Monday, 5 August 2013

Taking A Break

In The GC has been running now for 18 months and it's been a great experience, but I think now is the time to take a break and re-evaluate where I am and what I'm writing.

It's fair to say that the blog hasn't achieved what I hoped it would in 18 months, but as a novice writer, an enthusiast, it's also not surprising. Pro-cycling blogging is a competitive world and there are many, many others far more well informed than me. My enthusiasm has slowly dwindled over the last couple of months as my posts have become lazy and little more than a regurgitation of everybody else's old news. Recently married and with plenty going on aside from cycling it really is difficult to find the time to write anything of worth whilst maintaining a full-time job and other commitments, and though at times it's extremely fun, at others it becomes a chore.  

I want to thank everyone who has read, commented and tweeted on and about the blog over the last 18 months. It's been great to make some new friends and to share my writing and views with you. I've had some great support from many of you via the blog, twitter and even from within the world of professional cycling. 

I may be back for the Vuetla in late August if I decide a re-vamp and a bit of re-direction will help put the blog firmly on the map. For now though it's time to reflect on the last 18 months and to find out exactly where the future may lead. I will still be around on Twitter, thanks for all of the support the blog has recieved to date and most importantly of all - enjoy the racing!

Friday, 2 August 2013

2013/2014 Transfers: Ins, Outs and The Rumour Mill Part 1.

 
It's that time of year again where we learn which riders are on the move for the season ahead. This very date last year I began a series detailing all the latest in transfer talk, so it's only right I do the same for 2013/2014. With many of cycling's big names looking to be staying put through to next year, the rumour mill isn't quite as active as it was 12 months ago, but there are still riders out of contract and some quality names deciding to make a change and there's plenty of time for a few shocks yet. So here's Part 1 with all the latest transfer talk...

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Picture This: Taylor Phinney Goes Solo In Poland

 
With seven kilometres to go on what should have been a sprint stage, Taylor Phinney took off on his own. With teams limited to six riders for the Tour of Poland it shows that having less riders can make a big impact as the sprint teams struggled to get their trains together and bring the talented American back - in fact Phinney rode the final kilometre, alone, at the same speed as the chasing bunch. That's pretty damn impressive, and well worth the roar of victory as Phinney Crossed the line.

Monday, 29 July 2013

Erik Zabel Comes Clean...Again

 
Erik Zabel has little left to celebrate. In 2007 Erik Zabel stood in front of the press in floods of tears as he spoke about his 9 year old son while confessing to using EPO in the first week of the 1996 Tour de France. In his own words he described how, just on a single occasion he chose to use the performance enhancing drug before stating that thanks to the severity of the side effects, he never used it again. Today Erik Zabel told the world otherwise, having been named in the French Senate report as testing positive in the 1998 Tour...