Saturday’s Giro stage was epic and already a highlight of the 2010 season. But what makes for stunning television is not necessarily sport. Penelope Pitsop defending the Maglia Rosa from the Equipo Formicaio To reduce the argument to the absurd, imagine a race organiser spraying oil on hairpin bends and digging large potholes to trap … Read more
You could probably start a blog called “Hardest Sport in the World” and just feature endless cycling reports. But what more do you want, look at the Giro stage yesterday and it was a cocktail of insanity, TV joy and Tuscan mud. Off road, foul conditions and then you through 191 riders in to the … Read more
It wouldn’t be the first time that hundreds of people have been moved out of Dunkirk to Britain, this time it’s the organisers of the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque stage race who are considering a stage in Britain, according to French newspaper La Voix du Nord. With the ferry companies keen to promote their links, … Read more
Today sees the Giro d’Italia resume in Italy. The overall classification is already taking shape with Wiggins, Evans and Vinokourov wearing pink so far and today’s stage could change things once more. It’s a unique event, team time trials are very rare in the calendar. They punish individual talents, a rider can lose valuable time … Read more
Phew, the Giro stages in Holland were something, it was like the classics season had suddenly got going. Cold weather, small roads, crashes: it was early April all over again. I found it made for exciting riding but is this what a Grand Tour is all about? I’m in two minds, on the one hand … Read more
As part of the series on the 1980s, here are five items related to bike componetry during this decade. 1. SuntourJapanese componentry didn’t just mean Shimano. Suntour also produced a top end groupset, the Superbe Pro. It was similar to Shimano in design and features, with a functional look and crisp shifting. 2. MavicFamous for … Read more
Mont Ventoux is part of cycling legend. The mountain is unlike others in France because it stands proud of the land, famous passes in the Alps and Pyrenees like the Galibier and Tourmalet merely snake their way from one valley to the next. Instead Ventoux dominates the terrain it occupies and the road reaches the … Read more
I’ve often wondered what it would be like to cheat, you know, to get my blood turbo charged and lay waste to the opposition. In times past I’ve raced against some big names and people whispered about EPO users. I never came across it, maybe I was totally naive or blind but nobody tried to … Read more
Ciao! There are loads of previews out there, to analyse the favourites and give you the stage details. There’s even a handy iPhone app. Instead I’ve got three extra thoughts. First, the Giro is the most visually attractive race on the calendar. The Tour de France has its fine moments but it also has very … Read more
London cycling brand Rapha has opened a café and shop in London. The design looks very modern, you can see some more images over at the Bianchista blog. It’s on the edge of the City, London’s wealthy financial district and one of the more creative areas of London. The symbolism is obvious, it’s close to … Read more