The British riders have been staying in a hotel near Versailles, 10 miles outside of Paris

It might not be the medal Dan Bigham had hoped for, but even silver around his neck is nothing to be ashamed of at the Olympic Games. It's a certainly a big success for the Brit who could have completely missed the race due to a training crash just week earlier.There was a moment last Friday when th...

A short while back Canyon announced a partnership with basketball ace LeBron James, but whats it all about?

On April 4th, 2024, an horrific crash in the Basque Country threatened to ruin the years cycling season. Both Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel suffered injuries that threatened to ruin their seasons, but both riders have come back to enjoy a strong summer. The question is, which rider has rebou...

Its Friday, the Olympics are drawing to a close, but the action is still fast and frenetic in both the velodrome and the live blog, where Ryan Mallon will be keeping you updated with all the latest cycling news and views before the weekend

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe is having a tough decision to make in the next few days. Primoz Roglic is a three-time winner of the Vuelta a Espaa and he could potentially return even as a very big candidate for victory, but he may not because of his health. The most recent update is not the best for...

Simple pair of bib shorts with a classic design that are comfy for short and long rides 8/10

Team Visma | Lease a Bike have revealed their lineup for the Clsica San Sebastin and it features a relative surprise. Jonas Vingegaard is back to racing in the Basque classic and will automatically be one of the favourites for the final victory.The Dane had initially said to be planning on racing...

Come on, be honest, are you guilty of laughing at other riders who turn up in cobbled-together, mismatched kit? Casting a smug look down at your aero Rapha jersey, your sleek ASSOS bibs or your emblazoned club kit. If thats the case, youve landed on the right article.Think back to that new kid who turned up to your social ride, wanted to join your club, or just slipped in ahead of you at a gran fondo? The hairy legged one, with a washed-out, ill-fitting jersey, worn-out shoes, and wonky helmet. You know the one. That one you sniggered at.The new one. The clueless one.An old helmet, the too-short socks, the cringe-worthy jersey. Oh, man, dont they realise how they look? Its a bit of an ego boost; that dawning realisation subconscious, and almost never expressed aloud that youre a step above, in another league. Bathe in your superiority, indulge in complacency; youll show em, wont you?The ride starts easy and Im in good shape, motivated to form the first break after 15 km. Paceline. The break. Up the road. Six of my buddies join me, an in-sync, well-oiled chaingang. Running on endorphins, adrenaline, and then the arrival of lactic acid. It feels great when you feel great, when youre able to push hard and demonstrate just whos the hammer, and whos the nail.But then you reach the climb. Your beautiful formation disintegrates at the same rate as the climb ramps up. My enthusiasm dwindles after the first kilometre of the climb, and despite being so stylishly kitted out, Im no longer in control of my legs. To make matters worse, theres the paralyzing fear of being caught by the newbie. Fuck. Legs, pedal dammit! Fortunately I make it to the top, hunched and sweating ignobly. Brief pause. Drink something. And then, suddenly, hes next to me, the newbie.Hes sweating too, but smiling. Nice one! he comments cheerfully, that was some speed that you guys rode away with! Its impressive gives me a goal to work towards.His openness and genuine, brazen keenness make an impression on me almost immediately. There are no pretences around this guy, and his crimes against those rules that I hold in such high esteem simply pass him by hes blissfully oblivious.Are you worth as much as your Rapha kit might make you believe?We start chatting properly and he tells me his backstory: a hard time recently, falling into unhealthy bad habits, relationship woes and limited time to do any sport. A friend of his recommended that he start riding. As a broke student, he bought his current bike on eBay and inherited some second-hand kit from that same friend. He thought hed give cycling a go after hed heard so much great stuff about the sport and the community. If he liked it, then hed save up for a better bike, he concluded.It wasnt a particularly dramatic story, nor was it filled with much tragedy, but it got me thinking: did I really need the newest kit or the coolest must-have equipment in order to feel good on the bike? This guy didnt give a damn about rules or things it was just about being out and riding.While sexism and racism are as hotly discussed as ever, the topic of lookism is barely touched-upon. What does it even mean? Lookism is the belief that appearance is an indicator of a persons value. It refers to societys construction of a standard for beauty or attractiveness, and the resulting oppression that occurs through stereotypes and generalizations about those who do and do not meet societys standards, write M. Neil Browne and Andrea Giampetro-Meyer in Many Paths To Justice: The Glass Ceiling, the Looking Glass, and Strategies for Getting to the Other Side.So what if he isnt a fashion school graduate?Once the ride is over its easy to conclude that this guy has the potential of a diamond in the rough. Even I could learn something from him, I realise. Instead of judging others over their attire or their appearance, its much better to be open-minded. Who is braver: the budget-dresser newbie for throwing themselves into something, or the self-assured experienced one that reckons they know everything in their high-end cycling kit? Its only when you truly know yourself that you know your worth. And then youll also know that there are no ideals to live up to.Were masters of enforced conformity. In fact, these days were so good at it that wed make any dictator proud.We even turn this conformity into competition. Fit the bill of the ideal cyclist and you win. Where are your Oakleys? Your Rapha excluding the Core collection, right? Your eye-catching, high socks and Giro shoes? Isnt that the very vision of a winner?But what do you win? No one will deny that you dont look pretty sharp, but why does celebrating that image mean that we cant accept others for not looking like that too? Why does some other unknown riders appearance even matter to us? Why arent we applauding diversity and enjoying the sport alongside the rest?This article is from GRAN FONDO issue #010GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine is published in a digital app format in both English and German. Download the app for iOS or Android to read all articles on your tablet or smartphone. 100% free!Text Robin Schmitt Illustration Julian LemmeDer Beitrag Lookism just what do you think theyre wearing? erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

Soudal - Quick-Step will likely be signing Ethan Hayter, but they have confirmed another rider that has been rumoured already for around a month. After starting his career in the Belgian team, Max Schachmann makes a return after six years away.Max Schachmann is a very good and versatile rider who...