Last year, Helen Jackson won two age group national championships, her age group in the Gravel World Champs, and the Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross challenge. And she's not slowing down any time, soon...

Taking his first win of the season, Tom Pidcock triumphed in style on Sunday afternoon at the Amstel Gold Race. Sporza analyst Jose de Cauwer was left incredibly impressed by the INEOS Grenadiers superstar. "Because the story of that photo finish always had a bit of a nagging feeling. That was never...

New footage, recorded from a clear angle, has emerged of the incident during Paris-Roubaix when a cap being held by a spectator at the roadside hit race leader Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). The incident has caused a lot of controversy, with the French riders’ union, the UNCP, reporting it to the police. Though Van […] The post New footage of spectator incident with Van der Poel at Paris-Roubaix | Video appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

Based on the Bronson, the Heckler SL does everything you'd expect, only better. Santa Cruz Heckler SL videoWhen Santa Cruz launched the Heckler SL back in September 2023, my first thought was “wow, that’s one good looking …Continue reading »

In this installment of Weekend Snapshot, we pedal alongside community members on trips around France's Vercors Massif, the White Rim Trail in Utah, and the bikepacking playground that is Scotland. See this week's vignettes and take a moment to share a photo from one of your recent rides here... The post Weekend Snapshot appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Cyclist Watch: How to wrap bar tape like a pro Wrapping bar tape is one of those jobs where mechanics always have their own little special techniques and habits and as such it’s often a divisive topic. What we can all agree on though is the key to success is to take your time and get a neat finish. There’s nothing worse than messy bar tape to spoil the look of a bike. Related Posts Best road bike upgrades for every budget How to clean your bike chain and drivetrain in 5 minutes Best cycling multitools: Buyer’s guide Buyer’s guide: Upgrade your workshop and tools Perfect bar tape fitting: here’s how to do it. 1. Prepare your workspace and remove old tape Firstly, get everything you need laid out within easy reach of where you’re working otherwise you’ll be struggling to stop the bar tape from unravelling as you search for things like scissors and electrical tape at the end. Remove any old tape and clean the bars to get rid of any leftover adhesive and grime. 2. Start at the end To begin wrapping the new tape, I always start at the end of the bar and not on the tops. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, leaving a decent overlap at the start enables it to be tucked in with the bar plug for a really neat finish. Second, and most important, wrapping from the bottom up ensures the edge of the tape is forward-facing around the bends to ensure the edge will not curl up or catch and become untidy and frayed in use. 3. Maintain tension while wrapping I like to wrap the tape towards myself but the direction really doesn’t matter. Whatever you feel most comfortable with. As you start to wrap the key thing is to keep some tension in the tape. It doesn’t require lots, otherwise, you’ll risk snapping the tape, but enough tension to keep it snug. If you like fat, cushy feeling tape, then don’t apply as much stretch, as wrapping it tighter will reduce its comfort slightly. Vice versa, if you want maximum bar feel, then keep the tape as tight as possible. 4. Keep it even As you wrap, try to keep even overlaps and spacing as this creates the neat look you’re after. Also constantly check around the bar for gaps – gaps exposing the bar are a massive faux pas in bar tape fitting. 4. Fill the gap behind the lever Just before you get to the lever, use the short, additional piece of tape (usually supplied – but if not just cut a few inches from the end of the tape, you’ll have plenty don’t worry) to cover the lever bracket neatly. You may need to hold this in place with one hand as you continue to wrap the tape. It takes a bit of practice to get this bit neat, but don’t be afraid to go back and undo a few wraps and re-do them until you get the tension even and the spacing neat. 5. Up and around the lever I always like to continue to wrap straight up and around the lever – not figure 8. This is something not all mechanics agree on, but personally, I think a figure 8 causes a bulk of tape under the lever hood which can often create an undesirable ‘bump’ in the transition from bar to lever hood. Again, experiment here for what works best for you. Continue all the way along the bar wrapping neatly maintaining the same even spacing and tension on the tape until you reach a point about 50mm from the stem. 6. Trim the tape to length Once the finish point is determined, I prefer to cut the tape directly under the bar with a straight cut to begin with. Then unwrap the tape one complete turn. 7. Cut on the diagonal With the tape held out in front of the bar, cut a diagonal line (from the lever side towards the stem) to create a tapered edge. Then re-wrap. 8. Finish off the ends Use electrical tape (don’t bother with the finishing tape supplied in the pack – it’s never as good) to finish and seal the tape end. Here is another area where different techniques can be used, depending on the look you want. Some mechanics prefer no tape and instead use superglue, others use tape but don’t like to overlap onto the bar, and so on. I prefer a small overlap of electrical tape to the bar to seal the end of the bar tape nicely, keeping out water and dirt. Take your time to get this finishing touch neat. Again, it can spoil the look if you have a shoddy finish at the end. 9. Pop in the bar end plug Finally, then, fit the bar plug. Simply tuck in the excess tape that you left right at the start, by poking it into the end of the bar as you simultaneously use the bar plug to help it fit tightly and hold everything snug. Again a bit of practice helps to get the technique right to get the neatest look. Remember, details matter. Repeat for the other side and…job done! Ready to take on more mechanical jobs? Learn how to properly fit and adjust your cleats The post Watch: How to wrap bar tape like a pro appeared first on Cyclist.

From Lorena Wiebes’ early celebration to Elisa Longo Borghini’s attacks on the Cauberg, the 2024 editions of the Amstel Gold Race had it all. Here’s five things that we learned from Sunday’s races...Celebrating before the finish line. Fine if you are away solo and cruising to the victory with a size...

Cyclist From North Wales to Manchester: Tour of Britain Women announces route for 2024 race 2024 marks the welcomed return for Britain’s elite women’s stage-race. A staple on the Women’s WorldTour calendar, the Tour of Britain Women will take the riders on a four-day trip around England and Wales in the quest for the coveted leader’s jersey. A tumultuous 2023 saw the Women’s Tour cancelled due to a lack of funding. However, the race is back and now under a new alias, the Tour of Britain Women, which will take place on 6th-9th June, with the men’s race on 3rd-8th September. This comes in the midst of a big reshuffle at British Cycling HQ as they restructure their approach to the flagship Tour of Britain races. Women’s cycling in the UK has only grown in the past years, with strong British representation on the WorldTour level and a new crop of British races including the Women’s World Tour Ride London Classique. Related Posts World Champion Lotte Kopecky confirmed for RideLondon Classique Pro Log: Final stages of 2024 Tour de France, Women’s Tour funding crisis, Tom Boonen retracts Colnago criticism Gallery: The best photos from the Women’s Tour Ovo Energy Women’s Tour to offer equal prize money The route Justin Setterfield/Getty Images A Welsh-centric route characterises the revamped Tour of Britain Women in 2024. Playing host to the race for the fourth time, Wales will be front and centre, hosting half of the stages on offer. A Grand Départ in the small town of Welshpool accentuates this understated list of host-towns and cities. Filled with familiar names from Tours of Britain gone by, the 2024 parcours offers something for the sprinters and puncheurs. This year’s Tour of Britain Women route will feature a total of four road stages — three of which have been teased as hilly affairs by the race organisers. There is no time-trial on offer in this race, but the winner crowned in Leigh will have to be a hardy all-rounder to say the least. Stage 1: Thursday 6 June 2024, Welshpool – Llandudno The opening stage of the Tour of Britain Women will begin in Welshpool, Montgomeryshire. The town situated in central Wales has hosted the race before, back in 2022 when the race was simply known as ‘The Women’s Tour’.  From the flag drop, the race will venture deep into the North Welsh countryside, offering a tough opening day of racing for the women’s peloton. The stage will conclude in the seaside town of Llandudno. The option may be there for some climbing in the final phase of the race, making for a challenging finale on the Welsh coastline. Stage 2: Friday 7 June 2024, Wrexham – Wrexham Remaining in Wales for day two, a stage looped around Wrexham will be at stake. Now known for its Hollywood football team, the Welsh border town will host a stage for the second time in the history of the women’s race. A tough profile has been suggested by the organisers, hinting at a rolling stage around the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB. Stage 3: Saturday 8 June 2024, Warrington – Warrington The third stage will see the riders move into England with a stage starting and finishing in Warrington. The Cheshire town will play host to the first flat stage of the Tour of Britain Women, allowing the chance for the sprinters to claim a rare World Tour stage win. Stage 4: Sunday 9 June 2024: Manchester – Leigh The riders will roll out of the National Track Centre in Manchester. Nestled in the east of the city, a stone’s throw away from the Etihad Stadium and the new Co-Op Live arena, the stage will allow the riders to touch base at the home of British Cycling.  The final stage will then tackle a hilly profile as the course negotiates its way around Manchester, taking in the climbs surrounding the redbrick city. After some uphill tests, the stage, and the race as a whole, will conclude in Leigh – just outside of Wigan. ‘Four competitive and challenging routes’ Rod Ellingworth, who was appointed Tour of Britain Race Director after leaving Ineos Grenadiers in the off-season, said, ‘It’s been a monumental effort by the whole team over the past 10 weeks to confirm the stages for this year’s Tour of Britain Women. The race will take in four competitive and challenging routes, some challenging climbing in Wales and what I’m sure will be brilliant crowds on the roadside throughout.’ In response to the route reveal this afternoon, Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) said, ‘It’s always special to race in Britain, and I’m so pleased to have two top level stage races to look forward to on home soil as I ramp up my preparations for a busy summer ahead.’ The Tour of Britain Women 2024 will take place from Thursday 6th June to Sunday 10th June. Stay up to date will all our updates over on our Tour of Britain hub The post From North Wales to Manchester: Tour of Britain Women announces route for 2024 race appeared first on Cyclist.

On the 17th of April comes the second of the Ardennes classics. This is the Flèche Wallonne, the Belgian classic most known for it's spectacular and incredibly finale up the Mur de Huy. We preview the race ahead. 198 kilometers and 2700 meters of climbing. That is the data you’ve got for this race,...

Cyclist Pro Log: Lorena Wiebes celebrates too early as Marianne Vos and Tom Pidcock kick off Ardennes Week with Amstel Gold Race wins Welcome back to Pro Log. This edition focuses on the Ardennes Week opener of the Amstel Gold Race after thrilling finales, with Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) swooping in for victory after Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) celebrated too early. Results powered by FirstCycling.com Meanwhile in the men’s race, Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) won via a four-man breakaway, with much less controversy than his second place in 2021. Results powered by FirstCycling.com Let’s get into it. Related Posts How to watch La Flèche Wallonne 2024 Opinion: Put some respect on the Ardennes Classics’ name La Flèche Wallonne 2024: Routes, how to watch, start list and everything you need to know Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024: Route, riders, how to watch and all you need to know Amstel Gold Race neutralised Luc Claessen/Getty Images The women’s 157km Amstel Gold Race was neutralised after a police officer working on the race was hit by a car driver on the Bergseweg. The police officer was taken to hospital by ambulance. The neutralisation lasted over an hour as riders were seen sitting down on the ground and petting spectators’ dogs. The race was eventually diverted, skipping around 40km of the planned route and restarted with 55km remaining for three laps of a finishing circuit. The men’s race was also later rerouted to avoid clashing with the later-running women’s race and the incident site. Lorena Wiebes celebrates too early Marianne Vos WINS Amstel Gold Women right on the line! The Visma-Lease a Bike rider steals victory from Lorena Wiebes with a 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚-𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒅 throw!#AGR2024 pic.twitter.com/XrusDsIBcT— Eurosport (@eurosport) April 14, 2024 It was unfortunately a nightmare finish for SD Worx-Protime’s Lorena Wiebes. Lidl-Trek had helped catch the three-woman breakaway, clawing them back after the last ascent of the Cauberg in the final two kilometres. The remaining sprinters were unleashed in the last 150m. A fast finish followed with Wiebes – coming off a strong seventh at Paris-Roubaix – initially leading the way. She looked over her right shoulder but didn’t check the left, where she would have seen an emerging Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), who recently celebrated hitting 250 wins. Wiebes raised her arms in an early celebration only for Vos to ride past her on for victory. She took to Instagram after the race to bemoan her early celebration resulting in a second place, calling herself an ‘idiot sandwich’. Tom Pidcock finally wins Amstel Gold Luc Claessen/Getty Images The 2021 Amstel Gold Race resulted in a photo finish between official winner Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers). After the race, controversy ensued as the photo finish looked to be taken before the marked finish line and the side-camera looked to show the opposite result. Fast forward to 2024 and Pidcock made the front four-man group with Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates), Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal-QuickStep). With a chasing group breathing down their necks, they launched their sprints in the final 300m. Vansevenant led things out before Pidcock burst through to win with Hirschi second and Benoot third. No photo finishes this time. See you next week. The post Pro Log: Lorena Wiebes celebrates too early as Marianne Vos and Tom Pidcock kick off Ardennes Week with Amstel Gold Race wins appeared first on Cyclist.