Shaving Cream Specifically Designed for Endurance Athletes Gains Momentum with Pro Cyclist Keegan Swenson as an Ambassador
BOLT Skin + Shave announced the launch of its revolutionary shaving cream, designed to transform men’s leg grooming, especially for endurance athletes. Their shaving cream, along with BOLT’s complete line of leg-shaving products, is crafted to meet the unique needs of cyclists, triathletes, and outdoor enthusiasts who require performance-driven grooming solutions.
Unlike traditional shaving creams or products repurposed from face care, BOLT’s shaving cream is formulated to provide a close, smooth shave that reduces friction and irritation for the high-exertion demands of athletes. Its rich lather, hydrating ingredients, and targeted design help men achieve an optimal shaving experience, setting it apart as a trusted product in leg grooming.
“Our shaving cream is truly groundbreaking because it addresses the overlooked but essential needs of men who shave their legs,” said Adam Barker, active sports photographer and founder of BOLT Skin + Shave. “We wanted to create a product that not only provides the best shave possible but also enhances the overall experience, with a smooth, soothing formula that lasts.”
To bring BOLT’s innovative products to a broader audience, the brand has partnered with Keegan Swenson, a ten-time national champion and endurance cyclist known for his relentless dedication and success in mountain biking and gravel racing. As a BOLT ambassador, Swenson will showcase the difference that the right shaving cream can make in his rigorous training and performance.
“Most products just aren’t tailored to guys who need that next-level shave on their legs,” said Swenson. “BOLT’s shaving cream has completely changed my routine—no more irritation, no more struggle. It simply works better.”
To learn more about BOLT Skin + Shave’s revolutionary shaving cream and its full range of leg-shaving products, visit boltshave.com.
By Craig Fry, Victoria University —My father Lindsay Fry passed away suddenly in 2015. He had end stage cancer, which was found well advanced on his lung and spine. Sadly, my father died just seven weeks after his diagnosis. He was two weeks short of his 70th birthday.
I was not prepared at all for my father’s death. It was a great shock, and the resulting grief floored me. The people around me seemed under prepared too – the daily conversations at work, around the dinner table, with family, and even out riding bikes with friends didn’t often accommodate deeper dialogue around the bereavement experience.
Cycling can help when it comes to challenges to our mental health like grief and depression. Author provided
It is a difficult topic after all … death. Most people simply don’t want to follow you too far down that road. Men especially, it seems, are not great at discussing death and grief. An expert in the field suggested to me that this is partly because many men are ‘instrumental grievers’ – we seek active practical outlets for processing grief.
That was certainly me. In the depths of grief, I didn’t always possess the words to describe and understand what I was feeling. But I was lucky enough to discover quickly that cycling helped me.
Lindsay Fry in Manifold Street, Camperdown, Victoria, circa 1966.
I was so struck by this that I decided to write about it – the resulting book, Ride: A memoir to my father, was published in June 2016. It’s a personal account of loss and grief, and how the simple act of riding a bike through familiar roads and places has kept me (mostly) sane and well.
I’m no academic expert in this area, but I found that writing a book about my own grief experience made me wonder more about the role of the humble bicycle when it comes to life’s inevitable mental health and wellbeing challenges.
I decided to look into this further. Here’s what I found.
Exercise and mental health
While there is a large amount of academic literature on the mental health benefits of exercise generally, the science here is not clear cut. For instance, a 2013 systematic review of the effects of exercise on depression concluded effect sizes are moderate at best, and of uncertain duration after exercise stops. In contrast, a 2016 meta-analysis of 25 randomised controlled trials of exercise interventions reported large significant antidepressant effects in people with depression (including major depressive disorders).
A common conclusion made in some of the best designed twin and review studies is that while regular exercise is associated with reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms, that relationship is not causal. This means the observed positive mental health effects are complex, and involve a range of other individual and environmental factors besides exercise.
Overall, the evidence seems to suggest that the potential mental health benefit from exercise is not something that all people will necessarily experience. Observed effects can vary as a function of illness severity, study group exercise experience (untrained, recreational, elite), exercise type (frequency, intensity, duration etc), and the chosen measure of mental health. For some of the most severe forms of clinical depression exercise alone is unlikely to be the entire answer.
Cycling and mental health
Far fewer studies have focused on the mental health benefits of cycling specifically. However, similar findings can be found to those for other exercise. For example, a 2004 Polish review study reported that improvements in depressive and other mood disorders are greatest for rhythmic aerobic exercises like cycling.
[…] cycling has a positive affect on emotional health – improving levels of well-being, self-confidence and tolerance to stress while reducing tiredness, difficulties with sleep and a range of medical symptoms.
And 2011 pilot work in Sydney trialling a bicycle program for mental health service users showed promising results with self-reported mental and physical health improvements for participants.
Outside of the academic literature, there are frequent claims about the benefits of cycling for mental health, including popular articles on how cycling can make you smarter and happier. There has been a published guide to depression for cyclists, and Victoria’s Department of Health & Human Services currently provides this public advice on cycling and mental illness:
Mental health conditions such as depression, stress and anxiety can be reduced by regular bike riding. This is due to the effects of the exercise itself and because of the enjoyment that riding a bike can bring.
And in recent times a number of high profile people have commented publicly about the positive power of cycling in this area – for example, former Australian Rugby professional Mat Rogers recently argued:
I think that blokes in a cycling bunch would be the least depressed of any group of men because they get stuff off their chest, they talk, and they don’t feel like they’re getting looked down on or judged.
[…] the anecdotal evidence from recreational cyclists and bloggers is overwhelmingly in favour of the beneficial effects of getting out on your bike and riding the black dog off your wheel.
What is it about cycling?
On the question of why physical activity and exercise like cycling has been associated with positive mental health outcomes, the academic literature has pointed to both physiological mechanisms (e.g. the thermogenic, endorphin, and monoamine hypotheses) and psychological mechanisms (e.g. improvement of self-efficacy, distraction, and cognitive dissonance).
Popular accounts have also emphasised social psychology principles to explain the apparent connection between cycling and wellbeing, with one Australian psychologist observing recently:
Cycling seems to possess an array of attributes that boost happiness in ways that few other sports can claim…Cycling boosts mental health.
But again, while it appears there are potential mental health benefits to be had from cycling, this doesn’t mean the bicycle will be a panacea for all our mental health ills. On the contrary, there have been some suggestions of negative mental health impacts at the highest levels of competition cycling, for example:
There may be unexpected negative mental health side-effects in competition cycling due to things like the stress of training and other preparation, performance anxiety when racing, and other stressors for elite competitive cyclists especially.
There has also been the suggestion that certain personality types more vulnerable to mental health problems may be more prevalent in elite cycling. For instance, former world hour record holder and world champion cyclist, Graeme Obree, has said this about depression and cycling:
A lot of people who suffer from depression have a tendency to have obsessive behaviour – that’s why more of them exist in the top end of sport. The sport is actually a self-medicating process of survival.
Cycling and grief
Much less has been written in the academic literature about how exercise and physical activity like cycling might help people when grieving the loss of a loved one – although some experts like the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement suggest that exercise can be one useful coping strategy along with others.
Most of the available sources on this question are from personal anecdotes. There have been some books on the topic, such as the recent anthology Cycletherapy: Grief and Healing on Two Wheels and Matt Seaton’s 2002 The Escape Artist. There are also blog articles where the recurring theme is that the bicycle can indeed help in grieving, as these examples show:
In the days before his seventeenth birthday, Tolstoy’s adored son Vanechka had died of scarlet fever. It hit him as hard as his brother Nikolay’s death in 1860, and Tolstoy saw cycling as a kind of “innocent holy foolishness” that allowed him to deal with his grief. (TolstoyTherapy)
There is no instruction manual for grief – you have to find your own path through it. For us that involves a lot of biking. Biking has been our form of therapy. It has kept us living in the present, brought us joy, kept us healthy and reconnected us to the world. (AxelProject)
I had a choice. I could curl up in a fetal position and continue to wish I was dead. Or, I could stand up, put one foot in front of the other and keep going and fight back. I rode my bike and I rode it hard. I could feel Jerry with me. I pushed myself to the point of exhaustion, challenging my emotional pain with physical pain. I rode and I cried. (American Heart Association).
One story closer to home about cycling and grief that stood out for me was the one that emerged in 2000 around Scott McGrory and his family. McGrory is the well known former Australian professional cyclist who won the Madison gold medal with Brett Aitken at the Sydney Olympics. Tragically, in the lead up to his Olympic campaign in 2000, McGrory’s 11-week old son passed away from a heart condition.
Speaking in an interview a few years ago, McGrory’s reflections about that time perhaps reveal a positive connection between grief and cycling, but they also remind us that the bike is not a magic pill that works all of the time:
There were times when I felt invincible, drawing strength from what had happened, and a day later I’d be absolutely useless. One day I did a five-hour ride to the Dandenongs and as it started to rain I looked to the heavens and yelled, ‘Bring it on!’ The harder it rained and the windier and colder it got, the better – nothing was going to touch me that day because I was Superman. The next day I got only 20 minutes into the same ride and had to stop on a bridge over the Yarra because I had been crying for several blocks and couldn’t see where I was going.
Cycling worked for me
Overall, the available evidence suggests that physical activity and exercise like cycling can have a positive impact on mental health, and could be one helpful strategy for some people experiencing grief. However, it is also clear that cycling is unlikely to be a ‘cure all’ for everyone, or for the most severe forms of complicated grief, clinical depression, or other mental health illnesses.
After my father died, cycling has helped me to live with and understand my grief. I had other vital assistance too – my wife, family, relatives, friends, and my father’s friends all played important roles, and I also drew upon professional help.
Mile-for-mile though, I found the simple act of riding a bike was the ‘best’ thing I could do to stay well. The hundreds of hours and thousands of kilometres I spent riding after my father’s death is working for me.
Cycling helped me bring together my physical, emotional, and cognitive energies in a focus on moving towards an understanding of what it really meant to lose my father. I am still learning.
By Tom Jow — The rider that has not had a crash may never think to replace their helmet. The rider that has crashed yet did not hit their head may also find little reason to purchase a new one. However, bicycle helmets, like many types of gear that are exposed to extreme hot and cold, and ultraviolet light can deteriorate with time. These and other elements can break down and/or dry out (harden) the EPS (expanded polystyrene) layer of the helmet. This can reduce the effectiveness of the helmet to properly absorb impact. Helmet manufacturers recommend replacing an undamaged helmet every three to five years. Any helmet that has suffered a crash impact should be replaced whether or not there is visual damage.
Well-adjusted ear buckles and a tight chin strap keeps the helmet low over the eyebrows. Notice the extra coverage over the temples and behind the ears provided by a mountain bike helmet. Photo courtesy Tom Jow
For better or worse, I have had to replace two helmets over the last several years for just this reason. When shopping for a new helmet, there are several factors that make up the reason we decide on one or the other. Myself, I begin with intended use. I ride several different types of bikes, and it is important to have the correct level of protection for each. The helmet for downhill (full face obviously) is different from mountain bike trail riding, road/gravel, and town riding. Next, I look at the price. While all helmets sold are certified for use, more expensive helmets have more features that offer a little more protection for specific uses. I admit I don’t purchase the most expensive, but not the least expensive either. Also, call me vain but color matters too. I want a helmet that decently matches my outfits. Finally, after I wrote, “A Helmet is More than a Brain Bucket” (Cycling West, August 2024), I found it important to have a helmet with advanced protection like MIPS, Turbine, Koroyd, or similar technology.
Helmet Standards and Testing
All helmets approved for sale in the United States must meet a minimum standard set by the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC). Each approved helmet must pass a series of four tests: peripheral vision, positional stability, retention strength, impact attenuation (force reduction)[1]. An obvious concern when purchasing a helmet is impact attenuation. For testing, a minimum of eight helmets per model is required to be subjected to impact under different conditions. These conditions include hot (117-127°F), cold (1-9°F), wet (soaked underwater), and room temperature. The impacts for each helmet include flat, round, and curb shaped anvils, each with 80 grit sandpaper to simulate asphalt. To simulate impact, a weighted head form is inserted into the helmet and dropped from approximately 6 feet (6.2m/s) to the flat anvil, and 4 feet (4.8 m/s) to round and curbstone anvils.
An ear buckle that is adjusted too low allows the helmet to tip back exposing the forehead to risk. Photo courtesy Tom Jow
Only after passing these tests is a helmet brand/model approved for sale. The CPSC, however, does not rank helmets for a level of protection beyond the minimum. In order to do this, we would have to know two things: how much force it takes to cause head injury and how much force is being applied. As much as science knows about head injuries, it is not possible to test bicycle helmets on live subjects. However, Virginia Tech University figured out a way.
The addition of a dial adjustable strap on the rear of the helmet has made helmet fitting both easier and more secure. Photo courtesy Tom Jow
In the early 2000’s, The Biomedical Engineering Helmet Lab at Virginia Tech University, began recording helmet impact forces by placing sensors inside the helmets of football players, a user group at high risk of concussion. By doing so, this allowed their lab to correlate concussion with real-life impact forces. The resulting data enabled the lab to both determine the forces behind concussion and improve helmet safety. Furthermore, the lab is able to provide test result rankings not only for football, but bicycle, hockey, and other sports[2].
The Virginia Tech Helmet Rankings page[3] is easy to navigate. It opens with the highest rated helmets first, showing the helmet on a head form. There is a row of buttons on top to filter by category, i.e., road, mountain, etc. Each helmet also displays a number of stars (five being best) and a score (lower being better). Click on the helmet and a couple graphs appear. One compares the helmets individual score to the average of the five-star helmets. The star rating is very easy to understand. The individual score, however, was not. In the Virginia Tech paper, STAR Methodology for Bicycle Helmets, the scoring system is explained. The bottom line of the scoring is a representation of the number of concussions estimated that would occur out of a calculated average (47) number of impacts likely to cause concussion[4]. A helmet with a score of 8.7 is estimated to suffer that many concussions out of the forty-seven impacts. Therefore, that same helmet is theoretically safer than a five-star helmet with a score of 10.1.
Helmet Fit
All of this data aside, the helmet we choose will be less effective during impact if it does not fit or is not worn properly. In order to find a good fit, it can be helpful to know the circumference of our head. With a metric tape measure, wrap it around the head horizontally just above the eyebrows. Then, consulting size charts pick out a helmet that fits all our criteria in the size we need. Most helmets are sized S, M, L and XL. For example, if the circumference is fifty-six centimeters, the size is probably medium. Now try the helmet on. A good fit is one where the helmet sits all the way on the head, just above the eyebrows and within the range of the inner shell adjusting strap. If it seems too big, especially if the adjusting strap is all the way closed, it probably is. A good strategy for finding proper helmet fit is to find a size that feels about right, then try on a smaller one. It is much easier to figure out if the helmet is too small.
Once the helmet is selected (and presumably purchased) it is time to adjust the straps. The first thing to know about adjusting helmet straps is to DO IT AT HOME. Attempting to adjust the helmet straps on a ride is a sure way to be frustrated and irritate any friends with us. The first adjustment to make is to the side (ear) buckle. If the straps are adjustable here, position it close under the ear. At the same time, adjust the front straps to hold the front of the helmet down near the eyebrows. This is, however, dependent upon the chin strap adjustment. In order to keep the helmet on the head during a crash, it should be tight enough that just one finger fits under. Work between the two straps until the helmet covers at least most of the forehead with light upward pressure.
Helmet Care
While a bicycle helmet does not appear all that complicated, considering its job, it does deserve a little care and maintenance. Remember that manufacturers design helmets to absorb impact. Therefore, avoid unnecessary impacts such as dropping it on the ground, dropping things on top of it, or wantonly throwing it in the back of the car. If it comes with a storage bag, use it, and whenever possible keep the helmet near room temperature. Finally, keep it clean. A buildup of sweat and skin oils if not damaging, is just not hygienic. Occasionally wash the interior of the helmet and straps with mild soap or shampoo.
Conclusion
A bicycle helmet is an important part of our cycling kit. Having one that looks good and fits properly can help us ride more confidently, more comfortably, and maybe even faster with less risk should the worst happen. However, in order to do so we must be sure to take the time to select the appropriate helmet, adjust for the proper fit, take a little care of it, and replace it at the correct time, impact or not. Most importantly, we must wear it.
Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals will be moved to Bentonville, Arkansas, November 14-17 after Hurricane Helene forced postponement.
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas (October 30, 2024) – The 2024 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships, originally scheduled for October 24-27 at Ride Rock Creek in Zirconia, North Carolina, will be moved to Bentonville, Arkansas, November 14-17, 2024. Registration will open on October 31, 2024, at 9:00 am MT.
“We’re excited to still be able to host Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals this year, despite the postponement due to Hurricane Helene. We understand how much training and racing these collegiate athletes have done leading up to this point, so we’re glad they will have the opportunity to still compete at nationals this semester. Bentonville has stepped up in a huge way to help us make this happen,” said Kyle Knott, USA Cycling’s Director of National Events.
The event will crown Varsity and Club National Champions in Cross-Country, Short Track, Downhill, Dual Slalom, and Team Relay. An Omnium National Title will also be awarded to the best overall Varsity and Club teams at the end of the weekend. Spectators can expect four action-packed days of racing. The marquee events include:
Thursday: Dual Slalom finals and awards.
Friday: Cross-Country finals and awards.
Saturday: Short Track finals and awards.
Sunday: Downhill finals and awards. Team Relay finals and awards.
“We are honored to welcome the 2024 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championship to Bentonville.” said Kalene Griffith, president and CEO of Visit Bentonville.
“It is unfortunate that the event was unable to proceed in North Carolina due to the impact of the hurricane and our heart goes out to them. We are fully committed to supporting these talented athletes and ensuring they have a memorable experience here. Bentonville is ready to provide a warm welcome along with an exciting weekend of competition and fun.”
USA Cycling joins forces with prominent gravel events to offer riders between the ages of 15-18 a dedicated development pathway.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (October 30, 2024) – USA Cycling has partnered with Life Time, SBT GRVL presented by Wahoo, and Valley of Tears to launch the Junior Gravel National Series, a five-race series exclusively for junior riders aged 15-18. Designed to nurture the next generation of elite cyclists, this series provides aspiring athletes with invaluable race experience in the fast-growing discipline of gravel cycling, along with unique opportunities to advance their competitive careers.
The USA Cycling Junior Gravel National Series will consist of five events across the country and four competition categories: 15-16 Men, 15-16 Women, 17-18 Men, and 17-18 Women. Riders must participate in at least three events to be included in the series standings, with their three best finishes counting toward their overall score. At the conclusion of each series event, each athlete receives a score equivalent to their placement in that respective event. The rider with the lowest total score from their top three finishes will be crowned the overall winner in their respective category. In the event of a tie, rider placements at the USA Cycling Gravel National Championships in La Crescent, Minn., September 20, 2025 will serve as the tiebreaker.
Photo courtesy of USA Cycling
All series participants will have exclusive access to a special discounted registration rate for the 2025 USA Cycling Gravel National Championships. Additionally, the top three finishers in each series event leading up to the National Championships will earn a $50 credit toward their registration fee.
Top-ranked riders from the series will be invited to a USA Cycling Junior Talent Identification Camp in October 2025. This new, invitation-only camp provides young athletes with a dedicated pathway into elite-level road racing and an Olympic discipline.
2025 Junior Gravel National Series Event Schedule:
March 8, 2025: Valley of Tears Gravel – Turkey, Texas
April 11, 2025: Life Time Sea Otter Classic presented by Continental – Monterey, California
May 31, 2025: Life Time UNBOUND Gravel – Emporia, Kansas
June 29, 2025: SBT GRVL presented by Wahoo – Steamboat Springs, Colorado
September 20, 2025: USA Cycling Gravel National Championships – La Crescent, Minnesota
“We are working closely with event organizers and industry partners to build a foundation for the future. This series is just the beginning of a broader initiative to expand opportunities for junior riders across multiple cycling disciplines. The USA Cycling Junior Gravel National Series represents a bold step forward in our efforts to expand youth participation in gravel, a discipline that offers a unique bridge between road and off-road cycling,” said Kyle Knott, USA Cycling’s Director of National Events.
“We are deeply committed to fostering the growth of cycling in the United States. Life Time has embraced a leadership role through iconic events like Sea Otter Classic and UNBOUND Gravel, and has further promoted the sport with the Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda series, encouraging both professional cycling and fan engagement,” said Kristi Mohn from Life Time Off Road Events. “Partnering with USA Cycling to develop and expand youth gravel cycling is a natural next step in this mission. We’re excited to see the development of young riders and look forward to working not only with USA Cycling but with gravel events nationwide to inspire more youth and families to discover the joy of cycling.”
“SBT GRVL presented by Wahoo is honored to be a stepping stone on the road for junior riders to develop their gravel racing skills within the US,” said Amy Charity, Co-Founding Partner and CEO of SBT GRVL. “We are proud to call America the birthplace of gravel, and excited to see USA Cycling and like-minded events working together to build a series that provides a clear path to compete and achieve recognition at a national level.”
“Valley of Tears is thrilled to host the first race of the 2025 Junior Gravel National Series. At the heart of our race is a commitment to fostering community, resilience, and a passion for the sport,” said Christian Fairly of the Fairly Family. “By partnering with USA Cycling, we have the opportunity to help support aspiring young American cyclists—something USA Cycling did 20 years ago for my brother Caleb—by providing young athletes a platform to challenge themselves and develop their skills. We look forward to seeing these talented juniors find their limits and carry the spirit of gravel cycling forward.”
Colorado’s Largest Bike Expo will Serve as a Fundraiser for Bicycle Colorado
DENVER, Colorado (October 30, 2024) – VeloSwap, the ultimate end-of-season event for cycling enthusiasts, is set to return to Denver, Colorado, on November 2 at the National Western Complex. Presented by Bicycle Colorado, this one-day event will offer a broad range of products, from bikes and accessories to clothing and gear, featuring over 200 local and national vendors.Cyclists and families alike are invited to enjoy an exciting lineup of activities, including prize giveaways, bike demos, a kids’ bike rodeo, and guest speakers. The event supports Bicycle Colorado’s mission, with proceeds from ticket sales, exhibitor fees, merchandise sales, and sponsorships directly benefiting the organization’s work to promote safe cycling across Colorado.
Attendees can take advantage of special pricing on excess inventory from retailers, unique buys from manufacturers, and a diverse selection from individual swappers. Highlighted vendors include Mike’s Bikes, Save Our Soles, Canfield Bikes, Feedback Sports, EF Educational Tours, Giant Bicycles, HopeCycle, Lucky Bikes, and more, creating the largest single-day bike sale of the year.
This year marks VeloSwap’s 32nd anniversary and its first under the ownership of Bicycle Colorado. In 2023, Outside Interactive, Inc., a global leader in active lifestyle content and events, transferred ownership of VeloSwap to Bicycle Colorado to ensure this beloved event continues its legacy in supporting Colorado’s cycling community.
Bicycle Colorado’s Executive Director, Pete Piccolo, stated, “VeloSwap presents a significant opportunity for us to support Colorado’s bicycling community and advance our advocacy work. We are excited to build on the strong brand of VeloSwap, bringing the event back to Colorado to inspire bicyclists and drive policy changes that make biking safer for all.”
Tickets are available online and at the door, with event hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more details, visit www.veloswap.com.
Schedule:
9:00 a.m. | Doors open to Bicycle Colorado members only
10:00 a.m. | Doors open for the general public
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | Kids’ zone with bike rodeo and face painting
4:00 p.m. | Doors close
Speaker Series:
Brad Tucker from ColoBikeLaw.com: “Insurance 101 for Cyclists” (10:30 to 11:00 a.m.)
Lexy Rose from StretchWorks: “The Secret to Recovering Well: What Every Cyclist Should be Doing Off the Bike” (12:30 to 1:00 p.m.)
Event Location:
National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver, CO 80216
PARIS, France (October 29, 2024) — Christian Prudhomme revealed the route of the 2025 Tour de France in crisp detail at the Palais des Congrès de Paris this morning. It features glamorous summits such as Luchon-Superbagnères, the Mont Ventoux and the Col de la Loze, in the heights around Courchevel. Before these high-altitude showdowns, the main contenders for the yellow jersey will get two chances to turn the balance of power in their favour: a flat time trial around Caen and a mountain time trial at Peyragudes.
The 112th edition, which will start in Lille and take place entirely within the confines of France, will pay tribute to all-time French cycling greats, from Jean Robic and Louison Bobet to Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Bernard Thévenet and Laurent Fignon.
The 2025 edition will also mark the fiftieth anniversary of the polka-dot jersey, the best young rider classification and the first finish of the race on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Talk about colouring inside the lines! The unveiling of the Grand Départ Lille-Nord de France came in the wake of three editions that got the show on the road in Denmark, Spain and, most recently, Italy. The route of the 112th Tour de France will stretch for 3,320 kilometres without venturing beyond the borders of France, taking the peloton from the Esplanade du Champ de Mars in Lille in the inaugural stage, on 5 July, to the finish on 27 July, when a powerful sense of homecoming will sweep through the peloton as the riders barrel down the Champs-Élysées in Paris for the fiftieth time.
The milestone of turning fifty serves as a central theme, as the year 1975 marked both Bernard Thévenet’s victory ending Eddy Merckx’s reign, the debut of the polka-dot jersey in the Tour de France peloton, and the establishment of a young rider classification rewarded with the white jersey. The names that stand out from the illustrious annals of French cycling will also be present along the route in the shape of brushes with history in which the stars of the peloton will be eager to shine.
After a stint prepared in Région Hauts-de-France, where the opening salvo of the puncheur war will be fired in Boulogne-sur-Mer (stage 2), the competition will continue at the same ferocious pace in Normandy, with a stage win up for grabs in Jacques Anquetil’s home town of Rouen (stage 4). A trek through Norman Switzerland culminating in Vire will dispel any lingering doubts on the ability of the region to host a stage with a cumulative altitude gain of 3,500 metres (stage 6).
The peloton will roll through the Breton town of Yffiniac to mark 40 years since Bernard Hinault claimed his last victory, but the tribute will soon turn into a challenge with a double serving of the Côte de Mûr-de-Bretagne at the end of the day (stage 7). Right after that, the stage to Saint-Méen-le-Grand will be a blast from the past, harking back to the third consecutive victory of the local hero Louison Bobet, 70 years ago. The opening week will draw to a close on 14 July with a firework display on the leg-breaking terrain of south-central France, with a record seven category 2 climbs before the finish at the Le Mont-Dore ski resort, at the foot of the Puy de Sancy (stage 10).
The Massif central will be merely the gateway to the mountains, as a Pyrenean trilogy will quickly follow with a stage to Hautacam (stage 12), a mountain time trial leading to Peyragudes (stage 13) and, as the icing on the cake, the return to Luchon-Superbagnères (stage 14), held on a model of the course on which things started to go south for The Badger in his duel with Greg LeMond in the 1986 Tour de France.
Another climbing fest will come in Provence, where the cream of the climbing crop will clash for a prestigious win at the summit of the Mont Ventoux (stage 16), twelve years after the last stage finish at the observatory. However, the fight for the yellow jersey will rage on in the Alps. An altitude gain of 5,500 metres awaits the peloton on the road to the Col de la Loze, which will be tackled head-on from Courchevel this time round (stage 18). If the race has not yet been decided by then, there will be a new opportunity to tip the scales in the stage to La Plagne (stage 19), at the end of an ascent where Laurent Fignon struck hard in 1984 and 1987. The slopes of the Jura on the road to Pontarlier (stage 20) are unlikely to shake up the overall podium, as is the returning finale on the Champs-Élysées, which will set up a rematch between the winners and losers of the probable sprints in Dunkirk (stage 3), Laval (stage 8), Châteauroux (stage 9), Toulouse (stage 11) and Valence (stage 17).
STAGE
TYPE
DATE
START AND FINISH
DISTANCE
1
Flat
05 Jul 2025
Lille Métropole > Lille Métropole
185 KM
2
Hilly
06 Jul 2025
Lauwin-Planque > Boulogne-sur-Mer
212 KM
3
Flat
07 Jul 2025
Valenciennes > Dunkerque
178 KM
4
Hilly
08 Jul 2025
Amiens Métropole > Rouen
173 KM
5
Individual Time-Trial
09 Jul 2025
Caen > Caen
33 KM
6
Hilly
10 Jul 2025
Bayeux > Vire Normandie
201 KM
7
Hilly
11 Jul 2025
Saint-Malo > Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan
194 KM
8
Flat
12 Jul 2025
Saint-Méen-le-Grand > Laval Espace Mayenne
174 KM
9
Flat
13 Jul 2025
Chinon > Châteauroux
170 KM
10
Mountain
14 Jul 2025
Ennezat > Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy
163 KM
–
Rest Day
15 Jul 2025
Toulouse
11
Flat
16 Jul 2025
Toulouse > Toulouse
154 KM
12
Mountain
17 Jul 2025
Auch > Hautacam
181 KM
13
Individual Time-Trial
18 Jul 2025
Loudenvielle > Peyragudes
11 KM
14
Mountain
19 Jul 2025
Pau > Luchon-Superbagnères
183 KM
15
Hilly
20 Jul 2025
Muret > Carcassonne
169 KM
–
Rest Day
21 Jul 2025
Montpellier
16
Mountain
22 Jul 2025
Montpellier > Mont Ventoux
172 KM
17
Flat
23 Jul 2025
Bollène > Valence
161 KM
18
Mountain
24 Jul 2025
Vif > Courchevel Col de la Loze
171 KM
19
Mountain
25 Jul 2025
Albertville > La Plagne
130 KM
20
Hilly
26 Jul 2025
Nantua > Pontarlier
185 KM
21
Flat
27 Jul 2025
Mantes-la-Ville > Paris Champs-Élysées
120 KM
Race in Focus
ROUTE
100% French.
The 2025 Tour de France won’t be making any sorties beyond France’s borders. This has not happened since 2020. It will visit 11 Regions and 34 departments.
STAGES
There will be 21 stages: 7 flat stages, 6 hilly stages, 6 mountain stages with five mountain finishes at Hautacam, Luchon-Superbagnères, Mont Ventoux, Courchevel Col de la Loze and La Plagne Tarentaise, and 2 time trials.There will be 2 rest days.
NEW STAGE TOWNS
From a total of 39, 8 new stage towns/locations will be joining the Tour club:
Lauwin-Planque (start of stage 2)
Bayeux (start of stage 6)
Chinon (start of stage 9)
Ennezat (start of stage 10)
Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy (finish of stage 10)
Bollène (start of stage 17)
Vif (start of stage 18)
Mantes-la-Ville (start of stage 21)
MOUNTAINS
This 112th edition will feature climbs and summits in the Massif Central, the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Jura.
The Col de la Loze (2,304m) will be the highest point of the 2025 Tour. For the first time, the climb will tackled via its eastern flank from Courchevel.
39 years ago in 1986 – that was the last time a Pau > Luchon-Superbagnères stage appeared on the Tour route.
ELEVATION GAIN
The total vertical gain during the 2025 Tour de France will be 51,550m.
2 TIME TRIALS
The 5th stage, Caen > Caen (33km), will provide ideal terrain for rouleurs who specialise in solo efforts. The terrain and gradients will be quite different on stage 13’s 11km TT between and Peyragudes
TIME BONUSES
Time bonuses will be awarded at the finish of each stage, with 10, 6 and 4 seconds awarded to the first, second and third riders, respectively.
RIDERS
176 riders representing 22 teams will line up for the start on Saturday 5th July.
The Diagonal of Queens
The route of the 4th edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift – held for the first time over 9 days from 26 July to 3 August – was unveiled at the Palais des Congrès in Paris by its director Marion Rousse.
The Grand Départ will take place in Brittany, launching the peloton on a route that takes in the Alps via the Massif Central. After the breathtaking finale at Alpe d’Huez last July, the riders have a crucial meet at the finish on the Col de la Madeleine, but it could be all to play for on the final day as they approach the resort of Châtel, in the heart of the Portes du Soleil.
On 2 August thousands of cyclists will be able to take part in the first edition of L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift modelled on L’Étape du Tour de France, the 33rd edition of which will be held on 20 July between Albertville and La Plagne. The race will involve a more accessible route between Chambéry and the Col de la Madeleine, after which participants will get the chance to watch the champions battle it out.
A wide diagonal stretches across the map of France, with over 1,000 kilometres separating Brest from the Alpine resort of Châtel as the crow flies, involving a total of 1,165 kilometres of pedalling for the riders, who will be competing for the first time over nine days in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. The peloton kicks off its Brittany leg in the Morbihan, with a stage between Vannes and Plumelec; the punchers who came out on top at the côte de Cadoudal in the Grand Prix du Morbihan will be familiar with this stage’s finish.
The following day in Finistère, racers will need explosive power if they want to get ahead in Quimper, on the climb where Peter Sagan won in 2018. The 2025 route then visits sprinting country in Angers (stage 3) and Poitiers (stage 4), before offering up increasingly demanding terrain in the Creuse on the way to Guéret (stage 5) and upping the ante further in the Puy-de-Dôme department as riders’ legs are tested on the Col du Béal and Col du Chansert climbs (stage 6).
After the Massif Central, a gradual approach to the Alps between Bourg-en-Bresse and Chambéry (stage 7) may well offer the chance for a breakaway, as long as riders are able to get over the Col du Granier without letting up. But a battle between the favourites for the Yellow Jersey on the Queen Stage is a much more realistic prospect, with a Tour first finish on the Col de la Madeleine (stage 8), 2,000 metres above sea level and at the end of a savage 18.6km climb with an average gradient of 8.1%.
Recent history teaches us that nothing is decided until the final stage. And this warning is all the more valid given that during the final 124 kilometres between Praz-sur-Arly and Châtel (stage 9), the champion in yellow will have to hold off her rivals as she climbs the Col de Joux-Plane, keeping her composure as she plunges down to Morzine before entering the final stretch.
STAGE
TYPE
DATE
START AND FINISH
DISTANCE
1
Hilly
26 Jul 2025
Vannes > Plumelec
79 KM
2
Flat
27 Jul 2025
Brest > Quimper
110 KM
3
Flat
28 Jul 2025
La Gacilly > Angers
162 KM
4
Flat
29 Jul 2025
Saumur > Poitiers
128 KM
5
Medium Mountains
30 Jul 2025
Jaunay-Marigny Futuroscope > Guéret
166 KM
6
Mountain
31 Jul 2025
Clermont-Ferrand > Ambert
124 KM
7
Hilly
01 Aug 2025
Bourg-en-Bresse > Chambéry
160 KM
8
Mountain
02 Aug 2025
Chambéry > Saint François Longchamp – Col de la Madeleine
112 KM
9
Mountain
03 Aug 2025
Praz-sur-Arly > Châtel
124 KM
Race in Focus
1
Clermont-Ferrand, will be the first city to welcome the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift on two occasions after hosting the Grand Départ in 2023.
3
The race’s categorised climbs will be spread over three massifs: the armoricanMassif, the Massifcentral and theAlps.
5
Five stages will take place entirely within a single department: the 1st (Morbihan), 2nd (Finistère), 6th (Puy-de-Dôme), 8th (Savoie) and 9th (Haute-Savoie).
9
The number of stages. There are 2 flat, 2 medium mountain, 2 high mountain and 3 hilly stages.
15
The fifteen departments the peloton will race in are Morbihan, Finistère, Ille-et-Vilaine, Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, Vienne, Indre, Haute-Vienne, Creuse, Puy-de-Dôme, Ain, Isère, Savoie and Haute-Savoie (as well as 4 regions: Bretagne, Pays de la Loire, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
154
The number of riders at the start, comprising 22 teams of 7 racers each.
166
In kilometres, the length of the longest stage, the 5th, between Chasseneuil-duPoitou Futuroscope and Guéret.
1,165
In kilometres, the total distance of this 4th edition, a record high.
2,000
In metres, the altitude of the Col de laMadeleine, the highest point of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, which features on stage 8.
3,490
In metres, the vertical gain on stage 8, which will feature the toughest climbs during this 4th edition of the race
17,240
In metres, the total vertical gain during the race, beating the previous record.
Double delight for L’Étape
On 20 July 2025, the 33rd edition of L’Étape du Tour de France will tackle the roads of stage 19 of the Tour de France between Albertville and La Plagne. The course (131 km and an altitude gain of 4,500 m) features five mountain passes, including the gruelling Col du Pré, the Cormet de Roselend and the summit finish atop La Plagne. It promises a unique day for the 16,000 expected cyclosportives.
Pre-registration opens on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, and registrations will begin on November 6, 2024, at 4 PM on time to.
New for 2025: the first edition of L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will take place on August 2, 2025, between Chambéry and the Col de la Madeleine.
Taylor Knibb Delivers Supreme Swim, Bike & Run In Lake Las Vegas To Complete First Hat Trick Of T100 Wins | PTO
LAKE LAS VEGAS, Nevada (October 20, 2024) — American superstar Taylor Knibb won the Lake Las Vegas T100 Triathlon to live up to her pre-race billing as an overwhelming favourite and complete the first-ever hattrick of T100 race wins – following her successes in San Francisco and Ibiza earlier this season – and surge to the top of the T100 standings.
Taylor Knibb wins Lake Las Vegas T100 2024 Pro Women. Photo courtesy of PTO.
She now needs to finish first or second in next month’s Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final (16-17 November) to become the inaugural T100 women’s World Champion.
Asked about her levels of confidence after the win, Knibb said:
“Oh, I’m not sure. But I’ll spin the answer and say that all three of us on the podium today could have raced somewhere else. But we choose to race here. At this point in the season I’m just trying to enjoy myself and enjoy the process, enjoy the journey and this is what I’m choosing to do.”
And the opportunity to win a first-ever T100 World Championship crown?
“It’s just one step at a time. I’m just grateful for today and to have another race.”
Breaking down her performance, she said: “I would kill to have that swim start every single time. I have a team of people here. My swim specialist and my movement specialist and they are each taking credit for that start. So they both have to come to every race now. On the bike I loved how broken up it was.”
Then, turning to ask second-placed Julie Derron what the run course was like, the Swiss star loudly agreed with Knibb, saying: ‘I’ll agree with you, it was savage.”
Knibb had earlier described the challenging Lake Las Vegas run course, which had steep inclines and declines and the belied the beautiful golf club setting as ‘savage’. It has both positive and negative connotations she said. “I have respect for savage. Good luck to the men!”
Third placed Flora Duffy from Bermuda was pleased to make her first T100 podium having talked all week about it being important for her to be battling at the front of the race.
“I’m really, really happy to be on the podium,” she said. “It was a super hard day out there. It was really tough. Taylor took off like a bullet in that swim. I thought ‘gosh’ I’m back in a short course race. But then I gathered myself and found some good feet to sit on. The bike is the biggest area I need to improve. Getting stronger and more comfortable on the TT bike and this course is certainly better for me today [than Ibiza].”
“I frustratingly got a penalty. I think I need to control my technical abilities. Go through the corners a little slower I suppose. I guess it’s just one of those things. You go into the corners fast. You come out of it and you’re in the red and try to back off and the ref thinks you’re doing something that you shouldn’t be doing. So it’s a learning experience.”
Fourth placed Brit Lucy Byram recorded her best T100 finish.
“I’m really happy finishing fourth,” said Byram. “Which is my best result of the season so far. I unfortunately got a penalty. I think it was up the hill for me. Paula [Findlay] came round and I didn’t drop back quick enough, even though we were going up an 8% hill. But, yeah, I just need to learn to drop back quicker I guess.”
How the Race Unfolded
Taylor Knibb had led out the swim on a serene Lake Las Vegas, that was significantly calmer than it had been during the week. The weather was also significantly cooler too with the air temperature 16.4 degrees celsius. She was followed by compatriot Taylor Spivey and Bermuda’s Flora Duffy, who had celebrated her own national day yesterday in her homeland with a chocolate brownie and strawberries delivery to her hotel room. Following them was Haley Chura in fourth. This front group gapping the rest of the field by 36 seconds on the first lap.
Haley Chura moved to the front on the second lap and was first out of the water in 24:46 followed by Taylor Spivey, Flora Duffy and Taylor Knibb and with a lead of 1:09 on the second group of De Vet, Derron, Curran, Findlay, Byram and Iemmolo.
Onto the bike course first was Flora Duffy, her intent to push the pace clear, but it wasn’t long before Taylor Knibb was pushing past and into the lead at the 6km mark.
As Taylor powered off to set the fastest bike time of the day in 1:58:09, there was plenty of drama and excitement behind, including three drafting penalties – Lucy Byram, Flora Duffy and Canada’s Paula Findlay; two retirements – Britain’s Emma Pallant-Browne and Australia ‘s Grace Thek and another high profile puncture for Germany’s Anne Haug.
Onto the run and the big question was how quickly Julie Derron could close the 5:20 gap to Knibb, having run four and a half minutes faster than her in Ibiza last month. Derron powered past Byram and was closing on the American – 20 seconds in the first 2km – but Knibb seemed perfectly suited to the rolling run course – having been a stand-out cross country runner as a junior – and more than held her own to win by 2:15 in an overall time of 3:37:03. The full, final results are here.
Sodaro Shines On Comms & Lake Las Vegas Course A Winner
On commentary Chelsea Sodaro made a very assured debut, but will be hoping to be back on the course for the final race in Dubai.
The other winner was the fabulous Lake Las Vegas course. All week the pros had been praising the venue, the Westin Lake Las Vegas hotel and the training facilities as well as the toughness of the challenge – in equal measure.
The local Mayor of Henderson, Michelle Romero, explained:
“Southern Nevada is the sports and entertainment capital of the world and this just adds to our repertoire of having great World Championship events here. There’s such a diversity of environment. It’s great weather. We’re very welcoming and so we just love having athlete events here and the people who live here also love it. So I think it’s great for the visiting athletes to feel so welcome and feel so safe. We’re one of the safest cities in the country and I think it’s a great combination.”
Asked if watching the world’s best female triathletes had inspired her, she tactfully responded: “Not in this lifetime, no!”
The 1,000 amateurs taking on a very similar T100 course tomorrow morning will be hoping for the same, cooler weather at the start of the race rather than the heat the pro women finished in. Otherwise they may think Mayor Romero has the right idea.
Wildcard Jelle Geens Runs Away With Lake Las Vegas T100 Triathlon After Belgian Duel In The Desert | PTO
LAKE LAS VEGAS, Nevada (October 20, 2024) — Belgian wildcard Jelle Geens claimed his first T100 victory at his first attempt in Lake Las Vegas, winning by just 38 seconds after a dramatic duel with compatriot and close friend Marten Van Riel.
Jelle Geens wins Lake Las Vegas T100 2024 Pro Men. Photo courtesy of PTO
Geens’ debut win came courtesy of a blistering run leg, where he averaged 3:13 minutes per km on a brutal run course around the stunning Reflection Bay Golf Course, which had 500 meters in elevation of savage inclines and steep descents.
Speaking after crossing the line, Geens, who also broke Van Riel’s unbeaten 6-race winning streak in middle distance triathlons dating back to November 2019, said:
“It sounds crazy, but a month ago I wasn’t sure if I could even start here, so now to win here, it’s a great honour – and it was a hard and tough battle with Marten. We said for years when we were still doing short course it would be cool to be on the podium together and it never happened in short course, but it’s happened now in our first battle over middle distance.”
“To be honest I felt really good on the run,” the 31-year-old continued. “Even when Marten came back I felt in control and felt I was going to go for it on the last lap. I kept trying to put pressure on the uphill because that’s where I’m strongest and I tried to get every lap better at the downhill but it really wasn’t easy for me. My knees are really hurting now. But I felt confident. I was still running a bit on fear during the downhill sections. But once I had a gap on the downhills, I started believing it.”
“It was very tough from the start to the end actually,” said Van Riel, also 31 and who has been racing Geens since they were teenagers in Belgum. “The course is brutal…but I was actually suffering on the bike already. I saw Jelle was yo-yoing with the group and then it was the same on the run. He’s lighter than me so on the uphills he had the advantage but on the downhills I tried to use the gravity to pull him back. But in the end I cracked, I didn’t have it. So I’m very happy it’s Jelle that takes away the [winning] streak.”
However, the second place still puts Van Riel in pole position at the top of the T100 standings to win the first T100 men’s World Championship crown in Dubai next month. Where a first, second or third place result will secure him the inaugural series title.
“That’s obviously very important. I was quite scared on the bike because I felt like midway on the bike my watts were very high and I was starting to suffer a little bit and I was thinking, oh, it’s better to finish high than completely burn myself and completely fade. It was definitely playing a little bit in my head. But I’m in a very good position going into Dubai so that’s obviously a nice cushion.”
Asked whether he would follow through on his pre-race promise to put his winnings – which are $16,000 USD for finishing second – on red in a casino later tonight, Geens was quick to answer for him:
“I’m keeping him to it. We’ve figured out how to get enough money out of everyone’s credit card, so it’s happening.”
Last Sunday, Van Riel had gone to a casino with Australian fellow pro athlete Aaron Royle and turned $100 into $1,000 playing black jack.
Third was German Justus Nieschlag, also on his T100 debut.
How the Race Unfolded
South African flier Henry Schoeman led home the swim in Lake Las Vegas in warmer conditions than the women, with the water temperature up from 20.7 to 22.9 degrees Celsius and the air temperature up from a cooler 16.4 when the women started, to 21.1 degrees Celsius. In the front pack with him were Australian Aaron Royle, Marten Van Riel, Britain’s Alistair Brownlee, Justus Nieschlag and American Marc Dubrick; all 21 seconds ahead of Australia’s Josh Amberger and Max Neumann, Jelle Geens, France’s Mathis Margirier and Americans Matthew Mcelroy, Justin Riele and Jason West. Plus German Max Sperl. Flat last was American Sam Long, 5:40 back from the leaders.
After a slow transition, where he took extra time to put his socks on, it looked like Marten Van Riel had lost the first group, but he immediately powered back to second spot. To then set the early pace at the front with double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee.
Then the drafting penalties – which had started this morning with three in the women’s race – continued, with Alistair Brownlee collecting his second one minute drafting penalty in two races. Clearly frustrated, he rode back with vengeance to re-establish himself, settling in the third group just over two minutes back from Van Riel and Margirier. But it looked like it had lit a match too far as he later DNF-ed on the run. Then it was Pieter Heemeryck’s turn to collect a 30-second penalty for not putting his goggles and hat in the swim box. Before Max Neumann also got a one minute drafting penalty.
Jason West was probably the surprise package on the bike leg. Having been nursing an injury since London which has meant more bike training, it seemed to be suiting him as he tucked in behind Brownlee in the third group.
On the fourth lap Van Riel made his move from second place, upping his heart rate percentage to 90% and powering past Mathis Margirier to set the pace. Meanwhile, starting from the very back after the swim, American Sam Long started to move through the field on the penultimate bike lap.
Marten Van Riel was quickly out of T2 to get away from Margirier and Geens. But it wasn’t long before Geens was up to and past him. His legs bouncing and stride popping. Especially uphill.
Geens and Van Riel played cat and mouse on the run. With Van Riel determinedly holding on up the climbs and then squeezing the gap down on the descents. But the efforts to catch back up took their toll and the heart rate percentages told the story, with Geens averaging high 70 percents to Van Riel who was consistently pushing over 90% and reaching 99% as he gave one final effort on the last lap to bridge the gap.
Explore all the twists and turns of the race on the T100 Triathlon Live Data Dashboard as well as the final positions at t100triathlon.com/live/. It’s packed with lots of useful statistics and extra information on the races. Including the addition of athletes’ gearing setups and a ‘Race Facts’ tabs showing all the pivotal moments in the race, such as lead changes, fastest discipline times, penalty information and more.
Fans can also stay abreast of how the action will affect the T100 Standings as the race unfolds via the ‘Virtual Standings’ tab. All this is on top of the live leaderboard, which shows key data such as splits to leader, groups, speeds, positions gained and Heart Rate effort.
The seventh and final race of this first T100 season will be the Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final on 16-17 November where inaugural T100 World Champions will be crowned.
A reminder of how the T100 Triathlon World Tour works:
Athletes score 35 points for first place to 1 pt for 20th place at each race
The Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final has increased points to up the ante (55 pts down to 4 pts)
Each athlete’s best three T100 race scores plus the Final will count towards the inaugural women’s and men’s T100 World Champions
$250,000 USD prize fund at each T100, totalling $1,750,000 across the seven races (1st place – $25,000k; 2nd – $16,000; 3rd – $12,000 at each race)
The series winners following the Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will be crowned T100 Triathlon World Champion and collect $210,000 USD from an additional total prize pool of $2,000,000
Between the athlete contracts, T100 race prize fund and T100 Triathlon World Tour pool, the series provides more than $7,000,000 in athlete compensation, and is distributed in a way that not only rewards the winners, but also recognises the significant achievement of racing at this level
By Katie Klingsporn, Wyofile.com — At BLM area near Lander, disabled athletes illustrate to land managers and trail builders how they can better accommodate adaptive outdoor recreation needs.
FREMONT COUNTY, Wyoming (September 6, 2024) — Joe Stone struggled momentarily with the chain latch as he closed the gate behind him. He held his hands up, and a time-keeper called out how long it took him to open, traverse and re-secure the swinging pipe fixture.
“Forty-seven seconds,” Stone repeated. “That is actually pretty good. The last one we did, it took me like five minutes.”
This gate at the entrance of a Bureau of Land Management trail system south of Lander likely wouldn’t give pause to an able-bodied recreator. But for an adaptive athlete like Stone, who is paralyzed from the chest down and rides a heavy three-wheel adaptive mountain bike, the task of passing through a gate can seriously disrupt an outing.
Joe Stone closes a gate at Johnny Behind the Rocks, a BLM trail area south of Lander, Wyoming in August 2024. Photo by Katie Klingsporn/WyoFile
This is exactly the type of challenge that Stone and his business partner Quinn Brett set out to illustrate to a crew of trail builders, outdoor advocates and BLM staffers on a hazy late-August day at Johnny Behind the Rocks — a popular biking and hiking destination near Lander.
During a day-long clinic, the two disabled athletes took to the trails to show their students how trail design considerations like turning radius, trail width, rocks and gates can make a huge difference in accessibility.
The clinic helped give trail managers the understanding they need to build or modify the state’s trails to universal standards, which are intended for people with a variety of mobility levels, Wyoming Pathways Executive Director Mike Kusiek said. His group put on the clinic with the BLM.
Joe Stone and Quinn Brett of Dovetail Trail Consulting ride a popular trail at Johnny Behind the Rocks south of Lander as Mike Kusiek of Wyoming Pathways and George the dog join on foot. Photo by Katie Klingsporn/WyoFile
Before they started a trail consulting company together, Brett and Stone had much in parallel. Brett is a former professional climber and national park climbing ranger. In 2017 she took a 100-foot fall in Yosemite National Park and broke her back. The injury left her paralyzed from the pelvis down.
“My world flipped upside down,” she said, “from going wherever you wanted, whenever you wanted, to this world of accessibility where, ‘wow, it’s hard to go anywhere.’”
Stone was a self-proclaimed “smile-chaser” whose pursuits included skiing, mountain biking and skydiving. He was speed-flying in Montana in 2010 when he crashed his paragliding wing into the side of a mountain. A spinal cord injury also left him paralyzed, but unlike Brett, Stone has no function in his abdominal muscles.
Like Brett, however, Stone set out on a path “to be able to get me back to the lifestyle I was living before, which was away from the pavement and getting further into the mountains or further into the desert.”
Jared Oakleaf, an outdoor recreation planner for the Bureau of Land Management’s Lander field office, measures the tire span on Quinn Brett’s three-wheeled, battery-assisted hand cycle. Photo by Katie Klingsporn/WyoFile
They discovered an exciting array of equipment and advancements enabling adaptive athletes to explore and play. “But our trails aren’t quite there yet,” Stone said. That’s where Dovetail Trail Consulting comes in.
“That’s really the big picture of what we’re trying to do,” Stone told the participants. “We’re not telling you to dumb down the trails, to simplify them, sanitize them or anything like that. Keep them what the original intent is. But with a few tweaks here and there, they also then can work for people with mobility disabilities.”
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
By Charles Pekow — If you want to ride your bike into Bridger-Teton National Forest, there’s no charge. However, if you drive in and then ride your bike, you might have to pay a fee. While the U.S. Forest Service can’t charge for general admission, it can impose fees for amenities like parking, with parking limited to designated areas.
The Wild and Scenic Snake River. Photo by Bob Wick, BLM. ATTRIBUTION 2.0 GENERIC CC BY 2.0 Deed
The proposed fee would apply to the Wild and Scenic Snake River, a Congressional-designated area. By law, any fees collected must be used on site. According to the Forest Service, the fees would support “operation, maintenance, and improvements to prevent degradation, enhance recreation opportunities, and preserve the outstandingly remarkable values outlined in the Snake River’s comprehensive management plan.”
The USFS is proposing fees of $5 per vehicle per day, $40 per vehicle per year, $20 for an additional vehicle per year, and $3 per outfitted customer or non-commercial group member. The fees wouldn’t take effect until mid-March 2025 at the earliest.
By Charles Pekow — Rep. Lauren Boebert, the Trump-supporting, Republican member of Congress seeking another term in Colorado, has targeted bicycling benefits as part of her campaign. At her urging, the House passed a provision that would remove the bicycling benefit for Department of the Interior employees who ride their bikes to work. This provision was included in H.R.8998 – Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025.
Currently, at the agency’s discretion, federal employees are eligible for a Bicycle Subsidy Benefit to cover expenses if they commute by bike (https://www.doi.gov/ofas/support_services/bicycle-subsidy-benefit-program). Boebert’s amendment specifically targets employees of the Department of the Interior.
U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R – Colorado) delivering the invocation at the 2021 Young Women’s Leadership Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Photo by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Boebert stated on the House floor:
“American taxpayers’ hard-earned money is being wasted on covering bicycle commuting expenses such as bicycles, bicycle locks, bicycle parking, storage, bicycle safety equipment, bicycle improvements or accessories, including reflective lights, racks, bicycle repairs and general maintenance, personal safety and protective equipment, including high-visibility safety apparel, headwear, and bicycle gloves, and bicycle share memberships as well as getting paid to bike to work. Praise the Lord.”
She further added, “We must redirect our attention and their money to much more important things than subsidizing employees for riding bicycles,” and urged her colleagues to “support my amendment to cut wasteful, silly federal spending by prohibiting funding for the Bicycle Subsidy Benefit Program at the Department of the Interior.”
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), though outvoted, defended the subsidy, noting that the program dates back to 1993 and is not part of the Biden-Harris spending that Boebert criticized. “We all know what the traffic is going to be like here tomorrow. Bikes would be handy,” McCollum said. “This is a government-wide program, and the amendment unfairly targets Department of the Interior employees.”
Passage of Boebert’s amendment is far from certain, as the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a funding bill without the provision. The Interior’s press office did not respond to an inquiry.
On a brighter note, the House also approved an amendment to the bill sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), which would allocate $1 million to the National Park Service to report on whether any laws or regulations are inhibiting the use of urban national parks for active use, including bicycling.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (October 21, 2024) — Ryan Standish, a dedicated cyclist, and Scott sponsored athlete, attempted a challenging solo adventure through the rugged desert landscape. Inspired by his father’s battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), Standish pushed his physical and mental limits to honor his father’s legacy.
“My dad has been a constant source of inspiration for me and my brothers,” Standish explained. “Seeing him overcome adversity has motivated me to go big while I can.”
Standish’s drive and determination have inspired him and encouraged his father to return to adaptive cycling. The family has shared countless memorable moments riding together, fostering a bond that transcends words.
While Standish didn’t achieve his original goal of setting the Fastest Known Time (FKT) during the adventure, he views the experience as a resounding success in many other ways. “It wasn’t about the destination but the journey itself,” he reflected. “Sometimes, the biggest victories come from the challenges we overcome.”
Ryan Standish & family. Photo courtesy of SCOTT USA
Standish’s inspiring story reminds us that even in the face of adversity, it’s possible to find strength, resilience, and a profound sense of purpose. As he continues his cycling journey, Standish plans to tackle even greater challenges, fueled by his unwavering determination and the love of his family.
Ryan Standish on his Kokopelli Trail/White Rim Trail FKT Attempt. Photo courtesy of SCOTT USA.Ryan Standish on his Kokopelli Trail/White Rim Trail FKT Attempt. Photo courtesy of SCOTT USA.Ryan Standish on his Kokopelli Trail/White Rim Trail FKT Attempt. Photo courtesy of SCOTT USA.Ryan Standish on his Kokopelli Trail/White Rim Trail FKT Attempt. Photo courtesy of SCOTT USA.Ryan Standish on his Kokopelli Trail/White Rim Trail FKT Attempt. Photo courtesy of SCOTT USA.Ryan Standish on his Kokopelli Trail/White Rim Trail FKT Attempt. Photo courtesy of SCOTT USA.Ryan Standish on his Kokopelli Trail/White Rim Trail FKT Attempt. Photo courtesy of SCOTT USA.
ALPE D’HUEZ, France (October 24, 2024) — Having not raced for a couple of years, Brendan Fairclough & Andrew Neethling were after some start line butterflies. Where better to stir up some emotions than the notorious Alpe d’Huez Megavalanche. How did the boys fare?
Alpe d’Huez, France. Every mountain biker has probably heard of the famous Megavalanche. Since its inception in 1995, thousands of bikers in search of an adrenaline rush gather once annually in Alpe’Huez, to compete in the legendary Megavalanche. A mass start downhill race that starts at over 3300 meters above sea level and sees riders chase down an iconic glacier piste to descend 2600 meters down classic alpine trails into the finish.
Both riders have a few editions of Mega tucked under their belt, but neither have been back in years. The toughest enduro mass start race in the world was ranked high on Brendan “Brendog” Fairclough’s and Andrew Neethling’s to do list, so it was about time to slap on a race plate and line up at the start of the 2024 edition of the MEGA with their new SCOTT Ransom Enduro rigs!
With a personal bet between the two of them about the outcome of the race, the stakes are high for this one!
“There is no pressure here, the only pressure is in the tires, a little bit in the shock and fork!” — Brendan Fairclough
What happens when you send 2 MTB legends to one of the toughest enduro races on this planet?
Did things go to plan?
“Well, I have’t raced a World Cup in a while, so I wanted the race nerves back in and I thought what better race to do than the Megavalanche… So I brought a bunch of friends and family with me, so that we’d have a good week here!” — Brendan Fairclough
“Megavalanche was always an event Brendan and I did during our racing days, but we both thought it would be great to go back and really experience the week and event with a little less pressure now. It was epic to experience all the event has to offer and of course once the gun goes for the start… we can’t help ourselves being a little competitive again. It’s just a bucket list event that all gravity riders should seriously think about doing once in their life.” — Andrew Neethling
SCOTT Ransom
The Ransom, SCOTT’s latest Enduro bike is Brendan’s and Andrews weapon of choice for the demanding Megavalanche Enduro track. Both riders are “Ransom’ed up with 170mm of absolute anger”, in Brendan’s words, to fight the harsh conditions and ever changing terrain of the Megavalanche.
SCOTT Ransom 900. Photo by Daniel Geiger, courtesy of SCOTT
Both are racing the Ransom 900 RC, which has been engineered for maximum downhill performance around a 6-Bar Linkage. With the Ransom’s suspension layout they get a great pedaling platform, incredible grip when braking and fantastic support when giving it the beans. Combined with performance enhancing adjustability features, the Ransom is one of the most versatile action bikes on the market. Sounds like a perfect job for Megavalanche!
Looking behind the curtain: 6-Link-Kinematic of the SCOTT Ransom
Scenes from the 2024 MEGAVALANCHE. Photo by Chris Seager, courtesy of SCOTTScenes from the 2024 MEGAVALANCHE. Photo by Chris Seager, courtesy of SCOTTScenes from the 2024 MEGAVALANCHE. Photo by Chris Seager, courtesy of SCOTTScenes from the 2024 MEGAVALANCHE. Photo by Chris Seager, courtesy of SCOTTScenes from the 2024 MEGAVALANCHE. Photo by Chris Seager, courtesy of SCOTTScenes from the 2024 MEGAVALANCHE. Photo by Chris Seager, courtesy of SCOTT
Colnago certifies and extends the benefits of new bikes to used bikes from its glorious past.
Colnago introduces Retrofitting, an innovative system for certifying the authenticity of vintage frames, opening up a world of new opportunities for Colnago bike owners.
CAMBIAGO, Italy (October 4th, 2024) — In the world of cycling, the Colnago brand guarantees excellence, quality, and tradition. The legendary Italian company, founded in 1954, has written essential pages in the history of this sport, winning the hearts of professional cyclists and enthusiasts worldwide. Today, Colnago is ready to launch an ambitious project that aims to revolutionize the vintage bike market by offering an exclusive service to certify the authenticity of its creations: Retrofitting. This term means adding new technology or functionality to an existing object.
Photo courtesy of Colnago
Colnago Retrofitting: How it Works
It is a service mainly aimed at owners of used bicycles of the Ace of Clubs brand who wish to ascertain the originality of their bikes or those who wish to take possession of one.
For a minimal outlay, the certification process begins by filling out a form on the Colnago website. Colnago requests the owner to provide some pictures of the bike and other evidence, such as the serial number on the frame or a purchase invoice, to give the Colnago team as much information as possible to confirm its origin. The Colnago experts will carefully evaluate these elements and provide a final verdict, positive or negative, on the authenticity of the bike’s frame kit (i.e., the frame and fork assembly, without entering into any substantive questions about the components).
Once certified, owners of the authentic Colnago product will be entered on an official digital register, an exclusive club of certified Colnago bike owners.
The Colnago brand has always been synonymous with excellence and quality in cycling, so numerous replicas and fakes have come into circulation over time. Retrofitting will not only help survey the circulating Colnago bicycles but will also increase the brand’s perceived value, guarantee its authenticity, and reinforce the bond of ownership and sense of pride of its owners.
Facsimile of a Certificate of Authenticity issued with the Retrofitting service.
Exclusive Benefits for Historic Colnago Owners: Increased Asset Value
Once the authenticity of the frame kit has been certified, Colnago will provide the owner with a certificate of authenticity and a unique tag to be applied to the frame (the same one that is used on today’s high-end bicycles) that will allow the bike to be registered on Blockchain, in practice a public digital register that guarantees maximum security and transparency in the management of information. This tag will not only be an additional mark of authenticity but will also offer numerous practical advantages:
Authentication of the originality of the frame kit: a bike with an original and unalterable authentication certificate will acquire additional value on the used bike market. Guaranteed authenticity will become an essential element for collectors and enthusiasts, making it easier to sell in the future. It will also increase the ease of resale, as the presence of the Blockchain tag and registration will significantly simplify the sales process by assuring potential buyers that the bike is authentic, thus increasing trust and transparency in the transaction.
Certification of ownership of the bike: As the bike is an unregistered movable property, the burden of proof of ownership is presumed to be on the owner; in this case, there will be a certainty of ownership of the bike, effectively reversing the burden of proof in case of legal challenges.
Protection in case of theft: Registration on the Blockchain will make it easy to report bicycle thefts. Combining technology and security, this innovative system will help owners protect their valuable investments.
In addition, those who register their Colnago on the Blockchain will be entitled to a series of additional benefits, such as the possibility to take part in sporting events in a privileged position (Colnago grid at participating gran fondos, dedicated grid at historical cycling events, etc.), and others that will be determined and communicated from time to time by Colnago, via email, to those entitled. The Retrofitting program is new, and numerous possibilities exist to expand its benefits.
The certificate comes with an adhesive tag with NFC technology to be affixed to the bike and a card to register ownership of the bike.
Strengthening Colnago Brand Perception and Owner Pride: Beyond Pure Value
With this development, Colnago not only reinforces its position as a leader in premium bicycles but also helps to create an even stronger sense of ownership among its customers. Colnago bicycle owners will be able to feel part of an exclusive, globally recognized, and valued community.
The Retrofitting project is a critical step in Colnago’s strategy to protect and enhance its heritage of excellence while providing its customers with a unique and innovative service. This program, which combines tradition and modernity, will set a new standard in the world of cycling, demonstrating once again that Colnago is synonymous with quality, passion, and innovation.
Once registered, the model name and the certificate of originality issued by Colnago can be verified by scanning the tag with a mobile phone.
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