Month: October 2013
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The cobbled stage of the 2014 Tour de France
The 2014 Tour de France route was announced yesterday, but it’s too much information to tackle in one go. I’d therefore like to start with just one of the more eye-catching stages because it also fits with my other aim for the close season of getting people a bit more enthused about the Spring Classics.…
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Benat Intxausti wins the race that no-one’s all that bothered about winning really
The hotly-contested Tour of Beijing is over. Benat Intxausti won. There was a hilltop finish on stage four and the results of that pretty much equate to the final general classification. Dan Martin came second. Sky’s David Lopez came third. There wasn’t much in it. The defending champion, Tony Martin, came sixth. He reckons he’s…
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Richie Porte is well up for the Tour of Beijing
Well up for it. WELL up for it. “It’s been a long season and the legs are tired. I’m here because the team want me here, because the points are tight.” That’s a rabble-rousing statement of intent if ever I heard one. Thor Hushovd is the race leader after winning stage one, taking a 10…
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Why every Joaquim Rodriguez win should be celebrated
Joaquim Rodriguez has cornered the market on bridesmaidery and for that, you should celebrate his wins. He deserves them more than most. While Purito won a number of races last year, his season was defined by losing the Giro on the final day and being denied the Vuelta through a single moment of dosiness. This…
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The autumn one-day race
That’s what I call it, because that’s how I think of it. Most one-day races are in the spring, but this one is an exception. Officially, it’s called the Giro di Lombardia or Il Lombardia. Unofficially, it’s known as the race of the falling leaves or summat like that. It’s the autumn one-day race. The…