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Which bike should you get if you have a grand to spend?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:25 +0000

Today we’ve got the ultimate bike group test for you, where we test and review in brief, four bikes that come in at or around the £1,000 mark.

The government's Cycle to Work maximum price point is £1,000 so if you are planning on taking advantage of this scheme and have a grand to spend which bike should you buy?

First up, we have the Ribble Sportive Bianco - £1073

The Ribble is just over the upper price limit but it is still worth mentioning because the ...

By Equipment News

Holdsworth relaunches and Bobridge smashes a world record

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:14:53 +0000

The colour orange is said to be one of those colours that people either love or loathe but to many a British cycling fan, particularly those old enough to remember, the colour orange represents only one thing… Holdsworth-campagnolo.

The legendary racing team from the ‘70s that included cycling stars like Les West, Colin Lewis, Bob Addy, Roger Newton, Dave Nie, and Mike Cowley. The Holdsworth-campagnolo team can trace its routes way back to 1953 when Roy Thame joined WF Holdsworth as a shop ma...

By Equipment News

Preparing Your Bike for the Winter

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:30:35 +0000

While the UK hasn’t been hit with the snow that we had last year, it still makes sense to prepare your bike for the winter months. While you may not be negotiating two feet of snow like twelve months ago, there is still the dark mornings and evenings as well as the cold weather which will all pose different challenges to cyclists.

Just like you would perform a number of checks and adjustments on a car or motorbike for the winter, it pays to do the same on a bicycle. One thing you shoul...

By Tips and Techniques

BMX Olympic Hopeful Tries Adding Weight

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:41:09 +0000

One of Britain’s Olympic medal hopefuls is taking a different route with her preparations for the London games, by experimenting to see whether adding weight will help her to gold. 23-year old Shanaze Reade is working with her nutritionist to establish whether a few extra pounds could be the key to her future success.

“We have sports scientists looking at how much the bike weighs, but now we’re looking at finding the optimum weigh...

By Chris White

Wiggins Targeting 2012 Time Trials

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:14:02 +0000

Three-time Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins will focus on the road time trial event at the London 2012 Olympics, supporting Mark Cavendish in his bid for golf in the Olympic road race just days before.

Wiggins was a key member of the squad that helped Cavendish win the world road race championship in Copenhagen in September, but he may not be able to play a full role in...

By Chris White

Stay Safe this Winter

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:35:34 +0000

Winter can be a horrible season for cyclists, with poor road conditions, as well as the wretched weather and poor visibility. Fortunately, for those who rely on their bikes to get around and those who enjoy a bike ride come rain or shine, there are a number of things you can do to make cycling not only easier, but safer this winter.

The first precaution you can take relates to the tires. While the thinner, less grippy tires work best during the summer months and for those who enjoy riding...

By Tips and Techniques

Storey Omitted from Olympic Team

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:24:34 +0000

Despite taking part in the latest World Cup event, Sarah Storey will not become the first British Paralympic and Olympic athlete after being omitted from the women’s team pursuit squad.

The 34-year old helped the team to the gold medal at the event in Colombia, but was told that her performances in Cali weren’t good enough to seal a place in the team for next year’s Olympics in London. Storey teamed up with Laura Trott and By Chris White

Cavendish Collects MBE

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:55:06 +0000

World road race champion and 2011 Tour de France green jersey winner Mark Cavendish was at Buckingham Palace this week to collect his MBE from the Queen. The award is recognition for what has been a successful season – and career for Cavendish – who has become one of the best sprint cyclists in the world, if not the very best.

Cavendish won five st...

By Chris White

British Trio Find Form

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:53:25 +0000

Great Britain’s track cyclists were on top form at the Track World Cup in Cali, Colombia, taking the gold medal in the women’s team pursuit, as well as other medals in the omnium and individual pursuit.

The British team, consisting of Laura Trott, Wendy Houvenaghel and Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Storey ...

By Chris White

Centenary Tour de France to Start in Corsica

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:49:27 +0000

For the first time in its currently 98 year history, the 2013 Tour de France – the 100^th staging of the premier event – will start in Corsica, the island off the south coast of the country.

Corsica is currently the only region of metropolitan France that has never been included in the race, but event director Christian Prudhomme has confirmed that the centenary event will feature a visit to the isla...

By Chris White

Contador Decision Expected in January

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:18:30 +0000

Having spent four days giving evidence before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador will now have to wait until the New Year to learn whether or not he will stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title.

Contador tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol...

By Chris White

Females to Lead GB in Cali

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:25:47 +0000

Team Great Britain have announced a three-rider team for the second Track World Cup event of the season in Cali, Columbia, with Paralympic champion Sarah Storey stepping up her bid for a place in the Olympic team as part of the team pursuit squad.

British cycling have announced a smaller squad for the event which takes place between the 1^st and 3^rd of December, with two time British national...

By Chris White

Cavendish wins on Track Return

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:24:18 +0000

Mark Cavendish, the world road race champion, made a successful return to track cycling by winning the scratch race at the Revolution 34 event at the Manchester Velodrome.

In his first appearance on the track since the World Championships of 2009, Cavendish took the victory in a time of 17 minutes across the 15km race ahead of Steven Burke....
By Chris White

Contador Decision Expected in January

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:15:29 +0000

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador may have to wait until January to learn his fate, as his long-running doping case continues next week. Contador is facing the Court of Arbitration for Sport having tested positive for Clenbuterol in the 2010 Tour de France, but was cleared, and now the Union Cyc...
By Chris White

Landis Given Suspended Jail Sentence

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:08:43 +0000

The disgraced winner of the 2006 Tour de France Floyd Landis has been handed a one-year suspended jail sentence having been found guilty of using a hacker to spy on an anti-doping laboratory.

The American was stripped of his title and failing a drugs test, and confessed to using performance-enhancing substances throughout his career. Landis’ former trainer, Arnie Barker, was also convicted by the court in Paris and r...
By Chris White

Hoy Wins Gold in Astana

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:08:13 +0000

Sir Chris Hoy took the gold medal in the men’s sprint event at the Track Cycling World Cup opener in Astana, Kazakhstan. The four-time Olympic champion also won silver in the Keirin event.

In the best of three final, Hoy was in competition with Denis Dmitriev of Russia, and the Scotsman won 2-0, having already knocked out team-mate By Chris White

Brailsford Medal Warning

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:50:08 +0000

The coach of the British cycling team has warned fans and riders not to expect the same results at the London Olympics as the team achieved in Beijing three years ago. Dave Brailsford believes that changes to the structure of Olympic cycling events have made it much more difficult to win gold medals.

In an interview with the BBC, Brailsford, who lead the squad to 14 medals in total, said “We will win fewer than eight golds from ...
By Chris White

Cycling Transfer Window Slams Shut

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:26:04 +0000

The period for the cycling teams to make their transfers has come to a close, with a number of big names taking up rides elsewhere for the 2012 season. The ‘transfer window’, similar to that in football, allows teams and riders to work with other people, with this year’s market full of riders without places, following the winding down of HTC-Highroad.

Mark Cavendish was the biggest n...
By Chris White

Gilbert Wins Velo d'Or

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:52:26 +0000

Having won a series of classics in 2011, this year’s Velo d’Or was awarded to Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert, who pipped Cadel Evans and Mark Cavendish to the award. He took a total of 18 victories in the season and scored 89 points in the voting, ahead of Evans (73) and Cavendish (54).

The prestigious award given to th...
By Chris White

Team GB Boss Demands Grit from Squad

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:05:55 +0100

The coach of the British cycling team has called for all of his riders to “knuckle down” for a vital period of their training schedule ahead of the Olympics next summer, after winning seven European gold medals last week.

The feat was made more impressive by the withdrawal of Sir Chris Hoy through illness, although some gloss is removed by the lack of individual and team sprint meda...
By Chris White

Nearly Man Aims to Become the Man

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:05:06 +0100

Amidst suggestions that he cannot win the 2012 Tour de France, three-time runner up Andy Schleck has declared that he is “tired of finishing second”, and that 2012 could be his year. The Luxembourger, who has won three white jerseys on the Tour for the best young rider, led this year’s event going into the penultimate stage, only to be left heartbroken again finishing behind Australian...
By Chris White

Queally to Ride in Team Sprint

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:27:00 +0100

41-year old Jason Queally, the former Olympic champion, is to compete in the team sprint at this year’s European Championships in the Netherlands after securing the British title alongside Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny earlier this month in Manchester.

Queally won the team pursuit last year but switched to the team sprint for t...
By Chris White

Sky's the Limit

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:13:00 +0100

After months of speculation, British cyclist Mark Cavendish confirmed the team he will ride for in 2012 after his HTC Highroad team announced that they will be withdrawing from the UCI ProTour at the end of the current season.

The green jersey winner at this year’s Tour de Franc...
By Chris White

Van Avermaet Wins Paris-Tours title

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:13:36 +0100

Greg van Avermaet recorded his biggest career victory to date by staging a late fight at the Paris-Tours classic, two seconds ahead of the chasing pack.

The event had been a relatively uneventful affair for the majority of the 230.5 kilometres but it was the final 50km that saw the bulk of the action, with a seven-man break reeled in, resulting in a 22-man dash for...
By Chris White

Britain to bid for World Championships

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:54:29 +0100

On the back of Mark Cavendish’s recent World Race Championship victory, Great Britain are hoping that they will be able to host the Championship within the next ten years.

Cavendish won the road race title in Copenhagen in September and Britain topped the medals table with two gold’s, two silvers and two bronze. Lucy Garner, who won the...
By Chris White

Team Profiles: Vacansoleil-DCM

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:11:24 +0100

Sponsored by the European holiday company, Vacansoleil, the team is based in the Netherlands and lead by Daan Luijx. The team was established back in 2008 and took a number of the riders and staff that used to be part of the Cycle Collstrop team, where directeur sportif Hilaire van der Schueren made a name for himself.

They made their road racing debut in the 2009 season and won four overall titles and took eight stage victories through riders including Borut Bozic and the impressive youngster...
By Chris White

Hoy Wins Third Track Championship Gold

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 09:17:35 +0100

In what had already been a successful week for Sir Chris Hoy, the triple Olympic champion added the team sprint title to his two other gold medals at this week’s National Track Championships in Manchester.

Hoy was understandably pleased with his results at the Championships, confessing that his performance was “better than expected”, setting him up perfectly for the forthcoming E...
By Chris White

Team Profiles: Team RadioShack

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:39:28 +0100

Formed in 2009, Team RadioShack are co-owned by one of the sports’ greatest ever competitors, if not one of the greatest sportsmen of all time – seven-time winner of the Tour de France, the American Lance Armstrong.

The team is managed by Capital Sports and Entertainment, a sports and events management group based...
By Chris White

Cavendish wins World Road Race title

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:32:34 +0100

In a thrilling bunch sprint to the line in Copenhagen, it was Mark Cavendish who took the world road race championship, becoming the first British male to do so in 46 years, just pipping Matt Goss of Australia to the title.

The eight-man British team managed to contain all...
By Chris White

Team Profiles: Garmin-Cervelo

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:07:46 +0100

Formed in 2007 as a combination of the TIAA-CREF and 5280 development teams, Garmin-Cervelo, managed by Slipstream Sports, began competing on the UCI ProTour under the name of their managers before becoming the team we know them as today for the start of the 2011 season.

The team began making a name for themselves in 2008, with Bradley Wiggins and Christian Van de Velde...
By Chris White

Cavendish Wins Stage But Boom Takes Overall Glory

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:27:08 +0100

While British fans were hoping for an overall winner, they were left to celebrate Mark Cavendish winning the final stage on Whitehall as Dutchman Lars Boom took the overall victory.

The last part of this year’s Tour of Britain was a 10-lap circuit of central London where Cavendish sprinted to victory in front of his home fans. By Chris White

Team Profiles: Team Sky

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:25:27 +0100

Based in Manchester and managed by Dave Brailsford, Team Sky were formed on the back of a £30million sponsorship deal from the media giants, running until 2013, and they set themselves the ambitious aim of winning the Tour de France within five years.

With Brailsford at the helm, Sean Yates was named as the head Directeur Sportif with Marcus Ljungvist and Steven de Jongh assisting. Nicolas Porta...
By Chris White

Cobo Holds Off British Duo For Vuelta Glory

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:10:07 +0100

Spanish rider Juan Jose Cobo held off the challenge of not one, but two British cyclists to win the 2011 Vuelta a Espana, finishing 13 seconds clear of Chris Froome.

The Geox rider was unable to finish the event with a victory in the final stage in Madrid to wrap it up in style, that honour instead...
By Chris White

Cavendish to ride in Tour of Britain

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:07:51 +0100

British cycling fans would have been delighted to hear the news that one of their best riders has signed up to ride in the Tour of Britain which begins this Sunday in Peebles, Scotland.

Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man, winner of the green jersey at this year’s By Chris White

Team Profiles: Saxo Bank-SunGard

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:24:29 +0100

The latest of my team profiles focuses on the Danish team Saxo Bank-SunGard, owned and managed by Bjarne Riis, the former Tour de France winner.

Founded in 1998 under the name of Team home-Jack & Jones, the team started in the second tier of professional cycling before moving up to the UCI ProTour in 2000. The team have since com...
By Chris White

Team Profiles: Rabobank

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:49:11 +0100

Founded back in 1984 under the name Kwantum, the team has competed in every Tour de France and have remained in the ProTour since its inception in 1998.

Since 2009, Rabobank have used...
By Chris White

Froome Setting The Pace At Vuelta

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:28:22 +0100

We could be set for a British winner at this year’s Vuelta a Espana, with Chris Froome taking the overall leader’s red jersey, moving up 13 places in the standings following his second place finish at the 10^th stage of this year’s race.

Froome of Team Sky finished just behind German Tony Martin of By Chris White

Team Profiles: Quickstep Cycling Team

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:12:49 +0100

The Belgian team lead by Patrick Lefevere were formed back in 2003 under the name Quickstep-Davitamon after the Mapei-Quickstep team disbanded following nine years at the top level of world cycling.

Quickstep, the title sponsors, produces laminate flooring, and the team itself uses Eddy Merckx bikes. They have a backroom staff list consisting of Rik Verbrugghe, Davide Bramati, Wilfried Peeters, Rik van Slycke and Luca Guercilena.

Paolo...
By Chris White

Reade Impresses At Olympic BMX Test Event

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:40:19 +0100

Despite winning the Olympic test event in London last weekend, British BMX rider Shanaze Reade feels that changes need to be made to improve the safety of the circuit ahead of next year’s games with the elements proving to be the biggest concern.

The event drew in over 2,500 spectators despite the heavy rainfall that caused several riders to express their concern regarding the s...
By Chris White

Team Profiles: Pro Team Astana

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:26:15 +0100

Astana are a UCI Pro Cycling team based in Kazakhstan, having previously made themselves at home in Switzerland and Luxembourg. The Astana group – a coalition of state-owned companies based in the capital city, Astana, are the title sponsors of the team.

The team has suffered from a number of doping related issues, forcing the original team management to be sacked and replaced by Giuseppe Martinell...
By Chris White

Cavendish Wins Olympic Test Event

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:47:27 +0100

After taking the green jersey at this year’s Tour de France, British cyclist Mark Cavendish sent out a warning message to his rivals ahead of next year’s Olympics by winning the road race test event in London.

26-year old Cavendish who currently rides for the HTC-Highroad team – ...
By Chris White

Team Profiles: Omega Pharma-Lotto

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:59:24 +0100

As one of the longest serving teams on the UCI ProTeam list, the Belgians at Omega Pharma-Lotto have become one of the best known and best organised teams on the circuit.

Founded back in 1985, the team is managed by Geert Coeman, with Marc Sargeant the directeur sportif, with assistance coming from Hendrik Redant, Herman Frison and Jose de Cauwer.

The team have two main sponsors. Lotto,...
By Chris White

HTC Withdraw From UCI ProTour

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:23:16 +0100

Since its inception in 2008, the HTC Highroad team has been one of the most successful teams on the UCI ProTour, racking up 484 race wins and 54 grand tour stages. However, after failing to secure long-term sponsors the team has decided to fold at the end of this year.

Team owner Bob Stapleton broke the news on the team website, and said “the dedic...
By Chris White

Contador Hearing Postponed Again

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:52:58 +0100

Having already pushed the hearing back so that he could participate in this year’s Tour de France, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have now asked to move Alberto Contador’s hearing over his failed drugs test back until November.

The request was made to move it back from August for WADA to complete their preparations and get all of their evidence together to resolve arguments about scien...
By Chris White

Team Profiles: Movistar Team

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:14:33 +0100

The Spanish Movistar Team are one of the most successful cycling teams on the UCI ProTour, with twelve Grand Tours general classification victories under their belts. Since the start of the 2011 season, they have been backed by the mobile phone company Telefonica, who provide the team with significant financial backing.

Since the 2008 season, Eusebio Unzue, who took over the top...
By Chris White

Evans Wins First Tour de France

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:17:39 +0100

Cadel Evans became the first Australian to win the Tour de France, finishing a total of one minute and 34 seconds in front of Andy and Frank Schleck, the first brothers to finish on the podium in Paris.

Going into the final stage wearing the yellow jersey for the first time in the event, Evans had to overturn a 57-second deficit on his way to winning and the BMC Racing rider atoned for his two second place overall finishes in recent years to record his maiden victory.

The 2009 world champion paid tribute to his team mates for delivering him to the top step on the podium, and made sure the media knew he had won, having received so much criticism in the 2007 and 2008 Tours for not making it to the top step in Paris.

Evans said “In 2007 it was so close but against Contador he had a really good day on the last day. In 2008 everyone was so convinced that I was going to win it. I crashed on stage eight or nine and that was by far and away my hardest Tour de France. I suffered so much through injuries, bruising and loss of skin. In the final time-trial, everyone was so convinced I was going to win it, but the suffering I'd gone through and the extra energy showed."

Unfortunately, rather than being able to talk about and celebrate his maiden Tour de France overall victory, Evans was forced into a corner by some of the questions from the media, asking him about what has been dubbed “the cleanest ever Tour de France.”

Evans chose not to answer the first question about doping offences on the Tour this year, but was forced to use his position as the winner to make a comment. He said “I think the best thing I can do as an athlete is to give a good example. I'm trying to be the best example I can and let other people have their opinions on other athletes and society.”

It was a difficult position for Evans, who is currently a team mate of the 2010 winner Alberto Contador who faces a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 1st August over a failed drugs test at last year’s event. A date of 6th June was originally set, which would have ruled the Spaniard out of this year’s Tour if he was banned, but the hearing was pushed back, allowing him to participate this year.
By Chris White

Cavendish Wins Historic Green Jersey

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:59:04 +0100

Mark Cavendish made history at this year’s Tour de France, becoming the first man from the British Isles to win the coveted green jersey in the sprint class. The rider from the Isle of Man was the first across the line in the sprint finish to le Tour up the Champs-Elysees.

Cavendish finished with a total of 334 points, 62 more than his nearest challenger, the S...
By Chris White

Team Profiles: Liquigas-Cannondale

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:07:00 +0100

The Liquigas-Cannondale cycling team is an Italian based squad sponsored by Italian liquified gas company Liquigas and the American bike manufacturers, Cannondale, whose backing has seen a number of American riders joining the squad.

The team was founded back in 1999 under the name Liquigas, and they slowly made their name in the second division, joining the top level in 2005, with sponsorship coming from Bianchi. Cannondale joined the team as the sponsor in 2007 and the team have gone...
By Chris White

Cavendish Leading Green Jersey Battle

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:23:07 +0100

Isle of Man cyclist Mark Cavendish is in pole position to take his first green jersey at this year’s Tour de France after winning his fourth stage of this year’s competition at stage 15.

Cavendish timed his sprint finish perfectly, making up a 12-second deficit to Niki Terpstra with 5km remaining, winning his 19th career victory at the Limoux to Montpellier stage of the race. The 193km stage was hard fought...
By Chris White

Tour de France 2011 - Week One

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:14:32 +0100

This year’s Tour de France has been one of the most dramatic in recent years, and we’ve only had one week! There have been crashes, sprint finishes, collisions with cars, mountains, failed doping tests and withdrawals, and a little bit of cycling thrown into the mix too.

Before the event got under way, the tow favourites for this year’s competition were 2010 winner – although under controversial circumstances – Alberto Conta...
By Chris White