The Inner Ring - Part 260

Roads to Ride: The Col du Lautaret

Saturday, 9 January 2016Saturday, 26 October 2013

As part of a series to explore the famous roads of cycling, here is the Col du Lautaret in the French Alps. The idea with this series is to discover the road and its place in the world, whether in cycling’s folklore or to explore what it is like on a normal day without a race.

The 2014 Tour de France route was unveiled and Stage 14 looks to like the Queen Stage, it’s certainly got alpine aristocracy with the climbs of the Lautaret before the Izoard and the final climb to Risoul. The Lautaret is a long climb by itself but also one of two ways to reach the start of the mighty Col du Galibier. It’s a climb that’s perfect for the Tour de France but unpleasant for others. A road not to ride?

Bringing the Tour to Town

Friday, 25 October 2013Thursday, 24 October 2013

Every year millions of French people have the Tour de France riding through their town or village. Many are indifferent, plenty will enjoy the day and some will fume with rage at the traffic chaos caused by road closures. But on the whole hosting the Tour de France is seen as a good thing and towns pay for the privilege. How much does it cost?

2014 Tour de France

Monday, 27 January 2014Wednesday, 23 October 2013

It’s official we can see the map for real, watch the excellent video montages and crucially learn more about the roads between the start and finish towns.

One Year On from the USADA Verdict

Tuesday, 22 October 2013Tuesday, 22 October 2013

One year ago the UCI gave its response to USADA’s reasoned decision and the ban imposed on Lance Armstrong. The media was convened to a hotel in Switzerland where Pat McQuaid announced the UCI accepted USADA’s verdict and it would ban Armstrong and strip him of almost all his results.

For a moment it prised open the UCI and its decision-making process but in the weeks and months that followed the UCI seemed to regress back towards obstruction and bizarre press releases. What’s happened since?

Pescheux’s Grand Départ

Tuesday, 4 April 2017Monday, 21 October 2013

Jean-François Pescheux has stepped down as the race director of the Tour de France and this week’s presentation of the 2014 route will be a parting gift.

A dominant presence in many French races, his retirement had been announced for some time giving him chance to enjoy his last Paris-Nice, a final Paris-Roubaix and turning the Tour de France into a farewell lap of France. It’s the end of an era.

Roads to Ride: La Planche des Belle Filles

Tuesday, 30 May 2017Saturday, 19 October 2013

As part of a series to explore the famous roads of cycling, here is the Planche des Belles Filles in France. The idea with this series is to discover the road and its place in the world, whether in cycling’s folklore or to explore what it is like on a normal day without a race.

The Planche des Belles Filles is a novelty that first appeared in the Tour de France in 2012. According to several sources it will be back in 2014 and it could well reveal the podium contenders once more. But for now it’s an unusually steep road that leads to a small ski station with a controversial past.

French Cycling’s Taxing Problem

Thursday, 15 July 2021Thursday, 17 October 2013

Tax is a big topic in France right now. With a promise to cut its budget deficit, the French government has been looking for ways to raise extra revenue. Meanwhile unemployment is high and many agonize over the long-standing high payroll taxes that make hiring expensive.

Beyond the newspaper front page or the business section, the saga of football club AS Monaco’s promotion to the top league of French football has put the spotlight on zero-tax Monaco vs high-tax France. It’s also a big issue behind the scenes in cycling. If it’s not a talking topic, high payroll taxes in France are fundamental to understanding why French teams face an uphill task compared to their rivals.

Less Than 100 Days Until The Tour Down Under

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

The 2013 season is drawing to a close and many riders are looking forward to a break from work with no bike to ride or diet to watch. But like all time off work, it’s never long enough and the new season is not far away. Several teams are already making plans for next year.

Here’s a look at some options for the winter and why the Tour Down Under is the equal of Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Switzerland.

2014 Pro Cycling Calendar Analysis

Tuesday, 15 October 2013Tuesday, 15 October 2013

You can download the 2014 calendar as a series of individual events and dates. But what’s the big picture? Where are all these races, which are the busiest months of the year and what’s the split of races between their different categories?

Sunday Shorts

Sunday, 13 October 2013

John Degenkolb won Paris-Tours today. The German won the bunch sprint ahead of Michael Mørkøv and Arnaud Démare but only after he, Mørkøv and Démare had been on the attack with 10km to go in a break with the likes of Sylvain Chavanel, Sep Vanmarcke and Jetse Bol.

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