Hi, how’re you doing?
Welcome to another newsletter.
This week I’m coming at you from Tuscany, Italy. I’m on a training camp here with my team, Hagens Berman Axeon. It’s my first time in this region, so it has been nice to explore new roads and sample a small part of a different culture.
Training camp means new kit day, and to the right of where I’m sitting, there is a suitcase bulging with a new Alé kit, if you haven’t seen our new kit yet, check out the Tweet of the Week down below.
Training camp also means new bike day, and I’m enjoying riding around on my BMC TeamMachine SLR01. The bike rides like a dream, the Swiss are very good at making very good stuff. Today we had lead-outs on the clock, and tomorrow we have a six-hour ride. Living the life!
Enjoy your week,
Joe
Feel free to email me at joe@nplus1.cc if you have any questions, or feel I’ve missed something that is worth putting in the Newsletter.
📖 Read
#racing
Road racing is back. Both for the men and women, the European calendar has kicked off. Quickstep went straight back to winning ways but fell short on the GC and Martia Bastianelli won the Vuelta CV Feminas. What early season race are you looking forward to?
5-minute read
#racing #behindthescenes
Jimmy Whelan is a good guy. After being dropped by EF this winter, he bounced back in second place at Aussie Nationals and by winning the Tour Down Under. He’s now chasing the WorldTour contract again. From having to give up his European training base to taking big wins back home, Jimmy’s story is a unique one.
13-minute read
#bizaree
The Dutch Headwind Championships. They can only take place in storms of wind force 7 or higher on the Beaufort Scale, and the riders contest with 80 kph winds over the 8.5 km course. It’s strange, it’s different, it’s cycling at its finest.
5-minute read
#gravel
With a 30-plus minute hike-a-bike in deep snow as the midpoint, Old Man Winter Rally in Colorado is a gravel race with a difference. Two former U.S. national road champions, Ruth Winder and Alex Howes took the overall honors. According to Howes, “running boots won the day”. Read all about the event here.
6-minute read
#training
How good are you at pedalling? Now, that sounds like a silly question, but it’s not. Having a smooth pedal stroke gives you better control, and saves energy, so why don’t we talk about it? This is your guide to pedalling better, it will make you faster.
7-minute read
📱Tweet of the week
Pink and blue. What do you think to my team’s new kit?
🎧 Listen
Svein Tuft is one of cycling’s ultimate hardmen. He is an ex-pro tour cyclist but his life is forged by adventures. After spending almost 10 years in Europe, he is now back to his roots in British Columbia. Svein is one of cycling’s characters, and this podcast isn’t to be missed.
78-minute listen
👀 Watch
A road bike with a difference - entirely optimised around running one chainring…
9-minute watch
👋🏻 Introducing
In this new part of the Newsletter, each week we’re going to introduce one of the brands that we work with at N+1.
Introducing… Izoard Studios
Established in Madrid, Izoard Studios aim to bring the universe of the bicycle to all aspects of daily life. ‘Casual Cycling’, their apparel is adaptable to be worn on or off the bike, and with contemporary designs.
Be sure to download our app and browse their collection!