Innehållsförteckning för November 28, 2019 från Cycling Weekly

This week we feature our Christmas gift guide. Six pages filled with cool stuff we think you’d like to open after you get back from your morning ride. (Be sure to leave this issue lying around the house. Casually circle your favourite item if you like.) I enforced one rule when selecting items — no cycling kit. Why? Because it’s a rule enforced in the Richardson household for a few reasons. For a start, bike kit is too expensive for most of my family members to buy. And they’d never know the difference between an Italian and British-thread bottom bracket anyway My brother-in-law broke this rule a few years back and, although he doesn’t know it, it ranks as my worst ever (he doesn’t read CW, so I’m safe). He…

After declining a ride at the Cyclo-cross World Cup, Ffion James went in search of domestic honours much closer to home. The Hope Factory Racing rider from Abergavenny took her first win of the year in the National Trophy series on home ground in South Wales. James was in formidable form, taking the lead on the opening lap, and despite being put under pressure from Sophie Thackray (Scott Racing) in the early stages, she pulled out a winning gap of 57 seconds. Thackray took second and Xan Crees (Team Empella Cyclo-Cross) third. “It means a lot, my whole family was out here watching so I felt a little bit of pressure but having a home crowd really spurs you on,” said James. “I went quite deep on the first lap…

Tissot Track World Cup round three: Hong Kong (Nov 29-Dec 1) Track cycling’s World Cup heads to Asia and Hong Kong with many riders desperate for a good showing to secure Olympic qualification. Among Great Britain’s squad is Jason Kenny, who is trying to find ways to better the all-conquering Dutch sprinters. Katy Marchant — fresh off her success in Glasgow—is also riding, as is the men’s Madison pairing of Mark Stewart and Fred Wright, the latter also down to ride the omnium. Also worth watching out for is the Danish men’s team pursuit quartet, who have been blisteringly quick whenever they have stepped on the boards this winter. Cyclo-cross Masters World Championships (November 29-30) British riders won five categories in last year’s championships, including Denis Smith of Windmill Wheels,…

Dowsett signs for Israel Cycling Academy Alex Dowsett has signed for Israel Cycling Academy on a one-year deal, ensuring he competes in a 10th straight WorldTour season. Dowsett said: “ICA is a progressive team with a focus on performance. There seems to be modern-day thinking. As a rider, that is all I ask for.” Dowsett said he would target gold in the time trial at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. 8 Towns in Yorkshire named as host locations for the Tour de Yorkshire in 2020. The towns the race will visit are: Halifax, Barnsley, Beverley, Huddersfield, Leyburn, Redcar, Skipton and Leeds. The 2020 Tour de Yorkshire will take place on April 30-May 3. Peter Dodd, commercial director of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “We’re delighted Huddersfield, Leyburn, Redcar and Skipton will…

I really enjoyed watching the Tour of Britain this year and happy that the Altrincham-Manchester stage proved to be popular. Great atmosphere, great crowds and wonderful weather. It saddened me to see at the start a small group with placards protesting about Ineos because of their connection with plastic etc. Ineos is sponsoring riders as did Sky, which enables us all to enjoy cycling events. These people are obviously not cyclists and shold be kept away from cycling events. They don’t understand how important sponsors are to sport. Joyce Blow, Cheshire Ed - Glad you enjoyed spectating at the Tour of Britain. And while we hope the protesters didn’t ruin your day, the right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and must always be respected. Allowing them to…

BIKE FOR GOOD Based in Glasgow, they take bikes and any unwanted parts and accessories, such as old locks, lights, bike panniers, trailers, etc. They also do a range of bike maintenance courses. They prefer for bikes to be taken to their store but contact them for other ways. www.bikeforgood.org.uk THE CHARITY BIKE SHOP Three shops (in Prestbury, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Ditchling) set up by the charity Cyclists Fighting Cancer. They take bikes and kit for children in the UK with cancer. Send things to their shops (each with own Facebook page) or the charity’s HQ. www.cyclistsfc.org.uk RE-CYCLE.ORG Funded largely by donations of unwanted bicycles. Bikes can be dropped off at Halfords before they’re shipped to Africa and worked on by local mechanics before being shipped on to people living in…

Having seen how it was all put together, I joined Greg and Claire to give their new kit a run-out into the Bergamo hills, led by no less than Alessandro Vanotti of vanotticyclecamp.it. Vanotti rode as a super-domestique for Vincenzo Nibali at Astana — including during his 2014 Tour de France win — before packing it in in 2016 to set up a cycle training camp company. Tall and still lean, with a smile the width of one of Santini’s printing machines, Vanotti leads us out of town via a snaking combination of back streets and cycle paths. Early points are put on the board when we stop for the briefest of espressos after just 40 minutes of riding, from where it’s swiftly on to the more open country, heading…

1 IT CAN IMPROVE YOUR PROBLEM SOLVING Poor road conditions? Flat tyre? These kinds of problems occur out on the road all the time, and being able to solve them is vital. Problem solving is a skill that regular work can improve. 2 IT CAN HELP YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT There are so many facets to cycling it’s sometimes difficult to know what to focus on. Should you concentrate on training, nutrition or route planning? Getting good at time management at work can help you when you’re out on your bike. 3 IT CAN DO WONDERS FOR YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS Essential when riding in a group on the open road, working with others and learning the etiquette of a sport steeped in history. 4 IT CAN HELP YOU MAKE NEW FRIENDS…

At £100, MET’s Vinci is well placed in the mid-level helmet market. First launched at the end of summer, the Vinci shares a similar design to the Trenta — MET’s top-level helmet — but at a fraction of the price. The helmet has 16 vents and features a sunglasses port for secure storage of your specs. The helmet also comes with MIPS, which MET says allows the helmet to rotate 10-15mm in any direction in the event of a crash, redirecting rotational motion. The helmet uses MET’s SAFE-T Duo retention system. The helmet has four positions of vertical adjustment and is ponytail compatible. It’s also compatible with a Duo LED light. Alongside the Vinci, MET also has a £70 gravel helmet, the MET Allroad. Similar to the Vinci, the Allroad…

If you work full-time and also try to maintain a competitive level of bike fitness, you’re probably familiar with the following scenario: dragging yourself into the turbo den after a day at work, staring at the bike and wanting nothing more than to turn around and go to bed or divert to the sofa in front of the TV. Combining work with hitting cycling performance goals can be a tightrope walk between progress and burnout. But get it right and the results are immensely rewarding. “Amateur athletes have much less time to train,” muses former national champion and coach Matt Bottrill (mattbottrillperformancecoaching.com), who worked as a postman while dominating the domestic TT scene. “They have to fit everything in around family and work, but it is possible.” Although it’s often…

THE HIGH STREET RETAIL MANAGER Leah Dixon, 28, is a procurement category manager for a high street retailer. This year she rode for Brother UK-Tifosi What’s been the highlight of your season? I really surpassed my expectations this year. My highlight was winning the Tour of the Reservoir. We raced it really well as a team. What’s your weekly training volume? I usually have a rest day on a Monday; Tuesday to Friday are turbo days; weekends are about getting the volume in. I train 10 to 15 hours a week — any more would just be too much, as I’d either feel really tired or I start getting ill. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about getting the balance right? Last winter I’d sometimes come home tired and…

The week: October 21-27, 2019 Location: Derby Training for: UCI Track World Cup It’s been a dream year for John Archibald. He kicked off 2019 with a national record: racing in Switzerland in January, he recorded 4min 10.17sec for the individual pursuit — then the fastest ever at sea level. That same month, the Scot went even quicker on his way to winning the individual pursuit national title, where with his Huub-Wattbike team he also won the team pursuit gold. Come June, it was two medals again at the road National Championships, silver in the individual time trial and bronze in the road race. He won July’s Stockton GP in stunning style from a 100km solo break, and in September medalled in the mixed relay in the World Championships. Here,…

Tour of Fuzhou (November 17-23) Canyon-dhb-Bloor Homes had a successful week in China with Rory Townsend winning both two bunch sprints on stages one and two — his first ever wins at UCI level. Charles Page, 20, recorded two third places, while Max Stedman finished 12th overall. Ambiancecross (November 23) European champion Yara Kastelijn (777) made it five wins for the season in Belgium, bettering world champ Sanne Cant (Iko Crelan) by 17 seconds. Fourth-placed Tom Pidcock (Trinity Racing) was 20 seconds short of a podium in the men’s race, won by Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus). Telenet cyclo-cross World Cup round 5: Koksijde (November 24) Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado claimed her first ever cyclo-cross World Cup victory, attacking late on to beat Lucinda Brand and Kastelijn. Van der Poel…

Occasionally in your cycling life it will fall upon you to provide inspiration — perhaps to a club-mate, a spouse, or a child. You will want to help them achieve their very best self and get the results they deserve. First, you should tell them how talented and hard-working you are yourself. Tell them, in as much detail as seems appropriate, how you won your greatest victories, and for the avoidance of doubt, just how important those events were. Dwell on your natural talent, and your painstaking preparation. This will help them to emulate you. (Or, at the very least, they’ll think, “Bloody hell. If he can do it, so can anyone.”) Tell them how much of a disappointment they’ve been up till now. Remind them of their previous failures…

An entry in the ‘unusual excuses’ competition. Last spring I left my time trial bike on the patio after cleaning. When I came back, a large swarm of bees had taken up residence on the handlebars. There they remained, for two days. I didn’t dare move the bike. Eventually, on the morning of the club championships, in desperation I rang the RSPCA, who referred me to a local beekeeper. With the clock ticking down to the race, he promised to come and remove the bees. He didn’t arrive until it was too late. He was very apologetic about it, but it didn’t help. I missed the race. This means, I think, that I’m the only rider who has ever missed their cub championships because his emergency beekeeper was stuck in…

They might be a Christmas cliché, but we all need socks. These days it seems the louder the better. As cycling socks have got longer, designers have been given more space to expand their (let’s face it, sometimes questionable) minds. Wear with pride, wear with sunglasses, wear with caution. But never ever wear them over the top of your tights or leg-warmers. It’s down to you to check if they’re UCI legal. www.pongolondon.cc - www.victorychimp.cc - www.this-is-cambridge.com…

Looking almost identical to the non-motorised version, the SuperSix Evo Neo shares the same frame design and tech that Cannondale lavished on the new Supersix Evo — just with added power. It’s the first time that Cannondale has launched a lightweight electric road bike, and it joins a growing list of electrified lightweight bikes, with the new field becoming an increasingly competitive sector of the cycling market. Aero attitude The new Cannondale SuperSix Evo-Neo has a focus on aerodynamics. Its Ballistec carbon frame’s truncated airfoil tube shapes can generate up to 30 percent less drag, according to Cannondale. “The Evo Neo is one of the lightest e-bikes” “Drag reduction has a huge effect on speed and performance in cycling,” said Nathan Barry, Cannondale design engineer. “This holds true for e-road…

The solicitor acting for former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman in his misconduct hearing has asked for the General Medical Council (GMC) to exert pressure on the Daily Mail newspaper to release documents that are related to his case. Mary O’Rourke QC says that a signed affidavit from Shane Sutton that is being held by the newspaper could help Freeman’s cause. The document, she says, contains a “number of lies” and inconsistencies with the evidence that former British Cycling head coach Sutton gave to the Departure of Culture, Media and Sport enquiry into the case when he appeared before them. The Daily Mail has acknowledged receipt of the initial request, but O’Rourke has asked the GMC to put more pressure on the paper by issuing an obtaining…

Despite its current financial difficulties, Welcome to Yorkshire has said it’s “a case of when not if” either the Tour de France returns to the county or it welcomes the Vuelta a España for the first time. It was recently revealed the tourist board has just 12 months to repay a £500,000 loan that prevented its collapse, but the organisation is focused further ahead. “We are still on course for that big prize [of hosting a Grand Tour],” the commercial director of Welcome to Yorkshire, Peter Dodds, told the Yorkshire Post. Dodds said talks were ongoing and it was only a matter of time before the race returns to northern England: “The Tour de France has been here once, when will the second time be? We’re still having the conversations…

It may be a pretty big deal having Lizzie Deignan as your patron, but Otley Cycling Club earned the Club of the Year crown in last year’s Cycling Weekly Awards thanks to a wide range of projects and ventures that cement their status as a progressive set-up while maintaining their original ethos as a serious club for competitive cyclists. Part of this is the club’s inclusivity, as evidenced by their impressive women’s and young riders’ sections. “The kids’ coaching is extremely popular,” says female member Claire Jessop, a keen time triallist who you may have seen bothering the top women’s positions in the local opens. And it’s that kids’ coaching that helps make the club so competitive on the local circuit. “We’re really building on the youth and the race…

It’s never too late to go back to work. The skills you learn and the things you experience can enrich and improve your life, regardless of age. Just ask Mark, who for the last nine months has been a Customer Experience Leader at McDonald’s. To some, a return to work may seem daunting. But it’s something Mark absolutely relishes… “What I like the most is meeting new people every day, because every day is different when people come into the restaurant, especially children. When families come into the restaurant, I show them where the baby change toilets are and after they have their meal I give them balloons to see them off and say goodbye. “As a team player I always make sure I go and find out if the…

There are just three models of the new Cannondale SuperSix Evo Neo, and all three use the same ebikemotion system and Ballistec carbon frame, the difference is in their specification. The Evo Neo One will ship with Dura-Ace Di2 and Knot 45 wheels and cost £7,999. The Evo Neo 2 is available in a Sage Gray colour, with Ultegra Di2, Cannondale RDe 2.0 rims and will cost £4,999. The final model, the SuperSix Evo Neo 3, has a Shimano 105 groupset with FSA chainrings, Cannondale RDe 1.0 rims and will retail at £3,599.99. The top two models also come with the Knot SystemBar while the third-level Neo comes with an aluminium bar and stem.…

USEEME WRISTBANDS Useeme wristbands empower cyclists with car-like indicator lights. Just raise an arm to indicate turning, sensors will recognise the hand signal and light up the wristband with flashing orange LEDs — a signal recognised by all drivers. USB rechargeable, rainproof, and fully automatic, this smart safety bracelet will protect your bike commuter friend or family member. Comes in two sizes, and costs £51.99 a pair with free UK shipping. www.useeme.bike LIVALL HELMET The LIVALL BH51T Neo Smart Cycle Helmet has essential smart lights front and back, including brake warning lights and indicator lights. It’s ideal for any cyclist to keep them visible during the darker winter months. The helmet also includes a fall-detection alert, SOS system and anti-loss alarm. £99 www.livall.co.uk or www.amazon.co.uk CYCLEMILES GIFTS CycleMiles has over…

It’s not only domestic-level racers who have to fit in training around work. There are even riders competing in WorldTour races who perform the amazing juggling act — for example, Drops rider Joscelin Lowden What do you do for work? I am a project manager for an IT and business solutions consultancy based in central London. Being a consultancy, the projects are generally elsewhere, so I spend a lot of time working from home or on client site. How is your time divided between work and racing? I work part-time, three days a week roughly, but I spread it out over the whole week to flex around training and racing. Training is around 15 hours a week with slightly more in the winter and less during race season. What do…

What are your key training rules for amateurs who work full-time? The key for amateurs is consistency, and being realistic about what can be achieved in the time they have available. Being as organised as possible is imperative, and following a structured training programme has very definite benefits. What about family commitments on top of work? For some people, these can help. In my own experience, I found that when presented with less time to train, I had to become really consistent and intelligent in my approach to training. Mentally, I found a new strength from wanting to do something for my family, to make them proud. Those working at a desk face different struggles to those on their feet — any specific advice? If you’re largely sedentary, keeping mobile…

CYCLO-CROSS SAT-SUN, NOVEMBER 23-24 Elite Men: 1. Arne Vrachten (Acrog-Pauwels-Sauzen) 58.49; 2. G. Van Der Meer (Bombtrack Bicycles) +0.15; 3. J. Siemons (Telenet Baloise Lions) +0.44; 4. Y. Peeters (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) +1.15; 5. I. Field (Neon Velo) +1.31; 6. G. Siebens (IKO-CRELAN) +2.16; 7. L. Dejonghe (Group Hens) +2.37; 8. S. James (Hope Factory Racing) +3.32; 9. M. Taylor (Prologue RT) +3.36; 10. S. Flynn (Team Inspired) +3.48. Elite women: 1. Ffion James (Hope Factory Racing) 49.01; 2. S. Thackray (SCOTT Racing) +0.57; 3. X. Crees (Team Empella Cyclo-cross.com) +1.36; 4. F. Turnbull (Slingshot) +1.42; 5. A. Perryman (Hargroves-Montezuma’s) +2.00; 6. A. Baker (Team Empella Cyclo-cross.com) +1.33; 7. A. Manley (Hargroves-Montezuma’s) +3.12; 8. L. O’Donnell (Verge Sport PI Cycles) +3.24; 9. M. Lynn (Team Jadan-Weldtite) +4.28; 10. C. Dallimore (Cardiff…

For most of my bike-riding career I have been self-coached. There were several seasons where I underwent a very attritional campaign of nagging from an expert with several degrees and years of experience helping bike riders, but I prefer to think of him more as a consultant to me-the-coach who in turn looked after me-the-athlete. The problem with coaching yourself is that your athlete is a moron. You don’t need to feel bad about that, though, because so is your coach. The fact you know you’re a moron means you don’t take your own advice, and the fact you know you won’t take the advice means that you tend to skimp on actually working it out properly in the first place. The only way around this problem I ever found…