Tour de France: Guide to the 2019 race featuring defending champion Geraint Thomas, Adam Yates and Egan Bernal

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With 21 stages, seven brutal mountain climbs and a wide-open race, the 106th of the Tour de France starts on Saturday in Brussels

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/48868323

Thomas feels 'no pressure' for Tour de France defence

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Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas says he feels under no pressure as he prepares to defend his title.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/48847374

Giro Rosa: Anna van der Breggen is back to win the maglia rosa

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Anna van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans) is back to contest the most challenging stage race on the Women's WorldTour: Giro Rosa. She is a former two-time overall champion of the Italian Grand Tour but skipped the race last year to focus on winning the world title in Innsbruck. Speaking with Cyclingnews just a few days ahead of the opening team time trial in Cassano Spinola on July 5, Van der Breggen made no bones about the fact that she is motivated to try and win a third maglia rosa.

"If you can do it two times, you can also do it three times," she said in an interview over the phone. "In a long stage race like this, you need to feel good the whole time and recover well, so I think I will know pretty quickly how everyone is doing. The first stages will be important to see how strong everyone is, and from that point on, you can work further into the race."

Van der Breggen won her Giro Rosa titles in 2015 - ahead of Mara Abbott and Megan Guarnier - and in 2017 - ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini and Annemiek van Vleuten. Van Vleuten is the defending champion and won last year's overall title by an astonishing 4:12 over runner-up Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and 6:30 over teammate Amanda Spratt.

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Van Vleuten, the individual time trial world champion, recently won the time trial title at the Dutch championships, beating her rivals Ellen van Dijk and Van der Breggen by over a minute-and-a-half along a 30km course. She's 100 per cent focused on the Giro Rosa, has spent several blocks of training at altitude in both Tenerife and Italy, and says she's in prime condition to win a second title in a row.

Despite already winning the race twice, however, Van der Breggen is aware of her pre-race rank as the second-best of the favourites (behind Van Vleuten), and she knows that she will have to fight hard to win a third title. But she's confident that she has the experience, because of her two previous titles, to be in contention. She also said that she's physically well-prepared and pointed to having a strong team to back up her objectives throughout the 10-day race.

"There are many important points to consider; having a strong team, for example, is important at some points, while some days you need to be able to do it yourself," Van der Breggen said, frankly. "You have to try to do the best you can, to recover well, and your teammates are important in making sure that you don't waste energy when you don't need to. Of course, my team will be important.

"Annemiek is the big favourite, and we could see that in the time trial at Nationals - that she is very strong at the moment. That's good, but there are more strong riders in the race this year. You have to prepare yourself as best as possible, everyone on our team has done that, so we will see what we can do together."

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/giro-rosa-anna-van-der-breggen-is-back-to-win-the-maglia-rosa

Canyon road bikes 2019: range, details, pricing and specifications

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Canyon Bicycles is relatively new to the cycling scene but has quickly grown into a major player as a result of its direct-to-consumer online sales strategy.

The company was founded in 1985 by two brothers, Roman and Franc Arnold, who initially provided cyclists in and around Germany with high-end bike components. However, it wasn’t until 2001 that they took the leap and began manufacturing their own bicycles.

Based at a cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Koblenz, Germany, Canyon is now a highly profitable and popular brand. The company sponsors several teams across the professional road-racing spectrum, Movistar Team, Katusha-Alpecin and Canyon-SRAM, as well as having a presence in cyclo-cross and mountain bike disciplines.

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Canyon’s road-bike range and coding explained

As a German brand, Canyon is naturally very particular when it comes to the naming philosophy of its bicycle portfolio. Using an alpha-numeric coding system, Canyon’s bikes are named according to their frame material and component level. The road bike range comprises bicycles such as the Aeroad, Endurace, Ultimate and Speedmax as well as two off-road options, the Grail and Inflite.

Canyon alpha-numeric coding made easy

• AL — Aluminium
• CF — Carbon Fibre
• CF SL — Carbon Fibre Super Light
• CF SLX — Carbon Fibre Super Light Extreme
• Disc/Aero — Brake type/bike function
• WMN — Women-specific
• 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0 — Component level, with 10 being the best

In other words, the Canyon Aeroad WMN CF SL Disc 8.0, can be deciphered as a women-specific model, featuring a carbon-fibre super light-frame, disc brakes with mid-level components.

Canyon road bikes you can buy today

Canyon Aeroad

• Price: Starting at US$2999 / £2499 / AU$3949
• Brake: Disc/rim
• Frame: Carbon
• Type: Aero
• Sizes: 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL (Men), 2XS, XS, S, M (Women)
• Weight: 7.6kg (Aeroad CF SL 7.0)

• Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 SL
• Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 Di2
• Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 9.0 SL
• Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 9.0 Di2
• Canyon Aeroad CF SL Disc 8.0
• Canyon Aeroad CF SL 8.0
• Canyon Aeroad CF SL Disc 7.0
• Canyon Aeroad CF SL 7.0

• Canyon Aeroad details

Canyon Ultimate

• Price: Starting at US$1799 / £1449 / AU$2349
• Brake: Disc/rim
• Frame: Carbon
• Type: Climbing, all-rounder
• Sizes: 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL (Men), 3XS, 2XS, XS, S, M (Women)
• Weight: 7.70kg (Ultimate CF SL Disc 7.0)

• Canyon Ultimate CF EVO 10.0 SL
• Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 9.0 Team Movistar
• Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 9.0 SL
• Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 SL
• Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0
• Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 8.0 SL
• Canyon Ultimate CF SL Disc 8.0
• Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8.0
• Canyon Ultimate CF SL Disc 7.0
• Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7.0

• Canyon Ultimate details

Canyon Endurace

• Price: Starting at US$1699 / £1349 / AU$2199
• Brake: Disc/rim
• Frame: Carbon/aluminium
• Type: Endurance
• Sizes: 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL (Men), XS, S, M, L (Women)
• Weight: 9.10kg (Endurace AL Disc 7.0)

• Canyon Endurace CF SLX Disc 9.0 Di2
• Canyon Endurace CF SLX Disc 9.0 SL
• Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 8.0
• Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 7.0
• Canyon Endurace CF 8.0
• Canyon Endurace AL Disc 8.0
• Canyon Endurace CF 7.0
• Canyon Endurace AL Disc 7.0
• Canyon Endurace AL 8.0
• Canyon Endurace AL 7.0

• Canyon Endurace details

Canyon Speedmax Time Trial

• Price: Starting at US$2599 / £2099 / AU$3349
• Brake: Rim
• Frame: Carbon
• Type: Time trial
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL (Men), XS, S, M (Women)
• Weight: 8.60kg (Speedmax CF 8.0)

• Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 LTD
• Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 TT
• Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 SL
• Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 8.0 SL
• Canyon Speedmax CF 8.0 LTD
• Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 8.0
• Canyon Speedmax CF 8.0 Di2
• Canyon Speedmax CF 8.0 SL
• Canyon Speedmax CF 8.0
• Canyon Speedmax CF 7.0

• Canyon Speedmax details

Canyon Grail

• Price: Starting at US$2599 / £2099 / AU$3349
• Brake: Disc
• Frame: Carbon, aluminium
• Type: Gravel
• Sizes: 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL (Men), 2XS, XS, S, M (Women)
• Weight: 9.40kg (Grail AL 7.0)

• Canyon Grail CF SLX 8.0 Di2
• Canyon Grail CF SLX 8.0 SL
• Canyon Grail CF SL 8.0 SL
• Canyon Grail CF SL 8.0
• Canyon Grail CF SL 7.0
• Canyon Grail AL 7.0 SL
• Canyon Grail AL 7.0
• Canyon Grail AL 6.0

• Canyon Inflite details
• Canyon Grail details

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/canyon-road-bikes-2019-range-details-pricing-and-specifications

How EF Education First selected their Tour de France team - Podcast

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In the latest episode of the Cyclingnews podcast - brought to you in association with Sportful, Pinarello and Floyds of Leadville - we go behind the scenes with EF Education First Pro Cycling team at their training camp in Girona, Spain, as they finalise their Tour de France roster.

With exclusive access to the riders, including Rigoberto Urán, Michael Woods and Tejay van Garderen, we follow the team as they're put through their paces during two flat-out team time trial efforts.

The three-day camp took place last week and formed the backdrop for the team's final selection process for the Tour de France, which gets underway in Brussels on Saturday.

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Present at the camp were Woods, van Garderen, Urán, Tanel Kangert, Mitch Docker, Lawson Craddock, Tom Scully, Sebastian Langeveld, and Simon Clarke. Alberto Bettiol, who was in the mix for a Tour de France spot, was racing the Italian nationals at the time.

Team director Charly Wegelius takes Cyclingnews through the process of team selection on the final morning of the camp and explains his goals and what he's looking for from the riders as they set out on their final test. He must narrow down a list of 10 to eight by the end of the day and watches on from the team car as the riders do two lots of 13-minute team time trial tests.

Cyclingnews follows in the second team car, with the opportunity to listen and observe as Wegelius offers instructions over the radio before the team then begin their internal de-brief, providing a fascinating insight into team tactics and morale within the squad.

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/how-ef-education-first-selected-their-tour-de-france-team-podcast

Tour de France 2019: Julian Alaphilippe expects to be treated 'differently'

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Julian Alaphilippe says he will be a marked man at the Tour de France as he looks to replicate his successes of a year ago.

via BBC Sport - Cycling http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/48847381

8 conclusions from US Pro Road Championships

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The city of Knoxville, Tennessee put on a stellar USA Cycling Pro Road Championships for the third year in a row and will continue as host for two more years. The Great Smoky Mountains foothills provide just the right amount of climbing and flat roads, while the heat and humidity tip the balances in favour of the most prepared athletes. The end result was six deserving champions and exciting, unpredictable racing that highlighted some amazing athletic performances. Cyclingnews came to eight conclusions from the event.

1. Stephen Bassett deserves a pro contract

Hometown rider Stephen Bassett was an unexpected presence on the final men's road race podium in second behind winner Alex Howes and showed that he has what it takes to go pedal stroke for pedal stroke against WorldTour riders like winner Alex Howes (EF Education First) and third-placed Neilson Powless (Jumbo-Visma). He had a pro contract with Silber in 2018 until the team folded, and was not selected to continue when Floyd's took over the organisation. Landis and Gord Fraser should be kicking themselves right now for letting this one slip.

Bassett won two stages and the overall at the Joe Martin Stage Race, a stage at the Redlands Classic and the Winston Salem Criterium this year, clearly demonstrating that he had done his homework over the winter. Racing with the local elite First Internet Bank squad, Bassett had the advantage of a full feed zone support crew: "I think we had six in the feed zone for five riders. I took an ice sock every lap. 15 ice socks over four and a half hours makes a pretty massive difference," he told Cyclingnews.

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The 24-year-old showed impressive determination hitting out early in the sprint - it really looked as if he'd won it but just ran out of gas ahead of the last turn and was overtaken by Howes. That level of grit certainly deserves a pro contract, but Bassett doesn't have anything solid in the works. Will his performance at nationals help?

2. Howes is better than ever

Alex Howes has always been a good one-day racer and it's surprising he hasn't won a national title before now: he was on the podium or just shy of it in 2013, 2014 and agonizingly won the sprint for second behind Greg Daniel in 2016 in Winston Salem. To finally step on top of the podium was an emotional moment, not just for Howes but for the whole crowd who bore witness to the sheer joy of the moment.

"I was in a pretty dark place this time last year," Howes said on his EF Education First team site. "I was struggling with an undiagnosed [hyper-]thyroid, fighting my body, thinking of hanging it up. I was depressed and scared, wasting away. To come back and win the jersey a year later? This is bliss. Pure satisfaction."

3. Powless shows his class

4. Winder is one tough cookie

5. Keep the Hagens Berman-Supermint band together

6. Evergreen Neben

7. Garrison a rider for the future

8. Emma White is a star in the making

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/8-conclusions-from-us-pro-road-championships