The e-MTBs are coming – take your moral standpoint now

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There are a lot of ‘next big things’ at the moment, with plus-sized wheels, longer front triangles and 12-speed cassettes being some of the biggest in every way.

As you may be aware from reading other columns I've written, some see this as a good thing: it’s progress. Others view it as a bad thing: it’s a conspiracy to force new stuff on us and spoil what we’ve already got.

• How complaining about new standards says more about you than the industry
• GoPros are amazing and I hate them
• It’s not not about the bike

Yet if anything, e-bikes are even more contentious – more so, even, than wheel sizes. My time editing magazines taught me just what a hot-button topic they are.

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E-bikes have mostly been aimed at city commuters, who just want to get to work without pumping sweatstains into their suits

In fact, the only thing that ever prompted an angrier response than e-bike reviews was the time I accidentally insulted hipsters on fixies. And when I say ‘insulted’, I asked if a hipster doing a trick was cool or not. Threats of legal action followed.

The bike industry, which as we all know operates from an evil moon crater and has regular meetings next to an evil suggestion box, is very keen for e-bikes to take off. And actually, they’re already doing very well. Even by 2013, e-bike sales were above 600,000 units a year in Germany and Holland, which meant that over 50% of total adult bikes sales were battery-operated. That’s a pretty big market.

The hard sell

Inclusivity for the unfit, impaired or severely unaerodynamic is hard to argue against – and certainly e-bikes make getting up into the hills easier

A moral minefield

E-bikes are not motorcycles – they have no throttle, provide no power unless you do, and are limited to 15.5mph

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

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Appendectomy forces de la Cruz out of Criterium du Dauphine

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David de la Cruz has been pulled from Etixx-Quick Step's Criterium du Dauphine squad having undergone an appendectomy in Girona's Hospital de Palamos. The 27-year-old started the Giro d'Italia last month with the team but was a non-starter on stage 16 while sitting in 36th place on the general classification.

De la Cruz described his disappointment with having to miss the important pre-Tour de France race considering his current form.

"I'm upset, because the condition was there, despite having to abandon the Giro d'Italia, and I was eager to race Dauphiné, especially as last year I came 13th in the GC," de la Cruz said. "But things are as they are, so I will now take a rest."

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The former Caja Rural and NetApp-Endura rider will have three weeks off the bike to recover before resuming his training. As a consequence, de la Cruz's racing programme for the second half of the season will be adjusted accordingly with a third Vuelta a Espana appearance in August a possibility.

"Once I'll return to training I will talk to the team about my program and goals for the remaining of the season, because now I'm even more motivated to show what I can do," added de la Cruz who is out of contract at the end of the 2016 season.

Etixx-Quick-Step are yet to name its Criterium du Dauphine squad for the race, starting Sunday.

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Simon Yates in limbo while UCI consider Terbutaline case

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Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) may be on the start list for the Criterium du Dauphine, but the British rider's participation is actually on hold and reliant on the UCI resolving his status after a positive test for Terbutaline. The eight-day stage race starts in Les Gets on Sunday with a 3.9 kilometre time trial. Yates had hoped to use the race as part of his preparation for the Tour de France.

Yates tested positive for Terbutaline on the final stage of Paris-Nice in March with the team doctor failing to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). The team are not disputing how the substance – used to treat the British rider's asthma - entered his system, more that the positive test was the result of a clerical error.

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News of the positive test was leaked in April, and Yates, although not banned, has not raced since. The team are unwilling to comment, but with the rider on the start list for the Dauphine, which starts this coming Sunday, they are at least hopeful of clearing him in time for the race. Yates won the best young rider classification at the 2015 Dauphine, finishing in fifth place overall.

If the UCI has not ruled on a decision before Saturday then Yates may be moved to Orica-GreenEdge's Tour de Suisse roster.

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Netherlands names four to men's Olympic road team

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The Dutch cycling federation today announced the four riders who will represent the Netherlands in the road race and time trial at the upcoming Rio Olympics.

Tom Dumoulin, Steven Kruijswijk, Bauke Mollema and Wout Poels will compete in the road race, with Poels and Dumoulin also named for the time trial. 

Dutch coach Johan Lammerts said the riders were selected for their performances on courses similar to what they will face in the Olympics.

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Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin), of course, is one of the favourites for the time trial, having most recently won the opening time trial at the Giro d'Italia earlier this month before falling ill and abandoning the race. Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) climbed his way into the Giro's maglia rosa on stage 13 but then lost the lead when he crashed on a descent during stage 19. He eventually finished fourth overall.

Poels (Team Sky) has four wins so far this season, including two stages and the overall at Volta a Valencia, a stage at Volta Catalunya and his first Monument victory at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) was third overall at Ruta del Sol, ninth overall at Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour de Romandie, and ninth at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Olympische selectie mannen wegwedstrijd bekend! Lees meer op: https://t.co/XT4kVwZegt https://t.co/KxEcKm2vmf http://pic.twitter.com/0xZ7hEZ5lV

— KNWU (@KNWU) May 31, 2016

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​DEVO: McNulty wins Tour du Pays de Vaud stage

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Brandon McNulty(Phoenix, Ariz./LUX Cycling-Strading p/b Specialized) won a stage en route to a top-10 finish at the May 26-29 Tour du Pays de Vaud in Switzerland.

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Guarnier, Stevens to lead Boels-Dolmans in Armitstead's absence at Philly Cycling Classic

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World champion Lizzie Armitstead will not be on the start line alongside her Boels-Dolmans team to defend her title at the upcoming Philadelphia International Cycling Classic on June 5. Despite her absence, the team has two potential winners in their line-up with US road champion Megan Guarnier and two-time winner Evenlyn Stevens.

The event marks the ninth round of the Women's WorldTour, of which Armitstaed has won three previous rounds; Strade Bianche, Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Cittiglio, and the Tour of Flanders.

Although she won the race last year, the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic was not on her schedule this year as she remains focused on her goals of winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio in August.

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Boels-Dolmans will have two capable riders in the mix with Guarnier and Stevens. Also on the provisional start list are Karol-Ann Canuel, Katarzyna Pawlowska, Romy Kasper and Chantal Blaak, who won two rounds of the Women's WorldTour this spring.

Guarnier is fresh off a WorldTour win also, having won the overall title at the Women's Tour of California, where she took the lead of the new series. She leads with 504 points ahead of Wiggle High5's Emma Johansson with 398 points and Armitstead with 368. She also won her third national road title in Winston-Salem on Saturday.

"Race organisers moved the Philly finish line to Manayunk three years ago, and since then, only my teammates have won the race," Guarnier told Cyclingnews.

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Giro d'Italia: Race review - Cyclingnews Podcast

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In this week's episode, the Cyclingnews team takes a look back at the first Grand Tour of the year the Giro d'Italia, which saw Vincenzo Nibali claim his fourth Grand Tour title, with Esteban Chaves and Alejandro Valverde rounding out the podium.

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We also hear from Chaves and the winner of the young rider's classification, Bob Jungels.

Subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast.

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Sutton was the victim of a 'lynch mob', says Boardman

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Chris Boardman has described Shane Sutton as the victim of a ‘lynch mob’ after the British Cycling technical director was forced to resign amid allegations of sexism and improper conduct.

Sprinter Jess Varnish spoke out against the Australian after being dropped from the Olympic programme last month, alleging that Sutton had told her to ‘go and have a baby’. A string of further accusations of discriminatory behaviour then followed, including claims that Paralympic athletes were referred to as ‘gimps’ and ‘wobblies’.

Sutton was initially suspended on a provisional basis by British Cycling but then resigned definitively.

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“It was a bit of a lynch mob,” said Boardman, a former Olympic gold medalist on the track, in an interview with British newspaper The Times.

“Sexism, bullying, selection… it was throwing mud at British Cycling and seeing what sticks. And one individual held responsible for everything.

“Where we got on or not – and we didn’t always get on – I thought it was a horrible trial by press for a week with just one side of the story. Shane’s behaviour was always passionate and right on the edge, Australian. It’s a really sad way to end a career of 20 years.”

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Olympic velodrome builder bankrupt, construction handed over to new contractor

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The company charged with building the as yet incomplete Olympic Games velodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Tecnosolo, has filed for bankruptcy protection, leading the city's government to cancel the company's contract. Another company that has been acting as a sub-contractor, Engetécnica, is taking over the project to complete it, according to Reuters.

The city insists that the switch will not impact completion of the venue before it is due to be handed over to the Olympic organisers in June, but the delays have become a source of worry for UCI president Brian Cookson, who spoke last week about the issues to the Associated Press.

"The test event was due for the end of March and was cancelled, and we had previous plans before that put back as well," Cookson said. "We talked about a training weekend at the end of June but now we understand there are problems with that as well. All of these things are very, very worrying."

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The velodrome is the most delayed of any venue, although the city government insists it is 88 per cent complete.

There are six days of track racing scheduled from August 11 to August 16.

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Sergio Henao, Brailsford 'pleased but not surprised' by UCI's biological passport decision

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Following the UCI‘s decision to not proceed any further with their review of Sergio Henao’s biological passport data, Team Sky’s Principal Dave Brailsford released a statement on their Facebook page saying he was not surprised by the outcome.

"We are pleased but not surprised by this outcome. We have always believed in Sergio and he has always had our full support.”

Henao received a notification from the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF) in April that they were reviewing a “potential anti-doping rule violation”. He was given 20 days to provide an explanation regarding variations on his biological passport during the period of August 2011 to June 2015.

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He was temporarily suspended from racing by Team Sky while the review took place, but is now free to race in the coming weeks.

"This decision obviously means he can now get back to racing and I am sure he will be ready to make a big contribution to the team during the rest of the season.”

Henao’s racing schedule has not been confirmed but the Colombian said he was pleased the review was compete and looking forward to his return to racing.

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SRAM Red eTap HydroHC wireless/hydraulic group announced

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This article first appeared on BikeRadar.

Seven months after BikeRadar spotted hydraulic prototypes of SRAM’s wireless electronic group, SRAM today announced that its forthcoming Red eTap HydroHC group will be available this October.

The HydroHC is the evolution of SRAM’s HydroR (for hydraulic road). New to this group is the addition of contact point adjustment — the absence of which was a complaint of BikeRadar’s for existing hydraulic road brakes from both SRAM and Shimano. This allows users to set where in the lever stroke the pistons contact the rotors, similar to how riders with rim brakes can set the contact point with a barrel adjuster.

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The HydroHC brakes also have reach adjust, as current HydroR mechanical-shift levers do.

SRAM Red eTap HydroHC will be available in both post and flat mount caliper options, and will work with existing SRAM Red eTap 11-speed components.

SRAM said that the hoods are smaller in diameter than previous HydroR models.

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Kristin Armstrong still optimistic about Olympic selection

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When Kristin Armstrong finished third in the USA Cycling Professional Road National Championships time trial on Friday, it looked as if it could be a big blow for her bid to be selected for the US team for the Olympic Games in Rio, but the two-time gold medallist in the discipline is still optimistic about her chances for selection.

Carmen Small (Cervelo-Bigla) won the title, with Amber Neben second at 23 seconds - Armstrong was a distant 1:08, an uncharacteristically poor showing for the defending US champion.

Armstrong chalked her performance up to the heat and humidity and the fact she just came off four days of intense racing at the Tour of California, which Small had not raced. Neben competed in the WorldTour stage race, but wasn't battling for the overall classification.

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"I'm glad I still ended up on the podium. It wasn't what I wanted, but Carmen had a good ride and so did Amber," Armstrong said.

"It's pretty simple. I'm not from humid conditions, and after about 20 minutes I began overheating. If you saw my power file it just plummeted. I had difficult times in humidity before, but I felt like Chattanooga last year I had an early start, so I don't feel like I dealt with that then. The last time I dealt with this is Augusta in 2011."

In Augusta, Armstrong was again third by more than a minute from Evelyn Stevens and Neben.

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5 best stages of the Giro d'Italia 2016 - Video

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The dust has settled on the Giro d’Italia after a dramatic weekend in the mountains saw Vincenzo Nibali crowned victor for the second time in his career. Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) dropped out of pink on the final mountain stage but still secured his first Grand Tour podium – probably the first of many – while Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) completed a Grand Tour podium hat-trick with his third place.

As it often is, the Giro was full of breathtaking and jaw-dropping moments and Cyclingnews has put together a list of the five best stages of this year’s race. Has your favourite stage been missed off this list? Let us know your best moments of the 2016 Giro in the comments section below.

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Stage 4: Catanzaro - Praia a Mare, 200km

The first stage back on Italian soil, Lampre-Merida put on a lesson in team tactics with their perfectly-delivered performance to set-up Diego Ulissi for the stage win. His teammate Valerio Conti primed the stage, riding away with Ulissi and 13 others on the final climb. Conti’s performance on the ascent was enough to keep the pack at bay and allowed Ulissi the room to attack. It was a close call in the end with only five seconds between the winner and second place.

The battle lines were drawn early in the fight for the pink jersey during this stage. After losing his maglia rosa to Marcel Kittel the day before, Tom Dumoulin stamped his authority in the overall classification with an aggressive ride to take second place. Dumoulin would eventually leave the race with saddle sores but his efforts would give him another four days in pink.

Click here to read the stage 4 report.

Stage 8: Foligno – Arezzo, 186km

Stage 14: Alpago – Corvara, 210km

Stage 19: Pinerolo – Risoul, 162km

Stage 20: Guillestre - Sant’Anna di Vinadio, 134km

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Sergio Henao cleared by UCI over biological passport case

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The UCI has decided not to proceed any further with their review of Sergio Henao’s biological passport data. Henao was suspended from racing by Team Sky while the review was taking place but will now be free to race in the coming weeks.

“On 20 April 2016, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) Operating Guidelines, the independent experts of the Athlete Passport Management Unit* (APMU) in Lausanne, Switzerland, requested further information from Sergio Henao about his ABP values," a statement from the UCI read.

"As per the applicable ABP regulations, the rider’s explanations were sent to the same experts for review. After examination, the independent experts came to the conclusion that there was no basis to proceed further."

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The UCI’s anti-doping body, the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF) notified Henao last month that they would be looking into a “potential anti-doping rule violation”. The Colombian was given 20 days to respond to the letter and provide more information and an explanation regarding variations on his biological passport during the period of August 2011 to June 2015. He was subsequently suspended from racing by Team Sky, which meant he missed the Giro d’Italia.

Read more on this

• Sergio Henao taken off Sky roster due to test anomalies
• Sergio Henao crashes during Tour de Suisse recon
• UCI opens biological passport case against Sergio Henao
• Sergio Henao's independent blood profile review remains unpublished
• Team Sky aiding Sergio Henao as Biological Passport date is reached
• Henao opens up about his biological passport ordeal

It was the second time that Henao had been internally suspended, after Team Sky first pulled him out of racing in 2014 due to their own questions regarding his biological passport. Henao later travelled to his native Colombia to undergo tests at altitude, as Sky looked into the physiological effects of living at altitude. Following the tests, Sky cleared him to race at the Tour de Suisse later that season. While out completing a recon of the stage 7 time trial, Henao was involved in a crash in which he fractured his patella, which forced him out of the remainder of the 2014 season.

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Over 100 riders on the market as Sagan, Contador and manufacturers dictate

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If you have noticed a surge in transfer stories over recent weeks it's because the market is well and truly in full swing. With the Spring Classics over and the Giro d’Italia acting as another key marker, teams have two major reference points from which they can ascertain the riders they want to sign, keep, or let go.

Of course, as stipulated in the UCI’s big book, riders ‘shall not sign for new teams before August 1’, but the reality is that deals – in principle and in writing – are already being drawn up.

And it’s a rather conservative estimate to suggest that there are over 100 riders on the market when you consider that IAM Cycling (28 riders) will fold and Tinkoff (27) may follow, that WorldTour teams drafted in 37 neo-pros this year, and that the general nature of the transfer system means that a number of contracts typically expire.

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However, there isn’t one single driving force in the current market. Instead there are a number of overlapping influences; Peter Sagan’s future; the Bahrain project; IAM Cycling’s demise; Tinkoff’s uncertainty; a lack of clarity from the UCI over their 2017 reforms; and increased influence from major bike manufacturers. It all lends itself to creating one of the most complex and tense transfer markets in recent history.

Where will Sagan ride
?

Take the world champion as an example – a personification of the current market in many ways. In one corner we have Oleg Tinkov waving a contract tying him to Sagan for 2017. It’s not worth the paper it's written on if the Russian hasn’t a squad for the coming year and, as he doesn’t, Sagan is able to explore his options.

Specialized, who are understandably keen on protecting their stake in Sagan, are actively trying to find a team for the world champion. Hence why links with Astana and Etixx – both on Specialized bikes – have grown. If that sounds complicated enough then throw in the fact that Sagan would want to bring with him his brother, another rider, and two staff members that have been with him since his Cannondale days, and you being to understand the stakes. It all adds up to around 5 million Euros a year, reportedly. There have been reports that Tinkov and Sagan have a gentleman's agreement to dissolve the contract but they are not yet confirmed.

Contador a key

Trek-Segafredo

Manufactures on the move

So far…

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Pinot set to sign new two-year deal with FDJ

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Thibaut Pinot is set to commit his future to FDJ, the team he has called home since turning pro in 2010, for another two years.

According to French newspaper L’Equipe, the Frenchman will sign a new deal that will take him through to the end of 2018. He is expected to put pen to paper before the start of the Tour de France on July 2.

Pinot had said at the start of the year that, with his contract expiring at the end of 2016, he would listen to offers from other teams but would likely continue with FDJ. "I see myself continuing with them, but I’m not going to close other doors."

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Soon after, FDJ, the national lottery company in France that has sponsored the team since 1997, announced it would extend its backing through to 2018, which has smoothed Pinot's decision to stay.

The main details of the contract that remain to be ironed out revolve around Pinot’s salary. L’Equipe say the 26-year-old earns in the region of €900,000 on his current deal, which is some way below the €5million earned by the highest-paid Grand Tour riders Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff).

Given the team is backed by a state-owned company, securing the continued services of Pinot, the nation's leading stage race hope, represents an important piece of business. The French public have waited 31 years, and counting, since a home rider last won the Tour de France - Bernard Hinault in 1985.

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Trek-Segafredo interested in signing Contador - News Shorts

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Trek-Segafredo interested in Contador

Trek-Segafredo is looking to sign Alberto Contador, according to Spanish website Biciciclismo. The team is looking to secure his services as a general classification contender but Trek is also keen to have him as a brand ambassador, with Fabian Cancellara set to retire at the end of the season.

Contador had mulled over the idea of retirement this year but has said that he could race for as many as two more seasons. With Oleg Tinkov pulling his funding after this year, Contador must look elsewhere for a ride in 2017. He has speculated that he may create his own team to do this but the multiple Grand Tour winner has also courted the interest of several WorldTour teams.

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Lampre-Merida has already indicated their desire to have the Spaniard on-board and Trek-Segafredo had already been named as a potential destination for Contador. The American-registered team has been on the hunt for a new star rider for next season. They had been in talks with Vincenzo Nibali but those fell apart over the spring, with the newly crowned Giro d’Italia champion looking certain to go to the new Bahrain Cycling Team.

Dideriksen extends with Boels-Dolmans

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Peraud unsure over Tour de France participation

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Jean-Christophe Peraud makes his return to racing early-next month at the GP du canton d'Argovie with the AG2R-La Mondiale rider recovered from the head and facial injuries that saw him abandon the Giro d'Italia on stage 3. The 39-year-old will then line up at the Tour de Suisse with AG2R-La Mondiale to make a decision on his participation in the Tour de France.

"I spent hard times after the crash. I am now ready and happy to compete again," Peraud said in a release from his team. "I totally recovered. I start training on May 18th and now I need to ride and ride.

"Tour de Suisse is a tough race that will enable to evaluate my form and decide on my programme."

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Peraud had started the Giro d'Italia with the aim of finishing in the top-five overall before his crash ended his aspirations. The 2014 Tour de France runner-up is now considering his other grand tour options for 2016 with a return to the Vuelta a Espana, for the first time since finishing 39th in 2010, looking more likely than a sixth Tour.

"At the moment, Vuelta a Espana is the most likely possibility. Tour de France will depend on how I feel," said Peraud who would be riding in support of Romain Bardet in France.

Team manager Vincent Lavenu expanded upon Peraud's comments regarding the Tour, adding the Tour de Suisse will decide whether he would start or not.

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The Indy Criterium and how it became a cause for kids

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Jennifer Cvar wasnandrsquo;t thinking about changing the lives of hundreds of local kids when she decided to put on a bike race in 2010. She just wanted to give Indianapolis an event the likes of which sheandrsquo;d experienced while racing criteriums in Chicago and St. Louis, an urban race folded into a festival with something for everyone.

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SRAM Red eTap HydroHC wireless/hydraulic group announced

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Seven months after BikeRadar spotted hydraulic prototypes of SRAM’s wireless electronic group, SRAM today announced that its forthcoming Red eTap HydroHC group will be available this October.

• 9 things you should know about SRAM Red eTap
• SRAM Red eTap review
• Red eTap actual weights and installation

The HydroHC is the evolution of SRAM’s HydroR (for hydraulic road). New to this group is the addition of contact point adjustment — the absence of which was a complaint of BikeRadar’s for existing hydraulic road brakes from both SRAM and Shimano. This allows users to set where in the lever stroke the pistons contact the rotors, similar to how riders with rim brakes can set the contact point with a barrel adjuster.

The HydroHC brakes also have reach adjust, as current HydroR mechanical-shift levers do.

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Hydraulic braking meets wireless shifting in the forthcoming Red eTap HydroHC group

SRAM Red eTap HydroHC will be available in both post and flat mount caliper options, and will work with existing SRAM Red eTap 11-speed components.

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

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If this urban bike gets stolen, its makers will hunt it down for you

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Bike thieves are terrible people – fact. Their lives could soon become a lot harder though thanks to a new urban bike from Dutch brand VanMoof, which comes with anti-theft parts and tracking technology that apparently makes it "terrifying" to bike thieves.

We suspect that may be a slight exaggeration, but there is one more intriguing promise for the SmartBike. If it’s stolen, VanMoof's Rescue Team promises to hunt it down and return it within two weeks. It’s called their Peace of Mind Service, and every SmartBike gets this for free for the first two years.

• Best hybrid bikes: a buyer's guide to find what you need
• The best bike locks and chains
• Bike safety and security: beat the bicycle thieves

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Be afraid, bike thieves. Be very afraid

Integrated technology

The dedicated smartphone app enables keyless unlock and more

VanMoof SmartBike: price and versions

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Garmin Edge 20 bike computer review

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If you liked the no-frills approach of Garmin's Edge 25, you'll be in for a treat with the Edge 20. It strips almost everything down to the bare minimum you need – great if if you're a tad technophobic, are obsessed with weight or simply don't care about having a plethora of metrics available at a moment's glance.

With that in mind, let's start by mentioning what the Edge 20 doesn't do. As with the Edge 25 there is no power data, but going a step further there's also no cadence, heart rate or live tracking – simply put, there is no ANT+ or Bluetooth for external sensors. Though with a device as basic as this it's strange to see segments supported, giving you feedback for segment start and end points.

As the lightest unit in the Edge range, the 20 weighed in at a feathery 24g on our scales (without mount). The dimensions and resolution are identical to the Edge 25. The mounting system, with its quarter-turn lock, remains familiar for anyone already invested in the Garmin ecosystem.

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Garmin's proprietary cable clips over the ever-familiar quarter turn mount

What won't be so familiar is the new proprietary cable for the Edge 20 and the Edge 25. The cable connection snaps in firmly and holds securely, but my preference would see the use of a micro USB connection similar to the Edge 520 and 1000. Presumably this is omitted due to the size of the device, but with many other gadgets also charged via micro USB, it's just another cable waiting to be forgotten the next time I go away.

The auto pause kicked in a little too often during cyclocross training rides in dense woodland

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Steve Peat is going out with a bang, and MBUK salutes him

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As icons of mountain biking go they don’t come any bigger than Steve Peat. With a downhill racing career that's spanned more than 20 years, it's no wonder it almost feels like we’ve been following Peaty for as long as mountain bikes have been around. But this year is different, because 2016 will be Peaty's last as a World Cup racer.

This is why MBUK has chosen to celebrate the man and his achievements in the new-look issue, which goes on sale 31 May. MBUK paid Steve a visit on his home turf in Sheffield for a ride and a chat about the glory days over a pint or two. Steve made it clear he plans to keep the fun times coming and go out with a bang.

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MBUK tips its hat to mountain biking legend Steve Peat in its new-look issue

The issue is out just before Steve’s final World Cup appearance at Fort William on 4-5 June, where the mountain biking legend is sure to enjoy even greater support than ever. It’s rumoured that this could be his final race of the season too – it’d be one hell of a place to bow out!

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