“It is with surprise and incomprehension that we have learned the UCI’s decision not to grant a ProTour licence to the FDJ cycling team” So says La Française des Jeux’s team manager, Marc Madiot according to cyclingnews.com. There’s been a change this year whereby teams part-qualify for a “Pro Team” licence based on ranking points … Read more
It’s a sad read at times but Matt Rendell’s “The Death of Pantani” is a powerful biography of Marco Pantani. If you’re new to cycling, Pantani was one of the most exciting riders in the 1990s, a mountain climber who appeared to marry art, emotion and sport. He died aged 34. Only the biography reveals … 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 scary moment? In recent interviews the likes of Dan Martin and Richie Porte have both expressed a similar idea: a fear of winning. In the recent Tour of Poland Dan Martin confessed to being uncomfortable with the lead and the pressure that came with it. We saw a visible example in the 2009 Dauphiné … Read more
French teams have had it easy for some time. Thanks to their mere nationality they have been guaranteed entry into the Tour de France. The magic ticket that is so precious to many teams was automatic as long as a French sponsor could rustle up a few half decent riders. No lottery for FDJ, they … Read more
Just a small observation but looking at the high end wheels there seems to be a trend of heavier rims. In recent years we’ve seen some really light wheels. Take the 2010 Reynolds MV32-T, the 32mm deep wheelset. It’s been listed at an impressive 1000 grams per pair. But the 2011 version, the “Thirty Two” … Read more
The Cofidis team are one of my favourites. This wasn’t always so but the arrival of Eric Boyer has help to clean up a messy team. Boyer has brought Dutchman Vincent Villerius in as a full-time coach, something worth noting given many bigger teams don’t have a full time coach on their books. Things aren’t … Read more
There are some foods that are particularly European. Maybe people think of fine wine, truffles, baguettes and ravioli. But for cyclists there are some particular foods that stand out. As part of a series about food in Europe for riding, here’s the third: stroopwafels. Product description Stroopwafel means sirop waffel in Dutch. It’s two soft … Read more
Loaded, and taking aim at the UCI? It’s an idea relayed by the Carrément Vélo podcast where pundit Nicolas Perthuis mentions a conversation with FDJ team boss Marc Madiot. According to Madiot, the UCI is currently evaluating whether it can afford to prosecute Contador and if it can withstand any appeals made by the Spaniard’s … Read more
Team Sungard-Saxo Bank has grabbed more headlines recently thanks to the exodus of riders and the Contador controversy. Only now Bjarne Riis has made a signing designed to change this: 35-year-old journalist Anders Damgaard. Damgaard (pictured left) will work as the team’s new press officer from January. He’s worked with Berlingske Tidende and sporten.dk, where … Read more