Over 60 names were proposed, but today at a special council meeting of Galway City Council, councillors officially named the new walking and cycling bridge over the River Corrib as Droichead a Dchais, the Bridge of Hope.The bridge, which was opened in May 2023 and had the working title Salmon Weir Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge, was the first bridge over the river in more than 30 years.The publics proposed names for the new bridge included abstract names such as the Bridge of Dreams; other suggestions were linked geographically, including the Corrib Jail Bridge and College Walk; and there were also individuals, including Maurice Semple, Nora Barnacle, and Julia Morrissey.A spokesperson for the council said that the council today approved the recommendation of the Civic Naming Committee in relation to the new name for the pedestrian and cycle bridge and that a formal naming ceremony will take place in the coming weeks.The provision of the bridge was much welcomed but the council has recently come in for some criticism for the lack of safe crossing links to the bridge.A local newspaper journalist, Dara Bradley, said access to the new city bridge is a deathtrap on foot and bikes. In his column in February, Bradley said: As Galway City Council remains preoccupied with finding a name for it, the citizens of the city are just trying to get to and from it without being killed.

Gulo Composites upcoming XC mountain bikes may be the lightest on the market when they hit with a complete 29er wheelset weight around 1,140g. And for gravel, they have a big new idea around matching rim and tire width for optimized aerodynamics.Quick refresher: Gulo makes braided carbon spokes in the US, and designs their rims and hubs around these proprietary spokes. Theyre lighter, very strong, and add a bit of damping and radial compliance while keeping the wheel laterally stiff. Check our initial coverage of the brand for a deeper dive.A few years ago, they updated the wheels with lighter, wider rims. Now, it looks like theyre taking it even further and have a new, wider edge to prevent pinch flats. Or, maybe the rim sidewalls are just thinner to save weight, or both. They werent giving up all the tech details on these yet as theyre still prototypes, butGulo also showed off a bike from their first OEM parter, Neuhaus Metal Works.they did throw the front wheel on the scale to show just how light it really is (530g), which is mainly achieved by a new 275g rim. No word on rider weight limits yet.The oil slick hub finish is a free option on their wheels. Launch date is TBD, target is early summer at the latest.Prototype wide gravel wheelsThe challenge with aerodynamics on gravel bikes is the big tires. Since the generally recognized ideal is for the rims to be ever-so-slightly wider than the tires to optimize aerodynamics, that means gravel rims would have to be comically wide.So, thats basically what Gulo is doing. These prototypes look right at home against 40mm tires, which is a common choice for racing, especially among the pros who dont mind sacrificing a bit of comfort and grip for all-out speed. Target launch date is around Unbound, more details to come closer to that time.GuloComposites.comThe post Gulo Shows Prototype 1,140g XC Wheels & Ultra-Wide Gravel Wheels appeared first on Bikerumor.

In the latest display of his brilliance, Tadej Pogacar powered to a stunning solo victory at Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday afternoon. According to Tom Dumoulin, the Slovenian has his chapter in the annals of cycling history confirmed."We have had quite a nice spring," the former Giro d'Italia winne...

CyclistFollow the money: What does Middle East investment mean for cycling?Just look at that, David Lappartient beams as a group of riders completes another lap of the Hudayriyat Island circuit. People who dont know Abu Dhabi feel its artificial, but the reality is that they have a strong passion for cycling and theyre building a strong cycling environment.Laying foundations in the United Arab Emirates is part of the UCI presidents global vision. Behind him, cranes tower above the shell of a new velodrome that will host the UCI Track World Championships in 2029. A year before that, the sports best sprinters will do battle for the rainbow jersey along the sweeping curve of the Corniche waterfront that sits beneath the towering skyscrapers on the horizon.Replica UAE Team Emirates kits and Colnago bikes are well represented this Thursday evening in late January. The legendary Italian bike manufacturer was acquired by a UAE investment firm in 2020, three years after the old Lampre team was saved by Middle Eastern money. Inside the nearby flagship Colnago store, Tadej Pogaars yellow V3Rs from his maiden Tour de France win is on display the same Pogaar now posing for photos with a group of young Emirati riders. The Slovenian superstar has been flown out from a training camp in Spain for the afternoon to join locals, UCI officials and journalists on a group ride.Emblazoned across the back of Pogaars shorts is the logo of the company that is hosting us here in the Arabian Peninsula, 3,000 miles from cyclings European heart. MyWhoosh, the Abu Dhabi-based virtual cycling app, has just been confirmed as host for the next three editions of the eSports Cycling World Championships, ending the UCIs previous deal with Zwift.UCICalifornia-based Zwift towers over MyWhoosh in user numbers, but serious investment traced back to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, the son of the founder of the UAE saw MyWhoosh offer its users the largest prize pot in cycling e-sports history, a cool $1 million. And in a sport hampered by financial constraints, money talks.If Lappartient claims the UCIs deal with MyWhoosh is part of a global strategy to enlarge cycling worldwide, he also candidly admits to Cyclist that the economy of our sport is not so strong. We need solid investors from this region with a long-term vision. This comes amid rumours of a new Champions League of cycling funded by Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF). But what does this shifting of the sands mean for the sport and could there be serious ramifications for cycling if things head south? Related Posts What is the rumoured Saudi racing league and what would it mean for pro cycling? Who actually are the pro cycling team sponsors 2024? Amnesty International questions new UAE Team Emirates womens team Finding the Emirati TadejIntegral to Abu Dhabis growth is UAE Team Emirates and the UAE Tour, currently the only WorldTour race in the Middle East. Having a rider of Pogaars calibre fronting the team means investment has been associated with winning from the start. Domestically, the team is seen as a catalyst for growth by promoting cycling as a healthy and active lifestyle driving participation with a tight focus on the young generation.UAE Team EmiratesWere more than a team, says general manager Mauro Gianetti. We represent the UAE and have the whole country behind us. Our mission is to find an Emirati talent who one day will ride in the Tour de France. The Swiss cites 20-year-old Mohammad Almutaiwei, a promising sprinter from UAEs Gen Z development team, as the most likely outsider for glory in the Abu Dhabi Worlds in four years time.MyWhoosh CEO Akhtar Saeed Hashmis ambitions are a little bolder. The end goal is an Emirati replacement for Tadej Pogaar, he says. Gianetti does not entirely rule this out. Who would have thought 20 years ago that Slovenia would be the dominant country in cycling? he muses.The decision to take on the Womens WorldTour licence of Al BTC Ljubljana in 2022 is already paying dividends, with UAE Team ADQs 22-year-old Safiya al Sayegh becoming the first Emirati woman road cyclist to qualify for the Olympics. This achievement highlights the UAEs progress, according to British ex-pat Laurie McWhan, a purchasing manager in the oil industry.Ten years ago youd never see an Emirati woman on a bike. Now theyre cycling in groups, he says over coffee at the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club. A puncture may have ended his ride with a two-time Tour winner early, but McWhan is still on cloud nine. When I moved out here 25 years ago, Id never have thought Id be cycling with Tadej Pogaar and watching WorldTour races and the World Championships its like, wow.Keeping up with the JonesesAfter Bahrain hosted the first Formula 1 Grand Prix in the Middle East in 2004, Abu Dhabi followed suit with the unveiling of the $1.3 billion Yas Marina Circuit in 2009. The circuit is now part of the citys armoury of riding options that also includes the Al Wathba desert track. The promise of 1,000km of bike lanes has helped Abu Dhabi become the first Asian location to receive the UCIs Bike City label even if the fierce summer heat makes virtual cycling more appealing.The growth is the reason Im still here after eight years, says Bart van den Dries, MyWhooshs relationships manager. The 49-year-old Belgian rode with Frank Vandenbrouke as a youngster and helped train Jasper Philipsen before moving to Abu Dhabi to become brand manager at the Colnago store. He has since clocked 3,000 laps of the Yas Marina Circuit and says, If you love cycling and youre passionate about the industry, this is the place to be.While Abu Dhabi is not the first Middle East city to host a World Championships, the UCI will pray that it doesnt emulate the legacy of its predecessor. The second of Peter Sagans three world titles came in Qatar when he pipped Mark Cavendish in Doha in 2016 months after Cav won the 15th and final edition of the Tour of Qatar, cancelled owing to lack of sponsorship.Qatars error, according to the UCIs head of off-road disciplines, was overlooking the development of a cycling culture of its own. If you forget about the basics like Qatar then it will dry up, says Pieter van den Abeele. But in Abu Dhabi theyre building cycling from the top to the bottom without forgetting to have a vision for the bottom.Since this blip, the Middle East has made serious inroads. Bahrain made its move the same year as the UAE with the team now known as Bahrain Victorious. Bankrolled by the sovereign wealth fund, it was launched after Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad, the fourth son of the King, enjoyed a bike ride with Vincenzo Nibali. Saudi Arabia then entered the fray last year through the ancient oasis city of AlUla, which now co-sponsors Simon Yates Jayco-AlUla team and the Liv-AlUla-Jayco womens team.Explaining the phenomenonThe next phase of cyclings expansion across the Arabian Peninsula will likely be a two-up sprint between Mohamed bin Zayed and Mohammed bin Salman, the crown princes of UAE and Saudi Arabia. According to Professor Natalie Koch, a political geographer specialising in the Middle East, this battle to assert regional supremacy is key to understanding the sports investments in the area.More generally, these investments are driven by the need for Gulf powers to diversify their economies away from oil and towards more sustainable areas of economic activity such as tourism and sport. Koch argues that hosting international sports events is part of the broader geopolitical puzzle of generating a demand for visitors. By creating hubs for globalised sport, business and entertainment, the region can create a multi-faceted image of itself that extends beyond its traditional associations. A type of reputational laundering, if you will.Globalised sport is essentially dominated by Western countries, and that is especially true with cycling, much more than other sports, says Koch, who was on the cusp of turning pro with Team Novo Nordisk before becoming an academic. Sports tourism is already a $600 billion industry in the Middle East and is expected to grow by 8.7% by 2026 compared with global sector growth of 3.3% over the same period. The influx of Gulf money will not stop Europe being the home of cycling, but thats by the by, thinks Koch.Why do the Gulf governments want to get involved in this particular sport? To create a positive image within those countries and to build up this idea that the Gulf countries are moderate, she says. Its a way of showing they are like Western countries. They want to break down the stereotype of the Gulf as a backward region that is not part of the modern, globalised world.A little goes a long wayIn this bid to balance tradition with progress while working towards a post-oil future, cyclings very appeal lies in the precarious and contextually cheap financial structure. The estimated annual budget of UAE Team Emirates is less than half the reported 128 million bonus footballer Kylian Mbapp could earn if he signs with Real Madrid, while golfer Jon Rahm is set to earn triple that amount for jumping from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf.Cycling is low stakes compared to the higher amounts of capital you need for some of these football clubs or other acquisitions such as LIV Golf, says Koch. A little money can go a long way, and from the Middle East investors perspective, its an extremely small amount of money.Even better, while football teams retain names and colours, buying a cycling team gives you naming rights and your national colours on the jersey. And although the spectre of sportswashing looms, Koch believes the potential for backlash is negligible, despite cyclings conscientious fan base.International media exposure is far lower with cycling than football its just niche media outlets. You may upset some people in the cycling community, but beyond that there isnt necessarily a huge threat.Chronic underfunding in womens cycling makes it an even easier target, hence the Saudi and UAE landgrab of the Womens WorldTour. Its moves such as this that, to some, give Middle Eastern investment a sour taste.Giro d'ItaliaIt gives the impression that they care, says Koch. They can say that theyre developing womens sport to counter claims of misogyny.Koch completes this bleak outlook with claims that the push for cycling infrastructure is less about cycling and more about the hospitality and construction sector with local merchants and developers, rather than cyclists, the real benefactors.Sportswashing in the global laundromatThe use of sport for political reasons is far from unique to the Gulf states. Governments around the world, including those in Europe, have historically utilised sports investments for similar purposes, Doctor Mahfoud Amara, director of sports science at Qatar University, tells Cyclist. In other words: one democratic Western states sports diplomacy is another authoritarian regimes sportswashing.Nevertheless, from the 2018 killing of US-based journalist Kamal Khashoggi to the execution of 81 men on a single day in 2023, its undeniable that human rights in Saudi Arabia is a grave concern. The outlook is not much better in the UAE, where political parties are banned; Bahrain, where prisoners are still tortured; or Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal. Undeniable, also, is the effectiveness of using the allure of sporting stars, teams and events to influence public opinion.Sports universal culture means people easily buy into it. Not only is it simple to get a lot of people onside very quickly, its also an effective way of increasing a nations GDP, as Bin Salman recently boasted while dismissing accusations of sportswashing. MyWhoosh CEO Hashmi is more diplomatic: People can say what they want its their freedom of speech. But it needs to be a fair and legitimate discussion, not just baseless allegations.Such a response butters no parsnips with Phil Lynch, director of the International Service for Human Rights.Cycling is or should be a sport characterised by values such as freedom of movement, freedom of expression, equality, diversity, sustainability and respect for the environment. These are not values strongly associated with the authoritarian regimes that rule the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, he says.Lynch, whose passion for human rights is matched only by his passion for cycling, fears that significant investment from the Middle East will substantially muzzle the ability or willingness of pro cyclings major stakeholders to speak out on fundamental issues such as womens rights, LGBTI rights, minority rights and environmental rights.Last year, Norwegian under-23 Time-Trial World Champion Sren Wrenskjold turned down a contract with UAE Team Emirates on moral and ethical grounds. Meanwhile, commentator Ned Boulting made the decision not to cover the UAE Tour in 2022 and refuses to work in Saudi Arabia. In this light, its not a stretch to say that a rider of Pogaars ability, charisma and affability has been somewhat weaponised by his employers.Yet the claim that the Middle East, through its sports engagement, is creating a platform upon which progress can be made is one that Brian Cookson, Lappartients predecessor at the UCI, adheres to.I feel its better to seek peace and harmony through sport than put up barriers, but maybe thats just the view of an old hippy, says Cookson, who inherited the Qatar Worlds controversy from his own predecessor, Pat McQuaid.At the end of the day, the wealth of these regimes pretty much comes from the developed world because were buying their oil and gas, Cookson says. Maybe its not entirely unreasonable to expect some of that investment to come back into our culture. Lynch is wary of this stance. Not only do the reputational benefits outweigh any additional spotlight shone upon a nation, Lynch argues the level of repression in countries such as China and Russia, for example, has actually worsened since they hosted the Olympics and World Cup respectively.Growth at ones perilRecent reports suggest that the PIF is considering investing $250 million in the One Cycling project that aims to reform the race calendar and launch a cycling league. The news has been met with concern, with Boulting saying on Twitter, I hate the notion that Saudi money might soon deform the cycling calendar. And I hope they stay far hence.Cyclings need for investment should not blind the sport from the truth, says Lynch: Because of the lack of brand and values alignment, any Middle Eastern investment is likely to be relatively short-term and instrumental, contributing to, rather than addressing, the precarious financial structure of the sport.Lynch says that the argument of investment regardless of provenance essentially boils down to this: weve built a model that relies on funding from authoritarian regimes and therefore we need to increase investment from authoritarian regimes. What we need is some imagination and innovation to redesign the financial model.Koch concurs, citing LIV Golfs sudden partnership with the PGA, its unsustainable economics and under-attended joke tournaments: I think you would see the same thing if One Cycling went forward. Its bound to fail. Cycling is just not the kind of sport that can sustain the kind of economic returns these investment funds seek.For his part, Cookson recalls an old joke: How do you make a million quid out of cycling? Start with two million. Unless big hitters like the Tour de France get on board, he feels the project will struggle. And with Tour director Christian Prudhomme last month pouring cold water over any collaboration, it may not even get off the ground.Build, build, buildLike all cities where construction is king, life in Abu Dhabi plays out to the constant churn of concrete and the deafening drone of drills. Its state-of-the-art velodrome will include a ramped road sweeping around the exterior to allow riders to access an open-air, roof-top track. Scheduled for completion in 2025, it will be the centrepiece of a sports hub that will transform Hudayriyat Island by the time the World Championships comes to town. Abu Dhabis powers that be clearly see this as a way of confirming its world-class cycling hub status, but according to Koch, the velodrome will still only ever be a pet project belonging to a money-grabbing elite.All across the Gulf, the entire political economy is built around the idea of build, build, build. If you slow down or stop then the financial interest of the ruling elites is challenged, so you need a constant parade of events to justify these efforts to build up and develop the country, says Koch grimly. Its all about profit. Whether its a big skyscraper or a new velodrome they dont care what happens to it afterwards because they got paid already.Right or wrong, this wont stop Lappartient and the UCI doubling down on their expansion in the Middle East and, specifically, in the city that will host a live final of the eSports Cycling Worlds in October. Nor will it stop the pursuit of their goal: invest, put people on bikes, expand.Development here is not just a flash in the pan. The World Championships is clearly not the end of the story, the UCI president vouches. I think we need to solidify this worldwide and potentially, tomorrow, why not open a satellite for the UCI World Cycling Centre here in Abu Dhabi? That could be something good for us.Widening the netThe Middle Easts growing influence in cyclingJayco-AlUlaWorldTour teams UAE Team Emirates, Bahrain Victorious and Jayco-AlUla are funded by regimes from the Gulf Cooperation Council, with Liv-AlUla-Jayco and UAE Team ADQ represented from the Womens WorldTour. Set up one year before the Giro dItalias grande partenza in Israel in 2018, the mens peloton also features a fourth Middle Eastern team in Israel-Premier Tech.While the Tour of Qatar folded shortly after Doha hosted the 2016 Worlds, the UAE Tour was created in 2019 after merging the Abu Dhabi Tour and the Dubai Tour. It has run for six editions and is currently the only WorldTour race in the Middle East. Other races include the AlUla Tour (formerly Saudi Tour) and the Tour of Oman, won this year by brothers Simon and Adam Yates respectively.The 2022 Urban Cycling World Championships were held in Abu Dhabi and will return in 2024. Abu Dhabi will also hold the 2028 UCI Road and 2029 UCI Track World Championships. MyWhoosh, the UAE-funded virtual cycling app, will host the next three editions of the eSports Cycling World Championships after the UCI ended its previous deal with Zwift.Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund has been linked to a $250 million investment in the new One Cycling project aiming to reform and revamp the race calendar. Last year, it was reported that Neom, Saudis new city on the Red Sea, was exploring a takeover of Jumbo-Visma.Abu Dhabis cycling infrastructureThe hi-tech velodrome isnt the first step, and nor is it scheduled to be the lastIn November 2021, Abu Dhabi became the first Asian destination to receive the UCIs Bike City title. The UAE capital boasts 300km of tracks along the Corniche waterfront, at the nearby Al Wathba desert circuit and on Hudayriyat Island. While still in its construction phase, the latter recently hosted the time-trial in the UAE Tour, where American Brandon McNulty led home a UAE Team Emirates clean sweep on the podium.Scheduled to open in 2025, the 3,500-seat Velodrome Abu Dhabi is the centrepiece of the Hudayriyat sports complex and will be the venue for the 2029 Track World Championships. It will be adorned with a rooftop track, connected to the ground via a 600m cycling ramp winding around the outer walls, giving 360-degree views of the Abu Dhabi skyline. Elsewhere in the city, cyclists of all ages, abilities and genders can ride on the Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit during four-hour slots twice a week including free bike hire. As part of an ongoing commitment to transform Abu Dhabi into a world class cycling hub, future plans include over 1,000km of protected cycle lanes and the ambitious Abu Dhabi loop a 109km track connecting key attractions across the city. Should the heat be too unbearable, theres always MyWhoosh. This article originally appeared in issue 151 of Cyclist magazine. Click here to subscribe Related Posts What is the rumoured Saudi racing league and what would it mean for pro cycling? Who actually are the pro cycling team sponsors 2024? Amnesty International questions new UAE Team Emirates womens team The post Follow the money: What does Middle East investment mean for cycling? appeared first on Cyclist.

After an excellent weekend for the team that saw wins for Tadej Pogacar at Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Antonio Morgado at the Giro della Romagna, UAE Team Emirates have revealed a top-quality lineup for the 2024 Tour de Romandie.Leading the charge, a two-pronged general classification attack of Adam Y...

Egan Bernal is slowly getting back to his top level after years spent in the wilderness of recovery from his horrific crash. According to the numbers at least, Bernal might even be even better than ever before."I wake up every moment with the aim of becoming the best," Bernal says in conversation w...

CyclistPro Log: Tadej Pogaar and Grace Brown win Lige-Bastogne-Lige, womens Milan-San Remo news and Lorena Wiebes extends SD Worx-Protime contractWelcome back to another edition of Pro Log. This past weekend marked the final spring Classic as we transition to Grand Tour season. How time flies.The mens Lige-Bastogne-Lige was won by Tadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates) through another solo attack while Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez) sprinted to victory in the womens race.The Tour of Turkey got underway yesterday and Max Kanter (Astana Qazaqstan) won Stage 2 from Kemer to Kalkan with Henri Uhlig (Alpecin-Deceuninck) leading the race. Related Posts Kasia Niewiadoma is cyclings latest example for why you should never give up Every Tadej Pogaar Monument performance ranked Giro dItalia 2024: Stage-by-stage preview and how to watch Tadej Pogaar solos to second Lige-Bastogne-Lige victoryA.S.O./Billy CeustersIt was not a question of if Tadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates) would attack at Lige-Bastogne-Lige, but when. Fresh from an altitude training camp, he lined up at the start line alongside Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who in turn was arriving off the back of his Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix dominance. Unstoppable force versus immovable object. Who would prevail?Pogaar attacked on the iconic Cte de la Redoute climb with just under 39km to the finish. This is also where last years victor Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) went clear. But this was a far cry from Pogaars 2023 Lige-Bastogne-Lige, which ended in a broken wrist and shattered Ardennes triple dreams. He rode clear and dedicated the win to his partner Urka igarts mother, who sadly passed away on that day two years ago.Une 2eme place qui signifie beaucoup pour @romainbardet sur #LBL A special 2nd place for @romainbardet in #LBL https://t.co/wHkG4fFsP8 pic.twitter.com/6XaCEvEb53 Lige-Bastogne-Lige (@LiegeBastogneL) April 21, 2024 Behind Pogaar, Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) finished second, a career best Monument performance. On his way to the podium, Bardet gave a thumbs up to the camera, smiling at his success and after the finish the emotions came flooding in, as he was seen sobbing on his bike at the achievement. Van der Poel won the sprint for third place. Even Bardets son couldnt believe it.This is so cute Angus almost crying saying he didn't know his dad could beat Mathieu pic.twitter.com/UrwDberjqC allergy_al (@allergy_al) April 22, 2024 Grace Brown sprints to win at Lige-Bastogne-Lige FemmesA.S.O./Billy CeustersIn the womens Lige-Bastogne-Lige, Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez) broke away with Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM) and Kim Cadzow (EF Education-Cannondale), eventually being absorbed by a strong chasing group as the race hit the final 10km. But Browns resilience was evident. Undeterred by a quick detour as she locked up coming out of a roundabout, she fought hard to reattach to the leading group with Cadzow in tow.The win would be decided between this six-woman group, and what a selection of contenders it boasted. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), who recently ended an almost five-year win drought at La Flche Wallonne, and teammate Chabbey, plus Tour of Flanders winner Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) and reigning champion Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime). An initial kick from Niewiadoma was neutralised by Longo Borghini. It looked like perhaps the two were clear to fight between themselves until a surging Brown came sprinting into the picture. She flew by Longo Borghini for victory. Twice second at Lige-Bastogne-Lige in 2020 and 2022, she finally made the top step with a roaring performance.Closer to another womens Milan-San Remo?Heard this too on RAI TV, women's Milan-Sanremo in the works, they added the Trofeo Binda will have to move to another slot https://t.co/cpYiqlo0zU the Inner Ring (@inrng) April 21, 2024 Rumors began to swirl on Twitter that RAI Sport has confirmed a womens Milan-San Remo for 2025, with Trofeo Alfredo Binda having to be moved to another slot on the calendar.RCS Sport had initially aimed to add a womens Milan-San Remo in 2023, but that did not materialise. Hopefully this time its happening.The last winner of a womens Milan-San Remo then called the Primavera Rosa was Trixi Worrack for Equipe Nrnberger Versicherung in 2005.Lorena Wiebes extends contract with SD Worx-ProtimeSD Worx-ProtimeLorena Wiebes has extended her contract with SD Worx-Protime through 2028. The 25-year-old said, I didnt hesitate for long. I feel completely at home in this team and I also feel that in this environment I can make the necessary steps in the coming years.I get along well with Lotte [Kopecky]. In the races we strengthen each other its a great prospect that we will still be together in a team for the next four years.Wiebes has been with the squad since 2023 and in that short time she has racked up the wins including Ronde van Drenthe, Gent-Wevelgem, stage wins at the Giro dItalia Donne and Tour de France Femmes, and shes still the only winner of Scheldeprijs with four consecutive victories.See you next week. Related Posts Kasia Niewiadoma is cyclings latest example for why you should never give up Every Tadej Pogaar Monument performance ranked Giro dItalia 2024: Stage-by-stage preview and how to watch The post Pro Log: Tadej Pogaar and Grace Brown win Lige-Bastogne-Lige, womens Milan-San Remo news and Lorena Wiebes extends SD Worx-Protime contract appeared first on Cyclist.

For the second year running, Elisa Longo Borghini was forced to settle for a heartbreaking second place at Liege-Bastogne-Liege Femmes on Sunday afternoon. After Demi Vollering edged her out last year, Grace Brown took victory in 2024."The sprint was a very long one actually. Katarzyna Niewiadoma ha...

The Tour de Romandie takes place from the 23rd to the 28th of April. It is a traditional figure in the World Tour but one where more riders get opportunities to take wins; in what is the first high-level stage-race following the Ardennes classics. We preview the race ahead.The race begins with a 2....

An extremely narrow path beside Blackrock Dart station where its hard for people to pass each other is to be replaced by a new wide passageway with separate pedestrian and cycle paths and greenery inside the current wall of Deepwell House, a former house of the Guinness family.At a local area council meeting this evening, Dn Laoghaire Rathdown County Council councillors strongly welcomed the plan. There was even laughter in the council chamber as one of the councillors, who nearly always objects to active travel projects, supported it.The project length of 130 metres and a width of 9 metres is planned to include a 3 metre wide two-way cycle track and a footpath of 2 metres. Green areas will be included between both paths and the walls lining the paths.IMAGES: The existing path.A section of the route with walls on both sides will be around 80-90 metres long. Councillors asked if the side of the Dart station could be left open with a railing rather than a wall, but a council official said that it would not be possible as the project will use an existing protected wall.Margaret Hartnett, a senior council engineer, said that the wall on the Dart line side would be the existing Deepwell House wall, which has architectural or historical value. A new wall would be provided to separate the rest of the houses garden from the new public paths.She said that landowner negotiations were ongoing, and there had been a slight delay in bringing the presentation to councillors because of a change in the environmental screening processes outlined by the National Transport Authority. The current path forms part of the Coastal Mobility Route, but signs tell cyclists to dismount along the section containing the high wall. The current path is hardly wide enough for many bicycles, prams, and wheelchairs to pass at once.The current timeline for the project includes public consultation on a Part 8 planning process is expected to start in May and run for six weeks, with a report presented in August and the decision made at the full council meeting in September.IMAGE: A Dn Laoghaire Rathdown County Council drawing of the plan.On the park side, a new bridge will be required to replace the existing narrower bridge over the stream, and, on the station side, a shared area for people walking and cycling is proposed before the cycle path exits onto the carriageway on Bath Place outside the train station.Cllr Marie Baker (Fine Gael) said that the council previously almost had the project ready to go previously and it was long over due given the wonderful two-way cycle path through Blackrock Park.She said: Anybody who knows it knows what a mess it is you end up flattening yourself against the wall if you come up to a cyclist quite frankly, the cyclist dismount signage should have been taken down years ago because its actually easier to pass the cyclist on the bicycle than if they get off the bicycle, there really isnt room for everybody to dance their way through.Cllr Martha Fanning (Labour) said: Im absolutely delighted to see this going forward. As a teenager it wrecked my head and as a mom with a toddler it was very difficult. I didnt use the park as much as I should have when on maternity leave as its just too difficult to navigate with was buggy. You now see people in cargo bikes and they cannot use it either.She said that at the weekend, she cycled out to Sandycove on the Coastal Mobility Route, and one of her children was ahead of her for the journey, but she was sure he was okay because its a safe path. Cllr Fanning added it was now up to Dublin City Council to finish their section of the route toward the city centre. The city councils section of the route via Strand Road was to be trailed 2021, but High Court ruled against the project. The council took the case to the Court of Appeal, but 14 months on from the last hearing of the case, the court has yet to publish its written decision.Cllr Kate Ruddock (Green Party) said she really welcomed the project, which was important to link Blackrock to the park, and she said she hopes the negotiations with the landowners go well.Cllr Mary Hanafin (Fianna Fil) said that officials should keep going with the project as fast as they can and that all the councillors were behind them on this. She said: Once this is done, the rest will come quite quickly for the seafront area in Blackrock and it could be really positive.Cllr Maurice Dockrell (FG) said that he would like to join in with the chorus of approval, and it was a sad sight seeing people with disabilities being unable to easily use the current narrow path.Cllr Kate Feeney (Fianna Fil) said that women can feel afraid in the narrowness of the lane. Cllr Melisa Halpin (People Before Profit) asked if the new area would be lit up, and it was confirmed it would be. She also asked if there was to be a delineation between the cycle path and the pedestrian path Cllr Michael Clark (Fianna Fil) said: Even I like this one which was quickly followed by laughter in the council chamber. He said: I could go through my usual suite of objections, but this one is unapologetically excellent and would revolutionise the lives of those using active travel in the area.Cllr Lorraine Hall (FG) said that the plan was fantastic and would benefit people along the coast who use the cycle route.Cllr Tom Kivlehan (Green Party) said: It is a horrific narrow lane to get through, whether you are a cyclist or pedestrian or mothers or fathers with buggies going in the opposite direction, there was always a problem caused here. This has been long awaited.At the train station side, he said that the design should invite people into the path. He said: This is going to become a beautiful new entrance to Blackrock Park. We should invite people in.