Remco Evenepoel is coming off the back of making history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, becoming the first man ever to win gold in both the time trial and the road race. On the other hand, Tadej Pogacar is having probably the best individual seasons in recent memory, winning the Giro d'Italia and...

CyclistEvery Olympic track cycling event explainedThe Paris 2024 Olympic Games are well and truly underway. After the excitement of the road cycling, BMX and mountain biking, track cycling will dominate the cycling schedule for the next week.Track cycling at the Olympics offers a 12-event long programme that will take place from 5th August until 11th August 2024 at the Vlodrome National. In total, 34 countries have qualified to win track gold at Paris 2024. This year, there will be an individual sprint, keirin and omnium events. For teams, there is the team pursuit, team sprint and madison races.The velodrome events feature some unique rules and odd dynamics. In order to brush up on your armchair knowledge of the track events, Cyclist dives into the dusty cycling rule book to explain how all 12 events work.KeirinPhoto by Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesOriginally from Japan, the keirin is one of track cyclings purest events. Up to six riders take part in the keirin race, with races spread out over a tournament tree qualifier round.To begin, a motorbike pacer known as a derny will tow the group of six riders for three laps (750m). The derny will start pacing at 30kmh before slowly increasing the speed up to 50kmh in the introductory laps. During this time, the riders will follow the derny in a line until the driver turns off the track with three laps (750m) to go. Riders are randomly allocated their position behind the derny before the race.Once the derny pulls off the track, the racing can begin. Riders will then race all-out for the remainder of the race. The standings are dictated by the first rider across the line after six laps in total including the time spent behind the derny. Key keirin informationReigning Olympic champion: Jason Kenny (Great Britain), Shanne Braspennincx (Netherlands)Reigning world champion: Kevin Quintero (Colombia), Ellesse Andrews (New Zealand)Gold medal race in Paris 2024: Sunday 11th AugustOne line summary: The one with the motorbike Related Posts The best photos from the mens Olympic Road Race Paris 2024 The best photos from the womens Olympic Road Race Paris 2024 Who are the British cyclists competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics? Paris 2024 Olympics Cycling: Events, schedule, TV guide and everything you need to know SprintTim de Waele/Getty ImagesThe sprint has taken place at the Olympics since 1904, making it one of the oldest events at the Olympic Games.In order to filter through the 32 competitors in the individual sprint event, a 200m timed sprint takes place to rank the riders. From here, the riders will be seeded into head-to-head matches depending on where they finished in this qualifying time-trial also known as a flying lap.At Paris 2024, the matches will begin in the 1/32 finals. For this, riders begin side-by-side from a standing-start. The total length of the race is three laps (750m), with the final 200m timed for ranking purposes. The first rider across the finishing line of each match will progress into the next round, taking the riders all the way to the final in a tournament tree format.The race is very tactical. Sprinters follow a cat-and-mouse style where they look at each other, often taking the speed down to single figures. It is usually more desirable to be in second-place coming into the final lap due to aerodynamic gains. However, there are strict rules enforced surrounding sprinting lines. Once a rider begins their sprint, they must remain under certain lines marked on the track. It is also illegal to undertake in the sprint.Key sprint informationReigning Olympic champion: Harrie Levreysen (Netherlands), Kelsey Mitchell (Canada)Reigning world champion: Harrie Levreysen (Netherlands), Emma Finucane (Great Britain)Gold medal race in Paris 2024: Friday 9th August (men), Thursday 8th August (women)One line summary: The cat and mouse oneOmniumPETER PARKS/AFP via Getty ImagesThe omnium is track cylings all-round event. Think of it as cyclings decathlon. The omnium takes place over two days and spans four events: a scratch race, tempo race, elimination and points race. At Paris 2024, 15 riders will compete in the omnium events. In order to climb up the standings, riders will need to earn points from their finishing position in each race (bar the points race, which has a different points scoring system). These points are dictated by finishing position instead of time like the Tour de Frances general classification and Athletics decathlon.Scratch opens proceedings. This is a a simple 10km race. Its all about reaching the finishing line first, there are no timings or nuances to the rules. Afterwards, a tempo race will be tackled at the end of the first day. In this event, riders earn points if they lead the race at the tempo marker every five laps. The rider with the most amount of points wins the round.To start day two, the riders return to the track for the elimination race. This round will see athletes fight for their place in the peloton as the last rider will face elimination at the end of every two laps. The rider in last place over the finishing line will then be asked to leave the track. This process will continue until one rider is left.The omnium rounds out with the points race. This entails a 40km long race where points are contested through sprints every ten laps (2.5km). These points are accumulated throughout the race at each of these sprints, offering 5, 3, 2 and 1 points for the first five riders across the intermediate sprints. The points race sees some of track cyclings most road-like tactics. There are breakaways, relays and team dynamics that play into this event. To add to the intrigue, the points won in the points race are directly added to the final rankings.Key omnium informationReigning Olympic champion: Matt Walls (Great Britain), Jennifer Valente (USA)Reigning world champion: Iri Leito (Portugal), Jennifer Valente (USA)Gold medal race in Paris 2024: Wednesday 7th August -Thursday 8th August (men), Saturday 10th-Sunday 11th August (women)One line summary: The cycling decathlonTeam sprintarcel ter Bals/DeFodi ImagesThe team sprint is the first of the team events at the velodrome. Its a relentless three lap (750m) dash to the line that requires riders to stay with their team-mates and lead them out to the finishing line.Men and women both start with three riders. Together they ride in a three-man line with one rider peeling off at the end of each lap. For the final lap, one rider is left to sprint to the line. This event can be timed or raced head-to-head with another team. For this, the competing teams start from opposite sides of the track.The womens team sprint has already concluded. Great Britain took the gold medal ahead of New Zealand and Germany. The mens team sprint has also already had its qualifying round at the Vlodrome National in Paris.Key team sprint informationReigning Olympic champion: The Netherlands (men), Germany (women)Reigning world champion: The Netherlands (men), China (women)Gold medal race in Paris 2024: Tuesday 6th August (men), Monday 5th August (women)One line summary: The sprint lead-outTeam pursuitThomas SAMSON / AFPThe team pursuit is the most-prized team event. The world record for this 4km-long time trial is tightly contested at the moment, and should be closely watched at Paris 2024.The event is like a mini team time-trial. Four riders roll around the velodrome in a line, with riders taking turns on the front. Pursuit changes often see riders swinging up the steep banking of the track before diving down back into the slipstream of their teammates.Each team of four riders must pass through a qualification round before being matched up with an opposing team in the knock-out rounds. Like in team sprint, these teams begin from opposite sides of the velodrome. The clock stops when the third rider from a team crosses the finishing line.Recently, there has been a fierce rivalry between Italy and Denmark in the mens event. For the women, Great Britain have high hopes of scoring another Olympic title after winning in Tokyo three years ago.Key team pursuit informationReigning Olympic champion: Italy (men), Great Britain (women)Reigning world champion: Denmark (men), Great Britain (women)Gold medal race in Paris 2024: Wednesday 7th August (men and women)One line summary: The track team time-trialMadisonTim de Waele/Getty ImagesThe madison is by far and away the trickiest track cycling event to wrap your head around. Interestingly though, the name of the event stems from Madison Square Garden in New York where the race first originated. It is also the newest event to be added to the Olympic track programme.Madison is cyclings two-man relay event. Men tackle a course of 50km, and women ride 30km. It usually lasts around one hour.Teams start with two riders. Only one rider is allowed to race at any given time. The other rider will often be seen waiting around the upper section of the track while their teammate races. To pass the metaphorical baton, teammates will perform an arm sling to help propel the other. From then, the role of the racing rider changes. These changes can happen at any time during the race. The racing rider is the only competitor from a team who can score points. Similarly, only laps ridden by the racing rider will count towards the teams race.A madison race is decided by points. Like in the points race, there are sprints every ten laps. There, points are given to the first four teams across the line. Points can also be scored for gaining a lap on your competitors.Key madison informationReigning Olympic champion: Denmark (men), Great Britain (women)Reigning world champion: The Netherlands (men), Great Britain (women)Gold medal race in Paris 2024: Saturday 10th August (men), Friday 9th August (women)One line summary: The one with the hand slings Related Posts The best photos from the mens Olympic Road Race Paris 2024 The best photos from the womens Olympic Road Race Paris 2024 Who are the British cyclists competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics? Paris 2024 Olympics Cycling: Events, schedule, TV guide and everything you need to know The post Every Olympic track cycling event explained appeared first on Cyclist.

Jack Carlin, Hamish Turnbull and Ed Lowe win silver after monster Dutch display

CyclistLifeplus-Wahoo womens team to fold at the end of 2024British Continental team Lifeplus-Wahoo the longest running UCI womens squad in Britain will fold at the end of the season, citing an inability to sell naming rights.In a statement, team managers Bob and Tom Varney said, Despite securing a full stable of premium product partners for 2025, we have been unable to sell the naming rights for a figure commensurate with the budget required for a UCI ProTeam licence application. A second division in womens cycling, the ProTour,is being introduced from next year, with minimum salaries a requirement.Our aim has always been to progress to ProTeam level and ultimately become a WorldTour team. With uncertainty surrounding the viability of the project at Continental level, we no longer have the appetite to struggle to deliver our professional vision on a minimum budget at this largely unregulated level.Lifeplus-WahooLifeplus-Wahoo was founded in 2015 and has been a home for riders such as Joss Lowden, who set the womens Hour record in September 2021, and has helped many riders to the WorldTour including Ella Wyllie to Jayco-AlUla in 2024.The team have faced sponsor issues in the past, previously turning to crowdfunding before the 2019 season after a title sponsor pulled out. A sponsor also backed out just prior to the 2023 season, leaving a budget shortage of around 400,000, meaning riders were told to look for other deals. Holistic wellness brand Lifeplus then joined as lead co-sponsor for 2023 and 2024.Recently, the squad experienced a theft of all 14 Ribble Endurance SLR bikes from their mechanics van after Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain Women. Other teams came to their aid with spare bikes for Stage 2 before replacements could be sent by Ribble.This now leaves only five British UCI Continental womens teams: Alba Development Road Team; DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK; Dolticini-OShea; Hess Cycling Team; and Pro-Noctis-200 Coffee-Hargreaves Contracting. Related Posts The best photos from the Tour of Britain Women 2024 Behind the scenes with Le Col-Wahoo at the Womens Tour Tour de France Femmes 2024: Route, how to watch and all you need to know The post Lifeplus-Wahoo womens team to fold at the end of 2024 appeared first on Cyclist.

The leading general classification rider in the women's peloton, Demi Vollering finally got her hands on the Maillot Jaune of the Tour de France Femmes in 2023. In just a few days (race starts August 12th ed.), her title defence will begin at the 2024 edition.Whilst in past years, Vollering's Team...

Energise E-bikes says it will not work on DIY e-bikes, or any e-bike that has been modified or tampered with

Ben Healy and Ryan Muilen won universal praise for their performances in the Olympic mens road race in Paris on Saturday. Well, near universal praise. Paul Kimmage the former pro rider turned journalist certainly had reservations about the way Healy rode. When the 23-year said after the race he had played his cards []The post Does Paul Kimmage have a point about the Irish mens tactics at the Olympics? appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

Promising British trio show future is bright at Paris Olympics

Return to racing for the first time since the Criterium du Dauphine, Sepp Kuss was supposed to be finding his form ahead of the quickly approaching defence of his Vuelta a Espana defence at the 2024 Vuelta a Burgos. Two stages down though, and it's two crashes for the American.Sepp Kuss and Cian U...

Comments & Analysis: / long read Arecent council meetingwhere the Suir Road and Davitt Road junction project was discussed indicated that significant misinformation about the project was reaching councillors. A lot of it can be explained by the points in a petition that includes a load of contradictory claims and aspirations.Lets also be honest: As with many areas in Dublin, which are seeing more housing built around them, some people in Drimnagh dont want change and will try to stop any changes, including the much-needed safety changes at this junction. This junction upgrade is an important project not just for the safety and accessibility of Drimnagh but also for the surrounding areas and those passing through the area, including accessing the Luas.The project is hardly flawless IrishCycle.com has already covered how it could be much better for pedestrians and cyclists. However, opposition based on misinformation around the consultation (which ends this Friday) does not help achieve better outcomes for the community. As covered in more detail in a previous article, the proposed solution (image below, left) would include needless shared space between people walking and cycling, narrow and strange twists and turns in the cycle tracks, and designs that would require ineffective traffic light sequences. These issues can be addressed (see image below, right).So, what are the claims being made in the petition posted by Dynamic Drimnagh, a community group, and whats wrong with the claims? Lets have a look:Claim This proposed design is a health and safety issue for our community and needs amendment.While I strongly agree that the project needs improvements, it is an outrageous stretch of the English language to phrase disapproval of the project like this without any hint that the status quo of the junction is a far greater threat to the communitys health and safety than whats proposed.Claim: Focus on cycle paths with no information on pedestrian improvementsThe petition claims: The information booklet mainly focuses on cycleway improvements and there is little or no information on the proposed improvements for pedestrians and that There is no clarity on improved safety for pedestrians crossing the road.Reality: The claim does not hold water. Pedestrians were mentioned as much or more in the Information Leaflet No. 3 June 2024 sent out by Dublin City Council and on the consultation page.It might still be of benefit to mention that pedestrian improvements include:A signalised crossing over Dolphin Rd where there currently is none.A new raised crossing over Grand Canal View, which is safer.The unbundling of Slievenamon Rd from the main junction reduces its size.The reduction in the distance which pedestrians need to cross reduces the area where pedestrians are vulnerable to being hit.The reduction is wide sweeping corners which increases risk to pedestrians.Cycle paths and the planned greenery offer a buffer for pedestrians from the traffic on the roadway.But councillors were given this kind of information in a presentation and, directly afterwards, some still tried to claim cyclists were mentioned more. The video and transcript of such proves this is not the case. The only way in which the cycling improvements are more apparent is if people are looking at the cycle lanes in red on the artists impressions and not thinking about how bad the junction is now for pedestrians compared to whats planned.Claim: Slievenamon Road as it has been the Gateway to Drimnagh since 1938.The below image is an extract from the final edition of the historic Tailte ireann (formerly Ordnance Survey Ireland) maps, which date from the 1910s to the 1950s. The map shows a disused clay pit and apparently active refuse tip (a dump) at the end of Slievenamon Road:If we say it was like that in 1938 and it should stay that way, should everything about the area revert to the 1930s? Is Drimnagh today and in the 30s really comparable? There wasnt the same number of cars or people in the city or the area.Claim: The current 123 route along Slievenamon Road should have a bus-priority traffic light and A Busgate on a small stretch of road will not work and used illegally.There will be a bus-priority traffic light as part of a bus gate (bus only) on the north end of Slievenamon Road.The idea of something like a bus priority light beside a northbound general traffic lane on the new T-junctions at the northern end of Slievenamon Road would make it a three-lane arrangement (bus lane northbound and general traffic lanes in both directions), and it would require the new T-junction to be fully signalised. That would make the issues around traffic congestion worse when its said to be one of the main complaints about the project.Of course, enforcement is always an issue in the long run, there will be camera enforcement available. This isnt an answer many council officials will give, but in the short term, these kinds of measures are far more self-enforcing than you might think. The arrangement doesnt have to be perfect, just good enough to allow for the other changes and keep buses moving.Claim: This will increase vehicles into Drimnagh and not remove 1,000 cars off Slievenamon Road.Theres nothing to support this claim. These types of projects make alternatives to driving, including walking, cycling, and public transport (Luas at the junction and access to it), safer and more attractive. The big winners here will be residents lower traffic for the local area, safer and better access to the Luas, safer walking and cycling access towards Kilmainham, Phoenix Park and the city centre/St James hospital campus etc, and priority for buses.Claim: Slievenamon Road is not a Rat-Run, however, it is one of the main entrances into Drimnagh.If people on the other side of Drimnagh or beyond are using Slievenamon Road to get there rather than using the main roads around Drimnagh, then it falls under the dictionary definition of what a rat run is: asmallroadthat is used by a lot ofdriverswho aretryingtoavoidtrafficonlargerroadsEstates like Drimnagh were never built for the level of traffic and car parking which is currently on-going. The project makes sense to give public transport priority at one of the many entrances to Drimnagh. For balance, the restrictions on cars will only be in one direction.Claim: There will be increased congestion on Davitt Road and Dolphin Road.In the very same vein, it can be said that in a growing city, if Dublin City Council does nothing, there will be increased congestion on Davitt Road and Dolphin Road.What price do we put on the safety and accessibility of people outside cars? Does the number of cars in a growing city keep growing without making the alternatives safer and more attractive? Claim: I support a boardwalk for cyclists on the outside of Suir Bridge to Suir RoadThis is outside the scope of the project which only includes the roadway and grass verges around it. Claim: No consideration has been given to the residents of Drimnagh inhaling exhaust fumes.This is a classic response, claiming that measures to improve sustainable transport will increase emissions when the body of evidence suggests the opposite. Claim: The cycle-lane does not extend onto Davitt Road creating risks for cyclists.Davitt Road which is a regional road, the R812 does not have enough space for a cycle lane even in one direction. It is mostly around 6-7 metres wide, and the traffic lanes on this type of road need to be kept to around 3 metres each. The solution for cycling on Davitt Road will be to upgrade one or both of the towpaths north of the Luas tracks. Not every project can include every bit of road, and junctions are key to safety for both walking and cycling.Suggestion: Upgrade Slievenamon Green but do not extend this green across Slievenamon Road.Put alongside the other claims and suggestions, its also an idea that the safety and access improvements can be provided without affecting anything, including the junction or traffic, in any way.The reality is that this would greatly lengthen the traffic light sequences and mess up the function of the redesigned junction in terms of capacity for all road user types and the ability to provide space for both active travel and greenery.Question: What improvements are there for those with mobility, visual or audible challenges? What consideration has been given to people with additional needs?The list of proposed improvements listed above- including a signalised crossing over Dolphin Rd where there currently is none and a newly raised crossing over Grand Canal View- are clear general improvements that will also help people with disabilities.The general opposition drowns out the opportunity to improve things, including removing the spaces in the proposals that mix people walking and cycling.Claim: This design does not go far enough to improve road safety for cyclists, particularly along Davitt Road where the road will be narrowed further and cyclists will share this narrow space with HGVs, Ambulances, Fire Brigades, Coaches, Commercial Vans, Cars, and Motorcyclists.See above for the issue of Davitt Road. But its worth also looking at the inclusion of this line on the petition pagein one breath, the petition says none of the changes that affect motorists can happen, then it implies cycle lanes are being looked at but nothing for pedestrians (which is untrue), and finally, the petition page says the project is not good enough for cycling. In all of my time covering these types of projects, Ive never seen a more confused petition page.Claim: Commercial drivers living in Drimnagh and Inchicore have a right to work. Whilst, we all agree there should be improved public transport, not everyone is facilitated and require to drive to work. Public transport is not always safe and further commitment is needed to improve the safety of all public transportation.Commercial drivers living in Drimnagh will still be able to drive to work. There will be nothing stopping them from doing so. The Drimnagh estate has a large number of alternative exits, and safety improvements are needed.You can say that you (1) agree with improved public transport while also (2) objecting to public transport improvements. But both of these things cannot be true. Especially not when viable alternatives are not being put forward.Claim: As Ireland reduces its carbon emissions to improve climate change, there must be a transition period to achieve such a plan. Slowing cars are junctions not only causes congestion and driver aggression, it also increases fuel emissions.Ireland is behind in its climate targets. This is the transition period, and the changes to streets to be more climate-friendly or be in line with climate action in Dublin are moving at a much slower pace than in other international cities.The design balances junction capacity and improving the safety and attractiveness of sustainable transport modes. Some of the suggestions within the petition would increase congestion and emissions compared to whats planned.The main cause of congestion in Dublin is too many people driving because the alternatives are unsafe or unattractive. Often, when walking and cycling are planned to be improved, it is claimed that public transport will suffer; this project also includes public transport priority, and the voices against it are just as loud. Theres a lot of wanting your cake and eating it going on with this project.The consultation ends this Friday, August 9th.