Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix is the biggest one day race on the French calendar. I can’t add much to the fantastic previews out there already. Instead three small points: The Hell of the NorthThe north of France is a grim place. It has pockets of high unemployment, the far-right National Front scores well and scores on other … Read more
Following Samuel Sanchez’s aggressive win in the Queen Stage of the Tour of the Basque country yesterday, Omega Pharma-Lotto are now the only Pro Tour team not to have won a race this season. When will their numbers come up? You might ask “so what?”, there will always be a team that has to wait … Read more
A run of the mill moment for Dumoulin He might be one of the smallest riders in the bunch and he might ride a compact chainset but Samuel Dumoulin collected his sixth win of the season so far yesterday in the Circuit de la Sarthe. He’s now equal with André Greipel on six wins but … Read more
Because things don’t always go to plan Following last Sunday’s ride, Fabian Cancellara will start Paris-Roubaix as the nailed on favourite. Not just nailed on, but glued, tied and bound with a toestrap too. But that’s to ignore the beauty of sport and cycling. Sport means the winner is never certain and this holds true … Read more
Valverde’s got the squirrel by its nuts Following my piece on the Basque country and Valverde’s ongoing presence in the bunch, reader Alex Murray left a comment asking whether Valverde’s team sponsor had taken a stance. I was curious about this too, after all whilst the team is Spanish, Caisse d’Epargne is a a French … Read more
Today’s stage finish Whilst many cycling fans will be focussed on the Flemish Classics and the upcoming Paris-Roubaix, don’t forget the stage racing in Spain. The Tour of Catalonia is done and today sees the Queen Stage of the Tour of the Basque Country, finishing at the San Antonio sanctuary above the small town of … Read more
Imagine everyone shouting your name Today sees the Scheldepriijs race, aka GP de l’Escaut, take place in Tom Boonen’s backyard, near Antwerp. He got a huge welcome and needed a police escort to get from his home to the start. Now not everyone in Belgium cares, but a lot do. Tom Boonen is already a … Read more
Me? I’d rather have chronic back pain… French squad Ag2r-La Mondiale have signed a sponsorship deal with Swiss shoe company MBT. Famous for their rounded sole which apparently helps the skeletal muscles, the deal is presumably for off-the-bike shoes. Expect to see the likes of Cyril Dessel and Nico Roche rocking and rolling around the … Read more
This blog covers pro cycling, but so do many websites. Races travel across farm tracks, through towns. I want to help place the sport into the context of political, geographical and social forces that surround it. Bike races don’t take place in a bubble. So as part of a series about life in Europe called … Read more
Number 1 idiot? Lampre’s Lorenzo Bernucci is the latest rider to be named in an ongoing Italian investigation into doping. Reports suggest the Italian police found some banned substances in a raid on the Lampre rider’s home. Comically, Bernucci seems to be claiming that blood-diluting products are for his brother and his wife. But whilst … Read more