No need for too much analysis, Tadej Pogaar attacks early on La Redoute. Richard Carapaz gives chase but cant stay in contact and the Slovenian solos away for the win. It really was that simple.Is there more to write home about? A massive crash saw the field split just inside the 100km to go point, on the approach to the first of the climbs after Bastogne. A road block of tangled bodies and bikes meant and caught behind simply could not get past including Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock and Romain Grgoire. You could blame them for sitting at the back but it wasnt too much of a rookie mistake given the weather and many riders sitting up to remove clothing before the race heated up. Among those injured was Kvin Vauquelin.Up ahead the lead bunch didnt wait with Israel-PremierTech moving to the front and upping the pace, within no time theyd reeled in the early breakaway and had Van der Poel and company at almost a minute. Things would regroup but those delayed lost some of their plumage in the chase, it might explain why Pidcock didnt feature as much as expected but the cold probably froze many out of action too.UAE led the bunch across the Ardennes with Finn Fisher-Black and Domen Novak setting the pace. Having asked yesterday where Pogaar would attack, La Redoute or the Roche-aux-Faucons, we quickly got the answer as he launched on La Redoute.Embed from Getty ImagesThe interesting thing was he went early. It made sense, the longer the climb the more his advantage over many of the others, especially Mathieu van der Poel. Still, this was on th3 the opening section that runs parallel to the express road. Novak finished his pull and Pogaar attacked. A quick burst out of the saddle, maybe 12 pedal strokes, and he was away Behind everyone else was bobbing and weaving on the pedals.Embed from Getty ImagesRichard Carapaz was the best of the rest but the contrast in styles was flagrant, Pogaar seated and spinning while Carapaz had his chain in the big ring and was jerking about trying to recruit every sinew.Embed from Getty ImagesPogaar was away and quickly taking time. At one point he was racing in the dry while the chasers behind were being blasted by hail, even Mother Nature was supplying the symbolism. Marc Hirshi was behind but was hardly needed to dampen the chase. Race over? Not quite as there was a lively contest behind. Ben Healy made several attacks and on his third move he was joined by Romain Bardet. The pair had Benot Cosnefroy and Romain Grgoire join and would stay away until the Roche-aux-Faucons.Embed from Getty ImagesThe quartet never had much more than 20 seconds and Bardet persisted on the climb, he only had a few seconds on the chase led by Egan Bernal and Maxim Van Gils. Each attack from the group though couldnt quite reach Bardets slipstream and he persisted, visibly on the limit yet never giving up.As the descent into Seraing began Van der Poel bridged across to the chase group and the second inevitability of the day cam into view: hed be on the podium with his sprint. Bardet held for second and sure enough Van der Poel was fastest in the finishing straight to finish third.Embed from Getty ImagesThe VerdictA clear win for Tadej Pogaar in a race with few surprises. His team set the pace for much of the day and once his last helper pulled over he attacked and went solo to the finish. All so simple but a demonstration of a ride, comparable to Van der Poels wins in the Ronde and Roubaix for the way he was separate from the rest of the field in the final hour.Some riders complain in private that their teams pre-race briefings can be an hour long, an information overload. UAEs plan was simple as they took turns to set the pace before their leader finished off the job alone in the final 30km. For Pogaar this wasnt just another win. Two years ago he didnt start this race after his partners mother died and he pointed to the sky crossing the finish line today in tribute; a year ago he crashed and broke his scaphoid.Embed from Getty ImagesThe race for second place was entertaining. On the one hand they were beaten and only trading moves within the final 30km but it was only last year that we were wowed by the audacity of Remco Evenepoel launching on La Redoute. Before the race often only came to the boil on the Roche-aux-Faucons. Romain Bardets catch-me-if-you can act was a thrill and satisfying to see him get his best result after a decade of trying to win here, Egan Bernal was active in the final. Ben Healy has been very strong in the Ardennes but couldnt get a result.Embed from Getty ImagesVan der Poels podium is probably the best result for him: he can see a route to victory but how to engineer a bunch sprint on the banks of the Meuse? He also becomes the first rider to finish on the podium in the Ronde, Roubaix and Lige in the same season since his father Adrie.Embed from Getty ImagesThe post The Moment Lige-Bastogne-Lige Was Won first appeared on The Inner Ring.

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Ahead of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, most are assuming the Maglia Rosa already almost certain to be won by overwhelming pre-race favourite Tadej Pogacar. INEOS Grenadiers, who became the first team to officially unveil their lineup the other day however, insist the Slovenian can be beaten."Of course he...

Black Friday, Black Week or Black Month - you name it. Back in the day... A time when we used to have a day of rest, spend time with our families and focus on what's essential in life! A local tradition that started in Philly, USA, in the mid-nineteenth century when the trading and sale of the year's crops began. People would gather at the market square and celebrate with food, drinks and entertainment! Good old times.We lost the meaning of this day a long time ago, and now it has become one of the biggest days in the year for shopping sales in the World. In defence of the holiday, many small businesses need this boost in sales to keep going through the hard times that come with weather and other things we cannot control. But we are here to focus on the big players and our addiction to buying things we don't need for our planet's health. The holiday season is one of the busiest times for retailers, with people shopping more and spending more money than they usually do.This shopping spree can create a lot of waste and pollution on so many levels that there are Crow Bicycles, and we would prefer to go for a ride. And we will! On the 25th of November, the stationery shop will remain closed, and we encourage you to spend this weekend on sports activities! There will be more fantastic days to grab a bike rather than clogging the already busy weekend.The amount of trash produced during Black Friday/Christmas shopping has doubled over the last 20 years due to increased production and longer shopping trips.But why do we overconsume so much in the first place?We are entitled to many things in our society. We want to be happy, we want to feel comfortable, and we want to have everything we want instantly. Free deliveries and returns make us forget about the pollution each of our orders causes. Fast fashion is killing the planet, but let's not break the Christmas spirit, huh?The Consumerist culture has created an increasing demand for more goods at a lower price. We even may know something has a too good price tag for the performance it offers, but no one wants to feel inferior on the field out there. We cyclists tend to overthink our next buy - lighter components, better brakes, softer saddle - don't even try to fool us. You had such a thought with your open basket on the website.That's a fact, but what can we do about it in the first place? Observe crows!These highly adaptive animals, just like humans, could be found all over the World. Staying in balance with our surroundings makes it easier for local species to survive. Crows who live in Europe don't crave bananas, and The lesson here is that being mindful and responsible in our consumer choices can make a difference to the well-being of all wildlife on Earth. Slowing down and choosing wisely is a great way to show our environmental support and will impact our well-being. So let's pay attention to the ecological damage we are causing simply by getting gifts. Plan and start thinking about what to give next year! "If you won't accept eco-effectiveness, then at least admit your stupidity." - Thomas L. Friedman. Do you need that extra pair of "you name it?We aim for a more sustainable future at Crow Bicycles and want you to be part of it!With over 70% of our bike parts being made in Europe while manufacturing and painting the components takes place in Spain only, we aim for as short a supply chain as possible. It would blow your mind how much a single part can travel before coming to your doorstep! The carbon footprint is enormous! Just like crows - we use what we can find locally and adapt! Support local bike shops instead of Amazon! Local shops are the foundation of every community, and we should honour them as much as we support fair-trade coffee. They create more jobs in thecommunity and are the source of ideas for new and creative things! Just like local events, trails and parties!We are stuck in the global outreach with social media bombarding us with more advertising. The World is shifting to the demand for cheap and readily available products. Maybe this "Black Friday:" hype is a response to corporate greed and political corruption in this country. We need to remind ourselves that it's not all about bargains! Please take a good, long ride and think about it! Let the horns go silent for a while, and... remember our local trails & rides are still running strong! We have to unplug from the flow fed by these worldly distractions created by capitalism and realise that there is more to life than consumerism!To sum it up, don't become a grinch that hates Christmas time, yet realise how it affects our only planet. This is the only place we know of sick gravel routes, single-track trails or ideal sunset boulevards. Let's take care of it together, consume less and ride more!

Booked a cycling trip and not sure what bike to rent? My 2024 guide to choosing the perfect bike for your planned ride is here! One cool thing about renting a bike for your Eat Sleep Cycle trip is that we have a broad range to choose from - if youre not sure what bike is right for you, keep reading. Oh, it might help if you have seen the Barbie movie too, youll find out why!La entrada Choosing the Perfect Bike for your Ride se public primero en Eat Sleep Cycle.

Further to yesterdays post, you may have noticed a lurker in the background of one of the photos:This is because Yonkers is rife with deer, and they fear no man:In fact this one actually started to approach me, and for a minute there I thought it was going to come up and sniff my crotch like a dog. The trails just north of the city are full of such wonders, and for a time my favorite deer-slayer was the RockCombo, which was more or less in its stock configuration when I first received it in 2020:It grew on me quickly, and over time it became my ready for anything bike:Then came The Great Purge of 2024, and the difficult decision to pass it along, since it overlapped with the Homer in particular:[Via the comments.]Yes, the RockCombo had more mountain bike in it, but for that I have the Jones.I was sorry to see it go, but I do still have its offspring, which will have a new rider once my younger son grows into it:I may have to give it a Rivendell Junior treatment with some swept bars.I also get to see the RockCombo every once in awhile when it pops up in the comments, as it did yesterday:As you can see its new owner has elevated it to a new level of elegance and sophistication it would never, ever have attained under my curatorship.Its enough to make me want another oneor at least check out what theyre going for:The RockCombo is often cited as the first gravel bike:However, this cant be true, because if it was then Specialized would be suing all the other companies selling gravel bikes the same way they sued that guy who named his cafe Roubaix:In any case, seeing the RockCombo again made me nostalgic for it, and in my subsequent pokings around I found a contemporary review of the bike Id never seen before:It was from the June 1989 issue of Bicycle Guide:And was part of a series on hybrids that also included the Bianchi Tangent:The Fisher Hybrid:The Bruce Gordon Rock N Road:The Miyata Alumicross:The Offroad Climber:And the Serotta Slicker:1989 was quite a year.Of course the hybrid concept soon evolved into something tamer; for example, the drop bars disappeared, and if anything its the lack of drop bars that has since come, at least in part, to define the hybrid. But the way hybrids were described in 1989 is exactly the way we describe a certain type of bike beginning with g today:Right down to the mystical ineffability:It was only a matter of time.

What sounds like more fun that getting paid to go on bike adventures, to create new routes, and to organize events for other cyclists? Sounds too good to be true, right? Yet, thats exactly what Sarah Swallow is doing.Sarah manages to blend adventure cycling, community organizing, and advocacy work into one creative and inspiring package. Whether youre interested in joining her in Southern Arizona for a ride, learning how to organize your own event, or create cycling routes, youll want to listen to this episode.Photo by Hubert dAutremontListen To The InterviewOr Watch On YouTubeStuff We Discuss In This EpisodeSarahs events including Ruta Del Jefe and the Sky Islands Adventure Ride Series.The importance of advocacy in the outdoor recreation industry and its potential to protect places and advocate for change.The biodiversity of Southern Arizona, including the Sky Islands, and the mining industrys impact on the region.Sarahs journey as a bicycle entrepreneur starting with bicycle tours at age 12 and continuing on to be a bike shop owner and then Specialized ambassador. How Sarah has created an inclusive environment at her events and how others can do the same.How folks can get started creating their own local bike events.How to use Ride With GPS for route planning.Connect With Sarah Swallow Instagram:@sarahjswallow Website:https://sarahjswallow.com/More Episodes You Might EnjoyLael Wilcox Interview: Biking Around The WorldBikepacking For Beginners With Laura HeinerAdventure Cycling & Cartooning With Tegan PhillipsAbout The HostKristen Bonkoski is the founder and owner of Femme Cyclist.An avid cyclist for a few decades now, she took to cycling during her late teen years a time when she needed something to help boost her self-esteem and confidence.Mission accomplished, the sport has become an important part of her life. Kristens favorite disciplines are mountain biking andbike commuting, although youcan also find her crankingout a century on her road bike and touring with her husband and son. If it has to do with two wheels, she enjoys doing it.Kristen is a certified USA Cycling coach, and she runsRascal Rides, a website about biking with kids.IG:@kristenlbonkoskiThe post Sarah Swallow Interview: Adventure Cycling & Community Organizing appeared first on Femme Cyclist.

Tadej Pogaar is the big favourite to win. What if the weather was harder to forecast? Cold, wet and wintry conditions are due for the run down to Lige with the chance of snow. If so then just last Wednesdays Flche Wallonne this could change plenty and wardrobe choices and upcoming goals can weigh on the results as much as form.The Route: 254.5km and 4,000m of vertical gain, as much as a mountain stage in a grand tour so if the y-axis doesnt look severe it does add up by the end. The route isnt identical to last year because the run to Bastogne is different but once the turn back is made the route is the same to the finish.The route is familiar with the unrelenting procession of climbs where its one every few kilometres. Most of these are 1-2km at typically 10% but theyre irregular and make riders pay for being in a bad position. This in turn makes the descents risky, most are not too technical but riders jostle for position ahead of the next climb making for little recovery time.Last year saw novelty where La Redoute was chased by an extra unmarked climb. Its back again. So we have the same approach to La Redoute and the steep open climb as usual, 2km at close to 9%. But unlike past years were there was a left turn at the top, a false flat where Evenepoel launched in 2023 and the descent to Sprimont, here the race turns right. It goes over to Hotchamps and theres more climbing, 1km at 5.5% with a middle section at 7%, this is where Evenepoel rode Tom Pidcock off his wheel. Then comes an exposed section and then comes the Cte des Forges, added back this year, a steady on a wide road but more vertical gain and then a fast descent to the Ourthe valley.The Cte de La Roche-aux-Faucons is next, first used in 2008 but very selective and now a staple. Listed as 1.5km at 10%, this is hard enough but after a brief descent of a few seconds it starts rising again to the village of Boncelles and this second section is 1.6km long with a gradient of 5.5% which isnt steep but with all the climbing before, both cumulatively in the day and the sharp effort just before, its a difficult moment and where the winning move often forms and those beaten cant or wont chase. You can see this second part of the climb on the profile below. As the final climb its the make-or-break moment for many.The Finish: its hard to close any gaps over the top of the climb and down the tricky descent into Lige, arguably the most scenic way to town as the woodland avoids views of the dilapidated steel works. The comes the flat quay road beside the river Meuse.The ContendersWhere will Tadej Pogaar attack? The simplest scenario is his UAE team set a tough pace on the climbs and then he picks his moment to launch and nobody can follow. La Redoute? The Roche-aux-Faucons? Victory isnt inevitable see last year where he crashed out and ruined his summer but a triumph does feel like the most likely outcome, and by a long way. If anything the weather is a serious factor and for him and everyone else, a potential rival so hes only a four-chaining pick below. He can outclimb riders and if anyone does arrive in Lige with him he can smoke them in a sprint. Marc Hirschi is in good form and can be a second card to play from a team that is strong but not intimidating.Tom Pidcock (Ineos) was the second pick last year after Evenepoel and is as convincing today. Hes good on the punchy climbs, in form and we saw him win the Amstel thanks to his sprint. How to beat Pogaar though? He and Ineos can let UAE do the work all day and try to exploit this and hope for a crafty sprint. Egan Bernal as one to watch too.Mathias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) was last seen shivering after quitting the Flche Wallonne. Suitably defrosted hes good for a course like this but faces tough conditions again. Even if he can float over the climbs, his sprint isnt reassuring especially compared to some of the rivals he has got.Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has the sprint, its just being able to wield it for the win. Was the Amstel an off day? He says the batteries are recharged but 4,000m is a lot to ask, he can handle separate five minute uphill efforts but hauling his musculature as they say in French over the climbs will take its toll. Sixth here in the past suggests he can be close but to better this hed need some way of neutralising attacks on the Roche-aux-Faucons and his team dont look set to ride tempo this late into the finish. Hes a contender still and if he did win itll be fascinating to see how.Flche Wallonne winner Stephen Williams (IPT) made the Mur look easy, picking his moment and surging away. Lige is a different race but hell be in the mix and is aggressive.Kvin Vauquelin (Arka-B&B Hotels) is having a good spring and was recently second in the Flche Wallonne. He doesnt have a podcast but think of him as a French Geraint Thomas, a time trial rider who can climb, a versatile no-nonsense rider to point in the direction of a finish line.Continuing the podium from Huy brings us to Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) who is the archetypal Ardennes rider and coped with the cold, hes got a fast finish but would prefer an uphill sprint.Tough conditions suit Tiesj Benoot (Visma-LAB) but as ever its hard for him to win a sprint, hes apparently the rider without a win but the most World Tour top-10s since 2019, as in he can place but its hard to see him winningSimon Yates (Jayco) has only ridden this twice and never shone, hes had other goals but still this ought to suit. Team mate Filippo Zana is coming into form for the Giro and makes his debut.Bahrain fly in from a strong Tour of the Alps with past winner in the snow Wout Poels but he won in the uphill finish, the flat finish isnt as ideal. Santiago Buitrago and Antonio Tiberi join, with Buitrago a podium finisher last year.Ben Healy was a revelation a year ago; he was a worker a week ago when pulling what was left in the peloton for his EF team. Likewise Richard Carapaz but both can play their own cards here and Healy especially is wildcard if he can get clear before others like Pogaar go.David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) quit the Flche Wallonne but normally handles cold conditions better, or perhaps he just doesnt like the heat and while hes worked at being a GC contender hes suited to relatively shorter climbs like this, its helped on get on the podium here before. Romain Grgoire is worth watching too.Romain Bardet (DSM Firmenich-PostNL) comes of a strong Tour of the Alps to a race that hes thrived in but as ever his win rate is low so he can feature and has the experience hell start for the tenth time tomorrow and has three top-10s but a win would be a surprise.PogaarPidcock, Skjelmose, Williams, Hirschi, HealyGaudu, Carapaz, Vauquelin, Buitrago, Van GilsWeather: updated Sunday morning very cold with wet roads on the run to Bastogne and 4C. The temperature will go up a couple of degrees on the way back but all this wintry weather is being delivered by a northerly wind. So the riders face a headwind of 25km/h for the return leg which could gust to 50km/h.TV: host channel RTBF lists coverage of Lige-Bastogne-Lige bicyclette from midday CEST and the mens race live video should begin around 12.30pm on Eurosport or the channel you watch the Tour de France on. The series of climbs begins around 2.00pm, tune in from here on to see if Pogaar attacks from afar although its more likely he lets his team soften up the field first. The finish is forecast for 4.30pm CEST.Womens Lige: its Bastogne to Lige and the novelty this year is the mens race has been brought forward so the women can finish at 5.50pm CEST, a double bonus as they no longer have the early start in the cold and they should enjoy enhanced TV ratings. This blogs preview is the Flche Wallonne podium but with Vollering on the top step and for a more informed and fuller preview, click for ProCyclingUKs version.The post Lige-Bastogne-Lige Preview first appeared on The Inner Ring.

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, our recently winged technical writer Luke Marshall joins senior technical editor Tom Marvin to clear up some of the more confusing mountain biking terminology.From suspension to helmets, passing body armour on the way, the team talk through core concepts and the resulting feel when out on the trails.Details on dampers, suspension travel and non-newtonian fluids are all spilled, with Luke and Tom providing quick and clear explanations.If there's a term you don't understand, email us at podcast@bikeradar.com and we'll do our best to answer it.We also have a full bike component jargon buster on-site, which details every component on your road, gravel, hybrid or mountain bike.How to subscribe to the BikeRadar PodcastThe BikeRadar Podcast takes you to the heart of the issues that matter for bike riders, whether you're a roadie, mountain biker, gravel rider or commuter.From the latest tech news, reviews and debates, to interviews with the biggest and most interesting personalities in cycling, the podcast is your direct line into the BikeRadar team.To make sure you dont miss a future episode, you can subscribe viaApple,Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.