Having spent 17 years in the men’s peloton, the last three of which were with Team DSM, Nicholas Roche is set to hang up his wheels at the end of the 2021 season. Roche turned professional in 2005 and has spent an incredible 17 years riding at the highest echelons of the sport. Taking an impressive 12 wins throughout his career including two stages at the Vuelta a España, Roche has also started a mind-boggling 24 Grand Tours, completing a remarkable 22 of them. He’s also ended the Vuelta in fifth and sixth place on GC, alongside numerous other top…
Author: Henri Giroud
Henri Giroud
Fifty years of pro cycling journalism and television commentary. It gets easier after the first forty years.
Highlights Report It’s a historical victory for Bahrain Victorious as Sonny Colbrelli took the Queen of the Classics. The most brutal race on the calendar and the most awaited after an absence of more than a year. At his first appearance at the Paris-Roubaix the reigning European Champion put on an impressive performance across the 55Km of wet and muddy cobblestones, spread over the 257.7km legendary course from Compiègne to the velodrome of Roubaix, where he outsprinted his companions of a late attack Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Fenix). Sonny Colbrelli: “It was my first…
Highlights Report Lizzie Deignan became the first woman to win Paris-Roubaix on Saturday. Men have written 125 years worth of pages in the story of the iconic one-day race. Finally the women, led by Deignan, have made their mark. Deignan was at a loss of words after crossing the velodrome finish line with her arms in the air. “I feel very emotional,” Deignan said. “I don’t know, I am just really proud. Sorry, not the best quote, but I am just so happy. I cannot believe it happened.” Deignan’s brave winning move, made on the first cobbled section of the…
USA Cycling will host the second installment of the virtual Inclusion Conversations on Thursday, Oct. 7 from 10 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. MDT. This month’s conversation will be a panel discussion titled: Unpacking Race, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status. Shannon Jolly, DEI Professional, will moderate the panel and panelists will include Massimo Alpian, Cannondale & GT Bicycles; Elyse Rylander, Quality Bicycle Products; and Rahsaan Bahati, Bahati Foundation. This is the second conversation in an ongoing monthly Inclusion Conversation series hosted by USA Cycling. The first session was held September 10 and was attended live by nearly 100 participants from across the USA and…
As the petrol crisis continues and the price of fuel rockets, more and more people are actively seeking alternative ways to get about. According to the UK’s largest online e-bike supplier, E-Bikes Direct, there has been a notable uplift in demand in the past week as consumers move to pedal and e-power to get about, opting to save their fuel for longer journeys and big shops. Matt Flanagan, CEO at E-Bikes Direct says, “We have seen a 100% increase in enquiries and sales in the past week. The thought of having to join long queues and use what little fuel…
The Giro di Sicilia is back on Team Rally’s racing calendar after the pandemic led to its cancellation in 2020. Running from September 28 to October 1, the four-day Mediterranean island contest is arguably the most anticipated men’s stage race of the fall block. General classification hunter Gavin Mannion will be returning to race in Sicily, having helped former teammate Brandon McNulty to overall victory in 2019. More than 85% of Sicily is made up of hills and mountains, a feature that makes it the ideal challenge for Mannion. “I was hoping there would be a Mount Etna stage again, but the last few…
Julian Alaphilippe successfully defended the rainbow jersey, becoming the first Frenchman in history to win back-to-back titles, after producing a performance of devastating intensity and brilliance in one of the most intriguing races seen in recent years. By doing this he etched his name in to the history books and ensured himself twelve more months in the iconic rainbow jersey, which he captured for the first time in Imola, last September. “I have no words, I am just so happy! I worked hard for this and had good legs, but I didn’t dare to dream about retaining my title. It’s insane,…
The European Cross Triathlon will be streamed live on Sunday 26 September at 10:00 (UTC+03). The Elite and Under-23 Men’s race kicks off at 11:00 (UTC), with the Elite and Under-23 Women’s Race starting shortly after at 11:03(UTC). You can watch for free on Cyclry TV. Race Preview