Mr Cycling World » Cycling Video

An Australian World Champion, Winning a Spring Classic? Well I Never

mrcyclingworld — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 05:42:47 +0000

There is something special about the World Champion winning a race. I mean, it should happen of course, but it doesn’t seem to happen often enough.

So this morning when we woke up to the news that Cadel Evans had won the hilly Belgian classic Fleche Wallonne, I nearly dropped off my seat. A world champion, winning a Belgian spring classic and it’s an Aussie? AWESOME!

Here’s a bit of video from Sporza coverage, complete with Flemish commentary just because I think it sounds so much better. Enjoy, I know we at MrCyclingWorld sure did.

Paris Roubaix. Queen of the Classics, Hell of the North

mrcyclingworld — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 21:24:03 +0000

Tonight (Australian-time) is the night of the legendary one day race, Paris-Roubaix. Keeping pace with the best on Paris-Roubaix is not within the reach of just any old rider. The Hell of the North is a race for specialists. It is only tamed by the hard, painless, powerful and skillful, who have pinpointed the event as one of their objectives for the season.

Of course, it wont be a day out for everyone…

Look Out For…

Of course any one of the 27 pave (cobblestoned) sectors of the race are great. The race’s official website has a full preview of each. One of the most famous is the 2.4km long Trouée d’Arenberg at about “only” 100km to go. Coincidentally, the live race coverage tends to start at about then. Typically one of the top 20 riders to come out of that section will be the winner.

Each section has a rating out of 5 for difficulty. Arenberg you ask? Why that’s naturally!

And if you’ve ever had the “pleasure” of riding over a section of pave, you know how hard it can be. And if you haven’t… well you’re missing out!

The race is so high intense even when watching it on TV you feel like there’s no time to get yourself top-up of frites (French-fries) and Westmalle (Belgian beer). Little wonder it’s so popular!

Predictions anyone?

You just need to check out Twitter to see that everyone has their own ideas. Of course Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen remain the outright favourites, but if you like to pick a roughie why not Johan van Summeren. The boy’s got talent, a history of top ten’s and of course he is Belgian – based on history being Belgian is a very important factor in winning this race!

This year the lanky 6ft 5in rider is kitted out by Garmin-Transitions… Keep your eyes and ears open for him.

2010 Paris-Roubaix Preview Video

And in case you can’t wait, here’s a preview of the race to get your blood pumping…

The race will be covered live in Australia from 10pm AEST on SBS. Also check out Steephill.tv for some great live coverage – or at least links to those who do! Enjoy!

Team Sky Recon the 2010 Tour of Flanders

mrcyclingworld — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:40:38 +0000

With thanks to Michael Barry himself, checkout this video he took of the team training on the Tour of Flanders course, in preparation for the big upcoming race.

It looks like he is wearing a helmet camera but hard to tell. Kudos if he is.

Makes you feel like you’re riding it, doesn’t it? If you’re not motivated after this, I’m not sure what will do it for you!

The Mapei Hatrick – 1996

mrcyclingworld — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:45:23 +0000

Picture this. A fine, still but crisp Sunday morning. A typical French spring morning. It’s April 1996. The Northern European Spring Classics remain a mystery to most of the anglophones around the world, referring to their copy of English magazines that are distributed to the newspaper stalls many months after the races have come and gone. Twitter, Facebook and even for that matter Google hadn’t even been heard of in these days. Yes my friends, 1996 seems ancient times.

Squadra Mapei, lead by the Lion of Flanders himself, Johan Museeuw

With still two hours of racing to go an incredible move is made off the front of the peloton that most of us could only dream of. Three Mapei-GB teammates roll away by themselves. They would never be caught, and the finish would be one of the most talked about issues in world cycling.

The Belgian Lion of Flanders, Johan Museeuw rolled across the finishing line unchallenged with his Italian colleagues, Gianluca Bortolami and Andrea Tafi drifting in behind.

The infamous Mapei Paris-Roubaix hat-trick, 1996

There was clearly some tension amongst the Mapei-ers in the approach to the line on the Roubaix velodrome, but a dream had come true. Three Mapei men on the podium. A Mapei hatrick.

And in case that wasn’t enough to cement the legend that is, mapei repeated the effort in 1998 and again in 1999, each time with different riders at the helm.

Legendary stuff.

Stella Artois: “The Race”

mrcyclingworld — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:07:18 +0000

The legend of Belgian cycling history continues, with thanks to Stella Artois. Two beers anyone?

Another Video: Melbourne Criterium Action

mrcyclingworld — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:46:30 +0000

In stark contrast to our previous video in the Belgian snow, here’s a great video courtesy of Wade at his awesome website, CyclingTipsBlog.com.

It is some A Grade action of a local criterium held by Melbourne’s Carnegie Cycling Club. The same race is on each Sunday morning, the racing is aggressive with high quality fields, and there are grades that go right down to beginners, in case 48km/hr isn’t your cup of tea.

Big bunches, fast flat circuit, nice wide roads and well organised; what more could you ask for on a Sunday morning club race?

If you fancy yourself as a budding cyclist-cum-chief-videographer, maybe you would like try our very own helmet cam. It’s simple as to use. Simply throw in a couple of standard AAA batteries in, mount it on to your helmet and you’re away! When you come home, connect it to your computer (via standard USB) and upload it.

Have you used your helmet cam for something cool like Wade’s? Please feel free to share it with us!

Wicked Cyclo-Cross Action from Kalmthout in Belgium

mrcyclingworld — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:41:06 +0000

Sometimes you see something you just have to share. Today we are highlighting a video from the world of CycloCross. This particular event is part of the prestigous UCI World Cup.

Cyclo-Cross remains relatively unknown here in Australia but you can tell in the video the fans in Northern Europe love it, and I am told North America has a cult following too.

Thanks to Toby from Ride Magazine for the link!

Ohh Cadel! The Rainbow Jersey is Yours!

mrcyclingworld — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:15:40 +0000

We couldn’t resist inserting a video of Cadel winning this year title. Complete with Aussie commentary courtesy of Matt Keenan, and the voice of cycling Phil Liggett. Awesome stuff!

(Ok we admit at mrcyclingworld.com we are a bit bias being Aussies and all hehe)