Sure, it ended in a sprint—but a sprinters’ classic? Hardly. Attacks, crashes, teamwork and especially the ever-present battle for position all played a huge role long before riders reached the final K.
Video Coverage Archive
How The Race Was Won – Paris-Nice 2015
Not my favorite race of the year, but a few interesting GC days more than made up for the lack of crosswinds in the early going. A predictable winner, though he took a strange route to get there. (In Germany or otherwise having trouble watching on YouTube? It’s on Vimeo, too)
How The Race Was Won – Strade Bianche 2015
Not a lot of tactical subtlety this time around—once the teams hit the hardest section of gravel, it was (almost) every rider for themselves. Still, a few little points to note here and there, modest attempts at teamwork, some impressive individual performances, and inspiring scenery to boot. (In Germany or otherwise having trouble watching on…
How The Race Was Won – Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2015
HTRWW Het Nieuwsblad 2015, or How To Lose Bike Race. Though to be fair, the victor’s (see how I avoided those spoilers?) team certainly did some good groundwork, and in the end, he didn’t precisely have it handed to him. Some reference material at https://cyclocosm.com/how-to and https://cyclocosm.com/the-break.
The Week in Bike #58 – Het Nieuwsblad Eve
Impressions, Sarah Storey, Hour Record, production, Tour of Oman, Ruta del Sol, Cyclingnews redesign, Tour of New Zealand, Team USA, broadcasters, Boels Dolemans, history, E3 Poster, UCI
How The Race Was Won – Women’s Cyclocross World Championships 2015
The women’s event really delivered this year—crummy weather, an unpredictable course, and most importantly, the brilliant heads-up duel that the men’s race just couldn’t quite make happen. Obviously, anytime I feel compelled to generate an on-screen counter, it’s a good sign that things are going right.
How The Race Was Won – Men’s Cyclocross World Championships 2015
Despite the fact that it became road season last week (kinda), the cyclocross world still had yet to throw its final farewell bash. While still an interesting enough event, this year’s edition will almost certainly be better remembered for the clash of rivals it wasn’t.
How The Race Was Won – Tour Down Under 2015
Ah—it’s road season again. At least in Australia. This year’s TdU made a good effort to include pretty much every aspect of racing—breaks, big sprints, climbs, crashes I didn’t talk about, even echelons. Just don’t cross-reference it to my picks for the race earlier in the week.
Why The Break Was Made
“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…
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.