DH World Champ Valentina Hll got a new TY Tues just in time for the start of the 2024 World Cup season, so we thought wed track it down for a Pro Bike Check. But, it is kitted out with all-new BlackBox Flight Attendant prototype gravity suspension from RockShox a RockShox BlackBoxxer fork so we couldnt officially get the bike for a full photoshoot. Instead, we lurked around the World Cup pits, start line, and along the racetrack to get a closer lookYT Tues adjustable carbon DH bike of World Champ Vali Hll(All photos/ Cory Benson)YT just released the latest evolution of their carbon Tues mk4 DH bike a couple of weeks back. And lucky for her, it already came in white to match her kit. All she needed were some rainbow accents. YT just added a simple rainbow Tues decal behind the seattube. And RockShox managed to top it off with a special World Champ BlackBox edition of their recently updated Boxxer.What makes a RockShox BlackBoxxer fork?The white and rainbow stripes are nice, but what about those 38mm gold stanchions? RockShox says that its actually the same exact low-friction hard anodized coating that they give to all Ultimate-level forks. Only this time in gold for the World Champion. For those who are wondering, it is definitely not Kashima. And side-by-side (on bikes cropped out of the same photo), its clear that RockShox BlackBox gold has a slightly more yellow/orange tint to it vs. the bronze of Fox. But the RockShox gold is likely to stay World Champ-only.Colors are just there to distract you from the fact that this RockShox BlackBoxxer is a Flight Attendant-equipped DH fork. Its the first gravity fork to get Flight Attendant, since the trail tune of the Zeb when Flight Attendant first debuted. We just spotted an all-new Vivid Coil and Vivid air shocks turning up with a new automatic gravity-tune. So now it seems like a Boxxer Ultimate Flight Attendant fork will round out the mix for automatic electronic suspension control from XC to DH!Its also worth noting that Hll has the 2-button lefthand AXS controller on her bar that now allows for Override Mode to change suspension modes if she needs something different on the fly than what Flight Attendant is thinking.RockShox BlackBox Vivid Coil Flight Attendant to match!We only really spotted the name Vivid on a RockShox coil shock last week, but we suspect thats whats hiding under the BlackBox stickers on Hlls Flight Attendant coil shock. Rumor has it that this new BlackBox coil is more tunable via customizable shim stacks vs. the Super Deluxe Coil. On the outside they look remarkably similar, so Ill be curious to learn more once SRAM officially releases them. And of course, again we have AXS battery-powered electronic Flight Attendant automatic suspension control to match the BlackBoxxer fork.Quarq MTB DUB-spindle power meter?One neat feature we saw added with XC Flight Attendant earlier this spring, is that Hlls bike wouldnt need a separate pedaling sensor, if it has a power meter. And it doesnt have the regular pedal sensor in the BB spindle. Instead, there appears to be the Quarq AXS transmitter from a DUB-Pwr power meter attached on the driveside crank arm. Yet, SRAM does not yet offer a Quarq power meter spindle upgrade for any of their MTB cranksets. And there does not appear to be any Quarq electronics in the non-driveside BB spindle. So perhaps, this Quarq AXS transmitter is just a smaller, simpler solution for a pedaling sensor?World Champion BuildBesides the secret RockShox BlackBoxxer stuff, Hll was racing the fresh track with Continental Argotal tires mounted to alloy DT Swiss FR1500 wheels with Peatys valves and sealant inside. She was running a mechanical SRAM X01 DH groupset with its 7-speed mini block cassette, carbon cranks, and Crankbrothers Mallet DH clipless pedals.Her cockpit is a 35mm Renthal Fatbar with a matching bolt-on stem, Ergon GDH Team grips, and an Ergon SM Downhill Pro Titanium saddle mounted to a Thomson seatpost. Ample stopping power comes from SRAMs new most powerful ever 4-piston Maven Ultimate brakes in splatter red ano.Tough luck in Poland, but a solid finishHll didnt have the best luck on the Szczryk mountain track at the Bielsko-Biaa DH World Cup. In her qualifying run she broke her chain on the start ramp, but as a protected rider didnt have to stress. Semis went well with a fast time that meant she was the last Elite Woman to start the finals. Then, fully committed to a high-speed turn in the upper portion of the track, Hll washed out her front tire in one of the fast-changing wet ruts and ended up on the ground. Still, she stayed composed, got back on the bike, and managed a solid 6th place finish.Good enough to keep her in 1st in the overall standings heading into Leogang in a couple weeks.Another week with that #1 number plate on her RockShox BlackBoxxer fork.YT-Industries.com & SRAM.comThe post Pro Bike: Vali Hll World Champ YT Tues & DH RockShox BlackBoxxer Flight Attendant Fork appeared first on Bikerumor.

CyclistClassic climb: San Bernardino Pass, the Swiss climb with an Italian flavourThe concept of nostalgia is attributed to 17th century Swiss medical student Johannes Hofer, who combined the Greek words for homecoming and pain or ache. Less familiar is the related notion of mal du suisse the Swiss illness a diagnosis given to Helvetian mercenaries laid low physically by a deep longing for their mountainous homeland.The idea of homesickness as a medical affliction has fallen out of favour but, when confronted by the landscape of the Swiss Alps, its not hard to imagine how it might shape an identity or form an integral part of the national psyche. The mountains are awesome in the truest sense of the word they inspire awe because they exist on such a mind-altering scale. Related Posts Classic climb: Susten Pass, the supersized Swiss climb Classic climb: Grosse Scheidegg, the Swiss climb with a traffic-free cherry on top Classic climb: Furka Pass, the Swiss climb with the Midas touch To cyclists, they hold their own special magnetism. Nowhere does a ride feel more mythic in its sheer scope. Its not about how hard the riding is, its the special otherworldly quality of the surroundings and the privilege of taking on natures most extravagant display of grandeur.Pass notesPatrik LundinSwitzerland offers countless extraordinary road riding experiences and the San Bernardino pass is up there with the best of them. Situated in the southeast of the country close to the Italian border, the pass runs roughly north-south, joining the cantons of Graubnden and Ticino and bridging the German-Italian language divide at the same time. There are almost too many ways to approach this climb but were focussing on the ascent from the south, beginning in the town of Lostallo. Its a giant of a climb including almost 1,700m of vertical ascent over 30km.The cobbles of Mesocco are smoother than most UK tarmac.Patrik LundinThis is the harder side of the pass and arguably the more interesting, although neither approach is going to disappoint. You could of course ride over the entire San Bernardino and back again if youre truly dedicated.Starting from Lostallo, there are immediately choices to make. You can plug away on the main road, but since youre here for the experience, the lanes to the east of the large highway are the better option unless youre itching to get to the proper climbing as quickly as possible. They offer welcome respite from the traffic, a little up-and-down rollercoaster through pretty farmland, with occasional goats, stone barns and picturesque bridges across the river Moesa, which flows the length of the valley.Patrik LundinThe detour ends at the village of Soazza where youre back on the main road for a steady climb to Mesocco averaging around 6%-7%, passing its eponymous castle on your right. The town has an old-world feel and the main thoroughfare is actually cobbled, although this being Switzerland this is smooth, pleasant pav, not the rim destroyers of the Arenberg.Lush forest covers the lower part of the valley and its sparsely populated for long stretches.Patrik LundinAnother choice comes at this point. By all means stick to the main road if you like it offers a healthy complement of hairpins and classic near-perfect Alpine tarmac but veering right towards the hamlets of Darba and Andergia takes you on a series of narrow lanes that snake their way upwards, twisting and turning with some seriously challenging gradients. Neither option is easy and the standard approach averages around 7% or 8%, with a peak that nudges up towards 12%.The route options come together again adjacent to junction 34 of the E43 highway. The cycling route is again a main road, but motorised traffic levels are kept in check by the tunnel alternative that runs through the mountain.The highway running almost in parallel to our route keeps the worst of the motorised traffic at bay.Patrik LundinProgress can feel slow at this stage as the wide road doesnt give a great sense of forward momentum. Youre soon treated to an entertaining jumble of hairpins however, and these gift you a chunk of elevation all at once, while the views over your shoulder start to get more epic.Near the top, the wide, open roads are very exposed. When you turn around the descending is glorious.Patrik LundinAt this point youre over 20km in and youve barely scratched the surface of what the San Bernardino has to offer. Another long drag follows and then, as if to mock you by needlessly wasting hard-earned potential energy, the road points downwards for a bit, delivering you to the town of San Bernardino itself.Misty mountain-hoSwitzerlands otherworldly infrastructure is at its most impressive in the mountains.Patrik LundinIf youre feeling lazy we wont judge youd be somewhat justified in starting your ride here rather than grinding up from the bottom of the valley. Its from the town onwards that the San Bernardino takes on the character of a high-Alpine pass. The views become more expansive by an order of magnitude and the landscape has a rawness to it thats noticeable after the lushness of the lower reaches.Patrik LundinDense pine forests give way to scrubby, low-lying evergreen bushes pushing out of boggy ground and scattered formations of ageless rock. The atmosphere feels different up here. Even on a sunny summers day theres a crispness to the air and a sense of remoteness. The mountains have weather all of their own and you can picture a blizzard suddenly closing in. Like most of the major passes, the road is impassable through the winter, typically from sometime in November to April or May.The ribbons of tarmac are delightful but the gradients stay mostly under 10% so the run to the finish isnt punishing.Patrik LundinThe final section of the climb is undoubtedly the best, with gloriously expansive views, including a satisfying perspective on the ribbon of tarmac youve traced your way up. A series of hairpins only enhances the sense that youre finally getting somewhere. Here gradients hover around the 5%-7% mark with the usual kick up as you winch around a switchback, but its never unduly steep so its possible to maintain a decent pace.Patrik LundinA near-straight false flat offers the opportunity for some high-speed showboating if theres anything left in your legs and then you skirt your way round a small lake to the finish. Like so many of these climbs the end of the affair can feel anticlimactic: admire the cows, eat some alarmingly expensive salami and bread at the not-quite-a-restaurant, and get back on your bike. Has your longing for the mountains been sated? If the San Bernardino doesnt do it, nothing will. Related Posts Classic climb: Susten Pass, the supersized Swiss climb Classic climb: Grosse Scheidegg, the Swiss climb with a traffic-free cherry on top Classic climb: Furka Pass, the Swiss climb with the Midas touch The post Classic climb: San Bernardino Pass, the Swiss climb with an Italian flavour appeared first on Cyclist.

The Tour of Norway will take place from the 23rd to the 26th of May. Coinciding with the Giro d'Italia, it brings a secondary field of riders however it will provide exciting racing nevertheless over four days of racing. We preview the race ahead.The race starts off with a hilly day that can be imp...

Throughout the Giro d'Italia, the race jury attributes fines to some of the riders and sporting directors. Ultimately the fines can come in the form of money, time penalties or even UCI points, depending on the rule breaking. Here we present what has happened during the Giro.Martin Marcellusi & DS...

Rs Tailteann 2024. Stage 1 Tullamore- Kilmallock 22/5/2024Alex Pritchard of the Richardsons Trek DAS team wins todays stagePic : Lorraine OSullivanRs Tailteann Stage 1Stage 1 of Rs Tailteann took the riders from Tullamore to Kilmallock over a distance of 147.6KM.The stage was won by Alex Pritchard from the UK Richardsons Trek Team, who will wear the first yellow jersey of the race. Irish man Paul Kennedy, riding as part of the USA Skyline-CADENCE team, finished second, and Dom Jackson from UK Foran CT finished third. Defending champion Dillon Corkery (Team Ireland) finished fourth.The first Irish county rider home was Matteo Cigala of the Carlow Dan Morrissey Primor by the Pissei team, while Odhran Doogan (Team Ireland) leads the young rider classification.Rs Tailteann Stage 1 How it unfoldedThe race kicked off from the 0.0KM signs at speeds in excess of 50km/h for the first 30 minutes. However, the speed didnt deter attacks, and they were plentiful inside the first 20KM. Dom Jackson (Foran CT), Lindsay Watson (All Human-VeloRevolution) and Jacob Smith (Team Wheelbase) marked their intentions early but were quickly reeled back in.After 25KM, a new attack was launched, including Alex Pritchard (Richardsons Trek DAS), Paul Kennedy (Skyline CADENCE) and Dom Jackson (Foran CT), and they quickly gained an advantage of 30 seconds. Through Hot Spot 1 in Birr, the riders had 40 seconds with Kennedy taking the valuable 3 second bonus, ahead of Jackson and Pritchard who gained 2 and 1 second bonuses respectively. They crossed KOH 1 John Caulfield Memorial Bike Park after 41.6KM with their gap holding at approximately 40 seconds.After the KOH, Jacob Smith of Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli and Lindsay Watson of All Human-VeloRevolution attacked in pursuit of the three leaders, with Gareth ONeill of Challenge CC following suit. After 60KM into the stage, Kennedy, Jackson and Pritchard had a minute and 15 seconds over Smith and Watson, with ONeill a further 15 seconds back. Over the next 25KM, the three leaders opened their gap over the bunch to three minutes while the two chasing groups stayed within a minute and a half down.With 55KM remaining in the stage, Smith and Watson had fallen back to 1 minute and 45 seconds, with ONeill a further minute behind. The bunch were then at over four minutes down. Jackson led the leaders over the second KOH in Birdhill, ahead of Pritchard and Kennedy. However, Jackson couldnt lead the group through the second hot spot sprint and Kennedy again gained the precious three second bonus with Jackson getting two and Pritchard one. ONeill was then reeled in by the bunch.As they approached 30KM remaining, the peloton started to put on the pressure and the gap reduced from 4 minutes to 3:30 in 5 kilometres. It also became evident that Smith and Watson were starting to fall back towards the bunch. With 17KM remaining, Smith and Watson were caught, and the leaders now had less than 2 minutes over the peloton.Dom Jackson won the final hot spot sprint ahead of Kennedy and Pritchard with 13KM remaining. The gap at this stage was 1:17. With just 10KM remaining, the gap was 1 minute and it looked like it was going to be heartache for the leaders. At 5KM, the gap was just 35 seconds, and the bunch were chasing hard. However, it was too little and too late as Alex Pritchard (Richardsons Trek DAS) won the stage with a two-second advantage ahead of Paul Kennedy (Skyline CADENCE) and Dom Jackson (Foran CT) in third. Defending champion Dillon Corkery (Team Ireland) finished fourth, a further 21 seconds back, with his teammate Odhran Doogan in fifth.The two-second advantage over Kennedy and ten-second bonus on the line were enough for Pritchard to take the Bective Stud General Classification Yellow Jersey by one single second from Paul Kennedy. Dom Jackson is three seconds behind in third. Dillon Corkery is fourth overall with a 36-second deficit, with Odhran Doogan in fifth at the same time.Pritchard also leads the Citybreak Apartments Points Classification Green Jersey competition, but that jersey is worn by Kennedy.Dom Jackson leads The Irish Independent Mountains Competition.Matteo Cigala was the first Irish county rider home in seventh, so he wears the Sport Ireland Irish County Rider Jersey along with winning the Festina Daily County Rider Award.Irish Teammates Dillon Corkery and Odhran Doogan both wear jerseys. Corkery wears the FBD Stage Winner Jersey as the first three on the stage wear other jerseys. Doogans fifth place was enough for him to lead the Spin 11 Under 23 White Jersey.The final presentation was for Kilmallock man Michael Gammell of Challenge CC, who was the first local rider to finish.Kilmallock came out in force to celebrate the men of the Rs and welcome the first-ever stage finish in the town.The post Results: Stage 1 Rs Tailteann 2024 appeared first on IrishCyclingNews.com | Irish Cycling News | IrishCycling.

Almost every year, the mid-week flat stage on the final third of the Giro d'Italia is won by a breakaway rider. So much so that it has become a tradition. We preview stage 18, where it is possible for the breakaway to succeed but if not, Jonathan Milan will be the main favourite to win.As tradition...

Former Paris-Roubaix champion Greg van Avermaet on conquering Unbound Gravel and life as a gravel pro

Denying Tadej Pogacar a third successive stage win at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, EF Education-EasyPost's Georg Steinhauser was the only man to better the Maglia Rosa on stage 17, taking the first victory of his professional career on his Grand Tour debut.The 22-year-old German comes from good stock, w...

In a dramatic final climb on stage 17 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, Bahrain - Victorious' Antonio Tiberi continued to impress in his first career general classification challenge.It was a very nice day for me, reflected the 22-year-old Italian in his post-stage interview, having gained time on his m...

Riding a bike is a great way to get fit. Just getting on a bike and riding it somewhere will give you exercise, and exercise is always good. So, if you want to get fitter and healthier, and fight aging, riding a bike will help. However, like everything, you can work hard, or you can work smart. And it turns out that interval training on a bike is the smart way to get fitter faster, burn more calories, fight stress and aging, and control blood sugar levels. Read our post to learn more about the exciting benefits of interval training on your bike. It includes the top 7 reasons to do interval training on your bike!The post 7 Reasons to do High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Your Bike and How to Do It appeared first on Average Joe Cyclist.