Just days after publicly backing Egan Bernal as their reference rider for Strade Bianche, INEOS Grenadiers have revealed an official lineup for the Tuscan gravel classic that does not include the Colombian at all. The announcement has raised eyebrows because Bernal had been presented internally as t...

GB's Matthew Richardson and Joe Truman will join Olympic champions invited to race in Japan

Mathieu van der Poels commanding victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad has already sent a clear message to the peloton ahead of the Spring Classics. For former Tour de France winner Tom Dumoulin, the Dutch superstars latest display only reinforced a belief many riders already share: stopping Van der Po...

CyclistCyclist Magazine Podcast: Zoe Bckstedt Why I love Sundays in HellThis week on the Cyclist Magazine Podcast, Robyn and James are joined by WorldTour pro Zoe Bckstedt. Born in 2004 in Pontyclun, Wales to British track champion Megan Hughes and Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Bckstedt, there were only two ways Zoes life (and sister Elynors for that matter) could have gone cycling or cycling. She burst onto the scene as a teenager, winning multiple junior world titles in road, track and cyclocross, before turning pro with EF Education-Tibco-SVB in 2022.The following season saw her big move to Canyon-SRAM-Zondacrypto, where she took her first pro win a season later with a stage at the Simac Ladies Tour. A string of top results and showings has followed across all three cycling disciplines, but at just 21 years old, colleagues, managers and pundits are all sure of one thing: Zoes best is yet to come.In this episode, Zoe talks about how her multi-discipline abilities have converged on Classics specialist; how dad Magnus and mum Megan have made her the rider she is, along with the British rain; why, despite the chaos and carnage, Paris-Roubaix is still her favourite race; and just how difficult it is to play boardgames in a family thats so competitive.Zoes chat begins at 7:38.Listen toZoe Bckstedt on the Cyclist Magazine Podcast now on Acast Check outall episodesAlso available wherever you get your podcasts Related Posts Cyclist Magazine Podcast: UCI rules, design evolution, and why bikes are so expensive, with Pieter Potters Cyclist Magazine Podcast: Brian Smith on being National Champ, racing with Lance, saying no to EPO, and snakes in showers Cyclist Magazine Podcast Episode 25 The Backstedts' Roubaix dream Cycling Spring Classics 2026: Race dates, Monuments, cobbles and live TV guide This episode is brought to you by the Hammerhead Karoo GPS bike computer. Visithammerhead.ioand use the code CYCLIST to get a free HR strap with every purchase (just be sure to add the strap to your cart then apply the code at checkout).The post Cyclist Magazine Podcast: Zoe Bckstedt Why I love Sundays in Hell appeared first on Cyclist.

Get a flat but finish the race without stopping? Yeah, that used to be a badge of pride for cyclocross racers, now its something anyone can do on their road bike.Vittorias original Air-Liner Light Road added their same run flat technology to tire inserts for skinny tires, and now it gets an upgrade that makes it easier to install and have less impact on your sealant.But first, heres why you should care about these inserts at all: It uses a semi-closed cell foam that works by slowly absorbing the air pressure in fully inflated tires. Then, when you puncture, the rapid release of air from your tire causes them to swell up and fill the tire, keeping you riding on airalmost like normal.Weve tested them on the trails, and the tech works. But theres more to it. Not only does it work to keep you rolling when you flat, it changes the ride quality for the better.The Air-Liner Light inserts let you run slightly lower pressure for better traction and a smoother ride. This works because theres a foam insert to mitigate the hits and provide support in the corners.Now, the new Air-Liner Light Road uses a better material and extrusion process, making it easier to slide into the tire during installation. That materials surface is also less likely to hold sealant, meaning you can use slightly less (they still recommend at least 10ml per tire).All photos courtesy of Vittoria.Combined, the sealant plus insert lets you ride up to 50km (~30 miles) after a puncture. The insert gradually releases its air, so you wont get that dangerous blowout, and even when its flat, its still equivalent to roughly 1 bar (14.5psi) of air pressure. Its enough to get you homeor across the finish line.They add just 30-40g per tire (depending on size), which isnt enough to stop EF-Education First riders from using it. MSRP is $77.99 per wheel.Vittoria.comThe post Vittoria Air-Liner Light Road Gives You 50km of Run Flat Protection appeared first on Bikerumor.

As the late, grizzled Robert Duvall (or a character he portrayed) once saidLikewise, someday this snow is gonna melt:And when it does the Spirit of Gravel (or Spograv) will soar once again. In the meantime, Im still riding the PRJCT GRVL bike on days when you can get away without full fenders. One reason I do is that at this point the harsh winter has basically reduced the roads to gravel, but the much more important reason is that tubeless tires are like cartons of pulpy orange juice, and youve got to shake them from time to time or else the particles settle and they get too clumpy.What, you dont agitate the contents of your refrigerator on a regular basis!?! Next youll tell me you dont have someone come over to flush your toilet while youre away:When I go on vacation I have a service come to flush the toilets, shake the cartons, and rotate the wheels of all my bicycles so the tires dont get flat spots. But the Spograv isnt just about riding atop Very Small Rocks:Its also about using very small bags:And eating food from them:[Did someone mention the term vagina dentata the other day?]This particular little bag just barely fits the following contents:A mini pumpA peanut butter and jelly sandwich on gluten-free bread*A small orange, or mandarin, the gravel bike of citrus fruits**At first I couldnt even get the sandwich in there, but then I figured out that I had to cut it in half and stack the halves, though Im hoping eventually somebody starts selling foldable gravel bread:*[I have to eat gluten free bread because wheat gives me hives. If you want to know what gluten free bread tastes like, just eat a dry kitchen sponge.]**[Regular oranges are like classic road bikes because they have pits and are tough to peel and youve got to work for your enjoyment like you do on a bike with hard, skinny tires and big gears. Mandarins are like gravel bikes because theyre soft and seedless and the skin practically falls right off, and like bikes with wide, low-pressure tires, tiny gears, and hydraulic brakes theyre for woosies with weak hands.]In any case, you already knew gravel was over when I got a gravel bike, but now its really over, because here come the tridorks:And they make roadies look like Path Less Pedaled subscribers:But theres another option gaining traction among triathletes looking to stay safe and sharp: gravel riding. Once viewed as a niche discipline or an off-season diversion, gravel has quietly become a powerful training tool for road triathlon, offering low-traffic environments, long uninterrupted miles, and physiological benefits that translate directly to race day.Think gravel is about having fun and getting closer to nature? Not for triathletes! They dont ride bikes, they execute the workout:I was constantly on edge during weekday rides, says Darleen McNar of Beaverton, Ore., who now does most of her aerobic volume on gravel. On gravel, I can settle into effort, focus on fueling, and actually execute the workout.And theyve apparently figured out that gravel riding is even better for building grinding strength than taking one of those pole dancing classes:The concept of grinding strength is exactly what makes gravel so valuable for triathletes. The surface naturally dampens speed and rewards steady-force application, encouraging the kind of muscular endurance required for long-course racing.And lets not forget it helps build the bike handling skills for which triathletes are justifiably famous:Improved bike handling and stabilityGravel rewards relaxed upper bodies, smooth torque application, and balance. These are all skills that pay dividends in windy conditions, technical aid-station riding, and late-race fatigue when form starts to unravel.Ive never heard the phrase technical aid-station riding before, but I assume it means this:For triathletes, any part of the course that requires changing direction or dismounting is a potential aid station.

The first Spring Classics weekend revealed some interesting bike tech, including a new Specialized Turbo Cotton tyre. The current version now has hefty reductions and is worth grabbing fast

Stefan Kng has left hospital and begun the first steps of his recovery after the heavy crash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad that left the Tudor Pro Cycling Team leader with a fractured femur and ended his Spring Classics campaign before it had even properly begun. The Swiss rider confirmed the update on...