The Weekly Spin: Tour Madness, Superbike Leaks, and the New ‘Everest Roam’

July is well and truly upon us. For most of us, that means our Sunday club runs are suddenly full of riders pushing a little too hard on the local climbs, and our weekday afternoons are spent stealthily watching live racing on a second monitor while pretending to work. 

The cycling world has been in overdrive this week. Between the absolute madness at the Tour de France, some spicy new bike tech, and a ridiculous new Strava challenge, there is a lot to catch up on. If you have missed any of the action whilst juggling work and family life, here is a quick summary of the top five stories you need to know before your next café stop.

1. Pogačar’s Tourmalet Masterclass Did you see Stage 6? Tadej Pogačar launched an absolutely thermonuclear 43-kilometre solo attack over the legendary Col du Tourmalet to seize the yellow jersey. It was a glorious, old-school display of raw power that put serious time into Jonas Vingegaard. Watching a pro sustain those sorts of watts up a hors catégorie climb is both deeply inspiring and slightly depressing when we consider our own struggles on a Sunday morning.

2. MVDP Survives the Oven Whilst we might grumble when a British summer ride hits 25°C, the pro peloton has been battling a genuine furnace in France. Temperatures soared to 40°C during Stage 9, yet Mathieu Van der Poel still managed to power to an epic breakaway victory. When the fittest riders on the planet are desperately stuffing ice packs down their jerseys just to survive, it is a stark reminder to double up on the electrolyte tabs and stay hydrated on our own weekend rides.

3. The Tarmac SL9 Leak & 28mm Tyres If there is one thing we middle-aged amateurs love more than cycling, it is endlessly debating bike tech. The worst-kept secret in the WorldTour pits this week was the leak of the heavily rumoured "Project Black" Specialized Tarmac SL9. Start saving your pennies now! Even more relatable, though, is the fact that the peloton has officially embraced 28mm tyres. The pros finally agree that a bit of compliance equals speed. Our lower backs can officially rejoice, you no longer have to feel guilty for prioritising comfort.

4. The Ultimate VIP Bike Delivery In a story that proves the romance of the bike industry is not dead, Ridley’s CEO Jochim Aerts personally hand-painted a custom frameset for the race leader this week. He then rushed it through Brussels airport, hand-delivering it to the Hautes-Pyrénées in under 30 hours. Who says custom paint jobs don't make you ride faster?

5. Forget Everesting... Meet the "Everest Roam" Just when you thought standard Everesting (riding up and down the exact same hill until you hit 8,848 metres of elevation) was gruelling enough, a new trend is taking over Strava: the "Everest Roam". The new goal is to accumulate the elevation of Mount Everest without ever repeating the same hill. It takes serious route planning and absolute madness.

Over to You Are you sticking with your old 25mm tyres, or have you made the plush 28mm upgrade? 

And more importantly, is anyone in the club crazy enough to attempt the Everest Roam this summer? 

Let me know in the comments below, and have a fantastic week on the pedals!

The 2026 Tour de France: Rivalries, Resilience, and the Return of the 28mm Tyre

July is finally here, which means our Sunday club runs are suddenly full of riders pushing just a bit too hard on the local climbs, and our afternoons are spent glued to the television. The 2026 Tour de France kicked off with a spectacular Grand Départ in Barcelona, and the opening stages have already delivered exactly what we love about the sport: fierce rivalries, inspiring

grit, and enough new bike tech to make our bank balances nervous.

Let’s dive into the biggest talking points from the
opening week.

The Ultimate GC Battle: Vingegaard vs. Pogačar

The general classification rivalry is already operating at boiling point. Just two years after a horrifying, life-threatening crash, Jonas Vingegaard has delivered a true masterclass in resilience. Visma-Lease a Bike absolutely dismantled the opening team time trial in Barcelona, putting the Dane right back into the yellow jersey. It is an extraordinary comeback story that reminds us all why we respect the sheer toughness of professional cyclists.

Not to be outdone, Tadej Pogačar immediately fired back in the most 'Pogačar' way possible. On Stage 2, rather than hunting the glory for himself, he put on a tactical masterclass on the Montjuïc climb. He held up the chasing pack to serve as a luxury domestique, ultimately gifting the stage victory to his 22-year-old debutant teammate, Isaac del Toro. The swagger and confidence of Pogačar juxtaposed with Vingegaard’s quiet, ruthless determination sets the stage for a legendary three weeks of racing.

Surviving the Oven

Whilst we might complain when a British summer club run hits 25°C, the peloton has been battling

genuinely extreme conditions. Temperatures have topped 40°C, and wildfires in the Pyrenees have even threatened stage cancellations. It is a stark reminder of the physical toll these athletes endure. Note to self: double up on the electrolyte tabs this weekend.

Tour Tech: Comfort is the New Aero

Now, onto the really important stuff—the gear. If there is one thing we middle-aged amateurs love more than a post-ride coffee and a slice of cake, it is endlessly debating bike tech.

The biggest revelation from the WorldTour pits this year? The widespread return to 28mm tyres. Yes, after years of being told narrower and harder is faster, the pros have finally embraced the fact that a bit of compliance and comfort goes a very long way on the tarmac. Our lower backs can officially rejoice; you no longer have to feel guilty for prioritising a smoother ride over marginal aerodynamic gains.

However, that is where the relatability ends. We are also seeing a huge rise in massive, knee-crunching chainrings and bespoke 3D-printed

components. It is pushing the price of flagship WorldTour super-bikes well past the £12,000 mark. It begs the question: is the cycling industry pricing the everyday enthusiast out of top-tier gear, or is this simply the unavoidable cost of cutting-edge innovation?

Over to You

The 2026 Tour is shaping up to be an absolute classic. Who are you backing to wear yellow into Paris? And more importantly, have you already made the switch to 28mm tyres, or are you still rattling your fillings out on 23s? Let me know in the comments below!

Campagnolo: The Heart of Cycling Returns

A Frozen Moment That Changed Everything.

Imagine it is 1927. You are climbing the Croce d’Aune in the frozen Dolomites during a professional race. .  Your fingers are so numb they feel like blocks of ice, and your bike is caked in mountain grit. .  You need to change your wheel to tackle the descent, but the wing nuts are frozen solid. .  This was the exact moment of frustration that hit Tullio Campagnolo. .  His struggle didn't just lead to a swear word in the cold, it led to the invention of the quick-release lever, a tool that changed professional cycling forever.

From Jewellery to Jargon.

For decades, Campagnolo wasn't just a brand; it was the gold standard. .  Legends like Eddy Merckx rode to victory on these Italian-crafted parts.  . If you are of a certain age, you likely remember the first time you heard the crisp, mechanical "click" of their shifters, it felt less like a bike part and more like a piece of fine jewellery.

However, the modern era has brought a shift.  . Massive global competitors have flooded the market with electronic jargon and mass-produced components.  . For many, the bike has started to feel like a "dark art" or a computer on wheels that is too expensive to fix and impossible to understand.

The Modular Renaissance. 

Campagnolo is now returning to its roots with a bold focus on what made us fall in love with cycling in the first place: craftsmanship. .   The new Super Record 13 groupset isn't just about adding another gear; it is about a fresh commitment to Italian manufacturing.

The real "win" for the modern rider is their new modular approach. .

In a world where parts are often designed to be thrown away, Campagnolo is making
components that are easier to service and maintain. .  This signals a shift back to a bike you can actually understand and care for yourself, removing the fear of being stranded and the mystery of the mechanic's bench. It mixes modern speed with the classic soul of a bike that is built to last.  2026 will see the new groupset hit their midrange bikes, now it has been fully tested by the pros during 2025.

Heritage matters because it represents a time when cycling was about the rider and the machine, not just the software. .  Whether you are a new cyclist looking to gain independence or a returning cyclist who wants to enjoy the ride more, understanding the heart of your bike is the first step to confidence.

Do you have questions about maintaining your classic or modern rig? Don't let the "Cycling Gurus" make you feel small.          .  Join our Cycling News, Hacks & Tips Facebook Group.          .  It is a friendly, positive environment where you can get your questions answered properly, learn easy-to-follow tips, and see results in no time at all.