Velo Magazine — September 2014

The most anticipated Velo issue of the year is here. The Tour de France edition, with all the race analysis and tech features Velo readers have come to expect, is combined with the official guide to the USA Pro Challenge.

This double September issue contains everything you need to know about the world’s biggest bike race, which started in Great Britain and was full of drama, crashes, surprises, and a dominant performance by Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali.

Velo takes you week-by-week through the Grand Boucle, beginning with Nibali’s perfect ride. From the cobbles of stage 5 that saw Chris Froome abandon the race, to the Alberto Contador’s crash and the epic ride of Tony Martin in the first half of the race, our reporters were on the ground to capture all of the action.

Though the Tour started in Britain, the British riders did not fare well, with star sprinter Mark Cavendish crashing out on stage 1 and five-star favorite Froome suffering through a series of crashes.

Marcel Kittel claimed his rightful spot atop the sprinting throne for the second consecutive year in France, and his coronation is highlighted in the issue.

On the tech side, the Tour is often used as a showcase for new and improved equipment, and this year was no exception. Read all about the latest, most technologically advanced equipment to debut in the pro peloton.

The second half of the Tour was no less dramatic, as the rise of several French riders took center stage throughout the final stages. American hopeful Tejay van Garderen struggled, then persevered to preserve a top-5 finish in Paris. Read all about his rocky road.

The Garmin-Sharp team also saw emotional, mixed fates, from Andrew Talansky’s solo ride to beat the time cut, to Jack Bauer’s agonizing defeat at the line.

Finally, the mighty Peter Sagan had an interesting July, without a victory, but a dominant display of control in the green jersey competition.

Outside of France, our tech team took a look at new carbon clinchers, reviewing eight of the best on the market. While they used to turn heads for the all the wrong reasons, these wheelsets prove that the technology is ready for primetime.

When you’ve reached the end of Velo’s Tour coverage, flip the magazine over and treat yourself to the official USA Pro Challenge guide. Read detailed descriptions of each of the race’s seven stages and 16 teams, an in-depth analysis of seven riders to watch, a page of helpful tips for fans new to bike racing, and information on the “must-see moments” that could determine overall contenders. Racing in Colorado’s mountains presents challenges all its own: discover how the altitude will affect rider performance and find out why all pros carry a “rain bag” in their team car for the inevitable bad-weather racing day.

All this and much more, in the September issue of Velo.

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