Stage 7 – Mont-de-Marsan – Bordeaux

Jasper Philipsen has made it three from three at the Tour de France, the standout sprinter of the race winning again in Bordeaux today.

But veteran fast man Mark Cavendish came agonisingly close to taking his 35th TDF stage win, he was leading the sprint and in sight of the line only to have Philipsen come around him and win by a bike length.

Cavendish also suffered bad luck, the 38yo having his gears jump several times while he was zeroing in on the line.

“I kicked a little earlier than I’d like, but actually, still about the same time as I did in 2010,” recounted Cav, referring to his previous Tour de France sprint victory in Bordeaux 13 years ago.

“Once I kicked, I started, the gears jumped from the 11 to the 12, I had to sit down. Cadence just whacks up. Then it goes back to the 11th, I tried to stand up. I needed to sit down. There was nothing you could do except, like, kind of hope. I’m bitterly disappointed there. I’m really disappointed, but we keep on trying,” he added.

Philipsen wished Cavendish well and also said he’d like to see him take the record, and also thanked his Alpecin Deceuninck teammates and in particular his #1 leadout man Matthieu van der Poel.

“If you told me three stage wins one week ago I’d think you were crazy,” he said. “So far it’s a dream Tour for us and hopefully we can add another one.

“Cavendish was really strong. I would also have loved to see him win, I think everybody would, but I’m sure he will keep on trying. He’s up there, in good condition, and it will be hard.”

Although Philipsen did win, they’re was conjecture over how he won with two teams lodging complaints after alleging he deviated from his line. A penalty would have resulted in Cavendish being awarded the win, and therefore his elusive 35th Tour de France stage victory.

The race continues tomorrow with the 200km Stage 8 from Libourne to Limoges.

STAGE 6 – TARBES – CAUTERETS-CAMBASQUE 149km

The past two stages of the Tour de France have had more ups, downs, highs and lows than a month on the stockmarket! A casual viewer tuning in today could well have thought they were watching stage 19 or 20, the battle was that intense. But still we are in the first week of what’s becoming an absolute thriller of a Tour de France.

Tadej Pogacar either had a bad day yesterday, with Aussie Jai Hindley victoriously pouncing and taking Stage 5 and the Yellow Jersey, or he was bluffing.

 But today both Pogacar and key rival (and defending champion ) Jonas Vingegaard were on a completely different level. Stage 6 was less than 150km, but it showcased some of the most thrilling man-on-man racing of the past decade, and viewers witnessed one of the strongest attacks in recent memory.

The action started on the Tourmalet and continued through the afternoon. The crescendo come as Jonas & Pogacar fought tooth and nail from around 5km to go.

Launching from around 2km to go, Pogacar’s pivotal move was basically 3-2-1… lift off. He accelerated away from Vingegaard in a manner we haven’t seen in years. Staying clear, Pogacar went on to win the stage and climb to second overall on GC.

Hindley Hands The Jersey To Jonas

Vingegaard now leads the race, with Aussie Jai Hindley relinquishing the famed jersey after just 24hrs of temporary ownership. 

“I wanted to win the stage, but Pogacar was very strong at the end of the last climb,” said Jonas after donning the yellow jersey for the first time in 2023. 

“Just like yesterday, we made the race hard. The goal was to test Pogacar early again. We did that on the Tourmalet, but we couldn’t release him.”

Vingegaard gained over two minutes on (former) yellow jersey wearer Jai Hindley 

“I’m thrilled about it, it’s a huge honour,” said the 26yo Dane.

“The yellow jersey is the most iconic in cycling. I am where I want to be now, but the Tour de France is far from over”, he added.

Top 3 GC After Stage 6

1: Jonas Vingegaard 26h 10m 44s

2: Tadej Pogacar +25s

3: Jai Hindley +1m34s

Stage 6 – Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque – 144.9km

Today’s Stage 6 is set to be another high-mountain thriller. Again, it will be fascinating to see how the top GC contenders play it, particularly after Jai Hindley took so much time and went into Yellow yesterday.

Stage 6 is the race’s second part of the passage through the Pyrenees and includes the mighty Tourmalet plus a stage finish at Cauterets-Cambasque. There are 3817 meters of climbing in the 144.9km route.

The final 16km climb has only been used once in Tour de France history (in 1989), and is set to be a real test test for the lead contenders.

Climbs of the day include –

Côte de Capvern-les-Bains / 5,6km à 4,8%

Col d’Aspin / 12km à 6,5%

Col du Tourmalet / 17,1km à 7,3%

Cauterets-Cambasque / 16km à 5,4%

Stage 5 – Pau to Laruns 162.7km

West Australian Jai Hindley has claimed the first mountain stage of the 2023 Tour de France and well and truly taken the Yellow Jersey after a stellar Stage 5 performance.

Getting to the breakaway of the day, he attacked on Col de Marie Blanc and held off attacks by big name rivals to sit well ahead of rivals.

Well aware it’s still only very early days, Jai said the stage victory was “really incredible …I have no words.”

“The guys in the radio were just screaming at me to ride to the line,” he recounted. “I couldn’t really hear so much what was happening. I just wanted to take as much time as possible – and also the stage win – and, yeah, found myself in the yellow jersey, so that’s pretty cool.”

The 2022 Giro d’Italia winner said being his first Tour de France, he didn’t know what to expect from the race thus far.

“It’s my first Tour and it’s hard to come here with massive ambitions. But for sure I wanted to come and be competitive and have some form of success – and I’ve just won a stage of the Tour.”

Jonas Vingegaard is 47 seconds behind Hindley and sits second overall. Vingegaard left fellow overall favourite Tadej Pogacar on the day’s penultimate climb, the ‘The Pog’ finishing the stage 1 minute and 40 seconds behind Hindley.

Top 10 Overall After Stage 5

1. Jai Hindley (AUS, Bora-Hansgrohe) 22hr 15’12”
2. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN, Jumbo-Visma) +47″
3. Giulio Ciccone (ITA, Lidl – Trek) +1:03″
4. Emanuel Buchmann (GER, BORA – hansgrohe) +1:11″
5. Adam Yates (GBR, UAE Team Emirates) +1:34″
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO, UAE Team Emirates) +1:40″
7. Simon Yates (Team Jayco AlUla) +1:40″
8. Mattias Skjelmose (DEN, Lidl – Trek) +1:56″
9. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (ESP, Ineos Grenadiers) +1:56″
10. David Gaudu (Groupama – FDJ) +1:56″

Stage 4 – Dax to Nogaro – 181km

Jasper Philipsen has made it two in a row, the Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter winning yesterday’s Stage 3 and today’s Stage 4 of the Tour de France.

But much more importantly in our completely unbiased opinion, Caleb Ewan finished 2nd to Philipsen today, on the back of his 3rd place yesterday.

“I have the speed to win, but for that all the puzzle pieces have to fit together,” Caleb said after the thrilling finish on the Nogaro Racetrack south of Bordeaux.

“Even though it is a sour second place, it is nice to compete for the stage victory. At least I’m getting closer and I’ll keep trying.”

A super close finish, the final kilometres of the stage was hectic with two seperate high-speed crashes, one that saw Fabio Jacobsen crash heavily, but fortunately getting back on his bike to cross the line.

Easy Stage, Fast Finish

“It was a really easy stage,” said Jasper Philipsen after claiming his 4th Tour de France stage win.

“I think everybody wanted to save their legs for the Pyrenees tomorrow and the day after. In the final kilometres entering the circuit there were some crashes so I hope everybody is OK and safe.

“It was a hectic final with the turns in the end and I lost my team as well, but in the final straight I found Mathieu and he did an amazing pull to get me to victory. My legs were cramping and Caleb was coming close.”

Mark Cavendish was again in the mix, the soon-to-retire ‘Manx Missile’ dodging, weaving and doing his best to match it with Philipsen and Ewan. But as the top two sprinters of this year’s Tour were throwing their bikes over the line, Cav was still sprinting for fifth.

The race heads into the Pyrenees for Stage 5, with a 15km climb to the summit of Col de Soudet being one of the highlights of the day. Cavendish, Ewan and Philipsen will have to wait until a fast finish into Bordeaux on Friday for their next opportunity to shine.

Stage 4 Top 10 

1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4hrs 25mins 28sec

2. Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny) Same time

3. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious)

4. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis)

5. Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan)

6. Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe)

7. Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling)

8. Luka Mezgec (Team Jayco-AlUla)

9. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)

10. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)

General Classification After Stage 4

1. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) 18hrs 18mins 1sec

2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +6sec

3. Simon Yates (Team Jayco-AlUla) +6sec

4. Victor Lafay (Cofidis) +12sec

5. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) +16sec

6. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) +17sec

7. Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) +22sec

8. Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) +22sec

9. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) +22sec

10. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Ineos Grenadiers) +22sec

Stage 3 – Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne, 193.5km

Jasper Philipsen has set the benchmark at the 2023 Tour de France, the Belgian making the first all-in sprint finish look easy in Bayonne on Monday afternoon. But it may not have been as easy as Philipsen portrayed, the Alpecin-Deceuninck fast-man was led out by lightening-quick teammate Mathieu van der Poel with Philipsen later saying “It’s not easy to stay on Mathieu’s wheel.”

From an Australian perspective, the highlight was definitely seeing Caleb Ewan cross the line third, just behind Phil Bauhaus in second. A ‘23 Tour de France stage podium will be comforting for Caleb who’s had a bad run over the past few months and is desperately seeking the kick and speed he’s renowned for.

The other notable sprinter in the race, Mark Cavendish – who is seeking just one more Tour de France stage win to take the all-time record from Eddy Merckx – was there in the mix finishing sixth.

The first all-in sprint finish of this year’s Tour wasn’t without conjecture with Wout van Aert initially appearing to be boxed in when trying to pass Philipsen on the inside of the final bend. Race commissaries viewed video of the finish for several minutes prior to confirming had indeed won. 

Tuesday’s Stage 4 of the Tour will present another opportunity for the sprinters, with Mark Cavendish hinting the Nogaro finish is one he’s got in his sights. 

Stage 3 Top 10

1. Jasper Philipsen (BEL, Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4hr 43’15”
2. Phil Bauhaus (GER, Bahrain – Victorious) +0″
3. Caleb Ewan (AUS, Lotto Dstny) +0″
4. Fabio Jakobsen (NED, Soudal – Quick Step) +0″
5. Wout van Aert (BEL, Jumbo-Visma) +0″
6. Mark Cavendish (GBR, Astana Qazaqstan Team) +0″
7. Jordi Meeus (BEL, BORA – hansgrohe) +0″
8. Dylan Groenewegen (NED, Team Jayco AlUla) +0
9. Mads Pedersen (DEN, Lidl – Trek) +0″
10. 10.Bryan Coquard (FRA, Cofidis) +0″

Stage 2 – 210km from Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastián 

15-years after their last Tour de France stage win, but less than 24-hours after saying Victor Lafay ‘has the form and motivation to take stage victories’, the 27yo Cofidis rider won Stage 2 of the 2023 Tour.

Perfectly timing a jump within 800m of the San Sebastian finish line, Lafay went solo and held off 25 of the world’s fastest bike riders including Wout van Aert who finished second.

After proving he was at his best yesterday, and seemingly matching the duelling Pogacar and Vingegaard over the day’s toughest climb, Lafay said being able to ride at the same tempo as the overall favourites “was incredible.”

“I told my teammates that I felt really good,” he said. “When I passed in front, Pogacar immediately took my wheel and behind him he had a teammate to take advantage of the situation. In times like these, you have to be able to trust yourself.”

It was during the stage to seaside San Sebastián just 24 hours later, on a steep and technical course made all the more difficult by light rain, that he executed his magic and broke the deeply-French team’s TDF drought that started way back in 2008.

Understating his abilities, Lafay said “I am in good condition so it allows to be optimistic for the future.”

After the team’s drought-breaking victory Lafay said “we came into this Tour determined not to finish empty handed. This victory is going to do a lot of good to all of us.”

Stage 1 winner Adam Yates retains the Yellow Jersey with two-time overall winner Tadej Pogacar six seconds behind him. Simon Yates is another six seconds back in third. 

Two stages into the Tour and the overriding theme is that the pace has well and truly been on since the start flag dropped just a day ago. Today’s racing was incredibly fast, reactive and aggressive. Cycling fans are certainly in for a thrilling three weeks, the 2023 Tour de France looks set to be on for the ages.

Top 10 Overall After Stage 2

1:  Adam Yates 9h09m18s

2: Tadej Pogacar +6s

3: Simon Yates +6s

4: Victor Lafay +12s

5: Wout van Aert +16s

6: Jonas Vingegaard +17s

7: Michael Woods +22s

8: Mattias Skjelmose +22s

9: Jai Hindley +22s

10: Michel Landa +22s

Stage 1 – 182km Bilbao circuit

Adam Yates will be the first to race in the famed Yellow Jersey after beating his twin brother Simon to the line at Stage 1 of the 2023 Tour de France.

His first Tour with UAE Team Emirates, team mate and two-time TDF winner Tadej Pogacar finished third on the opening stage of the 110th ‘Grande Boucle.’

Speaking after the stage, Adam said the Yates 1-2 was a particularly poignant occasion, with mama and papa Yates also in the crowd watching.

Twin brothers and close friends, after the stage Adam said the two get on famously and catch up daily. 

“He lives just five minutes away,” Adam said.

“I saw him this morning before the start and he asked what my plans were. Obviously I couldn’t tell him,” continued Adam.

“I’m sure he’ll be a pain in the ass for me somewhere later along the road though,” he added.

Simon agreed, saying the two have a solid relationship and he was thrilled to see Adam in Yellow.

“But I’ll stick it to him in a couple of days,” added the Team Jayco-AlUla rider.

Stage 2 kicks of just after 12 noon local time (GMT +2), and will be raced over 210 hilly kilometres from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Donostia San Sebastián.

Stage 1 Top 10 (Same as overall GC)

1. Adam Yates (GB/UAE Team Emirates) 4hrs 22mins 49secs

2. Simon Yates (GB/Team Jayco-AlUla) +4secs

3. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +12secs

4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) Same time

5. Michael Woods (Can/Israel-Premier Tech)

6. Victor Lafay (Fra/Cofidis)

7. Jai Hindley (Aus/Bora-hansgrohe)

8. Mattias Skjlemose (Den/Lidl-Trek)

9. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma)

10. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)

A big thanks to Rouvy who are supporting our 2023 TDF coverage – you can check out their impressive augmented reality training platform at www.ROUVY.com

The post 2023 Tour de France: Rolling Stage-By-Stage Coverage appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

The Tour de France is ecstasy and agony, sometimes in the same day.

No one seems to know exactly how or why it became cycling’s crown jewel. It just is.

Riders say the Tour is the most stressful event on the calendar and not enjoyable, whilst simultaneously putting their hand up for team selection each season.

Reaching the final stage in Paris is considered an achievement, no matter what has transpired, and the peloton stops past the finish line on the Champs Elysees, forming huddles where riders smile with relief, shake hands and embrace in that acknowledgment.

“It’s a pretty intense month because everything at the Tour de France is amplified,” said Jayco Alula Director of High Performance and racing, Matt White.

“It feels like you are working in a fishbowl and it’s a very different feel from the other races we do during the season.”

With a Netflix series by the same crew behind Drive to Survive, the show which blasted Formula 1 into a new stratosphere, due to be released weeks before the Grand Depart in Bilbao, Spain, this year’s edition may be even more amplified than usual.

The deafening noise that surrounds the globally recognised and publicised Tour –  from the whir of bike wheels to the sharp accelerations of team cars that burn rubber following them, the jubilation of rows-deep roadside fans, questions from jostling international media to low-flying broadcast helicopters and house music from the promotional caravan – is one thing that separates it from other races. 

Australia’s only Tour champion, Cadel Evans used to read books unrelated to the sport, to try and dull the ringing in his ears during his title attempts, which culminated with victory in 2011.

Cycling evolved greatly during his tenure as a Tour title contender and has continued to do so at warp speed since he retired in 2015.

But his advice for Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroen) and Jai Hindley (Bora-hansgrohe), the two climbers set to spearhead the nation’s assault at the Tour this year, and that of their respective teams, remains relevant.

“Get a taste of it and build into it would be my advice ‘cause the Tour is a really different race,” says Evans. “The level, the depth of the level of the Tour, is what really makes it so hard and that takes a little bit of getting used to.”

That is counter to the feats of some recent Tour winners, including two-time champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates), who won his maiden title in 2020 on race debut. An influx of generational talent in recent years has upended the WorldTour hierarchy and the way in which the peloton operates. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) claimed the yellow jersey in his second attempt at the race in 2019, as did Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), who stands to enter this year’s 110th edition as defending champion after eclipsing Pogacar and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) last season.

Hindley is set to make his debut at the Tour just over a year after becoming the first Australian to win the Giro d’Italia in what was an emphatic display of strength, composure, and nerve.

On the last rest day of that race, when he was sitting in second place to Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) but had been largely overlooked in the predictions of pundits, Hindley was straight when asked in a press conference if he intended on winning the Giro.

“[I’m] not here to put socks on centipedes,” he famously said, before days later, on the penultimate stage, seizing the maglia rosa from his Ecuadorian rival.

“I think if you want to compete at the highest level you have to have that self-belief and confidence. That’s necessary,” said Hindley. “I wouldn’t say I’m super confident on the outside or something but for sure on the inside I’m probably pretty arrogant.

“I have a lot of self-belief and I think a lot of drive and you need that if you want to compete at the highest level.”

The 27-year-old from Perth opted against a Giro title defence in May to focus on the Tour this season and realise another childhood dream.

“Since I was six years old it’s always something I’ve wanted to do, to ride the Tour,” Hindley said. “I finally get that opportunity this year and it’s pretty overwhelming to be honest. But yeah, looking forward to making the most of it.”

He may not be familiar with the race yet, but he is familiar with the work ethic Evans alludes to and the sacrifices required not just at a Grand Tour but in preparation for one. Hindley has been focused on his craft since he was a kid.

“I started quite young, when I was six years old, and already then it was something that I wanted to do as a job. I wanted to be a professional cyclist,” said Hindley.

“My parents helped facilitate that dream and really supported me through the years, even though I wasn’t probably anything too crash hot at the start.

“It was a process for me and years and years of working hard and putting in the hours and training and effort and everything. And that made me what I am today, I guess.”

Evans follows Hindley and O’Connor more as a fan than confidante but spoke with the former about his race program over the Australian summer and encouraged him not to focus specifically on a podium result in his Tour debut.

“It’s more for him doing what he did last year but transferring it a little bit later in the year towards the Tour,” said Evans.

“I think for Jai, go in, see what he can do and take it from there, rather than go with an expectation, maybe not get anywhere near that and then therefore an otherwise good race may become a negative experience.”

4th In 2021, Can Ben O’Connor Make The Podium?

The Tour is unforgiving and has twice now tested O’Connor’s resolve, to different results.

The 27-year-old is also from Perth but started cycling a lot later than Hindley, after he’d finished high-school.

French team AG2R Citroen showed great faith in O’Connor, selecting him for the Tour in his first year with the squad, which he transferred to from the now defunct NTT team in 2021.  

“…With the Netflix series released weeks before the Grand Depart, this year’s edition may be even more amplified than usual…”

On debut he crashed during stage one after Tony Martin collided with a distracted spectator wielding a large cardboard sign but was determined to finish the race in which he later celebrated a solo stage victory in the Alps and placed fourth overall, joining Evans, Richie Porte and Phil Anderson as the only Australians to have placed top five at the Tour.

“It was only the team’s stubbornness to keep me riding every single day to finish as far forward as I can that kept me in this GC battle where that fourth overall happened,” O’Connor said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of that whole race because of where it started and how it finished were just the opposite.”

His 2022 campaign was also marred by a crash on the first stage, but one which O’Connor ultimately could not bounce back from.

“That was not my race over per se but I had pain in my hip for the rest of the race, until I think stage seven, where eventually the muscle just went and then voila, I was very down and out at that point with a torn glute,” he recalled.

At the end of stage nine, on which the year before he’d celebrated victory on the first summit finish of the race in a wintry Tignes, O’Connor instead gingerly dismounted his bike, limped to his team bus, and soon after abandoned.  

“I managed to finish two stages with that [torn glute],” O’Connor said. “I remember, I didn’t throw my bike, I just got off my bike straight away, gave it to the [sports director] and said, ‘I’m not starting after the rest day.’  He’s like, ‘You can recover,’ I said, ‘No, I told you I’m not starting. It’s over.’”

It was a frustrating albeit valuable lesson.

“To go from the highs of 2021 to then really struggling in the last Tour de France was pretty hard … but you learn a lot about trying to be aware that something is always going to go wrong at some point,” O’Connor said of his outdoor arena that is exposed to the elements and endless variables.

Evans was cautious as to how cold and transient professional sport can be when he in February expressed hope that AG2R Citroen wouldn’t forget O’Connor’s maiden effort.

“I hope his team has still got a lot of faith in him because cycling is funny, cycling is a bit cruel where you sort of, for the Tour, they remember a year ago,” he said then.

“But for him, I think he might have to, it’s more he has to prove himself again because otherwise unfortunately cycling will forget about him.”

AG2R Citroen confirmed in May that O’Connor was on course for the Tour, and at the time was undergoing a training camp at altitude. He was consistent through the European spring, with a 13th place finish at Tirreno-Adriatico and 14th in the Volta a Catalunya. Hindley was 15th and eighth, respectively.

The importance of teamwork at the Tour, is not lost on O’Connor whose objective this year is what he hopes it will always be: striving for the general classification.

“I want to one day see if I can finish on the podium. That would be the absolute dream,” O’Connor said.

“But the Tour is based on preparation; you don’t just rock up with a lot of talent and hey presto there you go. You have to be very, very well prepared as an individual and also as a team, and you need your team with you.

“Without a team you’re nothing,” O’Connor continued. “You rely so much on the boys not only in that whole racing scene but also afterwards, when your [team]mate next to you in the [hotel] room, if he’s had a bad day, you can console him, or chat to him. It would be the same for me. It’s really nice how you try to build a team to be together and we all have to be on the same page to perform.”

Celebrated Australian puncheur Michael Matthews (Jayo Alula) is set to skip the Tour this year, after competing at the Giro and with a view to the world championships in August, but Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) is expected to compete, aiming to re-establish himself as the benchmark fast man in bunch sprints.

He’ll face stiff competition, from his contemporaries, emerging names and British veteran Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan), who is aiming to eclipse the all-time stage win record he shares with Eddy Merckx before retiring at the end of the season.

The Tour starts in Bilbao on July 1 and concludes in Paris on July 24. Bicycling Australia’s 2023 Tour de France coverage is proudly presented by www.rouvy.com

The post La Grande Boucle: 2023 Tour de France Overview By Sophie Smith appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

Virtual training, smart training, indoor training. Whichever way you describe it, there can be no denying it has completely changed the way a huge percentage of cyclists maintain, retain and improve fitness. 

From entry-level riders, to keen amateurs and even top-level professionals, smart training through online platforms has arguably been the biggest game-changer in cycling over the past decade or so. 

Options abound in the virtual training space, with a variety of different platforms to suit differing personal tastes and riders of all persuasions.

We’ve recently been spending time on one such platform, and that’s ROUVY. Hugely popular in the northern hemisphere and probably not as well known here in the antipodes, there’s a fascinating real-life backstory to this augmented reality training platform.

Created by two Czech brothers who were mad-keen summertime cyclists, Petr and Jiri Samek trained indoors during Prague’s bitterly cold winters back in the early 2000s. 

“Everybody knows winter cycling is boring,” says Petr. 

“We thought about how to make things more interesting, how to motivate ourselves to ride everyday indoors to be ready for outdoor riding and races.” Yes, this was back in 2003! 

Jump forward to 2009 and the brothers were working on a central online cycling hub that housed virtual tours and training diaries. From there the platform went from strength to strength, and by 2017 had evolved to be what we now know as Rouvy — an interactive training platform that combines real life video of some of the world’s best-known cycling routes, with the use of Augmented Reality, immersive technology that places your own personal avatar on those dream roads.

With cooler days and less morning and afternoon light in the lead up to winter, we’ve recently been riding ROUVY to A: get a feel for the platform, B: re-ride some dreamy overseas locations, and C: research the top reasons we’d ride ROUVY.

Structured Training Plans: ROUVY offers a variety of structured training plans designed to improve your cycling performance. These plans typically include a progressive series of workouts targeting different aspects of overall fitness such as endurance, strength, speed, and power. Following a well-designed training plan can help you build a solid foundation, increase your aerobic capacity, and develop specific cycling skills. 

Power-Based Training: ROUVY is compatible with power meters and smart trainers, allowing you to train based on power output. Power-based training is highly effective in optimising performance because it provides accurate and objective data on your effort level. By consistently training at specific power zones, you can improve your muscular endurance, increase your lactate threshold, and enhance overall power output. 

Interval Training: ROUVY enables you to perform structured interval training sessions. Intervals involve alternating periods of high-intensity effort with recovery periods. These workouts are an effective way to improve your anaerobic capacity, increase your VO2 max, and enhance your ability to sustain high-intensity efforts. The virtual routes and resistance adjustments on smart trainers can simulate the terrain and intensity variations needed for effective interval training. 

Hill Climbing and Simulating Terrain: ROUVY offers a variety of virtual routes, including those with challenging climbs and descents. Climbing is an excellent way to build leg strength and improve your ability to sustain efforts at high gradients.

By tackling virtual hills on ROUVY, you can simulate the feel of real-world climbs and train your muscles and cardiovascular system to handle the actual challenges.

We are loving the graphic interface and riding epic old haunts such as Alpe d’Huez and the Stelvio … it’s so realistic and brings back fantastic (if painful) memories.

Time Trial and Race Simulation: ROUVY allows you to participate in virtual time trials and races. These events can help you improve your race-specific skills, including pacing, positioning, and tactical decision-making.

By competing against other riders in a virtual environment you can push your limits, experience race-like scenarios, and gain valuable experience in handling competitive pressure.  

Monitoring: ROUVY provides detailed performance data and analytics, allowing you to track your progress over time. You can monitor your training load, track improvements in power output or speed, and analyse your performance metrics.

This feedback helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses, identify areas for improvement, and make informed adjustments to your training plan.

Accessibility: These platforms enable individuals to participate in various training programs and workouts regardless of their geographical location. Users can access a wide range of virtual routes and training plans, making it convenient for people living in areas with limited outdoor training options or specific terrain requirements. 

Time Efficiency: Indoor training platforms offer structured workouts that are time-efficient and tailored to specific goals. Users can make the most of their training sessions by focusing on targeted efforts, optimising training time, and maximising results within a shorter duration.

Safety: By training indoors riders can avoid potential hazards associated with outdoor activities, such as traffic and cold mornings. I must say it’s a great feeling to be be warm, cozy and working up a sweat inside, training while watching the morning news or having the stereo blaring. 

Our Thoughts: Overall, we’ve found the platform to be particularly engaging, interesting, and captivating to ride. Looking for an indoor alternative to supplement and help develop your outdoor cycling this winter? We’d highly recommend checking it out.

To find out more visit www.ROUVY.com

The post First Ride With ROUVY: Indoor Training Meets Augmented Reality appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

For the first time in half a century, the 2024 Tour De France will not finish on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Instead, Nice is the end point of La Grande Boucle 2024 with a time trial. This will be the first time the race has finished with competitive racing since Greg LeMond beat Laurent Fignon by 58 seconds in the final-day time trial to win his second Tour by the narrowest margin in history, eight seconds.  

The unique finale location is a fantastic opportunity to experience Le Tour by premium river cruise.

Events At Sea has partnered with A-Rosa cruises and Thomson Bike Tours, to create a 13 day cycling tour and river cruise trip of a lifetime. You will get so close that you will become part of the greatest race on earth. In the eye of the storm – riding, watching and celebrating a sporting event like no other.  

Experience fantastic rides on iconic roads, intercept the race at strategic locations combined with an authentic French immersion experience, including local gastronomic delights.

The trip aims to offer the most rewarding cycling experiences imaginable.  

Peter Thomson, CEO of Thompson Bike Tours says “There are few better environments to do that than at the Tour de France, where we are privileged with unrivalled access to the race. Together with our partners Events At Sea, we want you to enjoy that experience with us; to join our expert cyclists, to make yourself proud and to create everlasting memories.”

With both a rider and non-rider experience, we have catered for cycling enthusiast and their partners to experience the Tour de France together like never before!

For full details on the 2024 TDF Cycling Tour and River Cruise plus an E-BROCHURE, visit eventsatsea.com.au/eventsandtours or phone 1800 329 136

The post Combine Cycling With River Cruising For The 2024 Tour de France appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

The first hair loss warning signs were uncovered in a US study in 2005: high physical and mental performance generates harmful stress with negative consequences for the hair, as a German pilot study* has subsequently revealed.

Testosterone plays a key role in this finding. During high-stress periods and physical exercise, both testosterone and the stress hormone cortisol experience an increase. The result is a lack of energy, quickly noticeable in the hair roots, and hair loss is the consequence.

Cycling types that are particularly at risk are race and marathon. Both consciously go to the limits of their physical capabilities at extreme speeds.

Fortunately, sportspeople affected by possible hair loss can now do something about it. These days, hair loss can be specifically targeted, for example, by using Alpecin Caffeine Liquid Forte, a hair tonic containing caffeine. Its caffeine complex improves hair growth and recharges your hair daily to maintain a full and strong appearance.

Caffeine is nothing for sportspeople to worry about, as it is no longer on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited substances list. Caffeine can be safely used without reservation, not just in the form of coffee but as a means of preventing hair loss.

This fact differentiates caffeine from other substances, such as finasteride, which are prohibited and have already led to positive doping findings.

Win Alpecin Shampoo

Bicycling Australia readers have the chance to win one of 10 incredible prize packs, each worth a whopping $380!

You’ll score shampoo, a Team Alpecin Jersey and more. Simply follow the link here to enter the competition.

The Prize Prize Package Includes

1x Jersey

1x Shorts

1x Cycling cap

1x Drink Bottle

1x Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo 375ml

The prize will be drawn on the 31st of July, 2023. 

*Source: Pilot study involving professional and amateur handball players. The pros involved are under contract with the Handball-Bundesliga club TBV Lemgo (Germany). Study was conducted by SALUTO (Halle, Westphalia) and Dr. Wolff Research (Bielefeld).

The post Win Alpecin Gear: Athletes at Higher Risk of Hair Loss  appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

We caught up with Robbie while he was mid-way between Australia and France, during a noisy airport transfer with the non-stop PA blaring in the background. But this wasn’t a problem for Robbie, he’s a no-nonsense, knockabout bloke who takes curveballs in his stride and simply gets things done.

Bicycling Australia: Robbie, thanks so much for speaking with us, and thanks for gracing the pages many times over the years and helping us sell a lot of magazines.

Robbie McEwen: (Laughs) No worries, I’m glad to help out and hope it’s going well.

BA: Well, here we go again, the 110th edition of the world’s greatest sporting spectacle is on. It will be your third as part of the GCN worldwide commentary team – how does the lead-up to this year’s Tour feel to you?

RM: There sure is a buzz and more interest year after year. I think the ongoing Pogacar / Vingegaard battle is helping – I have the impression a lot of people think this tour is Pogacar’s, but it’s going to be a lot harder for him than last year. I think Vingegard will win, but I also think he’ll have to work even harder for the result.

GCN and commentary wise – we’ve been getting some fantastic feedback and messages from people all around the world.

The audience has really grown. What’s really impressive is the worldwide feedback – viewers from the US, South Africa, the UK, Ireland, right across Europe, and viewers from surprising and obscure places.

The team is always expanding and many of us have ridden the Tour so we know it, plus we work so well together and have a lot of fun doing what we do.

So maybe it’s not surprising how much the coverage has grown, but we’re definitely buoyed by how massive the audience is.

People are getting what they want, they’re enjoying it, and we love putting it together.

BA: You seemed to land on your feet with the new team after all that SBS turmoil and nonsense. Looking back, how was that time for you, from the end of SBS to that fresh start with GCN?

RM: First of all I didn’t announce the news immediately. By the time I said I wasn’t going to be with SBS, GCN had offered me the gig. For me, it wasn’t too turbulent at all … I was sorted and really happy because I knew where I was heading.

That said, and just like it would be for anyone, I didn’t enjoy the feeling of being unjustly done … particularly when we had such a connection with viewers. And the viewers let me know! The encouragement and support was phenomenal.

BA: Well I wish I had shares in an Australian VPN company, I know a lot of people who have signed up for international access!

RM: (Laughs) VPNs? I’m not at liberty to discuss them, I don’t know what they are, I’ve never heard of them. But I know a lot of people are buying them.

BA: To this year’s Tour, and it really does look like make or break for Caleb Ewan?

RM: Yes, it’s a very rough run he seems to be having, with photo finishes and a number of crashes. Whatever tactics he has tried, it’s just not been working out for him. Earlier on he had some encouraging results. But then at the Tour of Belgium he just didn’t seem to have the legs.

One thing I know about being a sprinter is this – you can try absolutely everything and nothing seems to work out for you.

But the key is trying to never lose that overall confidence. It just takes one good ride, on any day, and that standout performance can save the entire season.

BA: Do you speak to Caleb or offer tips and encouragement?

RM: I message him occasionally but at the moment I’m doing some work with Dylan Groenewegen and GreenEDGE. It’s nothing personal against Caleb, just some mentoring and coaching I’ve been asked to do with the team. It would be a conflict to have too much to do with the competition, it’s as simple as that.

BA: And Cavendish. He needs one more stage win to pip Eddy Merckx and get that 35th stage victory. Can he do it? Do you think he’ll get the record?

RM: I’m saying 99% no, based on the opposition he’s now facing.

So many things have to go right for Cavendish at the Tour. With no disrespect, it’s a different level in France than at the Giro (where he won the final stage). At the Tour he’ll be up again Jacobsen, Philipsen, Van Aert, Groenewagen, Caleb … To think that at least one of them wont be included in any sprint Cav is going for, well that’s very unlikely.

Plus he just doesn’t have the leadout. So I’m saying 99% no. That said, we all know Mark Cavendish just needs a 1% chance, and he’s done it before. So I’m not going to write him off completely.

BA: It’s incredible to think you were duelling with Cav, while a 13yo Caleb Ewan was no doubt watching on TV, and nowadays those two are battling it out and you’re calling it!

RM: When Cavendish came on and won his first stage I was 36 years old. He was a little chubby faced guy, just out of the teenage years. On the other hand, I was near the end of my career when he came in.

Then Caleb came through mid-way through Cavendish’s career. There are new guys coming through all time … and plenty more of them these days.

BA: There are 12 Australian riders lining up at the start – the likes of Jai Hindley, Ben O’Connor, Jack Haig, Chris Harper, Simon Clarke, Michael Matthews, Durbo … What’s the McEwen crystal ball telling you?

RM: I’m going to go with Jai and Ben in the top 10. In fact, I’m upping that to the top 6.

And, in my opinion, the podium is not out of the question for either of them. So far as this year’s course goes, I reckon Ben can get the podium.

Overall, I’m looking forward to seeing some Aussies up there on stages, seeing Simon Clarke get into more breaks, and seeing Vin and Pog battle it out for the win. I think Wout sees himself riding for the Green Jersey, and Philipsen wants green as well. But it sure is a very strong line up of Aussies which is great to see.

BA: Finally to coverage, and it looks like the GCN team have an absolute blast on set.

RM: We do, I always look forward to our shows and catching up with everyone. We always have a good laugh during commentary. I enjoy the analysis with Dan Lloyd and Adam Blythe – we’ve all raced it and know the ins and outs.

The main thing is the audience are enjoying it, we’re enjoying it, and often having a great laugh at the same time. Sometimes you don’t have to take every second of every day so seriously – it’s a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to the start of this year’s Tour.

GCN+ / Warner Bros 2023 Tour de France coverage can not be seen live in Australia this year. That said, we know of numerous Tour tragics who successfully use a VPN to enjoy universal access.

Warner Bros Discovery and GCN+ will broadcast Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift live and ad-free in Australia, with all racing available on demand and as highlights.

GCN+ will have Tour de France long highlights on demand. 

The GCN+ app also features close to 200 cycling films – we’ve seen many of these and can vouch for the immense quality and depth of content.

A big thanks to Rouvy who are supporting Bicycling Australia’s TDF coverage – you can check out their impressive augmented reality training platform at www.Rouvy.com

The post Robbie McEwen On The Tour De France, GCN Commentary, Sprinters, The GC + More appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

A quicker, lighter and more refined gravel bike that’s versatile enough to be raced, ridden to work, or pedalled around the world.

Seems a pipe dream doesn’t it, but that’s what New Zealand bike brand Chapter 2 seem to have created with their new KAHA race gravel offering.

A frameset-only company, the KAHA is Chapter 2’s second gravel-specific bike after the AO, a more upright and traditional endurance gravel steed. Like its road-focused siblings the RERE, HURU, TOA, TERE and KOKO, the AO and new KAHA showcase the brand’s signature point of difference – stunning attention to detail.

The paintwork and artwork on these bikes needs to be seen to be believed, and although it’s designed for hardcore events like Unbound Gravel, the blue / grey finish on our review KAHA is sublime.

Picking up a KAHA review bike during January’s Tour Down Under, we’d arranged for the test rig to be built up with a SRAM Force AXS 1x drivetrain with a 40T up front and 10/44 cassette. Wheel wise, we selected Black Inc’s Thirty Four carbon gravel wheels and have fitted numerous width tubeless tyres to these fine hoops during the extended test period.

To the saddle and round 27.2mm post, we fitted a carbon post with lightweight frame and saddle clamp along with Fizik’s impressive Vento Argo power-style gravel saddle.

8kg Build With Pedals & Bags

The review bike is also fitted with a new gravel-specific flared one-piece carbon bar and stem from Chapter 2, the MANA GRVL bar. At 330g, and combined with the 1099g frame and 409g fork, helps keep the real build weight down to around 8kgs – that’s with Black Inc Thirty Four gravel wheels and a bottle cage fitted.

That impressive build weight complements the bike’s aero credentials and overall ‘go fast’ look, feel and stance. The KAHA definitely takes aero design cues from its road-oriented siblings the RERE and particularly the KOKO, the race gravel machine featuring subtle sculpting throughout the frame, integrated cabling through the one-piece MANA cockpit and a lean, less is more type overall look.

Tyre and fork wise, there’s space for up to 47mm of rubber on either 650b or 700c wheels. Talking the forks – and just about the entire frameset for that matter – and the bike is absolutely riddled with attachment points for bottle cages, fenders and luggage racks. In fact, we counted 24 of them! This race gravel bike screams versatility and is ready for pretty well any customisation idea or adventure trip you can conjure up.

Downtube Storage

Staying on the storage side, the downtube incorporates a sealed compartment. Flick a small lever alongside the downtube bottle cage, and a removable black hatch can be lifted off. Inside is the included neoprene bag that’s designed to hold a spare tube, tools and / or accessories. The padded nature of the neoprene bag allows for secure storage and protection of the inner frame.

To the underside of the downtube, and there’s a rubberised protective plate to cushion and deflect wayward rocks and gravel. Mounting holes are also fitted to allow the rider to carry a third bottle in that underframe area. To the all-important bottom bracket – with sealing and reliability more critical than ever when it comes to dust and gravel – and the KAHA takes a T47 threaded BB.

To the ride, and more a performance / race platform than its sibling the AO which is more adventure-oriented, this KAHA feels fast from the outset. Like all Chapter 2 framesets, the naming convention follows Maori lines and KAHA translates, quite appropriately, to ‘Power & Strength’.

Taking just one bike on a week-long road and gravel cycling trip is always going to be prefaced with days of decision making. The Kaha made the choices a lot easier, it’s impressive all-round abilities and overall comfort and ‘rideability’ making it a legitimate one-bike solution. 

We took the KAHA to the cycling paradise of Victoria’s High Country. There we rode the bike daily on all manner of surfaces including Mansfield gravel, the picturesque Dartmouth Dam and nearby rough country roads, and on to the silky smooth bitumen of the famed Mt Buffalo and Hotham climbs. Hopping off that high-altitude Hotham bitumen, the bike performed equally well on the high country’s shaley gravel trails.

On steeper and faster descents it tracked well and rolled reassuringly. The flared bars offered a high level of control on the road, particularly on fast and sweeping corners.

Fit 32 or 35mm road tyres, and for a gravel race bike the KAHA climbs surprisingly well. Stomp on the pedals and the 8kg KAHA is quick to respond and accelerates well.

You can feel the stiffness of the bottom bracket and beefiness of both dropped chainstays through the frame. But there’s also a feeling of comfort and compliance through the upper sections and ergonomic carbon bars.

The medium-sized review bike has a 571mm stack, 395mm reach and 72-degree head angle, plus a wheelbase of 1024mm. Stability and overall comfort have been two of the standout points – it’s a well-balanced bike that feels firmly planted on a variety of surfaces.

With fully concealed cabling, the aero handlebar, and a lower front profile, the bike is fast and feels efficient on both road and the wide range of gravel surfaces we’ve used it on.

We are yet to test the bike with narrower more road-specific tyres such as 28 or 30mm. But given the overall feel of the bike with 32, 35 and 40mm tyres on the road, you get the distinct impression the KAHA would be an even more versatile all-rounder with a second wheelset shod with skinnies.

Summing Up

Summing up, and having ridden and tested a very wide range of gravel and all-road bikes over the past few years, Chapter 2’s KAHA certainly stands out from the pack. While the New Zealand-based bike company is far more boutique than a bigger, mainstream brand, Ch2 certainly have a knack for creating world-class bikes. That’s precisely what they have done with the KAHA.

It’s up there as one of the most versatile, comfortable and capable gravel bikes currently available. 

The post Chapter 2 KAHA Tested In Victoria’s High Country  appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

If ever there was a classic example of the saying ‘build it and they will come’, it would have to be the Central West Cycle Trail in New South Wales.

What started out as the ambitious plans of a handful of enthusiastic locals keen to guide people to safe cycling opportunities and attract more visitors to their wider region, has developed into an increasingly popular cycling destination.

Yes, we are talking about the Central West Cycling Trail, a four-hundred-kilometre gravel loop that takes in the regional NSW towns of Dunnedoo, Mendooran, Ballimore, Dubbo, Geurie, Wellington, Goolma, Gulgong and Mudgee.

Known as the CWC (Central West Cycling), the trail is well-marked with hundreds of yellow CWC decals on signs, stores and even letter boxes of welcoming locals along the way. Well-supported by visionary locals – from residents to farmers, hoteliers, publicans, cafes, motels and other businesses along the way – the trail attracts thousands of eager cycling tourists each year and is fast becoming a ‘must-do’ destination ride.

How It Started

It was mid-morning, we’d covered a reasonably taxing 40 or so kilometres, and we were sitting on the expansive front veranda of historic grazing property Cobbora Station. Sipping coffee, enjoying neatly-cut sandwiches, and eyeing off a plate of freshly-baked scones, it was fascinating to listen as station co-owner Sally Dent explained the history of the home, and how the region was adapting with the times.

A local school teacher and keen advocate of cycling tourism, Sally told us how 150 years or so ago Cobbora Station, that sits just off the Golden Highway was a designated Cobb & Co stop.

Complete with rudimentary accommodation that included a locked ‘strangers room’ for travellers, these days the station has morphed from a Cobb & Co stop to a popular destination for touring cyclists. Sipping a second coffee and tucking into those famous scones, it was easy to imagine a slow-moving coach appearing up the long driveway before the weary travellers make their way to rudimentary rooms.

These days, some two centuries later, Cobbora Station does much the same by hosting weary cyclists in purpose-built accommodation that ranges from boutique cottages through to a re-purposed shearing shed.

‘Hundreds of kilometresof quiet roads’

Yes, six magic words that would have to be music to any cyclist’s ears, but where’s the best place to start?

The CWC trail follows the quiet backroads in a circuit through Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo, Mendooran, Ballimore, Dubbo, Geurie, Wellington and Goolma. Yes, that’s a fair few country towns – places that have significantly changed. Typically, the smaller towns have lost businesses and become a lot quieter over recent decades – so the idea of attracting bicycle tourists to the region is a popular one.

In the planning stage, the passionate locals behind the CWC say they poured over maps, rode all possible routes, and worked out a potential circuit.

“We wanted, above all, to create safe cycling routes,” they say. “And provide commercial opportunities to the villages, towns and farms along the way. We chose a circuit so that cyclists could begin and end at the same place and join the trail from any direction. We came up with a variety of options and the team set out to cycle and drive them all.”

“As cyclist numbers grew the local businesses along the way saw opportunity; the clients were riding right past their doors.”

“…Still in its relative infancy, the CWC has attracted tens of thousands of riders over the past few years…”

Businesses included accommodation, refreshments, farm stays and tours, local produce artisan demonstrations such as cheese making and distilleries, charities, tour support, bike hire and repairs. Some were expansions of existing businesses while others were completely new. These many businesses became our stakeholders.

Along the route, there are a handful of busier sections of road, sectors that need to be ridden to get to the next quieter section, but in our time out there drivers seemed to respect riders and give a wide berth.

The majority of the circuit takes in predominantly well-kept gravel roads and is primarily made up of 10 sectors that can be down to the following:

Mudgee to Gulgong (30km)

Gulgong to Dunedoo (50km)

Dunedoo to Mendooran ( two routes – via Digilah (51km) or via Cobborah (63km)

Mendooran to Ballimore (60km)

Ballimore to Dubbo (55km)

Dubbo to Geurie (28km)

Geurie to Wellington (30km)

Wellington to Goolma (48km)

Goolma to Gulgong (30km)

Gulgong to Mudgee (30km)

Armed with that information, it’s clear to see this is a ride for a wide range of cycling enthusiasts – from tourers content to cover 30 to 50km a day, those who are more comfortable with 80 to 100km rides, and even those keen on the ultimate CWC challenge of a fast loop (search for it on YouTube!).

Mudgee and historic Gulgong are popular starting points, as is the smaller town of Wellington and the regional centre of Dubbo. With those various entry points in mind, let’s take a look at the highlights along the way.

Where To Stop

Dunedoo

Dunedoo – it’s such a classic name for an Australian town and it really is a memorable place to stop for food, fuel and rest. We found the ‘Dunedooians’ to be very welcoming of cyclists with coloured bikes hanging outside the pub and other small businesses proudly showing off the CWC logo.

Dunedoo highlights include:

The Royal Hotel, accommodation and secure bike storage.

Accommodation at the Dunedoo Swan Motel.

Stay Dunedoo Caravan Park

A B&B cottage: ‘the Caddy Shack’.

Sue Graham’s Redbank Gums Bed & Breakfast (0428751218).

Sue Stoddart’s flat and motor home accommodation (0458524445)

The White Rose Cafe that has breakfast, lunch and refreshments & located in the main street.

There are two bakeries in town.

Dinners at the Dunedoo Hotel, the Dunedoo Bowling Club (on weekends) and the Dunedoo Sports Club.

Farm Stay on the way into Dunedoo at ‘Bolinda Vale’ –’Dunedoo Shearer’s Huts’.

The local Thrifty Link is starting to stock repair materials for cyclists and looking to sell bike tubes.

Cobbora

25km from Dunedoo by bicycle on backroads is Cobbora Station, offering cottage beds, camping and meal options. (0498542689)

Dubbo

Famous for Taronga Western Plains Zoo, you can ride your bike direct to the zoo. Once you sort out entry, you can even follow the pathway around the zoo! Featuring giraffes, lions, elephants, cheetahs, tigers and many other creatures great and small, the open plan zoo is well worth visiting.

Dubbo offers a myriad of accommodation both in hotels, motels, camping and Bed & Breakfasts, and special camping at the Zoo (02 6884 1700). Cyclists have told CWC organisers some of their favourite accommodation options including East End Apartments and camping at the Zoo!

Mudgee

Enjoy great wine and sensational cycling? Cellar doors abound around Mudgee, and we all know how good the road and gravel riding is around the region. Market St is a great place for coffee and a big breakfast. Just across the road, you can find out about all the things to see and do at the Visitor Information Centre. There are plenty of good pubs in town with many also offering accommodation.

Gulgong

Historic Gulgong, what a town. The narrow roads meander around a small village that is much the same as it was during the gold rush boom period of the 1870s. The Holtermann Museum in Mayne St is a must-see and offers a fascinating insight into Australia’s Gold Rush years. The afternoon we were in town we spent a full afternoon at the Gulgong Pioneer Museum in Herbert Street. Yes, it was raining outside, but the museum proved to be the perfect place to stay occupied.

Gulgong is a very popular start and finish point for many riders. There are many great coffee shops such as The Butcher Shop Café and Gulgong bakery.

Accommodation options include the Prince of Wales hotel, The Showground camping area and the infamous Ten Dollar Town Motel.

Wellington

Wellington offers a wide variety of accommodation in hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts plus cafes and places for a great meal.

Options include:

The Riverside Caravan Park welcomes cyclists and has on-site cabins and a camp kitchen.

The Lion of Waterloo hotel at Montefiores

The Bridge Motel

Jespresso Coffee Co is very popular with cyclists.

Arthurs View café

Birriwa

A smaller and quieter town, but still some limited facilities for riders just outside town including:

Refreshments at Mayfield at 591 Bus Route South – but you need to book ahead.

A farm stay at Roxanna on Bus Route South with accommodation for up to 4 riders.

Mendooran

A smaller village with food and lodging options including:

The Royal Hotel (02688862043) accommodation, dinner and lunches.

Crackerz Bakery in Bandulla Street

Manusu House and Cabin, has been upgraded to accommodate cyclists.

The Mendooran Black Gate Distillery

The Sky Blue Cheese factory offers cheese-making demonstrations to cyclists

Mendooran B & B, in a former pub with a lovely dining room.

Wongarbon

Another small village that features:

Billy’O Bush Retreat on Barbigal Road – also an option to park a vehicle for the week as a start/finish point.

The Wongarbon Post Office does fantastic scones for morning tea if pre-warned!

‘’Peppercorn Cottage’, behind the Post Office sleeps four.

Wongarbon Hotel open from 12-noon for lunch & dinner.

Geurie

A very small village that welcomes cyclists and has several outlets for coffee. The local pub, the Mitchell Inn, also has accommodation for cyclists.

Ballimore

Cold beer, great food and good country accommodation at the pub, The Hair of the Dog.

Goolma

Goolma is little more than a locality but the Goolma Hall, managed by the Goolma Amenities committee, is made available to passing cyclists. E-bikes can recharge there for a small fee. They have also provided fresh water to passing cyclists.

A local, Jean Ellis offers farm stay and is now well known on the trail for providing morning tea or lunch.

Nearby an old farmhouse has been fantastically renovated for a quiet country stay.

Getting To The Central West

Still in its relative infancy, the CWC has attracted thousands of riders over the past few years.

Driving to any of the start points is popular, but there’s something very special about leaving the car at home and taking a train-based cycling trip.

But many supporters of the trail initiative say success could be vastly improved if Transport for NSW, the department that looks after Trainlink and the state’s regional railways, relaxed rules over the carriage of bikes.

Under the present rules, bikes can be taken on a regional train however they must be dismantled and packed into a box. By comparison, trains on the urban Opal network allow riders to roll an unboxed bike straight on.

“To take bikes on Endeavour, XPT or Explorer trains, the bikes must be dismantled, boxed and they can’t weigh over 20kg,” Tim Coen from Rail Trails NSW recently told 7 News Riverina.

Riders have been petitioning rail authorities and citing examples of the popularity of train-based bike trips in Europe and many other countries.

Members of the CWC Committee have put a lot of work into the bikes on trains issue. To see a PDF of their elaborate notes on the topic visit www.centralwestcycletrail.com.au

They are also asking the public to have their say on the issue via the feedback section on the www.transportnsw.info/contactus page.

Summing It All Up

Writing this around 6-weeks after the last trip to the trail, we are absolutely itching to get back. It offers safe, mesmerising and iconically Australian cycling, and is a truly memorable cycling experience. With immense credit to the locals who dreamt up the CWC and established it in such a relatively short space of time, it has quickly become New South Wales’ top ‘must ride’ cycling trail.

Our tip – whatever you do, ride the CWC. It’s a truly memorable experience. 

Keen To Ride It? For more on the CWC visit www.centralwestcycletrail.com.au. Organisers are currently compiling a guidebook and this is expected to be available soon. It’s also well worth joining their popular Facebook group. Search the ‘Central West Cycling Trail’.

^{Supporting Locals}

A key premise of the trail is that small towns benefit enormously from the creation of cycling tourism and the far-reaching opportunities it delivers.

Mudgee’s David Allworth, a member of the close-knit team behind the trail, said the grassroots initiative had wide and far-reaching potential for the greater region.

“Even a kid on the side of the road with a table of 10 fruit juices will sell something to passing cyclists,” he told us.

“Cyclists seek to carry a minimum, and arriving at a town like Dunedoo will likely be looking for afternoon tea, accommodation, dinner, breakfast and supplies to cover the next 60km to Mendooran.”

He explained how CWC riders are generally looking for a town every 30 to 60km.

“There’s not the option of winding up the car windows, turning on the air conditioning and keeping the foot on the accelerator to get to a larger centre,” he said.

“Cyclists love their food – it is as essential for cyclists as petrol is for a car. If the news gets out that someone is serving tasty scones along the way, the itinerary is changed and the venue booked.”

“Word gets out quickly, and the talk in the peloton becomes focussed on highlights along the way such as ‘how far to the famous scones?’”

The smell of scones from 50 km away will lure cyclists, he said.

Top Local Tips

And David’s local tips for visiting riders?

“Take some time to soak up the character of the towns – even the tiny ones,” he said.

“Mendooran is your classic small town which has been battered by the bank leaving and the now fast road to bigger centres.

“The mission style Mendooran Mechanics Institute was built just after the Great Depression of the early 1930s from funds raised from within the community. This shows what a vibrant town it was in days gone by.

“At its time of construction, a regional centre would have been very proud of it.

“That community ‘can do’ attitude and the people’s faith in the town is shown by the recently-opened Blue Sky Cheese and Mendooran Cottages.

“Take time to talk to the locals,” he suggested.

“Blue Cheese proprietor Deb Kiem has ridden hundreds of kilometres through outback Australia,” he continued. “All done on a 3-speed bicycle and often she slept in culverts.”

And another locals’ tip for those really wanting to get off the beaten track?

“If you really want to get away from cars, the Goonoo State Conservation leg is for you,” he said.

“Lying between Ballimore and Mendooran, this has become one of the highlights of the trail.

“These fire trails offer hours of quiet cycling, but make sure you have your mapping sorted out. Signage won’t lead you through.

“Wider tyres are recommended and not too much pressure in them – yes, you really want to have a bike pump with you.

“Novice riders have handled it with aplomb, but you need to keep an eye on the changing surface. Know your skill level because a few short sandy sections will test you out, and never be afraid to get off and push your bike through.

“In the southern section of the trail, Wongarbon is a surprise package of wonderfully treed streets amongst the wheatlands.

“Nearby Dubbo is the hub of the Orana region which has a gross agricultural revenue of $2 billion, that is a lot of food. Having arrived to the railway line at Wongarbon towns are closer together, Dubbo 20 km to the west, and Geurie 12km, and Wellington a further 30 km.

“Speaking of Geurie, a number of cyclists have taken off the luggage panniers and set off on the MTB trails on Bald Hill immediately behind the town. But leave enough energy in the legs for the sharp climb up Mt Arthur to arrive in Wellington 30km away.”

More at www.centralwestcycletrail.com.au

The post Riding NSW’s Central West Cycle Trail appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

This addition marks Officina Battaglin’s first foray into the endurance road bike realm with a premium frame that grants the smooth ride feel of handmade steel.

The frame design allows for tire sizes up to 35 mm, making it a versatile choice to transition between sealed roads and light gravel.

“For many of us, the sense of freedom that comes with exploring unfamiliar and unbeaten roads is what makes a long ride worthwhile,” said Officina Battaglin’s CEO, Alex Battaglin.

“We designed the Grand Tour to satisfy this craving for exploration,”
Showcasing Officina Battaglin’s renowned ‘cromovelato’ finish, the frame exhibits a reflective and deep surface achieved through meticulous craftsmanship. Offering a choice between two distinctive colour options, red and blue, the Grand Tour allows riders to express their individual style.

Availability and Pricing

In 2023, a limited number of just 50 Grand Tour custom framesets will be made available
worldwide. Each will be custom-made according to the rider’s specific measurements after an individual consultation with Giovanni and Alex Battaglin, ensuring a perfect fit.

To emphasise its exclusivity, every Grand Tour frame will bear a numbered plate brazed to the down tube.

The Grand Tour is exclusively available as a disc-brake version to provide riders with superior control and confidence over rougher paths.

For those seeking the ultimate custom experience, Officina Battaglin offers the option of a fully built Grand Tour, with every component tailored to the owner’s needs and preferences.

The price for a Grand Tour 2023 frameset starts at €4000 (around $AU6580) and includes the following –

1. Custom steel frame built from scratch in the Battaglin workshop;
2. Carbon fork
3. Cromovelato finishing (red or blue)
4. Headset parts
5. Individually numbered plate
6. Deda Superzero carbon seatpost
7. Deda Superzero DCR carbon handlebar;
8. Deda Superbox stem;
9. Front and rear axles
10. Certificate of Authenticity signed by Giovanni Battaglin.

The post Officina Battaglin Unveils Stunning Steel Endurance Bike appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

PURE Sports Nutrition was born a decade ago, Marewa saying “my brother Simon and I found there was a noticeable gap in the nutrition market. We were both competitive road cyclists at the time, and we couldn’t find nutrition that we didn’t have to force down while training and racing.”

Tapping into Marewa’s sports nutrition knowledge the pair spent over a year researching and prototyping products. Their ethos was simple, what if they put aside pricing and used solid science and only the best ingredients, to formulate a sports drink? The answer was the beginning of a range that was both enjoyable to drink and of the highest quality. 

Still to this day, every PURE Sports Nutrition product is formulated by Simon and Marewa themselves and vigorously tested by countless numbers of athletes. By the time a product hits the shelves it has well and truly passed the performance test. 

It’s important to remember all sports nutrition starts well before race day.

“We always suggest you try your nutrition in training, experiment and find what works best for you, there shouldn’t be anything new on race day” Marewa emphasised.

In the Days Leading Up To A Race Or Major Event

Use the valuable days leading up to an event to get the most out of your performance. What does this look like? Beet loading from 5 days out. One pouch of PURE Beet Endurance contains 1.6kg of concentrated beet juice, which helps increase blood flow around the body helping more oxygen and nutrients to get to exercising muscles. The freeze-dried powder is super versatile to fit into your day as it mixes easily in fluid.

Prioritising carbohydrate supply (up to 12g/kg/day depending on race duration and gender) helps preload muscle glycogen, allowing you to maximise your endurance stores. Starting any event well hydrated is also a simple yet often overlooked area of nutrition, drinking sports drink in the lead up (PURE Electrolyte Hydration for carbs or PURE Electrolyte Hydration Low Carb for without for example) helps absorb the fluids into the body and ensure electrolyte stores are well balanced.

On Race Day

Fuel early. Fatigue often kicks in before fuelling so begin your nutrition 15 minutes before the starter gun. It doesn’t need to be a massive amount, a gel or a few PURE Energy Chews to top up blood sugar levels will work.

Be sure to spread out hourly nutrition and fluids evenly to provide sustained energy. Generally, events under 2 hours require up to 60g of carbs per hour and longer events up to 90g per hour, so add up the carbs from your nutrition to make sure you’re hitting this goal. It’s key that your nutrition is easy to access too, especially in racing conditions so don’t be afraid to saddle up the bento box or hydro-pack so you can keep focused on the ride.

Prevention is key when it comes to cramp. This can include loading on salts pre-race, drinking electrolytes pre-race and including electrolyte capsules into your race plan to ensure you are replacing salts lost in sweat. Everyone has a different sweat rate so it could be worth getting a personalised sweat rate assessment done to ensure you are ahead of your losses.

Post Race

When it comes to recovery all bases need to be covered! 

Ideally in a fairly quick timeframe, this is why PURE Exercise Recovery was formulated and it will supply carbohydrates, protein and electrolytes and designed to be quickly mixed with water for fluid replacement. Throw in some ice for cooling, it’s the perfect ice-cold chocolate milkshake.

The PURE Sports Nutrition range has you covered to fuel your training, racing and recovery, however, don’t be shy to inject some solid food in there – do what works for you!

Especially in races over 2 hours or over where protein starts to play a bigger role in fuelling. Fat can also be helpful at keeping hunger at bay. 

To get your race fuel sorted visit puresportsnutrition.com. Use code BICYCLINGAU and get $15 off your online order over $50, until the end of July. T’s and C’s apply.

The post Nutrition & Hydration: Fuelling Race Day With PURE + Reader Discount Offer appeared first on Bicycling Australia.