The rain, which Accuweather tauntingly promised us would clear up today, stuck around so resolutely that by 9am it was clear to me that I was going to need something special. I marched Mike up the road, in the freezing drizzle, to a pasticceria and forced him to order me a filled croissant, then, when […]
Livigno Training Camp: Day Five
Sitting here on an early Saturday evening, I just realised this is the longest I have spent in Livigno at one time. While in 2013 I came and visited for about 4 nights, headed off to race Dolomiti Superbike, then came back again for another four or five nights, this would be the longest consecutive […]
Have you met Ben May?
Words: Andrew Handyside. Photos: Melissa May The XCM World Championships are nearly upon us and, as any responsible national governing body would do, MTBA have named their athletes who will pull on the green and gold to represent us against the finest the world has to offer. As you know, kitting up for the lads […]
Livigno Training Camp: Day Four
As Mike and I have been watching the weather forecast like the vital signs of a dying man, we knew today would be a great day to have off. But imagine my disappointment when, after the jubilant excesses of yesterday’s climb to the top of Livigno’s mountains, I woke up again with a painfully sore, […]
Livigno Training Camp: Day Three
It’s out third full day up in Livigno, and after Imogen and I went our different ways yesterday, we regrouped for one of the other highly popular activities in Livigno – shopping! It wasn’t a mega spending spree, but we did both buy some headbands, so we could feel the part in the high mountains. […]
Bike Check: Ryan Standish’s Merida Ninety Six
This Merida Ninety Six was photographed on location on the Mongolian steppe by Alex Malone from Cyclist. The whole bike shot is noticeably different as it’s clean! This was taken in Park City by Ryan. Ryan Standish is an American bike racer who has grown up on the rocky and spikey trails of Alice Springs, […]
Livigno Training Camp: Day One
Livigno is many things. It is a duty free shopping hub, an alpine town that is popular for snow sports, a farming village that has had rapid change – and an ever-growing base for altitude training. From runners, cross-country skiers, road cyclists, mountain bikers and more, Livigno offers about 1800m base elevation, with quiet trails, […]
The Redback day 4: Final stage again finishes in sprint. De Rooze and Thomson take GC crowns
A few tired legs on the start line in downtown Alice Springs for the final and arguably hardest stage of this year’s Redback MTB stage race. Rider’s today faced 45km of predominantly the rocky, well cambered singletrack that typifies the riding in central Australia. Chatting among the riders there was more or less complete agreement […]
2018 Swiss National Park Bike Marathon shortened due to weather
The National Park Bike Marathon in eastern Switzerland is another classic European marathon that sits as a ‘must do’ on many riders calendars. The 138km full length route circumnavigates the Swiss National Park. It climbs from Scuol, descends to Sta Maria, then to Doss Radond and the Val Mora, before passing the Lago di Cancano, […]
Perskindol Swiss Epic moves to Graubünden – home of trails
Not all mountain bike stage races are created equally. And since the first edition of the Perskindol Swiss Epic, we knew this race stood out from the rest. As Matt Page and Stu Spies tested themselves in the UCI Men’s class, they both reached sporting high points while at the same time riding excellent trails […]