Table of contents for January 2020 in Cyclist

Does the cold give you a cold? No. Being cold can reduce your body’s ability to fight a cold, but you can only catch one if you’re in contact with the virus. Can I sweat off weight in a sauna? Yes, but that doesn’t mean you should. When you sweat you lose water so you lose weight, but that can result in dehydration, so be sure to rehydrate after a sauna. Should I sit or stand when climbing? It depends. Factors such as rider weight, length of climb and gradient all play a part. You’ll probably do both on any long climb.…

‘That sugar is bad for you is one of those generalisations that seeps into areas where it’s not really applicable,’ says Dr Asker Jeukendrup, a sports scientist and co-founder of Core, an online sports nutrition planning tool at fuelthecore.com. ‘Very often we mix health messages for the general population with performance messages for the well-trained athlete. ‘Do I agree with reducing sugar consumption in the general population who don’t exercise? Absolutely. But that advice becomes an issue when we talk about someone who cycles several times a week and leads an active lifestyle. In those instances sugar will actually help your performance. If you consume an appropriate amount of sugar and use it to fuel physical activity, you…

1981 Born in Cerro Veronese, Italy. 1999 Becomes Junior Road Race World Champion aged 18, having switched from cross-country running. 2002 Turns professional with Saeco. 2004 Becomes sixth-youngest winner of the Giro. Also wins Il Lombardia and tops the UCI Road World Cup rankings. 2005 Joins Lampre alongside former Saeco teammate Gilberto Simoni but fails to repeat 2004 success. 2006 Takes 3rd at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and 4th at the Giro before winning the young rider’s white jersey at the Tour. 2007 Takes his second Il Lombardia win, having finished 5th at the Giro earlier in the year. 2008 Wins Amstel Gold Race and his third Il Lombardia, then takes 2nd in the UCI Road Race World Championships. 2013 Takes final victory of his career: Stage 3 of the Settimana Internazionale di…

Spend some time considering the dynamics of how the groupset market works and you’ll notice it bears a striking resemblance to the calendar of major football tournaments. The big daddy, the World Cup, occurs every four years, just like each revision of road cycling’s most popular top-tier groupset, Shimano Dura-Ace. Four years is a long time to wait between editions, but thankfully there are other events in between to keep up the momentum. A Shimano Ultegra update occurs around the halfway point, just like the European Championships. Sram redevelops its Red and Force tiers at offset intervals too, so those updates fall each year like the Copa América or the Africa Cup of Nations. Then there’s Campagnolo, which updates one element of its range at the same time every year,…

Sram’s wireless eTap was revolutionary when it was released a few years ago, and this year’s AXS update has moved the technology another step forward –not least by incorporating an extra gear. Sram says its AXS products should be viewed as a mix-and-match family, with each product compatible with every other part of the groupset. For example, the same levers could be used with 1x or 2x setups, and road parts can be used with AXS MTB components such as dropper posts. The groupsets are suitable for gravel use too, as the derailleurs have an ‘Orbit’ fluid clutch system. The Red and Force AXS groupsets take a new approach to gearing, introducing a 10-tooth sprocket but pairing cassettes to smaller 50/37,48/35 or 46/33 chainsets to create more range. The chainsets…

Just as the bike market had finally agreed on a definition for ‘endurance road’, along came BMC in 2016 and rewrote the rulebook with its first Roadmachine. Gone was the sit-up-and-beg position and focus on comfort over speed; in came racier geometry, sleek integration and aerodynamic tube profiles. ‘Our engineers have always been performance-focussed, so they had a different idea of what an “endurance” bike should be compared to most other brands back then,’ says BMC product manager Stefano Gennaioli. ‘We created the Roadmachine to prove endurance bikes no longer had to be the soft option but could still be just as rideable.’ Four years later, the new model looks broadly similar to the old one, hinting that it is a refinement rather than a total overhaul. ‘This is definitely…

The 1989 Tour de France started with a 7.8km prologue in Luxembourg, and last to roll down the start ramp was the defending Tour champion, Pedro Delgado. The Spaniard was entering the race in terrific form having won the Vuelta for his Reynolds team just six weeks previously, but as his Tour start time approached he was nowhere to be seen. With baffled race officials looking on and confusion sweeping those watching around the world, the clock started counting time with the Spaniard still missing. Eventually a harassed-looking Delgado fought his way through the throng, through the start house and quickly rolled down the ramp, more than two and a half minutes late. Unsurprisingly he finished dead last, 2min 54sec behind stage winner Erik Breukink, in the knowledge he would…

To most riders Stages is that American company that makes crank-based power meters but the brand has a wider portfolio than you might realise It makes Dash bike computers and also has quite the pedigree in indoor training bikes – it outfits Virgin Active gyms David Lloyd clubs and even the US Navy Now it has drawn from its pool of experience to produce its first indoor training bike geared towards road cyclists which aims to usurp the traditional bike-on-a-turbo setup In our 25 years of manufacturing experience we have made over 200 000 bikes says Stages vice-president Pat Warner For a road rider we think a dedicated training bike has clear advantages It s safer there s no risk of damaging carbon frames by pinning them to a fixed…

10mins: Get some carbs in ‘The recovery process needs to start before the end of the ride. Taking on food in the last 10-20 minutes means you’ll be less glycogen-depleted so your recovery drink has less work to do, and it will stop you reaching for the biscuits.’ 0 15mins: Shake it down ‘Nutrition is the biggest part of recovery. Have a dedicated recovery drink within 15 minutes of training. Whey protein is considered the best for rapid absorption but pea protein is good for vegans or those with dairy intolerances.’ 15 30mins: Revive to survive ‘Reduced immune function post-exercise can leave you vulnerable, so avoid ill people. The jury’s still out on the benefits of stretching and foam-rolling, but they probably do more good than harm, especially psychologically.’ 1…

TRAVEL The nearest airport is Lourdes, which means that Ryanair is the only viable option, so the flights are cheap but adding a bike to your luggage is pricey. From Lourdes it’s about a 30-minute drive south to Villelongue. Toulouse airport is served by more airlines, but then you’re looking at nearer to two and a half hours’ transfer time. ACCOMMODATION Cyclist stayed at Escape to the Pyrenees (escapetothepyrenees.com) in the sleepy village of Villelongue. Former cycling journalist Jamie Wilkins and his partner Kitt Blackman have done a beautiful job of converting an old barn into a guesthouse with four bedrooms, all en suite and all well appointed. Home cooked food is delicious and plentiful, and there is a workshop and large garage for storing bikes. Guests can opt for…

… FORMULA 1 ‘My life’s passion has always been motorsport, especially Formula 1. Iam a Ferrari fan, of course – I’m Italian. A few times a year, I even get to work for Sky Italia as a race analyst on a show called Race Anatomy.’ …WINNING IL LOMBARDIA THREE TIMES ‘After Alfredo Binda and Fausto Coppi, I am the most successful rider at this Monument, something I am truly proud of. I would target Lombardy by treating the Vuelta a España as atraining ride, only targeting certain stages that suited me to get into shape for the Italian autumn Classics. It was the perfect preparation.’ …HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GILBERTO SIMONI ‘He was a man of few words when we were teammates and I think he struggled having a rival in…

Shimano has taken cues from both its road and mountain bike groupsets and blended them together to create some unique components that the brand says are optimised for gravel. The drivetrain is mostly inspired by Shimano’s mountain bike products – the rear derailleur has a similar clutch and architecture to the brand’s XT and XTR derailleurs, while the cassette is straight from XT, branding and all. The GRX levers are a unique blend, though. They have grippier hoods than Shimano’s road designs and a new, textured lever shape with a revised pivot point – it has been moved up 18mm for better brake leverage when riding on the hoods. Pictured: • GRX RX800 chainset, 40t • GRX RX810 rear derailleur • GRX Di2 RX815 levers • GRX RX800 brake callipers…

Jacket £170, bibtights £135, c3products.com Sportful has released a winter version of its Supergiara range – apparel designed to suit the requirements of gravel riding while maintaining the racy cut the Italian brand is known for. ‘It would be remiss of us to suggest you need specific kit to go and ride your gravel bike in winter, but we knew we could design products better tailored to the demands of gravel riding than regular winter kit,’ says Paul Whitfield, brand director for Sportful at its UK distributor, C3 Products. The jacket is triple-layered, which Whitfield says provides windproofing and insulation without unnecessary bulk. It also includes extra pockets on the chest, as gravel riding tends to necessitate carrying more bits and bobs than road riding. To that end, the bibtights…

Cyclist: When did you cross the million mile marker? Russ Mantle: It was on Thursday 7th November. There were about 15 cyclists who arrived at my house and we all cycled along the towpath to Mytchett Canal Centre cafe [near Aldershot, Hampshire]. They had put a banner up across the footbridge. There was a big crowd there – 60 or 70 people – and we all went to the cafe in Mytchett together. Cyc: How did it feel to hit the one-million mile mark? RM: I was overwhelmed by it all. I’ve had no end of phone interviews as well as interviews here at home. Cyc: At what point in your life do you think you clocked up the biggest share of your mileage? RM: After 1974,…

Firstly, why do we need training plans? Quite simply, they’re vital to any cyclist who wants to improve their three Fs: fitter, faster and further. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll simply become good at whatever riding you currently do. So if you always do endurance rides, you’ll be good at endurance rides. If you always do two-hour tempo rides… you get the idea. This sounds obvious, but it’s a big reason why cyclists plateau and get frustrated that their performance isn’t improving. It doesn’t matter if you don’t intend to race. Training isn’t just for elite athletes and you don’t have to be a ‘good’ cyclist to ‘deserve’ a coach. It’s perfectly valid to be coached even if you’re anovice or simply trying to be healthier. Achieving your…

‘Greek yogurt is a good source of potassium, calcium and vitamin B12,’ says Nigel Mitchell, head nutritionist at Team EF Education First and technical lead at the English Institute of Sport. ‘But really the only difference between Greek and normal yogurt is that it has been strained, so contains less water.’ This has the effect of concentrating the nutrients within, so it tends to contain much more protein per serving than other yogurts. ‘There are also lots of low-fat options so Greek yogurt, despite being physically dense, isn’t too high in calories,’ Mitchell adds. ‘It’s also live, which means it contains natural bacterial cultures that might be beneficial for gut health. ‘I tend to eat it for breakfast with muesli. It’s a nutritious and satiating start to the day.’…

To download this route, go to cyclist.co.uk/95france. To give ourselves a warm-up before the climbing, we started our ride from the town of Campan, just south of Bagnères-de-Bigorre. From Campan, head south for 13km on the D935 and D918 (ignoring the turn-off for the Tourmalet) until you see a right turn for Hourquette d’Ancizan. Follow the D113 over the Hourquette d’Ancizan and descend to Guchen. Turn right onto the D929 to St Lary-Soulan and then ride onwards to Fabian. At the junction turn right, continuing on the D929 towards Lac de Cap-de-Long. Climb for 14km until you reach the dam. Return the way you came to Guchen, and continue on the D929 to Arreau. Turn left at a sign to Col d’Aspin on the D918. Follow this to the summit…

If you’re reading this, Egan Bernal, Damiano Cunego wants to share his experience of winning a Grand Tour at an early age. ‘It’s easy to arrive at the top; the real challenge is staying there,’ says Cunego, who retired from cycling in July 2018 at the age of 36. Like Bernal, Cunego had the world at his feet at the age of just 22. Back in 2004, the Italian finished the year as the best cyclist in the world. That April he won the Giro del Trentino. By May he was the sixth youngest winner of the Giro d’Italia, having beaten teammate and former champion Gilberto Simoni and winning four stages in the process. Then in October he rounded off the season with victory in the final Monument of the…

On these pages earlier this year I argued that the teams in the top tier, the WorldTour, were travelling à deux vitesses – at two speeds. In the first quarter of the 2019 season the top four teams had amassed more victories than the other 14 combined. This shows the danger of drawing too many early conclusions. Now, as we look back over the season in its entirety, we can see abit of alevelling off. Some of the teams that started slowly – Jumbo-Visma and Team Ineos – made up ground when the Grand Tours began, while early hares – Astana and Mitchelton-Scott – couldn’t quite sustain their momentum. In the end, the gap wasn’t quite as yawning as it appeared after the Spring Classics and early-season stage races. One…

Campagnolo was last to disc brakes but first to 12-speed, and marries both in its Super Record EPS Disc groupset. In contrast to Sram’s approach of creating more total range with 12-speed, Campagnolo opted to introduce a sprocket in the middle of the cassette, explaining it believes a smoother progression through the gears is the most important benefit to the user experience. According to Campagnolo, Super Record sits above the top tier of other groupsets. ‘Our heritage brings pressure to maintain the reputation for quality that keeps Super Record at that level,’ says Lorenzo Taxis. ‘Plus we think we make the most beautiful groupsets. We don’t even have a specific product designer. We are Italians, so naturally gifted to provide something visually pleasing. Being the only niche groupset maker puts…

At every race the protocol is the same. Journalists wait at the team buses for post-race comments on how the crosswinds or cobbles dictated a memorable day in the saddle. As each rider nears we move in, hungry for nuggets of wisdom. And invariably the rider rolls straight past, dismounts, hands the bike to a mechanic and skips onto the bus with the transitional prowess of aBrownlee brother. In a sport scarred by its reputation for secrecy, you could argue team buses are a symbol of cycling’s nefarious past. The blacked-out windows give the impression of something to hide – Team Sky’s bus was labelled the Death Star, don’t forget. But if you speak to the drivers and riders, this perception is far from the reality. ‘They’re light, airy and…

The Long Haul RIDER 1(LEFT) Poc Octal helmet, £180 2pure.co.uk Poc Do Blade sunglasses, £175 2pure.co.uk Pearl Izumi Pro Mesh jersey, £124.99 madison.co.uk Pearl Izumi Pro bibshorts, £189.99 madison.co.uk Pearl Izumi Attack Tall socks, £11.99 madison.co.uk Pearl Izumi Pro Leader V4 shoes, £249.99 madison.co.uk RIDER 2(RIGHT) Specialized S-Works Prevail MIPS helmet, £200 specialized.com Rudy Project Defender sunglasses, £210 yellow-limited.com Katusha Superlight jersey, €140 (approx £120) katusha-sports.com Katusha Icon Long bibshorts, €200 (approx £172) katusha-sports.com Katusha 90 Degrees socks, €22 (approx £19) katusha-sports.com Fizik Infinito R1 Knit shoes, £349.99 extrauk.co.uk Col de la Madeleine Bell Z20 MIPS helmet, £229.99 zyrofisher.co.uk 100% Speedcraft sunglasses, £139.99 madison.co.uk Northwave Blade 4 jersey, £59.99 i-ride.co.uk Northwave Active bibshorts, £79.99 i-ride.co.uk DeFeet 6in Ridge Supply Skyline Burn socks, £22.79 i-ride.co.uk Northwave Storm Carbon shoes,…

Roll out the red carpet… it’s that time again. The annual Last Gasp Gongs are now bigger than the BAFTAs, more coveted than the Vélo d’Or, more glamorous than the final of Strictly. So sit back and enjoy the show. This year there are a lot of new names to engrave on the awards, thanks to a younger generation that is eluding all stereotypes of being lazy and feckless by winning lots of bicycle races. The fastest new kid out of the blocks is Dutch tyro Mathieu van der Poel, who scoops the Call The Police, There’s Been A Robbery Award for the way he mugged Julian Alaphilippe and Jakob Fuglsang in the final straight to win the Amstel Gold Classic. Elsewhere in the Classics, the Five Ws of Journalism…