UCI Pro Cycling

The hour record is such an iconic event and the pure distillation of cycling performance. 60 minutes of epic suffering alone and with minimal strategy - go fast for longer than you thought possible.

Side note - it's pretty remarkable that unlike the Men's hour record holders, many of the Women's hour record holders are notably high achievers outside of cycling too. Molly Shaffer VanHouweling is a law professor at UC Berkeley, Evelyn Stevens was an investment banker, and Bussi has a PhD in Math from Oxford.

Damn. I guess I'm getting old, but cycling won't seem the same with Van Avermaet AND Peter Sagan out of the peleton. 🥹

Trials is a lesser know UCI event, but still amazing talent on the part of all the riders.

It seems likely, and if rumors are true, Ineos is the leading candidate to get him. Seems like a good move all around, thb!

They aren't as iconic as the Spring Classics, but there's still quality racing!

Non-cycling press can be really bad at reporting on cycling, (sometime the cycling press can be as well), so I was totally ready to go on a rant about this article based on its headline. Gratefully I actually read it, and and it turned out much better than expected.

For once I don't regret checking out that clickbait headline!

After a whole bunch of unnecessary drama, Vingegaard and Roglic (sorta) get onboard with finishing the job with Sepp. Getting the trifecta of grand tours is a gigantic achievement for the team, but I don't see them staying together long at all. Just too many chefs in the kitchen.

This is worse than Hinault attacking LeMond in the 86 Tour. Being attacked by 2 teammates, both of whom he helped win Grand Tours has to be crushing to Kuss and to morale in the team. If I'm Kuss, won or lose, I'm out of Jumbo Visma at the first opportunity.

Anything is possible, but honestly I think he's just stirring the pot to cause some drama and see what happens. Kuss has been a rockstar supporting both of them, so I'd like to think they'd do the same in return.

Side note: How crazy is it that one team has the top 3 GC riders 15 days into the Vuelta?!?

Verdict - it was pretty good. They didn't spend too much time on his early career, choosing to focus on the years between hit TdF stage wins where he struggled personally and professionally. Of course they ended with with his miraculous performance in the 2021 TdF, where he managed to win four stages and equal Merckx's record.

One (BIG) complaint: They featured Lance Armstrong's commentary from his podcast. Fuck that guy.

Kuss turned in a strong performance and limited his losses to the TT specialists. With some FIERCE climbs coming up (stage 13 especially), Sepp's odds of holding onto the jersey look a little better. Vingegaard even said he would work for him!

It's got to create some tension in the team with who is going to get the team's support for the rest of the race. I know Sepp is playing it off, but he has to be thinking about taking a shot...

Team Ineos just released a video of them drilling the team time trial at the Barcelona motorsports racetrack in preparation for the Vuelta a España.

Watching a well-drilled sprint lead out may be the only thing in cycling I love more.

Such a compelling story. It's not all happiness and success, but it is an important story to remember.

Good news for fans of the Welsh rider, but with Vingegaard committed and others yet to be announced, it will be a tough one.

I've got to admit - artistic cycling doesn't fit my vision of a cycling competition, but there's no denying the skill involved.

Nobody is shocked that the top of the podium would have both Kopecky and Vollering, but I think I am most excited about Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig taking 3rd. She's fast, and is just most delightful character. Check out this interview from a few years ago:

https://youtu.be/zZmDwC6EJ7Q

I remember from his riding days that he loved fast cars, but I didn't realize he was still actively racing them.

I happened across this article from 2016, the year Cancellara retired, and thought it was a good look at highpoints from his career. I was always more of a Tom Boonen fan, but I LOVED the battles between the two in the classics.

How is it possible that none of the legendary Belgian riders of the last century ever won the ITT world championship? He's also the youngest to win the ITT, and only the 2nd to win both the ITT and road race. At only 23, he has a lot of years ahead of him too.

HUGE respect to Dygert - winning a TT event is epic enough, but coming back from the track accident that seemed like it would end her career to win it is a GIGANTIC achievement!

No cycling community would be complete without a pic of Robert Förstemann's quads. For reference, the guy on the right is Andre Greipel, German road sprinter known as "the Gorilla". Holy crap.

I hope you have time - it's a long one!

Van der Poel is an absolute legend as a double world champion - what what must Van Aert be thinking to come in 2nd TWICE?!?