The Inner Ring - Part 194

What Athletics Can Learn From Cycling

Monday, 3 August 2015Monday, 3 August 2015

Yesterday brought news of a leak of blood values of 5,000 track and field athletes from 2001 to 2012 thanks a joint effort by Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper and German TV channel ARD, whose 55 minute show you watch online for yourself.

Glancing at athletics, the sport seems to be in a similar position to where cycling was some time ago, not so much for the news that doping was widespread a decade ago but because of its response to the claims. The head of the IAAF, athletics’ governing body, called the report “a joke” but nobody has seen the funny side. Can cycling’s experience help?

Stagiaire Season

Friday, 31 July 2015

Peloton, soigneur, bidon. The lexicon of pro cycling has many French words and stagiaire, French for “intern”, is the topic du jour. It refers to riders who join a pro team on a trial basis from 1 August to the end of the season.

Supporter Jerseys Back In Stock

Friday, 31 July 2015Wednesday, 29 July 2015

The supporter jerseys are back in stock with Prendas Ciclismo. Made in Italy by Santini this is a lightweight jersey for summer. While stocks last.

UCI Annual Report and Accounts

Wednesday, 29 July 2015Tuesday, 28 July 2015

The UCI published their annual report and accounts for 2014 the other day and there was too much going on in the Tour de France to pore over the finances of the governing body. Now it’s worth taking a look to see where things stand.

Tour Stage 22 Preview

Friday, 31 July 2015Monday, 27 July 2015

The 2016 Tour de France starts on Saturday 2 July with a 188km stage along the coastline and across Normandy before the finish in Sainte Marie du Mont, better known around the world as Utah Beach, one of the landing sites for the Allied Invasion of 1944. It’s a day for the sprinters. Perhaps we’ll see Mark Cavendish in the hunt for that elusive yellow jersey and a healthy Marcel Kittel in the mix.

The Moment The Race Was Won: The Tour

Tuesday, 28 July 2015Sunday, 26 July 2015

Chris Froome attacks on the road to La Pierre Saint Martin, dropping Nairo Quintana, putting both time and doubts into all his rivals. This was the moment the race was won.

Tour Stage 21 Preview

Sunday, 26 July 2015

The conclusion of the 2015 Tour de France, the final stage is part victory parade, part criterium. The Champs Elysées are reserved for the riders, a privilege only accorded to cyclists and visiting heads of state. In the end a sprint finish.

Tour Stage 20 Review

Sunday, 26 July 2015Saturday, 25 July 2015

The first will be last and the last will be first. FDJ’s Alex Geniez attacked first and was the last of the early breakaway to be caught while Thibaut Pinot was sat at the back of the peloton at the start and was the first to win the stage.

Nairo Quintana took the fight to Chris Froome with a series of attacks, his last chance to take first place.

Tour Stage 20 Preview

Saturday, 25 July 2015Saturday, 25 July 2015

Have they saved the best for last? Today offers the final battle between Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana. Almost Everyone else seems on their knees and reduced to defending their position in the top-10 so we could have a duel between the top two riders on the arena of Alpe d’Huez.

It’s live from start to finish and don’t miss the early finish today, an hour earlier than usual.

Tour Stage 19 Review

Saturday, 25 July 2015Friday, 24 July 2015

How do you define a champion? Maurice De Muer, manager of Luis Ocaña, described it as someone who was capable of acting alone to turn around a bad situation to their advantage. Does this fit Vincenzo Nibali? He’s been down out in France this July but was the only rider willing to take big risks today and earned the stage win.

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