Cycling as an elite sport has often has little to do with ecology. Convoys of team cars, the consumerist message and the way riders dump used bottles and food wrappers don’t make things look very green at all. But the sport is being used to promote cycling as transport, to tie bike racing with a … Read more
Even Inspektor Derrick can’t catch the dopers You probably don’t watch much German TV. Here in France we’re treated to mid-afternoon re-runs of Derrick, a 1980s detective programme and not much else. But if German TV shows don’t export themselves, it’s worth remembering that the country is Europe’s largest and most wealthy country. It’s against … Read more
French website cyclismactu got the news first: the Tour de France will announce the wildcard selections for the 2011 season in only a couple of weeks’ time. Gone is the chance for a small team to impress with a strong start to the season, especially under the noses of ASO in Paris-Nice and the Criterium … Read more
In recent days it’s been reported that the major race organisers and the UCI are close to a formal agreement over the team selection process for their races. It means the top-18 teams will get automatic invitations to ride the big races, indeed under the UCI rules they will be obliged to participate. I wrote … Read more
Writing about the financial health of something can be a tricky subject. Even a hint can cause a self-fulfilling event. For example on Friday morning there was a rumour of long queues of people standing outside branches of the Spanish bank BBVA. But this wasn’t a bank run… it was a run sponsored by the … Read more
A long read coming up but it’s about the way our sport is organised at the top level. Cycling might be about aching legs, fitness and fun. But at the top there’s also lot of money changing hands so it also involves planning, agreement and meetings. Just as a rider needs to train right and … Read more
In a change with previous years the 2011 cyclosportive run by ASO on the route of a Tour de France stage will be a double-header with two rides. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s an open ride where anyone can register to take part and ride the route of a Tour stage on closed … Read more
The Androni – Diquigiovanni team were crowned champions of Italy recently, largely thanks to Michele Scarponi’s massive points haul and the team’s persistent focus on the Italian calendar. Scarponi may be heading to Lampre for 2011 but he leaves behind a pleasant surprise for the team: qualification for the Tour de France. Under an agreement … Read more
Some interesting information landed in my lap the other day and, via Twitter, I asked for some in the cycling world to offer advice. It’s not the biggest story in the cycling world but it involved some big names so I didn’t want to splurge the details on here without reflecting on it. I’m grateful … Read more
We’re marching all the way to Aigle There’s sometimes a fear in France of “anglo-saxon” influence, although it’s more often a misunderstanding. For example some fear their cuisine is being overtaken by le fast food, worry that Aussie wines could flood the French market, or that the European Commission in Brussels is imposing free-market reforms … Read more