It certainly felt like the glut of retail bad news was back this week, perhaps largely due to the demise of Wiggle.
Beyond that, Mr. Lefevere is once more in trouble for engaging his mouth without engaging his brain.
And we got a glimpse of a new (to Cycling racing, anyway) and exciting way that we might see coverage at this years Tour de France.
As always, you can read last week’s news round up by clicking here.
Still here? Good, then let’s crack on.
Who Are The Tour de France 2024 Contenders?
GCN were the first off the mark this week with their take on the race to the 2024 Tour de France.
Jonas Vingegaard leads the pack, continuing his dominating form, suggesting he’s on track for a third consecutive Tour victory, setting the bar high for his rivals.
Tadej Pogačar, although not yet participating in stage races this season, remains a significant threat after a striking victory at Strade Bianche.
Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian sensation, has climbed the ranks, hinting at potential but still trailing behind the top two.
Primož Roglič, adjusting to new team dynamics, aims for a rebound after a modest start at Paris-Nice.
Personally I like to keep an eye on the bookies odds, although even by my standards this one’s running a bit early just yet. Many things can and inevitably will happen between now and the 29th of June.
It does feel like the battle is going to be a repeat of 2023 though, which is no bad thing.
Drones At The Tour?
The Tour de France broadcast team is exploring the idea of using drones for TV coverage, a concept tested during the Paris-Nice race, where drones captured high-speed footage.
There are a few examples of the drone footage to be found in the highlights from Paris-Nice. There is an obvious difference between the shots captured by motorbike camera, by helicopter, and then by drone.
Anthony Forestier of France Télévisions highlighted the positive feedback from the Paris-Nice drone footage, sparking interest among professional teams.
Discussions with stakeholders will determine the feasibility of incorporating drones into the Tour, especially for time trials and gravel road stages.
While drones offer a unique perspective, their limited battery life and broadcast quality, along with strict French regulations, present challenges.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Giro d’Italia Women’s Pink Jersey Unveiled
On International Women’s Day (Friday 8th March), the iconic Maglia Rosa for the Giro d’Italia Women’s 2024 race was unveiled in Milan.
Sponsored by Polti and crafted by Castelli, the jersey represents not only the race but also a significant stride towards gender equality and the celebration of women’s achievements in cycling.
There’s a bunch of pictures to see, though the panel seemed to be made up of 4 ageing white blokes and only two women. Fix it!
ProCyclingUK always have the best women’s racing coverage.
Rod Ellingworth Takes the Reins of Tour of Britain
Former Ineos Grenadiers deputy team principal, Rod Ellingworth, has been named the new race director of the Tour of Britain, returning to British Cycling after an eight-year hiatus.
This move comes following British Cycling’s acquisition of the Tour of Britain after the previous organiser, SweetSpot, went under.
Ellingworth’s first major task will be overseeing the Tour of Britain Women from June 6-9.
With a rich history in cycling, both as a competitor and a coach, and having played a crucial role in Team Sky’s Tour de France victories, Ellingworth is poised to bring a wealth of experience to his new role.
The details for the upcoming Tour of Britain Women’s route are set to be announced soon, with the men’s race scheduled for September.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Quick-Step Boss in Hot Water Over Women’s Remarks
Soudal Quick-Step’s team manager, Patrick Lefevere, this week found himself facing a rather well deserved dilemma: apologise or pay up, after the UCI found his comments disparaging towards women.
Not detailed by the UCI, the remarks violated the Code of Ethics in two instances, leading to a conditional fine of 20,000 Swiss francs.
Lefevere, known for controversial statements, including criticism of Julian Alaphilippe’s influence by his wife and comparisons involving Sam Bennett, has previously brushed off demands for a women’s team and criticised women’s cycling standards.
His failure to apologise could trigger the fine, as he’s challenged under the UCI’s articles for non-discrimination and expected conduct.
If cycling were a more prominently public facing sport, I would bet good money loud voices would be calling for his resignation pronto.
Plenty of sites picked this up, but I saw it first at GCN.
CiCLE of Despair: Bourne Race Axed
Brian Moran, organiser of the Bourne CiCLE Festival, has cancelled the National A-level Bourne CiCLE Festival race due to unsustainable police costs and bureaucratic challenges.
The first and only edition of the race took place in 2019, and was due to return this year but has been met with police escort expenses soaring to £35,000 from £3,500.
Despite reducing the required number of police motorbikes, costs remained far higher than the previous time the race ran, making the event nonviable.
The cancellation underscores broader issues in British road racing, as escalating costs and dwindling sponsor interest challenge the sustainability of local events.
I do love an upbeat UK news story and try to feature at least one each week.
Does Bike Weight Matter?
Pete Muir from Cyclist magazine argues that while we obsess over bike weight, its importance is exaggerated, and I found myself nodding along enthusiastically.
It’s a really interesting piece, including a sprinkling of maths (don’t worry, it’s not stuff you have to figure out yourself), that argues whether yearly manufacturer branded weight reductions actually mean diddly squat to your personal bike ride.
My take on this has always been: unless you are a pro, or competing, the extra weight of your bike is actually a benefit. Within reason, of course. If you take a little longer to get up a hill, you had to do more work (I think, I’m no scientist) and if your goal is to get fit, that is a “good thing”.
Of course I could be completely wrong.
Still, a thought provoking piece.
Is The Future 3D Printed?
Cycling Weekly ran an interesting piece this week about the future of 3D printing in the world of cycling.
As best I am currently aware, the most common consumer product that you will find being 3D printed is the saddle.
Beyond that, I was pretty surprised to learn that Filippo Ganna beat the hour record on an entirely 3D printed bike – the Pinarello Bolide F HR 3D – reaching 56.792km.
Personally I don’t see the 3D printer catching on in your average home. I could be wrong, but unless they become less bulky, less costly, and more user friendly, I can’t see most of us printing stuff for pennies that we could buy for a few pounds. Of course I could be wrong, and often am.
A thought provoking piece from Cycling Weekly.
A couple of similar stories also dropped this week:
- Could Your Next Bike Be Made of Recycled Plastic? – Velo
- Taipei Cycle Show’s best bikes gallery – GCN (featuring lots of shots of Filippo Ganna’s Pinarello)
A Peek Into the Future at Taipei Cycle Show 2024
The biggest news out of the Taipei Cycle Show last week was the launch of the new Giant TCR.
But this week Velo followed up with a piece called “4 Things We Learned from the Taipei Cycle Show 2024“, which is about as click-baity a headline as you can make. But it worked, because I clicked it.
The most interesting part of the article, for me, was around the medium term approach of manufacturers, both small and large, based in Taiwan.
The gist of this is that the current generation of factory owners, and the owners of larger factories generally, are pretty content with the status quo. They make stuff (and lots of it) for the big brands you will see in the pro peloton, and on the shop shelves here in the West.
But the smaller manufacturers, and the younger generation starting to take over their parent’s factories are looking further afield. They want to take everything they have learned manufacturing for “the big boys” and sell it under their own brands.
More profit for them.
What I will say is that you’d expect it to be cheaper, right? Not so. Those K Plus helmets above are retailing for £120+. Personally I think that’s ambitious for a ‘no name’ brand, but what the hell do I know?
An Insiders Guide To Wiggle CRC’s Downfall
In this week’s episode of the road.cc Podcast, they delve into the downfall of Wiggle Chain Reaction Cycles, marked by the shock and dismay of its employees following the company’s collapse and acquisition by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group.
A former employee shares firsthand the contrasts between Wiggle’s ambitious expansions and the harsh realities leading to its eventual demise, highlighting the sudden job losses faced by 450 staff members.
I hadn’t understood last week that Frasers Group were buying the intellectual property / brands of Wiggle, not necessarily the full store itself. Therefore seeing the news that liquidators had been appointed came as a bit of a shock to me.
The podcast also has a lighter section on ‘that’ helmet sported by Visma Lease-a-Bike last week. If you don’t like watching YouTubes on longer turbo sessions, the road.cc podcast is always a good listen.
Giant’s Jolt: E-Bikes in Focus After Sales Dip
Giant Group has reported a 16.4% drop in annual sales, attributing the decline to reduced demand for entry- and mid-level bikes in North America and Europe, alongside high inventory levels.
Despite this, the company has seen significant growth in China.
Net profits have taken a hit, falling by over 40%, with earnings per share at NT$8.68, leading to a cash dividend of NT$5. Converting from New Taiwan Dollars (NTD), we get earnings per share of NT$8.68 are equivalent to approximately £0.217 and $0.286, while the cash dividend of NT$5 translates to about £0.125 and $0.165 in GBP and USD, respectively.
The beginning of 2024 hasn’t shown signs of rebound, with January and February revenues continuing to decline.
However, e-bikes, contributing to 30% of last year’s revenue, are seen as a key area for growth, despite a sales reduction in 2023.
Giant remains optimistic, citing strong demand for performance bikes in Europe and North America and continued growth in China.
The positive feedback of their 10th generation TCR road bike at the recent Taipei Cycle show reinforces their positive outlook for the industry’s future.
Read in full at Bicycle Retailer.
Ribble Losses Halved
Ribble Cycles latest accounts show significantly reduced losses, from £4.97m to £2.3m, showcasing a recovery with improved delivery times and restructuring efforts.
The Preston-based company’s annual turnover has risen by £2.4 million, with a gross profit boost of nearly 17%.
Being literally in the same town as me, I do wish Ribble all the very best.
My concern with them, like all bike manufacturers and retailers right now, is that the market is struggling and unless they have access to some investors with very deep pockets (which their financial accounts say they do), then I don’t know many more years for which they will be able to withstand multi-million pound losses.
The problem, as I see it, is that how many of us are buying a new £5,000 bike each year?
Safety In Style
Spotted over on Reddit this week is, what I believe to be, a German lady wearing a lace pattern high vis cycling jacket.
Honestly I think she should sell these.
Putting safety first needn’t be all function and no form.
Mollie King’s 500km for Comic Relief
BBC Radio 1 presenter Mollie King has successfully completed a five-day, 311-mile cycling challenge from London to Hull, in honour of Comic Relief, raising over £1m.
Formerly a member of pop band The Saturdays, King was welcomed by enthusiastic crowds and fellow presenter Matt Edmondson in Queen Victoria Square.
The challenge was a tribute to her late father, Stephen, who was from Hull and passed away from a brain tumour last year.
Not following the mainstream news, it was my wife and kids who brought this one to my attention. Apparently Molly had ‘never ridden a bike’ before this. I thought that was a bit bonkers… surely do a bit of training first, or you’ll probably never want to go near a bike ever again.
Anyway full credit for seeing it through.
This one was everywhere, but the main source was the BBC.
Bookie Check: Milan-San Remo
With Milan-San Remo having already been raced by the time this post goes live, me adding any coverage or build up seems pointless.
However, I do always like to check in with the bookies and see who they have picked as their favourites.
Worth checking back after the fact, and seeing how close they were:
- Tadej Pogačar: Best odds are 11/4. A £10 bet would return £37.50 (£27.50 profit plus your £10 stake).
- Mathieu van der Poel: Best odds are also 11/4. A £10 bet would return £37.50 (£27.50 profit plus your £10 stake).
- Mads Pedersen: Best odds are 7/1. A £10 bet would return £80 (£70 profit plus your £10 stake).
- Christophe Laporte: Best odds are 18/1. A £10 bet would return £190 (£180 profit plus your £10 stake).
- Filippo Ganna: Best odds are 20/1. A £10 bet would return £210 (£200 profit plus your £10 stake).
Seems like the bookies can’t decide between Pogačar and MvdP.
Interesting times.
Bike Of The Week
One of my favourite – perhaps rather sad – things to do is to browse around bike sites dreaming of owning some of the more exotic, and often very expensive bikes I look at.
This week I came across this utterly gorgeous 2020 Pinarello F12 Campagnolo Super Record Disc on CycleExhange.co.uk. Heads up, I am not affiliated in any way – this is not a sponsored post.
I don’t know if the 2020 F12 had the Zwift paint scheme as a factory option, but it looks like it is probably not a custom job.
Apparently £11,000 when new, this is only available as a 54cm, and will set you back a frankly still wallet clampingly high £6,495.
Gorgeous though.
OK, that’s it for me. See you next week!