Under normal conditions we would not say that Matteo Jorgenson is one of the favourites to win the 2024 Tour de France. But this year's edition of the race has not been arrived at under normal conditions with, in theory at least, all the big favourites in less than optimal conditions.Having already...

Primoz Roglic made the difficult decision to leave Team Visma | Lease a Bike in search of more Tour de France leadership opportunities over the winter. Having found a new home at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, the Slovenian is ready to prove he made the right choice.It's really nice to be here with...

Carlos Rodriguez is preparing to face his second Tour de France with the INEOS Grenadiers team. In an exclusive chat with MARCA, the young Spanish cyclist demonstrates a mix of calm humility and undiminished ambition as he prepares for one of the biggest challenges of his career.Rodriguez is optimis...

The talented Breton climber David Gaudu is preparing for his seventh participation in the Tour de France at the age of 27. In this 111th edition, Gaudu will once again lead the Groupama - FDJ team with the goal of achieving the best possible result in the general classification. However, his arrival...

Bicycle commuting is the embodiment of everything I love about cycling. It is environmentally responsible, provides good exercise, boosts your mood, is affordable, and reduces congestion.Unfortunately, there are far fewer female cyclists than there are men. There are many reasons for thisrisk tolerance, child-care, etc. Another reason is that women are often marginalized in the sport. It can be uncomfortable walking into a bike shop with a bunch of men salespeople, and a bunch of bikes marketed to men.For that reason, Ive created a list of my favorite city bikes for women, as well as a list of things to consider when choosing a bicycle for commuting. So that you can be empowered.These are bikes that Ive tested and reviewed or have been highly recommended by ladies in our community. A few of them are bikes that I use in my daily life for taking my son to school, picking up groceries, and running errands. Whether you are looking for a simple steed to ride to work, a family bike to haul the kids to daycare, or an electric bike to make it up big hills and travel long distances, youll find a good option for yourself here.Photo Credit: Civia BikesTable Of ContentsOur Top PicksWhat To Look For In A City BikeHow To Turn Any Bike Into A CommuterOur Top PicksWhat We LovePriceTRADITIONAL CITY BIKESPriority TuriBelt drive, low maintenance$949Tern NodeFolding bike, great for apartment dwellers / subway$1,299Co-Op Cycles CTYMechanical disc brakes, can use REI dividend$599ELECTRIC CITY BIKESVVolt Alpha IIStealthy e-bike, lightweight$1,699State Bicycle Co E-Bike CommuterSuper affordable, durable steel frame$1,499Blix AvenyPretty and feminine design$1,999Radpower RadCityLots of power, excellent customer service$1,699Priority TuriPrice: $949Buy at PriorityBicycles.comPros:Low maintenance designDisc brakesGreat for humid or rainy climatesCons:Heavy-ishQuill style headsetThe Priority Turi is a fantastic bike for anybody who doesnt want to have to deal with bike maintenance. Instead of a chain, the bike has a belt drive which means you never have to worry about lubing it. And in lieu of a derailleur, the Turi has an internally geared hub. Both these components do well in places a traditional drivetrain does not: in the rain and locations with humidity and salt.Speaking of rain, the bike has hydraulic disc brakes which work far better in the rain than old-school v-brakes, and fenders to help keep you dry. It comes with a mid-step frame. The top tube is downward sloping making it easy to get on and off the bike, but the slope isnt quite as extreme as a step-thru frame. The only drawback of the bike is its weight. While its far from the heaviest bike around, the internally geared hub, disc brakes, and fenders do add some heft. At over 30 pounds, its quite a bit heavier than its little sister, the Priority Classic, for instance. Tern Node Folding BikePrice: $1,299Buy at REI.comPros:Folding design Internally geared hubIntegrated lightsCons:V-brakesLooks a little dorkyIf you plan on using multi-modal transportation (think bike & bus or bike & train), a folding bike is the way to go. TheTern Nodefolds up so that it can be brought into your cubicle or in your luggage for your next business trip.It also works well for apartment dwellers who may not have outdoor bike parking and limited storage space inside. The bike comes with fenders and a rear rack which makes it ideal for commuters. The internally geared hub is low maintenance, and the integrated lights mean youll never be caught in the dark.The biggest drawback of the Node is that it has v-brakes rather than disc brakes (which means less stopping power). Also, because it doesnt look like a traditional bike, some folks might find it a little dorky. Co-Op Cycles CTY 1.1Price: $649Buy at REI.comPros:Folding design Internally geared hubIntegrated lightsCons:V-brakesLooks a little dorkyHave an REI dividend burning a hole in your pocket ? The REI brand Co-Op Cycles CTY might be the bike for you.It is simple, affordable, but not heavy and cheap like many entry-level bikes. The CTY features mechanical disc brakes which do a decent job of stopping in hilly and wet conditions (although dont work quite as well as the hydraulic disc brakes found on the Priority Turi, for example).It comes in sizes XS to XL, so whatever your height you should be able to find one to fit you. The smaller frames come in a step-thru version as well.Compared to the more expensive bikes on this list, the ride quality isnt quite as smooth nor is the durability as high. Still, if youre on a budget and just want to dip your toes into commuting, this is a good option.Blix Aveny SkylinePrice:$1,999Buy at BlixBike.comPros:Stylish and prettyCan add baskets both front and rearLighter than most electric bikesCons:NoisyRequires fine tuning out of the boxTheBlix Avenyis the perfect bike for riding to work or to the library. The rack on the back can carry your laptop bag or add some panniers to carry groceries. If you have a child, you can also add a Yepp Seat to the rear rack.Unlike most dorky looking e-bikes (yup, I said it), the Blix is sleek and stylish. Ive never felt more feminine riding around the hood. Out of the box, the bike did require some adjustments, so if youre not mechanically inclined, you might need a local bike shop to help. Also, this is one of the noisier e-bikes Ive ridden. It is a great introductory electric bicycle for anybody who doesnt want to spend a fortune, and who wants to look good out on the town. Read Review: Blix Aveny SkylineVVolt Alpha IIPrice: $1,699Buy at VVolt.comPros:Gates belt driveHydraulic disc brakesSleek and lightweightCons:Easy to get spun out on flat roadsDoesnt come with extrasThe VVolt Alpha is an amazing commuter bike. It has an electric assist, but its sleek and smooth and its hard to tell that its an e-bike.The bike is also easy to maintain thanks to the singlespeed drivetain and belt drive (rather than a chain). It has a step thru frame which makes riding with a skirt a bit easier.Finally, compared to most other e-bikes this one is significantly lighter. If you run out of battery, youll still manage to make it home. While I appreciate the singlespeed drivetrain for its simplicity, I did find that I was often under geared on flat roads. (The climbing gear was great though). Also, it lacks some of the extras that youll find on other e-commuters like fenders, rack, or a bell. Read Review: VVolt Alpha Step ThruRadPower RadCityPrice: $1,699Buy at RadPower.comPros:Lots of power, throttleGreat customer serviceExcellent climberCons:Suspension fork in unnecessaryBattery is super obviousWhen my sister moved to town, she knew she wanted an e-bike so should could join our family riding around town. She was also living with us initially and the big hill up our house is a major challenge. She asked for my help picking out an e-bike and we chose the Radpower Radcity Step-Thru. The bike offers affordability, excellent customer service, and powerful performance with a 750-watt motor. Its 7-speed gearing makes hills manageable, a crucial feature for my hilly commute. Despite its heavier weight and the addition of a somewhat unnecessary suspension fork, the pedal-assist and throttle make rides smooth and enjoyable.The bike includes integrated lights, a rear rack, and various cargo options, allowing for easy customization. The upright geometry and step-through frame make it comfortable for riding in skirts and easy mounting.Assembly was straightforward, and RadPower offers mobile service for assembly and repairs in certain areas. The bikes battery life is impressive, easily handling her daily 5-10 mile commutes without significant drain. Read Review: RadPower RadCityState Bicycle Co 6061 E-Bike CommuterPrice: $1,499Buy at StateBicycle.comPros:Super sleek, stealthy e-bikeDurable steel frameGood climberCons:High top tubeMechanical rather than hydraulic disc brakesThe State Bicycle Co 6061 E-Bike Commuter has a similar vibe to the VVolt Alpha II (listed above). It is unique though in that it has a steel frame which is durable and beautiful. Like the VVolt, the 6061 has a belt drive and single speed drivetrain. It also looks sleek, and its hard to tell that its an e-bike without closer inspection. Thanks to the reasonably light weight and lower gearing, the bike is a great climber. This makes it a good choice for cities with lots of hills. One drawback for many women is that it does not have a step-thru frame option, and the high top tube makes wearing a skirt difficult. It also has mechanical rather than hydraulic disc brakes. Id prefer hydraulic brakes for the additional stopping power particularly in wet weather. How to Choose a Commuter BikeThere area couple things to consider before pulling out the credit card. Here are some tips on how to choose the best commuter bike for you.TiresIn general, the best tires for a commuter bike have plenty of tread, are decently wide, but still roll quickly. Think a cross between a road bike and mountain bike tire. This ensures that they will perform well in a variety of conditions, wet weather, etc. It also gives you the flexibility to roll on gravel paths (like rail trails), which are often some of the best commuting routes.ExtrasLights, Fenders, Bells, Racks, etc.Commuter bikes are most useful when they are accessorized. A rear rack allows you to carry gear (like your laptop and a change of clothes for instance). Fenders help keep you dry on rainy days. Many commuter bikes come with these things, some do not. It is worth paying attention to what the bike comes with stock and how much it will cost to upgrade with any items you might need. If you dont mind a little DIY work, itcan be most cost effective to add all the extras after the fact. If you want a bike that can do it all on Day 1, look for a bike that comes with the full package.BrakesThe bikes on this list come with three different and distinct types of brakes rim brakes, mechanical disc brakes, and hydraulic disc brakes. V-brakes are the cheapest and the simplest to maintain, but do not stop as well, particularly in wet conditions. Mechanical disc brakes are the mid-price option. They perform better than rim brakes but not as well as hydraulic disc brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes have the most stopping power, and provide the best modulation. They also have the highest price tag and require the most maintenance.Riding PositionGenerally, the best commuter bikes have a moderate riding positionnot too upright, not too aggressive. This makes for the best mix of power transfer to the pedals, comfort, and maneuverability. If you are biking long distances, and enjoy riding fast, you might consider a more leaned-over, aggressive riding position. Alternatively, if you are planning only biking short distances, a fully upright, beach cruiser might be your thing. For everybody else, pick something in the middle.Gears / DrivetrainsCommuter bikes come with several types of drivetrains and gear configurations. Some commuter bikes, are singlespeeds, meaning they have only one gear. This is nice for keeping maintenance to a minimum, but isnt recommended for folks who live in cities with hills. More commonly, you will see bikes with an external drivetrain. The bike might have anywhere from a few gears to 21+.Much better for hills, but be prepared to do some maintenance.Other less common builds are bikes with internally-geared hubs and belt drives. An internally geared hub is ideal for many commuters. Instead of an internal drivetrain (with front and rear derailleurs), the gearing is inside the hub of the gear wheel. This is particularly nice for folks who ride in a lot of inclement weatherit wont get bucked up with slush or grime. Similarly, a belt drive is nice for these types of riding conditions. A belt drive is a carbon-fiber belt that takes the place of a chain. It doesnt require lubrication or other maintenance and remains quite even in mud and rain.Frame StyleOne thing to decide before shopping for a commuter, is what style of frame you would like: a traditional frame or a step-thru frame. Step-thru frames are often good choices for women because they accommodate shorter riders and make it easier to ride with a skirt.WeightUnless you are buying a bike with an electronic assist, make sure you take the weight of the bike into consideration. The heavier a bike is, the less enjoyable it will be to ride, particularly for folks commuting long distances.Electric AssistElectric bikes, especially for urban riding, are becoming more and more common. And for good reason.An electric assist can help you ride further, faster, and with less energy. Personally, even though I love to ride a bike, Im often way more motivated to do a quick trip to the grocery store (or wherever) on my e-bike than I am on my regular bike.An electric bike does add cost and maintenance, so its not for everybody, but if you are considering giving up your car of cutting way back on the amount that you drive, an e-bike may be for you.Do You Actually Need A New Bike? Before buying one of these bikes, ask yourself if you actually need a new bike. The best commuter bike is quite possibly the bike you already have. The beauty of commuter bikes is that they dont have to be fancy.In fact, not fancy is often best.An old bike can be abused without remorseridden in snow and salt, and left outside. A not-so-fancy bike can also be locked outside without fear of theft, or if it does get stolen, the consequence isnt quite so high. For tips on upgradingthe bike laying around in your garage to make it a real commuter, read our article on how to turn any bike into a commuter.More Reading / ListeningArticle: The Ultimate Guide to Bike Commuting (for Women)Article: 7 Womens Bike Helmets That Are Cute and StylishPodcast Episode: Biking For Transportation With Lisa Corriveau (aka Spokesmama)About The AuthorKristen Bonkoski is the founder and owner of Femme Cyclist.An avid cyclist for a few decades now, she took to cycling during her late teen years a time when she needed something to help boost her self-esteem and confidence.Mission accomplished, the sport has become an important part of her life. Kristens favorite disciplines are mountain biking andbike commuting, although youcan also find her crankingout a century on her road bike and touring with her husband and son. If it has to do with two wheels, she enjoys doing it.Kristen is a certified USA Cycling coach, and she runsRascal Rides, a website about biking with kids.IG:@femme_cyclist{ref:9524} />The post Best Womens Commuter Bikes And City Bikes appeared first on Femme Cyclist.

In what shape will Jonas Vingegaard be in at the 2024 Tour de France? On the eve of the Grand Tour the question remains unanswered and is on the mind of almost all cycling fans. One man who believes he knows the answer however, is 'the Voice of the Tour de France', Phil Liggett.A true icon of sports...

The Tour de France starts with a tough opener, dont call it Tirreno-Adriatico in a day but it is a succession of climbs thats almost coast to coast. Firenze to Rimini, Michelangelo to beach lounger in a day and the yellow jersey awaits.The Route: 206km and 3,600m of vertical gain. For comparison last years opener in the Basque Country had 3,200m but the big selection happened on the final climb.Two steady mountain passes feature in the first 100km, the Valico de Tre Faggi and then the Colle del Carnaio, both steady climbs and with some shade in places among the chestnut woodland.With 76km the climb to Barbotto starts. Labelled the Cte de Barbotto its a mountain pass proper, the Colle del Barbotto for locals and at 5.8km at 7.6% tough but its anything but a steady climb. Four kilometres into the climb comes corkscrew series of hairpins and the road is 10-13% for half a kilometre here. Harder still for any dropped riders is that the road keeps climbing after the KoM point before a fast descent with some hairpins but they are wide and gentle.The next climb to San Leo is 4.6km at 7.7% more even but only just some some hairpins and typical of the region, some ramps along the way that just seem to pitch up the slope with no engineering to soften the slope. Here its over the climb and straight to the next one.The Montemaggio climb is still tough, 4km but now below 7% so the climbs are becoming less difficult all while the fatigue is rising.San Marino is built on the flanks of Monte Titano (Mount Titan) and this is the last climb. This is a long climb but never steep, a wide regular road to get people in and out of the principality but by now the last chance to attack.The Finish: downhill all the way into Rimini and flat for a finish by the sea. Its big roads and under the flamme rouge for a wide 180 bend and a long finishing straight.The Contenders: hardly a wide open stage but there must be 30 or more riders in the mix depending on which way the tactical cards fall. Tadej Pogaar (UAE) is a safe pick, hes got a team to help and can clean up from a group sprint. Hed have liked a climb closer to the finish like we saw in the Giro opener to try and escape the rest. Plus he can always ride awayWout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) is downplaying his form so the test today is how he copes with the climbs but hes arguably the best of the sprinters if we use this label widely. Where theres WvA theres Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and both have a virtual finish line in San Marino because if they can stay in contention they can hope to clean up in Rimini. Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) and Magnus Cort (Uno-X) are two similar candidates. Multiple climbs of 4-5km at 7% are a big ask but all the same in a stage thats open to plenty theyre candidates.Got Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) in mind? You have now because the Belgian is quick from a small group, ice cool and often handles short climbs well. Tom Pidcock (Ineos) can pick his moment, an attack on the climbs, a move downhill or just from the sprint.Alberto Bettiol (EF) is the patriotic pick on a stage that starts in his local city. Resplendent in his new Italian champions kit the trick is to see if hes donned his TT-style helmet today too where he can try to repeat his Milano-Torino triumph from this year by slipping away although the heat could make this harder. An infrequent winner, hes always won by barging away solo so not an easy pick for the all or nothing angle. See how he links up with Ben Healy who could move first to open the road.Longer shots include two new national champs in Paul Lapeira (Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale) and Alex Aranburu (Movistar) as two versatile riders with a quick finish and the latter seems to be winning all of a sudden after so often placing but a Tour stage would be a major promotion. Romain Grgoire (Groupama-FDJ) is suited to the opening weekend too.PogaarVan Gils, Pidcock, Matthews, WvA, Lapeira, Bettiol, MvdP, PedersenWeather: hot at the start, 35C but cooling once into the Apennines where there is some shade and more like 30C at the finish. This could have an impact as summer has hardly started in places and so riders are less accustomed to the heat.Another factor is the wind, 20-25km/h from the east once off the final climb and on the plains to Rimini and this is borderline bordure or ventagli weather.TV: the roll-out is at midday and KM0 is at 12.40pm CEST, yes 40 minutes of parade to ensure Florence gets its money worth. The finish is forecast for 5.50pm CEST.All stages are live from start to finish and this should look scenic. But the Barbotto climb is a good moment to look for action on the climbs starting from around 4.00pm.Postcard from Florence: Firenze now has a majestic cycling palmars having hosted the Giro, Worlds and now the Tour. Its greatest cyclist is Gino Bartali who was said to be the second most famous person in Italy after Benito Mussolini.With Fausto Coppi he formed a cycling rivalry for the ages. Chose your character: Coppi as the modernist sophisticate with Brylcreem versus Bartali as the bald peasant sporting sandals but resilience incarnated. Like Frances Anquetil and Poulidor later much of the difference was caricature, the amplification of small differences. The pair had plenty in common.Bartali was born in Ponte a Ema, just outside the city. There is a large plaque on the building in question. Theres a cafe downstairs if you want to linger. The family that lives above hears their doorbell ring from time to time with nosy onlookers wanting to see the inside. If youre visiting go to the nearby Bartali museum instead.The route today pays tribute to Bartali visiting the Gavinana, the suburb where he spent most of his life. It passes the Piazza Cardinale Elia dalla Costa, named after the former archbishop who was a friend of Gino the Pious as one of his nicknames went. Bartalis house is here too.Moments later the route passes the Piazza Gino Bartali, a modern square finished a few years ago. Youll find a bronze statue of Bartali that could have been made by the same person who made that one of Cristiano Ronaldo, or else made from sketches of a manga artist, see for yourself here.More impressive than any sculpture is Bartalis palmars. It is also inviting, to see him winning the Tour de France in 1938 and then again in 1948, and the Giro dItalia in 1936, 1937 and 1946 is to wonder what could have been in a more peaceful world.During the war Bartali is credited with ferrying forged identity papers given to to Jews so that they could evade capture if stopped, a feat that earned him Righteous Among the Nations honours. Some accounts are contested; while other accounts have him sheltering a family in his cellar, others that he did indeed carry papers in his seat tube. Todays Le Monde has a fuller version behind the paywall of the debate between historians.One myth that has been undone is the idea of Bartali saving Italy itself. In July 1948 communist leader Palmiro Togliatti was shot on the streets by a student from the far right. This caused a wave of protest and uprisings, the nascent Republic was on the brink of insurrection, even civil war. Meanwhile on the other side of the Alps in the Tour de France Bartali was 21 minutes down on GC and trailing Louison Bobet. Only the story goes Bartali received a phone call from parliament with the request to win for Italy and tasked with patriotic duty he demolished Bobet in the Alps and tensions eased in Italy upon the news. John Foots Pedalare! Pedalare! unpicks this story well. Bartali won but its a stretch of the imagination that his win had such a soothing political effect.Perhaps the lesson here is that Bartali was so famous that he was not just a champion but hero and so a figure of projection to whom myths could be ascribed.The post Tour de France Stage 1 Preview first appeared on The Inner Ring.

Whilst the fight for the Maillot Jaune at the 2024 Tour de France is set to be one of the mouth watering in a long while, the battle for sprint wins also has plenty of intriguing stories to follow.Last year, Jasper Philipsen proved himself the dominant sprint force, winning four stages and taking a...

An epic summer ride is an unforgettable experience. Anna Gardiner shows us how to get the most out of it

Jasper Stuyven, 32, was not on the preliminary startlist for the 2024 Tour de France, but he received an unexpected call on Sunday night: would he be willing to take part in the Tour? After discussing some "conditions" with his team, he decided to travel to Florence. "Physically and mentally I feel...