Author: Harold Dalton

The NBC Sports Network will disappear into the ether at the end of 2021. The channel was originally called the Outdoor Life Network, before changing its name to Versus, and then to NBCSN. Now, after 25 years, the home of the Tour de France in the US is officially shutting its doors. What does this mean for the Tour de France? Well, nobody is sure. NBC’s new streaming network, Peacock, seems like a good home for it. NBC also frequently use their other channels for major sporting events like the NHL and Premier League, and have already signaled their intent…

Tom Dumoulin has announced his decision to take a break from his professional cycling career. The 2017 Giro d’Italia and World Time Trial Champion has consulted with his team and both parties have agreed on an unpaid leave for an indefinite period, starting immediately. Predictably, but somehow still a bit surprisingly, Jumbo Visma have already uploaded a video about it. It’s eight minutes long, so if you watch the entire thing then you’re probably better informed about the situation than anybody who’s written about it. Especially us, we only did thirty seconds. The 30 year old says that he’s long…

On Thursday, Movistar held its 2021 team launch and we were there, or at least as “there” as you can be in January 2021. Which mostly means that we dialed into a videoconference and listened to people speak Spanish for a bit. We’re on the fence about these fully digital events: they’re cheaper to attend, but there aren’t any vol-au-vents being handed out. 2021, shockingly, is the team’s 42nd consecutive year in the pro peloton. That makes them the longest standing major team, and, somewhat presumptuously, they also told us it makes them the “most famous.” The major part of…

Major breaking news: Osmo Nutrition has introduced a new flavor to its Active Hydration line of science-backed sports hydration drink mixes. Blueberry Pomegranate joins the existing Orange, Blackberry and Lemon-Lime flavors, which they say offers “a delicious new way to maintain optimal hydration when working out.” We reviewed OSMO last summer and were impressed. It’s a scientifically backed sports hydration mixture that tastes great and really seems to work. Really, just read our article for the full story behind the product and why it works. Here’s a quote from it, which mentions diarrhea twice: “The sciencey stuff is important because…

The first mountain was added to the Tour de France in 1905. That mountain was the 1,247m Ballon d’Alsace, and it was met with trepidation and huge amounts of publicity. Press, fans, and riders alike speculated what dangers would accompany the first time cyclists raced over a mountain. Tour organizer and L’Auto editor Henri Desgrange wrote, “None of us knows what the Ballon d’Alsace will bring. The passage through the mountains is this year’s great novelty. Our fear matches that of the riders.” Which was all very majestic and monumental… Except mountains were not actually new to the Tour de…

The best rider in the world right now, Wout van Aert, has renewed his contract with Team Jumbo Visma after weeks of speculation that a move to Team INEOS was imminent. Van Aert’s contract was due to expire, and speculation was rife about his future, even hinting at an early exit. However, rumors of his move to INEOS now appear to have been exaggerated as a bargaining chip. With football super-agent Jorge Mendes moving into the peloton, expect to see more of this nonsense from here on out. The Belgian’s contract now runs through 2024, which is somewhat optimistic given…

Every Revolution was first a thought in one man’s mind. That’s actually a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, but it’s true. Revolution didn’t spring up overnight, and it didn’t just exist as a way to make some money on ticket sales. Way back in the old days of the mid-2000s, Manchester had a world-class velodrome. It was the only world-class velodrome in England, no matter what the penny farthing riders will tell you about Herne Hill. Great Britain also had world-class track riders. Nicole Cooke excepted, the track was the only domain in which Great Britain was dominating the cycling…

The iconic yellow Mavic neutral service cars are no more. Let’s shed a neutral tear together, and think of all the funny times they accidentally knocked riders off or gave them comedically small bikes. Shimano will be taking over neutral support at the Tour and all other ASO events. The Japanese component maker already provides support at ASO’s Vuelta a Espana, so they do have form here. “We have complete trust in the Shimano team to deliver a professional service towards teams and riders, as they have been doing for much of their 100-year history,” said Thierry Gouvenou, ASO’s heading…