Few events show the casual observer that the cycling season is up to speed like Paris-Roubaix, a race of such drama and character that it transcends the sport.
Coverage of the Queen of the Classics has dominated the last seven days on RoadCyclingUK, whether it be our race report, photo gallery, and post-race analysis, or any of our numerous and highly-detailed photo galleries of the two-wheeled weaponry taken into battle by the elite professionals who raced the 257km from Compiègne to the velodrome at Roubaix.
But that was then, as the saying goes, and this is now. While the hardmen of the cobbles take a well-earned break, the world’s best climbers return to the spotlight for Ardennes Week – a three-strong series of hilly Classics that begins tomorrow with the Amstel Gold Race.
As well as covering the most prestigious races on the calendar, we’ve continued with our testing schedule, and offered a verdict this week on the Storck Aernario Basic. The handmade finery exhibited at Bespoked, the UK’s handmade bike show, has also claimed our attention; an occasion at which we were able to catch up with Guy Martin’s go-to frame builder, Jason Rourke of Rourke Cycles.
The breathless pace is unlikely to relent in the coming weeks, with the Spring Classics season reaching its zenith, the Grande Partenza of the Giro d’Italia just a fortnight away, and the thoughts of many already on July and the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Yorkshire already occupying the thoughts of many. Make sure you don’t miss a thing by following RoadCyclingUK on Facebook and Twitter.
