Paris Roubaix is back. If the race didn’t exist they’d have to invent it, and if they invented it today the race would be banned. It’s a wild ride on a dry day thanks to the rough cobbles which are unlike anything else in pro cycling only now the forecast is for rain in the morning.
We’ll see how the race develops. Winning moves are going from far out these days and the wet cobbles, including the images from yesterday’s racing, will only encourage more to get out in front as early as possible.
Local newspaper La Voix du Nord promises enfer météorologique this weekend. It’s going to be wet for Paris-Roubaix and this is novel, none of the starters have ridden a wet Paris-Roubaix before. A few thoughts on the matter…
No other country cherishes bike racing as much as Belgium and the men’s road race is the final event in a week of festivities and sport. Only there’s one thing missing so far and that’s a home win, can Wout van Aert deliver? Here’s a quick preview…
The World Championships are on this week and some World Tour pros are riding the U23 races. They qualify by age but shouldn’t the category be reserved for developing riders?
It’s time to get your rampón, the Vuelta starts this weekend. We’re into the back end of the season but the Vuelta is back in its August slot and the perfect way to prolong summer. It’s easy to follow, this is tapas cycling with a daily diet of lively stages.
The War on Wheels, Inside the Keirin and Japan’s Cycling Subculture, by Justin McCurry
Keirin racing might appear on your radar for the annual track world championships, or even just for the summer Olympics. In Japan it’s a way of life for participants and punters alike, one of only four sports where betting is allowed. This rewarding new book takes look at keirin as a sport, as a business and along the way holds up a mirror to Japanese society.
Anna Kiesenhofer attacks Anna Plichta and Omer Shapira over the Kagosaka pass. With a lead of five minutes on Annemiek van Vleuten and six minutes on the rest with just over 40km to go, the Austrian is going solo. This was the moment the Olympic road race was won.
Kagosaka Pass was the smallest marked climb of the day and just enough to launch the winning move as Brandon McNulty and Richard Carapaz managed to break free from a group that had been bossed by Tadej Pogačar and Wout van Aert. This was the moment the men’s Olympic road race in Tokyo was won.
The women’s road race is on today and features the same start and finish but cuts out the Fuji and Mikuni mountains to make for a more hectic race that will be harder to predict in the finish, although who’d bet against another Dutch win?
We’re set for a strange edition of the Olympic Games. Unlike other sports confined to empty arenas the men’s road race is this Saturday will showcase plenty of the best of rural Japan with a mountain course featuring Mount Fuji.
Familiar names from the Tour de France like Tadej Pogačar, Wout van Aert and Richard Carapaz take on others take on Remco Evenepoel, João Almeida, the Yates brothers and more.