“I can confirm European cyclists are built different”: American rider clings on for dear life at Spanish Gran Fondo… and leaves wondering “why are these people so fit?”; Shimano gets Pogačar’s Roubaix neutral service bike back + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"I can confirm European cyclists are built different": American rider clings on for dear life at Spanish Gran Fondo... and leaves wondering "why are these people so fit?"
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A bit of a shock for this US rider over in Europe who rocked up at the start of a Gran Fondo and quickly found the pace to be essentially a race. Some locals may well take issue with the assessment that the sportive just outside of Girona was in Spain but, politics and regional identity aside, one thing was clear… the pace was hot.
Many events on the continent, even just a local one like this, attract many a rider not far off pro level. The front of these events is almost always more race than sportive, but probably more so given this one started near one of Europe’s cycling capitals, Girona.
“This was a local one, just outside of Girona called ‘La Barroca’,” our US rider explained. “I recommend it if you’re ever in the area when it’s happening. There’s two routes, I did the shorter one which is 90km and 1,230m (of climbing). We finished in 2hr 40 min, 33 kph avg. I never drove pace, just tried to survive… these cyclists are built different!
“This is me simply surviving in the front group of a GRAN FONDO in Spain. Why are these people so fit?”
As someone who had their head kicked in at a similar event in the Canary Islands last autumn, I can certainly relate to that last question. The continental Gran Fondo scene is more aero socks and attacks than the often (but not always) more sedate sportives I’m accustomed to over here in the UK.
Someone else on the thread summed it all up quite nicely: “Incredibly fast and technical as the speed increases. It’s maximising ever corner and watt to create gaps. Goes beyond fitness and into the realm of competing with caution thrown to the wind. Loved the video and comments that accompanied it. You were riding super strong.”
Bike-stealing thief attempts to evade police by riding on race course… and gets caught after overtaking peloton
Shimano neutral service bike was like riding "a wheelbarrow" at Paris-Roubaix, claims Tadej Pogačar
Shimano mechanics will be hosing the neutral service bike as we speak, the brand’s excitement to get its Tadej Pogačar-ridden ride returned after Paris-Roubaix possibly now tainted by the Slovenian’s review… that it was like riding a wheelbarrow.
PUNCTURE FOR POGACAR 😱
The world champion is off the back and riding a Shimano neutral service bike! pic.twitter.com/Gyd84WXAlt
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 12, 2026
The world champion reportedly told the Slovenian press that was his assessment of the bike, which Het Laatste Nieuws has suggested looks remarkably like an unbranded Canyon model.
“It felt very uncomfortable,” Pogačar is quoted as saying. “I got a ‘karjolo’ [wheelbarrow].
“I was able to start my chase, but it had been a long time since I’d ridden a Shimano bike. The saddle height wasn’t right. And the wheels weren’t suitable for the terrain either. So I had to switch again.”
And to think this morning Shimano were buzzing to tell us how they’d got the bike in question back and wouldn’t be washing it for a while…
Engineers begin work on new cycle bridge as part of HS2 construction
A new cycle bridge will soon link Offchurch Greenway in Warwickshire and Route 41 of the National Cycle Network. Engineers are currently installing the bridge as part of wider HS2 construction works, with the active travel infrastructure expected to be completed by September.
Vicki Lee, HS2 Ltd senior project manager, said the bridge would “improve safety and connectivity” for cyclists. Warwickshire County Council has also called it a “key link” and one that will “benefit many generations to come”.
Paris-Roubaix... on a folding bike
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That 28kph average speed is mighty impressive, get that rider over to a Spanish Gran Fondo ASAP…
“Just a bloody annoyance”: Ex-BBC journalist told Met Police won’t investigate his stolen bike, despite deliberately parking under a CCTV camera
Excuse me?
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Spanish pro cyclist Jaume Guardeño remains in intensive care two weeks on from training crash
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Caja Rural-Seguros RGA have released a follow-up statement about Jaume Guardeño, the pro rider who was airlifted to hospital following a training crash two weeks ago.
The team said Guardeño remains in the intensive care unit and is “critical but stable”. Guardeño is due to undergo “further procedures” in the coming days.
Climber Guardeño finished 29th at the Volta a Catalunya and 14th at the Vuelta last season, the 23-year-old rushed to Tauli Hospital in Sabadell following a crash at the end of March.
Spanish media reports suggest Guardeño lost control when he hit a rock in the road, before then colliding with a car being driven on the same route. There is no suggestion at this stage that the crash was caused by anything other than the rider hitting the rock.
A Caja Rural-Seguros RGA spokesperson said: “We continue to send all our strength and affection to Jaume, as well as to his family and friends at this time.”
"The old horse still has some kick": Taylor Phinney eyes track cycling comeback ahead of LA 2028 Olympics
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Two-time individual pursuit world champion Taylor Phinney is making a comeback. In his own words: “The old horse still has some kick”.
Phinney, who retired from pro cycling back in 2019 at the end of a career which saw him win a Giro d’Italia stage and three US national time trial championships, admitted he’d “never in a million years” have predicted he’d be returning to the sport… “but here we are”.
“What started as a return to gravel racing has delicately snowballed into a full on Olympic dream,” he said, revealing his comeback will be on the track with an eye to the 2028 home Games. “It’s been super fun and rewarding to find the love for training and ripping high speeds again over the past few months.
“I laughed it off at first, but with encouragement from wifey (Kasia Niewiadoma) the seed started to grow and before I knew it all I could think of was closing this final loop in my cycling career.
“The track was where I first found love and success in this sport, it was even the first discipline to break my heart when my specialty event, the individual pursuit, was removed from the Olympic programme, which prompted me to swiftly abandon the track and go all in on the road.
“Recently the USA boys have been making huge strides in the Team Pursuit, and I couldn’t be more stoked to be joining them in the chase for the Olympic dream.
“I have a lot of work to do in the gym and refining the position, but after my first camp with them (and first time in a TT position in probably 7 years…) I must say, it’s awesome to be back in a team environment. I’m happy with how I slotted into the group considering I’ve only been ‘back’ training since November, and I look forward to stepping up over the course of the next two years. The energy and vibe of the squad is top notch.
“Regardless of whether I make the official team for LA28 or not, I’m honoured to be in the running and will look forward to making some World Cup teams to elevate the team to its highest potential and Olympic qualifying position.”
"Well... that's one we're never washing again": Shimano gets its Tadej Pogačar-ridden Paris-Roubaix neutral service bike back... and fans want an eBay auction
“Well… that’s one bike we’re never washing again…”
Shimano has shared the footage of it getting its bike back post-Paris Roubaix, the neutral service ride having had probably the most exciting afternoon of its life when Tadej Pogačar took it for a spin after a puncture at 120km to go.
The components giant even suggested the bike would be kept in its raced condition for the foreseeable… “Straight from the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix back to the Neutral Service car. After a ride from Tadej Pogačar, this one might stay like this for a bit. Some bikes get cleaned. Some you leave… just for now.”
We reckon it might be headed for a display at HQ or Shimano’s Experience Center in the Netherlands (although hopefully it won’t suffer the same fate as the “irreplaceable” bikes ridden to extraordinary performances by names such as Peter Sagan, Mathieu van der Poel, Julian Alaphilippe and Egan Bernal, which were stolen during an overnight burglary back in 2024).
Some fans urged Shimano to get the bike listed on eBay, although, considering his ripped Milan-San Remo jersey went for €95,100, god knows how much the neutral service ride would reach…
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Presumably there is some ideal city where everything is within cycling distance but there's also lots of space to store bikes. Hmm. I wonder if some of those car spots that occupy the same space as 10 bikes (or more) could be utilised?
If you're cycling in the UK. But just be careful about picking up discarded perfume bottles, watch who you drink tea with, don't cycle near Russian warships etc.
Vittoria Corsa NeXT are the answer for anyone who actually isn’t pro. Still better than Conti GP5000’s, more durable, better ride feel and better price. …the best way to not pay too much? Buy something else.
I'm am more at threat from dangerous drivers than I am from russian snipers
But again, it's irrelevant to the argument.
The thing that makes cycling more dangerous (among others) is poor skill and situational awareness. Both of which will be exacerbated by this thing full of screens sensors and other distractions which will do nothing to help a novice ride better.
Good to hear that people are keen and they won't be doing the Lambeth Walk if they can help it. Now, can we have a rule that new buildings (that the government wants more of built) have to include decent cycle storage space? Like in NL? (Of course not - that would be insanity as nobody cycles, and anyway Nige and Kemi and anyone else will be shouting "nanny state" and "government overreach". And frankly the planning process is a giant hot mess as it is and we're already worried about being slated for missing housing targets ...)
Those wheels are certainly a major advance in road safety for squirrels trying to cross the road.
@momove maybe they mean "more pure cycling *marketing*"?
It needs to read license plates, look them up, and tell you the registered owner has 26 prior driving offences. Ideally it would remotely hack their car and turn the engine off. Driver: I only get 'undred yards down road and another one of those bloody smart bikes shuts me down. Took me two hours to get t' pub.
5 thoughts on ““I can confirm European cyclists are built different”: American rider clings on for dear life at Spanish Gran Fondo… and leaves wondering “why are these people so fit?”; Shimano gets Pogačar’s Roubaix neutral service bike back + more on the live blog”
“What do you mean my bike’s not UCI approved? I was told this was a cat 1 race.”
90km at 33kmh average is a typical Sunday morning club run for some
With 1230m climb? That would need about a 300W average for a 70kg rider, that would be pretty good going over 2.6 hours.
“The saddle height wasn’t right” says Pog on the shimano bike. That’s what the dropper post is for! Could it be this roadie has never touched a mountain bike before? Alas we may never know.
It’s a quick release, not a dropper.