“Why do riders get in the break?” is probably the most common question asked by new cycling fans, and as I started to learn more about the sport I found Phil and Paul’s explanations less and less compelling. So I made my own, complete with examples, new and old. (In Germany or otherwise having…
HTRWW Archive
all of these exist at HowTheRaceWasWon.com, where they are far better indexed, and will load substantially faster on whatever device you use.
How To Watch A Bike Race
A brief guide to where to find the cool stuff during a bike race. Obviously, you’ll see the break, you’ll see the guys leading the chase, and you’ll see the finish, but I’ve always found the real meat of the sport to be happening just behind the focus of the camera.
How The Season Was Won 2014
Obviously, specialization makes it tough to pick a “best” rider these days. So if I’m going to do it, it’s going to be a comprehensive approach. You can’t just look at who won the most competitive Grand Tour of the year and call it a day. Here’s how I see the competition, and who I…
How The Race Was Won – Koppenbergcross 2014
Koppenbergcross makes a nice gateway into Euro CX for road fans. Some recognizable cobbles, no forced dismounts, and lots of pedaling. Plus there’s a stretch-regroup pack dynamic in the earlier laps that will feel very familiar, and as always, that unpredictable cyclocross mayhem.
How The Race Was Won – Tour of Beijing 2014
Mmmm, smoggy. The last edition of the ill-fated WorldTour expansion into Asia wasn’t without it’s charms—surprise hilltop finishes, panda suits, cute notes to faraway daughters. But the production crew might want a few more dry runs, specifically with KM-to-go graphics and maybe not filming riders while they’re having a post-race pee.
How The Race Was Won – Paris-Tours 2014
(if the above isn’t working, go here) By many accounts, the last race of the European season. Certainly plenty of riders in the pack were eager to get ‘cross season to underway, especially considering the slick pavement, but still a few riders gunning for that last big result—just some gunning a bit harder than others.
KMC Cyclocross Festival #1 Elite Men – HTRWW x BTB
Not sure if conditions in the Men’s race made it to “muddy”, but things were definitely slick. For all the nervousness on the start line, the first lap was pretty relaxed, before two early moves off the front meant most of the action took place further down. Still, some nice recoveries and hard-fought battles nonetheless.
KMC Cyclocross Festival #1 Elite Women – HTRWW x BTB
A lovely New England style deterioration from damp and tacky to slick and loose. Three flyovers per lap, including an extremely steep side-by-side setup, one just following a set of stairs. No surprise on the winner, but tightly-fought battles from there down.
How The Race Was Won – Il Lombardia 2014
(if the above isn’t working, go here) A new course for the race formerly known as Tour of Lombardy this year, and I think it works pretty well—beating up the riders just as TV coverage kicks on before a furious final four kilometers up, over, and into Bergamo. Warmer temps saw cramps play a role…
How The Race Was Won – Women’s World Road Championships 2014
(if the above isn’t working, go here) Installment two of the ongoing collaboration with CyclingTips. A lot of pixels scattered on the lackluster nature of this year’s event and while it could have been more exciting, the at times pedestrian tempo didn’t mean the race was uninteresting—especially not with a late catch and wonderfully chaotic…