It’s a bit of a shame that Pog has the Giro basically in the bag already. It would have been better to see Jonas and Wout in the mix for Visma to shake things up. But fingers crossed for the tour, eh?
Still, I love Grand Tours as there is cycling to watch every single day.
Anyway, can you believe we are almost half way through 2024 already? Bonkers.
As always you can see last week’s post by clicking here.
Enough yap from me though, let’s dive right on in to all this week’s biggest cycling stories.
Pogačar’s Pink Parade
Tadej Pogačar has been enjoying a stellar Giro d’Italia, leading the GC with a nearly four-minute advantage.
On the first rest day, he indulged in a burger, a scenic recovery ride, and a coffee stop.
Pogačar is racing with the Tour de France in mind, adopting a defensive strategy to conserve energy for the upcoming Grand Tour.
His UAE Team Emirates has faced criticism for their strength, but Pogačar remains confident in their unity and capability.
With two weeks of racing still ahead, Pogačar aims to defend his pink jersey and is already eyeing the yellow one.
Giro d’italia 2024: Who’s Out and Why?
The 2024 Giro d’Italia has seen a significant number of riders abandon the race due to various reasons such as injuries, illnesses, and crashes.
Notable exits include Biniam Girmay, Eddie Dunbar, and Christophe Laporte.
Teams like Visma-Lease a Bike and Israel-Premier Tech have been hit hardest, with half their squads out before the race’s halfway point.
As of now, 18 riders have left the race, leaving 158 from the original 176.
Vingegaard’s Road to Recovery
Jonas Vingegaard is making rapid progress in his recovery from a high-speed crash that left him with severe injuries.
His coach, Tim Heemskerk, praised Vingegaard’s mental and physical resilience.
Vingegaard is gradually increasing his outdoor riding and aims to join a training camp in Tignes next month.
With eight weeks until the Tour de France, Heemskerk is optimistic but cautious about Vingegaard’s return to peak fitness.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
BORA-hansgrohe Eyes on Pidcock Again
BORA-hansgrohe have reignited their interest in signing Tom Pidcock, despite his contract with INEOS Grenadiers running until the end of 2027.
The German team hopes to bring Pidcock on board by 2025.
Meanwhile, Joshua Tarling’s contract extension with INEOS Grenadiers remains uncertain, with no offer on the table yet.
Veteran climber Jonathan Castroviejo has secured a one-year extension with INEOS for 2025.
Red Bull Kit Reveal
Bora-Hansgrohe is set for a major rebrand as Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe starting this July, following Red Bull’s acquisition of a controlling stake earlier in the year.
The newly leaked kit for the Tour de France showcases a navy blue design, prominently featuring the Red Bull logo, reminiscent of the Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 team colours.
The jersey, leaked by Austrian newspaper Krone Zeitung and confirmed by other sources including WielerFlits and GCN, moves away from Bora’s traditional green to a navy blue palette with the Bora and Hansgrohe logos below the Red Bull emblem.
Sportful, the Italian cycling clothing brand, continues its partnership with the team, evident from their logo on the kit.
This alignment in branding aims to unify the appearance of Red Bull’s sports teams, with the cycling kit echoing the style of their F1 team gear.
Stelvio Dropped
The Giro d’Italia will no longer include the iconic Stelvio climb in this year’s race due to avalanche risks.
Heavy snow and soaring temperatures have made the Stelvio Pass too dangerous.
Stage 16 has been re-drawn, with riders now climbing 16.9km of the mountain before descending via the Umbrailpass.
The redesigned route demotes the stage from a five-star to a four-star difficulty rating.
The stage will still be significant in the general classification battle, now running 206km from Livigno to Santa Cristina Valgardena.
Routes Unveiled for 2024 British National Road Championships
British Cycling has unveiled the routes for the 2024 British National Road Championships in Tees Valley and North Yorkshire.
The championships will take place from 19-23 June and feature dramatic finishes on Saltburn Bank.
The time trials will start on 19 June in North Yorkshire, with a challenging course starting and finishing in Catterick.
Circuit races will be held on 21 June around Darlington’s town centre, promising fast and thrilling racing.
The road races will conclude the championships on 23 June, with men covering 182km and women 130km, finishing on Saltburn Bank.
Great Britain Cycling Team rider Charlie Tanfield expressed excitement for racing on home roads.
Jonathan Day praised the collaboration that made the event possible and thanked the Tees Valley Combined Authority for their support.
Read in full at ProCyclingUK.com.
Monaco to Make a Grand Entrance for Vuelta ’26
Officials confirmed that the 2026 Vuelta a España will kick off in the affluent microstate of Monaco.
The first stage will be entirely within Monaco’s borders.
Details of subsequent stages remain unconfirmed.
This announcement was made at the Yacht Club de Monaco with high-profile signatories including H.E M. Pierre Dartout, Yann Le Moenner, and Javier Guillén.
Prince Albert II of Monaco was also in attendance.
Monaco previously hosted the Grand Départ of the 2009 Tour de France and will host the final stage mountain time trial of this year’s Tour de France.
The 2024 Vuelta will start in Lisbon, Portugal, and remain there for three days before returning to Spain.
Netflix’s ‘Tour de France: Unchained’ Gears Up for Series 2
Netflix has released a trailer for the second series of ‘Tour de France: Unchained’.
The docu-series continues to delve into the highs, lows, and controversies of the world’s biggest bike race.
The teaser features dramatic moments including crashes, team tensions, and doping suspicions.
Fabio Jakobsen, Mark Cavendish, and Julian Alaphilippe are among the featured cyclists.
No release date has been announced yet, but it will premiere just before this year’s Tour de France.
Death By Dangerous Cycling
The British Government agreed to change the law to prosecute cyclists like drivers.
New UK laws might soon impose prison sentences of up to 14 years for dangerous cycling causing injury or death.
Currently, cyclists face a maximum of two years under an 1861 law.
The proposed amendment introduces offences such as causing death by dangerous cycling.
Cyclists would need to ensure their bikes are legally equipped and maintained.
The amendment must still be debated in the House of Lords.
The push for change followed a high-profile 2016 incident involving a cyclist killing a pedestrian.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper emphasised that most cyclists are responsible.
Critics argue the issue affects a very small minority.
SRAM’s New Red AXS
SRAM has launched its new Red AXS groupset, claiming it to be the lightest electronic option ever.
The revamped groupset features lighter braking, improved front shifting, and a ‘Bonus Button’ for more control.
SRAM has also introduced the Hammerhead Karoo cycling computer and new Zipp tyres for enhanced safety.
The new hood and lever design promises greater comfort and less hand fatigue.
SRAM’s updates include a push piston design, lighter crank arms, and a refined front derailleur.
The groupset, which includes hydraulic disc brakes and 12-speed compatibility, is primarily for road use.
SRAM has also addressed ergonomics, making the controls fit a wider range of hand sizes.
The new Red AXS groupset is priced at £3,000, excluding the crankset and cassette.
HoloBike: Pedalling into the Future of Indoor Cycling
Saga’s HoloBike uses hologram technology to create 3D virtual replicas of real-world routes.
The crowdfunding campaign for HoloBike surpassed its $25,000 goal in hours, raising over $45,000 with 49 days still to go.
Unlike other 3D technologies, HoloBike doesn’t require a VR headset, offering a more comfortable experience.
The 27-inch 4K display uses infrared sensors to respond to eye position, enhancing spatial perception.
Saga is building a library of 3D-constructed routes from real-world locations, like the Alps and the Australian Outback.
The exercise bike also uses electromagnetic resistance to simulate the terrain and is nearly silent.
Sceptics argue that the $25,000 goal is insufficient for development, labelling the project as ‘pure vaporware.’
Specialized Names Armin Landgraf as CEO
Specialized has shaken things up at the top once again.
Armin Landgraf, former chief at Pon.Bike and Canyon Bicycle, has been named the new CEO.
Scott Maguire, the former CEO, will now lead the brand’s new innovation and technology division.
Landgraf joined Specialized in 2022 as its chief of Worldwide Markets.
Maguire will focus on electrification in his new role.
Both Landgraf and Maguire will serve on the company’s board.
Specialized founder Mike Sinyard will continue as chairman and chief rider advocate.
Specialized expressed confidence in the leadership of both Landgraf and Maguire as they continue to inspire the world to ride through innovation.
Read in full at BicycleRetailer.com.
Giant’s Giant Struggle
Giant Manufacturing announced a 20.2% drop in first-quarter earnings compared to last year, totalling NT$16.06 billion.
Net profit after tax fell by 37.8% to NT$520 million.
Earnings per share were NT$1.33.
The company saw increased sales in China but reduced inventory in Europe and North America.
New products, including the TCR road bike, were well received at the China Bicycle Show in Shanghai.
Research and development expenses rose to NT$370.8 million from NT$351.0 million last year.
April revenues were down 1.75% compared to the same month last year.
Year-to-date revenues through April decreased by 15.5%.
Read in full at BicycleRetailer.com.
Bike Of The Week
In (another) week utterly dominated by Tadej Pogačar it seems only fitting to feature his pink accented Colnago V4Rs. Apparently quite a lot of this is actually decals rather than paint. These are on the frame, wheels, cockpit, and even on his Wahoo bike computer (not shown).
Pogačar’s bike is also equipped with Enve wheels, a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, and a Prologo saddle.
All in all, a pretty sexy machine – but I honestly believe he would still be leading the race on a mid-tier ride. Pog is an absolute monster.
OK chaps and chappettes, do not forget to tune in to Stage 16 today, it’s going to be an absolute beast. 220km and over 5000m of climb!
See you next week!