Innehållsförteckning för March 12, 2020 från Cycling Weekly

I can’t decide whether or not us cyclists are the best prepared for a public health crisis or the worst. We’re all obsessed with avoiding the dreaded cold, but sometimes we don’t exactly help ourselves either. When I was racing I went to some extreme measures to avoid catching a cold as at the time I worked part time in a bike shop and came into contact with a lot of people. I’d regularly wipe down the worktops, washing hands was nothing new and I always tried to open doors without using the part of the handle that I suspect everyone else used. Easy if you have to push, not so easy if you need to pull. I once read that chewing raw onion was a great way kill to…

Jacob Tipper took his Eddie Soens win on the all-new Ribble SL R Disc – an aero bike that won’t look out of place should the British team go up against WorldTour teams at the big British stage races later this season. As part of the Huub-Wattbike track team it’s no surprise to see aero, watt-saving adaptations across the bike to accompany the frame that is made almost entirely from truncated aerofoil shaped tubes. The in-house LEVEL bar and stem combo hides the cables and keeps the front end as clean as possible while the oversized jockey wheel cage reduces chain friction by lengthening out the curvature of the chain. Tipper also favours the aero profile of the Speedplay Zero Aero pedal underneath his definitely-no-higher-than-mid-calf-length Huub oversocks. Although Tipper didn’t…

‘Club Cinque’ veterans Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil might be the most successful French Tour riders ever but you need to go further back to pinpoint the nation’s most successful post-war race. The 1953 Tour was far less international than it is these days, but a French one-two on GC courtesy of Louison Bobet and Jean Malléjac, a total of five French riders in yellow over 16 days — plus 10 stage wins — was impressive by any standard. Describing a ragged anti-clockwise spiral around the country from its Strasbourg depart, the Tour was contested by national and regional squads, rather than trade teams, over 22 stages. The opening days belonged to Swiss Fritz Schär. Described as “small but exceedingly tough” by Cycling, he won the first two stages and…

With over 10 million users, Komoot is the biggest smart route planner and mapping app. Unique personalised planning and navigational tools ensure you plot the route that’s perfect for you, and with Komoot’s sport-specific routing, it takes your exact riding needs into account. Simply select the style of cycling, start and end points, and Komoot will plot a route using the most suitable options for you and your bike. Detailed profile displays include surface type, with the ability to select just tarmac or gravel options; elevation, allowing you to anticipate the big climbs; and even where to find a spot to camp for the night. Discover local cyclists’ recommendations that appear as ‘highlights’ on the map, including additional information and images. Navigate and save planned routes in advance, then use…

We won’t pretend otherwise: booking a spring training camp in warmer climes is ordinarily an excellent idea. But in this era of flygskam — flight-shaming — as the world battles a climate emergency and coronavirus pandemic double whammy, there’s an inescapable truth that burning several tons of carbon aboard a giant flying Petri dish in the name of a couple of watts on your FTP is getting ever harder to justify. On a more humdrum level, eking out the funds and annual leave entitlement to indulge in an overseas cycling break can be a struggle — particularly when the family holiday has to take precedence. So this spring, save the cost of a flight and spend that money on exploring the British Isles by bike — using a sustainable means…

This CW writer has always been a sucker for islands, writes Chris Marshall-Bell. My very first multi-day touring ride was a lap of the Isle of Skye, when my friends and I were blessed with sun, temperatures in the mid-20s and almost 24 hours of light. Undulating roads meant we raced each other up hills before setting our tents up next to the sea or in the shadow of the Cuillin Hills. A one-day journey saw me ride the circumference of the Isle of Wight, a 109km route that took me past white cliffs, through quaint villages, and also included two dips into the sea and two ice-cream stops — because cycling an island is about enjoying the process. I have also used hostels to my advantage. At the end…

Dorpenomloop Rucphen (March 8) Still brimming with confidence after his third place at Le Samyn last Tuesday, David Dekker (SEG Racing Academy) won the 200km UCI 1.2 race, outsprinting Canyon-dhb riders Brenton Jones and Mathew Bostock in second and third. Dekker, 22, is the son of four-time Tour de France stage winner Erik. Grote Prijs Jean-Pierre Monseré (March 8) It’s been a good year so far for Dutch national champion Fabio Jakobsen, who followed stage wins in the tours of Algarve and Valenciana with a win in this 196km 11-lapper based on Roselaere, Belgium. It was the third edition of the race, named after the late Belgian track world champion. Jock Wadley Memorial (March 8) The annual early season Jock Wadley Memorial road race in Essex was won by second-category…

For the discerning track racer in the 1950s and 1960s, the favoured way to connect bars to frame was with a Cinelli Milano stem. Made from chromed steel, it wasn’t very light, but it was very strong and not prone to slipping, and that matters when you need to put a lot of force through the bars – a top-level sprinter could have tied the aluminium bars and stems of the day into knots without breaking sweat. The Pista was elegant too, and fitted with an ornate enamelled brass badge riveted on to the top which made it instantly recognisable. The badge was optional (but almost always fitted) until quietly dropped in the early 70s. The stems came in several variants. The standard road version had a shallow 73° angle.…

Nicolas Portal’s genial nature made him a very popular directeur sportif both inside and outside the peloton, and tributes flooded in after his death. Those from the Frenchman’s Team Ineos colleagues were perhaps particularly heartfelt, not least from Chris Froome. “I have been at a loss for words since I heard the news,” wrote the four-time Tour de France winner, on Instagram. “Aside from what an amazing friend, father and husband Nico was, I don’t think people understand how important and influential Nico was in our team’s success over the years. He is completely irreplaceable to the point where it’s hard to imagine where to go from here.” Geraint Thomas, who Portal also guided to Tour victory, said: “Can’t quite get my head around it, it’s too sad. Nico was…

In a nondescript sports hall in the Alpine ski resort of Tignes, there was a commotion and a variety of French-accented groans. The L’Equipe journalists had just spotted their great hope Thibaut Pinot exit the Tour de France on the lower slopes of the Col d’Iseran. After struggling through the early Tourmalet to claim a stage victory – showing he was the strongest climber in the race in the process – was climbing off and into the back of the team car. kilometres, the man who had ignited the race on the L’Equipe’s reporters knew what it meant to the chances of French victory, they’d been witnessing moments like it for 35 years. It was over. No one expected Julian Alaphilippe to hold on to the lead that day and…

Better known for hubs and brakes, the new RX Crankset is Hope’s latest component line for the road and gravel market. It follows the classic two-piece design of most top-end cranks and runs on a 30mm bottom bracket axle so is compatible with almost any frame thanks to Hope’s own range of BBs. Hope is renowned for its exquisitely machined aluminium parts and the RX is no exception. The arms are fully CNC machined from a block of 7050 aluminium to remove as much excess material as possible; keeping weight down but retaining the same strength standards as Hope’s mtb products. The arms are also hollow and feature perfectly fitting backing plates to create a seamless look and increase stiffness. The RX is available with a classic five-bolt spider arrangement…

Most of us are guilty of sometimes forgetting that cycling, at its very best, is an adventure. We can become so engrossed in our power numbers, chasing Strava records and striving to achieve performance goals, that we discard the fun elements of the sport. Remember, building fitness doesn’t have to be toilsome. As you embark on the suggestions set out here, shift your mindset slightly so as not to fixate on the watts and average speed — because you’re still going to reap fitness benefits from spending a day or two in the saddle, regardless of the stats. When researching your route, earmark quiet roads and challenging climbs; look for the best cycling cafes, too. Maybe there is a historical landmark, or a viewpoint you wouldn’t usually pause for. Whatever…

The week: 13-19 January, 2020 Location: Majorca Preparing for: Etoile de Bessèges (5-9 February) In June last year, aged just 20, Charlie Quarterman bagged a brace of top-four stage finishes in the Baby Giro, then came home and won the British under-23 TT title. Shortly afterwards, he was rewarded with a two-year contract with Trek-Segafredo. Now 21 and in his first full season in the WorldTour, Quarterman tells us how the step up has transformed his training. What’s it been like stepping up to the WorldTour? A lot of things have changed and it does sometimes feel like a different sport. The training load, the work you have to do around training, the travelling… I have to pay much more attention to everything I do. Has the training load actually…

Bigla-Katusha rider Lizzy Banks had targeted Strade Bianche over the winter and was all prepared to race before the event was cancelled. Even before that the team had taken precautions over coronavirus. “The team were being as responsible as possible to minimise the risk by flying us into Switzerland, where they were then going to shuttle us down through Italy so we wouldn’t have to stop in northern Italy or use any of the Italian airports,” she said. They boarded a team vehicle on the way down towards Italy when they got an email saying the race was cancelled. “We were on a motorway which didn’t have another exit for 100 miles,” said Banks. “We just came off and headed straight back to the service course [in Switzerland].” She added:…

Men’s National Road Series 19 April - East Cleveland Klondike Grand Prix 10 May - Men’s Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix 30-31 May - Tour of the Reservoir 14 June - Lancaster Grand Prix 28 June - Beaumont Trophy 5 July 5 - Circuit of the Mendips 12 July - Stockton Cycling Festival Grand Prix 19 July - Ryedale Grand Prix Women’s National Road Series 10 May - Women’s Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix 30-31 May - Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir 24 June - Women’s Otley Grand Prix 28 June - Curlew Cup 5 July - Women’s CiCLE Classic 12 July - Stockton Cycling Festival Grand Prix 18 July - Ryedale Grand Prix…

London Bike Show welcomes Greipel André Greipel is set to headline the London Bike Show later this month. The Israel Start-Up Nation rider, who has won 11 Tour de France stages, will meet and greet fans at the Factor Bikes stand on Friday 27 March. He will return on Saturday 28 March for an appearance on the Performance Theatre stage for a Q&A session, where he will share insights into life as a top WorldTour sprinter. For further information or to purchase tickets, visit thelondonbikeshow.co.uk. 85.7 Chris Froome’s top speed in kph on his latest big ride. He’s been back training after his time in quarantine in the UAE, and Egan Bernal has also put in a huge ride on Strava around Monaco. Froome was out riding on Sunday (8…

I would like to give credit to Laura Kenny in the Track World Championships in Berlin last week. What a courageous woman Laura has shown herself to be. We all know she had broken her shoulder but refused an operation so she could represent her country at the event. Then she crashed early in the omnium, had time out for stitches near her eye then joined back in to the next event to finish 12th. Paul Evans, email Ed – Well deserved credit for Laura Kenny, who showed a side of herself that we’ve never seen before. We’re used to seeing her win, and we can’t remember the last time she crashed on the track in a major competition. To get back up and continue when all chance of a…

The Tour Down Under didn’t start so well for Holmes. An easier block of winter training meant he didn’t feel “fresh”. “I felt a bit unfit and sometimes crap,” he recalled. He supported Caleb Ewan as the Australian sprinter won two stages in his home race, but disappointed himself on stage three when he had the opportunity to ride himself into GC contention. However, any reservations he had about his new coaching schedule were laid to rest on stage six when he formed part of a 26-man break. He reflected: “I knew if everything went right I could do well. “I had to do everything right so I drank as much as I could, ate all day to the point of feeling sick, and I knew that no one else…

James Bracey Riding the route of the Strade Bianche, including the infamous white roads of Tuscany, calls for the cycling equivalent of a Swiss Army knife: a machine that provides the rider with the power transfer of a race bike to deal with the relentless, punishing climbs and rapid speeds of mirror-like tarmac, while on the other hand blanketing the rider in a cocoon of comfort to cope with the harsh potholes and strength-sapping vibrations for which the gravel tracks are notorious. The ability to run bigger tyres to get as much grip out of the ridiculously loose surfaces is also a bonus. And don’t forget that it would also be nice if it had the strength of an off-road bike but the weight of an Alpine climbing specialist. Fortunately…

Aspiring racer turned adventurer Josh Cunningham on the powerful effects of pedalling away somewhere new Just seven years ago, Cunningham was trying to make his way in the Belgian amateur scene, backed by the Dave Rayner Fund and racing criteriums every few days. Now, he is a seasoned cycle tourer and author of the highly acclaimed book Escape By Bike. To him, everyone should try an escapism weekend. “We all get bored doing the same loops on home roads and these ideas give you a reason to get out and explore with the same training benefits,” he tells us. “Training is serious and touring isn’t. It gives you a chance to remember the simple joy of riding, before every ride was spent looking down at a number on your computer.…

ROAD RACING SUNDAY, 8 MARCH Jock Wadley Memorial (Colchester, Essex): E, 1, 2, 3: Thomas Heal (Vredestein Basso) 83 miles in 3:21.00; 2. I. Mundy (Richardsons-Trek); 3. O. Maxwell (Saint Piran) all same time; 4. C. McNamara (Nuun-Sigma Sports London); 5. D. Hewett (Nuun-Sigma Sports London); 6. M. Bacon (DAP CC); 7. E. Ward (Inflite-Dynamic); 8. T. Lynch (London Dynamo); 9. A. Cox (Team Bottrill); 10; M. Richards (DAP CC). Evesham Vale RR (Inkberrow Village Hall, Worcestershire): E, 1, 2, 3: 1. Peter Kibble (Wales Racing Academy) 62 miles in 2:15.55; 2. J. Beckingsale (Wales Racing Academy) +0.05; 3. S. Beckett (Wales Racing Academy) same time; 4. M. Lock (Cliff Pratt Racing) +0.09; 5. J. Tipper (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) +0.24; 6. W. Roberts (Wales Racing Academy); 7. J. Whitehead…

At my first ever bike race I did surprisingly well. I wasn’t naive enough to expect this to make anyone other than me happy, and I was quite right. Back at the changing rooms, one of the local stars came up to me, stared me really closely in the face, and said, “So how did you do that, then?” “What?” I said. “You hang on to a car or something? Listen mate, we don’t want people like you.” At this point, two of his team-mates came over, took him by an arm each, and gently led him away. “Sorry about him,” one of them said over his shoulder. “He struggles with things like this.” What he’d just experienced was the unexpected thrashing. It’s something that can unhinge the most stable.…

With a very small number of exceptions, road bikes have 700c-sized wheels and tyres. The number ‘700’ supposedly refers to the diameter of the wheel, but it does not do so in any unit of measurement known to man. Like the ‘J’ in ‘Homer J. Simpson’, the ‘c’ doesn’t stand for anything at all. The standardised metric measurement of a 700c tyre is 622mm, which is the diameter of the bead. It is simple and clear, and in a sport that still works out its gear measurements by reference to the diameter of a penny-farthing wheel in inches, it is roundly ignored by everyone. The more-or-less right size for bike wheels had been worked out in the 1890s as a compromise between weight (smaller is better), rolling resistance (bigger is…

I was out last week doing some short, hard hill interval efforts – one minute on, one minute off. These are done more or less flat-out – ideally by the last few efforts I don’t even quite manage to make it to the full minute. A few seconds after the end of one of these later efforts, while I was gasping very audibly for breath and wobbling at walking pace up the hill to the spot where I turn round and go back down for the repeat, the local club run passed me going the other way. I waved. Or at least I tried to. As they rolled on down the hill I distinctly heard a voice say, “Jesus. Hutch has really let himself go.”…