Top of the range bike gets the new 3x3 NINE hub gear with automatic shifting

Florian Lipowitzs candid assessment of the sporting hierarchy at the Tour de France sparked a lively discussion on Sport1.des Facebook page. The high-reach account, followed by around 1.7 million people, put the Germans words at the center of a post. Were fighting for third place. That was clea...

UAE Team Emirates -XRG CEO Mauro Gianetti wants to try and pair Tadej Pogacar in yellow with a strong Isaac del Toro result at the Tour de France, but one is certainly more important than the other to the team. The Emirati squad have worked well to help Pogacar build a vice-like grip around the gen...

Anyone who watched Sunday's ninth Tour de France stage will have felt a pang of empathy for Tom Pidcock as, heading downhill towards a potential breakaway victory, a gear change was followed by pedals spinning uselessly, rather than with any kind of resistance.After all, who has fluffed a gear change, or perhaps crashed into the small ring when it wasn't needed, and been left spinning out?In Pidcock's case, though, his SRAM shifter had apparently stopped working, rather than there being any mistake on his part. Most onlookers drew the conclusion that something had malfunctioned. However, according to the team, a piece of bitumen had wedged itself behind the shifter, preventing him from changing gear.Incredibly perhaps, given the frustrated kicking the British rider wrought upon his rear mech, presumably believing it was jammed, it continued to work using the shift lever's upper 'bonus' buttons, located on the lever hoods. Unfortunately, these weren't ideally placed for a sprint finish and Pidcock finished a disappointed third.It would be easy to assume that the team's explanation especially as it didn't come until later in the day was a carefully constructed piece of face-saving, with the real issue some kind of team oversight, such as a run-down shifter battery. Or perhaps a straightforward malfunction.However, Glen Whittington of UK manufacturer Eight Bike suggests the bitumen explanation is far from impossible because a very similar thing happened to him."If something gets wedged in behind a bit of grit, a bit of clay, something like that, then yeah, it just stops that one button from working," he told Cycling Weekly. "Actually, it's also a benefit of SRAM, that you actually do have the option then to carry on using the [bonus] button on the top."Detail showing a SRAM bonus button on the lever hood (Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)The bonus button is a feature of SRAM Red and Force AXS levers a tiny square button on the inside top of each lever hood, facilitating gear changing when in the hoods. And it doesn't work if the lever battery runs flat, which nullifies any theory about that being the case."If the coin cell battery was low, the button on the top wouldn't work either," Whittington says. So if the button on the top is working as it was at the end, then the coin cell is up to date. But that's the kind of thing that they would check on the [SRAM] app pretty regularly, anyway. Especially with someone like him. At that level, they're going to be checking that on a daily basis.""[A flat lever battery] just wouldn't happen on these guys' bikes," Whittington adds. "I mean, I worked for a Conti team last year, and even with us, we would be changing those batteries for a stage race. So for every stage race, they'd get a new set of coin batteries in there just to rule that out, basically."As to whether you should be concerned about it happening to you especially if you're running Apex or Rival, which don't feature bonus buttons it feels very unlikely. "I wouldn't say it's a design flaw as such because it's obviously such a freak thing," said Whittington. It had never happened to any of his customers, he said, nor any of us at Cycling Weekly for that matter.So, keep those shifter batteries fresh and feel free to ride easy.Cycling Weekly has contacted SRAM for comment.

Tadej Pogacar made it three stages in the 2026 Tour de France on Tuesday as his Massif Central raid saw him break away from the general classification favourites in a soaring attack on the penultimate climb of the day. However, when he did make his move and leave Jonas Vingegaard and the rest of the...

Pinarello-Q36.5s Tom Pidcock crashed on stage 10 of the Tour de France yesterday after the race organisers whitewashed the roads in a bid to stop them melting in the heat.Team Visma-Lease a Bikes Matteo Jorgenson and Chris Harper also crashed on the same corner while descending the Col de Puy Mary on Bastille Day.Pidcock is famed for his descending and said after the stage that he wasnt expecting the white spray on the roads.I dont know what they do with the roads here, he told TNT Sports after the stage. They put this white shit all over it, and its really slippy.I just fell in the middle of the corner and had to chase. In the end it didnt affect me too much.The Briton said he was fine during the interview and added that hed need to see what happened when the adrenaline wore off.I dont think Ive ever crashed in a Grand Tour before, so now its going to be a new experience sleeping and trying to recover, he added.Pidcock managed to chase back after the crash and finished the dramatic stage in ninth place and climbing into 10th overall.Tadej Pogaar won the stage after he went solo with 15km to go. The win saw him extend his lead in the Tour de France general classification to more than three minutes. But it prompted booing from the fans.Thanks to all the fans that came today. It was an amazing atmosphere, even though there was some booing. To all the guys that were booing, you gave us more power, Pogaar said. Pogaar celebrates as he crosses the line to win stage 10. Jasper Jacobs / Getty Images Pogaar was followed by Remco Evenepoel in second place on the stage. Paul Seixas finished third and also addressed the conditions of the roads."I felt my front wheel slip in a corner without even understanding why. I think the tarmac was really melting because the descent was like an ice rink.Luckily, we were at the front at that point. We saw a few riders crash. It's really a shame to fall. At that moment, we didn't take any risks. We didn't try to do anything crazy on the descent, he said.This is just one measure that weve seen at this years race to combat temperatures at the Tour during the European heatwave.Stage 9 was shortened after Mteo-France placed the department of Corrze on red alert. Pogaar said that he would rearrange the entire cycling calendar in light of the increasing temperatures.Stage 3 saw emergency measures implemented because of wildfires, with fans advised to avoid the race.The UCI also relaxed its measures around feedzones to help the riders stay hydrated.

As the Tour de France continues its journey across the country, the dust is settling on a spectacular, sun-drenched Grand Dpart in Catalonia. With explosive back-to-back stage finishes atop Montjuc - the imposing castle fortress looming high above Barcelona - northern Spain delivered a vibrant, unforgettable opening act: A brilliant reminder of the unique, intoxicating allure a foreign start can conjure.It's a reminder, too, that the clock is already ticking toward Britain's own turn in the spotlight. Next summer, 13 years after Yorkshire hosted the 2014 Grand Dpart, the world's biggest bike race returns to our shores. The 2027 edition will roll out of Edinburgh before carving its sweeping way down through northern England and Wales, ensuring the eyes of the sporting world are once again fixed firmly on the UK for three monumental days in July.As the current Tour moves northwards from the Spanish border, through the Pyrenees, then into central France, we break down the vital ingredients that elevate a Grand Dpart from a simple starting line into a truly historic spectacle.1. Attract massive crowdsIt's something no successful Grand Dpart can do without: millions of people at the roadside, all ages getting into the spirit of the Tour. Not only do big crowds spur on the riders and leave them with lasting memories, but they provide incredible backdrops for photos and TV coverage, which go down in history. Who can forget that image of the Tour peloton riding up Buttertubs in the Yorkshire Dales?"I rode the London Olympics in 2012 and in 2014 the Tour started in Yorkshire and it was pretty amazing," says dsm-firmenich PostNL's 37-year-old John Degenkolb. "There were so many people there and the cycling hype was real. In some places it was like riding through an arena. It was a tunnel of noise and it was really, really special on the climbs. It was something that money cannot buy."1. Crown a fairytale first yellow jerseyForeign Grand Departs in numbers1954 - The first Grand Dpart outside of France was in Amsterdam27 - The number of foreign Grand Dparts so far12 - The number held outside of France since 2007802km - The distance of the Grand Dpart farthest from French soil - Copenhagen (distance as the crow flies from the Danish city to the northernmost point of France)32.17m - The cost of bringing the men's and women's Grand Dparts to Britain in 20276 - Netherlands, country with the most Grand Dparts2 - Number of times the UK has hosted a Grand Dpart so far3 - Number of cities that have hosted two foreign Grand Dparts (Brussels, Lige and Luxembourg City)Most riders would prefer to gently ease into 21 days of racing, but this is a major global sporting spectacle - fans want fireworks from day one. Stages can end in sprints, or time trials can establish a GC hierarchy from the off, but there has to be some climbing that tests the legs of the yellow jersey contenders and produces captivating racing. Bilbao in 2023 certainly achieved this, as did Florence the year after. Did Lille last year? Not really.An immediate hierarchy in the battle for yellow, as has happened this year, has the benefit of calming the peloton down. "To have a couple of harder stages and to have the GC in shape early on is definitely much safer," says Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe's Jai Hindley. "The Tour is always chaotic, but the team time trial and a super challenging second stage was a good spectacle for the people watching and helps us riders too."Jay Guarnieri, formerly of the world-famous British cycling fan group the Beefeaters, says: "A lumpy circuit is always a good idea, but not too lumpy - something some of the sprinters could manage so that suspense is built over who gets the first yellow."(Image credit: Getty Images)3. Don't become a lightning rodThe build-up to most Grand Dparts is at least partly overshadowed by the threat of a protest or a certain group promising to exploit the spectacle for their own movement. Catalan independence groups called on volunteers to "mobilise" in large numbers in Barcelona to push forward their cause.Protests are never far away in the Tour, and it's always a concern for the race - but that risk is acutely felt by the local organising group for the Grand Dpart, who are tasked with making sure that the Tour's visit runs as smoothly as the race does on home soil, without taking away from the ordinary show. There can be no hiccups, no drama - just celebration.4. Reward a home heroYorkshire in 2014 had four Brits, including the defending champion Chris Froome, but it failed to crown a home hero - no Brit won a stage (and Mark Cavendish's crashing out in Harrogate still stings). Denmark in 2022 had it, when Magnus Cort infiltrated the breakaway on day two, earning the polka-dot jersey, and then mounted his own solo break on day three. "It was pretty insane getting to the first town," he later said. "The yelling from the crowds, all by myself, with such a big crowd. That was quite special.""It's the Magnus Cort Show," his EF Education-EasyPost team declared. It was - and he was on the front page of all the national newspapers, fans even coming out in Cort face masks. For two days, he was the King of Denmark. It left a lasting impression on his countrymen.(Image credit: Getty Images)5. Bathe us in sunshineAs much as we'd like to say that the weather doesn't matter, we all know it does. The last thing the Tour's opening needs is a rain deluge. Think back to when German city Dsseldorf welcomed the Tour in 2017. Aside from Geraint Thomas winning the opening day's time trial to go into yellow, what else do you remember? The countless crashes under torrential rain, big names such as Alejandro Valverde breaking bones, and GC riders losing big chunks of time. Ditto Nice in 2020. Riders staged a strike because conditions were so treacherous, and by the end of the day it was easier to count who hadn't crashed. So, please, weather gods, be kind.6. Double-up as dream get-awayMost cycling fans don't just come to watch the Tour - they also want to experience the culture, see the sights and eat the local cuisine. The best Grand Dparts are the ones where you can stay a few days before or after the race has passed and have plenty to see and do. Barcelona, Florence and Monaco (way back in 2009) ticked that box brilliantly as will Edinburgh next year.(Image credit: Getty Images)7. Serve up first-rate cycling for fansWhy just watch the pros when you could ride the same routes as them? If you're going to watch a Grand Dpart, you'll probably want to take your bike. Barcelona was great, as it's surrounded by the pre-Pyrenees and dozens of cols, but Brussels in 2019 or Utrecht in 2015 were a bit too flat and dull for scenery-seeking cyclists. The UK's routes visit the Lake District and the Welsh hills - scoring top marks in this regard, weather depending!8. Put on a partyThe host city and region has to buy into Tour fever. There have to be music festivals, fan parks, bike expos - who doesn't want free merch? - affordable, delicious street food, and plentiful welcoming bars to build atmosphere and excitement. A team presentation set against a famous landmark also helps; Edinburgh Castle will host the 2027 presentation - surely setting a new standard."It has to be in an iconic start town and somewhere the locals will totally get on board," fan Guarnieri says. "The most important thing is fostering anticipation.""Having events involving people in the industry, such as ex-riders, really helps," he adds. "Fans just love to feel part of it."9. Mobilise the local massesThe Yorkshire Grand Depart gave cycling a huge boost (Image credit: Getty Images)To truly elevate a Grand Dpart, host regions need to generate the kind of fanatical community buy-in that physically transforms the landscape. The ultimate benchmark for this remains Yorkshire in 2014. Before a pedal had even been turned, Tour race director Christian Prudhomme predicted that roadside passion would define the event, expecting "houses painted yellow and in polka-dots, and everyone so enthused."Yorkshire more than lived up to its billing, with 3.5 million people flooding its cities, villages and moorlands to create a wall of noise. The atmosphere was so electric that Mark Cavendish recalled getting goosebumps climbing Holme Moss. Prudhomme later crowned it "the grandest Grand Dpart in the history of the Tour." It also spawned the creation of the Tour de Yorkshire.If Edinburgh and Wales can tap into that same unbridled, paint-the-town-yellow community spirit next summer, the 2027 Tour will be an undeniable triumph.10. Go big, not smallThe Tour visits plenty of quaint and lesser-known villages and towns on its three-week voyage, but the start must be in a populous city to really kick the race off with a bang. "It's nice to begin in a big city because the race is able to reach a bigger audience and people who don't really follow cycling," says Matteo Trentin, a veteran of nine Tours. "After the Grand Dpart we'll have more fans of cycling. But if you go to a smaller city or a place that doesn't have a big city nearby then the locals will come, but you won't have as many fans."NSN's George Bennett, a veteran of 18 Grand Tours, concurs: "Buy-in from the public is the biggest thing. You saw the buzz in Barcelona and how excited everyone was. Compare that to a Grand Dpart in a place where no one really cares about cycling. I remember one time in the Vuelta a Espaa, the team presentation was in a paddock in the middle of nowhere and no one gave a damn. It took until the fourth stage when we got out of the region for locals to get excited."There's another advantage with starting in places like Barcelona. "It's pretty easy to fly in and out of here and it makes it so much easier logistically," Trentin adds. "Especially for us riders it means that we don't have to spend much time driving around before the race begins." The upshot of that is that the riders are not mentally taxed before the first pedal stroke.

Bikepacking comes with an awful lot to think about at the best of times. But going with your kids poses both fresh challenges, but totally wholesome experience. Matt Page explains how it's done