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OF THE
.EST 1891.
Legal doping
The man who thinks 'enhanced'
sport would be bigger and better
Pidcock leaves Ineos
What's behind his step
down to the Q36.5 team
Record breakers
Meet the riders who are going
faster than ever this year
Tech
highlights
from 2024
The kit our
testers fell in
love with
"This bike
is poetry
in motion"
24 HOT PRODUCTS
Thursday 12 December, 2024
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Eating
disorders
in sport
O Page 46
A record-breaking
year O Page 22
The kit we fell in
love with O Page 34
Why Pidcock left
Ineos O Page 6
3
Our ‘Let’s Talk About’ series continues
this week with a look into eating
disorders. These are more common in
everyday life than many people realise,
and when it comes to endurance sport
they can be hidden or worse still,
normalised. After all, we wear ultra-
ƹĭĔħƹƴĆƹƹĭŔĔƴ´ĽşƹħĭŔĔÆƴŔÍƴĽĭşŔĭƝÝƴƹħşƝÝƴ
who look slim, ripped or are ‘in great
shape’. Thankfully some riders are
willing to speak openly about their
experiences, so with luck we can
ŵƏÝǪÝŔƹƴşƹħÝƏƝƴúƏşŊƴƝǓüÝƏĭŔĔż
Reading their accounts makes me
think back to my racing days when, even
at an amateur, weekend-warrior level,
there was pressure to be uber-slim. I
ǫƝƴĽǓ´ĻDZƴŔşƹƴƹşƴ¥ÝƴÍǪÝƏƝÝĽDZƴüÝ´ƹÝÍƴ
īƴĽƹħşǓĔħƴƹħÝƏÝƴǫÝƏÝƴÍÝĆŔĭƹÝĽDZƴƹĭŊÝƝƴ
when I simply wasn’t eating enough
- but I had friends who were. One
training partner, who was himself tall
and very slim, spent a season racing in
Italy and was almost immediately told
to lose two kilograms, when he didn’t
have two kilograms to lose.
Other highlights this week
12 Safeguarding concerns
30 A green light for doping
52
CW
winter challenge!
Breaking the taboo
There’s no doubt that fuelling your
body for big rides or intense training
adds another layer of complexity to
your diet, and more expense to the
weekly shop. It can be tough to
navigate, but this gives us greater
motivation to cover the topic.
I’m really proud of this series that
over the last two years has covered
subjects from depression to sexual
health and body image. Many of these
topics (I’m especially looking at our
male readers here) we just wouldn’t talk
about in normal circumstances. If there
are any subjects you’d like us to cover,
do drop me a line and let me know.
Simon Richardson Editor
simon.richardson@futurenet.com
O
5
OOO
OO
OOOO
O
Back to dominance
Victory in the scratch race
sealed the overall title for
Katie Archibald (in light
blue) at this year’s UCI Track
Champions League. The
30-year-old attacked inside
two laps to go and rode her
rivals off her wheel.
OO
Called off
Lucinda Brand grapples
with the sand in her recon
of the new World Cup
cyclo-cross round in
Sardinia, Italy. The wind
proved a bigger obstacle,
with the event cancelled
due to blustery weather.
OOO
Standing ovation
Sir Chris Hoy received by far
the loudest cheer when he
took to the stage inside the
Lee Valley Velodrome at the
Track Champions League on
Saturday. The roar was so
overwhelming that he
couldn’t hear himself speak.
OOOO
Blown away
The annual Dutch Headwind
Championships returned
last week to the
Netherlands’ exposed
Oosterscheldekering storm
barrier. The event was called
off last year because the
winds were too fierce.
Photos: Shutterstock, Mathew Wells/SWpix.com, Simon Wilkinson\SWpix.com, Alamy Stock
6
Pidcock transfer
üȓüΐǾʠüɶɶЃΐƲʾɶϰƲƔ
As the Brit leaves Ineos Grenadiers for a ProTeam, we
take a look at the key questions around the curious move
News
The mystery
surrounding Tom
Pidcock’s future
has finally reached
its resolution – he has left
Ineos Grenadiers and joined
Q36.5 Pro Cycling on a
three-year deal.
The saga began its
closing act last week, when,
in a widely anticipated team
statement, Ineos Grenadiers
announced the 25-year-old
would depart by mutual
agreement. “We’re really
proud of the work we’ve
done with Tom,” the team’s
CEO, John Allert, said.
“Together we’ve written a
powerful chapter.”
It’s a chapter that, after
four years, and victories at
Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold
and on Alpe d’Huez at the
Tour de France, ended in
disharmony. A new chapter
now begins with Q36.5, a
Swiss squad in the ProTour,
the tier below WorldTour.
“This isn’t just a change
of jersey; it’s the start of
something special,” Pidcock
said. “Joining a team that
believes in me and shares
my vision of success makes
this an incredibly important
step in my career.” Here are
some of the main questions
that surround the move.
Why is he leaving?
In Pidcock’s own words,
2024 came to a “turbulent”
during this summer’s Tour,
when director of racing
Steve Cummings was left
at home. There was talk of
tension between Pidcock
and Cummings, and when
CW
asked the 25-year-old
what he made of the absence
of his DS, he said it would
be “better”. It was unclear if
Pidcock played a role in the
selection decision, but the
fact he went to the race,
while Cummings – a senior
staff member – did not,
proved to many where the
power balance lay.
Why Q36.5?
Pidcock has spoken openly
about his desire to race for
the GC at the Tour, so it’s
maybe a shock he has joined
a team that has never
competed at the race and
does not get automatic
entry. In fact, Q36.5 didn’t
ride a single Grand Tour in
2024 and doesn’t have a
rider inside the top 150
“I’M
JOINING A
TEAM THAT
BELIEVES
IN ME”
crescendo for him. Chatter
around his future followed
him at the Tour and the
Olympics, and only grew
more intense, particularly
when he was, as he said,
“deselected” from October’s
Il Lombardia.
In the official press
release announcing
Pidcock’s departure, Ineos
CEO Allert said: “Tom has
some big multi-disciplinary
goals and we believe this
decision enables both
of us to pursue our
future ambitions.”
Ineos recorded their
worst-performing season
ever on the road in 2024 –
scoring just 14 wins – and
are keen to return to their
Grand-Tour-winning
heights. This appears
not to have aligned with
Pidcock’s desire to spread
his talents across cyclo-
cross and mountain biking,
disciplines in which he has
won world titles.
Had Pidcock become
too powerful?
Over the past few months,
sources within Ineos
Grenadiers claimed that
Pidcock had become an
influential voice within the
team – perhaps no surprise,
given that he is also one of
its most successful riders.
Questions, however, were
raised about the Brit’s power
Pidcock’s prestige
could land his new
team a Tour wildcard
Words: Tom Davidson Photos: Getty Images
ranked riders in the world.
The Tour de France awards
two teams a wildcard
each year (the past two
years it has been Uno-X
and TotalEnergies), and
Q36.5 will hope that the
presence of Pidcock, a
former stage winner and
top-15 finisher, might give
them more bargaining
power. For Pidcock, being
part of a smaller team will
likely give him priority in
selection for any races he
wishes to target.
7
There’s also a sponsorship
angle to it. Although Q36.5
are supplied bikes by Swiss
brand Scott, one of the
team’s stakeholders is
businessman Ivan
Glasenberg, who is also the
majority owner of Pinarello.
Due to the partnerships, a
personal deal has been
struck whereby Pidcock has
been allowed to stick with
Pinarello for his mountain
bike and cyclo-cross racing.
“I am so happy I get to
stay working with them,”
he said.
What next for
Ineos Grenadiers?
There’s pressure now on
Britain’s only WorldTour
team to bounce back from
a disappointing season.
Since late October, Ineos
have carried out an overhaul
of their performance
staff, waving goodbye to
Cummings, and bringing
in six new figures. The focus
is now on a return to glory;
in the absence of Pidcock,
they’ll look to time triallists
Filippo Ganna and Josh
Tarling for success, as
well as new recruit Axel
Laurance, the former
under-23 road world
champion. Carlos Rodríguez,
fifth at the Tour in 2023,
remains the strongest
GC bet.
Ineos are losing one
of their big names
8
Local club felt let
down by British
Cycling safeguarding
Banned youth coach able to exploit loopholes
after national federation sanction, it is alleged
News
minimised his behaviour and
failed to acknowledge that
his conduct was deeply
inappropriate.
The coach then went on to
set up a high-profile men’s
team and was also involved
with a women’s team shortly
after being investigated.
It is understood that
club officials were all in
agreement that the coach was
a safeguarding risk to women
of all ages, and that they made
this clear to BC. Sources also
told
CW
they felt BC were
vague and evasive during the
investigation process.
Inadequate
response
Advice from
the national
federation was
said to be unclear
and left a lot of
uncertainty for
those dealing with
the situation on
the ground.
CW
has seen emails
that show that a
sanction was
imposed but the
club were still
forced to report
the banned coach
to BC for allegedly
attempting to
A
cycling club in
England say they
felt let down by
an inadequate
safeguarding response from
British Cycling after a youth
coach was investigated
by police for sending
inappropriate messages via
social media.
Multiple sources told
Cycling Weekly
that it was
believed that the coach –
who cannot be named for
legal reasons – posed a
safeguarding risk to both
junior and adult females
involved with the club.
But despite the reported
concerns, the coach was only
blocked from working with
juniors by the national
governing body. It is believed
that BC sanctioned the
individual by removing his
affiliate coaching licence,
although he was not
prevented from later working
with adults in the sport.
He was also not formally
prosecuted by the police.
Nevertheless, the police
and allocated local authority
designated officer [LADO]
regularly expressed concerns
that the coach often
The national federation
has come under fire
flout rules placed upon him in
the months that followed.
British Cycling has refused
multiple requests from
CW
to
speak with either the CEO
Jon Dutton or chairman Frank
Slevin. Dutton only joined the
organisation last year while
Slevin joined as independent
chairperson in January 2018,
just as the investigation
was reaching its conclusion.
9
Julie Harrington was in the
role of CEO.
It is understood that the
matter never reached the
British Cycling board for
discussion. Upon learning
of the incident only last week,
President Bob Howden said he
was “surprised” and confirmed
he had no prior knowledge of
the case.
A statement issued to
CW
by British Cycling said:
“British Cycling takes
allegations regarding abuse
or inappropriate behaviour
extremely seriously.
“In cases where a statutory
agency is involved, such as
the police or a Local Authority
Designated Officer, we work
closely with them to support
any investigation and seek
guidance and direction.
Did British Cycling fail in
its duty of care?
Where recommendations
are made by a statutory body,
we follow these. We would
encourage anyone with any
safeguarding or compliance
concerns to report these to
us directly.”
Sexual harrassment claims
Female riders from the elite
team the coach later went on
to be involved with have
alleged multiple incidents
of more recent sexual
harassment and inappropriate
behaviour from the individual,
who, it is reported, would
regularly turn up at events.
Ongoing investigation
Sources told
Cycling Weekly
that he made comments
about banning riders’
partners from events due
to their interference, and
offered massages in an
inappropriate manner.
Riders were said to have
been left feeling deeply
uncomfortable, particularly
as the past investigation
into the man’s conduct was
common knowledge.
He is also said to have
made inappropriate remarks
about riders’ weight and
regularly given riders
unsolicited physical contact
after events.
Male riders on a team the
individual was also involved
with have said that the coach
starting inappropriate
conversations was a common
occurrence. The individual
reportedly regularly made
degrading remarks about
female team members’ bodies
at events and brushed off
concerns when challenged on
his behaviour.
Although unconfirmed,
Cycling Weekly
has seen
evidence suggesting that a
safeguarding investigation
into the coach is ongoing.
“THE COACH
WAS ONLY
BLOCKED
FROM
WORKING
WITH
JUNIORS”
Words: Tom Thewlis Photos: Britishcycling.org.uk/Man, Down Media
10
Colnago’s radical
new Y1Rs
Italian marque’s cutting-edge aero bike
exploits UCI technical rule changes
Tech news
Colnago’s new Y1Rs
race bike has turned
heads this week,
with the formerly
traditional Italian company
saying the aero machine
is the culmination of years
of effort.
“We started working
on this bike in late 2021,
which makes it the longest
bike development in
Colnago’s history,” said
Davide Fumagalli, head of
R&D at Colnago. “We haven’t
had an aero bike in our
range since 2016 because,
up until now, we haven’t
found a significant benefit
in performance over a bike
like the V4Rs.
“With the (recent)
change in two UCI rules we
recognised the opportunity
to create a bike that is
substantially better.”
The new bike features a
host of brave innovations,
the most aesthetically
arresting of which is the
frame’s main triangle,
which has morphed into
an irregular pentagon as a
consequence of the seatpost
no longer being attached to
the seat tube.
Colnago calls this
unconventional arrangement
the ‘Defy seatpost joint’ and
says that it has some aero
significance but has been
developed primarily to
increase compliance while
retaining torsional and
lateral stiffness.
Up front, the headset area
takes advantage of recent
UCI rules that allow for larger
lateral surfaces. The unusual
bayonet fork has an internal
rear section and a frontal
area designed to improve
airflow. As a result, the
bearings are tiny.
The down tube is a rich
assortment of curves and
profiles, and following
feedback from the Team
UAE mechanics, is optimised
for regular bidons.
The Formula 1-inspired,
angular gullwing CC.Y1
cockpit reduces frontal area
by placing the ‘wings’ away
from the turbulent central
body of the bike in an
extended Y shape. They are
also Colnago’s stiffest bars
ever, designed for modern
sprinters putting out more
than 1,600 watts.
“I think that the new UCI
rules that allow the seatpost
to be anywhere on the top
tube are a dramatic change,”
said Fumagalli, “and open up
a new shape for the design
of the frame. Finally, we have
some freedom.”
It’s a design that leaves
Trek’s IsoFlow technology,
and the once state-of-the-
art Scott Foil, now looking
rather pedestrian.
The Y1Rs is offered in
a number of full-build
configurations, starting at
€12,300. It’s also available
as a frame kit only, priced
at €6,710.
“THE MAIN
TRIANGLE
HAS
BECOME A
PENTAGON”
Gullwing
cockpit with
super-stiff
handlebars
Colnago’s
new bike
takes aero to
the next level
Words: Simon Fellows Photos: Colnago
12
Give us training and give
us our due, say organisers
In the fourth part of our series on the domestic scene,
we examine solutions to UK road racing’s challenges
CW
investigates
Part 4
Over the past three
weeks we have
examined the
challenges faced
by road racing in the UK.
Race entries are down, while
logistical and financial
issues are up. Races are
being cancelled and even
lost altogether in the face of
problems that often seem
insurmountable. But what
are the solutions?
There was a general
feeling among the
grassroots organisers we
spoke to that they were
being overlooked by British
Cycling in favour of big
the Tour of Britain. “If you’re
negotiating that deal, why
not say, ‘OK Lloyds, that’s
fantastic, can we have half a
million for the regional side
and we’ll plaster your logos
all over the races, all over
the regions?’ But I haven’t
seen evidence of that,”
he said.
While national events
such as the Tour of Britain
might be the obvious choice
to allocate such funding, BC
overlooked smaller races at
its peril, Fotheringham said.
“If you look at the riders who
are coming up through road
racing, they all, to some
“MANY CUT
THEIR TEETH
IN THE
REGIONAL
EVENTS”
extent, cut their teeth in the
regional races.”
Training tools
Phil Feather, who organises
road events with Kingston
Wheelers, said a lack of
template or teaching can
make it difficult for
someone new to race
organising to create a brand
new event. This could be
addressed, he explained, via
basic online tools.
“A bit of encouragement
would be useful, from a BC
level, or from a club, to train
up new organisers,” Feather
said, “providing something
as simple as a webinar for
potential organisers just to
understand the logistics.
“It’s difficult to say to
someone in the club, ‘Oh,
can you organise this race?’
without effectively having
to shadow organise it to
help them.”
Deb John of Cold Dark
North would like to see BC
go even further and offer
national events – and that it
needed addressing.
British Cycling’s West
Midlands region road lead
William Fotheringham, an
event organiser himself, told
CW
: “I realised when I
started doing the role in the
West Midlands that you have
to really nurture and care for
your organisers. It’s a lot of
people and a lot of hours.”
Like other organisers we
spoke to, Fotheringham felt
that the regions and their
grassroots organisers were
sometimes let down by BC
HQ. He gave the example of
the Lloyds sponsorship of
Organisers argue that
sponsorship should spill
over to regional races
Words: James Shrubsall Photos: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com, Alamy
Durrant of the Surrey Cycle
Racing League, who has
grown tired of repeatedly
entering the same details –
something which wasn’t the
case until recently. “For one
race, it’s fine,” he said.
“Fifteen minutes – that’s OK.
But not when you’ve got to
sit there for over five hours
to do it.”
While most of the
organisers we spoke to felt
that BC could be doing
more to some degree, the
governing body wasn’t
deemed to have all the
solutions. With entries
down overall, it was also
organisers proper training.
“I’m a commissaire,” John
said, “and when I did that,
there was training. And
there’s training to become an
accredited marshal. But
there’s no training for
organisers. I think it would be
so good if they did the same
model as with commissaires.
So, before you get to be an
organiser, you go along and
help out and get ticked off.”
Admin overhaul
Organisers also face
administrative challenges
that BC could address,
they say.
As we explored last week,
BC’s online race entry
system takes full payment at
the time of application,
rather than upon
acceptance. This has led to
riders delaying entering
(and thus paying out),
meaning more late entries
and more headaches for
organisers. Cold Dark
North’s John wants to
see a return to the old
system that only took
payment once a rider had
been accepted.
Changes, too, are needed
to the race registration
system, according to Glyn
13
felt that making the racing
experience more appealing
was key.
Fotheringham gave the
example of hiring out GPS
units to riders, allowing
family and friends to track
their progress. “You’ve got
to enhance that rider
experience and make it
more attractive,” he said,
“rather than just the same
village halls, same riders,
same officials – same old,
same old.”
British Cycling was
approached for comment
but chose not to provide
one as we went to press.
Racing needs to
become a more
appealing experience
14
I
spent last Friday at the
UCI Track Champions
HÝĔǓÝƴĆŔĽƴƏşǓŔÍƴĭŔƴ
London with an athlete
I support. It was an
exciting, well-produced
event, but was unfortunately
brought to a rather sudden
close as Katy Marchant and
Alessa-Catriona Pröpster
ended up crashing over the
brand-new safety barriers,
with Katy sustaining arm
fractures and two dislocated
ĆŔĔÝƏƝżƴ.ƹƴǫƝƴĸǓƝƹƴŔşƹħÝƏƴ
reminder of the constant
risks faced by riders within
our sport.
There are currently
discussions on rider safety
at UCI headquarters, and
although I’m not privy to the
exact conversations, it
seems clear the onus is on
the riders to slow down, as
opposed to making the
courses safer, or holding
Rider column
JACOB TIPPER
IS RIDER SPEED REALLY
THE PROBLEM?
race organisers to account
if and when they ignore
current recommendations.
The yellow card system is
now being trialled, although
other ideas include
shallower wheels and gear
limitations on the road –
something which I don’t
seems weak. For example,
while worrying about the
length of riders’ socks, it
has allowed the ultra-wide
fork on Hope’s Lotus bike,
which from hearing riders’
personal accounts, I
know is feared as a
potential obstacle.
Alongside this painfully
slow progress, UCI
president David
Lappartient seems to be
busy attempting to
manoeuvre himself into a
senior position within the
International Olympic
Committee. I wish him
success in this, and hope
that the UCI can then
úş´ǓƝƴĭŔƴşŔƴƹħÝƴƏÍǓşǓƝƴĸş¥ƴ
of making racing safer for
all concerned.
think would be especially
ÝüÝ´ƹĭǪÝÆƴŔÍƴ´şǓĽÍƴŵǓŔĭƝħƴ
riders whose physiology
suits a lower cadence.
While I think there is a
balance to be struck
between stunting
innovation and prioritising
safety, so far the UCI’s grip
Katie Archibald sealed her
third overall victory in four
editions of the UCI Track
Champions League last
weekend. A win in the
scratch race during
kƹǓƏÍDZƌƝƴĆŔĽƴƏşǓŔÍƴĭŔƴ
London was enough to
seal the Scot’s latest title
early, with her name
inscribed on the trophy
as the evening’s action
carried on.
Archibald held the
ĽÝÍÝƏƌƝƴĸÝƏƝÝDZƴúƏşŊƴƹħÝƴ
opening round in Paris last
ŊşŔƹħÆƴŵĭ´ĻĭŔĔƴǓŵƴĆǪÝƴ
wins from 10 races over
the series. “I’ve had the
consistency,” she told
CW
but added that she was
“really struggling” coming
into the competition.
“The build-up to the
Worlds felt so clean and so
clear, and I was so, so
motivated, and then this,
the pressure seemed
more,” she said. “Once I
got going I relaxed a bit.”
Archibald missed the
Paris Olympics this
summer with a broken leg
but made a remarkable
comeback to win the team
pursuit at October’s UCI
World Championships
less than four months after
ƹħÝƴĭŔĸǓƏDZżƴ
This year’s Track
Champions League ‘Grand
Final’ was cancelled
after Katy Marchant and
Alessa-Catriona Pröpster
crashed into the crowd.
The overall winners of the
competition’s endurance
leagues were Archibald
and Dylan Bibic, while
Harrie Lavreysen and
Alina Lysenko topped the
sprint leagues.
Archibald wraps up another TCL title
Jacob Tipper is a former elite
cyclist and now a coach
The number of European
ƃǓĽĭĆÝƏƝƴŔÝǰƹƴDZÝƏƴfor
Unbound, the gravel
´ĽÝŔÍƏƌƝƴČĔƝħĭŵƴƏ´Ýƴ
ħÝĽÍƴĭŔƴFŔƝƝÆƴwkżƴ
ŔDZşŔÝƴħşŵĭŔĔƴƹşƴĔĭŔƴ
ÝŔƹƏDZƴ´ŔƴƃǓĽĭúDZƴƹħƏşǓĔħƴ
,ÝƹħĽŔÍƴ&ƏǪÝĽƴĭŔƴ
ÝĽĔĭǓŊƴşŔƴåīŪǼƴǓĔǓƝƹżƴ
PogaÎar and
Kopecky win
Vélo d’Or
qħÝƴƹşŵƴŵƏĭǸÝƝƴƹƴƹħĭƝƴ
DZÝƏƌƝƴÞĽşƴÍƌTƏƴǫƏÍƝƴ
ǫÝŔƹƴƹşƴqÍÝĸƴ_şĔ¹ƏƴŔÍƴ
HşƹƹÝƴFşŵÝ´ĻDZżƴ,ƏƏĭÝƴ
HǪƏÝDZƝÝŔÆƴƹƏĭŵĽÝƴĔşĽÍƴ
ŊÝÍĽĽĭƝƹƴĭŔƴ_ƏĭƝÆƴǫşŔƴƹħÝƴ
ŔÝǫƴƋħƏĭƝƴ,şDZƴqƏşŵħDZƌƴúşƏƴ
¥ÝƝƹƴTĽDZŊŵĭ´ƴ´DZ´ĽĭƝƹżƴ
1Specialized expand in
women’s WorldTour
There stand to be three
ƹÝŊƝƴƏ´ĭŔĔƴşŔƴkīşƏĻƝƴ
¥ĭĻÝƝƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴǫşŊÝŔƌƝƴ
şƏĽÍqşǓƏƴŔÝǰƹƴƝÝƝşŔƴ
úƹÝƏƴkŵÝ´ĭĽĭǸÝÍƴ
ŔŔşǓŔ´ÝÍƴƴŵƏƹŔÝƏƝħĭŵƴ
ǫĭƹħƴÝŊĭƴşĽĽÝƏĭŔĔƌƝƴ%Bī
kǓÝǸżƴkīşƏǰƴ_ƏşƹĭŊÝƴ
ŔÍƴ&ƴ.ŔƝǓƏŔ´ÝīkşǓÍĽƴ
ƏÝƴƹħÝƴşƹħÝƏƴƹǫşżƴ
16
All the news you might have missed from the last seven days
THE HUB
Marchant crashes
into London crowd
TĽDZŊŵĭ´ƴ´ħŊŵĭşŔƴFƹDZƴ
MƏ´ħŔƹƴƝǓüÝƏed ƴ¥ƏşĻÝŔƴ
ƏŊƴƹƴƹħÝƴw.ƴqƏ´Ļƴ
ħŊŵĭşŔƝƴHÝĔǓÝƴşŔƴ
kƹǓƏÍDZƴǫħÝŔƴƝħÝƴ´şĽĽĭÍÝÍƴ
ǫĭƹħƴ&ÝƏŊŔDZƌƝƴĽÝƝƝī
ƹƏĭşŔƴ_ƏţŵƝƹÝƏ, vaulted
şǪÝƏƴƹħÝƴ¥ƏƏĭÝƏƴŔÍƴ
´ƏƝħÝÍƴĭŔƹşƴƹħÝƴ´ƏşǫÍżƴ
MƏ´ħŔƹÆƴ_ƏţŵƝƹÝƏƴŔÍƴ
úşǓƏƴƝŵÝ´ƹƹşƏƝƴƏÝ´ÝĭǪÝÍƴ
ŊÝÍĭ´ĽƴƝƝĭƝƹŔ´Ýż
Anna Morris
on Instagram
ƉħÝŔƴDZşǓƴĔÝƹƴƹşƴ
ƝŔÝĻƴƴŵĭ´ƹǓƏÝƴǫĭƹħƴ
ƹħÝƴĽƝƹƴƏĭƹĭƝħƴ
individual pǓƏƝǓĭƹƴ
ǫorld ´hampion
¥ÝúşƏÝƴDZşǓżƴqħŔĻƝƴ
BşŔŔƴcşǫƝÝĽĽżƴ
EVENEPOEL DOORED
IN BELGIUM
Remco Evenepoel
underwent surgery last
week after he was doored
by a postal van while
training. He broke his rib,
shoulder blade and hand in
what he called a “scary
accident”. The Olympic
champion’s gold bike was
also snapped in two.
ħƹƌƝƴħşƹ:
ƏşŊƝƴşúƴÝŔƹşǓǰ
cŵħƴħƝƴĽǓŔ´ħÝÍƴƴ
ŔÝǫƴ´ħŊşĭƝƴ´ƏÝŊƴ
ŵÝƏúǓŊÝÍƴǫĭƹħƴƹħÝƴ
fragrance of Mont
ÝŔƹşǓǰżƴqħÝƴ¥ƏŔÍƴħƝƴ
ŵƏşŊĭƝÝÍƴǓŔÍÝƏ´ƏƏĭĔÝƴ
ŵƏşƹÝ´ƹĭşŔƴǫĭƹħƴƝ´ÝŔƹƝƴ
şúƴ´ÝÍƏÆƴŵĭŔÝƴŔÝÝÍĽÝƴ
ŔÍƴĽǪÝŔÍÝƏżƴ
What’s not:
ĽşƹħĭŔĔƴ¥ƏŔÍƴ
´ĽşƝÝƝƴÍşǫŔ
,_qDŽÆƴƹħÝƴ´ĽşƹħĭŔĔƴ
¥ƏŔÍƴúşǓŔÍÝÍƴ¥DZƴǪĭÍƴ
MĭĽĽƏÆƴħƝƴÝŔƹÝƏÝÍƴ
ǪşĽǓŔƹƏDZƴĽĭƃǓĭÍƹĭşŔżƴ
qħÝƴ´şŊŵŔDZƌƝƴÍÝŊĭƝÝƴ
´şŊÝƝƴƹƴƴ´ħĽĽÝŔĔĭŔĔƴ
ƹĭŊÝƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴĭŔÍǓƝƹƏDZƌƝƴ
ƏÝƹĭĽƴŊƏĻÝƹż
19
Blinded by the lights
Modern bike lights, though
ƹÝ´ħŔşĽşĔĭ´ĽĽDZƴ¥ƏĭĽĽĭŔƹÆƴ.ƴĆŔÍƴ
are counter-productive. When
driving my car along poorly or
unlit roads, I have cyclists
riding towards me with lights
shining directly (so it feels)
into my eyes. The result is I
have to avert my view from the
oncoming cyclist and look
down to the small portion of
kerb that is left for me to see.
This makes them dangerous
for all, mainly the cyclist.
Modern light technology is
amazing but impractical in the
real world. I appreciate cyclists
need to be seen, but if they’re
blinding car drivers, the reverse
is happening.
I am a motorcycle rider and
have discussed the issue of
blinding oncoming car drivers
with riders who adjust their
headlights to show more of the
road. It may seem a good idea,
but can have dire results.
Peter Bracciale
While we’ll probably never get to the
bottom of the Cummings/Pidcock
drama. It’s fairly obvious removing
them both from the team has its
advantages in drawing a line under
the situation.
Lee Wood
Ineos should start afresh, look at
everything and everyone on the
team and see what needs changing.
qħÝƴƝƹüƴŔÍƴƏĭÍÝƏƝƴŔÝÝÍƴƹşƴúÝÝĽƴĽĭĻÝƴ
valued and important parts of the team
and have their focus on not regaining
what Sky had but reinventing the team.
Chris Smith
This move makes some sense. Scott
ŊĻÝƴƝşŊÝƴǪÝƏDZƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴ¥ĭĻÝƝÆƴŔÍƴ
this gives them the opportunity to buy
into the Grand Tours. They can gain
sales by signing one rider! It’s not about
the team name, this could be about the
sponsors.
John Young
Hilarious career move. That is hara-kiri.
Paul Gerstlauer
He needs a PR team to protect him
and any narrative in regards to himself
and his business. I see too much
negativity around how he is conducting
himself, and videos being selectively
edited. He certainly wears his heart on
his sleeve and we should applaud him,
but he needs to be more media savvy.
Stephen Crompton
Let’s be honest, Tom can challenge
the best on all fronts. Where has his
support been?
Scott Halliaday
BĭŊƴcƹ´ĽĭüÝƴŊĭĔħƹƴ¥ÝƴƹħÝƴŵƏş¥ĽÝŊƥƴ
throwing millions at a team hoping it
will function well doesn’t always work.
Paul Best
LETTER OF
THE WEEK
What you’re saying
Tom Pidcock leaves
Ineos for Q36.5
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cşÍÆƴ,DZǫƏÍƝƴ,ÝƹħÆƴÝƝƹƴkǓƝƝÝǰƴc,ŪƬƴDŽ,żƴ
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The Brit’s move has
raised eyebrows
This year saw TT records tumbling across multiple distances and categories.
A VINTAGE YEAR
22
Vern Pitt speaks to the record-breakers about how they made their mark
R FOR RECORDS
23
t was around 75 miles into his
ĆƏƝƹƴÝǪÝƏƴŪǼǼīŊĭĽÝƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭĽƴ
that John Archibald began to
ħǪÝƴƏÝĔƏÝƹƝżƴƉ.ƴĸǓƝƹƴĔşƹƴƴƏÝĽƴ
Ɲħş´ĻżƴħƹƴħÍƴúÝĽƹƴǪÝƏDZƴÝƝDZƴúƹÝƏƴ
ǎĈƴŊĭĽÝƝƴúÝĽƹƴ¥ƝşĽǓƹÝĽDZƴħşƏƏÝŔÍşǓƝƴ
¥DZƴƦĈƴŊĭĽÝƝżƴ.ƹƴǫƝŔƌƹƴƹħÝƴ´ƝÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴ
lights going out, it was like a dimmer
Ɲǫĭƹ´ħƴǫħÝƏÝƴÝǪÝƏDZƴŪǼƴŊĭĽÝƝƴĭƹƴĔşƹƴ
ǫşƏƝÝƴŔÍƴǫşƏƝÝżƊƴƹƴşŔĽDZƴƹǫşīƹħĭƏÍƝƴ
ÍĭƝƹŔ´ÝÆƴħÝƴǫƝƴƝǓüÝƏĭŔĔżƴƉBǓƝƹƴǓŔÍÝƏƴ
ƹǫşƴħşǓƏƝƴĭŔÆƴǫĭƹħƴƝƹĭĽĽƴşǪÝƏƴŔƴħşǓƏƴƹşƴ
ĔşÆƴ.ƴǫƝƴĽƏÝÍDZƴƹħĭŔĻĭŔĔÆƴƋqħĭƝƴƏÝĽĽDZƴ
ŔÝÝÍƝƴƹşƴÝŔÍƴƝşşŔżƴ.ƴ´ŔƌƹƴÍşƴƹħĭƝƌÆƊƴħÝƴ
ƝDZƝżƴƉ.ƴƏÝĽĽDZƴǫƝŔƌƹƴÝŔĸşDZĭŔĔƴŊDZƝÝĽúƴ
ƹƴĽĽÆƊƴħÝƴÍÍƝÆƴǫĭƹħƴƹDZŵĭ´ĽƴƏ´ħĭ¥ĽÍƴ
ǓŔÍÝƏƝƹƹÝŊÝŔƹżƴƉ.ƴǫƝƴ´şŔƹÝŊŵĽƹĭŔĔƴ
ŊDZƴ´ħşĭ´ÝƝżƊ
Ə´ħĭ¥ĽÍÆƴŔşǫƴƝÝǪÝŔīƹĭŊÝƴŔƹĭşŔĽƴ
´ħŊŵĭşŔÆƴǫƝƴŔşƴƝƹƏŔĔÝƏƴƹşƴƹşŵī
ĽÝǪÝĽƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭĽĽĭŔĔƴǫħÝŔƴħÝƴƝÝƹƴşüƴĸǓƝƹƴ
şǓƹƝĭÍÝƴFÝƝǫĭ´ĻÆƴǓŊ¥ƏĭƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴŪǼǼī
ŊĭĽÝƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭĽƴŔƹĭşŔĽƴ´ħŊŵĭşŔƝħĭŵƴ
şŔƴŪĎƴBǓĽDZżƴNşƏƴǫƝƴħÝƴƴƝƹƏŔĔÝƏƴƹşƴĽşŔĔƴ
ÍDZƝƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴƝÍÍĽÝÆƴħǪĭŔĔƴƝŵÝŔƹƴƹħƏÝÝƴ
DZÝƏƝƴƝƴƴƏşÍƴƏ´ĭŔĔƴŵƏşÆƴĭŔ´ĽǓÍĭŔĔƴƴ
ƝƹĭŔƹƴǫĭƹħƴ_ƏşqÝŊƴşǓƹĆƹƴşĽşīFşŊÝƹƴ
ŷŔşǫƴ_şĽƹĭīFşŊÝƹŹÆƴƏĭÍĭŔĔƴƏ´ÝƝƴ
ĭŔ´ĽǓÍĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴqşǓƏƴÍÝƴşƏĻƝħĭƏÝƴŔÍƴ
qĭƏƏÝŔşīÍƏĭƹĭ´şżƴǓƹƴħÝƌÍƴŔşƹƴÍƏÝÍƴ
ǪÝŔƹǓƏÝƴĭŔƹşƴĽşŔĔÝƏƴƹĭŊÝÍƴƹÝƝƹƝƴşŔƴ
ƏĭƹĭƝħƴƏşÍƝƴǓŔƹĭĽƴBǓŔÝƴƹħĭƝƴDZÝƏż
A new challenge
DZƴħĭƝƴşǫŔƴÍŊĭƝƝĭşŔÆƴƏ´ħĭ¥ĽÍƴǫƝƴ
ƉǫĭŔĔĭŔĔƴĭƹƊƴƹƹÝŊŵƹĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴƋŪǼǼƌÆƴƝşƴ
ƹħÝƏÝƴǫƝƴƴŊşÍĭ´ǓŊƴşúƴƝǓƏŵƏĭƝÝƴǫħÝŔƴ
ħÝƴŔşƹƴşŔĽDZƴǫşŔƴĭƹÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ¥ƏşĻÝƴMƏ´ĭŔƴ
100 MILES
John Archibald 3:12.58
I
24
ĭĽş¥Ľş´ĻĭƌƝƴƏÝ´şƏÍƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴÍĭƝƹŔ´ÝÆƴ
ǫħĭ´ħƴħÍƴƝƹşşÍƴƝĭŔ´ÝƴǎǼŪřżƴƉ.ƴǫƝƴ
ŵƏÝŵƏĭŔĔƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴŪǼÆƴǎĈƴŔÍƴŵƏş¥¥ĽDZƴ
ƹħÝƴĈǼīŊĭĽÝƴqqƝÆƴŔÍƴ.ƴĻŔÝǫƴƹħÝƴƹƏĭŔĭŔĔƴ
.ƴǫƝƴÍşĭŔĔƴƝǓŵŵşƏƹÝÍƴƹħƹÆƊƴƝDZƝƴƹħÝƴ
DŽĎīDZÝƏīşĽÍƴk´şƹÆƴǫħşƴǫşƏĻƝƴĭŔƴÍĭĔĭƹĽƴ
ŊƏĻÝƹĭŔĔżƴ,ÝƴƝƹǓ´ĻƴƹşƴƹħÝƴƝŊÝƴǫÝÝĻĽDZƴ
regime, which amounted to around
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´şŊŊǓƹÝƴƹşƴħĭƝƴÍDZƴĸş¥żƴ
NşŔÝƴşúƴƹħĭƝƴĭƝƴƹşƴƝǓĔĔÝƝƹƴħÝƴǫƝƴ
ƹĻĭŔĔƴƹħÝƴƏÝ´şƏÍƴƹƹÝŊŵƹƴĽĭĔħƹĽDZżƴ
Archibald had modelled the course –
şŔÝƴħÝƌÍƴƏĭÍÍÝŔƴŊŔDZƴƹĭŊÝƝƴĭŔƴƝħşƏƹÝƏƴ
ÝǪÝŔƹƝƴīƴŔÍƴDZ´ĽĭŔĔƴqĭŊÝƴqƏĭĽƌƝƴşǫŔƴ
kŵĭŔƹƴƝDZƝƹÝŊƴǫƝƴŵƏÝÍĭ´ƹĭŔĔƴƹħƹƴ
ħÝƴ´şǓĽÍƴ´ħĽĽÝŔĔÝƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴƏÝ´şƏÍżƴƉ.Ŕƴ
ŊDZƴŊĭŔÍÆƴ.ƴǫƝƴŵŵƏş´ħĭŔĔƴĭƹƴƹħĭŔĻĭŔĔÆƴ
ƋcĭĔħƹÆƴ.ƌĽĽƴĔÝƹƴƹħƏşǓĔħƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴǎĈƴŊĭĽÝƝƴ
ŔÍƴƝÝÝƴǫħƹƴŊDZƴƝŵĽĭƹƴĭƝżƌƴ.ƴƹħĭŔĻƴÝ´ħƴ
ǎĈīŊĭĽÝƴƝÝ´ƹĭşŔƴħÍƴƹşƴ¥ÝƴǓŔÍÝƏƴĎåƴ
ŊĭŔǓƹÝƝÆƴŪĈƴƝÝ´şŔÍƝżƴ.ƴǫÝŔƹƴƹħƏşǓĔħƴ
ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƝŵĽĭƹƴĭŔƴ¥şǓƹƴĎƦżĈǼżƴŔÍƴƹħƹƴ
ǫƝƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴĭŔĻĽĭŔĔƴ.ƴĔşƹƴƹħƹÆƴƋTFÆƴ.ƌǪÝƴ
´ƏǓĭƝÝÍƴƹħƏşǓĔħƴƹħƹƴĆƏƝƹƴǎĈƴŊĭĽÝƝżƴ.ƹƌƝƴ
şŔƌÆƊƴħÝƴƏÝ´ĽĽƝż
Ə´ħĭ¥ĽÍƌƝƴƉƝǓŵŵşƏƹƴ´ƏÝǫƊƴħÍƴĻÝŵƹƴ
ƴĽşǫƴŵƏşĆĽÝƴÍǓƏĭŔĔƴħĭƝƴǫƏŊīǓŵżƴƉ.ƴ
ǪşĭÍƴħĭŊƴĽĭĻÝƴƹħÝƴŵĽĔǓÝƴǫħĭĽÝƴħÝƴĔÝƹƝƴ
ĭŔƴƹħÝƴǸşŔÝÆƊƴƝDZƝƴŊǓŊƴHşǓĭƝÝżƴǓƹƴŔşǫƴ
ƹħÝDZƴƝŵƏǓŔĔƴĭŔƹşƴ´ƹĭşŔżƴƊ.ƴĸǓŊŵÝÍƴĭŔƴ
ƹħÝƴ´ƏƴŔÍƴƝƹşŵŵÝÍƴĭŔƴƴúÝǫƴĽDZ¥DZƝƴƹşƴ
ƝħşǓƹƴÝŔ´şǓƏĔÝŊÝŔƹżƊƴ
Tough mental
battle
TǓƹƴşŔƴƹħÝƴƏşÍÆƴ
the distance was
ƝƹƏƹĭŔĔƴƹşƴ¥ĭƹÝżƴ
ƉqħÝƏÝƌƝƴƹħĭƝƴ
ŔĔĔĭŔĔƴǪşĭ´ÝƴĭŔƴ
DZşǓƏƴħÝÍƴƝDZĭŔĔÆƴ
ƋNşǫƌƝƴƹħÝƴƹĭŊÝƴƹşƴ
ŵǓĽĽƴƹħÝƴŵĭŔÆƴĔĭǪÝƴ
ĭŔÆƴĔĭǪÝƴĭŔÆƴĔĭǪÝƴ
ĭŔżƌƴǓƹƴĭƹƴĔşÝƝƴ
şŔƴúşƏƴƝşƴĽşŔĔÆƊƴ
he seems almost
ħǓŔƹÝÍƴ¥DZƴƹħÝƴŊÝŊşƏDZżƴ
TŔĽDZƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆŔĽƴŪǼƴŊĭŔǓƹÝƝƴÍĭÍƴƝşŊÝƴ
ŊşƏĽÝƴƏÝƹǓƏŔżƴƉşǓƴÍşƴĔÝƹƴƹħĭƝƴĽĭƹƹĽÝƴ
ĆŔĽƴƝǓƏĔÝżƴ.ƴŊÝŔÆƴ¥DZƴŔşƴŊÝŔƝƴǫƝƴ
.ÆƴDZşǓƴĻŔşǫÆƴƝŵƏĭŔƹĭŔĔƴƹşƴƹħÝƴĆŔĭƝħÆƊƴ
ħÝƴƝDZƝżƴqħÝƴ,ǓǓ¥īƹƹƝħşŵƴƏĭÍÝƏƴ
ƝƹşŵŵÝÍƴƹħÝƴ´Ľş´ĻƴƹƴDŽÅŪǎżĈåƴíƴŔƴ
ǪÝƏĔÝƴƝŵÝÝÍƴşúƴĸǓƝƹƴşǪÝƏƴDŽŪŊŵħÆƴŔÍƴ
ƹĻĭŔĔƴDŽřƴƝÝ´şŔÍƝƴşüƴƹħÝƴÝǰĭƝƹĭŔĔƴ
ƏÝ´şƏÍÆƴǫħĭ´ħƴħÍƴƝƹşşÍƴúşƏƴĆǪÝƴDZÝƏƝżƴ
,şǫƴŊǓ´ħƴŵşǫÝƏƴħÍƴĭƹƴƏÝƃǓĭƏÝÍƄƴƉ.ƌÍƴ
ÝƝƹĭŊƹÝÍƴ.ƴ´şǓĽÍƴħşĽÍƴDŽĎǼƴǫƹƹƝƴúşƏƴ
ƹħƏÝÝīŔÍīī¥ĭƹƴħşǓƏƝÆƴŔÍƴ.ƴÝŔÍÝÍƴǓŵƴ
ÍşĭŔĔƴDŽĎĈƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴħĽúƴŔÍƴDŽǎĈƴúşƏƴ
ƹħÝƴƝÝ´şŔÍƴħĽúÆƊƴħÝƴƝDZƝżƴƉ.ƴƹħĭŔĻƴĭúƴ.ƌÍƴ
ƝÝƹƴşüƴƝĽĭĔħƹĽDZƴŊşƏÝƴ´şŔƝÝƏǪƹĭǪÝĽDZÆƴƹƴ
DŽDŽĈƴşƏƴDŽDŽǼÆƴĭƹƴǫşǓĽÍƴħǪÝƴúÝĽƹƴƝşƴŊǓ´ħƴ
¥ÝƹƹÝƏżƊ
úƹÝƏƴƴĽşǫī
ĻÝDZƴ´ÝĽÝ¥ƏƹĭşŔÆƴ
characteristic
şúƴƹħÝƴƏĭƹĭƝħƴ
time trial scene,
Ə´ħĭ¥ĽÍƴÍƏşǪÝƴ
ħĭŊƝÝĽúƴħşŊÝƴƴ
´ħŊŵĭşŔżƴĭÍƴħÝƴ
ĔÝƹƴƴ´ħŊŵĭşŔƌƝƴ
ƏÝ´ÝŵƹĭşŔƴĭŔƴ
ƹħÝƴşþ´ÝƴƹħÝƴ
úşĽĽşǫĭŔĔƴǫÝÝĻƄƴ
ƉqħÝDZƴħǪÝƴŔşƴ
´şŔ´Ýŵƹƴşúƴǫħƹƴ
ƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭĽĽĭŔĔƴĭƝ÷Ɗƴ
ħÝƴĽǓĔħƝÆƴƉ.úƴƹħÝDZƴƝÝÝƴŊÝƴĭŔƴŊDZƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔƴ
ĻĭƹÆƴƹħÝƏÝƌƝƴŔƴǫĻǫƏÍƴƹÝŔƝĭşŔƴǫħÝƏÝƴ
ƹħÝDZƌƏÝƴƹƏDZĭŔĔƴƹşƴǪşĭÍƴÝDZÝƴ´şŔƹ´ƹżƊ
“THERE’S A
VOICE IN YOUR
HEAD SAYING,
‘NOW’S THE
TIME TO PULL
THE PIN’”
A fast start made for a
tortuous end game for
‘100’ rookie Archibald
With fellow
champ
Kate Allan
25
ħÝŔƴĭŔƴǎǼŪǎƴÍŊƴĭĽÍƴŷ&kƴ
MÝƹƏşŹƴǫşŔƴƹħÝƴŪǎīħşǓƏƴ
NƹĭşŔĽƴħŊŵĭşŔƝħĭŵÆƴ
ħÝƴŵĽÝÍĔÝÍƴħÝƌÍƴŔÝǪÝƏƴ
ÍşƴŔDZƹħĭŔĔƴĽşŔĔÝƏżƴǓƹƴƹĭŊÝƴħÝĽƝƴ
ĽĽƴǫşǓŔÍƝÆƴÝǪÝŔƴƹħşƝÝƴÍÝÝŵƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴ
ŊǓƝ´ĽÝƝƴşúƴƹħÝƴĽÝĔƝżƴcÝƹǓƏŔĭŔĔƴƹşƴƏ´ĭŔĔƴ
ĭŔƴǎǼǎĎÆƴħÝƴúşǓŔÍƴħĭŊƝÝĽúƴƹħĭŔĻĭŔĔÆƴƉ.ƌĽĽƴ
ƹƏDZƴƝşŊÝƹħĭŔĔƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƊƴíƴŔÍƴħĭƝƴǎĎī
ħşǓƏƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭĽƴƹĭƹĽÝƴÍƏÝŊƴǫƝƴ¥şƏŔż
şǓƴŊĭĔħƹƴƹħĭŔĻƴħĭƝƴǎǼǼřƴÝƏǪÞĽşƴ_DŽƴ
ǫşǓĽÍƴŔÝÝÍƴƝşŊÝƴúŔ´DZƴǫĭŔÍī´ħÝƹĭŔĔƴ
ĻĭƹƴúşƏƴƝǓ´ħƴƴŊŊŊşƹħƴǓŔÍÝƏƹĻĭŔĔÆƴ
¥ǓƹƴĭĽÍƴÍÝ´ĭÍÝÍƴŔşƹżƴƉ.ƴÍĭÍƴĔÝƹƴƝşŊÝƴ
ŔÝǫƴƏŊŵÍƝƴúşƏƴƹħĭƝƴDZÝƏƴ¥Ý´ǓƝÝƴ.ƌÍƴ
¥şÍĔÝÍƴƹħÝƴşƏĭĔĭŔĽƝƴƴúÝǫƴƹĭŊÝƝƴíƴŊDZƴ
mum had stitched tea towels onto
ƹħÝŊÆƊƴƝDZƝƴĭĽÍżƴqħÝƴŵħDZƝĭ´ĽƴŵƏÝŵƴúşƏƴ
ƝǓ´ħƴƴ´ħĽĽÝŔĔÝƴǫƝƴĽƝşƴƝĭŊŵĽÝÅƴƏĭÍÝƴ
ƴĽşƹƴşŔƴƹħÝƴƏşÍƝƴƏşǓŔÍƴ.ŔǪÝƏŔÝƝƝƴŔÍƴ
ŊĻÝƴƝşŊÝƴÝŔÝƏĔDZƴ¥ƏƝƴíƴĽşƹƝƴşúƴƹħÝŊżƴ
Ɖ.ƴƏƏĭǪÝÍƴƹƴƹħÝƴƝƹƏƹƴǫĭƹħƴƴ´ƏƹÝƴşúƴ
¥şǓƹƴŪǼǼƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴ¥ƏƝÆƊƴħÝƴƏÝ´ĽĽƝżƴ
.ƹƴŵDZƝƴƹşƴ¥ÝƴŵƏÝŵƏÝÍÆƴÝƝŵÝ´ĭĽĽDZƴ
ĔĭǪÝŔƴƹħƹƴħÝƴħÍƴŔşƹƴÍƏÝÍƴƹÝĽĽƴ
ŔDZşŔÝƴ¥ÝúşƏÝƴƹħÝƴƏĭÍÝƴƹħƹƴħÝƴħÍƴ
ƝÝƹƴħĭƝƴƝĭĔħƹƝƴƝÝƹƴşŔƴƹħÝƴƏÝ´şƏÍż
ĭƏ´ǓĭƹƝƴşúƴƝǓüÝƏĭŔĔ
cşĽĽĭŔĔƴşǓƹƴşŔƴƹħÝƴMÝƏƝÝDZƴcşÍƝƴ
´şǓƏƝÝƴşŔƴǎƦƴBǓĽDZÆƴĭĽÍƴǫƝƴ´ƏÝúǓĽƴ
ŔşƹƴƹşƴĔşƴƹşşƴħƏÍƴƹşşƴƝşşŔżƴƉ.ƴ
wanted to be in low Zone 2 and
ĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴúÝǫƴħşǓƏƝÆƴǫħĭ´ħƴĸǓƝƹƴ
úÝÝĽƝƴƝşƴÝƝDZżƴşǓƌƏÝƴĽĭĻÝÆƴ.ƴ´Ŕƌƹƴ
¥ÝĽĭÝǪÝƴ.ƌŊƴĭŔƴƴƏ´ÝƴħÝƏÝÆƌƊƴħÝƴƝDZƝżƴ
_şǫÝƏÝÍƴ¥DZƴħĭƝƴ¥ƏƝƴŔÍƴ¥ǓƏƏĭƹşƝÆƴ
ħÝƴƏşÍÝƴƹħƏşǓĔħƴƹħÝƴŔĭĔħƹƴ¥Ǔƹƴ¥DZƴƹħÝƴ
ŊşƏŔĭŔĔƴǫƝƴ¥ÝĔĭŔŔĭŔĔƴƹşƴúƹĭĔǓÝżƴ
cÝŵÝƹĭŔĔƴĽŵƴúƹÝƏƴĽŵƴşúƴƹħÝƴƝŊÝƴ
ħĭĽĽDZÆƴĔƏĭŵŵDZƴǎåīŊĭĽÝƴ´ĭƏ´ǓĭƹƴǫƝƴƹÝƝƹĭŔĔƴ
ħĭƝƴŊÝŔƹĽƴ´ŵ´ĭƹDZżƴƉşǓƌƏÝƴĽşşĻĭŔĔƴ
ƹƴƹħÝƴ´Ľş´ĻƴŔÍƴƹħĭŔĻĭŔĔÆƴƋ.ƌǪÝƴƝƹĭĽĽƴĔşƹƴ
ƝÝǪÝŔƴħşǓƏƝƴƹşƴƏĭÍÝƴħÝƏÝÆƴŔÍƴ.ƌǪÝƴ¥ÝÝŔƴ
ƏĭÍĭŔĔƴúşƏƴŪƦƌżƊƴ
,ÝƴǫƝƴƹƏǓĽDZƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴǓŔĻŔşǫŔƴŔşǫƴŔÍƴ
ħĭƝƴƝŵÝÝÍƴǫƝƴÍƏşŵŵĭŔĔÆƴƉqħĭƝƴĭƝŔƌƹƴ
ĔşĭŔĔƴƹşƴħŵŵÝŔÆƊƴħÝƴƹħşǓĔħƹżƴƉúƹÝƏƴ
DZşǓƌǪÝƴÍşŔÝƴƹħÝƴŔĭĔħƹƴƝÝ´ƹĭşŔÆƴƹħÝƏÝƌƝƴ
ƃǓĭƹÝƴƴĽşŔĔƴƹƏŔƝúÝƏƴ´ƏşƝƝƴƹşƴƹħÝƴ
ĆŔĭƝħĭŔĔƴ´ĭƏ´Ǔĭƹżƴ.ƴħÍƴƴƹĭĽǫĭŔÍƴ
úşƏƴƹħƹÆƴŔÍƴĭƹƴ¥ƝşĽǓƹÝĽDZƴČÝǫżƴ
ŔÍƴĽĽƴşúƴƴƝǓÍÍÝŔƴ.ƴĸǓƝƹƴúÝĽƹƴƝşƴ
ŊǓ´ħƴ¥ÝƹƹÝƏżƊƴ,ÝƴĽŊşƝƹƴĔşƹƴ
şǪÝƏÝǰ´ĭƹÝÍżƴƉ.ƴĽŔÍÝÍƴşŔƹşƴƹħÝƴ
ĆŔĭƝħĭŔĔƴ´ĭƏ´ǓĭƹƴŔÍƴŵǓƹƴĭŔƴƃǓĭƹÝƴ
ƴħƏÍƴĆƏƝƹƴĽŵÆƴƹħÝŔƴƏÝĔƏÝƹƹÝÍƴ
ĭƹƴŊƝƝĭǪÝĽDZżƴ.ƴƝǓÍÍÝŔĽDZƴúÝĽƹƴ
ĽĭĻÝƴ.ƴǫƝƴ¥şǓƹƴƹşƴ¥ĽşǫƴǓŵżƴ.ƴ
ƹħşǓĔħƹÆƴƋ.ƌǪÝƴĔşƹƴŔşƹħÝƏƴƹħƏÝÝƴ
ħşǓƏƝƴşŔƴƹħĭƝƴ´ĭƏ´ǓĭƹÆƴŔÍƴ.ƌǪÝƴ
ĸǓƝƹƴ´şŊŵĽÝƹÝĽDZƴşǪÝƏ´şşĻÝÍƴ
ĭƹƌżƊƴÝúşƏÝƴĽşŔĔÆƴƹħşǓĔħÆƴħÝƴ
ǫƝƴ¥´ĻƴǓŔÍÝƏƴ´şŔƹƏşĽżƴƉ.ƴĔşƹƴ
ħŔÍÝÍƴƝşŊÝƴ´üÝĭŔÝƴúƏşŊƴŊDZƴ
ƝǓŵŵşƏƹƴĔƏşǓŵƴŔÍƴŊŔĔÝÍƴƹşƴ
ŵĭ´ĻƴǓŵƴƹħÝƴŵ´ÝżƊƴ
,ÝƴƝƹşŵŵÝÍƴƹħÝƴ´Ľş´Ļƴƹƴƴ
ŊƏĻƴşúƴĈĎƬżDŽƬƴŊĭĽÝƝÆƴħǪĭŔĔƴ
ƝǓƝƹĭŔÝÍƴǎǎżåŊŵħÆƴ¥ƏÝĻĭŔĔƴ
ƹħÝƴƏÝ´şƏÍƴ¥DZƴĸǓƝƹƴşǪÝƏƴƹǫşƴ
ŊĭĽÝƝżƴŔÍƴǫħƹƴşúƴƹħşƝÝƴÝŔÝƏĔDZƴ
¥ƏƝƄƴƉĽĽƴƹħÝƴúşşÍƴƹħƹƴǫƝƴĽÝúƹƴ
şǪÝƏƴǫÝŔƹƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴ¥ĭŔƴíƴ.ƴÍĭÍŔƌƹƴ
ǫŔƹƴƹşƴƝÝÝƴŔşƹħÝƏƴÝŔÝƏĔDZƴ¥Əƴ
úşƏƴƹƴĽÝƝƹƴƹǫşƴŊşŔƹħƝ÷Ɗ
γȋɅPʦ
Adam Wild 546.36 miles
W
The bike and the fuel
were old-school but
Wild aced the test
Wild’s mood was
dimming by daybreak
26
ħÝƴĽĭƝƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴŵƝƹƴħşĽÍÝƏƝƴ
şúƴƹħÝƴĸǓŔĭşƏƴǎĈīŊĭĽÝƴqqƴ
record is an illustrious one
ƹħƹƴĭŔ´ĽǓÍÝƝƴƹşŵīĽÝǪÝĽƴŵƏşƝƴ
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WHICH RECORDS WILL
BE NEXT TO FALL?
T
eÊuU¦ΐγȃɅsUi.ΐΐ
Dylan Sage 45.38
Sage’s margin
came as a
nice surprise
27
O %şƏŊÝƏƴƴƝƹüÝƏƴƴ
Vern Pitt is now a
lecturer in multimedia
ƝŵşƏƹƝƴĸşǓƏŔĽĭƝŊƴƹƴ
şǓƏŔÝŊşǓƹħƴwŔĭǪÝƏƝĭƹDZ
ime trial record riding
ƏÝƃǓĭƏÝƝƴĽĽƴƝşƏƹƝƴşúƴƹÝ´ħÆƴ
úƏşŊƴƝĽĭŵŵÝƏDZƴħÝĽŊÝƹƝƴƹşƴ
ƹħÝƴĽƹÝƝƹƴÝƏşƴşǪÝƏƝħşÝƝƴ
ŔÍƴÍÝÝŵīƝÝ´ƹĭşŔƴǫħÝÝĽƝżƴkşŊÝƹĭŊÝƝƴ
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ħĭĽĽƝƴ¥ĽƝƹĭŔĔƴĭŔÍDZƴHǓŵÝƏƌƝƴ
&ĭƏĽƝƴBǓƝƹƴ
ŔŔƴ,ǪÝƴ%ǓŔ
żƴƉÝƴħÍƴƴĻƏşĻÝƴŵĭƹƴ
ƝƹşŵÆƊƴƝDZƝƴƹŔÍÝŊƴƹĭŊÝƴƹƏĭĽĽĭƝƹƴkƏħƴ
MǓƏƏDZƴşúƴħÝƏƴǎĎīħşǓƏƴƏÝ´şƏÍƴƏĭÍÝżƴƉ.ƹƴ
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ƏÝÆƴ,ŔŔħƴ%ǫ´ÝƹƹÆƴÍÝƴ,ƏƏĭƝşŔÆƴ
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ŔÍīƹşīBşħŔƴşƌ&ƏşƹƝƴÝǪÝŔƹƝżƴ
MǓƏƏDZƴƹşşĻƴƹħÝƴŵĭĽşƹƴƝÝƹƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴ
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ÍşŔÝƴŔDZƴƹŔÍÝŊƴƏĭÍĭŔĔÆƴÍĭÍŔƌƹƴĻŔşǫƴ
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ƴƝŊĭĽĭŔĔƴMǓƏƏDZżƴƉ.ƴħÍƴƹşƴǓŵƴƹħÝƴ
ÍĭƝƹŔ´ÝżƊƴúƹÝƏƴƝşŊÝƴĭŔĭƹĭĽƴǫş¥¥ĽÝƝƴ
on training rides, she took to the
ƝƹƏƹƴĽĭŔÝƴǫĭƹħƴNĭĔħƹƴƹƴƹħÝƴMÝƏƝÝDZƴ
cşÍƝƴNƹĭşŔĽƴħŊŵĭşŔƝħĭŵƴǎĎī
ħşǓƏƴŔÝƏƴƏÝǰħŊƴşŔƴǎƦīǎåƴBǓĽDZżƴ
.ƹƴǫƝƴƴƝŵşƏƹĭŔĔƴ´şǓƏƝÝƴşŔƴǫħĭ´ħƴƴ
25kg tandem was less than ideal –
ŔÍƴĭƹƴƝǫĭúƹĽDZƴĔĭŔÝÍƴƴƝÝĽÝ´ƹĭşŔƴşúƴ
Ŕĭ´ĻŔŊÝƝƴúƏşŊƴƹħÝƴÍǓşÆƴŔşŔÝƴşúƴǫħĭ´ħƴ
ƏÝƴŵƏĭŔƹ¥ĽÝżƴƉqħƏşǓĔħƴƹħÝƴŔĭĔħƹƴǫÝƴ
´ħƹƹÝÍƴǫDZÆƊƴMǓƏƏDZƴƏÝ´ĽĽƝżƴƉƴĽşƹƴşúƴ
şǓƏƴ´şŔǪÝƏƝƹĭşŔƝƴǫÝƏÝƴ¥şǓƹƴúşşÍżƊ
Gritty victory
%ǓÝĽĽÝÍƴ¥DZƴħşŊÝŊÍÝƴ´ħşƏĭǸşƴŊĭŔĭī
ŵĭÝƝƴŔÍƴ´ş´şŔǓƹƴĭ´ÝÆƴƹħÝDZƴƏƏĭǪÝÍƴƹƴ
ŊşƏŔĭŔĔƴú´ĭŔĔƴŔşƹħÝƏƴ´ĭƏ´ǓĭƹƴşúƴƹħÝƴ
ħĭĽĽDZƴǎƬīŊĭĽÝƴƉ¥ƹƹĽÝĆÝĽÍƊƴƝÝ´ƹĭşŔƴşúƴƹħÝƴ
´şǓƏƝÝƴíƴƉǓŵħĭĽĽƴĽĽƴƹħÝƴǫDZƴşǓƹƴŔÍƴĽĽƴ
ƹħÝƴǫDZƴ¥´ĻƊƴíƴħǪĭŔĔƴ¥ÝÝŔƴƏĭÍĭŔĔƴúşƏƴ
ƏşǓŔÍƴŪƦƴħşǓƏƝżƴƉÝƴħÍƴƴƝ´ħÝÍǓĽÝÍƴ
¥ƏÝĻƴíƴ.ƴĸǓƝƹƴŔÝÝÍƴŪǼīŪĈƴŊĭŔǓƹÝƝƴƹşƴĔÝƹƴ
ŊDZƴĽÝĔƝƴƹşƴƝƹşŵƴƝħĻĭŔĔÆƊƴƝDZƝƴNĭĔħƹżƴ
HÝĔƝƴ¥´ĻƴǓŔÍÝƏƴ´şŔƹƏşĽÆƴƹħÝDZƴƏşĽĽÝÍƴ
ĭŔƹşƴƹħÝƴĆŔĭƝħƴƝƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴǫşŊÝŔƌƝƴ
ƹŔÍÝŊƴƹşƴƝÝƹƴƴǎĎīħşǓƏƴƏÝ´şƏÍƴíƴDŽĈƬżřƴ
miles, where their two tandem riding
úƏĭÝŔÍƝƴǫÝƏÝƴǫĭƹĭŔĔżƴ.ƹƴǫƝƴNĭĔħƹƌƝƴ
ƝÝ´şŔÍƴƹŔÍÝŊƴƏÝ´şƏÍÆƴħǪĭŔĔƴƹĻÝŔÆƴ
ǫĭƹħƴ%ǫ´ÝƹƹÆƴƹħÝƴŪǎīħşǓƏƴƏÝ´şƏÍÆƴǎĈǎżåƴ
ŊĭĽÝƝÆƴĽÝƝƝƴƹħŔƴƹǫşƴŊşŔƹħƝƴ¥ÝúşƏÝż
%ǫ´ÝƹƹÆƴŵĭĽşƹĭŔĔƴ,ƏƏĭƝşŔÆƴƝÝƹƴƹħÝƴ
ĆƏƝƹƴǫşŊÝŔƌƝƴƹŔÍÝŊƴHBT&ƴƏÝ´şƏÍƴ
şúƴƬƬÅĎřżĈǎƴĭŔƴkÝŵƹÝŊ¥ÝƏżƴMǓ´ħƴĽĭĻÝƴ
ħÝƏƴŪǎīħşǓƏƴƏÝ´şƏÍÆƴƹħÝƴåĎǼīŊĭĽÝƴ
ĸǓŔƹƴħÍƴƝşŊÝƴǓŔŵĽÝƝŔƹƴŊşŊÝŔƹƝżƴ
ƉşǓƴĽşƝÝƴƝşŊÝƴşúƴƹħÝƴúǓŔ´ƹĭşŔƴĭŔƴDZşǓƏƴ
ħŔÍƝżƴǪÝƏDZƹħĭŔĔƴƝǫÝĽĽƝƴŔÍƴƝƹşŵƝƴ
ǫşƏĻĭŔĔƴÝþ´ĭÝŔƹĽDZƴƝşƴƹħÝƴÍÝƝ´ÝŔÍĭŔĔƴ
¥Ý´şŊÝƝƴŊşƏÝƴşúƴƴ´ħĽĽÝŔĔÝÆƊƴƝDZƝƴ
%ǫ´ÝƹƹżƴqħÝDZƴǫşǓĽÍƴƏƏĭǪÝƴĭŔƴBşħŔƴ
şƌ&ƏşƹƝƴÝƏĽĭÝƏƴƹħŔƴÝǰŵÝ´ƹÝÍÆƴǫħĭ´ħƴ
ǓŔúşƏƹǓŔƹÝĽDZƴŊÝŔƹƴƹħÝƏÝƴǫƝƴŔşǫħÝƏÝƴ
úşƏƴƹħÝŊƴƹşƴƝƹDZżƴƉÝƴĔşƹƴĻĭ´ĻÝÍƴşǓƹƴşúƴ
ƴ´ŊŵƝĭƹÝÆƊƴƝDZƝƴ%ǫ´ÝƹƹÆƴƉƝşƴǫÝƴúşǓŔÍƴ
ƴŔĭ´ÝƴĽDZ¥DZżƊ
TANDEM Ђ3
Brigid Night, Hannah Fawcett, Sarah Murray, Ede Harrison
12hr: 252.8 miles, 24hr: 356.9 miles, LEJOG: 66:49.52
T
A bulky bike proved no hindrance
for Night (right) and Murray
“LEJOG done... now,
where do we sleep?”
28
30
f Lance Armstrong,
after defeating
cancer and
winning the
Tour de France,
had stood up
and said openly that his comeback
from the brink of death was made
possible by EPO, then EPO would have
been the hottest-selling product
of the early 2000s,” Aron D’Souza
tells me, a statement that perfectly
illustrates his iconoclastic outlook.
“Every middle-aged guy would be
on EPO if it were available under
safe, clinically approved FDA [the
USA’s food and drug administration]
regulations,” he adds. This is quite
the way to start an interview – and
there’s more bullishness to come.
“It’s a classic misconception to say
that performance-enhancing drugs
are unsafe. It’s hysteria,” he states. In
case you hadn’t guessed, D’Souza is
a man on a quest to change sport. Or,
as he puts it, “on a mission to build a
new superhumanity” – that being, the
Enhanced Games, a yearly Olympic-
style event where athletes would be
encouraged to take performance-
enhancing drugs.
The Enhanced Games
An Australian lawyer and businessman
who founded the technology company
Sargon, D’Souza has turned to sport
úşƏƴħĭƝƴŔÝǰƹƴŵƏşĆƹīŊĻĭŔĔƴÝŔƹÝƏŵƏĭƝÝżƴ
Not everyone has welcomed his
Enhanced Games concept, with two-
time Olympic gold medallist swimmer
Kieren Perkins branding D’Souza a
“borderline criminal”. But backed by
billionaire investors including Paypal
co-founder Peter Thiel, the Australian
is promising better pay for athletes
and believes that the global sporting
ƏÝŔƴǫşǓĽÍƴŔşƹƴŊÝƏÝĽDZƴ¥ÝŔÝĆƹƴúƏşŊƴ
but
needs
the Enhanced Games.
In taking on the Olympic Games,
he is challenging the conventional
interpretation of fair play in sport. “I
ƹħĭŔĻƴşúƴŊDZƝÝĽúƴƝƴw¥ÝƏƴŔÍƴNÝƹČĭǰÆƴŔÍƴ
they [sport’s governing bodies] are the
taxi cabs and Blockbuster,” he says. “It
[the Olympics] is an oppressive and
exploitative system, and we’re creating
a better one.”
Let’s start with a basic question:
are the Enhanced Games – coined the
THE
GAMES
The Enhanced Games are an alternative Olympics where doping will
be encouraged.
Chris Marshall-Bell
grills the founder on the risks
31
‘doped games’ by many – what the
world really wants or needs right now?
“The reality is, the Olympics has too
ŊŔDZƴƝŵşƏƹƝÆƴŔÍƴĭƹƌƝƴÍĭþ´ǓĽƹƴƹşƴƏÝĽĽDZƴ
understand what’s going on,” D’Souza,
DŽřÆƴƹÝĽĽƝƴŊÝƴ¥DZƴǪĭÍÝşƴ´ĽĽƴúƏşŊƴħĭƝƴşþ´Ýƴ
in London. “A lot of journalists say: ‘Oh,
you’re just creating the Olympics plus
drugs,’ but that’s
not right. We’re
reinventing
sport from the
ground up.”
D’Souza intends
ƹşƴħşƝƹƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ
event in an as-
DZÝƹīǓŔ´şŔĆƏŊÝÍƴ
host city in 2025,
before ultimately
developing a yearly
series of around six rounds and a grand
ĆŔĽÝżƴTŔĽDZƴĆǪÝƴƝŵşƏƹƝƴíƴƹħĽÝƹĭ´ƝÆƴ
swimming, gymnastics, combat and
weightlifting – would be included in
ƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴDZÝƏÆƴǫĭƹħƴŊşƏÝÆƴĭŔ´ĽǓÍĭŔĔƴ
cycling, slated to follow in year three. In
D’Souza’s view, despite record global
ǪĭÝǫĭŔĔƴĆĔǓƏÝƝƴúƏşŊƴ_ƏĭƝƴǎǼǎĎÆƴƹħÝƴ
Olympics aren’t
compatible with
modern-day media
consumption, and
its athletes are too
poorly paid. “The
Olympics brings
ĭŔƴÙĎżĈ¥ŔƴĭŔƴŊÝÍĭƴ
revenue [and ticket
sales] and none of
that goes to the
athletes,” he says.
The IOC claims that it returns 90% of
its income back into sports, but it is
true that only a small slice goes directly
to athletes. “I sincerely believe the
athletes are the core value-creators
şúƴƝŵşƏƹƴŔÍƴƹħÝDZƴƝħşǓĽÍƴ¥ÝŔÝĆƹƴúƏşŊƴ
the revenues they generate. Excellence
deserves to be rewarded.”
Evidence-based approach
Few would disagree with D’Souza
on income distribution, but which
sponsors would want to be associated
with an event that would, to quote the
Australian swimmer James Magnussen,
who has already signed up to the
proposed Games, “juice to the gills”
competing athletes? “We’re opening
up a whole new dimension of the
“THE
OLYMPICS
HAS TOO
MANY
SPORTS”
The Enhanced Games
aims to augment athletic
potential with PEDs
32
Photos: Getty Images
Michael McNamee is a
professor of applied
ethics at Swansea
University, specialising
in sports ethics.
“Let’s start with the positives: the idea that
traditional sport doesn’t take care of its
principal stakeholders, the athletes, is a
fair claim. That’s a good starting point, an
attractive one. But I wonder what concept of
sport Aron [D’Souza] has: is it about athletic
excellence or about spectacle? Is what he
is promoting actually a 21st-century circus
with big freaks in sporting clothing, because
that’s what it looks like.
“If you’re going to say you’re athlete-
centred, then you have to recognise athlete
health as well. It looks like the Enhanced
Games will be a libertarian games, where
people can take whatever risks they want
to take. What would medically supervised
doping actually look like? The assumption
is that professional doctors would help
athletes to get to their limits of what’s
possible while maintaining health, but that’s
a staggeringly naive view. Which doctors
would do this, and who’s going to pay for
them? Will the drugs have quality assurance
with respect to production and safety?
“If it was a free-for-all, deaths would
follow; they’d need a regulatory framework.
So then it wouldn’t be enhanced versus clean
games, but a debate about where we draw
the line – a line some would likely go beyond.
We’re being sold a radical new idea of how
ƝŵşƏƹƴ´Ŕƴ¥ÝƴşƏĔŔĭƝÝÍƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹĽDZżƴ.ŔƴƏÝĽĭƹDZÆƴ
all it’s doing is moving the line.”
sport which at the moment doesn’t
exist,” D’Souza says. “The human
enhancement market is one of the
largest industries in the world and
ǫÝƌƏÝƴƹħÝƴČĔƝħĭŵƴÝǪÝŔƹƴúşƏƴŊƏĻÝƹĭŔĔƴ
these products.” The main problem
D’Souza faces is a sceptical and fearful
public. Performance-enhancing drugs
are detested by most sports fans.
“Let’s talk about safety and
science,” D’Souza says, pre-empting
and relishing my next question. He
shares his screen with me, showing
an Imperial College of London review
into the societal risk of a range of social
and performance-enhancing drugs.
He highlights how alcohol and class-A
drugs are all deemed a greater risk
than anabolic steroids, but brushes
over the fact that steroids are
still deemed a notable threat.
“Administered with clinical
supervision, we can lower the risk [of
_Ɲ®ƴÝǪÝŔƴúǓƏƹħÝƏÆƊƴħÝƴƝDZƝƴ´şŔĆÍÝŔƹĽDZÆƴ
without explaining how. “We support
PEDs because clinical evidence is
very supportive and there’s decades
of research.”
Cycling to come
Is his proposed tournament a free-
for-all where anything goes? “We
support drugs that are performance-
enhancing but not ones that are
unsafe or against the spirit of sport,”
he responds. What’s an unsafe drug?
“Class-A drugs – the government
bans them for a reason. You can’t do
a line of cocaine before competing
at the Enhanced Games.” According
to the Enhanced Games website, all
competitors will undergo “extensive
ŊÝÍĭ´ĽƴŵƏşĆĽĭŔĔƊƴíƴĭŔ´ĽǓÍĭŔĔƴĔÝŔÝƴ
sequencing – prior to competition
to ensure they
are “safe to
compete”.
This raises
further ethical
conundrums.
Assuming these are resolved, which
forms of enhancement would be
deemed unsafe in a world where
athletes are free to take a cocktail of
EPO, testosterone and human growth
hormone? “We don’t want athletes to
´ǓƹƴşüƴƴĽĭŊ¥ƴŔÍƴŵǓƹƴ´Ə¥şŔīĆ¥ƏÝƴĽÝĔƝƴ
on,” he answers, deadpan.
Born in Melbourne, Australia,
D’Souza is a lifelong cyclist, telling me,
“I rode pretty seriously when I was at
uni in Australia.” Rugby became his
sport when he studied law at Oxford
University, and since then he has
competed in triathlon. I ask why cycling
ĭƝŔƌƹƴĭŔ´ĽǓÍÝÍƴúşƏƴƹħÝƴŵĽŔŔÝÍƴĆƏƝƹƴDZÝƏƴ
of the Enhanced
Games? “Why did
ǫÝƴŵĭ´ĻƴƹħÝƴĆǪÝƴ
sports we picked?
Because they are
easy to deliver
without expensive
infrastructure,” he
states. “The reality
is, cycling is a very
expensive sport
to put on… and it
THE ONLY WAY IS ETHICS
Disruptor or
destroyer? D’Souza
divides opinion
33
doesn’t have
the same return
on investment
that other sport
categories do.
Track cycling is a
fabulous event,
but only a few
thousand people
in the world
compete in that
sport. It’s pretty
niche… and has very high costs that
we’re keen to avoid.”
All the main cycling disciplines –
time trial, road racing and track – are
scheduled to be on the programme
in future years. Have any cyclists
contacted him? “A couple of cyclists
have, yes.” Who? “Current professional
cyclists.” He won’t divulge identities,
but I’m intrigued as to what these
riders have asked him. “They say:
‘Please can you include cycling.’ I tell
them it doesn’t make sense now from
an economic standpoint.”
So, if the Enhanced Games turns
out to be as successful as he believes,
would he consider starting a stage
race? “In terms of multi-day road
O Chris Marshall-Bell
is a freelance writer and
podcast presenter based
in Valencia, Spain
racing in the
style of the Tour
de France, there
are more serious
risks associated
with that.”
Grand Tour qualms
Hang on, he’s just
told me that PEDs
are safe, yet now
he is doubting the safety of PEDs for a
multi-day endurance sport. Isn’t this a
´şŔƹƏÍĭ´ƹĭşŔƄƴƉNşÆƴŔşÆƴĭƹƌƝƴƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴ
risk,” he shoots back. “Nothing is 100%
safe – crossing the street, driving the
´ƏżżżƴqħÝƴƏĭƝĻƴşúƴ_ƝƴĭƝƴƝĭĔŔĭĆ´ŔƹĽDZƴ
lower than other commonly accepted
risks.” This is a politician-like dodge
şúƴƹħÝƴƃǓÝƝƹĭşŔżƴħƹƴƏÝƴƹħÝƴƝŵÝ´ĭĆ´ƴ
risks of taking PEDs in a stage race?
ƉTŔÝƴĭƝƴƹħƹƴĭƹƴ´ƏƏĭÝƝƴÍĭüÝƏÝŔƹƴĻĭŔÍƝƴ
of risks.” Like what? He hesitates.
“Well, multi-day cycling races push
the human body to much higher limits,
and use of PEDs in that circumstance
is not one I’ve studied very closely
yet.” Until now, D’Souza has seemed
well prepared and well versed in his
arguments, but now he is coming
unstuck. If a diet of PEDs is
really
safe,
as he alleges, surely he would have no
concerns about hosting an enhanced
cycling stage race.
Safety questions aside, why
should cycling fans be interested in
his project? “Because performance
enhancements are at the root of
modern cycling,” he says, tarring the
whole of pro cycling with the brush,
“and we’re unveiling what is possible
in humanity. Enhanced athletes are
just better, are going to be faster,
have longer careers, and will be more
interesting than natural athletes.” Ethics
aside, it may turn out that logistics and
hosting are the biggest hurdles for
D’Souza. If he wants to run the inaugural
Enhanced Games next year, he is going
to need to get a move on. “Building the
future is hard, but we’re in negotiations
with host cities,” he insists.
“CLINICAL
EVIDENCE
IS VERY
SUPPORTIVE
OF PEDS”
Are we poised on the
brink of a brave new
world of sport?
34
OF THE
SealSkinz
Upwell heated
gloves
It might sound dramatic for
anyone who doesn’t suffer
with Raynaud’s, but if you
do, you’ll know how painful
and life-limiting it can be
in winter.
I’ve suffered incredibly
badly with the restriction
of blood flow to my
hands (and feet), and over
the years I have probably
tried every pair of winter
cycling gloves on the
market in the hope of
alleviating the numbness
and keeping my hands
warm enough to continue
to function.
The quality of finish and
battery life of these heated
gloves is excellent, with
more than enough power
for a few hours of winter
riding. As someone who
rides for mental health
as much as fitness, I had
become pretty depressed
about not being able to
ride outside for a
significant period
of the year, but since
riding with the
SealSkinz Upwell
gloves, I’ve been able
to find joy in cycling
year-round.
Santini Guard Neos
The Santini Guard Neos has already
become a go-to cycling wardrobe
essential for me, with its incredibly
versatile temperature range.
Depending on your base layering, it’s
good for between 0-15°C. I’ve
already given my version a pretty
hard life, due to my mudguard
neglectance, but it washes up a treat
and is still performing just like new.
Whyte Rheo 3
I love how the Whyte Rheo 3 gets me out on a
ride for a headspace spin, when the hills and even
an outfit change normally
threaten my ride motivation. As
a smaller alternative to
a cargo bike, it even
allows me to replace
car journeys too.
The
Cycling Weekly
tech
team has the enviable task
of reviewing hundreds of
new products every year,
from inexpensive tubeless valves to
extravagant superbikes. Each will
receive a score based on form,
function, performance and value but
this rarely shows how we feel about
them on a personal level. We rate
them with you, the reader, in mind.
CW
’s Gear of the Year feature
gives us a chance to reveal which
products we’ve really connected
with, those items we’d buy again in a
heartbeat if they were lost or stolen.
Some choices are predictable,
others may surprise you. Read on
for our 2024 top tech picks.
The items heralded by our
tech writers as the highlights
of 2024
Tech
35
My pick
Hannah Bussey
Hannah is Cycling
Weekly’s longest-serving
tech writer. Formerly a
successful road and track
racer, competing in UCI
races around the world,
she lives and rides just
outside the Peak District
National Park.
Liv Langma
Ironing out the smallest of niggles and
improving on an already exceptional
platform, the Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0
feels like a bike of its generation. It really
is the very definition of poetry in motion,
and on test I found it to be totally flawless.
How the brand has managed to
deliver an incredibly agile and rapid ride,
which is simultaneously comfortable
enough to ride for hours, is like some
kind of alchemy. Lined up against
similarly specced bikes it proves that
you can have it all for a price that
screams value. The new Langma not only
created a new benchmark in women’s
bikes, but it has also raised the bar for
performance bikes all round.
36
Photos Andy Jones, Richard Butcher/Future
Goodyear Peak Tubeless
Complete gravel tyre
I love a fit-and-forget product, and that is exactly
what the Goodyear Peak gravel tyre was – rarely
has tubeless set-up been this simple, and once
in place the tread worked well over my local Peak
District terrain. Grippy and quick in all the right
places, and with the best National Park’s name on
the side too.
Lezyne Control
Drive
No one gets too excited
about CO2 inflators (or at
least I hope not), but there
is a certain beauty in the
Control Drive’s knurled,
CNCed simplicity. Despite
spending 99.999% of its
life at the bottom of a
grimy saddle bag, it
worked perfectly when
called upon and didn’t take
up much valuable snack
space when not needed.
Vybe Suspension Stem
Suspension stems and gravel are the perfect pairing,
differentiating the bikes from their road and MTB
brethren whilst providing a genuinely improved
riding experience. Simpler than a suspension fork
and far more forgiving than a rigid stem, I am
surprised at how few manufacturers and riders
use them.
The Vybe betters its direct competitors
both aesthetically and weight-wise,
whilst providing a plusher ride with
more tuning potential too. It does all
this without costing the earth,
making it a very worthwhile
upgrade for most gravel riders.
Castelli Espresso Vest
I found myself looking for reasons to wear
the Espresso Vest and planning my
ride outfits around it (yes, really), I
liked it so much. Castelli’s use of
fabric and fit elevated the humble
gilet into a garment that was a
pleasure to wear. I’d previously
eschewed vests with
pockets, but the Espresso
changed my mind – the
couple of seconds spent
swapping larger items
between jersey and
gilet was richly
rewarded with a svelte,
better-fitting and less
flappy windproof layer. When
not needed it scrunched up
into half a jersey pocket, yet
when deployed it seemed to
add warmth out of all
proportion with its weight.
I’m just off to buy another in
a different colour to match my
other jerseys.
The Vybe will keep you
rocking when the road
turns rugged
My pick
Tim Russon
Tim has been a cycling
journalist for more than
20 years. He’s an
authority on road, gravel
and enjoys a keen
interest in retro bikes
too. His favourite place
to ride is the Dolomites,
a stunning area further
improved by Italian food
and wine.
Caledonia-5
I need all the help I can get with my
speed, so bikes with an all-road tag
worry me - there is no use being
smugly comfortable if you are getting
dropped by your mates every ride.
This was not an issue with the
Caledonia-5 though, and its turn of
speed was truly amazing each time I
rode it. A ‘race bike for B roads’ would
be a more accurate, if less pithy
category for it; I’d swear it is stiffer
and faster than my old R5.
Although the SRAM Force-
equipped test bike was painfully
priced at over £7k, it felt like decent
value in the current market. Aside
from its impressively quick frame
and faultless wireless groupset, the
excellent Reserve wheels and
Ti-railed Selle Italia saddle are
also from the premium aisle of the
bike shop, leaving little scope to
upgrade anything.
I still couldn’t care less about the
downtube storage though, no matter
how on-trend it is.
38
Hunt’s 40 Carbon
Gravel Dynamo
Racer Wheelset
Fast? Lightweight? Quick to
accelerate? Responsive? Aero?
Check, check, check, check, and
check. But let me tell you why the 40
CGR wheels hold a special place in
my heart.
My first encounter with the 40
CGR wheelset was during the
gruelling 350-mile Unbound XL
gravel race. Hunt loaned me a set,
complete with a Schmidt SON 28
dynamo hub in the front. While the
hub adds 430 grams to the otherwise
lightweight wheels, it was worth the
peace of mind of never running out
of light and the ability to charge
my electronics.
Bose Ultra
Open earbuds
These earbuds were an
accidental find – a gift for
media at Camp Strava this
summer. Clipped around the
cartilage of the outer ear,
they act like tiny speakers,
delivering sound directly to
your ears while keeping them
open to the world around
you. Looks aside, they’ve
proven to be pleasant to
wear and offer very good
sound quality.
Bulbous hoods are
out, bonus buttons
are in...
My pick
Anne-
Marije Rook
Anne-Marije Rook is our
North American editor,
residing in Portland,
Oregon. She’s raced as
an elite on the road and
in cyclo-cross too. These
days, she’s all about
gravel adventures,
finding her thrill in
long miles on lesser-
travelled roads.
39
Pirelli P Zero
Race TLR RS
road tyres
With so many good
tyres already on the
market, it’s rare for a
road tyre to stand out
these days, but Pirelli’s
new flagship tyres
do. They are easy to set
up tubeless, lightweight
Shimano
S-PHYRE
SH-RC903 PWR
The only part of that model
name worth remembering is
the PWR. These shoes are
made for PoWeR-full efforts:
track racing, time trials and
sprints. Or, in my case,
throwing down at Fleche
PDX – a silly hill-climbing
challenge that tackles some
of the steepest climbs to be
found southwest of Portland
for some 2,540m of elevation
gain in just 80 kilometres.
Once broken in, the shoe
impressed not only its
efficiency and stability but
also its second-skin comfort.
Star-eyes emoji worth.
yet durable, fast yet
remarkably comfortable
for a race model. They’re
noticeably smoother than
competitors like the
Continental GP5000 or
Vittoria Corsa Pro, and
have also impressed with
wet-weather grip and flat
protection. They’re pricey
but prove their worth,
delivering top-tier
performance with an
unexpectedly refined
ride quality.
The all-new SRAM
Red AXS Brake-
Shift Levers
When SRAM launched its latest
top-tier road groupset this May,
the standout upgrade was the
complete overhaul in ergonomics
and aesthetics of its brake and shift
levers. With a repositioned
hydraulic brake master cylinder,
improved hood angle and new
hood-based bonus buttons, the
redesign gets top marks for
function and style. The hoods are
now leaner and elongated, with a
top profile about half as tall as
before, marking an end to those
bulbous hood shapes.
The brake calipers also received
a significant update, featuring a
lighter, all-aluminium body. Inside,
the pistons have been
repositioned higher in the
caliper, allowing braking force to
be applied closer to the rotor’s
edge for improved efficiency.
The result? A sleeker design
paired with intuitive and easy-to-
reach shifting and smoother, more
powerful braking. Those of us here
at
Cycling Weekly
who have had
the pleasure of using them all
agree: they’re simply fantastic.
The S-phyres get a full
complement of stars
from the
CW
staffers
Brompton G Line
Owning a Brompton has always been an
unrealised ambition of mine. I love the
concept, the aesthetic, the quality and
the heritage. My problem with them is
that they’re urban commuter bikes and I
work from home in the countryside. So,
I’ve always felt excluded from the
Brompton set.
Until now. The Brompton G Line
addresses those of us who live in, or want
to commute out to, the countryside. The
bike could have been a half-hearted
anti-climax (looking at you Bear Grylls
Brompton C Line) but fortunately, it’s
rather brilliant.
Cleverly, Brompton has
comprehensively repurposed its classic
little bike as a serious off-roader, without
losing any of the brand’s endearing
character. It’s stable, nippy, fun and very
capable off-road.
Santini Winter
Cargo Bibs
What’s the worst thing that’s
ever happened to cycling?
Rear jersey pockets get my
vote. Attempting to stow the
unstowable in the unseen
depths of the unreachable
has always seemed like a daft
idea to me. I’m more of a
cargo pocket man, which is
why I love these water-
repellant, fleece-lined bibs
from Santini. The fit is superb,
they’re the ideal weight for
mild British winters and they
have pockets.
Lots of fun in a
pint-sized package
Chunky rubber allows
for off-roading
My pick
Simon Fellows
Based in the Cotswold
hills,
Cycling Weekly
’s
tech editor Simon is
regularly out cycling
the local roads and
trails – he still believes
he could have been a
contender if only
chocolate wasn’t
so moreish.
41
Zwift Ride
I never much cared for smart bikes
and turbo trainers. I considered
them ugly, tricky to set up and, quite
frankly, dull to ride. Then one day,
it dawned the 16 May 2024. Not
just any day, it was the day I first
rode the Zwift Ride at Zwift’s
London HQ.
Frankly, it was a revelation –
here is a smart bike that looks
great, is easy to use and makes
controlling Zwift seamless and fun.
It’s also one of the cheapest smart
bikes on the market.
Zwift Ride deserves its
place in our Gear of the Year
pages because it opens up indoor
cycling to a whole new audience.
Simple, accessible, inexpensive
and fun, it’s a pioneering product
for 2024.
Fizik Tempo Beat
Yet another pioneering product for 2024. The Beat colourfully
blends a road aesthetic with gravel, commuter and even urban
sneakers, yet it never feels like a compromise. On the contrary,
these cool-looking shoes with their striking gel soles have a focus – fun.
I wear them on rides whenever I value comfort, style and versatility
over performance.
The world’s smallest* gym
Squat rack
When my local CrossFit gym - a
sanctuary for my mental and
physical health - closed, I felt lost.
As a toddler mum, there was
nowhere else within a reasonable
commuting distance that would
work for me. While cycling will
always be my number one sport, I’d
enjoyed the challenge of working
on the weaknesses exposed by
those classes. So, I cleared out a
large cupboard, and built my
affectionately named ‘micro gym’.
The shopping list consisted of an
adjustable squat rack, an Olympic
barbell, a selection of weighted
plates, a portable pull-up bar, a set
of adjustable dumbbells, and I
salvaged a bench from the
wreckage of the closing facility.
The total cost was £655 (including
postage), which I’ve already made
back in sadly canceled membership
fees. I miss the community of the
gym, and I’d rather be supporting
a local business, but I also save a
valuable 20 minutes a day in
commuting and a good chunk
of cash.
Michelle Arthurs Brennan
Website editor
Garmin Edge 1050
Over the past few years,
I’ve progressed from
riding with a Garmin
Edge 530 to an Edge
1040 and now, more
recently, an Edge 1050.
The jump from 530 to
1040 was a quantum
leap in terms of speed,
screen real estate,
battery life and
usability. The jump
from 1040 to 1050 felt more
like a small step backwards.
After all, the feature-set is
near identical and battery life
is worse.
But, once I spent
time riding with the
1050 I quickly fell for
its brighter, crisper
screen and, yes, its
virtual bell. I now value
these features over the
crazy-long battery life
that few of us will ever
use or need.
42
I wasn’t expecting that
E-cargo bikes
For years my life has revolved around
carbon-fibre bikes with drop
handlebars and Lycra clothing that
just seems to get tighter and tighter.
Like all cyclists, I was more than
comfortable with all these things. I still
am, but this year something changed. I
became part of the daily moment of
madness that is the school-run, when
hundreds of thousands of people
jump in their cars to drive their
children a short distance.
To get myself out of this cycle, if
you’ll pardon the pun, I called in an
e-cargo bike to test, and
almost instantly fell in
love. First it was the
Raleigh
Stride
3, now it’s the Specialized Turbo Porto.
Both became an indispensable part of
our life. They are two very different
machines, both with their pros and
cons, but both are a far better option
than a car. Not only do we avoid sitting
in traffic pumping fumes into the air, I
get to spend a fun-filled few minutes
with my kids every day.
They love these bikes as much as I
do. It gets constant admiring
comments and glances from other
parents, and one child in my
daughter’s class even told her dad he
was boring because he didn’t have
one. E-cargo bikes aren’t cheap, and
they do need to be stored
somewhere, but for this phase of my
life they are proving more than
a match for carbon-fibre and
tight Lycra.
Simon Richardson
Magazine editor
Albion Stowaway musette small
The biggest bikepacking trip I ever
did – Munich to Florence - taught
me one thing: never over-pack. You’ll
always need extra space for fresh food
at the campsite. This small but mighty
musette offers exactly that – it’s the
ultimate bag for life. Weighing just 15
grams, it’s lightweight, practical, and an
essential I’ve grown to love.
Chpt3 Transit shoes
The Chpt3 shoes are the first to truly rival the
Adidas Velo Samba in years - and, honestly, they
outperform them. While they may lack the
Samba’s iconic status, they excel in every other
way: they look great, feel comfortable, and
perform brilliantly on the bike. It’s truly a shame
that this brand has entered voluntary liquidation,
if nothing else for these wonderful kicks.
An integrated tool offers
fettling at your fingertips
My pick
Joe Baker
Tech writer Joe began
racing at 16, and enjoyed
success internationally,
racing in Italy, Spain and
Belgium. Always
interested in tech, Joe
even piloted his
Frankenstein hill-climb
bike to a junior national
title in 2018.
43
Canyon Aeroad
I fell in love with the Canyon
Aeroad almost instantly – or,
to be precise, around slide 8
of its PowerPoint
presentation at the launch
event. That’s when I noticed
every bolt on the bike was
T25, and a T25 key was
integrated into the thru-axle.
Why did this detail win me
over? Just weeks earlier,
while riding the Canyon
Ultimate, I forgot my
multi-tool. Mid-ride, the
seatpost slipped, leaving me
to awkwardly finish the
remaining 40km riding the
equivalent of my 12-year-old
self’s bike. Since the Aeroad’s
launch, I can’t help but
imagine how much kinder
that ride would have been to
my knees - and my pride
- had I been on this
thoughtfully designed bike.
Of course, it rides
exceptionally well too, but
the fact that Canyon
prioritised something so
genuinely useful, is very
commendable indeed.
Maap Flow
insulated
jacket
Once a full-time
athlete, I’ve swapped
hard training for cafe
stops and plenty of
cake - it’s a better life,
honestly. The Maap
Flow Insulated Jacket
suits this perfectly:
thin enough to pack
into a pocket yet warm
when needed. It’s
cafe-ready and, in
my eyes, made just
for me.
Insta 360 X4
Action cameras are incredible tools for
capturing life’s most thrilling moments -
whether it’s exhilarating descents in Majorca
or stunning vistas in the Dolomites. However,
my biggest frustration has always been
set-up and framing. The Insta360 X4 solves
this effortlessly. Unlike traditional cameras, it
requires no
precise
positioning.
Mount it on a
Garmin, helmet,
or backpack, and
it records
everything in
360°. Gone are
the days of
disappointment
from poorly
framed footage
after skiing or
cycling. The
companion app
makes editing a
breeze, allowing
you to extract
perfect shots from any angle. For reliability,
ease, and versatility, this device stands out
as the ultimate action camera, letting you
focus on the adventure while it takes care of
the rest.
The Aeroad gets T25 bolts
throughout the build
two kilos, but it was really hard because
I was losing muscle,” the Slovenian,
now 34, continues. “I was hungry all
the time – I was starving.” He was in
the early stages of anorexia nervosa,
an eating disorder and serious mental
health condition characterised by
ƴĆǰƹĭşŔƴşŔƴĻÝÝŵĭŔĔƴǫÝĭĔħƹƴƝƴĽşǫƴ
ƝƴŵşƝƝĭ¥ĽÝżƴƉ.ƴǫƝƴÝƹĭŔĔƴŊDZ¥ÝƴşŔÝƴ
şƏƴƹǫşƴŊÝĽƝƴŵÝƏƴÍDZÆƴ¥ǓƹƴşŔĽDZƴƝŊĽĽƴ
amounts.” As commonly occurs in
ŔşƏÝǰĭÆƴqƏƹŔĭĻƴĽƝşƴÍÝǪÝĽşŵÝÍƴ
bulimia – binge eating followed by
ŵǓƏĔĭŔĔÆƴúşƏ´ĭŔĔƴħĭŊƝÝĽúƴƹşƴ¥ÝƴƝĭ´ĻżƴƉ.ƴ
couldn’t handle being starving, so I
cracked and ate too much,” he says.
“Being afraid to gain weight, it was a
´ĭƏ´ĽÝƴ.ƴ´şǓĽÍŔƌƹƴÝƝ´ŵÝƴúƏşŊżƊ
An eating disorder is a serious and
´şŊŵĽÝǰƴŊÝŔƹĽƴħÝĽƹħƴ´şŔÍĭƹĭşŔƴ
´ħƏ´ƹÝƏĭƝÝÍƴ¥DZƴŵÝƏƝĭƝƹÝŔƹƴ
disturbances in eating behaviours,
thoughts and emotions related to food,
body image and weight. There are three
ŊĭŔƴƹDZŵÝƝÅƴŔşƏÝǰĭÆƴĭŔǪşĽǪĭŔĔƴÝǰƹƏÝŊÝƴ
food restriction and an intense fear
of gaining weight, with the highest
mortality rate of any mental illness;
bulimia, characterised by excessive
ÝƹĭŔĔƴúşĽĽşǫÝÍƴ¥DZƴŵǓƏĔĭŔĔƴŔÍư
or intense exercise to avoid weight
gain; and binge eating, frequently
consuming unusually large amounts of
úşşÍƴĭŔƴŔƴĭŊŵǓĽƝĭǪÝÆƴǓŔ´şŔƹƏşĽĽÝÍƴǫDZż
According to a systematic
ƏÝǪĭÝǫƴŵǓ¥ĽĭƝħÝÍƴĭŔƴǎǼŪřÆƴƹħÝƴĔĽş¥Ľƴ
ŵƏÝǪĽÝŔ´ÝƴşúƴÝƹĭŔĔƴÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏƝƴƏşƝÝƴ
úƏşŊƴDŽżĈŻƴƹşƴƦżřŻƴşǪÝƏƴƹħÝƴŵƏÝǪĭşǓƝƴǎǼƴ
DZÝƏƝżƴşŊÝŔƴƏÝƴÍĭƝŵƏşŵşƏƹĭşŔƹÝĽDZƴ
üÝ´ƹÝÍƴŔÍƴ´´şǓŔƹƴúşƏƴŵŵƏşǰĭŊƹÝĽDZƴ
75% of cases. Teenagers and those in
ƹħÝĭƏƴÝƏĽDZƴǎǼƝƴƏÝƴŊşƝƹƴƹƴƏĭƝĻÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ
ƹħÝƝÝƴĭƝƝǓÝƝƴ´ŔƴÍÝǪÝĽşŵƴƹƴŔDZƴĔÝżƴ
Eating disorders often manifest
Athletic ambition can tip into a toxic relationship with food.
Chris Marshall-Bell
investigates cycling’s dark underbelly
LET’S TALK ABOUT
an Tratnik had been cycling
for only three years when
aǓĭ´ĻīkƹÝŵƴƝĭĔŔÝÍƴħĭŊƴƹşƴ
ħĭƝƴĆƏƝƹƴşƏĽÍqşǓƏƴ´şŔƹƏ´ƹƴ
ĭŔƴǎǼŪŪżƴ,ÝƴǫƝƴDZşǓŔĔÆƴŔĭǪÝÆƴ
ĭŔÝǰŵÝƏĭÝŔ´ÝÍƴŔÍƴĻÝÝŔƴ
ƹşƴŵĽÝƝÝƴƹħşƝÝƴƏşǓŔÍƴ
him. “We did some tests [in training]
ŔÍƴǫħÝŔƴǫÝƴƝǫƴŊDZƴǫƹƹƝƴŵÝƏƴĻĭĽşÆƴ
someone suggested that if I lost
another two kilograms I could be really,
really good on the climbs,” he says.
“So I listened to them.” What Tratnik,
ƹħÝŔƴǎǼÆƴÍĭÍŔƌƹƴĻŔşǫƴǫƝƴƹħƹÆƴƹƴƬĈĻĔÆƴ
ħÝƴħÍƴŔşƴƝŵƏÝƴĻĭĽşƝƴƹşƴĽşƝÝżƴƉqħÝƴ
truth was, I didn’t have much fat so it
was really hard to lose this weight,” he
recalls. “That’s how it started, because I
didn’t know what to do.”
The ‘it’ he refers to was an eating
disorder. “I reduced my eating to
almost nothing to lose those extra
.ĽĽǓƝƹƏƹĭşŔƝÅƴǪĭÍƴHDZƹƹĽÝƹşŔ
46
47
“24% OF
FEMALE AND 9%
OF MALE RIDERS
WERE AT RISK”
´şŔ´ǓƏƏÝŔƹĽDZƴǫĭƹħƴşƹħÝƏƴŵƏş¥ĽÝŊƝƴ
such as alcohol and substance use
ÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏÆƴÍÝŵƏÝƝƝĭşŔÆƴŔǰĭÝƹDZƴşƏƴ
ş¥ƝÝƝƝĭǪÝī´şŊŵǓĽƝĭǪÝƴÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏżƴTúƴƹħÝƴ
ǓŔÍÝƏĽDZĭŔĔƴ´ǓƝÝƝÆƴŵƝDZ´ħşƹħÝƏŵĭƝƹƴ
ŔŔƴ,ĭŔÍǫÝĽĽƴŵşĭŔƹƝƴƹşƴƉǓŔƏÝƝşĽǪÝÍƴ
feelings related to low self-esteem,
Ľ´ĻƴşúƴǫşƏƹħÆƴşƏƴƏÝŵƏÝƝƝÝÍƴƹƏǓŊÆƊƴ
adding that “disordered eating
ƝşŊÝƹĭŊÝƝƴŊŔĭúÝƝƹƝƴƝƴŔƴƹƹÝŊŵƹƴ
ƹşƴ´şŵÝƴǫĭƹħƴşǪÝƏǫħÝĽŊĭŔĔƴÝŊşƹĭşŔƝÆƴ
ŵƏşǪĭÍĭŔĔƴƴƹÝŊŵşƏƏDZƴƝÝŔƝÝƴşúƴƏÝĽĭÝúÆƴ
comfort or structure in a chaotic
emotional or environmental context.”
qħÝƴĻÝDZƴŵşĭŔƹƴĭƝÆƴĭƹƌƝƴŔşƹƴƝşĽÝĽDZƴ¥şǓƹƴ
wanting to be thinner or lighter – the
ǓŔÍÝƏĽDZĭŔĔƴ´ǓƝÝƝƴƏǓŔƴÍÝÝŵż
Increased risk
Studies have consistently shown that
cyclists and other endurance athletes
ħǪÝƴƴŊǓ´ħƴĔƏÝƹÝƏƴƏĭƝĻƴşúƴÍÝǪÝĽşŵĭŔĔƴ
ŔƴÝƹĭŔĔƴÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏƴ´şŊŵƏÝÍƴƹşƴƹħÝƴ
ĔÝŔÝƏĽƴŵşŵǓĽƹĭşŔƴíƴ¥ǓƹƴƝşƴƝÝŔƝĭƹĭǪÝƴĭƝƴ
ƹħÝƴƹşŵĭ´ƴƹħƹƴúÝǫƴÝǪÝƏƴƹĽĻƴ¥şǓƹƴĭƹżƴƉ.Ŕƴ
ǫÝĭĔħƹīƝÝŔƝĭƹĭǪÝƴƝŵşƏƹƝÆƴǫħÝƏÝƴ¥şÍDZƴ
ǫÝĭĔħƹƴĭƝƴĭŊŵşƏƹŔƹƴƹşƴŵÝƏúşƏŊŔ´ÝÆƴ
ƹħÝƏÝƴƝÝÝŊƝƴƹşƴ¥ÝƴƴħĭĔħƴŵƏÝǪĽÝŔ´Ýƴ
of eating disorders and disordered
eating,” says Jack Hardwicke, a senior
ĽÝ´ƹǓƏÝƏƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴƝş´ĭşĽşĔDZƴşúƴƝŵşƏƹƴƹƴ
NşƹƹĭŔĔħŊƴqƏÝŔƹƴwŔĭǪÝƏƝĭƹDZżƴ.ŔƴǎǼǎǎÆƴ
ħÝƴ´şīǓƹħşƏÝÍƴƴƝ´şŵĭŔĔƴƏÝǪĭÝǫƴĭŔƹşƴ
ÝƹĭŔĔƴÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏƝƴĭŔƴ´şŊŵÝƹĭƹĭǪÝƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔÆƴ
ĆŔÍĭŔĔƴƹħƹƴǎĎŻƴşúƴúÝŊĽÝƴŔÍƴřŻƴşúƴ
ŊĽÝƴ´DZ´ĽĭƝƹƝƴǫÝƏÝƴƹƴƏĭƝĻƴşúƴÍÝǪÝĽşŵĭŔĔƴ
disordered eating or eating disorders.
ĭƝşƏÍÝƏÝÍƴÝƹĭŔĔÆƴƹħşǓĔħƴĽÝƝƝƴƝÝǪÝƏÝƴ
than an eating disorder, involves
ƏÝƝƹƏĭ´ƹĭǪÝƴşƏƴ´şŊŵǓĽƝĭǪÝƴÝƹĭŔĔżƴƉMŔDZƴ
´DZ´ĽĭƝƹƝƴƏÝƴŵƏÝş´´ǓŵĭÝÍƴǫĭƹħƴǫħƹƴ
they’re eating and how much, and
ƹħƹƌƝƴşúƹÝŔƴƹƴƹħÝƴÝǰŵÝŔƝÝƴşúƴƴħÝĽƹħDZƴ
ƏÝĽƹĭşŔƝħĭŵƴǫĭƹħƴƹħÝĭƏƴ¥şÍDZÆƊƴ,ƏÍǫĭ´ĻÝƴ
says, adding that “behaviours we see
ĭŔƴŵƏşúÝƝƝĭşŔĽƝƴƏÝƴŊĭƏƏşƏÝÍƴŔÍƴ
ƏÝČÝ´ƹÝÍƴŊşŔĔƴŊƹÝǓƏƝżƊ
Tratnik, who has just signed to Red
Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, remembers the
torment he faced on a daily basis in his
ÝƏĽDZīǎǼƝżƴƉHĭúÝƴǫƝŔƌƹƴÝƝDZżƴǪÝƏDZƹħĭŔĔƴ
ħŵŵÝŔÝÍƴƝşƴúƝƹƴŔÍƴ.ƴÍĭÍŔƌƹƴħǪÝƴ
ŔDZƴÝǰŵÝƏĭÝŔ´ÝÆƊƴħÝƴƝDZƝÆƴƏÝúÝƏƏĭŔĔƴ
ƹşƴħĭƝƴƏŵĭÍÆƴƹħƏÝÝīDZÝƏƴŵƏşĔƏÝƝƝĭşŔƴ
úƏşŊƴƝƹƏƹĭŔĔƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔƴĔÝÍƴŪƦƴƹşƴ¥ÝĭŔĔƴ
ƴŵƏşżƴúƹÝƏƴşŔĽDZƴŪǎƴŊşŔƹħƝƴǫĭƹħƴƹħÝƴ
ƹÝŊÆƴaǓĭ´ĻīkƹÝŵƴúĭĽÝÍƴƹşƴÝǰƹÝŔÍƴħĭƝƴ
contract and he returned to third-tier
Continental level. “There were a lot of
ǓŵƝƴŔÍƴÍşǫŔƝÆƴǫħĭ´ħƴĽŊşƝƹƴÝŔÍÝÍƴŊDZƴ
career,” he adds.
,ÝƴǫƝƴƹħƏşǫŔƴşŔÝƴĆŔĽƴĽĭúÝĽĭŔÝƴĭŔƴ
ǎǼŪĎƴǫħÝŔƴŊŵĽƹǸīMƴşüÝƏÝÍƴħĭŊƴƴ
ŵĽ´ÝżƴƉNşƴŊşŔÝDZÆƴşŔĽDZƴƴ¥ĭĻÝƴŔÍƴĻĭƹżƴ.ƴ
decided to give it one last try,” Tratnik
says. Finally, he began to feel better.
Ɖ.ƴǫƝŔƌƹƴǓŔÍÝƏƴƝşƴŊǓ´ħƴŵƏÝƝƝǓƏÝÆƴƝşƴ.ƴ
gained weight,” he says. “I didn’t follow
ŔDZƴŔǓƹƏĭƹĭşŔƴŵĽŔƝƥƴĭƹƴǫƝƴŊşƏÝƴşƏƴĽÝƝƝƴ
eat what you want and do what you
48
BEWARE THE E.D.
WARNING SIGNS
NǓŊ¥ÝƏƝÆƴŔǓŊ¥ÝƏƝƴÝǪÝƏDZǫħÝƏÝƴǫÝƴĽşşĻżƴMŔDZƴ
cyclists track their heart rate, weight and
´ĽşƏĭÝƴĭŔƹĻÝƴşŔƴƴÍĭĽDZƴ¥ƝĭƝżƴǓƹƴÍƹīĆǰƹĭşŔƴ
can be a contributing factor in eating disorders
ŔÍƴÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏÝÍƴÝƹĭŔĔżƴƉĭĽDZƴŊşŔĭƹşƏĭŔĔƴŔÍƴ
ƝǓƏǪÝĭĽĽŔ´ÝƴƏÝƴƴŵƏƹƴŔÍƴŵƏ´ÝĽƴşúƴƴŵƏşƌƝƴĽĭúÝÆƴ
but in my view it’s unhealthy,” says researcher
Jack Hardwicke. “We see it among amateurs
ƹşşÅƴƏĭÍÝƏƝƴǫÝĭĔħƴƹħÝŊƝÝĽǪÝƝƴşŔƴƴǫÝÝĻĽDZƴ¥ƝĭƝÆƴ
often turning down a drink or dessert because
their weight is on their mind. There’s a tendency
ĭŔƴƝŵşƏƹƴƹşǫƏÍƝƴş¥ƝÝƝƝĭǪÝƴ¥ÝħǪĭşǓƏƝÆƴŔÍƴ
´ĽşƏĭÝƴƹƏ´ĻĭŔĔƴŵŵƝƴúÝÝÍƴĭŔƹşƴƹħƹżƊƴ,ƏÍǫĭ´ĻÝƴ
ĽƝşƴÍĭƝŵŵƏşǪÝƝƴşúƴƹħÝƴş¥ĽĭĔƹĭşŔƴşŔƴǪĭƏƹǓĽƴ
Ə´ĭŔĔƴŵĽƹúşƏŊƝƴƝǓ´ħƴƝƴǫĭúƹƴƹşƴĭŔŵǓƹƴǫÝĭĔħƹÆƴ
ÝǪÝŔƴúşƏƴǓŔÍÝƏīŪåƝż
.úƴDZşǓƴĆŔÍƴDZşǓƏƝÝĽúƴŵƏÝş´´ǓŵĭÝÍƴǫĭƹħƴ
´ĽşƏĭÝƴ´şǓŔƹĭŔĔÆƴ¥şÍDZƴǫÝĭĔħƹƴşƏƴƝħŵÝÆƴşƏƴ
you withdraw from social activities involving
food, you may have an eating disorder or be at
ƏĭƝĻƴşúƴÍÝǪÝĽşŵĭŔĔƴşŔÝżƴ_ħDZƝĭ´ĽƴƝDZŊŵƹşŊƝƴşúƴ
ÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏÝÍƴÝƹĭŔĔƴĭŔ´ĽǓÍÝƴǫÝĭĔħƹƴČǓ´ƹǓƹĭşŔƝÆƴ
úƹĭĔǓÝÆƴÍĭǸǸĭŔÝƝƝÆƴúƏÝƃǓÝŔƹƴĭŔĸǓƏĭÝƝƴŔÍƴ
ĭŔ´şŔƝĭƝƹÝŔƹƴŵÝƏúşƏŊŔ´Ýżƴ%şƏƴǫşŊÝŔÆƴƴĻÝDZƴ
ƝDZŊŵƹşŊƴşúƴcīkƴĭƝƴŊĭƝƝÝÍƴŊÝŔƝƹƏǓĽƴ´DZ´ĽÝƝżƴ
TƹħÝƏƴƝĭĔŔƝƴĭŔ´ĽǓÍÝƴŔǰĭÝƹDZƴşƏƴĔǓĭĽƹƴƏşǓŔÍƴ
ÝƹĭŔĔƴşƏƴƹĻĭŔĔƴƏÝƝƹÆƴŵÝƏƝĭƝƹÝŔƹƴÍĭƝƝƹĭƝú´ƹĭşŔƴ
ǫĭƹħƴŵÝƏúşƏŊŔ´ÝƴÍÝƝŵĭƹÝƴ´ħĭÝǪĭŔĔƴĔşĽƝƴ
and rigid, all-or-nothing thinking about diet
and training.
ĭƝşƏÍÝƏÝÍƴÝƹĭŔĔƴŊǓƝƹƴ¥ÝƴƹĻÝŔƴƝÝƏĭşǓƝĽDZÅƴ
ĭƹƴŔşƹƴşŔĽDZƴħŊŵÝƏƝƴŵÝƏúşƏŊŔ´Ýƴ¥Ǔƹƴ´Ŕƴ´ǓƝÝƴ
long-term health issues such as hormonal
imbalances, reduced fertility, and weakened
¥şŔÝƝżƴƴƝÝŔƝĭ¥ĽÝƴĆƏƝƹƴƝƹÝŵÆƴĔĭǪÝŔƴƹħÝƴ
ƝǓŵÝƏ¥ǓŔÍŔ´ÝƴşúƴÍƹƴĭŔƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔÆƴĭƝƴƹşƴƹĻÝƴ
ƴƝƹÝŵƴ¥´ĻƴúƏşŊƴƹƏĔÝƹīÍƏĭǪÝŔƴƹƏĭŔĭŔĔżƴƉÝƴ
live in a world where everything is measured
ŔÍƴƃǓŔƹĭĆÝÍÆƴ¥ǓƹƴDZşǓƴħǪÝƴƹşƴƏÝŊĭŔÍƴDZşǓƏƝÝĽúƴ
not to take things too seriously and remember
ǫħDZƴDZşǓƌƏÝƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔƴĭŔƴƹħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴŵĽ´ÝÆƊƴ,ƏÍǫĭ´ĻÝƴ
ƝDZƝżƴƉşŊŵÝƹĭƹĭşŔƴĭƝƴĔƏÝƹÆƴ¥ǓƹƴŵƏş¥ĽÝŊƝƴƏĭƝÝƴ
ǫħÝŔƴƹħÝƴúǓŔƴƝƹşŵƝżƊ
want. I rode my bike and ate what was
şŔƴŊDZƴŵĽƹÝƴíƴƹħĭƝƴħÝĽŵÝÍƴŊÝƴƴĽşƹżƊƴ,ĭƝƴ
ŵÝƏƝÝǪÝƏŔ´ÝƴŵĭÍƴşüƴúƹÝƏƴƉúşǓƏƴƏÝĽĽDZƴ
ħƏÍƴDZÝƏƝƊÆƴŔÍƴ¥DZƴƹħÝƴÝŔÍƴşúƴǎǼŪĎƴħÝƴƴ
ħÍƴúǓĽĽDZƴƏÝ´şǪÝƏÝÍżƴ.ŔƴǎǼŪřƴħÝƴƏÝƹǓƏŔÝÍƴ
ƹşƴƹħÝƴşƏĽÍqşǓƏÆƴǫĭƹħƴħƏĭŔīMÝƏĭÍÆƴ
after a seven-year absence. How does
he look back on that lost time? “It was
hard,” he says, “but I’ve come through it
mentally much stronger.”
Hardwicke, a former second-cat
racer, highlights why cyclists are
ƝǓƝ´Ýŵƹĭ¥ĽÝƴƹşƴÝƹĭŔĔƴÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏƝÅƴ
“Cyclists have swallowed the idea
49
ƹħƹƴĽĭĔħƹÝƏƴĭƝƴúƝƹÝƏÆƊƴħÝƴƝDZƝżƴƉHÝŔƴ
ĽĭŊ¥ƝƴǫĭƹħƴǪÝĭŔƝƴŵşŵŵĭŔĔƴşǓƹƴƏÝƴƝÝÝŔƴ
as a badge of honour among amateur
ƏĭÍÝƏƝÆƴŔÍƴƹħƹƴŵǓƝħÝƝƴŵÝşŵĽÝƴƹşǫƏÍƝƴ
disordered eating behaviours.” Not
ǓŔ´şŊŊşŔĽDZÆƴǫÝĭĔħƹƴĽşƝƝƴƹƹÝŊŵƹƝƴĔşƴ
ƹşşƴúƏżƴƉDZ´ĽĭŔĔƴŵǓƹƝƴƴħǓĔÝƴÝŔÝƏĔDZƴ
demand on the body, and if you’re not
úǓÝĽĽĭŔĔƴŵƏşŵÝƏĽDZÆƴƹħĭŔĔƝƴǫĭĽĽƴ¥ƏÝĻƴ
down,” Hardwicke continues. “If you’re
chronically under-fuelling over months
and years, using more energy than
DZşǓƌƏÝƴ´şŔƝǓŊĭŔĔÆƴDZşǓƌĽĽƴƝǓŵŵƏÝƝƝƴ
the immune system and seriously
´şŊŵƏşŊĭƝÝƴDZşǓƏƴħÝĽƹħżƊ
RED-S alert
&ÝƏŊŔƴƏĭÍÝƏƴĽƏƴFşŵŵÝŔ¥ǓƏĔƴĭƝƴ
ŔşƹħÝƏƴŵƏşƴǫħşƴħƝƴ¥ÝÝŔƴƹħƏşǓĔħƴ
ÝƹĭŔĔƴŵƏş¥ĽÝŊƝżƴqħÝƴǎřīDZÝƏīşĽÍÆƴ
ǫħşƴĭƝƴƏÝĸşĭŔĭŔĔƴşĆÍĭƝƴúƏşŊƴ%īTƹĽDZī
ŔŔşŔÍĽÝÆƴƏÝ´ĽĽƝƴƉƴ´şǓŵĽÝƴşúƴDZÝƏƝƴ
where I was too skinny and way too
ǓŔÍÝƏǫÝĭĔħƹżƊƴFşŵŵÝŔ¥ǓƏĔƴÝǰħĭ¥ĭƹÝÍƴ
ƝDZŊŵƹşŊƝƴşúƴcīkÆƴƏÝĽƹĭǪÝƴÝŔÝƏĔDZƴ
ÍÝĆ´ĭÝŔ´DZƴĭŔƴƝŵşƏƹÆƴǫħÝƏÝƴƝǓƝƹĭŔÝÍƴ
´ĽşƏĭÝƴÍÝĆ´ĭƹƝƴħŊŵÝƏƴƹƏĭŔĭŔĔƴŔÍƴ
ĸÝşŵƏÍĭƝÝƴħÝĽƹħżƴƉ.ƴǫƝƴƹƏĭŔĭŔĔƴúşƏƴ
six hours [a day], but I wasn’t getting
the balance right,” she says. The
German says that, though she was not
diagnosed with an eating disorder,
ħÝƏƴǪÝƏDZƴƹħĭŔƴŵŵÝƏŔ´ÝƴƹƹƏ´ƹÝÍƴ
negative attention. “I felt like a big
ƝƹŊŵƴħÍƴ¥ÝÝŔƴŵǓƹƴşŔƴŊÝÅƴƋƹħĭƝƴĔĭƏĽƴ
has an eating disorder, we can’t have
her in this team’.”
_ƏĭşƏĭƹĭƝĭŔĔƴĽşǫƴǫÝĭĔħƹƴ´Ŕƴ¥Ýƴƹşƴ
ƹħÝƴÍÝƹƏĭŊÝŔƹƴşúƴƴ´DZ´ĽĭƝƹƌƝƴŵħDZƝĭ´Ľƴ
and mental wellbeing, with long-term
ĭŊŵĽĭ´ƹĭşŔƝżƴƉqħÝDZƴƝDZƴĭúƴDZşǓƌƏÝƴĽşǫƴĭŔƴ
¥şÍDZƴǫÝĭĔħƹÆƴǫĭƹħƴĽĭƹƹĽÝƴúƹÆƴDZşǓƴ´ŔƴČDZƴ
ǓŵƴƹħÝƴ´ĽĭŊ¥ƝÆƴ¥ǓƹƴDZşǓƴƏĭƝĻƴĔÝƹƹĭŔĔƴĭĽĽƴ
şƏƴĭŔĸǓƏÝÍÆƊƴƏÝČÝ´ƹƝƴFşŵŵÝŔ¥ǓƏĔÆƴƉŔÍƴ
for us females it can damage fertility
ŵƏşƝŵÝ´ƹƝƴíƴŔÍƴĭúƴ.ƴħÍƴÍÝƝƹƏşDZÝÍƴŊDZƴ
dream of having a family by not eating
right, I’d never have forgiven myself.”
After winning her own battle, she
ǫƝƴÍÝƹÝƏŊĭŔÝÍƴƹşƴħÝĽŵƴşƹħÝƏƝƴǫĭƹħƴ
ÝƹĭŔĔƴŵƏş¥ĽÝŊƝżƴ
ħĭĽÝƴƝƹǓÍDZĭŔĔƴƝŵşƏƹƝƴƝ´ĭÝŔ´ÝƴƹƴƹħÝƴ
wŔĭǪÝƏƝĭƹDZƴşúƴFşŔƝƹŔǸƴĭŔƴ&ÝƏŊŔDZƴĭŔƴ
ǎǼŪåÆƴFşŵŵÝŔ¥ǓƏĔƴǫƏşƹÝƴħÝƏƴ¥´ħÝĽşƏƌƝƴ
thesis on the risk and awareness of
eating disorders among female elite
w.ƴ´DZ´ĽĭƝƹƝżƴTúƴƹħÝƴŪǎǼƴƏĭÍÝƏƝƴǫħşƴ
ĆĽĽÝÍƴĭŔƴŔƴŔşŔDZŊşǓƝƴƝǓƏǪÝDZÆƴƉDŽǎŻƴ
had eating disordered tendencies; 55%
ƏÝŵşƏƹÝÍƴħǪĭŔĔƴÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏÝÍƴúÝÝĽĭŔĔƝƴ
towards food; and more than half had
been told [by teams] that they should
ĽşƝÝƴƝşŊÝƴǫÝĭĔħƹÆƊƴFşŵŵÝŔ¥ǓƏĔƴ
reveals. “The results were in line with
ǫħƹƴ.ƴÝǰŵÝ´ƹÝÍÆƊƴƝħÝƴÍÍƝż
FşŵŵÝŔ¥ǓƏĔƴ¥ÝĽĭÝǪÝƝƴƹħƹƴǫƏÝŔÝƝƝƴ
ĭƝƴĭŊŵƏşǪĭŔĔƴƹƴƹħÝƴƹşŵƴĽÝǪÝĽƴşúƴƹħÝƴ
“OVER HALF OF
THE RIDERS HAD
BEEN TOLD TO
LOSE WEIGHT”
50
O Chris Marshall-Bell has
investigated a wide range
of taboo subjects for CW’s
ƋHÝƹƌƝƴqĽĻƴ¥şǓƹƌƴƝÝƏĭÝƝż
ACCESSING
SUPPORT
Anyone who thinks they
may have an eating disorder
ƝħşǓĽÍƴǪĭƝĭƹƴƹħÝĭƏƴ&_ƴƝƴƝşşŔƴ
ƝƴŵşƝƝĭ¥ĽÝżƴÍǪĭ´ÝƴĭƝƴĽƝşƴ
available from the eating
ÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏƝƴ´ħƏĭƹDZƴÝƹÅƴ
ǼåǼåƴåǼŪƴǼƬƦƦż
ƝŵşƏƹżƴƉqÝŊƝƴŔşǫƴúǪşǓƏƴƏĭÍÝƏƝƴĔÝƹƹĭŔĔƴ
ŊşƏÝƴŵşǫÝƏúǓĽƴƏƹħÝƏƴƹħŔƴ¥ÝĭŔĔƴ
ƝħŵÝÍƴĽĭĻÝƴŔƴƝŵƏĔǓƝÆƊƴƝħÝƴƝDZƝÆƴ
“and we’re seeing more great climbers
who aren’t very skinny.” Additionally,
w.ƴƹÝŊƝƴÍşƴúǓĽĽƴŊÝÍĭ´Ľƴ´ħÝ´ĻīǓŵƝƴşŔƴ
all their riders every winter, measuring
ǫÝĭĔħƹÆƴúƹƴŵÝƏ´ÝŔƹĔÝÆƴ¥şŔÝƴÍÝŔƝĭƹDZƴ
and blood biomarkers, which often
ČĔƝƴǓŵƴcīkżƴqħÝƴƝǓŵŵşƏƹƴşúƴƹÝŊƴ
ŔǓƹƏĭƹĭşŔĭƝƹƝƴŔÍƴ´ħÝúƝƴĭƝƴħÝĽŵĭŔĔƴƹşşżƴ
“We now know exactly how many carbs
we have to eat, whereas six years ago
we had no idea.”
Túƴ´şǓƏƝÝÆƴƹħÝƝÝƴƝƹƏǓ´ƹǓƏĽƴ´ħŔĔÝƝƴ
ÍşŔƌƹƴŵƏşƹÝ´ƹƴŊƹÝǓƏƴƏĭÍÝƏƝÆƴŔşƏƴ
do they guarantee the cultural shift
needed. “I still think quite a large
ŔǓŊ¥ÝƏƴşúƴ´DZ´ĽĭƝƹƝƴƝǓüÝƏƴúƏşŊƴ
ÍĭƝşƏÍÝƏÝÍƴÝƹĭŔĔƴħ¥ĭƹƝÆƊƴFşŵŵÝŔ¥ǓƏĔƴ
says, acutely aware that a healthy
ƏÝĽƹĭşŔƝħĭŵƴǫĭƹħƴúşşÍƴ´Ŕƴ¥ÝƴƴħƏÍī
fought struggle. She highlights the
¥ÝŔÝĆƹƝƴşúƴƏÝĔĭŔĭŔĔƴƴħÝĽƹħDZƴ¥ĽŔ´Ýżƴ
“You immediately feel stronger, can
train harder and for longer, can recover
well, and your mood is a lot better,” she
says. “You want to socialise more, want
to go out for dinner with friends, and
life is just a lot easier.”
Tratnik urges riders to share their
´şŔ´ÝƏŔƝƴŔÍƴƝÝÝĻƴħÝĽŵżƴƉşǓƴƏÝĽĽDZƴ
ŔÝÝÍƴƹşƴ¥ÝĽĭÝǪÝƴĭƹƌƝƴŵşƝƝĭ¥ĽÝƴƹşƴŵƝƝƴ
through this,” he says. “The best thing
you can do is talk about it, tell those
close to you – you’re not alone in this.”
He has learnt from his own mistakes.
Ɖ.ƴǫƝƴƹşşƴƝħDZƴƹşƴƹÝĽĽƴŵÝşŵĽÝÆƊƴħÝƴƝDZƝÆƴ
ƏÝČÝ´ƹĭŔĔƴƹħƹƴħÝƴĭƝƴŔşǫƴƉŵƏşǓÍƴŔÍƴ
ħŵŵDZƊƴşúƴħǪĭŔĔƴƏÝƝÝƹƴħĭƝƴƏÝĽƹĭşŔƝħĭŵƴ
ǫĭƹħƴÝƹĭŔĔƴŔÍƴŵǓĽĽÝÍƴƹħƏşǓĔħƴƹşǓĔħƴ
DZÝƏƝƴǫĭƹħşǓƹƴƴŵƏşƴ´şŔƹƏ´ƹƴƹşƴ
ƏÝƹǓƏŔƴƹşƴƹħÝƴƝŵşƏƹƌƝƴƹşŵƴĽÝǪÝĽżƴƉ.ƴŊƴ
not ashamed to talk about this now,”
he says resolutely. “Everyone has
ƝşŊÝƴŵƏş¥ĽÝŊƝƴĭŔƴƹħÝĭƏƴĽĭúÝÆƴŔÍƴƹħĭƝƴ
ħŵŵÝŔÝÍƴƹşƴŊÝżƴcÝ´şǪÝƏDZƴÍşÝƝƴŔşƹƴ
ħŵŵÝŔƴşǪÝƏŔĭĔħƹÆƴĭƹƴƹĻÝƝƴƹĭŊÝÆƴ¥Ǔƹƴ
it’s about believing, working hard and
ħǪĭŔĔƴƝǓŵŵşƏƹżƊ
51
The challenge for me is a simple
one. By the middle of March, I
want to be able to ride a
20-minute time trial at 400
watts or above. That’s more or less
WorldTour power, provided we’re talking
absolute figures – no one mention watts
per kilo, OK? To be able to ride toe-to-
toe with the pros, I’d need to lose a fifth
of my body weight, half of my age and
undergo an extensive course of gene
replacement therapy. That ship hasn’t
sailed; no, it’s gathering barnacles on the
seabed, having capsized many years ago
just outside the dock.
So why am I doing
this? Let’s not dress it
up in health and
fitness clothing. I’m
doing this so I can tell
everyone I meet –
cyclists, relatives, the
bloke who empties
the bins in the local
park – that I once rode
a 10-mile TT at 400
watts. Whether or not
they understand the
significance of this is
completely irrelevant;
the fact is, I’ll have
done it, and they’ll
know about it,
whether they want to or
not. I’m also doing this
because it’s winter, and it
will continue to be so for
an eternity. I need a target,
a light at the end of the
tunnel. I don’t want to
tread water in the
darkness, I want to stare
January in the face and
pedal it into submission.
How am I going to do
this? At the time of
writing, my 20-minute
power is 370 watts.
52
Somehow I need to find an extra 30. This
might not seem a lot, but it will be a
painstaking process bursting at the
seams with threshold, VO2 max and
anaerobic efforts. But top-end work is
the icing on the cake. The rest of
December will be about building as big a
foundation as possible, and to help me
do this I’ve decided to look at a hitherto
unknown metric: lactate threshold.
Using this figure will help me target, with
military precision, the power zone I need
to lay the foundations for this challenge.
All I want for Christmas is a lactate-
testing device…
Steve Shrubsall, features
writer and subeditor
GOAL:
400 WATTS FOR
20 MINUTES
WINTER MOTIVATION
CW STAFF CHALLENGE
Fitness
Three
CW
staffers commit to a four-month winter fitness
challenge – follow their progress in these pages
Profile
OAge: 47
Height: 6ft 1in
Weight: 89kg Lives:
Reading, Berks
Cycling high: 38
hours non-stop
cycling during this
year’s GB Escapades
Steve will be fixating on
wattage this winter
Words: Steve Shrubsall Photos: Richard Butcher/Future
Profile
OAge: 48
Height: 6ft Weight:
78kg Lives: South
London Cycling high:
Coming back from
injury to complete
Dirty Reiver (2024)
Profile
OAge: 50
Height: 5ft 10in
Weight: 97kg Lives:
Guildford, Surrey
Cycling high:
Completed Paris-
Brest-Paris (2003)
Dan Baines, group art editor
GOAL: 1,650 WATTS MAX POWER
James Shrubsall, senior writer
GOAL: LOSE 8KG
I’ve suffered with
various aches and
pains over the last
few years, and have
finally managed to iron
them out with regular
stretching and, perhaps
more importantly,
strength sessions in the
gym. With the big 5-0
bearing down on me, this
is a perfect excuse to
focus on muscle
maintenance and
development, which,
despite opinions to the
contrary, can translate
Here’s a bit of advice: never stop
riding a bike. I did, 10 years ago,
and when I started again I
couldn’t get up hills anymore
– not easily, anyway. That isn’t to say you
need to set off one Sunday morning and,
like a two-wheeled Forrest Gump, keep
pedalling over the horizon and far away.
It’s more a note of caution that, if not
replaced by some other
regular aerobic activity,
you may regret it.
I took pretty much a
season out, to try
different things. It was
quite good fun, but I
put on at least a stone
that year, and the
situation has never
really been rectified. In
fact, thanks to my ever
more enthusiastic
commitment to ‘just
enjoying’ riding my
bike (and yes, enjoying food and drink
too), my waistline has only expanded
further. Starting a weight-loss
programme just before
Christmas mightn’t sound like
a great decision. But looked at
another way, it’s a great one –
the perfect opportunity to
avoid as much of that annual
weight gain as possible.
My strategy is going to
revolve around eating as few
ultra-processed foods as
possible and fewer calories
overall. I’m also going to try to
cultivate a limited eating
window of no more than 12
hours, 7am to 7pm. There will, of course,
also be a fair bit of cycling. Initially I’m
going to aim for three sessions a week.
My ultimate weight loss aim to hit by
mid-March? Under 14 stone, from my
current 15 stone 5lb (or a loss of 8.6kg, if
you prefer). Onwards!
very well into bike
performance.
Therefore, I’ve decided
to focus on my
fast-twitch muscle
fibres this winter to
build my sprinting
power. My current max
watts is around 1,451
so with weights,
plyometric exercises
and on-bike strength
and speed workouts I’m
hoping to increase it to
1,650. The intended
benefit is two-fold: as
an amateur rider, having
James will bypass the
Xmas parties
Dan’s challenge will push
him to the limit
some form of motivation over the colder
months is important to keep the wheels
turning, and the goal I’ve set myself will not
only act as an incentive but see me enter
the first of next spring’s target races as a
stronger and faster cyclist.
54
Storm Darragh forced the
cancellation of day two of
the National Trophy, with
the elite races falling victim
to the conditions, but Saturday’s
veterans and youth races provided
ƝşŊÝƴĔƏÝƹƴƏ´ĭŔĔƴƹƴƹħÝƴĽŔĆÝĽÍƴ
Cross Course in Hampshire.
Paul Lloyd (Banjo Cycles) got the
better of series leader Adrian Lansley
(Pedalon.co.uk) in the over-40 veterans
race, crossing the line 24 seconds
ahead to narrow the gap ahead of the
ĆŔĽƴƏşǓŔÍƴĭŔƴƏÍúşƏÍƴŔÝǰƹƴŊşŔƹħż
Kate Eedy (Team Empella) was in a
class of her own in the over-40 female
ǪÝƹÝƏŔƝƴƏ´ÝÆƴĆŔĭƝħĭŔĔƴĽŊşƝƹƴƹħƏÝÝƴ
minutes ahead of Ceris Styler (ROTOR
Race Team). The pair are now equal on
points overall.
Nick Craig (SCOTT Pioneer DJ)
continues to dominate the over-50
men’s veterans standings, making it
four wins out of four and leaving Ian
Taylor (Shibden CC) in second spot on
the day.
Helen Pattinson (Montezuma’s
ǪÝŔƹƏÝǰŹƴǫşŔƴƹħÝƴşǪÝƏīĈǼƴúÝŊĽÝƴƏ´Ýƴ
ahead of Alison Kinloch (VC Venta),
while Sarah Craig (Ride for Charlie)
was third and maintains second overall
behind series leader Vickie Wilkinson,
who didn’t ride this event.
After her National Trophy win
on Saturday, Kate Eedy went on to
win round four of the Leicestershire
League near Kettering on Sunday. The
Team Empella rider was 1.23 ahead of
Numplumz rider Megan Bettles.
Meanwhile, James Swadling (Pedal
_şǫÝƏƴHşǓĔħ¥şƏşǓĔħŹƴħÝĽÍƴşüƴFĭÝƏŔƴ
Jarvis (Optimum Coaching) for the win
in the senior men’s race.
As well as day two of the National
Words: Snowdon Sports Photos: Kimroy Photography
UK SCENE
RACING HIT BY STORMS
qƏşŵħDZÆƴČşşÍĭŔĔƴĽƝşƴ´ǓƝÝÍƴƹħÝƴ
´Ŕ´ÝĽĽƹĭşŔƴşúƴƹħÝƴŪǎƹħƴŔÍƴĆŔĽƴƏşǓŔÍƴ
of the West Midlands League in Walsall
on Sunday. A course inspection on
Friday afternoon revealed up to four
inches of standing water on large parts
of the course. The event will not count
towards the league standings, with a
rider’s best nine results from 11 events
going towards calculating their overall
positions, which will be worked out as
soon as possible.
Sunday saw
Eedy take a
weekend double
National Trophy races among events cancelled
as high winds and rain batter the country
The youth females National Trophy
race was allowed to proceed
55
Saturday, 7 December
ONational Trophy Series round four
ŷĽŔĆÝĽÍƴwŔĭǪÝƏƝĭƹDZÆƴÝÍúşƏÍƝħĭƏÝŹÅ
TǪÝƏīĎǼƴMĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴ_ǓĽƴHĽşDZÍƴŷŔĸşƴ
DZ´ĽÝƝƴc´ÝǫƏÝŹƴDŽřżDŽǎƥƴ2. A. Lansley (Pedal
On.co.uk) +0.24; 3. L. Craven (Wheelbase
CabTech Castelli) +0.28; 4. A. Gardiner (Sotonia
Cycling Club) +0.30; 5. P. Oldham (Hope Tech
Factory Racing) +0.50; 6. L. Hobbs (UF Rowe
& King) +1.23; 7. R. Jebb (Hope Tech Factory
Racing) +1.25; 8. G. Drake (Wheelbase CabTech
Castelli) +2.08; 9. N. Blight (Nopinz Race Team)
+2.35; 10. J. Allaway (Pedal On.co.uk) +3.25.
TǪÝƏīĎǼƴ%ÝŊĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴFƹÝƴÝÍDZƴŷqÝŊƴ
ŊŵÝĽĽŹƴĎƦżǎĈƥ 2. C. Styler (ROTOR Race Team)
+2.52; 3. J. Andrews (Cycle Club Ashwell CCA)
ƀĎżDŽƦƥƴĎżƴcżƴǓþÝĽÍƴŷǫŊ´ƏŔƴ_ƏĔşŔƴDZ´ĽĭŔĔƴ
Club) +5.35; 5. G. Felstead (Team Empella) +6.33;
6. R. Clay (GS Vecchi) +8.31; 7. E. Canham (Rapha
Cycling Club) +14.42; 8. N. Read (unattached) +1
ĽŵƥƴřżƴkżƴƏƏÝŔƴŷƏÍĭüƴĸǰƴDZ´ĽĭŔĔƴĽǓ¥ŹƥƴŪǼżƴ
Hżƴk´şĆÝĽÍƴŷcş´ĻĭŔĔħŊƴ%şƏÝƝƹƴħÝÝĽÝƏƝƴŹż
TǪÝƏīĈǼƴMĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴNĭ´ħşĽƝƴƏĭĔƴ
ŷkTqqƴ_ĭşŔÝÝƏƴBŹƴDŽřżǼřƥ 2. I. Taylor (Shibden
Cycling Club) +1.20; 3. N. Whiteley (Team
Enable MI Racing) +2.03; 4. A. Brindle (Horwich
Cycling Club) +2.38; 5. S. Henshall (Port Sunlight
Wheelers CC) +3.30; 6. D. Haygarth (Wheelbase
CabTech Castelli) +3.48; 7. M. Webber (Forest
Side Riders) +4.10; 8. M. Simpson (Beeline
Bicycles Sorb) +5.15; 9. P. Craker (Barrow Central
Wheelers) +5.26; 10. P. Simcock (Team JMC)
+5.50.
TǪÝƏīĈǼƴ%ÝŊĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴ,ÝĽÝŔƴ_ƹƹĭŔƝşŔƴ
ŷMşŔƹÝǸǓŊƌƝƴǪÝŔƹƏÝǰƴc´ÝƴqÝŊŹƴĈǎżĈŪƥƴ2. A.
Kinloch (Velo Club Venta) +1.52; 3. S. Craig (Ride
for Charlie) +2.46; 4. N. Hughes (Southborough
& Dist Wh) +3.52; 5. C. Kilburn (Mid-Devon
Cycling Club) +4.12; 6. D. Smith (Nova Race
Team) +4.59; 7. T. Fletcher (Magspeed Racing);
8. S. Reid (Pedal Power Loughborough); 9. J.
Hughes (North Hampshire Road Club); 10. L.
Gould (unattached).
TǪÝƏīƬǼƴMĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴBşħŔƴM´&ƏƹħƴŷqÝŊƴ
qMƴkƹƏÍƴħÝÝĽƝŹƴĎĈżǼǎƥƴǎżƴBżƴFƏÍƝǸƴŷ%ĭ¥Əǰƴ
%ÝŔǫĭ´ĻƝƴƏÝǰħŊƴcşÍƴĽǓ¥ŹƴƀŪżĎĎƥƴDŽżƴBżƴĽǫÝĽĽƴ
(Zepnat.com Race Team) +1.47; 4. R. Watson
(SKCC) +2.05; 5. M. Davies (Pedal Power
Loughborough) +2.10; 6. G. Coltman (Pedal
Power Loughborough) +2.31; 7. G. Hobbs (Stroud
Valley Velos) +2.58; 8. K. Holloway (GS Vecchi)
ƀDŽżĈƬƥƴřżƴcżƴMǓƏƏDZƴŷǓǰƹşŔƴƴkÝƹƹƴĽĽÝDZƴ
Cycles) +3.57; 10. T. Costello (GS Vecchi) +5.08.
íiɅ¦¶¶
TǪÝƏīƬǼƴ%ÝŊĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴqƏ´ÝDZƴ%ĽÝƹ´ħÝƏƴ
ŷMĔƝŵÝÝÍƴc´ĭŔĔŹƴĎƦżĎřƥ 2. S. Reid (Pedal
Power Loughborough) +0.18; 3. J. Hughes (North
Hampshire Road Club) +2.14; 4. L. Gould (un-
attached) +2.25; 5. C. Speirs (Grity Race Team)
+6.05; 6. C. Miller (Abergavenny Road Club)
+7.36; 7. L. Wilkinson (Addiscombe CC) +9.34.
Sunday, 8 December
OkşǓƹħƴÝƝƹƴHÝĔǓÝƴƏşǓŔÍƴŔĭŔÝƴ
ŷNÝǫŔħŊƴ_ƏĻÆƴ_ĽDZŊşǓƹħŹÅ
kÝŔĭşƏƝÅƴŪżƴqƏǪĭƝƴƏŊĽÝDZƴŷ_ĽDZŊşǓƹħƴşƏĭŔƹħĭŔƴ
ŹƴĈåżŪǎƥƴ2. L. Adams (Tavistock Wheelers
CC) +0.57; 3. T. Davies (CUBE Bikes) +1.15; 4.
P. Bray (Plymouth Corinthian CC) +1.45; 5. J.
Gregory (unattached) +1.49; 6. G. Whitlock (Mud
Dock Racing) +2.20; 7. B. Causon (Plymouth
Corinthian CC) +2.50; 8. S. Hodge (unattached)
+3.25; 9. J. Trubridge (Duchy Velo) +3.36; 10. R.
Riches (Duchy Velo) +4.28.
şŊÝŔÅƴŪżƴHƏƴĭǰƴŷMĭÍīÝǪşŔƴŹƴĎåżǎŪƥƴ2. T.
Corcoran (Plymouth Corinthian CC) +1 lap; 3. C.
Capper (Okehampton CC); 4. L. Driver (Bridg-
water CC); 5. J. Meek (unattached); 6. H. Gould
(ASSOS UK Race Team); 7. L. Martin (05/03); 8. K.
ĭĽÝƏƹƝÝŔƴŷĽĽƹƏǰƴDZ´ĽĭŔĔƴĽǓ¥ŹƥƴřżƴBżƴ_şŵÝƴŷǓŔƹ-
tached); 10. H. Whyle Smith (unattached).
TǪÝƏīĎǼƴMĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴ_ħĭĽĭŵƴƏDZƴŷ_ĽDZŊşǓƹħƴ
şƏĭŔƹħĭŔƴŹƴĈřżĈƦƥƴ2. J. Gregory (unattached)
+0.04; 3. B. Causon (Plymouth Corinthian CC)
+1.05.
TǪÝƏīĎǼƴ%ÝŊĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴqƏ´ÝDZƴşƏ´şƏŔƴ
ŷ_ĽDZŊşǓƹħƴşƏĭŔƹħĭŔƴŹƴDŽřżĈĎƥ 2. C. Capper
(Okehampton CC) +0.44; 3. L. Driver (Bridgwater
CC) +0.52.
Next week’s event
EventƴŞǎDŽǼ Course: Tick Tock Date Wednesday 18 December
Join us every Wednesday at 6pm for a 10-mile TT on Zwift
Sign up here: bit.ly/CWclubten
Last week’s results
EventƴŞǎǎř Course: Bologna TT Date Wednesday 4 December
GET INVOLVED
RACE WITH
US ON ZWIFT!
Men
Women
1Mĭ´ħÝĽƴ,Ǔƹ´ħĭŔƝşŔ CyclingWeekly 24:40 5.1w/kg 370w
2Christian Outsen - 26:25 4.7w/kg 316w
3MƹƹƴĽŊƝĽÝDZ - 26:36 4.4w/kg 333w
4ƏƏÝŔƴƏ´ĽDZ - 27:01 4.3w/kg 325w
5cĭ´ħƴ¥¥ĔÝ EWCC 27:10 4.3w/kg 325w
6ÍƴkƹǓ¥¥Ɲ CCC 27:46 4.5w/kg 261w
7BƴÍÍĭÝ ZRScot 27:55 4.2w/kg 322w
8ŔÍDZƴǪĭƝ - 28:52 3.6w/kg 273w
9ŔÍƏÝǫƴHŊ¥Ý ZSUNR 29:02 3.7w/kg 264w
10 ƏŊĭŔÝƴ´Ýƹş DwD 29:27 3.8w/kg 317w
1NĭĻĻĭƴşŔŔÝƏ - 46:13 1.8w/kg 142w
ĈƬ
READER RACE BIKE
HARLEY WIDDOWSON’S
LAPIERRE XELIUS
Harley’s Xelius is the perfect all-rounder
and geared for long, hilly rides
TǪÝƏīĈǼƴMĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴ&ĭÍÝşŔƴƏşǓƝƝĭƴ
ŷǰÝƹÝƏƴħÝÝĽÝƏƝŹƴĎǼżǼĈƥ 2. J. Bovey (Mid-
Devon CC) +0.13; 3. J. McConnel (unattached)
+0.15.
TǪÝƏīĈǼƴ%ÝŊĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴHĭƝƴMƏƹĭŔƴŷǼĈưǼDŽŹƴ
ĎŪżǎƬƥƴ2. V. Percival (unattached) +1.56; 3. N.
Quant (Mid-Devon CC) +4.46.
TǪÝƏīƬǼƴMĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴNĭ´Ļƴ_ÝƏ´ĭǪĽƴ
ŷǓŔƹƹ´ħÝÍŹƴĎĎżDŽǼƥƴ2. R. Cranstone (GS Vecchi)
+3.01; 3. C. Roberts (unattached) +3.20.
TǪÝƏīƬǼƴ%ÝŊĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴkƏħƴMDZúşƏÍƴ
ŷÍÝ¥ƏĭÍĔÝƴşƝƹÝƏƝƴŹƴĎƬżŪDŽ; 2. L.
Crossman (unattached) +0.41.
OHÝĭ´ÝƝƹÝƏƝħĭƏÝƴHÝĔǓÝƴƏşǓŔÍƴúşǓƏƴ
ŷ_ƏşĽşĔĭƝÆƴFÝƹƹÝƏĭŔĔÆƴNşƏƹħŊŵƹşŔƝħĭƏÝŹÅ
kÝŔĭşƏƝÅƴŪżƴBŊÝƝƴkǫÍĽĭŔĔƴŷ_ÝÍĽƴ_şǫÝƏƴHşǓĔħī
¥şƏşǓĔħŹƴĎǎżǼĎƥƴ2. K. Jarvis (Optimum Coaching)
+0.21; 3. T. Lewis (ROTOR Race Team) +2.02; 4.
A. Sewell-Gaiger (Leighton Buzzard Road CC)
+2.43; 5. C. Davies (Richardsons Trek DAS) +2.57;
6. J. Hales (Ride Revolution Coaching) +3.09;
7. B. Ramsden (Shibden Cycling Club) +3.39; 8.
New Year’s Day Madison
Cyclo-Cross
When: Wednesday 1 January
Where: Herne Hill, London
Fancy some hand-slinging
cross? This annual event sees
teams of two swap turns,
completing laps in what the
organisers themselves say is
a “not overly serious cyclo-
cross race”. Entry is £6, with a
ŵşǓŔÍƴşüƴúşƏƴƹħşƝÝƴƏ´ĭŔĔƴĭŔƴ
the youth categories.
NovaCross at Ripley Castle
When: Wednesday 1 January
Where: Harrogate,
North Yorkshire
Held in the stunning grounds
of the Grade I-listed Ripley
Castle, Harrogate Nova
ƌƝƴ´DZ´Ľşī´ƏşƝƝƴƏ´ÝƴşüÝƏƝƴ
a unique atmosphere for both
competitors and spectators.
Entry is £14.
COMING UP
B. Johnston (Pembrokeshire Velo) +4.02; 9. M.
Holgate (Loughborough Students CC) +5.11;
10. M. Bruke (Club Corley Cycles RC) +5.19.
şŊÝŔÅƴŪżƴFƹÝƴÝÍDZƴŷqÝŊƴŊŵÝĽĽŹƴDŽƦżDŽĈƥ 2. M.
Bettles (Numplumz Mountain Bikers) +1.23; 3. H.
ǪŔƝƴŷ%q_ƴ%ǓĽĆĽƴƹħÝƴ_şƹÝŔƹĭĽƴc´ĭŔĔŹƴƀǎżǎƬƥƴĎżƴ
G. Felstead (Team Empella) +3.23; 5. F. Lissaman
(Univ of Nottingham CC) +4.14; 6. A. Bowler (FTP
%ǓĽĆĽƴƹħÝƴ_şƹÝŔƹĭĽƴc´ĭŔĔŹƴƀĈżǼƦƥƴƦżƴcżƴ_ǓƏÝĽƴ
(Leicester Forest CC) +5.18; 8. V. Wilkinson
ŷħÝĽƹÝŔħŊƴƴşǓŔƹDZƴŹƴƀĈżĈǎƥƴřżƴHżƴĽÝǰŔÍÝƏƴ
(Coalville Wheelers CC) +6.54; 10. T. Fletcher
(Magspeed Racing) +8.05.
TǪÝƏīĎǼƴMĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴÍŊƴÝƹƹƝƴŷÝŵŔƹƴ
cqŹƴĎƦżĈǼƥƴ2. J. Moore (Welland Valley CC) +0.03;
3. S. Gough (Ride Revolution Coaching) +2.04.
TǪÝƏīĎǼƴ%ÝŊĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴŪżƴFƹÝƴÝÍDZƴŷqÝŊƴ
ŊŵÝĽĽŹƴDŽƦżDŽĈƥ 2. G. Felstead (Team Empella)
+3.23; 3. V. Wilkinson (Cheltenham & County CC)
+5.52.
TǪÝƏīĈǼƴMĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴMƹƹƴƏşǓ´ħƴŷ&ƏĭƹDZƴ
c´ÝƴqÝŊŹż
TǪÝƏīĈǼƴ%ÝŊĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴĭ´ĻDZƴĭĽĻĭŔƝşŔƴ
ŷħÝĽƹÝŔħŊƴƴşǓŔƹDZƴŹż
TǪÝƏīƬǼƴMĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴMĭ´ĻƴǪĭÝƝƴŷ_ÝÍĽƴ
_şǫÝƏƴHşǓĔħ¥şƏşǓĔħŹż
TǪÝƏīƬǼƴ%ÝŊĽÝƴÝƹÝƏŔƝÅƴqƏ´ÝDZƴ%ĽÝƹ´ħÝƏƴ
ŷMĔƝŵÝÝÍƴc´ĭŔĔŹż
Harley Widdowson’s
Lapierre Xelius is built for
both speed and comfort,
with the triple-triangle
design catering to the
latter in particular. Built
with Shimano Ultegra Di2,
DT Swiss E1800 wheels
with Schwalbe One tyres
in 28mm, it’s a versatile
machine that’s great for a
wide range of riding.
ŔƹƴǓƝƴƹşƴúÝƹǓƏÝƴDZşǓƏƴ
Ə´Ýƴ¥ĭĻÝƄƴkÝŔÍƴƴŵĭ´ƴŔÍƴ
ĭŔúşƏŊƹĭşŔƴƹşƴ´DZ´ĽĭŔĔ£
úǓƹǓƏÝŔÝƹż´şŊ
58
t is probably time to admit that,
in online racing at least, I’m a dick.
I act in bad faith, I make trouble.
.ƴ´ŔƴĽǫDZƝƴ¥Ýƴ´şŔĆÍÝŔƹƴƹħƹƴ
when the chat in a race stops
¥ÝĭŔĔƴ´ħÝÝƏDZƴŔÍƴƝƹƏƹƝƴƹşƴĆĽĽƴ
with innuendo and implied
threats of virtual vengeance, they’re
talking about me.
.ƌŊƴŔşƹƴ´ħÝƹĭŔĔżƴMDZƴŵƏşĆĽÝƴÍşÝƝƴŔşƹƴ
claim I weigh 25kg and stand one metre
tall. I’m just annoying. With all respect
to people who ride online races with
pure motives of achieving victory, I
can’t quite achieve that level of buy-in.
I take an online race mainly as a
workout, and the main purpose of a
workout is to work.
To that end, I throw in wild attacks
at stupid moments. I go to the front
and really drive the pace on the small
hill that comes before the big hill, with
the result that I get dropped on the big
hill, usually along with a pile of other
people who have now learned the hard
way that I am a loose canon and not to
be trusted.
Perhaps my most annoying stunt
is to put in an attack, get a gap, then
just drop back to the bunch so I can
attempt to do the same thing again
ĆǪÝƴĻĭĽşŊÝƹƏÝƝƴĽƹÝƏżƴqħÝƴŵƏş¥ĽÝŊƴ
is that anyone who chases me to get
in what looks like a race-winning
¥ƏÝĻǫDZƴÝŔÍƝƴǓŵƴƝƹƏŔÍÝÍƴşüƴƹħÝƴ
front on their own. I’m “that guy”
from the club run, except that thanks
to the internet I now have global reach.
.ƴħǪÝƴƹħÝƴ¥ĭĽĭƹDZƴƹşƴŵĭƝƝƴDZşǓƴşüƴúƏşŊƴ
eight time zones away.
I feel I should point out the
ÍĭüÝƏÝŔ´Ýƴ¥ÝƹǫÝÝŔƴƏ´ĭŔĔƴ¥ÍĽDZƴ
Dr Hutch
qħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴ¥ĭĻÝƴ´şŊŵǓƹÝƏƴǫƝƴƴ
device that attached to the front
fork near the wheel hub and
counted wheel revolutions,
displayed via a tiny dial that was
much too small to read unless you
ĔşƹƴşüƴŔÍƴŵÝÝƏÝÍƴƹƴĭƹżƴħÝŔƴDZşǓƴ
got home, you multiplied the
number of revolutions by the
circumference of the wheel and
then you knew how far you’d gone.
By 1895, the fork device had
been attached, via a cable, to a dial
on the bars that could also tell you
how fast you were going to within
a margin of error of about 20mph.
That was it for 90 years. The
slow development was partly the
lack of electronic technology, but
mainly it was the absence of riders
clamouring for weird features that
would tell them whether they were
tired or not. In those days cyclists
could just tell, by pure instinct,
whether they were tired.
Since the 1980s, however, as
cyclists have lost the intuitive
ability to work out where they are
and how to get home, what the
weather is doing, where they were
last week and whether they’ve
been involved in a crash or not,
bike computers have stepped in
to help.
And where once you had to rely
on your friends to crush your
self-esteem as a rider, you can now
have the job done much better,
and for much, much more money,
by a machine.
“I’m a loose cannon and
not to be trusted”
The Doc’s an online racing idiot. You’ve been warned
O Multiple national
champion on the bike and
award-winning author
Michael Hutchinson
writes for
CW
every week
GREAT INVENTIONS
OF CYCLING
˹ǔǔʮΐɅΐÂP.ΐ
Ug.ΐs¤ÊÂ.¦
59
and racing like an idiot, because from
the outside they are hard to tell apart.
Racing badly is doing your level best,
but just being rubbish. Racing like an
idiot is racing with an agenda that
doesn’t match everyone else’s.
You can race like an idiot in the real
world as well. My friend Bernard’s
tactics were based on Sun Tzu’s
The
Art of War
. His idea was that the best
tactic isn’t the thing that’s obviously
likely to lead to victory, but simply the
thing your enemy wants you to do least.
qħĭƝƴĭƝƴĽŊşƝƹƴƹħÝƴÍĭ´ƹĭşŔƏDZƴÍÝĆŔĭƹĭşŔƴ
of racing like an idiot. He invariably got
beaten by people who had assessed the
tactical options and chosen “the one
most obviously likely to lead to victory,”
like any normal person. Bernie always
claimed the moral high ground, and I
always told him to look up how many
races Sun Tzu won. (“None, Bernie, he
won none.”)
But I’ve also seen idiot-racing
from the best. I once did a criterium
race round the Hillingdon Circuit in
West London that featured none other
than Sir Bradley Wiggins among the
cast. The group was abuzz with
admiration for his tactical acumen.
“You just never know what he’s going
to do next,” a team-mate said. “He’s
so unpredictable.”
I actually realised quite early on
ƹħƹƴħÝƴǫƝƴƹƹ´ĻĭŔĔƴÝǪÝƏDZƴĆǪÝƴ
minutes like he’d got an egg-timer
on his bars, going clear, then sitting
up. He was doing intervals, and we
were all helping. He had the classic
agenda that was not like everyone
else’s. Eventually, with a few laps to go
I went with him. It wasn’t hard since I
knew exactly when his attack was
coming. He towed me up the road and
sat up. I was ready for it and went on
to win.
I was still racing like an idiot, but in
this instance, I like to think of myself as
a super-idiot. When I tell people I beat
Wiggins in a crit, I don’t always mention
that he very much helped me do it. And
I never, ever call him a idiot. After all, he
helped me win, and I’m sure that was
exactly what he wanted.
Tactical mavericks and
floundering fools are
reading the same manual
Photos: Andrew Sydenham
Word reaches us of a rider who
lives 20 miles from work, and
who wanted to commute by bike
in order to get an elegant 40
miles of training done every day
in a time-efficient manner. Alas,
his scheme was torpedoed by
the absence of anywhere to
securely keep a bike at work.
There was a lamppost outside
the office and that was about it.
He struck on a brilliant plan.
He drove to work on Monday
morning, with his bike in the car.
Then he left the car at work and
commuted by bike until Friday
afternoon when he drove home.
That meant he could lock the
bike safely in his car each day.
On the second week, his car
was stolen. It was stolen during
the day so his bike was in it too.
Acts of Cycling
Stupidity
60
BMX
protesters
Young protesters take to two
wheels, the only way kids knew
how in the early 1980s – by BMX.
They were showing their
displeasure at the lack of a BMX track in
their home town of Middlesbrough,
with signs pointing out that even
villages had them, and that someone
could end up getting hurt while
attempting to ride to the nearest local
one at Guisborough.
With this picture taken in 1982, these
kids were certainly at the vanguard of
ƹħÝƴMƴŊşǪÝŊÝŔƹżƴqħÝƴĆƏƝƹƴwFƴMƴ
track was only built in 1980, and the
ĭ´şŔĭ´ƴĆĽŊƴ
BMX Bandits
– which really
ignited the craze in Britain – had yet to
be released.
Photo: Getty Images
From the archive
61
1982
Colourful American Greg
‘The Businessman’ Hill was
crowned International Bicycle
Motocross Federation
world champion
Ernesto proves a carbon frame can master the cobbles of Roubaix
CLASSIC BIKE
COLNAGO C40
Released in 1994, the Colnago
C40 utilised all of Colnago’s
ÝǰŵÝƏƹĭƝÝƴƹşƴ´ƏÝƹÝƴƴ¥ĭĻÝƴĆƹƴ
for the best riders in the world
and versatile enough to triumph both at
Grand Tours and cobbled Classics. The
carbon tubes were bonded to carbon
lugs in a radical departure from normal
proceedings. The technique allowed the
Italian brand to build the frame to
measure, an attractive proposition for
professional racers.
The results, and the adaptability of
the design, were undeniable. This was a
frameset that won both Paris-Roubaix
ŔÍƴƹħÝƴ&ĭƏşƴÍƌ.ƹĽĭÆƴǫĭƹħƴĆǪÝƴǫĭŔƝƴƹƴ
‘the Hell of the North’ – all courtesy of
the Mapei team and including the
famous 1, 2, 3 podium clean sweep in
1996 alongside Pavel Tonkov’s Giro
victory in the same year. Colnago had
proved that carbon was indeed the
future. Light yet strong, the C40
ushered in a new era for the peloton and
created a design classic in the process.
And so it remains. The C40 looks as
good today as it did during its 10 years
of production – an elegant, winning
blend of form and function. This
Rabobank model, which features the
revised seatstays used from 2001,
is further proof of the bike’s racing
ŵÝÍĭĔƏÝÝżƴqħÝƴǓƹ´ħƴşǓƹĆƹƴƏşÍÝƴƹħÝƴ
C40 from 1996 to 2004, racking up
wins in one-day races and Grand
Tour stages alike. These victories
ƝşĽĭÍĭĆÝÍƴƹħÝƴĎǼƌƝƴƏÝŵǓƹƹĭşŔƴƝƴŔƴ
unparalleled all-rounder but were
aided in no small part by the strength
of a roster that included serial winners
Robbie McEwen, Michael Boogerd and
Erik Dekker.
Rabobank were sponsored by
Shimano, but this bike is kitted out with
Dura-Ace’s rival, 10-speed Campagnolo
Record. The Italian theme continues
throughout the build courtesy of a pair
of ITM Millenium bars, a Colnago stem
and a Selle Italia saddle. The orange
Colnago bar tape is another nice touch
that will be appreciated by Dutch fans.
The Rolf Vector Pro wheels break this
pattern but are period correct. They use
the paired spoke technology that owner
Rolf Dietrich pioneered and licensed to
Trek, which manufactured the wheels
under the Rolf name.
Rabobank team bike
based around a frame
that broke new ground
and remains revered
NEXT WEEK’S
ISSUE
ON SALE EVERY THURSDAY
O112-page Christmas double issue!
OÝĽÝ¥ƏƹĭŔĔƴqÍÝĸƴ_şĔ¹ƏƌƝƴĭŔ´ƏÝÍĭ¥ĽÝƴDZÝƏ
OPlus 2024 in review, quiz and more
62
Words: Luke Friend Photo: Richard Butcher/Future Publishing
9000 9001
