In the Grand Tour era dominated by Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic, Sepp Kuss is one of the few men who have managed to sneak away with his own triumph. Since Kuss' 2023 Vuelta a Espana victory, three years have passed. During that time, the American confirmed what we already knew;...

With the gravel and mountain bike market on the verge of fully embracing 32in wheels, we now have brands such as Cube bringing another wheel size into play: 30.5in.Cube has 30.5in bikes on the way, and the German wheel and component brand Newmen has announced new wheels for gravel in 32in and 30.5in sizes to complement its existing 700c gravel options.The 30.5in wheel size reared its head back in 2023 with WTB, but back then it was aimed solely at gravel and called 750d.Having two names for the same thing is a bit confusing, but 750d is just one version of the nominal rim seat diameter (BSD) of 660mm. Not all 30.5in wheels will share the exact same 660mm BSD, especially when it comes to mountain bikes. It's confusing, I know. WTB debuted 750d back in 2023. Liam Cahill / Our Media As you can probably imagine, the online backlash against these new larger wheel sizes has been somewhat vitriolic. Some are calling on the UCI to ban 32in wheels in gravel competition. Others say the industry is forcing another standard upon us, we didnt ask for it and it could lead to market complications.I dont think any competitive ban should come into the equation around 32in and 30.5in developments. I just think the UCI should stay out of gravel wholesale. I honestly dont care about racing legalities when Im riding my favourite gravel trails, and neither should you its irrelevant. Comparisons can (and should) be made with mountain bikes moving from the 26in wheel to the 29er. The same criticisms of 32in wheels were levelled at 29in wheels when they first came onto the scene. However, mountain biking has settled broadly on 29in as the default, with 650b/27.5in playing a part on smaller bikes and mullet setups. The questions remain: what happens with effectively off-road options extending to 27.5, 29, 30.5 and 32in (and of course their metric nomenclatures)? Will all brands adopt a wider range? Will some choose a wheel size and stick with it? Which one(s) will be consigned to history as a failed standard or become vintage like 26in?Benefits or bluster? The Singular Pterodactyl 32in gravel bike is very capable. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The brands backing 32 and now 30.5in are talking about the efficiencies of a larger wheel over rougher surfaces. Its all down to the angle of impact. On a smaller wheel, with a smaller tyre, roots and rocks provide a steeper impact angle.These impacts eat away at your momentum, requiring more effort to maintain your speed. With a bigger wheel and tyre, the angle is much shallower, so the wheels roll over uneven surfaces of all kinds much more smoothly.The same goes for potholes and divots the larger circumference bridges hollows rather than the wheel dropping into them.Detractors will say the trade-offs increased weight, both in tyres and frames and forks, perceptions of slower handling, and compromises in geometry arent worth the gains. From my experience with larger diameters, I beg to differ. I like the improved roll and the efficiency over rough surfaces. Im prepared to live with the extra weight too, because lighter doesnt always mean better. The momentum that 32in carries over tough surfaces is worth a few extra grams to me.Tall tales The angle of impact is steeper on a 700c wheel. This means hits slow you down more than on a larger-diameter wheel. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The angle of impact is much reduced on a 32in wheel. That means you keep more of your momentum in the rough. Scott Windsor / ourmedia Ive already experienced the benefits of 32in wheels for gravel while testing the brilliant Singular Pterodactyl. Im currently reacquainting myself with 32in gravel wheels on a bike set to launch just before Christmas, which is aimed at the more affordable end of the market than the few high-end and custom titanium offerings so far.I think the way in which 32in wheels roll over obstacles and dips makes for a more efficient ride, but I dont think they are for everyone. The compromises to make big wheels fit small bikes aren't insurmountable, but it does beg the question with so much size choice, why bother?I would take an approach based around fit. The smallest riders could use 650b/27.5in wheels, as Canyon does on its hardtail mountain bikes such as the Grand Canyon, then shift to 700c/29in for medium/median-sized bikes, shift up to 30.5in for large bikes, and 32in for XL+ sizes.I accept that means more work for the brands and more of a headache for retailers. But, ultimately, this is about rider benefit. Compromise is a factor for any rider who doesnt fit the median size bikes are designed around (usually a medium/54cm). For competition and racing, the argument is that larger wheels are faster. But Id like to see the data to prove that. A smaller rider will be riding a significantly lighter bike and have a lower aerodynamic drag. Does that offset the benefits of a bigger wheel rolling over obstacles? This is especially pertinent because taller riders on bigger bikes with bigger wheels will have more weight and be less aero. I cant predict how the wheel-size question will pan out, but hopefully itll mean more choice and improved designs for those of us who sit outside the definition of the average rider.

Tudor Pro Cycling are one step closer to their goal of securing a WorldTour license for the 2029 season after they concluded this year as 17th team in the annual UCI ranking. For next season, the team once again appears to have grown stronger with the additions of Kaden Groves and Arnaud de Lie but...

This bespoke Carlton Flyer was built with a single purpose: to carry Harry Jackson into the team pursuit at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. The frame number 100167, stamped on the bottom bracket opposite the initials HJ, indicates its a 1967 model, yet Jackson documented it being picked up from Carltons Worksop factory in July 1968. If that sounds last-minute, its not in 68 the summer Olympics were delayed until mid-October to avoid the predictably violent deluges of the Mexican rainy season.Future / Richard ButcherFuture / Richard ButcherFuture / Richard ButcherJackson and his teammates, Ian Alsop, Ian Hallam, and Ronald Keeble, may have been spared the downpours, but they still had to contend with the altitude. With hypoxic training in its infancy, the 7,300ft difference in altitude between the Agustn Melgar Olympic Velodrome and the teams training ground at Herne Hill Velodrome would have bitten hard.For riders better acclimatised, the state-of-the-art Herbert Schurmann-designed stadium, with its aggressive banking and Doussie Afzelia hardwood surface, was famously rapid. So much so that, in the thin, low-drag mountain air, Lorenzo Bosisio, Cipriano Chemello, Luigi Roncaglia, Giorgio Morbiato of Squadra Italiana put more than 12 seconds into the Brits, eliminating them in the qualifiers and setting a new World Record in the process.(Image credit: Future / Richard Butcher)Mexico 68 remains so iconic. That Harry pitted this Carlton against the Italians at the Agustn Melgar Olympic Velodrome makes it such an evocative machine, says current owner Richard Hoddinott of vintage specialists The Velo Pages. With the now hallmark all chrome finish of Carlton track frames, the bike remains totally original. From the Campagnolo Pista drivetrain to the Airlite hubs and Weinmann rims.Jackson continued racing the bike after Mexico, winning both the National Meredith Trophy and the National Madison Championship with Ron Keeble in 1969, proving that, despite the disappointment in Mexico, its still a winner.