Tourmalet Magazine - nº01 - English version by Tourmalet Cycling

TOURMALET nº1 Jan’17

Veleta: the highest road mountain in Europe Aru vs Nibali: new Italian duel

Javier Guillén’s Vuelta interview

Tokyo & the bike

Wiggins retirement

Andorre’s coll de la Gallina

And much more...

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INDEX

Baréges WELCOME, FOLKS By George M.

Tourmalet Cycling Click directly the content you want to read

Tourmalet

Grand Départ (by Joxean F. Matxin)

Interview to Jan Svorada

Viva Colombia!

Aru vs Nibali

Wiggins retirement

Interview to Javier Guillén (Vuelta’s manager)

Movistar: the way to the lead

Veleta: the highest road in Europe

Andorre: col de la Gallina

Tokyo by bike

Dublin, the green experience

Porto, the west flavour

Further contents

Nº1

This is a new start, similar to a new begining for me. I want to thank everybody who made it possible and never left me alone in this new cycling adventure. This is friendship and loyalty’s triumph.

Tourmalet is one of the most epic names that a magazine about our sport could ever have. It’s not just the col, the mountain. It’s all the legend surrounding just a symbol of past ages sigh. From that old memories we should build the new ones.

This is what this is about. A way of innovation, a simple way to tell you stories. We hope you sit confortable and enjoy the wide menu we’ve set for you. First because of the huge Veleta climb, tiring even from the sofa. Did all of you know that is maybe the hardest and tallest climb in the whole Europe? Following the marvelous dream of riding a bike in Japan, all order and discipline even in traffic aspects. Or Movistar’s quality with their huge talents. Or the new rise of Colombian. Or the epic sides of Italian duels, now with Aru and Nibali on the lead. This is just an adventure to live experiences, no further aim. Do you join us? You’re absolutely welcome to this crazy time.

#GrandDépart by #Matxin Colombian cycling is having a great time, but there is such a coherent and easy explanation for it. Their cycling has esthan that. The work they are doing for the young riders is amazing, seeing the results and riders we are now talking about.

#TomBoonen1

tablished a format that other countries should follow. This is not a proffesional cycling and World Tour success. It’s more. This races could be organised in some regions, every year in a different one, without the need of doing twenty-one stages. For the youngest, with three, four or five is more than enough. Giving chances to the young riders provides health to your cycling.

so attractive for commercial brands. There they try to find all the incomes. The rest have a progress format, not based on money as in other countries.

and him have moved a lot to create those chances for the youngest talents and promote cycling. It is better and effective for a brand listening to a super star phoning to ask for support than a mere trainer.

I have been to Colombia several times in the last years. I treated a lot with Federation, living with them twenty four hours during Tour l’Avenir, for example, so I know perfectly what I’m talking about. There there are many versions of their Vuelta Colombia, the

There are so many riders to participate in those ones that they have to set ranking races to classify for the proffesional one. So riders get that motivation. From the different filtres they are getting the best riders. From quan-

Furthermore, all of this backWiggins, in a respectful way, ground gives the project step has not been the pioneer further in the sense of a soof creating foundations for cial development and benefit for community and youth. young talents. It is true he

“Colombia shaped a model with good results so far”

“Proffesional cycling is to produce income, early ages to grow”

“Wiggins hasn’t been the pioneer in creating foundations”

“British gave it a more proffesional aspect than Contador”

most important race in the country. In those different versions different categories can participate, giving them the chance to compete. This is all organized by Federation, which finds the pro-race

tity they are getting quality and that makes the difference. In Spain there is such a big problems with no team creation. If you give them the chance to classify via races to Vuelta, who knows.

has done many things, hats off for that, but the one who started all of this movement from pro cycling international stars has been Alberto Contador. His brother Fran

Wiggins maybe has looked for a more proffesional structure, but it is true that Contador focused more on the early ages. It depends on what you want to do and how.

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Tom Boonen is close to retirement too, but he will hang the bike after ParisRoubaix, in April of 2017. I can confirm he is working, training with the aim of doing a great season during those months.

I have met lots of riders. It still surprises me the deep respect all the bunch have for him. The more somebody knows him, the more they like him. It happens to me constantly, everything I know from him improves the already great image I have from such a historical rider as him.

For example, he is in his hotel room and you drop by to say some fans are waiting for him to take a picture. He stands up with ease, in a relaxed way and he goes down to sign autographs, shot pictures or whatever he is asked for.

JOXEAN FERNÁNDEZ MATXIN Twitter: @Matxin_ Facebook: Page Webpage: Matxin.es Media: Zona Cycling Wiggins maybe has looked for a more proffesional structure, but it is true that Contador focused more on the early ages. It depends on what you want to do and how. Others have followed this idea they established. Valverde, Maté, Nibali, Aru and more people. Wiggins retires. He had three main highlights in his career. The one of a track rider, riding for Cofidis, road racer, but more into track. In fact,

“Wiggins retires with three main highlights in his career” he starts with Cofidis because they had specific team in both sections. Linked to his British condition and the fact he was dedicated absolutely to the track, my first images from Bradley was he couldn’t climb any hill in a good way. Nobody though of him as any other further possibility, he was just a track rider. Now it is very different a duel be-

#TomBoonen2

tween Quintana and Froome and Cavendish and Kittel. Where ones can win, can’t win the others and so the other way around. His second stage is when he arrives Garmin. He became at that point in a rider able to end fourth a Tour de France, surprising everyone. Nobody could imagine, for example, Llaneras, Freuler or other track rider facing Tour

“My very best win was “Nobody could imin the Champs Elysees, agine a track rider so the end of the Tour” close to the podium“

I ride or not, I keep cycling or not, I do but in a different way, focusing on other races, road retirement and come back to the track... I feel nobody were clear-minded there to make the decission of continuing or On the one hand, won the not and stayed like in middle Tour against Froome, as he’s of the road. trying to show the team that he’s stronger and better Many other big names retire climber, Sky wonders if they after this season so, one more have to vary the project, or if for the list. from the last ten years. Later he has another stage, the third one, where he finds that ambiguity of riding and constant fighting against the team.

Joxean Fernández ‘Matxin’

“Almost nobody has completed a season like his 2012”

de France as a contender. Sky then decides to make the bet to win Tour and losing lots of weigh and getting fitter. He doesn’t get ‘just’ that, he closes a year almost perfect for him. Every race he took part in, he took the victory. Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie, Dauphiné, Tour de France and then the Olympics and at home is too much. This was one of the best seasons no one could remeber, at least

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“Many other great riders retire after 2016: Cancellara, Purito...”

All young riders that come to the team want a picture with Boonen. One of the most shocking sentences I’ve ever listened to comes from a story related to Tom. A young Colombian rider has been training with us in Calp: “I forgot my gloves and Tom lend me his. After the train he gave them to me and told me I was so talented. I almost pee myself of emotion.

He is extremely respected among riders. For example, Peter Sagan in his second title celebration, gets out his own party to look for Boonen to take him there to tribute him. It’s really impressive (I keep insisting) the respect the riders have for him. It’s more normal to see that in fans, in supporters, all the staff he’s working with... but even in rivals... He’s unique.

#Jan Svorada The former Lampre rider retired after fourteen seasons as a pro-cyclist. With some important wins as Grand Tours stage wins,

he shared one of the best sprinters generation ever seen, with big talented rivals such as Erik Zabel or Mario Cippolini.

Q: You were a great sprinter, one of the members of the fantastic generation from the 90’s.

Plasencia. They were adapted to that kind of arrival much more than me. That makes me feel proud of it.

A: In my time I had faced very big rivals in the sprint, very strong ones. For example, Cippolini, Abdoujaparov, Zabel, Minali,etc. Out of these, probably the best was Mario, the one who won the most. He was the fastest, but he also had the greatest team.

Q: Career spent in Lampre basically, why? A: I have always been pretty confortable at Lampre, with a deep feeling of friendship created between riders and staff. Saronni is the real owner of the team. After riding,

“I faced big rivals at sprint, the most difficult was Cippolini”

“My very best win was in the Champs Elysees, the end of the Tour”

Q: You got stage victory in the three Grand Tours, but which one was the most special for you?

I had an offer from them to be the scout for the Czech Republic. I have been doing this job for seven years.

A: Probably the one at Paris, in the Champs Elysees. It’s the most known and special for a sprinter. But the one I’m the happiest with is overall victory in Midi Libre, in 1994. For a rider like me fighting the Pyrenees was a success. In 1997’s Vuelta I was able to beat Fondriest or Jalabert in

Q: Why sprinter?

#LaMongie When you arrive La Mongie, pedaling, you are almost with no energy in your legs. And you can see lots of cyclists carrying on, having a rest or pushing their bikes on foot.

Nevertheless, the ones who consider this a challenge to get, will persist until they get the summit of Tourmalet. The truth is that this residence place for Middle Age’s monks is nowadays known by ski lovers, sliding down its tracks since 1921. Indeed, it’s just a way of falling in love with this landscapes this place contains. Who could have thought of some stage arrivals from Tour de France many time ago?

Climbing this spectacularly tough side of the mountain called ‘col du Tourmalet’ is not just a mere challenge for the two wheel lovers. It’s a challenge for the bravest.

Lourdes PIM

A: It’s very simple. Why I became sprinter? Simply because of my physical characteristics. As a young rider, when I was starting, I was really fast, but in the climbs I wasn’t very good. To say the truth, I got very tired.

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#Books & Cycling

#ShareTheMood

INSIDE TEAM SKY By David Walsh

THE DEATH OF MARCO EPIC BIKE RIDES OF THE PANTANI By Matt Rendell WORLD By Lonely Planet

Really interesting book about many inner factors that drove Team Sky to lead best cycling competitions practically from scratch. Nothing but a review of the key secrets from a winner project like British, with two Tour champions such as Bradley Wiggins and Christopher Froome, with also many biographical books in worldwide libraries.

Italian myth has become one of the biggest legends from modern cycling times. Marco has become a huge legend during latest times. His great attacks and victories against some of the biggest riders ever such as Indurain, Ullrich or even the unbeaten Lance Armstrong has made him one of the most spectacular riders of all time.

The author, being awarded in the past because of his researches about Lance Armstrong’s career, is the well known Irish journalist David Walsh.

His career, full of success, his ascents and his descents with lots of questions still to be answered, including his dramatic death, in a single book.

(Watch interview)

(Watch documentary)

Lonely Planet has become a reference in order to find those special destinations with the feeling of being in a place nobody has visited before. Addapted to the bike universe, this could become the perfect guide to plan your new holidays. Lots of cities, beautiful corners, routes, etc. More than 200 proposals including bit of every kind of adventure: some for the whole family, others with that unique epic flavour. (Find out more)

Share your bike adventures, your landscapes, your stories, routes, videos and we’ll include it in the next magazine!

Email us to: info@tourmaletmagazine.com

#WatchVideo

#Pablesko challenge Pablo died during the last term of 2016. Unluckily a cancer took him away from family and friends.

Fran Fernández Mañueco, natural from Salamanca, in Spain, had the idea of having a little tribute from his person to his sadly disappeared friend.

My first time ever crossing a river with my BTT bike

It was a bit shocking, the path was driving me down hill. Then, suddenly, my bike needed to brake so much, my way was about to finish because... a river was in front of me!

I had to get off the bike to think how could I cross from one to other shore. Finally I decided to do it through the water. It was hot and supposed I could always get dry before getting home... OMI

As man of sports (in fact, he is a PE teacher), he thought of a triple thriatlon around one of his vacations villages: El Escorial, next to Spanish capital, Madrid. Swimming, running and cycling almost non-stopping, day after day to complete the tribute.

Facebook or Instagram have given the chance to his followers to keep tuned to the challenge, almost minute per minute.

Tourmalet did the last day cycling part with him and will release really soon an interview to Fran on our You Tube channel.

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Viva Colombia!

South-American country had an unforgetable 2016. Being not weird to see them in different podiums like one day classics or stage races, this year they achieved Vuelta victory, podium in all three week races, first ever ParisTours or Lombardia, among many others.

PH: Movistar / Bettini

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Martin ‘Cochise’ Rodriguez was perhaps the first wellknown Colombian rider, but it was Alfonso Florez and Tour of l’Avenir’s victory in 1980, who put Colombia in the cycling calendar again. That continued with the astonishing debut in Tour de France in 1983, with great performances of Patrocinio Jimenez or Edgar Corredor, and especially, the win of Lucho Herrera in Alpe d´Huez in 1984. The 80s were amazing for Colombian riders. Riders such as the mentioned Herrera, Parra (the most complete rider among Colombians),Wilches, Corredor, etc.

Later in the 21st century we find examples of sprinters like Leonardo Duque or Fernando Gaviria, time triallists like Santiago Botero (stage winner in Vuelta, They were ready for Grand Tour and the Worlds) or Tours and stages races, but Victor Hugo Peña, they were weak in classics. They could stand out in Dauphiné, but not in Lieja; they could win in the Vuelta but disappear in the spring classics… and so on. There was a common pattern in all of them, they were very good climbers and normally worse at time trials.

winner in the Giro or winner in team time trials in the Tour. It was a very exciting surprise witnessing Botero defeating Armstrong in a long time trial in the Tour de France of 2002,

However in the 90s and specially in the new century, everything has changed. Riders like Oliveiro Rincon or Alvaro Mejia were more used to ride in the pelotón and better at time trials.

Martin Rodriguez was They were all very the first well-known good climbers, but Colombian rider worse at time trials

or winning the time trialling world championship in Zolder that autumn. It was like a miracle just thinking of the famous ‘escarabajos’ as they were named in the 80s. In the case of Victor Hugo Peña, it was not only his win in the long time trial of the 2000 Giro d’Italia. With the win of the US Postal in the team time trial of the Tour in 2003, he became the first yellow jersey ever for a Colombian in France.

lombian riders can shine nowdays even in the classics, with wins of Gaviria in Paris Tours or Chaves in Lombardia, and Henao with good positions in the Ardennes. And who knows what could have happened without the fall in the last San Remo or in the last Worlds. Colombia has in Fernando Gaviria a supertalented rider for some monuments and classics.

He would lose it days after in the Alps, but he had set a milestone for Colombian cycling. Not only in time trials, Co

That is the evolution of the Colombian cycling, from climbers to complete riders, from Lucho Herrera, able to lose more tan 10 minutes in a time trial, to Rigoberto Uran, silver in a

Herrera & Parra still lost minutes before the mountain stages

Times changed and in 2002 Worlds, Botero got golden medal.

PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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a flat route in the Olympics and two times second in Giro with good performances at time trials. From a talented rider like Fabio Parra, but a little inconsistent, to Nairo Quintana, able to perfom in consecu-

tive Grand Tours in podiums or top places like only a select group of riders in cycling history. From climbers like Abelardo Rondon, fantastic climber and domestique but not a contender for wins, to the new hope for brave cy-

cling, Esteban Chaves, who moved Colombia during the last Giro, with his maglia rosa after an attack in the giant Agnello or after his victory in the queen stage of Corvara, and winner of the first monument in Colombia´s history,

Uran reached silver medal during London Olympics route race

Quintana has lead a Chaves is best hope generation able to get for attacking and victory at Grand Tours brave cycling

Route influence

the 2016 Lombardia. As we can see, times change, and cyclists too, but we shoud not forget that routes have changed in benefit of climbers in opposition to time triallists. Pedro G. Redondo

Who knows if Lucho Herrera or Fabio Parra could have won the Tour in 2013, 14 , 15 or 16. In my opinión 1987 Herrera could had been a serious challenger if not the winner, and both of them could have been in podiums (we should remember that Herrera was never podium in France and Parra only once). Can we say the same of riders like Chaves or Quintana in the 80s routes?. No, we can´t. This is the best generation of riders in Colombian history, but the generation of the 80s had to compete with unfavourable long flat stages and time trials, with some disrespect coming from the rest of the bunch that they don´t have nowadays. And what we can say is that Colombia is cycling again, from Luchon 1983 to Val Martello 2014, from Lavaredo 1989 to Covadonga 2016, from the Alps of the 1985 Tour to the Dolomites in the Giro 2016, from mythic to epic…long life for Colombians. PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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Aru vs Nibali: a new Italian duel?

Master and trainee have now set their ways apart so they are about to be new big rivals. Vincenzo has been the best of his generation, with four Grand Tour victories so far. Fabio has emerged as a new generation ace, having similar success and career in some as-

pects to his former leader and master’s. His Vuelta victory meant more than just a great win. He was already as tall as his boss, saving the day for Astana that season. After recent creation, Bahrain has signed Nibali as their current leader. His goals for the new season

would be Giro & Vuelta, with the Worlds always in mind. Casualty or not, after failed Tour debut, Fabio Aru’s goals are the same for the upcoming season. So, the duel is going to be real. Master vs trainee. Nibali vs Aru. Past vs Future. Italian vs. Italian. PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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beat the whole peloton and win among plenty of snow. Epic climb that one. Guess who helped and classified fifth that tough stage? Yes, his domestic, Fabio Aru. All changed that day, three weeks were not an impossible challenge for the young rider, so, following the steps of his, at that time, capo, he would focus on Giro and Everything happened on Vuelta the following year. the way to Lavaredo’s summit. Queen stage had been He did and got, as Nibali in canceled due to snow, as Liquigas, third place overall many other climbs during in Giro. Efficient climbing, a 2013’s Giro. Riders were so stage win in Montecampiotired that last competitive ne, where just Pantani and day, Nibali had finally in his Hinault did, and all future pocket the definitive maglia forecasts surrounding his rosa. But still he planned to name as new contender.

Another similarity they do have in common is the fact of winning Vuelta first. On Spanish roads both have found out their skills to resist. It’s true that Aru made the difference with that last stage climbing Morcuera, with an end nobody could

Fabio Aru was born in 1990, in Sardinia (Italy). As well as his former domestique, Lo Squalo was born as well in an Italian island (Sicily), six years before. Nibali signed Astana just a year after Aru did. Vincenzo came from being third in the Tour de France, still with no Giro victory.

Aru raised the day Nibali confirmed his 2013 Giro victory

Their careers have been in a way linked to each other

ever dream of. Thanks to a really inspired climber such as Mikel Landa, he got Dumoulin fall down on his knees. He shouldn’t have been absent after his Tour failure, because there are certain races where certain riders are feeling more confortable to perform in a better way. Epic performances are the ones that make memorable a single rider, without a doubt.

won still his local race, the tough Giro. For an Italian that becomes a real obsession, in front even of the huge yellow dream.

All of a sudden, Astana has made a big decission: Aru is the bet. The whole team around him and his goals. No Tour obsession for a talented Fabio, who aims for a victory in Paris, but hasn’t

Astana knows the potential of Froome and Team Sky and the high chances they can make asking his leader to be competitive in May and September. Anyway, it is going to be key the first one. Pressure will be on his side, shared with enemy / friend, Nibali, so he has realized this is the year. The route suites him perfectly, leadership won’t be in constant discussion. So no problems on the horizon for such a very good rider.

Paris is Aru’s dream, but not an obsession: Tour skipped in 2017

Giro becomes his first and main goal for the new season

Pre-season is always the perfect moment to ask a big star such as Fabio Aru. Future, past, present, plans, victories, team... Click to watch exclusive interview with Aru

PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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Nibali didn’t have a Last was a bittersweet great 2015 after being season with Giro win Tour winner in 2014 and Olympics fall Nibali, on his side, has a different point of view. 2016 was a weird season for the Giro winner. The most important for former Astana’s leader was the Olympics. In fact, he was obtaining the gold medal when he slida bit out of the road. Attacked with tough Henao on the climb, but fell during the downhill (Watch), with no chance of getting any medal. A month earlier, he renounced to victory in one of the queen stages of last Tour de France, Morzine. The rain made the asphalt

really slippery and he took the decission of saving for the Olympics. That made a bittersweet season for him. Yes, he finally made it at the Giro, after looking like it was not going to be possible. Thanks to that performance in the last two stages and thanks to maglia rosa’s chute against the snow, he was able to make the situation turn. Critics started to mention the bad season he had in 2015, with ‘just’ a 4th place in the Tour and a stage win. Later on, he would get Lombardia for PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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first time. But still the embarrasing memory from his car cheating at Vuelta was in everybody’s mind. That is why for Vincenzo was so important to win. As one of the most famous cyclists -named between the big four alongside with Froome, Contador or Nairo-

he had already won almost everything he may have won. Probably Liege or the Worlds. Those ones will be his main goals for 2017, as of course the 100th Giro and a good image at Vuelta. Tour won’t be missed by a rider who doesn’t really focus plannings around it.

Just for special ocassions, such as Olympic year, or so. What is pretty clear for him is that Tour is very far from becoming an obsession. It’s been always really distant. In fact, he’s been seduced a lot more by Vuelta. Liquigas didn’t let him take part in 2012, what would cost his

signing for Astana after the third place overall in Paris. There are some sectors of opinion that compare his to Gimondi’s career. Obviously both talented, succesful and a piece of history. Similarities in winning three Grand Tours, taking advantage out of the abscence of the big

Nibali aims for Giro and World victory for upcoming season

bunch leaders. It’s true that Froome and Contador withdrawal cleared his way, but it’s also true that Italian was leader due to a perfect maneuver over the cobbles. But it looks like he’s always going to be that rider that won the Tour because others fell and special circumn-

stances. Same may happen to Aru if one of these years he takes the advantage of a possible no attendance of any of the ‘big’ contenders.

Despite of that, all races want to count on Aru’s hundred percent effort or Nibali’s brave racing skills.

Some opinions set All races want to him as a non-full right count on Aru’s effort Tour winner and Nibali’s bravery

PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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Feet on the ground, head in the clouds First ever British Grand Tour winner says goodbye to proffesional cycling after succesful days in the track. A Boardman fan that went from track to track, with road cycling in the middle and an incredible evolution as a rider, being able to

jump almost directly from time trials to three week races overalls. A trip he did with Team Sky. Hand in hand they put cycling in UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s map. Eccentric, innovative, attractive for fans and journalists. Mod on a bike. Wiggins.

PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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Have you ever heard of a rider named ‘Sir’ by British Royal family? Paraphasing Benjamin Button movie, it would be ‘the curious case of Bradley Wiggins’. A boy born in Ghent and abandoned by his father at the early age of 2. His father was an Australian rider, but Chris Boardman was his big reference to become a track rider. After playing football for some time, he started track at the age of 12. He had a car accident and received 1700 pounds. Most of the money was used to buy a new bike, a racing bike. He used to have clear ideas of what future was about to set for him: “I will

ers had to look for another chance. Bradley joined FDJ, which was a good option, in 2002, still combining track and road. Those days he kept on getting medals in all tracks competitions, but in Tour l’Avenir, in France, he got his first victory, in the prologue.

It was a weird Tour. Route wasn’t very classifc itself, a set of mountains in the Alps without that high climbing needed to be a contender. Wiggins classified fourth, a good position, being about to beat Armstrong for the third place. Around 20 sec. separated him from fifth.

A year after, he signed Credit Agricole. He started training for Athens Olympics, in 2004. He had been advised by his old idol, Boardman. Results were so fantastic that Brad became the first Brisith getting three medals at Olympics the same year since 1964. Successful, he decided to evolve to road.

This was already the best ever place from a British in the Tour (Millar was 4th 25 years ago). Sky Team was a real project and in 2010 the goal was pretty clear: all-in Tour 2010. Before he tried Giro d’Italia contender. He became second -after Mark Cavendish did- pink jersey ever for British cycling.

Since 1964, no Britton He knew he would be had got three medals a GT contender after at the same Olympics Tour de France 2009 be yellow jersey at the Tour some day”, he told his Arts teacher. Bet he did, sure he did: he was about to be the best ever British rider ever seen at that time. During his early years on the track, he never stopped achieving. Jumped to the road with the failed project Linda McCartney, the germ of a new British team in the honour of dead Paul’s wife. The team disappeared all of a sudden and all that rid-

He already knew what a Grand Tour was (his debut was in 2003’s Giro). In this period he would discover how was his beloved Tour. He did already in Cofidis, being able to arrive Paris. Everything would change in 2009. Garmin handed over to Cofidis and the British had the attempt that really convinced him to try the route, that lead him to believe the dream was possible.

Team Sky was made to take Wiggins to the top of the world In July he couldn’t find the pace. He was not even the first out of his team mates. Lesson learnt: no Giro for 2011 then. Everything went better. Not a single detail went wrong until the Tour itself: broken collarbone and yellow aim over. He had to focus on the last part of the season and did on Vuelta. He started doubtful, but day by day showed himself he could afford a challenge like this. PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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There appeared one of his biggest problems in all this time: Froome, domestique that performed as a leader. Only pro-Wiggo tactic could avoid his win in that Vuelta. Bradley finished third, first podium for him in a GT. Just the terrible Angliru send him off the fight for red. But the best was still to come. 2012 started with a surprising programme toward the Tour, with Algarve debut, a Paris-Nice, Volta Catalunya and Romandie preparation for Dauphiné and the Tour. He won the time trial of his debut race (3rd overall) and withdrew at Volta because of avoiding risks in the snow

by a Froome that wasn’t as respectful as he used to be so far. The ‘team mate’ just wanted to show that Tour was his, that he was strong enough to beat his leader.

Definetely the bet for the Tour was Froome, so Wiggo didn’t want to take part of that. He was saying at that time that he would never come back to the race, the official excuse was an inMedia, wives and Sky with jured knee. So on, he would problems to solve after the never start a Tour de France celebration of a historical ever again. victory such as Wiggins’. A great effect caused in UK, a In 2014 he decided to look whole dawn for cycling, for at different horizons. Paris bike sales, new teams, birth Roubaix and cobbles were of new races, etc. the next station. Since Greg Lemond did in 1992, no Still had some things to Tour winner had taken part do at the end of that sea- in Compiegne. He ended up son. He wanted to prepare being ninth helping Geraint deeply his first Worlds at- Thomas. Skipping Tour for tempt. Gold medal in time second time, he focused on trial, awarded with French coming back to the track.

In 2012 everything ... but a single detail: went perfect: from the his relationship with Tour to the Worlds... Chris Frome broke up

Some time after being Tour winner, decided to try cobbled classics

queen stage on the way to Port Aine. The rest of the races were for him. Of course, time trials were his territory.

In the Worlds he would get another gold medal. He was supposed to be Vuelta leader for Team Sky, but, surprise: Froome, injured in Tour, ended up taking part of the race, so... skipped.

Vélo d’Or and the whole planet talking about him. He got what he wanted, he won everything he could have won in just a year. 2013 would be a year for In the Tour, everything went some new challenges. perfect. The space he got in the time trials was enough Froome was too strong in to wear the yellow jersey the climbs. The route was after Besançon. Last tough not exactly what he wished stage to come, with Bales so he decided to try Giro as and Peyresourde to climb. big contender. A big fail, a Alarms sounded when he huge disappointment. For showed himself weak in the some reason, he didn’t get last climb, evidence helped the pace of the race.

Plans for 2015 were easy: coming back to Roubaix and again the track, a territory he was willing for a definitive return. Road had been a good experience, but team was succesfully established around Froome.

PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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From bike to palace That kid born in Ghent, a kid that dreamt of being wearing the yellow jersey could never imagine the height of his legacy. For a reason he was knighted by Queen Elisabeth and ever will be known as Sir Bradley Wiggins. It is just a bit of the importance of this rider for a whole generation, for a model of society not always well understood.

Wiggo had another horizon in mind: beat the hour record

After achieving nine medals in Olympics, it was time for good-bye

He had another thing in mind, the Hour Record. Succeded in June, beating his neighbour Dowsett. Few time later, he announced Team Sky and him would follow different paths from then on.

gold and the ninth medal, so he started planning it was the perfect time to say goodbye. So he does, after being not only a pioneer, a reference. He had created Team Wiggins for new talents and has opened a gap for dreamers as him to fight for their dreams. A lesson of determination, a lesson of fighting limits, a big teacher for new generations.

2016 was once again Olympic year and the opportunity to spread his legacy of medals. He finally reached the fifth

This is the importance of a well known cyclist who got all his goals through a very intelligent way of acting. To measure all of that is the big amount of books and literature writen from the time he was becoming the star he has been on. Impressive finding many of the book shop shelves full of cycling books, most of course about the Sir. If that has been possible it’s thanks to his career and achievements. Unlikely, nobody is forever and aged 36 he retires. Now it’s time to read lots of biographies and stuff as summary of his long list of victories. Always Wiggins. Allan Price PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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Against the mood

For a rider like Bradley it would have really easy to get higher contracts due to his famous status and proved quality on a bike, as many others have tried to do. He had clear that he got everything he wanted from road cycling and Team Sky, so when the chapter went to an end, he knew how to set himself aside, always with his mind looking forward to the next challenge and not living from past success.

A respected rider in and out the bunch, even with presence in some of the most important TV late shows. His mod taste made him share concert with Paul Weller. Wiggins got a fame and importance Froome, for example, will never get despite of being several times Tour winner. Literature writen about one and the other marks the difference between two characters that have co-existed in time and team. Bradley has been the door-opener, the genuine, the pure British with British culture escaping out of his pores. Dawson L.B.

There are certain reasons why Bradley has been one of the best skilled cyclists. Yes, the victories are good guarantee for everyone. He made it through with a change in routes elaboration in the Grand Tours. He classified 3rd in Vuelta with just one time trial. Of course, with the classic two he would have won. The same happened with his famous Tour victory. A set of classic mountains, a set of time trialed distance and there you go: victory. Nowadays the organisers are looking for high shares and impossible climbs. It may be going against kind of rider who can be simply the best in all terrains and win. In this condition, it’s almost impossible. What if Indurain, Anquetil or any other big time trialist wouldn’t have had those balanced routes? Probably it wouldn’t have been the same, just good riders that nobody understood at their time. The Tour just wanted Brad to win and Brad just wanted to win that edition in 2012. A big merit added. Sally Andersen

PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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Wiggins essential collection TOUR DE FRANCE WIN IN 2012

FROOME SETS PANIC: WIGGINS DROPS

CASUAL ANGRINESS: GIRO DEL TRENTINO

SMASHING THE HOUR RECORD

WIGGO LAST ROAD RACE DAY

MY RIO HIGHLIGHTS

It was his year. Nobody could do absolutely anything to be better than him in time trials and in the mountains.

The second in overall wants to show everyone who was the strongest, so he drops his leader and yellow jersey.

There are certain people with unintentional quality in all they do. This is the case of Bradley, angry at Trentino.

Wiggins defeated Dowsett and got what the hour record in London, 2015. The crowd goes crazy with him.

This was his last competitive day on the road, in 2015. It was the Paris Roubaix. Live it from the inside.

2016 Olympics helped Wiggo to get his last medals, having a total of nine. Best images from that competition.

(Click here to watch)

NATIONAL ANTHEM: WIGGINS’ TONGUE

KNIGHTED BY THE QUEEN

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW WITH WIGGINS

WIGGINS, A YEAR IN YELLOW The real story

Nobody expected something like that. A serious challenger as the British showed good mood during anthem at Rio.

Altough in the image it looks like he’s being murdered by the sword, he’s being knighted and honoured.

One of the most popular late shows in England. Really fun set of questions and answers on TV.

An hour video about all his life and career, from himself and others really close to his daily routines. About his dad,

(Click here to watch)

about his way of train, about with his wife, hotel rooms... his way of being in and out of 100% recommended. the bike, etc. Curious visits to nursery schools, interviews (Click here to watch)

PH: YouTube screenshots

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Javier Guillén, #Vuelta’s miracle After eight Vuelta editions under his lead, Guillén and team are looking for new elements to take Vuelta further everytime. ASO bought the race, so now Tour and Vuelta work on

the same side, not enemies anymore: advantages and disadvantages. Vuelta’s future is now better than ten years ago and that is thanks to certain changes that have made a modern race

PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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Javier (Madrid, 1972) took the lead at the end of 2008 still with Víctor Cordero as Vuelta’s manager. Race was not at its best, with few star riders on the rooster. First decission was made: steep climbs would become a symbol of a new personality. A path Giro and Tour have tried to follow afterwards. Now Vuelta’s health is much better. Analysis’d be more complex than just that, but best GT contenders, including Tour de France winner, attend in August. Finally it seems ‘the model’ is working but still needs some improvements.

Q: Did you expect that success? A: You always aim for it. Expected because of the ingredients. But race could be decided much before, for example. Luckily it wasn’t. Froome has situation under control, Contador shows up and Quintana gets all the chances, then Froome shortens the gap in time trial... Seeing route and riders, it can’t take you by surprise. We are so lucky and must be thankful.

Q: In what aspects? A: We’ve improved on TV, we are a more followed race, better rooster... There are some stuff to be done, but honestly, we have done some things to get all of this. We are in a good position, but we can’t relax and think everything’s been done.

Q: Could Vuelta step further? A: We have to keep convincing riders to ride all along the calendar, not just a few races. The Q: We could see what we could big riders should do more than one three weeks race. Not the not see in the Tour... A: In the Tour we could see a three, but two per year. Us, we duel, with one dominating the have to keep insisting in our

“We have an extraordinary feeling after 2016’s edition”

“Vuelta should not pay all its attention to what the others do”

“TV shares improved, we are more competitive than in the past”

Q: What can you say about last Vuelta’s edition 2016? A: The feeling has to be extraordinary. We could see all the circumstances a race organiser wishes: all great riders were in the bunch, they fought all over the race, we had great four podium (Quintana, Froome, Chaves & Contador) and we reached the penultimate day with overall still to be decided. Duel Chris vs Nairo was really brilliant. The one between Contador against Chaves to save the third place as well.

other, that’s true. Nairo fought, Froome won with ease, but if you ask him, he won’t say it was that easy. A good fact is that all the great contenders did two Grand Tours last year in a competitive way. In fact, first from Tour was second in Vuelta and viceversa. I think it’s better the competition we’ve seen in September, but Tour wasn’t that bad.

personality and with something in mind: big riders are important but we shouldn’t depend on them. A challenge we have to afford is to lead people to believe this show is theirs, this is everyone’s. That makes the difference with French Tour and Italian Giro. Fans feel they belong to them.

Q: Still things to check. A: Obviously time gives you a good perspective. I can’t forget the bollard, riders’ non-competitive attitude on stage to Urdax, etc. Even so, 2016 made a good impression on us.

Q: Where do you feel Vuelta is placed now and how in comparison to the others? A: Vuelta is now in Vuelta mode. We are in a place where we don’t have to pay all the attention to how far we are from Tour (we are indeed). We know what to expect from us. Compared to itself, we have now a better Vuelta than in the past.

Q: Will Vuelta be so affected by Purito, Contador and Valverde’s coming retirement? A: It will affect, of course. When an Italian rider wins, Vuelta is followed a bit more in Italy that year. A Dutch, an American... But it’s also true that big events are defined by having not the national ones, but the best. In 2015 not all big Spanish riders were there and the figures stayed the same. PH: Tourmalet

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Q: Will it affect Vuelta’s model? (Steep summits, new climbs..) A: It mustn’t. We are in a place where we can use lots of ingredients. That’s our thing now, to learn how to arrange them and with no obsession for having a new climb or the steepest every year. We need what brought us here, of course. The pattern to follow is that every stage could be able to offer something to the fans. Q: What specific challenges do you have still to go? A: We have plenty of things to do. In 2017 we part from Nimes, in France. We have to promote Vuelta abroad, probably not as much and usually as Giro and Tour. One of my dreams (not obsession) is to take the race back to Canary Islands, why not

Q: How do you see time trial’s importance nowadays? A: It’s curious, but Vuelta was the first Grand Tour doing just one long time trial. It’s also curious that Giro and Tour have cut down on distances and we have just kept them. It’s also true that we don’t do mountain time trials and they do. Time trials are neccesary, but I repeated many times I liked the route Tour de France did with no long time trial. I feel they are going to be more important from 2017 on than before this season. Talking

“I want to take Vuelta to the Canary Islands, it’s a challenge”

“Time trials will be more important from 2017 on”

doing something in Africa, why not power ourselves a bit more in Portugal. But over all, with no doubt, we have to explore all Pyrenees. We opened a gate with Aubisque’s stage and we should insist on that tough stages in that region.

about Vuelta, I don’t see a future with no time trials. It’s doesn’t mean we are not doing it, but not in a short term. What I can’t see is a Vuelta with 80 kilometres of time trial.

Q: Don’t you think taking all that queen stages out of Spanish territory could cause certain disconnection with Spanish fans? A: If you see audiences, I don’t. Aubisque was as watch as Aitana’s stage. The sides of the road were full of people. We PH: Movistar / Bettini

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must understand that there’s a frontier, but cycling has no, the territory is the same. Franch Pyrinees is a region Spanish fans know from Tour de France and it’s not that difficult the access. I think it’s not related.

Q: Is 2017 a continuation? A: Yes, but a bit different. Vuelta is going to be Vuelta, but with some different details. Still with lots of top finishes, a pair of big mountain stages. Probably this year we are doing a more global Vuelta than in the past. In the end the riders are the ones that build the race.

Vuelta’s route Froome, Aru, Nibali, Zakarin or Valverde include it in their plans for 2017. Quintana, Contador and Chaves are still thinking. But all of them expect a great route to Madrid. Due to indiscretions by some majors or presidents, most of the route has been unveiled before the official presentation as every January. A team time trial (30 km.), around 8-9 top finishes, a time trial of around 30-40 km. and some steep gradients ‘Vuelta-styled’. Into this concert, the artist may offer the final surprise. As big artists, Guillén and Co. had some prepared so fans can have those days marked with an X. Nimes, Andorre, East sea in the first week, then Andalucia in the second, north in the third, Madrid at the end. Pandera return after eight years, Sierra Nevada will decide, Angliru will bring epic, Alicante and Almeria some surprises, Murcia, Rioja, Cuenca, etc. Places to play chess on a bike. Following that surprise song Guillén’s band have prepared for us.

Pedro M. Labrada

Second part will be released in www.tourmaletmagazine.com Nº1

Movistar, a team travelling to the lead

From year 2013, Spanish team has finished as first ranked in Uci-World-Tour competition, thanks to a range of great riders and great results in the top in-

ternational cycling events such as the three Grand Tours, classics or stage races. The veteran and superb Alejandro Valverde and Colombian top climb-

er, Nairo Quintana, have been the leaders of this ambitious and powerful project.

PH: Movistar / Bettini

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Having original structure in Banesto, that team lead by myths as Miguel Indurain or Pedro Delgado, Movistar had some transition years in Caisse d’Epargne. French bank quitted sponsorships and the team had to rebirth as Movistar. A big company behind them again and the factor of being the only big squad from Spain in the top circuit.

All Spanish riders with best quality have signed at any time for the team, a kind of reference in and out of the country they come from.

From 2011 on they had a big problem: Valverde had been banned and couldn’t count on him for a season.

Even when they split the team to ride in three different places at the same time Movistar have one of the best rosters. Quantity and, of course, quality.

It didn’t matter, the results were not so bad. Obviously when a cyclist able to win in Liege, Paris-Nice or even a Grand Tour comes back from a ban, good performances come on their own.

From 2013, the team has got the title of best World Tour team, with podium in nine Grand Tours, including two victories. The team overall has been won by them three times in these years, including the two last Tour de France’s one. This is just a show of their strenght as a collective and the quality their staff has in

order to keep them fit to get their goals. The only big victory they haven’t achieved yet is the Tour overall, with two second positions got by Quintana in 2013 & 2015. Vuelta has been conquered in 2016 after seven years without getting it. At that time it was Caisse d’ Epargne and Valverde who got it.

Nine podiums out of Vuelta has been won twelve Grand Tours in after seven years with last four years no overall triumph

The original structure Even when they split comes from old and the team in three, successful Banesto quality is all around

PH: Movistar / Bettini

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The best late rider At least for the last twenty years, maybe from Laurent Jalabert, it has been difficult to see a rider able to be competitive from the early February to the late October. Valverde won Ruta del Sol against people like Tejay Van Garderen, defeated in the last climb. After riding Giro (being third), and in the main goal for the BMC leader, still Valverde was in front of him. September and Vuelta were there and Alejandro’s third GT in the season. Imagine what? Valverde still over Tejay.

Another step given by the team is the variety of riders and terrains they are moving nowadays. Erviti, for example, has surprised as a good cobbles rider. He was even in the decisive moments with Boonen, Sagan and company. All the myths and a former domestique. At least until that day.

Izagirre with a Tour stage win (although he’s been signed by Bahrain Team), Amador getting pink jersey at Giro, Herrada with stage win at Dauphiné or anarchich Visconti winning stages and

There has been no rider such as him in years. Kelly, Jalabert or even Merckx, so able to win in Liege, Giro, Worlds, one week races, three ones... He’s maybe the one with more victories (not being sprinter) with 14 stages win in Grand Tours, three Liege, four Fleche, two San Sebastian, two Dauphiné, UCI World Tour winner in 2014 and 2015, two silver and four bronze medals in the Worlds... A champion!

one day races. All of this is making Movistar a bit better everyday as a whole so Nairo and Valverde can rest a little. Tourmalet

L.S. PH: Movistar / Bettini Nº1

2016 was a great season. A sector of media and fans think Movistar did some big mistakes during the season. The first one may have been sending Valverde to the Tour when he may be

competitive in Giro and Vuelta. Top competitive as usual. Once in July, Murcia’s rider could be perfectly the only serious rival for Froome. He was even better shaped than his official

leader there. Last mistake would be setting Vuelta in Alejandro’s calendar. Three Grand Tours for a veteran and pushing for a minor record has not been one of the best decisions.

A sector of media and fans think Movistar did some mistakes

Calendars weren’t chosen properly, such as Valverde’s

Alejandro did and finished the three Grand Tours

Nairo did a good Tour, even not finding his best version. But even there, he should have been more agressive, he had nothing to lose. Place in the podium is nice for him and the brand, but

strictly in sport matter, he had to look for a more ambitious tactic. If not with Nairo, with Valverde, who was certainly stronger this year than his team mate. On the other hand, Nairo’s perfor-

mance at Vuelta was really good. Shame Froome defeat came more from Contador than from Quintana himself. A change of script and Vuelta was theirs. They can act in a more brave way.

Valverde was certainly stronger than his leader in the Tour

Movistar should have played that card much wiser than they did

PH: Movistar / Bettini

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The bittersweet taste the Tour left in the squad disappeared after Vueltaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s win. Beating Froome in a good version of the best Grand Tour rider in the last decade has meant a lot to them. Morally they feel they can do it next times, so hope it becomes into a new more offensive impulse. Again in 2017 there is a chance to attend to France for a definitive try.

2017 will bring more logical calendars for Quintana & Valverde It looks like this year the calendars tend to be more logical. Nairo will target Tour as main goal, with the doubt of doing Giro before or Vuelta after. Valverde will focus again on Liege, Tour and Vuelta, a classic list of races for him. The key will be if it is really worthy to keep the level for podium efforts or if risks deserve at least the chance to win. Lucrecio S.

PH: Movistar / Bettini

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Veleta, the highest road in Europe Against believes that place highest summits in French and Italian Alps, Spanish Sierra Nevada

contains a really tough climb, surely one of the hardest that a road rider could ever afford. The

big stages are easy to be designed, cyclist finds miles at great altitude to train next to Granada.

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‘The peak’, as known in between Granada inhabitants, observe the endless bends that road follows up to the top only when spring snow is cleared out of the way. From his almost 3.400 metres, we could say without a doubt it contains the highest road in

Europe (reaching until 3.300 metres). Ignored by pro-cycling by no apparent reason, even after Vuelta moved its date to early September. Veleta can see how the bunch climbs the near mountains stopping at 2520 metres, place known as Hoya de la

Veleta hasn’t been ever included in any pro cycling race

Climbing Veleta is The lack of oxygen adding 13 kilometres will be a problem at more to Sierra Nevada almost 3400 msl

Mora. There, a gate closes the road for cars and motor vehicles, except the ones with special permissions. Only bike riders can climb the slopes to the tallest areas. Those riders are the ones that dare to beat the beast.

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By many reasons, this is one of the hardest climbs in Europe. To check what Sierra Nevada consists of, we can watch stages that drove the peloton to the ski resort in Pradollano. Monachil (Purche) or Haza Llana are the new accesses to the old road. Steep climbs

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that have seen last generations fights to win Vuelta or an early in the season Ruta del Sol. Contador, Froome, Valverde, Evans, Nibali... suffered these big climbs. Well, imagine now the add of 13 kilometres of constant slopes of 7-8%. with lots of bends,

rough road, with total absence of trees, feeling we are climbing a desert mountain. And the lack of oxygen, of course.

At 2750 m. is located the last informative stick. From this point on, we are able to look eye to eye to Alps myths such as Bonnete, Galibier, Agnello or Iseran. Our body shivers when we realize. Three hours

are needed to beat cols of this size. Circumstance that turns this adventure into a fight against a wild animal. Physical is as important as mental over this scenery. When our legs stop working as fine as

Three hours are need- Physical is as impored to climb this huge tant as mental over mountain monster this scenery

before, we just have our pride and dignity to keep climbing. Our senses play with us during the ascent. Veleta looks every time further unexpectedly as we gain altitude.

Wind won’t help at all, feeling it like a brake over our faces

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At this point, wind won’t help. A little breeze spices up the way, although we would just feel the real strenght of the wind when it’s over our face. It’s a brake for us that makes everything even more

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difficult. An impressive 180º bend to the right, 3100 metres high, we can see the highest peaks of the whole Sierra Nevada. In this place there are some forts from Spanish Civil War. In fact, the

road existed in the early 30s, being built during II Republic. The asphalt was added later, with the Dictatorship already established.

A bit after this, a crossroad may drive us to Alpujarras, a mountainious area, of exquisite beauty, set on the other side of Veleta. We may access the peak by climbing from that hidden side. The original reason to build this road was

tourism and not the ski, as is generally thought. The end of the asphalt reaches when the slopes get steeper. Years ago this part was still part of the road. In fact, it can be climbed up with our bikes, even with risk of falling or suffering a

Alpujarras is one of The end of the asphalt the most beautiful cor- reaches when the ners in the region slopes get steeper

puncture. Getting to the peak becomes an obsession now. Even if it’s with the bike in the hands. Martín Cerván

Getting to the peak becomes an obsession, despite some risks

PH: Martín Cerván / Tourmalet / Vicente López

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La Gallina, the next best thing The day this climb was discovered, all combinations of cols bloomed in cycling fans heads.

With a perfect location, Gallina has caused fear in pro-riders and become famous among

Andorre’s bet for cycling Starting in the 80’s, the country located in between Spain and France has been making a big bet for cycling. At the begining was an investment in proffesional area, welcoming stages from neighbours stage races such as Vuelta or Tour. Big mountains were related to the little country of the Pyrenees from the very early days, with ski resorts as Ordino-Arcalis or Pal getting stage finishes. After all the winter success through ski season, they needed something else to attract tourism during the remaining part of the year. How? Cycling was the answer.

mere bike users. A real Hors Categorie in the little country of the Pyrenees.

Tourism in bicycle has been increased in the last ten years, with people who want to travel around nature at the same time they do their favourite sport. Andorre got the message and started working on a circuit of cols with posters indicating the slopes, the distance, to make the rider feel as he is in a place where he/she is welcome and helped to overcome the challenge of climbing those huge summits surrounding them. That mountain tourism has become the other engine for Andorre’s economy, built around those two pilars. Sport has been the answer for a really attractive place, before known just for taxes benefits or cheap shopping.

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Gallina has been inA real Hors Categorie Just five kilometres cluded in three Vuelta with dozen kilometres separate both starting editions since 2012 above 8% both sides points and valleys After two stage finishes in 2012 and 2013 in Canolich Sanctuary, and the complete asphalt that now covers the way up to the top on Fontanedaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side to be included in one of the toughest stages ever in 2015â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vuelta, La Gallina is our main character for

this magazine. Its numbers, in the ascent through Fontaneda side, or the one climbing from Aixoval, makes a real Hors Categorie out of it, with a dozen kilometres over an average of 8%. Maybe some altitude gain would help to be considered one of the top

cols in the whole continent, facing Italian and French myths. In the end, nothing to envy.

Both starting points are separated by just 5 kilometres, the distance between Aixoval and Sant Julian de Loria. Both valleys

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drive the way until being really close to Spanish border. One of the sides shares the road to Os de Civis, placed already in Spain. There’s a crossroad to Canolich Sanctuary (that we should follow to target La Gallina) and it’s exactly there where the road starts to zig-zag over the mountain, being narrow from this moment on.

Coll de la Gallina is placed right next to the Spanish border

Pretty spectacular this part, the altitude gain is simply speechless. Great to climb despite of the constant gradients over an 18%. Once we reach Canolich, it really worths a stop to visit this modern building established from ruins of a Romanic church. Some murals contained in are simply fantastic.

Canolich Sanctuary really worths a visit despite of gradients

This is the point where the Vuelta used to finish the stages that were driven up to this mountain, but still we have a long way to go. We should continue because we may do a circular route, starting and ending in the same place. Great to park your car and enjoy your bike from that point.

Aixovall side is simply spectacular because of the constant bends

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There are many opinions, but the other side may be more difficult. Fontaneda’s side wasn’t available. Soon the four kilometres remaining were fixed, observing success of Vuelta stages. A bridge over Valira river will lead us to a serie of bends that help us to dominate the valley and Saint Julia de Loria. This violent section finishes at Coll de Jou, with magnificient views.

Fontaneda’s side is maybe a bit harder than the other

After just half a kilometre of descent, we return to the climb, with more bends and constant gradients around 9%. We will find a big challenge when we find the new part of the road. There is a forest in there, called Borda del Gastó, that will make our climbing even more and more difficult. 12,1- 10,1 9,4 - 9,2 % are the next average slopes for every kilometre remaining. All after

The forest in the high part of the ascent is mentally the hardest

have climbed already for eight terrible ones. Hard mentally because the trees block our views. The only option is just to focus on the road and the effort. When a little gap allows us to, we can enjoy a real high mountain landscape in an absolutely spectacular environment. Martín Cerván Graphics: Miguel Baeza

Special thanks to Raúl Massabé (cols data and photographs)

We cannot distract our minds with the landscape: just road

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Tokyo, urban bike innovation

Japan is well known for its technology advances. Robot developments are one of the stars, with a

very realistic reproduction of human way to behave and appearance. But bike is not far away

behind: technology has arrived not to the pedals but to the way of storing, among many others.

PH: RaĂşl VĂĄzquez

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There are certain cities and countries where lately there have been some severe pollution problems. Paris, for instance, had to lower traffic due to risks for public health. Other European capitals have had the same circumstances and took similar restriction

They had a clear idea: the easier we made life for users, the more they are going to use the bike. So they established systems for parking the bikes Other countries such as Bel- in a safe and easy way. You’ve gium or the Nederlands grew got your bike in a minute, you a system of roads and laws feel safe leaving it not everythat protect bike users. Their one’s access. not enough, pollution stays. Many people use it, it’s true, but still many people don’t use it, a big majority.

There have been many Tokyo has established Parking bike systems pollution problems in a good way to change are efficient, fast and some European cities the urban landscape easy to use measures. Certain cities took the advantage and decided to give bike a chance. Barcelona changed the way of building the city and built a system of easy bike renting spread all around its streets. Probably one of the deepest bets seen in Europe for this clean and healthy mean of transport. But it looks like it’s

own culture states that cars and bikes share spaces. But it’s not an easy and fast work, something that does nothing to do with certain policies of all and now.

It’s true that it’s easier to do this in a country like well disciplined Japan than in many others. Even so, cycling has had to get addapted to cities and the other way around.

Japan has established a good way to transform the urban landscape. Now it’s not even possible to look at any street and not to see a bike around.

It was pretty common to see people riding their bikes not following any security rule, like riding with umbrellas or wearing kimonos on.

All these facts made neccesary some changes in traffic laws. Riding confortable is a good way of paying more attention to the asphalt, for example. Lately, in the positive aspect, bike has become a way of fashion, gaining lots of fame as a fabulous beauty

imagine the city would become this huge combo of modernity and tradition in less than just two centuries. The second Olympics in Tokyo will take place in 2020, being the third favourite chosen destination by students from universities all around the globe.

Bike has raised as an instrument of beauty expression

2020 Olympic Games will show all Japanese potential at sports

instrument. Not just in Japan, it has been some kind of phenomenon spread little by little all around world’s surface. Instagram and Twitter, on the top of social networks, can tell us something about it.

Sport, youth, technology are, as we may deduce, three of the magnets the city has. The bike has established itself in that place, where it can be used as a transport, a way of moving around the city, and a way to interact with the environment. Parks, streets are sometimes easier to visit by bicycle than in the massive car.

Edo, ancient name the city had before becoming in 1868 Japanese capital, during life of Emperor Meiji could never

Bike has become a solution In the region I live, here in Japan, there have been built so many buildings all around, in many places. This has caused a serious problem, there is not enough space for all the cars and vehicles, so it has run out space for parking.

So they had to find a solution and it has been the bike. The city has developed so lots of people can use bicycle now to communicate citizens and move around the cities. Reiko Chiba

PH: Raúl Vázquez

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Tokyo, almost perfect city When someone first arrives Japan he/she wonders if this city belongs to this planet in a true way. I come from such a place as Lanzarote, most similar place to the Moon or Mars I have ever seen in my entire life. A

Talking about Tokyo is doing it about the almost perfect city. It is excellence, a macrocity. It is certainly incredible how such a populated city like this can give you at the same time feelings of security and calm that the whole city, with no exception, provides you. Everything flows with a very high pace. Everything calculated and planned to the milimetre. Punctuality is pretty close to perfection. Cleanliness, kindness, politeness, respect... are perceived values all around, just getting down the plane. That perfection with such technology added everywhere gives us that sense of feeling in another planet.

Innovation on this field comes from the way to store the bikes. The most efficient way to save tons of space and effort from the user. It doesn’t mean you could not park your bike traditionally, as in the image. It’s true is not the only place where it’s established, but probably it’s the only big capital where you can see it. Advice: tour around the city with a bike. Enjoy, breath, drink, live... it! Arturas G. PH: Raúl Vázquez

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On the other hand, Tokyo has clear connections between vanguard and tradition. Even sometimes they go hand in hand. Bikes are a good example. Workers, students and tourists use them everyday and they rest in parkings lots you can see in every block. They really worth the visit, they are incredible! Raúl Vázquez

PH: Raúl Vázquez Tourmalet

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Dublin, the green experience A

At the end of river Liffey, the Irish capital waits in peace for next tourists willing to cross all their

clouds and land on this amazing country. Lots of streets full of history & stories. Bike links them.

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What’s the craic? If you’re in Dublin, the craic is always 90! What a lovely place to meet, to rest, to enjoy. From early moments, just when you land, the feeling is you aren’t abroad, something drives you back to your home country. It may be the people, the clean

quicker and enjoyable is withouth a doubt the bike. Once you’ve seen the monuments and worthy places, it’s time to ride the streets up and down. Smells are so different during the day. Riding your bike you will realize. When rain is due, wet soil gets with movement.

as O’Connell, for instance, or just as residential as others, or dynamic and productive. They are all different, but so have something in common: all houses in the line follow a similar pattern. Doors are a really typical postcard from here. Most doors remind the

Saint Stephen’s Green, both Cathedrals, Dublin’s Castle, a quick pint in Temple Bar, the Trinity College. All of this parking your bike so easy, with no need to wait or lose any extra time doing it. Everywhere there are those bike stations to leave them safely.

to northern coast, always attached to the capital. All the inner part of the M50, main city highway.

Long life, Dubliners

The best idea is just to keep the route inside that area, it’s easy, when you see the big road just drive yourself to the

Dublin is one of the loveliest places to live or visit

Walking could be a good idea, but the best is the bike

Some smells and perspectives are just available on the bike

Another good idea is to travel around the outskirts of the city

Constant houses and Irish environments will make you enjoy

air coming from the seas, the cheerful atmosphere, maybe it’s just a combination of all that has been mentioned.

When sun is on the parks and on the pavement, spring will fly to your nostrils. When the cloudy or foggy day is there, just smell humidity.

same. No block full of offices and that maniac outside pace with plenty of traffic. No way. Here, the crowd and the noise stays, if so, inside.

Walking is great, but you’ll find some details you won’t meet if it’s not on a bike. For example, the choir of colors. Every street has a mood: the big named and monumented

That’s what you can see and breathe in here. Have the chance to visit the whole city center by bike. In just a few hours you can link the Port, Liffey, bridges, Graffon Street,

Other tourist route suggested would be Dublin’s outskirts. Not as crowded, in fact, they are residential areas, you will find, thanks to your bike, places where living could be a dream come true.

left or right, depending on where you come from. You could never miss places like Dublin’s Phoenix Park, a fine whole green area to get lost completely, Botanic Gardens or respectfully the cementery of Glasnevin. Not only a good place to relax views with green all around, but with possibility to travel around those places with the bike.

Many years ago, Ireland was a really green country with just a smoke spot close to the east. It was Dublin. Measures were needed, so in the last 25 years, statistics show an improvement in air quality that is cutting down on death by respiratory problems in a 15%.

You have two options to go for a walk around this city. The first one is on foot. We’re not talking about London or other macrocities. Almost all you have to know it’s in a walking distance. But the

If you like the way an Irish house looks like, you will love this city cruise around green, pavement, from south coast

Those achievements come in big part from banning coal, a way of heating that has been substituted by other cleaner alternatives. As well it has been banned black smoke, so citizens can feel more protected in all that aspect. All of that is linked to an offer of sports practice that provides its inhabitants the chance to keep fit. On the other hand, bike, an instrument that goes further than just mere exercise, has become the most popular mean of transport.

Even cars are less used between young people. In the future it will perhaps mean that students coming from other countries will have that legacy and culture of move around the city in a non-polluting way. So bike has been pretty important in Dubliners’ lives. Sam O’G.

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Big monumets are all surrounded by people who ride the city on a bike, as in the image. Industry is not far away, so even itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good solu-

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tion for certain traffic troubles. Dublin is not a complicated city that way, with good attitude from the drivers towards the cyclists.

Another typical aspect of this wonderful city is the seagulls. They belong to Dublin and Dublin and its people a little bit to them. They occupy all river sides, just wondering from a place to another with food in the eye.

Irish ones are more respectful than, for example, English ones, but even so, be careful if you ride your bike next to some of them. Just because they can get scared and fly very close to you.

Another wonderful Be careful if you are aspect of Dublin is the riding your bike next amount of seagulls to them

In that moment, a crash with such a strong bird can end up with you on the floor and the seagull keeping the search of food it started minutes ago. Sam Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;G.

A crash with one of them could end up with you on the floor

PH: Tourmalet

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Porto, the west cool flavour The second most important city in Portugal is considered as one of the most beautiful in the

whole continent. From the sea to the inner part of the city, Porto hides many places. The most

are accesible by bike. Once more, we are seeing cycling all around the town.

PH: Tourmalet

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Northern cycling climates As a coastal city, Porto has a benefit from the humidity, so heat will be felt a lot more. It also makes more intense the fog days, common with a river right in the heart. Both are bad sceneries to ride a bike. So, be ready for both extremes.

The city is divided in River vertebrates a three different areas big part of city’s life: depending on location day and night time

Town is really easy to be visited by bike with a little volunty

All main monuments To get to the beach you are close to a near safe have an old tram, but bike park prefer going pedaling

The city is divided in more or less three different parts. The one waiting on the other shore of Douro river. Most of it are wine cellars where it’s impossible not to buy original Porto wine in there.

The good point of this, as always, is that this town is easy to be visited by bike. The tram is the only thing we have to

be careful with. Probably the chaos traffic sometimes you may find. The flattering monuments like some churches, cathedrals or towers are all close to places where to park or rent a bike.

Other part of the city can be considered the river itself. Both shores are full of day or night life. Lights are so special

at that time, making it a great touristic place. Some streets are stepped to climb to the hills where the city is set. The third and most important part is the historical centre. In here, the cobbled streets, the magnificent buildings and the wonderful light spectacle at night, will make Porto one of your favourite cities ever.

So it would be recommendable to park the car and enjoy riding the city around. To get to the beach you have an old tram, but if you cycle you’ll wait a lot less and take a bit more your time.

In summer it’s a very hot city, despite being in the northern part of Portugal. Winters are not as hard as in other inner areas in the region, but still cold, with an average of 10º during months like January. Porto is worthy any time of the year.

The region is wonderful for cycling. There are many hills to be climbed, not very far away from the town. Next to Douro Marina you find lots of ways up, many of them with asphalt. Big slopes and really spectacular views from the top.

It’s easy and recommended to travel along the coast to visit little villages you find on your way. Landscapes are brilliant, with Atlantic ocean on your feet. Many wooden paths help your effort and let you enjoy with no traffic. Jose A.

PH: Tourmalet

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is 45 metres tall. After that, we’ll return to the Cathedral, and from then, we’ll start a curious and beautiful way by bike, going downstairs for at least half a kilometre. Do it carefully with visitors and with your bike. Enjoy having After leaving our luggage just the houses right next, all that close to it, we start our bike old fashioned streets. ride to have a general vision of the place. First we move Now in river’s shore, let’s go to Luis I bridge over the huge to the beach. From there it’s river estuary. The cobbled like 6 kilometres enjoying way includes in the route the the view over the other side Cathedral, brilliant, that we’ll and the river itself. Beautiful. visit later. Dated in 1880, it We’ll stop when we reach the

Returning, we’ll chose the way through Boavista’s rua. Already in Aliados square, we move to Torre dos Clérigos, a symbol of Porto. Made in granite, his 76 metres are seen in all city’s skyline. From here, any street we chose is a museum. Everything we can see is wonderful, all with that neoclassic style background. Big recommendation. Jose. A

The wonderful rail We will get the river station of San Bento is going downstairs and our starting point discovering old Porto

Torre dos Clérigos is one of the most representative monuments

We enter the city through the wonderful train station. From here on, all buildings are better than the previous ones. Sao Bento rail station is good welcome. Based in French art the city centre is just ahead.

lighthouse and we listen to the waves hitting the coast. Beaches, have to say, are not the best of Porto.

PH: Tourmalet

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Youtube world

Tourmalet TV #Basque Country Aia - 28% video

LA LÉGENDE: CLAUDIO CHIAPPUCCI

The big gradients of this short, but steep climb are the scenery for a report of the different ways some of the most famous riders in the region struggle to reach the summit of this difficult climb. In the middle, cheering fans all over, as usual.

A nice report about one of the bravest Italian races ever. From his yellow jersey in 90’s edition to his last big show in 1993 on his way to Pau, his last Tour victory. (Watch video)

VDB IN AVILA: 1999

PARIS-ROUBAIX 1996: MAPEI’S TERRITORY

The Belgian rider showed his last climb, doing whatever he best performace on the way wanted with his rivals. to the Vuelta classical arrival. (Watch video) He attacked repeatedly in the

Three Mapei riders are in the lead in Roubaix’s velodrome. Musseeuw wins ahead just of the Italians workmates: Bortolami (2nd) and Tafi (3rd).

(Click here to watch)

#Share the mood! #Cycling #movement is a hagstag we’ll keep sharing. This is about making the bike something dynamic to watch, so energetic for the audience. With this video we start this video section. Thanks to Rocasanto.

(Watch video)

MIKEL LANDA SETS FIRE TO GIRO d’ITALIA 2015 The Basque grimpeur attacks on his way up to Finestre, an offensive that had Contador against the wall until finish line of a memorable stage. (Watch video)

FROOME VS QUINTANA Try after try, Chris Froome, Colombian Nairo Quintana, three times Tour winner, gets who resisted the red jersey. his chances to win the Vuelta (Watch video) against one of his main rivals,

(Click here to watch)

PH: YouTube screenshots

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Sagan Sagan sí abracadabra

#Boutique #Shakira #CarlosVives #LaBicicleta travelling round the whole world One of the clear summer songs that has been sounding all around the planet: discoteques, radi-

os, cars... children, dads, mums... And for the first time the main character is not a good looking sing-

er, it’s a bicycle. The bike they use to travel from Barranquilla to Barcelona as the song says.

Shakira rescues Carlos Vives, both Colombian artists, from forgetness after succeeding for many years mainly in Latin atmospheres. His permanent positive messaging has been brought here as well, so he makes the perfect mixture with globe-star Shakira, one of the most famous not just

the surprising blonde at that time (she used to be brown haired before) surprised the world with a massive hit that drove her to number 1.

the idea of using a bike as the leitmotiv for the new track. Fresh and easy going, has the perfect mixture to become as it did, one of the songs from year 2016.

The album, Laundry Service, became a big success. From So the bike is the reason, a then on, Shakira has been so prove that determines that awarded and recognised as bike mood is all around the

“I faced big rivals at sprint, the most difficult was Cippolini”

“My very best win was They were all very in the Champs Elysees, good climbers, but the end of the Tour”

Colombian, but international singers. Connection between them looks kind of weird if you pay attention to the ages. Carlos was born in 1961, Shakira 16 years after, belonging to different music eras.

one of the best pop artists nowadays. Actually, she is the best seller woman in the previous decade.

When Shakira jumped to the scene with that ‘Whenever, wherever’, Carlos had already triumphed as a Latin pop singer in all South America and Spain in the early 90’s. It would be at the start of a new decade, 2001, when

Every hit she releases slides to number one, filling all the charts of the world with her songs. Now she became a yellow press star because of her relationship with Spanish football player, Gerard Piqué. Both live in Barcelona, team he belongs to, so probably from a city like that (really soon in Tourmalet), was born

In Spanish, a really creative song with original lyrics. It tells everything all cycling fans think about this superb and complete rider.

About his duels in cobbled classics, about Grand Tours, about his personal life and physical appearance... All among really impressive images such as showing the skilled he is with the bike.

Created by Bemancio, a really recommendable channel, it really worths the view. In fact, the sticky melody of the chorus will stay with you and your head all day! Soon we will treat the dancing skills of Peter Sagan and his wife. ‘Grease’ actors have the relay for the future, that’s for sure!

planet and it’s not just a sport to keep fit or to admire your idols. Football is globally the favourite, but what will it happen when, as it’s going on now, absolutely everybody has a bike at home? Cycling is rising. Luckily we will see a global use of the bike as a mean of transport. Or, as so far, as a way of showing beauty. L.S.

Click here to watch video

Click the images to listen to ‘La bicicleta’ (Shakira & Carlos Vives)

PH: YouTube screenshots

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#BeHilarious Truth sometimes brings little stories that are not suitable for our pervert minds looking for imaginary fights.

That is why, like this, nobody will believe us, because these stories are absolute and merely a joke. Enjoy! By Lucrecio S.

Hinault threats Bardet: “I am last French winning a Tour and always’ll be. Capisce?”

Ladagnous, the big secret teller

This events happened during last Tour de France. Bardet was 2nd overall, threating a wet stage on the way to Morzine. Everyone knows Froome and Team Sky don’t work well with heavy rain, so there were some chances for an accident to happen in the dangerous descent from Joux Plaine. Hinault had it so clear: “Romain, you would be not the first one. Why do you think Voeckler lost the jersey in the Galibier climb?” -said-.

FDJ’s rider is known as the “big secret teller”. Nobody in the bunch speaks when he’s right next. Sometimes they key talk to avoid any rumour to be spreaded. Once, all the media knew the 20th stage was to be finished in Alpe d’Huez. Happened in Paris, 21st stage was already over but everybody got shocked. “I know you can’t believe me, but that’s the way it is...”

“He was in the breakaway...” “You don’t know the truth, he was leading the race, in front of Contador and Andy, he wasn’t dropping, but we changed the cameras...” “Oh, no, what if I attack?” “Don’t attack! Follow certain tactics: drink, wheel. I’ll talk to your director. I’ll tell him to sign Ledagnous for your team, and he’ll be all stages right next to you...” “Oh, no, please!”

Contador: “Where is my dinner plate?”

Worlds 2016: a rider found in the desert

It is said (by Ledagnous, of course) that Contador, when he became Tirreno’s leader, was told by his director some motivation sentences such as “tomorrow in the last stage you have to eat them alive”. Really disciplined, the Spaniard respected instructions and kept the ‘big fork’ in the pocket. Before attacking, he tried to punch them with the fork. “This is not working, they are racing even faster to escape from me”.

Boonen said before the race that wind was going to blow and it did. Ventoso (“windy” in Spanish), felt at home, but one of the smallest riders in the bunch had been seen flying up in the air, pushed by tough winds. Of course, a hill climber. “I saw a rider flying but as it was him, I thought he wanted to train for Liege in the dunes”. Nobody mentioned this up to this moment, when the rider came back from his trip, really tanned and sand covered. “So, your mates training and you come from the beach! You’re going to Tour of Qatar! “Nooooo” He could not sleep until he knew that race is not done in 2017. Sigh.

Please, don’t tell them... Dude...!!

Know what? Majka admires Contador...

PH: Sirotti / Tourmalet

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TOURMALET Next

Danger: Nairo Quintana exchanges helmet with soldier... “What if they say attack?” Happened in Spanish Vuelta. Riders went inside militar air planes. Nairo Quintana put a soldier’s helmet and the soldier did the opposite. During that day both were wearing each other’s. All went well until somebody realized: “A question: what does a cyclist listen to? What if they give any offensive instruction like “attack”? It’s a soldier receiving that!”. Everyone rushed to find the soldier with Nairo Quintana’s helmet.

Finally, in the evening, they found him really relaxed and at home. “What happened? Did you receive any message from the helmet?” “Yes, yes”, said the soldier. “I was listening to something about drink and wheel”. “Nothing about an attack or something?” asked really worried another soldier. “No, nothing”. After having some experts consulted, there was no place for panic: Movistar wierdly uses “attack” in their vocabulary .

What is Rodríguez showing Urán? Nobody knows it, Ledagnous included. At the end of the text the solution. Think it may be a picture of any of his sons or a picture of his dog, his house, his wife... Maybe it’s a picture from last training, the day it was raining the most in his entire life and he went wet, taking somebody this in the camera. Or it may be the ‘black Whatsapp man’. But in fact, non of these are true, he is just telling him: “it is not working, look” “Ahm”, said.

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