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The race for the red jersey has begun. And we have all the info on it.
From the all important Cyclist team predictions, to an explainer on the Vuelta red jersey, an interview with Wilco Kelderman and a peep into the mind of Dan McLay, we’ve got a broad range of content to scratch your Grand Tour itch.
Head over to our Instagram and Twitter for more red hot Vuelta content.
Elsewhere, the Tour of Britain commences on the 4th September so check out the details of the route, teams and everything else.
For the history buffs, we have a wonderful piece about the life of the mesmerising Millie Robinson, who won the first version of the women’s Tour de France, and a fascinating look at Roger Walkowiak whose Tour win was sadly not venerated.
There’s also a lovely account of how bicycle maker Sébastian Klein of Brevet Cycles got into the industry.
Oh the mighty tech tee. Incredibly useful and comfortable. Simply whack on and ride.
And this unisex one from Universal Colours is an absolute stormer as it is made from castor beans, which are 100% renewable and don’t compete with arable land, and I have found it fits like a dream.
The fabric is a blend of bio-based polyamide made from castor beans and 16.2-micron merino wool which the brand says will keep you dry and help you not stink. More of this please.
Plus apparently the manufacturing process uses 20% less water and 20% less CO2 emissions than the equivalent fabric created with standard polyamide. What’s not to love?
It comes in basalt purple or canopy green.
As I watch the rain drizzle onto my window, the hot summer feels like a distant, slightly depressing memory.
And with such rain often comes gloom, but it doesn’t have to. Because check out this bright orange jacket from Sportful.
Made from Polartech Neoshell, which is a windproof, waterproof and breathable fabric, this is a sumptuously comfortable jacket which might well make riding in the wet and cold that bit more bearable.
Ergonomically cut, this jacket fits well and has all the usual features one would expect from a cycling jacket like a dropped tail and ample pockets.
And if you don’t fancy standing out like a beacon of cycling joy, the Fiandre Pro also comes in black, red rumba, dark gold, ice, and blue atomic.
Maybe it will help me relish riding in this rain? Maybe.
Oh, and it is currently on sale. As the saying goes… bada-bing-bada-boom.
This might sound like the child of that great TV show Ground Force and an old Norse word, and whilst that might be a tantalising concept, the reality of it is much more exciting.
This bag is extremely versatile, and comes with a bucket-load of practicalness as well as some cracking environmental innovation.
Take this for instance. It’s not just a certain percentage of the bag’s material which are recycled, its all of it, and according to Groundtruth this removes 80 plastic bottles from the environment.
The brand says it uses plastic waste collected from landfill sites, waterways, and oceans worldwide which is then spun into yarn and woven to create a unique triangular weave.
I have been taking this backpack everywhere with me, on and off the bike, and so far, it is proving to be a tough, element-resistant, mighty backpack which fits much more in than initially one might assume of its 15L capacity.
And what I particularly like about this ‘technical tote’, aside from its eco credentials, is that it has pockets galore. Goodbye hopeless rummaging, hello organisation.
From an interior fleece-lined sunglasses pocket (why do all bags not have this?), to a laptop pocket, a valuables pocket, pockets for all your random things, pockets for water bottles and a yoga mat… you get the picture.
And the pros don’t stop there. This bag will adapt to however you wish to carry your things. Simply add or remove straps and tuck them into one of the aforementioned pockets.
Make it a backpack, a tote, a briefcase (er, God forbid), or even neatly attach it to a wheelie suitcase.
Of course, it doesn’t have a specific way of securing a helmet, so just stick that on your head. The rest is golden.
Food and water, the key to all life yet also tricky to master. Especially if you are like me and you sweat buckets of the stuff, or often forget to eat (unless it is a jam sandwich), it really pays dividends to get a strategy nailed for whatever adventure you have planned.
Precision Hydration’s fuel and hydration planner is one I found a while ago, and one which they have recently updated to include even more data. And frankly, it is brilliant.
What’s the catch you ask? Yeah, well, there isn’t one.
It is quite simply a brilliant free online tool which gives cracking advice as to what you might need to take on board for a race, event, casual ride, anything at all.
Pick your sport (cycling, running or triathlon), discipline, add in your race date if you have one, distance, and details like race conditions and how much you sweat, and PH will send you a free plan.
I used their sweat test and hydration plan for my ultra-marathon (yeah I am never going to stop talking about it) and I honestly cannot fault PH’s advice.
It vastly improved my hydration strategy, my enjoyment of the race, and my overall performance.
Just thought I would share in case anyone else is in need of some guidance.
Did I add it was free?
Happy weekend to all and to all a good ride.
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Brevet Cycles founder Sébastien Klein recounts his journey from Paris to London to Burgundy in
The Cyclist team have their say on who will win the jerseys at the Vuelta a España
British Hour Record holder and Ineos Grenadiers performance engineer adds his name to the history
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