Cyclist5 storylines to follow at the Giro dItalia 2024After a long winter without Grand Tour racing, the three-week cycling colossi return this May with the mens Giro dItalia. Starting with a bang in the Piedmont this weekend on Saturday 4th May, a new Grand Tour cycle brings with it a new field of opportunity for the mens peloton.Beyond the hopefuls grappling for the maglia rosa, the fight for individual success, bragging rights and comeback stories are set to capture our collective imaginations throughout the Corsa Rosa. Set amongst the breathtaking playground of the Italian Republic, the 2024 Giro dItalia will serve us a compelling multitude of narratives.As the riders gear up for the flag drop on Saturday, we dive into the five most intriguing storylines to follow throughout the 2024 fight for pink. Related Posts La Vuelta Femenina 2024: Route, how to watch, start list and everything you need to know Opinion: Tadej Pogaar is the Greatest Of All Time Who are the favourites for the Giro dItalia 2024? How to watch the Giro dItalia 2024 Giro dItalia 2024: Stage-by-stage preview and how to watch Can Biniam Girmay return to winning ways?Two years ago, Biniam Girmay made history by becoming the first Black rider to ever win a Grand Tour stage. On the roads of Iesi in eastern Italy, it felt as though cycling had turned an important page in its long history.A projectile Prosecco cork spoiled the party, however, and Girmays Giro symphony came to a sobering end. Adorned with an eyepatch, Girmay withdrew from the Giro the following morning. After this back-door exit from the race in 2022, the path to his Giro return in 2024 has been turbulent. With the expectations of a continent on his shoulders, Girmays hotly billed Tour debut in 2023 was met with mixed results. Similarly, his Classics performances have been marred by crashes, concussions and disappointment. The red-hot status he once had seems to have cooled off as the 2022 Giro becomes more of a distant memory.The Eritreans form certainly hasnt been as strong as it was back in 2022 when he made his rambunctious Grand Tour debut. He is yet to take a UCI WorldTour level win in 2024. Indeed, his only race win of any kind this year came at the very start of the 2024 calendar at the Surf Classic down in Australia.Returning to the Corsa Rosa in 2024, Girmay is eyeing up stage wins once again. Stages 3 and 4 are suited to the Eritrean who doesnt mind a hardier approach to the finish. With more thoroughbred sprinters on the start line, Girmay has the potential to shine on these days where the likes of Jakobsen and Merlier could find themselves spat out into the gruppetto.Girmays entourage is ready to take on Italy once again. His devoted fanbase will be easily identifiable with an abundance of Eritrean flags expected on the finishing line of the Intermarch sprinters stage objectives.A Star is Born: Read our full profile of this Eritrean hopefulOlav Kooij set for Grand Tour debutA.S.O./Billy CeustersTwo years after claiming his first UCI WorldTour level sprint victory, 22-year-old Olav Kooij is poised to make his Grand Tour debut at the Giro dItalia. Touted by commentators as the brightest spark among a strong field of young sprinters, Olav Kooij from South Holland has the chance to chase stage wins and the maglia ciclamino at his maiden Giro.Kooij is already among the top tier of fast-men. In 2024 alone, he has claimed three WorldTour stage wins at both Paris-Nice and the sprinters brawl of the UAE Tour. At the latter, he fended off Tim Merlier, Fabio Jakobsen and Dylan Groenwegen en route to victory.Christophe Laporte will support Kooij in the leadouts in lieu of an injured Wout van Aert. Visma-Lease a Bike is in need of some good news this year after an attritional spring spent in the emergency room. Perhaps Kooij could get the ball rolling for the Grand Tour juggernauts.Kooij has said that he is ready for the challenge at the 2024 Giro. After penning an extended contract at the Dutch super-team last winter, Kooij could quickly become one of Visma-Lease a Bikes new Grand Tour headliners.Pogaars grand plans for 2024Dario Belingheri/Getty ImagesTadej Pogaars calendar has been booked out for the upcoming months. In an ambitious programme, the Slovenian leviathan will target both the Tour and the Giro. Its a bold objective for the Giro debutant.You will be exhausted of Giro-Tour stats and anecdotes by the end of this years race. However, the important date to bear in mind here is 1998. That is the last time a rider (Marco Pantani) took both titles in the same season.The Giro-Tour objective has been long in the pipeline for Tadej Pogaar. Announced towards the end of 2023, with murmurs brewing since the end of 2021, Pogaars Grand Tour conquest is just another step towards his coronation as the greatest cyclist of all time.Its a race Ive dreamed of doing for a long time and it feels like now that the time is right to go for it, Pogaar told the press ahead of Thursdays team presentation in Turin. I raced in Italy a lot as an amateur and it has been an important country in my journey as a cyclist. For sure it is one of my favourite places to ride a bike and I also love the culture and of course the food. I hope we can make this month a special one, he added.The Giro parcours suits Pogaars capabilities down to a tee. A punchy Grande Partenza, a gravel stage and an uphill time-trial make for a perfect opening week for him. A lighter final week of racing and a reduced amount of climbing this year will cater towards the Giro-Tour bid. If the Slovenian forages enough time in the opening half of the race, the latter half of the Giro could act as a tune-up for the Tour de France rather than an attritional defence of the maglia rosa.A wounded field of competitors at the Tour de France is a convenient windfall for Pogaar. A bolstered team will support him there, with the aid of Grand Tour titans Joo Almeida, Adam Yates and Juan Ayuso. The Tour presents a trickier challenge, but the Giro is a necessary evil.Re-visit Pogaars Monument victories with our definitive ranking of Pogis Classic rides.Quintanas bad-boy comebackDavid Ramos/Getty ImagesAfter a year spent in the sin bin, Nairo Quintana returns to the Grand Tour scene at the Giro dItalia 2024. Two years on from his last Grand Tour the 2022 Tour de France, a race in which he was disqualified Quintana has found himself back at his old home of Movistar.Winner of this race a decade ago, Quintanas return has been the subject of widespread speculation. The Colombian has said himself that he wants to go for mountain stages rather than a GC dig.Judging by recent results, the legs might not be ready for a GC push anyway. He has been incognito since returning to the Spanish outfit, with only one top ten on his books so far in 2024.Currently the only former winner of the Trofeo Senza Fine race winners trophy on the start line, Quintana will gather a lot of TV time and column inches in this years race. A return to the Monte Grappa where he won a mountain time-trial back in 2014 is just a small nod to Quintanas career. A relic of an era of cycling gone by, Quintana has many questions to answer if hes looking to turn back the clock.Alaphilippes overdue Giro debutDario Belingheri/Getty ImagesJulian Alaphilippe has competed in eight Grand Tours in his career. He has won seven stages, donned the yellow jersey and taken a polka-dot jersey in this time. Its understandable why the Giro has often been sidelined in his schedule.Starting alongside a team focussed around breakaways and a competitive sprint train on behalf of Tim Merlier, Alaphilippes maiden Giro will be as laissez-faire as it comes. There will be an ample amount of freedom to chase his own glory at the Giro and claim a stage win thus, completing the Grand Tour trilogy.The spring Classics and a fruitful Tour de Romandie imply some uptake in form ahead of the Giro. Punchy finishes on stages 6, 9 and 12 could provide a solid canvas for a rejuvenated Alaphilippe to bring back his swashbuckling style to the Grand Tour stage.Dont forget, Alaphilippe is embroiled in an evolving transfer race between Cofidis, TotalEnergies and his current Soudal squad. The Giro will offer an important battleground for his signature next year.Pogaar, Ben OConnor, Geraint Thomas and Romain Bardet: who are the favourites to win the Trofeo Senza Fine this year? Read our analysis of the favourites, and how they rank going into the first Grand Tour of the year. Related Posts La Vuelta Femenina 2024: Route, how to watch, start list and everything you need to know Opinion: Tadej Pogaar is the Greatest Of All Time Who are the favourites for the Giro dItalia 2024? How to watch the Giro dItalia 2024 Giro dItalia 2024: Stage-by-stage preview and how to watch The post 5 storylines to follow at the Giro dItalia 2024 appeared first on Cyclist.

Third at Strade Bianche and Flche Wallone, Top10 at Lige-Bastogne-Lige and Milano-Sanremo, winner of the Vuelta a Andalucia (time-trial) and now winner of Eschborn-Frankfurt. Maxim van Gils had an immensely successful spring and his last day of racing for a while ended in a surprising victory.I...

CyclistClassic climb: Passo Gardena, a breathtaking climb in the Italian DolomitesTowers of rock pierce the blue sky like ancient battlements. Pine forests cling precariously to the slopes below. A tantalising sliver of tarmac beneath your wheels leads through green meadows festooned with wildflowers towards the swirling climb ahead. The Passo Gardena is surely one of the most enchanting climbs in the Italian Dolomites, with every switchback revealing glorious picture-postcard views. But this Giro dItalia classic which looms above the town of Corvara in the Alta Badia region has a dark secret. Related Posts Classic climbs: Passo Falzarego & Passo Valparola, a Dolomites duo with a rich history Classic climb: Passo Sella, a fabled rock of the Giro dItalia Classic climb: Passo Giau, a stunning climb in the Dolomites with an unrelenting gradient Although less well known than the neighbouring Passo Sella and Passo Pordoi, which along with the Passo Campolongo form the four passes of the famous Sella Ronda ski and bike loop, the Passo Gardena is known among local riders as the toughest of the quartet. The average gradient is a reasonable 6.5%, but this ascent packs in flurries of hairpins that hit 7-10%, and it serves up a maximum leg-sapping gradient of 12%. Riding beneath the ski lifts in the village of Colfosco.Patrik Lundin / CyclistWith the accompanying lack of oxygen, the 2,121m-high Gardena is much harder than the fairytale pictures suggest. Italian legend Vincenzo Nibali has knocked it out in 22min 28sec, but wed recommend you budget a lot more time and grab an extra shot of espresso too.History and legendThe Gardena climb has featured in the Giro dItalia 18 times, from its first appearance in 1949 to its most recent in 2017. Famous riders to have crested the pass first include Fausto Coppi (1949, 1954), Gino Bartali (1950), Charly Gaul (1958), Laurent Fignon (1984) and Lucho Herrera (1989). Patrik Lundin / CyclistOn the Giros last pilgrimage here, Stage 18 of the 2017 race, Spanish pro Mikel Landa crossed the Gardena first on his way to winning his only mountains classification jersey at a Grand Tour.This year the race will return to the Val Gardena region for a finish in nearby Santa Cristina Val Gardena on Stage 16, and for a start in Selva di Val Gardena on Stage 17. Although the Gardena pass itself will not feature, amateur riders will be flocking here in their thousands.The 599m of ascent over 9.6km averages 6.2%, but prepare your legs for the upcoming spikes of 12%.Patrik Lundin / CyclistThe Passo Gardena connects the Val Gardena in the west with the Val Badia in the east. A route was first built over the pass in 1915 during the First World War, but the first paved road was built in the 1960s and it ushered in a wave of tourism, with hikers, bikers and skiers now descending on the region throughout the year. Rifugio Frara is worth a visit if you fancy a rest at the summit.Patrik Lundin / CyclistBut this is an ancient landscape. Findings from the Stone Age dating to 6,000BC have been made on the Gardena, and the collection of arrowheads, needles and tools represent the oldest finds in the Dolomites.Patrik Lundin / CyclistThe geological history that gave rise to the regions unique jagged turrets of rock is just as fascinating. This landscape is an ancient underwater terrain. Two hundred and fifty million years ago, the Dolomites were part of a coral reef in the primordial ocean of Tethys, but years of tectonic activity and volcanic eruptions shaped the reef into the twisted peaks that now lure cyclists and mountaineers. Those white-grey pinnacles take their name from the carbonate rock dolomite, which is named after the 18th-century French mineralogist Dodat Gratet de Dolomieu, who was the first to describe it.Garden of sufferingPatrik Lundin / CyclistThe Gardena can be climbed from Corvara in the east or from Plan de Gralba in the west. The Plan de Gralba ascent is much shorter, with 250m of climbing over 5.9km, an average gradient of 4.2% and the steepest section at 7.1%. This is the direction taken in the Maratona dles Dolomites gran fondo. But the Corvara climb is a longer and harder drag, with 599m of ascent over 9.6km, an average gradient of 6.2% and those vicious aforementioned stabs at 12%.Patrik Lundin / CyclistThis is also the most aesthetically pleasing direction in which to climb the pass, and the one used in the twice-yearly Sella Ronda Bike Day sportive, which draws cyclists from around the world for some glorious traffic-free climbing.The famous jagged grey peaks of the Dolomites, which 250 million years ago were a coral reef in the primordial ocean of Tethys.Patrik Lundin / CyclistFrom Corvara, a cluster of wooden chalets, cafes and hotels nestled around the Church of Santa Caterina, you begin your ride into the jaws of the mountains. The opening kilometres are a long, straight dash through a forested valley, beneath imposing peaks that encircle you as you ride towards them.When you approach the village of Colfosco, you take the first few long, swirling bends of the day. Its a beautiful start to the climb as you pedal through lush meadows dotted with chalets, towering pine trees and piles of firewood.Leaving the towns of Corvara and Colfosco behind on the way to the summit.Patrik Lundin / CyclistA few kilometres further along, a sharp cluster of hairpins saps leg muscles. This is where the climb kicks up to those 7-10% gradients and you have to earn those magical views. Beauty has its price.Patrik Lundin / CyclistThe final stretch of the climb offers close-up views of the Sella massif, coated in slabs of snow and ice, which rears up like a crashing wave. The pass is not far from here, but with so many switchbacks it seems tantalisingly beyond reach. Then as the climb switches direction for the final time, and you edge towards the pass, you can drink in glorious views of the mountain road you have just conquered.Signs for the summit are in Italian, German and the local Ladin language.Patrik Lundin / CyclistWhen finally you crest the summit you enter a stunning mountain kingdom, surrounded by the fortress-shaped Sella Group to the south and the lizard-like spine of the Pizes de Cir to the north, but the drama hasnt finished yet. Spin over the top and you can enjoy views of the colossal kilometre-long slab of 3,000m-high rock known as Sassolungo long stone on the other side of the pass. So high the road beneath never sees sunshine, the wall of the Sassolungo perfectly completes the feeling youve truly ridden through the garden of the Dolomites. Related Posts Classic climbs: Passo Falzarego & Passo Valparola, a Dolomites duo with a rich history Classic climb: Passo Sella, a fabled rock of the Giro dItalia Classic climb: Passo Giau, a stunning climb in the Dolomites with an unrelenting gradient The post Classic climb: Passo Gardena, a breathtaking climb in the Italian Dolomites appeared first on Cyclist.

Eight climbers and puncheur form EF Education-EasyPost's lineup for the Giro d'Italia. No GC ambitions and no sprinters from the last team to confirm their riders for the first Grand Tour of the season.It is in fact a lineup different from all others. The American comes into the race without a spri...

INEOS Grenadiers were, last decade, the dominant team in pro cycling's Grand Tours. That is not the case anymore, but the British team has not let their guards down and is working on developing future winners of the three-week races."Pogacar is one of the big boys in lap work within our sport, just...

Dillon Corkery (St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93) has continued his very strong run at Tour de Bretagne (2.2) today, with another top five placing after 203km of racing from La Gacilly to Saint-Men-Le-Grand. The 25-year-old former Irish criterium champion came through like a train in the latter stages of the reduced bunch sprint and may have taken []The post Corkery in mix again in Brittany ahead of absolutely brutal final day | Video appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

Schindelhauer gives their long-running gearbox all-rounder Wilhelm city bike a Wilhelm Gravel bike update, adding 4 alt drivetrain options to suit all types of all-surface adventure riders.The German bike maker has always specialized in versatile alloy city and commuter bikes, most often with Gates belt drive and Pinion gearboxes or internally geared hubs for their low maintenance functionality. But as more cyclists looked to gravel bikes for the added flexibility of riding on- or off-road, Schindelhauer knew their long-running Wilhelm could be the perfect platform with a dropbar updateSchindelhauer Wilhelm Gravel alloy belt-drive bike(Photos/Schindelhauer)Schindelhauer knows that the desire to ride a versatile bike with simple clean lines, and that doesnt require a bunch of messy maintenance isnt only limited to city commuter bikes. Urban mobility may be their forte, but Schindelhauer still likes to get their tire dirty, too. Enter the Wilhelm Gravel familyIts directly based on their top-tier belt-drive Wilhelm city bike, repurposing that classic aero aluminum frame with integrated seatpost clamp and unique forged fork end dropouts with built-in crocodile belt tensioner. It even already had fat city tire plus fender clearance that could work for gravel, as well. It looks like 40mm fast gravel tires, with plenty of room to spare.Schindelhauer says, The Wilhelm frame has just been waiting for its opportunity for an adventure.So, whats new?12sp Pinion with Smart.Shift12sp Pinion with Cinq Shift:R14sp Rohloff with GRX + Gebla shifting11sp Shimano Alfine + GRX Di2The alt-drivetrain solutions really set the new Wilhelm Gravel apart making it totally unique compared to just about every other gravel bike on the market. The Schindelhauer Wilhelm Gravel is available in 4 gravel bike build variants:12-speed Pinion C-Line gearbox with electronic Smart.Shift paired to TRP brakes and their Hywire shifter (12.6kg)12-speed Pinion C-Line gearbox with TRP x Tout Terrain Cinq Shift:R mechanical shifters & hydraulic brakes (12.1kg)14-speed Rohloff internally geared hub with Shimano GRX brakes & mechanical shifters to a Gebla Rohbox (11.9kg)11-speed Shimano Alfine Di2 internally geared hub paired to GRX Di2 levers and brakes (11.6kg)*weight claims for size M/56cm with stock buildsTech detailsThe Wilhelm Gravel features a lightweight smooth-weld, triple-butted AL6061-T6 aluminum frame with Schindelhauers belt port, dropouts & integrated seatpost clamp. Either built for a Pinion gearbox or an internally geared rear hub.On top of that you get a 1.5 tapered steerer, flat mount 160 brakes, 27.2mm seatpost, and classic semi-internal cable routing. You then can pick from either a matching smooth-weld aluminum fork, or the excellent full-carbon Seido MGV fork that we reviewed a year and a half ago.The bike inherits hidden mounting for lightweight front and rear racks if you are looking to do some bikepacking. Together with their partners at Gramm, front and rear bags are available specifically to fit the bike. And their Allygn component line can provide the lightweight front pannier rack. You can even get integrated lighting powered by a dynamo as an extra, on request. Plus, you could fit full coverage fenders too for year-round rain protection. And while all the stock bikes come with 700c x 40mm Continental Terra Trail tires, Schindelhauer offer the option for 650b x 48mm tires, or even other tires on request, too.2024 Schindelhauer Wilhelm Gravel Pricing, options & availabilityThe new Wilhelm Gravel line is available direct from the Schindelhauer website, or from their specialist dealers that can help you with customization. Bikes are slated for availability from the middle of next week.The bike comes in 5 stock sizes (50-62cm) and 4 standard colors Alu Pure silver, Garnet red, Midnight blue, and Cream white. You can also get it in the Apricot of the Pinion Smart.Shift build or Moss green of the Rohloff bike for a small upcharge. Or even go for a full custom color if you so desire. Theres also options for shiny silver or black ano finishing kits.Complete bike pricing starts at 4295 for Shimano Di2. Then, it climbs from 4595 for Pinion with Cinq Shift:R, from 4995 for Pinion with Smart.Shift, and starting from 5695 with the Rohloff hub option.SchindelhauerBikes.com/enThe post 4 Schindelhauer Wilhelm Gravel Gearbox or Internal Gear Hub Bikes to Ride Anywhere appeared first on Bikerumor.

Theyve been making promises of jam tomorrow for cycling for 10 years, the local cycling group said, after plans to install protected bike lanes were scrapped by the council due to budgetary constraints

The pink jersey will be the headline of the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Tadej Pogacar is the ultimate favourite for the overall win at the Corsa Rosa, but can he stay upright and healthy throughout the 21 days of racing?If so, it's hard to see anyone match him throughout the Giro. Geraint Thomas, Romain Ba...

Stage 4 of La Vuelta Femenina was an exciting day of racing. Almost completely flat, but the strong winds created big splits very early on that were meaningful for the overall classification. A small group rode to the finish, and Kristen Fualkner won with a late attack from it.The strong winds caus...