Top 40 Major International Cycling Events & Equipment
CYCLING, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bikers", or less commonly, as "bicyclists". Apart from two-wheeled bicycles, "cycling" also includes the riding of unicycles, tricycles, quadracycles, and similar human-powered vehicles (HPVs).
Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number about one billion worldwide. They are the principal means of transportation in many parts of the world.
Cycling is widely regarded as a very effective and efficient mode of transportation optimal for short to moderate distances. Bicycles provide numerous benefits by comparison with motor vehicles, including the sustained physical exercise necessarily involved in cycling, that cycling involves a reduced consumption of fossil fuels, less air or noise pollution, much reduced traffic congestion, easier parking, greater maneuverability, and access to both roads and paths. The advantages also include reduced financial cost to the user as well as to society at large (negligible damage to roads, less road area required). By fitting bicycle racks on the front of busses, transit agencies can significantly increase the areas they can serve.
Among the disadvantages of cycling are the inherent instability of the bicycle, the immensely reduced protection in crashes (especially in collisions with motor vehicles), longer travel time (except in densely populated areas), vulnerability to weather conditions, difficulty in transporting passengers, competition (and interference) with socially beneficial forms of mass public transit, and the particular levels of skill and fitness required by cycling.
Cycle sport is competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing cycling sports include artistic cycling, cycle polo, freestyle BMX and mountain bike trials. The Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for cycling and international competitive cycling events.
Cycling News & Resources
- 20 quotes that capture the beauty of cycling - The Telegraph.
- 50 of the best cycling holidays - The Telegraph.
- An inside look at the grueling world of professional cycling - "What does it take to become a road racing legend and compete in the toughest sport in the world? Go behind the scenes with the teams and riders at all the major tours and classics through the lens of world-class pro-cycling photographer, Kristof Ramon."
- Cycle sport - Wikipedia.
- CYCLING - Wikipedia.
- CYCLING NEWS.COM - "The world centre of cycling." Cycling news & race results.
- GRAND TOUR - Wikipedia.
- How much does a Tour de France bike cost? - "It's no secret that pro riders get the very best available, but exactly what would that cost to replicate?"
- Jonas Vingegaard Wins Tour de France, Completing His Sudden Ascent to Top - "Vingegaard, 25, won cycling’s most prestigious race on his second attempt, setting up a new rivalry with the two-time champion he dethroned, Tadej Pogacar."
- Rise of the ultra-cyclists: a new breed of riders go the distance - The Guardian.
- Road bicycle racing - Wikipedia.
- SIX-DAY RACING - Wikipedia.
- The Tour de France champion who saved hundreds of Jews - "With this year's Tour de France starting in Florence, it's the perfect opportunity to celebrate the city's cycling hero: two-time Tour de France winner, Gino Bartali."
- Tour de France officials will scan participants' bikes to check for cheaters - The Verge.
- Tour de France winner 2023 Jonas Vingegaard fails to win over public - "The Dane, champion for the second time, lacks the warmth and humanity to capture the imagination of the French people."
- Tour de France 2024: stage-by-stage guide to this year’s race - "A Grand Départ in Florence and a finish in Nice rather than Paris will not please traditionalists, but there is plenty of familiar terrain in between."
- UCI | UNION CYCLISTE INTERNATIONALE - since 1900. The world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events.
- VELO NEWS - "Competitive Cycling News, Race Results and Bike Reviews."
- WADA | WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY - founded in 1999. Promotes, coordinates, and monitors at the international level the fight against doping in sports in all its forms.
- Your Ultimate Guide to the 2018 Tour de France - TIME Magazine.
Cycling Equipment
- AR glasses will quench your ride-stat thirst - engadget.
- FACTOR 001 - high-tech carbon chassis bicycle.
- How cycling shorts went from Mr Motivator to the style hit of the summer - "From the catwalk to Kim Kardashian, cycling shorts have made an unlikely comeback this sports-centric season."
- JOHNNY'S BIKE SHOP - owned by Lance Armstrong.
- Polar RC3 GPS Tour de France - "Essential features in one compact package."
- POLAR RS800CX Pro Training Edition BIKE - "For serious cyclists, a limited edition training computer with a laser engraved ID number. Comes wrapped up in a Polar Limited Edition set, with both speed and cadence sensors included."
- Rapha - "The World's Finest Cycling Clothing and Accessories."
- SHIMANO - manufacturer of cycling components.
- Strava - "Connecting the world's athletes. Run and Cycling Tracking on the Social Network for Athletes." If you're active, Strava was made for you. Our mobile app and website enhance the experience of sport and connect millions of athletes from around the world. We're the social network for those who strive. Join us.
Cycling Events
- 100th anniversary Tour de France 2019 route revealed - Cyclingnews.com.
- Climbing specialist - A climbing specialist or climber, also known as a grimpeur, is a road bicycle racer who can ride especially well on highly inclined roads, such as those found among hills or mountains.
- Cycling monument - The Monuments are five classic cycle races generally considered to be the oldest, hardest and most prestigious one-day events in men's road cycling. They each have a long history and specific individual characteristics. They are currently the one-day races in which most points can be earned in the UCI World Tour.
- How much does a Tour de France bike cost? - "It's no secret that pro riders get the very best available, but exactly what would that cost to replicate?"
- LIST OF ROAD BICYCLE RACING EVENTS - Wikipedia.
- National road cycling championships - Wikipedia.
- Road bicycle racing - Wikipedia.
- Tour de France officials will scan participants' bikes to check for cheaters - The Verge.
- Tour de France 2021 spectator causes massive crash - "French authorities open investigation after Tour de France spectator causes massive crash."
- UCI Continental Circuits - Wikipedia.
- UCI World Championships - Wikipedia.
- UCI World Tour - Wikipedia.
- Your Ultimate Guide to the 2018 Tour de France - TIME Magazine.
Top 15 Cycling Events
- CritÉrium du DauphinÉ - since 1947. Annual cycling road race in the Dauphiné region in the southeast of France. The race is run over eight days during the first half of June. It is part of the UCI World Tour calendar and counts as one of the foremost races in the lead-up to the Tour de France in July.
- GIRO D'ITALIA - since 1909. A long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May / early June in and around Italy. It is one of the three Grand Tours (the others being the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España), and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar.
- Giro di Lombardia - since 1905. Officially Il Lombardia, is a cycling race in Lombardy, Italy. It is traditionally the last of the five 'Monuments' of the season, considered to be one of the most prestigious one-day events in cycling, and one of the last events on the UCI World Tour calendar. Nicknamed the Classica delle foglie morte ("the Classic of the falling (dead) leaves"), it is the most important Autumn Classic in cycling. The race's most famous climb is the Madonna del Ghisallo in the race finale. Because of its demanding course, the race is considered a climbers classic, favouring climbers with strong descending skills and a strong sprint finish.
- LiÈge-Bastogne-LiÈge - since 1892. Also known as La Doyenne ("The Old Lady"), is a one-day classic cycling race in Belgium. First run in 1892, it is the oldest of the five Monuments of the European professional road cycling calendar; usually coming as the last of the spring classics. It is held annually in late April, in the Ardennes region of Belgium, from Liège to Bastogne and back. It is considered one of the most arduous one-day cycling events in the world because of its length and demanding course. The most successful rider with five victories is Belgian rider Eddy Merckx, trailed by Italian Moreno Argentin in the 1980s and Spaniard Alejandro Valverde in the 2000s, who both won the race four times.
- Milan-San Remo - since 1907. Also called "The Spring classic" or "La Classicissima", is an annual cycling race between Milan and Sanremo, in Northwest Italy. With a distance of 298 km (~185.2 miles) it is the longest professional one-day race in modern cycling. It is the first major classic race of the season, usually held on the third Saturday of March.
- Paris-Nice - professional cycling stage race in France, held annually since 1933. Raced over eight days, the race usually starts with a prologue in the Paris region and ends with a final stage either in Nice or on the Col d'Èze overlooking the city.
- Paris-Roubaix - since 1896. One-day professional bicycle road race in northern France, starting north of Paris and finishing in Roubaix, at the border with Belgium. It is one of cycling's oldest races, and is one of the 'Monuments' or classics of the European calendar, and contributes points towards the UCI World Ranking. The terrain has led to the development of specialised frames, wheels and tyres. Punctures and other mechanical problems are common and often influence the result. Despite the esteem of the race, some cyclists dismiss it because of its difficult conditions. The race has also seen several controversies, with winners disqualified.
- Strade Bianche - since 2007. Road bicycle race in Tuscany, Central Italy, starting and finishing in Siena. First held in 2007, it is raced annually on the first or second Saturday of March. The name Strade Bianche (Italian for White Roads) stems from the historic white gravel roads in the Crete Senesi, which are a defining feature of the race. One-third of the total race distance is raced on dirt roads, covering 63 km (39 mi) of strade bianche, spread over 11 sectors. Despite its short history, the Strade Bianche has quickly gained prestige, and renewed interest in road racing on gravel and dirt roads as a specific skill and discipline. The event is part of the UCI World Tour, cycling's highest level of professional road races.
- Tirreno-Adriatico - since 1966. Nicknamed the "Race of the Two Seas", is an elite cycle race in Italy, run between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts. Traditionally held in the early part of the season, it is considered to be an important preparation for the Milan–San Remo classic race. It is part of the UCI World Tour, cycling's highest level of professional men's races.
- 111th Edition Tour de France 2024 - will be held from 29 June to 21 July. Start in Florence, Italy & finish in Nice, France. Since 1903. Annual bicycle race that covers approximately 3,600 kilometres (2,200 mi) throughout France and bordering countries. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages. Individual times to finish each stage are totalled to determine the overall winner at the end of the race. The rider with the lowest aggregate time at the end of each day wears a yellow jersey. The course changes every year but it has always finished in Paris. The Tour de France is the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours".
- Tour de Suisse - since 1933. Annual cycling stage race in Switzerland. Raced over nine days, the event covers two weekends in the latter half of June. Along with the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is considered a proving ground for the Tour de France.
- TOUR DOWN UNDER - since 1999. Cycling race in and around Adelaide, South Australia. The race attracts riders from all over the world.
- Tour of Flanders - since 1913. Annual road cycling race held in Belgium every spring. The most important cycling race in Flanders, it is part of the UCI World Tour and organized by Flanders Classics. Today it is one of the five monuments of cycling, together with Milan–San Remo, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Giro di Lombardia. It is one of the two major Cobbled classics, anticipating Paris–Roubaix, which is on the calendar one week after the Tour of Flanders. The event had its only interruptions during World War I and has been organized without hiatus since 1919, the longest uninterrupted streak of any cycling classic.
- TOUR OMAN - annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Oman since 2010 as part of the UCI Asia Tour.
- Vuelta a EspaÑa - since 1935. A three-week annual road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages. Individual times to finish each stage are totalled to determine the overall winner at the end of the race. The rider with the lowest aggregate time at the end of each day wears the Red Jersey.
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