Author: Alex
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The second-best 2014 Giro d’Italia preview on this website
This article was originally entitled ‘the best Giro d’Italia preview on this website’ but then I thought: No, I probably did an okay preview last year, so that’s not accurate. So I changed it to ‘the best 2014 Giro d’Italia preview on this website’ but then realised that I’d already highlighted some of the main…
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The cast of the 2014 Giro d’Italia
This is a personal selection of riders to keep an eye on during this year’s Giro and therefore represents the probable cast of this website over the next few weeks. There are quite a few names, so let’s keep this as short as possible. The favourites Nairo Quintana Second in the Tour last year and…
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Form, fitness, fatigue and Froome – what we’ve learnt from the Tour of Romandy
As expected, Chris Froome beat Simon Spilak by some margin in the time trial which rounded off the Tour of Romandy. This gave him the overall win and resulted in exactly the same podium as last year, with world champion, Rui Costa, in third. But as with so many stage races, the result itself seems…
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Who needs team-mates?
Every pro cyclist actually. But at the same time, there’s little meaning in being team leader if you only ever finish right alongside your garishly-attired brethren. On stage three of the Tour of Romandy, Chris Froome made light of Team Sky’s relative weakness of late and did his thing alone. His thing? Vincenzo Nibali attacked…
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Whither Team Sky?
The first stage of the Tour of Romandy was a 5.6km prologue. Michal Kwiatkowski’s continued omnipresence meant that he won, with Chris Froome nine seconds back in 13th place. Stage one was then shortened to 88km due to snow and Swiss rider Michael Albasini won, Chris Froome finishing safely in the main front group. So…
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Simon Gerrans hits his target
I did say after the Tour Down Under that Liege-Bastogne-Liege was one of Simon Gerrans’ targets. Target hit. Just look at his cheery munchkin face. He’s delighted. Form This year’s race was something of a who’s who of 2014’s form riders. Obviously, you don’t win if you’re massively out of form, but the podium only…
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Alejandro Valverde on the Mur de Huy
Sounds like a guess in Cluedo. And yes, Alejandro Valverde did indeed carry out mass slaughter on the slopes of Belgium’s infamous ‘wall’. La Fleche Wallonne (literally, the Walloon Arrow) is an even more significant win than his victory in Roma Maxima earlier in the season. Valverde likes these sorts of finishes. Steep, but necessitating…
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Philippe Gilbert does the Monster Mash at Amstel Gold
Could anyone have stopped Philippe Gilbert on his favourite hill, the Cauberg? Michal Kwiatkowski would maybe have had half a chance if he’d had a little more help from team-mates. “We lost Tony Martin in a key moment and I missed him at the end.” What Kwiatkowski omits to mention is that his Omega Pharma…
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Niki Terpstra is Belgian enough
Let’s start with the top ten. Aside from Sebastian Langeveld, you should recognise all of these names, which makes me feel like I’ve done a pretty decent job over the last few months. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step 6:09:01 John Degenkolb’s Moustache (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano 0:00:20 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory Racing Sep Vanmarcke (Bel)…
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Gird your barses for Paris-Roubaix
It’s Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. Hills aren’t the issue. The route I remember the first time I discovered the proportion of the Paris-Roubaix route which was cobbles, I thought: “Is that all?” Now, having ridden on cobbles for an incredibly short distance, I see the route and think: “51.1km! Sweet mother of Merckx!” That’s the kind…