Juan Ayuso faces an important moment in his career. The Spaniard left UAE Team Emirates to join Lidl-Trek with a clear goal: become one of the teams leading riders and earn the freedom to target the Tour de France general classification. However, his first season with the German team has fallen wel...

The cautionary words from my friend Ellis that 'a strong start is really important' rang in my head as I bodged clipping in as the whistle blew. I fumbled again, and watched desperately as the pack surged ahead, leaving me in a cloud of dirt. I was just about to turn 41, and I was at the start line of my first-ever cyclo-cross race. After questioning why I only sucked at clipping-in during high stake moments, my next big question was: how did I get here?"Think Parkrun, but with bikes"Until recently, I hadnt even watched Cyclocross. I knew very little about the sport beyond the fact that it was a winter discipline, involved a lot of mud and ranged from the World Championships to locally run leagues.The latter, I was about to discover, are often volunteer-led events by local cycling clubs and take over a range of parks and green spaces for a series of weekends in autumn through to winter. The courses zig-zag across mixed terrain, with obstacles that force riders to dismount, or give the more seasoned racers a chance to show off some envious bunny-hopping.Think Parkrun, but with bikes, a little more emphasis on the racing bit and, somehow, even more volunteer-led organisation.How I got to the start lineTwo people were instrumental in getting me there. First, my friend Ellis from Bristol Grit, whod tried CX the previous year and loved it so much that she was determined to help others get through the door. Shed even organised an informal skills-sharing session. And secondly my friend Laura. After wed both attended the session and like the start of many good adventures, we made a pact to sign up for the first race in our local season, over a pint.And so on a crisp Sunday morning, I found myself at Round One of the Western League in Pittville Park, Cheltenham, bleating its my first time! at the sign-up table as I prepared to hand over 25 for a race number. Expecting some unexpected barrier to entry, it took all of 30 seconds to pay and enter. The volunteer reassured me that it was a good bit of fun and she was racing that day, too.(Image credit: Future/Adam Becket)When I first arrived, I had seen the under-10 kids racing which filled me with a slightly paradoxical sense of comfort that kids could do it, alongside a bit of embarrassment that I was there to race, too. I later learnt that children go first to give them the easiest ride, before the mud gets churned up by the adults. The womens category follow the kids, and lastly the mens which due to a bigger turn-out was divided out to separate age categories. After pinning on my race number and nervously fiddling with my tyre pressure, things got a little more daunting. I crossed the car park to find the leisure centre toilets, which seemed to double as the preparation zone for the serious riders by their cars. Suddenly, I was surrounded by team kits, very nice bikes and competitors warming up on rollers.Before long, Id found my friends and fellow competitors, and the course opened for a sighting lap; a chance to recce the route before racing. With around 20 minutes until the womens start, there was a choice to make; to ride multiple laps to get to grips with the course, or save some energy and catch your breath before the race.Forty minutes of full gasA loud whistle sounded to signify it was time to gather at the start, and after rearranging us into riders by the points from last season and the newbies at the back, we were off."The advice doesn't always make sense until you've learnt the hard way"Like many unchartered territories, cyclocross comes with plenty of well-meaning advice. It doesn't always make sense until you've learnt the hard way, at which point, you remember exactly what you were told, just as you're getting it wrong.After my rough start and finally getting both feet clipped in, I remembered why Ellis had stressed the importance of a getting ahead early, the course with its sharp corners meant that overtaking was difficult, especially for someone keen not to get in anyones way in their first race and I found myself at the very back of the pack. (Image credit: Future/Adam Becket)As the course stretched on, I hadnt prepared for how brutal the racing felt, with my heart in my mouth at every switch back and dismount, I was not only spending all my mental energy locked in, I was also trying to sustain full gas for 40 minutes, that bit I hadnt quite considered. It was eased only slightly by my pals Adam, Melanie and my partner Rich cheering their support by the sidelines.So far, Cyclocross was reinforcing two things I already knew about club cycling: having self awareness of your skill level is crucial to staying upright, and clear, loud communication between riders is key. The only rules I was told at the start was you had to enter the pit with any technicals via the direction of the course (and not leaving and re-entering it) and riders lapping you had priority. "It reminded me of a marble run: the obstacles had strung us out across the course, everyone was seemingly heading in different directions"As the course squiggled about, I found myself passing close to riders on other sections, making shouting out and receiving encouragement part of the fun. It also reminded me of a marble run: the obstacles had strung us out across the course, everyone was seemingly heading in different directions. Keeping track of who was where, let alone who was winning or coming last, felt like a fun guessing game.After a brief slide-out on a dusty corner, with hearty encouragement from the nearest marshal to keep going, I threw myself back onto the bike and wondered how much harder Id have found the course in wet conditions. Later, a fellow rider remarked that climate change could mean less mud for CX in the years to come. Its a sobering thought, even if a slightly drier course might make the sport feel a little less intimidating for newcomers like me.Eventually, our 40 minutes were up. In CX, the race doesnt end when the clock runs out; the first rider to finish her final lap determines when the rest of the field follows. As I was lapped by the leaders, after seven laps, it was my turn to cross the finish line.(Image credit: Future/Adam Becket)I dropped to the ground beside my bike, with puffed out cheeks, trying not to fully dissociate. I quickly decided that CX was absolutely type 2 fun. Admittedly, self-imposed, that was the hardest 12km I had ever cycled. As I sat and recovered I got to enjoy watching the other finishers' storm through. During our skills session, Ellis had mentioned how different the experience of racing could feel depending on the field you were riding in. Having stayed to watch the later races, I understood. The field was more densely packed, with some lively jostling and a few spills in the tighter sections. I'd raced alongside around 20 women, ranging from juniors to riders over 50, and often found myself with a little space to work things out. The racing was still hard, but that space helped ease some of my initial worries about someone crashing into me, or worse, me causing a crash.From first-timer to CX convertMy first cyclo-cross race was done, and I hadnt died. To be honest, the race had been so hectic and unfamiliar that I wasnt entirely sure how I felt about the day, particularly my own performance. But after my second event in the league a couple of weeks later, things began to crystallise. I was hooked.Riding home to Bristol from the Stroud event, the second round of the Western League, my fellow Harts Cycle Club cyclist Bekah and I spent most of the 60km journey dissecting the race and what we thought of the sport and how we would approach things next time.What really stood out from the whole experience was just how easy it was to turn up and sign up on the day, thanks to the volunteers and friendly riders. If you're curious, look up your local league, ask a friend to join you or try a beginner-friendly skills session. You might spend your first race wondering what youve signed up for, but you might also find yourself riding home already planning your next one.

Wout van Aert, like all amateur cyclists, is not immune to things going wrong while on the bike. Like the best of us, the Visma | Lease a Bike great does sometimes endure an uncomfortable ride on his bike. Despite riding thousands of kilometres per season, the Belgian's behind sometimes needs time t...

Visma | Lease a Bike are reportedly set to fill the final spot on their roster for the 2027 season. After talks with Primoz Roglic ultimately led to the team ruling out a surprise transfer, the Dutch team are looking inside their structure to fill the final spot - choosing between an exciting Britis...

A stage-by-stage look at the Giro Womens route. It will run from Saturday 29 May to Sunday 6 June.Stage 1 starts on the roads where Tirreno-Adriatico also begins every March. Four climbs to Pitoro define the stage, its got three kilometres with a 7% average but its irregular, twisting uphill and the slope hits 10% towards the top. Crucially theres 20km to get back in time for the finish through Camaiore into Viareggio so if teams want to drop the sprinters theyll have to make the race hard for the duration of the climb.Stage 2sees the race track the Tuscan coast before heading in land for the Passo del Bracco, hound pass, a long climb but its bark is no worse than its bite, mainly a gentle climb although there is 3.5km at 6-7%. Theres more ups and downs including the Passo di Ruta at San Martino before the finish in Genoa. Like the previous stage this climb could split things up but theres time to regroup on the Via Aurelia coastal road.Stage 3 starts in Cogorno and heads into the Apeninnes. The Passo del Bocco is probably the gentlest crossing, 5% for 15km and then a long ride to Viadana on the left, Lombard bank of of the Po river.Stage 4 is the first mountain stage with 3,500m of vertical gain. Its a hipster tour of Lombardy with some roads used for the autumn classic midway before the uphill finish. A summit finish? The question is because the road climbs gently to the finish for the most part, its only the last 4km that it gets to 8%.Stage 5 has a loop into the flat countryside before four flat laps around Cassano, an obvious sprint stage and also a recovery day for the GC contenders.Stage 6 is only 137km but it ought to be plenty as it packs 3,550m of vertical gain. The Passo San Marco is a giant 20km long and the upper slopes are 8% or more. A long descent and then plenty of road roads on the valley lead to the start of the Passo della Spluga, aka Splgenpass but before the top of the pass a right turn and the finish in Madesimo with some 10% ramps to the finish. The mens Giro came here in 2021 but the finish was different.Stage 7 for a sprint stage after taking a sweep around the towns and villages north of Milan including Cambiago where Ernesto Colnago set up a workshop. The finish in Rho is flat and for trivia a rare place in Italy with the letter H in its name.Stage 8 and while some websites probably list the start and finish in Valdigne thats impossible as no town as 11km long and spans this range of altitude. Instead this is a term for the upper Aosta valley, its really a time trial from Pre-Saint-Didier to La Thuile, as in the first half of the Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo, aka the Col du Petit Saint Bernard pass. Its a ski station access road, complete with a fun series of hairpins soon after the start where the slope kicks up but otherwise its 4-5% most of the way. Some flat portions along the way could reward using a time trial bike.Stage 9 has 3,950m of vertical gain inside just 132km. There are three hard climbs on the northern side of the Aosta valley which mean they face south and can be hot and then its across to the Colle San Carlo. This is a very hard climb, 10km at 10% makes it comparable to the Mortirolo, the only help is that its on a more even road, if the slope does get to 12% it is steady most of the time. This is where the 2019 mens Giro was won, when Richard Carapaz attacked and left Primo Rogli and Vincenzo Nibali marking each other, the same for the descent which uses the previous days time trial route in reverse before taking the main valley route to climb to Courmayeur and a finish below Monte Bianco, as in Mont Blanc and western Europes highest mountain.The VerdictGlance at the map and it clearly doesnt tour Italy, just Tuscany, Liguria, Lombardia and Aosta. There could be a way to range widder, starting south and threading a mix of sprint stages and mid-mountain days in the Apennines before an Alpine conclusion but this cant reasonably be achieved every year for a race that lasts a long week. The northern route of 2027 goes big on the Alps.Structurally the course is interesting for the overlap with the mens races, RCS is taking this race to sites where it runs other races, whether Tirreno-Adriatico, Il Lombardia or the mens Giro. Inevitably any Giro will overlap with these routes but the proximity seems more than coincidence and suggests the kind of cross-selling we see with ASOs portfolio.Itll be up to the women to write their own story but already the cast of characters will be limited. This is a highly selective route with three mountain stages in the Alps, plus an uphill time trial too. Consequently we should get a convincing winner but possibly at the expense of suspense to the end.The post 2027 Giro dItalia Women Route first appeared on The Inner Ring.

Antonio Tiberi is under pressure at Bahrain-Vicotrious following a hot-and-cold 2026 season, with a sports director for the team publicly stating that the Italian rider disappointed this season. However, a Giro olive branch has been extended ahead of next season. According toFranco Pellizotti, cons...

Matthew Beers needs no introduction - the big South African is one of the most feared protagonists on the off-road circuit, where he competes in both cross-country mountain bike marathon and gravel racing. He is a key member of the Specialized Off-Road Team, racing alongside his teammates, Keagen Swenson and Mads Wrtz Schmidt. Having grown up in Knysna, the four-time Absa Cape Epic winner and two-time Gravel Burn champion knows the terrain better than anyone, having cut his teeth riding around the Klein Karoo (Little Karoo) and Outeniqua Mountains.His unrivalled local terrain acumen, matched by his enormous engine and equally tuned technical skills, has equipped him with the confidence to not only compete at the highest level but win, too. In 2026, Beers returned to defend his Gravel Burn crown on the all-new Specialized S-Works Crux 5, a marked step up from the Aethos-inspired Crux 4 model he rode to victory last year.Although he didn't win a single stage at this year's edition of Gravel Burn, Beers' consistency over the seven stages kept him in the leader's jersey from stage 3 to the end, finishing 32 seconds ahead of Scott-SRAM's Filippo Colombo in the general classification.(Image credit: Nedbank Gravel Burn/James Cameron Heron)We use TyreWiz for stage race events like Gravel Burn because of the rough terrain. We link it to our head unit and it tells you if your pressures are holding.Matt Beers(Image credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius)At 1.96m (6 feet 4 inches), Beers uses a size 61cm frame. Finished here in gloss black and complemented by white Specialized and S-Works wordmark logos, it's one malevolent-looking machine. As the range-topping model, the S-Works Crux 5 is constructed from Fact12r carbon fibre tuned to balance stiffness with weight - the new model represents a significant departure from its predecessor, with a frame blueprint inspired by the Tarmac SL7 road bike.(Image credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius)For stage 6, he chose a 'mullet' drivetrain that melds a road bike chainring with a mountain bike cassette and rear mech. As a result, he has paired a SRAM XX SL Eagle Transmission complete with a dinner-plate-sized 10-52T cassette and X-Sync Aero 50T chainring. During the other stages, he used an X-Sync Aero 48T chainring and Red XPLR AXS rear assembly. Beers runs 170mm cranks.(Image credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius)A closer look reveals a freshly waxed chain, complete with Squirt lube.(Image credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius)The bike rolls on a pair of 1,340g Roval Terra Aero CLX wheels, wrapped in 2.2-inch Specialized Pathfinder tyres, complete with TyreWiz sensors. Beers told us that he uses the tyre pressure sensors for stage race events such as Gravel Burn due to the rough terrain, allowing him to link to his Hammerhead Karoo2 cycling computer to monitor his pressures in real time.(Image credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius)The front end features a Roval Rapide cockpit measuring 38cm wide and paired with a 135mm stem. The one-piece design fully integrates the brake hoses and provides confidence on rough descents, preventing bar-stem slip if he hits a rut at high speed. The balance of the touchpoints comes from a 143mm 3D-printed Specialized S-Works Power Evo Mirror saddle and Shimano Dura-Ace road pedals.(Image credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius)An old hand at stage racing, Beers has strategically plastered spares to the frame for easy access in the event of a mechanical - a practice he's employed ever since learning the trade of stage racing in South Africa. As such, a Ryder Slug Plug is taped to the rear stay, a C02 canister sits under the stem, and a TPU inner tube is fastened to the top tube.(Image credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius)Like Mattia De Marchi's Wilier Rave SLR ID2, Beers has cleverly fastened elastic bands to his bottle cages for extra security over rough terrain. Golden titanium hardware from Better Bolts is used throughout the build to shave off a little more weight and also add some bling to contrast the largely dark-hued frameset.(Image credit: Fahwaaz Cornelius)Tech specFrameset: Specialized S-Works Crux 5 Fact12r carbonFork: Specialized S-Works Crux 5 Fact12r carbonCockpit: Roval Rapide, 380mm/135mmSeatpost: S-Works Tarmac SL8 CarbonGroupset: SRAM Red AXS/XX SL Eagle Transmission, X-Sync Aero 50T/10-52TWheelset: Roval Terra Aero CLXTyres: 2.2in Specialized PathfinderSaddle: Specialized S-Works Power Evo Mirror

CyclistUphill struggle: Riding the Catford Hill ClimbWith its multitude of disciplines and race formats, the cycling universe can be a cluttered place. The idea of a hill climb, then, is almost archaic in its simplicity: choose a hill; ride up it as fast as you can; the end. Thats what has brought me to the bottom of a mercifully dry Yorks Hill in Kent on a Sunday in October, venue for the Catford CC Hill Climb, said to be the worlds longest-running bike race at 139 years young.Historically the site of the race has moved around, taking in iconic local test-pieces such as Toys, Waller, Tatsey and Brasted hills the latter being one of the most harrowing in the area but Yorks is now its permanent home. The complete ascent of Yorks Hill is 1.6km at an average of 7.5%, but todays event uses just a segment of the climb the steepest part meaning were looking at a 640m slope at an average of 12.6%. The first 150m is relatively shallow, but the last 350m of the climb is 14% or steeper. That should separate the pukers from the non-pukers.Bikes of the living deadIn the Stubbs Wood car park at the top of the climb, racers are busily unloading bikes. Its a sight familiar at any sportive, but these dont look like normal bikes. Sawn-off drops, naked bars, absent bottle cages and computer mounts, polyethylene spokes, sanded frames, wafer-thin carbon saddles, machined rim brakes, minuscule tubular tyres, skeletal carbon cranks its like The Bikes Of The Living Dead: Directors Hacksaw Cut.Many of the deranged surgeons tinkering with these bikes are skin-suited, shaven and wisp-like, lacing up cycling shoes and pulling up knee-high, UCI-illegal aero socks on mossy verges. Its quite intimidating, but mercifully there are plenty of less optimised participants too. An impressive range of juniors are on the start line, but based on their warmup speeds theyre unlikely to be bringing up the rear either.I roll down to inspect the course and find a man, brush in hand, sweeping leaves and debris from the bone-dry road. This is Ken Strange, nobly embodying Catford CCs espirit de corps.This is as good as Ive ever seen it a huge slice of luck, he says. Unfortunately for the riders, that means no excuses.Hes right. Compared to photos Ive seen of the road in years gone by, its unrecognisable. Theres none of the mud, moss or slimy leaf residue that is the stuff of hill climbers nightmares. In 1940 just four of 43 starters managed to make it past the carpet of slimy leaves, while in 1987 a hurricane felled most of the trees and cancelled the event.Today the conditions couldnt be better. I perform a ponderous recce of the climb boy its steep and try to memorise which line to take and the location of any potholes. Then I collect my race number and mosey around the gazebos, looking for people who might be able to offer me some advice. This includes nine-year-old Lola Stewart of Limited Edition Cycling club in Greenwich.Its only my second hill climb after Catford last year so Im still very nervous, she says. The first time, I took one look and thought, Im never getting up that, but the atmosphere and the cheering makes your mind think you can do it and you can. My advice is to save most of your energy for the final two-thirds, otherwise youve got no chance on the steepest part.Slightly longer in the tooth is 16-year-old Eleanor Thompson from Team Ohten, who despite living just down the road hasnt ridden the event before.Its a special race for sure, she says. Everyone from my old club, 4T+ Cycle Racing, comes here so you get loads of support, but its one of those climbs thats so steep you get no chance to recover. Just focus on the cheering would be my advice.After Eleanor rolls off to tune her bike, I get talking to a rider of a different vintage, Cliff Bell, whos been a member of Catford CC for 71 years.Ive just ridden over from Biggin Hill, which is about ten miles away, but Im afraid Im not racing today after all, I am 92.This man is a walking advert for cycling; he doesnt look anywhere approaching that age.I raced it in 62 and 63 on a fixed wheel track bike. It was absolutely packed but no youngsters like there are now. Its so encouraging to see. Compared to 1963 bear in mind I was on 25mm tubs the surface is transformed. It used to be so rough. If youre going to take part, make sure youve climbed it a few times before.With those words ringing in my unrehearsed ears, a very pro-looking lad with a gentle scouse lilt asks for help pinning on his numbers. His skinsuit is so tight and body fat so low Im concerned that I might skewer him with the safety pins. Turns out this is Michael Henderson from Oxford University CC who is similarly unprepared but has rather more ambitious goals.Ive never ridden it, so my plan is just to go out hard and try to hang on, he says, smiling but not joking. Youve got to hope the crowd will carry you over the last bit. Its a long way to come from Liverpool but I prefer the short climbs so its worth it. Im on the aero bike today, which is hardly ideal, but hopefully Ill get a sub-two-minute time and make the podium.Article continues belowEven early on a Sunday morning in rural Kent, the support is loud and vociferous with cowbells and whistles in abundance.Danny BirdRiding is optional, grimacing is involuntary.Danny BirdKen Strange, Catford Member and former participant, makes sure the surface is tip top.Danny BirdDont get lost. The south London district of Catford is 18 miles to the north, but the hill climb is down in Kent, a few miles west of Sevenoaks.Danny BirdDanny BirdDanny BirdDanny BirdCyclist looks on as proud parents jog up the climb, cheering on their kids.Danny BirdJonathan Shubert (London Dynamo) rode 835km in 24 hours in 2014 to win the British time-trial championships, but the 640m climb is still a struggle.Danny BirdDanny BirdDanny BirdSustained dry weather makes a huge difference to road conditions. Yorks Hill is under such thick tree cover it takes a long time to dry out.Danny BirdThe lower slopes attract no fans, making it a lonely place for participants.Danny BirdThe later your start the better, as riders who have banked their time join fans on the climb.Danny BirdThis is still an old-school operation. Organiser Steve Airey is tasked with doing the all-important final sums on the big board.Danny BirdThe event is very welcoming, with lots of families and dogs in attendance. Its far less intimidating than you might expect.Danny BirdDanny BirdDanny BirdCyclist is tasting blood vessels in some esteemed company but doesnt trouble the sharp end of the TT this year, a time of 3min 22sec placing us 64th out of 82 finishers.Danny BirdMoment of truthThe time comes to put the advice Ive been given into practice. It would be useful to watch how other competitors handle the course, but somehow Ive contrived to be the second cab off the rank, so Ill just have to take it as it comes. At least Ill begin the day on the podium.Thirty seconds! bellows a clipboard-wielding commissaire. Rider number two on the line.I swallow loudly and feel my rear wheel wedge between the other commissaires thighs, his steadying hand on my seatpost. I clip in.You going for the course record or just a PB? says Mr Clipboard (aka, timekeeper Peter Watson). Encouragement and gallows humour are both on the menu, it seems.He counts me down and then Im released. A few shouts of encouragement reach me from the riders queueing nearby, but otherwise its silent. People want to see pain and suffering, so the crowds are gathered near the top.I settle into the correct gear and with Lolas advice in my head its a battle not to go too hard. The soft prologue is over in a second and the hill is rearing up in front of me like a tarmacked cobra. I pass commissaire Paul Tuohy as I enter the shade, who shouts, The steep parts coming now, gather yourself and go again.Its both ominous and reassuring. I see this as my cue to get out of the saddle and start burning some matches. Almost as soon as I do, I feel my left foot push down ever so slightly off kilter, slipping the cleat disastrously out of my pedal.I swear loudly. Its too steep to clip back in and theres nowhere to prop myself up. The seconds tick by as I try to work out my next move. Then I hear feet behind me Paul is coming to the rescue. Before I know it, Ive got a hand on my seatpost and Im clipped in again.A bend in the road means I cant see whats ahead, but I can hear the whistles and the cowbells. My lungs and legs suddenly push harder and faster without funds to pay the debt. Ordinarily I would try to stay in the saddle for as long as possible but Im reminded of Eleanors words: If youre in the saddle on those final bends you just look so slow.The fans screaming encouragement in my face and the stark dread of embarrassment combine to winch me up and out of the saddle. With fatigue and lactic bleeding through me like ink on a loo roll, keeping the front wheel pointing straight is hard enough. Im telling my legs to shut up but Im worried they might just shut down instead. The supporters help. The noise distracts. Its a level of exertion that almost prompts disassociation. Almost.A hairs breadthI roll over the line and collapse over the handlebars, sucking in air, the taste of pennies fresh in my mouth. Never in my experience has such a short race felt like such a lifetime.It only strikes me afterwards that riders here have been tasting the blood of their own bursting alveoli on this climb since 1887; thats before aeroplanes, before penicillin, before the World Wars. It feels good to now be part of that history.Before I head home, I get a word with todays mens winner, Matthew Ferguson of Redhill CC, who posted a time of 1min 52.3sec.Michael [Henderson, whom I spoke to earlier] was up fourth so Id seen his time of 1:52.5, he says. Last year I rode 2:01 and came second so I knew I needed a phenomenal ride. I shaved my hair on Friday and since I only beat Michael by two tenths of a second I think that was actually the difference. Catford is special because its the longest-running bike race in the world. Its nice to add my name to that list.Danny BirdThe riders ride: No1Jonathan Shubert, 11th, 2min 10sec, London DynamoThis is a Specialized Tarmac SL6, which is the final rim brake model, and Im using a 44-tooth Osymetric 1x chainring. Im not sure if I buy the gimmick, but at a low cadence on hill climbs I can believe it helps with gearing.Ive done some things to save weight like Cane Creek eeBrakes, Di2 button shifters, a 12 carbon saddle from AliExpress, lights from a dolls house on the rear [this is an official CTT event so lights are compulsory], and it comes in under 6kg. The alloy bars are 520mm across and arent light or aero, but it allows me to pull my body into the bike more and put out far more power.Ive gone for the aero mullet, with a Zipp 302 front wheel and a tub on the back with a box section rim. It has Chris King hubs and Sprint spokes for extra stiffness because Im a heavier rider. The Veloflex Record front tyre is so delicate I wouldnt ride it for anything else. The 30mm Corsa tyre on the back Ive dropped to 50psi to try and avoid wheelspin. Thank God its dry today.Danny BirdThe riders ride: No2Jack OBrien, 5th, 2min 04sec, Rapha Cycling ClubI ride for a team called Parlez and they built this for me. It was shared, but now Im the only one riding hill climbs. Thats why its a size too big, but at 5.1kg it does the job. Its got tubs so its like a fancy pair of underwear you cant use it for anything other than business.The frame comes direct from a Chinese factory. Its a VBR077 and can weigh as little as 765g. Its built with Sram Red, a Ceramic Speed OSPW and a Force crankset at the moment, which is slightly heavier than what I was using previously. The Bontrager Aeolus wheelset is set up with tubular tyres and Cane Creek eeBrakes, which are popular on climbing builds because they weigh about 80g each. Thats hooked up with Jagwire link cables through the MCFK bars, which weigh 147g.The MCFK saddle is 80g, the Hylix seatpost is 130g and to finish it off Ive got stripped lights, carbon quick releases and a 15g Alpitude computer mount with a basic Wahoo. I dont use power either, which saves a bit of weight. I just shut my eyes and hope for the best.The post Uphill struggle: Riding the Catford Hill Climb appeared first on Cyclist.

Mathieu van der Poel has never tried to fit in and follow a race dictated by others, the Dutchman has always tried to forge his own path to sensational monument wins, World Championships and Tour de France glory. So what's the secret to his success? the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider has given an insigh...

The patent would also allow the car to stop and call for help from a "remote assistant" and can adapt to road users wearing helmets, though it's unclear if the measure would improve perceptions of safety among cycling campaigners...