After a crash-marred day at the Itzulia Basque Country 2024 this Thursday, Mattias Skjelmose now finds himself in the overall race lead. "We were riding downhill after the first steep climb and the road was very bumpy as we were fighting for positions," the Lidl-Trek leader recalls of the crash that...

Jonas Vingegaard's hopes of overall victory at the 2024 Itzulia Basque Country came to an end on Thursday as the Dane was one of a number of riders caught up in frightening crash on stage 4. Whilst the likes of Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic were forced to abandon, the Dane left the race on a str...

Bad news for Nairo Quintana, Movistar Team and Colombian cycling as it has been announced that the veteran rider of the Spanish team will not participate in the next Tour of the Alps due to a rupture of the anterior sternoclavicular ligament in his right arm.Quintana started the season at the Tour C...

On August 24 and 25, the 15th edition of the Škoda 24 Hours Cycling will take place on the prestigious Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans, France. Coming from all over France and abroad, over 3000 participants, from seasoned competitors to cycling enthusiasts, will take on the notorious Dunlop hump to defy the clock. Pierre Rolland, professional cyclist from 2007 to 2022, will lower the French flag to start the race. Over the course of his career, the Frenchman competed in 13 Tours de France, 4 Tours of Spain and 2 Tours of Italy. His track record includes multiple stage victories, including the Alpe of Huez in 2011, which had not happened in 25 years for a French cyclist. That same year, he wore the white jersey for best young rider on the Tour. Since January 2023, Pierre Rolland has been consulting for the French TV channel « L’Equipe ». Competing in teams of 2, 4, 6, 8, or even as solo riders, the contenders will receive this year a « finisher » medal. To follow on from the trophies awarded to the winners, this reward Made in France will also be made out of wood, and will attest of each individual’s performance. Another new feature is that to accompany the technical support provided by Mondovélo/Shimano and the podiatrists’ team, physiotherapists will take good care of the competitors in between their relays. The Swiss brand Compex will reinforce this system with electrostimulation and self-massage products, as well as pressotherapy boots. There are 5 months left to get ready and arrive in top shape on the Bugatti Circuit!

Tour de France champion in hospital and set for recovery period

Cyclist Opinion: Coverage of the Stage 4 Itzulia Basque Country crash is inexcusable It’s never nice to witness riders crashing during a cycling race albeit that crashes are, unfortunately, a part of the sport. But the repetition of showing the stage-neutralising crash during Stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country over and over was just too extreme. On the roads from Etxarri Aranatz to Legutio, 12 riders crashed on a corner while descending the Category 3 Olaeta climb. Those involved included Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe), Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates). Riders have been taken to hospital via ambulance, with Primož Roglič leaving the race in a team car while giving a thumbs-up, and it appears all are conscious. #Itzulia2024Update: Jonas is conscious and will be examined in the hospital now. Thank you for your messages. More updates later.— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) April 4, 2024 I’m extremely disappointed in the TV director and host broadcaster who chose to repeatedly cast images worldwide of the crash and for zooming in on those on the ground, all before knowing the condition of the riders involved; for deliberately lingering on shots showing them being loaded into the back of an ambulance; for showing on-board images from motorbikes of them arriving to the scene, and even putting music in the background of slow-motion images. There needs to be a level of respect shown by broadcasters for those that participate in professional cycling, a balance struck between the obvious unavoidability of showing live images of a crash, and the respect to realise when enough is enough. I understand the desire to know, in the aftermath of a crash, whether a rider is moving. It was the music over slow-motion shots that did it for me. Martijn Arensman, father of Ineos Grenadiers’ Thymen Arensman, understandably said on Twitter, ‘When my son crashed last year, for us it was better and less stressful to see and view the situation than no [sic] nothing at all. In Thymen’s case the impact was mild but the view was the same on a stretcher and breathing support.’ But even the race’s official account today tweeted videos of the crash – eventually deleted but left up for almost 20 minutes – saying Vingegaard was ‘immobile’. Does this level of sensationalist coverage really have a place in the sport? Is this how we should promote cycling? With a mind solely focussed on clicks and views and not the welfare of those we are covering? I cannot even think about experiencing this as a family member, friend, teammate or anyone who knows those that crashed. To have no understanding of their condition and constantly be shown replays of the accident like they’re animals in a circus being prodded for entertainment. Cycling should take a page out of Formula 1’s book and avoid such replays until we know the condition of those involved. Or alpine skiing, whose FIS Broadcast Manual states the TV director ‘must use discretion when reviewing an accident on the course’. Adam Hansen, president of the CPA, later said, ‘Out of respect of riders that have fallen in a crash and their families at home. The CPA does not support TV coverage to continue to film them while they are down. Riders have reached out to me asking if we can make this a rule and we support that. Please be mindful.’ Out of respect of riders that have fallen in a crash and their families at home. The CPA does not support TV coverage to continue to film them while they are down. Riders have reached out to me asking if we can make this a rule and we support that. Please be mindful.— Adam Hansen (@HansenAdam) April 4, 2024 I would also support such a rule and back its implementation as quickly as possible. Perhaps companies that receive the world feed broadcast can plan to cut away when the host broadcaster refuses to. Constant replays of crashes are indefensible. For more about pro race safety, check out our podcast with Adam Hansen The post Opinion: Coverage of the Stage 4 Itzulia Basque Country crash is inexcusable appeared first on Cyclist.

After so much talk of rider safety recently in cycling, stage 4 of the 2024 Itzulia Basque Country was another stark reminder about the dangers of the sport we all love. On a pacey descent, numerous big-name riders crashed hard into a concrete ditch.Jonas VingegaardThe Dane left the race on a stretc...

Cyclist David vs Goliath: Why Mat Hayman’s 2016 Paris-Roubaix win was so monumental David and Goliath. Rocky vs Creed. Hayman vs Boonen. The determined underdog, odds stacked against them, is a well-loved trope. But why exactly? Is supporting the little guy in sport a bit like staring in the mirror and imagining ourselves in their place? Do you believe fate can, in the face of what seem like insurmountable odds, contrive some form of path to redemption? Whichever the reason, the underdog is a valiant hero.   As Mat Hayman spoke to the camera before the 2016 Paris-Roubaix, on the cusp of turning 38 years old, he said: ‘It’ll be my fifteenth attempt at winning.’ Little did he know that after 257km and against multiple obstacles, he would reign victorious, earning a cobblestone to place on his mantelpiece. But just how did he do it? Related Posts The edge of glory: Does history predict a win for Mathieu van der Poel at Paris-Roubaix 2024? How to watch Paris-Roubaix 2024 Where Paris-Roubaix 2024 will be decided, part 1: The Arenberg Forest Paris-Roubaix 2024: Routes, start lists, history and all you need to know A pre-race broken arm Mathew Hayman The Australian’s arrival at the start line in Compiègne for The Hell of the North in 2016 marked his return from an ill-timed injury. A crash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad resulted in a broken arm just six weeks prior to Paris-Roubaix. Hayman trained on the turbo in his garage, propping his cast on a ladder as a makeshift arm rest. A race littered with crashes Whether it’s bad luck, unfortunate positioning or a touch of wheels, the arbitrary nature of crashes and the various scale of injuries they inflict, from superficial wounds to a rider’s race ending in seconds, are a part of cycling. During the 2016 Paris-Roubaix, Hayman’s teammate Mitch Docker suffered a horrendous crash in the Arenberg Forest that almost cost him his left eye. Fabian Cancellara, three-time winner of the race, had his swansong Roubaix cut short after an abundance of crashes left him out of contention. A decisive split eventually emerged amidst the chaos; the five-man leading group comprising Hayman, four-time Paris-Roubaix winner Tom Boonen, Norwegian National Champion Edvald Boasson Hagen, Ian Stannard and Sep Vanmarcke. Hayman was dropped on the Carrefour de l’Arbre sector yet, with the dogged determination of a man unhinged, forced his way back to the contenders. This was the group who would battle it out for Paris-Roubaix victory. A finish for the ages Weary riders continued to attack one another. As the kilometres ticked down to two, only Hayman could follow Boonen into the gladiator’s arena for one last battle. But his final competitor standing in the way of glory was none other than a goliath, already boasting four Paris-Roubaix wins. As TV viewers heard: ‘Hayman has won two professional races; Boonen has won 109. The odds are stacked against the Australian.’  The duo swung into the velodrome for a game of cat-and-mouse as Vanmarcke worked his way back onto Hayman’s wheel. Stannard and Boassen Hagen caught up too. The odds were stacking up against him once more, but Hayman was relentless, adrenaline-filled with the finish line in sight. He worked his way in front of his heavyweight competitors. 200m… 100m… 50m… ASO/Beardy McBeard This was Mathew Hayman’s year. As he crossed the line and met soigneur and videographer Dan Jones, his face was an assortment of emotions. Shock, disbelief, relief and eventually jubilation. The entertaining nature of this win, combined with the sheer likeability of the winner wrapped the 2016 Paris-Roubaix in a neat underdog story bow, certifying itself as one for the books. A historic edition. Hayman and Durbridge hug after the 2016 Paris-RoubaixASO/E.Garnier ‘This doesn’t happen… it doesn’t happen.’ Hayman told Luke Durbridge in disbelief as they celebrated. ‘It does to you,’ Durbridge replied, before saying, ‘that’s one for the good guys.’ Read our full Paris-Roubaix guide for course details, start lists and more Listen to Mathew Hayman’s episode of the Cyclist Magazine podcast The post David vs Goliath: Why Mat Hayman’s 2016 Paris-Roubaix win was so monumental appeared first on Cyclist.

The massive crash in the peloton that left the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic laying in pain at the roadside was repeated over and over in the near-half an hour time period the race was neutralised for riders to receive treatment. The decision by those in charge of the...

The 2024 Itzulia Basque Country was brought to a terrifying stop on Thursday afternoon as a number of riders in the peloton crashed hard into a concrete ditch on a pacey descent.Whilst the likes of Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic were forced to abandon, one of those who looked worst affected was t...