30 days to the Tour de France: Why this year’s race could be one for the ages
Pogačar vs. Vingegaard, Cavendish's Merckxian challenge, Sagan's long goodbye, US stage-hunters: Here are five story lines that will make the 2023 Tour stand out.
Andrew Hood, aka “EuroHoody,” is the VeloNews European editor. Since joining VeloNews in 2002, he’s been chasing bike races all over the world. He’s covered dozens editions of the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España, as well as numerous world championships in road, track, and mountain biking. He’s also covered five Olympic Games and traveled across six continents. Beyond the Outside cycling network, his work’s appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Outside, SKI, Traveler Magazine, Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, and Denver Post. He’s appeared on CNN, NBC, NPR, and BBC. Chances are if there’s a bike race, EuroHoody’s been to it, or will be going soon.
Pogačar vs. Vingegaard, Cavendish's Merckxian challenge, Sagan's long goodbye, US stage-hunters: Here are five story lines that will make the 2023 Tour stand out.
Sepp Kuss helps Primož Roglič win again, Brandon McNulty hits highest highs, and Derek Gee is everyone's new working-class hero.
How Primož Roglič won — and almost lost — the Giro d'Italia racing with a gravel-inspired setup.
The five-climb 'queen stage' across the heart of the Dolomites saved the best for last.
A half-dozen top teams are among suitors for jump to WorldTour as US prospect keeps piling on victories.
The 2022 Tour de France winner headlines a deep start list for the French stage race that always provides interesting clues about what lies ahead for July.
The long, flat downhill transition stage sets up the thrilling closing stages with the GC still wide open.
Time and race dynamics are tilting away from Kuss, and his chances to become just the third US rider to win stages in all three grand tours.
The reigning world champion serves up a strong retort to the doubters over his COVID-19 Giro exit: 'What is hard to accept is all the fake and negative comments I got after having to leave the race.'
From brutal climbs to great coffee and Italy's living history, the Giro is unlike any race on the calendar: 'The Giro is unique.'
The Tour de France is up next and the British sprinter is hoping to end his spectacular career with an exclamation point.
The Giro d'Italia is stuck in second gear, and the GC brakes might hold until this weekend. Someone is bound to break through, but who will it be?
Former pro recovering from surgery and shares his journey via social media and a new podcast.
The GC riders were content to let the breakaway challenge for the spoils with the Giro's first major climbs on the horizon Friday.
Routine stage turns to mayhem for Jumbo-Visma: 'On a day when you think it is going to be smooth, it is chaos again.'
Wednesday's stage might have been Cavendish's best and perhaps last chance win a stage during this Giro.
The 2020 Giro winner went down in a pileup on a damp descent with less than 70km left to go.
The German wins in a photo-finish ahead of Milan and Cavendish as the Giro's longest stage delivers more drama of the wrong kind.
Only three riders from Soudal Quick-Step remain, and Andrea Vendrame also leaves the Giro ahead of stage 11.
Perhaps no country in Europe can match Italy's passion for the good things of life. The Giro d'Italia is a three-week tour of its rich and varied culinary delights.
Eight riders were not at the start Tuesday as stricter health measures and masking requirements are reintroduced to the Italian grand tour.
Evenepoel's COVID departure scrambles everything: Who will step up to fill the void?
The Belgian superstar recaptured the pink jersey Sunday with a narrow victory in the time trial only to be diagnosed a few hours later. Rigoberto Urán is also out.
Evenepoel misses the knock-out punch against Roglič, with Thomas and Geoghegan Hart moving closer with strong weekend.
Evenepoel struggles to match a searing attack by Roglič, Thomas, and Geoghegan Hart in a late-stage climb in first sign of GC cracks.
UPDATED: Italia star is the latest rider to leave with an infection since the start of the Italian grand tour.
Giro di Hoody: Don't worry, the best is yet to come in this Giro. The good stuff always happens in week 3 in the 'corsa rosa.'
Three riders hung on after attacking with 200km to go and delivered the surprise on Gran Sasso ahead of the cruising GC favorites.
French anti-doping authorities table case against Lennert Van Eetvelt, who will resume racing later this month.
Evenepoel sounding confident as he carries 'virtual' lead into first major climb: 'Roglič is nervous. He knows he is 44 seconds behind.'
UPDATE: Dainese relegated and doctors say Evenepoel suffered hematomas and an impact on his sacrum: 'Stage six will be a difficult one for him.'
Expect to see the American stage-hunter at the back when Cavendish is at the front, and vice versa in the mountains.
Robbie McEwen says Giro d'Italia sprinters won't have it easy: 'Organizers are making the sprint stages harder.'
This weekend's time trial, late-stage pileup caught out more than a few pink jersey dreamers as Evenepoel ponders when he can give it away.
After a slow start, the stage turned spicy in the end. Pinot snagged the KoM jersey, Evenepoel avoided mishaps to stay in pink.
Is Evenepoel's early GC lead a blessing or a curse? Is the maglia rosa a gift that should be given? Our editors debate either way.
This weekend's time trial, late-stage pileup caught out more than a few pink jersey dreamers as Evenepoel ponders when he can give it away.
Sepp Kuss on Jumbo-Visma's pink jersey ambitions: 'Primož is stronger than he was four years ago. He is a candidate for victory.'
Giro di Hoody: Will the time trials take the air out of the GC fight even before hitting the Dolomites? It will for a few pink jersey contenders.
Filippo Ganna and Stefan Küng are favorites for victory, but GC contenders Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel might have something to stay.
Van Avermaet butted heads against Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen, and delivered the Olympic Gold medal in 2016.
Sprinter-turned-commentator McEwen says he's surprised at lack of support for Cavendish: 'Everything has to go perfectly to pull it off.'
The foundations of the 'Remco Express' are taking shape as the world champion barrels toward the pink jersey.
Will the UK super team have someone to match Evenepoel and Roglič? Tao Geoghegan Hart and Geraint Thomas are hoping so.
Monster climbs, crazed tifosi, a dash of old-school glamour, and the season's first grand tour — what's not to love about the Giro d'Italia?
The official start list for the 2023 Giro d'Italia includes big names for all terrains, from Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič, to Sepp Kuss and Mark Cavendish.
Jumbo-Visma star wants to avoid repeat of 2019 when Carapaz rode away from him and Nibali: 'Everyone only mentions me and Remco, but there are a lot of other quality riders.'
The gravel roads of northern Spain serve up over-sized portions of great riding, food, and history.
Tom Pidcock, Pauline Ferrand Prevot outline spring mountain bike schedule.
UAE team officials confirm Pogačar could resume training on the rollers as soon as next week: 'I am lucky it was just a broken wrist.'
Reigning world champion oozing with confidence after delivering sledge-hammer blow at Liège-Bastogne-Liège: 'This is a big boost ahead of the Giro d’Italia.'
All the key details and pre-race favorites for Switzerland's second most important stage race.
Two podiums and victory at Strade Bianche confirm Pidcock's spring classics pedigree: 'It's promising for the future.'
Skjelmose 'disappointed' with finale, and Pidcock wisely chose not to chase and earns career-first monument podium: 'I think that plan paid off.'
Mauro Gianetti on surgery: 'Since it is not just one bone broken, but multiple, it will be a bit more complicated.'
A rare DNF from a crashing Pogačar opened up the race for a peloton full of dreamers, but Evenepoel crushed them all.
World champion confirms he will race Tour of Flanders 'someday' and confidence is sky high ahead of 'La Doyenne' defense: 'The ambition? To win, of course.'
Lennert Van Eetvelt is temporarily suspended and facing possible sanction in use of a nasal spray in February.
Tour de Hoody: Their budding rivalry will drive the narrative across the rest of this decade.
The Belgian superstar is hitting the backroads of rural Belgian in 'Hunt for Champagne' bikepacking trip with friends.
Julian Alaphilippe headlines a deep squad for the 'Wolfpack' to take on Pogačar at 'La Doyenne.'
Not as glamorous as Flanders, the eastern hill country of Belgium delivers up superb riding and yes, some great beer.
Fluent in seven languages, he worked for three cycling teams as a press officer, including during Vincenzo Nibali's Tour de France-winner team in 2014 at Astana.
What can anyone do against Pogačar? 'With the way he is racing right now, second is a victory for everyone else.'
Producers confirmed the highly anticipated series will debut in early June, and that there's talk of a second season to focus more on the action and tactics of racing.
Despite expectations of long-distance attacks, the race unfolded according to the traditional playbook.
Despite expectations of long-distance attacks, the race unfolded according to the traditional playbook.
Producers confirmed the highly anticipated series will debut in early June, and that there's talk of a second season to focus more on the action and tactics of racing.
Timing and positioning are the keys to unraveling the secrets of the classics' most painful finale.
Ineos Grenadiers star hangs on for third after struggling in final 10km: 'I just had nothing left there in the end.'
A slew of podium options roar into the hilly, technical course across the hilly country of the Limburg region.
Lefevere's quandary: Is there a 'next Tom Boonen' lurking in the junior ranks? Or is the 'Wolfpack' content to ride the Remco wave?
Acquaroli was one of the rising stars in Italy in the 1990s, and beat the likes of Miguel Martinez and Cadel Evans for the U23 world title. He was 48.
The race fractured late and a duo came to the red kite with everything in play.
Kostantin Deneka was a high-profile member of the local cycling community, and fought as part of the Ukraine special forces.
Rain, wind, and even hail made for a tough day in the saddle.
UAE superstar wants to add Dutch classic to his palmarès: 'Tadej wants to win all the races, not just the Tour.'
Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège are likely before a break and a possible Tour de France start.
Tour de Hoody: The extremes are exaggerated to almost grotesque limits, but the 'Hell of the North' grips the peloton unlike any race on the calendar.
The soon-to-be-retired superstar will recover following crash-marred classics: 'It wasn't the farewell I would have liked at Paris-Roubaix.'