Eugene Oppelt

06h55, 9 degrees celsius, Zone 2 training *loading*

Hope this sprinter / puncheur can light up the scoreboard again this season

The mountains. My happy place. Bainskloof Pass, Wellington, Western Cape:

And he weeps. What a ride - breaks away from the chasing group, makes no man’s land his home, gets bridged by the Belgian and then upsets the bookies. What reward for courageous racing after his fracture earlier in the season (if my memory serves me well). Both Remco and Tadej had seated sprints in the end, unlike Skjelmose, which indicates exhaustion. “I lost my granddad a little more than a month ago and I really wanted to give him this win.” - Matthias Skjelmose, Amstel 2025 winner Pic: Getty Sport Images

The time trial champion vs the world champion with the sublime Skjelmose in the mix. I think the Lidl Trek rider broke his collarbone on some road furniture in the wet a few races ago. Nothing like rest and the rising desire to perform that comes with time out. Beautiful racing.

And a double rainbow jersey winner leads out the current rainbow jersey and is in a breakaway effort with 44 kms to go Beautiful racing! Go, Ben!

Amstel: Thibault Nys in the mix with some of the more experienced superstars in Evenepoel, Pogoçar and company. Will be intriguing to see how this talent competes with the world's best.

Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity. ~ John Muir

Meanwhile, attacking up the steepest climb of the day at De Brabantse Pijl, the Olympic champ goes first and finds some good company too. Two Belgian champion racers looking for some redemption, so to speak. What beautiful racing. 📸Getty Images

An example of the grit and grace required to be a PRO

ELB on that cool new Colnago. Love the minimalism of the colour way. Pic: @Roadcc

Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible. - Marcus Aurelius

Hehehe

Consistency. What a bike rider. He keeps on defying gravity on these hilly gravel courses.

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." —Anne Lamott

MvdP heading to the dikwiel now to prepare for Worlds and that other elusive rainbow jersey. His team boss was fined 1000 bux for passing a gel in the final stages of the race to keep his engine purring as he was over the threshold often from 100 kms already, way before the forest of Arenberg. Members of the Mohoric fan club have identified the individual who threw a full 500 ml Jumbo' bidon into the winner's face. He has since been arrested. Strange times, strange people. Pic cred @Roadcc

Last minute sub’ for a CAT 3 team at WP Team Time trials, 25 kms north east of Durbanville. Putting a race number on, always so lekka. Combining with 5 others for 60 kms on an undulating course, never a dull moment.

Mads Pedersen worthy of his 3rd spot Tadej Pogačar continues to shine, rode without his measurement device after the crash and is now preparing for the Ardennes Mathieu van der Poel is now on 8 monuments, alongside the rainbow jersey, and most of them involves the cobbles

As for Pogačar, second-place today means he now has the rare and remarkable honor of making the podium in all five monuments. The only other rider to do that in recent years is Philippe Gilbert. Sauce @CyclingNews

“When you arise in the morning, think what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” - Marcus Aurelius

The first French woman to conquer the Hell Of The North. What a racer she is, using those mountain biking (and cyclocross skills). PIc: Getty Sport Images

IG: Alpecin-Deceuninck

Sauce: Tread

Gotta work on that, Sweetie. It'll be even tougher from under the cozy warmth of your duvet cover in the heart of winter on those cold dark mornings. 💋

For most people, the longest distance is between their couch and kilometre 001.