GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 3 2020
Geraint Thomas
The Welsh Tour de France winner doesn't really do heartbreak, at least in public, preferring a pragmatic shrug of the shoulders and a rueful grin before refocusing on the next goal. It's impossible not to see the work of former British Cycling psychiatrist Steve Peters in this approach, and it has no doubt stood him and many other former members of Team GB in good stead.
But having waited for all of 2020 to be able to show his mettle, Thomas would have to have been made of stone not to have been stunned by a major crash on stage three of that year's Giro d'Italia that ended his season before it had even got started.
Following a summer season decimated by the first lockdowns, Yelon Thomas, and other members of Team Ineos then had to endure widespread criticism for not measuring up, after a poor showing at the postponed Critérium du Dauphiné. The Welshman's goalposts were moved and instead of the Tour de France as planned, he was given the Giro. Having followed his preparation strategies to the letter, it was all ended by a stray bottle in the neutralised zone.
"It's quite hard in my head at the minute to think, like, get back into winter training," he said shortly afterward in his Watts Occurring podcast with Luke Rowe. "I feel like all I've done so far this year is train. It felt like my season was just getting going and then... three days in I was on my arse, and that was it."
STRADE BIANCHE 2021
Elisa Longo-Borghini
This story is from the May 19, 2022 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 19, 2022 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Giant TCR Composite Gold
If this bike looks opulent, over the top and über-bling now, imagine the reaction of the bike-buying public 22 years ago when it was unveiled as a special limited edition made with real gold plate and costing the unthinkable sum of $10,000.
WATT WORKS FOR ME Kasia Niewiadoma
The Tour of Flanders runner-up talks lost bikes, altitude training and strength workouts
BREWING A BOOST
Coffee and cycling may be inextricably linked, but does the black stuff really improve our performance on the bike? Lexie Williamson investigates
Soto Helix Coffee Maker - £21.95
I really love the minimalism of this coffee brewer. It's a pour over stripped to its bare essentials: a conical spring that can hold a paper filter, and then compresses nearly flat when not in use.
Stanley Classic Perfect-Brew Pour Over
The Stanley Perfect-Brew Pour Over is the second simplest coffee maker on test, beaten only by the incredibly minimalist Soto Helix.
GSI Mini Espresso Set 1 Cup - £51.50
Starting off with the coffee makers that require a heat source, we have the GSI Outdoors Mini Espresso Set 1 Cup.
How do I up my coffee game?
How does the average Joe make the perfect mug of Joe? We sent Joe Baker to find out
THE HUB
All the news you might have missed from the last seven days
GOING FULL BEANS
Most cyclists enjoy a decent coffee, but some take it a step further. CW meets five self-declared obsessives who have pushed their twin passions, bikes and beans, to the nth degree
A love affair
Coffee connoisseur Adam Becket delves into the storied yet mysterious relationship between cycling and the original energy drink