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English cycling writer and author of Climbs and Punishment: Riding to Rome in the Footsteps of Hannibal. Felix has covered the major cycling races in the pro calendar for Eurosport for the past decade and finally took up the sport himself in 2012, at the ripe age of 31.
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Tour de France winner Chris Froome's season gets under way on Wednesday at the Herald Sun Tour where both Caleb Ewan and Jack Bobridge…
The South Australian Tour Down Under bonanza was unable to stretch across the state border into Victoria, as Britain's Peter Kennaugh tore up the…
The 2016 UCI World Tour gets underway this week with the 18th edition of what is fast becoming a fans and riders' favourite in…
Combining brute strength, positioning, teamwork, mind games and a lot of luck, cycling's sprinters put their bodies on the line at speeds in excess…
Last year, Mark Cavendish told his then Etixx-Quickstep teammate Tony Martin that he'd sign one more contract and then retire. Last November, the 30-year-old…
Covering a small stage race in northern Norway has its perks - such as shacking up with a top team's sporting director during the…
For the past two years, some of cycling's best racers have battled it out in some of the world's most extreme weather conditions. The…
A four-way tussle for the yellow jersey, a revamped green jersey competition to favour stage winners and a course designed to crescendo not peter…
Anyone who can't get their head around the concept of cycling being a team sport should just watch a rerun of Saturday's epic stage…
Even the most ardent critic of French table wine would be hard pressed convincing even the most ignorant of oenophiles that Chris Froome was…
After an opening phase of the Tour de France best suited to defending champion Vincenzo Nibali, it is the Italian who actually appears the…
Long gone are the days when Mark Cavendish joked about Andre Greipel only winning insignificant races. With two victories in the opening five days,…
According to that old chestnut it's the riders who make the race - not the route. But when you have cycling's 'Big Four' plus…
So much has been written about Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana that we'd be forgiven thinking the Tour de France…
The destiny of the Tour de France's green jersey now that Marce Kittel's absence from the race has been confirmed is an interesting, yet…
The most successful Tour Down Under for the host nation in over a decade resulted in an all-Aussie podium and four Australian stage wins.…
Recent events concerning Tejay van Garderen and Roman Kreuziger prove that, despite his lifetime ban, Lance Armstrong's influence - and actual presence - is…
Tonight Cycling Australia will announce its nine-man Tour de France 'Team of the Century' at its annual awards night in Melbourne. Being almost 15…
With many riders already deep in the pre-season training we take a look at some of the biggest transfers ahead of the 2015 season…
There is big news for Tasmanian cycling fans. The 2013 Tour de France champion Chris Froome will join his Sky teammate Richie Porte in…
It would be very impressive were Evans to win this Giro in the same way that he did the Tour – by playing it safe, riding consistently, then delivering the killer blow right at the death. If he does that, I’ll be the first to hold my hands up and say I was wrong.
Giro d'Italia: The Felix Lowedown – Phase II of La Corsa Rosa
Haha, I know – terrible foresight. Although, to be fair, the only thing that’s been easy to predict in this race is Nibali’s dominance and Cav’s stage wins. Quite a bizarre race – with the edge taken off it certainly due to the bad weather. Shame, because on paper the parcours looked very interesting. Still, five days to go – time for Santambrogio to get up to second (!) and for Cadel to crack (!). We’ll see…
Giro d'Italia: The Felix Lowedown – Phase II of La Corsa Rosa
It all depends on how the Tour plays out. Say Froome wins and Wiggo actually supports him – or even comes second, but without too much rivalry – then he’ll prob stay at Sky. Why change a winning formula? But the truth of the matter is that a win for Wiggins – the poster boy – in the Tour is more valuable for Sky than one for Froome, who is Kenyan-born with a South African accent. It’s going to be intriguing.
Thing is, if Wiggins wins Giro, he’ll want to go for the double. If he loses Giro, he’ll want to save his season. Froome must be a bit nervous about the whole situation – but you can understand Wiggo’s stance, completely.
Sky leadership debacle overshadowing Giro d'Italia
One rider who I missed out here is Cavendish. The Giro marks his first grand tour at Omega Pharma where he’ll be expected to win stages as opposed to carry water bottles. Cav and Degenkolb haven’t really gone head-to-head much as far as I can remember, plus throw Goss into the equation. Should be some tight sprints. Omega’s train has been a bit rusty for Cav this season – be interesting to see if they’ve nailed it.
Sky leadership debacle overshadowing Giro d'Italia
Nice one – enjoyed these past two Giro posts.
I think Benax Intxausti will be Movistar’s man to watch – rather than Cobo, whose form has taken a nosedive since winning the Vuelta.
Otherwise, B+ for effort. (!)
Giro preview part two: the GC up-and-comers
Sean is a man of a few words, Lee – I can ask but will be tricky now we’re hitting Grand Tour season (he’s usually out in situ).
Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Martin win seals tactical tour de force for Garmin
“Benelux-themed sushi train filled with tasty morsels of deep-fried suffering drenched in history” – lovely imagery. Shame Voeckler ordered the spring roll followed by the prawn cracker…
Amstel Gold Race another delicious treat for classics fans
Yes, sorry for being lazy. There I was thinking Schleck’s withdrawal was a worthy talking point from the race. Silly me for trying to cut corners by including five lines about him towards the bottom of the piece. Tut tut…
King Kreuziger crashes the Amstel Gold party
Yeah, I was covering the race live for Eurosport and saw the Schleck was there alongside Gilbert and Rui Costa. He didn’t look injured – so it may have been a case of him being held up by the crash but not actually coming down. Perhaps he thought there was no point fighting back – easy to understand given his mental state at the moment. You’d think his priority will be for Liege-Bastogne-Liege but surely the best kind of practice is race practice. It’s very sad to see him in such a downward spiral. And it raises many questions…
King Kreuziger crashes the Amstel Gold party
Sure, but none of the guys around him were exactly domestiques – they all had serious aspirations themselves. Perhaps only Steegmans could have helped out. My point also was that Chavanel couldn’t have ridden VDB’s bike – he’s two metres tall while Chav is is only mini!
Paris-Roubaix 2013: Cancellara proves he's no one-trick pony
I can see where you’re coming from but not too sure Chavanel could have won on, say, Vandenberg’s bike! He probably wouldn’t have even reached the pedals!!
Paris-Roubaix 2013: Cancellara proves he's no one-trick pony
Thanks Tom – much appreciated. The race deserved a good write up – and I hope I managed that. Keep coming back to The Roar – there’s some great stuff here (especially from us cycling experts!). Cheerio.
Paris-Roubaix 2013: Cancellara proves he's no one-trick pony
You’re right, Tim. Cancellara against four others in the velodrome would have been a very different matter (when he arrived there with three others back in 2004 he finished fourth). Stybar would have been the big favourite – so cruel for him to have been right there to see Spartacus cross the line with his arms aloft right beside him. But still, if you ride in the gutter there’s always that threat. Although did you see the douche jump out right in front of Cancellara to wave a flag, milliseconds before the incident? What a cretin.
Paris-Roubaix 2013: Cancellara proves he's no one-trick pony
Gaudin said afterwards that he had to keep on anticipating attacks by attacking himself. He put his arms up and admitted he’s not the most talented of riders and so needed to impose himself on the race. He deserves a bit pat on the back. Towards the end, he attacked on every tarmac section before being reeled in on the cobbles. An inspired ride – the podium would have been merited. But then again, you can’t begrudge Terpstra that after Omega’s bad fortune.
Paris-Roubaix 2013: Cancellara proves he's no one-trick pony
Sorry about that Maarten – written in a post-Roubaix rush and must have slipped through the net. Vanmarcke is, of course, as Belgian as moules frites and a waffle.
Paris-Roubaix 2013: Cancellara proves he's no one-trick pony
Nice trip down memory lane, Lee. Cheers for YouTube link. Classic memory of Roche emerging from the mist. LIggett’s commentary was brilliant back then before it became a erratic and tainted.
Think a lot of the hunger goes once you’ve achieved what you have set out to do for such a long time. Look at Evans last year. He’ll still be the first ever Australian to win the Tour – just like Wiggins will always be the first Brit.
I think part of him thinks that, really, he could retire now a happy and contented man. Anything else is just a bonus – but to be able to train as hard as you did to break the duck must be very hard. Can’t see him win either – but that’s taking nothing away from his achievements – and that’s no sleight on the man either.
Cheerio. F.
Wiggo needs luck of the Irish despite Roche claim
Cancellara was pretty keen to leave the Shack over the off-season – the departure of Bruyneel swayed him to stay. Probably regretting it now… Yes, GreenEdge need to ramp things up a bit. And Garmin too – very slow start to the season, and lacklustre (and unlucky) since the Hesjedal’s Giro win.
Five things we learned from 2013 Tirreno-Adriatico TTT
Regarding him leaving Sky – a two-year apprentice on one of the major teams of the peloton riding alongside genuine GC contenders would surely put Porte in good stead for a more prominent role at, say, GreenEdge…
Certainly wise of him to have not been lured to Orica-GreenEdge from the outset, where the expectations would have been so high. Come 2014, however, they may be a match made in heaven.
Porte a dark horse for Paris-Nice
Porte has told Cyclingnews that he’s “a little bit nervous” ahead of the race.
“I’ve done Paris-Nice the last three years so I know what to expect going in to it,” he said. “It’s nice to have an opportunity to ride for myself. It doesn’t happen that often in Sky. I’m a little bit nervous I guess, to have the team riding for you.”
“But having said that I think I’m in quite good form now. If it comes down to a climber’s race then I think I should be around the mark. But it’s Paris-Nice and there’s a surprise around every corner, or a cross-wind or bad weather around every weather.”
Porte a dark horse for Paris-Nice
The misty Tourmalet ascent was more attritional than epic. Contador had no interest in winning the stage and in the end gifted it to Schleck, sealed with a wink. That point kind of marked Andy’s demise…
Was 2010 the pinnacle for Andy Schleck?
Nice piece. Annoying about KBK on the weekend – but it would have been carnage. Although the weather in the south of France hasn’t been much better, and they’ve been riding over snow-capped hills already in races this season…
Let the Season of the Classics begin
Oh, and look – the Pat factor has gone and snared the Giro grand depart for 2014…
Katusha shambles highlights wildcard shortcomings
Nice interview, Dylan. Cheers for that. My big memories of Barloworld – besides seeing a fresh faced Chris Froome for the first time (he used to write a blog for Eurosport, you know) – was John-Lee Augustyn’s spectacular crash off the side of the Col de la Bonnette in the 2008 Tour. He slid about 15 metres down the side – and his bike went right into the valley. You can watch it here: http://www.metatube.com/en/videos/19072/Tour-de-France-caida-de-John-Lee-Augustyn/
Skoda Stig: View from within the peloton: Pt II
It’s going to be a big few months for Sagan – he’s yet to prove himself in the spring classics and it’s about time he notched a win. As is it, he’s a formidable stage racer – he just needs to make the step up. He certainly has it in him!
As for suspicion, Justin – such is cycling, you could say that about anyone. Just look at the accusations leveled against Cancellara recently. The difference is that Spartacus is from that generation, whereas Sagan’s from the new generation – a generation who have to hope has more scruples. If guys like Sagan are getting involved in shady stuff, then cycling really is in a pickle. As it is, however, it’s riders like Sagan who offer a way out and some redeption.
Either way, you can enhance the performance of a celebration!
Will Sagan win more Tour de France stages than Cavendish?
Not at all. If anything, I’m questioning the timing of BMC’s decision to name Evans as Tour leader – it must have played on his mind. (A bit like Brailsford’s decision to name Froome as Tour leader just as Wiggins was starting his Giro… odd timing indeed). Even so, I think I give Evans a fair bit of credit for his showing – and I think we all know that he may have struggled a bit more had the cancellations and alterations not occurred. But in terms of confidence and training, this was a big success for Evans.
Giro d'Italia 2013: The Felix Lowedown – Final phase of La Corsa Rosa