Sportive
The Col Collective on the Passo dello Stelvio (Bormio)
The Stelvio is one of the most iconic climbs used in the Giro d'Italia, and it's the latest climb to feature in a film from The Col Collective. Here's their take on it. Whatever way you look at it, the Stelvio is a spiritual cycling experience like no other. First featuring in the Giro d’Italia in 1953 its long history and...
The Col Collective – Col de la Croix de Fer
Here's another great video from The Col Collective team. This is their take on the Col de la Croix de Fer. Nestled in the heart of the Rhône-Alpes and surrounded by a veritable who’s who of mountain peaks like the Galibier and Alpe d’Huez, the Col de la Croix de Fer may not be quite as well known as its...
The An Post Tour de Burren – A date for your diary
The An Post Tour de Burren returns on June 20, 2015 in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare. The event is one of the five cyclosportives as part of The Cycle Series. This is the 12th year of the An Post Tour de Burren, with 2,000 participants taking to their bikes last year, it was voted the Cycling Ireland Best Leisure Event in...
The Col Collective on the Col d’Izoard
The Col Collective team have now taken on the Col d'Izoard, and this is how they describe the climb. Although the north face of the Col d’Izoard may not have had quite as much of the Tour de France limelight as its southern ascent, don’t let that little piece of trivia misguide your judgement towards this mythical mountain that stands...
“You just need to get away from life for a couple of hours and get on the bike” Bressie talks cycling
We caught up recently with Bressie, one of the 2015 ambassadors of the An Post Cycle Series, to talk about his growing interest in cycling. The singer, judge on The Voice of Ireland and former rugby and GAA player spoke to us about training, his future plans and what appeals to him about the sport. We first of all...
Drone footage of Lacets de Montvernier
The Lacets de Montevernier are set to feature in this year's Tour de France on the stage from Gap to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. The climbs features 18 hairpins and is spectacular. It's only 3.3km long with an average gradient of 7.8%, and it's maximum percentage is 21.2%. It climbs 258m. The hairpins come in quick succession, about every 150 metres. The road was...
Cyclists speak ahead of the Tour of Flanders cyclosportive
The Tour of Flanders cyclosportive is amongst the biggest sportives in the world, attracting 16,000 cyclists. The event takes place the day before the race, and has a choice of three different distances, 254km (2100 metres of climbing), 134km (1600 metres of climbing) and 75km (930 metres of climbing). All three routes will take in cobbled sections of the course. Riders...
The Col Collective on the Passo Gavia
The Col Collective series continues with Passo Gavia, the legendary climb often used in the Giro d'Italia. This is their take on the climb. Steeped in Italian cycling history the Passo Gavia is one of the most feared and famous climbs in the Giro d’Italia, first used in 1960 and regularly stirring up its snowy mischief ever since. I got...
Inspired to Ride Teaser Trailer – Unsupported race across America
Inspired to Ride follows a handful of cyclists from around the world as they race unsupported in the inaugural year of a 4,233 mile transcontinental race across the USA. This race is the antithesis to events like Tour de France and Race Across America. There will be no teams, no support vehicles, no special jerseys and not a dime...
The Col Collective take on the Col du Tourmalet
This is another great video from The Col Collective where Mike Cotty takes on the legendary Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees. Below is their description of the climb. The Col du Tourmalet has a long and illustrious history with the Tour de France, first used in 1910 it immediately stamped its authority on the race with Frenchman Octave...
Former Olympic athlete Marian Heffernan talks about the appeal of cycling
Amongst the ambassadors for the recently launched An Post cycle series in Ireland is former international athlete Marian Heffernan. The 400 metre runner competed for Ireland in the 4 x 400m relay at the London Olympics in 2012. She is also a former national women's 400m champion. Since retirement, Marian has been involved in coaching her husband Rob, who won...
Tour of Flanders cyclosportive entries sell out
Entries for the Tour of Flanders cyclosportive have now sold out. 16,000 cyclists have signed up to take part in the event on Saturday, April 4th, the day before the pros, to test themselves on the course of the world-renowned classic. This year is the first time that the number of entries has been capped. "The introduction of a limit...
An Post Cycle Series Launched
The 2015 An Post Cycle Series was officially launched this week by the 2015 ambassadors; eight time All-Ireland winning hurler and former Kilkenny wing-back JJ Delaney, women’s 400m runner Marian Heffernan, comedian PJ Gallagher, musician Bressie and cycling legend Sean Kelly. The five event series which is a joint initiative between An Post and the Irish Sports Council...
World’s largest timed cycle may be affected by massive fires
The Cape Town Cycle Tour has announced that it has alternative plans in place, in the event that massive fires raging along the route affect the event this coming Sunday. Mark Cavendish and his teammate Mark Renshaw are amongst those set to take part this year. The Cycle Tour, which is in its 38th year, is the largest, timed cycling...
The Col Collective take on the Col de la Bonette
Mike Cotty from The Col Collective tackles the Col de la Bonette in their latest video. It really does look like a stunning climb. Below is their description. Climbing its way through the Mercantour National Park, at 24km in length the Col de la Bonette really is an ascent that needs absolute respect right from the start. Pacing, pacing,...
The Col Collective take on the Hautacam
The latest video from The Col Collective sees Mike Cotty tackle the Hautacam in the Pyrenees. Below is their description of the climb. Deep in the heart of the Midi-Pyrénées, Hautacam may not have the length, height or prestige of the Col du Tourmalet but that’s exactly the deceptive nature it uses to lull you into a false sense of...