Mags UK - Thousands of Magazine Back Issues

Cycling Weekly

Issue: 12/06/2008

Ref: CW120608

Availability: 10 in stock.

When British Cycling's president Brian Cookson was interviewed by this magazine in July 2006 he went out on a limb and said a Brit would win the Tour de France within the next 25 years.

He came in for loads of stick on various internet forums from people who said there wasn't a chance in hell, and he then spent far too much of his own time defending his claim.

We'd agree with Brian - the Tour champ of 2020 is out there. Somewhere. He's probably about 14 or 15 year's old, and may not even be a regular cyclist yet. What country this lad lives in is irrelevant, what matters is that he's found and then developed into a world-class rider.

And that's exactly what British Cycling's system does, to the envy of every other cycling nation in the world. Until now, it's been concentrating on developing track riders, with Olympic success being the goal. However, if the plan for a British ProTour team comes off, it won't be long before more Mark Cavendishes are turned into world beaters by the best coaches in the business.

Before lottery funding, our track team was a laughing stock (not including those exceptional individuals), now they are one of the greatest sports teams in the world.

Apply those practices to a road racing system and who's to say what's achievable?

In this week's Cycling Weekly we take a look at British Cycling's plans to have a ProTour team ready for 2010, talking to the people involved in the squad and asking whether Britain has got the talent.

Also in this week's issue we report from the National '25', Dauphine Libere and Smithfield Nocturne; take a ride around South Yorkshire with Dean Downing; take a look at the Seven Ages of Cycling; round up the latest products; and much more

Credit Agricole rider and lead-out man for Thor Hushovd, British sprinter Jeremy Hunt talks to us as he gears up for his first ever Tour.

Seven ages of cycling: A cross-section of the cycling community tells us why they ride, what they get from doing it, what works for them

Your weekly round-up of cycling product news and reviews, featuring Shimano carbon wheels, Sidi shoes, Rapha Stowaway jacket, FSA Vision carbon aero bars, Tony Gibb’s time trial bike and more.

South Yorkshire with Dean Downing: one of Britain's top road racers shows you his ritual Saturday afternoon rides.

Hal Bransby takes on the Fred Whitton Challenge and, despite the tough parcours, finds he has an enjoyable day among the Lakes.

We report from the National 25-mile time trial, where another classic performance from Michael Hutchinson left the rest standing as he took his second national TT title.

 

The Doc applauds the success of our British cycling stars. But he's having his doubts that Peter Keen should be smugly saying "I told you so" to the naysayers.

British pro team by 2010, clash of European based riders versus British based at the National Championships, news and comment from the Dauphine Libere, Smithfield Nocturne and much more.