Issue 142

What does it mean to be considered a ‘classic’? Timelessness, longevity, and tradition are attributes that immediately spring to mind. In bike racing nomenclature, these qualities take shape as the races canonised by riders and fans for their rich histories and prestigious one-day format: the Classics. From the chronicle of Mat Hayman’s remarkable Roubaix victory, to the archives of cycling’s complex relationship with wine, Rouleur 142 celebrates this notion of tradition.

Of Remco and the rest 

The victories of the likes of Remco Evene poel, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Tadej Pogačar reach cycling fans through epic feats of endurance, staggering outputs of power – and, for most of us, the impassioned roars of broadcast commentary. Ned Boulting draws on years of industry experience to take readers behind the scenes of the stories written by riders and narrated by commentators.

Hell by numbers

Primal in savagery, medieval in terrain, but also increasingly modern: Paris-Rou baix is one of the oldest races in the sport, and yet its famed and feared pavé calls for cutting-edge technology. Rouleur speaks to Tudor Pro Cycling’s head of innovation Kurt Bergin-Taylor to investigate how the demands of the cobbles are being codified into data points.

Legends uncorked 

The fruits of a professional cyclist’s labour are usually preserved in coloured jerseys, sponsorship deals, and lifelong fame. But in some curious cases, their efforts are distilled more literally – pressed, bottled and sealed inside commemorative wines. A chance auction purchase sends Felix Lowe on a hunt for the stories behind six dusty bottles linked to the sport’s legends.

Magdeleine Vallières: Breaking Good

When Magdeleine Vallières became Canada’s first-ever Road World Champion in Kigali, she rewrote a race tradition typically characterised by European dominance. The Quebec born rider speaks to Rouleur about the tests and triumphs of the road to the rainbow jersey – and where the lessons she’s learnt might land her next.

Also in the magazine

Seoul Searching, Joe Blackmore, Rachel Neylan, Safety first, Mat Hayman, Filippo Ganna, Team Quick step and the Classics, Cross-country skiing, the Peru Great Divide, Sofía Gómez Villa fañe, Simon Mottram, Factor x Bugatti, Explore: Langhe and Cuneo