Mauve Leroy shows the French beauty in this Rapha video. Like a dream with sun, good weather and a beautiful language. Composed with the French style which sometimes makes me think that Swedish design isn’t the best after all…
The other side was me today mounting fenders on my workhorse:
Not perfectly set up yet but good enough at home. Specialized Dry Tech 45mm that I hope will keep me dry all winter. Prepared for rain, dreaming of sunshine.
Yesterday I was at Stora Skuggan in the Swedish Kings garden cheering on people racing Cyclocross. Bang and John had cameras and the result looks like this:
My old hometown hosted this years World Championships in Road Cycling. And after chatting with the Swedish Champ Sara Penton I booked a ticket. Who doesn’t want to see all Bergen and many more cheer on your friend:
I’ve been on the Women’s World Cup in Vårgårda and seen a few XCO World Cups but this was something extra. So much people and so many riders I followed just on internet before.
While I always hope Annemiek van Vleuten will win I was happy to see the Netherlands teamwork work out and with Chantal Blaak soloing to the finish. A women with style and that will wear the most beautiful cycling jersey in a correct way:
Happy to see that finish. But as for Kristoff the finishline came to far away for the 2nd group. Annemiek van Vleuten was first in the group when they passed me with 70m to go. 70m for Katrin Garfoot and Amalie Dideriksen to pass
Fully crowded as you can see. Going to the podium at Torgallmenningen was even more crowded. More people than on 17th May, thought for a while I wouldn’t get in on the square:
3rd year Boels-Dolmans take the World Champion win on a Specialized S-Works, 2 earlier on Amira, now on the New Tarmac.
Yesterday time for the men and the crowds grew. I met a polish guy that had come with ferry and bus to watch Kwiato. Dedication. And the crowds was happy seeing Odd Christian Eiking from Bergen in the 2nd breakaway:
A lot of people including a peloton:
The guy to the left had understood that we where there for the atmosphere and to cheer on our favorites live, not just following the race. Which is best in a sofa in front of the TV, but not as fun.
Alaphilipe and Moscon on the last lap, including the VideoMC that lost it’s connection some seconds after as the power got down on Fløyen. The other view of this:
Including me in blue in the red circle taking the picture above 😀
Just after the chasers/winners came:
I was hoping for the third guy here, Matteo Trentin but he did as van Vleuten and ended 4th.
If you missed the last 5km they are here from the helicopter:
Peter Sagan covering some gaps and attacks when people try to get rid of the sprinters. I’m not the biggest fan of Peter Sagan but he is incredible and clever being in the right place in the right time. It’s impressive and it was a clean sprint just like the way we want to see it.
Peter Sagans 3rd World Champ title in 3 years. And he did it on Specialized S-Works Tarmac 😉
Peter Sagan does it alone what Boels-Dolmans do together. Both on Specializeds. For me I think Sagans win in Richmond was his best and Chantal Blaaks in Bergen the best in Boels-Dolmans. Coming in solo to the finish in the Worlds biggest road race is making the win even bigger, dropping the best riders in the world.
Big mountains, small cyclists, awesome trails. Been riding mtb in Sweden, Norway and Germany but nothing has been as good as in Canada. On a rental bike with an ugly helmet.
A thing that really is on my bucket list of cycling is BC Bike Race. A stage race in British Columbia as in the best trails in the world. Watch this video from this years race and see for yourself:
I would prefer a bit less rain in the beginning but what a race. Have had it in mind for several years but never done anything to get there. Don’t think I will for 2018 either but for 2019 on a new Specialized Camber it may be the seasons biggest goal 😀
5th stage where I already showed the result but great racing:
And the last stage. My thought of Niewiadoma wasn’t so far off, awesome stage:
You know when you race on home soil and everyone is there cheering for you. Then when riding safe but fast on technical Proloque and still take the win.
You know when you can sprint better than the others so you just pass and celebrate a bit before the line while everyone is chasing you?
You know when racing against the fastest time trialcyclists in the world but you decided to win the World Championships this year and need the great feeling?
You know when you missed the last sprint but knew you got it this time?
You know when you’re the favorite, leading the World Tour, but still go in the breakaway with the GC leader just because you know it’s your day?
Interesting racing, but missing the live stream this years Boels Ladies Tour. UCI haven’t shared today’s video yet so just a picture of the finish. 6th and last stage tomorrow. Annemiek van Vleuten is leading ahead of Anna van der Breggen and that seems pretty set but it’s a long hilly stage tomorrow. Hoping for van Vleuten to take the overall, but can Niewiadoma win tomorrow, find the spring shape again 🙂
Almost a month since the Race Across Skåne but still time to remember the great moments of the wet and intense ride where this years peak went over and my form just went down from that…
I’m in it, with socks and riding 😉
You’re joining next year? More crosswinds, more gravel, more fika, more friendships and a relaxed atmosphere where I hope everyone feels welcome 🙂
In our world of heavy advertisement, ambassadors and companies paying people to write and take picture on rides with their superbike it’s easy to be blind. It has become so much more than just an poster with a cool cyclist looking pro and a slogan like ”Stiffer, stronger, lighter and even more aero”. It has become a chase of feelings, love stories and people getting payed in parts or money to think in a certain way.
Life is getting harder to know, requires more knowledge what is real and what’s not.
Sometimes you just don’t give a shit and no matter how much 3T is paying Magnus Bäckstedt to skid like here or ride cobbles on the Exploro bike with some locals just to get a good story.
Placed people and bikes are also people and bikes. A ride is a ride no matter how many cameras you use and what purpose it has. Modern advertisement can look good like this. Can honestly say that I don’t understand the Diverge video with Sagan jumping and skidding as much as Thereabouts 2 or Deux North Diverge video. Or Thereabouts 3 with Scott bikes. As long as it looks like real biking I can like when companies like 3T making awesome stories with their Exploro. Or whatever company making videos and stories about their bikes, or clothes. Rapha is a good example with modern advertisement really spread out with normal people around the world.
So thanks to I’m at home with too much sparetime I found the story about Magnus Bäckstedt and some other guys riding in a beautiful part of Great Britain, captured on video of course as that’s how we like it:
Who wants to join me for a great Great Britain gravel/explo trip next year?
In 9 days there is a ”race” in Denmark I would recommend everyone, haven’t done it but is on my bucket list.
Hansens Cykelløb. Hansen is the biggest dairy company in Denmark and producing ice cream, so in the pit you get ice cream:
120km gravel with ice creamstops, can it be better? More pictures from last year here: Gripgrab
And some highlights:
jonas wwBlog 