Hey, how’s it going? It’s Joe here back with another week of cool cycling news. I’m writing this over my morning coffee and it’s my last day in Girona for a while as I’m going up to Andorra for an altitude camp. There’s not too much on the menu for me today, I’ve got a short recovery ride planned and a few errands to run.
After a long time struggling with my knee injury, it seems like I’m finally on the right track. I’ve completed my first full week of training for about two months, and I’m gradually starting to feel that some fitness is returning. Just a heads up everyone, don’t crash and fracture your kneecap, it’s not worth it.
So, this week we’ve got some more gravel news because little by little I’m becoming a big gravel fanboy. There’s a new weekly gravel podcast from my buddy, Nathan Haas, plus, the Tour de France starts this week!
Until next week,
Joe
📖 Read
#TourdeFrance
It’s almost July, and that can only mean one thing, Le Tour de France. Yes, the Tour is back. The biggest annual sporting event in the world is back on our screens at the normal time of year, and I cannot wait. Some of my earliest cycling memories are rushing home after school to catch the final part of each stage. Check out the guide to this year’s Tour here. It’s set to be a cracker.
10-minute read
#womensracing #TourdeFrance
FINALLY! After many (many) years of campaigning, there’s going to be a women’s Tour de France. It was announced this week that Zwift is going to be sponsoring the inaugural event, starting from 2022. Are you excited already?
3 minute read
#criteriumracing #diversity
Cycling isn’t a very diverse sport. There are no two ways about that. But this Los Angeles Team, L39ION of Los Angeles, is trying to change that. This week, at Tulsa Tough, the L39ION team dominated. Made all the more poignant by the 100th anniversary of the Tula Race Massacre. This was more of a bike race.
7 minute read
#gravel
I’m Ian Boswell’s new biggest fan. The guy retired from road-racing in 2019 after a series of nasty concussions. He then set his sights on all things adventure. Riding is fun. Racing should be fun. I’m cheating a little here because this is a video and it isn’t in our usual video section. But I don’t care, everyone should watch his account of winning Unbound Gravel, and wait until the very end for a little surprise!
10 minute watch
#procycling #insight
I may be biased, but pro-cycling is one of the hardest, most grueling, and potentially life-threatening sports around. I mean, in what other sport does the race last for three weeks? You’d hope that would be rewarded on the financial side, right? (Me too). This article gives an insight into the pay structure in the pro-cycling world, it’s glamorous for some, but not for others…
7 minute read
#road #MTB
Tom Pidcock wants to race a Downhill MTB World Cup. Does it ever surprise me? No. I mean, fair enough. When you’re not content with dominating the road, cyclocross, or ‘normal’ MTB scene, go and find another. Best of luck to you, sir.
3 minute read
📱Tweet of the week
I know this tweet is a little old. It’s also golden, and it was doing the rounds again after rider Alexey Vermeulen was in the breakaway of US National Road Champs. Enjoy.
🎧 Listen
Nathan Haas is one of the most interesting characters in the men’s WorldTour and an all-around lovely guy. A few months ago, I was out training with him here in Girona, and he was telling me about his new gravel podcast. The first episode has now been released, and it’s great. Nathan sits down with Pete Stetina, one of the best gravel racers in the world. Nathan’s attitude towards gravel is infectious. Do not miss this podcast.
👀 Watch
Can you really get a good bike for £100? I’m spoilt as a pro-cyclist. My bike runs up to the five-figure mark, and most items of my kit are way above £100. I’ve always wondered if it’s all just good marketing. GCN, the undisputed king of ‘scientific’ tests, gave each presenter £100 to see what they could get.
20-minute watch