Foldable Bikes Party: December 2018

Monday 31 December 2018

2018 cycling season in numbers

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The 2019 season is about to begin, but before the racing begins, Cyclingnews looks back at the key moments of the 2018 season and the numbers that defined it.

2018 was a year that Peter Sagan won his first Paris-Roubaix, British riders won all three Grand Tours with Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates, while Alejandro Valverde and Anna van der Breggen took their first road race world titles. Almost everything Annemiek van Vleuten touched turned to gold, while Boels Dolmans ruled the roost for the women's teams.

76 – The number of victories claimed by Quick-Step Floors, making them the most successful team in the men's peloton. The Belgian team opened their account early in January when Elia Viviani won stage 3 of the Tour Down Under. After that, Quick-Step Floors won every month until October with Fabio Jacobsen earning them two wins at the Tour of Guangxi to close out a hugely successful year.

18 – Viviani was the highest contributor to Quick-Step Floors' large victory tally, with 18 wins. After a successful debut with his new team Down Under, Viviani racked up wins at the Giro d'Italia, the Italian national championships and the Vuelta a Espana among others. With Fernando Gaviria set to ride with UAE Team Emirates next season, the pressure will be on Viviani to deliver yet again for Quick-Step in 2019.

Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)

13 – The number of wins taken by a dominant Annemiek van Vleuten. The Dutch rider was in the form of her life in 2018 and won her first Giro Rosa title in fine fashion ahead of South Africa's Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio. Van Vleuten won the women's WorldTour ranking and defended her world time trial title.

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/2018-cycling-season-in-numbers

Sunday 30 December 2018

Sporting highlights for 2019 - another bumper year to look forward to

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The new year is almost upon us, but who will have a stellar 2019? BBC Sport experts give us their views.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/46608285

Saturday 29 December 2018

Dani Rowe: Retiring wasn’t an easy decision but it was the right one

http://bit.ly/2EYAyat

Dani Rowe believes that she has made the right decision to call time on her career at the age of just 28. She had enjoyed arguably her best season to date on the road in 2018, riding for the Waowdeals team - with bronze at the Commonwealth Games and podium places at the Tour de Yorkshire and Women’s Tour - but announced in December that she would retire with immediate effect.

Retirement had not been in her plans at the beginning of the year but took stock after her final race of the season, the World Championships road race. She decided that it was time to hang up her wheels and go out on her own terms.

“It’s not been an easy decision, but I know in my heart it’s the right one. I’m really excited about the next chapter,” Rowe told Cyclingnews. “I feel privileged that I can go out on a high, on my own terms having achieved everything I ever dreamed of achieving on the bike.

“The Commonwealth Games was the last medal that I was really determined to achieve. It was the last medal in a major competition that I had left to get my hands on. I felt like the rest of the season was a bonus, although I think that I exceeded all expectations on the road. I hadn’t really thought about retiring from the sport until after the Worlds.

“I still love it as opposed to thinking ‘I never want to see a bike again, I’m sick of the sight of it.’”

Danielle Rowe (Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team)

A ten-year career

The road ahead

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/dani-rowe-retiring-wasnt-an-easy-decision-but-it-was-the-right-one

Transfer Mechanics: Analysing teams - Part 3

http://bit.ly/2Al84UV

The 2019 racing season is almost here, and Cyclingnews continues its look at the ins and outs of the 2018-2019 transfer window, analysing how teams have equipped themselves for the forthcoming season.

In this instalment we look at LottoNL-Jumbo, Lotto-Soudal, Mitchelton Scott and Team Movistar.

You can also read Part 1 and Part 2.

LottoNL-Jumbo

Overview: A bolstered one-day squad to accompany stage race talent.

In: Jonas Vingegaard Rasmussen (neo-pro), Lennard Hofstede (Team Sunweb), Mike Teunissen (Team Sunweb), Laurens De Plus (Quick-Step Floors), Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin), Taco van der Hoorn (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij), and Wout van Aert (Verandas Willems).

Out: Gijs van Hoeck (CCC Team), Enrico Battaglin (Katusha-Alpecin), Lars Boom (Roompot), Bram Tankink (retired), Stef Clement (retired), and Robert Wagner (Arkea Samsic).

Extended: Robert Gesink, George Bennett, Antwan Tolhoek, Floris De Tier, Amund Grondahl Jansen, Steven Kruijswijk, Maarten Wynants, Bertjan Lindeman, Daan Olivier, Jos van Emden.

Lotto Soudal

Mitchelton-Scott

Movistar

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/transfer-mechanics-analysing-teams-part-3

Friday 28 December 2018

Cyclingnews' complete guide to 2018-2019 women's team camps

http://bit.ly/2ESrBjx

The 2019 season is just around the corner and the teams that will be competing on the prestigious UCI Women's WorldTour are starting to gather together for pre-season training camps.

Cyclingnews will keep you up to date on the teams' camp dates and locations, along with news, features, rider interviews and the latest equipment, kit and gear that each team will be showcasing at the start of the season.

Trek-Segafredo Women

The peloton will see a brand new team on the Women's WorldTour circuit as Trek-Segafredo launched their first UCI Women's Team ahead of 2019.

The team has signed a star-studded roster for its inaugural season: Lizzie Deignan, Anna Plichta, Ellen van Dijk, Ruth Winder, Lotta Lepistö, Elisa Longo Borghini, Audrey Cordon-Ragot, Letizia Paternoster, Tayler Wiles, Abigail Van Twisk, Trixi Worrack, Lauretta Hanson and mountain bike specialist Jolanda Neff. Ina Teutenberg and Giorgia Bronzini will direct the team.

The team was the first to kick off the team training camps, assembling their riders for a meet-and-greet training camp in Sicily, Italy, from December 10-20.

The activities included photo and video shoots, a media day and social media training during the first few days, and then it was all about training after that.

Boels Dolmans

CCC-Liv

Canyon-SRAM

Movistar Women

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/cyclingnews-complete-guide-to-2018-2019-womens-team-camps

Transfer mechanics: Analysing teams - Part 2

http://bit.ly/2ESrBjx

As the new season quickly approaches, Cyclingnews is taking a look at the ins and outs of the 2018-2019 transfer window and analysing how the different teams have equipped themselves for the forthcoming season.

In the first instalment, we looked at AG2R La Mondiale, Astana, Bahrain-Merida, CCC Team and Bora-Hansgrohe. In the second, we examine the prospects of Dimension Data, EF Education First, Groupama-FDJ and Katusha-Alpecin.

Team: Dimension Data

Overview: Micheal Valgren and Roman Kreuziger add dynamism and steel. Giacomo Nizzolo and Enrico Gasparotto form a reliable second line but can Mark Cavendish return to anywhere near his best?

In: Danilo Wyss (BMC Racing), Michael Valgren (Astana), Roman Kreuziger (Mitchelton-Scott), Stefan De Bod (neo-pro), Rasmus Tilller (Team Joker), Lars Ytting Bak (Lotto Soudal), Enrico Gasparotto (Bahrain-Merida), Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) and Gino Mader (neo-pro).

Out: Serge Pauwels (CCC Team), Merhawi Kudus (Astana), Natnael Berhane (Cofidis) Igor Anton (retired), Lachlan Morton (EF Education First), Scott Thwaites, Mekseb Debesay, Johann Van Zyl, and Nic Dougal.

Extended: Ben O'Connor, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Ben King, Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, Mark Renshaw and Mark Cavendish.

Team: EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale

Team: Groupama-FDJ

Team: Katusha-Alpecin

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/transfer-mechanics-analysing-teams-part-2

Thursday 27 December 2018

Transfer mechanics: Analysing teams - Part 1

http://bit.ly/2EPWUuv

With training camps for the upcoming WorldTour season well underway and 2019 team presentations taking place almost daily, Cyclingnews takes a look at the 2018-19 transfer market with the ins, outs and analysis of who's gone where and which teams have dealt themselves a stronger or weaker hand coming into the new year.

In this first instalment, we take a look at the French AG2R La Mondiale team, the Astana Pro Team, a bolstered Bahrain-Merida, the new CCC Team that rose out of merger between BMC Racing and the Polish CCC Pro Continental team, and the Bora-Hansgrohe squad of three-time world champion Peter Sagan.

AG2R La Mondiale

Overview: Subtle tweaks rather than overall changes.

In: Larry Warbasse (Aqua Blue Sport), Geoffrey Bouchard (neo-pro), Aurelien Paret-Peintre (neo-pro), Jaakko Hänninen (neo-pro) and Dorian Godon (Cofidis).

Out: Cyril Gautier (Vital Concept), Rudy Barbier (Israel Cycling Academy), Jan Bakelants (Team Sunweb) and Matteo Montaguti (Androni).

Extended: Benoit Cosnefroy, Alexandre Geniez, Clement Chevrier, Quentin Jauregui, Nans Peters, Samuel Dumoulin, Hubert Dupont, Alexis Gougeard, Gediminas Bagdonas, Stijn Vandenbergh, and Mathias Frank.

Astana Pro Team

Bahrain-Merida

BMC Racing / CCC Team [becomes CCC Team in 2019]

Bora-Hansgrohe

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/transfer-mechanics-analysing-teams-part-1

Sunday 23 December 2018

Specialized founder Mike Sinyard on the power of the bicycle

http://bit.ly/2GA2pjG

This article first appeared on BikeRadar.

Specialized Bicycles currently provides two WorldTour teams with race bikes – while riders have won almost every notable race on Specialized bikes in the past. The American brand had yet another world championships win through Kate Courtney at this year's UCI cross country women's elite event and provides quality bikes for everyone, from toddlers' balance bikes to three-time road world champion Peter Sagan.

Now, through The Specialized Foundation, Riding For Focus is a program revolutionising the way schools and doctors deal with education through riding bikes.

The company was founded by a Californian named Mike Sinyard back in the 1970s and he is still at the helm as CEO of one of the biggest bicycle companies in the world.

What isn't as well known is that Sinyard had ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) throughout school, eventually failing high school before self-funding his way through San Jose State University by building up and repairing bikes he found at flea markets and selling them on.

"Riding is my Ritalin"

Sinyard's legacy in cycling

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/specialized-founder-mike-sinyard-on-the-power-of-the-bicycle

Saturday 22 December 2018

Christmas will be spent 'riding bikes' - Archibald

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BBC Sport Scotland has been finding out how athletes are spending Christmas. In this instalment Katie Archibald says she'll swap the snow for warm-weather training.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/scotland/46659973

Thursday 20 December 2018

The latest tech from US cyclo-cross nationals - Gallery

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The USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championships last week in Louisville, Kentucky, provided a perfect testing ground for the latest tech in the off-road winter discipline. The grassy mud churned up on the rain-soaked course at Joe Creason Park after a full week of non-championship and age-graded racing put a stress test on the riders, their machines and the team mechanics.

Photographer Ethan Glading was on hand in Louisville for Cyclingnews to catch some of the newest - and not-so-new - gear being employed to help conquer the muck during Sunday's championships events, where Katie Compton won an astonishing 15th consecutive title, and Stephen Hyde captured his third in a row.

Among the younger competitors, Spencer Petrov took the men's U23 race, and Clara Honsinger claimed the women's U23 event, which featured riders aged 17-22.

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/the-latest-tech-from-us-cyclo-cross-nationals-gallery

Tuesday 18 December 2018

Ewan's 2019 Ridley Noah Fast - Gallery

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Lotto Soudal met up for a pre-season training camp on the island of Mallorca, Spain, last week as the Andre Greipel era draws to a close and the Caleb Ewan one begins.

Signing a contract with the Belgian WorldTour team earlier in the year, Ewan switches from racing on a Shimano-equipped Scott Foil to a Campagnolo-equipped Ridley Noah Fast.

Belgian bike manufacturer Ridley updated the aero frameset last summer, and Ewan, who has his own distinctive aerodynamic sprinting style, will race the majority of his season on the wind-cheating model.

Also launched earlier this year was Campagnolo's new 12-speed groupset. The Lotto Soudal team look set to use the new electronic drivetrain for the upcoming season alongside Campagnolo Bora Ultra carbon wheels.

The Italian theme continues on the team bikes with finishing kit from Deda, saddles from Selle Italia and tyres from Vittoria.

Unlike last year's darker grey models, the new Ridley frameset matches Lotto Soudal's 2019 jerseys that feature a bold white and red alongside a gloss black finish.

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/ewans-2019-ridley-noah-fast-gallery

Sports Personality winner Thomas straight back on bike - plus a tale of Billy & Billie

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BBC Sport's Frank Keogh recaps Sports Personality of the Year 2018, a night showcasing sacrifice, dedication, humility and winning against the odds.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/46598270

Transgender women in sport: Are they really a 'threat' to female sport?

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Transgender women's participation in female sport has prompted criticism, but two trans athletes says there is a lot of misunderstanding.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/46453958

Monday 17 December 2018

Dennis: Sometimes I just have to take on board what other people say

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Rohan Dennis was in the yellow jersey and the big ring when Richie Porte’s tempo shifted abruptly from allegro to presto. A little over two kilometres separated him from the summit of Valmorel and the finish of stage 5 of the 2013 Critérium du Dauphiné, and it was no surprise to see the neo-professional swing off to the left-hand side of the road.

Yet even as the race’s leading players readied themselves in Porte’s slipstream – Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde were all in the Alps to run through the scales ahead of the main event in July – Dennis was of no mind to go quietly. Still grinding his big ring, he hauled himself from the saddle to clasp the wheel of the passing Bart De Clerq, the last man in the leading group.

In time, the ensemble of Tour de France contenders would hit notes that Dennis simply could not reach, but the neo-professional continued to trash a mammoth gear all the way to the line, labouring under the misapprehension that the road flattened out nearer the top.

“I put it in the big ring and thought I could suffer through a kilometre before it went flat, but it didn’t. But once you go big, if you change down a gear, you’re dead,” Dennis tells Cyclingnews, wincing at the memory. “Everybody was giving me a bit of stick, asking what the hell I was doing pushing 60rpm cadence. Well, I was a neo-pro and these guys were winning the Tour de France. I needed to do something.”

Dennis would reach the finish 59 seconds down on Froome and surrender the yellow jersey he had claimed after the previous day’s time trial, but for a 23-year-old, it was quite a calling card. His talent was raw, but his character obvious. Dennis survived three more stages to complete the race in 8th place overall, seemingly singling himself out as a future Grand Tour contender in the process.

On the back of that Dauphiné display, however, the date with destiny was brought forward, and Dennis would endure a chastening Tour debut. “That Dauphiné was a big confidence boost but I got a reality check two weeks later when I started the Tour,” Dennis says. “It was just a massive hit straightaway – ‘Good luck, Rohan. Well done. You thought you were good, this is what’s really good.’”

'Thanks for trying to screw me over because it made me better'

'I've just learned that you can't do stupid things'

No interest from Mitchelton-Scott

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/dennis-sometimes-i-just-have-to-take-on-board-what-other-people-say

Transfer Mechanics: Larry Warbasse to AG2R La Mondiale

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Larry Warbasse turns up to our interview with a black eye and four stitches in his lip. It's the second day of AG2R La Mondiale's first pre-season get-together in the French Alps, and the American is still feeling the effects of a cross-country skiing crash the previous day.

"It was pretty funny," he admits. "Although it's not so funny now that I'm going to look like this in the team photos. Ah, man."

The incident has become a topic of much amusement amongst his new companions, and evidently something of an ice-breaker for the American in this mostly French environment.

"I think it was the ice that broke me," he quips.

Warbasse is in high spirits and has every reason to be. Despite falling on his face, he has landed on his feet at AG2R, back in the WorldTour and able to look to the future with optimism. The sinking despair and acute panic that accompanied news of the collapse of his old team, Aqua Blue, seem a distant memory. Or perhaps some of the current exuberance comes from having so recently stared unemployment in the face.

It's a situation that's sadly all-too-common in professional cycling. Warbasse's story has a happy ending, but it won't be the same for everyone. One of Warbasse's Aqua Blue teammates, Calvin Watson, has already decided to call time on his pro cycling career at the age of 25, and others still haven't found a ride for 2019.

AG2R and the Bardet factor

Blessing in disguise

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/transfer-mechanics-larry-warbasse-to-ag2r-la-mondiale

Simon Yates: Briton wants to 'finish the job off' at the 2019 Giro d'Italia

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Britain's Simon Yates says he wants to "finish the job off" when he returns to the Giro d'Italia in 2019.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46590867

Sunday 16 December 2018

Caleb Ewan: New kid on the Lotto block

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After a disappointing year in the saddle, Caleb Ewan finally has what his heart and his legs desire: a new team, their complete support and, most importantly, a fresh start. At the Lotto Soudal training camp in Mallorca, Spain, the Australian sprinter sat down with Cyclingnews to give a frank and honest assessment of his 2018 campaign, and spoke about filling the shoes of Andre Griepel, and about his fractured relationship with certain members of the Mitchelton-Scott management team.

By his own admission, 2018 was not the season Caleb Ewan was hoping for. The year had started promisingly, with a stage win at the Tour Down Under in January, followed by another victory at the Clasica de Almeria in February. Everything appeared to be on track as the 24-year-old gradually moved towards his two main goals of the season in Milan-San Remo and the Tour de France.

However, by the end of June, the Australian was off the roster for the Tour and at war with his Mitchelton directors, who appeared convinced that a move to Lotto Soudal had already been sealed. As the season petered out, Ewan found himself struggling for races, dislodged from the WorldTour schedule and without even a shot at the Vuelta a España to keep him occupied. A win on the last stage of the Tour of Britain would be his final act in Mitchelton colours, and a sad end to his time on the Australian team.

"Results-wise, it was disappointing, but I feel like I stepped up a level, physically. I struggled to get a win in the second half of the season, though, and I missed the Tour as well, when I was at my peak form. I was wasted then, and from there it was a bit messed up," Ewan tells Cyclingnews.

Caleb Ewan moves to Lotto Soudal after six years with Orica and Mitchelton

"I felt like I could never find my rhythm. I'm not looking back with too much worry, because I was still getting podiums, and there were times when we just didn't catch the break. The Tour was my main focus of the season. But I didn't even get to do it, or any other Grand Tour, and I don't think I deserved that. I've won stages in the Vuelta and the Giro, so it's not like I'm not capable of doing a Grand Tour. It was a pity to see the team treat it like that in the end, but I wanted to still do well before getting the season finished. I didn't want to just throw away the rest of the season, because, in the end, it's my career. I kept training and luckily I got the win on the last stage of the Tour of Britain."

Hangin' tough

Summertime

Step-by-step

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/caleb-ewan-new-kid-on-the-lotto-block

Jeremy Powers: Fighting for the front after years of adversity

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There was a time not so long ago when Jeremy Powers' name was synonymous with winning cyclo-cross races in America. The New England native won four national championships in five years, starting with his first in 2012, and he dominated the podium's top step in the nation's top races.

Powers put his string of titles together after Jonathan Page, Tim Johnson, Ryan Trebon and Todd Wells had passed the jersey around amongst themselves for a decade from 2000 through 2010. But when it was Powers' turn to rule the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross Nationals roost from 2012 through January of 2016, he only let one title slip away to Page. Powers was having his day, and he made the most of it.

The outgoing rider who liked to DJ in his spare time started the popular 'Behind the Barriers' video blog that follows his exploits around the US circuit while highlighting some of the discipline's iconic venues and history. He founded the JAM Fund to help develop up-and-coming riders, and he created his own 'Aspire' cyclo-cross team sponsored by Rapha and Focus.

But Powers' reign as the undisputed champion of US cyclo-cross literally came crashing down during a warm-up lap at the Trek CXC Cup in September of 2016, when he fell hard on his ribs and was able to complete just one lap before abandoning the race. X-rays later showed he several broken several ribs, and the injuries set his season back substantially after he had started with two wins at Rochester.

Since that crash, untimely illness, injury and emerging new talent have limited Powers' victory tally to just one win in a UCI race over the past two seasons; he took out the victory at the NBX GP of Cross last year. Stephen Hyde, Powers' former protégé at the JAM Fund, has won the past two US titles and is now the clear favourite in any North American race he enters, while Powers has been left fighting for lesser places and hoping his health and body come around again.

"If I go back and look, it's not 12 wins in a season, but there were a lot of second and third places there that I'm happy with my ride," Powers said by phone from New Mexico, where he was spending time training ahead of today's National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky.

A season of trials

Time waits for no man

Forging ahead

Going gravel after nationals, but what about next year?

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/jeremy-powers-fighting-for-the-front-after-years-of-adversity

Sports Personality of the Year 2018: Geraint Thomas wins Sports Personality of the Year 2018

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Watch as Geraint Thomas is announced as the winner of BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2018 at the Genting Arena in Birmingham.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/sports-personality/46587164

Sports Personality of the Year winner: Geraint Thomas triumphs after Tour de France success

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Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas is voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2018.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/46566121

Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald win madison gold at Track Cycling World Cup

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Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald won gold in the women's madison at the Track Cycling World Cup.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46587604

Track Cycling World Cup: Matt Walls seals omnium gold

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Britain's Matt Walls puts in a strong ride in the points race to seal gold in the men's omnium at the Track Cycling World Cup in London.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cycling/46586816

Laura Kenny & Katie Archibald win Madison gold at Track Cycling World Cup

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British pair Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald produce a dominant performance to win gold in the women's Madison at the Track Cycling World Cup in London.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cycling/46586813

Geraint Thomas' stolen Tour de France trophy replaced

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Geraint Thomas' original Tour de France trophy is replaced following its theft two months after he won the famous cycling race.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46583609

Saturday 15 December 2018

Riders to watch at the US cyclo-cross national championships

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USA Cycling will host the second cyclo-cross national championships of 2018, after the elite, under-23 and junior categories competed for the stars-and-stripes jerseys in Reno, Nevada in January, they will line up once again to race for the championship titles this weekend in Louisville, Kentucky. Stephen Hyde will try and defend his title for a third time in a row, while Katie Compton will attempt to add an astonishing 15th consecutive national cyclo-cross title to her long list of accomplishments.

The elite men's fields in the US have been decimated with injuries and illness, with defending champion Hyde and four-time national champion Jeremy Powers suffering setbacks. Last year's fourth-place finisher Tobin Ortenblad is out with a fractured collarbone, Jamie Driscoll is out with a broken leg, and Jonathan Page has retired.

It leaves the race more open and the pre-race predictions a bit hard to call, but Cyclingnews has picked four riders to watch from the elite men's field.

Stephen Hyde (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld)

The defending US 'cross champion had a rough start to the season, crashing in the opening World Cup in Waterloo and suffering a fractured sternum. Just as he was recovering, he slipped on a run-up in Cinncinati and ended up with a concussion, sprained ankle and a dislocated rib.

But the 31-year-old seems to have put all of those injuries behind him, taking back-to-back victories at the NBX GP of Cyclo-cross in Warwick, Rhode Island, and the Joe Creason Park course is where Hyde claimed his Pan American Championship victory in 2017.

"It's a much different course (than Louisville's Eva Bandman) - there are almost no parallels drawn," Hyde told Cyclingnews. "It's very hilly - it has a lot of elevation gain and a much more slick mud texture, with mud and grass, as opposed to the silty river bottom sand like [Eva Bandman Park].

Gage Hecht (Alpha Bicycle-Groove Subaru)

Curtis White (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld)

Kerry Werner (Kona-Maxxis-Shimano)

Compton aims for 15th consecutive national title

Katie Compton (KFC Racing-Trek)

Kaitie Keough (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld)

Ellen Noble (Trek Factory Racing)

Rebecca Fahringer (Kona-Maxxis-Shimano)

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/riders-to-watch-at-the-us-cyclo-cross-national-championships

GB claim Madison silver at Track Cycling World Cup in London

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Great Britain claimed a silver medal in the men's Madison on the second day of the Track Cycling World Cup in London.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46580624

Friday 14 December 2018

Katie Compton: 40 going on 15

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Making history at the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships is something Katie Compton has been doing since 2009, the year she won her sixth-consecutive title and cemented her own reign at the top of the US scene after Alison Dunlap had won five titles in a row and six in seven years.

Compton had never been on the podium at nationals before she won her first title in Portland, Oregon, in 2004, beating Gina Hall and Ann Knapp. But since then she's put together an incredible string of titles that has seen a generation of riders pass into retirement while she takes on an ever-changing cast of contenders.

"As I think back on it," Compton said during a telephone interview from her home in Colorado Springs last week, "like the amount of years and the amount of times I've had really good days, and some days they weren't so good but I could pull it out - yeah, it's pretty great, pretty amazing.

"I just took one year at a time, and then they kind of kept on accumulating," she said. "Then it's like, 'I've got a good streak, I'm going to keep it going.' But, you know, it's got to end at some point, so I celebrate each time it happens again."

Compton, who turned 40 on December 3, hopes to celebrate her 15th consecutive title Sunday in Louisville, Kentucky, when she takes on the latest up-and-coming threats to her throne at the 2018 US nationals.

Changing challengers

Over her 14-year run, Compton has seen multiple challengers come and go. In the early years, the riders pushing Compton were Knapp, Hall, Meredith Miller, Rachel Lloyd, Mo Bruno Roy, Amy Dombroski and - especially - Georgia Gould, who finished second to Compton four times at nationals.

Challenging season so far

Once more into the breach

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/katie-compton-40-going-on-15

Sky withdrawal provides Brailsford a perfect exit from pro cycling

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The search for a new sponsor at Team Sky has been described in some quarters as Dave Brailsford's biggest challenge yet, and while that sentiment holds water, it's also based on the assumption that Brailsford has the desire to continue within cycling. Brailsford may have said as much in the immediate aftermath of Sky's announcement to withdrawal from cycling, but one could conceivably argue that the news of Sky's decision offers Brailsford the perfect exit strategy, and one that he can shape the narrative of as the season plays out.

It will come as no surprise that after a decade at the top of the WorldTour, Brailsford was already considering his options post-cycling, even before Wednesday's bombshell announcement, and the consensus within his close circle was that Sky were always considering stepping down at the end of their 2020 vision. The fact remains, however, that Brailsford is Team Sky, and vice-versa, and the bond between the two will ensure that the team can only survive if the man at the top carries on.

The recent news merely moves Brailsford's timescale forward. And after all, what's left for Brailsford to achieve in the sport considering Team Sky's domination of Grand Tours in recent years? He once had a goal of winning the Tour with a French rider but those dreams look somewhat impossible given certain factors, among them the disdain Team Sky garnered from the French public during this year's Tour. Despite the bad publicity that Team Sky, Brailsford and British Cycling have attracted, the man at the top of the pyramid is still held in high esteem by many within the sporting fraternity.

One cycling manager told Cyclingnews: "If I were Dave, I'd go now," and it wouldn't be too difficult to envisage him walking across the road from the Manchester velodrome and taking up a position at Manchester City.

Read more...

The challenges within the sponsorship market

The difficulties within the sponsorship and economic markets will be just as crucial as Brailsford's enthusiasm when it comes to Team Sky's future. With just a few months to find financial backing to the tune of around £35 million, time is a considerable factor.

The transfer market

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/sky-withdrawal-provides-brailsford-a-perfect-exit-from-pro-cycling

Great Britain's women win team pursuit gold at World Cup

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Great Britain's women win gold in the team pursuit at the World Track Cycling World Cup in London.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46574972

Will Tidball, Ethan Vernon, Matt Walls and Fred Wright win team pursuit bronze

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Will Tidball, Ethan Vernon, Matt Walls and Fred Wright win bronze by three hundredths of a second in the men's team pursuit at the World Track Cycling World Cup in London.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cycling/46575012

Laura Kenny, Katie Archibald, Neah Evans and Ellie Dickinson win gold in women's team pursuit

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Laura Kenny, Katie Archibald, Neah Evans and Ellie Dickinson win gold in the women's team pursuit at the World Track Cycling World Cup in London.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cycling/46571887

Ex-rider Varnish case about 'self interest' - British Cycling lawyer

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Ex-rider Jess Varnish is putting "self-interest" first in an employment case against British Cycling and UK Sport, a lawyer says.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46571673

Track World Cup: Kadeena Cox beats Sarah Storey to Para-cycling gold in London

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Kadeena Cox beats fellow Rio gold medallist Sarah Storey to win Para-cycling gold at the Track World Cup in London.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/46572812

Thursday 13 December 2018

Gift ideas for female road cyclists

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This article originally appeared on BikeRadar.

If you're looking for great gifts for women who love road cycling, look no further! BikeRadar has carefully collated a delightful selection of gifts – from covetable kit to quirky stocking fillers.

With lots of ideas – we've got arm warmers, wheels and wine holders – there's bound to be something among our selection that will suit your festive budget. There's even some cycling-themed jewellery in here.

Garmin Edge 520

The Garmin 520 provides plenty of meaty training and performance data to get your teeth into

If you're looking for a great gift for the cyclist who's looking to optimise their training and likes the stats to back up it up, then we rated the Garmin Edge 520 a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5 stars.

It's our pick for performance-oriented riders, with features that include Strava Live Segments, FTP testing, Di2 integration, a VO2 Max calculation and recommended recovery time.

Rapha Rainproof Essentials Case

Liv Cycling Zorya arm and leg warmers

Mavic Ksyrium Elite UST Disc wheelset

Castelli Prosecco R women's long-sleeve baselayer

Tacx Deva carbon bottle cage

Silca Eolo Wallet Loaded

Morvelo Women's Suits Mono long-sleeve speedsuit

Rapha Women's Riding is the Answer T-shirt

Look Mum No Hands Pizza Cat cycling cap

La Bouclee Bicycle Wine Holder

Alex Monroe handmade Bianchi bicycle necklace

OrNot Grey Ties handlebar bag

Wahoo Kickr Climb Indoor Grade Simulator

Scratch-off cycling print

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/gift-ideas-for-female-road-cyclists

British Cycling coaches had 'complete' control, tribunal hears

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British Cycling coaches had "complete" control over riders, according to evidence heard at ex-rider Jess Varnish's employment tribunal.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46560959

Team Sky: Adoration, loathing and ambivalence - how Sky's brilliance clouded over

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From basking in a golden glow to being pilloried for operating in ethically grey areas - maybe it is a natural time for Team Sky to end, writes Tom Fordyce.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46556327

Team Sky: Chris Froome, Sir Dave Brailsford and Geraint Thomas react to sponsorship withdrawal

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Chris Froome, Sir Dave Brailsford and Geraint Thomas react to Sky's decision to withdraw backing of Team Sky at the end of 2019.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cycling/46550322

UCI Track World Cup: Jason Kenny feeling benefits of extended break

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Jason Kenny says taking a step away from cycling really helped him ahead of this week's Track World Cup in London.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46533415

Wednesday 12 December 2018

'Jiffy-bag doctor' Freeman pulls out of Varnish tribunal

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The doctor involved in cycling's jiffy-bag scandal has pulled out of giving evidence to Jess Varnish's employment tribunal on legal grounds.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46542615

Vuelta a Espana: Utrecht to host 2020 start

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Utrecht becomes the first town to host stages of all three Grand Tours as it is chosen as the location for the start of the 2020 Vuelta a Espana.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46540469

'We plan to be here in 2020', insists Team Sky's Froome

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Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome says Team Sky will "be doing everything we can" to survive Sky's withdrawal.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46540470

McLaren announce Bahrain Merida pro cycling partnership

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The McLaren Group says the aim is "to be the best in professional cycling" after signing a deal to become a 50% partner in the Bahrain Merida team.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46536013

Tuesday 11 December 2018

Team Sky: Sky to end backing of British powerhouse in 2019

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The future of Team Sky is in doubt after broadcaster Sky announces it will withdraw backing at the end of 2019.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/46535894

British Cycling coaches had 'extreme control' - Varnish

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Jess Varnish tells an employment tribunal that British Cycling coaches would "listen through the door", as she seeks damages for wrongful dismissal.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46519499

Dani Rowe: Olympic cyclist fractures foot a week after retiring

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For Olympic gold medallist Dani Rowe retirement is off to a painful start - walking on crutches with one foot in a surgical boot.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46523470

Monday 10 December 2018

Vecchio's Bicicletteria - holding onto the beauty of cycling

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What differentiates the best bike shops from the rest?

Sometimes it's the simplicity and ease of buying a coffee and a new inner tube before a Sunday spin, or the purchase of winter clothing to get us through the dark days before spring. Whatever it is, the best bikes shops all have something in common; they provide us with pleasure, they remind us of the unadulterated joy we first had for the sport, and for the faintest of moments they have the ability to make time stand still, as if nothing else matters but our wistful gazes upon the immaculate machines and glistening equipment. The best bike shops remind us why we fell in love with cycling.

What first strikes you upon entering the doors at Vecchio's Bicicletteria in downtown Boulder is just how much memorabilia the walls hold. It's simply jaw-dropping. The premises aren't huge; with a delicately small glass counter facing inwards from the front wall, and an open-space floor for the mechanics towards the rear. In between both points are the usual paraphernalia, but it's on the walls where Vecchio's Bicicletteria comes alive. Look upward, and you'll see kits from the last six decades, with a Greg LeMond Worlds jersey sat between strips from 7-Eleven, Molteni and a signed maglia rosa from Andy Hampsten's Giro d'Italia win in 1988. However, there are so many layers to the establishment's nostalgia, and it's the smaller details, the ones you miss when you first walk in, that make the shop stand out.

Take the front desk, for example. The glass casing immortalizes a pair of vintage Campagnolo Corsa / C-Record SGR-1 pedals, while a Campagnolo shaving kit is propped against them. Just to the right are a set of pin badges from the early 1990s that include Sean Kelly, Laurent Fignon, Marc Madiot, and Gilles Delion. You could spend hours trawling through the collection and still find something new by the end.

The shop was opened back in 1999 when the US cycling scene began its first revival after the LeMond years. Peter Chisholm, a local mechanic and wheel builder at the time had been inspired by an influx of European riders in the mid-90s who had used Colorado as a base for altitude training ahead of one edition of the World Championships. Andy Hampsten had ventured to the state and brought a gaggle of Banesto teammates - including the Indurain's - with him. A star-studded Italian squad followed suit, and for a couple of weeks, the streets were awash with the glitz and glamour of the European peloton.

"There was a big group ride one morning, and the Italians were out, and there were all these intros, and one of the Italians looked over at Peter and said 'ciao Vecchio'," recounts the current owner and the shop's lead mechanic Jim Potter, as he cleans his workstation for this morning's business.

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vecchios-bicicletteria-holding-onto-the-beauty-of-cycling

Cyclingnews' complete guide to 2018-2019 team training camps

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While the start of the 2019 WorldTour season is still a month away, many of the big teams are starting to move through the gears as they prepare for the new season.

Training camps are being held by almost every professional team this month, and Cyclingnews is the place to keep abreast with it all. We'll give you details of each team's plans - who's where, what they're doing and when.

At Cyclingnews we cover these training camps extensively, attending many of them for exclusive news and interviews, and we'll include links to all our coverage here, so keep checking back for all the latest news, features, interviews, tech, video, and photos from our reporters across Europe.

AG2R La Mondiale

The AG2R La Mondiale team once again headed to the French Alps at the end of November for the first of their pre-season get-together. With a proper training camp to come in Spain later in December, the team set aside their road bikes and cracked out the cross-country skiis, snow shoes, fat-bikes, and biathlon rifles for team-building fun on the mountain.

A media day was also held with a packed schedule of interviews, the big news being Romain Bardet's decision to ignore the Giro d'Italia for another year and continue to focus exclusively on the Tour de France in 2019.

AG2R La Mondiale head up the mountain for pre-season camp - Gallery
Bardet to focus on Tour de France and skip Giro d'Italia
Bardet calls for ban on race radios
To come on Cyclingnews: Warbasse, Naesen, Gallopin, Dillier.

Dimension Data

The South African team held its annual pre-season get-together in Cape Town at the end of November. The 2019 roster was confirmed, with all riders and staff present, and bicycles were handed over at the Bulumka Secondary School in the name of the Qhubeka charity.

Dimension Data finalise 2019 roster

Trek-Segafredo

Bahrain-Merida

Bora-Hansgrohe

Team Sunweb

CCC Team

Groupama-FDJ

Team building takes riders off the bike - Gallery

Deceuninck-QuickStep

Lotto Soudal

Astana

Team Jumbo

Team Sky

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/cyclingnews-complete-guide-to-2018-2019-team-training-camps

Virus behind me now hopefully, says Cavendish

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Mark Cavendish hopes his 'mismanaged' illness troubles are over following a three-month break from cycling in order to recuperate.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46510356

UCI Track World Cup: Laura Kenny says she doesn't 'feel scared anymore'

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Laura Kenny says she does not 'feel scared anymore' after returning to top-level competition following the birth of her first child.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46508349

London Track Cycling World Cup 2018: BBC coverage & event schedule

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BBC Sport live coverage times and event schedule as British Olympic and Paralympic champions take part in the Track Cycling World Cup in London from 14-16 December.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46377643

Saturday 8 December 2018

Best road bike helmets of 2019 - Gallery

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This article first appeared on BikeRadar.

Here's our selection of 28 of the best road cycling helmets currently available for 2019. We've made sure to include choices for a wide range of budgets, from entry-level helmets right the way through to top-end options for racers.

For most, fit, ventilation and comfort matter over all else — all of the helmets listed here are tested to stringent safety standards and ensuring that a helmet fits well will also ensure it can do its job keeping you safe in the event of a crash.

Many helmets are now designed with aerodynamic qualities in mind, too, which has an effect on shape, size and overall looks. For a comprehensive test of aero helmets (by fit and comfort), check out our test of 8 of the best aero helmets on the market.

Check out our guide to buying a helmet too for a comprehensive breakdown of what you should look out for when shopping for your next lid.

Best road helmet of 2019: 28 top options tested

Specialized S-Works Evade II: BikeRadar score 5/5 (£200 / $250 / AU$ N/A)

Excellent ventilation and all-day comfort
Very light
Claimed to be very aero

Claimed excellent aero performance
Good ventilation
BOA-dial adjustment is nice to use

Great looks, a drag-friendly shape and MIPS
Good fit and adjustability thanks to the Roc Loc 5 cradle and four internal pads
The exposed EPS base isn't to all tastes

Fast and well ventilated
Seriously light — just 209g for a size small
Sunglasses port

Subtly sculpted curves based on CFD design and wind tunnel testing for aero performance
Otto Fit retention system offers a huge adjustment range
Superb ventilation

Value-packed helmet
ARS adjuster works well
Often found with a generous discount

Good fit, good looks, great weight and a great price
The chin strap material is a little heavy and stiff
An excellent budget road helmet

Lightweight for the money
Built-in LED rear light
Wide range of adjustments

Impressive cooling for an aero helmet
Minimal padding is well positioned
Vertical adjustment in retention cradle

Comfortable and light
Great fit and adjustability
Compatible with clever clip-on light

Very comfortable and light
Well-ventilated at speed
Narrow profile looks great

Fast and airy aero lid
MIPS protection
Vent bungs included for winter riding

Airy yet aero
Comfortable fit
Relatively normal looks for an aero lid

Aerodynamic shaping combined with a hint of retro looks
Dedicated sunglasses port
Comfortable Merino-wool padding

Based on the much-loved Prevail
Comfortable straps and good adjustments
Great fit adjustments

Muscular looks and aggressive venting
The Mindset adjusting cradle comfortably accommodates most head shapes
Horizontal brow vents are good for glasses storage

Excellent build quality
Great fit adjustments
Airy feel

Removable cover to prioritise aero or cooling options
MIPS version available
Comfortable and cool with distinctive looks

Claimed excellent aero performance
Sunglasses storage area works well
Seven different colour options

Bargain-basement price is hard to beat
Decent fit and feel for the money
Good ventilation

Great value for money
Lots of different colour options
Easy returns process if it doesn't fit

Very affordable option
Inbuilt LED is a nice touch
Decent adjustment

Built-in visor is functional albeit divisive
Comfortable and well ventilated
Excellent build quality

Aero qualities matched with decent ventilation
Lightweight for an aero lid
Available in a wide range of colours

Bulky construction is due to extra protection for your most vulnerable areas
Single vent is enough to provide ample cooling on all but the hottest days
Plenty of fit adjustability

Addition of MIPS adds extra protection with minimal weight increase
Enough adjustment to find a comfortable fit
Well vented and padded front keeps the sweat out of your eyes

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/best-road-bike-helmets-of-2019-gallery

Trentin: I want to get back to where I deserve to be

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Matteo Trentin looks back at the 2018 season with a contrasting sense of suffering and of celebration, remembering the pain and disappointment of a cracked rib and then a far more serious vertebral fracture at Paris-Roubaix, but also the joy of winning the European road race title in Glasgow and so wearing the distinctive blue, white and gold.

The two emotional extremes have cancelled each other out, leaving the pragmatic Italian from the northern Trento region hungry to confirm his status as a true Classics contender in 2019.

"I want to get back to where I deserve to be and where my career trajectory was sending me," 28-year-old Trentin tells Cyclingnews.

"For sure the first part of my 2018 season was, well, pretty crap... I was up there in Gent-Wevelgem, I was up there in E3-Harelbeke but my cracked rib in training left me one step behind everyone else. In professional cycling if you’re not at 100 per cent of your ability, you’re going to get found out; 95 per cent and a good day isn’t enough to win anymore.

"Fortunately things came around when I won the European title plus a final win at the Tour of Guangxi in China. It meant I ended the season on a high and made me optimistic for 2019."

Showing his stoicism

After six seasons at Quick-Step Floors, starting as a neo-pro in 2012, Trentin was head hunted by Mitchelton-Scott to lead their Classics hopes in 2018.

Creating a cycling masterpiece in Glasgow

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/trentin-i-want-to-get-back-to-where-i-deserve-to-be

Friday 7 December 2018

Tour de Yorkshire to use Worlds circuit in Harrogate

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The 2019 men's and women's Tour de Yorkshire will include the circuit being used for next year's World Championship Road Races in Harrogate.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46476491

Thursday 6 December 2018

Armstrong says returns from Uber investment 'saved' his family

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Lance Armstrong says an early investment in Uber has "saved" his family after paying out $111m (£86.8m) in legal fees and settlements.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46476497

Wednesday 5 December 2018

Meet the Nibalis: Vincenzo and Antonio on being brothers at Bahrain-Merida

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Their Sicilian, Tuscan-infused accents are the same; they have the same imposing nose and have worn the same red and blue Bahrain-Merida colours since 2017. Vincenzo and Antonio Nibali one of several sets of brothers to race together in the professional peloton.

Vincenzo is Italy's current campione and the best Italian rider of his generation after winning all three Grand Tours, Il Lombardia and even this year's Milan-San Remo during his successful career. Antonio is the younger sibling, trying to follow in his brother's illustrious footsteps, taking advantage of his slipstream while finding his own path as a professional.

Professional cycling, perhaps thanks to genetic similarity, shared passion and a sense of emulation, is often a family affair. Vincenzo and Antonio Nibali often line up alongside twins Adam and Simon Yates, Peter and Juraj Sagan, Nairo and Dayer Quintana, Ion and Gorka Izagirre, and more. The history of the sport includes the Schleck brothers Andy and Frank, Miguel and Prudencio Indurain, Fausto and Serse Coppi, Louison and Jean Bobet, the Moser, Planckaert and De Vlaeminck dynasties and other cycling families, with brothers and sisters also becoming more common.

Vincenzo Nibali turned 34 in November. Antonio is only 26.

"There's nine years difference between us. I don't why our parents waited so long," Antonio jokes as Cyclingnews sits down with the two brothers from Messina, Sicily, during the off-season.

"Because you came by mistake…" Vincenzo interjects, in a rare public show of personal emotion, happy to publicly tease his brother.

Different riders, different characters

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/meet-the-nibalis-vincenzo-and-antonio-on-being-brothers-at-bahrain-merida

Women's WorldTour reforms: A team perspective

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Women’s cycling has been under a slow reform for years, but there has never been a clear pathway presented along which to take the kinds of steps forward that it deserves as a professional sport - especially one which all parties agree on.

UCI President David Lappartient has made a point to improve gender equality and working conditions for women in cycling during his time in office, and as such, the UCI began announcing details of the Women's WorldTour reforms in July, starting with a new declaration of recognition of ethical principles to raise awareness of harassment.

There will be stricter contract regulations, a tiered-team system - Women's WorldTeam and Continental Teams - five teams as part of the top tier in the first year, with a goal of reaching 15 teams by 2022, by adding five new teams per year. And a new events calendar; UCI ProSeries that includes four classes: UCI Women's WorldTour, UCI ProSeries, Class 1 and Class 2.

There will be minimum salaries starting at €15,000 in 2020 and increasing to just under €30,000 by 2023, for the WorldTeams only. The UCI recently published amendments to its rules and regulations that detailed these changes and included a sample standard self-employed contract that highlighted a new maternity leave clause and additional insurances such as health and pension plans, all of which are set to take effect in 2020.

But from the teams' perspective, there is the elephant in the room; how can women's teams, many of which struggle to find adequate sponsorship, afford these reforms?

Cyclingnews has covered the upcoming reforms in depth, in speaking with the UCI and the riders, but the teams have been reluctant to comment because the details of the reforms are still unclear.

Exposure is a must

Affordability - Downsizing and fear of folding

Limited communication

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/womens-worldtour-reforms-a-team-perspective

London 2012 gold medallist Rowe retires

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London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Dani Rowe announces her retirement from cycling.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/46451911

Tuesday 4 December 2018

Magic Mike: Friedman finds fulfilment in life after racing

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It's rare for athletes to retire at the pinnacle of their careers, and it's even rarer for athletes to make a seamless transition from elite competition to real life. Many are faced with the harsh realities of financial struggles, while others merely fight with the concepts of normality and blending into a society they have only infrequently engaged with. Mike Friedman has faced all of that and more. He may not be a household name with a string of zeros at the end of his bank balance and cabinet full of medals, but he has become one of the most inspirational figures in American cycling.

So far, all of my interviews during our 'Tour of Colorado' series had concluded in the same manner; questions would naturally peter out, the recorder would be turned off, and before long the keys would be turned in the ignition and my focus would shift to yet another destination. But before goodbyes could be said and handshakes exchanged, the interviewees would always politely ask who else was on the agenda. As the week wore on and the days counted down, I would list off the names of people I'd yet to see. In almost automatic synchronicity they would then ask the same question:

"Are you seeing Friedman?"

"What about Mike Friedman?"

And on one occasion, just: "You have to see Mike."

I'd pencilled in Friedman from the beginning of my Colorado tour, but the grading of his name was faint in the notebook that left England. In my mind, he was a maybe, rather than a must-have. However, with every passing interview the shading of his name grew thicker and more prominent, and as Colorado Springs disappeared in the rearview mirror and Boulder consumed the horizon, Friedman's initials had been underlined and surrounded by doodles of stars and poorly drawn bikes. By the time we met face-to-face in one of Boulder's collective of hipster coffee jaunts, Freidman was a must.

A proud and humble upbringing

The deal

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/magic-mike-friedman-finds-fulfilment-in-life-after-racing

Monday 3 December 2018

Inside the Marin Museum of Bicycling

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This article first appeared on BikeRadar.

Located in Fairfax, California, the Marin Museum of Bicycling sits in the shadow of Repack Road and Mount Tamalpais, where the pioneers of mountain biking raced, crashed and flew on bikes made from junkyard scrap, developing the sport into what we know today.

The museum was founded by Joe Breeze, Otis Guy, Marc Vendetti, Julia Violich, Keith Hastings and Lena Maria Estrella and opened in 2015.

Featuring the evolution of the mountain bike, the museum is home to a number of ‘Clunkers’, which are junkyard 1940s Schwinn frames adapted to downhill mountain biking, all the way through to Kate Courtney’s 2018 world-championships-winning Specialized S-Works Epic.

Many of the bikes were donated or loaned to the museum from Mountain Bike Hall of Fame members.

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/inside-the-marin-museum-of-bicycling