Cycling can be quite an unusual sport at times. Filippo Ganna and Joshua Tarling are teammates at INEOS Grenadiers but big rivals for the upcoming Olympic Games time-trial event. Both are big candidates for the gold medal, alongside Remco Evenepoel. However Ganna's own coach will be in Paris in supp...

A planning inspector with An Bord Pleanla submitted their report on Dart+ West to the planning authoritys board for a decision nearly 180 days ago, but the board still has yet to approve or reject the project.Irish Rail submitted the Railway Order, a type of planning permission, for the project just under two years ago on July 29, 2022. Different sources said it is felt that the board would rule on the issue soon but expressed frustration at the length of time the project has spent in the planning system.The main element of the project includes electrifying the Maynooth line and closing level crossings. It will allow the line to go from six trains per hour with a capacity of five thousand passengers to 12 trains per hour with a capacity of over 13,000 passengers. But Dart+ West is seen as a critical project for Dart expansion, especially given the inclusion of a large depot on the route. Additional orders of Dart carriages, beyond whats planned for the Northern Line expansion using hybrid battery/overhead electric trains, are on hold until the planning decision is made.Cllr Feljin Jose (Green Party), a Dublin City-based councillor and former chair of the Dublin Commuter Coalition, said An Bord Pleanla told him that the inspectors report was submitted to the board over 170 days ago.Cllr Jose said: The staffing issues at An Bord Pleanla are well documented, but weve seen very little improvement on the time it takes for large transport projects to be approved by An Bord Pleanla. Dart+ West has been with An Bord Pleanla for almost two years now, of which six months have been spent waiting for final approval of the planning inspectors report.He said: This is a major source of delay for projects like Dart+, MetroLink and BusConnects and wont improve until we see a massive increase in the size and resources available An Bord Pleanla.Mark Gleeson, a spokesperson for Rail Users Ireland,said: The big constraint [with Dart expansion] now is the lack of the new depot in Maynooth. Until that is done, there will be no more orders to expand the fleet, and Irish Rail is still awaiting the railway order. They could replace the existing 1984 fleet, but no more.Rail Users Ireland also recently raised concerns about An Bord Pleanlas 37-month approval process for a relatively straightforward level crossing removal project on the Cork-Dublin train line near Buttevant and Charleville. This raises concerns about the planning systems ability to deal with rail projects in a timely manner.A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanla said: The case to which you refer is in line to be decided by the Board. Whilst the Board does not have a specific date as to when this case will be decided, it will endeavour to determine the case in the shortest timeframe possible.The planning authority added: With various recruitment campaigns and the recent appointment of new board members, it is hoped that this will help mitigate the current backlog of cases.It also pointed to a statement on its website made in May, which said: An Bord Pleanla currently has a significant backlog of cases. It is currently working to substantively clear this backlog in 2024. An Bord Pleanla apologises for the consequent delays in determining cases within the normal statutory objective time periods.

In our latest glam-packing gear shakedown, Logan and Virginia review the Nemo Moonlite Elite, the brands most minimal camp chair and one of the newest and lightest options on the market. Find details on the Elite compared to both the original Moonlite and the venerable Helinox Chair Zero here, plus another look at the Elite in Neil's separate video review...The post Nemo Moonlite Elite Review appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Joshua Tarling was long known to be a huge talent, but has had a faster than expected rise within the professional ranks. In 2023 he signed with INEOS Grenadiers and began to race in the World Tour still as an 18-year old. He is still 20 but is going into the Olympic Games as a big favourite to win...

Soudal - Quick-Step has signed a batch of young riders into this season and has seen it's young sprinter Luke Lamperti take his first win in team colours today at the Czech Tour. The American rider was the fastest in the opening bunch sprint of the race and also takes on the leader's jersey.Stage 1...

As soon as Treks Fuel EXe mid-power trail eMTB was released last year, people started asking if they would add a motor to the longer travel Slash. Hearing their cries, Trek is now introducing the Slash+, which is basically the Gen 6 Slash with a mid-power motor.The Slash+s TQ HPR50 motor puts out 50Nm of torque, offers peak power of 300W, and importantly, gets its juice from TQs brand new, bigger 580Wh battery. Trek wanted the Slash+ to be an eMTB for people who like to bag as many rowdy descents as possible. I reviewed the 6th generation Slash last fall and was very impressed with its two-faced qualities of bump-gobbling capabilities yet great pedaling efficiency. With pedal assist, this bike should be an excellent self-shuttler for riders who love rough terrain.2025 Trek Slash+:The Slash+ will be offered with full OCLV Mountain Carbon frames only, offering 170mms of rear travel matched to 170mm forks. The Slash+s high pivot suspension linkage was tuned to mimic the ride youd get from the non-motorized Slash. Its rearward axle path maintains momentum through rough sections of trail, while the idler pulley controls chain growth and minimizes pedal kickback. The size of the pulley and its positioning ensure good pedaling efficiency and ideal anti-squat values.Favoring agility and rear tire clearance for this rowdy bike, Trek gave the Slash+ MX wheels on medium-XL frames. To give smaller riders a better fit, the small frames run 27.5 wheels front and rear. If youre wondering about going full niner on the larger frames, please note Trek does not intend for people to run 29 rear wheels in the Slash+.The Slash+ features an angle-adjust headset. The bike comes stock with neutral cups, but optional +/- 1 cups are available for aftermarket purchase. Trek has also included their leverage rate adjusting LESS/MORE flip-chip in the Slash+s lower shock mount. Bikes will ship in the LESS position, but the MORE setting is an ideal option for heavier-hitting riders or those running coil shocks.While the Slash+ cannot offer in-frame storage due to the battery, Trek added an accessory mount under the top tube for on-bike tools, etc.The Slash+ gets a new lower chain guide featuring a lower pulley guard that fully captures the chain, and an integrated bash guard to protect your chainring. The guard mounts directly to the frame and is height-adjustable. There is a top guide on the Slash+s upper idler pulley as well.Trek provides complete bike weights for the Slash+. They list the 9.7 model at 44.94 lbs and the 9.9 X0 AXS at 46.04 lbs. Both bikes have the same 580Wh battery, it just seems that the build kit on the 9.9 including X0 Eagle Transmission may be that much heavier than the Shimano XT/SLX build on the 9.7. Fitments and Protection:The Slash+ offers ample room for 150mm dropper posts on small frames, 170mm on mediums, and 200mm on L/XLs. The frame accepts 34.9mm posts.There is one water bottle mount on the down tube. The small frame can accommodate a 20oz water bottle, but the others all fit a full-sized bottle. The Slash+ frames feature internal cable routing and are SRAM UDH compatible. The rear axle spacing is Boost 148mm.The Slash+ gets the included rear fender introduced on the Gen 6 Slash, a chainstay guard, and a lower down tube guard. It also comes with Carbon Armour frame protection, which is a protective layer thats applied before the frame is painted.TQ Drive System:Trek says they did consider making the Slash+ a full-powered eMTB. However, ride testing both options proved the reduced weight of the mid-power motor actually makes the bike more agile, and thus faster on descents. Since this bike is all about charging downhills, Trek decided to optimize its ride for exactly that. The mid-class motors weight keeps the Slash+s handling and ride feel closer to an unassisted bike on descents.The Slash+s TQ HPR50 motor puts out 50Nm of torque with a natural assist feel. The motor offers 250W continuous power output, with 300W peak power. The TQ motor was specifically tuned for optimal performance with Treks high-pivot suspension linkage. The TQ HPR50 motor claims to run very quietly, qualifying as barely perceivable by Treks studies!Power is supplied by a new TQ 580Wh battery. As far as we know, the Slash+ is the first bike to use the larger battery which was just unveiled at Eurobike. The battery is removable via two hex bolts, and Trek ensures its easy to do with no cables in the way. When in the frame, the battery stays secure and rattle-free. While the new battery is not backward compatible with existing ebikes, the smaller 360Wh battery Trek used for the Fuel EXe is compatible with the Slash+ by adding an adapter cap. That battery can be run in the Slash+ to reduce weight.The Slash+ is also compatible with TQs Range Extender. This bottle-style battery adds an extra 160Wh of juice. To leave room for the down tube battery, the battery charge port is located on the underside of the top tube.A top tube display screen shows your key ride metrics and includes the bikes power button. TQs very compact handlebar remote controls your assist level enables Walk mode, and can turn connected lights on and off too.The Trek Central App allows for customization and control of the drive system.Geometry:*Please note, there are a few errors in the geometry charts above. Ive reached out to Trek to clarify the chainstay lengths for each frame size. Ill update this post ASAP.To put it simply, geometry for the Slash+ was kept nearly the same as the Slash. One thing that differs is the Slash+ does not come in a M/L frame size. Without that size, the medium frames reach has been altered to sit evenly between the other sizes. Reach numbers by size are as follows: Small = 430mm, medium = 448mm, large = 479mm, XL = 519mm (in neutral position).Shorter riders will be happy to hear the Slash+s top tube has been straightened out behind the head tube, and the size small frame has a lowered top tube for improved standover clearance.Trek offers size-specific chainstay lengths on the Slash+, with three different lengths across the four frame sizes.Please note there are minor variations created by adjusting the headset angles, so check out the above charts for all the exact angles and measurements.Head tube angles are a pretty slack 63.5 in the neutral position, and thats adjustable by +/- 1 with the optional headset cups. How slack will mountain bikes get? Well, this is the third bike Ive recently covered offering head tube angles slacker than 63! The Slash+s effective seat tube angles vary by frame size but hover around 77.Model Lineup:Just two models of the Slash+ will be offered. Some quick build notes: Trek specs 160mm cranks, 35mm stems, and 780mm handlebars on both models. The 9.9 X0 AXS model gets a Bontrager carbon handlebar and carbon wheels. For complete build specs visit Treks website.Slash+ 9.9 X0 AXS $11,999.99Key components: RockShox Zeb Ultimate fork and Vivid Ultimate rear shock. SRAM X0 AXS wireless drivetrain, including a Reverb AXS dropper post. SRAM Maven silver brakes. Bontrager Line Pro 30 carbon wheels with 2.5 Bontrager Team Issue SE6 front and SE5 rear tires.Frame color options are Black/Grey or Dark Grey/Copper.Slash+ 9.7 SLX/XT $7,999.99Key components: Fox Rhythm 38 fork and Performance Float X rear shock. Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain, E*Thirteen E-spec Plus cranks, Shimano M6120 4-piston brakes. Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels with 2.5 XR5 Team Issue tires.Frame color options are Dark Grey/Dull Green or Black/Red.Images C. Trek Bikes. Action and lifestyle photos by Sterling Lorence. Riders: Casey Brown and Ryan Howard. trekbikes.comThe post New Trek Slash+ Adds TQ Motor with Bigger Battery to Heavy-Hitting Enduro Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

Track cycling returns to the limelight at the Paris Olympics, with a week of competition from Monday 5 August to Sunday 11 August at the French Vlodrome National. Built in 2014, it sits on Rue Laurent Fignon in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to the west of Paris.With at least one gold medal up for grabs on every day of track cycling action and a total of 12 gold medals in all there will be plenty to enjoy from the Paris Olympics track cycling events.There are six different events in all, split into mens and womens races: the team pursuit, omnium, keirin, madison, sprint and team sprint.While track cycling aficionados follow the sport religiously, the beauty of the Olympics is that new and casual audiences can become fixated by the action too, largely thanks to round-the-clock TV coverage.So, if you're new to the sport or just need a track cycling refresher, heres a closer look at those six events and when they're taking place. Team pursuit track cycling explainedThe team pursuit offers spectacular racing. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)A long-standing Olympic favourite, the mens team pursuit will be raced at the Games for the 26th time. The womens event is a more recent addition, this being the fourth Games at which it will be contested.The team pursuit involves two teams of four cyclists, racing 16 laps (4,000m) of the track, starting on opposite sides and there are two ways to claim victory.The winner is the team that finishes the 16 laps fastest or the team that catches the other before the race is completed.Times are taken on the third cyclist to cross the line, with no need for the fourth rider in each team to finish.At the Olympic Games, the tournament is contested over three rounds. The qualifying round is a time trial, with only one team on track at a time. Only the top four teams can compete for the gold medal, with teams fifth and lower only able to reach the bronze final at best.In the next round, the fastest team takes on the fourth fastest, and the second and third ride against each other with the winner of each match-up progressing to the gold medal final.The bottom four teams are also seeded against each other, and the two fastest teams not to reach the gold-medal final contest the bronze-medal final.In the finals, there are the two medal finals, as well as a placings final to determine who finishes fifth and sixth, and seventh and eighth.Paris 2024 Team Pursuit datesWomens team pursuit: Qualifying (Tue 6 Aug), Heats (Wed 7 Aug), Finals (Wed 7 Aug)Mens team pursuit: Qualifying (Mon 5 Aug), Heats (Tue 6 Aug), Finals (Wed 7 Aug)Team sprint track cycling explainedThe team sprint is a fast-paced event. (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)The men's team sprint gold is currently held by the Netherlands, with Team GB taking silver in Tokyo.The high-octane event is about all-out speed, with the mens event incorporating teams of three riders over three laps, and the womens two over two.After an initial qualifying round to seed the teams, they then go head-to-head against each other for a place in the medal rounds.Each rider on the team must lead the way for one lap, before peeling off for the rider behind to take over.The final time is taken from when the final rider finishes.Teams start on opposite sides of the track, with the two fastest winners of the semi-finals progressing to the gold medal race, and the next two fastest winners in the bronze medal race.Paris 2024 team sprint datesWomens team sprint: Mon 5 AugMens team sprint: Qualifying (Mon 5 Aug), Heats (Tue 6 Aug), Finals (Tue 6 Aug)Omnium track cycling explainedFour different mass-start races make up the Omnium. (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)Possibly the most complicated of the six events, the omnium is a multiple-race event, which has undergone plenty of changes over its recent history.First introduced in 2012, this will be the fourth time the event has been raced at the Olympics.Previously a six-event race, three of the previous events were dropped and a new one added for the Tokyo Olympics and the same format will be kept in Paris.The four races of the omnium are:Scratch race mass start race over 40 laps for men and 30 for women, first to the finish winsTempo race raced over 40 laps for men and 30 for women. After the first five laps, the winner of each lap earns a point, and lapping the field earns 20 points. The winner of the race is the one with the most points after the set number of lapsElimination race every two laps, the last-placed cyclist is eliminatedPoints race 100 laps for men, 80 for women, with points earned for the top-five finishers at sprints every ten laps, and double points for the final sprint, as well as 20 points for lapping the fieldRiders score points according to their finishing places in the first three events (the points earned within the tempo race do not count overall), plus the points they earn in the final points race.Paris 2024 Omnium datesMens omnium: Thu 8 AugustWomens omnium: Sun 11 AugustKeirin track cycling explainedThe Keirin starts off with motor-paced laps although the dernys used are now electric. (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)The Keirin was born in Japan for gambling purposes shortly after the Second World War and is still very popular there. It became an official Olympic event in 2000, and the womens event was added in 2012.Keirin literally means racing cycle, and the event sees riders follow a pace motorcycle for three laps, before another three laps unpaced.The first round for both the men and women consists of five heats of six cyclists, with the top two in each heat progressing to the second round and the others going into the repechages.In the repechages four heats of five cyclists the top two in each heat join the riders already qualified to the second round, with everyone elses event over.The second round is the quarterfinals with three heats of six cyclists, the top four in each going through to the semifinals.It sets up two semifinals of six riders each, from which the top three advance to the medal final.The bottom three in each heat contest the seventh to 12th place ranking final, while the top three in each go wheel-to-wheel for the medals.Paris 2024 Keirin datesWomens keirin: First round heats and repechages (Wed 7 Aug), quarterfinals/semifinals/finals(Thu 8 Aug)Mens keirin: First round heats and repechages (Sat 10 Aug), quarterfinals/semifinals/finals (Sun 11 Aug)Sprint track cycling explainedSprints are about tactics, then an all-out race to the line. (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images) - PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty ImagesThe match sprint is possibly the most tactical of the six events, and a bit of a misnomer given that for much of the race the two riders on track are doing anything but sprinting.Initially, the competition does begin at high-speed with a flying start 200m time trial.The top 24 cyclists from qualifying are then seeded into 12 heats, from where the match sprints begin.The match sprints are highly tactical battles whereby the riders start side-by-side and race over three laps of the track.Much of the race is about trying to manoeuvre the other rider into a disadvantageous position before an extraordinary explosive burst of speed for the final 200m.At the Olympic Games, the 12 winners of the first round go straight to round two, and the 12 losers go into the repechages four heats, with three riders in each, from which the winners also move to round two.Round two pairs 16 cyclists into eight heats, with the eight winners advancing to the next round and the losers going into the second repechages (four heats of two riders in each).The 12 remaining riders contest six heats in the third round, with the six losers split into two heats into the repechages to form the quarterfinals.From there begins the best-two-of-three-matches for each match-up, and the event is now a straight knock-out through to the medal finals.Paris 2024 Sprint datesMens sprint: Wed 7 Aug Fri 9 AugWomens sprint: Fri 9 Aug Sun 11 AugMadison track cycling explainedThe handsling is a feature of the Madison, although just a touch will do. (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images) - PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty ImagesThe hand-slinging Madison race and the carnage of the tag-team points race over 200 laps is back for a second consecutive Olympics in Paris, after a hiatus from 2008. All 16 teams are on track at any one time, with one rider from each team in action and the other waiting to be tagged in.Teams score points by either lapping the field or winning sprints which occur every ten laps, with points doubled for the final sprint.To tag their team-mate in, they simply need to touch but very often handsling their opponent into the bunch so no momentum is lost by the changeover.Paris 2024 Madison datesWomens Madison: Fri 9 AugMens Madison: Sat 10 Aug

A step up in practicality from the original small-wheeled MiRiders with more off-road capability too 8/10

CyclistI still believe this team can get back there: Geraint Thomas profileGeraint Thomass professional career started in 2007, just four years after helmet-wearing was made mandatory. Nearly two decades on, with the 2024 Grand Tour season underway, its testament to his longevity that hes still seen as a podium contender in every race he starts.Resilience, durability, strength of character these are the traits that are now associated with him. When it comes to commitment to the Ineos Grenadiers cause, theres no doubting Thomas. Right now though, hes warming to his theme of those pesky kidsI dont want to sound like this old guy thats berating the younger guys all the time, the 2018 Tour de France winner says as he relaxes one evening midway through the Tour of the Alps and before the start of the Giro dItalia, where hell go on to finish third, but I just feel like riders turning pro straight out of the juniors, or whove done one year [as a pro], they still need more of an apprenticeship.Theyre super athletes, theyve got super talent, they do all these watts bravo! he says sardonically of the endless stream of young talents now buzzing around at the front of the bunch. But they dont necessarily understand how to race, in the peloton, close to each other at those speeds. That adds a bit more of an element of danger to it all.Danger has been a buzzword again in pro cycling this spring, less than a year after Gino Mders death in June 2023 prompted much soul-searching over the extreme risks taken almost every day by the peloton. A flurry of bad crashes in April, including a horrific wipe-out in the Tour of the Basque Country that took down Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, Primo Rogli and Jay Vine among others, have again rung alarm bells.Thomas, unlike some, is keen not to point the finger of blame, emphasising that there is a collective need for everyone riders, organisers, officials to take responsibility to do more to protect the peloton.Its frustrating. Look at other sports safety aspects F1 or whatever, he says. Youre on closed circuits and its a lot more controlled. This sport is just totally different.After the Basque Country catastrophe, almost everyone with a smartphone weighed in on what needed to change. A chicane was hastily added to the approach to the Arenberg, the most dangerous section of cobbles at Paris-Roubaix. Some blamed the behaviour of rivals, while others lambasted SafeR, the UCIs own safety initiative. Thomas chooses his words carefully.Everyones talking about safety now, because big-name riders have crashed, but it has been happening for years.Actions not wordsOne of those who did point fingers was UCI president David Lappartient, who stated that 50 per cent of the crashes are down to what he called the attitude of the riders. Thomas was not impressed, even if he accepts that some riders do take too many risks.I think Lappartient needs to focus more on the 50 per cent that he can affect, then, Thomas said at the time. I agree with what he says but it just doesnt make sense to me even saying it. That means 50 per cent is still down to him and organisers to do everything they can.Thomas knows the stakes are getting higher and the expectations of riders are forever increasing. Meanwhile, safety measures have failed to keep pace with gains in technology and performance.Nutrition, training, equipment he says, were just going faster. Everyone is so keen and wants to get a result. Its a vicious circle. Then theres road furniture; roads are busier these days so theres traffic-calming, kerbs sticking out, all that kind of stuff. That adds an element of danger as well.He admits that if he pauses to think during a race, it scares him.If I thought about it, Id be at the back of the peloton. You wouldnt be racing you couldnt do it.So much could be done, not just from an organisers point of view but from a rider point of view. We all know when youre younger youre a bit more carefree. When you get a bit older you realise its just not worth it.Asked if becoming a father in 2019 had an impact on his mentality, he ponders the question, then says, Maybe a bit. You realise theres a time and a place. If youre on for winning Milan-San Remo, say, youll take a couple of extra risks coming down the Poggio. I still wouldnt be as much on the limit as Matej Mohori was when he was almost on the deck twice going down there. Im past that now.At least on that race everyone knows the descent. But on a race like this in the Alps, 90 per cent of the guys wont know the roads. Youre going down these descents, flying down them. I was talking to Adam Hansen [president of the CPA riders union] and we were saying that if this was a new sport, theres no way it would be allowed. But just because of the tradition and the, Oh, its always been this way well, its not an excuse anymore, is it?Two days after we speak, Chris Harper of Jayco-AlUla crashes on a fast downhill and slides, sickeningly, head-first into the base of a lamppost. The Australian lay motionless but then thankfully sat up after being tended to by horrified spectators. Harper suffered only superficial injuries and a concussion. It was another lucky escape. Related Posts Opinion: How to fix the Tour de France Paris 2024 Olympics Cycling: Events, schedule, TV guide and everything you need to know The 21 best photos from the Tour de France 2024 Everything leads towards the Olympics: Josh Tarling Q&A Lone voice, team playerAs he edges into his late thirties, Thomas has become more opinionated and provocative than when he was racing in the tightly controlled, highly scrutinised hothouse of Team Sky. Ironically, in the time since his team sponsor morphed from broadcasting mogul to petrochemical giant, his own media profile has grown. His forays into creating content for his podcasts and headlining in his off-season stage shows have all made him seem that bit more comfortable in the public eye.Thomas makes joshing references to the latest crop of little bastards, as he refers (affectionately) to the likes of Evenepoel, coming through all around him. But there are also those he regards with disdain, such as Nairo Quintana, now making yet another comeback at Movistar after some difficulties with the anti-doping authorities.This spring, Thomas and his teammate Luke Rowe hastily edited out some disparaging comments about the Colombians ethics after their jibes in a podcast went down very badly with Quintanas hordes of fans. Given his teammate Egan Bernals nationality, it was a rare misstep for Thomas, who has handled himself well throughout much of his career.But then Ineos Sport is a far broader church than Team Sky and Thomas knows it: Its pretty cool to be in the same circles as F1 racing, Manchester United, [Americas Cup] sailing, he says, before adding, You can take bits from everything. I think thats something to capitalise on.He realises too that professional cyclings brutal nature makes it one of the most demanding of sporting environments. Its one of the sports that is the most professional, he says. I think cycling has been ahead of most sports really. Obviously its all about being physically as fit as you can be, so all those cornerstones of the sport you have to manage them well and have a really scientific approach.A lot of those principles you can take with you elsewhere, he adds, especially guys like Dave [Brailsford] and Rod [Ellingworth]. They love cycling but at the same time theyre so hungry. Guys like that need a challenge the whole time.Of course, Thomas is the last man standing of The Team that Dave and Rod Built back in the early noughties with Lottery funding, a competitive academy programme and a fierce ambition to make cycling a mainstream British sport. His most longstanding mentor, Ellingworth, left Ineos Grenadiers suddenly at the end of last season, a dramatic departure that Thomas described as gutting and surprising. Ellingworth took up a role as race director at the Tour of Britain in March this year, but he and Thomas stay in touch.He sends me the odd message. Were still in contact, Thomas says. I was disappointed to see him go, but I get the reasoning.Dave thats Brailsford of course is still working with Thomas as head of Ineos Sport, but has a more distant relationship with the cycling team now that he is immersed in the rejuvenation of Manchester United.I get the impression Dave still massively misses the team, Thomas says. Its his baby really he started it. Hes still really passionate about the sport and still massively involved. He gives me a ring every now and then, but just has a lot of other things going on.Thomas maintains that Brailsfords distance does not mean that the teams Grand Tour ambitions have dimmed. Another Tour de France win, he says, is top of team owner Jim Ratcliffes objectives.Jim really wants to win the Tour. Fair play that is the ultimate and thats what were trying to do. In my opinion the whole team can develop and move forward in other ways, and then build towards that again. It might take a couple of years but I still believe this team can get back there.So Ratcliffes interest is all about winning the Tour again with the team formerly known as Sky?Not necessarily with Jim, but it filters down and you hear talk of the Tour a lot from senior management. But with Jim hes not buying Man United just to qualify for Europe. He wants to win. Thats sport in general.Reliving the GiroFew who watched the final time-trial at Monte Lussari in last years Giro dItalia, in which Thomas was overhauled by Rogli, will forget the experience. The Welshman certainly hasnt, even though he has tried.It was hard, he admits of that afternoons reversal of fortune. You lead the Giro for half the race and then you lose by 14 seconds on the final day. Its a tough one. But then as [sports psychologist] Steve Peters would always say, Lifes not fair. Get on with it.It was a stage in which time appeared to stand still. Thomas made a bike change so unhurried that it almost took place in slow motion. An inspired Rogli, buoyed by a sea of Slovenians, sped upwards into the race lead. His Welsh rival, legs leaden with fatigue, churned helplessly towards an inevitable defeat.It was a tough and challenging moment, but for me it wasnt like I had a bad day or did anything drastically wrong, Thomas says. Rogli had a flyer and he deserved to win it. Its not like I lost it he won it.Thomas has ridden 21 Grand Tours in his long career. There have been other near misses, including five podium finishes in the past six years. The hardest to take, perhaps, was his runners-up spot in Paris in 2019, behind teammate Bernal. It was a result achieved despite a winter spent socialising following his Tour win in 2018.But regardless of his mixed fortunes in this seasons Grand Tours Thomas followed his podium finish at the Giro with a finish outside the top 40 in his 13th Tour appearance it would be foolish to dismiss his chances. He is wise and wily, canny and cunning, a great observer of racing with an eye for opportunity.Both the Giro and Tour, of course, were won in dominant fashion by Tadej Pogaar. Does Thomas see any weaknesses in the all-conquering Slovenian?Hes a racer and he just loves winning, but he can be a bit too keen at times and expend a bit too much energy.Pogaar, he adds, is getting older and wiser too, though.Im sure hes learned from some of his mistakes, Thomas says. When Tadej retires hes going to be one of the greatest of all time. Its a big challenge but its one were relishing.The best of Geraint ThomasRoad racing highlights of the first Welshman to win the Tour2007Signs for Barloworld and rides his first Tour de France, completing the race and finishing 140th overall2010Joins Team Sky and takes his debut pro win in a time-trial at the Tour of Qatar. Wins the UK National Road Race2014Takes the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games Road Race2015A strong spring Classics campaign is headlined by victory at E3 Harelbeke and third at Gent-Wevelgem2017Takes a first Grand Tour stage win and the yellow jersey in the Tours opening prologue in Dsseldorf2018Follows GC victory at the Critrium du Dauphin with two stage wins and the overall at the Tour de France2019Finishes second by 1min 11sec to teammate Egan Bernal in his Tour defence2022Wins the Tour de Suisse on the way to a podium finish at the Tour de France2023Loses out to Primo Rogli at the Giro by just 14 seconds after leading for much of the race2024Finishes third overall at the Giro dItalia, not dropping out of the podium places on GC from Stage 2 onwardsGeraint Thomas onDave Brailsford and Manchester UnitedIt is kind of strange when you see him on Sky Sports sat next to Sir Alex Ferguson or someone, but he loves it he loves a big challenge. He goes all in.One final OlympicsId love to do one more Olympics but I dont want to go and just get a tracksuit. I want to be good enough to be in with a shout of a medal. Ive got four tracksuits already I dont need another one.Riding both the Giro and the TourI wanted to go back to the Giro obviously, after last year. I really enjoy that race and obviously the Tour is the Tour. In the back of my mind Id always thought, Sod it, why dont I just try and do both? Related Posts Opinion: How to fix the Tour de France Paris 2024 Olympics Cycling: Events, schedule, TV guide and everything you need to know The 21 best photos from the Tour de France 2024 Everything leads towards the Olympics: Josh Tarling Q&A The post I still believe this team can get back there: Geraint Thomas profile appeared first on Cyclist.

Matteo Trentin has taken his first victory for Tudor Pro Cycling. After showing great form at the Tour de Wallonie, the Italian classics specialist was the fastest today in the sprint of a hilly day, taking over the race lead as well in stage 4.The fourth day of the race proved to be another diffic...