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CHINA (Brazil) ON LINE TRADE FAIR June,13-15 (F214) CHINA (Mexico) ON LINE TRADE FAIR June,14-16 (C138)

We will attend below fairs in next month. CHINA (Mexico) TRADE FAIR (June,14-16,2022) Booth No. C138 World Trade Center Mexico City Montecito 38, Nápoles, Benito Juárez, 03810 Ciudad de México CHINA (Brazil) TRADE FAIR (Jun,17-19,2022) Booth No. F214 Sao Paulo Exhibition & Convention Center Rodovia dos Imigrantes, km 1.5 cep 04329 900 - São Paulo - SP

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When trying to decide on the best type of bike, think about these questions: Who do you ride with? What do they ride? What have you had in the past that you liked? What have you had in the past that you disliked? Where would you like to ride your new bike? If you are buying a bike to ride with a group of friends, buy something similar to what they ride. You will not be able to keep up with road bikes if you are on a mountain bike or cruiser. And a road bike cannot go on the dirt or the sand. If you enjoyed a three speed as a child, you may find this a fun bike again. If you disliked the road bike you bought a few years ago, perhaps a mountain bike would be better. Road Bikes Road bicycles are designed to be ridden fast on smooth pavement. They have smooth, skinny tires and "drop" handlebars, and can be used for on-road racing. They are usually lighter than other types of bicycles. They can be ridden on paved trails, but most people find them uncomfortable and unstable on unpaved trails. Most road bikes are not capable of carrying heavy loads, so are not very suitable for commuting or touring. Cyclocross Bikes Cyclocross bicycles are a special type of road bike designed to be raced on a mixed surface course (combination of pavement, unpaved trails, gravel, grass). They have a drop handlebar like regular road bikes, but the tires are a littler wider for more off-road traction, and they have a different style of brake that helps to prevent mud buildup in the frame. Cyclocross bicycles are sometimes called 'cross bikes or cx bikes for short. Touring Bikes Touring bicycles are another special type of road bike. They are designed to be ridden on pavement, but are more durable for use on self-supported long-distance riding. They have all of the necessary mounting bolts for cargo racks and fenders, and although they still have a drop handlebar, they usually have a more relaxed frame design so that the rider is more upright, for more comfort when riding long distances for multiple days at a time. They have a lower gear range compared to regular road bikes, to allow for carrying heavy loads up steep hills. They also make good commuter bicycles, because of their durability and ability to carry heavy loads. Adventure Road Bikes Adventure Road Bicycles are one of the newest categories of bicycle. They are sometimes called all-road bikes, any-road bikes, or gravel bikes, and are the most versatile sub-category of road bike. Similar to cyclocross bikes, they have drop handlebars and the ability to use wider tires. The frame geometry is longer and more upright compared to a cyclocross bike, however, making these bikes more suitable for long days in the saddle, light touring, and commuting. Triathlon/Time Trial Bikes Triathlon/Time Trial Bicycles are road bikes with a special design that maximizes their aerodynamic properties. The handlebars are also a special aerodynamic design that allows you to crouch forward while riding, to minimize the wind resistance against your body. Triathlon/time trial races usually have staggered starts, where each racer starts on his/her own; these bicycles are usually not allowed to be used in mass-start races. Fitness Bikes Fitness Bicycles have most of the advantages of regular road bikes--lightweight frames and relatively narrow tires for efficiency on pavement--with a flat or upright handlebar. These bikes are designed for people who want a light, high-performance bike, but don't like the drop-handlebar riding position of a regular road bike. These bicycles are sometimes called flat-bar road bikes or performance hybrid bikes. Most of them can accept somewhat wider tires, to make them suitable for use on unpaved trails. They usually have the ability to mount cargo racks and fenders, which make them good commuter bikes. Track/Fixed-Gear Bikes Track/Fixed-Gear Bicycles or fixies are designed to be ridden on a velodrome, which is a banked oval track specifically for bicycle racing. Some commuters prefer track bikes, however, due to their simple design, which makes them easy to maintain. They have a single gear that does not provide the ability to coast, so if the bike is moving, your feet must be pedaling. For even more simplicity, some riders prefer to not have brakes, since the fixed-gear mechanism can act as a brake. Most track bikes have drop handlebars, but some riders outfit theirs with flat or upright handlebars. Mountain Bikes Mountain Bicycles are design for riding rough off-road trails. They have flat or upright handlebars, and a very low gear range for pedaling up steep trails. Most mountain bikes have some type of shock absorbers or suspension. Mountain bikes with front suspension only are called hardtails; mountain bikes with both front and rear suspension are called full-suspension bikes or duallies. Mountain bikes with no suspension are called rigid. Mountain bikes can be outfitted for use as touring or commuting bikes, although they would not be as light or efficient as traditional touring or commuting bikes. Fat bikes, with their extremely wide tires, are included in the mountain bike category. Hybrid Bikes Hybrid Bicycles were originally conceived to provide the advantages of both road bikes and mountain bikes. Their large, padded seats and upright handlebars provide a comfortable riding position, and are best for casual riding around the neighborhood or bike paths, short-distance commuting, and errands around town. They can be ridden on paved roads, but are not as lightweight or efficient as road bikes. They are ideal for paved or unpaved bike trails, but are not appropriate for rough off-road mountain bike trails. The tires are usually a medium-width with a semi-smooth tread, to provide a fairly smooth ride on pavement, but enough grip and cushion on unpaved trails. Most hybrid bikes have front suspension to smooth out small bumps, but some are fully rigid. Hybrid bikes used to also be referred to as cross bikes, but that term is not used any more in order to avoid confusion with cyclocross bikes (see above). Dual-Sport Bikes Dual-Sport Bicycles are a sub-category of hybrid bikes oriented towards riders who want the multi-surface versatility of a hybrid bike, but want a little more aggressive style and riding position. They have a flat or upright handlebar, although not as upright as regular hybrid bikes; they usually have a smaller, more performance-oriented seat, rather than a large comfort seat. Most have front suspension. Dual-sport bikes make good commuter bikes, and are also good for touring on unpaved trails. Cruiser Bikes Cruiser Bicycles are similar to hybrid bikes, in that they are designed for casual riding, and have a very comfortable, upright riding position, and a large, comfortable seat. Cruisers usually have wide "balloon" tires, and handlebars that are even more upright, and in some cases, swept back compared to hybrid bikes. Most cruiser bikes are single-speed or 3-speed, and have the old-fashioned coaster brake (where you pedal backwards to stop). They can be used for short-distance commuting and errands, as long as your route is fairly flat. Some cruiser bike manufacturers make a wide array of colorful models available, to suit the fashion tastes of any bike afficionado. Flat-Foot Comfort Bikes Flat-Foot Comfort Bicycles are a sub-category of cruiser bikes. They have an elongated frame design that pushes the pedals a few inches forward of the seat. This allows you to ride with the seat low enough so that you can place your feet flat on the ground when you are stopped, but you still get the full extension of your legs while pedaling. All Electra Bicycle Company bikes have the flat-foot technology; some other manufacturers have created their own flat-foot designs. City Bikes The term "city bike" doesn't really refer to a specific category of bikes; it's more of a general descriptive term. They might also be called "commuter" or "urban" bikes, although many of the bikes listed on this page can be used quite well for riding and commuting in a city. However, there is a certain type of bike that some people have in mind when they use the term "city bike." This bike has characteristics of both a hybrid bike and a cruiser bike--usually the upright riding position of a cruiser, but the wheel size of a hybrid bike. A city bike might also have some or all of these features that make it more amenable to riding in regular clothes, as opposed to cycling-specific clothing: Fenders Chain guard Skirt guard on rear wheel A city bike might also have an internally-geared rear hub for ease of use and maintenance, and a built-in generator and lights for safety when riding after dark. These bikes are also sometimes called "Dutch bikes," because of their resemblance to the everyday bikes used in Amsterdam and other bike-friendly European cities. BMX Bikes BMX Bicycles are popular with kids because of their small size, but they are used by adults and kids alike for various styles of trick and stunt riding. Folding Bikes Folding Bicycles are ideal for those who need to travel with their bike, want a bike to keep on their boat or plane, or who live in small apartments and don't have a lot of storage space. They're also good for commuters who need to take their bike on a bus or train for part of their commute, or who don't have a safe place to park their bike at work. Most folding bikes have smaller wheels, which makes the bike a little less efficient and trickier to handle than a standard bike, but most folding bike fans feel the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Recumbent Bikes Recumbent Bicycles have a long, low design and a full-size seat with a backrest. Recumbents are available in two-wheel and three-wheel designs. Many recumbent riders feel that they are the most comfortable option available for bicycling. However, they are more difficult to pedal up hills, and they can be a challenge to carry from one place to another in a motor vehicle. Tandem Bikes Tandem Bicycles are "bicycles built for two." They come in all styles, from cruiser tandems and hybrid tandems for the bike path or boardwalk, off-road mountain bike tandems, and high-performance road racing tandems. Adult Tricycles Adult Trikes are ideal for older folks who still want to get around under their own power, or those with balance issues or other special needs. They are also popular in environmentally-consious industrial/warehouse applications.

Greeley was one of 39 U.S. cities to be recognized this month by The League of American Bicyclists with a Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Allison Baxter, transportation planner for Greeley Public Works, told The Tribune this past week that about 2% of the city`s workers bike to work, a number officials are hoping to increase. A bronze designation requires at least 1.13% of workers bike to work. The League has a Bicycle Friendly America program, outlining ways for communities, businesses and universities to encourage biking. In this 2015 file photo, bicyclists ride their bikes near East Memorial Park in Greeley. (Joshua Polson/For The Tribune)

'We ride for each other, and that's our biggest strength' Czech rider says of QuickStep's success Zdenek Stybar transitioned from the cold, narrow roads of Belgium and northern France to the wide-open, sunny California climbs to restart his season after putting in his most successful cobbled Classics campaign to date, bringing home the top prize at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the E3 BinckBank Classic, and playing a key role in Deceuninck-QuickStep's dominant spring assault. Stybar was at the Amgen Tour of California last week, where his lack of personal result was tempered by the team's run of success that saw a group of up-and-coming riders win stages 2, 3 and 4 and bring home the final sprint jersey. "This was my first race since the Classics, so it was a really good race to restart with many kilometres and a lot of climbing," Stybar told Cyclingnews before the start of the final stage in Santa Clarita. "So, for me, it was like the perfect start for the second half." Although it has often been considered a sprinters' race since its inception in 2006, the Tour of California has transitioned into a tough GC test as it graduated to the WorldTour in 2017. In the 2019 race four of the seven stages reached over 200km, and the difficult routes included 20,725 metres of climbing over 1,251 kilometres of racing from Sacramento to Pasadena. Kasper Asgreen started the fireworks for Deceuninck-QuickStep in California, winning the high-altitude climbing stage to South Lake Tahoe ahead of Tejay van Garderen (EF Education First) and Gianni Moscon (Team Ineos). Rémi Cavagna kept the Deceuninck-QuickStep fun rolling on stage 3, winning alone after a long solo ride to Morgan Hill – the headquarters of team sponsor Specialized. It was Dutch sprinter Fabio Jakobsen's turn next, taking the stage 4 uphill bunch kick in Morro Bay ahead of Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) and 2017 Morro Bay stage winner Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe). Asgreen was momentarily in the race lead when van Garderen crashed outside the three-kilometre point, but the race jury awarded the American the same time as Jakobsen, preserving his yellow jersey. It was a good run for the Belgian team, continuing on the earlier Classics success when more-established riders like Stybar, Philippe Gilbert, Bob Jungels and Julian Alaphilippe sailed through the spring. In his ninth year with the team, Stybar started the ball rolling on 'opening weekend' with his first cobbled Classic win at the Omloop. He followed it at the end of the month with another win at the E3 BinckBank Classic. He was also fourth at Strade Bianche – a race he won in 2015, and which was won this year by teammate Alaphilippe. Stybar ended his 2019 Classics tilt with eighth in Paris-Roubaix while playing a key role in Gilbert's win. As runner-up in the 2017 race and ninth last year, Stybar was the perfect teammate to neutralise potential counters for Gilbert's successful late attack. "It was great," Stybar told Cyclingnews of his Classics season. "Of course, I was waiting quite a long time to take any Classic, so finally it happened this year, and I really did enjoy it because of course I worked really hard, but I had a really good winter and the team was also on a very good level all the time. I was happy I could finish it off there." Asked if it can be difficult to get his chances to win big races on a team like QuickStep, which has so many possible winners, Stybar said it wasn't a matter of riders waiting for their turn, as much as it was about seizing the opportunities that naturally present themselves when the team has multiple options. "We ride for each other, of course, and that`s our biggest strength," he said. "That's why we can win – because we have always someone who can finish it off, who can ride away, and who's also fast in the sprints. So everyone gets his chance." QuickStep's depth can't be underestimated. Earlier in the week at California, CCC Team manager Jim Ochowicz admitted to Cyclingnews that his team lacked the numbers to compete with deeper teams, limiting the effectiveness of 2016 Olympic champion and Classics specialist Greg Van Avermaet. "That's the thing," Stybar said. "If someone [a teammate] was away, then we'd be happy just to neutralise it. Actually, we could just sit and slow down a little bit. So that's what helps us win." After California, Stybar will return to Europe to prepare for the Critérium du Dauphiné. He said that although the second half of his year has not been 100 per cent mapped out, the Tour de France, where he won a stage in 2015, will probably not be on his calendar, and instead he's looking towards the Vuelta a España to soothe his Grand Tour ambitions. Want more great content? Listen to our weekly Cyclingnews Podcast, featuring in-depth race reports from the biggest races, and exclusive interviews with the stars of the sport.

Juan José Amador of the Colombian Pro Continental team Manzana Postobon has been notified of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for the steroid Boldenone, according to a press release sent out by cycling's governing body, the UCI, on Monday. It is the team's second suspension in as many months following the announcement of Wilmar Paredes' AAF for EPO last month. According to UCI anti-doping regulation 7.12.1, Manzana Postobon will now be suspended for a period of between 15 and 45 days, which will be decided by the UCI Disciplinary Commission, due to the team registering a second AAF within a 12-month period. "The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that the Colombian rider Juan José Amador Castano was notified of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Boldenone in a sample collected during an out-of-competition control held on 22 October 2018," read the UCI's press release. "In accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair," it continued, adding that the rider has the right to request and attend the analysis of his B sample, as per protocol. Manzana Postobon rode the Vuelta a España in 2017, but weren't invited last year or for this year's Grand Tour. Twenty-one-year-old Amador was part of the team's squad for April's Tour of the Alps in Italy, where he was a non-finisher on the race's fifth and final stage, and also rode the following month's Vuelta Asturias, finishing 70th overall. "These two cases within the same twelve-month period trigger the application of article 7.12.1 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules providing for the suspension of the team from 15 days to 45 days," the UCI said. "The UCI will refer the matter to the Disciplinary Commission which will render a decision in due course." In the same press release, the UCI also announced the provisional suspension of another Colombian: 36-year-old Alex Norberto Cano Ardila of Colombian Continental team Coldeportes Zenu, due to abnormalities detected in his biological passport. "In accordance with the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair," said the governing body.

EF Education First's Tejay van Garderen recovered from a series of crashes and delays in the final 10km of stage 4 of the Tour of California on Wednesday to retain his leader's jersey. The stage was won in a bunch sprint by Fabio Jakobsen – Deceuninck-QuickStep's third stage win in a row at this year's race – with UAE Team Emirates' Jasper Philipsen taking second and three time road race world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) in third. Unfortunately for Jakobsen, all the talk was about the race jury's decision to award van Garderen the same finish time as the front of the race, despite him initially having lost 50 seconds, which would have handed the race lead to Jakobsen's teammate Kasper Asgreen. Van Garderen crashed with seven kilometres to go, then missed a turn after having taken teammate Lachlan Morton's bike – with its differently routed brake cables – and was then held up by the crash with just over three kilometres to go. "The mass crash near the finish of stage 4 was just outside 3km to go," the race jury said in their official ruling. "The commissaires have decided to treat the crash such that all riders affected by the incident and the road blockage will receive the field time." Check out the highlights of what happened in the video below. Want more great content? Listen to our weekly Cyclingnews Podcast, featuring in-depth race reports from the biggest races, and exclusive interviews with the stars of the sport

Four-time Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was his usual optimistic self at Saturday's race presentation, but the reigning world champion recognised he was uncertain of his current condition. Valverde confirmed he had suffered an unusual setback during Flèche Wallonne, where the five times winner of the mid-week Ardennes Classic swallowed a bee, which then stung him, during the last part of the race. The Spanish veteran emphasised the incident, at some 50 kilometres from the finish, was not an explanation for his below-expectations performance, where he finished eleventh. However, he said it had been a frightening experience – and in the final hour of a race, surely even more so. "I thought it had come out but it stung me here," Valverde told a small group of reporters, pointing to his neck. "So I was pretty scared, to be honest. "I`ve swallowed insects before whilst riding, but I've managed to cough them up. They've never stayed inside before. Fortunately, I'm not allergic but it was frightening. I thought the string would turn into some kind of inflammation. For 20 minutes, I was really worried. "I don't like to make excuses, but it might have had an effect, or it might not." Valverde's uncertainty about his condition means that he will start Liège-Bastogne-Liège less convinced he can have an impact on the race. On top of that, there has been a major change in the finish, which moves from Ans to a flat finish in the city centre. "Let`s see what happens, Amstel and Flèche I wasn`t at my best and tomorrow [Sunday] is a bit of an unknown. I'm not going badly, but I'm maybe not in such good shape as I'd like." He was equally non-commital about the new course, saying "the last part of it is much less difficult, San Nicolas was tougher, and now a lot more riders can win. It's OK, it's a change. And I don`t know yet if it's better or worse for me. Tomorrow, we`ll find out."

Quick-Step Floors' Philippe Gilbert has reacted angrily to a video posted on Twitter by BMC that shows a soigneur stepping across the central markings and into the left lane of the road to hand food bags to their riders, when normal practice should be to stand on the edge of the right lane. Ahead of the BMC soigneur, a Dimension Data member of staff can be seen in the video doing the same thing during the rainy stage 2 of the Tour of Guangxi in China on Wednesday. It's not uncommon for team 'carers' to encroach into the road to try to hand their riders musettes, but Gilbert clearly believes the soigneurs in the video are literally overstepping the mark. "This scene should be sanctioned by the UCI," Gilbert wrote on Twitter. "I will never understand these assistants standing on the left side of the road to give the feedbags. They make us risk a lot!" Gilbert is racing with Quick-Step at the Tour of Guangxi, and would therefore have first-hand experience of passing through the feed zone in the video. The 36-year-old Belgian returned to racing just last month after fracturing his kneecap in a crash at the Tour de France in July. The UCI rules on the matter – section 2.3.026 – state: The food and drink shall be distributed on foot by the staff accompanying the team and by no-one else. They shall be positioned on one side of the road only, which must be the side on which road traffic circulates in the country concerned. The rule appears to be suggesting that bags should be distributed from the right-hand side of the road, as that is the side of the road on which traffic drives in China. Feeding from the left side of the road – which is not happening in the video – or encroaching into the left lane, which is clearly the case in the video, however, could therefore be considered to be against the rules, although the rules don't state how far into the road soigneurs are allowed to stand. The same rules also suggest that in countries where traffic drives on the left side of the road – as in the UK and Australia, for example – soigneurs should be handing out feedbags from the left side of the road, although that doesn't appear to actually ever happen, with carers continuing to distribute musettes from the right-hand side of the road, no matter which country they're in.

Nairo Quintana has said that the criticisms levelled at him after he failed to put in a concerted attack at Lagos de Covadonga on stage 15 of the Vuelta a España are not hurting him as much as his legs. At a press conference on Monday`s rest day, the Movistar rider told reporters that he didn`t have the legs to take time. Related Articles Movistar aiming for overall triumph in Vuelta a Espana with Nairo Quintana Quintana inches ahead on first of three Vuelta a Espana summit finishes Vuelta a Espana: Quintana plays down quibble with Simon Yates Advertisement There was plenty of expectation on Quintana`s shoulders heading into what was dubbed by some the queen stage of the race, not least because victory at Lagos de Covadonga had proved the making of his 2016 overall victory. Quintana had looked strong on La Camperona, the first of the three summit finishes that closed out the Vuelta`s second week, and Lagos de Covadonga was supposed to be his preferred terrain. Shrouded in mist, the group of favourites was whittled down to a select few on the lower slopes of the climb. Quintana dragged back a couple of attacks but failed to land his own decisive blow. He did not chase down Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) when he slipped up the road, much to the frustration of Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), and Quintana eventually gave away eight seconds to the red jersey – four of which came in bonus seconds. [I am not worried about the time that I have lost in the stage finishes, but I gave away time bonuses, which I don`t like," Quintana said at his team`s hotel in Suances on Monday. [The critics don`t hurt me, but sometimes the legs do. For this reason, I didn`t make attacks. I am not all-powerful and when there isn`t any more strength, I am not superior to the others. [Other years, I have done what I could and sometimes I went, this year no. But I am still at a great level." Quintana heads into the final week of the Vuelta in third place overall, 33 seconds down on Yates. His teammate Alejandro Valverde, meanwhile, is ahead of him in the standings, 26 seconds behind Yates. Prior to the race, Quintana was expected to surge clear as the team`s leader, but Valverde has put himself in a position of strength with just five stages remaining to decide the race. During the press conference, Valverde said that he would like to take his second Vuelta a Espana title but refused to be drawn on whether Quintana would be required to work for him. [I would like to win the Vuelta with Movistar," he explained. [You don`t have to make a drama about who is the leader. It is a perfect situation for us. We have a rider ahead that is really good, Simon Yates. I could win, Nairo, Yates or `Superman` Lopez- Also, we have got rid of guys like [Wilco] Kelderman and [Emanuel] Buchmann. Yesterday, Nairo closed gaps and so did I. Everyone has done what he could. [At the moment, I am ahead but I don`t want to say who will be better in the mountains. You have to race and to make differences. I could also have a bad day in the mountains." Team manager Eusebio Unzue backed both his riders, saying that there was little to say who would or should be the team leader. [There isn`t a clear leader because they haven`t clarified who that must be," explained Unzue. [There are seven equal riders. Yesterday, in a really hard stage, from second to seventh they were split by six seconds. The whole week has been hard and nothing has become clearer, only that they are consistent and that the strongest guys are all fairly equal." Two brutal mountain stages await the riders in Andorra at the end of the week, but first, the general classification riders must tackle the 32-kilometre time trial to Torrelavega. It is a chance for Valverde to put time into some of his rivals, the team believes, but the Spaniard is cautious about how much time he can really gain. [I know the time trial only on paper. It`s a rest day today, and with the route close to where we`re staying, we`ll spend the morning trying to get a closer look at where we`ll race," said Valverde. [As Eusebio has said to me, it`s a time trial which doesn`t suit me badly, but it won`t be really worse for our rivals than for me. And I`m not Miguel Indurain, either, if you think I can build a big gap there. We`ll see what we can do after we inspect the route, and we`ll also try and get a feeling of our legs after the important efforts in the last few days."

1 / 5 Michael Matthews (Australia) on the 2017 Worlds podium (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com) Australia's Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) says in Cyclingnews' latest podcast that he was "devastated" when he was told that he hadn't been selected for this year's world championship road race that takes place in Innsbruck, Austria, later this month. Related Articles Matthews forced out of Tour de France due to illness Matthews: I'm racing with my heart and trying to get something out of the season Matthews: I showed that I am still capable of winning Van Avermaet, Matthews headline Grands Prix Cyclistes de Quebec and Montreal Michael Matthews – Exclusive podcast interview Advertisement "It actually broke my heart a little bit when they called me to say, 'Yeah, you're not riding,'" Matthews tells Cyclingnews in Quebec, Canada, in our latest podcast. Matthews, like Cyclingnews, is in Canada for the GP Cycliste de Québec on Friday and the GP Cycliste de Montréal on Sunday. Victory at either would go some way to making up for a season that has, until the recent BinckBank Tour, been one to forget for the 27-year-old from Canberra. "I had a really rocky start to the year," Matthews admits in the podcast. "But since the BinckBank Tour [in August, where Matthews won a stage and finished second overall], it's been starting to get better." Matthews broke his shoulder in a crash at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad back in February – his first race of the season – and despite returning to take seventh place at Milan-San Remo in mid-March, his year has been blighted by sickness. In retrospect, Matthews tells Cyclingnews, he should have skipped the rest of the spring to recover properly and instead get ready for the Tour de France. But things didn't go his way in France, with Matthews quitting the race due to illness after just four stages. Matthews talks of the frustration that attempting to find form brings with it, and admits that he perhaps wasn't the best person to be around when he was trying to deal with the mental side of the downs that come with being a professional cyclist. He also talks about discovering that he'd been riding much of the season with his saddle 8mm too high on his race bike, revealing just how much such details can affect riders at the very highest level. But as he rectified his saddle height and recovered from illness, Matthews was dealt another blow just prior to the BinckBank Tour when Cycling Australia called him to say that he hadn't been selected for the Worlds squad for the road race in Austria. "I'm a little bit devastated, to be honest," Matthews tells us. "I really look forward to putting on the Aussie jersey at the end of the season, and with one of my best friends, Richie Porte, being the leader this year, I really wanted to go there to support him with every bit of energy I had." While the hilly road course is perhaps not ideal for Matthews, he's consistently proven that he can still climb, and has finished 14th, second, fourth and third in the past three Worlds road races. "I'm pretty disappointed. I'm probably the second-most-consistent rider at the Worlds in the past four years," he says, suggesting that only three-time world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) has a better record. "I got a phone call just before the BinckBank Tour to say that I wasn't going to be selected, and that they had better riders than me to do the job for Richie. I personally don't agree with that, but that's their decision and I have to accept it. "Richie said to me that he was really pushing for me to go," Matthews says. "We trained together a lot in Monaco [where they both live] before the BinckBank Tour, and we were both doing one-hour climbs together, riding side by side and trying to attack each other, and really put each other into the hurt box. "So if I can be there with Richie while he's doing those sorts of things, then I don't see why I don't get selected to race side by side with him in an Aussie jersey." And if Cycling Australia suddenly changed their mind, or a place opened up on the Worlds squad because of another rider's illness or injury? "My wife actually asked me that question the other day, too: 'What would you do if they called you up?'" Hear his answer, and much more from Matthews, in the exclusive Cyclingnews podcast below.

Although he has been a pro for nine years, for Ion Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida), the Vuelta a España has always been unknown territory. Related Articles Izagirre brothers sign for Astana Advertisement Unknown, that is, until August 25 in Malaga this summer, when the 29-year-old Basque has finally made his debut in the Spanish Grand Tour and is lying fifth overall at 17 seconds after two tough days in the mountains and 10 days of intense racing. For Izagirre, doing so well on GC is, he tells Cyclingnews, [a real surprise." His best place in a Grand Tour to date was 22nd in the Tour de France this year, when he was racing in support of Vincenzo Nibali. [Before coming here, I would have signed on the dotted line to be here in fifth place overall, and with such small differences between the main favourites," he said. [It`s been a good start to the Vuelta, but I`ve got to keep my feet on the ground, and the toughest stages are yet to come. A lot can still happen." Izagirre already has stage wins in the Giro d`Italia, back in 2012 on a third-week transition stage and in 2016 in the Tour de France, where he triumphed on a rainy day in the Alps at Morzine. But the Vuelta, for one reason and another, has never formed part of his professional career. [I`ve had some good second parts of the season in other years," Izagirre points out - he has won the Tour de Pologne once and twice finished second there, as well as twice finishing in the top 10 in Montreal. But this summer after doing the Tour de France and then finishing seventh in the Clásica San Sebastian, he has ended up at the Vuelta. [I`ve always been pretty consistent throughout a season, but coming here was as much a question of getting used to the idea as anything else," he tells Cyclingnews. [I told myself, `Why don`t you try it?` [It`s the first time I`ve ever done two Grand Tours in one season, but in any case, there`s not been a special build-up for the Vuelta because I`ve not done it before. But what is clear is that at the moment I`m in good shape." He is, he says, on a voyage in the dark in many ways: He has never been up any of the three climbs this weekend, the Camperona, Praeres and Covadonga, although he does know the Basque ascent, the Monte Oiz/Balcon de Bizkaia, on stage 17. [And I know the climbs in Andorra well, which can be an advantage." What could give him an even greater advantage, of course, could be the 32 kilometre time trial on stage 16. [It could be very decisive and on paper, of all the GC contenders, it suits me and [Wilco] Kelderman (Team Sunweb) the best. What you can`t predict, of course, is how you`ll feel by that point in the race. But it could well produce bigger gaps than in the mountains. [Meantime, I`m just going to keep going as long as I can. Because I don`t know how long I can stay up there with the favourites, so I just have to do that." Izagirre has signed with Astana for 2019, together with his brother Gorka, but he insists that he feels fully supported by the Bahrain-Merida team in the brothers' last Grand Tour with the squad. Before 2019 and after the Vuelta, in any case, is the World Championships, but he is not yet certain if he will go. [I would love to do it, but you`ll have to ask the Spanish National trainer [Javier Minguez] if I`m going," he said. [But Valverde could win it. He`s capable of anything. He`s an amazing racer."

He perhaps wouldn't have wanted to take it quite this early in the race, given what happened at the Giro d'Italia, but Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) holds the red leader's jersey at the 2018 Vuelta a España as the riders enjoy the first rest day of the three-week race in Salamanca. Advertisement The nine days of racing have been keenly fought so far, with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Ben King (Dimension Data) each taking two stage wins apiece. Early race leader Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) has already faded to 15th overall, 2:10 down on new race leader Yates. The Polish rider was never really expecting to battle for the overall title come Madrid, although he was keen to see how he would hold up after riding the Tour de France in the service of Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome. Like many on the Vuelta, Kwiatkowski also has one eye on the demanding World Championships road race in Innsbruck, Austria, at the end of this month. The early indications are that BMC Racing's Rohan Dennis is on course for a very real crack at the time trial title at the Worlds on September 23. The Australian won the opening 8km time trial back in Málaga ahead of Kwiatkowski and Lotto Soudal's Victor Campanaerts, and it was Kwiatkowski who took over the race lead the next day on stage 2 from Marbella to Caminito del Rey. What was billed as a flat stage by the race organisers proved to be anything but as the uphill finish saw Valverde get the better of Kwiatkowski, who nevertheless did enough to take the red jersey from Dennis. Dennis, meanwhile, finished way off the pace – 13:31, to be exact, in the same group as his BMC leader Richie Porte, who claimed at the finish he was never going to have the form to be in the mix for the overall having crashed out of the Tour de France the previous month. Another Tour de France crash victim, Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), also lost time, to the tune of four minutes, and ruled himself out of a top finish as a result. A true sprinters' day on stage 3 saw Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) take the honours, and Ben King then took the first of his two stage wins so far when he won stage 4 ahead of Nikita Stalnov (Astana) on the race's first true day in the mountains. If Kwiatkowski had begun to feel comfortable in red, and had begun to perhaps harbour thoughts of holding on to his jersey for a little while longer, it lasted only until stage 5 when EF Education First-Drapac's Simon Clarke led home a successful breakaway in Roquetas de Mar, bettering Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) and Alessandro De Marchi (BMC). Finishing just behind, and almost five minutes ahead of Kwiatkowski, came Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ), who became the first Frenchman to wear the leader's jersey at a Grand Tour since Tony Gallopin at the 2014 Tour de France. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) went some way to redeeming his season with a sprint win in San Javier on stage 6, and then Gallopin – of all people – gave his AG2R La Mondiale team the win in front of world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), while Molard increased his lead after Kwiatkowski crashed in the last 10km of the stage. On Saturday, Valverde – by now back up to second place overall – took his second stage win of the race, ahead of Sagan, who was second again, and pulled back 10 seconds on race leader Molard, with the gap just 37 seconds going into Sunday's stage 9. It was all over for the Frenchman on the road from Talavera de la Reina to the summit finish at La Covatilla, where King took another impressive victory in front of Mollema, while Yates was the unexpected recipient of the red leader's jersey as the GC contenders came alive. Valverde's Movistar teammate Nairo Quintana, Astana's Miguel Angel Lopez, Wilco Kelderman (Sunweb), Rigoberto Uran (EF-Drapac) and Ion Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida) all leapt into action, followed by Yates, George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo), Valverde and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ). At the first rest day, with so much of the Vuelta still to race, Yates leads by just a second from Valverde, with Quintana third another 13 seconds back, while Lopez, Uran, Bennett and his LottoNL-Jumbo teammate Steven Kruijswijk are all within a minute on the GC. It has been pretty warm during the Vuelta's opening week, and the racing is hotting up, too. Click on the links for each stage for a recap of all the action. Stage 1: Málaga - Málaga, 8km (ITT) Winner and leader: Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing) Rohan Dennis rocketed into the Vuelta's first red leader's jersey by winning the prologue time trial in Málaga. Vuelta a España: Dennis claims opening stage win Dennis fulfils pre-race predictions to take Vuelta a Espana opening time trial Stage 2: Marbella - Caminito del Rey, 163.5km Winner: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) Leader: Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) While Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) took the stage win in Caminito del Rey, Team Sky's Michal Kwiatkowski took the race lead. Vuelta a España: Valverde wins stage 2 Kwiatkowski rues missing out on Vuelta a Espana stage win Valverde shows flying form with 10th Vuelta a Espana stage win Stage 3: Mijas - Alhaurín de la Torre, 178.2km Winner: Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) Leader: Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) Italian road race champion Elia Viviani (Quick-Step) took the bunch sprint to win stage 3 in Alhaurín de la Torre. Kwiatkowski kept the overall race lead. Vuelta a Espana: Viviani wins stage 3 sprint Kwiatkowski: 'Tuesday is the Vuelta's first big mountain checkpoint' Vuelta's first major summit finish to provide early sort-out – Preview Vuelta a Espana: Valverde and Quintana stay ahead and out of trouble during stage 3 Stage 4: Vélez-Málaga - Alfacar. Sierra de la Alfaguara, 162km Winner: Ben King (Dimension Data) Leader: Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) Dimension Data's Ben King got the better of Nikita Stalnov (Astana) to win stage 4 on the race's first true day in the mountains. Vuelta a Espana: Ben King wins stage 4 King for a day in Vuelta a Espana Stage 5: Granada - Roquetas de Mar, 188km Winner: Simon Clarke (EF Education First-Drapac) Leader: Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) EF Education First-Drapac's Simon Clarke won stage 5 ahead of Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) from a breakaway that included Groupama-FDJ's Rudy Molard, who took over the race lead. Vuelta a Espana: Simon Clarke wins stage 5 Clarke gambles hard and high to win in Vuelta a Espana Vuelta a Espana: Molard sees red in Roquetas de Mar Stage 6: Huércal-Overa - San Javier. Mar Menor, 153km Winner: Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) Leader: Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) A stage win for Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) was exactly what he needed in what's been a difficult season for the Frenchman. Vuelta a España: Bouhanni wins in San Javier Bouhanni bounces back from troubled year with victory at Vuelta a Espana Lotto-Soudal director slams presence of bollards on road in Vuelta a Espana finale Stage 7: Puerto Lumbreras - Pozo Alcón, 182km Winner: Tony Gallopin (AG2R La Mondiale) Leader: Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) Tony Gallopin (AG2R La Mondiale) got the better of Bora-Hansgrohe's Peter Sagan on stage 7, while Groupama-FDJ's Rudy Molard retained the overall lead. Vuelta a España: Gallopin gets the win in Pozo Alcón Gallopin back on track in Vuelta a Espana after tumultuous mid-season Dan Martin slams 'chaotic' Vuelta a Espana finale Stage 8: Linares - Almadén, 195.5km Winner: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) Leader: Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) Movistar's Alejandro Valverde took his second stage win of the 2018 Vuelta in Almadén, while Molard kept hold of the race lead by just 37 seconds. Vuelta a Espana: Valverde wins stage 8 in Almaden Valverde comes out on top again at the Vuelta a Espana Vuelta a Espana leader Molard adamant he'll fight to the end Stage 9: Talavera de la Reina - La Covatilla, 195km Winner: Ben King (Dimension Data) Leader: Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) Ben King (Dimension Data) won his second stage of this year's race on stage 9's summit finish at La Covatilla. Behind him, the GC contenders fought it out for the race lead, with Mitchelton-Scott's Simon Yates taking the red leader's jersey by a second from Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). Vuelta a Espana: King conquers La Covatilla King adds another summit win at the Vuelta a Espana Kelderman rips up the race on Vuelta a Espana's second summit finish Simon Yates back in Grand Tour lead at Vuelta a Espana

Autumn, but also other seasons, brings heavy rain usually, but that does little do deter us from pedalling. A swell set of fenders might work magic, since it allows us to ride a long distance and time without getting soaking wet and unspeakably messy. In the following, we`ll have a look at the main types of fenders, explain what are they for and show their pros and cons. Full length fenders with frame and fork mount These are the best type of fender as far as water repelling goes. They allow us to ride in wet conditions without having to get soaked. They are long, covering a great portion of the wheel, and follow closely the shape of the wheel so as water particles hit the fender as soon as they take off from the tire. City, trekking and road bikes are the main categories of bicycles that make the most of this type of fenders. The drawback is the they are difficult to mount, an operation that involves a lot of bolts. On top of it all, the frame needs special mounts, so in their absence, this fenders can`t do anything for you. There are some quick-mount models. Anyway, this fenders don`t get along very well with full-suspension bikes and, in the case of a mis-adjustment, they can touch the tires. Also, any small impact in this sense generates the same outcome, and you shouldn`t forget they add some weight to your bike. Light-, easy-to-mount fenders They rely more on providing the sense of protection, than actually being effective, however, these fenders offer decent performance, easy mounting and are light on your wallet. Lightweighted and cheap, do not expect them to work any miracles. Fast-mount fenders This type scores well in terms of versatility, the rear fender being compatible with virtually any type of bicycle. In the same time, the front one is designed for suspension forks only. Protection is marginal at best, and you should expect only your face and lowwer back to avoid contact with water and mud. Also, mud might stick on the sealings of the fork, which is not good news. Their biggest advantage is that they can be mounted in no time at all. However, they have a hefty number of grams and don`t come cheap. The front fender is fixed, while the rear one can be raised or lowered depending on the distance you want it to have from the wheel, which makes them perfect for full-suspension mountain bikes. Frame-mounted fender Quite ingenious in its design, it started out as an option for mountain bikes and ended up as an universal solution for any bicycle. You can mount it easily, even if cable hoods attached on the downtube get in the way. Protection is only on when you keep the front wheel straight, in which case your face and chest avoid contact with the elements. The fork feels no difference, however, and neither do you when you take a turn. Thin, reduced-surface fenders known as mudguards have gained popularity and in the eyes of many, they are an ideal item for sporty persons and sporty bikes. They weigh next to nothing, can be mounted in a blink of an eye and provide more than decent protection. The rear guard, commonly knows as the ass-saver, keeps our bibs dry, while the front one guards the fork from all that mud and your face as well. Not to mention, they come at a low price. Suspension fork mudguards Keeping mud off the suspension fork is a daunting task, but these so-called fenders, which are actually a piece of cloth, do a terribly nice job, stopping mud from sticking to the fork and the face. According to the design of the frame, the shock of the full-suspension mountain bike can also be protected thanks to such a guard, that is, in this case, made out of a tougher material.

First thing`s first – let`s see how momentum passes from the wheel to the shock of the frame. From the start, we know that the rear shock of a frame is nothing but a system of levers that act upon a resort that absorbs shocks. An important aspect is that the system of levers, known as linkage, work differently compared to the shock according to the position of the rear wheel axle. Almost every manufacturer conceived its own working system of the rear shock and emphasised different properties that improved, in their vision, the riding. However, things went hectic and expect to come upon tons of designs and information when looking for a good product. So, sometimes the problem is that information doesn`t reach us in order to actually influence our choice in terms of which bike we`ll buy. Keeping stable is the main reason why vehicles have suspension systems. Sensitivity is provided by the capacity of the suspension fork and the rear shock to take in the bumps the wheels cross over. Most suspensions are highly unsensitive in the first interval of their travel. This simply means that a bigger applied force is needed to compress the resort in the first phase. You can notice a low-quality fork by the latter property and by the fact that sensitivity to bumps lacks all the way through and the end of travel is reached quite easily. All these make up a poor suspension system, that doesn`t work for little obstacles and thus puts stability in peril (helping crahes occur). Liniar and progression? Opinions vary a lot in this regard. One thing is certain though – all riders want the first length of the travel to respond right away to the shape of the trail they cover and by the time heavier stuff kicks in, the full length of the travel to become difficult to reach, like a progression – the closer you get to the end, the more compression is needed. For all these, manufacturers found solutions, and most of them are featured on high-end products – spacers that reduce the volume of air or a negative inner chamber of large volume. For instance, a system of levers that on the latter part of the travel becomes linear would need a smaller volume of compressed air, where as another would require a larger volume in order to compensate. What you must make out of the information depicted above is that the shock is an element that needs to be in harmony with the linkage system. This translates in the fact that compression and rebound are set by the manufacturer accordingly to the frame`s features. That is the reason why high-end shocks have written on them the tune-up of the compression, known as valving. How a shock behaves is dictated by where the piston finds itself along the travel, where as a system of levers moves freely between its limits without meeting any resistance. This is the explanation for why a shock absorbing system is needed. Its action controls the behaviour of the lever system and offer stability during riding by responding accordingly to the bumps encountered. Another vital chapter lies in the way the suspension acts at the middle of the travel, or in the midstroke level. This is the position in which both shock and frame are most active. Almost all shocks, more or less, have a compression and rebound speed limited by the manufacturer insomuch as not to influence the sensitivity with which it responds to trail variations. The frame joints and their influence over shock performance When you switched from a hardtail to a full-suspension bike, you might have noticed that all the pivoting points of the frame feature rotational elements, mostly in the form of bearings. All the forces met by the encounter of the bike with the ground pass from tire to rim, from spokes to hubs and so on until they reach the shock. Performance can be reduced by a poor rotational element in the joints. Why are bearing preferable? Simply put, it provides less friction. This happens because the balls inside are constantly moving and the friction pattern is actually an ever-moving dot-like print. Most manufacturers use bearings, but there are some cases when they use nuts, which pivot less, and that kind of opening is supposed not to inflict too much friction or, at least, a negligible amount. However, the more friction there is, the less responsive the shock becomes. Anti-squat and pedal kickback When searching for the shock of your dreams, you will definitely stumble upon these terms. Antisquat depicts the amount of opposition the the linkage system generates when it finds itself under the pressure of the chain. Put on short, the harder you press the pedals, the less responsive the shock becomes. If, for instance, a frame features a high level of antisquat, then you will experience poor performance of the shock when pedalling with great power. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, since it provides advantages (stiffness) while climbing. As opposed, if the antisquat factor is low, the frame shock is hyperactive and leads to the other extreme, known as pedal kickback. What this means is that the shock is so sensitive, that every push of the pedal is firstly taken in by the shock, and only afterwards (and what is left, of course), by the drivetrain. This generates a rocking motion as well. In order to prevent this from occurring, most bikes feature the ProPedal and Lock-out systems. By now you probably realised that the bike that has good features for both climbing and descending doesn`t exist. The model you decide to purchase should be in accordance with your riding style and your intended usage. Still, we have our own darling in terms of rear shocks, and that would be Yeti`s SwitchLink.

Simon Clarke added a second Vuelta a España stage victory to his palamares in Roquetas de Mar on Wednesday. The Australian perfectly played a three-up sprint on stage five to deliver the win for EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale. [It`s just amazing. I worked so hard since I last won a stage here, and I just couldn`t repeat it. It`s taken me so long to get back there and have my stars aligned. Even today I wasn`t sure it was possible," said Clarke. [You`ve got to be willing to lose to win, and I was and I came out on top." Roquetas de Mar - Spain - wielrennen - cycling - cyclisme - radsport - Simon Clarke (AUS - EF Education First - Drapac) - Bauke MOLLEMA (Nerherlands / Team Trek Segafredo) pictured during 3rd La Vuelta ciclista a España (2.UWT) Stage 5 from Granada to Roquetas de Mar (188.7 KM - photo Luis Gomez/Cor Vos © 2018 [Four days we were in the breakaway, including today," said sport director Fabrizio Guidi. [We needed to show that we could finish it, to win. We never gave up and finally. Today Simon was really smart and really strong. For the team it`s a great day." [Simon got the result the way he usually does – via intelligence," said EF Pro Cycling CEO Jonathan Vaughters. [He knows how to play a tense situation just right." Clarke was granted a reprisal from his usual Vuelta role on Wednesday. The 32-year-old is tasked, like much of the Vuelta squad, with looking after team leader Rigoberto Uran. Clarke, in particular, plays a key role in Uran`s general classification ambitions. [I saw today as a breakaway stage before the Vuelta even started," said Clarke. [I put a circle around this stage and stage seven. Today was definitely the priority of the two. I spoke to the team about having some freedom today, which they gave me, and I had to make that count." It was no easy feat getting into the stage five escape. The peloton covered 48 hilly kilometers in the opening hour of the race as attack after attack proved fruitless. [Everyone knew it was a good breakaway day," said Clarke. [We saw the breakaway go quite easily on the first four days, even yesterday, because the bunch didn`t think the breakaway could succeed. Normally Sky likes to keep the break under close control on the mountain stages, so yesterday was a bit of a surprise, but today was for sure a breakaway day." Clarke covered and initiated several attacks before finding the 25-rider strong move with staying power. [When you have such a big group, you cannot for one minute be complacent," Clarke said. [There`s never very good cooperation in such a good group. I kept telling myself I needed to stay as close to the front of the group as possible because otherwise guys get in front of you and you just can`t catch them. [The way the breakaway went, it was on a climb, so the nature of the breakaway was that it had some very strong climbers," added Clarke. [I wasn`t going to be able to attack them on the climbs to get to the front of the race." So Clarke attacked on the descents. Photo Luis Gomez/Cor Vos © 2018 [Quite often on the descents, people relax and have something to eat and drink. Sometimes that`s an opportunity to get a bit of an advantage," said Clarke. [On the first descent, I got away with a couple of other guys. We got brought back that time, but I saw it could work." It did work. Clarke and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) accelerated away on the descent leading up to Alto El Marchal, the stage`s final climb. They had 1`30 and Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) for company by the time they reached the foot of the climb. [I thought: `This is good. I need to commit now.`," said Clarke. [Unfortunately we couldn`t put on a good show on the climb, attacking each other, because it was such a strong headwind. We realized we just needed to cooperate and get to the finish line." They time trialled to the finish line, pushing the pace on the descent to keep their chasers at bay, cooperating until the final six kilometers. [When you come three-up to a final, there`s always going to be cat and mouse," said Clarke. [Coming into the final 5km, I said to myself: `I need to keep one in front and one behind.` That way I could keep an eye on both of them. [Each time they attacked, it was really hard. It really hurt. It also gave me a lot of confidence that they felt like they needed to attack me and not come to the finish," noted Clarke. [I didn`t think I was necessarily faster than De Marchi or Mollema because they`ve won big races in small group sprints. I wouldn`t necessarily have backed myself as the strongest guy because they`re such strong guys, but when they started attacking, it gave me confidence. Maybe they`re not feeling good for the sprint? I`m going to back myself for the sprint." [I was nervous watching it all," said Vaughters. [But I was also confident. I know Simon knows how to play the game." Clarke`s gamesmanship skills were on full display in the final kilometer as he steadfastly sandwiched himself between De Marchi and Mollema despite the fast-closing chase threatening to bridge the gap. He opened his sprint late and hung on for the win. [After I won my first stage in the Vuelta, I fell in love with the race," said Clarke. [You fall in love with the races you can win in, and every year since I won my first stage, I`ve asked my teams if I can come back. Four times now I`ve done the Tour de France and every time I`ve come to the Vuelta after it. I don`t care how tired I am. I love the Vuelta. [I`m so happy we were able to come away with the win," said Clarke. [At the Tour, we had such a committed group, even throughout the whole year we`ve repeatedly shown a high level of commitment, and I don`t think our results have justified the quality of this team or how hard we`ve worked. I hope a stage win like this shows the effort, commitment and talent we have in this team."

Simon Clarke added a second Vuelta a España stage victory to his palamares in Roquetas de Mar on Wednesday. The Australian perfectly played a three-up sprint on stage five to deliver the win for EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale. [It`s just amazing. I worked so hard since I last won a stage here, and I just couldn`t repeat it. It`s taken me so long to get back there and have my stars aligned. Even today I wasn`t sure it was possible," said Clarke. [You`ve got to be willing to lose to win, and I was and I came out on top." [Four days we were in the breakaway, including today," said sport director Fabrizio Guidi. [We needed to show that we could finish it, to win. We never gave up and finally. Today Simon was really smart and really strong. For the team it`s a great day." [Simon got the result the way he usually does – via intelligence," said EF Pro Cycling CEO Jonathan Vaughters. [He knows how to play a tense situation just right." Clarke was granted a reprisal from his usual Vuelta role on Wednesday. The 32-year-old is tasked, like much of the Vuelta squad, with looking after team leader Rigoberto Uran. Clarke, in particular, plays a key role in Uran`s general classification ambitions. [I saw today as a breakaway stage before the Vuelta even started," said Clarke. [I put a circle around this stage and stage seven. Today was definitely the priority of the two. I spoke to the team about having some freedom today, which they gave me, and I had to make that count." It was no easy feat getting into the stage five escape. The peloton covered 48 hilly kilometers in the opening hour of the race as attack after attack proved fruitless. [Everyone knew it was a good breakaway day," said Clarke. [We saw the breakaway go quite easily on the first four days, even yesterday, because the bunch didn`t think the breakaway could succeed. Normally Sky likes to keep the break under close control on the mountain stages, so yesterday was a bit of a surprise, but today was for sure a breakaway day." Clarke covered and initiated several attacks before finding the 25-rider strong move with staying power. [When you have such a big group, you cannot for one minute be complacent," Clarke said. [There`s never very good cooperation in such a good group. I kept telling myself I needed to stay as close to the front of the group as possible because otherwise guys get in front of you and you just can`t catch them. [The way the breakaway went, it was on a climb, so the nature of the breakaway was that it had some very strong climbers," added Clarke. [I wasn`t going to be able to attack them on the climbs to get to the front of the race." So Clarke attacked on the descents. Photo Luis Gomez/Cor Vos © 2018 [Quite often on the descents, people relax and have something to eat and drink. Sometimes that`s an opportunity to get a bit of an advantage," said Clarke. [On the first descent, I got away with a couple of other guys. We got brought back that time, but I saw it could work." It did work. Clarke and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) accelerated away on the descent leading up to Alto El Marchal, the stage`s final climb. They had 1`30 and Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) for company by the time they reached the foot of the climb. [I thought: `This is good. I need to commit now.`," said Clarke. [Unfortunately we couldn`t put on a good show on the climb, attacking each other, because it was such a strong headwind. We realized we just needed to cooperate and get to the finish line." They time trialled to the finish line, pushing the pace on the descent to keep their chasers at bay, cooperating until the final six kilometers. [When you come three-up to a final, there`s always going to be cat and mouse," said Clarke. [Coming into the final 5km, I said to myself: `I need to keep one in front and one behind.` That way I could keep an eye on both of them. [Each time they attacked, it was really hard. It really hurt. It also gave me a lot of confidence that they felt like they needed to attack me and not come to the finish," noted Clarke. [I didn`t think I was necessarily faster than De Marchi or Mollema because they`ve won big races in small group sprints. I wouldn`t necessarily have backed myself as the strongest guy because they`re such strong guys, but when they started attacking, it gave me confidence. Maybe they`re not feeling good for the sprint? I`m going to back myself for the sprint." [I was nervous watching it all," said Vaughters. [But I was also confident. I know Simon knows how to play the game." Clarke`s gamesmanship skills were on full display in the final kilometer as he steadfastly sandwiched himself between De Marchi and Mollema despite the fast-closing chase threatening to bridge the gap. He opened his sprint late and hung on for the win. [After I won my first stage in the Vuelta, I fell in love with the race," said Clarke. [You fall in love with the races you can win in, and every year since I won my first stage, I`ve asked my teams if I can come back. Four times now I`ve done the Tour de France and every time I`ve come to the Vuelta after it. I don`t care how tired I am. I love the Vuelta. [I`m so happy we were able to come away with the win," said Clarke. [At the Tour, we had such a committed group, even throughout the whole year we`ve repeatedly shown a high level of commitment, and I don`t think our results have justified the quality of this team or how hard we`ve worked. I hope a stage win like this shows the effort, commitment and talent we have in this team." © 2018

Nominations are now open for Cycling Weekly`s Club of the Year to be presented at our awards event in London this December. The prize, sponsored by Santini, will be awarded to a club that has set high standards from a sporting or community sense, or through having a strong purpose or mission. Clubs are the bedrock of the sport in this country and almost all the country`s best riders came through or have been involved in the club scene. Former world champion Lizzie Deignan, an honorary member and patron of Otley CC in Yorkshire, may not have come through the club system, instead going straight on to the Talent Team, but knows just how crucial it is. Looking back at the time she got her first racing licence as a private member she now wishes she was part of a club. [It`s just a sense of riding for somebody and wearing a team jersey," Deignan says. [It`s quite a complex sport [if you don`t get] any instruction from experienced people. Simple things like the terminology, the equipment - it`s not like sticking a pair of running shoes on and going for a run. You need to know your way around your local area etc, so if you can join a group of people who know all that already then that, I think, is the value in a club." Deignan, who has been working with Italian firm Santini on a new range of clothing called Lizzie X, to be launched in the autumn, passes her old kit to the children`s Mini Flyers section at Otley CC. Entry for the Santini Club of the Year award is open until Friday August 31. Get yours in now by clicking here. The winners will be announced at a lavish awards ceremony in London on Wednesday, December 12.

Young talent breaks contract with Sven Nys' Telenet Fidea Lions British cyclo-cross and road racing talent, Tom Pidcock has broken his contract with Belgian cyclo-cross team Telenet Fidea Lions to head up a new British cyclo-cross squad, named TP Racing. TP Racing is registered at the offices of Trinity Sports Management, run by agent Andrew McQuaid, who also represents Continental squad Team Wiggins - Pidcock's road team - and a number of headline road riders. A representative from Trinity Sports Management said the team would be built around Pidcock and was something the young rider has wanted to do for a while. In a press release, Belgian team Telenet Fidea Lions confirmed the split and voiced their support for Pidcock in pursuing the opportunity of competing on a British-registered team. "In a mutual understanding, Telenet Fidea Lions and Tom Pidcock have agreed to end their collaboration," read the statement. "Last year, Pidcock chose to be part of Telenet Fidea Lions for his first CX winter as U23, combining it with a British road program. The cooperation went very well, but Tom was on the radar of many teams. Next winter, he will transfer to a newly British-registered CX team." Pidcock added: "I want to thank everyone from the Telenet Fidea Lions for all they have done for me this past winter. During my months with the team I have gained valuable experiences and achieved great results. However, when an opportunity to ride for a British CX team came up, it was something I couldn't let go." In a press release from Trinity Sports Management, Pidcock explained further: "When Trinity Sports Management discussed with me the opportunity of creating a British CX team, I just couldn't say no. Working alongside Trinity Sports Management on organising the set up of the team, from technical partners to staff, is something that I have loved having input in. I am delighted to join the team and look forward to the new season." Pidcock has excelled in both cyclo-cross and road disciplines. In 2017, he won the junior time trial at the World Championships, along with Paris-Roubaix Juniors, and the National Criterium Championships. He also won the junior title in the scratch race at the National Track Championships before signing for Team Wiggins to develop further on the road. In cyclo-cross, Pidcock has been the world, European and national champion in the junior categories, as well as national champion at U23 level. Last season he won the UCI U23 World Cup. Former multiple cyclo-cross world champion Sven Nys, who is now the team manager at Telenet Fidea Lions, said: "From the very first meetings with Tom, we knew how he would like to build his career and that he is a rider who is sought after by WorldTour teams. "Last year we worked together in a nice way and we preferred to do that for another winter, but when a team with this allure makes him an offer, we can agree to the collaboration with mutual respect." Supporting young British talent, the new British squad TP Racing have two other riders registered with the team so far: Daniel Tulett and Emily Wadsworth. Both also 19 years old, Tulett came second to Pidcock in the junior race at the 2017 Cyclo-cross World Championships, while Wadsworth finished in the top-10 at the Women's Elite road race at the national championships last month. Tulett said on the announcement of the team: "When you look at the success of of British riders in cycle-cross in recent seasons, I think it is fantastic that we now have the opportunity to ride for a British-registered continental 'cross team. "Having raced with and against Tom since we were 10 years old, I am delighted to join the team and look forward to next season." Andrew McQuaid confirmed the team are finalising technical and non-technical partners with further details being shared soon. Speaking on Pidcock and the creation of the team, McQuaid said: "Working with Tom over the past couple of years, it has been really exciting to see how he keeps developing and improving both on and off road. "Creating this team centred around Tom, building an environment he enjoys, seemed to be a natural progression. In addition, we are passionate about helping other young British riders coming through and look forward to supporting Dan and Emily on their racing ambitions. We are very excited about what this team can grow into over the next few years. "Finally, I would just like to add that Telenet Fidea Lions have been extremely understanding of the situation and I extend my gratitude to them for everything they have done to date." If you've ever wanted to know what it feels like to be part of a top-level cycling team, and to be on the ground, inside the barriers, at the Tour de France, then RUNNING WITH WOLVES will take you there. It is available to rent for $3.99 USD or buy for $6.99 USD. You can also still purchase our first two films, THE HOLY WEEK and CRESCENDO, on Vimeo. RUNNING WITH WOLVES from Cyclingnews Films on Vimeo, produced by La Pédale and a special thanks to Quick-Step Floors. Want more great content? Listen to our weekly Cyclingnews Podcast, featuring in-depth race reports from the biggest races, and exclusive interviews with the stars of the sport. 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