Whilst the Red Jersey at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana might be over after stage 19, where Primoz Roglic soloed to the stage win atopAlto de Moncalvillo, the fight for the White Jersey and the title of Best Young Rider is starting to really heat up.Following his third placed finish on the final climb o...

Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) has put in his best climbing display at La Vuelta 2024 on todays penultimate summit finish to Alto de Moncalvillo, taking 7th on the stage. After leading the race for 13 days, Ben OConnor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) finally lost the red jersey to Primo Rogli (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) after the []The post Eddie Dunbar puts in his strongest climbing display of Vuelta | Video appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

The Slovenian was on imperious form on the Alto de Moncalvillo summit finish

Reports suggest that the Trinity Racing set-up, one of the best U23 teams in the world, could be the latest squad to fall victim to the financial pressures currently crippling British cycling

CyclistFlashback Friday: When Chris Horner became the oldest man to win a Grand Tour at the 2013 Vuelta a EspaaChris Horner didnt have the best of preparations for the 2013 Vuelta a Espaa. The Radioshack-Leopard rider had participated in only three stage races that year, beginning with Tirreno-Adriatico in early March, where he finished sixth, followed by the Volta a Catalunya in late March, where he only raced the opening stage. The American had aggravated a knee injury and after being diagnosed with iliotibial band friction syndrome, was sidelined for five months after surgery.His first race back was the six-day Tour of Utah in August. Horner won Stage 5 and placed second overall behind Garmin-Sharps Tom Danielson.The raceMiguel Riopa/AFP via Getty ImageCome the Vuelta in late August, Horner wasnt on anyones list of favourites. Astanas Vincenzo Nibali had won the Giro dItalia in May and was looking to claim his second Grand Tour of the season. Alejandro Valverde had finished second to Alberto Contador at the Vuelta in 2012 and was aiming to go one better, building on his strong Tour de France performance.Also among the favourites was Joaquim Rodrguezof Katusha, who placed third overall at the Vuelta the year prior. However, it was Horner who would pull on the red jersey on Stage 3. During a flat day from Vigo to Mirador de Lobeira, he broke away in the final kilometre while taking advantage of the uphill finish to net his first stage victory and replace Nibali at the top of the standings by three seconds. The Italian would reclaim the lead the following stage though as Horner lost touch on the final climb to Fisterra.Over the next couple of weeks, the Vuelta would unexpectedly become a tussle between the pair: Horner, the 41-year-old without a contract for the following season, versus Nibali, the Grand Tour winner. On Stage 10, Horner worked his way back into the red jersey atop Alto Hazallanas, just prior to the first rest day after a solo attack on the hors categorie climb. It opened a gap of 43sec to Nibali.A 38.8km individual time-trial kicked off the second week. It was predictably won by Horners teammate Fabian Cancellara but a strong fourth place for Nibali would turn the tables again. Horner bumped down to fourth overall, 46sec back. Nibali led the race throughout the second week towards the Pyrenees. After Stage 16 and heading into the final rest day, the gap had been reduced between the warring duo to 28sec. The third week saw Horner attempt to overturn the deficit, and it was on Stage 18 that cracks began to form in Nibalis armour.On a day won by Skys Vasil Kiryienka, Horner dropped the maillot rojo on the 20% gradient in the final kilometre of the Pea Cabarga to close the gap to just three seconds with three stages remaining. The jersey would change hands again the next day. Stage 19 was a 181km route from San Vicente de la Barquera to a summit finish on Alto del Naranco with Rodrguez taking stage honours. Behind, Horner had eked out a six-second gap over Nibali. The jersey returned. Nibali found himself in the position of his rival at the beginning of the stage: 3sec down on the lead.The race would be decided on the Alto de lAngliru. Stage 20 packed four climbs into 144km, ending with a one-two punch of the Alto del Cordal preceding the ferocious gradients of the Angliru. Nibali tried and tried to attack Horner, dropping him in the process, but ultimately wore himself out as the American kept coming back.It was in the final two kilometres that Horner rode away and kept pushing to solidify his growing lead. 22-year-old Kenny Elissonde of FDJ.fr, the third-youngest rider in the race, was up the road to take a sensational victory, while the oldest rider finished second. Horner had defeated Nibali and the maillot rojo would be his with just the sprint stage in Madrid remaining. Related Posts Cyclist Magazine Podcast episode 113: Nico Roche on Tadej Pogaar, La Vuelta and being the son of Stephen Roche 4 Vuelta a Espaa storylines to follow in the final week What would a three-week Tour of Britain route look like? Vuelta a Espaa 2024: Route, start list, how to watch and all you need to know The reactionJaime Reina/AFP via Getty ImagesHorner became the first American to win the Vuelta and the oldest rider to win a Grand Tour, an historical achievement that also brought scrutiny. In an attempt to answer the questions of his critics, Horner released all his biological passport results since 2008. The Stage 10 victory at the 2013 Vuelta a Espaa would be his last win on the road.Joining Lampre-Merida for the 2014 season, his planned participation in the Giro dItalia was scuppered following a hit-and-run that left him with four broken ribs and a punctured lung. At the Tour de France, he raced to 17th place but was pulled from the Vuelta squad when his cortisol levels dropped below the threshold deemed healthy by the Movement for Credible Cycling.Horner stepped down to Continental level and signed a contract with Airgas-Safeway for 2015 then the Lupus Racing Team in 2016, which folded at the end of the season. He didnt race in 2017 but returned in 2018, riding for Continental squad Team Illuminate for two years before transitioning to a commentary role for NBC Sports.For more on the Vuelta a Espaa visit our hub page. Related Posts Cyclist Magazine Podcast episode 113: Nico Roche on Tadej Pogaar, La Vuelta and being the son of Stephen Roche 4 Vuelta a Espaa storylines to follow in the final week What would a three-week Tour of Britain route look like? Vuelta a Espaa 2024: Route, start list, how to watch and all you need to know The post Flashback Friday: When Chris Horner became the oldest man to win a Grand Tour at the 2013 Vuelta a Espaa appeared first on Cyclist.

Primoz Roglic and Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe finally executed aflawless tactical masterclass on Stage 19s brutal ascent of Alto delMoncalvillo. After a series of strategic missteps earlier in La Vuelta aEspana 2024, namely the surprising five-minute loss to Ben OConnor on Stage 5,the team deliver...

I hope youve had a great summer! Were gearing up for some great events starting this month with plenty of ways you can join in on the fun.The Not-So-Easy Bike Easy Scavenger HuntSaturday, September 21st 3-6pmLooking for a fun group activity? Get together your group of 3-5, andget registered for our scavenger hunt sponsored by Dirty Coast!Join us Saturday, September 21st from 3-6pm. Were cultivating a fun list of challenges for you all to keep you entertained while you bike around Downtown and Uptown area, and a celebration after. The check-in and after event will take place at the Jazz Museum (400 Esplanade Ave) where we will be announcing the winner of the grand prize $250 donated to the local bike shop of your choice!Register your team here!Were also looking for a few volunteers for the day of the event, if youd like to sign up to volunteer follow this link.Bicycle Valet Returns!Have you caught our Bicycle Valet before? Its the perfect way to experience some of the best festivals in the city. Just ride your bike down to the our valet, and well keep your bike in our secure bike parking facility while you enjoy the fest. Beat traffic coming to and from the festival as well as the guaranteed best parking regardless of how busy the events get!Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:Crescent City Blues and BBQ FestivalLafayette SquareFriday, October 11th 5:30-8:30 pmSaturday, October 12th 11:00-8:30 pmSunday, October 13th 11:00-8:30 pmFind our Bicycle Valet on Camp Streetvisit Jazz and Heritage Festival Foundations website for more informationOak Street Po-Boy FestivalOak Street and CarrolltonSunday, October 27th 10:00-6:00 pmFind our Bicycle Valet in the parking lot of the old Capital One on Zimple and CarrolltonVisit PoBoyFest.com to view the music lineup as well as all their great vendors!Looking to volunteer with our Bicycle Valet at one of these events?Sign up to Volunteer with Bicycle ValetBicycle Second LineOur premiere event is returning Saturday, October 19th beginning with registration at 10 am at the Broadside Nola (600 North Broad Street) This family-fun event is a leisurely paced ride all throughout the city with rolling street closures and escorts.Register Today for the Bicycle Second LineRepair CafeLast week, we hosted a collaboration withRepair Cafe NOLA. This is a local chapter of a global effort to help empower individuals to repair broken items, and keep things out of landfills. Volunteers come together as repair coaches to provide their expertise and guide visitors through the process of troubleshooting, identifying the issues, and addressing them.We hosted a special repair cafe focused exclusively on bikes providing tools and a work stand for visitors. We had several people come in that had heard of the event from Bike Easy and from Repair Cafe, as well as people just off the street. We had some all star volunteers and mechanics from RUBARB and Alexs Bikes provide great support. We heard great feedback from guests and other Repair Coaches that were able to learn some new skills!I try to make it out to most Repair Cafes, with all my bike tools so be sure to follow them and catch me or any of the other great Repair Coaches to help you fix your bike or anything else in need of repair!Hope to catch you out at some of these events!David MezaCommunity Programs CoordinatorBike Easy

CyclistLimburg, home of the 2024 European Championships and cycling in FlandersLimburg in the Dutch corner of Flanders will host the 2024 UEC Road European Championships from 11th to 15th September, packing 14 events into five action-packed days, from the junior mixed time-trial to the womens and mens elite road race. Among the stars heading to Limburg are Netherlands Mischa Bredewold and Frances Christophe Laporte, both champing at the bit to defend their 2023 European title jerseys. But many have their eyes on thwarting this. The course isnt designed to suit just one type of rider, with countries bringing stacked fields of riders to give them multiple cards to play. As the host nation its no surprise to see a star-studded Netherlands roster including Dylan Groenewegen, Mathieu van der Poel, Lorena Wiebes and Shirin van Anrooij. But neighbours Belgium are set to derail the train with Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier, while France take Clara Copponi and Marie Le Net. Then theres Italy, packing power in Jonathan Milan and Elisa Balsamo. Riders will endure the pain of repeated ascents of Limburgs cobbled climbs from Heusden-Zolder to Hasselt, undertaking circuits within the race that will no doubt drain the energy from the legs of competitors. The womens road race (9am on 14th September) is 162km and features 905m of elevation, while the mens road race (12.30pm on 15th September) will take in 1,273m of climbing over 223km.Both races follow the same course, an A-to-B route that links circuits in Hasselt and Limburg. First its one and a half laps of the Hasselt circuit for the women and three and a half laps for the men. The races then head south to the Limburg circuit, which includes the punishing Zammelenberg and Kolmontberg. The women will have to make two ascents of each, the men three, before their respective pelotons head back to the Hasselt circuit for the races climax, an all-out lap-and-a-half finishing dash in front of thousands of spectators.Decisive moments look set to include the cobbles of Manshoven and Op de Kriezel on the Limburg circuit, which both come before the punchy bergs, and have the potential to fracture the races and create reduced sprint finishes.It looks set to be a stellar week, but the Limburg locale holds much more than just a single cycling event. Over the years it has evolved from a gritty mining town into a cycling destination rich in cobbled climbs, gravel trails and more than the odd hidden gem. Visitors should keep an eye out for the art installations that pop up across the region, as well as the many beautiful, tree-lined cycling routes such as Bekestraat in the nearby village of Eizer.Below weve compiled a list five of our favourite rides in Flanders, which along with dozens of other incredible routes, are all available with free GPX downloads from cyclinginflanders.cc. Ronde van Vlaanderen (Red loop)Visit Flanders / Cycling in FlandersScale the Muur and feel like one of the professionals with this popular Tour of Flanders-inspired routeThe jewel in the crown of the 115km Ronde van Vlaanderens red loop is getting the chance to take on the mythical Muur van Geraardsbergen. Nicknamed The Wall, you dont so much ride the Muur as scale it. Johan Museeuw, Peter van Petegem and Fabian Cancellara are just three who have used the 20% gradients up to the famed chapel as a gruelling springboard to glory in the Tour of Flanders.This route features 1,618m of elevation and takes you over the classic bergs of Greg van Avermaets beloved Berendries and Bosberg. The latter is the final climb of Omloop het Nieuwsblad, and often described as Edwig Van Hooydonck Hill due to the Belgian attacking alongside the same lamppost to ride to glory in 1989 and 1991. Perhaps use this as inspiration on the 12% gradient near the Flemish Ardennes.Download the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Red loop) route.Gent Wevelgem In Flanders FieldsVisit Flanders / Cycling in FlandersThis route is steeped in history, taking cyclists back in time by traversing First World War battlefields and finishing with the KemmelbergGent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields plays a slight trick: the start isnt in Gent and the finish isnt in Wevelgem. Nonetheless, it is rich in its own DNA and regarded as more than a race. Reflecting this is the recent addition of In Flanders Fields to its name, in homage to its connections with multiple Great War battlefields, which are navigated both in the professional race and along this 84km route. There is history everywhere you look, with the route taking riders to the famous plugstreets where, on the second of three gravel sections here, the 1914 Christmas Truce took place, the guns falling silent and soldiers from both sides coming together to exchange gifts and famously play a game of football.After 73km of riding comes the iconic Kemmelberg. The longest and steepest of the three ways up this climb features a maximum gradient over 20%, or a kick in the teeth as many riders describe it, especially after already climbing 883m by that point over the course of the ride. Gravel might not be the first cycling-related thing you think of when Flanders is mentioned, but gravel deviations for this route are also available for a new spin on an old Classic.Download the Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields route.FloubaixVisit Flanders / Cycling in FlandersThis two-for-one experience combines both the legendary Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix races for a Monument extraordinaireWhats better than riding one Monument? Riding two of them. Meet Floubaix. Starting in Oudenaarde, Belgium, this 120km route takes on the Koppenberg a short and sharp cobbled climb described as the most difficult in the region with its soap-bar cobbles and 20% gradient.But its Flanders longest cobbled climb in the famous Oude Kwaremont that captures our attention. This 2.1km stretch has a slight respite in the middle before rising once more, lulling the unwary into a false sense of security before a final sting in its tail. It might not possess the most severe gradients, but its the irregularity of the cobbles that makes the Kwaremont such a hard-earned inclusion on your palmars. Just count yourself lucky youre not riding over it three times like the pros do in the Tour of Flanders.From here the route segues fiendishly into the famed cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, and its time to embrace the chaos. This route includes the five-star Carrefour de lArbre secteur and a finish on the hallowed banks of the Roubaix velodrome. Open to the public all year round, this is the perfect and only place such an absurd route could finish.Download the Floubaix route.Low Hanging Fruit in Limburg by gritgravel.ccKramonWhere the charm of cycling meets the beauty of blossoms over European Championship cobblesHaspengouw is somewhat of a hidden gem, the area producing a striking number of fruit orchids that blossom in the April and May months yet still provide a utopia all year round. This is truly a route for the nature lovers to embrace the serenity of Limburg, over a course that provides 949m of elevation over 103km.After beginning in Borgloon and embracing the gravel to view the luscious apple, pear and cherry trees, riders then come across the intersection where cycling meets art a floating chapel in Helshoven that will prove a truly unique experience. The 1.4km Op de Kriezel and 1.3km Manshoven cobbled stretches that feature in this years UEC Road European Championships arrive in the final half of the route, before a finish at cycling hotspot Caf Coureur, where you can sit down, grab a coffee and start planning your next ride.Download the Low Hanging Fruit in Limburg route.Relive the 2021 World Championships in LeuvenFlanders 2021The rainbow bands might not be up for grabs, but follow in the footsteps of Julian Alaphilippe and his swashbuckling flairWhen organising any World Championships, legacy is an important consideration for course designers, which is why the 2021 Worlds course in Leuven, Belgium, is so easy to ride yourself. Hailed as the World Championships where cycling came home (the not-at-all-biased organisers words), the event saw fan favourite Julian Alaphilippe take his second consecutive set of rainbow bands on these roads.This route combines 1,131m of elevation with many cycling-friendly spots, such as the Poledorcafe with its collections of bikes, and the World Championships mural in Overijse. Killer bergs include the 510m Moskesstraat and 950m S-bend and Taymansstraat in Overijse, which winds around the Sint-Martinus church.Exploring the unexplored is always fun, and the 430m unknown Bekestraat in the final 24km peaks at 15% while boasting some irregular cobbles for a tough but rewarding day out. You might just feel like a world champion after this 128km ride.Download the Relive the 2021 World Championships in Leuven route.Things to doin Limburg: There are some unique cycling experiences to discover in Limburg. Cycling through Water takes place in Bokrijk, where cyclists ride on a dry path that splits the water for a fascinating day out. Cycling through the Trees is in Bosland features a ride on a 10m-high circle in the trees. Cycling Through the Heathland in the Hoge Kempen National Park takes you across a 300m-high, 4km long wooden bridge in Belgiums national park.There are plenty of art installations found tucked away in the most unlikely places throughout Limburg.Explore Limburgs mining history by visiting its eight collieries. For history lovers, Tongeren is considered Belgiums oldest town and just over half an hour away from Limburg. Its home to the Gallo-Roman museum and the largest antiques market in Benelux every Sunday morning.Limburg has multiple vineyards, including the Cuvelier Winery in Jesseren and Kerniel.The former Formula 1 circuit of Zolder in Heusden-Zolder can be driven with your own car or motorbike. Theres also a BMX track.in Flanders:Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage City with cobbled, romantic streets. They have a seasonal market (called The Markt) and house the Basilica of the Holy Blood.Brussels: Visit the Grand-Palace, Atomium or Train World. The Institute of Natural Sciences is also here and displays the largest Dinosaur Gallery in Europe.Ghent: Explore the Castle of the Counts, see the Ghent Altarpiece in St Bavos Cathedral by Hubert and Jan van Eyck.The worlds biggest brewery of AB InBev can be found in Leuven (as well as the 2021 World Championships route).Head to one of the many beaches for some sea and sand.Enjoy the Belgian food! No trip to Flanders is complete without moules-frites (or just the frites), waffles and of course beerHow to get thereLimburg:By train: There are eight railway stations in Limburg: Alken, Bokrijk, Diepenbeek, Genk, Hasselt, Kiewit, Sint-Truiden and Tongeren. Limburg is easily accessible by train from most major cities. Train tickets and times are available on the NMBS website. Tickets for international train connections for those outside Belgium can be ordered on b-europe. Catch the Eurostar to Brussels, then its roughly a one-hour train ride from Brussels-Nord to Hasselt the latter costs approximately 16.By car: Travelling by car between the UK to France and beyond (to Limburg) is easy via the Eurotunnel. There are no luggage restrictions, the ticket is for your vehicle, and up to nine people can travel on one ticket. The journey is under 35 minutes and prices vary, with a standard fare costing around 112 and a flexiplus ticket (no set crossing time) around 247. Buy tickets on the Eurotunnel website. It then takes 45 minutes to drive to Belgium from the Calais terminal, and three hours to Limburg. By bike: Limburg has 200km of paved and mostly car-free cycle paths. Online cycle route planners are available. You can take bikes on every train by buying an additional 4 ticket, no reservation needed.By bus: Bus routes can be found at delijn.be.Flanders:By train: If travelling to Oudenaarde, the easiest option is to get a Eurostar train from a corresponding location such as London (tickets range from around 86 to 206 for standard class) to Brussels Midi. Bikes can be taken on specific services (so be sure to check with Eurostar). If travelling from London to Brussels, these bike-friendly trains depart at 09:01 (train 9116), 13:01 (train 9132) and 15:04 (train 9142) daily. Bikes cost 45 each way if booked more than 48 hours before departure or 60 each way if booked less than 48 hours before. You must email travelservices@eurostar.com to book a space for your bike, which must be fully assembled on trains travelling between London and Brussels. Passengers can also bring a folding bike, folding electric bike or childrens bike on board as long as its no longer than 85cm in length and carried in a protective bag that covers the whole bike. There are different rules for travelling between Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany, which can be found here. Trains run by SNCB are then available for onwards travel from Brussels-Midi to Oudenaarde, which take 50 minutes and cost approximately 12.By car: Travelling via the Eurotunnel costs approximately 112 for a standard fare and 247 for a flexiplus fare (no set crossing time). Buy tickets on the Eurotunnel website. It then takes just under two hours to travel to Oudenaarde. Be aware that each Thursday from 6pm to 2pm there is a weekly market in the city centre (Grote Markt, Hoogstraat, Nederstraat) and this area isnt accessible by car or bus. For information on travelling from Brussels, Ghent and Kortrijk, more can be found here. Elsewhere, low emission zones have been introduced in Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels to improve air quality. Read the specifications here to see if this affects your vehicle, and how to pay.By bike: Flanders is very bike-friendly, with bikes able to travel on every train. TheBikeOnTrain travel plannercan tell you which trains are best equipped. For bikes on the Eurotunnel, it costs 50 per bicycle via a shuttle service and a minimum of 10 working days advanced booking is required.You can find more information on the Le Shuttle website.By bus: More information on buses can be found at De Lijn. Related Posts Big Ride: A one day Classic in Flanders Big Ride: Flanders vs Roubaix The best cobbled climbs in Flanders The post Limburg, home of the 2024 European Championships and cycling in Flanders appeared first on Cyclist.

The 2024 Vuelta a Espana seems to be a foregone conclusion, as far as the general classification victory goes after stage 19. Barring disaster, Primoz Roglic will add in Madrid on Sunday his fourth title after those achieved in 2019, 2020 and 2021, thanks in part to his dominant performance on the f...

Throughout the Vuelta a Espaa, the race jury attributes fines to some of the riders and sporting directors. Ultimately the fines can come in the form of money, time penalties or even UCI points, depending on the rule breaking. Here we present what has happened during the race.Joo Almeida (UAE Tea...