'Dale

In memory of Eva, who took me to 10,000 km and 100,000 vert in 2023 - an important performance goal for me at the time.

In memory of Eva, my first road bike with disc brieke 💋

The 4th Monument on Sunday is imminent. Highlighted as a super duel between the rainbow jersey and the Swiss Army knife like performer in Pogačar who is such a threat over so many variable courses, one day races and Grand Tours. The competition in the Women’s peloton is also very thrilling with regular performer Vollering not as dominant after last year’s Ardenne Classics. I have an eye on the Gravel Rainbow Jersey who took her first road victory in 5 years. It is not spring right now in northern EuroLand; it’s wet, freezing and slippery on the tarmac. Respect to the classy and everlasting Ash’ after another solid performance at FW:

The leg strength and hip flex support by Matt. Great to see him in mix as his racing in the USA resumes.

‘Where your fear is, there your task is.’ - Carl Jung The day before leaving South Africa, I chose to return to the site of my hit & run incident in Helen Suzman Bvd, Cape Town, 7 weeks later after that tough life-changing moment. Returning there was intentional and on purpose to see where I am psychically and spiritually as an important element of my recovery pathway. I remember getting an acute stress response (panic attacky, distressed, highly disturbed and nauseous) while watching the CTCT finish line action a week later, right near where my blood spilt. I was even highly anxious to be in the passenger seat of a motor vehicle for several weeks March, with the whizz and engine roar of cars around me. The crash site visit was fortunately peaceful for me and I had no pang of PTSD. Grateful, grateful. I am writing this from 2 100 meters above sea level in the gorgeous Rocky Mountains in Colorado. More snowfall is predicted this evening and the average temperatures is 1 degrees celsius. My time here is designed to contemplate Life, my existentialism and also my return to cycling and sport. I share these details as I am hoping it can also help those who struggle with trauma, life speed bumps and suffering. There’s no handbook for convenient access to healing, resetting and recovery in a tough and rushed world. Be safe out there whilst in the saddle, Peoples. 💟

Geez

“It’s your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf Week 6: I have been medically cleared yesterday to have medium-to-full weight bearing on my leg. So, from today I am doing the one-crutch assisted moon walk thang. I have gone through a few dark valleys and struggled to get out of bed a few times, fighting to get back into my life. Honouring my feelings really helps I also remember that I always teach my son, Jonah, that “getting back up after life knocks you down is so important… and life will knock you back… as an opportunity for courage and growth… and then it’s time to stand up inside yourself…” I have to walk the talk, hey. That’s the job as one of his guides in Life. Off to the USA for a few weeks to spend retreat time in the snow-kissed mountains of Colorado. Looking forward to some ‘time out’, catching my breath and some meditation time in God’s garden. Grateful for my beautiful wife who makes my morning oats with chia seeds, and my son who ‘assesses my right leg’ every morning before school. And my friends who drive me around for the little things. Be safe out there on roads and trails, Peoples. 💟

Alpecin-Deceunick continues to thrive with its star racer and the current Rainbow Jersey, punching way above its weight in terms of team budget. What a team performance culminating into sheer dominance in the final - dropping the sharp end of the field at will with the velodrome still 60 kms away. 1-2 for the consecutive year for a team that is not a WorldTour team. 3rd Monument this year. Another green jersey in July? Morale must be sky high in this team, adding 15 watts per pedal stroke to every team member. The Roodhooft brothers created this team and built it around MVDP in the cyclocross space before branching it to road racing. A similar pathway is currently in place, seemingly for the young talent in Puck Pieterse. 47.85 km/h average speed. The fastest time ever, roughly 1 km/h faster than the previous fastest finishing time. 📸 Russ Ellis

Roglič allowing a peek for the public into the daily wound management required as he resets his pathway to the Tour de France. Rider safety is an ongoing debate. Complicated stuff. Races are getting faster with today’s Hell of the North winner exceeding 47 km/h (a course record), disc brakes are allowing for later braking and more risk taking, aero gains from helmets to innovations in frame geometry, a hyper-competitive culture in the professional ranks, sky high budgets incentivising winning ‘at all costs’, etc. Who will line up in France and in what form? It remains to be seen.

A woman in a white speedsuit with rainbow colours emerges victorious by more than a bike length, in the town of Roubaix, historically known for being popular in the textile industrial space. A rare sight. 📸 @thomas_maheux

“We are going for 400 watts average or 448 normalised power...” - Buff-Megamo team tactical discussion in the kitchen a day before the prologue. Gotta love the heart and soul in this video release.

Gusty winds 25-40 km/h and temps in the unseasonal 20s, with muddy spots after the week's rain, not recommended to choose a line on the smoother shoulder of the cobbled sectors. The women's peloton is downsizing by the sector. Pic: Getty Images

Lots of rain until about Thursday in northern France. There will be mud, grime and slippery cobblestones. Unfortunately, former winner Lizzie Deignan crashed out and broke a bone. Lotto Kopecky is very determined to take this win, as expressed in a recent interview, as she has won RvV. The Women's Ronde was the race of the year for me, followed closely by the beautiful chess on two wheels played by Mads & Company at Gent-Wevelgem. Sunday was met with sideways rain, a rainbow jersey in white bibs, a very resilient Nieuwadoma, and the excellent tactical masterclass by the Italian Champ and her teammates. Longo Borghini ('Lamborghini') won the race about 10 years ago and dedicate this victory to her new coach who believed in her to come back strong. Meanwhile, somewhere in EuroLand at altitude, Giro preparations continue. Pic: Top Ganna on Instagram

Will we have rain in northern France this weekend and will there be a muddy Paris-Roubaix in 2024? Can the Danish champ honour his broken Belgian teammate and bring some glory back to the team bus next weekend. Lidl-Trek Women sure did yesterday with a 1 and 3 on the podium. The 56T on this Trektor, eish. Pic: @roleurmagazine

"Winning the Tour of Flanders in the rainbow jersey is a dream come true... I cannot think about 'Roubaix just yet... I am a little forked after today... one of the hardest races I'v ever done..." - The Rainbow Jersey (3 x winner RvV, Mathieu van der Poel) Pic: @UCI_cycling