Classics | The Inner Ring

Paris-Roubaix Preview

Saturday, 7 April 2018Friday, 6 April 2018

The best for last as the cobbled classics come to an end this Sunday in the Roubaix velodrome. Former race director Jacques Goddet described this race as “the last act of madness” and his decision to use tiny farm tracks with rudimentary cobbles has created a legendary and exceptional event.

Once again it’s everyone against Quick Step with the star riders caught in a collective tactical trap, they must combine against the Belgian team to win but start working and their rivals will sit tight and beat them in the finish. It’s live on TV from start to finish.

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Preview

Saturday, 31 March 2018Friday, 30 March 2018

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It’s Quick Step versus the peloton this Sunday as the home team take on all comers, including Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet and Sep Vanmarcke. It’s live on TV from start to finish and in front of an estimated million of roadside fans, an event of national importance to the Belgians.

Roads To Ride: The Taaienberg

Tuesday, 27 March 2018

A fixture in the Flemish classics, the Taaienberg is a cobbled climb where it’s all about the gutter, the thin strip of concrete that makes this tough berg into the perfect place to blow the kopgroep apart.

The Moment Milan-Sanremo Was Won

Sunday, 18 March 2018Saturday, 17 March 2018

They’ve no government following indecisive elections, they’ve no team left in the World Tour but Italy can still count on Vincenzo Nibali. His attack on the Poggio won him the race and brought the first home victory in Sanremo since 2006.

Milan-Sanremo Preview

Friday, 16 March 2018Friday, 16 March 2018

The first Monument of the year, this Saturday’s Milan-Sanremo is all about the tense finish, the paradox of the longest race of the year that’s often decided in the final metres, a race where every pedal stroke counts and the list of contenders and pretenders is longer than any other. Who will keep their nerve?

The Sanremo Paradox

Saturday, 21 March 2020Thursday, 15 March 2018

Peter Sagan leads on the Poggio having blown the field off his back wheel. Michał Kwiatkowski and Julian Alaphilippe are chasing and there’s just 6km to go. If you’ve been watching on TV this is a moment of almost unbearable tension.

Milan-Sanremo is the longest race on the pro calendar yet it’s often dependent on events in the last five minutes. Why all the hours of airtime when surely you could just tune in for the final 10 minutes? All the details make the Poggio’s ascent and descent so thrilling.

The Ronde Book Review

Tuesday, 6 March 2018

The story of the race and a story of a race, The Ronde is both a history of the Tour of Flanders and an account of the 2011 edition.

The Moment The Strade Bianche Was Won

Saturday, 3 March 2018Saturday, 3 March 2018

Tiesj Benoot ditches Romain Bardet and Wout van Aert on the final section of sterrato. This was the moment the race was won. Amid a galaxy of star riders Benoot was not the obvious pick at the start in Siena but five hours later there was no doubting his strength.

The Moment The Omloop Was Won

Sunday, 25 February 2018

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Michael Valgren has gone solo and Sep Vanmarcke gives chase in the final straight. The strongest rider didn’t win, the strongest team did.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Preview

Saturday, 24 February 2018Friday, 23 February 2018

The season goes up a notch with the start of the cobbled classics this Saturday and racing that supplies action for hours rather thanks to the tricky course and the ferocity of the peloton as it twists around the Flemish countryside. More than ever the Omloop is a mini Tour of Flanders and all the better for it.

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