Racing is now fully underway, and a lot of the week’s news was either looking back at last weekend, or looking ahead to the big races this weekend – that would mainly be Strade Bianche on Saturday (yesterday at the time of posting), and the first stage of the Paris-Nice today (Sunday).
Beyond that, the usual wobbly retail industry woes, and something potentially new coming to Zwift?
As always, you can read last week’s news round up by clicking here.
Otherwise, on we go!
Faulkner’s Triumph at Omloop van het Hageland
American cyclist Kristen Faulkner turned heads with a bold 65km solo raid to secure her inaugural victory at the Omloop van het Hageland with the EF Education-Cannondale team.
Following a day of mishaps at Omloop het Nieuwsblad, the team aimed for redemption and achieved it spectacularly.
Faulkner launched a decisive attack mid-race, originally seeking companionship, yet ended up powering ahead alone.
Despite her initial reluctance for a solo effort, her persistence paid off, leading her to an unexpected yet celebrated win.
They may have the most ugly helmet in the female peloton right now, but it sure seems to be working.
Vingegaard’s Already Quietly Conquering
Jonas Vingegaard is, perhaps unsurprisingly, off to a strong start of his 2024 cycling season, mirroring his impressive performance from last year.
This Danish powerhouse dominated the O Gran Camiño race in Galicia, Spain, outpacing competitors with his strategic attacks and resilience in harsh weather.
I managed to catch the highlights of this one. A real soggy day on the bike.
The story itself came as part of Cycling Weekly’s newsletter.
And That Was Just One Of Six Wins Last Weekend
‘Visma Beast a Bike’ headlines this week’s GCN Racing News Show after a phenomenal weekend. The Dutch team, Visma-Lease a Bike, turned their season around from bottom dwellers in the UCI’s 2024 rankings to champions with a tally jump from three to eleven victories.
Their triumph spanned across a single weekend, showcasing dominance in the Classics with six wins in just over 24 hours.
The men’s team claimed victory in both Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, while Marianne Vos conquered the women’s Omloop, marking a significant return post-surgery.
As already covered above, Jonas Vingegaard (Hansen) continued the winning streak by securing the overall title in O Gran Camiño, including the final two stages.
Despite Visma’s dominance, the return of rivals like Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen in the upcoming cobbled races promises a more balanced competition.
The GCN Racing show is always a good one to watch on an easier, or longer ride.
Sam’s Double Gold Rush
Sam Fisher, a 17-year-old Welsh junior rider, made headlines at the British National Track Championships, snatching two gold medals in his senior debut, impressing in both the team pursuit and scratch race despite recent illness and initial struggles in track events.
His victories, alongside notable performances from fellow young teammates and the surprise upset in the men’s tandem sprint, highlight a day of unexpected outcomes and thrilling races.
The Welsh team’s cohesion and strategy paid off against more seasoned competitors, while other races saw close finishes and tactical battles, encapsulating the spirit and unpredictability of track cycling.
Cycling Weekly brought us this one.
Mrs. Alaphilippe Speaks Out
Patrick Lefevere, the Soudal–Quick-Step boss, spoke against Julian Alaphilippe last week, in what was a quickly criticised – and hastily backtracked – outburst.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, several of the larger cycling news sites picked up on the follow up to this story, with the most interesting (in my opinion, anyway) coming as an opinion piece by Rouleur’s Rachel Jary.
His history of criticising former riders and making unwarranted comments about their personal lives, such as the recent tirade against Julian Alaphilippe and Alaphilippe’s wife, Marion Rousse, has sparked outrage.
Translation:
Regardless of Monsieur Lefevre’s feelings towards me, it is unacceptable for him to attack my private life as he does. So no, I do not drink alcohol, never. Not even for parties because with a 3-year-old we prefer to be in good shape in the morning 😉 You will not succeed either, as you have already mentioned, in preventing me from working to take care and stay with Julian during his career. The missions I carry out are my passion and I have plenty of projects. But I tell you, in no case do I allow you to talk about my private life. Thank you from now on to stop speaking wrongly and inaccurately and to show more respect and… class.
Marion Rousse – tweet in reply to Patrick Lefevere’s comments
Rousse’s dignified response highlights the ongoing struggle against Lefevere’s archaic attitudes, particularly towards women in cycling, despite his superficial support for the NXTG women’s team.
His comments not only affect individual athletes but also cast a long shadow over the inclusivity and progression of the sport.
Foggy Futures and Desert Dreams Dashed 🚴♂️💨
The UAE Team Emirates started the UAE Tour with high hopes, only to face a gradual decline as the race progressed.
The initial success, marked by a podium sweep in the time trial, turned sour as Adam Yates’ unfortunate accident and subsequent withdrawal due to concussion symptoms marked the beginning of their troubles.
The team’s strategy crumbled without their leading climber, affecting their performance in the crucial stages.
Despite Jay Vine’s efforts, which included a brief moment in the red jersey, the team could not maintain their position against the competition, particularly after Brandon McNulty’s unexpected dip in form.
The final climb of Jebel Hafeet highlighted the team’s struggles, leaving them far from their goal of securing a victory on home soil.
The team’s manager, Mauro Gianetti, expressed confusion and disappointment but stressed the importance of moving forward and refocusing on future races.
Not one I personally got to watch, so an interesting write up on what happened over the course of the race from Rouleur.
Wout’s High-Stakes Training Gamble
Wout van Aert is foregoing traditional races like this weekend’s Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo for a 22-day altitude training camp in Tenerife.
His aim: to conquer Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, races that have eluded him despite past podium finishes.
Joining him on this high-altitude quest at Mount Teide’s Parador hotel will be teammates and a support crew, including a trainer and chef.
This break from the norm is a calculated risk aimed at improving performance for the upcoming Monuments.
Traditional pre-season races are typically used for conditioning, but Van Aert sees them as too demanding for mere preparation.
I tell you what, I wouldn’t mind a ‘high altitude training camp’ in Tenerife right now. It’s bloody freezing in the UK.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Pro Cyclist Benched by Canine Crunch
Frederik Frison faces a painful setback as he misses the season’s opening classics due to severe injuries from a dog attack.
Forced to recover at home, Frison recounts the ordeal of being bitten by a family pet, leading to “quite extensive damage” to his private parts and requiring immediate surgery.
The incident not only halts his debut with the new team, Q36.5, but also casts a shadow over his anticipated classics campaign.
Not quite a story was expecting to read this week, and I wish Mr Frison a very speedy recovery.
Cynisca’s Costume Caper
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has penalised the Cynisca Cycling Team following a fraudulent attempt to meet race participant requirements at the Argenta Classic.
The team’s Sports Director, Danny Van Haute, orchestrated a deception involving the team mechanic posing as a missing fifth rider, leading to a series of penalties and fines for those involved.
While four team riders were misled into this scheme, they received reprimands, whereas Van Haute faced a suspension until the end of 2025.
The mechanic, Moira Barrett, also faces suspension and a fine.
Following these revelations, the Cynisca team has been barred from their next UCI race and issued a formal apology, stating that this act of fraud was an isolated incident not reflective of their values.
Despite the scandal, the team celebrated a recent victory at the Clasica de Almeria, hoping to move past the incident and continue promoting women in cycling.
Read this one at ProCyclingUK.
Canyon’s One-Strap Wonder
GCN tech ran an article on how gravel rider’s Petr Vakoč and Jasper Ockeloen were spotted using a new Canyon lid at the Santa Vall gravel stage race.
Ditching the traditional ‘Y’-shaped straps, this avant-garde model features a single, rigid strap in a novel position in front of the ears.
As a result, shock horror, your sunglasses will now need to go under the strap. Probably cut the sales of such a helmet down to practically zero, as vanity is about 98% of the consumer market.
As you would expected, Canyon give nothing away. But for me, I’m happy to let others pioneer new helmet designs… as I’m currently recovering from a self inflicted head wound, protecting my noggin is priority number 1.
The Wiggle Wobble Explained
Last week we covered how Wiggle are losing £3 a second, and have been for quite some time. This week, GCN have run a piece about whether it is still safe to buy from the struggling online retailer.
The future of Wiggle looks particularly bleak, with insider reports suggesting it’s nearly the end of the road as they rush to clear warehouse stock.
Despite the company’s shaky ground, Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles continue to trade, albeit with a significantly reduced range and limited stock availability.
They’re still accepting returns within a 28-day window, but beware, warranty promises are shifting – now relying mostly on manufacturers, with Wiggle’s own support waning. Posts on Twitter said the staff had largely been gutted, so it’s doubtful there are any hands on deck to handle returns in anything like a timely manner.
Interestingly, Halfords steps up offering to honour Wiggle CRC warranties, offering a glimmer of hope for concerned consumers. As best I can see, Halfords are owned by buyout firm CVC, who are unrelated to Make Ashley / Frasers Group.
However, GCN say the ultimate safety net for shoppers might just be the use of credit cards, offering protections like Section 75 claims for purchases over £100.
As for big-ticket items, the situation screams buyer beware, but with the right payment method, you might still navigate through this storm with your finances intact.
If you’ve already placed an order, expect it to be delivered, but don’t hold your breath for a blossoming Wiggle revival – if you’re eyeing a deal, now might be your last chance to grab it.
Reforming Cycle to Work from the Inside Out
Barry Scott, founder of Cycle to Work provider GoGeta, has called for internal reform of the UK’s Cycle to Work scheme to address the concerns of bike shops burdened by high transaction fees imposed by private providers.
Despite the scheme’s intention to benefit both consumers and retailers by allowing employees to buy bikes from pre-tax income, independent retailers find themselves barely breaking whilst the middlemen, namely Cyclescheme, Halfords Cycle2Work, Evans Ride to Work, Bike2Work Scheme, Green Commute Initiative and yes, GoGeta themselves, make all the profit.
GoGeta aims to revolutionise this by reducing the burden on retailers and making the scheme more flexible for consumers, countering the traditional model where entire fees fall on retailers.
Scott’s approach, based on what he believes is fairness and collaboration, proposes a balanced sharing of fees and introduces flexi vouchers, allowing consumers to spread purchases over time. This makes a great deal of sense, as very few of us buy every bit of kit that we need up front at the time of buying the bike.
Scott’s concern is that if retailers group together and go complain to the government, the govt. are just as likely to cancel the scheme in its entirety as they are to try to fix anything. And based on their track record, I think he’s spot on.
Beware the Keynsham’s Cycle Lane Illusion
People have been tripping over an “optical illusion” cycle lane in Keynsham, leading University of Bristol researchers to seek feedback from those affected.
Installed in March 2022 by Bath and North East Somerset Council, the lane has reportedly caused around 100 incidents.
The design, featuring confusing white road markings, has been described as deceptive. Professors from the University of Bristol, alongside visual system experts, are investigating to propose evidence-based solutions.
Changes, including altering the lane’s boundary lines, are being considered to improve safety. Despite repainting the lane red to reduce accidents, the issue persists.
Ministers Plug into E-Bike Wattage Debate
Everyone’s favourite people in the UK, our Ministers for Parliament, are sparking discussions on potentially doubling the wattage for electric bike motors, stirring both enthusiasm and safety concerns.
The Department for Transport (DfT) plans to consult the public about increasing e-bike motor limits from 250w to 500w and considering throttle-powered options, mirroring motorbikes.
However, the Bicycle Association signals alarm, highlighting the risks of faster acceleration, heavier builds, and the increased danger in crashes.
Amid rising e-bike popularity, there’s fear that changes could compel users to source less regulated, potentially riskier bikes abroad.
Additionally, there are whispers of requiring e-bike registration and licensing, akin to motor vehicles, which could redefine the entire e-bike category and impact their status as a universal transport mode.
The consultation aims to address various needs, including those of disabled cyclists, yet it wades into uncharted regulatory and safety waters.
One of many places to pick up this story was The Guardian.
Zwift’s Velodrome Teaser
A recent tease on the Zwift forum by user Olivero has ignited discussions with a screenshot hinting at an upcoming ‘Zwift Velodrome’ nestled in Watopia, near the Wind Farm.
The supposed 500m track may hint at Olympic-sized aspirations, with details suggesting varying bank angles conducive to high-speed cycling.
The leaked screenshot shows the Velodrome appears to support Zwift’s Steering control, Ghost mode, and leaderboards.
However, its actual launch remains a mystery, further clouded by Eric Min’s accidentally uploaded image being removed from his Strava upload.
With the Zwift Games on the horizon, this could either be a significant addition or an internal test – only time will tell.
Mastering Your Trainer’s Many Modes
In “Navigating Smart Trainer Settings For Better Training,” Pez’s Scott Steele delves into the intelligent use of smart trainer settings to enhance indoor cycling training, particularly highlighting the balance between ERG, Slope, Resistance, and Mixed modes for varied and effective workouts.
He emphasizes ERG mode for its precision in maintaining constant power output, ideal for structured interval training and fitness assessments. Despite its benefits, Steele notes ERG mode’s lack of outdoor riding realism and potential monotony.
Conversely, SLOPE mode offers a more dynamic and realistic experience, simulating outdoor terrains but lacking in power consistency, making it less ideal for structured power-based training.
Steele also touches on Resistance mode, similar to SLOPE but with manual resistance adjustments, and Mixed mode, which combines the benefits of ERG and SLOPE for a well-rounded workout.
An interesting dive into all the ‘other’ modes I kinda knew my trainer has, but have very rarely used. I can think of one time I used Resistance mode, and that was only for 5 minutes or so.
End of the Road For Supersapiens?
Supersapiens, an American glucose monitoring tech company, has announced the termination of all memberships and the suspension of glucose sensor shipments as part of a “strategic restructuring”.
Despite the cessation of memberships and shipping, the Supersapiens app will maintain functionality and grant access to historical data for a limited time, with a complete shutdown of dashboard access scheduled for 31 March.
This move suggests a probable closure for the company, which gained notoriety among athletes for its innovative real-time glucose monitoring systems.
Founded in 2019 by Phil Southerland of Team Novo Nordisk fame, Supersapiens rose to prominence in the professional athletic sphere, notably with Kristen Faulkner’s controversial use at the 2023 Strade Bianche.
As the company approaches what could be its final lap, it extends heartfelt thanks to its community, hinting at a possible continuation in a new form despite current challenges.
Do You Really Like It? Is it, is it Wicked?
Ribble has teamed up with DJ Spoony to launch a Special Edition Ultra SL R, showcasing a bespoke Gold Flame, Black and Gold paint design.
This unique collaboration celebrates DJ Spoony’s love for both music and cycling, featuring his logo and favourite song lyrics on the fork.
It’s not clear if this bike is going to be for show, or for go, as the interview over on Ribble’s website say’s DJ Spoony is in training for this years Ride London event. I guess that’s about the only time you could ride this bike in London without fear of being bike jacked?
If I’d have seen this one earlier in the week, it would have nicked The Bike Of The Week spot for sure. I love it.
Thanks to Pez Cycling for sharing this one.
Bike Video Of The Week
I always enjoy a Cameron Jeffers video. His videos are kinda like Top Gear used to be, before it became the worst version of the Jeremy Clarkson show.
Actually that sounds like I’m doing Cameron a great disservice.
Let’s start again.
Here’s a video of Cameron Jeffers trying to hold 495w up the Alpe d’Huez to emulate Lance Armstrong’s 2004 Tour de France effort.
As ever with these types of videos, where none World Tour pro riders try to repeat the feats of the best in the world, it should be even more eye opening when you remember the pros do this sort of thing with 100km+ in the legs that day already, AND it’s not even day 1 of the Tour.
Frankly the pros are so far removed from the average cyclist, it’s staggering. And Cameron Jeffers himself is a good few steps up from the average cyclist even now he’s a retired old man (aged 27).
Good times.
Bike Of The Week
I want to say it’s rare that I feature older bikes on here, but as we’ve only been going now for what, three months, and this is the second time I’ve featured a ‘retro’ ride, I guess it’s not that rare.
I really don’t know much about older bikes. I did used to have one with a down tube shifter (probably not the right term) back when I was a little kid, but this one seems to be a slight mixture of old and new.
From the Reddit thread where I found this, I learned this a bike by a company called Basso, which I had never heard of. They seem to sell expensive rides, however.
It seems the groupset and crank have been upgraded to Campagnolo Record to Campagnolo Centaur. I’ve never ridden Campagnolo tech, so wouldn’t know about that.
For me the nicest parts are the wheels, and also the bar tape with the subtle fade that matches the frame. That’s really nice.
OK, that’s us for the week, see you next time!