RACING

Updates, stories and opinions from inside the world's greatest sport, written and captured by Rouleur journalists

Petrol station chic: Alba Optics’ Delta glasses

Petrol station chic: Alba Optics’ Delta glasses

The Instagram sensation Italian sunnies, inspired by the eighties and jelly snakes

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Toppling Valverde: six contenders who could take the Ardennes crown

Toppling Valverde: six contenders who could take the Ardennes crown

Year in year out, Señor Consistency manages to take the peloton by surprise and reigns over these lumpy one-day races. We look at a few...

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The Egger has landed: meet Specialized’s fun-loving creative director

The Egger has landed: meet Specialized’s fun-loving creative director

Robert Egger has been instrumental in the development of Specialized’s Tarmac, Roubaix and Venge models. But not everything that comes out of his office is so serious

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Rolf Gölz – a Flèche Wallonne winner lost in cycling’s digital Neverland

Rolf Gölz – a Flèche Wallonne winner lost in cycling’s digital Neverland

The German rider’s short career saw him win the Fleche Wallonne and stages of the Tour de France. But when the fun was lost, so...

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Racing in the Alps like you’ve never seen it before

Racing in the Alps like you’ve never seen it before

With an illustrious list of champions and spectacular backdrops, the Tour of the Alps is a little gem in its pro-racing’s packed April calendar

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Leontien van Moorsel: Amstel Gold course director and former champion

Leontien van Moorsel: Amstel Gold course director and former champion

She’s the Dutch queen of road and track with multiple Olympic and World titles to her name. But her name’s not Vos

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Michael Albasini: the pro peloton’s own coffee importer

Michael Albasini: the pro peloton’s own coffee importer

Ahead of the Ardennes Classics, Swiss veteran Michael Albasini tells Rouleur how a fortifying espresso while training in the Alps led to him setting up...

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“I hate mashed potatoes” – Q&A with Ryan Mullen

“I hate mashed potatoes” – Q&A with Ryan Mullen

From Belgium to Breaking Bad, Trek-Segafredo’s TT specialist Ryan Mullen gets a grilling on a few of his favourite – and least favourite – things

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Now we have the Ardennes – chasing a Women’s WorldTour hat-trick

Now we have the Ardennes – chasing a Women’s WorldTour hat-trick

Moving on from the cobbles, Annemiek van Vleuten reflects on the trio of hilly Classics that dominate the next phase of the season

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Caught up in the moment with Roubaix runner-up Silvan Dillier

Caught up in the moment with Roubaix runner-up Silvan Dillier

A 750-1 outsider just back from injury rides to a strong second place in Paris-Roubaix. What’s Silvan Dillier’s story? What was his reaction? Had anyone expected this?

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Paris-Roubaix 2018: from sign-on to the showers

Paris-Roubaix 2018: from sign-on to the showers

Images from the 2018 Paris-Roubaix, a day of heroic rides and a terrible tragedy

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Pais Vasco: Tour of the Basque Country in photos

Pais Vasco: Tour of the Basque Country in photos

While Classics contenders hit the pavé of Northern Europe last week, GC riders tackled the 58th edition of this six-stage Spanish race

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Paris-Roubaix 2018: equipment in focus

Paris-Roubaix 2018: equipment in focus

Gallery: from special pavé tyres and strapped fingers to strategically positioned helpers with spare wheels, Paris-Roubaix demands serious attention to detail

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Brabantse Pijl: the overlooked Ardennes race

Brabantse Pijl: the overlooked Ardennes race

It may not have a cult following like its Ardenne sisters, but as so often happens with smaller races, riders are more willing to go in...

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Greg Van Avermaet’s perfect Paris-Roubaix plan that went awry

Greg Van Avermaet’s perfect Paris-Roubaix plan that went awry

How two mechanicals and an army of supporters helped Greg Van Avermaet win the 2017 Paris Roubaix

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Why Arnaud Demare could be the next French winner of Paris-Roubaix

Why Arnaud Demare could be the next French winner of Paris-Roubaix

He’s fresh, fast and French: past winners Madiot, Guesdon and team-mate Guarnieri on fancying Démare to break the home nation’s 21-year duck at Roubaix

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Dirk Demol: winning Roubaix can change your life

Dirk Demol: winning Roubaix can change your life

Breakaway hopeful Dirk Demol recalls his 1988 victory in Paris-Roubaix, a day everything aligned and altered the course of his career

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Steve Bauer – the man who lost Paris-Roubaix by millimetres

Steve Bauer – the man who lost Paris-Roubaix by millimetres

In 1990 Steve Bauer finished second by a centimetre — behind Eddy Planckaert — in a race that was his favourite Classic. “I don’t have any...

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Paris Roubaix tips from a winner – Stuart O’Grady

Paris Roubaix tips from a winner – Stuart O’Grady

Who will win the 2018 Paris-Roubaix? The 2007 champion Stuart O’Grady runs his eye over the contenders for Hell of the North

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A country for old men: John Degenkolb on Paris-Roubaix

A country for old men: John Degenkolb on Paris-Roubaix

The fourth youngest winner of Paris-Roubaix in 30 years, John Degenkolb discusses how experience counts in the Hell of the North

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Triumph or tragedy: Met Trenta 3K Carbon

Triumph or tragedy: Met Trenta 3K Carbon

Want a carbon helmet that’s lightweight, aero and strong? It’s taken 30 years but Met think they can deliver

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Rides of rouleurs: Five stunning rouleur race victories

Rides of rouleurs: Five stunning rouleur race victories

From Ian Stannard at Omloop to Eros Poli on Mont Ventoux. Five astonishing race wins that showcase what it means to ride like a rouleur

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An Easter in Flanders with legendary team boss Hilaire van der Schueren

An Easter in Flanders with legendary team boss Hilaire van der Schueren

A no-nonsense DS who has never raced a bike, Hilaire van der Schueren has been doing his job so long it’ll be up to the UCI to ask...

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Philippe Gilbert: Classics king and Flanders champion

Philippe Gilbert: Classics king and Flanders champion

“I was always dreaming of the Classics,”  Philippe Gilbert says of his boyhood self. Now the Quick Step man wins them instead. Ned meets him...

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Why George Hincapie rode the Tour of Flanders 17 times

Why George Hincapie rode the Tour of Flanders 17 times

The American hard man on boozy fans, brutal bergs and what makes the Tour of Flanders special

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Why everyone’s talking about Wout van Aert, Classics star of the future

Why everyone’s talking about Wout van Aert, Classics star of the future

Analysis: He’s not the first cyclo-cross specialist to show potential in the Classics. But Wout van Aert’s early season showing has nonetheless been turning heads

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The tears of Van Hooydonck – the two time Flanders winner burnt by the EPO era

The tears of Van Hooydonck – the two time Flanders winner burnt by the EPO era

Edwig Van Hooydonck knew exactly where he could attack on the Bosberg and keep his speed to the top. But practice and knowledge couldn’t compete with 90’s new...

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In pictures: on the sidelines at E3 and Gent-Wevelgem

In pictures: on the sidelines at E3 and Gent-Wevelgem

Around every cobbled classic gravitates a world of fans, onlookers, snappers, marshals and helpers. Photographer Chris Auld put them in the picture

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Seven things Gent-Wevelgem does better than the Tour of Flanders

Seven things Gent-Wevelgem does better than the Tour of Flanders

Flemish? Yes. Cobbles? Yup. Spring date? Indeed. Nonetheless Gent-Wevelgem has an identity all of its own. Shame it’s often overlooked

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Gent-Wevelgem 1989: Sean Yates and Gerrit Solleveld’s race-long break

Gent-Wevelgem 1989: Sean Yates and Gerrit Solleveld’s race-long break

It was a wet Wednesday in Wevelgem but there was no hanging around for Sean Yates and his fellow escapee. After 246km out front, they...

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