VeloNews October 2017

THE LAST DANCE In his last race as a professional, Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) animates stage 6 of the Vuelta a España. The hyped final matchup between cycling’s two best active grand tour riders, Contador and Chris Froome (Team Sky), lost steam early when the Spaniard ceded minutes on stage 3. A proud Contador, however, was the instigator of aggressive racing late in stage 6 and was the only rival to stay with Froome on a hot, challenging stage 8. His bad day in Andorra in stage 3 all but assured he wouldn’t challenge for the win, yet Froome still paid close attention to his rival. “Alberto is not here to ride around Spain to give ‘selfies’ and sign autographs. He’s here to win,” Froome said. Nikon D5; 24-70mm f/2.8 lens; 1/1250 sec.…

WE’RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH the favorite slogan of cyclocross fans. It seems they start posting these three words to Twitter and dropping them in conversation earlier every year. I believe I saw the first #crossiscoming tweet of the season during the opening week of the Tour de France. A decade ago, this slogan had a completely different connotation. Back then, ’cross was threatening to conquer all of American cycling. During the mid 2000s, it appeared the sport was growing into a monster that would take the U.S. cycling scene by storm. Every fall, more amateur riders filled the ranks of local ’cross races and signed up for USA Cycling racing licenses. The calendar was blanketed with races from September until Christmas. For professionals, the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross became a cycling…

The trick, it seems, is to get everyone on the same page. Ever since the shuttering of the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross in 2013, American cyclocross racing has been scattered, its stars often spread across this large country or even outside it, its races frequently thinned by a haphazard calendar. Media didn’t know which races to focus on because the riders didn’t, either. Coverage suffered. Racing suffered. Cyclocross, a niche once so clearly ascendant, began to plateau, according to race license figures published by USA Cycling. Cycling’s new cool kid, gravel racing, began to supplant ’cross in the minds of America’s dirt-fond cyclists. When the USGP died, so did a piece of American ’cross, and American bike racing. This fall, Ryan Trebon and Scott Tedro will try their hands at resurrection. Tedro is…

“You can’t tell just by talking to somebody whether they dope or not. They don't rock up to the breakfast table and say, ‘Hey guys, I did growth hormones.’” — NICOLAS ROCHE (BMC Racing), after his teammate, Sammy Sanchez, failed an anti-doping test prior to the Vuelta a España“Ask any rider and they'll tell you it was an exceptionally hard day. I had a good time.” — ALBERTO CONTADOR (Trek-Segafredo), after attacking relentlessly on the Vuelta’s stage 6“When you really think about it, over three weeks nothing goes perfect. It’s more about how you deal with the not perfect days and how you take advantage of the good days.” — TEJAY VAN GARDEREN (BMC Racing), after twice crashing on the Vuelta’s stage 6“My memory of the crash was that there…

DUINENCROSS KOKSIJDE 39 Belgian men who have won at Duinencross Koksijde, in 46 editions. Riders from the Czech Republic and the Netherlands have claimed the remaining seven victories. 4 Times Katie Compton has won at Koksijde, in 10 editions of the women’s race. Belgian Sanne Cant has her nation’s only two victories. 7 Wins by Sven Nys, the most in history. His first came in 1999; his last in 2015. 2 Times the world championships have been held in Koksijde, in 1994 and 2012. Belgians Paul Herygers and Niels Albert were the winners, respectively. 60,000 Estimated attendance at the Koksijde world championships in 2012, where Belgians finished first through seventh.…

JOEY’S OK! If you’re familiar with these 17 seconds of Internet ecstasy, consider yourself blessed. If not, grab a Duvel and get acquainted with Joey's death-defying acrobatics. SPECTACLE: 32 LONGEVITY: 19 POPULARITY: 33 KARATE WELLENS Bart Wellens makes like the Karate Kid with an epic chest-height kick toward unsuspecting fans. Zero points for failing to make contact. SPECTACLE: 30 LONGEVITY: 25 POPULARITY: 28 SVEN VS. BEER KID What sort of jabroni throws beer at God? For God— in this case Sven Nys—will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger. SPECTACLE: 22 LONGEVITY: 14 POPULARITY: 26…