The Inner Ring - Part 170

Can The UCI Stop Team Bahrain?

Friday, 17 June 2016Thursday, 9 June 2016

This week has seen several comment pieces like the one in London’s The Guardian shown above (and here and here) saying the new Bahrain cycling team too controversial and unpleasant for the sport because of the multiple allegations claiming the team’s backer Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of the the ruler King Fahd, tortured people. He denies this. Public statements like “Whoever calls for the fall of the regime, may a wall fall on his head” are a matter of record. With headlines like “UCI urged to halt Bahraini-bankrolled WorldTour team over rights abuses” can the team be stopped?

Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 4 Preview

Thursday, 9 June 2016

A stage promised for the sprinters and an uphill finish to test them and maybe invite some extra names into the contest.

Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 3 Preview

Wednesday, 8 June 2016Wednesday, 8 June 2016

A stage with a difficult climb towards the end, steeper and longer than the roadbook suggests and it should prove ruinous for many of the sprinters.

The UCI’s Annual Report Reviewed

Monday, 15 August 2016Tuesday, 7 June 2016

The UCI has published its annual report and accounts for 2015 on its website. It’s full of glossy images but let’s skip to the numbers at the back to see how the governing body is earning and spending its money.

Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 2 Preview

Tuesday, 7 June 2016Tuesday, 7 June 2016

A ski station summit finish? Yes… but… we’ll see. Today’s stage does have an uphill run to a finish in a ski station but it’s more of a medium mountain stage and one of those days where it’s up to the teams to decide on the finish and whether they want a sprint among 60 riders or a shoot-out between the GC names.

Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 1 Preview

Monday, 6 June 2016Monday, 6 June 2016

The race leaves the Alps for the Rhone valley and a likely sprint finish with Alexander Kristoff and Nacer Bouhanni the top picks.

Critérium du Dauphiné Prologue Preview

Thursday, 1 June 2017Sunday, 5 June 2016

A 3.9km prologue. Calling this an uphill time trial is to downplay the effort, it’s an up-mountain race and as prologues go this kind of course is a rarity. With so many contenders for the race not having raced for weeks or more this will give us an immediate test of form.

Critérium du Dauphiné Preview

Thursday, 1 June 2017Friday, 3 June 2016

The Critérium du Dauphiné has delivered some of the best racing in recent years, a fine race in its own right while the Tour de France looms large and adds to the intrigue. There’s the prospect of a battle between Chris Froome and Alberto Contador and behind them is a long list of riders in need of a win.

Here’s a look at the overall contenders for the race which begins on Sunday. There will be daily stage previews here during the race.

Thursday Shorts

Thursday, 2 June 2016Thursday, 2 June 2016

A power and politics edition below with on-board bike cams and the weight limits, handling data on TV, politics in France and Italy, snails, beetroot and more…

Team Victory Rankings

Tuesday, 31 May 2016Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Time for another look at the victory rankings with the Giro completed. The Italian race got a lot of limelight and there were many more chances during the month to take more wins. Here’s a look at the stats and some of the back stories too.

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