Our recurring feature returns with a bumper double submission from Kent

Remco Evenepoel was one of the main favourites to win the Montral World Championships men's elite road race but could only manage 12th in a race where chaos ruled. The Belgian rider was not able to crack the Top10 and after the finish, was also fined heavily. The Canadian race gave way to extraord...

After spending seven hours in front of the telly yesterday, Callum finally gets a chance to talk about what he saw

Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel, and Spencer Martin broke down Brandon McNultys victory at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, agreeing that he combined power with sharp race craft to exploit how the race unfolded. Brandon McNulty has his rainbow jersey. The American was crowned wo...

A bit weighty, but stunning performance, comfort and quality

Giulio Ciccone was the leader of the Italian team, who had depth but used it to pursue the early danger-move of the day. The Lidl-Trek rider believed victory was possible for the group pursuing Brandon McNulty, but was left disappointed with the lack of work from some of his rivals. The race proved...

Pas Normal Studios has announced two new on-bike luggage pieces designed in collaboration with Japanese luggage brand Porter.The brands have launched a new handlebar bag and frame bag, complementing their previous options, which include a saddle bag, backpack and tote bag.According to Karl-Oskar Olsen, co-founder and creative director at Pas Normal Studios: With a frame bag, functionality and proportions are very important, while products like a tote bag or backpack give us more freedom to explore different ideas and designs. Whatever we create, we always look at it from a cyclists perspective. The two brands say the new bags are robust and made with durable materials. PNS/Porters bags use a combination of ripstop and Oxford-woven nylon, which they say offer structure and, along with their YKK zippers, durability.The Porter brand was established in 1962 by Yoshida & Co, which was founded in 1935 in Tokyo, with its motto 'heart and soul in every stitch'. All its luggage is made in Japan, near its base, by skilled craftsmen. Other kit available to match includes a backpack and a tote bag. PNS has a history of collaboration with high-profile brands in their own spheres. In May, it announced gravel running shoes and a hydration vest, developed alongside outdoor gear brand Salomon.The shoes tread was based on gravel bike tyres and they incorporated tech carried over from high-end trail running shoes, such as a 'supercritical foam midsole' and dual carbon shanks, which the brands claimed helped improve energy return.You can buy the entire PNS x Porter bike luggage collection, including the new frame bag and bar bag online from PNS online store, as well as PNS stores, and selected Porter and Portr stores worldwide.

I find one of the more hilarious things about getting older is the expectation that our bodies will function as if were still in our thirties. Every ride introduces a full suite of shocking surprises recovery takes longer, strength needs more attention, eyesight changes and joints become less mobile. Yet, many of us are oddly unwilling to move on from what worked in our heyday: narrow tyres inflated harder than granite, long cranks, slammed stems, tight cycling shoes, and a crude no pain, no gain training philosophy. Perhaps through fear of capitulation the spectre of having to accept the changes that time has wrought many of us want our bodies to behave as though nothing has changed, while wanting our bikes to remain exactly as they were when we were younger. Neither position is rational or tenable. The solution, as with all evolutionary threats, is adaptation. Embracing change wont allow us to outperform a twentysomething pro, but it will substantially narrow the gap. It also makes cycling more joyful again, which is the whole point. Sports scientist and CycleCoach founder Ric Stern has coached riders of all ages to the highest levels. (Image credit: Ric Stern)To help broaden my own list of must-dos as the years tick by, Ive enlisted the help of two experts. Sports scientist and CycleCoach founder Ric Stern has coached cyclists professionally since 1997, from recreational riders to World, Commonwealth and Paralympic champions. He holds a First-Class BSc (Hons) in Sports Science, has published peer-reviewed research and has spent decades expanding our understanding of cycling power and physiology. Ric continues to race himself, now into his 43rd consecutive season.Retired physiotherapist Linda Dewhurst provides an equally compelling perspective. She only took up cycling in her 50s after a competitive running career, yet within a few years was racing at world-championship level. In 2023 she won the 6569 road race at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Glasgow and took silver in the time trial. A year later, in Aalborg, she successfully defended her road title and added time trial gold; then in 2025 she successfully defended her time trial world title in Australia and took silver in the road race. Despite being in her late 60s, her FTP (Functional Threshold Power), which exceeds four watts per kilo, enables her to run rings around much younger riders of either gender, as my esteemed colleague Steve Shrubsall discovered to his cost. And Steves no slouch.(Image credit: Linda Dewhurst)1. Embrace wider tyresWider tyres, both road and gravel, can buy you additional comfort, grip and speed. (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)An obvious one to start with, but its worth repeating ad nauseam because swapping out tyres is a comparatively inexpensive tech upgrade, and the gains can be considerable. For road use, the sweet spot for me is 30 to 32mm. I rode on 25mm tyres for years, but a chance encounter with a hire bike clad in 30/32c Specialized Roubaix Pro tyres (RIP but replaced by the equally stellar Mondo) was a gamechanger. More comfort, more grip, more versatility, more comfort, the same performance if not better... Did I mention comfort? Ive never looked back. Stern requires little persuasion here. I cant tell you how much of an impact this made on me feeling less like I was being shaken to death, he says. I think back to my younger days riding 18mm tyres at 120psi. Now Im on 28s and 30s at around 60psi most of the time.Dewhurst has travelled much the same path. When I started, I was on 23s. Im now on 28s on my race bike and something like 40s on my gravel bike, she says. You dont lose speed by riding a 28 or a 30, but youre gaining comfort.Same speed, less battering. Whats not to like? Probably the best sub-100/$130 (if you shop around) upgrade youll ever make.2. Revisit your bike fitBike fits need refreshing as we age (Image credit: Future)Im as guilty as many cyclists here; my last bike fit was a good four or five years ago, and they do carry an expiry date.Perhaps your flexibility has started to decline, so you cant slam your stem anymore, says Stern. Not that it necessarily matters you could potentially be more aerodynamic with the handlebars raised a fraction. A bike fit or refit can help sort out niggles.Dewhurst is as emphatic. Definitely get a bike fit. Theyre worth their weight in gold, she says. You shouldnt be uncomfortable on a bike. I love getting on mine its really comfortable.Her physiotherapy background gives her another reason to revisit the process later in life. We tend to get a bit less flexible as we age, especially those with sedentary jobs who often develop stiffness in the back and hips.A fitter cannot cure every underlying physical problem, but your position neednt remain frozen simply because it worked perfectly 15 years ago.3. Put shorter cranks on your shortlistTadej has driven the vogue for 165mm cranks for performance gains, but perhaps mature riders should take note too. (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)Shorter cranks have rapidly become one of cyclings fashionable talking points to the extent that I wonder if Im smelling a fad but there is a practical reason why older riders might take particular interest. Reducing crank length opens the hip angle and reduces knee and hip flexion at the top of the pedal stroke.Dewhurst moved to 165mm cranks on one of her bikes after discussing the subject with her bike fitter while preparing for the 2023 Worlds.I think shorter cranks are a good idea, she says. They do help with comfort, especially with that hip issue. That said, my other bikes all have a variety of longer cranks, which I dont think is a bad idea either. Overusing exactly the same mechanical movement is inviting issues, whereas varying muscle usage, even slightly, makes us less prone to injury.You heard it first here; retired physio and world-class athlete Linda Dewhurst endorses n+1! On a more serious note, there is no suggestion that everyone turning 50 needs to immediately swap out their 172.5mm cranks for a considerably shorter set. However, if reduced mobility makes an aggressive position uncomfortable, crank length is now another tool available to your bike fitter. Just remember, its not a case of one-size-fits-all.4. Make the controls easier on your handsWe tend to obsess about saddles and pedals more than we do our cockpits, not least because these components are easier to swap out. (Image credit: Andy Jones)Contact points are so important, yet if youre like I used to be, you probably obsess more about shoes, pedals and saddles than your cockpit. All that changed when, in my late forties, osteoarthritis skulked uninvited into my life, followed a decade later by the equally unwelcome Dupuytrens contracture (when 1 or more fingers bend in towards your palm).Electronic shifting is easy to dismiss as an expensive luxury until hand strength, dexterity or cold weather make mechanical controls difficult. In the winter I suffer badly with arthritis and Raynauds phenomenon, says Stern. I need Di2 to help me shift. And in summer races its just flawless.Dewhurst owns both mechanical and electronic bikes and is happy with either, but her experience illustrates the wider issue. Im going to have surgery on my hand because Ive developed Dupuytrens contracture. One thing I noticed was braking on my gravel bike in winter I thought, God, I cant really feel this so well. Your contact points mustnt be overlooked.The answer might be electronic gears, adjusted lever reach, better-positioned hoods, thicker, cushioned tape or simply a different handlebar.As Stern says, riders once had remarkably little choice. Today, there is an enormous range of components. If something hurts or is difficult to operate, there is little virtue in persevering with it, so act.5. Give your feet some roomWide shoes don't have to make you look like you've joined a circus. The visual difference between the Fizik Vento Omna Wide shoe on the left and Fizik Tempo Decos shoe on the right is minimal, yet those extra millimetres count. (Image credit: Future/Simon Fellows)Cycling shoes have traditionally been sold on the assumption that race fit and tight fit are much the same thing. They arent. In fact, modern thinking is that unimpeded metatarsal spread thats the fan of small bones in your forefoot results in optimal power generation. Which seems like basic physics, doesnt it? For older riders, newer, wider shoes have additional benefits. Foot shape changes as we age; generally speaking, our feet become broader. So, simply buying the same brand and size indefinitely isnt necessarily sensible. The growth in wide-fit options makes experimenting easier, while cleat position is another variable worth revisiting during a bike fit.Dewhurst uses orthotics in her cycling shoes because of her high arches. I used to get pressure on the ball of my foot that hot-foot feeling so an arch support helps support the foot better, she says.She has another common reason for preferring more generous footwear. Ive got a bunion on one foot, so I need wider shoes. A lot of cycling shoes are so narrow to start with, but wider ones are much easier to find now.The correct cycling shoe is the one your feet want to keep wearing after five hours in the heat of a mid-summer epic, not the one that looks fastest sitting outside the caf.6. Make the numbers big enough to readGPS headunits, like the Wahoo Elemnt Ace, are large, but they can be more legible if you suffer a little age-related sight decline. (Image credit: Future)Presbyopia age-related decline in near vision is something that I really suffer with. There is little point in keeping your tiny, antique GPS bike computer if your principal interaction with it is squinting harder than Clint Eastwood in the blazing Almerian sun. Dedicated reading glasses arent really a thing in cycling.Fortunately, modern head units let you programme what data you want to see, so the fewer data fields on screen, the larger the digits tend to be, says Stern. And the units themselves are generally bigger than days gone by. How small was an Avocet?Dewhurst is beginning to encounter the same problem. Especially when Im racing or time trialling, I struggle to read the digits, she admits. She is now considering the small reader inserts that can be fitted to cycling glasses after noticing another rider use them. Ive used inexpensive Optx inserts in the past, with some success, but more sophisticated bifocal options exist, provided youre willing to pay large sums. However, I find bifocal lenses rarely inspire confidence on gnarly gravel trails littered with hazards that require the odd glance down. Everythings a blur7. Stop making every ride quite hardNot every ride needs to test you to the limit... (Image credit: Future)One of the simplest ways of improving training is also one of the hardest for enthusiastic cyclists to follow easy days need to be easy. Unfortunately, many of us succumb to recovery day restlessness.Dewhurst admits she still gets it wrong. Ill go out, and Im meant to be doing an easy ride, but Ill do it slightly too hard, she says. Then when I come to a really hard ride, Ive run out of energy.Stern believes the distinction becomes increasingly important with age. Recovery is slower than it once was, and hard sessions need to be protected.That does not mean gradually removing intensity from your riding. Older riders who want to preserve performance still need hard work; the point is to arrive at those sessions sufficiently recovered to actually do them properly.8. Lift weights even if youd rather be ridingLove it or hate it, weight training because increasingly important as age. (Image credit: Getty Images)Strength work is crucial, says Stern. As we age, we start to lose muscle mass sarcopenia which has a negative effect on general health and wellbeing as well as your cycling. Heavy strength training will help you build and maintain muscle, build and maintain your bones, increase your short and long-term cycling power and make you less likely to age badly.His prescription is reassuringly practical. Start light, get the movement patterns down, then build to heavy with minimal reps once you have the basics.Stern came relatively late to strength work. For years he avoided it before taking it up seriously, leading to measurable improvements in sprint power.Dewhurst is less evangelical, a stance I can relate to. For years Ive been saying Im going to do some strength training and never got there, she acknowledges. I think its important, but its got to be interesting and easy to fit in, with enough variety to ensure that Im not just working the same small number of muscles all the time. I do intend to start doing some weight training this winter, she laughs.Remember: the perfect programme you never do is considerably less useful than a modest one you can sustain.9. Do something other than cyclingFour-time national road race champion and Commonwealth road race silver medallist Lisa Brambani runs regularly out on the Yorkshire Moors. (Image credit: Andy Jones)Sometimes, the best way to train for cycling involves stepping away from the bike. Stern recommends mobility work to help with posture, joints and spinal health, and sees a place for yoga for its mental as well as physical benefits. Dewhurst takes a refreshingly non-dogmatic approach. If you enjoy it, do it, she says. I think doing a variety of different exercise is good. I do quite a bit of walking and thats a good antidote to sore legs when youve been cycling.She is also living proof that you dont need to embrace every fashionable form of cross-training. Im too stiff to do yoga, she grins, and find Pilates too boring.As an advanced yoga teacher, I believe anyone who believes they are too stiff to do yoga is a prime candidate for yoga, but agree with Dewhurst that theres no benefit in taking up a pastime or regime that you dont enjoy. You simply wont last the course.Cycling is superb aerobic exercise, but it offers little skeletal loading and keeps the body moving through a comparatively narrow range. Walking, running, resistance work, swimming, yoga or another activity you actually enjoy can complement it, particularly if retirement or reduced working hours leave more time to play with.10. Pay more attention to what you eatA post-ride beer might not help you to hit your goals (Image credit: Future)There was a time when many amateur cyclists regarded nutrition as whatever could be consumed at the caf mid-ride and found in the fridge post-ride.You can still ride hard when youre older, says Stern, but nutrition and recovery are super important for the gains. Increase your protein intake, make your carbohydrates decent and match them to your workload. Eat plenty of plants.Protein becomes especially relevant for maintaining muscle mass, while cutting carbohydrates indiscriminately can make hard training extremely challenging. Stern puts it more colourfully: Gone are the days when you could neck a few beers and go training the next day. You can still do that, if thats your thing, but recovery matters.An older rider investing hours in structured training while habitually under-fuelling is making life unnecessarily difficult.11. Give yourself something to aim atLinda's goals are often competition focused but they can just be wanting to get a little fitter. (Image credit: Linda Dewhurst)Goals dictate your training structure and provide mental focus and discipline all of which sound like lofty ideals for a non-competitive cyclist like me. However, I do appreciate that goals also provide impetus a welcome motivational shove in the back.My goal might be that Im off to the European Championships and Id like to get a podium, says Dewhurst. But it doesnt have to be that extreme. It can just be, Id like to get a little bit fitter so I can get up that hill more comfortably, or ride at a faster pace.Stern agrees. Maybe its not getting dropped on the big hill near you or beating everyone in the sprint for the caf. Having goals enables you to focus and train with purpose.That purpose can become especially useful once work and family routines change as we hit retirement. Suddenly having more time to ride doesnt automatically mean using that time productively.Nor does a goal have to be performance-based. A first century, a multi-day tour or riding every road in your county can work just as well. The important thing is that it makes you look forward to getting on the bike.12. Get a coach but get the right oneRic Stern has quite literally lived cycling - he fully understands ageing and its impact on training. (Image credit: Ric Stern)Ive never had a coach, but I envy cyclists who do. Once youve recognised something you would genuinely like to achieve, a coach can help turn vague ambition into a plan.If somebody wants to perform at a better level, getting a coach gives you that structure, says Dewhurst. Even if youre not competitive, if you want to improve a little, coaching can point you in the right direction. Its too easy to fall into doing the same old thing all the time.She should know. Despite being a physiotherapist and having spent a lifetime in sport, Dewhurst admits: I know what I should do, but I need somebody to tell me, Do that, and Ill do it.But age makes choosing the right coach particularly important. Training most certainly should change with age, says Stern. Recovery is slower than it once was and hard sessions need to be protected. A coach who understands ageing and the additional stress you may have from work or family is crucial.Dewhurst changed coaches after feeling she was training too hard and no longer enjoying it. That is arguably as important as having a coach in the first place: if the relationship or programme isnt working, change it.13. Try racing it really isnt too lateRic Stern, pictured here at pace at Goodwood, has the ambition of racing until he's in his nineties. (Image credit: John Lampard)Never raced before? So what just do it, says Stern. It doesnt matter if youre first or last. Youre not turning pro!Dewhurst only came to cycling in her 50s. When I started, I was doing it just for fun to get fit again. I didnt have any ambitions to be competitive, she says. But then I got involved in Masters racing and it went from there!For newcomers, she suggests circuit racing as one of the least intimidating places to begin. If you get dropped, it doesnt matter because youll get picked up again on the next lap. Whereas if youre in a 40-mile road race and get dropped after three or four miles, its a long, lonely thing.Stern suggests sampling different disciplines rather than deciding racing isnt for you after one experience: Crits, road racing, ultras, gravel, TTs its all good. Try a few and see which you prefer.However, Dewhurst believes masters racing still has work to do when it comes to encouraging women. I think a lot of women feel a little intimidated and feel they shouldnt be there, she says. Ive always trained and raced with men, so it doesnt faze me. The men in masters racing are very generous although they dont give you any free rides, thats for sure. If more women did it, it would be easier. Dewhurst believes more grassroots-level circuit racing would provide a particularly useful route in. It can be such a fun, social thing to do. And it gives you a bit more sense of achievement, perhaps, than just going out for a ride.14. Join a club but find your clubA cycling club can provide a wonderful training environment, social contact and copious amounts of coffee and cake. (Image credit: Dillon Osborne)You can cycle on your own and that can be lovely, says Dewhurst. But what really got me into club cycling was the fact that you stop and have cake and coffee. I thought this sounds like a great idea cycle 20 miles, stop for coffee and cake, then cycle 20 miles back. Its not the sort of thing runners do, thats for sure.But not every club suits every rider. Some are race-focused; others revolve around touring, social riding or gravel. Dewhursts advice is refreshingly uncomplicated: Try one, but if that clubs not for you, join another.Stern points out that a group can also make training easier or simply help you through a long ride. Look for one that has some riders about your age. Just going out with a group of riding buddies can be a great way to train or endure an epic ride when your legs are starting to drop off!As working life winds down, cycling can provide something beyond fitness: regular social contact, routine and friendships built around doing something enjoyable together. And, crucially, cake.15. Take a cycling holidayCycling is at the heart of any cycling holiday, then there's the scenery, the food, the wine and the fun. (Image credit: Grant Bayton/Via Roma)Im not really into club rides, preferring to ride solo most of the time, but I do love a good cycling holiday. I think its the relaxed, no-pressure vibe I enjoy, as well as meeting new people and riding unfamiliar routes. Ive holidayed with a few companies but found Via Roma provides a great balance of challenge and chill.A good cycling holiday should still feel like an adventure and a challenge, but it should take away the hassle, says Grant Bayton of Via Roma. The bike is at the heart of it, but so are the scenery, the food, the company and the fun. You can test yourself on the bike yet still come away feeling as though youve had a proper holiday.Bayton has also seen a marked increase in female participation. Often around a third of the group are women, and in Tuscany sometimes half. A lot of that comes through word of mouth, particularly when women know the atmosphere will be relaxed, inclusive and supportive.Dewhurst needed little encouragement here. Oh, definitely. Great fun, she says. One of her first cycling holidays was in the Alps, not long after taking up the sport. She has since done several and was preparing for a ride from Seville to Valencia when we spoke.16. Dont surrender half the yearThere's always Zwift and Rouvy when the weather is less cooperative (Image credit: Future)I used to stick my bike way at the end of October to focus on swimming during the winter months. Unsurprisingly, this did little for my cycling fitness, so every April was a sufferfest. Now, as platforms such as Zwift and Rouvy have matured to the point where they are a joy to use (sometimes!), I train indoors a few times a week. More significantly, my gravel bike, better lights, modern bike bags and much improved cycling attire enable me to cycle a hilly 20km to the pool in all but the very worst weather. There is no off-season anymore, says Stern. People are periodising their training and focusing on year-round riding so theyre stronger next year. Winter clothing is generally excellent now, and indoor riding is much more interesting. Dewhurst has discovered one remarkably simple piece of kit. My favourite thing is arm warmers, she says. I started wearing them under my winter jacket and the difference was huge. Such a simple thing, but it makes winter riding more comfortable. However, I refuse to go out if its chucking it down.17. Let technology watch your backSee and be seen. Radar is a boon, especially on fast but quiet roads where traffic can appear with little warning. (Image credit: Simon Fellows)Radar is not just a gimmick; it has transformed my rides, allowing me to be much more confident and assertive on the road. Garmin, which makes excellent radar units, once pretty much enjoyed a monopoly on this product category, but other brands such as Wahoo, Lezyne, Magene and iGPSport have now joined the fray with competitively priced products.Ive just invested in one of those Garmin radar lights, says Dewhurst. I do quite a bit on my own and I have to negotiate a major A-road to return home. I struggle to turn, look over my shoulder and stay straight on the bike, so its been fantastic. I cant always hear cars behind me either, so it gives me much more peace of mind knowing itll show me if something is coming up especially with electric cars.Stern also recommends location sharing and cameras: Roads are busier. Radar, LiveTrack and cameras can help with your safety or let loved ones know youre OK.None of this tech replaces observation or road sense. But if retirement means more weekday solo riding, any product that improves our situational awareness has to be worth bolting to our bikes.18. Try something differentGravel riding is a seductive pastime, even for die-hard roadies. (Image credit: Ric Stern)Much of my riding time is spent exploring the lanes that criss-cross the UK's Cotswolds, but I also adore off-road excursions on my gravel and XC bikes. Trying something different brings new energy, not to mention skills, to my riding. Dewhursts introduction gravel racing began optimistically. I thought gravel might be fun, she recalls. Her first qualifier in Wales proved rather less benign than expected. I thought it would be nice parkland gravel. It was awful! Much more technical than I was expecting.She qualified anyway and subsequently rode the Gravel World Championships. Despite that baptism of fire, she is planning more gravel riding. Change is as good as a rest sometimes, she says. Its a different way of riding. With gravel it doesnt matter whether youre doing 10mph or 5mph the terrain dictates what you can do, so sometimes it takes that pressure off.Planning new adventures on Strava, OS Maps, Komoot and so on, can help lift you out of a rut. As can bikepacking, mountain biking, audax or simply putting the bike in the car and starting somewhere unfamiliar.19. Dont let your date of birth dictate your rideDon't allow age to become a reason to expect less from cycling (Image credit: Andy Jones)I dont think its defeatist to have an electric bike, says Dewhurst. I know a few older guys I used to cycle with who have them now, and its given them a totally new lease of life. If assistance allows somebody to stay with friends, continue riding hills, return after illness or simply have more fun, calling them out for using an e-bike is a nonsense.If youve got to the point where youre thinking of stopping cycling because you cant manage any more, its an ideal thing to have, Dewhurst adds.Sterns attitude is characteristically straightforward: Age is just a number on your licence its not a limit on what you can do, so have fun. I thoroughly recommend British Masters Racing, where you race in 5-year age bands it is great to see the older riders still racing. I hope to be competing when I'm 90 plus!Dewhurst occasionally has to remind herself that the person she is comparing herself with may be 25 years younger. Most of the time, though, I dont even consider my age.Perhaps that is the most useful advice of all. Dont allow being over 50 to become a reason, in itself, to expect less from cycling.