’ĽĽÝƹżƴHÝƹƴŊÝƴƹÝĽĽƴDZşǓÆƴNÝĭĽƝşŔƴǫ’Ɲƴ ĔşƝħÆƴƹħ’ƹƴƒşƏĽÍqşǓƏƴƝƹǓüƴĭƝƴƏݒĽĽDZƴƹşǓĔħż
ƃǓĭƹÝƴƹħÝƴ͒Ŕ´ÝƏ÷
Could your dad have been a pro cyclist?
What was Neilson’s N:ƴ.úƴħÝƌÍƴúşǓŔÍƴĭƹƴ¥ÝúşƏÝƴħĭƝƴĽ’ƹÝƴǎǼƝÆƴúşƏƴ
best sport? ƝǓƏÝżƴ,Ýƴħ’ƝƴƹħÝƴÝŔĔĭŔÝƴúşƏƴĭƹżƴJ:ƴ.ƹƌƝƴ’ƴ
ĔÝÍƴŪǼÆƴħÝƴǫ’ƝƴǪÝƏDZƴĔşşÍƴ’ƹƴ Ƌ´şǓĽÍ’ÆƴǫşǓĽÍ’ÆƴƝħşǓĽÍ’ƌƴƃǓÝƝƹĭşŔƴƹħ’ƹƴ
ƏǓŔŔĭŔĔÆƴ¥ǓƹƴħÝƴǫ’ƝƴĭŔƹÝƏÝƝƹÝÍƴ DZşǓƴ´’Ŕƌƹƴ’ŔƝǫÝƏżƴHÝƹƌƝƴƝ’DZƴ.ƌÍƴĽĭĻÝƴƹşƴħ’ǪÝƴ
ĭŔƴƹƏĭ’ƹħĽşŔżƴMşǓŔƹ’ĭŔƴ¥ĭĻĭŔĔƴ ħ’ÍƴƹħÝƴşŵŵşƏƹǓŔĭƹĭÝƝƴƹħÝƴĻĭÍƝƴÍĭÍż
Ľ’ƹÝƏƴ¥Ý´’ŊÝƴħĭƝƴ¥ÝƝƹƴƝŵşƏƹƴíƴ
ħÝƴ´şǓĽÍƴħ’ǪÝƴ¥ÝÝŔƴ’ƴŵƏşż Who’ll have the more illustrious career?
N: .ƹƌƝƴĭŊŵƏÝƝƝĭǪÝƴƹħ’ƹƴƹƏĭ’ƹħĽşŔƴǫ’Ɲƴ
ƒħ’ƹƌƝƴşŔÝƴ¥ĭĔƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔ´Ýƴ ŔÝǪÝƏƴŊDZƴ͒ÍƌƝƴƝşĽÝƴƝşǓƏ´ÝƴşúƴĭŔ´şŊÝÆƴ
between the both of you? ħÝƴÍĭÍƴĭƹƴ¥Ý´’ǓƝÝƴħÝƴĽşǪÝÍƴĭƹżƴJ: TħÆƴ
NÝĭĽƝşŔƴ’Í’ŵƹƝƴŊǓ´ħƴŊşƏÝƴ ÍÝĆŔĭƹÝĽDZƴNÝĭĽƝşŔżƴDZƴú’Ə÷ƴ.ƹƌƝƴŔşƹƴÝǪÝŔƴ’ƴ
ƃǓĭ´ĻĽDZƴƹşƴ’ĽƹĭƹǓÍÝƴƹħ’Ŕƴ.ƴÍşż ´ĽşƝÝƴşŔÝ÷

37
 Five things you need to know about... Pinarello has kept things
premium with its new
Dogma F, with only seven

PINARELLO
top-seeded models
Bike Launch

available. Shimano
Dura-Ace Di2 and SRAM

DOGMA F
Red AXS models will be
available with a choice of
either DT Swiss Arc 1400,
or Princeton Peak 4550
from £12,600
wheelsets. If that’s not your
style, you can go 100%

Another update for the Pinarello Dogma, Italian, with a Campagnolo

Super Record Wireless
and just in time for this year’s Tour build, complete with Bora
WTO 45 wheels.

1 3 4
Designed from Tour ‘Aero-keel’ shaped bottom Perceptible weight Simplified
data The Pinarello bracket is said to be 1.2% loss Toray’s new mechanics
Dogma launched in more efficient around this M40X carbon-fibre Modern-day race
2002, and since then area of the bike – although has enabled Pinarello bikes are anything
technology has come a long this is one of the less to slash the frameset weight but friendly to professional
way. The latest version of important areas from an by 108g while simultaneously and home mechanics alike.
the Dogma F is said to aero perspective. Head tube increasing lateral stiffness. So, Pinarello has made a
combine ‘cutting edge width is down 8mm over Weight savings have couple of user-friendly
technology with aesthetic the previous model, along also been made possible changes. The new headset
beauty’, a design process with a new, slimmer Onda thanks to more hidden system is designed around
that started with an fork with added rake for hardware, with a lightweight an elliptical steerer tube,
in-depth analysis of Geraint high-speed handling. proprietary headset bearing. which has allowed for
Thomas’s 2022 Tour de
France. Ineos Grenadiers’s
performance engineers built
the bike around a key finding
that a 0.2% improvement The new Dogma F
in aerodynamic efficiency boasts aero gains,
would equate to a 175g reduced weight

2
weight saving. and improved
lateral stiffness

Aero gains prevail

The overall
silhouette of the
new Dogma F looks
familiar, but there are some
subtle changes, all aimed at
reducing aerodynamic drag.
First and foremost, Pinarello
has redesigned the down
tube. Alongside a reduction
in its width, the new down
tube creates a more
seamless transition to
the front fork, improving
system efficiency. Lower
down, further changes to the
down tube and bottom
bracket area are said to
improve the Dogma F’s
air-slicing prowess. The new

38
 POC PROCEN AIR
HELMET £360

OLatest kit landing this week

In recent years the search for

aerodynamic improvements has
seen road bikes draw inspiration
from their TT equivalents; Poc’s new
road helmet follows a similar story.
The lid, currently being ridden by
better-placed internally the EF Education WorldTour team, is
We say routed hoses. Perhaps more similar to the brand’s dedicated
interesting for you or me time trial helmet, the Procen TT, and
It’s another case of though, is the new seatpost, claims to save between 5 to 18 watts
incremental rather than which is now fully integrated compared to its Ventral model.
revolutionary changes into the frame. This should The Procen Air features an
for the new Dogma F, and mean an end to watching integrated visor and partially covers
frankly, it’s hard to say your seatpost clamp drop the riders’ ears. Poc says it’s tackled
exactly how far they into the dark abyss of the the obvious safety concerns by
move the bike on. seat tube… ÍÝƝĭĔŔĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴǪĭƝşƏƴƹşƴşüÝƏƴ’ƴǫĭÍÝÆƴ

5
Pinarello has released unobstructed view. Similarly, it says
little test data, meaning that the ear coverings reduce
it’s hard to put its claims Improved cockpit turbulence and could even result in
to the test. That said, the Finally, Pinarello riders hearing more clearly.
Dogma was already a has updated As for the aero features, the
Words Joe Baker Photos Roberto_Bragotto

superb bike, with a its Most Talon Procen Air’s three front vents are
heritage to match, and integrated handlebar and designed to reduce air resistance
I’m happy that the bike stem. The new set-up is said ¥ÝúşƏÝƴ´ħ’ŔŔÝĽĭŔĔƴ´şşĽĭŔĔƴ’ĭƏČşǫƴ
has retained those to be lighter, faster, more through the lid before exiting the
qualities. I very much aero – although no test rear exhaust channels. The
doubt it will hold back figures have been released – downside? The Procen Air’s claimed
the Ineos Grenadiers at and with increased handlebar weight is 350g, heavier than most
this year’s Tour; the flare. The narrowest aero models used by the peloton.
question is, can it reach configuration now comes in
the podium? at just 340mm at the hoods
(outside to outside) and
Joe Baker: Tech writer 400mm at the drops.

39
 RIDDEN AND REVIEWED
GIANT TCR
ADVANCED SL 0 £11,999
Bike test

A superlative climber that also flies on the flat

T
he 10th-generation Giant Giant has switched from laser cutting
TCR was crowned Best to ‘cold-blade’ cutting for the carbon
Climbing Bike in Cycling sheets, enhancing precision and
Weekly’s recent Race Bike reducing deformation risk for the
of the Year awards, and for new TCR. This method allows for fewer
good reason. In the latest carbon pieces, helping to achieve a
TCR, Giant has created a bike that lower weight and higher stiffness.
embodies all of the cycling industry’s In addition, Giant now constructs the
buzz words, with aero improvements, front triangle from a single carbon piece
lower weight and increased stiffness using a single bladder mold, eliminating
all enhancing the performance of an joins and further reducing weight while
iconic race machine. increasing stiffness.
So, with those high expectations The frame weighs in at 690 grams
setting the tone, it’s time to show our without paint – 75 grams lighter than the
workings and delve into the detail of previous TCR and 155 grams lighter than
exactly why the TCR topped our test the Giant’s aero machine, the Propel.
when the gradients got steep – here While the Specialized’s S-Works Aethos
is all you need to know about the new climbing bike claims a frame weight of
Giant TCR, and how it rides. just 585 grams, comparisons are best

THE BUILD
Verdict
Twenty-eight years after its debut with
the Spanish team ONCE, the Giant TCR
is now in its 10th generation, evolving
from groundbreaking designer Mike
CW’s Best Climbing Bike of
Burrow’s initial concept as the first
2024 can also go head-to-head
bike with a sloping top tube, into a
with the best race machines
sophisticated racing machine. For 2024
on the market. Price for the
the familiar silhouette has been refined
midrange options is especially
underneath the paint and boasts new
competitive: the Advanced
manufacturing techniques and design.
Pro 1 features a second-tier
The most noticeable change in frameset, carbon wheels and
the latest model is the full internal 12-speed Di2 for £4,899 –
cable routing. The combination of a cheaper than the equivalent
10% lighter frameset and five-watt bikes from Specialized.
aero saving leads to a claimed This range-topping
improvement in overall ‘total system Advanced SL 0 model will
efficiency’ – the bike industry’s favourite set you back £11,999, and so
term for cumulative performance gains competes directly with big
– making the new TCR up to 12 watts names like the Tarmac SL8
faster than its predecessor. and Pinarello Dogma F.

40
 WEIGHT
6.42KG
The top-tier Advanced
SL frameset retains its My Riding Cotswolds, known for its
integrated seat mast to challenging ascents and
reduce weight and Joe Baker, tech writer. descents. It was an ideal
add robustness.
After a brief shakedown on backdrop to familiarise
my designated test route, myself with the new TCR,
it became clear that the all while enjoying some of
TCR excels on steep climbs. the finest views (and
Consequently, I spent most coffee) that Oxfordshire
of my riding time in the has to offer.

A 0.58% stiffer BB and

10% reduction in frame
weight makes for a
bike that’s as
responsive as ever.

41
made with fully built models, where the
THE RIDE
Price: £11,999 Weight:
TCR holds its own at 6.4kg. 6.42kg (size 54, no pedals)
The TCR’s aerodynamics benefit Frame: Advanced SL-Grade
from tucked-in cables and flattened Composite, 12x142mm The result of these changes is that
handlebar tops, contributing to a thru-axle, integrated seatpost we can confidently say this is the best
4.19-watt improvement at 40kph. Fork: Advanced SL-Grade version of the TCR yet. The reduced
Additionally, narrower handlebar Composite, full-composite weight and increased stiffness really do
options help reduce drag, especially OverDrive Aero steerer, translate onto the road and make for a
with the smallest size measuring just 12x100mm thru-axle delightful ride.
34cm at the hoods. A move to a Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace My initial ride of the Giant TCR
two-piece bar and stem will make Di2 Chainrings: 52/36 Cassette: consisted of a solid blast around a loop
bike-fit adjustments that much easier. 11-34, 12-speed Handlebar: that I have ridden countless times and
For those seeking ultimate aero &ĭ’ŔƹƴşŔƹ’´ƹƴkHcÆƴŪǼżĈÒƴȒƏÝƴ includes some steep climbing as well as
efficiency, a one-piece handlebar is Wheelset: Cadex 40 Max higher-speed flat and downhill sections
available, offering an extra two-watt Disc Wheel System Hookless + that really allowed me to get a feel for
saving. This is something I am in two carbon spokes the bike early on. Unsurprisingly, given
minds about – a two-piece cockpit is Tyres: Cadex Race GC Tubeless the similarity of the geometry between
undoubtedly easier to service, and 700x28mm Saddle: Cadex Amp the old and new framesets, I felt at home
change, but the bars on the TCR do With one-piece SMC Base / on the bike very quickly.
pose as my main point of contention. 9mm Carbon Rail / ParticleFlow The first thing that struck me was the
More on this later. technology weight - our test bike came in at just
The real gains on the new TCR, 6.4kg for a size 54 without pedals, and
in my opinion, are made outside of as a result, it felt blisteringly responsive.
the frameset altogether. New Cadex At 1,249 grams, these wheels strike a The short 405mm chainstays and
Max 40 wheels fitted to our test good balance between weight and compact geometry helps the bike to
model feature a 40mm rim depth, stiffness, outperforming some change direction incredibly quickly,
a 22.4mm hookless internal rim competitors in terms of stiffness-to- something that always goes down well
width, and ultra-light carbon spokes. weight ratio by 10.5%. with me due to my racing background.
 Pros exciting to ride. Despite its low weight, drops, meaning I couldn’t get everything
the bike isn’t sluggish on the flat. In fact, out of the bike while sprinting.
OExceptional frameset quality it performed admirably in faster, flatter No, this isn’t the bike’s primary
ORazor-sharp race bike handling rides - which is why this bike really concern, however any superbike should
OAero package performs well stands out against competitors. be capable of handling high power
on a range of terrain The bike’s responsiveness and agility outputs in all scenarios. Fit the right
shone through on longer rides in the integrated cockpit, and this might
Cons Cotswolds. On punchy, rolling terrain change, but out of the box, it’s not quite
like this, the TCR really is a joy to ride. stiff enough for a race bike.
OIntegrated seatpost makes
The combination of a bike that’s plenty Nonetheless, the Giant TCR remains a
bike-fit a must
fast enough on the flat, yet also excels thrilling ride, combining the best of
OTwo-piece cockpit lacks
on the climbs, creates a ride quality that climbing prowess and flat-out speed.
a tiny bit of stiffness
constantly eggs you on to push over
every rise, and tuck on every descent.
The fun factor, in this relatively ‘run of
the mill’ big-name bike is really there,
On fast descents in Wales during my and like I always say, if you are spending
extensive testing, the bike felt poised this sort of money, it needs to be!
and comfortable. With its super-stiff However, I did have one bone to pick
bottom bracket, accelerating on climbs with the TCR - the cockpit. The bars and
is incredibly fast, making the bike stem lacked a bit of stiffness in the

The Dura-Ace Di2 Giant has stayed

groupset is specced traditional with a
with an 11-34 cassette home mechanic-
that can handle the friendly two-piece
steepest climbs cockpit design Alternative

O Giant TCR Advanced

SL 1 - £8,799
Twelve grand will be out of
reach for many but Giant still
provides a top-level frameset
starting from £8,799. There’s
Shimano’s second-tier
Ultegra R8170 Di2 groupset,
while the wheels are Giant’s
own slightly heavier SLR 0
40mm. For sure, these
changes will add a little
weight, but you’ll still end up
with a bike that flirts with the
UCI’s minimum weight limit.

The new Cadex 40

Max wheelset is a
showstopper,
weighing in at
just 1,249g

43
44
Time off the bike is the enemy of fitness but
how bad is the damage and how best to
reverse it? James Shrubsall investigates the
science of detraining and retraining

45
 rriving back at my front quite so straightforward. Grudgingly,
door, I leaned heavily we attempt to ease back in.
against the jamb. For pro cyclists, collarbone breaks
Despite the discomfort, and worse are part and parcel of
there was a small swell Ŋ’ĻĭŔĔƴ’ƴĽĭǪĭŔĔƴíƴƹĭŊÝƴşüƴúşĽĽşǫÝÍƴ¥DZƴ
of pride at what I’d just a rebuild of form is a familiar foe. With
achieved, and now I was full-time doctors and coaches closely
ready for a very long sit monitoring their comebacks, they often
down. We’ve all been manage to hit form again surprisingly
there at the end of a long quickly. It took Visma-Lease A Bike star
ride, exhausted and aching, the sofa Wout van Aert just two months, for
beckoning. But I wasn’t returning with example, to return to top-level racing
When injury clouds your
100km in my legs. Rather, I had hobbled after a devastating crash in the spring
fitness remember that
the 50 metres to the end of my road Classic Dwars door Vlaanderen, which clear skies will return
and back without a walking stick, for saw him break his collarbone, sternum
ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƹĭŊÝƴĭŔƴŊşŔƹħƝżƴ and seven ribs. At his comeback race,
My back issues had set in over a the Tour of Norway last month, he was
period of weeks and months in 2019 ŔşƹƴşŔƴƝŵ’ƏĻĽĭŔĔƴúşƏŊÆƴ¥ǓƹƴħÝƴĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴ
as I attempted to keep riding through the four stages without any pain – a key
yet another round of disc-related recovery marker.
niggles. Lifting weights in the gym only The cause of detraining isn’t always
succeeded in making things worse. By a crash or injury. Elite road racer Alice
mid-July I could barely ride; by the end Lethbridge, for example, spent a long
of the month, I had to stop. The next time returning to form last year after
time I rode a bike was mid-November, contracting Covid in January. The
’ŔÍƴ’ƴĆǪÝīŊĭŔǓƹÝƴƝŵĭŔƴ’ƹƴåĈƴǫ’ƹƹƝƴ Lightning Cycling Team rider was fully
on the turbo was all I could manage. şüƴƹħÝƴ¥ĭĻÝƴúşƏƴ’ƏşǓŔÍƴŪǼƴ͒DZƝƴǫĭƹħƴ
At that point, after four months of numerous false starts, but it took her
´şŊŵĽÝƹÝƴƏÝƝƹÆƴŊDZƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴĽÝǪÝĽƝƴǫÝƏÝƴ nearly a year to recover her pre-Covid
almost certainly the worst they’d ever ĆƹŔÝƝƝżƴƉ.ƴǫ’ƝƴƏݒĽĽDZƴǓŔǫÝĽĽÆƴ’ŔÍƴĭƹƴħ’Íƴ
been, not just because of the lack of a huge impact on my breathing,” says
cycling, but the lack of any movement HÝƹħ¥ƏĭÍĔÝÆƴ’ƴ¥ĭşĽşĔDZƴƹݒ´ħÝƏżƴƉ.ƴǫ’Ɲƴ’ƹƴ
at all. I refused to let go of the belief the point where I couldn’t even get up
that one day I would be OK – my back and walk around the classroom at work
would eventually recover. But what without feeling out of breath.”
’¥şǓƹƴŊDZƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ’ŔÍƴúşƏŊƴíƴ The turning point came when she things around for Lethbridge, and she
what would it take to get that back? met a consultant who suggested she ǫ’ƝƴĆŔ’ĽĽDZƴ’¥ĽÝƴƹşƴĔÝƹƴ¥’´ĻƴƹşƴƏĭÍĭŔĔż
In this feature, I want to investigate push harder sooner, but less often. Her experience suggests that if we
Ýǰ’´ƹĽDZƴǫħ’ƹƴħ’ŵŵÝŔƝƴƹşƴşǓƏƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ ƉqħĭƝƴĭƝƴ¥Ý´’ǓƝÝÆƴǫħÝŔƴDZşǓƴħ’ǪÝƴ’ƴǪĭƏǓƝÆƴ are coming back from a virus, we could
when we rest and detrain, and how ƹħÝƴĭŔȒŊŊ’ƹşƏDZƴŊşĽÝ´ǓĽÝƝƴƹħ’ƹƴDZşǓƏƴ do worse than to dispense with longer,
long we can expect to have to work to immune system releases are the same low-intensity riding and instead try
ĔÝƹƴƹħ’ƹƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ¥’´ĻżƴÝƹƏ’ĭŔĭŔĔƴ’ŔÍƴ ones that endurance training releases,” ƝħşƏƹÝƏÆƴħ’ƏÍÝƏƴÝüşƏƹƝƴ¥ǓƹƴǫĭƹħƴŵĽÝŔƹDZƴ
of recovery time in between. Fasted
ƏĭÍĭŔĔƴ´’Ŕƴ’ĽƝşƴĭŔ´ƏݒƝÝƴĭŔȒŊŊ’ƹşƏDZƴ

̴íÊΐguçΐÂP
Âΐ¤¶ÂɅPiU'
íΐ markers, Lethbridge learned, so don’t

go hungry while you’re trying to come

FEELING, LESS SHARP ON THE BIKE” back from illness.

Another rider forced to take a long
break is Ian Kear-Bertie. The 44-year-
retraining are concepts most cyclists Lethbridge explains. This creates old Cotswolds rider was hit head-on
are familiar with. We know that even ’ŔƴşŔĔşĭŔĔƴƝƹ’ƹÝƴşúƴĭŔȒŊŊ’ƹĭşŔÆƴ by a car that turned right without
’úƹÝƏƴƹ’ĻĭŔĔƴ’ƴǫÝÝĻƴşƏƴƹǫşƴşüƴúşƏƴ’ƴ meaning the body struggles to recover, warning last September, breaking his
holiday, we don’t feel as sharp as we she learned. But higher-intensity collarbone and ribs and puncturing a
did before. Most of us have at some ĭŔƹÝƏǪ’ĽƝƴ’ƏÝƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹżƴƉ.ŔƹÝƏÝƝƹĭŔĔĽDZÆƴ ĽǓŔĔżƴƉúƹÝƏƴƹħÝƴ’´´ĭÍÝŔƹÆƴŊDZƴĭŊŊÝÍĭ’ƹÝƴ
ŵşĭŔƹƴƹ’ĻÝŔƴĽşŔĔÝƏƴşüƴƹħÝƴ¥ĭĻÝƴşǫĭŔĔƴ shorter, harder intervals lead to a thoughts were, I’m suddenly going to
to illness or injury, and have then ÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴƝşƏƹƴşúƴĭŔȒŊŊ’ƹşƏDZƴƏÝƝŵşŔƝÝƴ ĽşƝÝƴ’ĽĽƴŊDZƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ’ŔÍƴ.ƌŊƴĔşŔŔ’ƴħ’ǪÝƴ
discovered that the comeback is not in the body.” The approach turned to start all over again,” he says. As it

46
 sUu'ΐH
s.¶
’ŔƴDZşǓƴúşƏĔÝƹƴħşǫƴƹşƴƝǓüÝƏƄ

Anyone who has struggled

during the last miles of a long
ride knows that the mind plays
a major role in cycling.
It begins with the perception
şúƴÝüşƏƹżƴƏƴqĭŊƴNş’ĻÝƝƌƝƴ
´Ľ’ƝƝĭ´ƴƋ´ÝŔƹƏ’ĽƴĔşǪÝƏŔşƏƌƴ
theory, for example, postulates
that it is the mind that controls
ƹħÝƴĽĭŊĭƹƝƴşúƴşǓƏƴÝüşƏƹƝżƴ

Dr Samuele Marcora of the

University of Kent believes
that our physical limits are
’üÝ´ƹÝÍƴ¥DZƴşǓƏƴŵÝƏ´ÝŵƹĭşŔƴşúƴ
ÝüşƏƹÆƴ’ŔÍƴǫĭƹħƴƏÝĔ’ƏÍƴƹşƴ
ÍÝƹƏ’ĭŔĭŔĔÆƴħÝƴƝ’DZƝÅ “There is
for sure one psychological
ÝüÝ´ƹƴƹħ’ƹƴĭƝƴĔşĭŔĔƴƹşƴĭŊŵ’ĭƏƴ
exercise tolerance: an increase
ĭŔƴŵÝƏ´ÝŵƹĭşŔƴşúƴÝüşƏƹżƊƴ.ŔƴşƹħÝƏƴ
words, you have to some extent
ƋúşƏĔşƹƹÝŔƌƴħşǫƴħ’ƏÍƴĭƹƴúÝÝĽƝż

turned out, Kear-Bertie was back on

the indoor trainer a fortnight later, the WHAT IS There are some tried and
tested steps returning
sling on his arm carefully strapped riders can take to make their
to a joist in his shed to immobilise it, '.¦
UuUuH̬ comeback easier. It starts
knocking out a cautious half-hour spin. with the acceptance of their
Those first spins on the turbo However you end up detraining, the ĽşǫÝƏƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴĽÝǪÝĽżƴƉ.ƴƝ’ĭÍƴƹşƴƹħÝƴ
assuaged Kear-Bertie’s fears loss of form tends to happen in a ´ş’´ħÝƝÆƴ´’Ŕƴ.ƴĽşǫÝƏƴŊDZƴ%q_ƄƊÆƴ
about his fitness levels, discovering ŵƏÝÍĭ´ƹ’¥ĽÝƴǫ’DZżƴqħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ’ĽƹÝƏ’ƹĭşŔƴ Ɲ’DZƝƴĽĭ´ÝƴHÝƹħ¥ƏĭÍĔÝżƴƉƝƴƝşşŔƴ
that his power had remained at a is a change in blood volume, explains as I did I felt I could make a
reasonable level, with his upper body Professor Charlie Pedlar, professor of bit more progress, because
movement and breathing the chief applied sports and exercise science at .ƴǫ’ƝŔƌƹƴ´şŔƝƹ’ŔƹĽDZƴúÝÝĽĭŔĔƴ¥’ÍżƊƴ
limitations. He set himself a goal of St Mary’s University in Twickenham. An Lethbridge also recommends
taking on an outdoor ride – with all the increase in blood plasma is one of the using process goals to maintain
accompanying upper body dynamics, fastest training adaptations, followed ŊşŊÝŔƹǓŊżƴ.’ŔƴFݒƏīÝƏƹĭÝƴ
road vibrations and even risk of falling by a more steady increase in oxygen- took a similar approach:
– by the end of the year. Sure enough, ´’ƏƏDZĭŔĔƴħ’ÝŊşĔĽş¥ĭŔżƴƉqħÝƴƏÝǪÝƏƝÝƴ “Having goals and targets was a
şŔƴǎƦƴÝ´ÝŊ¥ÝƏÅƴƉ.ƴŵĽşƹƹÝÍƴ’ƴƬǼĻŊƴ happens when we detrain,” says Pedlar, ƏݒĽƴÍƏĭǪÝƏÆƊƴħÝƴƝ’DZƝÆƴ´ĭƹĭŔĔƴħĭƝƴ
route past the crash scene,” he says. ƉƝşƴǫÝƴƝÝÝƴ’ƴú’ĭƏĽDZƴƏ’ŵĭÍƴÍÝ´ƏݒƝÝƴĭŔƴ ĆƏƝƹƴĭŔÍşşƏƴ’ŔÍƴşǓƹÍşşƏƴƏĭÍÝƝÆƴ
Ɖ.ƹƴǫ’Ɲƴ’ŔƴÝŊşƹĭşŔ’ĽƴƏĭÍÝżƴƝƴ.ƴǫÝŔƹƴ that blood-water element, and then ’ŔÍƴĆƏƝƹƴŪǼǼĻŊƴƏĭÍÝżƊ
past it was like a reset. I thought: a gradual change in the haemoglobin
‘Everything from here onward is mass as well, as that gradually comes
now new’.” down.” For the rider on a comeback,

47
 this loss of blood volume manifests found that, in fact, capillarisation
as a higher heart rate for a given power remained the same during that time ÊUi'UuHΐÂP.ΐ
output. Quickly regained, blood
volume is the least of your worries.
íƴĈǼŻƴ’¥şǪÝƴƹħÝƴƝÝÍÝŔƹ’ƏDZƴ´şŔƹƏşĽżƴ
However, mitochondrial enzymes COMEBACK
ƴǎǼŪƬƴƝƹǓÍDZƴ´’ƏƏĭÝÍƴşǓƹƴ¥DZƴ_ÝÍĽ’Əƴ citrate synthase and succinate
et al – Cardiovascular response dehydrogenase declined with a 12-day ‰şǓƌǪÝƴĽşƝƹƴƝşŊÝƴĆƹŔÝƝƝÆƴƝşƴħşǫƴƹşƴ
to prescribed detraining among ħ’ĽúīĽĭúÝÆƴÝǪÝŔƹǓ’ĽĽDZƴƝƹ’¥ĭĽĭƝĭŔĔƴ’ƹƴĈǼŻƴ ĔÝƹƴĭƹƴ¥’´ĻƄƴ.ƹƴÍÝŵÝŔÍƝżƴqǫşƴǫÝÝĻƝƴşüƴ
recreational athletes – demonstrated above the sedentary control. The same the bike for a holiday where you are
ƹħ’ƹƴŊ’Ə’ƹħşŔƴƏǓŔŔÝƏƝƴĽşƝƹƴƬŻƴşúƴ¥ĽşşÍƴ ƝƹǓÍDZƴ’ĽƝşƴÍÝŊşŔƝƹƏ’ƹÝÍƴƝĭĔŔĭĆ´’Ŕƹƴ Ɲƹ’DZĭŔĔƴ’´ƹĭǪÝƴƏÝƃǓĭƏÝƝƴ’ƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴƝƹDZĽÝƴ
ŵĽ’ƝŊ’ƴ´şŊŵ’ƏÝÍƴƹşƴŵݒĻƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ ÝüÝ´ƹƝƴşŔƴ‚TǎƴŊ’ǰÆƴǫħĭ´ħƴúÝĽĽƴƦŻƴĭŔƴ of comeback than a fortnight spent in
following a four-week detraining ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴǎŪƴ͒DZƝÆƴ¥ǓƹƴŊşƏÝƴŵƏşŊĭƝĭŔĔĽDZƴ a hospital bed battling crash injuries.
programme. It also showed that Ɲƹ’¥ĭĽĭƝÝÍƴ’úƹÝƏƴĈƬƴ͒DZƝƴ’ƹƴŪƬŻƴ’¥şǪÝƴ It’s personal too, both in terms of
the heart shrank, with walls and the sedentary control level. physiology and perception. Some of us
chambers reducing in size. Moving While certain elements of might feel that we can hit form again
to muscular endurance, this is partly detraining – and recovery – happen quickly, while others fear it’s going to
down to mitochondria, the minute faster than others, precise numbers ƹ’ĻÝƴ’ÝşŔƝƴƹşƴĔÝƹƴƹħ’ƹƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ¥’´Ļżƴ.Ŕƴ
organelles that are responsible for vary from individual to individual ƹƏǓƹħÆƴƹħşǓĔħÆƴƹħÝƴÝĽÝŊÝŔƹƝƴƹħ’ƹƴú’ĽĽƴşüƴ
generating energy using faster are also recoverable faster.
şǰDZĔÝŔżƴqħÝƴÝþ´ĭÝŔ´DZÆƴ’ƝƴǫÝĽĽƴ HÝƹħ¥ƏĭÍĔÝƌƝƴŵşƝƹīşǪĭÍƴƴ _ÝÍĽ’ƏƴƝ’DZƝÅƴƉ.ƴǫşǓĽÍƴƹħĭŔĻƴşúƴ
as the density, of mitochondria recovery was spurred by [detraining] as a declining curve of
short, sharp efforts
is something else that can ĆƹŔÝƝƝÆƴǫĭƹħƴ’ƴĽşŔĔÆƴȒƹƴƝÝ´ƹĭşŔżƴ‰şǓƌƏÝƴ
be trained and detrained going to get down there quite quickly,
surprisingly quickly. plateau for a number of weeks, but
After a restful week, then it’ll continue to decline.” What
ƉŊǓƝ´ǓĽşƝĻÝĽÝƹ’ĽīǫĭƝÝÆƴDZşǓƴ ǫÝƴÍşƴĻŔşǫƴĭƝƴƹħ’ƹƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ´’Ŕƴ¥Ýƴ
ŊĭĔħƹƴúÝÝĽƴĆŔÝÆƊƴƝ’DZƝƴƏƴB’ŊĭÝƴ maintained by comparatively small
Pringle, an associate professor amounts of exercise compared to what
in exercise physiology at it may have taken to achieve in the
the University of Birmingham, ĆƏƝƹƴŵĽ’´Ýżƴ%şƏƴÝǰ’ŊŵĽÝÆƴ’ƴǎǼǎŪƴƏÝǪĭÝǫƴ
Ɖ¥ǓƹƴƹħÝƏÝƌĽĽƴ¥Ýƴ´ÝƏƹ’ĭŔƴƹħĭŔĔƝƴ – Maintaining Physical Performance’
that will have changed. The by Spiering et al – concluded
only thing that changes quite ƹħ’ƹƴÝŔÍǓƏ’Ŕ´ÝƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ´şǓĽÍƴ¥Ýƴ
quickly up and down is the ƉƏÝĽ’ƹĭǪÝĽDZƴǫÝĽĽīŊ’ĭŔƹ’ĭŔÝÍƴĭŔƴĔÝŔÝƏ’Ľƴ
chemistry of the mitochondria, populations despite relatively large
[owing to] various enzymes reductions in exercise frequency (up
that are responsible for how ƹşƴƬƬŻŹƴ’ŔÍƴǪşĽǓŊÝƴŷDŽDŽíƬƬŻŹÆƴ’ƝƴĽşŔĔƴ
energy is shifted around and as exercise intensity is maintained.”
used.” As soon as training Encouragingly, especially if you are
stops, the mitochondrial on holiday or a work trip and can’t
¥ÝŔÝĆƹƝƴúƏşŊƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔƴƝƹ’Əƹƴƹşƴ ƹ’ĻÝƴƹħÝƴ¥ĭĻÝÆƴƉ.úƴDZşǓƴƝŵÝŔÍƴĸǓƝƹƴ’ƴúÝǫƴ
fade, but like blood volume depending on genetics and their minutes a day doing interval training,
they are quickly reinstated once individual situation. How you spend ƹħ’ƹƌƝƴƝǓþ´ĭÝŔƹƴƹşƴĻÝÝŵƴ¥ĽşşÍƴǪşĽǓŊÝƴ
training resumes. your time away from the bike plays elevated and mitochondria relatively
Fitness characteristics that are a major part. In particular, bed rest high,” Ed Coyle stated in a NÝǫƴ‰şƏĻƴ
lost more slowly include muscle brings about a faster decline and, Times interview earlier this year.
capillarisation. The capillaries that şŔƴƹħÝƴşüī´ħ’Ŕ´Ýƴƹħ’ƹƴDZşǓƌƏÝƴƹ’ĻĭŔĔƴ When it comes to taking a
carry oxygenated blood to the muscles a break from cycling to become an complete break from riding, the rather
Ɖ’ƏÝƴƝǓƏŵƏĭƝĭŔĔĽDZƴƃǓĭ´Ļƴƹşƴ’Í’ŵƹƴĭŔƴ astronaut, space travel is ruinous. unfortunate news is that those who
ƏÝƝŵşŔƝÝƴƹşƴĽş’ÍÆƊƴƝ’DZƝƴ_ƏĭŔĔĽÝżƴƉ‰şǓƌƏÝƴ ƉqħÝƏÝƴħ’ǪÝƴ¥ÝÝŔƴ’ƴĽşƹƴşúƴƝƹǓÍĭÝƝƴ ħ’ǪÝƴ¥ǓĭĽƹƴƹħÝƴŊşƝƹƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴħ’ǪÝƴƹħÝƴ
talking about a handful of weeks on astronauts where you take away ŊşƝƹƴƹşƴĽşƝÝƴƉĭŔƴ’¥ƝşĽǓƹÝƴƹÝƏŊƝƊÆƴƝ’ĭÍƴ
before you start seeing new capillary gravity, and you see a rapid loss of Coyle, a kinesiology professor at
growth.” Both capillarisation and function,” Pedlar says. The reason University of Texas. The good news is
mitochondrial activity were measured for the accelerated decline in both that our muscles retain a ‘memory’ of
ĭŔƴ’ƴŪřåĎƴƝƹǓÍDZƴ¥DZƴÍƴşDZĽÝƴÝƹƴ’Ľżƴ these scenarios is the absence of the ÝǰÝƏ´ĭƝÝƴŷƝÝÝƴ¥şǰŹÆƴƝşƴ’ĽĽƴƹħĭŔĔƝƴ¥ÝĭŔĔƴ
Assessing well-trained endurance surprising amount of work our bodies equal, it should be easier to regain
’ƹħĽÝƹÝƝƴŪǎÆƴǎŪÆƴĈƬƴ’ŔÍƴåĎƴ͒DZƝƴ’úƹÝƏƴ do simply staying upright and moving ĆƹŔÝƝƝƴƹħ’Ŕƴĭƹƴǫ’Ɲƴƹşƴ’´ħĭÝǪÝƴĭƹż
cessation of exercise, the study around between daily tasks. kǓƏŵƏĭƝĭŔĔĽDZÆƴşDZĽÝƴƝ’DZƝƴƹħ’ƹƴĈǼŻƴ

48
 Fitness drops off
quickly before following
a gradual decline

'.¦
UuUuHΌ
RETRAINING RATES
The numbers at a glance
With the right training,
you could regain your
form in three months
Detraining Maintaining Retraining

OAfter 12 days īƴĈǼŻƴú’ĽĽƴ O33% of usual volume OStart with very small
şúƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴ´’Ŕƴ¥ÝƴƏÝĔ’ĭŔÝÍƴǫĭƹħĭŔƴ ĭŔƴŊĭƹş´ħşŔÍƏĭ’ĽƴÝŔǸDZŊÝƝż can maintain fitness ’ŊşǓŔƹƝƴĭŔƴǫÝÝĻƴşŔÝż
10-14 days by including regular hard OAfter 21 daysƴīƴƦŻƴ ĽÝǪÝĽƝƴúşƏƴŪĈƴǫÝÝĻƝƴ O10-14 daysƴíƴǓŵƴƹşƴĈǼŻƴ
workouts. After that, how long it ƏÝÍǓ´ƹĭşŔƴĭŔƴ‚TǎƴŊ’ǰż (provided intensity şúƴúĭƹŔÝƝƝƴƏÝĔ’ĭŔÝÍż
ƹ’ĻÝƝƴƹşƴĔÝƹƴ¥’´ĻƴƹşƴŪǼǼŻƴÍÝŵÝŔÍƝƴ OAfter 28 daysƴīƴƬŻƴ ĭƝƴƏÝƹ’ĭŔÝÍŹż O12 weeksƴíƴǓŵƴƹşƴŪǼǼŻƴ

on how much you started with. That’s reduction in blood şúƴúĭƹŔÝƝƝƴƏÝĔ’ĭŔÝÍż

ŵĽ’ƝŊ’ƥƴħݒƏƹƴƝħƏĭŔĻĭŔĔż
not to say it’s a great idea to dive
straight into heavy training after a
long break. Trainsharp coach Jon
Sharples suggests a very low level to
¥ÝĔĭŔƴǫĭƹħżƴƉkĽşǫĽDZƴ¥ǓĭĽÍƴĭƹƴǓŵƴĭŔƴǫÝÝĻƴ
şŔÝÆƊƴħÝƴƝ’DZƝżƴƉBǓƝƹƴŪĈÆƴǎǼƴŊĭŔǓƹÝƝÆƴDŽǼƴ ƏĭÍÝƏƝƴǫ’ƝƴĭŔƴÝŔÍǓƏ’Ŕ´ÝżƴƉqħ’ƹƴǫ’ƝƴşŔÝƴ says. That’s exactly what she did, and
minutes, 40 minutes and get yourself to of my major strengths,” says double following one false start at the end of
’ŔƴħşǓƏżƴ.ƹƴÍÝĆŔĭƹÝĽDZƴƹ’ĻÝƝƴƹħƏÝÝƴǫÝÝĻƝƴ 12-hour national champion Lethbridge, ŵƏĭĽÆƴƝħÝƴƏ’´ÝÍƴ’Ĕ’ĭŔƴĭŔƴM’DZƴíƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ
before you feel like a cyclist again.” Ɖ¥Ǔƹƴ’ŔƴħşǓƏī’ŔÍī’īħ’ĽúÆƴƹǫşƴħşǓƏƝƴ’ƹƴ ÝǪÝŔƹƴƝħÝƴĆŔĭƝħÝÍż
Sharples reckons he can get most my old 12-hour pace, was exhausting Although Lethbridge, Kear-Bertie,
riders back up to their best in three me.” Kear-Bertie, for whom 100-mile ’ŔÍƴĭŔÍÝÝÍƴ.Æƴħ’ǪÝƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴƝƹşƏĭÝƝƴ’ŔÍƴ
ŊşŔƹħƝƴ’úƹÝƏƴ’ƴ¥ƏݒĻżƴƉƒħ’ƹƴ.ƴ´’ŔŔşƹƴ rides were pre-crash bread and butter, ÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴƏÝ´şǪÝƏĭÝƝÆƴƹħÝƴşŵƹĭŊĭƝƹĭ´ƴ
do is make you lose weight,” he says. ħ’Íƴ’ƴƝĭŊĭĽ’ƏƴÝǰŵÝƏĭÝŔ´ÝżƴƉ.ƴƹħĭŔĻƴĭƹƴ upshot is that we did all recover full
Ɖ.úƴDZşǓƌǪÝƴŵĭĽÝÍƴşŔƴƹħÝƴŵşǓŔÍƝÆƴƹħ’ƹƴ ǫ’ƝƴĭŔƴݒƏĽDZƴ%Ý¥ƏǓ’ƏDZƴƹħ’ƹƴ.ƴÍĭÍƴŊDZƴĆƏƝƹƴ ĆƹŔÝƝƝżƴ.ƹƴƹşşĻƴŊÝƴ’ƏşǓŔÍƴ’ƴDZݒƏƴƹşƴ
needs a bit of strategic planning.” ŪǼǼĻŊƴƝĭŔ´ÝƴƹħÝƴ´Ə’ƝħÆƊƴħÝƴƝ’DZƝżƴƉ.ƴƏݒĽĽDZƴ ¥Ə’ǪÝƴŊDZƴĆƏƝƹƴĈǼīŊĭĽÝƏÆƴ¥ǓƹƴǓŔĽĭĻÝƴúşƏƴ
felt that, towards the end.” It wasn’t my fellow rehabbers, that was no small

STARTING until late April that he completed the

ĆƏƝƹƴŪǼǼīŊĭĽÝƏƴşúƴħĭƝƴ´şŊÝ¥’´Ļż
ride for me. As for the walking stick, it’s
gathering dust in a corner somewhere,

OUT AGAIN Lethbridge’s comeback was more

complex because of the elite level to
my back now pain-free. My experience
with sciatica certainly keeps the mind
ǫħĭ´ħƴƝħÝƴǫ’ƝƴƝƹƏĭǪĭŔĔƴƹşƴƏÝƹǓƏŔżƴƉ.Ŕƴ focused when it comes to stretching
Alice Lethbridge took considerably ƹƏ’ĭŔĭŔĔƴDZşǓƴ´’ŔƌƹƴĔÝƹƴƹħÝƴÝüÝ´ƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴ and core exercises, but thankfully
ĽşŔĔÝƏƴƹşƴƏÝƹǓƏŔƴƹşƴúǓĽĽƴĆƹŔÝƝƝƴƹħ’ŔƴÍĭÍƴ micro-adjustments you have to make these days I can reach the end of the
Ian Kear-Bertie. Interestingly, though, in racing – so the only way to actually road unaided. In fact, I’m usually on
ƹħÝƴ¥ĭĔĔÝƝƹƴÍƏşŵīşüƴƏÝŵşƏƹÝÍƴ¥DZƴ¥şƹħƴ ĔÝƹƴDZşǓƏƝÝĽúƴƏ’´ÝīĆƹƴĭƝƴƹşƴƏ’´ÝÆƊƴƝħÝƴ my bike.

49
 AN EXPERT’S TAKE
Inside knowledge

ON... PEAKING
We ask a scientist how to hit
your peak bang on time

W
hat is peaking training load to avoid
as a feature of burnout. The final phase,
cycling? tapering, typically starts one
Peaking in to three weeks prior,
cycling refers to the strategic focusing on rest and
process of aligning an recovery, which ensures the
athlete’s physical and mental rider is fully refreshed and
state to achieve optimal primed when they get to
fitness performance at a competition day.
specific event. This involves
a structured training regimen What determines the
leading up to the tapering best peaking strategy Begin your taper two
period, where training load is for a rider? weeks before a race
reduced to allow full Some coaches adjust to hit the start line in
recovery of training-induced training, tapering and peak condition
fatigue, fitness optimisation peaking based on a race’s
and peak performance. distance or duration, but
studies suggest individual
When do we peak and how recovery and adaptation
do we achieve it? profiles are more important.
The research suggests that My general rules for most
cyclists should engage in athletes are: start tapering
their hardest training during two weeks before the event,
the three to five weeks maintain training intensity,
preceding the taper leading reduce volume by 40-60%, How should training volume
up to the target event, then and cut frequency by no and intensity be adjusted to
gradually decreasing the more than 20%. peak at the right time?
Training intensity is a key
variable to retain training-
induced adaptations, so the
training load reduction
during the taper should not
be achieved at the expense
of intensity. On the other CW expert
hand, it is clear that training
volume can be reduced OIñigo Mujika
without fear. Maintaining Sports physiologist and
fitness is much easier than triathlon and swimming
gaining it in the first place, coach Iñigo Mujika is an
and a poor performance is associate professor at
much more likely to be the University of the
related to insufficient Basque Country. He
recovery and excessive specialises in translating
Intensity should not be dialled down residual fatigue than scientific research into
when your training load reduces with excess recovery and practical advice.

50
 30-day tapering
and peaking
timeline
Here is a timeline breakdown for a cyclist
looking to peak for an event in 30 days’ time,
including a two-week taper:

ODays 1-16: Usual training

Intensity: Maintain usual training intensity.
Volume: Follow regular training volume
and schedule.
Frequency: Continue with usual training
frequency.

loss of fitness during the How should nutrition

peaking phase. change during tapering?
The taper is characterised by
What tools can cyclists a reduction in the training
Words Rob Kemp Photos Russ Ellis, Jesse Wild, Rupert Fowler

use to monitor and load, which of course is ODays 17-30: Tapering period
optimise peaking? accompanied by a reduced
Cyclists should use the energy expenditure. Athletes O’DZƝƴŪƦīǎDŽƴŷĆƏƝƹƴǫÝÝĻƴşúƴƹ’ŵÝƏŹ
rating of perceived exertion are used to ingesting large Intensity: Maintain usual training intensity.
(RPE) with heart rate (HR) amounts of food during Volume: Reduce training volume by 20-30%.
and power output to monitor intensive training periods, Frequency: Reduce training frequency by no
taper progress. but few stop to think that more than 10%.
Researchers Martin and when they train less, they
Andersen (2000) found should also be eating less if O’DZƝƴǎĎīDŽǼƴŷƝÝ´şŔÍƴǫÝÝĻƴşúƴƹ’ŵÝƏŹ
changes in HR-to-RPE they want to maintain their Intensity: Maintain usual training intensity.
relationship and HR for a body mass and body Volume: Reduce training volume by
given power output composition. Macronutrient 40-60%.
predicted performance. composition of their intake Frequency: Reduce training frequency by no
More simply, refer should not be changed more than 20%.
to performance during the taper, aside from
tests, RPE, fatigue carb-loading during the final
and recovery. 48-72 hours.

51
 Atkins negates the
blustery conditions

Words Snowdon Sports Photos Brian Jones/Kimroy, Andy Jones

UK SCENE “In previous years I’ve been in full
coaching mode, but this season I’ve
been taking a more gentle approach.”

u
ÂUu
iΐ˹ТɅsUi.ΐ Elsewhere, in the CAMS Yorkshire

Classic for female under-23 and junior
riders it was Abigail Miller (Tofauti
Everyone Active) who tasted victory

¦.¦'ΐ¤¶Â.' ’úƹÝƏƴƝÝÝĭŔĔƴşüƴƹħÝƴkħĭ¥ÍÝŔƴŵÝǰƴcqƴŵ’ĭƏƴ
şúƴcǓ¥DZƴT’ĻÝƝƴ’ŔÍƴƏ’¥ÝĽĽ’ƴĽ’´Ļ¥ǓƏŔÆƴ
who completed the podium positions.
The junior boys’ event was won by
But Leon Atkins says he can go even faster... Sebastian Grindley ahead of Joshua

T
Jackson and Max Hinds to complete
the podium.
alented teenager Leon Atkins Champs last weekend Will Lowden
lowered his own national (Cambridge Univ CC) was second here
record in Saturday’s Hemel in 18-01, while James Jenkins (Hart
Hempstead CC 10-mile event, _ÝƏúşƏŊ’Ŕ´Ýƴş’´ħĭŔĔŹƴĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴƹħĭƏÍƴ
despite battling gusty conditions. a further two seconds back.
The 15-year-old posted a new youth In just her second event of the
record time of 17-56 but is hoping to season, Kate Allan (Team Bottrill)
improve the record further. showed her form ahead of next week’s
“It was pretty good,” he said. “I National Team TT Championships,
didn’t have the best of legs after a week winning in a time of 20-03.
out with illness so I was surprised to Laura Davies (Jadan Vive Le Velo)
get a 17-minute ride. ĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴĸǓƝƹƴǎDŽƴƝÝ´şŔÍƝƴ¥ÝħĭŔÍƴƹħÝƴ
“It was a bit too windy, the headwind reigning national 10-mile champion,
really slowed it down. I’ll be doing that while Lauren Creamer (Velo Fixers)
course again in September when if I was third. Allan is also taking on the
had the power of yesterday I believe I National 50-Mile Championships in two
could get a 17-30.” ǫÝÝĻƝÆƴ¥ǓƹƴƝ’DZƝƴƝħÝƴħ’Ɲƴƹ’ĻÝŔƴ’ƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴ
Allan’s form bodes well
After winning the National Circuit approach to training this season.
for next week’s
National Champs
52
ÂUs.ΐ¦U
i¶
7. M. Buckley (Tavistock Wheelers) 1:01.09
8. C. Orchard (Launceston Velo) 1:01.15
9. J. Hobbs ŷTĻÝħ’ŊŵƹşŔƴŹƴ ŪÅǼŪżĈĎ
10. N. Woodhouse (Tavistock Wheelers) 1:04.07
Sunday, 16 June Women:
OEast Sussex CA 50 (East Hoathly, East Sussex) 1. Cassandra McDowall
(Tavistock Wheelers) 1:19.39
1. Christopher Mcnamara 2. L. Hobbs (Tavistock Wheelers) 1:28.38
(Sigma Sports Race Team) 1:44.56 Road bikes:

CLUB IN FOCUS
2. H. Shaw (trainSharp) 1:50.04 1. Tristan Kelsall-Spurr (Exeter Wheelers) 59.03
3. J. Rogers 2. B. Pond (Nopinz) 59.45
(Southborough and District Wh)
4. P. Jones (Primera-TeamJobs)
1:52.45
1:55.46
3. C. Orchard (Launceston Velo)
Woman:
1:01.15
sÊgi.ΐ
5. A. Rogersƴŷ’Ɲƹ¥şǓƏŔÝƴcşǪÝƏƝƴŹƴ ŪÅĈƦżŪǼ 1. Lindsay Hobbs (Tavistock Wheelers) 1:28.38
6. D. Hill (Bec CC) 2:04.47
Location: North-East
England Website: muckle.cc
7. P. Madarasz (Team TMC) 2:06.55 OPoole Wheelers Gary Dighton Memorial 10
8. R. Tully (Elite Cycling) 2:07.17 (Poole, Dorset):
The story of the jersey
9. R. RobinsonƴŷÝƝƹĭŔ’ƹĭşŔƴĭĻÝƴcqŹƴ ǎÅǼåżŪŪ
Women: 1. Oliver Peckover (trainSharp) 19.00 Muckle CC’s jersey is
1. Kerry McGawley (Brighton Mitre CC) 2:17.44 2. A. Luxford ŷƒĭĔħƹĽĭŔĻƴƒĭĔħƹƴMşǓŔƹ’ĭŔƴcqŹƴŪřżDŽǎ striking and modern, with an
2. G. Shadbolt (Brighton Mitre CC) 2:25.24 3. S. Wadsley (Poole Wheelers) 19.38 obvious contrast between
3. D. Pollard (East Grinstead CC) 2:35.15 4. T. Clements (Poole Wheelers) 19.50 the black and the pink. It was
4. A. Dyson (East Grinstead CC) 2:41.59 5. L. KeightleyƴŷHÝƴşĽƴc’´ÝƴqݒŊŹƴ ǎǼżǎƦ designed by club member
6. H. Austin (Poole Wheelers) 20.38 M’Ə´ƴcşƝƝż
OSunderland Clarion 25 6. B. Wheelers (Poole Wheelers) 20.38 “The brief was to be
(Ponteland, Northumberland): 8. J. Gilesƴŷcĭ´ħ’ƏÍƝşŔƝīqƏÝĻƴcqŹƴ ǎǼżĎǼ loud, bold and really stand
9. T. Flynn (Poole Wheelers) 20.41 out,” says the club’s Greg
1. Hamish Armitt (Barrow Central Wheelers) 51.45 10. T. Nancarrow (Poole Wheelers) 20.44 Charlton. The club has a
2. L. Wake (Team Kirkley Cycles) 51.53 Women: climbing ethos, he says, and
3. J. Routledge 1. Lucy Gadd (Storey Racing) 21.58 ƹħĭƝƴĭƝƴƏÝČÝ´ƹÝÍƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴÍÝƝĭĔŔÆƴ
ƴ ŷ&qcƴīƴcÝƹǓƏŔƴƹşƴHĭúÝƴ_ưƴkƹƏݒŊĽĭŔÝŹƴƴ ĈDŽżDŽř 2. L. Falconer (Poole Wheelers) 24.08 which portrays organic
4. D. Kane (Muckle Cycle Club) 54.21 3. M. Lindley (Poole Wheelers) 24.26 looking mountainous terrain.
5. J. Hodgson (GS Metro) 54.25 4. R. Hughes (Poole Wheelers) 25.13 Patterns in pink and black
6. P. Kennell (GS Metro) 54.28 5. K. O’Sullivan (Gillingham and District Wh) 26.11 and white complement and
7. Euan Adam (Durham City Velo) 54.45 6. S. McPherson (Poole Wheelers) 26.13 contrast with this.
8. Kris Whitelawƴŷ‚Ý´ƹşƏƴc’´ĭŔĔŹƴ ĈĎżĈǼ 7. J. Reidƴŷ.´ĻŔĭÝĽÍƴcŹƴ ǎƦżDŽĎ The jersey is made by
9. Julian MacBride (Team Kirkley Cycles) 55.34 8. S. Inwood (Poole Wheelers) 28.11 Castelli, though the club also
10. Michael Charlton (GS Metro) 56.14 9. J. Barker (Wincanton Wheelers) 32.00 uses Nopinz for some pieces
Women: of kit, Charlton says.
1. Joanne Rea (Team Kirkley Cycles) 1:01.48 OVTTA Kent 10 (St Nicholas at Wade, Kent):
2. Adele McAleer (Team VC) 1:04.02 The story of the club
3. Sarah Wilkinson (Blaydon CC) 1:04.15 1. Nicholas Fennell (Thanet RC) 19.30
4. Freya Johnsonƴŷ&şƝúşƏƹħƴcŹƴ ŪÅǼƦÅǼř 2. K. Tyeƴŷ‚ÝĽşcÝĆŔÝÍƴcǓĽÝƴĈŹƴ ǎǼżDŽĈ The club was formed in
5. Celia Michie (Tyneside Vagabonds CC) 1:09.36 DŽżƴ_żƴǓƏƏşǫƝƴŷqħ’ŔÝƹƴcŹƴ ǎǼżĈǼ the North-East in 2015
6. Nicki Murphy (Wearside Triathlon) 1:09.36 4. M. Listerƴŷqħ’ŔÝƹƴcŹƴ ǎŪżŪƦ by a group of climbing
7. Caroline Cunningham ĈżƴMżƴ,ĭĽĽƴŷ‚ÝĽşcÝĆŔÝÍƴcǓĽÝƴĈŹƴ ǎŪżĎǼ enthusiasts, with a view to
(North Tyneside cĭÍÝƏƝƴŹƴ ŪÅŪŪżĈå 6. A. Milne (Ashford Tri Club) 21.54 creating something less
8. Susanne Stephenson (Derwentside CC) 1:21.59 Veteran on standard: Kevin Tye traditional than the norm.
ŷ‚ÝĽşƏÝĆŔÝÍƴcǓĽÝĈŹƴ ƀƦżDŽå It now boasts around 100
OTavistock Wheelers 25 (Tavistock, Devon) Women: riders, and with its climbing
1. Maria Sparks (Ashford Whs) 23.37 focus it’s no surprise to
1. Steve Lampier (Kernow Racing Team) 55.34 2. F. Howarth (VC Deal) 28.52 learn that its members
2. J. Pearcy (Mid Devon CC) 56.16 3. J. Fearnƴŷqħ’ŔÝƹƴcŹƴ DŽĎżǼǼ have tackled some of the
3. L. CoppƴŷTĻÝħ’ŊŵƹşŔƴŹƴ ĈřżǼŪ Road bikes: hilliest challenges available,
4. T. Kelsall-Spurr (Exeter Wheelers) 59.03 1. Paul Burrows (Thanet RC) 20.50 including Everestings and
5. K. Jones (Newbury Velo) 59.45 2. M. Cainƴŷ¥ÝĽĽĭşƴíƴk%ƴc’´ĭŔĔƴqݒŊŹƴ ǎǎżDŽǼ the Marmotte ride in the
6. B. Pond (Nopinz) 59.45 3. T. Kingston (GS Invicta) 22.37 French Alps.

53
 ONorth Hampshire and Reading CC 10
(Aldermaston, Berkshire):

1. Liam Maybank (Twickenham CC) 19.58

2. P. Allan (Team Velo Sportif) 20.50
3. J. Brown (Islington Cycling Club) 20.57
4. J. Besly (Dorking Cycling Club) 21.11
5. T. Hester (Avid Sport) 21.37
6. T. Quinlanƴŷ%ǓĽĆĽƴƹħÝƴ_şƹÝŔƹĭ’Ľƴc’´ÝƴqݒŊŹƴ ǎŪżĎǼ
Women:
1. Claire Emons (a3crg) 24.58
2. H. QuayƴŷcݒÍĭŔĔƴŹƴ ǎƬżǎƬ
3. G. Reynolds (Willesden CC) 28.46
4. P. O’Brienƴŷcqƴ_TŹƴ DŽǼżǼř
5. K. RaberƴŷcݒÍĭŔĔƴŹƴ DŽǼżDŽĎ

eUuΐʦ
¶Â¦
æ
ΐ
iÊ Darren Miller is cheered
on by son Finn at the
Log your miles in our Strava Bradfield Hill-Climb
club for a chance to be listed:
bit.ly/CWStravaClub
Saturday, 15 June 3. C. Standidge (Total Tri Training) 1:48.33
OVTTA North Lancs and Lakes 50 4. B. Murphy (Chorlton Velo) 1:49.02
(Braithwaite, Cumbria): 5. T. Cullen (Tricentral UK) 1:50.11
6. T. Thornelyƴŷ%q_ƴc’´ÝƴqݒŊŹƴ ŪÅĈŪżŪǎ
1. Jack Levick (Rose Race Team) 1:41.01 7. R. Shaw (Seamons CC) 1:51.37
2. M. SchubertƴŷŽǓƏ¥’Ə’Ŕƴc’´ĭŔĔŹƴƴ ŪÅĎĎżǼŪ 8. A. Broadbentƴƴŷ&Ə’ħ’ŊƴƒÝĭĔħƴc’´ĭŔĔƴƴ
3. S. Henderson ŷ%TcMƴ‚ĭǪÝƴHÝƴ‚ÝĽşŹƴƴ ŪÅĎĎżǎĎ ƴ íƴÝÝƝĭÍÝƴTĽDZŊŵĭ´Źƴ ŪÅĈŪżĎŪ
4. R. Bideau (Pendle Forest CC) 1:45.29 9. A. Chorley (Seamons CC) 1:52.09
5. B. Akin (TricentralUk) 1:45.45 10. N. Rose (Total Tri Training) 1:56.24
6. J. Beech (Preston Whs) 1:46.42 Women:
Last week’s stats 1. Jenny Zwijnen (Total Tri Training) 2:05.52
Women: 2. C. Harrison (Congleton CC) 2:10.25
Most miles ridden 1. Deborah Moss 3. A. Birrell (Total Tri Training) 2:10.44

1 Cat Allen 585 ƴ ŷkŵƏĭŔĔĆÝĽÍƴ%ĭŔ’Ŕ´ĭ’ĽƴcqŹƴƴ ǎÅǼǎżĈDŽ 4. E. Ə’ÍĆÝĽÍ (Total Tri Training) 2:12.58

2 Tyler Hannay 543 2. S. Howard (Mersey Tri) 2:07.35 5. L. Astles (Congleton CC) 2:21.32

3 Charlie Lacaille 506 3. S. Cheetham 6. S. Satchithananda (Crewe Clarion Wh) 2:28.01

Week ending 9 June ƴ ŷNşƏƹħƴH’Ŕ´’ƝħĭƏÝƴcş’ÍƴĽǓ¥Źƴƴ ǎÅŪĈżŪDŽ
UK/Ireland
Longest ridesriders
(mi) only 4. T. Taylor OFarnborough and Camberley CC 25

1 Joseph Saville 392 ƴ ŷkŵƏĭŔĔĆÝĽÍƴ%ĭŔ’Ŕ´ĭ’Ľƴc’´ĭŔĔƴqݒŊŹƴƴ ǎÅǎŪżǎŪ (Bentley, Hampshire):

2 Richard Lake 304

OManchester and District TTA 50 1. Nick Richards
3 Steve Shrubsall 281
(Cranage, Cheshire): (Ride Revolution Coaching) 50.43
2. P. Allan (Team Velo Sportif) 50.52
Most elevation gain (ft)
1. Alexander Royle 3. B. Elliottƴŷ_’´ÝĽĭŔÝƴcqŹƴ ĈǎżŪř
1 Tyler Hannay 41,247
(Manchester Bicycle Club) 1:47.19 4. G. WoodfordƴŷcݒÍĭŔĔƴŹƴ ĈDŽżĈƦ
2 Adam Bidwell 37,231
2. C. Von Folsach (HUUB WattShop) 1:48.13 5. N. Keaney (VTTA Kent) 54.11
3 &Ýşü Cooper 36,001

54
 GET INVOLVED
¦
.ΐçUÂPΐ
ʶΐuΐ÷çUGÂdz
Join us every Wednesday at 6pm for a 10-mile TT on Zwift
Sign up here: bit.ly/CWclubten

Last week’s results

Event #204 Course: Innsbruckring Date Wednesday 12 June

Men

1 Ian Inglis Inglis Coaching 21:01 5.4w/kg 460w

2 Adair Broughton CMCC 22:21 4.7w/kg 352w

3 Mark Bennett - 22:41 4.6w/kg 385w

4 Aidan Holgate RTR 23:40 4.2w/kg 284w

5 Dimitri Deschamps - 24:32 3.7w/kg 258w

6 Tom Rider - 24:41 3.6w/kg 306w

7 Paola Peroni ABR Cycle Team 25:36 3.5w/kg 166w

8 JD Bergkamp LEVEL Esports 26:07 3.4w/kg 187w

9 Steve Caddy FCCC 27:20 3.3w/kg 224w

10 Beer Monster GorillaRacing 27:28 2.7w/kg 277w

6. P. Younghusband Women
ƴ ŷ_ÝƹÝƏƝĆÝĽÍƴqƏĭ’ƹħĽşŔƴĽǓ¥Źƴ ĈĈżǎŪ
1 Paola Peroni ABR Cycle Team 25:36 3.5w/kg 166w
7. M. Russell (Swindon Wheelers) 56.20
8. M. Bradley (Bristol South CC) 56.50 2 JD Bergkamp LEVEL Esports 26:07 3.4w/kg 187w
9. D. Hicketts 3 Deborah Woods Cycle Nation 29:50 2.8w/kg 164w
(Farnborough and Camberley CC) 58.49
10. J. Crossley (CGC) 59.10
Women: Next week’s event
Danielle Forshaw (Velo Club Venta) 1:14.01 Event #206 Course: Tempus Fugit Date Wednesday 26 June

OVTTA East Midlands 25

(East Stoke, Nottinghamshire): 6. P. Moore (Coalville Wheelers) 1:10.51 4. L. Benezet Minns (Tofauti Everyone Active) 21.15
5. L. Robinson (Shaftesbury CC) 21.17
1. Dylan Sage OHemel Hempstead CC 10 6. L. DewhurstƴŷcĭÍÝƴcÝǪşĽǓƹĭşŔƴş’´ħĭŔĔŹƴ ǎǎżǼŪ
(Evolution Racing Academy) 47.45 (Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire):
2. M. Kent (Tofauti Everyone Active) 50.13 O Godric CC 10 (Harleston, Norfolk):
3. T. Pilling (360cycling) 50.39 1. Leon Atkins (258 Protégé) 17.56
4. M. HamerƴŷHÝĔ’ƹşƴc’´ĭŔĔƴqݒŊŹƴĈŪżĈĈ 2. W. Lowden (Cambridge University CC) 18.01 1. Murat Ozdenya
5. M. Uttley (Nottingham Clarion CC) 52.46 3. J. Jenkins (Hart Performance Coaching) 18.03 (Team Vision Racing – Silverhook) 21.00
6. N. Cleminshawƴŷ%TcMƴ‚ĭǪÝƴHÝƴ‚ÝĽşŹƴĈǎżĈå 4. N. TrbovicƴŷĽDZƝĭǓŊƴF’Ľ’Ɲƴc’´ÝƴqݒŊŹƴ ŪåżŪǼ 2. N. Esser (Beccles Tri Club) 21.58
Women: 5. R. Francis (Team Bottrill) 18.39 3. J. Watsonƴŷk´ħĭĽƝƴīƴşĽƹ´ĭŔĭƴcqŹƴ ǎǎżǼå
1. Denise Burrows (AeroCoach) 59.47 6. M. Coxƴŷ%q_ƴc’´ÝƴqݒŊŹƴ ŪåżĎĎ 4. J. Oxbury (Norwich A B C) 22.11
2. S. SempleƴŷHÝĔ’ƹşƴc’´ĭŔĔƴqݒŊŹƴƴ ŪÅǼǼżĈƬ Women: 5. J. Whartonƴŷk´ħĭĽƝƴīƴşĽƹ´ĭŔĭƴcqŹƴ ǎǎżĈř
3. S. HarrisonƴŷqƏÝĻƴkħÝþÝĽÍŹƴƴ ŪÅǼŪżŪĎ 1. Kate Allan (Team Bottrill) 20.03 6. S. LittleƴŷşĽ´ħÝƝƹÝƏƴcşǪÝƏƝƴŹƴ ǎĎżĈå
4. H. Picking (Jadan Vive Le Velo) 1:01.42 2. L. Davies (Jadan Vive le Velo) 20.26 Women:
5. J. Clegg (Team Bottrill) 1:04.04 3. L. Creamer (Velo Fixers) 21.07 1. Becky Ridge (Loose Cannon’s Conditioning) 22.36

55
 ¦
'ΐ¦
UuHΐΐ
(Tofauti Everyone Active) +0.27; 5. M. Porton
(Tofauti Everyone Active) +5.27; 6. E. Smith ¦.ss.u'.'
ŷkħĭ¥ÍÝŔƴŵÝǰƴcqŹƴƀåżǼƬż
G¦ΐíÊΐÂΐ¦U'.
Sunday, 16 June
OCAMS Yorkshire Classic Saturday, 15 June Severn Valley GP
(Terrington, North Yorkshire): OSurrey League Epsom CC Road Race When: Sunday, 21 July
(Cyclopark, Kent): Where: Telford, Shropshire
Junior Boys: Held over six laps of the
1. Sebastian Grindley (Fensham Howes-MAS 2, 3: 1. Matt Clayton (Le Col Race Team); 2. A. Sheinton circuit, the course
Design); 2. J. Jackson (Tofauti Everyone Active) Cotterell (Project 51); 3. S. Benge (trainSharp) all distance is 104km with more
+0.02; 3. M. Hinds (Fensham Howes-MAS Design); same time; 4. E. Kazanis (Knights London) +0.05; 5. than 1,500m elevation gain.
4. M. Thompson (Cannibal B Victorious); 5. F. I. Vagg (Project 51) +0.13; 6. J. Bathurst (Knights Entry via the BC website.
Tarling (Willebrord Wil Vooruit); 6. M. Peace London) st. Trofeo Terrington
(Tofauti Everyone Active) all same time. 3, 4: 1. Tom McMulkin (Army Cycling Union); 2. M. When: Sunday, 4 August
Women Duckworth (Southborough & Dist Wh); 3. L. Where: Terrington, N. Yorks
1, 2, 3, 4: 1. Abigail Miller (Tofauti Everyone Active); Haneran (Brixton CC); 4. E. Blowers (VC Deal); 5. Q. q’ĻĭŔĔƴŵĽ’´ÝƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƹĭŊÝÆƴ
2. R. Oakesƴŷkħĭ¥ÍÝŔƴŵÝǰƴcqŹƴƝ’ŊÝƴƹĭŊÝƥƴDŽżƴA. Nusair (VC Deal) all same time; 6. L. Gibson (4T+ ƹħĭƝƴN’ƹĭşŔ’ĽƴƴÝǪÝŔƹƴşüÝƏƝƴ
Blackburnƴŷkħĭ¥ÍÝŔƴŵÝǰƴcqŹƴƀǼżǼƦƥƴĎżƴA. Cebak Cyclopark) +0.05. 138km for the men and 108km
for the women. Entry costs
£36 and should be submitted
online via the BC website.

READER RACE BIKE

i.ìΐH¦..u̺¶ΐ
uuu'
i.ΐ¶Uì˹Χΐ
Alex Green’s Alex has pieced together a
Cannondale Six13 competitively specced road rig
comprises an alloy
frame with integrated
carbon top and down
tubes. It’s a 2006 model,
though he bought the
úƏ’ŊÝƴĆǪÝƴDZݒƏƝƴ’ĔşÆƴ
and it’s his main road
bike, used also for crits.
Groupset is Shimano
ǓƏ’ī´ÝƴcřŪǼǼÆƴ
with the exception
şúƴ’ƴkħĭŊ’ŔşƴcƦǼǼǼƴ
chainset with 160mm
cranks. Wheels are Light
Bicycle rims on Hope
Pro hubs.

Want us to feature your

race bike? Send a pic and
information to cycling@
futurenet.com

56
 ‘I once thought ketones
were so good they’d rendered
Dr Hutch

training obsolete’
The deeper your pockets, the better the placebo effect

here are several ketones was what I’d come up with.

factors that influence Wildly expensive, disgusting to drink,
the effectiveness of a Ɲ´ĭÝŔƹĭĆ´’ĽĽDZƴÍĭþ´ǓĽƹƴƹşƴÝǰŵĽ’ĭŔÆƴ’ŔÍƴ
placebo medical treatment. provided by doctors from teams with
The qualifications of the big research budgets.
person handing it over help And while I don’t know for sure
– a placebo works better because no one has done the research,
coming from a doctor than coming I’d suggest that multiple calls for a
from your mum. Inconvenience or product to be banned would also add
discomfort will help too, for instance ĔƏݒƹĽDZƴƹşƴ’ŔDZƴŵĽ’´Ý¥şƴÝüÝ´ƹżƴFÝƹşŔÝƴ
placebo injections are much more drinks are placebo perfection.
effective than placebo tablets. Of course, none of that means
Describing the treatment as that ketones don’t work. It just means
“innovative” will give it a bit more fake ƹħ’ƹƴĆĔǓƏĭŔĔƴşǓƹƴǫħÝƹħÝƏƴƹħÝƏÝƴĭƝƴ’ŔDZƴ
zing. Some science that you don’t ĔÝŔǓĭŔÝƴŵħDZƝĭşĽşĔĭ´’ĽƴÝüÝ´ƹƴ¥’ƝÝÍƴşŔƴ
understand is good too. And, obviously, nothing other than rider anecdotes is
the more expensive it is, the better. ĔşĭŔĔƴƹşƴ¥ÝƴǪÝƏDZƴÍĭþ´ǓĽƹż
O Multiple national All that is by way of introducing the So here is an anecdote. I’ve used
champion on the bike and subject of ketone drinks, the current ketones three times, as part of a study
award-winning author buzz-substance in sports nutrition. If a few years ago. It took the form of a
Michael Hutchinson I’d been challenged to devise a placebo drink that tasted exactly like a too-
writes for CW every week for cyclists, I’d have been very proud if strong shot of vodka and orange

GREAT INVENTIONS
tyre. If you had one of these, But then, to the industry’s
you could ride it to work, take it dismay, people noticed that

OF CYCLING touring, race it, ride it over a Welsh

ŊşǓŔƹ’ĭŔÆƴ’ŔÍƴĆƹƴĭƹƴǫĭƹħƴ’ƴǫĭĽÍĽDZƴ
something with middling tyres
and middling geometry could be

ΐ˹ǔǔͿΐɅΐÂP.ΐ dangerous home-made sidecar to

take the kids to school.
ŵǓƹƴƹşƴ’ƴĽşƹƴşúƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴŵǓƏŵşƝÝƝżƴ
Racing, touring, commuting,

'ɅUÂɅ
iiΐUg. In the 1960s, road racing bikes

became more specialized, with
riding over Welsh mountains...
I can supply plans for a sidecar
thinner tyres and steeper frame if you want them.
qħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ¥ĭĻÝƝƴǫÝƏÝƴŊ’ÍÝƴşúƴ angles. In contrast, in the 1980s,
wood, with iron tyres. They were the mountain bike appeared, with
do-almost-nothing bikes. You big fat tyres and slacker angles.
could ride them very slowly, in The bike industry could now sell
extreme discomfort, over a nice you two bikes instead of one.
smooth surface. And then in the 2010s,
These were followed by the the gravel bike evolved, with
penny-farthing, which was a ’ƴƝŵÝ´ĭĆ´’ƹĭşŔƴƹħ’ƹƴǫ’Ɲƴħ’Ľúīƴ
do-one-thing (kill you) bike. mountain bike, half-road bike.
And after those came the This was intended to make you
safety bike and the pneumatic buy three bikes instead of two.

58
 Ketones are strong stuff,
especially when you’re
drunk on self-deception

Pics Shutterstock
ƝƃǓ’ƝħżƴqħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƹĭŊÝÆƴ.ƴƏşÍÝƴŊDZƴ¥ÝƝƹƴ sent to me a few months ago. As a
ŷǓŔşþ´ĭ’ĽŹƴŪǼīŊĭĽÝƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭ’ĽƴúşƏƴƹǫşƴ junior, his father provided him with
years. The second time, I beat the “EPO tablets” (Vitamin C) before every
ĆƏƝƹƴƹĭŊÝżƴqħÝƴƹħĭƏÍƴƹĭŊÝƴ.ƴǫ’ƝƴƝşƴ race. It is not at all to my credit that Acts of Cycling
dreadful we gave up on it before the ŊDZƴĆƏƝƹƴƹħşǓĔħƹƴǫ’Ɲƴƹħ’ƹƴĭƹƴǫşǓĽÍƴ
end because it was just going to be ħ’ǪÝƴ¥ÝÝŔƴ’ƴĽşƹƴŊşƏÝƴÝüÝ´ƹĭǪÝƴĭúƴħÝƌÍƴ Stupidity
embarrassing. “Two bangers and one injected his 15-year-old with a glucose
clanger,” was how the lead researcher solution instead.
described it. Stranger still was the junior rider A tale from one of my
How to explain the results? I’m very who came to watch a wind-tunnel sports science friends. For
suggestible, but also easily bored, so session I supervised a few years ago for a biomechanics study at his
one possibility is that I truly believed two of his older team-mates. With only institution, rather than use rigid
but not for very long. Another would be a few minutes of the session left, the ergometers, a Ph.D. student
some sort of habituation. Or there may coach said, “Actually, do a run with the wanted to use a large treadmill
have been a confounding variable – like lad.” I pointed out we wouldn’t have so the riders could ride freely on
ƹħÝƴú’´ƹƴ.ƴƝƹşŵŵÝÍƴƹƏ’ĭŔĭŔĔƴ’úƹÝƏƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ enough time to change anything and do their own bikes.
two rides because I reckoned training a second run. All we had time for was a The first subject they tested
had been rendered obsolete. single, pointless baseline test. took a few minutes to get used
qħÝƴŵĽ’´Ý¥şƴÝüÝ´ƹƴǫşǓĽÍƴŔşƹƴ¥ÝƴŔÝǫƴ “Do it anyway,” said the coach. to the odd sensation of riding on
to cycling. According to soigneur Willy “He believes that he’ll be faster for a treadmill, but quickly settled
‚şÝƹÆƴşŔÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƹĭŊÝƝƴħÝƴŵƏşǪĭÍÝÍƴ just having been in a wind tunnel. into a fast, smooth cadence.
medical enhancement for Richard He’s got no idea how it’s supposed to After a few minutes he started to
Virenque it was because the rider had work.” The coach was right. The kid’s get warm and asked if someone
heard of an amazing new product – it was ƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭ’ĽĽĭŔĔƴĭŊŵƏşǪÝÍƴŔşƴÝŔÍÆƴ’ŔÍƴşüƴ could turn the big fan on.
colourless, and came in an unlabelled the back of a result in the National The addition of aero drag to
bottle. Voet had no idea what that was, Championships, he now rides for a Pro the equation blew him straight
and just injected him with a glucose Continental team. off the back of the treadmill.
solution from a plain bottle. Virenque Looking back on it, I should have
rode the time trial of his career. sold him some vodka and orange
More sinister was the story someone squash shots while he was there.

59
 From the archive

Tour de
l’Avenir

R
iders in the 1966 edition of the
Tour de l’Avenir scramble back
up to the road, having taken a
dangerous-looking detour.
Whether or not it’s the result of a crash
we don’t know, but the rider in the
centre looks unharmed.
The race was inaugurated in 1961 by
French sports paper L’Equipe, which
itself grew out of the ashes of L’Auto,
whose editor Henri Desgrange created
the Tour de France. For its first seven
editions, the Tour de l’Avenir was run
ahead of the bigger race on the same
days, using the last part of the TDF route.
Presumably somebody eventually
decided this was all far too complex
and labour-intensive, and the race
was moved to an end-of-summer slot.
Originally 14 stages long and
conceived to help attract riders
from Eastern Bloc countries, the
race was amateur-only until 1981,
when pro teams were allowed to
compete. It became an under-23
race in 2007, contested once again
by national teams. Last year saw the
inaugural Tour de l’Avenir Femmes,
won overall by Shirin van Anrooij.
It remains a highly respected race,
and a fertile scouting ground for
prospective young stars.

Photo: Cycling Weekly archive

60
 1966
When the race ended in Paris,
winner Mino Denti enjoyed a
victory lap of the famous Parc
des Princes velodrome

61
 CLASSIC BIKE
CHESINI CHALLENGE In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…

Chesini’s passion for

craftsmanship is still
delighting handbuilt
frame lovers

Words Paul Grêlé Photos Richard Butcher/Future Publishing

I
n 1925 Gelmino Chesini made a badge. Around the corner from this complete the Italian build. This frame is
racing bike in his small workshop in ancient arena is the balcony where, unusual in having the model name on
Nesente, a village near Verona, and supposedly, Romeo wooed Juliet. the head tube above the Chesini logo,
named it the Chesini Biciprecision. This early 90s Chesini Challenge, instead of the main triangle, as was the
In 1947 Gelmino was ready to expand, photographed at Golden Age Cycles, norm. The top tube bears the signature
and so bought a factory in Verona is handmade using Columbus Thron of Gabriele Chesini, Gelmino’s son.
where he could upscale his production. tubing, and has chrome-plated chain Chesini is still based on Via San
The timing was perfect, allowing and seatstays, as well as chromed forks. Paolo in Verona and still handbuilds
Chesini to capitalise on the post-war There’s a period-correct Campagnolo its frames. This was an important
increase in demand for bikes. Veloce eight-speed groupset, complete decision made by Gabriele, who said:
These premises are a short ride with Ergo levers. Campagnolo hubs are “Our real and unique intent is to build
across the River Adige to the laced to Nettuno rims. special race bikes, perfect for racers
amphitheatre which features A 3TTT bar and stem, along with a and amateurs.” Next year the company
prominently on the brand’s head Selle San Marco Squadra saddle, celebrates its centenary.

NEXT WEEK’S
ISSUE
O124-page Tour de France preview!
OEvery stage in detail & rider form guide
OHow the GC riders overcame
ON SALE EVERY THURSDAY their injuries

62
9000
TOUR DE
FRANCE
2 0 2 4 p o c k e t g u i d e
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE LIST
Stage Date Route Distance Terrain

1 29 June Florence (Italy) Rimini (Italy) 206km Hilly

2 30 June Cesenatico (Italy) Bologna (Italy) 198.7km Hilly

3 1 July Piacenza (Italy) Turin (Italy) 230.5km Flat

4 2 July Pinerolo (Italy) Valloire (France) 139.6km Mountains

5 3 July Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Saint-Vulbas 177.4km Flat

6 4 July Mâcon Dijon 163.5km Flat

7 5 July Nuits-Saint-Georges Gevrey-Chamberlin 25.3km ITT

8 6 July Semur-en-Auxois Colombey-les-Deux-Églises 183.4km Flat

9 7 July Troyes Troyes 199km Gravel

Rest Day

10 9 July Orléans Saint-Amand-Montrond 187.3km Flat

11 10 July Évaux-les-Bains Le Lioran 211km Mountains

12 11 July Aurillac Villeneuve-sur-Lot 203.6km Flat

13 12 July Agen Pau 165.3km Flat

14 13 July Pau Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet 151.9km Mountains

15 14 July Loudenvielle Plateau de Beille 197.7km Mountains

Rest Day

16 16 July Gruissan Nîmes 188.6km Flat

17 17 July Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux SuperDévoluy 177.8km Mountains

18 18 July Gap Barcelonnette 179.6km Hilly

19 19 July Embrun Isola 2000 144.6km Mountains

20 20 July Nice Col de la Couillole 132.8km Mountains

21 21 July Monaco Nice 33.7km ITT

2
3
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 1 Ό SATURDAY, 29 JUNE

FLORENCE > RIMINI Ό 206KM Ό HILLY

S
tarting in Florence, ŊÝŔǓƴ’ŔÍƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹÆƴƹħÝƴŪŪĻŊƴ QWhat to expect
the birthplace of Colle Tre Faggi, tops out qħÝƴƹݒŊƝƴǫĭƹħƴĔÝŔÝƏ’Ľƴ
legendary Italian ’úƹÝƏƴĸǓƝƹƴşŔÝƴħşǓƏƴşúƴƏ’´ĭŔĔżƴ ´Ľ’ƝƝĭĆ´’ƹĭşŔƴ’Ŋ¥ĭƹĭşŔƝƴǫĭĽĽƴ
cyclist Gino Bartali as well qħÝŔƴ´şŊÝƴ’ƴƝǓ´´ÝƝƝĭşŔƴ be happy to let a rider who
as Renaissance art and şúƴƝħşƏƹƴ¥ǓƹƴÍĭþ´ǓĽƹƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƝÆƴ ĭƝŔƌƹƴƹħĭŔĻĭŔĔƴ’¥şǓƹƴ_’ƏĭƝƴ
architecture, the Tour’s ǫĭƹħƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ’Ɲ´ÝŔƹƴ ƹ’ĻÝƴƹħÝƴƏ’´ÝƌƝƴĆƏƝƹƴDZÝĽĽşǫƴ
ĆƏƝƹƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴĭƝƴ’ƴĽǓŊŵDZƴƏşǓƹÝƴ denoting the entrance to jersey – and with it all the
east in the direction of the the principality of San ’ƹƹÝŔƹĭşŔƴ’ŔÍƴş¥ĽĭĔ’ƹĭşŔƝżƴ
´ş’Ɲƹ’Ľƴ´ĭƹDZƴşúƴcĭŊĭŔĭż M’ƏĭŔşżƴ%ƏşŊƴƹħÝƏÝÆƴĭƹƌƝƴ’ƴ qħÝƴƝŵƏĭŔƹÝƏƝƌƴƹݒŊƝƴǫşŔƌƹƴ
There are seven ǎƬĻŊƴú’ƝƹƴÍşǫŔħĭĽĽƴ¥’´Ļƴ ¥ÝƴǫşƏĻĭŔĔƴÝĭƹħÝƏÆƴŔşƹƴşǪÝƏƴ
´’ƹÝĔşƏĭƝÝÍƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƝƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ ƹşƴƹħÝƴ.ƹ’Ľĭ’Ŕƴ´ş’Ɲƹż ’ƴŵƏşĆĽÝƴĽĭĻÝƴƹħ’ƹÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴǫĭƹħƴ’ƴ
yellow jersey up for grabs
there is no way an excited
ŵÝĽşƹşŔƴǫĭĽĽƴĽÝƹƴ’ƴ¥ƏݒĻƴĔşƴ
ƹħÝƴÍĭƝƹ’Ŕ´Ýżƴ
.ƹƌƝƴ’ƴÍĭþ´ǓĽƹƴÝŔşǓĔħƴ
͒DZƴúşƏƴƝşŊÝƴşǓƹƝĭÍÝƴ
contenders to have their
GC potential highlighted,
but don’t expect any
ĽşŔĔīƏ’ŔĔÝƴƝşĽşƴ’ƹƹ’´ĻƝƴ
úƏşŊƴƹħÝƴ¥ĭĔƴŵĽ’DZÝƏƝƴíƴ
ƹħÝƏÝƌƝƴŔşƴŔÝÝÍƴƹşƴĆƏÝƴ
ƹşşƴŊ’ŔDZƴ¥ǓĽĽÝƹƝƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ
şŵÝŔĭŔĔƴǫÝÝĻÝŔÍÆƴħşǫÝǪÝƏƴ
ƹÝŊŵƹĭŔĔƴĭƹƴŊĭĔħƹƴ¥Ýƴƹşƴ
ĔƏ’¥ƴݒƏĽDZƴĔĽşƏDZż

4
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 2 Ό SUNDAY, 30 JUNE

CESENATICO > BOLOGNA Ό 198.7KM Ό HILLY

T
he homage to Italian
cycling continues
today with a route
starting in Marco Pantani’s
úşƏŊÝƏƴħşŊÝƴ’ŔÍƴĆŔ’Ľƴ
ƏÝƝƹĭŔĔƴŵĽ’´ÝÆƴ’ŔÍƴ’ƴĆŔĭƝħƴ
on the roads of one of the
country’s best-loved races.
It’s a seaside start in the spa
resort of Cesenatico, home
to the late Italian legend,
the last rider to take a
Giro d’Italia-Tour de France peloton with fresh legs.
double, in 1998. Ironically, A breakaway with lots
for a stage harking back to of riders fancying their
one of the sport’s greatest HǓ´’ƴŷŪżřĻŊƴ’ƹƴŪǼżƬŻŹÆƴ chances seems likely, but
´ĽĭŊ¥ÝƏƝÆƴĭƹƌƝƴŊşƝƹĽDZƴȒƹżƴ ǓƝÝÍƴ’Ɲƴ’ƴƝǓŊŊĭƹƴĆŔĭƝħƴ with GC riders not wanting
There are two little bumps in every autumn in the Giro to be caught napping, it
ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴŪĎǼĻŊÆƴ’ƝƴǫÝĽĽƴ’Ɲƴ’ƴ dell’Emilia. Today, however, won’t be given much time.
spin around the Imola racing the riders have 12km over The two climbs of San Luca
circuit, the venue of the ƹħÝƴƹşŵƴşúƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƴƹşƴ are a perfect launch pad for
ǎǼǎǼƴƒşƏĽÍƴħ’ŊŵĭşŔƝħĭŵƝż ĔÝƹƴşƏĔ’ŔĭƝÝÍƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽÝƴ a Classics rider who thinks
Then come two short in Bologna. ƹħÝDZƴ´’ŔƴħşĽÍƴşüƴƹħÝƴ¥ǓŔ´ħƴ
back-to-back climbs ĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴƏǓŔīĭŔÆƴǫħĭĽÝƴ’ƴ
before the peloton arrives QWhat to expect sprinter in great form may
in Bologna for two circuits This should be a fairly also think the stage is up
that take in the climb of San straightforward stage for a for grabs.

5
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 3 Ό MONDAY, 1 JULY

PLAISANCE > TURIN Ό 230.5KM Ό FLAT

A
t 230km, today is fourth most populous city, will see the sprinters’
the longest stage of there’s a passage through ƹݒŊƝƴ´şŔƹÝƝƹƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽÝż
this year’s Tour, Tortona, the town where
with the caravan heading the iconic Fausto Coppi, QWhat to expect
due west to Turin. The a winner of two Tours de A doomed breakaway,
Italian city might live in the %Ə’Ŕ´Ýƴ’ŔÍƴĆǪÝƴ&ĭƏĭƴÍƌ.ƹ’Ľĭ’Æƴ possibly with just two or
shadow of the Alps, but the died in 1960 due to three riders, will go clear,
Tour’s last full day in Italy is misdiagnosed malaria. but they will know their fate
reserved for the sprinters, Two fourth-category the moment the peloton
and almost nothing will climbs will pass with barely lets them loose. Expect one
ÍÝŔDZƴƹħÝŊƴƹħÝĭƏƴĆƏƝƹƴ a change of gear ahead of of the lesser-ranked teams,
nailed-on opportunity. a fast and largely arrow- such as Uno-X Mobility, to
Before it gets to Italy’s straight run-in to Turin that be present.
The bunch will
make the catch in
plenty of time in
anticipation of
ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴŊ’ƝƝƴƝŵƏĭŔƹƴ
of the race. A sprint
without hiccups
is not a foregone
conclusion, though,
with the usual
ĆƏƝƹīǫÝÝĻƴŔÝƏǪÝƝƴ
and tension often
causing crashes at
decisive moments.

6
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 4 Ό TUESDAY, 2 JULY

PINEROLO > VALLOIRE Ό 139.6KM Ό MOUNTAINS

G
iven that stage ĆŔĭƝħƴDZÝƝƹÝƏ͒DZÆƴƹşÍ’DZƴ qħÝƴ’´ƹĭşŔƴǫĭĽĽƴħşƹƴǓŵƴ
four – which starts ƹħÝDZƌĽĽƴ¥ÝƴƹÝƏƏĭĆÝÍƴşúƴ’ƴú’Ɲƹƴ again for the GC riders in
in Italy – exceeds start, getting dropped and the thin air over the top of
2,000m after only 50km, the broomwagon looming the fabled Galibier, but with
with a passage through Ľ’ƏĔÝƴ¥ÝħĭŔÍƴƹħÝŊżƴqħÝƴ a long, and in the most part
Sestrières, and then ¥ƏݒĻƴǫĭĽĽƴúşƏŊƴşŔƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ not too technical, descent
another taxing test (the climb to Sestrières and only to Valloire there is time for
Col de Montgenèvre) once that has formed will mountain domestiques to
before ascending the the bunch sit up and take a chase back to their leaders
mighty Col du Galibier, ´şĽĽÝ´ƹĭǪÝƴ¥Əݒƹħż ’ŔÍƴħÝĽŵƴ´ĽşƝÝƴ’ŔDZƴĔ’ŵƝżƴ
it’s little wonder this is
being labelled as the most
Íĭþ´ǓĽƹƴƝƹ’Əƹƴƹşƴ’ƴqşǓƏƴÝǪÝƏż
Race organisers have
at least resisted the
temptation of a summit
ĆŔĭƝħƴşŔƴƹşŵƴşúƴƹħÝƴ&’Ľĭ¥ĭÝƏÆƴ
with riders having to
descend 19km into the town
of Valloire before they catch
ƝĭĔħƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴĆŔĭƝħƴĽĭŔÝż

QWhat to expect
A short stage that goes
straight up a mountain is
ƹħÝƴƝƹǓüƴşúƴŔĭĔħƹŊ’ƏÝƝƴúşƏƴ
ƝŵƏĭŔƹÝƏƝżƴşŔƹÝƝƹĭŔĔƴ’ƴú’Ɲƹƴ

ƪ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 5 Ό WEDNESDAY, 3 JULY

¶
UuÂɅe.
uɅ'.Ʌs
ʦU.uu.ΐȩΐ¶
UuÂɅæÊi
¶ Ό ˹ͿͿ̛ȋgs Ό FLAT

S
aint-Jean-de- ÝüşƏƹƝƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴĽŵƝżƴqħÝƴ&ƴ to launch a move on, but
Maurienne, a teams will be more than they would have to put in an
frequent staging content to let the sprinters ’ĽŊĭĔħƹDZƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭ’ĽƴÝüşƏƹƴƹşƴ
post of the Tour, is the control the day, and thus hold the peloton at bay.
start town for the peloton’s the breakaway riders will All sprinters should make
speedy Alpine exit towards ħ’ǪÝƴƹşƴĆĔħƹƴħ’ƏÍƴƹşƴƏÝƝĭƝƹƴ ĭƹƴşǪÝƏƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ´’ƹÝĔşƏĭƝÝÍƴ
central France. The long but being reeled in. climb, although don’t be
shallow Col de Couz comes The climb of Côte de surprised to see one or two
just before the midway Ľƌ,ǓĭƝƴÍşÝƝƴ’ƹƴĽÝ’ƝƹƴşüÝƏƴ sprint teams pushing hard
point, and then there’s the something for the escapees to distance some rivals.
climb of the Côte de l’Huis
(4.4km at 4.2%) 34km
¥ÝúşƏÝƴƹħÝƴĆŔĭƝħż
The river Ain, which lends
its name to the region, is
´ƏşƝƝÝÍƴĭŔƝĭÍÝƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ
few kilometres, with the
sprinters who survived
yesterday expecting their
glory in the sleepy, tiny
village of Saint-Vulbas.

QWhat to expect
.ƹƌƝƴşŔĽDZƴ͒DZƴĆǪÝÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴú’ƹĭĔǓÝƴ
will already be creeping
into riders’ legs, especially
after the previous day’s

8
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 6 Ό THURSDAY, 4 JULY

MÂCON > DIJON Ό 163.5KM Ό FLAT

F
rom Mâcon, a Groupama-FDJ for
frequent host ÍƏĭŔĻĭŔĔƴ’Ľ´şħşĽƴşŔƴ’ƴ
town of the ƏÝƝƹƴ͒DZƴĽ’ƝƹƴDZݒƏżƴ
Critérium du Dauphiné,
the race tackles the QWhat to expect
ƝħşƏƹÝƝƹƴȒƹƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴşúƴ qħÝƴƏ’´ÝƴŊĭĔħƹƴ¥Ýƴ
ƹħÝƴǎǼǎĎƴƏ’´ÝÆƴħݒÍĭŔĔƴ ħݒÍĭŔĔƴƹşǫ’ƏÍƴ_’ƏĭƝÆƴ
ŔşƏƹħƴƹħƏşǓĔħƴƹħÝƴ ¥ǓƹƴƹħĭƝƴĭƝƴŔşƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴǎǼƴ
ǓƏĔǓŔÍDZƴǫĭŔÝƴƏÝĔĭşŔżƴ last chance saloon for a
The most famed red ¥ĭĔƴ¥ƏݒĻ’ǫ’DZƴĔƏşǓŵżƴ
wine from this area is .ŔƝƹݒÍÆƴƹħÝƴƝŵƏĭŔƹÝƏƝƌƴ
produced from Pinot ƹݒŊƝƴǫĭĽĽƴşŔĽDZƴĽÝƹƴ’ƴ
NşĭƏƴĔƏ’ŵÝƝƴ’ŔÍƴĭƝƴ ¥ƏݒĻƴĔşƴşŔ´ÝƴƹħÝDZƌƏÝƴ
ĻŔşǫŔƴúşƏƴĭƹƝƴÍƏDZƴ ħ’ŵŵDZƴƹħÝDZƴ´’Ŕƴ´şŔƹƏşĽƴ
texture, while the best ĭƹżƴqħ’ƹƴŊݒŔƝƴƝĭƹƹĭŔĔƴ
whites are made from on the front of the
ħ’ƏÍşŔŔ’DZƴĔƏ’ŵÝƝż ¥ǓŔ´ħƴ’ŔÍƴĻÝÝŵĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴ
qħÝƴĸşǓƏŔÝDZƴƹħƏşǓĔħƴ break at a comfortable
ƹħÝƴǪĭŔÝDZ’ƏÍƝƴĭƝƴȒƹƴ ÍĭƝƹ’Ŕ´Ýƴ¥ÝúşƏÝƴƏÝÝĽĭŔĔƴ
before an 800-metre ĭƹƴĭŔƴƹşǫ’ƏÍƝƴƹħÝƴÝŔÍżƴ
ÍݒÍƴƝƹƏ’ĭĔħƹƴĆŔ’ĽÝƴĭŔƴ qħÝƴƏ’´ÝƌƝƴĆƏƝƹƴƹĭŊÝƴ
ĭĸşŔÆƴħşƝƹĭŔĔƴĭƹƝƴĆƏƝƹƴ trial is tomorrow so the
qşǓƏƴĆŔĭƝħƴƝĭŔ´ÝƴŪřřƦżƴ GC contenders will be
Whoever is victorious ƹ’ĻĭŔĔƴĭƹƴݒƝDZÆƴ’ŔÍƴŔşƴ
ŊĭĔħƹƴĸǓƝƹƴĔÝƹƴƹşƴ BǓƝƹƴÍşŔƌƹƴƹÝĽĽƴ‚ĭƝŊ’īHݒƝÝƴ ÍşǓ¥ƹƴǫ’ƏŊĭŔĔƴÍşǫŔƴşŔƴ
experience one of the ’ƴĭĻÝƌƝƴ¥şƝƝƴcĭ´ħ’ƏÍƴ ƹħÝĭƏƴqqƴ¥ĭĻÝƝƴǫħÝŔƴƹħÝDZƌƏÝƴ
ƏÝĔĭşŔƌƝƴú’ŊşǓƝƴǫĭŔÝƝżƴ _ĽǓĔĔÝÆƴǫħşƴ´Əĭƹĭ´ĭƝÝÍƴ Ɲ’úÝĽDZƴ¥’´Ļƴ’ƹƴƹħÝĭƏƴ¥ǓƝÝƝż

Ŝ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 7 Ό FRIDAY, 5 JULY

uÊU¶Ʌ¶
UuÂɅH.¦H.¶ΐȩΐH.æ¦.íɅP
s.¦ÂUu Ό γȃ̛Χgs Ό TT

T
he race remains QWhat to expect ħǓĔÝƴşŔƴȒƹƴ´şǓƏƝÝƝƴşúƴĽÝƝƝƴ
ĆƏŊĽDZƴŔÝƝƹĽÝÍƴ’ŊşŔĔƴ wƝǓ’ĽĽDZÆƴƹħÝƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔ´ÝƝƴ ƹħ’ŔƴǎǼƴŊĭĽÝƝÆƴ¥ǓƹƴqqƴǫşƏĽÍƴ
ƹħÝƴǪĭŔÝDZ’ƏÍƝƴĭŔƴ ¥ÝƹǫÝÝŔƴƹħÝƴŊ’ĭŔƴĔÝŔÝƏ’Ľƴ ´ħ’ŊŵƴcÝŊ´şƴǪÝŔÝŵşÝĽÆƴ
ƹħÝƴݒƝƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴ´şǓŔƹƏDZƴ ´Ľ’ƝƝĭĆ´’ƹĭşŔƴƏĭÍÝƏƝƴĭƝŔƌƹƴ ƹħÝƴƝƹƏşŔĔÝƝƹƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭ’ĽĽĭƝƹƴ
ǫĭƹħƴ’ƴǎĈĻŊƴƹĭŊÝƴ şúƴƹħÝƴ&ƴƏĭÍÝƏƝÆƴħ’Ɲƴ
ƹƏĭ’Ľƴ¥ÝƹǫÝÝŔƴƹǫşƴ Ŋ’ÍÝƴ’ƴħ’¥ĭƹƴşúƴ
ƏÝĽ’ƹĭǪÝĽDZƴƝŊ’ĽĽƴ Ĕ’ĭŔĭŔĔƴ¥ÝƹǫÝÝŔƴDŽǼƴ
ǫĭŔÝīŊ’ĻĭŔĔƴƹşǫŔƝƴ ’ŔÍƴƬǼƴƝÝ´şŔÍƝƴşŔƴ
ĸǓƝƹƴ’ƴƝƹşŔÝƌƝƴƹħƏşǫƴ ƏĭǪ’ĽƝƴşŔƴ´şǓƏƝÝƝƴ
úƏşŊƴDZÝƝƹÝƏ͒DZƌƝƴ ĽĭĻÝƴƹħĭƝżƴ&ƴƏĭÍÝƏƝƴ
ĆŔĭƝħƴĭŔƴĭĸşŔżƴ şŔƴƹşŵƴşúƴƹħÝĭƏƴĔ’ŊÝƴ
qħÝƴƏşǓƹÝƌƝƴĔÝŔÝƏ’Ľƴ ǫĭƹħƴĔşşÍƴ’ÝƏşƴ
ÍĭƏÝ´ƹĭşŔƴĭƝƴƝÝƹƴƹşƴ ƝÝƹīǓŵƝƴ’ƏÝƴħ’ƏÍƴƹşƴ
ŔşƏƹħÆƴ’ĽƹħşǓĔħƴǪĭ’ƴ ¥Ý’ƹÆƴÝǪÝŔƴ¥DZƴqqƴ
’ƴǫÝƝƹÝƏĽDZƴĽşşŵƴƹşƴ ƝŵÝ´ĭ’ĽĭƝƹƝÆƴƝşƴƹħÝƴ
ƹ’ĻÝƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴŢƹÝƴÍÝƴ Ĕ’ŵƝƴǫşŔƌƹƴ¥ÝƴħǓĔÝżƴ
ǓƏƹĭĽī‚ÝƏĔDZż şƴÝǰŵÝ´ƹƴ&ĭƏşƌƝƴ
şŊĭŔĔƴ’ƹƴƹħÝƴ ÝƏşħݒÍƴqqƴħÝĽŊÝƹƴ
ħ’Ľúǫ’DZƴŵşĭŔƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴ ƹşƴşŔ´Ýƴ’Ĕ’ĭŔƴ´’ǓƝÝƴ
Ɲƹ’ĔÝÆƴ’ŔÍƴ¥ÝĭŔĔƴ ’ƴƝƹĭƏÆƴ’ƝƴŊĭĽĽĭşŔƝƴşúƴ
ƏÝĽ’ƹĭǪÝĽDZƴƹ’ŊÝƴ’ƹƴ ŵÝşŵĽÝƴ’´ƏşƝƝƴƹħÝƴ
ĸǓƝƹƴƬżĈŻƴúşƏƴŪżĈĻŊÆƴ ǫşƏĽÍƴƹǓŔÝƴĭŔƴƹşƴ’ƴ
ŊݒŔƝƴƏĭÍÝƏƝƴǫşŔƌƹƴ ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔƴƏ’´ÝƴúşƏƴ
¥ÝƴĸǓŊŵĭŔĔƴşüƴƹħÝĭƏƴ ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƹĭŊÝƴƹħĭƝƴ
qqƴ¥ĭĻÝƝƴ’ŔÍƴşŔƹşƴ DZݒƏÆƴşŔĽDZƴƹşƴƝħşǓƹÅƴ
ƹħÝĭƏƴƏş’Íƴ¥ĭĻÝƝƴƹşƴ Ƌƒħ’ƹƌƝƴƹħ’ƹƴşŔƴ
ƹ’´ĻĽÝƴƹħÝƴ’Ɲ´ÝŔƹż ƹħÝĭƏƴħݒÍƝƄ÷ƌżƴ

1 0
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 8 Ό SATURDAY, 6 JULY

¶.sʦɅ.uɅ
ÊìU¶ΐȩΐis.íɅi.¶Ʌ'.ÊìɅ/HiU¶.¶ Ό
183.4KM Ό PUiií

R
emaining in the ƹşƴ’üÝ´ƹƴƹħÝƴşƏÍÝƏƴ
Burgundy region of the general
and still just a ´Ľ’ƝƝĭĆ´’ƹĭşŔÆƴ
stone’s throw from Dijon, but if a big
today’s stage departs from ¥ƏݒĻ’ǫ’DZƴĔşÝƝƴ
another usually quiet ´ĽÝ’ƏÆƴ´şŔƹƏşĽĽĭŔĔƴ
village: Semur-en-Auxois. the stage will be a
The stage begins with a ´ħ’ĽĽÝŔĔĭŔĔƴƹ’ƝĻƴ
ČǓƏƏDZƴşúƴƹħƏÝÝƴ´’ƹÝĔşƏĭƝÝÍƴ for the sprint-
´ĽĭŊ¥ƝƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴĎǼĻŊÆƴ úş´ǓƝÝÍƴƹݒŊƝÆƴ
and then three more even with
just after the halfway ĆƏƝƹīǫÝÝĻƴŔÝƏǪÝƝƴ
ŵşĭŔƹÆƴ’ĽĽƴşúƴǫħĭ´ħƴǫĭĽĽƴ out of the way.
´şŔƹĭŔǓÝƴƹşƴƹÝƝƹƴƹħÝƴ If this stage was
ƏĭÍÝƏƝƴĭúƴƹħÝƴŵ’´ÝƴĭƝƴħĭĔħżƴ later in the Tour,
qħÝƴǓŔÍǓĽ’ƹĭŔĔƴŵ’Ə´şǓƏƝƴ with weary legs
´şŔƹĭŔǓÝƝƴĽ’ƹÝƴĭŔƹşƴƹħÝƴ and lots of riders
Ɲƹ’ĔÝƴǫĭƹħƴ’ƴĆŔ’ĽƴƝŊ’ĽĽƴ desperate to get
´ĽĭŊ¥ƴŪƦĻŊƴúƏşŊƴƹħÝƴÝŔÍÆƴ something out of
¥ÝúşƏÝƴ’ƴĆŔĭƝħĭŔĔƴĻĭĽşŊÝƹƏÝƴ ƹħÝƴƏ’´ÝÆƴƹħÝƴşÍÍƝƴ
that averages 3%. ǫşǓĽÍƴ¥ÝƴƝƹ’´ĻÝÍƴ
in favour of a big ƹħÝĭƏƴƹݒŊƝƴƹ’ĻĭŔĔƴ´ħ’ƏĔÝżƴ
QWhat to expect ¥ƏݒĻÆƴ¥ǓƹƴƹħÝƏÝƴǫĭĽĽƴƝƹĭĽĽƴ kşƴÝǰŵÝ´ƹƴ’ƴƝŊ’ĽĽƴ¥ƏݒĻƴ
NşŔÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴ´ĽĭŊ¥Ɲƴ’ƏÝƴĽşŔĔƴ be too many fastmen in the ¥ƏşǓĔħƹƴ¥’´ĻƴǫĭƹħĭŔƴŪĈĻŊƴ
ÝŔşǓĔħƴşƏƴÍĭþ´ǓĽƹƴÝŔşǓĔħƴ ¥ǓŔ´ħÆƴƹħǓƝƴÝŔƝǓƏĭŔĔƴĭƹƌƝƴ şúƴƹħÝƴĆŔĭƝħż

ŭ ŭ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 9 Ό SUNDAY, 7 JULY

TROYES > TROYES Ό 199KM Ό GRAVEL

T
he origins of this When the route was QWhat to expect
route can be traced announced, Visma-Lease a The reason for any disdain
back to 2022, the year Bike’s boss, Richard Plugge, is clear: a stage like this,
the Tour de France Femmes said, “Gravel, for me, is not ditto when the Tour
was reborn. On stage four necessary… in a race such traverses the Paris-Roubaix
of the race, the women’s as this,” and Soudal-Quick cobbles, can severely dent
peloton rode across four Step’s manager, Patrick a rider’s overall hopes, with
ÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴǫħĭƹÝƴƏş’ÍƝÆƴǫĭƹħƴ Lefevere, said, “I’m not a fan a badly timed mechanical
Marlen Reusser winning. of it.” Organiser ASO will be or slip on the uneven
Today, the men take on 14 more interested in what the surface often proving more
sections, totalling 32km. fans think. damaging to their chances
than a day in the mountains.
But will the loose
surfaces encourage
exciting racing or see the
bigger teams combine to
protect their leaders and
nullify the action? Much
will depend on the weather,
and whether one of the GC
contenders spots weakness
in his rivals. Either way,
it’s a day for constant
attentiveness and high
tension, likely to end with a
fragmented break leading
in a fragmented peloton.

1 2
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 10 Ό TUESDAY, 9 JULY

¦i/
u¶ΐȩΐ¶
UuÂɅ
s
u'Ʌsu¦u' Ό ˹ǔͿ̛Χgs Ό FLAT

B
eginning in the teams like TotalEnergies position; it’s the GC riders
city of Orléans, or Arkéa-B&B Hotels, with no big, burly team-
which doubled who never say no to mates that will worry.
Ǔŵƴ’ƝƴƹħÝƴşþ´ĭ’ĽƴĆƏƝƹƴƏÝƝƹƴ TV exposure.
day location, riders head If wind is
south, with not a single forecast – teams
categorised climb on will analyse the
the menu. weather intently
But with three changes in advance – you’ll
şúƴÍĭƏÝ´ƹĭşŔƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ see the pace
30 kilometres taking increase as the
riders onto exposed roads GC and sprinters’
in a region famed for its teams are all told to
wind, a big bunch sprint in get to the front at
Saint-Amand-Montrond, the same time. This
the hometown of Soudal- not only increases
Quick Step’s Julian speed, but nerves
Alaphilippe (not racing this too. If the wind is
year) is not guaranteed. blowing, expect
Classics riders
QWhat to expect hitting the front
The lack of any real to line it out
elevation won’t make and create the
this an appealing stage echelons. The
for a breakaway specialist, sprinters will be
unless they’re riding for alert, and are used
one of the smaller French ƹşƴĆĔħƹĭŔĔƴúşƏƴ

ŭ LJ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 11 Ό WEDNESDAY, 10 JULY

/æ
ÊìɅi.¶Ʌ
Uu¶ΐȩΐi.ΐiU¦
u Ό 211KM Ό PUiií

I
t’s a relatively benign just a few kilometres from battle to get into the day’s
opening 150km as the ’ŔƴǓŵħĭĽĽƴĆŔĭƝħƴĭŔƴHÝƴHĭşƏ’Ŕż break, and as soon as the
peloton crosses through categorised climbs begin,
the majestic Massif Central, QWhat to expect the riders present will be
but the calmness will It’s likely there will be a big attacking to get rid of the
’ĽŊşƝƹƴÍÝĆŔĭƹÝĽDZƴ weaker riders. In 2016,
precede a storm with just a month out from
four categorised becoming Olympic
climbs jammed into champion, Greg Van
ƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴħşǓƏī’ŔÍī’ī Avermaet attacked
bit of racing on what is solo 17km from the
the Tour’s second ĆŔĭƝħƴĭŔƴHÝƴHĭşƏ’Ŕƴ’ŔÍƴ
longest stage. won by 2:34.
The Col de Néronne With 4,350m of
(3.8km at 9.1%) is a elevation gain, it’s one
ŊÝƏÝƴǫ’ƏŊīǓŵƴƹşƴƹħÝƴ şúƴƹħÝƴŊşƝƹƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ī
volcanic Puy Mary (the laden stages of the
ĆŔ’ĽƴƹǫşƴĻĭĽşŊÝƹƏÝƝƴ entire race, and the
average 12%), and a roads of the Massif
fast descent is Central are not as
followed by the Col de wide, straight or
Pertus (4.4km at 7.9%). smooth as the rest of
Rounding out an France. All of which
ÝǰŵĽşƝĭǪÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴƃǓ’ƏƹÝƏƴ means the GC riders
of racing is the Col de ’ŔÍƴƹħÝĭƏƴƹݒŊīŊ’ƹÝƝƴ
Font de Cère (3.3km at need to be switched
5.8%), which tops out on all day.

1 4
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 12 Ό THURSDAY, 11 JULY

ʦUii
ΐȩΐæUii.u.Êæ.Ʌ¶Ê¦Ʌi Ό 203.6KM Ό FLAT
kTÆƴƹşÍ’DZƌƝƴƏşǓƹÝƴƝƹĭĽĽƴ
´şŊÝƝƴǫĭƹħƴŊşƏÝƴƹħ’Ŕƴ
ǎÆDŽǼǼŊƴşúƴÝĽÝǪ’ƹĭşŔƴĔ’ĭŔƴ
’ŔÍƴĭƝƴƹħÝƴĆúƹħƴŷ’ŔÍƴĆŔ’ĽŹƴ
Ɲƹ’ĔÝƴşǪÝƏƴǎǼǼĻŊżƴ
qħÝƏÝƴǫĭĽĽƴ’ĽŊşƝƹƴ
´ÝƏƹ’ĭŔĽDZƴ¥ÝƴŊ’ŔDZƴƏĭÍÝƏƝƴ
hoping for a sprint stage –
ƹħĭƝƴ’ƏݒƴĭƝŔƌƹƴĻŔşǫŔƴúşƏƴĭƹƝƴ
ƝǓŊŊÝƏƴǫĭŔÍƝƴíƴǫħĭ´ħƴ
ǫşŔƌƹƴ¥Ýƴƹşşƴƹ’ǰĭŔĔƴşŔƴ
Ŋ’ŔDZƴĽÝĔƝƴƹħ’ƹƴ¥DZƴŔşǫƴǫĭĽĽƴ
¥ÝƴúÝÝĽĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴú’ƹĭĔǓÝżƴ
ƒĭƹħƴƹħÝƴ_DZƏÝŔÝÝƝƴşŔƴ
the horizon, there aren’t
Ŋ’ŔDZƴȒƹƴƝƹ’ĔÝƝƴĽÝúƹƴƝşƴĭƹƌƝƴ

H
eading west across ŵ’ƝƝÝƝƴşǪÝƏƴƹħÝƴƝǓŊŊĭƹƴ Íĭþ´ǓĽƹƴƹşƴƝÝÝƴħşǫƴ’Ŕƴ
France just south of úƏşŊƴƹħÝƴşŵŵşƝĭƹÝƴƝĭÍÝż ÝƝ´’ŵÝÝƴ´şǓĽÍƴƹƏĭǓŊŵħƴ
the Dordogne, there qħÝƴƏÝƝƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴĭƝƴ ǓŔĽÝƝƝƴƹħÝƏÝƴĭƝƴ’ƴ¥şƹ´ħÝÍƴ
’ƏÝƴúşǓƏƴ´Ľ’ƝƝĭĆÝÍƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƝƴĭŔƴ ĽÝƝƝƴħĭĽĽDZÆƴ’ŔÍƴÝǪÝŔƴƹħÝƴ or disorganised chase
ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴŪǼǼĻŊƴşúƴƏ’´ĭŔĔÆƴ presence of a slight rise úƏşŊƴƹħÝƴŵÝĽşƹşŔżƴ
including the Côte de ĭŔƝĭÍÝƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴŪǼĻŊƴ ,ĭƝƹşƏDZÆƴħşǫÝǪÝƏÆƴĭƝƴ
cş´’Ŋ’ÍşǓƏƴƹħ’ƹƴǫ’ƝƴǓƝÝÍƴ ƝħşǓĽÍŔƌƹƴÍÝŔDZƴƹħÝƴƝŵƏĭŔƹÝƏƝƴ against the sprinters: on the
ĭŔƴƹħÝƴŵÝŔǓĽƹĭŊ’ƹÝƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴşúƴ ’ŔşƹħÝƏƴşŵŵşƏƹǓŔĭƹDZż Ə’´ÝƌƝƴşŔĽDZƴƹǫşƴŵƏÝǪĭşǓƝƴ
ƹħÝƴǎǼǎǎƴqşǓƏÆƴ’ƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭ’Ľƴ ĆŔĭƝħÝƝƴĭŔƴ‚ĭĽĽÝŔÝǓǪÝīƝǓƏī
ǫşŔƴ¥DZƴƒşǓƹƴǪ’ŔƴÝƏƹżƴqħĭƝƴ QWhat to expect HşƹÆƴ’ƴƝşĽşƴƏĭÍÝƏƴúƏşŊƴƹħÝƴ
DZݒƏÆƴħşǫÝǪÝƏÆƴƹħÝƴƏ’´Ýƴ Ľ’ƝƝĭĆÝÍƴ’Ɲƴ’ƴȒƹƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴ¥DZƴ ¥ƏݒĻ’ǫ’DZƴŵƏÝǪ’ĭĽÝÍż

ŭ ċ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 13 Ό FRIDAY, 12 JULY

AGEN > PAU Ό 165.3KM Ό FLAT

B
eginning and if a strong
from Agen, enough group can
a small city work together, it’s
that last featured in not out of the
the Tour in 2000, question that they
the Pyrenees brood can outwit the
menacingly on the sprinters.
horizon and will By this point,
gradually get closer with fewer of the
throughout the day. fastmen remaining,
It’s an undulating the sprint battle
route south toward for the green
the mountains, with jersey points
a pair of relatively ´Ľ’ƝƝĭĆ´’ƹĭşŔƴǫĭĽĽƴ
ĭŔƝĭĔŔĭĆ´’Ŕƹƴ be narrowing to
category four two or three riders
´ĽĭŊ¥ƝƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ within sight of the
quarter. A descent leader, so they will
precedes a fast be cajoling their
ĆŔĭƝħƴĭŔƴ_’ǓÆƴƹħÝƴ team-mates to
third most visited ensure that the
city in the history break is scooped
of the Tour. up before the line.
of climbing – is helpful to qħÝƴĆŔ’ĽÝƴĭƝƴĭÍÝŔƹĭ´’Ľƴƹşƴ
QWhat to expect the breakaway, in particular ƹħÝƴǎǼŪåƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴƹħ’ƹƴĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴ
The hilly terrain throughout the Côte de Blachon and in Pau, a day won by sprinter
– there is just under 2,000m Côte de Simacourbe, Arnaud Démare.

1 6
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 14 Ό SATURDAY, 13 JULY

¤
Êΐȩΐ¶
UuÂɅi
¦íɅ¶Êi
uΐ¤i
ΐ'̺
'. Ό
151.9KM Ό sÊuÂ
Uu¶

F
or the 75th time şǪÝƏ’ĽĽƴ´şŔƹÝŔÍÝƏƝżƴƏşŵƴ qħÝƴ&ƴĔƏşǓŵƴǫĭĽĽƴ¥Ýƴ
Pau hosts a stage şǓƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴĽÝ’ÍƴĔƏşǓŵƴşŔƴ ǫħĭƹƹĽÝÍƴÍşǫŔƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ
start. It’s a very şŔÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴƹħƏÝÝƴ´şĽƝÆƴ’ŔÍƴ qşǓƏŊ’ĽÝƹÆƴ¥ǓƹƴǫĭƹħƴƬDŽĻŊƴ
ĔƏ’ÍǓ’ĽƴĆƏƝƹƴƦǼĻŊƴǓŔƹĭĽƴ ’ƴ&ƴħşŵÝúǓĽƴ´’Ŕƴǫ’ǪÝƴau ƝƹĭĽĽƴƹşƴĔşÆƴ’ŔÍƴǫĭƹħƴƹħÝƴ
they reach the foot of revoirƴƹşƴƹħÝĭƏƴ´ħ’Ŕ´ÝƝżƴ modest climb of the
the Col du Tourmalet, ƴ¥ĭĔƴ¥ƏݒĻƴǫĭĽĽƴúşƏŊƴ ,şǓƏƃǓÝƹƹÝƴÍƌŔ´ĭǸ’Ŕƴ
’Ɲ´ÝŔÍĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴƏ’´ÝƌƝƴ ’ƹƴƝşŊÝƴŵşĭŔƹƴ’úƹÝƏƴƹħÝƴ ’ŔÍƴƹħÝƴȒƹƴƏş’Íƴƹħ’ƹƴ
ŊşƝƹī´ĽĭŊ¥ÝÍƴŊşǓŔƹ’ĭŔƴ ĭŔƹÝƏŊÝÍĭ’ƹÝƴƝŵƏĭŔƹÆƴǫĭƹħƴ ŵƏÝ´ÝÍÝƝƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ´ĽĭŊ¥Æƴ
úƏşŊƴĭƹƝƴǫÝƝƹÝƏŔƴȒŔĻżƴ riders from the big GC ƹħÝƴşǪÝƏ’ĽĽƴ´şŔƹÝŔÍÝƏƝƴ
The two big climbs that ƹݒŊƝƴ’ŊşŔĔƴƹħşƝÝƴ ’ƏÝƴĽĭĻÝĽDZƴƹşƴǫ’ĭƹƴǓŔƹĭĽƴ_Ľ’ƴ
come afterwards are the ĽĭĻÝĽDZƴƹşƴ¥ÝƴŵƏÝƝÝŔƹż ÍƌÍÝƹƴ¥ÝúşƏÝƴŵşǓŔ´ĭŔĔżƴ
,şǓƏƃǓÝƹƹÝƴÍƌŔ´ĭǸ’Ŕƴ
ŷåżǎĻŊƴ’ƹƴĈżŪŻŹƴƹħÝŔƴ
ƹħÝƴƝǓŊŊĭƹƴĆŔĭƝħƴ’ƹƴ
Pla d’Adet. At just over
ŪǼĻŊÆƴƹħÝƴşŵÝŔĭŔĔƴ
stretches regularly
Ýǰ´ÝÝÍƴŪǼŻÆƴ¥ǓƹƴƹħÝƴ
ƝÝǪÝƏĭƹDZƴĽÝƝƝÝŔƝƴƹşǫ’ƏÍƝƴ
ƹħÝƴƹşŵż

QWhat to expect
ƝƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴŊşǓŔƹ’ĭŔƴ
ƝǓŊŊĭƹƴĆŔĭƝħƴşúƴƹħÝƴƏ’´ÝÆƴ
Ɲƹ’ĔÝƴŪĎƴĭƝƴ´ƏǓ´ĭ’ĽƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴ

ŭ ƪ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 15 Ό SUNDAY, 14 JULY

LOUDENVIELLE > PLATEAU DE BEILLE Ό
197.7KM Ό MOUNTAINS

S
tage 15 traverses ƬǼĻŊƴĽǓĽĽƴ¥ÝúşƏÝƴƹħÝƴ QWhat to expect
ĆǪÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴƏÝĔĭşŔƌƝƴ ƏĭÍÝƏƝƴƏݒ´ħƴƹħÝƴşĽƴ qħÝƴ¥’ƹƹĽÝƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴ
ŵݒĻƝƴúƏşŊƴǫÝƝƹƴ ÍƌĔŔÝƝƴŷŪǼĻŊƴ’ƹƴåżǎŻŹżƴ ¥ƏݒĻ’ǫ’DZƴǫĭĽĽƴ¥ÝĔĭŔƴ
ƹşƴݒƝƹÆƴƝƹ’ƏƹĭŔĔƴǫĭƹħƴ TŔ´ÝƴƹħĭŔĔƝƴħ’ǪÝƴĔşƹƴ ĭŊŊÝÍĭ’ƹÝĽDZƴ’ŔÍƴÝǰŵÝ´ƹƴ
’Ŕƴ’Ɲ´ÝŔƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴşĽƴÍÝƴ ĔşĭŔĔƴ’Ĕ’ĭŔÆƴ’ƴDŽĈĻŊƴ ŵĽÝŔƹDZƴşúƴ%ƏÝŔ´ħƴú’´ÝƝƴǓŵƴ
_ÝDZƏÝƝşǓƏÍÝƴ’ƝƴƝşşŔƴ’Ɲƴ ÍÝƝ´ÝŔƹƴƝÝƹƝƴƹħÝƴ ’ħݒÍÆƴݒ´ħƴħşŵĭŔĔƴƹşƴ
ƹħÝƴƏ’´ÝƴȒĔƴÍƏşŵƝż Ɲ´ÝŔÝƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ ¥Ý´şŊÝƴƹħÝƴŔÝǰƹƴ%ƏÝŔ´ħƴ
qħÝƴşĽƴÍÝƴMÝŔƹÞƴ’ŔÍƴ ƹÝƝƹÆƴƹħÝƴ_Ľ’ƹݒǓƴÍÝƴ Ɲƹ’ĔÝƴǫĭŔŔÝƏƴşŔƴ’ƝƹĭĽĽÝƴ
şĽƴÍÝƴ_şƏƹÝƹīÍƌƝŵÝƹƴ ÝĭĽĽÝÆƴ’ƴŪĈżĈĻŊƴƝĽşĔƴ ’DZƴíƴƹħÝƴĽ’Ɲƹƴ¥ÝĭŔĔƴ
úşĽĽşǫƴƹħ’ƹÆƴ¥ǓƹƴƹħÝƏÝƌƝƴ’ƴ ƹħ’ƹƴ’ǪÝƏ’ĔÝƝƴƦżřŻżƴ ƒ’ƏƏÝŔƴ’ƏĔǓĭĽƴĭŔƴǎǼŪƦż
ƒĭƹħƴ’ƴĽşƹƴşúƴ
ŔşƹħĭŔĔŔÝƝƝƴ
ƝÝŵ’Ə’ƹĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴ
ƹħĭƏÍƴ’ŔÍƴúşǓƏƹħƴ
´ĽĭŊ¥ÆƴƹħÝƴƏ’´ÝƴǫĭĽĽƴ
¥ÝƴŔÝǓƹƏ’ĽĭƝÝÍƴ
¥ÝúşƏÝƴ´şŊĭŔĔƴ
¥’´ĻƴƹşƴĽĭúÝƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ
ŵÝŔǓĽƹĭŊ’ƹÝƴ´şĽżƴ
ƝƴĽşŔĔƴ’ƝƴƹħÝƏÝƌƝƴ
ŔşƴŵşƹÝŔƹĭ’Ľƴ&ƴ
ƹħƏݒƹƴ’ŊşŔĔƴƹħÝƴ
ÝƝ´’ŵÝÝƝÆƴƹħÝDZƴ
ħ’ǪÝƴ’ƴĔşşÍƴ´ħ’Ŕ´Ýƴ
şúƴĔşĭŔĔƴ’ĽĽƴƹħÝƴǫ’DZż

ŭ è
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 16 Ό TUESDAY, 16 JULY

GRUISSAN > NÎMES Ό 188.6KM Ό FLAT
ƝŵÝÝÍƝƴşúƴŪǼǼĻŵħÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ
even at lower speeds it
could split the bunch.

QWhat to expect
The sprinting teams will
ŔşƹƴĽÝƹƴƹħÝƴ¥ƏݒĻ’ǫ’DZƴĔÝƹƴ
’ƴ¥ĭĔƴĽÝ’ÍÆƴĻŔşǫĭŔĔƴƹħ’ƹƴ
ƹħĭƝƴ´şǓĽÍƴ¥Ýƴ’ƴĆŔ’Ľƴ
chance to get their hands
şŔƴƹħÝƴǫĭŔŔÝƏƌƝƴ
champagne. Expect the
break to be caught in
ŵĽÝŔƹDZƴşúƴƹĭŊÝÆƴ’ŔÍƴ

G
ruissan is a and a few slight rises lead-out riders to crowd
beautiful coastal ݒƏĽDZƴşŔÆƴĭƹƌƝƴ’ƴú’ĭƏĽDZƴȒƹƴ the front of the peloton
town built ĸşǓƏŔÝDZƴƹşǫ’ƏÍƝƴǫħ’ƹƴ ĭŔƴŵƏÝŵ’Ə’ƹĭşŔƴúşƏƴ’ƴĆŔ’Ľƴ
around a castle and ƝħşǓĽÍƴ¥Ýƴ’ƴƝŵƏĭŔƹƴĆŔĭƝħżƴ ú’´ÝīşüÆƴƹħ’ŔĻƝƴƹşƴƹħÝƴ
making its Tour debut. The one thing that could Ľ’´Ļƴşúƴ’ƴ_’ƏĭƝƴĆŔ’ĽÝż
%ƏşŊƴƹħÝƴşüÆƴĭƹƌƝƴŊşƝƹĽDZƴ disrupt proceedings If crosswinds are
north-east towards ƹħşǓĔħƴĭƝƴƹħÝƴMĭƝƹƏ’ĽÆƴ úşƏÝ´’ƝƹÆƴƹħÝƴƹݒŊƴ
NİŊÝƝÆƴ’ƴ´ĭƹDZƴƹħ’ƹƴ ’ƴƝƹƏşŔĔƴŔşƏƹħīǫÝƝƹÝƏĽDZƴ ÍÝúÝŔÍĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴDZÝĽĽşǫƴ
features for a 36th time. wind that comes down ĸÝƏƝÝDZƴǫĭĽĽƴ¥ÝƴǪÝƏDZƴ’ĽÝƏƹƴƹşƴ
Aside from the Côte du the Rhône river and a small split in the
Mas de Cornon (7km at through southern France. peloton which could
DŽżĎŻŹƴ’ƹƴƹħÝƴħ’Ľúǫ’DZƴŊ’ƏĻÆƴ The Mistral can reach open serious gaps.

ŭ Ŝ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 17 Ό WEDNESDAY, 17 JULY

¶
UuÂɅ¤
ÊiɅ¦U¶ɅP Â.
Êìΐȩΐ¶Ê¤.¦'/æiÊí Ό
177.8KM Ό sÊuÂ
Uu¶

T
here is the feel of a
typical Pyrenean
stage to this test,
with a leisurely roll-out
until the mountains are
reached. But we’re back
in the Alps, and after
130km of warming the
legs, three climbs come
in the space of just 50km.
The Col Bayard (6.8km
at 7.3%) will get the party
started, but it’s the much
tougher Col du Noyer ´Ľ’ƝƝĭĆ´’ƹĭşŔƴŊşƏÝƴƹħ’Ŕƴ The GC riders will
(7.5km at 8.4%) which will likely sewn up, the be looking to the
do the damage, that peloton should let the penultimate climb of the
climb being crested just breakaway go from the Col du Noyer to attack;
ŪǎĻŊƴ¥ÝúşƏÝƴƹħÝƴĆŔĭƝħƴ’ƹƴ outset, and it’s likely to ƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴƹǫşƴĻĭĽşŊÝƹƏÝƝƴ
the small ski station of be a stacked group, full having sustained ramps
SuperDévoluy (3.8km at of teams still hunting of double-digit gradients.
5.9%), used in the Tour for – now desperately – for Anyone who does go
ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƹĭŊÝż ƹħÝĭƏƴĆƏƝƹƴǫĭŔƴşúƴƹħÝƴƏ’´Ýżƴ clear will want a healthy
The day’s winner will cushion on the descent,
QWhat to expect most likely come from ’ħݒÍƴşúƴ’ƴĆŔ’Ľƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƴƹħ’ƹƴ
With the points the day’s main break. isn’t too strenuous.

Ǒ ŭ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 18 Ό THURSDAY, 18 JULY

GAP > BARCELONNETTE Ό 179.6KM Ό HILLY

G
ap, making its First heading west, and taking the riders to
50th appearance then north before ƹħÝƴĆŔĭƝħƴĽĭŔÝƴĭƝƴ’ƴĔƏ’ÍǓ’Ľƴ
as a Tour host, is ƝşǓƹħīݒƝƹƴƹşƴƹħÝƴĆŔĭƝħƴ ascent that is better
the starting point of a in Barcelonnette, the ÍÝƝ´Əĭ¥ÝÍƴ’Ɲƴ’ƴú’ĽƝÝƴȒƹż
stage that doesn’t touch ¥ĭĔĔÝƝƹƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƴĭƝƴĆƏƝƹƴǓŵÆƴ
the bigger peaks of the the Col du Festre at QWhat to expect
Alps, but does cross 1,442m, while the most With the hardest stage of
many smaller ones, Íĭþ´ǓĽƹƴĭƝƴƹħÝƴ the race just 24 hours
adding up to an penultimate: the Côte de away, and any sprinters
accumulated total of over Saint-Apollinaire. left having little to ride
3,000m of elevation gain. %şĽĽşǫĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’ĽƴFşMƴ for, the peloton should
be happy to let the
breakaway take the win.
Expect a big break to
go clear and for it to split
into smaller groups as
the afternoon wears on.
There could be a decisive
attack on one of the two
ĆŔ’Ľƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƝÆƴ¥ǓƹƴŊşƏÝƴ
likely is a reduced sprint.
At this stage the overall
battle depends on
whether the GC leader
has minutes in hand, or
just a handful of seconds.

Ǒ Ǒ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 19 Ό FRIDAY, 19 JULY

EMBRUN > ISOLA 2000 Ό 144.6KM Ό MOUNTAINS

I
t’s a gentle opening all vegetation, the road QWhat to expect
20 kilometres for the encircles the peak’s ƴ¥ƏݒĻ’ǫ’DZÆƴŵƏş¥’¥ĽDZƴ
peloton from the start summit as it reaches an ǫĭƹħƴ´şŔƹÝŔÍÝƏƝƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴ
in Embrun, but after that ’ĽƹĭƹǓÍÝƴşúƴǎÆåǼǎŊż FşMƴŵƏĭǸÝÆƴǫĭĽĽƴĔşƴ´ĽÝ’Əƴ
ĭƹƌƝƴƝǓüÝƏĭŔĔƴ’ĽĽƴƹħÝƴǫ’DZżƴ qħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ´ħ’ĽĽÝŔĔÝƴĭƝƴ şŔƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ´ĽĭŊ¥Æƴ¥Ǔƹƴ’ƴ
qħÝƴşĽƴÍÝƴ‚’ƏƝƴŷŪåżåĻŊƴ ƹħÝƴŪƬżŪĻŊƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƴƹşƴƹħÝƴ short stage might see
’ƹƴĈżƦŻŹƴĭƝƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƹşƴ¥Ýƴ ski resort of Isola 2000, one of the GC teams
crested, and then it’s a ǫĭƹħƴÍşǓ¥ĽÝīÍĭĔĭƹƴ setting a fast pace from
ŊşŔƝƹƏşǓƝƴ’ŔÍƴŊDZƹħĭ´’Ľƴ gradient ramps at the ƹħÝƴşüÆƴĭŔƴşƏÍÝƏƴƹşƴĭŔČĭ´ƹƴ
climb that hasn’t been beginning and an overall Ŋ’ǰĭŊǓŊƴ͒Ŋ’ĔÝżƴ
used since the 2008 ’ǪÝƏ’ĔÝƴşúƴƦżŪŻż There’s too long
Tour: the Cime ¥ÝƹǫÝÝŔƴƹħÝƴ
ÍÝƴĽ’ƴşŔÝƹƹÝż Bonette and
ƹƴǎǎżřĻŊƴ Isola 2000
long, it averages for a top GC
ƬżřŻÆƴ¥ǓƹƴĭƹƝƴ rider to
gradients are attack on the
´şŔƝĭƝƹÝŔƹĽDZƴ former, so
tough for the expect them
most part and instead to
rear up to above make their
ŪǼŻƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ ŊşǪÝƴǫħÝŔƴ
ĻĭĽşŊÝƹƏÝżƴ the ski lifts
ƒĭŔÍƝǫÝŵƹÆƴ at Isola
barren and 2000 come
devoid of almost ĭŔƹşƴǪĭÝǫżƴ

Ǒ LJ
 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 20 Ό SATURDAY, 20 JULY

NICE > COL DE LA COUILLOLE Ό 132.8KM Ό MOUNTAINS

U
sing climbs that QWhat to
Paris-Nice visits expect
most years, and .úƴƹħÝƴĆĔħƹƴúşƏƴ
therefore familiar to the the polka-dot
peloton, today’s stage is jersey is still
an unusually short one at raging and one
just over 130km. of the GC men
But don’t be fooled, isn’t expected
there’s even more to claim it,
altitude gain than those involved
yesterday’s arduous will once again
stage, with almost be shooting out
4,800m of elevation – of the peloton
half an Everest. early on in an
şĽƴÍÝƴƏ’ǓƝÆƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ ÝüşƏƹƴƹşƴŔ’¥ƴ’Ɲƴ
col, is summited after many points as
25km, and the longest, possible.
the Col de Turini at A high pace
20.7km in length, is will be set by
reached after 60km. those on the
Then it’s the Col de la front of the
Colmiane (7.5km at 7.1%) peloton all day and any Couillole – there is no
and deeper into the sprinters left in the race let-up in the gradient -
Alpes-Maritimes with a will be at risk of missing the race for yellow will
ƝǓŊŊĭƹƴĆŔĭƝħƴ’ƹƴşĽƴÍÝƴĽ’ƴ the time cut. Such is the not ignite until they turn
Couillole (16.7km at 7.1%). Íĭþ´ǓĽƹDZƴşúƴƹħÝƴşĽƴÍÝƴĽ’ƴ şŔƹşƴƹħÝƴĆŔ’Ľƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ż

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 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

STAGE 21 Ό SUNDAY, 21 JULY

MONACO > NICE Ό 33.7KM Ό INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL
QWhat to expect
MşƝƹƴƹ’ĽĻƴŵƏÝīƝƹ’ĔÝƴǫĭĽĽƴ
¥ÝƴǫħÝƹħÝƏƴşƏƴŔşƹƴƹħÝƴ
ƏĭÍÝƏƝƴǫĭĽĽƴƹ’´ĻĽÝƴƹħÝƴ
şŵÝŔĭŔĔƴħ’ĽúƴşŔƴƹħÝĭƏƴ
Əş’Íƴ¥ĭĻÝƝƴ¥ÝúşƏÝƴ
Ɲǫĭƹ´ħĭŔĔƴƹşƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭ’Ľƴ
Ŋ’´ħĭŔÝƝƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴ
ƏÝŊ’ĭŔÍÝƏżƴkşŊÝƴŊĭĔħƹƴ
ĸǓÍĔÝƴH’ƴqǓƏ¥ĭÝƴ’Ɲƴ’ƴ
ŵşǫÝƏƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƴƹħ’ƹƴÍşÝƝŔƌƹƴ
ƏÝƃǓĭƏÝƴ’ƴŊşƏÝƴ’ĔĭĽÝƴ’ŔÍƴ
ĽĭĔħƹÝƏƴƏş’Íƴ¥ĭĻÝÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ

N
ot since 1905 ƹħĭƝƴĭƝƴŔşƹƴ’ŔƴݒƝDZƴƹĭŊÝƴ others will not want to
has the Tour de ƹƏĭ’ĽżƴúƹÝƏƴşŔĽDZƴŪÆĈǼǼŊÆƴ ƏĭƝĻƴǓƝĭŔĔƴƹħÝĭƏƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭ’Ľƴ
%Ə’Ŕ´ÝƴĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴ ƹħÝƴƏş’ÍƴĔşÝƝƴǓŵƴǫĭƹħƴƹħÝƴ Ŋ’´ħĭŔÝƴúşƏƴǫħ’ƹƴĭƝƴ
outside of Paris, and it’s åżŪĻŊƴ’Ɲ´ÝŔƹƴşúƴH’ƴqǓƏ¥ĭÝżƴ ÝƝƝÝŔƹĭ’ĽĽDZƴ’ƴŊşǓŔƹ’ĭŔƴqqż
ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƹĭŊÝƴƝĭŔ´Ýƴ&ƏÝĔƴ A short descent It was only four years
HÝMşŔÍƌƝƴÍƏ’Ŋ’ƹĭ´ƴŪřåřƴ ŵƏÝ´ÝÍÝƝƴ’ŔşƹħÝƏƴ ’Ĕşƴƹħ’ƹƴq’ÍÝĸƴ_şĔ’¹’Əƴ
ǫĭŔƴƹħ’ƹƴƹħÝƴƏ’´ÝƴĆŔĭƝħÝƝƴ ƝĭĔŔĭĆ´’Ŕƹƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƴǓŵƴƹħÝƴ ú’ŊşǓƝĽDZƴşǪÝƏƹǓƏŔÝÍƴ’ƴ
ǫĭƹħƴ’ŔƴĭŔÍĭǪĭÍǓ’ĽƴƹĭŊÝƴ şĽƴÍƌǸÝÆƴǓƝÝÍƴ’ĽŊşƝƹƴ ĈƦīƝÝ´şŔÍƴÍÝĆ´ĭƹƴƹşƴ
trial. The choice of Nice every year in Paris-Nice, _ƏĭŊşǺƴcşĔĽĭ¹ƴşŔƴƹħÝƴ
ĭƝƴÍǓÝƴƹşƴ_’ƏĭƝƴħşƝƹĭŔĔƴ ¥ÝúşƏÝƴ’ƴĆŔ’ĽƴŪƦĻŊƴƹħ’ƹƴĭƝƴ ŵÝŔǓĽƹĭŊ’ƹÝƴ͒DZƌƝƴƹĭŊÝƴ
ƹħÝƴTĽDZŊŵĭ´ƴ&’ŊÝƝż ŊşƝƹĽDZƴÍşǫŔħĭĽĽƴşƏƴȒƹƴ ƹƏĭ’ĽƴƹşƴǫĭŔƴƹħÝƴƏ’´Ýƴ¥DZƴĈřƴ
ÝĔĭŔŔĭŔĔƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴ şŔƹşƴƹħÝƴ_ƏşŊÝŔ’ÍÝƴÍÝƝƴ ƝÝ´şŔÍƝżƴŔDZƹħĭŔĔƴĭƝƴ
ŵƏĭŔ´ĭŵ’ĽĭƹDZƴşúƴMşŔ’´şÆƴ ŔĔĽ’ĭƝƴĭŔƴNĭ´Ýżƴ ƹħÝƏÝúşƏÝƴŵşƝƝĭ¥ĽÝż

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 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

TOUR RIDERS
TO WATCH

There are 176 riders at

this year’s Tour – here are the ones that
are most likely to grab your attention...

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WINS: 7 | TOUR TARGET: GC WIN | TOUR TARGET: GC WIN WINS: 4 | TOUR TARGET: GC WIN
It was all going so well There is only one rider The Belgian wunderkind
for the Dane before a who can beat Tadej started 2024 as he
ħşƏƏĭĆ´ƴ´Ə’ƝħƴĭŔƴݒƏĽDZƴ _şĔ’¹’ƏƴƹħĭƝƴDZݒƏÆƴ’ŔÍƴ ĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴǎǼǎDŽƴīƴ’ƴ¥ĭƹƴ
ŵƏĭĽżƴqǫşƴƝƹ’ĔÝƴƏ’´ÝƝÆƴ that’s himself. And he’ll ŊÝħżƴNşƹƴ¥’ÍÆƴ¥ǓƹƴŔşƹƴ
two GC wins and stage do it by over-extending up to his usual high
wins along the way himself early in the race standards. He won the
showed he would once and letting the fatigue ‚şĽƹ’ƴ’şƴĽĔ’ƏǪÝÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ
again be the man to beat from the Giro d’Italia was beaten by Matteo
in July. The crash in the catch up with him. Jorgenson at Paris-Nice
Itzulia Basque race then He cruised to the Giro and was then taken out
left him with a fractured win in May and was near in the same crash as
´şĽĽ’Ə¥şŔÝƴ’ŔÍƴƏĭ¥ƝÆƴ’ƴ ǓŔ¥Ý’ƹ’¥ĽÝƴ¥ÝúşƏÝƴƹħ’ƹÆƴ Vingegaard in Spain.
pulmonary contusion but the Giro-Tour Evenepoel fractured his
and a pneumothorax. double is a rare feat for collarbone and scapula
ƴĽşŔĔƴƹĭŊÝƴşüƴƹħÝƴ¥ĭĻÝƴ good reason. But if he but was soon back in
sadly means he’ll be bides his time and rides training. Such a major
short of form come July ƝÝŔƝĭ¥ĽDZÆƴ’ƴƹħĭƏÍƴqşǓƏƴÍÝƴ injury will unavoidably
and seriously below his France win should be his see him in a race against
usual top condition. for the taking. time for form in July.
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 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

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With so many of the
favourites coming
back from serious
ĭŔĸǓƏDZÆƴƹħĭƝƴDZݒƏƴ´şǓĽÍƴ
be time for another ¤¦Usùΐ¦HiU" 
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breakthrough ride. ¦
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Last year Felix Gall WINS: 1 | TOUR TARGET: GC WIN WINS: 2 |ΐÂʦΐÂ
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made his name on the The standout stage The GC dark horse has
Alpine roads to the Ə’´ÝƏƴşúƴǎǼǎDŽÆƴcşĔĽĭ¹ƴ had a solid 2024 so far
’ĽƹĭŵşƏƹƴ’ƹƴşǓƏ´ħÝǪÝĽÆƴ was another rider ǫĭƹħƴ’ƴǫĭŔƴ’ƹƴcşŊ’ŔÍĭÝƴ
– on the stage that ’üÝ´ƹÝÍƴ¥DZƴthat April and second at Itzulia
´Ə’´ĻÝÍƴ_şĔ’¹’Əƴíƴ’ŔÍƴ crash in Spain. He Basque (avoiding the
ĆŔĭƝħÝÍƴÝĭĔħƹħƴşŔƴ&żƴ avoided serious injury stage four crash).
His results so far this but had to sit out the Having unspectacularly
year are not too Spring Classics. Before ƏĭÍÍÝŔƴƹşƴĆúƹħƴŵĽ’´ÝƴĽ’Ɲƹƴ
ÝŔ´şǓƏ’ĔĭŔĔÆƴ¥ǓƹƴħĭƝƴ that he notched up just DZݒƏƴ’ƹƴĸǓƝƹƴǎǎƴDZݒƏƝƴşĽÍÆƴ
ƹݒŊÆƴÝ´’ƹħĽşŔīĔǎƏÆƴ one win (a TT) with his it’s not hard to imagine
ħ’ÍƴǎDŽƴǫĭŔƝƴ¥DZƴƹħÝƴÝŔÍƴ new team. But the the Spaniard taking
of May. Lidl-Trek’s Tao German team are full of ’ÍǪ’Ŕƹ’ĔÝƴşúƴ’ƴĆÝĽÍƴ
Geoghegan Hart has ´şŔĆÍÝŔ´Ýƴƹħ’ŔĻƝƴƹşƴ consisting mainly of
been building back ¥ĭĔƴĭŔǪÝƝƹŊÝŔƹƴúƏşŊƴcÝÍƴ contenders coming
ƝƹݒÍĭĽDZƴúƏşŊƴħĭƝƴǎǼǎDŽƴ Bull (which will take title back from injury or
Giro crash while Sepp sponsorship at the Tour) having won elsewhere.
Kussƴ´şǓĽÍƴŵƏşĆƹƴĭúƴ ’ŔÍƴcşĔĽĭ¹ƴǫĭĽĽƴ¥ÝƴħĭĔħĽDZƴ He won’t be top of many
team leader motivated to make this ú’Ŕƹ’ƝDZƴƹݒŊƴŵĭ´ĻƝÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ
Vingegaard falters. year count. don’t rule him out.
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Jasper Philipsen will
once again be the man
to beat with a 2024
Classics campaign
s
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i¤.UuɅ'..ÊuUugΐ| 29 | 2024 INEOS GRENADIERS | 24 | 2024 team leader Mathieu
WINS: 3 | TOUR TARGET: STAGES WINS: 1 |ΐÂʦΐÂ
¦H.ÂƋΐ¶Â
H.¶ΌH van der Poel. But there
Three wins in 2024 H’ƝƹƴDZݒƏƌƝƴŪDŽƹħƴŵĽ’´ÝƴşŔƴ is no shortage of
ÍşÝƝŔƌƹƴƝşǓŔÍƴŊǓ´ħÆƴ GC – without it being a sprinters with Arnaud
but two of those were main target – had de LieƴŷHşƹƹşīƝƹŔDZŹÆƴ
the Tour of Flanders and Pidcock looking to this Dylan Groenewegen
_’ƏĭƝīcşǓ¥’ĭǰƴíƴ‚’ŔƴÍÝƏƴ year’s Tour with bigger ŷB’DZ´şīĽwĽ’ŹÆƴFabio
Poel was king of the &ƴ’Ŋ¥ĭƹĭşŔƝÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ’ƴĽ’´Ļƴ Jakobsen (DSM-
Classics this spring. And of stage racing this Firmenich) and Biniam
that was a ‘light’ race spring may have put Girmay (Intermarché-
programme following a paid to that. A win at Wanty) all set to start.
successful cross ŊƝƹÝĽƴ&şĽÍÆƴ’ĽşŔĔƴǫĭƹħƴ Then there’s the small
season. Last year’s Tour other solid one-day matter of whether
saw him dedicate results and two Mark Cavendish
himself to leading perfectly good results (Astana Qazaqstan)
team-mate Jasper at Algarve and Tirreno- can get himself into
Philipsen to four stages Adriatico suggests he stage-winning form
and while that was great ´şǓĽÍƴƝƹÝŵƴǓŵÆƴ¥ǓƹƴħĭƝƴ and take a record-
úşƏƴħĭƝƴƹݒŊÆƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔƴú’ŔƝƴ Olympic mtb focus will ¥ƏݒĻĭŔĔƴDŽĈƹħƴqşǓƏƴ
deserve to see MVDP in likely hinder his GC stage. One perfect
úǓĽĽƴČşǫƴƹħĭƝƴBǓĽDZżƴ credentials this year. leadout is all he needs.
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 T o u r d e F r a n c e 2 0 2 4

THE TEAMS The riders and jerseys to look out for this July

Team Nat Look out for Bikes

Alpecin-Deceuninck Bel Jasper Philipsen Canyon
Arkéa-B&B Hotels Fra Arnaud Démare Bianchi
Astana Ast Mark Cavendish Wilier
Bahrain Victorious Bah Pello Bilbao Merida
Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe Ger _ƏĭŊşǺƴcşĔĽĭ¹ Specialized
şĆÍĭƝ Fra Guillaume Martin Look
Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale Fra Felix Gall Van Rysel
DSM-Firmenich-PostNL Ned Fabio Jakobsen Scott
EF Education-EasyPost USA Richard Carapaz Cannondale
Groupama-FDJ Fra David Gaudu Wilier
Ineos Grenadiers GBr Carlos Rodríguez Pinarello
Intermarché-Wanty Bel Biniam Girmay Cube
Israel-Premier Tech Isr Stephen Williams Factor
Jayco-Alula Aus Simon Yates Giant
Lidl-Trek USA Tao Geoghegan Hart Trek
Lotto-Dtny Bel Arnaud de Lie Orbea
Movistar Esp Enric Maas Canyon
Soudal-Quick Step Bel Remco Evenepoel Specialized
TotalEnergies Fra Mathieu Burgaudeau ENVE
UAE Team Emirates UAE q’ÍÝĸƴ_şĔ’¹’Ə Colnago
UNO-X Mobility Nor Magnus Cort Dare
Visma-Lease a Bike Ned Jonas Vingegaard Cervélo

3 0
Head DS Tour target
Christoph Roodhooft Stage wins and green jersey
Didier Rous A stage win with Démare and riders in breaks
Alexandre Schefer Stage win (and record) for Cavendish
Gorazd Štangelj High GC placing for Bilbao, plus stage wins
Rolf Aldag &ƴǫĭŔƴǫĭƹħƴcşĔĽĭ¹
Bingen Fernández Stage wins
Vincent Lavenu Stage wins
Rudi Kemna Stage wins with Jakobsen
Charly Wegelius GC bid with Carapaz plus stage wins
Philippe Mauduit Top 10 for Gaudu plus stage wins
Steve Cummings GC bid with Rodríguez plus stage wins
Aike Visbeek Stage wins with Girmay
Rik Verbrugghe Stage wins
Matt White Top 10 with Yates plus stage wins
Steven de Jongh GC with Geoghegan Hart and stages with Pedersen
Kurt van de Wouwer Stage win and breaks
Ivan Valesco Stage wins and GC bid with Mas
Wilfried Peeters GC bid for Evenepoel
Benoît Génauzeau Get into breaks
Jóse Fernández Nothing but a win for Pog will do
Kurt-Asle Arvesen Time in breaks, challenge for stages
Merijn Zeeman Support Vingegaard’s GC bid

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