“Full speed & no sleep deprivation. Way to go!” Ultra cyclist smashes Tour Divide record, second place still 2 days behind; Pinarello Dogma F inexplicably appears at Louis Vuitton catwalk; Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour team revealed + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Ultra-cyclist smashes Tour Divide record - and slept 8 hours a night!
We reported yesterday that Victor Bosoni was set to win the Tour Divide, the 4,418km epic ultra-endurance ride from the Banff mountains to the Mexico border. Well, not only has he since won and beaten the old record, but second place (a certain Laurens Ten Dam) isn’t due to come home for another day!
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Bosoni broke Robin Gemperle’s winning time by 11 hours, finishing in 11 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes. It’s an average speed of 16kph – including rests. And unlike other ultra cyclists who might be tempted to plough deep into the night, Bosoni swore by eight hours sleep a night, and indoors!
Riding for Factor’s Gravel Racing team, Chief Brand Manager David Millar (yep, that one) wrote, “I have no idea what he went through during those eleven days. Nobody does, except him. There’s something wonderful about that.”
“I had been following Victor since Traka 560, and when I saw him being vocal about riders dumping rubbish and taking painkillers […] it became clear to me that he was our dream racer. Not only because he was an exceptional athlete, but because he had an opinion on ultra. There was a spirit to it that needed to be taken seriously and defended.”
Meanwhile Lael Wilcox, whose own ultra-endurance effort had to be abandoned due to searing heatwaves in Europe this week, wrote, “Such an incredible ride— full speed & no sleep deprivation. Such a great example for the whole bikepacking community. Way to go, Victor!”
I think we might echo that, outstanding work Victor!
Some things don't make sense
Cycling has always held a funny space in global pop culture. There are iconic fashionable looks from years gone by, but the current WorldTour kits trend towards a blander, more corporate feel that often struggle to make much of an impression beyond cycling circles.
But maybe we’ve been looking at it all wrong. Maybe we’ve focused too much on what an individual wears and not their choice of accessory. Have we ever thought of the bicycle as an aesthetic piece of one’s look? Don’t we deserve the input of a global fashion house to shape the direction of our sport?
Louis Vuitton, and Pharrell Williams, have clearly taken pity on us.
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Louis Vuitton actually owned Pinarello until 2023, which might explain how the Dogma on the model’s shoulder arrived there. What isn’t clear is why?
> Louis Vuitton launches range of £20,000 town bikes
The model appears to be wearing a customised Louis Vuitton skinsuit, no doubt made with the input of Peter Keen, Dan Bigham or Alex Dowsett, whilst the Dogma’s wheels and saddle appear to be painted a leathery brown.
Or is it a wetsuit? They’re walking on sand after all, and Pharrell Williams’ exhibition, titled “A Dandy Experience”, is purportedly “an ode to the surfing community.” Fair enough, but what the road bike is doing there on their mocked-up beach is beyond me. Will someone think of the paintwork?
Thankfully, the internet’s been on good form overnight:
“How many watts does the LV skin suit save?” Strava’s social media person wrote.
“Who the hell is this guy?” Ironman Sam Laidlaw said.
“Just imagine how slow he would be walking without that @ceramicspeed aero alpha system” said another person.
Bafflement all around, which is just how I like it.
Finally, official photos of that bike
Well, it only took around 18 hours but we now have proper photos of that bike… as much as I do quite enjoy using dreadful screenshots that capture perfect models awkwardly mid-stride…
The bike is only ‘powered by Pinarello’ whilst the fashion house take top-billing on the frame. All sorts of ‘LV’ shapes on the wheelset, and now we can get a proper look at the sand/leather coloured chain, although something tells me that’d be all but impossible to maintain!
I’ll save the tech talk to the people who can talk about tech from their front, but I will say I quite like the colour of the chrome ‘cockpit’ as they say. There, that’s enough of that…
How the pros keep cool...
Where do we sign up for a slushy? 🍦👀
When it was so hot at the Tour de France, the riders went looking for a cool-down snack… only to find there weren’t any left 😭🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/LUNsEBe821
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) June 24, 2026
"Taking it easier, jersey open, extra water to pour over me": Reddit advice for cycling in the heat
Over on the r/londoncycling Reddit thread, users are exchanging advice for how to keep cool while cycling through this historic heatwave.
The comments were sparked by one user worried their e-bike was overheating! Not a nice place to be at all, but it has provoked some interesting discussion. Here’s some of their advice if you really have to go out and cycle, and ignore my order for you to remain indoors:
“Taking it easier, jersey open, extra water to pour over me. When stopping, do so in the shade! Even if it means not filtering to the front.”
“I just pedalled very, very slowly yesterday, probably didn’t go over 10mph. Today there’s no chance I’ll be going out, just not worth the risk.”
“Go with a full water bottle, go slowly, enjoy the breeze and take breaks if needed. I rode back yesterday and arrived back drenched in sweat but perfectly happy.
“The key for me is going slowly enough that the cooling benefit of the breeze is greater than the heating effect of my cycling.”
If any of you are heading out, feel free to share your tips!
Seixas gets the all clear
After his crash and abandon at the race formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné, there was a sense of doubt surrounding Paul Seixas’ participation at the Tour de France but his Decathlon CMA CGM team have today dismissed any such rumours.
“All systems are go” say Sporza, whilst L’Equipe added the 19-year-old had precautionary MRI scans and all seems in order. However, the team will not be following Visma in naming their Tour line-up just yet, with a couple of riders currently suffering with illness, including the tallest rider in the peloton, Daan Hoole, who has already withdrawn from his national time trial championships.
The British national championships get underway with the elite time trial tomorrow, though at the time of writing we are yet to receive any information suggesting any accommodations for the heat. It could be a pretty unpleasant experience out there…
Vintage Hydraulic brakes!
Thoughts on Andy Burnham...
George has some opinions on the likely incoming Prime Minister, and seems quite keen for a Lord Board(man)…
> Blog: Why cyclists should be more excited about Andy Burnham than most
Jonas Vingegaard's Tour de France team revealed!
The Tour de France is just around the corner which means teams are starting to reveal their line-ups for the biggest race of the year. And, with respect to Uno-X – who did a rather weird AI thing harking back to the historic Danish-Norwegian Union, which I’m afraid I know far too much about – I thought it might be slightly better to focus on Visma Lease a Bike, the team of the two-time Danish winner. Apologies to Jonas Abrahamsen, Tobias Halland Johannessen et al.
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Since it’s World Cup season I’m going to take a football commentator’s approach to this, so here goes:
Visma’s Grischa Niermann makes three enforced changes to last year’s roster that finished second once again to Tadej Pogačar, for what will be his final Tour de France before heading to pastures new at Lidl-Trek. New signing Bruno Armirail comes in among the rouleurs and partners Edoardo Affini and Victor Campenaerts in place of Tiesj Benoot who signed for Decathlon. Wout van Aert misses out after narrowly avoiding serious infection from an elbow injury, he’s replaced by young Norwegian Per Strand Hagenes.
Finally, Davide Piganzoli, a new signing, will join the mountain train in a space vacated by Simon Yates’ shock retirement. He’ll ride with Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss, having impressed during last month’s Giro d’Italia where he finished eighth overall behind team leader Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane leads the line in the Grand Boucle for the sixth season in succession and is bidding to become only the fourth male rider to be the defending champion in all three Grand Tours at once, after Merckx, Hinault and Froome.
Among the riders to have missed out are Bart Lemmen, third behind Pogačar on the Tour de Suisse’s queen stage, Christophe Laporte who’s endured another difficult spring, and young British climber Ben Tulett.
Cat Ferguson out of Tour de France with injury
Cat Ferguson will miss the Tour de France Femmes, after her injuries sustained at the Giro d’Italia Women turned out to be worse than initially diagnosed.
The 20-year-old crashed on the opening stage and was withdrawn due to concussion and a suspected ankle sprain. But three weeks later, new X-Rays showed two ankle fractures that will require the Yorkshire woman to be on crutches for the next three weeks.
Ferguson has continued her impressive rise this season, taking three victories and fighting among the favourites during the classics campaign. But she’ll have to wait another year before making her debut at the biggest race of them all, where she could have played a vital role supporting Marlen Reusser who, as we covered on Monday’s live blog, is in excellent form.
Writing on her Instagram Stories, Ferguson said she was “heartbroken to miss the most beautiful races of the season in this way but am now finding a new daily routine, just with a bit too much arm work for my liking” alongside a photo of a swimming pool.
Get well soon, Cat!
Tuchel's next career change?
tommy tuchel has a pure tour de france physique. get him out the dugout and up a mountain. the man is a born grimpeur
— Stan’s Account (@tristandross) June 23, 2026
I reckon the England manager would empty himself up the first category-1 for Jan Ullrich, then would make for an excellent mathematician in the Grupetto.
Calls to rip out “disastrous” cycle lane always blocked by cars rejected – but council proposes extra parking spaces in concession to angry traders
Another win for motonormativity…
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Latest Comments
"it’s just generally scary that a car can do that to you so easily.” @mitsky Over to you...
Spotted yesterday. Good to see Thames Valley Police out to "catch 'em all"!
@ Paul J Apologies, I saw your comment and thought it was asking a question on another article. To actually answer your question, it's carbon, the Soloist stopped being aluminium in the mid-2000s, I believe.
@Paul J The X-LAB? It's aluminium with a carbon fork.
Something left unclear, is this a carbon or an aluminium frame?
@tomlew At least there isn't a mirror image picture of the derailleur in the article. It would have been a little bit comical if Mr. Pidcock had damaged the rear derailleur by kicking it and then found that the button worked only for some other calamity to happen due to the damage. Maybe SRAM can use it in their marketing of their groupset: "Tougher than a speeding Tom Pidcock in a dash to the finish line"
@Mr Blackbird I agree, there was no way he was going to outsprint Matthieu, the only way I could see him winning that stage would have been to jump from long distance and try to out-TT him using his aero advantages as a much smaller rider, in which case he could have stuck the bike in the biggest gear using the hood buttons and then just left the gears alone.
@mdavidford Even a mirror image of the piece of asphalt would have been better than nothing.
@mdavidford The grassy knoll theory seems to be the most plausible explanation yet. The whole saga is obviously a conspiracy and likely sabotage against slam dunk tour winner Tom Pidcock otherwise why in this world where every device contains a camera hasn't a photo of the offending piece of asphalt emerged? We should be told!
Re the AI spectacles. I read a UCI leaked report yesterday. The spectacles were actually a brand that used to be advertised for sale in the 1970s/80s Sunday tabloids. They supposedly enable X-ray vision allowing the wearer to see through peoples' clothes. A quote from the leaked report. "....The opportunities for distraction within the race peleton presented huge dangers to cyclists and spectators alike ...."
54 thoughts on ““Full speed & no sleep deprivation. Way to go!” Ultra cyclist smashes Tour Divide record, second place still 2 days behind; Pinarello Dogma F inexplicably appears at Louis Vuitton catwalk; Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour team revealed + more on the live blog”
An UTTERLY DEPRESSING day! For over 4 years I have been seriously considering giving up cycling. I have escaped 1 bikejacking attempt, and managed to avoid 2 others (1 in Orpington where 2 other cyclists were robbed in June 2022 reported by Road.cc). I have survived several attempts to deliberately push me off from passing motorists. Then there are the lucky escapes from near collisions with distracted drivers.
I have watched many videos from bikepackers, mainly Josh Parsons, and I decided I needed to return to off-road cycling if I am to continue enjoying cycling, free from those threats.
This morning, YT suggested this video: https://youtu.be/a9PDAOYVYm0?si=G2ZoPkLq9jT2tbXQ
Then I read the many, many comments. Not only that, the locations of these incidents. For some while I have been considering where I can move to in the UK to find better roads to cycle on, but I am beginning to believe the blight I experience in SE London, Kent and Surrey, are widespread.
Over the last few years I have been a subscriber to road.cc. This is because this appears to be the only publication in the UK that is willing to highlight the bad situations many of us cyclists face regularly. But in recent months I am now under the impression even this forum is shying away from reporting the bad stuff. So I have ended my subscription.
I am now left yet again pondering my future cycling choices!!
@Mr Anderson One of the comments was from a person who describes himseld as a “family man and business owner”, who fought off two attackers trying to rob him and is now facing charges of GBH.
I am reminded of “The Little Onion”‘s brush with the law and Dave Clifford’s prosecution for reporting a phone driver.
Not sure what being a “family man and business owner” has to with it, though. That’s no guarantee of good character or trustworthiness. We’ve seen any number of “family men and business owners” abusing, threatening, or running cyclists off the road in stories here on road.cc – often using their business vehicle to do it.
@mdavidford Are you not concerned that using reasonable force to defend yourself against robbery with violence may result in criminal charges against you? It was 2 against 1. Reasonable force should include rendering your attackers incapable of doing you harm.
That seems like a complete non sequitur to what I wrote.
@mdavidford I could have replied with this: What are you implying? Are you presuming guilt because he has described himself as such! Do you know Martin?
You appear to be concerned by the “tree” of how this MTB rider has described himself, whereas I am concerned of the ramifications of the “woods” of how this victim of robbery with violence is protected by the law.
I’m not implying anything. I’m stating what I wrote – that his being a “family man and business owner” is irrelevant.
The question is, what would somebody be trying to imply by stating that they were such in relation to this case. There are only a few possibilities I can think of:
1) That their right to self-defence is dependent on or reinforced by it. This seems prima facie silly – right to self-defence shouldn’t depend in any way on your social status – so I discounted it
2) That it somehow makes it unreasonable to investigate and pursue possible offences they may have committed. Again, this seems unlikely – it seems obvious that people shouldn’t be exempt from justice because of these attributes (and conversely, people shouldn’t be at risk of poorly-considered or malicious prosecution just because they haven’t managed to procreate or start a business.
3) That it suggests that their version of events is trustworthy and there can’t be any question that the prosecution is unwarranted. This seems the most likely, so I assume is the reason it’s there. But it’s entirely fallacious – it’s essentially a version of appeal to authority, and one that, as I say, has been amply demonstrated to be false by multiple stories on this website.
I don’t know where you get the idea that I’m presuming guilt – I never said (or implied) that. I’m merely questioning what that particular statement about his personal circumstances has to do with the price of fish.
(And as far as the ‘tree’ goes – well, you planted it.)
The problem with Roadcc (and all cycling magazines) is that it’s all preaching to the converted. …It’s a great forum for exposing the issues, it’s Roadcc’s bread and butter. But what is Roadcc doing to advocate for all its readers outside the cycling industry?
Don’t see what’s so baffling – fashion’s always moved in cycles.
Cycling thinks it’s a fashion parade, which is why prices have become so exorbitant. It’s zero surprise to see Pinarello on a catwalk. Almost every group ride in any world city has become fashion parade. Cycling outfits can easily cost $1000.
…The great thing is that you don’t have to buy into it! Just stop paying high prices. There are many affordable options.
@GravelIsNothingNew also it would be really hard for him to carry a car or even a motorcycle.
In bollards we trust!
https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/bollards-installed-accident-prone-pub/
@hawkinspeter Any idea why it needs a ‘crowdfunder’ to pay for the bollards? Why isn’t the insurer to the miscreants paying- liability couldn’t be more obvious. They could try the ‘sudden unexplained acceleration incident due to the car’s fly-by-wire software’ dodge, but it would be up to the driver’s insurers to take that up?
Any insurance payout would presumably only cover the cost of repairing the damage caused – it wouldn’t provide extra to take further measures to prevent *someone else* doing the same thing.
@mdavidford – maybe this should be a standard addition to the insurance costs if it’s not the first time that the building has been hit.
@mdavidford Yes, good point!
Accident-prone pub? They shouldn’t let it out on the roads.
@hawkinspeter That pub looks very well camouflaged. All pubs should be forced to wear helmets and hi-viz.
@Pub bike – Those pictures don’t really show off the true colours of the Merchant Arms. I think it’s fairly visible as it is, but it could do with some bike helmets stuck onto it.
Those don’t look like vehicle stopping bollards.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/24/carspreading-vehicle-size-crash-deaths-study
Is the bike industry missing a trick here? Too much focus on selling us lighter more aero machinery, new fangled tubeless systems & gravel specific chamois butter – not enough bikespreading. 32″ MTB tyres are one thing, but where are the heavily armoured, oversized urban road warrior bikes? WankFietsen if you will. Just bung a load of ads on TV depicting empty urban streets whilst wanging on about freedom, engage the Evil Cyclists Lobby in some Government quangos & Robert’s your mother’s brother.
If MSM media has taught me anything, it’s that there’s some sort of war going on out there & we need a bigger defence budget and some deadly new tech with which to compete on the battlefield. That & you know, how else are you going to transport your grand piano across town?
Aren’t you describing exactly the “e-bikes” favoured by the youth and those with indifferent interest in cycling?
No I’m not. You’re missing the point.
Think penny farthing (elevated riding position) meets steroided up beach cruiser/DH MTB (oversized, comfortable & insulating) with a smattering of 1896 Columbia Model 40 (“driver” aid / proactive protection). You’re the king of the road.
@Clem Fandango your did say bikespreading – what with massive weight, boxy looks, motorbike tyres, too much power / acceleration…
… and upselling…
… I think something like that Engwe “bike” that Ashley Neal ironically reviewed would be a great example!
@Clem Fandango Like this?
@Clem Fandango bikes for people who aren’t interested in cycling (NL)
@chrisonabike I hope they aren’t going over 20kph! I’m seeing a little too much motion blur from the one on the left there.
@Clem Fandango bike for those not interested in cycling (UK)
I refer the right honorable gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago.
@Clem Fandango well … if that won’t do what about Pee Wee Herman’s machine?
You could fit spikes and flamethrowers if you wanted…
@chrisonabike I mean, in terms of accessories & up selling sure. Where’s the rugged “go anywhere” capability that’s required for the cyclist that never leaves the urban environment & has Jones’s to keep up with?
Ah, my apologies. Well that off-road-style Surron “bike” ought to tick the box?
(And going the other way the early “mountain bike” was sometimes a converted Schwinn cruiser).
Raleigh Chopper? Harley bars, gear shifter stick…
Mountain bike bars have gotten much wider.
So that’s 6 weeks? Is there an important distinction between ‘in’ and ‘on’ crutches?
@mdavidford For no reason except that you recalled the memory, I once worked in a school where a member of the senior management team broke her leg skiing and sent round an email asking everyone to “show some understanding for the next few weeks whilst I investigate how much fun crotches can be.”
Should I postulate that Road CC is drafting a piece on this:
“Estimated toxic air-related deaths drop by 40%
Expanding London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) was crucial, Sir Sadiq Khan has claimed, after a new study indicated the predicted number of deaths linked to toxic air in the capital fell by about 40% in five years.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj8v7z1njgo
I’ve ridden at 35-40 °C before, including the first day of a tour from St. Louis to Chicago doing 100+ miles with much of it at a “feels like” temperature of 41 °C.
This is in the humid midwestern USA, corn and soybean country, so it’s not a “dry heat.”
On my nine mile commute home, I just fill my bottle with ice water and go for it. I can stand in front of a fan for a few minutes when I get home, and take a cold shower.
On the 100 mile day, I really needed electrolytes. Two Nuun tablets per bottle or equivalent. No straight water, no matter how cold. Any kind of Gatorade doesn’t have enough electrolytes. If you stop at a shop to refill and you’re craving the salty crisps, that’s your body saying “more sodium please.”
The strongest in our group of four bonked from dehydration and was suddenly behind us doing well under 10 MPH. We ended up stopping somewhere with air conditioning for over half an hour while he rehydrated and ate salty snacks.
@andystow On the 100 mile day, I really needed electrolytes. Two Nuun tablets per bottle or equivalent. No straight water, no matter how cold. Any kind of Gatorade doesn’t have enough electrolytes
I have to report a change of mind here: for 40 years I have operated a No Added Salt policy as a precaution to reduce the probability of hypertension. It was in my mind that the body is so efficient at sodium conservation that it’s pretty much impossible to consume insufficient sodium. This turns out to be incorrect. No matter how fit and acclimatised, a heavy day of sweating exercise will lose 10-15g of salt. I have taken no electrolyte replacements over this time, including some big trips in what the UK considers to be heatwaves – like the one in progress now. I was away for 6 days on a long (well, fairly long) distance walk during the last heatwave at the end of May, carrying all food and camping equipment with no resupply. Presumably, I have managed because there’s so much excess salt in the average diet and the trips haven’t been long or intense enough. I’m not planning to change from ordinary food and water, but I now recognise that I must be in sodium deficit on heavy exercise days. Elite athletes are, of course different.
Those vintage ‘hydraulic’ disc brakes are very clearly cable actuated.
@Sredlums Yes. Cable actuated hydraulic piston disc brakes. Saves having those pesky hydraulic brake lines going to the handlebars.
Some previously for sale here…
https://bikerecyclery.com/nos-vintage-rock-shox-disc-brake-caliper-front-adapter-white-industries-3-bolt-front-hub-cable-actuated-hydraulic-piston-1990s/
@Sredlums They are actually both https://bikerecyclery.com/nos-vintage-rock-shox-disc-brake-caliper-front-adapter-white-industries-3-bolt-front-hub-cable-actuated-hydraulic-piston-1990s/?srsltid=AfmBOorecFDRFojkR61rQW0zs93vBNxytwPJG8y3Nh3bMK8KmuJl92ZK
@Sredlums
Quite obvious nipple ended cable, one you pointed it out…
@Sredlums my reply with a link is awaiting moderation but they are a hybrid caliper, the cable actuates a hydraulic piston.
Basically Ye Olde TRP Hy/Rd.
@Backladder Yeah, I didn’t word it well. My point was that it’s not a hydraulic system but a hybrid one.
Don’t worry. The Gulf Stream will collapse soon enough. Then you won’t have to worry about hot weather anymore.
@RayG Gulf stream? I’m sure the folks up north (eg around the likes of Poolewe and Gigha) are keeping a close eye on this, and I hear it might switch off… but isn’t this heatwave supposed to be due to hot air up on holiday from North Africa and getting trapped?
No no no – it’s some new Russian super-weapon called a ‘heat dome’.
RiP “car crashes into building” thread – as a tribute I can offer the following (think this was inevitable sooner or later…)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8x2rzke05yo
@chrisonabike It grieves me to support Musk, but I think he’s right in this case, based on incomplete and surmised information. Some people, at least, regularly state that, statistically, self-driving are going to be safer than human Audi, BMW and Tesla etc. drivers. It’s the nutter human driver here who’s guilty, and it looks like Tesla have an intact black box. I wonder what happens when the black box is destroyed as a result of the incident or because the driver has destroyed it. I suppose the case against Tesla will be along the lines of: but you should have known that the sort of people who buy Teslas will disable the safety features in favour of more acceleration and the ability to drive dangerously, and should have enforced safe driving.
WTF??!! I! WANT!! MY!!! SLUSHY!!!!