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n last week’s magazine we spoke to Erick Rowsell about his new role as the man in charge of British Cycling’s elite road racing scene. A tough job if ever there was one. One of Rowsell’s first jobs was to inform teams that BC was scrapping TV coverage that went out on Eurosport in recent seasons, and the outcry followed soon after. For diehard fans it’s a shame to lose that coverage, but it’s a very expensive way — approximately £1m over three years — to keep a few thousand viewers happy. Some rounds of the Circuit Series were watched by fewer than 4,000 people. TV coverage is often mistakenly thought of as a golden bullet to save a sport. It’s not. Putting something on TV doesn’t make it a great event that people want to watch. The budget and support that BC has available should be put towards helping organisers create great races, but even then that’s no guarantee. For an event to stand a chance of being successful it needs a hard-working, thick-skinned organiser, a supportive local council and police force, a wealthy sponsor, a strong start list and a bit of luck. TV coverage is part of the mix for a successful event, of course, but it’s the icing on the cake, and only works if people want to watch it.
Can you coach yourself to success?
20 Our season preview for 2020
SIMON RICHARDSON Editor simon.richardson@ti-media.com
Photos Gett y Images, Daniel Gould
MY H I G H LI G H T S T H I S W E E K 06 Matt Holmes grabs Britain’s first win of 2020 08 Huub prepare for record attempts 60 Why laypeople don’t understand Dr Hutch’s greatness
48
IN FOCUS A fine start In his first WorldTour outing, Wigan’s Matt Holmes (Lotto-Soudal) sprints away from Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) to win atop Willunga Hill — the sixth and final stage of the Tour Down Under. It’s the race’s traditional hilltop shootout and a place where Porte — who was second on the stage and won the GC — has been the victor for the past six years. It is by far the biggest career victory for Holmes, who has ridden for Madison-Genesis for the past six seasons, and won the National Road Series last year. Photo Getty Images
NEWS
Neo-pro Holmes goes from zero to hero on Willunga Hill Last year Brit was winning domestic races with Madison-Genesis
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atthew Holmes gave himself “zero chance” of winning on Willunga Hill, but on the decisive climb of the Tour Down Under on Sunday he did just that. Holmes, who spent six years racing on the British domestic scene before joining WorldTour team Lotto-Soudal this year, outsprinted Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) to the win on Willunga, a climb on which Porte has won for the last six years. The 26-year-old from Wigan, who was riding his first ever WorldTour race, had been speaking with girlfriend Josie Knight, who had ridden to two national titles at the Manchester Velodrome in the preceding days, on a daily basis while in Australia. She told CW: “It’s so different for him now being on a WorldTour team and he’s had to change his coach too. Every day he’s been like, ‘I don’t feel the same. I just don’t think this coaching is working for me and I need to go back to Bob.’ But I was like, ‘Just have some faith. You know, you’ve never raced in January before.’ And yesterday, the morning of that stage, I said, ‘How are you feeling?’ He said, ‘I might go in the breakaway.’ I said, ‘Why would you do that?’ He said, ‘Well, I’ve got zero chance up this hill.’ And I responded with, ‘Well, you’ve got zero chance if you talk like that.’ “Obviously, I only woke up to it this morning — he’d sent me a text saying he'd won. I just screenshot his message saying he had zero chance up the hill, and I was like, ‘How did that work out then?’” In 2019 Holmes won the Manx
International and placed sixth at the Tour de Yorkshire. Knight said Holmes had always felt he had results like Sunday’s in him. “He’s always been someone who really relishes it when it’s hard. Every opportunity he’s had to race on a WorldTour level standard he’s proven himself. With Madison-Genesis they got two chances a year in Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain and every year he was taking those opportunities and I think he just needed someone to take a chance on him. Lotto did that and he’s shown it was worth their while.” Holmes’s former team-mate at MadisonGenesis Jon Mould said that Holmes was always one of the strongest riders on the UK scene. “In the UK we know he’s a good climber; he just lacked that winning instinct sometimes in races,” Mould said. “He’s always good riding off the back of other people. He hasn’t always been the best racer, the best at reading the race.” Both Mould and Knight said that this result could give Holmes the confidence to achieve even more in the coming months.
“In the UK we know he’s a good climber” 6 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
WORLDTOUR OPENER
Richie Porte snatches Tour Down Under win
Holmes‘s victory on Willunga Hill could be the launchpad for a breakthrough season
Porte dispatched a quality field on the famous incline
Words Vern Pitt Photos Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Richie Porte grabbed his second overall victory at the Tour Down Under with a dazzling attack up Willunga Hill to bring the race back together and cross the line ahead of all his GC opponents. Although the Trek-Segafredo rider was pipped to the line by Brit Matthew Holmes (Lotto-Soudal) he’d done enough to distance his GC rivals on the early part of the climb, including ochre jersey wearer Daryl Impey and Simon Yates, both of Mitchelton-Scott. “It was a hard day for our team,” said the Tasmanian. “There were times when I thought maybe the GC was over and done with because it was a big group up the road. But credit to the guys, almost singlehandedly, they brought that all back.” Porte added: “When Yates sat on my wheel, the mind battles started a bit because he’s a fantastic bike rider, and I knew my work was cut out. “I had to ride him off the wheel as well. He’s got youth on his side to me — I’m getting on a bit [34] — but I just had to do my own race. I was on my limit; it was probably one of the faster times that we’ve gone up here.” The Australian said that although he was disappointed to lose his title as king of Willunga Hill he would “take the ochre jersey any day”. Porte is now due to race Paris-Nice and the Tour de Romandie en route to the Tour de France.
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 7
NEWS
Huub-Wattbike won the team pursuit at the National Track Championships
Huub-Wattbike head to altitude in a campervan ahead of record bids Preparation begins for pursuit and Hour challenges
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he Huub-Wattbike team will head to altitude in a campervan to prepare for their assault on a raft of world records following a highly successful showing at the National Track Championships over the weekend. In Manchester at the weekend they won the team pursuit with a time of 3.54.0, a new championship and track record, while John Archibald and Jonny Wale picked up the individual pursuit and kilo titles respectively. Between now and the record attempts in Bolivia in April, the team will spend two stints at altitude in Tenerife, one this month, the other in March, but they won’t be staying at Team Ineos’s favoured Parador de Cañadas del Teide. “Do you know how expensive that is?” rider Dan Bigham said when Cycling Weekly enquired if they were staying at
the hotel. “We’ve got an AirBnB and a motorhome. The motorhome was £400 for two weeks, so that’s on the drive, then there’s two bunk beds and a double in the AirBnB. Very Breaking Bad!” “Jonny is probably in the motorhome; he wanted that. I was like, ‘Are you stupid, mate? It’s minus two at night! I’ll take the nice AirBnB with the fire’.”
decided to compete in gravel races he can get paid for instead. Lambie may yet be a part of the team Huub ride against in the team pursuit. They themselves will need to be fairly fast, riding at around 3.58 pace at sea level, Bigham estimated. Those riders are due to be appointed within the next month. The record attempts are officially a C2 class event and therefore fans are permitted, should they make the trip, to watch it live. “Knock yourself out,” said Bigham. “There are no tickets, it’s free to watch.” “We’ll live stream it all anyway. We’re still figuring out all the logistics of a good quality live stream, not just an iPhone and gimble. We want to do it properly with commentary and analysis. There’s no point just saying we rode a 3.40-whatever, we want people to be a part of it and enjoy it.”
8 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Bigham added it was “a shame” that American Ashton Lambie, who has intermittently been part of the team, was unlikely to be a part of the record attempts as he has been unable to commit to the camps after USA Cycling cut funding for the national team pursuit squad. He has
Photo Andy Jones
“We’ll live stream it. We want to do it properly”
TRACK WINNERS
BC’s Team Inspired sprint squad made light work of victory in Manchester
No sprinter safe in Olympic selection Nationals Team sprint triumph shows British strength in depth ahead of Tokyo 2020
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fter a commanding team sprint win at the National Championships that drew on all five of British Cycling’s men’s sprint squad, not even six-time Olympic champion Jason Kenny can consider his Tokyo Olympic spot safe. Kevin Stewart, sprint coach, said the competition to be in the Olympic team sprint line-up was stronger than it had been in recent Olympic cycles. “One of the biggest things we’ve learned in each cycle is that there’s always a new kid that comes up in the last minute and finds his way into the team. So there’s nothing to suggest that won’t happen again,” he said. “All the lads see how strong the team is at the moment and none of them can take the foot off the gas for a second.” If anyone had a good claim to their spot it would be Ryan Owens, who has been the fastest man in the world at position one over the track season and thinks he still has more to give. “I’d love to find a little bit more and I’d love to break the world record for my man one position at the World Championships. I’ve been within five hundredths of a second of it the whole World Cup season. I had maybe five or six 10 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
rides within a tenth of a second and I never got it, so I’d love to do that. But it is a team event and I need to make sure I’m delivering man two too,” he said. Whoever goes to the World Championships and then on to the Olympics will be facing off against a dominant and incredibly consistent Dutch squad who have stamped their authority on the sprint disciplines. The squad have had mixed fortunes, losing out to the Dutch by just under four tenths of a second at the Minsk World Cup in November, but then collapsing to be over a second off the pace in Glasgow a week later. Speaking about the World Championships at the end of the month, Owens said: “If we can peg those Dutch boys back a tenth or two each time we go away and come back and race, then we can go into the Olympics a bit more confident of our chances.” Stewart was a little more bullish. “Whether the Dutch are a millisecond or a second in front of us at the Worlds, we’re not worried about that. For us, it’s still about a process. It’s still about understanding how to do the best ride possible on the day of the Olympics,” he said.
National Track Championships: Breeze dominate women’s contests The BC academy team of Team Breeze dominated the women’s events at the National Championships, winning the team pursuit, locking out the podium of the women’s scratch race, winning the points race and the individual pursuit. Josie Knight kicked off proceedings, claiming the individual pursuit title before Ella Barnwell won the scratch race and a quartet including those two also won the team pursuit. Anna Shackley then took off from the points race peloton with 3km to go and held on to win. The most closely fought contest of the competition was the women’s sprint title, eventually won by Lauren Bate (Team Terminator), who beat Milly Tanner in three rides in the final.
Shackley topped the points podium
Other national champions crowned included Rhys Britton (Team Inspired), who triumphed in a hotly contested men’s points race and the scratch race; Scotswoman Lauren Bell (Black Line) who won the women’s keirin after launching a long sprint in the final and backed it up by winning the 500m time trial title the following day. Meanwhile, Hamish Turnbull from the Slingshot team won the men’s sprint and his team-mates Millie Tanner and Blaine Ridge Davies won the women’s team sprint title. Joe Truman won the men’s keirin.
Photos Andy Jones
NEWS
2020 Tour Dates: June 12th – 14th July 13th – 17th July 25th August 29th – 31st
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COLUMNISTS
NEW
OPINION Tipper: “high level of racing” on the UK cycling scene
JACOB TIPPER
Without TV it’s time to f ight for our domestic scene’s survival
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ast week British Cycling announced an end to the Eurosport coverage of the National Road Series. Sadly, the viewing figures haven’t lived up to expectations. If a company is struggling for sales, they have two options: put more money into marketing or pull out altogether to cut spending. British Cycling has done the latter, so while there will be short highlight videos post-race, there’ll be no full race coverage. So why is no one watching? Well, unfortunately, while this previous television investment may have been driven by good intentions, it simply wasn’t accessible and readily available. Now it’s
12 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
fair to say BC isn’t culpable for Eurosport’s scheduling, but its schedules were rarely up to date, with races shown at obscure times, days to weeks after the event. Viewing figures would be poor for the FA Cup fi nal if it wasn’t shown until 6am two Tuesdays after it had happened, so the Ryedale GP is obviously going to struggle. Meanwhile, this Lincoln GP, arguably the UK’s most famous domestic race, is searching for a lead sponsor and the longrunning Eddie Soens has only just been pulled from the brink of extinction. It would be great to think the money saved can be driven into rescuing these quality races. So what can we do about it, other than
badgering certain British Cycling-based Twitter accounts? I would implore people to please follow our UK-based scene. I realise we aren’t dancing up any mountains at 6W/kg but it’s a high level of racing; our National Series races have been raced by Bradley Wiggins, Chris Lawless and Tom Pidcock. And there are some fierce team battles out on the road. Then hopefully BC can match any increased enthusiasm generated with some forward progressive steps. Maybe we could even get some races on Netfl ix.
Jacob Tipper rides for Ribble Pro Cycling and Huub-WattBike and runs his own coaching company
ELLIE DICKINSON
I can hear the satisfying noise of a whisk while I type this. It’s our second rest day of training camp in Valencia and that noise means the chef is making pancakes. It’s hard being a professional cyclist. I have mixed emotions when it comes to a rest day. I love the feeling of being exhausted from training and I love the satisfaction of a big training day. But I do need the mental break. So I switch off from bike life and search for those endorphins elsewhere. Since July ‘elsewhere’ has mainly been my little puppy, Harley. However my day has gone, on the bike or off the bike, my little pup is always excited to see me! Training camp rest days surrounded by humans opposed to puppies are... different (would my humans be insulted if I said boring?). Lots of meetings to be had with staff, limited coffee shops nearby and the fear of
“My pup is always excited to see me”
tomorrow’s session looming. Yet today there’s also a feeling of satisfaction: two solid blocks of training completed, seven days of pushing on in the bank, three more days to empty the tank... and seven days closer to my happy pup!
Ellie Dickinson is a GB track cyclist, bidding for a TP spot in Tokyo
NEVER BE AFRAID TO WALK T W E E TS O F TH E W EE K
Chloe Hosking Yesterday at the Tour Down Under Q&A I had two ladies ask for a photo with me. They asked the first person they saw to take it. It was Romain Bardet. He looked shocked and then took the photo like a champ. Although I haven’t checked, might have just taken selfies of himself. Thanks Romain! @chloe_hosking
Adam Hansen With @CalebEwan 66.6% winning success rate, he is going to make our @Lotto_Soudal alcoholics @HansenAdam
As a professional cyclist I always took the advice ‘never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down’ fairly seriously. Instead of just applying it to periods of recovery, or to the days around competition, I managed to weave it into most parts of my life. I walked only when I had no choice. Perhaps I really thought this was the best thing for my performance, or maybe it was just a really good excuse to be lazy when I wasn’t riding my bike. As I transitioned from road racing into gravel riding and ultra-endurance events, I began reading about the benefits of cross-training. Not only on performance, but also on bone density and general health. I also encountered the need for walking. Each time I arrived at an unrideable climb that required me to embrace a short hike, I cursed my past love of sitting down. I feel generally stronger now, but I also hurt in lots of places that aren’t used to these new demands. I don’t know what the moral of the story is. Perhaps it’s to enjoy pedalling your bike, but that it’s also good to put one foot in front of the other sometimes.
“I cursed my past love of sitting down”
Former pro Molly Weaver is taking on some new challenges for Orbea RT
Photos SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd)
PUPPIES ARE BETTER THAN HUM A N S
M O L LY W E AV E R
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 13
NEWS
THE HUB All the news you might have missed from the last seven days BC axes TV coverage British Cycling has scrapped its National Road Series TV broadcasts on Eurosport, blaming a poor return on investment. Instead, it will now partner with media company Cyclevox to provide a highlights package. An email sent by British Cycling’s elite road department to teams, said the body wanted to “seek the very best return on investment in order to benefit our events, teams and the wider sport”.
$30k Race coverage will be condensed into a highlights package
W Degenkolb gets his own Roubaix secteur John Degenkolb is to have a sector of pavé in ParisRoubaix named after him, making him the first foreign rider to do so. The LottoSoudal rider, who won the race in 2015 and is an ambassador of Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix, received the honour thanks to the part he played in saving the Junior Paris-Roubaix last year, helping a crowdfunding campaign raise £10,000.
John’s Degenkobbles?
*Apologies to Pfeiffer Georgi, whose name we mistakenly listed as Georgi Pfeiffer in our news piece on the Women’s TDU last week.
Gravel racing: more than just a gimmick
Gravel Worlds in the offing The UCI could look to create a World Championship for gravel riding, says president David Lappartient. The discipline has “a real future and huge potential” he said at a Tour Down Under press conference, adding: “We discussed it and it’s something we are working on. “Gravel has been in our DNA since the beginning and is now popular again,” he said, citing the Strade Bianche and off-road sections in the Tour de France.
14 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Tour/Giro Prague start? We could see both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia starting in the Czech capital of Prague in the future, reports say. City officials have met with their national cycling federation and also Tour organiser ASO, while Prague councillor Vit Simral has said that the Giro is interested too. “We want a Tour in Prague,” he said. “At the same time we need to address the interest of the Giro d’Italia.”
Photos Yuzuru Sunada, SW Pix
That’s £22,000. For some, it’s an annual salary, while for superwealthy super-fans of cycling’s most notorious pariah, it’s the cash they’ll be splashing to spend a week cycling around Majorca in his company. Lance Armstrong has teamed up with George Hincapie to create ‘Move Majorca 2020’ — five days of riding with the pair of them, with special guest Johan Bruyneel on hand to talk about cycling at the top level. On the other hand you could have your own Majorca trip for around a hundredth of the price!
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THE BIG QUESTION
Tour de Yorkshire: home fans’ favourite
What races are you most looking forward to in 2020?
Q Since seeing the Tour de Yorkshire route, I’m very excited to be there for two stages on my home roads. It’s going to be a very special race. Tim Bonville-Ginn Q Crystal Palace crits on a Tuesday evening, anyone?! Mark Starkey Q Paris-Roubaix as always and definitely the Tour this year. Last year was great and there is a big expectation that this will match it or exceed it. John Cartwright
Q Milan-San Remo because it means that winter riding is behind us and light nights are just around the corner. David Jackson Q Tour de Yorkshire. It’s my local race and it makes a huge difference to be able to go to the roadside and see it for real. And the start or finish is an event in itself. Mark Middleton Q Probably Muckle CC road race on April 5 then Roubaix. Greg Charlton Q Paris-Nice, as it always falls on the week of my birthday, and because it’s known as “the race to the sun” it makes me think that winter is almost over, and summer is on its way! Andy Miller
GET IN TOUCH
cycling@ti-media.com 0 1 2 5 2 555213 16 | January 20, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Q TdF because of Jumbo-Visma going with three ‘cannons’. Maarten Amkreutz Q Olympics, Tour, Worlds, Giro... all feature highly but nothing tops Paris-Roubaix. Paul Adams Q Given the Olympics this year, riders’ training schedules may mean different Grand Tour ambitions and performances. The Giro could be really interesting, as could the Tour. Louise Grant
NEXT WEEK’S BIG QUESTION… Inspired by reader Lew Lawton who came across a Dalek, we want to know what’s the strangest thing you’ve seen while out riding? Reply to us at cycling@ti-media.com or at www.facebook.com/CyclingWeekly
FIND US ON
FAC E B O O K
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I N S TA G R A M
Photo Getty Images
Q Tour of Britain in the Lakes and Strade Bianche because it’s a really unusual race. The Tour de France, of course, is going to be massive, with Team Ineos versus Lotto-Visma. Mark Hancock
LETTER OF THE WEEK
W H AT YO U ’ R E SAYI N G Has racing by numbers ruined the art of the breakaway?
Italian Vini Zabú team ban power meters in races
Bet they don’t do very well. If they were successful I would have thought the team would be obsessed with the numbers instead of the riders — Mickey Mouse! Dominic Britt When Chloe Dygert destroyed everyone in Yorkshire in the TT, she said she pulled the power meter so she could just ride. Which she did. David Wachtel
Love this. Get back to learning to ride by feeling your sensations, not your numbers. Richard Hill That’s just soooo Italian cycling. Jake Keatt Well, while we’re setting back pro cycling a few years, why not go way back, eliminate team cars and mechanics, and make the riders carry their own spares? Chris Smith We all agree that power meters are a very important part of training. But as a cycling fan I would like to see more emotion in professional cycling, with riders riding with their feelings and instinct. Ricardo Luz
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I’m a long-serving cyclist of all disciplines since the late 1960s. For the past 30 years my miles have mainly been achieved on a mountain bike, and just recently my partner and I bought e-mountain bikes. Oh, how it has enhanced our cycling. On days when you would look out of the window, think of all that mud, those ‘unclimbable’ steep climbs and say, “not today”, you just tog up and get out and enjoy. The e-bike has the ability to make every day a fun day, a cycling day, and not as it sometimes is, a grovelling day. I was one of those riders who cried “cheat” every time an e-bike rider passed by. Not any more. My cycling has been enhanced by my new electrically assisted machine. My lightweight mtb and road bikes remain my ‘go to’ bikes in good weather conditions. I’m not going so far as to suggest that all cyclists should buy an e-bike, but I would hope that the ones like me who were prejudiced would think again. They are a great addition to the vast range of bikes now available. And most of all, they increase the number of people out there pedalling. Steve Rowley, Staffs
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Photo Gett y Images
Next, ban team orders and live race info. Let the riders race without knowing if they will catch or be caught. This will be much more entertaining as people will bonk, leave it too late, etc. We will also see much bigger swings of time in the big tours. Lee Ross
Ecstatic about e - bikes
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 17
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2020 SEASON PREVIEW
As a new decade begins, the pro race scene at home and abroad has rarely looked healthier. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our essential guide to the teams and races that matter over the coming year
20 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
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BAHRAIN-MCLAREN France Riders: 28 Under 26: 9 Over 35: 1
Key stat: Only three of the team’s 14 wins came from outside France last year. No longer the chief darling of the French following a floundering performance at the Tour while compatriots Thibaut Pinot and Julian Alaphilippe starred, Romain Bardet will this year skip the Tour altogether in order to make his debut at the Giro — a race that, if he can recapture his form of a few years ago, he could very well make his first ever Grand Tour overall win. That gives younger riders like Pierre Latour a chance to step up in the race that remains the team’s most important, while Oliver Naesen might finally land the major Classic he’s long promised.
A STA N A Kazakhstan Riders: 28 Under 26: 10 Over 35: 1
Key stat: Last year Astana had won 25 races before May, a total bettered only by Deceuninck-Quick Step. When the Kazakh government founded Team Astana in 2007, it was presumably to exorcise Borat-related stereotypes and build an association between their national identity and sporting prowess — not cultivate the kind of villainous image that doping scandals and controversies have wrought. Several years without a doping positive and a prolific run of victories in 2019 (including Jakob Fuglsang at the Dauphiné and Liège) has kept them in the headlines for the right reasons recently, although the departure of riders like Pello Bilbao and Magnus Cort Nielsen does moderate the strength in depth last year’s success was built on.
Bahrain No of riders: 29 Under 26: 10 Over 35: 1
Key stat: Bahrain is a truly international team, with 13 different nations spread over 26 riders. How was the off-season? A lot changed, with a big British sponsor coming on board in place of Merida, which is retained as bike supplier. With the arrival of McLaren came new management, with new team principal Rod Ellingworth, performance director Roger Hammond, and McLaren brain Duncan Bradley taking on a technical director role.
Man on the spot Everyone who knows new Bahrain signing Mark Cavendish will tell you ‘write him off at your peril’. He didn’t have a great season in 2019, perhaps taking more time than expected to recover from the Epstein Barr Syndrome that has plagued him for so long. However, at Bahrain he will be reunited with his old coach and mentor Ellingworth — who knows what the two of them could achieve together? Ones to watch Freed from his shackles at Ineos, it will interesting to see what climber and former LiègeBastogne-Liège winner Wout Poels can achieve, while Landa represents the team’s obvious crack at Grand Tour glory. Young Fred Wright, fresh off the boards with Team GB in his first pro year, will also be worth keeping an eye on.
Biggest challenge in 2020 The team calls its change from Bahrain-Merida to BahrainMcLaren a “bold new chapter”, and you can’t create a bold new chapter without setting yourself up for a challenge. As well as one of their most successful riders, Vincenzo Nibali, jumping ship to TrekSegafredo, the arrival of McLaren means structural changes. With Wout Poels and Mikel Landa now on board, they mightn’t miss Nibali too much, New name, new kit, new and generally targets for the Bahraini team
Photos Yuzuru Sunada
AG2R LA MONDIALE
these seem like positive changes that should inject new life into the team. But with such things come teething problems and transition periods. We might need to wait until 2021 until this team is performing at full capacity.
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BORA-HANSGROHE
COFIDIS
Germany Riders: 27 Under 26: 5 Over 35: 3
France Riders: 28 Under 26: 10 Over 35: 2
Key stat: No team bettered their total of five sprint wins at Grand Tours last year.
Key stat: The team was founded in 1996, 24 years ago.
Just as well Peter Sagan isn’t the jealous type with the wave of talent emerging at Bora-Hansgrohe. Pascal Ackermann was the best sprinter at the Giro, Emanuel Buchmann shocked everyone to finish fourth at the Tour, and young all-rounder Maxi Schachmann showed flashes of brilliance to suggest a huge future lies ahead of him. This influx of talent meant something had to give, and Irish sprinter Sam Bennett and Davide Formolo have left to seek more leadership opportunities.
Welcome back to the big league, Cofidis! The long-running French team have been reissued a WorldTour licence after a decade-long hiatus, and, undeterred by their exasperating experiences with Nacer Bouhanni, have again pinned all their hopes on a single star sprinter through new marquee signing Elia Viviani. Fortunately, there are plenty of reasons to believe that Viviani will succeed where his predecessor failed — he’s a far more dependable character than the controversy-courting, wannabeboxer Bouhanni, will be joined by his trusty former Deceuninck-Quick Step lieutenant Fabio Sabatini, and is already firmly established as among the world’s very best sprinters with multiple wins in all three Grand Tours.
The Wolfpack are back on the scent of another successful season
D EC E U N I N C K- Q U I C K STEP Belgium Riders: 28 Under 26: 13 Over 35: 2
Key stat: DQS’s 68 victories made them the winningest team in the WorldTour in 2019.
CCC Poland Riders: 28 Under 26: 8 Over 35: 2
Key stat: Greg van Avermaet accounted for half of CCC’s six wins in 2019. The problem with riding in orange is you’re not exactly inconspicuous. CCC can’t be accused of being anonymous during the team’s first season since effectively merging with the now defunct BMC, but only because their bright jerseys were easy to spot when they yet again dropped out the back of the peloton. Things should improve in 2020, thanks to some much-needed new signings. Matteo Trentin will provide welcome support for Greg van Avermaet in the Classics, while Ilnur Zakarin can spearhead the Grand Tour line-ups. 22 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Cofidis are back in the top tier of the sport
How was the off-season? On the face of it, DQS haven’t changed that much between this year and the last. The name remains the same; the blue and white jersey livery, which has been slowly getting lighter over the years, is now dominated by white but still has ‘wolfpack’ written all over it. There have, however, been a few key personnel changes — Elia Viviani will now be helping WorldTour returnees Cofidis cement their position, while Philippe Gilbert switches Belgian allegiances to form a fearsome Classics triumvirate with John Degenkolb and Thomas De Gendt at Lotto-Soudal. But it’s not all bad for DQS. As well as retaining the talismanic Julian Alaphilippe and signing sprinter Sam Bennett, they hold on to a frighteningly good Remco Evenepoel.
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E F PRO CYC LI N G
G RO U PA M A- FDJ
USA Riders: 29 Under 26: 13 Over 35: 1
France No. of riders: 28 Under 26: 10 Over 35: 1
Key stat: EF won four of the fi ve Monuments last decade, one of only three teams to do so.
Man on the spot Without a doubt Remco Evenepoel. The young Belgium (just turned 20) fi nds himself in the unenviable position of being the new darling of his nation, and the constant Eddy Merckx comparisons that brings. In December he became the youngest ever winner of the Belgian sportsman of the year award, and has cited his 2020 goals as LiègeBastogne-Liège, the Olympic time trial in Tokyo, the Worlds and Il Lombardia. It’s no great stretch to see him swiping the lot. Ones to watch As well as Alaphilippe and Bennett, look out for young Brit James Knox, who will be riding his third season with the team. He showed great promise last year, coming back from an injury-curtailed debut Grand Tour at the Giro to complete a fi ne Vuelta España, fi nishing 11th overall. The smart money says he’ll be even better in 2020.
The guts of the team from 2019 remains, and crucially the squad around Th ibaut Pinot’s ultimately doomed Tour de France bid is still there. For this most French of teams the Tour will be the key target. In shorter races they’ll hope 23-year-old talent David Gaudu will also be able to deliver GC success or stage wins. The team’s marquee sprinter, Arnaud Démare, will also be looking to kick on from his Giro stage win last year, though he’s not scheduled to have a crack at regaining his Milan-San Remo crown. As the team stays resolutely French and boss Marc Madiot shuns modernisation it’s hard to see how they can genuinely compete at the highest level.
CW WRITERS’ 2020 PREDICTIONS
Ineos won’t win a single Grand Tour There comes a time in the evolution of all sports teams where they add more in the hope of achieving more. Ineos have done just that, signing Giro winner in Richard Carapaz and TT specialist Rohan Dennis. On paper this makes the talent-bulging roster better but teams are about more than that; they’re about achieving collective ambitions. And many of Ineos’s riders’ ambitions are for themselves or contradictory to the others. You need role players, and Ineos are fast running out of them. If anyone can square this circle of egos it’s probably team principal Dave Brailsford, but at some point less is more. Vern Pitt
Photos Yuzuru Sunada, Getty Images
Biggest challenge in 2020 It’s all about making up for the loss of Gilbert and Viviani — two of the team’s most successful riders. If new signing Bennett has a good year he could fi ll Viviani’s sprinting shoes, and assuming Evenepoel and Alaphilippe are on form, they have the capacity to create more than enough of a stir to mask Gilbert’s exodus.
It’d be easy to dismiss Jonathan Vaughters’s claim that EF will win the Tour de France sometime this decade as about as plausible as your new year’s resolutions to stop drinking and go to the gym, but, as 2017 Tour runner-up Rigoberto Urán and last year’s Flanders winner Alberto Bettiol attest to, his team of plucky underdogs have a history of defying expectations. Colombian climbing sensation Sergio Higuita looks the man most likely to one day fulfi l Vaughters’s ambitions, but, in the more immediate future, new signings Magnus Cort Nielsen and Jens Keukeleire are exactly the kind of stealthy riders who could claim another unlikely major victory.
Key stat: Jointly with Lotto-Soudal they are the least international team in the WorldTour with 17 riders from one nation (Belgium and France respectively).
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 23
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TEAM INEOS Great Britain Riders: 29 Under 26: 12 Over 35: 2
Key stat: Ineos’s lack of Classics focus is underlined by the fact that last season they placed just four men in the top 10 across 12 WorldTour Classics. How was the off-season? Ineos have swapped five for five on the transfer market this winter. The most significant exit is Wout Poels, a key mountain man. But with last year’s Giro d’Italia winner Richard Carapaz and double world TT champ Rohan Dennis both incoming, Ineos has surely come up smelling of roses. Also brought on board is young Brit Ethan Hayter, who has all the hallmarks of a future star. Big challenge Getting Chris Froome fit again may well be the biggest challenge (see man on the spot). But should the team manage that, Ineos will
have a total of four riders with Grand Tour winning potential in Carapaz, Egan Bernal, Geraint Thomas and Froome himself. It could well be that getting the best value out of such an extravagant talent pool could prove one of this year’s major tests. Man on the spot Chris Froome’s crash in a Critérium du Dauphiné TT warm-up last year was so bad it left some wondering whether he’d even try to come back from it. But team-mate Owain Doull told the BBC at the time: “That’s one thing with Froomey, he’ll come back stronger and better.” And Froome is certainly well on the road to recovery, putting in five-hour rides on a Gran Canaria training camp. Ones to watch Away from the big Grand Tour leaders Ben Swift will look to build on 2019’s renaissance year. Ian Stannard, complete with newly modelled Tyson Fury beard, has had a rough couple of Classics campaigns but it wasn’t that long ago that the cruiserweight Gypsy King was their best hope of spring success. Can he recapture his form?
Alex Dowsett will be a key player for the newly formed outfit
I S R A E L STA R T- U P N AT I O N Israel Riders: 30 Under 26: 11 Over 35: 3
Key stat: Only one WorldTour team (Bahrain-McLaren) has more than Israel Start-Up’s total of 11 riders over the age of 30.
The Ineos roster boasts a rider for every occasion
24 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Inheriting the now-defunct Katusha-Alpecin’s WorldTour licence, as well as a handful of its former riders including British time trial specialist Alex Dowsett and the emerging Classics contender Nils Politt, Israel Start-Up Nation are seeking to make the step up to cycling’s elite level. To do so they’ve signed two of last decade’s biggest stars — sprinter André ‘The Gorilla’ Greipel, and amiable Irish climber Dan Martin. The team has banked on their experience, but, worryingly, neither has won a single race in the last 12 months, and are, like the core of the squad, wanting for youth and fresh legs.
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Netherlands Riders: 28 Under 26: 10 Over 35: 2
Key stat: Jumbo took 52 wins last season — the second highest in the WorldTour behind DeceuninckQuick Step and exactly twice as many as Ineos’s 26. How was the off-season? Unsurprisingly, Jumbo has spent some of their Tour de France prize money on a couple of young guns, plus mid-career all-rounder Christoph Pfingsten, who comes with the creed “give every time 100 per cent”, which should be useful. But the big news this off-season is the arrival of Tom Dumoulin from Sunweb. After Jumbo’s fine showing at the Tour de France and a warning shot across the bows of the bigger teams, Dumoulin ought to really make them sit up and take note. The team also underlined its faith in sprinter Dylan Groenewegen, signing him for a further four years.
Ewan: fastest of the fastmen?
Man on the spot Dumoulin was last summer’s headline transfer, and all eyes will be on the Dutchman, watching how he fits into a team that already had more Grand Tour contenders than most. Ones to watch Take your pick. 2019 Vuelta winner Roglič and Tour podium Kruijswijk are both supremely capable in Grand Tours and could even outdo Dumoulin given the right scenario. Elsewhere expect to find Groenewegen adding to last year’s 15 wins in the sprints, and if that wasn’t enough, there’s the exciting prospect of a returning Van Aert.
Big challenge in 2020 Jumbo clearly developed a fondness for the maillot jaune last July, and took the bold step of announcing a full Tour de France team for 2020. Resolutely Jumbo: WorldTour big hitters refusing to put all their eggs in one basket, Jumbo will go for a threepronged approach via Primož Roglič, Steven Kruijswijk and Dumoulin. You might almost call it a bit show-offy, were it not for the fact that the triple-
LOTTO -SOUDAL Belgium Riders: 27 Under 26: 12 Over 35: 3
Key stat: Caleb Ewan won more Grand Tour stages (five) last year than any other rider. Belgium’s second biggest team have pulled off two marquee signings for 2020, but will they actually be stronger as a result? Sure, John Degenkolb has had an illustrious career, but the Classics specialist he replaces, Tiesj Benoot, is much younger and has shown more promise in recent years, while the twilight years renaissance of 37-going-on-38 Philippe Gilbert has to come to an end eventually. Still, two such charismatic personalities won’t do any harm to the team’s reputation of lovable eccentrics established by the likes of cult hero Thomas de Gendt, while Caleb Ewan is making a strong case to be considered the best sprinter in the world.
Photos Yuzuru Sunada, Getty Images
JUMBO
threat strategy hasn’t proved very successful elsewhere (we’re looking at you, Movistar). The team is also set to feature Wout van Aert, Tony Martin, Laurens De Plus, Sepp Kuss and Robert Gesink, though it’s not unlikely that we’ll see a form- or injury-related tweak or two before July. Groenewegen, winner of stage seven last year in Chalonsur-Saône, has been left out as the focus shifts towards GC (he’ll ride the Giro and Vuelta instead, apparently). Kruijswijk said: “We want to win the Tour as a team. You do that with the strongest riders possible. With Tom, Primož and myself as leaders… I think we can fight with these guys.”
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 25
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M I T C H E LT O N - S C O T T Australia Riders: 27 U26: 9 Over 35: 1
Key stat: Between them Simon and Adam Yates took an impressive 29 per cent of all of the team’s win’s in 2019. How was the off-season? Shayne Bannan and his squad bade goodbye to a pair of key big engines last year, with Matteo Trentin heading over to CCC and Mathew Hayman retiring. In their place come experienced climber Andrey Zeits, and a pair of 21-yearolds — Barnabas Peak and Andrey Konychev. If that last name sounds familiar, it’s probably because his father is four-time Tour de France stage winner Dimitri, who retired in 2006 with 19 Grand Tour rides to his name. Biggest challenge in 2020 “We will continue to target races
Simon Yates: in the Mitchelton-Scott spotlight
26 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
from January to October, including going to each of the three Grand Tours with a focus on performing and winning,” said Mat Hayman of the team’s 2020 aims. But every team wants to feel like it’s progressing, and much of that will sit on the shoulders of the Yates brothers, Adam and Simon, in the Grand Tours. The team will also need to ensure the significant spaces left by the loss of Trentin and Hayman are adequately filled. Man on the spot Much as he would hate being labelled as such, Simon Yates is going to be man on the spot for many pundits and fans. After nearly winning the Giro d’Italia and then actually winning the Vuelta España in 2018, last season had brilliance in more limited quantities with a brace of Tour stage wins. Onlookers are still waiting to know whether he has a Giro or a Tour win in him and 2020 could be important in that respect, not only for fans but for Yates himself too. Ones to watch Adam Yates might feel disgruntled and relieved in equal measure at not being ranked alongside his brother as a man on the spot, for he seems equally talented. Esteban Chaves is another Grand Tour wild card, while it’ll be interesting to see if Daryl Impey can build on 2019 when he got more wins than anyone in the fluoro and black jersey.
M OV I STA R Spain Riders: 28 Under 26: 11 Over 35: 2
Key stat: The team has registered 17 top-10 finishes at the Tour de France since last winning the overall classification in 2007. From one extreme to the other, Movistar has gone from having too many GC leaders to not enough. Something had to give after last year’s farcical Tour de France, where their multiple leaders stopped even pretending to get along and actively acted against each other’s interests, but the team can’t have intended to lose Nairo Quintana, Mikel Landa and Richard Carapaz. Young Spaniard Enric Mas should prove to be a good, sponsor-pleasing signing, but he’s too raw for a GC contender, while 39-year-old Alejandro Valverde can’t be relied upon to keep defying his age. A difficult transitional season beckons.
NTT South Africa Riders: 29 Under 26: 12 Over 35: 2
Key Stat: Seven of the team’s 29 riders are African. The team formerly known as Dimension Data desperately needed rejuvenating following two dire seasons, and change has come in the form of new sponsors, new riders, and a new manager in Bjarne Riis. Mark Cavendish departs the team along with Steve Cummings, replaced by climber Domenico Pozzovivo, B-list sprinter Max Walschield and Hour record holder Victor Campenaerts. But it is Riis’s recruitment that most intrigues, an enigma whose past doping controversies have been overlooked in the hope that he can replicate the success he long ago brought to CSC.
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World champion Mads Pedersen will lead Trek’s Classics charge
SUNWEB
TR E K- S EGAFR E D O
UA E E M I R AT E S
Germany Riders: 28 Under 26: 20 Over 35: 1
USA No. of riders: 27 Under 26: 10 Over 35: 2
UAE No. of riders: 30 Under 26: 14 Over 35: 2
Sunweb already got a feel for life without Tom Dumoulin when injury forced the Dutchman out of the second half of last season, and it wasn’t pretty — the rest of the squad managed just nine wins between them all year. Now he’s left for pastures new, Wilco Kelderman and Sam Oomen will be expected to step up as leaders at Grand Tours, with sprinting all-rounder Michael Matthews promoted to the team’s undisputed star rider. Tiesj Benoot has also been brought in to lead the line at the Classics along with numerous youngsters, but it’s a huge ask for them to fill the squad’s huge Dumoulinshaped hole.
Key stat: Mads Pedersen is the youngest world champion since Oscar Freire in 1999. Trek-Segafredo sure can’t resist an old-timer. The team once nicknamed ‘Retirement Shack’ for its penchant for old riders — and who has, since the retirements of veterans Alberto Contador and Fabian Cancellara, relied upon the similarly long-in-the-tooth Richie Porte to lead — has this season brought in fresh-faced 35-year-old Vincenzo Nibali as their new star. The kids are alright too, though. The team will be custodians of the rainbow jersey after 24-year-old Mads Pedersen’s victory in Yorkshire. He’ll lead a strong Classics line-up that also includes Jasper Stuyven, while Giulio Ciccone and Bauke Mollema are quality climbers.
Key stat: Last year’s total of 31 wins was the team’s highest since 2007. The progression of this team from being the last Italian outfit to compete at the highest level to one now licensed in the UAE with Slovenian and Colombian figureheads is a telling microcosm for how globalisation has changed cycling in recent years. That Slovenian is Tadej Pogačar, a youthful sensation already on the brink of becoming a superstar, while the Colombian sprinter, Fernando Gaviria, should benefit from the arrival of fellow South American lead-out man extraordinaire Max Richeze. The Italian legacy does live on through new signing Davide Formolo, while his compatriot, the faded former Vuelta champion Fabio Aru, insists that he’s not done yet.
Photos Getty Images, Yuzuru Sunada
Key stat: With an average age of 24.4, Sunweb are the youngest squad in the WorldTour.
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 27
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MEN’S DOMESTIC TEAMS
Can Canyon retain their lofty status?
Key stat: Canyon were the most successful team in last season’s National Road Series, taking four wins out of 10 races.
Big challenge Canyon-dhb are in the precarious position of being the premium outfit in the British peloton. With everyone else waiting in the wings to topple them, one might see their big challenge as retaining that prestige. Elverson seems pretty confident that’s something they can do. “We should pick up where we left off and I think the guys I’ve brought in will fit in well in terms of attitude and desire to win,” he said.
Off-season Team manager Tim Elverson has built an impressive looking squad for 2020, despite losing the very useful Alex Richardson to Pro Continental team Alpecin-Fenix. He’s retained Lincoln
Man on the spot At 30 years old, Tom Stewart has the experience and the results to have become the rider that many of his team-mates will look up to. He’s won the Lincoln GP twice, the Tour of the
C A N YO N - D H B P/B SOREEN No. of riders: 18 Under 26: 13 Over 35: 0
SWIFTCARBON PRO CYC LI N G Riders: 12 Under 26: 9 Over 35: 1
Key stat: The only British team with a para-cyclist on it, in the shape of William Bjergfelt. Photos SW Pix, , Getty Images
GP champ Tom Stewart and strongman Jacob Hennessy, alongside new names like exSky man Alex Peters, who returns to the pro scene after three years out.
Their firepower has been reduced by the loss of James Shaw to Pro Conti RiwalReadynez; he was fifth on GC at the 2019 Tour de Yorkshire. They’ve also had to watch Jacob Scott move to Canyon-dhb, but new blood has been brought on board and the big aim for will be qualifying for the tours of Britain and Yorkshire again.
28 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
VITU S PRO CYC LI N G Riders: 12 Under 26: 8 Over 35: 0
Key stat: The only 2020 domestic UCI team not to have won a National Road Series race last year. Vitus struggled to make their presence felt last season, and they’ve got their work cut out again. Scott Thwaites and Ali Slater have both left and they’ll also miss Ed Clancy and Graham Briggs, who have left to form the ClancyBriggs Academy. But boss Cherie Pridham has brought in some promising talent, including Joey Walker and Dan Tulett.
Reservoir, Velothon Wales and the Tour de Normandie in the past few years and should be capable of more of the same in 2020, as well as helping to show younger riders the ropes in UCI-level racing. Others to watch New signing Jérôme Baugnies comes in from Wanty-Groupe Gobert. The 32-year-old Belgian has a wealth of experience having completed five editions of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and a Tour of Flanders. He should be, at the very least, fine support for Stewart. New signing Jacob Scott put in some exciting performances at SwiftCarbon last year and will be worth keeping an eye on, as will pro cycling returnee Alex Peters.
RIBBLE-WELDTITE PRO CYC LI N G Riders: 18 Under 26: 8 Over 35: 1
Key stat: With 55 per cent of their riders aged 26 or over, Ribble are markedly the oldest domestic UCI team. As well as gaining a second sponsor in Weldtite, Ribble have brought in the experienced Steve Lampier for 2020. They retain John Archibald, who brought them their best 2019 results, with a win at the Stockton GP and third in the National RR, and they’ll hope to build on that, with a place in the Tour of Britain.
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WOMEN’S TEAMS
TR E K- S EGAFR E D O USA Number of riders: 14 Under 26: 4 Over 35: 1
Key stat: There are nine nationalities on the team. How was the off season? After launching last year, TrekSegafredo have remained largely unchanged over the winter, with all their 2019 riders remaining on the roster. There are two additions, with Dutchwoman Lucinda Brand joining from Sunweb and British youngster Elynor Bäckstedt launching her professional career. “We’re not putting any pressure on her, she should just listen, learn and try to improve as much as possible,” said lead sports director, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg. Biggest challenge? Though the American squad bagged 17 victories in their debut season they want more in the coming year, but with
Trek will face stiff competition in 2020
the level of the entire peloton on the up they may struggle. “I think we had a really good start, and after OVO [Women’s Tour] we didn’t win enough,” Teutenberg told CW. “We were close, but I think we need to step up the game a little bit next year. “Winning one of the Flandrian Classics, the Ardennes, having a good Giro and always being competitive has to be the goal for a team like us. The girls know each other a little bit more, and we’re probably going to be better organised. I think everything will fall into place.” Woman on the spot Headline signing Brand may be the one to bring more victories though. “She’s such a good bike rider,” observed Teutenberg. “She can win just about any race, so she’s a huge asset to the team. So we will build a good programme around her, and having Lizzie [Deignan] in really good shape and Elisa [Longo Borghini] they can work off each other in the Classics.” Ones to watch It’s clear that Teutenberg is also expecting much from Deignan: “Lizzie doesn’t do this to just be at the start line; she is there to try to win bike races and going for the wins. With her having a full winter of training, without delivering a baby, I think she will be even stronger.”
BOELS-DOLMANS Netherlands Number of riders: 12 Under 26: 5 Over 35: 0
Key stat: They got 11 WorldTour wins, from five riders in 2019. For the fourth year in succession Boels-Dolmans topped both the world and WorldTour rankings. However, with fewer wins, the Dutch squad didn’t have it all their own way, even if they performed when it mattered. Of three former world champions, all will be looking to improve on compromised seasons in 2019. Chantal Blaak’s year was blighted by injury, while 2016 champion Amelie Dideriksen only scored in the Danish Nationals. Though Anna van der Breggen began her road season late, the Olympic champion continued to win, and remains among the world’s best. Despite years at the top, Boels-Dolmans are yet to announce sponsors for 2021, making a successful 2020 essential. Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 29
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CCC-Liv will be more cosmopolitan this year
bring home riders to four, two Italians have also joined.
CCC-LIV Poland Number of riders: 13 Under 26: 9 Over 35: 0
Photos Cor Vos, Getty Images
Key stat: Their 11 WorldTour race wins all came from one rider. How was the off season? There is no doubt CCC-Liv are stronger after their winter. Traditionally the team have been nearly exclusively Dutch, but with Polish company CCC as title sponsor they have recruited more internationally. Not only have they added two young Poles to
30 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Biggest challenge? Back very close to her imperious best, Marianne Vos claimed 19 of the squad’s 22 victories. However, the squad only managed sixth place in the end-of-season rankings, showing a lack of winning depth, and the team will be looking for more riders to be on the top step of the podium this year. “We had a very good season, Marianne was sometimes outstanding again, but when you want to win more there are some riders that need to perform better,” sports director Jeroen Blijlevens told CW. Woman on the spot Despite the new additions and her recent operation for an artery problem, Vos will likely continue to win the majority of the team’s races.
“She’s a winner. It’s more trying to keep her down sometimes, she wants to do everything and we have to calm her down sometimes,” continued Blijlevens. “But she really likes the game and she likes to play it with the team. I think we are a stronger team.” Ones to watch Along with two young Poles, they have also recruited Italians Sofia Bertizzolo and Soraya Paladin, the latter bringing real promise. “I expect a lot of her because she was the surprise last year, she made a big step forward, she was always there in breakaways and with good results. But she didn’t win, so I hope that she can win some races,” said Blijlevens. “She is an all-round Classics rider, but she was also ninth in the GC at the Giro, so she is also a good climber, though not the best.”
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CW PREDICTION FOR 2020
Lizzie Deignan will win Olympic road race gold
M I T C H E LT O N - S C O T T Australia Riders: 10 Under 26: 1 Over 35: 1
Key stat: The average age is 32. Though all but one of the team’s WorldTour wins came from Annemiek van Vleuten, their other victories were well spread across the team’s riders, with Lucy Kennedy developing fast in her second year as a professional. Joining for 2020, former British champion, 20 year-old Jess Roberts is by far the youngest rider on an ageing roster, and will be allowed time to develop, while Janneke Ensing adds to the climbing domestique pool. Van Vleuten will wear the rainbow stripes, with Amanda Spratt and Kennedy giving the team huge strength for the Ardennes and a third Giro Rosa win.
Having come so close in 2012, and close enough last time round in Rio, the golden girl of British road racing has got unfinished business with the Olympic event. At 31 years old this could be her best — even last — realistic shot at gold. What’s more, she won’t be marked out like she was at the Worlds last year, and the course, which is Yorkshire-hilly but not quite mountainous, suits her to a T. With last year something of an easing back in after maternity leave, in 2020 she’ll be able to go all out against the women in orange. James Shrubsall
CANYO N -S R AM
SUNWEB
Germany Riders: 16 Under 26: 7 Over 35: 0
Germany Number of riders: 13 Under 26: 9 Over 35: 0
Key stat: The team has amassed 29 national champion’s jerseys from eight riders in its history. Since its inception in 2016, CanyonSR AM has been building steadily and 2019 brought four top-level wins, more than any previous season. With Zwift Academy winner Jessica Pratt the only addition for the new season, victories are likely to come from last year’s winners, Kasia Niewiadoma and Lisa Klein. The pair bagged three of the team’s 2019 WorldTour wins — the other was a TTT — and both continue to gain experience and tactical nous. The British Barnes sisters remain; the older Hannah will hope to return to winning ways, while national champion Alice will want to continue her upwards trajectory.
Key stat: They are 23 years average age. Though they closed the year ranked second in the world, Sunweb’s 2019 lacked victories and the team will hope their investment in young riders will now bear fruit. With Lucinda Brand leaving, 21-yearold Frenchwoman Juliette Labous will take the lead in hilly stage races, while Floortje Mackaij will give them chances in the Classics. Established riders Coryn Rivera and Leah Kirchmann bring consistency and winning experience, and new addition Alison Jackson adds aggression. After dominating the domestic scene, Anna Henderson makes it two Brits on the team, joining young Pfeiffer Georgi, who will look to step up in her second professional season.
PARKH OTE LVA LK E N B U RG Netherlands Riders: 17 Under 26: 8 Over 35: 0
Key stat: Th irty-fi ve per cent of the team are new riders for 2020. Th is squad were last season’s surprise package, due mainly to Lorena Wiebes. Aged just 20, Wiebes fi nished 2019 as the world’s top-ranked rider, taking all but three of the squad’s 18 victories, including the Dutch Nationals. After suggesting she would go on strike if she was not allowed to leave, Wiebes remains after the threat of court action. Though she will possibly leave in June, she is likely to continue her winning streak in the meantime. Incomers Anouska Koster and Romy Kasper bring experience, but the team will also look to Demi Vollering, who also had a breakout season with excellent placings in hilly WorldTour races. Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 31
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THE CLASSICS
M I L A N - S A N R E M O Date: March 21 Distance: 291km Location: Italy 2019 winner: Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step)
With the Frenchman opting not to defend his title at the longest race on the calendar this, which is one of the most open races on the calendar at the best
Quick Step: gold standard Classics squad
32 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
of times, is wide open. As per usual the climbs of the Capi and the Cipressa will serve to soften the legs for the crucial ascent of the Poggio. From the top of that climb it’s around six minutes to the finish — just enough to make it possible to hold off a chase. S T R A D E B I A N C H E Date: March 7 Distance: 184km Location: Italy 2019 winner: Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step)
The white gravel roads of Tuscany guarantee spectacle, wet or dry. Only one active rider has won it more than once: Michał Kwiatkowski (Ineos). Unlike many other races there’s not a well observed pattern to this relatively young Classic (it first ran in 2007) as groups tend to splinter and reform multiple times
in the final 50km. The final roughly paved kick up to Piazza del Campo is decisive if ever there’s more than one rider in contention though. OMLOOP HET NIEUWSBLAD Date: February 29 Distance: 200km Location: Belgium 2019 winner: Zdenĕk Stybar (Deceuninck-Quick Step)
Starting in Ghent and running to Ninove, the opening race of the cobbled Classics season remains a fan favourite because it sets the tone for what’s to come. There are a many ways to win it — despite all the climbs it frequently ends in a small group sprint and attacks on the flat paved sections are often successful — but surviving the selection on the Muur and the Bosberg is key.
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CW WRITERS’ 2020 PREDICTIONS
Sam Bennett to win Milan-San Remo After picking up the scraps left by his Bora-Hansgrohe team-mates last season, Sam Bennett has found his rightful place as a star sprinter with Deceuninck-Quick Step. Bennett has consistently shown his ability to conquer the pure sprinters in a drag race, but also has the versatility and tactical prowess to take out some chaotic and challenging finishes. With that in mind, I see Bennett claiming his maiden Monument victory in Milan-San Remo this year, courtesy of a flawless lead-out from his Quick Step team-mates. Alex Ballinger
Arguably the best race on the pro calendar, the Tour of Flanders route has settled into a pattern in recent years with a series of loops taking in the Kwaremont three times and the Paterberg twice. However, the race remains unpredictable, from Philippe Gilbert’s long-range attack in 2017 to a four-up sprint in 2014 won by Fabian Cancellara. The season proper starts on the pavé of northern Europe
TOUR OF F L A N D E R S Date: April 5 Distance: 267km Location: Belgium
PARIS- RO U BAIX Date: April 12 Distance: 257km Location: France 2019 winner: Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-Quick Step)
Paris-Roubaix is brutal — that’s in the dry. There hasn’t been a wet race since 2002 so we’re due one. Regardless of the The Hell of the North is arguably the most sought-after of the Monuments
weather it’s the fearsome fi nal cobbles that will prove decisive — names etched into cycling lore like Carrefour de l’Arbre and Camphin-en-Pévèle. If you’re short on time tune in with 100km to go when they hit the Trouée d’Arenberg — that’s where the race really starts. LIEGE-BASTOGNE-LIEGE Date: April 26 Distance: 256km Location: Belgium 2019 winner: Jakob Fuglsang (Astana)
With over 4,000m of climbing this is arguably the most physically demanding of the Monuments. Fears that last year’s introduction of a flat fi nish might open it up to more cobbled Classics riders proved unfounded when Jakob Fuglsang won solo having dropped his rivals on the fi nal climb to lead a top 10 entirely made up of talented climbers. I L L O M B A R D I A Date: October 10 Distance: 243km Location: Italy 2019 winner: Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo)
Tacked on the end of the European calendar after the Vuelta and even the World Championships, Il Lombardia is an easy race to forget about until it arrives. But it consistently serves up great racing like Bauke Mollema’s sneak attack last year, or Vincenzo Nibali and Th ibaut Pinot’s duel in 2018. Expect the same names to figure in 2020.
Photos Getty Images, Yuzuru Sunada
2019 winner: Alberto Bettiol (EF Education First)
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 33
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GRAND TOURS TOUR DE FRANCE Date: June 27-July 19 Distance: 3,487km Location: France 2019 winner: Egan Bernal (Ineos)
The 107th Tour de France is notable for its route — ignoring the north of the country entirely in favour of the warmer and mountainous south. With a Grand Départ on the Riviera in Nice, the Tour is becoming ever more Giro d’Italia-like, with a mountain day on stage two and only ever two consecutive flat stages. A rare visit to all five mountain ranges should offer a happy hunting ground for Ineos, who are likely to throw their weight behind a trident of Bernal, Geraint Ineos: inundated with Thomas, and leadership options Chris Froome if he’s fit. But Jumbo-Visma, with their own planned three-leader assault of Tom Dumoulin, Primož Roglič and Steven Kruijswijk, will take the fight to Dave Brailsford’s boys. Watch out for fireworks. G I R O D ’ I TA L I A Date: May 9-31 Distance: 3,579km Location: Hungary, Italy 2019 winner: Richard Carapaz (Movistar)
With three significant time trials, the Giro is perhaps not quite the polar opposite of the mountainous Tour but it’ll certainly pique the interest of the big engines at Jumbo-Visma. The TTs include a 9.5km prologue in Budapest, a lumpy 33km outing on stage 14 and a 16.5km city-centre romp in Milan. While it might start out as the Dumoulin-Roglič show, they’ll still have a very mountainous final week to contend with, where defending champion Carapaz — this time in Ineos colours — could come into his own. 34 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Will the French have homegrown heroes to cheer again in the 2020Tour?
The remnants of a harsh winter will likely deck the Italian mountains
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YOU NG RI DE RS
Neo-pros to watch Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo, USA, 18) Not only will Quinn Simmons be the youngest rider in the men’s peloton next year, he’s the junior world champion too. He also won the junior Ghent-Wevelgem, followed by three stage races and the US TT Champs. It’ll be interesting to see how he fares at senior level. Fred Wright (Bahrain-McLaren, GBr, 20) We’ve long known about Fred Wright’s track ability, and a clutch of good results over the past couple of seasons have drawn the eye of Bahrain for 2020, where he’ll be riding with Wout Poels and Mark Cavendish among others, under the guidance of Rod Ellingworth. Ethan Hayter (Ineos, GBr, 21) Broken collarbone last season notwithstanding, the London rider’s superb couple of years meant a pro contract looked nailed on. A GC and stage win in the Paris-Arras Tour; two stages and the points jersey in the Baby Giro; fifth in the National elite road race; sixth on a Tour de Yorkshire stage… the list goes on — and that’s just 2019. His future looks bright.
Like its Italian counterpart, the Vuelta kicks off a long way from the motherland, but unlike the Giro, the organisers have The Vuelta invites the climbers out to play
slotted in a rest day following the third stage to account for the big transfer home. While the stage one Utrecht TTT will create some interesting time gaps, it’s week two that is key, with four mountain stages. But GC contenders will also need to be prepared for the stage 16 TT — flat with a sting in the tail that might even merit a bike change.
Sarah Gigante (Tibco-SVB, Aus, 19) The Aussie followed up a stunning National road race win last year with an equally impressive victory in the time trial in early January — this time in pro team colours. She looks to be one of the most promising young riders in the women’s peloton. Much of her time will be spent racing in the US, as well as a number of Women’s WorldTour races. Jess Roberts (Mitchelton-Scott, GBr, 20) The Welshwoman has already had plenty of experience of the Continental peloton, riding for GB under the Team Breeze banner. Last year she took two stages in the Tour de Bretagne Féminin against stiff opposition.
Photos Getty Images, SWPix
V U E LTA A E S PA N A Date: August 14-September 6 Distance: 3,245km Location: Netherlands, France, Portugal, Spain 2019 winner: Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
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O LY M P I C S & PA R A LY M P I C S
Lake Yamanakako will provide the visuals as the road race nears its conclusion
Date: July 25-August 9 Location: Tokyo, Japan
Coming just six days after the end of the Tour de France, in which time competitors in both events will have travelled 6,000 miles, the men’s road race will be a real test of the climbing legs. British hopes look likely to rest with Simon Yates, who will skip the Tour precisely because of that small gap. There’ll be a raft of riders though — be it the evergreen Alejandro Valverde, Thibaut Pinot or Vincenzo Nibali — looking to put the boot into him as the race climbs to 1,400m up Mount Fuji at around 100km from the finish before hoping to distance Yates for good on the 1,100m Mikuni Pass 30km from the finish. The women won’t have the same scheduling issues as their race on July 26 is 21 days after the end of the Giro Rosa and even 16 after La Course. But also, controversially, the course is much easier with only two classified climbs, the last of which is nearly 40km from the finish. That won’t put off Britain’s Lizzie 36 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Deignan, however, who is certain to have the race in her sights — she has no firm plans past it. It does make it much more likely to be a sprint of some kind as the Fuji International Speedway, where all the races finish, is more undulating than hilly. The Dutch, as per usual in recent years, will be the team to beat.
The Paralympic races will run largely on the speedway circuit and given her performance never seems to fade with age you can expect Sarah Storey to once again be a force to be reckoned with there. The time trials will also use this circuit extensively, though they also venture out into the hills, climbing to 676m twice
CW WRITERS’ 2020 PREDICTIONS
Australia to reign on the Tokyo track I’m predicting Australia will regain the team pursuit crown at the Olympics. The Danes have been consistently knocking out 3-49 and 3-48 minute rides of late, but the Aussies have performed when it matters. It isn’t uncommon for them to win in-between the Games only to flatline when the big day comes and allow the Brits to leapfrog over them to win gold. But not this time. When British coach Simon Jones took over at Cycling Australia he rewrote their programme with one naileddown, immovable focus: the Olympics. Everything they’re doing is geared towards Tokyo. They’re already ahead of the pack and will probably go faster — 3.56 I’m predicting — meaning the Brits would have to make a four or five-second leap to win gold. Simon Richardson
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DO IT YOU RSE LF
Race-based sportives
Sunday August 16 Britain’s flagship sportive, based on the London Surrey Classic, won last year by Elia Viviani, is run the morning of the race. A total of 30,000 riders take part across the 100, 46 and 19-mile distances. The full-distance route heads from the Olympic park at Stratford out to Leith Hill, followed by Box Hill, while the 46 takes riders out to Hampton Court Palace. The ballot for entries closed in early January, but charity places are still available. www.prudentialridelondon. co.uk STOCKTON SPORTIVE
over the course of their two laps. That will present a challenge for Alex Dowsett, who has targeted this race in 2020, and it may be better suited to the likes of Tom Dumoulin and Rohan Dennis, who can both climb and time trial with the best.
Saturday July 11 Part of the Stockton Cycling Festival, which also hosts the National Road Series Stockton Grand Prix the same weekend, the Stockton Sportive’s full distance of 105 miles is called Le Tour de Moor and bills itself as ‘tougher than the Fred Whitton’. It’s based on the 2014 sportive held to celebrate the Tour de France, and heads from Stockton out into the North York Moors, tackling a total of eight climbs, including Rosedale Chimney and Blakey Bank. Thankfully there are three shorter distances — 72, 50 and 36 miles. www.velo29events.com
an event led by multi-Olympic medal winner Bryan Steel — not to mention the fact it’s linked to one of Britain’s most iconic bike races, the Lincoln GP. The five distances, ranging from 35 to 104 miles, all take in the Grand Prix’s pièce de résistance — the cobbled climb of Michaelgate — while the four longer distances all take riders out east for a jaunt around the Wolds. www.itpevents.co.uk RUTLAND CICLE TOUR SPORTIVE Saturday April 25 This event is often dubbed Britain’s own Paris-Roubaix, and as you might expect the leisure rides also feature off-road sections (complete with mechanical assistance at each and an optional paved diversion). Held the day before the CiCLE Classic itself, the CiCLE Tour Sportive starts and finishes at Normanton at the edge of Rutland Water, with the 100 and 78-mile routes heading north to Melton Mowbray and beyond. There is also a 40-mile option. www.velo29events.com
Photos Getty Images, Phil O’Connor
PRUDENTIAL RIDE LONDON
LINCOLN SPORTIVE
Storey: perennial favourite at the Paralympics
Saturday May 9 Lincoln’s USP is that you can choose to enter
The Lincoln GP offers riders five different distances
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 37
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WOMEN’S WORLDTOUR
The women’s season will start in earnest on the Tuscan gravel
STRADE BIANCHE Date: March 7 Distance: 136km Location: Siena, Tuscany, Italy 2019 winner: Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott)
Tuscany’s beautiful topography makes Strade Bianche a spectacular race to watch, and the peloton invariably arrives ready for a fight. The hilly route is unchanged from last year, containing eight of the eponymous white gravel roads, the longest of which comes just over halfway through the 136km. While that often brings a selection, the decisive moves come later, with the seventh sector at Colle Pinzuto the scene of recent winning solo moves. Most recent of those was from Annemiek van Vleuten, and while in its five editions no woman has won twice, don’t bet against her this year. 38 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
TROFEO ALFREDO BINDA COMUNE DO CITTIGLIO Date: March 22 Distance: 131km Location: Lake Maggiore, Italy 2019 winner: Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv)
The perfect antidote to Milan-San Remo, this hilly race north of Milan often brings a small group on to its final thrilling lap. With its uphill sprint, this is perfect terrain for Marianne Vos, who is a fourtime winner. TOUR OF FLANDERS Date: April 5 Distance: 158km Location: Oudenaarde, Belgium 2019 winner: Marta Bastianelli (Virtu)
Another invariably entertaining, and highly unpredictable race, recent editions have seen solo winners, 30-woman bunch sprints, and small groups sprinting for glory. Always a race of attrition, this
year’s route is yet to be published, though it is unlikely to differ too much from recent editions, with the route around 158km. Selections will be made throughout, and though Elisa Longo Borghini’s winning move in 2015 went from further out, the race is often decided on the final duo of cobbled climbs. The Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg invite aggression before we are treated to the final flat kilometres of tension. LIEGE-BASTOGNE-LIEGE Date: April 26 Distance: 138.5km Location: Wallonia, Belgium 2019 winner: Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott)
Unchanged from last year, the route between Bastogne and Liège is backloaded with the toughest climbs, and will be televised for the first time in its
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WOMEN’S TOUR Date: June 8-13, Distance: 790km approx Location: United Kingdom 2019 winner: Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo)
The route for the seventh edition will be announced in the coming weeks, but we do know the sixth stage will be a flat day in Suffolk. Last year organiser Sweetspot announced the race would have a stage in Oxfordshire, so expect the heart of southern England to feature too. A time trial has been a long-held ambition for the race and would add a
welcome new dimension, but we can expect six stages that will suit Classics riders. Lizzie Deignan remains the only rider to have won the overall twice, but her Olympic ambitions may dictate whether she competes. GIRO ROSA DATE: June 26-July 5 Distance: 950km approx Location: Italy 2019 winner: Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott)
This year’s route is likely to be published in the spring, though rumour has it the race will avoid the country’s north, instead heading south from Tuscany. If correct this will remove the Alps from the equation, and the 10 days could lack the big mountain showdowns of the last two years. However, the eventual winner will still need to prove their climbing prowess. The Giro finishes three weeks before the Olympic road race, allowing some riders to ride into form, and the gap between the two events should ensure the cream of the peloton are competitive in both.
JARGON BUSTER
2020 lexicon Women’s WorldTour team People referring to women’s teams as WorldTour has been a bugbear of cycling pedants as such a thing hasn’t existed. Now the UCI has fixed this, the riders get a minimum wage and the CW sub editors can breathe a sigh of relief. Classics Series Another UCI innovation, this time to link a raft of spring races into an overall competition. The teams had objections and it won’t be running this year. The UCI is keen to get it sorted and run in 2021 though so expect to hear a lot about it. Pro teams The new name for Pro Continental teams. ProSeries The new name for races just below WorldTour — mostly the former .1 class races.
Van Vleuten’s multi-faceted skillset makes her formidable throughout the year
Photos Getty Images
short history. The three previous editions have been won by climbing time triallists Anna van der Breggen (BoelsDolmans) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott). However, last year’s new finish in Liège city centre brought a different feel. Van Vleuten attacked on the early slopes of La Redoute, 30km out, but the 16-woman group which remained intact into the final kilometre was larger than we have seen in previous editions, making this year’s race wonderfully unpredictable.
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 39
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DOMESTIC DELIGHTS CICLE CLASSIC Date: April 26 & July 5 Location: Rutland 2019 winners: Colin Joyce & Emily Nelson
Rory Townsend has ignited the race in each of his last three participations, his best result being third. While he will be aiming to finally triumph here, his new Canyon-dhb p/b Soreen team-mate Jérôme Baugnies appears the most suited to the gravel sections and undulations. TOU R DE YORKSH I RE Date: April 30-May 3 Location: Yorkshire 2019 winners: Chris Lawless & Marianne Vos
The race ventures further north than ever before, with Redcar playing host. The Teesside town will play a significant part in both the men’s and women’s races, too, as the North York Moors — the punishing and unforgiving National Park that always determines the outcome of the races — is just a mere few miles away.
Wheelers have created a new, hilly course on a quiet single carriageway on the Devon-Somerset border. LANCASTER GP Date: TBA Location: Lancaster, Lancashire 2019 winner: Ian Bibby
Organised by former UCI president Brian Cookson, the race made its debut last summer when local rider Ian Bibby tamed the hills to take what proved to be the final victory of his career. Owen James of Swift-Carbon won similar races during his time racing in northern France. TOUR OF THE RESERVOIR DATE: TBA Location: Edmundbyers, County Durham 2019 winners: James Shaw & Leah Dixon
The two-day race in Northumberland is one of the most brutal and difficult races on the calendar, rewarding both bravery
Organisers must attract an additional £20,000 in funding before the end of March — or the celebrated race will not run. Should it go ahead, Tom Stewart will be searching for his third success.
Another new addition to the calendar last year, the Eastbourne race has all the makings of a classic, with riders completing 13 laps of a demanding circuit that includes the climb of Beachy Head. Defending her title will be one of local rider Joscelin Lowden’s season goals. RYEDALE GP Date: TBA Locaiton: Ryedale, North Yorkshire 2019 winners: James Shaw & Claire Steels
N AT I O N A L 1 0 Date: September 6 Location: Monmouthshire 2019 winners: Charlie Quarterman & Joscelin Lowden
N AT I O N A L 2 5 Date: June 13-14 Location: Taunton, Somerset 2019 winners: Chris Fennel & Emily Meakin Photos SWPix
SOUTH COAST CLASSIC Date: TBA Location: Eastbourne, West Sussex 2019 winners: Jacob Scott & Joscelin Lowden
Steve Lampier steps back up to Continental level this season with RibbleWeldtite, and the evergreen veteran finished third in the last edition. This will be the 16th running of the race that takes place in the vicinity of Ampleforth Abbey.
LINCOLN GP Date: May 10 Location: Rutland 2019 winners: Tom Stewart & Rebecca Durrell
Moved forward two months from its traditional August date, hosts Exeter
and race craft. Dan Tulett, an off-season signing for Team Vitus, will fancy his chances, while in the women’s race fellow cyclo-cross star Anna Kay will be targeting victory on her local course.
Leah Dixon emptied the well at last year’s Tour of the Reservoir
40 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
The standout event of the time trialling season takes place mostly on the A40 in Monmouthshire, Wales. The course includes two small rises and falls in elevation.
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MEN’S WORLDTOUR AND PRO RACES
28-3/5
Tour de Romandie SUI
7
Milano-Torino ITA
30-3/5
Tour de Yorkshire GBr
8
Gran Piemonte ITA
10
Il Lombardia ITA
11
Paris-Tours FRA
M AY JANUARY
1
Eschborn-Frankfurt GER
16-21
Gree-Tour of Guangxi CHI
18
Japan Cup JAP
21-26
Tour Down Under AUS
5-10
Four Days of Dunkirk FRA
26-2/2
Vuelta a San Juan International ESP
9-31
Giro d’Italia ITA
16
GP de Plumelec-Morbihan FRA
FEBRUARY
26-31
Tour of Norway NOR
Cadel Evans Great Ocean
28-31
Boucles de la Mayenne FRA
Road Race AUS
31-7/6
Critérium du Dauphiné FRA
2 5-9
WOMEN’S WORLDTOUR RACES
Volta a la Comunitat
FEBRUARY
JUNE
Valenciana ESP 7-14
Tour de Langkawi MAL
27-19/7
Tour de France FRA
11-16
Tour of Oman OMA
3-7
ZLM Tour NED
13-16
Tour de la Provence FRA
6-14
Tour de Suisse SUI
16
Clasica de Almeria ESP
10-14
Baloise Belgium Tour BEL
16
Trofeo Laigueglia ITA
17
Dwars door het Hageland BEL
7
Strade Bianche ITA
19-23
Volta ao Algarve POR
24-28
Tour of Slovenia SLO
15
Ronde van Drenthe NED
19-23
Vuelta a Andalucía Ruta Ciclista
27-3/7
Tour of Austria AUT
22
Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune
1
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race AUS
MARCH
del Sol ESP
di Cittiglio ITA
J U LY
23-1/3
Tour of Hainan CHI
23-29
UAE Tour UAE
5-11
Tour de Pologne POL
29
Classic Sud-Ardèche FRA
7-14
Tour of Qinghai Lake CHI
29
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad BEL
18-22
VOO-Tour de Wallonie BEL
25
Clásica Ciclista San Sebastián ESP
5
Tour of Flanders BEL
28-1/8
Vuelta a Burgos ESP
19
Amstel Gold NED
22
La Flèche Wallonne BEL
26
Liège-Bastogne-Liège BEL
MARCH 1
La Drôme Classic FRA
AUGUST
26
Three Days of De Panne BEL
29
Ghent-Wevelgem BEL
APRIL
1
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne BEL
7
Strade Bianche ITA
3-9
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah USA
8
GP Industria & Artigianato ITA
6-9
Arctic Race of Norway NOR
8-15
Paris-Nice FRA
12-16
PostNord Danmark Rundt DEN
11-17
Tirreno-Adriatico ITA
14-6/9
Vuelta a España ESP
18
Nokere Koerse BEL
16
EuroEyes Cyclassics Hamburg GER
19
GP de Denain FRA
20-23
Deutschland Tour GER
8-13
OVO Energy Women’s Tour GBr
20
Bredene Koksijde Classic BEL
23
Bretagne Classic Ouest-France FRA
26-5/7
Giro Rosa ITA
21
Milan-San Remo ITA
29
Brussels Cycling Classic BEL
23-29
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya ESP
31-6/9
BinckBank Tour BEL&NED
25
Three Days of De Panne BEL
27
E3 BinckBank Classic BEL
29
Ghent-Wevelgem BEL
APRIL
M AY 7-9
Tour of Chongming Island CHI
JUNE
J U LY 10
La Course by Tour de France FRA
SEPTEMBER AUGUST
6
Maryland Cycling Classic USA
6-13
Tour of Britain GBr
8
Vargarda team time trial SWE
9-13
European Championships ITA
9
Vargarda road race SWE
1
Dwars door Vlaanderen BEL
10
Coppa Sabatini ITA
13-16
Ladies Tour of Norway NOR
4
GP Miguel Indurain ESP
11
GP Cycliste de Québec CAN
22
GP de Plouay, Lorient
5
Tour of Flanders BEL
13
GP Cycliste de Montréal CAN
6-11
Tour of the Basque Country ESP
13
GP de Fourmies FRA
8
Scheldeprijs BEL
15
GP de Wallonie BEL
12
Paris-Roubaix FRA
15-19
Tour de Luxembourg LUX
12-19
Presidential Tour of Turkey TUR
19
Primus Classic BEL
15
Brabantse Pijl BEL
20-27
World Championships
19
Amstel Gold NED
19
Tro-Bro Leon FRA
20-24
Tour des Alpes ITA
3
Giro dell’Emilia ITA
22
La Flèche Wallonne BEL
3
Sparkassen Münsterland Giro GER
26
Liège-Bastogne-Liège BEL
5
Coppa Bernocchi ITA
Agglomération FRA 25-30
Boels Ladies Tour NED
SEPTEMBER 5-6
SUI
Madrid Challenge by la Vuelta ESP
OCTOBER
OCTOBER 20
Tour of Guangxi CHI
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 41
TECH PRO BIKE
EF Education First Pro Cycling’s new Cannondales The latest versions of the American team’s race bikes have had a vibrant makeover
FRAME Cannondale’s SystemSix aero module is designed to provide an aero benefit even while climbing and will be the frame of choice for many of the flatter stages in the Grand Tours
E
F Education First, WorldTour team, social media darlings and originators of the ‘alternative race calendar’ have shown us the first glimpses of the Cannondale race bikes the squad will be running for the new season. The team is sticking to the same formula as last year but has ramped it up a little with the help of long-time kit sponsor Rapha. This sees the more subtle paint fade of last year’s bikes jazzed up into a more daring, bold, blue and pink paintjob. As is to be expected, this pattern and colour scheme is mirrored in the new Rapha kit the team will wear. Sep Vanmarke, Lachlan Morton, Hugh Carthy and the rest of the team are able to choose from a range of Cannondale’s finest race bikes, including the lightweight SuperSix and its aero counterpart, the SystemSix, both of which are perennial favourites here at Cycling Weekly.
COCKPIT Vision’s Metron 50 one-piece bar and stem channels all cables internally, creating a very clean and aero frontage for slicing efficiently through the air
42 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Corsa tyres are rolled over from last year
HOT KIT
PA RCO U R S ST R A D E DISC W H EEL S E T
WHEELS EF Education First has the choice of Vision’s Metron carbon wheel range, from the superlight 30SL through to the ultra aero 81, dependent on rider and course preference
C H A I N S E T/ POWER METER Cannondale’s SiSL2 chainset features hollow aluminium crank arms. The team also uses the same Power2Max power meter spider found on Cannondale’s production bikes
The 2020 race bike almost mirrors the same set-up and sponsor list that EF Education First riders enjoyed in 2019 so there should be no issue getting used to the new bikes. Shimano remain as the principal groupset sponsor, with flagship Dura-Ace Di2 9150 hydraulic drivetrains and disc brakes being specced on all of the bikes. The team has run disc brakes for longer than many teams as Cannondale’s aero SystemSix has been developed specifically for use with the more reliable, and more aero stoppers. The only variation from last year is the inclusion of Cannondale’s own superlight SiSL2 chainset that incorporates a Power2Max NG power meter. Rather
than using Cannondale’s own intricately machined chainrings, the team runs FSA rings. Another long-time sponsor, Vision (a partner company to FSA), provides its Metron carbon one-piece bar and stem cockpit and a full selection of Metron carbon wheels. Prologo finds its way on to another team bike, with the inclusion of its saddles and bar tape on all of EF’s Cannondales. Tyres remain unchanged, with the team sticking with Vittoria’s graphene-infused Corsa range. Pedals are still provided by Speedplay, with the aero Zero pedal being the most popular model.
TL tyre was 58 seconds faster over 40 kilometres, with a rider travelling at 50kph. Using a 25mm tyre on the Strade, the saving was 56 seconds — more than Parcours’ own Passista with a 25mm tyre (54sec) and a lot more than the Passista with 28mm rubber (37sec). The British brand discovered that average yaw angle at the front was consistently higher and addressed this by creating a U-shaped rim, with a depth of 49mm, and an external width of 32mm. The rear uses a V-shaped rim and a depth of 54mm and 30.5mm external width. Precision machined alloy hubs, fitted with high-grade EZO cartridge bearings, use 24 2-cross laced Sapim CX-Ray aero spokes. The internal rim width is 22.5mm and they use a Centrelock disc fitment. The hubs are designed for 12mm thru-axles front and rear, though adapter kits are available. A set weighs in at 1,520g (690g front, 830g rear) and RRP is £999. Contact: www.parcours.cc Price: £999
Photos Cannondale
The Parcours Strade disc wheelset has been aerodynamically optimised for use with 28mm tubeless tyres. The brand partnered with the sports engineering department at Nottingham Trent University and has wind tunnel data to back up its claims. When compared with a baseline wheelset — the Fulcrum Racing 5s — the new Strade fitted with a 28mm GP 5000
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 43
TECH GROUPTEST
Winter tights Michelle Arthurs-Brennan and James Bracey test six of the best
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any readers will remember the days when winter tights were typically a chamois-free outer layer, worn over the top of a favourite pair of shorts. A lot has changed in the last decade. Now, brands are able to sew a chamois into the outer shell without affecting fit and comfort, and that’s what pretty much all but the most traditional models now do. Winter comes in many different guises. There are the cold, frosty days where leaving the house means rolling past frosted car windscreens and negotiating
worryingly shiny patches of tarmac. Then there are the deluge days where spray and muck fly despite even the most careful mudguard fittings. Winter tights differ in order to cater for these varying needs — some models place their focus on warmth, using fleece linings to provide a high level of insulation, while others come with heavy-duty water resistant coatings, which can affect the fit it not carefully applied. We’re not all limiting ourselves to base miles in the winter any more either — wearers could be knocking out hard intervals in the bleak midwinter, as well as
logging long slow miles, so kit needs to let the skin breathe and wick sweat. The absolute ideal in a good pair of winter tights is balance: the perfect garment can keep a rider warm and relatively dry during the colder months, while maintaining comfort in the saddle. Reflective details to aid visibility on low light always go down well, too. We’ve put six pairs to the test: three women’s models, and three men’s models. Where the brand offers the tights in a fit for both genders, all features apply, aside from comments on fit and chamois comfort.
dhb Aeron Lab Women’s All Winter £150 Dhb’s Aeron LAB range is aimed at the movement horizontally, which top end of the market, with the All was uncomfortable when Weight Winter bibtights seeking to provide pedalling. I initially tried the protection down to 0°C. tights in a size 10, one size Pulling the tights on, the heavy up from the eight I’d usually duty nature is immediately apparent. wear in dhb. Clocking the knee The panels on the outside of the quads issue, I requested a size 12 to try, down to the shin, are constructed from the and still felt restricted at the knee. Polartec produced Windbloc fabric, which The fabric on the quads wrinkled reportedly keeps out 100 per cent of wind, a little, another sign that it’s not using a micro-porous laminate wedged as supple as a standard bib. between two layers: lofted inner fibres and At the shin, hamstrings and a durable outer. around the chamois, the brand Riding on a truly abysmal day — with the has used a much more flexible kind of 50mph wind and face-slapping rain Italian thermal fleece fabric that has you questioning your life choices — from MITI. This targets I was thankful for the added protection. I breathability, and offers still ended the ride soaked to the skin, but significantly more stretch. the windchill was manageable. I also never The chamois is a dual density found I was overheating while riding on Road Performance pad from milder days. Elastic Interface, designed to However, I did find the fit at the knees handle up to seven hours of exceptionally tight. The fabric seems to riding, and I had no issues with stretch vertically, but with reduced saddle comfort.
256g
“Riding on an abysmal day, I was thankful for the added protection” 44 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
The front of the bib is low cut, designed with high effort riding in the drops at front of mind. Some flashes of reflective material have been embedded at the lower leg and along the outer quads. While the All Winter tights offer great weather protection, I’d rather have less warmth and do away with restrictive fit. This said, if you are looking for a very warm set of tights for Baltic conditions, these could be just the thing. Having tested the brand’s much more value-orientated Aeron FLT Women’s Roubaix Halterneck bibtights (£85), personally I would favour the cheaper creation over the top-end race tights — both for the addition of the halter comfort break feature and the increased flexibility of the fabric. Sizes: 8-16 www.wiggle.com
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Pearl Izumi Pursuit Women’s Thermal £149.99 Lined with a thermal fleece fabric, long tail that tucks in to allow these tights feature a water Weight for easy toilet breaks. I’d shedding ‘PI Dry’ technology envisaged this with a hydrophobic coating impacting fit and which adds resistance against the effectiveness of light rain. the chamois, but was Water resistant fabrics of days gone by pleasantly surprised. could be quite stiff, and breathability can The waist stays put and the take a hit of it’s not well thought out. Pearl design means that you don’t Izumi’s offering didn’t succumb to either need to remove jerseys, gilets pitfall — the tights kept the worst of the and jackets every time you wind and rain off, but still sat well and felt need to sneak behind a bush great while wicking sweat effectively. I on a long ride. never found I was overheating. The pad here is the These tights are available in a men’s and women’s Elite Pursuit 1:1 women’s version. The female specific chamois. The target is iteration features a drop tail, which means all-day comfort, and I the back of the upper is split into two tested these tights over a parts, with a separation at the waist and a four-hour ride with no
258g
“You could spend a lot more and get much the same performance”
Rapha Women’s Cargo Winter £240 These incredibly cosy tights come in rich potential issues proved to be navy blue with ample pink and white unfounded. Weight reflective features encircling the I found storing a lower leg. Rapha’s Cargo bibs mid-ride snack in the boast a brushed fleece inner and a outside leg pocket durable water repellent (DWR) coating meant it was easy to reach, to keep the rain off. and I could forgo a Then there’s the characterful saddlebag with an pocket provision. A rider wearing inner tube safely BEST ON Rapha’s Cargo tights has four more stowed at my TEST pockets than those opting for a more lower back. traditional set-up: two at the lower back Though thick, the fabric was (one zipped), a mesh covered pocket breathable enough for hard on the right quad and a smaller zipped efforts on the outdoor compartment on the left. velodrome and on the club run. My two primary concerns around these Riding through a flood in the tights were that they’d be too warm, or that Kent lanes similarly showed the items placed in the pockets would make quality of the DWR coating. themselves known with an irritating jiggle Water droplets sat on the that matched my RPM. Both of these surface without penetrating
328g
issues. There’s a reflective ‘P’ logo at the quad, and a flash on the calf too — both of these positions should be pretty visible as you pedal so are a nice addition. The package is finished off with a silicone leg gripper and a zip at the bottom. I’ve never been a big fan of tights with zipper closure, but in fairness I didn’t experience any problems in this case. I opted for a size small, and found the fit as expected. Retailing at £149.99, these tights sit at a pretty middling rung on the pricing ladder and represent good value for money — you could spend a considerable amount more and get much the same performance. Sizes: S-L www.madison.co.uk
9
through to the skin, and there was still plenty of flex without bunching. I typically wear a UK size 8-10 and opted for a small in these. The fit was as expected, though a tad more generous than the more race-focused garments in Rapha’s range. The 11mm pad is thicker than most, but was forgotten once on the bike and provided all the comfort needed. These tights come in a men’s and women’s fit. The women’s version has no halter neck, clasp or other provision made for toilet breaks, which is a shame. And at £240, the price can’t be sniffed at either. However, for this level of weather protection without impacting fit, plus the bonus storage space, they’re an investment we’d recommend. Sizes: XXS-XL www.rapha.cc
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Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 45
TECH GROUPTEST
Le Col Pro £180 the saddle. It has the best Founded by ex-pro rider Yanto Barker, Le Col produces some smart Weight attribute of any chamois: it’s completely looking and truly technical kit. unobtrusive, I hardly The focus on catering for noticed its presence in performance-driven riders is testing and didn’t demonstrated in the Pro bibtights. experience any discomfort on These winter tights are pretty long rides. understated, with only black available — The rear knee panels are but you get a nice touch of reflective stitched, with the goal being detailing on the calves that gives to avoid excess fabric and you some extra visibility in poor thus chafing, and I’m pleased light conditions. to report that the claim For £180 these are premium tights and rang true. riders making this sort of investment are Le Col has targeted these right to expect an expert level of tights at riders aiming to push protection. In this case, you get Le Col’s their limits even in winter. The Aqua Zero fabric and a non-allergic, PVC fabric is less bulky than and Latex free Dolomiti chamois. traditional deep winter options. The pad itself is comfortable, stays in What really impressed me was place well and is good for many hours in
307g
“The tights are targeted at riders aiming to push their limits, even in winter”
the comfort of the fleeced material across the entire length, which made for some comfy riding. Even more impressive is that the Le Col Pro bibtights help to keep water spray at bay. The Le Col Pro bibtights are water resistant thanks to the tightly woven Aqua Zero fabric that Le Col uses for a number of its garments. This helps take the sting out of cold wheel spray nicely. These tights are available in men’s and women’s versions. I tested the men’s version in a size small, and the fit was spot on from the cuffs at the bottom, around the knee, bum and finally up the torso. However, it’s also worth trying before buying as brands tend to vary in size. Sizes XS-3XL www.lecol.cc
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Morvelo Stealth Thermoactive £90 The Stealth Thermoactive bibtights, add durability. The fabric has also been available in men’s and women’s fit, Weight treated with a water resistant DWR aren’t the most weatherproof in coating to add protection Morvélo’s range. What they do against road spray and rain. offer is a bit more versatility and a Inside the Stealth temperature range that will see them Thermoactive tights sits Morvélo’s getting far more use than the thickest of super comfy, Italian made winter tights. chamois. This is nicely padded and The Stealth in the name denotes the extends around the front a little all-black colour scheme, barring a couple of more than some others. In the most little white ‘M’ markings on each thigh. part it stays in place nicely and really Morvélo uses a thin but surprisingly warm cannot be faulted. SuperRoubaix fleece-backed fabric for the The cut and fit is pretty good majority of the garment. Only the upper overall but I did feel the main panel part of the bib tips a nod to breathability extending around the midriff and to with a mesh type material. the crotch was a little too loose The Stealth Thermoactive offering can be fitting, which didn’t look great and differentiated from many tights thanks to a meant the pad could be pulled out of distinctive multi-panel construction and place a little too easily. Morvélo’s use of overlocked stitching on the I wouldn’t choose these first if the outside as well as the inside. This should temperature is hovering around zero;
323g
46 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
the initial thermal protection isn’t as good as something like the Endura Pro SL. But the better breathability enables you to work harder without overheating, offering almost unrestricted pedalling which feels almost like you’re in shorts again. The ability to stop cold spray from encroaching on the lower legs is good, although the DWR coating will wear off after multiple washes, so you will need to re-proof at some point. The final real positive of the Stealth Thermoactive tights is the price. These come in at a considerable amount less than many other premium brands. Sizes: S-XXL www.morvelo.com
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Endura Pro SL Bibtights II £160 aids low-light condition safety. For the rider wanting to go out in the Slide the Pro SL on and the worst of the winter weather the Weight multi-panel construction Endura Pro SL bibtight II has all provides a snug fit that at the features needed to keep you first feels a little restrictive. All comfortable and riding on through this is forgotten as soon as you the worst of conditions. jump on a bike, though, when Endura has opted for a the Pro SL reveals an almost multi-fabric construction on the BEST ON perfect cut for spending Pro SL, combining classic warm TEST countless hours on the bike. and brushed ThermoRoubaix with Adding to the comfort, Endura four-way stretch windproof panels to add has included its top of the range strategic protection where needed. To add 700 series chamois pad in the to its wet-weather prowess the tight has Pro SL bibtight. This features a also been treated with an eco-friendly multi-density construction and no PFC-free DWR coating. seams, providing a supportive but The tight extends higher around the very comfortable pad. midriff than many, eliminating any cold Unlike the options in its top-end spots around the kidneys. Endura has shorts, where the chamois is included a short zip at the front to make the available in a range of widths, Pro SL still easy to get on and off as well as this pad is only available in a being more practical for comfort breaks. medium — but it should fit most In a nod to visibility on the road, a good people very well. level of reflectivity on the back of the calf
341g
Thanks to the performance of the materials used in the Pro SL and the more encompassing construction it holds up well in frigid conditions and also does a great job of shedding road spray. However, like many ‘proper’ winter tights this does result in a garment that gets a little warm and sweaty when the temperature elevates into higher single figures, or when riding really hard. Bear this in mind when piling on the layers up top. Sizes: XS-XXL www. endurasport. com
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Verdict
Endura and Rapha lead the way
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f the three pairs of men’s bibtights we tested, the Endura Pro SL II impressed us the most, offering a high level of protection against the wind and rain while maintaining comfort. The women’s test winner went to the Rapha Cargo bibtights, again based on the expert blend of weatherproofing, coupled with flexible material which offered the freedom of movement required on the bike, with the added bonus of pockets. dhb pad provides seven hours of comfort
Both pairs of Rapha Cargo: tights are available great all-rounder for men and women, though Endura’s Pro SL hasn’t progressed to mark II in the female range. Though not test winners, the offering from Morvelo deserves a mention for versatility and excellent value for money. Le Col’s Pro tights did a great job of providing warmth without bulk while Pearl Izumi’s Pursuit women’s bibs successfully tackled the comfort break hurdle without having a negative
effect on ride performance. Unfortunately for dhb, while other items within the Aeron range have really impressed us, the weatherproofing features of these tights impacted fit and comfort. Having tested the brand’s more entry-level tights to great success, we’d be inclined to recommend looking towards the brand’s more value-orientated creations unless you’re planning to ride through genuinely Baltic conditions this winter.
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 47
FITNESS
S H O U LD YO U
GO YO U R OWN WAY ? Hiring a coach makes someone else responsible for setting your sessions and monitoring progress. But is it a step too far? Hannah Reynolds weighs up the pros and cons of going it alone Photos Daniel Gould
48 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
FITNESS
Modern tech has brought self-coaching to the masses
FITNESS
oaching is defined as giving instruction or advice to another person. By simple dictionary definition, being a ‘selfcoached’ athlete is a contradiction in terms — yet it is an expression that is gaining traction in cycling. The question is, can you ‘self-coach’ effectively and if so, how? Cycling coaching is a growing business. Twenty or even 10 years ago, there were very few people making a living out of coaching amateur cyclists, but increasing numbers of riders are employing a coach to help them get the most from their training time. Features in cycling magazines have catalysed the trend, urging riders to get coaches for a multitude of reasons, from saving time to avoiding fatigue, to getting faster. Yes, granted, I’ve written a few of them myself — because when it comes to improving as a bike rider, ‘get a coach’ is the easy answer. However, alongside the rise in the number of coached athletes, more and more riders are calling themselves ‘selfcoached’. A selfcoached rider sets their own training, rides with intent to improve fitness, and as far as possible makes good, informed and objective decisions about their own health, performance and training. But does anyone have the necessary objectivity, knowledge and expertise to really coach himself or herself effectively? A coach has a huge number of responsibilities to fulfil beyond setting
training plans. The nuts and bolts of creating training programmes is only a small part of the job. “There are two sides to being a coach,” says Rich Edge of Laatste Ronde Coaching, “technical expertise in devising a training programme, and all the soft skills: being a voice to answer questions, the ongoing relationship and the dialogue that makes the relationship.” Knowledge, experience and expertise are (or should be) a necessity for becoming a coach. A coach adds value by listening to their charge’s goals and desires, helping them navigate the challenges of fitting training into their lives and aiding decision-making adjustments. “The technical fundamentals are one thing — you can read those in a book,” continues Edge, “but more important is making the training experience a cycle of improvement, a pleasant and engaging process, by benefiting from the objective input of the coach.” Data analysis Applying sports science and training knowledge to the analysis of data is fundamental to coaching. “A coach or sports scientist acts as a filter for spurious science,” says Dr Andy Middlebrooke, sports scientist at Exercise Science Consulting. “Why are people paying me? It is to provide simple rules and regulations based on a balance of evidence. My job is to keep abreast of new information and make evidencebased decisions. Creating a balance of evidence is very difficult for someone who doesn’t work in that field.” Data analysis is a key part of the process for many coaches. James Spragg of Spragg Cycle Coaching explains: “Measuring fatigue and adaption to training is my job. Without monitoring, you are crossing your fingers and hoping that things will go in the right direction.” Without a coach, monitoring yourself can be risky. Middlebrooke explains: “We have a plethora of data available to use immediately, but it is very easy
“You need to be able to filter and interpret data appropriately”
50 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
to fall into a trap with data and not see the bigger picture. You are using retrospective data to tell you how fit you are, predict future performance and inform training decisions. You need to be able to filter and interpret it appropriately.” Self-coached rider Dave Ody believes that athletes who are monitoring themselves independently need to have a good grounding in data analysis: “As a data nerd, applications like Training Peaks and Strava can help me understand ‘progress’.” Nikalas Cook, coach and author of The Road Cycling Performance Manual , agrees: “Software can be incredibly useful, and once you understand how the features work, tracking and planning is fairly intuitive.” Keeping a careful eye on your data allows you to make the necessary adjustments to your training — particularly if you aren’t making the progress you expected. There are many reasons you might need to adjust your training: illness, work commitments and travel, to name just a few. It takes knowledge, experience and objectivity to make the right call. “A self-coached athlete may miss out from not having someone in the
FITNESS
Monitoring your progress is the shortest road to performance gains
COUNTING THE COST
Coached v self-coached: the economics The choice of cycle coaches is bewildering, and you aren’t confined to those in your town or county. Thanks to the availability of online packages and remote coaching, your coach could be anywhere in the world. Though costs vary, particularly at the top end, there are broad ‘normal’ price ranges. It tends to be the amount of personalisation and coach contact time that separates the most expensive from the cheapest. ‘Celebrity’ coaches will cost significantly more than those shown below. Q Personalised plans with bespoke daily training sessions, unlimited adjustment to training schedule, fitness testing and totally unlimited contact with your coach. Cost: £400+ per month Q Personalised monthly plans, adjustment to training as necessary,
self-administered fitness testing and limited weekly contact with your coach. Cost: £90-150 per month Q Monthly training plan with limited adjustment, limited email contact time and monthly feedback phone call. Cost: £50-75 per month The tangible costs of self-coaching are significantly less. Tools such as power meters and heart rate monitors are used by both coached and self-coached athletes — so no cost difference. Really, the only additional tool a self-coached rider might need is a subscription to something like TrainingPeaks, to upload and monitor their data, which comes in at about £10 a month. Of course, you could add ‘extras’ such as periodic fitness tests in a sports lab (approx
£150) or Zwift (£12.99 a month), but no matter how you cut it, being self-coached is cheaper. However, a less easily measureable cost is your time. Self-coaching takes effort beyond just completing a training session: time to study and learn, time to construct your programme, time to analyse your data. Given that time is money, the ‘hidden’ cost of self-coaching starts to add up. Dr Andy Middlebrooke supplies his athletes with their training sessions as invites on a shared Google calendar and accesses their data through Garmin Connect. He argues that if athletes have too much data to look at, “they will just waste their own time trying to analyse it” — or, as one of his athletes put it, “I pay him to do my thinking for me.”
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 51
FITNESS performance director role,” says Dr Middlebrooke, “to help make decisions about illness or injury. As a coach, I can make that decision and take that worry away from the athlete.” Cook tells a story of a fellow coach whose rider, despite nailing every session, wasn’t getting the fitness gains expected. In later discussions, the rider admitted that work had got very busy, so he was doing the sessions at 4am. There are two messages here: firstly, the coach-athlete relationship is critically important; secondly, following the plan to the letter, without any flexibility, is unwise. “You need rules to follow to remove the subjective decisions that you would otherwise be making daily,” adds Dr Middlebrooke. Time-sparing role Another recurrent theme, from speaking to coaches, is that a coach can save you time. Sophie Johnson is an elite athlete turned coach with Cinch: “If you are going to do something, do it right first time. Coaching really exists for the timepoor.” When you’re busy, every session must count. “You hardly have time to train; a lot of the athletes who sign up to Cinch haven’t got time to make mistakes, they haven’t got time to train badly.” Dr Middlebrooke takes a similar angle: “The key thing about having a coach is that they act like your PA — the info you get from them is the info you need.” By filtering out unnecessary information from the data, planning the training and analysing it afterwards, a coach leaves their athlete with just one task — to ride their bike. “My clients look at their Google calendar where I have entered their training as an appointment,” says Dr Middlebrooke. “When it’s done, there is no more to think about, no data to analyse.” Johnson agrees: “Coaching gives someone else the job of making your cycling a priority. If a rider has the added stress and time constraint of planning their training programme, it’s just not going to happen. It’s my job to provide accountability and motivation.” Social support And those two concepts — accountability and motivation — are critical. Many 52 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Paying for a coach can free you to focus solely on riding
coached athletes say that having a coach helps to keep them on track to do their sessions — after all, you are paying someone to set them. There is also an emotional and psychological element to it. “People want to please, that is one of the pros of coaching,” says Cook, adding a note of caution, “but it can also be a drawback when a rider’s focus is on satisfying the coach, not themselves.” Social support is critical to us all. Very few people can train effectively in a vacuum. Most athletes, from the top professionals to club riders, have a formal or informal team around them to bounce ideas off, share successes and analyse failures. Everyone needs someone on board, be it a partner, ride mate, coach or friend, who cares about their success or failure. Dr Middlebrooke expands on this theme: “Evidence points to the importance of the additional social support mechanism in improving performance. A lot of people trying to achieve an objective haven’t got the
social support around them. If they didn’t have a coach, they wouldn’t have anyone who understands what they are trying to achieve.” For some of his athletes, coaching conversations are “40 minutes of counselling and five minutes of being a sports scientist. Social support is a huge part of them getting better.”
“A coach is like a PA — the info they give is the info you need”
Knowing when to stop Motivation is only one side of the coaching coin; often, even more important is holding the athlete back. Motivation is a double-edged sword, and the most motivated athletes tend to be the ones who need guidance to restrain them from overdoing it. Bryan McCullough, specialist physio and bike-fitter, says: “I work with lots of ‘self-coached’ cyclists, and one of the issues I come across most often is overtraining or dramatic training load changes, leading to injuries.” Cyclist James Golding recently hired a coach for the first time. “I was selfcoached and it got me a long, long way and I achieved a lot by setting goals. But as my
FITNESS objectivity and tear apart what you are doing in a way you can’t yourself.” There are clearly benefits to having a coach, but you don’t need a coach constantly throughout your cycling career, just at key times. There may also be a middle ground suitable for many riders: self-coaching most of the time, but having a periodic training ‘check-up’ with a coach or sports scientist. Cook suggests that while things are going well and you are seeing improvements, being ‘selfcoached’ is a realistic option. “The time
to look for a coach,” he says, “is when you feel out of your depth: if you aren’t getting the results you thought you would, or are getting ill or fatigued, or just aren’t enjoying your training anymore.” If you are determined to reach a specific performance goal, you would likely benefit from having a coach. That may not mean regular, weekly or monthly coaching appointments or training plans, but it would mean having an expert you trust on hand to offer objective advice when you most need it.
5 STEPS TO SELF- COACHING
How to be your own best coach goals got bigger, I needed someone to help set out the path — sometimes, to tell me not to ride.” This need for objectivity and external restraint is evidently a recurring theme for self-coached riders. The belief that the more you ride, the better you get only works until you become injured or ill. Of course, doing less training requires trust in the process. “I never underestimate the leap of faith needed for someone to believe that the training you are giving them is the right training for them to reach their goals,” says Middlebrooke. Objective advice Objectivity is a word I heard over and over again from every coach I interviewed for this feature. “As a coach with the technical fundamentals, why do I choose to have a coach for my own riding?” asks Edge. “Because you can’t apply those soft skills to yourself, and you can’t talk objectively to yourself. You’ll always miss out on something.” Dr Middlebrooke does coach himself, albeit while getting a second opinion: “When I write my own plan, I send it to someone else, a friend who is also a sports scientist, to be my objective sounding board.” Coach Cook has switched to being self-coached, but admits: “I’d go back to being coached again if I set myself a goal that was very different to anything I had done before — if I didn’t have experience or needed some input. A coach can offer
1
Make a precise plan Setting a training plan is probably the area you least need a coach for. With offthe-peg plans available from many sources, some with basic levels of customisation, you can easily procure a training plan that promises to help you reach your goal. TrainingPeaks, Today’s Plan, TrainerRoad and Strava, among many others, offer free (as part of a site subscription) or cheap training plans. Twelve weeks is a popular length, as by the end of this you can expect to see changes in your fitness and performance.
2
Analyse your data With a power meter and heart rate monitor you already have a vast amount of information to help you monitor fitness progression and fatigue — if you have the knowledge and experience to interpret the data they provide. Signing up to a software platform for data analysis is an obvious first step for anyone contemplating selfcoaching. TrainingPeaks, Today’s Plan, CyclingAnalytics and Strava are the big four worth investigating.
3
Make necessary adjustments Continual monitoring of heart rate changes and daily mood profiles can give good
indications of fatigue and readiness to train, but there is no foolproof metric to follow. When you spot a dip in your motivation or unusual heart rate responses to exercise, you need to have the means to make a good decision on how to address it. Having an objective, knowledgeable thirdparty opinion really comes into its own when making decisions on when and how to adjust your training. Assemble a support crew This is one of the easiest things to do as a self-coached athlete. Your friends, family and team-mates are the people you will turn to for support and understanding. Social media can also open up a huge network of support among like-minded people who will share in the pain of a tough training session and join in the celebration of your success.
4 5
Know when to push on, and when to hold back Effective goal-setting is really at the root of understanding what motivates and sustains you. There is stacks of advice available on how to set your own goals. Once you have big, important goals, finding the motivation to train is often the easy part; knowing when to hold back can be harder. This is when an objective (second) opinion can really help.
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 53
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R AC I N G R E S U LT S
ROAD RACING
CYCLO-CROSS
S AT, 2 5 J A N UA RY
S U N , 2 6 J A N U A RY
Woolly Mamil Winter Series round two (Stourport Sports Club, Worcestershire): 1, 2, 3: 1. William Truelove (Marsh Tracks Racing-Trek); 2. W. Harding (Marsh Tracks Racing); 3. A. Thomson (CC Bridgnorth); 4. J. Lloyd (JRC-Shutt Ridley RT); 5. M. Exley (Team Flamme Rouge); 6. J. Satoor (Cero-Cycle Division RT); 7. S. Wyllie (Halesowen A&CC); 8. J. White (Wolverhampton Wheelers); 9. D. Hird (Halesowen A&CC); 10. M. Malone (Z Junior RT). 3, 4: 1. Nathan Leaves (Cwmcarn Paragon CC); 2. J. Satoor (Cero-Cycle Division RT); 3. W. Harding (Marsh Tracks Racing); 4. R. Greaves (Huub Ribble Performance Academy); 5. T. Bullock (Cero-Cycle Division RT); 6. H. Paveley (Innovation Racing). Women: 1. Darcey Ellis (JRC-Shutt Ridley RT); 2. M. Baker (Team Empella Cyclo-cross); 3. C. Crozier (Black Sheep CC); 4. V. Boddice (Success Cycling); 5. C. Nott (Army CU); 6. L. Ball (Success Cycling).
Eastern League round 12 (Milton Country Park, Cambridgeshire): Seniors: 1. Max Bolton (Tofauti Everyone Active) 1:00.23; 2. J. Madgwick (QSW Fenwicks) +0.12; 3. D. Earth (Steve Poole Plant Hire) +1.06; 4. J. Parrish (Forest Side Riders) +1.41; 5. C. Johnson (Fast Test RT) +3.59; 6. R. Tricker (Vicious Velo) +4.17; 7. F. Barker (Hope Factory Racing) +4.55; 8. A. Toms (Pedal Power Cycles Ipswich) +6.24; 9. A. Dale (Lee Valley YCC) +7.25; 10. C. Hall (unattached) +7.29. Women: 1. Ffion James (Hope Factory Racing) 36.49; 2. E. Branch (unattached) +3.00; 3. M. Lebentz (Tofauti Everyone Active) +3.41. Veterans: 1. Neil Ellison (Specialized-Ruislip) 40.53; 2. B. Lewis (Forest Side Riders) +0.05; 3. S. Pryce (Strada 2020) +1.52.
East London Velo Winter Series round two (Redbridge circuit, Ilford, Essex): 2, 3, 4: 1. Charles Bailey (Lee Valley YCC); 2. P. Burton (Paceline RT); 3. A. Randall (Twickenham CC); 4. O. Murphy (Hillingdon Slipstreamers); 5. C. Peck (Athlon CC); 6. M. Lloyd (Lee Valley YCC); 7. M. Davey (Verulam-Really Moving); 8. T. Parnell (PCH); 9. B. Richards (Cycle Team OnForm); 10. C. Kennedy-Scott (CC Hackney). Fourth Cat: 1. James Brown (Giro Prestige); 2. C. Backhouse (Kingston Wheelers); 3. P. Lovett (unattached); 4. J. Underwood (Penge CC); 5. G. Burt (Penge CC); 6. J. Champness (Hadleigh MTB Club). Women: 1. Ellen Bennett (Flamme Rouge); 2. E. Coleman (Flamme Rouge); 3. G. Cowen (Les Filles RT); 4. C. Hayes (Awol); 5. A. Lethbridge (Weston Homes-Torelli Assure); 6. M. Hayward (Lee Valley CC). Full Gas Winter Series round 14 (Lee Valley Velo Park, London): Third Cat: 1. Anthony Gibb (Full Gas RT); 2. A. Sandhu (unattached); 3. C. Biggs (Lee Vally YCC); 4. S. Clarfield (Lee Valley YCC); 5. L. Prenelle (VC Londres); 6. J. Mokrani (Willesden CC); 7. J. Lear (ROTOR Race Team); 8. E. Quizzardi (Hub Velo); 9. A. Hitchen (Orwell Velo); 10. D. Yorston (unattached). Fourth Cat: 1. Daniel Hawkes (unattached); 2. S. Skinner (Paceline RT); 3. N. Barrett (VC Vittoria); 4. N. Richards (unattached); 5. N. Hawksworth (East Grinstead CC): 6. W. Leach (unattached).
London League round 13 (Redbridge, Essex): Seniors: 1. Neil Phillips (Tekkerz CC) 1:01.37; 2. J. Jones (ZeroBC) +2.11; 3. J. Parker (RC Ravenna) +2.19; 4. J. Flury (Arctic Aircon) +4.38; 5. S. Kane (Team ASL) +4.48; 6. D. Rees (Dulwich Paragon CC) +5.10; 7. A. Rhodes (unattached) +5.46; 8. C. Panayiotou (Fruit 4 London) +6.18; 9. E. Bradbury (unattached) +7.18; 10. T. Clarke (Trash Mile) +8.37. Women: 1. Caroline Reuter (Dulwich Paragon CC) 52.42; 2. M. Sennema (Paceline RT) +2.50; 3. C. McGreevy (Awol) +3.45. Veterans: 1. Andrew Taylor (C and N Cycles) 43.12; 2. J. Furniss (Zepnat RT) +1.04; 3. R. Harris (C and N Cycles) +1.07. Wessex League round 16 (Southampton Sports Centre, Hampshire): Seniors: 1. Sam Allen (Pedal On) 59.17; 2. P. Morris (Fareham Wheelers) +2.41; 3. B. Clacy (Hargroves Montezuma’s) +2.43; 4. M. Wakefield (Oxonian CC) +3.46; 5. K. Norfolk (Pedal On) +5.31; 6. P. Banks (Sotonia CC) + 1 lap; 7. T. Doole (Maybush CC); 8. P. Wilks (Sotonia CC); 9. B. Schofield (Cowley Road Condors); 10. K. Tonner (Cotswold Veldrijden). Women: 1. Helen Pattinson (Hargroves Montezuma’s) 37.27; 2. L. Brazier-Larkin (Sarum Velo) +2.16; 3. K. Robson (Pedal On) +2.22. Veterans: 1. Paul Lloyd (Banjo Cycles) 40.22; 2. A. Forrester (Zepnat RT) +1.45; 3. D. Rorke (Didcot Phoenix CC) +4.31.
RIDER OF THE WEEK Michael Newall (Team Empella Cyclo -cross.com) Forme Notts & Derby League Newall wrapped up the overall junior league title at the 13th and final round at Chetwynd Barracks in Nottingham, his first victory in a season which has seen him finish second six times. (Performance Cycles); 8. T. Perry (unattached); 9. G. Holland (Brixton Cycles); 10. T. Halhead (unattached). Women: 1. Sophie Halhead (BW Cycling); 2. M. Whitehurst (Somer Valley CC); 3. L. Jewitt (unattached). Veterans: 1. Simon Burgess (Bristol CX); 2. P. Kench (ASE Racing); 3. J. Carver (unattached).
S AT, 2 5 JA N UA RY Notts and Derbys League round 13 (Chetwynd Barracks, Nottingham): Seniors: 1. Jonathan Brain (Mid-Shropshire Wheelers) 47.55; 2. J. Swadling (8point8 Group) +1.47; 3. M. Newall (Team Empella Cyclo-cross.com) +2.39; 4. J. Jones (ZeroBC); 5. F. Mansfield (Cero-Cycle Division); 6. S. Partridge (unattached); 7. P. Holwell (Peak RC); 8. A. Duncan (unattached); 9. B. Eedy (Team Empella Cyclo-cross.com); 10. G. Whittall (unattached). Women: 1. Kate Eedy (Team Empella Cyclo-cross. com) 40.50; 2. X. Crees (Team Empella Cyclo-cross. com) +0.16; 3. J. Tindley (CAMS-Tifosi); +1.53. Veterans: 1. Daniel Alexander (Zepnat.com Lazer Helmets) 44.48; 2. N. Halliday (RAM CC) +0.27; 3. B. Eedy (Team Empella Cyclo-cross.com) +1.03.
Western League round 8 (Purdown, Bristol): Seniors: 1. Sam Andrews (Clash RT); 2. S. Holder (Das Rad Klub); 3. P. Derrick (Sodbury Cycle Sport); 4. J. Britton (Bristol CX); 5. S. Bennett (Das Rad Klub); 6. S. Jeddere-Fisher (unattached); 7. G. Musk
North West League round 11 (Buile Hill Park, Salford): Seniors: 1. Giles Drake (Wheelbase-CabTech) 50.35; 2. S. Williams (Marsh Tracks Racing-Trek) +0.04; 3. J. Thorp (Macclesfield Wheelers) +0.27; 4. R. Rowson (Macclesfield Wheelers) +0.51; 5. M. Lawton (Macclesfield Wheelers) +1.12; 6. M. Woffindin (Secret-training.cc) +2.38; 7. P. Upton (unattached) +2.39; 8. S. Henshall (Port Sunlight Wh) +3.18; 9. J. Edwards (Salt Ayre Cog Set) +4.12; 10. L. Beswick (Buxton CC) +4.30. Women: 1. Emma Collier (Stan’s No Tubes UK) 45.41; 2. K. Taylor (The Racing Chance Foundation) +1.20; 3. A. Rushton (Ribble Valley Juniors Cycling) + 1 lap. Veterans: 1. Ian Taylor (C and N Cycles) 38.54; 2. D. Powell (Horwich CC) +0.22; 3. N. Whitley (Chester RC) +0.49.
Gravel and Tar Classic (January 25) Former One Pro Cycling rider Hayden McCormick won the .2 classified one-day race in New Zealand. Part of the UCI Oceania Tour, the race, as the name suggests, features multiple gravel road sections. At the line he had a gap of 3.23 minutes on team-mate and fellow New Zealander Luke Mudgway.
UCI World Cup Hoogerheide (January 26) Mathieu van der Poel racked up his 14th victory in a row, cementing his status as favourite for the World Championships next weekend. Brit Tom Pidcock came in seventh. In the women’s race, Lucinda Brand grabbed her fifth victory of the season and Britain’s best finisher was Evie Richards in fifth.
LAST WEEK Kasteelcross Zonnebeke (January 25) Another day, another Mathieu van der Poel win. This time it was Wout van Aert’s turn to take second place behind the unstoppable Dutchman. While the men’s race had no British riders, Bethany Crumpton came in 18th in the women’s contest, nearly four minutes behind winner Christine Majerus.
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 55
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FLAMME ROUGE
Dr Hutch
The Doc finds that demonstrating his cycling superiority outside the context of a race is not as easy as he had hoped
M
y friend Bernard has recently returned from a holiday. Not having taken his bike with him, he suffered badly from a familiar problem: the more difficult it is to go for a ride, the more desperately you want to. (The converse of this is also true.) He was forced into an extreme measure. “I went to a spinning class,” he said. “It was horrific. And do you want to know the most horrific thing about it?” “The music? The instructor? The saddle? Every other rider in the room? The heat? The humidity? The relentless bloody enthusiasm?” “Worse than all of that. I looked like a moron. All these years I’ve spent perfecting my riding, developing my stylish souplesse, yet I had no idea what was going on, couldn’t do half the weird things the instructor wanted even when I could understand them, and I got pitying looks
doctorhutch _cycling@ti-media.com
from half the middle-aged women in the class. But I’m better at riding a bike than all of them put together. I might as well have gone to the pole-dancing class next-door.” Setting aside the pole-dancing bit, he has a good point. I worry that even when he and I are out on our bikes together, the casual observer may confuse us with a pair of random blokes just out for a ride. Obviously to the skilled eye we are experienced racing men, with a balanced posture and a smooth pedalling action forged over many tens of thousands of miles. But it’s not the skilled eye that I’m interested in. I want my greatness to be obvious to all. It’s the only greatness I have. I can’t afford for it to be overlooked. For instance, on a holiday in France a few years ago, I joined a cycling tour of the local vineyards. I got issued with a cheap mountain bike for the day, but even on that I was clearly the class rider of the random group. Yet the only admiring gasps I heard
How to… knock other people off Knocking other people off their bikes is this is to bring down sufficient others to very bad form. Just how bad you can disguise your culpability. judge by a friend of this column, who You can knock off the rider behind with a knocked Sean Kelly off his bike at the sudden braking manoeuvre, as, for example Scottish Milk Race in about 1978 and has been carefully covering up the evidence of this offence ever since. In that case, he knocked Kelly off by riding straight into the back of him. This is remarkably easy to do in a group ride or race if you’re not concentrating and, especially, looking ahead through the peloton. It has the special disadvantage that you and your victim will usually end up in a tangled heap on the floor There’s more than one together. The best way around way to skin a first-cat 60 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
when a pothole appears out of nowhere. This is also frowned upon, and your guilt will be very obvious. So a better tactic is to bunny-hop the hole, which the unsighted rider behind will now ride into, and fall over all on their own. Perhaps the most common means of knocking others off is with a sudden swerve. Take a quick glance over your shoulder to see who’s behind you and exactly where they are, so that you can time it just right. What you want to do is just nip their front wheel from under them — anything more than that and you risk being brought down too. And you don’t want that. Falling off your bike really hurts.
Spin classes are a poor showcase for your athletic prowess
city? No one will appreciate your elegant cadence. No one will slide up beside you at the lights and murmur, “Mmm. You have incredible thighs,” or at least not in a good way. There’s not even any point in keeping your bike scrupulously clean as only a proper bikie knows how to do it — it just makes it look as if you only bought it yesterday. Anything you can think of to demonstrate your pro credentials can be effortlessly upstaged by a teenager doing a track-stand. Cycling is just too universal. We shouldn’t teach the skill to children. We should save it as something to acquire expensively and dangerously as an adult. Then, and only then, will it impress people. In the meantime I’m having to do the only thing I can. And that’s ride with Bernard and hope that people can at least spot the difference.
“I can’t afford for my greatness to be overlooked”
ACTS O F CYC LI N G STUPIDITY Word reaches us of a rider who was planning an assault on their 25-mile time trial PB. They signed up with a well-known coach, and explained their target. “That’s going to demand a lot of work,” said the coach. “You’ll need 100 per cent commitment. It’s going to hurt — some of the sessions you’ll need to do will be really, really horrendous. You have to be ready for burning legs and heaving lungs. You need to want this more than you’ve ever wanted anything — it’s going to need everything you’ve got, and more. You’ll need to reach right down inside yourself and find reserves you never knew you had.” The rider contemplated this for a few moments, and decided to give up cycling instead.
Photos Alamy, Chris Catchpole
all afternoon were directed at a show-off from Australia who rode his bike like C3PO, but who could distinguish cabernet sauvignon from merlot by colour alone. The problem is that my sole cycling skill is for covering long-ish distances very quickly. This impresses no one who only sees you at an intermediate point — they just think you’re an idiot trying to show off how fast they can cover the length of the High Street. (See also “Strava-w****r”.) The only people who see me for enough time to process my achievement are those sitting behind me in a car trying to get past on a narrow road. And very, very few of them shout compliments about my VO2 max out of the window when they finally get a gap in the oncoming traffic. It’s the same with urban riding. How do you stand out from the crowd in the
Cycling Weekly | January 30, 2020 | 61
ICONS OF CYCLING Insurance For You And Your Bike
Land’s End to John o’ Groats The long-distance rite of passage that never loses its attraction
T
raditionally, British cycling has always loved the long, solo record-breaking ride. Out and back or place to place, it doesn’t really matter so long as it’s, well, long. The longer the better, in fact. And if you want the longest place-to-place ride in a more or less straight line in the UK, then Land’s End to John o’ Groats is... well, it’s no use at all because you have to keep changing direction. The furthest you can go in a straight line in the UK without falling in the sea is actually Bognor Regis to Cape Wrath. But because only the start and finish points of LEJOG are fixed, it’s an intriguing prospect as a record ride as there are so
many variables — finding the right combination of route, wind, weather, daylight and traffic density is fraught with complication. That’s one reason serious attempts at the outright record are rare, and the title doesn’t change hands often.
Broadwith covered his 841-mile route in 43:25.13 in 2018, knocking 39 minutes off Gethin Butler’s mark, it was the first time the outright record for conventional bikes had changed hands in 17 years. But conventional bikes aren’t everything — the outright record is 41:04.22, by Andy Wilkinson in a streamlined recumbent, and if Cycling UK gets its way it will soon be possible to ride all the way entirely off-road, opening the door to a new record. In the meantime, if you can think of it, someone’s probably already done it — Bromptons, recumbents, unicycles, tricycles, quadricycles, fancy dress.... If you think of something and it’s not been done yet, get in quick and set a mark. But don’t bother going for the youngest or oldest records unless you’re under seven or over 82. It’s not just about the record-breakers though. There are plenty of cyclists who take on the challenge at a more sedate pace, enjoying the scenery, measuring their progress in days and weeks rather than hours and minutes and gauging success by how much money they’ve raised for good causes. Last year Mavis Patterson became the oldest woman to complete the challenge, at a sprightly 81 years old. It took her a little over three weeks, and she raised £60,000 for cancer charities. If she can do it, why can’t you?
Eileen Sheridan on the way to setting a new record in 1954
The first two-wheeled, unpaced LEJOG benchmark was set in 1886 by the legendary George Pilkington Mills at five days, one hour, 45 minutes. On a penny farthing... Since then, only 10 cyclists have held the record — when current holder Michael
N EXT WE E K’S I SSU E O N S A L E T H U R S F E B R UA RY 6 We take a look at tech in the pro peloton Six people you can mimic in order to improve Parcours wheels: the latest UK brand on the market Brits at the Cyclo-Cross World Championships
62 | January 30, 2020 | Cycling Weekly
Words Kevin Raymond Photo Cycling Weekly archive
“The first unpaced LEJOG benchmark was set in 1886”