The aim when producing every issue is the same: to showcase cycling. The racing is fascinating. There are personalities we’re getting to know. In Australia we are more familiar with the sport than ever before. And we hope that you enjoy sharing what is happening in competition and with product innovation, and the wide range of other topics raised when talking about the bicycle and why we ride. We round out the 16th year of our magazine, RIDE Cycling Review with issue #64.
Here is the editorial and the contents of a 228 page magazine about cycling. As usual, there’s always more to tell but we can do that in future issues. And we’re also putting the finishing touches to the Australian edition of the Official Tour de France Guide in the coming days, so we’ve kept on telling stories and finding photos that show what is so cool about cycling. It’s beautiful to look at. Wonderful to do. It’s fun to be part of and there is a great community involved. We would like you to see the result of our work: the new issue is now on sale – in bikes shops, newsagents, online or as an e-magazine.
May we present: RIDE #64 – volume 02, 2014.
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Editorial: RIDE 64
“There’s no way to quantify cycling.” Mick Rogers was explaining what is so compelling about his sport. “That’s why a lot of people find it hard to get a general understanding: it is a black art… and I see that people, once they get that basic understanding, really love it.”
According to the triple time trial world champion, there is always more to learn. “No matter how many years of professional cycling you’ve done, you are still a student… You will never understand everything.”
He has lived the life of a pro cyclist for 16 years but at the end of 2013 a contaminated meal caused his career to come to a grinding halt. Four months after his suspension he was exonerated and the UCI issued a landmark ruling: Rogers was free to compete again with no ramification. The student of cycling was back on the bike at the next WorldTour race, the 100th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Australians understand the significance of this one-day Classic: one of five ‘Monuments’ of cycling, the Belgian race is now broadcast live on the other side of the world. People stay up and cheer in the small hours of the morning. They recognise names like La Redoute and appreciate that there is a lot more to this sport than one contest in July alone. And so when Rogers led the bunch to the base of this climb in the Ardennes his comeback was noted but that wasn’t the end of the party for Australian cycling.
Simon Gerrans continues to tick off items on his to-do list and that’s why he appears on the cover for a third time: he is a star who also makes the sport compelling. He states his ambitions at the beginning of each season and, of late, he achieves what he sets out to do. National championships, Tour Down Under victories, Tour de France stage wins and days in the maillot jaune… he’s done it all. Of course he’s also conquered Milan-San Remo and kept the name of his team in the headlines since its inception. And now there is another title on his growing resumé: La Doyenne. He said he’d win it… and he did. He shares the front page with a man clad in pink. We cover the Rogers case, the Classics, and stage races of spring in this issue. We talk about many topics and include photos from the Giro d’Italia’s opening weekend. It’s a great time for Australian cycling. History is being made. We hope you enjoy this edition…
– Rob Arnold
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Contents: RIDE 64
Giro d’Italia gallery: A Grande Partenza for Orica-GreenEdge…
The first Grand Tour of 2014 began in Belfast with a victory for an Australian team and a Canadian in pink… Photos by Graham Watson and Yuzuru Sunada.
Exclusive interview – Mick Rogers: Free to compete again…
Late last year Mick Rogers tested positive for clenbuterol. He was initially angry but then he set about clearing his name. He speaks exclusively to Rob Arnold about his ordeal, his hopes for the Tour de France, his training and much more!
Racing: The Spring Classics
We review the contests that define a season: the Monuments of cycling – from Milan-San Remo to Simon Gerrans’ historic win in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
• Seven days in Spring: results of the one-day Classics on the WorldTour
• Milan-San Remo: a maiden monument victory for Alexander Kristoff
• Ben Swift interview: the Sky sprinter steps onto a Classics podium
• Ronde van Vlaanderen: Fabian Cancellara collects a third title…
• Paris-Roubaix: Niki Terpstra scored a monumental victory
• Mathew Hayman interview: replaying thoughts of his 13th Paris-Roubaix
• Amstel Gold Race: Up the Cauberg… onward to victory for Philippe Gilbert
• Simon Gerrans interview: Another Australian first – Rob Arnold talks to the winner of the ‘The old dame’, the 100th Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Racing: Stage races review
Carlos Betancur, Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodriguez, Jean-Christophe Peraud and Chris Froome all claimed a winner’s jersey early this year… we report on races in France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland
• Giro vs Tour: Pink or yellow? Jean-François Quenet nominates his favourite
• Paris-Nice: a race for a Colombian star, by François Thomazeau
• Tirreno-Adriatico: the Contador comeback, by Jean-François Quenet
• Volta a Catalunya: Purito over el Pistolero – a gallery by Graham Watson
• Jean-Christophe Peraud: from MTB specialist to GC winner in Corsica…
• Vuelta al Pais Vasco: Contador continues to eclipse his rivals
• Tour de Romandie: Froome encore – a successful Swiss title defence
Women’s Racing: Equal opportunity
There’s a revolution taking place in professional cycling… By Lee Rodgers
Your Body: The necessary injection – living with diabetes
One ‘hypo’ moment can ruin your whole ride… By James Stout
Your Body: Knee pain – cycling’s common injuries
Craig Lennox explains the complexities of the knee.
History: A champion domestique
René Vietto was considered by some to be cycling’s finest climber…
Team Profile: Lampre-Merida
Colin O’Brien went riding with the world champion in Mallorca.
Training: Practice makes perfect
The key to success in cycling is about much more than genetics alone… the best must also be able to endure the monotony of repetition. By Lisa Jacobs
History: Ronde van Vlaanderen, 10 of the best…
There have been 101 editions of this Classic… so what makes the legend?
Retro Review: The Mapei team-issue Colnago C40
Andy White on perhaps the most classic of Classic bikes.
Comment: Cameras on bikes… please!
It’s time to see a new angle of the peloton, by Rob Arnold.
Column: Planet Tour
“You’re going to the Tour…” and with that, the life of Alex Hinds changed.
Rider Q&A: Alex Edmondson
Interview with the individual pursuit world champion, by Rob Arnold.
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And then there are the bike tests… which each have a separate online gallery: BMC. Cervélo. Felt. Cell. Stoemper.